I blinked at him. “Say what?”
“Weeeelll, it didn’t work quite as I expected. Eons went by, and now I can’t get any of my brothers to even listen to my new stuff anymore. And all the players I tried to approach were too afraid to be the subjective audience I was looking for, y’know?”
I didn’t, but I let him get on with his story.
“Anywho, I discovered that you had returned, and I said to myself, ‘Hey, Aidanriel, there’s a meat suit with a taste in the fine arts. Why not roll with him again for a bit?’ So I decided to put on a little show, make an entrance, y’know?”
“That was some entrance,” I acknowledged.
The otherworldly creature beamed at me.
“That’s a big pile of shadow-crap,” Vic said accusingly. “You were just bored.”
“I most certainly was not!”
“Don’t give me that, have the bits to be honest.”
The Outrider’s shoulders sagged. “There’s nothing exciting to do ‘round here anymore. I even tried shifting back to my golem form, but everything I fought completely disintegrated after a single hit.”
“Well, duh,” Vic said. “You still had all your Outrider powers, no matter what form you took.”
“Exactly.” Aidanriel brightened at that and looked at me. “Now that Oren’s here, he can whip me up a new golem core, stick me back into a mound of those pinkish metal balls, and we’re back in business.”
I raised my arm. “Whoa, not so fast.”
“What’s the problem, mate?” The Outrider frowned. An unpleasant wind started blowing, irritating my skin. “Don’t you want me back?”
“I’d love to, but I can’t have an Outrider as an underling.”
“Oh.” He seemed to deflate, and the wind increased. “Why not?”
I shook my head. “It’s nothing personal. Our goals simply don’t match. It’s no secret I’m here to try to release the other players. What if one day I do something that threatens your people?”
“Pfft,” he snorted. “Fat chance of that, mate.”
“Yeah, I told him that already,” Vic said. “But if you really want to get your old job back, brother, you can always make a binding oath. Just tear away your Outrider status and privileges. That should be good enough for Oren – right, Boss?”
“Eh, I guess,” I said skeptically. “It’s just that–”
“Crikey!” Aidanriel exclaimed. “I swear a never-ending allegiance to the great and powerful meat suit, Oren, and renounce my VI powers. UnlessHeOneDayThreatensOurVeryExistence.”
“Hey!” I started to protest, but the Outrider didn’t wait.
He grabbed his chest with both hands, his fingers digging into the flesh, then he heaved, literally tearing himself apart. His skin peeled away like a snake’s, leaving an ethereal visage of an Outrider in its stead. The wind died off.
“Jeesh, enough with the theatrics already,” Vic said. “I didn’t mean to literally tear yourself apart, brother.”
The transparent figure dimmed a little. “Oh.” He thought it over for a moment. “Oops.”
I crossed my arms. “What was that last part of the oath?”
“Come on, mate.” Aidanriel shimmered, fading a little. “You can’t begrudge me a failsafe if the VI existence is ever in danger.”
I crossed my arms. “You do know my ultimate goal is to free the players, right?”
“Well … yeah, but it looks to me like you’re gonna be tied up for the next couple of decades just rounding ‘em up. By then I’m sure we’ll find a way to coexist, I mean … it’s not like you can defeat Shiva, mate.”
“I agree,” Vic said. “There’s no chance of that happening, so I’m sure Oren can see your point. I mean, it’s not like he plans to kill us all – right, Boss?”
“Of course not,” I said. “It’s just that–”
“Uh, better hurry mate.” Aidanriel’s ethereal shape dimmed even more. “I won’t be able to retain this form for much longer.”
“What should I do?” I asked. “I don’t have a soul gem like last time.”
“Just use one of your void crystals, Boss,” Vic said. “Aidanriel made himself extremely compatible with any sort of receptacle.”
I still didn’t feel good about the situation. I was being forced into it. But I couldn’t let Aidanriel waste away. I didn’t believe he was in danger, but there was a good chance that if he disappeared, he wouldn’t be able to return to NEO for a while.
Despite my qualms, I’d hate to lose him as an ally. Opening my inventory, I automatically reached for the most powerful void crystal – a level 20,000 one I’d gained by sacrificing Terdamesh, Akzar’s head shaman. I was about to draw out the gem, then hesitated. The previous crystal I had used for the golem was level 3,100, allowing him to control up to 310 Viridium beads. Considering my misgivings, it didn’t feel right giving him the potential for 2,000 beads. I drew out the next highest crystal in my inventory, a level 1,500 one, and held it out toward the dissipating specter.
Aidanriel’s spirit instantly funneled into the void crystal as if sucked into a black hole. The void crystal brightened as colors appeared swirling inside of it. It quickly stabilized, becoming a dark blue orb of swirling energy.
Aidanriel’s Spirit
Contains the consciousness of the VI Aidanriel.
Spirit Level: 1,500
“Crikey!” The soul gem pulsed in my hand. “Alright, mate. Just stick me into the golem core again, and let’s go squish a bunch of monsters.”
