The Grand Weave

We turned a final bend only a couple of minutes away from what I deemed the 'fortress. But as Sereza stepped a foot past the corner mana screamed in my senses as a sharp vibrating spike of pressure.

I grasped her jacket and flung her behind me as a beam of energy engulfed the corridor. It pushed me back, burning my right leg.

Zharia rushed in and sucked in the flames while I shot to my feet.

"Sereza! You okay?"

"I'm good. What the fuck was that?"

"No idea."

I summoned a small gemstone and threw it into the hallway. A beat passed, there was no reaction.

Damnit.

"Retreat?"

"Our best bet is to grab the others. If we retreat we risk being cornered."

"What the fuck even is it. There shouldn't be something that deadly on this floor."

"Help?" Zagreus asked.

My jaw strained as my teeth gnashed together. I could send Zagreus out but the lazer was strong enough to completely destroy his form. The backlash alone from it would be too crippling to be worth it.

I shook my head. "Sturmrorex, return for now. I'm summoning Magnus."

Sturmrorex nodded and rushed into my chest as the skill deactivated.

With a flex, Magnus appeared and he stalked closer to the corner. Mana picked up, and he growled as he stopped just shy of exposing himself.

"Ready!" he roared.

"Go but pull back."

He dashed forward and the pressure picked up. The tunnel shook as another lazer drowned the darkness in blinding orange. Magnus jumped, but the attack clipped his back legs and he screamed in pain.

I pulled him closer and retreated several feet. His legs were blackened and the left was severely injured, but his skill had activated and absorbed most of the damage.

It's enough to fill his core and then some. What the fuck?

"Cyrus?"

Spirit Lord's invocation.

Magnus became motes of light that shot into my chest. Fur sprouted from my limbs and crystals overlapped into a second layer. As the transformation settled, I delved into his memories and saw what Magnus managed to see before the attack.

"Sereza. It's a crystal golem. Tall as the ceiling, nearly as wide as the tunnel."

"That shouldn't be here."

No it shouldn't. And I think I know why.

"Chances we could take it?"

She fiddled with her bandolier and uncapped one of her stronger acid vials. "Possibly. Not the worst we fought, but that attack is no joke. That's definitely stronger than what the stories say."

We continued to back up, but kept vigilant behind us. Zharia scouted just in case while we watched the tunnel in front.

"An elite monster then?"

"Has to be," she said. She stopped and scowled with her tail pointed accusingly. "Is this because you fucked with the dungeon?"

"Maybe."

We stopped and Zharia returned to my shoulder.

"Nothing behind," she chirped.

"Decision time. It's not following for some reason."

"Bait and run? We could bait an attack and dash for the fortress."

"Assuming it has a delay to its attacks."

"Only one way to find out. Can you absorb an attack?"

I shook my head. "Too much mana. Maybe some, but it'd overload me. I'm already pretty full and that was Magnus being clipped."

"Fuck."

We waited, debating on what to do before I sighed and pulled Zharia into my hands. "Here's the plan. We bait an attack and try to draw its attention. You have to fly straight towards the others. Can you do it?"

"But we fight?!"

"No, it's too strong. Grab them and we'll be fine, okay?"

Sereza tapped her chest and grinned. "From all the crazy shit your master has gotten himself into, this is nothing. Go and save the day."

As we prepared I ran through different scenarios in my head. The worst one would be if the golem had an infinite supply of mana from the dungeon and no delay between attacks.

If that was the case, we were fucked.

Sereza dipped her blades into the acid concoction and I sent Zharia high. First step was drawing out multiple attacks.

After dismissing Zagreus, I summoned Áine in his stead and had her hide inside Sereza's jacket.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready."

I stepped a foot into the hallway and retreated once mana built. There was a sharp warning whispered into my ear just as I pulled back.

The lazer glassed the tunnel and I stuck my claws out just enough to absorb some of the mana. It filled the receptacle and I compressed it down, refining it to make room.

Now for step two.

Three seconds after if fired I rushed into the hallway and laid eyes on the monster. Its chest was covered in flames that spiraled into a vortex in the center. I crossed my arms and waited to retreat but it didn't attack.

Good. Step three.

My jaw dropped open and the energy rushed into my throat. Heat, pressure, power; I unleashed the attack and was rocked back as the condensed laser pierced the shadows.

I squeezed all of it out, going for the kill. As it neared, the golem's lone eye flashed red as it slammed its arms together. It's head retracted and my attack hit, crashing against the bulk its body.

The walls rumbled, and something scraped the ground, creating a high-pitch screech. As my core emptied my throat seized in pain and I waited for the light to clear.

Fuck.

The crystal was cracked but it pulled its arms apart and stood up mostly unscathed. The eye flashed red and the vortex in the center of its chest spun.

Flames spewed and the air thrummed.

A hand grabbed my hoodie and pulled me behind the wall as the golem unleashed its attack.

"Thanks," I croaked.

Áine slapped her hands along my cheek and sent a burst of mana into my throat.

