Two Hundred And Nineteen

Two Hundred And Nineteen

You have gained in strength. Your level has increased from Sixty-Three to Sixty-Four. All of your Material statistics have increased by nine. Aether has increased by twenty.

“Damn, that’s the third level-up in a few minutes. Who knew genocide was so profitable?” I muttered self-mockingly as I launched another projectile out into the forest like a mortar. After the first consecutive bombardments we raced into the forest, aiming for our goal, the Spring at the centre, amidst the crowning hill. Huge amounts of ether were being generated as well, hundreds, thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of plant creatures and Myconids dying all around the forest, erupting into masses of vivid red and orange toadstools, which greedily devoured the plant material, before detonating in bright clouds of spores, spreading the taint ever further.

I have to take what I can. I greedily dragged in all the ether around us, fighting the Territory for it, and I must have grabbed tens of thousands of units at the very least. Another glass jar sailed high into the air, and moments later more spores cascaded down like deadly rain.

“This is both-both wonderous and terrible.” Shaeula said beside me, watching the slaughter with a very complicated expression, a mix of happiness and regret. She raised a hand holding her pink jade bells, and a series of fine wind blades flew out, carving apart both the rapidly-decaying trees blocking our path and a dozen Myconid warriors who were trying to make a stand, even as their bodies were ravaged by the growths, flesh melting and disintegrating. “I know this is how-how the Myconids do their cruel work, but what is it you said, Akio? We must be careful not-not to become the monsters we fight?”

“Yeah. This is a forbidden technique after this war. Seeing it up close it’s even more horrific than I expected.” Beside us, Grulgor was rampaging, engaging any Myconid that tried to resist the tide of death, making short work of them. Hyacinth was merely following along with Ixitt and his wagon of equipment, saving her strength. “It might have been more humane to simply burn everything down with Foehn.”

“Well, dead is dead, is it not-not?” Shaeula shrugged, chainmail jingling. “I do not-not believe they care about the manner of their death, nor would they have any dignity doing so, considering the brutality they have-have themselves wrought.”

“Right.” I fired off another glass jar of spores and nature energy. “That should be every target hit as per the plan. Now we just have a few left for emergencies.” I slung the makeshift bazooka over my back, drawing my Twin Tangs. The forest ahead of us was now a sodden mess of exploded mushrooms and fronds of fungus, and the underfooting below was treacherous. It might well be worth purging the whole forest with fire afterwards, starting over before replanting the Territory. Still, that won’t be my worry. A tide of thorn-bears, pitcher plans, sunflowers, pumpkin-beasts and worse were trying to rally, but all it took was some spores to feast on one of their number, sprouting, before the contagion spread. My blades slashed out, cleaving rotten creatures apart in splashes of green goo, though even that was starting to turn a vile red, making it look more like blood.

“This is too easy.” Shaeula remarked, a pinwheel held in her other hand sweeping a wide area. Ether scattered and we pulled it in, using a little to offset the effects of the enemy Territory, but most of it we funnelled home. “They must-must be able to put up some resistance?”

“Don’t jinx it.” I said, before shaking my head. “Too late.” The ground trembled, and from the hill that was our destination the thorn behemoths emerged, starting to stride through the dying forest. Still, even they were not immune to the deadly effects of the spores. One was stumbling, the green of its legs becoming overwhelmed with a creeping tide of putrid ruby and nauseating orange, and even as it stumbled, legs snapping, the mushrooms exploded. Myconids tried to leap free, some falling to their deaths, but those that were too late merely popped wetly, stinking goop seeping from their toadstool-ridden corpses.

You have gained in strength. Your level has increased from Sixty-Four to Sixty-Five. All of your Material statistics have increased by nine. Aether has increased by twenty.

No shit. Still, it isn’t all going our way! Even as I levelled up at the death of the hulk and its passengers, the other two were unleashing their massive thorns towards us, blotting out the moon like a rain of arrows. We had no cover either, what trees that had survived the long Myconid occupation now melting away, forming a layer of slimy detritus that dogged our steps, slowing us.

