Chasing the Dusk (4/4)

Another thing Juzz' Hassano was good at, was blades! He let go a flurry of flying two inch daggers. The sharp projectiles darted through the cave hitting two arachnids and a flying bat the size of a monkey! The maimed Dungeon beasts paused their attacks long enough for Cassie the Mage to pass through the opening she had previously created. "Mejã get your big butt in that tunnel!!" Juno yelled as he concentrated on holding back the monsters. "Oh my.. oh gods.. oh, Cassie please wait!" a sheepish voice was suddenly heard as a plump yet tall girl came out of a nearly invisible hiding position, holding a Heavy crossbow in a tight embrace, like you would a child. The 1,9m tall woman waddled in a hurry towards the opening, cradling her weapon tightly against her overly large breasts. Her skin was covered partially in very short beige fur and patches of verdant scales that also covered the entirety of her strong, lizard-like tail. Through her long curly brown hair, one could easily spot a pair of ivory horns poking out, making her a bizarre mix of ox and lizard. Her hips were wide and her butt big and rounded. Everyone said that Oxenërs were the worse race to become adventurers. Especially their women who grew plump and juicy once they hit maturity.

Mejã wasn't different than other Oxaür girls in that regard. Her muscles were covered with a plethora of love handles, large breasts and a bubble-like bottom. No Guild took the girl seriously when she left her old life to become a Ranger type Adventurer. Destined to become a breeding cow for the strong bulls of her tribe, Mejã's talent would have been lost if her current friends hadn't found her one fateful day. The Oxaür now thrived as a sniper and camouflage adept despite what her shape and race would suggest thanks to her efforts and her team's trust in her. The girl fell into a slide just before entering the opening, taking aim at the large Boss Monster with her crossbow. After releasing a held breath she squeezed the trigger gently, letting her bolt fly. The missile caught the large beast in a vulnerable spot in between its leg and carapace, where the two connected. The arachnid screeched and slowed its advance in an attempt to remove the embedded bolt from its body.

Cassie grabbed Mejã from the scruff pulling the cowgirl to her feet as she was still celebrating her well aimed shot excitedly, despite what her constantly droopy eyes would suggest. The petite Mage hauled her down the tunnel even though the small girl could barely reach her friend's shoulders if the latter wasn't crouching, making for a very ironic image as Mejã protested against her persistent tugging. In another small tunnel, Sumiré watched desperately as the adventurers were actually putting up a fight against the Dungeon's remaining forces. No.. they were winning! The leader, Juno, definitely had a Hero Core! It was some sort of Rogue subtype and he was allowing his team to tear through Lady Minõa's summons with relative ease. Already weakened after the Ghoul's attack the Dungeon hadn't been brought back to full strength due to the lady's absence. Her Core was intact that meant she was still fine but the fact that she had yet to return worried the girl.

And now.. these people were defiling her domain with Gods know what intentions. Despite her help and that of her mother's, the adventurers had managed to overcome every trap, monster and sneaky slingshot projectile. Now they were about to enter the Core Room. Fisher gave it his all, even managing to knock the human tank off their feet and against a wall with a powerful Cave Breaker attack. But once Juno entered the fray, all it took was a single Skill activation to tip the scales. This was the power of a Hero Core, making an individual better than anyone else without one. He threw a pouch of shiny metal objects near the ceiling and made a hand sign before infusing them with Mana. Juno's "Hail of Thorns" was basically a rain of caltrops than fell with enough speed to pierce even studded leather. Fisher's carapace lasted a good while before the rain of sharp steel managed to draw greenish blood and restrict his movements. Two swings of a warhammer later and Fisher's head and back had caved in with a sickening crunch. The Deep Fisher's spirit retreated to its master's Core where he asked for forgiveness. He had failed and now.. only Fiona and the girls could stop the adventurers from destroying Lady Minõa's Core!

Juno and Eustace soon joined their lady teammates in the room at the end of the corridor, that was even deeper underground. They were staring with jaws dropped at something and Eustace scratched his head as he took in the strange interior. "This place is kinda spooky.. It looks like a church.. I never liked churches.." he said in a whispered voice. "This is the place, isn't it?" Juno said as he passed by Mejã and Cassandra, tapping them gently on their backs for a job well done. "Is it supposed to look this... Well made? I thought Cores were mindless.." inquired Cassie as she inspected the engravings and the pillar of reflective black stone. "By the Gods! Look at this! Look! It has carvings of events on its pillar! Like a chronicle! Do you know what this means? Either this Dungeon is sentient or its actually.." continued the Mage before being interrupted by a reassuring Juno. "It's not a Dark Core.. Cassie.. it's not. Trust me! If this were a Dark Core we'd all be dead or facing its Avatar right now. And besides, Dark Lords build fortresses not caves..".