"So there is a delay," Sereza said.

I grinned. "Looks like it. But I don't have another attack ready.

She channeled mana into her daggers and a yellow haze trailed behind the metal. "Ready."

This is going to suck.

"Zharia," I whispered. "Ready?"

"Yes!"

Alright then.

I held my arm outside the hallway and sure enough another attack came. As it engulfed my claws I pulled in the mana and squeezed. The neverending tide of energy filled me to the brim and then some, forcing me to pull back before the attack ended.

We rushed in and Sereza unleashed a salvo of daggers. They clinked off the crystal but left behind minute cracks for the acid to eat away.

As she covered Zharia who rushed for the exit, the golem eye flashed red and turned to follow my familiar.

"No you don't!"

I pulled from the core and drew its attention.

Arms became a shield as my attack pushed against its defense. Sereza grabbed a vial and lobbed it. It splashed against the crystal, dousing it in oil that burned as the lazer set it alight.

Zharia zipped across the tunnel and swerved into the hallway past the golem.

My energy ran out and I signaled a retreat.

Sereza tossed another vial, one that properly exploded and pushed the golem back before grabbing and pulling me away.

We retreated and crouched low.

Sereza transferred Áine and smiled. "Now we wait."

It wasn't long till we heard our rescuers. There was a loud crash and an echo of shattering glass before we rushed into the hallway.

The golem was surrounded by pillars of ice and barriers while Teddy stood atop the golem's shoulders and raised his mace.

A golden giant version of it appeared before the golem and shattered its arms as he crushed its head.

When the hole in its chest sputtered flames a spear of electricity pierced its center and exploded. It wasn't enough to stop it, but Igas was there and thrusted his sword all the way through, spraying the tunnel with crystal shards.

Isaac exited the wall and shook his head. "Not even half a day."

I grabbed his face and kissed his forehead. He sputtered and I laughed as I walked past and whistled at the destruction wrought by Broken Tower.

Zharia sent a burst of flames into the golem's chest as Igas retracted his blade and started mocking its entire family line.

"Cyrus," Celenae said. "What did you do?"

"Probably pissed off the dungeon." Isaac scoffed.

"Is the dungeon sentient?"

"Mmm. The dungeon isn't not sentient,” I said.

"Then wha-" she shook her head. "Nevermind. Are you two okay?"

Sereza nodded. "We are now.

I summoned Erebus and tossed him onto the golem's corpse.

Teddy hopped off and kicked the still intact leg. "This is tougher than usual. Stronger than it should be."

"This isn't supposed to be here right?"

"No."

"When we get back I'm going to try something. Will you guys be willing to guard me?"

Teddy shook his head. "Didn't need to ask. Of course we will."

Then it's time to have a chat.

***

I settled into the beanbag and tapped my head.

"Pillage memories!" Galarion shouted.

"Not yet. If they do something stupid, go ahead."

"Yes!"

Outloud I cleared my throat and waited as the others quieted. "I'm starting."

My palm laid flat against the floor and sent mana through the stone. I searched, till the bubbly feeling rose into my chest.

I threaded my mana and pierced the floor connecting to the stream of information that recoiled at my intrusion.

"Abort! Abort! Abort!"

Pain lanced my skull eliciting a groan. Galarion absorbed the damage and pulled away the useless information, leaving behind only what I needed.

Teddy activated his healing skill and the soothing mana washed over me.

"Thanks."

"Good to continue?" he asked.

I gave him a thumbs-up and adjusted my hand to the wall. The bubbles rose and I probed the connection.

Gotcha.

This time I funneled as much mana as possible into the spike and pushed deep. My brain became a ball of fire but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain.

"Go away!"

Through the agony an image of a large room appeared. The walls were adorned with moving gears that spun in all directions. The lights were of golden crystals suspended from metal thread.

And in the center was a dais of intricately carved hands holding a glowing orb. Beside it was a terrified and shivering fairy.

The connection snapped and I collapsed. I opened my eyes as Sereza dabbed at my nose.

"You're bleeding," she said.

"Sorry."

"Did whatever you're doing work?"

"Yes. Next time I got it."

"Still can't explain what it is?"

I chuckled. "Sorry."

She sighed and I closed my eyes. The fucker was scared. That was good. The asshole tried to kill us.

My hand remained on the same spot but instead of battering the gates with a cannon, I refined my mana into a spear threaded perfectly to fit in the pathway hidden inside the stone.

I slipped it in and cut deep. The bubbles transformed into tingles that made me feel like I was floating on a cloud.

The room appeared as did its occupants. A pulse of energy threatened to destroy the connection but I channeled the feeling in my chest and held on.

The room shrank as I pushed closer. The fairy grabbed onto the orb with wide golden eyes.

"Get back! Stay away!"

My mouth moved but the words didn't come. Then knowledge flowed into my head, supported by my perk.

I adjusted the mana into a different pathway and it clicked into place.

My words were shaky, and sounded as if I was screaming from underwater.

"So you're the assholes who tried to kill me. Let's talk about that."