Chapter 658: Search (2/2)

“Teleportation might help us with that. Easier to transport goods. Stone for walls, people to work fields,” Pierce said.

“Adventurers to fight monsters,” Ilea added.

“Your Sentinels,” Verena said.

“And your Shadows,” Pierce added with a smirk.

“They’re not mine, nor is Ravenhall. Please stop suggesting I’m some kind of shadow queen. It’s the exact opposite of what I want to be,” she said.

Pierce giggled. “No fun. Don’t state the obvious, Ilea. It’s boring.”

“I’m sorry that me presenting the map of the entire Taleen teleportation network didn’t amuse the Highness,” Ilea answered.

“Ah don’t get me wrong. You have my attention, for decades that is. And I know you don’t mind too much, or you would’ve already killed me,” Pierce said.

“I don’t kill people for a harmless joke,” Ilea answered.

Pierce puffed. “Respectable.” She sounded serious.

“Where do we go?” Verena asked.

“Good question,” Ilea said. Krahen is too far. Maybe half way? Would probably bring us into Elven territory. Likely within a dungeon that is.

She could see the many destinations in Iz. The plains were sparsely dotted, as was what she thought of as the northern territory. The desert south of Ravenhall had plenty of locations too, coupled with a few locations east and either below the sea of on other landmasses. The west seemed far less densely packed with destinations, most of them bordering what she thought to be the Navali forest. No wonder nobody knows about the Elven plight. The machines are teleported into their very lands.

Though similar to humanity, she had learned that Elves didn’t exactly control the lands they claimed as their own. Either they didn’t want to or there were creatures too dangerous to deal with prowling the wilderness. Based on what Ben had told her, she assumed it was a mix of both. High leveled Elves would likely have no interest hunting down every single monster that could be a threat to their young.

“Help me compare,” she said and activated the map on her locator. The arrow pointed back towards the direction they had come from.

The Elders joined in without a comment, the three comparing the maps to see if any more locations were accessible from this gate compared to the one Iana and Christopher had used as a base for the map.

“This section,” Verena said after a while, pointing to the area near Karth.

Ilea had come to the same conclusion, twice.

“Does that mean…,” Pierce said.

“New gates are being built,” Verena said. “And added to the existing network?”

“Not just built,” Ilea said and pointed to a few specific dots. “Destroyed too. Or disconnected for some reason. Most of them close to Elven territory.”

She wondered if the differences just meant the Isle of Garath had other destinations available. But why would they be restricted from that specific gate and accessible from here?

It seemed far more likely to her that they were indeed new destinations.

“A lot of new ones in the north too, and in the Isanna desert,” Pierce said.

“They did say each year is getting worse,” Ilea said. Even if they had a few thousand level five hundred hunters. They’re not fighting against a static enemy. If these are really all new locations… it may be an impossible task.

She imagined Niivalyr and his group in the southern Praetorian facility, the dots connecting to it so very small on the maps floating next to her. There were dozens of new locations. Hopefully not all Praetorian factories, but it mattered little.

“Are the machines making more of themselves?” Pierce mused, more to herself than the others.

Maybe if I get another key, I’ll be able to find out more, Ilea thought, smiling to herself.

“All the gaps. I assume Elven lands,” Verena said, pointing to the locations in the west. “No new gates are being added here,” she said, pointing to an area far northwest of Karth. Closer to the Krahen Isles even than the human plains.

“Nothing there at all,” Pierce said. “Doesn’t look like there are advance positions either. The gates just stop and continue again beyond.”

Ilea looked at the sizable area, not finding a single dot. It hadn’t seemed suspicious before because of the close proximity to other similar areas likely to be within Elven territories. But now with the changes they had managed to discern, it did seem a little weird.

“Maybe they’re hiding something there?” Pierce suggested with a smile. “No Elves likely to be there.”

“Or they’re destroying all new gates,” Verena suggested.

“As good as any location really,” Ilea mused, selecting the gate closest to the open area. “Last chance to stay behind. I have no idea what waits for us on the other side. Executioners are level eight hundred, can run on air and have void magic blades, if you need an example of what may be there.”

“You’re joking, right?” Pierce said. “You’d have to render me unconscious or dead to prevent me from staying on this platform. Though I may not be incredibly opposed to the former, depending on your creativity.”

“My interest remains,” Verena said. “But if you insist, I will return.”

“I don’t mind you two. But we’re intruding in a teleportation network that isn’t ours. And I just might not be able to protect you, if we’re detected or stopped,” Ilea said.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t remember asking you for protection,” Pierce said. “If it comes to it, let me die with my pride intact.”

