Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Thoric---nods,---acknowledging---his---win---and---looks---to---Janie,---watching---as---her---shaking---stops---and---her---teared---face---looks---up---at---him.

  “Zorren,---I---think---I---need---to---hunt---monsters.---I---don't---suppose---you---know---a---good---location?”

  “I---do,”---Zorren---answers,---turning---around---and---walking---outside.

  Thoric---sends---a---command,---the---undead---upstairs---answers---his---call---and---moves---down.---The---purple---light---of---undeath---is---ever---present---on---the---skeletal---face---of---the---abomination.---Thoric---waits---a---couple---of---minutes---longer---for---Janie---to---regain---some---color---to---her---face---and---then---he---walks---outside,---Mule---and---Janie---following---behind.

  Zorren---just---gives---them---an---annoyed---look---before---he---starts---to---head---downstairs,---towards---the---city’s---exit.

  ______

  Bluffing...---is---not---an---actual---skill,---because---if---it---was,---I---would---have---gotten---it.---Now,---don't---get---me---wrong,---I'm---sure---with---proper---preparation---I---would---have---been---able---to---defeat---the---[Berserker].

  But---the---level---of---preparation---I---had---was---little---to---none,---especially---considering---the---enclosed---environment,---his---size,---natural---armor---in---the---sense---of---his---scales,---and---a---significant---amount---of---levels---over---me…---oh---yeah,---if---my---bluff---was---caught,---I'm---pretty---sure---I---would---have---been---killed.

  And---even---so,---it---needed---to---happen.---He---is---arrogant,---overbearing,---authoritative,---and---easily---angered.---It---was---only---through---keen---observation---on---the---reasoning---of---why---he---listens---to---Anathema.

  He---fears---her.---She---is---stronger---than---him---and---stronger---by---quite---a---bit.---Me---standing---up---to---him,---unwavering---at---his---threats,---proved---to---him---that---fighting---me---may---not---end---well---for---him.---I---showed---him---I---am---not---prey,---thus---I---have---gained---his---respect,---though---little---it---may---be.

  Which---is---why---we’re---walking---through---the---city,---passing---by---very---few---people---as---would---be---expected---with---how---low---their---population---had---become,---soon---even---lower---considering---the---amount---I---plan---to---take---with---me---to---the---lower---floors.

  “Thoric!”---a---voice---yells---out,---interrupting---my---thoughts.

  Ahria---quickly---runs---up,---ignoring---Zorren---as---she---rams---into---my---leg,---hugging---me---with---a---smile.”---Hiiii,”---she---says,---her---tail---swishing---madly---as---she---stares---up---to---me.

  I---return---her---smile---with---my---own,”---Hello---Ahria,---sorry---I---had---to---leave---so---quickly.---Something---had---come---up.”

  She---frowns,---turning---her---head---towards---Janie.

  Immediately,---Janie---gets---on---one---knee,---a---smile---blazing---on---her---face---as---she---quickly---reaches---out---and---picks---up---the---lizard---child,---shoving---her---straight---into---her---nonexistent---chest.

  ”You---are---soooo---cute,”---she---says,---her---face---rubbing---against---Ahria’s---soft---undeveloped---scales.

  Really?---A---grown---Gajedan---woman---scares---you---into---a---corner---but---you---fall---in---love---with---a---little---child…

  I---shake---my---head---as---I---watch---Ahria---giggle---happily---in---Janie’s---arms.

  I---still---don't---understand---women.

  “We---are---wasting---time,”---Zorren---interjects---with---his---usual---glare.

  “Ahria,”---I---say,---gaining---her---attention,---”As---much---as---I---would---enjoy---playing---with---you---right---now,---I,---unfortunately,---have---to---get---some---training---done,”---I---explain.

  Both---Ahria---and---Janie---frown---at---me,---their---faces---so---identical---in---disappointment.

  I---move---up---my---hand,---scratching---my---ear,---showing---off---a---smile,---”Don't---worry.---Once---I---get---what---I---need---done,---me---and---Janie---will---return---and---play---with---you.---Alright?”

