Cathartic Bombing

I exhaled deeply, setting down my pen. I felt a sense of numb detachment as I set the final page next to the rest.

To tell the truth, I've been having problems with feeling intense emotions lately. While logically I know I shouldbe terrified of death by falling rocks or the ensuing suffocation that surviving would cause… I'm not. And that's more terrifying to me than the rocks themselves.

I've taken to talking to myself over the many empty hours, if only to hear a voice amidst the silence and the rushing winds. I speak of my plans, my hopes, my dreams, even passing random ideas, trying desperately to cling to what little there was left of me that could feel. How long had it been since I'd felt disgust at eating another human? Since I felt the fear of impending doom? Since I saw another living being?

I shook myself from my depressing thoughts.

Not that I can even get depressed anymore. That ability disappeared at the same time I stopped feeling sorry for eating another sentient being. Now I just live in a world of logic and absolutes. And for the life of me, even though it would be the right thing, the smart thing, the human thing, to aim for the surface tunnel and damn the odds… I can't. It's just not logical. Too much struggle, not enough reward. And even if I did reach the top, who would believe me? How many of them would kill me on sight, thinking me a monster?

How many would be right?

I finished slicing pieces of meat off of the Devil's back, absently wiping the blade on the bloodied cloth I kept for that exact purpose. I brought the strips of meat over to the makeshift stove, carefully placing them on the misshapen slates I used as hot plates. Soon, with a pulse of mana into the practice blades I had enchanted to give off a steady heat, I was treated to the sound of sizzling meat. It brought back memories of better times, of when Von and I made bacon. Tasty, tasty bacon. Not this poorly-made veal meat.

"…I really need to stop talking to myself. Other people might think I'm insane." I murmured, my voice smooth and even. Like liquid honey on my ears despite its' frailty. "Gotta wonder what I've missed, though."

I continued carving up the rest of the Devil's meat, separating various parts into their respective uses. The loins made for excellent steaks, the small strip down the middle of the back could be barbequed for an excellent flavor, and the legs could be slow-cooked as roasts. I had already devoured the arms and chest, including the surprisingly tough lung and heart tissue.

Once I finally finished the arduous task of preparing the last of the meat, I salted it with some of the rock salt Carn had pulled from the earth and wrapped it securely in one of the ratty cloths covering the wall that blocked the cold winter wind. I would've already cooked all of the meat, but that would both deprive me of a future activity to look forward to and ensure that everything I ate was cold. And take it from me, meat eaten at subzero temperatures tastes like frozen sand.

I picked up Carn's shoddily repaired pack, dropping the meat inside. I dropped all of my non-organic items in my Gem, and put all of my other miscellaneous knick-knacks in with the meat. Then I took a deep breath and, after one last look around my home of several months, tried my Mangekyō one more time. The familiar tug on my navel was as unhelpful as it had been all the other times I had tried it. I grit my teeth in frustration, my hourglass-shaped pupils splitting into three tomoe as my Mangekyō returned to its' normal form.

My last action complete, I began the long and arduous task of trying to walk through stone.

It wasn't actually that hard. All I had to do was imagine myself walking through the stone as if it weren't there. Of course, in practice, it felt like walking directly into a sandblaster, but it was safe enough that I was confident in using the technique. It's not something that I can use on anything except stone, for some odd reason, but it's helpful nonetheless.

Some long amount of time later, I breached the other side and stumbled into my first free steps in a very long time. I immediately froze, sending my Sight into overdrive as I searched the foggy future. Nothing. Pure blackness surrounded me, and not a sound could be heard. I was almost disappointed.

I stumbled forward, my thin legs supporting my weight as best as they could as I began to walk. Though relatively uneven at first, my pace evened out as my legs remembered the familiar motions. Of course, having the stamina of the emaciated skeleton that I was, I had to lean against the wall soon enough. Once I finished my rest, I was moving again, my old boots the only sound to be heard.

This continued for a very. long. time. I walked, I rested, I ate, I tried to sleep. For some reason, ever since I woke from my long sleep, I haven't been able to truly rest. Sure, I can close my eyes, and my awareness fades slightly, but I don't really sleep. I have a kind of dreamlike film settle over my mind, having the odd experience of being perfectly aware while I dreamt of many different things, from the beauty and warmth of the sun to the taste of a ripe peach. Then I rose once more, and continued my endless journey.

I took the only path I could, using my Sight to scope out all of the dead ends. As odd as it was, I couldn't see the path in front of me, merely the side paths. As if I had to traverse them by myself. And that's a frankly terrifying thought. What kind of creature can jam my Sight?

The only thing that kept me from turning back was the knowledge that there was nothing awaiting me back there. So I forged on. Step after step. Minute after minute. Hour after hour. Day after day. Year after yea— all right, now I'm just being dramatic.

I perked up, seeing a dim red glow ahead. I didn't cry out, knowing that the light could very well be malicious, but I did increase my pace to see what caused it. Finally, I reached the top of the slight incline, and looked down.

There was no tunnel floor. It was gone, collapsed, possibly at the same time the roof above us had. I didn't pay the broken floor any heed, but rather what lay beneath. A river, flowing slowly between banks of broken glass. A river of pure fire.

I blinked, falling back onto my ass in shock as I stared. My eyes… they revealed it for what it really was. A torture chamber for souls. I watched as one almost broke the surface, burnt almost to a crisp, before it was dragged back down and forcibly healed. It shuddered and screamed, voice a quiet crackle amongst many.

The Phlegethon. The fourth river of the Underworld. One of the few things shared by Greek and Christian mythologies. It's said to punish the wicked by healing them, so that they can endure more pain.

An eternal cycle of burning and rebirth. The birthplace of the phoenix.

The boundary between the Seventh Circle of Hell and Tartarus, the Pit of the Damned.

Fuck.

No wonder my Sight is on the blink, something down there is probably blocking it.

'So. Do I want to enter the Circle of Hell that's literally comprised entirely of people who were violent in life, or a pit of never-ending monsters?'

"Ah, who the hell am I kidding. I'm practically a monster already, so I might fit right in." I murmured.

I grimaced, my Sight warning me that the fragile ledge I stood on wouldn't hold my weight for much longer.

'Now… how should I get down?'

I can stand heat, hell, I made sure to make everything I own flame-retardant before I even became Von's apprentice. He taught me enough spells and cantrips to turn myself into a fireproof fortress, due to the sheer heat required to melt the likes of Mithril or Adamant. But would they last against the literal river of fire? My gut told my yes. My Sight agreed. So I tossed my bag onto the bed of broken glass, and leapt.

