Dungeon Robotics 120

Hi Everyone! Revenge of the Sorcerer King audiobook released yesterday! Been a pretty good listen if you ask me, but I might be biased hahaha! I do have a question for everyone. I plan to keep mon, wed, fri as DR chapters. I've been meaning to work on Azaira but the deadline was throwing me off. That being said. Would ya'll like me to upload Azaira on tuesday and Revenge of the king of thursday. I have considered making it straight to Amazon, but really want you guys to read it first. The issue with that is that book 2 is planned for the editors in August. I could sort of do what I did with Annihilation and pop it Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday. My biggest concern is people having issues navigating the site for the content they want to read. Any suggestions please drop them in the comments or send me a message.

Regan

Looking over the decimated wasteland that the north capital had become, I was stricken with a sense of humility. I had been developing weapons in this world that seemed to thrive on combat. If that wasn’t adding fuel to the fire I didn’t know what was. Still, I had to keep on the path I had chosen. 

Whether I liked it or not, these people would continue to kill and slaughter each other long after I was gone. Even Earth had several world wars and the only reason they stopped was because I had created a war to end wars on the planet. I would probably be remembered as the butcher of humanity, if I wasn’t struck from the history books all together.

Shacking away my melancholy, I turned to head back into the ship. We had to relocate the shadow girl’s core, but I had a good place for it in mind. On the other side of the North roughly a thousand kilometers from Alara’s and the General’s dungeon. That would keep her away from Tzulxuc.

It was simple to attach the core to one of my ships. She had gone with a field dungeon format which was the easiest to change to a moving form. I knew she wasn’t happy but we needed the conflict to stop. That’s why the person in front of me was so important.

I looked at the woman in front of me. A rare beauty to be sure, but her newfound connection to dark mana has certainly brought it out to the front. Any man that saw her likely would consider dying for her. “Nice to finally meet the famous leader of the necromancers. Helicilia. It is an honor.”

“And you’re the core that has ruined centuries of planning,” she replied with an upturned grin. “I never in a hundred years would have expected the new core that I sent people to tame before it grew would cause so much… headache.” 

“Indeed. You likely would have stayed off my radar for a few more months to even a few years had you not struck first.”

Helicilia closed her eyes before bowing her head and shook it. “My first mistake in two decades and it turns into my last.”

“Funny how that works, isn’t it?”

“Quite funny. I suppose this is the point where you ask me all the questions you’ve been dying to ask?” she asked putting her chin in her hand.

“Yes it is. First though. Where is your master?”

“About two kilometers that way, or two meters directly in front of me,” Helicilia answered with an upturned nose gesturing first at the wall towards where Kenia’s core resided then at me.

I took a deep breath while shaking my head. “I really recommend you don’t play this game. I don’t quite have the patience for it anymore.”

“What torture could you possible think up that I haven’t already?” Helicilia said with a chuckle. My memory flashed to the few necromancer hideouts and bases we’d found over the months. Certainly they were the masters of torture. In this world that was.

“I suppose a demonstration is in order.” I got up and moved next to her and laid a hand on her shoulder, that was it.

“Is this some form of trick? Surely you don’t…” she cut off mid-sentence as she started to scream. I lifted my hand and moved back to my seat. I would hate to ruin the experience for her after all. I allowed the nanites to eat at her cells for several minutes before I waved my hand and paused their sequence.

“Find that fun?” I asked leaning forward. Helicilia had blood running down her face from her orifices. It was truly more than most mortals were capable of handling, but I felt it was worth using when the person’s sins had earned it. If anyone deserved to die it was her.

Helicilia looked up at me unable to hide her body’s trembling. Even being changed by Kenia most of her body was flesh and blood. Even if it wasn’t. I was experimenting to harm energy-based lifeforms. I felt it would be necessary when I faced Lelune and her celestials. 

“What… do… you want to… know?” Helicilia asked taking deep breaths.

“Everything, but my first question stands where is your master. If you really need specifics, then the dark celestial Cassin.”

“I don’t… know. He came and went… as he pleased.”

“He never mentioned how Deorus came into play in this game we’ve been playing?”

“No. I found out once he no longer had need of me.”

I leaned back as I thought about that. What could a demon want with our world? According to Quin, the way was sealed and there was no way back again. I knew their level of technology was much higher than that of the Murgin people. It was possible they planned to migrate here the old fashion way. 

That would explain the sub-space tunnel I inadvertently found myself in. They could be sending a fleet here with a combination of magic and technology. If this was the case, the current Murgin would be hard pressed to withstand a force of that strength. Not to mention myself.

I was able to deal with a single general. Add a few more and introduce tactics. I could find myself under siege and no way to deal with a problem outside my dungeon without risking my core. Then you add in all the continents normal problems, it just spelt disaster all around. 

“How many necromancers remain outside of the north?”

“I have no way of knowing. We operated like that for a reason.”

“Guess.” I held my hand up and she flinched away.

“Between seven and eight hundred. None over tier two. Txuluzc took care of all those.”

“A number that can be dealt with. Though thanks to a certain vigilante they have burrowed into hiding. It will be a hassle to track that many down.”

“Even the Council never knew all of them. It will be a heavy task. Perhaps someone with the ability to detect necromancy, someone like I don’t know, me should undertake this task,” Helicilia said rubbing her hands together in an obvious fake display of nervousness.

“Helicilia. I would have thought you’d play your cards a little smarter. You know I have plenty of ways to detect your foul mana.”

“That doesn’t mean you couldn’t use my help.”

“Yes, but the problem is you’re too smart for your own good. You’d likely figure out a loophole in that shiny collar there and stab someone in the back. No, I am going to return you to Kenia. She will need you and I have both of you under lock and key.”

“Bastard! You can’t control me forever!” Helicilia screamed finally losing her temper.

“That might very well be the case. Just remember. The moment I can no longer control you, is the moment you will no longer draw breath.” I gestured for the guards to take her back to Kenia. I had some decisions to make and she would just be a distraction. 

~~

I looked around and found Alara. She was sitting with Jarvis as they talked about various types of magic. Moving to their location, I waited for Jarvis to reach a decent stopping point. He likely spotted me as I arrived, so I didn’t have to wait too long.

I nodded to Jarvis as he left the room. “Alara, I need to speak with you for a moment.”

“Yes, my love?” she asked looking at me with her wide eyes. 

My chest tinged in guilt. “While I was away. I sort of had an accident while flying.”

“What do you mean?”

I cleared my throat before forming a seat and sitting down. “I slammed headfirst into a dragon. I’m not sure if you’ve seen a real dragon but it is hard to tell their genders apart when you’re in the middle of combat with them. Long story short, I defeated her without killing her and she claimed that fulfilled the dragon mating pact.”

Alara looked at the ground then replied with a monotone voice. “I… see…” 

“Don’t worry! I strictly told her no. I’m going to have Nova fight her and since he is my child, she would be willing to accept the transfer as long as he beats her,” I said quickly. I quickly moved over to her and kneeled, so we were eye level. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but I didn’t know another way to tell you without an annoying misunderstanding happening.”

She looked up at me and I was sure what she was looking for, but I tried my best to look honest and truthful. How one was supposed to do that was beyond me, but I did my best. “Can I slap you once?” She asked clearly than I had ever heard her talk.

“Uhh, sure?” I replied. The next thing I knew my back was embedded in the wall from the force she hit me with. I couldn’t hold back my laugh as I pulled myself free. “Nice shot.” I felt another impact and looked to see Alara with her arms wrapped around my chest. 

“You’re mine! You saved me from the darkness! I won’t let anyone have you!”

I patted her head. “Very well. I will do my best to live up to that.”