Chapter 29 Chapter 25 Ertu

As the afterglow of sunset began to fade, Drizzt crawled out of his hidden cave.He scanned the southern horizon, then panicked again.He really needed to rest, but he couldn't help but feel guilty when he saw Targos burning, as if he hadn't helped the helpless victims who were suffering under the clutches of Kessell, as if he had neglected Like his responsibility. But even during those hours of meditation that the drow called sleep, he wasn't doing nothing.He went back to the underground world he remembered long ago, to find a special feeling, a power he was once familiar with.Though he hadn't been close enough to get a good look at the demon he was stalking the night before, the monster resonated in the depths of his earliest memories.It is the supernatural energy projected by the creatures from the demon world when they walk in this material world, and the dark elves can recognize this energy better than any other race.Not only did Drizzt recognize it as a demon of this type, he recognized the monster itself.It had served their people in Menzoberranzan for many years.

"Errtor," he said softly as he found the demon's name in his dream. Drizzt knew the demon's true name.If it is called, it will come.    It took Drizzt more than an hour to find a suitable place to summon the demon, and he spent more time laying out the place.His aim was to remove as much of Errtu's advantages as possible, especially its size and ability to fly, but he sincerely hoped that the meeting would be non-conflictive.Those who knew the dark elf thought him bold, even reckless, but that was when faced with foes who could kill and would cower in fear of being struck by his whistling blade.demon!Especially a demon of Errtu's size and strength is another matter entirely.Drizzt had witnessed the wrath of such monsters many times in his youth.He had seen buildings toppled and solid stone crushed by giant claws.He had seen strong human warriors strike such monsters with blows that would have brought down an ogre, but found in his dying terror that his weapons were useless against the powerful demons from the Underworld.

His own people were better able to handle these demons, and indeed commanded considerable respect from them.Demons often ally themselves with the Dark Elves on equal terms, or even submit to them completely, for they are wary of the powerful weapons and magics possessed by the Dark Elves.But that is in the Underworld, where energies emanating from unique rock formations impart mysterious and magical qualities to the metals used by elven craftsmen.Drizzt didn't have any weapons from his hometown at hand now, because the magical magic couldn't stand the sun; although he had carefully protected them from the light, they soon became Waste.He doubted that the weapon he was carrying could hurt Errtu.Even if it could, a demon of Errtu's level couldn't really be destroyed in its own realm.Even if the attack was successful, all Drizzt could hope for was to drive the creature out of the physical world for a hundred years.

He has no will to go to war. But he had to try to do something against the wizards who threatened Ten-Towns.His goal was to gain some intelligence about the wizard's weaknesses, and his method was to deceive and disguise, hoping that Errtu could remember enough things about the dark elves to make his words believable without revealing too many falsehoods. His chosen meeting place was a hidden valley a few yards behind the cliff face.Half of the upper part of this area is a tall roof formed by the collision of the two sides of the mountain, and the other half is straight to the sky, but the whole place is behind the high wall of the mountain, so it cannot be seen from the magic crystal tower. here.Now Drizzt was busy carving spells with the dagger into the face of the mountain and the ground in front of where he was to sit.The memory of these magical symbols had faded in his mind over the years, and he knew what he had engraved was far from perfect.But he knew he'd need any protection he could get to prevent Errtu from shooting at him.

When he was done, he sat cross-legged in the shelter above, behind the sanctuary, and took a small statue from his pack and threw it to the other side.Guenhwyvar could make a good experiment with the protection spells he had engraved. The leopard immediately answered his call.It appeared on the opposite side of this protective ward, its piercing eyes scanning for any potential danger nearby that might threaten its master.Then, feeling nothing, it began to look at Drizzt curiously. "Come here!" Drizzt called, waving at it.The leopard charged at him, then stopped suddenly, as if hitting a wall.Drizzt was relieved to see that the spells had some degree of potency.He gained a lot of self-confidence, but he also knew that Errtu might push the power of these spells to the limit, or even exceed the limit.

