Task: The Mask of Mayhem

Requester: Gandarufu, the Slightly Bleached Black Sorcerer

Quest Rank: E-rank

Rewards: 10 Large Copper Coins

Description: In the old days, 3 mask were given to the elves, 7 to the dwarves, and 9 to the humans, those were the masks of power, meant to grant power above all else. And then, the evil Arcane Warrior Saurumo made the One Mask to Rule Them All.

Unfortunately for him, the other 19 masks were super ugly, so people just burned them at a pyre, making his mask's power pretty useless... Then someone took the mask off his face while he slept and he suddenly became dust, poor guy.

But well, his mask still remained, and it kinda makes people that wear them go nuts or something, so... Do me a favor and travel to the Demonic Volcano and throw it there? For one reason or another the mask can only be destroyed there.

Once Zinc received the approval for the quest, the doctor checked the maps to search for where the Demonic Volcano was located. After scouring the world map, Zinc discovered that the volcano was somewhere on the borders north of Nyllia. According to the guild’s intel, the north of Nyllia was a hot and dry region mainly due to the intensity of the Demonic Volcano. The Demonic Volcano was filled with Fire Elemental Energy and it housed many monsters including Lizardkin, Fire Elementals, and Demons. In addition, it was known to many that the volcano had frequent eruptions, making it near impossible to hike up the rocky paths.

Zinc rubbed his beard a bit as he mused over what he should do. After a few minutes of nothing, the doctor grimaced and walked out of the guild. He strode around the town, hoping to gain some inspiration on what he must do…or find something useful in the town. While he wandered about, he found himself in the lower end of the town. The houses were deteriorating while more and more people could be found on the streets begging for food or robbing others. The security in this area was nil and villains roam the streets freely. Zinc narrowed his eyes as he vigilantly marched deeper in. His right hand clasped on his Amputation Knife, ready to unsheathe if any trouble came his way.

Suddenly, a group of men surrounded him as he turned down an alley. There were about five people – three in the front and two in the back. Zinc looked back and noticed that one of the men twirled an iron dagger. The three in front each carried a pair of brass knuckles. Zinc stopped in his tracks and glared at the men in front of him.

“What do you want? I don’t want any trouble.” Zinc declared as he drew his knife partway.

“Hehe,” The man in the middle, seemingly the leader, cackled as he stroked the large scar across his face, “we don’t want any trouble too. Just hand over your valuables and we’ll be on our merry way.”

“Hmph! Do you think I would do that?”

“Oh? In that case, we’ll have to use a bit of force. Men…attack!”

Both brawlers to the leader’s sides rushed at Zinc with arms raised. Zinc skipped back but realized that the two behind him had also charged forward. With the space between him and his enemies decreasing with every second, Zinc decided on his move. With a wave of his left hand, Cerium peeked out. The little worm wiggled about for a second or two before sliding down Zinc’s sleeve. Suddenly, the four men stumbled. Though they caught themselves, their eyes became dull.

The two in the front charged past Zinc and started fighting with the ones behind the doctor. Disbelieving what he was seeing, the leader tried to talk some sense to his followers, but to no avail. Soon, all four men collapsed from injuries they inflicted upon each other. Zinc ignored the defenseless men and strode towards the leader, who stumbled back and fell on his butt.

“Don’t come any closer!” The man shouted as he tried to scoot away from the approaching dwelf.

Zinc sneered and kicked out, sending the man tumbling backwards. “Who are you? Who sent you after me?”

“M-My name is Scarface Joe. I’m part of the Tiger Gang. N-No one sent us…we just th-thought you were an easy target.”

“Oh? So, how are you going to take responsibility for my injuries?”

“W-What injuries? We didn’t even touch you!”

“My heart injuries! Your ugly mug scared the shit out of me! My heart is still pounding from the sight. It definitely suffered some internal injuries. I’m a doctor, so I should know.”

“B-But….”

“50 Large Copper, pay up!”

“I…We don’t have that much money.”

“No money? Then, your life….”

“W-Wait! Is there anything else I can exchange it for? Maybe information? I’m well-versed about the happenings in these parts.”

“Oh? Do you know any place that sells items with heat resistance or heat immunity?”

