Will of chaos

It’s been 3 days that we’ve been in these endless battles against those damn birds, I’m sure I faced the same enemy at least 4 times during that time, it was the same big Harpy that kept summoning more bird monsters.

When I asked this of my other companions, some realized that something like this was happening to them too.

This made me think that the Dungeon was somehow recovering the souls given to the monsters, but I couldn’t say how, as far as I’ve learned a Dungeon can only take a soul from someone dying inside the Dungeon.

These monsters even if they came from this Dungeon are dying outside, how were the souls being guided back to the Dungeon?

I like any intelligent person looked for an expert to answer me, and that expert was not Hela, even though she is a talented Necromancer, she doesn’t know everything and her study focus is for combat, she started studying about Spectral type Undead less than 1 year ago, so I went looking for his teacher, the High Priest of Death Henrique.

I hadn’t revealed until now that I was also a Dungeoneering master, the other Adventurers must just think that I’m a Magic Warrior with indicator skills, so I asked Nix who goes in and out of my shadow to go back to Dungeoneering since for being part of the Dungeon I can maintain my connection with it even if I am inside the Dungeon.

———–

Inside the Dungeon I take possession of Nix’s body with her permission and head straight to the Communal Temple where all the Priests spend most of their days discussing their different dogmas.

I found High Priest Henrique teaching some young men who showed a talent for Necromancy.

“You are dismissed today, but remember to read the Chronicles of the First Rising.” (Henrique)

“Yes, High Priest…” (all)

“We can talk inside the Temple if you prefer.” (Henrique)

“Of course, but I don’t have much time.” (I)

We enter the Temple which was being renovated to have its internal space enlarged using spatial magic, each leader of one of the several churches had his own office and we go to the one belonging to High Priest Henry.

“Come in and pull up a chair.” (Henrique)

“…” (I)

When I enter I am faced with a colorful room full of vases with beautiful flowers, this is not the kind of place I expected from someone in charge of the Demonic Church of Death.

“Did you decorate it yourself?” (I)

“Yes, I can also imagine what you’re thinking, but I’ve always liked flowers since I was still alive, it’s not just because I’m dead that I’m going to change my tastes, not all those associated with death like macabre things.” (Henrique)

“Sounds like it falls into some stereotype I imagined, I apologize.” (I)

“Okay, everyone thinks that at first, these doubts are very common.” (Henrique)

“But let’s get back to what brought you here using your Familiar’s body as a medium.” (Henrique)

“I’ll sum it all up for you, it started with…” (I)

———–

I spend a couple of minutes explaining everything I hate the trip to that city, but I skim over the big picture only going into detail when I talk about the Dungeon and the monsters, I also explain to him how I’ve been facing some monsters that act the same way seeming to be the same over and over again.

“That sounds outrageous!” (Henrique)

“…” (I)

“(Apparently he already knows what’s going on.)” (Nix)

“(But I’m worried about his reaction.)” (I)

As he listened about the Dungeon and how the monsters seemed to be repeating themselves until they reached a point of action, the flames in his eyes turned bright red as they grew to fill the holes in his skull, he could even feel his Aura bubbling with fury.

After a few seconds, he seems to calm down a bit or at least regain control of himself. ｂｎ𝚘ｖ𝚕．𝚘𝚛𝚐

“I apologize for my outburst, but I hate that sort of thing.” (Henrique)

“Can you explain to me what kind of thing you’re talking about? I’m a little lost.” (I)

He stays silent and tries to relax, I’ve learned to notice when skeletons are calmer when the flame in their eye sockets gets smaller.

“By your description, they are under the effect of a curse on the Soul, I can’t say which curse exactly.” (Henrique)

“But from what has been described its effect makes the Soul return to a specific place or item after death.” (Henrique)

“I see…” (I)

In other words, the Dungeon master creates a monster with the soul stored inside the Dungeon, he uses a curse on the Soul so that when the monster dies outside the Dungeon, its Soul returns, it doesn’t matter if it is for a place or an object, as long as the Soul enters the Dungeon can be used again, after all, I myself already realized that monsters created with a Soul are more intelligent and stronger.

“(He’s recycling the Souls, but that’s a little disturbing even for me.)” (I)

“(You do something similar, remember?)” (Nix)

“(The souls inside our Dungeon are those of heinous criminals, but even they are released after serving their punishments, I don’t treat them as a monster-enhancing material that can be reused.)” (I)

I look at Henrique noticing that his bony hands are tightly clenched, it looks like he’s doing his best to hold back his anger.

“By your reaction there must be more, right?” (I)

“Going through death is something that marks you, an Undead usually creates trauma by the way they died, it took me a long time to overcome my fear of lightning myself.” (Henrique)

“Death marks you in one way or another, going through this process over and over again without a break will wear out Souls.” (Henrique)

“Many Dungeons do like you, they use Souls only on floor bosses and always taking turns with the Soul, using a Soul as something expendable in this way is hurting the Soul by accumulating wear, there may come a time when these Souls… break if they are too weak.” (Henrique)

“Can we release these Souls somehow? Release the curse or steal the Souls?” (I)

“Holy Power can break the curse, but it depends on the power of the curse, plus the caster will feel it if the curse is broken.” (Henrique)

“…” (I)

So there’s nothing I can do, if I break the curse and get the dungeon master’s attention, then I might become the target of monsters I can’t defeat, even if I manage to seal the Souls I’ll end up getting attention.

“(We don’t need to do anything, I have sympathy for these Souls, but it’s not worth the risk.)” (Nix)

“(There may be a way.)” (I)