Server: Ito4

Connection blocked

Pinti:> Run PW-scan 192.142.82.1:80

PW-scan 192.142.82.1:80 loaded

PW-scan 192.142.82.1:80 terminated

0 results

Pinti:> Run PW-dump 192.142.82.1:80 -palmerb /s

PS-dump 192.142.82.1:80 loaded

Pinti:> bd 192.142.82.1:80 -u/palmerb -p/PS-dump

Server: Ito4

Connection loading

Pinti:> Run McCullough.TP2 -palmerb

Loading . . .

McCullough.TP2 installed

Pinti:> Load webgoblin

Webgoblin installed

Pinti:> servertrace

Server: Ito2

Location blocked

Server: Ito3

Location blocked

Server: Ito5

Location blocked

Server: Ito8

Location blocked

Server: Ito9

Location blocked

Server: Ito10

Location blocked

Server: Ito12

Location blocked

Server: Ito13

Location blocked

Press any key to continue . . .

Chapter 13

“How frightened were you when you founded the Porters? When you publicly broke away from the old master-apprentice model of sorcery and challenged a system that had existed for centuries?”

“It was one of the most terrifying things I ever did, and one of the most exhilarating. Once you make a choice like that, you commit the rest of your life to dealing with the consequences.”

“Damn. I wish you’d said that a year ago before I wrote that letter to the world.”

“Cheer up, Isaac. If you survive, you’ll have plenty of time to learn to live with the aftermath. If not, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“You’re still an asshole, you know that?”

“I do, yes.”

A METAL CANISTER STRUCK the wall at the end of the hallway and began to spew thick smoke. A second followed.

Instantly, my eyes started to burn. Tears streamed down my face. I backed away, coughing and cursing.

Some forms of tear gas were flammable, and Smudge was still burning. If he ignited the gas, it would quickly kill us all.

“In here.” I pulled the closest prisoners into a nearby cell. Lena gathered the rest. “Give me as much space as you can!”

I dropped my invisibility and grabbed Control Point. Through dripping eyes, I conjured up a wind to keep the worst of the gas in the hallway.

It was only a partial reprieve, and short-lived as well. Ashen shadows reached from the walls, drawn to the scent of active magic. The wind sputtered. Between the devourers and the prisoners’ implants damping my efforts—

Those implants attacked magic. Devourers were magical chaos.

“Everyone form a circle around me.” I coughed harder. Mucus flowed freely from my nose, and I could barely see anymore. The younger prisoners were crying and screaming. The older ones were doing their best to help, ripping off their sleeves to form makeshift masks. The werebear I’d spoken to earlier doubled over and vomited in the corner.

The wind from my book weakened further, but that didn’t matter. I was watching the devourer.

As the prisoners closed ranks around me, it pulled back as if burned. The magic-dampers and the devourer reacted like potassium and water, each seeking to destroy and consume the other.

The devourer lunged again, tearing at the prisoners’ enchantments as it tried to reach me. At the same time, those enchantments ate away at the devourer, dissolving its outer edges into smoke.