Day 51

Julia Sarcos

When the last demon crane began to dust, the Sixty retreated into the intermedium hallway. It was a tarnished sense of victory they left with. The monsters were slain, but the day was over. Between the metal monkeys and the demon cranes, everyone was plainly exhausted. Pushing further into the unknown floor would be foolish. Without a full night’s rest, no one would be at one hundred percent. Mana never really recovered without sleep.

It was a bitter decision to make.

The wounded rested and leadership debated, most of them at least. Hector represented his party while Phelain snored and Charlotte Scott stood for a badly bleeding Soren. Julia listened to the arguments alongside Malachi. None moved her gut feeling that tomorrow was another day. Each was simply grown from a seed of frustration. Eager to keep pushing because there was still a lot of the day left. Insistence that spawn rates might undo all the work done today. The leader of Sixty called it. He wasn’t one to be rash for the sake of pride.

Though the shieldmaiden grumbled to herself he was too rash with his own safety. A thought that made her sigh.

Regardless, the result was that the Sixty went back down and returned the next day. Everyone was refreshed and determined. Passionate about making up for yesterday. The beauty of the scenery didn’t distract them this time. They knew the tranquility was an illusion. Things haunted the shadow between trees.

Moving together was the plan today. The terrain so far allowed it and no one wanted to risk their party getting surrounded. Both the demon cranes and the metal monkeys had been shown to hunt in groups. Leon, with support, kept a light barrier going that was mobile and malleable. It was a tense march into the dark woods. There had been some debate about exploring the edges first or straight through, but since it was their consolidated might, opinions sided with a direct strike.

I think it’s more of a combination of overconfidence and fear, reflected Julia. We’re sure the exit is on the other side and having the monkey kingdom in the branches above is nerve-wracking. Not that there is any real reason to blame them for that. Even with Clarissa on lookout, I keep looking up for a glimmer or sign.

That nervousness cranked up a few notches within the woods itself. The only illumination came from a thousand small shafts lucky enough to precise the foliage. Magic orbs were summoned, but that seemed to reinforce the darkness. It seemed to thicken the shadows rather than reveal what was skulked about them. More than one person muttered allusions to Murkwood or haunted woods. The shieldmaiden felt the same vibe. To her, it felt like the Sixty were taking a stroll through a cursed forest. At any moment a gingerbread house or forsaken tower could appear behind one of the gigantic trunks. And that wouldn’t have seemed out of place at all.

There were more sightings of the wooden elk under the dimness. Their refreshing green phosphoresces caught the eye as distant beacons of light. The glowing herds never stuck around for long, fleeing soon after detecting them. Clarissa couldn’t help herself and fired an arrow. Which promptly missed as the elk dodge almost preternatural. That was a challenge that the prime ranger happily sank her teeth into. It took several attempts before she even hit one. Then a few more before landing a fatal blow. An arrow passed through the skull and splattered green glowing juice everywhere. Even in the process of dusting it was apparent these monsters were poisonous. The thick ichor was heavily corrosive. Julia was glad they were passive.

The first attack followed the pattern of the previous day.

Metallic fruit rained down, splattering down on Leon’s barrier. Immediately upon the impact, the dome hardened and the Sixty fell into position. Malachi had preventively ordered a turtling strategy. Melee and tanks ringed the outer edge, but all eyes were angled upwards. Arrows and spells answered the bombardment a moment later. Except for a few exceptionals, there wasn’t any meticulous aiming. More a stream of firepower in a general direction. They made a dazzling display in the branches above.

Hooting and hollering, the metal monkeys slid down the trunk of the trees. There were only iron and bronze apes in this troop. Running on all fours, the monster rushed out of the dust of their landings. Full-body impacts against the barrier echoed like a muffled gong and became dull chimes at the fury of fists that came after. Some even tried to use their teeth to break through.

Following the leader of the Sixty’s strict instructions, the battle continued completely within the barrier. Only weapons passed through the dome, quick attacks without much commitment. Range attacks shifted to maneuvers that fell upon the mass of monkeys slowly encircling them. A safe, but slow process.

They remained within due to a hunch.

