We stepped into Hell. The portal had deposited us into a broken world alive with nothing but the ruins of old buildings, the sound of thunder and the sickly scent of Shadowmurk. Curmlough and I staggered as the ground beneath our feet shook from an earth tremor. This Dungeon was unstable!
“Ord’s Mercy, what is this place?” I said aloud. Curmlough looked frightened and Octave shook his head.
“What sort of Mana Memory is this?” Octave said. “The Dungeon Core here must be fully corrupted or worse. This horrible cannot be anywhere on Aramyr, surely? We could very well be in Hell!”
No. This isn’t Hell.
I could see it. The broken ruin we stood within was set upon a familiar promontory. Out over the edge, an endless desert one could almost believe had once been an ocean. Upon those wind blasted sands were giant, swirling columns of Shadowmurk that reached to the sky in massive, howling tornados. I looked back to the layout of multiple, old building foundations where I stood laid out in a strategic, concise manner. I spied something buried in the dirt.
Please, Great Ord. Let me be wrong!
I reached down and tugged the object free. It was snapped in half, filthy and wind blasted with ash, but there was no mistaking the piece of cherry colored wood that had once been part of the altar I had only just knelt before. I swallowed the lump in my throat and felt myself swoon.
“We are still in the Abbey.” I turned to face my companions, their faces grim.
“This is the Abbey of Twilight.” I gestured with both hands about me and pointed at the distant desert. “That is the Orichalcum Ocean out there or it should be! This place…it is what will happen to Aramyr if the Shadowmurk continues to spread. I don’t know how, but the Mana Memory has become…”
“A Mana Prophecy,” finished Octave solemnly.
“I cannot hear Lord Gor’s voice here,” Curmlough rasped and the Satyr seemed to shrink into himself. I reached down to lay a comforting hand upon his hairy head. He was right. Everything about this place felt wrong. This was nothing like any of the previous Dungeons I had experienced. As if reading my thoughts, I received a backlog of old notifications.
Hadaeon’s Descent Cleared!
Dungeon Boss has been defeated!
Dungeon Core claimed by {XSdse56}.
{XSdse56} has fulfilled all parameters to become Dungeon Boss!
Dungeon Parameters have been reset by new Administrator.
{XSdse56} is attempting to connect a {Fel Shard of Hadaeon} to a {Fel Shard of Limbus} via a Void Network!
A {Fel Shard of Limbus} has been disconnected!
CONNECTION SEVERED!
Void Portal Countdown terminated!
NOTICE: Elite Dungeon-Hadaeon’s Descent is being reset!
Then, I received a set of new notifications directly following the old.
ALERT! New Time Record Achieved!
Dungeon Boss has been defeated!
Achievement Unlocked! Not Even Close!
Reward: 3 Red Nodes, 6 Blue Nodes, 12 Green Nodes
Dungeon Core claimed by {XSdse56}.
{XSdse56} has fulfilled all parameters to become Dungeon Boss!
Dungeon parameters have been reset by new Administrator.
{XSdse56} is attempting to connect a [Dungeon Core] to a [Shard of Ara].
Attempting to establish Void Network…calculating…
WARNING! THIS WILL RESULT IN A DUNGEON BREAK AND A CATASTROPHIC SHADOWMURK EVENT! AN ADMINISTRATOR HAS BEEN NOTIFIED VIA THE PURGOS NETWORK!
ERROR! PURGOS ADMINISTRATOR IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE!
Time to Void Network Connection: 19:59:00
“My friends, I have some good news and some bad news,” I said quietly after closing all the notifications.
“What’s the good news?” Curmlough asked? Octave scowled down at him.
“Nobody asks for the good news first, you twit! You always take the bad news first so that the good news sounds even better when you hear it!”
“But I don’t want to hear the bad news!” Curmlough whined. I spoke up before Octave could scold him further.
“The Infernal defeated the Dungeon Boss of Hadaeon’s Descent in record time and has taken its place as the new Dungeon Boss.” I said.
“How is that good news?” Octave blurted out, exasperated. I smiled back.
“Because we were in the Dungeon before it happened, I was granted an Achievement for the defeat! I assume that the Dungeon Core recognizes me as a part of the reset Dungeon and so I was able to share in the reward!” I explained. Octave and Curmlough picked up on my excitement and reluctantly nodded.
“I guess that was good, but sorta bad news too?” Curmlough said, looking up at Octave. The Cherub nodded.
“Infernals at naturally stupid, but it will probably know that someone else has entered the Dungeon now and so it will likely…
I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!
