Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Perfect.---I---can---bleed---it---out.

  The---monster---stares---down---at---the---wound,---gazing---at---it---strangely.---It---is---no---longer---growling---or---making---noise,---just---staring.

  Confused,---I---shine---my---light---brighter---to---better---see---the---wound.

  The---scales---are…---moving.---Dam.

  I---watch---with---mounting---dread---as---the---scales---on---the---side---seem---to---shift---over---the---open---wound,---closing---it---and---stopping---the---bleeding---in---its---tracks.

  The---monster,---seemingly---satisfied,---gazes---back---at---me.---It---no---longer---looks---curious---as---it---shows---its---teeth---and---steps---forward.

  My---eyes---move---to---the---right,---towards---the---entrance---to---the---cavern.

  Too---far.---If---I---run---I---risk---putting---my---back---to---it.---Damn,---damn,---damn.---This---would---be---a---great---time---for---[A---Hero’s---Moment]---to---activate.

  My---thoughts---are---interrupted---as---the---monster---stops,---its---growling---stops---as---well.---It---wiggles---and---its---chest---expands.

  “Oh---come---on!”---I---yell---as---I---jump---to---the---side.

  The---monster---opens---its---mouth---and---sprays---a---substance---at---my---former---position.---Taking---a---quick---look---back,---I---gaze---at---the---now---smoking---and---smoldering---stone---ground.

  Acid.---It---spits---acid?

  Looking---away---from---the---acid,---I---turn---to---find---the---monster---looking---at---me.---Its---chest---is---still---expanded.

  It---opens---its---mouth---and---I---raise---my---shield---in---a---panic.---I---cover---my---face.

  The---smell---hits---first,---followed---by---the---smell---of---burning---leather---as---I---unstrap---and---throw---the---buckler.

  Most---of---it---had---been---blocked---by---the---shield,---but---not---all.---I---feel---some---of---the---acid---burn---through---my---leather---and---even---my---skin.---But---I---ignore---the---pain---as---I---stare---at---my---discarded---shield---melted---before---my---eyes.

  [Defensive---Instincts]

  The---skill---activates---and---my---body---jumps---and---twirls---in---the---air,---another---acid---spit---passes---by,---but---this---time---under---me.

  Focus!

  Regaining---my---posture,---I---look---at---the---monster---as---it---stares---at---me,---chest---still---expanded---like---a---frog.---The---monster---is---ready---to---fire---a---baseball-sized---sludge---of---acid---that---I---can---barely---react---to.---It---has---been---increasing---the---speed---after---every---shot.

  My---eyes---focus---on---its---inflated---chest.---An---idea---forms,---but---it---will---be---a---gamble---if---it---fails.

  “[Light---Mimicry]”---I---say---quickly.---My---mana---leaves---my---body---and---a---glowing---sword---appears---in---my---hand.

  “Alright,---lets---go.---Try---to---hit---me!”---I---taunt.

  The---monster---waits,---gazing---at---me---and---the---words---coming---out---of---my---mouth.---Wither---it---understands---or---not---I---do---not---know.---All---I---know---is---that---I---only---have---one---chance.

  It---opens---its---mouth---and---fires---the---acid---sludge---at---me---with---an---even---faster---speed---than---I---normally---would---not---be---able---to---dodge.---But---it---is---still---visible.

  _____________________________________________________

  “[Perceptive---Dodge]”

  Franky’s---legs---bend---and---his---head---leans---to---the---left.

  The---sludge---passes---an---inch---away---from---Franky’s---body,---barely---missing---him.

  “[Overbearing---Throw]”---a---skill---activates.

  Franky’s---hand---moves---a---moment---after---and---the---sword---of---light---accelerates.---It---striked---and---penetrates---the---monsters---bloated---sack---right---under---its---head.

  The---sword---quickly---disappears---and---the---monster---begins---to---scream.

  Acid---flows---out---of---its---wound---like---a---torrent---of---blood.---Scales---attempt---to---move---to---stymie---it---but---fail---miserably---as---it---burns---through---them---as---well.

