“That’s the last of them,” Armand says to Elle. The two start out jogging toward the cage to meet up with the others. On the way a few kobolds intercept but are felled with a couple of arrows and sword slashes.

“I think Typhus is hurt.” Elle says as she peers directly at the people pouring out of the cage.

“How do you know?” Armand asks.

“He’s not jumping between shadows stabbing kobolds, he’s just fighting in plain sight.” She says. The pair begin to move faster to catch up. Armand decides to organize some of these running captives. Elle reaches Typhus and begins chanting a spell.

“Greetings,” a strange man says. His introduction is interrupted as a few more kobolds come out of a nearby cave entrance. The man jumps into action with a flurry of finger pokes to the first kobold who crumples like a marionette with its strings cut. One snap kick to the next doubles it over heaving for breath. The third stops short with a dagger sprouting from its eye.

“How rude!” the man says, “My name is Robert Nicklelash. I’m delighted to meet our saviors.” Elle finishes up her spell and Typhus looks a lot better.

“Well Robert, can we skip the pleasantries until we are out of here?” Elle says. “We had another friend helping, no weapons, dumb look on his face. Have you seen him?”

“Yes, the sloppy brawler. No sense of style with that one. He managed to abscond with the kobold chieftain into that hut over there.”

No sooner did Robert say that than they saw Deacon come out of the hut dragging a broken and battered kobold. Unceremoniously tossing it into the pit. Elle gasped; it didn’t look like Deacon she knew. There was a green glow snaking through the veins in his arms and steam was coming off his hands. He turned to see them with shining green pupils that almost gave off an energy of their own. Robert shuddered at the ghastly sight. He motioned toward them and was set upon by two large kobolds. They dumped him into the pit like they needed to hide the evidence.

Splat and crunch. That’s the best way to describe the landing I just made. Luckily for me, I landed center mass on the old chief of the kobolds. My tattered shirt is covered in foul but relatively unharmed. Rubbing what I assume will be the beginnings of a nasty bruise. Lots of bones down here. I can see the pit lip over several dozen yards up. Glad he broke my fall. Now how do I get out of here. Up is a nonstarter. I start a small circuit around the base noticing different decaying corpses of every shape and size. That’s a lot of dead bodies with no green glow around them. I half expected to see some ghosts down here. Not even the chiefs is visible. Then I see what has to be a child’s skull and get really serious. Wish I could kick that chief’s ass all over again.

A few feet deeper and there is a crack in the wall. Its big enough for me to squeeze through. A little further down this narrow path is the flickering of a green light. My slate starts to flash at me so I open up the messages:

Notice: You have slain a level ten Kobold Chieftain and assisted in the escape of a town’s worth of prisoners. You have gained Level three. You have one additional attribute point to distribute.

Notice: You have discovered the final resting place of the dragon Zageracks, Slayer of the unworthy. As the first human to ever set foot in this place you are awarded Level four. You have two attribute points to distribute.

Ok that sounds cool but a dragon. Like a real dragon? Maybe I can just peak around the corner here. As I snake my way through what I would very loosely describe as a passageway, the green glow grows larger. It opens up into an enormous chamber with what has to be skyscraper laying on its side. Nope, dragon skeleton. A ghostly head swivels my way from the outline of the skull.

“A monk. It has been hundreds of seasons since I last ate a monk.” Did the ghost head just talk?

“Come closer so that I may taste you.” Said Zageracks.

“How is it I can hear you?” I said timidly.

“There is much mystical energy in even the corpse of a dragon. Your gifted protection is nothing to me.” It says.

“I was just looking for the exit, thanks for the chat.” I hurriedly blurt out and start to inch back into the passage. Just then the passage starts to fill in popping further into the room with mammoth ghost.

“Oh no, the only way out is through.” It said, “I have had nothing but kobold souls to eat for so long. Until recently that is. No visitors though.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you. The fates called you Zageracks. Is that correct?” I replied.

“Fates, over blown destiny weavers. If I was still alive, I’d…. no not now we have company. You have the name correct. Not that it will do you any good. I’m all but forgotten now.” Said the massive head, “And your name would be?” it asked.

“Deacon.” Not knowing why, I said that.

“You are a strange monk, Deacon. I sense no element binding you. Come closer.” The dragon said. My face starts to scrunch up and I blurt out,

” No!”

“Curious, you are resisting my commands. I must be passing into the nether for my power to wane this much. Let’s see, Oh I remember” It looked me up and down. I felt a slight pinch in the back of my head.

“What did you just do?” I spoke.

“Nothing harmful young Deacon. Level four? You can stand in my much-diminished presence at level four? When I was alive entire battlefields trembled at my might, now as I slip away a mere level four can tell me no. What’s happened to me.” Zageracks says.

Its like I’m no longer there. The blimp sized ghostly head starts to bob back over to the skull. Mumbling about its own greatness slipping into nothing. I take this chance to start hugging the walls and looking for a way out.

“Oh yes, Deacon nether monk, that’s an old class. I imagine you’ve been having some trouble collecting all the souls you need.” It said. That stopped me in my tracks. I turned my head and said,

“Souls?”

The cavern started to warp and rumble. I immediately realized it was laughing at me.

“You haven’t had a class trainer. That makes sense. This is a grand opportunity. Grand.” It said. The battleship sized head swung over to me so fast I almost soiled myself.

“Bargain with me.” It said.

“What? You are some ancient dragon, there is no way I’m coming out on top of any bargain you offer.” I said immediately.

“Bargain with me or get really comfortable you little shit. I’m not letting you out of here unless you agree. We are completely sealed in here.” It said.

“What are your terms?” I said like a petulant child.

“Much better. I was going to force you to do this, but you are building a resistance to me as we speak. So I will try the carrot instead of the stick. I will grant you my technique for devouring souls. It will both extend your time on this plane and grant you access to the other abilities you should be learning. You are woefully unprepared for this world. When the great schools hear of your exploits, champion of Cheshire right, they will seek you out to recruit or kill you.” the dragon said. I stood there dumbfounded.

“What’s in it for you? Don’t get me wrong I’m taking the deal because I don’t’ want to be buried alive, but there is always a catch with this stuff in the stories.” I said.

“You will eventually learn how to call a soul to aid you in battle. That soul will be me and none other. You are too weak to perform this feat now even if you tried. It will cost you seventy five percent of your health to pull me from the nether regardless of level. That is how I escape. Do we have an accord?”

Zageracks eyes were burning into me waiting for my response. I guess consent is an important part of the pact.

“Yes.” I said. The cavern started to rumble again, and I got a bad feeling. Zageracks poured holy energy into my eyes. It was, unpleasant.

New Passive Ability: Zageracks breathing technique. This ability allows for the conversion of souls into energy within your body. Souls will be drawn to you passively at a slow rate. If you meditate and concentrate on your breathing, you can absorb souls much more quickly. Soul energy can be used for various special attacks, these attacks will all count as Holy damage. Would you like to learn Zageracks Breathing Technique? Yes/yes.