Fortress Dungeon

Tenth Floor

Myrsvai was exhausted, and yet, he was standing before another god on another tenth floor.

Win.

The thought kept running through Suta's mind. Myrsvai only caught some of it, but it was repeating so many times that it was starting to feel like someone yelling in his ear.

Diphinadra dropped to his knee and looked at Suta. "Ask your question."

Suta, who was having trouble not bouncing around, looked at Myrsvai.

"I'll be asking," Myrsvai said.

"Certainly." The god stood to his full height and looked down at Myrsvai. He wasn't sure if it was spiraled horns, the hairy ears, or the bulging eyes that made him the most uncomfortable. Perhaps it was a mix of everything.

Myrsvai took a moment to focus his energy before summoning Thalgodin again. The neural demon had needed a break after nearly dying on the ninth floor. Even now, when Thalgodin emerged from the portal, he was bleeding and looked wary of the god.

Diphinadra considered Thalgodin for a moment, then stared silently at Myrsvai.

"How can we assist Thalgodin in leveling up so he can be a better fit for fusion?" Myrsvai asked.

"A fine question indeed. Velinka." The god looked to the far end of the room where the grand vampire lord silently emerged. She clasped her hands behind her back and waited. "Velinka will leave this demon alone as long as he remains out of the combat."

Thalgodin bowed his head.

"Thank you."

Diphinadra held up a red-furred finger. "You choose a neural demon over a brawler?"

"Yes," Suta said quickly.

"A brawler would benefit Suta's fighting style directly, but a neural demon provides more utility in combat and in the dungeons. Seeing traps, secrets, and anything useful is vital to success." Myrsvai matched the god's gaze. "We have thought about it thoroughly."

"And the demon agrees?"

"I do, Lord Diphinadra. I wish for Myrsvai and Suta to be successful. We have all helped one another."

"You will die," Diphinadra said.

"In a sense, yes." Thalgodin looked over to Suta, who was staring at him. "It will be for a greater purpose."

"Spoken like a warrior. There is a fort to the north along the sea. When you arrive, the mobs will evolve to provide a challenge for the neural demon. Sustained combat in that environment will create many opportunities to advance."

"Thank you," Myrsvai said. He bowed his head, mostly to hide his horrified expression. He had thought the external forts were just a quirk of the Fortress's formation. He wasn't aware that Diphinadra still had control of the mobs. It made sense that the god's magic would cause respawns and loot, but to be able to artificially raise them to different levels meant a random hero could stumble upon 2 Shard level monsters.

"Stand with me, warrior," Diphinadra said, gesturing to Thalgodin.

Myrsvai gave the demon a subtle shrug.

"Are you ready to begin?" the god asked.

"In a moment, if you will allow." Myrsvai passed his staff to Suta, rubbed his eyes, and shook himself out a little. Suta passed the staff back and immediately settled into his stance. Everything is about appearances.

Myrsvai gathered abyssal magic into the top of his staff. Summon Demon was only a Power 4 spell, but when used correctly, it was one of the most powerful and accessible magus spells. "I'm ready," he said.

"Begin, Velinka."

The vampire flourished her naginata and remained in front of the doorway. Suta bounced on his feet just before Myrsvai. The two watched one another, waiting for someone to make the first move.

He might as well do it himself.

The Abyss was a massive realm, and his mind was navigating it as fast as possible. It was only a matter of time before Diphinadra or Velinka caught on. Whenever he entered, he started on the border of the Cackling Wastelands and the Plains of Awakening, which showed why Bastronum had been his first summon.

While frantic or mirth demons could be beneficial in a fight, there was a specific plan in his mind, which Suta had readily agreed to upon picking up his thoughts.

Vampires had one strength, and he could counter that easily.

Velinka's wings opened wide.

Myrsvai smashed the staff on the ground, cracking the stone. A portal whorled to life to his right.

Velinka slashed at Myrsvai's neck as she passed at lightning speeds. Before the naginata blade could hit him or the staff, Suta's foot struck her face. The vampire lord hit the wall and slid. Her wings beat and she recovered quickly, but she was far too late.

Suta had already returned to his ready stance before Mrysvai and the flood had started.

Brawler and blood demons walked out of the portal with an unnatural calmness. They took in their surroundings, and soon grins showed fangs on every face.

Suta pointed at Velinka.

A brawler charged Suta instead, which left Myrsvai wide open.

He had expected as much. Hellish Torrent erupted from him, catching Velinka just as she started to blur. She was caught unprepared and sent tumbling back into the sitting room.

Suta leapt as the brawler neared. The little abyssal magus spun and kicked the demon in the face, sending the huge brawler straight onto the ground. He landed, dodged a punch from another demon, and countered with a firm punch to the knee.

"Fight her," Suta said.

The demons quickly understood. Blood demons repaired the injuries, and ushered the brawlers on.

