by Jackson Bale
“YOU---THINK---YOU---CAN---FUCK---WITH---ME,”---the---words---are---loud---and---the---audience---can---hear---clearly,---considering---their---silence.---They---have---never---seen---their---champion---so---hurt---and---angry.
Machenoss---spits---out---a---bunch---of---teeth---and---accelerates---forward.
This---time,---he---doesn't---meet---Artyom’s---punch,---instead,---he---slaps---the---appendage---away---and---strikes---forward,---hitting---flesh---hard.
Artyom---is---forced---back---and---can---only---block---the---onslaught---of---attacks.---At---one---point,---he---attempts---to---parry,---but---a---knee---smacks---him---in---the---stomach---which---is---followed---by---a---fist---to---the---face.---This---fist---strikes---Artyom's---other---eye---and---sends---him---reeling.
As---Artyom---stands---up,---Machenoss---starts---laughing---at---the---current---physical---state---Artyom---is---in.
“You’re---fucking---blind---and---you---still---want---to---fight?”
Artyom---attempts---to---open---one---eye,---but---it---refuses---to.---It---was---damaged---too---severely.---He---swallows---and---raises---his---fist---towards---the---taunting---Machenoss.
“Fine,---let’s---dance!”
The---next---few---minutes---finds---Artyom,---his---back---against---the---wall---as---Machenoss---strikes---Artyom's---body---with---impressive---force.---He---ignored---the---head---because---it---would---cause---the---fight---to---end---prematurely.---You---can---already---hear---some---of---the---annoyed---audience---that---had---bet---on---the---fight---ending---before---five---minutes.
Machenoss---smiles,---grabs---the---beaten---and---exhausted---Artyom---by---the---head---and---then---throws---him---into---the---center---of---the---arena.
Artyom---lands---hard,---but---it---only---takes---a---second---before---he---moves---and---stands---up.
“Tenacious,---aren't---you,”
Artyom---raises---his---fist---and---turns---towards---the---voice.---Bruised---but---not---defeated.
Blood---seeps---down---Machenoss---face---and---strikes---the---ground.
“You---fucked---up---my---face,”---he---exclaims.---Machenoss---moves---his---arm---and---wipes---his---face,---sending---signals---of---pain---to---his---head.---“You---know,---you---really---pissed---me---off,”---Machenoss---steps---forward,---what---remained---of---his---bloody---teeth,---showing---in---his---mouth,”---I---think---you---need---a---new---class.---I---think---[Cripple]---would---serve---you---nicely.”
At---those---words,---Artyom's---attention---is---gotten.---This---was---not---unnoticed---by---Machenoss.
“Oh,---did---you---think---that---if---you---lost---this---fight---that---nothing---would---change?---That---you---can---be---healed?”
Machenoss---continues---walking---forward,---“No,---that---only---works---if---your---injuries---are---healable.---If---I---rip---off---your---arm---and---grind---your---bones,---well---then,---I---wonder---how---long---until---you---get---the---class.”
Zeek,---listening---in,---smiles---confidently---and---relaxes---back.---Artyom---was---about---to---lose,---but---that---Machenoss---just---messed---up.---Artyom's---life---was---threatened---and---now---a---domain---descends---upon---the---entire---building.
Machenoss---strikes---forward,---but---to---his---surprise,---Artyom’s---body---had---already---moved---out---of---the---way---of---the---punch.---Even---the---following---knee---strikes---only---air,---as---he---swerves---out---of---the---way.---An---unavoidable---punch---strikes---Machenoss.
He---is---struck---back---and---looks---on---flabbergasted.---As---though---his---strike---and---trajectory---were---predicted.
Machenoss---goes---in---again,---sending---out---a---flurry,---each---one---being---dodged---before---release.---And---by---a---blind---man---as---well.
Artyom,---unable---to---see,---moves---and---reacts.---At---first,---he---thought---it---was---his---instinct---guiding---him,---but---now,---slowly,---he---understands---what---it---actually---is.---He---is---feeling---everything---and---is---reacting---to---not---only---the---muscle---contractions---of---Machenoss,---but---even---the---electrical---signals---being---sent---from---the---man's---brain.
