Kaden Birch found few things more satisfying than the solid crunch of a monster spine under his war hammer. The monster in question, a centipede the length of a man, did not find it satisfying, but the good news wass, a moment later, that no longer concerned it.
He looked back to his [Shield], Wren, a young woman with short blonde hair, and eyes he’d best call haunted. She adjusted her brown scorpion carapace armor and nodded. “I’m ready.”
Sara Scylla, Part Leader and summoner of exactly one kind of beast, stood behind Wren. One of the two scaly pseudopods that attached to her Horror gave Wren a pat on the back. The Cosmic Horror was part pet, part end of the universe, and occasionally encouraging. “We’re right here, but you need the XP. Eve will heal, Trella will…”
“Shout encouraging things,” The [Shadow Blade] woman answered, disappearing into their darkness to pop up in the trees above them. “You totally got this. Kaden was killing these wolves at the same level. This exact wolf. Who probably remembers how he did it. In fact, she’s probably been thinking about how to get—”
“Enough!” Eve Black shouted, her voice echoing through the woods. The [Transfusionist] was part healer, part damage and all business in her white wolf pelt robes. “Is Vip ready?”
Vip, his [Lightning Chevalier] was a small dog with curly silver fur. She sat by his side, and looked up. *Yes*.
“Not *Fast*?” Kaden asked.
*Fast*. Vip replied.
“She’s ready. Moon Shadow is on the circuit around Fangwood. If she has company, we’ll handle them. You stick to the plan. Call for help if you need it.” Kaden looked to Vip. “Fetch.”
Vip tore off though the underbrush, ignoring the trails that FangWood attempted to force adventurers onto. A moment later, a brisk howl rang out through the forest.
The trees began to shake, and a brisk wind threw leaves everywhere.
“Not Normal,” Sara called, unsheathing her swords. “Plan B it is.”
A wolf, white on top and black on her belly, bounded through the forest, crashed off of a tree, and landed in front of the Party with a snarl. This was [Moon Shadow], the gloom wolf champion.
But her ears were flat back and her tail tucked as she crouched—and Wren hit her with a [Shield Charge]. Moon Shadow was seven levels higher, but the [Shield Bash] that followed left her momentarily stunned.
Long enough for trees to crash aside, and a vast brown shape to slap Moon Shadow straight into a boulder, where she collapsed.
“[Bearzerker]! Kill it now or we won’t be able to!” Sara shouted.
[Bearzerker]
Part Grizzly Bear, part Beast, this bear begins battle weak, but the longer it fights, the stronger it becomes. There is no upper limit on its strength. Choose your battle wisely. *Beast Knowledge: The Bearzerker has high mana for a creature with no obvious spells.
Level: 15
HP: 900
Mana: 50
Skills: Battle Rage, Armored Hide
Talents: Battle Born
The goal had been to get Wren to level sixteen. Now the goal was survival.
“Do! Not! Hold! Back!” Eve’s command came clearly and Kaden understood. The only way to deal with a Bearzerker was all out.
Wren charged, Kaden stuttered his step to let her arrive first, and timed the blow. The thin woman shouldn’t have been able to knock a creature four times her size aside, but her talent, [Immovable] gave her the advantage.
Working on a hunch from [Beast Knowledge], Kaden slammed a [Mana Dart] with enough mana to drain the bear twice into its side. The Bearzerker shuddered—then slapped, catching Kaden in the side.
A quarter of his health disappeared in a single blow, and another few points as he hit a tree and fell, but Wren was there, blocking with her Terrapin shell shield to buy him time, and Eve blinked and became three of herself, spread around the [Bearzerker] to increase her [Moon Strike]’s chances of blinding.
The moment he got back to his feet, Kaden switched to pure offense as Sara did the same. Only a fool charged Bearzerker, but only a bigger fool gave one time to build their fury. Forced to choose, the Bearzerker turned on Sara. Kaden swung for the knees, aiming for a crippling blow.
Bone crunched, but the Bearzerker didn’t go down, and now it turned on him, swiping with both paws. But not getting faster. Not getting stronger. Kaden hit it with [Mana Dart] just to keep it down, then leaped aside as Sara unleashed her only spell, Lightning Bolt.
