Divine Apostasy Book 7 - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Mist continued. “Why will so many of you die? Because you will not heed our warnings and instructions.”

“Savage Island,” Thorn said. “Is a necessary trial to harden you for your life as a Bamboo Viper Master. The Bamboo Viper Clan has through the generations never allied themselves with another Clan or fought for dominance or control. The Clans see us as aloof, and it has isolated us. Consider the other Clans on the island neutral at best, and hostile at worst.”

They left the small town and ran in the opposite direction of the tower they’d recently competed in, entering a pine forest. The path looked like mostly like dirt, but Ruwen’s feet seemed to find every rock the path contained. They didn’t damage or even hurt compared to the terrible things he’d encountered, but it irritated him.

Mist spoke. “We value the work you’ve invested in yourself and don’t wish you to waste it. Your aim is to survive. And while you competed with each other here, on Savage Island you are members of the same Clan. To survive, you must work together.”

For the first time, Dusk spoke. “Your first entry onto Savage Island will be at the river. The water is full of dangers, but there is a single bridge which leads to the plains. If you are lucky, the starting area will hold no other Clans, but this is unlikely. Many Clans like to camp the entry area to take any relics the newcomers arrive with. This is easier than searching for them on the plains and beyond. Rung Four, your relics make you targets.”

Ruwen thought about Tarot and Dusk’s reference to luck. One thing about having a cursed misfortune golem was he would always know which scenario would unfold.

Thorn spoke again. “Unlike many Clans, we have no requirement to acquire a relic before returning from the island. Instead, we place you on the island six times. For many of you, this will be the first time you’ve fought other Clans in a life-or-death environment. This stress is critical for your development. It hardens you into Masters.”

They ran in silence for twenty seconds until Echo spoke. “I’ve been told the island contains powerful relics. What happens to the ones we collect?”

Mist answered. “It is yours. You can donate any relics you find to the Clan, trade it for a relic the Clan already owns, or keep it for yourself. Again, our Clan is not about ranking in the Throne wars or personal domination. Reflect on this as you observe the other Clans. What makes the Bamboo Viper Clan so powerful is where we place our focus.”

“What about Soul magic?” Sift yelled.

Ruwen looked at Sift.

“What?” Sift said. “I miss flying.”

Thorn spoke. “For those blessed to have found their souls, and further, discovered a way to harness its power, there are no rules against using it. However, know our Clan considers the use of any such magic as crutches in the pursuit of the hardening process.”

Dusk continued. “Any type of magic, soul or not, is like wrapping yourself in a wet blanket as you navigate a burning forest.”

“Running through a burning forest is what’s dumb,” Sift whispered.

They ran for another thirty minutes, the pace easy. The Founders didn’t want to tire anyone out, as many here had normal bodies, with none of the benefits of Fortification. They all left the forest and turned left, leaving the path and running into a ravine. Five minutes later, they’d traveled deep enough that the sun shone through a thin line far above them.

A narrow river ran at the bottom of the ravine and they ran along its rocky shore. Ten minutes later, the river disappeared under a rock wall as the ravine ended. Dusk stepped up to the stone wall and used her finger to trace the outline of a door. Her finger left a faint white line, and Ruwen recognized Soul magic.

Dusk stepped back, and Madda moved to the wall. With a finger she traced what Ruwen immediately recognized as a gate rune. She used soul power just like Dusk, the rune a glowing white.

When Madda finished, Padda drew the next one. Mist and Thorn followed and Dusk drew the last rune to Savage Island. Ruwen memorized the sequence, wondering if portal chalk would also get him there.

Mist pointed to the portal. “This will take you to our Clan platform at the river. The first person through will trigger a shield which will last three minutes. Use it to prepare for what faces you.”

“Dawn has arrived on the island,” Thorn said. “The planet’s day is twenty hours. Tomorrow at dawn, we will open the portal from our site across the river. If possible, bring your dead brothers and sisters. The survivors will move on to the second Master trial.”

“You will know our portal stone by our mark,” Mist said.

Dusk stepped forward. “Survive. This first exposure to Savage Island is the worst, and the Clan loses the most Adepts. Heed the warnings, protect your brothers and sisters, survive.”

The Founders and the Addas stepped to the side. Echo didn’t hesitate and leaped through the portal. Rung One quickly followed her and everyone else hurried through. When just Sift and Ruwen remained, Sift stopped and handed Shelly to his mom.

“I just fed her, so don’t let her fake you into thinking she’s hungry,” Sift said.

Madda took Shelly with two hands.

“And let her out to walk,” Sift continued. “She loves moving around.”

Madda nodded.

“And—”

“Seriously, child,” Madda said. “Shelly will be fine.”

Sift sighed. “Thanks.” He stepped up to the door, pointed at the symbols, and looked at Ruwen. “These look right to you?”

