227. Immortal Rocks

Virtius Nyra, the Celestius of Aquarius, leaned back against a velvet couch. His pale-blue hair cascaded over the sharp edges of a shoulder plate, master-crafted from ornate silver. He was draped in a white uniform with silver trim — unmistakably the arcane work of skilled artisans.

He swirled a goblet of luxurious, century-old red wine, aerating it until the hidden aromas unravelled and rose to his prominent nose. It smelled wonderful. Satisfied, he gently raised the glass to his lips, letting the liquid wash over his palate.

Closing his light-purple eyes, he took a long, deliberate moment to savour the flavour.

“How is it, Imperator?” a soft, velvety voice whispered.

“Sublime.” Virtius opened his eyes to meet a pair of beautiful blue ones.

Raising the back of her hand to her lips, Elenore chuckled softly, the very picture of a proper lady. “It’s a relief it meets your standards.”

“Pray tell, Elenore, how did you acquire such a fine blood wine?”

“The seeds were imported from the north of the Eurian continent. For perfect cultivation, I tasked an architect with designing the glasshouse.”

“You have indeed exceeded my expectations.”

“Your kind words are appreciated. But that’s not all,” Elenore lilted, interlacing her fingers over her ample chest. “I personally oversaw the harvest myself. I wouldn’t let Serene get anywhere near it!”

“Of course, my dear. This is the best blood wine yet.” Virtius offered her a tip of his invisible hat.

Rumbling carnival music played in the background. A few metres to Virtius’s side, a full-sized suit of armour stood frozen, facing out towards the wide balcony. Virtius couldn’t help but find the silence from him unnerving.

“So, Whisper, would you care to join us for this wine tasting? The race can wait, we have one every year or so,” Virtius gestured.

“I’ve brought extra goblets!” Elenore added, her tone eager. “It’s Vinveil’s best export!”

Beside the rigid armour, the construct drone chimed to life. “The master whispers that he does not like wine very much.”

“I figured as much. Now, now, I highly suspect the Astral Empress ran off because of how unpleasant the Celestius mages are.” Virtius rested his cheek on his gloved fist and exhaled deeply. “If only the Celestius were chosen based on likability, this balcony would see some great camaraderie.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Imperator. I think not all of us are bad company,” Elenore’s eyes instinctively glanced at Nyrethein on her floating platform. The Celestius’s commentary on the race was still audible in the distance. “The Empress merely needs some time to unwind.”

“I certainly hope that is the case. Nyrethein has been nagging me since this morning. Thank the heavens above, she has new toys to chew on.”

“What was she nagging you about, if you don’t mind me prying?” Elenore asked, touching her lips.

“Something about strengthening Britainia’s defences. She pleaded that her country was dealing with pests… hence, her need for pesticide.”

“Ooh — What kind of pesticide?” Elenore’s eyes widened, her pupils glittering like a thousand reflective surfaces.

Virtius blinked his perpetually half-closed eyes before clearing his throat. “A prototype project of mine—”

“Everyone! I’ve brought you some refreshments!” Vivian Viberty announced as she emerged from the dark hallway, followed by two of her Novitcius mages. They wheeled in a food cart laden with succulent nourishment, one platter of which held a cheese board — perfect for the occasion.

“Vivian!” Virtius stood to kiss the Celestius ring on her offered hand. “I appreciate your endeavour.”

“It was no grand effort from me at all, Imperator,” Vivian bowed, dipping in reverence.

Soon, the Novitcius had settled the platters on the long, low table and departed back into the halls. Elenore picked up a silver pair of scissors, snipped a small bunch of grapes, and placed them on her plate. Then she simply popped one into her mouth, her movements remaining elegant and regal.

“Sweet?” Vivian probed, accepting the goblet Virtius had just poured for her. “Thank you.”

“It’s yummy!” Elenore chirped after chewing it.

Suddenly, the distant crowd roared at the top of their lungs. The very air rippled around them, far from ordinary cheers.

“That’s quite wild!” Vivian hastily placed her goblet down and rushed to the edge of the balcony. “Nyrethein must have truly fulfilled her role as the game master.”

“Whisper says something isn’t right,” Yappy spoke as Whisper pointed a firm, armoured finger at the giant golems thrashing at the challengers on the racetrack below.

“Sir Imperator! I think someone has unleashed your immortal golems!” Vivian cried out to Virtius, her voice frantic.

His pointed ear twitched. He paused mid-sip, the blood wine suddenly losing its taste. His eyes widened. “My what?!”

