by Jackson Bale
Janie---figures---that---such---damage---can---only---be---done---with---either---a---skill---or---some---kind---of---curse---effect.---She---believes---more---on---the---former---as---the---only---one---who---would---have---any---form---of---a---curse---spell---would---be---Thoric,---but---he---wouldn't---use---it---against---an---Ally.
Regardless,---she---wipes---the---sweat---from---her---face---and---turns---towards---Thoric,---finding---the---[Hero]---jumping---up---and---down,---yelling---‘Yes’---several---times---over---and---over.
With---her---healing---job---finished,---she---moves---towards---the---beaming---[Hero].
“Mule,---follow,”---she---says,---giving---the---fungi---covered---undead---an---order,---something---she---rather---enjoys---doing,---especially---as---it---reminds---her---of---the---time---she---lived---in---the---monastery,---ordering---[Acolytes]---to---get---things---done---for---her.
But---her---mood---takes---a---nosedive---as---she---remembers---the---monastery---and---what---had---happened---to---her…---how---she---was---sold---off…
Shaking---her---head,---she---instead---focuses---on---Thoric,---who---is---yelling.
“Yes!---Fucking---Yes---It---Works.---Haha,”---he---exclaims---staring---at---the---side---of---his---new---undead.
Walking---up---to---him,---a---smile---forms---on---Janie's---face---as---she---suppresses---a---giggle.
“What---happened?”
The---[Hero]---turns---to---her,---his---smile---similar---to---a---child---after---gaining---his---first---skill.”---I---did---it.---I---think---I---broke---the---system.”---he---says,---pointing---towards---the---white---scales---on---the---undead’s---side.
“Since---my---skill,---[Skeletal---Renewal],---allows---me---to---heal---the---bones---of---any---of---my---minions,---I---find---that---those---bones---healed---are---as---strong---as---the---monster’s---natural---bones,---which---are---extremely---powerful,”---he---says,---placing---his---hand---on---the---white---scale.
“Thus,---if---I---was---to---constantly---rip---off---these---scales---and---create---new---ones---from---the---bones---around---me,---I---could---have---a---literal---treasure---troves---of---both---shields---and---weapons---created---from---a---boss---monster!”---He---exclaims,---spreading---his---arms---apart---for---emphasis.
Janie,---understanding---the---implications,---nods---slowly,---a---smile---forming---on---her---lips,---though---for---very---different---reasons.
He---really---is---amazing.---Not---even---two---weeks---of---being---summoned---and---he---is---already---doing---the---impossible.---Only---a---[Hero]---would---ever---think---about---using---a---powerful---monster’s---body---to---create---a---nearly---infinite---supply---of---materials.
He---quickly---takes---out---his---knife---and---starts---to---hack---at---the---scale,”---This---will---take---a---while,---I---suggest---you---just---look---around,---I---have---a---lot---of---work---to---do---before---we---can---start---heading---back.”
Nodding---in---understanding,---Janie---looks---around---for---something---to---do,---quickly---finding---the---entrance---to---the---next---level---of---the---dungeon---a---bit---away.
Normally,---she---would---have---trouble---seeing---anything---far---away,---but---slightly---glowing---crystals---can---be---seen---surrounding---the---entrance,---seemingly---signifying---its---location.
Curious,---she---calls---Mule---over---and---heads---towards---the---crystals.---It---only---takes---about---ten---minutes---before---she---makes---it---to---the---entrance---that---leads---downward.---A---frown---forms---on---her---face---as---she---notices---something---that---Thoric---will---more---than---likely---hate.
She---takes---a---deep---breath---and---turns---around,---heading---towards---the---purple---glowing---eyes---of---his---new---undead---to---tell---him---the---bad---news.
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Hours---later,---I---find---myself---seated---atop---my---flying---mount,---wiping---tears---off---my---face---the---entire---time.
Yes,---I---can---be---emotional,---especially---for---very---stupid---reasons,---but---nobody---is---perfect.
