Updated!

Chapter 10: The City Born in a Dungeon

‘So......soft?’

Running my hands through the fluffy silver fur I’m so surprised at the peculiar animal Loki decided to give me. The small little wolf cub I’ve decided to name Fenrir really is an odd creature. He’s not very big for a wolf cub but he has some surprising characteristics that make me question how Loki ‘made’ him. He was oddly cute for such a little beast....too cute it made the things he did quite more ominous.....

“Ok...go!”

RUF

Fenrir dived forward and started chasing a medium sized horn rabbit roughly 12 meters away eating berries by a tree. It’s early in the morning and the sun still hasn’t rose yet. Even though I’ve gotten some of the best sleep in years in this place I still can’t manage to sleep all the way through a night. I guess I’m just a morning person. Luckily I use this time to hunt with my new wolf cub given to me by Loki. It truly is a fascinating animal.

Fenrir right now is level 16 and he has risen considerably over the last few days......he eats....everything. This isn’t the first horned rabbit he’s attacked either. Watching him lunge forward the horned rabbit has used its escape dash ability twice now and has easily been pushed back into a corner, backing away in fear to the tree. It’s odd but sometimes when monsters attempt to use an ability they get frozen where they stand and start to tremble only to later have their neck ripped open by this little wolf dog. It was almost terrifying I couldn’t make out how he did it either. Loki left before he explained that little tid bit.’.....Loki.’

He truly had said some interesting things to me the other day. These were the things I thought about while watching little Fenrir devour yet another horned rabbit. ‘Not only things about myself but.........about everyone. I’ve learned many things over these last couple of days.....’

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“My mother? What about her?

“Oh come now.....you didn’t think that odd necklace of yours had no value you at all did you. When I found out about how it let you pick up such a cursed weapon increased my interests more......You don’t think that item of yours is originally from your world do you?”

“..........”

Loki was acting very......cocky. He always talked as if he was humming and trying to keep a rhythm. It was kind of odd and he chuckled sometimes to himself too. ‘Seriously.....I wonder if all gods are like this.”

“Oh...mhmm that little crystal right there in the middle of it..... I’m not quite sure what it is to be honest but it’s made of a pretty peculiar diamond......you said it belonged to your mother?

“....yah. It’s a pretty odd piece of jewelry I’ll say that much. My mother was a woman of faith.”

“....Mhmmm......Anabelle Wall.....Such an interesting person your mother.....I looked on the information we gathered on her and ........interestingly enough she did show to have been abused as you say however.........only two birth certificates were found. One for a Kaylan Shaw and two for a Hayden Shaw......but no information on a 3rd older son, or a father for that matter.”

‘..........’

What is Loki getting at? He took off his white jacket and threw it on the table and even his under shirt had a shine to it. He had the look of a businessman meeting a guy going to a tacky club. He really is such an odd god. He then turned around and sat down on the wooden chair in the living room where everyone else were gathered while still practically frozen in time. Spatial magic is truly something. Thinking about what was telling me I am also halfway amiss as seeing this peculiar magic makes me fear of being trapped in a box like this forever. Divine level magic is something truly terrifying indeed.....

“So.....Is that all you found out? I just don’t have a birth certificate? “

“Mmm.....Yah...no information on you....It’s as if you fell out of the sky one day and started taking care of that family.......rather odd don’t ya think?”

“What are you talking about now? ...I have memories of being with my family and my mother since I was a child?”

‘What is this joker getting at?’

“Hmm well have what you will, we never really found much more about your mother to be honest.....but this necklace’s origin is not from your world I can assure you on that. The cross however originated in your world due to Christianity, while that small white diamond in the center wasn’t...... Well in the end, we never really found out anything about your mother........whoops sorry .”

He made a theatrical sad face and I just stared back at him astonished.’.....What is this clown pretending to have information about something and drop little grenades in an open room like!’

“Loki! Why would you just spew out a lot of crap like that and act like you had a lot to say about my parents! That’s crap!”

I may have waved my hands back at him and overreacted.

“Haha....no no no. I just mentioned how I was still curious about who your mother is that’s all......I’m not however sure who you father is but I have some interesting clues!!!”

He then started waving his hands and then clapping his hands in an overly flamboyant way..’....I feel like he’s getting more and more excited the more interesting he thinks he is to someone.’

“......I’m not gonna beg you to tell me Loki just talk this is getting annoying! I still have a lot of questions to get to.”

“Oh fine.....Now though I don’t know the identity of your dad I did however look into the history of the demon race as a whole.......The information I found was rather dashing!”

“.............”

I showed no signs of amusement and just waited for him to continue. He has an odd way of trying to build the suspense when he talks and it’s kind of annoying.

“........Well what I first looked into was an ancient book from the house of some dead soldiers from the old God of war Aries.....Centuries ago when the war of the God’s broke out, every race was clamoring together with their respective God’s and fighting on every plain. The land was decimated and the undeniable destruction reached out across the realms....The fight did not end so easily.....It was a long and bloody war where no side received any profit, to this day a lot of the reasons the war started are still quite unknown. The war was so chaotic it was hard to honestly remember things as it was truly a bloodbath across worlds. The one thing some of us do remember however is a peculiar race that came in and stomped onto the battlegrounds one day. They were strong, and resilient, ........truly ferocious creatures that could not be taken down so simply.....They were the demon race....”

I sat down in the chair opposing him while he continued his story....

“We had not once seen this race before it was started but assumed they were the creation of just some dark God’s. They were beasts on the battlefield and turned an already chaotic war into a bloody nightmare. They were dominant and some of the winged creatures could even take on some of the chief god’s quite easily. They cut them down and sent the war into a free for all. They were essentially wild animals running amok on the front lines something had to be done....... The war of the God’s was put on hold to stop these monstrous animals from laying waste to anymore of us. They seemed to find every other race as a sheer offense to them and only sought to destroy. Since we couldn’t continue a war with wild beasts roaming around, everyone banned together and pushed the demon race back to the northern tip of the world. Each of the stronger one’s had such amazing abilities the word cheat doesn’t even apply......We chose not to hunt them all down because we weren’t sure how many of us would take to kill them nor if we even could. ......The war of the Gods only continued a short time after that. “

“.........so what are you getting at about them then?”

“We weren’t aware this....demon race existed until the war had started......but what is interesting is we do have evidence of their existence in something we have seen before. They were seen slaying that lizard king.....same winged creatures. And the point of what I was meaning to get to you was that. Each of these so called demon race species on our planet.....appear to be the descendant of much older beings that I believed originated from your world....It’s funny but I didn’t realize that the War of the God’s happened not long after we left your world........interesting isn’t it?”

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‘So.....the demon race in this world aren’t actually original inhabitants here. The demon race of this world are descendants of....I’m guessing fallen angels or something from my world. Sometime in the middle of the war, all the Gods and their followers had to ban together to match some of these demons as some of the stronger ones were quite dangerous. Though many of the ones from that battle I’m guessing still exist today because they couldn’t be killed.’

“Hmm well.....Something you might find interesting is that the demons’ magic is a lot different from our own. You see Norse magic uses a series of numbers and advanced calculation and code. We manipulate science to the form of meeting and mastering magic itself. We cut down life to its most basic and primal elements.....or so we think. Well....anyways....the magic the demon race uses works on a completely different basis than our own......They use raw emotion and desire and don’t use magic coming from themselves but magic from their surroundings. They have a peculiar way to manipulate magic from the earth and thus giving them amazing abilities.....Though we took down quite a few of them, their stronger ones slaughtered many of us....OH! Back to what I was saying......In an old text from some followers of that lizard king we spoke of, there was one of those winged creatures and one of them showed an interesting ability.........He too enjoyed consuming the hearts of others!”

“So.......You think it might be likely that I am related to some old demon?”

“........Or well in this world I’m not sure of the name we have for them right now. There are demon kings and demon emperors, even a demon lord. Though they are only descendants, I believe the ones that are still alive from that demon war are looked up as God’s now.........Well all I can tell you is the one who ate hearts liked to wield a fiery black sword and had 8 black wings.”

“I.....see..”

It was a lot to take in......Fallen angels.....wars between gods......hell even dinosaurs.......It’s interesting hearing such world’s views on things from the perspective of another worlder. But Loki always seemed to be hiding things sometimes.....

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As Fenrir came back to me he had blood on his mouth and I whipped it off with a cloth. Gosh he can use Flicker now too but his speed is still too unnatural. It’s not that he needs speed right now.....Monsters simply are paralyzed when they see this little grey cub..’......Seriously why does Loki not tell me things!”

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After Loki had dropped the bomb shell about who he thinks to be my estranged father he asked to see the death scythe I had in my possession as he hadn’t gotten to see it yet. I demanded information about my sister and he said in due time.....cheeky bastard!

