Underground city
I cast all manner of potent spells upon myself, my staff, and my chain, pushing my awareness to the limit of my capacity. Then I leapt from the edge of the stone circle to its center, plunging through the gateway into the unknown. Yet what, precisely, was the nature of this unknown? My instincts warned me that I had embarked on a perilous journey.
There were no disorienting sensations or discomforts, save for the fact that the exit portal on the far side was situated several hundred meters above the surface, high up in the vault of the colossal cave in which I now found myself. It extended for miles, and as I slowly descended, I was able to take in the sight of a grandiose city of an enigmatic civilization. It filled the entire expanse of this subterranean cavern, emanating a sense of menace and eeriness while simultaneously awakening my appetite and animosity. The illumination here was rather dim. Had it not been for my nocturnal vision and my personal infrared capabilities, I would not have been able to discern anything in this darkness.
Even a few kilometers' distance was not a hindrance to my ability to discern every detail. Thus, I was already observing the architectural intricacies of the structures below with the zeal of a pioneer. And then I realized the following: once, this place was home to fairies who had a particular fondness for spiders. There were traces of these arachnids: depictions of webs adorning the walls and rooftops, sculptures depicting centaurs with the upper body resembling that of a Sidhe and the lower body resembling a spider.
However, it was not this aspect that disturbed me about this city, and it certainly did not make me feel hungry or hostile. Rather, it was the abundance of scattered spider traps and signaling nets that alarmed me. In fact, two-thirds of this ancient city was covered in these traps. They were not merely located around certain buildings or houses, but rather, they were ubiquitous, covering the entire city with protective magic that must have repelled the creatures that inhabited the remaining parts.
Indeed, I could not discern any living beings in the vicinity. However, my senses detected a multitude of mental signatures, attesting to the existence of life in the city. The majority of these were in a state akin to anabiosis or a trance, their thought processes so suppressed that I might not have been capable of detecting their presence had my mental prowess been even slightly less acute.
The more I observed, the more my suspicions grew regarding my ultimate destination. In a recollection from my previous life, I had previously encountered information about an eerily similar location.
As I approached the nearest structures, my vision began to discern an almost ethereal shimmering of fine filaments. The moment one of these threads brushed against me, a subtle yet discernible mental presence stirred in the background. It was as though a dormant consciousness had been awakened. In response to this mental stimulus, its vital functions began to surge, bringing its body to full alertness, and moments later, the entity I had sensed rushed towards me with remarkable swiftness.
The astonishing speed with which the vital functions of this entity transitioned from a state of slumber to full activation was truly remarkable. In the span of mere seconds after I had encountered the signaling web, its owner was already on the verge of reaching me.
Thanks to Dracula's gift of perceiving life and manipulating prana and blood, I was able to sense the flow of life forces in the creature before me. It was clear that this was not a familiar substance, as there was no equivalent to blood in my previous experience. Instead, life flowed through a different medium, one that was not connected to blood.
With each step I took, I felt myself drawing closer to the webs of life, and with each web I touched, new minds were awakened. This, in turn, attracted more creatures towards me.
When my feet finally touched the ground, I counted sixty-seven entities approaching me with remarkable speed. The closest one was only a dozen meters away.
I became aware that I would not be greeted here with open arms. Thus, I erected a protective dome around myself, measuring seven metres in diameter — larger than permitted by the street's dimensions. Suspending the shield with the power emanating from my staff, I awaited the arrival of the first creature.
The power within the shield did not appear substantial. Its magical noose resembled that of a novice mage, and the soul-bound shells of the creature were not particularly impressive. However, there was a slight surplus of prana compared to the amount of magical energy present. This could be attributed to the fact that the magical beast, lacking reason and incapable of consciously controlling its mana, had merely learned to channel it in order to enhance its physical attributes. In this manner, it could augment its second nature, responsible for generating prana.
My assumptions were corroborated: I found myself in a realm akin to that described by Robert E. Howard in his works.
A centaur, whose upper torso resembled that of a dark elf, while its lower half took the form of a spider-like creature, charged at me with full force, travelling at a velocity of seventy kilometers per hour. The impact of its collision with my invisible shield momentarily disoriented it.
