by Jackson Bale
“What…”---moments---pass---and---he---looks---at---Thoric---with---a---blank---look,---expecting---something.
*Sigh*---Thoric---looks---away---from---the---minotaur---and---turns---to---me,---”Your---dream---of---me---leading---an---unstoppable---army---is---going---to---need---a---lot---of---work.”
*giggle*
“You’ll---make---it---work.---You're---a---[Hero]---after---all.”
He---chuckles---and---goes---silent.
“We're---very---close.”---he---whispers---with---a---smile.
______________
The---home---of---the---Hard---Rock---tribe---is---situated,---quite---literally,---next---to---a---dungeon---stone,---a---stone---designed---and---enhanced---by---both---the---dungeon---and---the---system---to---be---extremely---resilient.---Which---is---how---the---tribe---gets---its---name.---A---minotaur---had---attempted---to---destroy---the---rock---but---had---found---it---very---very---hard.---So---he---named---his---tribe---after---something---he---cannot---defeat.
And---to---Thoric,---the---realization---that---the---tribe---was---named---literally---after---a---rock,---was---actually---quite---funny.---Funny---enough---for---him---to---laugh---and---attract---the---attention---of---the---tribe---he---had---so---very---easily---walked---into---the---direct---center---of.
Which---is---another---surprise---to---him,---because---the---tribe’s---home---is---actually---very---well---placed---and---organized---around---the---dungeon---stone.---Apparently,---from---what---he---can---see,---the---dungeon---stone,---which---is---twenty---feet---high---and---fifteen---meters---wide,---doesn't---allow---any---vegetation---to---grow---around---it,---making---the---land---seemingly---desolate.---Or---it---would---be---if---that---land---wasn't---covered---in---makeshift---huts---and---homes.
Hearing---Thoric’s---laughter,---a---young---minotaur---exits---a---hut,---his---eyes---landing---on---Thoric,---and---then---on---the---[Chieftain].---Which---is---then---followed---by---screaming---and---yelling.
“CHIEFTAIN---BACK.---CHIEFTAIN---BACK.”
Immediately---the---yelling---starts---to---get---louder---as---the---rest---of---the---tribe---starts---to---join---in,---yelling---and---exiting---the---huts---and---homes.---It---is---here---that---Thoric---gets---his---first---view---of---a---minotaur---female,---and---it---is---quite---ugly.---The---females,---though---slightly---shorter---than---the---males---and---lacking---horns,---are---just---as---hairy---as---the---males.---But---the---most---defining---feature---that---Thoric---realizes---that---they---are---females---are---the---massive---breasts.
Breasts---which---are---uncovered,---have---little---hair,---huge---nipples,---and---swing---while---they---walk.
One---such---female,---slightly---bigger---than---the---others,---with---a---noticeable---bulge---in---her---stomach,---walks---forward,---her---smile---fading---as---she---gets---a---proper---view---of---the---[Chieftain].
She---is---now---fully---frowning.---Her---gaze---moves---from---the---[Chieftain],---turning---towards---Groknak,---”How---is---the---[Chieftain]---moving---but---dead?”---she---asks,---her---tone---similar---to---a---mother---scolding---a---child.
Groknak’s---eyes---widen,---his---ears---flatten---to---his---face---as---he---speaks.
“Mum,---he---die.”
She---growls,---causing---Groknak---to---step---away,---”I---know---he---is---dead---Groknak.---I---want---to---know---how---he---still---moves!”
Groknak’s---eyes---widen---as---he---flicks---his---hand---towards---Thoric,---who---has---been---standing---alongside---Janie---snickering---the---entire---time.
Her---eyes---follow---Groknak’s---hand,---finally---settling---on---the---two---humans---which---she---had---initially---missed.
“A---pleasure,---Gilda.---It---is---rather---nice---to---know---that---the---females---of---the---minotaur---species---are---actually---quite---smart.”
Gilda---ignores---the---fact---that---her---name---was---called---as---well---as---his---comment,---instead,---she---focuses---on---the---human.
“You---are---not---a---minotaur,”---she---voices---aloud.
“What---are---you?”---she---asks---right---after,---her---voice---gaining---an---edge---to---it,---a---sharp---edge---which---promises---violence.
Thoric---steps---forward,---his---posture---confident,---perfect,---eyes---seemingly---glowing---a---deep---purple---as---his---hand---goes---to---his---waist---before---he---bends---forward.
“I---am---Thoric---Elum,---a---master---of---death.”
At---his---words,---several---of---his---flying---minions---land---upon---the---trees,---their---eyes---glowing---an---unearthly---purple---as---they---look---down.
