Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Like---shattering---glass,---the---scales---on---the---boss---break---while---the---sheer---force---of---the---blow,---sends---the---monster---careening---quite---a---distance---away.---But---even---with---such---a---powerful---strike,---the---monster---is---still---very---resilient---as---it---quickly---gets---back---on---its---feet,---blood---and---ichor---dripping---from---its---left---side---as---many---of---its---cracked---and---broken---scales---had---impaled---the---beast,---quickly---enraging---it.

  Again---it---activates---its---ability,---sending---a---wave---of---extreme---light---from---its---head,---only---to---be---ignored---as---I---order---my---remaining---minions---to---swarm---once---more.---With---quick---reflex,---the---boss’s---armored---tail---flicks---out,---striking---one---of---my---undead,---the---sheer---force---breaking---its---body.

  But---that's---the---thing---about---swarm---tactics,---you---can---only---handle---so---many---at---once.---The---minions---quickly---latch---on---to---the---boss,---aiming---for---its---eyes---while---I---order---another---to---move---towards---the---now---exposed---left---side.

  As---my---minion---gets---into---position,---I---activate---another---ability.

  [Undead---Enrage]

  My---undead’s---entire---body---starts---to---glow---a---purple---light---as---its---body---strengthens---significantly.

  With---another---mental---command,---my---enraged---Desbat---strikes---its---long---claws---into---the---exposed---flesh,---ripping---deep---into---the---boss’s---body.

  And---then---the---boss---screams,---quickly---starting---to---shake---as---signals---of---pain---are---sent---into---its---brain.

  The---beast---starts---to---thrash---as---I---do---my---best---to---keep---my---Desbats---from---falling---off.

  But---very---quickly,---that---is---not---needed---as---Zorren---dives---from---the---air,---his---hammer---striking---downward,---impacting---the---bosses---skull,---forcing---it---on---the---ground---with---a---rather---loud---impact.

  Surprisingly,---the---skull---does---not---break,---but---the---boss’s---body---stops---moving,---the---impact---rattling---its---brain,---forcing---it---to---shut---down.

  Taking---the---opportunity,---I---order---my---enraged---Desbat---to---the---monster---head,---guiding---it---to---shove---its---long---claw---deep---through---the---eye---and---into---the---bosses---brain,---causing---a---system---message---to---display---in---front---of---me.

  Congratulations!---You---have---defeated---Lacerta.

  For---being---the---first---[Hero]---to---kill---this---boss,---experience---gain---has---increased.

  For---single-handedly---killing---the---boss,---experience---gain---has---increased.

  Several---more---messages---of---level-ups---and---such---show---up---in---front---of---me,---but---I---suppress---them---for---later---as---I---turn---and---look---at---the---[Berserker]---who---is---systematically---raising---his---hammer---and---slamming---back---down---on---the---boss’s---skull,---yelling---the---entire---time.

  I---fly---closer---while---ordering---my---surviving---minions---to---take---flight,---the---enraged---minion---already---disintegrated---once---the---effect---ended.

  “ZORREN.---IT---IS---DEAD!”---I---yell,---activating---my---[Loud---Voice]---skill---to---make---my---words---heard.

  The---[Berserker]---stops,---his---hammer---resting---on---the---monster's---skull,---the---skin---having---been---slammed---away,---revealing---black---bones---with---several---cracks---spreading---through---it.

  Zorren---looks---up,---his---eyes---boring---into---mine,---unmoving,---watching---me---as---I---sit---on---my---mount---waving---my---arms---with---a---smile---on---my---face.

  As---he---stares,---the---steam---emanating---from---his---body---starts---to---slow,---decreasing---in---intensity---as---his---own---muscles---stop---bulging,---blood---red---eyes---going---back---to---his---normal---ones.

  As---his---skill---fades,---he---blinks…---and---then---plops---down---on---the---ground,---unconscious.

  I---stop,---looking---at---the---body---face---first---on---the---floor.

