Bleuughg summaryyyy - good for me to recap story tho. Hope this helps
FYI Slayer's Compound is springtime because it is south and below the equator. The Capitol is in fall because it is further north. Slayer's Compound is also very east, so there is like a 3-6 hour time difference between the locations.
Characters:
The Guide(2), The Imposter
A professor at CAU (Capitol Arcane University) - the second iteration of The Guide (1). He is an extremely intelligent man who, much to his dismay, finds himself the victim to pranks by his magically gifted students. It has come to the point where he quite despises them, for despite he works at the Arcane Academy, he has no penchant for magic - having been employed for his scholarly efforts alone. Sharp-witted and cunning, he is not above taking great risks to achieve what he's set his sights upon. Like his predecessor Guide(1), he will tell elaborate lies when he deems necessary. Is currently playing an unwilling chaperone to The Terrarian who he fears nearly as much as he despises.
The Monster Knight, The Terrarian, Dead-Eyes, The Dead-Eyed Treasure, The Slayer(name is discontinued)
A Partial-Terrarian(75% approx), a magical conglomeration of Terrarian, dryad magic and miscellaneous creatures. He is a powerful entity, capable of resource duplication, but simple in method and thought. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed - in fact, he's quite aware he's probably one of the bluntest ones in there - and this is a point of great insecurity for him. He was - and still is extremely attached to the now deceased Guide(1), but after being an unwilling participant in his parent's suicide - is full of conflicting emotions about him and all of his successors. He has suffered through a number of delusions and has desperately attached himself to Guide(2) in some form of toxic coping mechanism. He despises how emotionally weak he has become but does not have the emotional support nor mettle to effectively handle the tragedy. Melee Ranger - ranger primary.
Faze, The Hero, The Man with Dragon Eyes, Dragon-Eyes
A Full Terrarian, 'brother' to The Slayer - although they do not know each other as such. A powerful engine of destruction that specializes in magic and rogue classes. Was initially exceedingly pompous but has been humbled by a great many calamities he was forced to weather. Has developed a fixation on 'becoming his own man' and reacts violently to the suggestion he is merely a weapon for someone else to use. Yet despite that he often strikes out in an independent manner - finds he is merely bumbling from one dangerous situation to the next. He is socially inept in many facets - knowing much information but finding human behavior to be an enigma. Harbors an insane split personality named "Doppelgänger" that possesses tremendous magical power. This entity has since been sealed by The Cultist, but is still present within him.
The Party Girl, CC Agent #5534
An Imperial agent, eager to please the King and a powerful fighter. She had come to The Compound in search of achieving something that will gain her a promotion, but due to the long period of time she has not contacted CC Central, is well aware that unless she returns with something tremendously significant, it is very likely she'd be executed for suspected treason. As such, her goals rapidly shift between capturing/killing The Cultist, The Sea King and now, The Terrarian in order that she can return to the capitol and not be executed for perceived betrayal. She is a serious but zealotous personality who can endure many hardships for the sake of her king.
The Stylist
A woman who used to own a salon in The Capitol City, not far from CAU. After receiving news that her parents have died but her brother survived, she sold her practice, hired an explorer team, and was nearly killed in an underground spider cave. She was revived by The Dryad with the purpose of maintaining the 'blessing' that kept The Crimson at bay. She would have to do this by having children with The Guide1, something neither The Guide nor The Stylist were interested in. She has been trying to escape The Compound and restart the search for her brother.
The Zoologist, Draedon's Second Apprentice
A genius in genetics, The Zoologist is Draedon's loyal subordinate. She was contacted by The Mechanic and promised to help - but her actions do not necessarily line up with her words. She is currently working on creating a creature equivalent to a Terrarian to combat The Hero - Project Nephelim. She often needs to suppress her conscious using hypnosis due to the project's brutal methods.
The Lunatic Cultist, 'My Teacher', The Cultist, The Vulture-Headed Mage
The divested leader of The Moon Lords Cult, but after The Hero killed most of The Cult members and Yharim scattered the entire Resistance force - The Cultist finds himself entirely alone. His original goal is to rebuild The Moon Lord's earthly body, but this responsibility has since been passed to The Sea King. He created raised Hero taught him many offensive magical techniques - but Faze harbors disdain for him because he failed to defend him when he was sent to be executed by Cryogen.
