A Dungeon's Soul_Book 3 of the Adventures on Brad

by Tao Wong

  Omrak returned to the battle in a violent explosion, his sword bashing the monster away from Daniel. Daniel exhaled with relief, spending a moment to catch his breath. There had to be a pattern to how you could win, but so far, they had not figured it out. The vulnerable cubes did not change after each attack, nor did they rotate in any specific order or location. They were timed in some way but that in itself was not sufficient. Daniel drew another deep breath, readying himself to step forwards, when the light flickered again. Drawn to the torches, he frowned. One torch, the one that was colored green, seemed stronger than the others right now.

  Acting on instinct, he called out the color. Asin did not break step as she avoided an attack and sank a knife into an exposed green cube. Omrak was too busy to attack as he defended himself and by the time Daniel ducked and twisted out of the way from the monster’s attacks, the flame had flickered. However, Daniel could see Asin’s blade embedded in the green cube.

  “Yellow,” Daniel called out as he slammed his mace into the appropriately colored cube. “The torches. Follow the torches!”

  Once they had figured out the monster’s vulnerability, the battle became easier. Each attack that injured the monster slowed it down further, made the shifting in blocks jerkier. Attacks that had bruised and injured before were made simple to avoid or block, and when the monster finally stopped rotating and twisting, the trio collapsed, tired. Daniel groaned slightly as he forced himself up, walking over to Omrak to cast Healer’s Mark on him and then moving to Asin, who was rubbing at her ankle. He smiled slightly at her nod before he pulled open the Floor Chest to pocket the Mana Stone. Well, that was not so bad. Certainly, the information would be something that Liev would be grateful for.

  As the group entered the sixth floor, they were forcefully reminded of the previous second sector of the Dungeon, where the Draxillan Crawler used to live. Unlike the previous caves, the passages here were all on one level. but they were very much caves with dirt floors, dripping waters, and passages that they had to walk through.

  “Crawlers?” Daniel muttered, looking around. This seemed similar, but the fact that it was all on one level seemed to indicate another type of monster was here. Perhaps the Dungeon just decided to repeat the similar layout because it was easier. Or was it the god, Panqua? Was he influenced by what had been present before? Did Dungeons or Panqua care?

  “No.” Omrak walked forwards and pointed to the ground. “These tracks are different.”

  Asin walked over, squatting down and running clawed fingers along the tracks. She held her palm out to them, measuring size and later, depth with furrowed brows. Humanoid tracks, in a way. “Thin.”

  “Yes, definitely,” Omrak said. “Skeletons?”

  Asin hissed at the mention before she stood and pulled out her melee knife. Daniel hefted his own mace as he stepped forwards to take the lead on instinct. Omrak growled softly as he stared at the corridors before he sheathed his own sword and pulled out a throwing axe to wield.

  “Well, let’s try this out,” Daniel muttered, walking forwards into the dark, lit only by the torch that Omrak helpfully held for them. After all, they had time since they had completed the previous floor so quickly. At the least, they could learn what monsters they were to face.

  A part of Daniel sighed, wondering if he would ever get to use his crossbow. It certainly felt like he kept getting relegated to being the melee fighter—even Omrak was better and faster with his throwing axes than he was. Then again, perhaps if he spent more time on the range, it would help as well.

  Daniel’s musings about his shortcomings came to an abrupt end as the clinking, grating sound of bone knocking on bone travelled through the air. He frowned as he raised his shield higher before entering the cavern. Inside he quickly spotted a dozen skeletons, held together by eldritch means. Bones floated above one another or scraped together when a movement came too fast like when the creatures turned to the new intruder, mouths opened wide. To Daniel’s surprise, the group let loose an unnerving, otherworldly howl that froze the Adventurers in their tracks while the Skeletons charged.

  As the first Skeleton reached him, swinging its boney hands at Daniel’s face, Daniel jerked back, brought to his senses by the attack. His helmet saved his eyes and face, but the monster still left a long, bleeding scratch against his exposed chin. The pain shocked Daniel into action, his mace swinging sideways to beat a hand aside even as he hunkered down beneath his shield.

