Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

This time Ruwen didn’t smell the acid, but the slurping and teeth grinding were impossible to miss. Almost immediately, shouts of surprise and pain began.

Ruwen turned from the smiling Prythus to look at Sift. “I’m helping them.”

Sift sighed. “Of course, you are. I’ll meet you there.”

Ruwen faced Echo and jumped fifty feet toward her, creating some room between himself and the Adepts. As soon as he landed, he leaped again, only this time with his Diamond Strength.

The air exploded with a boom as Ruwen ripped through it, and a moment later, he landed in the middle of Rung One.

Both of Echo’s hands were stuck to the Floot. She raised her arms as if trying to pick up the chest, but the creature stretched, absorbing the fury of her straining. The four arms each had a member of Rung One attached, and the Floot had already smashed them all into the ground once.

The remaining two Adepts had grabbed one of their captured brethren, but their efforts to pull them free were useless against the Floot’s strength.

To Echo’s credit, even though her situation looked dire, she hadn’t switched into her Death Aspect, which Ruwen figured could have easily taken care of this threat. She continued forcing the creature to stretch, and he could see her strategy had value.

The Floot’s flexible movements had already slowed, but it wouldn’t be enough. By the time the Floot had tired enough for Echo to pick it up, at least four Adepts of Rung One would be smashed to pieces. That assumed she could avoid the creature’s massive mouth full of teeth.

Ruwen kneeled and shoved both hands forward, palms toward the beast and angled downward. He only used enough Diamond Strength to move the dirt, as he didn’t want to create an air explosion and destroy the eardrums of Rung One.

A massive cloud of dust, sand, and small rocks rose like a wave. It crashed into the Floot, covering it, and nullifying the adhesive. The Floot raised all four arms, the attached Adepts frantic as they tried vainly to attack the creature.

Ruwen sensed the arrival of Sift, and as the Floot brought its four arms down with a vicious jerk, Ruwen caught the two Adepts closest to him. Sift caught the other two, the momentum of their descent forcing him to bend his knees.

Releasing the two Adepts, Ruwen snapped his arms open, the sides of his hands striking the tentacles. A shudder passed through the Floot and it released the two Adepts, who fell to the ground and immediately crawled away.

The tentacles Ruwen had struck retreated. Like a whip, they snapped downward, striking Echo in the back and forcing her forward into the creature’s teeth-filled mouth.

Last Breath triggered as Ruwen’s thoughts fragmented with indecision. His natural instinct was to help Echo, but she had sided with her family, understandably he had to admit. Wouldn’t he support his own family? But her father wanted to torture Ruwen for his secrets and her mother wanted him dead. Both of those outcomes didn’t appeal to Ruwen, which meant he shouldn’t help Echo on the off chance this creature might kill her somehow.

Another thought occurred to Ruwen, likely the result of his increased Wisdom. Despite Echo’s allegiance to her homicidal family, she had taken tiny steps down a different path. If he helped her now, in essence rescuing her again, the shame and embarrassment might undo the small amount of progress she’d made.

Helping Echo not only wasn’t in Ruwen’s best interest, but it hurt her as well. That realization cleared the guilt from his mind and his thoughts refocused.

Leaving Last Breath, the almost stationary world around Ruwen returned to normal speed. As he jumped over the Floot he sent Sift a message with Sphere of Influence. Take the Adepts to safety.

Ruwen landed next to Sift who still held the two Adepts he’d saved from crashing into the ground. Ruwen struck the Floot’s two arms and like before it shuddered and withdrew the tentacles. Sift wasted no time, leaping away with Gold Fortified Strength, an Adept under each arm.

Ruwen casually took three steps backward, giving Echo room to fight the Greater Imposter on her own.

The creature’s tongue had wrapped around Echo’s neck, and acid covered her head. Ruwen guessed she hadn’t yet reached peak Jade, but she still had a Gem Fortified body. The acid didn’t affect her skin, but her right elbow had hyperextended and her left wrist appeared snapped. The lack of breathing from being choked didn’t appear to bother her, and her heart rate remained steady. Despite how it looked, she remained calm.

