Kaden didn’t need Nurav to tell him an enemy with nine levels worth of advantage using the icon of a god of carnage was going to be bad. What told him that was that the First Follower was sprinting on his hand-legs toward Kaden.

  Kaden braced himself, choosing his best options, then drew the [Eldritch Shield]. Right as the First Follower attacked, he activated [Shield Bash].

  And hit nothing.

  The First Follower had thrown himself upward and caught a candle holder, swinging over Kaden to go after Sevin.

  Kaden used [Mana Drain] and directed it toward Sevin, this was twenty kinds of bad. His options were even worse, and [Party Tactics] gave him an option even he knew was dangerous. He still gave the command.

  Skully seized Kaden and and hurled him.

  The image he’d sent Skully was Kaden flying head first toward their enemy. Instead, he spun and struck the First Follower with Kaden’s gut, driving the wind out of him.

  A leg-spear nearly killed him, then another, and another. Any of these would be [Crippling Strikes]. A single punch, a [Brutal Blow], but now the First Follower ignored Kaden, accepting the bolts Sevin continued to drill him with to get closer and closer.

  Kaden hit the stone floor and rolled to his feet. Out of desperation, Kaden hurled Remembrance at the boss’s back.

  The First Follower glanced back, his face plastered with a bloody grin. He’d somehow known what Kaden did, and reached to catch Remembrance. “Faith has made me worthy.”

  Kaden focused on the memory of it in his hand. Steel and bone vibrated in his palm as the power activated, leaving the First Follower momentarily hammerless, but more importantly, confused.

  Just long enough for Sevin to make a run for it, diving past Skully’s charge to reach Kaden. “We need to end this battle.”

  Listen! You must place my vicar on the pedastal. I can even the odds if you do so. Nurav for the first time sounded like she had hope.

  “He’ll let me do that?”

  Until now he has held back out of love for battle and respect for the challenge. He will not hold back once he realizes what you’re going to do.

  Kaden summoned the [Eldritch Shield]. “Stay as close to behind me as you can. I’m going to keep him busy.” He drew the viccar of Nurav from Inventory. “You are going to put that, there.”

  “That…may be more difficult than you imagine,” Sevin said. “It is the Authority of a god that protects his altar. I propose a different arrangement.”

  “Thanks be to Ghastos!” The First Follower roared out, advancing. “This was not the last of the great old battles. It is the first of the new.”

  “Your beasts and I will distract him,” Sevin said.

  Kaden ordered them all. Die if they had to, but protect Sevin.

  Sevin stepped out from behind Kaden. He’d summoned a mana orb. Harmless. Useless. Giant. No matter how much mana you put into an orb, it wasn’t a damage spell. Then Kaden caught the genius. It looked a lot like [Seeking Orb].

  “I’ll buy you time to power that up!” Kaden sprinted toward The First Disciple. He dodged a punch, twisted under a kick, sliced with the [Levicon Blade]—and his arm snapped, falling limp, as a hand-chop from the third arm struck, crushing bones.

  You have suffered a Brutal Blow. Your arm will not function until healed.

  Kaden snatched the [Levicon Blade] in his right hand. “Now! Hit him now!”

  A backhand fist snapped ribs, making every breath ache, while a kick narrowly missed settling the kids-or-no-kids discussion independent of Trella. The First Follower lashed out, breaking Kaden’s ankle with a joyful laugh and a blow of his fist.

  “[Ultra Extreme Destroying Orb Part Two: Director’s Edition] is almost ready!” Sevin called.

  It probably wasn’t a skill, but saved Kaden’s life, as the First Follower spun to dash forward. Trinity and Skully attacked together, buying precious seconds.

  Kaden couldn’t look back. He crawled for the pedastal, an crude altar of worn stone, where a petrified, dried organ lay. Against all physics, it pulsed. Perhaps it had been a heart

  Two feet from the altar, Kaden hit a spiritual, mental brick wall. It slammed him in place, not pushing against his shoulders but against his soul.

  You have come under Authority (Ghastos).

