Michael

There are eight of us at the entrance of the forest all wielding a combination of combat and hunting spears. I don’t know why yet. Are we here to hunt or are we here to fight, or both?

‘’Okay, we are going to go into the forest in a single file; I want everyone to stay on the path regardless of what you see. Is that clear?’’ Sachi asks looking at Edward, Max and John in the eye before coming lastly to me.

‘’We leave the horses here they should be safe for now, Iki you take the rear alright, gentleman, welcome to the Dawn Forest.’’ With those words he turns and walks into the captivating gloom of the shadows created by the wide canopy of trees. I pat my horse as I strecth my legs after the fast bareback ride here, already with less hours remaining before I have to answer a summons I not where.

The trees are spread out with shrubs and tall giant leaves growing from the ground without a stem as though thet were themselves trees. The soil is softer yet unyielding with my steps, bird sounds seem to come from no particular direction nor do I see a bird yet. Kind of a creepy place but it's also inviting someone, smells good too... We eventually reach a clear path as the trees get thicker and closer together, the woodland transitioning into a proper forest right where a hiking trail kind of path opens up ahead of us. Sachi goes between the doorway shaped trees without hesitation and we all follow suite.

The path is clear and there is no mistaking it or getting lost within the vast forest if you follow it all the way through. Apparently there are several paths dissecting through the forest to the dungeon but this is the one used by Paradisians. There is enough room for three men to walk abreast, the trees are tall and the leaves emit shades of colour that illuminates the place giving it a surreal feel even as light is refracted and broken create a colleague of colours all around us. Strangly as I look up straining my neck to see the top of the trees I can't see the sun at all, how is it not completely gloomy in here?

I can feel the age of every tree in the aura coming off the place, there has been much death and rebirth here. Leaves crunch under my boobs as I walk carefully around every bend in the path we are to follow, a hyena-bird cackles from somewhere and I flinch but no attack comes. Everyone is on alert, even Sachi, Esuas, Ikigai and Sirgur though they are the ones that repeatedly reassured us of the safety of the path.

The trees get taller and thicker making a wall as we walk deeper into the illuminated twisting path set apart for potential delvers. Everyone has their weapons at the ready though none are as tense as the four of us former earthlings I notice, which calms me down some but I stay vigilant. We see some animals at the periphery of the path, some little curious weasels while others stand as tall as the trees yet move almostly silently between them. The path is twisting and long with no rest spots or water to be found anywhere within its vicinity.

We walk fairly fast for people armed with spears also trying to keep vigilant but it’s a solid two hours before I feel a difference in the aura of the forest. ‘’get ready,’’ Sirgur sends and we fan out as we come into a circular clearing. I feel it, the difference in ether between here and where I was just a moment ago.

I’ve never actually perceived ether before but now the feeling is distinct, unmistakable for anything else I have ever felt before. This is the stuff of life, the glue that holds particles together, the matter that doesn’t occupy space or have weight. I can feel it feeding me, giving me energy, I feel invigorated just being here yet I thought I was at my best a moment ago.

Sachi moves and one half of a two foot thick snake is carried towards me by the momentum it had in life. I again concentrate on the clearing paying particular attention on the grass and colourful flowers found within the conspicuously manicured place. The grass is short, only coming up as far as my ankles, the flowers each stand alone in hues of blue and purple and not in clumps so I don’t see how a snake that size could hide itself amongst them.

Ssshhaaa...

Another comes at Max fast seemingly from out of nowhere but he dodges just in time and it flies past getting sliced by Iki at the rear. We are looking at our feet obsessively now but Sachi just moves forward so we are forced to follow.

There are snakes everywhere and with nearly every step, how they manage to hide themselves I haven’t figured it out yet. But I scy into them with my spear, keeping it low in the stance taken by the veterans of this dungeon as we follow closely in their wake.