  Behind, Asin was shocked awake by the underworld stench. Dry earth, musty bones, and something else, something unnatural, assaulted her sensitive nostrils. She snarled in a low rumble as she darted past the still-frozen Omrak, elbowing him in the side as she moved to guard Daniel’s left.

  Omrak grunted in shock, the pain bringing him back to the unfolding battle. Roaring in rage, Omrak stepped forwards to Daniel’s side before he chopped down with his axe at an exposed bone. The shorter axe swung down, barely missing the stalactites that hung from the ceiling, before cracking into the collarbone of the skeleton. Again and again Omrak attacked, rage taking over his senses at the unnatural fear the monsters engendered within him. By sheer strength, Omrak was able to smash the bones apart, but it took multiple strikes.

  Daniel with his mace was the most suited to this, the metal edges crushing and pulping bones with each strike. Occasionally, Daniel would take a step forwards and lash out against another monster to help the monsters focus on him as the spearhead of their tight triangle. Without weapons, the monsters were unable to injure the well-protected Adventurer, allowing him to wade into the group.

  As Daniel pulled back from crushing the ribcage of one Skeleton, he found his mace arm grabbed. The Adventurer jerked backwards as he attempted to pull away but was unable to loosen the monster’s grip. He struggled for a moment as the Skeleton threw its body on top of his arm, forcing Daniel to lift the entire monster. Another Skeleton grabbed at his shield as he was distracted, pulling it down as a third monster launched itself at the Adventurer directly. Only a last-minute lowering of his helmeted head allowed Daniel to protect his face as the monster tried to bite at the exposed flesh. Even still, the monster managed to sink its teeth into his cheekbone, ripping the flesh free.

  Asin hissed, seeing Daniel trapped and fighting the monsters, but was unable to move to help. Each cut with her knife sent arcs of lightning along the opponents’ yellowish-white bones, but the attacks seemed to do little. She could only buy time, distracting the monster as she attacked it, keeping it from piling on her friend.

  Help came in the form of strong fingers as Omrak reached between the ribcage of the Skeleton holding Daniel’s mace down, gripping the spine and lifting the monster upwards before tossing it at Omrak’s former opponent. The action freed Daniel’s arm at the cost of his mace. Able to move again, Daniel spun and smashed his gauntleted fist into the skull of the Skeleton that had latched itself on to his body in its attempt to eat his face. Daniel snarled and punched the monster again and again by instinct, fear, and anger mixed in equal measure as he pummeled his attacker.

  When the Skeleton’s head finally shattered apart, the bloody jawbone and skull falling to pieces, the creature dropped from Daniel’s body. Panic subsiding slightly, Daniel stared at the Skeleton that still clutched at his shield, and triggered Shield Bash, slamming the shield a few inches forwards and throwing the Skeleton away.

  “Here!” Omrak growled, tossing Daniel back his mace.

  His weapon returned, Daniel stalked forwards to finish his own opponent. It took a brief few seconds for Daniel to smash apart his single enemy before he returned to give aid to Asin, whose opponent was chipped but still standing.

  “Looks like they die if you smash the skull open,” Daniel said after he cast Healer’s Mark on himself to begin the healing process.

  “Yes. But it must be smashed fully,” Omrak said, glaring around at the fading bones. Asin pulled her knife to her, testing the edge and grimacing.

  “Knife no work,” A
sin complained, her tail wagging side to side.

  “Aye, it is only my Skill that allowed me to use my axe,” Omrak agreed. “And I am unable to use my sword in these caves.”

  “Back?” Asin asked, frowning as her tail lashed out behind her.

  “I’m doing okay,” Daniel pointed out. “Mostly.”

  “Do you believe we can complete the level with you leading the way?”

  “Probably?” Daniel said, surveying the damaged skeletons that lined the floor. “This is only Level Six.”

  Omrak glanced at Asin, who just nodded resignedly. For a moment more, Omrak hesitated before he finally agreed. “Very well, Hero Daniel. We shall be in your hands.”

  “Then let’s go. At the least, we can map out some of this level.” Hefting his weapon, Daniel strode forwards.

