[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 261 – Omens

An army is attacking the gates!

You are enlisted in the defense of the city. Earn your share of gold and glory by fighting for the Empire.

You gain combat provisions:

(3) [Imperial Health Potion]

(2) [Imperial Bandages]

(2) [Imperial Mana Potion]

(1) [Minor Monster Repellent]

Sam looked questioningly at Ahib. “This sounds more like we’re being attacked.”

Komachi got her share of combat provisions as well and quickly stuffed them away. Faster than he could manage too, which was one of the perks of being a Merchant.

“A minor inconvenience, yes?” Ahib asked, his dark eyes darting around nervously. “We should be going to one of the shelters, unless you mean to enlist? You look big and strong. Much gold and glory to be won, hm?”

Sam frowned. The man spoke like a Talmoori. He was definitely dark-skinned enough, but his gait suggested he had never been on a boat before.

With no idea how long had passed between his time aboard the Wavedancer and now, he elected to keep his two gifts from the Talmoori stowed in his inventory.

There was no telling what might have changed.

Looking in his inventory, Sam found a separate satchel full of combat provisions. “Interesting.”

“Think I’m already enlisted,” Komachi said in confusion. “I’m a cat, man! What does the Shard think I’ma do?”

Ahib looked shocked.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Komachi.”

“If you wish to properly enlist, you should hurry to the rallying standard two quads over,” Ahib said. “There they will organize properly. Good luck!”

Before Sam could ask a question or grab onto the man’s sleeve, he was gone.

Most of the people in the market were funneling into one of the open shops. A few people were motioning for Sam, as if asking if he was staying or going to fight.

Groups of young men and women were excitedly talking amongst themselves near the crystalline pillar. But what caught Sam’s eye was a young man doing his best to shrink into the dark cloak he wore around his shoulders.

The other adventurers were heading for the nearest exit. Their forces gathered into one long line that the dark-clad man joined at the last moment with a look of resignation.

Sam joined up alongside him. “First time?”

Surprised to find somebody talking to him, the young man looked around to see who Sam was talking to before replying. “You could say that, yeah.”

“Nervous?” Sam asked, sensing there was something more, but not quite sure what.

“If I told you that I felt like I was having the worst nightmare to end all nightmares, would that make sense to you?”

Sam chuckled. “You can always go shelter with the others, can’t you?”

The man shook his head and tugged his sleeve over his forearm.

“Stick with us,” Komachi offered. “I’m a healer, and muh knight here is real BEEFY, so you’ll be okay.”

“Fair enough. I don’t want to pry,” Sam said. “Here, let’s start fresh. I’m Sam. This ball of sass is Komachi.”

The man grabbed his hand, not his forearm, and shook it firmly. “Name’s Zack–Zorin. Zorin.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

“Zakzobin?” Komachi asked, tilting her head.

“J-just Zorin,” the man said nervously. Judging by the way he was staring at Komachi, he wasn’t too used to a talking cat. Sam supposed soul aeder weren’t too common in the Alzahan Empire.

“Welcome aboard, Zorin! Just stick with us and you’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Zorin said.

They progressed from one tunnel to the next. The heavy doors embossed with the symbol of the Immortals, the mark of Zarak with its two-headed snake joined at the tail, shut with the finality of lead coffin lids.

Zorin jumped every single time.

The rallying standard was a tall pole with a crossbar on top that held two banners. “Huh,” Sam said. “I didn’t think he meant literally a rallying standard.”

A man in red cloth and bronze plate armor stood up on a small pedestal to address the dozens of adventurers who had been enlisted to fight. Nearby were imperial soldiers and mages standing at the ready.

With a closer look, Sam realized some of them were alchemists in battle ready attire.

“My name is Lem Ashil, Granserpent of the East! Today we have the proud honor of defending the Goldgate. It is our duty to stop the invading hordes of monsters before they reach the inner sanctum! Should the monsters breach the gates, it is your duty to give your all in defense of the Empire.”

A tall and stately woman dressed in a well-fitting cloth uniform stepped up and whispered something to Lem Ashil.

“It would seem our luck is even stronger this day!” Lem Ashil said with a massive grin. The man was built like a bear with a beard to match. If he wasn’t so tall and large, Sam would have thought he was a dwarf. “This day, we fight The Risen!”

There were a few cheers, but far more groans. Sam didn’t miss the concern in several people’s eyes.

“Have no fear!” the big man shouted. “We have powerful Clerics with us this day. Remember that the undead will reanimate if left unattended. Call out to a Cleric or use any elemental damage to put them out of their eternal misery for good. Fire works best if you’ve got it. We’re adding new supplies to each of your combat satchels now to aid you.”

You gain combat provisions:

(4) [Imperial Fire Grease]

Sam looked at the interesting tin that appeared in the new section of his inventory.

[Imperial Fire Grease]

(Consumable) (E-Class)

(★★★ Rare)

Created by the Imperial Alchemists, this tincture is used in a myriad of combat applications. Though chiefly used to combat the regenerative nature of bogmen, trolls, and undead, this tincture of fire grease deals additional fire damage to any enemy struck by your weapon. Apply directly to the armament of your choice to imbue it with Fire mana for a time.

Sam smiled. He didn’t need it. Not with his Void mana, so he offered two of his tins to Zorin.