“N-No….”

“Then die.”

“Wait! Mafa’s Shop! Try Mafa’s Shop!”

“Mafa’s Shop?”

“Although I don’t know where to find what you need, however at Mafa’s Shop, you can find many antique artifacts and items. Most of the items were stolen and some were bought from the black market. Maybe there’s something in Mafa’s Shop that would interest you? You can find that shop a few blocks from here.”

Zinc glared at Scarface Joe without showing any reaction, causing the man to fidget about nervously. Finally, the doctor released the man and remarked.

“Fine, you’re good to go. Don’t forget to take your lackeys.”

“Thank you, sir. Thank you so much! Thank you!”

As the five men scampered away, Zinc glanced in the direction of the so-called Mafa’s Shop. With a silent prayer to whatever god or goddess was out there, the doctor rushed towards the store. Some time later, Zinc arrived before a small shack where a sign hung on top of the doorway reading ‘Mafa’s Shop – Home to Almost Everything…. You name it, we got it.’

Zinc pushed open the door, causing a bell to ring. As he walked in, he was struck by a dusty smell. The doctor rubbed his nose as he stifled a sneeze. “Anyone here?”

Suddenly, a gnome popped out from behind the counter and approached Zinc with a devious smile. “Greetings customer, welcome to Mafa’s Shop…I am Mafa. What can I help you with?”

“You got anything I can use that will make me resistant or immune to heat?” The doctor replied as he glanced about at the antiques that covered the shelves and walls.

“Heat? And what is the nature of this request?”

“Is that important?”

“It could be. What’s the harm in asking?”

“Hmm…I need to make a trip to the Demonic Volcano. As for the details…that’s for me to know and you to not. Well? Do you have anything for me or not?”

“Demonic Volcano? Hmm…I don’t have anything that could help protect you from the heat....”

“What a waste of time!”

“However! However, I do have something that might be of use.”

“Oh? What is it? Show me!”

The gnome reached behind a counter and pulled out a small chest. Mafa patted away some of the dust that had collected on top of the box and unlocked the chest with a click. The shop owner opened the chest and pulled out a mask. Upon closer look, Zinc saw that it was a mask of a lizardman.

“A lizardman mask? How will that help me?”

“This lizardman mask was created by a legend from an alternate universe…Khaos the Mask Maker. He was a powerful adventurer, and this was one of his earlier works.”

“What does it do?” Zinc leaned forward as his interest piqued.

“The mask has a special power that allows the user to transform into a powerful lizardman. Doesn’t the Demonic Volcano house a number of Lizardkin? By wearing this mask, you will become a lizardman who can withstand the heat from the volcano. How about it?”

“Hmm, sounds good! How much is it?”

“No money…I want a favor.”

“A favor? What?”

“I haven’t thought of it yet…but I’ll tell you once I know what I want. Do we have a deal?”

“Alright, it’s a deal!” Zinc reached out and shook the gnome’s hand after some thought. Once the contract was signed and both parties agreed to the terms, Zinc grabbed the mask and identified it.

Mask of the Lizardman Scout: E-Rank

No Cooldown

No Limit

Indestructible

Stamina Drain 5% per Hour

Special Attributes:

Strength Increase

Defense Increase

Fire Resistance

Special Skills:

Eagle Eye – things seen far away are seen as if close up

“Fire resistance eh? Doesn’t tell me by how much, but it’s enough.” Zinc grinned as he left the store.

With the mask in hand, Zinc headed towards his favorite store to stock up on some necessities. Along the way, he could feel someone watching him. Thinking it was the robbers earlier, the doctor shrugged and ignored it. After buying all the necessary stuff including a fit horse, Zinc picked up the mask in question and rushed out of town.

Meanwhile….

A man slipped out of the shadows. He was wearing all black and his face was covered with a cloth mask. The man walked with quiet footsteps and those he walked past did not even notice him. Only one man saw him…a bearded, middle-aged man with a scowling face and black tattoos. He wore leather armor and had a tiger skin draped across his back.

“You’re here.” The man replied.

The man of shadows dropped on one knee and saluted. “Boss, he has left the town.”

The ‘Boss’ nodded and sneered. “To mess with my gang, I – Tiger – will not let you live! What are the news of Leo and Alpha?”

