Heroes of the Last Dungeon: Hiro & Olly, #1

Heroes of the Last Dungeon

By

Kaye Wagner

Text copyright © June 2014, Kaye Wagner

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All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission from the author.

Contents

Chapter 1: Last Entry

Chapter 2: Proving Grounds

Chapter 3: Colony Collapse

Chapter 4: The Lost

Chapter 5: Zodiac Gates

Chapter 6: Dungeon Crawl

Chapter 7: Great Wild Unknown

Chapter 8: Choices

Chapter 9: The Grey

Chapter 10: Great Escape

Chapter 11: Long Way Home

Author notes:

Chapter 1: Last Entry

A Cake...

Young Hiro said with his eyes fixated on a chocolate cake sitting on a fancy table in the middle of a brightly lit empty room. As he stood there looking at the cake, an icy cool freezer door slammed shut behind him, trapping the young Hiro in this oddly warm refrigerated space with its mouthwatering pastry on display. Such a strange contrast in environment the cool door and this warm room presented, a difference that did not pass the analytical eye of a young girl standing beside the wide eyed Hiro. Fixing a belt with two holstered guns around her waist, the young girl walked up beside the wild haired Hiro, her eyes inspecting the room.

Why isn’t it cold in here? the young girl said as she ran her hands over the silky black headdress covering her hair. Never mind that, she looked over the plain room. What is this place? the young girl focused her eyes on the table with the warm cake on it. And what does this have to do with the test?

As those words left her lips, the ground beneath her feet began to tremble, shaking her lightly until an electronic hum buzzed within the small space, pulling the entirety of the room downwards like an elevator.

Haha... Hiro laughed while he dusted off his shorts as he walked up to the cake on display. Going down and going up. He said jumping onto the table, sitting on it as he kicked his boot covered feet back and forth like a child while the room gradually descended downward. You should relax, Big Sis. Hiro looked at the young girl before dipping his fingers into the cake, grabbing a handful then stuffing his mouth with the chocolate delight. Have cake... he mumbled. It’s delicious.

You idiot! the young girl marched towards him in frustration. Why are you eating that?!

Why not? Hiro shrugged as he took another bite.

Because you don’t know what’s in it, you fool. Have you forgotten we’re here to take a test? This is not a backstreet deal or hustle, this is the Legends test. The Test to become a great adventurer of the Grey Forest—a chance to make your name legend among the great heroes of our time. She said grabbing Hiro’s arm and pulling his cake filled hand away from his mouth.

Ahh... Hiro pouted. C’mon Olly, I’m hungry.

No, Olly shook her head. You need to start taking things a bit more serious around here. I think you don’t fully understand the gravity of this situation. You just only know all the good things about being a Legend in the Grey forest. You hear the stories of Legends conquering wild beasts and discovering riches beyond measure, but you don’t take into account the risk of it all and how in a few of those stories the would-be legend is killed by that beast or when the treasure a Legend gathers sends his mind into a fog, leaving him insane for the rest of his life. Understand this Hiro, being a Legend is rewarding because it’s so difficult to survive as one. The same with the Grey Forest, it can make legends out of normal everyday men and women because it breaks so many great ones. This is not a game, Hiro. We need to tread carefully and use common sense here.

Hiro grinned at her words. I got it. But... he titled his head innocently. Common sense is telling me to eat cake already served. He said dipping his freehand into the cake beside him, taking another handful to the chagrin of Olly who extended her other hand to pull away Hiro’s arm from eating.

You don’t get it, do you? Olly stared him down. We’re not supposed to be here—not only that, we are uniquely unqualified since we cheated and snuck our way into one of the most competitive jobs in this entire city. Not only do we not deserve to be here, we threaten our own lives by taking a risk going against those that are qualified and talented for this job. Not only that, we’re young. Meanwhile being a Legend is an old man’s game that only gets better with age and experience. The Legends test gathers the best of the best and is nothing to take lightly. So when you casually take a bite out of a strange cake in a mysterious room moving down like an elevator—I get anxious. Jus—

Before she could finish her words, a grinning Hiro pulled his arm away from Olly’s grip as he shoved his cake filled hand into her mouth, catching her off guard as she pulled away coughing.

W-what are you doing?! Olly coughed as her anger boiled over.

You see, it’s delicious. Hiro said taking another bite. It’s not poison. What sort of test poisons its participants once they enter? He smiled.

The type of test that accepts murderers and thieves into its ranks if they pass. Olly said composing herself as she turned away from Hiro, pulling out a small electronic tool with an antenna on its top half. It beeped as she switched it on and inspected the cake on the table. The Legends Union allows anyone entry if they have the skill, she gave a cold stare to the carefree Hiro. And in doing so you get careless idiots and desperate fools trying to join their ranks with nothing but riches and power on their mind. She said eyeing the cake. If I was a test maker, I’d figure an easy way to weed out the fools taking the test—and to me, she let her electronic scanner analyze the cake. I see no better way than poisoned cake waiting for them on entry. The beeping sound on her electronic scanner stayed on a slow rhythmic pace. But I guess this is the room with the normal cake.

