by Jackson Bale
Janie---can---only---groan---from---utter---disbelief---as---she---listens---to---his---story.---Thoric---is---a---complete---and---utter---genius,---but---he---can---also---be---the---cockiest---idiot---in---all---of---existence.---Even---more---annoying---is---the---cheery---smile---he---has---on---his---face---right---now.---It---is---frustrating---sometimes---to---follow---him.
“Alright,---let's---see---what---I---have---to---work---with,”---Janie---says,---placing---her---hands---on---him---before---sending---her---mana---through---his---body.”
She---frowns.
“This---is---unusual.---Your---bones---are---damaged,---but---nothing---too---bad.---I---can---see---that---your---spine---was---severed---and---many---of---your---ribs---are---cracked.---Lots---of---bruising---on---your---back,---and---your---skin---is---severely---charred.---I---understand---the---cause---of---those---wounds---since---you---said---you---slammed---through---a---wall…---but,”---she---takes---a---moment,---looking---down---confused.
“Why---are---your---hips---shattered?”
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“Soooo,---why---are---you---giving---me---a---report---instead---of---Dragken?”---I---ask---Doreson---as---I---move---my---dagger---across---a---piece---of---bone,---sharpening---it.
Doreson---watches---me---as---I---work---on---the---bone---dagger.---Apparently,---bones---aren't---actually---that---good---at---holding---a---lot---of---mana.---Wood---holds---far---more,---but---is---physically---weaker---than---bone.---Therefore---it---tends---to---be---useless---for---more---advanced---enchantments.---Treant---wood---being---a---rather---efficient---exception---to---the---rule.
Damn,---apparently---flying---bone---grenades---was---too---much---to---ask---for.---At---least---I---can---still---enchant---them---with---[ignition]---so---I---can---stab---people---and---set---their---insides---on---fire.---Which---is---pretty---weak---compared---to---my---new,---much---better---enchant.
[Static---Discharge]---enchant
Item---gains---the---ability---to---release---electrical---energy.
Yup,---it---took---me---several---dozen---tries,---but---I---was---finally---able---to---learn---it.
I---turn---to---my---left,---looking---at---my---two---successes.
Bone---Spike---of---Paralysis.---[Common]
Created---by---the---[Enchanter]---Thoric,---this---weapon---will---continuously---discharge---thirty---amperes---of---electrical---energy---when---it---strikes---flesh---for---22---seconds.
Skill:---[Static---Discharge]
[Minor---Mana---Efficiency]
Mana:---201/201
Defibrillator---Hammer.---[Rare]]
Created---by---the---[Enchanter]---Thoric,---this---hammer---will---release---a---current---of---500---volts---upon---impact---and---will---travel---the---electricity---straight---downward---instead---of---dispersing.
This---item---regenerates---mana---at---1.7---per---hour.---This---item---will---charge---to---full---in---13.99---days.
This---item---has---multiple---charges.---Cost---to---activate---skill---127---mana.
Skill:---[Static---Discharge]
[Minor---Mana---Efficiency]
Mana:---571/571
It---is---surprising---really.---Once---you---learn---an---enchantment,---you---can---change---many---aspects---of---it.---Even---more---so---with---[Static---Discharge].---It---is---a---rather---simple---enchant---that---turns---mana---into---electricity---and---releases---it.---But---since---I---understand---how---electricity---works---on---an---advanced---level,---I---can---change---things---like---the---amount---of---voltage---produced---or---how---I---want---the---current---to---discharge..
Hopefully,---Janie---will---like---her---new---present---when---I---give---it---to---her.
“Are---you---done?”
I---stop,---realizing---that---I---have---been---staring---at---the---hammer---and---spike---the---entire---time.---I---turn---to---Doreson---who---looks---very---annoyed---now.
“Right,---sorry,---you---were---saying?”
Doreson---clears---his---voice---before---revealing---to---me---a---stack---of---scrolls,---“Dragken---found---himself---to---be---unqualified---to---follow---your---specific---directions---and---plans,---so---he---has---relegated---that---job---to---me.---Although---it---seems---you---had---already---expected---him---to---do---so.”
I---smile,---remembering---the---first---line---I---had---written---on---the---second---page---of---my---plan.
“I---sincerely---doubt---Dragken---will---even---read---to---the---second---page,---so---to---whoever---he---has---designated---to---read---this---on---his---behalf,---I---wholeheartedly---thank---you---for---the---sacrifice---you---will---be---making.”
“So,---what's---the---report?”---I---ask,---going---back---to---sharpening---my---dagger.
Doreson---grunts---and---clears---his---throat,---“We---have---notified---all---of---the---[Herdmasters]---as---well---as---the---[Speaker]---about---the---situation---regarding---this---war,---as---well---as---your---stance---and---the---information---you---have---revealed.”
“What---is---their---answer?”---I---ask
Doreson---opens---another---scroll---and---starts---reading.
