by Jackson Bale
“Is---this---going---to---be---one---of---those---‘you---ask---questions,---I---answer---back’---situations?---I---mean---really,---that---seems---rather---unfair.---You---should---let---me---ask---occasionally---as---well.---Like…---what---your---favorite---color---is.---Or---what---you---ate---for---breakfast.---Or---how---yo-.”
“Silence,”---he---growls---out,---his---posture---changing---to---something---far---more---aggressive---and---less---apprehensive---towards---an---engagement.---”Answer---my---question---or---I---will---end---your---life!”
Rolling---my---eyes,---enjoying---his---anger,---I---just---smile---cheekily---at---him,---”Really---now,---and---how---are---you---going---to---do---something---like---that?”
He---takes---a---step---forward.
I---release---an---enormous---amount---of---mana.
Several---dozen---bone---shiv’s---sharpened---by---me---blast---out---of---Mule’s---pack.---They---immediately---converge---around---me,---floating---in---the---air,---fighting---gravity,---the---sharp---points---ready---to---converge---on---one---target.
The---Gajeda---immediately---takes---a---couple---steps---back,---his---face---taking---on---a---grim---expression.---Anger---replaced---by---something---like---fear---and---bewilderment.
With---a---mental---command,---my---floating---bones---quickly---spread---out,---covering---every---direction---around---him.
The---Gajeda---swerves---his---head---quickly,---his---tongue---tasting---the---air---fervently,---trying---to---keep---the---shards---of---bone---in---vision,---but---he---quickly---learns---that---all---of---his---blind---spots---are---covered.
Smiling---confidently,---I---move---up---my---arm,---Mule---grabbing---my---staff---off---his---back---and---placing---it---in---my---hand.
Wish---I---had---this---before---I---just---burned---more---than---half---my---mana.
The---Gajeda---glares---at---me,---his---stance---changing,---teeth---showing---from---his---snout---like---face.
Really?---A---charging---posture?---Yeeaaaaaa,---that's---not---going---to---work.
With---another---mental---commanded,---the---bone---shards---start---to---spin,---rotating---at---incredible---speeds.
“WHAT---IS---HAPPENING---HERE!”
An---obismally---loud---voice---interrupts---me,---causing---me---to---flinch,---my---focus---wavering---slightly.
What---the---hell!
Turning---my---head,---I---find---several---dozen---Gajeda,---both---male---and---female,---rise---up---from---the---ground.---The---leader,---an---older---Gajan---lady---with---a---staff,---glares---angrily---at---me.
I---dont---have---the---mana---for---this---shit.
Extending---my---hand,---I---point---at---the---Gajeda---I---was---fighting.
“He---started---it,”---I---quickly---yell---out.
The---woman,---unamused,---turns---her---head---and---looks---at---the---Gajeda---I---was---about---to---turn---into---a---pincushion.
The---others---of---her---kind---just---watch,---their---weapons,---though---made---of---crude---bone,---are---out---and---ready---to---react---to---threats,---though---fear---and---uncertainty---can---be---seen---clearly---on---their---faces.
At---least---I---think---it's---fear.---I’m---not---the---best---at---reading---giant---lizard---people---expressions…---Yet.
The---tall---women---with---the---staff---turns---to---me,---her---eyes---scanning---me---possibly---with---a---skill.
I---can---do---that---too.---[Advanced---Analyse]
Advanced---Analyse---Partially---Successful.
Anathema
Level---132---[Geomancer]
The---current---leader---of---the---Gajeda,---she---is---a---woman---both---respected---and---feared---for---her---ability---to---manipulate---the---earth,---an---extreme---rarity---considering---the---lack---of---magical---capability---of---their---species.
Partially---successful?---That's---a---thing?---Fuck,---at---least---I---know---her---name.
“Why---are---you---here?”---she---asks,---watching---me---with---every---move.
“To---get---stronger---and---rule---the---world.”
