The Elder Demon's Dilemma (Realm of Arkon, Book 9) Read online

  His sacrifice had been in vain. With Vaepar down, the titans had been weakened enough that the gods would have dealt with them on their own. But what's done is done - there would be no do-overs.

  Meanwhile, the battle on the heath continued. Having lost nearly a quarter of their troops, the allied army was regrouping and restoring a clinch-like deadlock with the enemy. With the magic shroud dissipated, you could see now that the transformed army was roughly one-and-a-half times greater in size than the defenders. Most of the Darkaanese wore helms, but you could still see by their shapes that few among them were human. As for the raid bosses accompanying the army, the very sight of them would make any stable and sensible person question the mental and emotional health of the artists behind their design. Then again, perhaps it was perfectly in line with what Salvador Dali might have conceived in their stead. Artists were sick in the head almost by default - he knew that from personal experience. And anyway, what did it matter what they looked like when he had little more than ten minutes left to live? Tuning into his inner state, Max realized that he wasn't afraid of dying. Humans usually feared the arrival of death, the pain and suffering accompanying some traumatic experience or an incurable illness, but in his case the picture would simply go dark. His main frustration was that this blunder would leave the elves without their Guardian, but at least the Silver Grove would get its one hundred and third Mallorn tree. He also hated having to upset Alyona by coming clean, but he had no choice...

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 381.

  You have gained a level!

  .....................................................................

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 420.

  You've earned a unique achievement, Valeph's Slayer. Valeph is a unique boss that can only be killed once. You and your allies have been granted a permanent 11% increase to your physical and magic damage.

  You've earned a unique achievement, Slayer of the Dark Gods [Artifact rank]. You and your allies have been granted a permanent 5% increase to your damage to Great Essences.

  "Three fifty two!" Alyona exclaimed, exuberant. "The only achievement I'm missing now is 'Arkon's Number One Sponger.'" The girl spun in place to celebrate, then took a seat next to him and gave his shoulder a shake. "What is with you, Max?! We've won! My husband is a hero! Why are you upset? And why is Glitch squealing? Is he injured?"

  "Here's the thing, Alyona..." Max started, then stopped short, lost for words.

  Funny how he feared death so much less than confessing to his own wife. Tragically funny, but funny just the same.

  The scene of the battle, in the meantime, had changed radically. Setara, Myrt and Ingvar were soaring over the ranks of the transformed, with nearly half of the enemy army frozen like pillars of salt. A silence ensued where you could hear the fire slowly spreading in the forest behind them. Then the legates barked their commands, and the allied army began retreating from the Darkaanese shackled by magic. Had the gods decided to grant them all life? With the titans and their magic gone from the realm, had their followers reverted to their sentient selves? If so, only a total moron would choose to destroy their own potential electorate.

  Distracted by the spectacle, he missed the moment when elven gods began materializing next to the dying fire. A bloody funeral train... The women's faces were streaked with tears while Dylanneus, Alak and Amerys had a focused grimness about them.

  "What's wrong with them, Max?" Alyona whispered in a suddenly hoarse voice. "Did something happen to Roman?"

  In response, Alak got down on one knee and bowed his head silently. The others followed his lead.

  "What do you think you're doing?!" Max cried out in outrage, springing up from the log. Just then, Sata's translucent projection manifested in the air, just behind the kneeling gods. Wearing a skimpy top and shorts with low half-boots, the goddess looked particularly foxy with her signature fluffy tail and a pair of fancy earrings. Sata wrinkled her nose, cast a sardonic gaze over the kneeling elves, gave a mirthful laugh, winked at Max and vanished in the air just as quickly as she had appeared.

  The words has stuck in his throat. Slowly - very slowly - Max raised his hand and touched his left earlobe. The earring gifted by Sata was gone. He pulled up the action bar... and shook his head in bewilderment.

  Sacrifice.

  Instant cast.

  Cost: 1 Infinity Point.

  The Guardian adds the maximum reserve of Infinity Points to the existing amount at a 99.999% risk of his astral projection getting dissolved in the Astral after 15 minutes. A mallorn tree grows in the Silver Grove.

  Oh, was that all?! A probability had been added to the ability's description, and somehow Max didn't doubt that he had lucked out into that one thousandth of a percent. Urkhunt did say that, of all the gods, Sata was the only one capable of breaking the sequence of events and replacing it with another. And now that Roman had fulfilled the oath given to the fox, she had repaid the service in kind, with Max being the beneficiary.

  "What... what is happening?!" Alyona rose from the log after him, tears welling up in her eyes.

  "Everything is just fine," Max gave her a reassuring smile, then touched Alak's shoulder and added. "The Guardian's death has been invalidated. So you're stuck with me. Come, Alyona, let's see what goodies Halephos has brought us."

  * * *

  A salt-scented breeze touched my face. I pushed off the marble slab on which I lay, rose to my feet and turned around. I was on the same terrace as before. Was I still alive? Based on all my sensations, it would appear so. I could see, and hear, and feel. The sun still hung in the same spot as before, only its color had changed from red to orange. The terrace stood on the edge of a cliff, its broad marble banister propped up by classic rail-posts. Far below splashed the blue sea, waves crashing noisily against the rocks. Some fifty yards behind me lay a wide marble staircase, very similar to the one from Cathella. Except this one was far longer, its steps disappearing into the white clouds, with the contours of a grand palace filtering through the haze. Despite the high altitude, breathing came easy, though there was a strange bitter taste in my throat.

