by Han Yang
“I had to use mana to recover. I’m not sure if I can keep affording dead minions,” she shouted. “I -”
Boom! A second stomp rocked the jungle.
She collapsed, her minions likely dying. When I hoisted her over my shoulder, she vomited over my back, leaving a trail behind us.
Her minions taking the brunt of the dying proved vital to me getting near the portal. I dashed, weaved, and ran with every ounce of power I could muster.
Eventually, the fight caught up to me, and I collapsed, dropping Delsy.
Your minions Lidka 3 and Lidka 5 have died beyond repair. You have lost 100 mana. You have lost 100 mana. -45/155 Mana. Return to the location of their demise to claim the 31.339 Zorta. Pay .0144 Zorta to recover your Mana. (YES) - (NO)
I selected no, hoping to control my minions from mana exhaustion.
Delsy recovered, picking me up off the forest floor.
“Argg… stop its. The pains! The pains!” the voice boomed. “Stand stills, so I can squish yous!”
I closed my eyes while she jostled me in an awkward carry.
It cost zero mana to use a minion, and in theory I could control them while out of mana.
I chanted my spell, forcing myself to concentrate. “Death is power, and I demand obedience. Death is power, and I demand obedience. Death is power, and I demand obedience.”
I failed. For the first time, I failed.
A growl escaped my clenched teeth, and I paid the Zorta fee.
“Drop me,” I commanded.
Delsy let me flop down. “Living minions, pick me up and set me near the portal,” I whispered.
I relaxed, not letting the situation overwhelm me. I found my center, calming to the fact that only two of my minions had died up to that point.
“Death is power, and I demand obedience. Death is power, and I demand obedience. Death is power, and I demand obedience,” I chanted.
This time, I ejected out of my body, soaring for the fight.
“I’ll crushes yous! Leaves my legs alones!” The cyclops bellowed.
I lifted over the trees, heading for my fighting minions. What I saw surprised me.
The cyclops hobbled away in retreat. An occasional swipe of a club would try to swat my troops. His lethargic actions slowed the massive being.
All down the calves of the cyclops were littered with gashes. The jenix cats clung to the muscles, raking huge rents in the flesh as they climbed upward. Hell, one of them wedged into the flesh, digging for tendons.
The damage was not only brutal, it was clearly taking a toll as the cyclops limped, knees bending to compensate. His hefty frame made the task of staying upright even tougher.
A trail of minions running in and slashing his legs gave me a myriad of targets.
I dove into a human, not wanting to risk Mini. His efforts at taunting the cyclops were clearly having an impact.
A shuddering transition caused the skeletal frame to tumble, completing my control.
Boom!
A club pounded the jungle only a dozen feet away. I spread my legs to absorb the jarring impact.
The cyclops, having enough, turned with a ferocious roar.
“Dies! You all must dies!” seething rage belted out with a powerful shout.
I sprinted forward, seeing the club lift out of the jungle. I charged recklessly, eager to get into the fight.
Mini taunted the cyclops, predicting the giant's slow movements.
A realization hit me. This cyclops was bigger than the others I had seen in Ikara Valley. This behemoth was easily over a hundred-feet tall and at least a head taller.
The most shocking fact, which I obviously noticed earlier, was that the cyclops was fat. Not kinda fat, not sorta, but exceedingly obese. I had to wonder how much of our success was attributed to this being’s habitual overeating.
My foot splashed into a pool of cyclops blood. The towering behemoth rose to staggering proportions. Even in a throw away body, I questioned my sanity.
A kick lashed out. The movements lacked a fluidity of a predator. Instead, they revealed desperation.
Through the trees, I saw Lidka sawing the flesh of an Achilles heel. The jenix continued to shred the calf, and my troops darted in, paying close attention to the cyclops’ slow movements.
Mini hurled a stick, forcing the attention of the cyclops to divert.
“I’ll adds your bones to my piles!”
The club crashed into the spot Mini lunged out of. The cyclops’ attack whooshed air, sped by gravity, and yet, it was still too slow to catch the skeleton minotaur.
