by Jackson Bale
He---sighs.
“Fine,---we---will---take---a---break,---and---then---we---will---continue---on.”
At---his---words,---more---than---half---of---the---Gejan---sit---down,---one---even---just---falling---on---the---ground---from---exhaustion.
He---nods.
“Five---minutes---and---then---we---continue---on.”
Groans---about---it---being---unfair---are---released---from---the---group---as---Darrow---looks---into---the---deep---forest,---a---ready---smile---on---his---face.---His---armor---dripping---red---from---all---the---blood---he---had---shed---today.
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On---another---end---of---the---forest,---two---groups---had---combined---and---have---been---traveling---rather---deeply---into---the---forest---while---ignoring---most---fights.
Lilly---walks---through---the---underbrush,---her---weight---creating---deep---prints---in---the---ground---while---Tella---walks---beside---her,---creating---little---sound.---In---fact,---for---someone---without---[Enhanced---Hearing]---it---would---be---practically---impossible---to---hear---her---move.
“I’m---so---Jealous---Tella.---Other---than---that---one---time,---he---never---called---on---me---to---mate.---He---always---calls---you.”
Tella---chuckles,---“Maybe---it---has---something---to---do---with---your---strength,---and---the---fact---that---you---broke---his---hips,”---she---says---teasingly.
“But---but---there---are---other---positions!”
“Ha.---I---saw---you---masterbate.---You---flail---like---a---mating---gorgerat.---You---can't---control---your---body.”
Lilly---groans---aloud.---She---had---fucked---before,---but---none---had---ever---been---able---to---finish.---Heck,---many---of---her---potential---mates,---those---that---hadn’t---minded---her---short---size,---stopped---immediately---as---soon---as---their---scales---started---cracking.
Thoric---was---different.---His---bones---broke---but---he---still---kept---at---it.---He---just---kept---thrusting---and---thrusting.---Eventually,---by---the---time---he---had---finally---came,---she---was---sore---and---exhausted.---She’d---had---twenty---orgasms,---one---right---after---the---other.
It---was---only---the---following---morning---that---she---found---him---missing---with---Tella---and---Threm---unconscious---next---to---her.
“Look---on---the---bright---side,---at---least---you---are---willing.---Threm---is---just---constantly---avoiding---him---now.”
Lilly---nods---slowly,---“You---think---she---hates---him---for---taking---her---virginity?”
Tella---stops,---her---hand---extends,---touching---some---leaves---“I…---I---don't---think---so.---At---first---I---thought---that---was---the---case,---but---I---think---she---is---instead---very---scared.---You've---heard---about---how---every---girl---nearby---gets---horny---while---Thoric---is---turned---on?”
Lilly---nods,---“Yea,---he---just---radiates---it.---I---can---barely---keep---myself---from---jumping---at---him.”
“Well,---my---mom---says---it---is---because---of---his---aura.---It---is---so---strong---that---he---transmits---his---feelings---to---those---around---him---when---he---feels---strongly---about---something.”
“Ohhhh,---so---you---think---she---isn't---sure---that---she---wants---him?---She’s---scared---that---she---was---manipulated?”
“Yes,---but---personally---I---think---she---actually---does---want---him.---When---I---saw---Thoric---teaching---her---to---dance,---she---looked---very---happy---and---interested.---She---was---enjoying---herself---and---it---didn't---feel---like---Thoric---was---using---his---aura---at---that---moment.”
*Sigh*
“Well,---I---know---I---want---his---kids.---You---too---right?”
“Yea.---I---just---hope---we---can---have---his---kids.---I---have---been---holding---his---sperm---in---my---sack---and---I---would---have---tried---to---fertilize---one---of---my---eggs---already,---but---I---don't---want---him---to---move---forward---without---me.---Maybe---when---we---get---out---of---the---dungeon---I---will.”
Lilly---nods,---“Yea,---that---sounds---smart.---We---are---constantly---moving.---Caring---for---an---egg---would---be---dangerous---right---now.”
