Before I could make a comment on the message that the System had just splashed across my view, another one flared into place that was of a far more familiar format and phrasing.

  Locate the Human-Era Armory Ruins that are the source of the strange weapons being used against the Ironclaw Clan. When found, remove or destroy any weapons and equipment that you can.

  Bonus Reward: Scout the ruins for illicit research to be secured and/or destroyed on behalf of the Dimensional Security and Repair.

  Bonus Reward 2: Potential for Disaster-class weapons present in location. If Traveler discovers one or more, they are requested to safely remove them from the world designated as ‘Cortha,’ without having to involve the Dimensional Security and Repair personnel.

  Reward - 4000 SP COMPLETED

  Bonus Reward 1 - Special Power Unlock (Guardian Track) COMPLETED

  Bonus Reward 2 - Power Expansion Token (Lesser) COMPLETED

  Traveler can claim Bonus Rewards at his convenience by accessing the Contracts menu.

  “Well that is helpful,” I grumbled under my breath as I felt the familiar rush of energy and saw my available SP count spiral up another four-thousand points. “I'm going to have to figure out what the hell to spend those on once I can take the time to inspect the others.”

  “I’m going to ask you to elaborate on that,” Valda asked, her tone low and stiff as she slid into place next to me.

  I didn’t need to glance at the other three soldiers with her to know they would likely be sporting matching bewildered looks. But a distant boom of thunder echoing down the tunnels reminded me of what was important.

  “I’ll fill you in on what I can while we head back,” I said in a rush, turning to start running towards the entrance.

  Valda and the three Ironclaw warriors fell in behind me without comment, though I am sure that was in part due to what they’d seen down here already.

  “First and foremost,” I said as we wound back up the passage towards the main staging room. “All four of you need to swear to not talk about what you saw down here.”

  Holding up a hand as I ran, I stalled Valda’s complaints and continued to explain.

  “There is more here than I can talk about freely, and I’ve given promises to not disclose too much. But suffice to say, those people who just stepped out of the walls earlier? They are the people in charge of keeping monsters and other more dangerous things from doing the same.”

  That statement made two of the three guards trip in surprise, but it was a testament to their hardened nature that none of them complained or demanded more information.

  “They are part of an organization whose job is very specifically to ensure that the barriers between worlds are kept intact. Valda, as a summoner, you can imagine what sort of trouble might occur if those barriers were to start to break down, right?”

  Valda’s hissed, wordless oath of surprise told me that she had some ideas of what sort of trouble might occur. I didn’t need to get into the whole matter vs antimatter thing that Cariad had explained to me.

  “The body?” Valda asked as we passed through the large anteroom and into the trapped tunnel, having to slow down to ensure we didn’t trigger any of the summoning traps.

  “One of theirs,” I answered grimly.

  I didn’t need to elaborate to these hardened warriors how upset the DSR agents would be to find one of their own kind having been converted into some kind of experiment. Most specifically, I didn’t want to explain what that experiment did. I only knew from encountering similar evidence in the past. The last thing the DSR and I needed was someone figuring out they could turn a dead daemon into a mana factory by burning up tiny parts of their reality as fuel.

  “And why didn’t they just step in and deal with this before we got here?” asked one of Valda’s male guards, I wasn’t sure which one since I was more focused on the distant sounds of continued battle.

  “Because it’s against their rules to interfere with a stable world. Their job is the borders between worlds and what actually happens on those worlds is for the locals to sort out,” I answered sharply.

  “Locals and Travelers?” Valda asked, her tone neutral but I saw the raised eyebrow when I glanced her way.

  “Travelers aren’t part of the DSR, that’s the organization that handles the barriers between worlds,” I answered with a shrug. “They work with us, to ensure our traveling between worlds doesn’t damage the dimensional membranes, but we are decidedly not part of their organization.”

  Reaching the large main room at the other end of the trapped hallway brought us to a stop. Several of our wounded were taking shelter here and bandaging injuries or applying tourniquets for the larger injuries

  “Report,” Valda barked as weapons were turned our way at our sudden arrival, only to be lowered when we were recognized.

  “The enemy has recovered and has made several attempts to break the line,” answered one grizzled, older warrior whose left hand was a stained mess of blood and bandages, though it looked like he still had all his fingers at least. “The student-mages are working overtime to keep the enemy back, but if this keeps going for too much longer then we will need to fall back into the tunnels.”

  “Numbers?” Valda demanded next.

  “They have us outnumbered at least three to one. If we didn’t have the mages, we’d be looking at a last-stand situation here,” the older warrior answered without hesitation.

  “Then let us be glad we have them, our mission is complete and it’s time to make the run back to our lines.”

  I tuned them out as they started to lay rapid plans for pushing through the enemy lines and making our escape. Instead, I turned back to the large iron door behind us and shoved it shut with a loud clang.

  Pressing with Manipulate Element, I caused the stone surrounding the door to bulge and flow outwards, filling in the seam, hinges, and locking the door into place. It could still be opened, but it would take another earth mage or hours of smashing at the rock to peel it back and allow the door to move again. And even then, it wouldn’t be quiet. It was the best that I could do to help the DSR folks still inside.

