-Edited By NetLord, We Will Take Jerusalem, Deus Vult!
The matron with her mates faced me with angered expressions, while at same time rest of the pack separated me from Gisele. I wasn’t worrying about her, not only because I was more than sure that she will manage to take down that group of beasts by herself without breaking a sweat, but mostly because my mind was focused on three monsters in front of me. Gisele didn’t want me to use offensive magic? Very well, no offensive magic.
You cast [Haste] on target [Zariel]Spell Duration:00h59m57sRFX
DEX
+15
+15
INT
WIS
-15
-15
The Omega lunged from the side, his mouth snapped closed inches from my face, he wanted to push me back, right into place where I would be broken in two by his companion, where the Alpha lunged. Instead, I stepped to the side.The beast tried sweeping me back in place with swing of its paw, yet somehow this monstrous predator seem slow to me. I ducked under it and dug my eagle-like curved talons in creatures side. As soon as my nails hooked on monster’s flesh I twisted my whole body,tearing off huge chunk of meat.
Enemy is now bleedingHp loss:2 per 10 secondsSp loss5 per 10 seconds
Apparently I got him good, probably I damaged some important vein. Nothing that serious now, but bleeding tends to get worse if you are moving rapidly, doesn’t it?
The Alpha pounced between me and Omega, letting his brother to regain balance, while the matron came running from the front, pushing me away from her mates. As soon as the Omega regained his balance, the Alpha joined his lover. Both of them were attacking me from the front, forcing me to take step after step back, like two heads of a cerberus, they were attacking with perfect coordination, leaving me almost no opening to make a move. Yet, time is relevant, for me those seconds looked like minutes, I could easily gaze over their twisted in madness heads. Ah, if your eyes were there, what would I see in them? Hate? Fear? Motivation? Desperation? Just imagining these is making me… making me…!!!
Omega, despite his wounds decided to join in, the huge beasts attacking from the front covered my vision of third monster letting it circle me and surprise attack me from the back. I should be turned into bloody pulp, if not their great cooperation. For a split of second the Matron and Alpha moved a step back, mostly to give some space for a landing comrade. That second wouldn’t be enough for me to simply deduce reason of them leaving their ground… but when time is slower for you, you have all time you need.
I squatted and then rolled back, right under the beast, which sent it crashing right into its companions.
My heart was pounding, my cheeks flushed with excitement! This is IT! This is what I was looking for! Passion! Dedication! Risking all for survival! Humans would never give me such a battle! They are dedicating their lives to some pitiful, meaningless goals. They are even willing to die for something! Nothing drives me more nuts than fools casting their lives away, on a whim. No, you should leave this world same way as you get here, screaming and kicking, pushing forward just for a chance at life!
I jumped back upright, putting myself back into a stance and starting the process running towards the cluster of beasts, I jumped in the sky morphing my body mid-air. I increased my mass as much as possible, thickened my muscles as I bared my claws as I landed on the Alpha, crushing him beneath me.
Enemy is suffering [Shattered Bones]RFX- 25DEX- 25STR - 30
Another one kicked out of the combat.
The head of the pack managed to roll her way out from beneath her companion’s body, she “gazed” over her mates, sniffing them and checking their states. Then she once again let out howl full of pain and madness, yet this time no beast was left to answer her call, I quickly looked back. Gisele already finished her own little battle, around 15 bodies were lying around her. Only the mini-bosses remained alive, two of them just barely. Gis was standing still with her body resting on sword she dug in the ground. With quick nod she let me know that she has no intention of interfering in my own combat. Good, I probably wouldn’t forgive her for taking my prey.
The Matron’s call couldn’t be left unanswered though, I spread my hands, raised my head and let out wolfish cry of my own, filled with euphoria and dominance. A howl that had to deafen her, it resonated across chamber getting stronger and stronger hurting the sensitive ears of the beast.
It was tempting to cripple her and leave her like that, in a room filled with body of her whole family, to humiliate her! To wait till her anger would leave her and her passion would turn into agony and despair… But I promised myself that she would end in my belly, didn’t I?
Via performing certain action a new skill has been learned[Monarch's Howl]
[Enchanted Monarch's Howl] [Active] [Level NA]Sp cost:25Mp cost:25This skill's effects may vary depending on many factors and its targets.AOE Ally:- May rise morale of Party
- May add small, temporal buff to physical attributes of Party
- May erase lesser form of [Fear] and [Anger] status effects of Party
- May reduce effects of higher form of [Fear] and [Anger] status effects of party
AOE Foe:- May reduce morale of Party
- May slightly reduce physical attributes of Party
- May remove lesser positive non-magic buffs from Party
- May cause [Fear]
The skill cannot be leveled, its power relies on situation on battlefield and casters CHAEffect does not stack
Despite her hopeless situation, the Matron did not flinch. She readied herself for another clash. We started moving in circles for one last time, looking for openings. She decided to play it safe, in the end she lost her privilege of taking us lightly, which came from fighting in her own house with her family around.
