Xane was quite miffed with himself. Even with so many points in intelligence he felt stupid for not thinking of it earlier. If he could pull in 50 cubic feet of water he could probably shove an entire ship in his ring. He wasn’t going to test at the moment due to being in it however when he parked that would be the first thing he would do.
Right now he put that out of mind and just enjoyed the ocean breeze and gentle waves. At this point the sun just went past halfway. He hoped the island wasn’t too far. He already wasted too much time.
An hour later his pet Garry came sliding up an expecting look in his eyes. At first Xane was the one confused. Xane never had a pet and didn’t see the obvious begging for food. Xane just ignored it, letting it do its thing. However when it wouldn’t budge after another 30 minutes he gave in. “What do you want?”
The snake again looked expectantly at him, tongue sliding out. “Food? Do you want something to eat?” Xane asked lamely. The snake kinda nodded. He knew the intelligence of Garry wasn’t great but it was as high as his was when he first came here. It also followed commands well enough. Xane picked a large hog and tossed it to the floor. It looked hungrily at it but didn’t grab it. “Go ahead take-” Without any more hesitation the snake bit down and started to swallow. He now wished he had given it the food farther away from himself. Garry was doing a reverse cat barf quite gagging noises as it started consuming the thing whole. It was a few minutes later that it took it down whole and went sliding away to digest.
That is something I will never unsee. For multiple reasons.
Xane inwardly gaged at the sight but focused ahead. The wind shifted every once in a while forcing him to run down and adjust. His higher strength though making what once took effort something he could do with just a simple motion. He really didn’t see much in the way of things out here. Sometimes he would activate Godly sight peering down into the depths. He saw all sorts of fish and sea creatures down below. He couldn’t inspect them through the ability however and didn’t learn what any of them were.
4 hours of travel. That is how long it took to spot land. The jutting rock. A spitting image of what he saw in his dream. He didn't see any smoke. That doesn't mean anything bad he told himself. Probably just not wasting fuel or something. The island he saw was fairly sparse with mostly rocky surfaces.
If Von was still alive he was probably near dying of thirst and hunger. Xane wished he could pick up speed. The wind had almost died. He could turn on the propeller but wanted to save it for emergencies. Von was strong; he'd survive, he had to.
Xane slammed into waves as he got closer. Excitement boiling over. That's when he saw it the smoke started wafting up a thick black smoke that would be visible for miles. It was a smoke signal it had to be. Xane got as close as he dared not wanting to wreck his ship.
He tested touching the ship to pull it in but nothing happened. He remembered it saying that nothing living can go in. Perhaps Garry being in the ship was blocking it? Xane called the giant constrictor up and tried again. And again nothing. Next was abandoning it first. He ordered Garry to shore the snake, not seeming happy about having to swim. He did so anyway gliding across the water at decent speeds. Next Xane himself jumped overboard touching Sierra's Song. In a pop and rush of wind and water it was gone. Neat.
Xane splashed into the water surprised but not really surprised that it worked. He started to swim after his pet to land. Did he need to put the ship away? Probably not. The sensation and pure curiosity of what was in that cave though pulled him to do so. He wasn't about to let some pirate or sea monstrosity pilfer Sierra's Song. He saw it inside like in stasis. The sail still pushed out as if enveloped in wind.
Making it to land was easy. He was always a great swimmer but since coming here he was much faster. Xane still marveled over how stats affected things. Garry was in the process of sneaking up on a seagull. The dumb bird had no chance against the quick pet. The entire bird was swallowed alive. Garry just clenched its muscles crushing and suffocating it. Xane told it not to attack any humans not wanting Von to befall the same fate.
Both in stride carefully went in the direction of the smoke. That of which wasn't far. Whoever made it clearly knew you stayed near the beach. However, it was in an outcropping of rocks that made a sort of cave-like entrance. A voice spoke from within.
"Xane? Is-is that you?" The voice was definitely Von if a bit more raspy.
Xane had the death snake go chase birds. He should have done that earlier but didn't think of it till right that moment. Xane replied back not being able to hide the tears of joy from his voice. "I know no Xane. Captain Boy at your service."
It was an inside joke that didn't go unnoticed as a shirtless Von left the shelter. "Captain? A deck swabber is more like it."
Both laughed with Vons turning into coughs. "Are you ok Von?"
"Of course of course. Nothing I can't handle Boy. But if you got some booze on you I'd be even better. But I really got to ask. What happened to the ship? I saw it sailing towards me." His eyes grew as if realizing something. "Unless I'm going insane?"
Xane did have a few bottles but didn't think that was what Von truly needed. "Crazy? Always. You aren't going insane though. I'll explain over some food."
