Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  She---snorts,---“Lies.---Fabricated---lies.---Those---old---shits---are---too---stupid---to---fear---anything.”

  Threm---smiles,---blood---seeping---from---her---mouth,---“They---call---him---the---Kitsune---Patriarch.”

  And---then,---to---Threm---delight,---she---watches---Alba’s---expression---change---to---bewilderment.---Unfortunately,---it---doesn't---take---long---before---that---same---expression---turns---into---a---smile.

  “The---Kitsune---Patriarch.---Amazing.---So---he---does---exist.---Grampa---was---right,”---she---mumbles---under---her---breath.

  Her---head---swerves---to---the---confused---Gejan---waiting---with---weapons---unsheathed.---They---are---unsure---what---to---do.---Threm---told---them---to---run,---but---if---they---leave,---she---dies.

  “You---all---will---send---a---message---to---your---commander.---Tell---him---to---come---to---me---unarmed.---I---will---speak---with---him.---But---if---he---does---not---show---up---in---a---day…”

  Threm---screams,---her---bones---crack,---blood---spews---from---her---mouth.

  “Then---she---dies.”

  Chapter---Fifty---Nine:---Ain't---no---banshee

  Everything---had---gone---well---the---past---week.---I---had---sent---my---Gejan---out---to---level,---mostly---during---the---night.---During---the---day,---I---found---it---was---rather---dangerous---for---them---to---hunt---and---kill.---Day---monsters---and---beasts---of---the---forest---tend---to---be---large---and---quite---powerful.---They---had---evolved---to---be---large---in---size---while---having---quite---a---resilient---defense---in---the---form---of---exoskeletal---skin---or---dense---muscles.---Acceptable---enemies---for---some---Gejan,---but---horrible---for---most---thanks---to---the---sheer---amount---of---blunt---damage---they---were---able---to---dish---out.

  The---Gejan---are---naturally---resistant---to---piercing---and---slashing---damage---thanks---to---their---scales.---Even---better---is---the---fact---that---they---have---some---serious---resistance---to---poisons.---Their---bodies---seem---to---be---able---to---fight---practically---any---nocturnal---monster---available.

  Their---innate---night---vision---allows---them---to---fight---extremely---well---in---the---night.---In---addition---to---that,---the---monsters---that---roam---the---forest---by---night---tend---to---be---smaller,---and---often---lack---good---physical---defenses.---They---generally---focus---on---sneak---attacks---and---poison---to---kill---their---foes.

  As---you---can---see,---perfect---Gejan---hunting---grounds.

  Unfortunately,---problems---seem---to---always---appear---when---everything---is---going---great.

  “We---should---avenge---her.---You---will---only---be---going---to---your---death---if---you---go---alone.”

  Zorren---voices---aloud---angrily,---his---arms---folded---together---as---we---all---sit---around---a---bonfire,---debating---the---recent---news.

  “No!---Threm---must---be---saved.---They---said---she---will---die---if---Thoric---does---not---speak---to---Alba,”---exclaims---Tella---exclaims---in---panic---and---anger.---Her---emotions---are---out---of---control---from---the---possibility---that---she---may---lose---her---close---friend.

  “So---you---would---let---him---die?”---Zorren---exclaims,---pointing---at---me---like---I’m---some---kind---of---thing.

  Well,---out---of---everyone,---Zorren---has---been---the---least---helpful.---More---like---a---dead---weight---than---anything---else.---I---wonder---if---he---still---hates---me---over---using---him---as---a---meatshield---for---the---minotaurs…

  “I---agree,---there---must---be---some---way---to---save---her,”---says---Lilly---with---a---frown.

  I---sit---and---look,---listening---to---my---elites---talk---about---what---should---be---done,---but---lacking---any---ideas---on---how---to---do---it.---Except---for---Zorren,---he---seems---to---have---convinced---himself---that---Threm---is---now---a---lost---cause---and---that---we---should---focus---on---vengeance.

