“Here, please drink this to help you,” Owyn said as he gave him a vial with blue liquid from his pouch.
“What is it?”
“It is a defensive boost potion. However, it contains ingredients to assist in defense of dark magic. Most defensive boost potions help you with physical damage only,” replied Owyn.
Varnoth nodded and popped the cork. The shadow panther gulped the blue liquid into his body. A blue aura engulfed him for a few seconds and then dissipated.
Owyn drank the same potion. However, he drank an additional one as well. This vial contained a bright green liquid. He drank it in two swallows, and Owyn’s eyes glowed brightly for five seconds.
“What is that?” asked Varnoth.
“It will give me night vision for the next hour. I prefer to use it instead of a light orb spell.”
Varnoth nodded his head and asked, “Shall we?”
They both entered the catacombs side by side. Luckily, there was plenty of space for them, and they didn’t have to go in single file. There were fifty yards of stone corridor, but the décor became much more frightening. The dead laid in small openings in the stone walls. They were left exposed to the world for eternity. Some were skeletons, and some were decomposing from a recent death. Crawling insects traveled the bones of the skeletons. Maggots feasted on bodies that were in earlier stages of decomposition. Varnoth felt his stomach contents slowly rise to his throat. He was able to swallow it back down, barely. Owyn walked completely unphased. He was solely focused on finding his granddaughter, hopefully alive.
Suddenly, an arm extended, and a rotting hand grabbed Varnoth’s left arm as he passed. Varnoth expelled a startled gasp. The corpse pulled the shadow panther toward his mouth to take a bite out of his flesh. Varnoth unsheathed his right dagger and plunged it into the undead corpse’s skull. The sound was a combination of bones breaking and mush being squished. Varnoth retracted his dagger to see that the blade was covered in rotting gore and maggots. The corpse rolled out of the hole slamming to the stone floor, and it lay motionless.
You have killed Undead Corpse!
You have received 100 experience points!
You have received:
1 x Vial of Pus
10 x Maggots
5 Gold
“Are you ok, Varnoth?” shouted Owyn, “He knows we are here. Be attentive.”
Varnoth nodded and prepared to push all of his death and loot notifications to the side until they left the catacombs. He knew things were going to get more hectic very soon. The duo began to hear moans coming around the bend of the corridor. As they advanced, they saw four undead corpses slowly dragging toward the adventurers. Owyn launched a fireball from the tip of his staff and engulfed one of the corpses in bright orange flames. The corpse beside the burning zombie turned toward the sudden burst of light. He moved toward it and caught fire as well. The burning zombies were still approaching, so Owyn blasted them once more, and they fell to the floor.
“Varnoth, you will need to get the others. My mana needs to replenish for a few seconds. I am an idiot for not drinking a mana regeneration boost before entering. I will remedy that in a moment," Owyn said as he dug into his pouch.
Two zombies approached the black cat, screeching, moaning, and dragging their feet in the darkness. Varnoth held his daggerless hand out and activated Black Rain. Daggers pierced the corpses over and over until they laid motionless on the corridor floor.
“Ah, brilliant! Take a mana regeneration potion as well. We will need your Black Blade skills more for the remainder of our quest.”
Owyn handed Varnoth a vial with dark purple contents inside. He drank, and his mana began to increase rapidly. The shadow panther knew that Blade Shield would be an essential skill to use if surrounded.
The two adventurers continued down the winding corridor without incident until they reached a large circular chamber. Torches surrounded the chamber attached to the stone walls. As they entered the center of the room, fog barriers covered the exits, and zombies fell from the ceiling. It was as if the corpses appeared out of thin air. Eight rotting, animated bodies were encircling them both.
“Owyn, run to the side of the chamber and stay out of the way. I am going to let them get closer to me.”
