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I blinked in disbelief. There it was, an item in my inventory. The shadow essence ebbed and flowed like the void pearl used to. The dark magic had somehow latched onto me.

  Talon: Uh, that's great news. Can you get to the fast travel?

  Kyle: We have a surefire way to unlock it, but there's a quest we gotta complete first. Apparently, before Loras went to the great beyond, he installed a little upgrade to Oakengard.

  I sneered. The last thing we needed was another setback. As I rose to my feet, the shadow essence vibrated. I felt it thrum inside me. The void pearl onscreen blinked, like it synced with the shadow essence.

  I waved my hand before the screen and flexed my fingers. Bands of shadow throbbed between them and I clenched my fist. The dark pulled at me. Bonded with me. No longer tied to the sanctum, I was now able to harness it completely.

  Yeah, better not to mention this to Izzy and Trafford.

  A tremor shook the war room and the butterflies in my stomach returned. That hadn't been a nightmare, it was an earthquake.

  Talon: Okay. How much time do you need?

  Kyle: No way of knowing for sure. Oakengard's shifting and twisting in place. The upper halls are turning into a maze. It's gonna be a close thing.

  Talon: When has that ever stopped us before?

  Rumbling shook the walls. I trudged to the southern window overlooking Oldtown and widened my eyes in horror. The statue of Orik, the symbol of Stronghold's victory, was shaking. Rocks cracked away and exploded into dust on the ground.

  This was not good. The titan wasn't just crumbling, he was waking up.

  The brewmaster and Bravo Team hurried through the stone halls of Oakengard. The patrols were increasing in intensity and they'd already encountered small patrols of the Violet Order. It was only luck that the keepers hadn't yet noticed them.

  Kyle nodded at the white knight. Lash's full helm dipped in return. She spun into the next doorway, cleaver leading the way.

  "Clear."

  She waved the team forward. Conan led, followed by Kyle, Glinda, and the twins. Bravo Leader took up the rear until the next doorway, where stone sentries raced past. Everyone skidded to a halt with baited breath. Alerted hums continued down the hall.

  "They missed us," whispered Kyle. "Stupid dummies."

  Lash glared hard at him from her forward position. Kyle readied to defend himself, then saw the knight's eyes flick to the back of the room. A keeper streamed into the doorway they had come through and stopped hard. Its rock head canted and fixed on them, and the purple energy binding it to life flared red. A single extended chime rang out like a deafening bell. Similar sounds repeated throughout the entire castle.

  "You were saying?" growled Lash.

  Kyle swallowed sheepishly. "We're boned."

  Lash waved her arm into the forward doorway, their easiest point of retreat. "Move! Move!"

  1970 Quake

  I descended the winding stairs. The tower rocked so hard I slipped. I fell against the wall for support, afraid the entire tower might crumble. It was a relief when Bandit skittered up the stairway to greet me.

  "We need to move fast, girl."

  I grabbed the bongo's horn and pulled myself into the saddle. Her hooves deftly pranced down the shaking stone through what felt like several extended earthquakes. As we exited the tower, the mighty cyclops pushed to his feet and roared.

  "Titan!" I screamed, though it was unlikely my warning did anything the rumbling giant hadn't.

  Orik at full height edged out Dragonperch, currently making him the tallest object in Stronghold's skyline, all dirt and muscle and fur. His bald crown was ringed with matted hair. His eye cavity, though closed, seemed to nevertheless sense his surroundings. Orik bellowed a war cry and raised a fist.

  "Hey!" I called out. "Not Dragonperch!"

  Orik ignored me and took a swing at my tower. I recoiled as a barrier of magic appeared between the meaty fist and the ancient structure. The magic shuddered under the blow, sparks raining everywhere, but withstood. The giant snarled in anger. He raised both fists in retaliation. I wasn't sure how much the sanctum could take.

  "Orik!" I screamed. Bandit cantered in a wide circle as I waved my arms. "Come get me!"