  I---look---to---my---left,---finding---a---nervous---looking---Janie---sitting---next---to---me.---She---seems---to---be---thinking---about---what---to---do---as---well,---but---like---most,---doesn't---have---an---answer---either.

  I---then---turn---to---Darrow,---a---Gejan---who---had---physically---grown---with---his---levels.---So---much---so---that---he---towers---as---tall---as---Zorren---now.---Darrow---is---relaxed,---smiling---as---though---everything---will---somehow---work---out.

  I---cough---into---my---hand---and---silence---descends---upon---all---present.---They---turn---to---me,---waiting---for---my---answer.

  “Darrow,---mind---sharing---your---thoughts?”

  The---spotlight---now---changes---to---Darrow---who---looks---surprised---before---giving---his---goofy---smile,---followed---by---a---shrug.

  “The---commander---will---save---Threm.---The---only---reason---this---Alba---is---even---threatening---us---is---because---she---doesn't---understand---how---amazing---the---commander---is.”

  Some---chuckle,---Lilly---and---Tella---nod,---while---Zorren---rolls---his---eyes---in---annoyance.---A---hint---of---anger---ripples---through---his---face---before---disappearing---just---as---fast.

  So---that's---what---bothers---you.---The---blind---devotion---I---get---from---everyone.---Jealousy?---Annoyance?---Fear?---What---drives---you---to---act---the---way---you---do...

  “Well---Darrow,---you---are---completely---correct.---I---am---going---to---save---her.”

  Smiles---cross---faces---as---I---hear---a---breath---come---from---my---side.---Even---jessica---was---curious---of---my---choice.

  “And---how---are---you---going---to---do---that?”---Zorren---says,---his---mood---seemingly---soured.

  I---smile---at---the---man,---showing---my---teeth,---“Easy,---by---doing---exactly---what---Darrow---said.---I’m---going---to---show---them---how---amazing---I---am.”

  At---my---words---I---stand---up---and---stretch,---watching---the---morning---light---start---to---shine---upon---our---camp.

  “Alright,---wake---everyone---up.---Nobody---sleeps---today.---If---we---are---to---save---her,---then---I---am---going---to---need---everyone's---help.---I---want---an---army---armed---and---ready.”---I---chuckle,---smiling---as---hundreds---of---plans---are---made---and---discarded---in---my---head.---Thousands---of---possibilities,---and---I---choose---the---one---which---I---believe---has---the---highest---chance---of---success.

  I---turn,---heading---towards---my---carriage,---my---mana---ready---and---waiting---for---what---I---am---going---to---need---to---do---next.

  ____________________________________________________________________

  “She---is---about---two---hundred---meters---down---that---direction,”---the---scout---informes---me,---pointing---towards---a---cluster---of---trees.

  I---nod.---“Good,---now---get---back---with---the---group.---I---will---handle---the---next---step.”

  She---swallows---sleepily.---Like---for---the---others,---her---day---had---been---hectic---and---busy,---which---is---why---rest---is---now---so---very---wanting.

  I---watch---her---run---back---before---turning---towards---the---cluster---of---trees.

  Level---121---Treant

  Treants---are---predators---that---instead---of---hunting,---wait---for---prey---to---come---near---before---quickly---grasping---and---entangling---them---with---poison---spiked---vines---and---roots.---They---are---effective---and---powerful,---but---lack---the---ability---to---move---quickly---from---locations.

  A---Treant’s---body---is---resistant---to---fire,---having---evolved---in---this---way---due---to---certain---predators---being---able---to---set---them---on---fire.

  Tamed---by---Alba

  It's---funny,---but---Treants---are---trees,---except---that---they---don't---grow---like---trees.---Where---trees---will---grow---towards---the---light,---Treants---seem---to---grow---around.---Clearly,---a---diet---of---meat---changes---the---physiology---of---what---is---normal.

  Which---is---why---it---is---so---easy---for---me---to---noti
ce---them---in---this---forest---environment.---The---moved---dirt,---no---branches---intermingling,---leaves---seem---to---serve---more---as---decoration---than---anything---else.

