Book 4. Chapter 2: Flying Chameleons

Book 4. Chapter 2: Flying Chameleons

Berris massive maul slammed into the portcullis, arrows from skeletal archers bouncing off of her ineffectually. She had been hammering blows on it for minutes now, and it was just now beginning to cave in on itself, some magical barrier finally diminished.

The stegosauruss tail had also been slamming against it, appearing to be quite effective. Jake, Ophelia, and Fhesiah also tried their best to add some damage to the door, but it was clear the two larger beings were doing the lions share of the damage.

Fhesiah occasionally used her draconic might ability to land a few powerful blows, but there didnt appear to be a need to rush things.

Tanda was taking out skeletal mages on the walls with her bow, mainly just taking shots with auril every once in a while. Jake didnt want to waste ammunition on fruitless attacks, and had his elite party mainly here to bust down the gate.

Between Jakes aura, his armor of faith from Berri, the stegosaurus soaking up damage, he had nothing to fear from the skeletal archers on the wall.

Jake was surprised to find that next to the portcullis on the wall, mysterious glyphs appeared that anyone could read once his people had already arrived there. They werent visible until his people neared, which he found frustrating.

They contained the rules for the encounter, the things they had already mostly figured out. That as long as they follow the path ahead and stay out of the [Detection Barrier], the beam tower would not target them.

Bloodberri now switched to the spiked side of the maul, and pierced through a portion of the metal, and wrenched a small gap open in the lower corner. She pried it open further, and Ophelia and Fhesiah flew through. Inside the gate was a long tunnel, but the front had a gatehouse structure.

They went through one side, Bloodberri and Tanda the other, each going through a different side of the inner gatehouse.

They went up some stairs, and were able to use the mechanism to raise the portcullis to a middle point, and lock it into place. The girls then began fighting through the skeletons on the crenelations, the enemies trivial to them. Now that they entered this way, the death beam would not attack them.

While he could have had the beastkin fight against the archers up on the battlements, he felt his elite party were better suited for softening up the entrance to save on their stamina, and even conserve their ammunition.

Jake had grabbed a number of barrels of javelins and arrows from the tribes cave to have enchanted, and now stored the results in bracelets. Still, he still thought it was best to play the slow game, as their ammunition was limited.

The keep walls clear and portcullis open, the beastkin now approached. The avian beastkin flew low, and the reptile people ran in loping strides towards the front of the keep. Rookards wolf beastkin people charged in with their various armaments, many of them holding shields or bows.

Jake could tell that Rookards people had focused on changing their traditions, to be like those at the Hunters Terrace. They formed ranks, with shield users protecting the archers, and having javelins. They were like a strange tribal version of a roman legion, the cavalry being closer to the faster wolf beastkin people themselves.

Jake was impressed with the speed of all the beastkin, for being a lower tier than his previous battlegroup, he had more confidence in a number of their abilities. There were around a thousand of them in total, a significant difference between this assault and the last.

The girls returned to Jakes side and finished wrenching the gate all the way open, and he urged Bill through the tunnel slowly as the beastkin started arriving. He noticed there was more of a keep door at the other end of this gate tunnel. He looked around, noticing that there were hopefully no traps inside.

Fhesiah said in his mind, [Ive scanned the inside the walls with my divine sense, there does not appear to be any traps above or below the tunnel, but Ill keep an eye on below. I do notice that there are some underground waterways, or rivers flowing beneath the city.]

This was just a time-consuming portion of their assault, having to travel over a hundred meters through a stone tunnel on Jakes ponderous creature. The rest of the wall was only a half a dozen meters or so thick, so this entrance was really designed as a strange entryway that sloped downwards before sloping back up.

Tanda arrived next to Bill and said to Jake, This enemy is really vicious. To think they can counter our people so easily, and fight us in a way we are not well-suited to face. Some tyrants had tried building cities of stone in the distant past, and it was a completely futile effort.

He nodded at her from atop Bill, and said, I can see that stone walls would likely only be effective against protecting against some of these auril beasts, rather than your people. Still, I didnt see any of that on the conquest map.

Our land changes significantly over longer periods, those cities have long-since crumbled. They would be replaced by a new mountain or plateau, growing where what was once a valley. There was even a tyrant destroyed, perhaps it was Cernunnos daughter taking his castle out. Its yet another reason why we choose to live on plateaus, they are much less likely to have that sort of activity.

