CHAPTER 36: Dead...
With the side-quest finished, we collected Jim’s hollowed-out husk and made our way back toward the small town. The fog lifted with the end of the system’s cereal killer bullshit, making navigation much easier. We hadn’t said a word to each other the entire walk back. Brenden needed time to compose himself and I wasn’t going to push. Plus, I didn’t feel like talking, I felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. I could tell Brenden felt a real kinship with Jim so he was taking his death hard.
Losing anyone now is hard, there’s only so many of us left...
Once reaching camp we split up. Brenden decided to check if the other group returned while we were out and I went to the cottage to visit my buddy Bill.
Or whoever is driving his body.
I stomped into the empty cottage, “Hey, Bilbo!.. The fuck?”
Bill knelt in the center of the room, surrounded by a pentagram that he carved into the floor with his fingers. Each triangle contained different runic symbols and there were three drawings around the star. One on each side of the top point, and one at the bottom of the star.
Bill was covered in his own blood, uncaring of the giant mess he made, “Whoa Billyboy, whatcha got goin’ on here?”
“Natas eht Rekam, Xirdlam Retsis eht , Xirdlov Rehtorb, Drol xirdleak.” He kept repeating the same gibberish.
I listened closely for a bit and finally figured out what he was doing, “Ohh! Bahaha! You’re fuckin’... Haaa!,” I started laughing uncontrollably, even though it wasn’t that funny, “You’re just saying their dumb fuckin’ names backwards!” I finally managed to get the words out.
He just repeated the names again, ignoring me.
“Can I ask, what is with the X’s? How emo are these guys? I mean, scale of one to ten, ten being they cry in the shower while counting the lines.” I egged him and watched the man formerly known as Bill start to break character, outraged by my insolence.
Nothing against emo kids, I love the music and probably would have been one if I could have pulled off the look but the hair just wouldn’t allow.
“Your entire family will die... Starting with your Father.” The man said, watching me for any sort of response. I hid my worry and didn’t give him one.
“Or your entire family will, Voldy-mores.” I decided to keep with the childish shit because it seemed to get to him.
The possessed man laughed which sounded painful, “Hahaaaha, Lord Kaeldrix has split entire moons in twain, you think he would be scared of a mere human?”
“No, but you should be. You’re on our Planet, I have home-field advantage. I already killed your whore of a sister, and I did that by myself with a little help from a woman who I just freed, and both of us were classless. Imagine, now I’ve leveled up, have a class, and friends? I mean... You’re fucked buddy, but, I’m not an asshole. I’ll let you get your little friends together, gather your shit, and get the fuck outta here before I leave this dungeon. If not, I’m coming for you.” I taunted the demon inside, not losing eye contact, nor blinking.
“Very bold of you, FOR A FILTHY NO GOOD WORM! ME AND YOUR FATHER WILL SEE YOU BY THE MONUMENT, I WILL HAVE YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY BEGGING BY THEN!”
“Now I know where you are, you’re not too good at this, eh? See you there.” I punched Bill in the jaw, knocking him out before stepping outside.
I shut the door behind me and walked. I got as far away as I could before my legs froze of their own accord. My heart was in my throat. I could hear it pounding away in my ears.
Does he really have Dad? Will Arthur be able to hold everyone off until we get back?
“Fuck!” I screamed into the abandoned town, receiving nothing but the echos of my own frustration in response.
I selected the Fallen Tear in my inventory, then Conviction’s Claw. It’s time to power up a bit. I approved the socket, then removed my sword to look it over and see if there were any physical changes with the upgrade.
Located at the base was a small, tear-shaped cutout, reminding me of a famous ginormous sword from the long, happy gaming days I had as a child. Inside the hole, a clear crystal resembling a diamond shone brightly, its radiant light a stark contrast to the abyssal void that is the sword.
Conviction’s Claw
Unique—Growth Item
3 Sockets—2 Empty Sockets
+39 Slashing and Piercing Damage
+24 Lightning Damage
+18 Dark Damage
20% Decreased Mana Cost for Spells
+27% Chance to Shock
+4% Life Steal
+6% Mana Steal
Blade Absorbs Emotional Debuffs to Empower Elemental Damage—+5 Elemental Damage Per Element for Each Absorbed Debuff
Grants Spell—Arcing Thorn Whip (Lightning/Physical) –Merged Spell—Level 5—Mana Cost: 16—Adds +35% Damage to attack, +25% Chance to Shock—Your blade arcs out like a whip shocking and slicing through enemies.
Grants Spell—Fear’s Torment (Hell)—Aura—Level 2—Decrease Enemy Will 25% Within Aura. +3 Strength, +3 Vitality for every enemy suffering from Fear effect (Stacking Buff lasts 5 minutes after enemies death)—Torment your Foes, shattering resolve while feasting upon their worst fears.
Weapon Title—Remembrance—This blade was forged from the Tail of the Guardian Lily and the hand of those who felt they owed their lives. Weapon grows stronger with every life saved.