The terrible voice made us all pause. Octave cringed and Curmlough hid behind my leg. I looked around wildly, but the voice came from everywhere. It was louder than the thunder and just as ominous as the distant Shadowmurk tornadoes.
YOU SEEK TO INTERRUPT THE GREAT WORK OF XAT? THIS DELAY MEANS NOTHING! I CAN KILL THE WEAKLING CORE CREATIONS OF THIS PLACE WITHOUT EFFORT A THOUSAND TIMES OVER! I ALREADY HOLD THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH A NEW VOID NETWORK, FOOL! IF I CAN NO LONGER LINK THE CORES WITH MY SEEDS, THEN I SHALL TEAR THE CORE ASUNDER. I WILL FLOOD YOUR WORLD WITH XAT’S BREATH AS TO MUTATE A CONTINENT! I WILL ALTAR THE FRAGMENTED PROPHECY OF THE DEAD FALSE AND LAY IT AT THE FEET OF LORD XAT! HE SHALL ABSORB IT AND GROW ALL THE STRONGER!
Ord’s Mercy, not again! The bloody Infernal is going to corrupt a Shard of Ara! Then give it to Xat?
“It is only another Demon. There is no such God!” I reminded myself. “We foiled its plans by destroying the Murk Worm Queen, but now it is somehow trying to use the Dungeon Core and the Shard of Ara to create something called a Void Network.” I told the others.
The Abbey of Twilight monks have had their souls absolved, but their Fel Shard desecrated corpses have been cocooned within Limbus Silk. The Boss of this Dungeon has placed each cocoon in a specific pattern in different areas of the Dungeon to better establish the Void Network connection.
Quest Updated!
Locate and destroy the Fel Shards by eliminating all Limbus Silk Worm Cocoons with Condemnation.
Cocoons Destroyed: 0/54
Reward: Lost Ara Skill
“This is all a working of that Infernal. It seeks to break our spirits even as it tries to force a Dungeon Break. It is doing so with the bodies of the fallen brothers.” I quickly explained that the corpses belonging to the Mournful Brothers were spread around the Dungeon, entombed within Limbus Silk Cocoons likely provided by the deceased Murk Worm Queen. This Infernal had created an intricate means of revenging itself for its imprisonment within the Abbey and for ingratiating itself with the false God Xat.
“What I don’t yet understand, is why it called the Shard of Ara a ‘Fragmented Prophecy,’ I said. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know,” answered Octave. “Ara was the God of Hope, Destiny and Fate. Perhaps this fragment while in the hands of an Infernal is showing us what the world will become if the fiend succeeds?” Octave gestured around us and I nodded. What Octave said made sense. The Mana Memory had become a Mana Prophecy as the Dungeon Core and Shard of Ara both fell under the Infernal’s assault.
“Then we will stop him and, my friends, the monster has unwittingly helped us in our endeavor.” I opened the Faction Web Terminal and paid the 9 Green Nodes to unlock the second available +10 STR Node in the Tier III Ord Web and then paid all 3 of my Red Nodes to unlock Ord’s Tier IV Passive Skill Theologian.
I felt no different, but now all spells affected by Fate Domain Mana would see their effects increased 100%. Spells like Consecrate, Caretaker’s Guidance, Bane Strike and others would see a dramatic increase in their effectiveness. I couldn’t wait to try them out.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
I only wish I could equip them all!
“Um, we have company,” Curmlough said and he pointed at the far side of the Abbey ruin where shapes were manifesting. While resetting the Dungeon had foiled the Infernal and likely forced it to fight several respawns, it also meant that we had to fight respawning monsters as well! It was time to summon the Angelic Guardian.
I raised my staff and shouted aloud, “Come forth, warrior of Ord! Protect us from this evil!” A circle of golden light appeared in front of me and as if the very earth was conjuring it, an 8 foot tall warrior in silver filigree plate armor rose up from the circle. The giant was covered head to toe in the armor and carried a massive two handed sword that it held at the ready. I stared at in awe and fought the desire to fall to my knees before it and thank the God of Man for the power he had bestowed upon me.
Eyes of golden fury stared forward and passed me. I knew instinctively that the Guardian awaited my commands. A fierce smile slowly spread across my face as I looked up at the impressive specimen of holy might. Octave saw my reaction and chuckled.
“They don’t say much, but they are solid in a fight! Nothing can stand against them!”
