B4 - Chapter 34 – Bunker Buster
Jace raced across the now-savannah landscape of the first Layer. The distance passed effortlessly as he just focused on running, sprinting, as he had done back on Earth as a courier. Just letting his mind go blank and wander as his feet kept hitting the ground and pushing him forward. The exhilaration of running freely and over such open terrain was overshadowed by the sullen feeling of his earlier actions.
Did I do the right thing? Was the question rattling around in his head during his journey. I could have shown up and done a Void Beam [Horizon-Splitter] and just annihilated the whole group of Astral Demons, regardless of Potency.
That was the biggest concern going through his mind. That he could have turned the tide and single-handedly wiped the demons out. But at the same time, he had no idea what types of Talents a Potency 9 or 10 demon who was not holding themselves back during an honorable duel were capable of. He was afraid. Afraid of dying. Not so much afraid of pain, but death and not being able to come back. And if he fought them in the open, he wouldn't have The Architects to fall back on.
Yeah, I made the smart decision to keep myself safe so I can reach that ultimate goal of making the tunnel. Just gotta focus on me. More Essence, more Relics. Get to Potency 2 and then travel down to Layer 2.
He had discussed with Ollie, Xera, and Quinn and the four had agreed that if anything, Jace should focus on keeping his "lone wolf" status going and narrow his scope. Infusions would be great when he could get his hands on them, but ultimately getting Essence to go down the Layers was more important in the long run.
"It's okay," Xera said, "These universes chose to expand and spread their influence beyond their domain. They could have done what we did – fortify the entrance and ensure that none could get in. But instead they sought expansion. Any consequences of that will fall solely on them."
"What about when we do have our tunnel?" Jace asked. "Our closed System. Are we going to try and help other universes?" That ember of heroism still burned in his chest, and he felt that pull, that longing to help others and protect them.
"Perhaps," Xera replied. "But our own people come first. Our universe's survival is paramount, and the plan has been sanctioned by – from what I've seen – the most powerful entities in all of existence. We stick to the plan."
A full five cycles passed, and Jace knew the voidlight tether was ready-to-go at any time. But he was so close to the Vault, he just wanted to deal with that, then spend some time resting and relaxing with Shhiv.
Strange, he thought, looking at the map in his HUD. The Vault is way deeper underground. He was getting close, almost on top of it, and did not see anything out of the ordinary. Just the tall grasses of the savannah, the occasional starship screaming overhead…but oddly enough, not pursued by Astral Demons. That's strange.
Ollie glanced at the map, then left Jace's shoulders and dipped into the ground. A few seconds passed and he came back up with a perturbed expression. "Uhm…there are…demons in a bunker. I cannot go more than one-hundred feet from you, but it seems that the Vault is probably located under that."
Jace looked around, "Any way we can scan for the entrance? I'd rather not blast a hole down and announce I'm here."
Quinn's voice came over the comms, "Yes, I can do that. Give me a moment."
Jace saw the brief, golden burst emanate from her Celestial Observer, and out a good thousand feet Jace saw the burst map the area topographically, before it rose up in his HUD and pointed out a well-concealed tunnel entrance.
"There you go," Quinn stated, sounded slightly winded. "Using Skills across layers of reality, even with the voidlight tether and my Observer, is really tiring."
"In other words," Ollie stated, "We cannot rely on your stratagems or accelerated conversation when we descend down to deeper Layers."
"Unless we find a workaround," Quinn replied. "Perhaps Shhiv can level up enough from the Essence we are getting from the demons who try and enter our universe that she can access a Rune that enables communication. We know they exist, and if I had something like that I could probably work with Xera to find a way to integrate it into my personal Cosmic System. An upscaled version."
Jace tapped Ollie and pointed at his forehead, "Go time."
"Right!" Ollie replied as he merged into Jace's skull, that soothing, cooling feeling spreading once more. Verge Protocol activated!
Jace drew his sword and turned on his full suite of Skills and Talents – Crusader's Bastion, Dark Energy Mine (Rank 1), Aura of Wrath (Rank 11) [Voidflame Vestment], Void Blade (Rank 17) [Rending], and in a slight change from his usual setup, Void Shield (Rank 6) [Reflecting].
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Why [Reflecting]? Ollie asked in his head.
Jace thought back, If these are lower Potency Astral Demons, then I'll be able to deal with them quicker. This is the first time we've seen them underground, though. I wonder why?
Ollie gave the mental equivalent of a shrug as Jace got to the hole, got on his stomach, and squeezed his way forward. The tiny entrance opened into a single dirt hovel, with one Astral Demon with a spear pointed right at him. Thanks to Void Stalker, it had no clue he was there, and Jace was able to contort his body thanks to his bendable, cartilaginous skeleton, around the spear tip. He got right next to the thing and stabbed the holy blade through its temple – instantly killing it as it slumped against the wall and vanished into Essence.
Keeping a count on that until you're all done, Ollie advised.
