by Han Yang
I frowned, having no idea where those minions were. When I hastily cast to absorb their Zorta, only two remained. I had to wonder what was going on with those spindrix and why my damn spell was limited.
The newest minions raced to join our readying formation. Garrigan joined me on the platform with Leeto joining us. The troll dug into a goblin sized bag and fished out a trumpet.
“They’re not reacting fast enough,” Garrigan scolded. “Order the advance.”
The trumpet blared three short times and the vanguard of elites marched forward. The army pushed forward with each footstep creating an echo.
“Boss, I'm staying here. I have my own commanders in the front and the back who Leeto signals. If they get in trouble, I will join them with reserves. I’m a geomancer and found my skills work the best when the tide is against us,” Garrigan said.
“Hand me the map,” I ordered, deciding to let him stay.
I unfurled the offered parchment and studied the breaks. “Are there rules regarding closing these side tunnels?”
“The wurm lords contain magic powerful enough to fix whatever we destroy. If a section falls, it will anger them greatly, and the coalition does not want that. The fighting is fine. Destroying tunnels means an invasion which is normally greeted by a counter force. I would assume you want to avoid fighting the magus level wurms,” Garrigan said, using a dry tone on the last line.
I handed him the shitty map, watching the tunnel ahead narrow. The great wurms must have made the tunnels and caverns big enough to fit themselves in because even a cyclops could walk from room two to three.
When we entered the third room, pink magic blasted up. The pink goop splattered against the ceiling. Illumination mages hurled orbs of light onto the patches, and the sight revealed a mini city.
Fresh air gusted from the three side tunnels and even opening from above allowed in a breeze. The city itself consisted of dead trees scattered around for the scorpions to burrow in. Only a few scorpions came out to greet us, the retreaters from previous fights.
Their skittish nature left them hesitant to fight to the death. The sound of marching drans caught my attention from the left. The unit arrived in lock step.
These beings were closer to a dog humanoid. I’d traveled to Mexico when I was sixteen, and I remembered the leathery, gray-skinned dogs. This is what the drans reminded me of - those dogs but on two feet, with beady black eyes, and a mouth full of vicious teeth.
They were only a foot or so taller than a human, but their muscle mass was denser. This unit was a fodder unit. You could see it in their hesitant glances. A hundred warriors, marching to aid a retreating ally, to face ten thousand battle hardened troops.
Nick bull rushed the enemy formation, charging with a war cry. He ran half the distance and hurled a massive spear. The enemy rank tightened to brace for the impact.
The spear zoomed through the air and wrecked the tight shield line. A half dozen drans fell over, and the unit leader hesitated. A full volley of javelins whistled from our ranged trolls. Nick rushed forward with orcs hot on his heels.
The infantry chased the javelins, arriving right after they crashed down. Nick’s double head axe cleaved a dran. The slam of infantry running into a staggered enemy echoed through the cavern.
The melee shifted into a rout in moments with no mercy being shown.
I reached out and raised seventy-two new minions. Nick harvested the orbs off the rest of them.
“Push onto the fourth room,” I ordered, pointing toward where I last heard the voice in my head. “That way.”
“You truly are coming. Salvation. Redemption. Rewards if you save us.” the voice said. Instead of intrusive or blaring, the calm tone soothed my mind.
I didn’t know if that was good or bad.
CHAPTER 15
Wurm Labyrinth 3rd Floor
During the declining walk towards the fourth room, hundreds of goblins raced up. I snickered with an enjoyable head shake.
“They’re good loot, and it's not like you can fly them home,” Garrigan said, as if trying to counter my joy.
“I will order them to walk towards the siege at Moonguard City and will likely break the siege lines when they arrive,” I said.
“And if they’re not worth the help?” Garrigan countered.
“Then they will die fighting the enemy. It is rather basic, really. Goblins fear death just like everyone else. The only thing more powerful is a motivator for greatness. They will die to help the others truly live. Selflessness is not what I ever pictured a goblin would embody,” I said.
