Chương 46

Kirk stayed with that group for several hours, suffering the assault of three more geo packs. The first two were only a dozen, but the third numbered almost twenty. The geos had hit them from the side Kirk wasn't on, either, so by the time he had slaughtered the ones he could reach and swept over, the three Conduits on that side bled onto the hot stones. Kirk had to carry the archer that had saved him earlier on his back as the disappointed group retreated up the slope.

I've never seen it so directly, Kirk's breathing quickly returned to normal, even burdened by Larian Saber in his hands and a Conduit slung across his back. These Tier I Conduits can fight as effectively as me, but they tire out so quickly. The advantage of two Archetypes... But it's not just that- The Ancient Bladed Beast manifested on the slope next to Kirk. Its blurry, furred form paused and stretched. Its silvery claws dug into the stone. When satisfied, those sharp eyes looked around.

Finding nothing in the Conduits of note, it sniffed in distaste. Even the dim constellation of Kirk's Glimmer Mage tumbled through the air without being noticed. Kirk frowned, but focused more on the retreat than the implications. And what really broke their spirits was that the group found no valuable catalytics through those fights. Despite the dense ambient energy, too many other Conduit teams had the same thought. Kirk spared a glanced for the information provided by the band. I need to be stronger.

Your Feat Runic Bombardment has gained a ✷! Feat Gained! Teamwork ✷! Your Feat Quick Chanting has gained a ✷! Your Feat Tough Body has gained a ✷! Administrator Ranya's plans continued to roll forward. So when the group pushed up through the indigo mist layer, they could see the beginnings of a palisade on the slope above them. Kirk released a sigh of admiration. He respected the Administrator, who could envision and create the foundation from which they could accomplish all their goals in one fell swoop.

He flexed his wounded left arm. Really, all he had was his single body. Even now, it felt like he was playing catch-up. With his missing memories, he had to piece together the context from conversations. Plus all the burdens- Kirk closed his eyes. Don't get distracted.

"Um. I don't mean to interrupt," The archer Kirk carried seemed hesitant.

"But are you alright? If you can't carry me-""No, it's fine." Kirk flushed and continued to march. The area of the fortifications was filled Tier 0 Conduits, the desperate levies, earning credit by serving as laborers. They had pickaxes, smashing large rocks and creating stretches of flat ground. Other individuals carried planks or walked around with diagrams; the construction was slow because non-Conduits couldn't safely enter a Rift. But already the groundwork was being laid. Kirk blinked and looked sideways.

A laborer turned and hurried away. Kirk grinned. Rufus, did you really think I wouldn't notice? But Kirk just carried the archer up toward the portal. Only after he dropped them off did he head back down. He walked to the barrels of water that formed the center of the new construction and took a long drink. He flexed his hand again; with the energy his Archetypes absorbed inside the rift, it was already almost healed- Kirk froze, then pivoted around.

A storm of energy began to build nearby, just up the slope from the fortification. His jaw dropped.

"What…?"

"Wound me sideways." Another Conduit straightened and looked up the slope.

"Is some dipshit levy trying to Ascend? Now? Without Albion's Ritual, the pollution…"

"Not willing to get the contribution to earn a spot, I bet," Another commented. Kirk closed his eyes to feel the flow of energy. The ripples disturbed the vicinity, but the effect remained localized; apparently this was just a desperate Tier 0 growing to Tier I. But still- Kirk looked down the slope. The indigo mist began to swirl ominously. The tumult was enough; he knew that geos would come sniffing around. Kirk also became aware that everyone in the surrounding area was looking at him.

Without the Administrator or their representatives, they didn't know what to do. This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. It's the first step that matters, he looked down at the mists. Once the process begins, everyone manages well enough. But knowing when to move- sometimes, people hesitate. Even as Kirk was considering, he heard a voice calling his name.

"Hey! Albion." A familiar figure jogged over, followed by a half dozen subordinates, including the lazy-looking Tier II woman. Kirk frowned at the young man.

"What was your name again?"

"You-" The man's face twitched.

"Haha. Your jokes, Albion. I'm Leonard Pawnce."

"I keep telling him." The lazy young woman shook her head.

"He needs to act more memorable." Kirk nodded; this was the young man who had followed him into the Rift, to help establish this beachhead.

"Pawnce, of course. Were we friends?" If anything, this question just made Leonard grimace.

"O-of course we were friends. Through thick and thin, gambling and debts-""Well, we are definitely friends now. Follow me," Kirk said. Leonard finally offered a genuine grin.

"Let's ruin that punk's Ascension. No one can steal our-""What? No." Kirk frowned at Leonard.

