Chapter 34

[Snake Report]

“Clack.”

So.

“Clack.”

Ghouls.

“Clack.”

Just one more reason not to die in the Dungeon.

“Clack.”

Yeah.

Honestly, just tune that out.

“Clack.”

All the way out,

“…”

Perfect.

I’ve grown to accept the weird, but there’s always a time and place to stop, and appreciate it.

And I suppose this is one of those times.

Anyways, here’s the thing.

Sanctuary floors.

Run into a few.

Broke one.

Burned my tail on another.

Can’t say that they’ve ever provided me with what I’d call a “Good” experience.

I mean, they set monsters like me ablaze, so there’s that right off the get go, but there’s so much other baggage to unpack on this subject.

My first encounter with one involved the loss of a brave and noble frog, and a giant evil skeleton. Which, was soon followed by a kidnapping gone horrible wrong, then a bounty put on my head for breaking a different Sanctuary…

It was traumatic.

Enough to where I’d almost rather avoid them all entirely.

But they do have a purpose.

Circling back to that “set monsters on fire” thing.

It would be sorta nice, you know?

Hypothetically.

If the funnel of monsters couldn’t funnel towards me anymore, and had to go somewhere else…

Sss…

Anyways, if you’ve been wondering what I’ve been doing, it’s staring at a ghoul as it clacks its teeth at me.

“Clack.”

Like some sort of psychopath- I know, but there’s something sorta soothing about it. As if this were some sort of really messed up metronome.

“Clack.”

It’s really not as scary as I remember it.

Of course, last time I couldn’t entomb the thing with Earth Magic.

Probably helps.

You can be as fast as you want, Earth Magic is still faster.

Plus the ghoul looks like a mummy, or some oddly shaped dehydrated fruit. Compared to the last encounter, it’s hardly a threat.

My guess is the longer one of these has been around, the less scary it gets.

Morbid curiosity wonders if they eventually end up as skeletons.

I feel like that’s highly likely.

I’m not going to risk that little science project, but I'm making a note of it.

So… yeah.

I’m in the final stages of my decision-making process here.

Apart from the spider eggs everywhere though, this is pretty much the only thing left alive in this giant space behind the Large Frog God’s throne room.

A space of which, as you’ve probably guessed it by now, has a massive layer of symbols all over the floor.

Thus, this a Sanctuary.

Or, a potential one.

Based on my understanding of how these work, the moment I clear out whatever is left, it will probably reactivate and start burning me, and whatever other dangerous dungeon-related beastie, happens to step on it.

That's what happened with the giant skeleton.

Destroy the guardian, and that's that.

Of course, I haven’t pulled the trigger, just yet.

No.

I’ve been trying to come up with a list of pros and cons before I set everything on fire.

Not that setting everything on fire has ever failed me. It’s been a fool-proof problem-solving strategy of mine for as long as I can remember.

I just want to make sure.

You know.

That I haven’t missed something.

Something really dumb.

Sss…

I don’t think I have.

But the Giant Frog never cleared this out, either…

Maybe he wasn’t allowed to?

Maybe it was at odds with what he was able to do?

Sss…

Ah.

You know… Fuck it.

Less monsters, less problems.

Honestly.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Breathe in...

And-

[Sanctuary Unlocked]

[Direct System Message: Gaia is very displeased by your actions!]

Nothing like the smell of napalm and toasted spiders in the morning.

Or afternoon.

Or whatever time it is.

[Direct System Message: Gaia is pleased by your actions!]

What?

Would you make up your mind?

[Direct System Message: Gaia is VERY pleased by your actions!]

[Redemption Quest! 1/1000]

[Redemption Quest! 2/1000]

Ah...

Oh.

Oh shit.

[Redemption Quest! 13/1000]

[Redemption Quest! 14/1000]

[Redemption Quest! 15/1000]

[Reward: Title - Greater Servant of the World!]

[Accept? Y/N]

That is not good.

That is really not good.

[Redemption Quest! 35/1000]

[Redemption Quest! 36/1000]

[Redemption Quest! 37/1000]

[Sentient Golem - Rank up]

[Sentient Golem - Rank up]

[Sentient Golem - Rank up]

[Sentient Golem - Rank up]

[Sentient Golem - Rank up]

[Greater Sentient Golem - Unlocked]

I'm getting a horrible sense of deja-vu.

Shit.

Back up.

I need to go back up to the surface.

How did the humans fuck up this badly?

Did they finally get serious?

I told the Golems to try and avoid killing anyone unless they didn't have a choice.

This shouldn't be happening-

[Sentient Golem - Destroyed]

...

[Sentient Golem - Destroyed]

...

[Sentient Golem - Destroyed]

...

.............

[Inquisitor Ultsa]

Through the tunnels they travelled, and only wickedness did they find.