The King, Lord Yharim, The Tyrant
A terrifyingly powerful entity whose grip on the continent is all but complete. Is currently stamping out The Resistance. Despite his power, he understands the nature of Terrarians, and fears Faze's appearance will end his rule. Working on creating a second Terrarian to battle the first thus nullifying them.
Calamitas, The Great Witch, The Witch of Massacre, The Brimstone Bitch
An elusive and powerful sorceress whose terror goes before her. All save The King himself tremble at her name.
The Cyborg
A CC agent of oddly good nature. He comes from Draedon's fourth generation and is an incredibly capable agent. Is well liked by the general populous, if not a bit annoying.
The Zoologist
Draedon's Assistant. Currently working on making a Terrarian to combat Faze. A woman of incredible intellect and powerful drive, she has experimented and slain many innocents in order to push forward the boundaries of science.
Summary:
Chapter 151: A Fatal Weakness (Day 32, Early Afternoon)
Faze, having obtained a slab of chocolate, wanders out to the nearby woods to enjoy the autumn scenery. He wonders at the flora and fauna for some time, before he is confronted by a group of 3 men, The Town Sheriff included. These men are looking to deliver Faze to the authorities in hopes of collecting the bounty The Capitol has put out for him (note, Faze got his photo taken when Yharim himself choked him out that one time). Naturally, Faze displays he is far more powerful than they. After failing to intimidate him, they bribe him with strawberry chocolate and he goes into custody, thinking he's far more powerful than they, Faze decides there is no risk to going with them
Guide(2) and The Stylist address The Monster Knight. They return the blade Guide(2) had taken from him as a peace token. Guide(2) requests that MK flies the both of them to The Capitol, but MK is far too upset with the recent death of G(1) and the appearance of G(2). MK wrathfully recounts G(1)'s suicide and demands that G(2) to explain why it happened, reasoning that if they had the same mind, he would be able to divulge a reason. MK confesses to have killed The Wall of Flesh and eaten The Demon Heart.
Chapter 152: The Witch, Supreme (Day 32, Early Afternoon)
The Guide(2) lies and tells The Monster Knight he will be able to decipher Guide(1)'s journal if he goes back to his office in The Capitol. He requests once more that MK take both him and The Stylist back to The Capitol. MK agrees. Although he faintly understands 'knowing the reason' G(1) killed himself won't help his mental state, he is entirely unable to deal with this crisis, and clings to the hope that deciphering the journal will heal him.
The three men who 'abducted' Faze are buying chocolate to keep him detained in the police station. They intend to keep him in place for Yharim's troops to arrive.
Calamitas laments the creation of The Cal Clone, but is quickly distracted by her 'brothers' (lumps of dead flesh she had revived). She is quite insane in her demeanor, but extremely powerful and exceedingly cruel. She wonders what Yharim has sent the Cal Clone to do as she watches it get loaded into a truck and transported towards the countryside.
Chapter 153: Just a Fling (Day 32, Evening)
Night has fallen and Faze reminisces. Before The Archmage died, Faze has never felt guilty about killing people - and freely followed inborn desire to do battle. However after experiencing the searing loss of The Archmage's death, he realizes exactly how it hurt everyone's he slain - even though his battle tendancy still remains. He is fraught with guilt and grief as he prepares to fight, but instead of fleeing into the night - his natural desire towards violence causes him to remain to face down Cal Clone.
The Guide(2), MK and The Stylist walk to the borders of The Compound. Recall that many, many chapters ago, MK Dryad had planted a ring of sunflowers around The Compound to keep out The Crimson. The party is walking towards that border. Upon reaching it, MK tells G(2) to climb on his back, and that they will fly to The Capitol. He also informs The Stylist that he refuses to carry her, because she is not useful in deciphering The Journal. When Stylist complains, he hands her a sword and indicates she should cross The Crimson herself - and he will not stop her.