In response, I launched an arrow of focused light, which penetrated its head, causing a third of its body to vaporize. This was not merely a destruction but a complete annihilation.
It is worth noting that I had not anticipated such an outcome. Only through experimentation, testing, and analysis of its remains could I determine the nature of this phenomenon. What on earth am I thinking about? Why am I contemplating the potential use of its various parts for alchemical purposes?
While one of my trains of thought was introspectively delving into my own psyche, another was conjuring and activating a multitude of diverse spells. A third, meanwhile, was vigilantly observing the responses to the magical repercussions on my victims. Whether dissolved by corrosive projectiles or disintegrated by light, whether torn apart by darkness, incinerated in flames or frozen solid, this train of thought meticulously assessed the efficacy of each spell and the resilience of the victims' bodies against its effects.
The spells based on light mana and fire had the most successful results. The energy of these creatures resonated with them, causing a collapse on a spiritual level. Their spiritual structure was somewhat similar to that of the Kha'Ammarrians, but with a significant difference. While the penetration of the mutual spiritual shells in the latter was about thirty percent, in these monsters it was fifty percent. This made it challenging to determine where the boundaries lay. Had they possessed intelligence, they would have been formidable adversaries. Fortunately for me, however, they were mindless and unintelligent creatures.
Despite witnessing the fate of their kin colliding with the barrier, they did not hesitate. They continued to repeat the actions of their fellow tribesmen, with identical consequences for themselves. My task was akin to shooting targets in a shooting range.
The activity of the initial sixty-seven drowaders, disturbed by my signalling web, awoke three times their number. Ultimately, I terminated two hundred and eighty-three of them in the brief three minutes I remained here.
The curious fluid that replaced the blood of these beings served as a dual circulatory system for their souls' energy flows. With all their soul shells tightly interconnected, this substitute for blood was a veritable reservoir of life force, mana, astral energy, and the palpable fury of a sentient spirit.
It was like a concentrated acid to my shield, eroding and destroying it with each passing moment. I found myself constantly renewing the structure of my enchantments, restoring the integrity of my shield. Let me tell you, had I not been an archmage, it would have been a daunting task.
These creatures' bodies emitted a potent cocktail of energies that not only impacted my shield through physical force but also through their energetic component. Once their blood came into contact with my shield, the adverse effect was magnified manifold.. The constant maintenance of the protective barrier and its periodic renewal required a significant expenditure of mana from me, as well as intense mental concentration to prevent the moment of the shield's collapse from slipping by unnoticed. The Master of Magic would find it challenging to accomplish this task due to the rapidity of events and the increasing pressure on the shield with each new creature added to its burden.
Undoubtedly, he could handle three hundred or so creatures, but doing so would require the use of large-scale, energy-intensive spells that would inevitably attract the attention of other creatures. If my assumptions are correct, and all the dormant minds in this city are draiders — and there are tens of thousands of them — the Master would be overwhelmed. He would not be able to cope with the strain on his mana and mental resources, and the strength of these creatures varies greatly.. Among those who assailed me, there were several beings that moved with a velocity exceeding several times the velocity of sound. These entities were adept in the art of manipulating their internal energies, which permeated their limbs. The initial impact against my shield, delivered by the lead attacker, was swift and powerful, obliterating my defense in an instant.
Fortunately, I was well-prepared for such an assault, and the swiftness of its approach did not come as a surprise. I had the ability to perceive its movements with ease. In the instant my shield crumbled, I unleashed a bolt of light, striking one of the arthropods directly in the eye. As a result, I swiftly erected another shield.
As the entities ceased their advance, I resorted to my senses of vitality detection and mental perception to evaluate the situation. Within a radius of a few hundred meters, there were no discernible sources of mental or vital energy. All those that I had previously detected in the vicinity of my landing site were now arranged in a six-meter-high mound of lifeless corpses that served as the foundation for my protective barrier. The draiders navigated over the remains of their fallen kin. Whenever they collided with my shield, they sustained an impact, either on the head or the chest, which depleted my reserves.
