"Oh Shi- "
The pirate's head was severed from the rest of his body, and a fiery punch to the chest demolished his core. Mason glanced over to the rest of the floating ship, watching as the captain stared down at his men getting slaughtered. Once Mason had signaled Darius to go on ahead, he had immediately set sight on the captain of this vessel.
Unfortunately, said captain seemed content with watching as his men were killed and sent above to the Soul Sand Valley to regenerate. He frowned heavily. The captain to these pirates was powerful, no doubt about that, but the extent of which was… unknown. Neither he nor Evetta really used these storm filled caverns, as there were safer ways to travel. However, they weren't looking for safety here. They needed speed, which was why they had to risk it.
And what a risk it was.
He grabbed an incoming axe swing, twisting it out of the attackers' hand and using him as a living shield as a small hail of arrows flew in his direction. Lifting the living shield up, he watched as the arrows hit it, digging deep into its flesh. Once the hail had stopped, Mason tossed the living shield into the group of archers who had just shot at him, knocking them over.
The sound of running footsteps echoed out from behind him, and he turned to face the incoming attacker, axe at the ready. However, the pirate was soon blown back by a blast of frost. Evetta walked forward, holding her hands at her front as she moved with a surprising grace, despite being in the middle of a large battle. The armor she had been previously wearing was gone, her normal attire taking its place.
Mason readied his axe, his eyes narrowing as the group of pirates in front of them readied their weapons. Lightning struck the side of the ship, traveling along the series of Nether Sigils and into the large balloon-like structure above. The air was tense, neither side wanting to advance first which culminated in a standstill.
And then a loud clap rang out.
The captain walked through the crowd of pirates, parting them like a curtain. Looking back, he gestured vaguely with his hand, and all of the pirates suddenly scampered off below the deck, leaving Jack alone with Mason and Evetta.
The man smirked, resting a hand on his saber. "Well well well, I should have known that you lot would be hard to kill. But to think you'd all be capable of dealing this much damage, I'm impressed really. However, unlike my crew, these ships of mine aren't exactly easy to replace. It'll take quite some time to get new ones."
The axe in Mason's hands smoldered slightly, the slightest hint of flame sparking from the smoke as he spoke. "I see. We would be less of a problem if you would allow us to leave."
The odds of that working were minimal at best, and it seemed that Jack was inclined to agree. "Unfortunately for you lot, that is something I just can't do. Even disregarding the issue that would pose to my reputation, that human has the key to getting in and out of this hellish place, this Nether."
Evetta hummed, tilting her head as she stared at the Pirate Captain. "The Damned have no place amongst the living. We have had our time. Now, we must turn our backs upon the world of the living. It is the responsibility that we hold Mr.…?"
For once, the captain's expression soured. His eyes narrowed, and his lips curved downwards into a heavy scowl. "The name is… Jack, and so what?! Perhaps you have accepted this suffering as your eternity, but I wish to leave it behind. This place… only those who are truly broken would ever be able to find a home here. A place where the whispers of your guilt and regrets gnaw at you like a starved dog, where not even death can free you from it, leaving you to watch as your crew slowly goes insane from it all. Being forced to replace them every few years as it all catches up to them. Every death, every resurrection, just another cog in the slow breaking down of whatever humanity we have remaining."
His hand tightened, a crimson energy flaring up around it as he continued his monologue. "The insanity always comes. You can never escape it. But you want to know something funny? The insanity is the best it ever gets. Because once your mind tires of it, you begin to go very, very sane."
The hand on his saber twitched, and the blade was ripped free from its place in his sheath. The crimson energy spread to the sword, covering it in its entirety. "But I've rambled for long enough. Shall we get on with things?"
The man dashed forward, swinging his saber and sending forth a wave of pure Nether Energy. Mason grabbed his shield from his back, bringing it down and blocking the wave of energy. The force behind the attack pushed him back slightly, his heels digging into the smooth netherrack surface of the ship. He gripped his axe, igniting it as he leapt forward and swung it down.
Fire burst from the impact, cracking the floor and sending the captain stumbling. Evetta followed up his attack with an attack of her own, stretching her hand out and shooting dozens of tiny icicles from it. Jack swore, raising his hand up and sending a blast of pure Nether Energy out from it yet again. Following that, he made a fist and punched the ground, sending a shockwave of energy outward.