Von showed Xane in. The place actually looked roomy and nice. There were some old pieces of wood blocking off most windflow. Chairs and a makeshift table were set up. A fire sat in the middle, the smoke billowing up like in a tepee. A few rusted tools were hanging by nails. Lastly there was a cot of leaves and feathers.
Von spoke first, ushering Xane to sit. "Like my new digs? Took a bit to make but I'll sell it to you for a million. Even has a great view of the ocean."
"You clearly didn't make this-"
"You wound me boy." Mock pain plastered on his face.
Xane started again,"And the decor really needs work. The rotten boards and blackstone don't mix really well."
Both laughed again. Both needed it. Xane put on a more serious face. "Let me explain everything." And he did. From first landing to finding the odd tower and severed hand, to the dreams of this place. And finally how he had a pet snake named Garry and how Sierra's Song was in his ring.
He talked whilst pulling out cups of water and cooked boar. Something he can't believe he didn't do was look over Von. Not physically but inspect him. He was surprised at what he saw.
Von Sway
Level: 6
Race: Human(Male)
Important stats:
Strength: 23
Constitution: 24
Charisma: 26
It didn't have any information like other things. It made sense since he had only been here for 7ish days. What lore could he get? His stats were also fairly big for his level. Perhaps he also got feats. His charisma being high made sense. He was always charismatic. Xane had asked about his level and got an answer.
“I’ve got an ability called Cultivation. Been mostly doing that and killing the odd seagull. There is a lot of energy in the area and I only have to move a bit away to go again. I really didn’t know what I was doing till you mentioned it earlier.” Von answered in between gulps of water.
Xane wasn't about to ask as more important things needed to be done. "Is there anything dangerous here? Because as I said mine was filled with them.”
"Unless you count the feathered ones then nothing that I know of. There is this cave in the spire over there. I really only looked but got a sense of foreboding just looking in it. No way I'm going in there."
"Well I am."
"Why? 'Cause some dream told you so? Not worth dying over if you ask me."
"I think I've got things handled. I haven't faced anything I couldn't deal with. My blade and colt both are excellent weapons. I even have a glowing dagger and a pet snake that could swallow me whole."
"Then go over there. You'll see what I mean. I think there is more of a reason than great real estate that whoever made this place built it so far away." Von looked worried but even more terrified of the prospect of going into the depths.
Xane obliged the request. He left Von with a few things of water and meat to eat. The man must have not been able to catch enough. The trip wasn't long, just about a mile's distance to the center. The towering spire of blackish rock was a site to behold. A few seagulls perched on top or in outcroppings.
The mouth of the cave was obvious and ominous. The jaw-like maw, even more creepy in person. Walking closer he did get a sensation of something powerful making its home there. A feeling of ‘you don't want to go in there.’ Xane really wanted to go in there. The call of adventure was stronger.
Now wasn't the right time. He needed to make sure Von would be safe first. Heading back he looked around with his godly sight finding nothing of interest. There really weren't any other creatures around. Just more stupid seagulls. He also couldn’t see very far underground. He did see Garry again swallowing a seagull. That snake could really eat, Xane just fed it an entire boar just hours before. Xane still felt weird having it around.
Xane arrived at Vons hideaway. Von had eaten his fill and was cleaning up the place. At least the best he could in the dingy place. “I’ve decided that I’m going in. To survive we need to become stronger. I saw some things there in my dream. I’m so close to level 15. And as I said I really want to learn that spell.”
“I’m not your father, do what you want. Can you leave the boat? I’d rather sleep in my own bed for a change. Been hard sleeping without the rocking of the waves.” He paused but added something Xane expected, “Also something stronger to drink? Water just ain’t doing it.” Von seemed tired through his easy smile. Xane didn’t actually know his age but assumed it was getting up there. He always had a calm demeanor but this was far more than usual and for the situation they were in.
“Yeah I guess I can but I’d rather it not be in the water. Have you seen the things in the water?” Xane had told him about Yug and the other giant things he had seen in the depths. He really didn’t trust leaving his ship and only way out of here in the water for something or someone to come across.
“Fine, fine just plop it over there or something. Or can you at least give me a bed and alcohol?”
Xane decided to keep the ship. He had already grabbed most stuff out of it beforehand including the beds. Taking out two beds and a bottle he and Von drank before going to bed.
In the morning he didn’t bother with exercise and just cultivated a bit instead. Von woke up hours into his session not having the same constitution as Xane. Von was right this area was chalk full of ambient mana that Xane hungrily took in. He felt that he gained almost enough to reach level 14. Cultivating was mentally draining process if physically revitalizing.
He didn’t dream last night but still got a feeling of urgency. That he needed to go into the cave at a faster pace than he was currently going. Even so he wasn’t going to get himself killed over it. When Xane came out of his stupor Von spoke.