Once again, Jake found himself surprised at this. He looked over to Vesuvius, who had now joined.

He said, What does that kind of activity look like underground? How do your people avoid being crushed?

My people are sensitive to the vibrations, using clicking sounds and thumps of our tails to communicate over large distances. We auril heroes can also feel the surging of auril in the area and know to avoid it. There is a fair amount of warning before it comes. What is most surprising is that often while a new mountain may rise up, new caverns appear, providing alternate paths. Sometimes our section of the underground will be completely closed off from the rest, but its rare. For those situations, we often have no problem tunneling through.

Jakes eyebrows rose in surprise. This had strange implications, surely a completely random occurrence such as seismic activity would not result in a pattern such as that. He supposed the heart was Cernunnos daughter, and even chose how to grow her world.

Tanda beamed with pride. My people had many reasons for believing this world is alive, even before we learned this detail. Weve long since believed the will of the world was very real, and it was maintaining the balance in all things, working together with us.

They arrived at the end of the tunnel, and Jake started drinking some mana water to recover, as he tried to recharge the duration on Bill and his kobold acolyte. He found that his old [Mana Transfer] ability was able to accomplish this.

So now, he really just needed to capture a proper flying creature suited for being a mount of some kind, and he could have his own mount permanently. Berri wrung her hands in worry at this thought.

Jake smiled at Tanda. I have no problem believing that, I was still surprised that such activity was done as if planned, is all. It sounds a lot like some books I read, though the idea that its an entire world instead of a dungeon core is surprising. Itd be nice if we could talk to her.

Tanda was surprised, I think we can, but why would you want to do that?

Jake shrugged. Well, I would want to try to help her. Maybe we can help her grow, or maybe we could find out if she wants something. I think it would be cool to be friends with a whole world, wouldnt you?

Berri exclaimed, Oh! That would be pretty neat! Maybe she could build us a cool house?Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Ophelia laughed, and Tanda frowned at Berri.

Tanda asked, You would have the world do a weird chore like build something?

Blood shrugged, and said, Why not? We can do something for her, and she could do something for us. I thought friends dont keep score, and if they are truly friends, they would not see it as stooping low to do something beneath them.

Jake laughed. By the way, has anyone seen Dave?

Jake heard a voice come from right next to him. Its Davonius! And Ive been here the whole time!

Jake nearly fell off the stegosaurus, surprised. Dave was not far behind Fhesiah who was next to Jake, and he hadnt noticed Daves presence over what he was calling his battlegroup sense. Jake tried to feel him with his mana, and Dave shivered.

What was that? Something passed over me.

Fhesiah chuckled. How interesting, Dave. You have some strong senses to be able to feel that without mana control of your own. Still, husband: you should be a little more vigilant. You can trust Ira and me to watch over you to some extent, but it would be a failure of yours to not try to improve your own senses. There is a lot to be learned from trying to sense Dave here.

T-Thank you, your eminence. I live to serve.

Vesuvius snorted. You better watch out for him, Goddess Fhesiah. This one told me he snuck into the womans bath

Dave interrupted in a rage, That was just one time! I was just a youngling then, not yet an adult. And I told you that in confidence!

He appeared and looked at Fhesiah pleadingly. Your eminence, I would never!

Fhesiah narrowed her eyes at Dave. Never better be right. The Framework might protect your life, but I will make sure to find a way that you beg me for death.

Dave shivered, and then Fhesiah smiled with pride. Still, your eminence, huh? A little formal, but I cant say I dont like it.

Jake just shook his head at the exchange, and Fhesiah continued, Oh, come on, Jake. I know your people like your women to be seen so highly in public. How did that one song go? A lady in the street, and a freak in the sheets, or something? Why, Im like the personification of that.

Berri giggled. No way. Youre more like the dirty old man in the streets. Im much more like the girl in the song, right, Jake?

Jake wanted no part in this conversation, as there was no winning for him. Fhesiah snorted and was about to make a biting comment about her being childlike instead, he guessed, but Blood narrowed her eyes at Fhesiah, which the demoness noticed.

She laughed nervously. Ah, youre right, sister. You truly have a ladylike demeanor.

Ophelia laughed, enjoying the exchange where Fhesiah took a loss, and Tanda looked on in question.

Tanda asked Ophelia, Is being a freak somehow good? Ophelia then whispered to her, and Jake saw she blushed in response.

