Hello to all. New chapter and therefore the continuation of the adventure of Ashton. Starting information like each start:
Thanks to Zerak who PM me to help me correct some lore errors on the Dungeon.
It helped me enormously to check and modify the following chapters.
I got the question about the speed of the story. I would stay slow in the pace to introduce the characters and set them up. I hope to convey Ashton's feelings so that his fears and distresses are known and not just assumed. (He is literally coming back from Hell. Literal meaning as proper).
Regarding publication I would stay on a chapter of 3000 / 5000 words every two weeks to keep a correct publication rate while not encroaching on my personal life.
Finally, two usual info: Remain polite and respectful in your messages and criticisms and know that I only consider the criticisms constructed seeking to help me. The stupid insult is useless.
Sorry for all this informative paragraph. Good chapter!
Chapter 3 : Side Effect Of Madness.
Ryuu Lion was a waitress at the fertility hostess. Like every morning, she was the one who was tasked with Mai to serve the adventurers before they left for the Dungeon.
It was five thirty in the morning. It was still early in the morning and the city was still asleep. It would be another hour before the first adventurers awoke and his work really began.
Ryuu was sitting in one of the chairs at the back of the counter reading a book while Mai was busy cleaning the still dirty kitchen from yesterday's service. As she turned a page, she heard a faint creaking sound of wood on the stairs and turned her head to see a young man come down.
The inn was still completely empty currently. So, it was hard to miss it. Ryuu recognized him as the client had rented a room the day before.
"Hello." Said the hunter. "Is it possible to order food now?" "
The elven-faced woman nodded.
" Yes. But it is early enough to get up. "
"I like to get up before the place gets crowded." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"I understand the feeling. Adventurers are always very noisy in the morning. What will be?" She asked respectfully.
"Bacon, egg." The boy replied calmly before taking a seat at one of the tables.
"Order received. "
The elf turned and disappeared behind the counter towards the kitchen.
" May. We have a client who is already up. "
" Nya?! Already! It is still early. "
Ryuu shrugged indifferently before handing a piece of paper the cat grabbed.
" Good! It happens! "
Ryuu quickly took the newcomer to eat. As she put the meal down on the table, she watched him. He wasn't very old, she could tell at a glance, but his posture even at the table was that of a man ready to act. She let her gaze drifted to the odd man's outfit examining the details of the leather before pausing on his face.
" His eyes. She thought.
They had seen a lot of horrible things. She decided to talk to him. If he was going to be a danger to the fertility hostess, she would stop him. In a voice she wanted calm she spoke to him.
"Since you are a new customer can I have your name? She asked.
The young man looked up from his meal and lowered his headgear slightly forward in a slight salute.
"Ashton Warden." He replied.
" Ryuu Lion. She introduced herself, looking at him. "I take it you are not from Orario . "
Ashton shook his head.
" Exact. I am a stranger. He said simply as he continued to eat.
She continued to examine his reactions, looking for a loophole that would show something of him. He answered each question in a few words.
"What are you doing in Orario ?" She asked him curious.
" Live. "
Ryuu looked at him surprised.
"Could you develop? "
He shrugged his shoulders.
"My city was destroyed by monsters. He breathed. "I am one of the only survivors so I came here. "
The elf shuddered slightly at hearing the boy's final tone.
" J -I see. She said hesitantly. "Are you finished?" She asked looking at the empty plate. Ashton nodded. "It will be 120 vallis . "
The hunter searched the inside pocket of his outfit and placed it on the table before getting up and heading for the door. A funny feeling ran down Ryuu's back . The boy was strangely empty.
"Sorry to bother you with my previous question, Mr. Warden ." "
As she was about to turn around, she heard him call out to her.
"Call me Ashton. I am much too young for the gentleman and seeing that I intend to stay a while, it will be easier. "
She turned and smiled at him.
Ashton understood. "
Ryuu continued to clean the pub floors.
His mind returned to the recent craze for today. Every day at the pub has its own unique and meaningful moments. One of them had just happened. She felt a strange connection.
Her face didn't show it, but she was very curious about the boy. The way he looked, acted, wore… he was… empty. As if he was not destined for this place, as if he was not of this world ...
And something told her she was going to see him soon in difficult position.