After I brought it out he examined the scythe in his chair while it floated in the air. Apparently he couldn’t see all the skills either since even as a God, there are some things that he cannot see through. What is also interesting is that he can’t touch it as he said it won’t kill him but he thinks it could be potentially harmful to him, he’s not sure yet. Looking around the room I saw my mother who is now holding the small girl from before and she seems to be very happy. My mother and I have enjoyed taking care of the little girl over the last few days as she is honestly such a sweet shild. She can’t speak really well but we have been helping her learn to speak with everyone else.

I’ve also learned that the blessing from Loki may have been more of a blessing than I had realized. Universal Language Acquisition is truly extraordinary and I didn’t know of its value until having so many slaves from different worlds in the same room. The reason they all weren’t speaking before is there are many language barriers between everyone in the cabin. Lily and Noah learned human language while the elves know only some. The reason they weren’t all talking from before and just looking at one another may have been because many of them couldn’t quite yet speak the same language as everyone else.

Many of them could slightly converse with one another and hardly with me.

The small white haired wolf girl, Liliy, and her brother Noah were always sitting with one another but on occasion Lily would try to come close to me. I’m not sure what Noah’s deal was but he always looks at me with the same cold eyes. He clearly didn’t trust me. He had shaggy black hair like my own and bright yellow eyes. He had a tough exterior for a a kid around his age and I found that he was only about a year older than Lily. Apparently the people in their tribe grew to be quite big, Lily was just small for her age.

The two Elves always sat very close to one another but I would catch them staring at me on occasion. Right now though they are sitting there together still with a cautious demeanor. It may have been because I was man, but I think it was also probably because I was just human. They both cleaned up well and it was honestly hard not to stare back at them at times. They’re ears were large and protruded through the sides of their long hair, and I can see why elves are usually described to be majestic. They each have quite stunning features.

Whenever I or the elf Tiffania weren’t holding the little girl my mother would take over. She held her for hours on end in fact. She could talk to each of the slaves and some sentences with the Elves but for the most part everyone would always remain so quiet. I originally thought it was because they weren’t sure they were actually safe yet or possibly couldn’t converse.

Though there may be another reason they weren’t speaking much. Lily does however approach and speak to me curiously sometimes. I could simply understand each of them which must have been what originally surprised them. Apparently even if their speech is scrambled up I can communicate with them just fine. It’s as if whatever they are thinking with what they are trying to say, I can somehow hear their meanings.....It’s what allowed me to speak so much with Ari.

Ari is the name we’ve decided to give the girl being held in my mothers arms. When we asked her....she told us she didn’t have a name. Before we had any chance to think on it, Elyria gave her the name Ari. She said it means ‘sun-like’ which is the presence she got from her when they first met. I didn’t really get why she thought that, but I can never be sure where she gets her naming sense from. She gave me the name Vali. She told me it holds the meaning of ‘strong’ or ‘leader’ in her tribe, things that have never really fit with me before.

Looking at Ari sitting motionless in Elyria’s arms she has a curious look on her face staring at Elyria’s tails. Her look has changed so much, magic is truly something. Her skin is now smooth and healthy. The sickness in her body was simply washed away with the powers of this odd healing ability, it had truly astounded me with what the power of magic is truly capable of in this world. Freya’s Soul Recovery when learning the skill it gave me thoughts and understandings of how the skill’s fundamentals work. It felt .......very interesting to be honest. It felt like every time I used it I could feel my life force being shared with those I used it on. It feels like my soul itself is touching theirs for a brief moment in time. Using it is like wiping away dirt and grime that has wrapped around your life, and it almost washes it away slowly after each use.

Though even with a healthy looking body there is still those with much deeper scars.

I was originally scared at how my mom was going to take everything but she surprisingly saw Ari and decided to pick her up immediately upon seeing her.... ‘She didn’t ask about what I had done or anything, she was simply happy to see me home...she truly is an amazing woman.’

Watching her be so good with children is actually quite an attractive quality a woman should have and Ari seemed to really enjoy playing with mom’s fox tails while in her arms...’...She seems to be enjoying holding Ari too. She still however has the scar over her face, so I need to heal her as well.’

While Loki was looking at the scythe I wondered about what would happen if I increased the weight of the scythe.........

CRASH!

“OWWW!........OWwwooo wahahahaha! He actually hurt me! hahaha!”

While Loki was looking at Abgrund I grabbed it then dropped it while increasing its weight. In a moment everything in the surroundings went back to normal speed as I guess when Loki was struck he somehow deactivated the space we were in. I immediately put away the scythe. I have actually now also determined one of the reasons everyone hasn’t taken to me is because of this thing. Apparently if you don’t have a resistance to it, it is unpleasant to be around like it makes them feel queasy.

Loki started laughing on the ground holding his foot and laughing wildly. Everyone then became aware of our presence.

“Who’s that....he’s shiny?”

“When did he get here?”

“Eh....Lord Loki when did you arrive?”

“ Oh is this Loki.....Hello Loki, It is so nice to finally meet you.

Everyone in the room now aware of Loki voiced their thoughts to one another in different languages but I heard them. Even Hlökk and my mom exclaimed their surprise.

“Hahaha! Splendid!” He got back up and fixed the whole in the floor by simply waving his foot over the broken wooden floor. The floor was repaired and I then saw a small black goo get repulsed too....’......I may not take out Abgrund anymore, since anything it touches actually becomes quite disturbing....’

He then walked over to my mom to greet her for apparently the first time.

As he reached in to grasp her hand I noticed a large white light that was surrounding Loki had went through his arms’ and transferred to mom’s skin. Within a few seconds mom’s scars and eye were immediately healed. Her skin was no longer cut and torn, it showed to be as if the same day when I met her, only now much healthier actually...

’.....you didn’t !’

“Oh...that felt so warm!...My...my face!”

She began to feel around her face with her free arm and she was exclaiming her happiness with her tears.

She held her face and broke down smiling....’.....Loki......you didn’t.....’

You knew I had been trying so hard to find this ability and you........Ugh.....I guess it doesn’t matter. Looking at her now shine with such joy. How could I be upset. I wouldn’t have been able to heal her eye either as I can’t regenerate lost limbs and her eyes were extensively damaged.

Bam!

“OUCH!.....You.... Hlökk?”

“You healed Elyria! Do you know just how much Vali has been working just to heal his mother! And for you to do it so simply in front of him...Why would you do such a thing!”

“You’ve never hit me before.....and I’d know I remember everything. I was there when you were created!.....Mmmm I didn’t see there being an issue. I simply figured while I’m here why not reward him yah? Besides his mother has been working hard too.”

“That’s not the point! Honestly all of you Gods have no heart”

“No heart?! Where is this coming from Hlökk “

Hlökk in her bird form flew around and argued with Loki and it was kind of a quirky site and then my mother who was holding Ari began to laugh and look over at me with such a warm and kind smile. She was holding the demi human girl close to her chest and smiling when she walked over to me.

“Oh Vali!.....Were you trying so hard to heal your mother? .......You already have.”

As she said this she smiled while stroking my cheek while holding Ari. It was hard not to smile back at such a kind woman.

“I have?”

“Yes.....I haven’t been so happy in years.....Truly.....you done so much for me...sob ...sob”

She cried while she smiled which I thought was an interesting thing. She just swayed with Ari while we talked. It was then that I noticed that Ari had also had her ear attached from before. Her hair looked much healthier and maybe his healing went far beyond mine. Looking back at my mother’s eyes I could see the same green glow in them from before. She was stunning. Such a beautiful face needs to be enjoyed and looking at her gives me strength.....I guess it really doesn’t matter who healed my mother.....as long as I can see this smile. I wound up voicing my own astonishment.

“This is.....Incredible.”

After that Hlökk and Loki continued to talk a little bit and then he, for some reason tried performing tricks for the kids. He attempted a trick and none of them besides Ari even showed a sign of surprise. Noah and the elves just looked back at him oddly.

Whoosh!

In an instant Hlökk changed into her Valkyrie form but was just wearing modern clothing not much different than my mothers.

“Eh...she was human.”

“ah...the bird?”

Both Noah and the elves made their looks of amazement. Acting more interested in Hlökk than Loki’s magic. This made him irritated and he started trying more dazzling magic all shining brightly in the background.

“...........”

The two elves I then noticed kept looking at Loki and Hlökk not much differently than I did.....I suppose it is because they appear to be human if you’re just simply looking at them. Though he is wearing rather shiny clothes and performing magic like an idiot, I don’t believe everyone has still worn off the idea of humans in their hearts......If you think about it they have been abused and tormented by the humans here for so long.......they wouldn’t just open up to one after so many years of bad relations. Though some of them seem to be warming up to me.

