Deacon’s party climbed through the rubble up to the doors at the top of the temple. It was only when he noticed Ralph being helped up by an invisible force that he considered getting to the doors first. This way he could open them and ease his friends passing.

“Tantus, lift a rock or something so I can see where you are.” Deacon called out. After a few minutes a small stone started floating near him. That’s when Deacon swung the doors open revealing the Wode exit portal. It looked just like the one that brought them here. The only difference was you could see the other side of the portal. There appeared to be walls erected to each side of the gateway with a ramp leading up. The area was filled with torchlight and suits of armor.

“Does that look like the same cavern we found the gateway in, to you?” Deacon asked.

“The stone is the same, but it looks like someone developed the area. Are those King’s Knights?” Tantus asked.

“Can’t be, do you see how fast they’re moving?” Deacon asked.

“Theoretically, we are seeing through dimensions. That could have any number of effects.” Tantus replied.

“We need to go.” Amanda called out assisting Ralph into the room whose sword arm pointed back out behind them. Deacon took the hint and looked back out the door. Far edges of the chain of islands started going dark. It was like someone turning off overhead lights in sequence in a warehouse.

“Yea that’s not good. Did anyone else get a crazy path quest?” Deacon said getting under Ralph’s other arm and hurrying their passing. Ralph shook his head and Deacon received negative replies from the other two. They all reached the archway and stepped through together.

Deacon appeared in a dark open space with a spotlight over a pedestal. That pedestal had a box on it. His party interface was gone and no one else was around. He walked up to the pedestal and opened the non-descript box. Inside was a necklace of walnut sized beads. When he touched it, he received a description.

New Item: Mala Beads- This is a rare monk class item. This item doubles the wearers aura range and increases aura abilities base effects by fifteen percent.

After reading that message a series of new prompts came from his slate.

World Notice: The Champion of Chimera has unlocked Subclasses for the first time on the Mortal Plane. Subclasses enhance your chosen class in various ways. You can only have two Subclasses active at any time. The depth of this change to the world is far reaching.

Subclass Unlocked: Nian of Five Hells-This is a subclass of Monk. Gaining this subclass grants a +10 to Intelligence and a +10 to Wisdom as well as seamless access to all five known hells arcane energy. It reduces the two to one transfer cost from soul matrix conversions to one to one. You will also be able to survive physically in each of these planes of existence. While traveling through a specific hell, your soul energy will regenerate 10% per minute for that arcane energy. This subclass is compatible with all previous class abilities.

“What the hell? A world notice?” Deacon said to himself before continuing with his prompts.

You have reached level Seventeen; you have two undistributed attribute points.

Deacon thought, “those are going right into Agility which is lagging behind.” Did everyone get a subclass? That’s something he’d have to ask when he got out of this place. He placed his new points hoping it would make him less clumsy. Then he took a good look at his stats.

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

27

Strength

45

Speed

47

Agility

22

Wisdom

35

Luck

300

“Ok that should do it.” Deacon said to himself before the chamber filled with a blinding light. Deacon opened his eyes slowly to see that Ralph was to his left and Tantus to his right. On the other side of Ralph was Amanda. Her hood was down, and he could see she had shockingly red hair tied in a pony tail. There were pins sticking out of the ponytail. That must be how she kept that damn hood up during all that activity. They were all in a kneeling position looking up at the ramp that lead past the walls on either side. On top of the walls were several archers with arrows trained at them. Coming down the ramp, two abreast, were knights with spears and shields at the ready. Deacon stood up slowly lifting his hands in the air. The others did the same with the exception of Amanda who furiously pulled up her hood.

“State your name and intentions, traveler.” Commanded one of the knights.

“I’m Deacon, we just escaped the Wode and would like to go home now. What’s happening out here?” Deacon asked.

“Remain silent for inspection.” Barked the knight before a hand was put on his shoulder. Someone leaned in and whispered in his ear. Then a few sharp orders were barked, and single person sized passage was created in the encroaching knights.

Armand Desentes walked down toward the party. He had a look of confusion on his face that didn’t match his confident steps. Armand drew to a stop an arm’s length away from them.

“Is that really you Deacon? Your hair is much longer than the last time I saw you.” Armand queried.