They don’t even speak as they cross the clearing in sync with each other’s steps, none stopping because of a few measly snakes but cutting through them as though culling stationary stalks. I cut one as it bites into me, leaving its head attached to myleather pants but not penetrating my skin. I cut another to my left and lift my right leg as another nearly gets my calf one to find my heel on it’s head.

Max, John and I are getting left behind slightly, Edward keeping up but still not a word is spoken as they move forward. I step on my snake again but it get away, sidling between my legs as I focus on another coming at me from behind. The hissing sound they make as they attack the only reason I’m not a pincushion full of fans.

It takes about 20 minutes but we eventually reach the others at the end of the clearing, Max and John are visibly feverish and sweating from the few bites they’ve take. Max mostly because he is not proficient in the use of the spear, John mostly because he really has a difficult time fighting but he is so much better than most people I served with already. Probably better than I was before getting here.

Iki and Sirgur are on John and Max as soon as we get to them, making them disrobe to reveal rapid swelling and large accumulation of fluids on the various bite marks. A precise cut from their blades sees the fluids oozing out before bandages are applied on the wounds.

‘’Snakes huh? I don’t much like snakes.’’ Max says he says already perspiring sickly.

‘’No one likes snakes,’’ Saya’s uncle says as he sees to his wounds. ‘’The flowers are antidotes to the venom, you should go collect some.’’

Max huffs at that gritting his teeth, ‘’I don’t suppose you’re gonna get some for me?’’

‘’No, you must learn to fend for yourself.’’ Sirgur says helping Max up, looking dismissively at John who is still being bandaged he moves to stand with Sachi and Esuas. ‘’He will need to fend for himself as well.’’ He sends to everyone present I assume. I still need to learn how they do that, and the range and clarity of the communication. Imagine if a unit of soldiers could communicate this way.

A hand on my shoulder stops me from going back into the field to help collect flowers, I turn to find a smiling Max looking at the open grass field with a smile. ‘’It seems simple enough,’’ He says; sweat falling from his forehead as he hefts his spear forward.

They walk back into the field going for different flowers, I didn’t notice before how each flower stands singularly in a field of grass. Each is some distance from the other and they have to wade through these green snakes to do so. ‘’How many should they collect?’’ I ask Iki standing next to me watching their progress with a critical eye.

‘’Depends how potent they want the antidote to be,’’ she says casually. She looks so young, back home she would probably be a university student worried about boys or getting a job after graduation. Here she is a veteran warrior that holds a spear like she was born to it and a sword like it’s a part of her arm.

‘’The bites are painful?’’ I finally ask as I watch them collect their first flowers and each limp towards a second.

‘’Extremely painful but not debilitating, they seem to be managing well.’’ She says watching them critically.

I noticed the look of pain on Max’s face and John kept himself from complaining or moaning loudly probably due to Ikigai and Sachihiro’s presence. Pain tolerance is actually something that can be trained as well I’ve witnessed, and after the trauma of having ones entrails spilled on the sands of the arena or ones skull cracked by ones mother in law ones perspective on pain and damage changes.

They eventually return each carrying three flowers and shivering excessively from the extra bites they’ve accumulated.

‘’Good, put those in your mouths and chew. We don’t have much time.’’ Sachi says before walking deeper into the forest.

Iki grins and skips to catch up with her father. ‘’You alright’’, I ask my friends as they chew on the strange flowers while dragging themselves behind.

‘’I’m not sure I can do this.’’ John whispers keeping his eyes on Iki’s retreating back.

Max falls on his knees and vomits violently, he looks up with watery eyes as if to speak before projecting what seems to be a bucket load of puke a clear metre ahead of himself. I’m both fascinated and worried as I walk to him, helping him up I give him the flowers he picked and he chews them quickly before pushing me away and stumbling ahead.

A green looking John shakes his head and follows, all pretence of paying attention to their surroundings having been put aside as they follow the others. Max practically leaning on his spear as he walks.