The Matron lost her patience and rushed at me, I let her get closer, letting her leave this world on the terms, attacking, not running away.
A swing of paw from the left, I wanted to duck under it, but after split of second I saw her raising her other limb and performing same attack from the other side. With her body still leaping onward she decided to completely give up her guard and focus on killing me.
She got me there, hew blow pushed me few meters away and bruised me a little, she quickly regained her balance from reckless assault and pounced at lying me. I didn’t rise from my back on purpose, instead I morphed my legs into minotaur’s. As she was about to mutilate me, I kicked the air in which she flew very next moment. For a split of second I thought that my legs would break under pressure of her mass, but in the end I managed to flip my body a little and change trajectory of her leap. Her colossal body hit the pillar.
It wasn’t end yet. Another time both of us raised and once again leaped on each other. This time, no playing around. We crashed, body to body. Her claws scratched my side, mine dug in her head and tore off one of her ears, her teeth tasted my thigh as I started stabbing her neck. Her fur was thick and it was quite problematic to pierce through it and get to her body. Her grip tightened as I repeatedly stabbed same place over and over again before I managed to start bleeding her.
Stab-stab-stab-stab-stab-stab-stab…
At first a single drop, then few, then a splash and before I know I was covered in red rain from her body. Eventually, she died, yet even then her jaw was holding my leg tightly. Lockjaw? Nasty beast, ain’t you?
I needed to use magic to blow part of beast’s head away to free my leg and start healing it. Omega eventually died because of blood loss, leaving only Alpha alive. It completely lost its will to fight. It sensed her mate death and “looked” in her direction whining painfully. It didn’t even bother to acknowledge my presence as I was approaching it. With kick I rolled it on its belly and pierce its heart.
Then I sat resting my backs on treasure chest. And yes, I checked first if it wasn’t a mimic. Last thing I wanted is getting killed like a rookie after quite exhausting encounter. I tried to rest a little and cool down, I was also waiting for effect of haste to abate. And once again I started ignoring wall of notification, will take a look on them in a second… or two. Gisele sat next to me.
- “Quite a show you made there. Still, provoking enemies like that is something that I would do.” She didn’t say that to judge. She simply… said that. Stated obvious.
- “I am sorry you had to see this. I don’t know what got into me…”
- “You are amazing, you know?” she disturbed me “… papa Jeremy used to say, that every being has its good and evil side, yet no one should be judge by how he or she was born, but rather how he/she is dealing with inborn nature… Zari, I saw you eyes when you were fighting with these beasts, I didn’t even know that there is so much bloodlust in you…”
I waited for her next words with dry throat. My heart was pounding even more than during battle.
- “… and you kept that under control for so long? How did you do that? How can you be so strong? I am losing my mind after I get just a little excited.”
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- “That’s how you see it?”
- “That’s the truth. Zari, we spent a year together. We were fighting side my side and sleep snuggling to each other. No one can pretend for this long. It means that this kind, playful man that is taking care of his friends is also you… Is it bad that raising alone in the forest left its mark on you? On the other hand… I envy you. Your control and..”
- “Stop it.”
- “Why? I find it admirable that…”
- “Gisele… please.”
I lowered my head, resting it on her shoulder. Covered in seat and blood, knowing how she felt about me, I didn’t need anything more. I let the silence speak. And it spoke truly wonderfully, with her breath and heartbeat, which was slowly calming down.
She wasn’t lying. She wasn’t nervous with me around. How could it be? How? Is it because she is this pure? Or this stupid? Or maybe both.
But it’s ok. She is my pure and stupid dragon. Mine.
But then I heard it
Bump-bump.
Her heart started beating faster. Then again and again. Why? We are resting? No enemies are near! Why are you getting nervous Gisele? Did you rethink our situation? Did you start wondering if I am truly me? GISELE WHAT IS GOING ON!?
- “Zaaaari? Wanna check what is in the chest?”
… YOU SPOILED IDIOT! I have almost got heart attack because of you, and all you were thinking about was unpacking a present?! YOU FUCKING DUMMY!
- “Go for it.” She showed me beautiful grin before getting up and lifting lid of the chest.
- “This dungeon is completely crazy, so I hope it will also apply to its treasures! Best part of this job!”
She really was a acting like a kid.
- “Come on, aren’t you curious?”
- “Not at all.”