Now that Jake was rested, they started beating the secondary gate in earnest. The beastkin had gathered in ranks behind them, following Vesuvius and Tanda.

Fhesiah gave some information to Jake about what was through the gate, and so Jake enhanced his voice using runic magic for his army of beastkin to hear.

When the gate opens, it appears attacks will rain down upon us. There are enemies up on some buildings to our right and left, filled with archers, like they were on the city walls. Then, catapults beyond a building ahead, trained on our location. It will not be easy to get across to our target. It should be safe to fly, but do not fly above the height of the buildings. We can sense the barrier begins there.

Ophelias and Jakes minds worked furiously, trying to come up with a potential solution to all the catapults, now that they had all the details. Most likely, they would even be protected by the beam tower.

Jake asked Vesuvius and Tanda, Im assuming youd want to bring your 3 Auril heroes with you? Either of you have anyone else in mind?

Vesuvius and Tanda looked over their subordinates.

Vesuvius spoke first. No. I think we should leave Darris and Roxo to protect the battlegroup while were gone Hes the only one more sturdy than I, and Roxo has excellent widespread attacks. We should certainly bring Vexana and her mate, Jarrix, with us.

Jake looked at Darris, realizing that the man almost looked like a smaller version of his Asmodeon Wartortle. He was wearing armor made of bone and a shield and axe made of the same.

Looking at him with his arcane eye, Jake was impressed. Jake looked at the turtle man with a bit of longing. If there was one beastkin he wanted to capture their template, it was him! Just one would be fine, right?

Jake lamented that his [Capture Template] required the target to die, or he would have the perfect summon for many fights lined up.

Roxo was some kind of sleeker lizard man, reminding him a little of the raptors that carried bone swords. From their initial planning meeting, he was told Roxo had some almost area of effect blade attacks, a ferocious red auril.

Tanda added, Ill leave Avina with him, shes one of the few avian beastkin that are healers. She should be able to keep him fighting long enough for us to finish our challenge should something happen while were in it.

Jake nodded, thinking the woman looked like her parentage was a snow owl. Jake looked over at Dave. How about you, Dave?

Daves eyes were moving all over the place, almost as if he was looking for a good excuse not to go.

I think its best I remain on the lookout here, you know. I have some more of that alchemical fire, I can put it to good use if it comes down to it. Im not much able to help in fighting.

Tanda offered, This is one of my strongest, Rikka. She is fast, and her spear and talons are fierce. We only have one spot, or Id say to take her husband, Lamone, as well.

If Jake had to guess, the two were both falcon beastkin. The woman, Rikka, appeared to be a bit bigger than Lamone. They almost looked like brother and sister, but judging by her necklace and an adornment Lamone wore on his bracer being quite similar, he guessed they were a pair.

Jake said, Sounds like we have our party of 10. Lets rest another few minutes and head in.

Fhesiah was the one needing to recover the most, having taken out another building full of mages. Jake and Ophelia had taken out two others, and Bloodberri was sad, as she had spent many baseballs already.

Jake admonished her, Berri, I told you to pace yourself.

She laughed awkwardly. Im sorry, Jake. Its just, I was having so much fun

Ophelia chuckled. She didnt even have to aim at the skeletons, her hits just smashed through the building crenelations, sending stone shrapnel everywhere, destroying them instead. It was like she had fired a cannon.

Berri said, Maybe I can throw those little toothpicks now? We have plenty of those, right?

Jake sighed. Yes, we have plenty of those toothpicks for now.

Blood had also cast some runic balls of her dark flames, but their effectiveness was not overly helpful. Jake felt it was better to save her mana in case a difficult enemy appeared or for heals, the two girls almost sharing their overall mana capacity to an extent.

Im sorry, Milord, Im still not quite good enough at runic magic, let alone the Nordic runes to help yet. The elvish runes just arent that effective.

Its ok, Blood. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Really, my best area of effect attacks just take too much mana against these types of creatures, only truly being worth it if they are densely packed. You are catching up to us. That you are eliminating or working on minimizing your weakness is wonderful. You have progressed quickly in such a short time, and you should be proud.

She seemed to enjoy his praise, but he wondered where this lack of confidence was coming from.

Blood laughed a little awkwardly. I dont know. Berri is all doom and gloom over here, maybe its rubbing off?

Jake scoffed at Berri. Berri, could you cut it out? I am not replacing you as my mount, alright? Weve talked about this. I dont know how I can be more clear here, Im mostly just riding Bill to stay in the center of the army, allowing you to have more freedom to do what you like. It would have been harder for you to hit your baseballs with me on your back too, dont you think?

