Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “I---can---see---why---they---call---her---the---Tyrant---Healer,”---Dragken---whispers---next---to---my---ear,---and---I---can't---help---but---slowly---nod---in---affirmation.---The---centaurs---have---looked---to---me---with---respect---and---admiration---after---I---helped---kill---the---boss,---but---for---Janie,---it---is---quite---the---opposite.---They---all---look---at---her---with---fear.---Apparently,---digging---into---the---flesh---of---centaurs,---even---to---save---their---lives,---makes---for---a---frightening---display.

  Though---the---seeming---reverence---of---the---[Healers]---following---her---is---a---different---cause---for---concern.

  “Janie,---nice---to---have---you---join---us.---Hope---you---slept---well.”

  Janie---nods,---“I---have,---and---it---seems---you---have---too.---Shall---we---start---our---trek---to---the---third---floor?”

  ”We---will.---I’m---just---making---sure---the---preparations---are---ready.---We’re---either---going---to---have---a---welcoming---party---of---centaur---leadership---or---a---centaur---army---that---we---will---have---to---fight---off.---I’m---not---sure---which---one---it---will---be,---but---I---have---prepared---for---the---latter---and---I’ll---wing---it---if---it---is---the---former.”

  “Wing?”---asks---Dragken,---confused.

  “It---means---that---I---will---ascertain---the---situation---and---react---accordingly---with---a---primary---emphasis---on---avoiding---deaths.---I’d---rather---not---kill---those---who---will---soon---be---part---of---my---army.”

  “I---see.---That---is---good.---I---do---not---revel---in---killing---kinsmen,---especially---if---they---have---fought---alongside---me---before.”

  I---nod---towards---the---centaur---[Heavy---Halberdier],---understanding---his---sentiment.---Killing---former---allies---is---never---fun---and---should---instead---be---avoided.---Hopefully---that---small---army---he---promised---me---will---be---waiting---on---the---other---side.---They---will---be---required---to---stop---any---form---of---bloodshed---from---happening---upon---my---arrival.

  “Alright,---well,---let's---move---to---the---front.---Zorren---and---my---[Lieutenants]---are---leading---the---procession.---We---need---to---regroup---with---them,---reassemble---Berosus,---and---then---get---my---plan---underway.”

  I---turn---quickly---and---start---walking---into---the---massive---cave---entrance.---A---beat---later---the---others---start---to---follow---me.

  Either---this---becomes---a---bloodbath,---or---it---becomes---a---bloodbath---later.

  A---smile---blooms---on---my---lips,---plans---being---quickly---formed---in---my---head.---Weaknesses,---strengths,---politics,---leaders,---so---many---concepts,---so---many---chess---pieces.---So---much---to---think---about.---To---plan.

  Though---I---do---feel---like---I---am---forgetting---something.

  “Meh,---I’m---sure---I’ll---remember---what---it---was---later.”

  *******************************************

  The---town---of---Tradefoot,---a---centaur---city---standing---tall---and---strong---next---to---the---entrance---to---the---third---floor.---A---town---which---had---formed---thanks---to---the---trade---originating---from---the---strong---wood---coming---from---the---second---floor---as---well---as---the---monthly---crystal---powder---coming---from---the---boss---monster.---Many---Herds---live---and---survive---in---this---town,---all---competing---for---resources.

  But---today,---the---atmosphere---in---the---town---is---very---different---from---usual.---Where---before---it---had---been---lively---with---[Crafters],---[Wood---workers],---[Fletchers],---[Bowyers],---and---other---classes,---now---it---is---silent---instead.---An---army---of---older---[Soldiers],---[Archers],---[Lieutenants],---[Captains],---and---even---many---rarer---classes---now---form---the---majority---of---the---population.---They---had---all---come---at---Dragken’s---request.---He---had---called---for---his---former---elites---to---gather,---and---they---had---shown---up---together---with---their---men.---An---army---of---a---good---thousand---soldiers,---all---standing---in---formation,---eyeing---an---army---many---times---their---number.

  This---opposing---army---is---a---coalition---army,---led---by---over---twenty---[Herdmasters].---Together---they---have---gathered---about---five---thousand---troops.

