I counted six of the brutes. Hissing loudly and menacingly, they dashed straight at the crowd of halflings near the tunnel entrance.
I extended my hand and activated Ram. The glimmering lilac ball sent the venomous monsters flying back. Like ugly ragdolls, they slammed into the sharp stone edges protruding from the deformed walls. The places they hit were immediately painted a shade of crimson. I waved off the last of six messages.
— You have attacked Poisontooth (30)!
— Critical hit. You have dealt 560 damage!
Great! Six crits!
When I was just a few more yards away from the columns, the cracks the poisonteeth were climbing out of started growing wider with loud crunches. In fact, the very same thing was happening in almost every direction.
Different lizards started slipping through the especially wide cracks. I stopped and looked around. I saw the clumsy bodies of the draks, black tails of the poisonteeth, and veiny neck frills of the guides. All that time, the powerful blows at the front door just kept coming. I was forming the impression that this whole snake den had gone batty. I didn’t want to consider who or what was trying to get into the hall through the main entrance.
Meanwhile, the hall was gradually starting to fill with enemies. I threw on a canopy of invisibility, stood with my back to the escape tunnel and, slowly walking backwards, started casting ice arrows at the most enthusiastic villains.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elun disappear through the door, supported on two sides by other fighters. I smiled. It worked! There was one last group of halflings left before we could leave!
The periodic shockwaves were starting to damage the dark cave ceiling. Quite ponderous little rocks were flying down from above. A big huge sharp stalactite fell right into a dense group of running lizards.
— You have killed Poisontooth (30)!
— Congratulations! You receive:
— Experience essence (6000).
— Silver tablet (10).
— You have killed Guide Drak (33)!
— Congratulations! You receive:
— Experience essence (6600).
— Silver tablet (10).
— You have killed Drak (25)!
— Congratulations! You receive:
— Experience essence (5000).
— Silver tablet (10).
The walls bulged in a few places and, unable to take it, burst. A cloud of stone shrapnel cut down half the remaining halflings in one go. Some died right away while others fell to the floor and squealed, clutching at the stumps of their severed limbs.
I also got hit. But the Ysh was vigilantly on guard keeping me safe.
Gorgie, as if knowing where every little stone would land, easily and even playfully dodged the sharp stones.
“It’s time!” I shouted, not even hearing my own voice.
But at that very moment, the goddess Fortuna turned her back on us.
The next fearsome blow was particularly destructive. The stone slab which had been blocking the entrance all that time ceased to exist. Shattering into hundreds of deadly fragments, the passage effectively doubled in size. So who or what has been trying to get in here with such fury?
The edges of the passage started to give. Large pieces of stone, breaking away from the larger formation, fell to the floor, giving rise to underground shockwaves of monstrous force. A few columns broke with a crack, and the snake statues that crowned them slammed to the floor.
The column the secret passage was behind also took damage. It cracked plaintively in a few places and fell to rubble, meanwhile blocking my only path to freedom.
And the column was just the beginning. The sloping stone ceiling gave a shudder and started to collapse, entombing the unfortunate halflings who had yet to get into the passage. The dust was still settling, but I already knew – I’d have to find another way out.
I quickly recalled Gorgie because, after the last halflings died, all the lizards started focusing on my pet.
The beasts greeted the harn’s disappearance with disappointed hissing. And I could understand. All that effort down the drain. But it was hard to tell where I was, sheltered beneath a canopy of invisibility and hidden by all the commotion.
I watched them bustle around, sitting a step away from a dead guide drak. Or rather what was left of him. A big huge stalactite had splattered the lizard like a rotten tomato. His guts were strewn about the rocks. Dust and small debris stuck to them, they gave off a vile stench of shit and blood. But I was hoping for that very smell. I was certain that reeking stench would make it impossible to smell me. And I wasn’t wrong. The prowling brutes didn’t pay me any mind.
During my several minute pause, I took a little look around. The shockwaves had stopped, but not the turmoil by the entrance. Something was pushily trying to make it through the rubble. Based on the powerful hissing, it was something huge and terrible. Even the lizards are shuddering at the sounds.
I gulped quietly. My gaze landed on the massive pillar in the middle of the room. The portal had not suffered one bit in the calamity. As a matter of fact, not a single stone had fallen near it. Even though I can definitely remember a big rockfall over there.
And another thing... The lizards were trying to stay as far from the portal as possible. The small area around the pillar was reminiscent of a serene island in the midst of a stormy sea.
I had to take advantage of that…
Slowly, almost without breathing, I headed toward the portal.
