[Crude Bow] = 3 Sticks (Any, 0.3-0.5m) + 3 Twine (Any, 0.3-0.35m) + Twine (Any, 0.8m)
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A black dawn expanded into the horizon.
This cavern spread out as far as eyes could see. Glowing white crystals jutted from a rocky sky, highlighting the expanse beneath like an eternal starry night. Columns the size of skyscrapers disappeared into the abyss, the light from the crystals only traveling so far before dissipating. Stalactites of similar scope converged before reaching their tip, their mind-boggling weight supported by nothing at all. It took a moment of disorientation for Jay to realize that he was standing atop one such formation, the stalactite curling inward so sharply that he fell back a few steps, lest the entire landmass collapse altogether.
But he couldn’t take his eyes off this vision in front. Islands rose out from this ocean of perpetual darkness, with glowing mushrooms and crystals illuminating their surfaces. Forests seemed to cover some, lakes sat atop others, and some appeared to have deserts composed of ash, with rivers of molten lava. Waterfalls rained from above, feeding these midsections before fading into the darkness beneath.
The vacuous space below could not be pierced through sight alone, but great rock formations connected these islands to each other and the columns to the roof like veins to ganglia. One such bridge snaked its way into Jay’s stalactite, with a ridge running beside to the point of convergence.
An icy wind roared, sending Jay unexpectedly to his knees. He opened his mouth but could not find the strength to breathe. Not against this sight.
Buzz.
Welcome to the Evershadow, Expatriate! This cavernous space contains many bounties and dangers, but unlike the archipelago above, monsters do not isolate themselves by Rank, so you’d better be extra careful!
That was it. That was all Jay was given as an explanation for this impossible sight. The Lexicon only repeated the same information as it updated to match this new location.
So this is the base of the world… He’d heard a few others reference the Evershadow before, but he’d never imagined it to have anywhere near this scope. Like an entire world beneath Annwyn, all sorts of biomes and locations could be seen from this spot.
Jay inched near the edge again, only to regret the decision. Staring into the endless dark was like looking into an inverted night sky. One where gravity would yank him down at the slightest provocation, only to be swallowed by the abyss. Did this cavern ever hit a bottom? The farthest he could see into these depths came from lava cascading from above, but these waterfalls kept going and going before he could see no further, with no end in sight.
Jay’s heart sank with another recognition. If he’d managed to get all the way down here, he was even further below the surface than he first thought. How the hell would he find his way back now? Hisses echoed from the inktree forest cavern behind, reminding him of the dangers he had just escaped. No, he couldn’t double back. Not without recovering longer against that rockfrog’s poison.
Maybe I don’t have to. Jay considered different possibilities now that he knew his position in the world. Could this be a viable way to reach the surface again? Only one way to find out.
Jay started pulling materials from his Bag ‘a Mats to craft another workbench at the base of the tunnel where the chilled wind was lightest. The sticks and twine came next, just enough to form the basic recipe. Thankfully, his looting run of the inktree forest gave him plenty of supplies to work with.
The sprawling domain of the Evershadow glinted under its crystalline sky, and Jay gripped his crude bow tight. He’d never thought to bring a bow down here, but with the power of a crafting bench and all his mats at the ready, he could just build another whenever necessary.
He entered [Sharpshooter] and scanned the field of darkness. The glowing crystals grew in clarity, along with the accentuated features besides them. The crude arrow launched into the open space moments later, his body’s energy expended. He drew another and went again.
Arrow by arrow, he repeated the technique, studying the columns and ceiling for the slightest signs of cracks.
It appears that our good friend’s constructs have finally broken into the Evershadow, Sayid once explained, back when a D-Rank troll broke for the surfacea and the entire E-Rank Expats came together to drive it out. But if they broke into the Evershadow before, then that meant…
There it is! Jay grinned. It took two more rounds of [Sharpshooter] to confirm the layout, but even at this distance, he could definitely see the mortared stone style that matched Ben’s half-tower blocking a pass at the top of a column, along with the blue alchemic light that powered his creations, leaking through cracks within. The entire area was laced with spike traps, and the passage up was steep and winding.
