by M. Coulray
“Fool. Know your place.” Unmat grabbed my right arm and pried it off his wrist. Suddenly I knew what was coming next. He pulled on my forearm, and with a tearing, cracking sound, ripped my arm off at the elbow.
I was screaming and bleeding and thrashing, but Unmat no longer cared. He threw me aside and I struck the stone wall. When I rolled to a stop, all I could do was clutch the stump of my arm and scream. I’d bitten through my tongue when I hit the stone and my mouth was filling with blood. I choked on it, unable to stop screaming, unable to control myself in any way. My blood soaked my clothes, and then time stopped.
Hello, Denel of Goddess Watch.
The moment that voice spoke, the pain in my arm vanished. Grace and thankfulness filled me, to the point that I could barely remember the agony I’d been in moments ago. I knew who this was. I knew this voice. “Goddess?”
The voice in my head smiled. I am. Your blood has touched Mine, and I can share Myself with you for a time. The crystal! I’d placed it in my pocket when the door had opened, and when my blood touched it… I realized She was part of me. She wasn’t speaking from the suffering body on the wall, not entirely. Somehow She was inside me.
“Did you heal me?” I looked down at my arm. It was unchanged; shreds of torn flesh and bone marked the end of my limb.
No, Denel. I took your pain from you. Healing you is beyond me, for now.
Even when She was wounded, dying, She aided me. I shed tears of shame at my own weakness.
“But you’re hurt! Can’t I… can’t I relieve you somehow?”
The voice in my head drew back for a moment, then resurged into me. A feeling of love and kindness suffused my mind. You would be annihilated, Denel. Your pain is a burden I can bear. The reverse is not.
Tears flowed from my eyes, despite my screaming agony having disappeared. “Why? I’m not really a person!”
What do you mean, Denel?
I thought for a moment. I hadn’t considered my words, but they made sense, then and now.
“I’m… a player. I’m part of another world. Your people are devout. I’m a friend, but I’ve been here barely a few days.”
Do you believe in Me? When you prayed for Votess, did you do so with hope and faith in your heart?
My eyes closed. I remembered holding Votess, crying and praying and begging. “Yes. I meant every word. I meant every single thing.” I’d have done anything to save her.
You are every bit My child that she is. I love you both.
Outside, time was still frozen. Unmat had my arm in his hand, and I immediately looked from him to Votess. Her face was a picture of rage, and she was midair, leaping at him. I wanted to tell her to stop, to run. I couldn’t do anything.
I can save you both.
“How?” Hope filled me, then died with Her next words.
By ending myself before Unmat can consume me.
My entire being, my very soul recoiled from the thought. “You can’t. Votess would rather die. I’d rather die.”
Soon Unmat will kill Me. Her voice sounded almost wistful in my mind. I have waited here, under the temple, for centuries, hoping to see My people again. I stopped time in the hope that I would live long enough. You have brought Votess to Me, and she is beautiful. You are beautiful. It is enough.
My tears flowed freely. “Please. Please don’t. What can I do?”
As long as Unmat draws on Me, he cannot be slain. The connection must be severed. Stop Unmat’s drawing of My power.
An idea entered my head. “I can do that.” I hoped I wasn’t lying.
Denel. This is the last of My gift to you. I cannot stop what comes, whatever it is. Your own strength will determine the outcome.
I made my decision. “Thank you, Goddess. Even if I die, even if I truly die, I’m glad you were here with me.”
And you, Denel of Goddess Watch. Here at the end. That kind voice smiled sadly, but I made a silent vow.
This wouldn’t be the end.
30
My pain returned. I pushed it back. There was no part of me that I could spare to even think about how much I hurt. I thought of lying in a hospital bed, alone and hopeless. I remembered screaming in agony as my body learned what had happened to it in the crash. This was nothing.
Unmat swung his arm, knocking Votess into the wall. She scrabbled at the walkway, trying not to fall. Unmat chittered a cruel laugh.
I’m coming, Votess. I just need a little time.
