Ascension Rebirth – The calm before the hurricane
CHAPTER XLVI
PART ONE
"Aren't you running a bit too fast?"
Nosferatu, in possession of my body was speeding away at breakneck speeds through the thicket of the forest in an attempt to get to the [dungeon] that was supposedly located behind school at record time. Thinking about it now my personal movement and style during battle aren't exactly what I could call 'fast'; I'm more of the hulking and heavy hitting type.
A slow tanking character if you will.
That's why speeding up to such a degree was a first time experience for me, even if it wasn't my voluntary movements I could still feel the accelerating air brush past my face.
"No need to worry, this body has been greatly enhanced beyond it's already high specs so there isn't anything that could be fatal even at this speed."
She reassures me but I don't know how to feel about that. In the first place, 'speed' was a foreign concept to me because most of the time it's reactionary whereas I preferred being proactive.
Well whatever, since she's in my body her natural senses should override mine and she probably knows what she's doing given her age. Now that I think about it having an old woman in my body isn't exactly the most pleasant thought.
To take my mind off this train of thought I observed the various flora and fauna of this place. A lot of them were types I've never seen before; unique coloration and petal designs for the flora and many interesting animals with alien like design. It really was a marvel that could only be witness in this one of a kind world where 'magic' played a large role in the evolutionary process.
Speaking of natural formations, this brings us to my main point - [dungeons]. Truth be told I don't know too much about it given that I've never actually seen them in person, the only knowledge of them that I have is that monsters that dwell within are usually much stronger than their outside counterparts.
Also, based on my rudimentary knowledge of RPG mechanics, there's probably a treasure chest at the end of the dungeon. Though it would probably be fair to guess that the 'treasure' or reward of t his dungeon was the famed [spring of immortality].
Drink from it and you shall receive immortality. Though I did express objections to it before on Nosferatu taking me here, this was a place I had originally intended on venturing to regardless so I guess it matches up with my schedule, thus I'm letting it slide. It would've been nice to ask a few more questions on whether she knew about [Ascension] or not but whatever, I'll just enjoy the ride.
Actually this might be working out to my advantage given that now I'm technically stronger with the enhancements so clearing this place should've become much more convenient now. I wonder if I still get experience points while she's in control of my body?
Anyway, what would've taken an hour's worth of walking through the thick forests took merely 10 minutes of high speed dashing. We were now at the entrance to the dungeon.
It really lived up to its name, the entrance itself oozed an ominous black haze from the cave like entrance and a feeling of doom welled up from within me. That being said my body had a clear smile on it, Nosferatu didn't seem even a little intimidated by the presence and decided to casually stroll in.
Given her level I wasn't too surprised but if I were in her shoe I would've done some preplanning even if this dungeon wasn't anything special.
The [Spring of Immortality] - you'd think that this place would be teeming with people trying their hand at obtaining it but by the time we arrived at the entrance it was lifeless.
"This place is so empty."
I let out unconsciously.
"Well yeah. Dungeons aren't exactly known for being a walk in the park. You'd need some serious gear and preparation to clear out a dungeon of this calibre. Of course for someone like me it really is a cake walk so it doesn't matter either way."
"Well, I knew that. What I meant was I thought there would be more people considering the rumors about this dungeon housing the [spring of immorality]. I mean 'immortality' is a precious commodity right? It's something everyone wants right?"
"Mmm~ I guess? Most people who are strong enough to clear a dungeon of this level are probably already immortals and the people who want immortality are too weak to even attempt it."
She does bring up a valid point. This dungeon's entry requirements are probably around level 80 or higher and most people at that level are immortal.
For now I'll just follow along.
PART TWO
"AAAHAHAHAHAAA~! HAHAHAA! THIS IS FUN!"
If the term 'breakneck' was literally this situation most aptly describes that adjective. Upon entering the dungeon the first thing Nosferatu was kick the speed up to 11 then proceed to absolutely murder everything in our path.
"You're scaring me with that hysterical laughter."
Not even batting an eye towards the countless bodies shewn about in our wake. I kind of felt sorry for the enemies that so much as gave us a quick glance as even they were not spared from Nosferatu's excitement.
"What are you talking about? It's only fun because I'm laughing! Now laugh with me! AAAAHAHAHA!"
