A few minutes later, both he and Arkanon stood side by side, holding out their tokens as far from their bodies as they could. Everyone else reached out, divided into two groups. Jonathan’s group consisted of Edgar, Eliza, Andovar, Kendal and Hushar. Meanwhile, Arkanon was in charge of the other Uthraki, Eva and Elissa. They had done their best to divide out the groups in order to create an even spread of power levels, in order to make sure that the tokens worked.

  “Three,” Jonathan began to count down. “Two! One!” Then reality warped as both he and Arkanon used their tokens, taking them out of Cessation, and into a new world.

  The third realm of Tartarus was, surprisingly enough, no warmer than the previous two. There was less visible lava, and the cave ceiling was invisible, clouds scudding across the sky. Faint lights glimmered high above, almost like stars in the false sky. The group stood on top of a massive mesa, made of heat-smoothed sandstone. A mile below, a vista of strange vegetation and volcanic ash spread, appearing like some hellish version of farmland.

  As Jonathan spread his gaze out, he realized that it was exactly that. Groups of Uthraki far below toiled to harvest crops. Only, as he looked closer, did he realize that they weren’t crops. Tiny, malformed creatures came screaming out of the earth as the Uthraki lifted them, before brutally silencing them with a quick smash of a hammer.

  “Mandrakes,” Edgar declared, as he walked up beside Jonathan. “Whoever is in charge here must have some sort of massive alchemy enterprise going. That’s the only reason something like this would be happening.”

  “I’ve heard of those,” Jonathan said. “Aren’t their screams supposed to kill you or something?”

  Edgar gave him a look. “Maybe if you were level 1. Mandrakes are born at that level, and aren’t usually given the opportunity to level up, precisely because of that. For Tier 4s, like those farming them down there, the sound isn’t even an inconvenience.”

  “I suppose so. What exactly are they used for, though? You said potions, but what would Uthraki be looking for potions for? There was no sign of such things in the previous layers.”

  “Well, there is another use for Mandrakes,” Edgar replied. “They can be used to make intoxicating beverages or substances far stronger than normal. A cheaper way to get past Resilience, without having to brew more powerful liquors.”

  Jonathan laughed. “Oh. Now I understand. The one thing nobody seems to be able to go without are their little vices. Even though Tier 2s and above don’t have to eat or drink, they still do a hell of a lot of the latter.”

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  “It is like that everywhere, I’m sure,” Edgar answered. “The gods themselves probably partake, in their own ways. Considering how much of an asshole most of them are, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had some all too human foibles.”

  Jonathan shook his head in amazement. “You really have changed. The Edgar I met all those months ago would never have sullied his mouth with such coarse language.” A laugh escaped from him. “But why, my good fellow, I am of a more upstanding sort! Do not impugn my honor!”

  “Oh, come off it!” Edgar exclaimed. “I didn’t speak like that.”

  “It’s all right,” Jonathan responded, still smiling. “Even if you still did, I wouldn’t begrudge you for it. It would be a stupid thing to care about, and more importantly,” he began, before leaning in close, “you are my friend, and nothing less than that. Don’t tell Arkanon I said that, though. I am supposed to be your liege, after all.”

  “You still are. Why can’t you be both?” Edgar asked. “All of your allies basically worship you, even if they don’t show it. Only Arkanon sees himself as somewhat of an equal to you, and even he knows his place.”

  “I-” Jonathan began.

  “No, I don’t want to hear that. All of the accolades that you have, you’ve earned them fair and square. Nobody has ever done what you did before. Don’t think that our desires to see you as a leader meant that you are a tyrant. Sometimes, a man needs someone to look up to. For many, that is you.”

  Jonathan opened his mouth slightly, but couldn’t immediately find words. “I… see. Well, I have to say, you did a much better job at explaining that than Arkanon did. I understand now.”

  “I’m glad that you do. Now, we have a realm to explore, and a circle lord to kill. Will you lead us to victory yet again, Jonathan? No, Lord Harlowe?”

  Jonathan and Edgar joined up with the main group once more, overlooking the plains below.

  “We have one task here,” Jonathan began. “To grow as strong as possible. Tier 4 is the highest realm of power any of us have reached so far, and it will likely be the longest as well. The further we go through the Hells, the longer it will take to reach the next Tier.”

  “Nothing good ever came immediately,” Edgar added. “The more time we take, the greater our foundations will become. Jonathan already is powerful enough to take on a circle lord at an equal level. The further we go, the greater his, and our, strength will be.”

  There was a cheer from the small party, and Jonathan gave them an appreciative nod. “I have come to realize that the Uthraki of Tartarus are not our enemy, nor a source of easy levels. We will not engage them in battle, unless they attack us first. Instead, the monsters of Tartarus will have to be sufficient.”

  “If worst comes to worst,” Arkanon declared, “I know the secrets of cajoling my species to my own ends. I can deal with them before it becomes violent.”

  “Damn, Arkanon. You really do lean into that image you seem to cultivate,” Jonathan replied, laughing a little. “You were a dark lord of sorts in Tartarus, I guess.”

  “And?” The Uthraki replied. “Strength is the only badge of success in the dark world that we live in. Honor and mercy can only come once you possess enough power to defend yourself and your own. I admit, I did rule as a tyrant in my realm, but it was as a benevolent one, of sorts.”