The table was starting to get crowded with Duke, Mira, Aurelia, Baslin, Lya, Drakmalorie, and Arkmathus all gathered around and eating. The conversations were getting rather interesting with Mira and Baslin arguing about “how things really work” while Aurelia did her best to not show her jealousy over Duke finding yet another female companion. Duke, for his part was just enjoying the chaos around him as he thought of his next steps.
I have to set up a bunch more dungeons. Thousands more, really. And I need to spread them around, not just Teldin, Astrea, or even this solar system. I need to spread them out amongst the stars so that there are always at least my base 1,000 dungeons supporting me. And there’s no telling how much a boost I can get if I hit the next threshold in the Title. That might take 100,000 dungeons though. I need to boost that Ability to Master or higher if I can manage it. I know I can’t do what I want to with it at Practiced, that’s for sure. Maybe at Adept rank, but definitely at Master. I wonder what’s going to happen to all the hunters when I show up tens of thousands of lightyears away. Guess we’ll find out.
As the afternoon wore on, someone came into the Inn and all eyes turned to him. He was as tall as Duke and was dressed in what Duke could only call “space cowboy” fashion. The man’s outfit looked like a blend of traditional Western wear and futuristic gear. He wore a long, brown-colored duster coat made from fabric that Duke guess had some armor plating sewn into the lining for added protection. The coat flared out when he moved into the room. His belt was adorned with pouches and holsters, carrying an assortment of gadgets, tools, and, of course, a pair of glowing pistols. To finish off the look he wore a pair of boots made from a leather-like material but reinforced with metal toes and heels.
The man made quite the impression stepping in through the door. “Excuse my interruption, but I’ve come to collect on the bounty and everyone outside has gotten tired of you holing up in here and hiding.”
Duke slowly stood, extending to his full height. “You, sir, were so close to being invited in for a drink but you had to go and ruin it all by implying cowardice. Over two hundred hunters have come here to try and collect the bounty. None have succeeded. I have been doing you all the courtesy of extending your lives by delaying my next appearance out in front of the Inn. But, if you are all so impatient, then I guess courtesy-time is over. Step outside and prepare for me to come out. And please relay the message that I am coming out and that anyone who does not want to try and collect the bounty needs to get to a safe distance. I’ll give you a full minute to get clear.” With that, Duke caused the door to open behind the man and waved him out with his hands in a shooing motion.
As soon as the door closed behind the figure, conversations flared once again. “Are you really just going to step outside like that? That’s suicide. There must be at least 50 of them out there!”
“Seventy-three by my last count.” Duke replied. “And, yes, I am going to step out there and remove this batch with extreme prejudice.”
“Oh, make the walls windows again, Travis!” Aurelia excitedly asked.
“You sure you want to see the Reaper at work again?”
Baslin shuddered and turned away from the windows. Aurelia nodded apprehensively. Mira exclaimed excitedly, “Oh yes! Let the Reaper loose! Can I use the main cannons on them?”
“Different reaper.” Duke explained. “This one is all my own. At first I was going to tell you not to watch, but I think it’s probably better if you see it now when it’s safe to do so.” Duke looked at his wrist. “I think it’s been a minute. Showtime!” He headed towards the door.
“What is this Reaper he is referring to?” Arkmathus asked.
“Just watch if you dare.” Aurelia responded and steeled her spine while clenching her fists.
Duke stepped through the Inn door and TELEPORTED immediately to the center of the makeshift arena. Abilities, explosions, and other weapons filled the area where he had stepped out. Duke had been impacted by a few of the fastest ones, but only for the briefest of instants. His clothing had holes and singe marks all over it, but nothing had made it past his ARMOR SKIN.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Duke activated a quick CLEANSE and RESTORE on himself, paused for a second and then announced very loudly, “You all missed!” Without waiting for a response, he unleashed his UMBRAL REAPER Ability across the whole area around the Inn. He took four shots from the space cowboy before the Ability took over the area, eliciting screams of terror and agony. One minute later, Duke started to walk around the area, collecting the corpses of the fallen into his INVENTORY. When he was done he nodded to the lone figure peeking out from behind one of the ships forming the arena and headed back into the Inn.