  Ahria---nods---and---wiggles---out---of---Janie’s---arms---to---her---disappointment.---”Promise?”---she---asks---with---a---hopeful---smile.

  “I---do,”---I---say,---smiling---at---the---blind---girl.

  She---nods---and---then---runs---off,---waving---back---at---us,---Janie---waves---goodbye,---a---sad---smile---on---her---face.

  “She---was---so---adorable.”

  “Indeed,”---I---reply,---immediately---turning---around---and---heading---towards---Zorren---who---continues---his---usual---glare.

  Seriously,---he---has---like---only---two---expressions;---angry---and---neutral.

  Finding---that---we---had---finished---our---little---stop,---Zorren---continues---his---way---towards---the---city---entrance.---We---follow---along,---Janie---looking---around,---her---eyes---glowing---with---interest---as---she---follows---the---stone---architecture.

  An---architecture---I---now---notice---to---be---perfectly---trimmed.---The---walls---are---abnormally---smooth,---melding---into---the---ground---perfectly.---The---ground---as---well---is---completely---smooth---and---spotless,---not---a---crack---or---pebble---to---be---seen.

  Considering---the---lack---of---any---proper---tools,---I---can---only---guess---that---it---was---done---under---a---magical---nature.

  And---the---only---person---I---have---met---so---far---with---a---class---seemingly---capable---of---manipulating---the---ground---is---Anathema---with---her---[Geomancer]---class.

  I---wonder---how---strong---the---class---is.---You---know---what?---I---might---as---well---ask.

  “Hey---Janie,---how---strong---is---a---[Geomancer]---class?”

  She---looks---up,---her---eyes---meeting---mine,---her---smile---slowly---turning---to---a---frown,”---It---is---incredibly---strong…---and---incredibly---rare.---All---mancer---type---classes---are---extremely---powerful---tier---two---class---which---tend---to---only---be---obtainable---from---bloodlines.

  Bloodlines…

  “What---are---bloodlines,”---I---quickly---ask,---wanting---a---better---explanation---even---though---I---have---a---pretty---good---idea---what---it---is.

  “It's...mhmm…---it's---a---trait---that---is---passed---down---a---family---line.”---She---pauses,---frowning,---unsure---how---to---explain,”---bloodlines---are---special---properties---people---have---that---are---inheritable---from---parents.---Some---of---them---are---in---the---form---of---skills,---others---are---in---the---form---of---stats…---but---the---most---powerful---are---in---the---form---of---affinity---”

  “------which---is---why---mancer---classes---are---more---commonly---seen---in---[nobles],---correct?”---I---say,---finishing---her---sentence.

  She---nods,---her---gaze---lingering---on---mine---before---turning---away.

  So---bloodlines---are---another---tool---for---the---few---to---control---the---many.---For---the---powerful---to---stay---in---power…---yeah,---this---world---is---quite---messed---up.

  “Why---did---you---ask?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Why---did---you---ask---me---about---the---[Geomancer]---class?---Was---it---offered---by---the---voice?”

  “No,---that's---Anathema's---class.”

  Janie---quickly---stumbles,---a---rather---impressive---feat---considering---how---smooth---the---ground---is.

  “She’s---a---[Geomancer]?”---Janie---asks,---her---eyes---widening---in---shock.

  “She---could---have---killed---me!”

  Really?---Pretty---sure---she---could---have---killed---you---quite---easily---without---her---class.

  “Not---sure---why---you’re---afraid,---my---[Necromancer]---class---is---tier---two---as---well.”

  She---pauses,---biting---her---lip,”---you---can---fight---her?”---She---asks---hopefully.

  Hell---no.

  “Of---course.”

  She---takes---a---long---look---at---
me---and---then---nods,---a---smile---slowly---forming---on---her---lips.

  “Walk---faster!”---Zorren---yells,---interrupting---us---from---a---considerable---distance---away.

  Holy---shit---he---walks---fast.

