Volvox

I shadow Sachihiro and his entourage as they rush into the perilous dense dungeon forest where the beast populations aren’t controlled to challenge invading delvers but roam freely making the actual wilds of the dungeon forest. Where fauna of many kinds have been feeding on the mana rich environment for years now becoming much more powerful and evolved versions of themselves as per the agreements made between them and the dungeon master.

I’ve seen Sachihiro here visiting several times through the years and I knew he had some way to navigate the dungeon by bypassing the stages usually necessary to get to his brother but I didn’t imagine he was crazy enough to go through the wilds. I am a dungeon creature so with impunity I watch their route as they cut through the thick foliage and trudge through with surety where moments ago there was no path.

I follow them as they try to be careful but hasty in their trespass of the underbelly of the dungeon; they suddenly stop and seem to be sending to each other. I get closer, passing between the plants in the gloom and shadow created by the thick leaves of the canopy far above.

It’s almost a minute of silent deliberation but all of a sudden they become as silent as the grave as they suddenly head back towards the way they came with even more haste. Not a ruffling leaf or the fall of their feet is heard as they rush back the way they came; I frown, of two minds as to what to do. Shaking my own head I send to the dungeon master by placing my hand on the tree I’m leaning on before also following in their wake.

‘’You’re brother is here with two other people, but they are heading back towards the entry path, it seems something came up,’’ I sent using the dungeon as a medium to cover the distance. Sachihiro is moving swiftly through the forest with the two only a few steps behind him. I was looking forward to watching him fight some more so I can gauge his progress, and through him gauge my own compared to the rest of the world out there.

‘’Thank you,’’ the dungeon master’s reply comes and goes with the rustling of leaves like mist in my mind, just there before it fades. I don’t like how powerful the kid has gotten in only the few years this dungeon has been alive, I don’t like that in only three years of training him he has surpassed me in everything I’ve taught him. I don’t like how he spies on everyone and everything within the dungeon any time he wants, and most of all I don’t like how much more ether he’s been getting compared to everyone else contracted to the dungeon.

I catch up to them as I track them with shadow sense , an evolved version of dark sense I acquired with my tier two Awakening some years back. The advantages of living and fighting in a dungeon full time are the very pure and abundant ether resulting in a fast and stable accumulation of power. I’m eager to eventually get out of this place as soon as possible though for what is power without a sharpening of skill, or worthy opponents to test myself against?

I stop suddenly in my tracks as I realise I’m also being stalked, the hierarchy held and respected within the main forest dungeon paths not so formal within the Wilds. I sense no hostility but some creatures don’t take killing personally so no hostility doesn’t necessarily mean no danger. I strain my senses to try and find the source of my unease but fail to identify it, s/he’s good or its a special skill being used to keep track of me.

I find nothing; pulling my aura and cladding myself tightly I keep moving after my prey, observing my old rival is an entertaining pass time and an interesting change of pace. From everything I’ve currently seen from his fight against Wanda Sachihiro is not much more powerful than he was seven years ago, but that’s in terms of power. In skill and tactics he has improved, using his water to seep between the gaps in the stone spirit and ripping it apart from within when ready, smart.

But I can’t help but be disappointed at how slow his progress has been through all these years. To be fair though my own growth in power has been monumental due to where I am and what I've become, but my skills have practically stagnated. Not many reach the tier two level of the dungeon and those that do are usually take an alternative route forward, retreat or are a poor matchup for me. Still, it’s not completely boring here.

Catching up to my prey easily I watch them use the exit route out of the dungeon. A path so narrow that they have to walk in single file as it twists and turns through the forest, but also the only path completely safe from any and all attack from the creatures that live here.

*

They meet up with others and are quickly on their way out of the dungeon at haste, I mark them as I evaluate who might be a threat and who fodder. The resemblance between the woman and Sachihiro makes their relationship plain; the dwarf actually seems to be the strongest amongst them strictly judging by the way ether clings around him. The way he moves and the sculpting of his body mark him as competent with the axe on his back but still he is definitely only a tier one Awakened from everything I sense, unless of course he can also cloak his power like that bitch Elentril and the rest of her retinue.

Why she won’t teach me anything in all my time here I don’t know, but why she’d choose to teach someone that isn’t even part of the dungeon at all is beyond me and irks me to no end; the disrespect. How Sachihiro manages to get so many masters to give him their knowledge I don’t understand but I console myself with the knowledge that she isn’t actually a dungeon creature like the rest of us, but more the landlord on whose territory the dungeon dwells or some such.

I’m confident enough to get close and downwind of them so I can catch their words, it’s already clear they are leaving and will likely not be on full guard while hastening through a known safe path. I shadow them moving through the foliage swiftly and easily as though I was born to this forest. It’s a part of me now and has acknowledged me as its own long ago, thus it helps cloak me as I stalk my prey catching a word here and there from the few times they speak out loud.