How long would it take to purge the entire city of these entities? And I have encountered some of the most feeble signatures I have ever scanned. The portal deposited me on the outermost fringes of this immense subterranean metropolis of the drow. Yes, there was no doubt in my mind that I had arrived in a drow city. Ah, it seems I am stranded here for an indeterminate period. Fortunately, I have all the necessities for a prolonged journey in my dimensional pocket, not to mention the capability to manifest food from available culinary matrices — a cookbook that I began compiling during my initial days in the palace of Badoer.
However, this was not the most significant and distressing revelation I had encountered since my arrival. The true challenge lay in the impenetrability of access to the Egregor of the All-Encompassing and its limitless source of light. It had proven so effective against these monstrous creatures! Now, I must rely solely on my personal mana reservoir and my staff for support. I must convert my own energy into the energies of light in order to cast spells from the school of light. My capacity for holiness and power is no less than that of the All, yet the efficacy of this transformation from my personal mana to the light mana remains at seventy percent. Distressing, certainly, but tolerable.
Now let us commence the examination of the draiders. Among the debris, there were six individuals still alive, whom I had struck with lightning, and they were still convulsing.
I then scattered the bodies that had been piled atop the electrified ones. After removing the objects of study, I drew a diagnostic circle with mana on the smooth surface of the perfectly flat basalt path where we now stood. Ten minutes later, I had already processed the information obtained from the ritual regarding the magical tension, constants of this world, and its laws.
Having acquired accurate data on the new world's energy architecture, I promptly calculated and created a mental module based on these findings. This module took into account the newly discovered inputs of this particular cluster in the multiverse, incorporating adjustments to the local laws.
I installed this module in the area of my soul's sixth beginning, responsible for mental control and mana management during the process of creating magic.. Thanks to this addition, I have regained my control to its maximum potential in my home realm. It is a crutch, but I simply do not have the time to adapt my reflexes to the new wild environment through training and practice.
Having barely regained confidence in the efficacy of my spells and my own magical abilities, I embarked on the study of the chimera — a male drow hybridized with a giant spider. As I lacked knowledge of the true structure of a drow soul prior to the transformation, no information about dark elves was available to me. However, I gained valuable insights into draiders.
My goal was to fully comprehend the mechanism behind their magical heritage. It is known that the more they consume their kin, the more powerful they become, as it is literally encoded in their physical and energetic essence.
How they have not all consumed each other is a mystery to me, for cannibalism seems to be ingrained in their very nature. Yet, something appears to regulate this process, preventing them from evolving into the rat king of their species. They consume the carcasses of their own kind.
It was only after I had ventured a short distance from the scene of the carnage and taken refuge in one of the dwellings, where a creature, which proved to be the most nimble of all the drider-kind I had encountered, had previously dwelt, that I sensed the drider presence in the vicinity where the signaling webs remained undisturbed. Five minutes later, these awakened, animate brethren of the deceased drider began to disperse the remains of their unfortunate kin.
This suggests either a highly acute sense of smell on their part, enabling them to detect the scent of their kin's blood from half a kilometer away and emerge from anabiosis, or a remarkable aptitude for necrotic perception. I had hoped they would engage in a struggle for possession of the corpses. However, the unexpected development has confounded my expectations.. The number of chimeras that had arrived here was nearly equal to the number of those who had perished. Only a handful of older draiders remained on the scene, towing several bodies behind them for consumption.
Taken together, this suggested that the dynamics of relationships and hierarchical order in this enclave were clearly artificial in nature. It was not the product of evolution, but rather a finely tuned system. After all, these creatures lacked intelligence, but something silenced their instincts, activating only when necessary and within strictly defined roles for each individual. Observing their movements in a tranquil environment, shrouded in secrecy, I failed to detect a single instance of conflict or incident, which might be expected of wild beasts. Everything occurred without any attempt to challenge the supremacy, as exemplified by the actions of the alpha males, whose energy signatures were markedly distinct by virtue of their more prominent soul shells.
