58. Vesper
VESPER
We round the corner and I get my first look at what’s making the loud screeching, metallic sounds.
At first, it’s hard to make sense of. There’s what looks like a pile of pipes and parts in the center of a large octagonal platform where a bunch of catwalks meet.
As I stare at it, steam begins to rise from two of the pipes and the pile of metal starts to move.
“This is easy?” I growl at Havoc, staring at the machine.
He flashes a shit-eating grin at me. “You’ve got this,” and then shoves me into the center of the platform.
I stumble, my boots making clack-clack-clack noises that draw the Boiler King’s attention. His eyes light up blue as he rises to his full height—at least a meter taller than me—and he focuses all of his attention on me.
“I have changed my mind,” Svetlana declares. “I do not like the Warden.”
Locke appears at my side, his Arctic Smite in his hands. “We’re doing this,” he says. “But that thing is made of metal just like Lady Liberty. It’s gonna be a tough fight.”
I stare at the Boiler King, taking in everything about him.
He’s large, tall, and intimidating. He’s completely made of metal like the other automatons we’d seen outside, but much bigger.
His chest is made of one huge chunk of metal, his entire body modeled after a man that’s done nothing but build muscle for decades.
Two large pipes pump steam out of his shoulders and as he moves and twists, more steam billows out.
On top of his rounded head, beneath two large blue-light eyes, sits a tiny, golden crown.
“Intruder,” he growls in a gravelly voice before he lets out a loud roar that shakes the catwalk we stand on.
I tuck away my Bloodsense Fang.
“What are you doing? Locke growls. “We’re about to fight.”
“You think my blade is going to do any damage to that thing?” I ask him with a raised brow. “At least your battle axe can slow him down.”
He sighs. “Is this going to be another yeti situation?”
He’d taken hit after hit from the yeti. And then again with Lady Liberty. His vitality is higher than mine, even after my level up to Tier Two. Which makes him the better distraction.
“No,” I say, rolling my shoulders. “The notification said we have to turn off his power, not kill him. So, we find his power source. I can do that while you keep his attention on you.”
Havoc chuckles behind us where he leans against the railing, clearly pleased with how quickly I changed my tactic.
“What powers the thing?” Locke asks, staring at the Boiler King as he starts to stomp toward us.
“The steam,” I point out. “When he moves, more billows. It’s gotta be the steam but I don’t know how it’s created.”
“So how do we turn it off?” he asks, taking up a defensive stance.
“I don’t know yet,” I admit. “Keep him—”
“Busy,” Locke finishes. “Yeah, yeah. I know my role.” He lifts his battle axe up. “Hey, bucket head! Come and get me!”
And then he sprints around the platform, drawing the Boiler King away from me. The big dummy follows after him without a second thought, stomping slowly, his fists raised.
“He gets faster the longer it takes,” Havoc says helpfully.
I bare my teeth at him. “Wanna give me better hints than that? Like how and where to turn off the power?”
Havoc smiles, but he doesn’t give me the answers.
“Asshole,” I grumble, turning back to look around the area. All around us, the smaller metal machines hover, watching the battle unfold. They don’t move in thankfully, but they lend an eerie audience to the battle. If they attack, we’re screwed.
“Power, power, power,” I say, looking around the pipes along the walls. “What creates power? What makes the steam?”
“Electricity?” Svetlana replies helpfully. “We can unplug him.”
“He doesn’t look like he’s plugged into anything,” I point out. “No cords.”
“You are right,” she says, moving back and forth on my shoulder. “I shall fly and search.”
She leaps off my shoulder, her wings opening to carry her across the room, searching for a power source. I follow after her, looking for anything that looks like a potential power source.
“Ew, oh my god,” Stevie moans as a bunch of steam billows around him. His light flares in offense and he lingers further back. “I’ll be over with the strong-armed Warden. I bet he can keep me safe in this big, ole warehouse.”
“I’m sure he’d love your company,” I say, winking at Havoc when he tenses in annoyance.
He narrows his eyes at me.
“If I were a steam-powered resource, where would I hide?” I mumble to myself as I look around the platform.
“It is not something you would have seen before in Dross,” Cipher says, popping in.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to give hints,” I reply.
“I am not,” he answers. “However, telling you what it is not is not exactly breaking any rules.”
I grin. “Got it. So, is it this?” I point to a large lever hanging about three meters away from the platform. To reach it, I’m going to have to jump.
“That is a valve for the sewage pipes in Smokestack Row,” Cipher answers.
“There are sewage pipes?” I ask, blinking. “Then why does everyone pour it into the street?”