Ilea smiled wryly, knowing she would’ve likely said something similar if the positions had been reversed. Though she didn’t think herself prideful enough to refuse protection. She took the key and activated the gate. Let’s see if there’s an Executioner waiting.

The gate brimmed with magical energy, shifting space to bring them to the desired destination.

‘ding’ ‘You have entered the Izculen dungeon’

Ilea looked around, finding most of the surrounding walls overgrown with vegetation, grass and flowers pushing through the cracks on the stone floor, roots breaking through the brittle construction all around. The gate itself must’ve been of better make, or enchanted to endure the passing of time and strains of nature.

She noted an absence of the familiar green light she associated with the Taleen, instead finding rays of cool white light pushing through large cracks in the ceiling and past the thin seams of the closed stone door ahead.

“Crystals,” Pierce said in a whisper. “This seems familiar.”

Same as in Hallowfort, Ilea noted, feeling the increased mana density compared to the previous dungeon. They were certainly in the north. It just usually wasn’t quite this green.

Maybe it’s like the Penumra dungeon? she wondered, checking to see if she could find any living creatures within her dominion.

There were plenty. Insects, a few birds, even a squirrel like being that rushed away a moment later. The remains of the architecture looked decidedly taleen, though more brittle than most other dungeons Ilea had visited before.

She could hear the sounds of flowing water push in through the cracks, Ilea transferring through door ahead and onto a bridge leading towards an open space. Her eyes opened wide as she took in the surrounding environment.

Verena and Pierce followed. “Wonderful,” the latter exclaimed, her voice full of wonder.

The had found themselves in an underground dungeon, a vague cylinder like open space leading down into the earth. Roots and plants clung to the circular wall surrounding the deep descent, thousands of trees growing from stone outcrops or the walls themselves, impossible angles showing the strength and deep reach of their roots.

Crystal growths lined the ceiling and large parts of the walls, their light reflecting in the hundreds of waterfalls flowing out from cracks and tunnels, glittering mists forming where the water fell into the depths below.

Ilea wondered if the Ascended had constructed this place, however seeing signs of Taleen architecture push through the ivy in various sections, angular stone broken and bested by trees and water, hundreds or thousands of years of nature pushing back against the imposed control of civilization. She turned her head to see two blue Wyverns take flight, their auras having frozen a small stream, icicles breaking off as the warm flow from above slowly broke the magical influence.

The sounds of shattering ice were lost in the myriad of sounds, flowing water mixing with the calls of a dozen creatures, large and small.

Pierce had a broad smile on her face and sat down at the edge of the brittle stone bridge that cropped out a few meters into the open space, the abrupt end suggesting a violent destruction. The other end was barely visible on the other side of the expansive cavern, a stream of water flowing out from the open entrance, quietly flowing out over the outcrop.

Verena didn’t seem quite as serene, quickly getting over the first impression as she scanned the many openings for creatures.

Ilea leaned against the railing and looked for creatures as well. Everything looked natural here, nothing obvious suggesting that an Ascended or similar being had molded this space but she couldn’t help feeling slightly uneasy. Something about it seemed decidedly… dangerous. She blinked, seeing a deer stared down at her from a ledge a hundred meters above, the creature bowing down to eat some grass. A sparrow landed on a tree nearby, feeding its young with worms it had gathered.

“Are we still in the north?” Verena asked in a disbelieving tone.

Ilea wondered the same. The diversity here didn’t seem right. Especially the many mundane looking animals. “We’re far west too. Maybe the storms and mists don’t reach this far?”

“Won’t know until we go up to the surface,” Pierce said.

“Almost feels too perfect,” Ilea said, checking her mind for any intrusion but not finding anything both obvious or subtle. She couldn’t discern an illusion either, the environment feeling as natural and serene as the forests around Riverwatch. The Wyverns reminded of the actual location, as did the ruins and deep reaching descent, but Ilea couldn’t help feeling safe. And that in itself made something deep within her uneasy. The north simply shouldn’t be like this.

“There are a lot of places we haven’t been to. Maybe this is just the one where everything worked out throughout the years?” Pierce suggested.

“You’re too idealistic,” Verena said. “I suggest we tread lightly.” She looked down into the misty depths. “And don’t kill anything.”

“Again?” Pierce groaned.

“This place is serene, in a territory we have to assume is the very opposite. It won’t cost us much, but if something keeps it that way, we don’t have to challenge it before we know what it is,” Verena said.

“Or if there even is anything,” Pierce said, looking down now too.