Chương 76: Interlude 6

Supreme Warlady Elena Burnstock"Blood Gore," I said, greeting the crazed naked man in front of me. Monster entrails dripped from his hands and body. I had Sarah out and ready to swing if he got any ideas.

"Elena! Wonderful to see you down here. Just wonderful," he said with a pleasant smile, but that didn't hide the madness behind his eyes. He licked his bloody lips, the disgusting pig.

"Two things I want to talk about…"

"Talking. Hmm. You have gotten stronger."

"I went back down to the 25 th layer recently on a little errand."

"Oh, pushing the limits. A new level, level 160?"

"Something like that," I replied, and he gestured. Two stones rose from the ground, for an invitation to sit.

"I would say peace for peace and fist for fist, but all I have are fists," he joked as he sat down. I sat down as well, with my blade in my lap, ready to use at a moment's notice.

"So, what brings Warlady Elena down here to the 23 rd layer, interrupting my kill fun time?" I could tell he used a twist of words with multiple meanings.

'Kill fun time' could mean he was having fun killing or killing the fun time of others. Blood Gore was an insane brute, but he wasn't stupid. You don't become a Supreme Legend by being stupid. He was still a pig, a naked pig though.

"A legend with an experience-siphon cursed skill. Tier 6. They also use poisons. Do you know anything?"

"Trouble in paradise?"

"They attacked my son," I replied, and Blood Gore frowned.

"The child?" he asked, and I nodded.

"Bastard. If they want a fight, come to me. I love fighting and killing. And eating. Can't forget the eating." He was as insane as his mentor Bastian.

"I know of someone like this." I immediately paid much closer attention. My first lead.

"But I want something from you."

"What?"

"A kiss." I was expecting something like this from the human-shaped pig. I immediately got up and strode over to him. Anything for my son. Grabbing the back of his head, I pushed my face onto his bloody lips. My sword was at his side, prepared for any moves he made. I figured he'd object if the kiss was insincere. That man possessed no honor. Three minutes of kissing later, I broke it off, and he didn't keep hold of me as I backed up.

"Wow," he said as I went and sat back down. I wanted to spit out, but that would just annoy him. I had suffered and would not give him a single excuse. And if he knew nothing, there would be one less Supreme Legend. He looked at me, clearly wanting me to rush him along, but I didn't fall for such a petty trick. He was also getting excited, but if he tried anything, he would regret it.

"You are decisive. I like that. I can see why you are stronger than I am, even with my constant fighting. You have no weaknesses, or perhaps one, your child." I just tapped a single finger on my sword, clearly sending a message to him to hurry.

"Fine, fine. No foreplay at all." There had been too much already.

"Legend Xanatos. That's the name of the man you want. I know them from my run-ins with the Dark Cabal."

"Killing them or trading with them?" I asked, and Blood Gore smiled at me.

"Both!" I should have expected such an answer. But the Dark Cabal would be annoying to deal with.

"He is quite high in their ranks as well. Maybe even their current leader."

"I will find and kill him. Now that I have a name, there is no escape."

"A mother on the hunt is scary. Quite scary. You mentioned two things?"

"I am considering a final descent. The Mathemancer, The Librarian, you, and me. A team of supreme legends."

"Oh, you should have started off with that. Now you are making me throb with excitement. How deep?" The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"The 35 th layer to see if there is a core beyond violet."

"Deep, very deep. Getting back out won't be easy."

"It won't be. But are you interested?"

"Hmm, yes. Count me in. I will go down to the 24 th layer after this. Got to push myself a bit more if I want to be ready. How long are you thinking?"

"Less than a decade, but likely in a couple of years. We will find you when we all descend and pick you up on the way." No one wanted Blood Gore to go toward the surface. Best he stays buried deep in the dungeon.

"Sounds good. New monsters. New food. Perhaps the excitement of us together will open up new doors."

"You are a pig in human form, Blood Gore. You are also strong. But I will never submit to someone like you." He licked his lips.

"That's what makes you the only woman to tempt me. If you offer a bit more, I would help with this Dark Cabal matter." I stood up. I was willing to give up a kiss, but anything else would debase me.

"I can handle my business."

"Well, then we just have to spar. Three exchanges."

"I will embarrass you just like I have embarrassed you before,""Let me taste you again!" Another statement with two meanings. Either he wanted to kiss me again or eat me in some depraved cannibalism act. One could never be sure with Blood Gore the Butcher. He rushed at me." Rebound Shield." A glowing half-circle of Mana formed up, and he slammed into it and then bounced off. A Tier 5 skill I had learned from that Abnormal down on the 25 th layer. Blood Gore went stumbling back a few steps as the shield disappeared.

