DD5 ~ prologue!

The Master stared at Dale with a troubled expression. “You… you are in the B-Ranks. You, a Mage! I… I don’t understand how.”

Dale moved his hand through the air, marveling at the incredible power he could feel. It wasn’t moving through his body, it was his body. His flesh had been transformed into something more than human, and no previous increase in rank had given a hint that achieving this one would impact him so differently. “It was the water. When I created a coating of disenchanting water on myself, and maintained it for long enough, I cut off all external sources of Essence. Then, with my body drained of power, a hint of Spiritual power grazed me and restored the bond between myself and Cal.”

The Master’s eyes widened as he comprehended the next steps that must have occurred. “You share a soul! Since Cal is already bonded to a Law, you must have preemptively ascended! Tell me! Did you need to climb the Tower?”

<He couldn’t have made it to the top of the tower on his own.> I scoffed at The Master even though I knew he couldn’t hear me. Conversely, Dale could. Heh.

“I didn’t.” As soon as Dale admitted this, The Master’s eyes went vacant as he pondered the implications.

“Maybe there is a chance.” The powerful human muttered softly. 

<Hey! Dale! Nice work!> I cheered for my human, and no matter how much he disliked me, I knew he appreciated it. <Now, sorry to drag down the mood here, but you mentioned that I was killing the world and you were going to stop me? Are you going to try to destroy me now?>

“Nothing so dramatic, you overrated chunk of quartz.” Dale responded bitingly.

<Rude!>

“No, we need to find a way to rescue everyone from three things: the impact of the falling moon, the age of darkness and ice that will follow, and the deprivation of Essence.” Dale closed his eyes and did something that he had been loath to do in the past. He focused on the bond between he and the dungeon and sent the memory of his interaction with Acme.

I reeled from the massive revelation. My ritual, my ley lines… they were going to transform this world into a dead planet? I did that? The best outcome was the survival of a single race unless we somehow - what - saved people and locked them away in time?

<Seriously, Dale?> The Master was still lost in his own thoughts, but I knew he would want to rejoin the conversation soon. <Why is your news never fun? I see you coming and think: ‘dang, I hope he’s just coming in here to kill things. Otherwise something ridiculous or sad is going to happen’.> 

Dale ignored the jab, snapping his fingers to get The Master’s attention. He was still unused to the power his body now contained, so his snapping fingers made a shockwave that ruffled The Master’s robe. “The Master? I need to know how much time we have.”

“Time?” The Master blinked a few times, then seemed to remember where he was. “The moon. Yes. Without the Runescript that Xenocide created actively pulling the celestial body toward us, all we need to worry about is the momentum it built up, and the pull of the earth as it approaches. I’d say… being as conservative as possible, that we have three weeks before the first fragments begin to impact. Maybe, maybe a month before the majority of the mass makes landfall.”

<Less than a month to save the world, hmm? Good luck, I guess.> I wasn’t concerned for my own safety. I was already reinforcing my worst-case-scenario escape zone. Runes for absorbing kinetic impact, heat, cold, and anything else I could think of. It helped that I also don’t eat, drink, or breathe. Overall, I felt good about my prospects of survival.

“We need a plan.” The Master nodded at Dale’s words, and they started jogging to the surface. Dale’s movement speed had increased to far above human levels, but still The Master had to move slowly to keep from leaving him behind. 

<Must be nice to have legs.> I grumbled as they left me alone with my Silverwood tree and Wisps. Dale snickered at me as they erupted onto the surface of my flying island.