Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Hence,---Damiar---runs---ahead---and---enters---the---village.

  Not---even---five---minutes---later,---and---Damiar---is---already---waving---to---signify---that---permission---was---granted.

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  “Y-you---gave---us---all---quite---a---scare---with---your,”---the---[Herdmaster]---named---Rocco---begins---as---his---eyes---look---out---of---the---town---and---at---the---hulking---boss---monster,”---um…”

  “Minion.---Berosus---is---an---undead---minion---completely---under---my---control.---So---do---not---worry,---it---has---no---mind---of---its---own---and---will---only---follow---my---orders.”

  Rocco---gulps---and---finally---diverts---his---sight---towards---me.

  “I-I---see.---Thank---you---for---that---explanation.”

  I---look---at---the---rather---scared---[Herdmaster].---Even---with---my---explanation,---he---still---looks---utterly---terrified.---Actually.

  Gazing---around---the---town---and---the---many---nervous---looking---[Hunters],---I---notice---pretty---much---every---person---looking---terrified---at---me.

  “Ok,---this---is---annoying.---Rocco,---why---is---everyone---afraid---of---me---here.---They---should---be---curious,---or---at---the---very---least,---respectful.---Heck,---I---would---even---settle---with---lustful,---even---though---that---would---create---more---problems---than---I---would---want---to---deal---with.”

  The---[Herdmaster]---gazes---at---me,---mouth---open,---fear,---and---confusion.---He---looks---like---a---fish---having---an---aneurysm---or---something.

  “It’s---the---White---Curse!”

  “Ding---ding---ding,---we---have---a---winner.---Someone---here---actually---has---balls.”

  I---quickly---look---around---and---find---the---person---who---had---spoken.---And---of---course,---a---young---little---girl---centaur---with---her---arms---to---her---side---is---glaring---at---me.

  “I---meant---guts.---Not---balls,---guts.”

  “Denisha,---this---is---important---business---and---you---are---too---young.---Where---are---your---parents?”---asks---Rocco.

  “They---are---hiding---in---the---stinky---cellar,---like---everyone---else,”---she---exclaims---while---stamping---one---hoof.

  That---explains---where---the---rest---of---the---population---is.

  “Denisha,---go---back---down---to---the---cellar,---the---grownups---are---talking.”

  She---rolls---her---eyes---and---points---at---me,---“You---mean---staring---at---him---with---your---mouth---hanging---open?---Because---I---don't---think---he---finds---you---attractive---enough---for---that.”

  Did---she---just---imply…

  “Denisha,---that---is---utte----what?”---Rocco---stops---and---turns---around---as---I---am---laughing.---Truly---genuinely---laughing.---Rocco's---facial---expression---was---just---so…---wow,---this---girl---is---good.

  “Give,---hahaha,---give---me---a---moment,”---say,---looking---at---the---now---very---red---Rocco---and---cheeky---smile---on---Denisha’s---face.

  “Denisha,---thanks---for---that.---I---don't---suppose---I---can---ask---you---questions---instead?”

  Denisha---smiles---and---nods---but---Rocco---immediately---moves---his---body---to---block---my---view.

  “She---is---too---young.”

  “She---may---be---young,---but---you---are---way---too---old,---and---like---she---said,---I’m---not---interested---in---you.”

  Rocco’s---face---turns---a---very---red---shade.---Even---his---posture---changes---to---something---a---bit---more---threatening.

  “I---am---a---[Herdmaster]!”---he---says---angrily.

  Why---is---this---class---so---easy---to---anger.---Sheesh,---this---is---really---getting---annoying.

  [Loud---Voice]

  “And---I---am---a---being---who---can---slaughter---an---entire---fucking---town---with---just---a---thought,”---My---words---and---unexpectedly---loud---voice---cause---Rocco---and---many---of---the---centaurs---to---step---back---in---fright.

  Rocco---looks---at---me,---and---then---at---my---minion,---and---then---at---my---cocky---smile.---His---body---falls---on---the---ground---with---a---thud.

