171 Pieces of a Puzzle (1/2)

Inside the walls of the gialgathen's base, the metal was cleared out. Espens walked barefoot around to several sectors of the camp, their feet bleeding shards of metal. In the center of the field, a pit of sludge bubbled. Espens congregated around this muck.

The beginning of a metal matrice appeared beside the pit. Saysha beetles swarmed its surface, expanding it. They feasted on fresh bodies, turning sinews and meat to metal and wires. An enormous pile of eggs squirmed beneath a cove of steel.

The espens cultivated the insects. They collected the sludge, pouring it over the expanding egg sacks. The children and pregnant espen women sat near the eggs. Beside them, a pile of rotting corpses reeked. These espens cut open the bellies of the bodies and shoved eggs into them.

They used make-shift knives made out of leftover metal splinters. The strongest, tallest espens then carried the corpses to a landing zone. This is where the Skyburners laid resting.

I analyzed them. There were seven of them, six Skyburners hovering around level 9,000. One of them was level 11,000, some ancient general or the sort. They roasted the corpses of silvers, bite marks spread over the bodies. With their huge eyes, they stared down the slaves, making sure they kept working.

As I looked closer, horrid details surfaced. Yana worms crawled through the skin and flesh of the espens. I glanced back at the pregnant espens. Their bellies shivered, holding something alive. I winced as several espens scooped up the disgusting slop at the center of camp with their bare hands.

They drank it, feeding the worms inside them. They winced, holding their noses. Their own filth covered them, a stream of caked on mush running down their chests. Some of them were children. They'd never known a life outside of this hellish, dystopian place.

It disturbed me of course, but I kept myself like stone. Acting on emotion wouldn't help these people. Acting on logic would. I posed questions to myself, trying to make sense of this mess.

The slop was toxic. It should kill the espens, yet they lived and worked all day. Most silver's bodies were poisonous as well. The gialgathens here couldn't survive off just the carcasses. They were eating something else. What that was, I didn't want to even imagine.

The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to run in and destroy them. I silenced those thoughts and crushed that urge. There were six Skyburners and a large, ancient gialgathen as well. It grew massive horns over its skin with armor chock-full of gemstones. That gialgathen would be a tough fight all on its own.

Fighting them all at once ensured all the espens would die, and that's if I lived of course. I was strong, but there wasn't much point in risking death. I couldn't offer the espens medical support. I didn't have a safe means of transport either. I lacked too many resources.

I bit my lip, a sense of helplessness running up my chest. I shook it off. A rescue operation wasn't my specialty. For Tohtella and Torix, however, they'd handle it like a walk in the park. They'd maneuver around all the intricacies, making sure each person was treated appropriately.

With Althea's combat prowess on top of that, we had a good chance of success. Like the hammer of an Old One, we'd come crashing down on these frog-dragon fucks. If we executed well, we'd kill the gialgathens without the espens getting caught in the crossfire.

More than the slaves, a gialgathen hostage was a must. Someone was organizing these camps across the continent. Figuring out who that piece of shit was took precedent.

With that in mind, I recorded the camp using my obelisk. I marked the base's location on my mini-map as it got footage. After a few minutes, I jumped off the barrier's sheer face, flying away. Well, it was closer to falling away. That's how it felt to pull myself with the gravity wells.

With that potent magic, I dashed across the wasteland, evading the thick clouds of silvers. After an hour passed, Yildrazian skyscraper's popped up on the horizon. Before going into the city, I cleaned my gray armor with my skin.

That's how I thought of the black plates over me. I'd lived in the umbral shell for years now. It was a part of me like the scars on my face and hands. Unlike scars, the dark metal was more useful though. With its unending hunger, I cleared the dried blood of silvers all over me.

As I removed the debris, I peered off in the distance. The morning sun was rising up. I hardly noticed the dusk before. My new perception let me see in the dark. It didn't mask my surroundings like it once had. I smiled, appreciating the greenery after being surrounded by the silvers all day and night.

Once my armor was shining, I dashed into Yildraza. In minutes, I reached our hotel. I jogged through the entrance. As I did, the receptionist smiled at me, ”Did you just get your power armor polished for today's big fight.”

I shook my head, ”No. Killing silvers.”

She raised her eyebrows, ”You're one busy guy.”

I walked into the elevator, the doors closing, ”I try to be.”

After the elevator reached our floor, I jogged into our room. No one was awake yet outside of Torix. Without anyone else to discuss my findings with, I lifted myself up onto the next floor. After skipping the stairs, I knocked on his door.

”Ah, yes, you may come in.”

I stepped into his room, more charts and diagrams covering the walls now. Torix fiddled with a gemstone, carving runes into the crystal surface. He set it down, walking up to me. I raised my hands, ”I have some shit to show you.”

His fire eyes narrowed, ”Before you begin your spill, allow me to have a word.”

I waved my hand, ”Alright, but hurry.”

Torix raised a hand, locking his hands behind him, ”I understand that disciples are meant to care for their masters. It's simply the nature of the relationship. In instances, an apostle can look towards their teacher as a father.”

He sighed, ”And in these cases, it can only be expected that the disciple takes an interest in the personal lives of their teachers. Perhaps they may wish to nudge their masters in a different direction. Though as admirable as these attempts are, I assure you, Daniel-”

I raised my hands, ”What are you talking about?”

He raised a hand, coughing into it, ”Well, you've set me up with a woman of prestige. It appears to be a date of some sort. I'm letting you know that I appreciate the effort, but it's not necessary.”