Guenhwyva stuck out his huge head, trying to figure out what was blocking it.That resistance wasn't really strong, but the owner was calling it and blocking it, which confused it.It tried to concentrate on rushing over the flimsy barrier, but its owner seemed pleased, so it stopped.The leopard lay there and waited. Drizzt was busy examining the place in detail, trying to find the best place for Guenhwyvar to jump out and surprise the demons.A rock jutting out of the wall above the summit seems to be the best hiding place.He asked the leopard to go up, and told the leopard not to attack without his signal.Then he sat down and tried to relax, concentrating on making the final mental preparations before calling out the demon.

   In the magic tower across the valley, Errtu crouched in a corner of Kessell's bedroom, vigilantly guarding the evil wizard who was toying with the lost girl.Errtu watched Kessell's eyes blaze with anger.The wizard had broken nearly everything in his show of strength that afternoon, and his refusal to remove the crumbling tower further drained Crenshinibon of his power. When Kessell returned to the tower and learned through the teleportation mirror that the other two towers had collapsed to pieces, Errtu was secretly happy.Errtu had warned Kessell not to build a third tower, but this ego-fragile wizard became more stubborn every day in the battle. A plot to undermine his absolute control.

So now Errtu was receptive, even relieved, to hear Drizzt's call wafting down the valley.At first it rejected the possibility of such a call, but its real name was spoken aloud, and the change in tone sent several unexpected shivers down its spine.More curious than angry at the damned men calling his name, Errtu slipped away from the other-focused wizard and out of the Crystal Tower. Then the call came again, piercing the endless song of wind harmony, like the foam of a wave in a calm pool. Errtu spread his wings and flew north across the plains, charging at the one who summoned him.Frightened goblins fled from the shadow of the flying demon, and even though the moonlight was weak that day, the creature from the abyss left a black trail in the sky, making the night relatively brighter.

Drizzt drew a nervous breath.As the demon turned from Bremen's Pass and flew up the slopes below the Cairn's Cone, he did feel it coming.Guenhwyfer raised his head from his claws, and with a growl, he too felt the evil monster approaching.The leopard shrank into the depths of the protruding rock shed, lying flat and motionless, waiting for the command of its master. It believed that its superb stealth ability would prevent it from being discovered by highly sensitive demons. Errtu folded his wings after landing.It immediately saw the exact location of the person who summoned it. Although it had to shrug its shoulders to enter the valley through the narrow entrance, it rushed in directly, hoping to give up the innocence that dared to say its name aloud immediately after satisfying its curiosity. Eli fool to solve it.

Drizzt struggled to keep himself within range as the gigantic demon squeezed in, its size filling the entire space outside his tiny shelter, blocking the starlight ahead of him.There was no turning back from his dangerous attempt.He has nowhere to go. The demon stopped in surprise.Errtu hadn't seen a dark elf in centuries, and never expected to see one on the surface, in the frozen barrenness of this far north. Drizzt somehow recovered his voice. "Hello, Lord of Chaos," he said calmly, bowing deeply. "I am Drizzt Do'Urden, of Daemon Nasharsparnon, ninth house of Menzoberranzan. Welcome to my humble camp."

