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Doomed Dungeon
Chapter Twelve, The Story of the Mysterious...

Chapter Twelve, The Story of the Mysterious...

**        **                    **                    Corrupt Dungeon Core           **                    **            **

Oh Kitsune I wish you were here. You not only spoke to me but you talked to me. I didn’t know the difference until you were gone. You genuinely talked to me. You understood me. Even better you anticipated me.

“You certainly wouldn’t mess up orders, like by BRINGING THE WRONG SPECIES! FOR THE LOVE OF THE SHIT EATING GODDESS YOU PRAY TO! I SAID BRING ME GODDAMN HUMANS!! NOT A FUCKING STRAY DOG!!!”

The Dog in question that met with the fierce atmosphere of the Dungeon promptly peed itself in front of the Goddess of the Dungeon statue. It just sat their shaking in fright due to the several Furry Giant Spiders that surrounded it.

Poor thing. It’s not its fault. It’s the damn SPIDERS. Do I even need to wonder why I have a headache nearly all the time? If it wasn’t from being fractured, I would still be here due to the level of incompetence that surrounds me.

Bastill was furious with the intellect of the majority of the spiders. If it hadn’t been for Hades and the Overlord Giant Fringed Spiders, then nothing around here would get done properly. He had been successfully bringing back civilians from a nearby small village that was four miles away. It was right at the edge and end of the forest that he had spent his time conquering.

The spiders were supposed to be bringing back villagers to use the sacrifice ability on, but every once in a while, they would mess up. He had so far sacrificed over one hundred humans though. His spiders were quite adept at capturing them and bringing them back. With the Scythe Legged Giant Huntsman Spiders killing anything that proved too difficult to bring back. He reflected on his first sacrifice.

**The first sacrifice**

“Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Come on get into the spirit of things!”

The spiders that surrounded the statue began to unrhythmically stab their legs down wards creating an enchanting echo of sharp feet striking granite. Sparks flew about the room as a young man with a strappingly sturdy body was dragged in wrapped in a cocoon of webbing. Due to being dragged several miles the webbing had torn in multiple area allowing you to see the lad inside. He was currently unconscious. He had shit brown hair and had been working a hoe righteously until the spiders had snatched him away the muscle structure and fop of hair. Bastill roared in delight, “Step on forward! Bring him up front and cut his bindings of web!”

The lad was brought forth and unbound. It was at this moment the Concealed Giant Jumping Spider venom began to wear off. The kid woke up. His sight opened upon a glowing cave with sparks flying about filled with monstrously enormous and equally terrifying spiders. He screamed and shat himself all at once, “SHIT, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, NO THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING. WAKE UP, WAKEUP, WAKEUP.  IT’S JUST A DREAM, IT’S JUST A DREAM!”

Bastill tired of the meaningless squabble that poured from the youth’s mouth. It was proceeded with a bunch of curses, prayers to the gods, and cries for his mother.

Just lighten up a little. This is for the greater good you know. My greater good. Did you really have to shit as well? I’m going to have to learn human shit now… Thanks asshole.

”Nyx of Darkness! My furry little knife the honors is yours. Don’t fuck it up,” Bastill spoke too his beasts.

The chaotic unrhythmic feet’s tempo picked up their unsynchronized pounding. The sparks flew faster and brighter about the room as Nyx skittered forward and with an elegantly sweeping blow slit the kids throat. Bastill instantly gained a new notification that he checked.

Sacrifice

+Gained skill: Cooking

Amazing! Simply amazing and… AND ABSOUTLY DAMN USLESS. I CAN’T EAT LET ALONE USE MY GODDAMN HANDS TO COOK. What am I supposed to use this skill with? Well whatever at least the mana is decent I just earned five hundred mana by doing practically nothing. I guess humans aren’t half bad after all. I have plenty of mana to practice Sculpting now. This will speed up my Outpost production greatly or I can make a bigger coliseum. Hmmm

The sacrifice had been rather fun. He was quite impressed with his spiders’ leg pounding. The sparks had been great! However, his commendations for spiders didn’t go beyond that. Looking around at all the spiders standing around emotionless he shouted, “Well bring in the next one! I’m not waiting all day!”

