ã€ŠThe Dark Lord Left For Cigarettes [Monster Evolution Litrpg Comedy]ã€‹


 Ch 1. Kip Gets A Promotion

    Kip fiddled with a loose pin in a floor trap. His hands worked tediously but the cold of the fifth floor made his job that much harder. He stuck his hands up and coughed some sparks on them to help warm some mobility back into them. Kip was alone, the only minions around were above him. The chattering ice harpies flew above him, often perching on the tall pines to continue their gossiping.

    Kip opened the third pouch of his belt and pulled out a coil. He used his trusty screwdriver to open up the mechanism and replaced the rusted coil inside. With that, he was done. He closed the trapdoor and set it again. Kip tossed the last of his fish lunch onto the trap, it opened and the fish dropped, effortlessly pierced on an icicle.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± Kip said as he admired his handiwork. He checked his wristwatch. Done before afternoon tea too. He had a long way to trek back to the Labyrinth but the clockworks needed their engines greased.

    ¡°KIIIP!¡± A shriek rang up above. Kip looked up. Two of the harpies, Ismelda and Emersa, were dropping down to talk to him. Kip was shocked, wondering how the two coolest birds on the fifth floor even knew his name. He had chatted with them, sure. But they stuck to polite conversation and little follow-up. Sometimes though, occasionally, they¡¯d ask him what his name was again.

    ¡°Is it true?!¡± Ismelda flapped her wings down, the snowy ground developing crystals of ice as she continued hovering above.

    ¡°How¡¯d you do it?¡± Emersa asked a follow up before Kip could answer.

    ¡°Is it true?¡± Kip asked, ¡°How¡¯d I do it?¡± Then he looked down at the floor trap, how it led down to the spikes that would inevitably pierce an invader¡¯s head or shoulder, ¡°It was quite simple, really. You know, the coils are the first things you have to check. If the floor trap doesn¡¯t spring back up then the invader might be saved and..¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what we¡¯re talking about,¡± Ismelda crowed.

    ¡°What is he talking about?¡± Emersa asked.

    ¡°Not what we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ how did I do what?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know.¡± Ismelda said.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know?¡±

    "How could he, we barely knew and we know most things that go on.¡±

    ¡°But how couldn¡¯t he? Surely¡­ did you not have anything to do with it? Have you checked your system today? ¡± Emersa asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Kip asked ¡°What do I not know that I apparently had nothing to do with? I don¡¯t see combat, thankfully. I¡¯m level one. Always have been. No need to check my system. Wait, why?¡±

    The two harpies both exchanged glances with each other and looked back at the little kobold who was feeling so nervous being the center of attention that his scales turned an even darker shade of red.

    ¡°You must get to the castle.¡± Ismelda said.

    ¡°Top bottom floor!¡± Emersa confirmed.

    ¡°Must I?¡± Kip asked, ¡°I have many more traps to fix. Were we to face an enemy¡­¡±

    ¡°Kip,¡± Ismelda interrupted, ¡°I think you don¡¯t understand. How could he? He does not know. The Dark lord¡­¡±

    ¡°The Dark lord has asked me to fix all the traps.¡± Kip interrupted, ¡°Surely he would have told me directly if he needed me.¡±

    ¡°...Is gone.¡± Emersa finished Ismelda¡¯s sentence.

    ¡°Gone like¡­ dead¡­ again? Dead for good? No invader has made it past¡­¡±

    ¡°He does not understand.¡± Ismelda said

    ¡°How could he?¡± Emersa asked.

    ¡°Shall we?¡±

    ¡°We must!¡±

    As the two harpies flapped their wings harder, little icicle darts shot below them. The surrounding area became even cooler and Kip covered his face with his hands as the frosty winds hit him. They each used one of their talons and picked up the shoulder of Kip, before flying off with him.

    The two harpies took him all the way to the top of Castle Inversa. They went in through a chute left open for some of the smaller aerial minions. Kip kept his eyes covered the entire time, knowing that if he opened them, he would likely get sick. He always had a thing against flying. It was every Kobold¡¯s dream to fly but he was very much fine on the ground, thank you.

    Much to Kip''s relief, the harpies let him go. They entered the throne room, an elegant room near the beginning of the castle. It was large enough that the Dark Lord could address a majority of his inhabitants at one time. A large red rug that started from the two heavy doors ended a few feet from the throne. Before he could scream, Kip landed with a thump on the velvety carpet covering stone tiles. He opened his eyes and was entirely surrounded by castlefolk.

    ¡°Wh-what is everybody looking at?¡± Kip asked.

    No one dared say a word to Kip directly, but would incessantly chatter amongst themselves as if he wasn¡¯t even there.

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    ¡°Step away! Step away!¡± Kip could hear the familiar gruff voice of his dear compatriot. Or rather, his boar compatriot. Stormbristle drifted over the heads of the castlefolk. His cloud was darkened by worry. He used his little legs to swim through the air but was blocked by knights with their halberds sticking straight up.

    ¡°Out of the WAY!¡± Stormbristle¡¯s body flashed lightning, causing the knights to heed him. Stormbristle drifted to the ground so he could waddle over to Kip for the rest of the way.

    ¡°Are you alright, my boy?¡± Stormbristle asked.

    ¡°Storm,¡± Kip said, ¡°Why is everyone staring at me? It¡¯s making me dizzy.¡±

    ¡°You are the talk of the Dungeon. Have you checked your system?¡±

    Kip became overstimulated, his eyes glazing over as everyone stared on. ¡°I.. how can I be? Most monsters don¡¯t even know my name. Last time I came to the castle to do some trapwork everyone thought I was an invader. I almost got flogged, Storm.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well¡­ everyone in the Dark Lord¡¯s army will know your name soon.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been spreading the news since we heard it!¡± Ismelda piped up.

    ¡°We¡¯re the reason things spread.¡± Emersa chimed in.

    ¡°Storm,¡± Kip said, his voice quivering, ¡°Please tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±

    ¡°Your system, boy, check it,¡± Stormbristle instructed Kip, who looked everywhere for the ¡®open¡¯ icon in his vision. He had moved it years ago from disuse, ¡°What¡¯s going on is¡­¡±

    The doors to the throne room were heavy, ornate pieces. They had the Massacre of Mad Mountain painstakingly etched into them by dwarves and when the dwarves¡¯ hands cramped, the Dark Lord had brought in gnomes and had the dwarves executed. They stretched from the floor all the way to the high ceiling. These heavy doors were meant for a team of guards to open with a pulley system. But when Davorin walked in, he pushed them with one hand each and they slammed open. Davorin, the Floor Lord of Castle Inversa, quaffed his white hair behind his blue ears as he stormed in.

    ¡°Out of my WAY!¡± Davorin commanded. He charged down the velvet walkway and the monsters and critters that had been surrounding Kip suddenly opened up, shuffling between each other to try to provide a direct path to Kip. There was, however, not enough time for one of the chess pieces that guarded the courtyard to get out of the way. A small rook had tripped and fallen in front of Davorin¡¯s path.

    ¡°Too slow!¡± Davorin kicked the rook, launching her up into the high ceiling and slamming against the paned glass of one of the Floor Lords.

    ¡°You¡¯re Kit?¡± Davorin demanded, ¡°Speak you little scaly rat. Are you he?¡±

    ¡°I¡­¡± Kip stuttered as Davorin scooped his finger through the collar of Kip¡¯s hood and lifted him up.

    ¡°Are. You. He?¡±

    Kip gurgled as he tried to catch his breath, then he eked out, ¡°I¡¯ve met you four times.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re he or aren¡¯t you?!¡± Davorin shook Kip in the air. Kip let out a weak sound Davorin tossed him.

    ¡°Yes I¡¯m he! I¡¯m Kip. Nice to see you again,¡± Kip murmured, ¡°What is going on?!¡±

    ¡°Precisely what I¡¯d like to ask you. When my people told me the news I almost bit their heads off. Is what everyone is telling me true?¡±

    ¡°I DON''T KNOW!¡± Kip exclaimed, ¡°I have not the slightest, foggiest, iota of an infinitesimal idea of what is going on! Why is everybody staring at me?!¡±

    ¡°They are looking at their new leader.¡± A powerful voice cut through the crowd. Everyone turned and saw another Floor Lord, Jymba, the powerful dragon in his human form. He was wearing his regal robes and walked through the crowd with the same reverence as Davorin, minus the paralyzing fear.

    ¡°Check your system, Kip,¡± Jymba said.

    ¡°My system?¡± Kip asked, ¡°I¡¯m level one. As always.¡±

    Jymba continued, ¡°This morning we could not find the Dark Lord anywhere. When we checked his throne, we found a note.¡± Jymba walked past both of them, further down the red carpet, toward the throne.

    Kip looked around for the exact space where he left the button that opened up his system. He turned and noticed the ¡®Open¡¯ icon near his tail. He pressed it. The scroll that contained all his stats read the same. Level 1. Miniscule strength. Exceptional intelligence. Everything looked the same except¡­

    Kip went pale.

    Davorin hissed and turned his head when he saw Jymba, ¡°You need not make it your business.¡±

    ¡°It is all of our business,¡± Jymba said, ¡°We are all staring at our new lord.¡±

    Under ¡®Role:¡¯ his position had been changed. No longer did it read ¡°Head Of Traps¡± Instead, it was replaced:

    Role: Dark Lord

    Davorin let out a rueful laugh, ¡°Do not make me laugh! He is no more our leader than a crow is a bird.¡±

    ¡°A crow is a bird,¡± Jymba said, ¡°I have told you this many times.¡±

    ¡°It is a BAT!¡± Davorin yelled, ¡°I am a vampire and my specialty is knowing when things are bats or when they are not.¡±

    Jymba handed Kip an envelope, now opened. The first thing that Kip noticed was the Dark Lord¡¯s seal. An upside down castle exactly like the one they were in. He opened it. It was not overly verbose. It was quick and to the point, what the note lacked in information, it made up for in bluntness.

    ¡°Out for a while. Kip¡¯s in charge while I¡¯m gone.¡±

    Kip kept staring at it for far too long, wondering when someone would tap him on his shoulder and let him know that the Dark Lord was hiding behind some plant. Kip looked around again. Somehow, not knowing why everyone was looking at him felt a lot better than knowing.

    ¡°It is the Dark Lord¡¯s decree,¡± Jymba¡¯s voice boomed.

    ¡°Imbecilic.¡± Davorin said.

    ¡°If you question the Dark Lord, then so be it. But there is no question what the next step is. It is up to you, little one.¡±

    Kip held onto the letter so tightly, he was likely to rip it. Stormbristle tried to bring his attention to the matter at hand, ¡°What say you, Kip?¡± Stormbristle asked, ¡°What say you as your first decree?¡±

    ¡°This is crazy,¡± Kip said, ¡°I¡­ I¡­. I am not worth¡­ I am not a dark lord, it is as Davorin says.¡±

    ¡°Ah, some sense. And from the biggest little rat I¡¯ve ever seen. It shall be me who takes the throne. The prince of darkness. The heir apparent.¡±

    Kip thought for a moment. He wasn¡¯t fit to be Dark Lord, but his eyes went to the rook, who was holding onto some tapestry high in the castle. He was hanging on desperately while a few flying books tried to help him down. Davorin. Davorin would be the next in line if Kip seceded.

    ¡°Not so apparent.¡± Kip mumbled under his breath.

    Davorin turned to look at Kip. Kip had a fire in his eyes as he met the floor lord''s bloodshot gaze.

    ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Your hearing is heightened, no?¡± Kip asked, shaking, ¡°I think you heard me. Not so heir apparent.¡±

    Davorin looked around. There were a few terrified ¡®ooohs.¡¯

    ¡°The Dark lord chose me. Who are you to question him?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°What are you doing, boy?¡± Stormbristle asked.

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t let him lead,¡± Kip whispered, ¡°You know how he treats the minions. It¡­ can¡¯t be him.¡±

    Davorin¡¯s maliced frown popped suddenly into a smile. He gave his hands a little clap, ¡°Wundabar! I was worried you¡¯d choose the easy way.¡±

    Kip was caught off guard. Was this just a test that he¡¯d passed?

    ¡°Since you are acting as the current Dark Lord, I invoke the The Succession Articles on the Dark Charter. Article 4. I hereby challenge you to claim the throne. I get to decide the battle. Let¡¯s say¡­ one on one? To the death. One week from today. Afternoon, mind you, I have tea with my beloved in the morning. Ta-ta!¡±

    And Davorin left Kip with the startling realization that Kip had just signed his own death warrant.

 Ch 2: Meet The Bog Witch And The Minotaur

    The vampire popped up from a spring behind the bushes.

    ¡°Now, Kip!¡± Azami cried from her crow¡¯s nest.

    ¡°Kia!¡± Kip ran toward the statue, looking down at the ground and stepping over some brambles and logs. Once he was in position, he used his claws to slash at the vampire effigy. His first claw attack slashed the paint off the wooden slat. The crude painting had comical white lines on the vampire¡¯s mouth for teeth and two inclined lines to represent a furrowed brow.

    ¡°And another!¡± Kip ripped into the vampire cutout with his other claw. This one pierced the wood, enough to get his hand stuck in the thing, ¡°Give me my hand back!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let him off easy!! Use your dragon powers!¡± Azami shouted commands as she looked through her opera binoculars.

    Kip reached with his mouth and sunk his teeth into the pretend enemy. He chomped down hard but then he released his mouth and screamed to the top of his lungs.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Kip?¡± Azami asked.

    ¡°Splinter!¡± Kip said, as he attempted to pull his hand out. He stepped backward but the wooden cutout came off its hinges and fell on top of him. The cutout was too heavy and Kip struggled before eventually crying, ¡°Mercy! Mercy! Tap!¡±

    He tapped the ground next to him with his available arm, his other hand still lodged in the wooden vampire.

    Azami let out a deep sigh. She placed her large brim hat on and got off her chair, ¡°Swiff!¡± Her broom was dancing by the roses, when it heard its name called and raced through the air. It presented itself vertically, where Azami reached out and grabbed it. She used the bristles as a foothold and Swiff floated her down to meet with Kip.

    Azami flicked her wand and the wooden cutout floated on to over kip and was safely dug back in the location behind the bushes.

    Kip lay there on the ground, panting heavily, ¡°What¡­ do you¡­ think?¡±

    ¡°What does your system say again?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, why do I have to repeat that bloody thing? It doesn¡¯t like me.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Azami said, ¡°Even if this neutral representation of your skills and attributes doesn¡¯t like you, let¡¯s hear what it¡¯s got to say.¡±

    Kip had moved the menu button back into his eyeline. He pressed it and a scroll opened up in front of him that Azami could see too.

    ¡°Intelligence, 15. Wisdom, 12. Charisma¡­ 8¡­¡± Kip stopped reading.

