Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Though,---surprisingly,---it---doesn't---take---longer---than---maybe---a---couple---hours---before---the---light---becomes---unneeded.---The---exit---to---the---tunnel---can---be---seen,---and---from---it,---bright---light---is---pouring---through,---a---confusing---sight---considering---we---are---actually---deep---inside---a---cave.

  As---I---follow---Thoric---through---the---opening,---my---eyes---quickly---water---as---they---attempt---to---adjust---to---the---unbelievably---bright---scenery---before---me.

  __________

  “Holy---fucking---hell,---it's---a---jungle…---in---a---goddam---cave.”

  Trees.---Massive---trees---can---be---seen---for---miles…---several---hundred---miles---considering---I---can---barely---see---the---other---end---of---the---dungeon.

  Because,---we---are---actually---still---in---a---dungeon,---mostly---due---to---the---fact---that---there---is---no---sky,---instead---there---is---a---rock---ceiling…---possibly---a---hundred---miles---up.

  The---place---is---an---absurdly---massive---dome,---and---at---the---center,---hanging---from---the---ceiling---is---a---massive---glowing---crystal,---bursting---with---a---warm---light---that---strikes---my---skin.

  And---don't---get---me---started---on---the---fact---that---it's---exceptionally---humid.---I---got---pretty---comfortable---with---the---constant---cave---temperature,---but---this---is---going---to---really---change---things.

  I---turn---to---Zorren,---who---is---looking---forward,---blinking---rapidly---as---his---eyes---attempt---to---adjust.

  “Why---didn’t---you---tell---me---this---next---part---of---the---dungeon---is---a---literal---jungle?---I---could---have---prepared---better!”

  Zorren,---moves---his---head---to---me,---away---from---the---light---shining---on---his---cracked---scales.

  “You---never---asked,”---he---says,---his---tone---bored---and---relaxed.

  At---this---point,---I---can't---really---blame---him.---I---was---under---the---impression---everything---was---going---to---be---very…---cave-like---as---I---got---deeper---with---just---minimal---changes---to---the---fauna.---And---my---arrogance---kept---me---from---asking…

  “Fuck,”---I---say,---moving---forward,---giving---more---space---for---the---others---to---come---through.

  The---bright---side---at---the---very---least---is---that---the---entrance---to---this---floor---is---actually---a---pretty---large---clearing---of---stone---and---the---jungle---is---about---a---mile---away,---which---means---I---can---make---a---base---of---operations.

  I---look---towards---the---Gejan---as---they---enter---the---floor,---their---eyes---moving---quickly---in---wonder,---pointing---at---everything---as---though---they---have---never---seen---it---before.

  And---now---that---I---think---about---it,---only---Zorren---and---probably---Anathema---have---even---left---the---first---floor.

  Well,---I---guess---it---would---be---best---to---let---everyone---get---a---feel---for---the---area---first.---In---the---meantime,---I---can---scout.

  With---a---mental---command,---I---order---twenty---of---my---Desbat---undead---to---take---flight,---the---magic---coursing---through---them---allowing---them---to---see---without---actually---needing---eyes,---which---I---think---they---would---be---utterly---blind---without.

  And---with---my---skill,---I---can---see---through---their---eyes---as---my---undead---flies---over---the---treetops,---looking---down.

  And---what---I---see---puts---a---smile---to---my---face,---something---to---most---people---would---actually---be---a---frown.

  Huge---dinosaur-like---monsters,---similar---to---raptors---are---running---around,---hunting---an---even---larger---more---dangerous-seeming---prey.---The---Raptors---quickly---run,---surrounding---it---while---my---Desbat---floats---in---the---air,---giving---me---a---good---view.

  The---massive---beast,---something---similar---to---a---bull---except---with---spikes---of---bones---jutting---out---of---the---sides---of---its---body,---raises---its---tail,---a---massive---ball---being---at---the---end.---A---ball---which,---in---less---than---a---second,---has---spikes---burst---out,---turning---into---a---spiked---ball.

