“You can sense him, too, can’t you?” Sevin asked. “There is a being of power who waits faithfully just beyond. It was probably him who let the first Adventurer go to trap more powerful ones. I can’t tell you what his abilities are, but this place warps to his movement and follows his motion.”

  He had adherents. Eve deprived him of those. The one you call ‘Sara’ carries an entity which unmakes without return, and the scars of Void mana from the [Polymage] still linger. But the First Follower remains, holding his post.

  [Party Tactics] kicked in. “What can you tell me about this First Follower?”

  Only that once he was a Priest. Now he has become both less and more.

  Sevin began dumping bones from Inventory and using [Bone Shape] to modify them. “I can only sense power, and his is both vast and constrained. I can re-animate almost anything we can kill but right now, I have almost nothing to work with besides my ass.” He worked quickly, attaching arcing bones that would act as shields, and claws that attached near the hoof points. “Fortunately, a sweet donkey is only a child’s mistake away from becoming an monster, and that’s before it’s re-animated.”

  Kaden took stock of his beasts. “Skully is the heavy hitter, Trinity is burst damage with a side of debuff. Garm is still reforming, so is Rocky. Vip’s not a battle beast, Burney is not cut out for this. We can use the [Falcrow] for distractions.”

  Sevin drew bone claws from Inventory, molding them into swords he handed to Skully. “I will use [Necro Blast] where I can. I would join you in battle but my weapons are not like yours. As we acrrue the dead, my power will grow.”

  “Everyone has a part to play. It’s a temple. If I [Stealth Aura] forward, will this First Follower know where I am?”

  There is no stealth for one such as he. It is a good strategy, but useless when the god, the temple, and his first follower are so closely joined.

  Nurav’s guidance was solid. Kaden dosed his weapons with [Bleed] potions, then handed Sevin a mana potion, then took a swig himself. “We’ll lead with [Mana Drain]. Don’t hold back with [Necro Blast].”

  “Over-restraint was never my personality fault.” Sevin looked over their forces. “Two men, three beasts. We have a saying among Necromancers. Some people meet Mortis on their own time, and some meet him on ours. Let us arrange a meeting for this First Follower.”

  The cathedral floor was so shiny it reflected chandoliers high above and stained glass windows lit with an unnatural sun. Kaden strolled forward, flanked by Trinity and Skully. The [Falcrow] he held in reserve.

  Sevin and his donkey remained in the rear line, exactly where a necromancer and an undead donkey belonged. As he stepped from the entrance alcove onto the main floor, a voice boomed out.

  “Welcome. Ghastos waits for you, and I have waited for him. You are not the ones waited for, but you are at least more powerful. Now, let the feast be set.” The voice was probably a man’s. As he spoke, the ceiling high above descended. Stone columns receded to lower the lights, and the stained glass high above began to focus light until it became a blazing sphere.

  The first follower walked on crab legs, three of them that jutted from the end of his torso. His skin had taken on an orange and small, spikey hairs covered his body, moving with the vast muscles that covered him. Atop the torso, four arms carried weapons. An axe, a spear, a sword and a hammer. The only vestige of clothing was a wide golden belt with a red gem in its center that covered where a navel might once have been.

  See and learn, Ghastos is a god of violence. His way is to overwhelm with fury and might. Nurav spoke simply, and each of the First Follower’s weapons gleamed in turn.

  “Spear and sword are of little value against the undead,” Sevin whispered. “Pick a side and focus your attacks.”

  Kaden was still gauging just how far the cathedral went and if there were traps. The lights above could certainly plunge, but more worrying was the altar at the far end. “We don’t have to fight. Give my party back. I’ll take them, evacuate the town, and leave.”

  Traitor! Every god who returns thins the divinity for the rest. Get Eve, then turn on him.

