The Chimeric Ascension of Lyudmila Springfield

Intermission – Shiku – Heartbreaking Realization – Part Four

Two days later, after getting trapped behind a puzzle where you had to equalize two underground reservoirs using pipes and flood control barriers... We arrived at the boss's door.     

It cried a deep growl as it opened, revealing a deep, blue crystal that hovered in the middle. Malicious red tendrils latched into the ground and ceiling like a deadly web. And there was a hole above it. We cautiously approached and looked up. Sir Salim used [Mana Perception] and verified something he feared.     

A catastrophic amount of mana was flooding upwards. Sir Salim couldn’t see it from our inn, so he assumed we had traveled quite some distance during the dungeon trip. This place was more monumental than we were led to believe. Aronza Village’s historians didn’t have much info. Few people visited this section of Uquenia because of the higher-level monsters.     

I surmised the mana filled the atmosphere and became diluted over time. The rainy season often brought wind, and the mana soaked into the clouds, which always led to Aronza Village. The mana-filled rain would enrage the monsters, which made them leave the dungeon. They couldn’t cross the land bridge because perhaps that was where the dungeon ended?   

However, what if they never left the dungeon? What if everything above and outside was considered part of it? 

The monsters entered the village when that other bridge was built because Aronza Village was within the dungeon's range. If you drew a circle with the dungeon in the middle, the village would be in it. The land bridge had to be on the edge, just a smidge outside.  

That was my hypothesis, anyway, after having a few more days to think on it.  

That doesn’t explain the river. How does that play into it? Why can't the monsters swim through it? What are they afraid of?  

Sir Salim raised his spear, and the crystal flashed. The tendrils pulsed different colors and spawned monsters. The mana surging skyward became visible to me—someone without [Mana Perception]—and the crimson glow illuminated the room and eliminated all shadows as the ground warmed. It was like walking on a red lightbulb.   

A fight began. Sir Salim had trained me during our descent. I flourished my staff and fought defensively, using the horn crocs’ weight against them. The water buffalo rhinos couldn’t match my speed as I weaved between them. Their anger was their downfall—I waited for one to charge before dashing away, and I left them to damage each other. Sir Salim focused on the crystal. It had birthed a dozen more energy vines and attacked without rest, but he was experienced. 

“[Flourish Beam]!” My mentor’s spear switched to a giant rose. The stem pierced the ground and wrapped him in iron-like leaves. The attacks it endured built up in the petals, where it launched a devastating attack, turning the damage he would’ve sustained upon the crystal.     

The beam pierced through. The horn crocs surrounding me ceased moving. The remaining monsters violently convulsed as if something buried deep within was about to erupt.    

A portal to the lobby appeared, yet the boss didn’t drop anything. Everything felt strange. We didn’t get any title or notification for completing the dungeon.    

“Something isn’t right…” Sir Salim redoubled the grip on his spear and turned it into Wind Flash—its fastest form. 

A dull siren filled the room. The destroyed crystal regained its luster and slowly spun.    

We watched without knowing what to do. Sir Salim tried to attack it. He sent barreling gusts of razor-sharp winds to swarm it, but the crystal pulsed. Black tendrils rampaged around the room, crackled like lightning, and pierced my shoulders.  

“Shiku!!!!” Sir Salim shouted my name as we were picked up. The crystal slammed us into the walls and ceiling before throwing us through the portal.     

We landed with a thud. My mentor healed my wounds as the ground shook. The dungeon cried—almost moaning in despair. The ceiling started collapsing.  The trembling only became stronger. Sir Salim grabbed my arm and dashed, covering us in wind as we barely escaped. The foreboding building marking the dungeon’s entrance exploded. The force sent us flying. We tumbled on the ground, slid through dew-soaked grass, and finally stopped.    

“Are you okay?!”     

“Y—Yeah. I’m fine.” Sir Salim let me go. A piercing beam of red mana shot into the distant sky and exploded, sending scattering fragments down as if they were shooting stars.    