*

‘’We don’t actually have time to put you through this part of the dungeon but usually these trees test your familiarity with wood lore. The trees move and confuse you, but they also provide sustenance and rich fair if you can distinguish between what’s edible and what’s deadly. Many a would be delver has gotten lost in this part of the Dungeon Forest and poisoned themselves in their haste to escape.’’

‘’And it’s not just the trees against you but ever scrub, ever blade of grass, every thorn will try to bleed you of blood and energy. They call it Vampire Forest, to rest here is to court a silent death, to fall asleep here is to die.’’ Ikigai says as she walks at the rear with us while Ed, Sachi, Sirgrur and Esuas lead the procession.

I look around at the radiant trees, the soft inviting lush grass, the beautiful flowers with colourful butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects I can’t recognise busy flying about the place. The scent of the forest is heavenly, a mix of so many different scents that somehow combine like food to make one glorious dish to be enjoyed by those that venture here. This is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've been to and that’s not an easy thing to conclude considering I've been on two planets.

‘’I can see why someone would want to rest here,’’ Max says swallowing saliva with a distrustful look for everything around.

Every now and then Sachi points at some fruit and instructs us to collect them from the trees. Some fruit from the same tree are apparently poisonous to eat while others are edible. How he tells the difference I’m not yet sure, but looking at John and Max chewing one of these blood-fruit and seeing them visibly healing from whatever malay had them is astonishing to watch.

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The magic in this world that these people experience as their daily lives astonishes me still, the beauty of this planet is still breathtaking to witness. The birds sing their mating calls as they eye the feast of insects and fruit. Beautiful gay coloured birds that produce an aura of peace and summer’s day with every sound they make, Pola birds they are apparently called.

*

It feels good to be in the dungeon, I feel better than I’ve ever felt before as I hold my spear and shield up trying to keep the large bear looking thing at bay. John is on my left flanking and harassing it’s right while Max pokes it’s extremely resilient skin from behind.

Raarrrrr!

It opens its maw and roars, releasing a sound that pops my ears and lives me disoriented on my feet but luckily that’s an ability we were warned about. I stumble and sway but keep my shield up, ‘whatever happens keep your shield up’, that was the advice we were given by Iki before she wondered ahead to hold most of these pseudo bear creatures at bay.

I see the paw coming but I can’t both keep my feet under me and dodge or reduce the pressure of the coming strike. The thing swipes at my upraised shield with a loud ‘gong’ of power meets metal and the world spins before something soft but hard scraps upon my back. My shield arm feels numb and pain slowly makes itself know on the left side of my body.

I groan slightly as I stand slowly, the dizziness of the sound ability nullified by the dizziness of the hit from the thing. I manage to stand and spit out a glob of blood watching Max harass the thing in earnest while John almost helplessly stands behind his shield on swaying legs keeping to his position. Max keeps it annoyed enough not to finish John off while he’s still affected by the sound wave and it occurs to me how odd a sight this actually is.

Two men with spears and round shields facing off against a mix of a grisly and a rodent of some sort, weasle maybe. The thing has nearly impregnable leather skin, stands at over two and half metres tall on its two hind legs, has claws as long and as sharp as daggers and enough strength to propel me twenty metres away in a single swipe. It’s a very odd sight, one I would have considered bat-shit had I seen it even a year ago.

But now... Now I stumble back towards the struggle slowly, my centre of gravity in my core as I’ve been taught, I keep low and watch my footing. My left arm is numb but it can move relatively speaking. I brace myself and concentrate just before I’m within the thing’s range. Taking a deep breath I allow Chakra Blossom to bloom within me and as it does I feel energy fill every part of me.

But more than energy, to be filled with chakra is to know yourself fully, I am in tune with every part of my body without only relying on my conscious mind. The intelligence of the body takes centre stage as I allow myself to flow with full trust in my capabilities. There is no hesitation or second guessing myself as I launch my shield at the thing and follow behind it in a sprint.