"Why would you ruin someone's Ascension? We are going to rally the defenders. Geos will attack." Leonard just gaped at him. The lazy woman sniffed.

"Leonard, don't be petty." Kirk frowned up the slope for a second.

"Sure, it isn't fair. So we make sure that individual pays, but-" Kirk slowly drew his Larian Saber. He looked around. The surrounding Conduits looked back. Their attention prickled against his skin; he did his best to ignore it.

"For now, we want humanity to grow stronger. Even the selfish individuals. Higher Tiered Conduits mean fewer are injured, fewer die. So everyone spread out. When the geos come, cut them down. Plus, it will give us a taste.

"A taste of what this will mean, when enough people Ascend at once to drain the energy of the Rift." Several Conduit leaders hurried over, asking Kirk where they should set up. They talked over one another, telling him their team size, their exploits, their strengths. Kirk could barely hear the details. As a headache began to build, he pointed to different areas, arranging the Conduit teams in a rough semi-circle. Some were clearly dissatisfied with their positions, but they swallowed and hurried into position.

Because below, the indigo mist exploded. Kirk's pupils dilated. Even his Ancient Bladed Beast felt a flicker of uneasiness, seeing the swarming bodies rushing out of the mist. But that same Archetype gave him a moment of peace. Kirk exhaled.

"It's just about eighty," Kirk said. Even to him, his voice sounded far away. His eyes followed the bulging muscles of the geos, their flailing limbs as they rushed up the hill. His Bestial Senses gave him a view of the surroundings.

"About 30 Conduits in fighting shape. That means everyone just has to kill about three." He could feel the pulses of the Conduits around him. Those Tier 0s behind, here just for labor. The other defenders. Their pulses tapped against him. Everyone's heartbeat began to accelerate. It was one thing to talk about this grand plan to defend against the waves of geos while individuals Ascended behind. It was another to see a horde rushing at you. As always, Kirk could feel the gazes on him.

He hated it, he admitted to himself, the way they checked him. Yet he also knew that if he flinched here, the rest would follow suit. Somehow, he had become their spine. Kirk narrowed his eyes. This was beyond his Archetype. He had the instincts of a beast, prepared to hunt and kill. What he needed right now was to be a warlord. Kirk began to enunciate syllables. He spoke louder than usual because he was nervous. And he found that noise could smack slightly against the ambient energy, reverberating with more power.

An Ember I Rune flared to life, brighter than Kirk had ever seen. He allowed it to hang in the air in front of him, ignoring the energy cost, and began to chant for the next one. The energies stirred and swirled. Suddenly, all the geos veered directly in Kirk's direction. He almost laughed, adrenaline and nerves mixing in his body.

"It looks like they are heading directly for us," Leonard trembled next to Kirk.

"Welcome to the life of a protagonist," The lazy woman sighed.

"And now look, I'll probably have to save you. Bah." Kirk filtered all that information out. Or rather, the flood of information from Bestial Senses I was already too much; he just allowed the small talking and shuffling of the Conduits to fall away. He heard his own voice. He felt the whooshing sound of the wind. The clattering and snarling of the geos charge. The pressure of energy, whipping around toward him and the Ascension happening behind. Three, four. Five, six. Kirk blinked.

Right as he finished his seventh rune, he could feel the Conduits around him tensing. The reverse avalanche of geos had ripped up the slope and was about to crash against the defenders. They were densely packed, arranged like a loose spear. The Conduits had the high ground, but were fewer. Kirk pointed.

"Break them." The runes became brilliant sparks. All at once, they shot down, crashing into the dense mess of geo-3 bodies. The smoke and flame briefly obscured the flesh. The monsters screamed and staggered through, still running up the slope. Kirk drew his Larian Saber. A second wave of projectiles followed. Arrows and blades of wind and orbs of frost chipped away at the geos as they approached. Next to Kirk, he could hear Leonard.

"Oh shit, oh shit. The fucking Architect must be drunk-" Kirk stepped forward. His first slash cut off the eyeless head of a burnt geo. His second split another down the middle. His third- He was surrounded. Geos lashed and struck out at him, ripping his shoulder, his bicep. Lavender fire blossomed with enough force that the geos flinched. Another geo crashed directly into his chest, sending him staggering back. By the time he recovered, other Conduits roared and dashed forward, hacking against the wave.

Kirk chuckled, feeling a strange and vicious cruelty rising in him. If this is what it takes to survive in this world- Kirk grinned, showing blood-soaked teeth. So be it. I won't flinch. The Ancient Bladed Beast flexed its gleaming silver claws.