Author Comment: I want to thanks my Beta-Reader FollowerOfAnhamirak for the time he shared to correct this chapter.


Kaz was a little nervous as he waited for his mother to port into Chaotic. They were about to have their first scan quest together. Still with everything going on, it was like, being nervous was an option. It wouldn't be that bad if it was anywhere else other then the Underworld, but it was right where he didn't want to be.

It wouldn't be a problem to say no to his mother and explain why. He knew his mother would understand it. At the same time though, he didn't want to let her go on her own. Who knew what the creatures might try to do? She also didn't have a friend in the Underworld to guide or help her yet.

"We need to work on that." He whispered to himself, taking a deep breath, "It won't be so bad. I Just need to not be noticed by Chaor. The Underworld is big and he might not even be there." To be frank though he doubted it. With him and his friends' luck they'd probably end up in trouble and cross paths with Chaor somehow. He didn't want another interrogation so soon and even less his mother giving a mouthful to the ruler of the Underworld. He knew she would do it for hurting him, "We'll just port out if anything happens." Kaz reassured himself.

"Kaz." His mother said, entering the room, startling him. She joined him and asked, "are you ready for our scan quest?"

"I am mom." Kaz replied, putting on his best face.

"Let's go then." His mother told him with excitement.

Kaz stood up and followed her. He sure hoped he could be excited like that when he was her age. If things didn't change even more, that is.


Chapter 39: Mother And Son Scan Quest

The duo ported into Underworld City, quickly ducking into an empty alley. Their scan quest was to find Rothar and get a scan out of him. According to some players in Chaotic Rothar had learned many new tricks since the M'arrillian wars. Unfortunately, Kaz had been too busy for a while to get a new scan of the creature and he couldn't find him. As luck would have it though, H'earring had told Kaz a few days ago that the creature would be in the city for a while. Having heard the good news, he told his mother about it, as he knew she wanted a scan of the creature.

Kaz gazed around and didn't notice any orange minotaur-like creature around.

Neighed a trace of Chaor. He was safe for now.

"Where do you think Rothar might be?" His mother asked.

"He could be watching a battle at the Colosseum, or he could be in his home or anywhere else." Kaz replied. thinking.

"Where do you think he lives?"

"I don't know. H'earring might know where he is. We have to find him and… I don't have anything to offer him in exchange for a service." Kaz sighed. Things were not going according to plan.

"Then we just have to look around." She replied, taking the lead.

Her son followed her, a little nervous about encountering the ruler of the Underworld along the way. That would be the worse. He thought about it more, he could be at a bar or at the inn. The city was a big one.

They wandered around, avoiding trouble and ignoring the judgemental glares they got. Kaz grew a little nervous when his mother frowned at the other creatures, not letting them intimidate her. Some were pissed off by it, some snickered, either because it was funny or because they saw she had guts. He didn't know which one was worse.

Kaz avoided looking straight into their eyes, because it could be interpreted as a challenge and they wouldn't back down from a challenge. At the same time, he had to carefully look around and avoided any accident that could end up with him in the Colosseum again. He wasn't eager to relive his experience against a creature like Hammerdoom.

They soon passed the front of H'earring house and noticed the small gremlin creature walking somewhere else.

"Is he busy?" Cassandra asked her son.

"I think so. He would hear us already and come. H'earring hears very well and I think he can easily recognise my footsteps." Kaz admitted.

"That's a little weird." His mother commented.

"It's normal. You'll get use to this soon." Kaz let out a small smile as they kept walking. He did wonder if it was the case. The little creature did gaze at them for a second before walking away, trying to ignore them. Kaz thought back and H'earring was present when he was interrogated last time. He guessed that he didn't want to put him in more trouble and acted like they never crossed paths.

They soon reached the Underworld Colosseum and wondered if Rothar was in there. The two gazed at each other's and went inside.

They joined the crowd as they watched the battle going on. It wasn't the creature they were looking for. It was good news because he wouldn't be weakened when they scanned him.

The two looked around and tried to find any orange creatures with horns. It was the only thing they might be able to notice at a distance. Not at the other side of the Colosseum though, it was way too big for that.

They went at the top, making sure not to block the view of the creatures and accidentally ended up in a fight.

They looked around and found no traces of the creature. From what they knew, he wasn't on a mission, which was why they searched the city. He could be at the Inn or anywhere else in the city. It wouldn't be easy to find a creature.

Kaz sighed. He thought back and realized he should have brought something for H'earring. If anyone knew where Rothar was or how to quickly find him it would be him. He had a lot of knowledge of the place and what was going on in the city.

That aside there was another reason he was worried. It was only a matter of time till the Underworlders reached Chaotic but what would happen? He barely talked about what Chaor or any of his tribe would do if they reached Chaotic and what awaited them. The ruler of the Underworld might start up a fight if threatened by the machines and might get shot down. That would be the worst way for the ruler to die.

Kaz pushed that thought aside when his mother grabbed his hand.

"Kaz, I think I saw him leave the Colosseum. The match was over and he might be pissed off." She pulled him and they went outside of the location.

"You know where he went?" Kaz asked as he searched the dark street of the city, "And careful. If he knows we are following him, he might let us chase him on purpose for an ambush." He raised his finger at his mom. She wasn't someone who made mistakes like that, as she knew how this tribe worked.

"I know. We aren't stalking him anyway," Cassandra politely replied. She had a small smile of excitement.

As they noticed something orange with horns and dark blue hair. Taking their chance, they marched towards the creature, rushing towards them and avoiding anything in their way, big and the small. Soon the both of them were close enough to the creature to determine that it was Rothar.

"Mr. Rothar?" Cassandra asked.

