Unbound-Chapter One Thousand And One – 1001

Shadows swirled around Felix and Pit as they emerged from the gate. A frission of sensation rippled across Felix’s Body, like being dunked into ice cold water, but it was smell and taste and texture all at once instead. Even before the darkness fled his vision, the smell of pine and frost filled his nostrils, followed closely by cloying woodsmoke. Sight came next, revealing an elevated platform made of rounded stone and chipped hexagonal tiles interspersed with stars. Beyond the platform was a wider chamber, but it was open to the air, a high rotunda held aloft by columns that were more than a little familiar.

“So this is Andiva?” Pit sniffed at the stones beneath them. “Why’s it so cold?”

“Elevation and magic, I’m told. Something about an ancient cataclysm vented a vast source of ice Mana into those mountains.” Felix peered into the sun as it approached the ridges of the tallest peaks. Judging by its position, it seemed the gate had taken them no time at all. Was that because of the minor distance or was his Void Nexus Skill responsible for the new speed?

Pit’s ears perked up. “I smell…food stalls!”

“Hold your horses, bud. We’re not here for a meal, and you just ate.”

“That means nothing to me.”

"Stay focused."

They had traveled to the city of Korsk, located just south of the frozen steppes that dominated over half of the Territory of Andiva. To the north, beyond the steppes, were the Frostfall Mountains and the Hoarfrost, while the northwest held the cities of Setoria and distant Haarwatch. From his vantage atop this strange, obviously Nymean tower, Felix could see a sprawling city marked by more Manaship docks than he expected. They gave the city an urbane air that was otherwise marred by the low timber buildings that proliferated across the near distance. Chimneys and smokestacks filled the skyline, present on every structure from manor to hovel, all belching thick smoke into the sky. A chill wind cut through them, smearing woodsmoke to the west and bringing with it sporadic flurries of snow.

Felix took a deep breath. "Bracing.” He pointed south, toward the mountains that stretched up high enough to block the horizon. "I think we're headed there."

Pine forests dominated the sweep of the land, which rose rapidly outside the walls of Korsk. Foothills turned to swelling mountains softened by forests, but in the distance, the peaks turned to bare stone. They were covered in snow that was cold enough, he'd been told, to freeze even Adept Tiers solid.

A stone door crashed open, closely followed by the sound of metal on metal. "Who are you?"

Felix blinked, as three armored men charged into the room. Their weapons were drawn, spears and swords lifted toward Felix and the unassuming Dire Hound pup next to him.

“You are not allowed here. No one is.” An official in gilded armor and a heavy tabard of fine cloth strode ahead of two Orc warriors. He held aloft a wide blade in a loose grip, and the gemstones encrusted upon the hilt caught the afternoon light as the man caught sight of the active gate. “You…How did you do this?”

Felix gave a grin that he hoped was disarming. “Hey there. Didn’t mean to startle anyone. I was just using my Shadowgate—”

“Your Shadowgate?” The official curled his lip. “This is the Lord Governor’s Shadowgate. None are to use it, on pain of death!”

“That’s…” Felix wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “That’s not true at all.”

“You trespass and call me a liar? Your offenses line up by the moment!”

"Maybe you should have called ahead," Pit muttered.

“Did—!” The official flicked his blade down toward the Dire Hound. “Did that thing just talk?”

“We’re not doing that.” Felix slapped the sword away from his Companion and the blade snapped in half.

“You–!” The official stared at his jeweled hilt, goatee quivering. “This weapon was a gift from the Grand Marshal of Thume to my grandfather! You snapped it!”

“You shouldn’t have pointed it at my friend.” Felix flared Unseen Beholder. “Look, Rogier…Knacht? Are you serious?”

Pit laughed. The official, if anything, looked more incensed.

"I am an official of Korsk and you are trespassing on city property.”

Felix rolled his eyes. He had no interest in dragging this interaction out. “Fine. I’ll go.”

Rogier shifted, putting himself between Felix and the open walls of the tower. “You are not allowed to leave that platform until the Lord Governor gives the word."

"Is this governor guy here?" Pit asked.

Rogier blanched, clearly unused to talking dogs. "No, he is at City Hall.”

“You gonna bring him here?”

“Of course not! The Lord Governor has better things to do than run off for every trespasser we find.”

Pit groaned. "Then how are we supposed to leave here if we can't leave until we speak to them?”

Rogier drew himself up. “You will remain here until he finds such a time as to deign you with his presence.”

“We’re not staying here,” Felix said as calmly as he could. “Step out of my way.”

Rogier sneered. “Make me, criminal.”

Pit's big eyes gleamed and lightning crackled along his russet back. "Are we gonna fight?"

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"Pit. Enough."

His Companion blew a hefty breath from his nose. “Fine.”

"You—are you threatening an official while performing their duties? That is one of the highest crimes you can commit!”

"Official Rogier, I advise that you stop." The Orc warrior beside them finally spoke up.

Felix glanced over his shoulder. The two other guards that had rushed in with Rogier were different, both in dress and demeanor. A hodgepodge of mail and plate and thick boiled leather covered their bodies, which were a good deal larger than the Human official before them. Their skin was a green so dark that it had shades of purple. It glinted in the afternoon sun and tusks split mouths that seemed unsure if they wished to smile or frown.

Unseen Beholder named them Tusknight Uvan and Tusknight Kval. What a ‘Tusknight’ was, however, remained uncertain.

Uvan kept talking, his deep voice resonating against the Shadowgate's soft song. "If you would go fetch the governor, we will keep watch of them."

