by Jackson Bale
“Should…---should---I---heal---you?”
No,---Just---let---me---grovel---in---pain---here---on---this---stone---floor.---I’m---clearly---enjoying---it.
“I---would---appreciate---it,---preferably---starting---with---my---left---leg.---The---one---that---looks---like---someone---tried---to---make---a---pretzel---out---of---it---but---failed---magnificently.”
She---nods---and---I---suppress---my---screams---as---she---straightens---out---my---leg---with---incredible---accuracy,---somehow---manipulating---my---bones---back---into---place---without---even---being---able---to---see---where---they---are.
“[Heal]”
And---then---she---starts---the---healing---process,---her---mana---enters---me---and---I---feel---my---bones---starting---to---move,---my---muscles---forcing---them---into---the---correct---place.---Now---that---the---process---has---started---I---estimate---I---will---be---fully---healed---in---about---five---minutes…---Hopefully,---Petyr---can---last---that---long.---Because---It---doesn't---look---like---he---can---win---alone.
_____________________________
Damiar---frowns---from---the---top---of---the---wall,---staring---down---the---battle---between---a---giant---spider---and---this---floors---boss.
He---feels---completely---useless.---All---of---his---skills---as---a---[Guard---Captain]---are---utterly---meaningless---in---this---battle.---The---whole---fight---he---had---been---working---to---organize---the---[Soldiers],---[Guards]---and---[Archers],---trying---to---simply---overwhelm---the---monster.---That---plan---however---had---been---a---complete---failure.---Its---hide---was---too---strong---to---do---any---damage---and---its---ability---to---heal---wounds---made---it---impossible---to---whittle---down.
Looking---away---from---the---battle,---he---turns---his---attention---to---the---Gejan---named---Tella---who---is---staring---not---at---the---fight---between---the---boss---and---spider,---but---towards---the---individual---being---healed.---The---[Hero]---Thoric.
“He---is---still---alive.---I’m---sure---he---will---make---a---full---recovery---after---a---couple---of---weeks,---so---do---not---worry---about---his---health”---Damiar---voices---confidently.---One---thing---the---[Guard---Captain]---has---learned---over---time---is---the---effectiveness---of---a---[Healer].---The---class---is---still---rather---new,---having---been---introduced---by---the---Kitsune---alongside---the---various---teachings---of---magic.
The---class---is---extremely---useful.---Being---able---to---heal---a---shattered---hoof---in---a---mere---few---weeks---instead---of---months---is---nothing---to---scoff---at.---Heck,---if---you---had---enough---[Healers]---casting---the---[Minor---Heal]---spell,---they---may---even---be---able---to---reduce---the---recovery---time---to---just---a---couple---of---days.
Tella---looks---away---from---Thoric,---gazing---instead---towards---the---[Guard---Captain]---who---is---feeling---just---as---useless---as---she---does.
“I---wouldn't---be---worried---about---him---if---it---took---him---that---long---to---heal---those---injuries.---However,---Janie---is---going---to---have---him---fully---healed---in---a---couple---of---minutes.”
Domair---shuffles---in---place---as---he---digests---her---words.---Minutes?---That---can't---be---possible.
Domair---turns---his---head---towards---the---women.
“[Analyse]’
Janie
Level---81---[Priestess]
Blessing---of---Eir.
Domair---slowly---nods,---having---gained---a---better---understanding---of---the---situation.---[Priestess]---is---clearly---a---far---more---powerful---class---than---[Healer].---On---top---of---that,---most---of---the---[Healers]---he---has---met---were---only---half---her---level.
“Then---shouldn't---you---instead---worry---less?---He---will---soon---be---fully---healed---and---able---to---walk---away---from---the---battle---on---his---own.”
Tella---chuckles.
“You---make---it---sound---like---he’s---going---to---actually---walk---away.”
She---shakes---her---head,---frowning---again,---”No,---he---will---more---than---likely---think---up---some---complicated---plan---and---join---the---battle---again.---Especially---since---it---seems---like---Petyr---can't---win---on---his---own.”