The shield bounces off its shoulder without any visible effects besides pissing the giant bear off as it roars and turns to swipe at John. I’m there a moment later launching myself up in the air and down at an angle with spear held in both hands.

Haaaaarr!

I roar as the thing opens its maw to snap at me while I come for it mid air. It’s a split second moment but somehow it stretches itself for a while in my perception. I seem to be steaming slightly from the energy supplied by opening all my channels to achieve blossom. A skill I haven’t used since I’ve been here, even in the arena for fear of giving myself away.

I still remember the disquiet of the Zen Masters when they monitored my meditations, I still recall the advantages chakra gave me while sparring with Ian and the others as I learnt taijutsu; the art of releasing micro-bursts of chakra as I strike, deflect, move. The difference between slapping a wall with my bare hand and slapping a wall with my bare hand as chakra fills my palm is stark.

*

We sit panting, collecting our strength after having killed the thing and using up almost everything we had to do so. We are battered and bruised but as my gaze connects with Max’s the is an unspoken acknowledgement of the excitement and sense of accomplishment only ever experienced from testing your limits against a tough foe and coming out the victor.

‘’Get ready, we’re letting another through to your location,’’ Esuas sends and my heart skips a beat for a moment in fear, excitement? John groans but manages to stand, stumble to his pack and remove three of the purple orange fruit from the Vampire Forest area.

‘’Iki said this will get us ready for the next challenge,’’ he manages to say tossing the irregularly shaped fruit towards us before eating his own.

I bite into mine, it’s tough like a hard pear. Difficult to chew and its almost tasteless but very juicy at the same time, or is that just my saliva? Then something strange happens, all my previous fatigue just disappears. I’m still injured and I can feel the aches and pains all over my body still, but I’m as fresh as I would be after a hot shower in the morning.

‘’What the hell is this stuff?’’ Max asks bewildered.

‘’One is coming your way, Sirgur and Edward are busy with their own and I’m busy holding back the tide so no help will be forthcoming. Try not to die,’’ Esuas sends again and sure enough one of those rodent bear things comes running through the woods on silent feet even though it must weigh at least a ton and seems to be the size of an SUV.

''It's bigger than the last one,'' Max says to no one in particular.

''No shit,'' A disgruntled John says with a displeased but determined look on his face.

We get into formation without words, getting our weapons ready and putting the half skiined body of the previously killed creature and a tree as a barrier. The things are fast and strong and tough but they can’t jump for shit, so it can only come at us either from the right or the left flank. We are ready.

*

Sachihiro

I move through the mist with spear in hand, ready to face any threat that comes my way even though even my awareness is blinded by the thickness of the chill filling mists.

‘’So you chose to by-pass the other sections of the dungeon?’’ A disembodied voice asks from every direction at the same time.

‘’Yes well I’m mainly just here to see my brother, just a quick family visit and I’m on my way,’’ I say making sure my footing is on stable ground. I stop and look around with every sense I have that allows me to look, awareness, chakra sense, aura sense, spirit sense, I lift my nose and scent the air for what may be hidden in plain sight.

I swerve quickly as something comes at me from behind through the mist and it’s just in time that I catch a powerful strike by a rock the size of my head smashing into the shield with a ding and reverberations. I duck another coming from behind and dive and roll as one comes from the front and another to the left. Coming up in a jog I try to pay attention to everything but this cold bloody mist is pervasive.

‘’Your daughter isn’t far behind you know, I bet she would be an easier target for me. I’ve heard she’s fast but I have my tricks.’’ The voice says but I ignore it, running around in a circle about a route I have already mapped in my mind even though I can’t see it.

Another rock comes shooting at where I will be and as I stop it flies past and I hear the tree I now to be there turn into splinters from the impact. I’m moving again, spear and shield at the ready but I have no idea where my opponent is, nor what their abilities are really besides some sort of stone manipulation.

