Chapter 83: Man vs Map

Chapter 83: Man vs Map

In the dark depths of a Hungarian forest, a hundred people waited for death.

Ilona was among them. A twelve year old, she had been dragged out of her bed by raven-headed monsters in the night, beaten into submission, and then dragged into the woods. Her daddy and mommy occupied an iron cage halfway across a snow-covered clearing alongside a dozen other adults. Ilona shared her own with twice as many children. She recognized most of them from school; back when the world hadnt ended and she still attended classes.

Morning had come, but little sunlight pierced through the canopy of trees. Winter snow covered a stone table at the center of the clearing. Traces of dried blood were visible on its surface and a terrible noise emanated from it. Ilona had learned evil ghosts existed since the dungeons appeared, but she prayed to God not to face one.

The monsters holding her prisoners were scary enough already.

They numbered in the dozens. Most were the same humanoid ravens that captured her in the first place. One creature, the leader, stood out from the rest; it was an ugly beast with goat legs, black horns, and a human torso. Its face was a skull with a wicked grin.

Satan himself walked the Earth.

rdgLevel 50 [Demon/Beast]Faction: Apocalypse ForceNachtkrappLevel 40 [Fairy/Avian]Faction: Apocalypse Force

Shush, the demon leader said to the crying children. He polished the top of his fork weapon with blood. Everything will be alright.

For us, one of his bird minions said.

Yes, for us, the demon leader nodded to himself. Now, you may wonder why we would want to harm you. Our weakest soldier is level 40 and none of your adults reach half that number. We wouldnt gain experience by killing you.

Lord, please Lord. Ilona joined her hands in prayer. Jesus Marie Joseph, please, if anyone listens please send someone.

But in the Apocalypse Force, we believe that each death has value, the demon said joyfully. We have found a workaround: we are going to force your parents to murder you so they can level up. Then we will force the survivors to kill each other until they become just strong enough that we can harvest experience from them.

Oh Lord, if you save us all, Ilona prayed, I swear I will make my bed each morning and I will never steal sweets again!

Now, I understand some of your parents may not like our foolproof method to deal with child support, so we will brainwash them with the Charm ailment first. The demon showed a contrite face to his captives. This may sound cruel, but it is strictly necessary. If we could have switched the order of execution and hastened your inheritance, we would have done it. I am truly sorry for the inconvenience.

He almost sounded sincere too.

As the fiends laughed and the children cried, Ilona held her hands and looked at the canopy. She prayed that the Lord would send down an angel from the heavens to smite the demons.

And God listened.

The sound of clashing steel echoed across the forest alongside a catchy battle song. The demon leader stopped taunting his prisoners and looked up as one of his minions was sent flying above his head.

What is this?! the fiend roared in anger and surprise. Some of his servants fled in panic through the forest as the sound of battle came closer.

The Bohens! one of the raven-headed beasts said in panic. Its the Bohe

A blade of sharpened wind hit the bird and beheaded him on the spot.

A blazing projectile cut through the canopy from above and shattered the sacrificial stone table on impact. The weapon was long as a spear, yet with a tip shaped like a pointed axe. Branches fell and let the pale sunlight into the clearing.

Instead of an angel, God had sent Ilona a flaming halberd of justice.

A knight gracefully landed from the sky right next to the divine weapon. Unlike heroes from comics, he didnt bother introducing himself in the name of righteousness. He simply grabbed his halberd and cut down a dozen raven-headed monsters in a single swing.

Ilona and the other children gasped in awe at their heros arrival. His purple armor glittered in the morning sunlight, as did the golden Orthodox cross painted on his chest. The helm showed two blue eyes glaring at the demons under a tuft of blond hair.

Ilona cheered in joy, swiftly echoed by the other children. The knight noticed their presence and then glared at the demon leader in righteous fury.

Im going to take that fork and stick it up your ass, he told the fiend. Like a chicken on the grill.

You must be Basil Bohen, the demon leader said with a wicked grin. He raised his fork, flames dancing around the pointed ends. The man who smoked Apollyon.

Rosemarine landed the killing blow, the knight replied absentmindedly. But he didnt completely deny the demons accusation. And you are?

rdg, thrall of Belphegor, Horseman of Death. The fiend swung his fork, leaving a trail of flames in his wake. A proud warlord of the Apocalypse For

Again? The knight let out a contemptuous sigh. A few raven-headed minions brave enough to challenge him surrounded him from all sides, but he didnt seem to care. How many of you cockroaches crossed over with the last Incursion?

Our numbers are beyond count, the demon boasted. Your death will be my ascension to the Horse

Yes, yes, Ive heard it before. The knight made a rude gesture. Rosemarine, get him.

The demon exploded into a shower of blood and gore before Ilona could process the knights words. A piece of the monsters brain bounced on her cheek, and its corpse flattened inside a small crater. It looked as if he had been crushed under an invisible giants foot.

Sneaky toe! a female, unseen voice shouted across the clearing.

