Risha: Chapter 56

Risha tossed her sword, only for it to be deflected into the ground by the demon carrying shields. 

She pulled herself to the sword with her magic, and went flying. Midair, she stepped through the shadows and barreled into the demon carrying a tiny goblin, her second sword slicing through his arm as he hurriedly twisted away.

The tiny goblin fell to the floor and huddled there with his hands over his head.

Risha didn’t have time to look at him as she deflected a spear, then pulled on her chain to pull her sword out of the ground towards the quickly approaching group of demons. The sword still in her hand was thrown into the throat of the demon she’d armed, ending its life.

Then they were upon her. 

She stepped away, manipulating both chains to create a whirl of steel and hold off the approaching demons. 

The shield demon blocked the moving swords as if he could predict her every movement, covering for his allies as she continued to retreat from the fight. 

He had to die, or her magic would just be exhausted and she’d find herself at the end of that spear. 

A pinprick on her neck was all the warning she had, but her instincts had been honed, and she ducked without thinking.

Long daggers sliced through the air where her head had been just a second before, revealing a demon she hadn’t even realized was missing. It leapt back, disappearing to her senses once more. She didn’t have time to focus on the disappearing demon, as an arrow flew towards her.

She pulled one of the swords back to her hand, deflecting the arrow to the side, then twisting away from the spear that sought her blood.

Again, she felt that pinprick, but this time as she twisted away, she used the sword in her hand to stab forward, piercing deep into the heart of the demon who’d thought to surprise her. 

She pulled on the sword, but it stuck there, and she had to let go as the group attempted to encircle her. 

She flicked her wrist, her chain sending the pierced demon into his ally. For the briefest moment, the shield demon paused, his dead ally’s head tilting over the tip of his shield.

Risha stepped through the shadows, kicking out with her foot to pin the body against the shield as she pulled her sword from the demon and decapitated the shield-bearer in one smooth movement. 

She didn’t stop moving as she channeled the panther to step through the shadows again.

This time, next to the spearman.

He dropped his spear, reaching for the dagger at his waist. Risha pulled her second sword to her hand, and cut him into three pieces. 

A swordsman died next. [Mother’s Ferocity] stacking to keep her magic from running out.

She began to step again, but was thrown out of the ability as power filled the room.

Risha stumbled, barely rasing her sword to block the strike of a living demon.

Then an even greater power filled the room, and the demons froze. 

Risha willed herself to move, to take advantage of the situation.

But some part of her felt a primal fear. A fear of the ancient, the unimaginable, and she couldn’t move. 

The powers disappeared, leaving her shivering as she barely stood on her feet. The surviving demons weren’t doing much better, one of them having collapsed as the white flames that empowered their abilities left them.

Risha bit her cheek, cutting into herself and drawing blood, then she threw both of her swords, piercing the archer and another swordsman, bringing their number down to three.

She made quick work of the rest, weakened as they were from the sudden lack of white flame. Their blood painted the stone in a tapestry of her making. Then she stood there, shivering, her swords lying on the floor as she gripped their chains tight.

She’d felt many powerful auras, but this one had been unlike the others. Even in the council, or with the Ocean Mother, their power felt almost like it was moving through tree sap, slowed and muted. 

Risha took a deep breath, her eyes moving to the blue screen which begged for her attention. 

It was important, that she knew. But it could wait for her.

Risha pulled the swords back to her hands, then placed them in the sheathes at her waist, above the sword she still kept from the overseer.

She looked over to the chained goblins, all of whom held each other close, terrified just as Risha was. 

She took a deep breath, then turned away from them, looking at the pile of corpses the demons had made. The sight made her blind with anger. 

This was why she’d been so hurried. Whatever the demons had been doing here, it had been terrible in nature, and she would not allow such evil to be suffered.

The crystal pulsed, and Risha drew one of her swords, walking towards it. Whatever this was, it had given power to the demons. Looking at the corpses surrounding it, she had no desire to use it, and she could only see it as an ally to the slavers.

She raised her sword.

“Wait!” 

The voice made her pause, and she looked back. 

The tiny goblin who’d spoken avoided her gaze, huddling into himself, “Not evil.” 

Risha sheathed her sword, and calmed herself. 

The goblin corpses were clouding her mind, making it hard to think. She had to prioritize.

Ola the sparktender, and the Under Goblin Heartbound, both of them were related to this crystal somehow. 

“You can end me.” 

The voice spoke to her mind, filling her thoughts with its words despite how much it tried to hold itself back. 

“End my torment.” 

“No.”

Confusion, and slight anger came to her, shocked at her blatant refusal.

“After what has been done,” Risha looked over the carnage, “You will not be able to escape that easily.”

She turned away and walked to where Klu lay on the floor. Both of her spiderlings approached, patches of fur burned away and missing some of their legs. The two centipedes that had been in the room lay dead on the floor from their own fight.

Risha knelt down, and lifted the heavy orc up, gently putting him onto one of her spiderlings. 

She needed to check on the others. She knew that they’d probably won their own fights, but still…

As if answering her thoughts, she heard the skittering sounds of spiders. Moments later, Risha’s warriors filed into the room, a lightly cut Glo leading them. 

Eyes turned to the pile of corpses, the room rising in heat as monsters of all kinds felt raw hatred.