A troll ran near our platform and said, “A dran legion has reinforced the third room.”
“Are they entrenching or following?” Garrigan asked.
“Entrenching,” the troll said. “They brought barricades and hounds.”
I folded my arms, trying to guess what I was leading my troops into. The troll left to continue relaying scout data. I tapped a foot while mulling over my options.
“Signal a spin,” I ordered. “An easy target makes sense, and they won’t be able to solidify quickly.”
“I concur,” Garrigan said. “How many minions can you create?”
I decided to pull up my stats. Before coming here, I had prepared the best that I could, which meant a whole lot of Zorta in reserves. Enough to meet my needs, or so I hoped.
Name: Damien Moonguard
Race: Human
Affiliation: Ostriva
Zorta: 351,733.229
Shared Zorta: 31,444.001
Nordan Score: 372,217
Ostriva Score: 1,553,774
Location: Moonguard City
Magic Type: Healer
Healer Level: 17
Magic Type 2: Necromancer
Necromancy Level: 12
Necromancer Minions: 26,233/30,000
Necromancer General Level: 8
Necromancer General Mana: 330/330
Shared Mana: 1300
Necromancer General Permissions: All
Fighting Level: Honed
Mana: 1000/1000
Mana Recharge: 14
Strength: 15
Stamina: 15
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 18
Willpower: 18
Cultivation: 50
Intelligence: 43
Wisdom: 45
Charisma: 33
Tracking: 13
Endurance: 15
Perception: 21
Burst: 15
Reflex: 15
Healing: 15
Melee Combat: 15
Aim: 6
Hunger: 1
Thirst: 1
Aging: 59 years until death.
“Almost four thousand more. I am finding the dran additions as wonderful. Their height and power make them great for replacing trolls who brave the front to launch volleys,” I said. “We will go back to attack them before they can fully set.”
“I agree as well, sound strategy to defeat an inferior enemy before they become repressive,” Garrigan said.
He twirled his big whiskers. Leeto signaled a reverse and a full charge. The echoing signals blared loud enough for me to cover my ears.
The trip down the tunnel halted, and up we ran. I expected the clash of steel or the fierce cries of battle to come echoing down, but instead heard a trumpeting retreat.
“And they’re running,” Garrigan complained.
I swirled a condensing spell of domination with my connecting magic. I didn’t bother fully charging it since my cultivation had reached fifty. When the power felt sufficient, I let it release.
You have connected to 33 dran, 4 trolls, and 1 hound worth 127.888 Zorta. Your desire to claim all has been accepted. Spend 127.888 Zorta to convert these beings into minions. (YES) - (NO) - Yes selected.
“The dran aren’t worth much,” I grunted.
“Four Zorta adds up quickly. Leetro, signal a halt of the units in pursuit, break defenses, and order the army to turn again for a descent. Marshi,
stay back and rain javelins on anyone who tries to re-enter the third room. When we finish clearing the fourth, you will get a signal to return. If pressured, run to us,” Garrigan commanded.
I had to admit, I wasn’t used to having another competent general around. We never crossed the threshold of the ascending ramp to see the damage. All I knew was that we killed more enemies while gaining in power.
Nick approached once we turned back downhill. The minotaur parted the orc guards who trotted around the ballistae.
“There is a forest in the next opening,” Nick said.
We’d seen this in Seqa, where the underground became more alive than the surface. We saw it and well, tried to build our own vegetative landscape underground. We failed because of a betrayal, but it certainly was possible. I sighed at the thought while gazing down at my friend.
“Let me guess. Spendrix?” I asked.
“Yeah, they’re having a mock battle at the moment. I guess no one from above bothers to tell them they’re dying. The scorpions that fled this way found nice spots to hunker down. We can detour and fight them or march right on by,” Nick said.
“Have the vanguard create a corridor of flanks. The rearguard will take point. When we descend again, they will take the rear,” I said.
