Tekot Smul set up a personal analyzer and fixed it to the back of the man’s head. He had high hopes for this all-powerful artifact, but he needed comprehensive information on the aborigines’ history and, most importantly, the analyzer’s conclusions about possible dangers.
He noted with satisfaction that the coordinated actions of the spacesuit and the first-aid kit had already led to a significant improvement in the condition of the mutilated body. It no longer looked like a mangled pile of flesh.
Tekot Smul exhaled in relief. “I’m the best. I did it.” His lips curled in a smile as he scanned the area, located the mission target – player Phoenix – and resolved to use the time he had to prepare for the final stage of the operation.
“But first, I need to hide the body.” Tekot Smul grinned as he imagined how the Homo-3 Council members would react to his triumph. “I will become the greatest chairman of the Council!” The empty building did not echo his boast, apparently not agreeing with him.
Chapter 13. Death and Revenge
The Dark Mallorns had recovered, spreading their crimson foliage under the magical Intellectum rain.
The Mallorns’ revival could be compared to the return of something important and beautiful to this mortal world, an ancient beauty lost over centuries and restored again.
Alex enjoyed the touching moment and felt the harmony, but something bothered him. He wanted to join the search for AK-47, but still felt too weak to do so. All he could do was wait for the search team to return.
He had not waited long when Anna contacted him. Clan leader, we found him. He’s alive but unconscious. Honestly, I still can’t figure out what’s wrong with him. And I don’t like it...
The main thing is that he’s alive, Alex answered. Well done, Anna. Bring him back here. We’ll figure it out and heal him.
The search team emerged minutes later from a nearby building, carrying the unconscious AK-47.
“Things look bad,” Alex whispered with growing alarm. “Flash, scout the area. Don’t engage in combat. I need information.”
Flash, like a silent white shadow, disappeared into the rain.
The squad ran up, looking tense but hopeful. “Commander, where should we put him? He’s still unconscious,” the agitated Anna said.
Alex met her gaze and nodded. It looks like Anna also has a bad feeling. “Put AK-47 over here, I’ll examine him now.”
Without warning, AK-47 jumped to his feet, lunging at Alex with a narrow dagger clutched in his hand. This attack was so unexpected that it caught Alex unawares.
Tataki, however, suffered no such hesitation. She leapt forward, interposing herself between Alex and the dagger. She let out only a soft gasp as the blade pierced her heart.
AK-47 screamed, striking a second vicious blow at Tataki’s head.
Alex knew, in that instant, that Tataki was gone forever. Nothing could change that. He couldn’t breathe. Grief paralyzed him. Time slammed to a halt. Only a thirst for revenge burned through his mind like a beacon. Rage gave him strength.
Alex knew instinctively that this was not AK-47 who had perpetrated this vile act. Those cold eyes couldn’t have belonged to his friend.
Then it dawned on him.
Homo-3! Arkh!
He parried the pseudo-AK-47’s second blow with his prana knife, following it with a downward swipe that cleaved the man’s hand from his wrist. The impostor screamed, gripping the bleeding stump, and sprinted for the nearest building.
“Don’t shoot! I want him alive!” Alex ordered, not yet realizing that this order would be another mistake. He knelt by Tataki’s body, whispering, begging, but she faded away in his arms.
“Dark Radiance,” he wheezed, refusing to lose hope. “Is Tataki at the respawn point?”
“My condolences, Commander, but Tataki, nicknamed Blade, is not at the respawn point.”
Anna, barely holding back sobs, quavered, “Alex, we missed him. He went through a portal.”
Alex rose to his feet, his soul torn to pieces. He had to literally force himself to breathe. He had not yet figured out how to get revenge, but knew he had to act quickly.
The Dark Mallorns interrupted his grief-stricken, fearful thoughts. Come closer, thundered in his head at an unusually loud volume.
Alex stepped within reach of the Mallorn’s branches, which wrapped around him in a hug. He didn’t have to speak, or beg the magical trees for help… He knew these ancient, omnipotent trees understood all, knew all, and would aid him. He felt the immense magic of the Dark Mallorns.
Every tree trembled, enveloped in fog.
A frightening system message flashed before Alex’s eyes, shaking and blurry.
Why is everything shaking? he thought, having managed to read:
.
Attention! Danger!
You are in the zone of application of higher magic!
Partial violation of the foundations of the universe is possible!
Spell characteristics are unknown!
Source is unknown!
.
Alex saw on the hologram their thick roots entwining the enemy spacecraft as if it were a child’s toy.
The Mallorn’s voice sounded in his head again. The Astral Roots spell will be active during seventy falls of my leaf. Then they will wither, and the fetters will slough off. Don’t waste time. Grow your strength from our gifts. Now watch the leaf.
Alex needed to time the flight of the leaf to the ground.
A simple calculation gave him a result of seven minutes.
“So, I have a seven-minute head start,” he muttered to himself.
He spent a few precious minutes studying the gifts the magic tree mentioned, then bowed to the dark Mallorns. These were generous gifts.
He read a message in a shadowy
