Chapter 13

Drew missed the sun and fresh air of his home, he missed his mom, and he longed for the ability to sit on his back porch and enjoy nature. After the first few months in the dungeon, he’d lost all sense of time, and only the occasional updates The Baleful Lady had sent him had brought him back to the reality of Sanctuary’s situation.

The Lady was his only source of news from the outside, and he found himself looking forward to her short messages that updated him on the events happening on Earth, even if most of those updates brought stress and problems to his life. It was reassuring knowing that his mom, Mark, and Miranda were at least safe and still alive. If it wasn’t for those updates, Drew would have likely broken down by now and teleported out of the dungeon at one of the floor exits.

Invaders known as Forgeborn had been causing all kinds of problems for his friends and family. Their race was incredibly tough, and difficult to kill, and those were just the scouts. The more he learned about the synthetic race, and his friends’ difficulties in killing them, the more he pushed himself and his party in the dungeon. They needed to advance, they needed to level and evolve, otherwise the incursions and the Forgeborn would wipe out whatever was left of humanity and Earth.

Drew stood up and stretched his back and neck, cracking several vertebrae and sending endorphins flooding into his body’s system. It was his turn on watch, while the others slept. Well, other than Maud, who was currently sewing new undergarments for him. The realization of Earth’s situation, and how dire the outlook was, had caused him to begin taking more risks in the dungeon so he could advance faster.

Drew scanned his surroundings, walking around their makeshift camp. Many things had happened in the time since he’d entered the dungeon. Most recently, he’d taken a nasty fall in a particularly devious pit trap filled with acid. He was able to get out of the trap fairly quickly, and the health potions he’d gotten as dungeon loot had grown back his skin, but his clothing had been fucked.

It was the fourth set that he’d gone through so far, and that was just on this floor. Where the earlier floors had been a standard dungeon affair, with goblins and mimics, things were very different now.

Drew watched as a glowbug floated too close to the nearby “pond”, and the water itself shifted and swallowed the bug in an instant. Water elemental, the sneaky little shit. Nothing could be trusted in this environment, nothing was as it seemed. They were on floor two hundred and thirty-one. This floor wasn’t a cave like the early ones had been. No, this one was the size of a small country, or a state from the US.

Two fake moons hung on the ceiling. From an outside perspective, it would look like Drew was walking around a countryside of rolling hills, with ruins of ancient buildings dotting the landscape. But he was still in the dungeon, he knew the “sky” he saw was actually just a very tall magical ceiling.

A winged shadow glided high overhead in the night sky, but Drew’s darkvision picked it up clearly. Another Petra… I better take care of it before it decides it wants a ground-based snack. Drew threw out a [Focused Contagion] and watched as the enhanced, single target spell ate away at the monster’s body. Its skin and muscle sloughed off the skeleton before it even hit the ground.

Petras were dangerous monsters. Their outward appearance looked alot like the flying dinosaurs of Earth, but that’s where the similarities ended. Curses and debuffs were the best way to kill them, because anything that punched a hole through them, or took off a limb, or even made them bleed… Well, it wasn’t an experience he wished to go through again. When any of those things happened, the worm-like parasites that called a Petra home would flood out, looking for new hosts.

Like a broken fire hydrant, a pressured stream of the four foot long worms came crashing into existence, screeching and searching for a new body to call home. It sucked having them removed from his body. Basic healing wouldn’t cut it, the body needed to be sliced open, and the worms had to be pulled out like stubborn in-grown hair, all the while they were busy trying to feast on your insides to make a nice cozy summer cottage to live in.

No, it’s best to just rot them from the inside out, and skip having to deal with those bastard worms. Drew was very thankful for his [Focused Contagion] spell, especially when dealing with horrors like the Petras. The spell was something he’d picked up at level thirty in his necromancer class. It replaced his previous [Corrupting Contagion] spell, but he wasn’t complaining. It was a flat upgrade over its predecessor. The overall effect was the same, but it happened at double the speed.

