Chapter 12 – Everything Evil in You Comes Out

I floated in absolute emptiness, and the world itself flowed before me. Time moved through epochs and eras, and I watched the universe expand, empty, flatten, and recur.

My vision flashed, and I was staring at the Guild City, but it was different. It was clean and covered in light.

At the center of the city sat a temple I didn’t recognize, but it was similar in shape to the Guild House for the Dark Wizards. Light shone from within, shooting into the heavens in a thick, almost tangible beam, from the center of the temple.

My vision shifted again, and I was standing in the temple, looking at a council of men and women, all of whom were dressed like Paladins, powerful Heroes who were sent to enforce the laws of the Cathedral.

They sat and talked, discussing the future of the City. One of them, who stood up and pounded her fist on the table, shouted about the upcoming destruction.

“The world cannot handle it any longer.” She shouted, her face contorted in anger. “It will surely collapse if we continue to draw on its power.”

“Lydia, sit down until you’ve been called.” The man at the head of the table, who was clearly leading the discussion, gave Lydia a stern look, and she sat down.

“Your point has been taken into consideration, young lady, but it is outside or our capacity to stop harvesting Mana.” Another man, across the table from Lydia, said in a cold voice.

“Why? Because the people will suddenly be inconvenienced?” Lydia spat back, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Because the entire infrastructure of the city will collapse. Half of our magical wards and barriers rely solely on the Mana we pull from the World Heart.” Another woman answered, her face shrouded behind a hood.

“So, we find an alternate energy source, yes?” A man from Lydia’s side of the table piped up.

“That seems reasonable, but how long do we have?” Another voice, from behind where I was standing, echoed into the chamber.

A person clad entirely in dark clothing, wearing a long, black cloak, and a black cowl that hid their face, walked through me and down the middle of the carpeted floor, to the dais where the table was sitting.

They stood there and pulled their hood back, revealing long, flowing raven-colored hair, and a metal, featureless mask on their face.

“I asked how long you think we have.” They repeated, leaning more towards the table.

“I was not aware the Grand Cathedral was sending an envoy.” The man at the head of the table said, tilting his head.

“The Grand Cathedral does not need your permission to send envoys. Now, do you think you have time to find an alternate source of Mana?” The envoy asked.

“That’s a difficult question, because we don’t know how much longer the World Heart will sustain our needs.” Another member of the table said.

“You don’t have long.” The envoy announced and, as if on queue, the light in the center of the temple faded slightly.

Gasps sprang up from around the table as the light dimmed.

“I see the Envoys are, indeed, harbingers of The End.” The man at the head of the table said, lowering his head and steepling his fingers in front of his face.

“I simply bring news.” The envoy said.

“What news, then?” Lydia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“A Royal Edict. Thus, it has been declared from the Pontiff, that the world will end in fire. The cities will fall, the districts will fade, and the alliances shall end. Thusly, shall a Guild of Heroes come forth, to crush the darkness that is the Guild of Dark Wizards. Everything Evil, within man, and within machine, and within the earth itself, will come forward, to destroy the greatness of this Capital City.” The envoy exclaimed.

“What!?” Lydia stood up, along with half of the table.

“Thusly it is proclaimed, that the world will end. Dungeons will spring forth from the earth, of their own accord, and Lords of the Dungeons as well. Monsters will be given free reign between the City-states, and the world will be a wasteland.” The Envoy continued.

“That’s not possible, the world can’t simply end.” The man at the head of the table argued, shaking his head fiercely.

“I am not finished.” The Envoy shouted, the room itself shaking as its voice boomed.

“M-my apologies.” The man said, sitting back down.

“A great war will break out for the last remaining resources. Villages will be burned, people will die, endless suffering and strife will become the norm.” The Envoy began to shimmer slightly as it spoke.

“Wait, please, tell us more so we may prepare!” One of the members of the table nearly shouted.