“I do want to ask again. Are you sure you want to go in there? I’ve got a bad feeling about it. I got a bad feeling about this entire island, wish I woke up on your paradise instead.” Xane had rarely seen the look he saw. Concern. Von was a kind if harsh friend, however he believed in people doing basically whatever they wanted as long as they faced the consequences. The look of concern was something Von had only given him once. And that was right before they left on Sierra’s Song and ran into that whirlpool.
"Honestly. I don't know if I want to or just being beckoned to go. All I know is that I am going down there." It was true Xane didn't know if the feeling of adventure or pull of his dreams is what guided him.
"No point in wasting more time, let's get a move on." Von stated this walking out of the shabby home.
"I thought you said you weren't going in there?" Xane was obviously confused.
"No point in sitting here doing nothing while you have all the fun. Now shove all this stuff in your ring I'd prefer to go before the liquid courage wears off." He said this pointing at the now empty bottle.
Xane was relieved and also more so scared for Von. Von was low level and also clearly didn't have the retinue of feats that Xane had. He also only had a combat knife from his time in the navy. Neither of them even had any armor. Xane was letting his endurance and constitution take the brunt of the damage but with things in the low 20 didn't care about that. Xane thought about just going shirtless to protect his dwindling supply of clothes.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? There could be very dangerous stuff down there. I'd hand you my colt but not many shots left." Xane stated this whilst pulling out the gun holding it out to von.
"Speaking of that you mind pulling the ship out I've got my own stashed away."
Xane didn't know about this. He knew Von owned one but didn't remember him saying he brought it with. Obliging the request he walked to moar of sorts. This island was not perfectly round like the previous one. There was a bit of rocky outcropping that was crescent shaped and deep. It was barely larger than what Sierra's Song was but she would fit. Xane dumped the ship while watching the water inside displace violently.
"There you go Von she's all yours."
Von didn't answer as he just stared at the impossibility of it all. Xane left him to do his thing as he went to fetch Garry. If he concentrated hard enough he could sense a vague direction of where he was. Xane found the snake curled up not far from camp.
He looked at Xane with the same face as before. "I'm not your mother nor your personal chef. You can hunt yourself." Garry tilted its head down. Stupid high intelligence stat he probably actually has feelings. "I'm sorry, here have this, but you can't eat too much. We have to get going." Xane gave in, throwing out a cooked pig leg. The snake caught it easily. "At this rate you'll eat all my stored food. Xane had a lot of boar but Garry clearly could eat a lot.
That made a question bubble in his mind. How did creatures level? Was it similar to humans? Garry hadn't killed much since being bonded to Xane however had grown in size but not levels. Was it the food? Did they eat to grow? Is that why he wanted so much food? To the list it went. The first person who even seemed like they had answers was going to get a mouth full.
Garry in tow, Xane went back to Von. That of which was now toting around a holster with a M1911 inside. He also now had a floral shirt and a baseball cap of some team he didn't know. "Ready captain?" Xane yelled as he got closer with a smile on his face. It was nice having Von with him even if it was dangerous. "And how much you got?"
"I've been ready. You're the one running off too-shit that's a huge snake. When you said big I thought something more than a bit smaller. If that thing wasn't under your control I'd have zero rounds left."
"No shooting my snake." Replied Xane looking back at Garry. For Garry's part he didn't seem to understand what the conversation was even about. He did though look at Von as if he was a rather tasty morsel.
"Tell it to never look at me like that again and I think about it"
"Garry friend, not food," he said, pointing at Von. He did want to add 'unless he threatens you again' but believed the constrictor probably didn't know what jokes were. "Ok get down, I can store it."
Von jumped down unceremoniously landing hard on his ass. "Don't laugh."
Xane most definitely laughed.
They arrived at the cave mouth a bit after the fall. "It's as scary as I remembered." Von said, leaning a bit inside a flashlight in hand.
"It's not that bad. Just the feeling of 'go away' 'beware evil things inside' no biggy. Could use a welcome mat though" Xane talked as he walked inside partly false bravado guiding him. The place felt instantly colder as they went inside. It was like an invisible barrier holding back the cold. "Jeez it's cold in here." Xane's only jacket was destroyed by acid. It wasn't debilitating yet so he just shuddered and went one.
Von though had brought one. Lucky bastard. You didn’t need to fight an acid breathing moss ball. He didn’t voice this, not wanting Von to actually give it to him. Von probably would. “So you haven’t been in here at all the entire time you’ve been here?”
Von didn’t immediately answer immediately,”I walked a good few feet on my first night. It was raining really bad that night. I took shelter but once I woke up I just didn’t feel good being here so I went to find better accommodations.”
