In the chapel, Kaden’s proclamation of intent echoed and fell silent. He was determined to destroy Ghastos’s last vicar. “I can destroy it, right?”

  *Not yet. Entering the cyst will tell Ghastos the end is nigh. You will not do so until Ghastos has already manifested. Until he and I have joined battle.*

  Before she could continue, a black messenger crow landed on Kaden’s arm and spoke in Trella’s voice. “You need to come see this. We wiped out the followers in this area and something’s wrong. Sevin doesn’t have the courage to do what has to be done.”

  Kaden sprinted through the empty temple, passing zombie followers who stood, staring into the nothingness, waiting for Sevin to command them. Ghastos had gardens where angry vines with blade-leaves and flowers the color of ripe bruises lashed at him. [Soul Binding] wouldn’t activate, so Kaden ripped one whole from the ground, spraying red sap across the rest of the garden.

  [Slay-Berry Vine]

  These vines have evolved drenched in the power of Ghastos, god of violence and carnage. Their fruit will increase damage beyond what is normally possible, while channeling the sacrificial power to Ghastos. The vines must be fed blood and flesh regularly.

  It wouldn’t be possible to use here, even if some of the vines bore [Slay-Berries]. Ghastos could have all the power he wanted the moment they weren’t in his temple. Through the gardens lay a beach where dozens of zombies stood in the waves, wearing heavy armor. Once Kaden was sure they weren’t alive, he summoned Vip to dash through the sand.

  He told them to fight the ocean itself, Nurav said with glee. How much power did he gain from their deaths? They simply fell asleep and sank beneath the water. I would rather they bled into the waves, but sacrifices must be made. Quickly, move on. Within the trophy halls, your love waits.

  Like the wind, Kaden sprinted along the beach. He was fast, but not [Lightning Chevalier] fast. Vip outraced him—then slid to a top with a shriek. With her tail tucked between her legs, she came sprinting back to hide in his shadow. Kaden pulled her into his soul and drew Remembrance.

  But when he reached the edge of the beach, it flickered and became black as night. Torches burned on sandstone arches that rose into the darkness. Rough-hewn blocks made a floor uneven, with cracks and crags that made every step a cautious one.

  Two steps in, the vision defied Kaden’s mind for a split second. Torches moved with each step for as far as he could see. But he didn’t need [Relive the Moment] to recall that the Greater Abyssenian had also owned a realm that seemed unlimited, and that was an illusion.

  Shadows merged together into Trella’s Deception, which whispered, “It’s easy to get lost. Even we don’t know how far it goes. Follow.”

  Kaden activate [Relive the Moment] and followed, taking turns mounds of gore where zombies wavered. He found Sevin locked in a bitter argument with Trella, as he stepped to her side. “What’s going on?”

  “Look.” Trella pointed upward, then drew a [Mana Dart] and lobbed it.

  A sack like a jelly-fish hung from the ceiling, and within it, a figure writhed.

  “She wants to let one out. I say these are not followers, they give no power to Mortis, they are a risk we don’t need—and shouldn’t—take.” Sevin’s army of zombies had fanned out. “There are dozens. Maybe hundreds.”

  Trella looked to Kaden. “I know these things aren’t exactly people. They’re the leftovers of his trophies. I’m not even sure they’d have a form outside of this temple. But I can’t leave them like this.”

  I did not expect her to grasp as I explained. I mentioned it in passing, that they would not need to cleanse this place. They look as warriors, but one step beyond Ghastos’s influence and they are the memory of memories. Ghastos dragged them here and imprisoned them as trophies of his follower’s victories.

  “We have more troubles than grains of sand on the beach. We should focus on what gets Sara free.” Sevin spoke and Kaden understood what really pained him.

  [Advanced Leadership] said he was on the edge of a party break. That Sevin respected Kaden, even looked up to him, but that the [Necromancer’s] drive was focused like a burning beam of sunlight on the path that would get him to Sara. And yet, Trella, usually one for focus, had invested herself in this. Probably because of the time she spent captive in the crystal. “Sevin, move on with cleansing. Can you spare us enough zombies to mark the way out?”

  “Gladly.” He clasp a hand on Trella. “When Sara and the others are free, I’ll return and help you. We do not delight in suffering, but I cannot save the world. I will save her.”

  As most of his zombie horde moved away, it left Kaden to grasp her. Trella shook under his touch, and he was certain of the cause. “I wouldn’t have found my way here if not for your Deception. There’s so many of them.”