I read over the stats, confused but ecstatic, “I need to check my items more often. Did the weapon title give me that boost or does the Tear grant that great of a boon? It has to be the title, maybe it counted us coming here as saving lives? No, it had to be when I dropped in front of Mom and maybe Brenden? Just another mystery.”
Brenden returned as I finished up talking to myself in the middle of the dirt road, “Hey, Rick.”
He spoke with a normal voice, no stuttering. I was starting to believe the stutter was a nervous tick that was more noticeable when he wasn’t comfortable with the people around.
“Hey kid. I’d ask how you’re doing but I already know.”
He interrupted my awkward words, “We’ll make them all pay for what they’re doing to us, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. If we fall, there will be others who step up. Humans have a history of rising up against oppression… Come on, let’s go kill some Elementals.”
Brenden didn’t say a word, just nodding to himself as he followed me back into the woods. We set our sights back to the mountainside where everyone seemed to think the Elementals were resting. I removed my Mace and readied for the fight.
I spotted an area flooded with rocks and figured it was the best spot for them to hide. I ran up the hill above the rocky area as Brenden charged a force pebble off to the side.
With a running downhill start, I aimed for a large boulder and used it to launch myself into the air. I must have been close to thirty feet up at my peak, the steep slope of the hillside adding to my momentum and height. I cast Manasight and Retaliating Wind as I plummeted toward the ground, pushing Gale Charge through my Mace.
I landed in the center of the rocks like a meteor, releasing all the pent-up rage that had been building inside me. The strength of the impact quaked the ground, even catching Brenden by surprise as he stumbled and fought to right himself.
Rocks rolled through the dirt and hovered above the ground before clashing together to form four-foot-tall stone Elementals. My breaths grew heavy, my face burning as I finally snapped.
I unraveled.
Anger, fury, and unfettered, feral rage screamed out of me.
I wasn't going Berserk. I'd already used that skill earlier in the day to reach Brenden. I was just losing it. One thing after another—the stress had finally over-pressurized something inside me until it burst.
Brenden tossed the charged rock as the small army of Stone Elementals finished rising to their feet.
BOOM!
The blast rained shattered debris upon us as I let the frenzy of emotions pour from my body. I flashed around the mountainside, demolishing rock after rock with every blow of my mace. The necrotic damage didn’t take effect, but that didn’t matter.
I screamed in sorrow, then laughed hysterically as I poured every bit of energy and frustration packed tightly in my chest into each strike.
The panic attack finally kicked into full gear. My loud, manic laughter mingled with silent screams of anguish, both quickly extinguished and replaced by a screaming rage. Between each strike, my emotions shifted wildly.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
I broke my mace against one of the Elemental's heads. The Spriggan Core shattered and fell like broken glass. I dropped the broken Spriggan Arm and used my fists to hammer the stone men into oblivion.
I laughed at the sheer stupidity of it all as tears blurred my vision.
My fists crashed through stone after stone.
An Elemental leapt into the air and threw a punch at my head. I screamed as I moved to meet it. A ferocious, animalistic howl ripped from my lungs, burning with pure hostility. The force of the shout drove the tears from my eyes, leaving warm trails down my cheeks before disappearing into the fuzz along my jaw.
I dodged the slow punch and slammed my head into the Elemental's, shattering the stone and dazing myself in the process.
Blood streamed from my skull as I buffered in the aftermath of the headbutt. Fragmented stone rained from the sky, mixing with the dirt and tears covering my face.
The other Elementals surrounding me attempted to retreat.
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I took a heavy breath glancing over my shoulder to check on Brenden. He tossed pebble after pebble as his squirrel swerved between his legs, shooting enemies in rapid succession. Frantic laughter returned as I destroyed the fleeing enemies. I stopped dodging, instead letting every one of their attacks land while bashing through the stone men with my fists.
I wanted to feel the pain, I felt I deserved it.
My mind was a jumbled mess piled on top of warm shit.
So much and nothing at all passed through me at the same time. I was tired of feeling confused and anxious, and I was letting it all out.
THUNKTHUNKTHUNK!
I finished the last of the Elementals and just kept swinging. Blood sprayed from my hands with every punch, covering the ground, my face, and clothes in thick, dirty blood.
THUNKTHUNKTHUNK!
I just kept punching, no more laughter, just cries of anger and sorrow.
Brenden walked up behind me.
I forgot all about him.
He attempted to pull me away as I continued to strike rocks and dirt, cratering the earth with every strike.
With every punch, only one word escaped my mouth.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!”
Brenden wrapped his arms around my shoulders in an attempt to stop me while I continued my meltdown, “RrR—Rick! P-Please, Ssstop!”
I finally caved at the sound.
Fear, and not from my enemies, but one of my own.
My friend.
I fell to the ground and muttered, “I don’t have any answers, I’m sick of being confused and anxious all the time. I hate these demons, and I hate these fuckin’ gods for tearing us apart and using us for their own bullshit war. I’m sick of losing people.”
“As am I, sir. You don’t need all of the answers. You just need to keep going, no matter what life you’re living. One thing I’ve learned from watching you is to just keep fighting. It doesn’t matter if it’s cereal killers, real demons or your inner demons. Whatever it is, keep fighting, and survive.”
