Chapter Four Hundred And Eighty – 480

Chapter Four Hundred And Eighty – 480

After leaving the treasure room, Garox had led their boat down several rivers, each of them flowing over the remains of grand staircases. The water moved far more sedately than the rapids Felix and his people had traversed in the past, moving more like a lazy river than whitewater rapids. It was...kind of pleasant.

In short order they descended the faux rivers and passed through a high, star-shaped archway utterly was filled with dangling vines. The vines were covered in pale white flowers, sharply scented in the humid air, and they tingled wherever they touched Felix.

Status Condition: Warm Embrace

Duration: 3 seconds

Warm Embrace

A layer of heat and life Mana clings to your Body, regulating your temperature despite outside conditions.

A warmth followed after that tingle, though it quickly sputtered out and faded for Felix. He glanced at his friends, their faces a range of surprise, excitement, and suspicion. Isla glared at the vines as they passed through before shaking herself. Felix's Manasight caught the faint pop of yellow and green-gold light scatter from her figure, the same Mana that clung to his Companion and friends.

"I would appreciate a warning before inflicting Status Conditions on us all," the Chanter said to their guide.

Garox rolled his shoulders. "It is a boon, to better insulated you from the chill depths."

"I can do fine by myself, thank you."

Felix frowned. His Status Condition had lasted all of three seconds; not exactly useful. He turned to Beef and Vess. "How long does it say it'll last for you?"

"Sixteen glasses," Vess said. "A hefty length of time."The initial posting of this chapter occurred via N0v3l.B11n.

Beef pouted. "Mine's only ten hours. Same for Hallow."

"Three hours!" Pit chirruped.

"The effect is ameliorated by your Body Temper," Isla explained as Garox led them deeper down a winding corridor. "That is why Felix's has already ceased."

"I wouldn't mind it, if it helps," Felix admitted. Water got very cold, after all. "I have Sunken Ward which does something similar, but a Warm Embrace is nice over top of it."

"Hm." Isla considered their guide through her heavily lidded eyes.

Soon the corridor opened up into yet another room, this one far more modest than the Chapel of the Eye. It was vaulted and domed, tilted askew but not nearly as badly as some of the portions of the Temple.

A team of twelve Nagafolk were waiting, all of whom were built in a similar vein as Garox himself. A humanoid form sat atop a long, serpentine tail; though that was where the similarities ended. Unlike Garox, they were not Spirit Naga, but something called a War Naga. According to his Eye, it was an Evolution that derived its potency from battle itselfwhatever that meant.

Thick scales covered their brows, head, and the majority of their Bodies, humanoid and serpent alike. It gave them the appearance of wearing armor, and they were bulky where Garox was sleek. Their faces were far less expressive than Garox's too, which was saying something. Aggression wove through their Spirits, more than any other emotion, even at rest. A variety of weapons were in their hands, from hooked knives to densely woven nets. Each of the twelve also bore a twisted metal trident, each of which gleamed with a dark light. Shadow and lightning Mana flickered among the tines.

The tridents were crude looking, powerful but clearly confiscated like all of their crafted items aside from the nets. Garox caught Felix's gaze and nodded. "Taken from the more advanced Hatchlings that have assaulted the Temple. They are roughly formed, but the unstable enchantments on them are potent."

"Lightning blast and...something with shadow?" Vess said. "I cannot tell at a glance."

"The tridents have two Skills. One is called Levin Bolt and fires off a single bolt of lightning Mana at a target, while the other is called Inkshadow and releases an obscuring cloud of shadow Mana to hide within. Both are effective if...dangerous." Garox bobbed his heada distinctly snake-like move. "As I said. Unstable."

"To say the least," Isla said. "A tool that turns against the wielder is one they should cast aside."

"Or we just make use of what's available to us," Felix said, shoving more than a little annoyance into the words. Isla's mouth thinned, and he hoped that meant she caught the hint. "Introduce us please, Garox."

The War Nagas were terse but nice enough. Felix thankfully had his Keen Mind to memorize their names, though he only focused on the three leaders: Toa'ut, Rou'd, and Lavix. They were differentiated by painted patterns on their scales; glyphs that designated their positions as leaders, apparently.