    ¡°Come on, Kip,¡± Azami gently chided him, ¡°You can do it.¡±

    ¡°Endurance 5. Strength¡­ 2.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good start,¡± Azami said in her calming voice. She gave Kip a polite smile, ¡°After that last test, I have some more advanced insight, if you¡¯d like.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Wisdom, 12 but with an exception in adaptability. Far exceeds the normal denizen. Your ability to think through problems is unmatched. Strength 2 but combat score¡­ zero. My dear, you lost to a wooden cutout.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite heavy,¡± Said Kip, still laying on the ground.

    ¡°Intelligence is, as you stated, far above the average amount. Your keen analytical eye allows you to see the finer points of every problem.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°But there is not just an abundance, there is an overabundance. You are over analyzing. Your combat score will rise when you take action. As of now, you¡¯re bewildered and easily flustered.¡±

    ¡°Buh! Whu! Well I¡­ Wha¡­.¡± Kip babbled for a while out of deep bewilderment.

    ¡°Charisma. You¡¯re constitutionally incapable of being anyone but yourself and people will like that¡­ if they get to know you.¡±

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    ¡°If they get to know me,¡± Kip finally started to pick himself up, ¡°If they don¡¯t get to know me in the next five days then they¡¯ll never get another chance.¡±

    ¡°Come now,¡± Azami said, she got off her broom and her feet finally touched the ground, ¡°You still have a chance. If you give up now, Davorin wins.¡±

    ¡°Azami, if I fight, Davorin wins. If I give up, I will live, at least.¡±

    Azami shook her head, her frizzy blue hair following her every twist and movement, ¡°Everyone is rooting for you, Kip. We all dislike Davorin.¡±

    ¡°KIIIP!¡± They both heard a booming voice from the way of the labyrinth. The pond Azami and Kip were both next to started to ripple with each coming step. Azami looked over to Kip out of curiosity and he just rolled his eyes. The trees separated and she saw him. A burly man¡¯s body with a cow¡¯s head and horns that stretched out like tree limbs. The minotaur twisted his head so his steed horns could avoid two trees that were planted too close together. He showed up wearing a leather vest and pants that had been tattered into shorts.

    ¡°Kip!¡± Zeke shouted, ¡°I heard what happened!¡±

    ¡°Hey, Zeke,¡± Kip said, then he turned to Azami and said, ¡°This is the labyrinth¡¯s mob boss, Zeke.¡±

    Zeke caught his breath, placing his mighty hands on his knees and resting his two horns against the prongs of a tree. He quickly lifted up his hand to say ¡®hi¡¯ to Azami before replacing it back on his knees for rest.

    ¡°Kip!¡± Zeke finally turned to him, ¡°I heard what happened. Congrats on the promotion. Yadda yadda yadda. Can I have your shrapnel grenades? PLEASE Kip. Can I call dibs on your grenade stash?¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Azami said, ¡°But he¡¯s not going to die. He¡¯s going to figure this out.¡±

    ¡°If Azami believes in me then I think I can do this.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, gotcha. You¡¯re still in the denial phase. Well, if¡­. slash when you die, can I please have your grenades? Think about it, Kip. You got some punk paladin waltzing through the labyrinth, ¡®la-dee-daa I think I¡¯ll kill some poor minotaur today,¡¯ and suddenly he sees me and all he¡¯s thinking is¡­ ¡®uh oh, I¡¯m going to have to battle this guy with his oversized axe or something¡¯ and¡­. Wait, where is my axe?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s strapped to your back, Zeke.¡±

    The minotaur lifted his arm and checked his back, ¡°Thanks. Then I¡¯ll be like¡­ ¡®Axe? Those are for dorks. Grenades!¡¯ and he¡¯ll be like ¡®oh no! I¡¯m dead! Blegh¡¯¡± Then Zeke stuck his tongue out, closed his eyes, and pretended to be a dead paladin.

    ¡°That was a wonderful play you put on but no, Zeke. You may not have my grenades when I die. You are big enough. You can take on an invader or two with an axe. We have to be able to give the weaker ones a chance. That¡¯s what the grenades are for. Not for the people who can already take down someone.¡±

    ¡°Aw come on!¡± The minotaur¡¯s pleas were so loud that Azami and Kip had to cover their ears, ¡°Minotaur with grenades! It¡¯ll be amazing!¡±

    Kip just shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zeke. Not everyone gets that luxury of strength. Not everyone is you¡­ or Davorin.¡±

    ¡°Davorin¡­ that¡¯s a bruiser,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°What do you know about him, cow?¡± Azami asked,

    Zeke shook his head, ¡°Fifteen winters ago, a town sent their militia to invade us. Our platoon cut them off up North. They were mostly guards with some miners mixed in. We were holding them off, but their town was rich with ore. They were able to afford help. They¡¯d hired Ducervi.¡±

    ¡°Ducervi?!¡± Azami asked. When Swiff heard the word, it trembled and started nervously sweeping the dirt even though they were outside and the whole world was dirt.

    ¡°Who are the Ducervi?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°The strongest, most blood thirsty, most money-hungry warriors of the humanlands join the Ducervi mercenary troupe,¡± Azami said, then she looked upon Kip and said, ¡°You are lucky you¡¯ve never met their strength.¡±

    ¡°So the Decervi showed up and started kicking our ass,¡± Zeke continued, ¡°We were losing our numbers. The minotaur on my right was getting blasted by a lightning blast, the goblin on my left was getting hit by the same lightning blast. And then there was me. I was getting hit by the lightning blast too. But I survived.

    ¡°My troupe had bit the dust. I¡¯m looking around and I¡¯m surrounded. It¡¯s raining because of the lightning storm the Ducervi wizard had cast. I know I¡¯m gone so I¡¯m just swinging my axe, eyes closed. I swing for a while, but the humans didn¡¯t approach. When I opened my eyes, all the humans were dead in front of me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kip said, covering his mouth in shock.

    ¡°I saw up on the hill, even through all the heavy rain and lightning, Davorin¡¯s two glowing red eyes,¡± Zeke looked up, as if he was transported to that day when he was fighting that battle, getting lost in the difficult memory, ¡°Davorin fought off the Ducervi, enough for all of us to retreat. There had been enough casualties that the human army couldn¡¯t continue. Five of the most powerful fighters and he held them off.¡± Zeke was shaken away from the memory, back to the present, he stuck his thumb up at a trembling Kip, ¡°But you got this, Kip!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re making this much worse. I¡¯m Azami by the way.¡±

    ¡°Not sure how to make it better,¡± Zeke said, ¡°The guy¡¯s a war machine. Kip, you¡¯re not a fighter. You¡¯re not even a lover. You¡¯re just like¡­ a cute lil guy.¡±

    Zeke bent over and pinched Kip¡¯s scaly cheeks, ¡°I love ya, I¡¯m going to miss ya, but you¡¯re a cute lil guy. You shouldn¡¯t be fighting big scary vampires.¡±

    Kip¡¯s cheeks were pinched but all he could say was, ¡°An entire line of humans?¡±

    ¡°Yup. Five Ducervi too. Nuts.¡±

    Azami grabbed her broom and floated around the minotaur¡¯s shoulders, ¡°That¡¯s enough out of you. Kip, the threat is serious, but don¡¯t get overwhelmed. Treat it like a puzzle that needs solving and you can unlock this.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ right¡­ Kip you¡¯re going to hate me.¡±

    Kip, ¡°I have so much on my plate already. Please don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s something important.¡±

    ¡°Not sure. Not really up to me how important it is. Way above my paygrade. Actually, it¡¯s your paygrade now, right, brother? How important is losing the keys to the labyrinth?¡±

 Ch 3 We Meet The Clockworks

    ¡°A minion stole your keys!?¡± Kip squeaked. Zeke stomped through the forest while Kip perched on his shoulder and tightly held to the minotaur¡¯s horn. They had left Azami¡¯s neck of the swamp and were speeding toward the Merciless Maze.

    They both arrived at the bridge over Lethal Lake. A stone archway that was fixed with ¡®Warning: Troll¡¯ signs all over it guarded a retractable bridge, currently unretracted, or as Zeke liked to say, ¡®tracted.¡¯

    Zeke slowed down near the bridge, Kip asked why they weren¡¯t going and Zeke said, ¡°Just waiting for-¡±

    A hairy troll popped out, his top set of arms held a sword and shield, the bottom set was holding his hands in a stop motion. The minotaur stopped immediately.

    ¡°Hello, Kip!¡± The troll said cheerily, then under his breath said, ¡°Hello Zeke.¡±

    ¡°I forgot the password.¡±

    The troll¡¯s face lightened and he stuck his finger in the air, in his nebbish voice he said, ¡°If you have forgotten the password then you must answer my riddles!¡±

    ¡°I remember the password, Byron,¡± Kip said, ¡°It was ¡®password.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Correct!¡±

    ¡°Wonderful!¡± Kip said, now please let us through. We¡¯re in a total hurry.¡±

    ¡°No. You are correct in that it was ¡®password.¡¯ The Dark Lord changed it before he left.¡±

    ¡°You saw him before he left?!¡± Kip asked, ¡°Did he tell you where he was going?¡±

    ¡°Did he tell you to tell us the password?¡± Zeke asked.

    ¡°No to both! Now, do you want to hear my riddle?¡±

    ¡°Byron,¡± Kip said, ¡°We need to secure the keys to the labyrinth. It¡¯s being held by someone easily defeatable and if an intruder get¡¯s access, they won¡¯t have access to the labyrinth, they¡¯ll have the master keys for other floors too. That will not be good.¡±

    ¡°Kip, I sympathize but I need a password. It is imperative that we keep these safety measures in place. An intruder could have taken your shape,¡± Then the troll looked at Zeke, ¡°Or could have hypnotized you. Taken control of your mind as easily as a child¡¯s. A child who¡¯s not very smart. No, I say. You must solve the riddle. Even the Dark Lord himself would need to solve the riddle to get through to here. Is that understood?¡±

    Zeke whispered to Kip on his shoulder, ¡°A grenade would help right about now.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d like to hear a riddle?¡± The troll perked up.

    ¡°Is it ¡®password1?¡¯¡± Kip asked.

    The troll¡¯s smile faded, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°¡®password2¡¯?¡± Zeke asked.

    ¡°Is it password3?¡± Kipa asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll never get it like that.¡±

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something the dark lord loves. His pet, Cerburex?¡±

    ¡°¡°Reminds me, I have to feed him now. Guess that¡¯s my responsibility,¡± Kip mumbled to himself, ¡°Rexy?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Rexy1?¡± Zeke asked.

    ¡°Rexy2?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°You both will never get it. Not at all. You might have a better chance at a riddle.¡±

    ¡°Okay fine!¡± Kip said, ¡°Please, Byron. A riddle.¡±

    ¡°I can kill him with my axe,¡± Zeke said.

    The troll stuck up his sword and shield, then his bottom arms took out two knives, ¡°I¡¯d dare you to try.¡±

    ¡°Normal, or Double Dog?¡± Zeke asked, reaching for his great axe.¡±

    ¡°Stop! Stop, there will be no fighting. Fine¡­¡±

    The troll smiled, his bottom right arm replaced his axe in his holster and retrieved a scroll from his vest. Byron unfurled it, and his bottom left arm took out his monocle, attaching it to his eye. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have eyes,

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    But once I did see.

    I once had thoughts,

    Now white and empty."

    ¡°A skull,¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Not that one!¡± The troll interjected, ¡°I was just reading that to warm up.¡±

    ¡°Is it ¡®password¡¯ but the ¡®s¡¯s are ¡®z¡¯s?¡± Zeke asked.

    ¡°Shut up. Ahh! Here¡¯s a good one. It¡¯ll take you a while to solve.¡±

    Kip slapped his face, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be trying to help us get through.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get it. You¡¯ll get it. Ahem.

    What is it that given one,

    you¡¯ll have either two or none?¡±

    Kip let out a big sigh and turned to Zeke, ¡°Do you know this?¡±

    Zeke started to shake his head, his steed-like horns brushed Kip off Zeke''s shoulder. Kip held onto Zeke''s shoulder for dear life.

    ¡°Woah!¡± Kip said as he landed back on the shoulder.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Troll said, ¡°You¡¯ve got this. Think about it.¡±

    ¡°What is it that given one¡­¡± Kip silently thought to himself, ¡°What is it that, given one¡­ Hmmm. Eggs?¡±

    ¡°Eggs?¡± The troll said with an inscrutable face, ¡°You think the answer is eggs?¡±

    ¡°Well, normally you eat two eggs in one sitting. Sometimes¡­ the egg has two yolks?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°Kip, please,¡± The troll said, ¡°I¡¯m trying to help here. But¡­ eggs?¡±

    ¡°Kip¡¯s nervous because he¡¯s going to be killed,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°Really think about it. When given one, you either have two or none. Your choice of words is up to you. I¡¯m sure of all the answers, you¡¯ll make an excellent choice.¡±

    ¡°I feel like you¡¯re trying to imply something,¡± Kip said. Then looking down at Zeke he asked, ¡°Please tell me you have something.¡±

    ¡°Is it¡­ password with a capital ¡®P?¡¯¡± Zeke asked.

    The troll let out a sigh, looking at Zeke for several seconds before saying, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly right. You are welcome to walk through. Unless you¡¯d like to answer my riddle?¡±

    Kip did a little jig out of giddiness as Zeke stomped past the troll onto the bridge.

    Byron yelled to Kip on his way back, ¡°Congratulations on the promotion, Kip!¡±

    Zeke and Kip both ran through the wooden bridge right up the labyrinth''s South entrance. They passed under the statue of a bull¡¯s head and immediately encountered a fork. The wall between the two paths had two windows, boarded by wood.

    ¡°Not the twins,¡± Kip muttered.

    The two wooden doors opened. Two trolls with large noses and floppy ears like a bunny. They wore peaked caps and while one had a big bushy mustache, the other had an equally bushy mustache. The two trolls were identical in every way.

    ¡°Hey, guys,¡± Kip said, ¡°Any chance you could just tell us the right way?¡±

    ¡°One of us tells nothing but lies!¡± The one on the right said.

    ¡°The other tells nothing but truths.¡± The one on the left said.

    ¡°I always forget the answer to this,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°How often have you fallen into the magma vat?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°Fully fallen in? Never. But there have been¡­ close calls. Lots,¡± The minotaur lost his faraway look and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s on the right.¡±

    ¡°It changes randomly, Zeke,¡± then to the two trolls, Kip asked, ¡°Which way would the other tell me to go?¡±

    And to this, the left one said, ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°Then we go left.¡± Kip pushed the horn¡¯s of the minotaur so his head was facing left. Zeke stared absentmindedly but started to walk anyway and said, ¡°Why would we go left?¡± He asked, ¡°What if it was the one telling me the truth?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll explain it along the way.¡±

    Zeke walked left and as they exited, one of the twins shouted, ¡°Congratulations on the promotion, Kip! I think you¡¯ll do a splendid job!¡±

    ¡°And I think you¡¯ll do a rather poor job!¡± Said the other twin.

    Kip thanked them and tried not to think about who was which troll too much, lest he start to regret getting complimented. The minotaur and kobold trounced through the labyrinth. Kip would pull Zeke¡¯s horn to and fro, left and right.