Drew wanted to get back to Earth, he wanted to be there to help out against the invaders. Desperately so. But he also knew that his time in the dungeon had a greater purpose, and it was a gift that he couldn’t turn away from. If the Forgeborn scouts had given his friends so many issues and they were still around level twenty-five to thirty, then to stand any chance against the leaders of the invasion force, Drew needed to become much stronger.

He needed that power, and he needed it now. Otherwise, Earth and its people were fucked. Even if Sanctuary remained safe with the Valkyries guarding it, that wouldn’t mean dick to the rest of humanity.

Drew walked over to Maud, leaning over her shoulder and watching her work on his new clothing. It was almost time.

“Yes?” Maud asked in a whisper, as to not disturb the sleeping party members.

“Your turn to watch, I need some sleep.” Drew whispered back, fighting off a yawn that tried to sneak its way in.

“Alright. Sleep well.” Maud nodded, putting down her crafting supplies and getting in the mindset of watch duty.

Drew slid into the tent that held Amber, and laid down, throwing a light blanket over himself. Armor and all. It was too dangerous not to sleep in armor, even if he woke up with a sore back in the morning, the risk of doing otherwise wasn’t worth it. The rubber-like padding Maud had installed in his armor kept it from creaking or otherwise making too much noise, as he shuffled to find a semblance of comfort next to his beautiful, red-haired wife. He fought back another yawn, he knew sleep would find him soon.

Even so far away from home, Drew couldn’t help but think about the people there, the settlement they had built, and what they were fighting for. Survival. His people were safe for the time being, but with so few people living there, they would never have everything they needed. Not when facing the threat of the Forgeborn and whatever else was out there. There was no way they could become self-sufficient without more folks to help out.

The crystal mine would help, sure, but without more people working it and other industries, there was no way to stay ahead of the curve. This was a thought that he kept coming back to over his months in the dungeon, a thought that resurfaced repeatedly. Sanctuary needed more people, and if he was honest with himself, people needed Sanctuary.

An apt name for the town. It really is a safe haven with Sindra and her sisters watching over it. But there were millions, if not billions of humans still around. They needed a safe haven themselves, and his settlement needed those people to grow and provide everyone with what they’d need to destroy the incursions.

Drew’s thoughts slowly faded as he lapsed into a dreamless sleep.

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Drew dodge-rolled forward, underneath the swing of a phantasmal blade that arched overhead, his own sword swinging out in a wide slash with [Baleful Strike], the ethereal blade slicing through the enemy’s legs. Back on his feet, he jumped backwards in a low arch almost parallel to the ground, narrowly avoiding the Traveler’s retaliatory strike as it hissed through the spot he’d just been crouched at.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The Traveler screeched with unbridled rage and pain as its attack missed, before falling forward while leaving the remains of its legs behind, pink energy siphoning off into the void. Drew quickly regained control of his momentum and flashed forward, plummeting his sword, enchanted with another [Baleful Strike], into the being’s head.

He quickly scanned the battlefield, finding Maud in melee and holding the line against two more Travelers. The Travelers were energy-based lifeforms, their bodies consisting of various colored energies that were held in place by enchanted magical wraps of cloth.

Drew flashed forward, flanking one of Maud’s attackers and slicing through its neck with another strike from his ability. He watched the head topple to the ground and began to step towards the next target when two arrows, covered in flames, struck the last target where its eye sockets would have been, if it had any. Magic, or attacks on the soul were the most effective counter to Travelers. The bandage-like wraps held and anchored the energy of the Travelers’ true forms. Those wraps could be destroyed easily enough, but doing so meant the being remained alive and would find more of its kind to provide new anchoring bandages.

The Travelers were a new threat to Drew and his party, one that made it difficult to heal wounds, as Spock was finding out firsthand. Amber lowered her bow, and her conjured flame arrow winked out of existence as she reached into her inventory and pulled out [Soulmending Cream]. She sat down next to Spock and applied the magical healing item to their party member’s arm, collarbone, and right cheek.