Owyn jumped on a zombie that had lost its footing after the fall. It appeared to be Owyn’s bridge to safety. Blood and other fluids squirted from the body with each step. All eight of the zombies had their arms outstretched. They were all in varying stages of decomposition. A couple of them appeared to be only a few days old. The others were much more decomposed — skin and rotting flesh dangled from their outstretched arms. Maggots filled their eye sockets, and pus streamed from their noses and mouths. The smell was unbearable. When they were inches from touching Varnoth, he activated Blade Shield. He was almost too late. He had forgotten the skill did not activate without a short delay. A sphere of darkness encapsulated Varnoth. The darkness swirled with ferocity as blades flailed violently. The blades began to rip and shred the zombies apart. Gore, blood, pus, and maggots splattered the adventurers and the walls and floor. Blade Shield was a fantastic skill. However, it was a messy one. Gore dangled from Owyn’s long beard, and he made a horrified face at the shadow panther.
“Brilliant, but disgusting,” Owyn said as he emptied his stomach contents on the granite floor.
Varnoth couldn’t help but feel some remorse. However, the nastiness of their surroundings would be unavoidable.
After a few moments, Owyn reclaimed his bearings, and they continued deep into the catacombs. The duo continued to run into zombies periodically over their trek down the dark corridors. Luckily, they were one on one encounters instead of multiple zombies at one time. Varnoth dispatched these zombies with relative ease. He let Owyn follow behind him to reserve his mana pool as well as his HP. Owyn was not effective in close quarters combat, and this was all it was now.
Suddenly a feminine scream pierced their ears.
“Celeste! That’s her! Let’s go!” cried Owyn as he pushed past Varnoth.
Varnoth matched his speed as they ran toward the source of the scream. They entered a larger chamber lit with torches, and bones scattered the floor. Soon after they entered, they saw Celeste tied to a stone altar. Her long, blonde hair lay over the head of the altar, and her dress was ripped and torn. She turned her head to look at the duo with big, blue fearful eyes. Tears streamed down her face and puddled on the altar. A man stood beside her, smiling at the new visitors. He was wearing a black cloak with ominous symbols tattered all over. He appeared to be human. However, Varnoth couldn’t be sure.
“Celeste, are you ok, my dear?” Owyn asked as he ignored the necromancer.
“No hello for me, old man?” asked the necromancer.
Mostra
Human Necromancer
Level 18
Owyn turned his attention toward Mostra and asked, “What are you doing to my granddaughter, you vile demon?”
“Demon? I am flattered, but I am just a measly human,” Mostra said with a sarcastic frown, “You are interrupting my time with my soon to be wife. Celeste is quite the pitiful name, and I do plan on changing it to be more fitting for her new life as my wife.”
“I will never marry you, asshole!” Celeste screamed at the top of her lungs.
“I am afraid you don’t have a choice, dear. However, I think you will come to enjoy it. I must say I am quite surprised to see a shadow panther is here as well. You would make a tremendous servant to me as well. What do you say?”
Varnoth wanted to use Black Rain, but it would kill Celeste. Mostra was standing right beside her.
“I am no one’s servant. Let her go, and we may be quick with your death. You can stay here for eternity with your undead fiends,” said Varnoth.
Mostra pulled a dagger out of his robe and placed it on Celeste’s neck. She let out a petrified gasp.
“Stop!” Owyn pleaded, “What do you want from us?”
“Are you a se
nile old man? I want her, and that is it. You have nothing to offer me. I want this tasty woman at my side to please me. I plan to skin you alive and hang your old, wrinkly skin on my wall. I will make a rug out of this stupid panther bastard.”
“Take the knife from her throat and face me one on one,” demanded Varnoth as he held both daggers and gnashed his teeth.
“No thank you, you feline idiot. Really? How stupid do you think that I am?” replied Mostra with his dagger held firmly at Celeste’s neck. It was so close that the sharp edge had broken the skin, and a small amount of blood oozed from the cut.
Mostra raised his left arm with his palm open, “Rise!”
A split second later, the walls began to rumble, and zombies crashed through the tombs in the walls. Mostra cackled as the dead started to approach.
