Once reunited, the trio traversed the wastelands that formed the surface of the Pokterr continent. Darius knew for a fact that there was a time when the continent had looked completely different.
This was only the result of the existence of the Insect race which raped the land cleaned of all its worth in order to foster their numbers. It was only after they had almost turned Pokterr barren that they had begun making plans to do the same on the other continents.
In truth, had the Moles not snitched on the intentions of the Insects a little while before their planned invasion, the damage done would have been irreversible even if the Gods and True Lords had teamed up.
The past Pokterr had been a lush land no less than Unyris, yet the sorry sight before them was all that was left. A land of danger and death, and the trio hadn't even begun descending into the bowels of the continent where things were truly lively.
Insects separated themselves based on levels in the underground. Surface Insects were the weakest, practically infants sent above to forage for what they could and act as the first line of defense.
The stronger ones were down below where their strongholds existed. Even though Pokterr's surface had been wiped clean, the underground world still produced resources consistently, only that they were monopolized and swallowed up by various Insect clans.
Fortunately, Darius had a map of Pokterr, which would allow him to navigate the huge underground world. It was the accumulated knowledge left behind from the millions who had been sent here every year after countless millennia to serve as fighters to cull these Insects.
He did not plan to head below just yet though. Rather, he was teleporting himself and his two Branded Servants over a great distance continually. He checked his compiled map with the mini-map as well as the main map to make sure they were heading the right way.
During the 5 year periods, Darius had idly made many treasure maps that would lead to various caches and stashes all over the world.
Unsurprisingly, Darius had left them largely untouched because he simply did not have the time to run around like an adventurer, braving dangerous ruins and elaborate traps just for things he could make himself each day.
However, since they were here to 'play around', they might as well check out those places. Darius had a few vague ideas about the treasures located in some places, but as for the majority, those were just a big question mark.
The one they were heading towards currently fell in the latter category. It was simply the closest to where they had appeared on the continent.
From what Darius could tell, his destination was a large tower which seemed to have been built by a strange race that had migrated out of Pokterr hundreds and thousands of millennia ago.
It was likely that they could have been the progenitors of today's Insects, who had lived on the surface. Since he still lacked slightly over half the total restricted information for all sections, it was more a conjecture on his part than actual knowledge.
They eventually arrived at their destination to see a circular establishment that rose up to the sky. It was decrepit and ruined in many places, holes showing the interior of the tower all over its body.
Parts had broken off and fallen around the entrance, creating many rock formations that were blackish-red in color. The tower itself was a dull black with hints of a mottled red, which intrigued Darius.
The door to the tower must have broken off its hinges centuries or millennia ago, only showing a dark maw that seemed to welcome all passersby to enter and experience a show they would never forget.
Xela shivered a little when looking at this while Darius and Gunner frowned slightly. They could all sense that there was something fundamentally wrong with this tower and this made them hesitate.
Darius immediately teleported them a few steps backward and raised his staff, casting the Intermediate spell Lightning Bolt on the tower. When the electricity struck it, the entire building shook as a bone-chilling shriek sounded out.
The trio's faces changed and Darius quickly used Analyze on the building.
[Detected target is of an Enemy affiliation. Displaying details accordingly.]
[Name: Tower of Death
Race: Spirit
Class: Terrorist
Subclass: Fear Devourer
HP: 31,318/43,848
MP: 14,981/14,981
STA: 16,472/16,472
Level: 71
Strength: 189
Agility: 0
Endurance: 232
Intellect: 211
Charisma: 0
Luck: 0
Abilities: Attract, Hypnotize, Terror Illusion, Spirit Devour, Soul Reading, Spirit Tendrils, Possession
Weapons: Spiritual.]
Darius shared this information with the other two and they shook their heads. With Endurance of that level, physical attacks wouldn't do much, but magical attacks would deal great damage.
After all, with just one attack, Darius had shaved off almost 13,000 points of health from the monster. They saw the tower shaking like it wanted to pull itself up from its foundations and attack, but the nature of its existence betrayed it.
However, this did not leave it without ways to counterattack. Immediately, the trio felt a strange wave pulse out of the tower that struck them and passed through their bodies harmlessly.
Nevertheless, they all fell to their knees with pale faces, gritting their teeth as they fought back against an attempt of spiritual possession. The Tower had over 200 points of Intellect while they only had around 100 or more, with Gunner having around 50.
Alas, the Mageward Barrier did not help as it merely blocked magical attacks and this was a spiritual attack. Luckily, Darius had prepared for situations like this by investing some points into the Spirit Barrier skill.
His and Gunner's were at level 5, which was enough to make them maintain consciousness and fight back. Xela though, had her natural Pure Spirit skill which was at level 20, so she was far less burdened.
Immediately, she gritted her teeth and took out her bow and arrow, nocking it then firing at the tower right away.
The arrow disappeared in a flash of purplish light before appearing before its target and striking it heavily.