  The---beast---roars,---its---eyes---looking---around,---seemingly---waiting---for---the---raptor-like---monsters---to---make---the---first---move.

  And---that---they---did,---quickly---rushing---forward---in---perfect---timing.---They---accelerate,---all---of---about---twenty---raptors---as---they---rush---the---larger---monster,---who---flicks---its---tail---towards---an---incoming---raptor,---which---fails---as---the---raptors---dodge---by---jumping---back,---their---speed---far---superior.---But---the---others---did---not,---they---jump,---landing---atop---the---big---monsters---back,---scratching---and---biting,---opening---up---skin---and---flesh.

  But---some---of---the---raptors---were---not---so---lucky,---having---been---impaled---by---the---spikes---due---to---the---monsters---erratic---movement.---But---it---seems---their---mobility---and---sheer---numbers---make---up---for---their---smaller---size---as---they---quickly---mount---the---beast,---uprooting---its---skin.---The---beast---seems---to---not---be---able---to---protect---its---back,---nor---does---it---seem---it---is---able---to---roll---over---due---to---the---spikes---sticking---out---from---its---side.---A---couple---of---minutes---pass---before---the---massive---beast---falls,---covered---in---its---own---blood---while---the---living---raptors---swarm---for---their---meal.

  Three---raptors---died---for---killing---one---monster,---something---that---I---would---find---rare---In---the---animal---kingdom,---but---it---could---just---mean---that---the---raptors---reproduce---quickly---and---efficiently.

  Coming---back---to---myself,---I---find---that---the---Leaders---are---staring---at---me,---waiting---for---orders.---Apparently,---I---had---been---watching---that---fight---for---much---longer---than---I---thought.

  I---scratch,---my---head,---calling---back---my---scouts,---finding---that---only---seventeen---answer---back…---three---had---died---without---me---even---knowing.

  Crud.

  I---turn---to---Zorren.

  “So,---where---are---we---headed?---What---is---our---destination?---Where---is---the---entrance---to---the---third---floor?”

  Zorren’s---good---arm---moves---up,---pointing---far---into---the---distance,---the---opposite---of---where---we---are.---”It---is---at---the---other---end---of---this---floor.”

  I---look---and---squint.

  “Oh…---that's---nice.---So---its---located---hundreds---of---mile---away---through---a---killer---jungle…---this---just---gets---better---and---better.”---I---rub---my---head,---failing---to---hide---a---smile,---secretly---enjoying---the---challenge.

  “Well,---the---first---order---of---business---is---to---make---a---base---of---operation.”

  I---turn---to---the---upper---ranks---of---my---army.---Four---[Lieutenant]s---and---a---[Quartermaster],---all---who---had---gained---over---twenty---levels---in---the---[Soldier]---class---and---had---been---found---to---be---good---leaders.

  Four---of---which---are---women…---while---the---last---one,---one---of---the---largest---Gejan,---a---[Gejan---Guard],---looks---to---me---respectfully,---the---same---one---which---I---had---beaten---down---in---front---of---his---peers.---Funny---how---their---culture---works.---Apparently,---strength---is---respected,---while---overwhelming---strength---is---worshiped.

  Or---in---the---sense---of---female---Gejan,---sexually---attractive.---Which---is---why---I---find---that---the---females---of---my---army---can't---seem---to---keep---their---eyes---off---of---me.---Some---even---seemingly---breathing---hard---just---from---staring---at---me.

  It---doesn't---help---that---I---have---an---abnormally---huge---libido---and---find---the---females---very---attractive.---Yup,---humanoid---lizard---females---with---scales---covering---most---of---their---skin---is---actually---quite---sexy.---Especially---the---tail,---that---is---just---a---huge---plus.

  “What---we---need---is---a---place---to---rest.---So---I---want---Darrow's---team,”---I--
-point---at---the---male---Gejan---[Lieutenant],---”to---head---towards---the---forest---and---start---cutting---down---trees---and---bringing---them---here.”---I---explain---getting---a---nod---from---the---guy.

