by Jackson Bale
As---he---leaves,---eyes---turn---to---Threm---whose---entire---body---is---now---bright---pink.---She---looks---around,---closes---her---mouth,---realizes---that---she---was---actually---drooling,---and---then---runs---out---of---the---room.
As---she---leaves,---one---of---the---[Guards]---closes---the---door,---creating---that---annoying---screeching---sound---before---moving---back---to---where---he---was---standing.
Moments---pass,---but---not---a---long---moment.---More---like---three---seconds---before---Dragken---erupts---into---uncontrolled---laughter,---a---laughter---that---spreads---quickly---to---the---[Guards],---even---on---Orethons’---lips---a---smile---finds---itself---.
Of---course,---the---[Herdmasters]---and---the---[Tactician---Captain]---are---very---unamused---as---they---glare---at---Dragken---who---is---practically---rolling---on---the---floor---with---unbridled---laughter.
It---lasts---for---a---good---five---minutes---before---he---is---able---to---calm---down---and---sit---upright.
“Hahaha,---well,---hah,---that---is---the---Patriarch---for---you.---It---is---never---a---boring---day---with---him---around.”
“That---was---utterly---disrespectful.---How---dare---he---come---here---with---an---erection---and---then---insult---us---to---our---face---about---our---class.---Does---he---not---have---any---manners?”---Heliotrope---exclaims---in---a---huff,---clearly---very---angry---at---being---treated---in---such---a---way.
Dragken---smiles,---all---laughter---and---laziness---gone.---His---expression---now---serious,---muscles---hidden---under---cloth---harden,---becoming---more---prevalent,---his---fur---quickly---starts---to---puff---out,---making---him---seem---larger,---“And---what---are---you---going---to---do---about---it?---Throw---armies---at---him---and---have---them---slaughtered?---Insult---him---even---though---he---could---kill---you---with---ease?---You---three---have---nothing,”---he---waves---his---hand,---“The---only---reason---we---are---even---having---this---meeting---is---because---it---is---tradition.---Your---Herds---will---be---his,---and---if---they---choose---not---to---follow---him,---then---they---will---all---die.”
“The---herds---would---not---stand---for---such---execution,”---bellows---Gordon---in---outrage.
But---Dragken---can---only---chuckle,---“Oh,---you---misunderstand---me,---the---Patriarch---is---merely---offering---those---who---follow---him---a---way---to---live.---He---is---not---the---executioner,---that---job---falls---firmly---upon---the---dungeon.”
The---[Herdmasters]---share---looks---of---confusion---with---each---other,---but---Doreson---is---having---an---epiphany.
“The---increased---levels---of---the---monsters---and---the---tripling---of---awakened---monsters.---The---dungeon---is---becoming---more---dangerous,”---Doreson---says---quickly.
He---had---noticed---it,---as---did---many---others.---Levels---are---increasing,---little---by---little,---but---noticeably---enough.---Not---necessarily---an---immediate---cause---for---concern,---but---if---the---trend---keeps---increasing…
Gordon---snorts,---“Ten---levels---won't---kill---us---off.”
Doreson---shakes---his---head,---“Five---levels---last---year,---five---levels---this---year...---Fifty---levels---in---ten---years.---It---is---going---to---keep---increasing---constantly,---we---won't---be---able---to---keep---up,”---he---says---before---turning---to---Dragken,---“He---is---here---to---save---us?---How?”
Dragken---smiles,---“He---plans---to---conquer---this---dungeon---and---escape---with---those---who---swear---loyalty---to---him.”
“Nonsense,---you---cannot---escape.---There---is---no---escape,---only---the---fog,”---voices---Heliotrope.
“Then---where---did---he---come---from?”---asks---Orethon,---interrupting---them.
Heliotrope---opens---his---mouth---to---explain,---but---stops---as---he---realizes---that---he---has---no---explanation.---They---have---never---seen---humans,---only---told---of---their---existence---from---very---old---stories---that---they---live---outside---the---dungeon.
“Dragken,---isn't---the---fog---keeping---us---trapped?”---Doreson---asks---the---question---on---everyone’s---mind,---“Doesn't---it---even---keep---the---kitsune---from---leaving?”---he---asks---again,---trying---to---clarify.
Dragken---smiles,---showing---his---perfectly---white,---not---at---all---sharp---teeth,---“The---Kitsune---have---always---said---that---the---Patriarch---will---be---far---more---capable---than---them.”
His---words---strike---deep,---even---deeper---to---Doreson---who---opens---his---mouth,---“So,---he---plans---to---conquer---the---dungeon---and---leave---with---those---loyal---to---him.---All---others---will---eventually---perish---by---the---onslaught---of---high-level---monsters---that---will---eventually---overtake---our---species.”
Dragken---lays---back,”---Yup,---pretty---much.---He---even---wrote---me---down---instructions---on---how---to---maximize---the---number---that---will---follow---him.---Unfortunately,---I---hate---reading.---Several---thousand---pages---is---not---something---I---am---willing---to---go---through,---thankfully---Doreson---here---doesn't---mind.”
