Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Eyes---widening,---he---quickly---gets---up---and---looks---around.

  Corpses---of---thrashers---are---everywhere.---Mutilated,---bodies---literally---in---half---as---far---as---he---can---see.---And---then---he---notices---them,---circular---disks,---spinning---and---flying---at---immense---speeds,---ripping---into---the---thrashers---with---ease.

  The---thrashers---are---panicking---for---the---first---time.---And---as---his---gaze---adjusts,---he---looks---at---the---large---thrasher---leader.---Purple---smoke---surrounds---it---as---the---leader---screams---and---croaks,---squirming---on---the---ground---in---what---Zoteal---can---only---believe---is---immense---pain.

  He---looks---behind---him,---finding---that---his---herd---is---just---as---dumbfounded---as---he---is,---watching---the---carnage---take---place.

  And---then---his---eyes---lay---on---his---cousin,---mouth---open---as---he---looks---into---the---air.

  Following---his---gaze,---Zoteal’s---own---mouth---opens.

  A---figure---stands---upon---a---massive---bird,---arms---crossed---as---a---purple---fog---surrounds---him,---seemingly---morphing,---protecting,---orbiting---alongside---spinning---discs.---But---the---most---impressive---feature---is---the---eyes.---Purple---glowing---eyes.

  Eyes---that---look---bored...

  Chapter---Thirty---One:---Black---Rain

  When---you---are---attempting---to---make---an---impression,---there---are---many---things---you---must---keep---in---mind.---And---I---don't---mean---an---impression---like---dressing---well---and---putting---on---a---smile,---which---is---pretty---easy---mind---you.---No,---when---I---say---impression,---I---mean---something---that---cannot---be---forgotten.

  Like---if---you---are---a---young---kid---who,---intrigued,---walks---into---his---mother's---room---to---find---three---big---men---slamming---on---her.---That---is---an---impression.---One---which---cannot---be---forgotten.

  Unless---of---course,---your---subconscious---makes---you---forget.---Which---is---quite---different.---That---memory---is---merely---being---repressed,---not---removed.---And---even---then,---it---may---still---affect---how---you---grow---up.---Repressed---memories---change---people---without---the---person---realizing---why.---And---in---rare---cases,---those---chains---which---hold---those---memories---down…---Well,---they---can---rust.

  But---I---Digress.

  For---a---successful---impression---to---take---place,---you---must---have---several---key---points.

  The---first---and---most---important---point---is---‘Timing’.---If---you---are---too---late---or---too---early,---then---everything---can---be---fucked---up.---If---those---three---men---weren't---in---the---middle---of---ripping---into---the---woman,---then---the---timing---would---be---off.

  The---second---point---is---the---‘Audience’.---Who---or---what---is---your---audience---and---how---can---you---affect---them---the---way---you---want.---A---child,---especially---a---young---one,---is---a---sponge.---If---a---child---sees---something---and---it---interests---him---enough,---you---can---bet---your---gaping---asshole---that---the---image---will---be---firmly---indented---into---their---mind.

  The---third---point---is---‘Effect’.---What---do---you---want---your---audience---to---remember?---Is---the---women---screaming---in---pain---or---are---those---screams---of---pleasure?---Or---is---it---both?

  At---this---point---in---life,---after---several---lives---mind---you,---I---don't---know---what---the---effect---it---had.

  But---I---do---know---the---exact---time---and---moment---in---which---my---ability---to---perceive---and---understand---was---obtained.---When---my---soul---expanded---itself,---reforming---its---measly---simplicity---to---something---exceptional.

  Which,---by---the---way,---is---extremely---useful---in---quickly---understanding---a---situation---and---creating---a---proper---reaction---to---it.

  So---when---I---arrived---towards---a---location---bristling---with---screams,---I---was---quite---surprised---to---find---centaurs.---And---centaurs---they---are.---A---lower---body---of---a---horse---with---the---upper---body---of---a---humanoid…---thing.---The---centaur’s---upper---body---is---covered---in---fur---while---its---head---is---very---human-like.---Except---of---course---for---the---horse---type---ears.