  Darrow---is---the---de---facto---leader---of---what---I---call---the---heavy---Infantry,---all---of---which---are---[Gejan---Guards]---holding---massive---shields---and---weapons---with---skills---that---allow---the---improvement---of---their---defenses.

  I---turn---to---the---next---person---in---line,---Tella,---the---de---facto---princess---of---the---group.---I---had---boned---her---about---three---times.---Twice---alone---and---once---with---her---mother---Anathema.---She---is---extremely---perverted,---possibly---more---than---her---mother.---Luckily,---she---is---also---quite---capable,---which---is---why---she---is---the---leader---of---my---scouts,---comprising---of---classes---that---can---move---fast---and---silently---with---abilities---focused---on---evasion.---Granted,---the---fact---she---is---now---a---level---51---[Scout]---herself---helps---quite---a---bit.

  “Tella,---take---your---team---and---traverse---the---forest.---Your---job---will---be---to---warn---the---others---if---any---threats---are---incoming.---I---don't---want---any---surprises.”

  She---nods---in---reply---and---I---then---turn---to---the---next---[Lieutenant],---and---probably---the---third---most---powerful---individual---in---this---whole---group.---”Threm,---I---want---you---and---your---group---to---be---close---to---Darrow’s---team---so---that---you---can---support---them---if---they---need---the---help."

  She---nods---as---well,---her---tongue---flicking---out,---tasting---the---air---while---her---eyes---are---focused---on---my---crotch.

  Threm'---group---is---comprised---of---my---hitters.---Of---classes---whose---main---job---it---is---to---fight.---In---essence,---she---has---a---lot---of---[Warriors],---[Bruisers],---[Fist---fighters],---and---various---other---classes---focused---on---combat.

  Moving---from---her,---I---stop---and---look---at---a---rather---tall---female---Gejan,---a---woman---who,---to---my---surprise,---did---not---gain---the---[Lieutenant]---class.---She---instead---gained---the---[Quartermaster]---class,---which,---combined---with---her---[Organizer]---class,---allowed---me---to---quite---easily---place---her---in---charge---of---the---non-combat---personnel---like---the---[Skinners],---[Carvers],---[Crafters],---[Builders],---etc.

  “Marcia,---I'll---teach---you---and---your---people---how---to---work---with---wood.---It---shouldn’t---take---long---and---I’m---sure---we---will---have---what---looks---like---a---base---built---very---quickly.”---she---smiles---and---nods---respectfully---to---me,---”I---will---prepare,”---she---says,---moving---towards---the---back---of---my---army,---her---waist---swishing---side---to---side---as---I---stare---fiercely---at---her---long---legs---and---probably---firm---ass.

  Stupid…---Fuckin'…---Libido!

  Finally,---after---a---long---and---arduous---struggle---with---my---eyes,---I---turn---to---the---last---member---of---my---leaders,---a---very---short---Gejan---female---with---crystal---white---scales.---Very---cute---and---rather---attractive,---she---leads---the---smallest---group.---A---group---comprised---of---Gejan---who---have---a---very---unique---repertoire---of---skills.---For---example,---Lilly---here---is---seemingly---a---rather---normal---Gejan,---albeit---extremely---short.---But---when---I---activate---my---[Advanced---Analyse]---skill,---then---it---reveals---that---things---are---actually---quite---different.

  Lilly

  Level---71---[Breaker]

  Level---27---[Lieutenant]

  The---smallest---of---the---Gejada,---Lilly---is---found---to---be---both---a---great---worker---and---loyal---individual.---Unfortunately,---her---short---stature---had---made---it---impossible---for---her---to---attract---the---eye---of---any---male.

  Strength

  65

  Dexterity

  21

  Stamina

  68

  Perception

  31

  Endurance

  18

  Vitality

  357

  Mana

  50

  M/regen

  0.5

  Affinity

  0

  Intelligence

  41

  Willpower

  193

  Soul

  120

  Major---Strength---Bloodline:---This---individual---gains---three---times---as---much---strength---per---class---bonus.

