Becoming Monsters In The Mirror Ch 10

This is still a story the Becoming Monsters series by Ai Loves, setting used with permission. All canonical and mechanical errors are my own. The yarrb is the creation of FelisRandomis, used with permission.

Quiverbow is the invention of @Domochevsky3, and also the name of a Minecraft mod he made. Dude also 3D prints foam-throwing weapons. Check him out if you get a chance!

---

Chapter 10: Broken Arrow

All five of us got on the bus after breakfast. Lucy was decked out in the best gear we had, with some extra sampling equipment from Sarah in case she found something interesting. The rest of us came equipped as well, and I was decked in our mail shirt now that I was officially doing tanking things. Nibbles was laid out across our laps. We were all feeling the same way. Nervous, but content. We had direction. We had a way to go. Today would be the day that proved it.

There weren't so many people at the camp today. The few we found were in a somber mood. In the Los Angeles Dungeon, a major guild had just gotten their headquarters raided and entirely demolished in revenge for wrongs they had committed, the stone smashed to gravel. Delvers as a whole were a close-knit community, especially when you got up into the kinds of levels the Guild Leader held (word said he was over thirty, which was frankly mind-boggling to me). Many at camp had friends they'd be pouring one out for tonight who were once a part of that group.

We had a stop to make before Lucy linked up with her team. Sarah needed to be inducted. According to her, even if she went back to Vancouver, she'd want to come down occasionally for us. Smiles all around as we voted unanimously to admit her. Sarah Castellán, Enchanter 6, was now on our rolls and contract.

As it turned out, they sold badges and collars for guild pets. I got one for Nibbles, the tag a simple disc of stamped steel, and our grins got even wider.

Dropping Lucy off with

Golden Age

to do delve preparation was oddly heart-wrenching. This wasn't the first time members of

Shield Against Shadows

contracted out to other guilds. It was, however, the first time Lucy had done so. It would be the first time she was out in significant danger where I was not there to see it. Where I was not there to put myself between the monsters and her. Logically, I knew I didn't have much to worry about. She was an incredibly dangerous caster, in a relatively shallow delve, defended by a Knight who could objectively wipe the floor with me. It was still hard.

I could tell from the hug and kiss she gave me that her nerves were wound as tightly as my own, but she didn't let that stop her as she walked to the gate shuttle with her team.

Sarah, Whitney, and I (oh, and Nibbles) had no plans to go elsewhere until Lucy rejoined us, but there was a lot to do at camp. More than enough to fill a full day. Most of the people working there on a Monday afternoon were serious professionals. They weren't there for tourists or dabblers. Smiths, Alchemists, Enchanters, tactical outfitters, moneychangers, cooks, scribes, experts in both Surface and Dungeon law... the list went on. I first took Sarah to the Enchanter's Block, but had to stop her a couple of times. Once because we had no hope of affording something. The sharp-dressed red headed woman at Quiverbow Ranged Weapons had unbelievably rare and difficult enchanting work on a selection of hideously intimidating firearms, bows, crossbows, and other implements of distant destruction... with nobody on my team who used them as a primary armament. No matter how pretty they might be. Another stop was because testing an item's quality at a somewhat less-reputable stall by attempting to Disenchant it on the spot could end up with us defending ourselves against the people we go to for equipment.

In the end, she picked up a couple of specialized reagents that the general kit hadn't included, some kind of glowing pink powder and blue crystals, sniffing about having to re-refine it all for quality.

A more serious and critical note demanded my attention, as well. Putting in face time with the other Guild leadership. Whitney and Sarah had to stay at the food court with Nibbles, with promises not to make a scene. I wasn't sure how long I could trust that to last, so this would have to be quick. I didn't expect many to be present, but the Officer's Lounge was far from empty. It had been a couple of years since I stepped into the building, but it really never changed.

Some of the photos on the walls were of different teams, after different achievements. The tables had new scars on them. The people, too, were mostly faces I did not recognize. About half humans, the other half a bewildering variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and compositions. At least a dozen ogres, slimes, elementals, and angels. Chatting, trading tips, comparing destinations. Several of the conversations stopped as I walked in, they did not know me except perhaps from the recent duels. Thing is? The atmosphere of it all was identical. I felt like I had been transported three years into the past, back when I was in here even more than out in the streets personally.