“Still,---I---really---wa-”
Tella---stops---talking---and---looks---around,---her---[Enhanced---Hearing]---picking---up---something---moving---towards---their---location---very---fast.
She---extends---her---hand---and---points.
Lilly---unsheathes---her---weapon,---a---bony---whip---created---from---the---first---floor---boss’s---tail.
Behind---them,---the---rest---of---their---team---unsheathes---their---own---weapons.---They---consist---of---a---mixture---of---various---types---and---classes.
“Its---moving---above,---on---the---treetops,”---she---exclaims,---pointing.
The---group---is---ready---and---waiting.---A---moment---passes,---and---then---a---monster---that---looks---like---a---black---panther---lands---upon---a---treetop,---its---eyes---stare---at---the---party---with---unexpected---intelligence.
Lilly---flicks---her---arm---and---the---whip---extends,---but---misses---the---beast---as---it---jumps---to---another---tree.---The---tree---branch---it---was---sitting---on---explodes,---ripping---it---apart.
The---monster---bears---its---teeth---from---its---new---branch,---revealing---a---yellow---crystal---toothed---mouth.
“Its---an---Awakened,”---Tella’s---words---echo---through---the---clearing,---sending---a---tingle---of---readiness---through---the---group’s---spine.---Awakened---are---powerful---monsters---with---abilities---that---make---them---extremely---dangerous.---It---is---preferred---to---fight---one---with---either---a---large---group---or---a---couple---of---second---tier---classes.
The---monster---growls---at---them,---before---jumping---to---another---tree---and---running---way.---It---was---smart---enough---to---realize---that---its---safety---would---not---be---guaranteed---if---it---attempted---to---fight---them.
“Its---gone,”---Tella---says---as---the---sound---of---the---monster---moving---away---goes---quiet,---and---then---completely---disappears.
A---breath---is---released---from---many---of---the---group---as---she---turns---to---Lilly,---“I---think---we---should---go---back---now.---It---is---getting---a---bit---late.”
The---two---ladies---turn---and---make---their---way---back,---retracting---their---steps,---while---looking---out---for---any---hidden---predators---on---the---way.
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The---final---group,---a---group---similar---in---composition---to---the---other---groups,---have---found---themselves---in---a---complicated---predicament.---The---six---tanks,---three---fighters,---and---the---scout---are---standing---still,---simply---watching---the---scene---in---front---of---them---unfold.
A---dance---if---you---will.
A---bloody---dance---of---death.
They---gaze---steadily,---mesmerized,---eyes---locked---on---Threm---as---she---moves---through---twenty---beasts,---all---rushing---for---her---scales,---but---unable---to---reach---her---at---all.
While---at---the---same---time,---her---twin---bloody---blades---shimmer---from---the---moonlight---being---reflecting---off---them---into---the---dense---vegetation---around---her.---Vegetation---that---will---feed---extremely---well---considering---the---ample---nutrition---covering---the---ground.
Over---thirty---corpses---surround---Threm,---while---another---twenty---will---soon---join---them.
Monsters---jump---into---the---fray.---They---slash,---bite,---or---spit---poison---at---her.---But---everything---misses---by---the---smallest---of---margins.---They---are---always---so---close---to---harming---her,---and---that---is---what---drives---them---on.---Even---after---obtaining---so---many---wounds---that---any---normal---monster---would’ve---tried---to---retreat,---they---still---continue---their---futile---attacks.---And---they---will---continue--
-to---do---so---until---they---die.
Because,---in---the---end---[Distracting---Dance]---only---ends---when---the---user---stops---dancing.---And---so---far,---Threm---has---not,---and---therefore---neither---have---her---unwilling---partners.