It might as well have been called [Feather Tickle].
“Blinded!” Eve called as [Moon Strike] blasted out.
Kaden went from defense to offense, swinging sideways. Remembrance cut deep into the Bear’s mouth, chipping the bear’s teeth and earning him another swipe that broke rips and sent him rolling.
“Switching to burn mode!” Eve called as she began channeling [Life Transfusion], which devoured her mana for equivalent damage.
The [Bearzerker] knew it was being hurt, but ‘inside’ didn’t register as a location, which bought Kaden just enough time to dump the rest of his Mana to Eve via [Mana Well]. She’d make it count, and her truly frightening mana reserves would cost a third of the bear’s HP in a single gush, while restoring his health.
The bear stood, raised its mouth to Roar—and the Beasts joined the battle. From the right, Trinity, the three headed ruby hydra came sprinting, sinking all three of her heads onto a single hind leg. From the left, Trella’s [Shadow Cat] Eclipse leaped onto the Bear’s back. Eclipse was deadly but not against long fur creatures with built-in armor.
A shadow blossomed into existence behind the [Bearzerker] as Trella [Shadow Stepped] out of Stealth and used [Backstab] for a deep, piercing blow, and when it spun to face the shadowy after image she left behind, Kaden pulled out his own attack. “Backslash!”
Crippling Strikes has inflicted a permanent injury.
Your skill with Crippling Strikes has increased.
Without a Dark Deception of his own, Kaden could only raise Remembrance to block the paw swipe—and Wren knocked him to the side, blocking the blow, then using [Shield Bash] to stun. “Kill it. Kill it now.”
Trinity’s blind middle head, with dragon-like jaws crunched bone, then severed the limb, but a back-handed swiped from the [Bearzerker] left her serpentine head limp and lifeless as Kaden pulled her back into his soul.
“Let it bleed. My blades were poisoned,” Trella called. She’d been experimenting with Mulick venom, an alchemical reagent that could be used to inflict [Bleed].
But the [Bearzerker] began to glow red. The two drops of mana he’d regained shut down the fury, but the buff would stay. “Arrows. Use Arrows.”
A second later, two arrows whistled through the air to sink deep in the Bearzerker’s chest. Kaden pressed the attack, letting Wren block swipes and cutting at the other leg with Remembrance’s axe head.
Two more arrows.
One more mana dart.
The [Bearzerker] collapsed, dead.
Kaden stuffed the corpse into Inventory for harvesting later, not in the middle of the forest, while Sara searched the underbrush. “Found it. Moon Shadow dropped her loot. Another [Moon Strike].”
“Let’s get out of here and heal,” Kaden said.
Wren gave them the most joyous smile he’d seen on her in weeks. “Did I mention I leveled?”
As the party trekked out of FangWood, a miniature sparkling dragon landed on Kaden’s arm, dropped a scroll, and, after giving him a disapproving look, sailed away.
Kaden unrolled the scroll, then threw it in the brush.
###
The Bearzerker corpse was massive, and it smelled, and it was so full of potential Kaden could bear-ly stand it. Grinding his [Reap Materials] skill with literally thousands of [Mulick Spines] had given him several level increases, and now, when he examined a corpse, he received a list of various components and hints about their use. For the [Bearzerker], the options were:
1x. Bearzerker Hide (Armor Crafting Material)
16x Bearzerker Claw (Dagger Crafting Material)
32x Bearzerker Steak (Cooking Crafting Material)
No one in their right mind would eat the steak besides Trinity, but Kaden had learned the hard way that attempting to get all of the materials would result in losing quality or quantity. He chose to go for the hide and four claws as he drew his simple, non-combat knife.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Harvesting acted to guide his hands, making steady cuts and highlighting exactly where the knife should go. The meat, because he’d chose to avoid it, was little more than garbage, but the knife traced the surface of the hide easily. Mana began to drain from his reserves, almost always a good sign, and Kaden cut with care, until at last the notification came:
You have received: 1x Bearzerker Hide (preserved, high quality)
You have received: 3x Bearzerker Claw
He’d lost one during the harvesting. But the hide…the hide was the prize.