A CC Agent (Cyborg) has been given a small platoon of foot soldiers to accompany Calamitas Clone on a mission. Cal Clone is a monster which the empire transports to wreck havoc upon one area of another. It was placed in the trunk of one of the trucks, and its leaking miasma is causing many of the soldiers to become sick. Cyborg notes they are headed to a small village and briefly pities whoever had angered the King so much that he'd send the clone.
Chapter 154: The Loathsome Pitiable Clone (Day 33, Late Evening)
A set of trucks arrive holding Calamitas Clone the soldier attache. Upon arriving, Faze is shocked to see all the soldiers immediately scrambling out of the trucks and fleeing into the woods. He accosts one of them who begs for his life, but also reveals there is a weapon inside the truck - and that weapon is a 'gift' for him. Faze kills him and approaches the Van, only for it to explode outwards and reveal Cal Clone's grotesque form.
The Village is evacuating the scene, The Dye Trader - a man who used to be a warrior of the sands - notes that a man on icy wings is battling The Clone. He tells his family to hide away and takes up his sword to defend his home.
Faze hears The Clone telepathically transmitting its miasma of despair and grief at him as they battle in the air, and he is effected strongly by its pitable state. He is not usually so emotional, and attributes it to his recent loss of The Archmage. As he begins to gain the upper hand against The Clone, she summons 2 entities via necromancy to fight alongside her.
Chapter 155: My Own Hero (Day 33, Midnight)
As Faze fights The Clone her 2 summons, he realizes through rudimentary telepathy that they are merely The King's tortured weapons. He parallels this to himself being used as A Resistance weapon and decides he will do for The Clone what he so dearly wished was done for him. Faze cuts down The 'brothers' and after some fighting knocks The Clone's main body out of the air. He chases her to the ground.
(Morning Day 34) Guide(2) bemoans how airsick flying has made him, and after landing outside the gates of The Capitol City, demands The Monster Knight change into pedestrian clothes - lest they both be arrested. Guide(2) wants to try to get MK killed/captured, but by no means wants to do it in a way that implicates him of possibly being treasonous - which is why he won't simply let MK get arrested. He doesn't want to get pointed out as his collegue and get his head chopped off. After a fair bit of arguing, MK is made to wear something inconspicuous and they enter The City.
Chapter 155: Clone Calamitas (Day 34, Very Early morning)
Cal Clone is falling out of the sky, having been defeated - and watches as Faze streaks down after her. He tells her she doesn't need to be a weapon and reaches out to her, she grabs his hand without knowing why. She notes that he does not seem disgusted by her, and - having been derided for the entirety of her short, miserable existence, finds it as strange as it is beautiful. Faze is chattering away, tells her he is pretty sure Lunatic Cultist can fix her etc... etc... but Cal Clone knows that the curse placed on her by The King will kill her soon. She holds on to Faze's Gauntlet and begs for help as she dissolves in the grass. Her last thought is that he must have been an angel.
Guide(2) notes how pedestrian MK looks without his armour. It is to the point where he seems to simply blend into the background (he has that NPC energy lmao). Guide(2) wants to get them to the magical university, but MK insists on shopping for all manner of things he will eventually need to craft items, ie) stardust, unicorn horns etc... and he is making Guide(2) pay for it. Eventually they spend all the Cash Guide(2) has on hand so MK pays the fee of 2 gold - with two gold bars.
In a thieves den, a member of The Travelling Merchant's Guide addresses a seedy audience. He explains that these two identical gold bars were taken from a shopkeeper. They are perfectly identical, and reminds him of the time where 150 perfectly cut, flawless diamonds were circulated through high society by another member of his guild. The Thieves Guide are informed that these riches have been created, and the person who made them is currently wandering The City. A search Kidnap operation begins.
Chapter 156: Failed Heroism (Day 34, Very Early morning)
The townspeople all come outside their homes to witness the end of the battle. They initially wish to celebrate, but seeing Faze weeping over his slain foe causes them to hold their tongues. The Dye Trader walks up in an attempt to comfort Faze - who wonders aloud what the purpose of his power is, if he cannot even save 'himself' (in this case, addressing The Clone whose situation was not unlike his own). He waxes poetic for a bit before demanding to know who enchained The Clone to a life of servitude, and where to find him.
