Chapter 690: Puzzle masters (1/2)
Chapter 690 Puzzle masters
Ilea found herself relegated to an anti teleportation magic item. She moved on top of her armor and summoned a bottle of ale. She patted the massive helmet with a smile, glad it now had a visor to look through. One that can be closed, so I can still use it in a purely defensive manner.
The flame thrower extension was really just a gimmick, but the jet boot addition made her curious. Her weight was downright ridiculous, especially when she added her heat generation to the mix. And charging it with Tempered Seal will take a shit ton of mana and time. Ah well… it’ll be interesting to find out how high I can manage to jump.
Beams of lightning and burning axes slashed into the Warden, its main focus still the largest target in the vicinity, Bralin. His machine that was, now showing dozens of cuts below the regenerating layer of stone.
The dwarf didn’t seem to be bothered by any of it. He easily adjusted to the structural issues caused by the damage. He switched his stance a few times in the span of the next minutes, still as defensive as he had been at the start. Many of the glowing runes lay exposed now as he changed to a smaller weapon. A one handed axe that still reached a ridiculous size but it allowed him to use a shield in his other hand.
The enchanted steel managed to reflect a few blows of the soul magic infused sword, the defensive tool however soon taking heavy damage too.
Ilea smiled, seeing the magic around their enemy dissipate. More spells hit its form but she knew the fight was over. They had won.
Verena landed on the falling war machine and struck down with her axes, a wild grin on her face. Pierce drooped down with her machine, a long and dulled sigh audible from within.
“We did it,” Bralin exclaimed, his weapons vanishing as he made his large machine vanish. He returned to the same war machine he had used in the town before he created a stone foundation on the ground, perfectly even. The dwarf proceeded to summon what seemed like an entire workshop.
His massive machine first, with supportive structures that seemed measured specifically for the large beast. There were crates full of tools, industrial grinders, a furnace he assembled with a set of summoned chunks and his earth magic. He checked the large machine and took note of all the cuts and dents. “Extensive…,” he murmured, put on a music box, and got to work.
Ilea sipped on her ale, enjoying the strange scene. And I can just heal my armor. Arcane healing really does seem like a shortcut to power and a life of leisure.
Pierce joined the dwarf, one of her machine’s arms held in the other. She didn’t say a word and simply stood next to the portable smithy platform.
“I’ll do yours after,” he said without glancing her way. “Mind heating this thing up, Lilith? It takes at least half an hour otherwise.”
“Just like with Goliath,” she murmured and sent heat into the forge compartments.
“A little less than that. You’re melting the forge,” the dwarf said. He looked at her for a long while and sighed, shaking his head. “I understand your envy,” he added.
“What’s that supposed to mean, dwarf?” Pierce asked.
Verena had sat down on the destroyed Warden and ate a bowl of noodles while meditating.
“Should we check out the cube while they’re doing the repairs?” Ilea sent to the two shades that had moved a little closer.
“It will be heavily enchanted against foreign entities trying to enter,” one of them said as they approached, wary of the downed machines.
“Do you know how to deal with that? I’m pretty good at destroying enchantments but I don’t think we want to cause everything to self destruct,” Ilea mused.
“Our research is incomplete. Already we can sense more than was mentioned,” one of them said.
Bralin finished pouring the silver alloy into one of the largest cuts in his armor before he glanced over. “I can have a look too. Seen my fair share of enchanted vaults and such. The maker of this thing was a dwarf too.”
“We’ll wait,” Ilea said and started floating around the massive cube with the Shades in tow. There’s so much shit going on here, she thought, simply looking at the walls with her dominion. There were plenty of anti space magic enchantments present too. None she couldn’t bypass with some time but considering the obvious paranoia, she refrained for now. There could be detection spells inside too, and the Shades were here to recover knowledge, not destroy the whole cavern.
Based on the nets of explosion runes that felt reminiscent of Claire’s thrown stones, she didn’t think such a result particularly unlikely.
