Into the Darkness: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Axe Druid Book 4)

by Christopher Johns

  She stiffened. “Was someone you loved dead in it as well?”

  “You.” I could feel my eyes losing focus as I remembered the gruesome details of the night.

  She grasped my biceps, pulling me toward her as she stared into my eyes. “It was you. You were dead, and my mother had been taken over.”

  “And your mother warned you not to help us?”

  Maebe glanced away. “She warned me to kill you to protect the children.”

  I was enraged. How could those assholes do this? To her?! Of all people.

  I growled openly. “Your eyes are red, my love. Rein it in.”

  I didn’t want to. I wanted to find this monster and make them pay. I wanted it so much more than anything.

  Waves of cooling air pressed against me, my chest going numb bit by bit. I glanced down to see Maebe blowing on me, the ripples of my shirt moving out as she did so.

  It went a long way toward reminding me of what I needed to do. I needed to bottle this up, like a bottle of diet pop and Mentos. Then, I’d shake it just before this asshole came in, and I’d be unloading that on them.

  I took a breath and released the anger I had for now.

  “Thank you, dearest,” I muttered against her forehead. “I’ll keep my rage in check for now.”

  Her teeth flashed in the morning light. “You’re learning. Good.”

  “Let’s make sure things are good and go get food.” I led her over to the others as they began to gather their things.

  “You get food for us, and I’ll pack up our bedroll.” I tousled her hair lovingly, and she chuckled.

  Clean up was swift, I put the folded and rolled item into my inventory. Then I cast Regrowth on the ground so that there was no trace of us using the place as a camp. Even where the fire had been before.

  “That’s a good thing to be able to do, Zeke!” Manly informed me, even as she subconsciously did the same thing I was doing with her pipe into a handkerchief. “Though why the fire?”

  “Pretty much the same reason that you do it. I’d say, Manly,” Yohsuke observed, and pointed to her hands. “Covering our tracks, like you do with your tobacco and trash.”

  “That’s what that is?” She looked at her hand in surprise. “I just did it ‘cause it was somethin’ pa did.”

  “Some people with special training, where we learned some of our own military skills, do that to avoid detection,” James added helpfully.

  “Yup!” I nodded. “Honestly, I thought that you had known about it, so I never said anything about it. It makes sense for a tracker not to want to be found. Senseless for a creature or mark to be able to find you by carelessly leftover trash.”

  “That’s likely the right of it,” Dawn said as she looked over her friend’s shoulder curiously. “I always thought it a peculiar quirk, but I never questioned it because you seemed so certain of it.”

  We ate a hearty breakfast after that, and then we were on our way.

  “Should only be a day out from where we be currently!” Manly belted to us as we rode.

  I had decided to let Bea out to stretch her legs, her lively moving tethered to Thor once more so she wouldn’t run too far away.

  She screeched and rampaged within the confines of her shadow lead, angry with me for having to keep her within the collar for so long. But around so many people? And as untrained and temperamental as she could be?

  Yeah, not a good idea. Especially when no one else in the city had magical abilities. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how much of that I believed—the whole world was full to the brim of magic, how could no one in the city have access to it?

  I absentmindedly tossed a chunk of meat toward Bea as she moved alongside us, she hopped up to catch it, but it was just outside what she would be able to grab. Then her eyes glowed slightly, and she found solid footing in the air, as if stepping off of the wind itself, and caught the chunk mid-flight.

  “Woah!” I couldn’t hide the amazement in my voice.

  “That was impressive!” Muu called from the front of the cart. “What is she again, some kind of anime monster? Holy shit.”

  I did the same thing again just to be sure it hadn’t been a fluke, and sure enough, she was able to step off the air once more.

  “That is too interesting.” James’s voice popped over my shoulder. I looked back to see the monk eyeing her with obvious fascination.

  “I’m not going to give her too much more, but I want to see how this plays out and see what kind of drawbacks or cooldowns this could have,” I explained to him and no one else in particular. “It’ll be interesting to see how she can use that in a fight.”

