Chapter 37

Orion

Day 30

Population of Thornhill - 53

Our dungeon-diving team had become a stable unit. Alex and Cade led the charge, while Sasha and I guarded the rear. Bart flanked just behind the vanguard, and Aiden served as our runner, retrieving loot and returning it to the village.

Yesterday, I informed the crew that we would run one more time from floors 1 to 3 before moving on to floor 4.

There was one special challenge for this run: my decision to add my younger brother, Cass. I hadn't mentioned it to the council or the party until the last moment. I knew people would view it as nepotism and reckless, but I believed Cass would benefit from joining us and gaining valuable experience in ensuring his safety. Cass needed to be able to defend himself after I left for the trade expedition.

Wanting him to get a good rest, I informed Cass about it on the day of the excursion, rather than letting him worry or fret overnight.

“NO WAY!” he said, eyes widening.

My younger brother had grown significantly. His growth spurt was in full swing, and now he was only a foot shorter than me. It was harder to treat him like a kid.

“Stick close, use your sling from a distance. You’ll be right between me and Bart. Just follow my lead, okay?” I instructed firmly.

He nodded obediently, standing determined, like a veteran soldier before deployment. “Whatever you say, Rye. I won’t get hurt. I won’t screw this up.”

“Don’t reveal your class. Only use your abilities in a life-or-death situation, got it?”

“Absolutely. Rye, trust me. I won’t be stupid.”

“Sooner or later people will know you have a class. Just say you’re a warrior or ranger or something,” I said.

“I know, Rye. I understand how important this is,” Cass replied with a tone of pure professionalism. He knew I would kick him out immediately if he messed up. He wanted this badly.

“Okay, let me know your combat abilities,” I ordered. In the forest, where we talked alone, he revealed all his combat cards to me:

The Anti Mage - Level 3

Void Field - S: Creates a field that disables magic in your area. The area grows larger as you level up.

Sling - 3

Deadly Shot: Increases the chance to deal a critical strike with a projectile

Crafting - 2

Throwing Weapons - 2

Stealth - 1

Gather - 1

He had been working hard. With level 3 in both his class and Sling, he should be as strong as Bart and stronger than Sasha, who hadn’t received a class yet. I shouldn’t worry too much about how he would perform in the dungeon, especially with the group guarding him.

Am I really doing the right thing?

“Stay behind Alex and Cade and use your sling. I’ll guard your back. If any enemies get close, use your sword.”

He nodded, and we prepared ourselves. I handed him a pirate cutlass, it was the lightest sword we had. Our preparations were completed with Anika’s latest creation, which she gave me for free in exchange for the purple flowers I harvested on floor three of the dungeon.

Lesser Healing Potion - D

Heals a small amount of health

The potion was in a familiar glass tube. The liquid inside was bright red and smelled like peppermint mouthwash, with hints of stale wine.

When we arrived at the meeting place, my decision to bring Cass surprised the other members of the dungeon party. Alex gave Cass a thumbs-up and high-fived him, but Sasha looked annoyed.

“Whoa, are you sure about this, Orion? I mean, he’s kinda young. Do we want another Bryden situation on our hands?” Cade asked with hesitation.

“We’re much better than we were before. I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think it was best for him,” I said.

“The more, the merrier,” Bart said cheerfully.

“As long as you don’t double dip with the loot,” Aiden shook his head.

“He’ll carry my loot. We’ll still split it six ways,” I said.

“I won’t slow you guys down,” Cass added confidently.

“If he gets hurt, you better not blame any of us, Orion,” Sasha said with annoyance and turned away, the rest of us following.

The pattern of the first floor of the dungeon was clear. We went directly to the boss and easily dispatched it with our usual technique. Cass joined our volley of projectiles with his sling, and I had no worries about this stage.

The second stage was smooth sailing. We made a beeline to the altar room, where I easily took down the orc boss before the gremlins started rushing us. By then, our party was cutting through them like a lawnmower. One gremlin locked eyes on Cass, but he swiftly took it out with a rock slung straight at its face, while I stood beside him like a supervisor.

To his credit, Cass showed no fear. His hands were steady, reminding me of when we used to play games on the couch. I would always beat him, but he was so focused, his body hunched forward, rarely saying anything. He rarely let his guard down and was constantly on high alert.

When the last few remaining gremlins in the throne room rushed us, Alex unleashed a Holy Strike but realized it only produced a vertical slash of air rather than light. Confused, he shook his sword as if it ran out of batteries. I nodded at Cass, who discreetly turned off his Void Sphere. Later, another Holy Strike emerged slicing the last remaining gremlin in half, this time it was illuminated by blinding holy light. After looting the dead, we proceeded to the Jester’s room.

No major purchases at the Jester’s room, except for Sasha, who bought a Token of Bravery, knowing we were moving to a new level today. Something was left unspoken between the serious dungeon divers, we were all saving Jester coins for the next store, for the next-level items.

