Evolution: A Warlock's Rise To Power

They were woken by the heavy footsteps of a dozen level 120 Elite knights marching down the street behind a horse. Lucan silently jumped and went to the window.

A feminine man sat on the horse in robes that matched his eye shadow. The name above his head informed the group that he was the level 125 Elite, Lord Mentas.

His voice projected into the air as he and the knights stopped in front of the Inn. "I know you are harboring a Traveler! You cannot deceive the formations that have been placed around the city. Knights!" He shouted. The twelve knights simultaneously drew their swords.

"Harboring a Traveler is betraying your Lord." Lord Mentas leaned back on the horse and let out an ear-piercing howl. Every person in the Inn froze in fear. They were locked down for 30 seconds. "The penalty for betrayal is DEATH! Kill everyone inside and bring me the Traveler." The knights didn't hesitate and started moving towards the entrance.

Lucan's heart pounded like mad as fear overtook him. The NPC Inn keeper that was so happy they decided to stay would die along with his family while they could do nothing but listen from upstairs. He wanted to scream in rage. Even if he couldn't kill a knight he would throw himself between the NPCs and give them a chance to escape.

He was on the verge of tears from the feeling of helplessness.

[Warlock's Insanity has been activated.]

Lucan lost control. The mental spell keeping him locked in place shattered. His feet started moving but not to the stairs. He was surprised, but so far, his insanity had only helped him out. He decided to lean into his insanity and submit to the path before him.

***

Lord Mentas had just ordered his knights to kill the traitors and capture the Traveler. He was surprised when a window shattered on the second floor. A Traveler smashed through the window and rolled onto the street before running away from him.

"AHHH!" Lucan screamed while running down the street. "Please I was lost, don't hurt me I am leaving." His fear wasn't fake. The insane Lucan wanted to abandon the dungeon and run away. He overcame the immobilizing fear by embracing the panic that was running wild through his body.

"Quick don't let him escape!"

The knights turned from the Inn and started sprinting down the street. Lucan waved his wand as a dozen copies of himself appeared. Each running a different direction.

"Don't fall for his petty tricks. The real one turned left and is heading for the eastern road!" The Lord yelled from behind the knights. His horse could outrun the knights, but he had been warned about the craftiness of Travelers. Lord Mentas played it safe and had the knights surround the man.

"NO! STOP! LET ME GO!" Lucan screamed in a deranged panic. He was firing off spells as fast as he could but the knights in their glistening armor ignored the pathetic damage and cut away half his health in 2 blows.

"Take him alive!" Lord Mentas shouted from the back.

Lucan caught a steel gauntlet with his face and went unconscious.

"Good, take him to my dungeon."

***

Silent Night was about to leap out from a nearby alley to help the unconscious Lucan when Lucy materialized from the shadows beside her and grabbed her arm.

"Not yet." She whispered to Silent as the knights began to carry Lucan away.

Silent Night was furious with herself. She wanted to help but a single rogue just shy of 90 was nothing compared to a dozen level 120 Elite knights. She retreated with Lucy and rejoined the others.

The party of 9 left the Inn silently and met up in an abandon building.

"We have to go save him before they lock him up." Silent blurted out as soon as she made it into the building.

"His sacrifice wasn't glorious, but he did make a sacrifice for us and the NPCs." Calder said. "We should make full use of it and come up with a good plan to defeat Lord Mentas. Lucan is smart. He will understand that we can't rescue him right away."

"You don't understand." Silent stomped. "He wasn't making a sacrifice; he was freaking out. I have learned a little, and he goes crazy when he gets worked up. He can't think straight."

"He will be alright when he wakes up though, right?" Hellfire asked.

"He should be." Lisel said.

"Ah! Little brown!" Silent exclaimed while picking up the mouse that was climbing on her boot.

"He has many ways to contact us once he wakes up." Lisel said. "Let's focus on a plan to get into the manor. Both the Lord and his dungeon should be there."

***

Lucan woke in a cold dark cell. All his gear and bags had been taken. He sat on the damp floor in commoner level 1 shirt and pants. The only thing he had left was Nilan the Great's ring. It was bound to him and couldn't be sold, traded, dropped, destroyed, or even taken off.