I closed my eyes as I hit the 'water', feeling the viscous liquid surrounding me. It burned, and yet I couldn't feel any of my limbs melting. If anything, they only got stronger as I clawed my way to the surface. I burst into the clean air, gasping for breath. I stumbled my way over to my bag, miraculously intact despite its' fall onto broken glass, and made my way over to the ordinary dirt beyond the glass. I collapsed, panting, my clothes steaming as they dripped liquid fire. Far above me, the ledge I had stood on finally collapsed and rained chunks of rock down into the river.

I felt… good. Better than I had in ages. I glanced down at my hand, shocked to see muscled flesh rather than a skeletal claw. I flexed it in wonder, searching for the tiny nicks and scratches that had scarred over during my incarceration. I found none. Not a single wound remained. However… despite my sudden health, my grey skin remained pale and smooth. Like velvet, rather than flesh. Creepy as hell, if you ask me.

I checked my feet for cuts, and found only slight scrapes to my pleasant surprise. I glanced around, trying to get my bearings, and immediately spotted the difference between the two sides of the river. One side seemed like a ceilingless black void, stretching on into nothingness. The other had a defined ceiling, all red stone and stalactites. I surmised that I had indeed chosen the right side, seeing as the ceiling was on the other side of the river, and Tartarus is known for its' black voids.

'Huh. I wonder if—'

And then the hunger hit. And oh my God, it hurt.

I scrabbled at my pack, devouring the shoulder of the Devil whole as my stomach greedily demanded more. A back muscle. A thigh. Three ribs. Then, as I polished off a fourth rib, my stomach quieted down. I relaxed, finally ceasing my hunger-induced frenzy. While ordinarily I would never eat so much at once, something tells me that the fire-water made it possible. But just to be safe…

I stood, now full of energy, and leapt lightly onto a thin plate of glass. I played a little game of hopscotch as I approached the river once more, making sure not to cut my feet on the sharp edges. Then, I scooped up a handful of the 'water' and drank it. It tasted like chili peppers mixed with Kool-Aid. Bleh.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing down at the river, and wondered whether or not fire-water could be considered organic. I somehow doubted it. So, after less than a moment of deliberation, I dumped the contents of the treasure Gem into my personal Gem and tucked it in my pocket. Then, with the former treasure Gem in hand, I leaned down and placed it in the 'water'. I could feel the spell on the Artifact working overtime, devouring vast quantities of the Phlegethon with startling ease. I waited patiently, too used to the passage of time to even fidget. Then, as the stream ceased being siphoned by the Gem and continued its' path, I tucked the now scalding hot Gem in my pack and hopped back over to the bank of the river.

I stood in the same spot as before, using my Mangekyō to pierce the slight gloom that pervaded the atmosphere. I made a mental map as I went.

To my back was the Phlegethon, as well as the entrance to Hell. Ahead of me, I could see a frost cloud as well as several dozen batlike creatures fluttering around. To my left, the Phlegethon stretched on into a vast wasteland with innumerable figures dotting its' surface. I followed the glowing river's trail with my eyes, watching as it fed into a delta. Beyond the delta, if I squinted my eyes, I could see a dull bronze castle. Five rivers fed into the delta, and one trailed past a thick wood comprised of trees that completely lacked leaves.

Yet, despite my incredible eyesight, I was utterly incapable of seeing the entirety of the Pit. The dark haze clouding the air, while seemingly transparent on its' own, was dense enough over long distances to obscure even the Mangekyō Kangeki. But even if the haze weren't there, I had the feeling that not even my eyes would be able to see edges of the Pit. Its' sheer vastness belied comprehension, and every square foot of it was likely crammed with monsters that would love nothing more than to kill me.

I could feel the pressure of the Veil around me, an invisible switch in the back of my mind that would allow my Eyes to tear aside the Mortal Plain to see the true nature of the Pit. I observed for a mere moment longer, then pressed the switch.

The change was immediate.

What had once been a smog-filled cavern was now a great mass of shrieking souls, whirling and shifting. The rivers leading into the delta were no longer water, but liquid masses of damned souls. The wall of frost was actually a great wave of still beings, ethereal and indistinct, all frozen with looks of terror or shock on their faces. I could see only glimpses of the other rivers, but I didn't have to see them to know that they were manifestations of human suffering. I turned, red eyes focusing on the river of fire I had just climbed out of, and took a step back. The sheer agony on the faces of the river's denizens was jarring. While before I could see the souls themselves, now I can see the details of their forms. I could see the river's ghostly embrace, shackling them to their eternal torment.

I slammed the switch to 'off', gasping for breath as the otherworldly pressure ceased. The river became a crackling flame once more, the souls no longer clearly visible. Damn. That had been… jarring. It made me wonder what kind of pain the Christian Hell had in comparison.

…I'm suddenly glad I'm an atheist. No hell to worry about, just eternal nothingness.

I hefted my pack, glancing over my spot once more. I've achieved everything I can here… which means I have to start moving somewhere. Through a horde of monsters. While holding an arsenal of blades I've never used before in my life.

…Fuck my life.

I poured mana into my Eyes, almost hoping they gave me laser vision or something. What with all the emotion I just experienced, the sheer revulsion I felt looking over the tragedy of the damned, it should have more than enough power. And yet, I felt nothing but the now-familiar jerking sensation around my navel.

'Ah, well. It was a nice thought.'

I sighed, checked my surroundings once more, and began my long trek to my destination. I would avoid the bronze fortress like the plague, seeing as anything smart enough to forge metals in this place is likely strong enough to pulverize me. I would head for the barren woods, instead.

Hopefully I would survive the trip.

To my surprise, I managed to get quite the distance without encountering a single monster. I would think that a human walking alone through their territory would be like ringing the proverbial dinner bell, especially since I was obviously weak. In my off hand, I clutched a cursed spear with an ominous design. Blood red, and pointed on both ends. An asymmetrical, veinlike design coiled around the shaft of the spear, the last remnants of the spear's origin.

It cost me an arm and a leg to get, but I managed to obtain one of the very few remaining branches of Tonelico, the Irish tree of life. The leftover bone fragments of the beast Curruid, while not enough to carve an entire spear out of, were easily absorbed by the wood of the tree once the proper preparations were used. Then, with Kuroka's help, I merged the two opposites, creating a blood-red branch that looked and felt like bone. Once I had finished crafting the spear, using only the Book's descriptions to guide me, I imbued it with a variety of different Enchantments, spells, cantrips, and whatever else I could get my hands on in order to make it mimic the original as closely as possible.