Hiro grinned at her words. You see, I told you, just nothing but your ordinary run of the mill cake.

Olly grimaced at his words before putting away her pocket electronic scanner. What you did was still reckless. And that kind of recklessness won’t fly during the test. She said eyeing the room as they made a slow and steady descent downward in the elevator. Olly then turned her gaze away from the moving space towards the happy go lucky atmosphere of Hiro, seeing him jump down from the tabletop, licking his hands clean before using the tablecloth as a napkin to clear his hands and face of any chocolate residue.

Ahh... Hiro let out a sigh of satisfaction before looking at the anxious Olly. It’s going to be dangerous, huh? He smiled in his causal and frank way, as if the dangers bred excitement in his heart.

Olly shook her head in frustration. We could die, you know—a never see our loved ones again type of death, you hear me? And all for what? The riches? Survival? Or is it the adventure—the allure of uncharted land, the discovery of new beasts of the wild, conquering them with our intelligence. For what?

Hiro nodded his head as he chuckled at her words. For each other. He replied. Otherwise, the both of us wouldn’t be here, right?

Olly, taken by surprise at his words, smiled before laughing aloud. Hahaha... What a sappy thing to say.

Huh? Hiro looked on dumbfounded. But it’s true. We wouldn’t be here without each other.

So? Olly calmed her laughter. It doesn’t mean we have the same motives. You’re here for reckless adventure, right? Well I’m not. This is a calculated risk for me that I’m hoping pays dividends for my future... I don’t want to be selling flowers by the curb when I’m in my twenties...

Ohh... Hiro nodded his head in thought. Wait, don’t you work at the Book Shop?

Yeah, but it was just a figure of speech. She shook her head in aggravation. I’m just saying, I don’t want to be poor and groveling on the streets.

Haha, Hiro laughed at her words.

Olly looked at him puzzled. What’s so funny?

Don’t worry Big Sis, I’ll take care of you then.

Hah... Olly chuckled, shaking her head in doubt. Oddly enough, I think I’ll be taking care of you throughout this whole thing. Don’t slow me down out there during the test, Hiro.

Hiro grinned at Olly before a ringing melody sounded off from the corner ceiling intercom, grabbing both of their attentions as a soft voice began to speak through it. "Welcome... This is the Last Entry for the two hundred and thirtieth Legends test..." the voice muted itself as a relaxing jazz melody played through the speakers above for the two standing awkwardly in waiting for their destination.

Dual Entry detected. The voice spoke above the muted music. Entries, please declare your username...

Hiro raised an eyebrow in confusion. Username? he turned to Olly. Big Sis, what does that mean?

I don’t know, maybe it’s setting up a personal account in their database. She turned to Hiro in irritation. And stop calling me Big Sis, it’s embarrassing, we’re not even real siblings.

Okay, okay... Hiro shrugged.

After he finished his words, the soft voice on the intercom spoke again. Big Sis confirmed.

Whoa! Olly looked on in bewilderment. Hey, hey, she shouted towards the intercom. That’s not my name, its Olly, O-L-L-Y... Not Big Sis.

Big Sis confirmed already. The female voice in the intercom spoke. Please state the next name.

No! Olly shouted in frustration. It’s not confirmed. It’s Olly.

Hahaha... Hiro laughed as he watched the annoyed Olly complain to the almost robotic female voice on the intercom. Ah, c’mon Big Sis, Hiro said with a leisurely smile. At least it’s not little sis.

You, shut up. Olly pointed at him in aggravation. This is your fault.

Hiro smiled at her words before saying his own name. Hiro.

A beeping noise then sounded off from the intercom. Hiro confirmed.

Hiro grinned at the confirmation. So cool. Who is that over the intercom?

It’s not who, Olly grumpily crossed her arms. It’s what... More like what programing or software they’re using. It sounds sophisticated. Not something I would expect of a Legends Union that embraces nature.

Hmm... Hiro looked on with an absentminded expression on his face. As Olly’s words hung in the air, the intercom turned on again.

Dual entries, Big Sis and Hiro accounts have been created. Now please raise your opened right hand into the air for verification.

Hiro turned to Olly in confusion who also looked a bit puzzled herself at the demand made on the intercom. However, under this sense of cluelessness, they both slowly raised their opened hands into the air, only for their palms to be struck with a fluorescent laser that burned the surface of their bare skin.

Ow! Olly groaned, immediately lowering her hand in pain. What the hell was that for? She winced away the aching in her palm before looking towards an unaffected Hiro who stared at his open hand. You brute. Olly complained. That didn’t hurt you?