  I---look---down.

  “Your---uh…---leader,---seems---to---have---fainted.”

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  Short---stubs---for---horns,---not---actually---much---hair---but---decently---fluffy---dark---brown---fur.---She---has---that---growing---feminine---look---that---I---see---in---young---girls---going---through---puberty.

  Because---that---is---what---Denisha---reminds---me---of.---A---cute---thirteen-year-old---kid---who---probably---masturbates---regularly---and---sneakily---watches---couples---having---immensely---active---voracious---sex.

  “You---have---a---really---weird---look---on---your---face.---Also,---you---are---staring.”

  Denisha---licks---her---lips,---her---face---red---as---she---gazes---at---me.

  Fuck,---am---I---really---getting---turned---on---by---a---kid?---Seriously?---The---fuck---is---wrong---with---my---hormones…---Loki.---Loki’s---fault.

  ...then---again,---she---could---be---older.---I---can't---properly---tell---since---our---species---are---different…

  Right,---focus.---Question!

  “So,---who---or---what---is---the---White---Curse?”

  Denisha---pouts---at---the---change---in---conversation---as---she---leans---on---the---log---that---I---am---sitting---on.---Thankfully,---when---the---[Herdmaster]---fainted,---Damiar---was---nice---enough---to---explain---the---complete---situation---and---vouch---for---me.---Which---is---why---I---am---now---sitting---and---talking---with---Denisha---and---nobody---to---hear---our---conversation---except---for---Lilly---and---Tella---who---are---hiding---on---a---nearby---tree.

  They're---so---bad---at---it---that---I---have---a---surveillance---drone,---which---is---a---small---bird---undead,---just---sitting---on---a---branch---next---to---them.---It---is---kinda---pathetic.

  “Well…---the---White---Curse---is---my---older---sister.”

  Dragken---said---that---he---hadn't---seen---his---granddaughter---for---the---past---fifteen---years…---and---he---said---he---only---had---one---granddaughter.---Which---means---he---probably---doesn't---know---that---his---daughter---was---busy.

  “Alba,---correct?”

  Her---eyes---widen,---“You---know---her?”

  “I---know---her---and---your---grandfather.---Though---I---don't---think---Dragken---even---knows---you---exist.”

  To---my---surprise,---Denisha---jumps---up---and---rams---into---me,---her---hands---on---my---shoulders,---“Dragken---is---my---grandfather?---Really?---The---Dragken?”

  Oh---my,---oh---my.---I---am---sensing---some---drama---here.

  “I’m---going---to---guess---that---your---mother---never---told---you---about---her---father?”

  Denish---moves---back,---utterly---shocked---and---confused.

  Which---quickly---turns---to---anger.

  “That---bitch.---I---am---so---going---to---tell---daddy---about---that---other---guy---she---is---fucking.”

  Holy…---wow.---Oh---wow.---This…

  “Right,---you---do---that,---but---first,---mind---telling---me---about---your---sister---Alba---and---why---they---call---her---the---White---Curse?”

  She---turns---and---looks---towards---direction---of---her---probably---home,---before---frowning.

  “Well,---the---adults---say---that---Alba---is---a---curse.---A---purely---white---centaur---never---before---seen.---They---say---it---is---some---kind---of---sickness.”

  “Sounds---like---superstition.”

  “It---is!---I---met---Alba.---She---saved---my---life.”

  I---tap---the---log---next---to---me.---Denisha---takes---a---moment---before---laying---back---down---as---she---was---before.

  “Tell---me---the---story.---All---of---it,---from---the---beginning.”

  She---nods---and---I---take-
--a---moment---to---listen.

  “Well,---when---I---was---younger,---people---would---talk---about---the---White---Curse---all---the---time.---Blaming---it---on---bad---crops---or---bad---hunts.---I---didn't---think---nothing---of---it,---until---last---year---when---[Hunters]---were---having---a---harder---time---killing---prey---and---that---even---one---of---the---[Hunters]---had---died.”