Mini recovered with a swagger that he would regret. A second later, a foot lashed out, sending my best minion soaring over the jungle canopy.
Well, that wasn’t good.
I expected to get a notification about his death, but instead I heard a blood curdling scream from the cyclops.
“ARRGGG!”
With the cyclops using all his weight on one leg, the damage to his calf became too much and his ability to stand failed him. The being didn’t teeter. It collapsed suddenly.
A shadow overhead loomed, closing quickly.
Crack!
A bone snapped, altering his fall. While I may have escaped death, I saw startled skeletons raise hands to brace for being smushed.
Boom!
The ground shook so hard even my real body in the distance jostled. Notifications of deaths hit me hard, and I stomached the losses.
At least I attempted to push on. My 745 negative mana drained on me.
I tried to stay connected to my minion and faltered.
With little choice, I paid the fee. My mana recharge inflated in cost, draining a full Zorta and a half, becoming the most expensive refresh I had ever used.
Returning to my senses, I sat up in the skeleton’s body, not even realizing I had fallen. Jolting off the ground, I headed for the battle.
The cyclops roiled in pain, rocking side to side. He brushed at my minions climbing onto his body, but his efforts were feeble.
My minions swarmed his body, trying to stab out his eye.
While they focused on the head, I found an opening.
I rolled under a falling arm, ducking near a horrendously smelly armpit. I exited above a shoulder and near its neck.
“I surrenders,” the cyclops pleaded. “My eye, my eye, I can’t sees. Please, spare mes.”
I didn’t know who had blinded the creature, but I used the distraction. Did a flash of empathy run through me? Sort of. The dying behemoth had attacked us then asked for mercy only when death neared.
The cyclops thrashed, and I jumped high onto the neck, driving my blade home.
The skin parted and the sword helped me climb higher with my skeletal toes digging into the neck full of fat rolls, finding purchase.
I arrived near the jugular, yanking my sword free from a lower entry point. Asha leaped high, mimicking my maneuver to climb onto the neck. The nasty rolls let us avoid falling as the cyclops rocked in pain.
Together, we sawed open the windpipe, butchering the behemoth. A flicker of a shadow revealed a looming hand. A palm came rushing down to swat us like a mosquito.
To save my friend, I released my blade and shoved Asha off the neck.
Smack!
Every ounce of my skeletal being complained from immense pressure until I felt nothing.
I expected another death notification.
Instead, I found myself alive - inside the blood-filled throat of the cyclops. The palm had pushed me into the opening Asha and I had cut.
I was missing a foot and my left arm. I sat on my ass, feeling all was lost. The night vision of the minion alluded to a boon. Within reaching distance rested a sword. Knowing every second counted, I dove onto the blade, grasping the blood-soaked handle.
My ability to remain upright failed, and the slick windpipe sent me tumbling. In a desperate attempt to keep from becoming melted in stomach acid again, I jabbed the blade into a space between throat bones.
>
After I stabilized, I yanked the blade free. A literal river of blood gushed into the throat, telling me I had hit a major artery.
My ability to maintain my place in the throat ceased as I floated in blood.
I was swept away. I lost the sword. I lost which way was up, and I feebly swam without a foot and an arm.
When I exited the throat, I entered a freefall with a waterfall of blood.
I splashed into the stomach, finding it filled with matogator skulls. One of the swords splashed beside me, sinking.
I dove down, the stomach quickly filling. I grabbed the blade right as the stomach heaved.
My ability to do anything left me. I went along for the ride, guessing I was being vomited out. The power of the ejection was fierce, sending me in a twirl.
I lost track of up again, only realizing I had left the cyclops body when I crashed into a bush. A torrent of blood and bile pushed me deeper into the forest.
Like the heroic warrior I was when I didn’t risk my own death, I hobbled back into the fight on one leg. If only I could shout out some witty movie lines.
Instead, I neared the head to see the ruined eye shut. The chest ceased to rise. The body continued to pour out blood from the numerous wounds.
