Gilgamesh approached the sixth riddle alone. Just as with the first one, it was an archaic painting upon a stone wall, but the meaning within implied something very different.
A sun with the body of a lion, wreathed in flames that scorched its own skin, battled the shadowy beast head-on with both eyes wide open. Behind the lion was a moon whose silver light shone only on the near side. The eye on the light side looked away from the battle, and the eye on the dark side was closed shut.
“The sun faces the monster while the moon only looks away, content to live half in ignorance…” Gilgamesh interpreted. “...what this implies goes against the theme of the riddle before. It wants me to face the unknown to solve it, rather than solving the unknown before I face it.”
Gilgamesh went right and came before the writhing monstrous mass of shadows, but he did not falter. He pulled a torch from the pedestal ahead and set himself ablaze.
Wreathed in agonizing flames, he faced the monster, which recoiled before him and fled from the hall. Gilgamesh walked through the hall one firm step at a time, and the flames dispersed the moment he stepped onto the platform.
‘Adaptation.’
Gilgamesh continued along the dingy stone tunnel and arrived at a choice of two paths. Before him there was only the image of the monster on the left and an open doorway to the right, illuminated by a single torch.
Gilgamesh took the flaming torch from the wall and headed left without hesitation. He soon entered a massive hall, far larger than the ones before. In the center stood the giant, shadowy monster with its back facing him. The floor beneath was divided into two types of tiles, one of rough stone and one of pitch black.
The monster started to turn around, and Gilgamesh ran between the stone tiles as he endeavored to stay out of the monster's line of sight as he drew closer.
“I understand the riddle within the riddle now.” Gilgamesh thought as he ran.
“The first taught Comprehension, to acknowledge the world. I am only safe behind the monster. The third taught Logic, to follow the rules of the world. Only the stone tiles are safe to stand on.”
Gilgamesh stopped at a row of shadowy tiles. There was a stone tile just beyond them, but he did not try to jump for it. Instead, he took a detour to get around to the next path of stone tiles.
“The second taught Humility. Acknowledge the limits of oneself.”
Gilgamesh finally reached a dead end of black tiles with no other path around, but he did not despair. Instead, he lowered his torch and set some of them ablaze. The shadows burned away to reveal a stone tile beneath and the flame of the torch diminished.
“The fifth taught Knowledge. Embrace the world that is known.”
Gilgamesh burned shadowy tiles for a path as efficiently as possible to reach the mass of stone tiles before the monster. But as he drew close, the monster suddenly snapped around to face him and raised its powerful arms to strike. Yet Gilgamesh’s stride did not slow.
“The sixth is Adaptation. Adjust to the changing world. Confront the unknown to move forward. And the seventh… the true riddle…”
As the monster struck, Gilgamesh finally reached close enough to throw his torch.
“...is that this world can be changed.”
His torch struck, and the monster was set ablaze. It writhed and wailed as the shadows melted away to reveal its true form, that of a minotaur, no more frightening nor impressive than any other beast of its strength.
“Minotaur.” Gilgamesh defined.
The moment he uttered the word, the giant creature turned to stone and indomitable words carved themselves onto its forehead.
‘Wisdom prevails against the Unknown.’
[ You have passed the Seventh Trial. ]
[ Exceptional achievements recognized. ]
[ You are rewarded with 2 Mid Grade items. ]
[ Some gods see you in a better light. ]
[ All-Father ] is impressed.
[ Old Man of the Woods ] commends your wits and resolve.
[ Handsome Monkey King ] admits you did pretty good, but maintains that he would have done better.
[ Feathered Serpent ] praises your instincts.
[ Herald of Olympus ] says you are all far too easily impressed.
[ Three-Headed Snake ] enjoyed your efforts.
[ Husband of the Golden Bride ] warns that none can take the more dangerous path forever.
[ High Priest ] is watching.
[ Serpent of False Mysteries ] is happy that you did not perish horribly.
[ Serpent of False Mysteries ] is curious about what new golems you will choose.
Gilgamesh immediately willed for the list of golems without a shred of thought for anything else, and contemplated what he needed most.