Now that I think about it I have fallen asleep while holding Ari the last couple days on my chair and Lily would be there staring at us. She was close with me back in Aldain but now that she has been spending time with Noah, she I guess has been warned about me. Now she just looks at me curiously, she seems to follow me around when I make food too.

These horrible thoughts of humans had been hard grained into these slaves, but I can feel they are slowly beginning to realize they are safe here. Maybe in time who knows. Noah doesn’t really talk to me much, other than saying thank you for saving his sister, which was a struggle for him. He just doesn’t trust me.

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Currently me and Fenrir are traveling through the forest southeast around the southern tip of the Jheroki Mountains.....I know I said I wouldn’t look through this place but I would like to see the area where Malthiel died. I’m curious if the surrounding area is still devastated and I’m honestly just curious about that mountain in general.

The mountain base is covered by a dense fog and the mountain’s tip extends far past the clouds. It’s so massive that it takes up a huge chunk of the south rim up through the middle of the continent. This is where we fought Malthiel.....

Looking out at the desolate area, I see the aftermath of the fight between Hlökk and Malthiel. The earth has been devastated and torn trees and broken up earth are scattered throughout the battlefield. There were massive craters throughout the dirt and no life remained in this blackened pit.

I decided just to make it me and Fenrir this morning as it was still way too early and the sun wasn’t even up yet.....I haven’t decided what we’re going to do with these slaves just yet but my mother seems to be happy having someone others in the house and talk to while I’m out. ‘.....it’s actually quite nice.’

I’ve thought of maybe teaching some of them hunting or even basic fighting techniques but I guess that will have to come with time. I wake up very early and most of the kids when they finally get some sleep...they’re out. The 2 elves an slept in the bed with my mother.

Noah slept on the floor but we made a pillow and blanket for him to have, Lilly would always sleep right next to him. I’d always catch her staring back up at me in my bed......and Ari.....she couldn’t walk well yet as even though her body was healed it was still far too weak to do much. Years of abuse can’t be healed in a day I’ve found, they can’t be healed with one good action.

She always fell asleep though right at the foot of my bed every night. She would fall asleep there before any of us and knew she had lyed down. She didn’t always sleep through the night but I had picked her up and let her sleep in bed with me the last few nights. The first night I let her sleep on my chest to see if her breathing had truly been stabilized.....it had.

Sometimes she’d wake up and I’d hear her gasp.

“ah...eh.”

She apparently thought she had been sleep walking. I kept telling her it was ok to sleep in bed with my mom or even me, but she just got really red and would look away.

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I kept Fenrir close to me as we walked through the broken ground and craters that littered the destroyed environment. The surrounding forests have been decayed and look the same as they did that day Malthiel had touched down.

Ruf!....Ruf!!!

Fenrir started to run away into the white mist that covered the mountain base near the forests edge. He ran like a dart and plunged into the white smog that covered everything.

“FENRIR!....Dammit!”

I started to run after him as fast as I could. This little silver cub was strong but it was still just a cub at heart. Its body was still small and could no way fend for itself around here. I sprinted as fast as I could and plunged through the white smoke and couldn’t see anything in front of me.

Ruff!

Ruf!

I just kept hearing his small bark and kept advancing forward through the dark white smog. I couldn’t see anything in front of me and then brought out my white mask from my inventory. An added skill that has been placed on it allows you see in the dark! That along with being incredibly durable and being able to see critical hits it is a very interesting item. I wonder if Loki made this too?

I worry because this area is filled with Baums.....a very large and dangerous tree type monsters my mother has told me about. I have never seen one but I am told the moment you see it you need to immediately take it down or its roots will absorb all your life force away. I honestly don’t want to deal with something like that in this smoke.

Ruf! Ruf!

I started running faster and remembered over the last couple days this little wolf has been kind of entertaining .Though it has no way to speak back to me, I know it understands everything I’m saying. Two nights ago Ari tried to walk for the first time and started to fall. Fenrir dashed over and in a moment caught Ari with the side of his body. She was originally scared of him but he would lower his body as if invited her to ride her. It was a site that made everyone in the cabin smile.

“ehehehe”

Ruf! RUF!

He would jog around the house and Ari would tightly with her small little fingers grasp onto his fur and run around the house. Both their tails started to flurry around.....’I don’t know what it is about them but the past few days....spending time with them has........done something to me.’

I burst through an edge of the smoke and within an instant, see a giant landscape in front of me and a large 100 feet drop off cliff that I would have ran straight over if I didn’t see the light coming in from the smog.

You have now entered Balor’s Grand Dungeon: Buried Life!

You are currently on floor 52

Due to being the first to find this dungeon you will receive 2x experience on monsters for the next week!

Every monster you find for the first time will drop its best loot!

“Oh Wow!”

In the distance I see.......a large and lush forest and landscape that shouldn’t be here. I see large peculiar trees that stand taller than mountains themselves and large peculiar land masses hovering in the sky. This is.....this is beautiful.

It said it was called....Balor’s Grand Dungeon........Balor....the same name of a skill I still haven’t used on that scythe. I guess Malthiel’s master built himself a dungeon. If I remember correctly......Balor was an Irish dark God....something like drought and blight.’ I found a lot of information about him, I wonder if he is the same Balor. It said the name was....Buried Life?....How am I already on floor 52? Where is this place?

In front of me is a large world that should not exist here. It is as if the mountain does not exist at all. No......I passed through the mountain and now I am here. I am currently standing on what appears to be a large cliff and I’m hundreds if not thousands of feet above ground...‘Wow........this is......truly an amazing site.’

I can see small bird type monsters flying in the distance and waterfalls from the large floating land masses with the waterfalls falling over to the ground. The crystal blue waters I can see from even here. I think I even saw a large walled city in the far stretch of land as well. From this height I can truly see everything. Even........A bright sky. An oddly orange bright sky as if it is sunset. But it’s not.....It should be risen. The sky is orange and in the sky has a large red moon. It covers roughly half of the sky itself and I can tell this is not the same world I was just in.

Looking in front of me I can even see a large massed rock structure extending passed the clouds.....”Where am I?”

Dungeons are suppose to be strange existences in this world. Monsters will continue to respawn and after destroyed and according to my mother are places left by very powerful existences. Conquering one of these labyrinths can gain a lot of a fame to those who conquer one and this one seems to have its own sky in it. Since I'm the first here this has be quite the hidden gem.

Ruf!

Ruf!

Looking down I can see a silver dot running into a small forest...‘What.....how did he get down there?’

Looking down I have no idea how Fenrir managed to scale a 1000 foot wall so easily.....Can....can he fly or something?

‘Oh......there appears to be a large staircase only a few feet to my right.’

“...........”

I ran down the large cliff like stair case and it almost looks to be carved into the rock.

Running through a lush forest I can hear all kinds of sounds and monsters. There’s obviously predators in prey in this forest and Fenrir ran straight in here......

ROAAARRRRRRR!!!!

‘Woah......I’ve heard that before’

Ruf!

“Damnit!”

Running faster I get to a clearing and see the silver fur of Fenrir standing on end as he is looking up at an incredibly large black monster. It looks the same as the black smog wyverian from before only this one is clearly dozens of meters bigger. It is massive and under its title....it had a name Whalrremn Level 256.

It was a black smog dragon much bigger than the one I saw the night I got here but this one has its scales on end and roaring back at Fenrir. I could now view monsters at least 150 levels over me after raising my level. Currently I was 149. After killing all those people that day at the colosseum, I rose 2 levels. I find it odd that this world even counts murder into experience.....

‘There’s no way you think you can attack that thing do you? That smog dragon from before had a black mist that melted people that had steel armor on like a wave washing over a poorly built sand castle. It’s what makes black smog dragons so dangerous.

RoaarrrRRaaa

The dark wyverian raised its scales and an intense dark mist began to sparkle and fill the air but then immediately fade away. It’s as if the skill had gotten disrupted mid go and caused the black wyverian to shake. All I could see was Fenrir sitting there with his back to me staring at the large black wyverian.

What is he doing to that thing?

ROAARRRRR!!!!!

The wyverian then seeming to break free over what is going on begins to charge at Fenrir and roar a menacing shout that pierced through the skies...’I can’t let this happen.....I have to put this thing down immediately!’

I just got Fenrir a few days ago and this was just to supposed to be a small hunting trip. Early this morning instead of punching practice, Fenrir and I went off for a jog. I wanted to teach Fenrir to hunt and become a good hunting dog. I’ve never actually owned a pet but I have taken care of some small animals that my sister would play with from time to time in the apartment.

Fenrir apparently had the same ability that I do. Demonic Absorption, it can make something truly powerful and the potential of this thing, I can understand just as much as he can. I wonder why he gave me this thing.