What I was doing seemed monstrous. Letting Votess take on this impossibly powerful nascent demigod was cruel, but I needed a moment to rally myself. When I looked again, Votess was on her back, her claws scratching for purchase on Unmat’s leg. His foot was slowly crushing her. He didn’t spare me a glance.
It was all I needed.
I drew into myself, feeling the power of the Goddess that flowed in my veins. Her essence was mingled with my own, in my very blood, but Her power was so distinct from mine that I could easily see where I ended and She began. I seized that feeling in my mind and crafted a spell.
The magic I used didn’t have a name, but it was the only magic I knew. I created a barrier; a barrier that didn’t stop magic or physical attacks. Instead, I attuned it to the essence of the Goddess. I twisted and molded my power until I knew it was just right, that it would permit none of the essence of the Goddess to pass, and then I cast my spell on Unmat.
Instantly he roared in fury. His regenerated arm collapsed into blood and fell into the pool, leaving the stump that he’d had while he’d traveled with us. Votess sank her claws into his leg, and he hissed in surprise and pain. He jerked his leg off her chest and turned to me.
“You!” Unmat leaped, but he was nowhere near fast enough to evade Votess. Her claws reached out, slashing his leg and throwing him off. On landing, Unmat was unsteady, and his tail thrashed around trying to keep him balanced.
“Fuck… you!” I swore at the traitorous bastard, putting everything I had into the spell that kept him isolated from the Goddess. Across the pool Her blood continued to flow, and inside me Her energy was slowly fading. I didn’t know how long I could keep the spell up.
“You are a traitor to the people.” Votess was up and advancing toward Unmat. “You are a traitor to the Goddess. I will kill you. Your name will be forgotten forever.”
Unmat’s eyes rolled in crazed fury. “You are weak! What can you do now, without your weapons? Will you kill me with your claws, weakling?”
“Yes.” Votess leaped and Unmat did the same. The two crashed together, and they fell down into the blood pool below. The essence of the Goddess splashed against the walls in a profane display of violence.
I fell on my belly and gasped in pain, but I didn’t let the barrier drop. Below me, Votess and Unmat were battling, and they seemed evenly matched. Unmat had gotten over the surprise of his wounds returning, and Votess was still recovering from the exhaustion of the door ritual. I kept my eyes fixed on Unmat, willing the barrier that sealed him from his power to remain. After a moment, Assess Target activated.
[Unmat, Betrayer]
Race: Divine-Touched Lizardman
Level: 18
Vitality: Unknown (skill too low)
Mana: Unknown (skill too low)
Why the hell hadn’t I assessed him earlier? If the title Betrayer wasn’t a dead giveaway… There was so much I could have done to see this coming. I needed to get my head in the game, although this was anything but a game to me now.
The two battled in the blood like titans. Watching them fight was almost beautiful. Their bodies were perfectly designed to take advantage of their natural gifts. Heavy tails acted as counterbalances for strikes that should have thrown them off-balance. Their reach and speed was incredible. For five seconds, then ten, they were evenly matched. Then, impossibly, Unmat began to get the upper hand.
I squeezed my severed stump to my side as hard as I could. The pain brought clarity. Unmat had injured Votess, and she was gasping for breath. Blood and bo
ne showed in her chest, while Unmat seemed to be rallying. Was my barrier not working?
I looked at Unmat’s eyes. They glowed red, with the essence of a deity. He was burning the Goddess’s energy that he’d consumed, using it to stay alive. Even if he couldn’t replenish it now, as soon as he killed Votess and I, he’d be right back to it. I had to do more.
Still keeping the spell maintained, I looked around for a weapon. My magic dagger was nowhere to be seen, likely at the bottom of the blood pool. Votess had shattered her spear into flinders when she launched her attack. I couldn’t use Thunder of Blood, as I wasn’t skilled in it, and it was likely I’d hurt Votess with the shockwave if I used its special ability.
But there was one more weapon, and I could see where it was.
