Ten minutes after arriving in the White Desert, the group reached the small settlement that the guild set up. Because of the terrain, they couldn't construct it by the doorway. There was a 5-meter high tower and a few structures, but it was better than expected. Aside from a small branch of the guild, another building was being used as temporary housing for anyone around but later would be converted into a store or a restaurant. On the other side, there was a bathhouse, although calling it a shower house would be more precise since there were no tubs. Lastly, there was a construction site for what one day would be a hotel and, surrounding the entire area, a thick iron wall.
According to what Shane found out, the guild branch here would be more simple than the one in Boothudurn. It would be primarily for meetings, receiving quests, and other things like that. No training rooms or large-scale facilities. There was no forge either. Since the room was so cold, it would require too much to keep the necessary equipment in good shape, not to mention that the heat would already attract monsters. For now, people would have to go to another room for a proper blacksmith. The only thing available here would be a small area for essential repairs and maintenance.
Hera and the others made a quick stop in the settlement to check if anything was going on, but the room was mostly quiet, according to the people around. They only had to worry about the large creatures that tended to pop out from under the snow in the middle of the room.
Continuing their trek, the group moved north. They had enough supplies to last for at least a day, but it was likely that they would arrive at the next room before nightfall. After reaching the invisible wall of the room, they turned to the east and kept going for another hour or so. The group wasn't in a big hurry. They took small breaks whenever anyone felt tired, talking the entire time. It was very much like hiking, and everyone was getting along. Mylo and Blue talked a lot about famous explorers and their achievements. Shane, Alex, and Bonnie found a common love for old movies and shows. Silah, Hera, and Helena were the quiet group, not because they didn't want to talk, but because, for them, seeing the sights was already breathtaking enough. Those weren't the only subjects that popped up during the long trip, but just the small ones that brought them all closer.
"So, how do you guys fight? I don't think we ever got around to that," Shane asked while she was being carried by Helena's 'grabbers.'
"I'm an assassin, so I keep myself hidden and aim at the weak spots. I also have some wind spells to make me faster and more stealthy. Bonnie is a mage, even though she's a researcher," Alex explained.
"Calling what I do just 'being a mage' is kind of an understatement," Bonnie scoffed, "I can make several different elemental spells at once, and my main focus is single target magic damage, but I have some spells that cover a wider area."
"Me next!" Blue jumped as soon as Bonnie finished speaking, "I'm a controller, so I'll be the tank. I use lightning and clouds to trick my enemies and to keep them engaged with me so you guys can kill them. Not to say that I don't pack a punch. Oh, right. I'm a grappler, so I'm always up close and personal."
"Hera and I have a similar style. I take away their senses and deal damage with shadow spells, while Hera uses ailments like poison or makes them sneeze to hinder their movements. We both have ways to make the effects we put become stronger, but I'm not sure if they work the same way," Helena replied while walking. Right now, Shane and Hera were the ones being carried. The mage had given up her spot to stretch her legs for a while.
"What about you guys?" Hera asked after a moment. She was a bit too distracted with the whole being carried thing. The grabbers felt very different from what they seemed. Instead of a slimy tentacle, it was more like being wrapped around by sand that softly shifted as they moved.
"I'm a fighter. I use this staff to hit people and make the ground shake. I can also use its shape as a base to make a longer staff, but that's just for big moves," Mylo puffed his chest proudly. If those 'big moves' were anything like the Mana Reinforcement spell that Hera knew, it was incredible. He could not just force a shape outside of the object he was affecting but make a spell go through it. This was something Hera never considered doing with her weapons.
"I'm a crafter, so I shape some iron ingots to match what I need, then control them to hit the monsters. If needed, I can also use my fists to attack, but I'd rather not do that," Silah added.
"And you, Shane?" Bonnie asked.
"Well, it might seem a bit weird, but…" before she finished speaking, a red circular light started to blink on her gauntlet, "Oh! It seems we have visitors. I guess it would be easier for me to show you. If you guys have the communicators off, turn them on now. Lena, can you drop me? Or can I jump off without it being an issue?"
"You can jump off if needed. Don't worry," even after making it clear that her spell wouldn't restrain them, Helena waved her hand and dropped both Shane and Hera.
Hera touched her neck, where the communicator was located, and the screen appeared in front of her eyes, coming out of the small piece resting on the bridge of her nose. Using this feature was more like looking through a pair of glasses than at a screen. On the corners of the holographic lenses, there were some small indicators showing the direction of the other members of her party.
"Look there," Shane pointed to a direction, and a ping appeared on everyone's screen. Following that, she placed her hand on the ground, and a pulse came out of her gauntlet, almost like a sonar that could go through the snow. About twenty meters to their right, six large four-limbed creatures walked towards them under the three meters of fresh snow. The entire group saw that through the screens. Whatever spell Shane was using was able to transmit the information it got straight to everyone's communicator. In reality, there was a small delay. Shane's would get that data first and then pass it along, but that only took a few milliseconds.
"What are those things?" Bonnie asked.
"I have no idea, but since they are hiding, let's just make a mess of their plans. Everyone, take a few steps back so you won't be directly on top of the snow," Shane then opened her coat and pulled out a large gun. It was completely made out of silver metal with a barrel much wider than the standard flintlock pistols that Hera had heard about. It was also odd because the entire thing had holes on the sides and a large spring-like structure inside the barrel. Shane used her thumb to pull a lever on the gun's back and tilted her wrist back. Instantly one of the projectiles in her gauntlet jumped out and went inside the gun. Pulling the trigger, she fired the ammo towards the snow. The metal capsule started letting out steam, and before it hit the ground, it was completely hidden in a cloud of hot water.
