Deathworld Commando: Reborn

Kaladin Shadowheart’s POV.

<Was this dungeon anything like the others you’d been in?> I asked Cerila.

She shrugged and signed back, <Somewhat. This one may have been the easiest of all the ones I went to, even for a single-floor dungeon, but we were far more prepared than most for something of this level. Honestly, it felt like overkill, something a skilled Opal team could have handled. I think you and I could have had this dungeon finished in an hour by ourselves.>

I couldn’t disagree with that.

<But it is a relief that this dungeon wasn’t something insane. After the Iron Citadel, I wondered if all dungeons would be at that level for you.> she signed with a smile.

<I’m of the same mind. I don’t think another labyrinth of that difficulty would have been good for my sanity…or life.> I signed back.

Cerila let out a small giggle. <True, but perhaps we should tackle another dungeon one day. Just you and I?> she suggested.

I rubbed my chin and nodded. <I’m not opposed. But I think I like the idea of swooping in on a dire situation to lend a hand during a pitched battle in the depths of a monstrous labyrinth. Far more heroic, right?> I signed.

Cerila smiled softly as she brushed her hair back and signed, <A noble knight rescuing a lady in her time of need? Quite the popular story, so I’ve been told…not that I read them. But I’m not opposed to it so I’ll take you up on that offer.>

<Wonderful, I’ll consider it a done deal. But uh…don’t actually get into any dangerous situations, please.> I signed with a sigh.

She shook her head as she signed, <Little late for that, mm? Safe, peace, and quiet aren’t exactly your thing these days.>

And I also can’t disagree with that…sorry.

“Well, I can’t tell if this is good or bad since it’s only one floor, but at least you won’t have any problems clearing this place in the future,” Geoffrey said with a grin as he wiped his dagger clean of the monster’s flesh.

“Depends on how long the dungeon takes to turn over again. Or if some freak can get an idea what to do with this stuff,” Thrak said with a shrug as he looked down at the skinned creature.

The “guardian” of the dungeon was of little consequence. It was a somewhat common enemy type found in easier dungeons, a creature that was, by itself, nearly defenseless, but continuously spawned more monsters over time. Its giant pale body was more of a mass of tissue and flesh, and although it had spawned the creatures, they were easy enough to kill as they sluggishly rose to their feet. The guard itself was susceptible to nearly all attacks, especially fire.

It only confirmed that the dungeon itself was considerably new. Perhaps, if given enough time, these creatures would propagate in mass and pose a real threat due to sheer numbers. But that was just a guess, too.

A dungeon being extremely difficult, especially a single-floor one, was not common at all. It was more than possible that the dungeon was simply a fledgling, weak dungeon and would always remain as such.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was completely useless. The guardian’s room was large and cavernous, and the walls seemed to shine with the twinkle of cobalt. There was plenty to go around, as with the other veins in the tunnels we found along the way, but what would determine if the dungeon was a generational golden goose or a simple novelty depended on how long it took to “refresh” itself.

The times varied greatly across dungeons. If no one entered a dungeon for a certain period of time, it would eventually return to its original state over time. The time it took could be measured in days if one was lucky enough, or weeks, months, or even years. There was no other way than to expedite that number or find out sooner than to wait and see.

And it seems these monsters will have little value. Their skin is weak, and their blood has no obvious uses, nor do their tendons; only the bones protruding from their hands seem worthwhile.

I stared at the dungeon core, which was more of a dungeon sliver than the ones I was more familiar with, being slightly longer than a man’s arm. It didn’t radiate mana visibly, and it only faintly glowed a fluorescent green. There was no grand pedestal on which it sat; it just floated in mid-air above some rocks. Ultimately mundane in nature, which a part of me was thankful for.

“Do you want to start mining this now, my Lord?” Orvok asked.

I shook my head and answered, “No, this was already a small, unnecessary detour. Everyone can take some now, and I’ll hire a team from the nearby village to get the rest and monitor the situation as it refreshes.”

“We, uh, don’t have the tools anyway, Orvok,” one of his men muttered.

“It was just a question…looks like we are going empty-handed, sadly,” he muttered with a shrug.

“Not necessarily,” I said.

I walked over to the wall and found what looked to be a sizable vein of cobalt. I took a step back and launched a stone spear at it, and to no one’s surprise, it did little more than create a small hole. Dungeons typically had dull stone in them, and although it was highly resistant to magic, it wasn’t entirely immune to it.

Can’t leave them empty-handed after coming so far. A little elbow grease and stubbornness should do just fine.

I set to work, white-hot flames condensed over my stone spears, and I drove them like wedges into the wall. It took a few tries per hole, but even the Dullstone gave way after a while, letting me go deeper and deeper. I made over a dozen of those holes situated in a cross pattern, trying to avoid exposed cobalt as best as I could.