“The---[Speaker]---orders---all---military---hostility---towards---Thoric---Elude---and---his---faction---to---cease,---and---a---meeting---of---Herds---will---be---held---in---two---weeks.---All---[Herdmasters]---are---required---to---attend---as---well---as---the---Patriarch---Thoric---Elum.---Those---[Herdmasters]---that---have---been---captured---will---be---brought---and---judged---before---the---council.---Their---Herds---will---be---temporarily---under---the---control---of---Dragken.”
He---pauses,---I---nod.
“As---I---have---foretold,---and---as---it---will---be.---Well,---as---it---most---likely---will---be.---How---are---the---preparations---for---the---assembly---going?”
Doreson---frowns,---“Perfectly---according---to---your---plans.---We---are---making---many---carts---and…---carriages.---We---have---also---started---the---new---training---regime---of---the---army.---Military---ranks---have---been---created---and---assigned,---everyone’s---levels---and---skills---are---being---documented,---and---the---leadership---is---being---formed.”
“How---are---the---various---factions---doing?”
“The---Gejan---are---following---orders---perfectly---and---without---any---incidents.---Well,---except---for---the---one---named---Zorren,---but---you---already---mentioned---in---your---directions---that---he---would---be---a---poor---leader---and---should---be---left---to---his---own---devices.---As---for---the---various---new---herds,---they---are---slightly---antagonistic---towards---the---reforms,---but---thanks---to---your---recommendation---of---mixing---the---herds---with---one---another,---it---is---relatively---manageable.”
Divide---and---Conquer.---You’re---less---likely---to---disobey---orders---if---you---do---not---know---those---around---you.
“How---many---have---left?”
Doreson---sighs---before---grabbing---a---different---scroll.
“Approximately---22%”
I---stop---scraping---my---bone---and---turn---towards---Doreson---confused.
That---number---is---much---too---low.---I---was---expecting---almost---double---that.
“Explain.”
“If---we---exclude---the---[Healers]---and---those---who---follow---Janie,---than---the---number---spikes---up---to---51%”
Oh…---wow.---Well---then,---that---was---completely---unexpected.---A---third---of---the---army---is---now---following---Janie.
“Thankfully,---I---talked---to---Janie---and---she---has---asked---all---those---with---combat-oriented---classes---to---join---and---train---with---the---main---troops.”
“G-Good.---Wow,---that---was---actually---not---to---my---expectations,---but---thankfully---it---worked---out.”
I---start---again---with---sharpening---my---long---slender---bone,---keeping---a---nice---steady---rhythm---going.
“Now---then,---Doreson,---I---can---probably---assume---that---you---read---everything---already.---What---are---your---thoughts---on---the---subject---of---the---dungeon---monsters.”
I---listen,---hearing---Doreson---shuffle---around---while---my---eyes---are---fixed---on---the---shard---of---bone.---He---is---uncomfortable,---and---that---is---understandable.
“You---lied---to---Dragken.---Their---levels---aren't---increasing---gradually,---they---are---accelerating.”
I---smile,---”Indeed,---twenty---levels---in---a---single---year---is---going---to---have---disastrous---effects.---Combine---that---with---the---fact---that---awakened---monsters---have---a---tendency---to---create---large---herds,---and---you---can---conclude---that---this---floor---will---die---within---a---couple---of---years.”
The---[Tactician---Captain]---frowns,---“And---when---these---herds---of---monsters---form,---an---army---will---already---have---been---created---and---be---ready---to---oppose---them---and---protect---the---Herds.---But---only---those---herds---which---swear---loyalty---to---you.---You---plan---on---using---the---fear---of---death---to---take---over---the---second---floor.”
I---turn---my---head,---looking---at---the---captain,---at---his---fear-induced---expression,---“War---has---no---rules.---There---are---only---victors---and---losers.---As---of---right---now,---your---species---is---fighting---a---losing---war---against---the---dungeon,---and---I---am---your---only---saving---grace.”
“If---I---keep---this---information---hidden,---then---many---more---will---die.---If---the---council---prepares-”
“Ha!---If---you---release---this---information,---than---even---more---will---suffer---and---die.---The---council---will---make---a---shitty---army---with---shitty---leadership---that---will---feed---the---ever---growing---monster---army.---If---you---need---proof,---then---explain---to---me---how---three---hundred---[Archers]---were---able---to---kill---practically---half---an---army.---Your---[Herdmasters]---are---all---idiots,---and---the---class---itself---is---the---most---idiotic.---It---doesn't---even---give---bonuses---to---intelligence---or---any---other---useful---stat---that---a---leader---could---use.---The---class---is---a---dead---weight,---and---it---will---be---removed---from---existence---if---I---have---any---say---about---it.”
Doreson---opens---his---mouth---to---reply,---but---stops.---His---hands---tighten---into---fists,---an---angry---expression---forms---on---his---face---before---he---takes---a---long---shuddering---breath,---“I---understand.”
Licking---my---lips,---I---place---the---finished---dagger---on---the---table,---“And---that---is---what---differentiates---you---from---those---[Herdmasters].---You---don't---allow---emotions---to---sway---you,---instead,---you---use---logic---to---make---your---decisions,”---I---move---my---arm---up,---using---my---hand---to---feel---my---hairless---scalp,---“But---I---warn---you,---do---not---ever---get---rid---of---your---emotions---entirely.---Because---if---you---do,---you---become---less---of---a---leader---and---more---of---a---monster.”
