Chapter 27: Party of Strategists (4)
After an hour, we wrapped up. Three knights, Theo the guy, and I, climbed up to the highest tree where the snake was resting earlier. I figured why would the fox want to climb the tree. It's because it wants to replace the snake up there to guard the door, but too bad for him he can't climb and ends up falling.
The ants are nearby enjoying the fox's and snake's corpse, so I told them to stay quiet. I even scared them that if they didn't do it properly I would feed them to the ants. That message is specifically for Theo, he got scared and tried his best not to even utter a word during the climb, and this goes also for the knights.
Now it looks like we're climbing a tree from the 'Zack the Giant Killer' movie. But not too high like in the movie. We reached the center of the tree where the snake was guarding earlier.
"This should be it, right?" I asked Theo when we saw a spiral staircase leading slantly up.
"Master, you're beyond smart! You have solved everything since the 0th floor. Just like the commander said, you are a genius!" Selek was beaming in amazement.
Smart? That's merely observation and deduction. And It's thanks to Theo that we solved the 1st floor's trial, not mine.
"Learn to observe and deduce, then you'll survive. That's being smart." I remarked and looked at Theo, "Right, Theo?"
He looked surprised and panicked. On this floor Theo gave us the valuable information, he may look weak but he's definitely the most intelligent here among us.
"Y-yes." Theo stuttered, fidgeting his fingers.
"Whoa! So you're smart too, like Master! Welcome to the party mate, I honestly thought you were just a weak fellow at first. But hearing from the Master that you gave us the hints during the fight made my opinion of you changed" Selek pulled him on the shoulder.
Haa... Every minute they have been showing their true color. Selek is an active playful childish blabber knight. Drio is a shy innocent obedient knight. Efren is a strong matured loyal knight. Each of them has a suitable use for me.
"Alright, stop now. We have to move on to the next floor." I said, I gave them each jewel eyes and I have the jewel heart.
Theo mentioned why he got betrayed by his party. He told them that only five people could pass this floor based on his observations. But they're a party of 6 members, furthermore he was the only outsider to the group, so they decided to stab him in the back after he told them the plan to defeat the fox and snake. When his former group successfully subdued the snake and fox, they immediately entered the gate… leaving him with the carcasses behind. What is more unfortunate is that after his group entered the gate, the dead fox and snake respawned.
"On three, insert the jewels to their respective holes... 1...2....3!"
The door shook open.
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Defeat 'Kruma' 1/1
Defeat 'Sritra' 1/1
Retrieve 'keys' 3/3
Open 'door' 1/1
[CLEARED]
1st Floor Rewards:
Permanent increase in 'Agility' by 5, 'Wisdom' by 10, 'Intelligence' by 5, 'Stamina' by 10, 2% Authority, 5 Fame Points, 3 Gem Points, 2x Highest Grade Healing Potion: Type SSS
Next Floor:
2nd floor
'Whoa… these are insane rewards…'
We were welcomed by a stinky hot breeze. Everyone of us quickly threw our hands on our noses. When the door closed behind us, the jewel keys fell from the holes, I let them keep each jewel key.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
*dingg!*
♤Notice!♤
Welcome to Hell's Breath!
Escape the room unscathed.
2nd Floor Reward: [???]
Next Floor: 3rd floor
"Master! Look over there!" Selek pointed at the far distance. I squinted my eyes to have a better view and there we saw two men running from who knows who/where. The door from the next floor is visible from here.
"Cren! Why is it so stin-"
"SHUT UP! DIDN'T YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ON THE OTHERS AFTER UTTERING THAT WORD?!"
"…"
"WHAT THE…? …IT'S HERE YOU IDIOT! AHHHH!"
We have an idea of what they're talking about and there is no monster or demon chasing them but they're like running for their lives.
"They're still here, Tch." Theo glares at the running men with a horrific expression on their faces. "Guys, something's wrong with this smell, we better not inhale it." Theo seriously warned.
"And do not utter a word about what you notice here… from the words of those guys, something about this place that shouldn't be said or something terrible might happen." I warned.
The terrain in this floor is like a poisonous area, violet water that is boiling and bones floating on its surface. There is limited land, but the texture is slippery, when you slip you'll be more likely to fall on the water. But there is a spot I am wondering what's for, the space from where we came from- there's not land or water, it is a golden platform. We still haven't moved from it and are only observing the situation.
"What is your opinion, Theo? Avoid describing this floor, let it stay on your mind" I asked Theo.
He is in deep thought of solving the situation we are in. The knights looked at everything but did not say anything.
"Captain, I thought of something… those men are carefully running on that like there's something chasing them, warning each other not to say a certain word. I think it was because they are running, making them inhale that, and it can possibly make them anxious about the surroundings. It might be… there is a drug that they're inhaling." Theo answered.
Right, the stinky smell may have been a hallucinogen all along, letting them witness something when they utter a word, just like an illusion. It can be that describing the smell like pungent, smelly, stinky, deadly etc. will have to do with what you are experiencing.
Golden platform. Then slippery land with dangerous air. Boiling violet water full of floating bones. And a purposely visible door in the far distance.
'This is tricky…'
"According to what we experience from the passed floors, there is a rule that should be followed. Be simple minded and conscious of tricks." I begin, "without using this rule in this situation, a normal person who would rely on strength and rush forward without thinking won't live long. If a person rushes at the land, he is likely to slip and fall in that boiling water. But if he carefully walks slowly he would be inhaling that causing illusions making them scared or anxious, either falling in the water or running like crazy like those men." I explained. I think they get it.
"I see..." Theo agreed. The knights are still clueless
"...then, master, you're saying there's no way for us to reach that door on the other side?" Efren asked. I shake my head...
"There's another way…" I looked at them and I could feel my face growing pale… "If one can't choose the safe way, then go for the hard way. We're going straight to the water, the door we're seeing is just an illusion… we inhaled enough of that that's why we're seeing it, if we inhale more it's possible that monsters will appear in our visions."
"What?" The three of them looked like they were disagreeing with what I suggested.
"But... we will die if we go to the water, what's the use of being careful when taking the land to avoid falling then, If we go straight to the water, what's the difference?" Drio asked panicking
"Good question." Theo stepped up. "If we go to the land, some soil is likely to stick on our shoes and once we fall, it will create a reaction with water causing for us to die. But if we go straight to the water there will be no cause of reaction, so we won't die."
I smirked, this guy Theo isn't half bad. Also quick-witted.
"Exactly." I clapped, "You won't die." Cold sweat trailed down my face…
"What do you mean, Captain? Aren't you going?" Theo asked, confused.
Ugh… I can't even imagine myself swimming in that dirty water with corpses and bones... I'll die.
"H-ha? I won't! I'd rather die than swim in that… arghh~ see? There is… flesh floating, and bones are everywhere. Germs… Bacteria will kill me." I trembled. All of them looked shocked.
I'm not that desperate to die yet! Everything in here is creeping me out just by looking at it! Bacteria... germs... fungi… viruses… parasites… Just what kind of disease will I get after swimming there?
"Captain, if we stay any longer… that will get into our lungs, and monsters might appear just like you said." Theo said awkwardly, he looked at the knights asking for help… but sorry, I really can't… I'll die.
"No. You can go" I ordered. Still trembling, my hand was covered with gloves, but I can feel the cold surfacing from it.
"Master…" Selek worriedly approached me… Yes, he understands me. Finally there's someone here who sympathizes with me… "Sorry, but we can't let you die here…"
In a flash, Selek carried me in a bridal style and threw me in the water…
And I… died.