    ¡°It was a clockwork named Sprocket. He¡¯s a pyramid with a wheel on his head. He said the nastiest stuff about you, Kip. I tried to defend you but some of the stuff he said was true!¡±

    ¡°Thank you for trying, I suppose,¡± Kip said, ¡°Do you know where he is?¡±

    ¡°I do. Take me to my boss room!¡±

    ¡°Do you not know where it is?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°No even a little. I¡¯m shocked I make it back to my room every night.¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ how long ago did you lose your key?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°Uhh, about an hour after your promotion was announced. Then, I went to find you but¡­ I couldn¡¯t find my way out of the maze.¡±

    ¡°That was a day and a half ago, Zeke¡­ Your boss room is this way.¡±

    Kip knew every inch of that labyrinth. His brothers once dropped him off in the middle of it when he was too young. He cried and whined and walked all around, constantly stumbling his way back to the same spot as before. It wasn¡¯t until a helpful giant man-eating spider found him that he was delivered safely to his mother again.

    Kip led Zeke through the maze, careful of deadends, wrong ways and most importantly, set traps. Zeke¡¯s clumsiness caused him to set off a dart trap but the darts were rebuffed by Zeke¡¯s tough hide. When they finally got to the boss¡¯ room they saw what could only be described as a reverie of the new clockwork king. The automatons were faced toward the center of the room. Every automaton followed the beat perfectly, half of the automatons would drop with their arms up and after a beat stand up with their arms down. The other half would be doing the same thing but in the reverse. They were all a perfect distance from each other, and acting as a cohesive unit, worshipping their new king at the center of the room. Much too big for a single clockwork, Sprocket, the pyramid clockwork with a gear running through his head, sat on Zeke''s throne, staring over his kingdom of order.

    ¡°Sprocket!¡± Kip screamed over the crowd as best he could, but Sprocket did not pay attention, he was too busy ruminating over the dazzling display of his subjects.

    ¡°Please, Sprocket!¡± Kip jumped off onto the floor. Everyone¡¯s internal mechanism hummed at the same time, creating a kind of dazing buzz inside the room like a bug in your ear that you could not swat away.

    ¡°SPROCKET!¡± Kip yelled loud enough. Sprocket lifted his hand and like¡­ clockwork, everybody stopped and faced in the same direction. Toward Zeke and Kip.

    ¡°Sprocket!¡± Kip said, ¡°Give Zeke back his keys.¡±

    ¡°We are the guardians of the labyrinth.¡± Sprocket siad.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kip replied.

    ¡°The guardians of order!¡± Sprocket continued, ¡°Now that there is no order, it is up to us to reestablish. We must reorganize. There will be¡­ a restructuring.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a hostile takeover,¡± Zeke whispered, ¡°We get a few of these every couple of years. Normally the Dark Lord shuts it down and well¡­ that¡¯s you.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Kip said, ¡°So what do I have to do?¡±

    ¡°Easy. Reestablish order.¡±

    ¡°And that means¡­¡±

    ¡°Kill him.¡±

 Ch 4: Kip vs The Clockworks

    ¡°K-kill someone?!¡± Kip stuttered, ¡°I¡¯ve never killed anyone in my life!¡±

    ¡°Perfect!¡± said Zeke, ¡°This guy basically doesn¡¯t count. He¡¯s not even real.¡±

    ¡°I heard that!¡± Sprocket said.

    ¡°He heard that but he doesn¡¯t feel any type of way about it,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°No longer will we be under the thumb of this large oaf! We will build our own society out of this great labyrinth!¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can work with you? And help you with this labyrinth society?¡± Kip said.

    ¡°The labyrinth is only the start! We shall establish ourselves, then build our numbers and soon spread to the other floors!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not good,¡± Kip turned to Zeke, ¡°Can¡¯t you be the one that kills him?¡±

    ¡°No can do,¡± Zeke said, ¡°It''s like these little guys said, this is about order. I could smash Sprocket but then someone else would just take his place. You gotta get in there. Do you want my axe?¡± Zeke showed Kip his axe. The blade alone was as big as Kip. Kip remembered what Azami had said about his combat score being zero and his biggest issue being indecision. Sprocket narrowed his eyes at Kip as Kip mulled it over. Eventually Zeke got bored and broke the silence.

    ¡°Look, buddy,¡± Zeke said, ¡°Davorin is going to be brutal. No amount of sugarcoating from the bog witch is going to make this any less of a mess. Learn to get your hands dirty. Start small. Kill the clock guy.¡±

    Every one of the clockwork people stared. Their buzzing still penetrated the entire boss room, it bounced off the tile walls. The discordance stung Kip¡¯s sharp earholes.

    ¡°Do you have a weapon I could actually hold?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°I might have a toothpick I was using.¡± Zeke reached into the pocket of his shorts and pulled out a sharpened stick, small enough for Kip to hold. Kip grabbed the stick and climbed downward off of Zeke¡¯s waist. The clockworks all stared at him. As he approached, the clockworks moved out of the way, allowing Kip entry into the circle around the throne.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to fight,¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Then submit!¡± Sprocket said as he got off his throne and approached.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do that either.¡±

    ¡°Then die.¡± Sprocket said. He grabbed a metal pipe with gears strung through the end of it, making a dangerous shillelagh. Sprocket and Kip met. Sprocket was smaller than Kip but stared down his opponent with the intensity of an entire clock tower. Kip¡¯s nervousness permeated every pore in his body. Zeke sat so on his hands and knees so hard it caused a thump in the room and Kip and Sprocket were lifted in the air a little before settling down.

    Why am I so scared? Kip wondered, He¡¯s a number. He shouldn¡¯t be that hard to defeat even if I haven¡¯t seen combat.

    The clockwork served an important function in the labyrinth. They were known as ¡®the numbers.¡¯ They were easily replicable fodder that could overpower an enemy after long enough, but were mostly meant to wear them down for higher levels like Zeke. Kobolds were also often considered numbers as well; however, kobolds were generally stronger than clockwork. Generally.

    Sprocket twirled his shillelagh. The gears bristled on their pipe causing a sound like shaking keys. He took on a battle ready stance.

    ¡°I challenge you by the articles of Succession to a one on one fight. First one to lose consciousness is considered the loser.¡±

    ¡°Oh good, you don¡¯t want to kill me.¡± Kip said with a deep breath.

    ¡°I will kill you.¡± The clockwork said, ¡°Death is a cessation of consciousness, is it not?¡±

    ¡°I- oh,¡± Kip said, ¡°I suppose it is.¡±

    ¡°Then let us begin,¡± The clockwork said, ¡°Would this circle between the other clockworks be acceptable, or would you like a different location?¡±

    ¡°Here is fine.¡± Kip said.

    ¡°MISTAKE DETECTED!¡± The clockwork said as he leapt at KIP. Kip stepped backward but his hands felt the wall of clockworks. He turned and saw the emotionless face of a clock with three hands on its face. When he looked back at Sprocket, the shillelagh came down. Kip rolled out of the way and slapped Sprocket with his makeshift spear. The clockwork showed no sign of pain or slowing down.

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    ¡°You gotta use the pointy side!¡± Zeke said with his hands around his mouth, ¡°The pointy side, Kip!¡±

    Kip turned the spear and jabbed at the pyramid. The pyramid ducked and Kip¡¯s spear went through the space in the gear in his head.

    ¡°MISTAKE DETECTED!¡± Sprocket said as he slammed his shillelagh against Kip¡¯s knee. Kip let out a gasp of pain and fell to his injured knee. Sprocket stood back up, now over him and stuck his bludgeon up. Kip held the toothpick to block but Sprocket¡¯s weapon broke right through that. Kip threw one of the sticks right at the clockwork¡¯s face, it was undeterred. Kip ran backward but there was less space to run to than before. It was as if the longer the battle went on, the more they shrunk the field.

    Kip turned back, then looked at Zeke, ¡°What the hell am I supposed to do?!¡± Kip demanded.

    ¡°The gear in his head!¡± Zeke said, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to stop it!¡±

    Kip looked up at the gear rotating out of Sprocket¡¯s point. The kobolds were the ones in charge of repairing the clockworks. He looked at the structure of Sprocket holding the shillelagh. Sprocket¡¯s shoulder was a ballpoint, meant to give him a higher range of mobility. Originally, his elbow was too. But time wore on. Parts were lost and difficult to replace so the kobolds made due with what they had. The intersection between Sprocket¡¯s forearm and upper arm was now a hinge joint. Kip had noticed this. He approached the machine and made sure to take one step too far.

    ¡°MISTAKE DETECTED!¡± Sprocket leapt forward and slammed his shillelagh down, but Kip had quickly shifted his weight to the right. Sprocket slammed the stone floor and Kip grabbed the machine¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Mistake detected,¡± Kip jammed the remainder of the toothpick into a hole right under the joint. It caused Sprocket¡¯s arm to seize up and remain completely straight.

    ¡°AH!¡± Sprocket yelled, it whipped its shillelagh but with its limited mobility, Kip was able to pin the arm to the ground with his foot. Kip pulled out his multi-tool and lifted the screwdriver. Kip jammed his screwdriver in the pinhole in Sprocket¡¯s shoulder and unscrewed it.

    ¡°Desist immediately!¡± The clockwork yelled.

    ¡°You first!¡± Kip said. Kip fully cranked his screwdriver enough that it caused the crew to tighten, then Kip spun it around while the clockwork reached around its back to try to grab at Kip¡¯s neck. Kip finished unscrewing. Sprocket attempted another swing and his entire arm flew off.

    ¡°Do you yield?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°That is not how the Articles of Succession work!¡± Sprocket said, ¡°We are in a fight to unconsciousness!¡±

    ¡°How DO I make you unconscious?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to kill him!¡± Zeke yelled from his sitting position.

    ¡°The oaf is correct. You will have to cease my very existence.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t want to do that.¡±

    ¡°MISTAKE!¡± Sprocket yelled as he slapped Kip in the face with his other hand. Kip stepped back, his hand gripping his face. When it felt wet, he checked his palm.

    ¡°Blood?!¡± Kip yelled, he looked up to see that Sprocket had attached metal nails to his fingers to act as claws.

    ¡°I have made modifications.¡± Sprocket explained. Then Sprocket pressed the sides of the lower base pyramid and blades came out. Sprocket grabbed the base and twirled it, his face remaining detached and steady from his base form. It created a whirlybird of blades that now approached Kip.

    ¡°Dude, you don¡¯t have to be so kind to the guy,¡± Zeke said, ¡°It¡¯s going to get you killed. Just grab the gear and rip it.¡±

    ¡°I dare you to try!¡± Sprocket said as he approached Kip. Kip turned but there was nowhere to run. The circle of clockworks had shrunk tight. As Sprocket ran at Kip, the kobold placed his foot on top of one of the clockworks.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The clockwork asked.

    Kip kicked off, launching himself over Sprocket as Sprocket collided with the clockwork wall. Kip landed on his belly but scrambled up before Sprocket could turn around. Sprocket¡¯s blades were stuck in his clockwork comrade. Kip used the opportunity and grabbed the gear on Sprocket¡¯s head to stop it from turning.

    ¡°That¡¯s it, brother!¡± Zeke yelled, ¡°Now yank it out! Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t feel any pain!¡±

    ¡°Is that true?¡± Kip asked the clockwork.

    ¡°I do not have to tell you the truth! But it is true. One of the many reasons we are the next step in evolution and make- ahHHH!¡± Kip placed his hand on the clockwork¡¯s head and began to pull the gear out, but it was nestled tightly.

    ¡°Keep going, Kip! It¡¯s just trying to trick you!¡±

    Kip kept pulling, he could feel the gear starting to budge by whatever mechanism held it together. With one last rip, Kip would have it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sprocket. But like you said, you won¡¯t feel any pain or emotions right?¡±

    ¡°Tell my automaton wife, I found her most compatible.¡±

    ¡°Oh lord,¡± Kip said as he pulled the gear out. Sprocket¡¯s blades stopped turning. His remaining hand went limp, and the light left his eyes. The clockworks stopped getting closer. They all stared at their dead leader, then turned around and went back to their stations.

    ¡°You did it, Kip!¡± Zeke said as he got up and approached his little buddy. Kip started picking up all the metal pieces that had fallen to the ground.

    ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t have to pick that up. We can get some of the clockworks to do it.¡±

    ¡°Pass me that gear,¡± Kip said silently.

    ¡°It¡¯s bent.¡±

    ¡°Bend it back best you can, please,¡± Kip said.

    Zeke used his monstrous strength to bend it back to a mostly functioning circle easily. Kip had started reassembling the pieces of Sprocket that had been lost, including reattaching his arm. Kip used the pieces of his multi-tool to screw the arm back on, tighten up the spinning mechanism, and retracted the blades. Then Kip took the gear and latched it back on its axis, even taking out a small tin of oil from his utility belt and squeaking it. Kip cranked the tiny windup inside Sprocket as far as it could go and released it.

    The life came back in Sprocket¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°But I always wondered what it would be like to be with her sister-unit,¡± Sprocket looked around, ¡°This is not the great garage in the sky.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Kip said, ¡°It¡¯s the mortal plane. Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I have lost,¡± Sprocket said.

    ¡°You¡¯ll live to fight another day, Sprocket. But for now¡­ May I ask you a question?¡±

    ¡°Mistake detected. In asking me that, you have posed an unsolicited question¡­ Fine. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Why not just say death? You chose to frame your challenge to me as ¡®unconsciousness.¡¯¡±

    ¡°The rhetoric must be clear. Were I to state death, my premise could be challenged, as it is debatable if I am alive. You must be specific per the Charter.¡±

    Kip¡¯s eyes went wide. Stood up and brushed off his overalls, ¡°Zeke, I know how to save my skin!¡±

    ¡°Grenades?¡± Zeke asked.

 Ch 5: Kip Alters The Terms

    Kip rubbed his hand nervously as he waited for people to trickle in. He had holed himself in a meeting room in Castle Inversa, where he sat at a round ovular wooden table. Kip thought it would be nice to have a little something for the people that showed to nosh on, so he had the castle¡¯s baker make some doughnuts and coffee. They had been put out on the tray but as some of the people started pouring in, they would absently look at the coffee and the doughnuts and walk to their seats. Kip greeted them all. He had told everyone the meeting would start at the ninth hour in the morning but it was ten minutes past the ninth hour and still, no Floor Lords had joined him. Only henchmen. Kip kept staring at the door, hoping for one in particular to wander in.

    ¡°Everybody settle in and find a chair, we¡¯re waiting on the Floor Lords to arrive.¡±

    A salamander, taller than Kip, and red with yellow spots grabbed some coffee. He was lightly coated in a fire and sat on the cured wooden chair before saying, ¡°My Floor Lord¡¯s not coming.¡± The heat emanating from his backside caused the chair to smoke, so he opted to stand.

    ¡°He¡¯s not?¡± Kip asked.

