Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Which,---If---I---had---a---spear---or---longsword,---would---have---been---decently---usable.---I---look---around---and---move---to---the---wall---to---keep---my---back---hugging---it.---My---mind---wanders---towards---the---advice---Thoric---had---given---to---me.

  ‘When---in---a---dark---environment---where---vision---is---limited---and---enemies---are---near,---find---a---wall---and---keep---your---back---to---it.---This---will---reduce---the---avenues---of---attack---that---can---be---thrown---against---you…---unless---the---enemy---is---camouflaged---with---the---wall---or---something,---then---you're---fucked’.

  ‘If---you---find---yourself---in---a---cave,---avoid---making---any---and---all---sound.---Even---hard---breathing---should---be---avoided.---Sound---echoes---and---can---reveal---your---position.---On---that---note,---peeing---makes---a---lot---of---sound…---so---hold---your---bladder’.

  I---move---slowly---forward,---constantly---checking---the---ground---to---avoid---pebbles---as---well---as---making---sure---there---aren't---indents---on---the---wall.

  ‘If---there---is---a---high---ceiling,---always---fucking---look---up.---You---have---no---idea---how---many---people---don't---and---how---many---have---died---for---it’.

  I---keep---my---eyes---mobile,---scanning---the---surfaces---including---the---ceiling.---His---words---at---the---time---were---annoying---and---albeit---random,---but---have---now---become---invaluable.

  Fortunately,---the---advice---was---not---needed---so---far---as---I---look---at---what---is---standing---in---the---center---of---the---hallway.

  A---crocodile---on---two---legs,---sharp---teeth,---and---scales---on---its---body.---Just---seemingly---walking---around.---Or---was---walking---around---until---it---notices---me---and---my---light.

  It---hisses---and---jumps---back---while---blinking---repeatedly.

  I---keep---my---light---on---it---and---the---monster---steps---back---with---what---seems---to---me---to---be---fear.

  “Huh,---I---wonder---if---I---won't---even---have---to---fight---these---things,”---I---note---as---it---continues---to---step---back.

  Unfortunately,---my---words---echo---which---causes---the---monster---to---twitch---and---look---directly---at---me---and---the---light.

  It---growls---menacingly---while---blinking---quickly.

  It---steps---forward---and---I---curse---myself---for---speaking.

  It---bends---its---legs---and---reveals---its---sharp---teeth.

  *Whaaaaaaa*---it---squeals---and---begins---to---charge---me.

  My---heartbeat---increases---as---adrenaline---enters---my---blood.---I---can---see---the---monster---better---now.

  A---prehistoric---raptor---with---a---crocodile-like---mouth.

  I---bend---my---knees---and---ready---my---sword---while---my---buckler---shield---is---still---pointed---at---the---now---advancing---beast.

  A---plan---quickly---comes---together---as---I---wait---for---the---monster---to---come---a---bit---closer.

  At---three---meters,---I---mentally---order---the---strength---of---my---[Transcending---Armor]---skill---to---suction---even---more---of---my---mana.---The---light---of---my---shield---expands---brightly,---illuminating---the---cavern---and---blinding---the---monster.

  I---then---retract---that---mana---and---jump---to---the---side.---My---jump---takes---me---a---decent---distance---to---the---side.---The---monster---continues---in---its---mad---dash---before---the---sound---of---an---impact---is---heard.

  I---regain---my---footing---and---turn---to---the---monster.---It---was---on---the---floor,---shaking---its---head---with---its---face---seemingly---damaged.

  Still---under---adrenaline,---I---react---quickly---and---stab---towards---its---face.---My---glowing---sharp---blade---rends---through---the---scales---with---ease---and---penetrates---its---head.

  But---I---don't---stop---there---and---instead---retract---my---blade---as---quickly---as---I---had---stabbed.---I---jump---back,---creating---some---distance---while---swinging---my---sword---to---light---my---surroundings.---My---shield---is---still---pointed---at---the---now---unmoving---monster.