The Cyborg - the CC Agent who was in charge of escorting The Clone to and from its locations of battle - reports back to central that The Clone has been defeated. He indicates he saw Faze fly towards the capitol, and the security in the city should keep an eye out for him.
Chapter 157: Hey, Buddy (Day 35, Late Night)
Guide(2) is sitting atop MK's shoulders - complaining and yanking his hair because he has been dragging The Guide around the Autumn Festival, buying stuff for the past 15 hours, and refuses to stop. In fact, Guide(2) realizes that MK doesn't need to sleep, and is more or less intending to carry on all night and into the next day as well. In retaliation, Guide(2) threatens to drool into MK's hair, and thus, the two of them duck into a kebab shop to find something to eat.
After sitting down in the Kebab store, MK begins to process/research all of his shopping, crushing the article to store for duplication. The Guide is too exasperated to stop him and just sits there and engages in tired one sided conversation with him. He requests that MK produce some gold bars for him to pay him back for the money he spent. MK Obliges. He calls him 'buddy' in one instance, and the phrase is met with shock. During the conversation, Guide notices that MK appears suddenly sluggish and uncoordinated and the Guide realizes they have been drugged. Guide picks him up and attempts an escape, but is accosted by The Thieves' Guild.
Chapter 158: Dead-Eyed Treasure (Day 36, Early Morning - Dawn)
22nd Division's Thieves' Guild had given up on their search for MK, who they've deemed: The Dead-Eyed Treasure and decided to go to a kebab shop to polish off the evening. By chance, they see MK Guide there, and flood the store with sleeping Paralysis gas. Some members of the division are eager to seize upon MK, but the more experienced ones sense that he is very dangerous. They enact the capture successfully.
Faze attempts to purchase stardust from the very same woman whom MK paid 2 gold bars. The woman is stunned at the similarity between the two, and promptly shoos Faze away. She was accosted and beaten up by thieves Guild because of MK and doesn't want more trouble.
Calamitas receives a report that Clone Cal has been killed. She is dismissive of it, and reveals that she is quite insane, not even knowing what she likes or dislikes. Her mind is filled with a chaotic magic whirlpool in which her waking thoughts are nearly instantly swept away, and she realizes she qualifies as mana-drunk, an insane mage. However, although most insane mages are dissolved or burst when they go insane, her utter strength and force of will allows her to retain her form.
Chapter 160: Golden Goose (Day 36, Early Morning - Dawn)
Faze is crouched atop a building, listening to the commotion below. As he explored the city, he is overcome with a terrible sense that he is very outclassed. The King's city - even in the king's absence - is an imposing and effecient machine. They have been searching for him since he arrived, but since Faze has done almost everything with invisibility active - nobody saw him. Below the woman who sold MK Stardust and Faze is being interrogated on Faze's appearences whereabouts by the CC agents and imperial guards in the area. Afterwards, she is killed.
The Pirate Captain is interrogating Guide(2), who is putting on a remarkable show of being defiant despite quite literally shaking in his boots. He informs The Guide that he has imprisoned MK (whom he calls Dead-Eyes) and intends to keep him manufacturing jewels and gold bars until the day he dies. He also mentions he wishes to capture MK's 'brother' as well for the same purpose. The Guide seems surprised to hear MK has a brother, and The Pirate Captain explains that The Central Agency has given him the moniker - Dragon Eyes, and in intent in capturing him as a domestic terrorist. He also mentions they they look strikingly similar (MK's facial features look strikingly similar to the wanted posters, however they have different hair and skin colour so he was never mistaken for Dragon Eyes.) Upon hearing of The Pirate Captain's plot, The Guide shows great concern and demands Pirate Cap not to touch them. Captain is led to believe there is an entire tribe of these 'resource making' people - and agrees to rescue his fiance - The Stylist in return for the location the tribe was last seen. First, however, The Pirate Captain is going to go see MK to make sure he can actually do as promised.
Thieves' Guide Division 1 - the most capable of the guild divisions, are guarding MK, having stripped him of his clothing and equipment before chaining him to the ground and locking him in a cage. They have the highest security and the most powerful weapons they could get their hands on. MK wakes, breaks out of his handcuffs, dresses himself and proceeds to attack his captors. Before he does, he mentions (in quite an insane manner) that only one person is important to him in this world, and that he'd finally found him.