He---senses---that---of---every---person---in---the---entire---building.---He---feels---the---temperature---fluctuations,---the---hardness---of---the---floor,---the---visual---receptors---of---the---audience.
Everything---is---there,---an---enormous---amount---of---information.
A---smile---forms---on---his---lips---as---he,---for---the---first---time---in---several---minutes,---steps---forward---and---goes---on---the---offensive.
Chapter---fifty---Seven:---Rumors
“The---answer---is---no,---Oregan.---I---need---you---here---to---keep---Doreson---alive---until---I---return.---Dragken---too,---though---I---don't---think---there---are---many---that---could---even---come---close---to---killing---him.”
“There---are---very---few,”---Dragken---chimes---in---from---Doresons---side.
I---look---around,---staring---at---the---much---smaller---procession---around---me.---My---minion,---all---of---the---Gejan,---Janie,---and---enough---centaurs---to---pull---my---carriage---and---carts---to---the---next---location.
“But…,”---he---begins,---his---eyes---swerving---to---the---carriage---that---he---had---been---pulling---for---the---whole---week.
Really?---That's---the---reason?---Ughhh,---I---am---an---idiot.
“When---I---leave---the---floor,---I---will---make---sure---to---send---the---carriage---back---to---you---for---safekeeping.---So---do---not---worry.”
Oregan's---expression---seemingly---relaxes---before---being---followed---up---by---a---nod.
I---shake---my---head---in---annoyance---before---turning---to---Doreson---who---is---scribbling---like---crazy.
“Doreson,---train---up---some---people---as---[Quartermasters]---or---find---them---if---they---exist.---Maybe---even---train---up---some---[Secretaries].”
He---stops---writing---and---looks---up---to---me---confused,---“[Secretaries]?”
“A---non-combat---version---of---a---[Quartermaster].---They---will---assist---you---in---organization---and---management.---And---yes,---it---is---a---class,---surprisingly.”
Doreson---nods---momentarily---before---going---back---to---writing.---Which---I---can't---blame---him---for,---the---man---is---going---to---be---hella---busy---for---the---next---couple---of---years.
Finally,---I---turn---to---the---last---person---I---wanted---to---talk---to,---especially---since---it---will---divert---my---path---a---bit.
“Dragken…---your---granddaughter,---are---you---sure---she---will---be---able---to---help?---Do---I---really---need---her---as---a---guide?”
Dragken---nods,---“Yes,---traversing---the---forest---can---be---a---bit---treacherous---without---her---help.---She---knows---it---perfectly---and---I---am---sure---she---can---help.”
I---scratch---the---side---of---my---head,---feeling---annoyed---that---I---can---barely---even---feel---hair---growing.
“Right,---you---have---said---she---is---capable---several---times---but---you---refuse---to---tell---me---her---class---or---what---she---looks---like.---Is---this---really---necessary?”
Dragken---pauses…---swallows---hard,---but---in---the---end,---nods.---“Yes…---she---is---disliked.”
I---can't---help---but---roll---my---eyes.---Like---sure,---maybe---she---is---extremely---ugly,---which---is---fine.---I---don't---care.---But---what---kind---of---class---could---she---possibly---have---that---I---can't---even---be---told?---He---treats---it---like---it---is---taboo.
Which---doesn't---make---sense---considering---me.---I---am---a---fucking---[Necromancer].---I---can---raise---the---corpse---of---his---grandmother---and---have---her---bone---fuck---him---till---he---passes---out.
“You---know---what,---fine,---whatever.---Let's---treat---it---as---a---surpr----what?”
Oregan---raises---his---hand,---gaining---my---attention---like---a---child---to---a--
-teacher.---His---expression---is---contemplative.
“My---son…---you---talked---to---him---and---told---him---that---his---class…---of---[Spy]---was---good.”
