Souls vs Blood 11

Souls vs Blood 11

The Dungeon.

In the place where soul suckers abideth, there is, a volcano.
Beside it, is land that was made of hardened lava from a volcanic eruption a few centuries ago. Although the volcano is now dormant, that is not of importance to us. What we focus on, is the hardened lava. The wizards from those centuries ago used a little magic to control where the lava flowed and hardened. They created a huge underground dungeon. It was the perfect training area for their soldiers as well as a place of refuge during magical, or - the not so often - natural disasters. In prepararion for the war, all 6 levels of the dungeon had been opened and furnished for different trainings. Starting from ground to deeper underground:
The first level was the most popular and the most crowded - the combating vampires related classes.
The second level held magic related classes both theoretical and practical.
The third level held weapons handling classes from daggers to pistols.
The forth level was a battle arena with many many cubicals and platforms for simulations or duels to take place.
The fifth level held psychological lessons by... slightly psychopathic instructors.Will power and using words to confuse the enemy or make your enemy lose confidence are the main classes taught among others.
The sixth level was Granny Squavox's classes which were healing and soul related.

"YOU WILL LEARN EVERYTHING FROM SOUL COMPACTION AND LIQUIDATION TO MININAL UTILISATION OF SOULS." Booms the speaker jumping about advertising the 6th floor. Well, the sixth floor needed the most advertising since it was on the 6th floor. There is a rule to this dungeon. You had to start from the top. At each level, u had to complete at least one course. You can only move on once you have completed all courses you have started and the dungeon will barricade you from exit or move down. Upon entrance, the dungeon will recognise you, and track your progress. When you exit, a little bat will announce what you have done, praise or ridicule you, and ask if you want physical recognition of your dungeon travel. A little programming magic done by a specialist team prepared the dungeon this way in preparation for the war. As a result, the first level was very crowded while the last level was close to empty. There were exceptions. Peopke that had known specialties could travel to specific levels. A registered healer like Sarah can choose to go to the 6th floor, but she cannot access the other floors in the middle. Most of them do not choose to do so since they are already proficient in they're trade though. Sarah had quickly taken a simple course on the first floor and was focusing on the second floor. So far, she had completed 3 courses on the 2nd floor while Harold was only just entering the dungeon and receiving the rules and instructions from a talking... pillar.

"You cannot... You will.... " Harold was falling asleep. Johnathon was a trainer so he had exclusive access to all floors. He decided to stay with Harold and made sure his friend would be strong enough at least to survive if not to fight.

"Harold, LISTEN TO THE PILLAR WILL YOU?" It was only the beginning but Johnathon was already losing patience with Harold. He was impossible.

Day - 1 level 1 class weaknesses of vampires

"Vampires are mortals. They too have weaknesses we can make use of! Forget all the story books and garlic or silver bullets! Such items are of no use! Here you will learn what vampires are truly afraid of!"

Johnathon had decided to take a theory class first since Harold was so reluctant to exercise. But it was horrible. Not a weakness was usable for vampires in general and there were so many conditions no one would remember them. A useless course with an mcq test they passed as fast as daylight. They were out in 3 hours flat.

Day - 1 level 1 class combat against fangs

To make Johnathon happy, Harold joined a combat class. The fangs of vampires may not be able to draw blood from soul suckers but they could still be a lethal weapon if used correctly. Vampire fangs could weaken soul sucker magic. Used with venom or enchantments and (oh boy) fangs could do some serious damage! This class taught one how to defend against, and counterattack fangs. Since it was a combat class, even though Harold was really trying hard, he took about 5 days to clear the course. Johnathon completed the course about 20 times while helping Harold out. Well, he was one of the planners of this course so it would have been expected. Harold finally managed to avoid being hit by the fangs installed onto the test bot as well as attack the bot until the bot's HP reached zero within the time limit. Barely.

