Chapter Twelve


    Ambrose stopped by to see Tina again before going to the dungeon. It had slipped his mind to ask about the Incursion near her. "I might need to get a secretary," he laughed to himself. Tina was sitting up in bed when he arrived, and her skin looked much healthier—less clammy and pale.


    “You’re looking better,” he remarked.


    She smiled at him,


    “Indeed! I did not strain myself as much as I had first suspected. What brings you, le chevalier?”


    Ambrose sat down beside her, taking a breath.


    “I would say I won that duel of ours.”


    Tina grinned at him, eyes flashing with remembrance.


    “So you did. Next time is not so certain, no?”


    He showed her his teeth and then waved a hand.


    “If there is a next time. For now, I’d like to know about the Incursion near you.”


    Tina’s smile vanished, and she looked to the side. A moment later, she took a deep breath.


    “They are creatures I do not understand, le chevalier.”


    He crossed his arms,


    “Surely you have analyzed or identified them, whatever skill you have for that purpose.”


    Tina nodded, making the gesture seem small somehow.


    “I have. It does not make it any easier, eh? The System refers to them as Leshi. They hail from the forest world of Hernae. They command the animals to attack us, and we cannot hunt for fear of the forest itself turning against us.”


    She shuddered,


    “They are twisted things, mon ami.”


    He grunted,


    “They have taken over the entire forest near you?”


    Tina laughed,


    “I wish it was just the entire forest, eh? No, they have taken over all forests near us.”


    She turned to look at him, eyes grave, a haunted shadow over his face,


    “And they are spreading. Their forest is expanding; I don’t know how they do it, but they are. It will not be long before it is your problem too, le chevalier.”


    Ambrose’s chest rumbled as lightning crackled within his heart.


    “You were going to keep this to yourself? If I didn’t win a stupid duel?”


    Tina was unconcerned at his sudden anger.


    “Of course not. That bet was merely a way to get you to fight me.”


    He closed his eye, sucking in a breath. Opening his eye, he fixed her with a steady stare. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    “If you want to continue having a pleasant relationship with me, I suggest you not manipulate me again.”


    Tina pressed her lips together.


    “Very well le chevalier, I do swear.”


    Ambrose nodded, standing up.


    “I''m going to a dungeon. There''s a man I need to collect there, after that I plan on handling these Incursions. That means visiting your town. Are you good with that?”


    “I am.”


    With a wave, Ambrose left.


    _______


    Ambrose got out of his car to regard the dungeon entrance. Ambrose didn''t know much about dungeons. As near as he could figure it dungeons were not unlike the pocket dimension he had just visited.


    Individual worlds with set challenges and bosses.


    What was unique about them is that it was one of the very few ways the System awarded you with anything. Closing Incursions and completing dungeons were the only ways the System gave you anything beyond experience.


    Which begged the question of just how this man had reached the end of the dungeon. The only way Ambrose thought he could have done it was by clearing it, and then staying in the dungeon while it reset itself.


    The portal to the dungeon itself was tucked into a small cave in the cliffside of a beach here on the mainland just south of New Miami.


    [This is the D-Grade Dungeon ‘Akaroth.’ Entering the dungeon will transport you to a System controlled pocket world. Note that any amount of users may enter, but rewards are adjusted accordingly. Also note that this dungeon will reset after being cleared in two months earth time. It is recommended not to stay in the dungeon unless you wish to re-clear it. There will be no additional rewards other than experience for clearing the dungeon twice.]


    Seems to confirm what I was thinking. This Zane Dalewind must have cleared the dungeon and then stayed inside.


    Idly, he wondered how many times Zane must have cleared this place.


    Shaking his head Ambrose entered the dungeon. Ready to face the challenges it had for him.


    He appeared in a subterranean city. It wasn’t a human city, either. It was easy to figure that out because all of the houses around him were made of clay, and dark rock. Maybe houses isn’t the right word, he thought. They were more like small huts.


    There wasn’t much natural light, instead torches and oil lamps had been set up in regular intervals upon a rough, stony path. In the distance, to the north of the city, was a much larger building made of the same clay, but the stone of this particular building gleamed in the light of the fire that reflected off its shiny surface.


    It was obsidian.


    As he got his bearings, a notification flashed in his mind, and he opened it.


    [Retrieve the Claw of Akaroth to proceed to the dungeons next level.]


    That was it. No other information was forthcoming.


    “Coi ui ulph vi munthrek, itrewic jacion!”


    Ambrose blinked, not recognizing the language. He did recognize the ten or so scaly two legged lizard creatures that rushed from around a corner and surrounded him. They wielded sharp spears. Not crude ones, either, these were looked to be of professional quality.


    The creatures had various eye colors, but they were all slit. Their light blue scales ran to a much deeper blue down from the head. Their snouts were somewhat pointed, and their teeth were sharp as tiny daggers. They wore leather, all except one, which had fitted platemale and brilliant sapphire wings extending from his back.


    Ambrose thought about killing them.


    Until he saw a much younger creature being tucked into a house, a scared-looking parent shielding it.


    These are sentient beings, Ambrose breathed to himself.


    He used [Retributions Gaze] on the winged one.


    [Winged Kobold Seseth of the Bluescale Tribe Level 110]: Winged kobolds are considered among the strongest of the kobold kind. Seseth is honourable and has committed no evil. However, he is fiercely protective of his tribe. Kobolds, in general, are distrustful of humans.]


    Seseth said something, but Ambrose couldn’t make it out. His spear prodded at him, and once again he considered killing them all. He could raze this town to the ground.


    Except for a few issues. One, he didn’t know if there was anyone stronger about. He would just as soon not have an enemy if he didn’t have to. Secondly, it would be wrong. There were children here. Just because the kobolds weren’t human didn’t give him licence to slaughter them wholesale without a good reason.


    That didn’t mean he wouldn’t. He had a goal, and he would pursue it, even if he had to hurt them. He wasn’t going to pull that trigger unless he could see no other way.


    “I don’t speak your language. Take me to your leader.”


    Ambrose was hoping his raised hands and tone of voice would get the message across.


    Seseth growled, gesturing for Ambrose to move forward with his spear.


    Well, let’s see what they have in store for me then, he almost grinned to himself.


    At least things were getting interesting.