Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  As---she---glares---at---the---dead---monster---and---the---consumed---greenish---flesh,---a---movement---startles---her---as---the---flesh---parts.

  A---small---black---hairy---monster---pops---out---of---the---corpse,---its---red---beady---eyes---staring---directly---at---her.

  “Oh---hey,---it’s---Petyr.”

  Chapter---twelve:---Dungeon---Things.

  The---spider,---Petyr,---turns---his---eyes---towards---Thoric---and---immediately---leaps---towards---his---shoulder,---settling---nicely---with---a---bit---of---webbing.

  Threm---looks---at---the---spider,---her---mind---trying---to---explain---the---situation,---but---ultimately---she---gives---up---as---she---looks---at---the---corpse.

  Too---much---work---to---transport,---even---if---the---meat---is---fresh.---Better---to---find---another---target.

  Signaling---the---group,---she---heads---deeper---into---the---watering---hole.---Around---the---hole---is---the---presence---of---a---soft---glowing---fungus---that---is---creating---a---slight---iridescent---light.---Around---the---fungi---are---many---crystals---indented---into---the---ground---while---a---few---crystalbacks---can---be---seen---slowly---consuming---the---rather---distasteful---fungus.

  As---the---group---approaches---closer,---the---crystalbacks,---noticing---them,---quickly---indent---themselves---into---the---ground,---making---it---impossible---for---normal---predators---to---get---towards---the---meat,---a---usually---successful---defense---against---even---swarms---of---desbats.

  Sighing,---Threm---chooses---a---crystalback---and---walks---towards---it,---the---larger---males---of---her---group---quickly---converge,---sheathing---their---weapons.

  Threm---taps---the---crystal,---eliciting---a---slight---movement.---She---points---at---the---monster.

  The---men---converge---and---move---their---hands---underneath---the---shell,---taking---hold.---As---one,---the---eight---males---strain---as---they---slowly---lift---up---the---two---thousand---pound---monster,---revealing---its---squishy---body---underneath.

  With---a---quick---movement,---Threm---unsheathes---her---blade---and---slices---the---monster's---neck---before---it---elongates---and---attempts---to---scream.

  Immediately,---the---beast---thrashes---as---its---green---blood---flows---out---of---its---neck---in---heaps,---quickly---covering---the---ground.

  Unfortunately,---it's---erratic---movements---forces---its---head---to---slam---into---one---of---the---males,---making---him---lose---his---grip.---This---immediately---causes---the---others---to---let---go---from---the---increase---in---weight---which---in---turn---finds---the---two---thousand---pound---monster---slamming---on---one---of---the---males'---legs,---ripping---scales---and---cracking---bone.

  A---pained---howl---escapes---his---lips---before---one---of---the---others---can---close---his---mouth---shut.

  The---sound---emanates---from---the---clearing,---forcing---the---entire---group---to---stop,---their---eyes---looking---around.

  And---just---as---Threm---thought---the---close---was---clear,---the---sound---of---wing---beats---can---be---heard.

  Quickly---turning---towards---the---sound,---a---desbat---makes---its---presence---known---as---its---wings---flap---in---the---air.---The---monster,---a---beast---with---a---wingspan---of---twenty---feet,---looks---down---towards---the---group,---it's---dark---beady---eyes---finding---several---prey.

  Its---lungs---quickly---engulf---with---air---as---its---chest---expands…---and---the---monster---croaks,---its---lungs---and---throat---had---been---pierced---by---several---sharp---bones.

  Threm---turns---to---Thoric,---finding---the---young---man---staring---at---the---flying---monster,---several---sharp---pieces---of---bone---floating---around---him---as---his---hands---are---folded---around---his---chest,---a---curious---and---confident---smile---on---his---face.---The---female---next---to---him,---apparently---blind---in---the---darkness,---holds---on---to---the---hem---of---his---robe---in---abject---fear,---her---eyes---trying---to---make---see---what---is---going---on.

