Chapter 9: Strategy & Survival
Noah and Althea settled down, positioning themselves near the luminescent crystals as they strategized. Noah knew their chances of survival depended on understanding each other’s strengths. He decided to go first, showing his trust in Althea.
"My class is [Freedom], and my skill is [Fly]," Noah revealed, keeping his voice steady. “I can only go a meter high, but I have a few tricks… like increasing my speed by toggling my [Fly] skill on and off.”
Althea looked at him with intrigue. "Freedom, huh? Not a common one, but interesting," she murmured. Then, she added, "My class is [Kitsune], and I’ve got [Pyrokinesis] and [Fire Bolt] as my skills." Seeing his curious look, she continued, "Kitsune is from an ancient word that meant ‘Nine-tailed Fox.’ It’s said they were cunning, powerful… mythological creatures."
Noah nodded, recalling his father’s vague lessons about lost languages. Long ago, people spoke in many tongues, each holding its own culture and knowledge, but as dungeons grew more numerous and villains tore through societies, these languages gradually faded. Now, everything was streamlined into the [Common Tongue].
Forcing himself back to the task at hand, Noah focused. “How often can you cast your Fire Bolt? We’ll need to know if we have to deal with monsters or defend ourselves.”
Althea hesitated, then answered, “I can manage about ten bolts before it takes too much out of me. [Pyrokinesis] is less draining, but it’s limited—more for control than outright offense. I can’t throw endless fire, but I can make the flames I do use more effective.”
Noah took in her explanation, mentally mapping out how they could balance offense and defense. "Alright, if we run into something hostile, I can try to distract it or draw it away while you hit it from a safe distance. Your Fire Bolt sounds strong enough if we use it sparingly."
Althea nodded, looking slightly more confident. "I think we can make that work.”
Noah sensed the tension in Althea’s expression and decided to try lifting her spirits.
"Ever played games, Althea?" he asked with a casual grin.
Althea blinked, caught off guard, then smirked. "Yep, mostly TRPGs… so, in this case, I’d be your magic caster."
"And then I’m your dodge tank," Noah shot back, puffing up playfully. She actually laughed—a sound that echoed warmly against the stone walls, breaking the unease between them. The laughter faded quickly, but it was enough to raise their spirits.
Noah asked, "Hey, how did you escape the dungeon last time?"
Althea’s expression grew somber. "It’s either the death of the Gifted who caused the call… or their victory," she replied, her voice quiet as the weight of that reality settled between them.
Noah winced, realizing he’d dragged her back into a darker memory. ‘Great, Noah, just great!’ he thought, inwardly scolding himself for bringing it up. Quickly, he tried to change the mood. "Well, victory sounds like the better option, so no suicides. We both walk out of here in one piece, yeah?"
Althea stifled a laugh, casting him a sidelong glance. "Kinda ironic coming from you, ‘jumper boy.’"
Noah chuckled, feeling his cheeks flush. "Touché."
With a steady and purposeful stride, Noah led the way. His gaze was sharp and alert as he scanned the dim cavern around them. Althea kept her pace in sync with his, maintaining just enough distance to let him move freely but close enough that she’d be within reach if he needed her. Noah made a point to keep up a steady stream of light conversation, cracking an occasional joke or bringing up random, harmless topics. His intent wasn’t just to fill the silence but to keep Althea grounded, holding her panic at bay without her fully noticing.
"So… how long did it take to escape the dungeon last time?" he asked, slipping the question in between lighter topics as casually as he could.
Althea hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly at the thought. "The first time, it took about a day," she said, her tone slightly guarded. "But the second time... a whole week."
Noah nodded, letting the weight of her words settle without adding to her stress. "Alright," he replied. "Then we’ll prepare for whatever it takes. One day, one week… we’ll get through it."
They moved steadily through the cave, finding that it left them only one way to go: forward.
Althea noted that the dungeons she’d encountered before were often like this—narrow paths, with only one route to follow. Probably, because they were low-level dungeons. The monsters had been different each time in Althea’s experience, so she couldn’t make an educated guess of what they’d eventually come across. They began cautiously, inching forward and staying aware of every shadow and every shifting light from the glowing crystals. Yet, with each step, confidence grew, and they found themselves moving more briskly. The tunnel seemed endless, with the steady, eerie glow of the crystals illuminating most of their path.
