Chapter 9

Gaping Maw

The Great Yamato Mountain had two forests between Grey's village and Baylee's camp. Though it was difficult to distinguish them from one another at night, during the day their differences could plainly be seen. The first forest was one of mostly conifers, bright colored trees that had speckled spots that dotted their surface. Their leaves were small and light. They gave off a friendly atmosphere and had plenty of low hanging fruits that would dangle over your head.

The second forest was one of bamboo, a tall grass that shot up from the ground, touched the sky and leaned over, arching down and planting themselves back into the ground. This forest looked like a row of snakes, burrowing and unburrowing, through a sea of mud and soil. It was at this forest, that Baylee, Dane, Grey, Sho, Little Cloud, and the chubby mage found themselves in the early morning, having eaten a large dinner the night before.

"I must go back to my folks. We might be trying our luck again later in the day, but our warrior wanted to see if anyone was selling high grade gear. While our rogue. I'm sure she's already off to find herself a new boyfriend."

The chubby mage bowed and then left towards an opening in the bamboo. As he did, a man appeared out of the shadows, startling everyone except for Dane and Baylee.

"Hello friends," said Vernon. "What do we have here? Who are these little children? Did you two get married or something while I was away?"

Dane scoffed.  "Fellow, stop scaring the kids. I already heard about your mischief from the other adventurers. Why do you always got to pick a fight?"

"A fight? Me?" laughed Vernon, "I am but a delicate flower. It's not my fault if one or two folks get a taste of my thorns. Beautiful things are to be admired, not touched."

"Saying such strange things again," mumbled Baylee, shaking her head. "Regardless, you have good timing. We are all here now. Did you sort out your things?"

Vernon smiled. "Of course. Flash powder, poisons, extra rope, and sleeping bags."

Baylee lay out a map on the table in their tent. Grey and Sho leaned over curiously. A little spirit mouse peeking from the top of Sho's head.

"Well, then I'll begin our strategy of attack. The first obstacle is obviously the entrance. The chasm goes down about seven hundred feet. There is no bottom, at least I assume if you ever reach the bottom, you'd be crushed by some incredible magical force. Every forty feet, jutting out the corners of the chasm, are tunnels that take you to a different level of the dungeons. The first three hundred feet have been explored to around 15%. After four hundred feet there is a strange force that blocks you from entering the tunnels. The tunnels themselves are much larger about fifteen feet high. Near the bottom at seven hundred feet, the tunnel entrances then shrink to only three feet wide. Enough to crawl, but not to walk. Of course these too are protected by a strange force."

Dane nodded his head. "Then it is a stepwise dungeon?"

"That is correct," replied Baylee. "We have to complete the areas near the top to be able to enter the areas near the bottom. The force blocking the lower levels should dissipate once we reach the end of each level."

"What's the boundary area?" asked Vernon.

"Around forty feet. The moment you see the first tunnel. The dungeon will suck you right in."

Dane shook his head. "Hungry fellow isn't he?"

"More like hilarious," laughed Vernon. " I saw him push off a ranger the other day. Was quite the spectacle."

"Also, from what I discussed with Marlin, it appears the dungeon has already gained a name. People are calling it the Gaping Maw."

"Better then calling it new dungeon or big hole dungeon I suppose," murmured Dane.

Baylee nodded her head in agreement. "I say today, we go in scout the higher levels to test the strength of the dungeon and then work our way down. No point in doing a suicide run if we don't have to. We meet at the entrance in two hours!"

Dane and Vernon nodded and went off to sort their things. Grey quickly walked to Baylee.

"Master, what about us? Did you want us to stay in this camp?"

Baylee smiled and ruffled Grey's hair.

"Of course not. Why would I leave you here?"

Grey's eyes start to glow. Could it be?!

"You are not going in the dungeon silly kid," said Baylee, dashing his hopes.

She moved towards Grey and gently drilled her fist into his head.

"O-O-Ow."

"You little imp. Haven't you been listening? You think we can take a fellow like you who hasn't even had their Ritual of Awakening? Get your head on straight!"

Baylee kneeled and spoke eye-to-eye with Grey. "Little Grey. I'll be leaving you with some friends nearby. They have children too. So go off and play with them for a bit. Also, make sure to start teaching that little friend of yours cultivation techniques. She should be even more talented then you. Perhaps, I shall gain two apprentices by the time I return."

Grey looked blankly at Sho. Sho looked back curiously.

"But before that, I need to give you something," said Baylee. She turned around to face the outside of the tent. "Vernon! You weird fellow. Give me your wind boots."

"Why do you need my boots?" yelled Vernon, a distance away. He was sorting his belongings in his tent, casting protective wards to prevent other thieves from getting his stuff while he was away.  

"Who cares why I need them?" yelled Baylee back. "If you don't give it to me, I'll shove an icicle up your ass."

"Fine then! Steal from the rogue. You deviant."

