Chapter 508: 509. Crackling Negotiations

Dallion had learned that relying exclusively on instances was never a good strategy. However, they also provided a tremendous advantage. If Nil was to be asked on the topic, they “saved time” more than anything else. At present, they proved that even after suffering a number of defeats, cracklings tended to be extremely aggressive.

The first dozen instances that landed on the ground were quickly swarmed by a wave of roach-like insects from the ground itself. Apparently, the black flames had a few things up their sleeve as well. Just to avoid any misconceptions, Dallion performed a line attack straight down, creating a crater beneath him. More importantly, through performing a spark attack, he also killed off any traces of cracklings in a hundred-foot radius. The earth beneath him changed from black to light brown, which was then covered in grass in real time—a hint that the guardian had acknowledged Dallion’s presence.

The second series of instances that landed on the ground remained unharmed.

“You’re aware of what I can do,” Dallion shouted. “And I have a pretty good idea what you’re capable of. What do you say we have a chat?”

Every work was infused with music, trying to make the cracklings calm down to the point that they were willing to listen. It was a long shot, like trying to harness a flurry of butterflies to pull a sled. However, as a hunter, Dallion had managed to do something quite similar with shardflies, so he liked his chances.

“I can’t destroy all of you in one go, but I can keep snuffing out a few cities per attack. It’ll be long and annoying, but I can do it.” Dallion paused for precisely three seconds, giving them a chance to consider his words. “Or you can move about, opening a path from here to the temple. A proper path, mind you—green grass all the way. None of you will be destroyed, and I’ll get what I want.”

There was no reaction. Seconds passed, then minutes. All the time Dallion kept on combat splitting, in case another attack was launched. However, nothing of the sort happened.

Nox, did I say it right? Dallion asked.

Yeah. Too many words, but it’s understandable.

In that case, why aren’t they doing anything?

After another few minutes, Dallion took a step forward.

Lux, get ready to pull me up in the sky. He continued on.

The first hundred feet were easy. There was nothing that could do a surprise attack. Upon reaching the end of the grass, though, things became different. The chances of there being some new cracklings underground were very real, and the further Dallion ventured into enemy land, the less effective his combat splitting would be.

Any words of wisdom you can offer, Nil?

And spoil your fun? the echo mocked. Far be it for me to mention that you’re walking on cracklings. I’m sure things will be fine. Isn’t that what you usually say?

There was no point in responding. Dallion was fully aware he was walking on a living minefield. In theory, he could fly off at any point, but that always involved a certain degree of risk. After another two hundred feet, Dallion stopped.

Spark, he thought, doing another point attack straight down. Loud screeching filled the air, suggesting that there indeed was something lurking underground, and it was a lot larger than cockroaches.

Look at that, Dallion said to himself.

“If you don’t want to take this seriously, just say so,” he said loudly. “I can do this all day. And even if I can’t destroy more than a couple of cities, you can’t harm me either. It’s what’s usually called a stalemate.”

This time, there was a response. A goblin general formed in the city straight ahead. Quickly growing to the size of a castle tower, the creature stepped over the city walls, making its way towards Dallion. Sheets of thick black metal covered him like massive chunks. Given their size, Dallion wasn’t certain he could pierce them as easily as before. On the positive side, the general didn’t seem to have a weapon.

Reaching the end of the newly formed patch of grass, the giant stopped. On cue, Dallion continued forward until less than ten feet separated the two.

“What do you want?” the goblin asked in a booming voice.

“I told you. I just want a path connecting both temples. That’s all.”

“Why?”

“So I can walk between both of them when I choose,” Dallion quickly replied. “And without having to fight in order to do so.”

“Why do you want to help the guardians?”

“That’s my business. Also, don’t take anything for granted. You know I have the strength to take them out, just as I have the strength to annihilate you. I just don’t want to do it at the same time.”

The reasoning had enough truth in it to be believable, at least that was Dallion’s hope. When it came down to it, though, it was nothing more than a bluff. In ideal circumstances, and if Dallion had an infinite source of stamina, maybe he would have achieved what he wanted. In reality, he wasn’t even sure he could defeat several guardians in a row. One would be easy, but that would expose his strength to all the rest. Everyone knew that, which was why expeditions had very strict rules of engagement. Their goal was to achieve victory while displaying as few methods as possible. If not, they would have gone gung ho, like Dallion had, from the very beginning.

“Just a path?” the goblin asked. “How wide?”

“It doesn’t really matter.” Dallion shrugged. “Five feet, maybe ten. You can have walls on either side, if you want. As long as the path is completely uninterrupted.”

“Hmm.”

“Oh, and I won’t want anything above it, either. No bridges, or archways, or even flying critters. Got that?”

“If we give you your path, you’ll stop attacking?”

“At least for a few centuries.”

It wasn’t a good deal by any stretch of the imagination. Dallion knew that. However, after ending up on the losing side of a few deals himself, he knew that the only thing that mattered was the leverage at present. The bottom line was that there was nothing the cracklings could do to stop his immediate rampage.