Varnoth counted twelve undead corpses moving toward them. The moans echoed in the macabre chamber of death. Before Varnoth decided on a strategy, Owyn began blasting the zombies closest to him with fireballs at a rapid rate. Varnoth lunged into action. As zombies were engulfed behind him, Varnoth began to slash and stab the zombies headed in his direction. Putrid guts spilled to the floor, limbs detached and flew in all directions and black blood slung all over the chamber. Yet the zombies still approached. Varnoth realized that the only way to kill a zombie is damage to the brain. Two of the zombies lunged at the shadow panther. This was an attack that he had not seen before in the catacombs. Varnoth felt teeth rip into his flesh and sharp bone fingers stab into him. The black cat screamed in horror and pain.
You have been inflicted with necrotic poison!
Your health will reduce by 2% every 5 seconds until you are healed or die!
Varnoth used all his strength to tear away from the two zombies before he was overwhelmed by the rest in his vicinity. Varnoth’s flesh dangled in the mouths of his attackers. Blood ran down the shadow panther’s arms and dripped to the floor. The gaping wounds burned and ached. Varnoth’s stomach churned in nausea from the pain and poison from the bites.
Varnoth activated Black Rain. Daggers fell from the dark cloud above. However, it only covered three of the undead. They were shredded and laid motionless on the floor. The others approached with menace and hunger. Fireballs bombarded his attackers in rapid succession. They screeched and fell to the floor with a sickening plop. Varnoth and Owyn turned their attention to Mostra who was in the same spot as he continued to hold the blade at Celeste’s neck. As Varnoth looked around for more approaching undead, he saw that all of the tombs in this particular chamber had been opened. Mostra would be forced to fight without help from the undead.
Mostra realized this as well and looked much more stressed at the current situation. His eyes were wide, and Varnoth could sense his heart racing and saw his limbs begin to tremble.
“It’s over, let her go now,” Varnoth demanded as he pointed his right dagger at the necromancer.
Mostra took his blade away from Celeste’s neck and began to slice her restraints off. She quickly rolled to the stone floor with a resounding thud. Mostra held his hands up and dropped his dagger. It clanged on the altar and bounced to the floor.
“There! I did what you wished. Let me go.”
Suddenly a massive fireball conjured in Celeste’s hand, and she threw it with all her might. It smashed into Mostra and knocked him back into the wall. His robe was engulfed, and he panicked and threw his robe to the floor. The necromancer stood with only a loincloth. He had demonic tattoos all over his pale, thin body. The necromancer watched Celeste conjure another fireball in her hand. Varnoth moved behind him with mindboggling speed and slit his throat. Blood sprayed all over the altar, and Varnoth pushed him to the floor. Mostra laid prone on the floor as blood pooled under his dead body. Owyn ran to Celeste and embraced her, and she began to sob uncontrollably.
You have completed a quest!
You and Owyn traveled to the horrifying catacombs at Mount Garmark. After fighting through the undead and killing the evil necromancer, Mostra, you have saved Celeste!
You have gained 800 experience points!
You have received 200 Gold!
Varnoth finally looked at the backlog of his ignored notifications.
You have killed 18 x Undead Corpses!
You have received 1,800 experience points!
You have received:
8 x Zombie flesh
10 x Pus
23 x Maggots
2 x Health Potions
150 gold
You have killed Mostra the Necromancer!
You have received 500 experience points!
You have received:
1 x Necromantik Robe of Dark Oblivion
1 x Steel Dagger
1 x Ring of Necrosis (+10% necrotic poison resistance)
500 gold
You have reached Level 18!
You have reached Level 19!
May the gods of Albattara show you favor on your righteous journey!
You have 20 attribute points to distribute!