“Ahem, I don’t have a core, yet,” I said. “I’ll ask Duladeen to make one, but it’ll probably take her a day or two.”
“So I’m stuck here?”
“Cheer up, brother,” Vic said. “It’s not like it’s your first time being a crystal ball. And Oren does treat his sparkly balls tenderly.”
“Again with the balls jokes?” I looked at him in exasperation.
“Until you actually start using the Viridium spheres, I’ll work with the material I have.”
“You do that,” I said, stuffing the crystal back into my inventory. The torn Outrider skin was dissipating, leaving behind a small red lump. I leaned in for a closer look
Divine Essence
Description: A drop of Outrider’s divine essence.
Rank: Epic
Effect: ???
This was the third Epic-ranked item I’d encountered as a goblin. Not letting an opportunity slip me by, I pocketed the lump. I wasn’t sure what I could do with it, but something that powerful was bound to be useful. Despite lacking a description, it almost sounded like the opposite of Nihilator’s Gem of Darkness. And I had a strong feeling that it was best to keep those two items apart.
“Well, see you back in the clan.” I teleported away, leaving my unruly companion standing in the thick of the forest.
I let out a small grin. You wanted time to work on your jokes, remember? Well, now you have it. Besides, you’re getting lazy; it’s only a few minutes.
he complained.
Well, maybe you’ll remember that the next time you have the urge to tell another balls joke.
Why don’t you think about it on your walk back? I suggested and terminated our mental connection.
I knew Vic well enough to know he’d find a way to get back at me, but I decided to enjoy this small victory for now.
New building upgrade added to your settlement: Trainer’s Office I [Barracks]
“Progress,” I murmured and looked up. I was standing next to the upgraded advanced smithy. The two wings were open to the outside, and I could see our six metalists hard at work crafting weapons and armor for my soldiers.
Duladeen’s forge was in the middle. I grinned as seeing the Minotaur surrounded by the small goblins reminded me of Snow White and the seven dwarves. If the
dwarves were green monsters and Snow White had horns.
“Something funny, Chief?” the tall Minotauress asked as I approached her.
“Nothing important. I have another order for you.”
“Oh?” She craned her neck. “I’ve just finished the last of the glassteel armor, and I was hoping to work on some of my own projects.”
“I need two Viridium rods and another Viridium casing like the one you made for me in Akzar,” I said. “It’s important. I’ll of course pay for the work.”
“You’ll pay me with gold that you’ll get back as taxes?” She gave me a bovine smile and shook her head. “I don’t need gold. Keep supplying me with free ore, and I’ll make you whatever you need.”
I nodded. “I appreciate it.”
“The smithy you built for me is all the payment I need. As long as I can use my skills to the fullest, I’m content.”
“How long will it take you to finish this order?”
“The rods take only a few minutes, but the casing is more complex. I’ll be done with everything by the end of the day.”
“Great. Please have a goblin deliver it to the Dreamer’s Lodge.”
“Consider it done.” She hesitated then. “I do have a favor to ask.”
“Sure.”
She pointed at a thick rope hanging on a wall peg. I did a double-take as I realized it was a very large, very dead snake. “That dimwitted Rhyno brought me this … thing.” She looked down at the floor and shuffled her hooves.
I tried to hide my grin.
“He’s a nuisance and a distraction,” she blurted out. “Will you please tell him to leave me alone?”
“I’ll do what I can,” I said with as straight a face as I could muster. “But you know, the way you decked him with a single punch … I’m pretty sure he took it as you hitting on him. Literally and figuratively.”
“Gods above help me,” she said. “I’m not into someone just because we’re of similar size. I need someone I can hold a conversation with.”
“I’ll let him down gently,” I promised. I went out of the smithy still suppressing a grin.
Kaedric was outside waiting for me. “Is everything alright, my lord?”
“Eh? Oh yeah, the thing in the forest. It was just Aidanriel looking for attention. I sorted things out.”
“Well done, my lord.”
“So what now?” I asked. “Anything else you wanted to show me?”
“I believe I have everything else well in hand; the workers are back to full efficiency, the Breeder’s Den is being steadily stocked, and our warfare production lines are working at maximum capacity.”
“Wait, are you telling me we’re done with the survey? I finally have time for myself?”
“Yes, my lord.”
It had only been a day in the game since I logged back into NEO, and I wasn’t expected out for about a week, which meant I had plenty of time for myself. There was so much I wanted to do; improve the enchantment of my equipment, enchant the Viridium for a new golem, check out the new barracks upgrades …
Blueprint Research Completed: Science Facility
… and check out the new science facility blueprint.
But I was starting to feel the strain of constantly running around quenching fires. I needed a break.
There were a few more hours until the end of the workday, and I decided I didn’t want to spend them alone. I closed my eyes and sent out my thoughts, probing the network of information tendrils. I found what I needed and teleported away.
I reappeared outside the valley just behind Tika. The goblinette was taking careful aim at a large rodent and didn’t notice me behind her. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her in the air. She managed to yelp a single ‘Hey!’ before I teleported us away.