  It barely took them another twenty minutes before they found another group of Skeletons. Daniel approached quickly, rushing forwards and to the right as he bashed one monster into the other seven, leaving one untouched. The attacked Skeleton flew backwards, its lighter body no match for the greater strength and Skill. It slammed into the other monsters behind it, tangling the group up and causing a few to fall. Roaring in approval, Omrak dropped his axe to sweep his sword out of its sheath. This cavern was taller and wider, large enough that he could wield his weapon with ease. As the undead monsters struggled to their bony feet, Omrak laid into them with a vengeance. Asin in the meantime backed up Daniel, ready to step in to help him if he needed it.

  Not that he did at this point. The single standing Skeleton reached outwards, attacking Daniel, but was blocked with a hard parry that cracked its arm bones. On the return, Daniel crushed its temple, sending the monster staggering backwards. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Omrak was about to be swarmed.

  “Yours,” Daniel shouted as he bull-rushed a Skeleton on the edges. This monster had lost its arm but showed no sign of slowing down as it attacked the Northerner. So intent was it on its objective, the Skeleton never saw Daniel’s tackle that sent it flying into a nearby wall. Spinning on his feet, Daniel used the edge of his shield to crack the spine of another Skeleton before crushing its head with his mace.

  Omrak, bleeding and beleaguered, was forced back further towards their entrance. The Skeletons continued their single-minded pursuit, leaving Daniel their exposed backs to attack. Seizing the opportunity presented to him, Daniel attacked with wide, powerful swings and quickly ended the fight. By the time he was done, Asin had finished chipping away at her own opponent.

  “Easier,” Asin growled.

  “No scream,” Daniel replied, and blinked. Ugh, he sometimes fell into Asin’s talking pattern without thinking.

  “Yes. Did we surprise them?” Omrak asked.

  “Perhaps,” Asin sniffed, and shrugged as she spent the time looking around for Mana Stones. Daniel bent down to help her, his eyes roaming over the two entrances. Left, or right? Truly, it did not matter right now—they just needed to map the Dungeon till they found the staircase down.

  “This is going to take a while,” Daniel said, shaking his head as he stared at the map only he could see. The minimap showed the sprawling complex they had walked in the last hours, multiple passageways that led from each cavern that had to be explored individually. Worse, they often found small passages which had to be carefully squeezed through and verified, as some of those passages would open into wider or larger caverns. It meant that they had moved slowly, checking side passages and small openings as they walked along. Eyeballing the map, Daniel sighed. They had barely covered a quarter of the ground that a ‘normal’ level would have, and it was time to head back.

  So busy was he that Daniel missed the small opening by his feet, his steps carrying him past before he could see the Skeleton that pushed itself free. Asin, who was directly behind Daniel and checking for traps ahead of them saw the monster too late. A boney hand grabbed her ankle, pulling her to her knees even as the Skeleton continued to crawl out of the hole, levering itself up along her body. Nails clawed into the Catkin, digging into fur and the flesh beneath, opening long wounds along her frame. Close enough now, the Skeleton bit down on an exposed thigh, teeth rending flesh.

  As the Skeleton raised its head from the injury, blood running down its teeth, Omrak reached forwards and gripped the monster by its neck. Eschewing his axe, Omrak smashes the monster directly into the cave walls again and again. Skin and fur tore from Asin as the creature was ripped away, freeing the Catkin to send a Piercing Shot down the hole to crack the skull of the next Skeleton that pulled itself forwards.

  Having heard the commotion behind him, Daniel turned around and quickly moved to take station before the hole.

  “Sorry!”

  Asin just yowled in frustration and pain as she backed away to let the warriors deal with this next threat as she scrambled for bandages. Forced to crawl out one by one, it was a simple matter for Daniel to end them all. Monsters torn apart, Daniel moved to place a hand on Asin, healing her as he muttered an apology again. This Dungeon wore one down, never letting you spend a single moment to yourself. Always, always there was a danger.

  Asin, fur and skin slowly regrowing, bent down to pick up the Mana Stones and yowled unhappily, her tail lashing out behind her. So many were in her pouch now, but each Mana Stone dropped was tiny and dark, lacking none of the luster a good stone might have.

