(I) Volatile
Chapter 110 of "Path of the Deathless" kicks off revealing: 55 (I) VolatileValor reminded himself of this mantra as he bore the weight of another... Find out whatâs next!
55 (I) Volatile
Valor reminded himself of this mantra as he bore the weight of another skull using his dagger, preparing to implant a final piece upon the construct he was creating.
A large creature lined with jutting, skeletal limbs and countless skulls hovered in the air before him, oozing with necromantic power. An eerie, green energy spewed out into the world as if a miasma, distorting the edges of reality and corroding the fabric of existence itself.
As Valor installed the final skull into the construct, it came alive, rumbling and growling with energy, and it was done. This was the cage he made for the Animancy Core, its Necromancy a counter-power to the Animancy. Should the core be found and the construct be deployed, the power that Vicar Sullain wished to summon would be denied for good.
But still, the construct needed to reach the core first. And that was far harder than just creating this cage.
Of all the magical skills one could gain, Necromancy started at Adept. You could not even touch it before reaching such a rank in another skill. And then, you could not reach Animancy until you were well into the Heroic Tier and possessed a deep mastery of Necromancy. Such things were connected to each other, as Necromancy was the ruin of the worldâthe loss and the destruction of what was. Animancy, then, was all that was, all that could be, all that might be.
For one to understand the totality, they first must understand the lack.
That was how Valor learned, anyway, from his countless masters before him, and from his many experiences in battle and focused study.
As the construct, the Graven Cage, rose into the air, Valor bowed his head and gave thanks to the Great One for infusing him with understanding and power. âDeath need not be death,â Valor proclaimed solemnly. âAnd the end need not be the end.â
This skill-inscribed ritual chamber of the Hallowed Depths came aglow, the ritualistically-carved bones lining it shining in an array of colorsâall marked as consecrated martyrs. These were those who dedicated themselves, dedicated their bodies and remains, to Weave in case of a great crisis. They allowed themselves to be raised, offering their lingering essence, what remained of their skills, their minds, and their vitality, when a glorious service was required. Such as right now.
And so it was with care and dedication that Valor drew upon the martyrs of ages long past, drew upon those who went off to face death, the final enemy, and made use of what they bestowed upon him.
âI thank you the most of all,â Valor said, greeting each skull and each limb that he imparted upon this construct, âfor what you do, for what you grant, is a chance to spare others from that fell touch, that final end. I thank thee, for that is all I can offer.â
Behind him, the Black Mass supporting him echoed his prayers. The two Necromancer Weaveresses led their Acolytes as they infused the last of their spells into the construct. His ritual completed, Valor turned. Weaveress Silent Spinner and Beetles-Needs-Pets both bowed, offering him that sanctified salute, and he did his best with only a hand clutching a dagger.
âI thank you, Weaveresses,â he said. âYour assistance has been paramount. With me diminished, I fear I could have never done this ritual on my own, and constructed what was needed to create the Graven Cage.â
âDo not speak low of yourself, Great Valor,â Silent Spinner replied. âIt is only with your knowledge and your guidance that we could have done this. We are merely the hands, you are the mind, you are the tongue. We are all united against death.â
âAll against death,â Valor echoed, their solemn vow reverberating through the chamber.
Just then, a series of voices echoed down the far end of the room, where two massive doorways remained open, letting air pass, lit only by countless glistening crystals lodged along the walls. Valor heard the voices, and he laughed. One was high with outrage. The other was lower, grumbling, and mocking.
So, his prodigal disciples had returned, and alive at that. Very good.
âExalted Weaveresses,â Valor said, âPardon me. I must talk to my disciples. They have come just in time, just in time to view a potential solution to one of our great problems. Again, I thank you, and I will mention you and your Acolytes by name when next I speak to the Composer.â
the Weaveresses responded in unison.
âThe world is dead. The world is alive,â Valor replied. At this point, Shiv, Adam, and a few others Valor didnât recognize entered the room.
As the Legendary Pathbearer prepared to greet his disciples, he paused. Was Shiv bigger than he was before? Yes, he was. And there was a faint field about him, a tremoring of animated force.
Valor noticed something else. A lingering wound that wasnât of his physical body, but leaked as an eerie, festering miasma out from Shivâs arm. He had a Necromantic woundâone that was still spewing with the wither. That kind of pain should have broken most⌠But this was Shiv. Valor mused.
âSo we both agree,â Shiv said, sneering at Adam. âI would have won if you bothered telling me the directions to where we were going before you started the race.â
âNo, you wouldnât have won, because you kept smashing into things. This was a race to reach a destination, not a contest of who could tear through the most buildings. And what was with you throwing the goblin at me over and over again?â Adam asked, incredulous.
âI still feel sick,â a goblin Pathbearer groaned as she clutched her stomach.
Shiv snorted. âOh, now itâs a race. You didnât say it was a race before you shot me in the face with a frost arrow.â
âYes, but I knew it wouldnât harm you. How could it? I donât think it would have harmed you even as a Pathless, considering how thick your skull is,â Adam sneered back.