“Take Cass back up and make sure he gets back to the village,” I told Aiden, who held three copper weapons in his bag. “Cass, if you come back down, I’ll make sure you never return.”

Aiden nodded, gave Cass an apologetic shrug, and said, “Come on, big guy.”

The two disappeared up the stairs with Cass sulking all the way up, my eyes on him like a hawk. When he disappeared, our party went down to the third floor.

The swamp floor was a breeze, just like the previous runs. We bypassed the side towers and headed straight for the final tower. As we descended the stairs, we prepared for the boss fight. I tossed two clay Molotovs at the giant frog, igniting it. The flaming monster leaped high, but I backstepped, and the others scattered in unison. After it crashed down, we unleashed a barrage of attacks: a Spear Flurry and Holy Strike, while Sasha and I kept firing from a distance.

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The frog reared back, preparing to spit. We huddled behind Cade, who activated his Guard's Shield, deflecting the venom. The green liquid slid harmlessly away from us, like oil on water. Bart charged forward, his war hammer crashing into the frog's legs. The beast howled in pain, its purple blood splattering everywhere. A barrage of arrows and knives tore into its hide, leaving deep wounds that oozed dark fluid.

When the frog leaped again, though weaker this time, we scattered and regrouped behind Cade. He shielded us from the poison spit with his Guard’s Shield. A final volley of attacks brought the frog down in a slimy, bloody heap.

Only four hours had passed when we reached the 4th floor and the waystone once again.

Beyond the waystone, a rocky trail descended into maze-like canyons. I trailed the group, surveying the path ahead as they forged onward. The four ahead were chatting and laughing about their adventures so far. Alex had pulled out a piece of dried fish and was chewing on it, while Cade was sipping from his waterskin. I reminded myself that our success shouldn't lead to complacency. This would be a real test, as it always was the first time around.

Our party got plenty of "rest." Sure, we were working hard in the real world, but our wounds were healed, our muscles were refreshed, and our energy was off the charts. We were itching for a challenge.

The canyon was a narrow, jagged chasm, its walls scarred by time. Sparse vegetation dotted the sandy floor, and harpies perched on the cliffs like vultures, eyeing us from above. The terrain was treacherous, with gravel, boulders, and sand making it difficult to navigate.

When our party entered the canyon, the harpies on the cliffs were nowhere to be seen.

“Let’s be careful. They’re probably waiting for us to let our guard down before they descend,” I said, squinting at the cliffs.

I didn’t like this situation one bit.

Within minutes of walking, we reached a narrowing path—an opening about a yard thick that led to a wider canyon pathway. We all stopped to wait. The pathway was so narrow that only one of us could pass through at a time; it stretched about 10 yards before opening into the wide clearing.

“Wait,” I said to Cade before he could squeeze through.

I peered through the opening and saw a flicker of movement in the brush on the cliffs.

“They’re waiting for us beyond this to ambush us. They want us separated,” I warned, my voice low and tense.

Sasha bit her lip and asked, “Now what?”

“We have to look for another way or turn back.”

At my suggestion, they all groaned in disagreement.

I hated playing party pooper, but this was life or death.

“It’s just harpies. They can’t be tougher than those crocodiles,” Alex said, his brow furrowing. “Let me go out first.”

“Here,” Sasha said, handing Alex her Token of Bravery.

Alex would be a good test for measuring the harpies' capabilities, but I had my doubts. We had no idea what these harpies could do.

“Cade, guard our backs. I’ll head out right behind Alex,” I said giving in to peer pressure.

I have to have confidence in our group.

Cade was probably our second strongest after Alex in terms of raw power. Once resembling a Black Mr. Clean, he now sported a long, Thor-like beard. He'd always been tall, but now he’d bulked up, fully embracing the look of a classic tank with his bronze armor set, spear, and shield.

If Sasha could get a class, she had the drive to become someone not to take lightly and Bart was getting more comfortable crushing enemies beneath his hammer.

We needed to get stronger. There had to be some risks, but they had to be calculated. Floor 20. The others in this world were hovering around that level. We needed to get stronger.

Angling our bodies to pass through, Alex led the way first into the clearing. A piercing caw echoed out from the cliffs, followed by the emergence of three harpies from the bushes, their powerful eagle-like wings flapping wildly. Their menacing red eyes and porcelain face masks made them look like flying witches.

One dove towards Alex with its talons out. I hurried my way into the clearing to support him. Alex drove the creature back with a Holy Strike, but the harpy dodged with a quick barrel roll. Another harpy came down, dodging one of my throwing knives. It was hard enough aiming on flat ground but factoring in their swooping dives made it even trickier. Now three harpies were grabbing Alex at once, and he flailed in the air.

