Chapter 82 - Panic Plan (Part Two)

“We tested Vivi's adamantite katana on a thick slab of black hardstone,” Ven said. “Solace slashed it cleanly in half. We can create a hole in the wall in less than ten seconds.”

Vivi was surprised. “The katana really cuts hardstone?”

“It slashes through as easily as steel cuts flesh,” Ven said. “Your swords are what make this plan even slightly plausible.”

“You planned on causing a mass escape, correct?” Lydi asked. “How are the Hollows going to escape with Uundref if we cut a hole for everyone to see?”

“Oh, I plan to make the hole in secret,” Ven said. “The Hollows will escape first. After everyone is out, I'll head back to the hub to shout that Uundref has made a hole in the wall. Then I'll lead everyone to the exit. I’m also going to anonymously lure influential nimrods, including Bwern and Andre, to the hub beforehand. With a lot of strong nimrods escaping, the remaining Stewards will have a harder time suspecting anyone specific as the mastermind behind this. Uundref will be the biggest suspect.”

“A comical idea,” Alisa said. “But it could work.”

“It’s not much of a plan,” Ven said. He leaned back and smiled. “A lot of improvisation will be required for all parts. But the main goals are clear, and the path to reach those goals is straight. This is the exact type of plan we’re good at.”

“That’s all, then?” Aang asked.

“Yes, that’s the plan,” Ven said. “Anything to add?”

The Hollows paused to think. Everyone had troubled expressions. Alisa raised her head first. “Let’s do it. I have nothing to add.”

“Me neither,” Rohan said. “My armor should be fixed before the plan.”

“I will be controlling the skeleton summon skill, I presume?” Lydi asked.

Aang nodded. “You will be a valuable support for the boss fight.”

“And what about me?” Feni asked.

“You can wait in the hub,” Aang said. “As a non-combatant, your assistance has already proved its worth. Vivi has a skill thanks to the potions. Emmy will join you as well.”

Aang glanced at Eem. The fiend nodded twice.

Feni looked down. “I’m mostly useless, huh?”

“You will be useful,” Lydi said. “I need you alive to help me in the lab after we escape.”

Feni gave a weak laugh. “Of course. Good luck, Lydi. Everyone.”

Aang poured himself a mug of water and said, “Ven and I will empty home base of everything important: ether, skills, our records, runesmithing equipment. Then we’ll burn the place down.”

Vivi looked down. She was starting to like her smithy. She’d hoped to create at least one three-runed sword there. Now the smithy was being burned.

“Vivi,” Aang said. “You have the runeswords in your spatial storage, correct?”

“Yes,” Vivi said.

“Keep them there for now,” Aang said. “We will distribute them before the plan starts.”

Vivi nodded.

The door at the back of the kitchen creaked open. Rensfig stepped in with two large clumped up curtains. He leaned backward by the weight as he carried the curtains, dropping them on the ground in the middle of the room. “Done,” he said. “The ether repelling curtains. Nothing runes spread all across. One for team A, one for team B.”

“Just in time,” Aang said.

“Anything else you needed?” Rensfig asked.

“No, you’ve done plenty for us,” Aang said. “For your next part of the plan, you’ll join Feni in the hub. She’ll explain the happenings to you.”

Rensfig raised his eyebrows. “Am I getting demoted into an alchemist now?”

“No, this is for your own safety,” Aang said. He gulped down his water and placed the mug down with a thump. “That’s it for preparations, then. The plan will be launched in sixteen hours. Let's hope the investigations haven’t moved too far by then. For now, you’re dismissed. I will give everyone fifteen hours of free time. Form ideas and think about the plan. Discuss weak points. Sleep and eat. We will hold one more meeting right before initiating the plan.”

The Hollows stood. Alisa placed down her half-eaten bowl and stretched. “The last afternoon meeting, huh? I’ll miss this place.”

“It has been fun,” Rohan said. “Thank you, everyone.”

