Gloominess +4: The Cradle of Gods. A LitRPG series: Book 4

by Elian Tars

  “Yeah! That’s the spirit!” a girl exclaimed approvingly from her docked boat. Jumping to her feet, she greeted us, waving her half-empty wineskin.

  Chapter 20

  Penta

  A blind man would see that Gerta was one of Noriduel’s people. She was the prime example of a mercenary woman: she drank, told funny stories full of dirty details, drank some more, and laughed loudly. When it got hot from the midday sun, she wasn’t shy to get naked in order to cool off. Nor was she shy to offer me to have sex to “pass the time and have some fun” several times during our two-day long voyage. And although I didn’t like blondes much, I had to admit that she was quite pretty. Her curly locks were in harmony with her tanned face, and the harsh mercenary life had made her figure fine-cut. I refused her advances with some disappointment. A part of me kept convincing me that there was no harm in a little bit of fun, but a bigger part of me was against it, arguing that it was dangerous to get involved with someone I’ve just met. And in the middle of the ocean at that. There was always room for betrayal. Also, if some creature jumped out of the water, we’d be helpless. Those were my two top reasons for turning her down, but there were many more.

  “Aren’t you afraid?” I asked after turning down one more offer of hers, wishing to change the subject as quickly as possible. “I’m not a sailor, but I wager that you need a bigger vessel for a trip like this one.”

  “I get what you mean,” Gerta answered, swinging her leg over the edge of the boat. “Don’t fret. I’ve mastered Sailing, so it won’t be easy to sink my boat. And thanks to the Great One, I know that the weather will be nice.”

  I was astonished. “Did Noriduel give you an ability to predict the weather?”

  “Of course, not!” Gerta chuckled and reached for the wineskin, which she’d fill from time to time from the keg that was standing on the stern. “But he can do that.”

  And just like that, I found out about a new Everyday Skill. It looked like any activity that you were even remotely good at, could be shown in the Everyday Skills column. As for Gods being reliable meteorologist, that also made sense. They could probably predict the weather thanks to their ability to feel the energy and its fluctuations, so to say.

  In the end, it took us less than two days to get to Penta, the island where the Black Serpent was resting. Luckily, we didn’t run into any trouble during the journey, so we were able to meet Horn’s deadline.

  “We’re here!” Gerta exclaimed, stopping some sixty feet away from the sandy shore. “Now get out of the boat. I can’t wait to get away from this cursed place.”

  The island looked anything but cursed. Hell, it looked like a holiday resort, a real tropical paradise even. I wasn’t accustomed to seeing so much color in the gloomy Zurtein. I wanted to lie on the golden sand under the green leaves of the palm trees forever, watching the azure sea and the white clouds pass by.

  “See you! Thanks for the lift!” Jumping out of the boat, I ended up waist-deep in the water. I would’ve preferred being dry, but Gerta told me that she had no intention to dock here. Noriduel supported her decision, not wishing to risk putting her in danger.

  The Old Man, on the other hand, wasn’t as worried, certain that I’d find the Shard. But no matter how hard I wished for the artifact to be in some cave, which I’d quickly find and loot, I doubted that I’d be so lucky. When I first received the vision, I thought that the Black Serpent was some sort of a landmark. But then I started to think more about it than about the island. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed that it was the Serpent who had the Shard. And since the Old Man hadn’t corrected me, I was certain that I was right.

  But what if we were both wrong?

  Having stepped on the shore, I turned around and saw Greta rowing away as fast as he could. Looking at her, I began to wonder why the hell was I doing this. Anyone in their right mind stayed away from the Serpent, and here I was, marching right into its mouth.

  However, it was too late to turn back now.

  Thanks to my high level, good equipment and the fact that the Old Man had my back, I was rather optimistic. My patron was watching after me and wouldn’t let me do anything stupid. Besides, it was he who sent me to Penta.

