Edited by: Flubbykin

The first few corridors and chambers were lifeless up to the point that I started wondering if the dungeon wasn't made merely of traps, but eventually, I found the track of tiny animals. It was rather fortunate that I didn't take Giselle with me, for the creatures were her "favorite" kind of enemies - spiders.

Why it always has to be spiders? What happened with old-canon goblins? Plant-dungeons filled with walking mushrooms throwing out toxic spore and plants made of tentacles that would release cloth-melting ooze, later female adventurers would be kidnapped and turned into seeding-bags. Yesss, good old-canon RPG-s.

And here we have spiders. Tsk. Either author is getting lazy and running out of ideas for new dungeons or some plot twist will soon appear that would give out us a reason for such recurrence of monsters. Either way - It will be a rather boring dungeon dive for me - same monster type means I will not get a new DNA, and I didn't have enough time to enlarge the core with spider genes...

And then, as I entered the next room - it jumped on me. From the side. The creature was as big as a medium-sized dog and ridiculously fast. And damn me, if it wasn't a spider. CUZ IT FUCKING WASN'T!

- "Look at you..." I said after avoiding the creature's attack "...I am sure that you hear that you are handsome only from your mother alone..."

The animal turned in place facing me after its charge. Twisted chimera, spider-lish main body, bit elongated from the rear-ended with two tails, both with a needle that was dropping dense, dark liquid. Frontal limbs were raised and curved similar to praying mantis... But still, it's frontal body parts were actually elevated with its frontal limb being much longer, yet thinner

Scor-ver'ling - youngling Level [Level 12] The origin of this monster is a mystery - it hasn't been registered nor described by and scientist nor researchers, it is possible, that the creature does not exist in any other ecosystem and is an abnormal creation of dungeon or warlock

Insectoids like this one are usually pack monsters, especially close to the hives.

The monster opened its jaw showing three rows of needle-sharp teeth before it spat in my direction, once again, I managed to jump to the side. The stone touched by monster saliva started melting seconds after.

- "Hey-hey! Are you really level 12? That's sick, pal! Cool, but sick!"

Despite my praise monster didn't blush, didn't flutter eyelashes, nor turned in place yelling something like "W-w-what are you saying? Baka-senpai!" no, it just let out a vicious hiss and charged at me, this time not in straight line, but in similar to snake zigzag pattern. His sickles on frontal limbs danced in quite skillful, fast and deadly moves aiming my thighs (because of its size).

I kept jumping back (while scanning the area, just in case he was chasing me toward an ambush) trying to learn its movement pattern. This lone monster was simply not enough to be a threat to me, this is why I could with it a little. Scorveling put too much strength trying to cover the distance between us and bolted onward with such impact, that changing its trajectory was impossible. I took one step to the right and, instead of running back, I moved onward passing the creature on its left.

This is when beast used its tail trying to inject its venom. With my [Venom's blood] activated and my nature of a beast, I was more or less resistant toward most of the toxins, but the idea of being stabbed was still rather unpleasant - I charged mana shock-wave on my palm and with the impulse of magic I threw the creature on the wall.

I was pretty much sure that monster would be turned into bloody pulp, but it twisted its body mid-air and landed gracefully on the wall. Bastards could climb perfectly vertical walls, that's key information.

For the next 5 minutes, I was dancing with a lone monster in the room, and when I was sure he showed me everything he got, I finished its life with a one, swift strike of the spear. In the meantime, I noticed I was no longer alone (not counting Sebastian, that moved to the side letting me had my fun)

- "The difference of powers between you and that creature was obvious, why did you lose so much time and energy to kill it? Does it please you to make weaker enemies suffer? To give it hope that you would later shatter?"

My annoying-tail decided to catch up on me.

- "You sure are very quick to make a judgment," I said while cleaning blade of the spear off monster's blood.

- "Silly mortal..." It was my familiar that decided to scold her "... I have seen your type before. Mindless wanna-be heroes that charge in without studying. People that will keep hitting the stonewall with their own heads till one would break. My master WASTED that time and energy to see what those creatures are capable of. To learn its movement pattern, how they attack, how they retreat. This creature here was alone and fairly young - the best specimen for studies. Now, if we would be surrounded by a group of a dozen of these creatures, Zari-el will know how they would attack even without seeing beasts behind him. Foolish front-line soldiers will never understand the sophisticated beauty of his actions."

- "Sebastian, you are making me blush." I raised my spear up changing its grip, now I was carrying it as a regular staff "... also, you don't have to answer her nor protect my good name... if I had one, to begin with."

- "My apologies." he bowed his head, kneeled and put on of his winged arms on his chest, almost like a knight.