“A better vanguard to replace my Steel Naga would dramatically improve my main attack formation, but that will not close the distance nearly enough…” Gilgamesh mused. “I need a Dragoon. Magic solely meant for killing, with no counters.”
[ Stone Gazer - Golem (Mid Grade) ]
Attributes:
Strength - 0
Agility - 0
Vitality - 10
Perception - 30
Force - 300
Spirit - 60
Control - 100
Willpower - 0
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Features: Flight (silver), Firebolt (silver),
Material: Stone (inferior)
Mana Capacity: 600/600
Consumption: 3 motes per minute
Recovery: 3 motes per minute
[ Flight (silver) ]
‘Fly freely via magic power.’
Magnitude: 1.0
Mana Cost: 6 motes per minute (Feature)
[ Firebolt (silver) ]
‘Cast an explosive ball of flames.’
Magnitude: 2.0
Mana Cost: 35 motes
Just as he had searched for back at the end of the Bazaar trial, he chose the Gazer as the best Dragoon type. Flight was a mandatory Feature so that it would be usable on its own, but the exact magic to accompany it was less obvious. Gilgamesh wanted one that would devastate anyone he encountered, magus and commoner alike.
“Firebolt… Some may be resistant or even empowered by fire at this stage. Same for the other elements and even things like acid, to a lesser extent.” He contemplated. “Poison would be better. Not many will have countermeasures for Mid Grade poison, and neither I nor my golems need fear the collateral of my own attack.”
Gilgamesh’s brow lowered. “But that still wouldn’t do much to enemies like the Atreus or Narmer. And even Mid Grade poison might take too much time to take effect against other enemies. I don’t know how much Vitality would be enough to withstand it…”
Gilgamesh thought deeply. “...a soul attack. That would affect both the Atreus and the Narmer.”
He briefly recalled the sight of Attila enduring the devastating Soul Arrows, but he quickly buried his discontent. “I cannot be hesitant to take a step just because it is not the last…”
However, he did also wonder whether his golems could even use attacks born from the soul. They operated through being bound to him, but they did not possess their own.
Gilgamesh pulled out a gemstone and crafted a Low Grade golem with the Bronze tier Feature ‘Wraith Wail’ and commanded it to act, but the golem did nothing. He took direct control to try again, but nothing changed. It merely felt like trying to draw water from a dried-up well.
“I had hoped it would work through my bond with it, but it seems more complicated than that…” Gilgamesh assessed. “Although… perhaps my Mana Connector trait can solve that. Or rather, an upgrade to it.”
Gilgamesh calmly debated within himself whether he should risk such a gamble, but ultimately, he chose to delve into the unknown.
“I’ll force my Trait to upgrade to something that will allow it. Something that connects my soul through to my golems on a deeper level than a simple mana bond.”
With the manner of magic decided, that left only the specific spell. And for that, he chose Soulfire. It did nothing to material matter or inanimate objects, but it burned the soul of whatever its flames touched.
[ Soulfire ]
'Conjure spiritual flames which burn only souls.'
Magnitude: 2.5
Mana Cost: 6 motes per second
[ Three-Headed Snake ] is pleased with your wise choice.
[ Serpent of False Mysteries ] wanted you to choose a snake…
“For my second golem, I need a better mount.”
Gilgamesh was his own biggest weakness, and that would only prove more evident the longer these trials continued. But what he lacked in personal strength, he made up for with mana capacity.
“With a fast enough mount, I can keep every fight on my terms. My opponents will be forced to contend with the golems I set before them. And I will never run out of golems.”
Rather than a superior serpentine mount, Gilgamesh chose a flying one.
[ Forest Wings - Golem (Mid Grade) ]
Attributes:
Strength - 10
Agility - 5
Vitality - 10
Perception - 25
Force - 250
Spirit - 100
Control - 100
Willpower - 0
Features: Flight (silver), Propulsion (silver)
Material: Wood (inferior)
Mana Capacity: 1,000/1,000
Consumption: 10 motes per minute
Recovery: 8 motes per minute
[ Propulsion ]
'Briefly increase velocity threefold.'
