Abby ate her food quietly. Isabelle did the same. There just wasn’t anything either of them needed to say.
This new town was small. Larger than a village, and it had a dungeon, but neither were large enough to attract the attention of the church. That was important.
Obey. The dungeon in Abby’s pocket demanded.
She numbly declined. Again.
They ate well. Even though money was short, Abby needed to make sure Isabelle ate enough. Herself too. They couldn’t afford to be weak anymore. They couldn’t afford to operate at anything less than optimal, as Owyn would say. Another of his lessons, one that he would give if any of the kids caught the flu. Lives were on the line, and for Abby, that meant more than just her and Owyn now. A whole village depended on them. Barry had depended on them.
And they’d failed.
They both knew what was on the other's mind, and there were people wandering about. There was nothing that needed saying that the other didn’t know. So they didn’t talk. They both just sat there, in the tavern, or inn, or whatever this place was, eating their plates of warm food, using money that they no longer had to spread between three desperate adventurers. Regretfully, they had money to spare.
Obey.
After they finished eating, Abby walked Isabelle over to the owner, asking for a place to stay the night. A cheap room was offered, with only one bed, but neither of them cared. In fact, at this very moment, it was probably better that there was only one bed.
They slept together. Abby protectively curled around Isabelle. At one point, they both shed tears together, and still, neither of them said a word.
----------------------------------------
Abby woke up first. She unfurled herself from Isabelle, careful not to wake her. It didn’t work, however, and the little girl stirred as soon as Abby left the bed.
“Sorry.” Abby muttered.
Isabelle just murmured in response.
Abby quickly retrieved the dungeon core from the desk where she’d stowed it for the night.
Obey me! It shouted.
Abby ignored it, with some effort. Last night's sleep helped somewhat, but she recognized that she wasn’t in a good place right now. Her mind was deteriorating over time, and the constant attacks on her will wasn’t helping her mood.
“We’ll eat first. Then go to the dungeon.” Abby decided for them.
Isabelle sat slouched on the bed, staring at the floor. “Do we have to?”
“Just because-” No. You can’t start a sentence like that. Not in front of Isabelle. “We still need money. We still need to eat while we get this thing done. Uncovering the truth of the church isn’t going to happen in a day.”
Isabelle looked conflicted for a second. Like she was debating on whether or not she should voice her thoughts. In the end, it seemed like she decided she needed to say it.
“Is what we’re doing the right thing?” Her voice was quiet. Unsure of herself.
“We need to save Setterton.” And Owyn. “That’s just the right thing to do.”
“Yes, but like this?” Isabelle gestured around them defeatedly. She took a breath and slumped a little further. “Was it the right decision to run away? I feel like we could have maybe done something if we stayed.”
She wasn’t sure of their plans. Isabelle wanted to give up, perhaps before it was too late. But that wasn’t right.
Abby walked right in front of Isabelle, standing firmly. “No. You were right. You’ve been right all along, we need to let other people know about what the church is doing. If we stayed behind, nobody would warn people before it happens to them. And besides that, we’re too far in this now. We’ve got too much on the line to stop now, we need to keep going!”
Isabelle didn’t react at first. They stood there for a few seconds before she finally gave the barest of nods.
“The only way out is through.”
“The only way out is through.” Abby reaffirmed with a nod.
----------------------------------------
The dungeon of this town was closer than any of the other dungeons Abby had ever seen. It was barely even a two minute walk out of town before they were at the entrance. A hole in the ground with stairs haphazardly carved into the walls, and a chain along the edge for a handrail. Abby heard that the capital’s dungeon was located in the center of the city, but obviously she’d never seen it for herself.
Maybe if she survived today, she’d get to see it herself eventually.
Ah… That’s better. The dungeon in her pocket said. Why are we back? Why do you choose to disobey me?
Abby couldn’t help herself but to respond. Stay quiet. Don’t expand your domain. We need to be stealthy if we’re going to destroy more cores.
The dungeon flooded Abby with a feeling of intoxicating happiness. Yes! We shall destroy more dungeons! We shall become more powerful! Obey me!
Abby kept the lead, as she should. This dungeon was a lot more vertical than what she was used to. Many places seemed like sheer drops, and it wasn’t until Isabelle got close with their light source that they could see the bottom, a mere two or three feet below. Like the stairs of a giant. They tilted in every direction, pooling water where it was able. Frogs stared at them from podiums of stone, surrounded by the insects that bred in the still water.
Abby’s ear caught the barest brush of cloth. No, not cloth. Feathers.
She swung around, pulling her sword up just in time for a black beak to bite into it. Her sword caught on the jagged shape of the beak, biting into the hard surface but never drawing blood. A feathered body followed, slamming into Abby and knocking her back over the edge of the next step. She twisted, attempting to drive her sword deeper into the creature while offering her shoulder to the ground below. They landed heavily, the feathered creature clawing at Abby’s legs.