It---is---only---after---another---ten---minutes---that---the---last---of---the---monsters---falls---upon---the---floor,---having---died---from---an---innumerable---amount---of---wounds.---They---died---slowly,---falling---only---once---their---bodies---were---no---longer---able---to---support---themselves---due---to---a---lack---of---blood
Finally,---the---dance---ends,---but---all---of---the---Gejan---that---had---witnessed---it---stay---silent.---Their---minds---digesting---what---had---happened.
Approximately---thirty---monster---corpses,---all---with---levels---exceeding---eighty.---Having---died---to---only---one---individual.
Threm---snorts,---frowning---as---she---gazes---at---the---corpses---around---her.---She---had---hoped---combat---would---make---her---feel---better,---and---it---did.---During---it.---But---now---that---it---has---ended,---her---thoughts---turn---back---to---Thoric.
She---makes---a---fist---and---punches---a---tree,---denting---it.---Does---she---have---feelings---for---him?---Is---it---her---Gejan---instincts---that---want---him?---Or---was---he---manipulating---her?
Questions---without---answers---clog---her---mind.---Frustration,---angst,---anger,---confusion…---moist.
*Slam*
Her---fist---impact---the---tree---again,---denting---it---further.
“Why---does---this---not---make---sense!!!”
Her---yell---echoes---loudly,---those---watching---stay---silent,---unwilling---to---interrupt---the---[Captain].
*GGGRRRROOOOOWWWWWLLLL*
And---then,---from---the---tree---tops,---a---sound---is---heard.---They---all---look---up.
A---monster---with---black---skin---gazes---down,---its---four---limbs---perfectly---stationary---on---the---tree.---Its---yellow---slitted---eyes---gaze---down,---calculating,---watching.---It---opens---its---mouth---slightly,---revealing---yellow---crystal---teeth.
Its---eyes---gaze---from---left---to---right.---The---monster---is---weighing---its---options,---reasoning---with---abnormal---intelligence.---Few---would---be---able---to---read---its---thoughts,---but---most---would---agree---that---they---do---not---look---good.
“[Analyze]”
“Level---127---Awakened---DirePanther.”
The---scout---quickly---exclaims,---followed---by---a---gulp.
The---monster---turns---and---looks---towards---the---one---who---had---spoken.
The---level---of---the---monster---is---unnaturally---high,---but---that---isn't---too---big---a---problem.---Monster---levels---aren't---scaled---as---class---levels.---Which---is---why---most---of---the---group---does---not---fear---its---high---level.---No,---what---they---fear---most---is---the---awakened---part.---An---awakened---monster---obtains---significantly---improved---prowess---in---combat.
On---top---of---that,---they---also---tend---to---be---pack---leaders.
Which---is---why---many---Gejan---begin---looking---around---them,---searching---for---others---of---its---kind.
Except---for---one.
Without---missing---a---beat,---Threm---unsheathes---her---blade---in---an---instant,---“[Wall---Walking],”---she---yells---before---jumping---to---the---base---of---the---tree---and---running---up---it---as---though---it---were---flat---ground.---Her---new---skill---quickly---taking---her---to---the---monster---where---she---slashes---out.
But---the---nimble---direwolf---merely---jumps---to---another---branch,---growling---back---towards---Threm.
“You---are---mine!”---she---yells---before---jumping---forward.---The---branches---sway---slightly---under---her---feet.---But---the---beast---dodges---again,---jumping---to---another---branch.---Threm---does---the---same,---eventually---turning---into---a---chase.---The---Gejan---on---the---ground---grow---perplexed---before---realizing---that---their---[Captain]---is---rushing---away---from---them.
“Get---back---here!”---she---yells---as---her---troops---begin---to---spring---into---action,---attempting---to---catch---up---to---the---pair.
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Threm,---in---the---back---of---her---mind,---knows---that---following---this---monster---is---a---bad---idea.---That---all---her---training---from---her---father---would---clearly---tell---her---that---she---is---being---baited.
Unfortunately,---she---is---quite---angry---right---now,---and---also---very---confident.---At---the---moment,---her---skills---allow---her---to---take---on---large---amounts---of---foes---on---her---own.---Only---elites---can---truly---stop---her.
