Select…4 items to upgrade

I was back in reality. Everyone around me blinked and then immediately dug into their own inventories.

I decided to embrace chaos.

Dungeon of the Snow Lion Core

This is the core of ownership for the Dungeon of the Snow. The owner of this core can adjust the dungeons parameters and the behavior of the creatures within.

Current Scale: Rare

The Avatar was already Divine Scale and the upgrade would not allow them to be selected. Same with the Mantle. Oh well. I filtered my inventory to show all inventory below Divine Scale.

That was a lot of corpses. Those were also not applicable either, nor were any of the components that made up the bodies.

That left a few options the tools I made were grouped together as

Doug’s Lion Bone Tools

Bone tools for crafting. These tools were made from the bodies of Snow Lions and constructed by the Left Hand of the Titan.

Current Scale: Epic

I added them to the list. At some point I would craft again: might as well have the right tools.

I had two options left. I made an impulse decision. I selected the Juggernaut Bangle, and the Cloak of the Alpha Snow Lion. The bangle would hopefully give me more strength, which would help me bludgeon things to death with my bare hands more efficiently. So many corpses in my inventory. The cloak was… maybe a bit silly. It was one of the first pieces of gear I ever got, I just wanted to make it mine.

Upgrade Complete!

Dungeon of the Snow Lion Core

This is the core of ownership for the Dungeon of the Snow Lion. The owner of this core can adjust the dungeons parameters and the behavior of the creatures within. This dungeon is now a Divine Domain for the Left Hand of the Titan.

Tools of the Left Hand

Bone tools for crafting. These relics were shaped by the Left Hand of the Titan and imbued with the energy of creation. Double the difference in Scale for all Crafting rolls used with these Tools.

World Breaker’s Bangle

While worn, improve Power Attribute by 20. Gain access to the Destruction skill. Gain five levels of Scale while applying force to objects or structures.

Destruction Skill

This is the skill of entropy. Destruction is necessary for creation to occur. Success with this skill allows the user to unmake objects and reduce them to base components.

Godskin Cloak

This cloak was once made from the pelt of a Snow Lion Alpha. Due to prolonged contact with the Left Hand of the Titan it has been elevated to the Divine Scale. Gain four levels of Scale for all Stealth related skills. Ignore all damage from Rare or lower Scale Beast-type mobs.

Armor: 30

I examined the Bangle. It had changed from a golden wrist ornament into a blackened braided piece of something. Looking at it made me feel something else could see me through it. Something that wanted to tear down reality. Clear the way. For what, I couldn’t tell.

The cloak was basically the same. At least to my eyes. At some point I needed to figure out how Stealth worked.

Just as I wondered how the whole Domain thing worked I felt my mind connect with the Dungeon. It was a strangely mundane feeling. It was a lot like being in your own home. You know the layout and the contents intimately. There was also the option to alter the place. The cliff wall went from sheer rock to level stairs. The lighting also changed from ominous to adequate. Neat.

Brunhilda whistled, “You know, I am not easily impressed, but this is a lot of shenanigan for one day. Good on ya, drinking buddy.”

“You get anything good?” I asked.

She shrugged, “A smithy worth my time, trouble is it is in the Shattered Mountain.” She thought for a moment, “The foreman is gonna shit Adamantine. Which they would then be able to work into gear…” she giggled. She took a drink, then eyed it contemplatively, “Take this from me.”

It took some effort, but I was able to wrestle the cup from her.

“I feel the time to leave has long since passed,” Brand said, changing his equipment to white winter survival gear. He turned to Angelica, “Miss De Leon are you ready?”

Angelica started slightly, “... yeah let’s get out of here.”

We ascended the stairs, “What’s the plan after this, Brand?”

“I need to get back to the Eternal Kingdom,” He sighed. After a few steps he added, “I don’t suppose I could convince you to help me return. Her Majesty would be grateful for your assistance.”

I think I realized something as we walked. Why was Brandon at the Arbitration? The diary. “Angelica, do you still have the diary?”

