Everyone — Samantha, Orswyth, Azure, all three friendly ghosts — got through the doors into the foggy interstitial space. Samantha noticed the zone gradually got heavier and heavier in pulling one inward. By the time everyone was through, she was fighting pretty hard to hold her position, and Stargazer was being drawn further in.

  While Samantha had wanted to cast her other ‘area denial’ specialty in Crowned Tower, she decided to conserve mana. Stargazer had cast some sort of inhibiting spell himself, creating a zone right before the doors consisting of an oily element thickening the air, super bubbly, ready to ‘catch’ interlopers somehow. When allies passed through, they were encased in a giant bubble that ended at the door and popped after they passed.

  Samantha supplemented the existing deterrents with a giant summoned squid-thing, utilizing [Create Phantasms] for a dedicated solid form that could persist indefinitely. Then she summoned another Servitor in Athos, who held firm as a ‘level-8-sized’ dragon right in front of the door, ready to strike anyone who got past the rest.

  Around the time Azure was committing her bloodthirsty but effective act of stabbing and utterly destroying another wraith, Orswyth reported, “Orby snapped out of it!”

  Sammy directed Michael and the squid-thing in reserve to attack ‘Orby’ and keep him from the door. She watched through a mirror as the wraith tried to shed the existing attackers that had been all over him from before, only to get blasted in the face by Michael and a squid arm wrapping around his waist.

  He snarled viciously in offense.

  Ugh. I know I could’ve killed them with [Removal] instead of all this painstaking physicality. I just don’t know if they’d be potential subjects after this is all over. At least with what Azure shared from Deathsting, maybe I can hold hope for Orby. Poor guy has been using light magic against me. I’d feel bad. But at this point, with us killing his buddies, it might be a stretch to think we’ll be friends.

  An inner voice chided her. ‘What, are we playing fucking Undertale, here?’ No, but sometimes things were more complicated than laying complete waste to enemies from square one. The wraiths were insane, just like their king, whom they wanted to actually help somehow.

  Too far gone, huh? I dunno if we get to decide that without even trying. Much less to decide based on some murderous dagger-wyvern’s judgment.

  Whatever the case, what was done was done. Combat was combat. People died; people were killed. Azure, killer instincts flaring up, had acted on some existing beef only partially based on her present opponents. Sammy had felt a lot of frustration poured into that stab.

  I get it. I’d be the same- well. Not just from a little boo-boo. It’s not like I was really hurt in this case. But… putting myself in harm’s way… it doesn’t just affect me…

  She knew that already, but Azure’s mentality was a special concern. A consequence she needed to weigh pretty heavily in her mix of risk and reward. Or try to. But when your instinct was to be self-sacrificial…

  Azure was by her side in the fog. Saying nothing, Sammy simply took her hand and squeezed gently. Her Blueberry squeezed back.

  Waytaker, apparently satisfied she no longer needed to hang in the room, sped through the gate. Simultaneously, Linguist called, “Let us back ourselves away and the doors close, sealing this painfully conquered divide.”

  Sammy nodded. As everyone began backing away, she dropped a final use of [Create Phantasms], creating a thick, opaque wall in front of the door as a final barrier to any last-ditch entry attempts.

  “Everyone, prepare for the worst,” Sammy ordered as they watched the doors swing shut successfully. Suiting her words, Sammy made use of time, casting Radiant Armor on herself, fashioning a Phantasmal tentacle monster (that way she had a reserve squid-thing, per the rules), and summoning the Archangel Gabriel.

  In a flash of light, Gabriel appeared, a giant brandishing a broadsword and her magical Heaven Wall Shield that could be quite instrumental in a battle. “We made it, Your Majesty!” she declared with a smile. “The god-king’s domain.” Then she looked around at the foggy environment and blinked. “Er, right?”

  “I think so, Big G,” Sammy declared. “The door appears to be… fading.”

  It only got foggier, and more quickly than before, as the group stuck close together. Indeed, the shut doors were totally lost in the fog.

  Once it reached the totality of its obscuring cover, it quite rapidly began to dissipate and show the outlines of another structure. A massive space was evident, with hints of grooved pillars and shadowed spaces signifying balconies, the railings fashioned in a rich, intricate design. Purple and gold were under their feet, likely once of special design but marred and faded — beautiful nonetheless.

  An ornate red carpet led up shallow steps until a raised structure began to take form. A giant griffon made of tarnished gold, mouth open menacingly with its claws reaching forward — or one claw, as the other was broken off. Its wings flared widely to either side, curving in slightly, and its eyes were glowing rubies. Below it, the upper structure of what must be an elaborate throne became evident, a torn purple curtain resting at the back, slightly unevenly.

  A grand throne room was revealing itself out of the fog, gleaming gold mixed with other royal colors and the inner off-white of uncleaned marble. All was crumbling yet still awe-inspiring.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Shifting, moving, materializing shapes were evident on the fog’s periphery.

  A voice, booming and commanding, rich and wild, rang out. “Under final skies unseen, who dares to disturb this fallen king?” The quality of tempered rage was clear in his tone. “What interlopers dare to cut the cords what wind into my guardsmen; what invaders dare to seize one of my precious keys? Do you seek to slay me, then? Do you seek treasure, deep delvers?”

