Endgame: A LitRPG Adventure (The Crucible Shard Book 7) Read online

  These tribesmen were human, with no superhuman strength or combat abilities. All they had going for them was immortality and the courage granted by it, and really that was all they needed. Cobalt had already killed another three, and three more swarmed in close to take their place.

  “She wanted to make peace and they refused. They wanted a good fight and had heard Mom was a great warrior. Cobalt told them she could bring them all the fighting they needed and wipe out their entire army in a single day,” Diamond said, amused.

  “She overestimated her own strength,” I said.

  “Looks that way. Each day she wipes out almost three quarters of them, but then it’s a new day and they all rise again and give her a second chance,” Diamond said.

  “That is the most horrible thing I’ve ever heard,” Hope said.

  “They seem to be enjoying themselves,” I said.

  It was true. There was no rage on the faces of the warriors going to their deaths. They were enjoying this. This was a battle of legends and they were a part of it.

  “Get in there, kid,” I said.

  “Dad. That isn’t my place,” Hope said.

  I think she believed it, but I knew better. It was fine that she didn’t want to kill. I understood that, a part of me even respected that determination for all that I didn’t share it. But my daughter was Cobalt’s daughter, and she was absolutely made to fight. If Hope didn’t know that, she was missing out on a big part of what made her special.

  “You won’t be killing anyone, they’ll rise the next day. If Cobalt brought an army into the fray, they may not like it. But her daughter coming to join her, they’ll accept,” I said.

  Diamond pursed her lips and didn’t dispute me.

  “Is it really okay?” Hope asked. I heard something in her voice she didn’t know was there. Eagerness. Yeah, a part of her carved this.

  “You get your fight from your grandma. It’s cool, have fun,” Tiger said, and I shot him a look of gratitude.

  “I don’t have to…” Hope said.

  “No, you can keep your clothes on,” Diamond said.

  “Cool,” Hope said, drawing her blade. With a running start she leapt from a hill to land deep in among the fighting. A spinning slash sent bodies flying and the warriors gave a whoop of excitement at a new foe to engage.

  “Does that make me a bad parent?” I asked Diamond.

  Diamond gave me a wry smile and stepped forward to give me a hug. “I don’t approve of all of your decisions lately, Liam, but you weren’t wrong. War is quite literally in her blood and she needs to accept that.”

  I watched as the piles of bodies were growing almost twice as fast as before. Hope wasn’t a match for her mother, but she was brilliant. Better than I was, better than I would ever be.

  “I just worry,” I said. I didn’t even know how to articulate what I worried about. I didn’t regret my own choices, but I didn’t want Hope forced to follow in my path. I also never wanted to end up on the wrong side of a struggle from her.

  “It isn’t easy to be the parent of one of us. You think a normal teenager is a problem? Imagine one who is shaping up to be the smartest woman in reality,” Diamond said.

  “My wife might want to dispute any claim to that title,” I said.

  Diamond considered that for a moment and laughed. “Strange to think of that. Strategy and magic were never Mom’s things, she prefers to punch her way through problems.”

  I let those words linger. I didn’t have to say more. If Diamond hadn’t got those traits from her mother, maybe she’d gotten them from her other half. Diamond could figure that out, that was kind of the point.

  “Don’t be afraid to fight with her, if you think it’s the right thing. Don’t be afraid to be honest with her about who you are,” Diamond said.

  “I don’t think she’ll much like a lot of it,” I said, putting it mildly.

  “I don’t like it either. But you are her dad, and even though you haven’t come to your senses yet and married the right mom, that still makes you family,” Diamond said.

  “What happened to the days when every single member of your family kept telling me everyone else was a monster?”

  Diamond smiled at that. “Things got bigger than our family squabbles. When it’s us against the universe, family always comes first. Truly, Liam, don’t make the mistake and be on the wrong side of that line when the time comes.”

  I shot her a smile back. “That line isn’t what you think it is.”

  Diamond looked out over the battlefield. “When this battle is ended I’m going to need to report back. Mom will want to know that the wars are done. Come with me.”

  “You know that wouldn’t go well,” I said.

  “Of course, she’ll throw you in the dungeon for a few days. It will still mean a lot that you came. Elsora, your daughters, you—it won’t be easy, but everyone can have a place at the table. However, this family has a single matriarch,” Diamond said.

  It was tempting to listen. I didn’t want a war, not really. I also couldn’t have said yes even if I wanted. I really was bound by the vows of my marriage now, I could feel them sometimes around me. Elsora had plans and this wasn’t part of them.

  “I can’t,” I said.

  Diamond simply nodded and spoke on the matter no further.

  The battle waged for hours. Bodies piled up, the two moved on—and bodies piled up still more. The forces facing them grew smaller until finally only one warrior remained. Cobalt snapped his neck.

  When dawn came we got treated to the biggest feast of our lives. I got drunk and seemed to recall killing a good twenty men who proposed to my daughter. It was just that kind of party. We had our peace for the Silver City and I had my time to spare.

  Family stuck together, now I could track down mine.

