Will of the King - Chapter 6

TITLE

Lyrian Chronicles 9 - Will of the King

Google Drive Version: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iJ26H46NuxLBw5Rgdv6Bx9iRojSozFUEjj6QbfCriKQ/edit?usp=sharing

Campaign By: Leaflit
Adapted By: Leaflit and ShyMoth

Edited By: ShyMoth

Proofread By: Ayra

Chapter Visual: Kriss Sison

This story is a replay novel.  Everything occurred over a game of Angel’s Sword TTRPG.  You can play for free now:
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You can follow the game here (Characters and Documents):

https://app.roll20.net/campaigns/journal/18196509/index

New Episodes every week or so.

Thank you so much Patrons and Subs for making this possible.

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CHAPTER 6
Consequences

The morning dew gave off the scent of adventure as Yasha and the others met up at the west gate of Madeline.  Mizera was there to see them off, he raised his hand in greeting, “Hey.  It’s been a while since I’ve been there.  The directions should be spot on and I’m the only one who knows of that place.  I suppose some adventurers might’ve found it as well but nothing too big.  You can handle it, unlock the treasure and then use it so we can bolster that kid’s army.  I believe in you guys.”

He held a massive fist up and Yasha returned in kind, her much smaller fist bumping up against his.  She nodded, “Let us hope so.”

Mizera pounded his chest with his right hand in a gesture to the Captain, “Since we don’t have the key… the main door won’t open probably.  I’d look up… maybe for a way in.”

Leaving Limone behind to guard the Princess, the four Royal Guards began the journey to the Maple Hill Lands by foot.  Yasha frowned, something clearly bothering her as they walked on the soft dirt road.

Helene matched her stride to Yasha’s.  She was the one who knew her the longest and could sense her discomfort, “What’s wrong?”

Yasha looked up at the sky, which streaked with brilliant orange hues, “Wish we could’ve spared a mage, especially for an ancient ruin.”

She knew she couldn’t spare Firefly with her reconnaissance duties, Hawkins had a terrible limp that would slow everyone down.  Finally there was Lumeris who turned down her offer in her usual antisocial manner—insisting that she take care of training the Mage Corps.

Lumeris had looked her right in the eye, just the other day and said, “I…. I don’t think the Mage Corps are up to par.  I’d like more time with them to train…”  The Mage even refused when Yasha offered state sponsored training upon their return.  It was indeed hard to tell if it was out of antisocialness or if she truly worried about the troops.

Yasha turned to Helene and gave a slight smile, “Oh well.  We’ll make do as we always have.”

Helene nodded warmly.

As they reached the border of the territory, Firefly soared overhead to see them off, her figure a vibrant blur against the azure sky. Her staff caught the sunlight, casting shimmering patterns as she veered south to fulfill her own missions, waving at them as she passed. Below, the landscape between Madeline and the Maple Hill Lands stretched vast and open—endless plains dotted with the occasional cluster of trees. Occasionally, they spotted a lone hunter moving through the sea of green, a solitary figure against the horizon.

After nearly two weeks of relentless travel, their pace quickened by urgency, the Royal Guards finally reached their destination. Before them stood a massive, ancient tree atop a rocky hill, its silhouette dominating the skyline. The tree was colossal, its thick trunk and sprawling branches speaking of countless centuries of growth. Its bark bore patches of petrification, giving it a marbled appearance that shimmered subtly in the dim light. Moss and vines clung to its surface, creating patterns as if nature herself had decided to adorn it.

At the base of the tree was a grand door, almost hidden among the roots that twisted and curled like serpents. The door was made of Golem Stone—a material known for its magical resistance. Ancient writings covered its surface, glyphs and symbols etched deep into the stone, telling tales of forgotten history. Just as Mizera had warned, it wouldn't open easily. Busting it down would be no simple task.

Yasha approached the door, her eyes tracing the unfamiliar script. She placed a gloved hand against the cold stone, feeling the subtle hum of arcane energy that coursed through it. Looking upward, she recalled Mizera's advice. "He said there might be a way in from the top," she said curiously.

Lanes spun his knife around, “Good thing I have my rappelling knife for this…” he said with a low whistle as looked at the magnificent height above him.

Kaede cautiously walked up towards the tree, her gaze shifting towards the spiraling path above.  Her ears twitch thoughtfully, “We should probably try to find some higher ground…maybe find a crack or something we can squeeze through. This place looks so old, there's bound to be a way in.”

Helene gestured towards the door with her spear before resting it on her shoulder. “That does look like the best way up,” she acknowledged. “But let’s take a look at the door first. Don’t ancient sites like this tend to have warnings or other relevant things carved into doors? At the very least we can see if it's even locked or has some obvious triggers.”

The Captain shrugged, her expression unreadable, “If you want, go ahead. Mizera said we need a key to open it—a key he no longer has.” Yasha felt in her gut that going up was the only way.

“It’ll only take a moment,” Helene reassured with confidence, moving towards the door.

“I’ll go look for a different way up, Yasha,” Kaede called out as she began ascending the petrified path above, which winded all along the outside of the trunk.

Yasha watched Kaede’s tail swish, as she hopped from point to point with feline grace. It only took a moment before she came to her decision. Trusting that Mizera was telling the truth about the door, she leapt up onto the path to follow the spiraling route. “This is most likely the only way in anymore,” she yelled over her shoulder.

Helene called out in acknowledgement as she replied, “These markings…they’re unlike anything I’ve seen before. It's obvious this place wasn’t built by the Kingdom. They must’ve repurposed it.”  She admired the ancient craftsmanship, which was lined with intricate writings etched meticulously along its edges. Despite its age, it only showed slight wear.