Again, isn't it like all the other adventurers in town?
" Ryuu ! Are you done with the floor? "
Syr suddenly pulled her out of her trance.
"Oh, sorry, I thought. What do you need? "
She will have to wait until bedtime to think clearly.
Ashton stood in front of the massive entrance to the dungeon. A huge hole digging directly into the ground leading into the depths of the earth. In a way, the huge staircase, the dim light and the cold feeling reminded him of the Byrgenwerth choir he had had the opportunity to calmly visit before the path was overrun with monsters.
After that, he had only gone to the cursed academy to follow George when he decided to go talk to Master Willem. Ashton had never been able to meet the old man, but he knew he was not in excellent condition given the texts he had read in the massive libraries at the place of study.
The hunter sighed and began to calmly descend the steps. There were still only a few people at this time of day.
The first thing Ashton had learned about the dungeon was that he was alive. Not alive as in a creature that breathes, sleeps and eats.
But more in the sense, the whole was "conscious" at the same time of itself, of the adventurers which descended in it and of its beasts which defended it. It could be said that the adventurers were exploring the bowels of a sprawling beast.
It left the hunter with a bitter aftertaste, but he kept moving forward. The groups of goblins and kobolds on the first floors simply did not measure up to the experience gained by the hunter. He was already near the end of the fourth floor.
The only thing he did other than coldly take down the monsters that attacked him was to write down in a blank notepad the information about the monsters and the floors he crossed.
"The first floor of the dungeon had dark blue walls, the color reminded me of the sky hanging above my head before going down. Despite being deeply buried, I could see as clearly as I could in the daytime due to the glittering spots on the ceiling high above me. Not sure if these are gems or just the way this place seeks to help explorers, but still it is easier to get around. The main monsters that can be found are goblins as well as kobolds. Their hunting manners are for the former in groups by encircling their prey while the latter have rather solitary tendencies although it happens that they hunt in small packs of three or four individuals when I kill too many specimens.
Note: Blood vials can be refilled on some particularly powerful specimens. "
Ashton put his notebook in his pocket, being careful not to let the ink stain the pages when he heard various yelps and growls in front of him from the deep darkness of the dungeon. In no time at all, new monsters had appeared.
Three Kobolds, monsters that looked like a mixture of man and dog, were running towards him on all fours. Pure glowing red eyes focused on his soul and dog-like muzzles growled directly across his face, showing off their razor-sharp teeth.
Ashton raised his hand to the three sprinting Kobolds without even moving. When they got close to him, his hand went to his back and with a quick and fluid motion, he slid his saw forward severing the throat of the first monster and letting his blood cover his boots before moving into a second attack by slaughtering its blade directly into the skulls of the two remaining monsters.
A spray of blood, a shrill cry, and three thuds were heard as the corpses of the Kobolds hit the ground. The hunter moved his blade in a light empty swing sweeping away the blood that had deposited on the steel before looking at the walls.
A magnificent scarlet puddle covered the ground in front of the hunter as he admired the spectacle he had just put on.
In a way, he missed Yharnam's violence. He had grown up with him and the lack of real challenges in this place left him agar for all feelings. He felt like he was out of place, that his fighting methods were unnecessary.
The sensation of tearing the pulpit, of sticking your saw in a monster's stomach and pulling it out while hearing the roars of pain, the endless streams of blood and the long minutes of endless fighting that was his daily life until now seemed strangely missing to him. As if a part of him had been withdrawn and given up.
He looked away, looking around him. It didn't look like new specimens were coming out to attack him. Even this little ritual of checking around him didn't seem to be of much value because until then he had never been attacked by surprise at the end of a fight.
"It's time to get down to business…" he mumbled dryly.
The hunter took his sword out of its lining and planted it towards the place where the beast's heart was, blowing up a small stone which he caught. He didn't worry about damaging the weapons because they were made from siderite, a metal from the heavens.
The work was fast and precise as any hunter worthy of the name would. The Kobolds turned to ash as the hunter resumed his ever deeper journey into the dungeon.
"From the fifth to the seventh floors of the dungeon, the walls turn a light green color and the structure of the dungeon begins to change. Stronger monsters such as killer ants appear, and monsters have a faster birth time. Everything is still perfectly manageable for me despite the fact that I still have a hard time understanding how monsters appear. It looks like some sort of dungeon immune system.
