by Han Yang
Instead of adding a connection request, I focused solely on the domination in a zone in front of me. I increased the power of the spell until I was a cloud of darkness. The wolves bayed angrily, hating the brewing power.
Whoosh!
The magic crashed into them with enough might that most yelped in fright. Like a switch flipped, the alpha approached the gate with his tail wagging. I hoisted the embedded steel and opened the gate.
Nick hovered, but the alpha quickly trotted past with his head held high. The rest of the pack, they gave me a wide berth as they followed their boss towards the gate.
I walked to a random unit commander who finished handing out his Zorta. His troops giddily leveled up while we waited and the orc noticed my approach.
The orc asked, “You’re the new boss?”
“I am,” I said with a smile. He nodded slightly in respect. “We’re diving into the planet. What can we expect?”
“The first few rooms are mostly fodder. The scorpions keep us from advancing much further than room three,” the orc said.
“Ah, and if they start to lose?” I asked on a hunch.
“Dran swarm, and they are harder to kill than the scorpions,” the orc said.
“What’s a dran?”
The orc glanced at me in confusion. “Desert dog people. As tall as an orc, they wear cloth wrapping in strips. They mostly work as infantry.”
Sounded like a mummy humanoid to me.
“Best counter tactics?” I asked.
“General Gariggan plays it safe, and he falls back with the shield wall holding the front and the range killing. Once we fall back to the ramp, and the dran start to collect the dead, we press forward. The tug and war grows tiresome, but we recover most of our munitions and prizes,” the orc said.
I thanked him for his time, leaving for the big steel doors. A series of ogres removed a wooden cross beam while a second team tugged at massive ropes.
The immense doors creaked open, their hinges groaning in protest. I stared at the dark opening. The road quickly descended and the path’s width could fit a hundred orcs abreast.
“Break my prison, earn a reward.”
CHAPTER 14
Under the Outskirts of Oponix
“I’m less than pleased,” I said with a grunt.
The happy chittering of excited goblins echoed in the massive cavern. The entire space held ten thousand troops with ease. Holes to the surface allowed in plenty of fresh air and scattered light dove down between grates.
“Uh, Damien, they surrendered to join us. That is about as good as it gets for battle statistics. Enemy negative fourteen hundred, you plus fourteen hundred,” Nick said, patting me on the back.
“Who manages personnel?” I asked Garrigan.
The tigran gestured to a female ogre who politely talked to the new goblins. She sat cross legged, annotating what each of them said.
“Ignore them. There are a thousand cavern holds breeding goblins every day. I killed twelve hundred three days ago. A day goes by, and a new unit moves in. The wurm lords have to be sending up the useless fodder to entice us deeper,” Garrigan said.
“And how far have you been in this dungeon?” I asked.
“Just to the third cavern, and it's not a dungeon per se…more like the end of a maze for them, and a beginning for us,” Garrigan said.
“The next room?” I asked.
“Should be empty. The goblins likely turned on their troll overlords to join us. Not sure I liked seeing that,” Garrigan said.
“Do you have a map?” I asked.
“I do, it's basic though. Three rooms split off room three. Three more split of each of those, and then they add four connections to each after. The wurm lords have been fighting both sides of the surface empire. There’s normally large winter battles and then in summer they cool off,” Garrigan said.
I studied the map, shocked by the icons indicating what lived in each room. I managed to temper my excitement, even frowning in pretend disappointment.
“It’s a damn labyrinth,” I said with a sigh.
“And beyond vast. None of our generals venture more than a few rooms down unless it's a campaign. Even then, we need to blow tunnels to block flanks and rear attacks -something this force cannot do,” Garrigan said.
Nick cleared his throat and folded his arms. “Time to tell us what got you sent to the pits.”
“Most of us have a storied past. Mikar, the orc you spoke to about strategy, he fought over a cheated game of dice. Or so he says. Another orc ended up dead, and he was standing over the body,” Garrigan said.
