32. Mount Saint Helens (VII)

He scanned it with Identify.

𝕍𝕠𝕝𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥 (𝔻)

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕠𝕝𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕔 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕒 𝕠𝕗 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕞𝕒 𝕗𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕧𝕠𝕝𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠. 𝕀𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕖𝕣𝕦𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕤𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟. 𝕀𝕥𝕤 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝔼𝕣𝕦𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟. ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕞 𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕦𝕤𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕗𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝔽𝕚𝕣𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕨𝕤.

He felt Laws rolling off it, warming his soul. He felt a kinship with it. But strangely, it also felt like those sword lashes in the Cavern of Insight. He felt close to it. Just not close enough in his soul in a way that was difficult to describe. Just a feeling.

To comprehend a Law, he had to find it in the world, and also himself. He saw it here, preserved under glass. But he didn't know was what Eruption meant to him personally.

"Whoa…" Avery came over. "Is that a Law treasure? Yeah, that's rare as hell. That Drake was loaded."

"How do you use this?"

"You have to experience it. This one… yeah, Eruption. You have to experience eruption. You have to know it really deeply."

"So I have to… erupt?" What did that even mean?

"You have to erupt. A lot." She nodded.

"Hmm," he said.

She had a weird look on her face.

"What?"

"I'm trying very hard," she said slowly, "Not to say an inappropriate joke."

A pause. "Okay, okay. I'm good. Anyway, it'll probably take a while to learn. You'll meditate on it, slip into a trance eventually, let it connect with your soul… something like that. I got a Shard of Balance once, and it took two straight days of meditating before I got a vision out of it. It's a bit of an out-of-body experience. When I came back, I could balance my whole body on a toe. Fun stuff! But it takes a while."

She tucked a lock of hair behind an ear. "You should probably do it after we finish off this dungeon," she said. "You'll be inside a volcano soon, so it'll probably get you some of the way there already. But more important, the second floor unblocked as soon as the first is cleared. Which means you bet your ass Stroud's already heading for it. We should get going."

They stuffed the most useful treasures there in the Bag of Holding and left. Avery said to keep the Heart of the Volcano on him—even just having it near could help comprehension. So he zipped it in his shorts pocket.

The rest they'd come back for later.

***

As it turned out, Avery was spot on.

She led him to the second floor entrance: a giant cave mouth carved into the slope of the mountain proper. It was so big you could fly a plane down it. So big every little gust of wind that went in was thrown back in echoes a hundredfold. Its walls were studded with torches flickering with ghostly essence light. Streams of lava dripped down the front, coiling down miles and miles from the mountain peak. You had to be careful not to get burned going in. This close to the mountain, the ground was riddled with lava flows. Tar bubbled everywhere.

Avery said that before the first floor was cleared, this place had been sealed by a blue wall. Now there was nothing stopping them from going down.

Nothing except the clump of white dots drawing close, and fast.

Stroud and his troops had had the same idea. Avery and Zane came in from the east side. They came in from the West. Neither seemed interested in stopping for the other.

They were about to collide.

Victor Stroud marched toward them. He was flanked by two rows of stone-faced men. They drew near at the cave entrance and stopped there, facing each other.

Stroud's face was set in a deep grimace, like he was in physical pain. He looked a little nauseated.

For a moment, neither side said anything. Victor spoke first. His voice was clipped and harsh.

"You've grown fast," he said to Zane. "In two days, you have reached Level 52… and you've cleared the Drake as well. You are to be… congratulated."

He spoke the words through gritted teeth, like he had to pry them out of his mouth. He was saying the words, but they didn't show in his face. His eyes still held Zane in contempt.

"You have...potential, Savage Sage," Stroud continued. "It must be admitted. With the right resources, the right support, and disciplined fighting men to do your bidding, you could be a great power in your own right."

Zane was getting whiplash. Hadn't they tried to kill him just a day ago?

"The Soldier of God prizes men of potential. He believes it a shame to see such men wasted. He sent me a missive. You must forgive me for my… hastiness… yesterday. The Soldier has commanded I apologize."

It wasn't much of an apology. It seemed to kill Stroud a little to say it. It did explain how he was acting. Zane supposed it said something about this Soldier.

"Savage Sage, I have an offer to make you. It is from the Soldier himself. The Luminous Faction may join the Iron Legion as a sub-faction. Your Faction will be granted near full autonomy. They will be treated well and given Iron Legion protection, and need only pay a small tribute. You will be gifted five high-grade Spirit Stones. Enough to raise you to Level 60. And… you will personally earn a place as one of the Soldier's Lieutenants—a high honor. Equal to my own rank."

He spat out that last phrase.

"I see," said Zane evenly.

"This way," continued Stroud, "We gain a useful ally. And you, and your people, stand to gain as well. Everyone wins. There need not be any bloodshed."

"You are implying," said Zane, "That if I do not take your offer, there would be bloodshed."

Stroud frowned.

"The Soldier is intent on claiming the Pacific Northwest as his own," said Stroud. "The Soldier recognizes your talents. Yet… if you are not an ally, then you must be an enemy. And you will suffer the same fate as all the Legion's enemies."

Zane said nothing.

"This is the best offer we have given any Faction in the state," said Stroud.

More generous than Zane deserved, if Stroud's face was anything to go by. "Consider it carefully. There will not be another."

Avery was looking at him with some alarm. "Hey, big fella," she said. "Um. You're not… actually considering this… right?"

"Ah. Yes," said Stroud, blinking like he'd just remembered she was there. "This raises a final point."

