MM - Chapter 180 - HOW DEEP THE GREED GOES

Raine ran like his life depended on it, because it very much did. He dodged around trees, plowed through dense bushes, and circumvented the Fetches between him and whatever salvation these shrines represented. Selena’s half-assed explanation only left it clear that reaching them would help. Raine sure hoped that was the case. Already, his muscles felt uncomfortably full. It was now clear that the Primal Energy also saturated the air. With every breath, his condition grew worse.

Unaccustomed to lying down and letting himself be killed, Raine was hard at work attempting to sharpen his understanding of the strange energy. If he could learn to control it, the boost to raw power it provided would become a pivotal advantage in the ordeals ahead. So far, he wasn’t having much success. No shock considering how much focus he was putting into weaving around trees and monsters, all while carrying a princess and sprinting full-tilt through an unfamiliar jungle.

“Let me down!” Selena demanded. There was no bite to her tone. 

Raine sensed her desire to do her best and complied. She instantly tore away with a burst of Discipline. With his burden reduced, Raine managed to keep up while recovering some of his resources. Already, his Demonic Power was at 25% and he’d begun dipping into his health with Flawed Conversion. The more life he drained, the faster Edge of Torment made him. He took no risks, keeping his health above 50% with Healing Burst. The combination allowed him to lean into the regeneration of all 4 resources, drastically increasing how long and hard he could push.

The scenery flew by, and the Fetches roused to fury by their brethren were passed. This presented a new problem. The beasts who weren't stomping through the trees in search of them made considerably less noise. Just as Selena was growing winded again, they charged right into a group of six Fetches. The beasts were standing in a circle, staring at nothing. The instant interlopers appeared, they sprang to life. 

The thick, corded vines they used as limbs erupted and intertwined into a net-like mesh that attempted to trap them. Meanwhile, the Primal Energy in their chests pulsed menacingly. Raine estimated he could take at most three more of their roars before he exploded. Snatching Selena’s wrist, he Lunged straight up, clearing the canopy.

Frigid air assaulted them, sinking deep into their bones. Even the soul flame couldn't combat the freezing temperatures. With one breath, Raine was the coldest he’d ever been. He once had to swim through a lake overflowing with ice and water elementals. This was worse. The shock of it was so great that Selena stiffened completely, unable to even twitch as her muscles spasmed uncontrollably. 

Raine barely managed another Lunge that sent them hurtling forward above the trees. They plowed through the canopy and bounced off several sturdy trunks while plummeting to the ground. Roars from directly behind supplied the motivation to continue running despite his frozen muscles tearing apart. Another Healing Burst helped him recover. Unfortunately for Selena, Raine's haste in using his only healing skill meant her suffering would be prolonged. Due to being dragged along behind him, she was clipped by two blasts of Primal Energy. She convulsed, eyes rolling back into her head as fresh streams of blood shot from her mouth.

Shit!

Raine jerked on her arm, then jumped and spun. She slammed into his chest where he cradled her. Completing the spin, he landed in a sprint.

Why is she taking those so much worse than me?! Minor resistance, my ass! Unless… It's a soul attack! What a combo.

Again, the Soul Flame of Amanesh was coming in clutch: the clear MVP of this ordeal, and not by a small margin. With its 40 Soul Resistance, Raine was shrugging off all but the Primal Energy portion of their attacks.

Selena quickly soaked his shirt in fresh, cold liquids. Her teeth were chattering even as sweat slicked her robes. Raine couldn't have cared less about the mess. Clutching the princess tight, he dashed ahead. Thanks to the roars from behind, the nearby Fetches were roused and broadcasted their locations with trampling stomps. Evading them went smoother than before now that he was used to the twisted game they'd been plunged into. He meticulously evaded them, then slowed enough to not repeat the mistake of barging into whatever creepy commune the bastards had been up to.

Over just a few minutes, the pervasive Primal Energy ramped up enough that Raine doubted he could take two hits now. They were getting closer, and he swore that if there was some inane ritual they had to complete there before being cleansed of the Primal Energy, he was going to find those damn entities and return their many ‘favors’ with a solid ass beating. Between one step and the next, a glint of shimmering gold caught Raine’s attention. His head swiveled to the right, catching the protruding corner of a Marvelous Gold treasure chest buried inside the trunk of a large tree. It was so wrapped in vines he'd almost missed it.