  My voice was drowned out by the cyclops beating his chest. Not only had he failed to notice me, but he was going for the tower again. But then, suddenly and like a switch was flicked, the giant paused. His ear wriggled and his nose sniffed the air. The cyclops relaxed and sidestepped Dragonperch over the river, making a beeline for a new destination.

  Oh no. This wasn't good. The titan was now on a collision course with the Pantheon.

  City Alert:

  Orik has awoken!

  Stronghold is under threat. All residents may engage in combat. While within the walls, all watchmen and residents are immune to friendly fire.

  "This is bad."

  My heels dug into the bongo's side as she galloped across the drawbridge to outpace the titan's stride. Meanwhile, the possibilities raced through my mind. What was the game here?

  The last time the pagans invaded the city, Orik was going for the Oculus. He'd wanted to recover his Eye and potentially take control of Stronghold. But the founder relic was no longer in the tabernacle. As far as I was aware, there wasn't anything for Orik to do in the capitol building.

  Then I thought of what Hadrian had tried.

  Talon: I've got bad news, guys. Orik woke up and is headed for the Pantheon. I think he's going for the fast travel.

  Izzy: Did you just say what I think you said?

  Kyle: Can he even do that?

  Talon: I dunno. Maybe I should politely ask.

  Trafford: Can't you see what's happening, son? Hadrian means to reinforce his army with a titan.

  Talon: We can't let that happen.

  I gritted my teeth as Bandit ran past the giant. We passed Black Hat noncombatants and other players who'd stayed behind in the Foot. If their frightened scrambling was any indicator, they were no match for the titan and knew it. We flew over the bridge and headed into the Forum.

  Talon: The dev menu confirms the portal is locked, but I wouldn't put it past Hadrian to have a trick up his sleeve.

  Izzy: Wait a minute. If he's planning on using the fast travel, that means Hadrian will unlock it from Oakengard's end. Kyle, Lash, that's your way out.

  Centurions formed up their second legion in the cobblestone marketplace. Horns resounded and Gladius drew his sword at the head of their ranks. Orik, ever focused, stepped across the Albula River and made his way toward the opposition.

  "Hold strong!" ordered the commander of the city watch. "We no longer have the Eye. Once he finds there's nothing for him here, he'll leave." Legionnaires brandished extended spears. The commander's sword burst with brilliant fire. "Might need a little convincing, though."

  It was unbelievable bravery in the face of utterly overwhelming power, but the city watch had displayed it before. Their sole mission was to protect Stronghold, the core of Haven.

  Bandit slowed by the commander.

  "How is this happening?" asked Gladius.

  "It's Hadrian. He has the soulstone. He's controlling Orik just as he did the kraken."

  The centurion blinked stupidly. "Even the boggart witches couldn't pull that off with this kind of precision."

  "Tell me about it."

  "What's your plan?"

  I shook my head. "This is it. I'm gonna save my Black Hats and then see what happens."

  Orik was faster than before. Where he'd first been a raving savage, he was now driven by a force of will more monstrous than him. Bandit galloped forward to keep ahead of him.

  The tall architecture of the Forum was an obstacle, even to a giant. The easiest way to the Pantheon was straight up the fairway, and that was quickly filling with organized units of soldiers. Bandit had to slow to weave through, and it was only possible because spears and men cleared the way for us. I watched as the sea closed in our wake, sealing off the Pantheon from intrusion.


  "Loose!" cried Gladius.

  Taut bowstrings snapped. The two ballistae already in position released heavy bolts. Spears behind the front line hurled forward. The effort was much less haphazard than the first time Orik had breached the gates. Perhaps having a petrified titan inside the city had urged the city watch to run drills. Whatever it was, Gladius had trained his army well.

  The arrows mostly ricocheted off Orik's thick skin, and those that penetrated were little more than mosquito bites. The heavier projectiles were not so easily ignored. Despite the titan's massive life bar barely budging, he roared in pain at the wounds running up his leg and belly.

  "Reload!" commanded Gladius. "Archers, loose!"

  A second wave of arrows filled the gap as new legionnaires hurried into position. They didn't get there in time.