It's never going to be as good as the original Gáe Bolg, but it's damn close. By the Book's ranking, this would likely be about a solid B- Rank Noble Phantasm, while the original was closer to B+. I called it a resounding success, and was ridiculously proud of my invention. Until I realized that a two-meter spear is almost useless in the hands of a nine-year-old rookie. What was I going to do with it, poke someone? Even the Kangeki can only do so much to help.

I sighed, stepping over a divot in the ground at my feet. 'Well, at least it's better than nothing. I don't dare use any Holy Weapons, or any non-demonic weapons really. With any luck, the spear's monstrous origin will help me blend in a bit more.' I glanced at the large, red, serrated polearm. My electric blue hair, extremely long due to my lack of care, fluttered in the corner of my vision. 'Not that I blend in at all, really.'

My footsteps slowed as I decided to take a break. Miraculous health or not, malnutrition didn't help my endurance any. Even though I had made sure that my muscle tone hadn't diminished at all during my time in prison, there's only so much you can do in a space too cramped to fully stand. So even though I can match Von for sheer arm strength, I'm a fricking powder puff when it comes to literally everything else right now.

I sat down, planting my spear into the earth and leaning against it. It was cool against my back, and I took several deep swigs from a canteen full of nearly freezing water. While incarcerated, I hated having all of my water being freezing cold. Here, in the infernal pit, it's a blessing.

I glanced around, seeing no one. I had been following the Phlegethon for quite a while, yet I hadn't seen a single monster yet. Am I missing something?

I activated my Eyes, checking my surroundings, Nothing. My Sight had been nearly useless ever since I entered the Pit, so I was unsurprised to see barely a second down a given Path before each probability dissolved. 'Some help that is.'

I rose to my feet, lifting my spear from the ground, the crunch of the dirt beneath my feet beginning once more. I yawned, not out of actual tiredness, but out of boredom. Walking for long, indeterminate periods without any changes really starts wearing at one's patience. I glanced to my side, eyeing the large cold front that came from the river of ice. 'I wonder if—'

I froze, a chill racing down my spine. I knew this feeling. I whirled, trying to find what had set off my instincts. Nothing. Just the river of fire, banks of broken glass glistening softly in its' light. I cautiously moved into a ready stance, the point of my spear pointed at the ground and its' shaft braced against my shoulder.

And then pain.

I gasped in shock as I felt something tear through my ribs, stumbling back and turning to face my foe. I felt my feet catch on something, and then I was falling. Upwards. I bounced a few times, swinging by my bound ankles as I slowly spun to face a creature pulled straight out of an arachnophobe's worst nightmare. Eight beady eyes, each one larger than my head, a very hairy head, and ohgodwerethosefangs?

I shivered. The spider stared. Its' fangs glistened. I suddenly had the distinct feeling that I was about to become lunch. "Er… who… are you?" I asked hesitantly, hoping to keep it distracted for long enough for me to pull something out of my ass. My spear had been bound along with the rest of my body, and I somehow doubted I could free myself in any way not involving falling to my death. "I never really learned much Greek mythology."

It tilted its' enormous head. All around me, a gigantic web shifted as the spider began running its' forelegs across the strands around it. It began to vibrate, and suddenly the beginnings of a whispery hum built to a crescendo. A moment later, and entire words were perfectly audible. "Odd for one of your kind to fall to us." The spider whispered, its' web doing what its' vocal cords could not. "Do you not walk amongst your ancestors in the Spirit World?"

I blinked. "Er… no. I'm an atheist."

The spider twitched sporadically. Either it was having a seizure, or it was laughing. I honestly didn't know which I preferred. Its' next words came out slightly choppy due to its' continued twitching. "AmUSineg." It warbled. "No-god belieevore?"

I frowned. "Yes. Atheist. I don't follow any higher power."

"That would explain why you fell so easily into my web." It replied in what I assumed to be amusement. "A mortal with sealed eyes cannot see what lies in front of them. Pity you do not follow the customs of your people, for that would allow you to see us as spirits, at least. Yet, you cannot look for what you do not see."

'Great.' I grumbled. 'Cryptic bullshit. Well, at least the giant fucking spider is polite. Hopefully it's helpful, too.' "Er, if you wouldn't mind, could you give me some pointers on how to 'look for what I cannot see'?" I asked politely.

It tilted its' head once more. "I shall do better, should you wish. I can let you see all hidden things as a spider does, impartially and imperceptibly. Neither the gods above or the Titans below shall detect your gaze, and you shall see what no others can."

I blinked in shock. This big-ass spider… who is currently holding me in its' web… is offering to help me.

…Somehow, I doubt I'm getting out of this one alive.

I sighed. 'Well, it's not like it can't just kill me anyway.' "Sure. Go ahead."

The web hummed once more. "I need you to give me permission."

I frowned. If I had any other choice, I would take it. But as it was… "One question. What are the limits of this 'spider sight'?"

It paused for a moment, observing me, before replying. "There is but one. To remain imperceptible, no spider can look upon a greater being as they would a fellow. One cannot see what one cannot understand. Now. Will you accept?"

I sighed. "Yes. You have my permission."

I felt a sudden chill down my back, but I was distracted from it by the spider extending a single leg to touch my forehead. Then, an incredible force entered my skull, my eyes burning as if someone had poured acid into them. I could feel my brain melting, breaking down, dissolving into sludge.

My last sight was of a large pair of fangs, opening to puncture my skull.

…

I gasped, stumbling over my own feet as I felt my mind reel from the horror of the past few seconds. My knees crashed onto the bank of the Phlegethon, broken glass digging into my knees as I stared into space. That… was horrifying. What even was that? I know it wasn't a Path-Walk, I would've known if I were using my Sight. So what—

I froze, feeling something shift inside my mind, my eyes darting from side to side. Something was pressing into my thoughts, covering each one like a vile substance.

.

