Chapter 74

"Well, my name is Lucifer," he began to explain himself, his story and the terrible twist of fate that had led him here. Of course, all of that was complete bullshit. He wasn't a trapped 6th-rank hero. He hadn't fought Undead menace long ago. And he definitely did not kill a Lich in a tragic battle and get cursed in the last moments of his opponents.

Well, it could be the truth for all he knew but something was telling him it really was not.

"That does not explain the refined mana and how you found these two," she frowned as a spark of desperation appeared in her eyes.

"Well… It's a soulbound artefact," Lucifer showed Stone. And at that moment she dropped her axe and gaped at the artefact. She saw that stone in her dreams for the past few days. She always turned to Siran and massacred the camp, but was stopped by this… this…

"Jarka! Are ya fine?" Durza's hand quivered, his focus broken.

She heaved and picked up her axe. Her blood mist turned back to her body and she put her weapon back on her back. "Yea, I'm."

Now it was Lucifer who frowned. "Something happened?" He asked.

"Naet, it's good. However, I know for sure this pebble's naet an artefact."

Lucifer flinched. Did he fail? How? How could she know that?

"Luci, we should kill them," Stone said, a new [Mana Missile] hovered around them.

"No! Don't!" Lucifer yelled.

"But why?" Stone asked. Loudly. His baritone voice echoed in the cavern.

"What was that?!" Durza and Jarka searched the surroundings for the source of the voice.

"Well, shit…" Lucifer felt tired. Maybe this was a mistake. However, he needed them. He needed allies and servants. The sense of wrongness from before did not abandon him. His instincts were yelling at him that something was coming.

"What! Was! That!" Durza yelled, spooked and his two crossbows again aimed at Lucifer.

"Stone, introduce yourself," Lucifer sighed.

"Hello! I am Stone!" The two dwarfs turned to the perfectly ellipsoidal, smooth white mineral. They blinked. Stone did not blink back. He did not have eyes, nor lids for that kind of expression. They blinked again and Stone did not blink back again too.

"Did… did that boulder say something?" Jarka turned to Lucifer's female body.

"Yes! And don't ignore me! I am here!" Stone cast a blueish wall and slapped her.

She gaped and so did Durza.

"What's that?" Jarka gathered herself first, her face still stinging from the unfiltered refined mana.

Lucifer looked at them and began to madly laugh; "Hehehahahehahahea~!"

"I am Stone! And you are my minions, meatbags!" That stopped Lucifer. He wanted to say something, but was stopped by Stone's mental command. A dread enveloped the Devilish Sorcerer.

Jarka and Durza were vigilant. The refined mana [Mana Missile] floating before them was indisputable. The pebble was the strangest Monster they ever met, but it was a Monster nonetheless and a strong one to boot. It even leaked mana, poisoning the air around it.

"I'm nobody's minion… Stone," Scout-Durza said, his finger quivering on the triggers. The crossbows were now aiming directly at Stone, who fearlessly sat on the ground.

"Can you, please, calm down? Stone! Drop it! They are different from goblins! And Scout-Durza, please, he is just young and he knows barely anything…" Lucifer pacified the volatile situation.

Stone was carefully observing them. He did not know much else than what Lucifer had taught him and felt confused. Should he kill them? Should he not? These questions were something that a Monster would never ask, should never ask, but he did not know that… For Stone was no Monster… Stone was Stone

"Eri… Lucifer," Jarka corrected herself. She was still stumped. For her, this was… simply insane. Surreal as it can get.

"Yes?"

"Do ya control this Monster?" Jarka could not let go her eyes from Stone before her.

"No… I'm… subordinate…" Lucifer hissed through his gritted teeth, compelled by the [Subordinate] mark he learned to hate the moment he saw the description.

"How can ya be a servant?" Jarka asked, even more questions entered her mind. Now, she felt like Lucifer did not tell her the truth.

"Because Luci is my friend! If you hurt him I will hurt you!" Stone proclaimed. Lucifer was touched by this declaration. Almost.

"Ya dinna tell me the truth before. I smell a big story here. And you will tell me about it on our way back to camp. Then I'll decide if I tell the shaman," Jarka said and Lucifer nodded in agreement. Not like he had a choice.

They were suddenly interrupted by a bolt grazing ex-Eriv's face.

"THEY'RE HERE!" Echoed in the cavern. They rapidly turned and saw a dozen f angry, filthy and fully armoured dwarfs charging at them.

"Stone-Breakers!" Was the only response they heard before a barrage of bluish and purplish missiles reduced their numbers to a half. Stone knew Stone-Breakers. The Dwarfs. Stone's menace.

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Encyclopaedia Stonia

Race: Myceliars

Fungus-based lifeforms. They are born directly on the 3rd-tier and their upper limit is not known. It's said that on the third layer of Abyss are even 6th-tier Myceliars. Their natural habitats are in damp and shaded locations, primarily underground and in ancient forests.

Proficient ambushers using strong acids, poisons, fumes, pollen and of course, magic.

This race of Monsters is often protected by the Elven race, including Drows and are generally hated by every other race.

There is an old legend that the Myceliars were actually not a true race, created by Gods and Prime gods. It's said, they were created by an extremely powerful wizard during a failed experiment and due to their nature, they proliferated extremely quickly.

Their power is not to be underestimated. They are strong against close-combat warriors. Their poisons are varied and it is recommended to have a high level of poison resistance, stocked with antidotes and having at least two priests in the party.

Race: Elementals

Denizens of Elemental Planes where no living being has access, bar a few exemptions. Elementals are masters of their respective elements and have the path laid before them from birth. It is not possible to change Elemental's nature.

They are volatile, devilish and quite non-caring about the life of mere mortals as they have almost endless life. They are also bored to hell thanks to that.

There are extremely few 'lucky' summoners, able to use their power in exchange for 'food' (mana, flux, etc…). The more powerful elemental, the more quality 'food' it requires.

Plenty of elementals travel to Prime Material Plane for shit and giggles, often choosing some poor victim to use him, or her, as a free ride. They have a little fun, consuming as much Prime Mana as they can and return home.

Inexperienced, stupid and careless Elementals may meet powerful beings who forces them into contracts. Gene-Locked contracts are very famous in the Elemental Planes and taken as a plague, associating with a Gene-Locked Elemental is frowned upon and may incur punishment in some elemental circles.