Forgotten Dungeon

Charles

leader of Silver Oasis

I was pacing nervously from one side of the room to the other, worried sick. Even if I understood Master Vincent’s arguments there was nothing I could do about the state of my emotions. Taking a life on their own, his words echoed in my mind.

The leader - any leader - should not risk his life, for it is much too precious, even if it is the love of your life that is on the line. A leader has duties, and people that depend on him. He is a foundation on which prosperity and strength are built. The leader knows sacrifice and that his death would spell doom for the world around him. We can’t risk it. You can’t risk it. How would Agnes react if she knew that you abandoned your people just to be with her?

I bit my lip, letting the pain distract me from the doom-filled thoughts. That old man sure knew how to prod my weakness. Duty, love, anger - they all mixed together, fuelled by my unruly fire magic. Yet the hours passed without any resolution and my thoughts went back to Agnes' helpless form again and again. I hoped it would not be the last memory I had of her.

“If only we had access to some of the healing elixirs.” I lamented, knowing well that each of them was worth a hundred times more than its weight in gold. More than my entire current wealth. It was not an amount of money that even my former family would be able to pay. And, to make matters worse, the price tag was always rising, because the elixirs weren’t being made anymore, leaving the world with a limited and always dwindling supply. This meant that the potions ended up in the hands of the royal family, nobles, or obscenely rich merchants.

Neither of those groups was on our side.

“Which makes Uno’s offer that much more suspicious. Dungeon Core or not, the ability to create potions was lost to the ages… None of the other Cores, even the deepest ones, like one residing in the capital can do so.” I murmured, before massaging my temples. It was too much - the stress, the expectations… “It’s not like we had a choice. Agnes’ condition was rapidly getting worse.” I tried to reason with myself.

All of this pain and suffering just because of that old monster and her fear of death… I added silently. My blood boiled. Some debts were to be paid in blood, and the way our Kingdom… our former Kingdom behaved was the epitome of that saying.

They were courting death… and I didn’t know from where these words had come or why were they making me chuckle.

My ruminations were cut short by a sound of nervous knocking.

“Sir? Sir! Are you there? There’s a situation!” A young voice echoed from behind the door.

“Come in!” I ordered. “What’s the problem? Explain!”

A young runner burst into the room before bowing deeply. After catching his breath he continued.

“There’s a situation! We have a large group of demi-humans approaching!”

“What!” I grimaced. That was less than ideal. Especially now. ”Where are they? Why didn’t the sentries spot them earlier?”

“They’re coming from the Dungeon’s depths, sir! They’re currently in a stand-off with the guards, but we can’t say when the situation will deteriorate!”

“From the Dungeon? How even… No matter! Let’s deal with it immediately. Lead me there! Now.”

“By your will!”

I ran like the wind with a runner and a few guards accompanying me as we sped through the freshly built buildings and dirt roads. Thanks to the small size of the settlement even my “mansion” wasn’t that far from the Dungeon’s entrance.

A blessing in disguise.

As we came closer the commotion became easier to discern. About two dozen guards were surrounding a mob of men and women barely wearing any clothes. No… now that I took a better look, these were not sapients, just demihumans. Various animal bits and bobs made their ancestry clear, even if they looked a bit strange compared to the ones I’d met and heard about before.

I always thought that my knowledge about the world was second to none, and Blueflame tutors made sure this belief had turned into truth. And yet with all their lessons I couldn’t recall hearing anything about demihumans with rat blood. It was probable, that due to their heritage, they should be untrustworthy, sneaky, and filthy. Yet even this estimation was put into question, as I recalled the rats serving the Dungeon that grew under my feet. Not that their zealous loyalty and startling intelligence were any better.

On the other hand, snake demihumans were pretty common, with how Naga, despite being a cold-blooded race, tended to bed almost anything that had two legs. Which was a funny thought in itself, considering how a pure-blooded Naga slithered on their tails.