  Suddenly,---three---centaurs---leave---the---smaller---army,---heading---towards---the---center---between---the---two---forces.---They---are---matched---by---three---[Herdmasters]---leaving---from---the---larger---army.

  Considering---they---are---all---centaurs,---it---does---not---take---a---long---time---before---they---are---close---enough---to---each---other---to---begin---talking.

  “You---are---interfering---with---the---orders---of---the---[Herdmasters].---Remove---your---army---from---the---city---or---we---will---be---forced---to---take---action.”

  One---of---the---three---[Herdmasters]---quickly---voices---out,---practically---snarling---at---the---opposing---centaurs.

  “Calm---yourself---Gordon.”---another---[Herdmaster]---voices---from---the---side.

  “I---am---sure---this---whole---situation---is---a---misunderstanding.---These---veterans---must---merely---not---yet---have---been---told---about---Dragken---turning---traitor---to---his---own---kind.”---he---continues,---smiling---towards---the---leading---centaur---of---the---opposite---army,---“I’m---sure---[Tactician---Captain]---Doreson---is---merely---misinformed.”

  “Oh---come---now---Ferran,---you---don't---look---at---an---army---of---a---thousand---centaurs---and---think---it---is---a---mistake.---This---whole---takeover---was---planned.”---the---third---[Herdmaster]---voices---aloud.---“---They---aren't---here---because---of---Dragken,---they---are---here---because---they---want---control---of---the---town---and---its---resources.”

  The---three---[Herdmasters],---much---to---Doreson’s---surprise,---start---to---bicker---among---themselves.---The---level---111---[Tactician---Captain]---looks---on---in---amazement.---Here---they---are,---the---three---main---leaders---of---a---massive---army,---bickering---about---what---his---reasoning---could---be---for---occupying---the---town.

  Looking---at---this---scene,---all---Doreson---can---do---is---think---about---what---his---good---friend---and---comrade---Dragken---had---always---warned---him---of.---He---had---told---him---to---stay---clear---of---the---[Herdmasters],---that---their---idiocy---is---contagious.

  He---turns---to---his---side,---finding---his---wife---Greta,---a---level---107---[Watch---Captain].---She,---like---him,---appears---very---unamused.

  Looking---to---his---other---side,---he---finds---Oregan,---a---[Lieutenant---Guardian].---Oregan---stands---there,---his---hoofs---digging---into---the---dirt---thanks---to---the---heavy---weight---of---his---armor,---ready---and---waiting---to---activate---any---number---of---skills---to---protect---him---and---Greta---if---necessary.---And---protect---them---he---would,---especially---considering---Oregan---may---very---well---be---the---highest---level---centaur---in---either---army.

  *Chuckle*

  The---three---[Herdmasters]---stop---arguing,---instead,---going---silent---and---turning---their---attention---to---Doreson---who---had---interrupted---them.

  “You---are---all---so---misguided.---So---blind.”

  “What?”

  “None---of---you---are---correct!”---Doreson---voices,---his---tone---firm,”---I---came---here---not---only---because---of---Dragken,---but---also---because---of---what---has---done.---I---am---here---for---the---person---he---swore---everything---to.”

  “You---can't---b-.”

  “The---patriarch---of---the---Kitsune.---That---is---what---he---said,---and---that---is---enough---for---me---to---move---armies.”---Doreson---voices---strongly,---his---eyes---blazing.

  “I---will---swear---my---loyalty---to---this---man---as---Dragken---did.---And---if---I---have---to---fight---armies---to---do---so,---then---I---will.”

  The---three---[Herdmasters]---stare---at---the---[Tactician---Captain],---flabbergasted.---Unbelieving---that---he---would---give---up---his-
--freedom---and---loyalty---just---like---that.

  “You---are---mad!”---Ferran---voices.

  Doreson---shows---his---teeth---in---a---grin.

  “I---am---not---the---one---about---to---drive---several---thousand---people---to---their---deaths.”

  Gordon---frowns,---”You---are---mad.---Do---you---actually---think---you---can---win---against---our---forces?”

  “It---seems---there---is---no---helping---it---Ferran,---Gordon.---He---has---chosen---his---side.---He---will---pay---for---this---decision---with---his---life.”---the---third---[Herdmaster]---voices,---gazing---strongly---at---Doreson.

