Chapter 37: 34. Dungeon in the Darkness

"Welcome to the Shadow Lair," Genevive says as she opens her arms and presents all the empty houses, buildings, and such. She has a proud and sad expression as she does so.

"My people lived in this lair for years, and before here, we spanned all over this island. While the island is not our original home, it is our home now. We created this land when we were driven out of The Ebony Woods, our original homeland. We made this new land our home. Its very nature made it a cultivation holy ground. For a time, we prospered, even more than we did previously. 

"Sadly, greed followed us to our new home. Just as we were forced to flee from The Ebony Woods, we were forced to flee again. Can you imagine…" Frustration seethes out of her words as she recounts her past. 

"Our very own lands, and they wouldn't even let us have it." Gene is leaving out many important details, and I can see that it almost pains her to sum up her people's history so briefly. "With no empire or nation allowing my people to live as they please, our only choice was to fight."

She takes a moment to pause, giving me a chance to respond. Instead, I sit on the ground and allow her to continue. Honestly, after all the hiking and climbing, standing is the last thing I want to be doing. Social cues be damned, without skipping a beat, Gene smiles and lowers herself into a sitting position as well.

"First, it was the humans that came for us. They figured that a new land must be abundant with resources worth harvesting. We fought for a bit, and then we came to negotiations. We offered them goods, and they provided us goods in return. We were sure they were biding their time to prepare to wipe us out. That is the way of the world. Power takes what it wants. 

"In preparation for the humans, we devoted ourselves to study and learning. Secretly, our shadow walkers learned many things that would help us over the years—ways to gain power, rituals, seal off our island, and even avoid death. 

"However it was not the humans who came for us. While we were making further preparations, an army of goblins and kobolds descended upon us. Thousands and thousands of goblins and kobolds caught us unprepared. We fought hard and desperately. We took many lives and lost few. Even though we were winning the battles, our population was dwindling. Every life lost was a costly blow to my people. 

"Unlike the humans, death didn't seem to dissuade the invading horde. No matter how many we killed, they kept coming while my people withered away. Out of desperation, we resorted to a ritual that would turn this shadow lair and my people into a dungeon. We would gain immortality, but our fates would be sealed to this cavern. Our love for life pushed us to the ultimate decision to go through with the ritual. We made this lair our home and prepared for the ritual.

"As the remaining one thousand of us prepared, a large assault from the horde pushed us into this lair. Half gave up their lives in defense while the other half performed the ritual.

"In the very depths of this cave, my people gave their lives hoping for a new life as a dungeon. As the defenders died, it became clear that the dungeon process would not be complete in time. Out of options, I took the core that holds my people, the core that would become the dungeon, and I gave it to my totem and commanded him to keep it safe. 

"He did as he was told and fled from the pursuing army. That left me. I had yet to bind my soul to the core. I was to perform the final act of the ritual. Without my knowledge, my people would be lost. Trapped in the core forever. 

"With the horde approaching, all I could do was hide in my shadow and outlast them. It was years. Eventually, I became too weak and could no longer sustain my shadow realm. While I was recovering, the horde surrounded me once again. I had no intention of letting them take my people or knowledge from me. And so I gave up my body and transcended to a spirit walker. 

"As a spirit, I could harness a greater power of shadow, albeit limited in what it could do. The biggest and most taxing ability was to shroud this island in a thick shadow that would leave many to get lost. Shrouded in shadow, the beast horde could not send more troops to this land. Together my totem and I eventually took out the horde that remained. 

"Once the island was reclaimed, we waited. As a spirit, I could not complete the ritual, and my totem lacked capacity. For years and years, we waited, my people tied to the core and me tied down as a spirit. A hundred years passed in waiting while I worked desperately on a solution that never came. Then one day, I felt a new power challenge my hold on this island. A lich had laid claim to the desert lands."

Gene's distant eyes she had while recounting her past fade into closer, more focused eyes that are directed at me. "As you grow in power, my ability to maintain control over the shadows grows faint. The veil I have maintained grows weaker and weaker, allowing the hoard to search for the core and my spirit in full force once again."

She takes a long pause here, allowing me to ask questions. I have a few on my mind but allow her to continue with what she has to say.

"Since you are a lich, this is somewhat your providence. How you were able to bind this land, let alone gain access to it, is beyond me." She gives me a curious look, maybe hoping for an explanation. I have none to give, so she continues. "A dungeon on your lands can either take away your powers or increase them. Lichdom is about control. I'm offering you control over the dungeon core and my people. I just ask that you be a benevolent dungeon lord."

That was unexpected, and I am sure my countenance is doing nothing to hide my shock. I consider Gene's words making sure I didn't mishear what she said. "And you would trust me with your people?" I finally ask.

She takes a moment and responds. "Yes and no. From what I've seen of you so far, I have no reason to believe you would be a ruthless ruler. And while you gain power, it isn't your only motivation. Your recent encounters both with the spiders and bugbears have also led me to believe you do not thirst for violence and yet are willing to fight to protect what you deem important. 

"Most importantly, your relationship with your skeleton is not the most common. You treat your minion as your equal, even giving him power over you, if only in a title. A power-hungry lord does not subjugate himself to call a minion his boss. 

"On top of all of that. I have little choice, and your uniqueness offers a potential solution. It takes time for a dungeon to form even after the ritual is complete. Once it is complete, it will be weak in its early stages and vulnerable for others to take. Believe me, the horde will stop at nothing to gain this core." 

"Okay. You want me to defend the core after the ritual?" I ask, seeking a little clarification.

