I was by no means a Dungeon expert, but over the past several days I had been given a crash course in how they operated and what their purpose was. A Dungeon Core, I am certain, is not a creation of the Gods. My reasoning is thus. The Gods seek to increase their influence upon Aramyr through their servants and worshippers. To gain Faction with one, risks losing Faction with another. The Gods have rewarded me with power, because I would work their will. I am willing in this. Yet, nothing has been so rewarding of their favor than when I offered up a Dungeon Core to Gor. I was left wondering…why?

  It must be need. The Gods need these Dungeon Cores. Before, I had been unable to fathom why beings of such power could not simply take them? They are Gods, after all! No. There are rules which govern even them. They do not take the Cores because they cannot take them. Not unless they are obtained and freely given by their mortal servants. Therefore, it stands to reason that the Gods are not in fact the originators of Dungeon Cores. From whence then do they come? What power creates them? How is it that Fel Shards are able to mutate them? Then the most pressing question of all: Who was using Dungeons to seed these horrible Murk Worms and therefore spread Shadowmurk across the world?

  The moment I stepped forward and placed a boot upon one of the threads of Limbus Murk Worm Silk spread out across the floor, the Murk Queen reacted to my intrusion. It raised its ponderous head and swiveled it in my direction, opening its maw to display a wide opening within which a hazy, purple light glowed. A scent of rot and cinnamon filled the air, the sickening smell of Shadowmurk I could by now recognize. I gripped the handle of Wik’s Blade tighter.

  From behind me, the sounds of an Aulos provided a bolstering tune and Curmlough’s protection added to my already significant defenses.

  You are under the effect of Pride of the Bison!

  Your Natural Armor increases by 100%!

  There was little need for Octave or I to aim our strikes, there was plenty of Worm to hit. I began with a Minor Mana Tap to begin the process of regenerating my Mana pool, then I brought my summoned blade across in a vertical slash and the Worm Queen’s hide parted easily beneath the black blade. My cut exposed a raw, purplish under hide beneath the tougher, white outer layer of flesh. Placing the extra nodes into buffing the Blade had been worth it.

  The Worm Queen raged and bellowed a sharp, high pitched screech that made my ears begin to bleed and I cried out in pain.

  Murk Worm Queen has inflicted 24 Points of Sonic Damage!

  I cursed. I possessed layers of protection, yet nothing had blocked the Sonic damage!

  “Ord’s Blood, we need to stop its screaming!” I cried out. I cast a Minor Heal upon my ears and there was a pop when my ear drums were restored. Curmlough responded by blowing a great burst of air through the Aulos that he aimed directly at the Murk Queen. The air between the Satyr and the Murk Queen rippled and sound abruptly cut off from the Queen. I also received a notification.

  You are no longer under the effect of Pride of the Bison!

  “That attack drains the Aulos! I can’t do anymore until its Mana recharges!” Curmlough shouted.

  “Get to safety! No, wait! Try to help the prisoners! Octave, try a Sunburst in 3 seconds!” I almost tripped and fell as I barely dodged aside when the Murk Queen tried to whip me with the nub of its tail. I had seen my Dexterity attribute grow by leaps and bounds within Wik’s Web and the Armor of Shadow gave me an extra large bonus to it as well. Yet, I had never been particularly quick or acrobatic and my brain was having a difficult time catching up with my body in adjusting to my new quickness. My movements felt awkward, but on the bright side my clumsy dodging was working as I had yet to take a physical hit. I dodged another close call and I yelped, dropped to the ground and barrel rolled underneath the Worm’s head.

  Before I could regain my feet, Octave’s Sunburst flashed and the Worm twisted away from the Light in pain. Creatures of the Void continued to expose a weakness to Holy Mana. I took the opportunity to cast Bane Strike then dart forward to sink Wik’s blade into the flesh underneath where I guessed part of her throat to be.

  “Ice, Mana Burn, Confusion!” I yelled, activating each of the three enchantments one after the other. I chose Ice in the hopes that the cold effect would slow the creature down as despite its tremendous bulk, it was able to wriggle, twist and completely rotate its neck quickly in response to my movements and attacks. I chose Mana Burn to eliminate future Sonic Attack attempts by attacking its Mana directly and Confusion to attack its mind in the hopes of lowering its chances to land a successful hit upon me even further.

  Bane Strike and Wik’s Blade were a marriage made in the Heavens. The slice under the Worm’s throat instantly froze over with a thick layer of blackened ice that burned with a dull red color as the Mana Burn effect immediately went to work. I couldn’t tell if the Murk Queen was confused per se, but her movements became so erratic that several of the strands of Limbus Silk attached to her body snapped sending a cascade of old stones, books and other debris spilling onto the ground.