The lizards, or as some called them - draconic demihumans - were rare, but not entirely unheard of. From the stories it seemed like most of them gravitated toward a paragon warrior archetype, often obsessed with martial honor and polishing their skills to unprecedented degrees.

I took another look, pitying the beasts. While the Kingdom demanded to kill them on sight and branded them carriers of corruption the truth seemed more complicated, like usual. The mentions of their kind survived from the time of the Ancients, which meant claims of their lowly birth amongst the badlands were hogwash.

It was probably a way to find another common enemy to galvanize the populace.

The demihumans, or beastmen, as they were sometimes called, did not remind me of true monsters, but rather people just like those under my protection, driven to desperation by circumstance.

Seconds passed, as I recalled the necessary knowledge. My group was coming closer to the commotion and we began to hear some of the words exchanged. Both humans and the demihumans were surprisingly civil, even though there was an underlying feeling of tension.

“Hey, hey, you can’t say you don’t recognize me, Mel!” A large lizardman warrior hooted.

“Fuck off, Inda.” A diminutive woman-guard spat back, failing to completely hide her smirk. “You’re now uglier than ever. Don’t even think about getting into my bed!”

A bout of jeers from both the mob and the surrounding warriors resounded as the one called Inda dramatically put a hand on his chest.

“Oh, cruel world!” He screeched with false despair. “The love of my life had abandoned me!”

“Shut up, you imbecile!”

“Gregor, brother-in-law, how’s life? You think they’ll allow me to join up once again?” A scaled demihuman waved to another guard, ignoring the commotion.

“It would be nice to have you back.” The lanky human sighed, while his friend glared at the snake-man with a troubled gaze. “You better think fast about how to explain your face to my sister, Tim. I told her you died…” He grumbled.

“And now I’m alive, even if I’m looking like that! And Fenna will change her mind, once she notices how much is there to discover.” The snake grinned and wiggled his split tongue, eliciting another wave of friendly jeers.

“What is going on?” I murmured with a strange expression.

My words were loud enough to alert the nearby guard captain, whose slackened face immediately contorted, as he screamed out his orders.

“Attention! Present weapons! Young Master is here!”

I chucked under my nose. “I’m not young anymore, but thank you, captain…?”

“Vega, sir! Second captain of the defense battalion! Sir!”

To my surprise not only the guards but also the unruly mob they surrounded stood at attention, with their backs straightened and their eyes looking ahead.

“At ease.” I ordered and the whole group relaxed immediately - or at least the guards did. Demihumans still stood at attention, with sharp expressions and balled fists, seeming like a bunch of prisoners waiting for an execution.

There was a commotion, as three of their people were sent to the front. A rat, snake, and lizard demis marched with purpose, the guards allowing them to pass.

My bodyguards sneaked nervous glances at me and our surroundings, slowly withdrawing their weapons from sheathes, before stilling after seeing my raised hand.

The demihumans stopped a few steps before me, before suddenly falling on their knees.

“The Abandoned greet you, Master!” They chorused - their words in perfect sync.

“““The Abandoned greet you!””” Their brethren repeated the words of their representatives, also falling on their knees, heads bowed in supplication.

“For the lives you saved with your magnanimity, we will serve you till our death, till our bones are ground to dust, and our souls dispersed in the Great Wheel.” The rat demihuman started talking, his eyes glued to the ground.

“We will leave this land, and we beg of you to allow this exile. Do not spill the blood you saved!” Added the Naga.

“But if it is your will for us to die here, then we’ll gladly comply.” Draconic one finished. “Everything is for our Master.”

“And this is our oath.”

“““This is our oath!”””

I grimaced, and thankfully, none of them raised their heads to see my expression.

These were the soldiers I had sent as sacrifices for Uno to perfect his serum. Seeing them on the surface and mostly unharmed meant that the tests were a success. And yet for these people to remain alive meant that any chance of reconciliation with the Geinard Kingdom or remaining “civilized” people would be lost.

