Chapter 48: It’s Over

  Getting back into the swing of things was a challenge. I’d been so focused on saving everybody that I let several things slip. The first goal the next day was locating and retrieving all three airships.

  The first, Fred, was the easiest to find. I left it in the forest where Bori hid the heart. With teleportation, getting there was a piece of cake. It floated a couple feet off the ground, right where the knights had moored it. I checked the stats and realized I’d made it back just in time.

  Fred: 100% Functional

  Mana: 3,350/100,000

  Operation Cost: 1,000/Hour

  A jolt ran down my spine when I placed my hand on the reader.

  Error: Due to the distance from Albion, personal mana was used.

  I grunted, realizing it hurt less than it had the first time I spent mana on an airship.

  Alexander Krup

  Race: Primordial Human

  Class: Terramancer

  Level: 50

  Hitpoints: 500,000

  Mana: 560,603

  Stamina: 500,00

  Base Stats

  Strength: 97

  Dexterity: 81

  Ability: 92

  Constitution: 347

  Intelligence: 69

  Wisdom: 82

  Charisma: 62

  Luck: 150

  Miscellaneous

  Perception: 100

  Precision: 500

  Control: 1000

  Earth Manipulation:5,000

  Golem Formation: 10,000

  Max Golems: 12

  Skills/Spells: Pew, Crunch, Kronch, Gong, Wham, Manipulate Earth, Divine Ritualistic Crafting, Furniture Creation, Minor Home Repair, Summon Primordial, Manipulate Void

  Traits: Affinity: Earth, Affinity: Void, Golem Creation, Functional Jaw, Golem Blades, Affinity: Iris, Affinity: Slag, Personal Dungeon, Assimilate Stone, Bloodline: Pendragon, Bloodline: Primordial

  Titles: King of Albion. Savior of the Universe.

  I did a double take at my stats. Being primordial had its perks. However, there wasn’t time to dwell on it, so I twisted the ring on my finger so Sir Palamedes came out.

  “To Albion!” I commanded.

  “Yes, My Liege,” several knights that spawned with him all said at once.

  Bori appeared once we were in the air. She stood on the bow and looked back at me. “Take down the shield, Daddy. I want to feel the wind in my hair.”

  I wasn’t worried about her blowing away or anything, so I did as she asked.

  We enjoyed the ride for a while before I asked. “Have you given any thought to where you want your dungeon? Do you still like that cave we found last time?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve changed since then. That cave is way too small. I’m going to need something a lot bigger now.”

  I gaped at her.

  Borealis Krup

  Class: Dungeon-Core

  Type: Puzzle

  Ascension Rank: SS

  Classification: Primordial Core

  Origin: Earth

  Affection Level: Dark…but adorable

  “SS rank?” I gasped. “Since when?”

  She giggled. “Since I touched the heart. You got stronger too, didn’t you? Besides, Mommy noticed right away. Why didn’t you?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “There was a lot going on at the time.”

  Bori nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t think we could defeat Donn. I’m glad we did, though. I like the light.”

  “Me too,” I admitted. “We still have to find you a home, though.”

  “Just make sure people can come visit me,” she said. “I have a lot of puzzles I want to try.”

  “I will, sweetie,” I replied, adding yet another task to my growing list.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The second airship was also easy to find. Melvin turned up with Kiki and Alariel, making a pit-stop in Albion before dropping them off in Xanadu.

  “Oh, the airship,” Alariel said. “I left that in Solitair. You should find it on the dock.”

  We both teleported at the same time and ended up in the void together. Melvin laughed and motioned to Gaia. “You first!”

  I spun the planet until I found the volcano with a spiderweb of buildings running up the side. Close to the summit was a small landing pad, and I saw my airship on it. Only it was on its side. I quickly teleported to get out of Melvin’s way.

  The Interceptor: 100% Functional

  Mana: 0/125,000

  Operation Cost: 1,500/Hour

  I groaned as I climbed over the rail and reached up to get my hand on the reader. Just a finger made contact, but that was enough. The familiar jolt went through me as the airship powered up. I then had to struggle to not be thrown off as the airbag refilled and the ship righted itself.

  The flight took significantly less time as Solitair was much closer to Albion. I set the ship on its dock and set off for the void again, determined the find the last of my airships. The problem was, I didn’t know its location. Fortunately, Pi did, as he was with Donn when it crashed.