On occasion, they passed into patches of shadow where the crystals’ light didn’t reach, and Althea would call upon her [Pyrokinesis], sparking a gentle pinkish flame to light their way. She was careful, though, keeping the fire contained and conserving her energy.
It had been nearly an hour since they’d first arrived in this strange place. For a while, the quiet lulled them into a rhythm, a sense that perhaps this dungeon would remain as deserted as it seemed.
But then, rounding a turn, both of them froze. There, nestled among a cluster of crystals, lay a skeleton, its bones bleached white and brittle-looking.
The skeleton’s bones lay splayed across the rocky floor, clothed in the remnants of what looked like standard gear—faded cargo pants, a once-sturdy jacket, and a frayed backpack that clung to the skeleton’s back as if it still had somewhere to go. In one bony hand was a short sword, surprisingly well-preserved, its edge gleaming faintly even after what seemed like years of neglect. Noah crouched down cautiously, scanning the scene for any sign of danger, then reached over and gently eased the backpack from the skeleton’s shoulders.
Opening it, he found a small treasure trove of supplies. Inside were six potion bottles, each filled with a thick red liquid that glowed faintly. They looked potent, definitely not the watered-down type he’d seen last time is father brought with him. He continued rummaging through the bag, finding a few unfamiliar, worn books that held titles in some mysterious, swirling script he couldn’t recognize. Among the supplies, he also uncovered several ration packs wrapped in brittle, faded paper and a canteen that sloshed when he shook it, still holding water.
"Looks like we’re in luck," Noah murmured, raising one of the potions to examine it against the light. They might actually stand a chance of staying hydrated and fed for a while.
Althea, however, didn't share his optimism. She frowned, scanning the darkened cavern around them. “Lucky, huh? If we’re so lucky, where are the monsters? And look at this guy—he had everything, and it didn’t save him.” Her tone was dark, her expression wary as she glanced down at the skeleton, whose preparation hadn't prevented its tragic fate.
Noah pressed on, opening a small, leather-bound journal he found tucked deep within the pack. Flipping through, he squinted, surprised to find each page covered in strange, flowing characters he couldn’t read. The language was entirely unfamiliar, one that seemed lost to time, like the skeleton itself.
Althea extended her hand toward him. "Hey, since I’m bringing up the rear anyway, I can carry the bag. You might need to move quickly up front."
Noah considered this and then handed over the pack. "Good call. Besides, I've already got this." He reached down, lifting the short sword from the skeletal grip. The weapon was surprisingly lightweight and perfectly balanced in his hand. Its blade gleamed, untouched by rust or wear. He turned it over, marveling at its strange preservation.
Althea observed, raising an eyebrow. "That’s probably dungeon tech. Dungeon items don’t decay the same way normal stuff does—they’re practically built to survive in here."
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Noah smirked, gripping the sword with a flourish as he struck a mock-heroic pose. He widened his stance, shoulders squared, and raised the sword with a faux serious expression as though he were a knight charging into battle. "Fear not, fair lady!" he said in a deep, exaggerated voice. "I shall protect thee from any foul beasts that may dare to cross our path!"
Althea snorted, bringing a hand to her mouth to muffle her laughter, though her eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement. "You look ridiculous," she teased, shaking her head.
"Exactly as intended." Noah relaxed, his smirk breaking into a grin. It was a small victory, but he felt the tension lift slightly from Althea’s shoulders and that was enough.
Securing a weapon in a way alleviated Noah’s anxiety.
Out of nowhere, a rattling blur leaped from the ground.
Before Noah even realized what was happening, the skeleton sprang to life, lunging with eerie speed. Its hollow, empty eye sockets stared down as its bony hands gripped his shoulders, pinning him to the ground with surprising strength. With a guttural clacking of its jaw, it leaned in, attempting to sink its brittle teeth into his face.
Noah barely managed to wedge his newly acquired sword between himself and the skeleton, the blade acting as a barrier against its relentless advance. But his arms strained under the weight, and despite his efforts, he couldn't push the creature off. His pulse thundered, and he gritted his teeth, every ounce of his energy focused on holding the skeleton at bay.
