Legacy of Chaos
Page 67
The---grandfather---sighs,---relieved---at---the---man's---secrecy.
“By---the---way---grandpa,---where---have---you---been---all---this---time?---Last---time---I---remember---you---being---here---was---maybe---six---years---ago?”---Alissa---asks.
“Well,---that---sounds---about---right.---I---left---the---North---here---and---traveled---far---south,---towards---the---mists.---My---old---bones---felt---that---things---were---changing,---so---I---had---to---be---sure.---And---something---felt---very---wrong.”
“Ohhhh,---what---was---wrong?”---Alissa---asks,---very---curious.
“Everything.---The---mana---concentration---was---plummeting.---War---was---ever---present.---The---gods---are---now---very---active.---I---ended---up---leaving---my---student---behind---to---get---back---here,---up---North.---I---refuse---to---be---used---as---a---gods---pawn---again.”
“Used?---The---gods---used---you?---Wait,---you---hate---the---gods?”---Alissa---exclaims,---her---eyes---wide---open.
“Hate?---No.---More---like---despise.---At---least---most---of---them.---I’m---ok---with---a---lot---of---the---minor---gods---like---Eir,---but---Zeus---and---Odin,---they---are---the---worst.---I’m---just---glad---that---the---North---up---here---puts---very---little---emphasis---on---the---gods.---It---is---a---good---place---to---escape---their---petty---rivalries---and---manipulative---schemes.”
“What---about---your---student?---Your---Disciple?---You---left---them?---Don't---they---need---training?”
The---grandfather---grunts.
“I---offered---to---take---her---with---me,---but---she---refused.---Said---she---had---plans---and---simply---thanked---me---for---training---her.”
The---old---man---frowns,---shaking---his---head.---“She---has---so---much---potential.---Probably---my---best---student---so---far.---Gained---so---many---levels---so---quickly.”
“Ohhhh,---what---was---her---name?”---Alissa---asks.
The---grandfather---smiles,---looking---at---the---bottom---of---his---empty---cup.
“Her---name---was---Christine---Rose.”
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A---man,---covered---in---a---white---cloak---made---out---of---the---hide---of---a---Frost---Bear---walks---steadily---through---the---forest.---On---his---shoulder---is---a---wolf.---It---is---a---big---beast,---powerful,---able---to---kill---with---ease.---One---of---the---many---predators---of---the---North.---Its---claws---are---able---to---rend---metal,---its---hide---is---strong---enough---for---unsharpened---weapons---to---merely---bounce---off.---Unfortunately,---this---specific---wolf---is---dead.---Its---head---has---been---crushed.
The---man---walks---a---nice,---easy---pace,---as---if---the---three---hundred---pound---wolf---barely---weighs---anything.---On---his---other---shoulder---he---carries---about---twenty---pieces---of---firewood.---This---too---does---not---place---a---significant---burden---upon---him.
And---on---the---man’s---back---is---an---ax,---a---strong---steel---ax.---The---same---ax---that---had---cut---a---tree---down---and---chopped---it---up---with---ease.
Artyom’s---perpetually---frowning---face---smiles---slightly---as---he---finally---sees---his---home.---It---is---a---temporary---one,---but---it---had---helped---him---come---to---terms---with---his---predicament.---Showing---up---naked---in---a---strange---land,---with---his---body---seemingly---having---been---changed---to---become---even---more---muscular,---and---screens---popping---up---in---front---of---his---eyes.
That---was---probably---the---weirdest---part.---The---screens---kind---of---look---like---those---from---a---videogame---that---his---sons---liked---to---play.
Artyom---frowns,---remembering---his---two---sons---and---his---daughter---back---in---Russia.---He---loves---them---and---misses---them.---He---dearly---hopes---that---they---are---ok.---Wishes---he---can---see---them.---But---as---of---right---now,---it---seems---he---is---in---a---completely---different---world.---Best---to---keep---a---low---profile---and---obtain---as---much---information---as---possible---first.
Speaking---of---information…
Artyom---Smirnov
Level---38---[Fist---Warrior]
Level---13---[Hero]
Level---18---[Hunter]
Sense---Prey
Thickened---Endurance
Fleet---Feet
Impacting---Strike
Steel---Fists
Strength
279
Dexterity
22
Stamina
28
Perception
41
Endurance
31
Vitality
112
Mana
210
M/regen
1.2
Affinity
6
Intelligence
67
Willpower
350
Soul
410
He---has---looked---at---it---many---times,---but---he---still---doesn't---fully---understand---it.---He---understands---strength,---endurance,---dexterity,---stamina,---even---perception.---But---everything---else---is---confusing.---He---has---no---idea---what---other---people’s---screens---look---like,---nor---what---is---considered---normal.---He---knows---that---his---strength---is---extremely---abnormal.---Alissa---had---gushed---about---it---to---him.---Asking---if---he---had---a---[Major---Strength]---Bloodline---or---something.---He---has---no---clue---what---that---is.