When any of the lizards turned their heads or stuck out their split tongues, my gait changed instantly. My footsteps were cautious, calculating. It seemed one of them could hiss and fall on me at any moment. Then, the foot I’d raised to take a step froze and I spent a long time letting my eyes wander as Takeda taught me. There were times when I wanted to run the ten-yard span and get it over with, but I held back. Something inside was telling me – abrupt movements now would only be my ruin.
I kept stubbornly moving forward for a long while. I think it must have been one of the physically shortest but also most perilous walks of my life. I finally reached my long-sought goal and wiped the sweat off my face. I almost tripped a few times, but I made it... Hm... Actually, what am I talking about?! I’m up to the crown of my head in shit!
I hadn’t touched the portal yet. I crouched down two paces away. I’d have to renew the canopy soon. Didn’t want to miss that. I checked my mana supply. Just over ten thousand. Thank the gods I’d gotten those crystals from the gnome when I did!
When I finished looking around, I raised my eyes and shuddered. Right where I’d just come from there was a guide drak standing perfectly still. He was sniffing all around the stalactite that had turned his kinsman into a bloodspot. When he reached the place I’d been sitting, the lizard’s head froze. His sticky tongue slithered out. Nothing happened for the first few seconds. I’d already started to think I’d gotten away with it. But suddenly the guide shuddered. His neck frill opened menacingly and vibrated. Turning his head right in my direction, the beast gave a loud extended hiss.
Heat engulfed my back. My face was burning. This son of a bitch has quite the sense of smell!
The guide’s hissing was joined by all the others right away, while the chaos around the rubble heap started again with renewed vigor.
The lizards instantly stopped their aimless wandering of the demolished hall and threw themselves at me, but stopped at a boundary only they could see, hissing and seething in impotence. I was surrounded on all sides. The nearest brute was at an arm’s reach.
But I knew what I was going to do next! I had one confined spell stone left! I looked at its characteristics maliciously.
Elemental Crystal “Earth Tremor.”
― Type: Magic confinement crystal.
― Rarity: Epic.
― Effect:
― Contains the spell “Earth Tremor.”
― Earth Tremor.
― Description:
― One of the m
ost powerful earth magic spells, created by Master Terrence the Wise.
― Type: Offensive/Area of Effect.
― Rarity: Epic.
― Magic School: Earth.
― Effect:
― Caster chooses a section of land and starts an earthquake there.
― Requirements:
― Intellect – 15.
― Expends 5000 mana points.
― Radius of effect: 165 feet.
― Duration: 5 minutes.
― Note:
― Must have reputation 2000 with the Monster Hunters to purchase.
― Price: 500 tokens.
― Crystal disappears after activation.
― Weight: None. Takes no space.
I activated muckwalker’s defensive aura and got ready to unleash the spell. I understood that the defensive aura and Ysh spirit likely wouldn’t be enough to save me from the powerful spell. Causing an earthquake while deep under a mountain – that’s suicide. I also was not feeding any illusions about the portal conveying an unseen protective field. Yes, the gateway to the otherworld would not be destroyed by the spell, but I was certainly not going to be so lucky. I didn’t want to think about death. But if I am going to die, better to go out loudly and stamping my feet!
The vile hissing cut into my ears. A deafening blow shook the walls. Between the heaps of sharp stone and earth there appeared something enormous and pale. I was shackled by primordial horror.
A serpent of colossal dimensions slithered into the hall like a big heavy white ribbon. The lizards all leapt away in fear. The snake, in no rush whatever, curved a circle around the portal and stopped opposite me. The beast wound up into a few coils, spiraled around one of the stalactites and raised its rhomboid head menacingly. The spiked tip of her tail stood on end, quivering gently.
It was Her! The Queen of the draks! A level-eighty creature!
A deafening hiss in my head made me shudder.
— Attention! You have been subjected to mental magic!
― Attack repulsed!
Another hiss! This one sharper, more spiteful!
— Attention! You have been subjected to mental magic!
― Attack repulsed!
The snake’s head raised up several yards. Her rhomboid neck frill grew larger and started vibrating. The brute was going berserk.
Strangely enough though, repulsing the psychic attacks brought me to my senses. Mortified, I unconsciously pressed my back up against the pillar.
― Attention! You may only cross over after activating the amulet!
― Would you like to activate Amulet of the Wanderer?
― Warning! Only select individuals may perform this action!
My mouth gaped, blindsided. Everything inside me went cold! Quickly taking the little silver disk from my backpack, I gave my assent.
I felt a painful prick in my palm. The surprise just about made me drop the artifact.
― Please wait! Analyzing...
As the messages jumped in before my eyes, I completely forgot where I was. The Queen of the draks, as if sensing something amiss, jerked in my direction.
In response, I decided to try the black lightning trick again. Clutching a handful of black spheres, I was about to unleash the spell when a message appeared before my eyes.