I---raise---an---eyebrow,---“Ohhhh,---so---Arrons’---your---son.---You---have---a---very---smart---kid---there.---His---class---is---impressive---and---he---knows---how---to---use---it.---The---kid---made---an---entire---army---charge---into---a---suicide.---A---perfect---calculative---move…---actually,”---I---swerve---to---Doreson---quickly.
“Doreson,---take---Oregan’s---son---under---your---care.---Train---him---up---as---an---information---specialist.---That's---going---to---be---very---useful,---especially---since---the---kid---only---needs---a---level---to---upgrade---his---class.”
Doreson---looks---up---at---me,---slowly---nods,---and---then---looks---back---down---and---continues---writing.
“Anything---else---Oregan?”
Oregan---looks---to---Dragken---who---is---slowly---mouthing---No.
Oregan---smiles---and---turns---to---me,---“Her---class---is---[Beastmistress].---She---ca-”
Dragken---quickly---moves---and---rams---into---Oregan,---barely---even---pushing---him,---but---that---is---enough---to---interrupt.---Dragken---looks---to---me,---panicking.
“I-I---she---is---not---a---bad---person.---She,---she---just---spends---time---with---them!”
Really?---REALLYYYYY!!!!
“Dragken,---you---are---an---idiot.---A---fucking---idiot.”
He---stops,---looking---at---me---wide-eyed---and---confused.
“So---she---can---control---beasts---and---monsters.---So---what?”
“But---it’s…---bad.”
“What---do---you---mean---bad?---I---control---fucking---anything---that---dies---or---I---kill.---She---can---control---monsters.---How---is---that---different?”
“The---monsters---eat---you.”
Is---this---guy---for---real?---Why---are---some---of---the---centaurs---that---are---listening---actually---nodding---to---that?
I---shake---my---head---and---send---a---mental---command.
My---massive---minion---turns---around---behind---me---and---I---activate---some---rather---interesting---muscles.---The---crystal---dome---seems---to---lift---upward,---disconnecting---a---portion---of---the---domes---connection,---revealing---a---clear---face---of---Berosus.
And---then,---Berosus'---mouth---opens---to---reveal---a---literal---circular---hole---of---sharp---grinding---teeth.
“So,---Dragken,---want---to---find---out---how---many---bites---of---you---Berosus---can---consume?”
Every---centaur---except---the---distracted---Doreson---steps---back---in---what---seems---like---some---kind---of---primal---fear.---Like---prey---looking---at---a---predator.
With---another---mental---command,---Berosus---closes---his---mouth---and---lowers---his---dome---back---down.
They---look---at---me,---wide-eyed,---and---all---I---can---do---is---give---a---nice---toothy---smile.
“As---you---can---see,---I---don't---care---about---what---the---class---is,---only---whether---it---is---useful---or---not.---[Beastmistress]---sounds---very---useful,---[Herdmaster]---is---crap.”
I---turn---and---wave---towards---the---silent---Centaurs---as---I---make---my---way---to---the---carriage---being---pulled---by---the---[Ranger]---Zoteal---and---[Guard---Captain]---Damiar.
Apparently,---Oregan’s---strength---was---enough---to---pull---it---alone,---but---most---centaurs---require---at---least---two---people,---possibly---even---more---if---their---strength---and---stamina---are---too---low.
I---make---my---way---to---the---carriage---and---hop---up---three---feet---before---entering---the---inside.
“Are---we---going---now?”---Janie---asks---as---I---stroll---into---the---sitting---area.
Her---question---is---answered---a---moment---after---when---the---carriage---begins---to---move.
I---sit---across---her---and---stare---out---the---window,---watching---the---carts---begin---to---move---and---[Runners]---accelerating---away---to---send---messages.---On---the---carts---are---my---Gejan,---all---of---them---are---relaxing.---This---whole---floor---had---pretty---much---been---a---vacation---for---them---so---far.
