THE END

They gazed upon something that belonged to a fairy tale.

A quest, given by a long-dead King/Paladin/Somebody important enough. A daydream for little boys and girls. Alas, this is now and heroes were all but gone. The past had turned into a bedtime story, real as the ones where giants, big as the mountain, could be defeated with riddles and cupcakes.

Saldon had heard about the [Last Words]. It let the dead speak one last time before crossing to beyond. But the real kicker was the [Last Wish]. It compelled listeners for a time to obey. The boy already felt a light itch, a need to go, to search, to do something to make it stop.

“A quest… And a wraith? This can’t be real! And what’s with that gibberish? Can any of you read it?” Fabian seemed flabbergasted while looking at the textbox.

Sladon stayed silent.

“I don’t know,” Crewer confessed. “It didn’t sound right, but how should I know?” He stared at the locked he held. A simple, innocent looking thing made of gold. “Shame it ain’t silver.”

“That basically means, we’re doomed, you know that, right?”

“Yes, sadly, I’m aware.”

Mortals weren’t meant for hero quests. Well, those that expected to come home alive.

“Good to know, – Shit!” Redhead kicked a nearby stone and sent it flying. “We really needed this. No food, water or hope. Shit – Why?”

“Steel yourself.” Crewer’s voice came harsh, but reasonable. “We ‘ave come trough ticker shit than this. We aren’t dead. Think and be smart. Not all quests are above mortal hands. The dungeon isn’t her usual self. So what did the dead say? Something, something...”

Saldon finally chirped in, double checking in the text box. “To break a seal and to destroy a heart!”

“By heart, let me guess, it means our dungeons core?” Favian grunted, already imagining his untimely death.

“Most likely.”The old man agreed with a hint of gloom in his voice.

“Wait – wait!” Saldon gasped. “To kill The Core? Is it the right thing to do, sir? What will happen to the dungeon and its monsters?”

“… nothing good.” The commander confessed. “I won’t lie, if we do this and succeed, our brethren outside won’t survive. In all the tales I heard, when dungeon cores die, all the monsters are free – free to get revenge on this world. But it differs little to how it’s now. You saw them, monsters, blind with hate, wandering outside their domains. Nobody is controlling them. This dungeon is a living corpse. We can cut it off before the start of mass production of monsters. Every decade, more and more men die just to leave some standing for the next wave. Our numbers dwindle while it's only growing. Soon we’ll be pressed against the coastline with nowhere to go.”

“Woah, sounds like u had the whole speech planned out.” Favians stiffly joked.

“You could say, it’s been in the back of my mind. I've been at the front line more times I care to count. First, at age fourteen, I’m ninety-three this year.” He smiled at all the shocked stricken faces. Humans who level live longer, yes, but usually, they spent their extra years in peace. Diving in dungeons at this age was unheard of. “I've seen monsters spilling out of the grand entrance, devouring everything in their path. I saw magnificent spells light up the sky. Mortals bellow battle cries rivaling those of the heroes. Countless men fight for their King and their families. But, after it’s all done, and the dust settles, all I see are bloody bodies. No glory. No hope. Only death awaiting the next wave. I’ll be honest. The idea to search for the core scares me to death. But what scares me more is letting others die, just because I’m a coward to end all this.”

In silence, shame bloomed.

The text box slowly faded away.

“We could do it.” To surprise even himself, the boy spoke up.

“If ‘u haven’t noticed,” Unspoken threat permeated Favian’s gaze. “We don’t even have an idea, where it is!?”

“Ahead!” Without even missing a beat, Saldon pointed.

“U’re joking...”

“Explain, boy.” Crewer asked with a stern face that promised no forgiveness for liars.

“Well...” Now with all the gazes upon him, the boy felt cornered.

“Don’t stall!”

“Yes, sir!” Saldon liking his lips nervously. If he misspoke here… “I think, the core is nearby. A hero, who had sealed it, lays dead in the hallway that is neither on the map or on the [Map]. Check for yourselves.”

“Need not.” The old man with a sigh stopped the others. “I had done so before going down. I had my suspicion this place hid something… but a dungeon core?”