Creature Death

Human x 500mana

Learned Zombie

Hmm a Zombie? I wonder why I didn’t learn the schematic for humans? I can’t believe it to be some nonsense about the complexities of the soul. These humans are soulless swine after all. They’d kill me off without batting an eye. Claire did it once and plans to do it again. They are all the same.

**

Each sacrifice to the statue would capture some of the knowledge from the human. The first sacrifice even let him learn how to create a zombie. He couldn’t make a living human, making an undead was the closet he could get. He didn’t know the reason for that, but he had suspicions they were protected by the gods and goddesses. The sacrifice ability at first wasn’t too impressive. Although it did give him plenty of knowledge there was no benefit. He would learn detailed information on skills like swordsmanship or archery or stealth. Some were extremely useless like poetry or cooking. It was entirely useless to him, that was until he leveled up.

After the first twenty-five humans were killed he met the requirement and quickly leveled up. The new level came with a new ability called Skill Book Creation, which allowed him to create a skill book using the knowledge he had. With the sacrifice ability giving him new knowledge about various skills with each kill, it was suddenly substantially more valuable. The spiders weren’t able to learn the skills but with the new humanoid zombies he had the ability to create, the arsenal of skills he now had was quite valuable. Bastill glance back to the dog that the spiders had brought to him.

What the shit am I going to do with a dog? I could just kill it gain the slight mana from the kill and learn it’s schematics.

He was about to order the dogs death, but as he continued to look at the scared beast he decided against it. He couldn’t kill this creature. It was practically harmless to him and the mana he received from it would be negligible in the grand scheme of everything. As he weighed the creature’s life in his mind he felt his mind began to darken until it was completely empty. Unlike the last memory he had, there was no pain when this one came about. Only sweet bliss spurred in his mind as the memory became to materializing in his mind, replacing the darkness.

**                    **                    *          Young Bastill Memory *                      **                    **

The ever dark and murky atmosphere blossomed about. The sky was always dark when Bastill was active. Operating during the day was asking for a shortened life. If you want to use your Hide and Stealth the darkness will be your best friend.

Bastill had just left the sorry excuse of an orphanage. The shoddy place barely gave them bedding. The owner took the checks given to him from the city to run the orphanage, however the kids never saw a single copper of it. They got a roof over their head. Bedding in any form needed to scrapped together our your own. Not to mention food. Bastill was currently on going his fourth day of his unwanted fast.

He was hungry but had to lie low for a few days in order for the residents of the city to forget his face. none of the other kids brought him food. It was every kid for themselves. Sure, they’d smile and joke, but the second your weakened, better off, or lucky they gut you like a fish.

The reason for lying low is his last heist he had been on, while successful in the end, had almost got him caught. The second the other kids found out that he had to hide from the guards and had money they had beat the living shit out him until they got it all. He had instantly had handed it over trying to avoid a beating, but they suspected he was hiding more and tried to beat it out of him.

He hadn’t hidden any. He had been honest and really just hadn’t wanted a beating. But as the sun rains down light upon the earth each day, so did their fists and feet. He felt awful. His stomach had stopped growling after the second day. Now it just ached. He figured that he’d never grow very tall in life, because he was always lacking nutrient meals.

His plan was to go scavenge around for scraps near any trash deposits. If he failed to find any scraps, then he would have to resort on nastier means. Possibly snag something dexterously through one of the bakeries. He walked down the street with his head tilted forward and his eye’s down cast. As he was sulking his way along he suddenly heard a kind high-pitched feminine voice call out to him, “Hiya there, whatcha up to?”

Raising his gaze to beyond refuse on the street he met the eyes of a young of a girl a year or two above his own age. She was leaning out of a window in the building beside the road. It was one of the better bakeries in the city. She had a cute quirky smile which could be seen occasionally between bites out of a loaf of bread. She had cascading black hair and her eyes twinkled with a kindred light as she watched Bastill. As he was about to reply suddenly a shout could be heard, “Natasha! You better not be eating anything from my new batch. Get in here now. Natasha?”

The girl Hollard back, “Coming!”

She quickly tossed him the rest of the loaf. Before she scrambled back inside. She spoke to him, “Keep it so I don’t get in trouble, maybe I will see you tomorrow?”

