by Tao Wong
The boar had turned again and somehow, between the time that Daniel was loading his weapon and the last time he saw her, Asin had managed to mount the creature. Crouched above the monster, lightning arcs shooting as the monster contacted her body, the Catkin stabbed and cut with her weapons as she attempted to flay the monster alive.
Beneath her, the boar charged the Northerner, who stood, crouched and waiting. At the last moment, Omrak threw himself forwards, grabbing his sword and rolling to the side at the same time. The sword slid sideways as the opposing forces of the roll and charge tore open the wound, forcing a cascade of blood to pour out.
Daniel exhaled, firing his crossbow, and then reloaded immediately even as the creature turned, attempting to come around and attack the beleaguered, blond Adventurer. Omrak, clipped by a hoof, struggled to his feet, his sword behind him as the boar finally slowed down and turned to attack, only to receive another crossbow bolt in its face. It snorted and squealed but stayed on task as it moved to gore Omrak.
Omrak in turn swung and cut at the creature’s nose, forcing the monster to be wary of his attacks. No longer charging, the monster did not have the impetus of its momentum to bowl over the large Northerner and so they feinted with sword and tusk. All the while, Daniel and Asin continued to attack it.
“It’s slowing down!” Daniel said as he dropped in another bolt. The successive attacks and blood loss was taking its toll along with the continued presence of the enchanted Catkin above and her poisoned weapons. Strong and powerful as the boar was, it could only take so much damage.
Ducking a swipe with one tusk, Omrak stood and lunged forwards, blade sinking into a cheek before he attempted to tear the blade free. However, unbeknownst to Omrak, his sword was stuck between some teeth which caused his motion to grind to a stop. In that brief moment, the boar twisted its head again to lash out with its remaining tusk. Omrak was thrown to the side, his back torn wide open.
Daniel shouted out loud in the vain hope of attracting the monster’s attention as he ran forwards, holding the crossbow up to his body as he closed the distance to his fallen friend. Closer now, he raised the weapon and, working on intuition, pulled the trigger and sent the bolt flying to embed in the boar’s eye. The monster snorted and jerked reflexively as it was blinded, having missed Omrak’s prone form by inches as it slammed into the wall.
Asin was thrown to the side by the impact, unseated from the top of the monster but the Catkin hung on grimly as she plunged her knife once again into the monster’s body. Even now, she could see the slow spreading of the poison. All they needed to do was wait and her Skill would kill it.
Bent over Omrak, Daniel swiftly cast his Minor Healing spell once and then again before he surged to his feet. Hefting his remaining weapon, Daniel got ready to do battle with the Boss. Crouched low, he grimaced as a sharp pain in his lower back shot up his spine. He shook his head, focusing on the monster, and decided to try Perin’s Blow as the monster lunged forwards. Tusk smashed backwards, the boar growled and flicked its head, its mane flowing out behind it. While the monster was dazed, Daniel lashed out with his mace, beating on the monster’s snout and pulping it, sending the monster into a rage.
As Daniel attracted the monster’s attention in front, Omrak staggered to the side, his body leaking red light. He roared as he reared back, sword held in hand, then he swung downwards, shearing through the boar’s front right leg. As the boar collapsed, Asin threw herself off, rolling and rolling before struggling to her feet and spitting to clear her mouth of sand.
The trio quickly backed off from the crippled Boss. Daniel sagged to the ground as the injuries to his body finally caught up to him. Beside him, Omrak roared as the red light continued to glow from his body, while Asin hastened the monster’s death by tossing the last few of her knives.
Enraged and stubborn, the boar pulled itself along the ground, inching towards Omrak, who stood, waiting. When it was finally in range, the large Northerner stabbed his sword into its eye, driving the blade all the way into the brain. A last, shuddering jerk sent Omrak flying one last time before the monster died.
“Daniel?” Asin said, walking over to her friend. The short Adventurer waved her away, slanted eyes tightening in pain as he waited for the Healer’s Mark he had placed on himself to do its job. It would not heal him fully, but it was all that he could do.
