“You will die today!” Kerril screamed as his right arm hung loose and useless at his side. His fingers couldn’t even begin to grasp the sword and it clattered to the ground.
Despite his useless arm, he charged, the other sword hissing as it split the air. Ralph was forced to dive, rolling over onto his shoulder, and coming to his feet once more. Kerril pressed forward, his whole face curled back in a demented snarl while Ralph danced to avoid frenzied slashes. Seeing an opening, Ralph produced a powerful two-handed swing, and the center of the mace’s head cracked hard against the edge of Kerril’s jaw. Teeth exploded from the pirate’s mouth, and as the weapon continued, the rest of his skull erupted. Brain matter and skull fragments sprayed the onlooking pirates, and an eye burst forward from its socket and dangled there, teasing his cheek.
Kerrill launched backward and crashed to the ground, his huge sword dropping from his now totally lifeless grasp.
Ralph breathed a long and angry exhale and let the mace fall to his side. “So, the mace is mine,” Ralph snarled, staring deep into his enemy’s cloudy remaining eye. “And so is Zagorath.”
Essence drifted from the pirate leader’s corpse, none of the others moving to absorb it. They were silent as Ralph drank in the combination of Soul and Infernal Essence. His tattoo filled with power and his muscles throbbed with new energy. Something else entered him, a knowledge that filled his mind.
Battle tactics appeared, as well as the skills needed to lead a group of warriors. Ralph glanced at Kerril’s swords, the knowledge of how to wield them entering his mind immediately. Absorbing the soul essence of the pirate leader had granted him all of this.
Ralph looked over the rest of the Sand Pirates and considered what he might earn if he killed them, too; he toyed with mental calculations. The Sand Pirates recoiled as he realized that while they were fine repositories of battle knowledge and essence, he needed them alive. It would take numbers to conquer Zagorath.
Ralph spat on Kerrik’s corpse and straightened.
He’d never felt more alive, more invincible, in his life. He’d challenged the pirate leader and won. All that strength, rage, and grief had been the driving force.
Ralph Kraus, the Chosen One.
Alaxon had one thing right. He’d chosen correctly.
Zarrik stepped forward, pulling his scarf away from his mouth. “The gods have spoken.”
Ralph grinned with manic victory.
“Prepare yourself. At sunrise two days hence, we shall take Zagorath.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
As Abby’s musical moan peaked and fell off, a notification sprang into my consciousness.
Zagorath Gained New Abilities
Can now harvest Storm Essence
Can now craft with Storm Essence
Trap - Paralysis Ring (Storm)
I rolled off Abby while her electrifying essence blazed through my bloodstream and mixed with my own. She stared up at the night sky, a gorgeous picture of messy hair and naked curves glowing in the moonlight. The static energy in the air had faded, and as I pulled on my trousers, she finally sat up as her eyes found my form in the dark.
“I’ve never felt anything like that before,” she murmured, almost shyly.
“Neither. Thought you were going to fry me for a moment.”
She blushed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
Before she could finish the sentence, I turned and kissed her. She relaxed into me and tried to pull me back down to her warm embrace, but I resisted.
“As much as I’d like to go another round, I have a dungeon to perfect,” I said as I kissed her a final time.
“Oh, of course. Priorities.”
I smiled at her and shrugged. “Adventurers won’t wait for me.”
“That’s true.”
My Vampiric Expertise had done its work, and I needed to return to my core.
Pulling back from Abby, I smiled at her. Once she learned I could use her own essence alongside my own, she’d immediately wonder if I’d just used her. She’d likely think I’d just taken her powers for my own benefit and that I’d leave her behind.
I decided to tell her, right here, right now.
“You should know something,” I said. “Remember how you said that Infernal cores disrupt the balance? Become far too powerful, spread, infect, and destroy?”
Abby looked into my eyes, tilting her head. “Yeah… why do you bring it up?”
“I can channel your essence now. After—”
“After you gave me the sunset of my life,” she cut in, a sly smile creeping over her face. “I’m not upset, Dom. You still made your oath before Lilith to protect me. And if I know anything about her —or you— you have no intention of breaking that oath.”
That same smile touched my lips, and I leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “Get dressed before you recall your avatar. Don’t want you summoning your body naked in front of adventurers, right?”
Color flushed her face, and she lunged for her clothes before turning to me—but my elf was already dissolving. I kept that shit-eating grin on my face until my Tainted Elf vanished entirely into smoke and hissed toward the entrance of Zagorath. Already, my consciousness was possessing my dungeon, spreading comfortably to every corner, every carving, every inch of the black stone.
Bertha opened an eye at the touch of my mind. “I heard lightning,” she chuckled as she closed her eye. “Care to explain?”
“You know full well what was going on,” I snarked back from my jewel.
Reaching inside my shining fractals, I looked for Puck. I needed all hands on deck now. I summoned him at the cost of 400 Infernal Essence, and his winged form melted out of the ground beside Bertha. Her eyes didn’t open, but her jaw tightened in response.
“Master! You’ve brought me back.” The ecstatic squeal made me grin, despite myself.
“How was death?” Bertha asked him, her eyes sliding open.
“Incredibly unpleasant,” Puck howled, “but I live!”
He spun in violent circles before barrelling back up into the vents. The imp’s chaos disturbed my Hellbats, creating a frenzied screeching that echoed throughout Zagorath.
Abby’s jewel flickered at the return of her avatar, and
