“In full fighting order...in three hours...a portal...to previous arrangements, reputation, and alliances...do you even know how much Bells cost?” Tao asked as he read the agreement out loud. “This is a real set-up, not a contract. Whom do you want to attack? What if it’s those we vouched for?”
“Even if you have to storm Atrocity itself in the Astral Plane!” the trader said, shrugging. “This is my price.”
* * *
The skiff borrowed from the Watchers soared in the reddish-pink mist, swiftly winging its way through the Astral space. The lightweight maneuverable vessel had only three slots for the crew and one bow thruster with an air elemental locked inside. A blue fore-and-aft sail bagged out above us as it met a strong gust of air.
“We’re getting close!” Ellaria spoke up. “Lots of signals ahead, one of them big, it’s a Shard. I think it’s the one!”
The outline of a giant Shard slowly took shape from the pink clouds, a black Gothic citadel rising high on top of it. I had already seen those sharp spires, the crimson fires dancing inside the arrow-slits, the massive juggernauts hovering over the fortress. Atrocity, Pandorum’s stronghold in the Sphere of Worlds. My face contorted in a grimace of anger. We met again.
“And now they’ll take us down!” Keith Borland once again started his whining. “Haven’t I told you that sticking your head right into the Pandorum’s maw is a lost cause?”
We might have gotten a fix on the Atrocity’s signal, but the Pandorum scouts had seen ours as well. A pack of birdies flew up from the towers, dragon riders who looked like tick marks from a distance.
“Steer toward the gate and don’t be afraid of anything,” I ordered Borland. Then I found Jerkhan in my address book and sent him a message.
HotCat: I’m almost there. Vouch for all of us.
Your reputation with Pandorum Alliance increased to Ally.
“Whoa!” Octopus reacted to the change in reputation. “I’ve never heard about Pandas vouching for anyone.”
“It’s temporary,” I allayed his excitement. “Steer to the gate.”
“The birdies are still coming at us!” Ellaria noticed, alarmed.
“It’s an honorary escort.”
Or, more likely, the guards sent to make sure we won’t escape, I added to myself as I watched protodragon riders surround us from all sides. The Pandas clad in artifact armor were making faces at us, yelling, and writing something in English and German in the general chat, probably trolling us. I didn’t pay them any attention.
The skiff slowly sailed into the open dragon maw — the main gate of the citadel. Behind them, in the stone womb of the tunnel, I saw a wharf full of Pandorum’s astral ships — frigates, corvettes, and skiffs. Borland directed our yacht to a vacant dock where a group of Steel Guard fighters were standing and waving at us.
“Stay here and don’t show your face until I get back,” I warned the crew.
“Just one question, Cat. It’s not like I doubt you or anything...” Octopus chuckled. “But if things don’t pan out, and we see you in the kill rating, what should we do?”
I stared at him, not saying anything. Apparently, that was enough of an answer. Keith turned around and occupied himself with the rigging, fastening the skiff to the wharf.
As I climbed up the dock, I ran into my old acquaintance — Roahildorn.
“You’re a punctual one, Kitten!” she smirked. “Right a day later, just as promised. Didn’t expect to come here again, did you?”
“Why didn’t I? I did,” I replied. “I planned on a return visit ever since the last time, and I finally got the chance.”
“A chance!” Roa snorted. “Fine, follow me. Jerkhan is waiting!”
Following the graceful rogue and escorted by four more Steel Guard members, I walked across arched corridors, repeating the previous route — down, down the stairs, through the winding tunnels, halls and crossings into the heart of Atrocity, the respawn point that should not have existed in the Astral Plane. Switching off my emotions, I drew a mental map of the road.
At last, we reached our destination. I recognized the gloomy hall, the restored gargoyle statues, and the artifact cage above the respawn circle. It was empty, but surrounded by at least ten armed Pandas in black armor with familiar sharp outlines. They had clearly prepared for my visit.
A large ogre stepped forward. A demonic skull sneered from his black breastplate, sharp curved horns serving as the sideplates of his helm. He had a chain around his right forearm. He used it to drag around a stumbling smaller figure. Dirty white-green dress, light hair, gleaming shackles on her neck and wrists… Weldy was moving like a wooden doll, a distant apathetic look on her face. I remembered that the NPCs captured in Eyre’s marketplace had behaved in the exact same way.
“Howdy, fresh meat!” Jerkhan bellowed. “Have you brought us our souls?”
“First, set her free!” I gestured at the girl.
“You’re not the one to set the rules here!” the Steel Guard leader replied. “First the souls, then your girlfriend!”
My heart was beating as if it was going to jump right out my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and stepped forward, unsheathing Aelmaris. The Pandas automatically flinched back from the shining blade.
First the souls? Well, why not? I weighed the locations of Pandorum warriors around us, then estimated my distance from Jerkhan. Just three steps. With the blade of my sword, I touched the amber sphere on the pedestal.
Release all absorbed souls?
End of Book Two
Coming soon!
Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones (Book #1) LitRPG Series
by Dem Mikhailov
Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones (Book #2) LitRPG Series
by Dem Mikhailov
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