by Matthew Peed
Jarvis moved in front of them. “Sir Regan has issued us our orders. Operation Scorched North is to begin. As planned, we will head to the west, where rumors of another dungeon protecting survivors is located. Once done there, we turn east and make our way toward the undead dungeon Queen Alara. Sir wants to make sure we don’t expose our back if the other dungeon has been compromised.”
“Aye, this be what I been waitin’ for!” Benjamin shouted.
“Aye, mate. It’s not every day I get to be admiral of a fleet,” Spare said, patting Benjamin’s shoulder.
“What! I be the better captain. That means I be the admiral!” Benjamin growled while grabbing Spare’s shoulder and spinning him around.
“Aye, I said admiral not captain. It’s always a pity when the elderly start to lose their hearing,” Spare said with a shake of his head.
“Would you two give it a rest for five minutes?” Liz said with an exasperated tone.
“Yeah, I feel like I should be in charge,” Wilson threw in, moving to get between the two of them.
“Not you too,” Liz said with a groan while resting her head in her hand.
“That’s enough,” Jarvis shouted, then in a more normal voice, “Sir will decide who is in charge.”
I kept silent for a minute as if considering, then turned my back to them. “Well of course . . . I am. I’ll be going along.” I teleported everyone to a balcony near the top of the center spire of Alpha. This was everyone that would be going along with the city into the north. While I didn’t know if it would be enough or too much, I wanted as much firepower as I could bring with me.
I focused inside the city, then a ground-shaking boom came as the anchor that connected the city to the outpost was released. The city shuddered as it lifted into the air, until it was a few hundred meters above even the airships. I wasn’t sure why this core was able to move while my space one was stuck, but that was for later experimentation.
The aura from my core collided violently with the undead presence that was pushing against me. Black lightning arced from spots along the border of auras but was all pulled into the spire of the city, then filtered into my mana. I wasn’t complaining about gaining the extra mana while we made our way north.
“Back to your ships, and when I give the command, activate your reactors,” I ordered.
“Aye, sir!” they all said, then started their Teleport spells.
The captains all vanished, and I moved my group into the command station. Automata sat at all the stations and were awaiting my orders. I looked over all the technology in the room and couldn’t help but smile. Considering I’d been in a cave only five or six months ago, I felt much better now. I sat in my throne at the back of the command center.
“Bring Alpha online. Activate the reactors,” I said, then braced myself.
The communication was sent, then all the reactors were turned on in all the ships. The city Alpha, the forest tower, Steel Spire, the main dungeon, and the space station all turned on their reactors, which were the size of buildings. All the buildup for this time had been worth it, in my own opinion.
The outpour of mana felt like a star exploding inside me. I was in my avatar when the reactors started, but it quickly disintegrated. I focused all the mana into my main core, like a tidal wave that had no end in sight. The ocean that represented my mana quickly reached its peak, then went past it. While I was in pain, it was a different kind of pain, transcendence almost.
The mana was following some channel I’d never noticed before, and I had studied my own mana quite extensively. I reasoned that it must be either new or hidden through some means that only higher-tier individuals could examine. I followed the stream into a swirl at the center of the ocean, considering my options, then dived into the hole. Once I reached the bottom of the ocean, it appeared to shatter around me as I went through the channel, reminding me of a pane of glass.
An empty dimension greeted me, but that was quickly changing. The mana was altering this empty place as quantum particles interacted. I wasn’t sure how I knew that was what they were, but I just did. If I judged it right, in a few years they would reach the level of atoms. I could understand what was happening but not the why or how. I momentarily wondered when the big bang would happen.
“So, we meet again,” a feminine voice called in the emptiness.
“What?! Who’s there?” I called. I had a pretty good memory of the people I’d actually interacted with, so this female voice was new to me.
“Hmm, it seems you are picking up a female voice. It’s Creation, Regan Earle.”
“Creation? Why would I meet you here?” I asked, confused. The last time I’d seen him, I’d just died. The thought was not a thrilling one at the moment. Could I have disintegrated my core due to the massive mana flow?
“Because you broke . . . no not broke, changed something again,” Creation said. The voice had changed back to male.
“What did I do this time? I was just following the mechanics of the world I went to,” I argued . . . politely. Was I about to get some sort of divine intervention for following their rules?
“Indeed, but your little quantum core network was not in the consideration of the gods of that plane when they built it,” Creation said with an amused tone.
“I’m lost.”
“Dungeons—they have one job, to cleanse the mana for the World Spirit. On the surface anyway. Once a dungeon reaches tier three, the gods siphon off some of the mana so that they can work on other planets in the universe, or increase their own power. Basically, whatever floats their boat.”
“So . . . some god is taking my mana right now?” I asked with a bit of anger. Yeah, I was selfish. But you couldn’t tell me you would smile and say ok if someone told you they were draining some of your blood to use how they saw fit.
“Nope. Thanks to your quantum network you created a whole new dimension, an . . . alternate universe if you will. Give it a few eons and you’ll be a god in your own right,” Creation replied.
