Deacon bent at the knees and leaned to his left as another round house from Sun Wu sailed over his head. He took this opportunity to counterattack with a rising uppercut. Sun Wu’s right leg continued in its arc as he leaned back and kicked Deacon in the chest with his left leg. That sent him sprawling to the ground. Deacon rolled onto his back and spat out some white grass from the ten yard line.

“I have not instructed you on counter offensive. Did you really think that would work?” asked Sun Wu.

“We started this fight way back at the thirty, and I’ve lost ground ever since. When am I supposed to fight back?” queried Deacon while another copy of Sun Wu chased Tantus who was in full retreat.

“None of you can avoid getting hit. Even the swordsman has stopped for the day. Pathetic,” Sun Wu commented.

Ralph lay on the sidelines panting while a third copy of Sun Wu bounced small pebbles off of his leather cuirass. While still feeling the effects of Hipag’s curse, he insisted on joining the training. Even the mighty swordsman Ralph had limits. The specific limit was his stamina bar, which at this time was completely depleted.

“They aren’t like me. They will run out of stamina. Perhaps you should take a more measured approach to their training, or I can make… never mind,” said Deacon as he hopped over a sweeping leg then sidestepped the follow up monkey jab.

Typhus looked down onto the training field in wonder. Just a few months ago he hadn’t even met Deacon, now he’s watching him train in hand to hand combat with an outsider deity while standing inside a mobile dungeon mansion. Even with all this wonder he missed his team. His Cardinal Unit spread around the kingdom right now. Armand and Elle helping with the war effort and him brining an end to a centuries old stigma on his family.

“Typhus are you alright?” asked Sophie as she sat in a nearby lounge chair.

“I’m fine Vice-Guild master. Just thinking about our circumstances. It’s bizarre how we all got here. Speaking of where we are, have you given any thought to returning to the plateau? I know you messaged Jacob before we left the capital, but you didn’t mention what he said,” inquired Typhus sitting across from her.

“I’m on sabbatical. Jacob recommended I take a few weeks off and come back fresh. It wasn’t until my breakdown in the meeting room that I understood what he meant,” Sophie sighed out her reply.

“I see. Well there are hot springs you may find relaxing at the Shattered Sky. I’ll ask one of my sisters, upon arrival, which is best. I’m sure Deacon wouldn’t mind footing the bill,” Typhus said with a smirk.

Sophie didn’t react to that. She just sat there peering out of the bay windows. The seat she was in was comfortable enough. So much so she forgot they were inside a carriage on the road. This entire dungeon was bizarre. All the other dungeons she’d ever heard about were challenges to be overcome. Somehow Deacon has tamed the spirit of this one. No tamed was quite right. Befriended was more like it. Her fascination with this strange man only grew as she watched the activity below.

“Ms. Turner, I believe there is a problem outside. Shall I inform those training or will you two be willing to handle it?” asked Alfred appearing from nowhere.

“I’ve got it. No reason to stop the beatings they are taking,” Typhus said getting up and heading to the makeshift carriage interior that Alfred had erected in front of the exit.

Typhus closed the way into the fake carriage and slid over the door where someone was repeatedly knocking. He cracked the door open to see they were no longer moving, and driver was nervously looking around.

“Sir, I hate to disturb your rest, although I don’t know how so many of you can comfortably ride in there. But we stopped for the evening and wondered if you wanted to assign a watch. The caravan has pulled off the road for the night and we’ve made camp,” explained the coachman.

“I’ll be out in a minute. How far did we get today?” Typhus said turning back to the man.

“We are about half a day away from the pass to the eastern lowlands,” answered the coachman.

Typhus closed the door and went back inside Alfred. Taking charge of the caravan was his responsibility and he wanted to do some more scouting of the blocked pass. For that he would send out his shadow self. He would then be able to get some real time intel on the forces blocking their way. With Deacon’s ridiculous abilities, there was a good chance they could fight their way through.

“Looks like we’ve stopped for the evening. We should start milling about within the camp so as to not draw suspicion,” Typhus relayed to Sophie.

“I could use some fresh air. I need to work up the nerve to explain to Deacon what his enemies are looking for,” Sophie said stretching as she rose from her seated position.

Amanda emerged from her room looking haggard. Her red hair was poking out of her hood and the vials along her belt were half empty. She crossed the room to a bar setup along the opposite wall, poured herself a drink, and downed it in one go.

“We’ve stopped for the night if you want to go out for a walk or something?” Sophie said walking over to her.

“I’m fine. Can’t really get drunk at this point. Typhus, how long until we get there?” Amanda asked, raising her voice. Typhus was practically out of the carriage at this point and the only answer she got back was the closing of the carriage door.

“Come on, some air will do you good,” commented Sophie looping her arm within Amandas while leading her toward the door.

“Is there something wrong with the quality of oxygen I’m providing?” Alfred asked concerned his chemical mixture was wrong.

“It’s a figure of speech, Alfred. No reason to fret,” Sophie replied as the two ladies of the group began to leave.

Both Ralph and Tantus were sitting on the sidelines now while Deacon was fending off two Sun Wu’s. The third Sun Wu was lecturing the spectators on what they did wrong. In the distance, the mountain that Alfred was building for Sun Wu was almost complete. Both Sun Wu’s fighting Deacon stopped abruptly and looked at each other. They then merged into one, clasped their hands together and bowed to Deacon.

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“It is time for tea,” said Sun Wu squatting down into a lotus position.

“Just like that? You know I haven’t earned the skill yet. Why stop now?” Deacon asked.

“Because you need to consolidate everything you’ve learned today. Also I want to have some tea while I explain some things to you,” Sun Wu replied.