I brought out Abgrund that was clearly a weapon to have claimed many lives. I pierced the dirt of the ground beneath me as I sprinted towards the dark smog dragon. I used Lightning Step and found it was something entirely different than Flicker. Flicker bursts my body forward with a burst of magic energy. While Lightning Step bursts

my cognitive functions by 10%. And all I can say is wow!

The world has slowed down and became still. I can see the smog dragon from before frozen in time and roaring down at Fenrir. It is happening but very very slowly..‘This....is only 10%?’

I swung the Abgrund horizontally toward the large dragon releasing the skill Dark Sever.......

ShEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

The sounds of screams coming from the scythe can be heard and a torched sound fills the surroundings. And a dark sickle shaped light shot towards the smog dragon. The right entire top half of its head began to slide off and the large black dragon filled with smog in the air dropped to the ground without putting up a single struggle. The surrounding trees that were as tall as mountains that were struck by the Dark Sever have cleanly cut through multiple trees through the forest. It is a pure wave of desolation and everything that was clearly cut by this skill shows a black and molded residue. Smoke comes off the black dyed earth and trees and crackling sounds can be heard.

Your Level Has Risen

Your Level Has Risen...

Crackling noises came from the scorched surroundings along with the sounds of notifications going off.

‘Woah.......I do not need to use that again. ‘ I put up the scythe and run over to Fenrir.

He is just nonchalantly biting at the fallen monster. He is actually cutting through the scales rather......easily!....That thing should be insanely though! The black smog dragon’s scales are supposed to be the top in the wyverian species and 100 times stronger than steel.

Blood starts to come out of the dead half dragons chest and I just sit in amazement as this little puppy that honestly has a rather adorable face..........is doing such a horrid thing.

Ruf!...Ruf!.....

‘No way......! Is he retrieving the heart!.....Good boy!’

Clearly this is a smart wolf. I guess Loki truly made something intelligent if he is going to give it to his champion.’...Though.........He has two champions........Ugh....Loki.’

I had obviously asked him about where my sister had gone........I was amazed at his response.’

----------------------------------------

“Hmm.......Ya know I don’t really know.”

“WHAT!!!”

Loki just sat down in a chair trying to shoot magic tricks at Lily and Noah. They were starting to play with the small fireworks and laughing together.

I however was still mad and swore a little bit. Then got struck by my mother......Scolded at by Hlökk for using that language in front of children which I then apologized though.......

He later told me he honestly wasn’t a 100% sure at the moment as she never stays in the same place for very long. She is apparently quite rambunctious and loves to travel. Since by the time he came to talk to me she could be anywhere. She has also apparently gotten pretty good at spatial magic.

I asked her where he thought she was and he just said somewhere around the Central Continent.....probably. He said she was in the western continent and then in the central continent and has simply been seeing the sites all over.

I kept pressing for answers but he was insinuating he was busy displaying magic tricks for the kids.......Now that I notice Loki is actually trying really hard to impress these kids. Apparently Noah isn’t responding and even the elves are looking at him oddly. I know he can communicate with them but they just kept giving him strange looks which apparently made him try harder.

He tripped and then everyone had an honest chuckle at his expense, which made him give up. Though he did seem to open up the kids a bit more after that.

“Ya know that wouldn’t happen if you weren’t wearing such odd shoes Loki.”

I questioned him about his odd attire. Though he was wearing a rather nice modern suit he was wearing bright green boots that looked like they were made from alligator skin.

“Oh do you not like them Kayle? They are the new hit craze in Asgard. I got the idea from some of your attire from your home. I made it from the tail of an odd lizard species in this world. Aren’t they nice!”

He then began to flash his oddly pointed green shoes at everyone in various poses.

“Who’s Kayle?”

“........”

Everyone looked around the room to Lily’s question. It was the first time we’ve heard her voice so clear to be honest. Everyone looked back at Loki then at me.

They took an initial shock at finding of my true identity. They learned I was from another world but not my past. I was reborn into this world and Elryia has been my mother ever since. Since Loki was explaining it everyone in the room was capable of understanding him. I just stood there silent.

It’s not like it was bad memories I just hadn’t much to say on the subject.

The elf girl whose leg was broken from before would then glare at me more.

I found out after that day from Hlökk that the elf girl with the broken leg was also a Blessed Person. I told her my name was Vali but both of them never really told me their names. Hjokk nor Loki could even see who she was blessed by. It was a sort of cover for Blessed Person’s to not have the identity of their God’s known. Loki then stated who he was and that he was a God checking up on his protégé.

“Wah...”

“go...god!”

“...Lo....Loki!”

Everyone including the elf maiden showed their shock to what Loki had said. Though the other one didn’t look too scared the one who had her leg broken made a shocked face back at me after finding this out. I don’t know if she was sizing me up or not, she just kept quiet for some odd reason.’ Apparently seeing me eating a heart was a little........well yah ya know I get it.

She and the elf who I had saved in the coliseum had to return back to their homeland. I asked to help take them back but they heavily applied that I could not. The sacred Forest that they didn’t even tell me its name did not allow humans there, ever. Though they said they were truly thankful to me for what I had done. The one who I touched by the neck I have caught staring at me too for quite some time, she never did give me her name though. Which I thought was strange that the elves never once introudced themselves. I only knew Tiffania’s name because I heard the blessed one say it. Though every time I look at her she turns her head away. Hlökk then offered and flew with them to escorted them home. She later told me a couple days later when she returned that the 2 elves wish to send their thanks and will be sending a thank you message in the future.

She didn’t however say what that would mean. I asked if that was normal and Hlökk just shrugged saying elves are quite odd creatures. They aren’t gods but they are practically immortal. Though if they’re........virtue is stolen......they aren’t looked at as disgraced so much as just pitied. Some of these elves aren’t like they were depicted in the story books. Though their long silver hair and long pointy ears were quite cute and would show their emotions rather on their sleeves, they weren’t up for talking. I was only told they were slaves for a couple of days but a lot can happen. The elf with the broken leg was hit a few times and was treated roughly. Though nothing quite as cruel as the other elf I had saved in the ring. She had been previously raped by some man who bought them from the slaver at the colosseum. The elven girl Tiffania was beaten and abused and then returned the next day to her ‘sister’.

----------------------------------

--------------------------

The next day. Listening to the stories I could understand why she would be afraid of me and Loki....I could understand why she even wanted Hlökk in her bird form. They weren’t use to humans just sitting down and not treating them like dirt.

Though I would have liked to get to know the elves more since I had never met them but they had to get back to their home city quickly. They didn’t talk much and I don’t know if that was actually my fault though. I don’t know if Loki has good connections with other Gods but.......yah she gave a vibe like I would obviously be a trouble maker......figures.

Loki did say that’s why he originally put up the barrier and that was my fault but.....’.Ugh....He’s just such an odd God. He kept talking about his stupid boots and how he sold some to a World Tree......what’s a world tree going to do with lizard-man boots!!!’

He always does weird poses too when he talks he’s really weird.

“Hlökk....do all blessed people have God’s like him?”

“Eh....welll.....the God’s can all be rather.....”

“Oh what’s the matter Kayle! don’t you like them, I’m making a fortune in the God realms.....hahaha!”

“.....Yah. I’m going by Vali now, and umm aren’t you just a little too excited about shoes?”

“Oh yes.....that name...mhmhmhmhm. And to answer your question with a question, do you want to know how long an eternity is?.......Well it’s rather long. And I find that it’s much more enjoyable if you throw yourself into your interests.”

“........”

“hehe”

I could hear Ari laugh. Probably cause Loki dances around so much when he talks. He keeps doing lunges and poses trying to show off his stupid boots.

“And what’s wrong with that name? It was chosen by his mother! I happen to like the name!”

My mom smirked towards Loki as if saying she were proud of the name she had given me and he just simply smiled back and looked back at me.

“Hmmmm and does the hero remember the mythologies of Vali from any old books?”

“......no.”

“Haha....well he was actually Odin’s son who was sent to kill Loki after I had somehow managed to kill Balder.....your world’s prophecies are truly hilarious!”

“There’s a prophecy about a God named Vali?”

“Mmm well he is Odin’s son you see....But I’ve found so much of the text in your mythologies about us are not at all credible mhmhmh! Did you know it said I could kill the indestructible Balder with something called Mistle Toe.....WUhahahahah!!!!”

“Umm.....what are you getting at?”

He kept laughing to himself looking up at the ceiling.

“Oh nothing......just saying it was hilarious watching him choke up the stuff in front of everyone at an annual warrior’s banquet....mhmhmh. But anyways all I’m saying.....perhaps the prophecies are right and some are wrong....but in your world’s knowledge....Vali and Loki were destined to fight......I wonder if that means we too are destined for something....”

“Destined to fight....oh don’t worry Loki if you think your getting a beating someday your right....it’s coming.”

“Just saying it’s a coincidence is all mhmhm.”

