Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  This---specific---angel---has---been---blessed---with---several---healing---related---abilities.

  The---angel---moves---its---head---which---is---completely---devoid---of---eyes,---looking---around---until---it---settles---on---me.

  It---immediately---raises---its---spear---toward---me.

  Welp,---she---was---right.---She---did---say---that---Angels---can---sense---powerful---dark---classes---and---will---become---immediately---hostile---to---them.---Sucks---being---a---[Necromancer]---sometimes.

  “Alright---Janie,---you---can---unsumm----what…”

  The---Angel---lowers---its---spear…---and---then---raises---it…---and---then---lowers---it.

  I---look---at---Janie---who---is---looking---at---the---Angel---as---it---just---keeps---raising---and---lowering---its---arm.---She---is---completely---confused---as---I---am.

  “I---don't---suppose---you---know---what's---happening?”---I---ask.

  “I'm…---I’m---not---sure,”---she---says,---frowning.

  I---continue---to---look---at---it,---watching---as---the---Angel---moves---like---a---broken---record,---raising---and---lowering---its---hand,---posture---changing---from---passive---to---aggressive---every---second.

  I---flick---back---my---hair,---“I---don't---suppose---you---can---ask---it?---Wait---does---it---even---talk?”

  “Um,---Ezina,---what---are---you---doing?”

  The---Angel---stiffens---momentarily---before---its---head---turns---to---Janie.

  “Attempting---to---destroy---entity---[Necromancer]”---the---sound---coming---from---the---angel---is---both---female---and---very---crisp.---It---seems---to---not---come---from---the---head---but---instead---from---the---entire---body.

  “Ok…---so---why---aren't---you---attacking?”

  “Cannot---attack---[Hero]---entity---without---higher---authority.”

  Janie---looks---to---me,---confused.---Still---not---able---to---understand---what---is---going---on.

  “I---understand---the---problem.---It's---kinda---a---programming---issue.---The---angel---designates---me---as---a---target---and---attempts---to---engage---combat.---But---as---it---attempts---to---engage---combat,---it---immediately---designates---me---as---an---allie.---Pretty---sure---its---a---problem---with---me---having---two---classes---that---shouldn't---be---mixable.”

  “Ok…---I---understand.”

  Really?---You---look---like---you’re---more---confused---now---than---before.---Whatever.

  “Anyways,---what---can---it---do?”

  “It---can---fight---with---the---spear---and---can---use---the---spell---[Heal].---Also,---wounds---seem---to---naturally---heal---around---her…---and---that's---all---I---know.---I---haven't---tested---that---much.”

  I---nod.

  In---other---words,---it's---a---summon---that---heals---and---has---combat---abilities---to---defend---itself.---And---considering---its---level---is---the---same---as---Janie’s,---then…---holy---shit---she’s---a---level---81---[Priestess]---already.---[Advanced---Analyze].

  Janie

  Level---81---[Priestess]]

  Janie---is---an---orphan---who---had---been---adopted---by---the---church---of---Eir---where---she---grew---up---in.---She---has---sworn---to---her---Goddess---Eir---and---devoutly---follows---her---teachings---which---include---healing---those---who---need---it.---Eventually,---the---church---had---sold---her---off---to---a---[Slaver]---where---she---eventually---found---herself---owned---by---a---[Hero].

  Strength

  9

  Dexterity

  12

  Stamina

  24

  Perception

  53

  Endurance

  8

  Vitality

  92

  Mana

  173

  M/regen

  1.2

  Affinity

  1

  Intelligence

  61

  Willpower

  473

  Soul

  171

  Blessing---of---Eir:---Increased---healing---Potency

  Fuck---me.---She’s---leveling---like---a---madwoman.

  “Janie,---how---the---hell---are---you---leveling---so---fast?---Did---you---get---other---skills---too?---Last---I---remember---you---were---only---in---your---forties.”

  She---smiles---at---me,---her---white---teeth---glittering---with---confidence.---A---far---cry---from---when---I---found---her.---Now---she---is---easily---starting---to---look---like---a---proper---woman…---a---very---proper---woman.

  “Yes!---I---gained---soooo---many---levels---working---on---the---Minotaurs.---Did---you---know---they---have---four---hearts---and---two---stomachs?---They---even---have---a---smaller---secondary---set---of---lungs.---Even---their---bone---structure---is---so---much---more---different.”

  So---all---she---has---to---do---is---heal---another---species---and---she---gains---levels?---That's---so---unfair.---I---literally---have---to---kill---swarms---of---enemies---just---to---gain---a---level.---I---barely---even---gain---experience---raising---the---dead---anymore.

  “That's---great,---I’m---sure---you’ll---get---even---more---levels---when---you---start---healing---the---Centaurs---today.”

  Her---smile---falters,---replaced---by---a---look---of---confusion.

  “What---Centaurs?”

  Ohhhhh,---right.---I---forgot---to---mention---them.