  We broke for lunch, the mountain range looming over us maybe another hour or so from the base of it, where a large crack began to form. I could see it from this distance and when I noticed it was when Manly confirmed it. “That’s where it’ll be.”

  “Looks a little intimidating.” Jaken shuddered. “Sure that’s it?”

  “Aye.” Manly smiled ferociously. “I killed three of my parents’ murderers there. Reckon they’d been tryin’ to get into the dungeon.”

  “Good shit, Manly.” Yohsuke held his fist out for her to rap her knuckles against. “Let’s be cautious going in there then. Quick lunch, enjoy the light, and then we go on.”

  He passed out some sausages that he grilled swiftly on a small fire I made for him. We ate with Bea out, I fed her chunks of meat, but she was ravenously hungry and had made for my food more than once.

  Kayda eventually grew tired of it and smacked her away with her wing.

  Little sister, you must be patient! The giant bird sternly growled at Bea, who eyed her reproachfully. Father feeds us as we need it. I know you are small and understand only hunger and boredom, for now, but you will soon learn to fight and grow larger. Patience is needed for any warrior, and our father is dense at times, so we must be more patient still.

  “I heard that you feathered shit!” I harrumphed at her, and all she did was blink at me, then bow her head in acknowledgment. “Now, see here you…you…Stop looking at me like that goddammit!”

  Kayda glanced knowingly at Bea, who seemed to get that she was being mean to me, from what she was feeling.

  She trotted over to me, to coo at me a little bit while rubbing her snout across my hand, affectionately.

  “See? Someone appreciates me!” I took the rest of my sausage and let her have it.

  And that is how you play him to get more food. Kayda preened as Bea strutted around the camp with her head and tail held high.

  …Did I just get played by a fucking pigeon and a lizard? Oh, hell no.

  “Dude, what the fuck is going on over there?” Yohsuke threw his hands up as Kayda gave him the “feed me” eyes.

  “I think they’ve adapted and have learned how to play me,” I responded in feigned shock.

  Yoh shrugged and tossed a whole sausage toward Kayda, only for Bea to hop straight up into the air to catch it herself.

  “Ha!” I barked at the betrayed bird. “That’s what you get!”

  Bea still strutted as Kayda remarked, Well played, little sister.

  Well played indeed. I’d need to be watching her until she was old enough to know better. For now, back in the collar she would go. We needed to at least attempt to make nice with the people controlling the entrance to the dungeon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You have got to be kidding,” Jaken said, his voice a low growl.

  I understood his trepidation—the entrance to the dungeon wasn’t a gate, it was a fortress.

  Along the sides of the walls in the crack stood tall stone walls that appeared to have been carved into them.

  Dozens of men lined each side, looking lazily interested in us, but didn’t seem to bother moving too quickly to halt our approach. They had bows, crossbows, and spears situated along the tops of the walls. Swords on their belts of varying sizes and values dangled into view where they stood on the walls.

  “That’s not good at
all.” James spat as he eyed the walls.

  “And neither is the group of people moving toward us,” Yohsuke warned as we continued forward.

  “Wasn’t like this when I came through before,” Manly observed, a small grin gracing her lips as she spoke. “Though, I reckon my prey didn’t quite make it this far.”

  “Just be calm, and don’t make any sudden movements toward your weapons,” Dawn advised from where she walked beside us, her eyes were cast forward, confidence oozing out of her. “Whomever among you carries the orders and introduction from the king, have it ready.”

  Jaken pulled the paperwork out and just loosely held onto it as we moved forward.

  Manly started things off for us as soon as we were closer. “Howdy y’all!” Her southern drawl was back in full tilt.

  “Hullo!” Called a man in an accent that sounded almost Russian, or Slavic. “What can we do for all of you and your giant animals?”

  “Well, we came to see about this fine group o’ people usin’ yer facilities on behalf of King Westwind and the crown of Zephyth.” Jaken held the papers out as Manly spoke.

