by Jackson Bale
I---wonder---what---Bernard---will---think---when---he---sees---my---new---skill---and---its---ranking.---The---guy---has---been---asking---me---to---see---my---status---every---day.---And---when---he---does,---he---just---frowns---and---tells---me---I---am---doing---a---great---job.---The---guys---reminds---me---of---a---shitty---con---artist,---which---is---a---big---reason---I---can’t---seem---to---be---nice---to---him.---He---is---clearly---wanting---to---manipulate---me,---but---it---seems---he---also---does---not---want---to---piss---me---off.
“Hey---Franky,”
Turning---my---head.---I---make---eye---contact---with---Brock.
“I---probably---shouldn’t---be---asking---you---this,---especially---since---you---saved---my---life.---But…---how---were---you---able---to---fight---so---well?”---he---asks---with---a---burning---curiosity.
Yea.---I---would---like---a---definite---answer---to---that---question---too.
“I---can’t---be---sure,---but---I---believe---my---[Hero’s---Moment]---skill---activated.”
He---lifts---an---eyebrow,---confused.---“I---thought---you---said---you---did---not---know---what---that---skill---exactly---does?”
“I…---don’t.---I---think---it---just---makes---me---much---stronger,---but---it---seems---to---take---a---toll---on---my---body,”---I---explain,---pausing---briefly---as---I---organize---my---thoughts.---My---eyes---dart---around,---glancing---at---the---dancing---shadows---on---the---stone---walls.
“When---you---told---me---to---run.---I---actually---thought---about---it.---I---was---scared.---Heck,---terrified.---But---you---were---injured---and---if---I---didn’t---fight,---you---would---die.---I…---couldn’t---abandon---you.”---I---shake---my---head,---a---smile---forming---on---my---lips.
“My---best---friend,---his---name---is---Thoric---Elum.---He---told---me---that---I---was---a---true---hero.---That---my---personality---is---perfect.---That---I’m---the---textbook---hero.”
*Chuckle*
“And…---I---can’t---deny---him.---If---someone---is---in---danger,---I---am---more---than---willing---to---put---my---life---on---the---line…---It’s---stupid,---from---a---logical---standpoint,---but---that’s---just---me.”
I---take---a---deep---breath.
“When---I---chose---to---fight---and---not---run,---the---ability---activated.---And---then---everything---changed.---The---monster---was---moving---slow,---I---was---moving---fast,---and---throughout---the---whole---fight,---I---was---calm---and---confident.---And---then,---when---the---fight---ended.---I---think---the---skill---stopped---and---I---passed---out.”
Brock---starts---to---chuckle,---laughing---and---moaning---as---he---moves---too---much,---but---his---face---has---a---big---smile.
“Well,---that---skill---has---a---fitting---name.---Because---that---was---truly---a---moment.---One---I---plan---to---tell---all---the---divers---when---i’m---drunk.”
I---roll---my---eyes,---my---own---smile---prevalent---on---my---face.---My---laughter---joins---his,---as---well---as---my---own---wheezing.
Only---after---a---good---minute---of---laughter---do---we---both---stop---and---calm---down.
“Well,---I---think---you---earned---the---horn.”---he---says---afterwords.
I---look---at---him---with---a---confused---expression---on---my---face,---”What---horn?”
Brock---gives---me---a---look---of---utter---bewilderment---before---shaking---his---head.
“Right.---I---guess---nobody---explained---this---to---you,”---he---starts.
“That---horn---sticking---out---of---the---monster,---the---green---crystal---one.---That---is---what---we---divers---search---and---collect---for.---The---horns---are---used---for---enchanting,---smithing,---and---crafting.---They---are---ground---or---melted---and---mixed---in---with---items.---The---items---created---become---much---stronger---based---on---the---horn’s---purity.---The---purity---of---the---horn---can---be---seen---by---its---color.---Green---is---considered---the---least---pure---while---white---is---considered---the---most---pure,---which---is---more---often---located---deeper---into---the---dungeon.”
“Wait.---So---when---Jessa---called---me---a---greenhorn...”
“Yup.---New,---low---level---divers---are---known---for---hunting---greenhorns---because---they---are---the---easiest.”
I---snort,---“That---thing---did---not---seem---easy---at---all.”
A---contemplative---expression---forms---on---Brock’s---face.---”A---normal---horn---is---usually---the---size---of---a---finger.---That---thing’s---horn---is---the---size---of---an---arm.”
“Size---matters,”---a---feminine---voice---exclaims---matter---of---factly.
Looking---up,---I---find---Jessa---staring---down---at---me.---She---winks.
“and---it---seems---you---guys---are---doing---a---lot---better.”---she---adds,---her---voice---relaxed.
“Thank---you---Jessa.”---I---say,---giving---her---a---smile,---remembering---how---she---gave---me---that---opening.
She---quickly---looks---away,---her---eyes---unable---to---meet---my---own.---“We’re...uh,---a---team.”---she---answers,---stuttering.
Immediately---Brock---starts---to---laugh,---“What’s---this?---Is---Jessa---blushing---under---that---mask---of---hers?”---he---says---with---a---smile.