Fuck me. 

Raine’s next step carried a hint of hesitation. By his estimation, there was only a 6000% chance of the chest being a trap. There were no Fetches in sight. The jungle was unnaturally calm. And the damn chest was looking back at him, oozing an innocent vibe that could give Celeste a run for her creds.

Selena's timely groan snapped Raine from his trance. A string of curses escaped his lips as Healing Burst came off cooldown and did its best to ease the physical symptoms of her condition. Her teeth stopped chattering, and she was no longer leaking blood, yet the profuse sweat and sickly color of her skin remained. There was little classical healing could do for a soul injury, as her Health had never been the target, merely a consequence. Until the ‘resource’ regenerated at its own speed, she would continue suffering, precisely as if she’d bottomed out any other resource. Soul Drain was considered the most excruciating of the different types and often likened to resurrection sickness.

Selena’s eased breaths and blissful moan were indication enough that Raine’s skill brought some comfort, at least. She fell fast asleep, going limp in his arms. The thought of setting the tortured woman down long enough to pull the treasure chest free convinced him. Glancing regretfully at its shimmering exterior, Raine took off toward their destination.

Stupid escort quests are the worst!

Balancing the need for haste with prudence, Raine progressed unrelentingly. He carefully tracked each and every little change the Primal Energy made inside his body. He knew he was in trouble when his muscles began to swell uncomfortably. His condition worsened as the minutes dragged on. Much longer, and he’d look like a professional bodybuilder, right up until he exploded.

With no choice but to throw caution aside, Raine resumed his all-out sprint, dashing as fast as his legs could carry them. He knew they had to be getting close. Anticipation prickled his skin; if ever there was a moment for the gods who were no doubt watching to intervene and screw him over, this was it. Expecting it, Raine slowed despite knowing he was down to minutes. If he chose to ignore his gut in that pivotal moment, they surely would have failed. As if they knew where he would be in advance, a throng of Primal Root Fetches was lying in wait.

Appearing as nothing more than tangled, hanging vines, they sprang from the trees in a perfect ambush. At least, it would have been if it wasn’t so obvious. Clicking his tongue in mockery of their efforts, Raine launched to the side. His legs turned to a blur as 40 Discipline per second pumped through his already empowered body. Each step triggered another Lunge that saw him passing through their trap in less than a second.

Roars filled the jungle, but Raine’s focus was stolen by the clearing yawning wide before them. It was the embodiment of peace. Chaste, soft grass covered it like a fine blanket, lacking even the slightest deformation from rooted footprints. At the very center, surrounded by a ring of delicate flowers, an arm of stone reached from the soil, fingers spread wide as though grasping for a hand to pull it up.

Leaving the grass undisturbed, Raine touched down inside the ring of flowers. As far as he could tell, there was no difference in the ambient Primal Energy now that they had arrived. Which meant they needed to do something to kick-start the shrine. Gently lowering Selena to the ground, he slapped her hard enough that she jolted awake. 

She gasped, eyes flying wide. “What?! Where?” She followed Raine’s pointed arm, requiring long seconds for realization to dawn. “I’m alive… and we made it? This is the shrine?”

Raine’s eyes were on the treeline. Thankfully, the beasts didn’t set foot on the grass. They hovered just out of sight, amber eyes glowing in the shadows. “I’ve got maybe 3 minutes left. Any time you want to stop stating the obvious and return the favor for saving, you would be great.”

“R-right!” Scrambling on hands and knees, Selena approached the stone limb and gently cupped its protruding hand in both of hers. “Mileaha, mother and daughter of elegance, this unworthy child beseeches you for shelter. By your grace, may this hallowed ground be blessed with your compassion.”

A shudder swept across the clearing. Selena stepped back as the stone arm rose higher, revealing that it was attached to a breathtaking statue of a woman. The dirt that once clung to it fell away as though repelled. She was entirely nude and wore a soft smile that imparted feelings of gentle yearning from a tranquil heart; the statue was a surreal juxtaposition to the violence of the jungle they’d just emerged from.

