Path of the Slayer B3 27. Spirits & Tournaments

“Dude, Merlin’s losing himself to wizard madness,” Thumper said while conducting martial maneuvers with his new Epic Rank 5 Void Nodachi.

The seven-foot-long and curved blade was blacker than black. It made no sound as the half-giant rogue swiped, spun, cut, raised, and thrust without trying to conceal himself.

From the outside, the nodachi seemed too simple, but just like the void, it could eat energy, a worthwhile feature among others at the expense of billions of credits worth of materials.

Thumper stopped his martial maneuvers and turned to me while outside of my cursed crafting station. I was shaping a pivotal mechanical piece for my new small-arms guns on a cursed Rank 5 grindstone as sparks struck my bare chest like hissing vipers.

Sensing his troubled gaze, I stopped to look at him.

Strands of dark red and bright red cursed energy wafted like a curtain between us where a clear delineating zone kept it all contained. Haunted spirits wailed through the hellish veil with the taint of madness. Flickers of demonic phantoms appeared and disappeared around me.

They clawed at the air and left temporary rents, as if to rip apart the distance between the Crossroads Citadel World and the nearest Hell Realm.

They couldn’t even if they put in more effort. I’d written in fine print the needed containment runes based on a few manuals from the Final Rose Auction House. The reading material normally stayed within half-devil circles, so I appreciated the availability once enough credits had been on the table.

It was safe to say I was immune to hellish curses in their entirety, but I’d already figured that was the case for most Slayers. Being a nomad probably helped, too, because of the ancestral roots and our personal power to wander the Realms.

Defilement, however, was an entirely different matter of corruption, which Baron had fallen to – something I’d prefer to avoid.

Most folks might not know the difference, especially with how evil it all looked from the outside. But that was okay. I had a decent handle on hellish, cursed corruption at least.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind finding another Hell Realm and making it my own. Or maybe I would run across my former Hell Realm but at a higher Rank.

“Still thinking, Arden?” Thumper asked, pulling me out of my brooding.

Internally, I made a prayer to the System for the return of my Hell Realm – I missed those lovably stupid hand waves from my ghouls.

Aloud, I asked, “Merlin’s been winning?”

“Not only winning, he’s been dominating. I mean, we all know how powerful Merlin can be when he gets going. But the rest of the competition doesn’t compare.” Thumper rested the Void Nodachi on his shoulder and glanced at a demonic specter humping the air over the railcannon reconstruction section.

Shaking his head, Thumper refocused on me. “He’s been crushing other Legendaries left and right. A bunch of rich vultures are trying to scout him out and poach him away from us. It’s kind of ridiculous and almost makes me want to reveal myself to make them back off.”

Thumper huffed. “Without you there … they don’t take me as seriously when I stay hidden. You’re the one everyone’s clamoring about if it’s not about Merlin kicking ass at the tournament.”

I placed the gun part down on a table and swatted aside a spirit with my metal hand. “I imagine Sharia and Zez have to hold back because of other Veterans, huh?”

“It depends, honestly. Veteran Sharia is acting like a big mama bear over the juniors. Someone nearly got to Grimmy and Sharia snapped them in two … without killing them, of course.”

I let out a slow breath and checked my emotions without my warrior nomad skill. Hearing about someone going after Grimmy made me feel … irrationally angry. Thank the System for Veteran Sharia being involved despite our estranged relationship. 

“Yeah, imagine how I feel when I’m around,” Thumper grouched, reading my mood.

I nodded at that. “I can only imagine it’s frustrating to stay in hiding.”

“It is.”

Thumper glanced at another maddened spirit chomping its big teeth threateningly at him. With a flick and thrust that was blurring fast, he stabbed the spirit with the Void Nodachi and vanquished it.

But A small energy gap appeared in the delineated zone Thumper had pierced, and the other maddened spirits raced for it.

Without trying too hard, I pushed my passive powers to the forefront – Path Energy, Slayer Intent, Vibrant Cultivator Gates, Cursed User Control.

I used Hellion as a channeling tool and released pulses of domineering power. Every spirit that tried to escape through the hole took a big smack from me until the containment resealed itself naturally.

“Foolish little cretins,” Hellion spat aloud. “You’ve been brought here to serve the one true ruler of the Hell Realms! Despite your weak perversions and inability to be anything great on your own, my liege has seen it fit to make you all greater than the sum of your collective idiocy. Do not escape your purpose! Welcome what is to come as he forges you all anew!”

Thankfully, the enchanted containment kept Hellion’s voice from being harmful, so he could speak more freely around Thumper. And what he said wasn’t hot air and platitudes.

