Lair by Carl Stubblefield (recommended reading TXT) 📕

Nth were not entering the manor for some reason. Was the manor keeping them out? He couldn’t count on them possibly figuring something out in time. He didn’t want them contaminating the A.I. that ran the manor, and what havoc that would cause.

Realizing that he wasn’t totally defenseless, Gus muttered, “Nothing’s ever easy…”

But this time, a determination showed in his demeanor that had not been there before. It wasn’t supposed to be easy. And it never would be. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t come out on top. To be the person he imagined himself to be, without all the baggage. Or in spite of his baggage. Gus turned his eyes to the manor and set his jaw. Time to get to work.

Chapter Thirty-Three

The General

Sometime the previous day…

Methiochos evaluated what his observers had shown him. To be honest, he was expecting… more. He evaluated the last skirmish and ordered his Mantids to retreat when the super demonstrated a unique leveling event, allowing the warrior to fight at a much higher level.

It was unexpected to see the increase in martial ability, but one opponent could be managed. All evidence showed that this invader was all alone. Knowing this enemy a little more made him less impressive in Methiochos’ eyes. Observers could analyze and detect the use of skills and could determine stat levels, and his nemesis on the island had shown his hand.

There were powers to be sure, odd ones, but they would not be enough to retain the manor. Manticorps must have suffered immensely from his attempted coup if this was all they could muster. Oddly, they had not taken enough control to access its true power. He suspected that Archon knew what made the manor unique. Unique enough for any of the Factions to war against each other to gain control over it.

Time was still difficult to gauge. How long had he been in stasis? What had Manticorps become in that time? Did it matter? The most likely thought was that the interloper was Manticorps’ emissary. Had the intruder found it already? If so, then Methiochos had already lost. But if he hadn’t, there could be a way to finally overcome the Dark Nth.

Methiochos mentally congratulated himself for deciding to go with the sequential unlocking format for the manor instead of having everything readily available. Initially, he had done it to encourage those he had brought to do their best work, and he would reward them for their diligence by providing benefits and perks that the manor had to offer. Luxury on an island paradise. After their work was done, of course.

That dream was gone now, thanks to some traitor. He would need to clarify his memories by meditating and absorbing more energy, then he could remember who it was. The desire to know burned deep within and drove him to get back to full strength. With each session of meditation, he found that he was regaining both his prior stats, as well as his powers. The many years of hibernation had allowed everything to atrophy. But he would never be unprepared or blindsided again. There was always someone looking for something easy to gain from someone else’s work. Just like this invader. Never again.

He made plans to end this at their next battle. Methiochos organized his attack methodically. He would use a large phalanx of his infantry to tax the resources of the enemy. Once sufficiently weakened, he would send in his assassins to further harry the super. Then his gladiators would finish him as the other troops surrounded him, cutting off all retreat. With the nuisance dealt with, he could establish contact with the manor. Methiochos knew that if he could access level twenty-three of the manor, there was a chance he could cleanse the taint of the Dark and regain himself.

His army would have to be dealt with before then; the Dark had fully taken them and there was nothing left to save. He could turn them on each other when that time came. They were already willing to consume their fallen; it would be a small step to compel them to attack one another. It would be a shame to lose them, but he would have time once he cleansed himself. He would send them to secure the entrance and after he had regained his full powers, he would at long last leave this tomb of a cave. Soon.

Methiochos once again was disturbed by the betrayal that led to him becoming this thing. He looked at his ever-expanding body, transformed into what could be best described as a centaur with his lower torso resembling an octopus instead of a horse. He had many more tendrils than eight though, of varying thicknesses and lengths. It was fascinating and repulsive at the same time. A physical embodiment of his power to ensnare and control others.

Someone he had trusted had done this to him. He still did not know who the instigator was; that part of the past was still confusing and out of his grasp. He was glad he had not lost all of himself going into his hibernation; it was a close thing. With his preparations made, Methiochos allowed the tendrils to sink into the magma and he faded back into his memories.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Rocky Mountain High

Day 9 9:59 AM

1:15:11 remaining

Gus looked at himself and it was rough. His newly fabricated armor, despite being durable and functional, was gouged and worn. Much as he hated to do it, he needed to use the Kroutonium for armor. Gus figured that he would need to get into the manor, maybe make some armor of some sort out of the remaining Kroutonium plate and come up with a plan on how to get rid of the Dark Nth. He looked up at the tall building, from the edge of the same field where he saw it for the first time. That seemed like ages ago.

Gus tried to suss out how he could get back into the