"The governor is far too busy of a man to be brought to every petty—"

"The man walked through the Shadowgate," Uvan snapped, and the official shrank back into his own armor.

“Or he stole into this place and activated it.”

"Either way. Not just anyone can do that.”

“And then they threatened me. Both of them.”

“Because you’re being an insufferable gnat!”

Rogier rocked backward as if Uvan had slapped him. Felix fought down the urge to just murder the guy and leave—it wasn’t a strong urge, but it was growing.

“Rogier. I’m not looking for trouble. I just need to pass through Korsk and I’ll be out of your hair. If it helps, I also know a Knacht. From up in Haarwatch.”

The official’s sneer somehow deepened. “A meager branch of the family. Invoking it will gain you no favors here.”

Felix groaned. “Just Analyze me, already!”

“I already have, Mr. Silas Veil, and it gives me nothing more than a name to add to my ledger.”

Oh right. He was still wearing his Veiling Amulet. Felix never thought about it anymore. “Wait. Let me deactivate—”

“Do not move!” Rogier’s broken sword angled toward Felix’s neck, stopping only a foot away.

Pit snarled, lightning coiling across his limbs.

“Lord Knacht, you cannot—” one of the Orcs started, but Rogier slashed his bare hand toward them, letting a Skill flourish across his palm. It was blue, a flaring of force Mana that did nothing but startle the warrior.

“It is clear now that you and this hound are dangerous.” The man discarded his beloved, ornamental sword and withdrew a far more utilitarian blade from his hip. “I will do my duty.”

WARNING!

A Threat Approaches!

Felix barely had a moment to process the message when Rogier jolted forward. He blurred, his Body coated now in force Mana as his sword thrust toward Felix’s ribs. For his part, Felix didn’t dodge.

The blade hit him square in the chest.

It shattered.

“Impossible—!”

Felix grabbed the man by the head, enveloping his entire face with a scaled claw. “Get down!”

He threw him to the ground, just as a flock of burning monsters tore through the open tower.

Sonata of Dominance!

A shield of air and water sprang up around them as Felix seized the Mana in all directions—and the swarm pressed right through it with a cascade of sparks. Even so, the creatures were snuffed out, their flames extinguished as they fell under Felix’s Will, sending all thirty hand-sized monstrosities flailing to the tiled ground. Insectoid wings buzzed beneath horned carapace while their long necks flexed their tall, wedge-shaped heads around in baffled rage.

Unseen Beholder.

Name: Burning Skyflier

Type: Insectoid (Manawarped)

Level: 122

Lore: A common monster found in mountainous regions, the Burning Skyfliers travel in swarms and use their flames to take down medium to large prey. Their control over fire Mana cooks their prey before their multitude of sharp mandibles rend them to bones, often in mere minutes. This swarm has been heavily affected by a powerful Mana source, warping their bodies with strange mutations.

Strength: Fire Mana and Agility

Weakness: Water Mana

“Skyfliers! Here?” Rogier scrambled back, still on his hands and knees. “They’re a terror of the mountains!”

Felix twisted his shaping, turning it from barrier to a wave of surging water. He pulled it inward, crushing every Skyflier at once.

You Have Killed A Swarm Of Burning Skyfliers!

XP Earned!

“There’s no meat in these.” Pit batted one of their corpses and it crumbled into black smoke. “Yuck.”

The Orcs had rushed forward before Felix had shaped his water attack, but they’d been too slow. However, their leader squared himself toward the open columns. “Lord Knacht, get below! There is more.”

Good Perception on that one. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Five hundred yards away and closing was a blurred shape, wreathed in swirling wind Mana that kept it all but invisible. As if sensing their awareness, the veil lifted, revealing a hideous thing that looked like a cross between a moth and some sort of deep sea crab. It barreled toward them, a keening cry hitting them like thunder.

Rogier fell back. “A Mountain Prince!”

“Run, Emperor!” The Orc knight positioned himself between Felix and the creature. “We will handle this!”

Unseen Beholder.

Name: Mountain Prince Shirak

Type: Insectoid (Manawarped)

Level: 433

Lore: The Sunsend Peaks are host to a great many powerful monsters. Among the upper echelon of those creatures are the Mountain Princes, potent foes that dominate large swaths of territory within the Peaks and rule over lesser beasts. Shirak normally dwells in the northern stretches and is feared far and wide for its cruelty as much as its strength.

Strength: Strength and its manipulation of sound Mana

Weakness: None

Felix frowned. The thing was strong, at least the equivalent of a Master Tier, if not better. “No. There’s no reason for you to risk yourself.” He gestured. “Pit.”

“Finally!” Pit crowed. “Some good food!”

The Dire Hound launched from the open tower, lit by an aura of crackling lightning. He shot forward, meeting the abomination mid-air with a mighty impact—the creature curled inward, long legs scrabbling at the russet-furred intruder.

“The hound.” Rogier stared, aghast. “You let your pet fight one of the Mountain Princes?”

A scream interrupted the man’s incredulity, one that put its previous, thunderous cry to shame. Lightning wreathed the Mountain Prince, and all at once it’s limbs exploded from its huge Body. It fell, ichor raining down upon the city below.

Empyrean Embrace.

Its Body dissolved into gleaming smoke and poured into Felix, just as Pit landed back in the tower, a six foot long crab leg in his mouth.

“What—Who—?” Rogier stammered, crawling back to his feet. “How did you—”

“Hi,” Felix said, still glowing a bit from the monster Essence. “My name is Emperor Felix Nevarre. You may have heard of me.”