The ignorant crowds roared in waves as Zetius tumbled to the side, dodging the crushing attack of an immortal golem. The ground rocked with each heavy slam.

“Any bright ideas?” Zetius shouted to Pree over the chaos. The rock giants formed overlapping, impenetrable lines in an orderly fashion.

“I’ll try to run past them!” Pree exclaimed, weaving left and right between two foes, only to be blocked by a third.

With a mechanical whir, the golem rotated its torso a full circle, its fist sweeping the floor, aimed directly at Pree.

“Too slow!” Pree jumped, effortlessly evading the attack.

Its upper chest rotated, and unexpectedly, another set of arms arched at her with full force.

“Holy—!” Pree exclaimed, tucking her chin to her chest and curling her body into a ball.

The colossal hand swatted her like an insect, sending her spinning into the air.

“Pree!” Zetius’s heart dropped, but his legs were already moving. Calculated, he intercepted her mid-air just before she could hit the solid earth.

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“Are you okay?” Zetius’s voice cracked. He flinched as her wide eyes stared back at him, blinking rapidly. “You look fine. How?” He scanned her clothes and her body, but no injuries were found.

Pree smiled foolishly. “No worries, I’m actually pretty resilient!”

“You got me worried for no reason,” Zetius lowered his arms and let her down.

“Thanks!” Pree pivoted on her boot, rolling her shoulders in anticipation.

“Oh, guys! Those people are getting wrecked!” Cubie stated the obvious. Screams rose over the buzz of the crowd as the other arcanists struggled to get past the raging golems, to no avail. The wall of giants was sealed tight.

Joining Pree’s side, Zetius studied its movements. “Well, any brighter ideas?” he asked again.

“It seems we have to fight!” Pree brushed her thumb over her nose cheekily.

“Can’t agree more.” He raised two fingers, aiming at the golem’s shoulder. Red butterflies of energy coiled before a high-intensity fire beam erupted.

The shoulder joint snapped, sending sparks of mana outward. Its composite parts fell to the floor, shattering the cobblestones beneath.

“Nice shot!” Pree exclaimed, dripping with excitement. Her four fingers flattened at her side as she cast, “Atramnéon!”

Her legs propelled her forward, the edge of her arm glowing with a silver gleam.

The golem reacted instantly, its programming screaming for retaliation as a long, blocky fist arched towards her.

“Heh!” Pree shifted gears, her visor becoming a streak of red light as she weaved across its massive shoulder and spiralled down towards its legs.

Her boots scraped against rock, hot smoke smouldering from the friction.

The golem roared before it crumbled into its basic components.

From the raised walkway, a roar erupted from the crowd. They surged forward like a single wave, their collective gasp turning into a thunderous cheer. This was the spectacle they had come for — a raw, unfiltered display of arcane power that sent a thrill through the stands.

Frain shouted to be heard, air escaping her lips in surprise. “That’s an unyielding edge!”

“Hmm?” Rhea raised a brow. “Little Lioness, I’m impressed you know what that is.”

“Of course! Believe it or not, my old battleaxe had this exact essence,” Frain shared in glee, “The sharp edge did chip after a few battles, so…”

“Haha!” Rhea laughed. “Well, it’s either the arc smith scammed you with a lesser-tier essence or you weren’t very compatible.”

“I’d say the latter,” Frain admitted, brushing her hair back with a small chuckle of her own.

“I can teach you if you’ll be my disciple,” Rhea smiled. “I’m more lenient than most, you know.” She drew her gaze over to Canis, who waved his arms in mute denial.

“Thanks for your kind offer, um, I have my Lunarius,” Frain confessed, playing with her fingers.

Closing her eyes in acknowledgement, Rhea spoke, “Figured. Your innate strength is way above the level of most newbies.”

“Look! They are making their way toward the second checkpoint!” Lampi urged, prompting the rest to turn their heads.

Nyrethein’s voice rumbled, “Awww, our strong warriors are about to make their way past the checkpoint. How exciting!” Her tone stank of sarcasm.

Zetius followed Pree as she hacked and slashed her way forward with Atramnéon, shooting his Empyrion to protect her from any blind spots.

With a final boom, the last golem shattered into slabs of rock.

“Cubie!” Zetius commanded. Blue thrusters manifested on his back, propelling him toward the checkpoint. Pree chased after him a mere second later.

Entering the shimmering wall, Zetius felt a sudden, heart-stopping drop.

