Too Stubborn to Die

Book 4: Chapter 4

“We should hear them out,” Aaron whispered to Talia as the primitive warriors gathered. “If we’re lucky, maybe we can find a way to end it with a few words. They don’t look like they want a fight, and as long as we get through this floor as quickly as possible, I’m not too bothered what else happens.”

“Yeah, good idea, I agree. Let’s see what they have to say.”

After a short moment, a senior man from the group broke away from the aerial gathering of warriors, and flew toward them. He looked like the leader of the group, with more impressive armor, and colorful feathers protruding from it.

“Greetings, freeworlders. He hadn’t expected you so soon. But I must inform you that this area is off limits. May I ask what business you have here? Is it a System quest that brings you to us?”

“No, no System quest. Not yet, at least. Just some old bloke named Jayden. He sent us here to stop you from destroying your world, apparently."

“Jayden? Troubling. But at least the System isn’t involved. Good. This can be worked with. Do you mind waiting a moment? Kayden will want to hear of this.”

“Actually–” Aaron started.

“Were you expecting the System to be involved?” Talia asked, cutting him off and elbowing him.

“I, ah. Wait, please,” the man raised a finger. “It is best that Kayden explains the matter. He’ll do it more justice than I could.”

The man paused for a moment, and his eyes washed over them. Aaron could practically feel his inspection Skill. It wasn’t ordinary. Likely giving him far more advanced details about them.

“What about the whole end of the world stuff?” Aaron prodded.

“Please, Kayden won’t take long.”

With that, the man turned and flew back to the group, and it looked like some discussion was going on between them.

“I don’t like this,” Aaron crossed his arms.

“Yeah. Weird. What’s with all the System quest stuff?”

“Dunno. But I also don’t want to get dragged into something that doesn’t concern us. Whatever’s going on with these people may suck, but we have Dober to worry about. And whatever comes after that.”

This struggle clearly seemed to be more complicated than Jayden let on. But they had enough of their own problems, as crude as it may have come across.

“Yeah, right,” Talia agreed. “But we might not have a choice.”

Avoiding unnecessary conflict was probably a good idea. But until they knew where the exit was, that might not be a realistic option.

After a short discussion, the primitive warriors started flying back down to the ruins, and the base came alive with activity.

He could see people disappearing into the ruins, and it appeared that there was some kind of underground base beneath them.

But just like the villages they had passed over when traveling here, most of these warriors were not particularly strong. To them, their little trio must have looked like powerful invaders from another world. And Aaron was fairly certain he could smash through the hundred or so warriors scattered throughout the ruins without breaking a sweat.

This must be pretty intimidating from their perspective.

A short moment later, the same man returned.

“Alright, Kayden is coming. But it will take some time. Our facilities stretch far, and he has some distance to travel. We also have to organize his entourage, which will take some time. Because, you know,” he glanced around.

Seems my suspicions were correct. They’re scared of us, and need to make sure they can gather enough troops to make us think twice about attacking. Fair enough, I suppose. Be a little stupid if they didn’t.

Despite how reasonable it was to gather reinforcements, it still made Aaron a little irritated as they waited. Ultimately, they still had their own goals. And the longer this took, the more likely they were going to need to leave the dungeon early. And wait dragged on.

Several hours later, countless impatient groans from Aaron, and a massive stone door that covered an entire wall of one of the ruins began to slide open.

Several seconds later, hundreds of warriors began to funnel out of it. It looked like an actual army, and they were quickly joined by the guards scattered around the ruins.

Still, Aaron only detected a handful of D-grades among them, and not particularly powerful ones at that. If they fought, this wouldn’t be a fight, it’d be a slaughter.

He was a little surprised, if he was completely honest. But then again, this was only the first floor. Things would likely heat up on the lower levels.

Another warrior flew up to them and beckoned them down to the ground. He assumed that not all of them had Skills allowing flight, and as such, wanted his meeting on the ground, where all of their warriors could participate if things went south.

