G stepped out into the corridor. The half-round passage extended into the gloom beyond the reach of his dark vision. The floor was flat and made of old-style concrete, about 5 meters wide. The air smelled of ozone and ancient dust. Along the sides, piles of wood and broken furniture lay on wooden carts that had lost their wheels. Everything was damaged or deteriorating in some way. He recalled the furniture being brand new and ready for an office when he had passed through here before Ryan's ritual had transported it all to the Planarverse. The spiders must have been affected by the magic here as well.
He couldn't hear or see the spider. He examined the long pipes several meters above that ran the length of the hall, once carrying air and wiring, but found nothing. Crewton sniffed around excitedly a few feet ahead. G noticed a trail of shiny grey liquid, which he recognized as bug juice from his encounter with the previous spider. This one was bleeding.
"Good dog, Crewton. Let's find it," G said, starting down the corridor and keeping an eye on the ceiling and the blood drops on the floor. They passed several stacks of old metal filing cabinets. G could easily envision a forklift traversing this passage, carrying the now broken skids loaded with office cabinets and furniture from Earth.
G wondered how much of Earth had actually been transferred when the ritual failed. The image of his friend burning alive in the VR capsule haunted him, and his eyes welled up with tears. He took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. Ryan would pay for that. Dr. Reamus mentioned that Ryan had gained power from the incomplete ritual. G resolved to become more powerful and be ready for Ryan when they inevitably crossed paths.
As G and Crewton approached the corner, G noticed more spider blood smeared on the ground as if the creature was dragging itself. They reached the last corner before the spot where G had found Crewton fighting the first spider. Peering around the corner, G spotted the injured spider struggling to move. The legs, wounds, and health bar confirmed it was the one. G readied his whip for a final strike but hesitated. Should a druid be killing wild animals, even if they were bugs? Wasn't the creature just trying to survive?
G thought about the spider's attack and wondered if there was a way to prevent such incidents. Still, he disliked spiders, especially ones that attacked his dog. G lashed out with the vine, striking the spider's backside and top, dropping its health bar to zero.
He looked at his hand and the vine that seemed to grow from his palm. Imagining the spell disappearing, it dissipated. That was easier than he had anticipated. Examining the spider again, he could still see its level and information. Something caught his eye: the corpse glowed a soft gold. Uncertain of its significance, G inspected it more closely.
Tocai whispered quietly in his ear, "Loot it."
G jumped, startled, and whispered back, "Don't scare me like that, Tocai!"
Tocai responded in a sarcastic whisper, "I didn't scare you. You scared yourself."
G took a deep breath and approached the spider's corpse. He thought about looting the spider, but nothing happened.
Tocai spoke again, "Try touching it. It's barely twitching now."
G whispered back, "I don't want to touch it."
Crewton approached the spider, sniffed it, and evidently didn't like what he smelled. He turned away to sniff some furniture.
"You can't loot it if you don't touch it," said Tocai.
G's face scrunched up as he hesitantly reached down to touch the spider. As his hand brushed one leg, he thought about looting it.
Notice:
You lack the required tool to skin this creature.
G recalled the knife in his spatial storage space and summoned it to his hand. He tried to loot the spider again. His hand moved on its own, slicing the creature a few times around the sides. Carapace cracked, and ooze seeped out.
Notice:
You have failed to skin this creature.
G glanced down the tunnel, spotting the door where he and Crewton had fought the other spider. As he approached the dead spider, he noticed the makeshift club he had used to kill it. He examined it, wondering about its damage potential. A club seemed better than a dinner knife.
Weapon:
Office Worker's Revenge - a crude flanged mace made from the metal remains of an office chair, with five flanges.
Damage: 2-6, durability 15 of 32
Under duress, a wild magic artificer infused this weapon to slay arachnids. The weapon's handle is collapsible and can be extended and locked in place with a simple twist.
+1 to attack and damage to all arachnids.
