Red stared at Mash, her eyebrow’s raised as far as they could go, but she did not argue. She probably figured that it was the most feasible solution as well, even if it did involve a heartless task. Mash didn’t want to try and come up with a method of choosing and only thought of two ways to make this bearable.

“Luke, can you communicate with their souls, or at least bless them or something?”

Luke was a priest now and had a skill that was like a blessing, so he hoped that he could do something for the people. Luke lifted his downcast gaze, to meet Mash’s own before responding.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been so afraid of using soul skills, that I haven’t tested anything like that. But I will try.”

Mash only nodded, before rising to his feet. Before even attempting this though, they decided to use the key. Ultimately Mash would remain behind, and after some very strong insistence from Luke, it was decided that he would remain too. Jill and Red would be enough to get out and get help, while Mash was the only one who was close enough to a powerup to remain. Luke was too, though Mash didn't think that Luke could go through with it. It had been a part of his argument though, and Mash knew he was telling the truth. If he was willing to steal souls then he could reach his next advancement fairly quickly.

They stood in front of some of the children's cells going over the plan once more before using the key. It was unnecessary, there was no chance anyone would forget. Red and Jill would leave with as many children as possible, and Mash and Luke would wait for two days before attempting to break out. They had decided upon that time limit, for two reasons. In all their searching they had found no sources of food or water other than the monster corpses, but that was not something they would do. The other reason was that several of the prisoners looked like they were malnourished and ill. With that in mind, Luke and Mash would wait two days before trying to power their way through. Finally, Red tried activating the key. It started to light up as though it would work, but the lights faded soon after. They could only stare at the obvious failure of the key.

Stunned by the failure, they stared at the key for several minutes trying many different things to get it working. Nothing happened, but they didn't panic immediately. They still had the other plan but could wait a bit longer before starting. However, they wouldn't wait the full two days though, instead just for a couple of hours. The main reason for this difference was time dilation. Honestly, they had entered the dungeon without knowing if time flowed normally in here, and the big issue with this topic was the fact that they might have already been in here for months. The people outside might assume that their entire group had died. What if the dungeon entrance had closed, or got connected to a different place? That was something that usually happened once a day, and they were worried already. Thankfully, they had entered the dungeon, and should still have some time left. There were too many problems with waiting too long.

None of that was the biggest concern for Mash though. He was worried about how his family would deal with his disappearance or death. As selfish as it might be, he had only conceded to the previous plan on the assumption that Jill and Red could inform his siblings of the situation. Now that they couldn't, his priority became getting out. He would still try and save as many people as he could, but he had things that were more important to him. Even these few hours, felt like they were too long.

Eventually, he couldn't sit still any longer and rose to his feet, unable to shake the image of his siblings standing at his funereal. He would first check every mutated person with his mana territory and determine who was the strongest. Hopefully, that would lessen the number of people whom he would need to kill. While he walked by all the cells and determined the strongest of the changed people, Luke and Jill went from cell to cell trying to bless or communicate with people’s souls.

Mash’s journey across the rooms had not lessened his resolve but strengthened it as he saw the horrible state of all the people, not just the ones who were mutated. None of the people were all that powerful, most seemed to be weaker than himself. Not to mention most looked like traders or merchants and guessed that all the fighters that were taken had become the monsters he fought earlier. He grew despondent, thinking about how many people he would need to kill in order to gain the level. His shoulders fell and he found It harder to meet the people’s eyes and relied on his mana territory to observe them.

As he finished his trek around the room, he returned to where the others were sitting. He slowed down as he started to hear muffled sobs. Luke had tears streaking down his face but was clenching his fists hard enough that Mash started catching a glimpse of blood. Luke had been told to try and communicate with the turned people, and Mash was scared to ask him what had happened. Would he still be able to go through with the plan if Luke opposed it now?

“What happened?”

Mash still forced the question out, knowing that he couldn’t kill anyone without asking the question.

“They weren’t there anymore. Their souls and minds were so twisted that they had become ruined, empty husks of pain and suffering. None of the people had anything but pain. Mash, I don’t think they would even recognize that you killed them and might even be grateful for it if they could.”

Luke’s words probably should have relieved Mash, but they didn’t. They only made Mash feel worse for the people, and even if ending their lives was a type of salvation for them, it wasn’t one he wanted to deliver. However, Mash could not go back on his plan, it was one of the only methods to save everyone, and he would do what must be done.

Mash went to the cell of the strongest person he sensed, approaching the metal bars slowly. Inside of the cell, the turned human just sat in one of the corners unmoving. Mash saw what looked like scales and an extra eye on the person’s face. His body was completely contorted, his legs and arms looked like they were attached randomly, and it was clear the person would never be able to move. There was another in the cell, a young woman whose eyes lit up upon him approaching the cell. Mash guessed she assumed that he was there to save her, but instead he asked her for something else.

“Do you know that person’s name?”

Mash didn’t need to explain who he was talking about, his eyes were focused on the transformed human. Mash wasn’t sure if the girl would answer him as he was not wearing his mask, and he might have frightened her.

“I think she was called Julia.”

She didn’t sound at all frightened, if anything she seemed glad to have someone speak to her. Mash nodded his head, but never took his eyes of Julia. He hadn’t even been able to tell that she was a girl, the transformations had transformed her too much. The other girl, the one who had spoken, moved away from him as his wooden blades snuck into the cell like snakes. Once inside they grew large enough to kill Julia in one strike, and he brought the blade down like an executioner. This had finally gotten the other to feel fear, and she backed away from him and the wooden creations, silently sitting on the ground. Mash gave both of them an apology, before moving on to the next monster.