Your party earned 2,790,000 (289000 for you). You earned 2 levels (54 total).Bugsy Alphonse Venture can now undergo a metamorphosis into a [Volcanipede] (Elemental/Bug) or [Archeopede] (Bug/Elemental).

I am unfamiliar with such celebrations, Kalki admitted. His serpentine familiar, Ananta, hissed in confusion as well. Does this Christmas have special significance?

Its this worlds version of Yule, Vasi explained. If its anything like Samhain, then it will turn into a System event and we can expect to fight more monsters.

And get a big fat reward! Shellgirl rejoiced. Were still using those we got from Halloween, so the Christmas ones must be good!

Basil just hoped the Systems event wouldnt involve shuttles falling from the sky and zombie armies like the last one. Europe could only take so much of a beating.

Everywhere they went, the team saw the consequences of the most recent Incursion. Although Apollyons defeat and the dungeon networks sabotage had minimized damage, thousands of powerful invaders crossed the portals into Earth. The Apocalypse Force and the Unity had deployed forces all across Europe. Dungeons had grown in strength and danger and level forty monsters were now the norm.

Worse, word that Basils crew had slain Apollyon spread to the rest of the Apocalypse Force. Many times they had been ambushed on the road by ambitious upstarts eager to claim the late Horseman of Famines throne by slaying his killers. All of the attacks failed of course, but they kept delaying the group.

The result of all these changes? Only one road out of ten was still usable and half of central Europes settlements were ghost towns. Basils maps had proved all but useless halfway through Austria, forcing the team into constant detours.

Considering everything that happened on the way, Ill rate Hungary six out of ten as far as adventuring destinations go, ahead of Germany and Slovakia but behind Austria, Plato commented as they finished stuffing the Steamobile with gifts and provisions. Budapest was amazing from start to finish, but that cultist village near the river was our worst side quest yet.

That one is on you, oh dear king of cats, Vasi mused.

You just had to kill the Turul, Basil glared at Plato. Of all the things you could have done, you just had to kill the Turul.

The cultists had a statue of the bird in their central square, and his former cat still couldnt help himself.

How could I have known that they worshiped the damn thing? Plato protested. Honestly, who would pray to a giant bird for protection? Couldnt they pick a leopard?

The only leopards in Hungary are German tanks, Plato, Basil replied while rolling his eyes. Anyway, lets go. With luck, well cross the border to Romania tomorrow morning and travel halfway to Bucharest.

Shellgirls head perked up with interest. Were going back to Budapest already?

Were going to Bucharest, in Romania, Basil said with a sigh. Not Budapest.

I will never understand human naming conventions, Bugsy said.

Are you so eager to meet your ex already, Shellgirl? Plato mused. Sorry, should I say Miss Varga?

Im still not used to it, Shellgirl said as she glanced at the wedding ring on her finger. The marriage had lasted six hours, but that had been six too many. Thankfully, I asked for separate marital property.

Many esteemed minds had tortured themselves over a simple question: what would happen if you were to get a slime monster drunk?

Basil Bohen had learned the answer in Budapest against his will, and did his best to suppress the memory ever since.

Rosemarine, can you remind them of the law? Basil asked his dearest dragon.

What happens in Budapest stays in Budapest! Rosemarine repeated these wise words written in blood and tears. Especially the dead!

Thats my girl. Basil petted Rosemarine and then leaped on her back. His Dragon Rider Perk gave him supernatural balance when he mounted the much larger tropidrake; the experience felt as smooth as riding a motorcycle. Everybody, time to go. The Unity wont wait for us.

Garud and I will scout the terrain from above, Kalki proposed kindly. Hopefully we will find a clear path.

I will join, Vasi said with a mysterious smile, before jumping on her broomstick. It was a good call. The skies were infested with various monsters, making reconnaissance difficult.

Bugsy was the last to hop back onto the Steamobile. Boss, I have unlocked a new metamorphosis.

Ive seen, Basil said with a frown. But correct me if Im wrong, the Essence of Apollo unlocked a metamorphosis at level seventy-three or so? This one is two dozen levels too early.

Or was it like Pokemon, where Bug-types went through intermediary phases?

Thats right, Boss, Bugsy confirmed with a nod. Maybe Ive reached my cocoon metamorphosis? Ive heard some bugs go through that stage.

Basil had yet to hear of cocooned centipedes, and the names of Bugsys potential metamorphosis didnt lean into that hypothesis. Pokemon logic then.

Well, Bugsy, you can meditate on which choice you want to take during the day, Basil declared. Ill assign my levels on our next stop, after Ive considered which class to invest in further.

At this point, Basil was dedicated to filling out the warrior-oriented Dragonknight class and utility ones like Technomancer and Runesmith. However, the Warrior Saint class he had unlocked in Paris appealed to him as well. He needed a bit longer to reach a decision.

And then of course, there was the question of Christmas to consider.

Please tell me we wont have to fight Santa Claus, Basil begged the System. That would be truly bothersome.

Dismaker Labs wishes you a happy apocalypse!

Basil groaned and prayed for a Merry Christmas.