  Doreson---shakes---his---head,---”This---blood---is---on---your---hands,---may---you---live---with---your---mistakes.”---he---says---before---turning---around---and---heading---back---towards---the---city---and---its---defensible---walls.---Greta---and---Oregan---follow---beside---him.

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  After---they---put---some---distance---between---themselves---and---the---[Herdmasters],---Doreson---turns---to---Greta---”Report,---what---is---the---composition---of---their---forces?”

  “Their---armyn---is---comprised---of---[Guards],---[Hunters],---[Warriors],---a---couple---[Mages],---[Healers],---and---various---other---classes---with---extremely---low---levels.---I---saw---a---decent---few---in---the---upper---levels,---some---with---tier---two---classes,---but---it's---clear---that---the---majority---of---their---army---is---a---mismatch---of---classes.”

  Doreson---nods,---having---already---expected---this---to---be---the---case,---but---he---needed---to---make---sure.---A---simple---mistake---can---easily---turn---the---tide---of---battle,---and---knowing---what---type---of---force---he---is---up---against---is---vital---information---for---winning---this---war.

  “War…”

  A---single---word,---one---which---still---leaves---a---bitter---taste---in---his---mouth.---So---many---had---died---during---the---herd---wars.---Even---today,---the---effects---are---still---pronounced.---Some---Herds---had---gone---extinct,---leaving---more---land---that---could---be---settled.---An---overabundance---of---food.

  And---now,---another---war---may---begin,---all---because---of---the---patriarch.

  Doreson---looks---down---at---his---hoofs.---Hoofs---he---had---lost---in---the---war,---in---the---last---battle.---She---had---given---him---back---his---legs,---and---she---asked---for---nothing---in---return…

  “So,---what---is---the---plan?---Wait---for---Dragken---and---this---patriarch?---I---did---find---it---amusing---that---you---mentioned---loyalty---to---the---patriarch---considering---you---believe---it---to---be---a---lie.”

  Doreson---looks---to---his---wife,---his---beautiful---wife.---Strong,---smart,---intelligent,---a---woman---he---utterly---adores,---even---more---so---because---she---is---following---him---into---this---war.---A---good---wife,---and---hopefully,---a---good---mother---too.

  “People---fear---the---kitsune---and---anything---that---has---to---do---with---them.---I---was---hoping---that---if---I---mentioned---the---patriarch,---they---would---be---reluctant---to---continue---this---shameless---war.---I---was---hoping---to---stall---them---since---Dragken---should---be---coming---through---later---today,---but---I---doubt---those---idiots---will---wait---for---that.---So,---we're---going---to---fend---them---off.”---Doreson---exclaims,---walking---into---the---city,---staring---at---his---army,---all---waiting---for---his---command.

  Veterans.---[Soldiers],---[Archers],---[Lieutenants],---[Captains],---all---of---them---are---at---least---over---fifty.---Each---is---wearing---quality---armor,---standing---shoulder---to---shoulder,---waiting---to---find---out---what---will---happen,---If---they---will---risk---their---lives.

  They---stare---at---him.---Waiting.---He---does---not---let---them---wait---long.

  Doreson---activates---his---[Loud---Voice]---skill.

  “It---seems---that---the---idiots---outside---these---walls---are---hellbent---on---killing---the---Breaker.”

  Doreson---watches---the---reactions---of---the---veterans,---noting---looks---of---fear---and---awe,---but---mostly---anger.---He---continues.

  “Dragken---the---Breaker,---a---centaur---we---all---consider---a---hero.---A---man---who---fought---alongside---the---[General],---fighting---against---all---odds.---A---man---who---lost---as---much---as---we---have---if---not---more.”

  Doreson---continues---watching---the---crowd,---reading---the---atmosphere,---finding---all---the---[Captains]---nodding.

  “And---now,---despite---everything---he---had---done---for---us,---for---all---of---us,---these---[Herdmasters]---spit---upon---his---honor.”

  Finally,---Doreson---notices---the---change---inthe---mood.---His---skill,---[Stance---of---the---army],---starts---to---slowly---ramp---up,---Doreson---focuses---on---the---feeling---of---anger---in---the---crowd,---spreading---it---further.