  Casting the useless thoughts away, I took a look around. Some hundred and fifty feet away from me was the border between the beach and the jungle and a boulder. Having approached it, I took out the trishula and used it to etch a crescent into the rock so that I don’t get lost. Drawing the moon seemed appropriate as I was a Gleam of Darkness. I looked at my piece of art and thought that it looked too natural. So I crossed the crescent with three parallel lines, making it look more man-made.

  Having drawn the mark, I followed the shore further up. I was walking slowly, constantly throwing glances at the jungle to the left, and at the water to the right. Swimming in the azure depths were beautiful fish of different color, size and species — crabs and crayfish with huge shells on their backs weren’t something that I saw every day. Just like the red monkeys that were rocking on the palm trees and the loud and colorful parrots. In a different time and in a different world, I would be watching the local flora and fauna with great interest, but now I paid no attention to them. My brain detected their presence, but that was all. They weren’t a threat to me.

  In an hour and a half, I went around the whole island, but found no other signs of sentient life.

  I stopped near the boulder and scratched my head. “Have we arrived too late?” I asked aloud, thinking that the Serpent could’ve easily left by the time it took me to finally get here. And even though Gerta had said that five days ago the giant reptile was lying on the beach and digesting its meal, what did we know about the speed of its metabolism?

  We haven’t, boy. I sense its energy. Stay focused.

  Where is it? I inquired. So much about talking face to face... Was he afraid of getting involved in the fight?

  I don’t know. Continue searching the island. I’ll be with you, boy. If I sense the “Serpent” or the “Shard,” I’ll let you know.

  Okay. Well, I’ll go into the jungle then.

  The Old Man said nothing, silently approving of my plan.

  I didn’t know how long I was wandering around the island, but I managed to find three caves. Each time I’d go down one of the dark throats, I’d feel a slight tremble of anticipation. And every time I’d get disappointed. I found no Legendary artifacts, not even a half-rotted chest with a couple of coins in it.

  The sun was setting down, so I decided to have dinner. In addition to the usual Traveler’s Breakfast (bread, dried meat and cheese), today I could diversify my menu with tropical fruits. During one of the hikes, I found a fruit that looked like a mango, clusters of something that looked like grapes, and even a couple of apples. It took the Old Man quite some time to let me know that my findings were edible. Since I haven’t stuffed my face during dinner, I could help myself to some dessert.

  “So what are we gonna do?” I asked, chewing the mango-looking fruit, which was a bit darker than its companion on Earth and not as sweet. “Are you sure that we’re not wasting our time?”

  I’m sure. I saw your vision. There’s a chance that the “Shard” was hidden somewhere on the island, but I can’t sense its energy.

  So the “Serpent” has it?

  There’s a good chance that it does, boy, the Old Man drawled.

  Do I have to kill it? Is it intelligent?

  I don’t know, boy... And though I didn’t see him, he sounded as if he was shaking his head.

  It seemed like he was trying to find the right words, so I waited.

  Do you remember when you asked if the “Feathords” were intelligent? he finally said.

  I nodded. I do. You compared their intelligence with Vella’s. You said they were friends with the “Ogroids,” and companions to humans. Or something along those lines.

  That’s right. So, “Zeyguses” are more intelligent than “Feathords.” They live on their own. I thin
k that humans would call them half-intelligent, boy. Or... Maybe quarter-intelligent. I won’t give such evaluations. As far as I’m concerned, every living creature has its strengths and weaknesses.

  Okay. So, this “Serpent” is a member of a rather intelligent species of sea reptiles. In fact, it’s an intelligent being and much stronger than the “Sea Serpents” that fell victims to the “Decay” and attacked the “Frogoids,” but no more than that?

  Sort of, yes. But this specific “Zeygus” is different. It’s even wrong to call it a “Zeygus.” It’s much bigger than its brethren. And its color is also a bit different — it’s too black. The energy it possesses could belong only to a God.

