Chapter 3,
As the surroundings clear up and I’m able to see around using the dim light coming from what I suppose is a luminescent moss, I could see that this dungeon is in a cave, or at least starts with a cave.
> You have entered the Crimson pond under blue moonlight dungeon.
>
> You can return using the return portal at the end of the dungeon or leave using the entrance.
Since it said that, let’s try it. I turn around and reach into the darkness that is the entrance of the cave.
> You find yourself unable to exit the dungeon. A mysterious power is preventing you from leaving.
I had a feeling, but could this dungeon be related to a quest possibly?
Regardless, I turn around and start walking deeper into this underwater cave like thing. It seems as if just recently the water was somehow removed from here.
As I continue deeper, I’m able to spot a giant greenish fish like thing walking on two legs with a spear. A fishman?
It hasn’t noticed me yet. Even though it is patrolling right a about 20 meters in front of me. Maybe its eyes are weak in air since they’re adapted for water? But then why the legs?
> Minor demonic being: Fishman, spotted (Estimated level 8)
Even though it didn’t notice me. I don’t think it would miss me when I try to pass by it in the narrow portion of the cave. And I don't suppose it's friendly.
I slowly creep up to the creature. Taking cover behind some slightly big rocks, and brandish my bone spike.
It definitely has the reach advantage on me with that spear. If it knows how to use it that is. Though you shouldn't underestimate your enemies.
Now I’m about 10 meters away from the creature, it seems to be standing guard now instead of patrolling. Maybe its hearing is better than its sight?
I pick up a small pebble and carefully throw it over the rock where I’m hiding. It hits the cave walls behind the fishman. He snaps around and looks straight at where the pebble landed. I use that chance to get closer to his position. 5 meters away now.
He goes closer to where that sound came from, leaving his position, allowing me to advance further.
> Distraction successful.
> 300 Exp gained.
>
> Do more stealth maneuvers to find out about the Thief and Assassin classes.
I sure have done a lot of varied actions till now. But there are quite a few classes in this game too.
Now I’m behind the position where the fishman was standing guard earlier. He slowly comes back too, apparently solving the mystery that was the pebble I threw.
I’m now safely behind him, and can continue deeper into the dungeon cave.
Just as I’m about to start walking away, my eyes glance past that fishman’s spear.
My instincts screaming at me that spear would be very useful, even though it’s a quite primitive sharp stone on a stick, it seems more durable than my bone spike.
Oh well, not all that stealth effort was wasted, I’m now behind that fishman, in a perfect position to sneak attack it.
Not letting it any time to notice me, I lunge towards it while thrusting the bone spike forwards.
The spike goes right into the fishman’s back, and into the spine, or at least that’s what it felt like.
A health bar pops up above its head, and drops down to about one third left.
I didn’t notice it before with the wolf, but a number also pops up above its head and disappears in a split second, it was something like (-112). I wonder how that works.
> Sneak attack successful. The attack damage is doubled.
It quickly turns around and jabs the spear at me. The jab misses but that swing managed to hit my hand away, however I managed to hold onto the bone spike instead of letting it fall.
> HP decreased by 5,
> Currently, HP is at 105 of 110.
I thrust the bone spike forwards once more, while stepping in closer. The only weakness of a spear is its not-that-usefulness in a close quarters situation. The bone spike hits the fishman in its face. A (-60) pops up, but it still has a sliver of health left, and it seems to be about to do some special movement.
But not allowing it to do that, I punch it using my other hand. (-5).
> Fishman, defeated.
> An almost perfect victory, 10% bonus Exp awarded.
> You have gained 550 Exp.
>
> The Fishman dropped a primitive spear.
> You have automatically picked it up since there was free space in the inventory and the drop belonged to you. You can turn this feature off if you want.
I’ve read that fish eyes contain lots of protein. The eyes and the head are really among the most nutritious parts of an animal. I have an urge to eat it.
I extend my hand towards the lifeless body of the fishman and gouge out its eye. It’s… Dry?