With that she made her way inside with her black hair swishing back and forth. Bastill had no words. He was completely dumbfounded. He quickly checked his surroundings. Seeing as no one seemed to be paying attention to him, he slipped off into an alley. He used Stealth along the way until he found the perfect place to Hide. He spent the rest of the night with tears soaking into the bread as he devoured it. Only after finishing it all did he travel back to the barn he called home for the night. Meanwhile his brain was still addled.

…Natasha…

**                    **                    *          End of Memory           *                      **                    **

Just like that night his brain became rattled and he couldn’t think right for a moment until a dull ache returned to the background of his mind. It hurt, but it was lighter than normal.

Natasha… The Mutt most likely doesn’t even have more than twenty-five mana. He kinda looks hungry. I am merciful and reasonable after all. But I can’t just do nothing… Someone is responsible.

“Kill the idiot who brought the dog,” he ordered mentally to one of the Overlord Giant Fringed Spiders.

One of the Overlord Giant Fringed Spider’s closest to the one who caused the problem raised his front leg up with mechanical precision and brought it down powerfully and mercilessly. The giant Furry Giant Spider that had been responsible for the accident didn’t have time to move or even give a squeamish chitter before it was skewered by the leg. The Overlord Fringed Spider didn’t even remove the carcass from his leg before he walked away. The result was a thud each time he brought down the leg with the giant furry carapace attached to it. Without giving it much thought Bastill Intoned, “Bring the mutt over by me for now.”

He had been interrupted during his favorite hobby, which was the reason for his furry. That and the fact that he was absolutely horrible at the only thing that he wanted to do. He was currently trying to make a statue modeling after his old human self, however they never turned out well. Just clumps of malformed figures. He hadn’t yet given up, but no matter what he always lost his temper when dealing with the granite.

 He looked at the jagged malformed human shaped statue he tried to create, but no notification rang out when he was done. He had never been successful thus far but that wouldn’t stop him. Maybe he’d be able to get an ability that would help him create statues.

I know I can sculpt, my bloody work is all around me. It’s just mocking me now. Kitsune would know what’s wrong. He always did. Hey Mutt do you have any suggestions? Never mind, you can’t hear me…

Currently to level up he needed to kill one-hundred humans and gain one-mile radius and activate the Mysterious Journal and max his mana. His stat menu no longer read out how many rooms or floors he had. It was now calculated in square miles and outposts. He had captured five square miles along twenty-five outposts. The land he had captured was all in the forest. The outposts helped formulate his boundaries and strengthen his defenses. Each square mile added five-hundred mana to his passive mana absorption.

When he wasn’t failing at sculpting he was making outposts. It was the only thing he created so far that he took pride in. However, they didn’t count as statues. He liked to pretend that they were his monuments. His mana had currently been spent on making the outposts. Each cost around ten-thousand mana.  He could have formed simple buildings but, he had promised to transform the hideous land they stood on and this was his first step. To him they were magnificent.

The reason for the high cost is that he would make each little fortress out of Star Iron. He had found a small meteorite in the forest when he first began capturing the forest. He had several dozen spiders drag it back. Then he proceeded to place coal all around it. After a lot of trial and error he managed to get the spiders to light the coal. Then he proceeded to smelt the meteorite to get the pure Star Iron. In order to pay for it all he ended up breeding tons of Scythe Legged Giant Huntsman Spiders and had them battle in a large gladiator like granite coliseum to death. The coliseum was right outside of his cave entrance and filled the clearing.

He could have killed them in an easier way, but he personally enjoyed having the games. The other spiders would occasionally watch as well, plus he saw an increase in the victorious spider’s levels. Some had increased by ten levels after numerous victories. The best was Thanatos who now stayed off the front line and spent all the time fighting his brethren in the death games. Bastill’s reasoning for having him off the front line was to have a floor boss near his core incase enemies got to lose, and in the future he would use him instead of Nyx for sacrifices.

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He turned attention to his granite coliseum. He used granite for the majority of the structure, but the fighting floor was made from a now red tinted Star Iron. Thanatos was currently in the ring with a lesser version of himself. Thanatos and the Scythe Legged Giant Huntsman Spider squared off before charging. Legs swept in at all angles as the two fought.

Thanatos’s opponent had recently been through countless battles by the look of his dented and scratched carapace. While his opponents efforts were quite impressive, its strength and sharpness was no comparison to Thanatos’s. With a thunderous slash he sliced the spiders head in two. His opponent hit the ground and didn’t get back up. From the death Bastill netted one-hundred and forty mana. On the sides of the coliseum the spiders watching chittered away and tapped their legs in a thunderous display of respect and excitement.