Lanes rappelled up to regroup, sliding up ahead of the others, “Well if the front door is shut, I guess we’re taking the scenic route.”

Helene fell into formation behind the group, sighing, “If only I had a recorder orb…it’d be nice to record the text on the door.”

Upon the ledge, Yasha stumbled upon an eerie yet familiar sight. Scattered around were the remnants of adventurers who had once made camp here. Old, rusted supplies lay forgotten— and an old tent lay in tatters, barely holding its shape. Timeworn weapons, unusable now and covered in rust, were strewn across the ground.

As an adventurer, Kaede felt this in her heart, “A failed expedition…”  She looked upon the equipment in silence, knowing that at one time adventurers like herself had drank around the campfire that once lay here in camaraderie. 

Yasha stepped forward, looking at the jars that were covered in black residue.  A few had expensive metal lids that were bent into concave shapes as if something powerful had forced them outward.  The entire scene felt like a reminder of those who had come here before and failed.

Kaede gave a silent prayer to the Tree of Life, for the adventurers who failed their expedition.  She looked around for a notebook to see if they had anything to share about the ruins.  Picking up the notebook she looked through the pages before sighing and closing it. 

“Twenty years ago… there’s not much else written in this.”

The Captain folded her arms across her chest as she turned to Kaede, “No signs of bodies.  How big was this expedition?  There's too many supplies here; it’s hard to imagine that they would just leave them behind.”

Kaede thumbed through the pages, “It's hard to tell, there's several names mentioned but it seems like at least five.”

Helene tapped her spear on the ground, pushing over one of the jars of black residue.  She frowned in mourning, “It’s interesting that they made a record of finding the ruins but there are no notes about finding a door or a path.  You’d think someone that kept notes like this would at least have some short hand observations written down, right?”

The Lamia swallowed, coiling up her tail, “I can’t think of anything good that would result in abandoning your campsite, supplies and weapons like this.”

“Yeah hopefully whatever caused this is long gone,” Lanes added.

Yasha continued up the path, thinking back on the camp. “Let’s keep our guard up,” she ordered as she pondered the situation.  ‘It’s likely that they died or vanished before discovering the weapon.  Perhaps they were attacked… but by what?’ 

Pressing further up the winding path, they circled around to the back side of the ancient tree.  The Captain looked down at the sheer cliff, which was far more dizzying than the height from the camp.  The drastic drop into the sea of trees would make even a seasoned traveler uneasy—vertigo inducing for an ordinary civilian.

They climbed higher and higher still, coming across another abandoned camp that was nestled by the entrance of a cave.  Yasha eyed the equipment, and unlike the last site, the equipment here wasn’t as old but was still months or possibly years past its prime.  Scattered across the ground were light-wood boxes—common containers for rations—and several large jars of vegetables, their cloudy liquid with a murky and unsettling haze.  The metal lids of the jars bulged outward into a convex shape, still sealed, but clearly affected by time. Yasha turned to Lanes, nodding to him. 

The Ranger stepped forward and looked over the rusted weapons, shattered glass, an iron mug, and old waterskins. A faint scent of coffee seemed to linger around the campsite. He knelt down to take a closer look, “Hmm… I could go for some coffee too right now.”  He sniffed the air, standing back up and running his hands along a chair that was etched into the petrified wood.  It was old and dusty, its lines worn with age, as if someone had once sat there, waiting.

Lanes gave a thumbs up, “No traps… weird chair though.”

Yasha acknowledged the analysis, “We may have found our entrance.”  She looked down the cave, perfectly cut into right angles as if a cube had forced its way in.  “A camp near the entrance makes a bit more sense,” she spoke as she examined the petrified wooden chair, “Someone keeping guard here perhaps?”

Lanes motioned towards the cave, “May find more inside.”

They walked further into the oddly cut cave.  Kaede turned her artifice lantern on, a loud click engaging the magical fuel cartridge inside as it gave off a slight hum.  The light flickered on the wall, which looked like it had scrape marks.  The adventurer examined the log quickly, pondering out loud, “I feel like if you’re an adventurer that is tackling ruins or dungeons, you’d make a log of it so you can be more prepared if you eventually leave for the day.”

The party continued down the hallway, its walls and angles cut with an almost eerie precision.  The craftsmanship was nearly flawless, the stone surfaces reflecting the faint light that emitted from Kaede’s lantern.  The only imperfections were the occasional tree roots that broke out from the stone, tendrils of nature encroaching on the unnatural structure.  The combination of the perfect stonework and wild growth gave the corridor an otherworldly feel, as if it existed deep within a fiend’s dungeon.

Helene moved in a wave-like motion, frowning slightly as her fingers traced the intricate designs on the haft of her spear.  “I’ve kept a log of everything we’ve found.  Although generally my notes aren’t as exciting as what adventurers come across, they’re thorough.  Well… recently the logs have been a bit more exciting.”

Yasha continued to look forward, remarking dryly, “I would prefer this to not be very exciting, honestly.”

Lanes moved up to take point, “I think we’re going to have plenty of excitement regardless of what we find here.”  He sighed.

Helene looked back over her shoulder one last time.  “It was very strange that the two camps were in similar condition—abandoned supplies and all.”

As they reached the end of the hallway, it opened up into a square room, beams of sunlight spilling in from above through cracks in the ceiling where the vegetation had broken through.  The room’s stone-brick flooring seemed to be the last defense against nature’s slow but inevitable takeover.  The slight smell of coffee that Lanes had smelled earlier was now gone, replaced by the damp, musty scent of ancient ruins.

At the far end of the empty room stood a set of double doors, slightly off-center to the left, beckoning them forward with the temptation of the King’s Armaments. 