  _______

  Having---caught---up---to---the---annoyed---Zorren,---the---group---quickly---makes---there---way---to---the---entrance---of---the---city---where---a---relatively---large---group---of---Gejan---await.---These---men---and---women---of---the---species---sit---or---stand---around---the---inner---entrance---of---the---city.---They---are---sharpening---their---bone---weapons---which---seem---to---be---of---a---much---higher---quality---than---those---compared---to---the---guards.

  One---of---the---Gejan,---a---female---with---a---red---hue---on---his---scales---leaves---the---group---and---intercepts---Zorren.

  “Zorren,---the---hunters---don't---need---your---help,”---she---quickly---calls---out,---her---slitted---eyes---only---taking---a---quick---glance---at---Zorren’s---lacking---tail---and---unusable---arm.

  Zorren---just---stops,---his---face---getting---angry---before---quickly---calming---down---as---his---skill---activates.

  Even---so,---the---skill---is---only---partially---successful---as---Zorren---bares---his---sharp---teeth,”---I---have---orders---from---Anathema.---So---if---you---have---a---problem---with---me---joining---the---hunt,---then---take---it---up---with---her,---Threm.”---he---says---the---last---word---challengingly.

  A---panicked---look---crosses---Threm---face---at---the---mere---mention---of---Anathema,---their---current---ruler---and---the---one---person---who---could---take---on---any---Gajan---with---absolute---ease…---even---Zorren.

  Swishing---her---tail---in---part---anger---and---fear,---Threm---turns---away,”---Fine---then,---just---don’t---get---in---my---way,”---she---says,---walking---towards---the---hunting---group,---barely---giving---the---humans---but---a---momentary---glance.

  As---she---walks---away,---Zorren---moves---towards---a---stone---seat,---content---to---wait---for---the---group---to---prepare---the---hunt,---a---rather---important---task---considering---the---dangers---that---may---be---faced.

  Walking---up---to---the---group---of---hunters,---Thoric---gets---only---a---slight---glance---before---the---group---turns---their---eyes---away.---The---reason---for---such---a---treatment---is---based---upon---the---Gejan---culture---where---eye---contact---is---only---done---by---those---who---believe---themselves---equals---or---allies…---which---is---why---many---of---them---refuse---to---make---eye---contact---with---a---being---who---had---gained---the---respect---of---Anathema,---a---rather---difficult---thing---to---do---considering---her---overpowering---presence.

  Activating---his---skill,---[Advanced---analyze],---Thoric---is---beseeched---with---a---great---deal---of---relatively---low-level---Gejan---with---their---levels---averaging---between---forty---and---fifty,---while---Threm,---a---seemingly---level---93---[Blader],---is---a---rather---large---outlier---compared---to---the---group---she---seems---to---lead.

  His---gaze---focuses---on---the---weaponry,---finding---that---though---they---are---all---made---of---bone,---some---seem---to---be---superior---to---others.---His---levels---in---[Necromancer]---allow---him---to---immediately---notice---the---slight---differences---like---bone---density,---sharpness,---and---even---the---purpose---of---the---bone---usage---when---it---was---still---within---the---monster.

  For---example,---a---large,---slightly---curved---tooth---attached---to---a---makeshift---hammer.---The---tooth---was---clearly---used---for---latching---onto---prey---but---is---instead---being---used---as---the---back---of---a---hammer---to---allow---penetration---of---flesh---if---muscles---are---much---too---sturdy---to---allow---breakage.

  Having---looked---at---the---group,---Thoric---walks---back---towards---Janie---who---is---fearfully---standing---next---to---Mule,---her---eyes---looking---at---the---Gejan---arming---and---preparing---themselves.

  ____

  Threm---takes---quick---peeks---at---the---[Necromancer],---her---face---taking---on---a---red---shade---every---time---her---groin---begins---to---itch.---Her---friend---Tella---had---been---extremely---vocal---yesterday---night,---having---made---it---difficult---for---Threm---to---sleep---considering---the---moans---and---screams---so---loudly---articulated,---especially---considering---her---own---home---is---just---underneath---Tella’s.

  Annoying

  Shaking---her---tail---in---frustration,---she---finally---gets---up,---looking---towards---her---[Hunters],---[Trackers],---[scouts],---and---[Warriors],---noticing---that---their---preparations---are---complete.