“Okay. What about them?” Deacon asked gesturing over to his teammates.

“They have their own lessons to learn. Come, come. Sit down,” Sun Wu answered before materializing the same table he had in the Wode, complete with a steaming kettle of tea.

“Ok great sage, wow me with your wisdom,” Deacon scoffed while sitting at the table.

“You have unending stamina but very little skill. Relying on your brute strength will only get you so far. How many abilities do you have that are still at level one?” Sun Wu asked quirking an eyebrow.

Deacon pulled up his slate list and tried to sort his abilities by level. With a thought the list rearranged itself in ascending order.

Ability Name

Level

Progress

Description

Strike of the Phantasm Knight*

1

50%

This ability summons a giant armored arm of a phantasm knight from the frozen Nether plane. This ability converts soul energy into holy damage x10. It can only be used on a stationary target and will consume health if insufficient soul energy is available. It is suggested that the user transcends the mortal limit before use.

Phantom Shield

1

25%

The Nether Monk can deflect missile attacks in any direction. The cost is twenty percent soul energy per deflection with subsequent reductions in cost with greater skill levels

Toxic Waste

1

50%

You can cleanse a target of poisons or toxins sending it into The Black. The resulting transfer of energy creates a ball that can be used to attack a target resulting in disintegrating whatever the ball touches. Damage type holy; The Black.

Dragon Claw Barrage

1

80%

This ability drives you forward twenty feet while swiping your claws at anything in your path. This is a combination of your dash ability and dragon lineage. It will cost fifty percent of your endurance…Rule Breaker fifty percent soul energy. Higher levels of this ability will infuse it with whatever arcane source of energy you are currently using.

Ghastly Defender

1

45%

For a sustained cost of twenty percent of your soul energy, a malicious yet unseen ghost will defend you from any and all melee attackers. If your attackers can’t overcome their fear, they will be forced to attack someone or something else. Beyond level five, this ability will be imbued with whatever source of arcanum you are tapped into.

Banshee’s Wail

1

35%

While channeling the hell of the Tempest Plane, you can scream out a paralyzing wail. This will paralyze targets in a cone in front of the Monk, barring any resistances or talents that prevent paralysis. Effect will last five minutes with changes in duration at levels five and ten. This ability costs one hundred soul energy.

Summon Soul

1

45%

You may summon a soul you collected back into this world. Cost is variable depending on the strength of the soul. Soul strength ranges from Common, Uncommon, Rare, Greater, and Deific.

Lighting Crashes

1

25%

You summon a bolt of holy lightning from a storm of your own rage. This is a hand to hand technique with prerequisites; you need to be airborne and channeling a Tempest Plane storm. Cost is forty percent stamina and level forty…Rule Breaker has activated. Cost is forty percent soul energy.

Palm of Damnation

1

20%

This power will thrust the user forward delivering an open palm strike to a target. That target will then been sent directly to the hell of the users choosing. Cost is two hundred soul energy. Lunge distance is half level rounded down.

Spectral Jump

1

20%

You can mold soul energy into your legs pushing your standard leap to double your vertical and three times your horizontal. This costs five percent of your soul energy per leap. Higher levels of this ability will allow you to consume more soul energy for greater effect.

Primeval Alpha Shift

1

10%

Due to your connection to The Hunting Grounds, you can transform into any Alpha beast whose soul you’ve consumed. Be advised that shape changing comes with its own set of hazards. At higher levels of this ability you can combine different aspects of the beasts you’ve collected. This ability costs one hundred soul energy and a collected alpha beast soul.

Deacon counted eleven abilities at level one. He discounted any ability that had not applicable under progression. That seemed like a lot but several of them he had just learned recently. Hardly enough time to train them up.

“Around eleven,” he answered.

“And are they all in a tree leading to greater version of those abilities?” Sun Wu questioned.

“No. I don’t really have a skill tree. In fact I’ve spent almost no time in discussions about skill trees. There was one Guild master that had a complaint about it. Why? Is there a problem?” Deacon asked back.

“You are spread all over the place. I don’t know how you have so many abilities that don’t branch from others. I must teach you focus before you can master the many stances of Monkey style. What is your highest level ability?” Sun Wu asked.

Deacon dug through his list again. Surprised to see it was his breathing technique.

“The breathing technique I learned from the dragon Zageracks. It aids in my soul energy regen,” Deacon answered omitting the part about it unlocking his racial dragon’s breath weapon at level five.

“So your breathing technique. Something you do all the time. Before our next training session I want you to stand in monkey stance when not in motion. If you are just standing around engaged in conversation it should be in that stance. I need you to fix the pattern of the muscle contortions and way of balance until it become as easy as breathing,” Sun Wu said before taking a long sip of tea.

“Hardly seems comfortable but I’m game. What about them?” Deacon asked.

“I have other training methods for them. I think the mage could use with some staff training. Hand to hand training should be a last resort for him. Surprisingly strong for a mage though,” Sun Wu replied.

“Well we all kind of got a blessing from the god of war. Gave us an additional fifty percent health and bonus to strength,” Deacon said trying to stay in the monkey’s stance.

“That will be good for him. The swordsman has a lot of courage and heart, but he’ll get nothing from this training until the curse is lifted. On earth I might have been able to help him but here I’m not strong enough,” replied Sun Wu.

“That’s too bad. I wish I’d gotten back sooner to –” was all Deacon got out before he was interrupted by Alfred.

“Master Deacon, it looks like the caravan has stopped for the night. If your team would like to ‘get some fresh air’, now would be a good time,” Alfred stated.

“What’s wrong with the air you produce?” Deacon asked.