by Jackson Bale
Franky---swallows,---thinking---about---the---implications.---The---man---did---not---move---or---say---anything.---His---mere---presence---had---made---Franky---panic.---Using---that---against---anyone,---especially---during---a---fight---could---mess---up---even---the---strongest---of---combatants.---Franky---sits---back---down.
“What---I---made---you---feel---was---what---many---people---would---call---bloodthirst.---I---poured---my---emotion---of---killing---into---my---aura---and---sent---it---to---you.---It---quickly---affected---your---mind,---sending---the---wrong---signals.---You---reacted---to---them---as---though---they---were---real.---When---you---have---time,---I---can---teach---you---about---using---and---defending---against---aura.”
Franky---licks---his---lips,---the---feeling---and---memory---fading---quickly,---but---the---impact---is---still---fresh---in---his---mind.---He---had---panicked…
“What---about---domain?”---he---asks.
Hawk---scratches---his---short---silk---hair---as---he---looks---to---Serana,---“Well,---domains---are---different.---A---domain---is---an---equivalent---of---not---only---affecting---the---minds---of---others---but---of---everything---else.---For---example,---Silva---is---able---to---make---plants---grow---exceptionally---fast---while---my---wife---can---freeze---anything---she---wishes.
Sarena---jumps---out---of---her---seat---with---wide---eyes,---“Mom---has---a---domain!”---she---yells---more---than---asks---in---surprise.
Hawk---just---gives---his---daughter---a---cheeky---smile,---“Oh,---did---I---forget---to---mention---that?---She---developed---it---a---couple---mon----and---she’s---off.”
Franky---watches---as---his---guide---abandons---him---without---a---word.---She---runs---towards---a---direction---with---impressive---speed.
Franky---sighs---and---looks---to---Hawk,---“thanks---for---the---talk.---I---learned---a---lot.”---and---then---he---turns---away---and---runs---after---Sarena.
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By---the---time---Franky---is---able---to---catch---up---to---Sarena,---he---is---heaving---and---puffing---much---to---the---annoyance---of---Sarena.
Apparently---she---had---even---allowed---herself---to---slow---down---for---him---to---catch---up.---He---can---only---mentally---accept---that---elves---have---impressive---natural---speed---and---stamina---when---compared---to---humans.
Practically---an---unfair---amount---actually.
“So---that's---your---home?”---Franky---avoids---her---gaze---and---points---towards---a---frozen---tree.---Literally---frozen---from---the---bottom---up---to---even---its---leaves.
Sarena---nods---and---starts---heading---towards---it---at---a---pace---that---Franky---can---actually---follow.
“So…---is---it---usually---frozen?---The---tree---I---mean.”
Sarena---shakes---her---head,---“no.---This---is---clearly---my---mothers---doing.”
“Soooo---you---haven't---seen---your---mother---since---my---kidnapping?---I---would---think---that---would---take---priority.”
Sarena---looks---at---Franky---with---a---very---cold---expression.
“Right.---Sorry.”
You---are---under---the---effect---of---[Frozen---Fortress]
All---forms---of---heat---produced---is---24%---less---effective.
Franky---looks---at---the---message---before---feeling---the---effects.---The---air---is---cooler---and---he---is---already---feeling---slightly---colder.---The---effect---seems---like---it---is---the---opposite---of---Calidi.
“Um,---should---we---be---going---closer?”---he---asks---Sarena---who---ignores---him---and---walks---up---to---the---door---which---refuses---to---open---on---its---own.
She---frowns---and---smacks---which---causes---some---ice---to---fall---but---not---much.
Franky---walks---to---the---door.
All---forms---of---heat---produced---is---42%---less---effective.
“It's---getting---colder---the---close---we---get.---Are---you---sure---we---should---be---trying---to---get---deeper---in?”
Sarena---gives---him---a---look---before---smacking---the---door---again.
Franky---shakes---his---head.
“Here,---move---away.---Let---me---try.”
She---takes---a---step---back.
Franky’s---hand---moves---to---the---door.---Cold---and---icy.
“[Flash---Fire]”
His---skill---goes---off---and---a---burst---of---flame---is---released---from---his---palm.---And---to---his---surprise,---it---is---noticeably---weaker---than---what---he---is---used---to.
Some---of---the---ice---starts---to---melt,---but---not---much.
“[Flash---Fire],---[Flash---Fire],---[Flash---Fire]”
After---the---fourth---cast---and---more---than---half---his---mana,---the---door---very---slowly---moves---out---of---the---way.---A---path---is---open---and---Sarena---is---the---first---to---rush---in---and---down---the---stairs.
Franky---follows---right---after.
All---forms---of---heat---produced---is---48%---less---effective.
All---forms---of---heat---produced---is---52%---less---effective.