  He took the papers and scanned them, then opened the letter of introduction, reading it much more carefully.

  “‘For service to the crown,’” he muttered once, then handed back the papers. “You can enter the dungeon, but you must wait until tomorrow. Do you know how far down you plan to delve?”

  “How far down does it go?” Yohsuke asked in return. The man tried to see under his hood, but he must not have seen anything because he stood back up with a shrug.

  “Twenty floors beginning at level two for enemies.” He explained carefully as he eyed all of us. “Each floor becomes progressively more difficult, with a waypoint every three floors where a group can rest without fear of enemies. For whatever reason, monsters stay away from those locations. After the twentieth floor, is Nimran’s Flame territory, and I am afraid you are not tempered for service. Unless you wish to be?”

  “I don’t think anyone here has room to serve any other gods, friend.” Jaken winked, and the man glared at him critically.

  “Then you will likely find being admitted to lower levels more impossible,” the man replied bluntly.

  “How many more levels are there after twenty?” Muu broached politely.

  “That is classified.” the man shrugged noncommittally.

  This peon don’t know shit. James snorted to the rest of us.

  Let’s just play the nice guys so that we can get in there and get this show on the road, Yohsuke said to us, then told the man. “We can camp out here, tonight, so we will just go ahead and set up camp and come back in the morning, thanks.”

  “You are welcome.” He waved to us lazily. “In the morning, you ask for Yani. He will admit your party to the dungeon, and have you sign the waivers.”

  “Waivers?” I raised an eyebrow, and the man just chuckled morbidly and moved along with his pals.

  “This is gonna get sordid, but how about we camp away from where these guys can see us, so we don’t have to try and explain ourselves to them?” Jaken asked as we moved away.

  “We nervous about tomorrow?” Balmur asked to no one in particular.

  “Hell no.” I could hear the grin in Yohsuke’s voice as he spoke. “This is probably going to be a cakewalk. It’s going to be getting into the lower levels, then the Great Below that will be the crappy part.”

  “Why don’t we just have Bokaj charm our way into the place?” The rest of us glanced at Muu, his face serious. “What? He has that mind control shit he can use. All he has to do is get a big wig to agree, or someone to sneak us in. Right?”

  I blinked. The others blinked. We blinked at each other. It was an audible smorgasbord of eyelids clapping together in confusion. Then Maebe broke that silence.

  “It could work.”

  Yeah, it could! The other party members converged on the poor fighter affectionately, his cry of, “Oh god, yasss all the hugs, bring it in,” resounding through the air.

  He came out of the group loving looking disheveled and like he needed an adult. Maebe seemed confused, but she accepted that it was just something we were going to do regardless, and that won her brownie points.

  “And on that note, I think we’ll be needin’ ta head off back to Zephyth.” Manly grinned at us, winking at Muu as he frowned. “We’ve got us a contract to write up and money to make. But should you ever need us, call on the Braves. We got your back, friends.”

  Muu shook his head. “You better get your tiny ass over here and hug me.” He growled and stalked toward her with a smile that made Manly snort. “How am I supposed to get my religion lessons without my little buddy?”

  “Ya keep callin’ me little, and I’ll be sure to make certain ya meet the gods sooner rather than later, Scales.” She slapped him on his shoulder as he lifted her effortlessly into a bear hug.

  “Aww, someone’s being a little short with me cause she’s sad.” Muu cackled as she slapped him fully across his face, and I heard a snort of laughter from behind him. Dawn was damned near in tears from that.

  “I do not think that I have ever seen, nor heard anyone be so bold as to call her those things to her face, and they haven’t either died or been turned into a moving target for her bow!” She snorted again as Humphrey, likely jealous, snuffed the ground and brought the cart closer to Muu and cried out loudly.

  “Aww, I’ll miss you too, porky.” Muu set Manly down and patted the porcine companion. Humphrey snorted and nudged his hand with his tusks. “No, I don’t have any more food, you ate it all on the way here! Now get away from me, you’re too cute, but you smell.”

