Jesse moved through the sludge of the sewer. To say that it stank would do it a disservice. It was far and away the worst combination of smells Jesse had ever had the misfortune to experience. The members of his group weren’t handling it much better than him.

  “How much longer?” Cleb coughed out, gagging.

  “I regret offering my services.” Lord Valrith added. He carried Aegis through the sewers, as she couldn’t wade through the liquid like the rest of them and nobody would make the dog swim through the vile concoction.

  Dan silently agreed as did the rest of the half dozen rebel soldiers they had brought along. They trudged through the sewer until they got to a point that was highlighted on Jesse’s HUD. He looked up at the stone ceiling. “Alright Tormund, you’re up. It’s right above us.”

  The young arcanescent, covered in foul smelling liquid and scowling, raised his hands. The stone began to fall away, splashing Jesse and a couple of the soldiers with the disgusting brown fluid. He had to fight the bile rising in his throat. A nearby soldier lost that fight. Soon a hole opened up above them and Jesse could make out the ceiling of a room inside. It was dimly lit. He didn’t hear any yelling, which he took as a good sign.

  “I’ll go first.” Lord Valrith said. He squared up below the hole and jumped. He defied gravity as he flew through the hole and landed on his feet within the room. He carefully set Aegis, the only mostly dry one of the group, down.

  He moved out of view for a moment before throwing down a rope that he presumably tied to an anchor. “All clear.” He said down to them. Jesse climbed up next; an act that was made infinitely easier by the hand he now had.

  When he pulled himself up, with some slight assistance from the empowered lord, he looked around. They had broken into what appeared to be a storage room. Barrels of various foods and liquids were staged throughout the room. Jesse figured it was likely the prison rations. Aegis ran up to him excited but didn’t jump on his or rub against him once she noticed he was covered in some less than pleasant odors. Too bad even for a dog that liked to roll on dead things, wow.

  Jesse walked over to the only door to the room and waited at the ready. He had his newly improved club, which’s head was now covered in vicious spikes. His shield looked much the same as it had before, though it slotted better with his new prosthesis. His heart thundered in his chest. I’m so close. Just have to push a little more and I’ll be with Becca.

  The rest of the soldiers and Tormund all finished climbing up a few moments later. Together they all stripped off the waxy outer layer to their outfits that they had donned to protect them from the sewage. Much better. It wasn’t perfect protection but they at least weren’t soaked any longer.

  “Okay, which way?” He asked Cleb and Dan. Jesse still smiled internally every time he thought of the man who somehow was named like one from his own world.

  After some hesitation the large man answered. “This way I think. We didn’t really go down here to the basement levels much. Let’s go get your daughter mate.” Cleb said, taking the lead. He had a sword drawn and a small buckler attached to one arm. His friend wielded a larger shield with a long spear. At his waist he had a short sword. Both men wore boiled leather armor, metal armor being uncommon with regular foot soldiers.

  They moved through the dimly lit halls quickly, Cleb presumably knowing the way to go. Everyone stopped as a high pitch wail came from a room down the hall. This was followed by a monstrous bellow.

  “It can’t be.” Jesse said.

  “A Necrescent.” Tormund finished his thought. The group turned toward the direction of the scream. There was a door there. It was heavy metal and they heard thrashing from inside it and scratching. “We should go.”

  “No.” Jesse said. “We should kill it.”

  “Why? The creature is a threat, we should avoid it.” Lord Valrith said.

  “Because I would want to die if it were me.” Jesse said. “But mostly it could break free and attack us from behind.”

  Tormund frowned but nodded. Lord Valrith didn’t seem convinced.

  Jesse walked to the door and peered through the bars. What he saw inside made his stomach churn. There was indeed a necrescent. It was chained against the far wall of the dimly lit room. Only on further examination, it wasn’t fully a necrescent. It appeared to be partly human. It let out another wail as its fingers and nails of its right hand elongated from normal digits into the monstrous claw sported by the creatures.

  The abomination writhed in pain and a machine next to it flashed with a red and blue light. At its center was a large crystal. It shifted in hue between colors and was connected to the creature by needles piercing its skin in several points on its body. The machine gave a quiet hum with each pulse.

  “What the hell?” Jesse said. He moved to the side and Tormund peeked in and turned pale.

  “I didn’t. Well I knew they were once people but I didn’t know how they were changed. That is horrifying.” He said. “We should see if we can help it.” Tormund added.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “We should leave it be and go rescue Rebecca. We are wasting time here. It’s no threat in its current state.” Lord Valrith said.

  Jesse thought for a moment. He did feel for the creature but was it really their responsibility? They might not be able to help it and every moment's delay put Rebecca at more risk. Then again, he really did have concerns about it coming from behind to kill them. Perhaps he should put it out of its misery.

