Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “Months---eventually---passed.---Hundreds---of---cycles.---Less---and---less---battles---happened---as---both---sides---lost---an---equal---percentage---of---their---army.---But---everything---changed---when---Gladius---took---the---field.---Something---he---used---to---do---at---the---start---of---the---war,---but---he---eventually---stayed---away---when---the---coalition---would---send---enormous---forces---to---attempt---to---kill---him.---But---he---showed---up---and---activated---a---skill---which---he---had---gained---from---a---new---class.---A---class---known---as---the---[Herd---King].”

  “His---skills---strengthened---those---under---him.---They---fought---harder,---better,---and---it---showed---in---every---battle---he---was---in.---He---was---winning.---And---thus---the---coalition---was---forced---again---to---for---more---combatants.---It---was---at---this---moment---that---my---master---had---decided---to---finally---join---the---war.---He---was---asked---several---times---by---the---coalition,---but---refused---each---time.---He---disliked---war---and---combat.---He---did---not---wish---to---send---his---herd---to---die,---which---is---why---he---refused---every---request.---This---of---course---was---all---due---to---the---fact---that---he---believed---the---coalition---would---eventually---win.”

  “It---was---only---after---he---heard---about---Gladius’---new---class---did---he---finally---move.---He---told---me---that---a---[Herd---King]---will---always---spell---doom.---That---the---class---would---cause---a---reckoning---from---the---dungeon.---He---never---told---me---the---reason,---but---I---eventually---found---that---out---from---Her.”

  Who---the---fuck---is---her!?

  “Regardless---of---the---reason,---my---master---finally---left---his---mountain---home---and---I---followed---suit.---When---we---finally---joined---the---coalition,---it---was---apparent---to---me---that---morale---had---plummeted---drastically.---Wounded---[Soldiers]---were---forced---to---guard---during---the---night.---Arrows---were---made---of---only---wood.---Food---was---running---low.---Supplies---were---broken---and---needed---mending.---It---was---a---clusterfuck.---I---was---appalled.---And---so---was---my---master.---Se---he---walked---to---the---head---camp,---found---the---[Herdmasters]---who---were---leading---the---troops---smoking---from---a---bone---pipe.”

  “For---all---the---time---that---he---trained---me,---never---had---I---seen---him---get---angry---before.---He---took---one---look---at---them---and---stomped---out.---He---found---a---injured---[Soldier]---who---was---forced---to---guard---and---asked---him---where---he---gets---his---orders.---Apparently,---the---[Captains]---of---the---army---were---put---in---charge.---There---was---actually---no---true---leadership.---That---infuriated---my---mentor---so---much---that---he---started---yelling---orders---and---he---called---all---of---the---[Captains]---to---him.---All---of---these---were---young---men,---those---who---had---gained---levels---exceptionally---fast---and---had---had---their---classes---upgraded.---They---were---tired---and---lacked---organization,---forced---to---work---alongside---each---other.---So---my---mentor,---in---the---loudest,---most---authoritative---voice---I---have---ever---heard,---ordered---the---[Captains]---to---march---into---the---tent---and---to---drag---the---other---[Herdmasters]---out---by---their---tails.”

  Dragken---chuckles,---“But---the---[Captains]---were---all---confused.---They---did---not---know---Cornelius.---All---they---knew---was---that---he---was---a---[Herdmaster]---from---another---herd.---So---my---mentor,---annoyed,---walked---back---inside---the---tent---and---literally---dragged---one---of---the---[Herdmasters]---outside---by---their---tail.---I’m---not---exactly---sure---what---he---said---after.---It---was---probably---something---inspirational---which---caused---the---rest---of---the---[Captains]---to---follow---his---orders.---Unfortunately,---I---was---too---busy---laughing---at---the---time---over---the---fact---that---not---a---day---had---passed---and---my---mentor---was---having---the---other---[Herdmasters]---dragged---by---their---behinds---on---to---the---street.”

  Huh.---I’d---love---to---meet---this---Cornelius---guy.---I---like---his---style.

  “He---took---charge---of---the---whole---army---seemingly---overnight---while---I---was---told---to---deal---with---the---troublemakers.”

  Zoteal---chuckles,---“Dragken---the---breaker.”

