The Axe Falls -CH5- (Patreon)

Nick stood before the entrance to the city-dungeon.

A location that had once upon a time been a true dungeon. Cleared in the long past to the point that the dungeon heart was captured.

Captured bound in magical constraints and put back into place. Where only a certain number of monsters could be brought to life in the dungeon. Only so many traps, mini-bosses, and floor bosses.

Brought to task and bound by a very high level magician to serve the public good as a training ground. That would see hundreds if not thousands of adventurers move through it’s halls in a decade.

Looking around at the cave entrance in the middle of a park, Nick was alone.

He imagined most of the people who would have already gone in this morning after getting their job requests. It was nearing lunch which meant most people would be quite deep in the dungeon by now.

There were no guards, no one watching, and no one seemed to care about the dungeon in any way. Nick was surprised and wondered if anyone oversaw the area at all.

Gripping his pole-axe a bit tighter, he headed toward the cave entrance.

Mentally, he called up the two quests he’d been given by Sara.

Quest!

Bat-boy: Catch, kill, and process ten giant cave-bats.

Quest!

Truly Outrageous: Collect twenty magic gems/cores from any creature in the dungeon.

They’re both kill and butcher quests.

Betting Sara gave me the easiest for a fresh fighter to use. Though if I get the chance I’d like to test out what Caster Skills I have.

“Hey, what Skills do Casters have?” asked Nick as he entered the cave and started to head downward immediately. The path sloped down into the dark though there were magic-torches that lined the wall.

“Starting Skills? Mm, simple ones. Firebolt, Skin of Wood, and Minor Heal,” replied Lucian quickly. “Nothing that extraordinary or that useful. It’s really just meant to help you figure out which way you want to go. Damage, support, or healing.

“It’s different than how you’re a Fighter because you’ve already chosen a weapon. Rather than futzing around with every type of weapon, we’re going straight for the gold-standard.

“The pole-axe. A knight’s weapon. A lordly weapon. A weapon truly deserving of the Randolph name.”

“Why are you so invested?” Nick asked, changing the subject slightly. “You act like you’re a R-family member but you said you lost to someone in my line?”

“Oh, my daughter married him,” Lucian said with a deep and affectionate laugh. “How do you think you got all those Draconic racial bonuses? My bloodline runs through you as deeply as the Randolph blood does.

“I’m that deeply invested because it’s MY family. It does not share my name, but it shares my blood. My daughters children. It’s been terribly depressing when each of my descendants passes, but so invigorating with every birth.

“And I’m consulted by every family head. At the end of the day, I am the Randolph guardian spirit and second only to your original ancestor, for I am your ancestor. How could I not be invested?”

Oh.

That makes too much damn sense.

“So instead of slay the dragon, it was lay the dragon?” Nick asked with a smirk, reaching a turn in the cave system.

“Well, not me, but my daughter. Neither of them complained in the end when the bargain was struck. They complimented each other very well.

“They made a very good couple. There was very little that could stand in their way when they worked together,” Lucian said as if he were remembering something. His voice fading near the end. “A very good couple.”

Finishing the turn, Nick found an open cavern. It stretched upwards in an almost impossible way. As if they’d break through the ceiling and come back into the light.

Looking around he found it was spacious and quite roomy. He was also pretty sure he could see a few people at a far wall in the distant gloom. From this distance he could tell there were individuals over there, dungeon or otherwise, but not what they were doing.

Taking minerals from the wall maybe? Who knows. I’m not sure it’d be good etiquette to go bother them. They have their quests, I have mine.

Not to mention this is supposed to be fairly well guarded.

Everyone always says to heed the “play nice” rules at your own discretion.

“Fuck around with the guards and find out? I’d rather not,” muttered Nick as he continued forward. There wasn’t anything in the cavern that he could discern was of interest to him. This was likely where gathering types of people would begin their journey.

Entering another downward sloping turn Nick found himself at an odd location.

It was an intersection with six doors. Though each of them seemed to be set in carved out and blocked stone. It was in stark contrast to the untreated and unworked stone walls that surrounded everything.

“Uh, so… huh,” Nick mumbled looking at the doors. “I guess we-”

There was a slam from the third door that made it rattle on the hinges. As if something had just plowed right into it. A few seconds later came what sounded a lot like men shouting.

“Well, any door but door three, obviously,” Lucian said dryly. “That won’t open from their side since they’re in combat.”

Gripping his pole-axe a bit tighter, Nick marched forward. Straight toward door three.