Thus, it is reasonable to assume that their actions are guided by the program, instructions, and regulations set forth in them. Consequently, it is not logical to approach the situation in a straightforward manner. I must gather a comprehensive database of identified responses from chimeras in various scenarios to anticipate potential reactions when the draiders encounter me for the first time.
My preoccupation with studying these entities arises from the fact that, despite my previous encounters, I am still uncertain about their true capabilities. So far, the individuals I have encountered in this city have been relatively weak. However, I perceive the presence of hundreds of minds within my range of perception, near the city center, only a kilometer and a half away from my current location. These entities, even in a state of lethargic slumber, surpass by an order of magnitude the brightness and strength of their awakened counterparts I have already defeated. Among them, there are several spiders with magical reserves equivalent to or even surpassing the master level, which is close to the limit of my own reserves.
It was imperative for me to gain as much knowledge as possible about these chimeras, which are undoubtedly the result of a divine curse colliding with chaos. The precise mechanism of this collision remains elusive to me, but it is evident that the dormant curse within the souls of Drow awakened at a critical moment, intersecting with chaos and distorting the essence of the curse.
As a consequence, the mental signatures of the chimeras and a portion of the controlling mental superstructure of the curse were completely eradicated from the mental realm. My current efforts are focused on deciphering Llos's intentions, but following the collision with chaos, a sprawling city of chimeras emerged, orchestrated on a scale akin to an ant colony. These creatures possess remarkable speed, strength, and a degree of resistance to magical effects, with their potency increasing the deeper one ventures into the heart of their territory.
Alas, I find myself in a predicament without any means of escape! The barrier that surrounds this city prevents me from returning to my familiar realm, severing my connection to the unified egregore. Moreover, my attempts to establish a link with the other dimensions have proven futile. The initial ritual I conducted failed to provide a clear indication of this realm's true nature, whether it is a distinct world or merely a fold in space.
Through the manipulation of darkness and shadows, I sought to delve into the shadow realm. My goal was to comprehend the scale of this world and assess the depth of my current predicament. The shadow plane of this dimension proved to be hazy and shallow, with a portal serving as the sole gateway to the shadow multiverse. However, this portal was tightly sealed by the divine magic of Svarog, rendering it impenetrable from both directions.
In essence, I am trapped in an ambush, devoid of any means to either enter or exit this world.
The realm in which I find myself is a domain inhabited by a swarm of spider-like creatures known as chimeras. In this situation, I cannot rely on anyone but myself and the artifacts I possess. There is no room for error, for there is no escape.
Yes, I am a creature of a caliber that could potentially disrupt the fabric of reality itself. However, the consequences of my actions may be catastrophic, leading to my own destruction. The impact of my magical manipulations on this dimension is uncertain.
But I must act with caution, for the fate of this world is at stake.
How long has my predicament lasted? Why do I find myself dwelling on the thoughts of Maria and Koneko, rather than reflecting on my own setbacks? Or, perhaps, their response to my sudden disappearance and the subsequent repercussions.
Let us not dwell on such melancholy matters. There is nothing I can do to change my current circumstances. Instead, I must focus on determining my next course of action. Gathering as much knowledge about this place and its local inhabitants is essential. The houses in the vicinity that I liberated from the draider's clutches will serve as ideal sources of information.
The grand residence, once chosen as the abode for the most powerful creatures I had vanquished, was in impeccable condition, save for the hall — the lair of the chimera. The hall was ensnared in its web, serving as a nexus for all the communication threads that were bound to it. The rest of the structure and its furnishings were pristine, protected by an enigmatic and fascinating spell of incorruptibility.
The essence of these enchantments lay in the displacement of physical objects in the astral realm, shielding them from the ravages of time. In this state, objects only manifested their true essence, having developed an astral shell. These spells formed part of the building's preservation system, activating automatically when a sentient being departed the room, and deactivating upon entry. It was a system designed for convenience, indeed.. The only thing that was peculiar about them was that they were not originally part of the enchantments of the buildings, but rather were powered by a source located in the city's center. And I did not sense any strong manifestations of magic in that direction, suggesting that the enchantments were designed to conceal and protect the source from outside detection.