S͈̹̟̮y̏ͩ̃͆҉n̰͍̲̝̫ͪ̊c̪̥̳͕͞h͍͉̦̱͓̠͈r͈̬o̬̓̃ͣ̈͌̈n̩̙̞ͧ̎͊ͣ͜i̍̀̑ͮz̠a͊ͮͣ̈̎̚t̨i̛̩͉͓̮͉͛͑̽̿ͭ͗ō̮̳̠̰̭̦̺̎n̢̘̄͛ͫͩ: ̋͡7̥̣͓̱̙ͭͯͦ̊6̸̠̳͊̋͛͌̓ͤ̚%̱̤͒̑̕

.

My stomach clenched, spikes of agony lancing through my skull. I heaved, half-digested meat splattering the glass in front of me. Shivers wracked my frame, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as if I were about to be struck by lightning. My eyesight blurred, and my tenuous link with my Eyes dissolved. I gasped for air as liquid fire ran through my veins, my head throbbing as my sight blurred.

S̕͏y̶̷̧̧͜n̷̕͟͡c̷͟͠h́͏̛r̛̛ò̴́̕n͘͜͜͡͞i̕͜z̸̧̛̛a͏̕t̨̡͏i͏͡͞͞͏o̸͠͝n̵̡̢͢: ̵̧̀9̸͘2̵̡̀͝%̸͞҉́

My mind screamed as something tore into it, latching on like a parasitic leech. I could feel my mana fighting it, trying to kill whatever it was that was harming me. Blood gushed from my eyes, and I glimpsed one rapidly spinning Mangekyō in a piece of warped glass. I vomited once more, sweat pouring from my brow.

D͡͞i̧s̡s̷҉͡o͡l̴̨v̴͝͡į̷ņģ͢ ̸̛͡im̵̨͟p͞o̴̧r̷͟t̵͏e̵d͏́͟ ̸̨͢m͜͞at̴̶̛r̴̡i͏͘x͠

I felt a good chunk of my mana leave me, and the slimy feeling of whatever had attached itself to my mind seemed to disappear. It no longer felt like a parasite, or even like a living creature. It just… sat there. Like a disgusting slug.

I͢n̶̢͘t͏͘èg̸ra̸҉t̷i͞n̶g ̢̡҉e͘x̢i͢s̶̵ti̵̢n̵̕͡ģ̴͠ ́͘m̵̀aţ̕r̀ì͜x

My eyes burned. I probably screamed, but at that point I didn't care. I felt blood gushing from between my closed fingers as I clutched at my sockets, wordless agony tearing from my lips. I felt my magic pullsomething from me, much the same as it had when I first tried to use Divination. It came easily, yet I felt that whatever it was merely wanted to examine it. A moment later, there was a click, like snapping something into place, and the pain stopped.

Co͠m̶ple҉t͘e͏.

Blood ceased flowing from between my fingers, and I hesitantly pulled my hands away. There, swimming before my gaze, were several lines of spidery, shimmering text.

[All conditions have been met.]

[Blessing 'Spider's Eyes' has been assimilated into The Dream.]

[Side-effects of the Blessing 'Spider's Eyes' have been negated by 'Curse of the ?' and Title.]

I felt control of my eyes return to me, the Kangeki ceasing to draw on my mana as it returned to its' original form. I blinked, the odd text dissolving into nothingness. New text replaced it.

[Inheritance complete.]

[Racial ability has activated.]

[Assimilation has ceased.]

Name: Dee

Title: ?

Race: ?

Level: 25

Status:

-Malnourished (Severe) (-20 to all physical Talent Values)

-Curse of the ? (PERMENANT) (Negates all mental inhibitions and influences, both positive and negative)

-?'s Endless Hunger (PERMANANT)(NEGATED BY TITLE)

-?'s Freezing Chill (PERMANANT)

Talent Values:

MP: 155/155

Physical Attack: 40 (60)

Physical Defense: 5 (25)

Magical Attack: 70

Magical Resistance: 55

Speed: 30 (50)

Total Value

Abilities:

-Attack Magic (All) {Mystic} Lv3

-Archery {Legendary} Lv3

-Smithing {Legendary} Lv92

-Devour LvMAX

-Spider's Eyes LvMAX

-? {Godly} LvMAX

-Music Proficiency LvMAX

I blinked. Holy shit. Is this some kind of joke? Spider's Eyes lets me see statsheets? No. That would make no sense. A spider wouldn't know what numbers even are, much less how to use them. It's probably some kind of scrying ability, like clairvoyance.

I scanned back over my recent memories, looking for some clue. There was that one message about 'Integrating the existing matrix'. Is that what it meant? Did it use my knowledge to make a version of the ability that I could understand? That would make sense, it was a blessing. Albeit a really shitty one. I mean, really? 'Side-effects negated'?

Fucking spider…

That aside, the question marks covering my statsheet are downright ominous. 'Curse of the ?' and '?'s Freezing Chill' probably referred to either my title or my race, both of which being question marks. But what about the one unknown ability? I kind of wished it actually explained that kind of thing, but that would just be stupid.

I mean honestly, definitive numbers and complete explanations for every single skill I have? That would just be stupidly overpowered. This is a scrying ability for God's sake, not a God-Tier omnipotent all-seeing eye. It's a guess, naming each ability according to both what I know and what the blessing tells me. The sheet even calls my stats 'Talent Values', further driving home how uncertain this thing is.

I sighed, finding the mental trigger to 'dismiss' the 'screen'. Immediately, another line of text scrawled across my vision.

[Devour and ? have joined to create a new ability!]

[Memorial Lv1]

[Memorial has leveled up! Lv1→ Lv3]

[Memorial has activated!]

[Memorial—For the love of spiders!]

[Choose one of the following bonuses.]

1. Spear Mastery {Basic} Lv13

2. Venom Resist {Basic} Lv5

3. Lesser Regeneration {Basic} LvMAX→ Regeneration {Mid} LvMAX→ Greater Regeneration{Advanced} Lv27

4. Agility +5

I blinked. Regeneration? Huh. What exactly did I have to regenerate during my walk? Why not give me 'Free Running' or something?

'Maybe there's a condition for Memorial to activate. It did say that 'Devour' helped to create it, so… ingestion? The Phlegethon? Did that cause it?'

I glanced over to the merrily bubbling stream of liquid fire. It didn't help much. No mystical insights from my new Spider's eyes. Damn.

I turned my attention back to the spidery text, knowing my decision already. The highest-level skill was also the most useful, so I tried focusing on it. It immediately glowed, and the writing cleared.

[Regeneration has partially negated the effects of '?'!]

[Remaining uses of '?'—11→ 34]

Nothing else happened, so I staggered to my feet. Whatever '?' was, it was apparently a lot more useful now. Yaaay. Still not worth the agony and excessive vomiting.