Day - 6 level 2 class cooking

Johnathon was not very happy in this class. He passed it. Barely. Harold passed it rather quickly. All they had to do was make a soup without touching any of the ingredients. Johnathon didn't see the point in this lesson. It does help to train your dexterity to some extent though. And for Johnathon, ALOT of will power. They completed the course in 4 hours because Johnathon had a little difficulty with the spices.

Having completed the easy course to ensure they could go to the next level, they went on to tougher modules.

Day - 6 level 2 class attacking magic - bolts

"You do not require a wand to shoot bolts as you all should know from elementary school... What you require, is also not intelligence as what games claim... you need MENTAL STRENGTH!" At the last two words, the class jumped in shock when the soft spoken instructor suddenly raised her voice. "Elements? Why bother shooting fire or lightning when we just need to land some form of damage? FORGET the burning! Shoot your soul bolts and AIM THEM WELL!" The class was starting to get used to her unbalanced intonation. Each student was aligned as if in a shooting arena or bowling alley and made to create bolts out of souls. These bolts were particularly strong against vampires who are as good as allergic to souls that have been absorbed by soul suckers. There is just some repelling forces between the two races.
Johnathon couldn't sustain a bolt for longer than 5 seconds. Harold managed to throw one but it disappeared  after flying side ways for less than a meter.
"WILL power boys! Image the bolt in your mind, and form it STRONG!"
They both tried, and failed.
"CONTROL YOUR SOULS. YOU ABSORBED IT! CAN YOU NOT CONTROL IT?!"
So much for consistency of intonation. The two boys rubbed their ears in agony.

The rest of the day was spent on this class. The next morning as well. By then, both of them could form a bolt and throw it at the other end of their alley, touch the soul absorbing globe, and graduate after managing to send 5 bolts in a row to the globe within 5 minutes. Not bad.

"Goodness, how did we do all this in school last time?" Johnathon started complaining.
"How did we forget it?" Harold wasn't happy with his progress either.
"I was never much of a magician, wizard whatever they call themselves these days."
"My grades were... yeah. never commendable either." Harold sighed.

Day 7 level 2 class playful spells

Making the floor slippery. - 2 hours.

Making one item stick to another item (please do not use yourself as an item) - 3 hours

Moving multiple objects without touching them (not living things) - 5 hours.

It was way in the night before they finished. They had 4 hours of sleep before continuing.

Blowing a fuse remotely - 1 hour (Johnathon finished this in 20 minutes. Always one for brute strength.)

Making your hair stand and pokey - 3 hours. (Both of them couldn't really get it right...)

okay... the list goes on...

they finally finish all the spells and clear the course.

Day 9 level 2 class magical traps

Warning traps, Damage dealing traps, Capturing traps, Luring traps. Many different traps were taught and materials needed for each trap were repeated over and over.
"Only if you had them(the right materials), you could build them. But only if you build them well, will they be of any use!" Hollered the instructor from time to time.

They spent rather long in here. Johnathon was forgetful and Harold was clumsy.

Day 11 level 2 class attacking magic - strengthening physical attacks

Johnathon reigned here. He even beat the instructor which was his older sister.
"Hahh! WAHOO!!!" Johnathon went around making everyone's efforts look like carbon dioxide (nothing).
Basically, for those physically weak, they can wear a layer of soul over their skin as additional defence, or increase the force of a punch or kick with good soul control. Johnathon had poor control over his souls for everything except in this area. Harold on the other hand, took a good full day to beat the simulation and was defeated completely by the instructor, as well as Johnathon.

Day 12 level 2 class potion making

Harold was all right here. He could remember the ingredients and the requirements. Johnathon on the other hand blew a few pots up. Oh dear. Johnathon managed to meet the requirements somehow though. They made quite a few interesting potions that they could keep and perhaps, use against vampires... Though I doubt it would be of much use since the potions were more... for decorative purposes than attacking. The only useful one was toxic and one of the ingredients required were not easily available so they could not make it on their own... Unless of course, Rebecca Klar was with you.

Day 12 level 3 class - archery

Oh it was a disaster. Harold couldn't even hold the bow, not to mention pull it and aim and shoot. He had to do physical training before the trainer let him even touch the bow. They spent about 4 days here.