  I---shake---my---head,---snorting---at---the---[Berserkers]---idiocy.---The---cocky---guy---wanted---to---fight---a---boss---on---his---own,---knowing---he---will---pass---out---after...

  …---Allowing---any---roaming---monster---to---finish---him---off.

  *Sigh*

  Every---time---I---go---to---any---world,---I---always---somehow---meet---these---people.---Cocky---idiots---who---think---they're---the---best---and---that---nothing---can---truly---stand---in---their---way,---more---than---willing---to---risk---the---lives---of---others---for---their---own---beliefs.

  And---such---people---piss---me---off,---so---much---so---that---I---am---debating---on---ending---his---life---then---and---there.---I---have---no---qualms---about---killing,---even---people---who---are---innocent.---If---I---have---to---end---the---life---of---one---innocent---to---save---many---more,---I---sure---will.---I---have---lost---too---many---friends---to---continue---with---that---perfect---hero---mindset.

  Unfortunately,---I---need---him---to---guide---me---through---the---dungeon’s---levels---safely…---so---letting---him---live---is---an---unfortunate---must.

  Flying---down---towards---the---boss,---I---wait---as---my---mana---maxes---out.

  A---giddy---feeling---takes---me---as---I---extend---my---staff,---my---mana---beckoning---to---my---call---as---I---activate---one---of---my---most---favorite---skill.

  “[Raise---Undead].”

  Chapter---Nineteen:---Abusing---the---System.

  At---the---mere---thought---of---the---skill,---my---mana---starts---to---form---within---my---body,---and---like---a---river,---flows---down---my---arm,---entering---my---staff.---From---there,---it---pulses---as---it---transforms---into---absurdly---complicated---matrices---of---energy,---creating---a---strong---purple---glow---on---my---staff.---Once---fully---formed,---the---mana---releases,---a---purple---fog---spreads---out,---surrounding---and---entering---the---bosses---dead---body.

  With---a---strained---smile,---I---keep---myself---upright---from---the---sheer---quantity---of---my---mana---needed---to---fuel---the---spells---activation.---I---slowly---watch---as---matrices---upon---matrices---of---magic---get---compounded---upon---the---dead---body,---strings---of---energy---wrapping---around---and---around---the---boss.

  Only---but---a---moment---passes---before---the---magic---solidifies,---the---uninjured---eyes---of---the---monster---start---to---glow---a---powerful---deadly---purple---while---a---connection---to---the---beast---forms---between---me---and---itself.

  With---a---mental---command,---I---order---the---monster---to---stand.

  Without---a---moment---to---lose,---the---beast---lifts---its---heavy---girth,---standing---upon---it---four---legs,---eyes---boring---into---mine---with---non-existent---intelligence.

  I---activate---[Advanced---Analyze],---a---skill---which---Janie---told---me---was---extremely---rare,---that---it---only---shows---up---in---the---most---powerful---of---tier---two---classes---like---an---[Inquisitor].

  Lacerta.---Level---117---Undead.

  Lacerta,---a---former---guardian---of---the---first---floor---of---Dungeon---INAEQUO,---has---been---defeated---and---turned---into---an---undead---by---entity---Thoric---Elum.---This---former---boss---is---capable---of---utilizing---its---whip-like---tail---to---assault---targets---at---a---distance---and---at---extreme---speeds.---Its---scales,---though---large,---are---actually---very---resistant---to---piercing---damage---due---to---the---underlying---bone---fibers---prevalent---throughout.---Atop---its---head,---the---boss---is---capable---of---using---a---hammer---and---a---crystal-like---structure---to---create---an---enormous---bright---light,---blinding---any---foes---or---allies---within---the---vicinity.----1---mana---regen

  I---frown,---reading---through---the---description,---noticing---that---I---gain---a---lot---more---useful---information---from---my---undead---than---I---would---when---it---was---living.

  Is---that---because---I---know---what
---it’s---capable---of---or---because---I---turned---it---into---my---minion?

  Welp,---I’ll---have---many---opportunities---to---figure---that---out.

