ZENTRIAS: The Celetect Pyramid

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In the center of a grand stone hall, Zentrias’s companion mumbled to himself, “And if I do it this way…”

The tall man had crimson skin, and two twisting horns pierced his black hair. There was a certain mad glee beneath his calm demeanor as he studied a series of floating orbs.

Juda Hellspawn, thirty second prince of the demon world. While he is a legitimate contender for the throne, it’s unclear if he cares. Despite possessing the attitude of someone born to rule, the man disdained tedious responsibilities.

“How goes it?” Zentrias ventured.

His answer was a scornful glare. Juda was at his ‘happiest’ when exerting himself in intellectual pursuits. Yet even then, there was always a hint of dissatisfaction. He loves the challenge but, at some level, is irritated anything dares to challenge him.

Zentrias sighed. At the level of saints, it’s rare to find anyone well adjusted.

Before Juda joined the party, it fell to him to solve dungeon puzzles, a role he was all too happy to give up. It sometimes took him an embarrassingly long time, and there were those occasions when his inability halted their progress. He hated that awkward feeling. Juda never fails. In that aspect, his arrogance is warranted.

Zentrias turned to the statues lined up opposite them, ten in total. Half were human and half mythical beasts. Notable figures from a time outside of time.

Scattered all over Enera were ruins of civilizations that never existed. Neverwhere Ruins. Not satisfied with observing the present day, the HEAVENLY DAO explored alternative timelines, “what if” scenarios where events followed a different course. For the most captivating of these, it brought back monuments honoring their existence. This dungeon, the Celetect Pyramid, is one.

An entire branch of archeology was devoted to uncovering the secrets of these lost people. Their cultures, advanced magics, and other accomplishments were documented in literature, together with their tragic ends.

Zentrias’s eyes wandered to the murals depicting an epic struggle against a skeletal horde. Neverwhere ruins were remnants from that final day, inhabited by ghosts of the fallen. How many dark ages has the HEAVENLY DAO witnessed?

“They’ll come to life.” Carol strolled up behind him, motioning the statues. “Saints from the Celetect Empire, lesser champions in the final battle.”

“I really don’t want to fight them…” She added meekly.

“Keep your whimpering in check.” Juda derided sharply.

Carol shrunk back, looking down and hiding her face under her silky purple hair. While necromancers were fond of gloomy attire, she took her goth looks to the extreme. All in black, Xarst’s symbols lined her cloak, belt, and necklace. Even the rings on her fingers were adored by skulls.

Zentrias shook his head. Carol had been his teammate the longest, the only one who’d kept up with his rise through the ranks. He was so accustomed to her perpetually terrified behavior it didn’t register anymore. Her fear is her strength.

He turned to the young woman sitting against a pillar, knees to her chest. Her green eyes peered into the distance with an inscrutable expression.

“You okay?” He asked.

“I’m fine.” Filia answered. “No need to check on me constantly.”

If you stopped staring into space, it’d be easier. As soon as they’d understood why Filia had abandoned them, they’d chased after her with a borrowed airship and arrived in time to help her finish burying the dead.

Surprisingly, she’d been ready to depart the next day. Zentrias recalled her words, “Once I’m immortal, my memories will last forever. The faster it happens, the less I’ll lose. I’ll have an eternity to grieve then.”

So they’d swung by this dungeon on the way home, and Filia appeared to be holding up. Zentrias smirked. Even Juda has been making an effort not to snap at her.

“Got it!” The man in question declared triumphantly.

Filia jumped up, “Then it’s my turn.”

Her skin turned green. Pink flowers bloomed on her head as her hazel hair turned into long vines stretching down her back.

Some moked the use of sukemon, but Zentrias appreciated the talent. While fusions allowed access to virtually any magic, properly adapting to different types of summons took time. Most chose only a couple to focus on. Through her unique pursuit, Filia had obtained an amazing versatility.

“Remember anything around them will be forced back.” Carol offered softly.

Filia nodded, “Overgrow.” She started glowing as if basking in the sun. Vineweep’s self-buff. Below the statues, shoots sprouted from cracks, tangling together in a dense thicket.

“Ready.” Filia said.

Juda send the last orb gliding into its socket, solving the chamber’s puzzle. Immediately the statues were engulfed in pillars of white light. Once they faded, ten beings of flesh and blood faced them.

“Entangle.” Filia shouted. Vines shot up, tying down the Celetect champions. Sukemon named abilities are really effective.

Zentrias rushed forward. This is ten against four. Unless we capitalize on our ambush, it’ll be rough.

“Start with the general.” Carol called out.