Despite not being very strong, the locals thought things through. Taking many precautions, they set up several layers of defense for the meeting. For example, there were people with all manner of ranged warriors using the ruins as cover around them, their weapons trained on the trio. Meanwhile a circle of melee combatants surrounded them, turning their shields into a wall. And yet Kayden stood behind several additional rows of armored and shielded warriors, spears all pointed toward them.

Behind the warriors dressed in ornate armor with countless feathers was Kayden. And unlike the old man they had met in the cave, he looked far younger. Handsome, even, with a streak of gray through his hair.

“So, you come on behalf of my brother, do you? Wishing to exterminate my people like vermin?”

“We do, and no. What even is that? Vermin? Come on, mate. We’re not monsters.”

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“Yeah,” Talia nodded, brow bending. “We’re nobody's enemy, unless you force our hand.”

“Exactly,” Aaron agreed.

“Right, right. Just deliverers of judgement, then? And I suppose he told you that I intend to destroy this world, did he?”

“He did,” Aaron nodded.

“Before you wipe my people out like a passing thought, I must ask you. For my own sanity. Do you even understand what the dungeons are? What we are?”

“Err, look. I’m totally sorry for this, mate. I don’t mean to be rude or anything. But like, we’re not here for your life story. We’re in a bit of a time crunch, you see. We’re just trying to get down to the next floor. I was thinking you help us out, we help you out, and everyone gets to live. What do you think?”

Kayden’s face flashed red for a second before calming. “Right. I understand. My words are bothering you. Us slaves of the System are beneath you freeworlders like yourself, I understand. We’re just puppets and toys to be played with at your whim. I shouldn’t have expected anything else. We’re not even human in your eyes.”

“Whoa! Hold up a fucking moment, mate! Since when did I say anything about any of that? Look, I think you’re human, okay? You are, aren’t you?”

“Please, we have no idea what’s even going on here!” Talia added. “We’re not trying to offend anybody, we just have important things we need to do.”

“Of course. Important. Unlike us. Unlike worms beneath your boot. We’re not people. Just figments of the dungeon, am I right?”

“NO! Stop trying to put words in our mouths! Look, whatever sibling rivalry you’ve got going on, that ain’t our business. We don’t want to destroy your world either. We just want to be shown the way to the next floor, and we’ll move on. Okay?”

“I understand perfectly fine. Listening to the words of some inhumane scrub like me must be tiring for your perfect ears. Perhaps I should kiss your feet first and beg for permission to speak? Would that be more appropriate? Would that please the freeworlder?”

“For fuck sake. He’s all yours, Talia.”

“You owe me one,” said Talia, giving Aaron a pointed look before stepping forward. “Look, firstly, sorry for offending you. But we don’t think we’re special, or anything like that. We don’t think that we’re above you, either. We’re just a couple of people trying to save those close to us, just like you are. If we don’t make it to the next Floor, it’s our friends and family that will be dying. Now, please, tell us what’s going on. Why are you and your brother feuding? Maybe we can help each other out."

“Hmm, taking pity on us, are you freeworlder? Fine, I’ll take pity over extermination. I shall entertain your majesty!” Kayden bowed with a flurry of his hands. “I shall kowtow to you, and your superior freeworlder intellect and strength. You see, unlike you privileged ones, we are stuck here. Prisoners of the dungeon. Worthless fools. Meat for the abattoir. We are drip fed energy from the multiverse for your pleasure. Props for warriors to adventure against. Every few years your kind comes. They slaughter us in the hundreds. Destroying our villages and cities. And while we might be scum in your eyes, we have feelings too. And we’ve had enough! We want freedom! And if it is my dying wish, I will see it done! Tear me apart. Make me suffer! I do not care. This is not a cause I will surrender!”

“Nobody is ripping anybody apart!” Aaron said.

Talia flashed Aaron a look. It wasn’t like he went around killing the innocent, but… well, ripping apart wasn’t the worst he’d done. “Let me handle this. Okay, so, you just want Freedom, right?” Talia nodded thoughtfully. “That seems reasonable enough. And so, why wouldn’t Jayden be onboard with that?”

“Jayden! The traitor! The System, that’s why! It made him the lord of all this,” Kayden spun around dramatically, arms spread wide. “He’s scared. Scared of losing his subjects, and his power, should we figure out how to leave this cursed place.”