  ‘Allways---fucking---double-tap.---Never---expect---something---dead---unless---you---are---absolutely---sure---it---is---dead.---You've---seen---zombie---movies.---There---is---always---a---character---that---gets---killed---for---this---specific---reason’.

  I---frown---as---Thoric’s---words---reverberate---in---my---skull---as---I---look---at---the---monster---and---the---pool---of---blood---forming---on---the---floor.---My---instincts---tell---me---that---it---is---dead,---but---I---am---not---completely---sure.

  So,---swallowing---my---nerves,---I---head---towards---the---corpse---slowly.---Once---in---range,---I---slash---at---its---exposed---stomach---which---causes---the---contents---of---the---belly---to---spill---out.

  Nausea---hits---me---but---it---doesn't---affect---me---much---thanks---to---the---adrenaline---still---coursing---through---my---veins.

  Considering---the---blood,---this---smell---will---travel---and---attract---monsters.---I---should…---keep---going.

  Following---the---wall---again,---my---adrenaline---recedes---and---I---feel---nauseous.---Memories---of---my---first---kill---resurface.---When---I---had---decapitated---those---rats.

  Never---had---I---killed---anything---before.---Food---was---always---dead.---I---have---only---watched---movies---and---documentaries…---but---the---real---thing---is---so---very---different.---The---splatters---of---blood,---the---smell,---the---aching---screams.---All---of---it---is---difficult---to---take---in.

  ‘The---second---time---is---always---easier---but---also---harder.’

  I---swallow---down---my---feelings---of---retching---as---I---finally---understand---those---words.---‘Killing---it---had---been---easier,---but---it---is---the---second---time---that---you---most---realize---you---had---taken---a---life.---That---it---had---been---taken---by---your---hand’.

  I---fight---the---tears---back---as---my---mind---wanders---to---what---I---had---taken.---I---had---taken---a---life,---maybe---even---a---mother---who---was---only---hunting---for---her---children.

  ‘Being---a---true---Hero---is---difficult.---Every---life---you---take---matters---to---you,---but---it---is---that---mindset---that---will---keep---you---from---becoming---a---monster.---You---will---remember---every---kill,---and---you---will---kill.---Because---every---world---is---flawed---and---true---monsters---will---always---exist---for---that---reason’.

  I---stop---moving---and---lean---against---the---hard---rock.---Tears---trickle---down---my---cheek---as---I---take---slow---steady---breaths.

  ‘You---will---at---times---feel---compelled---to---stop.---To---never---take---a---life.---But---a---time---will---come---where---someone---needs---saving.---And---you,---by---your---nature,---will---try---to---save.---And---you---will---kill---again…---or---fail.’

  The---words---send---a---shiver---down---my---spine---as---I---focus---on---that---last---sentence.

  If…---if---I---am---not---ready…---then---I---would---fail.

  The---words---echo---into---my---mind,---giving---me---a---morbid---strength.---A---fear…---a---memory.

  “Sister…”---I---whisper---as---I---force---myself---to---stand.

  The---tears---stopping---slowly---as---I---regain---my---posture.

  “Not---again,”---I---say---as---I---head---deeper---into---the---cave---system.

  ___________________________________________________________________

  My---shield---redirects---the---mouth---of---one---of---the---monsters---while---my---blade---severs---the---tail---of---another.---I---jump---to---the---side---and---avoid---tripping---on---the---corpse---of---a---third---I---had---killed.

  The---one---which---has---had---its---tail---severed---is---squealing---in---pain---on---the---ground---while---the---other---is---shaking---its---head---from---the---impact---of---my---shield.

  It---only---takes---a---moment---for---it---to---regain---its---wits---before---its---directs---it’s---eyes---at
---me.