I turned, eyes widening as I saw Tartarus once more, this time with eyes capable of seeing the inhabitants. And let me tell you, Tartarus is stuffed with monsters. A lumbering cyclops stomped along in front of me, a harpy carrying a large scroll swooping low. A flame-covered fish-dog thing climbed out of the Phlegethon, shaking itself off and brushing past me without so much as a glance in my direction. Activating Spider's Eyes, I concentrated on the thing that had just crawled out of the river.

(Dog of the Pit)

[Telkhine]

[Lv. 82]

{Status: N/A}

…All right, apparently the fish-dog thing is a monster capable of killing me in less than a heartbeat. Tell me something I didn't know. Like, say, why it didn't kill me. That would be extremely helpful. Seriously, isn't he half-dog? His nose should be able to let him pick up the scent of human at fifty meters, never mind right next to me.

But wait. My 'Race' didn't label me as human. So… what was I?

I shook my head. No point in aimless conjecture. I had to find some way to—

"Excuse me, dearie, but you seem lost." An old, crackling voice interrupted my train of thought.

I blinked, turning to the side. A dark-skinned, wrinkled woman with batlike wings stood, looking up at me from her shriveled face. "Ah… yes. I am."

She nodded, and I concentrated on her.

(Spirit of the Curse)

[Arai]

[Lv. 54]

{Status: N/A}

…Yeowch. Even the old ladies can kick my ass.

She smiled thinly at me. "Might I be of assistance?" She asked, voice a soft creak.

I blinked. "Yes, actually. Would you mind telling me why no one has attacked me yet?"

She laughed croakily. "Oh, you must be new here. Honestly, those gods… they send them down younger every year." She turned, gesturing to the huge crowd of monsters. "These are the denizens of the Pit. All of them, each and every one, are the result of a god's curse. But because of what they are, they must follow the Ancient Laws."

I nodded slowly. "And… those are?"

"Simple, dearie." She smiled. "The Law of the Harvest. The Law of the Djinn. The Law of the Contract. All of the denizens must follow these laws."

"The Law of the Harvest?" I asked, guessing that the other two were self-explanatory.

"The most basic of all laws." She croaked. "You reap only what you sow. We are all protected by this law, and as such, we all fall under its' jurisdiction."

"What is the law?" I asked, irritated.

"All the creatures of the Pit must abide by it, even those who come from the outside." She repeated. "So long as it is kept, your safety is assured. The specifics are complex, but the main idea is as thus: don't bother us and we won't bother you. We repay violence for violence, mischief for mischief, magic for magic. We will not initiate trouble so long as you do not allow us grounds. However, should you provoke action against the least of our ilk, you open the door for even greater retribution from every other creature here."

I felt a chill. These are monsters, with more strength in their pinky than I have in my entire body. I would not survive retribution.

An old memory surfaced, skills I'd almost forgotten suddenly dusted off and shelved. My mind slowly creaked to life, my mindset as a former Revere kicking in to dissect the bat-lady's words. Thought Acceleration, a spell I'd all but ignored for the past few months, snapped into high gear as my mind tried to accelerate beyond its' natural limits.

Retribution would likely be these monsters' specialty—they've been trapped here for longer than Christianity has been alive. Knowing this, I have the distinct feeling that the smallest scratch on one of the monsters gave them full license to 'scratch' me with their bigger, longer claws. And God forbid that I actually killed one of them.

Law of the Contract was probably a way for monsters to trick unsuspecting prey. Each monster might have their own separate contract, which dictated what was and wasn't allowed. A contract that the monsters conveniently didn't mention. That way, they could carefully wait until the contract was complete, then claim their prize. Several of the meaner gangs in Naskapi had a similar law, a way of gaining honor and rising up the ranks through courage and cunning.

Law of the Djinn, judging by the name, probably meant that your requests were entirely up to the monster's interpretation. It meant that, say, asking one of them to pick you up for a better view would let them pick you up by the neck.

Actually, come to think of it, this was probably what the spider used to get me the first time through. It gave me exactly what I asked for, it just didn't mention that what I asked for would kill me. And since a corpse isn't covered under the Laws, it was fully within its' rights to eat me. It might've even used a clause in its' contract for extra leeway as soon as I gave my permission.

So… I guess that's a thing.

…

…

…

Fuck off, I've been trapped in a cave, bored out of my skull and freezing my ass off for the past half year. Pardon me if my 'people skills' aren't up to snuff. I was more excited to talk to another living being than scared of the consequences.

Something that had been rattling around in the back of my mind since Memory Partition activated finally surfaced. If all monsters had contracts… then what was the old lady's?

I slowed my mind, subtly reaching into my pocket and brushing my fingertips against my Gem Artifact. I was quickly realizing exactly how stupid I had been. Now I just had to hope that I was wrong about the seemingly nice old lady.

The Arai sighed, wings shifting. "My apologies, dearie, but I'm afraid our time is up." She fluttered her wings, taking to the air.

I watched as she left, slightly disbelieving. After the near heart attack she just gave me, she was just going to fly away? Not that I had a problem with that, but…

"Excuse me!" A hoarse voice cut through the clamor. "Would one of you strapping young men mind helping me for a moment?"

I froze, jerking my spear out of the Gem and bracing it into position in one fluid movement. One of the larger monsters, an ogre, turned to squint at the Arai. "Whatchoo want?" He grunted, scratching his hairy bum.

The old lady smiled sweetly. "Well, I'm afraid the catch I reeled in is a bit too big for the likes of me. So why don't you help an old bat like me?" Her smile turned unpleasant. "I'll split it with you if you catch it for me~!"

The brute cracked a wide grin. "Ugnar will help old woman, if old woman shares food."

The Arai cackled. "Good, good! I cede partial rights to my catch in exchange for your aid. Is this permissible?"

"Permiss'ble." The ogre replied, stumbling over the word.

She fluttered down to rest on his shoulder. "Good." She pointed a gnarled finger in my direction. "He's right there."

'…Sometimes I hate being right.' I grumbled, speeding up my thoughts once more. 'All right, so what do I have?' I summed up a mental list, slightly disappointed by how short it was. 'A Gem full of weapons I'm too weak to use, an arsenal of spells that I don't even know if I can cast anymore, and a spear that's too costly to properly activate. Fuck. Can I Reinforce?' I eyed my skinny form. 'I doubt it. It's been too long, and I don't know how much my body can handle. Maybe a bit, but I think that if I use more than the bare minimum, my limbs will start exploding.'

