GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 29.3: Stack Overflow

Vel nodded firmly. "The recent occurrences have been happening more frequently, but to affect such a powerful creature like Alukah?" He shook his head, recalling the vision he'd experienced in the arena. "There must have been an undetected portal on the mountain. Something went wrong, and now..." He trailed off, the implications too terrible to voice.

The followers of the different sects exchanged worried glances. Alina, the follower of Tir, closed her eyes briefly as if seeking insight.

"If all this is true," Vel continued, "if no action is taken, the corruption will spread. Based on what I've read about these creatures, they don't stop until everything is consumed."

A student wearing Calyphe's cosmic symbol gasped, her face going white. "Like Forua and Arno. The lost provinces."

"You speak of historical calamities that are barely mentioned in texts," Voss said, studying them with newfound intensity. "How would any of you know of such things?"

"I... read extensively," Vel said, meeting Voss's gaze steadily. "The point is, my sister is heading straight into danger, and we need to warn her. The entire northern region could be at risk."

Voss straightened in his seat, his posture reflecting the weight of his family's position. There was a reason he led this circle of religious students.

"I can try," Voss said, his tone more serious than before. "This is no small matter, but the logic is sound, the evidence is present. I can use my connection to alert the Sects. They will have proper channels to send the message."

Vel exhaled with relief, but Voss wasn't finished.

"Anything specific you want to send to your..." he paused, correcting himself, "to Saint Landre?"

Voss produced a small parchment from inside his robe and placed it on the table.

"It's best that we have evidence the message came from you, so Saint Landre will understand," he explained, sliding the parchment toward Vel.

Vel took the offered quill, thinking carefully. He needed to give Landre practical advice without causing suspicion, especially when Church representatives might read these.

As he wrote, Vel spoke aloud for the Circle's benefit. "Alukah is a creature of the night. It sleeps in darkness during days, flies out at night hunting. A winged creature. If confronted, it's best to fight them in their own nest."

"Why?" asked the student wearing Ignis's emblem, leaning forward with interest.

"If you fight them outside at night, it could escape easily or fly freely, making the fight a lot harder," Vel explained, not looking up from his writing. "Fight in its own nest, during the day, would prevent it from going outside, trap it in its own cage."

The Ignis student frowned. "But this introduces another complication—they would be trapped there along with the creature."

"True. But if it escapes outside, it could just attack again later. Better to corner it while you have the chance." Vel continued writing, his quill scratching rapidly across the parchment.

He wrote detailed tactical advice: Weak against Light and Fire elements. Once it sustains enough damage, the core should be revealed.

He paused, considering if he had revealed enough. The original Alukah in his game design had been challenging but predictable. This voidtainted version would be far more dangerous.

His final warning was stark: Be extremely vigilant. The signs show this one could be voidtainted, and voidtainted creatures evolve. There could be unexpected things. Be careful even if you think you've defeated it.

He finished writing and signed his name at the bottom, adding a small symbol only Landre would recognize—a tiny drawing of the fishing hook from their childhood joke.

He slid the parchment back to Voss, who scanned it quickly before folding it with practiced precision.

"I'll have this delivered through proper channels immediately," Voss said, tucking the message into an inner pocket of his robe. "The Church maintains communication relays for emergencies."

"How fast can it reach her?" Vel asked, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.

Voss's expression remained carefully neutral. "If we're fortunate, by tomorrow. The Church has ways to expedite important messages."

Vel nodded, hoping it would be soon enough. The vision of darkness consuming Landre's light still burned in his mind.

When they finished, Voss dismissed the sound barrier with a simple gesture. The ambient noise of the academy rushed back in, conversations and footsteps once again audible around them.

"Thank you for listening," Vel said, feeling the weight of responsibility lift slightly from his shoulders.

Voss tucked the message securely inside his robes and straightened his posture. "This matter is bigger than ourselves," he replied, his voice carrying the practiced cadence of someone raised in the Church. "It's our holy duty to fulfill it."

The other Circle members nodded in solemn agreement. Ravena, the follower of Jules, still looked pale, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Voss's expression softened slightly as he regarded Vel with newfound respect. "We are quite a team," he said, gesturing to the Circle members around him. "Are you sure you won't reconsider my offer?"

Vel shook his head. His mind was already racing ahead to what might happen if the message didn't reach Landre in time. The memory of Oakhaven's destruction flashed through his thoughts—the screams, the chaos, the feeling of helplessness as everything crumbled around them.

"I should go," he said, excusing himself.

As Vel walked away from the Circle's meeting place, his thoughts churned with worry. Last time, he hadn't been able to save Oakhaven. The village had fallen to the Alpha Wulfangs while he'd been powerless to stop it. Now, with more knowledge and abilities at his disposal, he hoped things would be different.

He glanced back at the temple structure where Voss and the others remained in discussion. Would they actually help, or was this just another political maneuver for them? He wanted to believe they were sincere—that the Church faction was truly what they presented themselves to be.

For Landre's sake, he had to hope they were.