Author’s Note: So the dungeon exploration has started. Nothing to say here so please enjoy the chapter.
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Chapter 23
The mist got thicker and thicker as I followed the forest trail from the entrance. I could barely see a few meters in any direction. The trail was also only about two meters wide. Pretty compact for larger parties, which explains why all the parties I had seen were fairly small. I thought about the possibility of leaving the trail, but with how thick the mist is I don’t know if I’d be able to find it again if I got off it. Also, off the path it looked like the trees and plants were very thick and intermingled, so I’d probably be fighting my way through every step of the way. I have to assume that I’m expected to stay on the trail. I don’t have a problem with that.
This would probably be a really eerie experience if it was also quiet, but I could hear the sounds of fighting coming from various directions. Obviously, other adventurers were busy at work. I was hoping to soon be busy too. The sooner I could get into some action, the sooner I could unlock the Hunter Class and start leveling it up.
After a few minutes of trudging along, I reached my first big moment in the dungeon. The trail was now splitting into multiple paths. There were two paths leading off toward my left, one continuing forward and then one going off to the right. Focusing my senses a bit, I could hear action from ahead and to the left, but I didn’t hear anything from the right. Now the question was, why was that? There’s a number of possibilities. Is it possible that there is nothing to the right to fight? Or is it just that the monsters that way are annoying and a pain to fight? Or is the right a path that leads to a dead end or trap? Well, Lynn should be tracking my current position and movements, so I can take the risk of making some wrong calls in here. There’s no way I could end up lost after all and I doubt there’s a single thing in here that can break through my shield. I’d also like to not have to fight with other adventurers for kills. Bearing all that in mind, I decided to continue along the right path.
Up until the path split, the previous trail had been a straight line since the entrance, but this one started winding and twisting this way and that. There were even some low hanging branches I had to duck under to continue along the path. Was this path that unused? Should I try cutting some of these branches? I think that I’ll not bother, unless they completely block the path at some point.
As I followed the path further and further, I started to wonder why I hadn’t run into anything yet? I had I assumed I’d fight something by now. I decided to stop for a moment to spread my psi out even further than normal. I can’t feel any presences around me for fifty meters in any direction. I cancelled out the extra psi detection and went back to my normal ten meter range. I could switch to using Ranger for the detection bonuses, but then I’d have issues once Hunter was unlocked. I’ll probably switch it in later together with Hunter.
The path finally led me into a small clearing. The mist wasn’t as thick here giving me a clear view of the whole area. Probably about five by eight meters in size? There was nothing in the clearing apart from some small bushes scattered about. I would have expected to find some monsters or something waiting here, or maybe they’ll come out once I get out into the clearing rather than standing at the entrance? I still don’t detect anything even close by though.
Other than turning around there’s no other direction to go, so I pulled out my bow and adjusted my cloak to let me have access to my quiver. It was kind of bothersome to pull out an arrow with the quiver behind my back. I cheated a bit and pulled one out with my psi rather than using my hand. I nocked the arrow to be prepared then walked cautiously out into the clearing.
When I reached the center of the clearing, to my disappointment nothing happened. I turned around in place, scoping out the lines of trees shrouded in mist that surrounded me. I waited a few more minutes just in case before letting out a large sigh. This was nothing like the interesting dungeon trip I was hoping for.
I proceeded toward the opening on the other end of the clearing. I immediately noticed that this new trail was narrower than the previous one. Maybe only one meter at most? This narrow path wouldn’t exactly make a optimal place to use my bow especially if a monster came from the sides. I reluctantly unnocked my arrow and replaced it and my bow behind my back.
This trail was even harder to follow than the previous winding one. At times I even had to push through underbrush that was growing on the path. Is this normal or does this having something to do with why it seemed like no one came this way based on the sounds of action from the other paths.
Eventually, I came once again to the path splitting in multiple directions. This time I had five choices. I can only see a few meters down any of the paths, so I guess any choice would be fine? Should I just take the rightmost path again? Actually if I take the right path I might be backtracking, I’ll go forward this time.
As I was about to step on the chosen path, I suddenly felt a hostile presence rushing at me. What the hell!? It just appeared a few meters away! I swiftly pulled out my dagger and spun around, stabbing it at the presence.
I missed. How did I miss!?
It didn’t seem like the creature had dodged, as it flew straight at me and hit me, but bounced off due to my shield. It fell to the ground and I finally got a good look at my enemy. It looked like a cross between a bat and a hawk, having the talons of a hawk but mostly looking like a large bat. It was also dark colored with glowing red eyes.
I was about to take my dagger and finish it when it let out a ear piercing screech. I covered my ears hastily. That really hurt because I hadn’t been expecting it. On the bright side, at least I hadn’t been focusing my hearing. The creature flapped and took flight again and went back into the mist surrounding me. I noticed that its presence immediately disappeared again once it was out of sight. It seems like the mist is messing with my ability to detect enemies.