Chapter 161: A Foray into Delusion (Day 36, Early Afternoon)
The Monster Knight recounts his emotional state since Guide(1) hurled himself into the sea of lava. Upon the arrival of Guide(2), he has been tempted to simply pretend G2 was actually G1 and taste the joy and relief that came from indulging in that lie. However, MK knows G(2) is not G(1) - so is hesitant to fully indulge the fantasy... until G(2) calls him 'buddy' - the Nickname G1 used for him. Now, MK has thrown himself headlong into that delusion.
The Zoologist is informed that The Resistance Hero has arrived in The Capitol, and the CC intends to corral him into the 'sky arena' (essentially a cage he cannot teleport out of). The Zoologist has been tasked by The King to work on creating a being able to contend with the immortal Terrarian - essentially, to make another terrarian - but her current research is not bearing fruit. She is desperate to study Faze, and demands The CC to obtain a blood sample at all costs.
Yharim and Yharon are along The Crimson Border, stemming the spread of the fleshy cancer by dragonflame. He gets a call from Draedon, and reluctantly allows him to use The Twins to fight The Hero - knowing well that they will likely be destroyed. Yharim ponders at having an enemy that he cannot kill for good, and explains why he must create an equivalent creature to deadlock The Hero. He sees The Slayer's Compound in the distance and decides to investigate.
Chapter 162: To Imagine, then To See (Day 36, Early Morning/Afternoon)
The Pirate Captain and his troops are stunned to find Dead-Eyes (MK) has slain all of Division 1. The Guide(2) had anticipated this situation and speaks up. He encourages The Pirate Captain to abandon the idea of attempting to imprison MK and the other members of his 'tribe' (There was no tribe, this is all a lie The Guide fabricated). The Guide agrees to convince MK to leave peacefully, and also to buy The Stylist's rescue with half her weight in gold. The Pirate Captain laughs and agrees.
The Guide enters the warehouse and sees The Monster Knight stripping down the slain soldiers and researching their articles and weapons. It is here where MK has access to the Uzi and an unlimited stash of high velocity bullets. The Guide notes that MK looks unhinged, and - upon seeing all the dead bodies, finds he is beginning to despise MK very strongly. MK sees him and runs to hug him - treating him as if he is Guide(1).
Yharon and Yharim have arrived in The Slayer's Compound, and are astonished that Yharon's flames do not reduce the buildings to ash. They converse briefly concerning the nature of terrarians, before Yharim decides to try his hand at breaking things. With a strike of his ultisword, he splits a house in two - and simultaneously breaks the spell upon The Compound which keeps the NPCs inside from leaving, and the physics from remaining wonky.
Chapter 163: Your Reputation Precedes You (Day 36, Late Afternoon)
The Party Girl sees Yharim Yharon shatter the barrier around The Slayer's Compound and fly away. Now, she is free to come and go as she pleases - but will need to cross The Crimson to leave. Upon seeing her king, she renews her resolve to bring MK back to The Capitol.
Upon seeing The Barrier over The Compound shattering, The Stylist comes back to The Compound to see the place in utter disarray. The 'fake' quality of the place is gone, and The Party Girl recriuts her under threat of death to help her capture MK. Party Girl has a certain faith that Guide(2) will be able to kill MK, and tells The Stylist to cut out his nose when he respawns.
The Pirate Captain has returned to his headquarters - a prestegious hotel in the center of the city - and greets his neice, the bandit. The Bandit and her crew had fled the crumbling resistance to arrive in The Capitol, and they are indulging in much needed rest. Bandit sees Faze's wanted poster on The Pirate Captain's desk and asks him to please not try and pursue him because he is very capable and very dangerous. The Captain tells her not to worry, as he's already had a run in with 'his brother' and doesn't want more trouble with those monsters. The Bandit finds it odd that he would have a brother, and procures a photograph of MK.
Guide(2) has contacted his University Admin friend, to whom he explains he needs a key to The Jungle Temple beneath The University. He tells her he needs something very powerful captured/killed and wants to use the Golem to do so. The Admin says she has a key in her office, and say he may break in to retrieve it.