Two boots flew in the air and landed outside Baylee's tent. Baylee picked them up and handed it to Grey.

"Try these on."

Grey took off his old shoes and put the boots on. They were man's boots, several times larger than his feet. He moved clumsily in them for a moment before they suddenly began to shrink. Smaller and smaller until they perfectly fit his little feet.

"These are wind boots. A high grade item that lets folks get away from danger. If you need to escape for any reason. Don't hesitate to use them. You only need to direct your aura towards them to activate their abilities. Also, keep that gem I gave you a while back safe. It's a light gem infused with  healing properties. It'll heal you only once. So don't think you are invulnerable. We'll be back in a few days. Stay out of trouble. You hear?"

"Okay," said Grey solemnly. To be given such items at his age was a priceless gift. He would surely not misuse them.

"Alright, now let your teacher prepare her things...."

~~~

"Haha, fear and obey me for I am the dark overlord!" shouted a young girl with blonde hair. She stood on a hilltop made out of sticks. Around her, children were on the ground bowing to her in reverence. A few children carried sticks and piled them on the hill to make it higher.

"That's right peons! Work slaves! Work for your queen!"

She carried a long oak branch that doubled for a scepter. On her head was reef of leaves.  She snapped the whip of a long vine.

"Haha. I'm invincible!"

Her eyes gazed at her vast kingdom. Only a short few days she had conquered all the children of the adventurer's camp! All save for two trouble makers. Her eyes looked angrily at the two children on the nearby grass. All they did was sit and look at each other all day long! What was this upsetting feeling that nestled in her heart. Stop looking so happy! Suffer! Suffer!

She leaned over her throne of sticks and spoke to a kid next to her.

"Jason!"

"Yes, Mistress of Total Evilness?"

"We need to make those kid's suffer. Make them join our kingdom. Who are they?"

Jason bowed. "My dad said their names were Grey and Sho. They came here a few days ago with that last batch. The one with that woman mage."

"Ooo," whispered the girl. The last batch of adventurer's were truly fierce! They even had a powerful mage with eyes so cold it sent chills up her spine. The way that woman made everyone tremble! This girl admired her greatly.

"Come Jason! And bring some goons with us too! For these kid's to be taken in by that woman they must be special. We attack!"

In the grass a few yards away, Grey and Sho sat quietly with their eyes closed. The energy around them rippled sending soft vapors into the air. Sho's vapors were enormous, nearly five feet long, causing the air itself to feel heavy and damp. After Baylee had taken out that Parasitic Dragon Spirit. Her true power had manifested itself. She was a magical savant with a magical talent twenty times that of the average person. Truly frightening.

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Sweat formed on Grey's forehead. Before she left, his master had said the most important thing about cultivating talent was to not only train your body but to think about history. 10,000 years ago, back in the time of darkness, there were monsters larger than they were today. How did those ancients fight back with no magical powers? The secret to magic lay in their first bumbling attempts to survive. The techniques learned by adventurer's today were the groundwork set by past heroes aided with nothing more of their fists, where one hit by a monster meant death. The courage and willpower by those early humans to go willingly where their survival was practically 0 was unimaginable.

Courage. Honor. Willpower. The traits of heroes was the will of mankind itself to struggle against impossible, to defeat all that stood in its way. This was why man not beast was ruler of the known world. Grey pondered on these question deeply, but then was suddenly interrupted when a girl sauntered towards them with a group of kids following her. Her chest held high.

"Hey you two!" said a girl's voice, walking over haughtily. "Yes, the two of you sitting on the grass. What do you think you two are doing?"

Grey sighed. Who was it now?

"We are cultivating our talent. My master told me to train. So, I am training."

The girl looked at Grey questioningly.

"What are you talking about? You are a kid like me. You don't have magical powers."

Grey shook his head.

"I might not have much talent, but I can do a little thing."

Grey took a deep breath and exhaled. The air around him shifted for a moment and the haughty girl could feel her body lift up gently as if pushed by a wave of water. The girls eyes turned to surprise. What was that?

Grey shook his head and murmured, dissatisfied. "She can do it better though,"

Sho smiled. These last few days it was obvious that she was gifted. All the things Grey learned in a year. She did it in a few days. What was this craziness? Even Grey could not believe his eyes.

"Grey don't worry," giggled Sho. "It's okay if I become a hero first. Not all of us are so good at magic."

Listening to this, the other girl shook herself out of her daze.  Ah, these guys are being happy again! They need to be punished! So what if they can use some tricks? That little thing can't hurt me. I'll teach them a lesson.

"Paul! Jason! Accost this fellow!"

Two big kids came up and grabbed Grey by either arm.

"Hey what are you doing!" asked Grey.

"Be quiet! My name is Mylene! I am the dark overlord of this camp and I demand you obey me!"

