Chapter 40: To End a Swarm

Chapter 40: To End a Swarm

Sarah and Stella woke from their naps before long, and Nathan filled them in on the tension, then he narrowed his eyes and looked at Stella. Did Simlas team set off the Old Gemore constructs? He mentioned he retreated from a dungeon?

Stella shrugged. I will ask. Siltul didnt say anything. She sent a [Message], getting a response in just a few minutes. Nope. Simlas team went into a smaller fortress of the face just north of here. Nothing to do with Old Gemore. Nobody delved any dungeons to the east of Tarren. No known cause.

Nathan frowned, thinking. It couldnt have been us - even if the crystal did send out a message before I broke it, that was an Edrani dungeon, and these are Old Gemore constructs.

An early warning sign of the Endings maybe? Or just random shit.

Aarl slapped Nathan on the back, his armored hand striking with surprising weight. I bet dragon bones to Stalker teeth that we never find out - Davrars dangers dont always have a reason. Lets get ready, it is time to depart soon.

Sarah cast a look around the sparse room. Not much left to do to get ready. Stella, are you recovered?

The short mage stretched, then cracked her neck. Ill sling lightning bolts all day long. But maybe a day or three before I cast that spell again. My head is sore. A lot of me is sore.

Khachi opened the door, taking in the Heirs and their readiness, then jerking his head. Its time to depart.

They filed out the door, sticking close to Delric as the various teams assembled in the village square. No work appeared to be getting done and the villagers were out in force, watching the gathered Adventurers and staying silent.

Nathan noted the extensive animal pens which held several herds of the extra-demonic goats. Separating the livestock from the houses were a series of warehouses, what looked like tanneries and a few workshops.

I thought tanneries were supposed to smell bad. Maybe some skills can prevent those problems.

Soon enough, all of the Adventurers were gathered, and Nathan watched as Kozar talked to the leader of the village. We leave to slay this Nemesis, and will return when the threat is vanquished for a feast. You smallfolk should have no fear. He clapped the wizened man on the shoulder before striding to the gates. N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.

Nathan would swear that the villagers looked annoyed at Kozars terms of address, and presumption on their hospitality. He tried to give them an apologetic shrug, but was pretty sure the message didnt come across.

The Adventurers strode out of the town, and Nathan and the Heirs brought up the rear, just behind the Old Hands as Kozar and Simlas teams led the group.

The group was eighteen strong, and they strung out somewhat as they descended the winding road from the heights of Tarren to the desert floor. The mage from the Old Hands dropped back to talk to the Heirs.

She was a Knuld girl, barely three feet tall and nearly lost in an elaborately tailored deep blue robe that matched her hair. Her skin was an umber color, closer to red than the standard orange of most Knulds. She bore a staff capped with a giant red crystal that was just a few shades lighter than her skin.

She sidled up next to Stella, glancing sidelong. That lightning. Was that you?

Whos asking? Stella looked bemusedly back, cocking an eyebrow.

The Knuld mage blushed, ducking her head. A thousand apologies. Im Neta Helvim. Graduate of the Tower of trickery. I have fire mana, but hear me I want lightning mana. Especially if you can destroy an army with it. Your spell outshone the sun! Shed started out speaking quietly, but her excitement ramped up over time.

Stella shot Nathan an amused glance, then turned back to Neta. Its hard, and takes powerful Insights. But tell me about your fire magic.

Nathan listened as Stella chatted with the other mage, quickly falling into bantering about the specifics of spells. Neta had shadow mana in addition to fire, and was working on figuring out spells that combined the two, since they weren't a common mana pairing.

Night fell as the adventurers walked across the desert, following somebody in Kozars team who had a tracking skill and was guiding the Adventuring group after the constructs that had fled earlier in the day. The swap from day to night took Nathan by surprise, and he looked up at the sky to see if there was anything strange going on.

He found himself frowning at a patch of clouds, some of which seemed to have a different pattern than the rest.

That seems kind of hazy. Weird.

Hey Sarah. Do you see anything up there? Nathan pointed, careful to keep his finger directly aligned with his target.