“Ah, I’ve been waiting for you.” I looked at the sky and saw Tokko and Mia. Her staff glimmered a soft light as they descended. The angelic wings protruding from their backs—from flight magic— vanished.    

“What’s going on?!”   

“You solved the mystery of the dungeon. Well done. Now it’s time to see if Renata has what it takes.”   

“What the hell are you talking about?! Stop speaking in riddles!”   

“Riddles? Oh, you disappoint me more and more.” Tokko frowned.    

“It really is pathetic, Shiku,” said Mia. She ran her gloved hand through her brown hair and slowly shook her head. “You’ve softened and changed. It’s disappointing…” Mia raised her staff, and a white light encompassed us.    

Suddenly, I was thirty feet above Aronza Village on a magical platform made of crystalized light.     

Sir Salim stood near me. A moment later, Renata, Benedict, and my future wives appeared. “Lord Shiku!” they cried, grabbing my arms. “What’s happening?!”  

 “What the hell is going on?!” Renata exclaimed, water dripping off her body. She must’ve been in the river.  “There was that explosion! And—"   

Tokko appeared in a flash of light and gestured to the village below us. We saw people gathering near the elder’s house, but I doubt they saw us.  “Aronza Village used to have another name. Centuries ago, this area was called the Land of Challenge. The dungeon’s always been here. The monsters have always been ferocious. Brave souls traveled far and wide to test their might against these bloodthirsty foes. Aronza Village is the product of the people who settled down and planted their roots. Their history has been lost to time. No one here remembers the truth.”  

“Yet we could not think of a better place to test your resolve,” added Mia. “Renata, you were trapped in your mind. You refused to face reality and desired to wilt away like a flower left out in the sun. That didn’t happen, did it? You broke the confines of your sheltered prison and even acquired your Soul Weapon.”   

“How did…you know that?” asked Renata.  

“Because we’ve been watching. And that was the plan. Haven’t you guessed it by now? This was the reason we dispatched you to Aronza Village. It was to challenge yourself. That extends to you two.” Mia pointed to my future wives. “You experienced the same treatment as Renata—which was given to you by our glorious Lord Meruria. The comfortable darkness was preferable to living a life of pain, yet here you are. You’re conscious. You’re alert. You’re choosing to fight against the world’s cruel injustice and embrace the yearning to become someone better than you were the day before.”  

“Lord Meruria…did that?” Laika asked. 

“She did. And congratulations, puppies. You two passed. That's partially true for you, Renata. There’s a second mountain you must conquer before this mission can be completed. Another triumph you must grasp with your own two hands.”  

“The next task is related to the mysteries surrounding Aronza Village,” said Tokko. He crossed his arms and lectured us.  “The problems facing this village lie in a paradox. The rainy season overexcites the crystal. It then shoots mana into the sky, where the clouds absorb the energy. It returns to the lands below as mana-filled droplets. Too much can ruin a field. The soil is battered incessantly and becomes ruined for months—that's the mystery behind the famine. The runoff collects into Aronza River, which connects to the dungeon, where the mana feeds into the crystal. After the crystal is excited, the magical energy is released into the atmosphere, and the cycle continues. It will never end. The most you can do is delay it. Yet that often causes more problems. You can see it, can’t you? Monsters will spawn where the crystal fragments fall.” 

Mia finished Tokko’s lecture. “The mana flowing through the river is like an invisible fence. The monsters cannot wade through it because it's not technically part of the dungeon. So, the only option is to travel over it. How fortunate for Aronza Village that the land bridge is where the dungeon's influence ends. However, if the crystal fragments land across the river while still inside the dungeon’s perimeter...” 

“You knew this—”   

Tokko interrupted me. “We did, Shiku. You and Sir Salim shattered the crystal. The monsters are out of control. They’re hungry, so once they spawn, I presume they’ll head for the closest food source.”  

“The... The village!”  

“That’s right. Your task, Renata, is to wipe out the monsters and prevent Aronza from being destroyed. Do that, and you’ll pass. You’ll be re-accepted into Lord Meruria’s good graces. Your slate will be wiped clean, and you may start anew.  

