Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

The---fuck---am---I---going---to---do---with---a---[Corrosive---Fog]---skill?---Am---I---just---going---to---stand---there---and---wiggle---my---fingers---while---gas---comes---pouring---slowly---from---them?

  Frowning,---I---order---my---mount---to---stop---and---hover.---The---air---quickly---dies---down,---humidity---returning---in---force.

  I---extend---my---arm,---mentally---activating---my---skill---as---a---cloud---of---gray---gas---forms---in---my---hand.---It---flows---out---towards---a---direction,---but---slowly.---A---speed---slightly---lower---than---someone---who---would---be---speed---walking,---but---slightly---faster---than---someone---who---is---just---walking.

  Hmmm,---the---spell---seems---to---fluctuate---on---continuous---mana---cost.---Maybe---if---I---increase---it…

  A---third---of---my---mana---pool---is---shoved---into---the---the---spell,---quickly---turning---the---spell---a---dark---purple---before---shooting---out.---This---time,---the---gas---disperses---less---and---travels---significantly---faster.

  And---thanks---to---my---keen---eyes,---I---understand---why.---Part---of---the---gas---had---condensed---into---a---liquid---in---my---hand---thanks---to---the---extreme---amount---of---mana.

  “Awesome,---I---just---created---an---acid---flamethrower.”

  But---my---excitement---disappears---quickly.

  “This---is---mana---inefficient,”---I---say,---watching---as---the---gas---slowly---eats---away---at---the---trees---and---leaves.

  Its---effect---is---also---very---freaking---slow.---I---don't---want---to---wait---an---hour---for---something---to---die.

  Sighing---and---shaking---my---head,---I---look---at---my---other---new---skill.

  [Stabilizing---Presence]

  I---nod---bitterly.---The---skill---is---certainly---useful.---A---perfect---skill---for---someone---leading---an---army.---But---it’s---also---really---boring.---All---I---have---to---do---is---stand---sexy---and---everyone---fights---harder.

  Not---that---they---need---a---skill---for---that.---They---already---do---that---on---their---own.---All---the---females---are---trying---to---prove---themselves---into---my---bed---while---the---males---are---mostly---masochists.

  Not---even---the---minotaurs---need---my---skill.---They're---too---stupid---to---stop---fighting---anyways.

  *Sigh*

  “And---now---I’m---pissed---again.”

  Rolling---my---eyes---at---my---mood---swings,---I---order---my---mount---to---accelerate---once---more,---aiming---to---get---some---long---distance---scouting---done.---I---also---increase---the---amount---of---mana---that---the---slave---ring---is---taking,---drastically---increasing---its---range.---Unfortunately,---that---Is---all---I---am---comfortable---doing---since---messing---with---it---could---cause---Janie’s---death.

  ****************************************

  Marcia---gazes---strongly,---watching---intently---as---the---structures---are---built.---Her---tail---flicks---out---in---annoyance.---Her---annoyance---stems---from---the---lack---of---speed---in---which---the---construction---is---progressing.---Though---the---minotaurs---are---strong---and---powerful,---able---to---lift---the---wood---with---ease,---they---are---sorely---lacking---in---other---areas.---Areas---requiring---precision.---Even---the---females---of---the---species---have---a---hard---time---cutting---straight.

  At---the---very---least,---Marcia---is---glad---that---the---walls---were---done,---massive---spiked---things---of---wood.---They---extend---thirty---feet---from---the---ground,---bordering---the---forest.---She---had---asked---Thoric---if---it---would---be---better---to---instead---just---wall---off---the---forest---to---maximize---space,---and---he---had---told---her---that---the---idea---was---amazing---and---that---she---was---a---genius.

  The---praise---was,---if---Marcia---was---being---honest---with---herself,---very---captivating.---Unfortunately,---her---advanced---age---as---well---as---possibly---living---mate---restricts---her---from---accepting---courtship.---But---of---course,---as---a---female---Gajan,---she---cannot---help---but---have---feelings---for---her---commander.---His---potential---is---just---excessively---amazing.

  “Marcia,”---yells---a---voice,---taking---her---attention---from---her---dirty---thoughts.

  She---turns---to---the---voice---and---finds---Grognak,---a---young---minotaur---who---dreams---of---becoming---strong.

