Chapter 72

It took Stone three long days to 'heal', during which a lot of things happened.

First and foremost, the goblin trio died. How, you ask? They attempted to kidnap the camp leader who just returned from the hunt for the Ghost, who was by the accident, Stone now. According to Kretin, they wanted to give a sacrifice to Stone. Well, no loss there. Lucifer even shed a tear. In happiness as he heard how they died.

That was the second thing. The camp leader returned, fuming as hell itself. The goblin alchemist failed and boy, he failed hard. Shaman-Garza was wounded in battle against the Dwarven patrol and had to return to druegars village to recuperate, taking Dafur with him. Talk about luck.

When the camp boss returned and saw the scorched mayhem, his ransacked supplies and large groups of goblins missing; that was when all hell broke loose.

Lucifer was taken by the camp leader and interrogated-cum-tortured. Thankfully, Lucifer was a good actor. With the help of the siblings' memories, he was able to misdirect the goblin leader towards the druegars. A little bit of discord here and there… Though, he kept Jarka out of it. That woman could be useful.

Him and Stone also realized one of the most important things; thanks to the connection between them, they could not move too far from each other, only around 30 metres in radius, otherwise Lucifer's 'leash' would collapse and he would not be able to regenerate his [SuperFlux], effectively killing him after he consumed his own. The same concept applied to his bodies.

Also, it appeared that the bodies were starting to degrade. Reason? His [SuperFlux]. As it was extremely potent, the bodies were not able to take it. Their cellular structure began to slowly collapse. He would need a new body in a week or so.

He was able to return back to the tent from the double interrogation, which was in itself a very bizarre experience, and connect back to Stone. He almost died several times. Being tortured once was bad. Twice was worse, but twice and at the same time? Hell…

The third thing that happened after the interrogation ordeal was that Lucifer had started training with newfound fervour… His proficiencies rapidly rose, especially with the two bodies. The only thing that limited him was Stone's [Ambient Mana Refinement].

Before Stone closed the tablets he had admired for the whole three days in silence, he gave them the last glance. Not like Lucifer would know. He did not promise anything! He just said 'yes' to shut him up! What a preposterous proposition… Less tablets…

Name: Stone

Title: Guardian of Talc Anthill

Race: Talc

Level: 26 [34]

Exp: 49.58%

Hardness: 2.999

Lifeforce: 299.9 / 299.9

Mana: 670 / 670 MReg: 55 / sec

Refined mana: 167.5 / 167.5 MRef: 21 / min

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 67

Talents: Ageless, Heat Accumulator, Partner

Resistances: Heat T1L5, Electrical T1L3

Expertise: Mana Point T2L10, Ambient Mana Refinement T2L25, Mana Carving T2L10, Healing Bath for stones T1L7, Ants' Souls T1L14, Mana Shield T1L31, Mana Missile T1L25, Mana Expulsion T1L15, Meditation T1L45, Weak Manakinesis T1L5, Tracking T1L1

Pets: Gorash 'Firey' (baby fire elemental), Lucifer (Who knows?), Kretin (T3 Goblin)

"Luci! I am done!" Stone proclaimed in a sudden baritone voice. He had enlarged the speaking holes, on Lucifer's demand. Having ears really put things into perspective.

"Finally…" Lucifer heaved, his mind completely bored. They were limited to only their tent, with Kretin as 'guard'… However, they were closely watched. Any kind of attempt to run away and the camp chief would know it.

They needed to run away. They had been extremely lucky until now, but sooner or later Stone's mana leakage would have alerted the goblins. It was a small exudation, but constant and the blight pollution stacked.

"Luci! I want to level up again!" For three days, no experience and no level. When he remembered the mass-level ups from before, he wanted more. Craved. Needed.

"No."

"I want to! And you can't stop me!"

"... You wanna die?" Lucifer was in no mood to play games with the idiot. He was nervous. His instincts were constantly flaring. Something was extremely wrong. He just could not put a finger on what.

That halted Stone in track. He did not want to die. The simplistic boulder was however bored.

"Luciiii… I am booooored. Let's go hunting! I like hunting! And… where is my storybook?" Stone asked, finally remembering his forgotten storybook in the small cave.

"... miserable… My life is miserable…" Lucifer sighed. Still, he acknowledged that a bored Stone was a recipe for disaster. "Fine! Jarka could help us with this," he bent, ignoring the question about the book as he completely forgot about it too.

"Luciii! I want my storybook!"

"For fucks sake! Gods! Really, help me here! Do something! Or I will…" Lucifer froze in the tracks, his mind reset. "Fine, we will go pick it up later." He turned to the resting Kretin and kicked him in the ribs, "bring us to Jarka!" Lucifer ordered Kretin after he strapped Stone on his back.

Jarka was in the mess hall with her party. Lucifer could see that when she saw the siblings she frowned.

"Guard-Jarka! How're ya?"

"Why do ya have a boulder on yar back?" Scout-Durza asked from behind. He sat next to Jarka and proceeded to fill his stomach with the questionable meat.

At that moment, Lucifer realized something. He did not eat for today.

"Trainin'," Lucifer shrugged with ex-Dori's shoulders.

"I'm glad you feel better. We'll go hunting later again. There's a large infestation of Myceliars on the below-floors. It penetrates even to the entrance leading to the second layer. The shaman ordered cleanin' works…"

"Finally! I was gettin' bored. What happened anyway? I thought I was dreamin' when I heard those explosions…" Lucifer asked with Eriv's mouth. He needed to keep the act right. At any cost.

"Nobody knows, but everyone's talkin' about The Ghost," she shrugged.

"Who's that?"

"It hunts goblins from the third tier and below. Nobody knows who that is, or even how it looks. The goblins're scared shitless… Hehe!" Scout-Durza explained, grinning. He held no love for the goblins. After all, he had fought them for all his life. He was putting up with this situation only because of his beloved Jarka.

"That's…"

"Yea, kinda insane. Now, will ya please explain why that rock on yar back leaks mana and is blightin' the air?" Scout-Durza whispered.

"I… " Lucifer inwardly facepalmed and both of his bodies sweated. He felt like an utter idiot. "It's… Ya know I'm blighted… I need something to put the leakin' mana into… " he weakly attempted to explain.

"Yea, I hear ya, brotha. Blights cana have strange effects. If ya survive. But I woulda recommend askin' Shaman-Ganra to engrave it. The mana crystal in that boulder woulda attract a few daring bastards."

"Yea, thanks for advice," Lucifer relaxed. Though he could see doubts there.

"Why don't you tell them about me?" Stone asked through their link.

"Because I don't know if we can trust them. We probably cannot. Remember Queen Ant!"

"Oh… You are right. Ask them when we will go for the hunt!"

"So? When's the hunt?" Lucifer used this opportunity to shift the theme.

"In a few hours."

"Fine, I'll return to the tent and pack up. What about the camp boss? He imprisoned mea and Eriv in the tent."

Lucifer nodded with Eriv's head but kept her mouth full of meat. It was already confusing as it was.

"Him? Right now, he's lucky he's naet dead. Shaman-Ganra was hurt thanks to him…" Jarka gritted her teeth.

"Guuurp" Lucifer finished his meal with both bodies and asked, "how did that happen?"

"That's naet matter. He'll return soon and bind the dwarf… Can't say I agree." She frowned.

"Fine, I'll go now. Will meet ya here in two hours?"

She nodded and turned back to her cold meal.