Nick confirmed before leaving for the front to set up my plan. Garrigan asked a runner to tell Marshi to abandon his post because we were marching fast. It made sense for us to pull in the third-floor skirmishers.
“And so we shift,” the large tiger humanoid said.
“Do the wurms ever breach the surface?” I asked.
Garrigan grunted over the sound of the wheels pulling the command platform. “You and I are ants, cockroaches, and at times even fleas - insects to the great creations of the Six. Above ground, the mightiest are the titans of lore. They rule supreme, towering over the cyclops and dwarfing the rest.”
“I briefly read about them and figured they were a bit… much,” I said, not quite finding the right word. “That and their rarity left me somewhat unconcerned.”
“They are a balance factor. It is said the gods created a race to be supreme over the land, the sea, the air, the underground, the lava pits, and the tundra. Each of these have their own goblin too, to be the bottom high multiplier. I would assume you had studied this,” Garrigan said.
We continued down the ramp. Bright sunlight shined through the bottom of the tunnel from multiple angles. Whomever built the next landing area had wanted it to be like the surface with its sunshine.
I started counting on my fingers as I talked. “The titans, the wurms, the messonia for the water, the basilisk for the lava, the icraw for the tundra, and the edrino for the air…”
“No one’s ever seen an edrino on Nordan with it being rumored they were all left on Ostriva. They’re said to be boring, snobbish, and terrible to interact with,” Garrigan said.
“I find it interesting but not truly relevant. What can I use against a titan besides flee?” I asked.
“Ah, the age old question. You realize you face a foe greater than a titan?” Garrigan asked.
“King Korbi and the elva?” I asked. “I’ve defeated the elva at every turn. Well, only once, and it was more like a draw. I’m trying to stay positive, and I don’t see how King Korbi could slay a titan.”
Our wagon reached the fourth floor, and a shield line protected our flanks ahead. Beyond them, a standard pine forest stretched as far as the eye could see. The cavern only went a few hundred feet up, and again I saw air vents blowing air so strongly the trees gusted.
Because of the expansive space and shallow ceiling, there was a need for multiple magical suns. This created varying shadows, giving the woods a spooky vibrancy.
Behind a tree a few hundred feet away, a spendrix scout watched us pass.
The hideous creature made sure to only reveal so much of its body to our ranged units. The four green eyes showed a mix of fear and curiosity. A few of its fellow scouts joined it without any serious numbers showing up.
Garrigan assessed the threat and found it lacking. He continued, “King Korbi is a continent leader and ally with many races. We know better than to fight him, and we can squash you. I fear you have met your match in a dedicated foe.
“He controls the nature dragons, capable of camouflage. Those dragons give the council goosebumps. You wear the flesh of the nature leviathans that the dragons hunt. It is no conquidence.”
I could feel him judging me negatively. If I had to guess, he knew something I didn’t. Or maybe I was being paranoid. This whole trip brought many uncertainties with infinite outcomes, but that didn’t stop me from being ready to get back to my family.
“Ah, but I am one man with a mobile army. Moonguard can be abandoned, and I can drag King Korbi on a running fight,” I said, chuckling at my pun.
“But you won’t.”
“No. I’ll fight him for my home because he underestimates my commitment to protecting my people. All of my people, no matter how twisted they are upon birth or how deformed they become after death,” I said.
“A noble cause. We all have them. I want to be on the Jeer Council. That feat may take a very long time, but it is my stubborn goal.” He sighed heavily. “When we lose, for I think we will, I will surrender. The elva will hopefully send me home, and I can rebuild my favor among the nobles. Eventually High General Ivsoe will fall from grace, and I can step in his place, or so I hope,” Garrigan said.
I wanted to ask why he would fall from grace. It didn’t make sense, but his dreams were his own, and it was clear Garrigan was an ambitious tigran.
The creak of the wagon beds hauling the siege engines continued with the endless wobble of the command deck. I kept stealing glances into the forest as we cut through the pines. A few more spindrix peeked out to watch us from a distance.
