Rune Seeker

The small group crouched behind one of crenellations on the top of the outer wall of the Amphitheatre of the Sun. Like a giant bowl—with the arena at the bottom—the stadium had three massive, concentric circles of seating that could hold tens of thousands of spectators. Now, though, it held only a few hundred, all clustered down in two of the VIP sections closest to the arena. Like large, private booths, the doors which normally served to keep people out of the spaces now kept the prisoners in.

From Hiral’s vantage point, there were two easily identifiable Shapers in each section standing in front of the doors. Even if every prisoner in one of the sections turned on their guards, it wasn’t likely they’d be able to overpower the combat-focused Maker class. Of course, they could also take their chances jumping over the edge for the fifteen-foot drop to the arena floor.

Except then they’d be contending with four Shapers down there. Four Shapers Hiral recognized. Actually, thanks to this high Atn, he recognized all eight Shapers in the Amphitheatre.

“Those are the Shapers from the surface,” Left said, realizing the same thing Hiral had.

“The ones who left you to die.” Right’s hands clenched into fists.

“And Shaper Vule,” Hiral added, staring hard at one of the Shapers down in the arena. “Each of the four with the prisoners are C-Rank. Still C-Rank.

“That’s Hizix and Gunimat down in the arena, also both C-Rank.”

“Along with Vule and Velina,” Left pointed out. “Both of whom are B-Rank.”

“Low-B-Rank,” Hiral clarified after View gave him a bit more information.

“How are you going to draw them away?” Nat asked. She’d been quiet and catching her breath after the sprint over, but she seemed to have her wits about her again. She did pretty well for her first time, considering how fast Right moves.

“We’re not going to draw them away,” Hiral said. “Right, you’ve got the two Shapers in that area.” He pointed, and his double nodded. “Left, the other one is yours. Nat, Right will take you down with him, but stay out of his way once things start.”

“Once things start?” Nat hissed. “You just said they’re C-Rank! How are you going to…?”

“We’re C-Rank too.” Hiral looked at Left. “We need to make little signs or something to wear so we don’t have to tell everybody.”

“May not be the most strategic choice,” Left said flatly. “You’ll handle things in the arena?”

“Yeah, I owe Vule a couple lumps,” Hiral said.

“Two B-Ranks aren’t going to be pushovers,” Right said. “Be careful. Well, as careful as you ever are. Left and I will come bail you out after we take care of our part.”

“Unless I come save your ass first,” Hiral said, though he was taking his double’s warning seriously. The transition from D- to C-Rank was a big physical boost—not just in the number of attribute points, but more in the value of each one. C to B wasn’t as large—it was more about fine control of abilities—but even on top of the additional raw stats, each one would be worth more.

Still, when it came to Dex and Atn, he doubted anybody down there would be able to hold a candle to him. Shapers never focused on either of those stats. What they did have in spades, though, was Str and End. One hit could be devastating. And they’d likely be able to take a pounding.

It’s going to be a lot like fighting that Hulking Behemoth—which, in retrospect, didn’t go very well.

“Seena? Seeyela?” Hiral asked over the Party Interface. “We’re in position here and ready to go.”

“Who are you talking to?” Nat asked quietly, looking around.

“Almost,” Seena responded. “Seeyela is just confirming our way in. We’ve got one of those B-Ranks here. Guessing the other is there?”

“Two, actually,” Hiral said.

“What!?” Seena snapped. “And you’re going to—”

“Yes,” Hiral interrupted. “Look, I’m only telling you because you may have more than one there too. Be careful.”

“He’s right,” Seeyela said. “I found a second B-Rank. Two C-Ranks with them as well.”

“Four Shapers total? That’s it?” Seena asked.

“That’s all I found inside,” Seeyela said. “Look, if I use my cooldowns and get the drop on one of the B-Ranks, I think I can either completely take him out, or at least hurt him enough to make the fight that much easier.”

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“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about killing…” Seena started.

“No, it’s fine,” Hiral said. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t try to kill anybody, but we can’t risk pulling our punches with what’s on the line. Do what you need to.”

“Kill?” Nat said. “Damn straight you should kill them. They’ve already killed people. Don’t you dare go easy on them.”

Hiral looked at his sister—specifically, at the injury on the side of her head. Would those Shapers have hurt her worse if he hadn’t come along?

“I won’t go easy on them,” he told her.

Maybe she had a point. Even if he was able to subdue them without killing them, could they ever be trusted again? Or would they just try the same thing as soon as somebody wasn’t paying attention? His eyes turned to the Shapers down in the arena. The last time he’d seen them, they’d been casually discussing murdering Seeyela and her party.

These… weren’t good people.