  As---the---desbat---is---about---to---attempt---to---flee,---several---bones---floating---around---the---man---accelerate---at---extreme---speeds,---ripping---apart---the---leathery---wings---of---the---monster,---forcing---it---down---on---the---ground.

  Threm,---finding---the---beast---grounded,---immediately---springs---into---action,---her---twin---blade---scythes---unsheathing---from---her---back---as---she---activates---her---skill.

  “[Accelerated---Strike],”---she---says---in---a---whisper,---allowing---her---body---to---move---at---an---incredible---speed---as---she---glides---through---the---ground,---quickly---slicing---the---grounded---desbats---head---clean---off---its---body.

  Its---movements---quickly---cease---as---Threm---notices---several---sharp---pieces---of---bones---jutting---out---from---the---monsters---joints---in---its---arms---and---legs,---making---it---unable---to---move---or---fight---back---anyhow.

  The---bones---that---had---penetrated---the---corpse---quickly---flow---out---of---the---body,---flying---back---towards---the---[Necromancer],---flowing---back---into---the---undead---behind---him,---into---a---bag---filled---with---many---holes.

  His---piercing---glowing---purple---eyes---turn---towards---the---corpse---of---the---crystalback---which---had---bled---out---completely---and---is---still---crushing---one---of---her---men's---legs.

  Having---avoided---a---dangerous---situation,---Threm---turns---away---from---the---desbat---corpse---and---moves---towards---the---crystalback,---hoping---to---save---the---fool’s---leg---before---he---becomes---a---cripple---like---Zorren.

  But---then---she---stops---as---the---corpse---lifts---itself---on---its---own.---Its---head---elongates,---the---eyes---of---the---turtle-like---monster---glow---a---powerful---purple---as---blood---continues---to---seep---out---of---its---neck.

  “Damn,---that---cost---a---shitton---of---mana.”

  ____

  Holy---crap---I---just---lost---more---than---ninety---percent---of---my---mana.

  I---steady---myself---as---I---will---the---feeling---of---outright---puking---away.---Apparently,---when---mana---quantity---dips---to---extremely---low---levels,---several---negative---effects---are---felt.

  Taking---a---deep---breath,---nausea---quickly---subsides---as---my---mana---regenerates---into---safe---levels,---my---eyes---turning---towards---my---new---undead.

  Crystalback---Zombie---Level---46

  One---of---the---residents---of---the---dungeons---first---floor,---these---herbivore---beasts---roam---in---packs,---constantly---looking---for---sources---of---water---and---food.---Though---they---lack---any---way---to---fight---off---predators,---these---monsters---are---able---to---defend---against---such---predators---by---burying---their---soft---underbodies---into---the---ground---while---their---backs---deter---any---predators.---Such---a---mechanism---has---evolved---to---the---extent---that---they---can---go---several---months---without---needing---to---eat---or---drink,---thus---most---predators---grow---tired---and---leave.

  This---crystalback---has---been---recently---revived---and---is---currently---under---the---control---of---entity---Thoric---Elum.----0.1---mana---regen

  Probably---useless---in---a---fight,---but---at---least---i---can---use---it---for---transport---considering---its---sheer---size…---unfortunately---it---seems---that---head---removal---makes---creating---undead---impossible.

  I---turn---towards---the---dead---desbat,---frowning---at---the---dismembered---head.

  Desbat---Level---83

  The---Desbats---are---the---alpha---predators---of---the---dungeons---first---level.---These---beasts---will---hunt---for---prey---using---echolocation.---When---prey---is---found,---they---will---first---make---eye---contact---before---calling---the---others---of---their---species---to---swarm---and---feed.

  This---specific---monster---is---a---fully---grown---adult---but---its---lack---of---a---head---makes---it---incapable---of---being---revived.

  Stupid---game---logic.

 
Shrugging---my---shoulders,---I---finally---notice---the---eyes---of---the---entire---hunting---group---on---me,---especially---the---women,---which---seem---to---look---at---me---with---a---deep---hunger.