“The Heroes will battle the Dark Wizards, for eternity, so the Grand Cathedral may make amends for the damage you fools have caused. It will balance the magical force of the world. With each death on either side, the world will regain its Mana. With each rebirth, the world will compensate. May it be forever so, may it be eternal. Thus sayeth the Pontiff.” The Envoy finished speaking and its body turned to ash, collapsing in a pile on the floor.

The light in the center of the room faded completely and the world shook violently.

Sconces, magically lit, burned out. Snuffed by the sudden and intense lack of magic.

Even though I wasn’t physically present, my head hurt from the loss of Mana density in the room. I had felt the sensation before. It was like a migraine, but in a place where you shouldn’t be able to feel.

It was a place deep inside your head, that was there, but also wasn’t there.

It was tiring, painful, and an ache that wouldn’t go away until you either slept, or returned to a place where a Ley Line was strong enough to reconnect you to the world’s Mana.

It evidently had a bigger impact than I had though, because when I was finally able to open my eyes beyond the pain, the entire table lay in their chairs, on the ground, or on the table itself, dead or dying.

I watched the temple itself begin to collapse, pieces of the ceiling failing first. Large chunks of stone fell from the roof, crushing whatever was below.

Bodies on the table were flattened, blood spraying everywhere as their internal pressure reached too great a state to keep their organs from exploding.

More of the temple collapsed, and my body was taken to a place high above the city, where I watched an enormous cavern open up underneath the city, taking pieces of the entire city down into the depths.

They crumbled and collapsed, but the temple and the surrounding area stayed standing. Sure, the buildings were crumbling from the loss of Mana, but the ruins remained above-ground.

Far in the distance, I saw great plumes of smoke rising. Surely other cities were suffering the same fate.

I was taken to another place, in front of an enormous, floating city. It sat within the clouds, and a static, magic barrier was fixed in place around it.

Tethers were connected to various places on the city base, and those were connected to massive sacs, which I assumed were filled with some kind of gas.

The barrier sparked and faded and the city itself began to list to the side, though the gas sacs managed to keep it afloat.

Slowly, it began to fall from the sky, though the descent was drastically slowed by the gas sacs.

I watched it fall, landing firmly in the center of a large lake, where it sat firm on the surface.

Somehow, I knew this was the Grand Cathedral, where the Pontiff and his lackies lived. The ones I had sworn to destroy someday. They were waiting for me, in the middle of this impossibly large lake, which may have very well been a small ocean for all I knew.

I didn’t know where I was, nor where the city was, but I knew I needed to get there, and destroy them.

The Pontiff decreed that the war between the Heroes and the Dark Wizards would wage forever, for the good of the worldly balance. Whatever the fuck that meant.

The Pontiff and his edict needed to end, so I could live in peace. I wanted an out, and now I had one. I just needed to muster the strength to confront the Pontiff and all that the Grand Cathedral had to throw at me.

“Grimm.” A soft, familiar voice echoed through the world, and the image I had of the Grand Cathedral started to fade.

“You giant idiot, wake up.” Leese’s voice was screaming into my ear.

“What in the Underneath are you shouting about?” I waved a hand in the air and felt it phase through Leese’s digital body.

“You’ve been sleeping here since resurrection for two hours. We’ve got work to do!” Leese said, anger in her voice.

“Well shit, how long have you been yelling in my ear?” I stood up from my throne and leaned backward, popping my back.

Clearly I had been sleeping in the chair a while, my back hurt like a sonuvabitch.

“I’ve been yelling for that same two hours.” Leese rolled her eyes at me.

“Oh, lovely. Alright, what’s the story?” I pulled open the Dungeon interface and looked at the Dungeon stats.

All of my “monsters” were back and in position, as well as my traps. Leese must have reset the dungeon in my absence, which was fine.

“Where’s Cinza?” I asked Leese, who pulled up a map of the surrounding area and showed it to me.

According to the map, Cinza was already at the other Dungeon and, from what I could see on her combat log, tearing the place up.