I removed a health potion and downed it, “Right now, tck-ah, a demon with a grudge may have my entire family, and I’m here, breaking down. The fuck is wrong with me?” I grunted and pushed myself back to my feet, “Sorry for going crazy. Let’s just keep moving, I think I know where the Elemental boss is.”
Brenden stopped and looked me dead in the eyes, “Sir, if having an anxiety attack makes you crazy, then everyone, everywhere, is absolutely insane. As you say, shit doth happen. I was actually starting to worry that nothing affected you and that you were some sort of closet sociopath. This just shows me that you are indeed a normal human, such as myself.”
“Right... normal.” I said, trying to grin my way past the grief that filled the forest with the budding sugar maples.
Brenden continued talking as we made our way back toward the dungeon entrance. I listened to his words, but still felt numb, with a tinge of embarrassment over my unpleasant display.
It’s not manly to cry in front of anyone, or to cry at all for that matter.
Can’t be a big tough guy if you lose it, right?
It just came out of nowhere, but I suppose that’s just how all of that anxiety shit works. You hold it in, you almost burst 4 to 5 times on random occasions but you hold it back, LIKE A MAN.
You stuff it down, and pile it on top of the rest of the shit locked within the deeps.
Then, on one fine day, a warm breeze paired with the sun in beautiful blue sky, peek through an open window and beckon your company outside. You hop in the car, roll the windows down, and go for a drive. Then, you get a little hungry and decide to grab a bite to eat. You find a place to park and have a little solo-lunch picnic. It is a beautiful day after all.
You wait over 25 minutes to have a double cheeseburger and french fries thrown at you by someone who is having a bad day at work.
Take a deep breath. Whatever, it’s nothing.
You turn around to a horizontal line of people waiting for their own food, they’re a bit too close for comfort, you say, “Excuse me,” but no one hears you and no one moves.
Hmm... Okay, just scoot between them.
As you do some random guy says something sassy under his breath, “You could have said excuse me.”
NOT YET!
Not yet.
You breathe through it and battle your way through the busy restaurant to continue outside.
Wow, what an absolutely beautiful day.
As you walk out of the door another man is walking toward the building. You wait with a smile to hold the door for him as he slowly approaches the door then walks through it.
He didn’t say thank you. Not even so much as a nod or a slight smile to return the gesture.
Not a big deal.
You attempt to enter your car, but as you do, some kid zooms into the next parking spot in his shitty little Civic with the megabass button smashed and almost hits you, and removes your car door that you quickly shut so you didn’t lose it.
Finally, you sit in the car, set down the sweaty brown paper bag in the passenger seat and reach for your seat belt, you made it back.
The seat belt safety mechanism activates, locking the belt from pulling out further...
Well…
YOU’RE FUCKING WELCOME, YOU, MOTHER, FUCKER! I DID SAY EXCUSE ME YOU STUPID FUCK! WHAT HAPPENED TO SINGLE FILE!? YOU HAVE A NICE DAY TOO, YA RUDE BITCH!
The world explodes into flames and fireworks the moment you finally exhale that sneaky little breath you didn't even know you were holding.
You hammer on the gas pedal, yank the steering wheel and scream as the world falls around you. Everything from the past few months that’s been locked tightly in the deeps spews out of you like projectile vomit after a bad meat stick. You drive like a madman on your way back home, not hungry anymore. Thinking, no. Daring yourself to end it every time you pass a telephone pole at 70 mph on the back roads.
Brenden snapped me out of it, “Rick?”
I cleared my throat as the darkness started to subside, “Huchm... Uh, yeah?”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. What’s up?”
“You were breathing pretty heavily. Wanted to make sure you were good. If you need to talk.”
I interrupted him this time, “I’m alright, I was sort of losing it again, but I think you yanked me out of it at the perfect time. So, thanks again.”
“Alright, offer still stands though... So, you said you had an idea of where this boss is possibly hiding out?” He changed the subject like a pro and flicked the light switch to his Beeyattlemage persona.
I took a moment to look around then checked my map, “Ah shit, yeah. We should have turned back there. My bad.”
“No apologies sir. What were you thinking though, about the boss?”
As we changed directions, my mind finally started to clear up, “There’s a popular little swimming hole this way. I’ve never been myself, but I remember kids talking about it in high school. Apparently, there are a few huge rocks that look like a face. A group of kids told their parents they would be there, but they ended up missing for a few weeks. They were found on the opposite side of the triangle in Glastenbury. I figure that has to be it. Either that or the two rocks on the trail that Cole is taking.”
“That does sound like a good lead, what are the two rocks at your brothers location?”
“Ah just a cool spot where we used to ride. There are two rocks about ten feet tall, maybe fifteen to twenty feet long on each side of the trail. You have to walk, or ride between them to continue on the trail. I mentioned it to Cole before they set off. I’m assuming that wasn’t the spot, otherwise the quest would be finished.” I disregarded the possibility that it was the correct spot and they had already been killed by the Elemental.
Brenden added some flair to his response, “Sounds incrrredibly neat, sire.”
I broke out with a chuckle that graduated to genuine laughter, “Thanks for being you dude.”