At the same time, everything within my range of perception was protected by these indefinite charms, which were constantly active. It was reasonable to assume that this source was dozens, if not hundreds, times more powerful than Hogwarts'. Yes, these charms were somewhat energy-intensive. However, given that they covered all the buildings in the city, which numbered in the millions, the source at Hogwarts was quite different.
As I contemplated the matter at hand, I began to scrutinize the furnishings of the dwelling. Simultaneously, I sought for any source of information that might provide me with further insights and understanding of the situation.
The house in which I found myself now resembled the manor of the oldest and most noble family of my homeland. Every detail was intricately ornate, yet not to the extent of causing eye-watering splendor. The lines were strict, and dark colors predominated. However, there was a dearth of individual pieces of furniture.
Instead, the primary seating areas of the house consisted of stone projections from the walls, which were upholstered in unknown hides and filled with plushness. Upon further inspection, I discovered that these hides were composed of moss and densely rolled hair.
The ground floor of the edifice comprised but six chambers. The principal space, a vast hall, was reserved for the sovereigns. Commoners were relegated to a sizable area in front. The structure itself appeared to have been carved from a single block of stone, with every element, including the tables, benches, and cupboards, seamlessly integrated into the whole. The atmosphere was spare, devoid of embellishments, at least in the lower level.
On the ground floor, there was also a repository of arms, housing three complete sets of armor and weapons crafted from an unknown steel of remarkable quality, as well as three barracks each accommodating a hundred sentient beings. The first floor housed approximately sixty apartments, varying in their level of luxury. These quarters served as the residence of the leaders of this house or clan.
Some of the apartments were expansive five-bedroom suites, while others were more modest, comprising a single room with its own bathroom and toilet. In these apartments, I encountered numerous books and scrolls.
After testing a translation spell and extracting a module from the mental essence of a Babylonian fish, which enabled me to connect to the infosphere and translate and comprehend any language spoken by sentient beings, I ensured that I could now read and understand Drow. I then began to accumulate all written sources of information in my spatial pocket, intending to delve into them once I had thoroughly explored the premises.
Having completed my exploration of the ground floor, I ascended to the third level, where the matriarch of this household resided. Salvatore had been correct in his assessment, as the Drow indeed maintained a matriarchal society, a fact that became evident upon my initial inspection of the interior decor and furnishings on the lower level.
Of the dwellings on this floor, only a few were owned by males, with the majority being occupied by females. This was discernible through subtle nuances in the design of the rooms, as well as the predominance of feminine attire in the closets. These garments were primarily utilitarian in nature, suitable for both hazardous expeditions and domestic tasks such as cooking and other household chores.
The clothing was tailored to fit snugly, crafted from supple materials such as leather and spider silk, with occasional reinforcements in the form of steel or chitin patches. The sole exceptions to this trend were the ceremonial and ritualistic garments, which were found in abundance in the dressing rooms of each apartment on the ground level.
My exploration of the first two floors of the structure was conducted with utmost caution. I meticulously inspected each room for the presence of activated or triggered traps, whether magical or mechanical in nature. However, my search yielded no results beyond the confines of the chambers. The corridors remained devoid of any such hazards, which was somewhat disconcerting.
It is perhaps biased to view the local Drow community through the lens of a fantastical novel. Even ordinary pureblood mages often encounter more perils within their own homes than in this stronghold of deceit, treachery, and underhanded tactics. The defensive mechanisms of the entire building had been rendered inactive, and a cursory examination through the prism of magical perception revealed that the enchantments and mechanical traps were being manipulated from outside sources. The energy pathways that nourished the magical malevolence that had breached the defenses and subjugated the house converged towards the heart of the city. All other structures in this section of the subterranean metropolis that I could discern were also ensnared within this network.
The third floor of the house was entirely at the matriarch's sole disposal. There were chambers for servants, a kitchen, and a modest conservatory. Within the conservatory, flowers, plants, and even trees were still in bloom, all sustained by enchantments that had never ceased to function. This, too, was peculiar. The magical contagion had a highly specific impact on the enchantments within the residence and the artifacts responsible for maintaining order. All magical manifestations tasked with preservation, cleanliness, climate control, and provision of lighting and water functioned flawlessly! The Trojan horse had targeted only the defensive measures.
