Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “Soon,”---he---says,---turning---away---from---me,---continuing---to---walk---forward---at---his---slow---pace.

  Ahhhh,---Zorren,---what---a---weird---guy.---Though---he---has---anger---issues,---which---Anathema---states---is---because---of---his---class,---he---is---actually---a---pretty---nice---guy.---He---thanked---Janie---for---healing---the---injured---Gejada,---making---sure---the---guy---did---not---end---up---a---cripple.---And---then,---when---I---asked---him---to---help---me---kill---the---dungeon---boss---without---the---army,---he---was---all---too---happy---to---comply.---Apparently,---he---had---lost---many---good---friends---a---long---time---ago---when---an---entire---group---of---over---a---hundred---Gejan---attempted---to---kill---the---boss.---Thus,---he---doesn’t---want---any---meaningless---death---of---his---people.---Or---at---least---that’s---what---Anathema---explained---to---me.

  Granted,---he---also---said---he---will---kill---it---alone,---but---I---wasn't---going---to---let---the---extremely---over---leveled---and---powerful---[Berserker]---fight---such---a---powerful---and---deadly---monster---on---his---own.

  That---would---be---utterly---unethical.

  Such---a---thing---would---not---be---something---a---[Hero]---would---ever---allow.

  And---it---has---absolutely---nothing---to---do---with---the---fact---that---such---a---large---and---powerful---monster---would---be---a---great---minion…

  ***************

  Catching---herself---from---tripping,---Janie---tightens---her---grip---on---Mule,---noticing---an---increasing---number---of---bones---jutting---out---of---the---ground.

  Grunting,---she---keeps---her---eyes---looking---down,---avoiding---bones---as---best---she---can,---but---the---number---seems---to---be---quickly---increasing.

  She---frowns,---turning---towards---mule---who---just---walks---forward---with---ease,---his---weight---and---size---are---crushing---the---bones---in---front---of---him---with---ease.

  Janie---immediately---moves---behind---the---undead,---following---it---while---staring---at---its---illuminating---coverings.

  Thoric---had---taken---several---of---the---glowing---fungi,---the---same---ones---which---gave---him---severe---diarrhea---and---covered---Mule---in---it---from---head---to---toe,---turning---him---into---her---own---personal---light---source.

  Which---was---great---for---her,---except---that---it---attracted---predators,---which---thankfully---were---not---a---problem---for---Thoric---to---take---care---of.

  But---now,---there---hasn't---been---any---attack---for---the---past---hour,---only---the---increasing---number---of---bones---dotting---the---stone---floor.

  “We---are---getting---close,---you---should---stand---back,”---Zorren---says,---turning---towards---the---[Priestess].

  Nodding,---Janie---stops,---ordering---Mule---to---stay---by---her---side---and---protect---her.

  The---undead---just---stops,---its---glowing---purple---eyes---staring---forward,---unmoving---like---a---statue.

  Zorren---continues---on---as---Janie---huddles---close---to---Mule,---her---eyes---moving---up---as---she---watches---twenty---purple---glowing---dots---in---the---sky---continue---to---head---onward.

  Normally,---Janie---would---have---felt---fear,---been---scared---of---being---left---alone.---But---instead,---she---feels---calm,---her---eyes---now---looking---towards---Mule's---purple---glowing---skull---and---the---spider---upon---its---shoulder.

  ************

  So---the---boss---of---the---dungeon---is…---well,---quite---huge.---Its---size---is---similar---to---a---three-story---house---while---it---seemingly---weighs---over---fifty---tons.---It---literally---looks---like---a---massively---overgrown---lizard…---with---sharp---claws,---huge---teeth,---and---a---massive---hammer---on---its---head.---Oh,---and---it---is---staring---at---Zorren---with---all---eight---of---its---eyes.

  Yup,---it---noticed---us,---probably---a---while---ago,---and---considering---the---several---fresh---corpses---of---monsters---around---it,---it---is---not---currently---hungry.