I---shake---my---head,---watching---as---Lacerta---trudges---along,---her---scales---on---the---top---of---her---back---completely---removed,---including---a---lot---of---meat,---which---I---had---thrown---away---and---made---the---inside---of---my---undead---relatively---hollow.---A---rather---long---and---arduous---process,---but---now---that---hollow---contains---scales,---hundreds---of---white---scales---which---I---had---created---and---loaded---within.
Those---scales---will---be---used---to---create---weapons,---shields,---and---possibly---armor---if---I---can---actually---find---someone---who---could---make---armor.---Apparently,---the---Gejada---prefer---to---not---to---use---any---armor,---stating---that---their---scales---are---‘hard---enough’.---Which---may---be---true---against---normal---enemies,---but---anything---that---can---get---through---those---scales---will---easily---find---the---tasty---meat---underneath.
Of---coarse---Zorren---is---completely---different…---his---endurance---stat---can---get---to---some---insane---levels,---making---him---a---literal,---almost---unstoppable---monster---against---non-bladed---weapon.
Speaking---of---Zorren,---I---turn---to---the---side,---watching---as---Zorren---is---held---firmly---in---the---claws---of---one---of---my---Desbats.
Yup,---even---after…---nine---hours,---he---still---has---not---awakened.---Which---is---fine---as---this---makes---our---trip---much---faster,---especially---since---another---of---my---Desbats---is---holding---mule---while---Janie---rides---atop---Lacerta.
An---undead---that---will---be---completely---useless---for---one---huge---reason.
I---take---a---slow---deep---breath,---trying---my---best---to---keep---the---sadness---away.
Because---apparently,---the---entrance---to---the---second---floor---of---the---dungeon---is---half---of---Lacerta’s---size.
Which---seriously---pisses---me---off!---I---was---going---to---ride---it---into---battle,---killing---monsters---with---a---giant---super---undead.
But---noo,---whoever---designed---this---stupid---dungeon---did---not---want---bosses---traveling---to---any---other---floors.
“Stupid---fucking---shit.---Ughhhhhhh.”
Sighing---again,---I---sit---back---thinking---on---my---next---course---of---action---and---how---much---longer---I---can---stay---on---this---floor.
The---lack---of---an---ability---to---create---a---fire---as---well---as---the---lack---of---properly---flammable---material---restrict---what---I---and---Janie---can---eat.---We---are---only---lucky---that---Anathema---has---a---decent---amount---of---that---juice---or---we---would---have---already---run---out---of---the---hard---food---I---had---taken---from---those---[Mages]---before.
In---a---sense,---I---have---a---week---to---level---up---my---army---to---something---usable---while---also---arming---them---with---powerful---weapons---and---armor.---Weapons---which---I---will---need---to---enchant---so---that---they---become---even---stronger.---During---this---time---I---will---need---to---get---higher---level---Desbats,---a---rather---annoying---and---long---process---since---most---of---them---are---on---average,---forty,---maxing---out---around---ninety-one,---but---that---is---extremely---rare---to---find.---So---I---settle---for---in---the---eighties,---which---is---usually---a---group---alpha.
Welp,---I---have---a---lot---of---work---going---for---me.---Hopefully,---I---can---get---all---of---this---done---before---the---week---is---over…---and---maybe---have---more---sex---again.---Apparently,---having---sex---with---a---lot---of---Gejada---women---will---increase---my---standing---and---respect---from---the---entire---species.
Or---that---is---at---least---what---Anathema---explained---to---me…---which---I---have---no---idea---whether---that---is---true…---I---will---need---to---look---into---it.
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Threm,---a---level---96---[Blader]---and---a---newly---level---11---[Soldier]---flicks---out---her---blade---while---her---othe
r---one---spins---in---the---air,---quickly---turning---into---a---reverse---grip---before---she---slashes---forward---herself.
A---smile---can---be---seen---on---her---lips---as---sweat---gleams---down---her---scaly---face---from---the---exertion.