  Humphrey snorted and bit his hand. “Ow!” Then he trotted off without looking back.

  “It was good to meet all of you, stay safe, and may Seraestar’s love and guidance be with you,” Dawn nodded her head once to us and climbed onto the front of the cart to wait for Manly.

  “Don’t be strangers now, hear?” Manly warned us, and we all nodded our goodbyes. Maebe was quiet, but Manly turned and curtsied. “A true pleasure to be an acquaintance, your Majesty. I truly am sorry things weren’t better between us.”

  “I do not find you nearly as worrisome as I once did, Manly Warbottom, go forth into your new ventures knowing that the Unseelie will not hunt you.” Maebe smiled as the other woman looked more than a little worried. “I mean you well, child. Go now, and good luck.”

  The cart, and the two people on it, were off into the distance soon after leaving us to make what we would for a camp.

  Maebe erected the shadow barrier, and we ate as soon as food was prepared.

  “Tomorrow, when the fighting begins, we leave things to you and Bea,” Yohsuke explained as we chowed down on some steaks and potatoes with light garnish. It was really nice. “At least for a little while. Her leveling is kind of paramount at this moment.”

  “Right on.” I nodded. The others were quiet, for once, as we ate. “I wonder what we will be facing in there.”

  “A lot. Twenty floors are no joke, even if they are low level.” Muu scratched his head a bit, then continued, “I think we should go in carefully. More so than ever but have teams like you guys do in the Marines. What was it called again, James?”

  “Fire teams,” the other dragon answered readily. “That’s not half bad. Make sure that we know who we stick with just in case. What do you guys think, traditional split?”

  “What is this, ‘traditional split?’” Maebe looked worried.

  “That would mean that each group has a tank, a healer, and two damage dealers,” I answered as I cleaned my plate. “So that would leave you and me together because that makes an even eight and leaves us with two slots.”

  “We aren’t splitting the fucking party.” Yoh growled, his face a mask of anger. “Do you all not remember what happened last time we did? Those goblins could have killed us.”

  “It does seem stupid to split the party even if we aren’t going to actually split
up,” Balmur observed as he held his new weapon from Maebe, Sorrow in hand looking it over. “What do we know about what we’re heading into?”

  “Drow elves are…” I began, trying to find the right words, but James interjected.

  “Evil as shit, chaotic, and will backstab you in a heartbeat if they even think they will get ahead for it.” I glanced over to see him reading from notes that he had in a book before looking up to say, “ut they aren’t completely like the ones that we have at home in our... media.”

  “How do you mean?” My brows rose curiously.

  “They don’t worship a spider goddess; their Queen is the spider.” He frowned as he read more, “‘Lo, there I gazed upon her legs and she at me, for where I saw a queen of pure fearsome power, she saw only a fly come to her web.’ The passage goes on to describe her as pretty terrifying. And definitely spider lady.”

  Huh. That would be interesting.

  Tiny druid. A rumbling call through my mind made my chest itch. The primordial Earth Element was reaching out.

  “Hold on guys, one of the elements is talking to me.” the others blinked and shrugged. Seemed common lately.

  I turned my thoughts inward and responded, “Yes, Unmovable One?”

  A deep rumble like an earthquake grated against me. I see you have learned flattery. I have news. You will be our herald in times to come of a new age of magic, but first, all elements must be represented.

  “Okay, so that leaves fire and air, right? This is great, thank you for trusting us!” I was overjoyed to know that we could count on these hugely powerful beings to assist us.

  Yes, and no, since the earth, water, air, and fire are no longer the only living elements, you will need to find one for light as well.

  Light?! “When…” I frowned, my brows creasing deeply.

  When you gave presence to the void, its opposite came into being as well, and now it seeks a champion as we all do, the elemental spoke. The champion for shadow is there with you now, for she is their most loved.

  Well, at least that was good to know. So, three. Then we could just find someone with a good affinity! Excellent.

  The others are…fickle about giving their blessing to mortals, but they are willing to set aside their past experiences for the good of all.