Chương 35: Chapter 34: Gotthardt

Roxala advanced towards the floor boss, and shifted, her shields moving to crash together. There was the sound of the latch sliding home, and the knight tilted his head, the expression of confusion and interest plain in his face to my Wolf-Ren, even under his helmet. In fact, the way the Deadmist hissed around his phantasmal form made it all the easier to see him for the man he was.

"DOORS." he scoffed"THOSE ARE DOORS." he said, as Roxala reached the end of the bridge and stepped into his lair first as Torch hooked his boot into the goatleg mechanism on his crossbow, hooking up the windlass to the end rather than try to draw it. Felorikaan shook out his hands from his sleeves, and mana like water began to gather around them, began to seem to condense from the air itself to bead like morning dew on his robe, making him look damp.

For my part, still wearing only my ragged tunic-dress, I set down my pack and carefully and with my guard up, strode across the bridge. This earned me only a glance from the Knight standing unafraid against us, revealed in a subtle shift of his helm to catch a sight of me through his visor.

"AND A PEASANT. FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING SO, THIS SEEMS MEAGER FARE FOR A BATTLE!" Gotthardt said"ONE ILL-FAVORED CHIT OF A GIRL AND A PAIR OF STOUT DOORS MORE LIKELY MAKE FOR AN INN!" he said, clearly taunting the pair of us. I didn't pick up my pace, my Sohei skill telling me to be patient, to remain centered. Roxala didn't rise to it either.

"She is a good cook actually." Roxala said conversationally"And more than she seems. Now - on your guard!" she said, and then her stance shifted a little! Even with Wolf-ren, even able to see exactly what she did, I didn't understand it! She seemed to lift her front leg a little and shift her hips suddenly, but the effect was dramatic! It threw the shield-maiden forward without shifting her stance out of position, jerking her towards the man maybe five feet, on a crash course!

With shocking force she rammed her shields into Gotthardt's, and the Knight actually recoiled a half step with a clatter! I took my opportunity to move forward a few rolling steps while the man was distracted for a moment, My polehammer's spear point facing towards the man with a discipline that would have been lost on me even two days ago!

Gotthardt thrust back, and I could feel the wind move as green light seemed to form behind him, a sound like WHUMP filling the air as he rocketed forward and into Roxala with a force and ferocity that made me jump! It'd been like he'd formed dragonfly wings of green light for a moment, and Roxala took it all. All that force, it translated into her actually sliding backward the space of two of her steps, but she was a big woman, and she'd been ready for it, braced as she was!

I shuddered to think what would have happened if she hadn't been! Good thing too, because with shocking speed, he followed up with a swing of his halberd, clearly seeking to carve into her side past her shield! I shifted my own stance, and jerked forward a couple steps to bring the point of my spear towards his face! Whatever else you could say, humans are creatures that do not like their eyes poked out, armor or no!

Graceful as a dancer, far more graceful than I thought a Knight should be, he shifted his stance a moment, the spear shooting past his head! Oh crap! And then he was in my reach, body checking me with another rocket boost of green light. I'd been in a good stance, but his pauldron caught me full-on in the chest, and I didn't have any groovy armor to protect me!

Only enough time to harden myself with a burst of stamina a little and suck in a breath before he knocked me flying backward a few feet as stars danced in my vision!

"TOOK THAT DID YOU?" he asked, and rushed me down before I could recover fully with another lightning fast flash of green light!

"YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME HERE GIRL" he said, and brought his halberd around to shorten me by a head! With an inhuman snarl, I brought my lucerne hammer up and around, not so much blocking his blow as deflecting it to the side with as much speed and force as I could muster, loosing my grip with one hand to bunch a fist. I stepped into his reach then, and brought my fist around at the undead knight with a swing of my hips, using my entire upper body to drive the hardest fist I could at his head while he was open!