“Huh I didn’t see any rain on my island or really seen any big clouds at all. But it had to rain sometimes since there was a huge pond of water there.”
“Yeah it was hurricane bad of rainfall and heavy winds. Kinda the reason I lost my shirt is that I tried to lift it over my head as a makeshift umbrella and a huge gust of wind just yanked it from me.” Von seemed slightly miffed and ashamed by that story.
“Good thing you have extras. I lost 2 of my shirts to attacks and this one is barely holding on. I have some weird robes and a suit-like thing but don’t think they would work for me.”
They talked hushed as they went. The conversation was more for their sanity than the actual subject. The cave was damp with water dripping from the ceiling. They both swore they had seen movement in the darkness just on the periphery of their lights. Sometimes a clattering of rocks would spook them. They either realizing they themselves made the disturbance or just blamed each other out of desperate need for it not to be something else.
They were on their 30 minute mark and the cave system itself really didn’t change. It was a blackish stone that rarely changed colors. The cave mouth wasn’t the only portion that had stalactite and stalagmites. As they walked shadows danced portraying teeth and long shadowy people. The constant drip drip drip of the water frayed upon the minds of the two as they went.
Xane tried to think of why he was so scared. He had faced beasts and even something that was probably more powerful than he could hope to ever become. None of that gave him that feeling. The feeling of everything being out to get him. Every shadow and low noise being a threat to be scared of. It oddly felt foreign as if it wasn’t his own emotions. It was emotions that he was suppose to feel. That something wanted him to feel. Instantly on thinking this he felt better and a notification confirmed something for him.
You have resisted a mind effect.
You have resisted Fear of the Shadows.
Fear of the Shadows
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Increases indecision and frays the sanity of those who are in the radius of this effect. Those who are in this effect will fear everything mildly and will get worse the closer they are to the epicenter of the effect. This effect will be resisted if they have a mind or fear blocking magic or realize they are being affected by something.
“Von we were under a spell of some sort. Just think about it and it will go away.”
“What do you-” Xane hadn’t seen anyone else look at their messages before. It was odd. Von looked as if he was looking at him but not really. It was a kin to someone just not paying attention but pretending to. “I see what you mean. I honestly don’t like all this magic business. It is rather annoying.”
“Well I’ll be learning magic soon.” Xane said incredulously. Xane looked at Garry and he didn’t seem bothered by the Fear of the shadows and just slithered along.
“What are our-” Von didn’t have time to finish when something attacked from the shadows. A long appendage of sorts whipped out and slashed against Von cutting deep. Von screamed in pain. Another one went for his leg but Von was able to barely move out of the way.
Xane wasn’t waiting by and slashed out with his Rapier which was already pulled out. He hit something. It felt like slapping water. Only a slight resistance. Another limb reached out and Xane saw what it was. The long limb was a tentacle. However it was murky and roiled with wisps of darkness as the flashlight hit it. The thing really didn’t like the light pulling into the darkness.
As soon as it did so it attacked, Xane taking damage from behind. “Either it's fast or there are multiple.” Xane cried out in pain. Xane also pulled out his gleaming blade. The glow effect was much more powerful than he expected. At Least 40 feet in each direction was filled with a low light. It wasn’t as powerful as the flashlights in intensity but in filling the corridor in all directions it was much better.
He noticed that it was only one and Xane now seeing the body was able to see what it truly was.
Shadow Elemental
Level: 16
Important Stats:
Constitution: 45
Agility: 32
Endurance: 34
Information: Well they are kinda like cloudy stuff but shadows. Yeah that makes sense. Also they are weak to light. Use light. What was the other thing…Yes! They also come in groups…usually.
Whoever wrote that should be fired. He already knew that and wanted something more. Beyond his frustrations it was lucky that Xane happened to have a dagger with the power to kill these things as if written down somewhere. Slowed by his dagger the shadow elemental tried to escape but was easily killed. Even Vons dagger seemed to have an effect if not by much. The constitution and endurance on them were no joke. It took more hits than he thought it would with a dagger meant to kill them. Garry didn’t do anything with the fight being so close quarters. The snake had enough brains to not accidentally hit either of them.
They didn’t deal anything in the way of damage when cast in light so they weren’t a real threat. With the feeling of fear gone and knowing at least one of the enemies wasn't a true problem the two started going down with only real slight fear in their hearts.
They killed a few more as they stumbled their way down. Garry wasn’t able to do much if they weren’t fully illuminated. If the light wasn’t on them they just turned more smoky and got out of his grips. They figured out that the shadow elementals became substantial with light. Their flashlights started to flicker and ultimately just stopped working after a while. “Shit.” Von whispered into the darkness when his went out.