“Where else would it be – In Cridosal mountain? You said it yourselves, dungeon abandons unneeded places. Why wouldn’t it move its core somewhere closer?”

“True.”

“Sir!” One of the brothers plead, looking at the commander. “We can’t go on a hunch. He’s but a boy!”

“He a damn good navigator, that’s what he is. Not once we had to backtrack and doing so now seems foolish. Yes, we’re out of food and the last sips of water are all we have. Turning back looks reasonable. But I remind you about the metal golems.”

Oh, shit – show on everyone’s faces. Have they moved on or stayed? Are they waiting for them?

“Boy?”

“… Yes!” Saldon almost forgot to answer. Too dumbfounded by being praised. The old man valued him so highly? Saldon wasn’t just another boy?

“Get our asses out of here.”

Saldon rolled out his map.

“We’re here.” He tapped and proceed to drag his finger through the hallways and floors. If they continue to go straight to legit dungeon core, they might get closer to the underground river. From there they could get back to the beaten path, out of the dungeon, without running into the metal golems.

He explained as such.

“How – Ah, fuck it!” Favian smirked and hanged his hand around Saldons shoulders, leaning a bit of his weight on the boy. “If we ganna die, let's do it fighting. Starving never tickled my fancy.”

“That’s three.”The old man turned to both brothers.

They shrugged.

“Might as well”

“Might well.”

“It’s settled. Let’s play heroes!”

After a bit of rest, they moved. The road was uneventful, surrounded only by the echoes of own footsteps. With no side rooms and staircases leading elsewhere, it was weird and eery, so uncharacteristic for the dungeon that loved leading its visitors astray.

A couple of hours later they rested again, only this time, also took turns to sleep. Favian didn’t wake Saldon when it was his time. Brothers teased him for being soft on the boy, to which he replied. “So what?”

Finally, at the end fate awaited. A double door, gray of unbrunished silver, dull and spotted. Engraving marked it. Runes and symbols. The old language they called it.

Saldon noticed something recognizable. A code?

if (monster or dungeon born) {

repel;

} else {

open;

}

No monster could open this door.

Curious.

Magic sizzled in the air, warned and beckoned at the same time. Will they dare?

“Bet my balls, the dungeon core is behind those doors!” Favian pronounced.

“We’ll hold ye on ‘at.” One brother retorted.

“Shouldn’t there be a … I don’t know, a boss guarding the door?” Other asked.

“Do you want one?” Favian asked back.

“Nae.”

“Here ‘u go, no boss. Mister Last Wish had to kill it, before sealing the door, consequently prevented the dungeon from creating a new boss or bosses ever since.”

The brother whistled. “And ya wanna break it?”

“If we to believe the Wraith, and they can’t lie, the seal will break on its own and release the dungeon. We have a chance to get to while it’s weak, defenseless. So, any idea how to open it?”

“Slammin’ tend to work.” The first brother snickered.

“I mean, any ideas that don’t end us with a dislocated shoulder or a broken thumb!”

“...”

“Yeah, I getting shit face drunk when we‘re done.” Favian gave up.

“Isn’t what ye dae anyway?”

“Never claimed it’s revolutionary. Still gonna do it.”

“Alright men, you know what to do. This ain’t our first locked doors.” Commander tried to boaster his men.

“Em, can we first check if it’s locked?” Saldon squeaked.

Oh, right, flashed on everyone’s faces.

Favian shrugged and walked closer.

“Careful!” Commander reminded.

“Chill! It’s only a door.” He extended his hand and grabbed the doorknob.

Nothing happened. He turned it. Nothing. Pushed it. Nothing. Pulled. More nothing. “Yep, closed. We can proceed with hurting ourselves.”

Disappointment. Saldon felt cheated. The writing had lied or something had changed. Either way, the door was closed.

“You know the drill!”

Brothers took a point, guarding the rear. One of the lanterns was placed further back, so to reveal anyone coming. Crewer activated his [Iron skin] while Favian [Stone skin]. Saldon did his best and stayed out of the way.