Suddenly, a burst of light shot past him—Althea’s [Fire Bolt]. The first one missed, the flame exploding against the cavern wall, but her second shot struck true. Flames engulfed the skeleton, sending up a wave of heat. Noah cringed as the heat licked his arms, but thankfully, the skeleton took most of the impact. It screeched in eerie, echoing tones, the sound scraping against the stone walls.
Noah acted fast, tapping into his [Fly] skill. Though he couldn’t fully take off, he managed to create a momentary lift, just enough to shove the flaming skeleton upward. He twisted beneath it, quickly crawling away to gain some distance, his heart racing.
But it wasn’t over. The half-burning skeleton lurched forward, its clawed hand gripping his ankle with a vice-like grip. Noah summoned every bit of energy he had, activating [Fly] again and kicking out with his free foot in a powerful roundhouse motion. The impact cracked the creature’s skull sideways, finally loosening its hold.
"Noah, move!" Althea’s voice pierced the chaos, her hand stretched forward, summoning flame after flame. She hurled three consecutive [Fire Bolts] with everything she had, shouting as the bolts connected, engulfing the skeleton in a roaring blaze.
The cavern filled with an acrid, smoky stench as the creature let out a final, piercing screech before collapsing into a pile of scorched bones.
Althea and Noah locked eyes, still catching their breath.
Noah let out a shaky laugh. “Well, looks like we’ve finally got our first monster encounter.”
Althea grimaced with a flicker of unease shadowing her face. “Since it was an undead, we’re probably going to be dealing with more of these. But… I’m worried. That one reanimated skeleton took about half my energy to take down. And, somehow, I leveled up from just that alone.”
Noah’s eyebrows raised at the implication. If Althea’s level-up had been that rapid, it meant the skeleton wasn’t just an average monster—it was unusually strong. As he checked his own system interface, he saw a notification confirming his own level-up.
Name: Noah O. Knight
Class: Freedom
Level 3
Stats (10)—
Body: 6
Mind: 10
Soul: 10
Skill: Fly
In a dungeon like this, Noah knew he’d need every bit of physical strength he could muster, so he decided to invest his new points into [Body]. With a mental command, his stats adjusted accordingly:
Name: Noah O. Knight
Class: Freedom
Level 3
Stats (0)—
Body: 16
Mind: 10
Soul: 10
Skill: Fly
He scrolled through his system, hoping for a new skill to appear, but nothing had changed besides his stats. A pang of disappointment crossed his mind, though he brushed it off quickly. Althea, watching him, tilted her head in curiosity.
“Can I see your system?” she asked, sounding genuinely interested. “I want to know how yours looks compared to mine.”
Noah nodded, equally curious. “Sure, but only if you share yours too.”
He pulled out a piece of paper and tore a strip from the back of the journal they’d found, jotting down his own stats while Althea did the same. When they swapped papers, Noah was surprised at the differences.
Name: Althea Morrow
Class: Kitsune
Level 4
Stats (0)—
Body: 4 + 2
Mind: 10 + 6
Soul: 20 + 2
Skills: Pyrokinesis, Fire Bolt
Noah noted how her stats heavily favored [Mind] and [Soul]. It seemed Althea’s focus was on enhancing her magical prowess and resilience rather than her physical ability. He handed the paper back to her with a small nod.
Only now, as the tension settled, did Althea notice the burns marring Noah’s left arm. A deep red covered his skin where her fire had accidentally seared him, and a particularly scorched spot stood out, dark and raw. Concern flashed in her eyes as she looked at him.
“Doesn’t it hurt?” she asked, her voice low with worry.
Noah gave a half-shrug, wincing slightly. “Probably the adrenaline,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But the discomfort was clearly creeping in as the adrenaline wore off.
It was… painful as fuck.
Althea pulled out a potion from the bag, uncorked it, and moved to pour it over his burns, but Noah stopped her hand just in time.
“Wait,” he said, taking the potion from her gently. “We should dilute it or use it in small amounts. My dad always says potions are most efficient in lower doses for external injuries. Since we only have a few, we don’t want to waste any.”