He smiled back at me and started trying to impress the kids with his magic again. Since they weren’t originally in to him and didn’t give him an immediate response he tried harder. And when they finally started to crack up at his weird since of humor he somehow seemed over joyed.

I wonder if other blessed individuals dislike their god's....

----------------------------------

Sitting in the woods Fenrir had eaten a part of the large heart and his grey hairs stood on end. Whenever he would attack a horned rabbit his hair rose up like tiny needles and he would then sprint away.

He was such an odd animal and always seemed to be easily excitable.

“That good?......You really need to not run in like that ok buddy.”

I took a bite of the heart and sat beside the dead black dragon.

“Mmmm”

It tasted sour, like some kind of juice. Kind of like a starburst with a grape flavor to it. Hmmm

You have learned a new skill!

Decaying Mist

Congratulations!

Due to your natural affinity in darkness you have learned a new skill!

Due to your 25% Darkness Affinity, Decaying Mist skill has been changed to Abysmal Mist

‘Yes!.....Aw this looks to be the skill I wanted even a passive skill...I wonder, my skill says it takes the skill randomly.....but I usually get some very interesting abilities. Like Death’s Grip and Freya’s Soul Recovery.....It’s all top tier skills and I’m sure the things I took had multiple skills but each of these appear to be some of the more powerful ones. But, my darkness resistance which I’m told any resistance is insanely hard to raise. Hjokk says some of the strongest and most powerful mages in the world have something like 30% resistances. They are very hard to raise as it is a natural affinity in this world. Though I somehow absorbed quite a lot of those affinities....the point of the matter is resistances are not easy to raise and even a few percent could take decades of effort in this world.

I’m just naturally reminded that this world is a game still. Entering into this apparent dungeon, I feel as though my nerves are constantly on end.

Dungeons are a weird thing in game worlds. They are places that a player can go to kill monsters and gain large experience with even greater rewards. Though it was more dangerous as monsters were usually twice as strong in dungeons. This however looked to be a completely different world inside of this mountain.

This mist has changed into Abysmal mist....apparently the smog was a sort of decaying and acidic base skill but my darkness magic resistance has added a new skill to sort of chain together. Though I’ve never seen a chain like this. I suppose monsters have different skill trees as well but this is ridiculous. Though in this world.....everything is connected to an RPG element and I keep forgetting.

“How ‘bout you buddy get anything good?”

Ruf

I looked down at him and he then hopped in my lap and grinned his teeth. A small black drip came down and fell to the earth. The earth just stayed dyed but nothing really happened after that. I guess it’s like a poison ability.......‘Pretty good boy....’

I started petting Fenrir and he scratched himself behind the ear to show him my happiness. But not before I scolded him thoroughly about running off and never using this ability without my consent...it honestly looked like it could be dangerous.

“Alright buddy lets......”

“Si....Sir!.....Do not attack!”

“Huh.....”

Whoever that voice is has not shown up on my radar at all.

I felt someone walking closer to me and jumped back with Fenrir both getting in a stance....It said that I was the first to discover this dungeon but someone clearly just talked to me.....What I saw though was..........What?

Standing in front of me in oriental clothing are 2 demi humans. They both have black hair with long white streaks going through it and rounded ears. Small curled tails with the same stripes are coming out of their thin clothing. They appeared to be something like a white tiger race as the female had whiskers too.

Though her figure was athletic and curvy her fists were massive and looked like a bears’ only with black fur and white stripes. She and a boy who looked similar only much more muscular stood in front of me. They looked quite strong, even though they asked me not to attack I am the one on alert right now......There level said 214 and 223.....‘What!!’

Hlökk mentioned that there were much higher leveled adventurer’s and individuals in the other continents. Though she did however mention that this was a newly founded continent for the human territories. The demi humans who are second in population only to humans, are thought to be much weaker. After rising my level I obviously asked about my level gap around this region and becoming the new Lord of the Forest........But how are these 2 demi humans so high level!

“.........Who are you.”

Ruf!

“Ah.....ugh....Listen, we wish for you to come with us please. Also.....please refrain your animal please!”

Fenrir was slowly approaching them and the white tiger race man seemed to be frightened. I don’t know if they saw Fenrir try to take on the smog dragon but I think he must have some natural ability to scare people somehow?

“Fenrir!”

Snap!

I snapped and he came back to my call. I’ve taught him this much.

“Listen how did you find this dungeon? I figured I was the first here?”

“.......”

“.......”

They both looked at each other confusingly and did not know how to react to what I had said.

“Umm.....What are you talking about? You seem to maybe be a person from......the lower levels?.....Though I don’t see your ears?”

“Huh....no I’m human”

Answering the girl’s question each of their eyes grew in shock.

“That’s......that’s impossible.”

“Wha...how!”

Both of them showed their shock and didn’t know how to take what I had said.

Immediately the black haired Demi human grabbed me and pulled me close to her while she examined my head. She kept pushing my face down and I realized quickly she was quite strong. She kept feeling my head and playing with my hair.

“Wha...Where are your ears? They don’t seem to have been cut off or anything....You.....you have them on the side of your head!”

As the male demi human stepped forward to the girls question Fenrir jumped out and scared the large muscular demi human. Both of them appeared to be around their late 20s but were each very strong looking individuals. It was at this moment......both of these two are not wearing armor of any kind. Simple thin cloth and leather armor around their waists.

“Yah....Like I said...human”

I motioned to my ears when she pushed me away and they just kept looking back at me with shock.

“How is a human here?”

“Is it really that odd I live quite close by.......wait.....are you saying you guys live in here?”

As we both stared at each other our mouths were open....It was an odd situation.

“Listen!!!.....Um...Can you just come with us please....we wish for you to speak to someone right away!...If...that is of course ok with you sir.”

The man freaked at my question and even though he seemed so strong he appeared shocked at me being a human.

“Why is it so odd that a human would be here?”

They started pulling my arms and run with me through the forest.....It was then I realized just how strong the white tiger race was. Though the women with black hair didn’t have a large frame she had muscular legs and as she ran she would jump and land from tree branch to tree branch. She was pulling me and Fenrir chased behind us. Honestly it baffles me that these two people can do this. They are running so fast and none of their weight is being displaced on the thin branches. We follow behind the male demi human and are ripping through the forest.....

When we whisked through the air it felt completely different than cutting through the wind like I had been doing.....They flowed with it.

We landed in an opening and I was honestly so shocked at what I saw, I couldn’t contain my initial reaction. I didn’t even land correctly but just kept looking at the site in front of us. A huge walled city made of a dark black stone stood taller than even the mountainous trees. The stone wall looked massive and I had no idea how anyone could have made this. The wall looks to be very well made. From all the construction I have seen so far in this world and from their advancements in anything......This is the most advanced thing I have seen since coming here. On top of the wall that out stood mountains. Were large cannon like objects that stood covering the walls. They.....know how to build cannons?

Clearly if this world knows about the use of cannons I was always curious how this RPG like game world would handle it.

Looking at the large metal cannons I froze.......All I could think of was who were these people...’..They set up home here....in a dungeon!’

Fenrir and I simply followed as we got closer to the wall, I got more and more amazed at the walls height. It made me only more amazed at who its constructors must be. ‘Are the white tiger race this good with technology?

Walking up closer to the wall I can see large groups of individuals training. Performing the same action one after another in a peculiar fashion....They are practicing martial arts. Each of them have black and white hair and are wearing red cloth instead of armor. They look to be completely ok being out in the open in the middle of a dungeon, but then again they did build an apparent city here so who am I to judge.

Walking closer to the wall is a small platform type device and the two demi humans I was with walked over to a group of other demi humans standing by the wall. Each of them were wearing some form of uniforms and appeared to be this cities military. They also seemed to be quite well coached......honestly they actually didn’t look much different than those from the military shows. The faces of those the two spoke to freaked out and looked to just show concern but the girl apparently is quite of high rank here.

The other guards stepped aside and did a weird salute with their hands raised.....

They ushered me on the platform and seemed to be quite nervous....‘What is really going on here?’

Even though I’m not sure If I should go with them so candidly if anything gets bad I could always just flash out of here right.......I am honestly curious and since none of them seem to be hostile I’ll humor them.

We got on the platform and two large demi-humans began to pull up the platform we were standing on. Looking at their muscles I noticed that each and every one of the individuals here had unanimously high levels. None of them were under level 200. Each and every one of these demi-humans were of considerable strength.

When we got to the top, the girl who still hadn’t introduced herself walked on top of the large wall...‘Woh......they made this’

The wall is so tall it begs to question how they were capable of doing something like this. The sky must be artificial but looks to be several thousand of feet from the ground. The wall looped around the dungeon floor and barricaded a decently sized city behind it. The wall was truly a monstrous structure that made it more than halfway to the ceiling of this floor.

