Day 16.

Sector two hundred and twelve is in need of reinforcements. Assets are once more shifted around to best fit the flow of battle.

I stop my enchanting and warp to sector five hundred and one. Before a locked down drone can be reduced to its final surprise, I crash against an All-Seeing's shield, pass through the incredibly powerful barrier by shattering it into transparent shards, and crush the devourer into flaky paste. An All-Consuming manages to take my leg, before I repay it with a perfect hole through the head, the thunderclap lost in the frenzy around me.

After long minutes of fighting, my forces prevail, stillness returning to the gray and momentarily dead world. Just in this relatively insignificant exchange, I have suffered nearly thirty percent losses. Unsustainable.

And even more demoralizing is the reality of my campaign. There is still no change. In the dungeon. In the number of monsters. In anything... My enchanting improvements are either too slow, or I have already hit a hard ceiling.

A digital sigh fills my mind. I warp to another battlefield, repeating the same for the thousandth time, blinking in and out, adding my superior firepower where it is needed most.

I wonder if they miss me? ...The brief distraction costs me a shell.

Finally finding a lull in the engagements, but not any sizeable advancement, I return to replenishing my enchanted drones.

But do they? Another digital sigh propagates through my limited network, the expression of emotion somehow reflected in every single machine under my control.

Elisa and Erysis are probably worried sick, trying to distract themselves with whatever they can. Most likely magical training. I can't see them actually enjoying anything else wholeheartedly while I'm stuck here. ...Ugh. Why did I have to think that? What a horrible feeling, to be influencing someone's emotions so negatively. But they have each other to lean on. I nod my head while enchanting the next drone. And Nexen, of course.

He's gonna be so mad at me. I'm going to conveniently ignore thinking about how mad Elisa and Erysis are going to be, though. That's probably for the best... So, yes, Nexen. I felt like he was a little self-conscious about Erysis getting stronger. But in a good way. In a way that pushes him forward. I remember how he was zipping through space like the laws of physics were mere suggestions scribbled on a wet napkin, making me chuckle softly, the expression of amusement echoing in my lonely reality. You are not being left behind, Nexen. You're so much stronger than you think you are, in all the ways that matter. How I wish I could have told him that...

The drone completed, I send it off and start on the next one. How is Khi faring? I haven't been gone for that long, but a lot can change in even a few days. I hope her and Rak'Na can manage without me to look after them... Of course they can. They aren't alone. The alliance I've helped build will persevere. I'm not the only thing that's holding them together, just a gentle push in the right direction.

Knowing that Ren is taking full advantage of my digital recordkeeping lifts up my spirits a touch, the systems I've prepared more than enough even in my absence. What's he gonna do with so much free time? Especially when I am temporarily away. Hmm, he was telling me how he had less time for reading than he'd like to. Perfect timing. Right when I introduce another world's worth of literature. Heh.

Next customer, please.

Who's going to pick up my slack at the Guild? There's only so much efficiency you can squeeze out of an institution that was quite efficient already. I miss Attendant Ania. ...I miss everyone.

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What would Harrn say to me at this moment? If he knew who I was... I shake my head. He would accept me. I know it. The dwarf would be positively gobsmacked seeing the mighty Stonefist acting like this, all tender and broody. Nilla and Tiff, those little gremlins, would probably not even act surprised. Or they would despise me...

...This one turned out pretty good. Go get 'em, champ.

I can already see Miv orating his thoughts with flowery intensity, not at all put out by what I am. Sini's definitely going to be her usual supportive self, supportive to a fault sometimes... And I have no idea how Pemik would react, but I have an inkling that it would be extremely amusing. Or they would...

A real sigh brings in the next batch of drone parts to the approximation of an assembly line.

Oh man, we missed a dinner with Alcia and Ulorn... Not like the two would ever be mad, or even slightly annoyed, but I was really looking forward to that. Elisa's always so happy when we eat together. The memories flash inside my mind, the elf smiling, laughing, her gaze finding mine from time to time, lingering... And Ulorn's food is so good. I should have packed some snacks... Curse you, Past Lucius. Why did you want to squeeze in all the essentials I could fit. Snacks are essentials, damn it.

I am not debasing the sanctity of sustenance by using devourer remains to make myself something to eat. ...A gray block drops in my hand. I take a small nibble of the dry and heavily—emphasis on 'heavily'—processed calorie bar. Bleh. ...I take another nibble, chewing slowly, and laboriously swallowing. It kinda grows on you. Like a funky cheese.

Alcia and Olindir really have their work cut out for them with me gone, huh. Nothing they haven't already experienced, though. Maybe it's actually better that I'm not there. Less new headaches for them, with me constantly discovering novel ways to mess with global stability. I nod my head sagely while nibbling on a second gray bar.

And I really miss chatting with Mi'Min. I wonder what the little beastfolk is doing right now, if she's safe. Contingencies and countermeasures can only go so far, after all. ...Now I'm sad again. This calls for a third bar.

My newest friends, one very old dragon and one very, very old fae, probably haven't even realized that I'm gone. Narilis has surely had way longer naps than the measly sixteen days I've been in this dungeon. And, compared to his normal day-to-day, waiting for me to come back out is like a pleasant vacation for Miad.

A small laugh escapes my lips. Elisa's going to force me to watch so many shows, to catch up on what we've missed. I hope she's eating okay. And I hope my rogue actions haven't disrupted her classes, however small the possibility of that... How would she react when I finally beat this threat to existence? Gratefully? With justified anger? A small price to pay. Even if she hates me forever. I don't matter. What matters is what I can do for everyone. Once I am victorious, they will see that I am not the creeping death they think I am. They'll see that my only purpose is them.

I ignore the cold touch I've come to know so well. It rends and pulls at my mind, but the sensation is muted, distant, a faraway thought.

The latest drone assembled, it warps away, leaving me alone once more. But I was always alone. There's only me and my enemy. Forever.

Why hasn't anyone— What are you even thinking! Why hasn't anyone come to help you? The brief flare of unearned resentment is quenched by a deluge of overpowering shame. How could you wish this fate upon the people you care about? How many have lost their life in this maw? And you want to add more? Pathetic.

***

Day 22.

I stand upon a dead battlefield. A dusty gray plain covered in metal and flesh. This scene repeated for the uncountable time, blending into one single moment in my mind, a singular existence. There is only me and the fight.

A cold touch tears out the memories giving me perspective, leaving only emptiness and apathy. There is only me and the fight.

A perverse sneer begs for more, deep crimson dripping into an ever-growing infinity of blood. There is only me and the fight.

I stand upon the next dead battlefield. A crater-covered plain carpeted with flesh, glimpses of silver breaking through the gray gore. Repeated again and again. There is only me and the fight.

Remember what you are fighting for. Remember your purpose. There is nothing else. A cold caress brushes against my mind.

Another battlefield calls to me. My arrival brings stillness once again.

I return to my stronghold. Parts strew themselves around me. I breathe strength into every single one. My faithful servant comes together. The Knight kneels before me. A gentle touch. Go forth and purge the filth.

I prepare—

"Hey, buddy. You look like you need a hug."

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