"So you have no idea if you have a limit on how many you can summon?" Grem asked, incredulous.

We both held on to the spikes from one of Carrion's rough, metallic lookalikes. Libidi was behind us, hanging on to her own, while Casiron was in the lead, Lark close behind. The final one of the three statues I'd been able to make in time was trailing behind us with the order to attack anything that tried to snake up on us.

"No," I said, annoyed with myself for never actually trying. "All I can think of is that eventually I can't summon them fast enough, and the first will stop working while I call the next Vengeful Spirit.".

"That is… insane," Grem said as he shook his head. "I've studied many Primes and their powers, but I've never heard of anything even remotely like this. If you could get a large enough army, you could conquer small countries!"

I was quiet as I thought about what he said, then realized he was right. If there were enough Vengeful Spirits around, I could create an army in the hundreds, and if I made them large? I shuddered at the thought. At the same time, I thought about Steadfast, the city I had only seen empty. For all accounts, it should be filled with Earthlings now, and many of those probably wouldn't be the fighting type. If I could create giant statues around the city, I'd be able to 'wake' them in times of need for instant defenses!

"Are there always spirits?" Grem asked, pointing out the single glaring flaw in my plan.

"Not always," I said, trying to recall the moments I'd been unable to summon them. "I've been in places where there seem to be none or so few it took a long time before they answered my call."

"Interesting! Which places are those?" Grem asked.

"Places like the Library," I said with a shrug, not going into any more details.

I'd talked with Grem at length about my power and its possible applications. He had some fascinating ideas. However, I didn't feel comfortable discussing my weaknesses.

Grem looked at me, scanning my face, then finally nodded and fell quiet.

Roughly an hour later, a loud ping from my status startled me. A pressure appeared at the same time, something shoving at my Mindscape.

"What the…" Grem whispered next to me, and I looked up to see his gaze focused on something I couldn't see. Likely his status.

I pulled up mine just as another ping came, and my eyes widened.

> Mindscape being compressed by ambient power one tier above normal

> Mindscape being compressed by ambient power two tiers above normal

A message from Par came at the same moment.

> By all that's chaotic, what are you doing now, you suicidal mortal?

> Are you trying to tickle a Gastrodon corpse?

> Get out of there!

I grimaced.

> I can't, and we need to go deeper...

> Do something to strengthen the barrier!

Par's response came instantly.

> I'm starting to think I should have stayed in that primal-chaos-forsaken book

> Fine! You won't have much Karma left after this, so don't come crying to me if you need something else!

"We are almost there," Casiron said. "The pressure here is… insane. Will you three be alright?"

"For a little while," Grem said. "Thiwick is protecting me somehow, but her whining went up a notch."

"I'm fine," Libidi said.

> Raparion has begun mutating a Midasir tree

> Mutation: Chaotic mental influence resistance

> Raparion has spent twenty Karma to speed up the mutation progress

> Midasir mutation complete

As soon as the last line came, I felt the pressure on my mind disappear. I still felt it, but it wasn't painful anymore. I looked at my Karma and hissed when I saw only Seventeen left. I hoped I wouldn't need anything else.

"Est?"

I closed my status and looked up to see Casiron's head turned back as he slowed down.

"Fine, fine," I said. "Par took care of it."

Casiron's eyes narrowed, but he didn't comment. He just inspected us for a moment, then turned back.

We continued our travel through a narrow corridor, so straight and smooth it almost reminded me of a curvy pipe.

"This is the last bit. After the next bend, we are going to enter a large chamber. The pressure will likely increase again," Casiron said. "I can't sense everything, but we won't be alone."

"Ux'Dsir's influence is up ahead," Libidi said. "It is… stronger than it should be."

Our group slowed, then stopped, as we all turned to Libidi.

"Do you think he is here?" I asked.

"No, if he were, demons would have stopped killing each other, focussing on us," she said. Then she frowned, making me wonder if she was sure about that.

"Perhaps the deities are holding him back?" Grem said.

"They aren't powerful enough for that," Libidi said, sounding utterly certain of herself.