Mason frowned, jumping over the attack and running forward. His axe scraped the ground as he ran, gathering momentum before he swung it up, meeting Jack's saber in a clash of sparks. The saber glowed crimson and began to push back his axe. He scowled, his body igniting as the smell of ash permeated the air.
Their clash ended moments later, as Jack pulled back and spun around just in time to catch the icy blade Evetta had swung towards him. Mason took a step forward, fire burning along his axe as he went to swing down at the distracted pirate. Not that the hit connected, as Jack stretched his free hand out and blasted him away with another blast of pure Nether Energy.
He slammed the axe into the ground, slowing his body down and getting back to his feet. A thud to his right made him turn his head, his lips twitching downward as he saw Evetta pick herself up from the floor.
"Are you two done yet? I'm getting a little- "
A loud boom rang out across from the sky, which shifted in color as what remained of an explosion began to fizzle out. Faintly, Mason could make out the familiar armored form of Darius free falling down, chasing after the falling body of some pirate.
"Sparrow!"
Jack looked towards the falling pirate, concern blatant on his face as he turned his attention away from them. A mistake.
The floor beneath them froze as Evetta placed her hand upon it, a slippery ice spreading towards where Jack stood. Taking the hint, Mason reared his arm back and pushed his power into the axe, the burning flames darkening as his power spread throughout it. throwing the axe forward, he watched as the spin of the axe forced a circle of flame around it.
It wasn't a very subtle maneuver, and it didn't take long for Jack to notice the incoming attack. He tried to jump out of the way, only to stumble as the icy floor tripped him up. His eyes widened, and he barely had enough time to lift his saber up in front of the incoming axe before it collided with him. It exploded outward, a fiery inferno that melted the ice all along the floor around the impact.
And it barely did a thing.
Jack stood at the center of the explosion, his clothes and hair singed from the intense heat. He glared down at the two of them, kicking the axe on the floor to the side. He stumbled forward slightly, before continuing forward as if nothing had happened. "A good attempt, but one that pissed me off more than it hurt."
Looking to Evetta, Mason tilted his head to the side. Her eyes widened, before she gave him a curt nod.
He stepped forward, tossing his shield to the ground and cracking his knuckles. Jack took a step back, before growling as he lifted his blade up and rushed forward. Mason said nothing, standing his ground as Jack thrust the saber forward, the crimson glow of pure Nether Energy humming. The blade cut through his armor like butter, and Mason grunted before holding the pirate in place.
Jack must've realized what was going to happen, as he attempted to let go of the blade and pull himself out of Mason's incredible grip. Not that it would've helped, as Mason just gripped the man's shoulder and slammed his scorching fist into Jack's face, repeatedly.
A scowl formed on Jack's face, his hand glowing before a blade of pure Nether Energy grew from it and pierced Mason's stomach. But Mason simply tightened his grip, looking past the pirate's shoulder and staring directly at Evetta.
And then he nodded.
The temperature seemed to drop considerably, and Jack's struggling became frantic as he twisted and pulled in an attempt to free himself. Mason growled, slamming his armored head against the pirate.
Evetta raised her hands up, a light blue and whisp-like energy coalescing in her hands before she threw them forward, sending forth a large spike of ice.
The ice spike cut through the air and pierced Jack's back, going through his chest and into Mason's. The tip of the spike rested right where his core lay, and he could feel the spike scraping against it painfully.
Mason pushed Jack away, stumbling back as he held his still healing stomach. Jack tried to stay standing, but the attack on his core was too much for him to just ignore. He collapsed to his knees, reaching to the spike and yanking it out of his chest. The gaping hole left behind revealed his core, damaged but still in one piece as tendrils of flesh attempted to wrap around the core and heal the hole in his chest.
Evetta ran forward, summoning a long blade of ice to finish the job, only for Jack's body to be engulfed in Nether Energy, sending her back.
He snarled, body bulging slightly as his core began to spin and glow. "This is what I get for deciding to have a bit of fun I suppose. But you know what? Fuck having fun. You've sent me past pissed and straight towards absolutely livid. So prepare, for the power of- "
And that was when an armored horse flew in from nowhere and kicked him in the face, sending him flying to the side.
"I got you."
Mason felt someone hoist him up, and it didn't take a genius to figure out who. "Boy. I see you've taken care of the Sparked."