  The---monster---screams---in---panic.---It---falls---on---one---knee---and---leans---forward,---allowing---the---acid---to---squirt---onto---the---ground---and---not---on---its---body.

  Unfortunately,---that---was---a---big---mistake.

  “[Flickering---Strike]”

  A---glowing---blade---descends---as---it---creates---a---shimmer---of---light.---It---moves---imperceptibly---fast,---slicing---through---the---monster's---skull---and---spewing---brain---matter---onto---the---floor.

  Franky---steps---back---as---the---body---of---the---monster---strikes---the---floor---dead.---Franky’s---hand---is---shaking---but---a---smile---does---form---on---his---lips.

  “It---worked.---It---actually---worked,”

  He---falls---on---one---knee,---breathing---hard.---Using---several---physical-based---skills---cost---a---great---deal---of---stamina,---especially---so---if---used---one---after---the---other.

  “[Second---Wind]”---he---says---a---moment---after.---His---stamina---returns---in---a---surge---as---exhaustion---leaves---him.---But---now,---he---will---need---to---wait---at---least---a---day---before---he---can---use---the---skill---again.

  He---stands---back---up---and---looks---around,---sending---a---larger---portion---of---mana---into---his---[Transcending---Armor]---skill.---His---sword---lights---up---exponentially,---allowing---him---to---see---the---cavern---better.

  He---turns---away---from---the---corpse---and---walks---towards---the---central---mound.---A---moment---passes---before---he---reaches---the---mound.---He---leans---up---and---extends---his---hand.---He---grabs---the---Dungeon---crystal---and---forcibly---removes---it---from---the---stone.

  Congratulations.---You---have---conquered---[Unnamed]---dungeon---#34329872631.

  A---fountain---of---messages---begins---to---pile---up---in---front---of---Franky’s---eyes---but---it---all---is---quickly---forgotten---as---everything---begins---to---shake.

  Chapter---Sixty---two:---Sparkle

  Hawk---flicks---his---hand---quickly---which---redirects---a---spire---that---was---about---to---hit---the---boy.---The---magic---coming---to---his---call---quickly---and---accurately---without---removing---his---[Camouflage]---ability---that---he---had---kept---active---the---entire---time---since---he---followed---Franky---into---the---dungeon.

  Flicking---another---hand,---he---redirects---another---spire---as---it---was---about---to---strike---Franky---again.

  The---boy---had---fought---and---won---splendidly---throughout---the---whole---dungeon.---Granted,---the---dungeon---was---very---young---to---begin---with---but---was---still---a---great---danger---to---any---single---combatant.

  But---the---boy---survived---and---even---defeated---the---boss---that---defends---the---dungeon---core.---It---was---an---impressive---win,---but---it---seems---the---boy's---understanding---of---the---dungeon---is---lacking---considering---he---had---been---surprised---over---the---trembling.

  Young---dungeons---aren't---adept---at---creating---reinforced---structures,---instead,---they---use---their---mana---to---keep---the---dungeon---from---falling---on---itself.

  Thankfully,---Franky---turns---and---runs---out---of---the---boss---room---with---Hawk---unseen---on---his---heels.

  Exiting---out---of---the---room,---Hawk---finds---Franky---still---running---even---though---this---part---of---the---cave---is---relatively---structurally---sound.---Regardless,---he---follows---for---a---good---half---hour---before---Franky---runs---out---of---the---dungeon,---breathing---hard.

  Hawk,---on---the---other---hand,---isn't---out---of---breath---at---all.---Several---skills---including---a---large---stamina---stat---have---helped---him---keep---pace---without---even---a---sweat.

  “Why---the---hell---did---that---happen?---Nobody---told---me---the---room---was---going---to---be---trapped.”

 
Not---trapped,---but---older---dungeons---do---have---a---tendency---to---use---traps.

  The---boy---takes---a---couple---of---minutes---to---reorient---himself---before---he---takes---off---his---bag---and---opens---it.

  He---grabs---the---[Tree---Whisper]---from---the---bag---and---walks---to---a---tree,---“This---better---work,”---he---says---before---stabbing---the---tree.