  I’m---pretty---sure---I’m---controlling---my---aura…---or---did---I---let---it---slip?---Shit…

  Grabbing---Janie’s---hand,---I---lead---her---to---the---Gejan---who---is---on---the---floor---nursing---his---rather---destroyed---leg.

  “What---happened?”---Janie---asks,---the---illumination---of---the---fungi---giving---her---enough---light---to---see---the---injury.

  “His---leg---was---crushed,---can---you---heal---it?”---I---ask.

  She---bites---her---lip,---looking---at---the---leg,---frowning---at---the---Gajan---as---he---makes---eye---contact---with---her.

  “I---will---need---to---set---the---bone---before---I---can---heal,”---she---explains,---her---eyes---focusing---on---the---destroyed---leg---and---the---several---bones---jutting---out.

  As---she---moves---her---hand---towards---the---wound,---the---Gejan---growls---at---her,---showing---his---teeth.

  Janie---jumps---back,---right---behind---Thoric,---her---eyes---looking---fearfully---at---the---injured---Gejan---who---enjoys---her---reaction.---A---rather---primal---instinct---towards---a---prey’s---fear.

  “You.”

  The---injured,---hearing---a---voice---behind---him,---looks---up.

  Zorren,---taking---the---opportunity,---flings---out---his---good---arm---and---slams---it---into---the---Injured---Gejans---face,---destroying---teeth,---scales,---and---slamming---the---Gejans---head---into---the---ground.

  Zorren,---finding---the---man---unconscious,---ignores---the---other---Gejan---as---they---unsheathe---their---weapons,---turns---towards---Janie,”---Heal---him.”---he---says---with---authority.

  Janie---just---takes---a---long---look---at---him,---noticing---that---the---[Berserker]---makes---no---other---expression.---Doesn't---bare---his---teeth,---just---stares---expectantly---at---her.

  Biting---her---lip,---she---focuses---once---more---towards---the---injured---leg,---ignoring---the---bleeding---face---of---the---Gejan,---something---she---believes---can---be---healed---naturally,---and---begins---to---reconstruct---the---leg,---stopping---several---times---due---to---the---difference---in---anatomy.

  Noticing---several---misalignments---in---the---legs---structure,---I---sit---beside---Janie,---assisting---her---in---moving---the---bones---towards---the---correct---areas.

  Weird,---I---feel---like---instinct---is---driving---me---to---place---the---bones---correctly…---kinda---like---bone---engineering---or---something.---I---just---seem---to---know---it.

  Once---the---bones---have---been---set---and---the---leg---does---not---have---meat---flapping---out,---Janie---activates---her---skill---[Minor---heal],---a---seemingly---simple---spell---that---to---me---seems---to---attempt---to---merely---increase---cell---regeneration,---but---at---the---last---second,---the---last---formation,---it---changes.

  What---the---fuck---just---happened.---The---spell---just---got---significantly---more---complicated.

  And---indeed---it---did---as---I---watch---mana---enter---the---wound,---moving---towards---specific---injured---parts,---forcing---reconstruction---at---a---rapid---level.

  I---stand---up,---my---help---is---unneeded---as---I---turn---towards---the---staring---Gejan.

  “It’s---going---to---take---a---few---hours---to---fully---heal---his---leg,”---I---explain,---getting---nods---of---recognition---and---respect---from---the---Gejan,---possibly---even---a---respectful---smile---from---Zorren.

  Threm---walks---up---to---me,---her---gaze---lingering---momentarily---on---my---crotch.

  Fuck

  “The---undead,”---she---says,---pointing---towards---my---new---zombie,---”how---many---can---you---create?”

  I---frown,---mentally---doing---the---math---in---my---head,---”Ten---would---be---a---safe---amount---for---me.”---I---answer,---not---wanting---to---restrict---my---mana---regen---too---much,---especially---since---my---regeneration---is---restricted---by---each---and---every---summon---I---have.

  She---nods,---turning---towards---the---women,”---I---want---all---of---you---to---protect---her---from---any---possible---threats---while---she---heals.---In---the---meantime,---we---will---be---hunting---more---crystalbacks.

