by Matthew Peed
The skeleton of the creature was complete, with flesh starting to form along it. The thing had to be at least a hundred meters tall. As more of the creature formed, the density of the mana increased as well. I was at the point where I wanted to see what was born from the insane amount of mana being infused with it. I knew it was going to be in tier three but could not fathom the result. Tier three had the most wiggle room of the tiers that I’d dealt with so far.
The massive creature appeared to enter its final stages as gray skin formed. I was surprised its form was humanoid, reminiscent of a giant . While it was a hundred meters tall, the body looked to be shaped by a god, or a goddess in this case, given that it was created by Alara herself, who was one of the beings closest to a god.
“Monarch, the mana levels have reached high-tier three. I fear that we are going to be outmatched soon,” Queen said while looking over several monitors.
I glanced over and saw that the charts were indeed going crazy as the sensors went haywire. Looking back toward Alara’s creation, I decided I would have to create something of my own to confront it. I contemplated the different types of weapons and ideas I had considered since starting this war. Nothing I possessed currently would be able to contend with her monster, so I would need something new.
I remembered a movie from Earth and grinned as I decided to go with it. I channeled mana into my avatar to float up into the air until I was about the same height as Alara. Looking over to her, I could see that the massive usage of mana to create the monster was draining her. Streaks of blood from her eyes and nose painted her face and turned to ash as they left contact with her body. I could only wonder what channeling such a massive amount of mana through a flesh-and-blood body was doing to her.
“Just a little bit more,” I whispered to her and myself.
Concentrating on what I was doing, I got to work. I was going to have to use every bit of magic and technology to force my creation to the same tier as hers. Magic gears appeared as my spell script formed around me, and I channeled mana into my creation abilities. Arcs of mana flashed into the nearby air.
Metal flowed like liquid to form a skeleton. It reached a similar height of roughly a hundred meters. Moving my hands like a sculptor, I molded the frame around the skeleton into an armor. At the center was a cockpit that would allow me to pilot it. The reason I would be its pilot was the mana system.
While Fuilum had unique properties involving mana, mainly its antigravity function, I believed it was similar to Earth’s uranium and could be used to enact nuclear fission. I would need either a core or my avatar to be near the reaction so that my aura could absorb the mana created in the process, as well as any radiation put off.
In the movie, these mechs required two pilots to run them. It was a good thing my system was a little more intuitive than the one in the movie. Mainly it did not need to read my memories to work. I refused to lose myself in somebody else.
I glanced up from my work to check the progress of Alara. She was at the finishing touches on her creation, developing armor and a massive sword for it. The overall balance was very sleek, and it lacked the undead feeling that everything else in the dungeon was putting off. That meant they had ordered Alara to create something that could actually fight me since the undead had been proven ineffective.
Chapter 19
Izora
Waves buffeted the side of the ship as we made our way to Jade Wind. The floating city was actually in sight, but the weather prevented us from sailing a direct line to it. We were still able to talk to the city thanks to light signals, but the situation wasn’t much better for them. Jade Wind was built to withstand the maelstrom, but the added strength from this other storm was pressing their systems.
“Fifty degrees to the starboard!” Captain Shido shouted. The airship-turned-naval-vessel pitched as the bow sliced through a wave that would have sent the ship underwater. Arcs of lightning crashed into the ocean, threatening to turn us into smoldering driftwood.
“Captain! We need to get to Jade Wind before the ship is reduced to sharp metal!” I shouted over the intense noise of the rain and waves.
“I know, Princess! It’s like the ocean has come alive!” Captain Shido shouted back.
Lightning arced in front of the ship, missing by only a few dozen meters. Alarms of all kinds were blaring on the bridge. I was worried the violent pressure of the ocean was going to break us even before the lightning or waves took us out. The grinding noise of the metal and wood of the ship being pulled or pressed together was enough to send shivers down my back.
There was a flash, and as if in slow motion an arc of lightning branched and branched again as it headed for the ship. I channeled mana despite knowing that I would only be able to protect myself. Before the lightning struck the ship, there was an equally bright flash of light.
A perfectly straight line of white light shot off into the ocean away from the ship. The lightning slammed into it and was pulled off into the distance. I blinked, trying to clear the spots that formed in my vision. A figure slowly came into focus on the deck of the ship. It was tied to the rail so as not to be thrown by the waves.
“Who is that idiot?” I asked the bridge.
We didn’t have a Light mage that powerful with us. Secondly, I had never seen light used in such a fashion. While I was thankful to them for saving the ship, it was reckless to be out there by themselves.
“It’s that goblin from the dungeon,” one of the crew members shouted.
“Why is he on board?! He was supposed to remain at the embassy,” I shouted back.
I didn’t get an answer from anyone, meaning he’d most likely snuck onboard. As we watched, a beam of light flashed from Alphonso’s outstretched hands, slicing a wave so the ship could break through with less trouble. With Alphonso’s help we started to make time toward the clearing being created by Jade Wind. It was literally the eye of the storm right now.