Jace reactivated Void Stalker and had to crouch-walk down the low tunnel. But it led him to a more open chamber, which had a large stone doorway that was shut and sealed with a metal barrier that had been shoved into place. Jace recognized the stone as the same type that the Vaults were made of. Maybe this Vault is more important? He thought.
Perhaps it has more significance. No Runes, though, which has been on the outside of every other structure. Ollie sounded intrigued and filled with curiosity.
Right then. No more being quiet. Jace ran forward with the shield in front, bull-rushing and slamming into the metal barricade. It went bursting inward at high speed, slamming into an unsuspecting demon. They quickly came to arms at the sudden intrusion and swarmed in toward him.
Jace felt that surging heat rise up in him. Not heroism, or valor, but the [Crusader] Astral Class itself igniting a burning passion in him. These demons were monstrous abominations and needed to die. To be destroyed permanently and cleansed in holy flame. His Hero's Arena surged outward into this bunker entry hall, and he activated his (Beacon) Infusion on his armor. The demons raced toward him, heedless of the flames licking along their forms and burning them alive. The Flame of Valor's effects were immediately noticeable as each swing, each strike delivered an additional gout of holy flame. Where the Hero's Arena scorched, smaller explosions of golden light echoed across the bodies of the afflicted.
The familiar rush of adrenaline spiked through Jace and he pushed aside any guilt or regret he felt for leaving that universe to its fate. For ignoring the call to action. He could lose himself in the chaos of a tumultuous melee brawl, and against these Astral Demons? It was not a challenge. He carved both directions, hacking off limbs as Essence spurted in small geysers from the wounds along with blood. Purple and green, it splattered the walls before being seared to ash and cinder from the wrath of his divine flames.
Righteous purgation. An inquisition of the highest degree to wipe out the creatures wrought of sin and violence, of dark emotions and darker ambitions. Jace let out a laugh, exhilarated, as he continued to hack his way deeper into the complex. A stone door stood in front of him and instead of opening it he simply kicked it down – the rock exploding into a shrapnel-laced detonation that skewered and impaled the demons that were hiding behind it.
Hiding? Jace thought as he carved down the last few, taking in deep, sucking breaths as he was pacing himself. Why are they hiding?
I would theorize that they did not want to draw the attention of the Potency 9 and 10 demons from the lower Layers, Ollie stated.
Jace felt his heartrate quicken slightly as the idea that he was killing innocent demons like the ones in the town he had visited. Fuck, he thought as he felt a sense of regret.
A demon ran at him from the side and he blocked with the sword – not wanting the Bulwark's [Retaliating] Infusion to inflict harm – and stared at the creature. "Why are you all hiding?"
The thing hissed and backed away a step, "Lower Layer demons. Said stop raiding while they are up here."
Jace lowered the sword, "You were raiding, then."
"Yeah…" the demon replied, trailing off. "Why you no fight?"
"Just vindicating myself is all," Jace replied as he blitzed forward and took off its head with one chop. A cascade of gold exploded past a split-second later, consuming the rest of the body. I'm loving this Flame of Valor, he thought.
Way more flashy than before, Ollie agreed.
A grumbling, masculine voice came from his left-hand corridor, "All righ', who 'as bin killin my boys?" Jace turned to face the new threat and saw as a slug-like Astral Demon squeezed its way out of a tunnel that barely fit its bulk. "Wha' we 'ave 'ere? a 'ero?" it grumbled out as the tiny arms barely managed to touch as it crossed them.
Jace held his sword out to the side, "Not quite."
"Maybe we strike a deal, 'hen."
Jace just flicked the sword towards the creature ever-so-slightly, and activated the (Fulmination) Augmentation. A wave of cascading, white-grey, deep purple, and holy gold power surged out and crashed into the creature, burning it to bits.
Such an annoying accent that it translated to, Ollie stated. And it is irritating that such a thing existed.
It does tell us that they have non-combative versions of themselves. I would bet that was their leader, being a coward in the deepest, safest part of the bunker. Gives more credence to the idea that maybe we'll find more good ones.
And means we should probably talk to them before fighting them. We lose the element of surprise, but it is worth the trade off if we can gather information from locals who meant no ill intent.
Jace went down the hallway it had come from and found the Vault entrance. Just a bunker holding the Vault then. Before we do this, though, I want to look around. He turned back and explored the rest of the complex, finding nothing but barren stone surfaces and the remnants of loot from old kills. Including what looked like scraps of technology that had been tinkered with.
Quinn's voice came over the comms, "Other universe tech? Put it into the TPSB."
Jace did as he was told and returned to the Vault door. "Ollie, Essence?"
Six-hundred and fifty, putting you at seven-hundred total.
"Not enough to level up," he muttered. "Okay. Here we go. Be ready to do that nervous system integration thingy you did. No clue what we'll be facing in here." He reached out and touched the door as he was sucked inward.