Evolution: A Warlock's Rise To Power

"Wow!"

"Amazing!"

"This is unbelievable."

The three ladies were stunned by the sight they saw while Lucan was impressed with the dwarves' efficiency.

The city inside the citadel was almost fully excavated.  The wide staircase led down to a sprawling city that had been carved from ground itself.  But the buildings weren't made merely from stone. Iron towers rose towards the illuminated cavern ceiling.  Bridges made entirely of crystal connected different spires.  Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other gemstones studded the entrances and peaks of the buildings.  The wide streets were inlaid with striking pieces of jade.

With the light shining down from the ceiling, the entire city sparkled in splendor.

On the far side of the massive cavern, the largest building glowed with a regal elegance.  Looking as if it was made entirely from silver and gold, the citadel's palace immediately drew the groups attention.

"Not bad, right?"  Lucan asked.

"This is a thousand times better than I thought it would be."  Marie said while grabbing Emma's hand and pulling her forward.  Lucan and Silent rushed so as to not be left behind.

It took almost half an hour to cross the city.  They could have arrived quicker if they flew, but everyone enjoyed their stroll through the dazzling city.

They began a new journey up the steps to the large square that was placed in front of the palace. Looking back, they were able to look down upon the entire city.

"Yes, this is it."  Marie said.  "You two should get married here.  What do you think Jenna?"  Marie asked.

"I like it."  She said.

"It is lovely."  Said Mrs. Beneil.

Marie nodded quickly.  "I can already imagine it.  You can hold the service right her in front of the palace.  You can stand over their beneath that arch.  Your guest can sit over here.  The reception could be in one of the nearby building or you could even hold it in the palace itself.  Come on. Let's go look inside."

Marie charged into the palace, not waiting for anybody.

The palace itself was grand and impressive with large sweeping room that had windows overlooking the city.  Marie was impressed with the beautiful carving that decorated the wall while Lucan appreciated the strong security features and defensive positions.

The only thing the palace lacked was decoration and furnishing.  Right now it was just an empty shell, but it wouldn't take long to have it fully stocked.

While Mrs. Beneil and Marie explore the palace, Lucan pulled Silent aside.  "What do you think?"  HE asked.  "I know my aunt can be a bit overbearing.  If you don't want to get married her I will stop her."

Silent shook her head.  "No, I like this place."

"Alright, it is settled then."  He said while putting his arm around her and catching up to the two older women.

"Silent and I have agreed.  We will hold our wedding here."  Lucan said.

Mrs. Beneil nodded with a warm smile while Marie danced around, excited for what was to come.

"Good, good, great.  Now you need to set a date."

Lucan looked to Silent who lowered her head.

"Umm… How about in two weeks?"  Silent quietly asked.

"Two weeks it is."  Lucan said.

"Ha, ha, great.  I can't wait."  Marie said happily.

Lucan and Silent spent the rest of the day with the two ladies.  Under Marie's urging, they began to actually plan the wedding.  When night came it was time to log out.

***

Brax visited the club in the morning to make sure the new door was properly installed.  He had planned to go out with Jenna in the afternoon, but he was now sporting a pretty dark black eye so the two decided to hand around at his place and watch a couple of movies.  But in the end, even though the movies were played, they didn't get watched.  When evening came, the two logged back into Evolution.  It was time to take on the instance and try to conquer it.

***

Lucan and Silent had decided to attempt the party dungeon first, followed by the team dungeon and then finish with the raid.  Since only five people were need for the party dungeon, the others weren't just sitting around doing nothing.  The thirty-five other people split into seven groups. They were going to be attempting the party dungeon as well.

In order to conquer the dungeon, Lucan need the lowest completion time for all three dungeon runs combined.  Since everyone had already formed a pack and agreed to let his team be the fastest, the others agreed to not face off against the final boss.

Having eight parties enter at once, ensured that if Lucan's group met with difficulties, the other teams may be able to off an alternative insight that would let the main party over come the circumstance.  They planned the same thing for the team dungeon.  Four teams would enter at the same time report back on what they found.

But when it came to the party dungeon.  Their worries about not being able to complete it appeared to be unfounded.  Lucan, Silent and their team were able to pass the dungeon on their first try.

Silent had spent a good amount of time considering the people for the main team.  Obviously, her and Lucan were included.  They were both ranged attackers that could also deal with threats up close.  They were flexible players.  But they needed a tank type player who could take the majority of the damage and shrug it off.

To fill the roll of a tank, Silent called upon Tyrannical Kyp.  Kyp himself wasn't able to take a lot of attacks but he had recently learned a few defensive buffs that made Tango able to withstand a decent amount of damage.

Having settled the tank, she looked for a healer next.  Lucy Evermore, the holy/shadow priest was happy to take up the role.  Her leveling partners Vanslaughterfest and Madlad were currently engaged in a quest leaving her with nothing to do.  Silent decided to choose a priest simply because they were one of the few classes who were able to resurrect dead party members during the middle of a fight.

To round out the group, she wanted someone who would able to fight on the front lines.  For their lost available slot, she hired Milocara, the cryomancer who had been a great help in taking down the giant who had stormed the walls of the mountain fortress.  With his martial arts and ice abilities he would make sure that Tango didn't fall under too much pressure.

The five of them entered the party dungeon and fought their way to the end.

After entering the party instance, the group found themselves in the underground cavern.  A long snaking pathway eventually led them to the surface.  On their journey, they encountered many pirates who were stationed on a secluded island.  Fighting their way into the pirate base, they decimated everyone they passed.

The final boss that the group faced was a mad pirate who had gone insane.  He sacrificed his remaining crew in a ritual to try to unlock a sealed cave that was rumored to contain the long lost pirate kings treasure.  When it came to the end of the fight, the pirate gang leader saw he wasn't going to win the fight and proceeded to activate the hidden traps left by the long deceased pirate king.

The group was surprised to find that when they defeated the mad pirate, their win wasn't announced.  Instead, a timer appeared on their interface.  The clock started at five minutes and began to count down.

Along with the prisoners they rescued on the way, the group rushed out of the pirate hide out, but the dungeon still didn't declare their win.  One of the freed prisoners suggested fleeing to the docks where they found a small boat that was able to fit them all.  As they pushed off and opened the sails, the entire island exploded in a brilliant fire.  The shock wave pushed their boat out into the sea and they managed to survive, although their boat wasn't in the best of shape.

As the sun set over the horizon they could see a huge pirate ship approaching from the distance. They had come to see the source of the explosion.

As the large ship closed in on their tiny boat, the party dungeon was completed.