Sworded Affair

Chapter 172: Jonestown

The world returned to a scene of organised chaos. A heaving throng of flesh, packed tightly enough that it was a struggle to move, combined with the stuffy and stale air that indicated insufficient ventilation.

[How unpleasant, I never did enjoy taking the Tube during the summer.]

Emma was positioned at the very edge of the crowd, thankfully, allowing her to pry herself free and head into the mouth of one of many tunnels leading down into the darkness. At last, she realised where she was; something she’d only ever seen before in Minecraft: an abandoned mineshaft. Abandoned by the makers, at least; though she highly doubted that the rightful owner of this property was aware of the intrusion. Even with Emma’s limited understanding of cults, they never struck her as the kind of people to obey the law.

A cult they could only be, because who else would dress in hooded robes, congregate in their hundreds in an abandoned underground mine shaft, and pray towards an idol - carefully set at the centre of the chamber - that looked like an Old Testament Angel and a Dalek had a baby together?

“Today marks the moment of our final victory, three centuries to the day of this order’s founding! The end of madness and superstition, and the return of humanity to the light of science and reason, to build a golden future with our own hands, free from the corrupted powers above!”

The irony in his words was presumably lost on the preacher standing by the idol, as he exhorted his followers to bow their heads in worship.

“At the stroke of midnight, we commence the final rite. As we begin, the veil shrouding us from our many foes shall fall, and at their last, they shall mount one final, desperate surge to deny us victory. Stand fast, warriors of liberation! Our time is at hand!”

[WARNING: This Dungeon is unstable, and will collapse if unbeaten in 10 hours, 53 minutes.

Dungeon Objective: Defend the Idol until the ritual is complete.]

Emma heard the rustling of motion from behind, as two others joined her near the mouth of her chosen tunnel, shedding their robes in the process. One was a living vision of faith, looking for all the world like he’d emerged from a mediaeval painting. With a gleaming steel helm plumed in blood red, and a two handed mace half his height, his steps were strong and steady as he took position at the tunnel immediately to her left.

[??? - Level 16 Templar]

The other was a soldier of postmodern doctrine, his armour constantly changing hue as active camouflage matched his appearance to his surroundings. A bulky two handed rifle was his tool of choice, the bright lights and heat sinks apparent along its length indicative of an energy weapon. An array of grenades, a pistol and a combat knife were also visible, all strapped along one of several belts running along his torso. Prepared for anything, he claimed the entryway to her right.

[??? - Level 16 Operator]

“No names?” Emma mused, finding it odd, as there was usually at least a description to match the level and class, rather than question marks.

“Names are mere foibles, born of a lack of conviction, and the desire to define themselves!” The Templar exclaimed. “The faithful have no such needs.”

“Operational security,” The Operator concurred. “The less shown, the less a nosy precog can pick up. Wouldn’t want our ancestors killed before our birth, just because of a careless vision.”

That opened up a whole new can of worms, but before Emma could ask either of the two what they knew, and whether they were aware of being replicas in a Dungeon, the preacher gave one final roar of defiance and slit his own throat. As the final defenders took their position throughout the mineshaft, his life’s blood poured over the idol, and the end began.

[Scrap Scorpion - Level 20 Golem]

Flashes of light heralded the arrival of enemy units, a massive scorpion made of living crystal at the vanguard, reminding her of the grotto where Eden’s Echo was made. Behind it, a smaller swarm of similar constructs swarmed, ready to take advantage of any openings made by their big brother.

[Null Zone (Toggle:ON)]

Emma intercepted its crystalline stinger with Epitaph, Null Zone kicking in to stifle the glow around it, and thus, the main thrust was thus held in place. While Emma wrestled with the boss in a contest of strength, the smaller scorpions scurried around her, trying to make their way to the idol. To stop them, she called upon her newest summon, one acquired earlier in this very same dungeon. Duplicate did exactly as the name suggested, creating an exact replica of herself, complete with sword. It didn’t have all of her abilities, but it had her strength, and the dexterity and speed needed to cut down the small mobs that snuck past Emma herself.

As for the boss scorpion? The Leech King appeared behind it, biting down and letting his acid slowly eat away at its tail. It was slow going, the enemy being unnaturally durable, but there was likewise little it could do to turn the tide, not when its claws were too short to reach Emma at the front, and lacked the field of movement to strike at the enemy behind it. Emma parried one, two, and three jabs in turn, holding her ground and keeping the stinger occupied, all the while secure in her battle of attrition. She could have killed it by now, but the objective was to hold out, so Emma saw value in keeping the first and weakest enemy around rather than immediately spawning the next wave.

Eventually however, the acid did its work, and the massive stinger fell helplessly to the ground.

The Leech King began rolling in place, its massive bulk crushing the remaining small scorpions and leaving only the wounded boss behind.

Emma stayed her blade, doing nothing more than fend off the scorpion’s claws, wanting to see how the dungeon reacted to her stalling. Sure enough, after less than a minute of this, the telltale light of teleportation announced the arrival of a second wave. The Leech King surged, swallowing the first enemy whole.

[Scrap Scorpion defeated.

100 EXP gained.]