After the summoning, I let Gajie take Byot to look around the dungeon and get his bearings set. As for me, I decided to drop in on the Goblin squad. I had received reports that they had indeed discovered ores and wanted to encourage them in person. By now, there were short-distance teleport circles set-up internally for staff use within the dungeon, and as such I did not have to walk for hours to get to the goblins.
As I approached the goblins, I could hear the clinking sounds of pickaxes thumping on rock and earth, as well as the miners humming out a screechy tune of kees and kehs.
The goblin warrior was the first to notice my presence. It looked like the goblin was practicing by swinging his shoddy sword around, and this made the fellow more endearing to me. The two goblin sentries were busily dozing off with spittle drooling from their mouths.
“Masta come! Ten-shun!” The goblin warrior screeched loudly.
A large commotion ensued with the miners jumping up and down around me while shrieking happily. The two sentries were rudely awakened and started to unsteadily flounder about trying to gather their senses.
On the one hand, I was glad that my minions could be so overjoyed at my presence. But on the other, I was trying to determine whether a stricter and more militaristic order might not be more beneficial in the long run.
In any case I let the goblins sense that I wanted order from them, and this calmed them down.
“I came to personally congratulate you, First Goblin Miner Section – Squad One, for your accomplishments in successfully locating and mining ores. This is a historic feat; the first of its kind within our dungeon. Well done!” I announced.
Silence ensued as the Goblins simply stared back at me.
“You may now cheer,” I said while empathetically nudging the goblins as well.
“Masta praise us!” The goblin warrior declared.
“We first!” A miner squawked.
“Ke Ke Ke Keh!” The rest of the goblins started to screech and dance about.
The merriment was short lived however, as a broadcast announced throughout the dungeon, “Code Yellow, Code Yellow. ETA 2 Hours to Dungeon Entrance. I repeat: Code Yellow, Code Yellow. ETA 2 Hours to Dungeon Entrance.”
The first prospective challengers to my dungeon, and it’s a fucking Code Yellow.
To be frank, I have been itching for some action in battle. Both personally, to test out my improved self in combat, and for my dungeon and minions, to gauge where they are at. But a Code Yellow indicated a threat level dangerous enough to eradicate the entire dungeon – whether through sheer numbers or through the battle prowess of the challengers.
The Code was Yellow however, due to the threat only being a potential one.
That is, that the intentions of the presumed hostiles were unknown.
They might just be passing by.
Yeah, right.
“Squad One, retreat to the Inner Dungeon,” I commanded.
As I was about to turn away and head to my office however, I heard the Goblin Warrior cry out, “Masta! We go together! Squad fight!”
I sensed a battle lust and a desire to protect the dungeon from the warrior and sentries and some of the miners.
“Alright then. You and the Sentries, follow me. The Miners of Squad One however, retreat to the Inner Dungeon,” I modified my command.
And like so, we made time posthaste to my office via the teleport circle.
Gajie was already there, as was Byot.
“Status Report!” I demanded as soon as I saw Gajie.
“My Lord. As you already know, the Surveillance Operations reported a Code Yellow level of threat at approximately 2 Hours distance.
There are two separate groups, with one apparently chasing the other. The front group consists of five members on foot. Unfortunately, none of them have been identified.
The pursuers number a hundred strong and all of them are armed. Though most of them seem to be rank-and-file soldiers, among them are five who are distinguished from the rest. These five men are heavily armed as well as on horse-back. One of the five, the leader of this group, has been identified as John Fleetsword,” Gajie reported.
“Fleetsword?” I asked.
“John Fleetsword is the Vice-Captain of the Uppens Knights. The Uppens Knights are the Elite Forces of the Earl of Uppens in the Kingdom of Hwasten-Low. The other four members of the mounted five are also most likely to be knights,” Gajie said.
“I’d be loath to be get involved in political disputes I know nothing about. What do you think would be the outcome of simply spectating and letting this whole thing blow over?” I inquired from Gajie.
She replied, “Well, that is why this is a Code Yellow, my Lord. What you can be sure of is the fact that the first group will definitely pass by the Dungeon Entrance and be caught up with the second group right around here.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“And knights are formidable opponents to be reckoned with?” I asked further.
“Only those able to materialize an Aura are ever accepted into the ranks of the Knights, Lord. They are indeed formidable opponents to be reckoned with,” Gajie answered.
I groaned.
“Alright, I’ll go and meet them in front of the dungeon. I’ll be taking along all but two of the Golem-Pixie battlegroups. That’s forty Pixies and twenty Golems. The three Goblin fighters will join me as well,” I said.
“Master, I wish to serve as well,” Byot added to the discussion.
“…”
“…”
“You just came into being today. This encounter could turn out to be highly dangerous… possibly fatal,” I said.
“What good am I if I cannot be by my Lord and Master’s side in his time of need?” Byot stated.
“Hmm…” I sighed while closing my eyes.
“I see. Thank you Byot. Come with me,” I nodded and grasped Byot firmly on his right shoulder.
After delegating the last line of defense to Gajie, I summoned another gaggle of Goblin Sentries to take along and a group of Goblin Warriors for defense of the dungeon. I then telepathically laid out the orders to all of my minions and headed outside the dungeon, to meet with whatever challenges were heading my way.
Byot seemed to relish being outside, taking in deep breaths and observing the scene. He was surprisingly calm, cool and collected inside, unlike most of the goblins and pixies that were jittery and excited. The golems, being semi-sentient automatons, were unfeeling.
“You’re unusually tranquil about this whole ordeal, Byot, considering this is your first foray,” I quipped.
“I believe that this is a quality I have inherited from you Master, considering today is your first foray as well,” Byot commented.