  Chapter 17

  In the morning Diamond and Tiger left to report back to the Silver City. Cobalt and Hope stayed with us, Cobalt being in no rush to have that particular family reunion. Those of us who remained returned to Castle Sardonis.

  We all took a few hours to rest and then gathered once again in the war room to discuss our plans. A massive map had been set up, although it seemed to be largely stylized. In the middle a globe with a silver city perched atop it was surrounded by twelve other spheres. Other worlds here and there were marked with names or symbols I didn’t recognize.

  Cobalt waited, studying the map for awhile.

  Elsora had chosen a high-collared gown in black and purple that had her looking especially like an evil queen today. My wife did have a sense of style. A few others were in attendance, a young man I didn’t know dressed in the style of Olympus, and Iris, one of the witches from where we had so recently departed.

  “Thank you for coming, everyone. You’ve all done great work so far and now it is time that you got a glimpse of the larger plan. Most of you know and have worked together for some time, allow me to also introduce Prince Eros of Olympus, and Iris of the Blood Witches,” Elsora said.

  Cobalt said, “What are you planning? You’ve implied that you have some larger goal that might help to save my daughters.”

  “Before I get to that, let me address the need for it. The Silver City and Queen Ashera sit in the center of reality. In time, all with the Rite of War will be drawn there and will eventually wind up in one enormous conflict,” Elsora said. “That is our problem.’”

  Hope bit at her lip pensively and looked towards her mother.

  Cobalt nodded with her gaze firm. “I ran far and often to keep it from happening, but have always known I can’t run far enough. Eventually it will happen. It will happen to you and your sisters too, Hope.”

  Elsora nodded graciously. “And yet it is a problem that has seemed without a solution. Queen Ashera always wins, so however much you believe that you can take down any other threat in the world, this one you cannot. You have had a clock ticking away your life over your head from the moment you all were born.”

  “I know
the problem. What I’m not hearing is a solution,” Cobalt said.

  “The complete eradication of the Silver City,” Elsora said with a smile.

  I felt one of those sinking feelings.

  “You swore Ashera did not need to die,” I said.

  Elsora shot me a look that seemed almost regretful. “I honor my vows, husband. Ashera may live, although there will be a cost. The Silver City and its Queen combined together exert such influence. Remove the city and you weaken her area of effect exponentially.”

  “This is no plan. Even if you could somehow destroy the city, reality would burn along with it. Its last act of influence would be to destroy all,” Cobalt said.

  “Then we must first shift that influence elsewhere,” Elsora said.

  “Olympus would be happy to bear that burden,” Eros said.

  I bet. Aphrodite would just love being the new Queen of all existence.

  “It would not. Olympus lacks anything near the strength required,” Elsora said.

  Hope regarded the map. “You want to do it. This place, as one of the twelve moons, it is one of the strongest places in reality right?”

  “So close to the answer. Does anyone else want to try?” Elsora asked.

  I was getting an idea. I could start to see the pieces come together.

  Cobalt said, “I am not the expert on cosmology that Diamond is, but I know how strong my mother and that city are. One world alone couldn’t bear the strain of keeping reality together.”

  Elsora was enjoying this, “Therefore…”

  “What about a dozen worlds,” Hope said.

  “Beautiful, strong, and smart,” Elsora said.

  “Yet still not enough. The twelve worlds might be able to share the burden of the Silver City, but as you said earlier it does not act alone. My mother is a part of the equation that cannot be replaced. Even if you wished to take her place, you are nothing like her,” Cobalt said.

  “No, no I’m not. Ashera is a warrior queen and all of reality expects one at the center. Even if I wanted to, I am no substitute,” Elsora said.

  “But me and my nine sisters are,” Hope said.

  Cobalt’s eyes widened. This was a revelation she hadn’t seen coming.

  “Even if you somehow convince them, there are only ten,” Cobalt said.

  Awkward. I hadn’t told Cobalt yet that we had another cloned daughter on the way.

  “Elsora is pregnant with our baby,” I said. I probably should have found a way to put that better.

  All eyes in the room swung to Elsora, who said, “I am. Long-term, I am not suited to hold one of these worlds, but short-term bearing this child and for the few decades until she is ready to take her throne, the Crucible Shard will hold.”

  “Why is she having our baby?” Cobalt said with a dangerous growl.

  “Because I plan for the future,” Elsora said levelly.

  “I’m not okay with this. Besides, check your math, you’re still one off,” Cobalt said.

  She was right. There were twelve moons. Even if we could convince the Nine to join us and added in Hope, and the child Elsora was carrying, that gave us only eleven Queens who would have the Right of War and the Right of Rule.

  Elsora tilted her head. “We’re stretching a bit on the last one I admit, we don’t have the Gifts in a single package, but we do have them in two. I suggest the last world be ruled by Queens Cobalt and Maria.”

  That would do it.

  “It would give you two some time to connect,” I said.

  Cobalt glanced to where Maria sat with her arms folded in morose silence.

  “Maria?” Cobalt asked.

  “The spiders get to come. All of them, from everywhere,” Maria said.