Bralin finished his repairs and got Pierce’s machine to work as well.
“You don’t look quite as impressive,” Ilea said when she landed.
The dark blue war machine looked her way. “Scars of battle. Unlike your perfect living armor, mine has survived real combat.”
“Aha,” Ilea mused. “So, Bralin, what do you think of the defenses?”
The dwarf had been studying the entrance for five minutes. He shook his head. “Something is weaved into this thing that I don’t understand. It’s not just conventional enchantments, though there is enough of that too. After all this time the power should’ve lessened but it feels like this thing was set up just yesterday.”
“Soul magic,” Verena said. “Do you not feel it?”
Ilea walked a little closer. “There’s far too much different shit going on here,” she said. “But yeah, I suppose there’s some soul magic involved too. Fits with the Wardens I suppose. So what speaks against me just going past the space magic runes?”
“I don’t think that would work,” Bralin said. “Well it would work, but while you might survive the aftermath, whatever is left inside won’t.”
“So you’re telling me this is a vault I can’t actually crack?” she asked, crossing her arms.
Pierce giggled within her armor.
“It seems that way,” the dwarf surmised. “You’re a talented space and ash mage, but if you didn’t hide some high level soul magic in there, I don’t think this will work out.”
Ilea tapped her cheek. “High level soul mage you say…”
“You really want to bring her here?” Verena asked.
“If she wants to?” Ilea said. “And not just her…” she mused and set her last available transfer marker. The one previously occupied by the Krahen Isles. Hmm, cooldown will take a few hours. “Hey Bralin, you wanted to meet Goliath, right?”
“Yes,” he said and looked up. “Why?”
“I think I’ll just take all of you. In case there are more soul wardens. We’ll return in about five hours. Care to join us?” she said, looking at the Shades and Bralin.
“We would be honored,” the Shades said, knowing nothing about the destination.
“The trust of true believers,” Pierce said and gave them a mechanical thumbs up. “Hey, think Goliath can give me some cool upgrades to this suit?”
“If you ask nicely?” Ilea said. She knew the smith didn’t exactly enjoy mundane work. His art is beyond the understanding of mere monkeys like us, she thought and activated her third tier Transfer.
“How far are we going exactly?” Bralin asked. “Is this even sa-”
The fabric shifted and the group appeared in the familiar lair of the Meadow itself.
“-fe?” Bralin finished his question and looked around.
“Great. Another group of mortals,” the Meadow greeted.
Ilea smiled and initiated contact instead of answering. “Indeed, old tree.”
A whistling wind moved through the black grass in the vicinity. “The child speaks. Humans Do grow up quickly. Congratulations are in order I suppose?”
She laughed and bowed. “Indeed, maker of all, oh great Meadow. Speaking of which, I get your pain with the god thing now. I really do.”
“Do you now? Well, I suppose even you could impress some dim witted creatures of this realm. You have attained quite a powerful evolution it seems. I can feel something… quite familiar,” the Meadow spoke.
Bralin went to his armored knees. “This is…”
“War machines,” Goliath said, a hand held out to the kneeling dwarf.
Bralin’s visor was up as he stared at the Dark One with wide eyes. Ilea saw tears rolling down his face. “I must’ve died,” he muttered. “Are you the maker?”
“No, that’s the Meadow over there,” Ilea said and pointed. “Also you’re still alive, so don’t do anything stupid.”
“The p… pantheon of Elos…” the dwarf said, his voice shaking slightly.
Ilea noted the slight twinkle in his eyes. “You know what you’re doing, old man. Don’t add to my misery.”
The dwarf smiled and took the hand offered to him. “My apologies, Lilith. I couldn’t resist. And you must be Goliath, the flame touched. I can feel your aura.”
“Are you not healing everyone here against his life drain?” Ilea asked the Meadow.
“Nobody here requires such. Have you lost an elf?” the tree asked.