Doreson---looks---at---me,---slightly---confused.---He---opens---his---mouth---again,---but---I---shake---my---head.
I---point---towards---the---exit,---“Think---on---my---words…---and---if---you---can---find---some---tonic---or---poison---that---helps---grow---hair,---then---please---inform---me.”
He---looks---at---me,---I---look---back---at---him,---he---frowns---and---turns---around,---trotting---out---of---the---building---without---another---word.
*Sigh*
“Why---does---healing---magic---not---regrow---hair?---I---mean---come---on,---the---spell---should---just---help---regenerate---the---entire---body,---that---includes---hair!”
Whatever,---it---will---grow---back.---It's---just---going---to---take---a---good---year---or---more---to---get---that---length---again.
I---sigh---again---and---turn---back---to---the---table,---grabbing---an---unsharpened---bone---before---beginning---the---sharpening---process---again.
“One---down…---several---hundred---to---go.”
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Several---hundred---carts---have---been---made---over---the---course---of---several---days,---they---have---all---been---lined---up---and---filled---with---resources---that---will---be---required---for---the---journey---to---the---summit---of---herds.---A---place---where---the---[Speaker]---waits---for---the---[Herdmasters]---to---gather.
The---army---will---be---leaving---the---city---in---the---morning,---but---until---then,---Oregan---can't---help---but---be---restless.---Once---again,---he---is---walking---through---the---night,---trying---to---ease---his---mind,---but---for---completely---different---reasons---than---before.
Oregan’s---eyes---swerve---from---the---carts,---instead---landing---on---an---exceptionally---large---carriage.
A---box---with---a---door---and---four---wheels.---Such---a---simple---design,---but---Oregan---can't---help---but---be---excited.
For---some---odd---reason,---he---and---many---of---the---centaurs---gain---such---immense---joy---from---pulling---these---carts.---And---he---will---not---be---pulling---a---cart,---but---the---massive---carriage---carrying---the---patriarch---and---the---tyrant.
A---smile---forms---on---Oregan's---face---as---he---thinks---about---how---jealous---the---others---will---be.---Even---Dragken---looked---sad---when---Oregan---was---chosen---to---pull---the---carriage---instead---of---the---grizzly---centaur.
And---then,---just---as---quickly---as---his---smile---had---formed,---it---is---replaced---by---a---frown---as---his---skill---[Detect---Hidden]---goes---off.---Oregans---eyes---swerve,---looking---towards---the---shadow---of---the---carriage.---When---he---does,---he---watches---a---centaur---seemingly---walk---out---of---the---darkness.
Oregon's---defensive---posture---once---again---becomes---a---relaxed---one.
“Arron.”
The---centaur---in---question---comes---forward,---allowing---the---firelight---to---reveal---his---figure.
“Hello---father,---you---seem---to---be---in---high---spirits,”---Arron---says,---looking---at---the---carriage---that---Oregan---has---been---smiling---at---for---the---longest---time.
Oregan---frowns,---“Why---did---you---meddle---with---the---enemy---army?---Your---decision---has---cost---many---needless---deaths.”
Arron---merely---chuckles---as---he---trots---past---Oregan,---taking---a---closer---look---at---the---carriage,---“Leveling.---Manipulating---an---army---into---a---bad---suicidal---decision---would---help---me---get---those---last---few---levels---for---my---[Spy]---class.---Unfortunately,---I---seemed---to---have---stopped---at---level---99.”
Oregan---glares---at---his---son,---“You---can---screw---over---others,---but---do---not---mess---with---the---patriarch,”---Oregan---pauses---for---a---second,---“---and---my---carriage.”
Arron---trots---around,---whistling---as---he---looks---at---the---carriage,---Oregan---follows---behind---his---son,---watching---him---like---a---hawk,---“Funny---thing---that,---your---patriarch---scares---me.”
He---stops,---staring---at---the---front---of---the---carriage,---“---Your---patriarch---was---running---through---the---night---two---days---ago---smiling---like---a---lunatic.---I---was---hidden---in---the---shadows.---As---he---was---about---to---pass---me---by,---he---stops---and---looks---directly---towards---me---as---though---the---sun---was---at---its---highest---point---in---the---sky..”
Arron---pauses,---lifting---his---hand---and---creating---a---fist---with---his---thumb---sticking---up,---“He---pointed---his---hand---at---me---like---this---,and---told---me---I---did---a---great---job---and---to---work---on---my---last---level.”
Arron---shakes---his---head,---“---I---don't---know---how,---but---he---easily---saw---through---my---[Forge---Identity]---skill---as---though---I---wasn't---even---using---it.”
Without---realizing---it,---a---hand---lands---on---Aaron's---shoulder,---startling---him.---He---looks---and---find---his---father,---Oregan,---smiling.---A---proud---smile.--
-From---a---father---to---a---son.