Chương 40: Gwen

Movement caught my eye and distracted me from the cracking of the ward stone. This wasn't over. Isis's body was being sucked dry. A smile stretched across my face. Light flashed off my blade as I cut into the grand womb. Blood and visceral shot out while I made an impromptu cut. I tore open the hole I made to reveal a glowing green fetus. Power radiated off the creature more than I'd ever felt.

lvl1 Vanir

Searching Data Base – Vanir are members of an alien race altered humanity to appear more human. They share a striking resemblance to angels, but it is unknown if it is merely a coincidence or an addition made by humans. Goblings all carry some Vanir DNA.

"Stasis," Tyrannus said and a purple cube appeared around the creature. Runes appeared in the air and the cube became solid. "After we rescue my sister, we will take this as proof to the Legate and all of the legion will come down upon this tower." Tyrannus promised. The tower shook.

"If the tower doesn't fall on us first maybe we will." Rudalpho said. A rock fell inches from his head. He took off for the door. "We have to hurry." The noble Mind Flayer yelled.

We ran for the door. I turned my head just as red and black lightning shot up from the floor and dissolved the Grand Womb. The lion's share of the xp would go to Dol.

Rocks fell as we ran down into the dungeon proper. I swapped to mage and unleashed a volley of fireballs at every mutated gobling we passed. Hundreds died some in their cells while we crossed to the back. I swung my blade and killed the guard who carried Gwen's cell key.

Ping!

Mage lvl10 +1 INT +1 PER per lvl

Perk: Multicaster – Combined spells gain 10% more effectiveness.

It wasn't much but ever little increased helped. To raise job levels, I needed to learn how to do the job. Targeting and firing was an important part of being a mage. That's at least got me 9 job levels. Would it prepare me for a fight with Dol? If I had a few decades and a good teacher maybe it could.

Gwen's cell was at the very back. I shoved the key inside and ripped the door off the henges. Steel groaned while I ripped my way inside. Gwen looked just as I left her. A smile slowly spread across her face. Her tentacles moved in a pleased fashion. They twisted and looped around each other like hair braids.

I ran to her and grabbed her seals. A quick and vicious battle between black static and the wards ensued. They were strong wards, but I was willing to dump all my aura into them. The wards gave out and began to decay. She wrapped her arms around me, and we kissed.

As our tongues danced and the thought of taking her here on the spot came to mind. "Lady Black please refrain from eating the darkling, he's been an asset so far." Rudalpho's tired voice reached both our minds.

Gwen released a terrifying screech and moved in front of me. It was kind of comical. She was only six feet tall and trying to protect my nine-and-a-half-foot form.

Every level had increased my stats which increased my size and strength. Those stats had been increased further by my own quests and jobs would increase them even more. In essence, I was a bulky giant winged demon armed with a giant sword.

Tyrannus stepped into the cell and stared at his sister. He looked between us and then back to Doppel. Confusion was all over his tentacles in a familiar way I couldn't begin to understand. I understood the confusion but not why his tentacle expressions were familiar. Then again Gwen might have just implanted a lot of things in my mind. There was no telling what else she left inside.

Rudalpho stared at the situation before glaring at me. He let out a mind-numbing shriek of his own before I felt his mental attack. It was something I hadn't felt since Gwen. Before there had been holes in the bucket when I tried to force him out. Those holes were filled in by a purple substance. It was easier to scoop him out of my boat and pour him out. Unlike Gwen, Rudalpho wasn't very good. He lacked the speed and dexterity of Gwen's thoughts.

I flared my aura and Rudalpho shot off his feet before smashing into the iron bars behind him. He looked between Gwen in I and then to Tyrannus. Doppel pointed a psyblade at Rudalpho's throat.

"Why are you defending him? He is an unbound darkling. You know the law." Rudalpho said.

"A law only holds weight when it is enforced. I've chosen not to enforce it." Doppel said.

"So, have I. I won't enforce my will on another again." Gwen proclaimed and hovered in front of me glowing with waning psychic power.