Chapter 164: The Twins (Day 36, Evening)
Faze is running across the city and the rooftops, having been spotted by The Twins infrared vision. An army of CC agents are sniping at him, laying traps in his path etc... and directing him towards the castle. Faze has panicked and is getting shot full of holes as he flees. As he approaches the caste, he is struck with Calamitas' Miasma and falls to his knees. At that point, he is seized by the Sky Trap and hurled into battle with The Twins.
The Cyborg is watching Faze's battle with The Twins and is very impressed with his battle prowess. He - and the personell that operate The Twins are watching the mechanical eyes slowly get destroyed. It does, however, manage to take a blood sample before the end of the battle. As Faze stands over the destroyed Twins, he seizes a camera and speaks into it - saying he will tear down everything The King has Built.
MK was barred from entering The Guide's house last night, and happily spent the night stealing duplicating ppl's lawn ornaments and trading gunfire with the occasional CC troop. He returns to The Guide's house the next morning and is accosted by the CC Troop he had fought last night. The Guide comes out and bribes them away before indicating they should go to The Magical University.
Chapter 165: Our Contract (Day 37, Early Afternoon)
The Guide continues to feign friendliness as they enter the university and proceed up to Admin's office. The Guide shares his internal thoughts concerning how he wished The Thieves Guild was capable of detaining MK, because he would have gladly allowed him to rot in that cage. He is eager to return back to his old life, so asks MK to break into the office and retrieve The Temple Key.
At the entrance of The Underground Jungle Temple, The Guide tells MK to go down to the Golem's altar and activate it - saying it will spit out beetle shells. MK has been feeling the effects of his rampant bloodlust towards powerful monsters, and as a result, knows there is something powerful here. He considers if he is ready to face such threats as he is. He ponders that in the past, The Guide always took care to prepare him, but notices that G(2) seems to be acting carelessly and flippantly - like he's trying to get MK killed. It is at this point where MK is forced to break out of his illusion, and demands The Guide to go down to the Golems chamber with him. When asked why, he admits that he knows G2 is trying to kill him, because G1 failed to.
Chapter 166: Grandmaster (Day 37, Afternoon)
The Wizard is an old professor who had trained The Lunatic Cultist in his youth. He mentions there is a secret library in the school grounds which only he and The Cultist have managed to discover and unlock. They have hid this place from The King to work on many different items, including the tactic for summoning a Terrarian. The Wizard decides that since everyone is on Autumn Break Vacation, he will go visit the secret library, but upon approaching it, is shocked to find the wards already undone. Thinking The Cultist could be the only one who could do so - The Wizard approaches anticipating seeing his now exiled student.
Faze is going a little bit crazy as he crouches on the ground in the secret library. He was locked in a library when young, so always finds comfort in the silence and the old books. He realizes he is becoming rather fixated on the idea of 'being a weapon' as he has seen how Cal Clone turned out and what a miserable existence she led. He wonders what would have happened to him if he failed to kill The Twins. If they had captured him etc... and the fear is driving him quite mad. When he hears footsteps approaching the library, he is terrified. The Wizard walks in, observes him briefly, and suddenly behaves very warmly towards him.
Guide considers that The Monster Knight is becoming increasingly unhinged, and reasons that it is a mercy to put him out of his misery.
Chapter 167: Dungeons and Libraries (Day 37, Late Afternoon)
Faze and The Wizard engage in a surly conversation - where Faze simply wants to sit in a corner and craft the Lashes of Chaos (Brimstone hellblast spell) and The Old Wizard comments and criticizes his spellsmithing. Oddly, Faze sees that The Wizard looks terrifically proud of him, despite that the don't know each other. After a brief verbal altercation, Faze yells about how everyone he knows is inevitably destroyed and leaves.
MK and Guide are standing in the Golem's chamber, and Guide is angrily asking MK where this 'monster' is that he insists Guide is using to kill him. MK had expected to be embarassed, but persists throughout all of G(2)'s gaslighting. He identifies the Golem's inert statue as the 'monster' so Guide insists that he pull out his sword and have at it.
