Legacy of Chaos

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.

  ***********************************************************************************************

  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.

  __________________________________________________________________

  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.

  _____________________________________________________

  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.”