He saw the arcanists still fighting the golems. The path forward had become the first checkpoint; he had just looped back. “What the—”

BZZZZZZTTTT—

He heard the electric charge crackle in the air around him.

—CRACK!

A thunderbolt slammed right into his location.

Zetius grunted, his head snapping back, his knees buckling. Hot smoke engulfed him as he collapsed face-first to the floor, his body spasming.

“Zetius!” Cubie yelped.

A second shock occurred as Pree got her own dose of electricity. “Aaaar-g-g-g-k!” She let out a strangled, gargling sound.

Her eyes rolled back. She managed one stumbling step before landing headfirst on Zetius’s butt.

Together, the audience let out a collective gasp of wonder and amusement.

Click! Rhea swiftly snapped a photo with her arc ring, while Friederich blew a heavy sigh out of his mouth, Canis slapped his legs and laughed, and Willhelm buried his face in his palms.

“Pree, get up!” Zetius bellowed, pushing himself upward. The heat flooding his cheeks was a clear sign of his embarrassment. They scrambled to their feet, panting.

“You said you were resilient. What happened to that?” Zetius whined, glaring at her.

“I am! But not to electricity!” Pree argued loudly, a shameful chuckle escaping her lips.

“Zetius! They are reassembling!” Cubie exclaimed, pointing at the basic shapes attracting one another to reform the armies of undying giants.

Simultaneously, the spear-bearer and other arcanists were still locked in a stalemate, unable to make it past the last row of giants. The immortal golems were out of their league.

“Tsk! What now?” Zetius shouted in frustration, tilting his head at them.

“I don’t know!” Pree panted, bracing her hands on her knees. “Wanna give it another go?”

So they did. And, undoubtedly, both looped back to the checkpoint again.

“Dreamless realm! This must be it!” Zetius pushed himself up, eyeing the figure in the sky. Nyrethein was laughing to her heart's content.

“Silly boy,” Nyrethein met his fierce gaze with a mischievous smile.

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” Zetius muttered bitterly.

“Wha~what did you say?” Pree asked between shallow breaths.

Zetius frowned. “Fool me once—”

“No, the other one.”

“Dreamless realm?”

“Yeah!” Pree nodded twice.

Confused, he tilted his head, and she mimicked the gesture.

“Guys!” Cubie interjected, drifting to their eye level. “Perhaps it’s something similar to our first encounter at the Dreamless realm!”

“I figure as much! Then we need some sort of key!” Zetius narrowed his eyes, searching the chaotic scene for an answer. Then he saw it. The long arms of one of Nyrethein’s machines were able to pass in and out of the shimmering wall without looping back. That had to be the exception.

“Well?” Pree urged, blinking her eyes rapidly. Her thick head couldn’t comprehend it yet.

Zetius pointed at the boulder-sized basic shapes rolling on the ground. “I’m sure of it. We need to pick one of those up and carry it through the gate!”

“Roger that!” Pree bellowed, dropping into a running stance.

With an exchanged nod, both participants sprinted off.

“Atramnéon!” Pree shifted into sharp light, her arms cutting through the first golem like butter.

“Empyrion!” Zetius followed, shooting thrice at the second foe and clipping its massive hands off.

The third golem swept low, its mechanical joints whirring in desperation.

“Hup!” Pree jumped, her dodge perfect.

Zetius aimed and shot a blast at its torso.

The fire beam decimated the giant, and it broke into pieces. A spherical rock rolled across the ground, and Zetius rushed to it. His hands cupped it firmly, and with a great grunt, he lifted it onto his shoulder. “It’s so heavy!” he groaned through clenched teeth, but his legs never stopped moving.

Ahead of him, Pree picked up a triangular piece, lifting it overhead with ease. “NOW!” she signalled.

A shadow in the corner of her eye warned her of another foe attempting to swat her. With agile grace, Pree jumped, her body arching through the air to dodge the attack. She pivoted the triangle piece to the ground, backflipped over the golem, and landed perfectly, once again lifting her objective overhead.

Zetius watched her in awe. “Way to go!”

Pree flashed a toothy grin before running through the shimmering wall. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the painful electric shock.

But the punishment never came. “Zetius! It worked!” Pree spun her head, overjoyed.

Zetius threw his heavy rock to the ground and rested both hands on his knees, catching his breath. “Hahahaha!” he burst out laughing, sweat dripping from his face. “Of course, it was going to work!”

Pree extended her fist in triumph. Zetius met it with his own, savouring the fleeting moment of victory. But their relief was short-lived, for the final checkpoint loomed before them, and the true test awaited.