  “Ughhhh,---don't---remind---me.”---Dragken---says,---his---cheeks---slightly---turning---red,---“I---hated---that---nickname.”

  Dragken---shakes---his---head---and---turns---to---me,---finding---a---confused---expression---on---my---face.

  *Sigh*

  “The---armies---did---not---only---have---military---classes.---They---also---had---many---fighting---classes,---many---of---which---had---exceeded---level---one---hundred.---These---men---tended---to---disobey---the---orders---of---the---[Captains],---thinking---themselves---superior---because---of---their---class.---My---job---was---to---make---sure---that---they---followed---orders.---On---many---occasions---I---have---had---to---physically---force---them---to---obey---orders.---This---involved---breaking---many---of---their---bones.---Hence---my---nickname.”

  Does---this---make---Dragken---named?---Janie---did---say---that---named---people---could---fight---armies.---But---Dragken---doesnt---seem---like---he’s---that---strong.

  “Now---then,---with---my---mentor’s---leadership,---the---war---shifted---once---more.---He---implemented---new---tactics,---created---fortifications,---better---armed---the---front---troops.---Started---organizing---the---other---herds---which---have---been---supplying---food---for---the---war---to---focus---less---on---everything---and---instead---on---what---will---grow---fast---and---last---long.---He---organized---transportation,---duties,---hunting---of---certain---monsters---for---armor.---Within---a---month---the---army---was---changed.---Gladius---was---no---longer---able---to---win---his---battles---as---easily---as---he---had---usually.---Long---pikes---were---used---to---stop---charges.---Shields---to---protect---against---archers.---Better---armor,---food,---morale.---All---of---it---made---a---difference.---Eventually,---Gladius---could---no---longer---lead---his---army---to---attack---as---it---would---no---longer---be---a---good---victory.---Gladeus’---skill,---though---powerful,---took---too---long---to---recharge.---Gladius---would---attack,---the---coalition---would---focus---purely---on---defending---the---attack---and---then---they---would---attack---back---once---the---skill---has---ended.---This---resulted---in---both---sides---losing---an---equal---amount---of---[Soldiers],---not---a---great---trade---for---Gladius.”

  “And---that---trade---became---even---worse---when---my---mentor’s---[Herdmaster]---class---upgraded---to---[General].---It---was---at---that---point---that---the---coalition---started---their---offensive.---My---mentor---led---the---battle,---activating---several---skills---which---allowed---the---coalition---forces---to---overwhelm---Gladius’.---It---was---the---first---of---many---winning---battles---to---follow,---battles---which---I---had---joined---myself.---Many---months---passed,---hundreds---of---cycles,---all---slowly---killing---off---Gladius’---army.---All---of---this---came---to---the---last---and---final---battle.”

  “The---battle---of---King’s---End.”---Zoteal---says.

  Dragken---nods,---frowning,---his---eyes---downcast.

  “My---mentor---led---the---attack.---He---led---the---entire---army,---practically---everyone.---I---followed---alongside---him.---His---larger---army---smashed---into---Gladius’…---and---kept---going.---He---did---not---stop---nor---did---he---retreat.---He---ran---forward,---leading---the---charge.---I---watched---from---behind---as---his---halberd---ripped---apart---the---enemy---army,---killing---several---with---each---swings,---barely---even---slowing---down.---Arrows---fell---towards---him,---many---finding---blood,---but---he---ignored---them.---He---just---kept---going,---refusing---to---stop.---He---yelled---skill---after---skill,---bolstering---his---charge.---I---slaughtered---alongside---him,---adrenaline---pumping---through---my---body.---Moments---passed---and---we---finally---reached---the---camp,---the---camp---that---Gladius---was---waiting---at.---He---was---ready---for---us.---
He---yelled---and---charged.---My---mentor’s---halberd---slammed---into---Gladius’---halberd.---They---clashed,---the---wind---whistled,---ground---trembled.---A---[King]---and---[General],---they---fought---with---impressive---speed---and---skill.---They---seemed---to---create---an---arena---around---them,---a---place---where---none---may---interfere.---Unfortunately,---the---several---arrow---wounds---my---mentor---had---taken---were---enough---to---slow---him---down.---Blood---seeped---from---his---wounds,---the---intense---speed---and---strength---required---to---wield---his---weapon---were---opening---up---the---wounds---further.---They---were---growing---larger.---He---was---losing---and---I---wasn't---sure---on---what---to---do.”

