by Tao Wong
I nod jerkily, staring away from him at the river. Fuck. He’s right, of course he’s right. I just, I can’t… I shudder, hands clasping before me. I can’t deal with this, I can’t. But I can’t go on like this either. “Ali, I’m sorry.”
Ali jerks his head at that, spinning around and then sighs, floating back to me. “I’ve been jerking you around too. I’ve been pushing you, to get tougher, to get harder. You need it, needed it. The System, it’s not kind, not to people in Dungeon worlds. It gets worse before it gets better.”
“I know,” my answer is a whisper, shivering. I know. Damn it, but I know. I saw the things in Kluane, I know how out-leveled we are. I still remember the bones. I just can’t… “Help me, please.”
“Of course,” his lips twist slightly, Ali floating back down to eye-level. “That’s what I’m here for.”
I jerkily nod, shivering in the cold as I stare in the river. My mind shifts and skitters, trying to find purchase as my emotions roil beneath me. “Ali, please, no more half-truths, no more hiding shit or playing mysterious guru. I need you to be straight with me, even if you don’t think it’s worth it.”
“Fine. On that note – reconsider your stance on Roxley,” Ali says.
“What?” I frown and then my eyes narrow. “You just want to watch.”
“Yes, but also, he’s a Truinnar noble – out of favor perhaps, but still a noble. His favor could open doors for us in the future,” Ali states matter-of-factedly.
“Sleep with him to get my way?” I can’t help but frown at that.
Ali shrugs again, “What do you think he’ll be doing to you? Anyway, you’re so backed up, I swear, I can see it coming out of your ears.”
“I do not need advice on my love life from you,” I state, quite seriously and the rage under my voice clamps Ali mouth shut. Good. I turn back to the water, keeping my hands clasped as I work to get my emotions back under control.
An hour later, I find myself knocking on a door. When she comes out, I can tell she’s been sleeping but her smile breaks out when she sees me.
“Hi! I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” she whispers, voice low as we try to avoid waking up anyone else.
“Care to go for a walk?” I murmur, gesturing away and she pauses for a moment before nodding, ducking back in to grab her coat.
Ali was right. It has been too long. Karen steps out, sneaking around the bodies that make up the school, clutching her thin robe to a tight body and somehow having brushed her brown hair in the few seconds since I’ve seen her. I smile slightly, enjoying the sight and the lack of complications here as I take her hand and lead her to the water.
Chapter 20
“Morning!” I greet everyone at the breakfast table. What I get is chilly silence from Lana, an uncomfortable look from Richard and Rachel’s snort. Richard’s latest conquest takes one look at the situation, gives him a quick kiss and heads out, swaying a bountiful ass on the way out.
“Ohayō Baka,” is Mikito’s reply as she turns to me, placing her bowl of rice down.
“You know, I know what that means,” I point out, frowning at her. She just turns back to her breakfast and I look at the group.
“What?” Shit, were the Yerick that much of an issue? I thought we had talked it out yesterday.
Lana stands up, dumping her plate in the sink and walks out, never once saying a word to me. I open my mouth then shut it, before looking to the others. “Richard…?”
“Nope. Not a chance,” Richard holds his hands up and looks to Rachel. “You good to hit the Shop?”
She nods at that, standing up and they repeat the plate dumping action. As she walks past me, Rachel whispers under her breath “Jerk”.
I’m just left standing there, dumb-founded. What the hell? “Mikito?”
“Baka,” she just replies and concentrates on her food while I puzzle it out. Fine, this sounded personal. The only thing that I did that could have been personal was Karen – but really? Lana pretty much told me to go get laid, so what the hell? I don’t get women. I really, really, don’t.
As I finish working it out, I realise Mikito’s gone and left the kitchen, leaving me with the dishes. Now that’s just mean.
My team having dispersed to do their own thing, I find myself with nothing to do. At least, nothing that I want to do but someone has to. I’m not exactly sure when I became the diplomat for the god damn human race in Whitehorse, but well, here I am. Waiting to see Capstan to have a chat with him while Ali, back in his invisible mode at my request, does handstands.