We rode in silence for a while with me mulling over the fact the voice in my head had said ‘us’ – as in plural. There were plenty of people and great beings who referred to themselves in the third person. If there were more than one, so be it.
“Why take this risk?” Garrigan asked.
“Ah, you mean why dive into the enemy's lair with ten thousand new troops?” I asked.
“Yeah. It seems foolish.”
I leaned on my staff and shook my head. “Maybe, but you are here to serve me. How can I know you won’t break and turn on me the moment you're inside my walls? Bringing mercenaries into my home is risky.”
“Careful what you insinuate,” Garrigan said.
I scoffed. “You’re not some devotee to Tribe Moonguard. You’re a hired hand, and I will use you to my advantage. We came down here because I need riches and minions. I’m never alone, and you should fear me, but I understand why you and the Jeer see me as pitiful.
“You shouldn’t, though. I can turn any battle, and if I raise enough dead, I will go to necromancer thirteen. Then I will have more minions and more and more. The great thing about fighting underground - my enemies cannot run away as easily.”
“I’ve met a few necromancers but none as powerful as you. The champions… the chaos bringers,” Garrigan said.
Finally, I heard a modicum of fear.
“Yes, well, I tend to not advertise what I am. For all the common soldier knows, necromancers can raise the dead from a distance. I’d rather be thought of as normal,” I told him.
“Don’t want people trying to steal your orb worth a half million,” Garrigan said with a stifled laughter.
“I killed a pitiful champion. He earned me a measly ten thousand. I think the gods spread lies to try to keep the chaos more chaotic,” I grunted.
Nick came running uphill. The trolls in front of us split to let him through.
“Ogres, a whole lot of ogres,” Nick said. He likely noticed the intense happiness I exuded at his words. “Stop licking your lips. They built a snow forest bigger than the Coorg Woods. The ceiling goes for miles, and there’s even clouds. We stirred a few up, and they’re adjus
ting to greet us.”
“Great,” I said, not seeing the problem.
“They aren’t dunces who don’t care like the spidrix. They’re ogres. I suggest we go around this floor and use a different path along the maze,” Nick said.
“Are there gates?” I asked.
“No,” Nick grumbled. “Just a weak barricade to keep the spendrix out of their turf.”
“We’re hired hands, exactly as you said. You read the contract. If too many of us die, then we get options, like surrender or retreat,” Garrigan said.
I rolled my eyes so hard I rotated my head. “Ogres are a wonderful find. I may have stumbled upon them a few times, but they always evade dying in droves. They’re survivalists at their core. You will do as you’re ordered. Nick, watch over me. Garrigan, go to the front with the siege weapons. Make a difference. We only need a few to die before we can gain a foothold.”
“You’re ordering your general to the front with expensive siege weapons we can’t easily replace,” Garrigan grumbled.
I pointed aggressively forward. “You lack knowledge and insight. I will not tolerate your insolence.”
He flippantly tossed a hand into the air. “I don’t like your plan. However, I will follow your orders. Sound the trumpet, Leetro, and Esca, bring all the ogres to the front,” Garrigan said, pouncing off the platform.
I waited until most of the commotion departed.
I flipped my cloak inside out, tucking the hood over my head. A few onlookers saw that I disappeared and pointed in dismay. I needed to perfect the cloak to include boots or something, but for the moment it would have to do. I laid down and let Nick watch over me.
“You sure do crazy stuff sometimes,” Nick said.
“Never a dull day in the life of a necromancer,” I said cheerfully. “We can replace the siege weapons. He won’t die if he does as he is told. We need to push on, or we will be down here forever.”
“Before you go, add some minions around this platform,” Nick advised.
I heeded his concern and ordered half of my minions to guard the platform. They pushed out the mercenaries to form a barrier around me.
I made myself as comfy as one could on a wooden bed and began to chant my spell of obedience.