  Dragken---takes---a---deep---breath.

  “And---he---knew---that---as---well,---which---is---why---he---took---a---gamble.”

  “When---Gladius’---halberd---came---from---the---side,---my---mentor---did---not---either---dodge---or---block.---Instead,---he---jump---towards---it---and---swung.---Gladius’---halberd---cut---my---mentor---in---half,---my---mentor’s---own---halberd---swung---at---Gladius.---Gladius---attempted---to---dodge---but---he---was---too---overextended.---His---head---exploded.---Both---died---seemingly---at---the---same---time.”

  Dragken---takes---a---moment,---his---eyes---close---as---he---takes---a---trembling---breath.

  “With---their---leader---dead,---the---Golden---Hoof---surrendered.---It---was---a---victory,---but---few---of---our---people---cheered.---Instead---they---mourned.---My---mentor---had---sacrificed---himself---to---kill---Gladius.---The---Golden---Hoof---herd---was---dismantled,---the---leaders---were---killed---and---the---[Soldiers]---either---created---a---new---tribe---or---went---to---existing---ones.---As---for---me,---I---returned---to---my---own---herd---to---find---that---the---remaining---members---have---left---and---my---old---home---was---ransacked---of---all---valuables.---I---was---the---last---of---my---herd.---Most---of---my---family---was---dead---while---distant---relatives---had---left---at---the---beginning---of---the---war.---I---was---the---[Herdmaster]---without---a---herd.”

  “Wow,”---Zoteal---exclaims,---his---mind---was---completely---blown.---Never---had---he---heard---such---a---detailed---story---of---the---war.---This---was---a---firsthand---account.

  “Ok,---good---story.---I---would---give---it---a---seven---out---of---ten.---But---what---I---want---to---know,---before---even---you---started---telling---the---story---is---why---you---swore---allegiance---to---me…---and---who---the---hell---is---this---‘she’?”

  Annoyed---that---I---did---not---comment---about---the---war,---the---old---centaur---sighs.

  “After---the---war,---land---claims---started---popping---up.---Many---herds---had---been---disbanded,---others---completely---destroyed.---After---many---decades,---our---population---started---to---rebuild---itself,---eventually,---other---herds---started---wanting---to---take---my---meager---amount---of---land.---They---stated---I---didn't---need---it.---That---my---herd---was---only---me.---So---when---they---requested---it,---I---called---in---a---right---of---combat.---And---I---fought---those---herds---and---won.---My---training---under---Cornelius---allowed---me---to---defeat---those---twenty---combatants---with---ease.---Usually---it---was---one---tribe,---other---times---it---was---many.---Unfortunately,---the---[Herdmasters]---started---to---fear---me.---They---feared---my---strength.---Especially---when---they---heard---that---my---class---upgraded---to---[Heavy---Halberdier],---making---me---nigh---immune---to---arrows---when---I---was---armored.---So---instead---of---attempting---to---fight---me---directly,---I---was---poisoned---and---put---on---trial---in---front---of---the---[Herdmasters].---I---had---supporters,---mostly---those---from---the---war,---but---fear---can---make---people---do---things---they---never---would.”

  Dragken---shakes---his---head,---a---disappointed---look---on---his---face.

  “I---bled---and---fought---for---these---people.---And---instead---of---letting---an---old---centaur---live---his---life---in---his---little---amount---of---land,---they---found---it---better---to---end---my---life.---Thus,---I---was---brought---before---the---[Herdmasters],---some---stating---that---this---is---against---the---accords,---which---it---was.---But---most---feared---me.---So---they---sentenced---me---to---death.---Death---by---poison.---The---executioner---came,---carrying---a---venomous---claw,---one---obtained---from---a---Marsh---Scorpion.---I---attempted---to---escape---my---bindings,---but---they---were---woven---tightly---with---bone---mixed---in.---Though---I---doubt---it---would---have---mattered---if---I---did---escape.---I---wore---nothing---while---over---five---hundred---armored---guards---stood---behind---me.---The---[Herdmasters]---did---not---want---to---take---chances---with---me.---And---then,---as---the---claw---was---to---be---plunged---against---me…---she---entered…---and---everyone---stopped---to---look.”