Lanes moved out in front of the group, assessing the room, “It looks fine from what I can tell, although the flooring isn’t great.”  He motioned at the crumbled flooring that had given way into pits, some of which were filled with water.  The Ranger held his rappelling knife firm, “If something shady happens I’ll yank myself away.  I have a lifeline at least.”  He continued forward into the center of the room.

As the last party member stepped into the room, the double doors behind them slammed shut with a heavy thud.  The sudden sound echoed throughout the chamber, and the room fell into an eerie stillness.  Rays of light filtered through the cracks above, catching the dust in the air, creating a serene atmosphere despite the twisted roots that clambered out of the pits.

At first there was an unsettling silence, but then a faint humming broke the quiet.  It grew louder, vibrating through the air with ever more increasing intensity.  With a sudden, defeating force, the door at the far end of the room swung open in brutal violence as four small flying objects burst into the chamber.

The objects were small spinning balls of rock and light, twisting and turning erratically.  They flew in unrecognizable patterns, zipping up and then down in a random direction.  Their twisting and turning was erratic and unpredictable.  They moved independently of one another, but then suddenly  they flashed in unison.  Their light was synchronized.  They took formation together, soaring up into the air in a coordinated and precise movement as they hovered above ominously, waiting.

Yasha held her spear out and assessed the positions of the party.  These were definitely the ‘automated defense systems’ that they spoke of during the meeting.

“Oh hell, incoming!” Lanes called out.

The small golems whirred and spun as they shot upwards, moving with unnatural precision and speed.  In unison they dove back down, their movements a blur of light and sound.  Despite their flimsy appearance, the speed and precision at which they came at them was undeniable.

One of the golems rotated swiftly in midair, its spinning form a streak of motion as it dive-bombed from above, directly for Lanes in a rapid descent.  The whirring grew louder and louder as it closed in.

Anticipating the attack, Lanes sidestepped, the golem spinning and whirring away from him.  The Ranger moved in to retaliate as the creature suddenly slid underneath him, popping open in a release of steam as blade shot out from it.  Spinning violently the creature ran up along his body in a flash of steel.  Narrowly stepping back, he staggered to catch his balance, a red line of blood forming where the creature had nearly killed him. 

Lanes grabbed his chest as the Golems began to swarm into him, the rest of the Royal Guard moving into intercept.  Another swift bump.  Lanes dodged to the side.  The creature once again began to retreat as Lanes chased after it in retaliation.  “This is annoying!” he shouted as his knife slashed the air, the golem performing the same maneuver as the first— sliding underneath him and slashing him from below.

He staggered back once more, Yasha calling out to him from behind, “Don’t be stupid, they’re anticipating your counter attack.”

Kaede grabbed onto her greataxe, watching the swarming, “They run away and come back the moment you try to counter?”

“Ugh,” Lanes grunted as the third golem crashed into him before darting away.  The sting of its assault lingered throughout his body, but he was beginning to understand.  The fourth golem swooped towards him, but this time he sidestepped effortlessly, and resisted the temptation to chase.

“Well… let’s see how you like this instead…” The Ranger muttered, whipping out a crossbow.  He fired a quick shot at the first golem that had attacked him.  Although it would’ve struck true, the creature twisted through the air, the bolt sailing past harmlessly.  Frustration flickered across his face.

“Deep breaths, Lanes…” he whispered to himself, steadying his arm.

Yasha drew her crossbow with practiced ease, her gaze locking onto the drone that flew up.  Her bolt flew through the air, intercepting the creature in its dodge thanks to Lanes’ attack.  The golem fell to the ground and rolled over before slowly disintegrating into golden motes of light that traveled towards the door on the other side of the room.

Another drone spun into the air and dove down onto Lanes as Helene moved forward and struck it with her shield, sending it tumbling.  Catching it with her tail she coiled around it, constricting its movement.

The party continued to move forward, making swift work of the drones, each one disintegrating into motes of light that flowed away from them.  But that wasn’t normal.  Yasha’s eyes followed the light as it blew away from them and through the opposite wall.  Her eyes were drawn to a sudden movement—the door opened again with a slam as more drones to replace the ones that were destroyed burst into the room as they did before.  They flashed and synced up with the others.

Lanes fired a shot at one of the new golems that rushed into the room, resetting another bolt.  “They’re not durable… but they may not stop unless we deal with whatever is in the other room.  We gotta move!”  He drew a throwing knife from a holster and threw it into the eye of the nearest drone, embedding itself into it, magical energy sparking as it began to evaporate.  The dagger spun through the air and landed on the ground in a clang as the machine disintegrated.

Kaede yelled out to Lanes, “Yeah, alright!  I’ll run ahead and grab the door when it opens again.  Cover me!”

The three others confirmed the call out in unison.  Helene squeezed down on the golem trapped within her coils, sending motes of light flying towards the door as Yasha ran forward to strike a golem beside Lanes.  

As the door opened once more, Kaede stepped into the threshold, her mana coursing through her body as she dropped her axe onto the ground.  Digging her heels in, she threw out both of her hands, the door attempting to close on her as she yelled out ferociously to hold it open.  The three other guards pushed up to her position and broke through, each cutting down one golem on their way in.

Lanes swiftly kicked Kaede’s axe into the room and the catgirl rolled after it, the two heavy doors slamming shut behind her right as she reunited with her weapon.  Kaede scooped up her axe with her foot, catching it midair as she spun it over her shoulder.  Her arms felt cold as the magic reinforcement ebbed from her muscles, but she was eager to keep fighting.