"You've come a long way from home, dark elf," said the demon, with obvious suspicion. "You too, Great Demon of the Abyss," Drizzt replied coldly. "If I'm not mistaken, you and I came to such a high place for the same purpose!" "I know why I'm here," Errtu replied. "Things involving dark elves are always beyond my understanding, and I don't want to care about them!" Drizzt touched his thin cheeks, then smiled with feigned confidence.His stomach seemed to be knotted, and he felt himself start to break out in a cold sweat again.He chuckled again, struggling against his fear.If the demon sensed his uneasiness, his words could no longer be trusted. "Ah, but this time, for the first time in many years, our paths cross, mighty Destroyer. My people are curious, or entitled to know, about the wizard you now serve .” Errtu stretched his shoulders, and his blood-red eyes began to flicker dangerously. "Submission?" it repeated incredulously, and then even the voice began to tremble, as if uncontrollable rage was being forced to explode. Drizzt quickly revised his view. "From all appearances, the guardian of the will of chaos, that wizard always has some power over you. Of course you are only working with Akar Kessell." "I don't belong to any human!" Errtu roared, stomping the floor so heavily that the foundations of the entire cavern shook. Drizzt wondered if a battle he could not win was about to begin.He considered calling Guenhwyvar out so they could at least attack a few times. But the demon suddenly calmed down again.Errtu, believing he had already guessed half of the reason for the drow's unexpected appearance, turned to look closely at Drizzt. "Serving a wizard?" It smiled. "Acar Kessell is nothing, even by human standards! But you know, elf, don't dare deny it. You are here for Crenshinibon, as I am. Kessell ,go to hell!" The bewildered look on Drizzt's face was so frank that Errtu nearly lost his balance.The demon believed it had guessed correctly, but he didn't understand why the dark elf couldn't understand the name. "Crinshinibon," it explained, stretching its claws southward. "An ancient fortress of incredible power." "You mean the tower?" Drizzt asked. Errtu's suspicion turned to outbursts of anger. "Don't play tricks with me!" the demon yelled. "The leaders of the dark elves are very aware of Akar Kessell's magical treasure, otherwise they would not have sent people to the surface to find it!" "Very well, you hit the mark," Drizzt admitted. "But I must confirm that the tower on the plain is the ancient artifact I'm looking for. My master is cruel to unwary spies." Errtu smiled sinisterly as he thought of the horrible torture chambers in Menzoberranzan.Interesting indeed were its years among the dark elves! Drizzt quickly turned the conversation in a direction that could exploit Kessell's or Tower's weakness. "I've got a thing I can't figure out, with unbridled evil, awe-inspiring Lord of Terror!" he began, cautiously continuing his string of supreme compliments. "By what power do wizards have Crenshinibon?" "Not at all," Errtu said. "Wizard? Fuck him! Even by the standards of your people, he is only a magic apprentice. Even when he says the simplest spell, his tongue still twitches uncomfortably! But fate always plays some tricks." Little trick. I say it for fun! Let Acar Kessell have his momentary triumph. Men don't live long!" Tritter knew that his question might be pushed to the edge of danger, but he decided to take the risk anyway.Even with the arch-demon just ten feet away, Drizzt thought he had a better chance of survival than his friends in Bryn Shander. "My masters are still worried that the tower will be damaged in the battle with the humans." He bluffed. Errtu took a moment to think about Drizzt's words.The appearance of the dark elves complicated the demon's simple plan to inherit Crenshinibon from Kessell.If the mighty elven chieftains of the great cities of Menzoberranzan had plans for the Crystal Shard, the demons knew they would get it.Even if Kessell was backed by the power of the Crystal Shard, it would be impossible to resist.The appearance of the dark elves alone changed the demon's mind about his relationship with Clinshinibon.How it wished it could deal with Kessell straight away, and escape with the Crystal Shard before the dark elves intervened! But Errtu had never made an enemy of the Dark Elves, and he did look down on bad wizards.Perhaps working with the dark elves would be beneficial to both parties. "Tell me, Champion of Darkness," Drizzt pressed. "Is Clinshinibon in danger?" "Go!" Errtu snorted. "Just the tower projected by Clinshinibon is already indestructible. Its mirror-like wall will absorb all the attack power, and then bounce back to the attacker! Only the jumping power source crystal - the magic crystal The heart of the tower is what can be destroyed. But that thing is hidden in a safe place." "In the tower?" "certainly." "But if someone gets into the tower," Drizzt reasoned, "what protection does that heart have?" "That's mission impossible," replied the demon. "Unless there are some spirits who obey the orders of those simple-minded fishermen in Ten Towns at any time. Or powerful priests or mages who use