Twenty minutes later we made it under the city. Thankfully, nothing else happened that significantly threatened the ship. The barriers around the city were obviously struggling to hold back the storm. I needed to get up there and place Regan’s core as soon as I could.
“Activate engines! Get us in the air!” Captain Shido yelled. Though we were out of the worst of the storm, the waves were still quite heavy, slamming the ship around.
“Aye, Captain!” the helmsperson said.
The thrum of mana rippled throughout the ship as the reactor was turned back on. The ship quickly started to rise once the reactors reached their peak. I wasn’t sure when I’d last been so happy to see the docks of the city. Once we passed under the barrier, the air calmed down tremendously. We really started to gain altitude then.
“It’s good to be home,” Captain Shido said, a rare smile gracing his features.
“I agree,” I replied.
Looking up at the city, I took in the sight that I had missed. A large column that was nearly six hundred meters long made up the center of the city. It was composed of a metal-and-stone mixture that we were unable to re-create. From there, a metal grid spiderwebbed its way out from the center point of the column. The web had grown over the centuries and was nearly two kilometers by itself.
Under the center column, a pulsing energy was constantly shooting down into the ocean. If the storm wasn’t present, there would have been an outlying cloud of steam surrounding the city. Special magic technology held the worst of the weather at bay. The only time I remember it raining in Jade Wind had been ten years ago, when a storm had put Jade Wind in its path. Winds strong enough to blow airships out of the sky barely caused a breeze inside the city.
It was a mechanical marvel that used all the accumulated knowledge of the gnomes. A part of me always wondered what marvels we could achieve if we landed the city. But the gnomish pride never allowed us to do so. It was a thought that all gnomes have once in their life.The mooring lines were launched with precision toward the designated targets on the docks. With a ba
ng they locked down on the lead and started reeling the ship in. I left the bridge and went to the deck to check on Alphonso. He was drenched, but the water ran off the armor and led me to believe there really weren’t any gaps.
“Boss princess! I hope my actions have been noted?” Alphonso said when he saw me approaching.
“You were very heroic, but that was dangerous! You could have been swept overboard!” I said once I was near him.
“Wouldn’t have bothered me. Well . . . I guess it would have been a long walk,” Alphonso said with a grin.
“And how would I tell Godfather Tony?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
“Ah! True! My bad.” He rubbed his head, causing a tooth-grinding sound of metal screeching.
“Whatever. Anyway. Welcome to Jade Wind! Home of the gnomes!” I said with a dramatic gesture to the magnificent city in front of us.
The airship came around, gently riding the currents to get close to the docks. The winch would drag the airship in, but the pilot made the process easier by keeping it from fighting the winds. Airships of various ages filled the docks. My ancestors might have lost a lot of knowledge over the years, but airship building was kept alive to the best of our ability.
The docks circled all of Jade Wind. The royal dock, which we were being pulled into, was reserved for the royal families’ airships. The Arashi and the Kou were currently docked. They were only used in times of war. To my knowledge they had only been used twice. Both times, we were assisting another country rather than fighting a war ourselves.
Buildings made of the lightest wood made up the structures around the city. Jade Port had a special grove dedicated to growing these trees. The newest building in Jade Wind was almost two years old now. The support ring of metal was allocated only so much weight before the building on it is required to reduce the items inside.
I loved this city. I knew every centimeter of it like the back of my hand. As the princess, there was nowhere I wasn’t able to go. I’d made friends from all over the city, even with my status. I could say without a doubt I was happy to be home.
The Raiu came to a jarring stop as the winches finished pulling us in. A grinding noise sounded as a steel walkway was lowered automatically to connect the vessel and the docks. A few workers rushed to make sure that everything was working correctly. I noticed they seemed . . . anxious, but I put it off as my homecoming since the queen had passed.
I looked to the captain. “Clean her up good. I don’t want my father to see his favorite ship looking like a common sailing vessel.”
“Yes, Princess!” Captain Shido said with a salute.
“How is the phoenix doing?” I asked, using the communication tube to talk to the crew in the bay.
“It’s . . . napping. Damn thing ate half our stores, then clonked out,” I received back a few moments later.
“Alright. Keep it in the bay. We can’t let it out this close to the city. It wouldn’t be a joke if someone lost a kid thanks to me.”
“Of course, Princess!”
Leaving the bridge, I walked to the deck a little more hurried than was needed. Hatsu and the others quickly fell into step around me as my Royal Guard. I blinked as I noticed there was one more than normal.
“Alphonso, what do you think you’re doing?” I asked, coming to a stop.
“I was told to go with you,” he said, twirling his fingers together.
I barely resisted the urge to smack my forehead. “I can give you a tour later!” “I know that but . . . I can’t wait! It looks so interesting!” He was hopping on his feet in enthusiasm.
“Let the little fellow tag along,” Tsuzuki said with a laugh.
I looked between the two of them and realized that they must have talked beforehand. I would have to scold them later, but I was too excited to be home. I just sighed and nodded, and Alphonso jumped into the air in a cheer.