He checked his interface next. He was alerted that all communication was restricted. He couldn't contact Raze, the party, or even buy power.

"Damn it all."

'Why did I have to jump out the window? If I was going to flee, why not flee quietly out the back.' He sighed as he thought to himself.

Lucan was upset with the outcome. He hoped that the other players and NPCs were safe. He had no way of knowing their situation. No wand meant he was limited to his two telekinetic spells and his abilities, and his two spells would be greatly reduced in strength..

As he was about to take stock of his surroundings, the heavy door in front of him opened. "Finally, you are awake." Lord Mentas said while being accompanied by 2 of his knights. "Take him to the interrogation chamber."

A knight came in and put a sack over his head before dragging him out of the door. Lucan didn't resist and would have followed them, but he wasn't given the choice. The knight dragged him while jerking and tugging on Lucan, preventing him from getting his feet under him.

They made several turns and twists before Lucan was thrown into a chair. They strapped him down tight. 'Evolution' still had pain settings involved in the game, they could be turned up or down at any time. Then there was always the suicide button. No matter how bad it was, Brax could always chose to get Lucan out of it for a cost.

Lucan maintained a clam disposition as the sack was taken off his head.

"A rat that has been captured." Lord Mentas said. "What coven do you belong to?"

"I don't know how I wound up here." Lucan lied. "I was at home, then I was falling through the sky and landed in the Eldritch Battlegrounds."

"Ha." Mentas laughed. He reeled back and slapped Lucan across the face. "These eyes see through your tricks and lies. It is futile to deceive me. Your pathetic power is worthless against the likes of myself, the fabulous Lord Mentas. Answer my questions honestly and you may survive this experience." The lord said with a giggle.

Lucan's cheek stung be he bared through it.

"Now once again. What coven do you belong to?"

Lucan spit a mouthful of bloody spit to his side before answering. "I created my own Coven."

Lord Mentas smiled. "Was that so hard? Keep telling the truth and I won't have to trash that face of yours. Your petty tricks can't escape these divine eyes. Quickly answer my questions. What is your name?"

"My name is Lucan Quilldrake."

"Tell me who your Patron is."

"My patron doesn't brag about himself."

"While that's true, I want a name."

Lucan steeled himself. "I will not give you a name."

Mentas frowned. "That is true, but I can enter your mind if you don't wish to speak to me. There is fair chance you will lose most of your intelligence afterwards. Is your patron with the demons in the east?"

"No."

"Is your patron with Eldritch Abomination Covens?"

"No. My coven is the only one that my Patron has. He has no allies or relations here."

"Hmm, a low-level upstart." Lord Mentas had a realization. "Who else came with you?"

"As a Hand of my Patron I brought a single direct warlock with me."

"Where is he?" Lord Mentas demanded.

"Oh, I am never alone." Lucan said while taking a gamble. He activated the effect of Nilan's ring. Lucan changed the name of his character Nolan (written in the font of an NPC), a Rogue/direct warlock. "Oh boy, did the boss suddenly screw up? What kind of trouble are we in now?" Lucan said with over exaggerated facial expressions.

"So you are 2 souls in one body. This is the first time my eyes have seen something like this." Mentas said.

"Why can't I be 2 souls in the same body?" Nolan snapped back rather sharply.

"Very interesting. I would like to take you apart and see how this is possible. Unfortunately, I will have to devote a good deal of attention to your dissection and cannot afford the distraction right now. It would be better to keep you a secret right now and not turn you over. Don't spoil on me." He said while getting up from his chair. "Throw him in with the others." Mentas said to a knight as he left the room. Lucan returned to his normal identity.

"Do we have to do the sack again?"

The sack and dragging followed. Lucan was taken to a different direction and thrown into a cell with 20 other people. They were all asleep before he was thrown in and there wasn't even enough room for him to stand as everyone woke to see the newcomer.

After seeing the 20 Elite NPCs all level 115 or higher, Lucan eyes shone with Vigor.