Military---training---prepares---people---for---many---things,---but---not---for---a---world---like---this.---One---which---seems---to---be---modeled---after---a---video---game.---With---levels---and---skills.---Artyom---feels---very---inadequate.
All---he---can---do---is---be---utterly---thankful---that---Alyssa---is---being---so---helpful---and---respectful---to---him.---If---only---she---had---been---a---bit---older,---then---Artyom---might---have---accepted---her---advances.
Unfortunately,---he---is---over---twenty---years---her---elder.---Much---too---old---for---such---a---young---girl.
Looking---up,---Artyom---notices---an---elderly---man---exiting---the---house.---It---is---a---one-story---house---that---has---the---look---of---a---very---sturdy---hut.---The---elder,---who---he---now---recognizes---as---Alyssa’s---grandfather,---makes---a---beeline---towards---him.---Artyom---stops,---eyeing---the---man.---The---man---stops---ten---feet---away---from---him,---looking---at---him.
This---man,---this---old---grandfather,---he---reminds---Artyom---of---his---drill---instructor---in---Russia.---Dangerous,---but---respectable.
“Is---something---the---problem---Zeek?”---Artyom---voices---first.
“There---are---many---problems,---a---lot---of---which---I’m---sure---have---some---relation---to---you…---[Hero].”
With---a---quick---movement,---Artyom---drops---what---he---is---holding---and---without---missing---a---beat,---draws---his---ax.
And---then---he---blinks.
And---the---old---grandfather---is---gone.
*Bang*
Something---strikes---his---chest---and---Artyom---is---sent---flying,---the---ax---leaving---his---grip.
“Come---now,---young---man.---You---have---the---[Fist---Warrior]---class---but---you---still---end---up---drawing---a---weapon.”
Artyom,---hurt,---gets---up,---frowning---at---the---old---man---who---stands---before---him,---his---hands---clasped---behind---his---back.
Artyom---raises---his---fists.
“Hmmm,---decent---posture.---Not---perfect,---but---a---far---cry---from---a---[Fistfighter].---Lets---see---your---instincts.”
The---old---man---disappears,---the---wind---howls.
Without---thinking,---Artyom---instinctively---raises---his---right---arm.
*Bang*
His---right---arm---is---struck,---the---force---behind---the---blow---sends---him---flying.---But---this---time,---instead---of---falling---prone,---Artyom---controls---his---fall,---doing---a---backwards---roll---before---
getting---on---his---feet.
He---grabs---his---right---arm---with---his---left,---touches---the---elbow,---and---pushes.
*Click*
His---dislocated---shoulder---is---relocated---back---into---place.---All---in---one---swift,---trained,---movement.
*Clap,---Clap,---Clap*
Turning---around---quickly,---fists---up,---he---finds---the---old---man,---clapping,---with---a---smile---on---his---face.
“Impressive,---truly---impressive.---You---actually---blocked---that---strike.---Very---impressive---instincts.---You---read---my---aura---and---reacted---to---it.---Truly---impressive.”
“What---do---you---want?”---Artyom---asks,---his---voice---cold.
*Chuckle*
“A---trade.---I---will---train---you,---make---you---stronger---than---me,---provide---you---with---the---information---you---sorely---lack.---And---in---exchange,---I---want---you---to---be---a---good---husband---to---Alyssa.”
Artyom---stares---at---the---man,---internally---flabbergasted---and---confused.---Husband?---What---is---this---old---man---talking---about.---He---was---acting---so---very---different---compared---to---the---day---before.
“I---do---not---marry---children.”
The---old---man---snorts,---his---hands---going---behind---his---back---as---he---heads---towards---the---house.
“As---I---said,---you---lack---information.---But---don't---worry,---I,---Zeek---the---Untouchable,---an---old---man---of---five---hundred---and---seventy-two---years---old---will---teach---you.---Now---pick---up---your---things---and---let's---go---home.---I’m---quite---hungry.”
Artyom---stares---at---the---man’s---back---before---shaking---his---head.---He---portrays---no---emotion,---but---many---questions---are---twirling---around---inside---Artyoms---head.---How---Zeek---knows---what---class---he---has,---what---he---knows---of---[Heroes]…---and---if---the---old---man---is---actually---that---old.
Chapter---Forty---two:---Veterans
“I---was---forced---to---abandon---Laverna.---She---was---supposed---to---be---my---mount,---my---pride,---my---most---powerful---minion.---Instead,---she---is---now---in---pieces---among---my---[Soldiers]---as---mere---weapons.”
Dragken---looks---at---me,---an---extremely---confused---expression---on---the---old---centaurs---face.---He---then---faces---away---from---me,---gazing---behind---me.
“So---your---plan---is---to---transport---Berosus---in---pieces---to---the---third---floor---and---then---rebuild---him---there?”
I---look---behind---me---at---Berosus’s---severed---head,---still---glowing---with---a---strong---purple---light,---which---means---that---my---connection---to---him---is---strong---and---that---he---is---still---under---my---control.---The---severed---head---rests---atop---a---cart---which---is---being---pulled---by---several---centaurs.---Their---obscenely---muscular---legs---allow---them---to---move---the---several---ton---weighing---head---with---relative---ease.