  “I---cut---logs---straight.”---he---says,---showing---her---several---logs---that---have---indeed---been---cut---correctly,---something---even---the---females---of---his---kind---could---barely---do.

  When---Thoric---had---handed---Grognak---to---her,---she---at---first---thought---she---was---being---punished.---She---was---angry,---upset---even.---She---believed---that---Thoric---was---trying---to---make---her---life---needlessly---harder---for---not---being---able---to---build---fast---enough.---She---was---confused.

  But---those---worries---all---went---away---when---she---realized---that---it---was---completely---the---opposite.---Though---yes,---Grognak---is---just---as---dumb---as---the---rest---of---his---male---kind,---he---is---still---far---superior,---possibly---more---than---even---his---mother.

  “What---do---now?”---he---asks---with---a---broken---speech---which---has---actually---improved---slightly---since---yesterday.

  And---all---of---that---has---to---do---with---his---class---of---[Squire].---It---is---clear---to---her---now---that---Thoric---had---known---how---impressive---the---[Squire]---class---is.---Such---a---class,---if---she---is---guessing---correctly,---allows---one---to---learn---quickly---from---someone---of---a---much---higher---level---than---them.---Thus,---by---slowly---making---Grognak---do---more---and---more---complicated---tasks---under---her---direction,---then---he---will---gain---levels---while---also---becoming---smarter.

  If---she---is---to---guess,---then---she---believes---that---Thoric---wants---her---to---raise---Grognak---into---a---leader---of---his---kind.---Truly,---the---man---thinks---several---times---ahead.

  Flicking---her---tail---out---in---delight,---she---points---towards---a---home---slowly---being---built---by---her---group.---The---‘workers’.

  “I---want---you---to---talk---to---Decant.---He---is---a---[Builder]---and---ask---him---to---show---you---how---to---create---fasteners.”---she---says.

  “Fasteners,---fasteners,---fasteners,”---Grognak---repeats---so---that---he---does---not---forget.---He---trudges---quickly---forward,---towards---her---[Builder].

  Marcia---nods,---watching---as---Grognak---slowly---becomes---smarter.---Eventually,---with---time,---his---intelligence---will---exceed---his---mother’s.

  Turning---away,---she---looks---at---the---buildings---which---have---been---built---under---Thoric’s---specifications.---The---building---would---not---at---all---be---considered---attractive,---but---such---a---thing---is---moot---to---her---considering---how---stable---the---architecture---is.---At---the---far---back---is---a---massive---building,---a---place---to---house---meat,---both---dry---and---fresh.---Farther---up,---very---close---to---the---entrance---to---the---first---dungeon---floor---is---a---building.---A---residence---with---which---Thoric---will---sleep---while---being---able---to---see---his---entire---city---that---he---is---building.

  A---city---she---is---proud---of---to---be---leading---the---creation---of.---She---had---decided---to---follow---and---help---as---much---as---she---can---so---she---can---see---her---mate---again.---Her---mate,---a---Gejan---who---had---left---and---is---possibly---on---the---sixth---floor.

  Her---kind---have---attempted---to---make---many---cities---before,---but---those---were---usually---on---the---first---floor---and---they---always---found---themselves---overrun.---The---only---reason---that---her---home---is---still---standing---is---because---of---the---light---which---scares---the---desbats.---But---here.---Here---she---can---see---the---start---of---a---new---city.---A---massive---city---that---can---and---would---dwarf---her---home.

  A---new---land---for---her---kind.

  Her---tail---smacks---the---ground,---slightly---denting---it,---her---
excitements---and---thoughts---traveling---every---which---way.---With---more---energy---than---she---knows---what---to---do---with,---she---starts---walking---down---to---assess---how---the---building---making---is---coming.---After---all,---Threm---did---beg---her---to---make---homes---as---soon---as---possible.

  Short---Hiatus

  So,---I---am---having---tooth---problems.

  Extremely---painful---tooth---problems.

  So---painful---that---I---can't---write.

  It---is---going---to---take---me---a---couple---weeks---to---resolve---all---of---this.---Ughhhh

  Until---then,---ill---be---on---hiatus---until---this---is---resolved.---Which---shouldn't---take---long.