Incredible. Despite that he pretty much bullies me while we are alone, he does act like underling while a third party watches us. Does he wish to improve my charisma and prestige in the eyes of other people... or does he merely want other people to underestimate him and treat as a lesser devil? That gives him a tactical advantage... or maybe he is just into role-playing? Sebastian-Bachoru a LARP nerd? Hard to imagine...

She opened and shut her mouth a few times.

- "Just give up, Sebastian, stone shattering isn't a bad thing. How many times I was overthinking something just so Giselle would just charge through and solve the case. Also, when people like myself are evaluating the risk and are looking the way while wasting time, their impulse is what it takes to actually save a life. It is soldiers, not generals that actually wins the battles..."

- "But it's general that wins the wars." Bachoru finished

- "I..." Blanka would eventually start "... I can't overlook your crimes of breaking the law. But... for the sake of the citizens living in villages and cities around this dungeon... We should join our forces."

I look at her with empty, bit annoyed gaze.

- "We have no idea how big this dungeon is nor how much time we will need in order to clear it. If we would have to spend a night here, it would be better to have someone to watch your backs and take turns in keeping the guard..."

- "I have my familiars and they don't require sleep at all."

It is you needed me, not the other way around.

She bit on her lip.

She is still hesitating - she had no idea of what to think of me and wanted to use this time to decide how evil I exactly am, because - just as she said - we both could just go separate ways and clear it. Bah, this way we could even cover more of the dungeon.

- "Why do you so desperately try to avoid going with a team?" she was slowly losing her cold composure.

- "I am not, I was on dozens of team-missions, last month I spend with Giselle, and later also with Lanele that joined us. The only reason why I took a solo mission is because staff member begged us for help, for the town has a problem with too many cases that need solving. And I don't want to go with you in particular, because I don't know you. First, you were yelling something about pushing me and now you suddenly want to join forces? Seriously, that smells like backstab to me."

- "I would never do that! Unlike you, I honor the rules and..."

- "Only fools pledge their life to honor, only morons trust people that keep calling themselves honorable." I took a few steps away turning my backs to her "... my magic is ugly. I am devil-summoning curse using shape-shifting druid. I can't use my whole powers when someone slows me down. I am using wide area-range magic and would have to keep paying attention to not scorch you down. Last but not least, when I would turn into werewolf, would you not attack me?"

- "Werewolf?!"

- "I am not one. Mother burdened me with the task of being her priest. I studied forests, was listening to rives and embraced the wild. Eventually, I learned to mimic the creatures of forests. Some people call it magic of the beasts, and even though it is not dangerous for people around the caster, it is dangerous for caster because of the people around. You see, I learned that humans are very quick when it comes to grabbing torches and pitchforks. Tell me, if you would see two and half meter tall creature covered in fur and claws, wouldn't you attack it?"

I turned around with my head morphed.

My eyes were much larger, with vertical pupils, mouth turned into much larger maw with tusks and fangs so long that they were pointing out even with my mouth shut. She took a step back while laying hand on her sword.

- "And you just proved my point." I said with regret and sadness is tone "... just because something looks different, you have to eradicate, annihilate, murder and burn. Tell me, Blanka - blades of judgment. Which one of us a violent monster? Which one of us truly deserve punishment?"

I turned around and started moving deeper.

- "Feel free to follow me, feel free to aid me. If you can trust a monster, that is because this monster surely does not trust you."

Sebastian followed after me, and after moment or two I heard the chains of Blanka's armor singing as she began walking after the two of us, within next few seconds she caught up, and then took a position on the front.

- "As a warrior, I will take a role of vanguard."

She showed her back to me, in her eyes it was supposed to be a proof of her trust. In my eyes, it only proved her foolishness.

We walked the dark corridor, at its ends we could see the blinding light, and as soon as we approached we saw it.

The colossal room. Dozens, if not hundreds of meters tall and wide, with columns supporting the structure here and there. But, what was the most bizzare - the whole room was covered in bio-mass. floor was all wet, squishy and clinging to your boots.

And dozens, if not hundreds of those monsters were crawling around it. Some were carrying half-digested food (mostly animals) in their claws toward huge pits in the ground that were located every 30-40 meters. Those pits, were literally alive, with dozen tentacle-like tongues and huge needle-teeth growing from the edges.

The columns were covered with hexagonal room-shelves (just like in bee-hives) where eggs were hatching, In few of them disgusting grey larvas already wiggled demanding food.

Yet, the monsters were so very strange, all of them were bit different - the main body-torso was similar, but claws, fangs, tails... all were a bit different as if deformed. I knew what it meant - quickened growth. Something somewhere decided to spawn hundreds of children, as if looking for proper evolution path forcing the whole generation to live as twisted, incomplete-almost-cripples. Most likely their whole life was agony.