“Bury the corpses with our people,” Risha said, exhaustion leaking into her voice. “I’ll evolve the tiny goblins in a little while. I have some things to take care of first.”

Glo bowed, his face twisted with anger and disgust, “Yes Grand Mother.” 

Risha let out a breath as her people moved through the room, clearing the bodies and freeing the trapped goblins, then her gaze turned to the notification that had been asking for her attention.

Level Up!

You have qualified for the evolution [Mother Of Monsters]. Would you like to evolve?

Risha’s breath caught. An evolution. Part of her had wondered if she’d ever get another one, and the other Grand Mothers couldn’t tell her since their classes worked differently. 

Risha nodded, and words filled the world around her. 

Request accepted. Evolving into Mother Of Monsters

Name: Risha

Race: Goblin Grand Mother -> Mother Of Monsters

Lvl: 50

Skills: 

*[Council of Grandmas] Speak with the council for guidance and knowledge.

*[Motherly Advice] Gift unique evolutionary path matching the qualities of the gifted

*[Brood Mother] Grants the gift of communication to you and those you protect

*[Hunter] Your body is designed to hunt. You will be harder to detect, and no one can escape your gaze once they become your prey. 

*[Shaman’s Magic] You have a basic connection to the arcane.

*[Mother’s Care] Those around you find their wounds healing without a trace

*[Risha’s Swordsmanship] Your sword follows the path of the Goblin Grand Mother. Your blade never errs, and remains unwavering. You see the path of the sword: The sword of the goblin.

*[Mother’s Ferocity]: An embodiment of the monstrous Grand Mother Risha’s battlelust, Mother’s Ferocity increases your strength, stamina, and mana the longer a battle goes.

*[Mother’s Spiritual Advancement]: Advance or change your children’s evolution with magic matching the Grand Mother’s Element.

Skill Changes: 

[Hunter] -> [Tribal Hunter]

[Shaman’s Magic] -> [Spirit Magic’s Chosen]

[Mother’s Spiritual Advancement] -> [Blessing Of Mother’s Spirit]

Calculating Feats

Superior Feat: Mercy 

Superior Feat: Alpha Killer

Legendary Feat: Revolutionary

Skill [Evolve Classed Race] gained! Skill [Pack Leader] gained! Skill [Bond Breaker] gained!

[Tribal Hunter]: You embody the spirit of a Hunter. You are hidden from the gaze of predators, your arrows are unerring, and once the hunt begins, no prey can escape you.

[Spirit Magic’s Chosen]: You are beloved by the spirits, and your own spirit answers your every whim. 

[Blessing Of Mother’s Spirit]: Advance your children with your spirit. Whether you choose class or race, all shall know your blessing. 

[Evolve Classed Race]: Grant your classed children a racial evolution.

[Pack Leader]: The lupus’s strengths are yours to call. Black for strength and cunning, Gray for speed and perception, White for brutality and elegance. 

[Bond Breaker]: Oaths, chains and bonds cannot bind you. Anything that binds your children can be broken at your desire.

Risha reeled as energy flowed through her, changing her and bringing her higher. Her eyes glowed in the cavern’s light, and her skin smoothed, losing any blemishes. Her hair was like silk, a faint luminescence to it. 

Her teeth sharpened, her claws strengthened, and the veins inside her body radiated spirit. 

She no longer looked like your average goblin, some part of her becoming ethereal in nature. 

Risha focused back on the world, noticing how every gaze fell on her. Even the lights of the crystals paled in comparison to her. 

Risha frowned, then with an effort of will and the power of [Tribal Hunter], calmed the glowing effects.

There was still a presence to her that was undeniable, but it stopped grabbing the gazes of every goblin in the room.

“A Goblin Grand Mother. No, not anymore. What are you, monster?” 

The crystal spoke to her, drawing her attention back to it. Chains still wrapped around it, and Risha knew that she could undo them, freeing the Spark from its prison with her newfound power. 

“She is the Mother of Monsters. Speak with respect, Koliekan” A different voice this time, and Risha turned to see a High Goblin who looked much like her, except she knew that he did not exist in her plane.

The Ancient Shaman was covered in bones and furs, symbols adorning them beyond any that Risha’s own shamans could produce. He looked almost as young as Risha, but he stood with a bearing that spoke of confidence, and he spoke to the Spark with disdain.

“I do not fear you-”

“You should, Spark. Even like this, I hold the power to remind you of your youth.” 

Anger flooded Risha’s mind, but behind it, she detected the slightest note of fear. 

The goblin turned to Risha, then paused as he realized that Risha was looking directly at him. A wide smile spread across his face, an unfiltered joy that contrasted his earlier brooding look, “You see me, Risha?” 

Risha nodded.

“Good. I can not stay much longer. Koliekan is dangerous, but you can expect him to return any kindness you show him. Secure the other entrances to the labyrinth. With the demons gone, ancient horrors, and opportunists may look to control the Spark’s heart.” He walked over to her, and rested his hand on Risha’s cheek, then he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I am glad to see you shine, dear sister.” 

With a lasting gentle touch, the spirit disappeared from sight. 

Risha felt a tear rolling down her face, and she reached up to wipe it away. His touch had been so kind.

Risha shook her head and focused, she had work to do.