Chapter 22

  They arrived at an off-road dungeon that was set against a large black rock overneath the speedway bridge. A short wizard in a blue track suit stood in front of the dungeon.

  The wizard had a handlebar mustache and his honey gold eyes stared at Titan.

  Hank nodded to the wizard as they got out walking to the dungeon doorway.

  “Hey Barney. Yo could you check him out? I think he’s overloaded right now.” Hank asked, pointing at Titan.

  Barney’s eyes scanned Titan’s body with a magical glow for a second. “Yep. System charge overload. He’s taking to it well though. Let him run for twenty minutes to get it through his system. I’ll get you out so don’t worry about stalling out.”

  Barney nodded for them to go through.

  Titan frowned but he silently followed Hank through the portal.

  Titan looked around as he and Hank stood in complete darkness.

  “Damn. I forgot to bring a fire torch.” Hank said.

  A violet magical glow suddenly illuminated the empty space of the dungeon.

  Titan stared in surprise to see his Axiom Edge in his hand again.

  “My weapon is back but it feels different." Titan said.

  Hank nodded. “It’s evolved into a summoning being.” He said.

  “A summoning, what?!” Titan asked.

  Hank snorted. “A summoning being. Twice as deadly and more in tune to your class style and will kill any enemy to you.”

  Titan frowned. “Is that a good thing or bad thing?”

  Hank chuckled. “It’s a good thing. Hold up. I just remembered something. I’m going to try to add some light into this place.”

  Titan watched silently as Hank reached inside his backpack and brought out gold stone.

  “What are you going to do with that?”

  Hank without another word threw the stone up in the air.

  The stone broke into several pieces on the hard floor lighting up the room in gold and revealing several dozens of dark reptilian mutant men with ebony eyes facing them.

  Hank quickly pushed Titan forward. “Alright Young Blood. It’s time for you to get some exercise. I’ll back you up.”

  “Shit.”

  A collective monstrous voice roared out before they started charging toward them.

  Hank drew his bow as Titan started slicing into their enemies.

  Red magical energy arrows flew out from Hank’s bow hitting several of the creatures killing instantly.

  “FUCK!”

  Titan was kicked and sliced by claws down his chest. He kept fighting though he had a lot of energy for some reason.

  “Come on Young Blood. Get your balls up bro. Don’t start slowing down. Speed up. Keep going.” Hank said.

  Hank smashed another bright stone on the face of a dark creature.

  The reptile monsters screamed as they were thrown back in pain from the explosion.

  Titan noticed that his weapons was starting to heat up in his hand and vibrating sound came from it. It was loud and noticeable even as the monsters kept attacking him.

  Titan felt something was about to happen when he heard a ding sound in his head.

  [ Axiom Edge level 2 upgrade ]

  Soul Reaper [unlocked]

  Time slowed and Titan moved insanely fast. He beheaded one retile creature and stabbed in the chest seven enemies around him before he was stabbed in the chest as he paused to breath.

  The world disappeared and then silence.

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  Titan started to scream before he was pulled back and fell outside the portal on to his back.

  Titan screamed in shock before Hank slapped him twice. Titan came to himself and froze.

  He stared up at Hank and then looked at the gaping hole in the center of his shirt. But no mark appeared. He was alive.

  Titan stared at his naked chest not seeing a hole and he shook his head. “What fuck was that shit? I thought I was killed.”

  Barney nodded his head with a sober look on his face. “You were killed. You lost your main weapon and experience leveling points.” He said.

  Titan sprang to his feet calling his Axiom Edge to his hand.

  The sword appeared in Titan’s hand glowing a violet bright color.

  Both Barney and Hank stared at the weapon.

  Barney pointed at the weapon. “That’s not a weapon.” He said.

  Titan frowned at him. “What? Looks like one to me. What the hell just happened?” He said.

  Barney waved away his comment. “You were in a dream dungeon. Forty kills you level up points in XP and get one special wish or item. If you die early in the challenge then you lose a weapon and XP points. Lost XP points but that summon being in your hand isn't a dumb known thinking being. It's a summoning being. Are you still amplified up on energy?"

  Titan frowned; he did a quick mental scan of his body before he put away his Axiom Edge. He nodded. “I’m good. I feel normal again. What happened to me?”