  The giant bent forward and wisely zeroed in on the commander. "Shield wall!" yelled Gladius. Orik pitched his fist into the dirt and flattened him and the surrounding centurions.

  I recoiled inwardly as Bandit's hooves climbed the portico steps. Who were we kidding? We hadn't been able to halt Orik's Pantheon rush the first time he'd gotten through the gates. It was only a reboot that saved the city, and I couldn't manage that without the devs. Even if I could, it wouldn't solve anything. Any autosave would find Orik already inside the walls and Hadrian in possession of the soulstone.

  Talon: Kyle, Lash, I'm at the portico. I need you at the fast travel yesterday.

  Kyle: No can do, kimosabe. We got a little recruiting factory to take care of first.

  Lash: Little is an understatement. Hadrian's growing his army by hundreds of troops per week.

  Kyle: We're gonna sabotage his machine before he 3D-prints an even bigger army.

  I gritted my teeth as Bandit shuffled nervously. Behind us, the titan was making quick work of the defending force. Heavy sandals stomped the ground indiscriminately. The blind head swiveled as fists took care of the largest threats. An ballista to his left, another on his flank. The titan's assault barely slowed as he lumbered forward, flattening any resistance.

  I searched the skyline for buildings tall enough to give me a boost. I didn't have a dragon for the rest of the day, but I still had a dragonspear—a titanslayer.

  The Pantheon was the tallest building, even in its half-collapsed state. We approached the statue of Decimus, holding up crumbling rock in a last gasp. Bandit was a mountain bongo, and her hooves were well accustomed to this sort of terrain. She hopped up the caved-in roof and weaved upward, toward the intact dome of the rotunda.

  The titan bowled forward like Armageddon's first wave. I unlocked the fast-travel portal.

  Talon: Forget the recruiting factory. There's only a day left till the war. The extra troops won't matter.

  Kyle: Bro, this might be our only chance.

  Lash: The frat boy's right. If things don't go as expected tomorrow, this factory could keep running for weeks or months.

  My knuckles went white as the giant approached. Bandit leapt onto the domed roof and galloped a lap around as Orik lumbered nearer. We were close to three-quarters his massive height now. It wasn't enough to leap to his head and give him a shot to the eye, but it was close. I pulled Bandit around for another circle of the roof to time my strike. As she came around, Orik predictably leaned forward to take on his greatest threat: me.

  "I'm doing this one without you," I told Bandit, placing my boots atop her saddle and rising to a shaky stand. Rather than equip the dragonspear, I had my tiger claws on. I would worry about the stabbing once safely atop the colossus.

  We charged forward. Orik swept a hand across the rooftop and Bandit leapt over it. At the top of the arc, I jumped off her back. With Orik's current stance, I could actually make it to his shoulder. I zeroed in on my target and dashed ahead with a sudden boost.

  The giant's body twisted, reducing my chances of a pain-free landing. I stretched a claw forward, and then the titan's other fist swatted me out of the air.

  Critical Hit!

  126 damage

  Breath fled me as I tumbled headfirst toward a nearby building. I was coming in hard. Just before impact, my senses returned and I triggered wall run. The skill partially propelled me at a perpendicular angle, fixing it so my boots struck down first. Unfortunately, my momentum was too much to completely overcome. My flailing steps couldn't keep up and I buckled against the second-story wall and pitched to the ground.

  Fall damage!

  22 damage

  Fall damage!

  14 damage

  Stun!

  You are stunned. You may not use skills, move, or attack for 20 seconds.

  I reeled in the dirt, trying to make sense of my sudden surroundings. Orik was already moving on to the Pantheon. Bandit was nowhere in sight.

  Talon: Kyle, Lash... status.

  Lash: Hot and heavy over here, boss.

  Talon: If you're gonna come through, it's now or never.

  Kyle: Bro, you're not hearing us. We're not gonna make it.

  Orik's sandal blanketed the lower grouping of portico steps. I clenched my jaw.