The door opens and Capstan walks in and I realise what the higher ceilings and wider doorframe of Roxley’s base are for. When you deal with a wide variety of beings, you make certain concessions to architecture. I wonder how long it’ll take us to figure that one out. Up close, Capstan is even bigger and more imposing, his movements having that feral grace that you see in large cats. He carries no obvious weapons though he continues to wear his simple dark brown bodysuit with armor plates. It’s expensive armor – lighter, stronger and easier to replace than the ones we bought.
He studies me at the same time, eyes flicking over my form and up above me before he speaks, voice rumbling like a series of rocks ground together, “Greetings of the morning to you Redeemer of the Dead John Lee.”
“Ali, does he have a system companion too?” I think to Ali, putting on a closed lip smile to the minotaur. No baring teeth – that might be bad.
“It’s First Fist Ulrick, and probably not. Adventuring families often purchase the Class Skill Observe from the Shop for their children when they can,” Ali answers.
“Good Morning First Fist Ulrick,” I parrot and then blink, realizing what just happened “You speak English?”
“Yes,” Capstan continues and then stops, patiently waiting.
“So…” I look at him and then brace myself, deciding to just say what I came here to say, “Look, you probably guessed, but there are people who aren’t thrilled with your presence. Especially in such large numbers.”
“Yes,” Capstan says again.
“I believe Roxley’s asked you to keep your people indoors till you aren’t his guests anymore, but I wanted to add, it might be an idea for your people to move together in pairs. Well, not you obviously,” I add, “but, those who aren’t able to defend themselves.”
“You are threatening us?” Capstan rumbles and I hold my hand up. Capstan growls and I pause, freezing in space as I realise that might not go over well. Right, cultural differences.
“No, not me. Warning, not threatening. It’s…” I frown, then continue “look, idiots are idiots. I don’t, the City Council doesn’t, have control over everyone. Not the way we work, so some of those idiots, well, they might do something stupid. I’d like it if that stupid thing didn’t end up with anybody dead.”
“You are asking that we not kill our attackers,” Capstan rumbles again and standing next to him, I realise I can smell the musky tang that I’ve come to associate with livestock.
“Well, put that way, probably?” I say, “It’ll make your life more difficult and probably mine.”
“You are a leader here,” Capstan says.
“Yes. And no. I have an Adventuring Party and we’re one of the highest leveled, so I’ve got some influence but I’m not in the chain of command,” I state bluntly. No reason to lie here and if he knows the truth, hopefully, he won’t expect miracles.
Capstan copies my nod, the motion jerky and unnatural on the creature.
“System bought language skills often come with body language knowledge too,” Ali says helpfully next to me. “Also, if you didn’t guess, he’s amused.”
“Amused? How the hell is he amused?” I squint at the large Yerick and still can’t see how Ali is getting amused from the giant brown, fur covered boulder in front of me.
“Check his tail. Also, he’s tapped his hand on his leg thrice,” Ali replies as the same time Capstan says, “We will not kill humans if we can Redeemer.�
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“Thanks. Do you mind me asking, what your plans are?” I say.
“If the stars will it, we will settle and build. A Dungeon World is a lucrative world and if Lord Roxley allows us to do so, we will Adventure and earn the blessings of the System,” Capstan answers again, his hand splaying at the start of what he said.
“Ah…” I frown, thinking and then shrug. If we’ve got to have them here, then we might as well have them on our side. “Once you’re settled, talk to me? Might be able to give you a few directions about what’s out there.”
“That will be done Redeemer,” Capstan does his jerky head nod thing again and Ali to my side snorts.
“Well, I guess that is it. I’m sure you and Roxley still have more to discuss,” I automatically offer my hand and then wince, already beginning to withdraw. However, Capstan does not react to it with aggression this time and so I let it hang out there where he stares at it before reaching out to clasp it, engulfing my entire hand and half of my arm in his. Then he squeezes.
