With a heavy swing, yet another Green Slime burst, spilling forth upon the loose stone of the second floor. There hadn’t been another Red Slime, but there were plenty of Greens scattered throughout the dungeon. Unfortunately, he hadn’t seen a single treasure chest, though it didn’t surprise him. If there had been anything of value, no doubt Neth-amii would have claimed it during one of her many clearings of the dungeon.
Speaking of the Shrine Priestess, she continued to follow along, only stepping in when things got overwhelming. Like that seven Slime ambush upon reaching the second floor. She’d only agreed to delve deeper due to his level up and promise to not rush ahead again. He’d learned that lesson, and the prospect of further gains in strength was simply too good to ignore.
It still took two hits to down most of the Slimes, but he occasionally managed to kill one in a single strike. The stick was holding up better than he expected, but he could tell that it was showing signs of wear.
He needed a better weapon.
Monsters didn’t appear to drop anything of note, though Neth-amii did collect the solid cores from the slimes. She hadn’t elaborated and he hadn’t asked. Whatever it was, he knew she’d mention it when it became relevant. For now, Kevin was focused on getting stronger. Level three was close, just ten more experience points away. A single Red Slime would do it, but he was starting to think that he wouldn’t see another.
“Shall we descend to the third floor?” Neth-amii asked.
Kevin sighed, looking at the stairs. “Maybe, but I don’t know if this stick can handle another floor worth of enemies.”
“[Mend].”
The word had that same ring as when he cast [Heal], which topped up his health to full with each casting. The splinters on his weapon knit back together, as did the hairline cracks he had observed slowly spreading. Even his clothes and armor reformed, though it didn’t take out any of the stains from the slime guts. It was a useful skill, and one he hoped to pick up as he leveled.
His mana was low, but with how close he was to leveling, he just hoped that it would recover just as his health seemed to. At least, that was the hope. He could just ask Neth-amii, but Kevin didn’t want to be a bother. Plus, it left him with his own thoughts as he considered what the Shrine Priestess meant by becoming his idealized form. Given the system recorded his name as Bria, it had implications that he really wasn’t ready to consider.
“Third floor it is then,” Kevin said, giving the stick a few experimental flicks.
“We’ll face stronger monsters down there, so make ready,” Neth-amii said, taking that first step down into the next level of the dungeon. Once again the only light was the staff held by the Shrine Priestess as she hummed to herself on the way down. It was strange seeing how she had opened up in the short time they had been in the dungeon together, but he wasn’t about to voice that.
She would probably just stop talking to him, or worse, send him back home.
That was the last thing Kevin wanted, and he wasn’t about to do anything to risk it. Not until he saw more of this strange and wonderful land he was now in. The next floor came sooner than the previous, and the entire atmosphere was different. Rather than constructed stone, they were now within a vast cavern full of glowing crystal that jutted out from every surface. It cast the space in an eerie light, but at least he could see everything that awaited.
Like the Red Slime that had just taken notice of their arrival!
“What in the world,” Neth-amii said, looking about. “Why are there so many more monsters than normal?”
“No idea,” he said, stepping forward. “But shouldn’t we focus on the beast that’s ready to attack?”
“Right you are,” she said, readying her staff. “[Frost]!”
That same cold mist shot forth, coating the Slime with freezing moisture. Kevin moved swiftly, bashing the monster with his enhanced strength. It took seven swings for the creature to fall, and the ding that reached his mind was most welcome.
You have defeated a [Red Slime] 16 EXP Granted!
Bria Ortega has leveled up!
Hit Points: 20+7=27
Mana: 15+6=21
Strength: 17+8=25
Defense: 15+7=22
Agility: 13+8=21
Magic Might: 12+7=19
Magic Defense: 14+8=22
[Mend] Learned!
And just like that he was now twice as strong as when he woke up in this world just hours earlier. That same thrill shot through every nerve, sending vibrations through his entire body. His clothes grew a touch tighter in various places, but he wasn’t too concerned. He could always adjust the straps if it got to be uncomfortable.
“This is incredible!”
Bubbling laughter followed. “I know. My own early levels were equally as thrilling. By level ten you should fully settle into your ideal self just as I once did.”
