Chapter 48: Making New Choices

As I retraced my steps through the tunnel, I wondered if I had made the right decision in rejecting Oursk’s offer and Gnat’s ‘suggestion.’

But even after considering the matter as coldly and rationally as I could, I couldn’t stomach the thought of killing the wolves. Betraying my allies was not something I thought I would ever be comfortable with, no matter how much it benefited me personally.

I do not betray my friends.

The thought resonated with me, and it felt as if I had rediscovered a core tenet of who I had been. A small smile stole on my face at the realization.

My thoughts drifted to the dire wolves. But even after giving the issue considerable thought, I was convinced I had made the right decision in rejecting Oursk’s offer.

Everything I had told the wolf was true. He had his pack to care for, and unlike me, he couldn’t be reborn, but more than that, I feared what could happen to the wolf in a sector controlled by the Awakened Dead. If it came to it, I wasn’t sure that I could protect Oursk from the Master’s minions, other candidates, or even… Gnat.

The more I learned about the Game and myself, the less I believed that the Master’s interest and my own were aligned. I was no longer certain I trusted Gnat. And of the Master, I was even more suspicious. I feared I was being manipulated, but to what end? That I still didn’t know.

Even worse, I worried if I pushed too hard against the tide, if I questioned the direction I was being driven in too much, then the Master’s minion would turn on me. And I couldn’t in good conscience put Oursk in the center of all that. The wolves had suffered enough at the Master’s hands.

So, what do I do now?

Keep my ears open and plod onward, I decided, and hope that somewhere along the line I figure out what game the Master is playing at, and find a way of escaping his reach.

Returning my thoughts to the dungeon, I considered where to head next. There were still three avenues open for me to explore: the cavern occupied by Saben’s gang, the passage blocked by the trolls, and the metal door at the end of this tunnel complex.

So where to start? The metal door, I concluded. It was closest, and with most—if not all—the nearby goblins killed, it was the least risky of my three options.

With a destination in mind and a plan—of sorts—my steps firmed. Reaching the crossroads, I turned down the main passage and headed towards the door at its end.

~~~

Halfway down the main passage, Gnat rejoined me. “Are the wolves gone?” he asked.

I nodded. He didn’t say any more on the subject and neither did I. I had decided to let matters lie between the familiar and me. For now, anyway. I wouldn’t act until I understood his game better. Until then, I planned on learning what I could from the bat.

Nearing the end of the passage, I saw torches were still burning up ahead. Despite the chaos that had raged in the rest of the tunnel complex, it looked like the guards at metal door hadn’t abandoned their post. I faded into the surroundings and crept onwards.

A little while later, I finally spotted the guards. The six appeared tense and alert. As I drew closer, I idly wondered what the guards had made of the new silence filling the tunnels. It perhaps explained the anxiety I saw on their faces. Reaching the very edge of the torchlight, I came to a stop and crouched down fully.

I checked my reserves of stamina first. It was at a healthy seventy percent and still slowly ticking upwards from the food I had eaten earlier. Good enough, I thought. Returning my attention to the guard station, I scrutinized its layout and planned my attack.

My stealth would not serve me in this battle, the glare from the torches was too bright. But I did have a new means of tilting the odds in my favor. Loosening my swords in their scabbards, I got to work.

I reached into the pool of psi at the center of my consciousness and sent tendrils of will reaching out to my target—the largest and meanest looking of the goblins. The warrior was oblivious as I slipped into his mind. Instinctively, I knew what to do. Superimposing my will over the target’s, I forced my wishes—my needs and my desires—upon his.

A level 14 goblin warrior has passed a mental resistance check! You have failed to dominate your target. Your mental intrusion has gone undetected! Your telepathy has increased to level 2.

I bit off a curse. I was unhappy at the failure, but also relieved at the goblin’s continued ignorance of my presence. The skill gain too, was not to be sniffed at. I could only assume that my telepathy had advanced because my attempted intrusion had evaded detection.

Readying myself, I tried again.

And failed once more.

Your mental intrusion has gone undetected! Your telepathy has increased to level 3.

I ground my teeth in frustration, but I wasn’t ready to give up, not yet. Again, I told myself and sent my will reaching towards the goblin once more.

A level 14 goblin warrior has failed a mental resistance check! You have charmed your target for 10 seconds. Your telepathy has increased to level 5.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Finally.

I had complete control over the goblin, but the spell I had employed lacked subtlety. With it, I had wielded my will like a hammer—not the most precise of instruments—and while my domination of the goblin was absolute, I was only able to issue him with the most basic of commands.

The other warriors hadn’t been alerted as to their companion’s subversion. Aware that clock was running down, I sent my order pulsing through my newly-forged mental link with the goblin, “Attack.”

Obedience was instant. The charmed warrior drew his axe. In the same motion, I raced out the shadows.

Five hostile entities have detected you!

Shouting warnings to each other—and still unaware of the danger in their midst—the other goblins drew their weapons and stepped towards me. Without even the least flicker of hesitation, the charmed warrior brought his axe down and caved in the skull of a smaller goblin in front of him, before swinging around to slash at another on his right.

Your minion has killed two level 13 goblin warriors.

Surprised and shocked faces whipped around. “What are you—” a third goblin managed to get out before he too felt the bite of the bewitched warrior’s axe.

Your minion has critically injured a goblin warrior.

Almost cleaved in half, the goblin crumpled to the ground. The other two warriors cursed their betrayer and spun around to attack him, leaving me forgotten behind them.

I sped forward, flying across the ground. Before I could reach the battling trio though, the two hostiles buried their spears in the charmed warrior. An instant later, my spell lapsed and the mental link tethering the axeman to my will snapped.

You have lost control over a level 14 goblin warrior.

But it was too late for the impaled goblin. His eyes grew round and his mouth dropped open as he tried to say something. Before he could get the words out, the light in his eyes flickered out.

A goblin warrior has died.

The spearmen ripped out their spears and began turning around. But I was already amongst them. In a series of lightning attacks, I chopped left, then right, before thrusting out simultaneously with both my blades and skewering the pair.

You have killed a goblin warrior. You have killed a goblin warrior. Your shortswords has increased to level 31. Your two weapon fighting has increased to level 26.

It was over quicker than I expected.

Panting slightly from adrenaline and exertion, I studied the aftermath. Only one goblin remained alive—the second warrior struck by the axeman. Blood gurgled out of his mouth and he was panting frantically. I knelt beside the warrior.

“It’s over,” I said. Quietening his struggles, I slipped my blade under his armor and watched his life drain away.

You have killed a goblin warrior.

“You’ve come a long way,” Gnat said from where he sat almost forgotten on my shoulder.

I nodded wearily. I had. Killing was becoming second nature. My mind flew back to my first fumbling battle with the slime. It was hard to believe that was less than a day ago.

I was no longer that person. I was changed.

Evolved.

A killer.

I do what I must, I thought wearily as I levered myself back to my feet. Ignoring the bodies scattered on the ground, I moved to study the door.

It was locked.

Like the gate at the sector’s exit, a bluish tinge covered its lock too. I pulled out the chief’s keyring and tried the second magical key in the door. It fit perfectly.

But I didn’t turn the lock. Not yet.

I was sure I had slain the last of the goblins in this tunnel complex, and I was safe, or as safe as I could be in a dungeon.

Before I moved on, it was time to give my body what it craved most—rest.