Metal monkeys fell slowly. Wounds and dents piled up until a killing blow could be certain. Julia was surprised to find that this methodical style of combat was grinding her nerves. It was safe, but unsatisfying to her. She couldn’t believe the sentiment. The truth of the feeling was alien. Not even two months ago, going to the grocery store had taken a long debate with herself. Negotiations on how long it could or couldn’t be pushed off. Now actual combat could be too mundane. The shieldmaiden was disturbed yet also proud. There was a sense of strength from this change. Her blade cut down and sure, that was a good feeling.

A rattle and a chorus of shrieks. Familiar. It sent shivers through man and ape alike. As had been expected, a pack of demon cranes strutted into view. The metal monkeys screamed and scattered. Rushing up whatever tree was closest. Those that were slow or weak got snapped up by the feathered fiends.

Once it was just the birds and humans, there was silence. The two groups stared at each other. Between squawks and wing waving, Julia suspected that the avians were able to communicate. Likely at the same level as the metal apes that they preyed on. The demon cranes circled cautiously, before committing to the fight. There was something like suspicion in their movements. There were a few experimental pecks and the Sixty allowed it unharassed. They hoped to draw the monsters in.

Conversational cawing and the demon cranes attacked.

Bold and arrogant, the feathered fiends assaulted the dome. Red curse light flared and skittered across the pristine barrier. Leon’s magic proved too much. Each was stopped cold and the malevolent energy dispersed without doing any harm. The counterattack was quick. Before the demon cranes could pull back the Sixty brought their might to bear. Three of the birds were crippled and another was killed outright. The survivors proved to be smarter than the last pack, fleeing into the gloom of the forest. Malachi forestalled a chase. Unwilling to risk breaking up the formation.

They finished off the wounded monsters, collected cores, and got moving again.

Three more times there were assaults from the metal monkeys. Each time played out the same, reckless and ineffective. A rain of fruit, sky drops of iron and bronze variety, and then useless banging on the glass-like barrier. Things might have been different if the red gold monkey showed up again, but that wasn’t the case. The Sixty simply halted to take care of the apes until the demon cranes made an appearance. Which they did. That’s where the pattern broke down.

The terror birds still attacked the monkeys like it was an early worm special. However, once their meal disappeared into the upper foliage, the demon cranes retreated. The Sixty got the side eyes as the monster warily departed the area. Julia wasn’t alone in believing that this was further proof of intelligence. Made the caution used on this level feel well-founded.

Twice more the demon cranes appeared to take advantage of the flailing apes before fleeing. It was boring, but safe. The shieldmaiden was once again mad at herself for hating it.

After the fourth monkey attack, they didn’t see even a glimmer of the shiny hides. In fact, the forest seemed to become empty of everyone, but the Sixty. There were distant glows of the wooden elk, but those continued to flee. No monsters approached them for over an hour.

At first, no one noticed the change in illumination. Their own bright sources of light bleached out the change. The only thing to notice was that the Sixty could see further. Around a few more trees and they saw the edge of the woods. It looked like a wall of pure light bracketed by pillars of black. The difference in brightness left them blind to what was beyond the woods.

As the Sixty drew near, a clacking rumble began all around them. Loudest ahead, but no less concerning on the flanks. Only directly behind them seemed to be clear. Julia eyed the darkness wondering if that was a trap or an invitation.

“What do you think?” asked Malachi. He was staring into the blinding light, but his ear was tilted in her direction.

“Doesn’t seem like a trap,” she replied. The shieldmaiden squinted at the edge herself. There was nothing much to see. Just the hint of open ground and maybe a rocky ridge. At least something lumpy. There was also a great deal of movement.

“Really? Sounds aggressive to me.”

Julia frowned, looking at their back trail again. “I mean I don’t think there’s a trap waiting behind us. Reminds me of… more warding away… sort of thing.”

“Hmmm, we definitely made an impression on them,” reflected the leader of the Sixty. “Is there something of value to them in this direction?”

“Maybe their nest is ahead,” guessed Julia. Her manner lackadaisical.

“Yeah, that’s where the gate will be too,” grinned Malachi, thinking he was joking before the horror descended over his features.

“Damnit, that’s totally what's going on isn’t it?” moaned the shieldmaiden.