Valor cleared his nonexistent throat. âDisciples, it gladdens me to see both of you returned and in good spirits. Though, not truly unharmed⌠Shiv, how was your experience in the gate?â
Both his disciples looked at each other, their argument clearly delayed rather than settled.
âIt wasâŚâ Shiv began.
âA mess.â Adam finished.
Shiv glared at Adam. âLook, how about I tell him about what I did?â
âYes, how about you tell him how you got into a fight with practically everyone you met, managed to get discovered by practically everyone you met, and, ultimately, escaped by kidnapping and stealing the body of a comatose Greater Demon?â Adam countered.
It took Valor a moment to fully comprehend what was being said, because some of it sounded absurd, but, once again, he looked at Shiv and grunted with acceptance. âThrilling escapades, then. You must tell me everything. But first, something else.â Valor drifted close, examining Shivâs armored left arm, shielded by metallic bone and a vibrating gauntlet. âHow did you sustain a lingering wound?â
âOh, this,â Shiv said. He brushed his hand, and, using his Biomancy, peeled away the armor there before he removed his gauntlet.
Valor drifted back. âAh, a Severing Whip.â
âYou know what that is?â Shiv asked.
Valor hummed. âIt is an instrument meant to torture, meant to inflict permanent harm.â
âWell, itâs not permanent,â Shiv said. âItâs just healing really slowly. The bastard who left it drew the spell out of three children impaled on his chest, though. Iâm still kind of creeped out by their faces being there.â
âThree children,â Valor repeated. âWhy?â
âI donât know? I thought you would understand,â Shiv said. âThought that might be a Necromancy thing.â
âNo. You just need something of the dead,â Valor said. âThereâs nothing about Necromancy that demands blood sacrifices or the torture of children. I fear you faced someone who is especially demented.â
Shiv considered that for a moment and nodded. âYeah, that seems about right.â
âIâm sorry,â a human Pathbearer said, his jaw open as he pointed rudely at Valor, âbut is that a floating skull?â
Adam winced at the man. âYes, he is a floating skull. Now do not say any other words and simply just accept whatâs happening. Please. I understand things are shockingââ
âIs he a ?â The manâs voice was practically a squeak.
Adam clenched his teeth as he tried to think of how to explain this. âHe is Valor Thann, the Great Valor Thann. He will tell you all about how great he is if you ask him. Butâbefore either of you find a way to offend his fragile feelings⌠Valor, can you show me what you were working on? The thing you said that could cage the⌠theâŚâ Adam's voice trailed off as he looked past Valor and gawked at the Graven Cage. âIs that it?â
âBroken Moon,â the other human Pathbearer breathed. âWhat is that? What is that?â She pointed at the construct. Updates are released by NovŃlFŃre.net
âAh, the Graven Cage,â Valor said. âIt is my means of containing the Animancy Core and potentially even neutralizing it once we acquire it.â
âAnd how does it work?â Adam asked, lifting an eyebrow.
âIt will wrap around the core and channel Necromancy into it. Enough Necromancy that it should neutralize its Animancy.â
âAnd it will work?â Adam pressed.
âDo you doubt me?â Valor scoffed.
Adam blinked.
The Legendary Pathbearer sighed. âWell, yes, if you know the proper spell work and make the right kind of construct, it can. Yes. I can neutralize the core entirely. Most likely.â
âAll right, so we just need to get that large bloody mass of skulls and limbs inside the gate as well,â Adam muttered. âNot going to be easy.â
âMaybe not that hard,â Shiv said. âThe Jealousy is dead. Trapdoor might be able to help us hide this, and Heather knows how to pass through the gateway. I think we can do it.â
Valor found himself drawn to Shivâs lingering wound again. âShiv, remain still. I wish to see if I can extract the withering from you.â
He shaped a spell in the air using his stone dagger, and an eerie green energy built around him, Necromantic miasma burning into the fabric of existence. But Shiv reacted with sudden violence. He dashed away so fast a slight shockwave cracked the ground where he stood and shook the entire chamber, knocking a few skulls out of place. Shiv cursed and grabbed them before they could fall, but he still avoided Valor.
âYeah, maybe donât touch me with any Necromancy at all,â Shiv said, gathering the skulls against him. âWhen the Gate Lord struck me with his Necromancy whip, it detonated.â
âDetonated?â Valor asked. He drifted close but dismissed the spell. âElaborate.â
âIt hit me, blew my arm off, and then the largest explosion Iâve ever been in lit the bodies of everyone around us on fire. It even burned the Gate Lord, and he's a Heroic Pathbearer. It was like some kind of⌠soul fire or something. And so, uh, even if I donât really know what Necromancy does, I know it doesnât like me, and it goes off like a bomb when it touches me.â
Valor leaned back as he felt curiosity overtake him. âI must examine you in detail.â
He called out to the Weaveresses who were now watching the scene, entranced and interested. âWeaveresses, I need your help. I need you to prepare the Withercage. We have⌠a volatile subject I wish to examine.â
âWithercage?â Shiv asked nervously.