“What? Yeah.” She handed me the beat up book.

“Brand, does this mean anything to you?” I offered him the book

Brand examined it for a long time. “This was Seren’s,” He examined it for a moment. He pulled a small blue penlight out of his inventory, “Of course she did.” a sad smile crossed his face. He turned to me, “She surveilled the Spire, and documented it.”

“I didn’t see any of that,” I admitted.

Brand nodded, “Seren wrote the tactical information in UV sensitive ink. If you did not know to look for that you wouldn’t find it.” He read some more of the book. He stopped dead, “They are alive.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Who?” I asked, stopping as well.

“At least four of the others sent here,” Brand said. “The mission was always dangerous, we expected casualties. But as of eight days ago, six members of the team were alive. Yes, under the boot of the demons, but alive at the Spire.” He looked up at each of us, and visibly hesitated. I knew that look. He was desperate for help, but didn’t think he had the right to ask.

“I am pretty sure we are heading there anyways,” I said. Brand did right by us in the dungeon, and honestly I would like to have him watching my back. Fighting demons sounded like a biblically bad time.

Angelica walked past us still in her own little world. Not sure what that was about. My guess was she and Celeste were having some sort of conversation. Best let them have the time.

Brand nodded sharply, “Thank you.”

I nodded and went back to climbing the steps. Avoiding emotional moments is a superpower every guy has. Besides, I had the last two pieces of gear to look at.

Claws of the God of Beasts

These clawed bracers are equipped with three bladed claws each. Carried by Grond for more than a century, these weapons have grown with the former champion of Adora. The Hero of Passion became the Champion of Lust to transform into the God of Beasts. These Divine Scale weapons provide both incredible offense and defense. Gain three levels of Scale with the Block Skill. Increase the chance of inflicting a condition by 75%.

Damage: Power + 20

Armor: 20

Note: This weapon requires either the Knife or Gauntlet Skills, not the Unarmed Skill.

Typhon Scale Armor (Broken)

Warning this item is broken and none of the benefits below will be granted if equipped.

Armor made of scales of a Divine Beast, etched by the runes of a goddess. This armor grants resistance to mind-altering effects, except those involving love. Double this armor's defense value against magical attacks.

Armor: 25

What the fuck… Adora you bitch. Of course Gond is a mess she made. I almost pitied the poor bastard. No, wait, fuck him.

That said, a hundred years of dealing with Adora’s bullshit… no wonder he was psychotic.

He was probably going to be coming back for these. He had four more dungeons cranking out mobs too. Probably four more priestesses too.

Adora, you bitch. I knew Grond and I were going to fight again. He struck me as the proud type. That said, I was not going to apologize.

Without her manipulation, would we have actually fought each other? … Probably.

I doubted I would use the claws. They were powerful, but not really my style. The armor was also a non-starter. Yeah, it was Divine Scale, but it had Adora’s fingerprints all over it. Hell, it was probably cursed to make the gap in the armor involving “love” be more than a soft spot and cause it to be a constant wound.

Analyze Check…Successful

Typhon Scale Armor (Broken)

This item has two hidden effects.

* Increase the effect of all Seduction Skills by five levels of Scale upon the wearer of this item.

* Always grant Scale advantage for Adora or followers of Adora over the wearer of this item.

What a shock.

Note to self, do NOT take any gift from Adora… ever.

We were at the top of the stairs. Twenty to being out in the open again. The wind howled and the cold bit into my skin. Maybe the cold would cause the Vitae to crack. As we stepped out into the storm again, I saw it. A small break in the white wall of the blizzard. Backlit by the sun was an ominous black Spire.

That is where we had to go.

That is where an army of demons was.

What the hell was this all about? I would guess this was probably some sort of good versus evil situation. That said, assumptions were dangerous. Brand’s presence implied politics were in play. Adora’s hand complicated things even more. She claimed to mostly be feuding with Grond but was clearly opposed to the demons, and this storm and the neglected Domain were another thing. Were the demons in the right? I mean, probably not.