It took me about ten minutes of work and some awkward stares, but once I was satisfied, I looked at Cerila. <Could you send water into the holes, then flash freeze it? Just like that one time in the Iron Citadel.> I asked.

She nodded as she stood back, and streams of water floated around her. In a blink, they snaked off and rushed into the holes, cooling the molten rock, only to freeze suddenly.

“Alright, that should do it. Let’s take a few steps back into the hallway just in case,” I said.

Everyone shuffled back the way we came, and with a few confused mutters, but once everyone was clear, I began to form the spell core. There was a possibility of causing a collapse, but I was banking on the Dullstone being sturdy enough to withstand one direct blast.

Once I gathered the mana, I realized the Fireball and raised a stone wall in the mouth of the tunnel. The following boom rattled my teeth, and even with my ears covered, they still rang. The cave let loose a cloud of dust, and after some coughing and making sure things didn’t go terribly wrong, I let the stone wall crumble to the floor.

The once pristine wall had fallen into chunks, but sadly, it was far less than I expected. Dullstone was just that strong, and what should have cleared the entire rock face only took a sizable chunk. On the ground was a mixture of grey stone and blue ore.

“I’m sure you all can divvy this up yourselves. So carry as much as you can, I suppose, and thank you for your hard work,” I announced.

“Well…I’ll be damned. That’s one way to mine things,” Orvok muttered as he walked back into the guardian room.

The two teams seemed hesitant at first to accept, but once Ingra gleefully started chipping away at a chunk with a wide grin, the rest followed suit. Even Durak seemed to have a gleam in his eye as he found a sizable chunk and began bashing away the excess rock with another.

As they continued Cerila stood next to me, and I raised an eyebrow at her. <Take some for yourself. You’ve more than earned it.> I signed.

<I probably shouldn’t. I’m already with you, so maybe they’ll think I’m just being greedy.> She signed hesitantly.

<Nonsense, it’s yours just as much as it’s mine or theirs. I’ll be scooping up the rest into my Spatial Ring, so just take some for now. You can pocket some into your ring as well.> I answered.

<Are you sure?> she asked.

I smiled and signed, absolutely. Call it a gift if you want. Shiny rocks aren’t that bad, right?>

<No. I guess they aren’t. Thank you, Kal,> she signed with a warm smile.

Besides, you’ll be getting plenty of this later. Some new armor would go a long way, and well…blue would look good on her.

—

“Thank you again, my Lord. This was a special day for sure. Your kindness will not be overlooked,” Orvok said with a bow.

“Don’t mention it. You and your men came on short notice and did something you didn’t have to on my behalf. I should compensate you this much. Make sure you take my request back to your commanding officer for the extra pay as well,” I said with a wave.

“I will, my Lord,” he said.

It may be early, but…I’m sure I can get the favor passed. Her Majesty owes me quite a bit, right? Although I’ll have to make another one for Durak.

A small sealed letter appeared in my hand as I handed it over to the man and said, “Oh, and take this as well. Read it with your men. If you're interested, feel free to send a letter to that address.”

Orvok looked confused for a moment before asking, “What is this about?”

“I’m putting together a group in the near future. You and your men would make a good fit, of course; you’ll have to pass enlistment and such, but I’m certain you and your team are more than qualified. Although it will be a challenge,” I warned.

“I—I’m not sure what to say. I’m honored, but my boys and I still have quite a few years on our contract, my Lord. I doubt we’ll be able to join so easily,” he said sheepishly.

“You won’t have to worry about those kinds of things, call it the benefits of knowing someone famous. If you pass recruitment, I’ll handle your contracts and your citizenship. Naturally, if you drop out, you will have to continue as you were, though. This is hardly a free ride, and I promise you, I will work you far harder than the kingdom ever did. But I will turn you and your men into something you could only dream about,” I said with a smile.

Orvok chuckled nervously. “I don’t doubt it, my Lord. I’ll speak with’em. See what they say and at least give you the answers through the postage,” he said.

I extended a hand to the man and said, “Good, that’s all I wanted. It was good meeting you, Ovrok, even if only briefly. Stay safe, and I’ll also look forward to your response.”

He shook my hand and, with a firm nod, said, “Thank you once more, my Lord, and it was good to meet you as well. Ah, and please, stay safe out here as well. For everyone.”

No promises, I’m afraid.

Orvok took the letter and went back to the small house where he and his men were staying for the day. We returned to the mining village as it was close and there was no reason to turn down a warm bed, even if it meant backtracking for a few hours. Tomorrow, we will continue the hunt for these Wardens in earnest.

I looked up at the sky and muttered, “But it’s a bit early to call it a day…should I go train?”

I turned to the bunkhouse we were staying at and caught Cerila outside washing some clothes. A thought crossed my mind and I nodded to myself.

“Yeah, why not take a break? A few hours of exploring around won’t kill me,” I said.

“It might,” a deep voice rumbled in my head.

Shut up, will you?