"What? Dark Overlord?" Grey's ears tingled with a sort of playfulness. Heroes slay dark evil things. This girl calls herself an overlord?

"That's right! I rule over this kingdom. Now prostrate yourself and lick my toes!"

Grey shook his head, almost laughing. "No way! What kind of weird person does that? I say no! You can't make me!"

Mylene looked at him amusingly. "Fine, if you shall not bow down to my persuasion. Then perhaps this shall change your mind. Mary! Jeane! Accost this girl too!"

"W-Wait what?!" stuttered Sho. Her eyes a little fearful. A few days ago she had been beating by kids. She looked normal now and thought it wouldn't happen anymore. Was she going to get beating again?

Grey could see the look in Sho's eyes and became upset. In these few days, Sho had told him all about her past, and knew this kind of situation really bothered her.

"Hey stop that."

"Hmph," scoffed Mylene. "So will you obey me now!"

"No way! But if you don't stop. I'll be upset and tell the folks at the camp you are being tyrannical."

Mylene shook her face in disgust. "You haven't learned your lesson at all!"

She moved close to Grey. Close enough that her breath was on his neck. Her hands dived into his pockets and she pulled out the light gem that Baylee gave to him!

"Ha! What is this pretty thing? I thought you might have something precious? Now, this thing is mine! Let this be your payment for your disobedience!"

Grey face turned several grades of color. Embarrassment. Anger. Playfulness. Mylene was a kid just like him. Did he have to go all out? He would teach this girl a big lesson that she would never forget. Heroes will always win against evil villains!

Mylene turned to leave but a large blast of wind exploded behind her. The two goons holding Grey flew backwards as if struck by a great force! Wind Boots!

"What is this!" yelped Mylene, surprised.

Grey smiled and picked up a stick from the ground.

"If you are dark overlord then I am a great and powerful hero! I have come to slay you and free your people from your control!"

Mylene ran in terror.

"Guards! Guards! Protect me!"

Grey chased after Mylene. A large kid with a potbelly lugged his way over. His fist came down on Grey's head. Grey leaned to the left and smacked the kid in the head, causing him to tumble over to the side. The next kid slide on the ground to trip Grey's feet. Grey jumped over him and whacked him in the head too! One by one. Grey defeated Mylene's minions dueling them with great finesse and purpose!

Though, he had been a weak framed kid, his body had naturally become more stronger with the training he had done over the year to improve his aura. His eyes had also become much clearer since he had witnessed that crazy fight in the woods between all those adventurers.

While he could not see any of the flashy things those adventurers used in their attacks. For young children, it was as if he could feel which direction they would move. How they would act. His instinct had improved in these last few days without him even noticing it. This was precisely the reason why several adventurers sought to fight one another. To improve one's instinct through combat. This kind of battle experience had amazing benefits.

Mylene seeing her troops dwindle could only gaze with amazement and shock! Who knew a kid could be this strong? He didn't even bother using his boots, but his own physical talents to beat her army down to pulp. The last kid in Mylene's guard fell to the floor in a daze. Grey's eyes turned to her, pointing his stick.

"Now, it's the final battle! On your guard dark overlord!"

"N-No!" yelled Mylene running into the woods. To beat so many kids all at once. Fighting that kind of person? Was he crazy!

Mylene made her way through the woods till she reached a clearing. Grey was fast behind her. In a moment it would be all over!

"Mylene!" shouted Grey. His eyes full of mischief. "There is nowhere to run! I am faster than you! Do you want to get hit on the back of the head or in the front! It's your choice!"

Mylene turned around and took a step back. "No! Stay back! I'll give you your gem back!"

She hastily pulled the light gem out of her pocket and raised her hand.

"Here take it!"

Grey walked closer menacingly. This girl deserved a taste of her own medicine. "Of course I'll take it. I'll take it after I beat you up!"

Mylene's eyes trembled in fear. "No! Mercy!"

She continued to step backwards. She could not see her feet were nearing a hole. A deep hole. Grey seemed to notice the danger too late, his eyes trailing the grass, a blackness suddenly came into view that only seemed to grow wider with each passing second.

"Mylene!" he yelled in horror. He ran up to pull her from the danger, but the girl thought he meant to strike her down. He grabbed a hold of her outstretched hand and the ground trembled. He could feel his sense of gravity lifting. Darkness seem to come up all around him. His hands flailed helplessly in the air. The light vanishing at his back. His eyes stared deeply into the horrified eyes of Mylene. Her soft fragrance filling the air. And down he went, down into that deep abyss, that Gaping Maw.

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Author Note:

Hi everyone. I hope you enjoy! A little taste for those wanting them dark scenes to happen sooner. You can see my writing improved near the end. I kind of got a sense of my writing style that I had in chapter 1. You can see me try to fiddle around this chapter till I remembered the sensation I had earlier. I can't promise the quality every time, but I thank you for all your kind words. I feel it helps me tell this story better, along with a cup of coffee.

Thank you all again for reading.