Path of the Slayer B3 41. Sanctums & Ambushes

“You’re about to see something that even my friends haven’t seen, Grimmy.”

Under a purple, starry sky-ceiling chasing away the setting sun, I stopped at a watering hole near some Rank 0 deer. The animals took one look at me and Grimmy before the doe went back to drinking. The buck kept watch as we trudged far under the gloom away from civilization and prying eyes.

Little insects buzzed about. Muggy water vapors clung to my unarmored body as my oneness with this lesser plane continued. Yet, the world seemed far too relaxed and tamed after Grimmy had set off a soulful and divine bomb with ramifications I could tangibly feel. 

Even while one with this lesser plane of existence, Grimmy’s undeniable power kept rippling out slightly, at least to my senses. The nearby Rank 0 creatures remained ignorant, but maybe not for long.

“If I betray you, I’ll take my own life,” Grimmy declared, her words – her Oath – resounding with impact. The world warbled, the water splashed, the trees swayed, all from a mere fraction of her devotion.

The buck and deer caught that and sprang away. That was smart of them.

I shook my head. “You didn’t have to swear to me like that, Grimmy. To call me your master is going too far.”

She smiled wide and toothily. “It’s like what Kroker said. We are all part of something larger than ourselves, so why not honor that! You are good-good and big-big! I trust you more than anyone else in the Realm Verse. I want to serve as your Little Fighter, and you will be my Master Arden. And I know with you, I’ll grow and grow and be a scary Primordial, who shall serve you always!”

My temporary prosthetic felt cool against my head as I rubbed around where a building pressure formed. I wanted to shout and grouch, but I couldn’t do that to Grimmy.

She’d revealed the pure essence of her soul to me. She was true to her purpose.

“Alright. Before we go. Let me set something straight.” I turned toward the boggy water. “System. I know you’re paying close attention. I need you to respond. Now.”

A public notification popped up, and Grimmy gasped, leaning forward instead of stepping back.

[Yes, dear?]

“You crossed the line with me, System. You know that, don’t you?”

[I know.]

“Chances are, we have to keep working together. But I can work with you warmly or with indifference. Push me far enough, and maybe I’ll even turn against you. Are you hearing me?”

[Yes, I am.]

“Then don’t do that again. No ifs. No buts. Just don’t.”

[Alert! Hard-coded Parameter set! No further System Brands for Arden the Nomad’s close relations!]

I let out a slow breath. “I almost want to ask if there are more parameters I can set with you.”

[There are a few. But I would advise you to let me act under my own discretion mainly. I’m more effective when I’m mysterious and somewhat flexible even with all the inane parameters in my way. But in this case, I’ve misjudged slightly and can see how I’ve wronged you. I’m sorry, my Slayer. Please don’t hate me. At least not for this.]

Nodding along, I glanced off to the side. Glowflies raced about, their green light pulsating in the purple dusk.

Turning a little more, I caught Grimmy with her jaw hanging wide-open, yellow eyes bulging. A little chuckle escaped me.

Grimmy might kick aside Merlin and take the number one spot for the best reactions.

Shaking my head, I looked back at the blue notification prompt hovering in the air. 

“Alright. You aren’t forgiven just yet, System. And I won’t ever forget this. You preyed on Merlin behind my back, and that’s horrible of you. And you nearly preyed on Grimmy right in front of me. But … we can keep working in the right direction as long as you think twice about how you mess with me and mine. Now, let’s see what Paige has for me next.”

I patted Grimmy on the back and directed her into a slick glade with hundreds of green glowflies and a wide circle of mushrooms. Together we took two steps into the circle before the familiar sensation of a snap, a pop, and a rush of dimensional magic roared all around us.

Our bodies jerked to a stop together, my hand still on her back plates, her power core humming against my fingers.

[You’ve entered the Slayer Sanctum: Second Portion (Legendary)!]

Mud slurped at my feet. A thick sheet of chilly rain slapped down on my unarmored body, digging deep with a chill that reached into my core.

I could barely see ten feet in front of me, even with the soft gray light beaming down from above. There was magical interference disrupting my perception. It was probably in the rain.

The temptation to summon my bonded treasures was strong, but I held back to see what surprises might jump at me. I didn’t have to wait for long when loud, muddy splashes and a monstrous hiss came from my right.

“Whoa!” Grimmy chirped, as I yanked her by the back cuff of her armor with my left hand.

We twisted away from a fast-moving threat, dodging the creature by a hairbreadth. The moment I felt its Rank 5 Suppression unfolding all over us suddenly, I replied in kind with a Path Magic: Tyrannosaurus Roar!

Some other powers got involved, boosting me, but I was a little careful with one in particular. Path Lightning had to stay strictly internal while mystical and antagonistic rain soaked me.

The ambusher splashed hard in the mud and hesitated while under the effect of my roar. That granted me enough time to wind my arm back and throw Grimmy as hard as necessary.

“Weeee!” she shrieked savagely, bringing around her half-gob greatsword.

With one chop, she carved deep into the beast’s side, eliciting a shrill.

The half-gob laughed as she scrambled around and mounted the back. “Hey, stop fighting and just die. I gotta impress, Master Arden!”

The monster replied by bucking and thrashing. Grimmy held onto its back with one hand, while the other wrenched her sword from its flank.

She chopped down again and again, hurling out gouts of blood to mix with the rain. Each of her blows was powerful and vicious, far more than they were before, mutilating the Rank 5.

I kept watching, still holding back to see what the Second Portion had in store for me, when I sensed another’s power trying to invade me. I recognized the familiar sensation, and with a wide smile, I smacked away the disruptive magic using my Slayer Intent.

Only then did I finally bother to summon my Bonded Treasures, all three of them. I’d already popped off the temporary Rank 5 arm and slipped it into my pouch when a large humanoid form in heavy, boxy armor came running at me.

Down came a heavy staff, and even with me at my most vulnerable, I raised my left forearm to block.

A resounding shockwave split the heavy mystical rain and the gray scenery, revealing an immense and ancient, primeval jungle all around us. But I cared little about that as I looked up at the nine-foot tall juggernaut in burnt orange boxy armor with gold inlays.

It was Paige, and despite her obvious strength, I barely buckled from taking her powerful hit on my forearm. My new Path Magic, Pain Eater Juggernaut, was that amazing!

That must’ve left an impression, because the large half-giant construct was pausing to examine me when an angry cry stole our attention. A half-gob missile flew in, forcing Paige into a back step as Grimmy attacked with ferocious and brilliant swordplay.

Thankfully, my bonded armor was back on me, filling me with an extra 1000% Path Energy. It also hid the jaw-open look on my face as I watched Grimmy step, twist, and flicker around some of Paige’s fastest and hardest swings.

With every dodge, Grimmy replied with sword swings so close to perfect, I wasn’t sure why the half-gob would consider me her master. Yet, based on her ferocious moves and the yellowish glow streaming off her, I could tell she was leaning heavily on her Oath.

She even paired it with her Epiphany for a little more power. “It’s Okay If I’m Small. I’LL HONOR MY MASTER!”