Chapter 37

  To Take A Crown

  The air bore an eerie quiet. The only sounds to be heard were the cracking of torch flames and the rustling of grass from a light breeze.

  The task at hand was an assault on his nerves as he stared into the deepening darkness of the treeline. The ring of torches behind him, both those staked into the ground and those held aloft, was the last line of defense for those without the flame skill.

  The large moonlit field was an open plane around the small band of warriors. They’d become rebels against a king whose kingdom was poised to claim Kyraneth.

  Nik had seen a glimpse of the shadow king’s own world, and it was a cold, ruinous land. There’d been no people within sight, not even his soldiers. Where one might expect guards and advisors, the king had no one by his side.

  I refuse to allow that kingdom to take root here. On that note, it’s been hours since sunfall with no sign of anything chasing after us. If nothing comes then we might have an extra day to keep building up our defen…

  His thoughts were interrupted when Beatrice shouted, “There, at the path we came from! They have’'t stepped out from the canopy, yet.”

  With the high level of her perception stat, she could see farther and more clearly than any of the rest of them could. The battle was finally about to begin. Relief, excitement, and fear each warred for control of Nik's heart. No more waiting, the thrill of a fight was at their door, but they had a lot to lose.

  He could see the movement now, below the branches.

  Nik said, “There are more of them than I want to fight, but the king did say it was an army that would be coming. Let's see how much we can fix that.”

  They were filing into the gaps between trees, silent as death, and there were too many for him to count their numbers.

  “Wait for my orders. Once enough of them enter the grass within the outer ring, we show them the light,” said Nik.

  They moved.

  Dark shapes flowed across the grassland, like a floodgate had collapsed and released a black river.

  “Ready the torches!” Nik commanded.

  The shadows flew across the ground between them, over the gap Nik's people had carved into the dirt, and into the tall grass.

  As they drew near, Nik called out, “Wait… Hold… Now!”

  Flames curled through the air from the outstretched hands of the adventurers and out to the pyres they'd built. Interspersed throughout the field were short towers of oil doused branches. They’d been leaned into each other to delicately support small heaps of piled baking flour.

  The flames momentarily roared, causing the shadows to slow with hesitance. The burst of fire was short-lived, however, as the flour was immediately consumed.

  The effects were not the inferno generating trick they’d hoped for, and even the oil had yet to take flame. Small patches of grass had only caught the smallest of fires; they would have to do their best with what they had.

  “Funnel them!” Nik shouted.

  Lightning and a pillar of light from the sky were the adventurers’ reply.

  The two abilities were formidable weapons against these enemies, tearing the shadows from their hosts as they burned through the enemy flanks on either side of the battlefield.

  “BlackDagger, wall!” commanded Nik as the shadow monsters continued toward them.

  The silent creatures gave wide berth to the small circles of light around the torches, but otherwise undeterred, would be upon them in a matter of breaths.

  Sir BlackDagger’s Shield Wall shimmered to life between them and slammed forward against the pressing army. Instead of a collision throwing the enemies back, however, it landed with a dull, softened impact. The shadows had absorbed the force of the blows, but they’d still been held back temporarily.

  Just before Sir BlackDagger’s Shield Wall ability collapsed, Nik saw smoke rising from some of the pyres, and the oil caught flame.

  Nik rushed forward, Shock Armor activated.

  Feet struck the ground to his left and right as his guards moved alongside him.

  Using the level of control granted by his Advanced Elementalist class to decrease mana output, Nik threw his hand out to fire off a series of low-cost Flame Blasts. The lowerguards in conjunction with the flashes of light lunged forward with spears.

  The weapons pierced through the tissue of fallen orcs and beasts Nik had not seen before. They were like Wolf's other form, but smaller. The shadows fled their hosts only to surge back again when Nik ceased his barrage of fire.

  The pyres were burning now, but the light only narrowed the spaces the shadows could filter through; it didn't stop them entirely.

  The lightning had caught the grass to the right on fire, but the pillar of light to the opposite side of the field had only affected the shadows.

  The adventurers are keeping them centered, we just need to spread the fire, Nik thought.

  “Light your weapons and hold the line,” he said to the goblins.

  As his lowerguards switched out the spears for their main weapons, Nik prepared to give them the spare second they needed.

  He held a finger up to his lower lip and let a Candlelight burn.

  This was what he was good at, the only real gift he might have. He could create the ability that he needed in any moment from the ones he already had.

  So, Nik sucked in a breath and let his mana build up within his own lungs. The energy swirled like a current drew it down into a whirlpool. At the base of that pool, the energy tightened into something coiled and ready to spring itself loose.

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  Through the tight circle of his mouth, he blew a steady stream of mana infused air through the small flame that danced upon his fingertip.