  I---start---walking---in---that---direction---while---relaying---mental---commands---constantly.---My---eyes---partially---focused---on---walking---while---a---large---birdlike---monster---circles---the---area---far---above---where---I---am---going.---Through---its---eyes,---I---can---see---my---plan---coming---together.

  It’s---annoying---that---I---can't---use---my---mini---pigeons.---Yes,---that's---what---I---am---calling---them,---even---though---they---look---like---hummingbirds.---Unfortunately,---they---are---at---the---bottom---of---the---food---chain,---which---means---I---can't---use---them---because---everything---else---that---can---fly---keeps---fucking---eating---them.

  Probably---explains---why---they---are---so---numerous.---They---have---to---procreate---faster---than---they---die.

  My---feet---take---me---within---range---of---the---first---Treant---and---the---point---in---which---my---plan---could---fail.

  Thankfully,---nothing---impedes---my---path---as---I---walk---through---the---night---until---I---enter---a---circular---clearing---with---a---massive---Treant---in---the---center.---Threm---is---splayed---on---it,---held---tightly---by---the---tentacles---of---the---Treant.

  But---my---vision---moves---towards---the---bottom,---towards---the---centauress---named---Alba.---She---gazes---at---me---expectantly,---her---hand---petting---the---giant---cat---next---to---her.

  She---is---slightly---taller---than---her---younger---sister,---but---still---much---smaller---than---the---average---centauress.---Her---features---are---that---of---a---half-goat---underside,---and---I---noticed---a---sheen---of---red---in---her---eyes.

  “So---you---came,”---she---says,---which---I---take---as---my---cue---to---stop---moving.---I---am---only---five---meters---away---from---her---now,---which---is---more---than---close---enough---for---me---to---take---a---good---look---at---her---appearance.

  Pure---white---from---head---to---tail.---Even---her---short---horns---are---white.

  “And---you---are---an---albino.”

  She---looks---at---me---up---and---down,---gazing---strongly.---After---a---moment,---she---tilts---her---head,”---Albino?”

  I---nod,---sending---mental---signals---as---I---strengthen---the---grip---on---my---staff---while---keeping---my---mind---and---body---ready---to---move---and---react.

  “Indeed.---Albino’s---are---people---without---pigmentation.”

  She---looks---at---me---confused.

  “Pigmentation---refers---to---a---body's---ability---to---add---color.---Your---body---is---not---able---to---do---so---which---is---resulting---in---you---looking---completely---white.”

  Her---petting---stops---as---she---digests---my---words,---“Is---that---bad?”

  Huh,---this---is---easier---than---I---thought.---I’m---almost---in---position.

  I---shake---my---head,---“no,---albinism---is---not---necessarily---bad,---at---least---not---here,”---I---point---towards---the---crystal---in---the---sky,---“the---crystal,---your---light---source,---does---not---produce---any---heat---which---would---have---easily---burned---your---skin.”

  A---smile---forms---on---her---lips,---“heh,---you---are---the---third---person---to---say---something---like---that.”

  Shit…---why---am---I---feeling---like---she---is---also---preparing---something?---She---is---too---relaxed.---Something---is---wrong.

  I---ignore---her---statement---and---instead---point---towards---Threm---hanging---limp---on---the---tree.

  “Is---she---alive?”---I---ask---fully---knowing---that---she---is---alive.---Sensing---if---something---is---dead---is---one---of---the---perks---of---the---[Necromancer]---class---that---doesn’t---come---in---the---form---of---a---skill.

  My---question---causes---her---to---pout---as---she---twists---her---head---and---gazes---at---the---form---of---Threm.

  “She---is,---though---barely.---I---may---have---exhausted---her---a---bit---too---much---in---the---morning.”

  Exhausted…---what?---Torture?---Something---doesn't---seem---right.

  I---take---a---good---look---at---Threm---and---find---her---to---be---in---rather---good---health,---albeit---lacking---any---clothing.

  She---was---stripped?---It---makes---sense---though.---Threm---could---have---had---a---weapon---hidden---in---her---clothes.