Its justyouve never ridden me during serious combat, and then Bill shows up, and its like all you want to do! She huffed and puffed her cheeks out cutely, folded her arms and looked away.

Jake was stricken, he couldnt believe it. His girls had shown almost zero jealousy up to this point, but this one was seriously jealous of him using another mount?

Their conversation was slightly away from everyone else, but her motions certainly could allow someone from far away that there was trouble in paradise. Tanda and Ophelia were conversing with Rookard and talking about Rookards incursion experiences, as Fhesiah talked with Dave and Vesuvius about their people.

He sighed. Alright, Berri. Well fight together this time, okay? But then after that, I dont want to hear about it. I need to fight in whatever way is most advantageous, and me fighting from your back is not always the smartest, okay?

Hmph, Ill show you. Fighting while riding Berri will always be the best! Well become one, just like our date!

Jake stared at her, as she had not agreed to what he had said, avoiding talking about it.

Oh, alright. Fine, I agree! Just, youll see that Im right!

Jake sighed. He had never thought that this would happen when he first got into her basket back on Ariminum. It appeared for at least one boss fight, he would need to behave like a mounted caster, while his mount murdered everything.

Jake went and added bolster, along with his advanced stamina regeneration, to the additional members of the battlegroup that were entering alongside them, and even Darris and Roxo. He felt like this was the most he could spare, without being severely limited within the encounter.

The beastkin were perplexed at how much stronger Jakes buff made them. Vesuvius, Darris, and Jarrix even grew slightly in size upon receiving it. Jake decided to replace Bill with Brigids guardian of the forest, the boar.

Jake was surprised to find he couldnt even summon the boar with his regular mana. He had to push the divine flames of his hearth into the spell, spending as much as he needed for Bill, but with that type of mana.

A large red boar covered in vines and flowers appeared in motes of light, and she was a bit smaller than Bill. Their auril and spirit felt like a warm spring, and Jake thought the flowers growing were similar to their Hearthtree back at home. Jake frowned, as he realized a strange detail.

Tanda realized it too. Wasnt the guardian a boy? Whys this one a girl?

Jake had the Kobold priest try to climb up the creature, but she shook it off. The priest almost tried again, and the boar looked at it in hatred, so Jake stopped it.

Jake looked the boar in the eye, and she snubbed him by looking away, a look of disdain on her face.

Ophelia said, Did you think something rude about a god again or something, Jake?

I I dont think so?

Jake thought for a moment about a name. He thought it was weird, as a male guardian had sacrificed himself to become his summon, but the creature was now reborn as a girl, and didnt want his priest to ride her.

Ill name her Bree.

Tanda said, Oh, I like that!

Ophelia added, It means noble, or power, right? Her attitude seems to match that!

The boar made no shift in her expression, but the flowers turned a little brighter red, almost like the creature was blushing. Jake added [Divine Reinforcement] to Bree, which brightened the flowers even further and enlarged her, and Jake thought he saw that her overall heat increased.

Berri took off her backpack, and took on the profound look of concentration once more. She groaned, as her face scrunched up cutely. Her armor began to morph again, specifically, around her upper body.

Some spikes shrunk a little on her tail, but otherwise the upper bodys fins grew out, and a platform came out around her lower back, for Jake to stand on.

Some handles appeared on her back, the blades that would usually be covered by her backpack. Two fins grew out on both sides where Jake would stand, and he realized these were minor crenelations, or like shields.

Blood said, During this fight, you can stow away your shield and use our armor. We shall protect you, so you can focus on offense.

Jake nodded in understanding. He could use [Wrath] to good effect from her platform. He could lean forward on her back while holding onto a handle with one hand, with his spear in the other, like he was a mounted combatant like on a horse.

She was often upright ahead of her snake body, though, so that would be a little odd. Jake stowed his shield and leaped up, grabbing hold. He had just enough room to move one or two paces in each direction, to add his own lower body strength to his attacks.

Then, he could attack alongside Bloodberris shielding. Jake would only have to cover the rear, but with how fast Bloodberri moved and swayed, this felt unlikely to him.

They would have to face at least two more challenges similar to this one, the final potentially being different, next to the tower. They finished their preparations and entered. The moment they arrived at the other side of the portal, they were blanketed with several ferocious roars.