>>>

Harbinger Combat Log:

Enemy Slain: 125 EXP

Enemy Slain: 146 EXP

Enemy Slain: 219 EXP

Enemy Slain: 45 EXP

Enemy Slain: 45 EXP

Enemy Slain: 97 EXP

Harbinger Arrived at Destination – Combat Initiated

>>>

“How many more monsters are there in the Dungeon?” I didn’t know if Leese would have the answer to that, but I was super curious as to how long Cinza would be able to hold out.

“Three, not including the Dungeon Lord, though they’re all higher level than Cinza is.” Leese explained, typing away in the air.

“Great. And how long before I can challenge the Dungeon Lord to a Duel?” I needed to know if I was going to be able to get that second Dungeon up and running quickly.

I couldn’t establish a base of power if I didn’t have enough of a base to establish that power.

“After his resurrection, if Cinza is able to completely annihilate his forces, and win the battle with more than half of her HP left, you can challenge him to a Duel.” Leese answered.

“Great. We need to focus on the Dungeon, though. Let’s change up the layout and see if I can’t make a few new wards.” I headed for the entrance to the Boss Chamber and Leese floated along behind me, her legs crossed and her blue and amber screens in front of her face.

“Could you, maybe, just be present?” I asked, irritated.

“What do you mean?” Leese waved her screens away and floated alongside me.

“That. That’s what I mean.” I nodded to her and the way she just fluttered along.

“Oh, you mean actually be mentally here, instead of playing in my screens?” Leese tilted her head. “You know that’s my job, right? I’m the Dungeon AI.”

“I know, I put you in the Dungeon Core, but you’re also kind of my only friend. So, could you, you know, make an effort?” I really wanted her to just be a friend, and not the Dungeon AI, but that wasn’t a choice I could have any longer.

“I guess, but you won’t have as much access to my knowledge base.” Leese answered.

“I don’t care, really. You can do the typing thing, and the data thing when we need it, but when we’re just walking along, or doing rearranging, could you be here?” I didn’t know how to better explain what I wanted.

I wanted companionship. I wanted a friend. I wanted her to be like she used to be before I turned her into the Dungeon AI.

“I’ll do my best.” She said, turning a slight shade of red.

“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Leese.” I shook my head at her with a chuckle.

“Oh, well alright then.” She smiled gently at me and we continued to walk toward the Dungeon entrance.

“Hey boss.” The Frost Wizard I had selected for defense nodded to me and leaned against a nearby wall in the tavern room I had set up.

Somewhere along the lines, someone had gotten ahold of some Cigarettes, because the Wizard and Death Cleric were both smoking them, chatting about recent events and how I was killed.

“Hey, no derisive discussion.” I sneered.

“What? You died, so what? It happens. I’ve died three times.” The soldier with a greatsword over his shoulder said with a laugh.

“Yeah, but discussing my death? Not cool.” I snapped.

“Why not? Everyone knows you’re human. It’s not like you’re all powerful or anything.” The Death Cleric said.

>>>

Reputation Notice

Reputation with your monsters has increased by 5

Your Reputation with your monsters is now: Notable

>>>

I hadn’t expected there to be a reputation system, let alone one with my monsters. I knew there was one with the City States, or what was left of them.

I would need to check my status with the Guild City later to make sure I wasn’t an enemy of the state or whatever.

“Alright, anyone have any ideas on how we can improve this Dungeon? I got stomped.” I said, admitting my defeat.

“We can prevent that asshole from crushing us all again. He was insane.” A Rogue, who was sitting at a nearby table and carving sigils into the wood, said.

“How did he do it?” I asked, wanting to know how to better prepare for the next time.

“He just kind of walked up to each of us and crushed our throats. We couldn’t even make a dent in the dude’s armor. It was like he knew what to expect from us all.” The Frost Wizard said.

