by Jackson Bale
Charisma
431
Heart---of---a---Hero:---Willpower---increased---by---Charisma---amount.
The---past---week---was---actually---quite---underwhelming.---I---only---gained---three---new---skills,---one---of---which---when---I---hit---thirty---in---my---[Mage]---class,---which---upgraded---to---[Light---Mage],---giving---me---another---skill.---And---then,---since---I---hit---level---twenty-five---on---my---[Hero]---class,---I---was---able---to---get---another---class,---which---was---[Scout].---When---that---class---hit---level---ten,---I---gained---my---last---skill.
I---explain---all---of---this---to---Brock,---not---hiding---anything.---Though---he---does---give---me---a---surprised---look---when---I---mention---my---stats.
“You---don't---make---this---easy---for---me---Franky,”---he---says,---scratching---his---beard---only---slightly---longer---than---a---stubble.
“Mage---classes---are---supposed---to---be---in---the---back,---casting---spells,---but---you---don't---have---any---spells.---And---the---one---you---do---have---is---of---a---very---short---range.---But---you---also---have---a---[Warrior]---class---specializing---in---shield---and---sword---combat.---Decent---levels---too.---And---then---you---have---the---[Scout]---class,---which---is---supposed---to---strike---from---blind---spots,---from---range,---or---not---fight---at---all.---You’re---very---confusing,---you---know---that?”
I---shrug.
“It---is---what---I---have.”
He---sighs,---shaking---his---head,---“If---I---saw---someone---with---this---many---classes---that---are---so---different---from---each---other,---I---would---have---called---him---an---idiot.---But---you---have---that---[Hero]---class,---which---means---you---can---have---multiple---classes---and---still---level---them---up---as---fast---as---someone---with---just---a---single---class.”
*Sigh*
“Well,---considering---your---weapon---of---choice---is---a---shield---and---sword,---similar---to---my---shield---and---axe,---I---am---going---to---have---you---fight---alongside---me.---I’ll---show---you---what---you---need---to---do---when---we---get---inside---the---dungeon.”
He---stands---up---and---my---eyes---widen.
“We’re---going---already?---As---in---today?”
Brock---gives---me---a---confident---smile,---“A---Diver---has---to---always---be---ready---for---danger.”
He---turns---to---his---team.
“Emerald---Shields,---we’re---heading---out!”
Jessa---immediately---jumps,---throwing---back---the---full---mug---she---had---been---playing---keep---away---from---the---[Bard].---The---[Bard],---with---a---deftness---Franky---had---never---expected---to---see---from---a---short---fat---guy,---catches---the---mug,---not---letting---any---of---the---liquid---spill,---and---then---flood---his---throat---with---the---brew.---He---puts---the---empty---mug---on---the---table,---grabs---his---last---two---mugs---and---finishes---them---off---as---well.---A---good---two---liters---of---beer---finished---off---in---less---than---half---a---minute.
His---alcohol---tolerance---must---be---off---the---scale.
I---stand---up,---patting---myself---down---under---the---robe,---making---sure---I---have---everything---I---need.
Seeing---that---I---do,---I---follow---the---group---outside---and---towards---the---giant---hole---in---the---ground---a---couple---of---blocks---down---the---street.
________________________
“Well---lad,---dungeons---are---natural---phenomena.---They're---formed---around---areas---with---dense---mana.”
“Yea---Turnock,---I---already---know---that---from---my---studies.---But---I---want---to---know---exactly---what---forms---them,”---Franky---exclaims,---waving---his---arm---around---him,---pointing---at---the---dense---underground---tunnel---they---are---within.
The---dwarf---strokes---his---beard,---thinking.---”Well,---during---my---studies---at---the---[Bards]---College---of---Svartalfheim,---I---had---read---books---on---various---subjects.---One---such---subject---that---every---dwarf---ends---up---learning---is---about---dungeon---architecture.---An---important---subject---mind---you,---especially---since---our---underground---great---dwarven---city---of---Svartalfheim---was---actually---built---within---the---shell---of---a---dungeon.”