  “I didn’t send—I won’t. I can’t. I always loved being a [Shadow Blade]. Those who watch in the darkness never frightened me, not even the first time I used [Shadow Step]. But trapped in that crystal, I discovered they don’t just watch. They speak. And I know exactly how each came to be there, not dead, not living.” Trella’s grip on him would have hurt a smaller man. “I just want to release one. A test.”

  A trapped soul, bound for eternities, Kaden saw so many ways it could go wrong. “Nurav, if one of these things attacks us, can we kill it?”

  Curious that you should ask. I now hold three of the six altars. This temple belongs to no god or goddess now. It’s not a ‘vote’ as you would call it, Ghastos was the original possessor, but I contest his power now and he is not present to order otherwise. Any violence you commit will not be awarded Ghastos. And these, the trophies? They have no true life, but yes, they can kill you, and they can be slain a final time.

  Good enough. “You need to tell me where my beasts should go. I’ll have them spread out.”

  *Your dog has already returned to the entrance, the most important part. I explained to her the problem, the decision was her own. Her form is nimble, her speed quick, the traps did not deter her. The others I will send you images of.*

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “Go ahead.” Kaden leaned in to kiss Trella, then stepped back. “You’ve helped me do crazier things. Let’s see what Ghastos considered worth keeping.”

  Trella flung a throwing knife upward, splitting the trophie sack.

  Grey gel splattered down on the stone—and then a naked woman hit the stone, splashing it with a grey goo that dripped from her body. Her hair had rotted from her head, her eyes hollow, and she vomitted more goo before speaking. [Multispeak] kicked in a moment later.

  “You may lay seige to Astrophon. The city of the valkaries may fall before you, but you will not conquer me.”

  Trella drew a cloak from Inventory and offered it to the woman without word. She quickly wrapped it around her. As she stood, torchlight passed through the woman’s hands. She was not flesh and blood, and yet not ghosts like dungeons spawned. “You’re in Ghastos’s temple. You’ve been here a long time. You can leave the temple, but you’ll cease to exist. Trella’s going to free more.”

  “As many as possible.” Trella said quietly. She leaped up to snatch a single torch from the holder and stuck it in Inventory, marking the square, and began to move out, repeating the process. Some hit the ground fighting. Some curled into a ball weeping, but most, after Kaden explained, either stood staring at their own body, or followed Kaden, afraid to be lost in the expanse of the trophy room. Not all were naked. Many wore armor and carried weapons they’d died holding , and soon, the hall echoed with the murmurs of the freed.

  “I’m never going to be able to reach all of them,” Trella said. “Even if I was willing to use my Deceptions.”

  Kaden looked at the group in his wake and dumped weapons from inventory. “If you have weapons or skills that can damage these sacks, spread out. If you don’t, take one and move out. Free four of your fellow prisoners, then stay where you are to form a path back. Free others of Ghastos’s prison as you were freed and share my orders. When you reach an edge, take the torch from the walls and spread out. Leave only darkness behind you, and together, we will return to the light!”

  Your skill with Leadership has increased!

  Pretty speeches were all it took? Kaden could make pretty speeches.

  *Pretty speeches are not leading. Pretty speeches are words that change nothing. To lead is to create order in chaos. To enforce your will and convince others to join in it. To where will you lead those with nowhere to go?*

  Kaden had been thinking on that. “If you want to go to war, you need an army.”

  “Give me the [Levicon Blade]. I’ll keep harvesting those belts from the zombie followers,” Trella said. “[Ink Blades] don’t harm them at all.”

  “Be careful, store them in an Inventory cube as soon as possible.” Kaden gave her the blade and began to circulate among the released, using [Multispeak] to talk to the ones who seemed coherent, and handed out weapons and instructions to any he could bring around. “Gather the limp ones here. If someone has decided to kill you, return the favor.”

  Within hours, Kaden stood in a vast ring of torches. Thirty four bodies lay, not dead, but beyond life, empty-eyed or shivering, convulsing or worse. A small army of ill-equipped, half-dead ex-prisoners watched Kaden as he decided on orders. “We have to move them all out of here, across the beach and into the main part of Ghastos’s Temple. I have a friend who will help.”

  He dispatched the [Falcrow] and picked up a pair of bodies. “We’re not leaving anyone. If you’re not completely dead, you can lift. If you can’t lift, drag. Ghastos may have taken your life but I won’t let him keep your dignity.”

  *Next time, speak better,* Nurav said.

  Many of the trophies wept in the sun. Kaden had to lead from behind, urging them onward in the same way he’d gotten [Leader of the Pack]. Wait.

  Your group has grown by 107. Leader of the Pack is more effective. (1.9%).