  With---a---cool---calm,---I---bend---my---knees---and---place---my---hand---on---the---body---of---the---first---I---had---killed.---The---body---is---cool---to---the---touch---even---though---it---was---killed---recently.

  It---screeches---before---rushing---me---as---I---had---learned---from---the---dozen---or---so---that---I---had---so---far---killed.---These---monsters---lack---intelligence.---They---do---not---plan---or---react---to---different---situations.

  [Overbearing---Throw]

  With---an---automated---response,---my---muscles---seem---to---bulge---as---I---lift---the---several---hundred-pound---corpse---with---surprising---ease---and---throw---it---at---the---rushing---monster.

  To---my---surprise,---the---charging---monster---doesn't---slow---down---but---instead---opens---its---mouth---to---bite.

  The---corpse---strikes---with---intense---force.---A---force---strong---enough---to---dislocate---the---charging---monsters---head.

  I---watch---the---monster---fall---dead---and---unmoving---next---to---its---thrown---brethren.---It---seems---to---be---dead.

  Still,---I---take---no---chances---as---my---sword---slices---off---its---head.---I---then---turn---to---the---last---living---monster.---It---is---on---the---floor,---twitching,---a---pool---of---blood---located---where---the---tail---was---severed.

  Another---weakness

  I---move---to---it,---slowly,---shield---at---the---ready,---my---skill---[Perceptive---Dodge]---at---the---ready---and---off---cooldown.

  But---my---slow---and---safe---pace---was---unwarranted---as---I---end---the---creature's---life---with---a---single---stroke.

  Afterwords,---I---move---to---a---wall---and---gaze---around,---checking---to---make---sure---nothing---was---left---alive---like---earlier---today.

  One---of---them---had---surprised---me---and---I---only---survived---thanks---to---its---scream---and---my---[Defensive---Instincts]---skill---activating.

  Now---that---I---am---safe,---I---allow---the---messages---to---come---through.

  Level---up---x---2

  You---are---now---a---level---46---Warrior.

  Level---up---x---1

  You---are---now---a---level---28---scout

  Level---up---x---1

  You---are---now---a---level---40---[Light---Mage]

  New---skill---awarded:---[Light---Mimicry]

  Finally,---I---gained---a---skill.---I---have---been---leveling---for---the---past---hours---and---only---now---I---gained---a---skill.

  [Light---Mimicry]---Common

  Spend---mana---to---create---a---non-enchanted---copy---of---an---item---on---you.---Mana---cost---for---creation---is---based---on---item---type---and---size.---Item---requires---a---constant---supply---of---mana---or---it---will---shortly---disperse.

  “Hmmm.”

  I---look---to---my---sword---and---check---my---mana---which---is---full.

  “[Light---Mimicry],”---I---say---with---my---open---hand---while---thinking---of---my---sword---in---the---other.

  Mana---leaves---my---body,---about---a---third---of---my---max---as---a---glowing---white---sword---appears---in---my---hand.---Other---than---being---made---of---pure---light,---it---looks---exactly---like---the---one---I---copied.---I---smile---as---I---even---notice---the---sharp---sheen---that---my---[Sharpened---Blades]---skill---provides.

  “It---seems---like---I---gained---myself---a---ranged---attack.”

  With---a---new---skill---in---tow,---I---get---up---from---my---rest---and---head---deeper---into---the---dungeon,---my---new---blade---glowing---and---my---mana---regenerating---faster---than---the---cost---to---keep---it---up.

  Unfortunately,---after---half---an---hour---of---walking,---I---find---no---enemies,---instead---I---find---myself---stopping---next---to---a---small---passageway---that---has---a---bit---of---light---shining---from---it.---A---sort---of---entrance---to---a---cavern.

  I---am---struck---with---a---feeling---of---danger,---as---though---something---is---waiting---on---the---other---side.---Practically---expecting---me.

  My---thoughts---quickly---swerve---to---the---idea---of---a---boss---room.