Velinka was back on her feet looking between the approaching demons. Blood Authority caused a cloak of bubbling blood to form around her. And, as one, the handful of blood demons took control of the magic and ripped it straight from Velinka.

She didn't flinch. Her wings beat as she blurred and slashed, cutting three brawler's throats in a single fluid swing.

The blood demons immediately sent some of the Blood Authority magic to their allies, healing the wounds. Velinka retreated as fists flew from every direction in front of her. The naginata whirled and demon blood splattered in every direction, but every time it did, the blood demons gathered it and healed the brawlers.

Suta leaned against Myrsvai's leg. "Easy."

Myrsvai cast a look at Diphinadra.

The god just gave a single nod.

Despite the overwhelming numbers, the fight was drawn out. Even with blood demons interfering, Velinka's healing still fixed most wounds before she could be truly disadvantaged.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

A few swift attacks took the heads right off the brawlers so thoroughly that there was nothing to heal. The last four brawlers piled on the grand vampire lord and tore the naginata from her hands.

Velinka attacked in a blurred furry, punching with enough force to send the heart of a brawler demon out of his back in a blood spray.

"Time to finish," Suta said. He held his hands up. Myrsvai crouched and let Suta pull a random looted item from the bag. The familiar found a wand and held it up as if asking.

"Go ahead."

Suta crushed the wand as he cast Nightmare Metamorphose. His limbs extended and the crystals on his head grew and glowed with ominous light.

The brawlers hesitated and turned upon sensing the rising abyssal energy. Velinka didn't let the opportunity pass and killed those that remained.

The blood demons bowed their heads, recognizing Suta as the superior demon, if only temporarily. He would give them blood, and plenty of it. The blood demons had already started to change upon consuming the vampiric blood. Their fangs had grown and their skin was losing some of its blood red coloring, turning paler, if ever so slightly.

Velinka was damaged and unable to properly use any vampiric blood magic, yet she stood her ground confidently. She retrieved her naginata, spun it, and stood, waiting.

Suta took the invitation.

"Abyssal Armor," Mrysvai said, casting the spell over the grown, monstrous form of Suta. The magical armor formed gauntlets and a breastplate that finished forming just as they collided.

Velinka moved with such elegance, even after the beating she had taken. Her swings were practiced and perfect, but Suta's defense was unmatched. He used an open palm to push aside the flat of the blade, stepped in close, and punched with an armored fist into Velinka's abdomen.

The vampire beat her wings to stop herself from crashing into the wall. She feinted and blurred, aiming to cut Suta's arm off. Just as she started the true attack, he swept her foot out and punched her in the same spot as she fell, slamming her into the ground.

When Velinka landed, she kicked and hit Suta's foot. He used the momentum to flip and landed easily.

"End it," Diphinadra said.

Summon Weapon - Demonic.

An executioners' axe formed in Suta's outstretched hand.

Velinka beat her wings, bringing her back to her feet. As soon as she stood, Suta kicked her in the abdomen and sent her flying into the wall. She bounced, and the follow up chop of the summoned axe took her head completely off.

The blood demons drank deeply as soon as the black blood started to flow. It flew in the air, passing over Suta and into the ravenous demons.

While vampires would normally heal through decapitation, they needed blood magic to do so. They needed blood, and the demons from the Fighting Pits drank her dry.

Myrsvai focused on the portal, causing it to hum. Suta turned his back on Velinka and faced the demons. They didn't move.

Suta took a step.

They all retreated back to the Abyss.

Myrsvai let the portal snap shut.

"A show," Diphinadra said.

The summoned armor and weapon vanished as Suta shrank back to his normal size. He hopped over to stand as close to Myrsvai as possible.

"Brilliant use of abilities," the god said.

Suta held up his hands as if to fight.

Diphinadra laughed deeply. "I have no intention of harming you." The god held out a hairy hand with a shard floating above it. "For a fight well fought."

Myrsvai took the shard, letting it and his other settle into his shoulder. "Thank you."

"The fort on the sea," Diphinadra said, gesturing to the void nexus on the far end.

"We will head there immediately." Myrsvai gently bumped Suta with the staff to get the familiar moving.

Thalgodin walked silently behind them.

When Myrsvai emerged in the sunlight, he immediately felt Thalgodin at his side.

"You play a dangerous game," the demon said.

"We certainly do. You have to admit—"

"It was a good use of blood demons. As long as you can feed them, you can trust them." Thalgodin gestured with his many arms to the side. "I see the others."

Shade was already standing and waving both arms like a ridiculous moron. Owin stayed sitting but smiled. Suta ran over and sat directly next to Owin. Probably too close.

"It looks like you have both hands," Myrsvai said as he approached and took a seat. He let his staff fall to the rocky ground.

Owin held up his metal hand, which was horribly deformed. It was nearly cut in half and the knuckles were all dented and misshapen. "I almost lost it again."

