Divine Apostasy Book 5 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ruwen approached New Eiru’s main gate, the morning sun warming his back. He let go of Hamma’s hand and wrinkled his nose. The smell of decaying bodies still hung in the air, even though the last of the bodies had been cleared from the city yesterday.

New Eiru’s temple had processed over thirty thousand dead Naktos troops along with thousands of Ruwen’s own Fighters. The temple would break the dead bodies down and reuse the base components to revive the seven-hundred-thousand people still in queue.

Ruwen tried to pinch his nose, but the Overseer’s Cowl of Revelation stopped him. “Do you smell that?”

Hamma took a deep breath. “Smell what? Pine trees?”

If Hamma couldn’t smell anything it meant Ruwen’s Gold Fortified body, and the increased senses it provided, was the reason he could still detect the aftermath of the battle here.

The fight reminded Ruwen of the temple, and he glanced behind him at the lake, and the fifty-four feet of temple that emerged from the water. The rest lay underwater, the result of the explosion that had launched the temple from the middle of New Eiru into the air like an arrow shot from a longbow. In the past three days, permanent bridges had replaced the temporary ones created with Move On, linking the temple with the shore.

“The pines do smell nice,” Ruwen finally responded.

New Eiru’s walls loomed above them, the blocks etched with black lines from the intense heat caused by the Crazors Ruwen had created. They had used the dense beams of light to burn through the gate and overcome the Naktos troops that had taken the city.

Three workers, all with Crazors, stopped working on the portcullis and stepped to the side. Ruwen nodded at the trio, pleased to see they used one of Bliz’s new short-range crystals. Unlike the ones they’d used in the battle, these crystals produced an intense but very short beam of light, perfect for melting things. Bliz had given Ruwen a set of seven crystals that would cover almost any situation.

Once again, Ruwen wrinkled his nose at the burnt air smell that hung around the half-melted portcullis. The terium alloy bars would normally need special metalsmiths to fix, but the Crazors had changed that, and it looked like the city would have the added protection of the portcullis later today.

They entered the tunnel that burrowed through the thirty-foot wall and the temperature dropped ten degrees. The bomb Kysandra had dropped on them less than an hour ago still filled Ruwen’s thoughts.

“You don’t need to come with us to the tournament you know,” Ruwen said. “We’d all understand if you went back to Deepwell with your dad.”

Hamma bit her lip. “I know my mom is worried sick about me. Who knows how she’ll react when Dad shows back up. It worries me a little.” She paused for a few seconds and then continued. “This sounds dumb, but Deepwell feels too small now.”

They exited the tunnel and strode toward the city center and the newly created Elder Hall. The wall kept them in its giant shadow, and Ruwen frowned at the missing temple. The city looked almost barren without the massive spire.

“That’s not dumb,” Ruwen said. “I feel the same way. All this,” he waved his hand, struggling to find the right word, “Uru stuff, has changed me.”

Hamma grabbed Ruwen’s hand and squeezed it. “Let’s be honest. You needed some changes.”

Ruwen laughed. “I’ll admit this craziness has resulted in a few good things.”

“I agree,” Hamma said. “One of which is Lylan. She’s become my best friend, and her brother needs help.” Hamma continued, as if trying to convince herself. “I just dinged twenty, too, and I’m excited to explore my Warden Class, not sit at home and knit. It would feel wrong to leave you guys.”

Ruwen put his arm around Hamma. “We wouldn’t be here without your sacrifice. You’ve done enough.”

Using the Chapel Priestess Prayer Book, Hamma had turned Ruwen into a god for sixty seconds, at the cost of her life. It had allowed him to destroy the elite squad that had trapped their army outside the city.

Ruwen thought about those sixty seconds a lot. Too much, actually. Hamma’s Prayer Ten had allowed him to glimpse true power. Power that he someday might have. As soon as those sixty seconds had ended, a part of him had felt empty. A large part. The fact he craved such power so strongly worried him.

Hamma leaned against Ruwen as they walked into the sunshine. “Thanks. I wish I could have seen it.”

Ruwen snapped his fingers. “I still have that Dust Reverend’s body in my Void Band. I thought he might have some gear upgrades for you. Or at least some good offerings for your temple altar.”

Hamma laughed. “How many bodies are you carrying around?”

Three days ago, Ruwen had given Hamma’s dead body to Lylan, who had stripped all Hamma’s gear from the body before giving the corpse back to the temple. Lylan had assured Ruwen not even a Priestess wanted to loot their own dead body. And the only other body part he’d carried around for a while had been the Naktos Stone Sculptor Valora’s arm, which he’d cut off to take her second Void Band. But he’d launched the arm at Valora during the battle for the city.

“You’ve been listening to Sift too much,” Ruwen said and pointed at the Void Band on his left wrist. “I only have the dead Dust Reverend in here.”

“Okay, we can loot it after this meeting.”

Ruwen released Hamma as they neared the Elder Hall. Stone Mages had pulled the building from the rock. The circular building had fifteen-foot walls and a domed roof with six skylights. It sat near the old location of the temple, which was now a large saltwater lake.

Ruwen focused on Rami. I’m almost at the meeting.

Okay. I’ll listen in.

Thanks.

Rami had stayed at the Pour Judgement to finish breakfast. But Ruwen knew it was mostly to talk with Xavier. It didn’t matter though since Rami could piggyback on Ruwen’s thoughts and senses from the bar.

The double-doors, made from local pine trees, stood open, and Ruwen stepped into the single large room. A circular table with chairs, all made from pine as well, filled the room. Elder Zahara’s fellow Merchants must have made the furniture as the cheap wood shined and looked smooth to the touch.

Ruwen waited for Hamma to take a seat by her dad, and then dropped into a chair beside her. The double doors creaked a little as they closed and now that they had some privacy, he removed his Overseer’s Cowl of Revelation. He smiled at his parents and nodded at Tremine.

The Step Championship and rescuing Lylan’s brother had robbed him of extra time here. This morning’s meeting with the Elders might be his last, and he needed to finish the two quests Uru had given him.

The first related to New Eiru.

Foundations (Part 3)

Defend the city and the precious temple it guards from the invading army. Increase Fortification Effectiveness to 95% [COMPLETE] and create a settling plan for the remaining population.

Reward: 100,000 experience

The second quest was for the war.

The Southern Front (Part 3)

Drive back the invading armies and destroy 75% of their revival baths or 50% of their revival resources.

Reward: 100,000 experience

If Ruwen could complete them both, he’d ding level twenty-five.