Isabelle reacted soon after, launching a fireball at the creatures exposed back. The lighting showed it for what it truly was. A crow, or raven perhaps, the size of Abby or more, yet only half the weight. Arms reached out from the creature's chest, but they were too small and too weak to do anything more than grasp at her clothes. The head reared back, out of range of her blade, and the creature readied to peck at her.
Isabelle leapt, landing on the mutant crows back with a kitchen knife in hand. She stabbed its neck, not fatally wounding it, but at least drawing its ire. With Isabelle weighing the creature down, Abby was able to maneuver her sword point against its chest. With a shove, the creature fell limp. Not even making a sound as it died.
Isabelle got off the creature, and Abby threw it off herself. Her eyes were quickly drawn to a pouch located at the crows ankle, attached there with a little string. She opened it up, finding a small, baby dungeon core inside.
Obey me! It screamed.
Abby placed it on the ground and crushed it with the pommel of her sword.
Yes… The dungeon in her pocket cooed. More… Powerful! Do that again!
Abby ignored it and stood, meeting eyes with Isabelle. She returned the stare firmly.
“Where’d you get that?” Abby gestured for the knife.
“I saved your life.” Isabelle said.
You’re not supposed to steal. Abby wanted to say. But the dungeon in her pocket weighed heavily on her mind. Technically, it was illegal to bring a whole core out of the dungeons. If it enthralled a wild creature on the surface, it could run wild, causing dangers that normal people couldn’t comprehend. Instead, she just held eye contact with her for a few more seconds. If Abby and Isabelle were to truly protect each other, they’d need all the help they could get.
“Don’t do that again.” Abby said at last, handing the core fragments to her.
“I’ll use the biggest piece of the first two cores we come across for spells.” Isabelle informed Abby. “We’ll sell the rest.”
“What’s that one going to be for?” Abby asked. It was better to be informed.
Isabelle closed her eyes. Her will connected with the largest fragment, and the two battled it out. A few seconds later, Isabelle came out on top, and the core glowed slightly as she activated its new magic.
The stone beneath their feet shifted slightly, gathering up and forming where Isabelle pointed her palm. A stone wall, about as high as Abby’s waist and as thick as her wrist formed there.
“The first spell will be for combat. The second will be practical. Until we no longer need practical spells.” Isabelle said.
Abby began leading them deeper down the dungeon again, this time making doubly sure her ears were paying attention to what was above them. “And what will our first practical spell be?”
“I was thinking either water creation, or magic detection. Something to either find dungeons, or detect monsters.”
Owyn’s necklace was specialized to only detect dungeons, but technically the same style of spell could detect beings that had been in contact with dungeon mana. Whether or not they were still thralls. Abby wondered absently if such spells would detect evolved humans as well? It wasn’t like she could ask Owyn for clarification.
“Water first.” Abby decided for the two of them. “If we ever get stuck between a rock and a hard place, water could buy us time to get out.”
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Isabelle nodded, satisfied with Abby’s logic.
Another one of Owyn’s lessons. Always be prepared to sit and wait for rescue. That included making sure you brought extra rations if you could help it.
They needed to stock up some extra food…
The dungeons in this cave system seemed to favor singular monsters, rather than numbers. Like the crow from before, many of the monsters here simply carried their dungeons with them, wandering about, looking for prey. They’d even seen a few smaller monsters warily retreat from the pair of adventurers, not willing to take on the fight against obviously stronger beings. That said, it wasn’t like there were no typical dungeons around. Just that there were more wandering ones.
Three times since the crow, they were ambushed by dungeons. One of the attacks was done by a cat-like creature, and the next two were done by snakes. Isabelle trapped the snakes between four walls, making them easy prey, but the cat thing put up an actual fight. All three dungeons were newborns.
Using her magic sense, Isabelle was able to see a large dungeon down one path. She was better at it than Abby, and could even make an educated guess as to how powerful the dungeon was with just that look. It wasn’t always accurate, but they avoided this dungeon, since it seemed temporarily out of their league.
Obey me! The dungeon in Abby’s pocket insisted. Kill her! Get more power!
It was really, really beginning to annoy her. With the constant fighting wearing her down, she was becoming less and less resistant to its cries. And she suspected it knew this too.
She needed to grow stronger. This was pathetic. Only four dungeons in, and she was already getting tired.
“Are you alright?” Isabelle asked. “You look sick.”
“I’m fine.” Abby said. “One more dungeon. Then we’ll go back for lunch.”
They didn’t have to wait long. A dungeon’s border wandered in close, clearly on the move. Abby got herself ready to fight, wary over the fact that this dungeon made itself known before ambushing them.