“Yup, totally the deal.”

With great pomp, Warner turned their side-by-side talk into a triangle. He smiled at both of them and asked, “Alright hoss, what’s the plan? I’m itching to get dirty. The old barrier phalanx ain’t quite a smooth maneuver for my fisticuffs. Borrowed a spear, but that don’t feel right. Sure it’s safe and all…”

“I understand, Warner,” said Malachi politely, but his tone was still haunted. “You’ll get dirty soon enough. We’re pretty sure things are going to get pretty messy in a moment.”

“Cause of the noise,” considered Warner, then thoughtfully added, “Kinda got a nice beat to it. Reminds me of something…”

“Huh, sorta got a salsa vibe to it…” blurted out Julia. She blushed in embarrassment as it slipped out.

“Spot on,” agreed Warner. His dance moves with a ghost partner strangely helped the heat in her cheeks subside. “Yeah, that’s almost it. You could really dance to this. Anyways, what about it?”

Julia sighed and reluctantly admitted, “I guessed that they’re being protective of their nesting site and Malachi joked that it was also…”

“Where the gate is,” finished Warner with dreadful certainty. “You're right that’s exactly what’s going on, isn’t it? Shit, that’s heavy. So, we going in?”

“Of course,” sighed Malachi. “We need to confirm the gate first. Despite the certainty of the universe likes to laugh at humanity, speculation isn’t proof. Plus, we might as well find out what unlocks the gate sooner rather than later.”

“Awesome, shall I jazz up the folk for ya?” asked Warner, eager for the fight.

Malachi smiled with the pugilist, but shook his head.

“You don’t think we’ve done enough yet to clear this floor… ?” questioned Julia.

“Do you?”

“Sigh… no… it would never be that easy,” grumbled the shieldmaiden. “Even storming a nest full of demon cranes isn’t gonna be enough.”

“Nope,” agreed Malachi. He looked around and snuck in a kiss on her cheek. “Nothing to worry about, just another day in our lives.”

“Funny,” she said dryly, but still smiled at him.

Orders were given and the formation was reconfigured. The clatter grew louder and more frantic as the Sixty marched to the edge of the forest. Eyes watched the sides, but the main focus was forward. Everyone was waiting for their eyes to adjust to get a better look at the task at hand. Reuben had proved his mettle as a scout by bringing back a preliminary report. Ghosting right up to the demon crane’s defensive line to see a rocky incline pocketed with giant bird’s nests as far as the eye could see. Several dozen of the terrible birds prowled in wait, making a great racket. Red eyes nervously surveying in the direction of the Sixty.

He even reported an unnaturally round cave behind it all.

The demon cranes screeched in alarm when the raid group breached the light. A choir of sharp tones that began in front of them and spread to the sides. No one flinched though they were blind to this. It was an expected risk. The cry grew closer as vision slowly seeped into focus. A wall of birds stormed towards them from three directions. Each flapped their wings and glowed with malevolent energy. Fully mature birds took the lead, but smaller ones followed in their wake.

More than one person felt a cold sweat at the charging mass alone. Still, there was a plan. Everything was prepared for this eventuality. They literally poked their noses into a nest of monsters. The Sixty waited, allowing the demon cranes close. Bracing for impact just outside the forest, but shifted so a tree guarded their backs.

At the signal, the prepared spells went off in sequence. First Carlo summoned a massive ball of frost above the dome before it dropped. Everything went white for a moment as the ground around them for several meters was frozen into a slick flat plain. The demon crane’s taloned feet immediately lost traction. Their momentum was unchanged as the monster fought to stay standing or slipped into a pile.

Russell released the next spell, a ring around the dome crackled and broke into spikes. Suddenly a palisade sprung up around them. Jagged protrusions of rock ready to impale the sliding birds. The bodies slammed painfully into the waiting trap, the air filled with the sounds of tearing flesh and the clanking of metal bones. The waves of bodies forced those in front further on the rocky spears. By gesture, the earth mage directed the stone palisade to mold into avenues. Melee fighters followed tanks down the shafts to strike at the disabled foes.