  A roaring flame spewed two dozen paces out from Nik's face as he breathed fire through the enemy lines.

  He ignored the notifications as his newest ability was born and shadows died.

  Weapons blazed with fiery light as Nik's lungs emptied and his new Flame Breath ability was cut off. The blades and hammer of his guards sliced and crushed through their enemies, burning away the shadows.

  There were always more coming through the gaps between the pyres, and due to their light, the enemy's numbers could no longer be seen between the flames and the trees.

  A lumbering figure that stood head and shoulders above Sir BlackDagger thundered through the pyres to the left where the adventurer held his ground. A swing of his flaming sword cut through shadow and the leather vambrace of the orcish huntsman, stopping at bone.

  The orc’s other arm came over his shield cracking against BlackDagger’s helm. The force of the blow sent the man to his knees. He was too dazed to defend the next attack, which loosened the grip he had on his shield.

  Sir BlackDagger swung wildly to keep the orc at a distance. He brought one foot up to push himself to his feet as another strike nearly knocked the shield from his hand entirely.

  He struggled to grip his shield as the next blow slammed into him, a heavy kick at his chest that threw him onto his back.

  The hunter leapt at him, dropping a fist down upon the prone adventurer.

  BlackDagger’s sword arm went up and the edge of his blazing sword severed the orc’s hand before the next punch could land. Then the pain announced the brute’s reply.

  The shadow-covered fist of the orc’s other hand came down on the shoulder of his sword arm. Sir BlackDagger screamed as flesh and bone crunched beneath the weight of the blow. He tried to swing again, but his arm didn’t even twitch.

  “Eric!” Beatrice cried out as vines wrapped around him and yanked him out of the path of the next strike.

  A stick from the nearest pyre freed itself from the pile and flew at the orc. As the orc’s body was illuminated by the glow of the burning piece of wood, BlackDagger rolled to his side and activated a Shield Bash.

  His shield shot upward and knocked the orc off balance, stumbling in the direction of a pyre.

  BlackDagger launched himself to his feet, arm dangling as he threw himself at the orc. He leaned his shoulder into his shield and pressed with every ounce of strength his legs could muster.

  Both the orc and Sir BlackDagger fell into the flames. Shadows burned away and the tall humanoid collapsed as the adventurer rolled off of the pyre, armor smoldering.

  Yet more shadows came through the gaps, and winged creatures came down from overhead. Nik's Flame Breath had lit the area directly before them ablaze, but Sir BlackDagger's section had been left defenseless. With one look from Nik, Kath raced to fill his place.

  A small chunk of darkness the size of a rabbit moved between the BlackDagger and the pyre. It was faster than the orc and dashing in for the kill. The dusk-rabbit covered in shadow filled his vision as it leapt for his throat; his shield wouldn't block it in time.

  Twin blades of fire crossed behind the creature and slid apart as they sliced the hare in two, along with its shadow.

  He nodded to the female goblin who had saved his neck, dropped his shield into his inventory, and picked up his sword with his off-hand.

  Nik called out another order, turning to intercept the flyers heading toward the others at the center as he shouted, “Stics, hold the center. Worik, hold the right.”

  The beam of light that had been illuminating one side of the field vanished, and Loot shouted, “I'm too low on MP.”

  ManaSniperBob replied, “I've only got so many more bolts left, too.”

  Even as Nik tried to consider strategies to maintain their lines, multiple winged shadows dove at him. One small Flame Burst after another had the already dead birds falling around him as the shadows that puppeted them were turned to nothing.

  An impact threw Nik forward before Beatrice’s warning registered in his ears. She’d called out an enemy attack from behind just as it had struck.

  Nik somersaulted and turned as he got his feet beneath him. The bird was twitching from his no longer active Shock Armor, but the shadow was already gone. The ability from his lightning skill hadn’t stopped the attack, but it had punished his attacker.

  Wet cold ran down his spine from the center of his back as more flying enemies came into view, black spots against the starry night. More enemies were coming around the left side of the field where Loot’s Divine Judgment no longer illuminated the enemy flanks.

  We’re going to be overrun. Come on, think. Think!

  Nik tried desperately to come up with a plan that could fix all of the failures in their defenses… and came up empty. His plan to scorch the field remained, but that was intended to be kept only between them and the forest. That would not be enough, but it was still something for now.

  Calling out to his mentor and friend, he shouted, “Pearl! Spread the flames!”

  With one small cyclone of air followed by another, the sprite sent whirling funnels of air through the flames and into the dead grasses beyond. The flames spread, driving the shadows from the nearest section of the battlefield.

  The result was fewer shadows squeezing between the pyres and more of them racing to join the others in circling around to assault the undefended left flank.

  As Nik turned to face the incoming shadows a flicker of light danced across the corner of his vision.