“Oh? Alright. Let’s start the glorious return of our name with a knightly deed,” said Lucian in an eager hiss. “Be fierce, Sire. Fierce! Fight fiercely! Be a dragon!”

Taking in slow-deep breaths, Nick could feel a strange sensation rising up in his chest and arms. His heart beat firmly and solidly, but it was measured and timely.

“Kick it in!” demanded Lucian. “Then charge!”

In his minds eye, Nick could see what Lucian was proposing. If he was fast enough, it might even be considered a sneak attack since he’d be going from out of combat to in combat.

Lifting up his booted foot, Nick smashed out with all the force he could master. Planting his foot down on the wood right next to the doorknob.

With a clatter the door came off it’s hinges and flew inward. Planting his foot down ahead of himself Nick brought in his pole-axe, lined it up with his body, and dashed forward.

Ahead of him was a group of people battling with several creatures.

From what Nick could see of it in his quick glance, it was a group of three. A Fighter, Caster, and a Ranged. They were attempting to bring down what looked like three goblins that wore almost nothing at all, and a third that had leather armor on and held an actual sword.

Though he’d never seen them before, the goblins matched up to what he expected in his mind. Thin, though corded with muscle, wiry looking, shorter than a man, and green skinned, they were most certainly goblins.

A second after he had that thought, the door slammed down into the ground and Nick’s charge led him into the closest goblin.

Rather than thrusting forward in a spear-like maneuver Nick decided to Slash instead. His closest target was an unarmored goblin. His axeblade would be more than enough to deliver an attack.

Stomping his left foot down Nick cocked his arms back toward his right shoulder, rotated his hips, then swung for all he was worth.

All the while trying to activate the Slash ability.

A white light came off his pole-axe as it sped through the air and buried itself in the goblin’s far shoulder. Nick had missed the creatures neck and spine and struck out too far as well.

Shrieking, the creature lost it’s right arm entirely and stumbled toward the Caster. Blood pouring out of the wound Nick had created.

Critical Hit!

Severed: Right arm!

Fight fiercely!

Fierce!

Like a dragon!

Because I am one!

I’m… I’m a damn dragon!

Roaring as his body finished the swing, Nick chased after the goblin he’d wounded. It was turning toward him now with a shocked look on its face. Lifting its left arm to ward off an attack it expected as Nick transfered his weapon into a higher position all the goblin did was expose it’s middle.

Stabbing downward and in with his pole-axe’s spiked head Nick stepped right up to the goblin.

It was two feet shorter than he was though thick muscle covered it’s small-framed body.

Jerking the head of his pole-axe down and away Nick eviscerated the goblin. In the same movement he shifted the position of his hands, moving them so that he could use the bottom ferrule as a spear once again.

Critical Hit!

Eviscerated!

Executed!

Goblin slain!

Collapsing to the ground the goblin moved not at all.

Nick was staring into the face of a young female caster now. Her wide green eyes gazing back at him as if he were more a surprise than the goblin.

Spinning his pole-axe around so that the head was upright again, Nick put his back to the woman and looked back to the other goblins.

“Hey, hero, think you can take the armored one in the back?” asked the Fighter directly across from Nick. The Ranged member was drawing the other two goblins away from the group.

Nick wasn’t certain, but he had the feeling that the two goblins would cause more issues for the Ranged member, than the armored one for the Caster and Fighter.

“No, I need to even the odds,” Nick said coldly and then began moving off to engage the two goblins that were being led away.

Moving ahead of the goblins was a young man with a short-bow. He was moving ahead at a jog and firing backward at the two enemies when he had the chance.

Remembering how he’d dealt with one of his pursuers Nick gave his pole-axe a spin and brought the hammer head around. Bringing the weapon down and low to his left Nick switched up his grip, moving one hand over the other, then came across behind the goblin at an angle.

This one hadn’t been struck by any of the arrows from the Ranged attacker and seemed far more likely to catch up to them. The other one

Swinging with all the force he could muster Nick watched as the hammer head plowed into the side of the goblin’s head. There was a crunching, tearing, breaking, sound followed by the goblin’s head twisting to the side at a strange angle.

Critical Hit!

Skull fracture!

Broken neck!

Tumbling forward the Goblin smacked their face on the ground, then an arrow appeared in the top of their skull. Sticking up from it like it was some sort of art piece.

Goblin slain!