The Guide is internally relieved that The Monster Knight was unable to destroy the golem while inert. He watches him break his swords and launch explosives at the Golem's statue, but is only able to break off part of its armour.
Chapter 168: A Statue Steeped in Blood (Day 37, Evening)
The Guide consoles himself, trying to assuage his guilty conscience as he proceeds to set up a deadly trap. he has set up teleporting portals, which - so long as the paper runes remain - can teleport anything within their circle from one location to the next. the monster night has been attacking the Golems inert statue for the past 3 hours, and is finally beginning to give up. MK apologizes for his presumptuousness and once more takes instructions from The Guide.
The Terrarian is quite ashamed of his behavior and wonders if his own senses are deceiving him. the guide explains that he should go to the other side of the portal and remain there to retrieve the beatle shells The Guide will feed through the portal. MK agrees and goes through the portal.
After MK has vacated the temple and is standing at the other end of the portal, the guide draws a protective sigil on his forehead. He repositions the borders of the teleporting circle around The Golem and wakes it.
Chapter 169: The Golem (Day 37, Evening)
The Monster Knight is waiting on the other end of the portal, anticipating that he will need to retrieve Beetle shells. however, he is instead punched upside the head with such furiosity, he is thrown into the opposite wall. the Golem has come across the portal, and it proceeds to attack him. MK takes a moment to realize he has been betrayed not once, but twice by The Guide. terribly angered, he turns his back on the Golem and dives into the temple.
The Guide is pacing around in the Golems chamber at the bottom of the jungle temple when he hears commotion approaching closer and closer to his location. he ponders if it really is MK or not, and once the noises get too close, the guy decides he is going to teleport away. he attempts to reactivate the portal, but finds he cannot because the slips of paper on the outside have been burned by the Golems Flame. With no escape, The Guide is promptly accosted and decapitated by MK.
Chapter 170: Kinship (Day 37, Late Evening)
The Monster Knight lays mangled upon the rusted stones of The Jungle Temple, having been crushed and smashed open by the Golem after a brief battle. He cries as he stares at The Guides decapitated head that lays beside him - having torn his tongue from his throat. Before he dies, The Terrarian is filled with anger and vows to kill The Guide until he is satisfied. Overhead, he notices that The Golem has turned its attention away from him, and feels an odd sense of kinship with something in the room.
The Wizard is in the secret library thrilled with Faze and how he came out - as he was his architect. He wonders why his hair lacks pigment, but is otherwise very proud of his creation. However at that moment, King Yharim himself walks into the secret library. The Wizard kneels before him.
Faze battles the Golem with Brimstone flames. He is full of battle high, and loots the boss once it's killed. He discovers The Guide's coded journal amongst the remains (of MK). He finds the book very interesting and will keep it for decoding.
Chapter 171: The Flaming Moon (Day 37, Midnight)
The Stylist is on the lawn of The Compound, sitting beneath the gondola and fingering the knife The Party Girl had given her. She wonders if The Guide(2) will really come back, and hopes he did not run off without her. She reflects that The Party Girl is asking her to carve out MK's nose because he has a keen sense of smell, and dreads that MK Might track her down by her scent at a later time. She hears MK respawn (recall that it takes him about a week to recover from death, and he is generally helpless during that time) and goes to him.
The Guide(3) is a nurse in The Capitol Annex (think suburbs) and is walking through The Park. He is good natured and well liked, and also a very skilled medical professional. He is walking back from the hospital, exhausted, when he decides to cut through the woods and finds himself suddenly in springtime, and in the early morning. After walking for a bit in the forest, he comes across the gate of The Slayer's compound. He enters, looking for somebody to ask how to get home, and instead seeing The Stylist stabbing MK in the face with a knife. The Guide is used to dealing with crazies at work, so he football tackles her.
Faze is wandering around the city, eager to spend the last of his money on random foods. He is watching the festival and eating all sorts of things when a great crimson bloom appears on the horizon - stretched from earth to sky. It is the manifestation of Calamitas' presence, and Faze - who is sensitive to magic - is terrified by it. He Immediately returns home.