Rathica? I asked.

Est, how far are you?

I almost shouted for joy as Rathica's presence strengthened as she focused part of her will on me. With it came a sense of coming home, strong enough to take the edge of being many miles below the sea while heading towards a battle that was likely way over my head. The joy was short-lived as I felt the constant strain on Rathica and a deep worry bubble below the surface of our connection. Something was wrong.

Casiron says we are almost there. Can't you sense my presence? I asked, trying to determine what was going on through our connection.

No, and it surprises me that your Dracoserp friend can sense anything at all, Rathica replied, her voice cracking under a strain I couldn't fathom.

Yes, well. Lots of things happened, I said as I felt my worry grow. It might be a good thing if you spit through my mind quickly, I continued, opening a sliver of my Mindscape for her presence. Just don't get used to it.

Rathica didn't respond, but I sensed her move through the barrier and rifle through my memories. A slight sense of confusion came, and then she pulled back. As she did, the massive stress she was under made it partially through our connection. I felt like my mind was squeezed in a vice, and even though it only lasted for a fraction of a second, it left a dull throbbing migraine.

Est… Lark is going to be a problem. I have some knowledge of the corrupted Dracoserps, and they were powerful beyond anything mortals can resist. If they return, it will pose a big problem.

I wasn't surprised that Rathica had singled out this thing from my mind as the first problem.

The problem is, he is right. I am not in any position to help you help me right now, you need to… need to, Rathica's voice began cracking up, similar to the interference in an old transistor radio I'd played with during history lessons. Suddenly her presence vanished, replaced by a sharp, oozing vileness that made my stomach roil.

Ahhh, there you are, little mortal! It's about time you came! a voice whispered in my mind.

I sensed a battle occurring outside my Mindscape, two titanic entities struggling like wrestlers, Rathica and…

Ux'Dsir'Lar, yes! Pleased to meet you! the mind-voice crooned, then it suddenly growled, and I felt its presence shoved away.

Est, get in here, now! I can't hold him out unless you come closer! He is beginning to cross over! Rathica's voice vanished as the vile presence of Ux returned.

Now, now, so rude. Won't even let me speak to y-

My mind reeled as Rathica pushed him away again. The two minds pushed again, and there seemed a point where they balanced out, no more voices but my own in my mind.

If he is this powerful while not fully here, what the hell are we in for? I thought as I swallowed down some of the horrid, rancid water. I tried to ignore the constant pressure as I looked up. Casiron and the others were staring at me, confused and worried.

"Down," I croaked.

Casiron didn't ask any questions but turned and flicked his tail, descending rapidly. I didn't wait for the others but had the Vengeful Spirit follow him.

As we swam through a shallow bend, a deep silver glow suddenly erupted at the other end, blinding me. I blinked away spots, blinded and glad my mount had no issues as it continued after Casiron. The glow behind my eyelids turned bright, then dimmed, and I carefully opened my eyes. My mouth fell open as I saw where we were.

A flood of silvery light lit up an enormous spacious opening as bright as a factory floor. Building-sized ribs arched away into the darkness, with slivers of meat still hanging from them like steel cables. All around us, large carcasses of demons drifted. They started nearby, clumped together in stacks of ripped-off limbs, bones, and other body parts, like some unholy amalgamation, and continued on as far as I could see. Further away, I saw a body so big that Lark and Casiron could fit in their eye sockets. Behind it, more shadowy shapes seemed to increase in number the further from the center I looked.

As incredible as the bodies were, they didn't occupy most of my attention. No, that was directed at a silver light object so bright I couldn't look directly at it, only at the halos around it. The halos resembled differently colored soap bubbles layered around a tiny sun. The one furthest out and closest to us was a dull gray similar in shade to what we had seen high above. It was large enough that it almost filled every part of the chest cavity that I could see.

Further inside was a smaller shiny and steel-gray aura that reminded me of the shell of the crustacean and the plants. The border with the other was a muddled area where the colors mixed.