  “And---will---we---veterans---of---the---herd---wars---allow---this?”

  “Will---we---let---a---brother---of---ours---be---disgraced?”

  The---pressure---in---the---air---thickens,---his---skill---swirling,---spreading---anger---among---those---listening.---Fear,---unease,---confusion,---such---feelings---take---a---backseat---as---anger---engulfs---the---crowd.---Doreson---watches---as---his---skill---takes---hold,---his---aura---fanning---the---flames---of---anger.

  “I---say---no.---I---say---we---fight---these---shits.---I---say---we---show---them---what---real---honor---is!”

  Like---a---switch---turning,---the---crowd---yells,---no,---screams.---It's---clear---that---his---skill---is---fully---active---now.

  “I---still---find---that---skill---rather---amazing.---You---said---it---was---called---aura?”---Greta---asks.

  Doreson---nods,---his---eyes---still---focused---on---the---crowd.---“Yea,---Dragken---taught---me---how---to---use---it---after---learning---it---from---the---kitsune.---Granted,---I’m---not---that---good---with---it,---but---I---can---do---at---least---this---much.”

  Greta---looks---at---the---now---screaming---and---yelling---soldiers,---finding---all---of---their---anger---is---being---directed---towards---the---opposing---army.

  Doreson---raises---his---hand.

  “Now,---let's---show---them---what---we---are---made---of.---[Archers]---on---the---battlements,---[Soldiers]---at---the---gates.---[Captains]---to---me---for---orders.”

  The---mob---of---veterans---immediately---reacts---by---moving---to---their---positions---while---the---[Captains]---quickly---surround---Doreson.

  “Alright,---I---will---be---honest---with---you.---This---will---be---a---bloodbath.---A---lot---of---them---are---going---to---die.”

  The---[Captains]---chuckle.

  Doreson’s---eyes---harden.

  “This---is---no---laughing---matter.---They---are---ill---prepared---and---lack---any---form---of---leadership.---If---my---guess---is---right,---those---idiots---[Herdmasters]---will---try---to---swarm---us---with---numbers.---It---will---fail,---and---I---fear---too---many---will---die.”

  The---laughing---immediately---stops---as---they---understand---what---Doreson---is---saying.---A---lot---of---young---innocents---are---going---to---die---trying---to---overtake---a---defensive---position.

  “I---just---wanted---to---notify---you---all---of---that---first.---Now,---the---plan.”

  Doreson---points---towards---a---centaur.

  “We---have---an---[Archer---Captain]---here.---He---will---be---in---charge---of---the---[Archers]---on---top---of---the---walls.---Ten---[Captains]---will---accompany---him---with---skills---prioritizing---defense---and---accuracy.---The---rest---of---you---will---be---outside---the---gates.---Heavy---infantry---in---the---front---to---meet---the---charge,---light---infantry---will---stay---in---the---back---to---react---according---to---the---situation.---We---have---several---times---more---[Captains]---than---we---should---for---an---army---this---size,---so---do---not---hold---back---on---using---your---skills.”

  Doreson---stops,---staring---at---these---men---and---women,---each---havin
g---lived---a---long---life.---Each---having---fought---alongside---Dragken.

  “Now---go,---let---us---win---this---battle.”

  The---[Captains]---scatter---while---Doreson---takes---one---last---look---at---the---back---of---the---city,---at---the---massive---cave---entrance---located---there,---before---turning---around---and---getting---himself---in---a---position---to---relay---orders.

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  Chapter---Forty---Three:---Arrogance

  The---differences---between---the---first---and---second---floor---of---the---dungeon---are---numerous.---One---is---a---dense---jungle---while---the---other---is---an---underground---cave.---The---same---comparison---can---be---made---between---the---third---floor---and---the---previous---ones.---It---is---vastly---different---from---the---first---or---second---floor---with---its---massive---grasslands,---ponds,---mountains---and---forests.---But---still---the---majority---of---the---floor---consists---of---a---seemingly---endless---ocean---of---grass.---The---best---way---one---could---describe---the---third---floor---would---be---to---say---it---is---a---pocket---world---filled---with---various---biomes.