Three creatures came into view. A crow looking creature, with two arms and two legs, both with massive talons and impressive muscles. Its wings draped behind it, like a cape. Next to it, a gray hobgoblin with a bulging forehead rode atop a large blank and gray spotted cat. The hobgoblin, which almost looked like a thausen, if it weren’t for its tall, muscular frame, wore leather armor and wielded a spear and shield. Obviously, it had stolen the equipment from a human it had killed, which already marked how dangerous it was. Abby couldn’t see the core, but she bet it was on the hobgoblin.
The trio of monsters stopped their advance directly in front of Abby and Isabelle. The cat the hobgoblin rode upon knelt at the front, like a bow.
“Kkrekk.” The hobgoblin cleared its throat before speaking with a scratchy voice. “Fight with honor. Kkrekk!”
Isabelle formed and threw a fireball in the same instant. The cat quickly got out of the way, even from its kneeling position. Abby held her sword at the ready. They weren’t here to fight with honor. They were here to kill.
The hobgoblin screeched a war cry, and the cat dashed in. Isabelle directed some fireballs towards the crow thing, isolating it from the others. Not that it would matter for Abby at the moment. She could tell with the way the hobgoblin held its spear and shield. It was used to mounted combat.
She held its eyes, and silently, the two formed an understanding. Whichever way this fell, they would both try to end this in a single blow.
The cat lunged for Abby, claws out and ready to attack. Abby sidestepped it, blocking the spear that came an instant later on blind instinct alone. She rounded the tip of her sword in an arc, swinging it down and across, too low for the hobgoblin to block. Her sword cleaved through half of the hobgoblins leg, causing it to lose its grip on its mount. Abby didn’t lose her advantage, running after it as it flailed and fell off the cat.
The cat leapt funny, and reared its hind legs for a kick. Abby held up her sword to block, not with the flat of the blade, but with the edge. The cats soft paws pressed into the blade, drawing blood. Abby slid past the attack, driving her sword into the fallen hobgoblin. It gave out one last cry before choking on its blood. Clearly dying.
Abby retreated, not losing momentum to go help Isabelle. She’d been fending off the bird thing admirably, tripping it up with short stone walls before bathing it in fire. However, the bird was using its wings to absorb her fireballs, leaving its offensive limbs unharmed and ready to strike.
Abby’s charge drew its attention. It kept its burnt wings between it and Isabelle, but faced Abby head on. The click of claws behind her told her that the large cat was chasing her, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was killing this abomination before her. She roared out her challenge, swinging her sword as wide as possible. The bird thing attempted to block with its claws, but they weren’t shaped to stop a sword. Abby’s attack cleaved through its hands first, and then the tip cut shallowly across its chest. Behind her, a fireball built and launched at her chaser.
Both cat and crow cried out in pain, and both adventurers pressed the advantages they had, felling their respective opponents a few moments later.
Good! Now kill the other human too!
“Shut up!” Abby shouted, startling both herself and Isabelle.
“Sorry?” Isabelle asked quietly.
Abby was breathing hard. She didn’t have the energy to explain herself, so she simply wiped her sword on the cat’s corpse, walking past it.
The hobgoblin struggled a bit. Its breathing was wet and bubbly. Apparently Abby’s last strike hadn’t fully killed it. Or maybe the dungeon was doing something to keep it alive. It didn’t matter.
The hobgoblin was fishing around its chest area. When Abby got close, it finally pulled something out to throw. Abby stomped on its wrist, slashing her sword across its throat, stopping it entirely. The object in its hand rolled out. A hexagonal crystal. The dungeon core.
Abby stared at it for a second.
Kill it! Grow more powerful!
Abby’s breath slowed down. Power. She needed power.
Yes! Obey me, and I shall make you more powerful than ever!
Abby tossed her sword off to the side with a clatter.
“Abby?” Isabelle wandered closer. She picked up the sword hesitantly.
Abby reached down to pick up the new dungeon. Pale yellow. Like piss.
Dishonorable! Powerful! Kneel to me! It shouted.
No! The orange sphere in her pocket. Obey me! I will make you stronger!
Abby brought it out of her pocket, holding either core in both hands.
“Abby, is that a- why do you have a whole core?”
The dungeons shouted at each other in her head, competing for her attention. Outbidding each other with promises of power, if only she just obeyed.
Abby turned to face Isabelle. “If this works-” Obey me! No! They are weak! Obey me! Kneel! “If this doesn’t work, I-” I am the stronger dungeon! Obey! Kill her!
The voices in her head echoed, on and on, disrupting her thoughts over and over. She had to restart her sentence over and over again. Her mind was melding with both dungeons at once, weakening over time. Her will was faltering, dwindling to nothing.
The only way out is through. Abby thought.
She popped the spherical dungeon core into her mouth like a grape, swallowing it in an instant. She also tossed the pale yellow core in Isabelle’s direction.
Kneel! The hexagonal core cried in a last attempt at desperation.
Fine.