He took a good look at Trishda's symbol before pointing at it with an index. "What we have here is probably a deviant Core. A chosen Dungeon, probably favored by the Chaos God.. It's still a baby, that's why it had so few rooms and yet no loot whatsoever despite it's monsters being very strong..". "Ah bollocks.. All that monster mashin and no reward?" complained Eustace like a pouting child. "Well.. we might be the first ones to ever lay eyes on this Core.. that might just be a reward on its own.. And look how beautifully it glows with all its rough edges and how its light bounces off the warm waters around its altar.." said the Oxaür hugging her weapon even tighter as if a warm feeling was overtaking her while she smiled widely. "See? Why can't you guys be more positive, like Mejã?" said Juno, giving his team a grin. "Because then you'd be broke.." answered Cassie with a judging look while she poked him in his side. Juno laughed and approached the Altar, his hand raising ever so steadily towards the Core.

Fiona let out a low growl and pushed towards the adventurers, held back only by Fatná and Sumiré! She and the two women hid inside Minõa's chamber, which was now separated from the Core room. "No girl wait!" Fatná whispered to her ear. "Wait until the last moment! If they are here to harm the Lady we'll need every advantage we can get!!" she continued desperately, hoping the Blood Wolf would relent. Both women held her in a tight embrace, trying to calm and restrain her. Fiona's every instinct screamed, demanding blood for the trespassers' insolence! Without her Lady here she couldn't even convey her words to the human females!

The rogue's hand hovered now but an inch over the Core. Sumiré and Fatná held their breaths as Fiona prepared to run into the main Altar Room! Juno finally touched the crystal, patting it slightly, like one would an old friend. "For good luck baby Core.. Will be back when you're older and richer and see how well we'll fair then!" he said and his team laughed. "Ok.. Let's get a move on. We lost two people and now we have to pay our respects to their folks.. respects and insurance.." he continued and all of them groaned upon hearing it. "But Juno.. That means we have to make another Dungeon dive or quest before even returning to the city!!" complained Cassie with a whiny voice. "Oh come now.. It's not that bad.. At least we got experience out of it.. You are so close to getting a Hero Core Cassandra, I can just feel it!" replied Mejã supportingly. "Don't worry Cass, I'll keep you safe! You just stand behind me and cast away! Hehe" stated Eustace proudly with a fist to his chest. The small mage barely registered his offer before replying, "I've already told you that nothing is happening between us..".

"And I already told you, that I like big girls, scrawny! Like Mejã, now there's a woman!" said the tall man clad in armor and the team laughed as Cassandra blew a raspberry at him. "Sorry Eustace, but I like big girls too! Well all girls to be frank.." continued the Oxaür and Eustace threw his head down in an exaggerated pose of disappointment as the team kept bonding over the experience, pausing their jabber only when finding the corpse of the two Porters they had brought along. They collected their remains respectfully before departing. Fiona and the two girls stared at the unusual party of heroes as they made their way out of the dungeon and into the starry night. Was it a good idea to let them go? Would they bring more adventurers with them? They had no idea of knowing. "Please my Lady.. Get home soon.." whispered Sumiré as she patted Fiona, knowing that the wolf would be probably thinking the same.

* * *

I ran up the final flight of stairs only to see the Ghoul up on the roof of the tower. The monster had scaled a ladder made of metallic fences, looted from the ancient city no doubt. He stood now atop this crude metallic scaffolding that gave him access to the cave's ceiling, looking back at me with a nervous smile. A giant gaping hole in the earth loomed above him and his minions poured through it, scaling the walls and clawing their way towards the surface. "Quite the commotion you made my beautiful Core.. But you're too late.." he said, pausing only when his eyes fell on Adam and Eve. "We could have accomplished so much more together.. But.. If you won't have me.. I'll just take what I want from your shattered Core!" continued the vile Undead and with a kick he launched himself into the hole while at the same time destabilizing the scaffolding.

The crude construction came undone and fell with a huge clatter on the roof of the tower, with me and my followers diving to safety! I rolled on my back after landing roughly on the stone floor and took some shots with my Finger Gun at the black nothingness . A yelp of pain was heard but nothing else happened and my foe had once again slipped through my fingers, retreating into the earth's darkness! I cursed aloud at my overconfidence. My recent achievements had led me to once again misjudge my opponent's cunning and ruthlessness. Although the Ghoul wouldn't obtain the same amount of power by shattering my Core, he was willing to do it out of desperation. If I had simply killed him the last time we fought none of this would be happening. Now my Dungeon would be at his mercy until we arrived and we were already falling behind. "Adam! What would be the quickest alternative route to the surface!?" I shouted hurriedly and my small Vorsàni leaped into action. "We'll get him my Lady.. We'll make it back home in time!" Eve said while clutching my hand and glaring at the hole above us.