Baslin turned back around looking relieved. Aurelia swallowed hard and smiled at Duke, her countenance wavering. Arkmathus stared dead-eyed at Duke, and Mira looked at him with abject terror. Drakmalorie was pointedly looking at anything but Duke’s eyes.
He realized that the aftereffects of his Ability were still showing in his eyes and willed them to return to normal. “I have a feeling that lunch is now ruined, eh?”
“We really need to go back to hanging out at the Lake Front Inn.” Aurelia declared.
“I agree, but I do need to get back to my lab in the castle.” Baslin added.
“What…what was that?” Mira asked, her voice shaking.
“That is one of my more potent Abilities. It is a direct soul attack using all the trauma I have experienced in my life to give it extra fuel.”
“Just how much trauma have you experienced?” She followed-up.
“More than most.” He responded and gestured to Travis for a drink.
She absently nodded in response as Travis brought Duke a glass of scotch. After a moment she pulled herself together and out of whatever introspection she was undergoing. “I think I need to get back to the ship.”
Duke opened up a Portal to the hangar level for her. He could not mistake the abject fear that her body was throwing off as she quickly stepped through. He called out after her before closing the Portal. “Please make the ship ready for travel. I’d like to be on our way by dinnertime.”
“Is she going to be OK?” Aurelia asked.
“I have no idea, but I hope so. That was the first time she saw that and it was probably a bit much for her.”
“And just where are you going?” She followed up.
“The ship came with a ton of debt. I’m going to go pay it all off and resupply. And, if I have enough left over, get some upgrades. And maybe some mechs.”
“Can you get some dracomechs?” Arkmathus asked.
“You’d never fit in one, but I do like the idea.” Drakmalorie responded.
“They could be customized.” He groused.
“Tell you what, why don’t you both come with us and see what we can actually do. Although you might not be too happy with what I am selling.”
“It’s not like you’re selling dragonian eggs, right?” She joked.
“No, but it is dragon corpses.”
All motion in the room stopped. Duke swore he could hear the tendon creak in the dragonians’ necks as they both locked their gazes, frozen in rage, upon him. In a voice that was unmistakenly cold and shaking from holding back violence, she ordered, “Explain.”
Duke did not let their posture or emotion affect him. He went on to explain. “They are dungeon creatures that I defeated. Not natural dragons, but no one will be able to tell the difference.”
“Impossible! No dungeon can hold, let alone create, such magnificent creatures!”
“Remember who my sponsor is. Don’t you dare presume to tell me what a dungeon can and cannot do. I am The Dungeon Emperor!” Duke’s suddenly increasing ire took himself as much by surprise as it did the pair. They unconsciously had taken a step back as the entire Inn shook with Duke’s words, the very atmosphere taking on an air of violence.
The tension in the room grew as no one backed down. Duke’s glare was filled with all the raw emotion of having been chased and attacked for weeks now combined with someone, anyone, questioning his dominion over dungeons. The dragonians were incensed that anyone would ever denigrate the most noble and powerful creatures of their heritage in such a way to even think that they could be contained by something as simple as a dungeon.
Stares were locked in place, waiting for someone to make a move. As the growl in Arkmathus’ chest reached its peak, Travis stepped forward and announced, “If you really want to fight, go outside. If not, sit yourselves down and think about what has you so mad.” He distributed drinks, causing them all to break eye contact.
Duke shook his head, feeling the anger rapidly melt away. He looked up to see Arkmathus doing the same. Lya and Aurelia were returning to the table.
Lya spoke, “Can anyone explain what just happened there?”
“Two deep-seeded racial traits came into direct conflict. I really didn’t see this coming, but it was something to watch.” Travis spoke up but Duke could tell that it was more than Travis speaking. He turned to look pointedly at Travis who gave him a slight nod before continuing.
“Now that you are all done with allowing your instincts rule you, why not come to a sensible conclusion?”
Duke started, “Perhaps it would be best if you did not accompany me on this trip.”
“That seems to be the case for sure.”
“But I’m still coming.” Lya interjected. “I’m not sitting around waiting for y’all to come back, I’m going where the adventure is going.”
“I am going as well.” Aurelia spoke up and Duke used all his self-control to not wince.
“Glad that’s settled. Pack your things. We leave after dinner.”