Echo relentlessly moved her arms back and forth, stretching the Greater Imposter while resisting the pressure of the tentacles against her back. Ten seconds later the Floot wobbled and three seconds after that it lost its flexibility. She lifted the chest, her arms straining with the effort, and brought it down in a rush, smashing it against the ground.

The Greater Imposter shook and, in a blink, withdrew its four arms, tongue, and snapped its lid closed. Once again it looked identical to all the chests around them.

Echo stared at the chest for a heartbeat and then kicked it, the force rocking the massively heavy creature. She stepped forward and brought her left elbow down on the lid, and the creature quivered.

As Echo stood in preparation for another elbow strike, Ruwen strode forward, and as Echo’s elbow dropped, he grabbed it and pulled her sideways, using her momentum to turn her around. “It’s over,” he whispered.

Echo had been so focused on killing the Greater Imposter that she hadn’t noticed Ruwen. She turned toward him now, her eyes full of hate and anger.

Ruwen stepped to the side, faced Echo, and clapped. In a loud voice, he spoke. “Superb technique, Sister. I doubt any of us could have survived that.”

Ruwen continued to clap, and the other Adepts of Rung One, except for Sift, enthusiastically clapped as well.

Echo’s anger turned to confusion as she turned from Ruwen toward Rung One.

Ruwen locked gazes with Sift and smiled. He reached out with Sphere of Influence so no one else could hear. Let’s blow this pastry stand.

Sift grinned and his eyes turned white as he accessed his Soul magic. With a short nod, he launched himself upward, climbing into the sky like a human arrow. Ruwen leaped backward, slowly turning in the air, totally relaxed for the first time since arriving at this trial. They had finished it in just a day, and no one had died.

Ruwen landed on his feet, a hundred feet from Echo and Rung One. High above, Sift caught the dawn’s light, and he glowed like a ray of sunshine as he continued to climb.

Echo turned her gaze from Sift, and locked eyes with Ruwen, her face a mix of emotions. The Adepts of Rung One surrounded her, continuing their congratulations, and blocking his view of her.

Ruwen strolled down the slope toward the canyon floor, his Diamond hearing bringing him the sound of celebration to his right as Rungs Two, Three, and Four passed around the trial two victory token. To his left, he listened to Echo checking the injuries of her team, concern clear in her voice.

“You’re confusing,” Tarot said.

“Why is that?” Ruwen asked.

“I don’t understand you. You spend the entire night frantically competing with Rung One, and then, in the end, you help them? Now they remain at full strength, making the rest of your trials more difficult. Isn’t the point of this to win?”

“I did win, Tarot,” Ruwen responded. Thoughts of Echo’s confused face as her team congratulated her, mingled with the happiness and cooperation of the other Rungs. “In fact, in this trial, I won twice.” After a moment, he continued. “And winning is an outcome, not the point.”

***

Ruwen healed all the injured Adepts as soon as they arrived at camp. His five levels in Massage healed for thirty-two health per second for thirty seconds, far more than anyone needed. He could cast the one hundred fifty Mana spell thirteen times before running low on Mana, but his twenty-five Mana per second Regen ensured his bar barely dropped.

The Quartermaster had arrived shortly after all the Adepts returned to camp. He took great interest in all the relics won during their first experience on Savage Island, and after examining them, thirteen met the Quartermaster’s quality requirements. Turning in one of those items resulted in a relic token, which could be exchanged for one of the Quartermaster’s relics if it provided more value to the Adept.

Rung Four, already equipped with relics won from the first trial, had given their captured relics to Rungs Two and Three. Between the relic tokens from the exchange and the nine won today, every Adept in Rungs Two, Three, and Four had a relic, and they still had six tokens left over.

In an irony that filled Ruwen with joy, the lower Rungs agreed to give the extra six tokens to Rung One.

Echo refused to take one, leaving enough for the six members of Rung One that followed her. Ruwen wondered if she wanted to earn the token herself, or if the generosity stemmed from good leadership.