“Shaeula, barrier!” I called, raising wind myself and creating a jade typhoon around us. The impacts were heavy, the shrill screeching of solid thorns impacting the grinding wind hurting my ears. “I’ll use aether too. We have plenty to spare!” I hardened my image, the winds intensifying, imagining an impenetrable shield. Compared to modifying the spores, this is trivial! The thorns that were slowly penetrating before, forcing their way through our defences like spikes from an iron maiden, found themselves sliced apart, sharpened tips dropping to the ground, the rest repelled. Another flight landed, dull thuds rocking the barrier, but it held firm.

“Time to counter.” I declared, as the barrier shimmered and broke apart, olivine motes of light scattering as the wind energy and aether was spent. All around us the ground was impaled by massive spears for dozens, no, hundreds of metres, but some were already starting to sprout vivid fungus.

“Shaeula, cover me. I’m going to take those moving fortresses out.” I loaded one of the few remaining bio-shells into the artillery, shouldered it and quickly calculated the firing angles. It didn’t take too many tests for me to figure out the quirks, and rapid calculations for things like trajectories and firing angles is what Intellect does best. The first shell soared out, followed by a second. Just two left now. Still, we have Hyacinth.

More thorny spears were being grown from the behemoths, dozens of Myconids using all their energies to urge them forwards, each stride carrying them closer to us. One shell struck the shoulder of the lead thorny hulk, exploding into a cloud of death, and even from here we could hear the shrill cries of panic. One down. The second however... Well shit, they are learning. A bit quicker than I would have hoped, though. Myconid Aeromancers had erected a barrier similar to our earlier one, and the exploding shell merely showered spores against it, for them to be pushed aside. Their control was clumsy, and they only managed to spray further death across their rapidly decaying comrades, but even so, it kept the final behemoth intact.

“Fine then. Try this.” I launched the last two shells, one arcing high, the other on a low trajectory. Once more walls of wind erupted, blocking the first shell. The second was blocked by the ground erupting, geysers of decaying black mud swallowing the projectile, crushing it. “Yeah, of course it wouldn’t be that easy. Still, two down.” I got another level-up, pushing me to Sixty-Six, and I idly wondered if anyone else was levelling up this fast. Though I soon had less time to think such nonsense, as hundreds of Myconids were marshalling up, shimmering walls of wind and fetid mud and water around them. There were Aeromancers, Terramancers, Aquamancers, Rangers, Warriors and many more. But what really drew my attention were the six Sporecasters that occupied the centre of the small army. Their wooden staves were giving off shimmering light, and beside me Hyacinth hissed.

“They are doooing something, master. That energy is similar tooo mine!”

“In that case, if they can defend against the spores, we just have to kill them the old-fashioned way.” I declared. At my words, Grulgor laughed grimly, charging towards them, leaving craterous footprints in the ground.

“Do we?” Shaeula asked, suddenly, having an idea. She turned to Hyacinth, even as Grulgor came under heavy bombardment from arrows, spores and elemental attacks, which he was shrugging off, his heavy armour jangling, rings scattered into the muck. “If I make-make an opening, can you cast your spores inside it?” she asked.

“I can dooo it!” Hyacinth was nodding frantically. “I have been working sooo hard to be of use to master and mistress. Hyacinth is happy to be relied upooon!”

“Very well. Akio, please aid Grulgor, prevent that-that oaf from suffering damage to his protective gear. Make me an opportunity!”

“Fine. Wait up, big guy!” I cried, rapidly catching Grulgor. Spikes of rock and arrows flew at me, but I turned the muddy ground into my shield with a ruby flow of earth energies, the surging mass of dirt slamming into the oncoming projectiles. Grulgor smashed through the earth walls that were thick with red and yellow dust, his fists and new mace sweeping through. One Warrior tried to block him, but the heavy metal shaft of his mace smashed the head to paste, before he swung it wide, tossing Warriors asunder.

“This is what Grul wishes for! Crush puny fungi, win victory through might!” He bellowed, a headbutt crushing the cap of another Warrior, goo splattering his visor and goggles.