The---former---leader---of---the---hunting---group---sheathes---her---blades---to---her---back---and---walks---towards---a---stand---where---she---takes---a---crystal---jug---of---water---and---gulps---it---all---down.
The---past---week---had---been---amazing---for---her.---Most---of---which---is---because---of---the---[Hero]---directly---teaching---her---how---to---fight---with---her---two---scythe---like---swords---and---other---various---weapons.
He---had---come---to---Threm,---telling---her---that---he---needed---her---to---get---the---[Soldier]---class---as---well,---that---he---has---future---plans---for---her.
Unfortunately,---Threm---had---been---quite---angry---that---she---would---take---another---class---even---though---she---was---so---close---to---gaining---a---tier---two---class.---All---she---needed---was---seven---more---levels.
But---Thoric---had---rolled---his---eyes,---asking---about---her---class---and---demanding---to---see---her---blades.
She---was---about---to---tell---him---suck---a---tail,---but---stopped---after---remembering---that---Anathema---might---very---well---punish---her---if---she---refused.
So---she---had---removed---her---swords,---weapons---her---father---had---given---her---as---a---present---once---she---became---a---[Blader],---a---class---specializing---in---using---slashing---and---cutting---weapons.
When---she---had---given---him---her---swords,---he---immediately---took---a---stance---and---then---seemingly---started---to---move---fluidly.---His---movements---quickly---became---quick---and---fluid---as---the---blades---seemingly---flowed---around---him,---moving---so---naturally---as---though---they---were---a---part---of---him.
She---had---never---seen---something---so---beautiful---and---impressive---as---that.
When---she---asked---what---that---was,---he---had---frowned---and---whispered---‘blade---dancing’.
Thus,---in---exchange---for---being---taught---on---how---to---fight---and---move---like---that,---Threm---had---made---a---deal---with---the---[Hero]---that---she---would---obtain---the---[Soldier]---class.
And---only---from---a---couple---days---of---training,---Threm---had---gained---three---levels---in---her---[Blader]---class,---a---rather---unprecedented---amount---considering---all---she---did---was---copy---his---movements.
A---blush---forms---on---her---face---as---she---remembers---the---last---time---he---had---taught---her,---stating---that---‘It---is---kinda---unfair---how---quickly---you---are---learning---this---martial---art.---I---think---you---might---be---gifted.’
It---was---a---small---compliment,---and---most---would---have---just---nodded---and---continued---on.---But---Threm---had---remembered---those---words,---words---that---for---some---reason---meant---a---lot---to---her.
“Ughhhh,---I---must---be---turning---into---a---hatchling”,---she---says,---failing---to---hide---the---blush---quickly---spreading---across---her---scales.
The---males---of---her---kind---never---really---interested---her,---mostly---because---they---were---all---so…---lacking.---They---would---stand---straight---and---take---direct---hits---from---monsters---to---prove---to---the---females---that---they---were---strong,---powerful.---That---nothing---can---hurt---them.
But---Threm’---father---had---taught---her---otherwise,---stating---that---only---idiots---would---take---a---hit---willingly.
And---to---prove---his---point,---he---picked---a---fight---with---several---[Gejada---Guards]---and---cut---them---all---open---at---the---joints,---all---while---avoiding---every---single---blow---they---had---attempted---on---him.
Eventually---they---all---passed---out---from---blood---loss---and---Anathema---had---thanked---him---for---humbling---her---men.
Thus,---when---she---found---out---that---the---[Hero]---preferred---to---fight---like---her---father,---prefering---to---avoid---strikes,---she---had---taken---a---huge---liking---to---him…---so---much---so---that---she---has---had---to---replace---her---pants---every---night.
“He---has---Returned,”---someone---yells,---interrupting---her---degraded---thoughts---as---she---looks---around---her,---finding---children---and---adults---running---towards---the---city---gates.
With---a---smile---forming---on---her---lips,---she---runs---towards---the---gate,---a---new---skill---she---had---gained---once---she---reached---level---ten---in---the---[Soldier]---class---activating.