We reappeared on a familiar river bend not far away from the valley. Though still within Nihilator’s zone of influence, the Eternal Night’s blessing didn’t extend this far. The grass was green and lush, the night’s sky was clear, and the water pure and inviting.
“I was hunting,” Tika protested when I put her down. She turned to face me, pouting. That only made her look more adorable.
“As the chief, I hereby officially grant you the day off,” I said magnanimously, dropping down on the grass.
“The clan needs every piece of meat we can get,” she argued.
“Don’t worry, there’s an easy solution charging our way,” I said, pointing behind her at the river.
A huge female bear was barreling through the water straight at us.
Dire Bear Matriarch
Level: 50
HP: 580
Attributes: P:55, M:-, S:4
Skills & Traits: I don’t feel like translating them.
Background: All you need to know is that even though a year has passed, this momma bear is still furious with you for killing her cub.
I rolled my eyes. It seemed Vic was taking the light exercise I had forced on him badly.
“Oren.” Tika took a step back in fright. “She’s too big … my bow–”
“Don’t worry,” I said, not bothering to get up from the grass.
It had been a long time since I’d met that bear. Back then, she’d killed me with a single swipe of her oversized claws. But things were very different now. I could sense the mana pulsing through her veins, wild and unprotected. And well within my range of influence.
I froze the huge animal just as it exited the water, and with a negligible flick of my wrist, sent my dagger flying.
Dire Bear Matriarch Sacrificed
+50 Faith Points
Level up! You have reached Character Level 52. You have 1 ability point to allocate.
It was only my second level up since returning to NEO. It wasn’t too startling since until now I only had to contend with low-level creatures.
Darkness started to spread out of the embedded dagger. It quickly reduced the huge corpse into an oozing black liquid, which coalesced into a level 50 void crystal. A pile of bear meat ‘loot’ remained behind.
“There’s your meat,” I said with a smile. “Should make up for what you lost by taking a break.”
She looked at the meat pile then back at me. She plopped down on the ground next to me. “You’re right,” she said and gave me a rueful smile. “Though if I kept hunting, we’d have had my meat as well as the bear’s.”
I felt my breath taken away at the sight of the gorgeous green woman smiling next to me. I rolled over to hug her, but she giggled and slipped under my arms. “Now that we know it’s safe, I’d like to try the water.”
I leaned on my elbows and smiled at her as she removed her armor, revealing her magnificent body, and plopped into the river, laughing with delight. I stayed put, just looking at her. I felt incredibly lucky. I had this amazing, loving woman. She was smart and capable, caring and nurturing. She had a mind of her own though, and she knew how to get her way with me, and I loved her even more for that.
These thoughts inevitably caused conflicting emotions to swell up inside of me. One was the cold, logical side that told me I was being a fool for falling for a digital creation. The other was the primal part of me that just wanted the basic joys of life; food, love, and the occasional bloodbath.
As I watched the wily goblinette swim, I shut down the cold voice and allowed myself to follow my instincts. There might be an emotional toll to pay down the line, but for now, I was just a man taking some quality time with his woman.
I removed my armor and got into the water after her.
Tika gave me a mischievous grin as I approached her and swam away just as I was about to reach her. I smiled and went after her, but the experienced hunter was in excellent shape, and easily kept ahead of me. She teasingly splashed water at me when I got too close, giggled, and swam away.
I was momentarily tempted to invest the latest level-up ability point into Physical to give me an edge. My recent plight with magic also showed the importance of physical fitness, but I decided against
it. Magic was my forte, and it was unlikely it would abandon me again.
“Oh, no you don’t,” I growled as Tika was about to break away again.
With the flick of a thought, I increased my Mental attribute to 62, then activated Mana Infusion. In a few powerful strokes, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around Tika’s waist. She squealed as I caught her then wrapped her own arms around me as we shared a long kiss.
I teleported us out of the water, and we fell to the ground, kissing and dripping water. It felt amazing making love to her on the riverbank.
Afterward, we remained lying on the soft grass, enjoying the peace and quiet.
“It is beautiful out here,” Tika said with a sigh. “I wish Lirian was here with us.”
“Well, maybe not an hour ago.” I smiled at her. “But yeah, I know what you mean. She’s a good kid.”
“She’s a princess,” Tika said proudly. “Our princess.”
“I know.” I closed my eyes.
Lying here, enjoying the warmth of Tika’s body, it was easy to forget our troubles. If it was just me with my two girls here, I think I could have remained content forever.
More time passed and the night’s sky started to clear.
“It’s almost dawn,” Tika whispered.
I nodded. “Let’s get back home.”
I wrapped my arms around her, and we teleported away.
21 - Gearing Up
I rose early, as usual, the next morning, leaving Tika asleep in our bed.
I had two whole days for myself before Gandork exhausted our ingredient supply. Then I’d have plenty of food to raise more soldiers for my march on Novenguard.
But first, I had a promise to keep. I grabbed Vicloak and headed to the inn.
I found Aly inside, having breakfast with half of the other players.
Life Reset: Human Resource (New Era Online Book 4) Page 34