Grinning at the victory, Nick did a strange hopping and skipping like motion to try and catch his balance from his mad-swing. The whole attack had seriously unbalanced him.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Instead, he nearly ended up doing a face plant just like the goblin did when he got caught up on his own pole-axe. One leg getting stuck in the other as the shaft ended up between his legs.

Unfortunately the goblin realized its companion had died and had come to a near stop before Nick managed to even slow down.

Lifting his pole-axe Nick turned and looked back the way he’d come.

The caster and the fighter were working together to subdue the armored goblin and looked to be making no progress. It couldn’t advance at the Caster without catching a faceful of spells, and the Fighter couldn’t keep it pinned by himself.

“You got this?” Nick asked, watching the two fight the armored goblin.

“Yup!” said the Ranged adventurer.

Not waiting, Nick started running back the way he’d come. Things were balanced and he could move again. Staying with the armored goblin would have put the other man at risk for no reason.

“Stay the fuck out of this, this is our kill, we don’t need your help!” yelled the Fighter as Nick got closer. He’d even already drawn up his pole-axe to prepare it to engage the armored goblin.

Huh?

“He’s a piss-ant!” growled Lucian. “Sire, its obvious they would have all been killed without your intervention. We can take that fact proudly with us even if they don’t acknowledge it.

“Let the peasant have his goblin. It isn’t like he’ll be able to do anything till the Ranged member comes over.”

Slowing down, Nick peeled off to the side and stood at ease near the left side of the Caster.

She had dark black hair and was dressed out in what looked like simple cotton or linen clothes. It had the look of clothes one would wear in the city rather than any type of armor. She filled it out reasonably well in a way that was just a bit beyond average.

Though it did cost an entire liv to get this my armor. Rather expensive. I bet most adventurers would have bought it one piece at a time now that I think about it.

Damn. I keep acting outside of what’s normal.

“Hey,” Nick said as the woman threw out another Firebolt when the armored goblin turned away from her. Except she missed once again, the goblin moving to one side as soon as he took his eyes off her. She’d apparently become very predictable.

The armored goblin did look to have a singe mark or two, so she’d managed to land some hits on the creature.

“If it gets close, I’ll help you out,” Nick promised. “If it gets close to king douche-bag of the shit-heel people over there I’ll just let the gobo have their way with him.”

The Fighter gave Nick a bug-eyed stare over his shield. The metal skull cap he was wearing doing little to hide the look on his face.

“Thanks,” said the woman who promptly brought the two handed staff she was holding down. The butt of it thumped into the stone floor and rested there. She was taking steady and deep breaths. “He can handle it for a bit then. Since he was so determined to attack the group then tell you to go away after you already saved us.”

“Hey, wait, what?” asked the Fighter in a ludicrous tone. “Uh, I-uh, sorry! Help us out?”

Well. That’s surprising. I thought he’d just be a jackass about it.

Turning his head, Nick looked to the woman.

She was just a shade beyond the norm as far as attractiveness went. She wasn’t a looker like Sara was.

“Should I help?” Nick asked when she turned and looked at him.

During this time the armored goblin had been moving in on the Fighter. Slowly backing him up toward a wall. Clearly the creature was confused that Nick and the Caster were letting it do as it wished, but it wasn’t going to stop.

“I… yes. He can be an insufferable piece of shit at times but he’s still my friend,” said the woman who then pointed her two handed staff at the goblin. Before she could even fire off her spell the goblin was already watching her, while trying to eye the Fighter again.

That goblin is really… aware.

Taking his pole-axe in hand Nick began to move in on the goblin from a third direction. Forcing the monster to put it’s back to someone.

It eventually started to edge too close to the Fighter. It’s movements were like an animal pushed into a corner. Whipping this way and that and baring it’s weapon.

“Pokey pokey, mate,” Nick said getting within distance of reaching out with his and then reaching out with his pole-axe. It was more than enough to get the goblin to shift much further away from Nick.

Right up to the other Figher.

A quick Slash with his blade scored a rather nasty gash up along the goblin’s side.

It was followed up rather quickly by a Firebolt as soon as the goblin practically jumped to the side to get away from the other Fighter. The blast of magic smashing the monster in the back and knocking it off it’s feet. Sending it careening to the ground.

Right back at the Fighter’s feet.

Lashing down with his sword the Fighter went to remove the monster’s head from it’s shoulders. Rolling rapidly to the side it managed to skirt out of the way of the Fighter.

This is almost too perfect of a set up.

Snickering, Nick lifted his pole-axe and did what any good Executioner would do with a downed foe.

He activated Death Stroke.