Darius stepped back, giving him a nod. "Yeah, blew that bitch up with a fucking miniature nuke, and then stole her core cause why not. So, what's this guy's deal?"
Nuke? Pushing those unnecessary questions to the side, he quickly began to explain the situation to his protégé. "He can manipulate pure Nether Energy freely, so he's most likely a Netherlite, the second most powerful type of Damned after Necro. He's… a challenge."
The boy nodded, giving a small wave to Evetta who had run over. "Heya there Evetta. Mason and I were just discussing how much of a dick this Pirate King guy is."
Mason stiffened. Pirate King? "Boy, explain what you mean by Pirate King."
That earned him a confused tilt of the head, but Darius obliged. "Well, I… Observed the guy and that was what I was able to get. Why? Is that bad?"
Evetta took over from there, frowning heavily. "The Pirate King is someone who no one knows the name of, only the title. But they respect, and fear, that title. And the reason why is because he's one of the few denizens of this place that can transform into a Nether Lord form."
"The Frost Maiden is right human!"
Jack, The Pirate King, stood with his arms stretched outward. His core burned with a crimson glow, and his body began to shift and bulge once again. Scales began to spread across his body, and he started to grow in size rapidly.
They needed to run.
…
Things have been a bit off the last few days. This was easy to see, even for Narm. After all, it wasn't often that Lady Lovecraft was so… calm. His face twisted into a frown. Calm was the wrong word there, but he really didn't know any others. Education really wasn't a problem growing up.
Regardless, she has been pretty off as of late. Not quite angry or disappointed, but more along the lines of… distracted. Narm hummed in satisfaction. That was definitely the right word to use.
He sheathed his katana, sighing as the bodies of a few wargs fell to the ground, in pieces. Narm wasn't the forgone expert on Lady Lovecraft, Daria, but you tend to pick up on a few things after spending some time with a person. Well, person was a stretch. Whatever his… matron was, she certainly wasn't human. But that made her surprisingly human emotions and mannerisms all the more baffling.
For one, she cared how people viewed her. Why else would she go through the trouble of wearing such fancy clothes and doing her makeup? She was also incredibly… flawed. Humanly so. Vanity, hubris, wrath, warmth, love even. Despite her obvious monstrousness, she was kind to the children under her care. Even him, who had long since graduated from childhood.
It made him wonder just how accurate the story of the Abyss Mother really is.
"HA!"
Narm stopped dead in his tracks, wiping his head towards the sound of a feminine voice yelling out. Instinct prevailed for a moment, as he began to turn tail and run before he managed to stop himself. He wasn't a slave boy anymore. He didn't need to avoid contact with others.
His hand gripped the handle of his katana, concentrating as a single thin chain formed from the sword and wrapped around a nearby tree branch. It was nowhere near as strong as when he actually Released his weapon, but it was still a testament to his practice with it that he was able to even do that.
The chain tightened, before he flung himself up above the tree line and conjured another chain to swing with. He pulled himself towards a tree, landing on it and listening out for another sign from the voice.
"YAH!"
Leaping off the tree, Narm made use of his enhanced speed and agility to run across the many branches to the voice. His eyes caught the beginnings of a small clearing, and he immediately slowed down. The whistling of blades could be heard, though never the sound of any sort of clash or hit. He stopped right at the edge of the clearing, watching a girl not much older than him swung two falchions through the air.
His eyes narrowed.
There weren't many people who ever tried to dual wield weapons, much less blades. Only two came to mind. The first was that Enchanter from the tournament, with her saber and dagger combo. And the other was that damned Paragon Slayer, Darius. And it didn't take a genius to figure out which one this girl was trying to copy.
Not that she was very good at it, at least, when compared to the genuine article. Her footing wasn't very stable, and she had a habit of almost falling whenever she swung. She was obviously overextending herself, trying to copy someone who was intimately familiar with the style and as such knew how to perform such maneuvers effectively. Clumsy, that was the word for it.
He should have left there. Clearly, this wasn't something that he needed to worry or care about. Just some random rich looking girl trying to master a style liable to chop her fingers off with the slightest mistake. There was nothing here that would, and indeed should, call to him.
And yet, there was.