Their eyes gleamed, tired and yet determined. Just a little more. One door stood before going home and drinking themselves stupid.

“One… Two...”

BANG!

The old man and redhead had rushed, bracing the impact with their shoulders and a loud bang echoed.

Saldon winced as the vibrations reached him to the bone. This won’t go unnoticed.

“Again! Again!”

And so they did, losing themselves in the rhythm of echoes, heavy breaths and soon joined in by cries of monsters. Cold sweat cooled their blood as roars neared.

The company was coming.

“Incomin’!” One of the brothers shouted.

The first emerged from shadows soon followed by the second. Naked, bear-like with tentacles twisted faces, and eyes, oh Gods, the eyes, far too many to count. Watching. Staring. Peering deep into one’s soul. A sight to dread for the rest of their pitiful lives.

Growling they stopped and sniffed the air. Saliva drooped down to the floor.

“Here we go.”

Soldiers unsheathe their swords as the first monsters took off followed by the second. They watched unnerved as the monsters shoved and hit each other, competed, who’ll get the first bite.

First shots rang out as they were close enough. A miss and a hit. One of the monsters staggered before resuming its run by crawling up the wall and then on the ceiling as if it was nothing.

At that moment, Saldon know, they had made a terrible mistake coming here. This was no place for mortals. They were out leveled in a high-level zone.

“Reload!”

The brothers fumbled with the gunpowder. Even Favian had taken an unconscious step back.

Crewer grunted. “[Inspire]: Brace your fears, let the True Words cheer on our victory!”

“Shit!” Redhead cursed.

The words of power grabbed at them, seeped into their veins, settles in their hearts, erased any resemblance of doubt, fear or fatigue. Made them feel like the closest thing to a fearless hero.

At once their backs straightened and hands steadied.

“Fire!”

With a thump and audible crunch, the smallest of the monsters dropped from the ceiling and stayed there. Second, the biggest hadn’t even slowed its pace. Hunger burned in its dozen of eyes.

“Reload – Fire!”

The monster anticipated the shots and zigzagged. Every shot turned into a miss, bringing it ever so closer and closer.

“Prepare for melee!”

Brothers dropped their muskets, took out their swords and, to surprise even their own, shouted “[Taunt]: Come an’ gie some!”

“No, fools!” Crewer cried out and tried to intersect, but it was already too late.

[Inspire] was a double age sword. Fearlessness tended to lead to death.

Red gleamed in the monster's eyes.

It repaid with a roar and jumped off, carrying with it chunks of stone that flow forward. The collision swept two of the soldiers off their feet, one of whom was Saldon. The force knocked the air out of the boy's lungs and send him flying. He hit the wall. The heavy stone pinning him down.

A blood gurgling scream echoed and it wasn’t his. It belonged to the other one, one of the brothers who met the maw of a hungry beast. It feasted.

Watching, Saldon’s own cry died in his throat. Mouth hung open, but air refused to fill his lungs. It hurt so much, and yet, it didn’t matter. [Inspire] did its thing. The boy wanted to stand and fight. Even now his hand refused to let go of the sword while he was helpless: As It Ate.

The commander used ‘the distraction’, got close and struck while Favian got to the other side. The tentacles retaliated, snapped and keep them at arms reach. The monster didn’t seem bothered, gorging on the body that less and less resembled once a living human.

“Aaaa!” A heartbroken scream.

It was the other brother. He had abandoned any reason and attacked in a manner that could be described as blind rage. Ignoring the hits and trashed of the tentacle, he struck and cut one of them off.

It dropped, twitching.

This got the monster's attention. It lifted its hefty head, guts spilling between its teeth. A low growl escaped the beast's throat. Like a dog who guarded its food.

“Get back!” Crewer ordered, but the brother ignored it, hacking at the monster.

“Die! Die! DIE!” He stabbed ferociously with no care for his own safety.

The tentacle lashed out and he cut them off, piece by piece.

“Soldier!” Favian shouted with no results.

“Die! Die! D –!”

