Chapter Five / Gateway to Paradise

Arn watched the dew settle on the leaves of the white tree, its height now up to his chest. Several days had passed since his encounter with the Centipede. Arn had reassigned the Covetous from clearing hallways to the East and West to finding a way to the next floor, which meant going North. He also had the Covetous join the separate hallways in the center of the Dungeon, but also together in the North by creating one hallway to the next floor. It was a bit of a sloppier design than he envisioned, but once he had a clearer idea of the area he wanted to operate in – he could fill in areas he didn’t wish to be hallways.

Arn also had the Covetous build Gelicarus his own Personal Quarters just below his on the right. He had felt a bit guilty having Gelicarus sleep in the Staff Quarters. The room was identical in look to his own, leaving Arn to believe it was just how the default room was.

While he had wanted to build up his forces before venturing to the next floor – Arn’s encounter with the Centipede had left him in a metaphorical limbo. The souls of the Humans the Centipede had devoured left him with an ample supply to create a stronger army – but to do so he would need to do two things: either render the souls blank slates or modify them to ensure they were completely loyal. Both were enslavement. He had also considered the third option: allowing them to choose. Arn thought he could just convince them.

The idea of a Dark Lord from Arn’s past life is a representation of evil, regardless of what form it took, inhuman and destructive. Yet, Arn is a Dark Lord. At least that’s what the system said he was. If Arn is a Dark Lord, did that too make him evil? A part of Arn, with disturbing ferocity, hated Humans. He had yet to commit an act of evil, and while he was still considering his options regarding the Human souls – simply thinking of it didn’t necessarily make him evil.

Did that make Arn a Dark Lord then? Are Dark Lords evil? Did they have to be? These questions made Arn reconsider his whole plan. He abandoned the idea of creating his army for now, setting the Covetous on the path. Arn needed information, he needed to know what was before him and what decision he needed to make before he committed to anything – despite feeling something lurking beyond.

In the world Arn had come from, Humans would make sacrifices of other Humans in the name of a greater good. Save one life or many. Arn could use this excuse. Another thought, however, ebbed at Arn’s mind.

If Dark Lords are inhuman – what did that make Arn?

That is why Arn is here, the white tree soaking in the light from above. He felt at ease in its presence and with each day that passed, the larger it inconceivably grew. Arn wondered for what reason it grew. Just like Arn, perhaps it didn’t know and only grew because growing was all it knew how to do.

Arn had looked at his stats after his encounter with the Centipede, noting that his Power had yet to grow any. In fact, it had yet to gain any points. Which meant Authority was not Power in this case. What did he need to do, Arn wondered. Arn also considered there could be certain conditions to progress his Power, which made it more troublesome. If his Authority already had this much influence on the world – what would his Power?

Arn knelt, taking one of the leaves in his hand, and gently gripped it; the white of the leaf contrasted by the black of his glove.

“When you grow bigger will you tell me if I’m Human?” Arn asked and let go of the leaf.

“My Lord,” A voice said beside Arn and revealed itself as Gelicarus, who bowed, “It’s time.”

“Rakan?” Arn asked.

“Yes, my Lord. They sent word they were getting close, and that they felt a presence.” Gelicarus said.

“I see. Recall the skeletons currently working and have them prepared in the North hallway. Also, prepare items for our journey.”

“At once, my Lord. We will await your arrival.” Gelicarus said, turning and quickly walking out of the Throne room.

In the few days that passed Arn concluded that it was within Gelicarus’s Authority as well to command others. He had haphazardly asked Gelicarus previously to command the skeletons to be ready but had not thought he may not be able to do so. Perhaps this was another part of Arn’s own Authority at play, as Gelicarus was his right hand.

Additionally, after discovering having his followers simply use facilities gained him points, Arn gained access to several new Domain rooms: Engineer’s Workshop, Carpenter’s Workshop, Wooden Palisade, Wooden Gate, Wooden Watchtower. The last of these rooms were more buildings than rooms, perhaps to allow him to build outposts in the future – as he was unable to access them on this floor. He felt, however, that he was still missing several things to build proper outposts. Unfortunately, while building both Workshop rooms, Arn discovered he would be unable to utilize them fully without skilled craftsmen. He was, however, able to craft certain rudimentary things himself using Domain if the crafting material were there.

Arn left the Throne room, the white tree blocked by the gray slate throne, and linked up with Gelicarus who was at the head of the five units of fully armed skeletons.

Gelicarus bowed and said: “I have prepared for our journey, my Lord. It will take at least a day to get to the front of the hallway and back, so I have made ready for this. Additionally, I prepared the items for you.” He gestured to the items piled to the side.

A bundle of wood logs and iron ore waited patiently as if beckoning to be used. Normally, these items would need to be refined into either wooden planks or iron ingots, and then further refined to suit their needs – but Arn was able to get around these demands.

Arn placed himself further in front of his column of soldiers and waved his right hand up: Wagon.