If---the---forest---is---as---dangerous---as---Dragken---makes---it---out---to---be,---then---I---think---it---would---be---a---good---place---to---train---and---level.---I---can---get---Janie---to---her---next---class,---Level---my---own---class---of---[Necromancer]---and---get---my---average---Gejan---level---to---around---eighty.---Seventy---is---good,---but---If---I---can---get---them---all---to---pass---one---hundred,---I---think---I---will---have---a---much---easier---time.
“So…,”
“Hm?”---I---look---to---Janie,---her---eyes---looking---at---the---table---in---front---of---us.
“Di-did---you---choose---your---last---class---yet?”
Why---is---she---being---so---shy---about---asking?---She---should---already---know---that---I---don't---care---about---telling---my---classes---and---levels.---I---wasn't---born---in---this---world,---so---I---don't---find---it---disrespectful.
“Nope,---I---am---actually---having---trouble---choosing---a---class.---Nothing---speaks---out---to---me---and---I---can’t---necessarily---choose---a---class---without---more---information.---The---name---and---description---go---only---so---far.---Which---is---why---I---am---going---to---hold---up---on---my---choice---until---I---can---talk---to---the---Kitsune.---Hopefully,---they---can---give---me---some---insight.”
Not---really---the---choice---I---want,---but---a---class---is---a---big---thing---to---choose.---I---can't---tell---what---classes---are---good,---which---are---shitty,---and---which---would---be---great---later.---Like---[Noble]---felt---kind---of---limitless.---It---feels---like---it---can---be---an---auxiliary---to---anything.---Which---is---why---it---was---an---easy---choice.---But---everything---else---doesn't---give---me---that---feeling.
“I---see…”
As---timid---and---beta---as---any---answer---I---have---heard.---Which---is---all---the---more---surprising---when---shit---hits---the---fan---and---she---needs---to---get---stuff---done.---She---turns---into---a---drill---sergeant---and---it---is---her---way---or…---nope,---still---her---way.---Kinda---scary---actually.
“Do---I---have---something---on---my---face?”
Oh…---I’m---staring…---again.---Huh,---I---should---stop---that,---though---it---is---difficult---considering---her---rather---growing---curves---and---increasing---bust.
Yup,---her---formerly,---barely---existent---breasts---are---enlarging.---Another---one---or---two---inches---and---I---think---she---will---be---Gorgeous.
“Ummm,”---Janie---looks---down,---beginning---to---blush---at---my---piercing---gaze.
Fuck---Me!---Not---again.---It's---coming---back!!!!!
I---stand---quickly,---startling---her.
“Right,---I---will---go---to---bed.---I---need---to---sleep…---and---think---and---stuff.---Goodnight.”
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Janie---watches---as---Thoric---quickly---makes---his---way---to---his---room,---opening---and---closing---the---door---just---as---fast.
She---blinks---and---turns---her---gaze---outside,---staring---at---the---illuminating---crystal---in---the---sky,---signifying---that---it---is---morning…
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A---little---over---a---week---passes,---a---rather---safe---week---thanks---to---the---sheer,---massive---presence---of---Berosus.---No---monsters---or---animals---dare---come---close---to---the---hulking---colossus.
But---now,---the---group---is---nearing---their---destination,---a---rather---small---village---bordering---a---grand---forest.
A---village,---currently---armed---with---bows,---is---standing---behind---a---very---flimsy---looking---wooden---wall.---Clearly,---the---inhabitants---are---in---a---state---of---emergency,---though---Thoric---is---finding---it---impressive---that---all---of---t
he---centaurs---are---choosing---to---fight---instead---of---run.
More---notable---to---that---fact---is---the---rather---high---level---[Hunters]---which---are---waiting---with---bows---drawn.---It---is---abundantly---clear---that---this---village---survives---mostly---on---the---skins---and---bones---of---beasts---from---the---forest.
And---as---much---as---the---[Hero]---Thoric---would---enjoy---sending---Berosus---forward---for---the---fun---of---it,---he---does---need---information.---Information,---which---is---easier---to---obtain---from---a---populace---not---at---the---verge---of---shitting---themselves.