The creature stopped and turned around, annoyed the moment he heard a human calling him. He had lost his bet on the last duel and had to pay up. Turning around he saw that it wasn't Kaz, so he didn't care. The orange minotaur gazed at them with his green eyes. He had long blue hair with a pair of silver horns on his forehead wearing a brown breastplate and a green pants, "Mister?" He frowned at the woman. He did notice some similarity with the boy Kaz at the side of the woman. He didn't care to make any assumption and crossed his arms, "Do not waste my time."

"We just want a scan of you, given that you're stronger than ever now." Kaz began, getting right to business.

He frowned and grunted, "I have no intention of getting scanned by you." He could attack them or chased them away, but it was harder when it came to Kaz. He didn't get why this human got the interest of Chaor and couldn't care to figure it out. However, something was a little troubling for him. There was something in his mind about the boy, but didn't know what.

Cassandra appealed to the creature's ego, "So…you aren't that much stronger than before."

The minotaur quickly turned his attention to the woman and grunted, "Say that one more time and I'll make sure you regret it." He was about to give her an example.

"Don't talk to my mo-mother that way!" Kaz stammered when he noticed the muscles tensing under the orange skin of the creature.

"M-mother?" Rothar looked at the two again. He could tell they had a lot of similarity, now that was brought up.

His mother never stopped glaring at the creature. She put her hands on her waist and replied, "I don't need to say it another time."

Rothar glared back at her.

Kaz wondered what he should do. Maybe he would challenge her into a duel and he would need a way to help her win the match. He didn't want her to go through the same as him. He crossed his arms and quickly searched for something to say, anything.

A grin was on Rothar's face, "You are a weird human." Rothar grumbled. He stopped glaring at her, "Not that many humans could glare at me for that long. They always cowered in fear. You are either brave, foolish or really good at hiding it. I don't dislike you…"

"Cassandra."

"Cassandra. You can scan me. This will show you how stronger I am than before!" he showed his muscles.

Kaz didn't like this. He wondered if something else happened because the creature was showing off now. He hoped it was just to remind his mom that he was stronger than her.

"Thanks." She replied before getting a scan of the creature.

Kaz didn't really want to get it. He didn't want to know what was in the mind of the minotaur creature. Also, Rothar didn't tell him he could get a scan of him.

Cassandra checked at it and nodded, "Kaz. He got higher stats in many of his attributes," she showed it to the boy who had to agree. He mastered the element of air and fire too now.

Rothar didn't care about that, but it said he was stronger, so that would shut her up. He walked away. None of them tried to follow him. He suddenly stopped when he remembered something. Why was he troubled by the boy? He remembered why now. He quickly turned around and returned to the two humans, "Kazdan. Chaor asked your presence in his castle. Alone. You haven't show up for a while and he asked us to bring you to him."

Cassandra gazed at her son and asked, "What is going on?"

Kaz sighed and turned towards his mother and replied, "I haven't been in the Underworld for a while. What with everything going on."

She understood and asked, "Maybe we should port out."

The creature tensed and was ready to prevent the boy from porting.

Kaz sighed. He knew it meant trouble if he went away. He couldn't just dodge the problem forever. He had been requested by the ruler of the Underworld, "It's okay mo-ther. I've been avoiding this for long enough. I'll come back later."

Cassandra was uncertain if she should or not. Despite being there for a while, she wasn't experienced enough to stalk a creature or knew her way into the Castle of Chaor. With how her son felt, she wasn't sure if everything would be fine with him, "If he does anything dangerous, you port out."

Kaz nodded and gazed at her, "I will."

Cassandra ported out.

Kaz was on his own against Chaor possible wrath. He went to the castle with Rothar.

Rothar asked, "You do look a little like your mother."

"Yeah." Kaz was uncertain why the creature asked those questions. He didn't like it.

"You aren't as fierce as her," Rothar grumbled.

Kaz didn't reply. He wouldn't risk to say anything about himself. He knew he wasn't like his mother. She had two jobs and had to raise him. With the little time she had, she did the best she could. He wished that his father was still around so they could share the burden of raising him. The only good thing now was that she was living her childhood dream in Chaotic.

"Not the same way." Rothar corrected himself absently.

Kaz grumbled an mmph.

A large grin was on the orange face of the Underworlder. He decided to ask something in the way the humans he knew said those words, "Is your mother single?" He got the most vicious glare that the human could muster. Rothar was taken aback by how vicious it was. A little bit of Chaor was in those eyes right now. He didn't have the power or body to back it up, but by the Cothica, he had those enrage eyes, "Kidding. Humans are too weak."

Kaz calmed down, but didn't like or believe the creature was kidding. Most likely antagonizing him. He tried to change the subject, "What Chaor needs me for?"

"He has questions for you. That's all I know," the Underworlder replied with a bit of respect for the boy, "Earlier, you thought I was going to fight your mother."

"Yeah." Kaz admitted.

"I won't waste my time on a human who can't fight back." Rothar accelerated his pace as they were near the castle, "Now go inside. Chaor is waiting for you."

"Sure." Kaz went to the gate. He stopped, turned around and ordered just in case, "And stay away from my mom!" He stormed in the castle.

The guards that watched the entrance gazed at each other, wondering what was going on.


AC: This is the end of this chapter. Was Rothar serious when he asked if Cassandra was single, or just wanted to strike a nerve?

Next: Chaotic Knowledge.

Chaor, with Agitos and Takinom interrogate Kaz about what is going on in Chaotic and what he knows to prepare his coming. With Kaz still worked up about something, it was difficult as the boy was temporarily immune to Chaor's natural intimidating appearance.