A hand landed on Hiral’s shoulder, and he looked over to find Right beside him. “Don’t overthink it. And definitely don’t hesitate.” His double gave him another pat, then looked at Nat and pointed at his own back. “Get on. It’s almost time to go.”

“Remember, when you get down there, Nat, your job is to stay out of the fight. Find Milly and Mom, and organize the prisoners. Getting them to the school is your responsibility.”

“You talk like you won’t be coming with us,” she said while she climbed piggyback onto Right again.

“Probably not,” he said. “We still have things to do.”

“We’re ready here,” Seena said over the party chat. “Hiral?”

Hiral closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He’d dreamed for years of coming to the Amphitheatre of the Sun to prove everybody wrong about him. To prove he wasn’t the Everfail. This wasn’t exactly how he’d planned to do it, but it was kind of fitting.

He opened his eyes again, checked his solar energy, and stood. “Ready.”

“Consider this your long-distance shoulder tap,” Seena said.

“Wait for me to get things started before you go down,” Hiral told his doubles.

“Got it,” Left said.

Hiral leapt from the wall on a burst of Rejection, his Coat of Ur’Thul snapping in the wind as he soared into the center of the arena. Another pulse of Rejection slowed his fall at the last second, throwing dust and wind out in a circle as he landed. Four surprised Shapers spun in his direction and threw their arms in front of their eyes to block the wave of debris.

“The hell?” Vule asked, the seven-foot-tall man stepping through the dust to look in Hiral’s direction. Tattoos and Meridian Lines shone luminescent on his skin from long use, the thick, corded muscles underneath practically dancing with every small motion he made.

Oh, yeah. Even one hit is going to hurt.

Three other towering Shapers stepped up to join Vule as the dust settled down, while Hiral heard hushed voices whispering from the stands. Literally standing head and shoulders above Hiral, the three men and one woman stopped about thirty feet away from him.

“Who are you, then?” Vule asked, his right hand clenching and unclenching at his side.

“Too small to be a Shaper,” Velina said.

“And who even dresses like that?” Gunimat asked.

“I guess it’s been a while since you last saw me, Vule,” Hiral said, pulling his hood down. “And almost as long since the rest of you left me to die on the surface. Thanks for that, by the way. I literally wouldn’t be the man I am today if not for you.”

“Wait… Everfail?” Vule asked, his held tilting to the side as he looked at Hiral.

Even without taking the black Second-Skin of Ur’Thulinto account—or the glowing runes and double helix on it—Hiral’s face was free of tattoos and Meridian Lines. It really wasn’t a surprise it took them a second to recognize him.

Hiral gave the others a few extra seconds for that to sink in. To remember the last time they’d seen him. And to try and figure out what he was doing there, now.

“Where are his Meridian Lines?” Velina asked quietly, though her words clearly reached Hiral’s ears, thanks to his Atn.

“Hizix,” Hiral said, pointing to the Shaper on the far left and ignoring the woman’s question, “I owe a debt to you, so I’ll give you the option to bow out of what’s about to happen here.”

“What’s about to happen here?” Vule asked before Hizix could say anything. “You mean before I pound you straight into the ground like the useless nail you are?”

Hiral didn’t take his eyes off Hizix as Vule spoke. The younger Shaper had been reluctant to take the final step down on the surface—to kill the Growers—and he’d even seen Hiral escaping with them. Seen him, and said nothing. He’d let them go. The man had a conscience, though he could probably use a spine to go with it.

“I…” Hizix started, and the other three Shapers glanced in his direction.

Vule grimaced, obviously not happy about his creative threats being ignored.

Hiral sighed. “Yeah, I get it. I’m putting you in a tough spot. Look. Just stand in the background and don’t do anything, okay? If you do, I’ll consider my debt to you even, and you can walk out of here.”

“Debt? What’s he talking about?” Gunimat asked.

“Who cares!?” Vule roared. “And who are you to decide who leaves?”

Hiral ignored Vule again and looked instead to the stands. The Shapers guarding the prisoners had moved closer to the edge to see what all the commotion was about. Even some of the prisoners had been caught up in the spectacle and… There. Yes. Milly and his mother. They were okay.

A small part of him sighed in relief, but he didn’t let his eyes linger on them for more than a second. The insurgents had proved more than willing to use hostages to get their way, and the last thing he wanted to do was remind them they had his family there.

“I’m talking to you!” Vule yelled, starting to stomp in Hiral’s direction.

“We’re through talking,” Hiral said at the same time he pulled his hood back up. All along his Coat of Ur’Thul, the glow from his double helix grew in intensity as he weaved threads of solar energy. “Just so you know, this won’t be the same as the last time we were here.”