  Cobalt grimaced. “It’s fine, if I’m mostly an absent Queen who runs around killing things, right?”

  “I’d expect little else, if you wish to follow your mother’s legacy,” Elsora said.

  “You’ve failed to say what we get out of this deal. How does this arrangement benefit Olympus?” Eros asked.

  “Olympus has long lamented bowing to an absolute authority that has a temper and could crush them at any time. This is an improvement,” Elsora said.

  “The Blood Witches stand with our friends and allies, and will endeavor to do all we can to assist,” Iris said.

  “It may be an improvement, but it is not enough. If you wish our assistance we’ll require more,” Eros said.

  “You know we could destroy you if we willed it, but I confess a certain fondness for your mother from days past. What does she want?” Elsora asked.

  “Our families to be connected,” Eros said.

  That seemed to be asking a lot, but I could see Elsora thinking it over.

  “Send your mother my regards and tell her I expect her help. The desire to see our families united is shared and we can weigh our options when the dust settles,” Elsora said.

  “Olympus stands with you,” Eros said.

  “You’ve got a few armies and you have a plan, but you still seem to be missing a few steps,” Cobalt said.

  “First we need to get your daughters on board. Given their nature, most of them will have raised armies of their own. They’ve been poorly treated, and handed a difficult set of Gifts and a cruel destiny,” Elsora said.

  “Famine, Pestilence, Greed, Hubris, Despair, Wrath, Horror, Madness, and Hate…” I counted them off on my fingers. “Do you know where we can find them?” I asked.

  “It shouldn’t be hard. They’ll be leaving tracks through reality everywhere they go,” Cobalt said.

  “I bring good tidings—I bring hope. Everywhere I go things seem to work out just in the nick of time,” Hope said quietly, and added, “That isn’t just a coincidence is it?”

  “It isn’t a Gift like your other powers, but no, it is not. Given the strength of your blood you have a powerful echo and names matter. Names have always mattered. You truly will bring hope to the hopeless, you will spend your entire life being an inspiration,” Elsora said.

  The rest of that didn’t need to be said. The shared looks around the room said everyone could complete the thought. The others would do the same.

  “Can I bring hope to them?” Hope asked.

  “You’re doing it right now although you don’t know it,” Elsora said.

  “Then let’s find them and let them know they’re not alone. That they have others they can depend upon besides themselves,” I said.

  Cobalt nodded sharply. It might not be a family we’d ever intended to have together, but they were ours.

  Chapter 18

  The next day found us seeking Wrath, who would be easiest to track down.

  I arrived with Ashley, Walt, Yve, Hope and Cobalt and we found ourselves in the middle of what was once a beautiful city. Fountains were visible at every intersection, and carved stone. Not a building lacked in ornamentation and brightly colored frescoes. This was a city of the arts, or at least it had used to be.

  Bodies filled the streets, broken and bleeding.

  “It’s terrible,” Hope said.

  “I’ve been here once or twice. Got into a bar fight. Nice people, the sort that fall completely in love with you at the bar and hold duels in your honor. This is way more than duels,” Cobalt said.

  “Well, we knew it would be bad,” I said.

  Yve began to move and we followed. It quickly became apparent that not everyone in the city was dead. Before long we saw two people screaming at each other outside of a butcher’s shop, further still there were crowds staring at each other suspiciously with weapons in hand.

  “We don’t like strangers here,” said a young man, with a swagger approaching our group. Three friends were behind him. Cobalt moved without hesitation, a punch to the midsection doubling the first man over and a spinning kick knocking his friends out, before landing the knockout blow to the first with a downward punch.

  “Mom,” Hope said disapprovingly.

  “They’re alive. Nobody here
is going to be inclined to back down, it is safer for them if we act first as soon as there is a sign of a threat,” Cobalt said.

  I said, “Do it. I need both of you to keep an eye out, if the rest of us have to step in they’re a lot more likely to get killed.”

  Hope nodded, that was rationale she could accept.

  A wall outside a tavern was covered with pasted papers. The most recent-looking ones advertised a convention of peace. It implored all citizens to come put their differences behind them. A young man of perhaps sixteen had a bundle of them in his hands—and a slit throat. Peace looked like a hard message to deliver right now.

  “At least someone must be trying to fight against what is happening here?” I said.

  “It has to be her,” Hope said.

  “Hope is right. If Wrath’s influence is causing people to be consumed by rage, it seems unlikely anyone would be making a large scale effort to do something else. This has to be her,” Cobalt said.

  “But why?” I asked.

  “If you were putting a world to death, wouldn’t you try to put it right?” Hope asked.

  If she knew it was her presence causing all of this, I wondered why she didn’t just leave. Perhaps she had already discovered some fondness for the place, or she wished for some proof that things could be changed.

  The small map on the poster pointed us towards the convention—and back in the direction we’d just came. I had my sinking feeling already what we would find. We’d seen no signs of life.

  We moved down the streets and came to a large square outside of a huge cathedral. There were festive signs with peaceful slogans, counters of food and beverages. This was meant to be some grand fair, it was a graveyard.