I really wanted to make use of these maddened spirits I’d pulled across the gaps of space and time. That fight with the Nemesis made me realize I needed to lean further into my hellish artificing capabilities to overcome their damn Nemesis Link.

I needed crafts that were powerful outside of me while also capable of growing even more powerful when pushed further by me. Then the next Nemesis wouldn’t hold such an immense advantage.

“Thanks for trying to keep the frustration from overcoming you,” I said smoothly, picking up where Thumper left off.

“I don’t have a choice. We’re not in a position where I can reveal myself fully and survive the repercussions. I’m pretty damn sure they let me go to serve as bait to royal loyalists, after all.” Thumper shook his head, silver eyes narrowed with anger.

It took me till now to realize he dropped the spell hiding his true features to be more of himself around me.

I made sure to listen as he muttered, “The moment I reappear, the Gigantomachy will take us out if we aren’t swaddled with enough political protection. There’s a few at the tournament who aren’t exactly on my list, but they’re connected to those who are … especially the First Heir.”

“Not going to do something?” I asked carefully.

Thumper took a while to answer. “No. They’re already upset with the deaths at the Final Rose Auction House. It’s best I let that giant hornet’s nest settle down first. Besides, this shouldn’t be about me.”

“Watch me,” I said, smirking.

He rolled his eyes and scoffed using my voice. “I know.”

With that, we both chuckled a bit, lightening the mood despite the wailing of the cursed spirits. Then I got back on topic.

“So, Merlin’s dominating the tournament, losing himself further to wizard madness, and getting offers from poachers. What about things with Syleth?”

Thumper sighed. “I checked with her directly to see if she’s using her magic on Merlin. She’s not. None of her words come across as lying, and I would know even with her being Path of the Charmer. Still, Syleth is enabling Merlin hardcore.”

Swinging his Void Nodachi about, Thumper looked in the direction where V’s large strides sent minor quakes through the crafting fortress. The rogue continued. “I’m not sure what to do about it. It’ll feel wrong of me to, I don’t know, interrupt without really knowing if it’s right or wrong. I just get this feeling Merlin’s riding way too high without the safety brakes. In one second, he was telling me about how he and Syleth gone into a three way with a minor princess from another Realm–”

“Nice,” I complimented.

Thumper nodded. “It was until Merlin started talking about marrying Syleth. He even added that Syleth probably wouldn’t mind if it’s more than just them, which makes me think he’ll go full-on harem route, which, frankly, has a tendency to end in disaster in Pathwalker society.”

I frowned. “Not nice.”

“Yeah, exactly. I tried to suggest that was a bad idea because of the timing and how he was rushing everything. But Merlin just laughed it off and ignored me. And he started talking like … like …”

I sighed. “An arrogant young master?”

“Look at you, Arden, you’re picking up on the tropes.” Thumper chuckled without mirth. “But, yeah … we’re losing our boy to all the bad temptations of high-status society.”

I shook my damn head.

It was day eight out of ten. Based on how things were going with the tournament, I could afford an additional day to keep crafting. The tournament would end in three days before having a large celebration in honor of the crowned winner on the fourth.

Whoever that was, if it wasn’t Merlin, would get paraded around the Central Diamond Castle, the middle of the entire challenge floor. If it were Merlin, it would be the perfect time for our enemies to strike.

Thumper not mentioning anything about Assassins was noteworthy. I doubted they were out of the game, so they were probably biding their time just like the Nemeses.

Still, I was more concerned about this troubling development with Merlin losing his way. I felt responsible just as I would for anyone I cared about.

“Then I have no choice.” I walked out of the cursed and hellish crafting zone and stopped in front of the seven-foot rogue. Looking up into his uncovered eyes, my next words came out with a resolute promise. “Let Merlin know if he doesn’t cool it, I’ll come in and kick his ass.”

Off at an open corner of the fortress, V stopped chucking meteorites out for Sabretooth to chase and ice. The Veteran Rex turned and let out a rumbling harrumph, having clearly heard the entire conversation.

“Every now and then, a friend’s ego has to get checked. But if you’re truly comrades in arms, then you’ll only come out stronger afterward. Real men can beat each other up over stupid decisions and have beers later.”

“Damn straight.” Thumper nodded. “I’ll race back and let him know. But you better come back strong as heck, Arden. Merlin’s been refining his powers. Debt-free, 200% Legendary energy, and empowered by everything else, he’s looking unbeatable. Hell, I think his Path of the Dragon might be in the Level 90s at this point.”

I smirked. “I’ll be prepared. I’ll even dress to impress.”