Blinking---rapidly,---a---smile---forms---on---her---lips,---”How---did---you---enter---this---dungeon?”---she---asks---with---an---amused---smile.
I---smile---back,---realizing---what---possible---skill---she---may---be---using.
“I’m---over---nine---thousand---years---old.”
Silence---quickly---descends---around---me.---The---other---Gajeda---hold---their---breath---at---my---statement,---their---eyes---turning---towards---their---leader.
But---Anathema,---the---leader---of---her---race,---just---chuckles---and---nods,---”Last---question---then,---do---you---have---any---ill---will---or---plans---to---harm---me---or---my---people.”
Understanding---the---question,---I---order---my---shards---to---stop---spinning.---Then---I---order---them---to---fly---back---into---Mule’s---pack…---a---pack---I---will---need---to---fix---later.
Once---all---of---the---shards---are---gone,---I---turn---to---Anathema,---”I---have---no---plans---or---reasons---to---harm---your---people.---On---the---contrary,---I---could---use---your---assistance.”
Anathema---nods,---her---smile---unwavering.---”Good,”---she---says,---turning---to---Zorren,---”It---seems---he---has---no---ill---will---towards---us,---so---please---put---your---weapon---down.”
Her---head---turns---towards---the---others---around---her,---”This---man---here.”---She---points.
“Thoric!”---I---yell---out,---waving---my---hand---with---a---smile.
She---chuckles---softly.
“Yes,---Thoric---here,---is---henceforth---an---honored---guest.---No---harm---shall---come---to---him.---Is---that---understood?”---she---says,---adding---that---last---sentence---with---a---bit---of---force.
The---other---Gajeda---quickly---nod---in---unison,---immediately---sheathing---their---weapons,---still---apprehensive---of---me---but---more---than---willing---to---follow---the---female’s---orders.
Looking---towards---Zorren,---I---find---the---man---giving---me---a---death---glare---while---lowering---his---massive---club.
With---a---cheeky---smile,---I---wave---my---hand---at---him.
“Thoric!”---Anathema---yells---from---a---few---feet---from---me,---gaining---my---attention.
How---the---hell---did---she---get---so---close---without---me---hearing---her?---I’m---pretty---sure---I---have---super---hearing.
”Please---behave---yourself---around---Zorren,---his---[Berserker]---class---makes---him---very---easy---to---anger.”
Ohhhh---yea,---I---noticed.---A---rather---big---weakness---in---the---class---if---you---ask---me.
“Sorry---Anathema,---my---personality---has---a---tendency---to---anger---others,”---I---say,---remembering---her---name.
Flicking---her---tail,---she---frowns,---only---to---be---replaced---with---a---smile.---”I---see,---you---have---the---skill---[Advanced---Analyze].---I---guess---it---should---be---expected---of---someone---like---yourself.”---Her---gaze---turns---towards---my---undead,---”And---what---is---your---class---if---you---don't---mind---me---saying.---It---seems---to---me---that---my---own---[Analyze]---skill---does---not---seem---to---affect---you---at---all.”
I---really---should---ask---Janie---if---it's---a---good---idea---to---disclose---classes.---Oh---well.
“I’m---both---a---[Necromancer]---and---[Hero].”
Her---expression---changes---to---a---frown,---eyes---gazing---at---my---undead,---”interesting,---I---have---never---heard---of---either---of---those---classes.---I---imagine---the---[Necromancer]---class---allows---you---to---manipulate---this---undead---and---those---bones…---but---what---is---the---[Hero]---class?”---she---asks---curiously.
Smiling---back---at---her,---I---bend---down---and---pickup---jessica’s---sleeping---body.---”That---is---the---class---which---will---allow---me---to---rule---the---world.”---I---say,---shoving---her---over---my---shoulder,---my---han
d---clamping---on---her---ass---once---more.
Anathema---just---nods---slowly,---her---gaze---only---slightly---lingering---on---Janie,---but---then---it---changes---as---Zorren---makes---his---way---to---us,---giving---a---threatening---silent---glare---towards---me.