I could see his shocked expression for one of those slowed-down-time moments before my fist contacted his steel helmet with a CLANG and quite a lot of pain for me, but probably more for him as it dented his visor inward like it'd been made of tinfoil and made the metal ring like I'd punched a skillet!

Roxala caught up then - and gave the Knight another vibe check with her shields, kicking up sparks on the ground as she rammed her iron-shod doors forward and hammered him once again as my eyes flashed with golden light once more while I read his status using Insight! Sir Gotthardt Gotthardtson, Rustungeist Armiger level 8, Surprised, Excited. 💀 [Health: 340/380] [Stamina: 285/300] [Mana: 210/220] HOLY COW. Roxala rushed into him bodily, twice, and I'd punched him full-on in the face, and he was EXCITED?!

We'd barely made a dent in this guy!

"NOT WHAT SHE SEEMS!" he said, bracing his full body weight against Roxala's weight.

"NEITHER OF YOU!" Gotthardt laughed, as... his... helmet pushed back out again, like nothing had happened in under a second!

"I HAVE MISJUDGED YOU. WORTHY FOES, INDEED!" [Health: 190/220] [Stamina: 230/250] [Mana: 110/130] I'd braced as well as I could against him, and he'd shaved thirty hitpoints off me with a shoulder check! Felt like it too - that hurt a LOT, but I didn't have time to rub my chest. I advanced at him, but Roxala beat me to the next strike.

While his shield was locked with hers, she parted her own suddenly and with savage strength, dragged his defense aside and gave him a brutal, familiar kick to the chest that had him skidding back another couple steps. Then a crossbow bolt sang out of the dark. Recovering just enough, the Knight surged on one side with green light in time to juke sideways and avoid the projectile.

I could see him move, could see the way his stance was shifting, and knew what he was going to do before he even brought his halberd around towards Roxala again. With a burst of stamina to my legs, I kicked off and landed another hammer blow to the Knight's shield, creating a fist shaped dent in it and forcing him to back off.

"YOU MUST HAVE THE CONSCRIPT SKILL. YOU FIGHT WELL TOGETHER" Gotthardtson said " THOUGH I DO NOT BELIEVE FOR A MOMENT YOU ARE BUT A PEASANT." I inspected him again, and another ten points of health had been shaved away, but I got some extra information [MONSTER] Revenant Plate I watched his shield lose the dent a beat later! Did I just see him... use a skill? I hadn't spent mana on it, at least, which was fair - I didn't learn much! But I'd seen him actually use his skill with that! Was Inspect contextual?

Then I became aware of a kind of... thick feeling in the air. It was like the humidity was skyrocketing, and at the same time, I could feel the static snap of my clothes against my body and my hands on my weapon as a charge built in the air. A familiar tang flooded my senses, and I realized what I was feeling was magic - a heck of a lot of it! Water and Wind magic?

My senses became aware, across the bridge of Gelidia and Felorikaan huddled together, hands outstretched towards one another as they cupped something between them. Something that crackled and spat and filled the air with ozone. Were they... creating lightning!

"Cover your eyes!" Felorikaan said "Brace!" he shouted in a voice that somehow boomed tremendously around us! I staggered and crossed my arms over my head as my highly tuned senses were barraged with a sudden rush of sensations from the echoes and sheer volume of what he'd said, and a spike of pain in my ears! Ow! Ow ow! And then a little shouting were the least of my problems. Gotthardt had reacted to the shout - because of course he'd heard it - by bringing up his shield and flooding it with mana!

Half a beat later, and the world went white and a noise so loud, so overwhelming that even my scream of shock and pain didn't even register to my own ears filled the air. And then something struck me that knocked me literally flying into a wall, and I heard Gelidia doing the same! All the wind went out of me with a WHUFF and I wound up on the ground, entirely disoriented, the world spinning around me.