The materials began glowing a bright white, and then the light assembled itself into a gurgling mass in front of him. Steam billowed from the glow until it sizzled the light into a formation. In front of them appeared a simple wooden wagon, having a driver’s seat, four wooden iron reinforced wheels, and an open back with benches, along with a set of stairs to get up onto the back. Arn approached the wagon and took a seat on the back. Gelicarus took a seat on the other side, and two Dark Skeletons approached the front of the wagon. They took up the front bar, in place of a horse, and waited to be commanded.

“Forward.” Arn commanded aloud and the wagon lurched forward.

“Are you hungry, my Lord?”

“We only just started, Gel.” Arn chuckled.

“Yes, but look what I found.” Gelicarus excitedly pulled out a satchel from thin air and retrieved a shining red object. Gelicarus handed Arn one of them and smiled: “I found them in our food storage.”

“Apples?” Arn questioned and rolled the apple in his hand.

Gelicarus took a bite of the apple and smiled widely.

Arn watched and then lifted his mask to take a bite of the apple. It was one of the most delicious things he had ever tasted since coming to the dungeon. Arn sighed with satisfaction, enjoying the apple in its entirety.

“This may be above my station, my Lord, but I thought it prudent to ask you: are you feeling alright?  You seem distracted.” Gelicarus asked.

Arn adjusted his sitting position and took a moment to think to himself.

“You don’t have to answer, of course, my Lord.” Gelicarus said.

“No, that’s quite alright, Gel. You should ask me these questions. I do appreciate your concern after all.” Arn said, then continued: “I believe I have seen visions from my past life, nightly, these last few days.”

“I see, that would distract anyone. Do you believe they have been speaking to you in some manner?”

“I’m not sure. If they have, it’s unclear as to what they have been saying. The usage of the souls we recently came into possession of also weighs heavily upon me. I’m unsure of how to utilize them without incurring possible revolts in the future.” Arn said.

“You believe them to be disloyal, my lord?” Gelicarus asked, and Arn’s pause indicated enough, he continued: “I advise that you examine them more closely, my Lord. You may be surprised.”

Arn nodded, taking Gelicarus’s advice for later, and asked: “Have you seen anything from your past life, Gel?”

“I’m afraid not, my Lord. I can only remember vague hints, but nothing material such as your visions.”

“I see.”

Their conversation grew lighter as the hours passed, anticipation welling within Arn; the bumps of the wagon disrupting his thoughts only slightly. His mind dwelled on his previous question: Am I human? Arn started to ask the question but withdrew into himself. Asking Gelicarus the questions that plagued him would be throwing his own responsibilities onto him. Arn needed to answer these questions himself, and no one else. A moment returned to him, the black of the cave in the throne room beckoning to him. Would he find his answers there?

Just barely in the horizon of the lit hallway, Arn could make out a dark patch. They had arrived.

Rakan? Arn projected his thoughts down the hallway.

EMINENCE. Rakan’s inhuman thoughts produced the word and shuddered through Arn’s mind.

We will soon arrive. You’re to immediately move the Covetous and yourself behind our column.

AS…YOU…COMMAND…EMINENCE.

The rubble of the opening quickly came into view, the hallway growing into the opening and beginning to light the room beyond.

“Stay with the wagon, Gel.” Arn commanded.

“As you say, my Lord.”

The wagon halted some hundred feet away from the opening to ensure its safety, and Arn stepped down onto the stone floor. He tugs at his gear to ensure its snugness, his gauntlets wrapped, and sword belt tight.

“Soldiers, forward.” Arn commanded the skeletons.

The Dark Skeletons drop the bar at the front of the wagon and form up with the column of skeletons. Their rattling bones echo down the hall with Arn at the front. The Covetous and Rakan approach the column and take positions on either side of the hall to allow the column to pass through. They bow to Arn, their claws black against their gray skin. Arn nods in passing and walks to the rubble entry.

“Halt.” Arn commanded and the Skeletons halt their marching.

The entry to the room beyond made for a natural choke point and would make up for any inability in his skeleton troops movements.

Arn marched forward himself, the iron sconces now present in the room and lighting it entirely. It was a large room with only one purpose: A large, polished stone gate set on the other side of the room. Runes etched into the stone circled the opening and ran through the space between the doors. A dim hazy green glow suddenly activated on the gateway and the doors loudly slid open; dust and cobwebs falling from the doors.

Arn drew his sword, and beyond in the dark something stirred. Arn wished to laugh out of a crazed shock, yet it didn’t come.

Flesh, sticking with an oozing violet liquid blocked the gateway on the other side. A lump moved beneath the flesh from the top and halted once it got to the center, there the flesh parted, and a giant eye appeared. The lidless eye turned its gaze on Arn, and then it retreated again into the flesh. The flesh parted, like a maw, lined in a countless number of teeth of various sizes and shapes – revealing a flesh hallway that lurched like a throat.

Then screams, shouts, hisses, belches of agony – Human in nature but twisted into senseless sounds. A wave of flesh appeared out of the throat of the gateway, creatures of no real form beyond that of stitched together humanoids – thousands.

Arn laughed.