“And is that likely to happen? Do you think you can actually escape?” Talia asked curiously.

“Think? We know! We’re still working on the method. But it has been prophesied. We knew that the extraction zones for your little dungeon would appear. We have been planning this for hundreds of years. And our technicians are working day and night. And when they figure out how to operate the devices from within, we’ll finally be free!”

Aaron had to admit that the thought of bashing his way through these guys for their extraction zone was a little tempting, since he would be able to save Dober more quickly. But it would likely end in at least some of their deaths. And he wasn’t about to kill innocents unless forced to.

Talia looked back at Aaron. “Okay, this complicates things. But they don’t sound like bad guys. What do you think we do?”

“Fuck. He’s an annoying shit, but they’re not evil. We can’t just kill them knowing all that.”

Aaron shook his head. This was turning into a bit of a headache. Who’d have thought dungeons would be just morally complicated places?

Then again, maybe there was a way to get around fighting. One that wouldn’t take too long.

“Oi! Kayden. Tell me, do you know how to get to the next floor?”

“The next floor? Well… I know that Jayden’s men have found the exit. I admit I don’t know exactly where it lies. But I believe it is deep within his territory. He will have many men defending it, though. If it isn’t beneath you, we could make an alliance! I could help you battle your way toward it!”

Aaron was a little surprised how honest Kayden had been. He could have lied and said that it would be easy to reach. At least, he seemed more genuine then Jayden, and that already made him want to work with the man more.

“No, I won’t be necessary. Just one more question. Tell me the truth, it’s important. Is all of this really just about losing followers? It sounds like he has plenty already. Why risk a war with you if that’s all there is to it? Or does your exit from the world have other consequences?”

Kayden raised his brows and then sighed as if deflated. “You saw through me, did you? As to be expected of a freeworlder. I am pathetic,” Kayden fell to his knees. “I never should have tried to challenge your kind on wit!”

Huh? What? This guy is a real basketcase.

“It’s true… Our plan does threaten this world… Many threads of fate have been carefully deciphered. But there is no consensus, but we have seen it. The collapse of this world upon our exit.”

My goodness, this guy has a talent for dramatics.

“So, you’re saying that there is a chance this world will be destroyed?”

“This prison, you mean! Do you truly suggest we just accept being lambs to the slaughter? Oh. Of course you would. You don’t see us as human. You never have. But we even worms can offer rewards sometimes. Through my fate reading, I have seen something on the floor below. Something that I believe will interest you. If you’re willing to help. All you have to do is side with us against Jayden.”

Hang on a moment. Both brothers can see threads of fate? That’s interesting. And a reward on the next floor?

“This is exhausting,” Talia groaned. “What if Jayden has a good explanation for his hostility as well?”

“Yeah,” Aaron sighed. “Kayden, what about your brother and his people?”

“What about them?”

Aaron figured he’d give diplomacy another chance. He wasn’t ready to start a fight, even if they could extract here and now. Besides, with a potential reward on the line, he needed to at least learn more before deciding. After all, as dangerous as the royal guard were, rewards offered the promise of long term gains. Ones that might end up saving the entire planet.

“Think about it, Kayden! If your little quest is successful, surely you don’t want to see everyone you leave behind killed in a collapsing world, do you? What about all that freeworlder stuff? Don’t you think you should listen to my wisdom?”

“Well… it’s not like we want to. We have tried everything! They’re too stubborn. They don’t see reason.”

“Okay, gotcha. But we’re here now, right? Freeworlders. Supreme beings, the kind you should take seriously. So here’s what I’m suggesting. You come back with us. Your brother tasked us with catching you, and you alone. Once we have you, I’m sure he’ll meet us. But instead of just handing you over, we’ll back you up. See if we can’t convince him to change his mind. No one needs to die, right?”

“That is… he’ll never agree to it, though.”

“Leave that to me, Kayden. I’m a freeworlder, right? Superior intellect and all that. That means something, doesn’t it?”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Talia whispered from the side of her mouth.

“Only a little.”