- “Ah! Don’t pretend! It’s a treasure! You have to be at least anticipating to see what is enough? Enchanted weapon? Grimoire with scripture of spell? Gold and silver?”
I looked at her.
- “Whatever is inside it won’t be able to overshadow my greatest treasure.”
She stopped for a moment
- “And what is it?”
Oh! You are so easy to tease!
- “Gems most beautiful of all: your eyes, my love.”
- “…I-idiot.” Yet the tip of her tail twitched few times. Weird. Spoiling her is almost as funny as mocking her. “Anyway! Here I go!”
And the chest was forced open. Gisele was looking at treasure above my shoulder without saying a word. I patiently waited for her response letting her feast her eye on the treasure in front of her.
- “…. Garbage.” She said after moment.
- “What?” I raised my head
- “Few coins and sword. Even if sword looks nice, I doubt it will be better than meteoric…”
- “Gis, we are on first floor of dungeon, it would be great if it was enchanted at all!” I just rolled my eyes.
- “But… BUT! The treasure is a reward for difficulty! Difficulty is sick, and treasure is a… garbage!” she pouted.
- “Just collect coins, I will try appraising sword. Maybe we will be able to sell it.”
- “I just want to remind you, that there are only the two of us. We can’t carry every junk we would find!”
I got up from the floor with a groan. Indeed, in chest there were 10 silver coins and a bastard sword.
[Sword of Embers][Sword] class of weaponGrade: [Rare/Enchanted]Damage type: [cutting] [piercing]Critical rate: 14%Damage: [145-175]Effect added[Blaze] - every 3rd hit have a chance of causing [20-40] fire damage
- “It’s enchanted.” I yelled to Gis.
She was already near our packs slowly preparing herself to head out, but as soon as she heard me she dropped bags and get back to me in a blink of an eye
- “REALLY?” her greedy eyes shined
- “Nothing great. Chances of small fire boost. Serves only as addition, nothing to rely on.”
Still, it’s better than sword for of D’iabel… Mostly because D’iabel damage scales with my mastery. My Sword Mastery is low, and so is my blade. So, I can use it instead of D’iabel until I would level up swordsmanship a little? Well, it has sheath and straps, so you can attach it to the belt. And just as Gis said, we can always drop it away if it would start getting in the way or I would find something better.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with her. This dungeon is bit unbalanced and I can already tell that not many people will want to dive into it. Maybe it could serve as some training ground? Whatever. It will be guild masters problem. For now: Notifications!
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15] You have obtained [60] exp + [30] exp
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Scout Level 11] You have obtained [40] exp + [20] exp
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15] You have obtained [60] exp + [30] exp
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Scout Level 11] You have obtained [40] exp + [20] exp
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Pack Maiden Level 8] You have obtained [35] exp + [15] exp
Your party member [Gisele Redwing] has slain [Fiend's Hound - Warrior Level 15] You have obtained [60] exp + [30] exp
I ignored rest of notification 6 Warriors, 8 scouts and 5 maidens. But who cares about small fry?!
You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Horde Matron level 27]You have obtained [380] exp + [190] exp
You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Omega level 24]You have obtained [320] exp + [170] exp
You have slain [Fiend's Hound - Alpha level 25]You have obtained [330] exp + [175] exp
2605 in total.
Your skill [Hand to hand - Beginner] combat has leveled upYour skill [Hand to hand - Beginner] is now level 6
I looked at Gisele that was kicking chest irritated.
- “Gis ready?”
- “For what? 2 more coins?!”
- “For eternal glory. Maybe they would name dungeon after you?”
There is no way they would. Usually dungeons are being named after monsters or some attribute.
Tower of Despair. Wolf’s Dungeon. Dungeon of the end. Yes, there is one dungeon name after Jericho… But only because bastard earn it.
- “Really?”
Stop it, Gis, it is too easy to control you! It’s fine as long as I am the one toying with you, but I am afraid you may encounter some evil men in the future! My pure, foolish dragon.
- “O-KAY! Let’s go! Come on! How do you think? How many floor this dungeon has? What kind of boss will we encounter and when!?”
- “Probably? Another spider.”
- “NO!” she groaned disappointed
- “Big one.”
- “YES!” her sadness left without a trace
- “Protected by thousands small one.”
- “NO!” here we start again.
- “But maybe I will take care of them, and leave boss to you?”
- “Darling, I love you.”
- “Of course you do, I am perfect.” I chuckled.
It was her time to snort.
- “Sure. Sure. Come on, shorty. After me.”
Shorty?! SHORTY!? Oh, you little!
- “Of course that after you. It is impossible to walk alongside you through these narrow corridors, my wide hipped d…”
I earned myself a punch.