All of it was meaningless to Raine. The only thing he cared about was the cool wind that exuded from the statue. He could feel its currents flowing through him as though he were a cloud, sweeping the Primal Energy away in their wake. He sank to his knees as the intoxicating power was washed away bit by bit.

Selena knelt beside him, weariness etched deep into her features. “Mileaha’s blessing is temporary. We have less than a finger to recover before we must seek the next shrine.” Her own words brought a wave of depression that stole the little strength keeping her upright.

Should take about thirty minutes to clear out the Primal Energy. Timing’s going to be tight.

Selena’s face fell into her hands. “I thought-knew I was dead. They tried so hard to prepare me. I had no idea the ordeals would be this… this vile. I… Thank you for saving me, Alaric. After what they did to you… Well, I assumed I would be the one doing the protecting until you had a chance to recover. How foolish I must have seemed, so confident and brazen when the truth is that I couldn’t have been more of a burden.” She looked up at Raine, tears beading at the edges of her eyes.

For once, her display wasn’t fake, nor a means to manipulate. Raine patted her head, glad she was taking the near-death experience so well. He’d seen some go catatonic for hours, unable to even speak. He nodded, allowing the hint of a smile to pull at the edges of his lips, “You were pretty shit, weren’t you?”

Selena sputtered, completely taken aback, “I-I merely did not expect those beasts to have such potent attacks, or to come for us the moment we arrived!”

Already, a little fire was returning to her voice. Raine ruffled her matted hair before pulling away. “That’s the spirit. Want to hear one of my favorite sayings?”

Selena’s eyes grew distant, likely imagining what she’d seen of Earth in the entities’ vision. She nodded, vigor returning with each passing breath.

“Disappointment is impossible without first having expectations, so expect nothing, and be prepared for anything.”

The frown she wore was enough to convey that she missed the underlying message. It would come to her in time. Considering how traumatic this was turning out for her, the memories would stick forever. Raine climbed to his feet, stretching to see how movement felt in conjunction with the dissipating Primal Energy.

Selena’s curiosity could not be so easily sated, not to mention how desperate she must have been for a distraction. “Was that vision really of your Realm? And that man sleeping with the strange metal creature on his head. Do you know him?”

Raine chuckled. “Yeah. That was the city I live in, and that was the ‘real’ me.” He dropped his hands after finger-quoting, not minding the distraction of light conversation either.

Selena’s lips were pursed as she squinted at Raine. “So that was you. I must say, you’re much more handsome in your Earth Realm. Was your face disfigured during the voyage here, or did that happen after?”

Raine’s expression turned so deadpan that Selena managed a half-laugh, half-sob. When he turned away, she called out in dismay, “Wait! My apologies. I won’t mention it again, I swear!”

In truth, he wasn’t bothered by her question. However, the talk of visions was a subject that Raine had hoped to continue avoiding for a little longer. He’d never heard of anything like that happening before. Those entities that were not gods at all had traced his Connection back to his real body and even manipulated his thetadrive headset. They had nearly instantaneously mapped the history of Earth, and even accessed visual footage of The Aureate Crown, a site said to be one of the most secure places on the globe. No electronics were allowed within a 5-kilometer radius of the arena. For them to witness what was happening live was beyond disturbing.

Tingling prickles swept across his skin at the implications. Even three decades later, nobody really understood much about what ZionLine was or how it came to be. Replicating it always resulted in failure, regardless of how technology advanced. None of that had ever mattered to Raine. By coming here, he grew in power. That had always been enough. Still, the snippets he’d gleaned were hardly enough to paint a coherent picture. 

As Raine walked away from Selena, there was one question lodged into the back of his skull. If he got a chance to ask the entities anything after their ordeals were over, he wouldn’t dare miss bringing it up. He had to know, or he may never sleep soundly again.

Seeing that he wasn’t stopping, Selena called out again, a tremor in her voice, “W-where are you going?”

Raine waved over his shoulder, not looking back. “I had to leave something important behind. I should be back in time to finish recovering. If I’m not, don’t even think about leaving this clearing without me. If we’re dying here, we’re doing it together.”