This process continued until he had killed thirty-one people, and he made sure to get the names of every person he could. Although he could only get the names of twenty people, the others had been turned long before their cellmates had arrived. Mash didn’t know if he could remember their names but still felt that he wanted to know them. At least now, they hadn’t died as nameless monsters, and instead as human beings. However, Mash had received his level up, and he would not let their lives be lost in vain.

He felt his consciousness get whisked away to the familiar place where he would select his class but did not feel the same joy, he did last time. The melancholy he felt seemed to permeate the space, and it was far darker than he remembered. Even the pillars of light before him seemed subdued. Mash was surprised to see them though, as they all shone with the same colors. A very dark green that it seemed almost black, was mixed with an equally dark blue, the colors clashing with one another as the power seemed to be moving upwards. He didn’t hesitate this time reaching for the closest pillar first. It didn’t seem like he would be getting a wide variety of classes this time.

Starved Thunder-wood Dragonling: Your hunger knows no bounds, devouring anything your teeth can crunch into. Furthermore, you have eaten those which dragons eat and flown in their skies in admiration of the beings. As a being of life and destruction, of wood and thunder, you attempt to become more than human and join the ranks of dragons.

Mash stared at the class for a second, processing what it would mean. The part related to hunger would likely improve his eating skill, and while useful wasn’t what he needed right now. However, the other two parts seemed like they would help significantly. Even a fraction of a dragon’s true power should be enough to destroy the gate, and the part related to his elemental control would probably boost his power as well.

All things considered; the class would probably give him enough power to break through the gate. That fact alone almost made him choose it without checking the others, but he stopped himself. There was one concerning aspect about the class, and it caused him to hope for more in the other two. A dragonling sounded like something fundamentally beneath a real dragon, and that was not what he wanted. He wanted to usurp their power and surpass them, not become a baby version of them. With his mindset, he moved towards the next pillar.

Draconic Thunder-wood Imitation: Like the mimics of old, you imitate the form and power of creatures far beyond you. Even dragons are but a mere imitation and are not enough to satisfy you. Your wood has been strengthened by the power of lightning, through your unnatural access of different magics. Hiding behind your human appearance, you consume the power of beings greater than yourself. You will not be bound by a single creature and instead, hope to steal all that you can.

This sounded far more like what he was looking for. It was still dragon-related somehow, though he didn’t know exactly how. Not to mention he could imitate other creatures as well. Instantly images of the greater beings flashed through his mind. Even a minor imitation of either creature would easily be enough power to smash the gate. Still, he hesitated though, a portion of the description frightening him.

Looking over the class again, he realized that it was more than just a small portion that alarmed him. It sounded like the whole class was power-hungry, and he now knew that his class choice could impact his mind. Would taking this class to alter his mind, turn him into a power-crazed monstrosity?

That question caused him to move on to the next class. It’s not that the class wasn’t enticing, he just didn’t want to become like that. Although it was clear that it would be a power-up and sounded like it would give him more in the long run. Still, he reached for the last pillar. Only when he got close did he realize it was darker than the other two, though from a distance they would all look black.

Monstrous Thunder-wood Executioner: You have killed those that were too weak and helpless to defend themselves from your power. Even those far beneath you can increase your power, and you will walk any path available. Embracing your monstrous side allows you to gain power in ways others could not. Devastate enemies with the elements, kill hordes with your thunder, gaining power from each death no matter how small.

Mash felt anger rise as he read the class, instantly realizing the implication of a class like this. It clearly implied that it would remove the restrictions on leveling from low-leveled monsters, and probably people too. This class explained some things to him and made him further dislike the system. Mash had believed that it encouraged people to fight stronger monsters and people and protect the weaker beings. However, it seemed like killing weaker opponents could give someone a class related to killing them. Was that how the villains in history were created? Did they just have a class that gave them a lot of power for killing weak people?

Shivering slightly, he dismissed the class from his mind. It would be a constant reminder of his actions here, and he didn’t need anything else than his memories to haunt him. They might fade eventually, but his class would not, and he rejected the class summarily. That was not what he would select and contemplated all the classes he was offered.

He wished that Priscilla was there, as she would be able to help him understand what the classes might do. Honestly, he expected her to be there and hoped to be able to communicate. Although, he wasn’t so lucky and talked to himself in the emptiness as he thought of the options. The last class would not be chosen, that much was obvious, and he discarded the class. The other two were much more interesting and were also very similar.

Both related to dragons somehow, even mentioning the creatures directly. The first took him down the path of dragons, but also seemed beneath them. The second involved clashing with the beings but seemed much more focused on power. Either would probably affect his mind in some way, and he spent several minutes contemplating the choices. He began to wonder what his friends were seeing and decided he should probably make his decision soon. Letting out a sigh, he realized he came to his decision.

The dragonling class was powerful, and becoming a dragon sounded incredible, but it also sounded restricting. His current path was free, and he could become anything through his copies. Narrowing his path because of his admiration of the creatures was not the right choice and he knew it. He wanted to be more than just a dragon, and it sounded like the other class would give him that opportunity. Finally, he moved and touched the pillar representing the Draconic Thunder-wood Imitation and woke up to darkness.