I am an avatar of destruction. This mantra was the only element he’d kept from his old self. The corrosive energy surged through his body, and the black wisps leaking out obscured his form. He leapt at the man in elaborate armor who struggled to raise a giant sword.

Zentrias sneered. Weapons are useless against me! He saw within the blade all the subtle defects. The instant before his fist connected, destructive magic jumped to metal, coursing like electricity and ravaging every vulnerability. The sword shattered like glass. Springing off the general’s chest and pulverizing his armor, he flew to his next target and crumbled her spear with a kick.

Zentrias felt a wave of heat behind him. The general was engulfed in a tornado of napalm. Further back Juda wore a vicious grin, his telekinesis masterfully controlling the flammable.

As Zentrias leapt over a drake, the beast reared up and released its breath. The flames didn’t reach him, sputtering out a few feet away.

Carol was an expert at canceling. Crouching besides Filia, she was doing her job of shutting down attacks, all the while mumbling, “Scary, scary…”

As Zentrias disarmed another, a roar rung out. He glanced over to see a distressed flaming mass. Really? You tried burning the drake? More fire resistance than the vines which held it, the creature ripped free and made a bee line towards Juda.

The demon prince cursed and marched forwards. With each step, he grew taller, his frame expanding and his horns doubling in size. His face deformed into a monstrosity full of fangs, and his regal clothes stretched ridiculously over his hulking figure. Demonforming, a specialty of the hellspawn family.

Juda stopped the charging drake with a downward punch. He then grabbed its head with both hands and opened his mouth wide. Zentrias flinched, averting his eyes at the sound of crunching bones. Whether it’s his hatred of that barbaric form or the demon’s influence, he becomes downright sadistic when transformed.

A figure raced by. Oh crap… A champion with a pair of short swords had cut himself free and was racing towards Filia and Carol. Juda hadn’t noticed. Knowing it was too late, Zentrias watched the inevitable.

“Noooooo!” Carol screamed.

A giant hand slammed the champion to the ground. A lanky arm was stretching down from a rift in the air. A round head with an impossibly wide grin peeked through. Its over-sized eyes glanced at Carol and twinkled. Then it retreated, pulling its terrified prey with it. Carol is the true ‘summoner’ of our group, and the things she calls forth… It’s best not to dwell on them.

Once he and Juda had reduced the numbers of captives, Filia yelled, “Fertilize.” Her vines swarmed, crushing and ripping apart the remaining champions. The chamber fell silent as everyone caught their breath.

Carol pointed to the exit, “The boss is next. Sorry, I don’t have more than that.” Some elements of foresight were blocked in dungeons.

They entered a dark room and the door slammed shut behind them. Slowly torches flickered to life, illuminating the another hall. At the far end was a gigantic throne on which sat an onyx statue. The stone slowly came to life and rose. Wielding a scepter the size of a tree, it stood six stories high. The figure of the last Celetect king.

“Finally, a lucky break!” Filia laughed as everyone relaxed. “Leader, you’re up!”

Zentrias smiled, advancing at a leisurely pace. This was the best outcome. If the opponent isn’t living, I needn’t fear.

Channeling destruction, Zentrias closed his eyes. With his spiritual sense, he saw the chaos and order around him. The giant bearing down on him boasted impressive defenses, much tougher than the general’s sword. However, they were there, the imperfections he could exploit.

With a great stride forwards, the king brought down his scepter. Zentrias met it with an uppercut, and the destructive power in his fist pierced three critical points, blasting the weapon in two.

Giving the giant no chance to react, Zentrias leapt at its head and smashed its forehead. As he fell, he struck again six times, punching cataclysmic energy deep into the statue. When he landed, he knew it was over.

The king reached for him as he walked away. However, explosions began wracking his body, intensifying as destructive magics resonated and spread. Finally, the onyx titan broke down completely. Zentrias watched the king’s shocked face roll past.

“Yahoo, we’re done!” Filia yelled, hopping in celebration. “Let’s check the loot.”

In the next room, they gasped delighted at the four dried shells hanging from a golden tree branch. Wish seeds, high sorcery in a small package. They altered destiny anyway one desired: a few extra years of life, a burst of power at a critical time, luck with monetary wealth… The fresher versions of these, miracle seeds, could even ward off sublime vagaries. What a rare find.

Taking one, Zentrias crushed it without hesitation. I wish for immortality. He felt the strange sensation of the world bending around him.

“Appraise self.” Zentrias said, watching the familiar screen appeared.