Forgotten, from the shadows, emerged the first bloody monster, grabbed the brother and just like that, in one fluid motion, both disappeared in the darkness.

They had lost another.

“No! Shit!” Favian cursed. “Saldon?”

“Hm, yeah, s...” Weakly the boy croaked.

“Can ‘u watch our backs?”

Saldon dizzily blinked: Watch as you die? “Yeah...” He could do that.

“Good.”

Favian and Crewer shared glances and nodded.

Redhead sneaked to grab one of the discarded muskets while the commander kept a watch. Favian got one, sadly unloaded. He needed some gunpowder and bullets.

The monster was about done eating and looked up for his next meal. For a moment his gaze flickered to Saldon before Crewer stepped in front.

It moved, placing one paw in front, crushing what was left of the dead soldier's skull and helmet. The monster opened its mouth –

And Crewer moved forward to thrust his sword inside. The monster's jaw slammed shut, but not before it wailed with the pain of its own. Sadly, the sword hadn’t dug deep enough to reach the beast's brain.

Pain and tentacles stretched to wrap the man blind. He couldn’t pull away. His red blood mixed with a black one. Others in his place might have panicked, fainted or pissed themselves. Those others hadn’t been previously eaten then hurled back up.

“Blasted damnation, I spit at ya!” The old man slammed his shield and Favians shot at point black.

He had sneaked closer, dug through what was left of his friend's corpse and found the gunpowder and bullets, loaded the musket.

The monster slouched.

The old man used this chance and used his shield to prompt open the beast's maw. He succeeded and pulled the hand out.

The monster backed away, shaking its head until a slobbered sword went flying and with cling landed somewhere in the dark. Its tentacles wiggled agitated, but the monster made no move to attack.

“Seriously? Ye eat my men and ‘en piss yeself? Have ye none between those legs, ya Jizzcock!” He spat and angled his shield to protect his weak side. The hand lay unmoving by his side.

“Sir!” Favian loaded his next shot.

The monster moved, encircling them both like prey.

They had to distract it again.

“Take his left side.” Crewer order and himself moved counterclockwise. This way his bad side was hidden.

The monster tossed its head indecisive. One would think it had only two eyes in place of a dozen.

The old man helped it decide. “[Taunt] you Piss twat, sh-.” He took on the full force of the beast and bit his tongue. “Freaking toss-pot!”

Another shot.

Crewer felt the force weaken and then stop.

Thump.

The heavy body slammed on the floor and a gust of air escaped from the beast's open mouth.

It smelled of blood and rot.

For a moment they just stood there. Watched the dark, waiting for the other monster to come…. It didn’t.

Then they felt it. The unmistakable touch of experience point. First soft and tender, but then, at once, a rush of power. One could feel it only after beating something truly worthy.

“True Voice, I thank thee for choosing me worthy,” Favian gasping said and, tired as he was, moved to check on Saldon. “Boy?” He pushed off the stone.

“Hey…” The boy smiled weakly.

“Alive?”

“Something’s broken. I can’t… I can’t lift my arms. I couldn't help. I..” Tears run down Saldons cheeks.

“All is right.” Crewer knelt beside him to take a closer look. “It’s dead and we alive. The Voice… Em... Your Gods have judged you worthy.” He said a bit awkwardly, not sure how followers of the old ways did it, but he perfectly well understood the feeling, the need to do something, anything, even if both of your arms were to be torn off. “Let's do our job and go home, aye?”

“I’m sorry… it’s my fault. I said…”

“Did we all give our aye to go? Yes. So it’s as much as your fault, as mine or theirs. Ya hear, it’s not your fault.”

“… Not mine…”

“Good.” The old man gently patted the boys shoulder. “And now then.” He stood. “We have one last beast to slay.”

They gazed upon the gaping hole. In the attack, one of the stones had hit the door.

They’re going in.

THE QUEEN

Dekatrei let out a sigh of relief. Her servants did well. Neitherhounds weren’t the worst for mortals to face. If her black knights kept the worst at bay, The Queens plan will succeed.

Either way, the seal was broken. The heavy pressure lifted from her soul and she was free to say hello to Mother.