Well while she's having fun let's talk about the dungeon. Certainly this place feels different from the outside, on a general level it fills a person with a mortifying dread and the longer a person stays in here the deeper they'd fall into insanity; at the very least that's what people with low mental defences would feel on average.
I think this is the kind of system put in place to crank up the difficulty of dungeons but it's a rather cheap way if you ask me. Sure the atmosphere fits but it's rather effortless. As for me I didn't really feel too bad, one because all of the monsters were a joke and two, because I had maximum level [mental fortress].
As for the type of monsters we've been fighting. Most of them were plant based monsters, [Giant Venus Flytrap], [Living trees], [Magic ents], etc.
Considering that at the end of all this is the [spring of immortality] I can't say I was too surprised. I did see a couple of human shaped skeletons thrown about on the ground, probably belonging to poor sods who tested their might and failed.
The median level of monsters in these parts were all the way at the high 60s to low 70s. It would be impossible for any human or really any species aside from demons to be able to trek through this dungeon and survive.
It really is a ridiculous amount of difference between dungeon monsters and outside monsters. Considering the median level of the general populace of all races only being about 20 ~ 30; just what are they feeding these dungeon monsters?
I mean, I did hear that the mana inside dungeons were many times more intense than the outside, which is the reason for the dreadful feeling upon entering, so that could sort of explain the monster's levels. They're being conditioned to survive in harsh environments so only the strong survive and propagate; evolution at its finest huh?
Perhaps with careful planning and coordination it might be possible for high level adventurers to overcome them as these monsters weren't too smart and mostly moved on instincts, that could be exploited, but that would take so much time.
In a blink of an eye the entirety of the first floor was cleaned out and doing so netted me 2 levels. So I can still receive the experience points even if I'm being controlled huh? Though that makes me wonder, can she also see my [custom editor]?
From the non reaction she gave when the [You have gained a level!] UI box popped up I'm guessing she can't, a good thing too, I don't want her playing around with my carefully aligned stats.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"How boring~ there are only plant based monsters here."
"I don't see what's so boring about fighting monsters that could rip your face off, regardless of whether they're plants or not."
She shook my head. No, I didn't stutter, Nosferatu shook my head to display her dissatisfaction.
"You just don't get it, it's no fun if you can't see the enemy writhing in pain and drowning in their own blood. Sigh~ I guess I should just burn them to get a better reaction."
Descending onto the second floor Nosferatu switched around her tactics. She was no longer speeding across with brute force and decided to use magic to entertain herself, which actually makes me wonder if she can even use her magic while in my body.
Several [plant soldiers]; greenish plant like humanoid monsters, started to gather around us. There were easily 100 of them just wanting to rip us apart but Nosferatu only returned their intimidations with a smile on my face.
"Hah! Gathering here was your biggest mistake! Take this [Inferno]!"
…
The plant soldiers braced themselves for an attack but all that happened was Nosferatu shouting with nothing happening. She made me do a stupid looking pos; stretching out my arm and on one foot, like I'm doing some wacky voodoo ritual.
"Eh?"
She stood there for a full 10 seconds before the plant soldiers decided that nothing was going to happen and started their assault.
"I'm unable to use magic and since you're in my body the same rules will apply to you."
"Wait what? How is that possible?"
"It just is. I have an even better idea, why don't you use a skill of mine called [wither]?"
"[Wither]? What's that how does it even work?"
Good question, how do I even teach that to someone?
"I don't know, just… shout it out, wave your hands towards the enemy and think about them withering up?"
I know I'm not a good teacher. That being said she did as I said and shouted out the name of the attack. Since I'm impartial at the moment watching someone really advertise the name of their attack was embarrassing.
Though to my surprise the plant soldiers really did start withering up and as they did they squirmed with their dying breaths.
"Oho~ an interesting power."
[Life drain], [Decay] and [Wither] never had any visual effects so all that could be seen was that the plant soldiers suddenly turning brown and dying.
So for the next 4 floors she flaunted my [wither] at everything that moved. She honestly seemed like she was having fun, but the expressions she was making with my face was rather disturbing, it was a combination of pre-orgasm and relief after… relieving yourself.
I swear sweat was dropping down from my forehead as well.
After clearing 5 floors I managed to gain a total of 7 levels and maxed out my [wither] while I was at it as well.
PART THREE
You know, I feel really cheated out of this dungeon experience. This was supposed to be adventurous and fun and all that jazz but nope, just flew through this place with the help of some OP cheat mask.
