Dungeon Champions

Chapter 15: So Many Arms

I mentally did a quick check of my inventory before the fight began. I had my armor and weapons. Skullie was unlikely to be of any use in a trial by combat, even used as a club.

Grabbing the lich out of my armor, I found a boulder that was far enough away from the center of the arena that he wouldn’t get smooshed, then propped him up.

Hopefully.

“I don’t have to tell you how incredibly dangerous this is, do I?” Skullie sounded worried.

“Can’t say I see any other way out of this,” I said.

Even as I spoke, four of the Core Golems stepped up to the base of the rocky slope, hands outstretched in readiness to react if I tried to make a run for it.

“Yeah. Me either.”

Focusing on my opponents, I took a mental note of the room’s layout. During my brief pause, each monster leaped again. This time, they were on different platforms.

Pincer maneuver, I thought, sensing the danger. If they were able to come at me from two sides, I’d be in even bigger trouble. I would have to prevent them from surrounding me.

Calling my Axe of Felling to my hand, I shot forward, running at full speed to the edge of the rocky shoreline. I jumped at the last second, soaring through the air to land on a platform.

It bucked and swayed beneath my feet, threatening to send me flying.

Heat raked at my skin and fumes scoured my lungs. My throat ached in an instant, and it was all I could do to hold my breath before my own momentum forced me to leap again.

I met one of my opponents in mid-air. Four arms reached for me as a face filled with molten rock stretched into a scream of determined fury.

I swung my axe, but not at the creature. Instead, I swung it in an arcing motion to one side.

Wind howled as the power of my superhuman strength adjusted my trajectory, sending me just out of the magma monster’s reach. Two of its diamond fingertips caught my chest as they passed, sending me spinning. I landed at my intended target, yet another platform, but facing the wrong direction.

Splash!

Droplets of superheated stone hit near my feet as the first of the magma creatures went down. I glimpsed its savage grin before it sank beneath the surface but didn’t have time to process the implications before my platform rocked.

“To your left!”

Skullie’s call came almost too late.

Rolling to my right, I sprang to my feet at the edge of the platform. Looking back, I saw the second of the magma monsters reaching for where I’d just been. With a roar that vented sulfurous steam, it rushed at me, diamond claws seeking my throat.

I met the monster with my axe.

Keeping my center of gravity low, I darted to the side, swinging my weapon with my full strength. The Axe of Felling did double damage against inorganic creatures. I could instantly feel the effect trigger as my axe hacked into the creature, sending one of its arms flying. Using the axe’s momentum, I brought it around again, removing another arm.

Unfortunately, my attack also sent a spurt of magma directly against my chest.

Burning hot viscera splashed my cheeks, chewing into my hit points and sending a bolt of pain through every nerve. My Endurance reduced the damage, but it was literally magma - there was only so much flesh could withstand.

Until this moment, I couldn’t have predicted how I’d react to such pain. My time in this world had been full of the thrill of combat and a sense of danger, but this was the first time something had truly wounded me.

The pain vanished, replaced with cold, cruel certainty.

Moving with the preternatural grace granted by my attributes, I ducked beneath a pair of savage swings from the still-living creature. Coming up inside its reach, I planted the head of my axe against its torso and shoved. I adjusted my angle so that instead of pushing the monster directly back or into the magma, I flung it upward.

Although the monsters looked incredibly intimidating, they didn’t weigh nearly as much as it seemed. It went flying, landing on a ledge of rock surrounding the magma pit.

Crack!

Its impact against the rock was shockingly loud as the creature shattered into a thousand black shards.

Skullie screamed. This time, it wasn’t fast enough.

A superheated tendril shot out of the magma and wrapped around my ankle. The surviving monster tugged sharply, dropping me to the ground. I fell hard, dropping the axe, and was dragged several inches toward the edge of the platform.

My world tilted as the platform bobbed, lurching and threatening to dump me to my certain death.

Pain was a dim, barely felt knock at the door of my mind as I sat up and reached down, grabbing the glowing hot tail. My Gauntlets of Grappling hissed, and I was distantly aware of my skin melting beneath my armor as I yanked at the monster.

Planting my boots, I used the full force of my thighs and the coordinated pressure of my entire body to shove backward.

The creature resisted, but only briefly.

I felt when it began to slip. It was injured and lacked the mass to fight me, particularly within the thick, viscous magma.

Inch by inch, it lost whatever hold it had beneath the platform.

Just when I felt it about to give way, I adjusted my grip, winding my forearm around the rapidly cooling, black tail. I dismissed my axe and then resummoned it.

The magma creature began to surface. It hissed, steam and smoke boiling from its head and shoulders as it emerged.

Now I had the monster at a disadvantage. The tail was sticking up between its legs, forcing most of its weight backward. Its thighs surfaced first, followed by its stomach.

Angling my axe to the side, I brought it down on the monster’s abdomen. A red gush of blood shot out, as if pressurized.