I grit my teeth, forcing my inert Circuits to life for the first time in months. Pain lanced through my entire body, but it was quickly soothed by a wave of energy from within my chest. I filed that away for later investigation, instead focusing on my current situation.

I squinted, powering my eyes as I focused on the lumbering brute.

(If it moves, hit it. If it doesn't move, hit it until it moves.)

[Ugnar]

[Lv. 95]

{Status: Hungry}

…Fuck. Shit. Shitfuck. Why the hell do I always manage to get in these situations? This guy is going to destroyme.

I glanced at my blood-red spear. 'Well, at least I read up on how to use this thing before the incident. It would suck to be left with a pointy stick and no clue how to use it.'

I focused power into my legs, then burst into action. I crossed the space between the cyclops and myself with surprising speed, bracing the spear as I aimed for his heart—

And was promptly smashed with a casual backhand.

I bounced multiple times, groaning as I felt my already weak bones pop from the strain. I struggled to my feet, using my spear to prop myself up as I looked up at the approaching monster. Ugnar laughed, not bothering to rush. I felt my ribs begin to pop back into place, miniature bursts of pain accompanying each one. I grinned, bloodied teeth showing as I straightened. Apparently 'Greater Regeneration' isn't just for show. I charged once more, ducking the initial backhand and slashing sideways with my lance—

Ow.

Stars burst across my vision as I felt something impact my head with the force of a speeding train. Both of my legs snapped like brittle twigs, and I could actually feel the broken bones puncturing my skin as the blow smashed me into the ground. I barely managed to glance up in time to see a large foot crash into my chest.

…You know, the Kangeki does jack shit when your opponent is stronger, faster, and all-around better than you in every conceivable way.

I felt my lungs collapse and my heart pop as the cyclops stepped on me, his enormous weight flattening my ribcage like a pancake. Then he reached down and pulled, my neck screaming and my flesh parting. My head came off with a hollow tearing noise, and my vision darkened.

Then, blackness.

I opened my eyes to see the river of flames once more. My limbs failed me as the trauma of the past five minutes crashed into my skull full-force. There was no vomiting this time, but my knees still got cut up. I focused on the pain in my knees, using it to ground me in the present as I tried to understand what had happened.

I was dead… and then I wasn't.

The first time, I was inclined to think it an accident on my part, a Path-Walk gone too far. But now? It was undeniable. I had gone back, back to the same exact moment as I had the first time. Back to the moment that… what? What had I done? Did someone cast a spell on me here? Did I eat something odd? Did I trigger some ancient curse?

No… I remember this place. It was the place I had triggered my Mangekyō.

My Mangekyō.

My breath caught in my chest. I never had figured out my Mangekyō's ability, no matter how many times I tried to use it. I knew that it would have something to do with time due to the Author's cryptic advice, but beyond that I was clueless. I'd never been able to use it before, no matter how hard I tried, and I definitely would've noticed being able to time travel.

…But what if, rather than allowing me to travel freely along the timeline, it only set 'flags' for me to travel back to?

One of the Author's warnings whispered through my mind.

…the price of the Eyes is both steep and permanent, preventing you from forgetting or changing the events that changed them. Even should you unlock the Mangekyō, the Eyes will never give back what you have sacrificed. Even should you gain a time-based technique, you will never be able to use it to resurrect the dead.

That's it. The catch. I can never go further back than my last 'flag', no matter what. And since my Mangekyō only unlocked during the cave-in, the latest I could possibly go back is the moment of Carn's death, when the ceiling was still collapsing.

Damn. That's harsh. What if I save before I realize I made a mistake? What if I die before I can save, and have to re-do months of work? What if I get captured rather than killed, and my ability can't bring me back? This ability restores my mind to my former body, but what if someone shreds my mind? Would I remain a mindless vegetable for the rest of my existence, or would I 'respawn' with my mind intact?

As hax as this ability might seem, it's severely nerfed by the sheer connotations.

I took a deep breath, opening my eyes once more. Hazy script greeted me.

[Due to the intense emotional trauma you have experienced, the Eyes of Misery have amplified your abilities once more! All physical abilities will now be 10% easier to get.]

[Memorial has leveled up! Lv3→ Lv5]

[Memorial has activated!]

[Memorial—There was an old lady with wings of a bat…]

[Choose two of the following bonuses.]

1. Spear Mastery {Basic} Lv52

2. Greater Regeneration{Advanced} Lv27→ Lv34

3. Agility +13

I blinked. Suddenly, I had the distinct feeling that integrating Spider's Eyes with my memories had given it my sense of humor. That's going to either get really annoying, or be absolutely hilarious.

Sighing, I chose the Spear Mastery and Agility. With my Kangeki, I had managed to read the cyclops's movements to the point that I was delivering the perfect strikes with pinpoint accuracy. If they had landed, I'm sure Ugnar would've been instantly incapacitated. That kind of skill, if developed enough, could probably be used to bridge the gap between levels.

That Regen boost, tho…

I stood, feeling my skin knit back together as I brushed myself off. At this point, I'm sure that the ? ability is the one granted by my Mangekyō.

I concentrated on myself, lines of spidery text writing themselves in the air.

Name: Dee

Title: ?

Race: ?

Level: 27

Status:

-Malnourished (Severe) (-20 to all physical Talent Values)

-Curse of the ? (PERMENANT) (Negates all mental inhibitions and influences, both positive and negative)

-?'s Endless Hunger (PERMANANT)(NEGATED BY TITLE)

-?'s Freezing Chill (PERMANANT)

Talent Values:

MP: 155/155

Physical Attack: 45 (60)

Physical Defense: 10 (30)

Magical Attack: 70

Magical Resistance: 55

Agility: 47 (67)

Total Value

Abilities:

-Attack Magic (All) {Mystic} Lv5

-Archery {Legendary} Lv3

-Greater Regeneration {Advanced} Lv27

-Smithing {Legendary} Lv92

-Devour LvMAX

-Spider's Eyes LvMAX

-Music Proficiency LvMAX

-Memento Mori {Godly} LvMAX

-Memorial Lv5/20

Huh. My stats rose, as did my level. Going by game terms, one 'levels up' through 'experience'. And since what I gain every run is 'experience', my relative level of power raises.

Too bad this isn't a game, though.

But… this is spammable.