Note: They don't bleed much, the fighting doesn't seem to me to be so desperate and I no longer have that distant sensation that called me when I was killing beasts in Yharnam . Everything seems to me… so… peaceful… I… I don't understand why… "
The hunter stopped writing and watched the corpse of one of the monsters evaporate before his eyes. It just didn't make sense. Monsters were born adults, but when killed and their crystal shattered, they simply turned to ashes.
Otherwise, he had to make the effort to butcher them, which proved annoying in the long run.
They bled, they fought, but they weren't like real animals or even beasts. They did not fit into any category he had already encountered.
To top it off, each of them had a huge weak spot in the form of a magical stone embedded in their body, the destruction of which instantly killed the monster. He knew that some of Yharnam's enemies had weak points, but not in such a grotesque way !
The hunter hunter chuckled at his thoughts. It was the first time he complained that a hunt was too simple and the animals too weak ...
Ashton walked through the halls of the ninth-story dungeon as he decided to measure the strength of the monsters. Sadly, they didn't live up to his expectations given how quickly they died. He rarely needed to make a real attack and was content with precise strikes with his saw-cleaver. The monsters barely had the dangerousness to pit themselves against the slightest madman in Yharnam . Ashton's stoic face had become even more so after this discovery. Basically, he'd managed to rush through the dungeon floors like a hurricane of destruction, leaving nothing but dead monsters in his wake. After about thirty Kobolds killed, he didn't even bother to pick up the manastones and just walked forward killing only the monsters that attacked him.
Speaking of monsters, as he approached the stairs leading to the tenth floor, he found himself facing a much larger than average Kobold. The beast of a black color seemed ready to do battle. Ashton stared at him for a few moments before drawing his pistol and letting the powder speak.
A single bullet is enough to go through the skull of the monster and finish it violently without the slightest difficulty. A slight cry escaped the beast which did not understand immediately what had happened before it collapsed defeated. His brow furrowed in annoyance.
"Why are monsters so weak?" He wondered.
He walked and was about to descend to a new floor before stopping for a few seconds.
"Am I going down now or do I stop and try again later?" "
The hunter knew that he shouldn't be in too much of a hurry, but the thought of turning back hurt him as he approached a symbolic stop. He had no quick returns with the lanterns and would have to walk up all the floors ...
"Let's go… It's not very late yet. He said to himself, examining his watch.
The 10th floor retained the same structure as the 8th and 9th floors above, but the light from above was reminiscent of the morning mist. However, apart from this small change everything seemed identical to the previous floor. Although ogres began to appear, he was significantly less dangerous than the Bricks Trolls that Ashton had had the opportunity to confront but found a certain habit of taking them down in the same way as their Yharnam counterparts .
Blood came to cover the boy's face as his saw blade slashed the throat of the monster. With a quick movement, the hunter took advantage of the second of inattention to plant his cleaver in the belly of his target, leaving a fountain of scarlet blood spraying the earth with a magnificent color. A cry of pain escaped the beast which stirred on the ground as the end of the fight neared. Ashton's foot hit the exposed belly of the creature pushing it further to the ground and he raised his saw high before ramming it into the creature's skull cutting its moans of agony.
A slight amusement crossed the neutral features of the boy who felt a rush of familiarity. Habits die hard, especially when they are necessary for survival. The boy brushed off the blood that had settled on his face with his sleeve. The pungent smell in the air vanished along with the corpse robbing the monster. Looking around, Ashton spotted more monsters.
"The hunt continues. He muttered as he approached the monsters.
After a long hour of neatly cleaning the floor of all its inhabitants, Ashton walked up to the next floor.
The 11th and 12th floors were extremely dangerous for low level adventurers, the hunter could somehow agree. No one with enough training should hang around here unless they are looking for death. The presence of SilverBacks and Hard Armored would make it difficult for anyone who wasn't strong or fast enough.
For Ashton… It was relative normalcy. He didn't feel more than that involved in the fighting that was going on. The monkeys only annoyed him and even when they attacked in packs, they were barely good enough to annoy him.
Hard Armored were another kettle of fish as the hunter had to focus more to pierce the natural armor that made up the skin of monsters. The armadillo monster was difficult to reach due to its thick shell making it difficult to execute. The simplest solution was often the best.