A rock comes flying at me through the mist and I swerve out of the way as I’m used to doing but then it swerves at the last instance towards my face and with shield up, I take the impact again to reverberations as it pushes me back a step. My shield arm is numb from the impact but recovering quickly, the mist allows the rocks to get too close before I’m aware of them. I need to end this... but how?

It’s another ten minutes of prey vs. predator with us exchanging the role of who plays what as we chase each other through the mists of Alvalon, this section of the dungeon. No ability I can think of or try seems to be able to pear through the mist and whoever I'm up against seems to know exactly where I am at all times. We’ve circled and veered around and I honestly have only a vague idea of the type of terrain I’m on only by the grass under my feet.

Everything else seems to change minusculy making it impossible to mark landmarks and use them t gauge my direction or the direction the last attack came from accurately. Even the sky above is covered by a haze of mist so thick that the sun is only a blurry reflection of its usual glory as though I were at the bottom of a deep lake.

Aura abilities, speed, trying to plot out where the next attack will be coming from. All my physical abilities become futile as I defend and defend and defend against the increasingly more powerful launches of flying rocks that get absorbed by the ground every time they land... Maybe that’s it.

I duck and roll as a projectile flies over my head so fast it displaces the mist into a tiny vortex as it cuts through it then I’m up and jump as I deflect the next one on my shield. Again the impact of the force reverberates into my arms but I do manage to deflect the rock close enough to find it again quickly. Another comes and I run and swerve before heading directly back to where I know myself to have deflected the last one.

Sure enough, the large, hard, ragged rock is being absorbed into the ground at a fairly fast pace and I stick my spear into the ground under it to prevent its descent. I feel a resistance, then a pull, then I actually feel another rock connected to this one through my vibrational frequency sense coming at me from behind. It’s easy to get out of the way when I know it’s coming despite the mists and I easily get out of the way.

It flies past and ends up somewhere far while another comes at me from the same place the previous one came but this one curves around so that it comes at me from a completely different direction. I duck under it at the last minute while still keeping my hold on the one I’m now using my foot and spear to keep from digging into the ground and returning to its master.

The rocks are all connected by the same mana to the same person and they all vibrate at the same frequency. I can’t see them coming in any way and it’s clear that this part of the dungeon was designed to frustrate those that rely on brute force or martial strength to get this far, but at least now I can feel them. I pull in a deep breath and pull on my mana as I cast a water spear , not usually an easy cast but the mist responds easily to my manipulation.

My right hand is the focus of my cast and I fear whoever my opponent is they’ll feel me casting since this still takes me almost twenty seconds to complete one . Water spears are good for nothing but piercing and they travel best through water but with the mist as thick as it is I’m hoping it won’t make a difference.

I create three spears and the whole time I do I stand over the rock preventing it from leaving as I dodge others without leaving my spot. There are a total of four floating rocks around my assailant I feel, but he only sends them two at a time for some inexplicable reason. The fifth is the one Vibrating more urgently at my feet but still at frequencies most people who didn’t Awaken to vibrational abilities like I seem to have wouldn’t have noticed.

Two rocks fly towards me in crisscrossing patterns again I assume to confuse me but as they come I send out three water spears. Each flying to my assailant one after another almost invisible in the mist even to my own perception.

‘’Finally some action,’’ the disembodied voice says as the two remaining rocks deflect two of my spears and the third just bursts into a cloud of vapour before connecting with anything.

The ground shakes a little to my senses and as smooth as a sleeping figure waking from his cot a humanoid-shaped thing vibrating at the exact same frequency as the rocks ''awakens'' from the ground. I’m already sending out water bolt after water bolt at the thing, my quickest distance ability to cast and my bolts seem to have little to no effect as it stands to tower at nearly three metres in height.

I still can’t see a thing, the mist s as thick as it has been all along but now I can feel these things. At least as long as I keep this one at my feet close and use it as a reference, which consequently keeps me immobile. This dungeon has grown more than I expected in the few years since I completed it previously, maybe I shouldn’t have insisted on going ahead alone...