I turned, looking through the crowd and pulling out my spear. If I played this right… well. The Kangeki allows me to learn physical skills at a phenomenal rate. Even if I don't have the raw speed I need to wield a spear, I can still kill someone through trickery or pure skill.

And besides… who says I can't use Memorial more than once? I did see something about 'charges' after all.

I grinned, spotting my target. I stepped forward, clearing my throat. "Excuse me! Noble warrior!" I called, projecting my voice.

Most monsters didn't even pause, and even fewer even glanced at me. Ugnar, however, turned to look down at me. "Who you talking to?" He asked, voice guttural and deep.

I looked up at him. He was eight feet and change, easily towering over me. "I have an offer for you."

He grunted. "Arright. Sure." He eyed me. "But what can shrimpy you offer mighty Ugnar?"

I smiled up at him. Time to roll for bullshit. "I can give you a way to heal from any wound, no matter how severe."

Ugnar frowned. "Wait… really? But Ugnar can already heal."

I nodded. "So you can. But how long does it take?"

His eyes glazed over. "Uuuh… a while?"

I continued smiling, my red eyes spinning. "What if I told you I used this method to heal instantly."

Ugnar lit up. "Really?"

I nodded. "I'll even make it better." I tapped the butt of my spear against the ground. "If you train me and keep me alive for the next month, I'll give you one favor."

Ugnar's face spread into a nasty grin. "Ugnar agrees. One month. No more. Then favor."

I smiled internally. The big idiot was ridiculously easy to manipulate, especially when one was used to playing the game with crime lords, gang leaders, and mob bosses. "Deal."

Ugnar turned. "Arright, shrimpy you. Let's train."

Predictably, Ugnar used his 'one favor' to score a killing blow on me the instant the month was up. I didn't even stop him, knowing that he was aiming to make my death quick in case I tried to fight back.

And so, I found myself staring into the river of fire once more. My skull throbbed as the phantom pain of Ugnar's fist hit me, but I managed to keep my nausea down to a minimum. I concentrated, powering my eyes, and the familiar spidery text crawled across my vision.

[Memorial has leveled up! Lv5→ Lv10]

[Memorial has activated!]

[Memorial—Some-body once told me the wooorld ain't gonna roll me, I ain't the sharpest tool in the sheeed…]

[Choose three of the following bonuses.]

1. Spear Mastery {Basic} LvMAX→ Spear Mastery {Mid} LvMAX→ Spear Mastery {Advanced} LvMAX→ Spear Mastery {Mystic} LvMAX→ Spear Mastery {Legendary} Lv16

2. Greater Regeneration {Advanced} Lv27→ Lv64

3. Agility +104

4. Pain Resistance {Basic} LvMAX→ Pain Resistance {Mid} Lv25

5. Swordsmanship {Basic} LvMAX→ Swordsmanship {Mid} Lv34

…Well fuck you, too, then.

I grumbled to myself, automatically choosing Spear Mastery and Agility. I was torn between Regeneration and Swordsmanship, until I realized I could gain levels in Swordsmanship much more easily than I could Regeneration. That put me in a fairly stable place, skill-wise.

[Regeneration has partially negated the effects of 'Memento Mori'!]

[Remaining uses of 'Memento Mori'—32→37]

I waved away the text, rubbing my temples.

While I had been training with Ugnar, I didn't need sleep like he did. So while he slumbered, I used my Regeneration to power-level my magical stats using the Phlegethon. My mana value seemed to be calculated as (my level*5)+30, but I didn't know if that was because of a flaw in the scrying method, or just a general estimate given my power level.

I was somewhat frustrated to see that only the gains that I had worked for stayed rather than the ones I got from eating the Devil, but that was easily remedied. By the time I finished my 'meal', my mana pool would be multiplied by a factor of ten.

I decided not to waste any more lives before doing anything, especially seeing as it seemed I had only 37 to spare. But still, that doesn't mean I can't take any chances at all. From what I remember, the Arai waited until I had asked three questions to turn on me, so that's probably a part of her contract.

I stood where I was until the Arai landed next to me, but I asked my first question before she could say a word. "Do you know what I am?"

The Arai blinked, croaking out a slow reply. "Cursed one. Frost spirit with a heart of ice. Pale skin, red eyes."

I frowned. "You're going to have to give me more than that."

She looked irritated. "Wendigo. Once human, transformed into a creature by the use of magic. A Wendigo is created whenever a human trapped within the bitter cold resorts to cannibalism to survive."

I froze. That… was disturbingly accurate.

"The Wendigo possesses supernatural abilities that make it impossible to escape. A hunter, immune to even the harshest climates. In addition, all Wendigos can Curse. It is an ability they possess inherently, a part of their being that none can deny."

She tapped the side of her nose, looking thoughtful. "Wendigos, while terrible, are least dangerous right after they are created. This is because the longer a Wendigo walks the earth, the stronger its powers become. The savage creature can eventually gain the ability to control the weather and to call upon darkness before sunset. The Wendigo also gains the ability to manipulate others and mimic human voices to lure the unwary to their doom. Its' speed and strength grow with age, as does its' ability to heal."

'My Devour ability.' I thought, a chill running down my spine. 'A Wendigo that Devours a human gets all its' stats. A Wendigo that Devours an entire village could easily be strong enough to match a small army.'

I've never heard of Wendigos before, though the name definitely didn't sound European or Japanese. I made a mental note to check the Book later, just to see what the Author had to say on the subject.

I scryed myself once more, a sinking feeling in my gut.

Name: Dee

Title: What Doesn't Kill You Hurts Like Hell

Race: Wendigo

Level: 36

Status:

-Malnourished (Advanced) (-15 to all physical Talent Values)

-Curse of the Wendigo (PERMENANT) (Negates all mental inhibitions and influences, both positive and negative)

-Wendigo's Endless Hunger (PERMANANT)(NEGATED BY TITLE)

-Wendigo's Freezing Chill (PERMANANT)

…Oh. Well. Fuck. Apparently I'm a cannibal spirit, now.

…I'm strangely okay with this.

Oh, well. At least my Title seems to block the worst of it. I wonder what a Title is in real-world terms?

'Ah, to hell with it. Might as well ask.'

"What is a Title?"

She tilted her head. "A title?" She croaked. "What mean you?"

I frowned. "A Title. Like… what others call you. What you are. You're a Spirit of the Curse, and that Telkhine is a Dog of the Pit."