spells. Your master must know that the door of the Magic Crystal Tower is invisible. For those in the same world as the tower It is also undetectable to any living being. In this material plane, including your species, there is no way to find it," "But..." Drizzt urged anxiously. Errtu interrupted him. "Even if someone accidentally falls in," he growled, impatient with the endless assumptions. "He has to pass me first. And Kessell's power in the tower is really great, because the wizard has become an extension of Crenshinibon himself, he is the living outlet of the crystal shard's unfathomable power !The heart is at the central point of Kessell's interaction with the tower. In the past, from the top of the tower..." The demon stopped because it suddenly became suspicious of what Drizzt asked.If the well-informed chiefs of the dark elves were interested in Crenshinibon, how could they be ignorant of its strengths and weaknesses?Then Errtu realized his mistake.It examines Drizzt again, but with a different focus.When it first met Drizzt, he was surprised to see a dark elf in such a place, so he kept looking for flaws in Drizzt's physical characteristics to determine whether what he saw was an illusion, a change in appearance. A clever and simple trick even a second-rate mage can pull off. When Errtu was sure it was real drow standing before him and not a phantom, he accepted Drizzt's words as plausible, because it fit the idiosyncrasies of the drow way of doing things. Now, however, the demon saw tiny clues beyond Drizzt's dark skin, and it noticed what he was carrying and where he had chosen to meet.Nothing about Drizzt, not even the weapon sheathed behind his hip, radiated the magical qualities of the underworld.Perhaps the master of the elves purposely equipped the spies with items suitable for the surface world, Errtu reasoned.Judging from the habits of the dark elves it had learned during the years it served in Menzoberranzan, this dark elf's attire was not outrageous. But these chaotic creatures can live today because they don't trust anyone. Errtu continued to search for clues to Drizzt's reliability.The only thing that allowed the demon to see the drow's habits was a thin silver chain around his slender neck, where the drow used to hang a small bag with valuables in it.Errtu noticed this, and then found a second chain, of finer material than the first, tangled with another.The demon's gaze moved to the barely noticeable creases in Drizzt's vest caused by the relatively long chain. It noticed this unusual place, and perhaps this could prove everything.Errtu pointed to the necklace, said a word of command, and lifted his outstretched finger up. Drizzt felt the token tense as it slid up his leather vest.It went over the collar and dropped down to the bottom of the chain, where it hung openly across the chest. Errtu smiled wickedly as he squinted. "What an unusual choice for a dark elf," it said sarcastically. "I thought it was a symbol of your Queen Rose. She might not be happy!" It has many multi-headed whips in one hand, and a jagged whip in the other. The blade seems to have been conjured up. At first, Drizzt's heart raced like he'd just run a hundred streets, trying to find the most plausible lie to get him out of trouble.Yet then he shook his head resolutely, dismissing the lies.He cannot insult his god. At the end of the silver chain hung a gift from Regis, carved by the halfling from the bone of a hard head fin he had rarely caught.Drizzt was deeply moved when Regis sent him this.He considers it Regis's best work.It swings on a chain, and its rounded shape gives it the depth of a true work of art. It was the head of a white unicorn, the symbol of the goddess Melikai. "Who the hell are you, Dark Elf?" Errtu demanded.The demon had decided that Drizzt must be killed, but he was also interested in such an unusual encounter.A dark elf actually believes in the forest goddess?And live on the ground!Errtu had known many dark elves over the centuries, but had never heard of one that would abandon the likes and dislikes of his race.They are all cold-blooded slayers, and even the greatest of Chaos daemons have learned a trick or two of torture from them. "I am Drizzt Do'Urden, it is true," Drizzt replied calmly. "Abandoned the House of Demon Nassarsbanon." All his fears were swept away when Drizzt accepted the idea that, hopeless or not, he must fight the demons.Now he began to prepare for this conflict with the calmness of a veteran, ready to seize any advantage that might come from breaking his own principles. "I am a ranger who descended from the hero Gwaeron Stormwind who devoutly served the goddess Merikki." He bowed as if formally introducing himself. Just as he stood up straight, he drew out his double knives. "I must defeat you, you vile ugly bastard!" he declared, "and send you back into the swirling clouds of the bottomless abyss! There is no place for monsters like you in the world under the sun!" "You seem to be confused, Elf," said the demon. "You have abandoned the ways of your people, and now you dare to claim that you can defeat me!" The rocks around Errtu burst into flames. "I could have killed you mercifully and killed you