We walked up to an even larger man. He had a goatee and white hair. He had the same demi human features but his hair was long and had the same black stripes running through them. His eyes were a bright shade of blue I haven't seen before.

After explaining what they had saw the white tiger man looked at me and his mouth wide open I guess they seemed like it was crazy to kill a smog dragon so easily....

“....You’re human!”

‘Guess not’

“Uhh yah.....So you guys have taken up residence here huh.......nice wall.”

As I answered the man with a large build with an almost gentle aura I then looked down the very large wall.......Damn that is a long drop.

“How did you come here child?”

I could hear a slight purr in his voice. He seriously did sound like a cat species. I tried not to chuckle and answered him.

“Just simply passing through. I didn’t even know there was a dungeon here.....Why are you guys living here anyways?”

“.......”

Everyone looked around at each other and then back at me.

He got much closer to me and started to examine me. As he got closer he felt around my shoulders and looked at me, I noticed his level......347.....’What the Hell!!’

This thing is also monstrously powerful. After he felt my ears he backed away and started laughing. At that moment everyone looked around then at him and some themselves started laughing. Since I didn’t get the joke I just stood there.

“ahhaaha! It’s finally time.....we’re finally getting out of here boys haha!!!!”

Everyone then went silent to his words. I don’t know if it was because of what he said or what would come next, but what walked down the large floor of this wall was a women in a dark black uniform. It was black pants with a black upper coat. She had a captain’s hat and long blue hair. It was of a more royal color blue than the man’s eyes but she was clearly a different species than the others around here. In fact....everyone surrounding the blue haired demi human were also wearing a different colored uniform. Their uniform each had a different crest entirely on the front and it was then I could see each of their levels. All around 270 and a couple getting close to 300. Though this women here was 306. She as well as all the black coated demi humans wore 2 long swords at their wastes and had fancy sheaths made for each. The sheet too was black but the handle was a bright silver and shined off the sun.

Each demi-human in the black robed clothing had royal blue hair and small pointy ears on the top of their heads. The men and women looked more like one of the cat races. Though I haven’t seen one with blue hair before.

Seeing me the women who appeared to be a higher rank approached me and smiled. Though she didn’t smile as calmly as the man did before, she.....looked back at me like a predator.

It was before I had any chance to escape she lunged at me and cleared a distance of several meters in an instant. She pulled her twin swords and lunged at me in a wonderful stabbing motion and I teleported to where she had originally been standing. The light from the swords were blinding. Each blade glowed in a brilliant ambient light I saw an entire spectrum of colors flood into the surroundings as she swung my way.

“...Nyah!....you clearly are a strong one! Did ol’ Malfius bring you up from the bottom floors? Tsk...Though I feel the need to warn you.... you people will never be able to take down a Fomorian with those fists. That’s why the majority of your race is practically extinct.....You were all butchered on the upper floors!”

She said this and then dashed in my direction and I used flicker to evade her strike and grabbed her wrist.

She did a twirl around my body and kicked my upper chin....she was actually very good.

I lifted up my fists and prepared for a box and she swung her swords down in the way of an acrobat and both swords with the lights stemming from the diamond tipped blades. They were made from an odd material that glowed.

She lunged through me and cut my cheek while also pulling up my cross necklace.....‘Wow.....for the sword to be able to cut my flesh that’s something....but hey.....what’s this light.’

Looking down at my chest the light from the crystal in the middle of the cross glowed and shined like it hadn’t before. It honestly looked no different now than the light coming off the swords. They looked to actually be........the same material?

“Those swords........What are they made out of?”

Saying this the women stopped lunging at me realizing I’m not a simple opponent and smirked.

“Heh....how do you not know of these? These are the only weapons capable slicing through the tough fur of the Fomorian. Don’t you know anything sewer dweller?”

She seems to think of me as something, I don’t catch the reference here. But that’s the second time I’ve heard that name. Fomorian.......That word sounds so familiar. Looking through the knowledge I have gathered over 9 months of reading books on mythologies and legend. Fomorian belonged to a race of dark giants. They were monsters that were....I don’t really remember. I didn’t touch much more on reading about it as that book clearly have not anything to do with those demons I saw. I simply closed the book and looked at another.

“What’s a Fomorian?”

“haha! What’s a Fomorian....Only the one thing that has pushed our people to extinction. Don’t they tell you anything on the lower floors seriously nyah.......What’s a fom......You...seem to really not know?!”

Looking back to the white tiger man with the white beard he just simply shrugged.

“I tried to tell you.........he’s from beyond this place.....this dungeon!”

“Ah!....Yo...you!”

She turned around and looked shocked at who I am now as if she didn’t believe it.

“Seriously though......What’s a Fomorian?”

WOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A loud noise that pierced through this open land had shook the ground, the walls, the people standing on it......‘It was a brilliant first attack’

You have been paralyzed by fear from the Roar of a Fomorian!

Due to your resistance to Fear:

Strength has been reduced by 44%

Agility has been reduced by 12%

Ability to successfully use a skill has been reduced by 33%

Abilities at holding a weapon will become more difficult

Looking down the wall for the first time I see what looks like an honest to god monster in this world...

ROARRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Pushing past the same trees I had considered to be as tall as mountains over with ease is a very large Black Creature that blocks out the light from the moon behind him. Though not as big as the wall we are standing I honestly cannot even comprehend fighting that thing.

The dark beast clouded in dark mist that was standing on two legs then started running on all fours towards the large wall. Everyone in uniforms took stations and started to circle around the cannons and at the same time the black clothed demi humans had run and assembled as one.

“FOMORIANNN!!!!!!!”

“STATIONS NOW!!!!!”

“AHHH AHHH!!!!”

Orders were barked out and in an instant people were assembling to take on this beast.

The beast came barrelling in and crashed through multiple parties where the red armored demi-humans and some of the some of the ones in black clothing were originally training. Each and every one of them were brutally being torn and ripped apart.

The black abomination was level 415 and alone was wreaking havoc on these demi humans. The large black furred Fomorian was so large I contemplated not even guessing its height from up here.....’...It was big...Plain and simple.’ Due to being up on this wall it was hard to ascertain it’s size fully.

I remember reading about them but they were truly monsters that go bump in the night. They were bear type creatures with dark fur and oddly shaped heads. They had dark crimson colored eyes and a horrific laugh while they threw those caught on their claws into their large grinning mouths. Their arms were very long and had extended claws. They would lunge with their clawlike hands and skewered the demi-humans below with ease. The monster had no lips and long white needle like fangs. It constantly wore a grin but didn’t seem to show much emotion. It was however making laughing sounds as it would try to eat people.

“Wow....”

My amazement got the women in black clothing’s attention next to me and she simply raised her voice to the one next to her and gave an order.

“.....Gayle...The boy here asked what a fomorian was..........Show him who we are. Show him the power of our Struggle!”

She yelled it while brandishing her sword in the sky and staring daggers at the dark furred beast below. The dark monster had crimson eyes and didn’t say a word as it tore through each of those standing below.......Health bar’s kept disappearing and small lights simply kept blinking away and I could even feel the beats of their hearts simply come to rest.....’...All because....of that thing!’

With my new bones and body I could honestly probably survive a fall like this. Since I can’t take much more of standing around I went to lunge off the wall when something amazing fills my view.........The dark clothed demi humans from before faced the giant with grins on their faces. They weren’t like the ones in red clothing but were running straight for the giant beast.

Each blue haired demi-human jumped off the shaking wall and looked as if they were running down the wall itself. Each had perfect form and ran barreling down the wall like the wind. Their feet would lightly touch the wall surface and stride. Each kept their twin swords sheathed and jumped head first into the abyss.

....They danced.

They each pulled out their twin swords of light and swung them around. With each and every swing, a rainbow of light would stream from the smoothened diamond like finish from the sword. Clearly these weren’t normal weapons of some kind. Where do you get the materials for something like that?

The blue haired cat like demi human danced around the giant fomorian and would evade swings and then immediately attack. Their footwork was phenomenal. Even from here I could notice such a stunning display of footwork. After the gravel would be crushed by the monster's blow, they would simply pull off acrobatic stunts and jump straight back towards their attacker. All while perfectly choreographed with each other.

They danced around the dark beast and one ran up its long arms and spun around several times and the dark fomorians throat had been cut......’...Truly it was a magnificent display.’

Each and every one of the dark clothed demi humans danced around the beast that was laying waste and causing the wall to shake. As the monster fell to the ground the earth shook and then became swarmed by several blue haired demi humans with shining swords. Within moments the large monsters health had dropped to zero and the great furred beast had fallen.

“AHH!!!!!!”

“Another has fallen!”

The men and women demi-human cheered all around and everyone on top of and below the wall could hear the cheers of everyone.

“...Impressive.”