"You shouldn't be this weak. What happened to you Gwen?" Tyrannus asked.

"I'm tired of mother's ladder climbing and father's apathy. I left everything behind so I could live how I wanted to to. I made some mistakes along the way and should have made some bindings tighter." She said and looked at Doppel.

"Then why attack this place." I asked. Gwen turned to me and her expression softened.

"You were too weak; how could I have known you'd grow powerful so quickly. Dol was a threat and the more I learned about him the more dangerous he became. Eventually, I found out about his backers. The darklings of the empire aren't gone they went into hiding." I nodded my head slowly.

"So they wanted to use Dol for a proxy war against the Thoughtful empire." Tyrannus said.

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Dol doesn't care about taking over the empire for darklings or goblings. This was all about his own personal power. He would have loved it if you had brought a legion here." Gwen said.

"What kind of ranks are in a legion?" I asked.

Tyrannus grimaced. "Mostly plebes, a few knights, and a single Duke normally the Legate. Nerf the knights, funnel the plebes into a kill zone, and collect the xp. That sounds like a great plan." The tower shook. A smile crept over my face and my hand reached for my sword.

"Tyrannus, get your sister to safety. Doppel you go too." I walked over to Rudalpho. The Mind Flayer clutched his skull and glared at me.

"When we met, I planned to kill you." His eyes widened. "After getting to know you, I changed my mind. You're a good guy if a bit up tight. While I go on my suicide mission to kill Dol will you ensure everyone gets to safety?" I asked.

"You have a lot of nerve asking me that." Rudalpho said. "I am a noble, I don't need a darkling of all people to remind me of my duty." A smile stretched across my face. I felt lighter than I'd ever felt before. Gwen was safe and would get out of here.

Ping!

Quest Completed: Rescue Gwen

Rewarded: +10 END

Endurance 261

Ping!

Quest Completed: Arrive before Gwen dies

Rewarded: +10 AGL

Agility 246

Ping!

Quest Completed: Find the root of Gwen's issues

Rewarded: +10 PER

Perception 328

I was in a good mood. A really good mood. Gwen grabbed ahold of me. "Don't, he took my strength. Dol can see into the future. He can see multiple possibilities and knows how this will end." Gwen said. I brushed my fingers through her tentacles. Her large black eyes stared up into mine.

My blood was singing. This fight would bring me to the brink of death and if I survived, I'd become much stronger. Dol was a foe beyond anything I'd fought. He'd be the ultimate test of everything I'd learned and more.

Claudia Black lvl1 Grand Prophetess

Rank: Plebe

Gwen's tentacles moved in distress and I knew she saw my future. "If you go even if you win you might not come back to me."

I placed my hand gently on her shoulder. "I promise, I'll come back one day if you want me to." I said.

Purple aura erupted around her and ruble blasted across the room. Iron bars ripped off their welding and the dungeon shook. "Come back, I'll wait no matter how long it takes." I nodded my head.

"Doppel, make sure Gwen makes it out of here. I know the two of you have a lot to talk about, but it can wait." I said.

Tyrannus stood stopped my next step with telekinesis. "There is no need for this. The legion will take care of this Dol he's only one gobling." I stared into the alien black eyes of Tyrannus and felt worry.

"Field on," a barrier of black static covered covered my body and broke Tyrannus's hold.

Ping!

Mage lvl15

"I will win, I will return, and I will fuck your sister." I said. Rudalpho looked taken aback. A smile spread across Gwen's face at my proclamation. Tyrannus clutched his head.

"Fine, but I'm registering you as a darkling under Claudia sent on a mission to sabotage Dol's plans. Are there any objections?" Tyrannus asked. The tower shook again. Tyrannus tossed Gwen a gear.

She held it up to me. "Hold still," she said. It took a picture of me and then registered me under her name. "If it looks like you can't beat him, fly away." I nodded slowly.

My wings spread and I flew forward while they followed behind me.