Huh? Hiro glanced at Olly. No, my palms are full with callouses from training. You have to be strong to be a Legend, you know. What? You don’t train?

Olly grimaced at his words. No... Because you also have to be smart to be a Legend. She rubbed her pained hand. That’s more useful in dangerous situations.

I don’t know about that. Hiro said looking unsure. Auntie used to always tell me, ‘when all else fails, five knuckles and a fist will take you a long way’. He nodded in agreement.

Well, your Auntie was wrong. It’s the mind that creates miracles, force just maintains the balance. The philosopher Legend Oren said that. I tend to agree with him.

Hmm... Hiro looked upward in thought before looking back towards his open palm. I guess so... he said as a look of surprise wore on his face suddenly. Ah, cool... he stared at his palm while Olly looked on in confusion.

What is it? Olly asked.

Hiro turned to her and raised his open hand in her direction, revealing the oddly shaped wound from the laser that pierced his skin earlier. However, the closer Olly looked at the scabbed wound, the more she realized she was not looking at healing skin but actually seeing Hiro’s name etched out in small black metallic lettering. Seeing this, Olly immediately opened her pained hand, looking into her palm to see a similar pattern, but she had the name ‘Big Sis’ etched in, just like the voice in the intercom had confirmed.

Some sort of identification. Olly said under her breath. But is that really necessary?

It most definitely is. the voice from the intercom replied to the surprise of Olly and Hiro who turned to its speakers. This ‘tag’ is for identification purposes. In case of accidental, premeditated, or officially sanctioned death were to befall on you, your ID will help identify you—among other uses.

Olly and Hiro looked at each other awkwardly after hearing those words.

Furthermore, the voice continued. It must be expressed here that under no law or governing body we are responsible for your actions or immediate and distant harms. This includes any harm to your persons or others familiar during or after your test. Please note that the Legends test permits all weapons and their use during examination. Also, please be aware of your instructor’s guidance for each test. Though their instructions might vary, they do hold the key to your acceptance into the Union... Last note, Dual entries please be cognizant of the dual entry rulings and the differences from single entry parties.

Olly lowered her head in thought as she listened to the voice’s instructions. What’s the difference? she stepped forward with a focus in her eyes. "What’s the difference between single and dual entries?

One moment... the voice said muting itself as smooth elevator music began to play through the speakers. Olly turned to a relaxed Hiro, giving him a nervous look as she waited for the voice from the intercom to speak again. Stop acting so casual. She sniped at the carefree Hiro before punching the side of his arm. And stop taking this so lightly... The instructions we receive here could make the difference between passing or failing.

Hiro grinned. I know, I know.

It doesn’t look like you do. Olly muttered under her breath as the elevator music muted with a calm and robotic voice speaking through the intercom.

Dual Entry, meaning, dependent participation of two entries tested simultaneously.

Simultaneously? Dependent? Olly looked on suspiciously. What do you mean by that?

One moment please. The voice muted again as elevator music played to the displeasure of Olly.

Ah, c’mon... Olly grimaced in frustration. This A.I. is dull and slow.

A.I.? Hiro asked, still standing around with an absentminded look on his face. Isn’t it a person speaking?

No, Olly shook her head. It’s an artificial intelligence system, I think. Something you don’t see too often in our slum cities.

Why not?

Because common folks like us can’t afford fancy things. She replied with a cold expression on her face. That’s why we run to places like this with fancy things—so that we can catch glimpses of how the other side of the fence lives.

Hmm... Hiro looked on in thought as the muted voice spoke again above the music.

Simultaneous failure or acceptance. The soft robotic voice spoke through the intercom.

What? Olly looked on in aggravation. Why is that? We’re separated. We’re taking this test individually. We’re not in this together.

Incorrect. The voice replied. You are to be tested together. Whether you pass or fail depends on the effectiveness of the both of you to succeed in each test provided by your instructor. If one of you fails, you both fail. Finally, both participants must be together throughout the duration of the exam. Dual Entries must pass each test with the other member of their grouping intact or the remaining member will fail.

You can’t be serious? Olly complained.

Hiro grinned at the frustrated Olly. Looks like we’re really doing this for each other now, right?

Tch... Olly sucked in her teeth in displeasure while the soft voice over the intercom continued, describing the many limits pressed against the two young participants, hammering home the point of a Dual Entry as something where two participants must share the experience of the test wholly—facing its challenges together. As the voice found a conclusion to its instructions, it redirected attention to the young duo.

Any more questions? the voice asked.

None. Olly said annoyed. Just get on with the test.

Very well. The voice continued. "Just one thing to keep in mind as you enter this field of a Legend. Find life, bury treasure, and avoid dying, these are the keys of being a great Legend. However, found life, buried treasure, and avoided death—these are the keys of failure. Good hunting