I went to prod him, and he waved a big paw down while gesturing for a troll to open a silence bubble.
Garrigan folded his arms. “In the Jeer military, there are many things you can and cannot do. Questioning a superior is absolutely allowed. Six hells, it's even encouraged in some circles. The problem is that this is a harpy society.
“The gods moved this region - as if they knew the coastal cliff cities would have no one to fight. When the mists parted, I found myself in a swamp, not in my home. My wife was thankfully with me but we soon found others.
“This has a purpose. We found the Jeer. The harpies took us in, ushering us into their mud huts and wooden palisades. Angry humans attacked in the hopes of finding their lost loved ones. The fighting was brutal. Once the humans learned their farmers and relatives were gone they paused their assaults.
“I rose in the ranks during those early days. The harpy nation turned into the Jeer Coalition. As time passed, we welcomed all Ostriva refugees. Our portals, their portals, natural wandering, and we grew.
“However, I was not a harpy. Something that the original dealt with in… unique ways. For a while, I could only advance so far up the chain. My wife and I grew comfortable, had a family, and watched our kids grow in prosperity.
“About ten years ago, the coalition allowed a non-harpy on the council. Their desire to reign their people in tightly kept them jaded. The ogre on the council was celebrated with continued improvements as the harpy power slid away.
“Last year the unthinkable happened for me. A harpy general retired begrudgingly, and I was slotted as his replacement. Our army was sent to the north, managing the far left flank. We performed admirably and even managed to catch three scouting units in their entirety while only losing one.”
I could hear the sound of his teeth scraping and the change in his voice.
“Things went sour after that?” I asked.
“Three to one is a win. We have a few ranks above general. My regional commander scolded me for losing my unit. She only saw the loss, not the victories. We argued about the merits and strategies. She said this is why harpies should only be generals. I said if harpies were so perfect, the war would be over and we would have won,” Garrigan said, rubbing his whiskers in reflection.
“And to the pits you went,” Nick said.
“To the pits I went. I need to earn three million Zorta to get out of here. In the last four months, I have earned less than a hundred thousand,” Garrigan said with a sigh.
“Why not push further?” I asked.
“Too much risk. The further you go, the harder the challenges. Oh, I should have clarified. I need to earn three million Zorta after losses are deducted. The feat was ludicrous. That is over now. Five years is nothing in comparison. Taronb gave me the contract. Five years away from my wife, but when I return, I will be a general again with status. Assuming you don’t get me killed,” Garrigain said.
“I value winning and will run when I need to. A few things. Let me say, bring your family if we survive the fight against the elva,” I said.
“We would lose status,” Garrigan replied quickly. “Others will not care, and I will spread the word. Thank you.”
“I have another question. Zorta can be used for age reduction on some species and not on others like my friend Freninick here. How about the tigran?”
“We do not grow as we age, if that is
your question. I am naturally big with rigorous training,” Garrigan replied sourly.
Nick figured what was coming next and asked, “Are there ever people who say they hear voices from below?”
The tigran stopped twisting his whiskers and glared up at Nick. “Yes.”
“And?” I replied.
“The voice asks for help. The voice stops asking when they realize no one is coming. I had it happen,” Garrigan said.
“Did you tell anyone?” I asked.
“Taronb prodded me if I heard the cries of the fallen. There is a… folk tale about what happened. Most think it's a trap laid by the wurm lords, but for a few, there is another tale. The wurm lords trapped a god.”
“A god?” Nick blurted in disbelief.
“Exactly my sentiment. But yes, most of the outlandish rumors revolve around a god. It will grant infinite boons and even champion status to those who free it. I ignore that story because I’m not foolish. No one has ever come close to finding the voice,” Garrigan said.
I nodded to the large cat and said, “Thank you for sharing. We might press down. We might not. Take us to room three. I need to see what happens when I raise a scorpion.”