In the end, between the two trials, and their adventure on Savage Island, everyone had a relic except Sift and Echo.

Now, Ruwen sat cross-legged behind Rung Four, Sift beside him. Everyone wore their traditional uniform, white belts tied around their waists. The Addas had reappeared, and Padda stood at the front of the group with thirty-three orange belts hanging over his outstretched arms, Madda beside him.

The Founders left a large tent and moved toward the Addas. As they approached, all the Adepts stood, and as one, they bowed.

The Founders returned the bow, and Mist spoke. “Another Clan first accomplished by this class.”

“Not only did everyone survive the second trial,” Thorn said. “But every Adept here faced a Greater Imposter in the process.”

Dusk continued. “All in a single day.”

Sift leaned toward Ruwen and whispered. “I’ve been thinking about Floots.”

“That can’t be good.”

“To honor your achievement,” Mist said. “Equipping your orange belt will upgrade your Clan mark and bestow a permanent ability.”

Thorn pointed at the belts. “You will have additional opportunities to gain other Clan benefits during these trials.”

“Congratulations,” Dusk said. “For being the first orange belts to ever receive this honor.”

The Adepts bowed again, and the Founders returned it.

Madda removed an orange belt from Padda’s arms and handed it to Thorn, who had stepped forward. Thorn took the belt and nodded to Echo.

As Echo strode toward Thorn, Sift leaned close to Ruwen again. “That Floot gave me real trust issues. I wasn’t kidding, when I’m done here, I’m going to learn a weapon. Something to give me a little space if I want it, like your staff.”

“That’s a surprisingly good idea. What are you thinking?”

Sift shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“I have flying swords if you’re thinking of something sharp.”

“Seriously? Show me.”

“Not here, genius. Didn’t you hear the flying part?”

“Oh, I heard,” Sift said, his eyes shining with excitement. “Don’t you want it?”

Ruwen remembered the Aspect of Death’s sword. “I admit they look kind of burnt. For now, though, I want to return to my roots.”

“Throwing books?”

“No. And stop guessing.”

“Shouting details until everything dies of boredom?”

“Okay, now I’m not telling you.”

Madda cleared her throat loudly and Sift and Ruwen returned their attention to the class. All the Adepts held an orange belt but them.

Sift stepped forward, unaffected by his mother’s scowl. He turned his head back and whispered as he moved away. “Paper cuts?”

Ruwen frowned and glared at the back of Sift’s head.

Thorn and Mist each held one end of Sift’s orange belt, and he bowed to them before taking it. As he strode back, Ruwen read Sift’s lips. “Bookmarks?”

Ruwen didn’t wait for Sift to return, and moved toward the front, going the opposite way to avoid Sift.

Madda handed Dusk an orange belt and the Founder stepped forward. Ruwen bowed and held out his arms, and Dusk placed the belt across them. “Congratulations, Adept. The Clan acknowledges your orange rank.”

Ruwen bowed again and Dusk returned it. He strode back to stand next to Sift.

Before Sift could offer any more guesses, Dusk spoke to the Adepts.

“Replace your white belt with your new Clan rank. Save your white belt, as it holds the work and dedication of your first steps toward Master.”

Ruwen threw the orange belt over his shoulder and removed his white belt, dropping it immediately into his Void Band to stop any chance of Tarot stealing it. Grabbing the orange belt, he quickly tied it in place.

The Bamboo Viper Clan mark appeared briefly on Ruwen’s right wrist, along with a slight burning sensation. The viper wrapped around the bamboo stalk now had a light smoke or fog surrounding it. A notification appeared.

Tring!

Dusk has gifted you…

Name: Symbol of Lesser Command Shadow

Restriction: Bamboo Viper Clan Adept

Restriction: Rank Orange

Description: Dismiss your shadow at will, storing it in your mark. Not all shadows fear the light.

Ruwen had barely read the notification when Thorn spoke.

“Prepare yourselves for the third trial. We begin immediately.”