Confused,---Domair---once---again---turns---his---attention---towards---the---battle---and---watches---with---interest---as---the---giant---spider---named---Petyr---jumps---forward,---its---mouth---opening---and---releasing---a---net---of---web---that---covers---the---boss,---restricting---its---movement.
“The---web---isn't---strong---enough.”
He---voices---aloud---as---he---watches---the---boss---move---and---dismantle---the---web---with---seeming---ease.---The---sheer---strength---and---force---that---the---boss---is---able---to---produce---is---exceptionally---impressive---and---also---quite---horrifying.
“It---doesn't---need---to---be.”
Tella---says---from---besides---him.---Her---hands---tightly---woven---around---a---dagger---of---bone---while---her---eyes---are---focussed---upon---Petyr.
“Petyr---only---needs---a---single---opening.”
Before---Domair---can---ask---why,---he---finally---notices---what---is---happening.---Petyr---is---constantly---throwing---out---webs,---faster---than---the---boss---can---break---them.---The---web---is---slowing---the---boss---down.
He---then---watches---as---Petyr---jumps---forward,---the---ground---cracking---from---the---sheer---force---of---the---jump.---Not---even---a---moment---passes---before---Petyr---latches---onto---the---boss.---His---pincers---stick---out---and---he---rams---them---into---the---boss’s---side,---easily---piercing---through---the---tough---hide.---Petyr---waits---there---for---a---couple---of---seconds---before---jumping---away---just---as---fast,---leaving---a---trail---of---green---liquid---from---its---pincers---and---the---wound.
“He’s---poisoned---it!”---Domair---excitedly---yells---out.
Unfortunately,---what---happens---next---destroys---all---of---that---excitement.---The---wound---starts---to---visibly---heal…---and---the---green---venom---is---forced---out---of---its---massive---body.
“No…”
The---boss---screams---again---in---rage---and---rips---apart---the---remaining---webbing---which---had---restricted---its---movement.---It---glares---at---the---spider---with---anger---and---discontent---before---flicking---its---arms---out---again,---forcing---Petyr---to---once---again---dodge---from---side---to---side.
“This---is---bad.---I---don't---believe---we---can---win.---It's---clear---that---poison---is---ineffective.”
Domair---voices---quickly,---looking---around,---trying---to---think---up---a---plan.---He---could---order---the---[Archers]---to---release---more---volleys,---but---he---knows---from---before---that---it---would---be---useless---and---a---waste---of---effort.---The---boss---outright---ignored---the---arrows.---On---top---of---that,---sending---centaurs---to---attack---the---boss's---legs---will---do---nothing---but---enrage---it---and---cause---the---already---large---body---count---splayed---on---the---ground---to---further---increase.
Then---Domair---looks---around---and---finds---his---mentor,---Dragken,---standing---next---to---the---three---Gejan---from---earlier.---It's---clear---to---Domair---that---Dragken---is---out---of---the---fight;---his---armor---is---covered---in---cracks,---his---spear---is---blunted,and---he---barely---manages---to---remain---standing---up..---The---[Heavy---Halberdier]---will---not---be---able---to---do---much---in---his---current---state.
Except,---when---he---looks---at---Dragken’s---face---he---doesn’t---find---a---look---of---defeat.---Instead,---it---is---a---look---of---confusion.---He---is---talking---to---the---three---Gejan,---and---all---of---them---are---smiling.
“PETER,”
Domair---shudders---and---takes---a---step---back---as---his---whole---inner---being---trembles.---Fear---grips---him---as---his---eyes---focus---on---the---[Hero].---He---is---standing,---his---hand---in---the---air---and---his---face---completely---expressionless.---Devoid---of---emoti
on.
Every---fiber---of---his---being---is---telling---him---to---run.---To---flee.---And---that---feeling---only---continues---to---grow---stronger---the---longer---he---stares---at---the---[Hero].
Domair---takes---another---step---back.
“What---is---happening---here.”
He---turns---and---looks---at---Tella.---She---is---smiling,---her---breathing---erratic---and---her---eyes---utterly---focussed---on---the---[Hero].