  Talon: I can't let Orik through the portal.

  Lash: Understood.

  I opened the dev menu. Right as Orik hugged the portico wall, I bit down and locked the fast travel. He was trapped.

  I was too dazed to smile, but my supposed victory was premature. Orik bellowed at the top of his lungs and raised mighty fists to the sky. He wasn't here to use the fast travel at all. In a fit of titanic rage, he savagely pummeled the Pantheon. The ground shook as Orik finished what the death of Decimus had started. Ancient walls collapsed, burying the statue of the angel and destroying the fast-travel portal. Even half of the rotunda dome caved in.

  In a matter of seconds, the core city's capitol building was razed, a wrecked punching bag for a raving hulk. And then, in a manner very unbecoming a mindless monster, the cyclops halted his frenzy. His empty eye socket calmly zeroed in on a new target. The titan leaned down and scooped at the ground.

  He picked up Bandit.

  "No..." I groaned, still reeling from the status effect and unable to move.

  Orik took a heavy breath, turned his head west, and lumbered away. If he wasn't gonna teleport to Oakengard, he was gonna get there by foot. I watched as he effortlessly slid over the city wall and headed toward the horizon, devastated to see my mount helpless in his grip, and me even more helpless to do anything about it.

  My stun wore off and I rose to my feet. The marketplace was a nightmarish scene of flattened and wounded soldiers. The threat had left the core city, but the cost was high. Bandit was gone, and my allies were now trapped in Oakengard for good.

  Talon: This is bad, guys.

  Kyle: You've got to trust us, bro. We know what we're doing.

  Talon: I sure hope so, because there's been a little development.

  On the floor at Bravo Team's feet, a last chunk of crystal lost its violet glow. The patrol of keepers was defeated, but the next wasn't far behind. Kyle and Lash exchanged a heavy look.

  "Did Talon just report what I think he reported?" grumbled the white knight.

  "What?" asked Glinda. "What happened?"

  The brewmaster rested a tired shoulder against the wall. "The Pantheon's destroyed. We're not going back through the fast travel."

  Grim silence followed the news until Crux sucked his teeth. "So, we're on a quest going the opposite direction we wanna go for a reward we can no longer use."

  Lash worked her jaw. "The reward is making it so we go to war against fewer soldiers."

  The thief bit his lip and faced the floor. "I'm just saying, Speaker Harroway could've at least thrown in some silver pieces or something."

  The stranded companions broke into smiles and laughed at the ridiculousness of it all.

  1980 Crusader Kings

  Grimwart nodded his chin toward the canyon ledge. "There's another one."

  General Trafford frowned. There'd been eyes on them from the pe
aks for the last half hour.

  "We should slow down," urged the colonel. "Tighten the ranks."

  "No space to tighten them," said Trafford. "It's too late for all that."

  "We can't leave ourselves exposed like this."

  "I can recall the scouting party. Dune knows these lands too. He found the clerics once before."

  "And how did they fare afterward?"

  Trafford solemnly turned to the colonel.

  "We should slow," repeated Grimwart.

  A message came over the brigade chat, visible to every single Black Hat.

  Talon: I've got a bit of terrifying news. Orik's awake. He smashed the Pantheon and now he's headed toward Oakengard.

  The entire army froze a step as if they'd experienced a communal hiccup. Then the worried glances started.

  Talon: The Black Hat army has a day's head start. That won't last forever. Keep moving.

  The buildmaster general scratched the back of his head. "Still insist on slowing down?"

  Cries rang out from their forward position. Trafford rushed ahead through legionnaires brandishing pikes. Ahead, mounted crusaders in black rode out from a winding canyon path and blocked the army's route. Horses neighed and soldiers cursed.

  "What good is that damned scouting party?" muttered the old man.

  "Shield wall!" cried out a centurion. "Archers ready!"

  "Hold!" ordered Trafford, pushing through.

  More armored crusaders spilled from the mountainside. After the first thirty horses or so, the rest were on foot. Black tunics with white crosses filled the road and advanced.