Somehow, my heart cried in pain seeing that.

- "What are those disgusting monsters?" Blanka hissed.

- "Poor, poor children of the dirt... Who did that to you?..." I whispered making blade-waitress turn in place in shock "... you are not the creation of Mother! You are deprived of her loving touch! Who could tear you off her loving embrace?!"

My eyes were slowly scanning the room, till they finally fell on my new "partner"

- "I think I owe you apologies for throwing your aid at begging, I have a favor to ask - we need to burn this place down. No matter what treasures we could find here. We have to return them to Aira. I, as a herald of her words, can't leave them be."

- "You don't have to convince me, even though our reasons are different."

~ Hey-hey!!!

What is it, Codex? If you want me to let those creatures be, just because they could cause a little bit of chaos then...

~ No-no-no! Fret not. I just think you are ready AND could use my help a little. Bring me out. I wanna show you something fun!

With little of hesitation, I summoned the book covered in black leather and covered in chains.

- "What is this grimoire?" eyes of Blanka narrowed.

I already noticed that she had some magical talent that allowed her let her sense and find the origin of magic.

- "That's merely a tool."

~ RUUUDEEE! Zari! You meanie! Who are you calling a tool! I have a feelings, y'know! You will have to properly apologize to me later! Baaakaaa!

Don't try acting tsundere.

~ HMPH! Now I wonder if I will help you at all!

You just want to try out a new spell, it has nothing to do with actually helping me. Even more, you would rather see me struggling covered in blood and now you are just hesitating with a form of fun you wish to witness.

~ ... completely seen through. HMPH! Fine! Know my graceful mercy! BEHOLD!

Book has opened throwing aside hundreds of pages till it stopped on the completely blank one. Words and symbols started appearing in the purple afterglow,

A new spell has been granted

This is...

~ Magnificent? Wonderful?

Heresy in pure form. You really want to get me stoned, burned, hanged and chopped in dozen pieces.

~ Stop being a little pussy and use it! Come on! Use it!!! UseItUseItUseItUseItUseItUseItUseItUseItUseIt!!!!"

The preparation will be bit problematic....

~ PROBLEMATIC!? From which fucking way?! Just do the regular, only in a bit more messy way.

Blood-fueled magic.

- "Blanka, you said you don't judge people based on the magic they use, right?"

- "Indeed, even blood magic may be used to achieve a noble goal... as long as blood comes from self-sacrifice. I will never stand using the blood of other people, even if they are prisoners or enemies."

- "How about the blood of those creatures?"

- "They are merely havoc-wrecking monsters. They don't even have self-consciousness. Carried by nothing but hunger and violence. Dirty and ugly..."

O-ho. The noble lady is slowly showing her true colors.

- "In that case... I will send my familiars with you and aid you with long-range magic. In the meantime... I will start activating my other spell. Blanka..."

- "Yes?"

- "Try shedding as much blood as it is only possible. Be messy."

- "I... doubt if I can..." the gaze I throw her was more than enough to stop this mindless conversation.

Blanka jumped down from the elevated ground into the monster-filled chamber. After my nod, Sebastian followed.

And then, I did something I started practicing some time ago.

With my right hand, I started creating explosive balls, with my left hand, I started opening a rift in reality to summon rest of pets. And at very same time my lips started singing a song, which words appeared on pages of Codex, written in the language I couldn't recognize, yet somehow, the meaning kept flooding my mind.

- "As on begging, so in the end,

The matter of blood carved in clay,

The vines, the heart, the liver, and brain,

Hiding dark secrets that all-life may bane,

For it is my task, to open them up,

Reveal the mystery hidden inside,

Let them rain down, let flood them with red,

Into crimson rivers and oceans of dread,

Wake up - oh ancient, forgotten and old,

Raise up from slumber and embraces so cold,

Reveal your form, in the beauty of hate,

I offer you their lives to shatter your fate."

That was merely the first part of the chant of the multi-leveled spell. It turned the whole area into the sacrificial altar, now, every death and drop of blood will evaporate into the magic enchanting the power of the spell. The more suffering and destruction, the more powerful it will become.

I looked at pictures of magical circles drawn in the book. The spell was few-pages long, and the last picture was showing what the spell was supposed to cast.And it made me have a second thought about casting this spell.

~ COME ON! IT WILL BE FINEEE!

Translation to everyone that still didn't notice what kind of person Codex-chan actually is: It is not going to be fine. It’s going to be the perfect contrast of word “fine”.