Nothing interesting is said and the pace they are pushing should see them out of the dungeon within the hour and out of the forest within two hours. I slow my pace as emotions I can’t place whirl within me; I’m not sure whether to call it disappointment, frustration... I stop and watch them go, I have some years still remaining in my contract with the dungeon and in that time I can’t leave it’s boundary.

What am I doing following him anyways, why am I curious about him, why am I disappointed he didn’t see past my cloaking? It’s not like we were friends, and I should rejoice to have surpassed him in power, I don’t even like the man.

I turn and head towards the nymph groove, more creatures that have made a contract with the dungeon but theirs is for shelter not to become dungeon creatures. I step into the shadow of an oborigi tree using s hadowverse and exit out of the shadow a water-petel 50 metres away before continuing my track the groove. I use the shadowverse now and again to transverse some of the distance I’m travelling, might as well enjoy the power and abilities I’m still accumulating on my time here.

*

Sirgur

To say I’m surprised by the turn of events would be an understatement; how these earthlings are managing to Awaken this rapidly is unprecedented and has me both intrigued and envious. I’ve been killing myself for years trying to be on par with my brothers but it seems I’m the runt not just in the family but the entire household.

First that Edward Awakened and now Saya’s mate is also on the cusp and looking at him jog down the path behind Esuas and Edward he is almost glowing with power and not a tread of fatigue is evident unlike his two other friends brining up the rear with Sachi and Ikigai. I could have killed him yesterday but tomorrow he will likely be better than me in all things physical, worse, he may even have magic by them.

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I shake my head to dispel my thoughts, life isn’t fair and my life more especially but that’s neither here nor there. We jog for twenty more minutes before I see the edge of the dungeon ahead, Esuas getting on high alert as any numbers of beasts have been known to stalk people that leave the safety of the dungeon and enter the forest proper. This is the safest route here though so our pace doesn’t slacken but increases instead so we pace through the Dawn and get to the horses quickly.

Maybe if I had stayed longer I would also have Awakened, maybe I shouldn’t leave with everyone tomorrow but make my own way and test myself against this dungeon daily like the obsessive Ikigai. Even she is a tier one Awakened though she doesn’t think I know, further proof of how unfair life is that my nieces and nephews surpass me. The fact that we are of similar age irrelevant when she is ahead of me in accomplishments-

‘’Stop at the exit, let the others go ahead,’’ Sachi sends and I slow my pace letting Esuas, Edward and Michael get ahead. I’m not even competent enough to help escort them through the forest it seems, I think to myself pausing just before the exit so I can enjoy the clean rich air of the dungeon for as long as I can.

The panting forms of Max and the other earthling appear around the bend with Sachi and Ikigai right behind them, encouraging them on it seems from here. The two look ragged, the leather armour Sachi gave them cracked and broken at places, their clothing nothing but rags; it doesn’t seem like they had it easy and for whatever reason Sachi has them carrying their spears and shields by hand instead of putting them away in his storage ring. Not a very considerate man my brother, though he himself only has the uncanny spear on him though it’s now wrapped and strapped to his back.

They stop a few metres from me, two of them winded while the other two look on seemingly unconcerned.

‘’Here,’’ Sachi says throwing a blood fruit for each of them from his storage ring. ‘’Eat those and catch up with the others, stay vigilant,’’ he says to them before turning to me and indicating that I should follow.

We leave the dungeon Sachi Ikigai and I but instead of heading northwest to towards the forest’s edge we head west along the boundary of the Dawn Dungeon. I didn’t really like my brother much, he has never done anything for me but I do respect the man and truth be told he has never led me wrong so silently I jog through the woods. That was a waste of precious resources though giving away those fruit like that, who knows if they might be needed on the trip south to Pangaia.

It’s not long before we reach a little clearing that is very odd and out of place in the middle of the forest. The clearing is circular with a man made stone fountain in the middle decorated in green jade spilling crystal clear water into a large circular bowl at the bottom where the water looks green instead of clear.

The bushes at the other end of the clearing stir and a giant antelope with two large horns twisting high into the air and a third eye on its forehead steps forward gracefully. I take a step back on reflex as instinct buried deep within me recognises what that creature is and the danger is poses but I’m immediately ashamed as neither of my two companions have move a muscle.

The aura coming from the beast is palpable yet gentle, increasing the wonder and beauty of the creature as a whole. It stands at least 2 metres as the shoulder and moves elegantly such that it’s femininity is evident even without needing to inspect it’s body. I’m not sure what colour it is exactly as it shimmers now ash grey, a hint of purple at the edges of it’s fur a moment later.