“You going to use that garbage?” Sara pointed to the pile of meat scraps. “I finally have [Gardening] high enough to grow carnivorous plants. I could use it.”
“All yours.” Kaden let her shovel it and cycled [Mana Darts] while he waited for his mana to rise. Any moment now, he’d reach level ten and be able to take the next spell, [Mana Drain], which would work from a distance. Mages swore the mana tree of spells was useless because it dead ended at [Mana Drain] and [Mana Well] but the utility was everything Kaden wanted.
Weeks had passed since Kaden and his party faced a Tyrantor.
Tonight was the first night they’d agreed it was time to try and hunt at night.
An explosion shook the farmhouse, followed by a shout of triumph. Trella was mixing potions again. But this time the shouting didn’t turn into screaming, or any of the normal things. She came bursting out of the Farmhouse, holding a potion aloft. “Level three in Alchemy!”
Kaden ran to celebrate. Alchemy leveled slower than any skill he’d ever seen, besides his own [Beast Master] skills. Trella had spent the weeks mastering the [Bleed] potion, and Kaden kept several applications in his Inventory. A single potion could treat Remembrance’s edge, but it did require planning.
“Who’s the best Alchemist on this Holding?” Kaden asked as he lifted her up and swung her around.
“I am not a dog, but the answer is me. Speaking of which, your dog hasn’t left Eve’s feet ever since she started cooking.”
That proved Vip was smart, not that she was a traitor. “Looking forward to hunting tonight?”
“Yes. Also yes. And yes.” She put her arms around him as he set her down. “Thank you. For supporting this. I can finally make poor quality Healing potions. Soon we won’t need to buy them.”
“That wasn’t why I supported you.” He drank in the scents he associated with her, of warmth and lavender and burning hair.
“Don’t tell Sara, but I processed the last of the Salvea leaves I owe her. The moment she knows she’ll want to make a contract for more. I have a quest to successfully brew ten different types of formula.” Trella pushed away and ran around the side of the house.
Presumably to tell Sara.
On the front steps of the farmhouse, Trinity lay, sunning herself. All three heads were stretched out in different directions,, and she drooled acidic spit that sizzled in the dirt. All in all, a beautiful day.
“Cancel the night hunt!” Sara shouted. “Cancel it. We got a dungeon run, a good one. The perfect one!”
That brought Eve running. She’d hated the idea of hunting at night and lobbied for dungeon missions. “What is it? What level?”
“Foulwater Swamp. Level twenty two monsters, bayou themed, great armor loot. Two parties before us wiped Night Hunting and we have this afternoon to depart. It’s a long, long run, I already sent a message to Wren and ordered provisions at the Guild.” Sara was never afraid to let her excitement show. She already received enough stares and fear for housing a Cosmic Horror.
“Sounds right for our Party,” Trella said. “It won’t just be you and Kaden getting kills.”
“Vip won’t be able to come.” Kaden could imagine the small dog barely able to keep her head above water. “And I’ll run to Verdant Vineyard today and sweep it for Vipers to uphold our contract.”
“You don’t have to run. Master Gruden had a FarPortal connected!” Sara said.
That would make life much, much easier.
“I’ll send you, but you’re responsible for getting back.” Eve headed to the portal. She was the only one with enough mana and experience operating it. Everyone else paid a portal mage via messenger bird.
But as Kaden approached the portal, it flared, and out stepped someone he knew quite well. Yuni Rahm, youngest daughter of the Rahm Dynasty, and a [PolyMage]. She wore light tan fabric wrapped tightly around her, with mana beads sewn on in a seemingly random pattern. “You. Where is [Shadow Blade]? We must speak.”
Trella [Shadow Stepped] into existence at Kaden’s side. “What do you want? If the Sisters have a mission, it won’t come from you.”
“I talk. You listen.”
Trella shrugged. “That I can do. I usually charge for it, but what the hell, why not?”
Kaden left her to handle it and headed to Verdant Vineyards with Vip at his side. Eve managed to keep him right side up and facing almost the same direction, which was an improvement, but she still sent him flying into the dirt.