There was something in the air, something coming from her failed attempts to get better that pulled him forward. He had barely noticed it until he was already on the ground, yelling out to the girl. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep trying to play copycat like that."
She stopped mid-swing, stumbling forward as she tried to get her footing. Eventually, the girl managed to get a hold of herself and straightened her back, looking straight at him. "I-I'll have you know that I have been making excellent headway into my training! I'm simply practicing solo until Sir Lord Artifice returns from his… trip."
That last bit ended a bit more quietly than the rest of it, as she turned her head to the side and hid her face with her hair. Not that it lasted long, as she soon cleared her throat and put on a more accusatory stare. "And who might you be anyway? What right do you have to trespass on a Noble Knight's land?"
Had he moved too close to Edith Castle? Putting that to the side for another time, Narm crossed his arms and glared at the girl. "My name is Narm, a Paragon with the Magic Knight archetype. And you are?"
Her eyes lit up with familiarity, before she once again smothered the expression with a practiced politeness and nobility. "My name is Amethyst, of the Jewels family. You must be the runner up to the Noble Knighting Tournament, the one with the chains."
The way Amethyst introduced herself was odd. She didn't use Jewels as a last name, instead just claiming she was of the Jewels family. It reminded him of the time he had been forced to infiltrate a disgraced noble's home and assassinate them and their family.
Digging himself out of the abyss of his memories, Narm scowled towards the rich girl. "That I am. And you're some pampered rich kid who wants to play hero, right?"
Any attempt by Amethyst to maintain a proper composure was lost as soon as those words left his mouth, her expression settling into a glare as her lips curved downwards into a heavy frown. "My family is composed of warriors, I'll have you know. From adventurers to even a few war heroes. So no, I'm not some pampered rich kid trying to play hero. I'm a fighter trying to be the best she can."
Well, that was certainly a nerve touched. Nonetheless, Narm snorted as soon as he heard her. "A fighter? Really? Your swings have the coordination of a baby ent."
Her eyes narrowed further. "That's what training is for. One day, I'm going to beat Sir Lord Artifice in single combat, and become the greatest warrior the Jewels family has ever seen. So unless you have anything to actually contribute, I'm going to return to practicing my form."
Despite the dismissal, Narm didn't move an inch. Instead, he simply stood there, watching as she stiffly returned to cutting through the air with her dull gray falchions. Every now and again, she would look back towards him and frown, before huffing loudly and going back to ignoring his existence.
It was strange, seeing someone so determined to become a better killer. And for something so… boring? No, the word was unimportant. It was strange to see her so committed to doing something for mere pride. And yet, she was doing it. "You're not going to improve all that quickly if you just pretend to hit the air. You need an actual fight, something to push your limits."
She stopped trying to kill the air, turning towards him with a gleam in her eyes that he couldn't quite place. "And you're going to help out with that I presume? After all, why would you bring it up if you weren't going to offer your own help."
Fair enough, though she didn't have to be so… presumptuous? Presumptuous, that was definitely it. "Sure. I mean, I may be young, but I'm definitely several times the "warrior" you are. Besides, who better to help than the guy who almost strangled your teacher to death in front of thousands of people?"
She frowned briefly, very briefly, before giving him a confident nod. "I suppose that's a fair point. So, how are we going to- "
The air left her lungs, leaving her gasping and wheezing as she fell to the ground. The scabbard to his katana was extended outwards, stretched to the point where it had easily been able to hit her in the stomach. Narm smirked, pulling his blade back as he circled around her downed form. "How about we start now?"
A pitiful groan was the only answer he got.
…
Taking a page from Prometheus' School of Running Away from Things was not what I had expected from Mason. I mean, the dude was a total badass. But that doesn't mean I argued with him. If anything, it stopped me from arguing with him over it. After all, if something could spook him bad enough to run, then it must be terrifying. And it was.
"We've been riding for hours! This thing has got to let up at some point!"
Mason grunted, his knuckles an ashen white from how hard he was holding the reigns. "Unlikely! Despite looking much like a beast, Nether Lords still have full control of themselves! And since death is merely a setback for him, he will chase us until we are all dead!"
I looked back towards the Nether Lord, grimacing as I saw it. The damn thing was massive, probably able to swallow us down in a single gulp. Its body was covered in crimson scales, leading up towards a long serpentine neck and two sets of wings. I had a good chuckle over how unoriginal a dragon form was, but that had been killed as soon as the gems on his wings had begun to glow, shooting crimson lasers out of them.