“You lot heading toward the Spire then?” Brunhilda asked.

“Yeah,” Angelica said. She still seemed to be deep in conversation with Celeste. At least I hope that is what was going on.

“There are going to be a few goblin villages between here and there. I had to clear a few to get to this point,” Brunhilda said. She thought for a moment, “How about we make a pit stop at a safe place? Well, safe-ish. Safer than any other spot you’d find in this place.”

“Where are you thinking?” Brand asked.

“The Mandir of War,” She said.

“What is that?” I asked. Trying to actually learn what the hell was going on.

“It is a temple of sorts. This one is for Lola the Goddess of War. She has one on most continents. They are all training grounds of sorts. Monsters don’t spawn there but violence is allowed. Certain chambers prevent death even. This one is probably barebones, but it is a place with beds and heat.”

“Those are real?” Brand asked. “Lola isn’t going to object to my presence?”

“Probably not, you seem fighty,” she didn’t seem that convinced.

Brand picked up on that also, “I would prefer not to be smote.”

“Wouldn’t it be smitten?” I joked.

“Smitten is very different, and unlikely,” Brand said.

“Oh come on, you clearly have a way with goddesses,” I teased further. “I am sure Lola is…” I turned to Brunhilda. “What is she like?”

“Fierce, powerful, and fuckin’ brutal when she wants to be, which is often. That said, she is known for being unbiased and pragmatic. For the most part she wants to see a good fight.” Brunhilda explained.

“How hands-on is she?” I asked. That description didn’t exactly fill me with confidence.

“More than Mendus, less than Adora,” Brunhilda answered.

“What do you think, Angelica?” I asked.

Angelica blinked a few times, “Lola doesn’t like the demons any more than we do. That said, she really doesn’t like Nadia or Aella. I think she also had some bad interactions with Zach also.”

“So I am the liability?” I asked. Dammit Nadia, and Zach, and Aella... probably Cole and Adam too.

Angelica shrugged, “She may try to kick your ass. Not kill you, but establish a pecking order.”

“Fun times,” I muttered. The image of Grond’s head smashed open by me flashed in my brain. “To hell with it. I probably deserve an ass beating.”

“If it comes to that, I got your back,” Brunhilda said. “Drinking Buddies stand together.” She slapped my ass again. I really couldn’t tell if it was a thing with her, or if she was just that short. Either way her hands were still like little hammers.

“You’re just saying that to get me into bed,” I teased, trying to hide the slight limp.

“Nah, If I was trying to get you into bed, I would say: get into the bed you big bastard… please?” She shot back. She shoulder-checked me and I had to roll Acrobatics to not crash in the snow.

“Wait, what?!” Angelica asked. She blinked quickly before focusing on us.

“Oh, Doug won’t put out, and ironically because of that, I am put out,” Brunhilda explained.

Angelica looked between Brunhilda and me. She then clearly pictured something geometrically unlikely. “Huh!” She then tried to eject the image, but it would not go. “Eugh.”

“Thank you for exhibiting the robust nature of the English language, oh great Champion of the Shattered Mountain.” Brand said. Clearly not picturing anything.

“I have a way with talky-talky stuff,” my drinking buddy declared loudly.

We walked along for the better part of an hour. Then the storm surged. The light faded. The temperature dropped into what was probably arctic temperatures. All of us immediately began to resent both nature and thermodynamics.

No, I was not going to complain. Pain is proof you are alive. Even the ever escalating burning bite of cold. Wait…

Ignore Freezing Condition?

Yes/No

I hit yes. What happened next was different. I went from shivering in the cold, and suffering from screaming nerves to… vaguely uncomfortable. It was like being in a room that was only sixty degrees while in light clothes. Not great but absolutely, not freezing to death cold.

“Why are you grinning like an idiot?” Angelica demanded.

“I am just happy to finally be done with Snow Lions,” I replied, still with that beatific smile.

Which is when the big cat hit me from behind and knocked me face first into the ice and snow. The cloak ignored the damage, but my pride was certainly hurt.