She---chuckles,---a---low---throaty---chuckle.
“Thoric---is---pissed.---The---boss---is---as---good---as---dead.”
_____________________________________
Dragken’s---aura---trembles,---feeling---as---though---a---powerful---weight---is---slamming---in---on---it.---Memories---of---when---he---was---training---with---the---kitsune---flood---his---mind.---Specifically---of---the---aura---training---which---involved---his---own---aura---being---attacked---by---an---overwhelmingly---superior---force.
This---is---similar---to---that---time,---but---at---a---much---higher---concentration.---His---own---aura---only---just---barely---manages---to---keep---it---away.---He---can---sense---its---strength,---its---sheer---oppressive---power,---and---the---fact---that---it---is---not---focused---on---him---at---all.---This---is---merely---a---taste.
He---stares---at---the---origin---of---this---display---of---power,---at---the---[Hero]---who---stands---there,---emotionless,---calculating.---He---had---only---uttered---one---word,---but---still---every---eye---had---turned---to---him.---Dragken’s---own---people---are---cowering---in---fear,---but---the---Gejan…
“I---do---not---understand---what's---happening.---Has---something---changed?”---He---asks---the---three---smiling---Gejan---next---to---him,---all---of---whom---are---staring---at---the---[Hero]---in---anticipation.
“Heh,---watch---carefully.---The---commander---has---gotten---serious.”
Darrow---is---quick---to---answer,---the---largest---of---the---Gejan.---His---arms---are---folded---while---he---stares---forward---with---a---smile.---It's---clear---that---the---Gejan---are---affected---by---the---aura,---but---they---seem---to---perceive---it---differently---from---what---he---is---feeling.
Turning---back---towards---the---[Hero],---he---finds---the---man---mounting---the---spider---named---Petyr.---He---flattens---himself---on---its---back,---grabbing---onto---its---hairs---before---the---spider---accelerates.
“Watch---carefully---centaur.---This---is---why---we---follow---him.---Watch---as---your---boss---is---defeated.”
Dragken---doesn't---answer---the---red-scaled---Gejan,---instead,---he---focuses---on---the---spider---and---quickly---notices---that---its---movements---had---completely---changed,---having---seemingly---become---random.---The---spider---is---jumping---around,---avoiding---the---boss’s---strikes---while---releasing---strings---of---web---which---are---wrapping---around---the---buildings---surrounding---the---boss.---These---threads---are---thicker,---probably---stronger---too---compared---to---what---was---used---earlier.---This---scene---goes---on---for---many---minutes,---resulting---in---several---layers---of---web---connected---between---the---buildings.---This---creates---what---Dragken---would---consider---to---be---an---arena;---with---Petyr---and---the---boss---in---its---center.
“The---birds---are---moving,---it---will---happen---soon.”
The---red-scaled---Gejan---voices---out---loud,---causing---Dragken---to---look---up.---Above---the---boss,---circling---around---are---about---a---dozen---flying---undead,---flying---quickly,---their---wings---flapping---with---tremendous---speed.
“There!”
Looking---down,---Dragken---watches---as---the---spider---jumps---towards---the---boss,---landing---mere---feet---away---from---it.---The---spider's---legs---bend…---and---then---extend,---cracking---the---ground---below---it.---The---spider---rises---into---the---air,---straight---up,---above---the---boss.
Dragken---watches,---his---mouth---agape---as---the---arena---of---web---starts---to---tighten---quickly,---breaking---the---buildings---and---flicking---towards---the---center,---wrapping---several---layers---of---web---around---the---boss…---constricting---right---under---the---domed---crystal---shell---which---houses---its---head.
And---then,---to---its---utter---surprise,---the---boss---rises---into---the---air.
Looking---up,---Dragken---finds---a---great---deal---of---webbing---connected---to---the---spider,---which---is---currently---being---carried---by---several---of---the---large---flying---undead.
As---he---stares---at---the---spider---flying---in---the---air,---he---watches---as---the---[Hero]---slides---down,---off---the---spider’s---back---and---lands---atop---the---boss’s---domed---head.