  Kaden’s title of [Planes Cutter] said his will was a weapon, and Kaden was hell-bent on using it. He willed himself forward. His hand touched the Icon, and the force on him redoubled. That was Sevin shouting. Sevin screaming, too and Skully roaring.

  He wasn’t just an Adventurer. He was a Baron, with a holding and Dominion and Queenslayer and damnit, Kaden wasn’t about to let up. He forced his good hand forward. One brush took the Icon into Inventory, and then dropped the viccar of Nurav.

  The world stopped, fuzzy.

  Oh, this is positively archaic. This temple isn’t up to code. I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure how most of this works, there’s mechanisms here that aren’t connected to anything in this System. But it will do, my Zealot. In a moment, your meat-brain will catch up. And we’ll see if you’re more receptive to my instructions.

  The world unfroze, and Kaden spun.

  Sevin lay on the cathedral floor, both legs broken so they stuck out at right angles, and the First Follower rained down fist blows on Skully, chipping bone from him, while Trinity lay in a heap, hopefully not dead.

  The [Falcrow] and [Plague] crows did nothing to stop that power, but Sevin’s donkey continued to stand protectively in front of him.

  You have gained a new title: Zealot

  [Zealot]

  You established a temple to a god or goddess by driving out another. There’s only so much space in the Pantheon Parking Lot, so someone’s gotta leave and it wasn’t the god you serve. You have been gifted in keeping with your deity.

  You have learned a new skill [Power in the Blood].

  [Power In the Blood]

  Power in the blood is an activation skill. When it is active, any damage that makes enemies bleed will begin a heal on you. The more they bleed the more you heal. You may not heal by any other method while this is active, or for two hours afterwards. Raising this skill will grow the healing and effects you gain and reduce the penalty period. You should establish temples more often.

  Kaden’s sight went dim as his forearm and ankle made cracking sounds that bones were not supposed to make, but the moment they cleared, he could move. Somewhat.

  That’s all I can do until you spill more blood. Enemy blood, I feel required to clarify. Oh, and don’t let him destroy this vicar, I can’t create a new one without help. Should you be paying attention to the Follower bearing down on you? Nurav’s last point was genuinely a question.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  The Levicon Blade fit nicely in Kaden’s hand as he focused. The First Follower was looking past Kaden, his gaze distracted. “What have you done with it?”

  There was no question what ‘it’ was, but Kaden didn’t mind the delay. He strolled toward the boss, buying time for Sevin to drink a healing potion. “I took your icon. I have it in Inventory. Killing me will let you loot it. Along with your weapons. You had nice weapons, I’m going to give them to my skeleton.”

  “Your monster is useless. He relies on brute strength. The three headed lizard is weak to almost any status effect.” The First Follower drew a pair of flails from Inventory.

  “It’s not a lizard.”

  “Your dragon, then,” The First Follower said. “It’s vulnerable—”

  Something erupted from Kaden’s soul. The solar dragon hatchling, radiating a fury that would have been impressive if it weren’t the size of a small housecat. And wingless. And mostly toothless. What it did have was pride, and it would not tolerate other things being called ‘dragons.’ It roared out a pathetic challenge.

  The First Follower chuckled. “Looks like that is the dragon. It’s a pity, the other one’s more worthy of the name.”

  Kaden attempted to pull the dragon back into his soul, but it leaped down and slithered forward, deftly dodging the flail strikes—and not deftly dodging the pair of arms that seized it, lifting it up.

  Only the slightest nod through the soul-bond told Kaden what the dragonet was up to. What it intended. He looked down, eyes closed, as the world flashed brilliant yellow, the brightest yellow in existence, a yellow which ignored his eyelids.

  You have activated Power in the Blood. All bleed effects on enemies will result in healing. You may not heal by any other method for two hours after cancellation of Power in the Blood. Your tier grants the following benefits: minor healing.

  And Kaden was already sprinting toward the momentarily blinded First Follower. The Levicon Blade couldn’t cut deep, but it could always cut, and it carved a line down the First Follower’s thigh that wept blood.