“Anathema,---are---you---sure?---He---is---not---one---of---us.---We---do---not---know---his---motives.”---he---says,---making---eye---contact---with---her.
Swishing---her---tail---in---displeasure,---she---meets---his---glare.---”Do---not---question---me---Zorren,---I---have---decided---to---accept---him---into---our---city.---And---you---will---respect---my---decision!”---she---says---icily.
Ooohhhh---yea,---they---have---history---together.
Zorren---tightens---the---hold---of---his---weapon,---staring---at---Anathema---for---a---long---moment.
*Sigh*
”Fine…---but---he---will---have---someone---to---keep---an---eye---on---him.---I---understand---you---have---your---[Sense---Lie]---skill---but---I---still---don't---trust---him.”
Anathema---nods,---turning---towards---me,---”I---don’t---suppose---those---restriction---will---be---a---problem---for---you?”
Nodding---slowly,---my---mind---is---distracted---by---the---general---stats---of---the---Gajeda---compared---to---human---ones,---which---I---think---are---ten---as---an---average.
“Perfect,---now,---let's---head---home.”---Anathema---says,---tapping---the---ground---with---her---tail.
As---one,---the---group---heads---towards---a---direction,---me---walking---beside---Anathema,---Zorren---walking---on---the---other---side---of---her,---Mule---following---me---with---but---a---thought.
____
The---trek---towards---the---Gajeda---city---was---actually---quite---a---boring---experience.---Anathema,---the---leader---of---the---Gajeda,---had---asked---me---to---keep---silent---until---we---reach---there---city.
I---had---agreed…---mostly---because---she---had---explained---to---me---about---blind---predators---which---roam---the---dungeon’s---first---level.---These---predators,---though---weak---on---their---own,---have---a---tendency---to---fight---in---large---groups,---which,---though---easy---to---defeat,---can---cause---the---death---of---some---of---the---fighters---she---had---brought---with---her.
Thus,---I---spent---the---several---hours---of---the---walk---analysing---all---of---the---Gajeda,---mentally---noting---their---classes.
Overall,---their---stats---are---about---double---a---human’s,---while---certain---stats,---like---Strength---and---Endurance,---are---actually---triple.
The---only---big---weakness,---if---it---is---one,---is---that---they---do---not---have---an---affinity---whatsoever.
Unfortunately,---I---still---have---no---idea---what---affinity---is.
“We’re---here.”
Breaking---out---of---my---thoughts,---I---finally---realize---that---we---had---arrived---to---their---city,---and---what---a---city---it---is.
A---massive---stalagmite---is---jutting---down---from---the---ceiling,---touching---the---ground---while---glowing---an---iridescent---white---light.---Around---the---stalagmite---are---homes,---hundreds---of---them---surrounding---the---light.
The---homes,---made---entirely---of---stone,---are---cut---slightly---into---the---mountain,---while---a---twenty---meter---spiked---rock---wall---surrounds---it.
At---the---base---of---the---wall,---the---entrance---stands---open,---several---[Gajeda---Guards]---stand---ready,---waving---at---our---group.
“Interesting---city---you---have---here.---Are---you---using---the---light---from---that---rock---to---deter---monsters?”
From---the---corner---of---my---eye,---I---watch---Anathema---smile---gently,---her---own---eyes---enjoying---the---view---of---her---people’s---home.
“That---is---correct,---the---light---blinds---them,---but---that---is---actually---not---why---we---had---built---our---city---around---it.---The---reason---we---built---that---city---was---because---that---glowing---light---is---actually---the---dungeon---stone.”
I---turn---my---head---away---from---the---city,---looking---towards---Anathema,---noticing---how---polished---her---gray---scales---really---are,---”I---don't---suppose---you---could---explain---to---me---what---a---dungeon---stone---is…---actually---I---have---a---lot---of---questions---that---need---explaining.”
