by Jackson Bale
Dragken---blinks---several---times,---his---head---turning---towards---the---opening---of---his---home,---a---windowless---opening,---and---gazes---at---the---standing---undead---second-floor---boss…---my---new---minion.
“I---can't---regrow---that---dome.---Not---gonna---happen.---He's---coming---with---me.”
The---old---centaur---rolls---his---eyes,---refusing---to---continue---our---earlier---argument---over---turning---a---defeated---monster---that---had---killed---so---many---of---his---people---into---an---undead---minion.
Fuck---Morale!---I---want---a---goddamn---boss---monster.
He---sighs.
“So---what---was---your---theory---again?”
“Well,---it---seems---as---though---some---dungeon---mechanism---was---recently---broken---and---is---now---taking---a---much---more---active---approach---to---the---dungeon.---Levels---are---rising,---awakened---monsters---are---showing---up---and---it---even---looks---like---bosses---are---being---upgraded.---At---this---rate,---I---don't---think---this---dungeon---will---continue---to---be---habitable---for---your---species---in---the---next---ten---years.”
Dragken---swallows---hard,---hands---turning---into---fists.---A---hard---look---on---his---face.---The---old---centaur---feels---the---same---way.
“If---what---you---say---is---true,---then---you---are---going---to---have---to---conquer---this---dungeon---before---my---species---perishes.”
I---start---to---nod,---before---stopping,---confused---at---his---tone.
“You---say---that---like---the---centaurs---won't---be---helping---me.”
Dragken---frowns.
“The---fourth---floor,---where---the---Kitsune---live,---my---species---cannot---go.---The---magic---on---that---floor---will---drive---us---insane.---Only---the---lizards---and---the---Kitsune---can---travel---that---floor---unimpeded.”
I---kinda---figured---that---would---be---the---case.---This---dungeon---seems---to---be---designed---to---limit---species---from---traversing---to---the---next---floor---or---the---floor---below---it.---Minotaurs---can’t---travel---up---because---they---can't---see---through---the---dark,---neither---can---they---travel---down---due---to---how---slow---they---move---and---their---weakness---to---poison,---which---is,---(if---what---Dragken---says---is---true),---ever-present---on---the---third---floor.---The---centaurs,---on---the---other---hand,---can’t---travel---through---the---second---floor---due---to---the---terrain---being---so---congested.---A---large---dexterity---stat---is---required---for---the---centaurs---to---traverse---that---terrain---safely…---and---it---seems---the---fourth---floor---has---some---mind---magic---thing---going---for---it.
“Wait,---how---come---the---Gejan---can---travel---through---the---fourth---floor?”---I---ask.---Something---seems---to---not---add---up---there.
“You---don’t---know?---Their---scales---disperse---magic---around---them.”
Fuck.---What---the---hell,---Gejan---have---a---loaded---kit.---Powerful---resistant---scales,---magic---resistance,---night---vision,---they’re---carnivores,---I---wouldn't---even---be---surprised---if---they---have---resistance---to---poison---too.
“Fucking---hell,---they're---probably---descended---from---Dragons.”
Dragken---gives---me---a---confused---look.
“Massive---lizard---monsters---with---wings.---They---can---breathe---fire---and---are---most---likely---able---to---use---magic---strong---enough---to---level---cities.”
“I---would---not---wish---to---fight---one.”---The---old---centaur---nods.
Considering---my---luck,---I’m---probably---going---to---have---to---fight---a---swarm---of---them---or---something.
“Yea…---so---it---seems---like---I---won't---be---able---to---get---much---help---from---your---kind…---I’ll---still---need---their---loyalty---for---after---I---conquer---this---dungeon.---Centaurs---would---make---great---cavalry…---and---ranged---support.”
“The---[Herdmasters]---would---not---like---it.---They---dislike---sharing---power---and---are---very---against---a---centralized---figure,---especially---since---the---war.---Granted,---there---would---still---be---many---who---would---join---you,---and---I---can---get---an---army---for---you---together---thanks---to---my---old---reputation,---but---most---of---the---population---would---not---listen.”
*Snort*
“Don't---worry,---I---know---a---couple---of---things---about---politics.---I’m---sure---I---can---assist---you---in---taking---control---of---the---floor.”
“Me?”
*Chuckle*
“Of---course---you.---Gladius---was---smart,---but---he---lacked---what---it---truly---takes---to---become---a---leader.---He---adapted---well---and---abused---the---political---system,---but---that---isn't---enough.---He---was---too---forceful,---too---rushed.---Too---much---needless---blood---was---spilled.”
I---shake---my---head.
“I’ll---write---up---a---guide---for---you…---Wait,---you---guys---can---read---and---write---right?”
Dragken---immediately---gets---up,---grunting---in---annoyance---as---he---walks---towards---a---chest.---He---opens---it---up---and---comes---back---to---me---with---a---scroll.