Within the room, they found themselves in a vast open space.  Stone stairs led up to several elevated platforms, casting long shadows across the dusty floor.  At the far end of the hall, massive stone doors loomed, guarded by four imposing guardians.  Artificed golems in the forms of dogs, sat silently, their stone eyes unblinking.

The flying golems that had attacked them earlier, continued their relentless assault, buzzing through the air while diving and weaving between the platforms.   At the far end of the hall, in an elevated position above the stone doors, a mysterious artifice flashed—its core glowing with the unmistakable light of magical fuel.  Beams of light projected from it, and as they watched—the light twisted and turned, generating flying golems out of thin air.  Each golem materialized from the glowing projections, the machine’s purpose clear:  to endlessly create the creatures that harassed them.

Yasha took the lead and veered off to the left, leaping up onto the stone platform before her.  She took a good look at the dogs and then up at the machine on the ledge. ‘Large dog in the middle is probably the leader… Lanes can take care of destroying the machine.’  

Right on cue, the largest of the dogs in the center slowly rose to its feet.  With a movement of its head it signaled for the rest to follow.  The red glint in their eyes flashed in rhythm with the flying golems, synchronizing the entire room into the same tempo.

Yasha yelled out to Kaede from across the room, “There’s an artifice building the flyers on the ledge over there!”

Kaede nodded and ran ahead, “Alright leave the dogs to me!”  Ignoring the flying golems which passed her overhead, she slid her greataxe down and behind her as she popped one of the dogs underneath—sending it into the air.  With a spin she tucked her axe underneath the bend in her arm and slammed the dog back down in a fluid motion.

One of the dog’s pack retaliated, leaping onto Kaede with sharpened metal fangs.  With a crushing sound it clamped down onto her shoulder, as she barely managed to jam the pole of her axe to prevent it from reaching the bone.  There were already two on her and the remaining three were thirsting for blood.

The pack leader took the opportunity to attack as it leapt up into the air and nearly onto Kaede as Helene moved to intercept it.  She held the line, deflecting the alpha dog—her shield ringing as the creature retreated through the air.  Another dog piled onto Helene as she ducked and slammed her shield straight up into the air, sending the dog over her and sliding across the floor behind her.

Focused on the generating artifice, Yasha squinted as her crossbow bolt whistled through the air, the arrow shattering as it hit the device.  ‘It’s tough.’ she mouthed as she slid down the stairs to join the melee.  She focused her eyes on the dog behind Helene that had regrouped with the flyers as it went straight for Lanes, their lights flashing in unison of their plan.

Before Yasha could say anything, Lanes shouted out, “Try and take that thing out fast!  They’re swarming me over here!”  Lanes struggled to grip the dusty floor with his shoes as he clambered back towards the door.  The drones zoomed into the ranger as he sidestepped, “Take this!”  his retaliatory strike sliced air.  The two drones spun underneath him as he yelled out, “Oh shit!”  Blood sprayed through the air as the drones sliced into his body as they rose towards the ceiling.

Yasha’s mouth twisted, accepting the unfortunate—she would have to take down the artifice herself.  But how?

Pinned down, Kaede tried to maneuver, pounding her other hand into the dog’s face as it gnawed on her shoulder.  Drops of blood stained her white jacket as she struggled, Helene too busy to protect one side to offer aid.

A flying drone moved into pressure Helene, but with quick thinking she caught it mid-air with her tail, maneuvering her body to constrict.  She continued to poke and prod at the alpha dog, to keep it from capitalizing on Kaede’s predicament.

Yasha dropped her crossbow to the ground and held out her open hand at the dog that was gnawing on Kaede.  She closed her eyes for a moment to focus, to feel the magic within the target, the image of the dog becoming clearer in her mind.  She closed the hand and pulled back as she opened her eyes, pulling the dog in with her gravitational ki. 

The Captain loosened up her hand to allow the spear to slide between her fingers as she gripped it just below the tip.  Catching the dog’s head in one hand, she jammed the tip directly into its neck—magical sparks and liquid spraying from the creature as it wiggled its way free, writhing on the ground as its movements began to slow.  Yasha wiped the liquid on her armor, looking at her open hand.  ‘Huh…’  she pondered, ‘That's it.’

She thrust her dirty hand out, closing one eye as she looked into the distance at the artifice that lay above the ledge.  Like all Oni, she too, had naturally strong internal magic.  She tried to imagine it, the artifice sailing through the air at her.  It was heavy.  Her hand shook as she closed it, a warm sensation flooding her hand as she pulled back.  The feeling was that of pulling on a thin elastic string.  Too little power and nothing would happen, but too much would cause it to break.

In her visualization she saw the heart of the artifice, the magical fuel.  She remembered the days when she was a child, with her friend Skren—running through the streets of Dolce stealing from the pockets of the rotten nobles who visited the slums.  ‘Just like that, gently but firm.’ She pulled her hand back, and with a pop the artifice sailed through the air.  It was a mere five feet before the ki connection broke, but it was enough.  The device tumbled through the air, shattering onto the stone bricks below.

Crush.  Helene’s body constricted.

Slash.  Spin.  Stab.  Lane’s daggers whirled through the air, covered in sticky blood.

The flying golems hit the floor one by one, unable to connect to the source of their creation, the lights flickered for the last time.

Emboldened, Helene let out a shout as she slammed her shield once more into the alpha wolf.  Ducking down, the Lamia revealed the spear behind her guard, sending it through the creature in a flash.  Using the muscles in her tail, she pushed up and over, overpowering the dog as she skewered it into the ground.