  At the foot of the staircase stood a white griffin statue, surrounded by trees that looked like cedars. The monster was rearing, its beak half-opened and its wings spread wide. Back on Earth, some artists drew griffins with bird feet, which I always found pitiful. One might say that it's pointless to argue about the appearance of mythical creatures that have no basis in reality, and yet, if you gave a creature a lion's torso, you had better give him lion's feet, too. Just like this here specimen on the pedestal.

  I had no weapons or armor, and no way to access my inventory. Instead, I wore a loose white tunic with a geometric pattern along the edges of the short sleeves. The same tunic worn by the winged guys and gals. I glanced behind me, then drew a disappointed sigh. No wings... Unsure of what to occupy myself with, I took a seat on one of the wide benches near the banister, and got to thinking. What was this place? And why was I still breathing?

  Well, at least the first question had a clear answer. I didn't know how, but this place had to be Lemuria. Or, to be more precise, Shallat - the great continent ruled by the Winged Lord a.k.k kellasae. The same fellas I had seen during my first visit, which seemed so long ago now. As to the second question of why I was still alive... The last thing I remembered was Vaepar suffering over half a trillion damage and me going down to five percent astral body. But wait...

  Hart! Why am I such a bloody moron!

  I covered my face with my hands, shaking with nervous laughter. It wasn't enough to remember math formulas - you needed to be able to apply them, too. Though the twentieth tick in that progression would have hit for one trillion, the sum total of the preceding ticks had exceeded one trillion on tick nineteen! That's an F for you, Roman! Sit down! Indeed, Vaepar had croaked one second earlier! And even if the transformed had finished me off afterwards, I would simply resurrect
by the bindstone at the castle entrance! Blind, deaf and without my combat form, but alive! But then, why did I have my sight and hearing and everything? Oh well, I wasn't going to argue. I was alive, and that was quite enough.

  With a shrug, I massaged my temples, then looked up... and smiled.

  He was sanding maybe ten feet away from me, peering into my eyes, his head slightly cocked. A young guy with the penetrating gaze of a seasoned military leader. Curly black hair, broad shoulders, firm chin, silver wings at his back, and a barely visible indigo-colored bar above his head.

  "Greetings!" I said politely, getting up off the bench.

  A soft smile touched Phallet's lips as he stepped towards me and put his hand on my shoulder. The bar above his head jerked, then shortened by about ten percent as I felt a current of electricity course through my body.

  Thank you, his voice echoed in my head. It's truly yours now...

  A familiar blade appeared in Phallet's hands. He handed it to me with a smile.

  Farewell...

  "Thank you, but how do I..." I began to speak, but couldn't finish my question.

  The moment my hand touched the hilt of the sword, the sun flared over the mountains, and the world - for the umpteenth time today - fell into darkness.

  ***

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 303.

  You have 5 talent points to allocate.

  Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.

  You have 9 stat points to allocate.

  You have gained a level!

  …

  You have gained a level!

  …

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 356.

  You have 58 talent points to allocate.

  Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.

  You have 168 stat points to allocate.

  You've earned a unique achievement, Vaepar's Slayer. Vaepar is a unique boss that can only be killed once. You and your allies have been granted a permanent 11% increase to your physical and magic damage.

  You've earned a unique achievement, Godslayer [Artifact rank]. You and your allies have been granted a permanent 5% increase to your damage to Great Essences.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Myrt, the God of Wisdom and Battle Valor, is friendly to you.

  You received a single-use ability: Myrt's Gratitude. All the damage sustained by you and your allies, as well as your enemies' chance to deal critical damage to you and your allies, is reduced by 5%.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Setara, the Goddess of Justice, is friendly to you.

  You can use Setara's Shield no more than once every five days.

  You can also use the Shield on any of your allies. This will create a protective dome ten feet in diameter at a distance of no more than one hundred feet away from you.

  Setara's Shield dispels all hostile spells and protects you and your chosen allies from all types of damage and curses for 20 seconds.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Ingvar the Warrior God is friendly to you.

  You have earned a new rank, Knight-Commander of the Order of Punishing Steel. Now you can command groups of up to 5,000 sentient NPCs. You and the warriors under your command receive 20% increase to your physical and magic damage, 20% to armor class and all resistances, and 20% to the effectiveness of healing spells. Experience gained by sentient beings under your command is increased by 20%.

  Attention! This achievement cancels the bonuses received from the Knight-Captain of the Punishing Steel achievement.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Kirana, the Goddess of Vengeance, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Alak, the God of Military Duty and Nobility, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Loaetia, the Goddess of Mercy and Medicine, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Neima, the Goddess of Life, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Dylanneus the Hunter God is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Amerys, the God of Forest Spirits, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Mara, the Goddess of Path Selection, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have garnered the attention of a higher being. Sata, the Goddess of Luck, is friendly to you.

