by Konrad Ryan
Gerald hoped.
Five glowing figures stood beneath the ominous orb of energy, their own energy battled with both the black orb above and the swarm of tentacles that set out to destroy them, independent of their will. The five stood in a circle, discussing some matter idly, not as if the world’s survival was held directly in their hands.
Gerald slowed, and as he did his tissues repaired themselves. It would be a long and uncomfortable process that would last the better part of a week with how damaged he’d become. Self-healing was always slow, especially at the lower slayer ranks.
“I’m surprised a warlord actually has the balls to pay a visit to Titan.” The words came from Hyde, the heavy-lidded, bored looking german who spoke near flawless English. His scraggly beard and neat hair clashed in a way that battled for attention. His brown eyes seemed to pierce Gerald’s, see through all of his secrets.
Kiara Patel, India’s creator, stood tall, her long ponytail, sleek and dark hung over her shoulder, but her body was thin, almost emaciated, a strange thing for a creator, maybe it explained her weakness compared to the remaining three, her inability to destroy titanspawn.
Li Wei Zhang, his twin sister Bao Zhang, and Brad Colville, stood, the embodiments of human perfection. Brad and Li Wei stood shirtless, muscled and sleek, both in perfect proportions. Li Wei wore his hair short and neatly cut, wearing only baggy tai chi pants. His feet were bare, even on the inky soil below. The air shivered around him, compressed by a dangerous aura that none of the other creators had. Even Gerald’s eyes could see him the strongest of the four, potentially even stronger than Charles Tidwell himself. Gerald had met the man in his youth, his aura was similar to Li Wei Zhang’s. It was a well-documented fact that Li Wei had even survived in space for an entire month without eating, drinking, or apparently even breathing. It was hard to look away from such a legendary figure.
Brad looked the opposite of Li Wei, his previous shoulder length hair, now flowed down past his waist, his dirty blond hair had turned pure gold, it glowed gently. His golden eyebrows only accentuated his pure blue eyes and masculine features. Had he appeared in any other era he would have been worshiped as a golden god, descended from heaven. In this age, he was just a celebrity who held enough power to destroy the world.
The three male creators were an impressive sight, but Bao Zhang, however, was unique. Her long jet black hair framed her delicate face. She was a beauty rarely seen. A blue and purple wind swirled around her arms and legs, like a vortex that was adhered to her skin. The wind raged and swirled, but never touched her perfect hair. But what made her truly unique was the tail that sprouted from the back of her pants. Short brown fur covered the length of it, and she tightly coiled it around her waist. This had apparently appeared the morning after her rebirth. Gerald had never seen the like.
Each of the creators were dressed from the finest materials possible. Their appearance screamed wealth. Jewels and golden trinkets adorned their ears and skin. These were not people who lacked for anything. Each was so strong that they required no equipment to enhance their powers. For their powers were limitless, each in their own way. It was a dichotomy that equipment wouldn’t make them stronger, but each creator professed it so.
“I’m a champion actually,” Gerald’s voice was deep and harsh, even to his own ears, but he dare not revert to his human form, not this close to Titan. “But that is neither here nor there. I implore you, do not enter Titan. I have it on good information that it will not explode.”
Li Wei Zhang’s eyes narrowed. “Is this an official order? What say China?” His English was heavily accented, but understood.
Gerald paused at the risk of answering the question. Truth might send them in, falsehoods would end his life. Li Wei Zhang could tell when someone lied.
“This isn’t official, but my source is reliable. He is the same slayer that helped us stop the explosions, who could see which dungeons were the most unstable and needed to be cleared. He said Titan was unequivocally not in danger of detonating.”
Hyde stepped forward “And who is this great slayer that can peer into the depths of the dungeons, into their souls, and see the things to which even us creators are blind? Who is this slayer who reaches beyond the domain of creators?” Hyde’s voice was thick with sarcasm, but the question was asked in earnest.
The answer, however, was dangerous.
Gerald glanced at Brad Colville. How would he take the news? Gerald, like any competent director, had done his research on this new creator. He had personally interviewed teachers, parents, and even peers, for triggers that might be potentially upsetting. And this name was most likely one of his most explosive triggers.
“It is not important, a mere warrior who has a special talent.”
Hyde saw through the deception. “I want. The name. Don’t make me ask again.” His aura flared up, dark and twisted golden light washed across the surface of his body. The light was acidic to Gerald’s eyes, it twisted unnaturally, unique in its appearance. Hyde was strong as they came, Gerald’s skin prickled from the power of his aura, even in his transformed state.
Either Hyde or Brad would tear him apart.
He would have to risk it. “Tad Harringto-”
The world froze.
Gerald’s entire body was paralyzed. The air in an entire mile radius physically turned to ice. His diaphragm tried to inhale, but solid ice filled his mouth and lungs. He struggled against the ice, causing cracks to spider outward, but there was nowhere for the ice to go. Gerald’s yeti body was immune to the cold, but the pressure crushed him alive. The five creators stood in the only pocket of air, but mere ice would not infringe their strength.