  Unfortunately,---its---nest---is---located---directly---next---to---an---opening---which---leads---downward,---the---passage---to---the---second---level---of---the---dungeon,---a---rather---problematic---location.

  The---monster,---noticing---that---Zorren---is---still---heading---in---its---direction,---finally---gets---up,---crunching---the---bones---around---it.---Its---mouth---opens,---razor-sharp---teeth---are---revealed---as---it---tastes---the---air---with---its---long---tongue.

  [Advanced---analyze]

  Lacerta,---Guardian---of---the---first---floor---Level---117

  Lacerta---is---the---guardian---and---first---line---of---defense---against---those---who---wish---to---travel---through---the---Dungeon.---This---monster---was---created---to---be---capable---of---fighting---and---killing---anything---upon---the---first---floor---with---ease.---Its---scales,---powerful---and---hardened,---make---it---nigh---impenetrable---against---even---the---sharpest---of---weapons.---Combined---with---its---excessive---stamina,---great---eyesight,---and---unyielding---senses,---this---beast---thrives---upon---the---first---floor---of---the---dungeon,---easily---feeding---upon---the---Desbats---who---are---disabled---thanks---to---its---light---attack.

  Light---attack?---That's---it?---No---more---description?---Just---that---it---disables---Desbats?

  My---thoughts---are---momentarily---stopped---as---I---look---down,---watching---as---Zorren---lifts---his---massive---hammer,---holding---it---easily---with---one---hand.

  Right…---so---you're---just---gonna---smack---on---it?---Is---that---really---your---plan?---Not---th-

  I---stop---as---Zorren---starts---to---glow,---steam---rising---from---his---body---as---he---continues---to---walk---forward,---Lacerta---finally---taking---the---small---Gejada---as---a---threat.---Zorren’s---size---quickly---seems---to---increase,---muscles---spasming---out---as---he---gains---two---inches---in---height---and---bulging---muscles,---making---him---seem---buff,---even---through---his---scales.

  And---then---Zorren’s---bad---arm---starts---to---move,---the---one---which---had---been---always---hanging---at---his---side.---It---wraps---around---the---hammer,---enforcing---its---grip.

  What---just---happened…[Advanced---Analyze].

  Zorren

  Level---173---[Berserker]

  Zorren,---a---veteran---warrior---of---the---Gejada,---he---has---lost---his---tail,---lost---the---people---he---was---required---to---protect,---and---now---lives---in---shame,---his---presence---tolerated---because---of---his---sheer---level.

  Strength

  93(223)

  Dexterity

  28(96)

  Stamina

  147(735)

  Perception

  73

  Endurance

  54(162)

  Vitality

  120

  Mana

  110

  M/regen

  0.5

  Affinity

  0

  Intelligence

  73(7.3)

  Willpower

  321

  Soul

  260

  Tail---Loss:---The---tail---of---a---Gejada---is---a---note---of---pride---for---the---people,---but---more---so---than---pride,---it---helps---in---balance.----20---Dexterity

  Unusable---Arm:---Having---lost---an---arm,---strength---has---been---reduced.----20%---Strength

  Berserkers---Rage:---Ignore---all---physical---and---mental---debilitating---effects.---Temporarily---Increase---Strength---and---Dexterity---by---200%.---Temporarily---Increase---Endurance---by---300%.---Temporarily---Decrease---intelligence---by---90%.---Temporarily---Increase---Stamina---by---500%.

  Ok---ok---ok.---So---granted,---I---did---figure---he---had---abilities---that---made---him---stronger,---abilities---that---would---allow---him---to---fight---better.---Something---he---was---keeping---hidden---from---me.---And---I---really---truly---believed---I---could---handle---him---in---a---fight---regardless---of---what---it---was.

  But---[Berserkers
---Rage]...---that's---such---an---overpowered---skill.---I---mean---come---on,---the---only---drawback---is---intelligence?---Really?---Why---would---you---need---intelligence---if---your---stats---alone---lets---you---faceroll---people?