“Awesome,” he said, flexing his hands. “I can’t wait!”
Idly he wondered just how many Red Slimes there might be on this level of the dungeon, and if it would be enough to get him up to level four. The excitement of becoming better was addictive, and he was already hooked on chasing that next increase in his stats. Unfortunately, each additional level would grow ever further out of reach. These first levels were always the easiest in the game, and eventually it would take hours upon hours of grinding just to get that next upgrade.
Did equipment increase stats in this world? If so, he would need to seek out funds for those upgrades. A proper sword would be nice, as would a shield to block slimes from tackling him. Every little bit helped in Dungeon Heroes Three, and he had a feeling that the same would hold true here as well.
They pressed on, fighting numerous Green Slimes, and one more Red Slime in addition to a few bats and one unusually large rodent. It took some time, but soon enough they reached the door that Neth-amii had mentioned as being the end of the dungeon. The door was little more than a solid sheet of stone with nothing decorating it set within the rough walls of the cavern.
“Odd,” he said, walking up to it. “Is there a way to open it?”
“I do not know,” Neth-amii admitted. “The increase in monsters is startling enough, which has me believing that your arrival has changed something. Perhaps you should place a hand upon the surface and see if there is a reaction?”
Kevin did as she asked, pressing his palm flat to the surface. Nothing happened, and he felt a bit silly as he pulled his hand back.
“Not sure why I got my hopes up,” Kevin said. “Should we return to the surface? Wait, do the monsters respawn?”
“They do, but not at an unmanageable rate. If we encounter even a single Green Slime I will be surprised.”
An explosive breath left him as he stepped back. As much as he wanted to continue to fight, exhaustion was starting to creep in. He could keep going, but there were risks there that were probably not the wisest. He needed to temper that desire to stay and fight with his knowledge that doing so was just as dangerous as staying up all night to grind out levels in the game.
Which he had done the night before.
The pair made it three steps before rumbling had both of them spinning in place; weapons raised to combat whatever might be coming next. The stone door slid down into the ground, revealing a room beyond cast in shadow. This had all the hallmarks of a coming boss fight, and Kevin wasn’t sure he was ready for it. His mana was sitting at eleven, and his HP just shy of full.
“Something’s coming,” Neth-amii said, bracing herself. “And it is powerful.”
Nodding, Kevin fell into a ready stance, stick angled towards the now open door. He nearly jumped when a creeping void darted out, the shadow resolving into a form that seemed to absorb the very light.
“Devil!” Neth-amii shouted, shooting a spell of pure light at the fiend. “Bria, move!”
It dodged, slinking along the ground impossibly quick. Bria tried to follow it, and swung blindly at the motion. Something connected, and the creature shrieked, retreating back from him with a wary gaze.
[Shadow Devil: Lv.15]
“You’re not ready for that,” Neth-amii said, stepping forward. “Nothing that strong should be down here.”
“Well it is,” Bria growled, refusing to back down. “We can figure out the why of it all after it’s no longer trying to kill us!”
Another lance of light erupted from Neth-amii’s staff, grazing the creature as it charged forward once again. Bria didn’t wait for it to strike, moving aside as its claws passed through where he had just stood. Neth-amii wasn’t terribly faster than he was, but she still reacted quickly. Her staff lashed out, sparking with lightning as it collided with the Shadow Devil.
He matched her blow from the other side, some of the sparks dancing across the connection and setting his hairs on end. It wasn’t nearly enough as the Devil shifted, dropping to the ground between them. A tendril lashed out, and Bria wasn’t quite quick enough to avoid it. Fire lanced up her side where the creature had cut right through the leather and split her side open.
[Heal] was cast, mending the wound and topping his health up. In the time it took for the spell to work, Neth-amii was locked into a close quarters dance with the Devil. Cursing his own weakness, Bria returned to the fray, striking quickly while the beast was distracted. His Sturdy Stick impacted the Devil hard, the impact reverberating up his arms despite his enhanced strength. Yet, it didn’t appear to be dealing any actual injuries.
The monster was far stronger than him, and he knew his contributions were negligible at best. Neth-amii would be doing most of the damage, which meant that he needed to be the one to give her those openings. It was the only path to winning that he could see, and retreat wasn’t an option with how fast it could move.