  Makes---sense.---Level---were---apparently---increasing---for---the---past---years,---though---much---more---noticable---last---year.---The---dungeon---is---just---getting---more---dangerous---and---the---[Hunters]---aren’t---adapting.

  “I…---I---overheard---a---conversation---between---a---couple…”

  After---she---probably---saw---them---banging---each---other.

  “They---were---blaming---the---White---Curse---for---the---viciousness---of---the---monsters.---They---talked---about---Alba---and---how---lucky---I---was---to---not---have---the---curse---since---I---am---her---younger---sister.”

  “So---what---did---you---do?---Ask---your---parents---about---it?”

  She---turns---away---from---me,---her---face---growing---a---slight---red.

  “I---sneaked---into---the---forest---to---find---her.---To---make---sure.”

  I---shake---my---head---at---that---idiocy.---Trained---[Hunters]---are---getting---killed---in---the---forest---and---a---supposedly---young---girl---is---supposed---to---survive.

  “In---other---words,---you---walked---into---the---forest,---probably---during---the---night,---got---lost---in---the---forest,---some---monster---chased---you---like---prey---and---then---you---stumbled---into---your---sister,---which---in---turn---saved---you.---Right?”

  “Ummmm…---pretty---much,---yeah.”

  “Ok,---so---if---I---ask---you---to---introduce---me---to---your---sister---you---wouldn't---be---able---to---because---you---have---no---idea---where---she---is.---Only---that---she---is---somewhere---in---the---forest,---correct?”

  She---smiles,---“Exactly.”

  I---smack---my---face---and---roll---my---eyes.---She---reminds---me---of---a---younger---me.---Which---is---annoying,---because---I---am---supposed---to---be---the---one---annoying.---Not---being---annoyed.

  “Alright,---I---got---the---gist---of---it.---Thanks---for---the---story.---You---can---go---to---your---dad---now---and---rat---out---your---mom.”

  She---looks---at---me,---still---smiling,---staring.

  I---roll---my---eyes,---“What---do---you---want?”

  For---a---moment,---I---think---I---saw---her---eyes---gaze---between---my---legs---before---they---turn---back---to---my---face.

  “Can-can---you---introduce---me---to---Dragken?---I---am---a---fan---of---his.”

  “I---can.---I’m---sure---he---will---be---very---thrilled---to---know---he---has---another---granddaughter.---I---will---send---a---message---to---him---after---I---leave---the---floor.”

  “Oh,---right.---I---heard---you---are---going---to---save---everyone---from---the---dungeon,”---she---pauses,“---and---that---when---you---are---done,---you---will---choose---the---best---centaur---females---as---your---mates---for---your---harem.”

  Wait,---what?---What---Harem?

  Her---face---turns---beet---red---as---she---bites---her---lip.---She---gazes---at---me,---her---eyes---staring---into---mine,---“Can…---can---I---be---your---first?”

  Really?---Really?---Why---does---this---happen---to---me?---And---from---a---kid---no---less.---Shit,---I---need---a---distraction.

  *Crack*Crack*Scream*

  Two---Gejan---fall---from---the---tree,---striking---the---ground---hard,---the---branches---finally---giving---way.

  I---turn---to---the---two---lying---on---the---floor,---breathing---hard,---their---scales---a---lighter---color---than---normal.

  Ask---and---you---shall---receive.

  “Perfect---timing,---though---I---think---Lilly---may---be---too---heavy---to---hide---on---the---trees.”

  Chapter---Fifty---Eight:---White---Curse

  The---time---is---not---necessarily---night.---Is---it---darker---than---normal?---Most---definitely.---But---the---crystal---in---the---ceiling---is---still---emitting---a---soft---glow,---producing---a---bit---of---light---that---those---who---have---not---lived---all---of---their---lives---in---a---dungeon---would---consider---to---be---equivalent---to---moonlight.---Not---enough---to---see---more---than---a---couple---feet---in---front---of---you,---but---enough---for---those---with---[Night---Vision]---or---a---similar---racial---ability---to---see---rather---clearly.

