CHAPTER 11.

The dungeon was reached about an hour later, and Amber just found herself staring at it. Its entrance was akin to a half-buried temple, and it was dilapidated. Not exactly what she expected, but she didn’t know what to expect either. The air seemed different, almost denser, but she wasn’t sure if she was imagining it or not. The dungeon, according to others, looked pretty normal so far.

Their archer had gone in to scout, but after not finding anything unusual, they all went in. Amber had been slightly worried about the warrior since he seemed scared of her. But the man had immediately composed himself after they ventured in. Amber didn’t know if three years of experience made him a veteran or something, but she found herself impressed by how easily the man was able to shove his fears to the back of his mind.

As soon as they entered, they moved like a team. Thieney was at the front, along with Amber at her own insistence, the warrior Jay⁠— as Amber had decided to start calling him ⁠— was behind them. Then, behind him was Liz and the Archer, Lorsan. And at the very back was Emma, though she still stuck close enough to the group to be able to be saved should anything happen. It was surprisingly straight forward. Amber had also found out the dungeon was called the Dark Den via a System notification upon entering it.

Amber was a bit nervous, mostly because she didn’t know what to expect. Thieney next to her was carrying a torch, illuminating the path forward. The walls were rock and so was the ground, though sometimes it was replaced by dirt and tunnels, an odd sight.

“So, shouldn’t there be monsters by now?” Amber decided to ask.

She expected to be told off or something, but Thieney nodded. “Indeed, it is strange. There has been no traps either so far.”

“I hear something,” the archer said, lifting his bow with the same hand that had the torch, he had already nocked an arrow. “Seven monsters, two small ones.”

Amber immediately readied herself, and looked into the darkness. She could now hear the sounds of the monsters, and Thieney immediately called.

“Ranged attacks focus on the spiders, the rest on the Dark Hounds.”

Amber smiled and a second later, the monsters came into view. As mentioned, there were five quadruped monsters, akin to wolves with dark fur but standing tall enough to reach Amber’s lower ribs. They were much bigger than she expected. The spiders on the other hand, were about the size of a person’s head.

[Fledgling Sapphire Ardrid. Lvl. 30]

[Dark Hound. Lvl. 33]

[Dark Hound. Lvl. 32]

…

It’s my first time fighting in a group. Amber didn’t exactly know how to approach it, but she had already long surmised that she would be much better at disrupting groups of monsters than she would be at protecting or holding her ground. She was essentially an offensive vanguard. And she was planning on fulfilling that role.

With a smile she stepped forward and used Cursed Stomp. The ground shattered and all the Dark Hounds were caught in it. Lacerations burst all around with an echoing of yelps. Thieney seemed to pause as all the Dark Hounds were stunned ⁠— shocked in their spot. And Amber rushed forward, this didn’t feel all that different to doing it alone.

Then again, I’m kind of acting on my own. She grinned and arrived at the first Dark Hound, swinging her sword upon the neck of the monster. The Heavy Swing enhanced strike quickly arrived, cleaving deep into the neck of the monster with a mighty crack that caused it to squeal in pain. The monster went limp and she moved to the next Dark Hound.

A strike of lightning flew above her, hitting a spider and chaining into another, followed by two quick arrows that impaled both into the wall, unleashing pained screeches. Amber smiled and changing the grip on her sword, she used Heavy Swing on the next hound, hitting its head with the guard of the sword. A crack resounded and just like that, it had died.

The rest of the monsters fell just as quick, being disposed of in less than a minute as notifications soon came.

[You have defeated a [Fledgling Sapphire Ardrid. Lvl. 30].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Dark Hound. Lvl. 32].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Dark Hound. Lvl. 34].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

…

Amber frowned at the sight, but didn’t comment on it. She supposed getting less experience made sense, though she certainly found it to be a disappointing thing.

After resting for a minute to recover, they set off once more, venturing into the dungeon.

* * *

Amber’s sword beheaded a Dark Hound as blood splattered, making it the last in the group of monsters.

[You have defeated a [Dark Hound. Lvl. 33].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Fledgling Sapphire Ardrid. Lvl. 30].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Dark Hound. Lvl. 31].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

…

This was the third group of monsters they had fought, and Amber was quite sure she would’ve gotten a level up by now if she was here alone. However, she tried not to think about that. They had been in the dungeon for an hour, and their group seemed more confused than anything.

“There are less monsters than usual maybe, but…” the warrior started. “There doesn’t seem to be undead?”

“And yet, there are reports of them in this dungeon,” Thieney said simply. “We must continue our investigation. Our team should be strong enough to clear this dungeon.”

He was met by a nod of agreement, that was until the archer perked up and raised his bow.

“Light steps, shambling, slow. Undead possibly.”