While his team introduced themselves to their soon-to-be escorts, Felix felt a humming noise snag against his Affinity. He pressed outward from himself, feeling at the air, the water, the stones all around him. It was the Temple itself, thrumming across the surface of the world. Just like the one in the Foglands, there was a potency in the walls, packed into the stone and seeping into the water.

How much Essence and significance would it cost to restore this whole thing? Likely far more than he had currently. He didn't want to waste either resource; Felix still had to weave his other Pillars, after all. That was one benefit of going into another big fight. Plenty of fodder to feed his core space and finish establishing his foundation.

Eventually.

Felix's core space still wasn't ready for more Pillars yet, and it wasn't just a matter of being a perfectionist either. The vision he had for his cores and his Hunger was distinct now, his goals solidifiedFelix simply had to bring them into being. He was getting better, but it was slow going. Already Felix had identified a few Skills he'd need to band together, forming several Skill Arrays like the one around his Bastion of Will.

Garox slid forward, still coasting atop the surface of the water unlike the War Naga, who were all half-submerged. "Lower yourselves, warriors." They did. "You are hereby charged with ensuring the success of the Returned God's mission and are to obey him as if he were the Deepking himself."

"We hear and we obey," the said as one.

Odd wording, Felix thought. Or maybe I'm just surprised at how much they love their king. Trixie isn't the lovable type, but he is here, protecting their young while they fight in their neverending war. I suppose I'd like the guy that did that, too.

"Rise, warriors. You shall leave at the Returned God's pleasure." Garox gestured to the floor, where a circular moon pool could be seen. It was twenty or so feet below water, but once it was pointed out Felix could feel the warding that covered its open surface. "My Lord, below you is your way out. Leave whenever you are ready."

"Thanks, Garox." To the others, Felix raised his voice. "Recheck all your equipment and supplies. We'll be gone a while."

Vess, Beef, and Isla did a quick check of their persons and packs, while Pit sat on his butt and nibbled his beak at his forepaw. Hallow, both forms of her, sat perfectly still and staring off at some middle distance.

Felix did a quick examination himself, but before he got much farther than his new magic items, the hooked sword at his waist flared to green-gold life. "Felix?"

"Karys, yes. I'm here." Felix grasped the hilt of his blade and frowned. "What's happened?"

"What's happened is that you are not here, my Lord. That is why I am reaching out." Karys' voice was more sour than Felix had ever recalled hearing it. "Zara and a great many others have arrived, but you have not. What has happened?"

Felix smacked his forehead. He'd forgotten to call Karys and tell him what was going on. "I'll explain it all later. For now, get the teams rested and have them start construction on the additional Manaships."

"...as you wish, my Lord. Zara mentioned such a thing already. I am unsure how it shall be done, but I will see to it."

Felix grimaced, disliking the subservient tone Karys had taken. "Can I speak with Zara?"

"Of course. The array focus is easy to shift here."

There was the sound of descending tones before it ascended again and he heard a new voice. "Felix?"

"Zara. Everything went well?"

"It went...as expected. Some injuries, a few complications, but all in all a solid journey."

"Injuries?"

"As you did not enter with us, the Shadowgate latched onto one of my Mind Skills instead of your Bastion. We made it through without any deaths, and the voidbeasts were only a minor inconvenience."

What sort of Mind Skill does a Master Tier Chanter have? Felix wanted to ask a dozen questions, but focused on the important things. "The Whalemaw?"

"Unseen. I believe the power dampening array was far more effective without you along for the trip."

That was good news. The Whalemaw had attacked Zara previously, having been drawn to what he believed was his connection to the Chanter, and the possibility of that happening again was not inconsequential. The dampening array they'd developed had worked though, which meant that in the future they would have to make more for other groups using the Shadowgates...just so long as Felix wasn't with them.

"Alright that's good. It's been only forty minutes since you left here," he said, before correcting himself. "Uh, like three quarters of a glass."

"Better time than previously," Zara said, a note of approval in her voice.

"We can compare notes on the journey later. For now, can you oversee the construction of the new ships? Karys has one Manaship in dock right now, but we'll need at least three more to accomodate all of ourmysoldiers."

"I'll see it done, Felix."

"And Zara."

"Yes?"

"Thank you. I'll be there as soon as possible."

"You're welcome," she said. "And you better be."

The connection died out, and Felix turned to the expectant faces of Naga and Minotaur and Humans alike. Pit had worked his way to his back paws. "Let's go for a swim."