Suddenly, as instantly as the ice appeared, it vanished.
“Woah! Calm down there, Bradly boy.” Hyde’s lips stretched into a wicked grin, “You need to be more careful not to upset our new creator here, monkey man. He hasn’t been a creator long enough to have his emotions in full control. Luckily for you, it was only ice. Had you actually made him angry, you might have been incinerated on the spot.” The man laughed like it was a big joke.
Brad’s eyes turned intensely focused on Gerald. Where he had been nonchalant, even bored looking before, he now examined Gerald with piercing blue eyes that seemed to explore every inch of his soul.
“You’re the old man at my rebirth. If that loser said Titan wouldn’t explode, then it almost certainly will. That zero knows nothing. Never has. And you said he was a warrior? You must be mistaken.” Brad’s voice was colder than the ice that had been there only moments before.
Gerald was afraid of this, but he had seen no other way to get around Hyde’s inquisitiveness. “Tad had a transformation,” how could he spin this to be believable but not upset the boy. He had to speak the truth. He couldn’t use the words ‘special’ or ‘different.’ “He can see things, things about dungeons. And he says this one will not explode. Please, Titan is certain death, even for you. You’re not the first creators to enter, nor will you be the last, but you five are earth’s only hope. If you step through those gates, we cannot scrub the sky. The Defector won’t. I used to accompany him into dungeons, and I know him better than any other man alive. The Defector won’t scrub. If you enter here, it will end humanity, will end earth as we know it.”
Li Wei Zhang turned from the group. “If order is not official, I enter Titan. But not to my death. I trained years. I am strongest creator ever reborn. I close Titan, trust on that. You weaklings stay behind, I care not.” And with that, the man turned and walked into the black tar within Titan’s jaws. His sister, Bao Zhang, followed behind wordlessly.
Gerald’s stomach dropped, Li Wei’s provocation would be their doom.
Hide grinned. “I’m not any weaker than him, I’m not even lazy. Not really. But they stand a better chance with me by their side.” Hyde disappeared through the tar.
The hubris of creators was always their downfall. They thought themselves invincible. They lacked any genuine
challenge, delving into warlord dungeons since creator dungeons were incredibly rare, and prone to disappearing on their own. The lack of difficulty or danger mixed with their seemingly unfathomable power made them think themselves invulnerable.
But Titan was a different beast. Gerald had seen it time and time again. No one returned from Titan’s gates.
“I can’t clear titanspawn anyway, and they won’t get far without a healer.” Kiara stepped through the tar, a solid wall of muck. It didn’t even move for the creators as they stepped in, but they pressed beyond it, into the solid mass of tar.
Only Brad was left. Perhaps he truly was mankind’s last hope, as the media had portrayed him to be.
“Had it been anyone else,”
Gerald’s stomach dropped at the words.
“Anyone else at all, I would have considered your words old man. If we close Titan, all of this goes away. We fix the problem. We’ll be heroes. I won’t be the only coward to retreat, especially if that makes Tad a hero.”
Gerald wept as he watched mankind’s last hope disappear through Titan’s gate. This was the end of the world.
He knew in his heart that the sky would never be scrubbed again.
Note from the Author
Hello again. This was my second book. If you enjoyed it, I would love to hear from you. Consider leaving a review on Amazon. I would appreciate the feedback. How have I improved? Where could use more love?
Thank you for reading The Dungeon Destroyer. If you found any errors, I would be happy to fix them. You can contact me at [email protected].
To stay updated, and hear more about future books, you can join my newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/c9x9f8
Glossary
Items:
Cloak of the Void: Formed from darkness by Tad Harrington.
Darkness Passive: Stealth requires no mana.
Active skills:
Shadow Burst. Charges 1/1. The shadow essence of your cloak disperses into a cloud of physical darkness for 10 seconds.
Brilliant Burst. Charges 1/1. The golden essence of your cloak absorbs the surrounding light, fueled by the power of the light you gain 50% speed for 60 seconds.
All charges refill at midnight.
Fangblender: Named by Tad Harrington. Two-handed weapon. Fangblender can be activated for ten seconds with one mana.
Deals 6 Damage.
Deals 24 Damage while activated.
Fangshredder: Crafted by Tad Harrington. Two-handed weapon. The skin of Acapacio strengthens and reinforces the wood to an almost unbreakable state.
Requires 50 Strength, 100 while activated.
Can be activated for 10 seconds with 10 mana.
Deals 24 Damage.
Deals 240 Damage while activated.
Active skills: Cyclone, Vortex*
Vortex: Fangs reorient to pull air toward you. Zero mana cost while activated.
Cyclone: Fangs reorient to push air away from you. Zero mana cost while activated.