I waited with dagger drawn and a few moments later, the presence reappeared behind me again. This time I didn’t waste time trying to stab it with my dagger and instead spread out my psi like a net behind me. I felt the bat hit my psi and I grasped it tightly to not let it go. Turning around I saw it floating in midair. Despite the fact that I had centered my psi on the bat’s presence, it was slightly to the side of where I had aimed. Was the mist also messing with my senses? I carefully took my dagger and stabbed it at the bat. Despite aiming for the bat, my stab was off focus and instead hit its wing. I quickly slashed back and this time hit the bat right in its side.
The bat let out another small screech before going silent. The bat’s corpse immediately started evaporating away into what looked like mist. After it was fully gone a small red item dropped to the ground. I picked it up and examined it. This must be one of those fiend stones I had been told about. It resembled a dark red marble. For now, I slipped it away in my pack. I could examine it more closely outside the dungeon.
A couple points bothered me about that encounter. The first being that I didn’t notice the monster until after it had left the mist to attack me. When it was inside the mist, I couldn’t feel it at all. That meant my detection range was next to useless. The next point is that my senses are being messed with to a degree. Despite aiming precisely for the bat, I was constantly off with each of my attacks. That could create real problems, or at least some major hassles for future fights. Well, until I figure out how whatever it is, is messing with me. The last point is the fact that the monster evaporated into mist upon its death. Does that mean the monster was created spontaneously out of the mist to attack me? I’m not sure if that’s exactly the case yet, but it might be possible. Fara did say they disappear when killed, so maybe it’s just a coincidence that it resembled the mist? Even as I consider it, I kind of really doubt it.
I returned my attention back to the path I had been about to enter. Now that I think about it, I was attacked as soon as I was going to enter. That was probably not a coincidence either. I stepped toward the path again, but no attack came this time. I kept my dagger out this time as I continued along.
As I strode along this new path, I had a few more encounters with the bat creatures that went pretty much exactly like the first, though I wasn’t caught off guard by the screech these times. I was happy to finally be fighting things, but my constantly missing attacks were bugging me. I couldn’t detect anything affecting me, yet it was evident that something was. It was disturbing really, since I prided myself on my mental defenses. The obvious conclusion was that this was magical in nature and somehow evading my notice. How does a dungeon that is considered a newbie dungeon get away with having an effect like this? I might have underestimated this place just a bit. It clearly tells me that my lack of magical knowledge and power needs to be rectified as soon as possible. First though, I need to finish this dungeon so I can get that wood for Huvreck.
After about another half an hour, I stumbled upon a new clearing. I crouched down and hid rather than walk into it. Unlike, the previous one this one was full of dark creatures that looked like large badgers. Actually, maybe wolverines was a more precise description of what they resemble. They were wandering around the clearing, and hadn’t seemed to notice me yet. A quick scan told me the beasts were Mist Weasels and they were only level 20 or so. This was finally a perfect occasion to use my bow.
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Taking it out and nocking an arrow, I aimed carefully dead center on one of the closer weasels, hoping my aim wouldn’t be too off. These targets were larger than the bat at least. I let loose my arrow. It did hit away from where I had aimed, but still buried deep into the thing’s body, instantly killing it. At the death of one of their number, the rest of the weasels were alerted to my position, but I was already taking aim on my next prey.
I managed to kill three more before they reached me, but the other six had to be dodged and I jumped over their rushing bodies into the clearing. The mist was very thin in the large clearing and I found my next shots landing precisely where I aimed. At least, that answers my question about whether the source of the interference was the mist or in the mist. I had to dance around a bit to dodge the reckless beasts’ attacks to finish off the last few.
After killing the tenth and final beast, a pair of windows popped up.
*Class Unlocked: Hunter* -For your use of traps and the bow to catch and slay beasts you have acquired the Class of Hunter
-This Class provides a bonus in proficiency with the use of the bow, giving your shots a 5% increase in damage done. The class also allows one the capability to detect beasts to aid in hunting.
*Stats Gained* -Expertise +5
Barely any stats gained, but that’s understandable with only just unlocking it. I’ll get more once I level it further. Those bonuses are kind of lame though. The detection bonus especially. It’s kind of redundant with my already possessed abilities of detection.
I sighed. My ‘already possessed abilities of detection’ that have proven pretty much useless here. I decided to go with my previous plan to class change once Hunter was unlocked. I swapped Hunter into the main slot and Ranger into the sub slot. Beastmaster was useless here with there being nothing to tame and no pets to use other than Coa. I was hesitant to remove Empath since it was aiding my psi, but I believed Ranger’s proficiencies might be more useful in this place. Ranger providing bonuses to my senses might offset at least some of the negative affect the mist was causing.
I recovered my arrows and the fiend stones that were scattered around the glade. The stones were identical to the ones the bats had dropped. Regrettably, one of my arrows hadn’t survived, so I was now reduced to thirty-nine arrows.