“Yes,---she---taught---us---how---to---make---this…---papyrus.---She---also---imparted---the---knowledge---of---words---to---us.”
I---take---the---scroll---of---papyrus,---feeling---the---hardness---of---it.---I---open---it---up---and---gaze---at---the---words---splayed---out.
“This---is---Korean…---a---very---old---Korean.”
“I---do---not---know---this---Korean,---but---the---language---is---called---Hangeul.”---says---Dragken,---slwoly---sitting---back---down---on---the---soft---fur---blanket,---his---wounds---still---everpresent.
“Koreans---are---a---people---who---use---the---language---called---Hangeul.---Which---raises---a---lot---of---questions---for---me,---but---doesn't---change---much.---I---learned---over---thirty---languages---and---this---is---one---of---them.---Anyhow,---I’m---going---to---need---whatever---you---use---for---writing---and---probably---several---more---of---these---scrolls.”
I---stand---up,---stretching,---“I---should---have---a---full---plan---of---action---written---for---you---by---the---time---I---start---moving---to---the---fourth---floor.”
“What---will---you---do---now?”---Dragken---asks,---watching---me---as---I---head---towards---the---floor.
I---wave.
“I---have---twenty-nine---days---to---prepare---what---I---can---on---this---floor---before---going---to---the---next.---I---don't---fancy---my---chances---of---killing---the---boss---again,---especially---if---it---gains---another---ability---upgrade.”
I---stop,---about---to---leave,---“In---the---meantime,---prepare---to---abandon---this---city.---You---won't---be---able---to---hold---it---anymore.”
I---step---out.
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Cracking---my---neck---left---and---right,---I---allow---the---door---to---close---behind---me---before---gazing---towards---the---rather---busy---city.---Centaurs---run---to---and---fro,---working---quickly.---Some---are---cooking,---others---are---patrolling,---but---most---are---further---down,---towards---a---tented---area---which---houses---many---of---the---wounded.
Focusing---my---vision,---I---find---Janie,---already---hard---at---work,---healing---as---much---as---she---can---while…---yelling---at---the---centaurs…---and---pointing.
I---should---check---on---that…
“Ughhhh,---so---much---work---to---do.---Twenty-nine---days---to---take---over---all---the---Minotaur---tribes,---organize---a---training---regime---for---them,---create---a---military---leadership---and---train---them---enough---to---actually---do---shit…---FUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKK!”
I---yell---loudly,---attracting---the---attention---of---centaurs---near---me.
I---ignore---their---contemplative---and---confused---looks.---Instead,---I---stop---thinking---about---what---needs---to---be---done---and---instead---focus---on---what---I---want---to---get---done---now.
“RNG---gods,---if---you---actually---exist,---I’ll---fucking---kill---you---if---I---get---shit.”
I---allow---the---stat---messages---to---flow.
Congratulations!---You---have---defeated---Berosus.
For---being---the---first---[Hero]---to---kill---this---boss,---experience---gain---has---increased.
For---defeating---the---Boss---with---less---than---five---people,---experience---gain---is---slightly---increased.
Hmmm,---interesting.---Is---it---because---Janie---healed---me?---Does---she---count---as---a---part---of---my---group?
Error:---Dungeon---Boss---Entity---Berosus---has---been---forcefully---upgraded.
Scanning…..
Scanning…..
Discrepancy---in---Experience---Gain---notified.
Attempting---Fix…
Fix---found…
Doubling---All---experience---Gain---from---Death---of---Entity---Berosus.
So---the---RNG---gods---get---to---live…---for---now.
You---Have---Slain---Berosus.
Potential---of---Berosus---Absorbed.
Level---Up---x---21
You---are---now---a---level---73---[Necromancer]
Skills---Awarded:---[Distant---Undead],---[Fresh---Summoning],---[Create---Skeletal---Scout]]
Several---Skills---Upgraded:
-[Minor---Undead---Modification]---->---[Undead---Modification]
-[Create---Skeletal---Warrior]---->---[Create---Skeletal---Knight]
-[Corrosive---Fog]---->---[Poisonous---Corrosive---Fog]
OHHHH---YEAAAAHHHHHH
[Distant---Undead]
Ranged---Control---of---Undead---is---Greatly---Improved.
Mana---increase---due---to---range---lowered---by---500%
Useful,---but---the---increase---in---mana---sustain---is---negligible---already,---especially---considering---it---already---scales---with---willpower.
[Fresh---Summoning]
Resurrecting---a---recently---deceased---being---whose---level---is---less---than---50%---of---the---[Necromancers]---level---will---have---their---level---increased---by---50%
Useless---now---due---to---my---low---level,---but---I---can---see---this---becoming---extremely---powerful---in---the---future.
[Create---Skeletal---Scout]
Utilizing---the---bones---around---you,---create---an---undead---[Scout]---whose---level---matches---that---of---the---bones---used.---Mana---regen---cost---is---increased---if---undead---is---higher---level---than---necromancer---by---2%---per---level.