Hands of Meztlegoph: The severed hands of Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror. Increases the strength of the wearer by twenty percent. Grants resistance to elemental and acid damage.
Set bonus: Now increases total strength instead of base strength by 20%.
Meztlegoph’s Greatsword: The severed proboscis of Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror.
This greatsword can absorb a slime to enchant the weapon with elemental damage.
Damage is equal to the strength stat.
Current slime absorbed: Acid.
Strength required: 20
Set bonus: Elemental/Acid damage is now done in addition to physical damage
Raekast’s Fang:
Soulbound. Set 1 of 3. This dagger created from the left-upper canine of Raekast Dungeonshifter. The icy grip of this weapon is immune to disarm. Ignores armor.
Damage done is equal to dexterity.
Raekast’s Vessel: Occupied.
Vessel Contract: Not made.
This weapon has a trans-dimensional space. Raekast’s Fang grows in strength, dependent on the power of its occupant.
Raekast’s Bite: Absorbs the user’s health to deliver a massive blow for twice the damage absorbed.
Resizable Gassy Breastplate of Rapid Healing: Loose bowels, healthy heart, passive regeneration, unexpected fart.
Ring of the Conqueror: Obtained by defeating Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror. Once per day consume 100 mana to cast the skill ‘Speed of the Conqueror.’
Speed of the Conqueror: Increase dexterity threefold for ten seconds.
Set bonus: Experience gained from slaying monsters is doubled.
Severed Tongue of Amaragoth:
Add-on item.
Attach this item to another item to increase maximum active ability charges by one.
Charges 1/1.
Charges refill at midnight.
Werewolf’s Grimace:
Unlocks item-only skills Clone and Enhance Self.
Clone: Charges 1/1. Consumes 50% of your maximum mana to activate. You split your essence and body into two copies controlled by you. Your clone dies first.*
Enhance Self: For an additional 50% of your maximum mana, you can absorb the essence of your fallen clone adding its stats to your own for 1 hour.
All charges refill at midnight.
Wraithford’s Trusted Right Axe:
80 damage. 160 when dual wielding with ‘Wraithford’s Mistrusted Left Axe.’
Strength required: 40
Spells:
Firebolt: A bolt of fire shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Firewall: Consumes 20 mana upon use. A magical wall of fire twenty feet across will appear where you designate. Duration: 600 seconds.
Heal: Recover 5 health. Costs 1 mana.
Heal Other: Touch a creature to heal 4 health. Consumes 1 health.
Icebolt: A bolt of ice shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Ice Vortex: Consumes 20 mana upon use. A magical pool of ice appears under one creature, decreasing their speed by 20%. Duration: 60 seconds.
Neutralize Poison: Consume 50 health to counteract the harmful effects of most poisons.
Stealth: Consumes 1 mana per second. Blend with the darkness to avoid detection. This skill masks your scents and thermal signs. Can only be activated in shadows and darkness. Touching any living creature or moving too fast will break stealth. Stealth unlocks the passive skill: ‘Stealth Vision’.
Stealth Vision: You can see in the dark. This effect is stronger while stealth is activated.
Thunderbolt: A bolt of electricity shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Thunderstorm: Consumes 20 mana upon use. Lightning strikes a random enemy for 3 damage each second. Duration 600 Seconds.
Quake: Consume 80 mana. For 10 seconds, you can control spikes of rock and earth at will.
Passives:
A Warrior’s Courage: Your courage is sufficient for even tougher dungeons.
Encouraging Presence 1: One ally of your choice receives 1% of your current stats.
Intimidation Resistance 1: Bosses with less than 50 intimidation, no longer halve your stats.
Intimidation Resistance 2: Bosses with less than 250 intimidation, no longer halve your stats.
Leader’s Sight: You can see the aura of allies.
Pain Resistance 1: Pain cannot render you unconscious.
Pain Resistance 2: Pain affects you less.
Perception: You can manipulate your perception to sense your surroundings.
Scout’s Sight: You can see the aura of enemies.
Vitality I: +100 to max health.
Vitality II: +500 to max health.
Classes:
Blade Falcon: Dexterity increased by 50%. Constitution and strength reduced by 25%. You transform into Falcon Form.
Falcon Form: Your arms morph into the wings of a giant falcon. You gain access to the hidden passive skill ‘Flight.’
Flight: You know how to fly.
Fat Crab: Constitution increased by 300%. All other stats reduced by 50%. Your back becomes shelled.
Fighter: Strength and constitution increased by 100%.
Lifeblood of the Wizard: You now receive 3 mana per magic.
Plaguebearer: You can enter any dungeon weaker than your rank. You receive the plague.
Void Minotaur: You transform into a Void minotaur.
All void aspects disabled.
All stats x1.5.
Spells disabled.
Minotaur Axe Granted.
Roar, Voidshift, and Equipment Aspect enabled.
Maze of the Minotaur cast automatically at 50% health.
