Darling of Fate 3: A LitRPG Apocalypse Adventure, page 31
He didn’t wait for Kurian to answer—the pleased looks on our faces must have been answer enough.
“Oh, no. No, no, no…” He returned to pacing for a half-second, then flipped back on us suddenly. “You’re inviting a Tribulation on your head! You must give it back, whatever it is!”
“You mean this?” I pulled the vial out from behind my back, the electric tingle of its energy sending shivers up my arm.
Lex’s eyes went wide, his beak hanging open.
“Is-is that…?”
He left the sentence hanging and I leaned in with a tilt of my head.
“Is it what?” I asked innocently, enjoying his anxiety far too much.
He gulped audibly. “A…a body tempering solution?”
I gave Athena and Lacy an impressed look. “Wow, got it in one.”
His wings fluttered wildly as he launched toward my face. I reared back in surprise, but he stopped in the air, his whole body straining to keep him in a hover. The wind of his flapping sent my hair flying.
“What grade is it!”
I hemmed and hawed. “Oh, I don’t know—”
“WHAT GRADE!” he demanded, his beak inches from my face.
“Jesus, Lex. Celestial! It’s Celestial…” His erratic flapping stopped suddenly and he plummeted to the floor with a grunt. He slowly got back to his feet, a lethargic energy infecting his entire body. Through our bond, I felt a confusing mix of emotions that I couldn’t quite peel apart.
“How are you still alive…” Lex muttered under his breath. He plopped to his belly, his back turned to us. “It doesn’t make any sense…”
The three of us shared a concerned look, and then I glanced up at Kurian and waved my hand toward Lex.
“What’s going on with him? Why’s he so freaked?”
Kurian pursed his lips and pulled out his chair from thin air.
“Because he understands just how powerful that potion is. And he knows what he would do if one of his Climbers received one before even the Second Floor.”
Lex whispered something under his breath. The others couldn’t hear him, but I could. And it made my blood run cold.
“What’s that, Lexy?” Athena called over to the goose.
Lex looked back, his posture slumped.
“I said I’d kill them…” He sighed heavily, turning away. “I’d summon a thousand Tribulations on them if that’s what it took. I’d rig the next Floor against them so brutally they’d never get out of the gate. I’d put a bounty on their head so expensive, their own mothers would stab them in the back.” He stood up and slowly waddled across the room. He made it halfway to the door before turning back, his little goose eyes locked straight on Kurian. “You’ve killed them.” His voice was full of cold steel and a shiver ran up my neck. “You’ve killed them and I won’t forget that.” Then he was gone, through the door and into my Personal Space.
Lacy and Athena were talking behind me, but I couldn’t hear them. My eyes were locked on that door, running his words over and over again.
You’ve killed them…you’ve killed them.
Lacy’s hand on my arm pulled me out of that loop.
“Hey, you okay?”
I stared at her a moment, taking far too long to consider my answer.
Eventually, I replied. “I don’t know.” I turned to look at Kurian. “Am I?”
He didn’t answer right away, which felt like answer enough. Lacy and Athena’s faces dropped as they, too, began to understand the implications of what Lex had said.
“I don’t get it, Kurian.” I didn’t yell, but a burgeoning anger was simmering under the surface. “You’ve given us a tainted prize? To what end?”
Athena double-taked between us and I could feel her pain. Kurian had taken her directly under his wing, coaching her non-stop since she’d arrived. Of course she’d look up to him as a teacher. And I…well, I didn’t know what exactly I was to her, but despite all our shit talk, there was a bond there.
And now, she had to reconcile the tension between me and Kurian. As for the Class Guide, he steepled his fingers and regarded the three of us stoically.
“Master Kure, is it true?” The hurt in her voice made me angry all over again. “Did you set Dirk and Lacy up?” When he didn’t answer, she grabbed his arm gently. It was a silly image, this five-foot-tall girl wrapping her tiny hand around the wrist of a fifteen-foot-tall alien. “Why, Master?”
His eyes tracked down to her tiny hand and something flashed in his gaze. I couldn’t read it—anger, pain, annoyance…or was it something else?
Sadness…?
Though his expression was inscrutable, Athena didn’t wilt or pull back. Instead, she leaned in closer, her eyes boring into the alien. And to my surprise, he cracked first.
“I did not set them up,” he eventually replied. “They are free to consume or not consume the solution as they see fit.”
“But what Lex said—”
He cut across Athena’s protests with a raised hand.
“I concede that the little spirit will not be pleased if two of his Climbers consume a Celestial grade body tempering solution before the Second Floor. But there are rules in place and whatever Lex believes, Null cannot simply execute Climbers for a rightfully-earned reward.”
I pursed my lips in doubt. “I sense a but coming.”
He shrugged. “It might stack some odds against you, true. But you have the advantages of Fate’s power, you’ll be an Adept heading into the Second Floor, and with this solution…” He arched a single brow. “You will likely be the most powerful Climber to ever reach the Second Floor of any Tower.”