The startled man looked at them and shook his head. “I have ways of making fire,” he said, though he didn’t seem so sure of himself. It sounded more like he was reading from a manual on things he could do but never had.

“Then we’re all set!” Sam said with a wolfish grin. “Komachi here is a champ at killing undead, and I’m not too bad myself. The three of us will have no trouble.”

Judging by the faces of the adventurers all around, Sam didn’t feel like his statement included everybody.

Being the friendly Hawaiian that he was, Sam tapped the shoulder of a woman in front of him in heavy ridged armor. “Excuse me, but would you like our [Fire Grease] tins? We don’t need them.”

The woman looked surprised. “I can’t offer anything for them.”

“Not asking for anything,” Sam said. “I just want to make sure everybody has enough.”

The woman smiled. “In that case, I will gladly take them. I do not need many. Their effect lasts for a while, but I know of some who are less sure of themselves and could use a boost. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Sam said, handing over all but one tin reserved for each of them, just in case.

“My name is Monsara,” she said, extending her hand.

“Sam.” He gripped her forearm and shook. “This is Komachi, and this here is my new friend, Zorin.”

Zorin looked at his boots. “‘Lo.”

“Real talkative,” Monsara said.

“He’s good in a pinch.”

The shocked expression Zorin shot at Sam was not missed by Monsara. She chuckled. “Might want to tell him that.” She looked Sam up and down. “You look like you’ve seen a few scraps. You an adventurer?”

Sam shrugged his broad shoulders. “Seems so. Not part of any guild, though.”

Monsara laughed, a deep throaty sound that had heads turning. “That’s a good one! A guild would defeat the whole point of an adventurer, wouldn’t it? I don’t want some pencil pusher telling me what to do, which contracts to take, and which Dungeons to delve!”

“Here, here!” shouted another voice in the crowd.

“Adventurers go where we’re needed!” cried another.

Sam couldn’t help grinning. He liked the sound of that.

Monsara looked shrewdly at Komachi, then at Sam. “Want a little side action?”

“Dayum, Sam!” Komachi cried. “Ye always gettin’ them ladies! Just not the one ye really want.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Don’t pay attention to her. What’d you have in mind?”

“A little wager. Let’s say five coppers a head?”

Several nearby conversations hushed. Dozens of heads turned, suddenly interested in their wager.

Sam had been around enough dive bars and holes-in-the-wall to know a con when he saw one. He was being set up. Monsara seemed nice enough, but after Sam’s swaggering, she must have thought of knocking him down a peg or two.

Either that, or it was your typical hazing ritual for new guys. With no idea how long he would be in the Empire, he couldn’t afford to let himself be taken advantage of.

Plus, he might need the money for lodgings. There was no telling if the treasure Komachi looted from the ghost pirates was valuable or even legal.

Komachi, however, had not been to such places. “Ten!”

Monsara’s red eyebrows lifted in surprise. She tossed back her mane of ruby-red hair. “All right, you got yourself a deal! Ten copper a head, no take-backs! You all heard the cat.” She put her hands on her hips and leaned in to Sam. The woman was taller than him and could easily look him in the eye despite leaning. “What about you? Gonna let your cat beat our little wager?”

“We’re a package deal,” Sam said with a grin. “Fifteen per head combined. You can feel free to take on some help if you don’t think you can match our pace.”

Zorin was tugging furiously on Sam’s cloak, desperately trying to get his attention. It was clear the man knew something, but Sam didn’t really care.

He liked Monsara, but he liked competition more. If she wanted to have a little fun at his expense, then he could repay her in kind.

“Just the two of you?” Monsara asked. “Not mister quiet over there?”

“Just the two of us,” Sam agreed. “Any kills that Zorin gets are his to do with as he wishes.”

“Fifteen a head, you said?”

Sam nodded.

Monsara stuck out her hand again, and they shook. “This is going to be so much fun.”

Lem Ashil noticed Monsara. His eyes lit up. “Well, look what we have here! The legendary Ruby Death herself! Come up here and let your adoring fans get a look at you.”

Monsara tossed her hair over one shoulder and strode up to the small pedestal. She gave Sam a wink and a grin, then addressed the crowd. “Those of you who know me, know that I have no allegiances. I am an adventurer through and through, but it is the duty of all adventurers to champion the defense of those who cannot defend themselves! Are we going to let the undead hordes rampage and turn the citizens of the Empire into tortured husks?!”

A chorus of full-throated denials met her answer.

“Break me, that’s as good an answer as I’ve ever heard!” Monsara bellowed. Her voice carried surprisingly far, but it was still cut off toward the end by another blast of trumpeting horns that rang out from every corner of the city. “Looks like The Risen have come to be put into the ground! Let’s show them some Imperial hospitality!”

She hopped down, brushed past Sam, and headed over to a group of four women in similar armor as her own. All four watched Sam intently. Their dark gazes reminded him of vultures.

“I tried to warn you,” Zorin said somberly. “It took me a moment to remember who she was. She’s probably the most famous adventurer in the Empire right now. Already earned enough to make herself a full-blown citizen several times over, but prefers to keep fighting and defending the capital against all threats.”

“Sounds noble,” Sam said with a grin, excited about the challenge. He had no time to size up Monsara. She might be an absolute beast. The thrill of the unknown called to Sam’s blood as the howling of the undead began to filter into the city.

“The Risen have breached the Goldgate!” somebody called out.