“They have received your messages. They said that with this, their debts are repaid.” The shadow man responded.

“Hmph! Only if they complete the task. Go, follow behind him and report back to me once the task is done.”

“Yessir!”

Back on Zinc’s end….

The trip was close to 500 kilometers long. A fit horse could run on average 80-100 kilometers a day. If Zinc spurred the horse at this rate, he would most likely arrive at the destination in 5-6 days. Now, the doctor did not do so as he had to take into account for the return home. If he had initially forced the horse to run near its limit each day, the horse could die from exhaustion. Thus, Zinc slowed the horse down to about 70-80 kilometers a day. With this rate, the doctor would need about 7-8 days before he arrived.

Today was the fourth day. The past three days, he had not met with any problems and the days gone by with ease. However, on the fourth day, Zinc noticed that there were fewer plant life surrounding him. And the only plants there were dry and scratchy. Zinc knew in his mind that he was nearing the volcano. Zinc decided to stop his horse and look for a place to refill his water sack. As he found a small pond, he suddenly heard a faint noise coming from behind him. The doctor dove forward and spun around just in time to see a dagger fly through where his head was before. Zinc looked up and saw nearly 30 people with varying armor and clothing. About half wore wolfskin and the other half wore lion leather. The group looked at Zinc menacingly.

“Who are you?” Zinc asked as he moved his hand towards the Amputation Knife on his side.

He eyed grimacingly at his Horse-Slaying Blade leaning next to a tree a few feet away from him. When dealing with large numbers of enemies, using the Horse-Slaying Blade was a better choice. He’ll have to make do until he reached the tree.

Responding to Zinc’s question, one man walked out and pointed with his one-handed axe. “We’re here to claim your life. You’ve offended someone you shouldn’t have and he wants you dead.”

“I offended someone? The only one I could think of would have to be the Tiger Gang.” Zinc mused as he sneakily released Cerium who quickly started to spread hallucinogens into the atmosphere as well as Arsenic who spewed out a large amount of colorless, gaseous toxin. “When I return, I will definitely pay them a visit!”

“Return? You won’t be able to. Men, charge!”

Twenty-eight robbers charged at Zinc, however, before they could come close, they began to experience something strange. Their strength began to wane as well.

“Ara? What’s this? Why is everything becoming bigger?” One of the robbers remarked as he stared at his surroundings.

Another robber exclaimed as he held his hands up to his face. “Why are my hands shrinking? Why am I shrinking?”

The robbers collapsed onto the ground motionless as their strength seeped out of them. The two leaders, who stayed behind to overseer the battle, were shocked into disbelief. This wasn’t what they were signed up for! As Zinc walked towards them, they gritted their teeth through the dwelf’s pressure and attacked.

The duo charged at Zinc, each slashing out with their weapons. Zinc quickly dodged the first attack and rolled next to his Horse-Slaying Blade. The doctor reached over and grabbed the blade just in time to block the blow from the second attack.

“Hmph! You’re just so-so!” Zinc declared as he pushed back the attack and swung his blade towards his enemies.

The two leaders jumped back with adrenaline-induced reactions. Just as Zinc stood up and held his blade to his side, the duo did something strange. The man wearing lion leather took a deep breath and roared while the man with the one-handed ax howled.

RRAAAWWWRRGGGHHH!!!

AAAWWOOOOOOO!!!

The roar and howl surprised Zinc. What were they trying to do? As the roar entered the doctor’s ears, he could feel his body become numb and his head a bit dizzy. This seemed to have a small stun effect! However, he could not hear the howl so the doctor thought that it was useless for the one-handed ax user to do so. The stunned doctor held up his blade and went on the defense against the two warriors. As the effect wore off, the doctor became more aggressive as he began attacking as well. However, for some reason, both opponents seemed different from before. Both were faster and stronger. They could take on more of Zinc’s attacks. Was it because of the howl earlier? Or was he still under the effects of the roar?