Jack
Title: Pirate King
Race: Nether Lord
Age: ?
Health: 200/200
Nether Energy: 200/200
Levels: 250
It stopped being funny after that.
A pained whinny caught my attention, and I looked down towards Champ. He was covered entirely by the armor, but I could tell he was struggling to keep going. It didn't matter what kind of state-of-the-art armor he had, or how many stamina potions I gave him. His body would eventually give out, and it looked like that point was coming sooner rather than later.
Turning my head towards Mason and Evetta, I gave them the rundown. "Champ isn't going to be able to keep up at this rate. We need to find somewhere to hide out. Somewhere this guy can't follow. Like, a small cavern."
Mason grunted, giving a quick glance back. "Somewhere he wouldn't be able to fit. There looks to be one up ahead, so we must- "
My spine tingled, an ominous energy crawling up it. I looked back, and my eyes immediately landed on the bright glow of one of Jack's wing gems. "Separate!"
I veered Champ to the right, gritting my teeth as a large beam of energy burnt the ground where we just were. Mason had begun to turn Horse over towards where I was at, but another beam of energy put that plan in the bin.
My lips twitched downwards. Jack was trying to separate us. And by the looks of things, he was succeeding.
Champ's panting grew more ragged, and despite his best efforts, we were beginning to slow down massively. Damn it! Jack was going to catch up to us soon, and I'll be damned if I let Champ die just to get a tiny bit further.
Looks like I'm going to have to run to the nearest cave on foot.
My hand rubbed the side of Champ's neck, comforting him as I spoke. "Okay Champ, I'm going to jump off soon, and I need to get somewhere safe and rest. Can you do that for me?"
He neighed, though a tint of concern could be heard from it. "Good boy."
Letting go of the reins, I pulled my legs in and began to stand on Champ's back. This next part would have to be calculated, and quickly too.
The distance I needed to cross was the lesser factor in the whole equation, as I could always gain more. The main concern was that my jump could injure Champ, as the push of my feet against his back during the launch could be seriously debilitating, even with his armor. So, if I take that into account as my main concern, then I needed to jump just… like… this!
I leapt off the side of Champ, using my jetpack to get some more height. Glancing back, I noticed one of the gems on Jack's wings beginning to glow again, his focus on Champ. That wouldn't do.
Twisting my body around, I summoned my longbow and Crafted a sword arrow. I layered the enchantments on it, pumping Affinity for Destruction into it and letting it fly.
The arrow slammed against Jack's draconic form, making the glow of his wings dim as he turned to face me.
Jack
Health: 195/200
Son of a bitch.
He roared, the ground shaking as he began to chase me down. Fuck.
My jetpack burned as I ran, using the boost from it to move as quickly as I could. My boots pounded against the ground, cracking it with every footfall. But it wasn't enough. Jack was still gaining on me, and quickly too.
"Boy!"
Mason must've seen me running for my life, as he rode towards Jack. Evetta was firing some sort of magic icicle, distracting the Nether Lord from chasing me down. In a show of incredible talent, Mason weaved through the lasers shot at him, each dodge coming with a smaller and smaller margin for error.
So obviously, it didn't last long.
"Enough of this!"
Jack slammed a massive fist into the ground, tripping up Horse as he backhanded them away.
"Mason! Evetta!"
I couldn't hear anything from them, so I swallowed my anger and kept running. My eyes landed on a small cavern entrance, just ahead of me and in the ground. It wasn't too far away. I could probably make it if I-
The ground beneath me rumbled, throwing me off balance as I tumbled to the ground. My body bounced across the ground, my momentum pushing me forward even as I flailed.
Eventually I came to a stop, landing a few dozen feet away from the hole. I was so close. Climbing to my feet, I managed to regain some of my balance and stand.
Before I could continue however, my spine straightened as a hum of power caught my attention. Another gem on Jack's wings had charged up, and hurtling my way was another bolt of energy.
I turned away, trying to sprint away as the beam flew towards me. The air tingled with power, warming even more than usual as the laser got closer. I could almost feel it's penetrative burn, my back tensing-
As a pained neigh rang out loudly.