  I had no qualms in sealing Cariad, Cerebaton, and their warriors inside the ruins. I’d seen on multiple occasions that the daemons did not need traditional doors to travel. Having an early warning of intruders coming would be more than enough to let them get to safety or trigger their little ‘surprise’ that Cerebaton had mentioned regarding the chemicals.

  Thinking of the daemons again—especially those I called friends—I quickly composed a message to Cariad to let her know.

  Liam

  We are out of the complex. I closed the front door and used my earth magic to seal it up to buy you time. Our forces are going to be breaking through the enemy line shortly. I expect we’ll be dragging most of the enemy in our wake, but if some try to come down after you all, this should slow them down. Be safe, Cari.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I didn’t have to wait long for the reply, as it flashed into my mind via the System interface before I’d caught up on what Valda was planning. As soon as I read it, I fired off a quick reply with a small smile on my face.

  Cariad

  Thank you, Liam. I’ll pass it on to Mr. Cerebaton what you did to cover the entrance over. We are going to cause quite a ruckus when we leave, just make sure to stick to the planned line. The casket you mentioned is leaking volatile magic and you warned us away from the tanks full of caustic chemicals.

  I want to apologize for being so terse earlier, and when we have time I want to take some time to talk to you and catch up. I miss spending time chatting with you, Liam.

  Liam

  Sounds like a date, Cari. Take care of yourself and I’ll let you know once I’m home safe.

  “—get moving. Ensure the wounded can travel. At this point, start cutting into the magical restoratives. I know that a few of our students can heal, and we’ll get them to patch people up once we are safe, but we need to be mobile first,” Valda said as I approached.

  “Understood, my Lady,” the older warrior said, giving her a salute that was only sloppy due to his bandages before turning to one of the others and relaying the orders.

  “Time for the break-out?” I asked Valda and the woman turned and gave me a stern nod.

  Valda’s eyes danced over my shoulder for a moment and her eyebrow quirked up before she smirked.

  “Good work on the door. They are going to wonder if some of their own are still down there, holding out. That might slow some of them down. We need to get into the hills and break contact as soon as possible.”

  “If we are lucky, we might be able to trigger a rockslide behind us to further muddy things up,” I suggested as Valda fell in with me on our last leg up the sloping tunnel to the surface.

  “I’m not going to count on it,” Valda said firmly. “We need to get out of here and get moving as quickly as possible. We’ve had good luck so far, the last thing we need is to get the attention of another large war-party while we are outside the fortifications.”

  “Then let’s meet up with the others,” I replied with a grin full of teeth.

  My energy was returning after the earlier headlong battle. We’d gotten in and secured the weapons I’d been worried about. There wasn’t anything as dangerous as a magical tank or rifle down here, which was relieving. But the fact that the ancient humans had been using a daemon as a power source was worrying all on its own.

  Putting that aside, I reached out along my connection to the girls via Contact Contracted Companion to let them know we were coming back out.

  Kassandra and Rieka both sent back quick messages confirming what we already knew, while Jane replied with a terse ‘acknowledged.’ It was Shayla whose response got me moving quicker.

  Liam, they have reinforcements coming. I can’t get a good read on them, but I’ve spotted a larger force heading this way over the plains. The torches make them stand out, but we need to get moving. I was just about to reach out to let you know.

  Growling, I let my stride lengthen and my form flowed like liquid as Shape-Shifting gave me instinctive control and enhancements.

  Landing on all fours, my body became long and lean as a pair of bladed tendrils erupted from my back on segmented tails that were over eight feet long.

  Valda called for me to slow down, but I ignored her, my concern for the girls with these oncoming reinforcements taking control of my common sense.

  I reached the exit of the tunnel and the back line of our fighters at a sprint. Leaping upwards, I rebounded off the wall above their heads, sailing over the battle line to land amongst the enemy as they tried to push through. I spotted Jane’s puffy little mohawk as I sailed past, standing right next to Kassandra’s familiar red-and-brown coils, but I didn’t stop to greet them.

  Instead, I landed amongst the enemy in a tornado of claws, blades, and teeth.

  I’d done a lot of studying of large predators over the last few months, learning what made each dangerous so I could borrow what worked best.

  One of the things that always stuck with me was just how much of an apex predator cats were. And along with that the joke about how that was what made most housecats standoffish, they were apex predators, but small enough to be picked up and snuggled.

  This, however, was not true of the subspecies of big cats, especially not the one known as the puma, or mountain lion.

  Claws like razors flashed out and rent flesh. My flashing fangs tore weapons and shields away from their wielders. The impromptu addition I’d made of the bladed tentacles slashed, flashed, and stabbed, ensuring that each opponent I clashed with walked away with bleeding wounds at the very best. The cat's vastly improved sense of smell and night-sight helped me navigate with ease amongst the enemy that was mostly blind without torches.

