Chapter 72: Dear Spy and Spiders

Chapter 72: Dear Spy and Spiders

Survivor tips: You can ask twenty questions to an assembly over the next twenty-four hours. This council is formed by an infinite number of hypothetical Priams who have just survived their Tribulations. These questions must concern your survival. Each answer will consist of a single short sentence.

Sitting on one of the huge branches of the Jubokko tree, Priam reread his reward description. He didn't want to leave anything to chance - or rather, he tried to leave nothing to chance. Waiting for his new pants - a gift from Blueberry whose provenance seemed bloody - to dry, he was thinking of a trick. Something he could exploit by twisting the words of his reward.

There were an infinite - or almost infinite - number of questions to ask, some of which could decide his life or death. Hardly stressful, he quipped. So, whenever the opportunity arose, Priam thought about which question to ask. He had recounted; there were still twelve questions available. It was both a lot and too little.

Another critical point was the duration of this assistance. Survivor Tips would expire after twenty-four hours. It gave Priam just under eleven hours to spend his questions. His Tribulations would begin in just over nine hours, allowing him to ask questions during them - or at least their beginning. A golden opportunity to understand the dangers of his Tribulations and how best to survive them.

Priam ran a hand through his hair, staring into space. The System was not his friend. If he could know the method of defeating its Tribulations, then it was a safe bet that the method was simple: be strong enough to survive.

Even so, if there was a way of overcoming his Tribulations more efficiently, he had to know it. Priam decided to reserve at least five of his questions for his Tribulations. It left him with seven available questions. He had an idea for the first question.

What question should I ask now?

It was a shame to waste a question like that, but at least he was sure he wasn't missing out on something important.

Answer: Ask about Anatole Aely'Samael's plan, position and weaknesses.

It confirmed his hypothesis. Like the cockroach he was, Anatole was good at staying alive. Priam checked the urn hanging from his belt. One could never be too careful.

Where is Anatole Aely'Samael, and what is his plan?

Answer: Araneaes would poison the Jubokko to grant Anatole a wish.

One of the advantages of Survivor Tips was that the council formed by his clones didn't have to answer precisely the question he'd asked. It gave them some leeway in directing their answer. Of course, a ten words answer still sounded bizarre. Fortunately, Priam knew that his clones communicated mainly by keywords. He reread the sentence several times before asking another question.

What other events do I need to know about?

Answer: The tree's fall heralds a battle, the factions brace themselves.

Only nine questions remained, four of them before the Tribulations. However, Priam was satisfied. Turning to his friends, he outlined the information he possessed.

Firstly, the Crimson Fruit - the reward for poisoning the Jubokko - seemed to interest a lot of people. Secondly, the grove, or the area around it, was about to become the scene of a major battle. It would certainly be the climax of the Reunion for the various factions of the Dome. Obviously, whoever came out on top would use the end of the Reunion to maximize their advantage and crush their enemy.

For the time being, Priam's goal, and by extension Sphinxs and Blueberrys, was to kill Anatole. One of his quests offered to resurrect someone in exchange for Anatole's life. The other promised to increase the quality of his Phoenix bloodline. Anatole was a monster, and Priam needed no further reason to act.

"Anatole wants to kill the Jubokko. So he must be close by," said Priam. Sphinx and Blueberry agreed. "How did you intend to poison the tree?"

"A few days ago, the Earl sent me to destroy some fungi that were parasitizing and poisoning some of the trees in the grove. They reproduce at an astonishing rate and love the sequoias. I was thinking of throwing some spores of this fungus into the Spring. The pond would make them overgrow the tree in a few minutes," Blueberry explained.

"Thats smart!" exclaimed Sphinx.

Priam nodded.

"The Jubokko's main weakness is that it's static," Priam admitted. "My Tribulations are coming fast. Can't we kill him faster? By burning it, for example?"

"Impossible. The forest is weak against fire, but most trees develop resistance to this disaster when they become ennobled. I'm not saying it can't burn, but it would take extreme temperatures."

"Too bad," Priam replied, rubbing his shins. They had grown back, but he needed to ensure they were there. Despite his Willpower, his deaths and wounds sometimes weighed on the young man's mind. Sphinx touched his shoulder, and he smiled back.

"It's all right, don't worry. By the way, Blueberry, do you know of any spider colonies nearby?"

Blueberry froze.

"Why?"