  “I don’t like the look of whatever that is!” Octave yelled. I knew something was wrong before the Cherub uttered a word. The Murk Queen still had full control of the Limbus threads attached to its body and so it was able to draw itself up and back like a puppet on strings out of my reach, I assumed to protect itself from my blade attacks. How I wished I still had Congruency Darts active! This would have been the ideal time to throw them, but instead I was stymied as the Murk Queen was out of reach of all but Octave’s arrows. However, when the Murk Queen opened its maw wider than it ever had before and the purple light down its throat built in intensity, my instincts took over and I ran for cover.

  “Look out!” I yelled and I dove behind a book stack just as a wave of Shadowmurk spewed forth from the Murk Queen’s mouth, accompanied by purple colored lightning that arced and spat like a thing alive setting books on fire and catching my left leg. I screamed as I felt terrible pain then a numbness spread across my lower extremities. I flopped upon the ground, my legs no longer responding to my commands.

  Mir’s Tears, I’m in trouble here!

  You have taken 28 points of Electrical Damage from Murk Worm Queen!

  I gasped in agony, but cast a Minor Heal, yet now I had another serious issue to contend with.

  You are within a Tier IV Shadowmurk area! WARNING! Shadowmurk Mutation time increased by 100%! Mutation Imminent! Exit area immediately or risk permanent mutation! Mutation will be randomly determined from Blight Dungeon list as follows:

  1% No Change

  24% Class Change

  75% Physical/Mental Mutation

  “Ord’s Sacred Blood, no!” I shouted. I was surrounded by purple mist, Shadowmurk, thicker than I had ever experienced before. I was blinded. I could hear the Murk Worm Queen moving somewhere above me, held aloft by Limbus Silk, but I couldn’t not pinpoint where.

  “Kenric, where are you?” I heard Octave cry.

  “Kenric! Over here!” Curmlough shouted, but I couldn’t say from which direction. The Shadowmurk distorted sound as well as sight. I was alone, my healing too weak and too slow to restore my legs quickly enough.

  I should have opened with Lesser Shadow Leech the moment I entered the room! Why didn’t I use Lesser Barrier of Light to block the lightning? I’m almost down to 50% of my Health from the Sonic and Lightning attacks alone. Even with Armor of Shadow protecting me, I’m no warrior. Curse my overconfidence and carelessness! If it hits me, Deathward will protect me, but only once. Any hits after that and I’m dead! I have to use Condemnation now before it’s too late.

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  It would cost me a point of Luck, but there was no other option. I closed my eyes and put a hand upon my chest as I had done when originally casting Purgation. I could feel Ara’s spell calling to me as I cast it, but where before the cleansing magic had left me with a feeling of warmth and comfort, the upgraded version stung me as if attacked by a hundred bees.

  One moment, I was surrounded by Shadowmurk and in the next it was if a great gale had come through and blown the poison clear across the world a heartbeat later. Condemnation scoured the Dungeon of Murk. It ripped the Limbus Silk threads to pieces and even set them afire. It was as if we were suddenly surrounded by thousands of fireflies, pieces of Limbus silk down to each individual thread burned from existence forever. That included the Limbus threads holding up the Murk Worm Queen, who crashed in a heap upon the ground and gave a weak screech in protest. I took note that the Fel Shards the creature had vomited forth before were now inert and lifeless as they lay in broken, smoking heaps.

  Tier IV Shadowmurk cleansed! You are no longer in a Shadowmurk infected area!

  “Ord’s Mercy, thank the memory of Ara!” I gasped in relief. I spotted both Octave and Curmlough, both looked relieved to see me but also shocked over what I had done. Yet, there was no time to celebrate. The Murk Worm Queen yet lived and though weakened, I watched it raise its head towards Curmlough, who was closest to it, where he was pulling off the burning remains of Limbus threads from four dazed and sickly looking individuals.

  “Leave them alone!” I shouted and the Murk Queen obliged by turning is head towards me again.

  “That’s it! I’m over here!” In a moment of inspiration, I removed one of Garfle’s potions from my Inventory and cast Spoor Blast with the Murk Worm Queen as my target. I was assaulted with the scent of Shadowmurk’s cinnamon and rot, but this time it was all a ruse of Gor’s divine power and the Worm undulated its way towards me and away from the survivors. “Hold your arrows, Octave! Curmlough, be ready in case it tries to use that Sonic attack again. Come on, Wik take your hide! Come!” I beckoned the Murk Queen closer, who hissed and opened its maw once more, not to scream, but to again prepare display a growing pulse of light that heralded another Shadowmurk attack. This time, I was ready.

