Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Slowly the expanse of sky and street below me eroded, leaving a simple gray-paneled room with visible support beams. Even the original dungeon floor was gone. The lithid hadnt left anything behind. I tested my arm carefully and was surprised to find it in working order.

Out of curiosity, I checked my inventory and found that none of the arrows or bolts had been spent.

Everything that happened within the lithids thrall was undone. Physically, anyway.

Mentally? That was another story.

My hands shook violently until I clasped them together. And I could still feel the tremors. When the shaking subsided, I pulled up my UI and looked at the time.

Only five minutes had expended over the course of what felt like a lifetime.

It was hard to be disappointed with the lack of a core, considering what wed just been through.

There was too much to unpack and process here. I needed to keep myself distracted for the moment, the sudden influx of notifications presented a perfect means to that end.



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I tensed, waiting for a wave of pain from the stat increase.

Nothing happened.

What, was I expecting my companionship muscles to hurt?

Feeling foolish, I pulled up the details on the boon.



Too bad it didnt drop a monster core. The boons only half a reward without it. What are the chances of running into another lithid any time soon?

With negativity annoying the hell out of me, I navigated to my title screen.

was grayed out. During the initial clash with the lithid, Id received a notification that the title had been integrated. I now understood the basic premise of title integration and could appreciate the potential benefits. Most titles had a specific use case, but the cooldown kept me from swapping between them freely. If I continued to integrate them, Id eventually reap the benefits of all my titles simultaneously, with a minor loss of effectiveness. But losing first was irritating, as it had become something of a crutch.

I reviewed the others briefly.

would be terrible to lean on for any extended period of time. Insightful as it was and useful for digging up secrets, it twisted my perspective far more drastically than the other titles, and I wasnt sure I could stop it from leaking into my personality.

That left and

I blinked. There was a fourth title. One I hadnt possessed before completing the dungeon floor.





Interesting. Dangerous as hell if I used it wrong, but the titles potential as an oh-shit button was undeniable.

We have plenty of time for the sixth floor.

I turned my head and stared. Did you just make a joke?

Talia looked away, and I couldnt help but chuckle at how simultaneously awkward and regal she looked. The silver and gold form was striking. So, your new form. Part of the change you mentioned?

I believe it is.

Any changes to your thought patterns, your instincts?

Talia turned a baleful eye on me. Apart from the overwhelming desire to slaughter anything that remotely resembles a lithid, no. Though I feel a profound distaste for Vernon and his necromancy Im reasonably certain wasnt there before. Theres also part of me that feels drawn to those poor creatures in region six.

To what purpose? I asked.

Absolution.

Huh. I cocked my head. That sounded almost templar-ish. So that flame wasnt just fire. Its probably most effective against both eldritch monsters and the undead.

Theres something else. Talias brows furrowed as she focused. All at once, she began to shrink, her color darkening, eventually turning black with streaks of brown around her chest. Her chest jutted out, and her pointed ears grew rounded and floppy.

When the change was complete, Talia looked nothing like a wolf. Rather, she resembled the meanest Rottweiler Id ever seen. I believe the power read my intent. Or your nature.

You can change at will?

Mana permitting.

Not having to hide her regardless of what role I was playing made things a hell of a lot easier. But, there was still a long road ahead of us. And one more question I couldnt leave unanswered.

What made up your mind? I asked.

Talia looked away. Is the answer important to you?

Yes.

My summon took a seat in front of me. From the beginning, there is much about you that has given me pause. One moment, you seem capable of great kindness and benevolence. The next, you are brutal and cruel. You take great effort to hide these extremesyour kindness, your cruelty. I have spent much of our time together attempting to ascertain which side is the act.

Her expression was indecipherable. But during our battle with the lithid, I saw much. Of your memories, your life. Your nature. And I believe I finally have my answer.

You dont have to say it. I cut in, dark shame clouding my mind. If shed seen the same memories I had, there was no point in dancing around it. She knew what I was.

Only after did I realize I was asking the wrong question. You are not one or the other, Matthias. Youre both. And that is not such a bad thing for an ally to be. Talia finished.

Was that even possible?

I wasnt certain.

Still, I knew one thing for certain. Im glad to have you with me, Talia. As an ally. I held a palm straight out, and she pressed her head against it.

And given the fact that it is bad form to start an alliance with a secret Talia reached towards her shoulder and withdrew something.

I stared in shock. Not at the fact that her new form apparently included an inventorybut at the small black sphere in her mouth.

You killed the lithid. The core dropped for you. I realized.

Talia placed the monster core on the ground before me. All relief I felt at not ever having to deal with or think about the lithid again faded away. She lowered her head and let the sphere drop the last inch. It clinked to the ground, rolling in my direction, before it stalled at my feet.

You intended to use it as a summon. And while Im certain this experience dampened your enthusiasm somewhat, our circumstances remain the same. So, the question is, Talia gave me a serious look. What do we do with it?