    The salamander shook his head as he drank the coffee from a metal chalice, ¡°Sent me in his stead.¡±

    ¡°Hello, very nice to meet you. And your name is¡­?¡±

    The salamander stuck one of his hands out, but Kip was afraid to touch it, ¡°I¡¯m Sal Mander. Fifth floor. Love the coffee by the way. Nice and hot.¡±

    ¡°My coffee''s a little cold,¡± A voice from the other side of the table said. Kip and Sal both turned to see a yeti, sitting in a chair that was creaking under her weight as she held the chalice¡¯s handle between her two fingers, ¡°Can we trade?¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Kip interrupted, ¡°Who is here as a proxy for their Floor Lord?¡±

    Everybody but one raised their hand. None of the Floor Lords decided to come to the meeting. Not even Jymba, the dragon that was on his side when Kip first became Dark Lord. Pfft, Thought Kip, ¡®Dark Lord¡¯ and you can¡¯t even get your henchmen to show up to your meetings. What kind of ¡®Dark Lord¡¯ are you really?

    ¡°I see,¡± Kip said, disappointed, ¡°I had something very important to tell Davorin and I needed someone to act as witness. If everyone here is just a proxy, I suppose we might as well disband the meeting. Thank you all for coming.¡±

    ¡°I am not here in anybody¡¯s stead but for that of the Duerger people!¡± Kip looked up to see a dwarf, pale blue with a shiny white beard and eyebrows and white eyes to match. He had his mining hat in his hands so his blue bald spot absorbed some of the light in the room.

    ¡°Hello there. May I ask for your name and why you¡¯re here?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°Hello to you. I am Baraz Bloodchin. I represent the Duergar of this community. We maintain the tunnels of the Underdark.¡± The Duergar approached and showed Kip an incomprehensible map of tunnels; different lines were labeled in colors along with a variety of types of lines like perforated and dashed and curved as well as blocky. The legend was written in a dwarven language. Kip could make neither heads nor tails nor some third appendage of it. Baraz placed his blackened finger on one of the lines, ¡°Here are the current dwarven pathways. Here are the projected construction areas-¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s this purple line that runs through everything?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Xrgl¡¯s work. The giant purple worm. We can¡¯t really work with them. But what I really want to point out is this chamber here. There¡¯s a pinch point and it''s lacking sufficient water to that area. That¡¯s an area where a lot of Duergar are resting while we continue our expansion. The burrow above it, that¡¯s the tunnel we use to transfer food from one floor to the next. You see, we could build a spring around it, but the earth would soak it up. We would need to transport a pipe straight through to the water level down to this section of the Underdark. If we could do that, then we¡¯d have water. I¡¯d be most in your debt, Dark Lord.¡±

    Kip studied the map, some of it coming together, most of it staying obtuse. He flinched when he heard the Duergar call him the ¡®DL¡¯ word. When Kip thought about Davorin becoming Dark Lord, he didn¡¯t have faith that Davorin would do these kinds of things. Listen to a miner explain how he needs water. Kip shook his head.

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    ¡°I¡­ want to thank you, Baraz,¡± Kip said, ¡°Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Of course you can route water through the lake above. Everybody needs water. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me about this problem.¡±

    ¡°Sir, if you could sign on the dotted line, we¡¯d consider us to be in great debt to the new Dark Lord. Dark Lord Kip.¡±

    Kip blushed, glad someone was taking him seriously. He took out his quill from his utility belt, dipped it in ink and asked, ¡°Where do I sign?¡±

    ¡°Dotted line.¡± The duergar said with a mouth-open smile.

    ¡°Which one? There are several.¡±

    The duergar pointed to the exact dotted line he needed to sign, permitting the excavation and installation of a pipe of water from the lake above.

    ¡°So,¡± Sal Mander said, ¡°Is this meeting over? Because this really could have just been a scroll.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yes!¡± People started to disperse immediately, ¡°Which one is here in Davorin¡¯s proxy?¡±

    A Thrall in a stuffy coat with overgrown pointed teeth raised his hand.

    ¡°Take me to Davorin.¡±

    The thrall walked the Kobold down to Davorin¡¯s wing of the castle. He grabbed the big ring on the door and knocked it.

    ¡°Busy.¡± Davorin said.

    ¡°Master¡­¡± The thrall looked back at Kip, ¡°Kip is here. He says you missed an important meeting.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    Kip rolled his eyes and whispered to the thrall, ¡°He knows bloody who.¡±

    The thrall said back to the door, ¡°The¡­ new Dark Lord?¡±

    Kip and the thrall both heard a deep sigh through the heavy door, ¡°Tell him I¡¯m sleeping.¡±

    ¡°Master, he knows you ain¡¯t sleeping and can hear you through the door.¡±

    After a moment of concrete silence, Kip stared at the thrall. The thrall shrugged his shoulders. And after another beat, The doors opened on their own. Davorin lounged on a chair, while a man in the toga fed him grapes like he was an emperor.

    ¡°What is it, Kit?¡± Davorin asked.

    Kip said through gritted teeth, ¡°My name¡¯s not Kit. It¡¯s Kip.¡±

    ¡°Is this what you came all this way to talk to me about?¡± Davorin asked as he drank from his glass of wine.

    Kip scuttled forward into Davorin¡¯s chambers. It was frozen in time from when Davorin had become a Vampire. He even had the furniture brought in from the next country over. It was made of a refined wood only found from a tree off the coast of the Mixta Sea. The Dark Lord had been good to Davorin, letting him have a place in Castle Inversa and giving him the title of Floor Lord.

    ¡°I¡¯ve come to challenge you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve already been challenged, dummy. What is the point of a reverse challenge?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve come to challenge your challenge. I have an issue with your wording.¡±

    ¡°What? You have an issue with me killing you?¡±

    Kip shook his head, ¡°No. I have an issue with killing you.¡±

    Davorin took a pause before biting another grape and chewing it, Kip continued, ¡°You see, you said this would be a one on one to the death. But.. you¡¯re already dead. It is a question of whether or not somebody who is already dead can die again. Is it not?¡±

    Davorin finally looked at Kip. His head didn¡¯t move, just his eyes. They were blood red and shined as brightly in the day as they did in the night. Davorin sent his grapeboy away and stood up on his lounge chair. He placed both his hands on his knees and stared daggers at Kip. Kip shook a little but he knew his foundation was solid. There was a palpable silence before Davorin went, ¡°Go on, then.¡±

    ¡°You can not kill something that¡¯s Undead. Therefore¡­ the terms need to be renegotiated.¡±

    ¡°What are your new terms? To fall into unconsciousness?¡±

    ¡°No¡­¡± Kip said, ¡°There is a huge gap between us. A chasm. An entire canyon.¡±

    ¡°An ocean.¡± Chimed in the thrall.

    ¡°Thank you. If you land one finger on me, I¡¯m dead. And if I land my strongest hit on you¡­ then it will do nothing. So¡­¡±

    ¡°So what? On with it boy, I have a lot more grapes to get through.¡±

    ¡°So those will be the terms. The first person who lays a finger on the other gets the victory.¡±

    Davorin grabbed a handful of grapes and started feeding them into his mouth, ¡°And if I deny, it goes to tribunal. They deliberate and¡­ while I miss our original date, maybe they rule in my favor anyway. Then there really is no hope for you to win.¡±

    Kip gritted his teeth and asked, ¡°Why are you such a bully?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s funner,¡± Davorin popped another grape in his mouth.

    ¡°I think¡­ You¡¯re scared.¡± Kip said it and the air left the room. Kip could feel Davorin¡¯s glare weight on him like gravity got denser. The thrall let out a small gasp and the grapeboy went ¡®oh¡¯ from the other room.

    ¡°Scared?¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t left the castle in fifteen years. Not since your fight with the Ducervi. If you become Dark Lord, maybe you¡¯ll never have to leave this dungeon. Maybe you¡¯ll never have to face them again. Maybe you¡¯re so afraid of them that you¡¯re afraid of my little finger by extension. Could that be true? The prince of darkness scared of a measly Kobold¡¯s finger?¡±

    Davorin chewed on the collection of grapes in his mouth. He wiped up the juice from his lip and sucked on his finger. Then, with a deep sigh said, ¡°Fine. I agree to your stupid conditions. I shall beat you at any challenge in any location. Where?¡±

    ¡°The labyrinth! My home floor, before the promotion.¡±

    Davorin slid back into his chair and called back the grapeboy with his hand. The grapeboy came over and Davorin continued his lounging.

    ¡°As you wish, ¡®Dark Lord.¡¯¡± The last two words were seeped with petulance.

    ¡°Great! I¡¯ll see you then!¡± Kip said. And he turned and started to head out.

    ¡°Oh Kit!¡± Davorin called out to him.

    Kip turned back, Davorin was not even looking at him. He had his beaming red eyes closed as he sucked down grapes, ¡°Just because the rules have changed does not mean I will not kill you on the battlefield. Enjoy the rest of your time alive.¡±

    ¡°Th-thank you,¡± Was all Kip said before turning around and walking away.

 Ch 6: Meet The Duergars

    ¡°So¡­¡± Azami held her wand over her plants, letting water spill out of it, feeding her herbs, ¡°You¡¯ve got the terms readjusted and it¡¯s on your home field,¡± Azami said, ¡°Now¡­ you have to create a situation where he can¡¯t touch you. For if he does¡­ you¡¯ll perish.¡± Azami said as she plucked a sprig of thyme and held it up to Kip¡¯s nose, who inhaled it, ¡°Are you still worried?¡± Azami asked.

    ¡°Uhm, yes. Mostly of dying.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, that,¡± Azami held it to her nose, inhaling deeply, ¡°I love the smell of thyme.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m curious, is there a potion that you could give to me that could make me¡­ more equipped to handle this?¡± Kip asked, ¡°Maybe some kind of invisibility potion or something that keeps him at a distance? A spell, perhaps?¡± Kip¡¯s voice getting more desperate as he listed more magic, ¡°A portent? I¡¯ll even take an ungent or a cream. I¡¯ll take a suppository at this point if it makes me stronger.¡±

    ¡°I could do,¡± Azami said, ¡°But if I gave you a potion and it was the exact right one and it managed to evade the vampire¡¯s expert senses then your subjects would think you only won with my help. Most don¡¯t think you¡¯re right for this role. This is something you need to do yourself. To prove, not just to Davorin, but to everybody that you can do this.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Kip asked, ¡°Nudge me in the right direction. What would you do?¡±

    ¡°Intruders leave plenty of magical weapons and armor behind. I suggest you find some that have been collected and you wear one that would help.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Kip said, ¡°Where is the most magical equipment collected?¡±

    ¡°Most people can not survive in the fourth floor,¡± Azami said, ¡°The vast connection of dark tunnels and no immediate way out means that a lot of intruders perish in the Unending Underdark.¡±

    ¡°Then tunnels. Thank you, Azami! Uhm, Azami?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Kip?¡±

    ¡°You said most people don¡¯t believe I¡¯m right for the role. Do you believe I¡¯m right for it?¡±

    Azami smiled at Kip, then reached out and plucked a marigold out of its stalk and placed it on Kip¡¯s hoodie. Its shiny golden color added a little pop to Kip¡¯s earthen red tones.

    ¡°I came here to live a simple life. I wanted to tend to my herbs, practice my dark magic and live peacefully. If you can grant me that, you have my fealty.¡±

    Kip had a knot in his stomach as he asked the question at the top of his mind, ¡°I don¡¯t have your fealty now?¡±

    ¡°You have my faith, Kip. But loyalty is earned.¡±

    Kip gave a nervous head nod and walked toward the fourth floor. The Dark Lord¡¯s Dungeon was a vast place. Within it, there were many tunnels and entrances meant for intruders to find, like an invisible hand slowly guiding a rat through a maze. But sharing those thoroughfares for delivering resources and transportation with intruders would place the safety of the dungeon in too much danger. As such, many service entrances were put into place. Kip searched for one such entrance. He arrived at the start of the lake and knocked around the different trees until he eventually found the right one. A hearty oak with a notch that looked like a smiley face. He opened it and slipped into the wooden tunnel that led to the underdark.

    As Kip walked further down the supply chain tunnel, two enchanted bears were pushing a cart of meats, berries, and vegetables down a track.

    ¡°On your left, Kip!¡± Said one of the bears.

    ¡°Hi, Ho, Kip!¡¯ Said the other. They raced past him on the minecart and turned the corner. Kip gave a wave as he walked their same direction at a slower pace. He turned the corner and walked into a wall made entirely of fuzz.

    ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± Kip said and looked up and saw the bears that had just waved at him.

    ¡°Kuma? Bjorn?¡± Kip asked ¡°Why¡¯d you stop?¡±

    ¡°Uh, there seems to be a problem,¡± said Bjorn, the one in front. ¡°Maybe you can help, seeing as how you¡¯re the new boss and all.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Kip walked forward and saw a wide metal pipe from the ceiling down to the floor. It ran right through the track, blocking the cart¡¯s potential access to the lower levels.

    ¡°Oh my,¡± Kip said, ¡°This won¡¯t do at all. We have to get to the bottom of this.¡±

    ¡°We better get this figured out quickly,¡± Kuma said, ¡°If we can¡¯t get this food to the castle, people aren¡¯t going to be able to eat.¡±

    ¡°Why in the lord¡¯s name would they run a pipe right through?¡± Kip looked at the bears, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but until this is solved, one of you will have to run down and get another cart and transfer the food!¡±

    ¡°Right away, boss,¡± Said Bjorn as he galloped along the tunnel on all fours.

    Kip touched the pipe, closing his eyes and creating a starting point. He walked down the tunnel and began a mental map in his head. As he made his way through, he visualized an imaginary red line following him, making sure to maneuver himself under the tunnel so as to find the pipe. After some false ends and doubling back, he was on the right track. Kip was in some far off eastern wing that was not visited by intruders or monsters often. As he approached, he encountered something peculiar. There was a small opening, big enough for him to fit through but not most medium sized creatures. Steam drooled out of the entrance.

    More curious than the steam was the music and laughter that could be heard from the dark room. Kip followed the raucous gaiety and his eyes bulged out of his head when he saw them. Naked Duergars bathing in a tub made of carved earth filled with hot water. They were laughing, slapping each others¡¯ backs, singing and drinking from big goblets. They were all settled into a tub, so entranced in their revelry that they didn¡¯t notice Kip show up.

    ¡°What¡­¡± Kip mumbled, ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°MORE WATER!¡± One of the Duergars proclaimed.

    Kip saw Baraz, the duergar who had shown up to the meeting, reach over and pull a string attached to the overhead pipe. It opened the trap and water burst through the pipe, topping up the pool after the Duergars splashed so much of the water out.