“Perhaps. You and me both,” I said with a grin as I glanced at my watch.
Anytime now and the first group will arrive, I determined.
My army was in battle formation at the base of the Cliffside entrance to the Dungeon. The Golems in the middle with the pixies protected behind them. Byot and I were at the front, and the Goblins were beside us with the Goblin warrior in the lead.
Finally, I saw the first group. They were moving quickly, but came to a sudden halt when they saw us.
“Identify yourself!” A large bearded man in light armor bellowed from the distance.
I used my skill to observe him.
Name: Mark ‘Cleft Cleaver’ Keenstag Age: 44 Height: 187cm Race: Human (LowHwasten / Hwasten-Low) Gender: Male Class: Knight (Superb, C) Titles: Knight Captain (Elite, B+), Aura User (Limited, A-), Hardened Veteran (Rare, C) Skills: Blade Aura (Limited, B), Aura Heal (Uncommon, D-), Enhance All Physical (Rare, E+), Tri-Slash (Superb, B-), Heavy Blow (Superb, B), Charge (Superb, A), Block (Elite, B+), Guard (Limited, D)
Mentality: Dedication and Loyalty
Disposition: Good, Order
Martial Prowess: 58/60 Intelligence: 29/40 Commander: 41/45 Health: 48/50 Explorer: 24/40 Wisdom: 31/40 Politics: 22/40 Allure:30/60
This man was a knight captain with what would be considered as at least good stats in all areas.
“You behold Deprofundis Reprobate ‘Once Loved’, my Master and the Dark Lord of this Dungeon,” Byot yelled back.
“Are you friend or foe?” Mark bellowed.
“Neither for now, but that depends. Who are you?” Byot responded.
Mark then had a quick chat with a cloaked and hooded figure before replying,
“We ask to approach your position and want a guarantee of our safety.”
I gave instructions to Byot and he replied, “You may approach. We cannot guarantee safety, but assure you that no harm will be advanced from us.”
The group of five then walked towards us, with the four armed members circling to protect the hidden figure.
As soon as they were near, I commenced speaking, “I am Deprofundis Reprobate. Allow us to be frank. I know that you are being chased, so tell me who I am dealing with and for what.”
“I am Mark Keenstag, Leader of the Knights Hetsalia. We have been gravely wronged and are in dire straits. We ask for your assistance, Lord Reprobate,” Mark said.
“Let your leader reveal himself and tell his tale with his own words,” I stated flatly.
The knight captain grimaced but was stilled with a motion from the cloaked and hooded figure.
A pure and natural feminine voice spoke, “I choose to reveal myself to you, Deprofundis,” while lowering the hood which had obscured her face from view.
She spoke, “I am Brightness Hetsalia, Daughter and Heir to the Duke Hetsalia. My father was slandered, framed, ambushed and murdered; betrayed by his cousin, the Earl Uppens. I had been travelling to Lemarin to seek safe harbor when the dastard Uppens set his hounds loose upon me. I ask for your aid, Reprobate. Will you give it me?”
However, I could hardly pay attention to what she was saying anymore.
You see, this girl bore a stark resemblance to the woman in my visions.
So much so, that when she first revealed herself I was going over in my mind whether this girl actually was that woman. After the initial shock that is.
I was shocked but at the same time I was putting my options on the balance.
For instance, if I didn’t help this Hetsalia, would this then mean that I could avoid the future that I saw? But how accurate was the Mirror of Truth and Judgment really? The past recollection was accurate in what it showed me, so far as I can tell, just that it was limited in scope and depth. But whereas the past recall was like remembering a movie I had watched, the future visions were more of a short disjointed and jumbled mess of trailers to an actual movie in comparison.
Things got tricky when concerning the future. For instance, was the future shown what would naturally happen through the course of history in this world, or what would occur only with my involvement? Maybe it was both, or mayhap I am now considered an actor in the history of Hwantasy.
The visions of victory and triumph also had to be put under more scrutiny. Sure, it showed me of my victory. But who is to say that that is not just an initial victory and not a final one? Put bluntly, I could fall into ruin the very next day after achieving triumph, just that it was never shown. So far, I had no such assurances.
Also, I was curious as to how I could become so agonized over the death of a mere woman, albeit a beautiful one. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve never experienced true love, but then again, I don’t believe in true love. However, I’ve never really experienced going through the death of a close loved one. No one to love and no one too close, such had been my life.
“The same golden hair that shines and sparkles brilliantly in the sunlight yet is dark around the inner curls of the locks going down the forehead. Strikingly similar soft and delicate pleasant features, the same smooth and pale skin… Ah, but your eyes are a rich emerald green, whereas hers are a sparkling sapphire blue,” I said aloud.
“You’re all looking at me with confusion, and Mark, I note with some hostility. I was talking my thoughts out loud. I’ll explain later, if there is a later. For now, know that I will give you my aid,” I assured them while breaking the silence that had ensued before continuing, “Your group should enter into the dungeon, you lot look famished and tired. I’ve already contacted my minions within; they’ll alert my subordinates to expect you.”
“Sorry Lord Reprobate, I’m not doubting your word, heh, but we’d rather stay out here. There’s going to be a fight, and you’ll need all the help that you can get,” Mark said.
“Then you stay Keenstag, but the rest go inside,” I ordered.
Before Mark could refuse, I added, “Surely, you’re not about to let your lord lie exposed out in the open, Knight Captain? And how effective would you be when having to guard her all the time? Besides, though you may be just fine, the rest of your group aren’t.”
Brightness intervened, “We’ll do as you say Deprofundis. I will trust you. Sir Keenstag, you alone must help the Dark Lord in the battle to come. Please, stay safe…”
“As you command,” Mark replied while bowing.