  I spent a couple of seconds pondering. I didn’t like this at all.

  So you’re telling me that I’m going to fight a God? Again?

  I’m being honest with you, boy. I don’t want to hide anything from you.

  I nodded in annoyance. You tell me such things only after I’ve asked you a hundred of questions. And in such a matter-of-factly manner.

  The Old Man actually sighed. Enough, boy. Don’t forget that I can see everything that’s going on in your head. You’re not as angry as you think you are. So stop grunting and listen to me. We need to get all the “Shards.” The ones you already have are enough for a start. With them, you’ll restore “Zurtarn.” Right now, it’s of great importance to get more information about this unusual “Zeygus.” If you can defeat it and get the “Shard” today, it’ll be a great victory for us. But if you don’t, it won’t be a big deal. You can use your strongest skills, but I wouldn’t advise you to spend “Lives.” Use the “Power of Light” only if you’re absolutely sure that it’ll help you win.

  Well, I drawled. I understand. The only thing left to do is to find the “Serpent.”

  I’m sure that you’ll be able to do it.

  Chapter 21

  The Black Serpent

  I was roaming around the island looking for the giant Zeygus. The Old Man had said that these amphibians were capable of crawling far away from the water, but I hadn’t found any traces of it. Apparently, the Serpent was somewhere on the island, but its trails had been washed away by the waves.

  Luckily, they hadn’t washed away all of them. Though I didn’t find any wide, curved lines as I expected I would, I found something else. Walking along the shore again, I noticed a black scale, half-buried in the sand. I came closer and observed it.

  “What’s this?”

  But the system refused to identify the object. I was, however, certain that it was a scale.

  “A giant scale,” I corrected myself, picking up the irregular heptagon the size of a saucer with my trishula.

  When I lifted it, nothing terrible happened, so I decided to pick it up. It was hard and heavy, that was all I could tell about it. The Old Man, who was examining it through my eyes, must’ve already read its aura.

  Heh, I truly was a Wizard! I could sense energy and its traces, too!

  Holding the scale with both hands, I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, remembering the sensations I felt when the Old Man stirred the energy in the village to teach me a lesson. Hearing, vision, and the sense of touch helped feel the energy, but that wasn’t what helped me feel it. It was the combination of everything that did. You couldn’t rely only on your body to feel the energy of the world. It needed to be... perceived? It was everywhere. It was the core of the world — it was the world.

  I breathed in slowly, opened my eyes, and tried to relax. I pictured my skills, remembered how I concentrated mana to activate them, and how other people’s skills affected me. I tried to unite the memories into one, to feel the energy in the scale...

  I didn’t know if I had managed to do it or not. It seemed like I felt something, but I wasn’t sure. Who knew, maybe my head was just a mess. Maybe my perceptions of the energy were psychosomatic. They probably were, because the Serpent’s energy should leave a distinct trace, as the Old Man said. Kane had also told me long ago that even though there was technically only one energy, it was different for everyone. Maybe the scale had no distinct trace, but the Serpent...

  Stop!

  Deep in thought, I felt something stirrr in the scale. I was sure that a little spark was all I needed, but it was so weak...

  “Okay, relax,” I told myself. “If you did it once, you can do it again. Remember what you’ve just felt...”

  I was probably going about it the wrong way. Let’s take Kane for example again, he could feel the energy around him and sense its streams at any moment. Using that, he can detect invaders, even though he had never met them before and didn’t know their energy print.

  So I didn’t have to strain every nerve attempting to catch fleeting sensations, but... to open myself? I shouldn’t concentrate on the scale, but let its energy and the energy of the world flow freely through my mind. No, deeper than that. Or not...?

  The hell with it! I’m sure that this is the right way. Relax.... Feel everything, don’t focus on one thing... but everything... Sense... Perceive...

  “Holy shit!!!” I shouted, having realized that something undoubtedly powerful and huge was rushing to me from the left. Something in the shape of a giant ball made of dark gray flames.