Err.---I---don't---know---how---to---feel---about---this---one.---Maybe---it---is---faster?---More---useful?---I’ll---have---to---remember---to---actually---try---it---out---and---test---it.
Level---Up---x---9
You---are---now---a---Level---50---[Noble]
Skill---Awarded:---[Presence---of---a---Leader]
Skill---Upgraded:---[Enhanced---Trainer]---->---[Subordinate---Trainer]
Minimum---Requirements---Met.
Class---Change---Available.
Class---Change---[Lord]---Available.
Please---see---a---[King]---or---[Queen]---for---class---upgrade.
Awwww---shit.---Where---the---fuck---am---I---supposed---to---find---Royalty?
[Presence---of---a---Leader]
Those---who---gaze---upon---your---form---favorably---will---instinctively---feel---compelled---to---follow---and---obey---you.
Oh,---this---is---actually---an---Aura---ability.---Not---bad,---should---be---rather---useful---for---the---next---couple---months.
[Training---Cascade]
While---all---those---who---follow---your---training---will---benefit---from---increased---Growth,---those---farthest---from---your---strength---will---find---themselves---growing---even---faster.
Is---strength---determined---by---level---difference---or---difference---in---stats?---I---wish---I---could---get---a---better---explanation.
Level---Up---x---12
You---are---now---a---level---48---[Hero]
Really?---That's---it?---I---get---nothing---after---12---freaking---levels?---That---is---such---bullshit.
Level---Up---x---4
You---are---now---a---level---34---[Enchanter]
I---wait---a---couple---of---seconds,---slightly---hoping---that---there---was---more.---That---I---might---get---some---other---skills---or---something.
Unfortunately,---it---seems---that---that---was---it.---[Hero]---seems---to---give---me---nothing---and---[Enchanter]---barely---levels---from---combat.---And---the---levels---I---gained---were---probably---because---my---enchanted---weapons---were---used---against---the---boss.
Which---were---utterly---useless---considering---the---only---enchant---I---can---use---is---[BloodLetting],---which---requires---a---wound---to---be---afflicted..
At---least---my---[Necromancer]---class---gained---so---many---levels---and---skills---alongside---my---[Noble]---class.
Though---I---am---annoyed---that---I---can't---just---outright---upgrade---to---[Lord].---Hopefully,---I---can---figure---something---out---later.---Maybe---the---class---can---upgrade---on---its---own---if---my---level---becomes---high---enough.
I---wonder---if---others---have---leveled---as---much---as---I---did…---Dear---god,---Janie---probably---leveled---about---as---much---as---I---did.
With---my---curiosity---increasing---exponentially,---I---start---to---slowly---jog---towards---Janie.
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“Gallis,---straighten---out---that---leg---slowly,---and---for---the---love---of---Eir,---if---it---is---not---straightening---easily,---don't---force---it.”
Her---hand---moves---quickly,---a---dagger---slashing---into---a---centaur---thigh,---opening---it---up.---The---centaur---squeals.
“Keep---him---down---and---don't---let---him---move,”---she---orders.
Immediately,---several---hands---fly---out---onto---the---centaur,---holding---him---down.
With---practiced---ease,---Janie’s---hands---moves---into---the---now---open---wound.---The---Centaur---squeals---loudly---in---pain---but---is---unable---to---do---anything---about---it.
Janie’s---hand---moves---around,---grabbing---bones,---shards---of---bones,---and---everything---else---out---of---place.---She---moves---it---around,---reconstructing---the---bone---inside---the---body.
Once---reconstructed,---she---closes---her---eyes.
“[Heal].”
An---influx---of---mana---travels---down---her---hands---and---straight---into---the---bone,---healing---it---back---together---with---impressive---speed.
She---stops---her---skill---once---the---bone---had---healed---and---removes---her---hand---from---the---wound---with---a---wet---slurp.
Considering---the---number---of---injured,---wasting---mana---on---flesh---wounds---that---can---be---healed---by---the---[Healers]---or---Ezina,---it’s---best---to---heal---what---they---can’t---and---move---on.
“He---is---good.---Take---him---away---and---bring---the---next---one.---And---don't---drop---them---again.”
Her---helpers,---[Soldiers]---with---high---stats---in---strength,---nod---to---her.---They---lift---the---injured---centaur---and---start---to---carry---them---to---where---the---centaur---[Healers]---are.
Janie---wipes---the---sweat---off---her---face---with---her---forearm---before---turning---and---plunging---her---hands---into---a---basin---of---water,---frowning---at---the---sight---of---it---having---turned---a---dark---red.
“I---need---a---fresh---basin---of---water.”
She---cleans---what---she---can---with---the---bloodied---water---and---then---dries---her---hand---on---a---dirty---cloth.