The---skill,---[Crowded---Movement],---allows---her---to---weave---through---large---crowd---of---people---with---expert---ease,---allowing---her---to---use---all---of---her---speed---to---quickly---get---to---the---front---gates---which---has---a---significant---population---of---people---present,---most---of---which---are---cheering.
Their---eyes---are---looking---forward,---watching---as---a---massive---monstrous---beast---trudges---forward,---its---size---and---frightening---girth---would---have---normally---caused---utter---fear---in---the---Gejan---population,---but---instead---it---causes---the---opposite.
All---because---the---monsters---eyes---are---glowing---a---powerful---deep---purple.
Chapter---Twenty:---First---Town.
“Now---Izabelle,---what---are---the---three---main---types---of---bloodlines---a---person---may---be---present---with?”---Henrietta---asks---while---sitting---in---the---carriage---opposite---her---Mistress.---Her---hands---are---resting---atop---an---open---book---of---notes---she---had---written---to---guide---Izabelle’s---education.
“Ummm,---the---first---type---of---bloodline---is---a---physical---one---where---someone---will---have---a---stronger---body.”
Henrieta---nods,---”Correct,---can---you---give---me---an---example?”
Izabelle---puts---her---hand---on---her---chin,---her---forehead---wrinkling---as---she---forges---her---thoughts.
“The---uhhhh,---northern---clans.---They---have---a---strength---bloodline.”
Henrietta---smiles,---her---tail---flicking---in---delight.
“Do---you---remember---the---specific---clan---name?”
Izabelle---shakes---her---head---in---response,---her---hair---waving---left---and---right.
“The---clan---name---is---Gelida---and---they---indeed---have---a---[Minor---Strength---Bloodline]---which---doubles---all---strength---gains---through---leveling---up.---They---are---a---strong---and---hardy---people---who---have---one---of---the---most---feared---and---powerful---[warriors]---in---the---world.”
Izabelle---listens,---always---happy---to---learn---about---the---skills---and---abilities---people---have.---She---had---been---introduced---to---the---kids---at---an---orphanage---her---father---owned.---She---had---played---with---the---other---kids,---daydreaming---of---what---class---they---would---get---and---what---skills---they---would---use.
“But,---that---same---clan---has---a---second---bloodline---which---is---prevalent---specifically---in---the---leaders.---A---different---bloodline---type.---Can---you---guess---what---it---is?”
Izabelle---frowns,---”Is---it---an---affinity---bloodline?”---she---asks---unsurely.
Henrietta---nods,---”Indeed---it---is.---And---how---would---one---go---about---figuring---out---what---affinity?”
Izabelle---shakes---her---head,---signifying---that---she---does---not---know.
“Affinity---bloodlines,---unlike---physical---bloodlines,---can---only---be---convened---through---an---affinity---crystal---and---no---other---way.---Even---skills---like---[Analyze]---or---the---much---rarer---[Advanced---Analyze]---which---are---found---in---Tier---two---classes---do---not---reveal---a---person's---affinity---other---than---the---number---of---affinities---above---one---percent.”
Henrietta---leans---forward,---her---rather---large---breasts---jiggling---with---the---movement,---”Next---question---then.---What---is---the---difference---between---a---regular---and---a---minor---
affinity---bloodline?”
Hearing---a---question---she---actually---knows,---a---smile---blooms---on---her---face,---causing---Henrietta’s---heart---to---beat---slightly---faster.
“A---minor---affinity---bloodline---is---an---affinity---of---at---least---ten---percent.---A---regular---affinity---bloodline---like---mine---is---thirty---percent.”
Henrietta---claps---her---hands,---“That---is---correct.---Now,---why---does---that---matter?”
“Because---of---classes.---If---you---have---an---affinity,---you---can---get---an---affinity-based---class.”---Izabelle---says,---remembering---what---her---tutor---had---explained---after---figuring---out---her---own---affinity.