  I instinctively rushed in the opposite direction. My mind gave out two commands at once:

  Activate the “Amulet of Righteousness.”

  Activate the “Small Avatar of Darkness.”

  I was holding the trishula with my right hand; a Clot was forming in my left. I knew that despite my speed, I wouldn’t be able to put enough distance between us. The thing was approaching fast.

  I had no time to turn around and take a better look at my enemy, but I didn’t stop sensing it. I felt its aura get close to me and then rush forward at lightning speed, like a predator in wait.

  Even though it attacked from behind, it failed to catch me off guard. This was the first time that I fought an enemy just by sensing its movements, but I still managed to time my jump correctly and roll to the side.

  I immediately jumped up to my feet, turned around and finally saw the Serpent. It looked exactly as it did in my vision: black, with huge scales that looked impenetrable, a pointed fin that stretched from its nape to the tip of its tail like a Mohawk, bone growths on its face, and four whisker-like tentacles, growing from right under its nose and out of its eyebrows. The main difference from the vision was its size. Up close, the beast seemed even bigger. It was no less than three hundred feet from head to tail. Or maybe even five hundred — it moved fast and its body slithered so it was difficult to tell. Not to mention that Small Avatar’s smoke was obscuring my view.

  Luckily, the transformation didn’t take long and I was soon able to see again. I got bigger and felt much more confident. Just in time.

  Without wasting another second, I hit the beast in the side with my trishula, making it roar. And although the wound wasn’t deep, black smoke immediately began to pour out of it. It seemed to be in a gaseous state, but looked like a viscous liquid. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out more about it — there were no logs again.

  Not that it was surprising. The Old Man had said that the Serpent was some sort of a God. This meant that I had to hurry and deal as much damage as possible while the effect of the Amulet was still active.

  I pushed off the ground as hard as I could while jumping up, scratching the Serpent’s skin with the trishula, as if pole vaulting in order to get myself even higher and get on its back.

  With a swing, I plunged the trishula into the scales and immediately yanked it out. Black blood and smoke gushed out, and the monster growled. Feeling that the Clot was fully formed and ready for use, I released the charge right above the wound and jumped down.

  There was a loud explosion and the Serpent’s back got covered with black flames, making it roar in agony and throw back its head.

  I grabbed the trishula with both hands and tried to feel the energy of my Small Avatar, hoping that I could direc
t both it and mana into the trishula. That was what I did with mana when I activated the Trident of Darkness.

  I hit the Serpent’s side again.

  This time, my hit was incredibly powerful and explosive. Instead of the usual three holes, there was one giant hole that looked like a crater.

  I was certain that I could win and beat the mighty beast in a one-to-one battle. The fact that I got my strength from the God of Darkness didn’t matter. I could win! All by myself! I could even get the Shard! Small Avatar would be active for a bit longer and the Serpent couldn’t counter-attack because it was in terrible pain. I had to press on and shower it with really strong attacks. I couldn’t let it come to its senses and...

  Suddenly, another Serpent emerged out of the bleeding crater, like some sort of a undulating tentacle. It looked just like the Black Serpent, but was the size of a boa.

  The “boa” hissed and lunged at me. I waved the trishula reflexively and pierced it, making it burst and turn into a huge cloud of bright green gas. I buried my nose into my shoulder at once, but I still inhaled a little bit of the poisoned air. Everything reeled in front of my eyes, and then the world blurred, getting a greenish shade.

  A moment later, I realized that the effect of the Amulet had ended. And even though it gave me immunity against the Decay and divine powers, it didn’t protect me from the attack of a Serpent that equaled Gods in its strength.

  Or that’s stronger than many of them, the drawling voice continued my thought. As expected, the Old Man was watching the fight. Enough, boy! Get out of here and find “Disciple” Berg!

  The world was awfully blurred, so I couldn’t react when several black blobs separated themselves from the haze of black and bright-green.