Verdant Vineyards had been transformed.
In the late fall it was a devastated wreck of torn vines and broken windows. Now, it was covered in green, even the fields that had the worst of it. Kaden knelt by Vip. “Leave two in every row, ok?”
*So very fast.* Vip replied.
[Beast Speech] saw that as “Sure thing, boss. Why don’t you give me something difficult instead?”
Running was happiness to Vip, the faster, the further, the better. Taller dogs would move faster, but Vip’s solution was to push herself harder. Her [Lightning Aura] began to crackle and zap, striking vipers as she passed. On the second run, she would use [Triple Nip] to kill a few.
While Vip enjoyed her fun, Kaden stopped by the Winery. “We’re leaving two per row to keep the crop safe,” Kaden said to the owner’s wife.
“You see the construction?” she asked. “They were working for five days straight.”
Kaden left to go check. The Verdant Viper nest was his by contract now, and Kaden—well, Sara—had a plan to sell them for Adventurers seeking [Resist Poison], as the bite was guaranteed to inflict agony but not necessarily death.
Sara had arranged a small house for the couple who would operate the nest. Nothing fancy, but it matched the style of the other buildings, and with the FarPortal, the traffic would be good for the vineyard.
Vip’s furious barking brought him running. *Bad Bad*.
Nestled in the top of a row was a large, shimmering green [Verdant Viper].
A young [Vibrant Empress], and it was far too early in the season for them to be spawning. Perhaps the surge was affecting regular Beasts as well. Once, this would have been a frightening foe. Now, Kaden reached straight for it, letting it latch on. He ripped it from the vines and carried it down to the farmhouse, where he paid their Portal Mage in training and left the vineyards behind.
He found the others gathered in the farmhouse kitchen. Wren was there, not wearing her scorpion armor, and he held up the Vibrant Empress. “This will hurt, but it won’t kill you. And you’ll eventually get [Resist Poison.] Afterwards, the Mana Core is mine.”
Wren grabbed the empress and winced as it bit her. Then applied it again and again.
In the silence, Kaden grew uncomfortable.
Every gaze was turned his way. “What did I miss?”
Yuni stood and bowed slightly to him. “You were summoned. You. Did. Not. Go.”
She pointed to another rainbow scroll. One that had been opened. One that had obviously been read by everyone.
Kaden shrugged. “It’s a scroll.”
Sara held up one. Trella, three more. Eve dumped a pot out. “You said the Cleaning Box wasn’t working. You didn’t say it was because you stuffed it full of these. And Vip’s been burying them in the field, hasn’t she?”
“I tried burning them. They don’t burn.” If Vip had buried them, Kaden would call her the best dog ever, because she was.
“When were you going to tell me?” Trella said.
“Or me?” Sara asked.
“I was fine not knowing,” Eve added.
Kaden held up both hands. “I didn’t tell you because I’m not leaving. I have a life here and no intention of abandoning it. I don’t have to go anywhere, so I won’t.”
Yuni answered before anyone else could. “It is not ask, it is duty. You go. You go now. I make you.”
This tone was familiar. Kaden pulled Trinity and Rocky into his soul and made sure Vip was safe by Eve. “You really don’t want to do this. I told Mr. Dervish I’d allow you at the Holding as a favor, but that favor ends the moment you threaten me. Leave, and I’ll let you go.”
Sara tensed.
Wren stepped forward, in between then.
Trella spoke. “I think you should make the trip. I’d go, too, if I could, but none of us are welcome there. Plus, if we kill her, it just makes more trouble.”
“You? Kill me?” Yuni asked, her voice filled with scorn.
“Faster than you’d ever see coming,” Sara said. “You’re some specialization of [Mage]. [Anthem of the End] prevents spell casting, and I will feed your corpse to Trinity myself. Trust me, if we decide to kill you, you’d better have a retreat spell.”
“Threat means nothing.” Yuni spoke without fear. “The King of Vichor does not permit failure.”