I looked down and smirked as it was an impressive show and I did not expect that outcome as I assumed I may have to jump in and pull out a certain weapon out if things got ugly.

“Now you see what it takes to take on a Fomorian........SO.......Are you really a human?!”

The black beasts were truly monsters that stood almost as tall as the giant trees they pushed over with ease. They weren't mere monsters and showed audacious mannerisms and sounds that made everyone cringe.

She with her hands behind her back got close to me and tried to observe me. Her tail swirled around and she didn’t seem to know how to approach me.

“mmm nyah! I suppose with those weird ears you aren’t from the bottom floor!!”

At that moment the women in dark clothing hugged me and seemed to be truly excited.

“Seriously......what’s going on here?”

“I think I can explain that to you son.......If you’d.....allow me.”

The white haired man from before stepped up and all the men at attention straighten up and stood up in a correct form, all besides the blue haired woman in front of me.

She smiled and looked back at him as both their tails whirled around oddly....this world is so weird.. Seriously all the demi-humans here move their ears and tails around quite a lot so it’s much different than what I’m use to back home......would it be weird to ask them to stop?

“Now....My name is Malfius...This women next to you is Ecclaire. I’m sorry for her previous attacks.........she and I will have an obvious conversation about such actions later.”

He looked at the women and she just rolled her eyes back at him.

“What’s the big deal....he seems to be strong anyways.”

“....I don’t think you know how much....He could use magic!”

“Huh!?”

She and everyone looked at me and were shocked.

“Yes....and that is not all..........boy can you do us a favor.....Can you bring out that weapon you wielded to insta-kill that black smog dragon today. “

“Ah...what?”

"Oh Abrgund?"

“What?”

The girl looked in surprise to what he had just said as if she were surprised I was stronger than she thought. Seriously

did she think I was just quickly running around her earlier?

I took out Abgrund and everyone on top of the wall just stood there wide eyed......No words were said just silence......Staring at this scythe.

“That......That scythe.......”

“Is......Is that the same scythe?”

All the surrounding demi-humans began to clamor.

“Ah this....I got it off an undead I help kill. It’s a dangerous thing though so I don’t play with it too much....Though I’m told it makes those around uncomfortable?”

“......uhhh yes.......We know.”

“Oh....sorry about that. I’ll put it away as I felt everyone’s tensions.”

“Well.....now everyone could see huh.......My people told me this boy wielded Malthiel’s scythe.......and took down a smog dragon with one swing with this thing. He has magic.......he’s human......He can possibly help us escape this place!”

Every demi human in the surrounding place began to clamor and speak up. The girl from earlier for one.

“Ah...but....he’s such a small level there’s no way he can take on a titan.”

“......Level is not everything Ecclaire!”

“Yes it is!”

They both started glaring at each other arguing kind of comically......they’ve clearly done this before.

“Listen ummm eh......”

“I’m Vali.”

“Vali.....yes. Well......Since I believe you are someone from beyond this place and someone of incredible strength to

have slain Malthiel. I believe that you can help us escape....”

“Escape?”

“Yes.......Centuries ago a dark god named Balor appeared and sunk several tribes and nations into the bottom of a dungeon he had created. Our ancestors were all gathered on floor one of this dungeon centuries ago. He claimed that should we ever advance to Level 100 we would be granted freedom........that was several hundred years ago. We’ve lost many of our own but we kept strong. We kept pushing past the levels and made it to floor 63......”

Everyone’s faces showed grimace at that statement.

“.....Though we had been trapped in this pit for all of our lives.....We became strong. We fought monsters daily and life became about protecting one’s freedom. ...........we have been down here for a very long time.......We got to floor 63 where a weird monster called a Fomorian first appeared. They were dark black furred beasts and they were stronger than anything on the floors below. This dungeon was invented by a dark god so smog dragons and fomorians are not all that lurks down here Vali.....The monsters tore through the advancing teams and crushed them. We sent party after party in there after them to receive any intel and every one of them hasn’t returned. We clearly decided to hold off on advancing through the floors when after a few months’ time those same black beasts that were sited started coming down to the lower floors........We’ve been pushed past to making a walled city here on floor 52.....we’re kind of at the last end of our rope as you can see.”

Looking around I could see the wall and everyone with a very serious look looked back at me in proper form.

“Those interesting swords of yours seem to slice em down just fine though.”

As I said this I thought about the fact that I cannot go to war for these people. I can possibly help them escape this place but I can’t just jump into a fight with a being like Malthiel so candidly.

“Ah yes......these came from a peculiar rock we found on this floor. We built a city around the mines and have our main base of operations here for the advance teams. Though there are more cities in Dark Eden.”

“Dark Eden”

“It’s what we call it here.”

‘I wonder where they would have gotten such a reference to Eden?’

“Yes that material from your swords seem interesting. “

“I see that necklace around your neck shines the same way.”

He was implying me to give some information about myself but I just sat there and contemplated all that he had told me.

“We wish to escape this prison one day Vali. You wield the weapon of whom someone we truly feared. And you claim to have slain him. He was like Balor’s executioner when we didn’t obey the rules here.....many of ours were sacrificed with that scythe.”

“......Yes...It’s true I killed Malthiel. But I have no intention of fighting his boss with you, if that’s what this is. However I can help you all escape this place.”

“Wha........what do you mean?”

My question shook the man and all those who stood atop the wall. It was so silent I could hear the wind blowing in my ear from up here.

“This floor you said is floor 51? I simply walked right into this dungeon by some entrance that is in the face of a mountain. I guess I killed the gatekeeper. I can show it to you if you’d like.”

“AH....uhhh yes....but wait. There are many we would need to evacuate if......though no wait.....We cannot escape with you.”

“What....Why not.”

“Balor would simply come down from the top floor and destroy us. He has made this dungeon so we cannot simply escape. Those who have tried have been executed in front of us and hung on the walls of each floor......We cannot escape this place by simply walking out “

“Hmm.......then let me see what I can do. I might get help if possible.”

“Help?”

ROARRRRR

ROARRRRRRRRRRRR

Loud roars shook the dungeon floor and large dark Fomorians began to burst through the trees and rush the wall. Everyone began to set up in stations again and get ready for the assault. Most of those on the ground were already killed or been ripped apart by the other Fomorian. Many have gone inside the gate and closed it already.

ROARRRR!!!!!!

BAM!!!!

BAM!!!!

BAM!!!!

Loud crashes on the wall began to crush shake the wall and the very foundation began to crumble. Large bits of the black stone would fall from the wall and down to the ground below. Some of those standing by the edge of the walls had fallen over to death itself.

The large beasts would slice and eat those that came into contact, though some tried to put up a struggle before their hp dropped to zero. Each beast was over level 400 and truly sickening to look at. They would eat monsters and laugh with that disturbing sound was enough to make any man cringe.

As everyone on the wall began to attack I put my hand on Malfius’s shoulder and told him.

“I’ll be back sometime tomorrow and we can figure something out........It’s getting late and uh.......... I got a curfew....”

They both looked at me in shock and I just kept walking past them. I had a smirk on my face as I wasn’t sure how they would take my actions. ‘I don’t know why at times like these I choose to be cheeky....perhaps it’s a defense mechanism.’

As the man then smiled to himself the girl with long blue hair had raised her arm in my direction. At that moment Fenrir had jumped into my arms and I had leapt from the monstrous black wall and down towards the dungeon floor.

I activated Abysmal Mist and descended towards the large dark black furred beasts causing mayhem below.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently I’m walking back home with Fenrir and about to be back at the cabin......Ha....I can’t believe combining skills can be so advantageous in this world. Apparently Abysmal Mist that somehow worked together with Dark Pressure has transformed that black smog entirely.....’....Hehe.....Those two are gonna show me some interesting faces tomorrow when I get back.’ The effects of raising skills in this world and combining them are truly fascinating, I didn’t even really get to fight them. I took out Abgrund and fell towards beasts expecting a fight.....They were all waist by the time I hit the ground.

“Hmmm.....”

I can sense someone nearby and hear a faint heartbeat. I’m not sure how but after obtaining death’s grip I have somehow managed to feel staggered heartbeats at times...’ and I feel as though.....I may be transforming into a sith lord.’

I cracked a smile at reminding myself at my ridiculous appearance. I could sense a couple small dots slowly approaching me as I moved....’..hmm.....It seems to be like I’m being hunted.’

I put on Loki's mask and turned on the night vision on it. I saw 2 glowing figures not far behind me.

I used spatial magic while also activating hide presence. The two dots on my radar belonged to two men in armor.

They had short swords and pendants on them.....It seems like they are both alone cause I can’t pick anyone else up but these two are now quite shocked at my disappearance. Since I can see their swords hanging out as if they were ready to kill me.......I simply severed the head from his body while I heard the other one being devoured by Fenrir in the dark forest. ‘....I seriously don’t have time to mess with thieves. If I’m late again honestly......My mom will probably start hitting me.’