  The---next---thing---the---boy---does---almost---makes---Hawk---begin---to---laugh---as---he---places---the---stone---itself---upon---the---enchanted---wood.

  Sylva,---what---have---you---told---this---boy?---What---need---is---a---dungeon---stone?---Hawk---thinks---as---he---suppresses---a---laugh.

  Thanks---to---his---[Greater---Mana---Sense],---Hawk---is---able---to---watch---as---the---boy---sends---mana---into---the---stick.

  “Sylva,---I’m---done.---Come---and---get---me,”---the---boy---pauses---a---moment,---frowning,---“please.”---he---adds---at---the---end.

  It---doesn't---take---long---as---Hawk---senses---a---mana---signature---form---before---Sylva---appears---with---a---smile---on---her---face.

  “Franky,---it---seems---you---have---done---an---amazing---job.---How---was---your---first---solo---dungeon---experience?”

  Franky---opens---his---mouth---to---say---something,---but---pauses,---“It---was---good---and---I---leveled---a---bit.---Thank---you---for---the---experience.”

  Sylva’s---smile---widens---at---the---answer.

  Had---the---boy---figured---it---out?---Maybe…

  Sylva---claps---her---hands---together,---“Good,---good,---I---am---glad.---I---will---continue---to---find---more---dungeons,---but---in---the---meantime,---how---about---you---rest.---You---look---rather---disheveled,”---she---says---as---she---walks---up---to---him,---her---hand---moving---on---his---shoulder.

  Not---a---moment---passes---as---they---both---disappear---and---Hawk---disables---his---[Camouflage]---skill.

  He---walks---to---the---tree---and---grabs---the---[Tree---Whisper]---as---well---as---the---dungeon---core.---He---looks---at---the---core---closely.

  Hmm,---a---tier-one---dungeon---though---it---looks---like---it---would---soon---turn---into---a---tier---two---if---left---alone---for---another---couple---months.

  Hawk---pockets---the---items---and---turns---towards---the---mana---signature.

  Sylva---shows---up,---her---gaze---meeting---his.

  “Well---Hawk,---how---did---he---do?”

  Hawk---takes---a---second---to---compile---his---thoughts---before---he---speaks,”---Far---better---than---I---expected.---The---boy---had---been---careful---in---moving---through---the---dungeon---and---had---adapted---to---the---situations---throughout---it.---He---even---defeated---an---awakened---that---had---evolved---to---spit---acid.”

  Sylva---raises---an---eyebrow---at---that,---“Oh,---and---you---didn't---help---him---or---show---your---presence---throughout---the---dungeon?”---she---asks.

  Hawk---nods,---“---I---only---helped---him---after---he---had---already---taken---the---core.---The---room---was---collapsing---and---I---made---sure---he---wasn't---killed---by---the---debris.---My---presence---was---hidden---the---entire---time.---I---would---have---known---if---he---knew---I---was---there.”

  “Good,”---Sylva---says---as---her---hands---touch---her---hips,“---as---long---as---he---believes---he---is---fully---endangered,---then---his---leveling---should---be---significant.---Which---I’m---sure---you---noticed,”---she---adds---with---a---smirk.

  Hawk---can---only---scratch---his---head---at---that,---“Indeed.---He---gained---several---levels---in---all---of---his---classes---and---even---five---levels---in---his---[Hero]---class---when---he---took---the---core.---I---didn't---believe---you---when---you---said---[Heroes]---level---fast,---but---that---is---amazing.”

  Sylva---nods,---“Good,---then---you---should---have---no---problems---over---having---your---daughter---join---him---in---these---dives.”

  Hawk---turns---angry,”---No,---that---is---too---dangerous!---What---if---she---is---hurt?---Or---worse?”---he---exclaims---quickly.

  Sylva---only---smiles,---“Hawk,---she---ran---from---you---because---of---your---overprotective---nature.---Just---because---she---is---back---doesn't---mean---you---can---dictate---her---life.---She---is---her---own---woman,---and---I---will---offer---her---the---choice---if---she---so---chooses.”

