Grand Game 568: At the Heart of Things Again

The second half of my mission in the nest went as flawlessly as the first, and it was only a little later that Nyra and I were heading to Nexus. 

It was time to attend to the final piece of business still left undone.

You have cast doppelganger, transforming your form into that of Vulen, a level 187 elven phantom and concealing your Powerful Initiate Mark. Duration: infinite.

Ghost has unmanifested. 

2 of 2 stygian nagas have been freed from enslavement. They are no longer dominated.

You have entered the safe zone of sector 12,560.

You have entered the safe zone of sector 1.

I stepped out of the portal at the Roost and into the bright and noisy environs of Nexus. 

“By the ancients,” Nyra muttered under her breath as she followed me through the gateway.

Glancing over my shoulder, I found my apprentice gawping at the teeming mass of players crowding the teleportation platform. “So many players…” she whispered.

“Be careful of what you say here,” I warned. “You never know who is listening.”

Nyra nodded jerkily. “Sorry.” Her eyes darted to the right. “Who is that?”

Following her gaze, I spotted a triumvirate knight bearing down on us.

“That,” I muttered, “is unwanted attention.”

“No gawking!” the knight yelled, looking straight at me. “Clear the platform. Now!”

Pulling Nyra along, I did just that. 

“Try not to lose sight of me,” I cautioned as we slipped into the crowd. “And don’t be afraid to push your way through if needs be.”

Nyra didn’t reply, but I felt her take hold of my cloak and not let go. Content to let her navigate that way, I cut south through the square, heading for the gate to the plague quarter. 

No one threw me a second glance, nor Nyra for that matter. My disguise kept me safe and secret blood hid her Wolf Marks even more completely. So, it was no surprise we reached the south gate without incident. 

You have left a safe zone.

“Eew, what’s that smell?” Nyra asked as we exited the triumvirate gatehouse.

“That’s the plague quarter. You’re in it now.”

“You didn’t tell me it would smell so bad,” she accused.

“It doesn’t, not to most people, anyway.” I glanced at her sideways. “It must be the Wolf in you coming to the fore.”

“Huh, really?” she asked, perking up. Turning her hands over in front of her, she inspected them minutely as if hoping to find them different. 

“I don’t think the smell is so bad,” Ghost offered suddenly. “The nether is much worse.”

I chuckled. “That it is. Oh, and welcome back.” The pyre wolf had been silent since we’d entered Nexus—and not by choice. The Game had put her forcibly to sleep inside the Cloak, and she had only reawakened after we left the safe zone.

“Thank you, Prime,” Ghost said, peering through my eyes. “I don’t suppose I can manifest here?”

“You can’t,” I agreed. “But don’t worry, we’ll reach the dungeon soon. And there, hopefully, there will be no one around to watch you—or us.”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have entered sector 105 of the Endless Dungeon. This sector is part of a closed region named the Guardian Tower. It consists of 5 unclaimable sectors and 6 one-way portals. 

A maximum of 6 players may be in the Guardian Tower at any one time. The dungeon is repopulated daily.

Recommended player levels: 140 to 160.

Recommended party size: 4 to 6.

Current number of players in the dungeon: 4 (including your party).

Sector bosses remaining: 4 of 5.

Emerging in the entry chamber of the guardian tower, I stepped absently aside as Nyra stumbled in after me. My focus was nearly wholly consumed by the dungeon welcome message. On the one hand, what it had to say was comforting. 

Four players in the dungeon… that had to mean Shael and Anriq were still alive. Didn’t it?

But on the other hand, one of the dungeon bosses was dead already. Which one was it? And why only one? And would the dead boss ruin my schedule?

“Something wrong?” Nyra asked.

“I’m not sure,” I replied as Ghost began streaming out of the Cloak. “I’ll guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Tiptoeing to the door of the chamber, Nyra peered out. “Interesting,” she murmured, before glancing back at me. “How do you want to do this?”

“As quickly as possible.” I frowned. “If I had to guess, I would say Shael, Anriq, and Bacheus have already exited the tundra and begun their ascent through the tower. If we manage it, I want to reach them before they get to Kolath.”

Because, of course, there was only one reason we were here.