Traveler’s phantasmal swords left soul wounds. The weapons themselves were less deadly than normal weapons, but the damage they caused was extremely painful, and very difficult to heal. Thankfully, the party had landed a good haul of loot from three floors back and one of those items was the aforementioned cream. Items drops for loot weren’t rare in the dungeon, but having the correct item to treat each type of affliction was a difficulty in itself.

Spock hissed and grimaced as Amber rubbed the soul ointment onto his body. The poor guy had been minding his business when the Travelers launched an ambush, and his wounds had taken him out of the fight.

“Drew Wright, I do not like those beings, I don’t like them at all.” Spock said, his face scrunched up in pain as Amber finished rubbing the lotion on his skin.

“I know buddy, I know. You’ll feel better in an hour or so.” Drew said, wanting to walk over and pat Spock on his shoulder, but thinking better of it at the last minute.

“Every few floors, this place thinks up new ways to maim and kill us. It’s been getting harder and harder…” Amber began, reflecting on the challenges they’d faced as a party recently.

“That’s what she said…” Drew mumbled to himself with a smile and a weak chuckle. He’d take every chance to joke and smile that he could. The alternative would be letting the stress and frustration of this place overrun his emotional strength.

“Mature.” Maud said, shaking her head.

“Boof!” Freya yipped, looking at Drew accusingly.

“Don’t you give me lip Freya, you’re afraid of your own farts.” Drew shot back towards the dog.

“We’re all afraid of her farts… remember floor six-thirty-four?” Amber asked, standing back up, with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.

“You mean when she killed off an entire pasture of those Jooroos?” Drew laughed.

“That’s the one! Remember the look on the farmer's face when he saw his entire herd go up in blue fart flames?” Amber laughed, holding her stomach and putting a hand on her knee for support.

“He asked what you fed her, Mrs. Wright.” Spock added, smiling in remembrance.

Freya did not think any of this was funny, her ears were held back against her head and she huffed, finding a nice spot several feet away from everyone else to plop, pout, and glare at the other party members.

“Then he… then he demanded… he wanted her to pay… for the Jooroos! She doesn’t even have a job!” Drew said, sucking in breath, trying to control his laughter and failing miserably.

Maud went and sat down next to Freya, giving the dog several nice scratches to nullify her sensitive emotions at everyone ripping at her. Freya huffed again, seemingly having enough of everyone's shit, and laying her head on Maud’s lap.

“Are you going to switch over and try out your new weapon?” Maud asked Drew, trying to change the subject and spare Freya’s feelings.

“Hmm? Oh, the axe you mean?” Drew asked, thinking about the loot he’d received from the Clotharian boss from the last floor.

“I believe it will fit your combat style more than the sword.” Maud said, nodding her head to Drew’s question.

“What makes you say that? I’ve been using this sword for… well I don’t know how long now, but a long fucking time.” Drew asked and said, thinking to himself about the option after replying to Maud.

“You have used it since I met you, but your physical combat style is highly aggressive. While the sword does benefit from that, you’re unable to take full advantage of its versatility with the way you’re fighting. Believe me, I’ve met many swordsmen, you’re good, but it doesn’t flow the way it should.” Maud replied, carefully laying out her thoughts.

“Okay, I agree with some of what you’re saying, but what makes you think I’d do better with an axe? Or is it just personal bias since you use one?” Drew asked, interested in her answer.

“Personal bias is true, but it’s also why I believe you would do well with it. I know my weapon intimately. It’s fast, it's savage, and highly effective. It requires less skill to use effectively than other weapons, and like you, it does well with strong, yet simple slashes, bashes, and cuts. I believe it will feel better to you, like an extension of yourself rather than just a weapon.” Maud replied, tapping her fingernail on her own axe as she continued to scratch Freya behind the ear.

“Hmm… I guess I’ll try it out. Worst case scenario, it would be good to be competent with a backup weapon.” Drew said. He reached into his spatial inventory and pulled out his recent weapon acquisition.