A---couple---minutes---go---by---as---she---slowly---gains---upon---the---monster.---And---then,---the---monster---stops---a---moment---to---give---her---a---look,---before---jumping---down.
Threm---smiles,---jumping---forward,---aiming---for---the---branch---the---monster---was---just---on.
But---before---she---lands,---the---branch---moves---on---its---own,---away---from---her.
Her---eyes---widen---before---she---slams---hard---into---the---ground.---Thankfully,---her---stats---make---it---so---that---her---body---does---not---break---from---the---impact.---Unfortunately,---the---roots---under---her---rise---up,---twisting---around---her---body,---embracing---her---from---every---direction.---Her---arms---and---legs---become---tied---as---her---weapons---are---forced---out---of---her---hands.
She---looks---around,---finding---several---dozen---Treants---lifting---themselves---out---of---the---ground.---Monster---trees.---She---had---walked---into---a---forest---of---them---without---realizing---it.---She---had---fallen---into---a---trap.
Panic---strikes---her---as---she---attempts---to---move,---but---her---strength---is---too---low---to---break---free---and---her---skills---are---useless---in---this---predicament.
“Ohhh,---it---seems---Sirius---brought---company.”
The---words---enter---her---ears---and---Threm’s---struggles---stop.---Her---gaze---moves---to---the---origin---of---the---sound,---where---she---finds---her.
A---centauress---with---pure---white---fur.---She---is---small,---petite,---and---her---hand---rests---upon---the---Awakened---Direpanther’s---head.---The---monster---purrs---at---her---touch.---The---rumors---seem---to---be---true.
“You---are---Alba.---We---have---been---searching---for---you.”
The---centauress---frowns---as---her---gaze---turns---to---Threm.---An---angry---gaze.
“Searching?---You---enter---my---forest---and---slaughter---my---people?---I---know---your---kind---Gejan.---The---last---time---your---kind---moved---through---here,---I---lost---many---of---my---friends!---And---now,---again---I---sense---your---kind---slaughtering.”
The---words---cause---Threm---to---stop---as---she---attempts---to---understand.---Those---were---hers?---Why---are---they---attacking?
“They---attacked---me!”---Threm---voices---aloud.
Alba---snarls.
The---treants---tighten---their---hold,---her---scales---begin---to---crack.
Threm---screams.
“Because---I---had---not---tamed---those---yet.---I---have---moved---all---of---mine,---but---many---future---friends---are---dying---now.”
Just---as---Threm---feels---the---pressure---increase,---it---stops---just---as---suddenly.
“[Captain]!”
They---yell,---her---squad---had---finally---shown---up.---They---stop,---staring---at---the---monsters---and---at---Threm---who---is---unable---to---move.---They---take---a---step---forward.
“Stop---you---fools,---she---is---too---strong.---Get---the---commander!---He---will---avenge---me.”
Hearing---her---words,---the---squad---stops.
And---then---they---hear---Threm---scream.
“If---you---run,---she---dies.”
The---words---come---from---Alba’s---mouth---as---her---gaze---sharpens.---Threm---stops---screaming.---The---pain---lessens.
<
br /> Alba---looks---to---Threm,---smiling.”---So---you---have---someone---leading---you?”
Threm---spits---forward,---aiming---towards---Alba,---but---misses---by---several---feet.---”The---commander---will---have---your---head.---You---cannot---stop---him.”---she---says.
Alba---raises---an---eyebrow,---“Really---now?---I---sincerely---doubt---that.---He---is---probably---a---Gejan---only---moderately---stronger---than---you.”
“Ha,”---Threm---laughs.
“He---is---not---Gejan.---He---is---different.---Better,---stronger,---smarter.---He---has---already---defeated---a---centaur---army---and---struck---fear---into---the---hearts---of---most---[Herdmasters]---already.”