“How should I know,” Ruwen replied.

“I hate these things. They need a little peephole so you can see where you’re going.”

“You have trust issues. We need to get going before our shield runs out.”

Sift sighed again. “Fine.” He turned to Shelly. “If I get lost, you come for me. Don’t goof around either.”

Shelly stared at Sift, and Ruwen wondered how much they communicated. With a last nod at Shelly, Sift stepped through the door, leaving Ruwen alone with the Founders and Grandmasters.

Mist held out an arm and Ruwen stopped.

“The Shattered Clan has held the Champion’s Throne for generations,” Mist said. “They fill their ranks with demons, and they spread chaos throughout the nearby galaxies, including the home world of Rung Four. Part of the Shattered Clan’s strength comes from their control of Savage Island and the relics they recover there.”

Thorn continued. “Your Rung will certainly recognize the Shattered Clan and might act irrationally. You and Sift have taken Rung Four under your wing, and the Clan encourage you to curb any foolishness.”

Ruwen nodded, thankful that neither Madda or Padda made a comment about his penchant for reckless behavior.

Dusk spoke, her voice thoughtful. “Rung Four’s world is on the brink. The Adepts that return there as Masters will be critical to turn the tide of defeat into victory. Critical certainly from a martial perspective, but also from the hope they’ll bring. Few things are as powerful as hope.” She paused as if to emphasize her next words. “And nothing brings hope, like seeing your enemies defeated.”

Ruwen had witnessed the inverse of that during his fight for New Eiru. When they had attacked the city with their Crazors, they had quickly destroyed the resistance there. Despair had spread through the enemies’ ranks like a wildfire.

“I understand,” Ruwen said. During his time on Savage Island, he would do his best to protect Rung Four. Their world needed them.

With a last look at the five most powerful fighters in Ruwen’s Clan, he stepped through the gate rune portal.

Ruwen appeared on top of a small flat-topped hill, covered in short grass. A ten-foot flat rock protruded from the middle of the hill, providing the surface for the portal he’d just exited.

“Finally,” Sift said. “Did you get lost?”

“How do I know if I’m lost if I never know where I am?” Ruwen asked as he looked around. “Where is Rung One?”

“Oh, they took off for the bridge,” Sift replied. “They left immediately. Which was smart, considering the current situation.”

Ruwen studied his surroundings. Every quarter mile a hill identical to his jutted up from the plain, each with a gentle hundred-foot climb to the top. The blue-tinted sunlight gave everything a harsh look. A mile behind their hill, the ground disappeared sharply, probably because of cliffs, and a green ocean stretched to the horizon. The surrounding ground contained grass that ranged from ankle high to areas over six-foot. In the distance, past the river, rolling hills began, and past those soared mountains.

A wide river, maybe half a mile across, wound in front of them three miles away. A giant bridge spanned the river, supported on the backs of massive bent over statues. Rung One sprinted toward it.

Sift pointed at the base of their hill. “Luckily, only two bands came to greet us.”

Ruwen studied the two groups below, each containing around fifty fighters. They stood on opposite sides of the hill. The left side wore red uniforms, more like practice gear than the formal clothes Ruwen and his Clan wore. The garb highlighted the attackers’ purpose as less traditional and more functional. They wanted relics.

Glancing to the right, Ruwen examined the enemies there. They wore black clothes, tattered and ragged from constant fighting, and appeared like they’d already fought a war. Most of them had the general shape of humans, but all were twisted in some fashion. Longer arms or legs, tails, horns on their heads and backs. The group consisted entirely of demons.

Group Four stood on the right side of the hill, looking down at the mass of fighters approaching. Prythus hissed the words, “Shattered Clan.”

Group Four had all become highly focused on the approaching Shattered Clan, their stances ready for combat. Ruwen recalled what Thorn had told him about Rung Four becoming irrational.

“Prythus,” Ruwen called. “Group everyone up, please.”

Prythus reluctantly moved the hill’s edge and shepherded the rest of Rung Four toward Ruwen.

“Oh great,” Sift said. “The group following Echo turned back to attack us. That sucks.”

“Bad luck,” Ruwen said, thinking of Tarot.

“How do you want to play this?” Sift asked.

“Give me a second,” Ruwen said and then triggered Last Breath, slowing the world around him to a crawl as his mind sped up.

Normally high ground would be an advantage, but with the oncoming third group, the attackers approached from three sides. He hated to admit it, but Echo had probably made a wise decision to run for the bridge. They could fight with their backs to the water or at the bridge entrance to limit the angles their enemies could attack from.

If more groups arrived, it would only make their situation worse. They needed to break through the current mass and then find some place easier to defend against large quantities of attackers.

That only left one option.

Ruwen let Last Breath go and turned to Sift. “I have a plan.”