    ¡°What is happening!?¡± Kip spoke up and finally the dark dwarves noticed. Baraz looked at him and pointed, ¡°There he is! There¡¯s the man who made all of this possible!¡±

    ¡°I did no such thing!¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Yah, ya did,¡± The duergar drunkenly grumbled as he extended his hand and looked through his satchel resting on the rockwall behind them, ¡°And I can show ya the paperwork.¡±

    Kip shook his head incessantly, ¡°This needs to be removed at once. The pipe runs right through the supply line. This will affect the food distribution of the entire dungeon. How¡­ if this is coming from the lake, how did you even make the water hot?¡±

    Just then, an orange-red head breached the surface of the hot tub. Sal Mander took a deep breath in and said, ¡°Told you I could hold my breath for a whole minute!¡± Then, upon seeing his boss said, ¡°Oh, hey, Kip! Come to relax after a little Dark Lording?¡±

    ¡°Sal?¡± Kip asked, ¡°They¡¯re using your body to warm up the pool?¡±

    ¡°Yessir! Only these fascists have a zero tolerance policy for pool pissing. Even though I told them my piss is piping hot. What do you say, Dark Lord? Would you let me pee in here?¡±

    Kip¡¯s mouth was agape. He looked up and there was a drop that came down from the outside of the pipe.

    ¡°We need this tunnel for food. As of now, the bears that deliver supplies are personally transferring the food over from one cart to another!¡±

    Baraz rolled his shifty eyes as he took a pull from his chalice. He took a staggered breath as his nose had too many white hairs to properly breathe through, ¡°What¡¯s it going to be? Are ya going to ruin our fun?¡±

    ¡°Ruin your fun?!¡± Kip asked, ¡°This is going to ruin everybody¡¯s fun! This is¡­ catastrophe! This simply won¡¯t do!¡±

    As Kip shook his head, his eye caught something amongst the dwarven mining uniform and armor. Kip¡¯s eyes went straight to a pair of rings. One with a blue band in between the gold frame, and one with an orange band.

    He approached them and picked them up off the shelf, ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Kip asked.

    ¡°Ahh, looks nice right? Twas a halfling intruder. Stole our bacon one morning. Tracked him down using a hound. He would escape us until we finally set up a trap and plucked him. Nibbled on his ears for breakfast once we did! Still have a bit of ear left, if you¡¯re hungry.¡±

    ¡°What does it do?¡± Kip asked, holding it up to the blue torch on the cave wall. When he looked through the ring, he did not see what was on the other side. Instead, he saw his own visage from the perspective of his right hand. The hand that held the other ring. Kip did not like seeing how he looked from that angle. When he looked down at his right hand, he could see the blue torch, like a peephole to the blue ring¡¯s perspective.

    ¡°It¡¯s yours, Dark Lord,¡± Baraz dipped under the water until just his nose eyes were above the surface. The water around him bubbled as he absently let out his breath. He pulled his mouth out but his beard remained submerged, ¡°if¡­¡±

    Kip knew what was coming. He hesitated as he was about to consider all the choices that had been laid out to him. The fight with Davorin was tomorrow. The terms had changed but the danger was still the exact same. One touch. That was all Davorin needed. As far as Kip was concerned, anything that minimized the chance of being touched once would eliminate it. Damn that pesky article 4. It was about the very ethos of the Dark Lord¡¯s Domain. Only the strongest survived. Then why.. Pray tell¡­ did the Dark Lord put him in charge? Combat level zero, been on this green and black earth 24 years and had never made it past level 1 only for him to be put in charge. He had a much greater chance of winning if he took the ring. If he wore it. But then again¡­ if he did and won¡­ what would that mean for his rule? A leadership where he accepted gifts in exchange for more power? Would that be the only effective way to lead? Kip snapped out of it as the duergar finished the sentence. The sentence he knew was coming.

    ¡°...Ya let us keep the hot tub.¡±

 Ch 7: Kip vs The Vampire

    Kip shivered as he stared up at the South entrance of the labyrinth. The other kobolds had offered him some armor but Kip refused. Having never worn armor before and wielding miniscule strength, Kip knew the effects of the armor would be detrimental. He would have moved slower, tired quicker, and done little good against someone of Davorin¡¯s monstrous capabilities. Kip was nervous for the fight, but even more nervous at the crowd.

    When The Dark Lord took on this plot of land, it came with an abandoned factory. The walls were ready to come down at any moment, the ceiling was already caved in, and there was a strange smell like old shoe leather that no matter how hard they scrubbed would not come out. When the Dark Lord ordered his subjects to refurbish the factory into a labyrinth, he asked that they create a retractable ceiling. On days where the sun shone, the kobolds would retract said retractable ceiling and allow the mazefolk to bask in the sun. Zeke was appreciative, the clockwork were ambivalent. On a day like today, the ceiling was retracted. For there were so many denizens of the dark that had come to see the fight between the heir apparent and the new Dark Lord that they could not all sit on the edges of the labyrinth.

    Zeke sat amongst the numbers for the roof could not sustain someone so large on top of all the other weight. The numbers cheered, drank, and placed bets. Azami stood on the roof having calmed her nerves with enough herbal infusion tea to sedate a bear. Stormbristle floated in the rafters, gently bobbing. It was his version of pacing around a room. Everyone who could be there that day had decided to come and watch.

    Kip was never one for big crowds. Nor was he one for small groups. He also sometimes struggled with one-on-ones. No, Kip was best left to fidget with gadgets alone within his own head. He revised his plan over and over as a way to escape the constant rattling he heard from everyone around him. He could not block them out when the cheers became even louder. With that, he knew Davorin had entered the North entrance.

    ¡°Act.¡± Kip whispered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s a good plan. Act.¡±

    Maeve, a banshee from the swamp, wisped through the labyrinth as her tattered robes waved and flowed behind her. She would go to one wall and raise her hands, that side would cheer. She would travel to a new side and do the same thing, making it her job to rile people up. Her booming shrieks made her the obvious choice to MC this challenge.

    ¡°Creatures and cretins! Boils and Ghouls!¡± Her voice filled the factory, ¡°We have a very lovely show for you tonight! Not for years have the Succession articles been invoked! And now we have the prince of Darkness, the annihilator, Davorin the Unquenchable fighting¡­ Kip!¡±

    ¡°SQUASH THAT LITTLE FREAK!¡± Kip could hear Zeke screaming up above him. Kip looked up, ¡°Zeke!¡± He whispered, ¡°Are you talking about me?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Zeke asked as he looked down, ¡°Oh, Kip! I didn¡¯t know you were here.¡± Then cheering said, ¡°TAKE IT EASY ON THAT LITTLE FREAK!¡±

    The crowd continued to cheer, but when Davorin raised his hand, the mob went silent. Davorin looked through the crowd, then pointed at a goblin, ¡°You booed.¡±

    The goblin looked around but realized he was the one being referred to. He pointed at another goblin but Davorin shook his head, ¡°It was you.¡±

    The Goblin tried to turn away but when he turned back Davorin was right in front of him. Davorin stuck his nail straight through the goblin¡¯s gut. The goblin let out a blood-curdling scream. As quickly as Davorin entered the Goblin, he pulled out and shot back to his place in the North entrance. Kip saw that with his mouth open, how the hell was he supposed to survive that?¡±

    ¡°May we get some medical assistance?¡± The banshee shouted, ¡°Now! Onto the rules!¡±

    The banshee floated around the amphitheater, and made her way back to the center, ¡°The rule is, you must lay a finger on your opponent. A punch does not count. A slap does not count. A finger. The entire labyrinth is the field. This gives Kip a slight home field advantage. But physically, Davorin has the majority of the advantage.¡±

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    You just have to bring my height into it, don¡¯t you, Maeve? Kip thought as the banshee continued, Act. Act. He¡¯s going to use action immediately. It¡¯s not about me. Act.

    ¡°And now¡­ we¡¯ll begin!¡± Maeve said.

    Kip psyched himself up, as ready as he could be for what was about to go down, ¡°Move. Move.¡±

    ¡°3¡­

    2¡­

    1¡­ Go!¡±

    Kip darted into the labyrinth. The banshee described what was happening. ¡°And now, Kip has escaped into the dungeon! He¡¯s moving through with purpose! But what''s this? Lord Davorin has not entered the labyrinth at all! He¡¯s still standing at the entrance. What could this mean? Could he be scared to go in?¡±

    Kip heard this but kept running. He had determined a couple of choice pinch points in the labyrinth that would work to his advantage, hoping to meet Davorin there.

    Davorin stood there as everyone¡¯s initial cheers quieted down with suspense. Davorin leapt atop the twelve foot labyrinth wall with ease. He hopped along the walls as gracefully as a deer jotting through a field. His foot never slipped or missed the edge as he maneuvered his way to the middle room.

    ¡°And he¡¯s standing dead in the middle, everyone! He¡¯s just¡­ standing there next to the exit, crossing his arms, not doing anything!¡±

    Kip stopped running, he could not see atop the walls. Davorin was in the middle?! The exit? In the middle room was a giant hole that led to the floors below, made for Intruders to head down. What could Davorin want there? Could it be a trap?

    ¡°It is not lost on me that there is a difference in skill between my opponent and I,¡± Davorin said to everybody, ¡°I have considered my enemy¡¯s¡­ limitations and have determined that to proceed without handicap would be bad sport. I shall give you precisely five minutes, Kit. Five minutes where I do not lay a finger on you, and you have a free chance.¡±

    ¡°The magnanimous Davorin is giving the new Dark Lord a fair shake! He is standing in the middle of the Exit room, giving him an open invitation to touch him! One has to wonder if this is a trap¡­¡±

    ¡°This is not a trap. I¡¯ll be reading while I wait,¡± Then Davorin took out a book he¡¯d stuffed in his breast pocket and sat on one of the armchairs against the wall.

    A free shot. Kip ran toward the middle as he thought. Five minutes. That was not a lot of time. Kip wriggled through a gap in the walls and went onward. There would be no need to play such a cruel trick. Davorin could easily best him. This must be a sincere consideration after their confrontation. Maybe it was meant to mock Kip but that didn¡¯t mean Kip couldn¡¯t take full advantage. Kip ran toward the center. When he entered the Exit room, he half expected to be torn limb from limb. But no, there Davorin was, right where he promised he¡¯d be. Lord Davorin sitting in a chair next to the west entrance, reading his book.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Davorin said, ¡°I was just getting to the end of my chapter.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your game?¡± Kip asked.

    The vampire smirked but did not look up from his book, ¡°I thought I was the mouse in your game? Was I not?¡±

    ¡°A free touch? Really?¡± Kip asked, half scared to approach.

    ¡°Time¡¯s running out,¡± Was all he said as he flipped the page.

    Kip ran around the large hole in the floor toward Davorin. The vampire sat there, a smug expression on his face. Kip ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, he reached out, closing his eyes wondering if this would all be over and¡­ his hand touched the felt of the chair. He opened them. Davorin was in the chair next to it.

    How did he mess that up? Kip looked at the chair confused, then closed his eyes and did the same thing.

    ¡°Old chap, you really are not going to do well in this fight if you keep your eyes closed.¡±

    Kip opened them again. Once again his hand had touched the bare chair. He looked up and Davorin was standing, next to the chair, his nose still in that little book he was reading. Kip reached out and touched him but Davorin stepped backward. Kip leapt forward as quickly as he could but Davorin took the necessary step back, keeping the gap between the two of them.

    ¡°Oh, did you think I would give up the challenge for free? You still have to try a little.¡±

    Kip lunged with one hand, Davorin took a step to the right, Kip lunged with his other hand, Davorin took a step to the left. Kip kept at it, pushing his hands to and fro. Davorin, as if knowing his moves ahead of time, would be able to move out of the way in the knick of time. Kip was learning the game, and had had enough. He kept at it until Davorin had found himself against a wall, then with both hands, Kip pressed down on him. Davorin leapt up, clearing Kip, then gingerly pressed his feet against the wall and flipped around so that Kip was at Davorin¡¯s back. When Kip swung himself backward with his arm out, Davorin had once again stepped forward.

    He won¡¯t let me touch him but he¡¯ll move in perfect opposition to me, Kip thought to himself, It¡¯s a game of negative space.

    ¡°Four minutes, Kit.¡± Davorin said, before licking his finger and changing the page on his book, ¡°Ah, my favorite part. The cliffhanger.¡±

    And with that, Kip had his plan.

 Ch 8: Kips Plan Is Set?

    Kip propelled himself toward Davorin. Such a direct attack caught Davorin enough off guard that he looked up from his book as he jumped backward to avoid being touched. The large hole to the floor below was to Davorin¡¯s right. The North entrance was further down, to Davorin¡¯s left. Kip stayed on Davorin left, pressing him on the side of the hole until Davorin was against the room¡¯s north entrance, then Kip dove closer to the side of the hole, this caused Davorin to evade out of the Exit Room and step into the hallway. Kip smiled. His plan was working..

    Kip veered left toward the door and approached him at a -30 degree axis. It pushed Davorin further right, into the North¡¯s 700th corridor, which was approximately three twists and turns from it. Kip ran toward him and even leapt toward Davorin, he landed on his belly with his arms stretched out. Davorin daintily stepped back onto a false tile. The floor crumbled beneath Davorin¡¯s feet revealing a metallic grinder whirring as the two cylinders crushed the plastered tiles. Davorin was up in the air before the tile fell, he turned into a series of bats and reconvened on the other side of the trap. Kip and Davorin watched as the book Davorin was carrying with him did not survive the trip. The little red square dropped into the spikes, eaten by the mechanical teeth.

    ¡°My favorite book,¡± Davorin hummed, slightly annoyed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get you another when I¡¯m lord again,¡± Kip jumped over the spikes and struck Davorin, who stepped backward with full attention. Kip pushed harder, occasionally glaring at his wristwatch. Time was running out. He needed to move faster. They reached a four way intersection of the maze, Kip danced with Davorin, who had caught wise to the kobold¡¯s machinations. Kip knew this place much better than Davorin could. Not only had Davorin barely visited, but he had not been topside in fifteen years. There was a familiar feeling that crept up into his throat that he had not felt since the last battle he¡¯d fought. Just for a moment. A dash of¡­ helplessness. Davorin suppressed it instantly. He was a Floor Lord after all. And Kip was a pipsqueak. Davorin knew he was being led, and needed to react accordingly. Wherever Kip would block, Davorin would then go in the opposite direction. Which meant for Davorin, the solution would be to avoid being touched but go in the exact direction Kip didn¡¯t want him to go down.

    Kip leapt forward and to the right. There it was. As Kip reached out, Davorin took a step back and front dove over Kip, rolling on the ground and picking himself up. He had not needed to do a roll in a good long while and brushed the dust off his sleeves.

    Kip stood there, looking back at him, Davorin noticed the goofy smile on the kobold¡¯s face, ¡°Oh, don¡¯t act like you planned that. This is just some dumb bluff.¡±

    ¡°I thought it was you who was playing a game, ¡®Old Chap.¡¯¡± Kip pushed forward. As Davorin stepped back, it seemed like Kip had gotten taller. Then Davoirn took another dodge backward. Kip had not gotten taller. Davorin was just on an incline. Davorin stared up at Kip. His green eyes shone as they both lost the warmth of the sun above, Kip led them to the subterranean hallway of the labyrinth.

