Chapter 17
Walking into the lunch room, I noticed many collard inmates had gathered together, but not precisely for protection. More simply being outcasts. Usually, these Metas would never be here if it weren't for their powers going to their heads, which meant they weren't the type to be criminals or survive with criminals without powers. Before I could make my way over to them, I was stopped by several non-meta inmates. One thing I can say, at least for this world, is that racists didn't run the prisons.
While this particular gang had all sorts of skin colors, they had one thing in common. They were all large, muscular, and covered in scars and tattoos. Oh, and now that they're evilly grinning at me, missing teeth can be added to that list. I sighed. I just got my food too…
"Look, guys, I'm not as easy to beat as my fellow Metas. It may sound foolish to boast, but my power was remembering all fighting styles and being able to perform them instantly. I may be without my power now, but I still retain all that knowledge."
Several burst out with laughter and a few with sneers. "It doesn't matter when there are nine of us," the apparent leader of this group stated.
"Winds howl at dusk, a shrieking cry
The tinge of copper and rust
Mix with the stench of fear in the night sky
The anticipation of blood, oh my, the lust."
The looks of confusion on their faces turned to worry when I grinned and showed fangs. But bravado won over, and they attacked not exactly in unison. And I kept my speed to human, albeit ninja levels, while dodging each of their strikes even as I maneuvered my tray to balance my food and water without spilling. I kicked a kneecap in the wrong direction more than a few times. I stomped on a few feet with surprising heft and introduced my knees to a few stomachs, causing blood and other unseemly contents to spew out of their mouths. In the end, we had a bunch of dudes groaning or pathetically crying on the ground while I took their table all to myself, along with their food. I could feel the stares but happily ignored them.
After lunch, they brought us out to the yard. I expected the exercise equipment and the bleachers for those who wanted to sit in the sun and read, and I was not surprised there, but seeing the basketball court and soccer field lifted my eyebrows a bit up my forehead. More surprisingly, there was a gazebo off in the distance with one particular inmate lounging inside, drinking tea or perhaps something more potent. He had many inmates guarding him and more than a few guards on the wall overlooking him. Well, I guess I found the former governor. Of course, he'd have wealth and connections enough to keep him safe while inside, I thought to myself.
I knew I could easily handle the inmates on the ground. I also knew I could dodge rubber bullets or shrug them off if I simply didn't care about appearances. But having alarms going off and a substantial guard intervention would make interrogating someone a bit of a bother. I need a more subtle approach. So, for now, I took up a spot on the bleachers and leaned back to observe everyone.
~~~
"Of course, that jackass had to go off to prison without warning me first. There is an urgent request for an S-rank dungeon and half…"
"Huh?" Oden asked while tilting his head to the side.
"Sorry, a third of our members for our team is missing. That's it. I'm going to try contacting him telepathically. I'm not the best at it, but I'll give it my all!" Jessica shouted while pumping a fist heroically.
"Ask master to bring me treats!"
"Oden, I just gave you a treat!"
"But what about Second treat? Luncheon? Afternoon biscuits? Third treat? Meat hour?"
"Not now, Oden, I need to focus," she said with a twinge of annoyance in her tone. Mentally, she reached out. Jacik? Can you hear me?
I'm here, what's up?
We have a request for an S-rank dungeon. Do you think you could spare some time?
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Uh… yeah, tonight should be fine, but I'll have to find a way to make a clone of me that won't dissipate after I cross a portal opening.
I'm sure the Great Wizard of Ode can think of something.
You mean Oz, right?
What is an Oz?
Oh, right. You're not from my earth either. Nevermind. Yes, I'll find a way. See you tonight.
"Hey! You didn't mention my treats," Oden huffed.
"You could hear us?"
"Duh? Your mind shouted so loudly that every psychic probably heard you." Jessica paled at his words, with only rose-tinted cheeks granting her any bit of color.
~~~
I guess word got around because I wasn't hassled at all during outside time. But I knew that wouldn't last. There is always someone who will try to make a name for themselves. That time came during shower time after dark. My rings were not confiscated because I tweaked the illusion ring to make them invisible. So, when the scalding hot water mixed with something that clung to my skin hit me in the back, I was not burned at all because my skin was charcoal, black, and scaly. Not that they could see that. I was also not taken by surprise. I could hear his heart beating, but I decided to see what he'd do exactly. I thought a shiv, but I guess they went with something more creative. I stood under the cold water and turned to look at my assailant. "You didn't think this out thoroughly, did you?"