Alex's marble, which he had been clutching tightly, slipped from his grasp as the harpies seized his arms and lifted him skyward. His sword clattered to the ground as their talons dug into his forearms, causing him to cry out in agony.

Shortly after, Bart and Sasha burst through the clearing. I took aim at one of the harpies, firing my Deadly Shot as they hoisted Alex higher. The arrow struck home, freeing one of Alex's arms. Sasha followed suit, aiming her crossbow at the other harpy's leg but hitting its thigh instead. Alex frantically pounded the harpy's legs with his free arm, forcing it to release him.

As Alex crashed to the ground, he unleashed a ferocious roar and snatched up his sword. A whirlwind of steel erupted as he engaged the harpies in a frenzied clash. With a battle cry, Alex activated his Cyclone Slash skill, transforming into a spinning vortex of razor-sharp blades. The harpies shrieked in terror, their wings flailing wildly as the relentless maelstrom of his attack hurled them back.

Bart, now a level three Path of Warhammer warrior, unleashed his "Hammer Boomerang" skill. His warhammer whirled through the air like a deadly fan, striking a harpy squarely in the head before returning to his hand. The harpy shrieked in pain, its skull broken and its flight unsteady.

Cade was through the clearing now, but he wasn’t the only one who joined the battle. Three more harpies, including a unique purple one, materialized on the cliff ledges.

I sprinted for the Token of Bravery Alex had dropped, fearing the worst. If things turned sour, I’d have to play distraction.

A harpy with bright purple feathers stood out amidst the plain, dirt-colored ones. A glowing blue card hovered before it, and it unleashed a piercing screech that summoned a miniature tornado. The twister wreaked havoc on our party, hurling Alex and Sasha back toward the narrow gap entrance.

"Get back to the exit! We have to retreat!" I shouted, feeling the air thicken as sand pelted my face. I readied my accuracy knife and took aim at the purple harpy, firing a deadly shot between its eyes. The harpy tumbled to the ground, where Bart pummeled it with his hammer.

Sasha and Cade were the first to reach the exit, with Alex not ready to give up the fight. I grabbed Alex by the collar and hauled him back, just as more harpies materialized on the ledges. In the distance, a colossal cyclops lumbered toward us, casting a long, ominous shadow.

“Go back!” I commanded the party. “I’ll distract them.”

I dug into my pack for a piece of pemmican before charging towards the harpies circling the passage. Their predatory instincts were clear as they targeted stragglers. Adrenaline and fear coursed through my veins. I was uncertain if the marble would actually work and knew I might have to fight my way out if worst came to worst.

Their eyes were locked on me, their screeches echoing through the canyon. With a quick glance, I confirmed the party's safety. I slipped into the shadows, activating my Shadow Walk and racing towards the opposite path from where the cyclops was heading, five harpies in pursuit.

One harpy spotted me and swooped down, but I brushed aside its attack using my Parry skill, stunning the creature before my stiletto pierced its skull. Its death cry alerted two more harpies, so I took no chances and tossed down the Token of Bravery.

Blue light engulfed me. I flinched as talons reached for my face, but I teleported to safety just before the dungeon doors. The party hadn't returned yet, and I checked my skills to find I was now Level 4 in Path of the Dagger. A few minutes later, the rest of the party caught up with me, emerging from the door with visible relief.

“You guys alright?” I asked.

They were drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, and doubled over, struggling to recover from the ordeal.

It was around five when we returned to the village. I dove for some scallops, taking advantage of the cod fish buff. Our party, including our newest member, gathered to prepare the food. Cass collected wild garlic and herbs. Sasha boiled potatoes. Alex prepared a watered-down mead with filtered water and fruits. I added bone marrow to the potatoes, mashing them with garlic and herbs. Unfortunately, my sourdough starter still wasn’t ready yet.

Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes - D

Potato Power Increased recovery of stamina for 3 hours

We sat around the table, laughing and talking about our adventures, eating family-style. I felt content.

It’d be great if I had a tavern to hang out at after tower dives.

After dinner, I had two things to do. First, a Lokan language lesson with Sophie and James. Being around James gave me a Polygrot skill that allowed me to learn foreign languages faster.

The second thing was to check on Rudolph.

Astrid was brushing her pigs when I arrived at the animal pens. They were now the size of wine casks, solid and robust. The hen coop was finally built, and the scarlet fowl chicks were sporting their vibrant red feathers. There was still an absence of eggs.

Rudolph and the other young elk were in a separate part of the pen. My prospective mount was about the size of a small donkey, with tiny nub antlers. Astrid had me bond with him, to familiarize myself with the animal. James and Sophie would have morning training sessions while I had mine at night.

I approached the skittish animal, with Astrid calming the young elk bull. As I mounted him, Astrid guided the reins, and we gently sauntered around the pen. Since my weight would become too much for him after a while, we planned to rest and feed him before continuing. We would follow this routine for a few days before I set out on my own.