Omrak, curled up on his side, was unconscious when Asin managed to make her way to him. She prodded him a few times before she gave up, sitting down to watch over her friends as they recovered.
Chapter 18
A half-hour later, Daniel finally sat back up and walked over to Asin. Omrak continued to snore, his body drained from the fights. Daniel frowned, touching him for a brief moment to ascertain that he would survive, before he walked over to the large chest that Asin has been staring at.
“That our winnings?” Daniel asked, pointing.
Asin nodded, fished in her pockets, and pulled out the largest and clearest Mana Stone Daniel had ever seen.
“What is that? A B class four?” Daniel said.
Asin, for once, just shrugged. It was not as if she had seen a stone like this before. It was certainly an improvement over the B Class 12 that the previous Karlak Boss had given out.
“Did you open it??” Daniel asked, pointing to the chest, and Asin shook her head. She sighed, going back to staring at the chest. After a moment, Daniel walked over to Omrak and prodded him with his foot in an attempt to wake him. It took the careful use of his Gift to prod the Northerner awake.
Omrak rose from the ground, sword clutched in his hand, to stare at the empty field of battle. He groaned slightly, head still hurting from repeated hits, before he spotted the chest and relaxed.
The group, gathered together, stood and stared at the chest, wondering what was within.
“Asin?” Daniel finally said, pushing the patiently waiting Catkin.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than was the Catkin pounced forwards, pulling the chest open. Within, there were two pieces of equipment. A simple hammer with an engraving on it, and a thin, leather coat. The three Adventurers looked at the equipment, frowning, before the Catkin picked them up and handed them around.
Daniel clutched the hammer, staring at the spike that protruded from one end, and looked at the group, who just gave him a slight nod. Omrak took the coat, his hands running over the leather.
“This is magical,” Omrak said.
“Should be,” Daniel answered, sliding the hammer into his pack. It was obvious that the hammer with its etched runes was definitely enchanted in some form. Better not to use it yet. “We can ask around to get them identified. When we’re back.”
“Asin, you are bereft of a prize,” Omrak said.
“Stone. Mine,” Asin said, patting her hip.
Daniel just nodded happily in agreement while Omrak glanced at Asin’s pouch and then the armor in his hand. Finally, he nodded. Daniel understood what he probably was thinking, that they had no way to tell how powerful or even if the item itself was not cursed. But that was part of the gamble of being an Adventurer.
The three Adventurers slowly limped out of the Dungeon, their movements slowed down from exhaustion and injuries. Yet all three could not help but trade grins with one another and the guards as they exited.
“Did you finish it?” Ken asked, the large guard holding back a smile.
“Yes,” Daniel said, and Ken raised a hand to clap his friend on the back and then decided against it. Daniel was not healed enough for that kind of boisterous congratulations.
“Tough fight?” Ken’s question was more a statement. Daniel offered a slight nod before he gestured to his friends who had not stopped walking. “Go.”
Daniel quickly hurried to catch up with his friends as they entered the Adventurers’ Guild, managing to do so before they entered the hall. As they walked in, the Guild slowly fell silent as Adventurers and attendants spotted the trio. An Adventurer who was working with L
iev quickly stepped aside as he waved the three of them forwards. Something showed on his face, something that Daniel could not place, but which twisted his stomach.
“Liev,” Daniel said as he pulled the hammer from his belt. Asin had already reached for her pouches, placing the pair down and pulling down the edges of one to reveal the Boss Mana Stone. Omrak was slower as he struggled to pull the leather armor from his pack, but he eventually did. Through all this, the silence resounded through the room, stretching tight.
“Daniel. Asin. Omrak,” Liev said calmly. He reached out and touched the Boss Mana Stone and slowly turned it about. When he next spoke, the redhead tried to keep his voice professional. “Congratulations.”
“Did we do it?” Daniel said, somehow knowing the answer.