All---forms---of---heat---produced---is56%---less---effective.
It---gets---colder---as---he---goes---down---the---stairs.---Eventually---he---reaches---a---room---deep---into---the---tree---underground.---A---room---frozen---except---for---a---taller,---older,---elf---that---looks---very---similar---to---Sarena.
She---is---sitting---upon---a---stand---of---ice,---her---legs---folded---as---she---looks---icily---to---her---daughter.
“Why---have---you---returned?”---the---words---come---out---of---her---mouth---as---Sarena---looks---back---to---her---mother---with---the---same---impassive---face.
“Father---said---you---developed---a---domain.---I---came---to---see.”
Sarena---exclaims---after---a---long---pause.
Franky---is---just---watching---the---impassive---women---look---at---each---other---coldly.
“Ahhhhh,---c-could---you---increase---the---temperature,---please?---It's---freezing---in---here,”---Franky---says---with---his---hand---up.
The---duo---turn---from---looking---at---each---other---and---now---both---impassive---gazes---are---turned---towards---him.
Siberia---is---the---first---to---speak.
“A---human?---Why---is---a---human---in---my---room---daughter.---I---hope---you---understand---that---the---laws---forbid---mating---between---our---kinds.”
Sarena’s---glare---becomes---even---more---frosty---as---she---looks---to---her---mother,---“He---is---a---true---[Hero]---that---grandmother---has---brought---for---training.”
Siberia---gaze---changes.---Only---slightly---as---her---left---brow---raises---by---a---centimeter.
“I---see.---So---you---expect---him---to---obtain---great---power---in---the---near---future,”---she---says---as---she---gazes---strongly---at---Franky,---looking---him---up---and---down.”
“Fine---then---daughter.---If---he---grows---into---such---a---powerful---being,---then---I---will---petition---to---allow---you---to---mate---with---him.”
Sarena’s---gaze---widen---and---her---cheeks---become---a---rosy---red---as---she---opens---her---mouth,---“No---I---did-”
“FRANKY!”---a---loud---voice---is---yelled---interrupting---the---whole---room---as---Sylva---just---appears---in---the---middle---of---the---room.
She---takes---a---moment---and---looks---around---her---before---her---eyes---fall---on---Siberia.
“Sibby,---keep---practicing---on---your---domain.---It's---looking---pretty---strong---so---far---but---nowhere---near---where---you---really---need---it.”
She---then---turns---and---her---gaze---falls---on---Franky.
She---disappears---and---appears---right---next---to---him.
All---forms---of---heat---produced---are---1%---less---effective.
Her---presence---alone---seems---to---drive---away---the---chill.
Her---hand---landed---on---his---shoulder---a
nd---not---a---second---passes---as---the---ice-covered---room---disappears---to---be---replaced---with---a---cave.
“I---actually---found---a---dungeon---already.---A---low---level---one,---but---it---should---be---adequate---and---a---good---challenge.”
It---takes---a---moment---for---Franky’s---mind---to---catch---up---with---the---changes.---One---moment---he---was---freezing---in---a---home,---the---next---he---is---in---the---middle---of---a---jungle---and---staring---at---a---cave---entrance.
“What?”
She---points---at---a---corner---near---the---entrance---where---a---bag,---sword,---and---shield---are---lying---against---the---stone.
“Everything---you---need---is---there.---Good---luck---Franky,”---she---exclaims---before---moving---her---hand---away---and---disappearing…---leaving---him---alone---in---the---wilderness.
Chapter---Sixty---One:---Good---Advice
A---jungle---in---every---direction---with---trees---towering---into---the---clouds.---No---roads---or---anything---that---could---even---remotely---look---like---a---trail.---Even---the---sounds---of---birds---seem---to---be---muted---and---distant.
I---am---alone---and---I’m---facing---a---giant---gaping---hole---of---what---is---possibly---a---dungeon---that---I---have---to---somehow---defeat.
I---do---not---feel---ready---at---all…
“Why---can't---I---meet---normal---people?---Why---is---it---every---friend---I---make---is---abnormal?”---I---say---while---walking---towards---the---bag---on---the---ground---and---thinking---of---a---certain---friend.
“I---always---thought---Thoric---was---partially---insane.---A---rich,---crazy,---insane---genius---who---goes---through---school---as---though---it---is---his---pastime,”---I---frown,---”but---apparently---he---wasn't---that---crazy---considering---where---I---am,”---I---bend---down---and---grab---the---shield---and---sword.
Seems---good.---Lighter---than---what---I---had---but---elven---stuff---is---supposed---to---be---light.
I---equip---the---buckler---shield---to---my---arm---while---attaching---the---sword---to---my---waist.