  “If---she---is---alive,---then---return---her---to---me,”---I---state---aloud,---my---plan---ready---and---waiting.---Now---I---just---have---to---see---what---she---does.

  “If---you---do,---I---will---spare---your---life,”---I---add.---As---long---as---Threm---isn’t---permanently---harmed,---then---I---really---have---no---reason---to---fight---or---kill---her.---People---can---be---reasonable---occasionally.

  To---my---threat,---her---smile---widens.

  “Truly---amazing.---Volpe---was---completely---right.---If---one---day---you---did---the---unthinkable,”---she---mumbles,---shaking---her---head,---eyes---glazed,---smiling---with---a---hint---of---madness.

  She---steps---towards---me,---and---I---am---forced---to---step---back---because---my---subconscious---is---screaming---at---me,---yelling---at---me---that---I---just---fucked---up---and---had---fallen---into---a---trap.

  It---is---also---screaming---internally---that---it---was---too---late---to---do---anything---about---it.

  The---ground---begins---to---rumble.

  Shit.---It's---now---or---never!

  Attack!

  Like---a---mental---onslaught,---I---send---my---command---towards---the---several---thousand---undead---monsters---waiting---just---outside---the---range---of---the---treants.---Sounds---of---screaming,---yelling,---growling---are---heard---from---my---horde---as---a---full---on---charge---begins---towards---my---location.

  Unfortunately,---that---little---voice---in---the---back---of---my---mind.---Those---instincts---of---mine.---They---are---telling---me---that---I---am---too---late.

  “Fuck,”

  One---word---is---all---that---I---am---able---to---say---as---the---ground---trembles,---and---a---hundred---treants---burst---out---of---the---ground---where---they---had---been---hidden.---They---grow---and---expand,---roots---rising---at---the---entrance---to---the---clearing.---They---rise---far---up---and---towards---the---center.---In---mere---seconds,---the---light---is---completely---blocked---and---I---am---trapped---inside---a---thick---wooden---dome.

  I---swerve---my---head---forward---but---am---unable---to---see---anything---at---all.---Without---even---the---smallest---bit---of---light,---then---my---night---vision---is---useless.

  I---hear---something---soft---tap---on---the---floor---in---front---of---me.---And---then---I---hear---the---hoofsteps---and---her---voice.

  I---know---where---she---is.---I---can---smell---her---scent.---I---hear---her---move---as---well---as---her---hardened---breathing.

  “An---army.---You---built---an---army---in---a---day.---Volpe---was---so---right---about---you.”

  She---speaks,---her---voice---coming---closer.---I---grip---my---staff---and---focus---on---my---hearing---as---well---as---my---mana.---I---prepare---my---[Corrosive---Fog]---spell---with---enough---strength---to---melt---everything---around---me.

  I---am---a---complete---idiot.---She---fucking---hid---a---hundred---treants---under---the---dirt.---I---walked---in---with---an---army---to---scare---her---into---submission.---But---I---fucked---up---and---now---it---looks---like---my---only---choice---is---to---end---her---in---one---strike.

  “Mmmm,---I---can---smell---it.---You---have---a---spell---ready.---I---wouldn't---use---it---though.---If---I---die,---the---girl---behind---me---dies---and---every---monster---under---my---control---will---go---into---a---frenzy---to---avenge---me.”

  FUCK!

  I---am---surrounded---by---over---a---hundred---treants.---My---monsters---are---barely---making---any---progress---on---the---dome---and---Berosus’s---slow---ass---will---take---f
orever---to---get---here.---It---has---been---a---long---time---since---I---had---messed---up---this---badly.

  “What---do---you---want?”---I---ask---while---gritting---my---teeth.

  I---hear---her---move---closer,---her---body---near---my---own.---I---can---hear---her---breathing.---She---smells---of---dirt---and---flowers---and---...something---else.---Something---I---have---smelled---before.

  And---then---her---hand---glides---past---my---waist---as---her---body---relaxes---into---mine.---She---had---taken---off---the---covering---from---her---chest---and---now---I---can---feel---her---hardened---nipples---poking---me.