    ¡°Looks like they¡¯re going below!¡± The banshee cried from above, ¡°Up until this point, it seems like we¡¯ve seen the vampire have complete control. Now, I''m not so sure. It seems that Little Kip was leading the vampire somewhere. There has yet to be any contact. But as it stands, the minutes that Kip has are dwindling. With our vampire lord trapped, does Kip have an opening to beat our Floor Lord??¡±

    Davorin scoffedt. Kip approached him, pushing Davorin farther back. Now in a closed hallway, Davorin could not clear a path past Kip. If he tried to race past Kip, Kip could merely reach his hand out and touch Dvaorin by accident. That would not do for Davorin, nor his reputation. Davorin turned and looked at the pathway before him. It was a short stretch of hall with about three doorways on either side, as well as a doorway at the end. He turned to Kip and said, ¡°You¡¯ve fared well, Kit. But alas, my time as an inactive participant is all but over. I will abide by my promise but I shan''t make it easy.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Davorin turned and propelled forward at such a high speed, all of the wooden doors in the hallway burst open and slammed against the wall. He was gone. Kip¡¯s mouth dropped, Davorin had used his enormous speed to hide in one of the seven doors. It was a one in seven chance.

    Kip walked toward the door, starting to panic. His wristwatch told him he had less than a minute. He started shaking, knowing that if he went fully into the wrong doors, Davorin would use that as an opportunity to escape. He needed to think.

    Statistical analysis. But most importantly, statistical analysis and then act. Would he be hiding in the door at the far end? Not likely. It was the farthest away, and it would give him the least chance to escape. If he went to that one, he¡¯d be trapped. What next? He thought about the first two doors. They were relatively unlikely. In Davorin¡¯s mind, Kip would likely check one of those two doors with the time remaining. Kip crossed them out as locations Davorin would hide. That left the four between the first row doors and the door at the end. They could be any one of those.

    Kip approached, he needed Davorin to go through the first door on the right. Davorin was likely waiting for Kip to choose a wrong room and jump away elegantly. Kip shook his head as he walked up between the first rows of doors, he thought.

    The chance of him going in any of the four doors puts his odds at about 25%. But everything after that would be an out and out guess. The wrong door and Davorin escapes. Act. Act. Act. 25% was not high odds but he needed to make a decision.

    That was when it connected with Kip. He didn¡¯t have to choose the right door with the option for 25%. He actually had a 75% chance of choosing the right¡­ wrong door.

    Kip ran up and chose the first door on the left. He opened it and slammed it. Then he stepped back, still in the hallway and stood close to the first set.

    He waited. What was the chance that he chose correctly? If he did, then Davorin would step out and see that Kip did not walk in. Which meant Davorin could just play for time. Kip tapped his foot nervously, staring at the other three doors, commanding all his will not ot turn around and run through the room he had chosen.

    But then¡­

    The door to the top right slammed against the wall again. There he was. Or at least¡­ he had announced himself. Kip stood next to a potted plant that had died. He stayed there, covering his body. Davorin stepped out, Kip held his breath. Davorin made notice of the closed door and burst toward the exit. Kip hopped out.

    ¡°Yahhhh!¡± Kip did his best to sound intimidating and while it didn¡¯t work, Davorin was, nevertheless, caught off guard. Kip came from the left, causing Davorin to escape exactly where he needed to go. The first door on the right. Kip ran over, and he stood there at the doorway. Davorin was in his natural habitat. The pure darkness. The only thing Kip could see as his eyes adjusted to the light were those menacing red eyes that Zeke mentioned.

    Almost, Kip thought.

    Kip stepped forward, ¡°Thank you for the fair fight, Davorin.¡± He said as he took another step, ¡°You know I couldn¡¯t beat you even if I tried. Even if I had nothing but time and could exercise. So you gave me a fair shake, I appreciate that.¡±

    Davorin¡¯s chuckling gave way to laughing as Kip got closer. There was no escape for Davorin in this position. The walls were too narrow and the ceiling too low for Davorin to run. Kip took another step, wood creaking slightly under him. When Kip¡¯s eyes had fully adjusted, Davorin had a smile on his face. Kip stopped moving, his foot still over the tile.

    ¡°Something funny?¡±

    ¡°Kit¡­ you went very far,¡± Davorin said, ¡°You almost earned my respect.¡±

    ¡°You know my name,¡± Kip muttered.

    ¡°But you¡¯re completely out of time. And it¡¯s like you said, you¡¯re completely outmatched.¡± The timer Kip set on his wristwatch rang and Davorin used his lighting speed and reached out to touch Kip.

    Kip¡¯s reflexes were too slow to stop him.

 Ch 9: Quick Reflexes Are Not Everything

    Kip closed his eyes as Davorin¡¯s hand jetted toward him. Davorin¡¯s smile grew on his face, his fangs flaring in the low light. In the brief interlude of time, Kip¡¯s mind wandered. Had he timed it right? Was he in the right room? Did his plan work or was he about to have his head ripped off by a single finger?

    A small snap went off under Kip¡¯s foot. Davorin looked down, he saw Kip¡¯s little foot on a stone tile now slightly depressed. Davorin¡¯s formidable speed allowed him to process information with inhuman quickness. Davorin noticed it in Kip¡¯s eyes. He was looking at something. Davorin stared up at the same thing. A snare trap hidden within the curtain even though the room was underground. Spiked teeth made from the jawbone of an ultramegalodon, taut by a metallic wire, begged to crash down. The stepped tile gave the jawbone its permission and crash down, it did. The teeth sunk into Davorin¡¯s outstretched hand. His finger, a half an inch away from Kip¡¯s eye, was now frozen in place as Davorin resisted for a brief second. Davorin yelled out as the unblockable force of the teeth pulled him down, slamming against the floor and pinning him to the ground.

    Kip caught his breath. Davorin was staring up at him, his arm still pinned, ¡°I was worried it wouldn¡¯t reach you in time!¡± Kip said. He stuck his finger up and, ¡°Thanks, Davorin. Good game.¡±

    Kip bent over and attempted to touch but Davorin was too quick. Davorin escaped behind Kip by pulling his arm off the trap, the teeth of the ultramegalodon ripped his blue flesh and skin off with him. Davorin¡¯s arm dangled against his torso, only holding on by a few threads of sinew. A vampire¡¯s blood was coagulated. Drips of burgundy jelly fell off his exposed wound as he turned around.

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit,¡± Davorin said, ¡°I have a bad habit of toying with my food. Much like a wingless four-legged bat.¡± Davorin kicked the closed door so hard it flew across and shattered when hitting against the shark maw. Kip was nowhere to be found¡­ Davorin went over and examined where the spring trap had been hiding. Behind a curtain, nestled inside of a wall. He reared his head in and looked up, only to see the tiny red dragonling wriggling his way in between the space of the wall, climbing up.

    ¡°Blast it.¡±

    Davorin shot out of the lower level up to the light again. He leapt up to the top of the labyrinth wall and looked at the crowd.

    Maeve circled overhead, ¡°It seems whatever scuffle happened underground, somehow Kip managed to detach the Dark Lord¡¯s arm! Truly amazing! Could this sneaky power be why the Dark Lord chose Kip as his successor?¡±

    Davorin spotted a beefy goblin. Bigger than most, and a whole lot of blood. The beefy goblin whispered to his friend, ¡°Is he lookin at me?¡±

    The goblin next to him said, ¡°I think you better go.¡±

    ¡°I paid good money for a spot this close, I¡¯m not lea-¡±

    The goblin felt the subtle plunge of Davorin¡¯s two teeth into his neck, and it was lights out.

    Davorin¡¯s arm connected back with his torso. He pumped his fingers and stretched his limb. Just like new. He turned his attention to the labyrinth. Davorin closed his eyes. His heightened hearing would normally do him good if people weren¡¯t surrounding him and cheering.

    ¡°The prince of darkness has drained a goblin dry and has rejuvenated his arm! What could this mean for the tides of battle? Will Kip just rip this arm off as well?¡±

    ¡°QUIET!¡± Davorin had cast no magic, and yet a spell fell over the entire labyrinth. Every monster who had just seen him mercilessly drain the goblin of blood knew not to speak. The monsters in the bottom row dared not even breathe. And with that, Davorin could finally hear clearly. Mostly people struggling to hold their breath, but the frothy crinkling sound of clothes as someone snuck through a tiny wall space.

    ¡°There.¡± Davorin said.

    He leapt over the walls of the labyrinth and could hear Kip climbing up and out of the hole. His smile came back as he looked down at his prey¡¯s hiding spot. Davorin began stepping lightly. He looked up at the banshee circling the skies and placed his blue finger on his lips. The entire lower floor audience did not disobey.

    Awful quiet, Kip thought, Awful awful quiet. Kip could look out of his crawl space and while could not see any of the monsters over the walls, he noticed Maeve flying overhead, for some reason not commentating even though it was her job.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Kip opened up his scroll. Ever since his bout with the clockwork, a notification had popped up.

    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 6.56799%; background-color: rgba(233, 199, 159, 1); border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1); border-style: groove" border="1">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="width: 100%">Level: 2</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    New abilities available:

    <ul>

    <li>

    Shimmering Scales: +5 Defense (Needed for Daggerous Scales upgrade)

    </li>

    <li>

    Dragoneye 1: Low Light vision (Needed for Treasure-vision upgrade)

    </li>

    <li>

    Burst: Higher Jump (Needed for Dragon Wings upgrade)

    </li>

    </ul>

    He had held off on choosing, as he was unsure which would aid him most for this battle. But now he knew. He selected his power and crawled out of the hole.

    He walked as a lamb to the slaughter, letting Davorin think he got the best of him then uttered his first ever combat ability, ¡°Burst.¡±

    Kip leapt into the air, higher than he had ever jumped. His arms flailed as he was not used to this great height. As his body flipped he could see Davorin¡¯s arm where his body used to be. Kip had successfully escaped the vampire¡¯s lurch. Kip took off a clay sphere from his belt and coughed a single spark on it. The fuse lit and Kip threw it at Davorin.

    ¡°Aw, hell yeah,¡± Said Zeke, watching excitedly from the crowd. He turned to the giant boa constrictor next to him and said, ¡°That was my idea.¡±

    The grenade came down on Davorin who caught it. He looked up and went, ¡°A pathetic little incendiary devi-¡±

    The device exploded, aerosolizing the water soaked in garlic all over Davorin.

    Kip fell back down. Kip approached Davorin cautiously, as the vampire grappled with the garlic. Bent over and covering his face.

    Davorin was doubled over as he said, ¡°My eyes, my nose¡­ I¡­ HATE garlic! It¡¯s my least favorite root!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually a bulb,¡± Kip said.

    ¡°I think I know the classification of my least favorite root is.¡± Davorin said as he looked up at Kip, not a foot away. Kip jabbed with his finger. Davorin was gone. He had been replaced by a series of bats, flying around Kip, then rejoining into Davorin¡¯s corporeal form behind Kip.

    Davorin said, ¡°I think playtime has long been over, don¡¯t you?¡± Davorin flicked Kip with his foot, Kip was thrown backward and collapsed against the wall with a portrait of the dark lord mounted. He fell down and the picture toppled onto him. Davorin picked up the picture and slammed it over Kip¡¯s head. The fabric tore around poor Kip, pinning him in place.

    ¡°You can at least admit I put up a good fight!¡± Said Kip.

    ¡°No. No, I don¡¯t think I will.¡± Davorin smacked Kip, who spit out blood from the force of the blow. It toppled him and the canvas ripped as Kip fell further down the painting.

    Davorin dropped his knee down on Kip¡¯s neck. Kip gasped for air and unlocked another garlic grenade from his pouch, with the give from the canvas, he held the grenade up to his mouth and coughed on it. Davorin kicked it and it flew so high it flew up into the air, exploding as Maeve wafted through it.

    ¡°We will not be using that again.¡± Davorin said.

    Kip looked around, there was slow ooze in the next room over. There was magma two rooms down the left. There was a trap door that led to spikes just five feet away, but it wouldn¡¯t help. It would only delay. This was Davorin, the unquenchable. Davorin who held off the Ducervi. Kip rustled into his pocket.

    ¡°And to think, you could have quit. Or abdicated. But know, a little worm like you didn¡¯t know his place.¡±

    Kip squealed and gagged and it almost sounded like words.

    ¡°What¡¯s he trying to say?!¡± Maeve yelled to the crowd, ¡°What are Kip¡¯s final words?! If you¡¯re going to kill him, at least let us hear his final words! Maybe an apology? And if so, to whom?!¡±

    The whole crowd started to rile up again, begging Davorin to show him an ounce of mercy. Davorin sighed and let off just enough pressure for Kip to speak.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I said¡­ I could have given up like you, right?¡±

    ¡°What are you on about?¡± Davorin snarled.

    ¡°After the battle with the Ducervi¡­ you hid. For fifteen years. This is the first time you¡¯ve even been topside. I¡¯m proud of you, even if it took you this long.¡± Kip grabbed the ring from his pocket.

    Davorin¡¯s breathing grew deeper and unrestrained, ¡°I¡¯m going to twist your neck. I¡¯m going to keep you alive too. You¡¯ll be an invalid. Unable to use your hands and legs. I don¡¯t just want you dead anymore. You¡¯ll be broken for talking back to your new Dark Lord.¡±

    Kip dug the other ring out too. He flicked the other ring as far as he could just as Davorin stuck his finger out and lifted it up. Davorin¡¯s finger began to glow red with power imbued in it.

    The other ring twirled and skipped along the ground a mere two feet away, having gotten too much of an upward arc to keep going. But¡­ as if by some magic. Some divine force¡­ some nudge of a bog witch¡¯s wand¡­ the ring got up and rolled a few extra feet away. Kip put the first ring on.

    Davorin slapped against the ground so hard, it caused a divot that punctured the earth and the surrounding tiles crackled into a spiderweb of destruction. Davorin looked at his hand, there was no tiny kobold squashed under there. Instead, he lifted his nail and felt the cool metal of a flattened ring left behind. He looked at it, and felt Kip¡¯s touch on his back.

    The vampire had lost.

 Ch 10: A Level Up, A New Threat

    The crowd had fallen to silence. Every monster was unsure if they were seeing what they were actually seeing. Maeve threw her head back and despite the reek of garlic in her nose shouted, ¡°KIP HAS WON THE CHALLENGE!¡±

    All the monsters in attendance, from the lowest goon to the largest droog cheered at the startling upset. Davorin was surrounded by cheers of his failure as he lay shrunken on one knee. He turned to look at Kip behind him. Kip was standing so they were at eye level.

    Kip huffed, puffed, smiled and said, ¡°Good game, ay?¡±

    Davorin said nothing. He merely stood, took two steps forward and turned into bats. All his bats flew out of the skylight, escaping into the cold light of day.

    The banshee floated down, her feet stepped on the ground and she reached down to pick up Kip¡¯s fist.

    ¡°Still stink like garlic, love,¡± Kip murmered.