“Wait, so why didn’t the gods get my mana?” That didn’t seem like something so easily bypassed. Especially, if I didn’t even know that I should be trying to avoid it.
“Oh, they tried. Quite a few have noticed how much you’re creating without using the mortals. You have that little princess to thank for this.”
“Izora? How?” I asked, then remembered that surge of mana that I’d gained from her. It had felt different. Maybe it was even more than I expected.
“Yup, exactly. She considers you a god, and a few other people are getting close to that point. That’s all it took,” Creation said simply.
“That’s all?” I asked, unconvinced.
“That’s all. Some of the old systems, created by myself and my sister for realms such as this, are the simplest.”
“I see. So, what should I do?”
“Feed it, ignore it. While there is no life in it, I will ignore it, too. But once life forms, a whole new set of laws and rules takes effect. Remember that. Just a word of advice. When one of your subcores hits tier three, make sure you modify the link in your quantum network so that you don’t create another universe.”
“Got it,” I said with a chuckle.
“That’s it for me. Keep up with the world you’re on. It has been quite enjoyable to watch for me and my sister. We even have a bet going.”
I wasn’t sure if I had, but I thought I heard something in his . . . her voice. “Bet?” I asked, surprised.
“My sister’s name is Destruction, so I’ll let you work out what our bet is on your own,” Creation said, then his presence vanished.
“Let me guess, will I destroy the world?” I said to myself.
I sighed, then turned my focus on the emptiness in front of me. I really had my hands full with Murgin right now. Though, from what I’ve learned, dungeon cores live forever, so I would have plenty of chances to take a closer look eventually.
Chapter 13
Louella
Ange
r. That was all I felt at the moment. Not only had my father just strolled in here without sending me, the ruling lord, a notice, but he couldn’t even recognize me! I don’t care how much a child changes, their parents should be able to recognize them!
“Did you hear me, girl, where is my daughter?” my father asked again, this time more forcefully.
Ezal glanced at me and was about to speak when I jerked around and said, “Right here, Marquis Coates.”
My father looked at me in surprise. My body had changed quite a lot, but my voice was still the same. He seemed to have aged a few years, even though it had only been a year since I’d left for this valley. I didn’t see his new wife around him, so at least that was a plus.
“Louella! My dear! It’s so good to see you!” my father said as he moved forward with his arms raised.
I couldn’t believe he wanted to act like there wasn’t anything wrong. Even though it had been my stepmother who’d tried to drive me from my home, he had stood by and let it happen. Maybe that was why I felt so much rage at the sight of him. The bastard chose power and influence over his own daughter.
Ezal moved between us. “Marquis Coates, please refrain from attempting to touch the viscountess,” she said in her best security leader voice.
“Girl, I’m a marquis. I can do as I please!” he said as he raised his hand to strike Ezal.
At this point, I felt something snap inside. Before I could unleash the current that was building inside my body, Ezal reacted by catching his hand and tossing him several meters by using his own weight against him. His body flew into the crowd of my father’s guards. I nearly burst out laughing when I saw the man sprawled on the ground on top of two other people.
The rest of my father’s guards reacted by drawing their weapons and surrounding the man. My own guards also rushed forward to meet the threat. Tension in the area could have been cut with a knife, but a voice called out and managed to pierce it.
“Splendid show, young lady,” said an old elf suddenly. “I haven’t seen martial skill like that in a while.”
The elf’s voice had a weird, calming tone that smoothed some of the rage I felt. I heaved several deep breaths and turned away from my father. Luckily, he was from another country, or I could have been in trouble for attacking him. But as he was in my domain, I could write it off as self-defense if anyone even bothered to ask.
Ezal had managed to knock my father unconscious, and after my father’s guards carried him away, I calmed down a bit. I turned to Ezal. “Are you alright?” While it was still early in her pregnancy, I didn’t like her taking chances.
“No problem, Mistress. Just some light exercise,” she said, then mockingly yawned.
I nodded, then addressed the elf. “May I know your name, elder?”
“Yuin Skywood, dear,” he said knowingly.
“I feel I should thank you. Without your . . . assistance, I might have killed him,” I said, trying not to growl. Just the thought of him was enough to make my blood boil. I’d been getting pretty close to launching a bolt of lightning right into his face, consequences be damned.
“Indeed. How about we retire to my humble tent so that I may have a cup of tea with you?”
“Of course, Elder Yuin,” I said with a polite smile.
I knew of Yuin Skywood, but he was more of a legend to me. All I knew was that he owned most potion and herbology shops in the capitals. He was one of the most politically immune people on the continent. One never knew when their lands and titles might be bought out from under them and they became mysteriously unable to perform in the bedroom.
~~~
When we reached Elder Yuin’s tent, I can honestly say I was surprised. I quickly learned how rich this elf was based on the armaments of his guards as well as his own garments. But, oddly, when we reached the tent, I found it could barely contain five people, and that was pushing it. Correction, it could hold quite a few people, but it was so cluttered with stuff and furniture that a person could barely move inside.
“Sorry about the mess. I like to take my home with me,” Elder Yuin said and seemed genuinely apologetic about it.