Without a word, Kaede followed up.  She lifted the immense weight of her greataxe, which overshadowed her feminine frame.  Her eyes lit up from her ki, the warmth swelling within every fiber of her body.  The energy flowed through her shoulders, her arms and then into her weapon, bathing it in an orange hue.   Her body moved with skillful practice, making no sound as it sought the perfect angle—decapitating the alpha dog in a single strike.  The axe rang out as the floor stopped its force, sending out a web of cracks and a cloud of dust on that ancient floor.

Yasha turned her gaze onto the final dog, which was barking up at one of the pillars.  Lanes had rappelled up onto it, clutching his chest as blood dripped down the stone’s rough texture.  She motioned over to Helene who couldn’t help but smile ruefully at the situation.

Helene moved up behind the golem, which ignored her fully.  As the final dog leapt into the air after Lanes, the second in command thrust her entire weight into her spear stabbing through it and embedding it into the pillar.  The creature could only manage a mechanical whine as Helene took a deep, steadying breath as she called out to him, “You alright up there, Lanes?”

Lanes breathed a sigh of relief, “This dog was part frog it seems…”

After their hard-fought battle with the ruin’s guardians, Yasha walked over to check on the artifice, moving the parts around with the tip of her spear.

Kaede sat on the ground, unlatching the medical supplies on her pouch as she began to clean up her injuries.  She looked over towards Yasha, “That’s a nasty artifice.”

“Mmhmm,” Yasha confirmed, looking around in the broken pieces for anything useful.  “It could’ve been bad if I wasn’t an Oni.  We know what happened to our adventurers from before now,” she said, raising her spear to point into a corner behind the stairs.

Helene moved over, wiping the oil from her spear, “Skeletons of a gnome adventurer.”  The gear was battered and rusty.  “That's how they got in, dug their way in.  Gnomes are good at that.”

Yasha rested her spear on her shoulder as she walked over to the entrance once protected by the golem dogs, “Probably was trying to climb up to deal with the artifice.  I’m sure if we had time to look around we would find the rest of the party.  But for now…”  she glanced through the entryway, down the spiral staircase.  “Patch yourselves up, let’s keep going.”

Kaede popped the cork from a healing potion as she began to drink it as they circled down, keeping an eye out for any hidden threats.  Each of their steps echoed softly in the quiet, the stairs leading them to the unknown.

At the bottom of the staircase stood a single door, marked with the unmistakable crest of the Royal Family of Dacquoise—a giant silver tree, symbolizing resilience in a dark forest filled with competitors.  The emblem stood as a reminder of Dacquoise’s long history as a nation caught in the middle of other powerful nations, often met with hostility.  Yet Dacquoise still stood through every trial, independent to this very day.

With a shared glance, Yasha pushed open the door.  Inside a soft mechanical hum filled the air, as one by one artifice lights flickered to life, dotting the chamber.  The lights illuminated the vast, cold and seemingly empty space before them.  Each footstep echoed loudly, the sound reverberating throughout the room as if the ceiling stretched up for a hundred feet.  The sheer size of the chamber left an unsettling feeling in Yasha’s instincts, its purpose unclear and the scale far too grand for what she had expected.  The lights continued to pop on, one by one after going on for seemingly forever.

The Captain lowered her spear and looked back towards the others for a moment before she continued deeper into the room, “This looks like the place.”

“The lights still work in here?  That's wild,” Kaede said in surprise.  “How long has all of this been hidden away?”

“Does seem promising… if it isn’t, it’s quite a cruel red herring,” Lanes commented as he clutched his bloody chest, which only now began to clot.

“I’m sure we’ll know our prize when we see it, right?”  Helene unhooked the small lantern from her belt, opening it with a snap while gently blowing out the flame. 

As the room’s lights fully illuminated, Yasha’s gaze was drawn to the far end.  There, crouched in silence, were two massive humanoid figures.  They towered over everything, their forms radiating an aura of power and ancient precision.  The unmistakable white gleam of legendary Orichalcum shone faintly in the artifice lights.

Yasha knew that even a single sword made from Orichalcum would be considered a family treasure, but these Armatae were far beyond any singular weapon.  Their pristine armor shimmered like the armor of angels, flawless and awe-inspiring.

One of the machines held a massive tower shield, its surface unmarred, and in its other hand it held a magic cannon so large that it could easily dwarf even those mounted on small airships.  The second Armatae gripped an enormous sword, its edge sharp and deadly.  These weren’t crude war machines—they were masterfully crafted, perfectly engineered, and designed for a level of combat far beyond anything they had seen before.

Even without deep knowledge of artifices, Yasha could sense the significance of these machines.  These weren’t simply relics crafted by the great artisans of Dacquoise, these were far more.  These Armatae were Divine Arms—powerful, perfect weapons of war, designed for battle on a scale that defied comprehension.  These were created to kill a god.

The Royal Guard Corps continued cautiously towards the towering Armatae, suddenly hearing the sound of metal clanging echoing behind them.  They turned, startled, to see a woman standing just behind them, blocking off the stairway they had entered from.  She was clad in light armor, the soft glow of the artifice lights bathing her breastplate in a cool blue hue.  The woman in armor was flanked by two others.

With a sharp motion and a shrill sound, she unsheathed her sword, the blade gleaming as she thrust it forward at them.  She spoke with confidence and authority, “We found them.”

Her gaze was unwavering and her posture was noble, “I am Evadne, Captain of the Sableton Blackguard.  For the crime of dishonor and rebellion, and in the name of our Prince… our King, Casimir.  I am here to execute you and your cohort, Captain Yasha of Madeline.”

“Blackguard?  How appropriate a name for one of Casimir’s dogs,” Yasha scoffed in response to the introduction.  “Hmm… that coffee scent earlier… I suppose that actually was coffee then and not something that smelled familiar.”

Lanes’ eyes widened, his mouth wrinkling.