A---squeak---rises---from---Jessa’s---mouth---as---her---body---swivels---around---and---runs---to---the---the---darkness,---not---saying---a---word.
I---turn---and---give---Brock---a---confused---look.
“Franky,---you’re---very---lucky---that---you---live---inside---the---palace.---Otherwise,---I---don’t---know---how---you---would---deal---with---rape!”---he---exclaims,---giving---me---a---wink---and---a---cheeky---smile.
“What---the---heck---are---you---going---on---about?”
He---laughs---and---closes---his---eyes.---”We---need---to---rest.---We---didn’t---stock---up---on---enough---food---for---several---days.”
What?---Is---he---implying---she---has---feelings---for---me?---I---don’t---think---she---would---rape---me---even---if---she---does.
…….
Whatever.---I---need---to---rest.
I---close---my---eyes---and---allow---sleep---to---quickly---overtake---me.
_________________________________________
Two---beings---seem---to---morph---out---of---the---darkness,---their---eyes---watching---as---a---group---of---five---head---towards---the---dungeon’s---exit.---One---person---from---that---group---is---someone---they---had---been---instructed---to---keep---an---eye---on---and---protect.
The---shadows---around---them---seem---to---morph---and---shift,---covering---their---bodies,---shielding---them---from---the---visible---spectrum---of---light.---Only---the---most---keen---eyes---would---be---able---to---see---that---something---is---wrong---with---the---shadow’s---origin.---An---origin---seemingly---forming---out---of---their---right---shoulder,---revealing---an---image---of---a---black---raven.
“His---potential---is---astounding,”---one---of---shadows---exclaims,---his---eyes---focused---upon---Franky---as---he---helps---Brock---walk.
“Indeed.---I---did---not---expect---him---to---be---able---to---fight---that---monster---and---win.---I---was---sure---we---would---need---to---reveal---ourselves---to---save---him.”---the---other---adds.
The---first---shadow---nods,---his---eyes---turning---to---the---frozen---corpse---of---the---rat---monster,---standing---up---like---a---statue.---”It---seems---that---moving---some---of---our---[Ascended]---from---the---dungeon’s---depths---has---freed---some---of---its---power.---The---dungeon---will---be---far---more---dangerous---now.”
“That---is---not---our---problem.---The---diver’s---guild---will---persevere.---They---will---lose---divers---initially,---but---eventually---the---ones---surviving---will---be---stronger.”
The---shadow---moves---his---head,---turning---back---towards---their---charge,---”We---will---need---to---inform---the---[Grand---Chancellor]---about---what---has---happened.---The---child---has--
-grown---immensely---today.”
*Sigh*
“I---dislike---giving---reports---to---him.---Talking---to---him---always---feels---like---he---is---seeing---into---my---soul.”
The---other---shadow---looks---at---his---buddy---and---frowns,---“Do---not---belittle---our---god’s---chosen.---He---sees---all,---even---the---[Priestesses]---you---invite---to---your---bed.”
“Let’s---uh,---not---talk---about---that.”
*Shhhwwwwwiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg*
The---shadows---part,---molting---away,---disappearing.---Immediately---two---lumps---are---heard---falling---onto---the---ground.---Then,---two---more---fall,---much---larger---than---the---last.---No---sound---is---heard.---The---two---[Assassins]---are---dead,---their---heads---removed,---bodies---prone---on---the---floor.
A---moment---passes---and---reality---bends,---light---cascades,---a---being---is---revealed.---Tall,---muscular,---covered---in---black---fur---which---pulses.---A---black---tail---flows,---touching---upon---inexistence---and---then---touching---back.
“If---this---is---the---strength---of---the---Shadow---Ravens,---then---I---have---no---reason---to---believe---this---war---can---end---quickly.”---the---being---talks,---his---voice---both---clear---and---silent.---The---shadow---vibrate---away,---existence---trembling---around---him.
His---eyes---move---from---the---corpses,---turning---towards---the---[Hero],---confused.
He---shakes---his---head---and---sighs.---He---gets---on---one---knee,---hand---coming---to---his---chest.
“Mistress---Laverna…---I---continue---to---watch---over---this---Franky---as---you---have---ordered,---and---I---understand---why.---His---potential---exceeds---even---mine---.---But,---I---worry---about---you.---You---have---barely---spoken,---even---less---so---than---you---already---do.---I---am---sure---you---are---using---your---great---power---and---your---time---is---busy,---but---I---would---very---much---love---to---hear---your---voice.”
Time---passes---and---nothing---happens---other---than---reality---straining---to---stay---stable.
*Sigh*
“Well,---it---was---worth---a---try.---She’s---probably---doing---something---extremely---important,”---he---exclaims---before---he---erases---his---existence,---leaving---nothing---behind---but---the---corpses---of---those---he---had---killed.
********************************************
A---pillar---shatters,---rubble---slamming---into---the---walls---of---Mount---Olympus.
“Where---are---they!?---This---is---unexceptable!”---Zeus---yells,---his---voice---causing---the---walls---of---his---home---to---tremble.---The---other---gods---look---to---him---in---both---fear---and---annoyance.
