Logarhythm
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(MM) Chapter 89
🕑 Added 2024-04-06 00:18:01 +0000 UTCThe other two just stared at her. Zoe was starting to get a little bit uncomfortable, and it wasn’t the kind of fear she was used to. Not really the survival kind. Damn, am I actually feeling social anxiety right now? That’s kind of hilarious.
But also, the paladin was undoubtedly getting increasingly father away. Any time spent not pursuing her was time wasted—and it would likely put Zoe in a significantly worse position here if she were left alone without a prize to capture. She cleared her throat.
“Well get on with it,” the lich snapped, gesturing up towards the balcony where Zoe had just been impolitely shoved off of. “What are you waiting for?”
Coughing, Basil whipped a fiery red cord up to the railing like a grappling hook and yanked himself up. Glancing between the now pursuing cultist and the lich, Zoe quickly made her decision on whether to stick around or help Basil.
{Kinetic Dash} brought her over the railing as well, and then she was sprinting off to catch up to the other two. There was no indication that the lich was going to stop her, and Zoe was fine with that. Even though the cultist was the one far more likely to immediately resent her—if he found out who she actually was—she would rather have to tangle with him than the lich.
Also, this way, the two of them would running as hard as they could in pursuit of a mutual enemy–and then likely fighting for their lives. It was definitely preferable to just standing around awkwardly with an immensely powerful being and a bunch of shambling skeletons.
To Zoe’s irritation, Basil was actually really fast. Sure, he was already pretty spry when she had first encountered him and he had battled with the other, lower leveled paladin. But Zoe was pretty sure he was even faster now. I guess that’s what a bunch of levels does to a person.
He wasn’t even so much running as he was flinging out his red, whip-like magic and yanking himself across the floor repeatedly. It would actually be pretty funny to watch given how ridiculous it was, if the situation weren’t still so serious. Scratch that, it IS really funny. Zoe shook her head as she pushed herself harder, dashing forward and beginning to channel {Kinetic Enhancement} as she landed.
Slowly but surely, she closed the ground between her and the cultist chieftain. It was an incremental affair, but one where a single slip-up could cost Zoe several precious seconds of previously earned progress.
She wasn’t even sure where they were going. She was barely paying attention to the architecture or layout of the place beyond what was absolutely necessary for her to surmount the next upcoming obstacle. While she wanted to pay more attention, she really couldn’t divert any of her focus for a moment as they continued to vault over railings and barriers and slide around angled corners.
Or rather, Basil was the one doing the sliding. Zoe was more inclined to launch herself off the opposite wall whenever they rounded a bend. Damn, just how far did the paladin get already? She was pretty sure that the other woman wasn’t nearly as fast as she and Basil were.
Actually, wait—how does he even know which way to go? He seemed pretty confident in their course, but it also seemed pretty random and convoluted to Zoe. Whatever. I won’t question it. Finally, they came to a huge, descending staircase that continued straight down for what had to be at least several floors. While it forced the cultist to slow down considerably, Zoe was more than happy to simply take a flying leap off of the top.
Dashing midair, she tucked into a roll right at the very bottom, springing to her feet in an instant. Ha! Now I’m ahead. Unfortunately, she had failed to account for the fact that she wasn’t the one who knew which way they were supposed to be going.
Basil flew past her. Zoe growled.
It was only about fifteen seconds before they were almost side-by-side, Zoe deliberately keeping herself slightly behind so that she could react in time to adjust to whatever course the cultist was leading them on.
“Hey Basil,” she grunted after a moment, “any idea where we’re actually going?”
The cultist squinted at her for the briefest of moments before looking away to focus on the pursuit. “You know my name.” It wasn’t exactly a question, but it also kind of was. Zoe decided not to mess around and just answer him. But that implies he doesn’t recognize me—and why would he? But then how do I answer?
“I overheard a bit of your conversation,” she said. “Infernal cultist, huh?”
He just grunted in acknowledgement. Well, I already told him my name and that I’m a demon, which he would probably have been able to guess anyway. Hmm, should I go ahead and admit that I stole his demon core?
Zoe mulled over it for a few seconds. She decided not to—just yet. She decided that sooner was better than later. With both the lich and the paladin and the kraken and also the weird and powerful alien magic of this bizarre place—well, she suspected she wouldn’t just be slipping away from all of this easily. Better to air it out and see how he reacts early on.
But it was still just the two of them, and they had to be nearing the paladin now. The best time for the reveal would surely be when they were both facing down a seriously powerful enemy together. Surely he won’t seriously entertain the idea of turning against me for revenge during a moment like that. Right?
Whatever. It would be what it would be.
As they both jumped off the edge of a spiral staircase, Zoe dashing to halt her momentum and Basil effectively bungy-jumping—Zoe realized he had never answered her question about where they were headed. “Where are we going?”
Basil didn’t respond immediately. Zoe realized that he was taking very deep breaths. Huh, he’s really straining himself physically. She didn’t know why she was so surprised by that. Just because he had powerful magic didn’t mean it was all physical too or that he had infinite endurance. I’m pretty sure he’s still just a human.
Ha. Wouldn’t be if it weren’t for me.
But regardless, that made his pace quite impressive. They were surely moving far faster than even the most accomplished athlete back on Earth.
“To the harbor,” he replied with no small degree of strain in his voice. “Most logical way out. Good place to trap an enemy.”
Zoe nodded. She didn’t know what this particular harbor was, or why it would make a good trap, or what a harbor was doing in an underground temple. But she had to just trust that the cultist knew what he was doing here. Aside from the massive arrogance, he seemed pretty competent.