  The---fact---that---I---am---finding---centaurs---on---the---second---dungeon---level---even---though---I---was---told---they---live---on---the---third---level---is---annoying.---Clearly,---I---am---lacking---information---and---neither---Zorren---nor---Anathema---are---good---at---making---sure---that---I---am---informed---correctly.

  But---that---is---something---that---cannot---be---dealt---with---when---I---return---to---base.

  For---now,---I---must---deal---with---the---situation.---A---situation---that---as---I---watch---from---the---air---is---coming---to---its---end.---All---because---of---a---giant---raptor---with---a---yellow---horn---comes---out---of---the---woods.---A---viscous---thing---that---I---feel---it---necessary---to---activate---my---[Advanced---Analysis]---skill---on.

  Dungeon---Awakened---Alpha---Thrasher.---LVL---96

  Known---as---pack---hunters,---thrasher---are---maneuverable,---fast---hunters---of---prey---with---a---high---breeding---rate---and---impressive---learning---potential.---Combined---with---their---ability---to---climb---trees---and---jump---distances,---the---beasts---are---a---dangerous---force---to---fight.

  This---specific---thrasher---had---been---chosen---by---the---dungeon---and---had---been---gifted---with---greater---size---and---intelligence.

  Dungeon---Awakened?---Really?---Why---do---people---not---explain---shit---to---me?

  I---shake---my---head,---dispelling---such---thoughts---for---the---time---being---as---I---access---my---large---fountain---of---my---mana.---I---immediately---send---that---mana---into---the---discs---attached---to---my---massive---mount,---taking---control---of---them---and---making---them---orbit---my---position.

  The---awakened---monster---screams,---signaling---his---lower---leveled---brethren---to---charge.---But---I---don't---act---yet.---Even---when---one---of---the---raptors---gets---a---lucky---bite---onto---a---centaurs---throat---and---rips---it---open,---I---still---do---not---react.

  Instead,---I---gather---mana---into---my---hand---and---point---it---at---the---Awakened---Alpha.

  Seconds---pass,---the---centaurs---start---to---fight---desperately.---And---then,---one---of---the---centaurs---which---seems---like---the---leader---loses---his---spear---and---trips---back.

  I---release---the---purple---liquid---cloud---like---a---hose,---covering---the---yellow---horned---monster---in---it---while---simultaneously---ordering---several---dozen---of---my---discs---to---descend.---I---save---the---leader---while---killing---off---the---other---thrasher---around---his---position---before---focusing---further---out.

  The---horned---monster---starts---to---scream---in---pain---and---agony---as---the---acid---burns---through---its---body.---The---screams---cause---the---thrashers---to---panic,---which---I---use---to---kill---more---of---them.

  I---release---some---gas---and---control---a---couple---of---discs---to---spin---around---me,---molding---the---purple---acid---gas---as---though---it---is---fully---within---my---control---but---merely---guided---by---the---air---circulation---of---my---spinning---discs.---I---then---fold---my---arms---and---stare---down---at---the---squirming---Enhanced---Thrasher---while---donning---the---most---bored---look---I---can---make.---I---even---take---great---effort---to---not---divert---my---eyes.---Instead,---I---am---using---my---mounts---glowing---purple---eyes---to---help---me---direct---my---discs.

  ____________________________________

  Amazing---and---terrifying---would---be---words---with---which---Zoteal---can---describe---the---slaughter---which---is---happening---at---this---very---moment.---Even---the---others---of---his---kind---share---that---same---look---of---wonder.

  Around---them,---the---clearing---is---covered---in---blood---and---corpses,---all---of---which---continue---to---pile---up---as---the---confused---thrashers---ha
ve---little---idea---of---what---is---killing---them.

  Even---the---trees---farther---out---are---no---exception---to---the---dismembering.---Some---have---already---fallen,---others---have---lost---several---branches.

  And---all---of---this---is---being---done---by---a---single---individual---who,---if---Zoteal---is---being---honest,---looks---as---though---the---slaughter---he---creates---is---as---easy---as---turning---his---hand.---He---does---not---seem---to---even---move---or---activate---skills.