Stolen property of the Empire, stored in rooms shaped like warehouses. Massive and lofty things, each embellished with excessive heretical-artistry. Of a massive tree, winding roots around the world, as serpents slithered about its branches. A table covered in stolen treasures. Ultsa saw that a scripture of the Empire's holy text rested, almost casually, among them. Horribly out of place in the den of a wicked demon.

If he listened, he could almost swear the beast's very heart was beating, beneath their feet.

Yet, it was the great hall beyond the entrance room of the Dungeon, which truly fascinated Ultsa.

Endless statues of horrid abominations. Each held on a pedestal, as if being held in remembrance. Like the crypts beneath the Emperor's palace, where the ashes of those greatest and most esteemed within the Empire, were put to rest.

In his early days of service to the light, he had once witnessed their majesty.

It pained him to admit that this mockery was almost as grand, even if it was twisted in purpose.

There were no two statues exactly alike, as they carried down the hall. Deeper in as they went, the stones sat and caught the glow of faith with dangerous looking shadows and expressions. Each, perhaps, marking the grave of some horrid beast.

Did the Blue Death rule them?

Did it send them hunting for the flesh of man?

Spurred on by the thought, Ultsa quickened his pace, as they moved further into the darkness. Deeper into the depths.

It was not long, until they found what they had come for.

Glowing blue scales, catching the light like the ocean's surface of a cloudless day. Even rearing up, it was tiny in stature, so that it barely seemed to dwarf the size of a stray cat.

And yet...

All of them were frozen.

Trapped, in terror, at the presence that weighed down on their shoulders. Dragging down at their bones.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE.

The voice spoke, and for an instant, Ultsa was unable to react.

Then, with sheer power of will, he wrested control of his limbs, drawing forth the power of Faith. Chantless, his [Smite] carried out towards the wretched creature, trailed by several others. Paladins breaking free and striking out with their most powerful attacks.

Charged by the holy powers of congregation, the lights were blinding as they struck. Powered beyond anything a normal soul could ever hope to control, they ripped through the air and erupted with terrible force in the containment of the hall. Sounds booming as the impacts exploded out in all directions, sending dust and stone flying.

For a second, as the dust blocked his vision. The pressure of the explosions caught against the barriers raised to prevent casualties from the concerted effort.

Then, came the fire.

Raging fire.

Their barriers did not break, so much as melt.

One layer at a time, the faith peeled back. Warping and shuddering under the tremendous pressure and heat. Green, ghostly, flames, seeking forward.

Their retreat began, barriers falling into place, as they defended.

It was a simple tactic, meant to allow them to strike the moment the attack faltered.

But it didn't.

The fires did not wane, the heat did not fade, the barriers could not keep up.

Their calm walk backwards, soon turned to a jog, and then to a sprint.

A scream, as one of their number tripped, and vanished within the flames beyond the next barrier to be set. Their scream was silenced, beneath the roaring rush of burning air that slammed against the magics of faith.

Another fell.

Then another.

Then another still, as Ultsa stumbled back into the main entrance. There, waiting Priests and Paladins quickly acted, voices of chanting hymns sealing the archway with layers upon layers of magic.

Yet, the flames continued.

The stone borders around the magic began to melt and shift. Slag falling down in molten drops, as more barriers were thrown out to stop the fires from reaching out around.

Then, all at once, the fires stopped.

Waiting silently beyond the glossy shell of mankind's greatest defense, the Blue Death stared.

The world is dying.

The lands are dry.

The sky gives not one drop of rain.

They shuddered, as the magic reached them. The horrid might of it, the impossible truth.

Faith.

The abomination: It spoke through Faith.

Your people suffer.

They go hungry.

They go thirsty.

They die, alone, in the streets.

And do you help them?

NO.

The words shook with violence, as many fell to the ground, weeping in pain. Tendrils of mana were racing in Ultsa's veins, forcing their way against the flow. Ripping through the netted hymns of protection layered there, as if they were mere cobwebs.

Oh, how wrong they were, to think such a creature could be slain.

For them to have believed that the true threat, lay across the sea.

Constructs roam the roads.

Monsters hunt the wastelands.

And yet?

You come for me.

The ground below reached up. Ignoring their barrier, ignoring their armor, it dragged them down.

Instead, you take.

Prayers turned to screams, as the barrier began to fade.

Each death caused it to pale, ever so slightly, as their connections were cut away. The Faith which carried the voice, struck like a knife.

YOU TAKE.

AND TAKE.

The stone swallowed him up, pressing in with terrible force, as the final sight of blue scales and magic disappeared forever. Beneath the surface, Ultsa felt the air squeezed from his lungs, as his consciousness faded. Agony pressed into nothingness.

I WILL GRANT MERCY NO LONGER.