“But if it’s the most obvious way out,” Zoe began, “wouldn’t someone instead try to find a less obvious exit? If they knew they were being chased by a demon and an infernal cultist?”
Basil shot her a dark glare. “Obviously. I’m not stupid.” He paused to inhale. “But if we have to start with a particular exit, the obvious one is still the most likely.”
Zoe nodded. Okay yeah, I guess that makes sense. “Why is the path so damn bendy though? Shouldn’t there be a straight shot?”
“There is but its slower.” Basil glared again. “Now shut up.”
Zoe blinked, almost slamming bodily into a marble column as she did. What? How could a straight path possibly be slower than this meandering, obstacle-ridden path? Magic bullshit, probably. Whatever.
Zoe realized they were reaching the harbor. Before, she hadn’t know what to expect or look for. But it was pretty damn obvious when they began to approach it. the ceilings and walls started to give way to an enormous, yawning cavern of natural stone. Crystalline stalactites towered far overhead, and in the distance, the cave opened up into a shimmering, sunny—something. Zoe couldn’t actually see what was beyond them outside. Maybe it was the glare, but it was probably more stupid magic.
Between them and the exit, there was a wide expanse of dark, glistening water. It was unnaturally smooth. No waves at all—completely unlike what Zoe pictured a ‘harbor’ should be like. Especially if it connected to open ocean, like she presumed. Also, I thought a harbor was uncovered. This is a cave.
Within seconds, they left most of the constructions behind, now simply running along a wide, tiled path lined by grand, imposing columns. A stone canopy covered it, but everything to the side of the path was just natural stone, rocks and moss. Basil had taken to zigzagging back and forth as he yanked himself forward using the columns, alternating between left and right.
Annoyingly, it meant Zoe was falling behind again. She pushed herself harder. And then she tripped.
Sprawling across the floor, Zoe cursed as she rolled. Her frustration evaporated into a bizarre mixture of fear, anger, and excitement as she caught sight of battered golden armor in the corner of her eye.
“Found her!” She bellowed to Basil, even as she dashed to her feet and charged the paladin.
Zoe didn’t look back to make sure that the cultist had heard. The paladin was already conjuring golden magic—in fact, she had started before Zoe had even realized what was happening.
It released into a brilliant spear of blinding light. Terror rose up in Zoe’s throat as it streaked towards her. She instinctively knew that she still wasn’t fast enough to dodge—so there was only one option. The spear struck her chest. Zoe activated {Corrupted Spirit Shield}.
Even as the resulting explosion blasted her back, Zoe realized it was vastly weaker than the previous version of it. Maybe because this is an impromptu construction and not a well-crafted reuseable one? Oh, and I didn’t actually try to tear the pieces apart.
Zoe didn’t get much time to think on that. The other woman was already on top of her. Things quickly devolved into a physical scuffle.
Zoe didn’t bother trying to use much magic other than {Kinetic Enhancement} and a bit of {Corrupt Wound} for the sake of her own healing. For her part, the paladin didn’t bother using much of her own magic, either. Perhaps she had figured out Zoe’s shield and figured that the traditional technique of raw physical trauma was a better bet.
At first, Zoe thought the situation would favor her. But as they both wildly kicked and clawed, rolling over each other this way and that, she began to think she might be mistaken. Fucking hell, I didn’t know normal humans could get so damn strong and tough. Sure, Zoe’s radically altered physiology gave her a massive advantage for her level.
But then again, there was quite a big difference in levels that it would need to make up for.
Hurry up Basil! While Zoe wasn’t hurting too badly, {Kinetic Enhancement} was using up more mana than she would like. And she could tell that if she dropped the ability, she would begin taking a lot more real damage—and then she’d be using {Corrupt Wound}. It would put her right back in the same spot.
Never trust a cultist, she growled in her own mind. What is that fool doing?
Zoe tried to look around for him. The paladin seized the opportunity by twisting away Zoe’s arm, bringing her leg under her gut, and kicking her off. A golden light speared Zoe’s chest before she could properly react.
At least she missed again, Zoe thought. I really don’t want to know what happens if that hits my actual core.
Fortunately, it wasn’t enough to take her out of the fight. But it was still pretty bad. Retreating for a moment, Zoe desperately looked around for something she could use.
The ground shook. Zoe almost lost her footing by surprise, but it wasn’t that bad when she corrected for it. A series of thunderous splashes echoed throughout the cavern, followed by a flare of violet light.
Zoe looked out at the harbor.
For the first time, Zoe could see more of the kraken than just its tentacles. It was pretty big. It did have an actual head, but it wasn’t what she expected. It was more like a thick, stubby starfish. Five radial points with a toothy hole in the center. How lovely.
Violet energy pulsed rhythmically along its flesh. But there was another color, too—a dull, familiar crimson. Perched proudly atop the colossal beast, Basil flicked his chin up. A crimson aura surrounded the cultist, thrumming down into the purplish kraken. Zoe analyzed it again just to be sure.
{??? - ???}
You can’t tell me he’s somehow controlling that. There’s no way.
Zoe glanced at the paladin. The woman’s face had paled, and Zoe saw what she thought was a flicker of true fear. And then the woman turned to run.
Basil flicked out his hand—and a colossal tentacled followed. Zoe just stood there in a daze as the enormous appendage slapped the paladin to the ground, proceeding to then coil around her and yank her up into the air. Bringing back his hand, Basil brought the captured warrior back as well.
Zoe gulped. Okay, so maybe there is a way. She stared at the kraken, and then at the paladin, and then back at Basil. Do all cultists get a giant pet sea monster? They should advertise that. I would totally sign up.
Zoe looked down at her dark, scaly body. Well, guess I already have. Sighing, she began jogging closer to the water line. Time to see what this is all about.