  “With me!” I heard Rieka’s strident voice above the others. “We are getting out of here! Follow the Traveler, he’s got point!”

  In response to Rieka’s order, I voiced that terrifying dual-tone screech that mountain lions were known for, which did more than my claws to send the enemy scrambling away from me. Scrambling that turned into screaming and flailing as lightning, ice, air, and burning light cut into their ranks as my girls rallied in my wake.

  The next handful of minutes were comforting in their familiarity. I’d gotten used to how time seemed to stretch and distort in a fight, so I instead focused on each encounter.

  A slapping blow with one large paw sheathed in earth mana knocked a sword out of the way. Bite the bottom of the wooden shield and yank it to the right while rolling my left shoulder forward to send the blade of that tendril forward to stab into my opponent’s gut. Release the shield and yank my blade-limb free, but at an angle to send the injured and dying opponent stumbling into the man next to him. Move on to the next one.

  It only took a minute for Valda to land right beside me. Her new sword gleamed brilliantly as it was wreathed in bright flames as the skilled swordswoman covered my flank as we sliced through our enemies amongst a storm of spells fired from my girls and the student-mages to drive back our opponents.

  In the spaces between the flashing spells, I spotted the force that Shayla had mentioned. It was easily another several hundred warriors hurrying this way, and that was just based on the number of torches twinkling in the night. They were several miles off but approaching quickly. It was a good thing we were pushing to leave now rather than trying to hole up and weather the attack.

  The barbarian tribes waxed between terrified and rabid in odd waves. They’d charge us like they were bulletproof one moment, only for us to break that charge with a storm of magic and send them scampering away screaming in fear. Only for them to rally and charge back in a minute or two later.

  We made it through the ruined camp though, the Ironclaw warriors forming a battle line to allow the wounded to pass. The student-mages didn’t even need to be ordered to join the line, every single one of the exhausted spellcasters knowing that this was only the midpoint of the battle and they needed to keep going.

  It was Jane, my dear little scholar, who came up with the idea that got us clear. I knew it was her because of how quickly she took advantage of an unexpected change in the battle.

  I’d rotated about with Valda in tow to join the rear-guard of our forces once we were clear of the camp. Our troops were falling back up the mountainside and angling towards the distant pass when I felt an almighty rumble go through the ground underfoot.

  I didn’t have time to call out a warning before the excavation site exploded outwards. We were far enough away that all that hit us was a wave of heat and pressure, but the geyser of flame that burst like dragonfire from the mouth of the tunnel we’d been in only minutes before rose high into the sky, pouring over the enemy lines that had recovered the camp and had been hurrying into the ruins.

  That geyser of flames roared higher, like water under high pressure, and when it fanned out into a scarf of flames, I finally realized what it was.

  The daemon’s had made good on their plan, and ruptured the tanks of volatile chemicals inside the complex before triggering an explosion. That explosion had done what was natural for such reactions and sought out the path of least resistance to push the burning fluid out of the complex, which happened to be the passages and doors of the complex.

  I didn’t hear the spell, or even see Jane cast it, but I knew it had to be my mousy scholar who acted even as the geyser of chemical fire sprayed out over enemy lines. The wind rose up almost immediately, racing down over our group and catching the burning droplets that were spreading in all directions. That wind carried its searing burden back out over the enemy lines, raining fire over the camp, igniting tents, trees, and grass before fanning it into a burning hellstorm that cut us off from the enemy.

  “Fall back! Keep moving!” Valda screamed, the trained warrior-woman clearly recognizing the opportunity that this presented us as the fire spread into the trees.

  “But the forest!” protested someone, only to be shouted by Valda almost immediately.

  “I don’t give a damn about the forest right now. They set off some kind of boobytrap down there and whoever redirected it is a gods-damned hero! That would have killed us all if we hadn’t gotten out of there and could still kill us if we don’t get moving!”

  No more protests rose up at that.

  There was still some fighting along the lines as a handful of the enemy hadn’t fallen back in time to get sprayed. Those that remained fought with the ferocity of those who knew they had nowhere to retreat to. But it was ultimately a fruitless endeavor for them, Valda’s forces gave no quarter and neither did I.

  As soon as we could break contact, our group fled into the foothills, following our back trail towards the pass as the fire grew to consume the camp below. I felt it when the caves below collapsed, and even saw it too. The sudden rush of the ceilings falling in displaced the gasses inside the ruins, sending another gout of flames out of the entrance. But while the first one had been a blast of dragonfire, this was more a satisfied and defiant snort of flames.

  Now for the hard part, I thought, bounding through the night along the flank of our group. Getting everyone who remains back home.

  I didn’t want to think about the fallen, because we had definitely lost some people in the fighting. Almost everyone was injured to some degree and I had multiple wounds of my own, but we had finished the mission and now needed to get back to safety.

  Focusing with my remaining mana, I used Manipulate Element to smooth away any tracks we left behind that I could sense. I couldn’t fix broken branches or blood trails on the trees, but anything to slow trackers down would help at this point.

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