— Attention! Blood analysis: Positive.
― Amulet of the Wanderer activated successfully!
― Would you like to cross over?
— Cost of service: 10000 mana points.
The creature’s head was already close. And just then I gave my permission and was blanketed by darkness.
Chapter 31
I CAME BACK to my senses in a single burst. Like diving up out of a whirlpool. And instantly gave a sharp twitch when I remembered the drak Queen’s fanged maw. I felt a dull pain in my entire body and winced. My eyes went dark. It was like an ice golem had stomped all over me.
I felt tears welling up unwittingly in my eyes, leaving hot trails running down my temples.
When the pain gradually started to recede, and I was able to think properly again I opened my eyes. Light. Gray. Overcast. I cautiously turned my neck and found myself lying on a heap of dusty rubbish in the middle of a rectangular room. Based on the sooty walls, there had been a fire here. But a very long time ago. Just the sheer amount of weeds and moss around. It must be some old home, but an abandoned one. And they didn’t want to clean up and move back in after the fire? Strange.
I looked around. To the left, huge rectangular windows where all I could see was a dirty gray sky. To the right, narrow doorways. A huge hole gaping in the ceiling, and beyond it I can see the next room, which has yet another hole in its ceiling. And beyond it another, and another. And I am lying right beneath all the holes. That means this is a tall building. Five stories. Abandoned due to fire.
It isn’t hard to guess: the portal exit just so happens to be located on the very top floor. Right above the top hole in the floor. And so I crashed right through all of them after popping out of the Gateway.
When I read through my messages, everything fell into place. I hadn’t died in the fall thanks to the Ysh spirit, muckwalker aura and my new artifact – Master Pyrus’ signet. The damage from the blow was so great that it drained all my shields to nil as well as my life and mana supplies, leaving the latter with a mere four points.
Oof, I wish Mee was here with me! Oh well, it’s no matter. I retrieved a bulb of satiety potion from my backpack and took a swallow of the healing elixir. My life and energy supplies went up seventy percent right away. Now Wisdom will get started refilling my mana. And in the meantime, I’ll also summon Gorgie.
Slowly lifting myself up on an elbow, I felt a slight dizziness. But a moment later, everything was back to normal. The pain gradually retreated as well.
I turned around, got up first on all fours and then, reeling – stood to my full height. I jerked my head upward and looked into a hole in the ceiling. A-hem. I took a pretty good tumble.
A cross-breeze traipsed through the room. It was chilly and uncomfortable. Although, what am I talking about? What building would be cozy after a fire?
I decided to walk over to the window. When I stopped at the opening and peeked outside, my head started spinning. I recoiled in fear and hurriedly walked backward.
I had never been up this high before! Now, at the very least, I get why I can only see the sky out the windows.
After soothing the tremor in my knees, I clutched onto a rusty steel cable sticking out of the wall and looked out again. I lost my breath right away. My heart started racing a mile a minute. How many floors does this thing have?
Gathering my courage, I stuck out my neck and glanced down. I counted twenty-two holes. I looked up. Approximately the same number.
There was a strong wind blowing outside. My eyes teared up right away. It seemed if I stuck my head out just a bit more, the stiff breeze would pick me up and carry me away like a tiny little blade of grass.
After I took a look around, I realized that I was in a massive city. A dead city, where almost all the buildings were just as tall and just as devoid of life as this one.
The broad windows gaped with black emptiness. Some of the giant buildings were partially demolished. As if fire had rained down on them from the heavens. The wide roadways and the walls of lower floors were covered with an unbroken carpet of vegetation. Seemingly, this city had been abandoned for a very long time. A huge square in the distance had gone untended so long it had sprouted a thick forest. I’m scared to even imagine how many people used to live here, and what forced them to abandon their homes.
Seemingly, I had truly been conveyed to a different world. I don’t remember ever hearing about cities such as this before.
By the way, speaking of that... When I remembered the portal, I decided to go up and take a closer look at it. I wonder how much time will have to pass for the Queen of the draks to calm down and leave that hall. I am not exactly burning with desir
e to spend time here. I’ll sit around a while and – right back.
Wandering the dark rooms, I eventually found a passage that led to the wide stone stairway that linked all the floors together. Slowly, listening to every sound, I went up the five stories. The door into the portal room was locked, but the wall next to it had a big gaping breach, so I easily made it inside and quickly found the portal.
It was a wide ovular arch. Right on the edge of the ill-fated hole I dropped through after crossing over. Built of rectangular blocks of either steel or stone, it reminded me of a big huge horseshoe. When I leaned against one of the blocks, I received a system notification.
The Dark Continent (Underdog Book #3): LitRPG Series Page 30