Most of the time was just a straight line with maybe a slight change in direction or width. That ended when they came across a fork in the road. “Wanna do eeny, meeny, miny, moe?” Xane asked, letting his dagger cascade in both paths. Gaining no information doing so.
“Where does your weird sense tell you to go?”
“Yeah, that is a more general direction, not left or right. I didn’t buy premium, sorry.” Xane then added,” Flip a coin?” They flipped a coin. Heads was for left, tails for right. Xane tossed it into the air, catching it swiftly. “Heads! Left it is.”
“I think we should go right though.”
“But you-” Xane stopped when he saw Von’s forced smile. Xane though either didn’t notice or didn’t care taking it at face value and smiled back,”Let's take a break first.”
They took a small break to eat and drink. The short rest was also to heal up the wound on Von. It festered a rackish black. However, a good meal and rest did heal it. Von said he was infected with a disease called Festering Shadows. Xane didn’t get it when he was hit. Probably was a chance per hit and Von was unlucky to get it along the fights. Or Xane’s higher constitution held it at bay. Von also had leveled up and put most into constitution being the weakest link in the group.
“You ready Boy I’d like to get to a nice bed within the next day or so. Maybe have another bottle.”
“Yeah yeah we only waited so you could heal and allocate points.”
The two started again heading down the left path. Xane was hoping for a change in scenery. But to no avail. What he got instead of a flood of moving shadows. A swarm of 5 shadow elementals converged on them. Even the light of his blade couldn’t penetrate all of them. Xane in front was first to get hit. He didn’t get hit once but multiple times. Something they noticed was that the elementals took on various shapes. The fist was like a squid. Some were bat-like. Some he saw in this mix were sharks swimming through the air.
The change in shape did change how they attacked. Xane was bit, slashed and grappled by the surge of darkness. He didn’t just lay down and die taking wide slashes with his blades. One of the sharks that stayed back quickly bit down on his hand engulfing up to the elbow. It didn’t sever the arm but did sever the light streaming from the blade the arm held.
The battle was in pitch darkness. It didn’t go well for the trio. Cries of pain echoed from Von as he got assaulted. Garry hissed Xane didn't know what it was doing but hoped he was helping somehow.
Xane struggled with the rope like appendages wrapping him up. His rapier of fire didn’t produce light even though it burned. It did, though still work fine enough against these things. Xane cut away some of the tentacles and thrashed his left arm with the dagger hoping to kill the shark from the inside out. It was a painful process but a rather painful yank into a wall. The thing still didn't let go. That was when a heavy weight fell on his arm. It was too heavy for Xane's arm to handle and he fell to the side.
He assumed it was Garry as he felt it wrap around the elemental. It didn't take long as the elemental popped and light cascaded through the corridor again. “Thanks Garry”. Xane looked to see the snake sporting many new cuts.
He saw Von on the floor struggling with two bats biting and slashing with their wings. He didn’t look in a good state, the shadow infection taking hold. Xane himself probably had it too but didn’t dare look. Instead he slashed out with both blades decapitating the shark biting on his torso. The squid tried to pull him to fall over but couldn’t match the raw strength of Xane. Xane had grabbed the arm and threw it hard at one of the bats harrying Von both colliding against the wall.
That was a saving move getting it off the slowly dying Von as well as a mistake. Xane didn’t pay attention to the mass clumping together as he ran and stabbed down on the other bat taking it out of the air. Even though it had a dagger almost the size of the bat sticking out of it it wasn’t dead. He didn’t know why he did this but he put away the rapier grabbing a wing and tore it clean off. He was surprised by his action but more so that it even worked. He then pulled hard on its head, ripping that off too.
Xane was preoccupied and didn’t notice the two he had thrown were pulling themselves together again. However this time together meant as one singular entity. They were able to do so only because they landed outside the light. The half squid half bat shadow flew in his direction entangling itself around his face as it bit hard. Xane had only seen the movie aliens once with his friend and didn’t think it was scary. Now images of that flooded his mind. It didn’t seem like the shadow wanted to impregnate Xane but that didn’t stop him from trying to get the thing off.
The Squat? Buig? The shadow thing was fast stuck to his face both arms and teeth holding on. Xane panicked too much and was quickly running out of air. He managed to rip only a few limbs off, not able to take the strengthened creature off. His blade was stupidly dropped when his face was attacked. That is when he remembered he put his rapier away. Pulling it out he carefully aimed as best he could without sight and struck the main body mass hoping he wasn’t about to do the work for them.
The shadow undulated from the attack, the grip only slightly lessened. The worst part of it all was that the only thing making noises was Von and Xane. The creatures didn’t scream in pain or glee. It made it all eerie.