Thanatos is improving rapidly, the battles are getting more and more intriguing to watch, but I can’t waste time watching battles all day. Their purpose is more mana at a controlled death pace. It’s time to continue the building more Outposts.

The outposts made of Star Iron had an illustrious shine to them. They were pitch black but with a bright metallic glimmer to it. Each outpost soared thousands of feet in to the air. There were hollowed out spires that reached great heights into the air. Bastill liked to imagine it was a monument with a simple message to display. “I’m right here and alive and stronger than ever.”

The hollowed-out sections of each outpost collectively housed around a thousand spiders. For the most part the spiders would sleep until they were needed. It was effective to house them in the outposts, because he had troops all over the land he controlled. In case of enemy attacks he had enforcement spread out over his territory.

There was three spires total for each outpost, each of differing heights. The rose up into the air menacingly and were a sight of awe and horror. Each hole in the spire would have millions of strands of webbing spreading out into the forest below. This created a sparkling sensation around the spire and coated the forest in white webs.

His next remaining prerequisite to level up was activating the Mysterious Journal, which currently he had trouble completing. He had tried everything so far. He had tried invoking its name, creating it, summoning it, channeling mana into the ability and even the idea, but nothing worked so far. He was at a loss of how this ability was supposed to work. When he wasn’t pushing mana into making outposts, or attempting to sculpt, he would be trying to activate the Mysterious Journal Ability. It was to no avail currently. As he attempted to activate it once again he began to curse in anger before giving up once again and turning his focus on the stray dog.

Well what do you think I should do Mutt?

The Mutt never replied since he couldn’t even hear the mental discussion. He couldn’t speak to it mentally like his other creatures so instead he played a game where he would ask it questions in his own head and looked at the dog’s current reactions as the answer. It still relaxed Bastill. He had his own little pet that stayed by him and let him vent out his thoughts. The dog was currently shitting in the corner. He dissolved the shit to get rid of it with the unfortunate consequence of learning how to create more shit.

Yes, yes. I see your point of view, but that’s not what I was thinking of to be honest. What am I supposed to do about the Mysterious Journal?

The dog proceeded to scamper back over to the dungeon core. He took his time to sniff around the Dungeon.

Hmmm, so your saying I should follow my instincts? I agree. However once again Mutt I am incapable of sniffing out what to do about this shit. You know we’ve known each other for about three whole hours, but I have yet to ever ask you about your family. How are they doing?

The dog after satisfying his bowels and his nose sat down beside the core. It was still nervously glancing at the spiders that would walk near.

Yeah it’s fine if you don’t remember or want to talk about it. I don’t remember everything about my own life, but perhaps that is for the best. I know you don’t really enjoy the spiders, and to be honest I agree with your opinion. They never try to just talk to me. Don’t tell anyone this, but it gets rather lonely here sometimes. Sometimes you just want someone to talk to.

The dog meanwhile had long since nodded off to sleep, while the core was rattling on. It felt nice having someone to bounce ideas off of. Even though he never got feedback. The Mutt had more emotion and personality then all his spiders put together in his opinion. Also, he wouldn’t tell anyone, but the Mutt was nicer to look at then the bleak and deadly spiders.

You’ve had a long day I know. Get some sleep Mutt.

It was a simple one-sided conversation, but he didn’t mind. It wasn’t much but it was something. As he turned his attention back to the construction of his next outpost he was interrupted by the dimming of his mind. He recognized the blackness in his mind as another memory and readily accepted it. His mind was calmed as the blackness took over. The blackness left as quickly as it came and in its place an old memory resurfaced.

**                    **                    *          Young Bastill Memory *                      **                    **

Looking into the sky there was no darkness nor murk. It was still rather light outside as Bastill walked along a flowered path. He was in his favorite place in the entire city. It was one square mile of unmolested land were the plants and trees grew ruggedly beautiful. It was called a park but to Bastill it was paradise. His path currently was working its way up a hillside and approaching the top.