We weren't the only ones - Gotthardt hit the wall too, and his armor went everywhere with a sound like pots and pans clattering down the stairs. [Health: 160/220] [Stamina: 250/250] [Mana: 125/130] I'd lost like fifty points of health in one go! I'd been healing all the while through the fight, and then bam - lower than ever! I couldn't imagine Roxala was doing much better, but I was definitely wrong - she was already on her feet and grabbing me onto mine under the arm.

"Get up, girl! On your feet!" she commanded and I was doing my best, I really was, but it was like I was made of noodles - and noodles that didn't belong to me, at that! Everything spun and the ground felt like it was shaking violently! My inner ear had taken a pounding, and my senses were turning out to be a blessing and a curse. My head pounded, and I staggered against the wall, forcing air into my lungs.

"What is wrong with you? He's getting up!" she said, shaking my shoulder - this actually helped, showing me that the shaking was ME shaking, not the world! With that point to ground myself on, I fought for perception - and saw that the dented and steaming armor of the knight... was pulling itself back together! The breastplate levitated back into place, and I could see, with my Wolf-ren, as the phantasmal, vague outline of Gotthardt got to his feet in line with the motion.

He turned his head towards us as his helmet formed next around him, and then arms and legs came to him very, very quickly as if he was iron man! I sank a bit of mana, and inspected him. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Sir Gotthardt Gotthardtson, Rustungeist Armiger level 8, Furious, Injured. 💀 [Health: 210/380] [Stamina: 200/300] [Mana: 105/220]"Even after all that!" Roxala growled in a voice only I could probably hear.

"Nono, he took almost a hundred points of damage and used up a lot of his resources - I'm encouraged!" I said, and she glanced at me with a sudden wolfish grin!

"Oh really! Well. Good. I lost like twenty. You?" she asked, in that same tone.

"like... fifty. Ow." I said and she bopped me on the head.

"Shoulda braced then. Wizard tells you to brace, a man like that? You bloody well brace, girl!" she chided, then slipped her arm back into her shield to step between the reforming Gotthardt and the bridge as his weapons returned to him. He directed a glare back towards the two sages and the scout, who was just finishing reloading. This fight... wasn't fast-paced exactly. Gotthardt could move quickly, but he had a kind of gravitas. There was little pomp to the way he rushed Roxala though!

The sudden change of pace was shocking as green light flashed... one one of his sides and rather than confront the Armiger directly, he juked around her! I was running towards the edge of the chasm before I even registered what I was doing, and pouring mana into my legs for a jump! HE HUNTS! WE MUST STOP HIM! Roxala, too slow, let out a cry and made to chase after him, but of course he was crazy fast. Would I make it? I trusted my wolf, and hurled myself across the chasm.

I hadn't even had the chance to scream before I was landing my feet on the wall... opposite the chasm to arrest my momentum, and the stone cratered inward around me before I kicked off again. H-holy crap! Holy crap holy crap! We rushed up between the two sages, my Wolf and I, and I brought the Lucerne Hammer up in a brace to intercept the head of Gotthardt's halberd.

Rage flooded me a beat later - Wolf's rage - and with that came another burst of strength as my arms, in slow motion to my perception, took the fantastic force of his weapon's blow, glowing green as it was! But, I was rewarded for the stamina and mana that had cost me when his entire momentum arrested, his attack stopped completely. I saw his eyes fly wide in shock, and realized I was growling continuously, the sound of it basso and rumbly, like the growl of a motorcycle in my ears.

Wolf didn't wait for Gotthardt to recover - she struck out, deflecting the blow to the side after a trembling moment of holding him, before my fist came around and claws came with, catching his helment and slapping his head off at the shoulders, sending his bird-shaped hat spinning off into the chasm, rent open like a tin can as a vicious snarl escaped me!

Gotthard's head wasn't actually visible in that moment, not to my eyes, but in the clarity of that moment, I could see his horror and disgust as he reeled backward, deadmist pouring out of his armor's neck-hole as he tried to recover.