“What?---I---didn't---agree---to---th-”
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-”
Another---scream,---this---one---feminine---but---different,---though---it---seems---to---have---ended---abruptly---as---well.
“GODDAMMIT,---STOP---PASSING---OUT”
An---aura---radiates,---exploding---with---emotions---of---ecstasy,---anger,---frustration,---violence?---The---sheer---strength---of---it---ripping---Dragken---own---aura---to---smithereens.---He---looks---around,---finding---that---everyone---in---the---room---is---affected.---His---eyes---are---wide,---emotions---running---excessively---deep.
“FUCK---IT---ALL”
“FUCK---YOU---LOKI”
“FUCK---MY---HIPS”
“LILLY,---GET---OVER---HERE---NOW!!!!”
Chapter---Fourty---Nine:---Who---doesn't---like---a---bit---of---napalm---in---the---morning.
“So,---Onder,---you’re---the---best---[Enchanter]---in---the---city?”---I---ask---with---interest---while---watching---the---centaur---in---question---stare---at---me---in---confusion.
This---particular---centaur---is---quite---literally---part---man---and---part---goat.---He---is---shorter---than---the---average---centaur,---but,---to---my---immense---annoyance,---still---rippling---with---muscles---like---the---rest---of---them.---His---short---white---matted---fur---does---a---poor---job---of---hiding---the---musculature---under---his---skin.---It---is---a---glorious---sight,---and---I---cannot---help---but---be---jealous.---I---mean---sure,---I---have---muscle,---even---nice---abbs,---but---I’m---no---Adonis.
Onder---shakes---his---head,---“No,---no,---I---am---merely---the---highest---level---[Enchanter]---in---the---city,---I’m---nowhere---near---the---best,”---he---replies,---grunting---as---he---moves---around---in---his---modest---home---next---to---his---workshop.
Onder---is---not---a---young---centaur,---on---the---contrary,---he---is---quite---old,---though---you---wouldn't---really---be---able---to---tell---because---of---his---muscular---form...
Did---I---mention---I’m---jealous?---I---probably---did…---I---am---very---jealous.---I---want---big---beefy---muscles---as---well.
“You---are---a---level---82---[Enchanter],---which---is---more---than---double---my---level.---I---can---barely---do---one---kind---of---enchantment,---let---alone---many---different---ones,”---I---say,---waving---at---the---various---items---displayed---in---Onder’s---home.---They---are---all---items---which---have---been---enchanted---with---varying---effects,---from---a---bone---spear---that---numbs---when---cutting---flesh,---to---a---javelin---that---weighs---practically---nothing.
“Look,---I---just---need---you---to---show---me---your---techniques,---perform---a---couple---of---your---enchantments,---explain---the---way---you---use---these---crystals,---and---I---promise---I---won't---be---bothering---you---again,”---I---ask---him---once---more.
The---centaur---had--
-been---adamant---about---having---me---find---a---different---[Enchanter]---to---learn---from,---and---I---would---have---done---so---if---all---of---the---others---had---not---left---the---city---when---Doreson---took---it---over.
Five---goddamn---[Enchanters]---in---the---city---and---I---am---left---with---this---old---fart.
The---old---man---looks---at---me,---staring---at---my---pleading---face---before---sighing.
“I---am---not---a---good---[Enchanter].---My---maximum---mana---is---low---and---most---of---my---enchantments---are---simple---things,”---he---says---before---pointing---around---the---room,---“even---these---weapons---are---barely---of---[General]---quality.---I---mostly---create---things---like---pans---with---[Self-Heating]---enchantments---or---knives---with---the---[Sharp]---enchantment.---Small---simple---tools---and---items---for---daily---use.”
That---doesn't---make---sense---to---me.---If---all---these---other---[Enchanters]---were---able---to---create---proper---weapons---with---decent---enchantments,---then---why---the---fuck---was---their---level---lower---than---Onder’s?
“Just…---please---show---me.”
He---looks---to---me---one---more---time.
“Alright.”
Final-fuckin-lee.
He---raises---his---hand---and---points---to---his---workshop.
“First,---head---to---my---workshop---and---wait---for---a---bit.---I---need---to---get---some---supplies.---Hopefully---I---have---some---crystal---lying---around.”
With---a---quick---smile,---I---reach---into---my---pocket---and---grab---a---large---vial---filled---with---powdered---crystal…---that---I---may---have---permanently---borrowed---from---the---cities---storage…
“I---came---prepared.---Will---this---amount---suffice?”
He---looks---at---the---vial---before---slowly---nodding,---“That---is---more---than---enough,---though---I---must---still---get---some---supplies---from---storage.---I---was---not---expecting---the---army---in---this---city---to---require---my---services,---though---it---seems---the---patriarch---does.”