Zinc had no time to ponder about this. He decided to try something underhanded. As he swung his large blade, he let go of the handle and sent the Horse-Slaying Blade flying towards the two leaders. Upon seeing the blade fly towards them, the duo split and tumbled to the ground. At this time, the doctor reached into his utility belt and drew out two needles. With a twist of his wrist, he flung both needles at the unsuspecting enemies. Each throw was accurate and precise. Each throw hit its mark, temporarily paralyzing the two warriors.

Zinc charged up to the nearest warrior and kicked him in the head, knocking him out instantly. He, then, turned towards the man in the lion leather and held his Amputation Knife to the man’s neck.

“Speak. Who are you?” Zinc inquired with a hint of killing intent.

“D-Don’t kill me! I’m Leo – leader of the Lion Gang, and that is Alpha – leader of the Wolf Gang. If you spare us, our two gangs will be forever in your debt.” Leo pleaded as he panted from exhaustion.

“What were those yelling you did before? Some kind of skill?”

“Yes! They are our gangs’ secret skills – Lion’s Roar and Boost Howl. Lion’s Roar can stun enemies and Boost Howl can buff allies in strength and speed.”

“Does the leader of the Tiger Gang also have a secret skill?”

“Yes. The leader has Tiger’s Aura which can intimidate weaker enemies. Legends say Tiger’s Aura is a minor branch of the King’s Aura.”

“I see. Give me.”

“W-What?”

“Give me the Lion’s Roar skill book or I’ll behead you here and now.”

“B-But, that’s my gang’s secret skill…only those of my ga–okay, okay, okay!”

As soon as Leo hesitated, Zinc raised his weapon and prepared to swing. This gesture scared the crap out of Leo, causing him to give in completely. The leader of the Lion Gang reached into his clothes and pulled out a paperback book. It read ‘Lion’s Roar Technique’. As Zinc reached out to grab the book, a glint of killing intent flashed in Leo’s eyes as the man pulled out a dagger hidden in his right boot. However, Zinc had expected this to happen as he kicked out and knocked the dagger out of Leo’s hand. With a grunt, the doctor cleaved Leo’s head clean off.

“Hmph! Never trust a lion and his pride.”

Zinc stored the skill book into his bag and walked up to the unconscious man lying on the ground. The doctor pressed down on a few points on the man’s body, waking him up from his slumber.

The man gazed at Zinc fearfully as he tried to scoot away. “W-What do you want? Don’t kill me! I’ve an eighty-year-old mother and a five-year-old kid at home…please have mercy!”

“Relax. Give me what I want, and I’ll release you. Of course…if you do anything funny, you’ll end up like him.” Zinc pointed at Leo’s decapitated body.

Alpha glanced over to where the doctor was pointing at and saw Leo’s body. With a gulp, he nodded his head fiercely. “Spare me and the Wolf Gang will follow you for life!”

“Hand over the Boost Howl Technique.”

“H-How did you…?”

“Leo told me. Are you going to or not?”

“This….”

“Guess you want to die, eh?”

“No! I’ll give! I’ll give!”

Alpha reached into his clothes and pulled out a paperback book. It read ‘Boost Howl Technique’. As Zinc reached over and grabbed the book, he eyed Alpha for any suspicious movements. However, the man was too fearful to do anything. The doctor skimmed through the contents to confirm the authenticity before storing it.

With a satisfied smile, Zinc took a step back. “You may go.”

“Thank you! Thank you very much! From now on, you are the Wolf Gang’s leader!” Alpha exclaimed as he bowed deeply.

“Oh? Is that so? Okay, I accept your offer.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

“For your first assignment, keep tabs on the Tiger Gang and make a report of their power and wealth. As for the Lion Gang, kill them.”

“Understood!”

“Okay, dismissed!”

Alpha immediately left, along with his men, and Zinc killed off the rest of the members of the Lion Gang. With this encounter solved, Zinc continued on his way. A day or two later, the doctor arrived near the volcano. His horse couldn’t go anymore further because of the heat so the doctor could only go on foot. Before he set off, he tied the horse nearby where there were plenty of food and a small spring for water. Then, Zinc reached into his bag and pulled out the Mask of the Lizardman Scout. With a deep breath, he put the mask on.

“AAARRGHH!” Zinc screamed in pain as his body shapeshifted and contorted into a lean, black lizardman with golden eyes.

