Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series, Dan Sugralinov [the reader ebook .TXT] 📗

Just in time, Kusalarix had reported that the remaining traps were ready. By then, Mogwai was in the Modus cellar, Criterror — under Mount Mecharri, and Liam had found his way into the Travelers’ trap. I personally sent Biancanova off to languish beneath a mountain on Kharinza, which I’d dubbed Peak Arno in honor of the deceased chef of the Bubbling Flagon. The rest were tossed into sealed cavities beneath the Nameless Mountains of Latteria, into the goblin traps.

Two of the legates managed to break through the domes of their target castles and got inside. The victims were the small neutral clan Happy Hotdogs and a clan of successful crafters, the Woodcutters. Bomber saved the Hotdogs by imprisoning Laneiran.

Infect nearly dropped the ball at the Woodcutters’ castle when he forgot to start casting Depths Teleportation in advance, and then his cast was interrupted. His first battle with the legate Cray ended in the bard’s death, but Infect came back right away, waited for the cooldown and took his second chance.

Before any of the Awoken turned up, the defenders had already died in droves under Plague Fury, but in the end the hordes of the undead the legates brought with them fell almost entirely — mostly thanks to us. The defenders couldn’t have managed without us, since the mobs had leveled up well from Plague Boost. Even I got a level from taking them down.

“We have to stay on guard,” I said once the boys fell silent, digging into the roast meat and chewing. “If the legates break free… I think they’ll change their priorities and hit Kharinza. We’re going to sleep in shifts.”

“Then you go first,” Crawler suggested.

I nodded, but didn’t have time to leave Dis before Hinterleaf messaged me: He’s logged in. I answered that I’d be there soon, then told the boys:

“Back soon. I need to check something.”

And jumped to the Modus castle courtyard. I hadn’t yet told my friends about Fortune’s gifts. First I had to see how my new divine skill worked. Mogwai seemed the best candidate to me.

When Depths Teleportation activates and shows a list of destinations, sometimes an extra list appears. It isn’t always clear how the system decides to split up zones, but with the Modus castle, there were three internal mini-zones: the grounds, the guest hall and the cellars. Maybe the structure’s owner could somehow set it, but I hadn’t been able to check for myself — our castle wasn’t finished yet.

This time I chose the grounds. I appeared in a square and ducked into an alleyway so as not to draw attention. Some of the troops had dispersed after the legates were captured, but there were still plenty of people around. NPCs rushed back and forth, a blacksmith struck an anvil, the pipes of tavern musicians cried dolefully.

I flew to the castle entrance and ran into Blackberry.

“Hurry, Mogwai might log out!” she said urgently.

“Why do you think he logged in?” I asked while we ran through the hall.

“Testing his options,” Blackberry answered. “Trying to break out. You never know…”

I couldn’t help but slow my pace in the cellar corridor, listening in on the conversation. Mogwai was saying something quietly to Hinterleaf:

“…I guarantee it.”

“Sounds tempting,” the gnome coughed, casting a glance at me. “But I don’t betray my allies.”

“Oh, all this politics! What, is your so-called ally here already? What are you hiding for, Scyth? Come out where I can see you, don’t be shy!”

Blushing, I approached the gnome. Blackberry remained in the shadows. The druid had fully recovered his health, deprived of Immortality, but the signs of his undeath hadn’t gone anywhere. The Legate’s Crown on his head glimmered with greenish light.

“There he is! Hello, Scyth!” Mogwai exclaimed. “You know, former legate, I’ve had time to calm down and think it all over…”

“There’s a lot more time where that came from,” I answered. “Think about it like me extending the holiday that you so didn’t want to come back from.”

“Ha-ha, very funny!” he said, his eyes glittering. “You’re a blast, not because you make good jokes, but because you really think your crap jokes are funny. Keep in mind, I remember everything. You’ll answer for every word. Now stick your rotten tongue up your ass and keep it there! You could have gotten anything you wanted, and now serve Modus! Degenerate!”

I smirked at him, said nothing. Instead, I tapped the gnome on the shoulder and drew him away. We walked almost all the way to the exit from the basement — who knew how developed Mogwai’s Perception was?

“What’s up, Scyth?” Hinterleaf asked, covering us with a Dome of Silence. “He could log out again any second!”

I hadn’t told him what I wanted Mogwai for, but I hadn’t called him away to shed any light on that.

“We can’t let him go into combat, Hint!” I answered. “Under any circumstances! He hasn’t figured it out himself yet, or he has and he’s trying to provoke us. If he’s attacked and he logs out of Dis, his character will be counted as killed.”

“And then he’ll revive at his respawn point. Got it. I’ll tell Horvac. He’s been planning to experiment on Liam. That one has already complained to his aunt, by the way. Elizabeth is putting the heat on Horvac, asking him to free her nephew. Speaking of experiments… What do you need Mogwai for?”

“You’re about to find out.”

Out of mischief, and so as not to reveal Wheel of Fortune, I returned to the druid’s cell in the guise of Blackberry. Hinterleaf was stunned for a moment and gasped, but then realized what had happened and just smirked.

“Where’s the loser? Went off to cry?” Mogwai asked us. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t care. What about my offer, Hint? Remember our past. Remember how hard I worked for Modus! Ally