Ashton grabbed his saw cleaver which it held closed in its original position and began to violently smash the shell of the monster.
One shot ... Two shots ... Three shots ... Crack!
The armor was starting to give way under the repeated impacts and the hunter could feel the soft flesh of the creature under its thick protection. Blood burst and covered Ashton's hand, which was slightly closed above the grip of the weapon.
After a tenth impact, the monster could no longer hold out and tried to flee to be greeted by the shadow of Ashton who had moved to prevent his escape. The death of the beast had been ringing by the time she had met the young man.
The cries of agony lasted only a short time before she passed away. Ashton sighed and looked at the carcass. As he prepared for the remains, he heard a sound behind him.
The regular slamming of some sort of mass on the ground and the vibrations of something massive happening. The hunter saw the form of adventurers running towards him in the mist.
" What's going on ? Ashton demanded as the adventurers passed him.
His still stoic face passed in a moment of questioning as the adventurers disappeared into the haze towards the stairs. Neither of them responded as he felt the ground vibrate and the footsteps of something big approached him.
It was a large quadrupedal lizard about six or seven meters long. Orange scales covered the body while four small horns decorated the back of the head. The mouth was full of sharp teeth, and the feet had large claws.
" What's going on?" Ashtons whispered, his eyes locking on the rapidly approaching form.
The monster had stopped chasing the group which had been fleeing until then and had turned towards the motionless prey that was the hunter.
Seemingly happy to have found a meal, the huge creature turned slowly and almost deliberately to face him.
A lizard face stared straight at him, seeming to examine what she wished to attack. The creature had a form that the boy recognized as a dragon. When he was younger he had seen it in some of the chivalrous books he read.
The beast in front of him pulled his head back and faced the ceiling before finally letting a call sounding like a call to war lose.
The hunter's hands were almost immediately on his saw-cleaver as well as his pistol.
"It won't be as easy as it used to be. He thought, frowning.
The dragon had started with a roaring sway throwing its paw forward, Ashton locked into a fighting stance and took a valiant step to his right side, eyes looking intently at his target. With an expert move that could only be duplicated after hundreds of failures, he executed a quick slash with his saw over the beast's body scoring an open gash through the scales.
The beast roared and pushed the boy away with its right paw, forcing him to back away. Ashton groaned as he jumped athletically to avoid the attack, landing on one knee and resuming his position on the ground.
His eyes soon caught the shape of the beast's face. She seemed to be trying to hide her jaw as a light shone through the monster's teeth.
"She's going to try to breathe some flames." " Deduced it quickly. "Target the throat first. "
With that thought in his mind, the youngster quickly took a quick step forward when he found the beast leaping forward to rake with its open claws the ground where it once stood. Holding out his saw, he swung releasing it in its cleaver form. Sparks shot from the open cleaver as he unsheathed his pistol and fired in the direction of the flying target. The bullet passed through the dragon's throat giving the hunter time to leap onto the ground in a roll to avoid the vibrations due to the fall of the beast. Ashton landed and looked in the direction of his enemy.
He couldn't help but a satisfied smile appearing on his face as a result of his well-dealt blow. Blood was flowing from the open wound and the flaming spell the creature sought to cast had been stopped.
As if sensing his smirk, the beast roared at him before attempting to throw its claws at him again. As before, Ashton dodged him, quick as the ebony of the night herself. This time however, he chose to jump over the monster's hand taking advantage of the creature's moment of doubt to act. A mixture of urgency and confidence filled the boy's nervous system as he leaped from his arm, pulling his cleaver back.
The dragon looked at him. Almost as if a deer were caught in the lights of a pistol and felt death coming.
The saw-cleaver transformed into its most devastating form loudly and painfully smashed the eyes and face of the blood-spraying monster all around the fight scene. The young hunter narrowed his eyes as he fluttered in the air pushing the kick.
The beast let out a painful and seemingly angry roar as the young man fell gently and harmlessly to the ground, a small click of his shoes being the only proof he was coming.
As he half expected, the beast fell to its knees, its face with closed eyes facing directly into his. She was open to further assault.