  The final bits of fog lifted, and the first most suddenly evident thing were dozens of wraiths in decaying armor surrounding them 360 degrees, floating and brandishing all manner of strange weapons, mostly staff weapons. They were much like the four the party had fought, and they were all sneering in hatred. A few growls here and there.

  At least they aren’t snarling, I guess.

  The second most suddenly evident thing was the chair of the throne and the god-king himself on it. The throne, positioned under the great wings of the golden griffon, was rather classic, red-cushioned, and made gorgeously in ornate gold of sweeping unique patterns. The top of it — the high back — ended abruptly, jagged and torn apart. Whatever symbology had been there was gone.

  The god-king was large in stature — if he were human, he’d be among the tallest of the tall, perhaps eight feet tall, or a bit shy of two-and-a-half meters. His face was ghoulish and white-gray, though otherwise smooth, and he had a massive black beard ending in many small, gold-capped braids. He wore tarnished full plate armor, silver and gold, with his breastplate having a motif just like the door did, two griffons facing each other. The bottom portion ended in more of an armored skirt, leaving his feet hidden.

  He gripped a staff in one hand that ended in a central bluish orb surrounded by bronze in the shape of something like a map's compass, four arrows pointing. The orb was cloudy and hinted at an eye within. He had no crown. His somewhat milky eyes were too wide and staring, his disturbed state noticeable at a mere glance.

  Sammy stepped slightly forward, eyes on the god-king between a gap in the guards. She raised her hands up and out. “We come in peace! We request a treaty without the designs you so charge us. We don’t desire slaying or treasure. We only hoped to avoid violence, but your guardsmen attacked us in sudden, fierce ferocity when I revealed who I was. We beg forgiveness for your losses, which we otherwise honestly consider fair results from lethal combat.”

  The god-king scowled. “Not lethal to a goddess, however.”

  Before she could respond, one of the forward-most wraiths, wielding a spear and shield with his face covered by a silver mask, hissed at her and spoke in a rasp, “Under final skies, the interlopers must declare one and each their status herein, or face final suffering!”

  Sammy nodded to him. This is going so well! “I am Samantha, Goddess of Fate, Pneuma, and Light, sorceress from beyond, magineer of wonders! Thank you for your merciful patience. I come for partnership-”

  “Stifle meaningless words as the next declares!”

  Sammy blinked and frowned at the interruption. Quickly, Linguist floated forward and bowed to the king. He seemed nervous but not precisely fearful. “Your servant forever and Linguist to many abides with humility in your presence, oh wise and glorious king. I beg this audience, too, and support the goddess for the greater good of all, in loving consideration of your ancient principles. May you reign as always, forever and ever.”

  The king’s staring eyes shifted aside. “I won’t; I don’t. My principles lie dead instead to this conjectured forever — more accurately never having been, for who can recall in Oblivion?”

  Waytaker was next to flow forward, chin high, clicking the staff butt on the floor. “Waytaker.”

  Sammy stared. Seriously?!

  The king turned and he stared at her too, his face twitching and twisting. He seemed fascinated, and their gazes perhaps communicated unseen words, but neither said anything more.

  Stargazer was logically next, but he was standing with his eyes closed, hands folded in front of him.

  Azure stepped forward instead, sweeping out a hand and bowing. “I am Azure, paramour and Divine Mesmer to the goddess. I hope for peace between us.”

  The king did not seem to hear, still staring at Waytaker.

  Orswyth stepped forward, declaring placidly, “Lord Orswyth Magleon, Hierophant and wiseman to the goddess. What became of your crown, king?”

  Sammy winced at this, unsure if it was wise to bring some lack like that up to a madman. It could be a sore spot…

  The king’s eyes shot to Orswyth, studying him. “I shattered it. Scattered it. Broken, as synergizes, as all should synergize…” He trailed off, eyes not focusing for a long moment. He then looked over them as a whole, eyes shifting between them. “You’re falling with me. More to break in this fallen place?”

  Sammy, eyes glancing around, did in fact see a couple of bits of metal on the floor. Is it really the remains of his crown? She cleared her throat and interjected, “We’d prefer to remain whole, oh king.”

  The spear-wielding guardsman hissed at her. “Declarations remain undeclared amidst changing skies, replaced with stupidity which must cease!”

  Geez, does this dude hate me or something?

  The king’s gaze fell on Sammy. “You cannot, goddess. We fall always to the end, which looms in the final days. Desiring mercy? Is that what you performed!? I should grant such deliverance to those so begging to receive it in their offenses of my realm and rule. That is to break in synergy, like chiming… harmony…” He tasted the last word, smiling slightly, eyes shifting again. The cloudy blue orb of his staff started glowing more, and an eye, cat-like, became more discernible within it.

  Shit! Guess we better do what we’re here to-

  Stargazer suddenly darted forward and declared, “Oh noble king under a moon yet dear despite the cataclysm so near! Your humble servant who gazes and knows the stars, your once upon trusted in advice of the heavens, stands before you!” Around him was an aura of twinkling stars.

  The king lifted his eyes to Stargazer with rapt attention, his brow furrowing and the orb going cloudy again.

  Hurry and roll Diplomacy, Stargazer! Before he does his Ultimate Eye Staff Blast!

  Next Chapter...

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