I---smile,---thinking---of---how---fast---rumors---travel.---It---had---only---been---yesterday---that---I---arrived---on---this---floor---and---had---forced---the---enemy---army---to---surrender---within---a---couple---of---hours.---Now---come---late---morning---the---next---day---and---word---had---already---spread---about---my---existence.
The---old---centaur---grunts---and---points---towards---his---workshop---again,---“Go---to---my---workshop---and---wait---for---me,---I---will---go---get---my---supplies.”
I---nod---quickly---before---grabbing---my---staff.
“Ughhhh,---ahhh,---it---hurts,---it---hurts,”---I---exclaim---as---I---use---my---arms---to---raise---myself---from---my---seating---position---on---the---floor.
MY---HIPS---ARE---BURNING!
“Shouldn't---you---go---see---an---[Healer]---about---that---injury?---You---seem---to---be---barely---able---to---stand,---I---doubt---you---would---be---able---to---stand---at---all---without---that---staff.
Nnnnnooooooppppppeeeeee.
“It's---fine,---I’m---fine…---just---a---bit---of---pain.---No---need---for---a---[Healer].---I’m---healing---on---my---own.”
Onder---gives---me---a---skeptical---look---before---shaking---his---head.
It---is---actually---true.---I---think---my---body---has---some---weak---healing---factor.---My---hips---were---far---worse---before---I---fell---asleep---and---now---they---seem---to---have---naturally---shifted---back---into---place,---albeit---with---bruises---galore…---I---may---have---cried---in---the---morning---when---I---was---taking---a---shit.
Onder---sighs---before---leaving---his---home,---while---I---turn---and---limp---my---way---towards---his---workshop.---Inside---I---see---boxes,---ovens,---inner---fire---pits,---bowls---of---various---sizes,---colorful---liquids,---clean---bones,---you---name---it.---The---workshop---is---furnished---with---a---multitude---of---different---objects.
Frowning,---I---trudge---very---slowly---towards---a---crate---and---carefully---sit---my---pained---ass---down.---I---try---to---ignore---the---pain,---but---fail---to---do---so---completely.---I---frown---as---I---call---up---the---status---messages---I---had---missed.
Your---mind---and---body---have---been---struck---with---Immense---physical---and---Mental---trauma.
Status---Effect---Deaf
Status---Effect---Blind
Status---Effect---Dizzy
Status---Effect---Disoriented
Status---Effect---Mental---Trauma---Imminent
Status---Effect---Excessive---Pain---Backlash
Status---Effect---Mana---backlash
Status---Effect---Attribute---Reduction
Status---Effect---Physical---Trauma
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Resisted]
Status---Effect---Madness---[Failed---to---Resist]---1-hour---duration
Status---Effect---Madness---[Failed---to---Resist]---10-hour---duration
Status---Effect---Madness---[Failed---to---Resist]---100-hour---duration
Status---Effect---Madness---[Failed---to---Resist]---1000-hour---duration
Due---to---the---severity---of---the---mental---trauma,---Status---Effect---Madness---has---become---Permanent---.
So,---mental---problems---are---a---thing---in---this---world---and---I---had---actually---gone---insane---for---awhile.---I---wonder---if---I---could---have---resisted---it---if---I---had---allowed---myself---to---pass---out.---I---probably---would---have.
“Hmmm.”
Now---that---I---think---about---it---some---more,---wouldn't---certain---classes---be---considered---mental---status---effects---too?---I---mean---look---at---Zorren,---he---seems---to---have---some---serious---anger---issues---due---to---having---the---[Berserker]---class,---while---relying---on---a---single---skill---to---keep---him---in---check.---I---can---see---physical---status---effects---on---people---when---I---use---[Advanced---Analyze]---on---them,---but---I---wonder---if---people---also---have---mental---status---effects---that---I---am---not---privy---to?
“Ughhhh”
So---much---to---think---about---now,---so---little---time---to---think---about---it.---I---probably---shouldn't---dwell---on---such---things---too---long.---Instead,---I---should---focus---on---positive---things.
Like---the---new---levels---and---skills.
Thoric---Elum
Level---72---[Necromancer]
Level---55---[Hero]
Level---55---[Noble]
Level---34---[Enchanter]
Raise---Undead
Advanced---Analyse
Skeletal---Renewal
Enhanced---Undead
Bone---Telekinesis.
Advanced---Mana---Sense
Enchant
Copy---Enchantment
Enchantment---Deconstruction
Enhanced---Structural---Enchantments.
Undead---Eyes
Undead---enrage
Lightless---Undead
Minor---Undead---Modification
Create---Skeletal---Guardian
Split---Concentration
Converging---Mana
Enhanced---Trainer
Create---Skeletal---Warrior
Minor---Mana---Efficiency---Enchanting
Stabilizing---Presence.
Corrosive---fog
Mental---Overmind
Necromantic---Mana---Corrosion
Strength
23
Dexterity
37
Stamina
32