Son-of-a-bitch! He crushes down on my hand and I reflexively squeeze back, both of us locked in a sudden contest of strength. Of course, he’s got the advantage considering I’m squeezing only a tiny portion of his body, but he’d win anyway. I can feel bones creak and muscles begin to mush and anger flares in me, my lips curling in a full snarl. Capstan just returns my gaze, no trace of anger or bloodlust in there. Just as I begin to get ready to curse him out and stab him, he lets go and steps back.
“May we see the dawn again together Redeemer,” Capstan rumbles and I glare at him.
“Ali, tell me that Alpha-male bullshit is part of their culture,” I think furiously at my companion. I came here to keep things peaceful, not start the fight myself.
“You should be happy, he thought you were tough enough to test to see who has a bigger dick. Which, by the way, he does,” Ali pauses and continues. “Literally. Yerick are famed for it actually. The occasional Yerick that gets into the business does really well for himself.”
I’ve already tuned Ali out after the first few words for the most part, a skill I’ve learnt a while ago, “Goodbye Capstan.”
I then walk out, chanting the minor heal spell in my mind as I leave. Mana infuses my bones, knitting things together and smoothing out crushed muscles, “Ali, why the hell did he feel the need to test me?”
“Uh, you told him you were one of the leaders. Also, if you’ve forgotten, you’ve got two titles, an Advanced class and more levels than him. At least from what he could read,” Ali shrugs. “Not his fault you cheat.”
Put that way, it makes sense but… “This is going to happen a lot isn’t it?”
“Yup. Get stronger faster boy-o,” Ali notes grimly and I sigh.
Fuck. As if I needed another reason to run around getting shot at.
It’s been ages since I’ve done this, gone hunting by myself. As much as I like the team, there’s a liberating feeling being out here alone without having to worry about where people are and how they are doing. No need to worry about their inability to run away or sneak up on enemies, just me and the shadows.
I’m over an hour and a half from Whitehorse, deep in the forests and up a mountain after taking a pair of backtrails that came off the highway. I doubt a single other human has been down this way since the System turned on, the roads so badly damaged and washed out that I’d switched to armor mode to traverse it.
Such a strange thing, sneaking around with Sabre in armor mode. It should be a lot harder than it is, sliding from shadow to shadow without disturbing a leaf and yet, more than once, I manage to locate my prey and kill it with a single shot or strike without it ever noticing me. If I had to guess, it’s the damn System adjusting reality, pulling shadows closer, making the steps I place softer and lighter.
The forest around me is quiet and strange, the typical Yukon alpine forest of spruce, willow and fir trees having mutated, some growing spikes, others gaining a new sheen to their bark. I accidentally brush against a tree that was once a paper birch and set the contact point on fire. The fire dies away after a moment, leaving the tree unharmed and me with a thundering heart. In addition to the mutated trees, additional fast-growing vines drape the area between trees. The vines are dotted with bright red flowers, some already fruiting with a fleshy, reddish-yellow oval fruit. I’ve taken a few of the flowers and fruit, figuring that at the least Sally might know what they are. Thus far, she’s been less than enthused with the various flora and fauna available in the Yukon natively. Of course, there’s always hope that the mutated variety might be of greater use.
It’s the silence that gets me, the lack of birds or other animals a sign that something nasty is out there. It has been like this for the last half-hour but whatever it is, I hadn’t come across signs of it until now. And what a sign it is.
“Earth elemental,” Ali confirms and I eye the ground before me. The earth isn’t just torn up, it looks churned – as if the ground itself pulled itself apart and then was dropped by a very large, angry toddler. Shattered and uprooted trees give a clear indication of the elemental’s path and for a moment, I almost think of going back. Almost.
It’s an hour of fast-moving to catch up to the elemental, only slowing down once I’m close. I gently pull myself up the top of the hill, sticking my head above it to see the creature continuing its journey. Finding it would have been a little faster if it didn’t randomly just move around, though now that I look at it, I wonder if it was so random.