G was surprised that he had made a weapon with a name just by using it. He picked up the crude mace, which felt familiar in his hand. He adjusted the length and swung it a few times before collapsing it and storing it in his inventory. He felt a mild pulse in his hand, not unlike a shock when he had picked it up. He planned to study it further in a safer location.
G touched the spider's leg, less apprehensive this time. The chitin legs had small spurs, but the body was mostly crushed beyond recognition. He attempted to loot it.
Notice:
These remains are no longer harvestable!
G thought for a moment about the importance of not crushing creatures he wanted to skin. But he quickly dismissed the idea – any creature that hurt his loyal companion Crewton deserved no mercy.
G observed Crewton standing still near the door, which had a brass plaque reading 'Arboretum'. He knew that arboretums were usually for growing plants, but they were deep underground. Cautiously, he inched forward to take a peek inside.
The room beyond was enormous, and even with his elven dark vision, G couldn't see the far side. It was at least a hundred meters across, circular, with several levels of metal stairs and walkways wrapping around the walls. In the center, countless plants grew beneath the remains of broken fluorescent lighting. It must have been some kind of plant-growing facility.
Crewton let out a low, quiet growl and backed away from the door. G heard the tapping of spider legs on the metal above and cautiously retreated. Once they were far enough away, G decided they needed to find a room with a door or another way out altogether.
G noticed that Crewton was sticking closer than ever before. The Boston Terrier had a big attitude and rarely seemed to understand when he was outmatched. Yet now, the dog was staying close, which was a relief considering the creepy tunnels and spiders.
Halfway back to the lab, G stopped to examine a large stack of old, sturdy file cabinets. Behind them, he spotted a closed metal door, unlike the lab's door that had vanished in the Planarverse. He squeezed behind the cabinets and tested the door, which was unlocked. Opening it just a crack, he listened for any noise.
G looked down at Crewton and whispered, "What do you think, Crew? Should we go in?"
Crewton stared up at him, wearing steampunk glasses that gleamed in the darkness.
"Alright," G said, cautiously pushing the door open wider while gripping the metal handle, prepared to shut it abruptly if necessary. The door let out a not-so-subtle creak as it swung open. A spacious room revealed itself, filled with file cabinets, old wooden and metal chairs that appeared functional, and numerous olive drab foot lockers reminiscent of World War II. Dust blanketed the floor and furniture, and a few items were covered with aged, yellowing sheets. G wondered if anyone had been here recently, but then he spotted old shoe prints in the dust, crisscrossing the room.
Listening carefully, G detected no sounds within the room and stepped inside to investigate the furniture. He closed the door behind Crewton to deter any unwanted visitors. Examining the footprints once more, he attempted to discern their path and decided to follow them. As they traced the prints behind a stack of cabinets, the dust remained relatively undisturbed.
Hidden behind the cabinets was an ancient US Army cot, seemingly intact, and a dismantled light fixture consisting of copper wires and wooden rings. G inspected the cot for damage, finding it to be a simple construction of wooden legs, metal fittings, and cotton canvas. Beside the cot, on a small wooden table, lay two olive-drab wool blankets and a pair of empty, label-free glass bottles. Crewton sniffed the blankets before exploring further around the crates. G continued to search for anything else of value, considering the cot, blankets, and even the bottles potentially useful if he could find suitable stoppers.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
G's thoughts wandered to memories of camping with his late grandfather, who had raised him after his parents' tragic deaths when he was only three. The story went that his parents, both photographers, had perished in Alaska when their snowmobile plunged into a crevasse during a photoshoot for a magazine. Days passed before their bodies were discovered, having succumbed to exposure and injuries. The magazine hadn't even published a eulogy. Though G had recounted the tale countless times, it no longer stirred any emotions. As a child, he would experience flashes of a tender woman with brown hair and fair skin, a vision closely resembling the photographs his grandfather had of his mother. His father, on the other hand, appeared as though he had just arrived from Scandinavia. The images captured their happiness.
With a sigh, G sat on the cot, testing its ability to support his weight. The cot creaked slightly, and the canvas emitted the familiar stretching sound as he settled onto it. Despite the noises, the cot remained intact and felt sturdy.