But it was there. A straight shaft leading to the surface.
If only he could make it.
He grimaced, watching the Evershadow and all it entailed. Between the impenetrable shadows and three-dimensionality of this space, it was impossible to plot a course directly to there. Not without plunging into its depths and navigating whatever threats remained.
But it could be done. And with the day slowly ticking down and another night down here with its conclusion, he knew he could not drag this out longer than necessary. Not unless he planned to weather another night down here.
Jay clenched his fists. He would get out before that happened.
* * *
It took some time to have everything ready. Jay spent most of his remaining hemp crafting ropes and repairing his tools to ensure they would not break while on the run, and fell back to the inktree forest once the coast was clear to brew potions. His toolbelt was at its limit, with slots taken up for healing, another antitoxin, and a stamina potion to greatly recover his skill energy. The last almost seemed a waste with his ability to [Recover], but Jay wasn’t sure what he’d face down there or how many times he’d have to [Leap] to safety.
The softwood torch flickered from the chilled Evershadow wind as he descended the first pass, winding around the stalactite he started at, its bridge well beneath.
It was slow going. Between his newfound fear of heights, a slick pathway to work as cover, and the natural tug of gravity into the infinite pit below, Jay could barely make any progress at all.
Even reaching the first bridge did little to assuage the prickling sense growing in the base of his spine. The light of the crystals had dimmed so much already, and though this stone tendril was wide enough to cross, the moisture glistened in the light of the torch, and the weathered path was uneven through erosion. He inched his way across, only to feel the gales grow in intensity. His torch flickered out moments later.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Jay fell back to the cover of the stalactite, drew his flint and tinder, and lit the torch again. Wind licked its surface, extinguishing the flame at once.
Just going to have to take this slow, he realized. His torchlight gave him enough vision to anchor his rope around a protrusion, and this time, he gave it a good, hard yank to ensure it did not snap. Only once satisfied did he tie the other end around his torso and step forth. The wind knocked out his lighting, plunging him again into darkness.
Slowly, carefully, Jay crawled across the bridge like a bug on a branch. The wind howled, but the force could not dislodge him.
The ground curled the further he went. The crystalline stars bent at a harsher angle, and gravity began to push harder against him, but the gales became less severe before long.
Dammit. Jay grit his teeth as he reached the end of the rope, with still no end in sight. He groped blindly in the dark before finding another suitable spot to anchor a rope. The first would have to be abandoned, but he still had over forty meters of hemp to progress further down this passage. With a heavy heart, he tied the second in place, wrapped it around himself, and clipped off the first.
The descent continued. Between the blindness and the wind, Jay’s disorientation only worsened as he continued this stretch. His fingers gripped for each handhold, only advancing once he felt locked in place. The rope slithered around his torso, slowly growing more taut.
Snap.
Jay froze, unsure what had just happened. His weight shifted, and the rope became loose.
Then his head throbbed with a sudden spike. He gasped, his hands losing their grip. The glowing crystal skyline tilted into view again as his body leaned subconsciously backward.
But his reaction got the better. Jay lurched forth and wrapped his arms tight before falling completely. The rope tugged against his waist, the stone anchor now pulling him down where it had snapped off.
His arms began to slack against the damp surface of the formation, but the rope yanked him harder without mercy, now supplemented by the power of the wind.
Couldn’t wait. Jay ripped the copper knife from his toolbelt and cut the rope free before losing complete control. His weight shifted again, this time in his favor. He breathed easy.
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But then the wind howled again, and he lost control of the knife. He reflexively reached for it, but it was too late. His copper knife tumbled into the shadows, never to be seen again.
Just keep going… It was too late to turn back now.
Jay forced his knees to descend further. One step at a time, his gear heavy and body shivering, but stamina refusing to relent. Not up here. The natural contours of the rock formation became more manageable and the wind lessened as he delved further.
