14 Decei (1/2)

Stacy said, ”Ooooh, really? Let's hear it then.”

David replied, ”We can just reanimate the golem's and then set them off after the sentinel. We sneak into the gate when he's distracted.”

I nodded and said, ”Ahh yes. He then kills the golems in a second before killing me. Of course, of course. An excellent plan.”

David answered, ”I don't see you coming up with any better ideas.”

I shrugged as I said, ”We just walk up to the sentinel and see if he won't let me out.”

David crossed his arms and said, ”Why do you think that's going to work but not using the golems as a decoy?”

”Because one involves not attacking the sentinel. The other plan does. That makes one of them intrinsically better.”

Stacy tapped the edge of her chin as she said, ”You have the dungeon core or whatever, right?”

I nodded so she continued, ”That should allow us to leave. At least according to what we were told when we entered.”

I wanted to carry Alfred Worm's diary with me, but the suit of armor was in the way. The metal splintered apart as if alive. Tendrils wrapped around the book, as if eating it. The screeching of bending metal grated my ears as they coiled back towards me. The journal disappeared into my armor.

Stacy said, ”That was scary as shit.”

I nodded as I said, ”Yeah...It was.”

David crushed the silence as he said in sarcasm, ”Yeah, the sentinel will definitely let you leave wearing something like that.”

I pointed at him and said, ”Good, I'm glad you agree. Let's go.”

I walked off towards the sentinel as he said, ”How can you expect that to work?”

Stacy started packing up their camp while David fumbled around before facepalming. He looked back up and said, ”Whatever. Let's just get out of here. I'm done with this shithole.”

I replied, ”You and I both.”

They caught back up with me after I got a few minutes ahead. When a bat swooped down towards us, I bent backwards and caught it. It was like grabbing a gelatinous blob. Blood exploded outwards like smashing a watermelon.

Stacy screamed while David just held a hand over his heart. He said, ”I'd rather die from one of bats than a heart attack.”

I slung some gunk off my hand as I said, ”Sorry guys. That was pretty nasty.”

I refrained from crushing so liberally from then on. We made good distance, each of our morales is higher than a kite. No boss, no golem's, and no fancy ancient ritual holding us back anymore. It was a liberating sort of feeling.

With that in mind, we all spoke with a surprising ease. I expected them to be scared of me, but I suppose cracking a few poorly timed jokes didn't hurt anything.

We walked for several days like that. Once the conversations grew stale, I trained as we walked, practicing punches and combinations. It was calming for me, like meditating. We reached the sentinel after killing a few hundred bats and squabbling over bear jerky. Good times compared with before.

When we reached the sentinel's pit, David said, ”Alright, so here's the plan-”

I leapt into the pit. I lost levity as gravity pulled me down. My skin pulled on me as I fell, my stomach floating in my chest. I landed around a hundred feet below, creating a crater as I squatted down. After a second, I stood up and shouted,

”Did you guys just see that shit? I fucking nailed that superhero landing.”

Stacy whistled while David threw his hands up into the air. I walked over towards the sentinel as I said, ”Hey asshole, what's up?”

It replied, ”A four mile thick layer of basalt and granite. What are you doing here, inferior life form?”

I frowned as I said, ”I've got the dungeon core. Mind letting me out?”

It bent over and took a closer glance at me. After a few seconds it said, ”Wait, you are the humanI saw before. How have you devolved into this...” The sentinel of monolith gestured to all of me, ”thing.”

I shrugged as I said, ”Baldag-Ruhl was tough fellow. He gave me some scars. Anyways, mind letting me out?”

The sentinel stood back up, twice my height easily. It said, ”Unknowns are not allowed to leave. I will destroy you if you attempt doing so.”

I showed him my menu screen with the dungeon core thing. It said, ”What about this core, it says I can leave. Can I?”

”Of course. At your leisure.”

”Then I'll be going.”

”Halt. You are not allowed passage as an unknown. I will only warn you once.”

I showed him the core again, and he replied, ”I've already told you, you may leave at anytime.”

I said, ”I never thought Schema would be a liar.”

The sentinel of monolith slammed his spear and said, ”Do not speak blasphemy in my presence.”

I frowned as I said, ”But he gave me an item that doesn't operate as stated. Isn't that lying?”

”...Yes. But no...Fine. I will allow you to pass.”

I grinned as I said, ”Good.” Turning backwards, I said, ”Alright guys. I'll come get your fatasses and carry you down the wall.”

Stacy and David had crawled maybe 10 feet down into the pit. Stacy hadn't moved in a while. She seemed stuck. David said, ”You're the one that weighs like three tons.”

Stacy added, ”More like four thousand. He's like a bucket of lard given a human form.”

Ouch. That one actually stung a bit. I gave her props in my head before running off towards them. Climbing the sheer face was simple. With my height and flexibility, I could reach any holds or gaps. Within ten minutes, both of them were down beside the sentinel.

They gaped in awe at its majesty. Of course they would. This thing could evaporate them with ease. I wondered why the hell he didn't just kill all the monsters himself. I asked,

”So sentinel. Why don't you kill the monsters yourself?”

It replied, ”Ambient mana corrupts over time. You are a perfect example of this disgusting phenomenon. Schema cherishes each of us, so we wouldn't waste our might on something so paltry.”

I nodded and said, ”Naw, instead of killing the dimension destroying monsters, he has you guys stand in front of doors. What a prioritizer.”

The robot paused for a moment, then replied, ”You have given me a new emotion. I believe it is hatred.”

”Good. Alright guys, it's time to get out of here.”

David said, ”Your balls are made of steel man.”

I shook my head and said, ”Naw, I just know how these things work. They obey orders very thoroughly.”

The sentinel said, ”Lucky for you.”

I shrugged. He was absolutely right about that. Stacy said, ”Alright, time to get out of here. See you guy on the other side.”

The glowing doors opened, revealing the outside of the cave. The warm wind hit my face. The sunshine beamed down on me. I could hear birds. I could even smell the earth and trees. God I never missed a patch of trees so much in my life.

Stacy and David walked out with me behind them. The sentinel slammed the hilt of his spear, snapping the doors shut. He said,

”I have decided. Instead of making the decision of your leaving on my own, I will leave the decision to Schema.”

The sentinel leaned closer and said, ”Schema is much harsher than I am. Do not disrespect it.”

Seemed like good advice, so I nodded before a voice appeared in my head. It was cold, the kind of cold that burns your hands and numbs your nose. The closest thing like it would be the eldritch energy that Baldag released. Stacy was right. This was not something sentient. It was a machine through and through.

”Unknown variable detected. Owns entry key id 84295730549. Entry allowed. Access denied. Entry allowed. Access denied. Higher clearance required. Assistance request sent. Assistance request accepted.”

The biting cold stopped in an instant. A warmth came and replaced it. The voice like Morgan Freeman and an old british guy came. It said,