That sent a thrill through me, but only for a moment. “I don’t know if that’s true. Craig seems to have just as many advantages—maybe even more. He has the entire Jree command at his beck and call, can see through Lacy’s illusions, and can snatch a person or creature’s mind in seconds.” I shook my head with a sigh. “And…I used a Fate charge to unlock his memories of past redos. Had to, to save Nikki, but still…”
Kurian’s eyes narrowed and he regarded me for a moment.
“Tell me about this Craig.”
That took me by surprise. Kurian had never expressed any interest in other Climbers or any of the details of the Tower now that I thought about it.
“Well, to start, he can mind control people—and I mean hard mind control, not just suggestions. Actually, he can do that, too.” I waved toward Lacy. “He actually managed to do something to Lacy, but I broke it with my charm and winning smile.” To demonstrate, I flashed her a smile and a wink. She rolled her eyes. “But the real kicker is his Charisma is past the Nascent stat cap. I don’t know how…” I trailed off as Kurian’s expression changed, which for him might as well have been a loud gasp. “What is it?”
He ignored me, his eyes going distant as he muttered to himself.
“So you’ve made your move…”
“Master Kure?” Athena asked with a hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”
He nodded absentmindedly. “Yes, I am fine.” When he turned back to me, I nearly flinched. Green fire burned in his eyes, painful for me to even look at. “His Patron is an old enemy, and our scales have yet to be balanced.”
“Really?” Finally! Someone that knew what the fuck was going on with Craig! “Do you know how we beat him?”
He nodded, which sent a thrill through me. “Your window is tight. Should he reach the Second Floor, you won’t have another shot until you’ve expended your second round of reverts. By then, his power may be too much even for you to handle…”
That made sense. If he survived until my [Darling of Fate] charges refreshed, then he’d start each redo alive and forewarned. We had to strike before then.
“What do we do?” Lacy asked.
“The plan I have in mind requires sacrifice,” he replied coolly. He regarded each of us and a shiver ran up my neck. “Are you prepared to do what must be done?”
I lightly shoved Athena toward the Class Guide. “Athena volunteers as tribute!”
She whirled around and slapped at my hand with a glare. I dodged out of the way and held my hand up by way of apology.
It was a poor attempt to lighten the mood, but the reality was, I was deflecting from how uncomfortable his question made me.
A handful of moments passed and we stood there in awkward silence. Finally, Lacy stepped forward.
“Craig needs to be stopped.” Her eyes were full of iron and her tone was steady. “We’ll do what we have to.”
He nodded, but what he said next made my blood freeze. “Admirable, young lady. But it isn’t you that must sacrifice, but him.” He indicated me with a wave of his hand. “Are you prepared to sacrifice a piece of yourself to end this threat?”
A piece of myself? Hell, there weren’t many pieces left to give.
But that didn’t change my answer.
“Yes.”
He studied me for a single moment, then nodded.
“Good. We’ll discuss that later. For now, I believe you have visitors.”
My brow furrowed and I looked toward my Personal Space door. But it was still closed and there was no one to be seen.
Athena tugged at my sleeve to get my attention. I looked at her in confusion, then followed where she was pointing.
At the door leading out to Earth, a man in military uniform was peering past the amber forcefield but turned away a moment later to talk to two nearby soldiers.
“Johnson’s men?” Lacy asked.
I nodded, a conflicted feeling gripping my thoughts. These were the men the governor had promised me, which was great. I’d train them on clearing the First Floor and they’d be able to rescue the Climbers that had no chance of escaping or triggering the three mechanisms leading to the Hold.
On the other hand, I had so much on my fucking plate that I almost wished they hadn’t come. It was selfish, but thoughts of Craig, breaking through to Adept, and this damned Celestial grade potion consumed me.
Come on, Dirk. Thousands of people are counting on this help. Get it together!
Subconsciously, I had been cycling Mass energy to increase the mental connection and I used it now to bump my Strength and Endurance to the max. It wasn’t that I expected a betrayal—Johnson had made it clear he needed me politically—but I also wouldn’t put it past the man to consider forcing my cooperation.
Turning back, I held my hand out, indicating for Lacy and Athena to hang back inside the training room. Lacy’s eyes went wide, then relaxed as she nodded.
When I pushed past the threshold, the sounds of activity magnified and I was stunned to see dozens, maybe more than a hundred, soldiers moving about hurriedly. They were unloading trucks, checking their gear, or speaking quietly in small groups.
But when I appeared, a murmur started up and the entire contingent devolved into hushed whispers.
The soldier who had been trying to look past the door threshold turned once he realized I was here. He had salt and pepper hair cut tight to his scalp. His face was freshly shaved in stark contrast to my own stubble, and he was lean and athletic despite his age. There was an aura of command to him that I could practically feel. We locked eyes for a moment and I could tell he was sizing me up just as I was him.
After a few moments, he broke the impasse.
“You Dirk Damascus?”
Red flared at my back, billowing in the wind.
“What gave me away?”
Chapter 35
Instance Clearing
“Captain Dickens.” The man held out his hand and I shook it. It was a sturdy grip, but ultimately, only human. He frowned, eyeing me up and down once more. I couldn’t help but notice his eye catch on Red. “I’ve been instructed by my CO to follow your commands.” He paused, clearly not thrilled with the idea. “I’m told this comes straight from the governor.”