  Barney nodded leaning on his staff. “Your system got supercharged from fighting a magical energy based being. You were about to explode from it.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “Yep. Luckly Hank, over here saved your green ass from going up like a pipe bomb." He said in a dry deadpan tone.

  “What the fuck bro. You say I’m going to die?” Titan said.

  “No. No.” Hank said, lifting up his hands. “You’re going to live. It’s called an overload in power when competing with a dungeon monster. You’ll be fine. The power needed to run through you and out. You lost some XP but you stabilized the energy in your body.”

  Titan nodded. “So I’m fine now.” He said.

  “Yep. You want to head to your place or hit up the gypsy for a beer?” Hank asked.

  “No alcohol.” Barney said quickly.

  Titan frowned and looked at him. “No alcohol. You’re saying I can’t drink?"

  Barney nodded his head still leaning on his staff. “No alcohol or heavy drugs. EVER. The best you can do is tea with a little sugar if at all. I’m serious your body won’t be able take that shit so fuck around with it.” He said.

  Titan stared at him. He understood that Barney had already known he was in a Psi class.

  “Is it because I use my mind heavily and my skills depend heavily on the use of my mind?”

  Barney shook his head. “That’s only part of it. Your mind is your human element. The Phase part of you needs to remain pure so you can function as you age and evolve in the later part of your life. Your power will increase but you will need to avoid any and everything that could corrupt your will and mind."

  Titan grimaced. “I want to pay off my folks house and put my kid sister through college and get married. I don’t want to be a mind fucker.”

  Barney stared at him and then snorted. “Oh. You’re one of those types. Don’t worry about that bullshit. Do what you want to do.”

  “Titan. You want me to take you home or to see the fellas at the Gypsy?” Hank asked.

  Titan sighed and he put away his Axiom Edge. It disappeared from his hand. He nodded to Hank.

  “I want to go to the Gypsy and have a look at the business and see how everything is going.” He said.

  Hank nodded his head. He walked to his truck and tossed a gold coin toward Barney who caught it.

  “Come back any time you want to train your young rookie.” Barney said.

  Titan rolled his eyes and walked to the passenger side of the door and go in. He closed the door as Hank started backing up and drove into traffic.

  Hank turned on the radio and they drove off. He glanced at Titan’s scowling face as he looked out the window.

  “What’s up with you Young Blood? I told you that you’ll be fine.” Hank said.

  Titan shook his head. “It’s not that. I cost you a bow today and I almost got myself killed?” He said.

  Hank shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. This is a part of the game. We fight, we make mistakes and we improve. It’s all we can do. Got to put food on the table.”

  Titan nodded. "Is the bar doing good?” He asked.

  Hank started to nod but then he stopped. “When we get inside have a look around. See if you can get a that Psi feel on the people we got coming in.”

  Titan frowned and suspected something in Hank’s tone. “Okay. I’ll do that and tell you and the guys what I can find out.” He said.

  As they were turning to leave. Barney cleared his throat. "You came here a bit early. Did you get your training properly? This will be your last chance to enter this dungeon for a while. You got trouble ahead of you." Barney said.

  Titan froze and turned back to Barney now. He stared at the wizard as he felt a cold sweat run down his back. "My Dad didn't mention you in his letter. How many reptile men did my Dad told you I had to beat?"

  Barney shrugged. "Forty will be enough to get yourself the reward you'll need in the next couple days."

  Hank was quiet. "I can help him out." He said. Titan stared at him. Hank shrugged. "Your father's foresight came in handy. I can help you reach your goal." He said.

  Barney shook his head. "No. Deacon said he has to go in alone the second time. He has to get his practice in. Titan. Deacon gave me this to give you." He said threw Titan a glowing bottle.

  Titan caught it in the air. "What is this?"

  "Just a potion to give your stamina a boost for twenty minutes. I'll you give you what you the prize and forty gold coins if you slay them all in twenty minutes or less." Barney said.

  Titan stared at the bottle as he walked forward and opening it and drank the contents. His Axiom Edge appeared in his hand as he stepped through the door way again.

  The dungeon was again dark but his eyes quickly adjusted to the enviorment. He saw the numberr of reptile men. He counted the heads. Well over a hundred.

  Titan smiled. Easy work.

  "Alright Dad. I'm going to shoot for hundred. Let's see what prize you've got for me at the end of this shit." Titan said before charging forward into horde of monsters and slicing them down to the dungeon floor.