  Dragken---smiles,---a---new---expression---I---had---never---seen---before.---A---vicious---one.

  “She---was---the---Matriarch---of---the---Kitsune.---She---marched---into---the---building---confidently,---powerfully,---her---six---tails---swishing---in---the---air.---Everyone---had---stopped,---they---all---looked---at---her,---but---none---could---speak.---It---was---the---same---as---speaking---to---Cornelius.---There---was---a---pressure,---something---which---could---affect---emotions.---Except---unlike---Cornelius',---she---affected---everyone,---including---the---army.---She---had---turned---to---me,---curious,---and---asked---what---is---happening.---So---I---explained---and---she---listened.---Nobody---else---dared---to---speak.---They---seemingly---couldn't.---After---I---was---done,---she---nodded---towards---me---and---turned---towards---the---[Herdmaster],---a---smile---on---her---face---the---entire---time.”

  “She---explained---to---them---that---she---had---come---to---share---knowledge---with---the---centaurs.---Knowledge---before---the---dungeon,---stating---that---the---dungeon---had---changed.---That---we---are---no---longer---restricted---to---only---our---floor.---Knowledge---about---magic,---writing,---language,---about---the---world---outside---the---dungeon.---She---created---a---ball---of---fire---and---lifted---it---into---the---air.---It---was---amazing---and---mesmerizing---to---see.---But---then---she---said---that---such---knowledge---is---dangerous---without---proper---self---control.---That---their---fear---was---a---hindrance.---That---it---could---have---disastrous---effects.---Of---course,---the---[Herdmasters]---were---attempting---to---explain---the---situation.---That---they---fear---another---[King].---So---she---told---them---that---if---they---want---knowledge,---then---they---must---free---me.”

  Dragken---smacks---his---hoof---on---the---floor---hard,---flicking---his---tail---in---anger.

  “The---idiots---refused,---some---even---saying---that---it---may---be---better---to---take---the---knowledge---by---force.”

  “So---she---laughed…---and---flicked---her---hand.---The---ground---trembled---and---a---geiser---of---fire---came,---sprouted---beneath---the---[Herdmasters],---killing---most---of---them.---I---watched---it---all---happen,---the---only---warning---was---the---slight---glow---of---one---of---her---tails.---An---orange---tail---with---red---stripes.---Five---hundred---centaurs---watched---the---whole---thing.---They---were---all---responsible---for---protecting---the---[Herdmasters],---and---they---had---failed.---A---moment---passed---and---what---was---probably---a---[Captain],---had---ordered---the---[Archers]---to---fire---on---her.---So---they---did.---And---then---another---of---her---tails---glowed,---the---one---with---white---stripes.---The---wind---immediately---picked---up,---trembling---with---explosive---force.---All---of---the---arrows---were---blown---away.---But---the---wind---didn't---die---down,---instead---it---sped---outwards.---Her---tail---glowed---lighter---and---then---a---cyclone---appeared---around---us,---we---were---at---its---center.---The---ground---trembled---as---the---wind---whistled,---picking---up---everything---around,---including---the---majority---of---the---army.---They---were---thrown---into---the---air.---Most---of---the---army---had---also---been---killed.”

  “And---as---this---all---was---happening,---she---c
ame---to---me,---cut---my---bindings---and---told---me---that---I---would---be---her---guide.”

  “And---a---guide---I---was.---We---travelled,---moving---from---town---to---town,---staying---long---enough---for---her---to---teach---magic---and---writing---to---those---that---were---curious.---None---of---coarse---dared---get---into---her---way.---They---had---heard---what---she---did---from---those---that---survived,---so---they---made---great---effort---to---show---utmost---respect.---It---was---thanks---to---her---that---we---now---have---[Healers]---and---[Mages].---During---the---decades---of---travel,---she---had---taught---me---how---to---use---aura,---a---skill---which---had---allowed---me---gain---a---great---deal---of---levels---in---my---[Herdmaster]---class.---And---then---she---left,---went---back---into---her---own---floor---above.---I---had---asked---to---follow---her,---that---I---would---swear---my---life---to---her.---But---she---refused---and---told---me---that---it---was---not---her---that---I---must---serve.”