Noah reached into the bag and grabbed their canteen, pouring a bit of the potion into what was left of the water. He shook it up and carefully slathered the mixture on his arm, gritting his teeth against the sting as it seeped into the burns.
Althea watched him closely with a sulk pulling at her lips. “Won’t that leave us short on water?”
Noah gave her a reassuring smile. “This potion mix will help revitalize us. Think of it like an energy drink. It won’t last us forever, but it’ll get us through a bit longer.”
With that, he took a sip of the diluted potion from the canteen, sealed it tightly, and handed it back to her. Althea placed it carefully back in the bag, and then checked their supplies. Her eyes flicked to him, noticing he was leaning against the cavern wall, clearly tired.
“We should probably take a break,” she suggested, her tone gentle but firm. “We’ve come a long way, and I need to recover some of the energy I used during the fight.”
Noah nodded, easing himself down to sit beside her.
Just one creature—a single skeleton—had pushed them so far back. He realized he’d underestimated how harsh this dungeon could be, even for something as seemingly weak as a skeleton. Althea’s energy reserves were already running low, and he himself had taken more damage than he liked to admit. It was clear they had a lot more to learn—and a lot more to endure.
Althea, sitting nearby, looked at him thoughtfully before breaking the silence. “Why didn’t I see you at the conference?” She tilted her head with a smirk. “Hmmm... maybe you have a special mentor? Whoa—are you actually rich and influential, Noah? That’s why they separated you or something.”
Noah frowned, thoroughly thrown off. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, c’mon,” Althea pressed, her eyes shining with curiosity. “Wait, let me guess—who among the Obelisk Knights are you being mentored by? Is it Pillar? No, he’s a geokinetic… Maybe Harpy? But she already has a ward…” Her eyes lit up as though she’d cracked some hidden code. “Wait—you mentioned your dad. And potions are super limited, so if he knows about them, then… he must be a hero, right?”
Noah sighed, shaking his head, feeling exasperation and amusement. Her assumptions weren’t even close to the truth. Well, she was right about his dad being a hero, but if she was thinking his dad was mentoring him, then she was way off. Still, it was good to see Althea being so full of energy and filling the space with her eager speculation.
It brought a small smile to Noah's face despite everything.
“Hmmm… you are not that far off…”
Noah knew he’d have to set the record straight.
The Obelisk Knights: the city-state’s stalwart defenders and some of the strongest heroes to walk its streets. Known for their elite ranks, they had a small core of powerful mainstay heroes, with plenty of honorary members spread throughout the city. They were trusted figures, revered by civilians, and held as the gold standard of justice within Obelisk City. Noah thought of them now, wondering how different his situation might be if he were one of them, instead of…
Yeah, being in denial…
He glanced at Althea, who was still staring at him in confusion and curiosity. “Hey,” he said, “can you keep a secret?”
She blinked, leaning closer. “Sure.”
Noah took a breath, trying to find the right words. “I’m... unregistered. And I only started learning about my abilities recently. My dad doesn’t know, either.”
Althea’s eyes widened, and she let out a gasp. “Wait, what? Wouldn’t that mean prison or something if anyone found out? How long is it before you were deemed a rogue? Two months? Three months? Aren't you scared of prison?”
"Of course, prison is scary, and that's probably where I'd end up..." Noah shrugged, giving her a small, crooked grin. “Unless, of course, you snitch on me.”
Althea looked away, clearly overthinking. “Is your dad a supervillain or something?”
Noah shot her a skeptical look. “How long have you been training with your mentor? You do realize prying into someone’s civilian identity is illegal, right? It’s... kind of a big deal.”
Even if a person suspected them as a supervillain…, it was considered inappropriate and a little bit skirting around the laws. Of course, it wasn’t like Noah knew the law, but he remembered a law that sounded something like protection of secret identity.
“But you gave it away!” she argued, eyes narrowing. “Mentioning potions being diluted and all. It sounded like something only someone in the hero world would know.”
“Oh, yeah, totally on me,” Noah said, giving her an exaggerated scoff. “I might as well confess to you my dad’s the mayor and that my mom is the new Hero King…”
Inwardly, Noah was relieved to see her so animated. For the first time since entering the dungeon, Althea looked less like the panicked, haunted girl he’d first run into and more like the confident young fighter she could be.