“One person alone can’t do this!” Benedict argued.  “There are too many monsters! And they’re too strong!” 

“She must,” Mia added, her smugness irritated me. “It’s as we’ve said. We’ve been watching. We know you taught those children how to fish. You instructed that young widow on how to prepare filets for grilling. You looked after those babies while the tired mothers rested their weary eyes. You have a connection to Aronza, Renata. You love this village because it healed you. And now you must fight to protect it. Draw upon your strength and become its defender. You have approximately three minutes before the first batch of monsters arrive.” Mia snapped her finger, and Renata fell to the ground.  She landed with a thud and vomited. Her trident flickered in and out of existence.    

“YOU CAN DO IT!!” Benedict screamed. “RENATA!!!!!”     

The step the curly-haired girl took was small, yet the following one was larger. Soon, she ran through the village’s central street and hastily explained things to the elder. The villagers returned home to bunker down, and Renata marched to the front line. She jumped onto a roof and crouched.    

A crystal fragment landed about four hundred feet away.     

A monster was born amid the explosion. It had eight legs, like a mythological horse owned by a Nordic god. It reared and growled, sending electric sparks around its body.    

“You can’t expect her to fight that thing alone!” Benedict argued.  “Just look at it! It’s--”  

“Lord Meruria’s Soul Warrior must be capable of this much. A person can develop tremendous strength when faced with disaster. They will use every ounce of power to protect what is close to them. However, when that something is new and responsible for pulling you out of the darkness? That’s when resolve is at its strongest,” said Tokko.  

Renata focused and channeled mana through her Soul Weapon. I didn’t know what skill she used, but the shaft pulsed a deep brown as it switched forms. Falling rock petals danced off the earthen tip. She launched it towards her enemy, skewering it through the front two legs. It reared in pain and summoned a hail of lightning. Renata dodged it. She stumbled and faltered, yet her determination was there. She raced to the horse and stomped the ground, sending a line of rocky pillars to unbalance her foe. Her trident appeared in her hands, and she swiftly engaged her opponent.   

Its lightning scratched her face. It cut her clothes and made her bleed, but Renata emerged victorious after skewering it through the chest. A jet of water exploded from the monster’s back, sending a spray of bloody mist across the soaked ground.    

And then the first wave arrived. Renata was swift. She covered her body in a glimmering water barrier and fought like no tomorrow. Her combat prowess was beautiful.    

“I knew she could do it!”    

The excitement was short-lived.    

Another barrage of falling fragments landed inside the village, destroying a dozen homes. More of those electric horses appeared to the south. Soon, multiple waves all marched like hell for Aronza Village.  

Renata couldn’t handle it. She flew into a rage and hurried back to the village, where she witnessed a horn croc skewer the elder before tearing into his corpse. A water rhino did the same to a group of huddled children.    

The screams were loud. They were heart-wrenchingly brutal. Renata froze. She shook like a frightened baby.    

I had to act.    

Benedict and I shouted her name and tried to jump off the platform, but…   

“GAH!!!”   

“What are you doing?! Let me go!” I screamed at Sir Salim. He caught my arm and threw me to the ground. He rested his knee on the back of my neck.    

“Sir Salim?!” Laika growled and used support magic on me, but it didn’t work. Leika charged and punched him. Mia waved her staff, and my fiancés collapsed to the ground, unconscious.     

“…” He didn’t reply. His shameful look said it all. I looked at Benedict. Tokko’s tower shields enclosed him from all sides.     

“What are you doing?! Please, Sir Salim... LET ME GO!!!!” I pleaded with him, but he agonizingly shook his head. I screamed and struggled, and Tokko laughed. He crouched and revealed a startling truth after telling Sir Salim to remove his armor.   

