End of an Era (Project Chrysalis Book 2), John Gold [ebook reader online txt] 📗

thing, one on one! In a few years, none of the players will be able to get in here. Do you realize that? Nobody!”

“The rules for magic are different, too. Simple ranged spells don’t work, and I’m not going to use stronger ones; the recoil will kill me regardless. I read in the books on magic siege that this happens when the magic space becomes denser. My magic is much weaker here, maybe ten times weaker.”

“Yeah, you couldn’t take on the weakest bot here.”

A dwarf hammer pounds Fem into the ground, though she just goes on laughing.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, swordswoman. I may be weaker than you, but I can kill normal opponents.”

“You think they have them here?”

“We won’t find out unless we keep going.”

We collect the loot and keep moving. Our path is taking us to the epicenter of the ancient explosion, and we’re surrounded by all kinds of strange plants. There are also lots of neutral mobs whose levels are well above 1000, and they’re the ones who look the most peaceful. We see bees the size of a grown man, while the pollen falling from the wings of butterflies fluttering by gives buffs as nice as the divine blessing we were offered. The trees can fold up their crowns and dip underground. What’s going on here? Logic has been turned upside down.

The sun shines with no thought of dipping beyond the horizon. The unusual climate stretches throughout the entire valley, with clouds overhead and even a breeze.

We head toward the site of the ancient explosion guided by the slight decline under our feet.

We’re attacked five times, with two of the victims invisible and only appearing after they attack. The first time, a snake comes after us from the branches of a tree. Fem kills it; attacking us was a mistake. The second is an adamantine golem who creeps up on us invisibly. He ends up swimming for quite a while before I freeze him. A few powerful attacks break one of his legs, and that’s enough for us to just beat him to death. Happily, there aren’t many aggressive bots.

Flying snakes, horned hamsters, whispering trees, and a living fog all cross our path. A chunk of sod pops up, uncurls a few dozen legs, and crawls off.

Plant, Hydraxis, Level 1411

 

Fem follows it with such a dreamy look that if it weren’t for the hand stroking the hilt of her sword, I would be the first to believe in her good intentions.

We get almost to the very epicenter of the ancient explosion. Thick jungles cover the area.

Deep in the thicket, there’s a small lake sheltering a pier. A chair is settled next to the pier, and a woman wrapped in a blanket is sitting on it, gripping a fishing rod in her hands. It’s so warm here. How can she possibly be cold?

Human, Miridia, Small Pantheon God

 

When we met Talamei, the message said that he was undead; this one is human for some reason. Still, our mission is to destroy the altar. The description doesn’t say anything about what kind of body the divinity should have.

We step back gingerly into the jungle, deciding to give the unfortunate lake and its mistress a wide berth. Terrified of breaking a branch and startling a bird, we move ever so slowly. Just the thought that the goddess could decide to attack us without warning scares me to the depths of my soul. It has taken us two months to get here; dying now would be the epitome of stupidity.

Miridia’s temple survived the explosion. We look over the exterior walls, covered as they are with grass and vines. It’s a traditional pyramid with the altar under a canopy at the very top. There are a couple of birds in a nest on the roof.

We keep going as quietly as we can, doing our best to only step on whole rocks free of plants. Fem takes off her armor, though I only take off my shoes. My clothes aren’t as noisy as her armor.

Since we approached from the jungle side, we have to climb up every level of the gigantic pyramid, giving each other a hand as we go.

The altar is overgrown with vines, though I’ll never forget their revolting white color and light flickering. The altar in Teurus’ Imir temple was similar. This one, however, is so old that it’s just about falling apart, the sacrificial slab cracked and held up on both sides by a few pieces of wood.

Group chat

Fem, get out of here. I’ll handle this myself. If I die, take the cart back to the channel. We’ll meet there. But for now, leave, and I’ll break the altar.

What if you aren’t able to? You’re weak here.

In that case, you’ll still have a shot at finishing this if Miridia notices me and kills me.

As soon as Femida disappears from view, I get to work. Oh, god. I practically have an ulcer from all the worry.

“Dwarf hammer! Maximum!” The supports crunch. “Dwarf hammer! Maximum!” Some of the supports break, though the slab stays where it is. It’s so quiet that I can hear the chair by the pier squeak. Everything living in the area freezes. “Dwarf hammer! Maximum!” The altar slab breaks in half. Keep it up! “Dwarf hammer! Maximum!” One half shatters.

“No-o-o! Don’t you dare!” The entire area shakes from the goddess’s voice, and I’m loaded down with all kinds of debuffs. With all my being, I feel her dashing toward the altar. Power! She’s a clump of absolute strength ready to tear me to pieces.

“Dwarf hammer! Maximum!” The altar breaks into three parts, and the air shines. It’s a familiar feeling, like the one I had when the creature wasn’t letting me make weapons.

I dash out of the back door of the temple, activate my