“You better stick with us!” I said, poking his glass helmet.
He gave me a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.”
We crossed the gangplank to the docks. The workers were all lined up and bowing to me as we walked among the docks. When we reached the gates, a pair of guards stood with almost unnatural stiffness. When they saw us, they reacted immediately and bowed.
“Princess Metalgear! Welcome back. The king will be most pleased,” one of the guards said woodenly. I could only assume it was due to him being nervous.
“It’s good to be home. I will report to the castle as soon as I take a look around. I’ve missed home so much,” I said, nodding to the guard.
“Very well. I shall inform His Majesty that you will see him within the eve,” the guard said and bowed deeply.
“Good. Thank you, Sir Guard.”
We left the docks and made our way around town. The city was composed of six circling streets. Any point you started at, you would eventually make your way back. The only caste system we had here was king, then craft masters. Everyone worked to become masters of a craft to reach a closer place to the pillar. That would allow you a larger weight allotment for your home or shop.
That wasn’t to say that the citizens were mistreated. There was plenty of food to go around. Education was given to all children under the age of ten, after which they had to join a craft guild to apprentice to a master crafter. If you looked at the surface, you would think that everyone was living a good life. But given that the necromancers had managed to pull so many of our people to them, maybe they weren’t happy. I would need to sit with my father and talk with him about this.
“Is that little Izora?” an elderly woman called out to me.
“Grandma Ku! I’m glad to see you!” I said, rushing over to the old gnome. She always gave me treats when I wandered the streets in my younger days, and she treated me just like one of the other kids on her street.
“It’s good you’ve come home. Strange things have been happening,” Grandma Ku said, throwing a glance around. “Why don’t you come in?”
Chapter 20
Louella
Half an hour had already passed since Ignea had brought me to the battle. I wanted to join in but felt I was more likely to get in the way from the massive amount of magic being used in front of me. The black orb was still standing strong, even after the almost continuous barrage of attacks on it.
I was more impressed that something could withstand the massive amount of mana that was being flung at it. It made me wonder what the being attacking Regan’s dungeon was. Something being able to pulverize past the outer layers of a dungeon was nearly unheard of. Tier three mages had attempted to do so in the past. I believe the farthest floor breached in this fashion had only been two or three.
“Do you have any idea what is going on inside the sphere?” I asked Ignea.
“My senses do allow me some insight, but there is so much mana being used that it looks like a blur,” she answered with a shake of her head.
“Is Regan going to be ok?” I asked, worried.
Regan’s core was just beyond this point. I wasn’t sure how far in actuality, but it was down there. Though, if this floor already had creatures of this level, I was sure there were more powerful entities waiting. It was a known fact that the most powerful entity in the dungeon beside the dungeon’s avatar was the last boss before the core.
“There are still a few more surprises ahead. Father wouldn’t leave his heart unguarded, after all,” Ignea said, tilting her head to the side.
“That’s good. Regan has done a lot for me. I would hate to see something happen to his core,” I said, relieved to hear there were things even more powerful deeper down.
Nothing continued to happen for several more minutes. I wondered if the liquid shadow was just going to end up being burned to a crisp from the beams of energy that were pounding it. Just watching the show made me feel useless. What was the point of breaking through to tier three if I couldn’t help in situations like this?
Suddenly, the ship Ignea and I were watc
hing from jerked and started to move away. I twisted my head to the side, trying to find the reason. There—a tendril of shadow lancing through a section of the ship. It only became visible a few meters from the ship.
“Something is happening in the orb. The tendril is only the beginning!” Ignea shouted, looking all around the floor.
“Even after taking all that mana?” I asked, surprised.
“We are dealing with a Celestial! There is no way to know what she can do.”
“A Celestial?!” I cried. “Why is one of those here in the lower realms?!”
“You’ll have to ask her when we bring her down. I only realized when some of her shadow broke through the ship. She is similar to Duilin up on the station. Much weaker but with a physical form,” Ignea explained, then started to pull me away from the viewing window.
I wondered why for a moment, then one of the ships in the distance experienced an explosion in its hull. Linked to the dungeon as Ignea was, she could sense such an event before the explosion physically took place. It wasn’t anywhere near enough damage to bring the ship down, but it was still damage that was caused from a tendril. Ignea didn’t want us to be near the outer hull in case a tendril aimed for the weaker sections of the ships.
“Does Regan even have anything that can fight her?” I asked.
“Nova . . . maybe,” Ignea said, her tone weak.
The lack of confidence worried me. But if even these creations weren’t having an effect, what could I possibly do? The ships were turning away from the fight. I noticed that barriers of some kind had been raised, but the ships could no longer fire their weapons. The only thing still fighting was the man who was using spheres of darkness to cause a crushing force in his surroundings.
“Why can’t that guy just create a big enough sphere to swallow the invader whole?” I asked as we moved.
“He’s tried. Tells me it’s a bad match. She is able to condense her shadows enough to escape the black hole without being crushed,” Ignea said with a sigh. “Father probably didn’t anticipate something like this happening without himself being present.”