“Okay, so I noticed that none of you have names, and that’s making it really hard to talk to you.” I looked around and just saw titles with no names.

The Rogues were simply named Rogue, the Soldiers were just Soldier, and the Frost Wizard and Death Cleric were named after their specific class.

“You’re going to name us?” The table-carving Rogue stabbed his dagger into the wood and stood up.

“That’s super convenient and all, but why waste the Glimmer?” A Soldier asked.

“How much does it cost?” I looked to Leese, who looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know.” She said, staring at me.

“Do the typing thing?” I sighed.

“Oh, now you want me to look up the data? You could just pull it up yourself.” Leese shook her head at me and pulled up a series of screens.

I scrolled through the Dungeon Interface and found an option inside Monster Control to name individual monsters.

>>>

Monster Naming System

Please be considerate of those who may be entering your Dungeon. Do not use foul language, harsh or triggering words, or racial or otherwise hurtful slurs in your naming protocols.

Soldier Naming: 150 Glimmer

Rogue Naming: 150 Glimmer

Wizard Naming: 250 Glimmer

Cleric Naming: 250 Glimmer

Each Monster can only be named once every 7 days – Name your monsters with care.

>>>

“Alright, it’s not horribly expensive.” I said, looking at the eight units I had. “Well, okay, it might get that way.”

“We’re not worth the Glimmer, boss.” One of the Soldiers said.

“That’s no way to talk about yourself, umm…” I said, targeting him and choosing a name. “Lukas. You’re now Lukas.”

A glow surrounded Lukas and he raised from the floor, his body lifted with the glowing light. A sound like a trumpet blast echoed through my implants and a new pop-up splashed my vision.

>>>

Dungeon Lord Achievement Unlocked: Name Your Pawns (Tier I)

Every Dungeon Lord needs a good set of reliable monsters. However, those monsters become Pawns after they’ve been named, increasing their stats slightly, and allowing them to have a personality all of their own.

Reward:

150 Dungeon EXP

150 Glimmer

>>>

Lukas landed on the floor in a superhero stance, his fist cracking the wood floor beneath him. He stood slowly, clenching his gauntled fists. His platemail gleemed brighter than it had previously, and the weapons on his back and hip looked more than adequate now.

“Wow, I didn’t know this would feel so incredible.” Lukas looked at me and knelt before me, pounding his fist against his chest. “My Lord, thank you for this gift.”

“No, that’s not what I want. I just want you guys to be easier to talk to, easier to pay attention to, and if it adds combat effectiveness, then so be it.” I said, crossing my arms over my own chest.

“Regardless, it is no simple task to name your Monsters and make them Pawns.” Lukas explained before standing again.

Behind the half-helm he wore, I could see a tear roll down his cheek.

“Alright, everyone line up.” I said, waving towards all of my units. “Soldiers first, then Rogues, then my two casters.”

I named everyone, giving them all considerable buffs to their abilities, and providing the units with new abilities as well.

I looked over the classes and jobs of the units, which they were able to choose when turned into Pawns, and smiled.

>>>

Monster Roster

Soldier 1 – Pawn – Lukas: Fighter

Soldier 2 – Pawn – Rufus: Warrior

Soldier 3 – Pawn – Shauna: Fighter

Rogue 1 – Pawn – Dima: Cutter

Rogue 2 – Pawn – Cutter: Thief

Rogue 3 – Pawn – Lorenzo: Cutthroat

Wizard 1 – Pawn – Arthas: Frost Wizard

Cleric 1 – Pawn – Beth: Death Cleric

>>>

Everything seemed to be in good, working order. The Pawns were named, the Tavern was reset, and everyone seemed thrilled with their character choices.

However, I knew that things wouldn’t last that way forever.

As soon as I was done naming the Pawns, I got another notification.

>>>

Harbinger Alert

Your Harbinger has been slain by: Dungeon Lord PwnSauce

Resurrecting in: 23 hours, 58 minutes

>>>

Well, shit.