"THOU'RT NOT A MAIDEN, FOR TRUE! THOU'RT A MONSTER!" he cried, and Roxala crashed into him from behind.

"WRONG!" the shield-maiden called! He must not have been ready for it - because she barreled into him with both shields like a battering ram, and turned the blow into a swing that sent him over the edge of the bridge into the silent-screaming flow of Deadmist far below with a howl as he was dragged away by his armor.

"She is OUR monster! And a good girl, you goat herder!" Roxala said like an action heroine, and I got a little tight shiver inside. I didn't hear Gotthardt hit the ground however far below that was, but I did get a notification. Good Girl! You have sent Sir Gotthardt Gotthardtson, Guardian Hawk Knight of the Deepest Crypt, to his final rest! Bonus XP was gained for fighting an opponent above your level! Bonus XP was gained for defending your loved one! Due to fighting as a group, the reward is reduced.

And then, Ding ding ding! Floor cleared. No level, but... that was alright! I'd JUST leveled up! Where Gotthardt had been standing before we'd engaged him, there was a soft clatter of metal and... a suit of armor appeared there atop... we approached it across the bridge. Atop a few bits of sheep... wool.. stuff! What was that called? I inspected the loot! And, because I could and I wanted to grind my Inspect skill a bit more since it had been pretty useful, I put a bit of mana into it.

Old Hawk Crest Plate, Rare, excellent quality. Created by Unknown Wind-attuned suit of plate mail. Assists in the use of Wind-based combat skills and spellcasting, enchanted to be lightweight. and Fleece, common Shearing a sheep produces fleece that can be used in a variety of goods. Huh! The armor looked neat - not my thing, but maybe Roxala would use it? She picked it up and turned the hawk-like helmet this way and that. Felorikaan did the same thing I did, lifting his hand to inspect the goodies we'd gotten.

"This is called Loot in your world, right?" Gelidia asked, and I nodded.

"Yup! It's an old term, short for Looting." I said. She sighed and nodded.

"Ah, that makes sense. We usually call things like this Spoils or Treasure or Drops." Gelidia said"Loot makes sense too, though it has a more... piratical or raider-y air to it." she said, and there was a slight note of disapproval in her tone. I shrugged. It literally was like that - I liked Treasure better!

"We can call it whatever - neat stuff though! Are you alright?" I asked, and she blinked at me, then smiled fondly at me.

"We send you flying into a wall, you save our lives, and you ask if WE are alright? What about you?" she asked, and I slipped my arms around her waist to pull her to me in a hug. She chuckled at that, but didn't resist at all. Even so, I checked my status. [Health: 200/220] [Stamina: 210/250] [Mana: 70/130]"I'm alright - my health and stamina are almost all back already, but I spent a -lot- of mana doing that." I said, and this earned me a hand atop my head.

I hadn't even noticed that I'd formed wolf ears, but she gave me scritches and rubbed them, pressing her forehead to mine.

"Good. Good girl - you absolutely saved Fel and I." she purred, and I melted, making stupid noises as the praise delighted both my heart and my wolf's, making my tail waggle furiously behind me, making my dress go fwuppa fwuppa fwuppa as the leather was battered by by trapped wagger.

"This... is nice armor." Roxala said, and Gelidia kissed my forehead, then turned to the Knight. She raised her chin imperiously, and nodded to the Orc.

"Take it, with my blessing. I would be honored if you would wear it - that was bravely done, Roxala Burnbright, and a hero like you should damn well look like one." she said, and Roxala actually blushed, but nodded firmly with a little bow.

"Alright... but I'll still be wearing my clan colors and trophies though." she said. Gelidia nodded at that, tipping her hand in a 'go right ahead' type of gesture. Roxala then turned her head to Torch, and asked"Will you help me try it on?" she asked, and the man snapped to move and help.

"Of course, Roxxie!" he said, and as the two began to undress Roxala from her fur and bone armor, I turned to Fel.