  The First Follower scuttled forward with measured steps. The crab legs split into three with soft pads on the bottom, giving him a solid grip on the crystal floor. If the denizens below knew of the meeting above, they showed no clue. He bowed slightly. “Words before weapons, I remember that, from when I was alive. There is still a place at the table for those who accept Ghastos. There is only a place on the altar for those who do not.”

  Sevin cleared his throat. “What changed the balance here? What caused Ghastos to begin his return now? There is no cosmic alarm bell. A thousand years is the same as now to a god.”

  “I have waited more than ten ‘thousands’ of years. But now, with the [Priestess] captured, an opening waits for Ghastos to step into. The Feast will be set. Your only choice is if you are the offering.” The last, he directed to Kaden. “Others have made their decision. I am more than a follower of Ghastos, but less than he. I am a remnant and conduit. I understand your desire. You must understand, his return is my own.”

  You may not use [Identify] in this area of sub-Authority while wielder is focused.

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  The [Falcrow] dove at the hammer hand as Skully lunged forward, accepting the sword-strike that chipped a rib from one opposing hand.

  Kaden hit the First Disciple with [Mana Drain], and smiled as mana gushed out and into Kaden, powering a [Mana Arrow] that struck the First Follower in the chest, inflicting poison. Trinity had chosen the other side, ignoring his orders, and each head engaged separately. The armored head bashed back a blow from the axe, while the serpentine one entwined the spear-hand.

  The First Follower dropped his hammer and braced both hands to keep Trinity’s blind head from clamping down on him. “Yes! I set the Feast!”

  From behind Kaden, bolts of death blasted, peppering the First Follower, and Kaden drew Remembrance, eager to join in. But as he sprinted toward the First Disciple, he knew the priority.

  Taking the dropped weapons into Inventory.

  The First Follower made terrible decision. A necessary one. He ignored Skully, the [Plague Crows] circling him, the [Falcrow] and focused on Trinity. Kaden ducked under her and blocked a sword slice with the [Edritch Shield], then use [Moment of Speed] to burst between leg-strikes.

  Trinity spat [Flaming Drool] in the Follower’s face and activated [Razor Scales]. Now the serpentine head shredded as it wrestled. Instead of punching, the Follower raised a crab-leg to knee Trinity in the chest, then delivered a kick that ripped her off him, sending her skidding as her own blood leaked from a deep stab on her chest.

  “I have not waited ages for nothing. You are not adherents of Zurok, but I sense divinity with you. It will do,” The Follower said. He turned on Skully, then looked for his hammer. The moment of distraction let Kaden hit him again with another [Mana Arrow] and another stack of poison.

  As much as he wanted to close and fight, Sevin continued to rain down literall [Death Mana] bolts, and protecting the [Necromancer] was ensuring the constant downward arc of health. [Harvest Wind] wouldn’t let him regenerate.

  [First Follower - Devoted of Ghastos]

  Level: 40

  HP : 30,000

  This is the first follower of Ghastos, the first to devote his life, his soul, his existence to the god of violence and carnage. No longer a [Priest], he is an extension of Ghastos’s presence, the emblem of his power. For thousands of years he has tended this temple, preparing the faithful for the return of their god. [Prophecy] or [Madness] has given him faith that this return will happen. Now, for the second time in a month, he faces a challenge and hope stirs deep within. The trap has been laid. The Feast will be set.

  Well, that was a bag of [Makur] feces. Nine level advantage made him effectively a boss, but [Bleed] and [Poison] were the bane of most bosses.

  You made him bleed. That counters Ghastos’s Authority here. Make him bleed more. It’s the most effective way to reduce his health and I like it. Both are more than enough reason for you.

  Nurav was just a distraction, except the bit where having an enemy bleed let her use abilities in this temple. That—was also a distraction. [Split Second] activated as the First Follower lashed out, spinning on one leg to slash with the split tripod at the end of the others. Kaden ducked under one leg.

  Didn’t even have a chance to dodge the other, which struck him in the chest, throwing sparks agains the metal breastplate and sending him flying.