Yasha gave the trio a mocking smile, “You were waiting for us here for that long?  Afraid of facing the guardians yourselves?”

Evadne’s expression remained cold and unshaken.  Casually, she spun her greatsword, the blade making a soft whistle as it sliced through the air before resting solidly on her shoulder.  “It was wise to let you exhaust yourselves clearing the path through the guardians for us,” she said, her voice calm but authoritative.  “It afforded us this perfect ambush,”  her gaze shifted briefly to the girl behind her, clad in light armor.  “Spica, I told you to be careful with the coffee…”

Spica grinned, flourishing her cape as she leaned casually on her blade.  Her knee high boots, and cape were lined in fur and were raggedly unkempt.  Eyes that seemed dull and lifeless in contrast to the rest of her expression looked at Evadne with twisted affection, “I mean… good thing they didn’t have a ranger or tracker, that could’ve been bad, huh?”  She spoke nonchalantly, her black fluffy hair framing her round childlike face which was molded with an unsettling innocence.

The other woman, a Catfolk who stood behind the group, shot a glance at Yasha. “Honestly, I’m surprised you let us sneak up on you.  Kind of crazy actually,” she said, her tone dripping with false admiration. “But letting you tire yourselves first?  That was Master's brilliant move.”

Helene and Kaede readied their weapons as they took positions beside their Captain.  The Lamia raised up her shield slightly and pointed it at a forty-five degree angle, ready to blunt their initial attack. 

Yasha shook her head.  “No, the smart move would have been to claim those two things for yourself before we could get here,” she pointed back at the two Divine Arms over her shoulder.  The Captain shifted her weight and leaned slightly against her upright spear.  “You weren’t confident enough to ambush us while we were climbing up, but now you think you can defeat us?  Do the Blackguard not temper their stamina?”

She smiled again and looked past Evadne towards the other Blackguards, “I have a better idea.  We can defeat you all right now, or you can stab your leader in the back first and live.  I don’t mind that either.”

Spica burst into laughter at Yasha’s remark.  “Hey… Captain, she said I should stab you in the back?  To be honest, that sounds kinda fun.  Actually I like this woman!”  Spica’s grin widened, but as soon as Evadne shot her a sharp, unamused look she backed down.  Her grin faded to a pout, “Tch.  Fine…”

Evadne’s voice remained cold and under control as she responded to Yasha, “I’ll offer you the same deal, Yasha.  Face the judgment of Prince Casimir alone and order your subordinates to surrender.  I’ll allow them to leave this place unharmed.”

Yasha spoke past Evadne and directly to Spica, “My offer still stands until you’re all dead.  We will accept surrender.”  Her gaze sharply turned towards Evadne, meeting her eye to eye. 

She released the full might of her spirit core, internal mana flooding every fiber of her body, “I will never hand over these Divine Arms to someone like Casimir.  Come, do your worst Blackguard.”  She tucked her spear under her arm as she drew her rapier with her off hand to face her.

Evadne looked back at the dual-wielder behind her, “Meifyn.  Target Yasha.”

The Catfolk spun her two swords to the side, a cold expression on her face. “Yes.  Shooting Form: Arbalest!!”  With a twist, both blades emitted a hiss of steam, their edges glowing with arcane energy.  Meifyn pointed them in Yasha’s direction, “Suppressing fire!”

With a swift motion, rapid fire blasts of multicolored arcane energy screamed through the air, streaming towards them as Spica pulled her blade back in a direct charge into them.

“I can only wonder how they knew to find us… all the way out here,” Lanes spoke in frustration as he gripped his crossbow tightly, his hand shaking, raising it forward at the enemy.

Tap.  Grip.  Lanes felt himself being pulled backwards, “What…?”

In the darkness behind him, he could only see a toothy smile and bright green eyes that flashed in a ghostly glow.  Whatever it was, blew softly into his ear before words began to form, “You don’t need to know the answer to that.  You’re dead anyway.”

Lanes quickly turned, his crossbow shifting directly at the Catfolk in front of him.

The Catfolk gave him a sly smile, his eyes gleaming in a golden hue,  “It’s you… and me!”  The Blackguard leapt backwards, pulling Lanes along before tossing him away.  The air around them rippled as their forms blurred for a split second.

And then, just like that—they were gone, vanished in an instant.  As if they had never been there, they disappeared without a trace.

***

Lanes opened his eyes and rubbed his head as he slowly rose to his feet.  He looked around, finding himself in an unfamiliar place.  Dark and elementary, the world around him was reduced to glowing arcane lines that ‘breathed’, increasing in intensity and then lowering softly.  The walls were wire-frames of glowing thread and only darkness lay beyond them.

The Catfolk grinned at Lanes, sitting on the floor cross-legged.  His eyes gleamed with a playful malice.  “Hey!  I’m Crest.  I’ll be playing with you today,” he chuckled and then casually added, “Well not me… but him!”

Crest pointed toward the creature standing behind him—a writhing mass of shadow and fur, its form barely solid.  The creature’s eyes glowed a sinister red, filled with malice and hunger.  Its jagged teeth seemed to be made of pure darkness, sharp and uneven, putrid smoke flowing from this gaping maw with each raspy breath.  The air around it seemed almost tainted by its presence.”

Lanes pointed his crossbow at the creature, “I’m Royal Guard, Lanes Vautner.  So you’re also with Casimir?  What is this place?” 

Crest clapped his hands together with a gleeful grin.  “Yeah that’s right!  I’m Blackguard Crest, I love watching people fight.  His name is Boogeyman.  Have a pleasant death!”  he chirped, his tone disturbing and cheerful.