  “Who---is---that?---Is---it---possibly---a---kitsune?”---his---cousin---asks,---one---eye---closed---as---he---stares---at---the---being---hovering---in---the---air---on---a---beast---that---could---kill---a---centaur---with---ease.

  “No…---he---does---not---have---any---tails,”---Zoteal---says,---having---already---seen---a---kitsune---when---he---was---younger.---The---woman---that---he---saw---had---three---tails.

  “He---can't---be---a---Gajen---either?---Right?”

  Zoteal---stays---silent,---knowing---full---well---that---the---being---he---is---staring---at---is---not---one---of---the---lizard---kind.---He---had---seen---them,---a---large---group---of---them,---and---they---had---passed---through---the---city---not---that---long---ago.

  A---couple---of---minutes---pass---and---the---awakened---thrasher---stops---screaming,---its---body---twitching---before---it---finally---dies.---The---clearing---is---now---devoid---of---living---thrashers,---no---sound---is---made---except---for---the---whirring---of---the---dreaded---discs---as---they---seem---to---move---through---the---air,---seemingly---hunting,---waiting---for---blood.

  Finally,---the---being’s---glowing---purple---eyes---turn---to---the---centaurs,---eyes---that---hold---unparalleled---strength---and---authority.

  And---with---unheard---authority,---the---flying---mount---flaps---its---wings,---turning---towards---the---centaurs---and---descending---while---moving---forward.---The---gas---surrounding---the---being---disperses---while---the---discs---in---the---area---converge---upon---him,---protecting---him---from---any---and---all---threats.

  The---beast---lands---about---ten---meters---from---Zoteal.---Its---purple---glowing---eyes---look---devoid---of---emotions.

  The---being---dismounts---and---takes---a---couple---of---steps---forward.

  Its---eyes---make---contact---with---his---own---as---he---smiles---while---lifting---an---eyebrow.

  Zoteal,---cursing---himself---for---his---mistake,---quickly---aligns---his---body---with---the---being---and---lowers---his---front---hooves,---bending---them---and---allowing---the---knees---to---touch---down---on---the---dirt.---He---then---slams---his---fist---onto---the---floor,---ignoring---the---strike---of---pain,---while---his---other---hand---touches---his---chest.---He---lowers---his---head---and---speaks.

  “I---am---Zoteal---of---Herd---‘Four---Hooves’.---I---kneel---in---respect---to---you---great---one.---I---thank---you---for---saving---my---life.”

  Immediately,---the---other---centaurs---copy---Zoteal,---kneeling---on---the---ground---in---the---same---posture---one---would---when---dealing---with---a---very---respected---[Herdmaster].

  “I---am---Sinian-”

  “I---am---Absan-”

  “I---am---Halistos-”

  The---other---centaurs---say---their---own---lines,---similar---to---Zoteal’s,---one---after---the---other.

  Finally,---as---the---last---one---finishes,---Zoteal---slightly---raises---his---head,---stopping---momentarily---as---he---sees---a---disapproving---frown---upon---the---being’s---head.

  Confused,---Zoteal---attempts---to---speak.

  “Great---one.---Is---something---wr-”

  “SILENCE.”

  Like---a---beast’s---roar,---the---clearing---shakes---as---the---sound---waves---bounce---off---the---trees,---resonating---with---them,---creating---what---Zoteal---would---consider---an---echo.---A---very---loud---and---painful---echo.

  “Your---brethren,---those---who---fought---and---bled---beside---you.---Those---currently---on---the---floor,---many---dead,---others---still---breathing,---but---barely.---They---can---be---saved.”

  The---being---stops,---a---feeling---takes---Zoteal’s---heart,---a---pressure.---It---makes---it---hard---for---him---to---breath,---the---being’s---words---feel---like---needles---stabbing---at---his---head.---Hundreds---of---needles.---Each---seemingly---laced---with---the---being’s---anger---and---disappointment.