“And---of---course---I---get---summoned---to---be---a---slave---[Hero]---to---a---bunch---of---gods---and---people---who---want---me---dead.”
I---stop---as---I---grab---the---pouch---still---on---the---floor.
“Huh,---Bernard---didn't---seem---that---bad---actually.---Kind---of---like---an---annoying---lackey---to---the---gods.”
I---frown---as---my---mind---wanders---to---Sarena.
“And---now---I---supposedly---befriended---an---elf---that---is---apparently---the---granddaughter---of---a---being---which---can---slaughter---an---army---using---an---entire---forest.”
I---open---the---bag---and---see---many---supplies.---A---vial---that---says---[Health---Potion],---some---kind---of---jerky,---water,---and---a---sharp---stick---with---a---paper---wrapped---around---it.
I---unravel---the---paper---and---read---its---contents.
Hello---Franky.---By---now---you---have---opened---up---my---bag---and---have---found---the---stick.---Please---do---not---lose---that---stick.---It---is---enchanted---with---an---elven---spell---of---[Tree---Whisper]---and---is---connected---to---our---great---tree.---The---great---tree---has---deep---roots---connecting---to---most---of---Orbis---and---thus---this---spell---can---be---used---to---communicate---with---me---from---anywhere.
To---use---it,---stab---any---tree---in---your---vicinity---and---lay---a---dungeon---crystal---on---it.---After---that,---send---mana---while---thinking---of---me---and---I---will---be---able---to---hear---what---you---say.
In---the---meantime,---good---luck---with---your---hunt.
I---groan---at---the---fact---that---a---dungeon---crystal---is---necessary.---Clearly,---I---am---going---to---have---to---face---the---dangers---in---the---cave.---I---was---under---the---impression---that---I---would---have---some---time---to---train---or---at---the---very---least---prepare.
I---sigh---as---I---put---the---items---back---into---the---pack---and---the---pack---on---my---back.
I---stand---and---look---at---the---forebodingly---dark---cave---that---is---a---dungeon.---I---gulp---and---steel---my---nerves---before---taking---a---step---inside.
And---then---my---shield---bursts---into---light---as---my---[Transcending---armor]---skill---activates,---all---while---giving---me---a---huge---fright.
“Right,---it---upgraded,”---I---say---as---I---call---up---my---stats---shortly---after.
Franky---Sasco
Level---40---[Warrior]
Level---34---[Hero]
Level---37---[Light---Mage]
Level---23---[Scout]
Minor---Mana---Sense
Flickering---Strike
Flash---Fire
Defensive---Instincts.
Analyze
A---Hero’s---Moment
Blinding---Block
Transcending---Armor
Overbearing---Throw
Second---Wind
Sharpened---Blades
Perceptive---dodge
Strength
22
Dexterity
21
Stamina
31
Perception
36
Endurance
17
Vitality
107
Mana
337
M/regen
1.4
Affinity
7
Intelligence
51
Willpower
450+431
Soul
320
Charisma
431
Heart---of---a---Hero:---Willpower---increased---by---Charisma---amount.
In---essence,---my---skills---are---all---over---the---place.---It---feels---like---I’m---spreading---myself---too---thin---in---several---classes---that---just---don't---seem---to---work---well---with---each---other.---I---need---better---skills…
Without---much---to---do,---I---take---another---step---into---the---cave---but---stop---once---more.
“What---is---wrong---with---me,”---I---say---as---I---unsheathe---the---sword---which---begins---to---also---light---up,---especially---the---edge.
The---edge---looks---seemingly---sharper---thanks---to---my---[Sharpened---Blades]---skill.
With---a---glowing---shield---and---sword---in---tow,---I---fully---enter---the---dungeon---while---pointing---my---shield---outward---and---using---it---as---a---flashlight.
You---have---entered---the---[Unnamed]---dungeon---#34329872631
As---the---first---group---to---enter---this---dungeon,---you---are---awarded---an---increased---leveling---speed---until---you---choose---to---leave---the---dungeon.
You---are---currently---on---dungeon---floor---1.
I---stop---and---read---what---had---just---come---up---and---frown---at---the---name.---The---dungeon---has---no---name---but---is---given---a---number.
Why---a---number?---Arent---dungeons---randomly---created---by---chance?---Are---the---numbers---random---or---do---they---mean---something?---Do---the---numbers---dictate---how---many---dungeons---are---active---or---is---this---just---counting---the---number---of---dungeons---ever---made?
I---shake---my---head---and---instead---focus---on---what---I---need---to---do---now.---Thinking---about---it---too---deeply---won't---help---me---right---now---if---at---all.
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The---cave---is---actually---rather---spacious.---The---wall---are---a---good---ten---meters---apart---while---the---ceiling---is---a---nice---hefty---ten---meters.