CHAPTER 533: BACK IN THE BLACK

Mason slept, or maybe passed out. When he opened his eyes he was walking through the changing mists of the Fey, and the familiar ground of Cerebus’ lair. He was starting to recognize his ‘druid dreams’, and this one felt more like…a vision of reality. Like he’d projected his mind somehow. Like Blake.

“Ah, Young Wolf.” The God growled. “Come. Watch with me. Let’s see which of your pack is worthy.”

Mason sighed and approached the shadow of his ‘patron’. He wanted to ask how he was there, what exactly was happening, but he had enough experience with ‘gods’ now he knew there was no point.

He found the giant resting on a throne of bones, half naked nymphs curled up and massaging his feet. Cerebus growled and they ran off with shrieks, then he lifted a skull-cup and drank, blood spilling down his furry chin.

“If you kill any of my people, I won’t be happy,” Mason said, searching for the others. Cerebus snorted.

“I am an observer, like you.”

Cerebus grunted, and another nymph came running out with a bone stool. She grinned at Mason and set it before the throne.

“Would you like something to drink?” The nature god continued. “I’m very pleased with you today.”

“I’m thrilled. And no thank you.”

Mason was getting strangely comfortable in the god’s presence. But he still didn’t see any sign of the others or what Cerebus was watching. He was getting annoyed enough to ask when the god seemed to realize and held out a clawed hand.

A green portal formed, and Mason saw a split screen view of the players who’d vanished. They were all running through the mist.

“This isn’t how I got my prestige class,” Mason said, and Cerebus laughed.

“Because you cheated. The Makers were obsessed with divine power and stole many secrets. But such things were once only ever gifted. Earned. Your friends will be recognized by the gods, or they will not.”

Interesting, Mason thought, trying to absorb that despite the concern for the others. More and more the conceit of the Makers as ‘man trying to be gods’ was obvious. It wasn’t clear what their synthetic overlord thought of it—originally it seemed they’d almost destroyed the world.

But now that the infighting and squabbles between gods seemed to blame, Mason saw the Makers as more like…mortals trying to fight back. It was just that they failed. So what was RoboGod’s point? Not to resist? Was he trying to tell mankind it was all hopeless? That he or the universe would squash them in the end?

Mason grit his teeth and watched Garet clutch his spear with white knuckles, the young man’s eyes frantic as he searched the mist.

“And if they’re not recognized?”

“You know the answer,” Cerebus said, with no pleasure or regret. It was just the stating of a fact.

Mason balled his hands into fists. He was about to make some kind of threat or promise, despite knowing it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. Cerebus met his eyes and quirked one side of his mouth.

“You fret like a new mother. I told you I was pleased. They are ready. I wouldn’t have summoned them otherwise.” Cerebus winced as Jason stumbled over a rock. “Mostly ready.” He raised his voice. “Distract my champion. I can’t listen to his whining.”

Two nymphs came back holding a pitcher and a plate of food. They wore strategically placed leaves and smiles, and that was about it. Mason did his best to ignore them. But they guided him into the stool and started massaging his shoulders and tried to feed him. He decided just letting them would be easier than resisting.

His players were forced to fight, or escape acidic mist, or some kind of flood. Only Demi seemed to be ignored. She even lay down and seemed to give up. Mason started to panic when he saw the mossy ground cover her completely.

“You needn’t worry about your precious mate,” Cerebus said, watching him now, his golden eyes hard to read. “She was already deemed worthy. Fear her wiles. And her patron. They will soften and seduce. They will bend you to their will, if you let them.”

Gaia, Mason knew, without being told. He sensed the magic all around her now, infusing her as the earth took hold. He couldn’t help but smile. In his most paranoid moments, he’d been worried Demi was somehow a spy of the ‘Unseelie’, some kind of opposing force. But he could put that away now.

“Softness isn’t weakness,” he said, meeting the god’s eyes. He looked around and waved a hand at the nymphs, at the mist. “Is this everything? Don’t you have children? A family?”

The giant’s expression hardened and Mason decided he was on shaky ground. Cerebus said nothing, but his silence said enough. There was something sad about him. Something brittle and tired—like a man who’d lost a life he once loved, and was left bitter. Mason didn’t judge him, or pity him. He just knew he didn’t want to be him.

“One day you will understand, little immortal,” Cerebus said, blinking and looking away, his face returning to normal. “But I will take no pleasure in it.”

It was a disturbingly calm and almost pleasant thing for the god to say. Mason tried not to worry.

Together they watched the players fight. And win. Mason smiled as John roared in triumph, lightning flashing from the sky and splitting the mist as it struck him like some thunder god. Jason’s polearm grew into a massive halberd, glowing with silver light. Garet’s spear transformed into a half dozen weapons as he spun it. Tommaso…drank

one of his potions, and grinned. But the smile faded.

“I’ve seen enough.” Mason stood and pushed away the nymphs’ greedy hands. “Thank you for bringing them, if that’s what you did.”

“You’ve earned your kills.” Cerebus smiled. “The demon’s master ground its bones to dust and scattered it across the planes.” The words seemed to truly bring Cerebus joy. “Run along now, pup. My final reward will wake you.” Here the god winced as if he wanted to say something, then changed his mind. “Let a champion’s death be your reminder. Only the strong survive. And the cunning.”