He---yells---once---more,---a---spear---of---lightning---forming---in---his---hand---before---he---throws---it,---blowing---a---gaping---hole---through---the---walls---of---Mount---Olympus.
But---it---doesn't---last---long---as---both---the---pillar---and---walls---fix---themselves,---time---seemingly---returning---them---to---before---they---were---destroyed.
“Husband,---must---you---lose---your---temper?”---Hera---asks,---bored.
Zeus---charges---up---another---spear,---but---stops---as---he---makes---eye---contact---with---his---wife.---Hera---is---unimpressed.
“Odin---is---making---a---mockery---of---me.”
She---rolls---her---eyes,---”A---mockery---you---created---yourself.---It---was---your---idea---to---interfere---with---Odin’s---[Hero]---summoning.---And---because---of---that,---our---summoning---had---been---fractured.---Nine---[Heroes]---were---summoned,---and---only---two---actually---made---it---in---our---city.”
*Slam*
A---pillar---shatters.
“I---know---dear---WIFE.”---he---seethes,---angry.
“Then---stop---breaking---things.---Control---your---anger.”---She---shakes---her---head.
“The---other---gods---are---searching---our---lands---for---the---missing---[Heroes].---We---just---need---to---find---where---they---have---been---dropped---off---at.---All---you---have---to---do---is---to---make---sure---that---Odin---does---not---notice---our---blunder.”
“Easy---for---you---to---say.---The---man---is---relentless.---That---stupid---eye---of---his---is---extremely---infuriating.”
“Yes,---yes,---I---know.---Nothing---can---be---done.”---she---says,---turning---towards---the---gods.---All---of---them---are---sitting---or---standing.---Eating---or---talking.---Zeus’s---anger---is---well---known---and---everyone---is---used---to---his---outbursts---already.
“Athena---dear,---have---you---any---new---information---on---our---missing---[Heroes]?”
Athena,---a---woman---wearing---very---revealing---armor---looks---up.
“Another---[Hero]---has---been---found---dead.”
*BOOOOOM*
Another---pillar---shatters,---followed---by---Zeus’s---enraged---yell.
“I---will---fucking---kill---you---ODIN!”
Hera---looks---at---her---husband---and---shakes---her---head---before---turning---back---to---Athena,---”That---is---unfortunate.---Three---have---been---found---dead---in---the---past---week.---What---of---the---one---we---found?”
Athena---nods,---”She---is---well---and---is---preparing---to---be---transferred---to---Ares’---stronghold---to---be---trained---by---the---amazons.”
Hera---nods---and---smiles.---The---Amazons---are---easily---one---of---the---world's---most---powerful---fighters.---They---will---surely---make---the---new---[Hero]---powerful,---given---time.
“Thank---you---Athena.”
Athena---nods---before---turning---back---towards---the---other---gods.
Hera---sighs---and---turns---to---her---husband---who---has---found---himself---walking---from---pillar---to---pillar,---punching---it---to---smithereens.
“Dear---husband,---please---sit.---I---cannot---focus---with---you---constantly---destroying---our---home.”
Zeus---creates---a---bolt---of---thunder---and---turns,---ready---to---throw.
And---then---he---notices---his---wife---Hera---giving---him---a---very---unamused---look.
The---bolt---of---lightning---dissipates---and---he---takes---a---deep---breath.---Reeling---in---his---anger.
He---walks---next---to---Hera---and---plops---his---butt---down---upon---his---throne.
*PRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
A---sound,---similar---to---farting---is---heard.---It---is---abnormally---loud,---immediately---getting---the---attention---of---all---the---gods.
It---is---then---immediately---followed---by---a---female’s---giggling---voice.---A---disembodied---voice.
*BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM*
Pillars---start---to---shatter---once---more---as---Hera---holds---a---whoopie---cushion---in---her---hand,---confused,---wondering---where---it---came---from.
Chapter---Twenty---Nine:---A---Little---Light---Conquest.
With---a---directed---cleave,---my---sword---slams---into---the---hard---hide---of---an---enemy---minotaur,---slicing---through---the---hairs,---ripping---into---the---skin---and---muscle.
The---minotaur---screams,---its---eyes---burning---in---anger---towards---me.---The---damage---had---been---superfluous.---They---are---‘meat---shields’---as---Commander---Thoric---had---stated,---a---term---used---for---a---being---which---can---take---hits---and---keep---fighting.---He---had---said---something---similar---about---his---own---group---but---instead---using---the---term---‘tank’.
My---opponent---roars,---spit---flying---out---of---his---mouth---as---he---lifts---his---wooden---club---to---the---side---and---swings---with---a---force---that---could---shatter---stone.
My---eyes---focus---upon---my---foe---in---his---entirety.---The---movement---of---his---muscles,---direction---of---the---attack…---his---size.
Before---my---defeat---at---Thoric’s---hands,---I---would---have---taken---that---hit---directly---to---my---scales,---believing---myself---capable---of---shrugging---it---off.
My---tail---flicks,---grounding---me---in---a---q
uarter---of---a---second.
But---Thoric---has---taught---me---that---fighting---isn't---about---being---able---to---withstand---the---opponent's---strikes.