I hated the Kingdom with all my heart but also understood that our militaries were currently so disparate, that they would swat us down without any problem. And that was not even counting the high-level monsters that still remained in their service.

And who did we have on our side? A bunch of nobodies, a thrown-away princess, and an insane dungeon.

The trio before me trembled as they waited with trepidation for my next words. They understood my position. They knew the world thought them dirty and tainted. Enemies of sentient races. Under their false bravado, I felt raw and burning fear of rejection, a silent plea, a hope - against all odds. Even their moniker - The Abandoned - pointed clearly to an innate understanding of their position.

No nation would allow them to stay. Geinard Kingdom, Dross Republic (or whoever survived their purge), Dwarven Holds, Luna Kingdom, and Elven Theocracy were the only oases of civilization that remained. Those who were still alive after the years of war were jaded, brutal, and, most importantly, filled with hatred against anyone touched by the corruption that destroyed so much of what they loved.

No matter if those carrying it were innocent or not.

Taking them in was a death sentence.

On the other hand… Why should I care about what my enemies think? The enmity between Silver Oasis and Geinard Kingdom was pretty much irreconcilable. It was the same with most of the other countries, Dwarven Holds being a notable exception. These people - before they lost their ability to work, to live - were good, loyal soldiers with families still living in town. Killing them off or sending them away would only weaken our resolve.

I sighed once again, seeing the kneeling men and women tremble like newborn lambs. Then, slightly shaking my head I spoke, trying to use my noblest tone. “As a Master of Silver Oasis, I welcome you in our ranks. May you spill our enemies' blood and find peace beside our hearth.”

The demihumans trembled, not believing their ears, and their draconic leader raised his head, not bothering to wipe out his snot and tears.

“T-this lowly Ionas will serve faithfully, Master!”

“You won’t regret it!”

“Until death!” He banged on his chest, the inhuman eyes following my every move.

“Good.” I nodded. “Now tell me, do you know how goes Ag-- *ahem* the Princess’ treatment? She was sent down into the Dungeon not long ago.” It was hard to keep emotion out of my voice.

“Yes, Master! A part of our duties was to inform you, that the doctors had already finished their procedure.” The Naga smiled happily, before getting elbowed by the rat demihuman.

“What this fool forgets to say is that… there were some complications, Master.” His companion finished, wiping the smile from the snake’s face.

“What!” I shouted, the countless scenarios flowing through my mind. “What happened?”

“Her life is not in danger, Master, but it's better if you see for yourself. There are too many ears and eyes here.” Ionas answered calmly while busy glaring at my bodyguards and being glared at back.

I swallowed my despair. “I see.” No time like the present. “Captain Vega!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Take care of them, just remember, these are our new companions, not some slave monsters. Act accordingly.”

“Yes, sir!” There was a grin on his face, which I ignored as not befitting his station. Moments later, just before delving into the Dungeon, I caught sight of him hugging a young woman with very furry arms. Their faces bore a familial resemblance.

The next minutes were a blur.

We ran down the stairs with haste, with a Ratling and a few Lebirs that had started to accompany us from nowhere. They gently nudged our group toward the best paths, smacking away anyone who impeded our marathon.

By the end we were sweating bullets, panting hard, tired, and yet alive. I felt a tingle of pity, considering how the soldiers were in full armor and I had only my robe to contend with.

“I’ll go alone.”

“S-sir… but…” The burliest of the bodyguards gasped for air. “W-we need t-t-to protect you!”

He stubbornly clung to his duty. Which was commendable, so I didn’t voice my opinion that if Uno wanted to do something, then none of them would be able to prevent it. Instead, I just smiled. “Master Vincent is just behind the corner, as is the Princess. I can’t be in better hands.”

“As you wish, sir!” The soldier and his comrades bowed deeply and remained in position before slumping down as soon as I left their line of sight.

I strolled ahead to the place that I knew Agnes was carried into.