G's thoughts drifted back to his camping experiences. The key principles his grandfather had taught him were to first secure shelter, then water, and finally, food. G later understood that his grandfather's insistence on teaching him survival skills was his way of coping with the loss of his daughter to the harsh Alaskan elements. His grandfather had even taken him to the snowy landscape of Upper Michigan for a winter camping trip. G's most vivid memory from that adventure was the ferry ride to Drummond Island and renting a cabin from a man tasked with looking after the campsite during the winter. The cold had been too intense for their sleeping bags and heating lantern, but they found solace in a cabin with a functioning fireplace. The caretaker, though a heavy drinker, had been amiable. Once the snow subsided, they were able to return to their SUV and catch the ferry.
Crewton's digging behind the crate with the bottles caught G's attention, and he peeked around the corner to see what his pet had found. A tattered brown paper bag lay on the ground, which Crewton had torn open to reveal another paper wrapper inside. G carefully took the bag from his dog and discovered some marijuana inside. He shook his head, rewrapped it, and added it to his inventory. With no food or water, the last thing he needed was the munchies. Besides, G rarely smoked marijuana, as he didn't appreciate how it affected his thinking. Surveying the alcove within the stacks of cabinets, G guessed that a janitor had arranged the area as a hideout for taking breaks.
G smiled at Crewton, who continued to sniff around the other boxes. He knew he needed to address the remaining prompts and review his skills. Mentally clicking on the first flashing icon on the right side, he noticed the small, dull yellow icons fading in and out, which were quite distracting.
Congratulations!
As a new player in Planarverse, you are awarded one free Soulbinding Crystal!
Use this to set your respawn point.
G felt something appear in his hand. He looked down and saw a softly glowing crystal. It lit the room quite a bit, almost blinding him going from complete darkness to even this soft glow. He squinted at it a moment to get its stats.
Soulbinding Crystal - Charges 3 of 3.
Once thought to only work on celestial beings, this crystal has been altered to work with the player G. Hold it over the spot that you want to bind your respawn to and will it to bind. Upon death, the player's soul will return to this point unaided. The body will be reconstituted over a twenty-four-hour period. Any items that are soulbound will follow your soul and be available after respawn. The player will have reduced stats for a period of time multiplied against the total number of deaths. More charges can be awarded for finishing quests or found in the Foci Plane of Law.
Warning: respawn is not protected in any way. Binding yourself in a dangerous location is not advised.
Well, that was a huge positive to this shit show. Not being dead was a huge plus, and G wondered if he had Dr. Reamus to thank for this or the Universe system the doctor had discussed.
G looked at the cot again as Crewton jumped up to lay down next to him. He looked around the room. The storage room had a metal door and was the most secure location he had run across so far. He reached out above the cot and willed the stone to bind here. A pulse of light and the crystal left his hand to hover over the cot. He looked at it, trying to see its stats again.
G's respawn location charges 3 of 3.
He touched the crystal, and a prompt appeared,
Would you like to remove this bind location? If you have no respawn set upon death, you will respawn in the last known location using one charge. If the crystal is destroyed, you will not respawn upon death.
G thought about that for a moment, then recovered the crystal and put it in his inventory. He didn't have to leave the crystal. The ring he wore for spacial storage was soul bound and invisible on his hand. He couldn't think of a safer place to keep it right now, and he would respawn here if he understood the prompts.
He took a deep breath. That was one large issue solved for now. At least if he screwed up, he wouldn't die. Three charges, it was not a large number, but it was better than 0 by a long shot.
He opened the next prompt.
Achievement:
You have slain your first enemy. May all that hinders your will, be crushed before you.
Reward:
Title, Arachaphobia!
All attacks against Arachnids or creatures with eight legs do 2% more damage. Continue on your path to greatness to reap the rewards of your determination.
2 of 10 Arachnids slain.
Nice, there are achievements in the system. He opened the next prompt.
Congratulations!