Behind---them---is---the---rest---of---Berosus,---similarly---cut---into---smaller---bits---for---the---sake---of---transportation.---These---pieces---are---being---carried---by---my---Gejan---[Soldiers],---though---it---would---have---been---much---more---convenient---if---the---centaurs---had---pulled---them---on---carts---as---well,---unfortunately…
“Dragken,---I---still---don't---get---how---your---kind---has---never---thought---about---making---carts...---Or---even---just---a---wheel---for---that---matter…”
Dragken---slowly---nods,---staring---at---the---wooden---cart---I---made.---Four---wheels,---a---wooden---board---and---a---shaft---with---rope---attached---to---it.---Such---a---simple---concept,---but---the---centaurs---hadn’t---managed---to---think---of---it---on---their---own.
“Indeed.---These…---carts---are---quite---amazing.---They---would---allow---just---one---of---my---kind---to---transport---an---enormous---amount---of---goods.”
I---roll---my---eyes---at---the---half-horse---and---the---way---he---is---staring---longingly---at---the---cart.---Dear---god,---wait---till---he---sees---me---make---a---carriage…---Or---better---yet,---a---car.---Though---a---car---might---be---pushing---it---untill---I---have---the---right---materials.---I’d---probably---make---something---simple---like---a---model---T.
“You---have---no---idea,”---I---reply.
Scanning---the---surroundings---with---my---eyes,---I---stare---at---the---procession---as---they---make---their---way---towards---the---entrance---to---the---third---floor.---The---crowd---consists---of---the---entire---centaur---population---and---almost---all---of---my---Gejan,---except---for---a---select---few…---And---all---the---minotaurs---are---absent.
Yes,---I---was---forced---to---leave---the---minotaurs---on---the---second---floor.---Transporting---them---to---the---third---floor---and---onwards---would---be---dangerous---for---them.---Especially---considering---how---slow---they---move,---their---weakness---to---poisons,---and---the---unknowns---of---the---fourth---floor.
The---magical---floor.---A---floor---where---powerful---half---fox---women---with---the---magical---capability---strong---enough---to---rend---armies---live…---Would---it---be---wrong---to---say---that---I---am---both---fucking---scared---and---horny---at---the---same---time?
Maybe---a---better---word---would---be---curious?
Several---of---the---female---centaurs---as---well---as---Gejan---females---turn---to---look---at---me.---They---stare---at---me---confused---and…---longingly?
“You---seem---to---have---a---way---with---women”---Dragken---states---beside---me,---much---to---my---annoyance.
I---am---not---a---horndog,---I---just---can't…---control---myself---for---some---goddamn---reason.
I---fail---to---respond---to---his---comment.---Instead---I---continue---on---with---the---topic---at---hand.---“Do---you---have---any---other---questions---you---want---to---ask---me?---There---won’t---be---a---chance---to---do---so---after---today,---since---the---boss---will---spawn---again---tomorrow.”
I---do---not---feel---comfortable---fighting---the---boss---again,---especially---considering---it---may---very---well---have---gained---another---additional---ability,---even---with---Zorren---and---Petyr---here---to---help.
And---even---if---we---do---beat---it---again,---we---will---still---be---at---a---disadvantage---since---it---is---quite---clear---now---that---the---dungeon---is---getting---more---and---more---powerful.---Time---is---not---in---our---favor,---which---means---I---need---to---travel---to---the---tenth---floor---asap.
Hopefully,---Marcia---can---keep---the---minotaurs---in---check…---All---two---thousand---of---them.---Well,---as---long---as---she---follows---my---directions,---everything---should---be---alright.---Especially---if---she---makes---use---of---the---females---to---control---the---males.---But---that---is---a---problem---I---can---deal---with---later.---In---the---meantime---I---just---need---her---to---transform---their---society---into---a---manipulatable---hierarchy---by---abusing---their---stupidity.
“Ahhh,---it’s---always---fun---manipulating---stupid---people.”
“I---see,---this---is---one---of---those---episodes---that---Janie---talked---about.”
Episode?---What?
“Huh?”
Dragken---nods---knowingly.---“Do---not---worry---commander,---Janie---has---already---explained---to---me---that---you---have---a---tendency---to---voice...---your---thoughts?”
Shit...---Not---again.
“Sorry,---the---mind---wanders,---sometimes---mouth---too.---Speaking---of---Janie,---where---is---she?”
Dragken---points---and---my---gaze---follows---the---direction---of---his---finger.
Look---and---you---shall---obtain.---Janie---is---actually---heading---towards---me,---followed---by---a---procession---of---centaurs---wearing---capes---on---their---backs---marked---with---a---red---cross.
So---that's---why---she---asked---me---for---a---symbol---that---means---healing.
On---her---way---towards---me,---every---centaur---[Soldier],---[Archer]---and---[Cook]moves---out---of---her---way---i
n---panic---with---the---utmost---haste.---While---moving---away---from---her---they---keep---their---head---down,---avoiding---all---eye---contact---with---her.