  But---seriously,---why---do---teeth---hurt---so---freaking---much?

  Also,---patrons,---if---you---are---reading---this,---I---have---put---my---account---on---hold---for---a---month.---So---no---charges---or---anything.---Just---expect---everything---back---to---normal---in---a---month.

  Chapter---Thirty:---The---Herd

  Zoteal---opens---his---eyes,---blinded---momentarily---by---a---light---which---finds---its---way---through---a---crack---in---the---door---flaps.---He---blinks,---letting---his---slow---mind---catch---up,---realizing---that---he---had---overslept---by---quite---a---bit.

  Lifting---his---head---slightly,---he---looks---to---the---side,---searching,---but---finding---that---his---friend---is---missing.

  “He’s---probably---getting---something---to---eat,”---he---frowns,---rubbing---his---head,---“damn,---that---poison---grass---was---stronger---than---usual.”

  Stretching---his---arms---up---and---around---for---a---minute,---Zoteal---finally---decides---to---get---up.---With---a---groan,---He---extends---his---four---legs,---lifting---his---body---several---feet---into---the---air.

  “Damn,---I---even---forgot---to---take---off---my---armor,”---he---says,---noticing---the---sheet---over---his---back.---A---symbol---of---four---hooves---intertwining---can---be---seen,---representing---the---herd---with---which---he---belongs---to.

  Doing---another---stretch---while---standing,---Zoteal---exits---the---building---by---moving---a---cloth---which---represents---a---door.---The---crystal---light---of---the---second---dungeon---floor---strikes---his---eyes,---momentarily---blinding---him---again,---but---his---eyes---quickly---adjust---to---the---view.

  Centaurs---walk---the---clearing---of---the---city,---many---sporting---coverings---with---pictures---that---show---what---herd---they---are---a---part---of.---As---usual,---Zoteal---takes---a---moment---to---enjoy---the---many---different---subspecies---which---mingle---together---without---hostility.

  Looking---around---using---his---species---impressive---eyesight,---he---quickly---finds---a---group---from---his---herd---sitting---around---a---fire,---talking---and---eating.

  Around---his---herd---are---others---doing---the---same,---and---like---his---own,---they---also---sit---with---their---kind.

  Zoteal---trotts---forwards,---taking---a---moment---to---smell---the---humid---air---while---taking---a---look---at---the---large---wooden---walls---which---border---the---forest,---protecting---them---from---the---monsters---which---inhabit---it.

  “Zoteal,---was---wondering---when---you---would---wake---up.”

  A---centaur---male,---one---of---his---herd---speaks---up---as---he---bites---into---a---greenish---yellow---fruit.---A---sour---fruit---which---is---best---used---for---cooking---as---the---taste---can---be---rather---strong.

  “I---wouldn't---be---sleeping---so---long---if---someone---didn't---put---so---much---poison---grass---into---the---pipe,”---he---exclaims,---eyeing---his---herd,---looking---for---a---reaction.

  But---to---his---dismay,---none---seem---to---look---guilty.---Which---is---annoying,---because---Zoteal---was---very---much---hoping---to---spar---with---the---perpetrator,---especially---since---he---makes---a---point---to---wake---up---early---to---train.

  Annoyed---but---unable---to---do---much,---Zoteal---moves---to---the---fire---and---grabs---a---bone---spoon---and---bowl.---He---then---removes---the---lid---of---the---larger---bone---bowl---hovering---over.---The---smell---hits---him,---a---savory---smell---with---a---slight---hint---of---spice.---The---soup,---comprising---of---many---vegetables,---is---a---nice---thick---yellow---with---dots---of---red---and---black.

  With---a---careful---hand,---Zoteal---takes---the---ladle---and---scoops---the---soup---into---his---bowl,---not---allowing---a---drop---to---spill.

  Once---his---bowl---is---filled,---Zoteal---finds---a---place---next---to---his---friend---and---sits---down,---slurping---his---soup---as---he---listens---to---what---the---others---are---talking---about.