  I popped the cork on Garfle’s Potion of Firebreath and guzzled the liquid in one gulp. It burned going down, but I forced myself to drink it all. I felt my gorge rise, but not from distaste. No, the potion had found my stomach, yet now sought release! My face flushed, my eyes widened and I stared at the open, approaching maw of the Murk Worm Queen in bemusement. It bled from multiple wounds, had golden arrows sticking out of it at random and had multiple burns-black spots upon its sickly white body. Now it sought to revenge itself upon the one it blamed for its pain. I was nearly overwhelmed by the sickly sweet stink of it and could hold myself back no longer.

  From my mouth erupted Wik’s Vengeance incarnate. I spewed fire down into the Murk Queen’s open maw and it jerked and tried to whip its head away as fast as it might, but the damage was done. Garfle had been a genius Alchemist once and his potions were potent. The Murk Queen’s mouth was on fire and it spread quickly to its outsides as well as further into its insides and I did not stop breathing fire for a full minute before the potion finally ran its course.

  “Wow, look at that!” I heard Curmlough cry out, but I was already staring. The fire was spreading all along the Murk Queen’s body and its head tossed too and fro as it wailed and spewed foul smoke from its mouth. I thought to cast Lesser Shadow Leech to hasten its death while restoring my lost Health. I needed no longer fear any more magical attacks either, as the combination of the Mana Burn attack and Minor Mana Tap had robbed it of nearly all its available Mana.

  Finally, the carcass of the Murk Worm Queen slumped to the floor dead, its carcass still burning. Curmlough cheered and I joined him. We had done it! Together, we had overcome another Dungeon Boss, this one far stronger than the last. I had notifications vying for my attention, but I dismissed them so that I might give thanks to the Gods, for it was through their blessings we had survived the Revelations of Cel Dungeon.

  “Wik, Lord of Vengeance, we have struck a deadly blow against the abominations of the Void in your name. Guide us as we seek vengeance for the innocents who have been taken. Cel, Father of Mana, though it be only a Mana Memory, to save a Library is to save Knowledge itself. Guide us as we seek to restore knowledge to this place. Gor, Lord of Beasts, we have destroyed a creature that was an anathema to your children. Guide us as we continue to wipe them from Aramyr forever!”

  “Yeah!” Curmlough cheerfully added.

  “Humph!” Octave glowered, as he dematerialized his bow and breastplate. I smiled up at him as he floated down to examine the remains of the Worm Queen.

  “Ord, Lord of Man, bless the Cherub Octave for guiding me on the path of righteousness as he fights bravely to restore the Abbey of Twilight in your name. May he continue to guide me as we come to our final challenge.”

  “Oh, well that’s really nice,” Octave snapped, although I noted he seemed pleased with my recognizing of his efforts at least. “Our ‘final challenge’? What, do you plan on getting killed and leaving me to do everything on my own? Need I remind you that if my summoner dies, I get sent back to the Celestial Plane? Are you gonna let the Satyr get all the glory?” Shaking my head, but not able to erase my smile, I walked over to Goodlabor’s silent survivors. They watched me approach with trepidation, but I held up both my hands and smiled.

  “Be at peace, everyone. The horror is over. I have purged the Shadowmurk from your bodies and you will soon be able to return home to Goodlabor.” I was about to continue, but the group’s lone female, Jenny Welmer, spoke up before I could.

  “Blessed Ord, an Angel! We’re dead! Damn that Sandoval to Hell! I’ll never see my husband and lads again!” She began to wail and cry and the three men, or rather two men and one surly looking Dwarf standing beside Jenny all stared at Octave slack jawed.

  “No, you are not dead and gone to Heaven. This is my companion, Octave and we…”

  “A Demon!” yelled one of the men, Burl Mayburry, who pointed at Curmlough who grinned back at him. “A fat, hairy demon!”

  “Hey!” said Curmlough. Octave guffawed.

  “Stop! You are not dead and that is not a demon! I have been to Goodlabor and freed them from Miller Sneed who had turned into a Murk Worm like this creature here.” I said, indicating the dead Murk Queen. I approached Goodwife Welmer and smiled at her kindly.

  “I was able to heal your son, Leif, Mrs. Welmer. He awaits you in town. Understand?”

  “Leif? My boy is at home? You saved them from Sneed? Oh!” Mrs. Welmer fell to her knees and reached out to take my outstretched hands. “Thank you! Thank you, Brother…?”

  “Kenric.”

  “Kenric. You’re so young! It don’t matter, does it lads? We can go home!”

  “You really cured us? We ain’t gonna be sick no more?” Burl asked. Silas, an older man, stepped forward and clasped one of my hands.

  “Thank ye, lad! I run the General Store in Goodlabor. You come by and see me after I set all in order and I’ll reward ye well!”

  “Aye, I shall too,” said the dwarf, Hanson Broadhammer. “I’m Goodlabor’s Blacksmith. I’m one who pays his debts and I owe you a big one, Brother Kenric.”