The doctor looked at his new body. He swished his tail expertly as if it was a part of his body. With a toothy grin, he directed his gaze at the Demonic Volcano in the distance. The heat was still there but it was not unbearable. Zinc wanted to experience his change some more, but he remembered that the mask had a stamina drain. He shouldn’t be wasting his precious time and stamina. Zinc checked his bag and his weapons before journeying towards the target destination.

Meanwhile….

“What?! That bastard defeated them both? Leo’s dead and Alpha betrayed us? That sly bastard! Where’s Alpha now?” Tiger roared as he heard the news from his shadowy subordinate.

“Boss, he’s in that building over there tracking our men’s movements.” The shadowy man replied.

“Good! Summon our men! Tonight we feast in blood!”

“Yessir!”

Back on Zinc’s end….

Soon, Zinc arrived at the foot of the volcano. It had just erupted, and a stream of lava flowed down the volcano along certain paths. He wiped some sweat from his forehead. Though it feels like a sauna now, the heat wasn’t fatal, and he could still endure through it. Zinc began climbing up the Demonic Volcano after a short rest. Along the way, he spotted other Lizardkin hiking along well-used paths up and down the volcano. Since Zinc was unfamiliar with the area, he decided to follow a lizardman up the volcano. Suddenly, the lizardman – a red Lizardkin with obsidian-colored eyes – turned around and approached Zinc.

“Who are you? I’ve not seen you around these parts. Where are you from? What tribe are you from?” The red lizardman questioned as he pointed his spear at the doctor.

Not wanting to cause conflict, Zinc held up his unarmed hands and replied. “I am called Shadow Fang. I am tribeless and from the far south.”

“Oh? I’ve heard of Lizardkin from the south…though I also heard that they are mostly green-skinned. You, on the other hand, are not.”

“I suffer from a skin defect.” Zinc lied with a straight face. “Don’t worry, it’s not contagious. Because of it, I was driven out of my tribe. Have mercy on me. I have traveled far and would like to see the mouth of the Demonic Volcano. Can you lead me there?”

“Hmm…sure. I am called Red Star of the Fiery Sky Tribe.” Red Star agreed as he introduced himself.

The two chatted some more as they made their way up the volcano. Zinc learned that Red Star was the youngest son of the Fiery Sky Tribe’s best warrior. He was making his way up the Demonic Volcano to look for some fresh obsidian which would be used for making certain crafts necessary for his tribe. And naturally, Red Star learned about Zinc’s medical profession. Soon, the duo arrived at the mouth of the volcano. While Red Star carved out some obsidian along the edges of the volcano, Zinc quickly brought out the cursed mask and dropped it down the volcano.

With a sizzle and a gargle, the mask burned to a crisp and sank to the bottom of the volcano. It was at that time when the volcano began to change. It began to rumble. A cloud of blackness spewed out from the mouth causing Zinc to stumble back. Luckily, the doctor was near the mouth so when he fell back, he was still on the volcano. It still shocked him though. However, a scream woke him from his shock. Red Star!

Zinc rushed to the edge of the volcano and peered down. Red Star hung from a small crevice at the side of the volcano. By the looks of it, he couldn’t hold on much longer. Zinc shouted for Red Star to hold on as he laid down and reached towards the red lizardman with his hands. Once the doctor grabbed onto Red Star’s arm, he used all his strength to lift up the red lizardman.

“Whew! I thought I was a goner! You saved me Shadow Fang. From now on, you and I are brothers!” Red Star gasped as he scrambled up the volcano.

“No worries. You helped me out. Naturally, I will help you. We are even.” Zinc smiled and dismissed Red Star’s proclamation.

“No! This is a spoken tradition of our Lizardkin. He who helps you in a significant way shall be treated as a brother. And she who helps you shall be treated as a sister. You have saved my life. Naturally, you are my brother.”

“Okay. Fine. We are brothers.”

“Haha! Great! Brother Shadow Fang, where are you heading? Why don’t you stay at my tribe for a few days?”

“I appreciate you offer, but Brother Red Star, I have some business I need to complete back home. Maybe I’ll visit you and your tribe some other day.”

“Okay! No worries, no worries. I will wait for you.”

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye. May the Dragon Spirit be with you.”