Day 17 - level 3 class - gun handling

From disassembling and reassembling, to reloading, disposal and keeping. How to not shoot yourself. Yeah. The candidates needed that alot. Even with soul bullets, a number of students shot themselves while handling the guns. Ouch. From holding to balancing. They spent quite long here. Harold's aim was down the drain. One would have thought archery would have helped his aim. it didn't. He graduated with a score of 68. The requirement? 65. Oh dear. Johnathon got 98. He made Harold take the test again. 70. Hmm. Better than some screaming girls, but not even close to average compared to the rest.

Day 21 - level 3 class - blades

Kitchen knives, daggers, throwing stars, etc. everything and anything with a sharp side, even razors, were plentiful here. They learnt to make use of all of them as weapons. Harold suffered quite a bunch of cuts...

Day 25 - level 3 resting area

Harold was getting impatient. He told rebecca about a month. it would almost be up but he was only on the third floor. Johnathon didn't care. In the dungeon, there was a communication system he could use to contact those outside the dungeon. But who would be willing to meet rebecca klar and pass on a message that he would be late and to bring another chop so he could place his mark on it again?

Day 26 level 4 duel

Harold did surprisingly well. He defeated a simulation where he fought against a... child vampire... and won...

hmm...

Day 26 level 4 war

How to save yourself when you were surrounded and alone? Well, Johnathon cleared this in a jiffy while Harold blasted his way through the crowd somehow in his impatience.

Day 27 level 4 teamwork

Working together with strangers of the same race. Easy? Not always. Especially not when you're teamed up with a guy that had been pinching your cheeks when you were in nursery. Harold tried not to care when his bully taunted and laughed at him at every possible moment. Amazingly, the bully did his job when the time arised (though not without finding some other joke about Harold) and the course ended.

Day 28 level 5 class receiving pressure

Let us ignore the masochistic instructor that demonstrated what he was supposed to teach nonstop.

Both physical pressure tolerance and mental pressure tolerance were trained here. How well could you stand the simulations? Johnathon lost his cool too often at the mental side, but was really good at tolerating physical pain and pressure. Harold was the opposite. He wasn't much affected by mental pressure, but his physical pressure tolerance was as low as a boneless body. He angrily survived the test at the end with a decent score though. He was getting hasty.

Day 30 level 5 class debate

Let us ignore the narcissistic teacher who was in love with herself and sweet talked to herself as if she were two persons.

Harold, was okay. Johnathon, a failure. They met Tom here. He was wonderful! He rebutted everything that came his way with a smirk on his face. He had always been good with his words. Way to go!

"Harold! Think a bit before you speak! Use anything you can against your enemy! Remember what he said or did and use it against him!" Tom had given up on Johnathon and tried to give tips to Harold constantly so Harold would keep on thinking and remembering to use tactics. Johnathon used his staff pass to get through. Harold completed the course at the end of the day.

Day 31 level 5 class planning

Tactics were taught here by a talking book. It was just a lecture and a test. Johnathon who was trained in tactical battle passed with flying colours while Harold relied on his short term memory to pass with... no credit. Lol.

Day 31 level 6

Granny Squavox magical jars and tables were the instructors for this floor. Some even had fluffy slippers as instructors. The atmosphere was... ancient.

Class soul usage minimization.

Harold was on a roll here. Because he never did rely much on souls because of his conscience, he naturally was able to minimize the amount of soul he used. Johnathon had a little more problems...

"Limit reached" announced the soul usage reading statue that had been allocated to Johnathon for the umpteenth time.
Harold scored a distinction and johnathon passed barely and they went to the next class.