Spells continued to fly and Bria could only hope that Neth-amii’s mana would hold out long enough to defeat the creature. The worst part of the battle was how difficult it was for her to actually strike the monster with her magic. Bria had more luck with her stick, but the creature seemed aware that her own strikes held minimal impact in comparison to the flashier spells.
Still, they were wearing it down even as Bria threw out another [Heal]. Neth-amii’s injuries mended even as she extended her staff. Hair flew back; half matted from sweat and blood. Crimson light flashed and the flame spell engulfed the Shadow Demon. Not wanting to be left out, Bria rushed forward, putting herself in harm’s way to ensure that the opening wouldn’t go to waste.
The stick impacted the still burning Demon, earning a shriek of agony as she struck against the charred flesh, causing the shadow to stumble. Claws lashed out, rending her flesh even as she cried out. Twenty points of health disappeared in a blink, and before Bria could prepare another [Heal] for herself, the Shadow Demon was upon her.
She brought the stick up as a feeble defense even as she began to channel her mana, but Bria knew it was too late. The Demon’s claws came down, shearing through the stick and coming right for her. Her eyes screwed shut, fully expecting the pain that would accompany death.
Something white flashed across her eyes, and the pain never came. Instead, that telltale ding rang out. Opening her eyes, Bria was greeted by the sight of the Shadow Demon hanging there with a bright spear of light having pierced clean through the monster. More than that, was the following messages and surge of power she had come to expect.
Your group has defeated a [Shadow Devil] 152 EXP Granted!
Bria Ortega has leveled up!
Hit Points: 27+7=34
Mana: 21+8=29
Strength: 25+6=31
Defense: 22+7=29
Agility: 21+6=27
Magic Might: 19+5=24
Magic Defense: 22+7=29
[Cleanse] Learned!
The spell was new, but that same instinctual knowledge came with it. It could purge poison, and even make soured food or water potable. It was essentially a catch all for anything foreign that could cause the body harm internally or externally.
“You’re alive!” Neth-amii shouted, pulling Bria into a crushing hug. The broken stick clattered to the ground as the adrenaline rushed out all at once. “You scared me there at the end, I wasn’t sure my magic would be fast enough!”
“It was,” Bria said, hesitantly returning the embrace. “You saved me yet again.”
A choked sob followed as Neth-amii leaned back. Her face was covered in matted blood, with some strands of hair stuck close. Yet, that did nothing to tarnish the radiant smile that had broken out across her face.
[Shrine Priestess Lv. 15]
“Congratulations,” Bria said, returning the grin. “Level fifteen. Anything special from that one?”
Neth-amii shook her head. “Level ten is the class unlock. Twenty is the next upgrade for the class according to my mentor. She was level twenty-three when I took over for her duties.”
“Still, it’s an achievement,” Bria said, unsure what else she might say. “Speaking of, we should see what’s in the room that the monster was guarding.”
Turning back to the now open doorway, Neth-amii frowned. “Right, the sealed door that hasn’t been opened to my knowledge since the first Shrine Priestess took their post thousands of years in the past.”
“Maybe I’ll get something to replace the broken stick,” Bria said, chuckling softly as she looked down at the pathetic piece of broken wood. A gentle kick sent the sheared handle rolling to join the rest of the pieces beside the monster’s corpse. “Fingers crossed for a sword.”
“Fingers crossed?” Neth-amii asked. “I am unfamiliar with that term.”
“It’s an expression,” Bria said, walking with caution towards the doorway. “It means wishing for good luck.”
“Ah,” Neth-amii acknowledged. “I don’t actually know many of those. The people who visit the shrine tend to be rather formal about it.”
Humming, Bria stepped inside the room, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness within. That was rendered moot when the bright glow of Neth-amii’s staff pierced the void and cast a brilliant glow upon the veiled secrets.
“Well,” Bria whispered, her eyes sparkling. “That’s certainly something.”
Status:
Name: Bria Ortega
Level: 04
Experience: 112/147
Class: NONE
Hit Points: 34
Mana: 29
Strength: 31
Defense: 29
Agility: 27
Magic Might: 24
Magic Defense: 29