The two bid their farewells and separated. Red Star continued to carve out fresh obsidian while Zinc rushed down the volcano, following the path he took up. Once he steered clear away from the horrendous heat of the Demonic Volcano, Zinc removed his mask and returned to his original shape and size. The doctor hopped on his horse and headed home.

It was night when he got back to the guild. He had just submitted the completion report and was about to pay the Tiger Gang a visit for their insolence earlier in the day when he heard sounds of fighting. Something was happening! Zinc rushed towards the sounds and saw three large gangs duking it out. Judging from the gangs’ attire, the doctor could conclude that they were the Wolf Gang, Tiger Gang, and Lion Gang. It seemed that the Tiger Gang and the Lion Gang were ganging up on the Wolf Gang. Since the Wolf Gang had fallen under his command, Zinc felt that he needed to do something about the situation before him.

“Arsenic…spread some paralyzing gas in their direction.” Zinc muttered as he laid his son on the ground before him.

The centipede crawled forward a couple of feet before spewing out purplish gas. The paralysis won’t take effect quickly, so Zinc needed to distract them. During the journey, he had trained a bit on the Lion’s Roar and Boost Howl techniques. Maybe Lion’s Roar could do something about it. The doctor breathed in and aimed his mouth towards the battlefield. With his hands cupped to amplify and direct the flow of the roar, Zinc let it loose on the three gangs.

RROOAAARRR!!

The three gangs paused their fight and stared at each other a bit dazed. Though, the effect of Zinc’s Lion’s Roar wasn’t that significant, it was enough for the doctor to descend upon Tiger and deal the killing blow…or that was what Zinc had intended if not for the appearance of the shadowy man. The man blocked Zinc’s attack and countered with a blow to the gut. The doctor stumbled back and glared at his assailant.

“Who are you?” Zinc questioned as he gazed at the surrounding people. It seemed the daze was wearing off. He needed to hurry.

“My name is of no importance. What is important is your life. Leave it here for me!” The shadowy man attacked with his rapier.

“Hmph! I don’t think so. Tell me your name so I can write it on your tombstone!”

“Fuck off! Die for me!”

“Die!”

The two clashed swords. The shadowy man stabbed in quick succession while Zinc blocked every one of them with accurate parries. Zinc smirked at the man and sped up his attack rate. “Is that all you got? Then, time to end this!”

Zinc swung up with his Amputation Knife. On the way up, the doctor borrowed the swing’s momentum to launch a couple of thin needles at the shadowy man. Zinc’s opponent dodged the swing, but he did not expect the doctor to throw flying weapons. The needles pierced into the shadowy man, dealing some damage but not enough to disable him. Fortunately, before the man could recover, Zinc swung down and cleaved the man in half with his Horse-Slaying Blade.

Before Leo could recover, Zinc had arrived beside him. Leo tried to utter a word of forgiveness but no sound came out as the doctor slashed across, tearing away at the gang leader’s throat and leaving behind a trail of blood. The dwelf reached into Leo’s pockets and pulled out the skill book – Tiger Aura. After pocketing this technique, he turned towards the men who had just gained feeling in their limbs.

“Men of the Tiger Gang and the Lion Gang! Your leaders have been killed by me! Submit to me or die!” Zinc howled out using Boost Howl which buffed up the Wolf Gang, making them look even more intimidating.

Without hesitation, the two gangs kneeled down and swore fidelity to Zinc. Luckily, the gang members were smart, or the streets would be painted red tonight. Zinc looked at the three gangs and issued his first order.

“Lion Gang, Wolf Gang, and Tiger Gang! From now on, you shall be combined to form the Dragon Gang! The Dragon Gang will be divided into three branches! Those of the Lion Gang who boasts of their killing prowess…you shall be known as the Breathing Dragon Branch. This branch will take care of the assassinations and raids! Those of the Tiger Gang who boasts of their strength…you shall be known as the Roaring Dragon Branch. This branch will take care of the massacres and base defense. And those of the Wolf Gang who boasts of their intellect and speed…you shall be known as the Flying Dragon Branch. This branch will take care of the information gathering. Understood?”

“Yessir!” Everyone roared in response.

“Dismissed!”