  Trinity was attempting to rise, but status conditions hit her three times harder. “Can you cleanse Trinity?”

  She was nearly a match for Ghasto’s arms.

  Draw blood and it will be done. His blood, you need yours for now.

  Kaden forced himself to stand. [Fortress of Stone] was so useful he’d grown dependent on it. The impact hadn’t killed Kaden. It would have speared him if not for the chest plate, but it had delivered so much force it cost him a thousand points of health.

  Time to change tactics.

  Kaden sprinted toward the First Follower, who grinned and waved two arms, waving him onward, while blocking Skully’s blows. He knew what was coming. How the First Follower would rise up on one leg and bash him down with two more.

  Which is why when he activated [Moment of Speed,] it was to stop completely, and draw a stick from Inventory. A stick with a loop of [Glass Spider] silk looped at the end. It slipped over the tip of the leg and caught at the first joint.

  Then sliced, smoothly, cleanly sheering the leg at the knee.

  Kaden dodged with [Split Second] as the Follower tried to bring the leg-stump up to strike him. “Skully, catch!”

  He hurled the stick like a spear.

  “Catch.” Skully stepped to let it clatter in his ribs, then raised it. “Catch. Carve.”

  As a hail of black burst on the First Follower, Kaden charged at him, Remembrance in hand. With two hands, The First Follower brought his sword down in a thundering strike Kaden met. The impact made Remembrance scream.

  As Challenge Weapon, it grew stronger when he faced enemies like this. [Split Second] sent him up over a leg stab. Then a roar shook the cathedral. Trinity stood again, her heads focused on the First Follower.

  He bellowed out a laughing cry of pure pleasure as Kaden, Skully and Trinity converged. Now, he dodged, dancing back, slapping aside blows, screaming as Kaden slid under the boss and speared him with Thorn Caster.

  The crystal floor grew wet with blood. Some of it leaking from Kaden’s mouth, some gushing from Trinity’s chest, much of it carved from the First Follower. He lunged for Kaden—and caught a [Falcrow] to the eyes.

  A blink of distraction, and Skully hooked an arm, taking off the hand, though he snapped the [Strangle Stick]. Trinity struck with focus, all three heads attacking arms, while her spear tail struck him in the gut.

  Kaden drew Thorn Caster—and got leveled as The First Follower picked up Trinity and smashed her down, using her as a weapon to bash him into the ground for four hundred health at a time.

  Trinity was a living weapon in someone else’s hands.

  [Split Second] didn’t normally activate for friendly targets, but this realization let it kick in so Kaden could roll. He came up with the [Levicon Blade] and a taste for blood. Technically a taste of blood, since he kept spitting and it kept coming.

  “Get clear!” Sevin called. He’d summoned a giant orb of death mana. “[Seeking Orb!]”

  It rolled forward at a pace Kaden would call unstoppable, straight for the First Follower, who still fought with Skully. Just as the orb reached him, the Follower lunged forward, wrapping Skully in a hug.

  That was a deadly move, as Skully’s rib bones were made from curved fangs, and they opened to spear the First Follower—who picked him up and set him in the path of the orb.

  Kaden couldn’t move fast enough.

  The orb impacted Skully.

  The orb passed straight through, blasting the First Follower so hard he exploded from Skully’s ribs and flew backwards. He didn’t land on his feet, instead, slapping one hand down and then another, and running on his hands.

  Running away.

  Kaden sensed something terrible and sprinted after toward the far end of the Cathedreal.

  Nurav spoke as the First Follower collapsed. Oh, no. He has an icon on the altar. How did I not sense it? Why did I not sense it? I am not made of flesh, it should not be possible to deceive me.

  The next system message gave Kaden a full picture of just how bad it could get.

  First Follower has used [Icon of Ghastos]. All blows will be brutal. All strikes will be crippling. All deaths will be final.