I’ve been scolded several times but the last few days she has been more preoccupied. Lately me and her have been taking care of all the slave children at the house and I can feel as though my mother is having fun being somewhat of a motherly figure to someone and they are slowly warming up to her. Much more than me anyways....Though she is a demi-human like them.

I whistled walking to my cabin in the woods when I’m sure I hear something.....I hear 3 heartbeats and I’m actually sure of it now....though there is nothing at all on my radar......‘Where are they coming from.....’

Using my magic manipulation I swept the area feeling the pulses of life and trying to sense a presence of it and found that there were 3 figures hiding in a bush not too far away from me. I in all honestly have no idea if I’m being tracked but even my radar isn’t working on these figures and now I’m thinking this might be a trap.

‘Those weren’t just simple thieves........maybe someone is here from the kingdom whose coliseum I just demolished.....’

When I found out where they were I used spatial magic to appear behind them.

“..........What are you doing here.....”

“AH!...”

“AH!!!!”

“Eh!”

Sitting there were three......I’m gonna go with women figures all dressed in odd clothing. One appeared to be a female knight, the other a small elven girl with light blue hair, and another small girl in a big frilly dress. It’s.....honestly not something you’d expect those to have out here.

‘Are these girls trying to perform a trap with those thieves.....?’

“Ah...don’t kill us please!’

“....get back!"

Shing!

Coming from a tree to my right is a bright shining metal flying towards me. It flew towards me and I used lightning step to grab it between my fingers.

“AH!!!”

“Lucy, Lori....Cana. Everyone get behind me now!”

“..........”

'Like a....medieval.......midget......charlie's angels?'

Ruf!

Ruf!

Fenrir then jumped up in front of me and started barking but I think he thought we were playing. He jumped around like he was excited....’....nice guard dog!’

I just stared at the girl in knight armor wave her sword at me as all the small girls get behind her.....’....um....what is this?’

I tossed the shiny knife the small purple haired figure threw at me and tossed it on the ground.

“...Who are you?”

“I am mi... miss...la Lucy Asher......we.....came...to have a meeting with you....Ah....he’s cute!”

The small girl in the frilly dress reached to pet Fenrir then stopped.

“..........”

‘Who are these people?’

“Yes...her highness’s princess Asher wished to meet you sir. I hope you would give us some of your time.”

“.....that’s an interesting crest you have there.”

“Ah...Wha what?”

“The crest on your shoulder.......I just killed a man wearing a crest quite like just a bit ago.......he was attempting to kill me. Now......why are you all here!”

The girls shook and didn’t know how to respond to me. Are they that frightened.....? ?’...ah...geez’

“Listen...I don’t like cutting down women so you’re ok. But I would like to know what you’re doing here......miss Lucy?”

I said her name in a weird way as I started to observe each of them. The small girl was level 8 and those around her were 12, 16, and 65. The female knight women appeared to have a great sword stance and even looked to be a master. Her form showed that if I just stepped in front of her I would probably be struck down if not for my unnatural speed.

“Good.....then we would request....an audience with you if it would do right by you.......at a later date. My lord”

'that's an odd way of talking.....my lord?'

The women bowed after she said that.

“.....what?.”

When I ushered it was about her bowing she was treating me like some high king or something. I just waved her off and said I wouldn’t harm them but until I decided who they were I wouldn’t let them leave. They seemed scared but I told them I lived close by and to just follow behind me.

“Ah..you...want us to come to your house?”

“Yes....I have a curfew. I’m not allowed to stay out past dark anymore I’m afraid.”

“.............”

‘........huh?”

“............”

Each of them didn’t know how to respond to my compliment and timidly followed behind me.

“Ah...curfew? Sure you don’t mean?”

“Yep.......Mother’s right?”

“..........What is your mother like?”

“Oh stern....but caring.....I cherish her.”

'Damn...I'm sound like a momma's boy. '

As I walked through the door of the house I was halfway hoping she heard me saying that just now.

“Thi....this is your house?”

“What .....can’t the monster in the woods have a cabin get away?”

“......”

'I really feel like that odd annoying Loki talk is starting to come out of me now......I need to stop spending time with him.'

As I walked in and took off my mask I heard the sounds of quick patter

Pat pat patpatpapta

Bam

“Welcome......home!”

Ari had come in and greeted me as I walked into the cabin. Though I’m sure everyone is asleep she waited for me to come back.......’....This little girl has truly started to do something to me.’

I took off the jacket I was wearing that was covered in black blood and my soaked black v neck and put it by the door.

She had tried to run to the door and got too excited but her legs just aren’t strong enough to be able to walk in a day. Wounds I’ve learned can be healed but some damage takes much more time than that.....’...coming to this fairy tail world I’ve come to see things much differently.’

Spending time with her I find it more and more that the pains I’ve felt in life are nothing in comparison to this beautiful little girl had to suffer. Over the past few days my mother and I have been helping her learn to speak our language better. Lily and Noah have also been learning to speak our language a bit better. Apparently they can speak some but mostly speak some wolf language. When I’m usually outside exercising, many of them would stay inside and play with her tails or watch her do magic. ‘I won’t deny, the times now are a lot different for my mother, and we have both been enjoying it.

Some late nights and after meals when the others were napping, we would stay up late and talk. Ari still couldn’t quite talk yet but she was learning....and getting quite good at it. I’m truly lucky for the gift Loki had blessed me with in Universal Language Acquisition. Even if someone can’t talk properly yet.....I can somehow get an idea of what they were trying to say and communicate with them. Using these times always reminded me of helping Kaylan and Hayden learn to talk when they were younger. I would do the same lessons with them and these short times with Ari have been a gentle reminder of that. Though the stories were hard to hear.....they were a sweet reminder of a much simpler time.

I hugged Ari and picked her up. Her short tail started to wag and she looked back up at me.

“Ari...shhh. Everyone’s still sleeping. What’s the matter can’t sleep?”

“Nuh uh.....bad dreams.”

“Yah....me too.”

She couldn’t talk real well but she was so intelligent for her age. From her broken sentences I had determined that she was around 5 or 6 years old. Her whole life seemed to have been filled with constant torment except for one brief period of time. I feel just sitting here listening to it only fills my rage more. It truly breaks my already weak heart......Her parents had apparently been slaves as well and she was separated from her parents close to birth. They experimented drugs and magic on her and after she was used up, they just sold her to a slaver here. Kids would call her names and even throw stones at her.

Over the course of Ari’s life she learned to speak from fellow slaves when she was younger but most of what she says is in broken sentences. It’s amazing how much we could communicate with each other from before. It’s also guess why she has probably taking such a quick liking to me. She must if she’s waiting for me to get home. I’m the first person she can have these conversations with, maybe even better than with my mom.

Some days after meals and everyone would be napping, me and this girl would sit on a chair and I would help her learn to speak. I told her to tell me about her life....I knew it would be really hard to hear. And I know it would probably be hard for her to say....But I wished to know this little girl for some reason. I needed a reason to help her learn how to talk. So we worked on words together and even fell asleep together like that a couple of times. I don’t know why every feeling kept going back to Kaylan when I saw this little girl, but all I could think of was her. I feel like meeting this small girl is helping me let go to some of the struggles I've had to go through..

‘My life has been nothing but a recurring nightmare and I use to think sometimes it would eat me away.....’

But listening to the horrible agonies of the humans of this world I could only hold the small demi human girl tighter against my chest. Her tail would wagg and it had a nice soft fur to it so it tickled me. I tried not to laugh but it was hard not to smile back at her since these times we share are truly pleasant. She seemed to find it cosy sometimes and would slowly drift away in my arms. I find it this small little animal eared girl, in her own way has been healing me.

I sat down with Ari on a chair and ushered the 4 women into the dark cabin and issued them to be quiet.

They all walked in oddly and huddled up on the couch.

“It’ll be morning soon.......You can rest here, we can talk tomorrow......try to be quiet.......And I don’t think I need to warn any of you not to try anything do I?”

They each nodded and sat back looking at each other strangely. I told them they don’t have to sleep but to be quiet. I leaned back in the small wooden chair and held Ari in my arms.

I carved two pieces of wood and bent it to make a rocking chair for my mother. She naps on it every day actually.....she’s quite lazy.

Though it does feel nice sitting here helping Ari learn to speak. It takes me back to a much calmer time.....

“Today.......was so .....f un!....Elee...ryaa.......soo.....nice!”

“Yah....she’s a nice lady huh?”

These were the sounds that could be heard in the dark cabin in the woods. No one interrupted us and seemed to still be sleeping. The 4 young girls from before just lied together around the couch and didn’t seem to be sleeping from their heartbeats....but oh well....

End of Chapter