“You only say that because you have never seen one of Lord Gor’s Great Beasts!” Curmlough retorted. “One of them could chew up this walking stove like it was made of cheese!”
“Ha! Fie upon your Lord Gor’s Beasts!”
“Fie upon you!”
“My friends, the Dungeon has respawned.”
Murk Ogre
Level: 20
Lore: These tribal creatures are settled in the forests and mountains of Northern Aramyr. They are known to be fiercely territorial and will often desecrate places sacred to Gor at the behest of their Infernal Masters.
Advanced Lore: These ogres have been mutated by Shadowmurk and are now faster, stronger and cannot be disengaged from.
Murk Ogres are weak to Cold Damage. They possess the Focused Rage Passive Skill.
Focused Rage Lore: This skill provides immunity to all Taunt skills.
“Angelic Guardians are one of the weaker Angels who guard the sacred Halls of Ord. Just you wait until Kenric raises his Faction higher! There are powers at higher tiers that can clear a whole battlefield!” Octave barked.
“Kenric, did you hear? You will be able to summon more Cherubs to annoy the monsters to death!” Curmlough stuck a finger in his ear and started digging while grinning mockingly at the now red faced Cherub.
“My friends, they are coming closer…”
“Oh yeah? If he raises Faction with Gor, what then? Maybe then he can summon a drunken Dryad harpist to accompany your lousy flute playing? That will send Infernals running, I’m sure!” Octave flew close enough to Curmlough so that they were nose to nose. The Satyr didn’t back down.
“That’s right! Maybe we’ll let you sing…oh wait, that’s right. You can’t sing!” Curmlough stuck out his tongue, but Octave grabbed it with the tips of his fingers.
“I’m gonna tear this out of your mouth!”
“ENOUGH!” I roared. They are coming! Angelic Guardian, attack the Murk Ogres! Do not use Taunt Skills, focus on damage!” I quickly cast Minor Sanctified Ward and Deathward upon the Guardian while it stomped towards the Murk Ogres.
There were a total of five Murk Ogres. Each was nearly as tall at the Guardian, with purple veins visible beneath their pale skins. Shadowmurk Mutation had given them a wild, unhinged look and they quickly surrounded my Guardian clearly intending to hack it down as quickly as possible. Their deep, guttural roar cut through the sounds of thunder and I instinctively took a step back.
“I’ll root them in place!” Curmlough shouted and he began to play. Snakes appeared about the legs of the Ogres who barely seemed to acknowledge the conjured serpents, but instead raised their spiked clubs and swung at the Guardian. Each strike returned damage to the Ogres curtesy of Kenric’s spell, but the Guardian still took some damage.
The Guardian responded by planting its feet and swinging its sword down upon the skull of one Ogre, severing its skull down the middle, killing it in one critical blow. The other Ogres howled, but whether it was from the loss of their ally or from the reflected damage it was impossible to say.
I cast Lesser Shadow Leech upon the Ogre directly behind the Guardian as I feared it was the one doing the most damage to my summon. I made the Shadow Leech’s Heal Target the Guardian and its health slowly started ticking up again, but the Ogres were steadily doing more damage than my spell could realistically keep up with so I started adding Minor Heals.
Arrows began thunking into Ogre flesh as Octave started attacking, but when the Ogre he was focusing upon broke off from attacking the Guardian to begin chasing the Cherub around, I feared for my friend. Yet, even though Curmlough’s snakes failed to root the Ogre completely, it still slowed it down considerably.
“You big, stupid brute! You can’t catch me!” The Cherub activated Mocking Laughter and the Ogre howled as it clutched its head, the psychic damage forcing the Ogre back and causing it to drop its club.
“Well done, Octave!” I cried. I made a split second decision then and ran up behind the dazed Ogre to club it in the back of its head with my staff. It’s skull split like an overripe melon. I didn’t even blink as gore landed upon my robe and some even upon my cheek.
I’m becoming inured to this sort of business. Not sure that’s a good thing.
You have looted 27 Gold, 86 Silver, 57 Copper
You have looted [1] Totem of Fire
You have looted [1] Stone of Clairvoyance
You have looted [1] Battleax of Armor Breaking
The Angelic Guardian was a force of destruction. Now that I had found my pace with healing, leeching and maintaining the ward, the Ogres never stood a chance, nor did any of them break away again. The Guardian’s sword cleaved limbs and skulls or Octave’s arrows bled them out. The items left behind immediately went into my Inventory.