  Multiple rows of light dotted the field behind his people. Arrows lit with blue flame shone light back onto the faces of small fur-covered faces of two-foot tall men who held bows pointed in their direction.

  A tiny, scratchy voice squeaked out an order to fire. A volley of lit arrows sped like shooting stars over the heads of Nik’s people and into the shadows beyond.

  Several arrows stopped mid-air as they struck flying shadows, others hit creatures beyond the light of the pyres, while many yet found no mark beyond the grass of their battlefield.

  Nik didn’t stop to question the mysterious new ally, but the system informed him.

  One glance at their faces under the blue glow of their lit arrows had been enough for a system message to pop up.

  Humanoid-Fae: Species, Domovoi

  Whatever they were, it didn’t matter so long as they were a benevolent force here to help fight the shadows of the king. Regardless, it was not the time to get more information, but to take advantage of their new ranged allies.

  Ever since he’d held that flask of tower dust, he’d felt like there was a hidden well of power waiting to be tapped into. Only if he was truly desperate, then and only then, would he draw upon it.

  For the moment he would cut off the enemy’s path. As his allies held the line at the pyres and the domovoi shredded the air with another volley, Nik made for the left flank where the shadows aimed to overrun them. With the shove of his foot off of the ground and an expertly timed explosion beneath it, he shot in the direction of the field which had become an empty void.

  Another Flame Breath would drain most of my mana, but it could buy us some time and give us more light, he thought.

  Coiled within his lungs, the mana waited to be borne upon his breath. He put a finger to his lips and hesitated just before he would have activated his ability. An orange-scaled dragon had leapt out before him, poisonous smoke pouring out at his feet.

  It would seem that Ryan had his own breath attack in mind, but the cloud of poison would have no impact on this enemy.

  The click of the fae-dragon’s tongue had left Nik relieved of that incorrect assumption. Sparks departed from the small dragon’s mouth, lighting the smoke from within as it sailed through. The gas exploded with a force greater than anything Nik had ever felt.

  He found himself no longer in contact with the ground, but spiraling through the air. He was flying. He’d been lifted from his feet and thrown from his place.

  Time seemed to slow as he tried his best to gain an understanding of which way was down, before he would come crashing to the dirt.

  Stars and earth interchanged positions as Kyraneth spun around him. Nik threw his limbs out wide to slow his rotation, and as he caught sight of the ground, let a Flame Blast loose in the opposite direction of his travel.

  He slowed as he fell with a crack to the ground. While he’d certainly been wounded from the landing, he was alive.

  I might have cracked a rib. Nope definitely cracked one, Nik thought as he watched his HP tick up to 81.

  “Broken twigs, my shield. Seriously, Ryan. Couldn't you have given me any warning at all?” he said as he realized not only that the shield hadn't made the flight alongside him, but he'd been thrown fifteen paces back.

  “Be careful, Ryan. You could hurt a friend!” he shouted, and took a step to collect his shield and rejoin the fight.

  He paused.

  At his current position, he could see every single one of the warriors under his command.

  From those fighting with flaming weapons, to those who could only fight close to a torch or pyre's light, they were being overrun. The arrows of the domovoi had not been enough to turn the tide of battle against these unending numbers.

  There was always another shadow where one had been defeated, and his people were sustaining injuries. It was only a matter of time until one of them fell.

  That was when he heard it again. It had been some time since he'd heard it last, but there it was. That strange old voice once more whispered into Nik’s mind, and thoughts that were not his own flooded in.

  This is what you were made for, kobold. Even in my waking you represent the dreams I once held, aspirations I had long before I was made to slumber. Parts of myself were poured into the making of your people. My people. My wanderers. When the time comes, choose your own path. I am the architect no longer. The future of the tower is yours to build.

  “That’s it. Whatever the architect is or was, he was right, in a way. I've wandered at the whims of fate for too long, moved in reaction to other people's choices. The future is mine to build. It’s time to make a move of my own, one that even AdminHarper won’t expect. Because I'm tired of running,” Nik whispered.

  Nik pulled the flask of green powder from his inventory, uncorked it, and turned it over to pour its contents into his open mouth. He struggled to swallow the dry gritty substance, but managed to choke it down, coughing as bits of powder forced their way into his throat and lungs.

  Then he saw his world for what it truly was, a world made and crafted by the system. He could also now see the shadows for what they were and the strings that bound them to their king. It was time those strings were severed.

  Nik removed the necklace of beads; he didn't need them anymore.

  As he looked out at his friends, injured and fighting against an army they wouldn’t be able to defeat, he said, “I'm sorry none of you can join me in this fight, but it's time for me to take a crown.”

  With the words spoken, Nik tugged on the line between the shadows and their king. He could see where it led. Then following that shining strand, Nik stepped from his own world and into the throne room of a broken tower.