  Every drop was like an electric shock to his system, except his health went upward. [Moment of Speed] let Kaden evaluate—and stay perfectly still as the First Follower lashed out blindly, striking where he expected Kaden—behind him.

  Kaden leaped and wrapped his legs around the massive torso, using one arm to hold on, and the other to slice at the exposed neck. The [Levicon Blade] whispered, spraying blood, and Kaden hung on as the boss spun, desperate to throw him off, then grasp at Kaden’s leg and twisted.

  You have suffered a Brutal Blow. Your left leg will not function without healing.

  He couldn’t help screaming.

  He could help holding on as Skully caught two arms and opened his rib-jaws wide, forcing the third to fend Skully off. And he could cut, every fresh cut bringing healing that almost overcame the effect of brutal blows.

  Forget the throat, remove the belt, or you will die! Nurave screamed it into his mind.

  Kaden didn’t doubt for a moment that a bloodthirsty goddess knew what real danger was. He hooked the Levicon Blade into the wide gold back of the First Follower’s belt and enforced it with sheer will, slicing downward.

  “The. Feast. Is. Set.” Each word came gasped thorugh the slashes where Kaden had nearly killed the First Follower. His hands slammed into his own stomach just as Kaden cut the belt loose.

  Not good, Nurav said. So very not good. It was a valiant effort, but now—

  “Shut up!” Kaden shouted.

  The gem in the center of the First Follower’s belt winked on and off. Then on and off again. Faster. Faster still. And Kaden remembered the one Bart Denning wore. He dropped backwards to grasp the belt and stuffed it into Inventory.

  “[Seeking Orb],” Sevin shouted from fifty feet away. It would take far too long to arrive.

  Except the orb arrived inside the rib cage of a broken undead donkey which galloped straight into the First Follower. A necro-blast exploded forward, tearing through the First Follower. It ripped out the other side, leaving the corpse intact, but the spirit obliterated.

  You have helped kill The First Follower.

  You have gained experience.

  You have gained the attention of Ghastos.

  Kaden shut off [Power in the Blood]. Every second mattered, because he couldn’t heal otherwise.

  The cathedral shook, the lights tinkled and swayed, and Sevin shouted in triumph. “Level!”

  GHASTOS WILL RETURN IN (9) DAYS.

  SACRIFICE MORE SOULS TO RETURN GHASTOS FASTER!

  GHASTOS REMAINES [MODERATELY] RESTRAINED.

  Shit. Killing the First Follower hadn’t slowed Ghastos’s return in the least. Kaden rolled over and lay back against the stone. His health ticked upward thirty points, but the Brutal Blows injuries remained. “Nurav. Can you fix this?”

  I cannot. You did not shed enough of his blood to empower me, and you will need your blood for your next task. You have [Woodcarving] and to survive this temple, you must perform a holy service to me. No god or goddess may create their vicar. I must travel with you, and yet, if we allow Ghastos to reclaim this area, he would be able to move his followers behind you.

  Kaden couldn’t walk but he could sit, and the woodcarving knife took up no space in his Inventory. He drew it and a chunk of bone from Inventory. Aproximating the crude figure was well within his skill.

  “Here.” Sevin offered Kaden what looked a lot like a tooth.

  “I didn’t lose any. This one’s not mine.”

  The Necromancer mimed Kaden swallowing. “Of course it isn’t. We don’t store spells in glass apple flasks, they could be smashed. Teeth are everywhere. It reduces the duration of status effect. You have at least one Brutal Blow. It won’t work quickly, but it will eventually purge the status condition.”

  Kaden swallowed the tooth and went back to carving. Hour over hour, he worked the bone, focusing on the skill, but also on the image. The figure he’d seen in Egalion, the angel with madness in her eyes and skin of crimson with wings that would clot out the sun. At last, he conceded his skill couldn’t improve it.

  The figure was recognizable, assuming you were Kaden, had seen a statue of Varun, been present in the temple on Egalion when Nurav manifested and it would help if you had a head injury.

  “May I help? [Bone Sculptor] is not usually used for what most consider art.” Sevin sat beside Kaden. The bone became soft and ran like wax. As minutes became hours, eye indentions became actual eyes, the line of a mouth smile, the wings had feather texture to the bone, the figure gently curved like a woman. “There. It is not meant to do such work, but I choose to use it so.”