This time, I’d prepared for it.

The streaming hot gore sprayed to one side of the platform, missing me entirely.

One of the monster’s legs, tipped with diamonds, caught on the edge of my chest armor. A single toe pierced the thick, magically reinforced fabric and tore at the flesh beneath. I felt it drawing a furrow across my sternum and gritted my teeth. The pain was so intense that it almost seemed to take on a freezing quality as it scraped against my ribs, dangerously close to vital organs.

I swung my axe again. This time, the blade hacked through the monster’s body, splitting it in two. It went still, its body disintegrating into chunks of blackened stone. The stone evaporated mere seconds later, leaving behind a small collection of perfect, claw-shaped diamonds.

“Well done,” the distant voice boomed. “You have done well and earned a reward.”

An invisible hand wound around my body, lifting me from the platform and depositing me on the far side of the magma pond next to Skullie. Two piles of diamonds settled next to me shortly after.

I summoned my Tablet. It seemed oddly fuzzy, as if I were wearing foggy glasses. After a few seconds of effort, I was able to pull up my character sheet and find my hit points. I was down to four. In addition, my Status tab listed:

Lung Damage: Stamina capacity temporarily reduced by 70%.

Extensive Nerve and Tissue Damage: Critical strike range reduced by 50%; Damage reduced by 30%.

Optical Damage: Vision temporarily reduced by 40%.

Heart Damage: Hit points temporarily reduced by 5.

I tapped the “Heart Damage” button and saw a diagram that indicated the heat from the tip of the magma monster’s claw had scorched my aorta.

“Well, that sucks,” I grumbled, my voice raspy due to my parched, damaged throat.

“Indeed, I am sure it does, Tablet Wielder.” The voice sounded vaguely amused. “Good thing you wear that belt, isn’t it?”

I grunted, my throat hurting too much to say anything else.

“You have passed the trial. In addition to the diamonds, I am willing to cast a magical spell on your behalf. Call it a boon. What would you ask of me?”

Opening my mouth, I hesitated. I looked around, then pointed over at the river and made a drinking motion with one hand.

“Ah. Yes. How inhospitable. Allow me to help with your thirst, my guest.” A blob of water, three feet in diameter, floated up from the river and shot over. It stopped, hovering inches from my face.

I leaned forward, gulping as much as I could down until my throat no longer felt like it was full of battery acid. Settling back on my heels, I rasped, “Thanks.”

“You are welcome.”

Looking up, I tried to see the speaker but found I could not. Either through magical darkness or some other means, my eyes could not locate the entity addressing me. My eyes are still cloudy, I observed, mentally pushing my curiosity aside.

I turned, looking at the strange room and the equally strange golems. “Where am I?”

“I notice you’ve avoided asking for that boon. Do you perhaps hope to interrogate some answers from your host first?”

I gave the speaker a lopsided smile. “Why would I not?”

Booming, world-shaking laughter echoed from high above. A great stalactite the size of a person fell into view. It crashed into the magma pond, sending a splash high into the air and setting a dozen of the platforms rocking.

After a moment, the laughter subsided and the speaker continued, “Tablet Wielder, I shall not disclose our secrets except to say this: where do you think Cores come from? And, perhaps more importantly to you, Tablets? Certainly the Fates have some decree over their manufacture, but it is not they who create them. Who then are the minds and magic that bind and maintain them?”

I grunted again. “Well, that went deeper than I expected, didn’t it?”

“Much. Now, request your boon, and I shall send you on your way.”

I thought for a moment. If some powerful entity was ready to bless me, I wanted to make the best of it. “What is the maximum level spell I’m allowed?”

A low growl, half amusement and half threat, rumbled from above.

“Ah. Basically unlimited. Got it.”

I considered my options. It occurred to me that I was probably talking to an entity that could, at least in theory, send me home again. But why would I want that? Even without my memories, I was certain there was nothing on Earth for me.

I could ask for my memories back…

Again, why? Did I need to know who I was? What would it help my current situation to discover I had a mortgage or a job back on Earth? It occurred to me that I might have left loved ones behind, but the sharp pain of isolation and loneliness told me that likely was not the case.

Putting all thought of my old life behind, I considered my other options.

I could ask for an enchantment on one of my pieces of equipment. But what?

Then there was wealth, which I did not think I lacked for.

What about this Sisterhood and their network? But if the Sisterhood is helping to grow the Cores, why would this entity help me stop them? In all likelihood, even if it’s bound to do what I ask, it might turn on me for the audacity to demand help to undo something it might benefit from.

Removing myself or the Sisterhood from the equation left me with surprisingly few options. Not knowing whether any of the women would join me also removed anything for them or the future group from the table.

Finally, I settled on Skullie. The lich was a potential ally I could count on in a unique way. I’d tossed him into the river precisely because he’d shown just how untrustworthy he could become. Furthermore, the side quest of making the undead creature into my familiar was likely to be complicated and dangerous.