  “Yeaaaaa,---so---things---happened---yesterday.---I---saved---a---group---of---them---from---death,---carried---their---injured---to---a---city,---had---a---powerful---centaur---leader---swear---eternal---loyalty---to---me---and---then---listened---to---a---shortened---version---of---his---life---history---for---twelve---hours…”

  My---flying---undead---lands---next---to---me,---Petyr---already---sitting---on---top---of---it.

  “And---I---also---promised---to---bring---them---some---healing---help.”

  Janie---stands---there,---her---eyes---looking---to---mine,---to---the---undead,---to---the---broken---angel,---and---then---back---to---mine.---Her---mouth---is---wide---open---in---surprise.

  ___________________________________________________

  Hugging---Thoric---for---dear---life,---she---opens---her---eyes---to---the---side,---watching---as---the---trees---pass---quickly---from---her---vision.---She---closes---them---immediately,---only---to---open---them---again---a---minute---later.

  Flying---is---not---something---she---likes.---It---is---definitely---not---something---she---will---‘get---used---to’---as---Thoric---had---told---her.

  She---quickly---opens---her---eyes,---doing---her---best---to---not---look---down,---instead,---looking---behind---her,---gazing---jealousy---at---the---others---as---they---relax---on---their---mounts,---seemingly---indifferent---of---being---several---dozen---feet---in---the---air.---Heck,---Threm---and---Tella---are---relaxedly---talking---with---each---other,---Lilly---is---standing---on---the---mount,---seemingly---enjoying---the---feel---of---the---wind---striking---her---face.

  And---Darrow…---he’s---asleep.

  Janie---quickly---closes---her---eyes---and---curses---herself---for---agreeing---to---be---flown---to---the---other---city.---So---what---if---it---would---take---several---days---to---get---there---from---just---walking.---They---clearly---have---[Healers]---over---at---the---other---city.---There---probably---much---better---than---her---as---well.---Clearly,---she---doesn't---have---to---be---there.

  “Oh---shit,---this---looks---bad.---Really---bad.---Goddamit---Zorren---why---are---you---afraid---of---goddam---flying.---Really---could---use---you---right---now.”

  “What's---bad?”---she---asks---Thoric,---her---eyes---still---shut.

  “Well,---it's---hard---to---describe,---so---it---might---be---best---for---you---to---look---in---front---of---us.”

  Taking---a---deep---breath,---Janie---leans---forward,---opens---her---eyes---and---looks---over---Thoric’s---shoulder.

  She---sees---the---city.---A---big---city---similar---to---her---own,--
-except---the---walls---are---larger.---But---that's---not---what---keeps---her---attention.---Not---the---Centaurs---or---the---multitude---of---homes---and---buildings---in---the---city.---No,---what---attracts---her---attention---is---the---massive---monster---of---a---beast---which---is---ripping---apart---the---city---from---the---inside.---Rampaging,---destroying---homes,---killing,---roaring.

  Janie---moves---her---eyes---away---from---the---monster---and---instead---looks---down,---contemplating---if---her---chances---of---surviving---if---she---jumped.

  Probably---much---higher---than---going---anywhere---near---the---city.

  “Huh…---I’m---not---afraid---of---heights---anymore.”

  Chapter---Thirty---Eight:---Champion

  “Dragken,---the---meats---have---been---placed---near---the---spawning---grounds.”

  Dragken---nods---towards---the---[Soldier],”---Good,---be---ready---for---anything.---Too---much---has---happened---recently---and---I---fear---something---may---be---wrong.”

  The---soldier---solutes---before---joining---his---others---who---stand---ready---and---armed.---All---of---these---are---centaurs---who---have---fought---in---the---war---and---have---chosen---to---work---alongside---him---and---under---his---orders.---This---respect---and---admiration---are---one---of---the---reasons---that---Dragken---can---ignore---the---nagging---and---insults---from---the---other---[Herdmasters].---The---looks---of---respect---from---these---old---timers---and---even---their---children---is---something---that---Dragken---can---always---look---forward---to.

  “When---you---say---it---like---that,---then---something---is---going---to---happen.”

  Turning---to---his---right,---Dragken---meets---Damiar’s---hard---eyes.---It---is---clear---the---[Guard---Captain]---is---taking---Dragken’s---unease---very---seriously.

  “My---feelings---aren't---always---right---Damiar.---I---doubt---something---would---have---changed---with---the---boss---this---time.”

  “What---if---it---doesn't---eat---the---poisoned---meat?---What---if---it---instead---chooses---to---leave---its---cave---first.---Will---you---be---able---to---kill---it?”

  Dragken---grunts.---All---of---these---are---good---questions---and---fears---which---he---also---shares.---The---boss---monster---of---this---floor---would---not---be---an---easy---one---to---defeat,---at---least---theoretically.---Granted---Dragken---has---not---seen---the---beast---alive,---only---dead.---And---a---good---thing---too.---The---beasts---armored---hide---is---one---of---the---most---resilient---he---has---ever---faced.---Even---his---weapon,---powerful---it---may---be,---is---only---able---to---cut---through---that---hide---when---enforced---with---a---skill.

  “It---should---eat---the---meat---and---die---as---it---has---always---done…---and---no,---I---doubt---I---could---best---it---alone.”