With everything settled, I was once again left with a new choice in path to take. There were three trails, including the one I had arrived from, that connected here. It was a good thing, I had kept track of which I had entered from, or I might have accidentally backtracked. I settled on the one that was further away from my starting point.
Along this new path, I began to run into more new monsters. One was a snake type that would swing down from the branches to attack me. My hope that Ranger would alleviate some of my issues turned out to be misplaced. I was noticing no change at all to my chagrin. The other type of creature I ran into was an insect type that dug trap holes along the trail. I was a tad impressed with how well the bugs could camouflage their traps. Though that just made them a pain to deal with, because I couldn’t detect the holes until I stepped into them. The bug hid in the holes it made and then would try to grab onto and bite through my boot, but a quick stomp finished them off easily. Of course, I also ran into some more of the bats.
I was up to about thirty fiend stones when I reached yet another path split. I was starting to get very tired of these. There was even more options this time. At this point I didn’t care which one I took, so I just went straight ahead again. I’d probably been in the dungeon at least an hour or two by now and I wasn’t even sure how far I had come or even if I was heading the right direction to get to the boss. I was coming to the conclusion that I might have rushed needlessly. Seeing if there were maps of the place available first might have been a smart idea.
I arrived at yet another empty clearing. This one had only a small tree stump in the center of it. I got my bow ready just in case and strode out. It was a good thing I had since as soon as I reached the tree stump a swarm of those mist weasels erupted out of the trees. There was probably at least twenty by first glance. I made sure my aim was good for each shot, but it was a bit troublesome to rely on just the bow when they were coming from all sides. I started using my psi to push them back and even kicking a few of them that still managed to close on me.
The bright side of that fight was that Hunter managed to reach level 5. The downside was that after I collected everything, I realized there was only one trail that led to this clearing, the one I had entered from. I had reached a dead end. I walked all along tree line to be sure, but there was no openings or clear places to travel. If anything the underbrush and plants were even more tangled together than I had expected.
With no other options I returned the way I had come and got back to the path split I had left not too long ago. This time I just took the path immediately on my right. I followed along the path until I reached a clearing.
A very familiar clearing with a tree stump in the center.
Just in case, I walked out into the clearing. This time there was ten bats that assaulted me. It was bit more difficult to hit them than the weasels, but since there was little to no mist to affect my aim, it wasn’t a problem. After the fight I double checked over everything and this was definitely where I had fought the weasels just a while ago. How did I get back here when I know I took a different path?
I left the area and once again ended up at the path intersection. This time I went straight ahead and yet again I found myself at the clearing with the tree stump. Yet again I found myself getting attacked by weasels. Hunter leveled to 10 and I found myself receiving 5 more Physique and 5 more Expertise. I didn’t really care about that though. After collecting my spoils, I ran back along the path and arrived at the intersection again.
Which way do I go? So far I’ve taken three paths, yet still ended up at the same place. Something was very wrong here. I couldn’t hear anything coming from any direction either to give me some hint of a direction to choose. At this point, I’d gladly run into some other adventurers. The only things here were the thick mist and an eerie silence. Nothing for it, time to rely on my dependable companion!
“Lynn, can you show me a map of the paths I’ve traveled and my current position in comparison to the entrance?” I asked aloud. There was no response. “Lynn, I need some help here. This is no time to still be ignoring me!” Still no response. There is no way Lynn wouldn’t respond if I was in need, which means I’m cut off from her somehow? Damn it! What should I do then? Marking a tree next to the path I take might work.
I took out my dagger and chose a path on my right. I cut in an X on the tree to the left of the path opening and then followed the path. I ended up at the fucking clearing again. I didn’t bother entering it, I turned around and made my way back. When I got to the intersection I checked the tree I had marked, but there was no mark there. I glanced around and found the mark on a tree across from me. How the hell does that make any sense!?
This time I decided to mark a tree to the left of each path. I numbered them from one to seven. I took path number four. I was greeted by the sight of that place again. I was getting really fucking pissed. I turned around and stomped my way back to the intersection. The first thing I noticed was that my marks were all gone this time. This fucking dungeon!
It felt like it didn’t matter what path I took so for a twist I turned around and just took the path that I had just used. Of course, to no surprise I ended up there again. I made my way to the tree stump and when the weasels rushed out, I didn’t bother to pull out my bow. I smashed them with my fists. I brutalized every single one of the things until they were all dead and evaporated. I walked over to one of the tree lines and starting making my way through the underbrush, ripping anything out of my way with my psi.
A few minutes later I found myself back at the clearing, but I could see a destroyed hole in the tree line at another point across from me. Somehow I had gone in a circle and ended up on the other side? As I looked at the hole I had previously made, I watched as the plants and trees regrew back to their previous state. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. There goes that idea. I walked over to the tree stump, but nothing attacked this time. I took a seat. I needed to calm down and think.
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End Note: I bet this didn’t go the way people were expecting.