To awaken the guardian. 

And replace him.

The only question outstanding was who would take Kolath’s place. Bacheus or—almost of its own accord, my gaze drifted to my apprentice—Nyra.

“Michael?” she prompted. 

I jerked free from my musings. I had been staring, I realized.

Nyra frowned. “Did you hear what I said?”

Ghost has taken the form of a level 267 stygian pyre wolf.

“Yes, I did,” I replied shortly. “I’ll take the lead. You and Ghost keep up if you can.”

Not waiting for her response, I charged forward.

✵ ✵ ✵

I didn’t halt my mad dash as I burst through the doorway and into a familiar underground basin, one filled with lava and populated with fire slugs, savants, and a pair of magma elementals. I barely slowed down in fact, and that was only to get a lock on my target. 

And the moment I did, I released the psi I had been holding in readiness.

You have teleported into the shadow of a level 155 savant acolyte. 

I rushed back into existence beside a black throne. The hooded figure ensconced in it jerked upright. But it was already too late for him. 

Ebonheart was in motion.

You have killed a level 155 savant acolyte with a fatal blow.

The first sector boss has been slain! Sector bosses remaining: 3 of 5.

That quickly the ‘battle’ for the first level was over. 

✵ ✵ ✵

The level wasn’t cleared, not yet. 

While the sector boss was dead—and the magma elementals vanished—the fire slugs, and other savants remained. I paid them no heed, though. Rifling through the belongings of the corpse at my feet, I let Ghost and Nyra attend to the mopping up.

 The duo were doing a fine job, too.

Diving headlong into the molten lake, the pyre wolf was killing the fire slugs and savants with abandon, while Nyra did the same from a platform of solidified air.

The dungeon denizens didn’t stand a chance and soon the pair were standing beside me on the island of magma rock.

“Is that it?” Nyra asked, looking confused.

I nodded.

Her consternation grew. “The entire level?”

I chuckled. “If only you knew how long it took me to get through on my first try, you wouldn’t be so surprised.” I held up the amulet of fire I’d retrieved from the sector boss. “But I have what we need. Let’s move on.”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have entered sector 106 of the Endless Dungeon.

The second level’s dungeon denizens fared no better than those from the previous one. However, given the labyrinthine nature of the ratmen’s tunnels, it still took us hours to get through their domain. 

But while our passage through the sector was long and tedious, it was not arduous. With me, Ghost, and Nyra working in tandem, we barely had cause to pause in our headlong rush. Using slaysight, charm, manifest, and a whole host of other abilities, the three of us bulldozed through every obstacle in our path—be it a trap, ratman, or savant—until we reached the final chamber and found a veritable army waiting for us.

But it was an army that was much too low-leveled to pose any serious threat.

“Cut your way through to the exit portal,” I instructed Ghost and Nyra. “I’ll deal with the sector boss.”

“How are you going to—” Nyra began.

You have cast wind daemon, multiplying your speed by 2x for 1 minute.

Not waiting for her to finish, I blinked out.

You have teleported into the shadow of a level 161 savant disciple.

You have cast cold sphere. 

19 of 20 targets have been chilled. 

I smiled grimly. With my foes moving as slow as molasses, and me dashing about at twice my normal speed, killing the sector boss and his guards was going to be child’s play.

Hefting my swords, I got to work.  

✵ ✵ ✵

You have killed a savant disciple with a fatal blow! 

The second sector boss has been slain! Sector bosses remaining: 2 of 5.

You have acquired an amulet of earth, the second piece of the guardian amulet of elements. 

You have entered sector 107 of the Endless Dungeon.

It was only a few minutes later that our small party entered a familiar field of white.

“The tundra!” Nyra marveled. “I can’t believe we’re here already.”

Nodding absently, I turned about in a slow circle, scanning the horizon in all directions. 

Nothing.

Damnit. The trio should have been here by now. “Ghost?”

“I don’t sense anything either,” she replied. “If they’re still on the tundra, Shael and Anriq are too far away to detect.”

Let’s hope not. Reaching into the farspeaker bracelet around my wrist, I called out, “Shael? Anriq? Can either of you hear me?”

Stark silence.

“They must have left the sector already,” Nyra remarked.