“The fun will continue,” Aang said. “I don’t plan on losing anyone. We will escape.”

“You idiots better finish your bowls,” Gaven said, frowning over the kitchen counter. He grabbed Alisa’s bowl and held it out for her.

Alisa took it with a sigh. She got back to eating.

Vivi ate her slop as well. Thoughts raced in her head. Worries and doubts, as well as regrets. As was now, the demons intended to start the plan with two-runed swords. Rohan still had a one-runed sword. Grandpa would have laughed at the swords Vivi had crafted so far. She hadn’t crafted even one three-runed sword yet.

“Everything okay, Vivi?” Alisa asked. “You look worried.”

Vivi raised her head. “Aang. Could I see the smithy one last time?”

“To craft something?” Aang asked.

Vivi nodded. “I’ll spend my fifteen hours. I still need to craft a three-runed sword for us. If I’m quick, I can do it.”

Eyes turned to her. The Hollows understood the implication behind her words. A three-runed sword would make one of their fighters significantly stronger. The chances of defeating the main boss would be a lot higher.

“And what about sleep?” Aang asked. “The swords we wield now are already stronger than any runeswords I’ve ever heard of. Straining yourself is not necessary.”

“I’ll push through with ether,” Vivi said. “A three-runed sword will offer us far more strength than sleep. It could save the plan in a pinch.”

Aang studied her expression. He sighed. “I can’t say no, can I?”

“Please,” Vivi said.

I want to try again, Vivi thought. I can’t let them fight with useless weapons. I can craft a three-runed sword.

“Let’s do it, Vivi,” Lucius said. “I want to make a three-runed sword as well. We’ll have one more chance.”

“Very well,” Aang said. “We will delay destroying the base until Vivi has finished smithing. Working in the hidden dungeon will be risky, but it’s unlikely that the base will be discovered within fifteen hours. I will stay with Vivi to protect her just in case.”

“I’m ready to get started,” Vivi said.

“Yes,” Aang said. “Let’s get going.”

Vivi turned to Eem, still balancing on top of a chair’s backrest. “Eem, could you bring me a few ether roots? The really shiny ones.”

We'll need fast growing ether roots, Vivi thought. The smithy only has a locium root. Everything else will take too long. And we'll need to craft a small shortsword. Fifteen hours isn't enough time for anything else. 

Eem looked thoughtful. Vivi was hoping to get lucky. Perhaps Eem could bring them another adamantite root, or another fast growing root to speed up the process. She already had a locium root. Still, she doubted Eem knew the roots by name.

The fiend nodded three times, looking determined. She saluted.

Vivi smiled. “Thank you, Eem. You’re the best. I’ll leave it to you.”

Vivi turned to Aang. “Take me there.”

***

Aang led Vivi to the smithy through the apartment trapdoor. The quickest path would have been exit in his private hunting grounds, but jumping up to the ceiling without maxed out reserves was nearly impossible. Thus, the easiest route was taken.

They moved swiftly and cautiously, listening for any patrolling guards. Vivi and Aang passed dead host bones and muddy footprints—clear signs that patrols were ongoing. A few turns from home, Aang held his hand out, hearing talking in a cavern next over. They waited for a bit before sneakily stepping past, into home base.

Entering the smithy, the air somehow felt different. Heavy and nervous, as if the end of the world was looming ahead. This was the last time Vivi would work in her smithy.

Vivi studied her gallery of metals and roots. She still had dozens of roots to shape and tens of ingots to turn into swords. Yet, she only had one attempt. Her next sword had to succeed. And it had to be done quickly.

“Will we use the rare roots?” Lucius asked. “The locum thing?”

We will use the locium root, Vivi said. One of them, at least.

Vivi took a deep breath. Lucius floated beside her silently, waiting for the process to begin.

“Nervous?” Lucius asked.

This has to succeed, Vivi thought. If it fails, we might never get another chance.

Lucius seemed to understand. He stayed silent.

Vivi placed the first locium root between the jaws of the vise and prepared herself.