“Well done everyone,” I breathed a sigh of relief. “This Dungeon won’t beat us.” I kept throwing out Minor Heal until the Guardian was topped up again. I hoped that there would be enemies I could mana tap as the Ogres hadn’t had any mana to speak of, which had made that fight harder than it needed to be, I felt.
“This is an Elite Dungeon, Kenric. Those Ogres were the weakest of what we’ll probably go up against.” Octave remarked.
“Yay. You are such a great motivator,” Curmlough deadpanned.
“Let’s get moving,” I said, trying hard not to roll my eyes. While I knew Octave was right to be cautious, my friends and I hadn’t take a single hit during that fight. With the Guardian buffed as much as I could make it, I felt we had a good chance of winning. I still had a few spell combinations I was eager yet to try too.
We made our way out of what had once been the Abbey’s front gate. There was nothing much left, only the two broken pillars that had once held up the crenellation situated above the gate. This no longer existed either. Everything outside was devastated ground and the sent of rot, cinnamon and the unholy magic of Shadowmurk was inescapable.
I swear by all the Gods I won’t let this twisted prophecy come to pass.
“Another problem now enters my mind, friends.” I said. The others looked at me curiously. “Exactly how big is this Dungeon? It is clearly more than just the Abbey grounds. Will it stretch all the way back to Goodlabor? The whole north of Aramyr?”
“Dungeons are pocket dimensions created by Dungeon Cores,” Octave stated sagely as he hovered along beside me. I was forced to watch the uneven ground ahead of me as we walked, but I listened to his explanation. “There is a finite amount of space, but thanks to the Infernal taking control of it we can deduce that he needs its mana to create this Void Network business.”
“Yes, but how does that affect the place we are now?” I asked.
“What the Infernal is attempting to do is mana hungry. The Dungeon Core will shut down ancillary systems and divert most of its stored mana to combining with the Shard of Ara. That and trying to kill us, of course.”
I nodded slowly. “So it doesn’t have the power to create some vast Dungeon for us to get lost in? That’s good news as we have less than 20 hours before whatever this ritual is the Infernal is conjuring is complete.”
“So we shouldn’t waste time then!” Curmlough piped up. “Which way should we go?” The Satyr looked around as did the rest of us, save the Guardian who stood immobile, golden eyes staring forward.
“There,” I said pointing towards a concentration of purple light I could see not far away. It had been faint at first, but the closer we came to it the brighter the light became. “That must be something, since everything else around here is just rocks, dead trees and Murk.”
I rebuffed myself and the Guardian, but this time I also cast Armor of Shadow upon myself. I needed to be ready for anything. My instincts proved correct when we finally saw the source of the purple light. I swallowed my revulsion at what I saw.
Twisted runes that hurt my eyes to look upon had been etched into the rocky ground. They were the source of the purple light and had been drawn within a series of six concentric circles around a central stake set into the ground within the smallest of the rune circles. Upon the stake hung a cocooned corpse with arms outstretched like a farmer’s scarecrow. That wasn’t the worst of it.
Murk Imps
Level 22
Lore: A creature that should not exist, these Infernal Imps have been forced to consume Fel Shards in order to mutate them into a newer, deadlier form.
Advanced Lore: Are considered both Infernal and Abomination type monsters.
Murk Imps are weak to Holy Mana.
“I want to try something,” I said and I walked calmly forward towards the Murk Imps. There were five in all, each standing at a different point outside the outermost circle. They hadn’t been doing anything besides growling and chattering to each other. They looked nothing like the Imps I had first encountered in what seemed a lifetime ago. Those had possessed grayish skin, red eyes and had tiny horns upon their heads. These, twisted by Shadowmurk mutation, had pale white skin, purple eyes and horns that looked like bleached bone.
“Guardian, back me up, but do not attack. Defend only.” The Murk Imps finally noticed my approach and one by one they screeched in rage. As one, they ran at me full speed intent upon ripping me to pieces.
“Do you know what you’re doing?” Octave cried behind me.
“Just wait there!” I called behind me. “I want to try something!”
“He wants to know what it feels like to have your belly ripped open,” I heard Curmlough say.
“No, he wants an excuse to soil his robes. Mortals are constantly defecating, I’ve heard,” Octave added. I smiled, despite it all.
When the Imps drew close enough I cast Consecration and a circle of light spread out beneath my feet. The first Murk Imp threw back its head and its screech of anger turned to a howl of agony as it started taking damage. Two more Imps entered my circle and the same result happened. The two Imps outside my Consecration stopped just before they would have entered the radius. One looked like it was about to turn and run away, but I quickly cast Minor Cube of Confusion once then again upon the other.