Why not cut through weeks, or maybe months, of potential complications, backstabbing, and questing with a single boon?

Leaning into the still-floating bubble of water, I took a drink, coughed to clear my throat, and said, “How should I phrase the boon?”

“What do you mean?” the voice asked.

“How precise does my language need to be?”

“As precise as you can make it. And please, try not to ramble. Boons must be simple and to the point; otherwise, they become demands. We do not like demands at all, Tablet Wielder.”

Summoning my Tablet, I found an area labeled Personal Notes. Using my fingertip, I drew out a couple phrases before settling on one I liked. “Assuming my companion is truly willing, I’d like to take him as my familiar, with the opportunity to become more in the future.”

“More?” This time, the voice spoke quietly, its presence filling the room like an amused breeze. “You leave me room to interpret with that.”

I waved out at the cave, my gesture including the golems I had passed by earlier. “I figure you’re an artist and a builder. Why not give you the opportunity to do something great?” I held up my Tablet. “We legendary Tablet Wielders can’t come by here that often.”

The voice mused out loud, though it sounded as if it were speaking to itself. “At least this one is intelligent. He tests us, doesn’t he? But he is not incorrect. Very well, Wielder. We shall do this thing. But first, tell us this, Jordan. If you truly get the opportunity to visit the Celestial Dungeon, would you pit yourself against its Core?”

“If I had a reason, sure. I like a good challenge. Same as you, I’ll bet.”

A dry, rasping chuckle wove through the cavern. “Presumptuous. Again, not incorrect. As for a reason, you shall have one. Oh yes, you will. Just wait, young hero. Your long journey only begins with this, assuming you can survive the Demon Core and all that follows.”

Skullie yelped as he floated up into the air.

“Lesser Lich Spawn, known by this Holder as ‘Skullie,’ do you agree to become this man’s familiar? To be bound to him in servitude and loyalty?”

The lich’s empty eyes regarded me. “Ah. I would. I mean. I’d love to. But, you know. I’d really like to know what’s in it for me if I may.”

“Ah. I see. You considered leading him astray, didn’t you?”

Skullie’s jaws worked. “A minor diversion. I wouldn’t have done anything bad. He’s my friend after all. We’re friends! Jordan, trust me. I’d never do anything to really hurt you.”

Speaking over the lich’s protests, the voice said, “And if we tell you his boon would allow you to grow beyond your previous capacity? He wields a legendary Tablet. His familiar must keep up.”

“Well, in that case, absolutely. As a Lesser Lich Spawn, I was scheduled to spend the next few hundred years defending the dungeon for my master. This sounds like a much sweeter deal.”

“Indeed.”

I watched the exchange with a growing sense of amusement. That Skullie had intended, at the bare minimum, to make any sort of magical binding into a trap had been guaranteed from the start.

That didn’t make the whole familiar thing a bad idea, however.

Without warning, my Tablet appeared in the air in front of me. Unbidden, the surface lit up, revealing a text prompt.

Notice: Your Tablet has been enhanced. You are allowed to cast the [Custom] Bind Familiar ritual with it one time. It must target the [Lesser Lich Spawn] known as [Skullie]. Paired with this ritual will be a [Custom] [Mystery] evolution. This will be your one and only gift from this location. Should you return again, the denizens of this place will work to kill you. Do you accept these terms and the casting of this ritual? [Yes/No]

I accepted.

Skullie rotated in the air, spinning three times before settling back on the ground. Although the lich’s remains looked no different, I discovered I could feel its presence now. It was like a finger at the back of my neck, only a hair’s breadth from touching my skin, telling me where Skullie was.

A new tab appeared on my Tablet labeled Familiar. Before I could swap over to read it, a new notice popped up.

Notice: You have been awarded combat experience proportional to your level.

Notice: You have been awarded bonus experience for surviving an encounter with a Maker.

Notice: You have been awarded bonus experience for defeating an extremely challenging combat.

Notice: You have been awarded bonus experience for completing your task and rescuing all five adventurers.

Notice: You have been awarded bonus experience for completing a quest [Bind the Lich] ahead of time.

Congratulations! You have gained a level. You may allocate up to [5] attribute points and [3] skill points at your leisure. Remember: You can only add up to [3] points in a single attribute per level.

Experience Gained: 700

Experience to Level 12: 160

Notice: You have gained a new class ability.

Level 11: You are considered “Lucky.” This benefit may activate up to once per day. When it does, a variable, random outcome will tilt in your favor. The degree of the tilt will depend on circumstances and how many of your team members are in danger.

While investigating my Tablet, I noticed there was a counter ticking down. It indicated I needed fifteen minutes of healing before the negative effects from my fight with the magma monster wore off. Until then, I decided to take things easy.

Bending down, I collected the diamonds between my hands. The instant I did, both Skullie and I teleported away.

I appeared back in the grotto, next to my equipment.