  Looking---up,---she---notices---the---light---has---slightly---started---to---recede,---a---perfect---time---to---hunt---prey---as---it---means---that---the---Desbats,---giant,---overgrown---flying---monsters,---are---more---than---likely---going---to---sleep,---drastically---decreasing---the---chance---that---if---something---were---to---go---wrong,---that---they---would---be---less---likely---to---be---swarmed.

  As---she---gets---up,---the---others---of---her---hunting---group---notice---and---react---attentively.---They---grab---their---gear---and---weapons,---shuffling---towards---her.---The---humans---and---Zorren---also---react---and---head---towards---her.

  They---quickly---surround---her,---gaining---her---attention.

  “We---will---be---going---towards---hunting---ground---sentra.---It---has---been---a---while---since---we---had---gone---there---and---supplies---are---running---low---on---crystals.---The---crystalbacks---should---have---regained---their---population---once---more,---so---we---will---be---hunting---a---few---of---them---down---today.”

  A---condensed---groan---comes---from---the---group,---understanding---that---a---lot---of---work---will---need---to---be---done.

  Threm---flicks---her---tail,---acknowledging---that---hunting---crystalbacks---is---indeed---very---physically---demanding.

  With---a---nod---and---a---flicker---of---her---tongue,---she---turns---and---exits---the---city,---passing---by---two---guards---who---only---give---them---a---quick---glance---before---going---back---to---their---duties.

  Powerful---would---be---an---understatement---to---compare---a---[Gejan---Guard]---to---her---own---class,---even---if---her---levels---are---higher---than---theirs.---The---problem---is---that---they---get---skills---which---increase---the---strength---of---their---scales---by---an---enormous---amount…---unfortunately,---such---a---class---is---reserved---for---males---and---usually---larger---ones---as---well.---Though---her---training---and---level---would---still---allow---her---to---take---them---on…---and---win.

  As---the---group---moves---a---far---distance---away,---her---night---vision---activates,---allowing---her---to---see---the---terrain---clearly,---though---it---lacks---long---distance---color.

  With---a---flick---of---her---hand,---the---[scouts]---quickly---disperse,---moving---silently---up---front---to---warn---the---group---of---possible---monster---sightings---or---swarms.

  Swarms,---that's---the---most---dangerous---part.---Swarms---of---monsters---alone---aren't---necessarily---problematic---to---deal---with.---The---problem---is---actually---the---amount---of---sound---such---a---large---amount---of---beasts---create.---Such---sound---would---attract---a---Desbat,---whom,---once---finding---prey,---will---immediately---signal---another---swarm.

  And---that,---more---often---than---not,---will---cause---a---few---of---the---hunting---groups---to---lose---their---life-------something---that,---considering---the---slow---reproduction---of---the---Gejan,---is---very---dangerous---to---the---species---as---a---whole.

  As---the---group---gets---closer---to---the---crystalback---feeding---ground,---which---is---a---small---watering---hole---with---fungi---all---around.---A---[Scout]---quickly---runs---up---to---Threm,---her---face---taking---on---a---reflection---of---panic.

  “Crystalback---corpse---found---nearby…”---she---pauses,”---The---back---had---been---completely---shattered.

  And---that's---when---Threm---frowns.---”
Show---me.”

  The---scout---nods---and---starts---moving---towards---the---corpse,---the---entire---group---immediately---on---edge,---weapons---unsheathing.

  When---they---reach---the---corpse,---a---ghastly---image---can---be---seen---of---the---crystalback,---a---turtle---type---monster---with---a---thick---crystal---shell.---But---the---shell---of---the---corpse---is---completely---shattered,---an---impossible---feat---by---any---other---monster---except---the---dungeon---boss,---a---dungeon---spawned---abomination---which---blocks---the---route---towards---the---second---level.

  Threm’---frowns---more,---her---mind---trying---to---imagine---the---dungeon---boss---traveling---such---a---long---distance---just---to---feed---on---a---crystalback,---especially---considering---the---abundance---of---Desbat---prey…