Chapter Fifty-Six: Squawk!

Bolts of electricity swarmed out of my hands, forming a second orb, smaller and more concentrated than the water. The orb then exploded into a lightning bolt, leaving scorch marks on the ground and ceiling. Left in its wake was a tiny bird, flapping its wings and trying to stay airborne. It fell to the ground, shuffled over to the orb Pearl, and looked at its reflection. It squawked in indignation before flapping its wings and casting a lightning bolt on itself.

The small beast absorbed the electricity, growing into a medium-sized bird. I could now tell it was a parrot—the squawking should have given it away. This gave me the perfect name for my new friend: Squawk. Squawk flew around the room a few times before perching next to me on the altar the Necromancer had left behind. As my magic refilled, I absent-mindedly petted my new bird. He was soft and fuzzy, almost like the sensation of constantly touching static.

"Squawk! Hello. What are we doing? What are we doing? Squawk!" the bird chattered.

"Hello, Squawk. I am waiting for my magic to regen so that I can summon some more companions," I replied.

“Squawk! My name is Squawk. Squawk!” The bird covered its face with its wing as if embarrassed by my name choice. I shrugged. Names weren’t my forte even before coming to the dungeon.

My mana refilled, so I cast the spell a fourth time. The rush was still there, as was the feeling of being inflated. But something was different this time. My mana didn't flow out of my body so smoothly; it rushed out and exploded into smoke. The spell failed, and I sat staring dumbly at the bloody stumps that were my fingertips before screaming bloody murder.

"Crystal! Why didn't you warn me?" I shouted, shaking my hands to ease the pain. It was so intense that nothing I could think of would help. My fingers cramped as blood poured over my hands, so I curled them into fists. "Cloth shirt! Hurry!" My cloth shirt appeared, and I wrapped my hands in it, trying to staunch the blood flow. Thankfully, I hadn't lost the fingertips; it would have made for an awkwardly painful trip through the dungeon.

[Magical failure can occur when the same spell has been cast too many times or its effects have taken up too much of the ambient magic. I didn't think this would occur, but you likely can only cast this spell three times on this floor. You might be able to cast the spell more on the next floor, but I'm not sure. It could also be tied to twice your INT stat. For whatever reason, there is a gap in my knowledge here that I don't understand,] Crystal explained.

I shook my head, and said, "Alright. Should I go back to the entrance and purchase the turn-based skill? How does it work exactly?"

[It's a bit wonky, to be honest,] Crystal replied. [It's similar to your time freeze skill. Time freezes for everything in the room, whoever’s turn it is. Turn order or initiative, is decided by a dice roll equal to the number of individuals in a room. I promise this will greatly benefit you and your pets.]

“Is there a limit to the number of attacks per turn or something? I recall you saying something about dodging being different, too,” I asked, trying to wrap my head around it.

[Stats are much more important with turn-based combat turned on. Evasion, for example, is 100% dependent on the stat. No more kiting monsters around or outrunning goblin attacks. You should be able to dodge everything on this floor, but the next may prove more dangerous if you do not consistently raise your stats.] Crystal explained.

“Are you sure my stats are enough?” I asked.

[Hold on, you keep adding questions before I answer the previous one,] Crystal tutted. [The number of attacks is based on the skill in question and the stat it is based on. For example, your Finesse is high enough that Coal can attack three times with his Fire Slash. Your Insight and Arcanum need one more point each for the Fire Bolt skill to be cast twice. It’s the same thing for your other pets.]

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"Let's head back to the entrance then. I think it's time we purchase this Death boon," I decided, feeling a mix of anticipation and wariness.

[One last bit of forewarning: it can take some getting used to, so hopefully, you don’t run into the Boss room in the next room,] Crystal cautioned.

"Why would you go and phrase it that way? Now that's what the next room will be; you just don't test fate like that," I muttered, shaking my head.

[I make my own fate, Rod. I suggest you do the same,] Crystal retorted.

"Bold words for a crystal stuck in a dungeon," I shot back, a smirk tugging at my lips.

[Shut up,] Crystal snapped, but I could almost sense a hint of amusement in her tone.

~Run 5, Entrance, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~

As I stepped back into the room, I focused on something vital to my future survival. Crystal, since you can read my mind, should I even bother talking out loud?

[No one else can hear me, so it is entirely your choice.]

Well, then, can we talk about private things without worrying about where we are or who is nearby?

[No, that is not quite right, Rod. Even your inner thoughts are not always yours. I can read them anywhere, at any time. And in the grand scheme of things, I am not that powerful. If anything, you shouldn't even think thoughts hinting at that.]

I thought we were safe here.

[Only when we first revive from our death. And even then, the timeframe is quite fluid. Minutes, if that.]

"Okay, then let's get that Death Boon," I said out loud, a sense of urgency causing me to blurt it out quickly.

[The turn-based death boon is not guaranteed to—oh, never mind, you are quite the smart adventurer. You already bought everything cheaper, so it's the only option. Now remember, everything is impacted by this combat, even movement. Once a battle starts, save your limited movement for sitting, crouching, diving, or anything. All movement is limited per turn based on your Finesse stat.]

"It feels like everything is changing. Is it really worth it? What does it bring me?"

[Remember how Coal one-shot the rats before they could do anything. Could you work that quickly with three pets? What about six? Ten? What if 100 enemies were barreling down at you? Like in the Goblin Horde room? You can easily sit there for a long time killing goblins on your own now.]

“Alright, I see your point. Let's buy it,” I said, steeling myself for the change.

[You have bought the Death boon: Turn-Based Combat. You are activating turn-based combat. Once active, this setting can only be changed once you have arrived on the next floor,] Crystal announced, her tone carrying an unusual gravity.

Her tone was different, and there was something off about it that I just couldn’t place. "Yes, I am sure. Why do you always double-check with me after I ask for things?"

[It's part of the system. Some crystals are much less… sane… than I am, so the triumvirate stepped in. These restraints are automatic responses that I have no control over.]

"Ah. I, for one, am glad I got an emotionally responsible crystal that definitely hasn't overreacted to any situation we've been through."

[For someone who is supposed to be penitent, you sure are a jerk.]

"So I've been told. I'll work on it. And you're right; I shouldn't have said that. I'm noticing more and more how I need to think before I say the first thing that comes to my mind. Not that it matters since you can… Sorry."

[As long as we work on it, it's okay. I am sorry for my part, too,] Crystal replied, pausing momentarily. [Let's go ahead and get back to the task at hand.] She paused again, and her light pulsed once. When she spoke again, her tone was different.

[Activating turn-based combat. On every floor, you will be asked to confirm this setting. Please be aware that this setting cannot be turned off in the middle of a floor. Some floors may not be well suited to this kind of combat.]

"Alright, let's hop to it. I think if we… Wait." I paused and facepalmed. "Maybe I should start making lists to help me keep track of things. Didn’t I have the amulet? Instead of fighting my way through the rest of this floor I can just teleport to the boss's room, right?

[There is no reason not to rod. Why don’t you do it now?] I took put the lunar amulet into the vault and withdrew the Goblin ruby thing. As soon as it made contact with my hands, the room morphed as two new doors appeared. I had already cleared the Necromancer room, so I moved straight to the boss chamber.