“Just a path,” the crackling general repeated.

It was difficult to tell whether that was agreement or displeasure. The void that created them was keeping Dallion from getting any clear sense. Just in case, however, he was ready for a fight. If the deal was seen as unacceptable, the cracklings were probably going to launch a final attack, and despite appearances, Dallion was going to be forced to retreat. While his arms weren’t shaking, he was feeling somewhat tired after all the point and line attacks he had performed. Even if he could potentially pull off just as many before fainting, that wouldn’t be enough to end up being the victor.

The giant goblin took a step forward, stopping at the very edge of the green border itself. Then, to Dallion’s surprise, split in two. For a moment, both creatures stood side by side, before taking a giant step away from each other. As they did, a crack of brown emerged on the ground, extending forward like a tear. Dallion watched as the tear increased in length, forming a road precisely five feet wide. It went on and on through the black fields until it reached the wall of the nearest city. At that point, the wall itself split in two, letting the road pass.

Didn’t think they’d be so literal, Dallion thought.

You didn’t think they’d agree at all, Nil grumbled. Apparently, knowing their language proved to be a substantial help.

Yes, Nil. It’s all because of that.

Even the smoke in the sky parted ways, forming a hairlike crack of natural blue to form. It was the stuff of fairytales.

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“You have your path,” both crackling giants said in unison.

“And you have your deal.” Dallion smiled, walking between them.

Err, what exactly are you doing, dear boy? Nil asked.

Walking down the green brick road, Dallion replied, amused at his own humor.

The guardian’s request was to make the path, not reach the other temple.

What harm will it do? Besides, the cracklings spent all that effort making this. They deserve to see me using it once, at least.

I really can’t figure you out. You do the most remarkable things and follow them up with nonsense of an epic scale.

I thought you’d be used to me by now.

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother…

The walk was refreshing and quite surreal. Dallion could feel the grass beneath his feet, feel a pleasant breeze of air, while sunlight covered him. At the same time, black walls of decay emerged on both sides. Beyond those walls there, he could feel nothing but void. The closest thing he could compare this to was the realm of the whip blade, only that didn’t have sun or grass originally.

It took several hours for Dallion to reach the ninth temple, even when walking at quite a fast pace. Truth be told, he enjoyed the walk, which was why he didn’t ask Lux to fly him there.

A wall of trees marked the border of the temple grounds. Clearly, the path had nothing to make them shift a bit. Massive trunks rose up into the sky, so close together that even a mosquito couldn’t pass through. Definitely not the welcome Dallion was expecting.

The firebird lifted Dallion into the air, allowing him to fly over the crowns and into the small idyllic patch of greenness that surrounded the temple itself. The guardian was already expecting him there, sitting on a small wooden chair in front of the entrance.

AURA SWORD TEMPLE GUARDIAN 9 - BRIZ

Species: DRYAD

Class: SHADOW

Health: 62%

Traits: UNKNOWN

Skills: UNKNOWN

Weakness: UNKNOWN

Only sixty-two percent? Dallion wondered. Things must be quite tough in this realm.

“Hello,” he said in dryad. The guardian gave him a blank look.

Not one for small talk, Dallion thought.

“Explorers usually come from the other side,” the dryad said.

“It was faster for me to choose this way. The guardian from the next temple wants to speak to you.”

“We’ve spoken already.”

Initially, Dallion thought that the dryad was lying. However, his music sense showed that not to be the case.

“When you made the path linking to my temple, you let me make an echo anywhere along it,” the guardian explained. “We’re even talking now. The cracklings don’t like it, but you scared them enough to keep them from doing anything about it. For that, I thank you.”

“No worries.”

“You also asked to see the crown.” The dryad’s expression remained the same, but a ball of anger appeared behind his forehead. “I don’t approve of that.”

“A deal was made.” Dallion split into instances, in case the dryad decided to attack. “I fulfilled my part.”

“That is why you’re still unharmed.” A root emerged from the ground, transforming into a chair. “I’ve seen how strong you are. I have no illusions that you’ll be able to take me down, though not before I weaken you to the point that you lose your next fight.”

“Let me guess. You’re the humble one?”

“I know your level. I can see your skills, your traits, and some of your guardians. You might be stronger, but you’ve already fought a lot of cracklings. Also, you don’t have magic.”

“And you do?” Dallion moved to the chair, but didn’t sit down.

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

The revelation came like thunder from a clear sky. Of all the things possible, this was one Dallion hadn’t taken into account. Of course, there was a chance that a guardian might have magic. It was relatively recently that the Purple Moon had hid its face from the world.

You didn’t tell me that, Vihrogon, Dallion thought.

“Not much,” Briz continued. “Not enough to win against you, but that’s not my goal.”

“Do I need to do something for you too?” Dallion asked.

“Maybe, maybe not.” The guardian looked straight into Dallion’s eyes. “What exactly is your relation to the Star?”

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