Amber raised her brow, as she saw two red lights in the darkness almost shuffling towards them. And a moment later, the enemy appeared in her vision, it was a skeleton wearing a helmet and crude armor, he was holding a sword as a black miasma seemed to cling onto his body.

[Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 38]

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So that’s an undead… Amber felt that not all undead were the same, but it reminded her of the types of monsters necromancers summoned in fantasy novels. Skeletons or rotting corpses of different beasts.

They all raised their weapons, and a moment later a streak of lightning hit the skeleton. The monster didn’t let out a sound as part of its white bones cracked. Instead, its eyes flashed and it charged forward with a burst of speed. Amber rushed to meet it and it clashed swords with her. The strength was rather lackluster, but Thieney called in a panic.

“Switch with me as soon as you start feeling weak!”

Amber raised her brow, but nodded in response. She then pushed against the skeleton before using Body Bash. The monster was pushed and a cut appeared on its white bone. The undead nearly stumbled as Amber sliced her sword side-ways, Heavy Swing accompanying it. The bone of the left arm of the monster burst and sent it flying against the wall. Its miasma accompanying it.

It tried to stand up, but an oddly shaped arrow struck it, making its sternum crack as it bounced back to its sender. Amber, of course, didn’t let up, also slamming her sword upon the undead sternum with yet another Heavy Swing enhanced strike. It shattered in a single moment as the monster let out an almost silent scream, but she just kept on attacking it until it eventually died.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 38].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[Heavy Swing has leveled up from 2nd Rank level 2 to 2nd Rank level 3.]

[General Weapon Mastery has leveled up from 2nd Rank level 1 to 2nd Rank level 2.]

[You have reached level 38. 5 stat points awarded.]

Amber smiled at her level ups, but immediately turned to the dead skeleton. The miasma it was exuding was now gone.

“So it’s like a golem?” She frowned. “I’ll see if breaking the skull kills them like the Stone Guardians I guess.”

Thieney stepped forward and gave her a look of concern before looking back at the undead.

“So they are indeed here. Let’s keep going.”

They all nodded.

* * *

Shortly after, they killed two more Lesser Undead Skeletons, which Amber used to learn that their head was their weakness.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 36].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 37].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

However, as they were resting to recover the little stamina and mana expended, everyone heard the archer’s bow tense as he spoke.

“More undead approaching, three this time.”

There was a pause before everyone nodded, getting ready for battle.

“Hopefully the source of them is not too far from here,” Thieney said.

Soon, after the first undead came into view.

[Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 35]

Amber immediately rushed forward and ducked beneath the sword swing of the undead warrior. She already had her sword ready to strike as she used Heavy Swing. The attack went under the rib of the monster and hit its spine ⁠— shattering it as pieces of bone splintered everywhere. The monster fell onto the ground, evidently alive as it stared at her.

It’s best to incapacitate them before finishing them off if they are in groups, Amber thought.

Then the other two undead arrived, however at that moment the walls began to rumble behind. Thieney called in a panic.

“Everyone get back!”

Amber saw as multiple undead began to emerge from the ground around the group. She felt confused for a moment, but the sound of footsteps brought back her attention as she blocked the sword attack of another undead. She saw the other monster behind rushing to attack her.

Cursed Stomp.

At that moment both of the undead trembled ⁠— shook. Cuts appeared all over their bones and Amber shifted her sword before slashing— Heavy Swing. The sword cut through the neck of one of the undead, its head went flying into the darkness as a notification resounded in her mind. However, Amber paid it no mind as she charged at the other undead.

It was barely recovering when she brought down her sword like a cleaver⁠— breaking its skull through its helmet with Heavy Swing. Immediately killing it as well.

The undead aren’t that strong so it should all be fine⁠.

Amber turned only to see Thieney and the other warrior struggling to hold four undead back, they were profusely sweating. The archer and Liz too seemed tired as they kept another two undead at bay. Something seemed extremely wrong, so Amber rushed to dispose of the monsters.

She beheaded one of Thieney’s before carrying the strike into the spine of a different one, incapacitating it. Then shifting she immediately kicked the next undead before swinging upon it, cracking its skull. She immediately killed two of them. The two warriors pounced on the last one and cleaned up the rest. Thankfully, Liz and Lorsan finished off their undead.

Amber stared at the ground, there had been others that they had managed to kill before she arrived.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 37].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

…

[You have reached level 39. 5 stat points awarded.]

It was over for now.

Amber looked at her group, and immediately tensed up again as she warned.

“Be careful, archers behind!” she immediately warned.

Emma blinked and Lorsan turned but it was too late as both were struck by three arrows each. Liz growled and zapped at the group of three undead archers, and Amber reached them a mere two seconds later as she charged⁠. She sent one of them flying before incapacitating another one, the last one received a fireball as it stumbled back, its bow burning.

[Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 41]

[Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39]

[Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39]

“I’ll kill them, you all take care of the two of them.”

With those words, Amber arrived at the archer that loosed an arrow as it was trying to stand up. But she deftly dodged it as it struck the ceiling. The arrow seemed coated with miasma. She frowned but attacked the skeleton nonetheless. She broke its arm with a swing, making the skeleton drop its bow.

Then she turned but saw that Liz was killing one of the archers. Turning back, she stomped, her Cursed Momentum was at about halfway point already, her foot cracked the sternum of the monster. Then another stomp completely shattered it as it let out some kind of useless growl. Finally, with a swing she broke the skull of the skeleton as another notification rang.

However, she paid it no mind as she turned to an undead that tried to hit her with its fists. She dodged and immediately shifted the grip on her sword. Holding it by the blade yet again before puncturing the head of the skeleton through the helmet. Another notification came as another explosion of fire burst two meters away from her. Killing the last of the three archers.

Liz and Amber turned to Thieney who had an awful expression on his face. He seemed to be holding back tears as both of the people groaned.

Amber wanted to ask what happened, but the other warrior spoke first.

“The arrows are coated with poison and the miasma, they’ll die before the hour. The health potions aren’t good enough.”

Amber frowned. “Then take them back.”

“They won’t survive,” Thieney said, closing his eyes. “We should go back and request for an expedition team, there are too many undead here. That was a horde of fifteen undead. If we go deeper the numbers might increase exponentially.”

For a moment Amber didn’t know what to say.

“Let’s take them back, feed them more potions if necessary even if they end up bed-ridden for a year it’ll be better than dying,” Liz said sternly. “And if they’re going to die anyway, then dying via potions is not that different so might as well.”

Amber slowly nodded and Thieney’s expression seemed unreadable, but Jay was quick to agree as he nodded and picked up the healer.

“Let’s get them somewhere safe.”

Amber nodded and helped with moving the archer, as they all ran to leave the dungeon.

* * *

“How are they?” Amber asked.

Thieney was feeding Emma another potion. “I don’t know.”

The sun was beginning to set over the horizon, and wind was blowing outside of the dungeon, but they were all gathered there. Amber was seriously hoping they wouldn’t be dying considering she had already witnessed the death of three people. She didn’t want to add two more to the list. So she decided to be hopeful.

“We shall return them to town and find a healer to assist,” the warrior said. He was met with nods except for Amber.

“I’ll stay here and figure out what’s up with the undead problem.”

The warrior blinked. “You’ve already proven to me that you’re plenty strong, but you’re still throwing your life away.”

Thieney was looking at her in shock, seemingly unsure if to stop her. Finally, Liz spoke.

“Let’s trust her. She is unaffected by the undead’s miasma as we saw, and she just hit level 40 meaning a new Core Skill, besides. She doesn’t seem like the type to want to die.” Liz looked at her. “Do you want to die Amber?”

She scoffed. “Of course not.”

Liz nodded and turned to the group. “Let’s focus on saving the healer and archer, before forming an expedition team.”

She was met with hesitant nods and then turned back to Amber, reaching for her pouch in the process.

“Here take these, you’ll need them,” Liz said, handing her over three more potions and a hand sized block of something. It was wrapped. “Potions and some rations. Oh, and a magical torch, make sure to give that one back to me.”

Amber blinked, receiving all three items, one was a nondescript stick of black metal. After that, she noticed Thieney and the warrior approaching, who gave her two more rations. Then, everyone prepared to leave. Thieney however, stood there looking at her, Emma on his back.

“I do consider you my friend, so make sure to not die,” he said, his voice slightly shaky.

Amber grinned at him. “Don’t worry, if I die I’ll make sure to say my goodbyes as a ghost.”

The man mustered a smile. “Take care of yourself, Amber. I shall await your safe return.”

With those words, he turned and the group left. The warrior gave her a nod, and Liz waved her away as if she was a friend.

Amber watched them walk back for some time before she turned back to the dungeon. Even though she felt slightly bad about not going back like that, she figured it was better this way.

Finally, she turned to look at her notifications.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 41].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have defeated a [Lesser Undead Skeleton. Lvl. 39].]

Less experience for defeating an enemy as a group.

[You have reached level 40. 5 stat points awarded.]

She had obtained a new Core Skill, as Liz had said. And the skill was one of the main reasons she had decided to stay behind. Given she was in constant contact with the Curse of Laceration, she certainly expected something interesting to happen.

[New Core Skill! For reaching level 40 as a Cursed Berserker you have learned ⁠Recovery of Curses — level 1.

The curses fuel you. You regenerate stamina and health when affected by a curse. The higher the skill level the more effective the skill is.]

With a smile and the magical torch, she stepped back into the dungeon.

[You have entered a dungeon: The Dark Den.]