I leaned back, ”Wait...I think there's been a misunderstanding.”

He waved a hand, ”Oh don't be coy. It's as I explained earlier.”

I shook my hands, ”There's definitely been a misunderstanding.”

Torix went on, staring into the distance, ”It has been quite some time since my last romantic relationship. Though I lack sensual pleasures, I do crave the company of the fairer sex.”

I cringed, ”Look Torix. This isn't about that.”

Torix looked me in the eye, ”It isn't?”

I shook my head, ”No. I mean, by all means, go for it. Seize the day and all that. I called her over here for something else altogether.”

Torix's hand lowered, his fiery eyes flaring a deep red, ”Oh....”

An awkward silence passed. I raised a hand, pushing through, ”There's something I need to explain. I also need your help.”

Torix stood up straight, ”Ah yes, I'm more than glad to assist you.”

Over the next fifteen minutes, I explained my findings. I told him the story from finding espen bodies on the way to Yildraza to the Gialgathen's base. Torix listened intently, his eyes returning to their usual navy blue. As I finished by showing him the footage, he murmured,

”This is quite the conundrum.”

I nodded, ”You're damn right about that. I called in Tohtella to help you with organizing a plan against these guys.”

Torix cupped his chin with a bony hand, ”It seems as though you already formulated one that's acceptable. I'll iron out a few of the wrinkles, but it should fair rather well.”

I sighed, ”Ah man, thank god. I was worried I did something stupid.”

Torix leaned back, ”What? Why would you ever think that?”

I looked at my hands, ”I don't know. It just...I've fallen into traps before. Look at Baldag-Ruhl. Look at Yawm. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed all the time.”

Torix stepped up, putting a hand on my shoulder, ”Did you see my misunderstanding about the meeting with Tohtella?”

I winced. Torix did too.

”Yeah. It was awkward.”

He sighed, ”It was. It was also my mistake. It just so happens I make more than my fair share of them. Everyone does, whether you can crush a mountain or create a singularity doesn't absolve you of that. You're doing your best, Daniel. Besides-”

Torix waved a hand at the footage, ”Following that, er, flesh whale as you call it. That was clever. Marking down footage, taking questions, even having the discipline to not rush in. In my eyes, that shows maturity and intelligence.”

He grabbed my shoulders, ”When we first met, you'd have run in like a hot-headed fool. Now you weighed your options and chose one after deliberation. There's nothing to be ashamed of. You're doing well.”

I'm not gonna lie, I choked up a little. I kept it together, patting him on the shoulder, ”Thanks, man. That...that helps.”

Torix lowered his hands, pushing up an imaginary set of glasses, ”If anything, I'm the one that should feel useless here.”

I spread out my hands, ”What? No.”

He raised a palm to me, ”When we faced off against Yawm, I excelled. I controlled reconnaissance. I managed thousands of troops. I even helped enhance your strengths using conduits en masse.”

He clenched his hands to fists, ”Now I manage my students, exploring Giess as if it were a vacation.”

I shrugged, ”What's wrong with that?”

Torix turned towards me, ”Isn't it obvious?”

I shook my head, ”You like to teach. I don't get why it's considered bad to do what you like.”

”W-well there isn't any stakes behind my actions. I'm just...lulling my days away in comfort and content.”

I scoffed, ”Yeah, that's kind of what everyone's trying to do.”

Torix sighed, ”Regardless of how you put it, it doesn't change my reality. I'm piddling while you save worlds.”

I waved my hands back and forth, ”No. That's not what's happening. I'm not saving worlds. I'm getting them out of shitty situations.”

I pointed at him,

”You're the guy keeping those worlds from spiraling back out of control. The mages, warriors, and runic inscribers you're training, they're the ones clearing out dungeons now. Without them, Earth would just fall right back into chaos.”

I shook my hands, ”So don't sell yourself short man. This isn't a one-man party. This is a team effort, alright? It kind of pisses me off hearing you talk like that honestly. If that's how you felt earlier, then I'm not selling myself short again either.”

Torix nodded, his eyes glowing green and sentimental,

”I won't degrade myself again if you decide not to either. Deal?”

I raised a fist, ”Hell yeah it's a deal.”

A moment of comradery passed. Torix scoffed, ”Look at us chatter away. There's work to do, and there's little time to do it.”

I snapped my fingers, ”Ah, that reminds me. I need you to teach me some mental magic.”

Torix's eyes lit up, ”Really now? You're quite tenacious as is. What makes you believe you need even more reinforcement?”

I shook my head, ”I went deep into silver territory. It was ugly. If fringe worlds are like that, I'm going to need a mind of steel. I figured mental magic would help with that.”

Torix nodded, ”Indeed it would. I'm curious, however. Why are thinking of becoming a Fringe Walker all of a sudden? Did Schema finally convince you with a few choice rewards?”

I shook my head, ”No, it has nothing to do with him. It's more like...I realized that I'm pretty damn strong.”

Torix rolled his eyes, ”Oh yes, of course you are.”

I looked him in the eye, ”No, I mean it. My mana regen passed 20 million a minute the other day.”

Torix's knees wobbled. He took a step back, ”What? How?”

I shrugged, ”It's a bunch of conversions from trees I've gained along with my armor bonuses. Either way,the situation is what it is.”

I raised a hand, ”What matters is what I do with it. I mean think about it. A lot of people's lives rest in my hands. It terrifies me, to be honest. I never thought I'd be the kind of person with these kinds of options, with this kind of reach.”