  “Fine we will either quickly figure out how to help it or we will put it out of its misery.” Jesse finally decided.

  He swung open the door. He peered inside at the screaming and writhing figure and the machinery hooked into it. No it was a young woman. At least it had been at one time.

  How do I turn it off? Scan the device. He asked Golem.

  The AI replied after a moment. “Try disconnecting the needles. The machine appears to be draining her natural essence completely, while leaving her life force intact. I warn you though, her vital signs are erratic in her current state.”

  Jesse nodded. He quickly pulled the needles from the once-person’s skin. The screaming stopped. The woman looked up at him. Half her head was bald and her skin was blotched between a palid grey and a pinkish tone. Some teeth were sharp and jagged while others, like the molars, appeared to be normal. One hand ended in a claw of elongated fingers and talons appending a too long arm. Her other arm looked to be that of a normal human woman. Her legs appeared to be normal human legs, only one foot was much larger and also clawed similar to the hand. She was clearly stuck in a half transformed state. Had they left her the transformation would have completed and they would be stuck with another enemy to contend with.

  She looked into his eyes before something flashed into them and she began screaming and snarling at him. She pulled against the chains that bound her. After a moment she went still and began to seize. Jesse hesitated. What do we do? He asked golem. Is she too far gone?

  “Unknown. Her essence signature matches that of a necrescent, in that she is a void.” The AI responded, sounding almost solemn.

  Jesse pulled his club free to deliver a blow that would end the poor creature. At that moment though she looked up into his eyes, almost pleading. Pale skin, brown hair. She couldn’t have been older than Rebecca. Or what Nira was when she had died. He made a snap decision and swung.

  His club connected with the chains and snapped them from their housing on the ceiling. He quickly followed up with the other side. The woman dropped to the ground. She still twitched in her seizure. Jesse knelt beside her and reached for his bag. He brought out a crystal. He had no idea if this would work and if it didn’t, he was prepared to quickly end her and move on.

  He pressed the crystal into her monstrous hand.

  “What are you doing?” Tormund asked him.

  “I don’t know. These things absorb essence right? And that’s what’s powering these crystals. So maybe she can absorb this. Maybe it’ll stabilize her. Make her human again.” Jesse said.

  “I don’t know if that’s how it works.” Tormund said hesitantly.

  The crystal dimmed after a moment and the woman took in a sharp breath. Jesse moved to the machine she was connected to and found it housed several crystals, only these ones appeared processed or refined in some way. What? The Archon can use the crystals and essence technology? The thought came as a shock. He hadn’t seen anyone else using the technology inspired by the ancient people. He didn’t have time to fully contemplate the implications.

  Jesse pressed another into her hand. This process repeated until Jesse only had a single refined crystal left. He couldn’t give this one to her, could he? No. Whatever this was it wasn’t worth hurtinf his chance to save Rebecca. He might just have to kill this woman and be done with it. His former self railed at the idea but the man he had become accepted it as potentially necessary.

  Jesse stood and looked down at the half monster. She stopped seizing while absorbing the essence but her monstrous features didn’t disappear nor did they further develop. She remained the same. Jesse sighed. He couldn’t leave her to attack them.

  He leaned forward but in an instant her hand shot forward and grabbed his shirt that he wore over his chain armor. The other hand, clawed, lay limp at her side. Around him Jesse’s companions leveled weapons towards her. She opened her eyes and looked into his. He saw confusion in them. No malice or hunger any longer. Just confusion.

  “Hello. My name is Jesse.” He said in the local language. She returned a blank stare. “Uh what’s your name?” He asked. More staring. Okay.

  He stood. “Let’s go. We can come see if she is still around when we are done here. She isn’t a threat clearly.”

  “Are you sure?” Lord Valrith said, frowning at the woman who continued to stare at them. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

  “I am. Let’s go.” He responded.

  They turned and began walking away in the direction Cleb indicated. Jesse looked back and jumped in surprise. The woman had begun following them. She did so at a distance but half crouch half walked to keep up. We don’t have time to mess with it any longer. He thought as he continued walking.

  After being led a couple flights of stairs, the hallway they found themselves in soon opened up into a larger room. There was a table with a couple of chairs and a large metal door blocking the path forward. The room was silent as the group ran in. It was completely empty.

  “What? There are no guards.” Cleb said. “This is my old post. Someone should be posted here.”

  Jesse thought for a moment. Something was definitely off. Do you sense anything Golem? He asked mentally.

  “No but the thick stone walls interfere with my sensors. I am not able to scan much beyond the bounds of this room.” Golem said.

  Jesse sighed. “Well we’ve come this far. Let’s keep moving.” He couldn’t help but feeling he was leading everyone to a trap but what was he supposed to do? Turn back? He needed to get his daughter. Nothing would stop him.