“Careful! There are still plenty of Myconid Death Spores in the air.” I warned. “Watch your gear.” I swung with my left hand, and severed the arm of a Warrior. Blasts of air and razor-sharp jets of water were aimed at me by the ‘Mancers, but I was too quick, slipping past them, my own wind and flame energies piercing through several opponents. Even so, Grulgor and I were seriously outnumbered, and the Sporecasters were reaching the climax of whatever ritual they were attempting.

We were standing in front of the crowned hill that housed the Spring of Clear Reflections. The once-pristine white stone that made it up was choked with fungi, mushrooms, toadstools and more of many vile colours. It reminded me of seeing a cluster of sea anemones at the aquarium in Las Vegas. Yeah, if this doesn’t reek of danger, I don’t know what does. Worse, the density of spores was far thicker here, and in addition to the Myconid Death Spores, there were tiny seeds that were extremely corrosive. Our chainmail was already starting to melt, as was the glass of our goggles.

“Well, this will do for a while.” Ixitt said as he ladled out gloopy barrier cream from the barrel on his hovering supply sled. Smearing it over our gear, including our goggles, which gave everything a softer, more unfocussed cast, we were at least temporarily protected. Though I’m tempted to take the goggles off and let Ether Healing do its work. No, too risky...

“So, I get the feeling this isn’t going to be a case of Hyacinth just filling the interior with spores and us walking away with the boss loot drops.” I said sarcastically. The yawning entrance to the hill beckoned us in, an archway that was probably once carved with many beautiful works of art now weathered and cracked, mushrooms and slimy fronds sprouting from the gaps, hanging down like curtains.

“No, I suppose not-not.” Shaeula agreed. “Still, other than a few survivors, the Myconids are finished. Other than whatever lurks within.” Her eyes glowed bright behind her smeared mask. “I can sense a strong presence, rivalling my father. I... well, I admit to being concerned.”

“Yeah. I’m getting cold feet myself. I’m even wondering if it might be wise to speak to Shaeraggo, get some reinforcements. Even make some gear for Ulfuric. But...” I shook my head at the ominous presence. “... so long as the Myconid within relies on his spores and contagions rather than power, we’ll win. Ixitt, you have the most important task. I want our line of retreat open at all times.”

“I shall be ready.” He patted the numerous crates, sacks and boxes. “We have prepared as well as we could have. I am confident that at worst we can safely escape.”

“Grul wants to destroy strong opponents, but Grul admits, what lies within feels strong. Like Duke Formor. But running from the fight will not serve you.” He shook his massive head, a sizzling snow of seeds and spores accumulating on his greased shoulders, emitting faint steam. “If this is your limit, you will never rule, princess.”

“Indeed.” Shaeula was shaking slightly, but even so, her eyes were resolute. “I am not-not a cowardly young female alone any longer. I have you all at my side. Besides, I must-must simply try out the arts Ulfuric has been teaching me. Using them on the worthless mushrooms who have fallen before us is no-no test at all.”

“Let’s go then.” I didn’t want to spoil the moment, so I stepped forwards. The pressure was suddenly more intense, aether being pulled from me, my body feeling sluggish. Still, I resisted, focusing on my chakra network, boiling my energies within, and I pushed through, sliding through into the dark cave, lit only by phosphorescent glows from the fungi dotted everywhere, dull green and purple.

“Still no barrier. Not that we wouldn’t be able to break it, given time.” I observed. “But the Territory is thicker here, denser. Probably pushing Rank 4, if I had to guess?”

Shaeula nodded. “It is quite-quite draining. We can ill afford a protracted battle here. Ixitt and Hyacinth will not-not be able to withstand this force for long.”

“I am fine mistress, dooo not worry abooout me!” She declared stoutly. “Where master and mistress gooo, I shall be behind them.”

Ixitt merely bobbed his head, already struggling. Luckily his battle prowess wasn’t essential to us, and most of his use was in his supplies. Grulgor was also slower than usual, but even so, as we marched through the straight corridor deeper into the hill, the air choked with spores, our breaths rasping through the masks we wore, we steeled ourselves for what was ahead.