I took a moment to assess the men who were all surreptitiously watching our interaction. There were curious gazes, but most looked tired and resentful. And judging by Dickens’ body language, he wasn’t exactly pleased to be thrown over to a civilian.
Come on, Charisma, don’t fail me now.
“You would be correct, Captain. The governor has promised me your aid in exchange for certain political favors that I won’t bore you with. But rest assured, I’m not asking you here to waste your time.”
He scowled, leaning politely away as he spit on the ground.
“That’s good to hear. Cause at first, I was thinking maybe some big shot’s nephew wanted bodyguard detail. But since you’re not wasting our time, what’s the job?”
The corners of my lips turned up in a smile. They thought I had some political connections. I would have laughed if I didn’t think it would be misinterpreted. But these men seemed on edge, reading the mood of their Captain and projecting that onto me.
Maybe a demonstration was in order…
“You been in the Tower, Captain?”
He chewed on that for a moment, then shook his head curtly. “We’ve been dealing with the demons here. Saving American lives for 48 hours straight.”
“Sure, and I commend you for that. But there’s Americans in the Tower, too. Millions of them…” The soldiers had stopped trying to look busy and I felt all eyes on me. “The truth is, we’ll all need to go into that Tower at some point. It’s the only way to get strong enough for what comes next.” Murmurs broke out among the nearby soldiers, but a gruff bark from what I assumed was a sergeant cut the chatter. Everyone started to break off, but I held up a hand. “Captain, they should hear this.”
He eyed me with a frown. Then he turned and called over one of his men.
“They can listen.”
The soldier’s eyes widened for the briefest moment, then he was calling out orders that had the men rushing back into lines like we were in a parade.
“Uh, thanks…” I suddenly felt more uncomfortable now that they were forced to stand at attention. My voice carried over the crowd. “I’ll make it simple. This is a rescue mission.” They were disciplined enough not to break out into whispers, but I could see the confusion and surprise on their faces. “Most of those people in the Tower—Americans or not—are trapped. Without our help, they may never get out. And that’s if the alien races competing with us don’t get them first.” Now that had them squirming. The sergeant cut across the chatter with a barked command and they settled.
Now that I had their attention, it was time for a demonstration.
“The Tower is dangerous, but it also provides opportunities for power. Power we’ll need if we’re to survive as a species.”
The Captain’s deadpan expression told me he wasn’t buying it.
“Don’t believe me?” I smiled and scanned the men. “Watch this.”
I turned toward the deli that was now my safe zone, cycled down my mass, and leaped in one go all the way to the roof that was twelve feet high. It was a trivial jump with maxed-out Agility, so I switched to Friction and walked over the side of the roof, letting my feet stick to the vertical wall like Spider-Man.
I dangled there, defying gravity as I regarded the soldiers.
“That’s not even the half of it.”
With a leap, Red flared wide, then wrapped around me like a cocoon. By the time I hit the ground, she was in full armor form, a blood-red katana in my hands.
Even the Captain was wide-eyed as I let Red relax back into cape form.
“There’s seven floors in that Tower. As of this moment, the chances of humanity clearing the First Floor are slim to none…without our help.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I turned to the Captain and shrugged.
“That’s my spiel.”
He regarded me for a moment, then turned and dismissed his men. They broke away to return to their tasks as he eyed me in a new light.
“Were those all party tricks, or can you fight?”
I grinned, then schooled my expression and shrugged.
“I can fight.”
He seemed to weigh my words and then nodded once.
“Rescue mission, huh? Give me the particulars.”
We spent the next hour inside his command tent, going over everything I knew about the First Floor, the mechanisms he needed to activate, and the Hold itself. I also gave him the details on the [Personal Space Portal] so that they could have that as a backup. If the Jree or Co’xatl stopped them from reaching the Hold for whatever reason, or…if the entire Instance was dead, they could use the portal to get out rather than waste time.
All of his men had gone through the Beginner’s Trial already as prep for this, so we didn’t have to waste time having them line up to do that. And they’d been ordered not to select their classes yet, which was a surprising boon that we could leverage to ensure the teams’ compositions were ideal.
Of the hundred and fifty men or so in the company, twelve had the option for some form of healer or medic. The Captain and I agreed that they should all take those classes, no matter what else they had on offer. Most of the soldiers were offered variations of Marksman, but a few had class choices that were less conventional. Though the Captain pushed for everyone who didn’t have a healing option to take the ranged infantry classes, I fought hard for certain classes.
“You’ve seen the size of that door,” I had said, indicating the deli forcefield beyond our tent. “You’re not fitting tanks, excavators, or any vehicles that aren’t motorcycle-sized into that Tower. Hell, I don’t even know if you can take vehicles into the Tower. Some of these classes might eventually be able to dig trenches with their minds, create forcefields that can hold off gunfire, or even wilder powers you wouldn’t dream of.”
He’d scoffed and indicated me with a nod. “And you? What can you do with these powers besides fancy carnival tricks?”
I knew he’d just been giving me shit, but I needed him to understand the new world we lived in.
“Captain, I can literally tank a bullet to the chest.”