  Ok---ok---ok,---jealousy,---I---do---feel---jealousy.---A---lot---of---it.---It’s---really---annoying---and---I---guess---humbling---to---find---out---that---I---have---an---extremely---long---way---to---go---before---I---actually---become---truly---strong.

  I---sigh---and---shake---my---head,---looking---back---down---watching---as---Zorren---bends---his---knees…---and---then---the---stone---under---his---feet---shatter---as---he---jumps---forwards,---rocketing---towards---the---overgrown---lizard---at---a---speed---I---can---quite---easily---follow,---but---at---no---point---would---I---be---able---to---replicate.

  The---lizard,---to---its---credit,---reacted---even---faster,---its---tail---flicking---out,---extending,---and---then---slapping---the---enraged---[Berserker]---right---out---of---the---air.

  The---berserker's---body---accelerates---away---from---the---boss,---slamming---into---a---pile---of---bones,---causing---them---to---break---and---shatter---from---the---impact.

  My---mouth---hangs---open,---outright---surprised---at---what---just---happened,---only---widening---even---further---as---the---bone---dust---disperses,---revealing---Zorren---in---all---his---lizard---glory.

  The---[Berserker]---stands---back---up,---bone---dust---falling---off---his---body---as---his---face---becomes---even---angrier,---the---hammer---still---grasped---firmly---in---his---hand.

  And---then---he---roars,---jumping---forward---again,---causing---the---Lizard---to---flick---its---tail---out,---smacking---Zorren---again.

  This---happens---several---times,---the---boss---monster---seemingly---amused---while---Zorren---is---just---constantly---trying---to---ram---into---the---thing…---which---isn't---working.

  I---see...---so---that---lack---of---intelligence---is---pretty---detrimental.---He---seems---to---be---incapable---of---adapting.---Or---I---guess---not---smart---enough---to.

  Welp,---I---guess---I’ll---try---to---help---him---out.

  Before---I---do---anything---though,---I---activate---[Converging---Mana],---lowering---the---cost---of---all---my---spells---by---a---decent---amount---while---quickly---grabbing---my---staff.

  Finally---ready,---I---mentally---call---up---my---mana---reserves,---sending---it---quickly---downward,---entering---several---dozens---of---enchanted---bone---shivs---at---once,---creating---a---connection.

  So---here's---the---thing---about---my---[Bone---Levitation]---skill,---the---mana---consumption---to---create---the---connection---is---significantly---more---than---keeping---the---connection---up.---That---initial---mana---consumption---is---also---depended---on---distance.---So---if---I---am---within---a---meter---of---the---bones,---the---consumption---is---much---less,---even---more---so---if---I---am---touching---them.

  Funny---enough,---the---consumption---decreases---even---further---if---the---bones---have---been---enchanted---by---me.

  It's---weird,---I---know.---I---still---don't---exactly---know---why,---but---it’s---convenient.

  Ordering---my---bones---outside,---they---quickly---fly---out,---dispersing---at---my---call---with---ease---as---I---keep---a---mental---connection---to---all---of---them,---something---made---quite---a---bit---easier---since---I---have---[split---concentration].

  Though---in---reality,---what---I---am---doing---should---be---practically---impossible---for---a---mere---mortal---since---each---specific---bone---needs---a---continuous---connection---to---function---properly,---making---more---bones---harder---and---harder---to---control.

  And---I---would---agree,---humans---cannot---partition---their---minds---to---several---dozen---different---connections.

  Instead,---I---cheat.

  Mana---is---just---a---form---of---energy---that---is---changed---and---given---meaning.---It---is---usually---formed---based---on---your---subconscious---thoughts.---But---what---if---that---connection---of---spell---and---power---source---was---more---automatic?---What---if---ongoing---orders---are---automated---with---barely---any---conscious---thought?