    ¡°Better than how you smell all the time,¡± The banshee whispered to him, they both kept smiling as the banshee addressed the crowd.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it for Dark Lord Kip!¡±

    ¡°Dark. Lord. Kip!¡± The crowd cheered.

    ¡°Dark Lord Kip!¡± The banshee yelled.

    ¡°Ah, so you do know how to hold someone¡¯s hand.¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Dark. Lord. Kip!¡± The banshee wailed, then to Kip whispered, ¡°My love language isn¡¯t physical touch. You know that.¡±

    ¡°DARK LORD KIP!¡±

    ¡°No, right. It¡¯s ¡®gift-giving.¡¯ What a convenient love language to have, ay love?¡±

    ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m making you look good. You need the help.¡± Then to the crowd, ¡°One more time! DARK. LORD. KIP!¡±

    ¡°DARK LORD KIP!¡±

    And for a single second, Kip basked in the glow of the people chanting his name

    Deep on the greens of the Fierce Forest, in some tiny crook of wilderness, was a hidden grove. When invaders or adventurers, if you¡¯d like, passed through the area, they were likely to miss the grove. It was wholly unmarked and largely unknown to the newer residents of the Dark Lord¡¯s domain. Were anyone to pass upon the tiny grove, they would notice three headstones in the center, surrounded by red spider lilies that Azami was kind enough to help maintain. One was a white headstone, hugged tightly by unbreakable vines, all dotted with poisonous thorns. The second was the repurposed masthead of a ship. A siren with fangs and tears in her eyes. The third was a simple wooden cross made out of two sticks tied together. This was a place of mourning. A place of quiet. A place that Davorin had not visited in at least fifteen years.

    The bats coalesced into one distraught Davorin. He approached the gravestones and sat down on the ground in front of them, his hands on his knees. He looked up at the sun, covering it with his hands. His body was sensitive to the sunlight, so he didn¡¯t get out much. That was what he told himself. That was why he idled away with his goons in the upper floors of the castle, waiting for some intruder strong enough to reach the castle so he could get squashed by Davorin.

    But the truth was in front of him. If he left Castle Inversa¡­ he would either visit the graves¡­ or not visit the graves. And that was a choice he could not make.

    ¡°I thought I might find you here,¡± A voice called behind him. Davorin need not look back. He¡¯d heard wings flapping from miles away, too lost in thought to realize they had been approaching him.

    ¡°Jymba,¡± Davorin said.

    Jymba did not approach, he stayed on the edges of the grove, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since they¡¯ve been gone, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Jymba asked.

    ¡°The little twat won.¡±

    ¡°He earned it.¡± Jymba said.

    Davorin let out a breath, ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    Jymba watched Davorin¡¯s normally quaffed hair, shaggy after the fight, rustle as he shook it.

    ¡°He won fair and square,¡± Jymba said, ¡°Using your rules.¡±

    ¡°How can I face any of the denizens of the dark now? How can I face him now.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not even sure when you¡¯ll face him again.¡±

    Davorin shook his head, ¡°Abandoned us. Abandoned us and left a plumber in his stead. How could he do this?¡±

    Jymba stayed silent.

    ¡°He did not tell you anything? Said not a word where he might go?¡± Davorin turned back to look at him. The old dragon was in his human form, resting idly against a tree as he shook his head.

    Davorin stood up, ¡°Why don¡¯t I believe you?¡±

    Jymba could see through Davorin¡¯s cold red eyes, ¡°Why are you so afraid to ask the real question that troubles you?¡±

    Davorin flinched, ¡°Answer it then.¡±

    ¡°Ask it then.¡±

    Davorin and Jymba stared at each other. Jymba gave a soft smile that meant to put pressure on his colleague.

    Davorin said, ¡°I¡¯ll challenge the little rat again. I will eviscerate him. I¡¯ll tear his head off. The location needs to be mutual. I gave him the edge last time...¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Davorin,¡± Jymba said in a soothing voice that only pissed Davorin off more.

    Davorin scoffed. Then he took a deep inhale, ¡°I was foolish to go easy on him. He took advantage of my generosity. Next time¡­¡±

    ¡°Davorin there are more important things for your rein.¡±

    ¡°Not to me.¡±

    ¡°There is one positive to Kip¡¯s tenure as Dark Lord.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°It got you out of the castle.¡±

    There was a devastating silence between the two. Davorin looked over at the three gravestones. He went over and rubbed the top of the masthead, ¡°This place was meant to be a haven for the damned.¡±

    ¡°It still might be.¡± Jymba said.

    Davorin scoffed again, but this time it felt forced to him, ¡°You like to act so wise, meanwhile you breast your cards better than anyone.¡±

    ¡°I can answer if you¡¯d like,¡± Jymba said.

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°You are still wounded, I think.¡± Jymba said, ¡°Still not fully healed after your battle with the Ducervi. Kip, he¡¯s fresh. His naivete, under a different name, is optimism.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked and you know it.¡±

    Jymba¡¯s smile was large and toothy. His belly rustled as he chuckled and he said, ¡°You are not brave enough to ask the right question. Maybe I am not brave enough to give the wrong answer.¡±

    And with that, Davorin turned back into bats and flew away, back down to his room in the Castle Inversa.

    ¡°New powers.¡± Azami said with wonder.

    Kip shook like a leaf as he examined his scroll. He was staring at three choices, while Stormbristle, Azami, and Zeke stared over his shoulder. His level now read ¡®3¡¯, and he was being granted new abilities.

    Stormbristle nudged Kip with his snout, ¡°You¡¯re going to need what makes you strongest.¡±

    ¡°I understand that, Storm,¡± Kip said, ¡°But fact of the matter is, I¡¯m exceptionally weak. As much as I need to use some levels to hone my strength, I need to spend a little more time getting stronger physically. For now, my strategy needs to rely more on evasion and cunning.¡±

    The three choices read:

    <ul>

    <li>

    Tiny Horns: Charge attack does double damage (Req. for Curled Horns)

    </li>

    <li>

    Fiery Breathe: Cast Firebolt once per hour without mana) (Req. for Fiery Blast)

    </li>

    <li>

    Wings 1: Fly for three wing flaps and glide for 20 seconds. (Req. for Wing 2)

    </li>

    </ul>

    ¡°Woah.¡± Zeke said as he looked at Kip¡¯s new potential abilities.

    ¡°I know,¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Which will you choose, My boy?¡± Stormbristle asked.

    Kip looked through the three choices, ¡°I¡±m¡­ not sure.¡±

    Azami shook her head, ¡°Treat this decision with care. Most dragonlings don¡¯t ever get this far.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t?¡± Kip asked.

    Azami shook her head, ¡°They¡¯re numbers, Kip. They die quickly. Many stay level 1 when they die. So few make it to their draconic traits and the strongest kobolds rarely make it to level ten.¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± Zeke said, ¡°It¡¯s gotta be horns. Trust me, Kip. These things are awesome. Hard to get through doors. That¡¯s the one problem. Sometimes bigger guys grab them. But the charge attacks are unreal damage-wise.¡±

    They mulled it over as things most of the monsters hung out in the labyrinth. The post fight glow burned into a festive flame. It was rare for there to be so many people from different floors mingling with each other. Everyone began talking and some even started drinking. It was the Duergar. The Duergar had started the drinking but the idea spread fast to the other races.

    Kip let out a sigh, ¡°Did you all know I was afraid of heights?¡±

    ¡°You never ride on Swiff,¡± Azami said.

    ¡°You threw up before I lifted you to my shoulder,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°First I¡¯m hearing about this,¡± Stormbristle said, ¡°Although you did once ask me how I ¡®could stand it up there¡¯ while I floated two feet above you. So there were signs.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s most Kobold¡¯s dream to fly. We look up at Jymba or some dragon that occasionally passes above and grow ambitious. But me, I¡¯m terrified.¡±

    Kip pressed the option for Wings 1.

    ¡°Kip, I think you pressed the wrong option, buddy.¡± Zeke said, ¡°Unfortunately, there are no do-overs. That¡¯s why I got two tails, now.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t an accident Zeke. I pressed ¡®Wings.¡¯ Even though I¡¯m scared¡­ I want to be able to show all the other Kobolds¡­ the ones who are still level one, that they can get their wings too. Even if it means only gliding for a little. Even if it means bringing a barf bag.¡±

    Azami smiled, nodding along with the young Kobold.

    ¡°Say¡­ growing wings isn¡¯t painful is it?¡±

    Azami, Stormbristle, and Zeke all exchanged glances. Kip smiled at them, then his face cracked and he doubled over in pain. He howled as the wings grew in. Nubs peeked out from his back and ripped through his clothes. Then they sprouted feathers. That was more painful than the nubs. It felt like two hundred pricks of a needle but they were starting from the inside of the skin. Kip shouted naughty words as the pain continued but eventually the wings had grown.

    Kip huffed in pain, ¡°Amazing. How do they look?¡±

    Davorin walked up from the floor. Kip looked over, ¡°Davorin!¡± Kip scuttled after him on his tiny feet. Davorin had a knapsack slung over his shoulder and stared at the little critter coming by. ¡°Davorin, look!¡± He showed Davorin his wings.

    Davorin stared at them, unperturbed.

    ¡°I got to level 3 after winning the fight!¡±

    ¡°Congratulations.¡±

    ¡°Thank you! Oh! I have something for you!¡± Kip said as he reached into his messenger bag, he took it out, ¡°It¡¯s the book that fell into the trap! It got mangled a good deal but my workshop is in a hidden room in the labyrinth so I was able to sneak away and rebind it! Some of the pages are missing but you said you already read it so¡­¡±

    Davorin picked up the book and examined it, ¡°You did this¡­ after I tried to kill you.¡±

    ¡°Davorin, we both want the best for this domain. Every member of every floor wants what you want. They just want to be treated with a little dignity as well. If¡­ you can spare it, of course. But¡­ you¡¯re still one of our strongest and I can¡¯t do this without you! What¡¯s with the bag?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to do this without me.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    Davorin put on his large brimmed hat and his sunglasses, ¡°I am leaving to find the Dark Lord. I shall check every crevice and nook and frankly, cranny if I have to. Although I doubt the dark lord is in a cranny. But I will return.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I honor you on your journey! When will you return?¡±

    ¡°I may not challenge you again for two months. In two month¡¯s time I shall return and challenge you again and¡­ show you no mercy and kill you. Ta-ta, Kip.¡±

    And with that, Davorin turned into bats and flapped away, leaving Kip shaking in his boots at the sudden threat.

    Kip looked up as Davorin disappeared into the horizon, ¡°You don¡¯t think he means it, do you?¡± Kip asked Azami.

    ¡°Yes, Kip. I think he means it. Or maybe he thinks he does.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ He called me by my name! That¡¯s an improvement, I suppose.¡±

    Kip turned around, admiring the party, ¡°Now¡­ let¡¯s enjoy the party! Let¡¯s drink, party, make some mistakes! Maybe one of us will hook up with an ex tonight!¡±

    ¡°None of my exes are here¡± Stormbristle asked.

    ¡°Mine neither,¡± Zeke said.

    ¡°All of my exes and future husbands are dead by my hand,¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Still, maybe one of us will hook up with an ex tonight!¡± Kip said giddily.

    ¡°KIP!¡± Somebody called to Kip. Kip turned and saw Baraz Bloodchin, the Duergar miner, appear. His face was bloodied and he staggered forward. Everyone at the party turned to see the commotion. He collapsed, his life escaping him with every breath.

    ¡°Kip¡­¡± Baraz repeated, ¡°A troupe of intruders have made it all the way to the Underdark.¡±

    ¡°But¡­. but¡­¡± Kip stammered, ¡°Impossible! We were all here! Guarding the entrance!¡±

    ¡°Not just that, Kip..¡± Baraz said, ¡°Their symbol. Carved into their armor¡­ banners¡­ it¡¯s a two headed Stag!¡±

    Kip¡¯s red scales paled. The Ducervi had entered the dungeon.

 Ch 11: The Ducervi

    Kip closed his eyes as he gripped Ismelda¡¯s wings. The harpy had sailed into the large hole in the exit room; she navigated the tunnels of the underdark as best she could.

    How on Earth did they make their way through? Kip thought to himself, We were all in the labyrinth! Unless they found some other way in.

    Kip was so busy wondering how for a brief minute he had forgotten ¡®who.¡¯ The intruders happened to be a band that belonged to the most dangerous mercenary company.

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan, Kip?¡± Ismelda asked as she plunged into the abyss. She opened her wings wide and flew into a cramped crevice.

    ¡°West tunnels. West tunnels,¡± Kip thought to himself, ¡°West tunnels. First act. West tunnels. First act.¡±

    Kip remembered what Stormbristle said shortly after the Duergar interrupted the party. Kip had just retracted his wings and was rightfully panicking. His panic caused some of the other people to panic. Their panic made Kip panic more. And so on.

    ¡°Kip,¡± Stormbristle said to Kip, ¡°This is your first act as leader. You must lead.¡±

    ¡°How,¡± Kip asked, ¡°Why? When?¡±

    ¡°Now. How? Not sure. Why? Because the Dark Lord had faith.¡± Stormbristle said, ¡°What should we do?¡±

    Kip nervously looked around, the chance of getting something wrong caused his stomach to rumble with nervousness. Baraz was being healed by Azami, but what about the ones that didn¡¯t make it out? Who else was down there? Had someone already died?

    ¡°Ismelda,¡± Kip cleared his throat, ¡°I need you to take me somewhere, please.¡± Emersa stepped up but Kip held his hand out, ¡°I need you for something else.¡± The other harpy turned to look at him, cocking her head in a bird-like fashion. He looked around, ¡°Everyone who belongs to the lower floors, make your way there at once! In your respective groups. Zeke, follow close behind. Where were they?¡±

    Baraz breathed heavily as he continued to be treated, ¡°By¡­ the hot tub¡­¡±

    ¡°You have a hot tub?¡± Azami asked, jealous.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ amazing¡­ or at least it was. Before them.¡±

    ¡°That hot tub is the only reason I¡¯m standing here,¡± Kip said, ¡°Let¡¯s all move!¡±

    It took everyone a second to realize they had been given orders from such a tiny chap but after Kip repeated himself they were on their way.

    Kip jumped on Ismelda and they headed over. Emersa had followed into the Underdark but diverged per Kip¡¯s instructions.

    Kip was forced back to the present as Ismelda flapped her wings to land.

    ¡°You¡¯re landing?¡±

    ¡°Space too thin.¡± Ismelda said, ¡°I would if I could but I can¡¯t. Don¡¯t you know?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Ismelda. Thank you for your help. If you see Zeke on your way back to your floor, point him in my direction. Do you think Emersa will get to Xrgl in time?¡±

    ¡°My sister is the fastest harpy I know. Second fastest, actually. Only to me.¡±

    Kip nodded his head and bid adieu as Imersa traveled back the way she came. The caves were getting more cramped. Kip recognized this way as the direction of the hot tub. The area he was in was a small clearing that had a tiny rocky underpass.