Mana Cost: 30 motes
Forest Wings was another Dragoon type that relied on Force for its speed, though it had no offensive capabilities, as with most other Dragoons.
He opted for Propulsion as its second feature, which seemed to be the airborne equivalent of Burst. As such, it would allow him to increase his flight speed threefold in a singular direction for a brief moment. Though that brief moment would make him faster than any enemy he had fought so far.
Gilgamesh summoned his new golem. Gnarled roots and tree bark wove themselves into the form of a bird with a large pair of wings, but instead of a body, its center was like a giant talon with four toes that latched tightly onto his back like the straps of a bag.
[ Control: 45 -> 50 ]
Gilgamesh first increased his Control to 50 in order to wield the two Mid Grade golems at once without issue. At his will, Gilgamesh took to the air and hovered high within the hall. He wielded his wings to glide carefully through the air initially, then he tested his speed. Mere thought allowed him to soar through the air around the giant stone minotaur in a smooth blur.
[ Perception: 30 -> 50 ]
Gilgamesh raised his Perception just high enough to follow the base speed of his new mount with clear vision, and began to test its mobility. He spun once then descended into a spiral that pulled to sail just over the floor at the last moment. But when he took back to the skies of the hall to zigzag more strenuously, his golem body pulled apart from the strain.
Once he regained consciousness, Gilgamesh looked straight ahead, and harnessed the Feature of Propulsion. In the blink of an eye, he shot forward far too fast for his eyes to track. Even in a hall of this size, he just barely managed to swerve off in time to avoid crashing into its walls.
Gilgamesh soared back around and propelled himself a second time. He suddenly launched himself back in the opposite direction, and the whiplash broke him apart.
Gilgamesh remained on the ground this time after he reformed in assessment. “It will cost too much to raise Vitality high enough to endure the strain of that maneuver on my own… 10 is sufficient for the minimum. I just need to learn how to fly.”
[ Gilgamesh - Hero (Iron Rank) ]
Attributes:
Strength - 2
Agility - 7
Vitality - 10
Perception - 50
Force - 3
Spirit - 107
Control - 50
Willpower - 20
Traits:
Incomplete Stigmata (???), Master Golem Core lvl. 7 (silver), Passive Meditator lvl. 5 (bronze), Golem Peerer lvl. 5 (bronze), Mana Insulation lvl. 8 (bronze), Mana Connector lvl. 8 (bronze),
Material: Clay (inferior)
Mana Capacity: 1,070/1,070
Unalloted Attribute Points: 36
“Congratulations, heroes!” Nem appeared in the hall with him alone, though Gilgamesh suspected that all those who passed could see him. “Now you’re able to brag that your wit exceeds that of the average vermin! Ahahaha! Did you understand the lesson within? Did you get the hidden meaning of the trial?”
Nem’s demeanor curled oddly into a profoundly deep hostility. “Did you really?”
Gilgamesh’s eyes narrowed at the eerily twitching Watcher, but the erratic being soon snapped back into maniacal laughter.
“Seven trials complete, three more to go! What shall the next one be? Only I know!” Nem laughed at his own playful rhyme, then eyed Gilgamesh mockingly through his fingers. “Something as dangerous as this? Even more? How much longer can you possibly last?”
A gate opened within the hall, where there had been none before, bathing everything in light. And Gilgamesh suddenly found himself within a palace of unparalleled majesty. A grand ballroom that dwarfed the labyrinth in size, made of marble and gold and adorned with all manner of luxuries. Countless noble men, women, and children stood within, all of whom wore the finest clothing of aristocracy, and all of whom had their faces hidden by smiling masks.
---
Mephisto walked over the waters of the river as the Sphinx crouched low against its altar, its hostile eyes fixated on the intruder in silent wariness.
“Be not afraid.” Mephisto mocked.
But the Sphinx did not respond. It only remained sharply guarded.
“There is no salvation to be found in these childish games. Surely that must be obvious by now.”
The Sphinx did not respond.
“So many lost souls, clinging to madness.” Mephisto walked past it with a smile. “No matter how you struggle, all will be well.”