Thin, sharp lines shot around the steel-gray area while two spherical balls of light hung inside, far to the right: a red one with blackish spots and another that was dull, tainted silver with streaks of black. Both had crackling tendrils of energy that reminded me of tesla coils. Heat waves shimmered around them, warping the colors of the aura. As I gaped at them, I realized they were moving deeper inward, horrendously slow as if pushing against insane pressure.

As my eyes slowly got used to the burning brightness, I looked closer to the source of the light, finding a final, beautiful silver aura wrapped around a shard. My eyes began stinging as I looked at it for a few seconds. It was far enough that it would take me half an hour to swim there at my speed, but even this far away, I could sense the incredible power emanating from it.

The power was odd. Familiar. It was like smelling something familiar and recognizable, but my mind was trying to convince me that it wasn't a smell but a color. I blinked, confused and trying to get rid of a few remaining bright spots in my eyes, when I suddenly recognized it. It was like Karma, similar to how that felt when I added it to spells, the same sharp, electric sensation. But, it wasn't the same, just familiar...

What is that stuff? I thought, my thoughts fuzzy and heavy.

It took me a few moments to realize I was wasting my time, and I looked around. Where was Rathica?

Far to the left were five differently-colored spheres, tiny compared to the other two and no more than specs against the backdrop of the massive energy bubble. I'd never have spotted them if their colors weren't as bright and different.

I recognized Rathica's signature, though I couldn't say why. She was a golden ball with black glyph-like symbols swirling around it. Next to her was a green and brown one, Ulderion? The other three were a bit further away. Based on what Rathica had told me, those had to be the others, making the water blue one Flowheart. The other two were harder to discern, one a dark slate-gray and a lighter and duller gray—the Stone and Wyerg, but who was who I didn't know.

What I did know was that all five were also struggling towards the deeper, steel-gray region.

So the red and black one has to be Ux, which means the last one is Nimron? I thought.

Yes, Rathica growled, and as she did, our connection strengthened. Apparently, down here, distance caused trouble.

"Over there," Grem whispered beside me.

I followed his pointed finger. At the bottom of the ribcage was an almost exact duplicate of the nested auras with a tiny, less bright object in the center. With the references of the ribs and what looked like a massive spine below, I felt like a tiny gnat on the back of a giant. Dark figures, barely the size of mice from where I sat, were shoving and pushing against the outer layer, trying to force their way in, in a tiny mirror image of what the Deities were doing.

Est, go down and stop Ux'Dsir's minions from absorbing the Fragment! Each second they funnel more power to Ux, that monster will be one step closer to passing through the portal to Kernstalion.

Rathica's voice was almost groaning from the tension, and I instantly knew it wasn't a request because before I realized what I was doing, part of my mind ordered the Vengeful Spirit down. As it swam away, I frowned and resisted Rathica's pushing force. I couldn't just leave the others here! Besides, why hadn't the deities just taken that part if it was so important? Couldn't they have just grabbed that quickly before going inside? Or one of them could have?

There is no quick thing about fighting through aura essence, even such a small one! It would take too long, meaning we wouldn't be able to catch up to the other two! Now, Est, no more questions, hurry. You are already behind, and each moment I speak with you uses energy I'm not using to press onward!

It took all my effort to resist rushing down. Instead, I shook my head to clear it from the pressure. Stop trying to force me! Why are you even going in there? Isn't that Despotin essence? I thought you didn't want that! That it was dangerous?

With a jarring suddenness, the vile presence of Ux'dsir'lar pushed through Rathica's guard, and an oily laugh echoed in my mind.

Your little minion is right, Deity! Why, oh, why would you ever want such a thing? Could it be that you aren't speaking the truth? That you are going to partake in this poisonous meal?

My Mindscape shuddered as I felt Rathica's and Ux's hold a wrestling match beside my mind, ripples echoing around. I instinctively knew that if I hadn't had my Mindscape, my mind might have already evaporated from the powerful outbursts. Then, an odd thought suddenly occurred to me. Would I be able to see them if I was inside my Mindscape and looked outside? What would I even see, for that matter?