Chapter 172: The Stink of Death (Day 38, Midday)
The Lunatic Cultist has holed up in the tower in the field of wildflowers, and despises all the beauty of the scenery - having been changed by The Dreaming God. He realizes he has no allies and the king is hunting him - so he will not cast any very large spells to make his stay more comfortable. He ponders if The Hero - a terrarian of artificial birth - carries the fate of a conqueror, or if he is defective. In that moment, Faze returns and enters the tower - stinking of necromancy and brimstone. The engage in a short verbal altercation before The Cultist realizes Faze must have encountered Calamitas. Panicked, he calls Faze down from the staircase.
The Party Girl is freaking out at The Stylist who - after carving up MK's face, is tackled to the ground by Guide(3). Guide(3) grabbed MK and any of his detached body parts, and drags him into one of the buildings with the intent to save him. PG cannot allow this to happen and tells Stylist to help her kill The Guide & capture MK again.
The Pirate Captain prepares to raid The Compound in The Crimson Border to save The Stylist. He has already been paid to rescue her by The Guide(2) and will do what he was paid for. The Bandit and The Steampunker will participate in the raid. They depart in the evening.
Chapter 173: A Creature Spurred by Guilt (Day 38, Late Afternoon)
The Guide(3) feels like he's experiencing a nightmare. The Party Girl and The Stylist are outside yelling at him and throwing stuff at the windows (this house was untouched by Yharim, so the indestructible quality remains) and he had just tried to perform CPR on MK - which resulted in G3 crushing his ribcage. It is only now that G3 realizes that MK isn't a human, because his teeth are still embedded in his gums and his pupils look as if they are still being formed. His bones are also very brittle and soft (recall, MK respawned like 20 mins ago). Using his medical knowledge, G3 knows that MK has no hope of survival, but in order to assuage his own conscious, he is going to attempt to save him via surgery.
The Cyborg is very upset upon returning to CC Central to find many of his collegues had died at the hand of Dragon-Eyes. He decides to walk around the city to clear his head, and runs into The Angler - who is standing in front of The Stylist's storefront and sobbing. Recall Stylist has sold her practice to hire and expedition team to rescue her brother, but that ended in a spider cave like 150 chapters ago. The Cyborg comforts The Angler, and offers to get him a shower, a change of clothes and some food in his belly.
Yharim is holding court, and is described by his nobles as terrifying as he is inscrutable. The Terrarian is a problem for him because the legends of Terrarians indicate they are unbeatable. A Terrarian had also wrecked havoc in the capitol two nights ago by destroying the twins and killing guards and CC Agents. As a result, many of the nobles - upon seeing this great new threat and possible regime change - are tempted to split their alliance between Yharim and The Resistance, in order that they will be protected when a new power steps in. The Wizard is dragged in as 'The Terrarian's creator' and is instructed to give testimony.
Chapter 174: The Wild Dragons (Day 38, Late Afternoon)
The Old Wizard gives testimony concerning The Terrarian, saying he is not a true Terrarian after all, but merely an imitation. He assures the nobles that he does not 'respawn' but simply that there are many of the same 'heros' running around. When one is killed, he appears to respawn because each of the hero's are identical. The King expresses relief that 'The Resistance Terrarian' is merely an threat equivalent to a pack of wild dragons terrorizing the countryside. The King determines that he will not waste this opportunity though, and allow the public to believe there is a true terrarian out there in order to capture any of his citizens that harbor rebellious notions.
The Zoologist bemoans the slowness of her project, and - as her hypnosis begins to wear off - is plagued by the prickling of her conscious. She is horrified by 'Project Nephelim' - The joining of 'angels' and 'creatures' - which is the project to create a Terrarian to deadlock The Hero.
Faze is getting chewed out by The Lunatic Cultist for going to the capitol and getting into lots and lots of trouble. LC has to clense the stink of necromancy off of Faze, and questions him on what he did in the resistance. He is very concerned that Faze's mind may have broken if he'd fought Calamitas - and he would have returned to him a drooling vegetable. As their altercation escalates, LC throws a handful of illusionary worms at him to prove a point - and Faze becomes momentarily terrified. Oddly, The Cultist seems panicked and tries to calm him, but Faze storms away into the forest.
FINALLY DONE OMG, ;_;