    Kip crawled in as slowly as he could. It was eerily similar to the same scene as when he was last there. Fog permeated into the underpass. He could hear mirth from the other side. The difference was instead of mischievous orcs, it was a gang of half-naked intruders, laughing inside the water. And eerily similar as before¡­ There was Sal.

    ¡°Sal?!¡± Kip asked. All of them turned to look at the young kobold. Sal¡¯s gaze revealed real fear in his eyes. One of them, a day dwarf, immediately took out an axe from under the water. Kip raised his hands, revealing that he had nothing but his tool belt.

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    ¡°Ahh,¡± Said one of the members in the tub, ¡°It¡¯s just a kobold. They¡¯re more scared of you than you are of them.¡± The member was human. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Lithe but well muscled and more importantly a mustache and goatee combo that made Kip a little jealous he couldn¡¯t grow hair follicles.

    The dwarf placed his axe back under the water, ¡°Ain¡¯t scared of nothing, Cassios. Specially no kobold.¡±

    ¡°Hello there. I¡¯m¡­ Kip.¡± The kobold spoke nervously, almost forgetting his name. He looked around the room. Take stock. Immediately, Kip thought. Distract. Wait for backup. Enclosed room, a tiny opening meant for dwarves.

    The four intruders chuckled, The dwarf spoke up again, ¡°Gave itself a name, has it?¡± Then he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you run along to your little master. Make sure they know we¡¯re here. We¡¯re coming for the Dark Lord¡¯s head.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m curious,¡± Kip said, ¡°You two have the two headed stag symbol. That means you¡¯re mercenaries. Why go after the Dark Lord? Surely, there¡¯s no price big enough for the trouble.¡±

    ¡°What business is it of yours?!¡± The orc said, splashing water on Kip as she kept her arm around

    One male human. One male day dwarf. One elven female, possibly half. One female orc. The dwarf still had almost everything on in the water. Including his helmet. Classes? The female elf was likely a caster. Dwarf could be a warrior.

    ¡°Uh¡­ well.. You see.. I¡¯m the new Dark Lord.¡±

    They all looked at each other, wondering when Kip was going to say, ¡°Just fooling! Let me go get the real Dark Lord.¡± They waited and waited and waited but Kip did not do that. He merely said, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m the Dark Lord.¡± When they realized Kip was not making a joke, they all burst out laughing, Kip¡¯s seriousness making the joke even funnier.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Kip said, ¡°It is a bit silly.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Zeke crawled under the incredibly low ceiling. Zeke shouted out from behind the underpass. He could not fit his body through it. Kip realized he had made a mistake, recruiting a mob boss from the wrong floor. Zeke got on his hands and knees, unable to further his gargantuan body into the smaller hot tub room. Even if his main body could somehow snuggly fit, his horns prevented him from getting him to the door, ¡°I heard what you said about my boss, that¡¯s not FREAKING cool.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Kip said, ¡°It really isn¡¯t a big deal, Zeke.¡±

    ¡°This guy just crushed Lord Davorin a few hours ago. Prince of Shadows. The Unquenchable. Kip made absolutely light work of him. Not joking. Flew away. Total wuss. Davorin, not Kip.¡±

    Once again, the lack of a joke being told made the joke all the more funny. They all exchanged glances and pointed at tiny Kip as they tried to imagine him beating Lord Davorin in a fight.

    I was just explaining to the kind people that the Dark Lord they¡¯re seeking is no longer here!¡± Kip turned to them and smiled, clasping his hands like he worked in hospitality, ¡°And that your guess as to where to find him is as good as mine. With that being said, I hope you all enjoy your time in the hot tub. I would love to get you all the food and drink you would need on your journey and assure you a safe passage upward, out of these floors.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Cassios said as he pressed his wet hair back, ¡°you¡¯re telling me that the Dark Lord and the Unquenchable are not guarding the castle floors?¡±

    ¡°Uhm,¡± Kip looked around nervously, ¡°What makes you say that?¡±

    ¡°You did,¡± said the Orquette, ¡°You said the old Dark Lord isn¡¯t here and the guy on the other side said that Davorin isn¡¯t here.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m not sure¡­ Zeke was really speaking out of turn.. I don¡¯t¡­ uh...¡±

    Everyone looked around, ¡°If the two biggest threats are not guarding this dungeon, that means its spoils are ours for the taking. Correct?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ ahh¡­ Uhh¡­¡± Kip¡¯s brain started moving quicker than he could act. Weapons behind him. Only the dwarf had his axe on him. Kip had to move quickly. These people were mercenaries. Extraordinary ones at that. If the stories told of the Ducervi were true, they¡¯d make quick work of the Underdark¡¯s numbers. Running was an option, but then what? Sal was still being held as a personal campfire. Kip knew what he would have to do.

    ¡°I think what Kip¡¯s trying to say¡­¡± Sal started.

    ¡°Burst!¡± Kip sprung toward the dwarf. Kip¡¯s claws were out, and his jaw was opened. The dwarf laughed, ¡°Typical monsters.¡± He threw up the broadside of the axe from under the water. Kip collided with the broadside and attempted to wrap his hands around it, but The dwarf shifted his axe to the right, it sliced Kip¡¯s arm and then the dwarf pressed on the elongated handle, forcing Kip back. Kip¡¯s lower half clipped the bottom of the hot tub and he fell on his back.

    For a third time, everybody in that room laughed at him. Sal was the only one who did not. Everybody stood up, and when Sal tried to join, the orc pressed him to sit with her hand.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two options, rat.¡± Said Casios, ¡°You speak eloquently and tried to reason with us. You can carry our things while we slaughter our way through the dungeon and take the most precious artifacts of each unguarded floor, or¡­¡±

    ¡°I think I know where this is going,¡± Kip said as he stared straight up at the cave wall. He noticed the pipe hanging above all of them, with its trap to only let the water in after the string had been pulled.

    ¡°...Or die by my hands while I¡¯m completely naked. And your lizard friend watches you.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s actually a salamander,¡± Kip said.

    ¡°We¡¯re more like coworkers,¡± Sal said.

    ¡°Which is it?¡±

    Kip and Sal exchanged glances, they were both terrified but an eek of nervous laughter escaped both of them.

    ¡°You find something funny?¡±

    Sal shook his head and Kip kept giggling.

    ¡°Something about my mercy is laughable?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Sal said, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­ we have this saying in the Dark Lord¡¯s dungeon. Kind of a motto, really.¡±

    ¡°Pray tell.¡±

    Kip stared at Casios as he said, ¡°Never make a deal with a human,¡± and jumped up, grabbing the string to the pipe trap and pulling it so hard, it came off the pipe, causing water to rush in.

 Ch. 12: Battling The Invaders

    The cold lake water overflowed the tub. Casios rolled his eyes, perturbed, and the dwarf let out a battle-hardened laugh. The Orquette took a step on the lip of the tub and launched herself toward her weapons. Kip was tucked in the corner, gripping to the wall right behind the waterfall. He screamed out to Zeke, ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡±

    Casios was washed out of the tub. He attempted to grab his weapon but Zeke reached in with his long arm and grabbed Casios¡¯ legs. Casios let out a harumph as he was pulled out of the room. The Orquette, who was by the weapons, tossed the rapier toward the human being pulled, ¡°Cassie!.¡±

    Casios stuck his hand up and the handle gracefully fit in his palm, like a team working in perfect unison, ¡°Thank you, Raka,¡± He said lazily.

    Zeke pulled Casios into the wider tunnel with one hand and slammed his fist down on him with the other. Casios twisted his body and pulled his legs apart, springing free from the hold Zeke had on him and having Zeke¡¯s fist slam into the rocks.

    ¡°Ahh!¡±

    ¡°Zeke, I presume,¡± Casios said, ¡°The third floor mob boss. How are you? A little cramped, I suppose.¡± Casios slid his rapier along Zeke¡¯s arm, drawing blood from above his elbow to below his shoulder, ¡°We thought when we slipped straight through to the fourth floor that we wouldn¡¯t have to deal with you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I wouldn¡¯t wanna deal with me either.¡± Zeke launched his horns at Casios, Casios stuck his rapier, twirled and gently nudged Zeke¡¯s horns into the rock wall, where Zeke was now stuck in the rock.

    The Orquette grabbed her longsword and turned and faced Sal, but the rush of the water was helping them keep their distance.

    Raka grabbed her knife and chucked it at Sal, who dodged. His throat glewed orange and he puffed a ball of fire at Raka, who stuck her longsword up. The blade shimmered orange as the ball collided with it and dispersed, backing Raka into the wall.

    ¡°Fire resistant sword!¡± Sal cried out to Kip.

    Raka stuck her longsword up to slice at Sal but another rush of frigid ice water pushed her down to her knees. The Orc pointed at the burst pipe and said, ¡°Baela!¡± She tossed the metal staff at the elven woman.

    ¡°On it.¡± The elven woman pointed her staff at the burst pipe, ¡°Frios!¡± The beam connected with the burst pipe, covering the hole in ice.

    The dwarf had not been pushed. He¡¯d smartly buried his axe in the wall, and was right next to where Kip was.

    ¡°Well, Dark Lord,¡± The dwarf said, ¡°Not quite the same as the real one, but let¡¯s make it fun.¡±

    He unplugged his axe from the wall and got ready to strike. Kip shouted to Sal, still inside the hot tub.

    ¡°Sal! Heat up!¡±

    ¡°You got it, Kip!¡± Sal¡¯s entire slithering body released an intensely flammable oil. An internal organ inside of him that worked similarly to a combustion engine clicked, releasing a spark and engulfing him in flames. This protective measure was normally meant to have predators and potential dangers be scared to approach, but in a hot tub of water in an enclosed space, it had another unintended side effect. Stealth.

    The heat from Sal caused the hot steam to completely cover the small room. The average person couldn''t see three inches from your face.

    The dwarf committed to his axe strike, but found nothing but rockwall. Kip had escaped, grabbed Sal and pulled him out.

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    ¡°Baela!¡± Dwarf cried.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Baela said, ¡°not enough wind current!¡± Baela said through the haze, ¡°Everyone find your way out!¡±

    Kip and Sal slipped into the clearing, the smog pouring out and saw Casio¡¯s blade to Zeke¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Farther than I thought, puny Dark Lord.¡± Casios said. Then, to his team, said, ¡°They¡¯ve escaped! They¡¯re out here!¡±

    Kip looked at Sal then back at Zeke, who was stuck in the rock wall.

    ¡°GPW?¡± Sal asked Kip.

    ¡°Coming soon, I imagine!¡± Kip said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s keep¡¯em busy ¡®til then!¡± Zeke yelled.

    Zeke grabbed the edges of the wall and pulled himself out, taking out a big slab of rock still attached to his horns. He kicked backward, landing a punt right on Casios¡¯ chest and launched him. Casios flipped and skirted along the ground, then leapt toward Zeke. Zeke turned around just in time, placing up the rockwall still mounted on his horns as a shield. Casios¡¯ rapier sliced through it and the rock wall crumbled around Zeke.

    Kip wanted to help, but the rasping sound of a sharp weapon being dragged along the hard ground distracted him. He looked over and as the fog drooled into the larger clearing, he saw a large green muscular woman, holding onto her sword. She picked it up and leapt out, slicing at Kip. Kip jumped backward and fell down.

    Sal shot a big burst of flame from his mouth. A fireball hit the Orc on her back. Kip attempted to scratch but his dulled claws did nothing. Raka punched Kip in the throat. He spun backwards and gagged as he recovered his breath. The Dwarf rolled out next, Sal jumped up and skittered up the wall with his suction cups. He made it onto the ceiling when the dwarf took out a hand axe and tossed it. Sal rushed past its trajectory and it stuck to the ceiling, barely missing his tail.

    He shot another fireball at the dwarf, who proudly stuck his chest out, tanking the fireball shot. The dwarf took a step back from the might of the blast but had held firm, ¡°And I was worried this wouldn¡¯t be fun!¡± Said the dwarf.

    Kip, Sal, and Zeke were outnumbered and outpowered. No GPW in sight. Kip heard that same wretched word again, spoken in almost a sing-songy voice, ¡°Frios!¡± A jet of pale blue light emerged from the steam. Kip jumped up with his hands up. Sal dropped his torso, still stuck to the ceiling. He grabbed Kip¡¯s arms and pulled him upward, avoiding the beam.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t aiming for you.¡± Baela said as the blue beam hit Zeke square in the back. Zeke let out a cry of pain as his back bristled with frost burn. Chunks of ice crystalized as Zeke fell to his knees. Casios took his blade and sliced open Zeke¡¯s belly. A clean line of red dripped down Zeke¡¯s abdomen and Zeke fell on his hands as well.

    The orc stood up, using her sword as her cane, grabbed Kip¡¯s leg and pulled. Sal tried to resist but she was too strong. Kip let go of Sal and let the she-hulk bring him to the ground, where he let out a large ¡®oof!¡± The salamander dropped down on Raka. Casting himself on fire again. Raka howled as she tried to get Sal off him. The dwarf whipped Sal off with the broadside of his axe.

    ¡°Come on, Raka.¡± he said, ¡°Hold your own. Can¡¯t be making yourself look bad fighting a tiny kobold and a wee gecko.

    She stumbled outward, hands on her long sword. Kip grabbed a wrench from his tool kit and chucked it at her. She blocked it with a broadsword and said, ¡°Tools?¡±

    ¡°Deal with the rabble, Raka,¡± Casios said, ¡°If you can.¡±

    Casios chuckled as he stuck his sword into the neck of the minotaur. The weapon dug into Zeke¡¯s tough hide and he let out a wince as some blood poured down from the blade.

    ¡°How do you all get in here?¡± Kip asked.

    Casios smiled and said, ¡°The lovely Baela noticed the ripples in the water were connected to the pipe. Then she turned us into fishes and we were able to swim down. We met those nasty Dark Dwarves but they were unprepared to deal with us!¡± Casios flipped his hair back, ¡°And with that, we realized we had a shortcut to the fourth floor.

    ¡°That¡­ damn hot tub.¡± Kip winced.

    Cassios kept his sword pressed to Zeke¡¯s neck, ¡°Now, do surrender so we can be on our way. We¡¯d like a guide to show us the rest of the way¡±

    ¡°This is for the best child,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°We¡¯re mercenaries after all. Gold is what we want. Let us have it and we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±

    Kip stuck his hands up as the dwarf put the axe lightly to Kip¡¯s neck. Raka placed her long sword at Sal¡¯s back. The dwarf then lightly said into Kip¡¯s ear hole, ¡°It was a bloody valiant effort. Let¡¯s not waste it, now.¡±

    Kip sighed and placed his hands down. Where was it? The GPW? Just when he thought it was over, he felt it. Deep in his belly. A slight rumble inside of his stomach acid, from the vibrations coming deep in the earth.

    The rumble slowly got bigger and bigger, so much so that the enemies could not ignore it.

    ¡°GPW?¡± Zeke asked through the pain.

    ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Kip said softly.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Said Casios, ¡°GPW? What is it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the mob boss for this floor. Xyrgl. The Giant Purple Worm.¡±