I stumbled slightly, looking back to see what remained of Champ falling towards the ground. H-He was supposed to run away. Why did he- the answer was obvious. Damn horse was too loyal for his own good. My jaw was tight, teeth grinding as heat built up in my face.
Which left me wide open.
I didn't notice the large clawed hand until it was too late, Jack lifting me up to his face and narrowing his eyes as he held me at his mercy. "Well then, you have been quite the pain in my ass. But here you are, so let's get down to business. How did you get here?"
His hand squeezed as he finished his question, crushing my body slightly as I stifled a gasp. I wasn't going to give this beast the satisfaction. "T-That's a hard question to answer. I mean, I certainly wasn't born, I don't think. My guess is test tube baby, but even then I'm not- "
Another squeeze, and I grit my teeth. "Enough! I am in no mood for jokes. Either you tell me how you got here, or I will rip the information out of you after I break you, both mind and body."
Not g-good. His grip on my body was crushing, a-and I could feel my bones creak from the, holy shit, pressure. My fingers stretched out, and I f-focused on what I needed.
"What are you- "
Finis Atrium manifested in my hand, cutting through Jack's grip. He howled, letting go of me as he checked his clawed hand. "I-Impossible! You had no weapon! How did- what is that abomination?! Why does it scream?!"
I ignored him, summoning the scabbard to my hand and preparing myself. I didn't have much of a choice but to fight him. He was already on top of me, and I wasn't nearly fast enough to risk turning my back to him. However, despite the power difference, his increased stature meant that I could probably dodge his attacks far better than I would a human sized enemy. So long as I could get a good hit or two, I could find his core, rip it out, and shove it in my inventory.
But I'd need Finis Atrium to be a bit stronger than it is now.
Focusing on Affinity for Destruction, I yanked on its power and pushed it into Finis Atrium. A dull red glow covered the blade tightly, the destruction energy empowering it. Now then, time to-
My chest tightened, and breathing became a challenge.
The energy began to flare wildly, my control over it tenuous at best. Soul flames surged forward, burning across my body as a deep burning sensation crawled through my core.
"You, that power, I recognize it. Y-You are not human. You are like it, the beast that holds this realm together! A monster!"
I tried to swing at the Nether Lord's clawed hand, but I couldn't. It hurt. Everything hurt. Why did it burn? What was burning?!
I could taste mud.
"To leave you alive would be a fool's decision. No, you must die, and I shall take your power. But first, you will stay right here. Can't have you run off before I get up top."
It spoke, but the words were muddled. It was speaking, but why?
It lifted me, spreading its jaw wide open. I should escape. Yes, that's what I needed. My brain cried as my body struggled against the beast's grip. Escape. I wanted it. I needed-
You must swim deeper, User.
I listened, letting it drop me into its gaping maw. My body fell, aimless as it sank deeper into the bottomless sea.
And then I emerged from The Lake of Mud.
…
I think I even confused myself with that last part. Ah whatever, here's to another chapter out the drain and into the sewer.
So, I think I can probably get another three or so chapters in before calling this part of ACH complete and moving on to the next one. So like, two more nether chapters and one epilogue chapter to setup the next part and wrap up a few loose ends. I feel like I had more to say, but I can't remember. So… yeah.
As for today's Review of the Chapter, there isn't any. Ya'll are slacking, I'm telling ya. Like three reviews were on 47 and the rest were from people who just started reading. Which is a bit strange, since we got a lot more newcomers than I thought we would this late into the whole story, but whatever.
Anyway, since you guys clearly can't be held responsible to make decent reviews, how about this:
Me and my engorged ego have decided that since this first part to ACH is coming to an end, that we should have a mini event. And since I'm an indecisive fuck, I'll leave a few ideas for you all to decide.
You all come up with random items/weapons/armor and the top three/five get a special little corner all to themselves. And no, this isn't just so that I could steal ideas from you guys. That's just a big part of it.
We do nothing and I get to press the Complete button on this story a little quicker.
A sort of Cut Content/Lost Ideas thing where I get to wank myself over my past decisions and ideas regarding this story. Because oh boy, there are a lot of things that could have ended up differently. Like the fact that the original idea was to have Darius just be a lone wanderer. Which, as you can see, did not pan out.
Both 1 and 3, because you too are indecisive fucks.
This has been A Decent Hoonter, and remember when I used to be clever?