Unmat’s orichalcum sword lay on the stone beneath the Goddess’s wounded form. Her blood stained it. He had injured Her, defiled Her, with this very blade. I was fixing to return the favour. I lifted it up, wiped Her blood off it on my pant leg and hoped She didn’t feel any disrespect. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. I prayed She heard and understood. I turned back to the fight.
Unmat was pressing Votess down. His hand was on her throat, and she was struggling against him. I stepped behind him and lashed out with the impossibly sharp blade. It sank into Unmat’s leg and carved through his tendon and muscle until it struck bone. Unmat’s scales didn’t even slow the weapon down. The corrupted traitor shrieked and hissed, falling to one knee and losing his advantage over Votess.
That was all my warrior friend needed. She seized him and threw him bodily into the pool, then leaped on top of him before he could rise. The two twisted and wrestled, trying to gain advantage, but freshly wounded and off balance, Unmat was no match for Votess. She stood, proud and furious with righteous anger. Her eyes glowed with the same energy that had previously lit Unmat. She was drawing on the Goddess while they battled in the pool! Before my eyes, Votess lifted Unmat into the air, then threw him down into the knee-deep crimson liquid. When he came up, she seized him around the neck. Her claws opened his throat, but before he could even begin to bleed out, she spun in place and lifted him up in a shoulder lock. He thrashed in her grip, reaching up with his arm but unable to get a grip on Votess.
“Now, Denel! Kill him!”
I raised the awkward blade in my left hand and prayed for a split second. I only thought one word. Please.
Whether it was my luck or my faith in Her, my prayer was answered.
Time slowed. The familiar feeling of inevitability overcame me. A red circle, barely the size of a coin, appeared in the centre of Unmat’s chest. I raised the sword with its clumsy handle to strike. I had barely any mana, but it was enough.
[Sense Vulnerability: Strike!]
The orichalcum sword, guided by my will and every remaining ounce of energy I could muster, carved its way through the scales on Unmat’s chest. It tore through bone and muscle and lung until it entered his heart. I turned the blade in my hand, and let his blood flow onto me. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I knew the blow was mortal.
Votess dropped Unmat into the pool, then turned and lifted him overhead. She threw his body against the wall, where it crumpled and lay still. The orichalcum blade remained lodged in his chest. I fell to my knees. Votess fell with me.
[You have cleared the Temple of the Fallen Goddess. Optional conditions not yet cleared.]
I struggled through my pain to get my feet under me. Votess was lying face up, eyes closed, with an expression of contentedness on her face. My heart stopped for a moment.
“Votess!” I grabbed her with my remaining hand and pulled her hard towards the edge of the pool. My mana was gone and my vitality was low, but I needed to be beside my friend. I pulled her until her upper body was clear, and then shook her hard. I could only hope she was all right. Her next words proved that I had nothing to fear.
“She spoke to me, Denel.” Votess spoke without opening her eyes. “It was bliss. She lent Her power to me to defeat Unmat. She named me Her last Priestess.”
“Are you all right?”
Votess opened her eyes. “Her power healed me. I am unwounded, but my soul cries out for Her. She is dying, Denel. We were too late.”
I looked up at the alabaster figure on the wall. Did Her eyes turn to face me? I didn’t know. Her blood flowed slower now, but I knew it was not because She was healing. Votess was right. The Goddess was dying, and in dying She had saved us both.
“No. Not while I’m here.” I looked at my friend and then closed my eyes. I fell backwards until I was fully in the blood pool. The thick fluid covered my face and I was alone in a crimson silence. Then, I wasn’t alone any more.
Hello, Denel of Goddess Watch.
“Hello, Goddess.”
You did well, Denel. Votess did well to bring you here. I am proud of you both. My chest filled with joy at Her words, but my mind forced its way through the ecstasy of divine contact.
“You’re dying.” It wasn’t a question.
Yes. My essence is weakened. Unmat took so much, more than he needed, and it could not be returned. I gave power willingly to Votess. I do not regret it.
“What can I do?”
Even if you gave all you have, it would not stop this. Her voice weakened, almost imperceptibly. Even I must die.