Her study was adjoining the matriarch's private chamber, which was a repository of a vast collection of books. Some of these tomes were written in languages that were not associated with the Drow or any other elven race. Among them, there were a few that I recognized as being written in the languages used by the human inhabitants of this world. One of them appeared to be in a language associated with demons, while the most intriguing of all was a tome on metalworking craftsmanship by a dwarf, which had been classified as an artifact.
The book was a square tome, a veritable artifact. It contained perhaps a hundred pages, but these were constructed from some kind of metallic alloy and had a thickness of a millimeter, making it quite heavy for a human hand to handle. However, in reality, all the information was encoded within a mental construct embedded within the artifact. Regardless of how many pages one turned, one would always remain on the initial page. The page touching the top of the binding was magically transported to the end of the tome. The knowledge stored within this book would be sufficient to fill an entire shelf of man-made volumes spanning dozens of meters. This tome would undoubtedly appeal to Adair, and even I, as a non-magical metalworker, cannot wait to craft the steel described within its pages.
Having completed the third and final level, I descended to the ground level. In the armory, a small room with a table and a bed, I created a dozen illusory duplicates. After imparting to them the knowledge of the drow that I had collected, I began my own contemplation and planning.
It is evident that I must gradually purify this city of its parasites. My goal is to engage only with weaker draider forces in the event of a confrontation with a formidable adversary. Therefore, I must systematically clear each district, gradually moving towards the center once the entire ring has been cleansed.
As my illusions delve into the local texts, my conjectures regarding the past events remain mere speculation. However, for now, my understanding is that this place was once a hub of activity, with a thriving population.
Something went awry in the coupling of our universes, an event that occurred tens of thousands of years in the past. Thereafter, our world began to disengage from its new companion. This separation was so abrupt that it resulted in the extraction from the planetary crust of a vast expanse of material and mystical entities, forming a spatial void. This void assumed the shape of a sphere spanning several tens of kilometers in diameter.
It would seem that during this time, when all was in flux, with the boundaries of worlds torn asunder, in this city that found itself at the epicentre of these events, the fabric of reality itself was subjected to a severe strain. This strain caused chaos to erupt, transforming all the local drow into draider. When the breach was sealed and reality stabilized, there were no survivors who had not been transformed into monsters. However, this is merely a hypothesis, the first that came to mind as plausible.
My spectral emanations, which extended not only to the immediate vicinity of a hundred meters but also infiltrated all communication channels such as sewer systems and air ducts, failed to detect any traces of life beyond the presence of draiders. Thus, at the very least, this urban landscape appears to be an isolated ecosystem inhabited solely by a single species of undying chimeras.
Standing at the periphery of the city, I could perceive the existence of a protective shield that enveloped the entire urban area. At this juncture, I discerned that an immense amount of mana had been invested in this shield, sufficient to withstand the concerted assault of multiple archdemons. Of course, I possessed the ability to breach this barrier. However, such a potent manifestation of magical energy would undoubtedly draw attention to my actions and consequently to my very existence.
And so it all comes back to the Draiders. In order to explore this gap, I must exterminate these hybrids. Only then will I be able to study the shield that covers the city and work on breaking it. I am convinced that the danger that threatens our world lies beyond the city walls. Therefore, I must overcome it and seek what Svarog has hidden here. There is something truly malevolent in the air, and my very essence is churning with fury, hunger, and the desire to find and annihilate its source.
These desires within me are dictated by my serpentine nature. And our implacable adversary in almost every corner of the multiverse is none other than the Spiders, our archnemesis. My prospective opponent is clearly a heavyweight, for the mere presence of their emanations in this void awakens my primal instincts. This will be no lesser foe than an Archidemon.
Good heavens! I must locate a demonic arachnid of no less significance than an archdemon in this realm that was once under the dominion of Llos, and vanquish it.
Very well, let us put aside the extraneous musings for the time being. Let us turn our attention to the matter at hand. And we must commence by eliminating the chimeras.