Couple of faces I knew, though, and I went straight to them. One, an insectoid looking much like a bipedal praying mantis, watched as I approached. His bladed arms often made things awkward in polite company, but Vish was one of the most dangerous Dervishes in the Pacific Northwest. I should know, he was a part of

Shield

for two and a half years, and one of the last to leave when things fell apart.

Couldn't even blame him. Medicine was for people with dexterous fingers.

He was wearing a shoulder flash for

Golden Age

, which made him ideal for what I needed. His table-mate was different. Human, or at least human-ish. He was exceptionally hirsute with flaming red-orange hair all over his body, and so tall that he had a few inches even on me. I couldn't readily tell if he was human or Yeti, and decided to not ask. Safer that way. His insignia was different, what looked like a black wheel with wings.

Vish's voice clicked and buzzed, a tone that, for him, indicated curiosity. "Jeremiah? Hah, speak of a devil and he appears. Last I heard you were chasing vermin for coppers, then all of a sudden here you are. Knew Lucy was a Striker par excellence, but you got another one? And an Enchanter now? I'm not the only curious one."

"Always on top of things, and that's why I'm here. If I know you... and I do... you can tell me what is going on. Topside hunts have gone nuts this week, I've collected on two major bounties and a Hospital crisis, getting word that portals are hitting as far south as Steilicoom, and then your main Tank wants to hire my Strikers? Come on, that's not normal."

"What makes you think I know that cause?"

"You've never forgotten a thing in your life. I'm pretty sure you could still tell me the password to your computer at the hospital from when you were doing pre-med rota."

"It was 'password' anyway." The tilt of his head indicated a grin. "As it turns out, my cheesesteak-loving friend here would be useful for you to know." The huge man put down his sandwich and offered a hand, which I shook.

"Gregory Grits, Team Leader for

Flight Of Fury

. Good to meet you...?" His voice was a basso rumble, vibrating my chest as it washed over me.

"Jeremiah Kithkin, Guild Leader of

Shield Against Shadows

." His eyebrows rose, their bright red color making the process look almost like a sunrise. "Oh, don't give me that. I lead three folks besides myself these days, plus one newly-adopted yarrb. You've probably taken bigger teams down than that."

"Every two or three days, but that's not the point. You're the weekly bounty leader right now. Registered Level eight bringing home a tier FOUR? Nearly solo? I have to hear this story."

"I was level seven when I did it, that earned me eight." I took a brief moment to brag about the fight that had started off my week, leaving off the bit where it turned out to be one of my new guild inductees. That was a bit much even for this kind of table.

"Hah. Alright, here's what I got. Lots of underworld activity recently, bunch of kidnappings and blackmail. I'm pretty sure they're connected."

"I can tell you with a fair degree of confidence that they aren't, or if they are, it's factional. Ran into a hit. Black Cat with some nasty claws, she was looking for info on that."

Both of them sat up very straight. Vish gave me another quizzical look. "You are being very free with very valuable information today."

"Gesture of goodwill. I'm not trying to keep secrets that will hurt the Guilds or my friends. Still, I need information. Think you can get me some?"

He buzzed. "I believe so. You gave me a piece of the puzzle that I very much lacked."

Gregory rumbled again. "You are a fascinating man. I will keep you in mind if we need to contract, as well. Any particular people you are looking to recruit? I try to get new Delvers where they need to go, where they will fit in."

I shook my head. "No, you'd likely not believe me if I told you how my guild doubled in size this week. Even after this conversation. Suffice to say, my criteria are both stringent and secret for now." They nodded. I left to go find the others. I had done enough for the day. Showed that we were alive, got some ears to the ground, got some thought.

I, of

course

, found Whitney arm wrestling an Ogre. Like you do when your Strength is that high. She might have met her match this time, though. Certainly, both were sweating hard, staring at each other as their corded muscles stood out. Sarah was easy enough to find. "What's going on?"

"Oh, he said something about that sword being too big for her. She took offense, they've been stuck like that the last three minutes."

"What was the wager?"

"Not too sure. They said something, but I didn't hear it over his buddies hollering."