  “-I---took---such---a---large---shit---when---I---woke---up.---It---felt---amazing-”

  “-this---soup---is---going---to---have---me---bleeding---from---behind-”

  “-ink---I---should---court---Anarak?---She---has---such---nice---antlers.---And---that---tail!---I---just---want---to---mount-”

  For---some---odd---reason,---Zoteal,---a---level---91---[Ranger]---had---expected---that---his---herd,---specifically---this---part---of---his---herd,---would---act---normal---in---some---way.---That---they---would---have---meaningful---conversations---about---fighting---monsters---or---information---about---the---plains.---Heck,---Zoteal---would---have---even---settled---for---conversations---about---the---politics---between---the---[Herdmasters].

  But---alas,---they're---all---idiots.

  Capable---idiots.---But---still---idiots.

  Ignoring---the---conversations---going---along,---Zoteal---sips---a---bit---of---his---soup---before---turning---to---his---close---friend---and---cousin.

  “So---what's---the---plan---today---Halistos?---Did---you---get---any---information---from---[Herdmaster]---Dragken?”

  Halistos---takes---a---sip---of---his---own---soup,---his---face---making---a---frown.---Which---Zoteal---understands,---his---friend---dislikes---spicy---foods---after---all.

  “Well,---it---seems---that---the---[Guards]---have---seen---a---large---pack---of---thrashers---running---around---near---our---walls.”

  Zoteal---nods,---understanding---the---implications.---Thrashers---are---pack---beasts---that---hunt---and---attack---prey---using---numbers.---But---what---is---most---dangerous---about---them---is---their---ability---to---scale---wood.---If---the---number---is---large---enough,---they---may---be---confident---enough---to---scale---the---wooden---walls---and---attack---the---residents---of---the---city.

  Many---would---die---and---Dragken---would---be---blamed.

  Which---is---not---something---Zoteal---would---want.---Dragken---is---an---old---centaur---with---a---very---no-nonsense---personality.---He---is---fair---in---leading---the---city---and---does---not---choose---favorites.---Instead,---he---has---a---tendency---to---favor---those---skilled---at---their---jobs---instead---of---certain---herds.

  Which---has---garnered---quite---a---bit---of---anger---from---many---[Herdmasters].

  “So,---we---will---probably---need---to---head---out?”---Zoteal---says---as---if---was---already---decided.---.

  Halistos---stands---up,---his---bowl---empty---as---he---gazes---at---the---glowing---crystal---in---the---sky,---”Orders---have---already---been---released.---Our---herd---and---two---others---will---be---sent---to---track---down---and---to---kill---the---thrashers.

  Zoteal’s---long---ears---flutter---in---surprise,---“How---big---is---this---group---if---more---than---one---team---is---required?”

  Halistos---shrugs---his---shoulders,---“He---didn't---say,”---he---says---with---a---sad---frown.

  “but---I---doubt---it---matters.---We---just---have---to---quell---their---numbers---from---range.”---he---continues---before---trotting---downhill---towards---the---armory.

  Zoteal---watches---his---cousin---move,---failing---to---hide---a---growing---frown.

  “She---doesn't---like---you.---Get---over---it,”---he---whispers,---dearly---hoping---that---the---man---gets---over---it.---Distractions---of---love---are
---something---that---Zoteal---can---relate,---but---only---slightly.---His---own---love---had---lasted---only---a---couple---weeks---before---he---found---out---that---he---wasn't---the---only---one.

  Shaking---his---head---and---dispelling---such---annoying---thoughts,---Zoteal---focuses---instead---on---the---bowl---before---him.---There---will---be---little---time---to---eat---once---the---hunt---begins.

  _____________________________

  Good---and---safe---wood---is---hard---to---find---on---the---third---level---of---the---dungeon---floor.---Many---times---there---are---hidden---beasts---or---deadly---poisonous---spores---located---near---the---trees.---Such---dangers---can---even---kill---centaurs---with---endurance---exceeding---twenty.---A---sniff---of---poison---or---a---predator---lunging---at---your---neck---and---it---can---result---in---death.---Of---course,---most---poisons---can---be---treated---by---a---[Herbalist]---or---[Healer],---but---some---work---too---fast,---killing---within---minutes.---Many---a---centaur---have---been---felled---by---a---poison,---restricting---their---movement---while---some---beast---comes---up---and---eats---them---slowly---while---they---are---alive.