With the blade lodged in, Xane pushed out trying to either cut it in half or pull it off. Xane managed both. He sliced it mostly in half, not killing it, forcing most except the teeth biting into his nose. That was until another face appeared. Garry had bit down on it and pulled. Garry was able to rip it fully apart, killing it, dark smoke rising like the rest.
Xane started breathing heavily. For the last few moments Xane was suffocating. His mind was starting to slow. All the strength and magic items and I almost died to mere suffocation. He added that to ways to deal with something. Gravity would probably work too.
Xane slipped over too Von the ground slick with moisture and his pains to great. Xane, seeing Von unconscious, picked him up and went back to the cross road and a bit farther than that. Xane had taken many larger boulders he could find and way too many bits of wood for fires. He didn’t make a campfire initially but instead constructed a crude wall hoping that if the elementals couldn’t pass through them they couldn’t pass through the twigs he brought. Truth be told he wasn’t optimistic. He had to try.
Xane then took out the bed and placed Von on it. Stabbing the gleaming dagger into the ceiling he made the makeshift area glow in light. A bit away from the flammable wall he did make an actual fire hoping the warmth would make the place feel better. He did move Von closer to it, giving him water. Xane didn’t know if it would work but he cut pieces from old clothing and poured booze on it dapping Vons wounds. If it did help he couldn’t tell. It was all he could do though except keep watch.
Xane had notifications to read.
You have been inflicted with Festering Shadows
Festering Shadows
Healing is slowed and reduced till cleansed or overpowered. Affects heavily reduced in proximity to light.
Reduces natural healing by 25%. Reduces healing effects by 15%
Time remaining: 0 seconds
Xane had apparently already gotten rid of his infliction. Von wasn’t so lucky the black lines were still at the points of injury. They weren’t spreading though, just slowly disappearing.
Congratulations! after trials and tribulation you have gained a level
You have gained a level, as a human you gain 6 points per level. You are now level 14
Xane shoved all into intelligence. The spell got him thinking. If he didn’t have his feats he would never have been able to use it by level 15. How did someone else do that? Was 15 just some level that unlocked stuff and the spell truly just needed 100 intelligence? More questions and less answers. He was happy to get the first requirement. There was another interesting thing when he got it to 100. It was useful but not by much. It also made him want to increase his other stats to 100.
Congratulations! You have gained a new Feat.
Aren’t You a Smart Cookie: Have 100 points in intelligence. This is the first milestone in stats. This is an upgradable Feat.
Reading and skill learning speed increased by 5%
Now he just needed to get to level 15. That of which he knew wouldn’t be too far away.
Xane let Von sleep it off as he stayed awake and guarded. He tried petting Garry but the snake didn't seem interested in that idea. Luckily, either the lights or wall kept any potential shadow elementals away. He was happy that Von wouldn’t be disturbed. Xane couldn’t see his friend's health but just knew it had to be low.
Xane used his eye skill but a huge force was pushing it back. At first he thought it was the thick stone but he could barely see past his barricade. He tried looking back and got the same outcome. Some weird unknown thing wasn’t stopping but highly reducing his skills strength.
Xane knew he couldn't just leave Von or get too distracted. He thought about having Garry take watch as he cultivated. In the end he didn't trust that the snake would be able to.
So he just waited. And waited. He sat there for 10 hours until Von started to stir. Xane walked over and gently shook him. " Von you doing ok?
"Just a few more hours. Go away and let an old man rest."
That's when he knew Von was ok he only called himself old to joke or get something out of it." Come on up you know full well we got places to be. Here eat and drink. You still affected by anything?"
"I'm good Boy, just hungry. Feel like I could eat an entire shark."
"Don't bring up sharks." He was still bitter from the shadowy shark.
After getting ready both set out again. This time Von had a torch in hand, the more light the better. Von joked about dragging the fire with them. Xane tried to shove the whole thing in his ring but could only get individual sticks and logs. He thought perhaps if it was in a container it would work but didn't have one big enough to try. However the ability to spit out fire logs could come in handy. Touching them to put them in did burn a bit. Not as much as before thanks to his endurance.
They went down the path taken before. They wanted to finish it before the other one. If it has an end. Xane thought bitterly. They were about 45 minutes past the point where they were attacked. More didn't spawn out of nowhere. It was slow at first but quickly over time the space opened up to a large room. He couldn't see much. Like glow sticks Xane lobbed crackling logs inside.
Individually they didn't do much but the burning wood illuminated the edges giving a decent outline on the size of the room. It looked like a semi sphere. It wasn't perfectly round but was about 50 feet in diameter. In the middle near a log was gleaming bits of metal and a decently sized object Xane couldn't quite see.