“Stop!” Trella shouted. “All of you, step away. Kaden, let’s talk.” The code [Rogues] learned to speak silently wasn’t quite as expressive as normal speech, but with time and knowing someone, it grew. *There’s more out there than you’ve ever seen. I traveled for weeks with the Sisters. I listened to Yuni. You have the chance to become a Dungeon Master. It’s important.*
*I have a life here. I don’t even know what a Dungeon Master does.*
*You have a home here. You’re living your life. You did the right thing for me. You encouraged me to train with the Sisters. This is the right thing. I know you. You love caring for your Beasts. I think you’ll love caring for a Dungeon Core. That’s what a Dungeon Master does.*
That truly did sound like something he’d enjoy. “Caring for a dungeon. Living in darkness. Surrounded by monsters?”
“If that is your desire,” Ashi said. “Or a haven for beasts. A place Adventurers would encounter the most powerful. Live in darkness, or search the world for new ones. I cannot say which you would choose.”
Kaden didn’t like this. At all. His stomach turned in flips. But hadn’t they talked about escaping the city? Traveling the world? *Come with me. We’ll do it together.*
*Can’t. She told me and her body launguage says she believes it. Imagine being able to grow a Dungeon! All you have to do is learn how, then you come back and establish your dungeon. You were never the one who was afraid. Don’t be afraid of a little adventure. It might be fun.*
Caring for a Dungeon Core. Growing a Dungeon. Both sounded so fantastic they couldn’t be real. Except, something deep inside said it was real. If the Dungeon could be whatever he wished, why not have a deep jungle where Trinity could truly hunt, or a desolate wasteland for Rocky to endure? Why not Queen BrownBeak’s tree for the griffin when it hatched? “Do you have Beasts there?”
“Only those long gone,” Yuni said. “Only the most rare and powerful.”
*I think I want to do it,* he sent.
*You should. Go. I’m telling you to go.* Trella knew how he felt.
*Just don’t tell me to have ‘fun’ with Yuni.* He looked over to the princess, who stood, hands on her hips.
Trella’s snort masked the way her eyes glistened. *If she’s willing and you can stand her, have all the fun you want. But come back to me.*
*Always.* He looked to Yuni. “I’ll visit and decide how long I’ll stay.”
“All you need will be provided. Very little survives the passage. Take nothing you care for. We go now.” Yuni opened the door to the farmhouse.
Kaden didn’t move. He unsnapped his [Needful Cloak] and removed his Bone Waller shield, which still groaned for [Wraith Bones], which he added to the pile. “If it’s hungry, feed it one of these.” Almost everything from Inventory short of Remembrance, he left at the table. “Better?”
“You need nothing,” Yuni said. “But you must go now. You have disrespected the line of Rahm with your actions.”
That put a halt to his plans. “‘The Line of Rahm’ means nothing to me. I’ll figure out how to do Dungeon Mastering on my own.”
Yuni swore.
At least, that’s what he thought it was. When she spoke it was less insistent. “Your core was wounded, was it not? Where we are going, the mana is so dense it cannot help but heal.”
Another judgement call he’d make. Kaden stopped to hug Sara. “You keep our business going. Get that ship in the water. Make Mr. Dervish pay, or Neganta’s Larder is ours.”
He gave Eve a firm handshake. “Vip stays with me.”
“Please? She’s the brightest spot in my day.” Eve picked her up and hugged Vip close.
The lightning chevalier was his constant companion. Trinity was more deadly, but Vip was so innocent and loving. Vip lay her head down on Eve’s shoulder, completely at peace.
“Look out for her,” Kaden said, using [Beast Speech].
“I will.” Eve held her closely.
*Love* said Vip, who understood what he really meant.
Wren sat on the couch, shaking. “I got [Resist Poison].”
With one hand, Kaden killed the Vibrant Empress, then gutted her with a knife. The green core in her gut, he snapped into the socket on Remembrance. The whole weapon glowed green for a moment, then faded. “Now I’m ready.”
They followed him to the FarPortal, where Yuni cast the scroll in. And the portal changed. It became an upside down waterfall of rainbow light that threatened to overflow the meager roof covering the FarPortal. “I have opened the way.”
Kaden stepped in.
And was gone.