"Ah, you mean a Legacy." She smiled a toothless grin. "A Legacy is the space one holds in reality, and as such, is the easiest thing to scry. To exist is to make a Legacy, for good or for ill." She paused, scratching her sunken cheek. "The more one forms one's Legacy, the more they are able to change the world around them. One with a Legacy of Steel would be able to bend all steel to their whims, and one with a Legacy of Fire would be immune to flames."

'…Well, I guess that makes sense. Now, for my final question.'

"What would it take you to leave me alone?" I asked, slipping a hand in my pocket.

She blinked in surprise. "Oh? You wish to bargain?"

I nodded. She chuckled, a screechy noise that grated on my eardrums. "Very well. What can you offer me?"

I eyed her, the beginnings of a plan forming in my mind. "I… I can offer you beauty."

She stiffened. "You what?"

"You said that all Wendigos can Curse, right?" I asked, silently hoping that I wasn't some bizarre exception to this rule. "Beauty is a curse. The more the beauty, the worse the curse."

She eyed me. "…You are serious?" She asked, an odd tone in her voice.

I nodded. "In exchange for all debts between us being cancelled, I will curse you with beauty. But." I levelled her with an even stare. "I don't know what the hell it'll even do to you. It is a curse, after all."

She smiled toothlessly. "I care not. Should you do as you say, all debts will be cancelled."

I nodded, hesitating slightly. "And… I would ask a favor."

"Anything." She croaked.

I was taken aback by her instant reply, but continued regardless. "Can you get me something that came from a Dragon? A tooth, a claw, a shed skin?"

She bobbed her head. "I know a place. I shall do this. Now. Curse me."

I smiled, inwardly sweating buckets. Time for the moment of truth. I extended a hand, resting it on her forehead… and Cursed her.

I really can't describe the experience properly. It was like… like someone covered my body in ice, and I was only freezing the other person because they were nearby. Nevertheless, it still worked exactly like it should. Even as power flowed out of me, the Arai changed. What was once a bag of wrinkles, was now youthfully smooth. Pure, snow-white skin covered her entire body, and her eyes were chips of ice framed by white hair.

(Spirit of the Curse)

[Arai]

[Lv. 54]

{Status: Cursed (Winter Beauty)}

She was a young woman, looking to be in her teens or early twenties, with a full figure and a simple white dress. She blinked in shock, stepping away from my outstretched hand as she examined herself. Then, she spread her wings and took off.

I sighed, watching her go. The energy that Curse had taken from me had not been small.

I glanced down my statsheet.

MP: 45/195

Yep. Definitely not small. I could power the basic attack of Gáe Bolg three times for that much.

I wondered if I was an amoral asshat for not warning her that most male monsters here would happily **** her.

I glanced down at my abnormally high Agility. Agility borne from many, many painful nights.

Nah. She had it coming. She did agree to be Cursed by someone she was about to kill, after all. Karma's a bitch, and it was only thanks to Ugnar that I learned of the way monsters bred. If she hadn't set him on me in the first place, then this never would've happened.

Now… to work.

After the last of my mana recovered, I activated my Mangekyō, concentrating and pouring power into them. I felt a tug around my navel, as if a rope were being attached, and smiled. Save complete. Now, for the main event.

I pulled out my bow, which had been unused this entire time, as well as one of my specialty 'arrows'. It was, in actuality, a long sword with a thin hilt and blue highlights. The blade was coiled into a perfect spiral, gradually shrinking until it reached a point.

Let me tell you, this thing was a pain in the ass to make.

I knelt and knocked it like one would an arrow, relying on the premade groove in the handle as a guide, and gathered my power. As I drew it back, I poured mana into it, using Reinforcement to alter it. It stretched, the already coiled metal tightening until it resembled an arrow more than a blade. And then, gritting my teeth in concentration, I Broke it.

The following burst of power blew back the ash and dirt around me in waves, rustling my hair and knocking back a few of the smaller monsters as red streaks of power gathered around me. By now, I had attracted quite a lot of attention, but I didn't care. As the coils of my arrow began to glow with blue light, I bellowed its' name and fired it. "CALADBOLG!"

A blue corona surrounded the arrow as it fired, its' coils causing the projectile to spiral, twisting a distortion in space as it flew. A group of cyclopes were unfortunate enough to get caught in its' path and were twisted along with the space, leaving bloody trails of destruction and showers of gore.

The ground cracked, a ripple of pure force cracking the ground and lifting boulders the size of me into the air, the resulting incendiary force using the path of least resistance to flow underneath the now-airborne rocks in a wave of fiery death. The smoke cloud formed high in the air, twin condensation rings rippling outward. A moment of pure silence followed, deafening in its' suddenness as a brilliant flash of blue light glowed for miles around.

And then it exploded.

The blast tore through the earth, expanding from its' initial diameter of roughly ten meters to over a hundred in less than an instant. A spiral-shaped ribbon of smoke curled around the ball of energy, slowly dispersing as the shockwave hit, breaking bones and shattering teeth. The ball of energy persisted for a while, lazily growing larger and larger as it turned from an angry red to a cool blue. A warped hilt bounced away from the wreckage, burnt and melted beyond repair.

I grinned in satisfaction. Hard to make, harder to use properly, expensive mana-wise, but sooo worth it.

Caladborg itself is actually extremely impractical to use as a sword. It has a short reach and its' shape mean that it can't really be used to cut or slash things. It can really only be used to stab someone from close range, and even then, it would get stuck inside their chest due to the ridges preventing it from being pulled out. But as an arrow? Even if it destroys the blade, as an arrow it's way more efficient based on its shape alone, never mind the space-warping properties or magically assisted speed.

Whoever Archer was, he was a fucking genius. Sniping people with magical nukes with the force of Castle Bravo is just plain awesome. I just wish I was good enough to make some of the other blades he had warped into projectiles.

…Wait.

I pulled up my stats, feeling a sudden rush of wind as the blast disintegrated, air whooshing back in to fill the void with yet another shockwave.

-Smithing {Legendary} Lv93

…

…

…

'I wonder if you can use the Phlegethon as a forge?'

I took out another arrow, modifying it and drawing it back. Before I do any more work, I'd like to engage in some cathartic bombing. Caladbolg II leaves a blast crater around two thousand meters in diameter and seventy-five meters in depth. By the time I'm done, I should have picked off enough of the monsters to face the rest as they inevitably come to take my head.

I estimate that I'll start to crack at about four hundred on one.

I let the arrow fly.