cleanly, out of respect for your race. But now your pride has already annoyed me; I will teach you a lesson until you beg me to die! Come, taste the sting of my fire!" Drizzt was almost overwhelmed by the heat from Errtu's demonfire, and the bright flames shone into his sensitive eyes, making the huge demon appear to be only a vague shadow.He saw the darkness stretching to the right, and he knew that Errtu had raised the dreadful sword.He moved to defend, but the demon suddenly took a step aside, and roared in surprise and rage. Guenhwyvar had a firm grip on its upraised arm. The huge demon stretched out the arm where the leopard was, and tried to fix the leopard between the forearm and the mountain wall, keeping its tearing claws and teeth away from its weak point.Guenhwyvar bit and raked at the hairy arm, tearing apart the demon's flesh. Errtu flinched from the attack, then decided to deal with the cat later.The focus of the demon's attention is still on the dark elves, because it respects the potential abilities of any dark elves.Errtu had seen too many enemies fall to the drow's innumerable tricks. Many whips lashed Drizzt's legs, too fast for the drow, too fast for him to dodge or block.He hadn't recovered from the dizziness from the sudden exposure to the flames.Many whips wrapped around his thin legs and ankles. Errtu grabbed the handle of the multi-headed whip and pulled it. The demon's huge strength easily made Drizzt fall on his back to the ground. Drizzt felt pain everywhere in his legs, and he heard the air in his lungs being compressed as he slammed hard against the solid rock.He knew he had to act without hesitation, but the light of the flames and Errtu's quick strikes made it difficult to tell which was which.He felt his back being dragged against the stone, feeling the heat build up.He looked up just in time to see his legs being pulled into the demon fire. "That's how I died," he said quietly. But his legs didn't burn. Then, with a hiss as if in protest, all the flames were suddenly extinguished. Neither opponent could figure out what happened, so each believed the other to do it. Errtu quickly struck again.He put a heavy foot on Drizzt's chest and began to crush him flat.The dark elf swung a knife in desperation, but it had little effect on the monster from another world. Then Drizzt swung another scimitar, which he had obtained from the dragon's hoard. Like water hissing over fire, it dug into Errtu's knee joint.The handle of the knife burned as it sliced ​​through the demon's flesh, nearly burning Drizzt's hand.Then it suddenly became cold as ice, as if extinguishing Errtu's searing life force with its own chill.Then Drizzt realized what had extinguished the flames. The demon stared back in demented horror, then screamed in pain.It has never felt so painful!It jumped back, waddling wildly here and there, trying to escape the knife's horror.And this action also pulled Drizzt who couldn't put down the handle of the knife.Guan Haifa was thrown from the arm in the fury of the demon, and hit the mountain wall heavily. As the demon backed away, Drizzt watched its wound in disbelief.White smoke billowed from the hole in Errtu's knee, and the edges of the wound were frozen! But Drizzt was also weakened by the attack.The scimitar drained the life force from its master, drawing Drizzt into battle with the fire demon. Now the dark elf felt that he didn't even have the strength to stand up.But he found himself drawn forward, the knife straight ahead in front of him, as if pulled by the longing of the cutlass. The population of this place is too narrow.Errtu can neither dodge nor jump away. The machete pierced the devil's stomach. As the blade touched the core of Errtu's life force, a burst of wave drained Drizzt's strength, throwing him back.He hit the stone wall and fell to the ground, but remained awake enough to watch the opponent's violent struggle. Errtu stepped out onto the rocks.The demon staggered and tried to spread its wings.But the wings hung limply.The scimitar glowed white with power, as if it was still attacking.The demon tried to pull the knife out of his body, but the magic of the blade inserted into his body extinguished the flames of the demon and completely defeated the demon. Errtu knew that he had been too careless, too confident that he could destroy all creatures in a single battle by himself.The demon had never thought of the possibility of such a terrifying weapon; it had never heard of any weapon capable of such an attack! White smoke continued to rise from Errtu's exposed internal organs, enveloping the two opponents in the battle. "You managed to drive me away, treacherous dark elf!" he raged. The light was blinding, and Drizzt watched in amazement as the white light grew stronger and the shadows shrunk. "A hundred years, elf!" Errtu growled. "It's nothing to beings like you and me!" The smoke thickened, and the shadows seemed to melt away. "A century only, Drizzt Do'Urden!" Errtu's fading voice seemed to come from somewhere far away. "Remember to look back then! Errtu won't be far away from you!" Smoke rose into the air and dissipated. The last sound Drizzt heard was the thud of a metal scimitar falling to the rock.