I had never seen his bare chest. It was broad and rugged and bore a deep scar across his sternum. “It’s a type of slave seal. It embeds deep in the heart and connects to the soul. Effectively, it binds the user to the target. A portion of strength flows to the slave’s master. Lord Meruria has passed control to me for this mission. Salim tried to escape in the past. It didn’t work, and he was punished by hunting and killing the ones who had gotten away. And now? He’s a loyal hound in our service. Increase your grip, dog. Shatter Shiku’s wrist. Punish him for going against direct orders.”    

Snap!   

“GAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”   

Benedict struggled. He fought like hell against those tower shields pinning him in place. Mia smacked him with her staff and told him to calm down.  

“MAKE IT STOP!!!! I DON’T WANT THIS!!! BENNY!!!!” Renata’s screams drowned mine. We looked and saw a red mist…   

[Blood Boil].   

She dropped to her knees and tore at her cheeks and hair. “STOP IT!!!! STOP IT!!!!”   

“Renata!!!!!”   

“Do we have our answer?”   

“I believe we do,” Mia replied. My vision was hazy. Sir Salim kept increasing the pressure on my broken wrist. It became difficult to breathe from his knee. I vaguely saw Mia use a spell to knock Renata unconscious. She was teleported to us, and Mia raised her staff as a faint speck fluttered to the village’s center.  

It touched the ground...and everything was gone in a blindingly bright explosion that decimated...everything. The crater left behind... The scale was maddening. How...could so much be wiped away so...easily?  

“That is the cost of failure, Renata,” she said, her voice cold. “You could not complete your task. Your mission goes unresolved. Their deaths are on your hands, and you only have yourself to blame.”  

The pain became too much, and everything went black.   

I next awoke on my knees inside a sealed room. Lord Meruria, Tokko, and Mia stood near a table. Renata was on it, her shirt undone.    

“Failure is as failure does. You’re worth more to me alive than dead. I won’t sacrifice you to the void… [Blood Boil] is certainly an efficient spell. That’s your only use unless you can convince me you’re worth more, but that time has come and passed. You had your chance, and you squandered it.”  

Lord Meruria held a glowing scalpel as she cut into Renata’s bare chest.   

My ally screamed and kicked her arms and legs. It was futile since magical restraints bound her to the table. “There… The seal is done. You’re mine, my dear. Your strength shall be mine. Your power will be mine. Your life? Hopes? Desires? They shall be mine to control… Blame your failures for this… All you had to do was exceed my standards. It wasn’t hard. Since you cannot be trusted—your feelings are not what I desire… I shall claim ownership over them. Be happy knowing I hold the reigns to your soul…”    

Tokko grabbed Renata’s arms and tossed her like trash to the floor. She landed near the fireplace, the warm glow illuminating a trail of blood descending to her stomach.     

One by one, the same happened to Benedict and my future wives, who were unconscious, and then it was my turn.   

“You don’t have to do this,” I pleaded. It was difficult to talk—my throat felt stuffed with sawdust. My eyes thickened with tears. “Tokko… I loved you… I saw you as my hero… I wanted to become you… You were what I wished to be. Please, don’t do this…” Tokko didn’t reply.   “Don’t— GGGGAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”   

That scalpel cut into my chest, and the agony was excruciatingly painful.   

“Mmnn... This is your punishment for failing me,” said Lord Meruria. She paused for a second before continuing. "You pledged yourself to the Barkwood daughters, but answer me this, Shiku... The love you feel... Is it organic? Is it genuine? Or...” Lord Meruria’s face twisted into a sadistic snarl. “Or is it a product of my tampering? What if I told you I had planned to permanently engrave those feelings onto your soul had the mission been successful? Marriage and fatherhood would’ve been your due reward for meeting my standards. Now… Am I speaking the truth? Or am I lying? What is real, Shiku? What is the truth? Who can you turn to if you cannot trust yourself?” 

No... That can’t be true! I love Laika and Leika because I do! No one made me love them! No one... No...one...   

Right?  

I didn’t remember the last thing I saw before the pain was too much to keep my eyes open…but it was probably Shuuta’s laughing face…   

Out of everyone… He’d be the happiest to see me like this…