The two were still locked at it, and ever so slowly the ogre was gaining. Degree by degree. They were about to cross that fateful 45 degree mark when I heard it. A creak of wood about to split. "Stop! Table!"

Both did, thankfully. When they lifted their arms, I could see the imprint their elbows had made. In wood. Hard wood. Whitney's opponent grabbed a small bag off the table. It clinked.

"Whitney, let's go. We have other things to do." One of the ogre's buddies said something remarkably off-color, involving myself and my entire guild. While enjoyable, it would not be a public matter of discussion if we decided to do so. He was human. I had no special edge or class feature over him. I didn't waste Hunger using my Aura.

The death glare I gave him, by itself, took the wind out of the sails of the whole group. Even Nibbles looked at me a bit nervously. The moment stretched uncomfortably long, the seconds feeling like geological epochs as they stopped laughing. "I'll let this one go, but they are

my

guild. I will defend their honor as well as my own should the occasion call for it."

They got the point, and dispersed. We walked off, towards the edge of camp. To the Armorers. Whitney was subdued behind me, which was something of a trick for someone who was six and a half feet of solid muscle. "You... you meant that." It was not a question, but certainly sounded like one.

I stopped. They stopped with me. "Listen closely. Both of you. A Guild is an obligation. To all parties. As members of my Guild, you promised to do everything in your power to bring success to the mission, which in our case is to keep the people of Seattle and its surrounding areas safe from the hazards which escape the Dungeon. In return, I promised to support and defend you, both as a valuable member of my team and as a person. I am more than willing to throw down against everyone in this camp simultaneously in service to this task, and I expect the same from each one of you. My life is your life, my honor your honor, my resources devoted to you, just as yours are now devoted to me. It is a bond I consider nearly as sacred as my marriage to Lucy, and if you do not I will see you to a group that matches your views instead of my own. Understood?"

Both of them looked flabbergasted. Different Guilds did things differently, but among the Surface Hunters of the Pacific Northwest, what I said was expected. If a Delver made a mistake, it might cost them their life and those of their friends. If a Surface Hunter did, the casualties could number in the dozens. Dozens of people who didn't sign up for this, who had no hope of defending themselves in a world gone mad. I had made that kind of mistake exactly once, during the chaotic first year of the Change. I would not do so again, nor allow it to happen under my watch.

Sarah and Whitney both nodded, wide-eyed, and said something that sounded like assent. I'd accept it for now. Neither of them seemed to have had major issues with the philosophy this week, in any case. My thoughts were interrupted by Nibbles, looking off into the distance, away from the center of camp. He growled. Whitney and I didn't even hesitate to pull out our weapons and get set, Sarah was a shaved second behind us. "Lead us there!" Nibbles took off like an arrow, dashing directly towards the woods.

The tree line took us like the embrace of a jealous lover, the delineation between clear camp and dense cover razor-sharp. These green acres were remarkably dangerous, enough so that even the Delvers disliked coming here alone unless they were particularly capable. Portals spawned here more than any other location in Washington, disgorging monsters and warping wildlife. Whatever we were being led towards, all of us would have to be on high alert to avoid ambush. One such monster tried to leap at us, a thing that looked like it had once been a rat or a particularly mangy dog. It chose the wrong target, Whitney's sword cleaving it in twain almost without breaking stride.

The spiteful whistle of a projectile splitting the air was my only warning, my recently-boosted reflexes the only reason why I was able to jerk my head out of the way as an arrow thudded into the tree next to me. "Left!" I cried out as I spun to face the threat.

It was human-sized, about six feet tall. What I could see of it looked skeletally thin, its skin pallid and slimy, utterly hairless. It was clad in leather armor, and as I looked it snarled at me. Its oversized mouth was full of fangs. This is all I could catch in the brief moment I had, it faded into the underbrush and out of sight as soon as it noticed I had caught sight of it. Babau demon, assassins of the underworld. That glance would have to be enough.

I launched a Lightning Net at where I had seen it, knowing that the chances were slim it would still be remotely there. I had to show it both that I was the main threat and that I could match it at range. Neither of these things were true, of course, but tanking was all about presenting the image.

