A giant scorpion analog stood in my path for a few moments. Like the giant crabs, it was a pale white, and possessed thick natural armor. Its mandibles clicked against each other in warning before it launched an attack. On any other day, I would have considered it a threat, but so intent was I on the singular goal of getting out of this place, and so drunk on my recent victories that I barely gave it half a mind as I dropped my helm and prepared to do battle.

A protective barrier, my new shield, formed in less than a heartbeat, and automatically absorbed a vicious strike from its tail. The scorpion’s stinger blocked, it could do nothing more than pump venom ineffectually into the wood. Then I rushed into the dead space between its claws with a Dash to give my next blow greater force. In perfect striking distance to its head, I began to smash my weapon repeatedly into it, working my way up to its thorax with Frenzied Strikes. After a last, sickening crunch, as my hammer caved in the chitin armor, the monster finally gave up the ghost, feeding me with more experience and improving my Critical Hit Mastery Skill.

It would have been a waste of Mana to identify, so I simply sat on the scorpion’s pale corpse as I waited for my Stamina to recover. I could not see them clearly, but I heard the scuttle of the creatures of this realm giving me a wide berth. With the little grace given to me, I perused through my Status, confirming the gains, and was mildly surprised to see that my new partner, the Entropic Mimic, had lost a few points of Health. I surmised that it most likely had been damaged by the scorpion’s attack, its Health points taking the place of Durability. Of passing note was that it had actually gained in maximum Health, lending me to think that it could also grow in power alongside me. A comforting, if also a little disquieting, thought.

The wind was growing stronger, its voice now a quiet susurration instead of a ghost of a whisper. With a new spring in my step, buoyed by new-found hope, I picked up my helm from the stone floor and marched on.

Stolen story; please report.

At last, the expanse of the cavern started to constrict, gradually leading me toward a network of intersecting paths. These were predominantly rugged and uneven tunnels that branched off in various directions from the main cavern.

I waited for the guiding breeze to lead me, to give me some hint as to where to go. The air was still for long moments, the silence broken only by the skittering movements of the local animals. There was the distant buzzing or the flap of leathery wings. I heard, far beyond the circle of my light, the chattering cries of creatures calling out to each other. At one point I fancied I saw a pair of orbs, golden with reflected light, looking straight back at me.

Then I felt that errant breeze, the promise of sky, originating from one of the narrow paths leading upward. With nothing for it, I went down this path that angled and twisted ever upwards. As I progressed, the walls became laced with more than just the purple mineral veins, but now also sported splotches of a dull glowing green. Closer inspection revealed it to be a sort of bioluminescent lichen. Curiosity, that rascal of a friend, urged me to use Identify on it. With some Mana to spare, I simply thought, why not?

Beron’s Dream (Lichen)

Health 4/4

Curiosity joined avarice in whispering suggestions in my ear. Perhaps I could bring some with me to the surface? I reached to touch the strange lichen and felt a small tingle, even through my gauntlets. Strange, I thought to myself. Noticing no negative change to my Health, I decided to gather some of the specimens, scraping them off the rock with my knife and stuffing them into a side pocket of Zala’s bag. At the very least, I would have a source of light aside from my Holy Aura and a way to conserve some Mana.

I almost began to whistle, sure that my fortunes had finally changed, but stopped myself. It would not do to attract unwanted attention here. The thought of another encounter with a Zlesh Viper sent a shiver through my spine.