I loitered before the door for a few seconds, steeling myself. Then I took a deep breath and opened it. What greeted me was a strange sight. Inside the room stood Master Vincent with an incredulous expression on his face. Besides him, there were a few monsters present, with a new, large spider-like armored abomination standing amid its lesser brethren.

The monster in question was currently lowering its head to the boyish girl with blonde half-shaven hair, wearing not much more than a white, oversized shirt, and short pants. She seemed to be in the middle of scolding, but my loud entrance seemed to startle her.

She turned around, her brilliant green eyes sparkling with recognition.

I noticed other splotches of green on her face… no - that was not paint, but scales. Suddenly everything clicked. The way the veterans were saved, the strange expression on their faces. The hush-hush when it came to what actually happened.

I wanted to scream and laugh.

That damnable Dungeon had indeed created a healing elixir. One that turned people into demihumans. Oh, the irony…

My train of thought had been interrupted at that moment as Agnes rammed into me with all her might, hugging me warmly. I caught her, our bodies sticking to each other. Craving each other.

“Charles! Charles, it’s really you!” She screamed, her hands wandering, checking my body for damage, like she didn’t believe I was there. Feeling her warmth I smiled, the calculation and anger flowing away. I touched her partially-scaled face. It didn’t matter. Despite what she had become, despite what the world thought about the demihumans… I didn’t care.

“Yes, my love. It’s me.” I swallowed heavily, before looking into her eyes. There was love there. And pain. “I couldn’t leave you to die. I did everything I could, even after the Kingdom abandoned us.”

“I’m happy it was worth it.” I mumbled, hiding my head in her hair.

“I’m happy as well.” Agnes smiled, before kissing me.

And of course, a mechanical, dreary voice had to ruin this moment.

“I can explain!” Uno drawled through his device. “It was an accident, I swear!”

“There was an immuno-rejection! A problem that didn’t have any other solution…”

“Any other solution than to turn the love of my life into a DEMIHUMAN?” I screamed back, feeling Agnes stiffen in my arms. She trembled, not dissimilarly to the people I left on the surface. I hugged her tighter.

“I love you.” My whisper warmed her ears. “Whatever and whoever you become, I’m here. I will be here. Not for a Princess. For Agnes, my love.”

She smiled, her eyes regaining their earlier brightness as she tried to respond, and Uno interrupted the moment again with his whining.

“You don’t understand! We had to extract the parasite and save her at the same time! It was a race against time!”

“B-but look! We have gained a powerful weapon! A bargaining chip!” His monsters parted, allowing me to see a strange tube filled with clear liquid and… something floating inside. The thing looked like a cross between a worm and a flower, with a slick, green carapace and a toothed maw. It also twitched slightly, a sign that it was still alive.

“Ta-da! Here you have the single remaining clone of the Succubus! High-level lady! Or whatever she was called! Just think how much will the Geinard Kingdom pay for her safety!” I could hear the smugness in his voice. “And how much I could glean from learning about this form and those that come after!”

“Ooooooh! I can’t wait! My own xenomorph!” He crowed.

“Wait.” I spoke, the fury growing deeper in my chest.

“Yeeees?”

“Is… Is that… Is that the thing that nearly killed Agnes?” I asked, the reignited emotion returning.

“Y-yes?”

“And you are parading it like some kind of a trophy? Instead of destroying it completely?!”

“B-but think of the power it hides! The safety it can grant us!”

“Oh, I had thought about it. During my long, sleepless nights. During the battles with fools who thought of Agnes as but a tool.”

“And do you know what I had decided, during that time of peril?”

“No…?” Uno squeaked.

“THAT IT WILL BURN!” I screamed, the magic boiling in my chest, green and red intermingling for the first time. The flames came to me naturally, like I was born to summon them from the deepest circles of Hell.

Part of me wondered what Hell even was.

The rest simply rejoiced as I stepped forward and spoke.

“Come forth, Gehenna.”

And the flames answered.