  Thus,---Gejans,---having---lived---all---of---their---lives---in---a---dungeon,---specifically---in---the---part---always---shrouded---in---darkness,---find---the---lack---of---light---not---a---problem---for---hunting.---Which---is---why---several---hunting---parties---are---currently---scouring---the---forest,---fighting---the---predators---of---the---night,---leveling,---and---of---course,---searching---for---the---centaur---named---Alba,---a---supposedly---pure---white---female---centaur---with---the---ability---to---control---monsters---and---beasts.

  But,---Darrow,---one---of---the---leading---Gejan,---a---now---level---61---[Captain]---and---92---[Gejan---Guard],---can't---help---but---find---the---search---to---be---very---difficult.

  Not---the---searching---itself---exactly,---but---the---constant---battles---against---monsters---that---just---keep---swarming---his---position...---are---making---it---very---difficult---to---search.

  “Haha,---it's---like---fighting---a---swarm---of---desbats!”---he---yells---with---a---smile,---his---shield---slamming---into---a---snakelike---monster---with---claws---for---hands---and---two---very---sharp---fangs,---the---only---part---that---could---penetrate---his---Berosus---skin---armor.---Of---course,---even---those---attacks---are---always---stopped---by---his---own---scales.---Hence---he---hasn't---felt---the---dizziness---that---some---of---his---companions---have---reported---to---feel---after---being---bitten.

  Apparently,---poison---is---like---eating---rotten---meat.---Or---at---least,---that's---what---the---commander---had---said.---He---also---said---that---too---much---of---it---can---kill---someone,---and---something---about---natural---poison---resistance.

  Well,---Darrow---can't---exactly---remember---what---he---said,---he---just---knows---that---they---are---leveling---fast.---In---just---a---week---of---searching---he---had---gained---three---levels.---Progress---which---could---normally---take---years---to---achieve---is---being---accomplished---in---such---a---short---period---of---time.---Clearly,---the---commander---knows---what---he---is---doing.

  “[Captain]---Darrow,---can---we---please---rest?---Not---all---of---us---have---the---stamina---to---fight---for---several---hours---straight.”

  Darrow---turns---and---looks---towards---the---speaker---and---then---to---the---rest---of---his---squad.---Ten---gejan,---six---of---them---designated---as---tanks,---three---as---fighters,---and---one---as---scout.---The---scout---might---not---have---the---[Scout]---class,---but---she---possesses---a---class---that---fills---a---similar---role.

  “But---then---the---other---squads---might---find---the---centaur!”---he---whines---aloud.

  Which---is---true,---they---could.---And---that---is---something---Darrow---would---like---to---avoid,---given---that---the---commander---has---said---he---will---give---out---better---enchanted---weapons---and---armor---to---the---[Captain]---that---finds---her.

  The---scout,---or---better---yet,---[Hunter],---rolls---her---eyes,---“Then---why---the---fuck---when---I---tell---you---there---is---a---group---of---monsters---nearby,---you---immediately---rush---to---that---position?---Would---it---not---be---better---to---go---around---and---search---instead---of---wasting---time---killing---everything?”

  The---other---members,---looking---as---ragged---as---her,---nod---to---her---words.

  “But…”

  “[Captain],---err,---we---don't---have---any---skills---to---regain---stamina---as---efficiently---as---your---[Stamina---Parasitism]---skill.---We---might---have---[Second---Wind]---or---[Minor-
--Stamina---Regen],---but---that's---not---nearly---enough---to---keep---up---with---the---pace---you---set,”---one---of---the---[Warriors]---says.

  Darrow---can---only---frown---at---the---mention---of---his---recent---skill.---[Stamina---Parasitism]---allows---him---to---regain---a---bit---of---stamina---everytime---he---kills---something.---And---considering---he---has---been---killing---things---constantly,---it---might---be---the---reason---why---he---does---not---feel---exhausted.