"I need you to bind the core to yourself, complete the ritual, and hopefully, this won't put you in a state too weak to defend yourself from the upcoming onslaught.

"I will offer my services as your bound spirit in return. You may or may not know this, but one of the perks of a death lancer is the warlock contract that can be created with it. With this, you can harness a spirit's power and use it for your gain. I believe you can gain much with me as your spirit."

"You don't look too pleased to be bound to me." 

"It isn't my first choice. However, my options are very limited." 

You are reading story The Rising Fist Saga at novel35.com

The immense information that has been unloaded on me carries significant weight. If I wasn't already sitting, I would have taken a seat. Minutes pass while I consider everything that has been said. Finally, the thought weighing on me the most comes out. "Can we bind the dungeon core to me? I thought you were turning this cave into a dungeon."

"There are two types of dungeons. The dungeon that you speak of is bound to a place. This is a closed dungeon. Progress revolves solely around consuming. As the dungeon consumes more, it and its inhabitants become more powerful with it. 

"Open dungeons are bound to a person. Progress is much more individualistic. However, keeping the boss strong keeps the members of the open dungeon strong as well. In both cases, the dungeon and its people will survive as long as the core is not destroyed or taken. There are many similarities and differences between the two, which we can delve into later. 

Gene is patient, but her time is dwindling, and she presses the urgency. "I need you to help me free my people and keep them safe. You can use the dungeon to increase your influence, strengthening your lichdom."

As wild as it all seems, what Gene says makes sense to me. Sure I have a bunch of questions and some reservations, but she is taking a much bigger risk here. Besides, I should be dead many times over. If I had the means to overcome death, it would make sense that Gene and her people also found a way. On top of that, I am foolishly eager to believe her words due to my promise to Bones. 

"Genevieve, you mentioned that dungeon cores can become stronger. Would this core allow for progression of a minion that is a bit stunted at the moment?"

"Would you pass up the chance to bind the core for yourself and offer it to Bones?" Do you understand the amount of power you would be giving up?"

"Would it work? And not really, I don't. Seems though, if I make Bones stronger, I also become stronger." 

Gene contemplates this for a bit. After going through scenarios, she lets me know what she thinks. 

"This could actually be a much better proposal. Your minion binds the core leaving you at full strength to defend the dungeon while it develops. Bones gains added protection because he is your minion and can't die unless you die. And you can't really die. If this works, are you prepared to make Bones' boss rank more official?"

"Sure, I'll find a way to outrank him in the end."

"Then let us get started. Summon Bones, and I will call for my totem. You may want to give me some space when he arrives. He has been a bit protective over the last century." 

"Oh, that might be a problem. It seems this cave doesn't want me to use my mana."

"That won't be a problem. I will block the silencing shadows for the time being. You will be free to use your mana according to your needs."

"It's that simple, huh? Well, thanks. I will go and summon Bones now." 

Awkwardly, I get up and leave the shaman behind to do as she directed. Giving her and her totem some space. Deeper into the lair, I find a lovely building to rest in. The totem hasn't arrived yet, and I am not sure when that will happen. Part of me sort of figured the arrival would be sooner than later. Not that that matters. Mostly just curious to see what this totem is. 

When I contact Bones, I fill him in on everything. Mentioning a chance for him to gain his own core is all it takes. Becoming a dungeon boss is another strong motivator. Nothing I really said afterward mattered. Next time I will hold off on the good news until the end. Regardless, Bones is one hundred percent in. 

He would've had me summon him immediately had he not had his own news to share. Apparently, the spider queen returned, seeking an alliance with favorable terms. Knowing we wouldn't trust her, she even offered to swear allegiance with an oath pact. Something that is near impossible to break. We agreed, and the queen decided to wait in our home for our return to make things official. 

With everything discussed that needed to be discussed, I un-summon Bones. True to Gene's words, my ability to use mana is no longer being blocked. Fortunately, despite the distance between us, the un-summoning still works. However, the mana return I usually get when I un-summon Bones never returns. The loss is negligible, and I am already working on summoning the boss. 

Bones forms into his pale boney figure. Mana courses around him, giving him many human-like features. Most notably, his facial expressions are much more human. "Hello, boss," I say with a warm welcome, glad to be with my friend again. 

"Hello, Cap. Hey, good work, not dying. You miss me? You missed me. I didn't even have to ask. I can see it in your face. You are practically on your way to hug me."

I was walking towards Bones as he spoke. Quickly I abandon my steps. I wasn't on my way to hug him. He just summoned between me and the door, and I was trying to lead the way out. No matter. Nothing wrong with being friendly. I continue my steps towards the door and Bones, wrap the boss in my arms and give him a bone-cracking hug which I quickly repair.

"That was a neat trick, T'am. You learn how to manipulate summoned mana on your pilgrimage?"

"Suppose I did, boss. Just kind of happened while I was cutting my way through the woods."

"Nice! I knew sending you on this quest was going to be beneficial to me. Now let's go bind us a dungeon." Bones just about runs out the door when he pauses in his steps, turns back, and says, "We have lives to save!" 

I would maybe consider believing Bones is in it for the lives at stake; however, his giddiness and excitement for a chance at a core can't be hidden. To be fair, I am also really excited for him...And the lives we are going to save.

You can find story with these keywords: The Rising Fist Saga, Read The Rising Fist Saga, The Rising Fist Saga novel, The Rising Fist Saga book, The Rising Fist Saga story, The Rising Fist Saga full, The Rising Fist Saga Latest Chapter