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Everyone watched as Shane's attack sunk into the white floor, seemingly with no effect. But that only lasted a few moments. Steam started to come out as the snow melted. At the same time, the freshly created mist was pulled towards the projectile. In less than 10 seconds, a 10-meter radius of where the ammo landed became completely dry and free of snow. Revealing six creatures. Five of them had long and lanky limbs with faces that resembled that of a bear, but the proportions were off. The heads were too small for their bodies that were bony and thin. In the middle of the formation, the sixth creature was larger and more robust. Unlike the others, it didn't look like it suffered from malnutrition. In fact, the bear-like monster was extremely fat. Its skin folded into itself, and its mouth kept salivating uncontrollably.
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Frightfigure - Level 9 - Starved (Snow affinity)
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Frightfigure - Level 11 - Obese (Snow affinity)
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After using her [Observe], Hera confirmed that these creatures weren't in a normal state. In fact, they could be considered afflicted by something, meaning that she only had to hit them with a couple of spells before being able to trigger her [Ailment Mastery].
"Mylo," Shane called before anyone else moved.
In a flash, the fighter jumped from the small slope and slammed one of the thin bear-looking creatures with his flowered staff. The impact was so strong that it cracked the ground around him and the monster was dead.
"Tone it down. We don't want to cause problems for the people here," Shane called before tilting her gun backward, and another bullet was loaded. With a swift movement, she aimed at another of the thin creatures and pulled the trigger.
The bullet changed mid-air, turning into a jagged rock spike with something glowing in the middle. Her target got hit in the head, allowing the projectile to rip its face and arrive in the middle of its body. Mylo jumped to the monster and thrust his staff through the creature's body, impaling it with the blunt weapon. He followed that up by slamming his hands on the sides of his weapon and pulling it almost as if he was pulling an accordion. The flowers on his staff went along with the movement and created a barrier in front of him. When he was completely covered behind that protection, the projectile that Shane had shot exploded, sending dozens of sharp rocks all over the place. The last two thin monsters were impaled and fell dead to the ground before even realizing what happened. Only the big one remained, but he was already wounded and covered in the stone shrapnel created by the explosion.
"I guess we overdid it. Do you guys want to take the last one?" Shane turned to the rest of the group.
"Yes, please," Blue shouted as she jumped into the slope.
Silah smiled and tossed two small iron ingots from her waist. She clapped her hands, and the metal changed shape into a muzzle and four handcuffs, all connected by a short chain. With another gesture, the contraption snapped around the larger monster, forcibly closing its mouth and restraining its movement.
"Since when can you do that?" Hera gasped.
"I was toying with some things, and I got this idea from that movie with the guy that eats people," Silah said with a smile.
"You know. There are other uses for something like that. I have a feeling that someone might enjoy it," Helena giggled.
"Shut up!" Hera snapped at the mage with her cheeks already turning red.
"Ohhhh," Helena smirked.
Trying to distract herself, Hera turned around and created a flaming poison rain under the monster, making the poison go upwards. However, instead of it being a large shower, she used the [Shaper of Mana] skill to focus all the projectiles in just a few spots. With the monster unable to move around thanks to Silah's attack, Hera's spell would have a much easier time breaking through the creature's defenses. One surprising result of this attack was the mana cost. Using the skill to change the spell generally would make them cost more than normal, but this time, Hera spent the same amount she was used to while activating an unmodified spell.
Bonnie aimed for the back of the monster, sending her elemental fists in an arch to both slam the creature into the ground and lock it in place. Alex pulled her daggers and was about to jump in, but she noticed how the animal was almost dead after that short barrage of attacks and just stepped back. Whatever happened with Hera and Bonnie made their spells considerably stronger. On the other hand, Blue didn't stop and slammed the monster with her fist, causing it to topple over already dead. Hera and Bonnie noticed that and dismissed their spells, letting them fizzle out before they ended up hitting each other.
"Am I that strong now?" Blue gasped, looking at her fist.
"I think your friends are stronger. You just made it fall. Look at its stomach," Mylo pointed at the monster.
Most of the fat in the monster's belly was burned, and the parts around the burns had veiny orange marks showing that Hera's poison had affected the creature. Blue had no way of knowing, but Hera's [Ailment Mastery] triggered and increased the effect of her ailments by 4 thanks to the Obese condition, the restraints that Silah and Bonnie created, and her own poison and burn effects. That was too much for a monster almost half Hera's level, making its heart stop almost instantly.
"You guys are no fun," Blue sighed.
"Sorry, new skills. I'm still getting the hang of it," Bonnie scratched her head.
"Anyway. Can we stop to take some meat? I can make jerky," Mylo pulled a skinning knife and walked over the fat bear.
"Don't use that one!" Hera called, "My poison still lingers in the monsters after they die. I still haven't figured out an easy way to take it off."
"Can't you just stop the spell?" Shane asked.
"It's not a spell anymore. It's just poison."
"Really?" Shane went down and put on a glove. She took some of the fat bear's blood and placed it in a vial to check it later. During that, Mylo started taking some of the meat of the other bears, but they were too skinny. The meat wouldn't taste good, and he just gave up. Still, it was a shame to leave the corpses there. Bones and pelts could still be very useful. With everyone's help, they made a small sled to carry the bodies to the next room since they were already close to the exit. According to Shane's information, the setup the guild made wasn't that far from the doorway.
A couple of hours passed, and they carried the bodies without an issue until they reached their destination. The doorway to the room called Cold Water Lake was located in another cave, but a smaller one this time. Shane told everyone that they would have their next meeting on the other side since they could take a break in the guild branch nearby. They all touched the doorway, and a familiar window appeared in front of them.
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Would you like to be transported to
Cold Water Lake - 5th Layer
[Yes] [No]
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Pressing yes, Hera felt a familiar warmth washing over her body. She closed her eyes with a smile, wondering what this next room would be like.