  “Sorry again,” Daniel said, looking around at last. “I missed it. Should have paid more attention. It was just so small.”

  “Small,” Asin agreed.

  “Har! You say so,” Omrak grumbled, rubbing at his head where he accidentally knocked it again on a stalactite. The cavern in this portion of the Dungeon was so low that Omrak had knocked his head more than once. Already, Daniel had been forced to deal with one nasty bleeding scalp wound and an incipient concussion. “I fear this cave will end me before our opponents.".

  “Good time to stop anyway. About time to go back,” Daniel said, pointing back the way they came. “We won’t finish this level today. Maybe not for a few days.”

  Asin nodded, scratching at an ear. “Map?”

  “I’m making it,” Daniel said.

  “Buy,” Asin said, shaking her head. “Elm sell?”

  “Oh …” Daniel frowned but finally nodded. The Catkin was right, if there was a faster option here, they should go with it. Though he doubted the Elms were that confident that they would sell the location and route to the next stairway down.

  He pondered that thought while he led the way back, their return uneventful but for a few further attacks, which the group dealt with simply enough. Still, by the time the party finally made their way into the Adventurers’ Guild, the group was dragging their feet. It had been a long, cramped, and tiring day.

  “Sixth floor?” Liev said, glancing at the crystals arrayed before him as he did the calculations. There were a lot certainly. “I hear it’s infested with Skeletons.”

  “Infested. That works,” Daniel said. “The Elms didn’t sell a map, did they?”

  Liev shook his head, swinging his pad around for Asin and Omrak to confirm before he drew forth the requisite cash.

  “Didn’t think so.” Daniel sighed. This was definitely going to take a while.

  Chapter 11

  “How’s it going?” Khy’ra asked Daniel as she lay in bed, watching the young man working at his desk. Daniel blinked and looked up from the parchment upon which he was drawing the map for the sixth floor. The party had spent four days on that level and it seemed that while it was not significantly larger than a ‘normal’ floor, the numerous connected and dead-end passages meant that more space was compacted into the same area. At least it did not seem like the level’s layout changed.

  “Slow. We might have to do an overnighter tomorrow if we want to finish it,” Daniel said. “We keep running out of time.”

  Khy’ra smiled slightly, watching Daniel, before she stood up and walked over to look at his map. Blonde hair cascad
ed down her back as she did so, and Daniel took a moment to enjoy the view. The Elf smiled slightly when she noted that, leaning over to tap him on the nose while she glanced at the map. After a moment, her finger dropped to a blank spot on it.

  “There. Your staircase will likely be around there.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Experience,” Khy’ra said before she held up a finger. She walked quickly over to her chest, bending low to wave a hand at it before she pulled forth a rolled-up map. Returning, she waved her hand over the map and murmured a word. Suddenly, lines began to trace over the map, quicker and quicker till before them was a detailed drawing of a Dungeon.

  “Look familiar?” Khy’ra asked, and Daniel nodded. That was the third floor of the old Karlak Dungeon. The moment he did, Khy’ra said another word in Elvish and the map changed again.

  “Peel, sixth floor.”

  “Porthos, seventh floor.”

  “Alytus, fifth floor.”

  “See the pattern?” Khy’ra asked after flipping through numerous Dungeon maps on her magical map.

  “No …” Daniel said, shaking his head. If there was one, it was more subtle than he could see.

  “Well, when you can, you’ll start to understand how the Dungeon is laid out. Might save you some time in the future,” Khy’ra said, and then glanced at his original map as she rolled up her own. “Of course, it won’t help much with your problem.”

  “No, too many passages,” Daniel confirmed, sighing.

  “Come on, let’s go to bed,” Khy’ra said, tugging on his hand and laying an inviting kiss on his lips. “The Dungeon will still be there tomorrow.”

  Drawn by Khy’ra’s hand, Daniel discarded the map behind him.

  The next morning, Daniel was yawning as Asin walked up to the Dungeon entrance. She raised an eyebrow, surprised at seeing Daniel there before her.