He pointed straight at Avery. "This woman has wreaked devastation on his territories and terrorized his people. She is a wanted criminal. As part of our deal, the Soldier requests your aid in her execution."

A tense silence fell. Avery bit her lip.

"I refuse."

Stroud's face darkened. "This is a condition of our offer."

"Then I refuse that too."

Stroud twitched. He stared in disbelief, as though he couldn't believe Zane had the audacity. "Do you understand what it means to be an enemy of the Soldier, Savage Sage? Of those above Level 60, he has dozens. The Soldier himself is well over Level 70! This is not a battle you can hope to win! He has offered you exceedingly generous terms! You would throw them in his face?"

"He wants me to submit to him," said Zane. "You call that generous? You don't threaten one of my own in front of me. I don't trust you, nor do I trust your offer."

He shrugged. "And I don't like you. You tried to kill me a day ago. Now you want to be my ally?"

A vein bulged in Stroud's forehead. "You would be a fool to spurn us, Savage Sage!"

"So be it," said Zane calmly.

Stroud breathed out deeply. He'd gone dark red. "Know this! As an enemy, considering your strength, your Signature, and your rate of growth—you are the greatest threat we perceive in this region. You will have gone from a great friend to our greatest enemy. If you are determined to go down this route… the Legion will treat you as such."

"So be it," said Zane again.

Stroud glared at him. Then he turned to Avery.

"You then, Savant! This man is determined to make an enemy of the Soldier, but you need not. Help us subdue him. Leave the state. Then, the Soldier is prepared to grant you amnesty."

Zane was almost impressed by the sheer gall of the man. Cold-blooded as a snake, this one.

"Hmm," said Avery. She cocked her head. "Go fuck yourself?"

Stroud looked from one of them to the other, his face a mask of cold fury. "You will regret this. Both of you!"

He started marching off.

"Wait," said Zane suddenly. "Did you mean what you said? That you mean to conquer us?"

Stroud turned slowly. "That is so."

"So you've come and threatened my people, and declared me a threat to be exterminated. And you believe you can simply… walk away?" An amused smile was creeping up Zane's face.

Stroud looked like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I chose not to fight you," he said through gritted teeth. "Because that might mean losing men. And losing men jeopardizes my chances of clearing this dungeon. But do not think for a second I fear you, you insolent brat."

Electricity crackled around his eyes. For a second, they flashed lightning blue. "If it is a fight you want, you will have one!"

But it wasn't Zane who'd picked this fight. The moment Stroud had threatened Avery, threatened Zane's people to his face, he'd known this could end only one way. This strange, annoying girl was now his friend. So were the rest of the people of the Luminous Faction.

When Stroud threatened Zane he'd only been mildly annoyed. His life didn't feel all that important. But somehow when they threatened his friends it pissed him off. He wasn't sure why there was such a difference, but there it was.

Zane didn't look to Stroud. He looked to Stroud's men, looked each one dead in the eyes. "Before we begin, I'll give your leader the same offer he gave me. Give him up, and I'll spare you."

None of them hesitated. They drew their sole weapons, all at once.

So be it.

𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣 𝕊𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕕 (ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖)

𝔼𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕃𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝟝𝟞

ℂ𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕤: 𝕃𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕

𝕃𝕒𝕨𝕤: 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕠𝕣 𝕃𝕒𝕨 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕘𝕖

𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕤:

𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕣 (𝔸𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖) [ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕠𝕟]

𝕊𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕔𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕓𝕠𝕝𝕥, 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕖. 𝔼𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕝.

𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕘𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕕 (ℙ𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖) [𝕌𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕠𝕟]

𝔼𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕗𝕚𝕖𝕝𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕚𝕗𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕓𝕠𝕝𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕'𝕤 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕠𝕣𝕕'𝕤 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕖𝕤.

Zane could work with that.

Stroud held out a hand, and lightning struck his palm. When the flash faded, there was a weapon—a 10-foot-long glaive. Its blade was one curved, viciously sharp chunk of blue steel; lightning crackled down its length. You could hear the buzzing from dozens of feet away.

Roaring a battle cry, Stroud charged. His underlings did too.

"I need you to hold Stroud," said Zane. His Axes burst into being. "I'll clear his underlings first." Avery nodded. "On it!"

A minor mirage burst into being around Stroud, trapping him. Zane imagined he was falling down some unseen dimension in that cocoon. He had maybe 10 seconds.

Inferno Cyclone!

His Axes shrieked out. In just two revolutions, the trees around them crumbled to nothing. The ground started to warp. Drifts of ash were dragged into the howling air currents. Stroud's men tried chucking their skills at him, tried charging him, but they all met that wall of fire and wind. They were all swallowed up. His axes spun a fourth, a fifth time. They raced through the ranks of men. Blood and fire stained the cyclone red. Screams erupted through the mess, but the winds drowned them out. Essence flashed. Limbs rolled. Heads rolled. Body halves flopped over one another, twitching.

Stroud broke out just in time to see the last of his men dissolve into essence and flow straight into Zane.

Stroud twitched. His eyes bulged. Angry veins stood out, purple on his neck, on his head. But he didn't lunge. Instead, he took a deep breath, and a trembling, furious coldness settled over his expression.

"You'll die for that!" he snarled.

His glaive flashed white, and he leapt. Zane swung up his axes to meet the man. Lightning met fire. A blue-white blast rocked the world, and they were both sent stumbling back, breathing hard.

Screaming, Stroud lunged again, and again they met—axe and glaive—and again they burst apart. Zane was starting to smile. Avery raised her hands, the air began to distort—

"Don't!" said Zane.

"What?"

"Stay out of it," he said. He was full-on grinning now. "This one's mine."