The park resided in the middle of the city and was the pleasure of many. It’s natural beauty and lack of human involvement made it a great location to relax and meditate and enjoy a picnic. That privilege was of course only enjoyed by the wealthier families. He didn’t have food to share nor consume himself for the majority of the time. Bastill had a secret hideout he would visit. As he was about to walk past his spot he looked around for anyone watching. Seeing that no one was present or watching he skillfully worked himself into a large bush at the top of the hill.

Most civilians didn’t stop up on the hill, because of all the brush obscuring the view, but it was a nice walking trail for some. To Bastill it was his sanctuary. Nestled in the bristly bush lay a den of his own making. He had spent several years carving out plenty of room inside with his rusty iron knife. It was a comfortable place to lay low and think.

He was currently spending time here due to some heat on the gang he was affiliated with. They were even checking the orphanage. It wouldn’t be the first time sleeping here. He had a tattered tarp to curl up in and the brush kept most the rain off in stormy weather. He also had some coin hidden here from times when he decided to brave a few beatings, before learning his lesson. Now it remained as his emergency funds. It consisted of seventy-one coppers.

Although he loved that the place was all his own, that fact was not what held it so close to his heart. The true pearl of this den was the view. He had cut out just enough thickets to give him a view of the meadow below and the city beyond. It was a wondrous view and he marveled at the families picnicking and the smallness of the city beyond.

He loved watching the mothers attending to their children. Mothering them with love in care. His heart would tremble when he thought about his own parents. Who were they? Why did they abandon him? Did they even care. He could only watch and wish for better things.

Why do I have to be alone? I just want someone to talk to. Someone to care about me. Is that truly too much to ask for?

**                    **                    *          End of Memory           *                      **                    **

As his consciousness rolled back into him with a negated headache, something else ached as well. Completely different from the physically decapitating mental pain he had felt before. It was a different feeling that was gritted in himself. He couldn’t place the exact location of the pain, but it was worse than all other pains.

It wasn’t overwhelmingly debilitating. In fact, it was easily lived through and lived with, but he hated the feeling worse than another pain. It was small and almost unnoticeable if he focused on something else, but the second he thought about it he felt awful inside. It was similar to the feeling he had when he knew he couldn’t revive Kitsune. It was loneliness.

 Dejectedly Bastill noticed he had received a notification. He wasn’t sure what the hell it could be for. Since he wasn’t expecting one and hadn’t done anything to get one. He honestly didn’t really care but decided to check it anyways.

Mysterious Journal

+Activated

He didn’t really care, but trying to stay more upbeat he mentally voiced his thoughts to everything in his dwelling. He couldn’t let his creatures know he had felt or still did feel any weakness, “What the freaking dog shit? I have tried activating this for the last month with failure after failure and now it works!? I didn’t even do anything this time? Mutt did you do it? Good boy

He couldn’t fathom would have caused the Journal to open. His only idea laid upon the dog. He might have been overestimating the dog, but he liked the thought that the Mutt had helped him. It reinforced his belief in talking to it.

“Isn’t that just how life works though? Life isn’t meant to be lived by being forceful, but by being open and accepting. Nothing ever really happens the way you want it to, so you should always live with what you have.” - Mysterious Journal

What in the name of the God of Shit?! You can hear me? What are you? Why are you here? Why didn’t you talk sooner? I don’t think I like you. You made me wait frustratingly all this time.

“You’re a rumbustious Dungeon Core I can tell. Yes, I can hear you. I am helpful and knowledgeable. I am here because you selected this ability and I spoke when I was able.” - Mysterious Journal

Helpful and knowledgeable is not a thing. I bet my Mutt is more helpful then you could ever be and I meant what ‘are’ you?

“I am a spirit of a long-forgotten king. I spent many of my years…” - Mysterious Journal

Oh so your dead! That’s easy to understand. Sooooo, what exactly do you do?

“Well…Whatever I am needed to do. Back to my story though. I spent many of my years…” - Mysterious Journal

Make me level one-hundred! Also give me stronger creatures, preferably not spiders! Give more catalysts, I rather like them. Lots of gold coins! I can’t really do anything with them, but I still want them. Also I want…”

“You are really trying my patience child! Sorry…. I can’t do any of those I’m afraid. What I can do is give you advise and guidance. One thing you should know is that being a Corrupt Dungeon is a dangerous game that will end poorly for you.” - Mysterious Journal

Awww, so your absolutely useless! Why didn’t you just say so. I knew the Mutt was more helpful. The whole corrupt dungeon game I am playing is actually going really well for your information. I can’t believe I got a useless old king that ‘spent many of his years’ learning useless things so that he could be useless to me.