Someone steps out of the bushes in its wake and I recognise my brother Daewon in a loincloth, a necklace, earrings and nothing else. I close my mouth realising it was open and take a deep breath as Sachi bows, likely sending to the beast directly. I have never seen an Ancient before and the cool nonchalant aura coming off Sachi is even now is starting to annoy me.

‘’This is my little brother Sirgur and my daughter Ikigai,’’ Sachi says with a gesture towards us. ‘’This is Elentril of the Shallow Woods, my tutor.’’

"Well met brother of my pupil, daughter of my pupil,’’ the Ancient sends, I assume to both me and Ikigai.

We both bow at the waist with me staying longer to show the proper difference worthy of a creature of this Elentril’s age and beauty.

‘’Go greet Daewon, I need to catch up with Elentril a few minutes,’’ Sachi says out loud and I find myself bowing again before I can stop myself. Shaking my head I walk well around the majestic creature towards the tall muscular tattooed figure uneerily standing there like a stature.

‘’Well met brother,’’ I say as I get close. He steps forward and surprises me with an embrace that is too familiar for someone I’m only vaguely familiar with. It’s a split second of indecision before I wrap my arms around him as well before stepping back as we study each other.

‘’I haven’t seen you since you were a boy with snort still running down your face as you hid behind mother’s skirts.’’ He says good naturely. I scowl before sighing and trying to rid myself of all my negativity as mother keeps saying.

‘’Yes well when your mother drags you to the woods to meet a mysterious strange man you would also be cautious,’’ keeping eye contact.

‘’Reasonable enough, you’ve grown strong. How old are you now?’’

‘’Old enough, you seem... uhm.. you look good,’’ I say for a lack of anything better to say and he grins at me a grin that is all Sachi. He really does look good, too good for it to be all natural in fact, it must be all the dungeon food maybe, eating mana rich food would be visibly beneficial for even the most incompetent of people.

He stands at about 2 metre tall and weighs at least 100kgs by my estimate. He is big but lean, almost a contradiction until you see the perfect physical specimen with tight yet smooth muscles on an athletic build. He is very handsome, distractingly so, with long dark hair and long lashes, I’ve never seen such long lashes on a man.

‘’And you, you’ve grown so big!’’ he exclaims to Ikigai as she shyly sidles towards him. They embrace and I watch them interact, flabbergasted at how mealable and girly she’s behaving, keeping her eyes down to only now and again give her uncle direct eye contact. She kicks at invisible objects on the grass while twisting this way and that coyly. I have never seen this side of the deadly hellcat Ikigai and I close my mouth with a snap as Sachi comes over to embrace his brother.

Looking behind me I realise the Ancient is gone and I’m both relieved and disappoint at it’s hasty departure. I watch the three of them interact and again I see a side of all three of them that I’ve never seen before. We sit on the grass and I listen and watch as they talk about the time that has passed, the planned trip for Pangaea, the family as a whole.

‘’I’m worried my kids are going to die,’’ Sachi says with vacant eyes, letting his weakness show to his brother who places a hand on his shoulder.

‘’Death comes for us all brother, you know this. I know some of your worries and struggles these past few years but you’ve done everything you could to prepare for the coming times. It is without a doubt that whether it is now or later, they will die having known a father’s love and care.’’ Daewon says to his Sachi, both seemingly having forgotten about me.

‘I try to make myself as inconspicuous as possible so as not to disturb this rare moment of weakness from Sachihiro the golden boy. I see a side of him I didn’t even know existed. A side the doubts itself, a side that doesn’t know what to do next so asks for advice, a side that’s vulnerable. The more they talk the more ashamed I become for distancing myself from him.

I’ve always been envious I realise, he has always been the ruler by which I’ve measured myself and I’ve always found myself wanting. That bred resentment as I saw him as this infallible golden boy born with all the talent and loved by the gods. From the beautiful women that literally challenge him mating death matches rather than seek another more eligible mates, to the powerful beings he calls friends and teachers.

Ikigai sits silently surprised by none of their talk, or if she is surprised to see this side of her da she doesn’t show it.

It’s with a heavier heart and respect for my brothers that we depart from Daewon, silently we all embrace again before we go our separate ways.

‘’If all else fails you will find refuge in the Dawn,’’ the sending comes from Daewon, but looking back I realise the clearing is gone, covered by thick flora of the forest. I’m not even surprised anymore.

*

Reaching the edge of the forest I see Sachi’s horse come trotting towards us from the distance followed closely by Ikigai, it was too much to ask for mine to come as well wasn’t it? Maybe not as spoilt as carefree as I thought he was but definitely loved by the gods.