All---eyes---quickly---move---up,---looking---at---the---trees---and---the---monsters---now---sitting---atop---them.---All---of---the---minotaurs---look---up,---both---young---and---female,---murmurs---of---‘death’---rising---out---of---their---mouths,---but---Gilda---gives---them---a---passing---look,---her---hands---turning---into---knuckles---as---she---bares---her---teeth.
“Why---have---you---come---here?”---she---asks---with---a---slight---bit---of---fear,---which---is---quickly---starting---to---change---into---anger.
Thoric---lifts---his---arm---with---a---cocky---grin---on---his---face---and---activates---his---[Loud---Voice]---skill.
His---middle---finger---and---thumb---flick---one---another.
To---most,---the---[Loud---Voice]---skill---is---used---to---increase---the---sound---of---speech,---but---in---actuality,---the---skill---is---designed---to---increase---any---form---of---sound---the---user---desires.
So---that---flick---of---his---thumb---was---the---equivalent---of---a---gunshot.
Every---minotaur’s---eyes---turn---to---Thoric,---their---ears---lifting---up,---but---those---eyes---turn---to---the---[Chieftain],---who---falls---forward---and---smacks---the---ground.
“My---tribe---has---defeated---your---[Chieftain]---in---combat.---And---as---is---my---right,---you---are---all---mine,”---he---says---confidently,---mana---moving---through---his---body,---ready---to---call---up---his---bone---discs---floating---above---the---trees,---and---ready---to---make---a---demonstration---of---anyone---who---refuses.
Of---course,---his---expectations---seem---to---be---completely---off---as---usual.
Gilda’s---eyes---quickly---relax,---her---posture---changes---back---to---normal---as---a---smile---forms---on---her---cowlike---face.
“We---accept.---You---are---now---our---new---[Chieftain],”---she---says,---nodding---happily.
__________________
Oh,---come---on.---What---the---fuck---is---wrong---with---this---dungeon!---You're---not---supposed---to---just---accept---me---like---that.
“That’s---it?---I’m---the---leader?”
“Yes,---you---are---stronger---than---Dorkoon,---thus---we---will---follow---you,”---she---explains,---apparently---speaking---for---her---entire---tribe.
I---activate---[Advanced---Analyze],---just---to---make---sure.
Gilda
Level---53---[Matriarch]
Gilda,---a---very---old---minotaur,---was---the---former---mate---of---[Chieftain]---Dorkoon.---But---now,---with---her---mate---dead,---and---her---mateless,---the---tribe's---leadership---falls---onto---her---shoulders.
Strength
84
Dexterity
21
Stamina
92
Perception
11
Endurance
36
Vitality
153
Mana
160
M/regen
.2
Affinity
1
Intelligence
13
Willpower
270
Soul
305
Minor---minotaur’s---might:---Increase---Strength---by---1/2---class---level.---Increase---Vitality---by---half---class---level.
Matriarch:---This---entity---has---reproductio
n---speed---increased---by---800%
Ohhhh,---so---that's---why---Groknak---told---me---that---I---will---need---to---speak---with---his---mother---Gilda…---his---mother---birthed---the---whole---fucking---tribe!
I---take---a---look---around---and---spam---my---[Advanced---Analyze]---skill,---finding---that---the---women---are---actually---smarter---than---the---men,---but---I---quickly---notice---that---there---aren't---any---combat---classes…---and---very---few---males---other---than---children.---Which---can---only---mean---that---they---are---out---hunting.
“So,---since---I---have---defeated---Dorkoon,---the---tribe---will---listen---to---me?”---I---ask,---just---to---make---sure.
”Yes,”---she---explains,---taking---a---step---forward.---She---pauses---and---sniffs.---Her---eyes---squint---at---me,---confused.
She---tilts---her---head---and---asks---a---question---which---causes---Janie---to---drop---down---laughing.
“You---want---to---mate---with---me---now?”
Chapter---twenty---six:---Of---Mice---And---Dungeons
*Burp*
A---loud---sound,---one---of---satisfaction,---emerges---from---a---dwarf’s---mouth---before---he---turns---to---a---young---man---and---asks---a---question.
“Aye---Lad,---you---sure---you---want---to---join---us---on---our---dive?”
Franky---nods---across---the---table,---a---table---comprising---all---members---of---the---Emerald---Shields---diver---group.
“Well,---it's---settled---then.---If---our---dwarven---[Bard]---is---ok---with---having---him---join---us---on---the---dive,---then---I---have---no---problems---with---this,”---Brock---answers---with---a---smile.
“Idiots!---You're---just---going---to---let---him---join---us?---Just---like---that?---We---know---practically---nothing---about---him,”---exclaims---Jessa,---quickly---turning---to---the---other---female---in---the---group.
“Siberia,---talk---some---sense---into---these---idiots.---We---can't---just---accept---a---greenhorn---just---like---that,---even---if---he---is---a---you---know---what.”