Wait, that makes sense. They live in water so they don’t need to blink their eyes to keep it moisturized. But on land that doesn’t happen so their eyes would get dry quite fast. Perhaps that is one of the reasons they aren’t able to see clearly.
> You have found out a trait of Fishmen that they cannot see clearly on land and part of the reason is due to dry eyes.
> 300 Exp gained.
>
> 30 Exp gained for finding out about an alchemy ingredient.
>
> You are level 11 now.
>
> The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
>
> Find out more about monsters for more tips on the Explorer and Hunter professions.
I open up my inventory. It now contains only one thing, the spear, and take it out.
Like the system said, it’s quite a basic spear.
> Primitive spear (Fishmen)
> A very basic spear with a sharpened stone found near where Fishmen usually are. It can be used by anyone however a spear mastery would increase the damage dealt by it.
> Increases damage by 10-15 points.
> Can be used to block attacks, decreasing damaged received by 20 points and a certain chance to nullify some attacks.
Huh, so the bone spike I made is a little bit more advanced than this? At least in regard to damage. However, I can’t block with a dagger. Makes sense.
I hold the spear using my right hand and the dagger in my left. An odd combination indeed. But it’ll have to do for now.
I perform a few jabs with the spear. It doesn’t give me that much of a reach advantage since it’s only about 2 meters, but it’s still much better than just a dagger.
What shall I do with this eye now? Oh well, I take both eyes and put them in my inventory, they show up with a label (Minor Fishmen eyes).
Going deeper into the dungeon or underwater cave that it is, I see a much wider opening up ahead.
There’s a few more patrols here and there, but sneaking past them is much easier now.
> A bonus has been applied when sneaking past Fishmen, making it harder for them to notice you. It is a part of the basic hunter abilities.
> +30 Exp for sneaking past a Fishman.
Hunter sure seems like a useful profession.
The surroundings start to seem more and more organized. Something made by a being other than these Fishmen. A bit further ahead, after what seems like an eternity of sneaking, there’s an altar like thing, with markings on the ground and 5 shadowy figures moving around it. I hide behind a wall, about 10 meters away from the creatures.
> Minor demonic being: Astral spirit, spotted.
> (Estimated level 15)
>
> This enemy would be slightly hard for you to defeat. The recommended level is 15.
>
> You have gained 50 Exp * 5 for sneaking near an Astral spirit.
> However, sneaking any closer is likely to alert them.
> They seem to be performing a ritual, lowering their guard.
>
> You are now level 12.
>
> Hint: Spirit types are known to be resistant to physical attacks. It is recommended to use magic.
>
> More information about an enemy can be obtained by defeating it, reading information about through and explorer or hunter, NPCs and other such ways.
This might be hard. Let’s review what all I could use. The bone spike, which is a throwing dagger like thing. The spear, which I can’t throw and would be useful to block. And those fish eyes. What do they really do?
I take one out and put it in my mouth. Not grossed out in the slightest, since this is an entirely new experience for me. I could try and bite it now to find out its effects, but that would waste one of the eyes.
And it doesn’t seem like I should go back to kill more Fishmen, alerting the rest and possibly these spirits might end their ritual too, increasing their guard.
It’s a gamble then. Oh, my heart is racing.
I look around a bit and pick up a few of the sharper stones, holding them in my left hand. Then lunge towards one of the spirits, stabbing my spear through it. A (-50) pops up above its head. Dropping its health bar to half. It makes sense they would have a lesser HP than others if they have high resistances.
> Sneak attack successful, damage is doubled.
>
> The spirits notice you, however they do not think you’re a threat and do not want to stop the ritual.
>
> The alarm was raised. The Fishmen would be coming in a few minutes.
They ignored me for the ritual? It must be quite important or they really underestimate me. My instincts tell me it’s the former.
How to stop this ritual? If they were reluctant to attack me that must mean…
I use the stones to attack all of the spirits at least once, a (-5) pops up above their heads, but they continue the ritual regardless. A gentle red glow coming out from the pentagon like mark on the ground.
Bracing myself into what my intuition tells me is the correct stance with a spear, I perform short and fast jabs towards the spirit that I attacked first. A (-20) popping up continuously. After 2 hits the astral spirit finally realizes what is happening and turns to face me, stretching out its hands which seems to have sharp claws, but I hit it one more time.