“Do you hear that-that?” Shaeula asked, and I nodded.

“Yeah. Sounds like the trickling of water. Makes sense, as it is a spring, right?”

“The most beautiful amongst all the Seelie Court.” Ixitt lamented. “Though you would never know it now.”

“Hush. I hear-hear something else.” Shaeula growled, and we stilled. Yes. Like breathing. A booming, cavernous breath.

“Well, there’s no way that whoever dwells down in these depths doesn’t know we are here. The amount of Alert Spores flying about must have been crazy.” I declared boldly, grasping at my confidence. “Come on. We may as well see what we face. Who knows.” I shrugged. “Maybe we can even negotiate the return of the Spring. We’ve shown we are more than capable and ruthless enough to threaten the Myconids as a whole.”

“That would be pleasant.” Shaeula muttered as we came ever-closer to the end of the corridor, a silvery glow streaming through the thick fog of spores, forming pretty beams of light. “Still, I do not-not believe we are that fortunate.”

“No, probably not.” I agreed, stepping out into the hollow hill that housed the Spring of Clear Reflections. Wow. Incredible. Even now. I subconsciously imitated my sister, as the sight within stole my breath. The hollow hill towered into the sky, and the walls were white stone, filled with shining crystals of emerald and sapphire. Even the filth and fungus smearing the walls could not obscure the full beauty of it. Light was streaming in from the hole in the mound, reflected from the crowning monoliths, creating a series of dazzling beams that shone silver, blue, green, purple and more colours. They were all focussed down to the centre, where a large lake was sitting, stagnant. It was then the beauty faded.

Disgusting. What was likely a pristine lake and spring was now choked with reed-like toadstools, black and purple caps releasing the constant slurry of acidic spores that plagued the hill. The water itself was now black with toxic sludge, and if it wasn’t for the filters on our masks the odour would likely have been intolerable. The watery sound we could hear was likely the spring flowing into the lake from below, sending gentle ripples along the surface, but instead of a beautiful mirror reflecting the light from above, the waves seemed to devour the light, only gloom remaining.

And amidst the lake, that light... towered something. Something grotesque, bloated, something that my mind wanted to reject. It was a Myconid, at least it must have been. A twenty-metre tall stalk-like body, though dozens, hundreds of faces were peering out from the poisonous yellow flesh, virulent caps twitching and drooling acids and spores. A dozen frond-like arms were dangling like roots, greedily sucking up the pestilent waters of the lake, and the head... it was a mushroom cap, true, but it was a dull grey, reflective, and caved in at the top, many of the beams of light from above being swallowed by the dark void that dwelt within, a deep purple that lacked all majesty, and only looked like decay.

“By the moon... that is an abomination.” Shaeula gasped, and I could hear Ixitt also swearing. Hyacinth merely stared at it, unblinking, and Grulgor rumbled his disquiet. Me, I get the urge to swear too. What the fuck is that? My Eye shone amber, and I attempted to analyse it, but as I was doing so, a vicious, fanged mouth split open in the huge stalk-like body of the beast, each fang a huge, venom-dripping thorn, capped with a toadstool head, spotted with white and red. Eyes stared at us from his teeth, yellow and white, filled with madness, and it was only my Determination and Resilience that kept me from screaming, running away. My hand crept out, and I seized Shaeula’s, seeking her reassurance.

“An abomination?” the creature spoke, his voice booming within the confines of the hill, his breath accompanied by a tide of toxic spores, the walls smoking where they landed. “Such arrogance. Who are you to judge I?” The mouth chewed over that. “You come into my world, trailing in the blood of my puppets, and call I thus? You Fae were ever arrogant. It shall be your undoing. Now pay proper respect before I, Myrcolaxriath the Ever-Present, once Duke of the Unseelie Court of Pandemonium, now Inheritor of All Lands, the Spreading Death, the Harbinger of the End of False Life. All Shall be I, and I shall be all!”