Ranma grinned as he ducked another clumsy swing from the Reaper's ham sized fists. While the massive red demon was neigh invulnerable to physical damage, and even without Ki had strength enough to make even Ryouga green with envy, the Reaper was rather slow. While a frightening combatant when armed, take away his scythe and he was nothing more than a gifted brawler. Not that Ranma could take him, unarmed or no, but he sure as hell could make an ass of him in pure hand to hand. Something which he was doing a damned good job of...
"Point for me!" Ranma exclaimed gleefully as he nailed Horny over what would usually be the kidneys. "So, that makes us what, two-ten to... nothing."
The Reaper growled viciously. "This is getting tiresome..."
Ranma shrugged and stepped back, walking to the wall mounted cistern and taking a cupful of the ice cold water. Water which miraculously enough hadn't found its way onto him yet.
"Well, I needed to keep in a fighting trim, and you need to learn how to properly fight unarmed..." the young Martial Artist turned Dungeon Keeper began.
"I don't see why I should bother," the Reaper snorted with indignantly. "It is rare that I even come across something that can challenge me as much as potentially disarm me."
The martial artist paused and thought back to the way that the Mentor usually taunted Horny. Being a student of the Saotome school, taunts were second nature to him so he swiftly formulated one that would fit the situation and the recipient.
"And if you ever do," Ranma countered. "Wouldn't you like to walk out in one piece rather than in pieces? Though this is an event that should go down in the history books..."
"What?" the Reaper growled in confusion.
"A Horned Reaper not wanting to learn another way to hurt things." Ranma sighed dramatically. "Has all the time locked in here alone made you loose your touch?"
Horny sneered viciously and took a single step forward, his fingers flexing as if he could all but feel the Scythe in his grip, ready to strike down the cheeky human before him. After a moment, he turned around with a huff, and snarled, "Fine, but when I hit you, I will not hold anything back."
"Didn't expect you to." Ranma countered. "And if you do land a hit, that means I was doing something wrong. So, practice that kata and we'll see if you've picked anything up..."
Glaring at his Keeper for a long moment, the Reaper snorted and began to go through the basic katas that Ranma had already taught him.
Ranma smirked as he exited the large chamber he had the imps dig out for training, and walked back into his Dungeon Heart. There he saw the disembodied form of the Mentor floating around, ordering the imps about. Not that he minded though, the more work the Advisor did the less he hand to handle and the more time he had to train.
"So, how's it lookin'?" Ranma asked his aid.
The old ghost sighed. "Not well, I am afraid. It seems that the Keepers who imprisoned Horny choose this area wisely. It is impregnated with a great amount of bedrock which your imps cannot tunnel through. I've been directing them to find ways around but the going has been slow."
Ranma nodded. "I know. Any ideas?"
"At this point," the Advisor sighed. "Keep digging. There has to be a portal or a way out of here somewhere."
Ranma sighed. "Tell me about it... so how much gold do you think we've got. I can't tell anything above Sixteen thousand..."
The mentor nodded. "Yes. You've maxed out your Heart. I'd say its about time for you to build a treasury."
Ranma crossed his arms. "Yeah, okay... so where should I build it?"
"If I had eyes, I would be rolling them," he mentor replied. "How about you build it in the large room where you've been keeping the gold."
Ranma nodded and the room shifted into a brightly lit treasury room, where the piles of gold were immediately sorted into chests, sacks, and neat piles.
"So, what is the count," the Mentor asked.
"About a hundred grand," Ranma replied. "That a lot?"
"By most standards, it is a veritable fortune. By Keeper standards, it is enough to build a comfortably sized, relatively well established dungeon."
Ranma nodded. "You think this is a good place for one?"
The Advisor floated thoughtfully. "For your primary heart, the drastic isolation and excessive amount of bedrock adds a strong element of security. Though you may wish to eventually relocate, it will do for the time being."
Ranma sighed and leaned back. "So, is it enough to build an Inner Sanctum?"
The Advisor paused for a moment then chuckled. "Yes. Indeed it is. Though realize, that an Inner Sanctum is almost a dungeon complex in its own. In addition, to have a truly substantial Inner Sanctum you will be required to fill it out later. Keeper magic cannot create magical items."
"So should I wait?" Ranma asked.
"No," the Advisor replied. "If you are going to receive any respect as a Keeper you cannot be found sleeping in a simple Lair."
Ranma sighed and nodded. "Alright."
"Excellent," the Advisor buzzed. "I will inform you of when we are finished. It will take several hours to prepare the necessary set of chambers."
"That reminds me," Ranma asked. "So, how long have I been down here?"
"About a week," the Mentor replied. "It takes time for you surface dwellers to adapt to the Underworld. By this time next month, you'll be wondering how you were ever able to stand the hateful glare of the burning sun..."
"Wonderful," Ranma blanched.
Ranma paused for a moment and smirked. "Hey, looks like one of the imps finally broke through to another chamber. You dig, I'll get Horny and take a look, so why don't you tell the imps where to build the Inner Sanctum? You know this Keeper stuff better than me, anyways."
"Very well, Keeper," the Mentor replied. "I will have a space ready for construction upon your return..."
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(Posted Sun, 17 Dec 2006 09:06)
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