  Noticing---that---my---mana---has---stabilized---and---that---I---am---no---longer---at---risk---of---passing---out,---I---move---towards---the---side---of---the---beast,---retrieving---one---of---its---broken---scale---shards.---The---shard,---though---somewhat---light,---seems---to---be---both---extremely---sturdy---and---very---sharp---on---the---side.---Apparently,---the---bone---fibers---prevalent---are---seemingly---far---more---powerful---than---the---regular---bones.

  With---but---the---smallest---trickle---of---mana,---I---activate---[Bone---Levitation],---a---smile---forming---on---my---lips---as---the---scale---starts---to---float---in---the---air.

  Good,---hopefully---I---can---get---a---decent---number---of---these---shards…---but---this---does---give---me---an---idea.

  Sitting---down,---I---mentally---call---mule---to---slowly---walk---towards---my---location,---figuring---that---Janie---will---follow---mule---in---turn---while---I---contemplate---the---battle---I---just---had---and---await---my---mana---to---regenerate---for---my---next---experiment.

  The---battle---itself---was---actually---quite---difficult.---I---probably---would---not---have---been---able---to---even---scratch---Lacerta---without---a---lot---more---preparation.---Though---its---blind---ability---had---been---useless,---the---tail---and---powerful---scales---would---force---me---to---attempt---to---overpower---it.---I---may---have---been---able---to---win---using---a---skeletal---guardian---enhanced---with---enrage---while---I---had---my---aerial---units---keep---it---distracted.---Of---course,---I---still---don't---know---if---the---guardian---would---be---able---to---crack---open---those---scales,---especially---considering---how---slow---it---is.

  Makes---me---wonder---how---the---group---before---me---was---able---to---even---take---the---monster---out.---I---guess---I---will---have---to---ask---Zorren---when---he---wakes---up.

  Sighing---out---loud,---I---call---upon---the---system,---allowing---the---information---I---stopped---before---to---flow---into---my---view.

  You---have---Slain---Lacerta.

  Potential---of---Lacerta---Absorbed.

  Level---Up---x---5

  You---are---now---a---level---47---[Necromancer]

  New---Skill---Awarded:---[Create---skeletal---warrior.]

  [Create---Skeletal---Warrior]

  Utilizing---the---bones---around---you,---create---an---undead---warrior---whose---level---matches---the---bones---used.---Mana---regen---cost---is---increased---if---undead---is---higher---level---than---necromancer---by---2%---per---level.

  Level---up---x---3

  You---are---now---a---level---35---[Noble]

  Level---Up---x---6

  You---are---now---a---level---36---[Hero]

  Level---Up---x---1

  You---are---now---a---level---30---[Enchanter]

  New---skill---awarded:---[Minor---Mana---Efficiency]

  [Minor---Mana---Efficiency]

  Enchantments---created---by---you---are---10%---more---mana---efficient.

  Killing---the---boss---had---surprisingly---increased---the---levels---of---all---of---my---classes.---Unfortunately,---the---levels---I---gained---are---all---over---the---place.---As---would---be---expected---considering---classes---have---different---requirements---to---level.---The---[Hero]---class,---on---the---other---hand,---is---actually---quite---confusing---as---I---still---don't---understand---why---I---am---gaining---levels---on---it.---I---wish---it---was---as---simple---as---my---other---classes.

  [Necromancer]---increased---because---I---was---using---my---minions.---[Noble]---increased---because---I---was---guiding---my---minions.---And---[Enchanter]---increased…---well,---I---have---no---idea---why.

  Even---with---those---levels…---the---skills---I---gained---are---rather…---lackluster.---The---[Create---Skeletal---Warrior]---skill---might---actually---be---utterly---useless---considering---that---I---am---an---extremely---low---level---for---a---[necromancer],---making---it---extremely---costly---to---use…---maybe,---gotta---see---what---the---normal---cost---for---it---is.

  As---for---the---[Enchanter]---skill---[Minor---Mana---Efficiency],---well,---it---isn't---bad---per-se,---but---not---amazing---either.---Useful,---but---not---nearly---as---good,---especially---considering---I---only---know---one---enchant.