No longer in need of seduction, Ashton sent his open hand straight through his already injured eyes ripping out what was left of the creature's right eye. She roared in pain as he just pulled harder, not showing the slightest fear.
A huge shred of blood tore off causing the enemy to gasp in pain. The visceral attack he had inflicted on her was indeed devastating.
"Good," he hissed in amusement.
The dragon didn't give him time to ruminate, however, launching a new attack. The dragon swept the ground around itself with its paws fully open revealing the creature's bulky claws. Although he managed to back up quickly to avoid the first two gashes, he had been caught in the second attack throw she gave him. His claws finally found their target and Ashton's eyes narrowed in frustration as blinding pain inevitably gripped him.
He was soon sent flying and rolling painfully across the dungeon floor, his own blood rising soon after him. As he finally landed, the hunter let out a bloody cough, staining the ground he was lying on, he turned his eyes to the source of the screams and found his enemy chasing him, as if emboldened by his attack. previous.
As fast as he could, he rummaged through the recesses of his hunter's costume and pulled out one of the five vials of blood he had managed to reload on the monsters on the upper floors. Stabbing him directly in his right leg, he almost immediately regained his vision returning to fighting stance.
The euphoria he felt far exceeded that of any vial of blood he had taken.
What was that feeling?
It was almost as if he was no longer a human. The joy of getting into a tough fight. To feel the pain. He knew he would win against the dragon but the thought of having a chance to be hurt amused him.
Time seemed to slow down for him.
A hand went up to his head. It hurt so much. He wanted… blood. NO ! He didn't want that. He didn't want to suffer the same fate as Yharnam … He was free from dreams and hunting. He didn't need blood anymore, he reminded himself.
He did not want. He didn't want to hurt anyone. Or get hurt. He had only been here two days and he had supposed to be free from thirst for blood. And yet… It was not.
Some blood ! He wanted blood! Then he remembered the oath he had taken.
"We are the ones who took the hunter-hunter oath. We are the sentries berating those who are muddled in blood. Whether it is about humans or animals, we will give them rest to them who have lost sight of the aim of hunting. "
If he let go, no one would chase him away. No one would give him rest. He was the only hunter in this world. This monster in front of him was not powerful. Simply massive. He had killed a lot bigger ones so why would he let that go now ?! His mind calmed down. The thirst evaporated and he came to his senses.
The hunter grabbed an object from his jacket pocket and threw himself back, disappearing in a small cloud of white smoke as the dragon's huge armored paw came to destroy the ground where he had stood before. The earthy floor spat rocks and pieces of grass. However, where his enemy's blood was simply, lying where the beast had sent him, there was nothing. She blinked, darting her gaze and ears around him in search of him.
A shock hit the back of his back. The monster tries to turn around unable to understand before feeling a hot liquid run down its scales.
Behind her, Ashtons, his face still as stoic and cold as before, had directly inserted his cleaver into her spine. The scales could not stop the violence of the attack.
"The bone of the old hunter is useful. He remarked.
Ashtons pulled his cleaver through the beast's spine, noisily and painfully pulling the bones and blood from the wounds he had caused. The beast almost immediately let out a roar screaming in pain, trying to pry it off like it was a bug on its back. The teenager's eyes remained expressionless as he climbed back up her back firmly, clinging to his gun still pulling flesh, bones and blood. The creature struggled trying to reach its killer, but the hunter reached the skull of the monster.
With one last annoyed hiss, Ashtons pulled his cleaver through the beast's skull and squeezed it. A last cry of pain echoed throughout the dungeon floor making it difficult to know where the fight was coming from.
Blood rained all around him as his clothing soaked up the liquid leaving no stain to even see that there was a fight.
Two familiar words echoed in his mind as he stood in his waiting pose.
"Prey Slaughtered "
Without waiting, he turned and disappeared into the mists. Something was wrong with him and he could feel it.
Chapter finished. A little painful to correct and translate but still enjoyable to publish.
So ... This chapter shows us Ashton's descent into the dungeon and his point of view, but above all, a fight where he begins to understand that the price he has to pay has not quite repaid.
Yharnam and Orario are related in some ways and we'll see how later.
Small clues have already been disseminated.
Well… Still interested in a beta reader to help me correct mistakes.
Until the next chapter, take care of yourself and see you soon.
AnthosW Out!