Fallout:Blood and the Bull

honest reviews would be greatly appreciated

Any opinion and comments are welcome

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Pov of a Tiberius Occisor Centurion

Caesar had commanded, and the Legion obeyed. It was an indisputable fact, a truth as fundamental as the sun that illuminated our marches. A full cohort, five hundred men perfectly trained and equipped, had been sent into the depths of an imperial dungeon to fulfill Caesar's will. Our objective: to obtain the coveted Manacite crystal, a mana-infused gem that would reinforce his power and vision for the future.

The dungeon in question was peculiar. It was neither a source of corruption nor a cursed place. It was a relic of the imperial past, integrated into the local economy. For centuries, adventurers had delved into its depths, hunting beasts whose parts were used for various products: clothing, tools, food, and even luxury items. Every fragment of the creatures served a purpose, and the trade of these materials supported hundreds of families in the surrounding area. The dungeon was a machine of wealth, and for that reason, it had never been sealed.

However, Caesar had now set his sights on it, and our mission was clear: reach the deepest levels and claim the Manacite crystal, no matter what stood in our way.

Our arrival did not go unnoticed. A full cohort marching through the Adventurer's Guild was an intimidating spectacle. The soldiers advanced in close formation, pilum at the ready, shields raised, alert for any threat. We did not expect human opposition, but discipline demanded readiness for anything.

The adventurers—simple peasants armed with weapons—watched us in silence. They knew what our presence meant: when a noble or military force entered a dungeon, the spoils were entirely claimed. Their income would plummet for weeks. Yet, none of them dared to stop us. They knew that defying Caesar's will was suicidal.

The gatekeeper, a woman with a tired face and a simple uniform, barely looked up as she registered our entry. Her nod was all that was needed to open the gates.

"Advance, Legionaries," I ordered, my voice resonating through the heavy air at the entrance. "The mighty Caesar has entrusted us with this task. We will complete it or die trying."

"Ave! True to Caesar!" the men responded in unison, their voices filling the space with such power that some adventurers stepped back instinctively.

The dungeon's initial levels posed no significant resistance. They were well-lit, with relatively clean floors and few roaming creatures. It was evident that these levels were frequented by adventurers. The weaker, less dangerous beasts were hunted regularly, leaving only an echo of danger.

Our presence—five hundred men in formation—was enough to drive off any creature with a shred of intelligence. Those that dared to show themselves were dispatched with brutal speed. The pilum weren't even necessary; swords sufficed to eliminate them.

As we descended through the dungeon's dark corridors, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air was saturated with latent magical energy, and each step echoed through the stone walls like a drum announcing our approach. My men maintained formation, shields up and spears ready, their eyes scanning the shadows for any threat.

Then, we encountered a group of veteran adventurers. They were locked in a fierce battle against a humanoid beast wielding an enormous club, standing over three meters tall. The troll, as I recognized it from its size and strength, swung its weapon in clumsy but devastating arcs as the adventurers tried to encircle and wear it down.

The fight seemed evenly matched. The troll was slow but powerful, while the adventurers used quick, coordinated maneuvers to wear it down. However, everything changed when the beast lifted its head and saw us. The sound of hundreds of boots descending echoed like thunder in the narrow passage. The troll gave us a single glance, let out a guttural growl, and bolted, abandoning the fight with a desperation that even the adventurers found surprising.

"Hey, idiots! That was our troll!" one of them shouted angrily as their quarry vanished into the shadows.

The silence that followed was absolute. My cohort halted in unison, turning slowly toward the adventurer who had dared to raise his voice. Hundreds of eyes, hardened by war and sacrifice, bore into him like invisible spears.

The man, who moments earlier had seemed confident in his indignation, visibly paled. He realized too late that he had made a fatal mistake.

"We march by Caesar's will, and you interrupt our path," I said coldly, stepping forward. I did not raise my voice; there was no need. My tone alone conveyed the gravity of his actions.

Normally, such an insult would warrant crucifixion. However, we lacked the wood and rope necessary, and stopping to build a cross would waste time I could not afford.

With a brief gesture of my hand, I dismissed him. "We march onward. This man is already condemned by his own tongue."

We continued for some time, descending further into the dungeon's dark corridors. Although the air grew more oppressive, my sense of time told me we had been advancing for at least an hour. The presence of adventurers had dwindled to nothing, signaling that we had crossed into territory even the boldest feared to tread.

Finally, we entered a vast cavern. The space was enormous, dimly lit by crystals embedded in the walls that emitted a faint blue glow. At the cavern's center, a group of five creatures stood. They were strange amalgamations of owls and bears, enormous and muscular, their thick plumage covering their massive bodies. Their eyes glinted with a wild intelligence, but they made no hostile moves at first. They seemed more interested in protecting something.

That was when I saw it: a nest. Several rudimentary structures of branches and stone housed large, speckled eggs, which the owl-bears guarded with their bodies in a defensive stance. They were not merely wild beasts; they were protecting their offspring.

But I was not there to admire their nature. Their hesitation was their downfall.

"Pilums, ready," I ordered, quickly deploying my cohort throughout the cavern. The legionaries moved with precision, their spears aimed at the creatures. The beasts, though aware of our threat, remained still, shielding their nest.

"Honor Caesar's will with the blood of these beasts," I shouted, raising my sword.

The first volley was devastating. Hundreds of pilums flew in unison, cutting through the air with a terrifying sound before striking the creatures. The projectiles pierced their thick bodies, targeting their eyes, mouths, and forelimbs. Three of the beasts fell almost instantly, pinned by dozens of spears before they could react.

