Chapter 32
Thats a big fucking bear, Maxwell whispered. Our target was currently stomping around the valley below us.
Why is it even awake right now? I asked. Bears dont wake up for a while yet, normally.
Maybe whatever changed it from a regular bear to this monster woke it up? Maxwell suggested.
I studied the bear, getting a feel for its power compared to my recent growth to level 45. It was stronger.
What level are you? I could tell Max was around my level, but I wasnt sure if that was a few stronger or weaker.
Maxwell gave me a now familiar look, still not convinced I wasnt an NPC. Im level fifty-one.
Good, I said. Individually, we dont stand a chance against that monster, but together we should be fine. Even if I wasnt handicapping myself by not using my magic, I still wouldnt have been able to fight the monstrous creature on my own.
Im a ranged fighter and buffer, Maxwell said. Can you handle the up-front fighting?
I can do that. I held out my staff and dismissed the sheath around the blade, revealing it.
Neat trick, Maxwell said.
Oh, it can do a lot more than that. I smiled. Not only could the blade leave behind festering wounds, I was now able to also shift the shape into different configurations with greater ease. I was still limited by the amount of material required for each different type of blade, but it gave me a lot of utility.
I shifted the blade from being long and slender, to a heavy boar spear that was designed for these very types of engagements, and would be much more effective at keeping the large monster at bay.
Thats a useful weapon, Maxwell said.
Its soul-bound to me, and grows as my level does. I let him examine the weapon.
How did you find such a weapon? Maxwell asked.
That is a very long story. I ducked behind a nearby boulder and took off my snowshoes. The snow here wasnt as deep as it was farther up the mountain. Trying to fight the bear in deep snow wouldve been problematic to say the least.
I approached cautiously, trying to get as close as I could before it sensed me. Maxwell followed in my tracks, the strange instrument he used in combat at the ready. When he first showed it to me, I was rather confused by its design. It looked like somebody had haphazardly slapped together a dozen different kinds of instruments. Hed assured me it was quite effective.
The bear sniffed the air and began huffing and snorting in anger. I stopped and waved a hand at Maxwell to cease the march. Id also quit breathingsuch a pain remembering to do that around the living. The advantage was that I made no sound and didnt exhale a pungent odor from my mouth.
I was less than twenty meters away, and waited for the bear to look away from my position before I dashed forward. I hurled my spear, hoping to score a critical hit in the side of its chest. My spear dug deep upon impact, the massive creature letting out an ear-shattering roar.
Though now embedded in the side of the bear, it hadnt penetrated deep enough to reach vital organs. The bear turned toward me and I sprinted in just as a musical note sounded behind me, and my body sped up. As the bear swiped one massive paw, I dove and grabbed my spear.
Wrenching the weapon free, I whirled and stabbed again. The attack again failed to cut deep enough to do major damage. I leapt back, barely avoiding another sweeping claw. Seeing how ineffective the weapon was, I reshaped it into a narrower spear point with a sharp blade on both sides. The narrower shape might have an easier time at finding a way between the bones and deeper into the bear.
A rhythmic thumping sounded, like that of a bass drum. With each pulse, I was again briefly speeding up. And floating in the air nearby was a small dot, pulsing in time with the beat. The distraction from seeing the strange item made me miss an incoming attack, and the bear sent me tumbling across the field and slamming into a tree, where I lay slumped and dazed.
As the bear charged, another sound joined the initial beat, this time resembling a snare drum. Reinvigorated, I dove to the side before the bears massive jaw swallowed me whole. Instead, it ripped a chunk out of the side of the tree as if it was made of butter.
I slashed with my staff, cutting deep into one of its arms, and layered music joined the fight. More of the dots appeared in differing colors, all of them emitting a different sound. The beat was coming together, reminding me of an older rock song from back on Earth. I soon found myself timing my attacks and dodges with the rhythm.
There were no words to go with the music, the instruments taking the places of the vocals. With each passing minute, the song grew in power. Some of the dots occasionally faded, only to be replaced by another filling its spot. Now I was singing along, though I didnt know the song well and missed many of the lyrics.
The music strengthened me while simultaneously debuffing the bear. Maxwell even started to mix in other sounds that were often direct attacks. Between the enhancements his song provided and his well-placed attacks, the two of us quickly wore down the massive bear.
The bear lunged in one final attack. Instead of diving out of the way, I planted the butt of my staff in the ground and let the bears own weight impale it on the weapon. I leapt back the moment after the spear connected with the bear as its weight crashed down. Without a cross guard, the sharp weapon rammed clear through its body. The bear gave one last grunt before its body quivered and stopped moving.
That was fun, I chuckled, giving Maxwell a wavehe stood at the edge of the clearing. Brings a whole new meaning to the rhythm of a fight.
Thanks, Maxwell said. Its this instrument. I got lucky and found it in an old ruin. Gave me a skill set I dont think any other bards I know of have ever used. Its called sound nodes; those are the dots you kept seeing.
How many songs do you know? I asked.
Not many, Maxwell admitted. I have to be pretty familiar with the song to create it, though each one has a different effect, so Im constantly trying to learn new stuff. The better I know them, the more effective I can create them.
Im surprised youre not in some adventuring group, I said. You would be hugely popular.
Maxwell sighed. Eh, I was, but we had to part ways.
Well, Im sure glad youre here. I guess we can loot this thing.
Part of my brain was screaming to turn it into an undead minion. Wasnt often to have such powerful creatures available to raise. But I promised myself not to use dark magic for such things.