The flanks cleared their fields a different way. On the right, the mad redhead commanded. Her archers unleashed hell upon the helpless avian monsters. Technicolor explosions of unrelenting fury. Clarissa’s laughter could be heard all over the battlefield. Arrows after arrows were fired into the tangle of bodies. Driving to clear out their side with certainty rather than efficiency.

In contrast, the left flank was almost silent or at least more serious. Great roars of fire and lightning descended on the pinned birds. Magical might pounding away. Scorching flesh down to the bone one layer at a time. The two mages methodically worked towards the dome from the outside so that none of the monsters could escape nor an ounce of Mana was wasted.

Purple strings slithered across all three angles of the battle. Slowly and inconspicuously gathering supplies as a violet sun formed above the Sixty. Molly pulled her prizes into a pile, metal bones temporarily preserved from dusting. Under arcane light, she constructed a golem of bone. Misshapen and barely humanoid, it bulkily rose to counter the surviving demon cranes.

Damien swirled his staff and brought it down in a flash of power. The mighty sphere rumbled, slowly descending towards the ridge. Things became frantic under the inevitable falling star. Demon cranes lost any sense of composure and lashed out widely in fear. Harming their own as well as the Sixty. Vivian and Kai crossed the battlefield searching for the wounded. Bringing down wrath, clearing space with pride. Together they got people into the dome to heal, then charged out with them to continue the fight. Everyone was throwing their all at will into the monster horde.

A silent impact.

Violet energy spread out glacially, an explosion in slow motion. As it expanded everything got grounded down. Only solid rock was left just scorched. The monsters seemed to despair as the entirety of the nest was consumed by the arcane power. Crying out and launching more desperate attacks. Yet there was a hopeless weakness to it. When the destruction came to an end and the spell dispelled, the ridge was smooth. Polished to a glassy sheen.

Soon enough the last monsters were slain and clean-up began. A few mourned that the witch had to dispel her metal bone golem, but she smirked at them. Promising it was just a rough experiment, there was better to come. Damien studied the results of his new spell, muttering with Anastasia over the bare rock. Clarissa commanded the watch to keep a careful eye on the treetops. Strung arrows and sharp eyes watched for that telling sparkle.

Julia and Malachi lead a small group up the ridge. It was slow going over the slick stone. They all had to watch their step didn’t send them all sliding down. She wondered briefly about buying some small rugs from the screens. Maybe a monster-infested forest, but this was good slide terrain. The leader of Sixty rolled his idea at the silly idea. Not that he could hide from her the intrigued look in his eye. Another day perhaps.

Atop the ridge, above the blast radius, was the cave that Reuben had sighted before. The scout slipped in for another look. Carefully checking if it was occupied. Very quickly, the answer was no. Just beyond the entrance’s small curved hall was a large cavern. The golden gate was placed on the opposite side. Light poured down the center of the room into a plot of strangely rich dirt.

She paused at the plot, feeling the dirt. Plants had filled her small apartment at home. A small personal forest, as Julia had thought of it. The dirt from a gardening perspective was perfect. From that alone, the shieldmaiden already knew the gate wasn’t unlocked yet. This was too peculiar

They arrived close enough that the expected letters appeared.

Once Monkey wished to know all things.

He searched far and wide to learn,

Seeking every wise and learned soul.

But, there were things no one knew.

To the gods, Monkey went, supplicant.

They refused, barring him from Heaven.

Laughter and scorn burned his ears.

Declaring him a creature too arrogant.

Stating that some things are beyond Mortals.

This angered him so he stole back in.

To the Tree of All Things, Monkey crept,

Taking the most precious fruit.

Far atop the tree, Monkey ate and knew.

Everything and All Things were his.

He saved every seed to bring home.

Planting them in a safe place, sacred.

So new fruits could be shared.

Monkey decided the gods were wrong.

“That isn’t instructions,” said Reuben, stating the obvious for everyone. There was a reply of affirmative sounds, but mostly considering silence.

Warner laughed and declared, “Well looks like we're goin’ to the treetops. Mano-a-ape it seems! Good, I wanna take another swing at that red one. He was cheeky!”

“Damnit,” said Julia softly. “Knew it wasn’t going to be that easy.”