The [Headshot Gunslinger] squinted up at where Nathan was pointing, tilting her head back and forth for nearly twenty seconds. Then she shrugged. Nothing. What do you see?

Nathan shook his head. Nothing. There arent any flying Old Gemore war constructs, right?

Aarl was the one who had answered while squinting up at the dark patch of sky. Nope. All ground-based. Weve seen most of them. Artillery, support, siegebreaker, strike, scout, sentry. I think the only one left is the tunneler, and theyre a specialist.

They walked through the night as the two mages continued to chat. After nearly an hour, Neta shook herself and took several steps back from Stella. Stalkers take me - I didnt mean to ask so many questions. I would owe you a small favor for this!

Stella just shook her head. No, you dont. Were just talking about magic. Isnt it amazing?

Yes. Yes it is. And your fire spellforms! Exquisite. Neta gave out a small sigh, gazing at Stella in admiration. But youre saying I can use shadow to prevent harmful backdrafts - such a good term - and guide airflow

Delric had also dropped back, and was watching Neta with a fond expression. Nathan walked over to the older Adventurer to ask a question that had been on his mind for some time. You are the second team that has a few older, veteran Adventurers and then a single, younger mage. Is there a reason for that?

Plain as clean water, isnt it? Delric pursed his lips, taking the time to answer Nathan seriously. There havent been many mages in Gemore. Now Gale Shullet has set up a proper tower of magery, and is sharing her Insights. Any team worth their steel will welcome a mage who can cast [Message], let alone other spells. Neta can cast [Basic Illusion], [Darkness] and [Fire Orb]. She solves problems with a snap that leave those with steel petrified in place.

The older Adventurer shook his head in wonder. Gemore is growing magic of its own, and I am glad of it. I remember the days where there was no coordination - no management. Tenby would send out a call and get four teams, while Nedrang would get none, losing their shepherds and flocks besides. With more teams having [Message], we can control Delve days, establish villages farther out. Having a mage gives you options, lets you fight smart. Two weeks ago we trapped a Siegeboar Titan by digging an Endings-dammed pit. Neta covered it with shadow, then we lured the Titan over the trap.

Is he using explosive javelins? No wonder he wanted Herdin to enchant more for him if he uses them like this.

Argan and the mage from Simlas team joined forces to conjure water into the trenches, slowly driving the constructs out of the fortifications lest the conjured water tear them apart with vicious currents.

Kozars arm was a blur as he threw unenchanted javelins like a machine gun, each smashing apart a strike construct in a spray of metal.

Stella spoke through gritted teeth. Nobody is going to deal with the light? Fine. Ill do it. Her eyes crackled with lightning and her shield visibly flared as it accumulated an electric charge. The potential built up for a moment, and the Adventurers hunkered underneath the broad barrier flinched back, hesitant of arcing tendrils of lightning coming off their overhead cover.

Then the lightning roared down the twin beams of light still attempting to burn their way through the shield. They grounded themselves against the emplacements on the cliff, which blackened and cracked before falling silent.

Luckily, Aarl was nearby. He caught Stella when she wavered and fell a moment later, coughing and pressing a hand to her nose to stem the renewed bleeding.

Shit. There wasnt enough time for her to recover.

The constructs below clearly decided they werent winning this war of attrition, and the survivors boiled out of their trenches to close on the besieging Adventurers.

These things definitely have a grasp of tactics. But its hard to win when your defensive fortifications are turned into a trap.

Status of Nathan Lark:

Permanent Talent 1: Magic Absorption 10

Permanent Talent 2: Perfected Body 4

Talent 3: High-tier Slow Fall 8

Class: Implacable Antimage level 110

Stamina: 3064/3600

Antimages Impassivity

Antimagic Momentum

Raging Thrill

Implacable Inertia

Unarmored Resilience

Improved Antimagic

Strenuous Agility

Hand-to-hand Expertise

Utility skills:

Battle Meditation 4

High-tier Earnestness 9

Mid-tier Sprinting 10

High-tier Spellsense 8

High-tier Notice 4

High-tier Identify 4

High-tier Dodging Footwork 4

High-tier Enhanced Memory 7

Mid-tier Lecturing 8

High-tier Tumbling 1