Both men and Garry went slowly inside. Their light finally hitting the object and gleaming gold. Because it was gold coins spilt across the floor and, "Poseidon's left nut, is that an actual treasure chest." Von said walking closer.
"Stop." Xane hissed, "What if it is trapped?" He added after getting Vons attention.
"Good point Boy. Damn I had childhood dreams of this." Von said this obviously daydreaming. “Of being a seafaring adventurer finding lost treasure.”
"I'll handle it since I have way more health than you." Xane pulled Von back more and went to the chest. It was odd he had a feeling something was watching him. He looked about but if there was something in the shadows he wouldn't be able to tell.
Gently he walked around it. Paying attention to the minute detail. He couldn't tell from the outside if it was trapped. It was, however, locked. A large metal lock hung from it. Xane had no idea how to pick it and even if he did he didn't have any tools to do it with.
Xane called out to Von,"It's locked. I'm just going to store it and we can take a crack at it later.”
Von answered disappointed,"Just slash it off. Or hit it with a large rock. I saw you take some earlier." He was practically whining.
"What if that sets off a bomb or has some magical ‘delete everything inside’ thing?"
"Fine, you win." Dejected.
Xane too wanted to see what was inside. He was kinda hoping to have some armor of some sort. Now wasn't the time though to gamble. Reaching out he touched it and willed it into his ring. And nothing happened.
Xane had but a moment to be confused before the once unmoving locked chest opened and clamped down on Xane's right hand. He screamed in pain. It felt like getting your hand run over, something that never happened to him before but something anyone could imagine it would feel like.
If it was sharp teeth he would probably have lost his hand altogether. He tried and failed to pull free. Instead he felt his hand and soon to be arm being sucked inside. He inspected it hoping to find answers.
Mimic
Level: 29
Important stats:
Constitution: 56
Strength: 52
Endurance: 40
Intelligence: 42
Information: Is that? Wow it is a mimic. Those buggers are quite rare, you know. And quite tough to kill too. They are solitary monsters that, as their namesake, mimic something that they believe their prey would want and desire. Having to form their body into an object they are usually limited to the capabilities and size of the object they take form of. Most take forms of containers to lure in adventuring types. This is why they are so highly coveted. You are what you eat. They consume adventurers full of loot and become full of loot. The mimic will slowly consume the person and their belongings over time. Dumb monsters at first, they grow in intelligence from the memories of their prey. Just finding one of these makes you either lucky or unlucky. Toodles have fun with that thing.
Toodles!? Xane screamed in his mind. The information was practically useless to him except the fact it couldn't just change into something else on a wim. In the few seconds this happened Von wasn't idle he started running in the direction of the fight torch raised to strike as if to catch it on fire.
Xane was first to strike. Even though his ring was currently inside it the magic still worked outside. Xane's rapier formed and immediately slammed into the mimic going halfway to the hilt. Xane pulled but didn't expect the amount of strength needed to do so. He managed to get it free but a sticky substance clung on to the blade sloping as the enchantment burned it away.
He did try to put objects inside the mouth but he didn't feel anything form in his hand. Really he couldn't feel his hand at all. It was only 5 seconds into the fight but he was almost to his elbow deep in the thing. Xane was about to take plan c when Von arrived dropping the torch next to the chest eating Xane and started to pull on Xane. Garry tried to attack the mimic but its bite did nothing but make it stuck to it. The snake squirmed as it tried to free itself.
"Are you ok? How do we kill it?" Von cried out.
"I can’t feel my arm and I don't know the description was very useless in that regard."
They didn't notice but the torch that Von had dropped rolled to the bottom of the wooden chest. It didn't immediately catch fire but the wood started to smolder.
Xane took out his colt and fired. The noise in this place was deafening the loud shots echoing in the small cavern. He shot again. This time he got a notification.
You are Deafened.
You can not hear.
Time remaining: 6 seconds
He fired the last few center mass. The wood splintered and oozed the sticky liquid as it writhed in pain. Unlucky for Xane, mimics don't scream in pain, his arm still held fast. He put away the weapon and started to use his other arm to stop being pulled inside. He knew strength to strength Xane would have won in an arm wrestling match. However it had glue like stuff and was currently biting down making it more of a fair fight.
The weakness of the mimic came to light. Quite literally as it was set on fire. The liquid even more so than the wooden portions. It was a war of attrition as Xane and Von pulled trying to makes sure Xane didn’t get pulled in. In the end Xane won the monster dying from the fire damage consuming it instead. Xane was burning as they wrenched the mouth open and got his mangled and acid burned hand free. It looked like he stuck his hand into boiling water and then took a warhammer to it. Garry too had burned a bit but managed to pull himself free. Xane didn’t know if the pets venom had worked on the mimic but concluded that it really didn’t matter.