  Well,---I---give---you---programming,---the---ability---to---create---set---orders.---If---this---were---a---skill,---it---would---be---called---[Mana---Programming]---or---something.---Unfortunately,---it---seems---that---it's---not.---Which---is---fine.

  Anyhow,---since---I---have---a---photographic---memory,---mentally---calling---up---a---created---program---and---inserting---my---mana---into---it---is---fast---and---instant,---allowing---me---to---do---such---a---thing---as---ordering---all---of---my---currently---floating---shivs---to---spin,---increasing---the---centrifugal---force---and---hopefully---allowing---me---to---penetrate---those---scales.

  Once---they---are---spinning---adequately,---which---is---where---air---resistance---starts---to---restrict---the---speed,---I---mentally---order---my---floating---bones---to---accelerate,---quickly---ramping---up---speed---towards---the---boss.

  Surprisingly,---the---boss---notices---my---swarm---and---moves---its---body,---protecting---its---head---while---my---bones---strike---it---dark---scales…---causing---scratches…---but---not---penetrating.

  “Fuck…”---I---say---aloud,---watching---as---several---of---my---bones---are---cracked---on---the---floor,---the---impact---breaking---them---even---though---they---were---strengthened---by---[Enhanced---Structural---Enchantments].

  At---that---same---moment,---Zorren---screams,---jumping---forward---and---getting---knocked---back---again.

  “Yea---Zorren,---you---keep---doing---that.---It’s---completely---working.”

  Zorren---ignores---me---completely,---his---anger---focused---on---the---monster---which---has---been---smacking---him---around---like---a---tennis---ball…---a---very---sturdy---tennis---ball.

  Sighing,---I---order---my---swarm---of---undead---forward,---mentally---guiding---them---towards---the---bosses---exposed---regions.

  The---boss,---on---the---other---hand,---notices---this---immediately,---half---of---its---eyes---looking---towards---the---swarm.

  The---hammer---atop---its---head---quickly---raises,---revealing---a---neat---white---crystal,---and---then---just---as---quickly,---the---hammer---strikes---down---at---an---incredible---speed.

  And---I---finally---understand---what---it---meant---by---a---‘light---attack’.

  A---literal---flashbang---goes---off---from---the---impact,---Illuminating---the---entire---battlefield,---causing---me---to---literally---scream---and---cover---my---eyes---as---all---of---my---photoreceptors---in---my---eye---are---activated,---causing---me---to---go---blind---while---feeling---severe---pain...

  Very---annoying,---especially---since---everything---is---white---except---for---a---floating---blue---box---that---is---still---somehow---visible.

  You---are---under---the---status---effect---‘blind’.---You---cannot---see---for---the---next---273---seconds.

  Annoying,---yes,---but---I---have---a---workaround.

  [Undead---Eyes]

  At---the---activation---of---my---skill,---I---take---over---the---eyes---of---my---mount,---seeing---through---them---instead,---allowing---me---to---see---the---battlefield.

  At---this---point,---my---undead---have---swarmed---the---boss,---causing---the---monster---to---panic---as---it---attempts---to---cover---its---eyes,---one---already---having---been---poked---out.

  I---smile,---enjoying---the---fact---that---undead---don't---need---eyes---to---function---at---all.---Just---the---magic---running---through---them---is---enough.---And---since---they---are---also---undead,---pain---is---something---they---also---do---not---feel.

  So---yes,---apparently---the---boss---is---not---used---to---its---ability---being---ignored.

  But---still,---it---seems---that---the---size---and---scales---of---the---beast---are---more---than---enough---to---stop---my---minions---from---doing---any---truly---permanent---damage.

  Luckily,---I---just---need---t
o---distract---it.

  A---sound---reverberates---through---the---clearing---as---Zorren’s---strengthened---legs---allow---him---to---rip---open---the---ground---with---a---jump.---The---jump---has---him---travel---several---hundred---meters---within---a---couple---seconds,---allowing---him---to---slam---his---hammer---into---the---distracted---bosses---side.