“Shhh listen young one. Wisdom is not useless my young Dungeon Core. In fact one might say that it is the greatest gift for all those thing you desire I can help you obtain in time. Now if you’d be polite for just a minute and fully listen and try to understand what I am saying then we might be able to get somewhere. Are you ready to learn?” - Mysterious Journal

Yes yes…. I’m sorry for being rude and interrupting you. I’ve just been waiting for this a while and well I haven’t had anyone to talk to in a while.

“It’s alright. I forgive you. Now I think you’d really get a lot of valuable information if you listen to my story. I spent many of my years as a king reading and reading. Surprisingly my favorite topic to read about was Dungeon Cores, which is how I landed this job in the afterlife. Now I managed to get a very rare book from one of the best researchers of my…- Mysterious Journal

OH MY GOD!!! I just remembered that I can level up now!!!

“…”-Mysterious Journal

Level Up! Current Level: 8

Congratulations you successfully expanded to at least one square mile, killed one-hundred humans, activated mysterious journal and filled mana to capacity.

+ Passive Mana Regeneration Increased

+Elite Creature Assign - Able to give a creature an elite status. Allows them to revive after 24 hours.

+ Next Level Requirements: 2 miles, Fill Mana Capacity, 5 Outposts.

Stat Menu

Level:8,   Race: Dungeon Core,   Name: Bastill

Characteristics

Mana Capacity: 1/750,   Mana Absorption: 3100/day,   Creatures:50301,   Miles(square):5,   Outposts:25

Abilities

Skill Book Creation- Ability to Create skill books from the knowledge you have.

Sacrifice- Sacrifice humans to any god of your choosing in your dungeon core room. Must be performed by a floor boss

Mysterious Journal- Unknown

Passive Mana Absorption- You no longer need to pull mana to you. It is now naturally drawn towards your core. Current rate 3000/Day. To increase grow stronger or larger.

Observe- Ability to see the level and vocation of other creatures, while seeing the whole stat menu of dungeon creatures.

Forced Evolution- Ability to see inject mana into a creature body part or characteristic, which will evolve the creature and raise its level and abilities.

Dissolve- Lets you dissolve matter and recreate learned matter with mana.

Mind Speak- More complex form of basic communication with lesser creatures.

Magic- Blood Magic

Corrupt Dungeon- Spread your awareness through expanding your creatures across the surface.

Elite Creature Assign- Able to give a creature an elite status. Allows them to revive after 24 hours.

Learned

Materials -1 cubic foot

Coal: 20, Dirt: .1, Agate:5, iron:, steel: , Star Iron:50

Creatures

Insects- Common Spider:.1, Flea: .05, Tick: .05, Scorpion: .3, Pill Bug: .1, Beetle: .1, Butterfly: .1, Worm: .1

Animals-, Blue Bird:15, Common Gardner Snake:5, Lizard: 5, weasel: 12, Frog: 4, Rat: 8, Bat: 8

Created Beasts- Furry Giant Spider:70, Scythe Legged Giant Huntsman Spider:140, Concealed Giant Jumping Spider:120, Overlord Giant Fringed Spider:170, Zombie:80

Objects

Door:1, Leaf: .1, Bird Nest: 2, High Steel Dagger: 20, Flask: 5, Steel Spear: 20, Dog Shit: .5,

Fluid- Per Bottle

Fire water: 5

Catalysts

Mana Infused Iron

Demon Heart

**        **                    **                    Alice Everglade                        **                    **            **

It took her an extra day to get back to the city of Azul. Making the trip back four days long. They didn’t stop for anything or take any delays. When they arrived at the city it was currently in an uproar. All around there were triple the amount of Guild members from the Warrior Guild, Adventurer Guild, and the Mage Guild in the town. With the majority either just arriving or about to be leaving. Derk said, “Well as important as I think I am I don’t think there are this many people set out to look for us.”

Daniel was looking around as he answered, “It probably has something to do with the enormous metallic towers we saw coming out from the forest, when we passed it on our way back. I also have a gut feeling that the spiders we encountered are involved. They are awfully near the old dungeon entrance.”