  And---then---she---walks---off,---her---tail---swishing---confidently---as---the---other---men---follow---her.

  I---also---follow---her,---doing---my---best---to---ignore---the---hungry---looks---of---the---female---Gejan---staring---at---me---as---I---leave.

  Thank---god---this---robe---is---large.

  _____

  The---[Gejan---Guards]---which---have---been---standing---at---attention---immediately---start---to---panic---at---the---sight---of---a---veritable---small---swarm---of---monsters.---Only---relaxing---once---they---notice---the---hunting---group---which---is---currently---walking---alongside---the---ten---crystalbacks---while---eight---desbats---fly---through---the---air,---blood---leaking---from---fresh---wounds---across---their---bodies.

  Leading---the---procession---is---none---other---than---Threm,---her---trademark---reddish---skin---glistening---while---she---wears---a---confident---smile---on---her---face.

  Right---behind---her---is---a---crystalback---carrying---an---unconscious---gejan,---his---body---crammed---between---crystals---jutting---out---of---the---undead’s---back.

  Even---so,---one---of---the---guards---runs---off---to---find---Anathema---as---such---a---situation---is---rather---unnatural.

  A---few---minutes---later---and---Threm,---the---hunting---group---leader---walks---up,---taking---a---look---at---the---guard---who---so---adamantly---stands---at---the---entrance,---unmoving.

  “The---hunt---was---a---success,---move---aside,”---she---says---cooly,---watching---the---guard---flinch---but---stand---his---ground.

  “This---situation---is---abnormal,---”he---says,---eyeing---the---monsters---with---glowing---eyes,---”I---must---ask---you---to---wait---for---Anathema---to---make---her---way---here,”---he---says,---undeterred---by---her---slowly---angering---expression.

  Threm---takes---a---long---look---at---the---[Gejan---Guard]---and---slowly---nods.---She---turns---around.---”Anathema---will---be---here---soon.---We---will---wait---alongside---the---undead,”---she---yells,---getting---nods---from---her---hunters---who---seem---to---be---quite---happy---that---such---a---hunt---was---actually---relatively---easy.

  Zorren,---instead---walks---forward,---passing---Threm---and---walks---around---the---guard---who---keeps---his---mouth---shut,---unwilling---to---provoke---the---[Berserker].

  _____

  The---ground---churns---around---Anathema---as---she---melts---out---of---the---city---wall,---finding---a---rather---interesting---sight.

  Immediately---the---hunters---straighten,---their---eyes---revealing---both---fear---and---respect---for---their---leader.

  Anathema,---takes---one---glance---at---everyone---until---her---eyes---settle---on---Thoric---who---is---happily---sitting---atop---a---Desbat---which---is---flying---in---place.

  “Thoric,---It---seems---your---first---hunt---was---a---resounding---success,”---she---says,---her---voice---loud---but---extremely---clear---as---she---activates---the---skill---[Loud---Voice].

  Thoric,---nods---from---above,”---Indeed---it---was,”---he---says,---activating---his---own---[Loud---voice]---skill.

  Anathema,---noticing---the---casual---usage---of---the---skill,---smiles---back,---showing---her---teeth.

  “Good,”---she---turns---towards---the---guard.

  “Allow---them---in.---Those---monster---are---under---his---control.”

  The---guard---immediately---nods---and---moves---out---of---the---way,---clearing---the---entrance---which---seems---to---barely---be---big---enough---for---the---crystalbacks---to---fit---through.

  She---turns---to---Thoric,”---when---you---are---done,---meet---me---in---my---chamber.”

&
nbsp; And---with---that---last---statement,---she---turns---around---and---walks---into---the---wall,---disappearing---instantly.

  _____

  I---watch---Anathema---meld---into---the---wall---like---walking---through---a---liquid.---My---gaze---follows---a---trail---of---condensed---mana---as---it---disappears---under---the---city---at---an---incredible---speed.

  Shaking---my---head,---I---order---my---undead---to---head---into---the---city.