Franky---lifts---an---eyebrow,---“I---figured---dwarfs---loved---being---underground,---but---an---entire---city---is---rather…---dangerous.---I---can---only---imagine---the---structural---and---mobility---problems---that---would---arise,---especially---the---problems---of---running---water.”
“Haha,---dat---be---normally---true!”---exclaims---Turnock---with---enthusiasm---before---clearing---his---throat.
“Right,---um,---that---would---normally---be---true.---But---Svartalfheim---is---different.---It---is---not---underground---per---say,---but---actually---deep---within---a---mountain---which---is---above---sea---level,---so---there---aren't---any---water---problems.---As---for---structural---integrity,---the---stone---of---the---mountain---is---strengthened---by---dungeon---mana.”
The---dwarf---walks---towards---one---of---the---walls---and---knocks---on---it---before---turning---to---Franky---and---giving---him---a---smile.---“Dungeon---stone---is---denser---than---regular---stone,---making---it---extremely---difficult---to---break---through.”
Franky---pauses,---tapping---the---wall---himself.
“I…---see.---But---can---you---answer---my---original---question?”
The---dwarf’s---eyes---widen,---“Shit,---almost---forgot.---A---dungeon---forms---something---we---call---a---dungeon---core.---It's---a---crystal---that---absorbs---ambient---mana---while---also---keeping---the---dungeon---alive---if---you---will.---As---such,---th-.”
“Keep---up.---We---need---that---light.”---Brock---yells---from---the---front,---turning---around---to---find---both---Turnock---and---Franky---staring---at---the---dungeon---walls---like---it’s---a---long---lost---lover.
Realizing---that---they---had---been---sidetracked,---the---dwarf---and---human---pick---up---their---pace---and---get---behind---Siberia,---who---has---been---silently---following---Brock---the---entire---time.
__________
After---a---couple---minutes---of---following---silently,---Turnock---decides---to---finish---his---explanation---before---they---get---too---deep---into---the---dungeon,---where---a---simple---distraction---could---cost---them---their---lives.
“As---I---was---saying,---the---dungeon---crystal---is---the---heart---and---brain---of---a---dungeon---while---the---dungeon---itself---is---its---body.---These---walls---are---its---veins,---and---we---are---a---poison---which---must---be---eliminated.”
The---dwarf---flicks---his---beard,---unstrapping---his---guitar,---sliding---his---hand---on---the---string,---”never---forget,---even---if---things---may---seem---peaceful,---even---if---we---are---safely---walking---for---several---hours,---the---dungeon---always---knows---where---we---are.---It---will---always---hunt---us---and---we---will---always---be---the---enemy.”
“I...I---see.”---Franky---replies---uncertainly.
“Don't---let---him---get---to---you,---we're---really---only---in---danger---if---we're---in---a---large---group---or---several---floors---down,---closer---to---the---control.---The---dungeon---isn't---going---to---waste---its---time---trying---to---kill---us,---especially---when---there---are---much---stronger---and---further---down---diver---groups---to---contend---with,---and---that's---not---including---the---church's---people---who---train---farther---down---below.”
“That---many?---How---big---is---this---dungeon?”---Franky---asks,---trying---to---make---heads---or---tails---about---the---size.---They---had---traveled---through---several---passages,---constantly---going---into---new---ones---with---forks---and---splits.---Overall,---Franky---was---not---confident---at---all---at---finding---his---way---back---out---without---help.
“As---a---dungeon---gets---older,---it---gets---stronger---and---stronger---while---its---crystal---digs---deeper---and---deeper.---This---specific---dungeon---is---older---than
---this---city.---Only---the---church---and---possibly---the---[Guild---Mistress]---knows---exactly---how---far---down---it---goes.”---Turnock---explains.
Franky---frowns,---“But---what---is---the---purpose---of---these---dungeons?---Why---do---they---form?”---Franky---asks,---but---neither---Brock---nor---Turnock---answer.---Instead,---it’s---the---sole---elf.
“Because---the---world---designs---them---to.”
*Sigh*,---”Humans,---elves,---dwarves,---they---all---have---their---own---interpretation.---But---really,---nobody---knows.”---Turnock---explains,---getting---an---annoyed---glare---from---Siberia.