Images like the fact that the tree trunk had started to sizzle where the arrow struck. Acid. Not something I could easily recover from. Great. Telling the others not to let arrows hit them would be a waste of breath, if they weren't already trying their best at that we had other problems. Nibbles was looking about thirty degrees to the left, still growling.

Wait. Nibbles could still perceive the demon!

I sighted directly towards where he was looking and launched a Flame Ray. This time, it hit. With a growling yell, the Babau became visible. Whitney wasted no time, wings thundering as she dashed forward to engage the enemy. Of course, this is when it decided to throw a Lightning Net at her, wrapping her wings and bringing her to a painful landing well short of her target.

Alright, I can see why she had been mad when I did it to her. This was obnoxious when it was happening to my own team.

Sarah reacted quickly to the events. She pointed her wand at the target and pelted it with several shots until it backed off and faded out again, quickly dispelling the Net keeping Whitney pinned as soon as it did. I barely managed to interpose my shield between her and the next shot, and Nibbles sprinted at the demon, quills raised and ready to strike.

That horrible grin stretched wider as the yarrb approached, and it raised one clawed hand. Nibbles stopped running, and started screaming. My feet moved before I could consciously direct them, pounding forward to help. One more Flame Ray seemed to break the Babau's concentration, but the screams did not stop. I looked, and Nibbles was... growing.

It was not a pleasant or wholesome process. The yarrb's skin split open and sealed back over many times as unclean cords of muscle and sinew grew in sudden bursts, unevenly over his body. Masses of barbed quills ripped out of its flesh, its head deformed into a horrifying mass of fangs and fur. His tail thrashed, doubling in size even in relation to its new body.

Moments later, he was looking at me. There was no sign of recognition in his eyes, nor sanity. What faced me was an abomination, one that used to be my friend. His dog tag still somehow hung from his neck, the metal disc glinting in the flecks of scattered sunlight, an obscene reminder of just who this was.

Was. Wait. I knew this one. Cursebreaker answered to my call, and I could see it. The Curse of Reversion hung heavy on my friend, but it was anchored. The demon held its chains. If I wanted Nibbles back, I'd have to go through that. I saw the chains of the curse suddenly shift and dove to the side, the space I had just been occupying suddenly entertaining the demon's claws. In my empowered sight, I could see the same curse upon it. Literally. Both were being affected by the same instance of Reversion, if I could rid the demon of it that would be that.

Just had to get clear. I struck at the demon, but it saw my attack coming a mile away and dodged. The monstrous yarrb struck at me, its quills glancing off the shield. I beat my wings to leap backwards, there was no hope of me making any progress as we were. This is, of course, when I figured out that the Babau had not been resting on its laurels. With a snap, the bottom half of my body was encased in ice, anchored to the ground by a trap the demon had set. A ball of green gas sailed from somewhere behind me, striking the Babau and driving it slightly away. It smelled utterly vile, and I had no idea where it came from. That would have to wait for later.

I was stuck, off balance, and mere feet from multiple foes that had me outclassed. Nibbles dove at me, horrible fangs exposed. I brought my shield up in a futile gesture, but need not have bothered. Sarah was there, touching my arm with a newly-activated Shield Charm. She had given us a few precious seconds, Nibbles stopping cold at the strained barrier.

"Whitney! Keep the demon busy!" I had very few applicable tools left, but one could work. My Aura. Sarah touching me gave me an idea. I shoved a

lot

more Hunger into it than I ever had before, and with it my fatigue and lassitude. The sloth wave hammered Nibbles in the face hard enough to knock him unconscious, going from rage to sleep in the space between its suddenly-slowed heartbeats.

This was not a permanent solution, but anything that kept fangs from my flesh without killing my friend was a solution I'd take. Unfortunately, Sarah also got caught in the blast, and dropped to the ground. I could hear her snore even over the crackling of the ice as I broke free. My feet were numb, but hopefully that would not be relevant.

My antics had thankfully not sapped my mana pool much. Whitney was swinging wildly at the Babau, it evading her strikes with shocking agility. It was playing with her, trying to goad her into a mistake. I watched it happen, just a bit too much oomph on one attack, at just the wrong time. The edge of the sword struck a tree and stuck fast, Whitney unable to quickly free it.