“Maybe,” I allowed. “That, or they are lost on the tundra and are in no fit state to respond.” I sighed. “Either way, we have no choice but to continue on.”

Waiting was not an option. Our schedule simply did not allow it.

“Which way do we go?” Nyra asked impassively. She had to know what it would mean if the trio were lost. Despite this, no fear or hesitancy colored her voice.

“This way,” I replied with the same lack of inflection. Facing the direction I knew the portal to the fourth level to be, I marched grimly through the snow.

One way or the other, the forerunners were going to lose a valued member today.

✵ ✵ ✵

You have discovered the lair of the sector boss. 

Deactivating its veil of concealment...

We reached the ice dome protecting the portal to the next level without mishap, and despite my hope of learning otherwise, we spotted no sign of Anriq or the others.

“How do we get through?” Nyra asked, tapping on the solid wall of ice in front of us. “Do we accept the Adjudicator’s request to retract the barrier?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.” I glanced at Ghost. “Materialize inside the dome using explosive manifest.”

“Got it, Prime,” she replied. “And then?”

“Wreak havoc,” I instructed grimly. “We’ll take down the barrier and join you as soon as the sector boss is dead.”

✵ ✵ ✵

Ghost has killed a level 172 frozen savant adept. The third sector boss has been slain! Sector bosses remaining: 1 of 5.

You have acquired an amulet of ice.

Ghost has unmanifested. 

You have entered sector 108 of the Endless Dungeon. 

We emerged in the penultimate sector of the guardian tower on a cliff face. 

But forewarned by my first run through the dungeon, we were prepared. Nyra had pre-cast levitate, and Ghost—who would have trouble navigating the narrow path along the cliff wall—had returned to her spirit vessel.

“We follow that,” I said, gesturing to the slender ledge winding along the cliff face. 

“For how long?” Nyra asked breathlessly, staring down into the yawning expanse of space at our feet.

“Until we find a wyvern.”

Her head jerked upward to scan the wide blue sky. “There are wyverns here?”

“Yes, and savants riding them, too.”

“Err… how do we fight airborne foes in this terrain?”

I smiled mirthlessly. “Easy. We get mounts of our own.”

 ✵ ✵ ✵

You have successfully dominated a level 165 brown wyvern.

You have successfully dominated a level 162 brown wyvern. 

Two hours later, Nyra and I were mounted on our own wyverns, both of whom were bound to me by ties of blood.

“You promise you will keep your word, Wolf?” the wyvern I rode asked for the second time. “You will free us after you’ve killed the interlopers?”

“Of course. I will not renege on the deal we struck.”

The wyvern hissed disparagingly, but despite his disbelief, he knew he had no choice but to obey my commands.

We flew the rest of the way in silence, our destination the valley at the end of the canyon we raced down. Traversing the sector in this manner was much faster than the way I had originally crossed the level—by way of the ledges and bridges. 

Still, I bemoaned the time lost.

Evening was fast approaching, and the day was nearly at end.

“There they are,” the wyvern said.

Looking up, I spotted the sector boss, and the two savant aeromancers accompanying him.

“Then, let’s go get them,” I murmured.

✵ ✵ ✵

Nyra has killed a level 186 savant master! 

The fourth sector boss has been slain! Sector bosses remaining: 0 of 5.

You have acquired an amulet of air.

You have entered sector 109 of the Endless Dungeon.

2 of 2 brown wyverns have been freed from enslavement.

Ghost has manifested.

Only a little later, with another sector boss dead behind us, Nyra, Ghost, and I crossed into the guardian tower’s final level.

“We’ve made it in time,” I said, exhaling in relief as I studied the sector’s verdant plains and darkening skies. Evening was upon us, but one way or another, we would be done with the dungeon soon, leaving us ample time to return to sector 18,240 before the big battle.

Nyra, meanwhile, was studying the marble compound to the left. “Is that where he is?” she asked quietly.

I knew who she meant. Kolath—the Nexus guardian. “Yes, that’s the final chamber. It’s where we’ll find—” 

I broke off.

“What’s wrong?” Nyra asked, her face filling with concern.

I licked my lips. “The chamber. It’s open.”