Asha arrived, soaked in the cyclops’ blood as well.
“How many dead?” he asked.
I shrugged, not actually knowing. I pointed to my belly button, creating an orb and then pointing to the dead cyclops.
“He’s dying. He’ll give one up soon. Why don’t you bring your real body closer to try to claim this behemoth,” he said. “And Damien, thanks for the save and good job on earning the killing blow.”
I propped him a thumbs up and laid down the skeleton.
Leaving the body, I raced to my human form. When I reconnected, I saw a dismayed Delsy.
“Am I claiming the cyclops!?” she asked eagerly.
“Uhh… no. I’m fairly certain I got the kill too. Meaning it would be ten times harder for you to claim. You might be able to consume or drop the orb, but that is all,” I said with a guess.
While she had played a role, she certainly hadn’t earned the kill like me.
She pouted, stomping her feet.
“I have a lot of work to do. You need to either help or find something else to do. If you choose to help,we need the flesh processed while I work the orb. There’s tons of fat on that kill that can help the goblins or be used for farm animals,” I said, not actually having a clue if the body was worth anything.
“Fine, I’m down to five soldiers. I already reclaimed the two I lost in this fight,” she said with a huff.
I frowned, walking to the tent. I quickly scribbled a note, asking for a thousand Z orb. I used a rock on my desk to secure the note then tossed it into the portal.
“If I revive this cyclops, expect to get matogator minions. I know I’ll be doing so,” I said.
“We’re limited on the portal,” she said, folding her arms.
I nodded and said, “Yeah, but we disable a bunch. Then kill them on the last day and toss them in. Then claim them. Of course, this assumes I can even get the cyclops. But yes, I feel your pain, and I lost more minions than I’d want to lose normally as well.”
While I waited, I decided to check my stats. My available upgrades were stacking up to the point I might need to consider improving my core stats.
For the moment, I leveled up my intelligence and wisdom, leaving the rest alone. Those at least gave me a decent mana boost and were still affordable. I still didn’t have the option to upgrade to necromancy five. Hopefully, after the cyclops that would become an option.
Name: Damien Moonguard
Race: Human
Affiliation: Neutral
Zorta: 77.558
Nordan Score: 415,101
Ostriva Score: 444,620
Location: Kalo Island
Magic Type: Healer
Healer Level: 8
Magic Type 2: Necromancer
Necromancy Level: 4
Necromancer Minions: 47/150
Fighting Level: Decent
Mana: 165/165
Mana Recharge: 6
Strength: 9
Stamina: 8
Dexterity: 7
Constitution: 10
Willpower: 9
Cultivation: 17
Intelligence: 31
Wisdom: 31
Charisma: 28
Tracking: 7
Endurance: 10
Perception: 13
Burst: 8
Reflex: 8
Healing: 7
Melee Combat: 7
Aim: 5
Hunger: 1
Thirst: 1
Aging: 59 years until death.
I snickered that my fighting had gone up. Stabbing an artery meant I was decent. I had lost five lidka, two jenix cats, and four of the remaining thirteen humans. That was most of my fighting force.
I closed my eyes, finding my center and reaching out to collect the dead. The eleven green orbs succumbed to my will, and I harvested 84.991 Zorta.
Next, I swapped my desire, choosing to mend my minions. A black aura shot out of me, zooming across the forest to find my injured minions. I grunted in surprise when the tally came back.
Lumpy: Repair missing claw: 2 mana of 165 available.
Mini: Repair body: 111 mana of 165 available.
Harry Leoni: Repair missing arm, repair missing foot: 12 mana of 165 available.
“Repair body… Interesting option. Damn minotaur took a beating, but survived somehow,” I said with a chuckle.
I accepted the costs, noting to congratulate Lumpy on surviving another fight.
“If the cyclops hasn’t died yet, kill him. After that, start dissecting his valuable parts for the portal,” I commanded.
“So gross,” Delsy complained.