The stat boosts on the weapon were similar to his sword, and if he could get it to one of The Lady’s soulsmiths they could probably boost it further. The axe was pretty, he had to admit. The head of the weapon was over two feet long at the blade, there was a very sharp pointy end on the other end for puncturing armor, and the shaft it all sat on was almost five feet in length. Overall, it was a wicked weapon and he could see it causing massive damage in his hands.

Fuck it, I’ll give it a shot. Besides, at least this one doesn’t look like it's made of bone. Even after all this time, Drew hadn’t gotten over how cringy his armor and weapons made him look. It was a goth kid’s wet dream, but its theme was so overdone it just came across as tacky to him. He lifted up the weapon to look closer at its construction. It was a fully metal affair, if there was any wood on it, it was hardened to the point where he couldn’t tell the difference. The blade was long, yet it did curve towards the ends, and the darkened materials everything was made from made him happy. He wouldn’t want anything shiny blinding him with glare in the middle of combat.

Shrugging, Drew put his sword into his spatial inventory and found a place near Amber to sit down and relax. This floor was almost finished, and they all needed to rest after the ambush from the Travelers. The moment he sat down and closed his eyes however…

“Champion, are you ready for your training?” The Baleful Lady’s voice echoed throughout his head. Drew sighed internally. So much for getting any rest…

“Sure, I just sat down and I should have some time.” He replied.

“Good. Now, enter your mindscape, find your core, and focus on finding your soul that’s permeating throughout your body.”

Drew’s eyes closed and he did as instructed. He had no doubt that many people would kill to receive personal training directly from The Lady, and he was increasingly grateful for her assistance, as there was no way he would have progressed as fast as he did without her guidance. Maybe there were people on Earth who could do this naturally and without guidance, but he wasn’t one of them. Souls were one thing, he got that, but this training was a completely different horse.

He’d been receiving this special treatment for a very long time now. He didn’t dare ask The Lady how long they’d been working on it, as he didn’t wish to insult her by making it seem like he was ungrateful. Instead, he just powered through it the best he could, and despite him feeling like he’d hit a wall in his progress and advancement with this specific training, The Lady had reassured him that wasn’t the case. She’d even said that he was extremely talented. Could have fooled me…

“Now remember, reaching resonance with your soul is extremely important. You must feel the weight of your decisions, the scale of your interactions, the depth of your true emotions. There are no wrong answers when it comes to your soul, it simply is. Whether it’s protection and guidance, or fury, or even justice. Seek those feelings closest to your true being, and let them flow through you.”

He tried, oh how he tried. It was one thing to theoretically think of metaphysical concepts and reflect on them, but it was completely different when it came to basically vibing with his own inner self. If women thought dudes had a hard time getting in touch with their feelings, this was on a different plane of existence entirely. Drew focused inwardly, trying to connect to the vague feelings of concepts that floated and vibrated throughout his soul. He brushed against each emotional and metaphysical concept while trying to remain relaxed.

This wasn’t something he could force, no matter how hard he tried. That was a lesson he was all too aware of at this point. This wasn’t even the first batch of training he’d gotten from the Primordial, in fact, according to her, this was the last step he needed to pass before serious results would show.

What did his soul truly feel? What spoke to him at his deepest level? More concepts flowed past him within his mental landscape, fluttering by as if butterflies collecting pollen in a field. Their wings and minute breezes of air created by them would lightly brush against his skin, so close, yet so far in understanding what they stood for.

Drew was jolted awake as a hand lightly shook his shoulder. His eyes flew open as Amber whispered to him.

“Come on, it’s time to go. We’ve got to clear this floor soon, dear.” Amber said quietly. She knew he was deep in meditation, and didn’t wish to pull him out of it more abruptly than needed.

“We’ll try again on the next floor champion. You must focus next time, you cannot let your mind wander heedlessly.” The Lady scolded him lightly.

“I understand. Thank you.” Drew replied.

“Alright, let’s get this shitshow on the road then.” Drew groaned to Amber, as he stood up. His whole body cracked repeatedly as he stretched. She just nodded her head and smiled and leaned in to give him a light kiss on the cheek.

Drew hefted the new axe in one hand, and the party moved forward.

Aura training fucking sucks.