“No,” Liev replied, shaking his head. “The Elms were in half a day ago. I’m sorry.”
The three groaned in unison, their faces fallen as they traded looks between one another. Half a day. They were short by just a little. If they had explored a little more the day before, if they had skipped sleeping. If they had the right weapons. Around them, now that the bad news had been imparted, the Guild came back to life.
“You’ll want to speak with Tharuk about the hammer,” Liev continued, fingers lightly brushing the steel weapon. “I’m sure he’ll be able to verify its details. As for this.” Liev reached out to run a finger along the edges of the armor. “May I?”
After Omrak’s agreement, Liev hefted the armor, running his fingers along the seams and down the bare front of the armor. He turned it inside out, staring at the clear back before he brushed a sharp fingernail along the front once more. Finally, he placed it back down on the counter. “This is unenchanted, as you probably guessed. No runes, no markings. Remarkably resilient, though. I would say it’s a Blake Rhinoceros.”
“Unenchanted?” Omrak repeated, his face crestfallen.
“Yes. It’s very difficult to enchant Blake Rhinoceros hide. Even untreated, it’s stronger than most iron,” Liev said. “Save enough, get a good Enchanter, and you’d have an amazing piece of armor.”
Omrak’s face lit up again as he took back the armor, stuffing the supple but tough piece into his pack. Asin, who had been quietly watching, prodded the stone, her ears tilted down. Liev smiled slightly, pulling the stone closer for inspection.
Daniel turned away while Liev spoke with Asin, rubbing at his eyes where tears threatened to spill. Damn it. They had been so close. Exhaustion combined with the comedown from the fights and delve threatened to break his control. He could not help but think that this was expected.. They were an Advanced Team after all. They never stood a chance.
“Daniel?” Liev called again, and the short Adventurer blinked, turning back to the counter. On the counter was a crystal ball, one that he had not seen in ages. “If you’ll extend your hand?”
Daniel slowly complied and, guided by Liev, placed his hand on the crystal ball. It flared to life for a moment, Liev murmuring arcane words as he adjusted Daniel’s status.
“Done.”
Daniel smiled slightly, pulling his hand back from the crystal. Like his friends, he decided to take a look at his newly updated Status.
Name: Daniel Chai (Advanced Rank Adventurer)
Class: Level 9 Adventurer (63%)
Sub-classes: Level 7 (Miner) (04%)
Human (Male)
Statistics
Life: 281
Stamina: 281
Mana: 206
Attributes
Strength: 27
Agility: 24
Constitution: 30
Intelligence: 21
Willpower: 20
Luck: 15
Skills
Unarmed Combat: Level 3 (93/100)
Clubs (Novice): Level 2 (17/100)
Archery: Level 2 (68/100)
Shield (Novice): Level 1 (24/100)
Dodge: Level 7 (83/100)
Combat Sense: Level 7 (78/100)
Perception: Level 7 (56/100)
Mining: Level 7 (78/100)
Healing (Novice): Level 1 (41/100)
Herb Lore: Level 3 (31/100)
Stealth: Level 2 (24/100)
Cooking: Level 4 (03/100)
Singing: Level 2 (14/100)
Skill Proficiencies
Double Strike
Shield Bash
Perin’s Blow
Find Weakness
Mapping (II)
Spells
Minor Healing (II)
Healer’s Mark (I)
Gifts
Martyr’s Touch—The caster may heal oneself or others by touch and concentration, sacrificing a portion of his life to do so. Cost varies depending on the extent of the injuries healed.
Later that day, the three Adventurers found themselves seated in the Spinning Top, nursing their injuries and sorrows. Their initial elation over completing the Dungeon had disappeared long ago and now the three sat, nursing their food in silence. They had failed at the quest, failed to beat the Elms.
Khy’ra walked into the inn and leaned against the doorway for a second, staring at her boyfriend before she sighed, noting how the glum trio had infected the entire Inn with their sorrow. Taking a seat next to her boyfriend, the Elf tilted her head as Daniel looked up at her.