The portal shimmied. Tarla stepped out a second later.
She tossed a stone into the portal when I waved happily.
“Back again, my love. Your face always brightens the day,” I said with a smile.
“We thought you were kidnapped or something. What’s the Z for?” she asked. “I sent the typical ‘you’re fine’ reply.”
A pouch flew through the portal, hitting her in the hip. She tossed me the single Zorta orb, and I stared at the power in wonderment.
“A cyclops,” I said, brimming with happiness.
“Whoa! Okay, you’ll need me to help. I’ll stay, and if I hear the first peep of danger, I’ll flee. Let me prepare for your mission,” Tarla said, heading into my tent. She was clearly concerned claiming the cyclops would be an arduous task.
“Is it going to be that tough?” Delsy asked.
I shrugged, concentrating on the orb she delivered and willing it into my being. I confirmed that I wanted to consume the thousand Zorta, forever altering my future on Nordan.
“Tell Bell I want the counter back home to reach 140. I need workers and wagons five minutes ago. And the dwarves shifting dirt likely need to help. We can harvest a lot of the cyclops before the ghouls consume him, assuming I win the claim,” I ordered.
“Can I have Mini guard me?” Tarla asked.
“Mini, protect Lady Tarla as if your life depended on it. You’re to follow her commands,” I ordered. I smirked, seeing her exit my tent. She scribbled a note down. “He’s yours for now.”
Asha appeared out of the woods and said, “He’s dead. I think you should let me scout his home before you enter a meditative state.”
“How do you think he got here?” I asked.
“Well, let’s start with what we know. This area of ocean is rich in fish. Those fish feed the matogators and the brownies to a larger than normal size. For a cyclops, my guess is that he would sit on a beach and just wait. The matogators are so thick, he probably just snatched them out of the water and broke their spines.
“If he was patient, he could kill a dozen easily. The male was fat, abnormally so, meaning he had been h
ere for a while. I think, same as with the troll chief, we got lucky because our opponent slacked in their own ways.
“As to how he got here, if I had to guess, he was crossing the water and got stopped or marooned and scored an epic setup. I really want to see if there are more of them on the island before you over invest your time and effort,” Asha said, providing sage advice and an insight I could fathom.
“Alright, I will wait here and help the army prepare,” I said, watching him take off for a run.
“Damien, I have something I need to tell you, in private,” Tarla said, tossing her note into the portal.
“Uh oh. First name and in private? This can’t be good,” I said with a playful snicker.
Tarla eyed me flatly while Delsy snickered with her hands up.
“I’ll be helping the dwarves prepare,” Delsy said.
I hesitantly followed my lovely Tarla into our tent. She pointed to my desk and sealed the entrance. I gulped, expecting to get a scolding for empowering Nee or for her to reveal some awful truth.
I realized I had super misread the situation when her mage’s robes were removed and tossed on the bed. I gulped, raising my eyebrows. She waved me over with a bucket and soap. After the grime was removed, she patted the bed, encouraging me to join her.
I wasn’t sure if this warranted a special occasion or not. Maybe she missed me. I certainly missed her. This also might have something to do with me saying I wouldn’t abandon her no matter the cost.
Either way, I’d never had such passionate lovemaking.
Our bodies entwined over and over until I had to take a break for water. Standing at my desk, I heard Asha clear his throat.
“I have a report when you’re ready, Boss,” Asha said.
Nee did a pass by, shouting, “Sending the goblins to get to work.” Her voice faded as she left. I spent considerably more time getting into my armor than Tarla did to don her robe. She let in Asha who wrinkled his nose at the smell of sex.
“You’re an adult, get over it,” Tarla said, binding her bed hair into a ponytail.
“Ah… Sure,” he said carrying the e. “The cyclops sailed here on a boat. Well, a raft that he turned into a roof and a bed. Just a guess, but I think he was seeking a new master or a new home. He stumbled upon this bountiful island and decided to make it a home. There’s so many matogator bones outside his sheltered alcove we’ll never be able to salvage them all.”