> You have defeated a minor demonic Astral spirit.
> Perfect victory, 20% bonus exp awarded.
> 900 Exp gained.
>
> The Astral spirit did not drop anything.
The other spirits suddenly stop and then fly towards me to attack.
Not breaking my stance, I try to attack them as fast as I can. 2 of the 4 spirits come near me, while the other 2 stay back, perhaps using a ranged attack?
> HP -10. (95 of 110)
One of the spirit’s slash hits me, leading my attack to miss. I continue trying to fend them off with the spear while slowly moving backwards, to create distance between us.
The spirits at the back seem to cast spells, trying to hit me, but there isn’t enough space to hit me over the other spirits, making those attacks hit their allies instead, though they didn’t cause any damage.
The one is almost defeated but the other seems to charge up an attack and then appears right in front of me as if using some magic, I’m able to quickly turn my spear to block.
> HP -25. (65 of 110)
So much damage, and I even blocked it with my spear, so the raw damage should be around 45? Is this really supposed to be this high? Wasn’t this still a beginner dungeon?
The attack pushes me back, leading me to be unable to kill off that other spirit. It seems to start recovering a little HP as the HP bar starts to go up once again.
Nope, I won’t allow it.
I throw the bone spike towards it, a (-20) pops up, killing the spirit.
> 750 Exp gained for killing an astral spirit.
> You are now level 13.
>
> It did not drop anything.
But they can heal too? That’s kinda unfair isn’t it.
I bite onto the fish eye that was in my mouth.
> Minor Fishman’s eyes consumed. You can now swim faster for 1 minute.
So much for some kind of trump card.
The other spirits keep attacking me, but I continue to draw back, and in a few moments, am able to kill the one attacking me in melee too. Now only those using ranged attacks left.
But before I could attack them, they disappear.
> You have killed 3 of 5 Astral Spirits. The rest are forced to go back to the otherworld.
>
> You have gained 3000 Exp.
> You are now level 16.
>
> The ritual has been interrupted. However, the summoned being tries to forcefully open the portal.
It can still continue?! How do I stop it?
But wait, why do I even need to stop it? Not that I had something against these spirits or whatever demonic being they were summoning…
The red glow seems to get stronger. A claw suddenly pops out of the ground and pushes against it as if to lift the rest of the creature up.
Yeah, not like I’m going to greet the creature now and drink tea with it or something.
So, what my negligible understanding of black magic rituals and demon summoning tells me is that…
Maybe I should try and tamper with the symbols drawn on the ground?
I try to brush away the red colored markings using my foot but they stay there, unaffected. Perhaps something harder…
I stab my spear into the ground. The markings are still unaffected. I lean down and closely inspect the red markings. Some sort of red substance that is absorbed by the ground. Maybe it’s blood and maybe it isn’t. How would I know?
A roar escaped from the place where the claw is at, urging me onwards.
I look around for anything of interest, something that could possibly help me, and find the Fishmen running towards me, prompting an idea to form in my head. This, this just might work.
I rush towards them and stab one of the Fishmen in the gut. Blood spews forth, covering the previously relatively clean spear. Then I rush back towards the markings.
I tilt the spear downwards, making the Fishman blood drip onto the markings. A symbol, I need some sort of figure I could draw over this.
I draw the first thing that pops into my mind. A heart symbol. Good enough.
> You have managed to stop the summoning.
> The portal to otherworld closes.
> You have completed the storyline quest for this town.
> 5000 Exp awarded.
>
> You have cleared the dungeon. All monsters inside it will now be killed automatically.
> This dungeon does not have any rewards.
> You have gained 2000 Exp for clearing the dungeon.
> You have found its name. “Cavern of Cult fishes.”
>
> You are now level 20.
Level 20 already. And it took me around a whole day in real life too. Now I could even possibly see other players. I’m sure it would have been faster than this if I just followed the story quests.
> Congratulations!
> You have gained the unique class, Enigmatic Killer.