“What are you talking about? We took maybe an hours’ worth of a break inside the Wode.” Deacon said as he reached to the top of his head noticing his tightly braided cornrows now reached back to just above his shoulder blades. How had that happened?

“Deacon, you’ve all been missing for two months.” Armand said waiting for that to sink in.

“That would explain what’s happened to this cavern…” Tantus trailed off looking up and seeing a vaulted ceiling with crossbeams and torch sconces. That didn’t make any sense since the Wode gate was underground.

“We went looking for you after the fight with the Corpungie Queen. You were tracked down a tunnel by Typhus’s shadow but then we found this glowing gateway. Inside the opening were still images of your team engaged in fights. We assumed you some how went in. All attempts to follow were blocked by the strange energy emanating from the gateway. The mages couldn’t make any sense of it and all the clergy were warned by their gods to stay away. That’s when my father commissioned the work on this bunker. Just incase whatever was happening in there spilled out into our world. Two months Deacon. What happened?” Armand explained.

“It couldn’t have been more than a long afternoon. Right guys?” Deacon looked left and right.

“It certainly didn’t feel like months.” Ralph said as he winced from the pain in his arm. Deacon immediately sent out party invites getting a nod from Ralph. Deacon included Armand in the invite watching his eyes squint as he reviewed their status.

“We need to debrief you topside. I can see your party is on the brink of exhaustion.” Armand said as he waved them forward. As soon as the four left the immediate vicinity of the gate, another flash went off. Everyone turning to notice the shape of the gate has changed to square doorway instead of a white marble triangle. There was now a portcullis made of white energy over the doors.

An hour or so later they were all seated at a table piled with food. They explained everything that happened inside to Armand, Elle, and Typhus. Elle held a crystal that connected to Jacob’s office. Jacob had Sophie, Lord Desentes, as well as Guild master Verus in attendance. Deacon’s team omitted any references to time spent inside Alfred. Going as far as to kick Tantus’s leg under the table before he stumbled into it. The room they were in was on the top floor of the bunker that was built over the gateway. There were two more levels below this one. A lookout floor and the ground level was a barracks for the knights stationed here.

“So we are sure it’s just a dungeon now. No chance of a deific holy war erupting half a day from Iron Mountain Plateau?” Asked Jacob through the crystal.

“As sure as we can be. Typhus went downstairs to test the new gateway and it warned him the challenge level was extreme. He’s never seen that message before.” Armand reported.

“A dungeon with a challenge level of extreme can be found in the Crystal Cascade. It is at the foundation of The Tower guild in the capitol city. Our records show it is difficult for a team of level fifties. I believe you need several dungeon titles to even attempt it.” Verus added.

“The gear inside must be classed rare or better. Speaking of which, what did you all receive for clearing this prison besides the world notification we all saw?” Jacob asked.

“I received a rare class item.” Deacon said without elaborating.

“I was given the Robes of Duplication. They give me a ten percent chance to duplicate whatever item I’m creating. I never want to take them off!” Tantus said with a childlike glee.

“I received a new scabbard. It doubles my damage on any strike from a draw. The description says it even resizes to fit any blade I wield.” Ralph said.

“A collection of poison darts.” Was all Amanda said taking a queue from Deacon not to give away too much information. Just then the doors slammed opened and Lord Pentecost entered the room. The Minister of the Interior was flanked by two of the Kings Knights.

“Champion of Cheshire? Are you the one known as Deacon?” Asked Pentecost.

“I’m a little busy right now, can you come back later?” Deacon said flustered that they had been interrupted.

“No I cannot. Do you know who you are talking too?” Asked Lord Pentecost.

“No. I also don’t care. Shoo.” Deacon said with a dismissive gesture. A corona of energy appeared around The Ministers head, and he lifted one hand at Deacon. Deacon lifted up out of his chair by some unseen force and was pinned against the wall gasping for breath.

“You address Lord Pentecost, Minister of the Interior, peasant. You would show better deference when speaking to your betters!” Pentecost shouted. Simultaneously Armand began waiving his hands, Amanda ducked under the table, Tantus backed up screaming, “He’s Psychic!” and Ralph’s blade was intercepted by one of the Kings Knight’s.

“His majesty, the King of the Griffin Kingdom, has commanded your presence in the capitol. You are to depart immediately. Freely or in chains!” Ordered the Minister of the interior.