Maxwell and I worked together to skin the bear. The hide was bigger than anticipated, but we were able to roll it into a bundle that I strapped to my back, while Maxwell held onto my pack. Then began the process of cutting into it in search of any valuable items hidden inside. It was gruesome work, but wed played the game enough to know this was just part of the world. That being said, I missed my desiccate spell that allowed me to efficiently loot creatures.I was careful to absorb the deathcore before Maxwell saw it.
We found a gem of some kind near the center of the bear. It gave off a crimson glow, though it wasnt like a magical core found in some monstersseemed more like a natural gem. I hoped Rhea would be able to explain what it was.
We headed back the way wed come. My snowshoes sunk deeper into the snow with the heavy hide on my back, but my high strength as an undead allowed me to bear the weight without issue.
Ill tell you what, Ezekiel, Maxwell said. Ill look you up when I log off next time.
I appreciate it, I said. Part of me hoped I could someday get a message to my sister. At the same time, I didnt even know what to say. I could barely imagine the heartache it would cause her to find out Im here; if she even believed it was me. When do you need to get off?
Not for a while of ingame time, Maxwell assured me. Its summer break for my college right now, so I plan on spending most of it in game.
I cant blame you, I chuckled. Where are you going to school?
Maxwell and I had a pleasant chat, and by the time we made our way back to my cabin, it was getting late. Raven was sitting out on a stump that the snow had melted off. She watched us intently as we walked into the clearing.
We should go into town. Its not too late yet, and I dont want to have to warm up the cabin, I said.
Maxwell agreed and we headed out across the frozen lake, Raven following behind. I guess she liked the idea of a warm room as well. It was truly getting dark by the time we tromped into town. Before we entered the single tavern, I secured the bundled hide in a stable.
Opening the taverns door, the warm glow of a fire spread out into the street. We entered, and the snow that clung to our feet immediately began to melt. We paid for meals and warm drinks. Though I didnt need to eat, nor could I taste, it was still nice to share a meal with someone. Raven curled up around my feet and ate a plate of provided scraps.
I was a little surprised to see Rhea come in a little later. She chatted with the barkeep, and when she turned to leave, saw Maxwell and I. She smiled and came over to join us. Were you able to find that creature?
Found and killed, Maxwell smiled.
It had a strange gem in it, I said, producing the red crystal.
Rhea eyed it suspiciously. I think I know what this is, but I will need to do some checking before I say anything for certain. Stop by the temple tomorrow before you leave town and Ill have an answer, and potentially another job.
Well do that, Maxwell assured her.
Rhea chatted with us for a bit longer, asking about the trip and anything of interest we saw. We didnt have a lot to report, but she listened intently. After she left, Maxwell and I decided to rent rooms and spend the night there. Well, to be more precise, that was Maxwells plan, and I decided to forgo trudging back across the lake.
The next day came and we went to the temple to meet up with Rhea. That gem of yours made for a long night, Rhea complained when she saw us.
Why, what is it? I asked.
Ive only ever read about these, Rhea began. Theyre used by certain demon clans to the west of us to enhance creatures to serve them.
Demons? Maxwell asked in surprise.
They arent demons like youre thinking, Rhea quickly assured him. Technically, these are demonlings, descendants of demons from the lower planes and mortal races.
That doesnt sound good, I said.
My guess is that a demonling clan has either come up from under the mountains or crossed from the nation to the west, Rhea said. Regardless, I have a new job for you. I need you to use this compass she produced a silver item that had the red crystal mounted on the bottom, with a needle that pointed off into the distance to find wherever the demons are located and wipe them out. We cannot afford to have such a presence build in our region.
Having demon goblins building a city in the mountains certainly didnt sound like a great idea.
I can work on that, I assured her.
Will we have support from the Church of Olattee? Maxwell asked.
Rhea gave Maxwell an apologetic look. No. I am being replaced here, as I was offered a position at a temple in a larger city. My replacement is less inclined to overlook your transgressions, Mr. Cromwell.
It was just a joke, Maxwell complained.
Maybe next time dont make the butt of your joke the high priest of Olattee in the city you are in? she scolded.
But he made himself such an easy target, Maxwell protested.
Rhea glared at him. Your little chant caught on and spread to multiple cities. The high priest has retired into seclusion for the foreseeable future.
I snorted, barely keeping a laugh back. Too bad it didnt work like that back on Earth. I can think of a lot of politicians we couldve done without.
Aint that the truth, Maxwell snickered.
You two are going to get yourselves in so much trouble, Rhea sighed. My replacement isnt nearly as lenient. That being said, I will task people with watching over your cabin while youre gone. She knelt and scratched Ravens ears, immediately making her purr. We cant leave Raven all by herself.
You expecting it to take us a while? Maxwell asked.
Based on the initial reading after creating the compass, the concentration of demons is deeper within the mountains. It will probably take you a week of hiking to even get there, Rhea explained.
I wish we could wait until the snow was gone, I mused.
You can, Rhea assured me. The snow melts quickly here once the spring truly gets going, because of warm rains that blow in. There is a reason why we dont build right next to the water.
That would cause a lot of flooding, I pointed out, recalling evidence of the lakes level greatly rising and falling.
A lot of the water goes underground and disappears into tunnels, Rhea said. Though there is the occasional flash flood that will wipe out a road or two.
Well keep that in mind. I looked to Maxwell. Come to my cabin when the snow is mostly melted and we can head out.
Sounds good to me, Maxwell agreed. Ill take a quick break to do a few things around my apartment.
A break for Maxwell meant he would be gone for quite a while, so it worked out well.
After Maxwell left, Rhea and I continued to chat. I was going to miss her. She tried to assure me that she didnt think there was anything I needed to redeem about myself. And even if there was, all the good work Id done through the winter for Olattee and the village more than made up for whatever it was.
I still refused to enter her temple though. The last thing I wanted was for her impression of me to be marred by being revealed as a Lich.
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