Mason nodded, not paying much attention to the god’s words now. That there was a 'demon' champion reminded him it maybe wasn't just humans who were playing the Great Game. But for now he was eager to get back to the others and see the many upgrades. Especially Demi’s…

**

“He’s awake!”

Mason blinked open his eyes and smiled at Becky’s beautiful face. His limbs pulsed with agony, and a renewed pain flared down his shins. Becky looked and stared with an open mouth, glancing off towards the others.

“Somethin’s happenin’. Shit. Alex! What’s goin’ on?”

“I’m fine.” Mason winced and sat up enough to look. It seemed the skin from his knees to ankles was going dark. But at least he had skin again. And it didn’t take long to remember his dream, then to understand what was happening. The system text confirmed it.

[Receiving innate item: Boots of the Earth. Blow with the wind, or root like an oak. Connection to nature comes in many forms.]

Images of growing things formed as more tattoos up and down Mason’s legs, even covering his mostly healed feet. He wiggled his toes and grinned, and Becky threw herself against him. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m alright, country girl. Everyone else OK?”

Becky shrugged and looked around at the others.

“Seamus and Alex got banged up pretty good. And Annie. How you doin’, girl?”

The little redhead did not look OK. She was bruised and cut, her hair matted to her scalp from demonic goo and her own blood. The others looked pretty beat up, too. But they’d survived. They’d won.

“I’m fine,” Annie said, staring at a wall. “Thank you.”

Her tone implied ‘and don’t ask again’. No one did.

“The experience gain was considerable,” Phuong said with a grin. “Those of us with prestige classes were also given titles. A few upgrades. My sword should work better on strange demons like that one. It seems there’s a kind of ‘soul’ aspect it didn’t have. I’ll have to watch out for that.”

Mason nodded, hardly caring right now about anything except the fact no one had died. They sat in relative silence, resting and gathering themselves. In a few minutes the green portals started opening again, and one by one the other players all walked out.

“Tactician, baby!” Garet held out his arms and transformed his spear into a sword. Then a mace. Then a shield. “I’ve got like six versions and they all get a power. Not sure if they share cooldowns. Shit. I can’t wait to try them all.”

Mason grinned, and the others were still congratulating him as Jason arrived. He went pink as everyone stared expectantly. Garet gestured to encourage him along.

“Oh. Uh. Sacred Spear. It’s sorta half divine, half martial. I guess. I do kinda the same stuff. Just…better.”

More cheering and congratulating. John came out with a bit more show, crackling with lightning and flexing his arms.

“Stormfist,” he said with a wink. “Like Thor ‘imself, lads. Just wi’ a different hammer.” He went pretty red when he seemed to remember Becky, arms dropping as he cleared his throat and apologized. For her part, Becky howled with laughter.

Tommaso came out surprisingly calm and reserved. It took Garet’s efforts to get it out of him, and he shrugged and said ‘Transmuter’ like it was no big deal.

“Same sort of thing. But I’ve got some buffs. Not bad, boys, not bad.”

Demi came last, and everyone went silent. She was smiling as she stepped out, but looked between them and started playing with her hands, looking confused. Mason stood and brought Becky as he took a few steps towards her.

“What is it?” she whispered, looking at the floor before meeting his eyes. He shook his head, sometimes unable to process how a girl who looked like Demi wasn’t used to or comfortable with attention.

“Your eyes,” he said, staring into the now familiar green light. “They’re glowing. You’re…” he didn’t say it, though he was as sure as he’d been when he looked at Jeong. You’re immortal, he finished in his mind. Did she even know?

“Oh.” She touched her cheek and shrugged, obviously unsure how to react. Mason could sympathize. He put an arm around her and brought her in for a one-armed hug without letting Becky escape from his other. He met the challenging look, but it didn’t last long.

“Five new prestige classes, a few new upgrades,” he said, looking around at the others. “I think we’ll call it a hell of a good day. Well done, everyone. That got pretty dicey.”

A few people nodded or snorted, most sitting down and looking exhausted, the weight of the fighting and mana use settling in. Mason was about to check with Carl and Phuong and see what they thought for a next step when they all heard stone grate against stone.

“Ah feck off,” Seamus said, standing with a groan with the others, leaning on his staff. “What’s it now, then?”

Mason turned to see a cavern wall slide open, a metal door behind it creaking and clicking like…well, like a vault.

Hundreds of small, green humanoids came shuffling out in a huddled mob, some carrying wooden toys or what looked like dolls.

The goblin children stepped cautiously out and down a ramp to the platform, their eyes moving between Mason and the others. One of the largest got pushed out ahead, trembling as he cleared his throat.

“You…you’re a…lord. Of goblins, yes?”

Mason sighed, but couldn’t be upset. He’d felt little enough guilt when faced with his deeds by that demon. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have red in his moral ledger. Saving some children from demons, no matter what their race, felt like a little mark in the black.

“You’re safe now,” he said, waving them on. “Come on. Let’s get you home.”

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