  “What---about---with---the---help---from---[Archers]---or---[Rangers]?”

  Dragken---looks---around,---finding---that---most---people---in---the---city---are---awake---and---armed---with---bows.---Apparently,---Damiar---had---gone---ahead---and---roused---the---city---into---possible---combat.

  “Damiar,---bows---aren't---going---to---be---able---to---penetrate---the---armor---and---especially---the---crystal---head.”

  Damiar---looks---towards---the---entrance---to---the---third---floor,---a---big---entrance---that---extends---into---a---large---cave---where---the---boss---monster---for---this---floor---will---form---into---being.

  “Still,---I---cant---ju-”

  “Mwahhhhhhhhhhhh”

  A---loud---laugh---echoes---from---the---cavern,---exiting---outward---and---hitting---the---city.

  All---of---the---inhabitants---unsheathe---their---weapons,---staring---at---the---entrance.---Bow---unlocked---and---nocked,---weapons---unsheathed,---noncombatants---entering---buildings.---They---all---stand---ready,---waiting.

  And---then---they---hear---the---squishing---sound,---of---meat---being---ripped---apart.

  And---like---a---sound---going---off,---a---relieved---sound---comes---from---the---city,---even---Dragken---lets---go---of---a---breath---he---had---been---holding.

  “See---Damiar,---there---was---nothing---to---worry---about.---The---beast---will---eat---and---die---from---the---poisoned---meat.”

  Damiar---nods---towards---Dragken,---finally---able---to---relax,---happy---that---Dragken’s---feelings---were---wrong---this---time.

  “You---were---right.---But---I---still---think---it---is---better---to---be---prepared---than---not.---That---is---something---you---had---taught---me,---though---I---find---it---annoying---that---it---doesn't---always---apply---to---you.”

  Dragken---chuckles---before---shrugging.

  “When---you---get---to---my---age,---you---find---that---over---preparation---tends---to---lead---to---too---many---disappointments.”

  Damir---rolls---his---eyes---and---stomps---the---ground---in---mock---annoyance.

  “And---I’m---guessing---your---meeting---with---your---new---master---wasn't---disappointing?”

  Dragken---smiles---towards---Damiar,---a---truly---happy---one.---A---smile---Damiar---remembers---only---once,---and---that---was---when---he---himself---became---a---[Guard---Captain].---Truly---the---old---man---was---happy---and---proud.

  “He---was---and---he---wasn't.---I---do---hold---a---grudge---towards---him---for---not---fully---listening---to---my---story.---But---that's---just---me---being---old.---Now---what---was---amazing---was---his---entire---presence.---He---had---utter---confidence---and---command---while---giving---no---openings---to---an---attack.---His---muscles---were---always---tense---and---any---thought---I---had---of---attacking---him---immediately---told---me---that---I---would---fail.---His---presence---was---just---as---dominating---as---a---Kitsune…---no,---possibly---even---more.”

  Damairs’---mouth---opens---wide---in---amazement,---a---childish---thing---for---him---to---do,---but---he---was---raised---to---absolutely---respect---and---to---fear---the---Kitsune.---Beings---of---immense---power---and---strength,---able---to---rend---armies---with---but---a---turning---of---there---hands.---To---be---compared---to---such---powerful---beings…

  “Then---that---Thoric---could---have---killed---us---all.”

  Dragken---shakes---his---head,---“No,---he---is---actually---weaker---than---me.”

  Damiar---lifts---an---eyebrow,---his---ears---flutter---in---annoyance.

  “Did---you---not---say---he---was---stronger---than---the---kitsune?”

  The---old---centaur---smiles---elusively---to---the---annoyance---of---Damiar.

  “In---combat,---he---is---rather---weak---compared---to---me.---Smart,---tactical,---knowledgeable,---charismatic,---now---those---are---just---a---couple---things---that---none---but---the---Kitsune---can---compete---in.”

  Dragken---stomps---the---ground,---indenting---it---slightly,---”But---his---stats---are---lacking.---Yours---are---probably---higher---than---his,---possibly---by---many---times.”

  “What---if---he---uses---those---monsters.---Those---birds.”---Damiar---asks---thoughtfully,---trying---his---best---to---not---sound---too---confused.

  “Weak.---They---can---swarm,---but---I---am---at---the---level---of---being---relatively---immune---to---fodder.”

  “So---in---other---words,---you---can---defeat---him---easily?”

  “No,---I---can't.”

  Damiar---throws---his---hands---up---in---the---air,---turning---and---walking---away---from---the---smiling---old---fart---he---respects---so---much.---He---can---only---listen---to---the---man's---antics---for---so---long---before---needing---to---catch---a---breath.

  “Oh---come---now---Damiar,---you---used---to---be---able---to---listen---to---me---for---much---longer.”

  Damiar---stops---and---turns---to---say---something---rather---disrespectful---towards---the---commander---of---the---city,---but---stops.---Instead,---his---eyes---look---past---the---old---centaur,---towards---the---cave…---and---the---massive---head---of---a---beast,---completely---covered---in---a---clear---crystal--
-dome.