“If you wait here, I will have one brought,” he said, and I couldn’t argue with the logic.
I walked to a nearby fire pit that roasted mystery meat. Black trails of smoke vortexed toward the ceiling vents in a swirling display.
I sat on a stump, mixing with a random troll unit. The thirty of them eyed me hesitantly before continuing with small talk between bites. I watched the fire crackle aimlessly.
Nick arrived a few minutes later and asked, “Anything new from the mystery voice?”
“Free me and earn a reward. Wait, break my prison, earn a reward,” I corrected.
“You ready to talk about your Mom?” Nick asked.
I bit my inner cheek to keep from blurting out a string of curses. A troll offered me a stick with succulent steak on it. I sniffed the meat a few times and realized it was boar.
I blew on it and replied, “Mom was stealing from me. She’d never fess up to it, but I’m not her little baby boy anymore. Nee never liked that she was made a champion. Hell, even Caitlyn didn’t want her near me. I listened, surprisingly, and even approved the measures to track her. Which I think she figured out.”
“Ouch,” he said.
“Yeah, and I guess I had this vision in my head. In the plays and books from my home, my Mom and Dad would be my go-to allies, stalwart in their sacrifice to help me win. Instead my Dad lost an ear, hated fighting, and Mom wanted her own people to rule.” I tore a chunk of meat off and chewed on the food along with my thoughts.
“What did she steal? If you don’t mind me asking…”
“Uh, oddly enough, gold. I think she figured we wouldn’t count the gold as closely as we did, but we do. She was buying Zorta off the citizens, and my gold was returned for items or Zorta. I donated Zorta to her, so she figured that was the best way to pilfer without me noticing. A big guess there. I’ll never really know.
“I also have to guess she thought I wouldn’t care, and at the current rate, I didn’t. But if it kept going, I sure as hell would have. We pretended to try to be a family but… but… that isn’t my Mom and Dad. That’s my parents who died, were given a second chance, and I’m not a kid who needs them anymore,” I said sadly.
“I think I understand,” Nick said solemnly.
“Do you want to hear of Baroi?”
“Of course. I received a lovely letter from her. She said you over froze her, and that you were absolutely supportive of her decision to flee,” Nick said.
“Uh, yeah, that about sums it up. I just… again, I didn’t see it coming. The elva used her revival as a distraction, and it worked. Exceedingly well, as a matter of fact,” I admitted.
We sat in silence for about ten minutes before a troll worked up the courage to ask about their new home. I blabbed on and on about Moonguard City. When I explained its size, they winced but tried to keep on a brave face.
“Got one for you,” Garrigan said in his gravelly voice. A plain scorpion landed beside me. The creature was black, about as round as a circle I could make with my arms, and had the classic pinchers that went with the stinging barb.
In the distance, I heard something striking metal.
Garrigan noticed my attention shift and said, “That’s the shield line pulling back against drans and scorpions.”
“Ah, thank you,” I said. “How many revivals do we have?”
“Out of our tens of thousand? There are forty-one healers,” Garrigan said.
“Hmm…” I pondered my options and reached a conclusion.
I would dive into the depths to slay some foes and try to find this voice, for the moment anyway.
I closed my eyes, condensed my domination and connection spell, and unleashed a massive wave of energy. When the energy pinged back, I scoffed.
Something was blocking how much range I had - something I had never experienced before. The residual wave of magic washed back over us, and I begrudgingly inspected the results.
You have connected to 18 scorpions, 15 drans, 12 trolls, and 3 spindrix. Would you like to Consume, Claim, or Drop. - Claim selected.
You have connected to 18 scorpions, 15 drans, 12 trolls, and 3 spindrix. Would you like to claim (ALL) (GROUP) (SINGLE) - Single selected
You have connected 1 scorpion worth .331 Zorta. Spend .331 Zorta to convert into a minion. (YES) - (NO) - Yes selected.