  Frowning,---I---open---my---bag---and---grab---a---potion.---I---take---a---sip.---The---scrapes---and---bruises---I---gained---from---the---several---hours---of---fighting---slowly---disappear.

  One---fully---healed,---I---take---a---breath---and---slowly---enter---the---cavernous---area.

  The---cave---expands---massively.---Stalactites---jut---from---the---ceiling---in---great---numbers.---Hundreds---of---them---are---pointing---down---towards---a---central---mound.---A---large---mound---with---a---central---crystal---on---the---top.---It---glitters---a---fervent---light---as---I---point---my---shield---at---it.

  Is---this---the---end---of---the---dungeon?

  The---question---to---my---thoughts---is---answered---by---a---large---figure---as---it---walks---around---the---mound---and---gazes---at---me---with---clear---intelligence.

  Similar---to---the---former---monsters,---the---monster---looks---like---a---combination---of---an---alligator---and---a---raptor.---But---of---a---much---larger---and---thicker---size.---Where---the---others---I---had---fought---were---about---six---feet---in---height,---this---one---is---an---easy---eight---by---comparison.---Its---scales---are---thicker,---tail---is---covered---in---spikes,---claws---are---several---inches---longer,---but---what---I---fear---most---is---what's---on---its---head.

  I---raise---my---shield---towards---the---monster---which---causes---the---crystal---on---its---head---to---glisten---from---the---light.

  Right,---boss---monsters---defend---the---dungeon---cores.

  I---look---at---the---terrain---and---find---it---to---be---lacking---in---places---to---hide---or---move---around.---The---only---place---is---the---central---mound---that---could---be---used.

  I---step---inside---and---begin---walking---to---the---left---while---hugging---the---wall,---my---shield---still---pointed---at---the---monster.

  The---monster---reacts---by---placing---its---body---between---the---dungeon---crystal---and---myself.

  It's---defending---it.

  With---that---realization,---I---begin---to---plan---a---strategy---while---going---over---every---skill---I---currently---possess.

  I---don't---know---how---fast---it---is---nor---if---I---can---cut---through---those---thick---scales.---It---doesn't---look---stupid---so---I---probably---can’t---trick---it---into---a---location.

  “I'm---an---idiot.---I---can't---believe---I---forgot.---[Analyse]”

  Awakened---Crescentos---level---68

  This---monster---is---the---first---of---its---kind.---No---knowledge---can---be---currently---ascertained.

  I---frown---as---I---read---the---message.

  First---of---its---kind?---What---the---heck---does---that---mean?

  My---mental---questions---are---left---unanswered---as---I---watch---the---monster---finally---begin---taking---steps---towards---me.

  I---don't---think---I---can---use---the---wall.---I---don't---believe---it---will---be---useful,---not---against---something---like---that.---I’m---going---to---need---mobility.

  I---begin---taking---steps---towards---the---approaching---monster---which---slows---down---its---own---pace---as---I---begin---moving---to---it.

  It's---gauging---me,---thinking---about---what---to---do---next.---How---to---react.

  I---move---closer---and---closer,---only---stopping---as---the---monster---begins---to---growl.

  Let's---try---this.

  I---pour---mana---into---my---skill---which---causes---my---shield---to---flash---remarkably.

  “[Overbearing---Throw]”---I---yell---as---my---hand---moves---quickly---and---automatically.

  I---raise---my---sword---of---light---into---the---air---and---throw---it---with---an---intense---force---before---lowering---the---mana---I---am---funneling---into---my---skill.

  I---watch---astounded---as---the---glowing---sword---flies---through---the---air---and---stabs---into---the---monsters---chest.---Half
---the---blades---length---had---entered---with---that---throw.

  The---monster,---to---my---surprise,---does---not---scream---or---react.---Instead,---it---looks---down---towards---my---glowing---blade,---slowly---watching---it---disappear---into---light.

  Blood---shortly---begins---to---flow---from---the---now---open---wound.