Gravity struck her hard, slamming her knee into the stone cavern. Lightning coursed through her body, starting from her throat. Pain, followed by pleasure. Breathing was hard, but now it became easier. Her vision was dark, but it slowly grew into light.
The dungeon- her dungeon, impacted hard stone.
Protect me!
Abby remembered. Isabelle was standing there! Next to her dungeon! Panic filled her. She needed to be faster. Stronger. Her muscles burned like brilliant fire, paradoxically sending cold shivers of pleasure all throughout her body. With one burst of motion, she shot out, targeting Isabelle.
The small girl was no match for her. Abby was powerful! The dungeon had provided this all for her! She had to protect the dungeon! Abby crashed into Isabelle with the full force of her weight behind the attack.
The two girls fell down onto the stone floor of the cavern, Abby straddling the younger girl. Her sword was pinned between them, but Abby couldn’t dare to risk taking it out. Isabelle was clever. She might turn the tide on Abby. She couldn’t have that. Her dungeon was at stake. She held the advantage now, she needed to keep it.
Her fists rained heavily down on the girl, but Isabelle kept blocking. Abby grabbed her arms, wrenching them out of the way to strike at her face, but every time she did, Isabelle would just bring back her guard. Fists weren’t enough. She needed claws.
Retractable. She said. Hidden. For ambushes.
Yes! The dungeon agreed with her, setting her ablaze with pleasure. Like the cat!
She could still use her hands. Human hands were useful. Being human was useful to the core! She could go to the surface and kill many things up there for her dungeon!
Yes!! Her dungeon was very pleased with her ideas. She should remain as human looking as possible. The dungeons will melded with her own, allowing her to make changes while the dungeon made its choices.
Yes, that was right, Abby was clever! She knew how to fight! She knew that if she were to have claws, they’d have to be short to avoid being broken during battle. However, if she had a lance, like the hobgoblins spear, like Rab’s arm, she could stab at a distance, with much power and little risk of breaking herself. She could fight for longer!
Fight for me forever! The dungeon cried happily.
Abby’s arms twitched and morphed. Her bones split and shifted, but she couldn’t let up her assault. Isabelle was clever. Abby knew this. She was smarter than Abby, but Abby was stronger than her! She would beat her to death! Then she would carry her dungeon forever, and kill more things, and become even more powerful!
The dungeon finished her transformation, and informed her of what she could do now.
Abby’s muscles contracted, and a spear of black bone shot out from her wrist through a hole at the base of her palm.
The dungeon died.
Abby paused. Her spear of bone poised to strike just between Isabelle’s guarding arms, right where Abby knew her throat to be. Her other hand was holding Isabelle’s arms still with a grip like iron. Beneath her arms, Abby could distinctly hear Isabelle breathing hard. Yet, despite being exhausted before now, Abby felt fine.
“Abby?” Isabelle whimpered hopefully.
She peeked out from between her arms, tears streaming down the one cheek Abby could see through the slit. Blood dripped down off her arms. Cuts from where Abby’s gloves had caused damage, even through her armor.
Her- The dungeon!
Abby leapt off Isabelle, taking a few steps back. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the black bone protruding out from her wrist, like a spear. With just a thought, the spear retracted, filling a gap in her arm that was never there before. All that was left in its place was a small hole, looking similar to an eye ready to open.
The dungeon sat in pieces on the ground. Destroyed by a medium sized rock that had apparently formed from a small hole nearby. Abby’s gaze turned back up to Isabelle, who limply threw Abby’s sword off her.
Abby collapsed to her knees. Vaguely, she recognized the physical distance between them. Something that had been made with a single, surprised leap.
“Abby…” Isabelle whimpered again.
Abby moved to collect Isabelle in a hug, ready to comfort the girl. She stopped though, feeling exactly what kind of power laid within her muscles. Every movement she made was effortless. She glided smoothly through the air, as if she’d been living in honey before and only now broken free. It would be so easy to hurt Isabelle.
“Abby, my arms…” Isabelle was beginning to cry now. Her arms were broken.
This was no time to hesitate. She just had to go smoothly.
Abby went to Isabelle’s side, gently placing her arms beneath her back and legs. With the same motion, she even retrieved her sword and got to her feet.
“Good job.” Abby said, hoping the praise would somehow help with the pain she’d inflicted. On her own friend. “We’ll get you to a healer. It’s alright, you did great. Thanks for saving me. Isabelle, you did wonderfully.”
“I used another core.” She whimpered, curling up against Abby’s chest. “Now we can’t sell it.”
Silly girl. Abby thought. Who cares about money? Your arms are broken. Your village is being held hostage by the very people who’d sworn to protect them.
Abby knew she was holding herself back from mentioning the most important detail. As if that would somehow save herself from the truth of her own actions. And about her horrible, horrible success.
Your friend is a monster now.