The group continued on their way to report to the Adventurer Guild as they looked at the influx of guild members around them. Alice took this time to glace at her stats again. She had managed to level up seven times when she had been in the dungeon. A lot of this had been from the spiders that they had killed but hunting down Dracula Hare’s also helped level her up, as well as increase her skills.

Stat Menu

Level:19,   Race: Human,   Name: Alice Everglade,   Age: 15  ,   Gender: Female,   Vocation: Vanguard

Characteristics

Strength:20,   Constitution:20,   Dexterity:36,    Intelligence:20,   Wisdom:12,   Charisma:12

Traits

Spear Goddess- Your non-stopped handling of the spear from a young age has lead you to create some of your very own spear move. You level Skill Spear Mastery 50% faster than most. You also gain the Skill Spear Ingenuity.

Magic:

CapacitySad [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/sad.png]INT*5+WSD*.1)=102/102

RestorationSad [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/sad.png]WSD*.4)=4.8 per minute

General- Clean(Used to clean):2(Mastered); Mend(Heals Wound, Heath +1): 5 (Novice)

Skills

Spear Mastery: 49, Advanced

Herb Gathering: 35, Intermediate

Spear Ingenuity: 34, Intermediate

Sewing: 19, Novice

Forestry: 9, Novice

Tracking: 9, Novice

Cooking: 30, Intermediate

Observing: 32, Intermediate

As she looked over her stats she cringed when she remembered the pain of perfecting Clean. All those times they tossed their dirty clothes to her to clean. All that time practicing the magic over all those dirty clothes. She regretted her decision to learn it. She managed to master it eventually and had gotten the new skill Mend.

Mend would increase in power as she leveled it, but since it was just a general skill it would never be very strong. Healing one health point wasn’t very helpful. She regenerated one health point every minute anyways. That was standard for humans. Other species heal by different degrees. Her health could also be calculated by taking her constitution and multiplying it by two and taking strength and multiplying it by point five. This gave her a total of fifty health.

If she was able to get a specific type of magic it would be a lot stronger and end up being a lot more effective. She didn’t know what type she wanted to utilize yet though. She also needed to get the right books to help her learn, which would in turn cost more money. She would consider checking out some magic books after she got paid. She didn’t want to become a mage or anything. She just wanted to have some extra magic to boost her combat ability. After all if she was going to have intelligence and wisdom the magic capacity and restoration it gave her might as well go to use. No reason to waste the characteristics that god gave you.

She was quite content with her level. It normally took newly joined members a year or two to get as far as she had. That was due to most of the time spent training for survival and combat. They got sparse experience until they were allowed to take on harder quests that involved killing.

The made their way into the Adventurer Guild building and were promptly led upstairs by the assistant at the front desk. Within seconds they were faced to face with the Guild Master. Upon entering the room there was hardly even a millisecond pause before the Master began to speak, “We have a spider infestation problem. It’s currently destroying one of the towns. Furthermore, it’s not even five miles from where you explored the dungeon. Report what happened. I have a feeling that your lengthy return from the dungeon and these new spider attacks are related.”

The Guild Master as astute as ever had been correct about the correlation and the Daniel the team leader quickly filled him in on what had gone on in the dungeon. After that he told us about the four types of spiders that had been reported thus far. One was very generic, and it was the same type we had faced the other three were horrific. The largest seemed to be able to control and lead the smaller spiders with effect planning while they themselves were very formidable. However, they were too smart to every be attacked. The next type was not as large but had bladed legs that quickly cut down any defenders. Maiming some while instantly killing those that proved to difficult to take easily, which was another thing. They took survivors. They would drag living humans off into the woods. The last type had only been seen once as it pounced on a large group and with one bite had sent the man down. Out of the group there was only one survivor and he couldn’t give a detailed review of what the spider looked like. All he had seen was his friends head blend in with the back ground before it returned as he fell to the ground. The rest of the teammates got stuck in a web trap.

How could these monstrosities have developed?

It was more horrifying then Alice could ever believe. The Guild Master said he knew they were probably tired and he gave them the night to rest up and be paid for their quest at the counter on the first floor, “Come back here tomorrow at noon Alice. We will give you a Ranking test and Daniel I will have you take on the spider subjugation quest that several others are participating in.”

With that the team went to sleep the night off. Alice couldn’t sleep well with all the dreams of spiders snatching people off into the night.