Eastern Dungeon (Part 15)

Lights flashed all around Zoe as she blocked the incoming attacks from the living chains that rushed after her. She could hear the sound of them cracking and shattering behind her as she ran.

"Daryl!" Zoe shouted as she came to a halt next to Daryl.

"I'm alright." Daryl muttered under his breath as he gently grasped her hands in acceptance of her help to get back on his feet.

Prince Leo observed Kalen carefully with Vorbuk by his side. The sounds of his wings fluttering could be heard. All eyes were cast upon him as his body slowly began to rise from the floor. Feathers falling in the air as his body hovered above them all with staff in hand.

"Bredret!" Leo called out.

"What?!" The frustrated dragon replied back with a throbbing brow.

"Throw me!" Leo shouted in a hurried tone.

".... Has this kid lost it finally?" Bredret muttered to himself.

"Hurry up and throw me!" Leo rushed him.

Bredret ran in the direction of the crown prince. Once he began to run the attention of Kalen was drawn to his action. He could feel the dungeon master rushing at him from behind as he ran.

There was not enough time for Kalen to focus on Bredret's movements. A cold voice whispered in his ear. He could feel someone grasping hold of him from behind. Two hands were firmly holding on to his two bottom wings.

"How could you forget a vampire can still sneak up on you from the air?" Ashley's voice caused Kalen's heard to pound as soon as he realized Ashley had closed in on him from behind.

"Ack!" Kalen grit his teeth together in pain as he could feel the vampire pulling at his wings.

Pounding his wings hard in the air he tried his hardest to knock Ashley off of his back. His back was burning in pain where his wings were attached to him. In the mid of his back Kalen could feel the man's feet against him as if the person was surfing.

From the front as he struggled the crown prince was thrown straight for him. Fighting back against the pain from behind his hand raised the staff. Hands shaking as he focused and blocked the incoming prince's sword.

"Thank you." The crown prince smiled as his other hand grabbed hold of the staff.

"Impudent! Do you know who gave me this staff?!" Kalen wanted to swear but held it in.

"Of course I dont?" Leo thought that would be obvious but his remark only seemed to anger the dungeon master further.

The prince tried to pull on the staff while Kalen tried to move his free hand towards Leo's throat.

Thud!

Thud Thud Thud! Crrkk!

Kalen's motion was blocked by a shield of light. He began to beat against the shield. The more he pounded against it the more the shield cracked.

"Gah! Ack!" Kalen gasped in pain as he could feel the warmth of his own blood dripping down his back.

My.. My wing!?! Kalen's mind was in a panic as he felt something heavy leaving him. It felt like a part of himself was lost in that moment.

A loud thud could be heard as a large pair of blue wings hit the ground. White dust from the fallen rubble filled the air where they fell. Next to them Ashley landed perfectly on his two feet in a motion that seemed almost natural. It was almost like a cat carefully landing on the ground. On his face was a kind smile that seemed as if he had been simply standing around.

With the sudden loss of two of his wings the dungeon master could no longer control his balance. At first it was a couple quick motions as he struggled to hold on to the height he was hovering. He could not maintain that balance with something so important to him removed. In a mere minute his last two wings gave out up on the struggle.

"He shall not forgive my failure," Kalen glared up at the pair of blue eyes who stared down into his as they fell together through the air. "But if you take what belongs to him here. You will be the one to receive his wrath in the end."

Kalen began to chuckle as he gazed up at the crown prince.

Red eyes...

There is a pair of red eyes in his shadow...

The wolf was gazing deeply into Kalen from within the shadow cast between them. He could feel the wolf there even if he could not see nothing more then those blood red eyes.

The crown prince did not listen to Kalen's words. A crazy man could say many things when faced with a dire situation. It was not time for him to waste by trying to understand what Kalen meant whenever the man opened his mouth. Instead he moved his sword in hand and drove it straight into Kalen's chest. Driving it deep as he could til Kalen finally released his grip on the staff.

Right before Kalen's body collided with the ground the crown prince kicked himself off the dungeon master. His body being tossed backward as Vorbuk burst from within the shadows right on top of Kalen.

A dark ball of mana exploding from the wolf's chest directly against Kalen.The ground rumbled as everyone closed their eyes instinctively against the blast. From behind Vorbuk the crown prince had been quickly pulled away with Ashley's speed. Beneath the wolf he could feel the dungeon master struggling in vain.

As soon as it was over a familiar screen appeared in front of Vorbuk.

[ Side Mission: Crystal Tiger Hunt

Completed ]

[ Reward: Title: Dungeon Master ]

"Don't you ever make yourself useful?" Vorbuk scoffed at the ridiculous screen. It felt more like someone was toying with him.

Rustling...

He could hear the sound of something moving in the distance. Twitching his ear he listened to it momentarily. Scanning the surroundings with his eyes in the direction they would need to take and leave.

"Uhh... Leo?" Vorbuk called for the prince.

"What's wron-?!" The crown prince paused beside the wolf as they both wondered if they were seeing the same thing.

"Is that-?" Daryl started to word the question they all were thinking.

A child?!

Straight ahead on the bed that had been large enough for the tiger was a pile of furs. Those furs had all fallen to the side as a young child sat up. Yawning ever so quietly as his green eyes gazed in their direction.

Leo and Vorbuk both had faces stiff yet full of question. They both were seeing a child marked with a bizarre name.

[ Species: Tiger Beastman // LOCKED ]

Part of the child's information seemed to be blocked.

"Who are you?" A child, who looked like a young teenager, asked in their direction. His voice was shaking making how nervous he was quite obvious.

"What should we do?" The group whispered to each other. As a prince Leo did not feel comfortable with leaving the child alone like that. It was still a person even if the child was found inside of a dangerous dungeon. They were not certain why the child would be kept here with the dungeon master. That was the only problem that made them feel hesitant for a moment.

Before they had time to decide how to act Leo caught a glimpse of a shadow moving. His eyes landed on Vorbuk as he quickly shifted into his human form. Vorbuk was cautiously approaching the child. Even if the child was mortal the wolf knew they had to remain alert to anything and anyone they could come across in such a place.