  These were not lower level adventurers. Some were likely dead Centurions. There was no lower-level bonus. Still, eventually he reached a very crowded chapel.

  Sevin sent his zombies shambling out to make room, while Trella stood at the altar, gripping the vicar as she spoke with Nurav. Kaden had sent Trinity and Skully to their positions. With either a part of Kaden’s soul or their own, Ghastos wouldn’t be able to move the temple.

  “I need a favor from Mortis,” Kaden said. “They’re not dead. They’re not alive. There’s no place outside this temple for them, but you can open a portal straight to his domain. I want to throw the limp ones through. Mortis is…fair, right?”

  “He holds his own council, he makes his own judgements. But the god of death does not hold grudges and he welcomes all. It is possible that with his blessing, a fragment of them may find renewal. I will set up near the [Sphynox.]” Sevin raised his voice. “I will hold the portal for any who want to leave.”

  “And for any who want one more shot at Ghastos, one final swing at the god who captured you, stick around,” Kaden said.

  *What are you suggesting?* Nurav asked.

  She could learn along with them, Kaden decided as he cleared his throat. “Ghastos is returning. I can’t stop him. No one can. But we brought a vicar of the goddess of blood and suffering. She’s going to fight him. You can fight at her side. It won’t be a fair fight, but every nick, every blow, every wasted spell makes Ghastos weaker. For those who don’t want to fight, Mortis waits.”

  “Come,” Sevin called from far down the hall. “Leave behind your fear as you have already left behind your lives. I am no [Priest] but I will ease your passing as best I can. Mortis is patient, and I will offer you a path to his peace.”

  Kaden watched as his army trickled away. Leader of the Pack’s bonus shrank as victim after victim chose to face eternity rather than a fight they had already lost once to a god in the seat of his power.

  *We’re better off,* Trella send in code. *Better a handful that are likely the strongest and most determined. I’d rather a squad of dedicated soldiers than an army that will fail and flee.*

  He nodded, keeping quiet to give them time to decide. *If they want to leave, let them leave. We’re offering a final battle, one they will lose. I worry about Sevin. This will weaken him.* Part of him felt conflicted. The other part knew that escaping a god’s temple was going to require sacrifices, and the best sacrifices were the ones you forced someone else to make.

  *I had to free them. I had to. I couldn’t walk away knowing they were there. [Liberator] isn’t just a class. It’s a part of me.* Trella watched him expectantly.

  “I never doubted.” Kaden turned to his remaining diehards. Two [Beserkers], a [Paladin], a [Priest], a pair of [Shields] and four [Mages]. “Ghastos will return, but he won’t have the same power he did. He’s Forgotten. We’ve cleansed his temple of Followers without giving him any more power than absolutely possible. As soon as we steal his ‘Feast,’ he’s going to cut short his time and manifest, weaker, but still a god.”

  “We’ve got a goddess on our side,” Trella said. She stepped out of Kaden’s shadow. “She’s vicious. She’s bloody. But she’s willing to fight Ghastos so I can get my party members out. You can fight alongside her. Ghastos probably won’t care because Nurav is going to have his attention, but if you tip the scales—even the tiniest bit—you’ll deprive Ghastos of his Feast and help ensure he isn’t just forgotten. He’ll be gone.”

  The Priest approached them both. “Zurok is no more. I was a lowly priest, but the connection between a [Priest] and his god is absolute. I am the only remaining trace of his power, and I will fight. My very presence will enrage him, Heretic, even more than yours does.”

  [Party Tactics] gave Kaden a dozen possibilities of how to use this.

  A simple black messenger bird landed on Kaden’s shoulder and spoke in Sevin’s voice. “Kaden, I wish to show you a wonder of Mortis. You will need to leave your vicar behind. The secrets of death may not be shared with others.”

  Kaden handed it over to Trella, who flinched as she took it. She spoke clear and calm. “Don’t talk to me, I won’t talk to you. We’re not allies beyond this temple.”

  “I’ll hurry.” Kaden followed Sevin out of the chapel and into the combat area he’d snuck through. “I have to be honest, when you say ‘wonder of Mortis,’ I don’t exactly get thrills.”

  Sevin sighed and lowered his head. “Look at my status with [Identify].”

  The skill activated, and Kaden studied it. “You…dual classed as a [Priest]? Why?”

  “It let me preserve more of the souls as they passed through. Every soul lost is lost forever, but each saved becomes part of a greater cycle. And because I do not trust the blood goddess. I shared my fear with Mortis, and he confirms our peril.”