  “But where is Vicar Hamish? We were all captured together when we first entered the Abbey?” Jenny asked.

  “Who captured you?” I asked.

  “Prior Sandoval, but there was someone with him. A figure cloaked all in black. I could not see his face.”

  “Was it not Abbot Caspendeau?” I asked and looked at the four. Slowly, they shook their heads.

  “No, it weren’t the Abbot. This figure, he were big. Bigger than the Prior by a lot!” Silas said.

  “Aye, that’s right. And it made us all feel real uneasy to look at him. I remember the Vicar got real scared when he saw whoever that was. He told us all to run, but…next thing I knew, I woke up here and saw you and the Angel and the…hairy one.” Jenny said.

  “Haha, you’re the Hairy One!” Octave smirked at Curmlough who stuck out his tongue in response, which made Jenny giggle. I rolled my eyes.

  “Then just give me a few minutes and we will be away from the place. Once I recover the Dungeon Core, that is.” The question was, where was it? I examined the Boss’ corpse and swallowed. There was a light, golden and shining, in the Worm Queen’s central segment. Apparently, I had some digging to do.

  Ord’s Mercy…

  First, I would check my notifications. I felt good. Better than I had any right to after such an intense fight.

  It was inside me again. The Murk. That poison. It almost won. I may have purged it, but I feel like a part of it still remains squirming and malevolent. These people will never be the same again either. I need to find the source of it all. I need to destroy it! As the Gods are my witnesses, I will keep getting stronger!

  Something had changed, however, when I used Condemnation. I wanted to know what. A power that not only cleansed the infected areas, but brought about a ‘reset to Origin settings’ whatever that meant. The fact was, I needed Lore Sight. Condemnation was a power unlike anything I had ever read or heard about. It was a miracle in itself that I could remove Shadowmurk from a Sector. That alone would cause an uproar throughout Aramyr when word got out. The power had grown, but without Lore Sight, I could only guess and experiment to fully understand its implications, but experimentation with Condemnation was out of the question.

  You have permanently lost [1] point of Luck!

  I had already used the skill twice in this Dungeon and my Luck attribute was currently sitting at 11. I had one more cast of Condemnation before my Luck hit the minimum threshold and I would face penalties should I continue to lower it before somehow establishing a Well of Faith. I was doing things out of order. Prophets of the past had perhaps been given more guidance, whereas I was learning as I went. Luck was also a difficult attribute to quantify.

  Am I making myself unluckier? Or am I setting myself and my friends up for failure, because I am removing the likelihood of success?

  This was one of the reasons I had invested in the Mark of Luck Passive. I had hoped to increase my chances of favorable outcomes for anything involving the Luck passive and as long as I was sacrificing a point of Luck each time I activated Condemnation, then it was fair to assume Mark of Luck increased its chances of success. Had Mark of Luck been instrumental in my defeat of the Dungeon Boss? I could only speculate. I chose to believe it had and that it would aid me again in what I now felt I had no other choice but to attempt once I exited the Dungeon. I needed to absorb the corrupted Shard of Ara. It would be a roll of Sul’s Dice, but would my new Passive weigh the dice in my favor?

  I sighed and rolled up my sleeves as I turned to regard the Murk Worm Queen’s corpse. I would look at the rest of my notifications later. Right now, I had some digging to do for a Dungeon Core and it was likely to get real messy. There was very little in Ord’s Gospels about Dungeon Cores I could recall, save a brief passage in the Fourth Gospel of Ord in a conversation Ord had with the Archmage Deanna of Cloudless Mountain. Strange that I could recall it clearly now, but growing one’s attributes leaves lasting, if subtle, changes that eventually would make themselves known.

  And Ord turned to Deanna of Cloudless Mountain and in his wisdom did say, “If Mana is Infinite and is as Cel intended, then why doth it decay? Mana is alive, Mage. It is birthed, it doth live and shall eventually die.”

  “Yet I hold this,” and Deanna held forth the Dungeon Core she had taken from the belly of the Kraken slain by hers and Ord’s very hands not a fortnight past. “This was not born, but is. It shall not live, but holds life. It shall never die, but be reborn anew should I desire it.”

  And Ord did laugh, for he knew the secret of Dungeon Cores and had confided this once to the Monks of Tek and how the paradox had vexed them! Yet, it was a secret he could not share again, for it would draw the ire of the Purgatorium Mystics.

  “Mana is not Infinite, Deanna. It has a source. The Gods did liberate the Mana with the aid of the Purgatorium Mystics from its Infernal Jailers. Together, the Mystics and Gods nurtured the Mana. Allowed it to grow. A cycle was born upon Aramyr, but ever do the Infernals seek to take back what they wrongly believe to be theirs. Indeed, rather would they destroy all Mana rather than let others possess it. Yes, they could do it too.”