The shadow creature lurched forward as Lanes staggered backwards.  Crest grinned as the Boogeyman began to analyze Lanes with a sinister gaze.  The air grew colder, heavier as the monster raised its hand up slowly, extending it towards the Royal Guard.  A swirling mass began to gather around its hand before suddenly throbbing and exploding outward.  Knives—sharp, gleaming and unnatural—began to fire from the depths of the shadowy form, streaming towards Lanes with deadly precision.  They whistled through the air in a menacing whisper.

Staggering back in a hectic dance, Lanes cocked his arm back, knife between his fingers.  He looked directly at Crest with murderous intent.

The Catfolk looked up at Lanes, a knowing grin spreading across his face as read his intentions.  He clicked his tongue, “Nuh uh… don’t even try to hurt me.  I’m just watching.”  He smirked, his tone taunting.

Casually pulling out a small bag of snacks, he propped up one arm to lean on as if he hadn’t a care in the world.  He popped one of the treats into his mouth, chewing leisurely as the chaos unfolded before him.

Crest pointed at the potion that Lanes had begun to draw, “You know I saw that potion on you and I thought about stealing it first but I figured I’d give you a chance!”

Lanes shifted his body back towards the shadowy mass, “As long as you stay out of it, then…”

The swirling mass in the creature’s other hand went limp as a glass flask fell from it and shattered on the floor.  Bits of glass spun on the ground as the alchemical reaction that lay dormant within burst into a flower of smoke.

Lanes squinted his eyes as he looked around for the creature, pointing his crossbow towards the smoke, “Ugh I can’t see.”

Crest laughed at Lanes, “Just going to stand there then?  It’s going to be a big one!  You should’ve drank that potion when you were walking down the staircase, you gonna keep waiting or what?  Time is ticking.”

The Royal Guard squinted, dropping his crossbow to the ground as he popped the cork on his potion, drinking it with one hand and then pulling out another flask with his other.  Throwing the potion bottle to the side, he took a step back as he lobbed the other flask into the smoke.

Crest smiled, “Too late!”

The smoke had already begun to clear, revealing the creature’s arm which had swelled up into a writhing mass.  Pulse.  The tumor reverberated, firing sharp blades towards the Ranger as the creature simply stepped back—letting the flask explode on the ground into a fireball in front of it.

Lanes shifted his body quickly as the knives sailed past him, feeling the acid building up within his muscles.  He took a step forward, pulling two knives from his belt and cranking his arms all the way back.  The mana surged through his knives as he let out a yell, throwing the knives as hard as he could at the creature.

In response, the Boogeyman threw both of its hands forward, firing a barrage of knives in retaliation.  The space between them was like a glittering storm, knife contacted knife in mid air as flashes of light twinkled in the flurry.

Lanes continued to throw, harder… and harder.  He grunted with each throw as his knives screamed through the air in desperation to reach the target on the other side.  However each of the single knives were met with two.  The Boogeyman’s knives weren’t as powerful, but they didn’t need to be.  It focused purely on speed over strength, its barrage overwhelming enough to act as both shield and sword.  As the flurry continued, knives passed through towards Lanes, with the occasional knife embedding itself into him.

Crest leaned forward and rested his head on his hand, “Oh?  Are you trying to figure out what to do?  I can see it in your eyes… you're thinking… you're pleading.  But all you’re doing is bleeding!”

Crest continued the disrespectful mocking from the sidelines, so honorless that he refused to even fight himself, “Are you trying to analyze the Boogeyman?  It’s pointless… you can’t!  Also wait… you’re a Ranger?  Are you serious?  How could a Ranger overlook something like Spica’s idiot mistakes?  The coffee, how did you not notice?”  Crest seemed disappointed, “I wanted to see Spica get chewed out by the Captain… come on man…”

Lanes continued to throw daggers as hard as he could at the creature, the creature continuing its barrage at him.  Slowly, he continued to be pushed back, his arms and legs becoming pincushions filled with knives.  He took a heavy breath, cranking his arm back as he threw one more dagger in desperation.

Humans were known to be favored by the heavens.  In a moment of desperation, when the odds were truly not in their favor, it seemed like goddess Kari herself descended upon them.  The phenomenon was called Divine Providence, the proof of the goddess’ love for her chosen.  She was with them all.

Crest scratched his head, “Are you just praying for a lucky shot?”

Lanes could see his dagger on the path to strike true completely by chance, guided by a divine light.  It sailed perfectly towards the heart of the creature, “Die!” he screamed out.

At that moment, one of the creature's daggers clashed with one of Lanes’ in mid air.  Time seemed to slow down for Crest as he observed the event—the dagger spun to the side, veering off course from the deflection.  It sailed wildly through the air, before crashing into the dagger that Lanes had bet his luck on.  Clink.  They collided and both daggers parted ways, each ending up on opposite sides of the ground where the creature stood.

Crest’s eyes opened wide, his mouth twisting into a maniacal grin, “That’s… real luck!  That's what it looks like, you idiot!  That’s how you use Divine Providence!”

Lanes’ heart sank as he staggered backwards, blood trickling down his arms and legs from the many punctures he suffered.  He looked to the ‘sky’ in desperation, to see nothing but the pitch black void of the pocket dimension.  Limping backwards, with the creature closing in on him, he reached for his belt and threw his smoke flask onto the ground.

Crest continued to laugh maniacally, devoid of any compassion he relentlessly mocked him, “Why Lanes?  It’s not like the smoke makes you invisible?”

Lanes took comfort in the smoke before the cold pierced his chest.  As the fog cleared, the monster appeared through the haze, embedding a dagger into his chest.