Soon, the rock plateaued again, and with it, he no longer felt half as constrained. The gusts became less intense with time, and it wasn’t long before he could stand without risk.
Jay looked back up the path he came and gaped. So much progress. The spire he’d started on had become so small, and the crystalline lights were now candles compared to how they started.
With the area secured and wind no longer problematic, Jay drew another torch and went to work. His location exploded with light, revealing the path in front.
The stone tendril still rolled at an even twist as it coiled through the darkness, but Jay was able to steer its path under these less extreme conditions.
The first island took shape in front. Though his torch could not pierce more than fifty yards at a time, the bright lights of the crystals against the next landmass’s backdrop highlighted its form. Giant mushrooms rose like trees, water trickled from the top of cliffs, vines snaked from limb to limb… Or maybe those are spider webs. Jay would be really pissy if he had to fight more spiders after the day he’d undergone.
Another worse thought came to mind though. The Guide had specified that monsters didn’t isolate by Rank, so this island could contain anything from F-Rank variants to ones equivalent to the drakes that destroyed half their island against a B-Rank Expat, and there’d be no way to tell until too late.
His march slowed into a trickle as he considered that truth. He’d definitely have to stealth this. That much was certain.
The stone tendril spread wide into his destination, with the granite disappearing beneath a bed of gray moss. His boots graced their surface. Soft and moist, like a sponge. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tip-toed further.
What a strange world. Though most of this underground island was dark as night, pale turquoise lights emanated beneath the gills of tree-like mushrooms, with more smaller ones that resonated like dull torches, providing a ghostly tint to the biome they inhabited. Shrubs made of twisted spindles swayed in a gentle breeze, and vines snaked like creep along the landscape, covering everything in sight.
He placed his hand against one such vine and checked the Guide.
Ghostvine – A parasitic vine that feeds off mycelium, often found in subterranean environments. A minimum strength of a [Copper Knife+3] is required to cut this material.
Research is available.
“Damn,” Jay whispered. Screwed on two fronts. Not only had he learned that stronger tools were needed to harvest certain mats, but he’d just lost his knife climbing down here. Maybe I can craft another?
No, he needed to keep his eye on the prize. Jay once again peered around the Evershadow’s roof to get his bearings. It took some time, but his target remained in the direction of the northeast of this island – or would be, if he assumed his entry point was in the south. Disorientation was a bitch without the sun as a guide.
He made his way through the dim island, head on a swivel. The land rose and fell, and the putrid odor of mold grew more intense with time, giving him a slight headache. Water pooled in creeks and ponds, but their color had a green tint that he dared not drink.
Light sparkled back at the corner of his vision as he rounded a bend. A rock formation rose, with several different ores clustered together, one a red-flecked gray, another a solid green, and the last a radiant white. He studied each, his Guide ready.
Pure Iron Ore – A vein containing purified iron ore. Unlike regular [Iron Ore] veins, ore smelted from this vein lacks the impurities found in [Pig Iron Bars]. A minimum strength of a [Copper Pickaxe+2] is required to break this material.
Nickel Ore+1 – A vein containing upscaled nickel ore. A minimum strength of a [Copper Pickaxe+4] is required to break this material.
Quicksilver Ore – A vein containing quicksilver ore. A minimum strength of a [Bronze Pickaxe+5] is required to break this material.
He licked his lips, seeing the options. Pure iron gear was the next step in research beyond copper, and he hadn’t been sure how to acquire it until now. Even if he was well beyond his depth on this island, his Bag ‘a Mats still had a couple thousand kilograms of space remaining, and there was no telling how long it’d be before he found another vein like this.
Whack. Whack. Whack. Whack…
As mining went, this was about as slow as it went. Jay hacked into the vein with all his might, but even with the power of his copper pickaxe upscaled to +3, he could barely make a dent in the pure iron ore. The stone around seemed tougher than expected, so he couldn’t just dislodge it without cracking through the full vein.