"Your face looks a little . . ." Myrsvai made himself stand and get a little closer. "Did you break many bones?"

"He basically broke them all," Shade said.

"I . . ." Owin frowned.

"Vampire lady punched him in the face a fair amount," Shade said excitedly.

"I punched her," Suta said. He jabbed in the air.

"You traded hits with the grand vampire lord?" Myrsvai asked.

"It's what I was taught to do."

"Not like that," Shade said.

"Who taught you that?"

Shade and Owin exchanged a look.

"Owin," Myrsvai said sternly.

Owin shifted nervously. "I promised Althowin I wouldn't say anything."

"I didn't!" Shade picked up his log and moved it beside Myrsvai's. The skeleton leaned in far too close. "Zezog," he whispered.

"Fascinating."

Shade pulled back. "That's all you have to say? I thought I was going to blow your mind."

"If anyone was going to know him, it would be Althowin. I wonder what her thoughts were when she had you train with a berserker." Myrsvai let his eyes drift shut. "I could use a nap."

"We can wait to go back until you rest," Owin said happily.

"We will be going north," Thalgodin said.

"What?" Owin's voice changed immediately. Was it fear or something else?

Myrsvai opened his eyes despite how pleasant it had been to let them close. "We have a fort Diphinadra told us to go to. Thalgodin needs some training to gain levels before a fusion."

"So, next time I see you . . ." Owin awkwardly put his hand on Thalgodin's leg.

"I will be part of Myrsvai and Suta."

"I'll never see you again?" Owin immediately teared up.

Myrsvai scrunched his face. Did Owin feel that connected to the demon? When so many people tried to kill you, he supposed ones that did not were cherished.

"You will see Myrsvai and Suta again," Thalgodin said.

"A willing fusion, when it happens, is complicated," Myrsvai said. "We will not fight to dominate one another. We will simply merge. Our memories become one. Nothing is destroyed, simply combined."

"Talking to Myrsvai will also be talking to you?" Owin asked quietly.

"Yes," Thalgodin said.

"I'll still miss you."

The demon put one hand on Owin's. "I appreciate the sentiment, Owin. We will speak again. There is no sadness in this departure."

"You don't want to fuse with me?" Shade asked, nudging Myrsvai with his elbow.

"Even if it were possible, no. I would rather venture into the Ocean and fuse with Baby Head than you, Shade. Having your thoughts in my head—" Myrsvai cut himself off and just shook his head.

***

Owin stayed and listened to Myrsvai's retelling of their journey through the Fortress. Suta had bits to add, but they were mostly focused on pulverizing a specific mob. It sounded like he had been a menace through the whole dungeon.

Shade told most of their story, surprisingly accurate. Myrsvai's face was full of horror upon the story of the fifth floor, Bashe, and Roese.

"You don't hear many stories of people who met an aggressive Omen and lived. The hero you saved will tell the story a lot. If you weren't famous, you would be now." Myrsvai ate some food he had warmed over the fire.

It was weird with him being the only one who needed to eat. Everyone else sat and watched. Thalgodin had made something hot to drink, and Owin really didn't know if actual demons needed to eat, but he wasn't going to start asking weird questions now.

By the time night settled, Myrsvai couldn't keep himself awake. He collapsed right off the log. Suta and Thalgodin set up a tent and got Myrsvai settled quickly.

"Will you come back to Vraxridge after?" Owin asked.

Suta nodded. "Wait for us." He poked Owin in the chest. "Twins wait."

"I know." Owin hugged him. Suta immediately wrapped his arms around, then jumped and wrapped his legs around Owin.

Before he knew it, Owin was on his back with Suta sitting on top.

"Winner," Suta said.

"What?"

"He beat you," Shade said.

"I know what 'winner' means, Shade."

The familiar stood and pulled Owin to his feet. "Go home."

"Okay. See you soon."

Suta nodded over and over.

"Talk to you soon," Thalgodin said.

"You're not lying to me?"

The demon nodded slowly.

"Okay. Bye. For now."

Owin took a few steps away from the fire and looked back. Suta shooed him.

"Want to send me away so you can run?" Shade asked.

"Do you think that's the best idea?"

"Would I suggest it if it were a bad idea?"

Owin just looked up at the skeleton.

"Rude, and yeah, I get it. Fine. But yes, let's get back as fast as you can imagine. Use that pent up enthusiasm to get us to Althowin's compound."

Owin shoved everything he could manage into Shade's arms.

Summon the Withered Shade

Shade and everything else poofed into dust.

"Okay," Owin whispered. How fast could he really run? His first shard hummed as it lifted from his shoulder. The noise went up, closer to a ringing as the second shard rose. He took a deep breath as the power rushed through him.

When he took off running, he sent an explosion of dirt in his wake.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.