“Take whatever you need. It’s yours. I don’t care. Take it!”
Something pulled deep inside me. From my body flowed an energy, much like when the priestess had attempted to steal my essence, but without any pain.
[Level Down!]
You have gained the title: Sacrifice.
You may now use your Vitality to fuel your magic instead of Mana, at a ratio of 1 Vitality = 5 Mana.
I gritted my teeth. “Keep going. Take it all.”
Even if I did, it would not rekindle Me. Ten times as much would not. Thank you for your faith. I love you, My child.
Her voice withdrew from me, and I rose up and out of the blood. My tears washed Her essence from my face. Votess looked at me in silence. I moved over to where she sat and we stared at the Goddess together.
I reached into my pocket where I’d put her crystal shard, but it wasn’t there. I tried to reach into my other pocket, forgetting that the pain in my arm was not just a simple injury. Awkwardly, I reached across my body.
What I withdrew wasn’t the red crystal key shard, but the blue gemstone that Mika had given me. In the red glow of the room it appeared black. I turned it over in my hands. At least these bastards wouldn’t get their hands on the Temple.
As I stared at it, something tweaked in my mind. The prompt had said “optional conditions not yet cleared”. That meant that maybe I could still clear them. Maybe, just maybe… I could still save Her. An idea began to form.
“Votess. Did your Goddess accept sacrifices?” That title I’d received made me hope there was a chance.
“Yes. The blood of a priest would become Her blood, and our enemies would die at its touch.”
“And you’re a priestess.”
Votess held up her taloned hand and closed her eyes. “I know the rite, now. But we have no sacrifice.”
I held up the stone. “Sure we do.”
Votess stood up. Her eyes gleamed crimson. “The ones who would have stolen the temple from us.”
“Sounds like enemies to me.”
Votess nodded. She bit into her hand until it bled freely, and her blood dripped into the pool. Where it touched, it glowed briefly. I watched as she stepped slowly into the blood, letting it lap at her high ankles. Her eyes glowed with the power of the divine. It was beautiful and terrifying and overwhelming. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and looked at me. “Bring forth the sacrifices.” Her voice was stately and chilling.
I held the crystal out as far as I could. I willed it to activate, and then let it fall. The moment it touched the pool, there was a black flash and a wave of force expanded outward from it. I flew backwards until the stone wall stopped me.
Bones cracked. I didn’t care. Votess hadn’t even moved. She stood proud and let the blood flow from her wound into the pool.
In the middle of the pool stood six humanoids of various races. The quick glance I could spare them told me they were all at least level forty; we wouldn’t have a chance fighting them. They immediately moved to get clear of the blood pool, but it wasn’t going to happen. The blood of the Goddess flowed up their bodies, covering them rapidly and holding them fast. Their shouts turned to screams and curses, until the blood flowed into their mouths and noses. Then they began to sink into the pool, falling to their knees while struggling to breathe.
Beside me, Votess was lit by a red nimbus of pure divinity. Her hand raised up and then cast down, splashing her blood on the summoned players. A bright energy began circling them, and where it touched them their bodies ceased to exist. It took barely ten seconds to destroy them. Their life force flowed from them and into the alabaster Goddess. I hoped it was enough.
I watched as long as I could, but my vision was fading fast. My Vitality was in the single digits, and something inside me had broken when I hit the wall. I closed my eyes. Votess was safe, and hopefully there was enough energy in that unwilling sacrifice to bring the Goddess back to us again. If I died now, it would be all right. I let myself drift away from sensation until there was nothing left.
31
There was no inky blackness, no timeless sensation. I didn’t die, at least not in the way I had when Votess had killed me in the agreed-upon exchange at the temple entrance. However, I didn’t realize this at the time. It wasn’t until I awoke under an unfamiliar warmth that I became aware that I’d somehow survived.
“You are alive. Good.” Votess looked down on me and bared her teeth in what I knew was her attempt at a smile. Once again I reminded myself to talk to her about that. There was something different about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.