  Restricted---Growth---Bloodline:---This---individual---cannot---grow---any---larger.---Vitality---is---significantly---increased.

  Compressed---Muscles:---Due---to---[Restricted---Growth],---weight---is---increased---significantly.

  As---you---can---see,---Lilly---is---a---very---confusing---and---interesting---individual---who---was---born---with---a---curious---status---effect.---Talking---to---Janie,---I---found---out---that---bloodlines---aren't---that---uncommon.---That---certain---clans---or---people---will---cultivate---them.

  Unfortunately,---the---fact---that---nobody---else---shares---her---bloodline,---while---some---people---in---her---team---have---completely---different---ones---is---extremely---confusing---and---doesn't---make---sense---to---her.

  Regardless,---her---bloodline---makes---her---a---very---powerful---individual,---especially---considering---she---carries---a---giant---bone---whip---on---her---back.

  “Lilly,---I---want---you---and---your---team---to---stand---by.---Your---team---will---stay---here---and---protect---Marcia---if---a---threat---somehow---finds---itself---past.”

  She---tilts---her---head---but---ultimately---nods.---Her---group---is---unfortunately---not---very---good---at---working---with---the---other---teams.

  I---take---a---deep---breath---and---clap---my---hands,---”Get---going---and---try---not---to---get---crushed---by---falling---trees.”

  At---once,---the---group---move---and---I---quickly---find---myself---alone---with---Janie---and---Zorren,---who---just---stands---silent,---deep---in---thought---as---he---stares---into---the---abundant---greenery.

  ______________________________

  The---whole---situation---to---Janie---just---seems---so...---surreal.---Never---in---her---life---did---she---expect---to---find---herself---serving---a---[Hero],---let---alone---in---a---dungeon---that---does---not---act---like---a---dungeon---at---all.---Never---would---she---expect---a---massive---forest---in---a---dungeon.---The---sight---is---both---surreal---and…---exhilarating.---She---probably---would---actually---be---scared---of---the---whole---situation,---of---monsters---that---can---kill---her---easily.

  But---these---several---weeks---have---hardened---her.---She---had---adapted---quickly,---something---she---has---always---done---very---well.---Whether---it---be---becoming---a---[Priestess],---watching---[Soldier]s---die---in---her---arms,---or---even---living---a---slave’s---life.---She---had---learned---and---quickly---adapted.

  Which---is---why,---when---a---monstrous---caw---is---heard---in---the---distance,---she---all---but---barely---flinches,---watching---as---a---massive---bird---flies---over---the---tree,---heading---towards---the---slowly---building---camp.

  Massive---sums---up---the---bird---in---one---word,---probably---twice---the---size---of---a---Desbat,---glides---over---the---trees---before---quickly---turning---around---in---panic---as---an---army---of---Desbats---launch---from---the---trees,---intercepting---and---ramming---the---monstrous---beast,---latching---onto---it---and---shredding---feathers.

  Screams---of---pain---are---heard---from---the---forest---before---quickly---being---silenced---as---the---monster's---corpse---is---lifted---into---the---air---by---the---Desbats---and---carried---to---camp,---its---eye---having---been---gouged---out.

  She---turns---to---her---[Hero],---who---looks---at---the---approaching---corpse---and---licks---his---lips---before---turning---and---yelling---for---a---‘Fire’,---his---hands---waving---amicably---as---the---Gejan---give---him---a---confused---look.

  Chuckling,---she---remembers---that---the---Gejan---have---n
o---need---for---fire,---nor---do---they---have---a---fire---source.---So---it---is---not---surprising---that---they---have---little---to---no---idea---what---fire---actually---is.

  Which---is---a---problem---for---her---and---Thoric.---Neither---can---eat---meat---without---cooking---it---first.---Which---is---also---why---Thoric---chose---today---to---head---towards---the---next---level---of---the---dungeon.

  We---had---run---out---of---salted---meat---the---day---before.---It---was---either---continue---on---or---starve---to---death.