“Heh,---that's---one---way---to---do---it.”
Dragken---is---forced---to---agree---with---Lilly---as---he---watches---the---boss,---a---monster---that---could---withstand---an---immeasurable---amount---of---force,---being---choked---to---death---thanks---to---its---own---extreme---weight.
All---the---while---the---[Hero]---sits---on---top---of---its---head,---gazing---out---towards---the---city.---His---one---leg---out,---the---other---bent---in,---while---wearing---a---strong---gaze,---one---bordering---on---looking---bored.
He---continues---to---keep---this---gaze---the---entire---time---as---the---boss---below---him---panics,---wiggling---its---body---erratically.---Its---movement---however---quickly---starts---to---slow---down---as---it---becomes---incapable---of---breathing.---Regeneration---requires---resources,---and---air---is---one---of---them.---Stop---the---acquisition---of---that---resource,---and---death---will---soon---follow.
And---that---is---what---happens---in---this---case---as---well
The---boss---stops---moving,---the---[Hero]---smiles---and---a---moment---after,---loud---cheering---commences.---The---monster---has---died---and---still,---Dragken---can---do---nothing---but---stare---at---the---corps.---He---marvels---at---the---ingenuity---necessary---to---achieve---this---victory,---at---the---planning---involved---in---creating---this---outcome.---He---could---never---compare,---but---such---is---life.---Some---beings---are---born---to---live---a---peaceful---life,---others---a---violent---one,---and---then---there---are---those---who---are---fated---to---change---the---world.
Chapter---Fourty:---Tyrant
“It---makes---sense.---Anathema---informed---me---that---something---had---changed---in---the---dungeon.---That---things---were---different---now.”
“Who?”
Oh---right.---He---wouldn't---know---about---her.
“Anathema---is---the---current---leader---of---the---Gejan---on---the---first---floor.---She,---like---you---Dragken,---was---trained---by---the---Kitsune.”
The---old---centaur---quickly---perks---up,---his---posture---improving---slightly---compared---to---his---previous---lack---of---a---proper---sitting---position.---Currently,---the---old---fart---is---nursing---his---wounds,---refusing---to---be---healed---until---all---of---the---other---injured---are---taken---care---of.---The---battle---had---created---a---great---many---wounded.
“I---see.---I---would---enjoy---speaking---with---her---some---time.”
“You---will---eventually.---But---first,---you’re---sure---that---the---boss---didn't---formerly---have---the---ability---to---regenerate?”
Dragken---nods.
“As---far---as---I---know,---the---boss---has---never---had---that---ability,---otherwise---I---doubt---this---city---would---exist.”
“Same---for---the---appearance---of---those---awakened?”
“Yes,---they---exist---on---the---third---floor,---but---not---on---the---second.---Their---presence---is---disconcerting,---especially---considering---the---information---I---obtained---from---the---third---floor.---Apparently,---the---number---of---awakened---are---increasing,---and---those---idiot---[Herdmasters]---are---calling---it---a---good---thing.”---he---says,---snorting---in---displeasure---at---the---end---of---his---last---sentence.---Apparently,---he---very---much---dislikes---the---centaur---leadership.
&nbs
p; “Good?---How---is---an---increase---in---enraged,---organized,---dangerous---monsters---a---good---thing?”
Dragken---scratches---his---side,---ears---flickering,---“It's---all---because---of---those---stupid---crystals.---Apparently---creating---enchanted---items---is---far---more---important---than---keeping---people---alive.---The---idiots,---all---of---th----is---something---wrong?”
Seriously?---Monster---crystals---are---used---for---enchanting?---Fucking---hell.---Is---that---why---I've---been---struggling---to---progress---my---class?---Ughhhhh,---goddammit.
I---quickly---stand---up,---turn,---and---then---stop.
I---sit---back---down---and---turn---my---attention---back---towards---the---now---very---confused---centaur.
“I---just---remembered---I---have---no---crystals---to---try---enchanting---with.”