"First exchange to me." Blood Gore spat out a mouthful of blood to the side." Aura of Boiling Blood." Already going to his signature skill, like I used Slice as my signature skill. Tier 4 and heavy on the Mana use. But he had Mana to spare. Unfortunately for Blood Gore, it only tickled me slightly as his Mana washed over me. He rushed at me as his hands grew long, Mana-infused claws. He really was half beast, fighting like this, completely naked.

The crazy people in the dungeon were the worst, and Blood Gore was at the pinnacle of that flaming pile of garbage. Sarah moved quickly as I easily deflected each of his attacks. He was strong, but he didn't properly invest in skill synergies. As I deflected his attacks, I unleashed a Hyper Blade into the surrounding stone at precise angles. That's why thinking was our people's advantage against the dungeon monsters. That also explained his difficulty going further.

He could endure anything in battle and then resume fighting. He was virtually indestructible. But tricky monsters would be difficult for him. This wasn't a real fight, and it was brief. Even decapitation wouldn't end him, plus he had those annoying death curse abilities. Likely learned from the Dark Cabal. Blood Gore only desired more twisted abilities, exchanging them for dungeon cores. I pushed my Mana out, and the runic trap activated. Glowing white chains rose from the floor and wrapped around him.

"Really, Blood Gore?" I asked him as I stepped away.

"AHHHH! Dammit! Not again," he cursed, and I shook my head. He never learned because he was too focused on directly attacking me. Not subtle in the slightest.

"You can spend some time cooling off until the Mana I used runs out in a month or so," I replied, since I had pushed quite a lot of Mana into the runes. He calmed down and let out a snort.

"At least you aren't The Mathemancer. It is my loss. Until next time, Elena. I look forward to descending with you," he replied calmly. That was why he was so dangerous. One second, he was manic, the next, he would be happy to have a polite discussion. The man clearly had issues, but he was too strong and set in his ways to fix them. I gave him a nod and departed. My next stop was the Dark Cabal, who were a group of crazies who believed in complete and utter depravity.

Rumor had it that they used a hidden repository of knowledge to train new members. Drugs, monster smuggling, slavery, and anything else they could do to make money and make others miserable, they did all to enhance their power while bringing the world to ruin. I should have realized it was them, but I thought they'd be smarter. The strong were not their targets. The potential for backlash is too high. But they thought they could hurt my son?! Xanatos would soon learn why messing with me was a mistake.

Without having to worry about Squires, my progress through the dungeon was incredibly quick. Legend Xanatos of the Dark Cabal"Another prophetic divination, master." I took the sheet of paper and waved away the Shadow. Sarah comes for the darkest shadow. The hidden watches closely There were only two lines, but the information was enough. Sarah was the name of Supreme Legend Elena's sister. It was difficult information to get, but nothing that our Past Seers could not work out.

And of course, the woman would name her blade after her beloved family member. The darkest shadow could only refer to me, the leader of the Dark Cabal. There was concern about the second line. There had been several references to someone or something being hidden and observing in past divinations. But if they didn't act, it wasn't a major concern. Her son had seemed like an excellent target, but she was clearly not giving up.

I had been hoping to leverage such a connection, but all our divinations showed it would end in disaster. Supreme Legend Elena did not compromise. She murdered her foes, and I was at the top of the list because I cursed her offspring. The regular tricks and traps would not suffice to deal with someone of her caliber. Tapping my skull throne, I contemplated other, much more dangerous possibilities. Immense power and Alchemy are combined in a ritual.

I wouldn't endanger the Dark Library, my predecessors' gift, and the most significant knowledge repository. The world needed a reminder of the Dark Cabal. Undercraft and the College of Advancement would be ideal settings for this conflict. Elena went beyond the Last Bastion to talk to Blood Gore. The only person aware of my identity and willing to speak with Elena. The man was a brute, but nobody else could safely trade with him, which is a shame. A single error would cost the negotiator their life.

Taking control of the Dark Cabal resulted from our trades, however, I was exposed.

"Get two eggs. The ones kept in storage. Including the one that has been imbued with experience," I said with a grimace. To use such an egg was costly, but necessary. I would need some help in killing Elena. The second egg would be useful for a distraction. Two was better than one, and Elena deserved the best. It's a pity to use both so quickly, but they won't be enough. Elena was someone to watch out for, and I benefited from her son's training. Not as great as actual experience, but every bit helped.