Murk Imp is stunned!
Murk Imp resists Minor Cube of Confusion!
The Murk Imps were each Level 22 and Minor Cube of Confusion was a Tier 1 spell, so one of them resisting the effects was to be expected. I was prepared for this too. I moved forward, letting Consecration begin to damage the stunned Imp. This broke the stun, but the Imp staggered under the onslaught of Holy Fate Mana, its damage increased by the Theologian passive. I cast Vow of Denial upon the final Murk Imp before it too could try to run.
Vow of Denial had been the spell that once had turned two Imps into Cherubs. Sul’s spells could be without rhyme or reason. A Vow is a promise and if Sul promised anyone anything, it was to be as unpredictable as possible. I wasn’t let down. The Murk Imp’s eyes popped out of its skull and it didn’t have time to scream as flowers began blooming from its eye sockets and open mouth. The Imp fell to the ground, quivering.
“Ord’s Blood!” I heard Octave swear as each of the Murk Imps within a minute and a half dropped dead to the ground, one now a small flower garden that began to wilt in the Murk poisoned air. I hadn’t needed to renew any of my spells as the added Fate effects had increased the DOT Consecration placed upon each Imp. Even the Guardian hadn’t felt the need to intervene as I had been in complete control, my Armor of Shadow giving me such a huge boost to my Dexterity that dodging the Murk Imps halfhearted swipes had been child’s play.
“Well, aren’t we just so full of ourselves now?” Octave quipped. I smiled.
“I wouldn’t say that, but I’m glad to see my little test worked.” I said.
“My Sister would say not to take unnecessary risks, but that was pretty impressive, Kenric!” Curmlough said, his smile matching my own.
“Thank you, Curmlough. Now, let’s see what they dropped.”
You have looted [5] Mutated Imp Horns
You have looted [1] Imp Spleen
You have looted [1] Imp Columbine
“Anything good?” The Satyr asked. My facial expression must have tipped him off something had bothered me.
“I wasn’t aware one could loot such specific body parts from fallen enemies,” I answered. “One assumes they must have some use, I suppose.”
“My Brothers sometimes hunt Cave Oozes in a cave near our Grove. Their cores can be ground down to make a really strong glue.” Curmlough sniffed when he thought of his family. “You’d be surprised what monster parts can be useful.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” I answered. Wincing, I added everything to my Inventory, including a curious flower that hadn’t died with the rest of the flowers conjured from the Imp’s body. An Imp Columbine? A shame my Alchemy was a dismal Level 2. Perhaps I would be able to sell it to an Alchemist eventually?
Now I turned to the more immediate problem. In the center of the cocoon, in what would be the chest area, a purple light pulsed.
That would be the Fel Shard. I need to destroy it with Condemnation and set my Brother free!
Yet, I couldn’t do that. Using a skill that currently cost me Luck each time I used it wasn’t feasible. Especially since I only had a single cast of it left without a Well of Faith to call upon. I needed a plan.
“Guardian,” I said turning to the silent giant. “Can you carry that object?” The Guardian neither responded nor moved. I sighed.
So it either doesn’t understand ‘Carry’ or it can’t carry out that function. Now what do I do?
“Why don’t you just put it in your Inventory?” Octave asked curiously?
“Put that big thing into my Inventory?” I said aghast. “Surely it’s too big to be placed into my space?”
“You have been adding to your Strength attribute, yes? That increases the amount of carry space you have in your Inventory. Try it!” Octave sighed and shook his head. “You really don’t know anything, do you? I’m going to have to take the reins of this operation, aren’t I?”
“I’m not taking orders from you!” Curmlough griped.
While the two entered into their typical back and forth, I approached the cocooned corpse. The Limbus Silk had the body bound tightly, but the Fel Shard’s glow flared as I approached. I swallowed my fear and mentally willed the Cocooned Corpse into my Inventory. A moment later, the corpse disappeared and entered my subspace without a hitch! It had worked!
You have stored Cocooned Corpse X 1.
Quest Update!
Cocooned Corpses are bound to the {Void Network Ritual} and must be destroyed! A total of [27] Cocooned Corpses must be destroyed to stop the ritual. Destroy all [54] Corpses for a Bonus Reward!
Time Remaining: 18:48:36
“Perfect!” I shouted, interrupting the argument going on behind me.
“Told you so,” Octave said triumphantly.
“My friends,” I clapped my hands. “May the Gods Bless us all. I have a plan.”