In an instant, the water was turned off, I was dry, dressed, and had a hand on his throat. I stared into his scared little eyes and used compel on him. "Forget everything about tonight. Now go discreetly, stab the person who sent you here. Take this," I said while handing him a simple dagger from my Item Box. Then I let him go and watched him walk off as if nothing happened. This ought to serve as a nice little distraction for tonight. Now, I need to enchant an object that can act as a power source to maintain an illusion for eight hours or more.
I chose my bed frame while secretly hiding a gem inside to use as the power source. I made the engravings extra tiny and on the side of the bars not easily visible. I also coated them with my blood for extra strength to the spells. I wanted an illusion and a physical body that could take simple directions from the guards if needed. Including allowing a beating on my dummy, should the occasion arise. I doubted it would, but I prefer precaution to negligence.
~~~
I whistled while looking at the S-rank portal. This was by far the largest I've ever seen. It was also red, which I don't remember the significance of, but I figured it wouldn't matter. I pet Oden on the head and nodded to Jessica. Then I nodded to the Guild's representative. "We got this, sir," I said with my best surfer dude smile. The representative wasn't entirely convinced since another S-rank team had already been confirmed to have failed, and I was a good ten years younger than them, at least by current appearances.
Jessica slapped me on the back hard and gave a forced smile to the guard. "Let's just go." Once inside, we let our illusions drop and halted all pretenses of using fake Meta powers. Since we were unsupervised, we could utilize all of our abilities now.
I whistled at the expansive cracked obsidian terrain paved with spots of lava and occasional lava rivers. We've done a snow environment dungeon before, but this was on another level. The heat was even warm to me, which I could typically shrug off most temperature ranges.
Oden's panting quickly reminded me to cast several temperature-regulating spells on all of us. I even conjured some water for him to drink. "Well, let's get…" My words were cut off as three arrows from such a long range entered my field of vision, causing my brain to overclock. The arrows slowed, and I quickly caught all three out of the air. I zeroed in on the ones who shot them from over a mile distance, standing on the side of a volcano. They resembled dark elves but with glowing lava-like veins all over their skin. Their eyes were also a deep crimson red. I allowed my eyes to glow red as well, and I saw a hint of fear appear in their expression, and then they vanished like smoke.
"I didn't even notice the arrows until right before you moved to catch them. Incredible," Jessica said.
"Arrows? Did they have meat skewered on them?"
"You were meant to be the meat Oden."
A look of confusion crossed his expression before realization dawned on him. "Oh, that's not good. I will destroy whoever shot those arrows," he finished with a growl.
I shook my head and started walking toward the volcano. "I'll lead; you two follow behind me, but as good as my senses are, feel free to warn me if you sense anything I don't." The mile-long walk should've been easy due to how fast we all could move, but not even ten steps, and we were assaulted by thousands of arrows, fireballs, lava worms, fire spirits, red goblins, ogres, and bats.
When I realized I was burning through mana way too quickly, I switched to my more supernatural predatory gifts and feasted on whatever I could sink my teeth into. By the end of the trek, I was completely immune to fire and lava. So was Jessica. Oden's werewolf side of his DNA also allowed him to acclimate to the conditions with each burnt corpse he devoured as well.
We saw thousands of round rocks about five feet tall covering the entire mountainside at the volcano's base. Volcano elves stepped out from behind each one even as the rocks shifted, revealing arms, legs, tails, and beady little obsidian heads.
"Shit…" Jessica stared in wonderment. "So this is the power of an S-rank portal. No wonder the other team failed."
"Yeah, this is a bit insane. And I bet there is something even nastier at the top of this volcano too. Well, time to keep score. Loser makes dinner."
"Hey, that isn't fair to Oden, he doesn't have thumbs," Jessica said while trying to keep a snort out of her laughter.
"I will not lose! I have four legs and can run faster," he said, then took off without warning. The hunt was officially on.
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