  “I---will---stop---her,”---he---says---but---Sylva---only---answers---with---a---smile---as---the---trees---in---the---surrounding---vicinity---shift.

  “Really---now,---and---how---will---you---do---that?”---she---says---with---a---hidden---force.---A---threat.

  Hawk---gulps---as---he---takes---a---step---back,---his---senses---telling---him---that---the---roots---underneath---the---ground---are---wiggling---too.

  “I---will---tell---my---wife---abo-,”

  Sylva---waves---her---hand,---“Go---ahead,---I---have---already---spoken---to---her---and---she---requested---I---make---sure---that---the---dungeons---are---of---at---least---Tier-three.---She---also---told---me---to---tell---you---not---to---baby---her---daughter.”

  Hawk---takes---a---moment---as---he---grinds---his---teeth---in---frustration.---He---is---a---level---207---[Ranger---Knight---Archmage],---the---only---one---of---his---kind,---but---it---all---means---nothing---against---someone---who---has---such---a---powerful---Domain.---If---he---fought---now,---he---would---be---captured---and---given---to---his---wife.

  Hawk---shakes---as---he---thinks---about---the---punishment---he---would---be---forced---to---endure.

  He---sighs---and---relaxes,---“fine,”---he---says---defeated.

  Sylva---smiles---and---claps---her---hand---as---she---walks---up---to---him,---grabs---his---arm---and---the---scenery---changes---instantly.

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

  A---muscular---man---with---a---short---white---beard---steps---forward,---his---gaze---strong---and---steady.---The---man---looks---as---though---he---is---sixty---but---is---in---reality---far---older.---His---clothing---is---of---great---quality---while---his---sheer---presence---would---make---even---high---level---[Lords]---impressed.

  The---man---looks---completely---human---except---for---the---two---white-haired---ears---on---his---head---and---an---old---bushy---tail---of---similar---color.

  He---is---a---wolfkin,---arguably---the---strongest---of---the---demi---human---races.---Unfortunately,---they---are---only---present---in---the---central---north,---a---land---always---shrouded---in---constant---and---complete---darkness.---A---land---avoided---by---all---the---nations---that---reside---on---Orbis.

  The---man---touches---his---neck,---feeling---the---old---spiked---enchanted---colar---wrapped---around---it.---He---is,---in---name,---a---slave,---as---are---his---brothers---within---the---chamber.

  Twelve---of---his---kin---are---on---one---knee,---daggers---in---their---hands---as---they---circle---a---central---figure.---A---husk---of---a---woman.---A---corpse---to---so---many.---But---such---thinking---is---mere---ignorance.

  “Begin,”---his---words---are---said---neither---loudly---or---softly.---Just---normally,---but---to---his---kind,---it---is---heard---easily---and---as---clearly---as---though---he---were---shouting.

  The---twelve---wolfkins---slit---their---wrists---and---allow---their---lifeblood---to---flow---into---the---center.---The---blood---touches---the---women's---skin---and---is---quickly---absorbed.---Minutes---go---by---and---the---former---husk---begins---to---gain---color,---the---wrinkly---skin---turning---a---glossy---smooth---white.

  “That---will---be---enough,”---he---says---and---the---wolfkins---cover---their---wounds,---healing---the---cut---in---mere---seconds---right---after.

  The---man---walks---forward---as---he---gazes---down---towards---the---naked---women.---Her---crimson---eyes---open---and---stare---at---him.---She---frowns.

  “Garm,---my---revival---is---several---decades---too---early,”---she---says---with---a---
hint---of---annoyance.

  Garm---takes---a---knee,---“Apologies---my---[Lady],---but---the---Panoptic---requests---your---presence.”

  She---frowns---at---his---words---and---raises---herself.---No---blood---is---on---her---body,---all---of---it---had---been---absorbed.---She---looks---down---towards---Garm---who---continues---to---be---on---his---knee,---as---do---the---twelve---others---surrounding---her.

  “Her---request---could---have---waited---decades,”---the---woman---says---while---licking---her---lips,---feeling---her---two---rather---long---and---sharp---teeth,”---but---you---still---chose---to---awaken---me---Garm.---What---did---she---say?”