  Attention! You have won the favor of all the elven gods while not being of the elven race yourself. You received a single-use ability, Friend of the Elves. Your maximum HP is increased by 50%.

  Your reputation has increased. The human race relates to you with respect.

  Your reputation has increased. Elves relate to you with respect.

  Your reputation has increased. Dwarves relate to you with respect.

  You've completed the quest: Prince of Shallat.

  Your astral body has been fully restored. The stats of Great Sword Ruination have been changed.

  You've acquired the skill: Kellas' Gratitude.

  Upon reaching level 500, the skill Portal to Killeheret will unlock in your talent tree. This skill will cost zero skill points to learn.

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 357.

  You have 9 talent points to allocate.

  Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.

  You have 171 stat points to allocate.

  You have gained a level!

  …

  You have gained a level!

  …

  You have gained a level!

  Current level: 401.

  You have 103 talent points to allocate.

  Class bonus: +1 to intellect; +1 to spirit.

  You have 303 stat points to allocate.

  Your Demonic Rage Form II has been transformed to Demonic Rage Form III.

  Demonic Rage Form III. Unique skill. Duration: unlimited. When in Demonic Rage Form III, maximum protection against all types of damage is increased by 7%, up to 95% maximum value. Infernal Rage I is transformed to Infernal Rage II. Aura of Horror I is transformed to Aura of Horror II. Furthermore, your armor class, physical and mental damage are increased by 40%.

  Note that this combat form is not final, and may undergo additional transformations in the future.

  Aura of Horror II

  Instant cast.

  Cooldown: 5 minutes.

  Requires Demonic Rage Form III.

  The blood of a true Lord starts to boil in you, and a Fright effect is applied to all hostile sentient creatures without mental protection within a 70 yard radius, causing them to flee in terror. The duration of the effect is determined by the mental resistance of creatures affected by Aura of Horror II. With a resistance of zero, the effect lasts 90 seconds.

  Infernal Rage

  Instant cast.

  Cooldown: 5 minutes.

  Requires Demonic Rage Form III.

  The elder demon falls into a frenzy for 45 seconds, with every physical and mental attack inflicting critical damage.

  Upon activating Infernal Rage II, the elder demon is rid of all stun, fear and immobilization effects, and becomes invulnerable to them for the duration of the spell.

  Attention! Jaelitte, a new Elder Demon of Passion, has come to the Realm of Arkon! Primordial Chaos has torn through the shroud of the Great Dark Ocean, revealing new zones in the Netherworld plane: Great Volcanic Ridge, Yssarean Swale, Laddered Lowlands of Temptation, Thousand Skull Coast.

  Great! More shit for me to shovel through. Getting up on my sheet, I winced from the unbearable racket, and took a lungful of the smoky, stinky air.

  It was hard to describe the mixed bag of feelings bursting out of me. I felt like cursing, screaming at the sky, singing with joy and rolling on the ground with maniacal laugh
ter. Only acting like an idiot was unbecoming of a prince. I had done it... I had done it!!! Not in my wildest dreams could I have hoped to accomplish all this, and to remain in one piece to boot! In sharing with me whatever that indigo thing was, Phallet had restored my astral body. And the System's rewards were pretty damn generous, too. Knight-Commander of the Order, Friend of the Elves, the next combat form, and, last but certainly not least, a wife!

  In the meantime, the sky above opened up, revealing the orange disk of the sun shimmering through the smoke, illuminating the burning earth and the fifteen-foot-long winged monster raging up in the firmament as it decimated the ranks of the transformed. She looks just like her mother! I thought with admiration, removing my helm to get a better view at the Elder Demon. At my wife. Despite her deadly demeanor and fifteen-foot-tall frame, she moved with elegance and grace. Facing off against level 400+ Darkaanese warriors and level 500+ raid bosses - a far more formidable host than the one her mother had destroyed in Craedia - Jaelitte seemed in full control of the situation, unleashing a storm of flame, exploding fireballs and torrents of red-hot lava upon the enemy, with each attack turning hundreds of troops into blackened corpses. The girl was probably drunk on freedom after all those centuries in captivity, and I was content to let those bastards that had come here to murder and pillage to serve as the lightning rod for her rage.

  I gave a piece of red ice a kick with the heel of my boot, then cast a dubious look at the pile of rocks lying in a big pool of mud just ahead. Where is the face and where is the ass? The question wasn't particularly material, but it was strange that Vaepar had crumbled into a pile of pitiful rocks upon death. More than strange, I'd say. All around the monster's corpse, sections of molten ground alternated with brown patches of budding plants. The pieces of multicolored ice scattered all around looked like broken pieces of the rainbow cast down from the sky.

  I turned sharply around at the sound of muffled voices behind me, and my brows involuntarily arched upward. Standing up on the broken castle wall was Baron Ulrich, slack-jawed as he watched the demon frolicking over the plain. His wife and half a century of soldiers from his garrison - all of whom had supposedly perished not half an hour ago - were standing alongside and behind him with expressions no less colorful. And I couldn't blame them - my wife was a sight to behold!