Dolville

There was nothing to be done and the conversation had long since died among the Mind Flayers. A part of me was glad they weren't talking. Nothing good came from Mind Flayers conversing. When they stopped the hills grew quiet as a grave. Only the occasional shifting of roaches in their underground burrows through off the silence. Under their barriers, I'd be surprised if the Mind Flayers could hear even that.

We were waiting for an emissary from Dol's tower to come and lead the way. Flying to an enemy stronghold is considered rude. Odds were good they had anti air defenses. I wasn't consulted in the tactics we chose. Still, the wait gave me an opportunity.

For the first time in a long time I had time to sharpen my skills. As we waited for the diplomat to return and guide us to the tower, I had some down time. I pulled my sword from my back found some rare even ground and began slowly making my way through sword forms. During points in my swings, I activated aura rush to give them some unpredictability. My blows landed before their time. With every swing, I began to feel more entuned with Diabla. Before, I swung, and my target died.

As I grew stronger and explored the wider world, that tactic wouldn't work. With skills, the sword wasn't an obsolete weapon. It was perfect for clearing out enemies and guiding energy. My aura seemed especially connected with Diabla. Diabla was able to use my cultivation base to further charge her skill. I hoped she would remain with me for years to come.

She glided through the air at incredible speeds. Wisps of red and black aura trailed behind her as I swung her blade through each form. Sweat covered my body and I forced myself to move even faster. The junk around us trembled while I moved focusing deeper on my forms.

Hours after my initial practice, I heard the legs of a spiderling. I stopped my swing halfway and sighed.

Sweat had poured from my body and hadn't frozen. It was weird. Maybe there was more to my sweat than salt water. I chalked it up as another part of my body. Despite having black scales covering my body, I had tiny pours and hair on my eyebrows. I reasoned it was my human characteristics shining through.

Gobling Rider lvl25

Rank: Plebe

"Are you members of the diplomatic party sent by the Thoughtful Empire?" The Gobling Rider said.

Rudalpho stood up. He flexed his face tentacles and seemed to enjoy the Rider's discomfort. "That is an interesting way to interpret the name of our Empire. We are the empire full of thoughts. So many viewpoints, yet we are an empire bound together by our culture." Rudalpho said. "Excuse my rudeness, I am Rudalpho of the noble house Clematis. Perhaps, you've heard of my house's great deeds. We are the reason why everyone isn't a darkling you know."

The gobling sucked on his teeth. I actually felt for the gobling. Don't get me wrong, I'd kill them all if I could, for the xp. Still, Rudalpho was a bit much.

"On behalf of Zet chief Governor of the town Dolville at the foot of Dol's Tower I welcome you and ask that you follow me." The Gobling said before he turned around on his spiderling.

I saw the brand on the spiderling's thorax. They were traded with a starving group on the other hill. I wondered if they overthrew the ratlings. No empire lasts forever. Were the Mind Flayers still ascending or were they in decline? Would they try to maintain territory, or would they shrink? Nothing lasts forever.

…

Beyond Tensmith and beyond where I found Star the land became flat. We entered a point where no trash fell. The temperature dropped as we approached a sprawling city. While Tensmith had been huge this place was larger by far. Though its wall was smaller it was clearly gobling made. Above the wall standing taller than the hills themselves was a tower. The tower itself wasn't quite black. It was a dark shade of brown just light enough to look like a massive cigar.

We were surrounded. I heard them scurry before I saw them. From beneath trenches dug around the city. Gobling riders emerged. From the east to the west thousands emerged and flanked us from either side. They formed lines and easily matched our brisk pace. Soon lines formed and they marched in sync not a leg of their spiderlings were out of place. Smaller archer towers lined the trenches approaching the walls surrounding the city.

I saw something high up floating around the tower. Whatever it was had to be hundreds of meters long. From the ground I watched it wind its way around the tower. The colossal creature squeezed into the tower. Smog from the town rose up shielding it from view while it impregnated the tower.

Set lvl40 Phantasmal Wards

Rank: Plebe

Ping!

Quest: Corner and Destroy Set

Reward: +10PER

Our party stopped before a truly massive trench. Something living flowed through the waters below. A light hand brushed my shoulder. "Slimes, they are created from magical experiments. Be careful not to fall in. There are thousands in there." Doppel said.

I heard the creaking of wood and looked up. A draw bridge began its descent. Chains rattled and gears ground while a massive bridge made of various metals, plastics, and spider web opened the path inside.

Tyrannus was the first to step forward. "I expect to meet with this Zet soon. I'll warn you now don't try my patience." The Mind Flayer said.

"What my brother in law means is we await the summons from your ambassador. Please don't make us wait long we would like to get this nasty business handled." Rudalpho said.

"Governor Zet is busy today but will see you early in the morning. Please let us escort you to where you'll stay the night." There was no night and day cycle in the underground.

I had a clock synchronized with local time but that's from an AI's point of view. With a few quick calculations from my original entry, I knew a day on this planet was roughly 26 hours. It's a slightly larger earth sized planet with a slightly slower rotation. By my clock it was morning.

They were stalling for time. Nothing good could come from giving them more time. Unfortunately, it wasn't up to me.

Tyrannus lvl70 Thought Juggernaut

Rank: Knight

My chances against Tyrannus were low to say the least. "Unacceptable, take us to him now." Tyrannus reached out a hand.

The gobling held his throat and was pulled into the air. Goblings armed to the teeth began to edge closer. This was going to become a fight. I let out a sigh and drew my sword. So much for diplomacy. At least I was able to get a little behind enemy lines.

A gobling dressed in a fine suit ran up. "My lord release him. I have word form Zet. He'll meet you in a few hours. Please let us settle you in your rooms." Tyrannus dropped the gobling.

"Very well, take me to these accommodations you've prepared." Tyrannus said.

This was a trap. I was sure of it and the party was as well. Rudolpha didn't say a word to reprimand Tyrannus. Was there a plan? Of that I didn't know. There could have been a plan, but I couldn't say what it was.

We came upon large building staffed with many gobling women. The many green skinned beauties quickly dragged us to our separate rooms. My accommodations were with Doppel. When the door closed behind us, she relaxed. Twelve feet of Mind Flayer settled down on the bed. She patted a spot beside her.

"This is a trap." I said.

She nodded and took her clothes off. "It is. They need three hours to spring it. I'm sure their scrambling even now to complete it. Tyrannus doesn't believe them capable of handicapping him. A new knight shouldn't have the power to deal with him. He's right but still walking into a trap like this feels like a mistake." Doppel said. That wasn't what I was talking about. Mind Flayers eat their mates.

I sat beside her and the only way to survive was to be prepared. I reviewed what spells I knew with my system. Even now, I fought to understand the shear number of spells I'd acquired. Six textbooks and a large scroll of spells processed through my system. I hadn't understood the knowledge. That was changing.

She placed a hand on my shoulder and shook me. "Wake up, I'm talking to you." Doppel said.

I shook my head. For a moment, it felt like I'd finally learned a new spell. "What were you saying?" I asked.

"Do you want to try out my new body?" She asked. I raised an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't that be cheating on Gwen?" I asked.

Doppel shook her head. "They must have programmed you with some human concepts. We don't work that way. Most egg laying species don't." I raised an eyebrow.

"What would Gwen think about it?" I asked.

Doppel laughed. "She'd be jealous." Doppel licked her lips.

"I heard that Mind Flayers eat their non-Mind Flayers lovers." I said. Doppel looked taken aback. She let out a sigh. We were in for a difficult conversation.