“A player turned that lever over a year ago and shut the valves off while attempting to defeat the Boiler King. The NPCs cannot fix the problem themselves as this is not their domain.”
I make a note of that fact to come back later to and move to the next lever. “Is it a lever like this?”
“No.”
I blow out a puff of air and search for more things that looks like some sort of power source. Unfortunately, nothing else looks like it could be feeding the Boiler King.
“Fuck!” Locke shouts, just before diving out of the way of the Boiler King’s giant fists. “He’s getting faster, Hyena! Could use some help!”
“I’m going as fast as I can,” I say, starting to panic. “Nothing looks like power!”
“Look faster,” Locke growls.
“I’m looking as fast as I can!” I snarl back, searching high and low. “There’s nothing here!”
I look over at Havoc who stands with his arms crossed, a smile on his face as he watches us. I’ve never wanted to punch someone in their pretty lips more. Even just a small hint would help. Even just something—
The Boiler King’s back is to me as he chases after Locke, his giant fists slamming against the platform hard enough to shake it beneath my feet. I grab the railing as I study him. He’s just as intimidating from the back, large smokestacks rising from his shoulders, turning gears, large valve wheel—
“There,” I breathe, pointing. “Cipher, is that it?”
He takes a second to respond. “I cannot give you hints on how to defeat the Minor Boss.”
I grin. “Thanks, Cipher.” To Locke, I shout, “I found it! It’s on his back!”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Locke shouts back, just barely avoiding the fists when the Boiler King speeds up again.
“He’s getting faster,” Havoc says unhelpfully. “His gears are loosening up. If you’re gonna do it, now’s the time.”
“No shit,” I snarl at him. “How about you just stand over there and look pretty instead of being unhelpful?”
Havoc raises his brow at me but surprisingly listens.
“Alright. Keep him distracted,” I tell Locke. “I’m gonna leap on his back.”
“You’re gonna what?” Locke growls. “That’s a bad idea! That’s a very bad idea!”
Svetlana comes fluttering back. “I found it. It’s on his back.”
“I know that,” I say, laughing. “I just saw.”
“Yes, because I told you.” She nods. “I cannot turn the wheel since I do not have thumbs.”
“Don’t worry,” I reassure her, shaking my head. “I’ve got it.”
I prepare myself to run and leap onto the Boiler King’s back. Once there, I won’t have much time to turn the wheel. I’ll need to land, hold on, and turn all in a matter of seconds. Too long and he’ll dislodge me.
“Okay, I’m—”
From the left catwalk where none of us are currently standing, a figure appears in the steam.
My eyes trace the outline and I tense, forgetting what I’m doing.
Locke is still distracting the Boiler King, so he can’t see, but Havoc straightens and uncrosses his arms. He reaches for the sword he keeps on his back.
“Who the fuck is that?” he asks, staring at the shape taking form.
I sigh, annoyed. “Trouble,” I growl. “It’s fucking trouble.”
Stryker appears from the steam, his white-blonde hair shining in the dark space. He grins at my answer, his pretty, dangerous smile flashing sharp canines.
“Aww,” he coos. “You have a nickname for me? I have one for you, too.” He stops and poses like this is some sort of fucking runway. “It’s . . . Delicious.”
“How do you know a Leech?” Havoc snarls.
“Know is a strong word,” I growl back. “He’s been following us since the Verdant Nexus.”
“And you didn’t think to mention it to me?”
“Oh, fuck off!” I snarl at him. “Excuse me for not telling you every fucking detail when you hardly interact with us!”
“Now, now, Mom and Dad,” Stryker goads. “Calm down. There’s plenty of me to go around.”
“I suggest you turn around and leave,” Havoc commands.
“Oh, fuck,” Locke shouts when he finally catches sight of Stryker and then repeats the words when the Boiler King nearly takes off his head. He ducks a quarter of a second before he would have taken a direct hit to the face.
“Locke,” I say. “You’re going to have to turn the valve on the Boiler King’s back.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” he demands. “He follows me wherever I move!”
“Figure it out,” Havoc growls. “We have something else to take care of.”
Stryker grins. “All of this trouble for little ole me? How silly. I’m just here for one reason and one reason only.” His eyes fixate on me. “Another taste of that sweet Beastly life force.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Havoc spits. “You let him taste you?”
“He got a sip in the Broken Caldera,” I snarl back, pissed that he’s blaming me for this. “I gutted him for it.”
“She did,” Stryker nods. “She did so well. It really impressed me.” He slips deeper onto the platform. “Let’s see if you can impress me again, Beastie.”
And then he lunges toward me.