Priam raised an eyebrow at the ursid's discomfited expression before bursting out laughing. "You're five meters tall and afraid of little spiders?"

The bear frowned, and Priam apologized. "Sorry, I shouldn't have made fun of you. If Anatole wants to use spiders to poison the Jubokko, I don't think he's importing them from Earth. There must be a nest nearby."

"There aren't a few little spiders. There's a gigantic colony of huge spiders," Blueberry replied, shivering.

"Where?" asked Priam. His doubles seemed to think Anatole was ready to manipulate spiders to poison the Earl.

"Everywhere." At the confusion on Priam's and Sphinx's faces, Blueberry explained. "The Moon has been renovated. Not just the surface but the whole Moon. Underground, there are caverns, galleries and monsters. Under the grove, there's a colony of spiders as big as wolves. Their webs stick to my fur, and it's an ordeal to get them off..." grumbled the ursid.

Priam then explained to his friends the clues his doubles had given him.

"Anatole wants to use the spiders to poison the Earl, and that would give him access to a wish?" he concludes. "But why would the lion keep spiders under his precious tree? Either they're harmless and Anatole plans to make them toxic, or there's another Earl out there..."

Looking up at Blueberry, Priam saw the bear even more puzzled than he was.

"I know!" exclaimed Sphinx before laughing as her two friends turned to face her.

"Really?"

"I'm rather gifted at puzzles and riddles!"

"That's right," laughed Priam. "Excuse me, Sphinx. Give us the answer then, please."The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

"There may be an Earl under there, but there's another explanation for the lion's inaction. By defending the tree against its natural enemies, he was taking advantage of Spring. Without spiders, the Jubokko would have had no reason to allow the lion access to Spring. They're more partners than allies," concluded Sphinx.

"That makes sense," Priam said, clapping his hands. "If Anatole really is trying to poison this tree, we're going to help him."

"What?" said Blueberry.

"Yeah. My Tribulations are in about ten hours, and I want to finish this as soon as possible. We kill the Jubokko with Anatole's help, and then we kill him. We get the fruit, kill the Earl and I survive my Tribulations. Easy!" announced Priam with a smile.

"You... I... What do you think you're doing?!"

"I sacrifice myself for you? If I'm going to die, I might as well do it for a noble cause," replied the monkey. "Please, this is the first time in my life that I'm proud of myself and not afraid. I've lived as a coward but want to die as a hero."

The Earl opened his mouth before closing it again. What right did he have to prevent his Baron from sacrificing himself? None, he was doing his duty. And I didn't do mine...

Straightening up, the noble lion took a breath. "My people, listen to me! Flee. I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll survive the second part of this Tribulation. You obey me, and I protect you. It is my honor as a Noble. I had forgotten it, and you reminded me. Let me be proud of myself one last time. Let me believe that Safamu, Earl of the Dark Woods, deserves your allegiance."

The animals were silent. Most were unable to speak, but all understood the Earl's intentions. For a few moments, no one moved. Just as Safamu was about to speak again, the monkey bowed.

"I'm sorry, but I still refuse. I feel your conviction Sir, and it makes me want to fight for you even more. If you don't give me another opportunity to help you, I'll throw myself between you and the next death flake."

Safamu growled. Opening his mouth to scold his subordinate, he stood still. The wind was blowing a secret in his ear. The next moment, the breeze continued on its way, and he sighed.

"What crime have I committed to deserve such subjects..."

The monkey had the good sense not to answer.

The lion resumed and extended a paw.

"Humans are coming this way. These wisps take lives, but they don't have to be ours." He turned and looked at the monkey.

"What's your name?"

"Borza, Sir"

"Borza will guide you. Lure them here. Kidnap them. I want a human alive under every one of those flakes," Safamu roared.

Thousands of animal cries shook the battlefield.

Status: (Average value for a Homo sapiens male before integration: PHY 10 / MEN 10 / META 0)

PHYSICAL:

Strength 155

Constitution 276

Agility 193

Vitality 286

Perception 299

MENTAL:

Vivacity 176

Dexterity 201

Memory 50

Willpower 288

Charisma 150

META:

Meta-affinity 141

Meta-focus 98

Meta-endurance 90

Meta-perception 32

Meta-chance 114

Potential: 1307

Tier 0

[He Who Eludes Death] charge OFF. Reloaded in 4 hours 27 min 39s

[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.

Time: 8 hours 47 minutes 33 seconds.