Crest sighed as he stood up and began to walk slowly towards Lanes.  The Catfolk looked at Lanes in disdain, kneeling beside him, “My dear Lanes… what were you thinking?”  His tail swept playfully from side to side as he grabbed the dagger stuck in the man’s chest.

“Look Lanes… you hit my Boogeyman’s legs.  Why are there so many daggers in his legs?” he questioned.

Lanes coughed up blood as he slumped over onto Crest’s shoulder, “I… wanted to slow it down..”

Crest reached up and placed his hand onto Lanes’ head in comforting pity.  He ran his hands through his short, brown hair, “My boy… for what purpose?  Boogeyman is you.  You’re a Ranger… you know… ranged attacks.”

The Catfolk petted Lanes like a household animal as he stood up, grabbing him by his collar, “It’s okay the hurt will go away… when this all fades away.”

Lanes reached out in a futile attempt to grab Crest, his hand opening and closing as far out in front of him as he could.  “I won’t… let you hurt them… you bastard.”

Holding the Royal Guard out in front of him, Crest smiled, “We will see about that.”  The Catfolk let Lanes hit the floor as he dragged him away by the collar.  He counted in his head, ‘One… two… three…one…two…three.’ before settling at a spot that was far away from where the battle occurred.  “Alright, good enough,” he spoke, and at that moment the world around them began to burn away like paper—flecks of the alternate reality drifting away like ash in the wind.

EXTRAS

DM Message

Hi everyone,

I am Cure, the DM.  This was a particularly tough chapter to write.   Crest is such a cruel character isn’t he?  I had to really get into his mindset when writing this, especially since the last scene is from his pov.

It was also particularly hard because we are shifting over to a new writing style for the novel.  Previously it was more of a “chronicle”, a full log of combat that showed the results of every action and roll.  However, to make it much more entertaining to read, I started grouping actions together and giving it a bit more narrative flair.

I imagine it like I’m watching an anime, the pov and camera angles and the choreography.  I hope that feeling is translating well and is reaching you.  Please let us know in the feedback if you like this writing style more, so we know if it's worth it to keep it going.  If it is, I'd like to revisit Chapters 1-3, have it adhere to this new style, and have the art made for those too so we can release on webnovel platforms.

Coming up in November we will be on a short break for Thanksgiving, and another short break during Christmas for the holidays.  I want to try to keep up the pace of delivering the story to you as soon after the sessions as possible. 

Next up is the mid-novel finale, a big battle for the Divine Arms as we wind back the clock and observe what happened on the other side from Yasha’s perspective.  I hope you will look forward to it!

Until next week!

QnA 

During the Battle of Mothergreen, Asari was evacuated to the IsAB along with Leaflit.  She received strict orders to stay out of the fight due to her value and rare expertise as a special agent.  Asari has participated in missions throughout Lyr though.  In one mission she took down a high rank Divine Arms Armatae alongside Angel’s Sword Members, Ayra and Enrin (and Leaflit I guess) that belonged to an S-Rank Criminal on the IsAB watch list. 

While they failed to apprehend the criminal, they were able to seriously damage the Armatae, taking it out for months or possibly even years.

Character File:  Rin Tatsugami

Name: Rin Tatsugami
Affiliation: Madeline, Thunderstrike Division Captain
Class:  Saboteur / Flash Star Sword Style
Age:  20
Species:  Youkai, Raijin
Favorite Food:  Stir Fried Noodles With Pork
Dislikes: Uncompartmentalized Information
Signature Ability:  Flash Star Style:  Starlight Crescent Reversal
Weapon:  Longsword
Quote:  “I’d rather not know about it.”

Rin Tatsugami is the stoic and highly skilled commander of Madeline's Thunderstrike Division, renowned for her mastery of the Flash Star Blade style—a  swordplay technique that emphasizes powerful slashes and relentless forward movement. As a Raijin, Rin blends elemental magic with her longsword, dominating the battlefield with precision and intensity. Her secretive nature and unwavering dedication to missions make her a respected yet enigmatic leader, one who prioritizes the safety and success of Madeline above all else. While she deeply cares for her allies, Rin is resolute in making tough decisions, including sacrificing her own squad if necessary to protect the kingdom. Her strict compartmentalization of mission details ensures operational security, solidifying her reputation as a disciplined commander.

History—Rin Tatsugami was born into the Tatsugami family in the capital of Kirara.  Shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Mothergreen on a mission to strengthen ties between the Economic City-State and Kirara.  When Northi and Westria invaded Mothergreen, they fled to Madeline and became citizens of Dacquoise, deciding to stay there even after the war was over.

Rin’s family owns Tatsugami Noodles, a Kiraran Cuisine Restaurant that specializes in traditional Kiraran dishes.  The restaurant soon became more popular than her grandfather, Hiroshi Tatsugami’s dojo, which he decided to close down after his retirement.

Hiroshi taught his granddaughter the Flash Sword Style, a disciplined Blade Art that combines swift sword slashes, using the momentum from movement to enhance each strike.  Rin expanded her training later to include Sorthen-style Saboteur Arts and quickly raised the ranks as an integral part of Madeline’s information network. 

She was soon promoted to the Captain of the Thunderstrike Division, Madeline’s elite unit responsible for information gathering and covert missions.  Under her leadership, the Division has successfully executed numerous operations, disrupting Northi activities and safeguarding vital assets.

While stoic and fierce on the clock, Rin has been known to wear cute dresses on her days off, her attitude a bit more warm during her free time.  While others in the Division have wondered the reason for this, even going so far as to take bets as to what was going on—Rin has never spoken of this quirk, and everyone has been too afraid to question it.  The truth is, she is still a girl at heart.  Her hobbies include studying martial arts styles, helping out at her family’s restaurant and vegetable gardening.