“Is this how a team that just completed their first Dungeon looks like now?” Khy’ra asked, shaking her head. “I might be old, but surely the time traditions haven’t changed that much.”
“We lost,” Daniel said, running a finger around some spilled beer. “By half a day.”
“And?” Khy’ra said, shaking her head. “Did it mean you didn’t get your Dungeon completion equipment? Did you miss out on the Stone itself?”
“No …” Daniel said, noting the tone she held. He knew what was coming.
“Then celebrate,” Khy’ra said, rapping her knuckles on the table to get the attention of the other two. Not that they were not listening in already. “Last lesson. There’s always something wrong, always something depressing about this job. A bad delve, a lost friend, a missed quest. This job, this career, it’s all about regrets. Always, always celebrate your successes. Otherwise, put your hammer down now. If you cannot celebrate when it is called for, you are in the wrong profession. It only gets harder from now on.”
Daniel cast his head down, his hand caressing the hammer he had just won. He looked at Khy’ra and she flashed him a smile, and he found himself reaching for her hand, squeezing it. This success, this win, was a bittersweet one for her too. And yet, she was smiling.
Celebrate when you can …
“Elise! A round for everyone,” Daniel said, calling to the innkeeper and forcing a smile on his face. Omrak roared his approval, pounding his drink on the table and splashing Asin who growled at the large, loud Adventurer.
“Noisy!”
A week later, the trio found themselves meeting up in the Top in the early morning. Daniel rushed down the stairs, shirt still untucked as he hauled his packed bag with him. Below, Asin and Omrak rolled their eyes as the Adventurer arrived late once again.
“Sorry, sorry!” Daniel apologized as he sighted his friends.
“Khy’ra?” Asin asked, looking up the staircase.
“Coming,” Khy’ra said, following behind Daniel at a more sedate pace and giving the Catkin a quick hug. “I wouldn’t miss seeing you off.”
“School?” Asin said once she was released.
“Don’t worry. The Stone will keep them fed for a while and we wrangled a slight return of the funds. Being a local hero gave your dad some leverage with the Council,” Khy’ra assured the Beastkin. “And I promise, your dad and I will make sure the funds you send back get put to good use.”
“Goodbye,” Asin said, her face falling slightly before she stepped away.
“This is for lunch,” Elise said, walking out with a series of wrapped packages that she quickly distributed. “Don’t forget, Mary’s still waiting for you. And I’ll expect a let
ter once in a while.”
Daniel nodded, hand gripping Khy’ra’s. The Catkin and Northerner shared a look before they walked out, leaving the two lovebirds alone.
“Khy’ra …” Daniel started, before he was hushed by a finger on his lips.
“No. We said it all. Did it all,” Khy’ra said, eyes twinkling slightly at the last. “It’s enough. You have a life to live. And so do I. Come back, when you can. Write, when you can. But live your life.”
Daniel smiled slightly, kissing her fingers, and nodded. He turned, walking away, and rubbed at his eyes as he left to join the pair who dutifully ignored him as they left the city. On the road, outside, the trio looked at one another.
“Is this the right road to Peel?” Daniel finally said as they trudged along.
“No,” Asin stated, glaring at him.
Daniel blinked, mouthed oops as they turned around. The trio laughed, shaking their heads as they made their way to the next Dungeon.
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Author’s Note
If you enjoyed reading the book, please do leave a review and rating. Not only is it a big ego boost, it also helps sales and convinces me to write more in the series!
If you enjoyed this book, please check out my other LitRPG series (available on Amazon):
Life in the North; A LitRPG Apocalypse
Redeemer of the Dead: Book 2 of the System Apocalypse
If you enjoyed the book, check out the Facebook group:
- LitRPG Society
About the Author
Tao Wong is an avid fantasy and sci-fi reader who spends his time working and writing in the North of Canada. He’s spent way too many years doing martial arts of many forms and having broken himself too often, now spends his time writing about fantasy worlds.