Someone owes me money for this.
In the end I guess I can't be helped. We were now standing in front of what appeared to be a 'boss room'? It was a large dome-like chamber with a grassy texture all over it. Either some gardener has neglected doing his job over the last decade or this place houses the final boss of this dungeon.
I'm veering more towards the latter but I could be wrong. It really could be a gardener… hahaha, who am I kidding.
As we took a step into the grassy chamber, a large plant… crab? Emerged from the ground.
So picture this, it's a crab… but made of trees and was 10 meters tall.
[Forest Guardian. Level 78].
That was its title.
"That looks quite tough~"
"Are you serious? You've just been tearing through everything in this place for the last 2 hours and you're saying this tree looks tough?"
"I didn't say it would be hard, just that it looked rather tough. Anyway I should be able to destroy this thing in an instant, I'm just thinking about the coolest way of doing that. Hey do you think it would be cool if I just destroyed it with a punch and just walked away while it exploded from behind me?"
"Yeah… sure go nuts."
A sinister smile stretched across my face as Nosferatu flexed for a type of super punch. She's oddly childish for someone many millennia old, though in her defense she must've been bored while being locked up.
"Alright! Now die pitiful tree!"
She screams out and she flies towards the crab who also looked like he was about to throw a punch of its own.
However before anything could happen it burst into flames and we went flying through it.
"What?!"
She cried out and turned back to see that the 'Forest Guardian' was burnt to cinders in mere a few seconds. Even I was fairly confused at that point but I felt a burning sensation from my back, and luckily Nosferatu did as well.
When we turned around a humanoid figure of fire stood before us, burning at an intense temperature. Not being able to withstand the pressure we dodged a couple of steps back.
"What is it?"
Nosferatu asks.
As I said it was a humanoid flame. It had no distinct features besides the molten rocks forming its solid body and the flames bursting around it. No eyes, no nose, no ears, but it did have a mouth.
Is that supposed to be a metaphor for the 'all consuming flame'?
As I concentrated to see its title it spoke out.
"ViLe SerVaNT of NyARlaThoTEP… THis pLacE wiLl bE yoUr GRaVE!"
Speaking in an inhuman tone it lunged its flaming body towards us.
[Cthugha. Level 147. The Living Flames].
END REPORT[Status Menu]
Morgant Fallon. Level 70
NECROMANCER
DEMON GENERAL
SUCCESSOR OF THE COSMIC LEGACY
Strength: 325 (230+95)
Dexterity: 110 (5+105)
Intelligence: 60 (5+55)
Insight: 210 (105+105)
[Status point: 35]
[Skill menu]
(AUGMENT) [Strike+]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Summon - Skeleton Knight]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Transfer Life]: Level 50 (MAX)
(PASSIVE) [Life Force Sensory]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Avatar of Nyarlathotep]: Level 27
(ACTIVE) [Wither]: Level 50 (MAX)
(AUGMENT) [Voice of Hastur]: Level 1
(AUGMENT) [Aura Field]: Level 34
(ACTIVE) [Soul Gambit]: Level 48
(PASSIVE) [Physical Damage Resistance]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Obsidian Lance]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Obsidian Shield]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Reanimate Dead]: Level 34
(AUGMENT) [Enchanting Voice]: Level 40
(PASSIVE) [Lord of Ghosts]: Level 21
(ACTIVE) [Phantasmal Maelstrom]: Level 45
(AUGMENT) [Transformation - Black Pharaoh]: Level 30
(PASSIVE) [Mental Fortress]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Summon - Soul Reaver]: Level 12
(ACTIVE) [Summon - Phantasmal Apparition]: Level 18
(ACTIVE) [Essence Prison]: Level 1
(ACTIVE) [Summon - Terror of the Depth]: Level 1
(ACTIVE) [Silence]: Level 50 (MAX)
(ACTIVE) [Twin Suns]: Level 1
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Sorry for ending it short like that, at first I intended it to continue on but was unable. Now I want to take this opportunity to tell everyone that this story will be going through a bit of a hiatus because I'll be entering my test period at uni shortly and unfortunately since I'm not a genius I actually need to study for them. =( Anyway, the test period will only take up 2 ~ 3 weeks so afterwards I promise to upload a bit more frequently. I hope you've enjoyed the story thus far and continue to do so after I'm back on track!
Then, see you~