  “Instead---you---lay---your---faces---down---in---the---dirt,---preaching---your---respect---to---me---when---it---is---your---dying---allies---who---truly---need---it.”

  The---being's---eyes---glow---a---menacing---purple---as---the---spinning---discs---increase---in---speed,---the---air---seemingly---vibrating---as---though---it---were---angry.---The---pressure---builds,---needles---multiplying.

  “STOP---BOWING---AND---FUCKING---SAVE---THEM---OR---I---WILL---HAVE---YOU---JOIN---THEM.”

  ___________________________

  Like---animals---fearing---a---predator,---the---centaurs---jump---into---the---air---and---quickly---turn,---looking---around---them---frantically,---finding---the---few---centaurs---still---breathing.

  And---while---that---is---happening,---I---am---glaring---at---them.

  Because---I’m---angry.---Actually---very---angry.---Heck,---I'm---outright---pissed---off---right---now.

  Which---is---annoying.---Because---when---I’m---angry,---actually---angry,---I---tend---to---kill---stuff.---But---my---anger---is---a---rare---occurrence.---Almost---never---happens.---People---dying,---it---happens.---Slavery,---it---happens.---Child---slavery…---ok,---that---pisses---me---off---and---requires---killing.

  This---though.---Forgetting---your---injured---allies?---That---also---pisses---me---off…---a---lot.---And---I---want---to---kill---things…---but---I---killed---everything---already.

  Which---is---pissing---me---off!

  “Halistos,---this---one’s---alive.---He’s---breathing,---help---me---lift---him.”

  I---watch---as---two---centaurs---with---reddish---brown---fur---move---dead---bodies,---allowing---them---to---lift---a---badly---injured---centaur---with---its---back---legs---bent---in---the---wrong---direction.---The---centaur---is---unconscious,---most---likely---from---pain.

  Another---centaur,---this---one---actually---awake---and---moaning---is---lifted---up---but---is---clearly---lacking---the---strength---to---stand.

  My---eyes---swerve,---gazing---as---the---centaurs---quickly---check---the---bodies,---looking---for---pulses,---finding---very---few,---others---dying---immediately---upon---being---moved.

  “Halistos,---I---need---you---to---run---back---into---the---city.---We're---going---to---need---[Healers]---and---a---lot---more---people.---We're---going---to---need---to---carry---them,”---the---one---named---Zoteal---exclaims,---quickly---applying---some---kind---of---paste---on---the---wound---before---covering---it---up---with---a---bandage.

  “That---will---not---be---necessary,”---I---say,---lifting---my---hand.

  The---centaurs---turn,---looking---at---me,---giving---me---a---confused---look.

  With---my---hands---lifted,---I---activate---my---[Loud---Voice]---skill,---a---skill---which---actually---just---increases---the---volume---of---any---sound---I---make.

  So---when---I---tap---my---fingers-

  *BOOOOM*

  A---loud---explosion---of---sound---goes---off.

  I---immediately---follow---that---sound---with---a---mental---order.

  With---perfect---coordination,---my---bird---undeads---takes---flight---from---afar,---jumping---off---the---branches---and---flying---to---my---location,---circling---above---me.

  Their---expressions---of---bewilderment---and---amazement---are---almost---enough---for---me---to---forget---my---earlier---anger.

  Almost…

  I---point---in---the---air,---“My---minions---will---be---able---to---carry---your---allies---towards---your---city.---I---doubt---they---will---survive---if---they---need---to---wait.”

  Zoteal---looks---at-
--me,---eyes---widening.---He---bows---his---head,---“Thank---you---great---one.”

  Ok.---Who---am---I---kidding?---How---can---I---be---angry---when---I’m---being---called---‘great---one’.

  …..

  Goddammit,---Franky---was---right---when---he---said---I---was---a---praise---whore.

  ______________________

  Zoteal---runs---through---the---clearing,---his---injuries---hurting,---but---are---nothing---compared---to---those---that---the---great---one---is---carrying.

  He---takes---a---look---above,---watching---as---the---monsters---subservient---to---the---great---one---carry---his---injured---brethren---in---their---claws.