We made our way over to a small table that was already set up for tea. Ezal was even included, as there was a third cup set out as well.
“Elder Yuin, I’m afraid I only know your name from tales. What has pulled you so far from your home in the capital?” I asked, curious.
“Ah! I’m sure you talk of the Duin incident,” he said with a chuckle. “Pure coincidence that the moment I bought all his worldly belongings, he became as the kids say ‘unable to draw his sword.’”
I laughed politely, then carefully said, “Well, you do have a bit of a reputation.”
“Yes. It has allowed certain business transactions to go much smoother in the past,” Elder Yuin said with a sly grin.
I could already tell that I was probably in over my head. I would just have to try my best to not end up accidently selling the valley to him. My smile grew a bit tighter, but I managed to hold it. I took a sip of the tea, then said, “That’s a bonus if ever I heard one.”
“Quite. It has, however, kept me from making many friends over the years. Now, I’m old, as many of my peers like to remind me, but my nose still works for finding a honeypot.” He paused for a few moments as if to let the tension build. “Lady Louella, would you like to be my friend?” he asked suddenly. It sounded so ridiculous coming from the man who was over five hundred years old, yet at the same time, made my spine shiver.
“I . . . I feel I should mention that quite a few people would be upset if we became . . . friends,” I said, swirling the spoon in my cup.
“Dogs that want to be wolves. We both know where the ‘real’ power is in this little valley, though I have to say you’ve become a decent force to reckon with yourself,” Skywood said with a raised eyebrow.
I thought his words over. Of course, with my new mental abilities, it only took a few seconds. Elder Yuin was a force. A very powerful force that many people feared to anger. If I had him as an ally, then most of the merchants in Thonaca would have to take me much more seriously. As Elder Yuin pointed out, anyone that dug deep enough could easily find that Regan was the real force behind the massive changes that occurred in the valley.
Regan was being pulled in several directions as it was. If I could build up a stronger base for myself, then I could possibly relieve some of the pressure on his shoulders. I tried to think of all the pros and cons, but for every five I thought up, I was sure Elder Yuin had already thought up ten or twenty. I may have been made into a tier three, but my experience was still that of a twenty-year-old woman.
I decided to test the waters. “Let’s say we become . . . friends. What does that mean to you?” I asked, then took a sip. I doubted I would be able to see through the fog that was Skywood, but I might gain at least something I could use.
“My dear girl! Friends don’t ask for things from each other. That’s just rude,” Elder Yuin scolded, taking me by surprise. “But friends can give gifts! I was just thinking about how nice it would be to meet the person behind this,” he added, then pulled one of the cultivation stones from a nearby bag.
“Everyone knows that the creator of this lives in the tower to the south of town,” I said, examining the stone from across the table.
“This is true, but I have a feeling that he would be hard-pressed to make time for me.” He stroked the surface of the stone, reminding me of a child with his favorite toy.
“Fair point,” I agreed with a smile. Regan had gotten so many people asking for him at the tower that, to my knowledge, he just ignored most if not all of them. I wasn’t sure if he actually met any of those people. Eight times out of ten, the complaints ended up on my desk.
“You see my dilemma? I have a vested interest in removing the necromancers, and this device and the obelisks have made this town a beacon in the night. Both could be used to help many people.”
“I understand this, as does the pe
rson who created them. The problem is once they leave this valley, we no longer have sole control over them. Any power that can be used for good can be used for evil. Do you see my dilemma?” I shot back.
Elder Yuin’s face hardened slightly. I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if not for my increased perception. I had the feeling that he wasn’t used to people telling him no. He took his tea and sipped it almost as if to buy himself some time before he said, “You are correct. Now I see how a young girl such as yourself has been able to hold on to the valley for this long.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Elder Yuin was about to say something when one of my guards stuck their head into the tent. “My lady, there is a person going by the name Lines who wishes to speak with you and Lady Ezal privately.”
“Thank you, I’ll be just a moment,” I said to the guard, then turned back to Elder Yuin. “I have no problems with us being . . . friends, but my friend may not have the same idea. Also, I know you are good friends with both the king and the emperor, please give them my regards.” I released the seal on my armor a fraction, and my aura poured out.
I had no intention of giving my valley up to anyone. Even if Elder Yuin went to King Thonaca, I would fight for this place. I wouldn’t lose my home again without fighting to keep it.
I saw his eyes widen before he gave me a resigned smile. “Very well. I seem a bit tired, old age and whatnot. Please see yourself out,” Elder Yuin said with a gesture.
I bowed and turned to leave. Once we got outside, I turned to Ezal and said, “Give that guard a raise, he has impeccable timing.”
“Haha, I was just thinking the same thing. Sorry I couldn’t be of much help in there.”
“It seems once again Regan will get all the attention,” I said with a shrug.
“Jealous?”
“Of course not! I have enough trouble just keeping them off him. If they came for me too, I might have to run away again.” I’d had to deal with nobles every day when I lived in Lecazar. I was quite alright not having to deal with them often here in my valley.