  A red marker appeared on the map once again, this time in northern Dabia. I appeared in the middle of nowhere to discover The Dominator in pieces.

  The Dominator: 0% Functional

  Mana: 0/150,000

  Operation Cost: 2,000/Hour

  “Really, Pi?” I grumbled as I surveyed the wreckage.

  The fault lies with your knights. I merely defended you from Donn. Their inability to keep the airship aloft without your presence is not my fault.

  “The mana…” I said, realizing I’d cut off the ship’s power when I jumped overboard.

  I was a bit worried that The Dominator would be more difficult to repair than the other two ships, but it took my mana and did all the work once again when I touched the reader. The next thing I knew, we were airborne and headed back to Albion with the final airship.

  After docking in the hangar, I took a moment to appreciate having three fully functional airships all at once. Then I took Fred and headed back to Camelot because I didn’t feel like teleporting. I made my way to the throne room, where I ran into Isa, Ceru, and several of the girls from the brothel.

  “What’s going on?” I asked. “I thought you were all already citizens.”

  Pippa rounded on me with her hands on her hips. “We are, but it’s about time you made honest women out of us.”

  “Pardon me?” I asked, not sure where this was going.

  Isa sighed and a woman I recognized as Ara, the mistress of the brothel, smiled.

  “Were talking about my girls becoming your concubines,” she explained. “As king, you are entitled to them.”

  “Concu…” I couldn’t finish the word. Were they discussing my life without me?

  Isa sighed again. “Look, you can do whatever you want, but I’m going to be your first wife.”

  “First human wife,” Ceru corrected.

  “Right,” Isa conceded. “Ceru is your first ogre wife, and I’m your first human wife. Everyone else can be concubines. Also…”

  She blushed and couldn’t finish her sentence, so Ceru did. “She wants to have the first human baby.”

  “Oh,” I replied.

  Isa wouldn’t look at me, but the other girls shrugged. Pippa laughed. “I have two kids already. I don’t mind waiting.”

  The other girls nodded their agreement.

  Sir Palamedes walked up behind me and said, “My Leige, I would be remiss not to tell you that the perils have also requested your attention. While they are ghosts, they do have physical manifestations that can also reproduce.”

  “The perils?” I asked incredulously. “Those things that tried to kill me? Do you want me to make ghost babies?”

  It wasn’t that much of a stretch, considering I already had a dungeon daughter.

  Sir Palamedes replied. “While they did attack you, I assure you, you would have come to no harm by their advances.”

  I sighed. “Fine, make the arrangements.”

  “Excellent,” Sir Palamedes said in a dry voice. “When shall I schedule the first wedding?”

  “Wedding?” I asked, and my stomach lurched.

  “Isa can go first,” Ceru chirped. “Chonu won his Chana by competing in channaka. By our laws, Chana is his wife.”

  Isa hesitated, but stepped forward when Pippa looked like she was about to. “Fine, but I don’t want a fancy ceremony. Can we exchange some simple vows?”

  I wasn’t sure how that worked as royalty, but the last thing I wanted was to draw this out any more than it already was. “That works for me. How does I promise to love and cherish you until death do us part sound?”

  She blushed. “Yeah, that works. I’ll do the same. Is that it? Are we married?”

  Sir Palamedes stepped between us. “Yes. That will do. A ring will be prepared for you at once. Would you like to kiss your king?”

  “Husband,” I corrected.

  “First human husband,” Ceru amended.

  “Yes,” Isa said, sealing the deal with a kiss.

  “Next,” Sir Palamedes announced.

  Isa growled but took a step back.

  I knew I had to make it up to Isa. The whole concubine thing completely ruined her wedding day. She retired to her room, so I went to see her.

  “I am so sorry about that,” I said when she answered the door. “I had no idea Sir Palamedes was going to do that.”

  She sighed. “It’s fine. I was the one who said I didn’t want a bit wedding.”

  “Well, we’re married now, My Queen,” I replied.

  She gasped. “Queen? Am I the queen?”

  “You are if I say you are,” I replied. “The only other person who comes close is Ceru, and she’s content to be called Chana.”

  “Is that because she gave you a son?” she asked.

  I hugged her. “No. I will love you whether or not you decide to have kids. That isn’t a requirement.”