STATUS

Name: Zentria Pharos

Species: Human

Age: 29

Specialization: Brawler

Level: 71~97 (numbers fluctuating)

Mana: 25870~31340 (numbers fluctuating)

Str: 514~763 (numbers fluctuating)

Luck: -41

Affinity: Destruction

Titles: Reformed Killer, Twice Orphaned, Lovestruck, fashion sense horror, one-punch dismantler

Notable Skills: Eye of Annihilation, Decimating Touch, Master Chef

Status ailments: none

Sublime Vagary: ***Incomplete***

Boons: Calid’s blessing, lesser iron skin, enhanced night vision…

Ninety seven, I’m getting close. Level 100 was understood to roughly represent immortality. Zentrias glanced at the bottom at the new entry in the boon section: minor petrification protection. Another reward for completion.

They took the long staircase out in a buoyant mood. This tomb-themed dungeon had been seventy two chambers divided over six floors, each with their own boss at the end. They were only too glad to be done with it.

They exited on the Celetect pyramid on the side facing the Raging Sands, the deadly twisted land under the Sarada desert. In the distance, two dark twisters were visible in the twirling clouds. Stretching to the rocky ceiling above, at their centers were light funnels to Middle Earth below.

The only light inside the Raging Sands came from the giant ghastfire braziers which adorned the many neverwhere ruins. Fortunately, they were at the edge of the region, just free of the perpetual storm. Rounding the pyramid, they discovered a crowd of adventurers above the cliff where their airship was docked.

Strange… “What’s going on?” Zentrias called out.

“The Grey Kingdom has begun its offensive.” A man responded. “You’re just in time to watch the fireworks.”

They quickly gathered at the edge and looked down. The gap between the fractured earth was wide here, so they had an excellent view of the landscape below.

Hundreds of airships were advancing on a city. Regia, where we stopped to prep. It was part of Olando Kingdom bordering Middle Earth.

There were indeed fireworks. From all over, blazing comets of blue energy streamed towards the invaders and smashed against an invisible barrier. Magitech cannons are meant to shoot down immortals and individual battleships. There aren’t enough to overcome the shielders defending this armada.

Shielders were airships capable of projecting force fields around them. Beyond protecting other ships, they were also crucial to dealing with enemy immortals. The treat of encirclement prevents them from running amok.

Suddenly, a streak of orange shot through the fleet and flew over the city in a wide ark while flashing brightly. The ground everywhere began exploding, and soon the bombardment ceased. Focusing, Zentrias saw it was mobile armor.

“That must be Gunhell, one of Argon’s works. Impressive fire power.” Juda noted.

“Shouldn’t we escape while they’re distracted?” Carol asked nervously.

Zentrias shook his head, “We’ll be granted safe passage once the fighting dies down.”

In the case of unannounced assault, visiting adventurers were regarded as foreign dignitaries. No one wants to antagonize the Adventurer’s Guild.

“Why doesn’t Regia have any airships?” Filia wondered

“They probably withdrew to a more defensible position.” Juda answered. “Olando has a self-defense pact with the Northern Empire. Their original plan was to hold out until immortals could warp in. What you see down there are all the defenses that couldn’t be moved.”

Gunhell retreated as black swarms rose from several places around the city. Summons, lots of them. Likely from underground generators.

Several airships descended to greet them. The troops on their decks began battling the flying horde, while others rappelled to the ground and fought their way forwards.

Zentrias frowned. The creatures conjured from the Ether ——mostly gargoyles, griffins, and various drakes—— were tearing the soldiers apart.

“Why isn’t the Gray Kingdom also using summons? They have carriers.” Zentrias observed. “And why are these soldiers so weak?”

“This is a technique pioneered by Salazar Rook.” Juda said coldly. “Those too weak to enlist normally are gathered up and thrown into the front lines. The battle experience and the status of being a massacre survivor turns them into something useful. One means of ‘refining the population’.”

They watched in silence as the men suffered heavy loses while reaching the generators. This is over.

“Hey, you don’t suppose they brought him back, do you?” Filia asked. “I mean, Salazar.”

“They didn’t.” Juda cut in. “If they were going to, they would’ve done so already. The Grey King is too pragmatic to risk that monster during a dark age.”

They gave Juda questioning looks for this heated interjection, and he felt compelled to continue, “The Demon world hosted one of Salazar’s ‘patrons’ a while back. After that civil war, we keep track of his whereabouts.”

Zantrias stared down at the distant field of corpses. Most believe Ellie was the first successful resurrection. That’s not really the case. Although Enera dismisses Salazar Rook and his ilk, that honor rightly belongs to him, the original revenant.