Varnoth
Level 19
Shadow Panther
Black Blade Legendary Class
Attributes:
Strength – 95 + 5 = 100
Dexterity – 103 + 5 = 108
Intelligence – 59 + 5 = 64
Vitality – 110 + 5 = 115
Skills:
Stealth Shade
Black Rain + 1
Blade Shield
Spell of Affliction
Passives:
Acrobatics
Night Vision
Detection
Executioner
CHAPTER 26
The harrowing fight was over, and the trio exited the bloody and battered catacombs. Fresh air filled their lungs, and they plopped down on a clearing of soft, green grass. They were exhausted, mentally, and physically.
“Celeste, what were you thinking? You almost got yourself killed, girl,” said an out of breath Owyn.
“I am sorry. I thought I was ready. Thank the gods you came for me. Otherwise, I would have been the servant to that hideous…thing in there!”
Owyn sat down beside Celeste and put his arm around her. She leaned her head on his cheek, and they sat in silence for a while. After a respite, she looked at Varnoth perplexed and curious.
“We haven’t met. Who are you?”
“My name is Varnoth. Your grandfather showed me a great kindness a few weeks ago, and I returned the favor. I hope you are well.”
“My gods, a talking cat. A very well-spoken talking cat, I might add. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did today. My stupidity put you and my grandfather in grave danger. I owe you a great debt,” replied Celeste as she moved her long, blonde hair from her face.
“You don’t owe me anything. Your safety and Owyn’s happiness are payment enough,” Varnoth said as he pulled out three angel plums and tossed two toward Owyn and Celeste. All three adventurers sunk their teeth into the juicy fruit. Celeste closed her eyes in ecstasy, and Owyn dripped red juice onto his long gray beard.
“My gods, this plum is incredible. Thank you, my friend,” said Owyn as he rubbed the back of Celeste’s neck.
“Where is your home, sir? I am sorry to pry,” said Celeste.
“Not at all, I am Overseer at Darthill Castle, east of Finnmork.”
“Overseer? Are you a member of that dreadful group of bandits?” Celeste asked angrily.
“No, no, far from it. The Derelict’s no longer reside there. They are gone…indefinitely,” replied Varnoth with a mischievous smirk.
“Good, I was about to launch a fireball up your ass. Atlas and his gang are assholes.”
Varnoth nodded in agreement. He did not feel like rehashing all their history. He would do so later, perhaps.
“Well, I hate to break up our victory celebration, but we need to get back to Finnmork. I think we can make it by nightfall,” said Owyn as he rose to his feet.
Varnoth didn’t want to get up, but he
didn’t want to sleep out here for the night either. He wanted to move as far away from the stench of decay and death as possible.
When Celeste got to her feet, Varnoth was able to get a good look at her appearance. She was around 5 feet 8 inches in height and approximately 130 pounds. Her hair was long and as bright as the sun. She had large, piercing blue eyes, and she wore a long, red dress. It was something he would not have expected someone to wear to go on a dangerous quest. It was more of a dress for a dinner party. It was not fit for a pyromancer going into battle. She could see that Varnoth was glaring at her red dress.
“Yes, this isn’t proper attire for battle. I know this. I thought I would be able to stroll through this crypt and kill the necromancer, but I was as wrong as I have ever been in my life.”
“I am sorry if I stared a bit too long. I meant nothing by it. Pardon my rudeness.”
“Speaking of attire, did you loot the necromancer’s robe?”
Varnoth nodded and said, “I did. Why do you ask?”
“I am going to be blunt. I want you to give it to me. I need decent gear if I plan to go questing.”
Varnoth reached into his pouch and retrieved the robe and tossed it.
She caught it and hugged it while letting out a sharp squeal of excitement.
“Thank you so much! How much for it?”
“No worries, you need it more than I,” replied Varnoth sarcastically.
“Oh, so cats make jokes? Really?”
“They do indeed, try it on,” replied Varnoth.
“Cat’s are bossy too?” Celeste said as she equipped the Necromantik Robe of Dark Oblivion.
A red aura surrounded Celeste for a few seconds as it applied its benefits to her.
“This robe is amazing! +20% Fire Damage? +5 to Intelligence? Wow, look at the armor rating!” Celeste exclaimed.
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