His wounds slowly healed as they set up camp yet again. Xane wished there was an even faster way of healing. He did though gain a full level and was halfway to level 16.
Congratulations you have gained a level and hit your second milestone. Not many ever reach a milestone and more die trying. You are now level 15.
This is a momentous occasion as you work hard to reach level 25. What you do between now and then will impact your class options.
All actions before this point will have minimal sway on your class choices except feats.
Milestones come with small bonuses. As a human you gain 10 attribute points instead of the usual 6 on the second milestone.
You have ranked up a skill.
Gunmanship rank 3
Classes? Was that similar to dnds classes? Rogues and bards? It had to be more than simple things. Xane thought this over. If his actions were more important to his growth then he should probably focus on something. Right? Xane hoped he would find someone to explain all this soon. Soon as in a while. He felt as if it would take almost double what it took last time to level up. Ten levels to level 25 would take much longer at the rate he was going. Xane at first didn’t know why he cared so much. Mulling it over though he actually liked it here. The constant fighting was draining but the excitement was nothing he had ever felt before. As well as feeling more powerful was amazing.
Even though he already had 100 int, he still spent 2 of his 10 from this level. With 8 more he put them in wisdom and strength, 4 in each. He reset up the wall of random objects and the campfire. Luckily most of the smoke went up the path but they didn’t want to have it going for too long.
While Xane did that, Von started gathering the loot. There were mostly piles of coins scattered about of varying metals. Von even looked through the corpse of the Mimic finding a few odds and ends. The list was small but had interesting items.
Belt of Lesser Water Wading(Uncommon)(Enchanted)
This belt has been enchanted to allow the wearer to swim faster in water. Has been inscribed with a once every 3 hour cast of the spell Air Replenishment.
Air Replenishment
Creates a small bubble around the wearer's head filled with air for 6 seconds.
They decided Von should have the belt since Xane was able to swim faster anyways and could hold his breath much longer.
Ring of Petty Strength
Plus 2 to strength stat.
Steel Dagger of Minor Durability
This steel dagger has been enchanted with increased durability.
All in all Von was given the enchanted items since he needed them more than Xane did. Xane did put all the coins in his ring. With the ones he took from the boat, what was already in the ring and from what he got now he felt rich. Here's to hoping I am.
Xane didn’t know how to learn the spell in the book. He decided to take it out and just read. As he opened the first page and read, at least tried to read. It was in a weird language of stylised embellishments and fancy squiggles. He gained a prompt from doing so.
Would you like to learn the spell Mana Ammunition Yes?/No?
Xane tentatively chose yes. His hands and eyes moved without his say so as he quickly read and understood everything in the book. He went faster and faster scanning through as knowledge of the spell cascaded in his mind. When the book ended and the back of it closed it turned to dust all that knowledge faded away as if a dream. This was a new sensation to Xane. In the end though he still knew how to cast the spell just not the intricacies of it.
You have learned a new spell!
Xane was too excited to not try it immediately. He was kinda disappointed. took out his colt and started casting. Xane assumed there would be grand gestures and needed to say cool shit like valtrix and leviosa or something. In the end it was just Xane moving energy into his gun and it filled with bullets. After a few moments his gun glowed. Looking inside he found semi-translucent bullets. They ever so slightly glowed. It would not glow at all if the cylinders were closed. He also got a new skill for his time.
You have learned a new skill!
Conjuration(Uncommon) Rank 1:
This is a school of magic. Conjuration is when you create an object from magic or summon a creature from another realm or create it from magic. Increase damage and time of created objects or summoned creatures. It also affects the ability to control more creatures. This skill is slightly affected by Intelligence, wisdom and charisma.
+1.25% damage per rank.
+1.25% time per rank.
He knew it was a dumb idea. How could it not be? However that, he did so anyway. Xane set up a piece of wood and shot. The normal blast of sound wasn't there. At least not the deafening sound as usual. It was more akin to a suppressor. Well that will come in handy. Xane thought happily.
It also did great damage going straight through to the wall behind it and dissipating. Only problem he could see is that some of the most damage from guns was the bullet getting lodged inside. This would disrupt healing as well as induce pain from it getting moved around. That didn't matter as not having to actually make and carry bullets is much better.
Von was irate, "In the name of Poseidon what the hell was that. And weren't you supposed to be going to bed."
Xane was so caught up with his new and only spell he forgot about sleeping in the excitement. “Oh yeah sorry. I know how to cast magic now. Tell me when you run out of ammo and I’ll top you off.”
“Sure sure now go to bed already.”
So Xane did. He didn’t know how tired he truly was. The moment he took out the bed and laid down he was out.