An angry black cloud gathered in the top of the cavern. Crackling white light boomed a thunderous echo. Nick left his seat near the scorpion, and we watched the animal covert.
I was surprised to see spindrix on the options. My animal studies revealed they were a spider goblin mix. Unlike other variations of spiders, they didn’t web or have any powers besides being able to walk up walls.
Ghoulish hands reached up to crush the chitin, devouring all the insides in the process. The hands used a few extra pulls down from the cavern floor and finished. Black magic swirled over the corpse, and when the cloud parted, a two-foot tall gremlin stood.
The minion was condensed black chitin. The upper arms ran down to the elbow. At the joint, there was a normal forearm and hand. However, a second extension at the elbow held scorpion type features. On the left, a pincher protruded, and on the right a spiked tail came out of the joint.
“It’s tiny,” Nick said.
I waved it over, inspecting the barb. A green goop oozed, telling me it was likely dripping poison.
“Do we know the effects?” I asked.
“On this monstrosity? No, but paralysis was the poison from the scorps. Come here, goblin,” Garrigan ordered.
The goblin walked over happily, not realizing he was about to be experimented on. I sighed but mentally ordered the chitin skeleton to poison the goblin. The minion walked behind the goblin and stabbed him in the butt.
“Argg!” the goblin shouted.
Thud.
The poor guy fell face first and twitched a few times. No orb rose, which we all found interesting. A healer washed magic over the goblin to no effect.
Nick cast his purple nullifier magic, and the goblin eked out a squeak, rubbing his butt.
“Is that all, Boss?” the goblin asked.
I smirked, handed him an orb, and said, “Become a goblin ogre.”
“But I’m only an illumination mage,” the goblin said.
Nick smirked and said, “We are studying the bonus spells. Consider yourself blessed and do not doubt your worth in this army.”
I wanted to apologize for his mistreatment. Instead, I rewarded his loyalty. A king probably shouldn’t be saying sorry to a goblin.
“Thoughts?” I asked Garrigan.
“They’re cheap and can sneak in between infantry to stab a foot or a calf. Ideal in these tight quarters. They are also less numerous than they were three days ago, so I doubt we will gain that many.”
The so
und of fighting faded, and I left my seat. “Then how about we push on, and I will raise the dead. I have spare Zorta for now and would rather amass our army as we push down.”
“How much of this is testing the troops versus testing your theory?” Garrigan asked.
“Everything is a test,” Nick replied. “You have your orders. Secure the third room and prepare for the fourth. Take casualties if you need to. Speed will be our ally.”
“Nick will lead the vanguard, I will manage the front and back from the middle, and you will protect the rear,” I said and held up a hand to stop his impending complaint. “Every few sections we will swap rotations if one is seeing no action.”
Garrigan nodded before leaving to boss his unit commanders around. War drums thrummed through the caverns, and the sound of the army breaking from its rest echoed loudly.
I hoped every space under the forest would be so expansive. Fitting ten thousand troops in a single room didn’t make sense. Logically, there should be pillars needed or something to support the roof. Instead, the vast space made life easy, for now.
I walked to the middle of the army and surveyed the readying units. The ballista unit wheeled their heavy weapons forward on wagons with horses pulling the weight. I found a command podium surrounded by the mobile siege units.
When I was safely on top, I cast out my connection magic.
You have connected to 29 scorpions, 13 drans, 12 trolls, and 3 spindrix worth 107.309 Zorta. Your desire to claim all has been accepted. Spend 107.309 Zorta to convert these beings into minions. (YES) - (NO) - Yes selected.
Black magic swirled across the subterranean ceiling with a rolling cloud of crackling thunder. Reapers descended with scythes shining from the magical illumination. Bluish hands reached up and ripped flesh from bodies.
The spell subsided, and a tingling sensation from my belly button piqued my interest.
3 spindrix minions have died. You have a day to revive them or recover their 19.334 Zorta. Mana penalty has been negated.