Thirty feet long and twenty feet wide at a guess, the elemental moves on six legs along the ground with a head that is reminiscent of a toddler made sculpture of a lizard. As it moves, the earth churns up around in a reverse waterfall before falling away behind it, the gold its sifting for sticking to its body. My jaw drops as I stare at the creature, already, half its body is plated in gold from the bottom up.
“System’s balls – that’s not an Earth Elemental, that’s a Metal Elemental!” Ali says next to me as he stares at it. Even as he spots the creature, the status bar fills in.
Metal Elemental (Level 43)
HP: 2470/2470
As if the creature can hear Ali, it cranes its neck around and then slowly lumbers around. My eyes widen and then I look at the spirit who suddenly looks sheepish.
“Shit boy-o, forgot they can see me. Best get killing,” Ali points and starts floating upwards and out of range of the creature.
I don’t have to be asked twice, cursing the little Spirit as I bring my rifle to bear. I depress the trigger and am rewarded by the flash of the beam striking it, flakes of gold burning off. I continue firing, grinning slightly even as the creature begins to pick up steam. 300 hundred meters when a creature is 30 feet long isn’t that far at all, but I’m not worried.
“Oh, John, the QSM won’t work either. Elementals are like spirits, we exist in multiple dimensions at the same time,” Ali calls out from above and I curse him again as I throw myself to the side, attempting to roll away from it. The elemental clips me as I unsuccessfully get out of the way, sending me spinning through a series of trees before I come to a standstill. Vertigo takes me for a moment and I can feel the bruises coming already but nothing major seems broken.
I look up, the creature slowing down from its charge and beginning to turn which lets me open fire. Slow on the turns eh? I grin and start running in a circle, opening fire as I go and dodging around trees when I can and on a few occasions, just going through them. I’m careful not to do that too often though – some of these trees have mutated enough that I probably would bounce right off. Stupid damn System. There’s no reason why, if I can bench press a tank that I can’t jump through a tree – even if the tree itself can hold, its roots should tear out from the earth. Then again, under the influence of mana and the System, straight Newtonian physics has long ago taken a bow and exited stage left. Some things just don’t make sense.
Running and shooting is easy, and I chip away at the creature’s health for long minutes
even as it pulls more metal towards it, regenerating the damage. I’m winning the damage game until my rifle does a distressing beep and I realise I’m out of charges. I move to reload and realise I’ve already done it once. Oh shit…
I keep jogging as I slap the rifle back into its resting slot above my shoulder and try to decide what to do next, eyeing the monstrosity’s health. Only half down and that’s with me using both mana batteries. I could possibly outrun the creature, though a glance at Sabre’s battery indicates I’m taxing it too. Fighting the creature without Sabre would be suicide, so I can hope to run and risk getting caught when I am out of power or I can fight it now. Really, who am I kidding?
A savage grin tearing my face apart, I rush it. Right then, quadruped with a big, wide body. The play here is simple – get close, get on top and stab at it from above till it dies. I rush the elemental, going straight for its face and as it goes for a bite, I jump and use its head to vault myself upwards onto its back. At the apex of my jump, I call forth my sword and lead the attack with it, slamming into the earth and metal body of the creature. I feel the sword bite in deep and then the body shudders, the sword snapping in my grip. That was a first in a while – as I leveled, so had my weapon and its durability and sharpness had increased considerably.
I grin, crouched with a leg splayed out behind me and a hand on its body as I call forth my sword again. Just as I am about to plunge the blade, a spike made of gold forms from the body, impaling my back thigh. It’s only a last-minute jerk of my body that stops another spike from impaling my torso and I scream into my helmet as I swing at the spike that impales me, shattering it.
Another second as I roll away, spikes jutting out from the creature’s body as it continues its unconventional attack. I kick off with my good foot, sending me spinning blindly into the trees and coming to a rest a good forty feet away, a thick gouge in the earth marking my landing site.