After an hour of careful climbing, we’re still not close to the plate on which the demon city sits, which is annoying, but I can see it better than before, even make out some small figures moving about. So weird, to think of a community of monsters living together in some sort of harmony. The Colony does, obviously, but we’re literally one family, and based on what I’m aware of, the demons don’t have anything like that binding them together, so how are they able to do it? Is it simply a case of a high enough level of intelligence enabling them to understand the benefits of coexistence? I guess we’ll find out.
We rest every so often on an outcropping or when we find a good foothold, just so my aching claws and legs can get their strength back. This far from the Colony, my Vestibule isn’t much use either, which means fatigue is a thing again all of a sudden.
It’s kind of weird to have to think about it after basically ignoring it whilst I was fighting around the nest during the wave. Without my twenty bodyguards, I’d have no trickle of energy through it at all. It’s impossible that the Council was aware of how useful these babysitters would be for me when they assigned them, but at least they turned out to be good for something.
[What are you able to make out down there, Crinis?]
[Lots of strong Mana signatures, although the ambient Mana is still very high, which makes it difficult for me to see much. At the very least, I can say there are powerful monsters down there.]
[How about that, Tiny? Some strong monsters might be just what you need to stretch after this painful climb, what do you think?]
A savage grin is all the reply I get.
[Just keep a lid on it,] I warn him. [We don’t want any trouble.]
“Are we going to keep going down?” Brilliant asks, eyeing the growing width of the plate. “That’s the demon city, isn’t it?”
“Sure is.”
“Are we really going to go in there? On our own? Without the Colony to support us?”
I turn to face her, not an easy thing to do, given the circumstances.
“What’s the matter? Your thirst for knowledge has dried up already? Your hunger for answers?”
“No! I’m just… Is it normal for us to be out here on our own like this?”
Huh. Unlike me, Brilliant has never been a human. Being so far from the support of the family must feel paralysing. But for me? Something is always pulling me forward.
“No way, no going back now, little one!” I turn back to the descent and continue on my way. “Don’t you want to see what’s next? Don’t you want to experience the adventure! Ever since I saw this place, I’ve been wanting to take a look, to get closer and see what it’s like. There’s no way I’m going to leave without seeing it for myself!
“And after I’ve seen it, what about the things that lie below? Aren’t you curious, Brilliant? Can you resist the lure of the impossibilities the Dungeon makes reality? How could I possibly throw away this second chance?”
“Are you alright, senior?”
“I’ve never been better. Come, let’s see what the demons have to say to us!”
Moving faster than before, the demon city grows in our eyes, until we are so close, I can see them pointing up at us. What will greet me when I arrive? Battle? Friendly conversation? Come now, show me!
110. Low Society
My first impression of Renewal was somewhat mixed, I must say. Having flown from the glittering towers of Derinon, jewel of the Asla Sea and metropolis of the age, the relatively humble city that lay before me was rather quaint, rustic, and backward.
I’m sure you, dear reader, would react likewise if you’d just travelled from the heart of civilisation into the wild frontier! But what one must remember, must keep at the forefront of one’s mind at all times, is just how little time this city has existed. A little over ten years ago, this patch of dirt was naught but shrubs and trees, not a single stone stacked atop another. From that nothing, a wonderful city has sprung to life constructed atop the ruins of the former frontier kingdoms by refugees and… ants!
Landing outside the city limits, we caused quite the fuss, a gaggle of curious onlookers poking their noses out of the gates to inspect the newcomers and their flying transport. I was later to learn we weren’t the first skimmer to visit these lands, but we weren’t far from it, such that the residents were yet to lose their fascination with the creatures.
After unpacking our things, my strapping escorts and I made our way into the city, my guards alert to any sign of danger in this strange and mysterious place. Not that there was any need for it, the people were lovely! Such a warm welcome we received as I can hardly describe. Without so much as a ruffled feather, we were escorted to a local establishment named the Hill of Rest, a fine inn of good report owned and run by the ever so delightful Mr. and Mrs. Bellweather.
The two were former refugees from the capital City of Liria, some of the few to escape the tragedy that occurred. I chatted to the two of them gaily, listening as they shared with me the gripping story of their survival, flight, and eventual rescue at the hands of the ‘Great One’. Needless to say, I was quite keen to discover who this individual might be and eagerly enquired. My hosts shared a slight smile before describing a large and mighty ant, one of exceeding intelligence, generosity and kindness, responsible for saving many during the wave and slaying the beast responsible for destroying their home.
Mrs. Bellweather was quite keen to impart on me the high regard the Great One is held in amongst the folk of Renewal and that my text not disrespect this individual in the slightest! Far be it from me, dear reader, to disparage someone I am yet to meet, regardless if they are an ant monster or not.
After a very pleasant meal and a bath to wash off the worst offences of our journey, I retired much refreshed, ready to tour the city on the following day. And what a city it revealed itself to be! Remarkable, unique, and quite possibly the most fascinating destination on the face of Pangera! Judge nothing yet, reader, for the best is by far yet to come!
Can I explain what it is that drives me forward? Not really. For whatever reason, the voice that would normally tell me ‘Hey, Anthony, this is probably a bad idea’ is just too quiet to prevent me rushing headlong. Maybe this is how Tiny feels all the time? No doubt or hesitation no matter the odds he faces or how dangerous the path he is on. Unlike Tiny, I know I’m not invincible, I know that running headfirst into this city of demons is dangerous. But I’m going to do it anyway.
I can sense the twenty bodyguards going into hyper-alert mode, their thoughts transmitted to me through the Vestibule. They sense peril here, like a deadly spice in the air, and they want to make sure they do what is necessary so that I survive. In my mind, I’m more worried about them than I am about me. They’ve all been promoted to tier five, which is a step up, but there are a number of tier six monsters in the gathering below. Even with their perfect evolutions, it might not be enough.
No matter what happens, I’ll make sure they get out and take word back to the Colony. That’s my duty as the Eldest.
The demon city is a strange place, though ‘city’ may not be the right term. Real estate is at a premium on the disk of stone encircling the pillar, and there can’t be more than a few thousand monsters living here. The buildings themselves are a bizarre sight, given the huge variety in shapes and sizes that demons can come in, no two are alike.