A---moment---passes---and---the---lengthy---tunnel---starts---to---expand---in---size,---the---light---illuminating---the---walls---shrink---exponentially---as---well.---The---group’s---light---is---now---solely---coming---from---Franky---and---his---glowing---white---steel---armor.
___________________________________________
“Franky,---we---have---torches---and---Siberia---knows---the---[Light---ball]---spell.---You---sure---you---can---keep---that---spell---up?”---asks---Brock---without---turning---his---head---which---continues---to---stare---forward,---always---expecting---something---to---jump---from---the---far---shadows.
“Yes,”---I---answer,---“keeping---[Glowing---Armor]---up---isn't---draining---my---mana---at---all.---All---it---seems---to---do---is---lower---my---mana---regeneration---to---a---crawl.”
The---dwarf---laughs,---“Leave---it---to---a---[Hero]---to---have---more---mana---regeneration---than---our---elf,”---he---says---before---jumping---back,---avoiding---a---swinging---staff---that---was---about---to---strike---him---in---the---face.
“Bahahaha,”---he---laughs,---before---getting---back---in---line,---giving---the---elf---a---wink.
*Tap*...
A---sound---reverberates---through---the---walls,---seemingly---bouncing---off---the---stone.---At---once,---Siberia’s---hands---start---to---glow---while---Brock---raises---his---shield,---Turnock’s---pick---ready---upon---the---strings---of---his---guitar.---I---put---up---my---own---shield,---sword---ready---and---unsheathed---at---my---side
*Tap---Tap---Tap*...
The---sound---comes---again,---seemingly---in---rhythm,---echoing---off---the---walls---with---both---increasing---and---decreasing---speed.---And---then---the---sound---stops,---pauses,---before---tapping---once---more.
*Tap*
Hearing---that---last---tap,---the---others---let---down---their---guard,---Brock---lowering---his---shield---while---Siberia’s---hands---stop---glowing,---a---sign---that---her---mana---had---been---withdrawn---and---not---at---the---ready.
Confused,---I---look---towards---the---darkness,---finding---a---figure---completely---in---black---walking---out.
“We’ve---got---a---bit---of---a---fucking---problem.---There’s---a---shitty---rat---swarm---and---I---can't---sneak---past---them,”---Jessa---answers---with---a---hint---of---annoyance.
Interesting,---that---tapping---noise---was---just---a---code---to---notify---us---that---she---was---coming---into---the---light---and---to---not---attack---her---by---accident.---Smart,---very---smart.
She---makes---it---to---the---group---and---gives---me---a---confused---look,---“How---the---hell---is---he---able---to---keep---that---light---glowing---for---so---long.---I---had---to---scout---a---significant---distance---ahead---to---give---you---guys---a---warning.---This---light---is---way---too---strong.”
“Apparently,---he---can---keep---it---up---indefinitely.---But---enough---about---him,---how---big---of---a---swarm---are---we---talking---about?”---Brock---asks.
She---shrugs,---“I---would---say---about---sixty,---maybe---even---seventy.---It’s---rather---weird---that---so---many---are---together,---especially---next---to---our---shortcut.”
Brock---frowns---and---looks---into---the---darkness,---”What---would---you---say---their---levels---are?”
Janie---walks---around---the---group,---her---hands---on---the---back---side---of---her---head.---I---look---at---her---and---make---eye---contact,---finding---that---her---eyes---have---slits---like---a---cat,---“I---would---have---to---say---that---most---are---in---their---twenties,---but---some---of---the---larger---ones---might---actually---be---in---the---forties.”
Brock---goes---silent---to---that,---frowning,---his---eyes---move---to---mine,---and---then---his---frown---slowly---turns---into---an---optimistic---smile.
“Normally,---I---wouldn't---take---the---risk,---mostly---because---we---will---need---to---use---supplies---for---this---kind---of---fight.---Mana---potions,---health---potions,---bombs,---all---of---that---will---be---costly---to---replace.---But---since---you’re---paying---us---to---train---you,---this---might---actually---be---a---good---opportunity---for---a---fight.”