Franky---adjusts---his---clothing,---making---sure---that---the---hood---and---mask---he---wears---keeps---his---identity---a---secret,---especially---now---that---the---Divers---Guild---knows---a---[Hero]---is---in---their---midst.
Siberia---gives---Jessa---a---glance---before---shrugging,---”Brock---is---the---leader.---I---will---follow---his---decisions.”
“AHHHHHHHHHHH”---Jessa---screams,---grabbing---her---hair.
“You---all---are---idiots.---We---can't---just---le------what---the---hell---is---that?”
Franky---drops---a---pouch---of---coins---on---the---table,---smiling---under---his---mask---as---Jessa’s---eyes---focus---on---it.
“I---can't---expect---you---all---to---just---take---an---unknown---to---danger,---so---I---figured---payment---would---be---necessary.”
Jessa’s---mouth---opens---and---closes---like---a---fish---out---of---water.---Her---head---flicks---to---Brock.
“We’re---fucking---taking---him---or---I---will---nag---you---for---the---rest---of---your---life.”
“Bahahahahah,”---the---dwarven---[Bard]---starts---to---laugh,---holding---his---rather---large---stomach.---”Coin---be---the---only---thing---that---can---move---Jes---here---to---do---anythin’,”the---dwarf---says,---grabbing---another---beer,---pouring---it---down---his---throat,---and---then---laying---the---empty---glass---next---to---the---other---seven.
“Shut---it---Turncock,---a---girl’s---got---things---she---needs---to---buy,”---Jessa---says,---her---hands---on---her---hips---as---she---glares---at---the---[Bard].
“It’s---Turnock---you---harlot,---and---I’m---not---the---one---spending---all---me---coin---on---others.---I---only---spend---it---on---important---things,”---Turnock---explains,---grabbing---his---eighth---beer---on---the---table,---a---cheeky---smile---on---his---face.
The---yelling---and---name---calling---between---the---two---continue,---but---Franky---ignores---them.---Instead,---he---turns---his---focus---to---Brock.---”Thanks---for---letting---me---join---you---guys.---Matilda---told---me---that---the---best---way---to---level---is---to---actually---put---myself---in---harm's---way.---I---figured,---diving---into---a---dungeon---with---an---experienced---group---would---be---a---good---idea.”
Brock---nods,---fully---understanding---how---much---faster---you---can---level---as---a---diver---than---just---through---training.---His---eyes---moved---to---the---coins---on---the---table,---“You---don't---need---to---pay---us,---we---would---be---more---than---happy---to---have---you---join---us.”
But---Franky---shakes---his---head,---“It's---fine.---You---guys---are---taking---a---risk---by---just---having---me---be---with---you---guys.---Plus,”---Franky---shrugs,---“I---seem---to---find---myself---with---a---lot---of---coin---to---spend.”
Brock---smiles---and---winks,---“Well---then,---I’m---not---averse---to---accepting---coin---from---someone---who---seems---to---have---quite---a---bit---of---it,---especially---when---it's---so---freely---given---by---the---church.”
His---expression---changes---to---something---more---serious.
“Anyhow,---if---you---are---going---to---join---us,---I’m---going---to---need---to---know---what---you---can---do.---Classes,---levels,---skills,---anything---noteworthy.---It’s---important---for---a---team---to---know---what---other---members---can---do.---I---hope---that's---fine.”
“Fine---with---me.”
Brock---lifts---an---eyebrow,---“Most---people---would---be---very---much---against---giving---such---information---out---so---freely.---But,---I---guess---with---what---you---are,---it---won't---matter---in---the---future.”
He---shakes---his---head,---”But---still,---don't---make---a---habit---of---it.---Keep---your---classes---and---especially---skills---secret.---Your---class---and---levels---can---be---figured---out,---but---your---skills---are---your---own.---Understood?”
Franky---nods---in---understanding.
“Good,”---Brock---leans---back,---“Now---then,---tell---me---how---you---fight.---Your---weapons,---armor,---enchanted---or---otherwise.---Classes,---levels,---skills.---Even---your---combat---experience.”
______________________
Kind---of---weird---to---warn---me---about---divulging---important---information---and---then---asking---me---to---divulge---all---of---that---important---information.
I---sigh---under---my---mask---and---call---up---my---character---sheet.
Franky---Sasco
Level---28---[Warrior]
Level---26---[Hero]
Level---31---[Light---Mage]
Level---12---[Scout]
Minor---Mana---Sense
Flickering---Strike
Flash---Fire
Defensive---Instincts.
Analyze
A---Hero’s---Moment
Blinding---Block
Glowing---Armor
Aimed---Throw
Strength
20
Dexterity
16
Stamina
25
Perception
33
Endurance
15
Vitality
107
Mana
302
M/regen
1.3
Affinity
7
Intelligence
50
Willpower
450+431
Soul
320