A cold flash of white-light signaled Nick’s ability use as it ran along his weapon.

Then the pole-axe flashed down and chopped the little cretin’s head from it’s shoulders. Removing it cleanly in one smooth go.

Executed!

Goblin slain!

Battle won!

Calculating experience!

“Off with his head,” crowed Nick, lifting his pole-axe out of the goblin’s remains. It was a weird thing to come out of his mouth at that moment, but his blood was pumping.

His ears were ringing and it felt as if his head was far too hot.

He could feel the taste of the roof of his mouth and it felt like his tongue was too big for his mouth. On top of that, it felt like his gauntlets were literally filled with sweat at the moment.

Setting the base of his pole-axe to the ground Nick retrieved a cloth he’d stuffed into his belt just for this moment. Because blood was the last thing he wanted on the blade, not to mention one of the first things his father always did after using the weapon.

“Well done, Sire. As to the burning sensation in your mind, do not fret. It’s just the blood-lust.

“Let it through you. It’ll pass shortly,” promised Lucian. “It comes to all in our line. Even I myself wasn’t immune to it.

“It gets easier to control with time and experience. Just wipe the blood, keep breathing, it’ll cool off shortly.”

Nick nodded his head and began wiping down his pole-axe. Clearing away the blood, bits of flesh, and whatever else was on it.

Lucian was absolutely right. It was like his mind was on fire. He wanted to rush off and find something else to fight.

“-and thanks for that,” said the Caster, stepping into Nick’s view.

“Oh, uh, you’re welcome,” Nick said with a lopsided grin and tucked the cloth back away into his belt. Adventuring was a dirty and blood business.

A bloody rag on his belt wouldn’t be out of place.

“Yeah, thanks, sorry about that,” said the Fighter, coming to stand just behind the Caster. “I’m… I’m an asshole. I know it. Sorry. They keep me on track.”

Following the Fighter’s fingers when he pointed to the side, Nick saw the Ranged adventurer had joined them. The fight was completely over.

“Yup. No worries,” replied Nick. He really didn’t know what else to say.

“Yup?” asked the Fighter, looking somewhat confused.

“He agreed you’re an asshole and said no worries,” replied the Ranged member of their trio with a chuckle. “Anyways. I’m Tom. That’s Randal, the asshole Fighter, and Erica our Caster.”

“Allo, Nick. Fighter,” Nick said with a nod of his head. “Here to clear cave bats and get magic cores. Gems. Whatever.”

“Well you’re in luck,” Erica said and stamped her staff on the ground. “Because we were just going to go back a door and do just that and you’re very welcome to join us in our party.

“In fact, I’d take it as a favor if you could do so. I’m afraid I clearly can’t keep our party’s asshole in line by myself.”

“Hey, I’m not really-”

“Yes, you are,” said Tom, interrupting Randal. “So, how about it, Nick? Care to help us out, and we’ll help you out?”

Nick quickly used Call to Account on all three and found there was nothing there. They were all clear of crimes.

If being an asshole was a crime, I’d probably be a life-long convict.

“Most assuredly,” muttered Lucian.

“Sure!” Nick said aloud to the group. “Let’s go. I’m new to the dungeon so I have no idea where I’m going.”

A second after he spoke a small window appeared in front of him, asking him if he’d like to join Randal’s group. To which Nick accepted.

Another window appeared congratulating him on joining the group.

“Great, let’s uh… leave through the door Nick opened for us,” Erica said with mirth in her voice. Then she walked through the open doorway that only held a single hinge that hung in place.

Nick took the last position in the group and exited as well. At the same time yet another window appeared before him.

And then another behind that one.

Experience earned!

Gained 17 experience!

Congratulations!

You’ve leveled up!

You’ve leveled up!

You’ve leveled up!

You’ve leveled up!

Nice!

The goblins didn’t give much but we must have been close from the other fight. I honestly was surprised we didn’t level from that last time. I thought it only took a hundred points to level

What actually is it?

“Its one-hundred points to level, you’re correct. Experience is always rounded down but we crossed the one-hundred experience boundary marker for each class anyways. Barely. We’ll be at zero of a hundred for each class,” explained Lucian. “Having our experience divided by four, for four classes will certainly be slower than most. Though we’ll be considerably stronger in the long run than anyone else. We just have to kill more things after all. Four times as much things I suppose, but there ya go. Just a larger score to keep.”

Divided… by four?

Damn. I’m going to have to work really hard for this and I’ll technically be weaker than everyone else.