Her---head,---still---gazing---at---the---light,---nods---slowly,---”I---will---answer---your---other---questions---when---we---are---at---the---city.---As---for---the---dungeon---stone,---well,---it---is---the---way---we---get---classes.”
Right,---classes,---I---gained---one---from---rapeball.---Which---probably---wasn't---the---correct---way---to---access---the---system…---I---have---a---lot---of---questions---to---ask---Janie---when---she---wakes---up.
Before---I---can---attempt---to---squeeze---any---more---information---out---of---Anathema,---we---finally---reach---the---entrance.
The---two---[Gajeda---Guards],---wearing---nothing---but---leather---shorts,---move---to---the---side,---their---eyes---trained---on---me.
We---enter---the---city,---finding---a---majestic---infrastructure---of---light.
The---Gajeda---do---not---use---any---forms---or---objects---of---external---light,---instead---solely---on---the---light---of---the---massive---dungeon---stone.
Polished---stone---can---be---seen---everywhere,---constantly---refracting---light,---making---it---enter---homes---or---structures,---creating---a---natural---form---of---visibility.
The---homes,---made---primarily---of---stone,---are---decorated---lavishly---with---carved---bones,---creating---interesting---figures.
Looking---around,---I---notice---a---great---deal---of---young---children---hiding---behind---structures,---watching---me---with---curiosity.
As---the---minutes---pass---by,---more---and---more---of---the---Gajen---start---to---show---up,---looking---at---me---curiously,---whispering---to---some---of---the---[Fighters]---as---they---pass---by.
Only---when---we---get---to---a---set---of---stairs---going---upwards---do---we---all---stop.---Anathema---turns---around,---first---looking---at---me---and---then---the---procession---of---men.
“In---five---cycles,---I---will---have---a---declaration---made.---For---now,---go---back---to---your---homes.”---she---exclaims.
Gajen---which---had---come---with---her---immediately---disperse,---only---giving---me---and---Mule---one---final---glance---before---leaving.
Something---is---seriously---wrong---here.---Why---are---they---just---leaving---me---alone---with---Anathema---and---the---cripple.---They---know---what---I---can---do,---don't---they---care---about---their---leader’s---life?
Anathema---turns---towards---Zorren,---the---scarred---[Berserker]---just---looks---at---her---and---shakes---his---head.
Anathema's---tail---starts---to---swish---in---displeasure,---”Zorren,---I---will---be---fine,---just---go---home.---I---will---find---someone---to---watch---him---and---then---I---will---visit---you.”
Zorren---just---looks---at---her,---worried---for---her---life,---the---person---who---still---respects---him.
“Fine,---but---be---careful,---the---Gajeda---need---you.”
Anathema---smiles,---nodding---towards---Zorren.
The---[Berserker]---turns---to---me,---his---eyes---threatening,---”If---anything---happens---to---her,---I---will---hunt---you---down---and---rip---you---limb---from---limb.”
And---with---that---final---statement---he---walks---away.
Rolling---my---eyes,---I---watch---him---leave,---his---fist---still---holding---the---massive---club---of---bone.
“Zorren---went---through---a---lot.---He---wasn't---usually---so---aggressive.”---she---whispers---from---my---side,---”And---I---fear---it---may---get---worse.”
Looking---to---her,---I---admire---her---curves,---so---reminiscent---of---a---women---in---tight---clothing.
Minus---the---chest,---which---is---flat---as---a---board.
She---looks---at---me,---her---amber---eyes-
--questioning---my---thoughts.
Right,---horny,---I---know.---Can't---seem---to---help---it.
Shaking---her---head,---she---turns---towards---the---stairs.
“My---home---is---upstairs,---I---should---have---a---room---available---for---you.”
Nodding,---I---follow---her---upwards,---staring---at---how---her---leather---clothing---tightly---wraps---around---her---feminine---body.
I---fucking---hate---you---Loki.