  Your Brutal Blow has been cleansed. Healing will now resume.

  Now Kaden could take a healing potion and limp to the altar. “Consider yourself the owner of a brand new viccar.”

  Not yet, Nurav replied. Wait until your health has fully risen. Consider my nature and you will understand what must be done to empower it.

  “She needs a blood sacrifice. Or wants one, I’m not sure there’s a difference,” Kaden said.

  These aspects of the System were ancient when I was only a mortal, Nurav replied. Do you think if I could gain power by risking Eve, I would…fair point. You want your lover back, and your friends, and Eve. And I want my [Priestess] and friend. Our goals align in this.

  Kaden cut into his wrist and let the gush of red bathe the bone statue.

  You have begun empowering a new Viccar of Nurav.

  The Viccar will not function until it is fully empowered.

  Power Level: 1%

  The power level grew painstakingly slow. This wasn’t just health points, it was life that drained out. And health points, but life, too. Blood struck the Viccar and sank in. Not a single drop reached the crystal of the cathedral.

  “Take this,” Sevin called. He invoked a spell, stripping the flesh from the First Follower into a wet bundle that floated over. Then began to compress, dripping onto the statue.

  Oh, to take the power from Ghastos’s First Follower! This is better than I could have imagined.

  Sixty Percent, and Kaden feared he would pass out.

  Seventy percent and he was sure death was near.

  “I can’t risk helping you,” Sevin said. “Your beasts can’t give you a resurection potion if this kills you.”

  Ninety percent. Black spots swum in front of Kaden’s eyes.

  Ninety five. Ninety nine…

  You have empowered a Vicar of Nurav.

  “Drink,” Sevin said.

  Kaden did, and his health began to slowly climb. His heart no longer pounded in his chest, and the gash on his arm slowly closed. “What. Now?”

  It is but a baby, newly formed. I cannot work wonders through this yet, but it can hold an altar in my stead. And unlike Ghastos, I set only one condition: His followers may not enter. He grants them speed, he wills the Temple help, he spawns weapons, he burns his precious power like kindling.

  I say only; this portion is mine.

  On unsteady feet, Kaden rose. Trinity put her serpentine head under his arm and balanced him, letting out a complex set of growl-hisses that [Beast Soul] worked through. “It’s not your fault. He had nine levels on me, the gods only know what resistances, and thousands of years of skill. You did good to hurt him at all.”

  Imagine what Eve faced. The First Follower did not expect to have to intervene at all. His servants would capture them for Ghastos, he expected. Nurav’s tone was smug. Then Ghastos realized what the Horror devoured is lost to all. What Eve damages belongs to me, and six followers versus one [Shadow Blade] is not a fair fight. For them.

  “What about Ashi?” Kaden asked.

  That one is destruction. Void Mana consumes all. Nurav most definitely approved.

  Kaden put the second viccar on the altar, and took the original. Everything shifted as he did, and for a moment a gaze like a volcano rested on Kaden.

  “I worry about what waits,” Sevin said. “It will cost us time, but I want to re-animate the First Follower. This is no skeleton or zombie. It cannot be rushed.”

  “Nurav?” Kaden felt deeply uneasy every time he spoke the goddess. Eve had earned his trust. He trusted the goddess to be true to her nature. “Do we have time? How large is this temple?”

  Ask yourself instead if you can afford to rush. You were fortunate to survive. Your beasts and your monsters were used poorly and you, the calamity that walks in the skin of a man, barely engaged. Think on this. Be better.

  Kaden would have had a smart reply, but the battle had been a disaster. Skully was ineffective at best. Trinity only held her own due to her [Multitasker]. The Falcrow had gotten one or two good distractions and the plague crows were completely useless.

  “Build your monster,” Kaden said. He sat down on the crystal floor, opened his [Party Tactics] book, and began to study.

  Nurav said he was out of luck.

  Fortune had smiled on him once.

  He wouldn’t expect it again.