  She huffed and punched my shoulder. “It sounds like every other woman in the kingdom wants to.”

  I laughed, but she wasn’t wrong. Did I want a horde of kids? Heirs to the throne?

  Any children you have will be disappointed if they wish to inherit your throne. Primordials do not die.

  Will my kids be Primordial?

  Partly. They will be part human the same way Borealis is part dungeon.

  Aren’t I part human?

  Yes, and no. While you retain your humanity, you possess the heart of the elder primordial.

  “Alex!” Isa pushed me away. “Enough necking. If you keep that up, I might be tempted to make that baby with you right now.”

  “Aren’t you on the tea?” I asked.

  She smirked. “You remembered! You better take your tea when you get with your concubines.”

  I sighed. “I won’t have to do anything with them if you don’t want me to.”

  Isa scoffed. “Are you trying to start a war right after saving the world? When are you going to realize you’re irresistible?”

  “I am?” I asked.

  She backed into her room and beckoned me seductively. “You are. Now, get in here and give me my honeymoon.”

  Meanwhile, At S.I.M.P. Co. Headquarters…

  Arihim paced back and forth at the head of a long table filled with unusually subdued sponsors. Even the usually gabby Quailissa held her beak. They were all waiting for the one person who just might have any answers about the game. He took one last moment to go over the final score.

  Player: Michael Katach

  Team: Yellow

  Sponsor: Arihim

  Renown: 272,101 Infamy: 1,999 Final Score: 274,000

  Player: Darrin Angler

  Team: Red

  Sponsor: Oliver

  Renown: 22,139 Infamy: 221,015 Final Score: 243,154

  Player: Alan Friedzeig

  Team: Black

  Sponsor: Varesh

  Renown: 234,111 Infamy: 33,760 Final Score: 267,871

  Player: Carlito Ververos

  Team: White

  Sponsor: Karlissa

  Renown: 281,999 Infamy: 1337 Final Score: 283,336

  Player: Kendra Welsh

  Team: Green

  Sponsor: Rhea

  Renown: 127,909 Infamy: 118,312 Final Score: 246,221

  Player: Primith Landia

  Team: Purple

  Sponsor: Melvin

  Renown: 444,444 Infamy: 0 Final Score: 444,444

  Player: Kiavi Naples

  Team: Orange

  Sponsor: Phrisk

  Renown: 4,300 Infamy: 282,000 Final Score: 286,300

  Player: Alexander Krup

  Team: Blue

  Sponsor: Quailissa

  Renown: 1,573,966 Infamy: 6,666 Final Score: 1,580,632

  The boy chose that moment to make his grand appearance, appearing at the far end of the table just as nonchalantly as his father had.

  “Hello, everybody,” he greeted everyone. “My name is Melvin Murphy.”

  The room erupted into chaos as everyone tried to talk at once.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Oliver asked. “Isn’t it a little late for a sponsor change? And with a child, no less.”

  Qualissa rose to her feet. “None of that matters. There is nothing left to discuss except to declare my player the victor.”

  “Your player is a cheater!” Phrisk hissed.

  Varesh stood and straightened his tie. “It is said that the blue player saved the universe. I’d say that more than earns him the additional renown.”

  “You can’t prove that,” Phrisk said.

  “I can,” Melvin said. “I was there. If it wasn’t for him, you’d still be trapped in the darkness as batteries for the primordials.”

  “You certainly seem to know a lot about this, child!” Rhea looked down on him. “Give us one reason to trust anything you say?”

  Melvin shrugged. “I don’t care if you trust me or not. From what I’ve been told, my family has been funding this competition since its inception. The money you put in as sponsors isn’t even enough to pay for their visas, much less getting an entire planet to play host. I’d be more than happy to withdraw my support if you’d prefer to do it on your own next time.”

  “No!” Arihim snapped. “There will be no further discussion on the matter. Alexander Krup of blue team will be declared the winner. We will hold a reward ceremony at…”

  “Actually,” Melvin cut him off. “Most of the contestants have already gone home. I suggest you start thinking of ways to improve the game before you host another. As far as the show goes, use footage you’ve already filmed for the rest of the competition. I’m sure you can also schedule an appointment with Alex to interview him in Albion.”

  The other sponsors were silent for once as Melvin vanished in a puff of smoke. Arihim watched him go, and said. “Albion…”