What?---No!
“Don't---put---your---lives---on---the---line---for---me.---Can't---we---find---another---way?---Or---better---yet,---do---this---another---day?”
Turnock---Chuckles,---“Lad,---we---always---find---ourselves---having---to---take---out---these---rats.---It's---annoying---and---they---seem---to---spawn---quickly.”---he---shakes---his---head,---“but---if---we---let---them---fester,---their---numbers---will---rise---even---higher.---Eventually,---they---will---start---to---roam.---A---roaming---pack---of---rats---that---size---can---overpower---a---decent---sized---team.---It’s---how---greenhorns---die.---They---can---handle---rats,---but---they---usually---don't---have---the---levels---to---handle---them---in---swarms.---We're---probably---saving---a---team---by---taking---them---out---now.”
“Also,---we---have---you---to---bolster---our---defense,”---Brock---adds,---unhitching---his---axe---while---making---sure---the---straps---on---his---shield---are---well---attached---to---his---arm.
I---shake---my---head,---still---unsure---if---this---is---a---good---idea,---but---Brock---seems---confident,---so---who---am---I---to---get---in---their---way.---I---do---need---the---practice---and---experience---anyways.
“Fine,---just---tell---me---what---I---need---to---do,”---I---say,---suppressing---my---feelings---of---unease.
“No---problem---Franky,”---Brock---says---before---turning---to---Jessa,---“Find---a---place---and---attack---if---there---are---openings.---Don't---hold---back---on---your---bombs,---this---is---a---large---group---and---I---don't---want---them---crawling---over---me.”
Jessa---nods,---turning---to---me,---giving---me---one---last---look---with---her---inhuman---eyes---before---turning---and---running---into---the---darkness.
“Is---she---really---Jessa?”---I---ask,---watching---her---quickly---disappear---into---the---darkness.
“Aye---lad,---she’s---different---when---we---are---diving.---It---not---my---right---to---say---why.---You---should---ask---her---yourself---later.”
I---nod,---turning---to---Brock---and---barely---catching---a---vial---of---liquid---that---he---throws---at---me.---He---winks---and---then---chugs---it---down.---A---seemingly---thickened---liquid---with---the---color---of---poop.---He---frowns,---seemingly---struggling---against---himself---to---prevent---throwing---up.
But---then---his---skin---starts---to---slightly---darken---all---over.---He---reaches---to---his---side---and---puts---on---a---steel---helmet---with---eye---slits.
“[Barkskin---Potion].---Tastes---extremely---bad,---but---its---effects---are---useful.---It---hardens---your---skin---while---keeping---you---from---bleeding---out.---Good---for---right---before---a---big---fight.”
I---look---down---at---the---vial,---my---glowing---armor---allowing---me---to---see---the---mud---like---substance.
I---take---a---deep---breath---and---uncork---the---vial,---gagging---at---the---smell.---A---smell---similar---to---spoiled---milk.
“Bahaha,---come---now---lad,---you’re---a---[Hero].---Can't---lose---your---cool---over---a---bit---of---nasty---drink.”---Tornack---jests.
Death---by---poop---potion.---Dear---god,---I---hope---that---doesn't---happen.
I---close---my---eyes---and---pour---t
he---liquid---down---my---throat,---a---rather---thick---substance---which---is---taking---its---time.
Only---a---moment---after---it---touches---my---mouth---and---flows---down---my---throat---does---my---brain---finally---receive---the---message---of---what---it---tastes---like.---But---it---was---too---late---because---Brock’s---hand---was---already---covering---my---mouth.
Chapter---Twenty---Seven:---[Hero]
“Did---you---have---to---cover---my---mouth?”---Franky---says---angrily,---glaring---at---the---level---60---[Shield---Warrior].---But---Brock,---walking---calmly---down---the---tunnel,---just---smiles---under---his---helmet---before---replying.
“Everyone---throws---up---when---they---first---take---the---potion.---Unfortunately,---I---only---had---two---on---me,---so---I---needed---to---make---sure---the---one---I---gave---you---stays---in---your---system---long---enough---to---activate---its---effect.”