"The trophies and colors - are those orc things?" I asked, feeling a little awkward, but ever the teacher, Felorikaan nodded and explained, a smile on his lips.

"They are - the Burnbright clan are notable in Deplia, of which she is a Shieldsister. She wears red to honor the blood her kin have spilled for the Republic, and her Trophies - the skull, the bones, they're from enemies she's slain and her two brothers, who both fell in battle, so they might help defend each other even in death." he explained.

"She actually has a skill that can call them - I've only ever seen her do that once. Ancestral Orcish Necromancy is one of the few forms of that skillset that are allowed in Deplia." he said "She doesn't use it lightly."

"Necromancy?" I asked, and he must have heard the interest in my voice because he shook his head.

"Not all necromancy is a terrible thing, such as orcish ancestral necromancy, which calls willing shades, but binding the unwilling shades of the dead to serve your will is a dark, dark art. Any magic that subverts the will of others is illegal in Deplia, and in most places of the world." she said. I nodded at that, it made sense. And worried me a little! There was magic like that in this world? That was actually pretty horrifying.

"There are those who use it properly - to fight the undead, to give the dead rest, to heal others and to soothe, that is Radiant Necromancy, but the other sort, Umbral Necromancy, is an abomination. Compelling the dead, binding shades, raising the dead, creating golems from their spirits, stealing bodies, it's a vile craft that gives its practicioners terrible power." Fel said, and his disgust was plain.

"Worse still, it twists and corrupts those who practice it." I shivered, and not just at his tone. God... World, I'd hate to face that kind of madman down. I imagined some of the Raiders I'd fought with taht kind of power. They'd relished the taking of life and property. Imagine if they could take so much more than that? It was chilling. I hoped never to meet one.

"How do I look?" Roxala said, and I turned my head and my attention to look at her at last. Fel regarded the result, cupping his elbow as he tilted his head critically. Roxala wore the armor well. It must have reshaped to fit her, because it hugged her burly form tight, and seemed to fit her perfectly! The joints were armored, platemail shifting beautifully as she tested the movements, flexing her fingers and twisting a little.

The chest plate didn't look feminine at all, but I could clearly see where she could fit into it under the red fur and ribbons tied at the elbows and around her hips, along with the girdle thingy that protected her midsection and legs. I didn't have the words to fully understand her armor - I didn't know the names for... bits of it, but the hawk helmet's beak was pushed upward to leave her face fully visible.

She looked like a barbarian queen, the pauldrons augmented by the skull of a big lizard monster still, and I could see several strips of bone underneath the breastplate with my Wolf-Ren, hearing how they clinked and shifted together clearly.

"You look awesome!" I said, and Fel nodded.

"It adjusted to fit me" Roxala said.

"It should, it's magical." Fel said "It offers you aid with wind magic, and it's magically lighter." he explained "Magical items like that always adjust to fit."

"It's... magical? Huh!" She looked her armor over again with new eyes, and grinned.

"I've never even touched magical armor before! This is... high quality too, like something a royal guard would use!" she said.

"I like it." I scooped up the fleece, and looked to the others. They seemed indifferent, so I put them into my pack and discovered, beneath, a key! I held it up, and Roxala gently took it from me, grinning.

"This will open the next floor." she said, and we turned to the door Gotthardt had been guarding. There was no key hole, but when we opened the door, it led to a staircase and thankfully fresh air! Pushing through, we discovered that we were once again coming out... the same door we'd come in by? How? I looked back through the door, and discovered... the bridge and the chasm? But it was definitely the door that had led to the crypt!

"This place is a Dungeon. It does not need to make sense in physical space - distance doesn't mean the same thing here." Felorikaan said, putting a hand on my shoulder and patting me "Don't worry about it - this is perfectly ordinary for a dungeon. Not worth troubling too much over." he said, and I gave up trying to understand how that worked. Did it matter? We had more adventure ahead of us! If this was just the FIRST Floor, of four?! This would be intense!