The remaining two roared in pain and fury, charging at us with impressive force. Despite the dozens of spears embedded in their bodies, they advanced, intent on crushing us. Their massive paws churned up rocks and dust, their claws gleaming with a natural edge that could tear through steel.

"Second pilum, throw!" I roared.

Another volley of pilum flew towards the beasts. The projectiles embedded themselves in their necks, eyes, and torsos, causing them to stagger before crashing to the ground with a force that made the cavern tremble. The impact dislodged stones and dust, but when the echoes faded, silence descended.

The last two creatures died mere meters from our line, their lifeless bodies still dripping blood that mingled with the dust on the ground. The cavern, once their domain, was now completely under our control.

My men began to advance, inspecting the bodies and the nest. The eggs, intact, glowed faintly under the dim light of the crystals. I knew they held value, but that was not our reason for being here.

"Retrieve any usable pilum and reform the lines," I ordered as I surveyed the surroundings. I knew the dungeon had yet to reveal all it had in store for us. This was merely a hurdle on the path to our true objective: the Manacite crystal.

"Centurion, the beasts fell without much resistance, but we must remain vigilant," one of my optios said.

"We never let our guard down, brother," I replied, sheathing my sword. "Caesar has commanded, and we obey. We will not fail."

We immediately began to skin and harvest the fallen beasts. Their bodies, though their exact value was unknown to us, could be of use to the mighty Caesar. Every part of these creatures, from their thick feathers to their claws, was carefully collected and stored. Nothing would go to waste; everything could serve Caesar's will, whether to feed the Legion, craft tools, or offer tribute to his glory.

After completing our task, we continued descending. Thus far, our march had been effective and largely uneventful. Our discipline and numbers, combined with the devastating power of our weapons, allowed us to face any threat with terrifying precision.

In the subsequent levels, we encountered various creatures, but none posed a serious challenge. A massive pack of wolves, their silhouettes faintly glowing with arcane light, attempted an ambush in a narrow corridor. When the vanguard raised their shields and a hail of pilum rained upon them, their ranks disintegrated in an instant. The survivors fled, howling, leaving the path clear.

Farther ahead, a flock of deformed birds with mutilated wings and swollen bodies tried to attack us from above. The Legion's archers responded with speed and precision, bringing down every one of them before they could reach our line. Their bodies fell heavily to the ground, mere obstacles in our march.

Our faith in Caesar, combined with our unyielding discipline, kept us strong. Each encounter reinforced our conviction that no force in this dungeon could stop us. But that conviction was tested when we reached a wide chamber illuminated by red crystals.

The threat emerged from the shadows, moving with speed and coordination unlike anything we had faced. They were gigantic serpents with arms, wielding sharp crystals as improvised weapons. Their bodies glowed faintly with magical energy, and their eyes sparkled with an intelligence that made it clear they knew exactly who they were fighting.

"Formation! Shields up, spears ready!" I shouted as the creatures advanced toward us.

There was no hesitation in their attack. The serpents launched themselves at our lines, slamming into our shields with brutal force. Their sharp crystals struck with precision, seeking to pierce our defenses, while their fangs aimed for any opening to deliver lethal bites.

One of my legionaries fell, clutching his neck as foam began to froth from his mouth. The creatures' venom was deadly, but his death only fueled our determination.

"Spears forward! Archers, continuous fire, hold the line!" I roared.

The battle was fierce and prolonged. The serpents fought with individual ferocity, delivering chaotic and lethal blows. But the Legion did not fight as individuals. We were one, a perfectly synchronized war machine. While the vanguard held firm against the onslaught, pilum flew overhead, embedding themselves in the serpents' scaly bodies. The archers rained down arrows in a steady barrage, and the swordsmen finished off any serpent that breached the formation.

As we pressed forward, more serpents appeared, a seemingly endless tide pouring from the shadows. Their numbers seemed overwhelming, but with every step we took, we pushed them further and further back into the cavern. Our shields were coated in blood and shards of crystal, our swords stained red, but we advanced with unyielding resolve.

"Caesar watches us!" I shouted, raising my sword high. "Advance, Legionaries, and show them the power of his will!"

"Ave! True to Caesar!" the men responded, their voices echoing through the chamber as the serpents' blood soaked the ground beneath us.

At last, after an hour of brutal combat, we reached what appeared to be their final line of defense. The largest and most powerful serpents were gathered there, guarding a massive black crystal door emanating a menacing energy.

"Legionaries, this is the final barrier. Prepare to end these creatures once and for all," I commanded, raising my bloodstained shield.

The largest serpents charged with renewed ferocity, aware that their territory was at stake. Their strikes were more precise, their movements more calculated. But the Legion held its ground.

"First pilum, throw!" I shouted, and hundreds of spears flew, piercing the creatures' bodies.

The vanguard pushed forward, cutting with their swords while shields deflected incoming attacks. The serpents tried to coil around the men, but each attempt was met with a lethal blow.

"Second pilum, throw!" I commanded. The remaining spears struck the final serpents, which fell with roars of pain. The path to the door was clear, the ground littered with scaly bodies and shattered crystals.

When the last serpent fell, a heavy silence filled the chamber. The men breathed heavily, but their eyes shone with determination. We knew the battle had been grueling, but we also knew we had fulfilled our mission.

"Legionaries, we have honored Caesar's will," I said, my voice echoing through the now-quiet space. "His will is absolute, and his power is unbreakable. Now, let us open that door and claim what we came for."

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honest reviews would be greatly appreciated

Any opinion and comments are welcome