Be gone, you wretched filth! You-

Pipe down, pathetic child, Ux'dsir snarled. Instead, why don't we make a deal? Do you even realize what will happen to this 'beautiful' world of yours if Nimron absorbs this essence? Do you not see what he has become? Instead of fighting me, you should be fighting him! As hateful as we find each other, neither of us wants a Despotin here!

As Ux spoke, I sensed the malicious undercurrent, then an equilibrium came between his and Rathica's pushing and pulling. With jarring rudeness, they began interacting, communicating in a way I couldn't comprehend.

Rathica was actually talking with that demon? Was she crazy? I glanced at the bright, silvery, and red sphere of light that was Nimron. If she thought there was something to discuss, how bad was Nimron gone? And also, how bad were these Despotin if even Demons and Deities thought about working together? I felt a deep disturbance from Rathica, but she was still speaking with Ux. I looked at the demonic bit that was the Primal Demon. Was it really a better idea to let him in here? A demon that would feed on mortal life? I tried to sense something from Rathica, but all I got was a quiet worry.

I was about to ask what I should do when I noticed something on the edge of my awareness. A pull, like a tiny whirlpool, trying to suck my mind towards it. It came from somewhere close. My Mindscape was easily resisting it, and I focused on it, but it felt like a tiny fish slipping away from me.

"Est!"

Libidi's whisper, laden with worry, yanked me back to the present, and I looked up. Casiron and Grem were swimming away from the center, heading towards a ginormous pile of monstrous corpses clustered along the bottom of the far side of the rib cage.

Where are you going? I messaged Casiron, worry skyrocketing.

I need to get that clutch out of here, he said. My apologies, Est. As soon as they are safe, I'll come to help you, I promise. I know this is not how it is supposed to be, but...

You don't bloody say, I thought. Are you leaving me to deal with this alone?

There was a dull sense of pain from Casiron, so strong it even penetrated the still present barrier around his mind. Still, he said nothing, rushing off into the depths with Grem, who didn't even acknowledge he was abandoning me.

"Fucking great. We need to get that tiny Fragment," I said through gritted teeth, turning to Libidi. "Ux's minions are absorbing the aura or something, and each moment they do, Ux'dsir'lar's presence here grows."

Libidi's eyes narrowed, and she didn't hesitate as she swam down. I sighed and followed her.

"Wait," Lark hissed, and I turned to him, surprised I had somehow forgotten his presence. As big as he was, besides all the other things here, he was like a tadpole. He was staring at me, eyes almost completely orange, an incredible hunger swirling inside.

"We can absssorb the essensse if we go inside! Jussst the outer aura will make usss stronger than that tiny Fragment can! Those others are so busy they won't be bothered to stop us!"

"And if Ux manages to get here, he will destroy us all," I said, suddenly annoyed. So much shit was happening that I didn't understand; Casiron left to do his own thing, Rathica was talking with that bloody demon, and now this?

"There are six deities and a primal demon absorbing that piece of Despotin sh- Do you really think you and I are going to do anything against that!" I spat.

Lark hesitated, appearing stunned by my outburst. His burning gaze turned to the aura, hungrily staring at the almost lake-sized bubble, then he slowly turned to the bottom, staring at it. He looked up again, eyes narrowing as he gazed at the red and black sphere that was Ux'dsir'lar.

"Fine, I'll help you," he hissed. "But then I want the essenssse shard!"

I was about to say no when my connection with Rathica strengthened. Give it to him! And bloody hurry, Prime, she shouted, her voice laden with such power I felt like a tiny leaf blown by a hurricane.

My anger faded as shock spread through my mind. Rathica had never called me Prime before, and the pressure I felt now was way more than she had ever directed towards me. It took all my willpower to nod at Lark before turning around and rushing down. Libidi was halfway to the tiny Fragment. The pressure weakened as I moved towards where I'd have to fight.

If I survive this, I'm going to get an apartment in Steadfast and grow fat for a year, I thought as I prepared myself for whatever would come next.