Class Soul compaction and liquidation

"For easy storage, souls can be made into fluids. In solid form souls are hard to absorb so we do not convert them into solids often. (from the looks of it however, most people were producing solids...) Depending on how well you control your soul, your liquid can be highly concentrated, meaning a small bottle can hold enough for recovery from near death situations, or lowly concentrated, where a small bottle can perhaps heal a paper cut. Depending on the difficulty level you choose, your ending test will have different levels of concentration requirements. Let us move on to the lesson! ... "

With every instruction, Harold could keep up with the instructor. Johnathon was lagging behind.
At the end of the lesson, Harold completed 5 bottles of sufficiently high concentration soul fluids and with a bit of help from him, Johnathon made one average concentration soul fluid. hmm.

"We did all this in school so this should be just a recap but IT STILL IS HARD..." Johnathon was partially giving excuses...
"Haha. Some things never change Johnathon. Your grades in soul related classes were never really nice to look at..."
"Same goes for you Harold. Same goes for you."

Day 32 level 6 class healing

"Healing by absorbing souls is a natural and instinctive ability all soul suckers have -- ("except my mother" thought Harold.) -- but using it to heal other soul suckers, *the instructor pauses and paces*, and using it sparingly when healing yourself, *repeat*, and controlling how much soul you use as you do so, *dejavu* that is what we will try to teach you in this short course. Please practise on your own after obtaining the knowledge of the skills taught. Should you be able to heal the simulated injured soul sucker with the limited amount of soul given to you, you shall pass this lesson."

Johnathon didn't even bother taking the test. Sarah who was on shift as a helper at the moment was trying her hardest to convince him and encourage, prompt, beg, etcetc, him to learn how to heal. Johnathon was adamant. Then Harold successfully got him into the course officially. "Hey, if Sarah was the only medic on board and she was injured and you were around... who'd save your sister?"
Johnathon raised his hands in surrender and defeat. "All right! Okay! I'll do it!" Sarah gave the boys a hug. Johnathon was trying to shaker her off while Harold just laughed at the scene. It was an important course, so they spent a whole day practising. Harold was proficient enough at it, Johnathon managed to heal a paper cut, Sarah was happy enough but made Johnathon promise to practise with her until he could heal a bullet hole... Probably impossible. But Johnathon couldn't over power his sister this time. Conceded to his fate.

It was a little over a month. Harold was worried about what was happening on the other side. He missed... Alice. Just a little. Okay maybe more than that. Oh all right all right he missed her quite a bit. He wanted to go visit the human world more and more with each passing day. Johnathon could sense his friend's impatience.

Day 32 level 6 rest area

"Hey, you wanna get out right?"
Harold opened his eyes wide but kept quiet.
The fire lamp beside them flickered.
"I'll walk you there. Go for a while then come back. We can't neglect training okay? Instead I'll let you go about once to twice a week."
"You... you will?"
"Yeah. I'll even go with you just once."
"Wha... what?"
"I wanna meet this girl you've been going on about. Alice or whatever. Wanna see if she's worth it."
"Wo... worth what?"
"... you idiot." Even  Johnathon thought Harold was dense.
Harold waited.
"Worth the time you spend thinking of her." Johnathon tried to phrase it in a not so obvious way...
"Oh."
"Don't you want to show her to us?" (us meaning the clique)
"Uhh. Not really."
Johnathon made weird expressions in the dark thinking "Harold is impossible!!!"
"Then what do you want?"
"Want what?"
Johnathon made more weird actions and expressions. (of exasperation)
"Want to happen with Alice!" Johnathon couldn't find a more indirect way to ask.
"Nothing."
"WHAT?!" Johnathon responded a little too quickly and loudly.

"SHUT UP" shouted some guy from a distance.
"SORRY!" Johnathon shouted back embarrassed.

"Then what's the point of protecting her?!"
"I just... don't want to harm her..."
"Oh..."

Johnathon knew what Harold meant. Souls suckers absorbed souls after all. And even though Harold knew Alice could regenerate her soul, "was there a limit to how much she can recover? what if suddenly the regeneration fails to happen? what if the regeneration came with side effects?" Harold couldn't be sure. He wasn't going to risk it. He never wanted anything to happen between him and Alice. Paraphrase = never allowed himself to want anything.