But Jay made progress, and as one minute bled into the next, tiny chunks began to crack off. His Bag ‘a Mats swallowed them with ease.
Smaller than I was hoping… It must have taken well over an hour to collect a couple hundred kilograms of raw material, and the vein had already run out. Maybe he could search for more before leaving? He scanned again and could vaguely see the bridge leading off this island.
But then another thought came to mind. The nickel ore was much larger and more pronounced, and it would only take a slight upgrade to the pickaxe he was currently using. With all the banked copper from this run, it wouldn’t be hard to upscale his pickaxe another level, so long as he crafted the infrastructure first, which he could also easily afford.
He studied the nickel with a grin.
The vibration came from behind.
Perhaps a hundred yards away, a wooden drawbridge lowered across a chasm. Infernal red light grew in intensity beyond its boundaries.
The air caught in Jay’s lungs. Where had that come from!?
But it was the creature within that truly froze the blood in his veins. A crooked leg coiled out from a slug-like body, inching forth in a half-walk and half-slithering motion. Similarly wretched arms coiled out from its vertebra, with one clutching a torch burning with crimson light and the other holding a spear. A serpentine head blinked through the darkness, its eyes uneven in shape. It bared its fangs, and a pair of forked tongues rolled out.
Then it made a noise that Jay had never heard before. Somewhere between a sob, a shriek, and a grunt, with a trilling on the end that lacked discernible language.
And Jay turned around and sprinted with all his might.
Fuck. That. Shit. Jay had no idea what kind of monster that was… He had no frame of reference to tie to any fantasy world he’d seen before, or power level to consider in a fight… And as alluring as it was to stay down here and claim that nickel ore, he’d been trapped in this cave for days now, and had finally uncovered the exit.
Greed wasn’t about to be his death knell.
But then he reached the bridge, and a sudden sense of overwhelming dread took over. His eyes blinked as a shadow formed against the backdrop of crystalline sky. Wings spread wide, and eyes glinted in the darkness.
It swooped right for him…
Name: Jay Reis (Copper Age)
Vitality – 42/42
Hunger – ??/72
Thirst – ??/24
Fatigue – ??/40 (Poorly Rested)
Sanity – ??/100
Main Crafts: Alchemy 1, Armor Crafting 2, Base Building 2, Cooking 1, Medicine 1, Tailoring 1, Tool Crafting 3, Weapon Crafting 2.
Weapon Crafts: Axes 3, Bows 4, Clubs 3, Daggers 3, Spears 5, Swords 7.
Armor Crafts: Heavy Armor 5, Light Armor 2, Medium Armor 6, Shields 6.
Character Skills:
[Forbidden Knowledge]
Armor Skills:
Heavy Armor: [Push], [Stampede]
Medium Armor: [Recover], [Leap], [Waterform]
Light Armor: [Dash]
Shield: [Brace], [Track], [Break]
Weapon Skills:
Axes: [Chop]
Bows: [Sharpshooter], [Longshot]
Clubs: [Bash]
Daggers: [Slice]
Spears: [Thrust], [Sweep]
Swords: [Power Attack], [Slash], [Rend]
Cursed Items:
[Bag ‘a Mats]
Armor:
[Copperplate Hat] (Buttressed+2), (Reinforced)
[Copperplate Coat] (Buttressed+2), (Reinforced)
[Copperplate Leggings] (Buttressed+2), (Reinforced)
[Copperplate Shoes] (Buttressed+2), (Reinforced)
[Copperplate Gloves] (Buttressed+2), (Reinforced)
Weapons:
[Pig Iron Cutlass+1] (Sharpened), (Affinity+1)
[Crude Bow] (Elemental)
[9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol] (Accurate+2), (Quick): Contains 4 [9mm Cartridge] (JHP)
Tools:
[Copper Axe+3]
[Copper Pickaxe+3]
Boons:
[Minor (Speed)]