  At---my---musing,---I---notice---the---sound---of---crunching---bone---as---Mule---comes---to---me,---followed---by---Janie---whose---eyes---are---trained---on---my---new---undead.---Surprisingly,---she---shows---no---fear---or---disgust---towards---it,---more---so---with---a---look---of---curiosity.

  I---have---to---admit,---she---is---very---good---at---adapting.---Only---a---couple---days---with---me---and---already---she---is---relaxed---around---giant---undead---behemoth---monsters---that---could---destroy---her---with---a---swipe---of---its---tail.

  She---looks---around---first---and---then---turns---to---me,---a---frown---forming---on---her---face.

  “Where---is---Zorren?”---she---asks.

  I---shrug---my---shoulders,---pointing,”---he---is---sleeping---on---the---floor---on---the---other---side---of---my---new---undead.”

  She---lifts---an---eyebrow,---wanting---to---ask---a---question,---but---then---shakes---her---head,---deciding---to---just---walk---around---my---new---undead.

  “He---is---bleeding.---Should---I---heal---him?”---she---asks---from---my---monsters---other---side.

  “Go---ahead,---not---that---he---will---die---anytime---soon,”---I---say,---standing---back---up---again,---my---mana---finally---full.

  A---moment---after,---I---hear---Janie---say---‘[Heal]’,---but---I---quickly---ignore---it---as---I---call---upon---my---mana.

  I---point---my---staff---towards---Lacerta,---hoping---that---it---will---work.

  [Skeletal---Renewal]

  At---the---mention---of---my---thought,---my---mana---seeps---out,---entering---shards---and---bones---around---me,---turning---them---into---dust---and---flying---towards---Lacerta,---healing---the---cracks---on---her---forehead.

  And---then---I---smile---as---the---scales---of---my---monster---start---to---heal---as---well,---dust---forming---around---the---injured---side,---replacing---it---with---fresh,---though---white,---scales.

  And---then,---not---even---a---third---of---the---way---done,---my---magic---stops,---the---surrounding---bones---around---me---are---completely---gone,---there---being---no---material---to---continue---the---healing---process.

  Confusing,---considering---it---took---a---huge---amount---of---bone---to---just---create---a---couple---of---scales.

  I---move---my---hand,---touching---the---new---scales,---finding---it---to---be---rather---rough---without---the---black---skin---covering,---but---with---a---impact,---I---feel---that---the---scale---is---exceptionally---strong.

  Which---can---only---mean---that---better---quality---bone---requires---far---more---bone---to---heal.

  I---smile,---looking---around---me,---finding---miles---of---bones---sticking---out.

  And---that's---when---an---idea---forms---in---my---head.

  Without---being---gentle,---I---take---out---my---knife---and---start---hacking---away---at---the---bone---sticking---out---of---Lacerta---which---holds---a---newly---created---white---scale.

  Eventually,---after---several---minutes,---I---pry---the---scale---off---and---place---it---on---the---ground.---I---then---move---towards---another---location---filled---with---old---bones,---having---Lacerta---follow---me---as---well.---I---frown---as---I---see---Janie---hunched---over---Zorren,---still---healing---him---after---so---many---minutes---already.

  But---I---only---give---that---a---little---thought---as---I---am---more---focused---on---my---experiment.---Once---me---and---Lacerta---are---at---the---new---site,---I---once---again---activate---my---[Skeletal---Renewal]---skill,---my---mana---pulsing---as---bones---around---me---disintegrate,---flying---towards---my---undead.

 
; ***********

  Janie---stops---healing,---her---breath---slightly---ragged---as---she---stands---up,---taking---a---step---back---from---Zorren.---It---had---cost---her---a---significant---amount---of---time---healing---him---as---the---cuts---around---his---body---were---superficial.---The---real---damage---was---in---his---muscles,---all---of---which---had---been---strained---and---broken---significantly.---The---[Berserker]---had---passed---out---not---from---exhaustion,---but---the---sheer---pain---of---having---every---muscle---fiber---broken---in---his---body.