You have created your first Artificer-infused item. This item is bound to you in ways you have yet to discover.
Your love and determination have enabled you to channel the mana around you, sculpting it into the item needed. It might be crude now, but any infused item should be treated with the respect it deserves.
Hidden quest completed:
This weapon was created to protect those you love. It has been given one added enchantment. Soulbound, no matter where you go or how you get there. You will always know where this item rests. This enchantment binds the item to your soul and will summon it when you respawn. Those who wish to wield it will find it unresponsive and unwilling to do their bidding, for it is truly yours.
As you progress, so shall it.
Reward:
+100 experience for making an infused item as an Artificer.
+100 experience for completing an unknown quest, "For love we fight. "
Nice! There are hidden quests. He wondered if there was a way to make those visible. And his crude club got a free enchantment? Soulbound? That looked really useful. He looked at the weapon in his inventory with new respect.
G moved to the next prompts.
You have gained 40 experience for slaying a Magically enhanced Black Widow spider which was one level higher than you.
You have gained 40 experience for slaying a Magically enhanced Black Widow spider which was one level higher than you.
Congratulations!
You have gained level two.
You gain the ability Mending.
Mending lets you bind bleeding wounds to stop blood loss. As your skill improves, so will the effect.
G smiled. Hopefully, that comes with a few more spells. He selected the next prompt.
New Achievement!
Leap before you look.
Pick five critical options in a row in less than two seconds:
Title reward: Man without a plan!
Effects:
Gain skill gum on your shoe - this skill gives you 20% better chance in all climbing activities.
Did he have to equip titles or just earn them? Man without a plan… yea, that was him at the moment, he took a breath. Gum on his shoe? Still, 20% is a good bump, and it should scale if he leveled that skill. He opened the next one.
New Achievement!
Plan, What plan?
Pick Seven critical options in a row in less than two seconds:
Title reward: Badboy
Effects:
+10 charisma when dealing with females who like Badboys.
What? Did he really pick seven? Hmm.. he had picked his skills too. G opened his skills list again and thought about seeing the descriptions of the skills this time.
Skills list:
Junk Collecting - Having spent years refining your skill of digging through other's trash, you have developed a sense of where the best stuff was tossed.
Shelter Creation - You have spent years wandering the woods and mountains. Your ability to find shelter when half-crocked and in need, amazes even the gods.
Crossbows - You have a knack for putting the bolt on target.
Jousting - You have spent many years drinking and bragging, somewhere along the line, you learned to joust.
Gambling - Not exactly something you should write home about.
Table Dancing - Yea, you know. Maybe next time you can invite Merry and Pippin.
G contemplated his skills. They all had a +5 modifier instead of +1. Did they mirror his experiences on Earth? He recalled shooting with his grandfather and going on camping and hiking trips during college. Later, he assembled the components to create his AI, placing the processors inside the bulky goggles. The processors were salvaged from old military computer parts purchased from a Chinese shopkeeper in San Francisco, which required the goggles' to be a bit larger.
Many of the skills seemed related to his Earthly experiences. He couldn't remember ever participating in table dancing, although there was that hazy memory from a party during his junior year. As for jousting, he had a faint recollection of playfully jousting with friends on bicycles using pool noodles, which had left him with scrapes and bruises. G began to suspect that the universal system knew more about him than he'd realized.
G examined all the blinking icons on his interface, realizing that familiarizing himself with it was crucial for his survival. He noticed green and blue bars, which he assumed represented his health and possibly food and water levels. They were situated below the mana bar, and all were currently full. He knew he'd have to find food before his energy ran out.
G stood up and motioned to Crewton. It was time to find a way out. As they approached the door, G listened for any sounds but heard nothing. He carefully opened the door and slipped out, deciding to sneak whenever he was near something important, as the tunnels unnerved him. They turned left, passed the lab housing the VR capsule, and continued down the tunnel, away from the spiders' corner.
A few dozen meters ahead, they found a doorless room that appeared to have been a conference room, filled with broken office chairs and the remnants of a long table. G picked up some of the broken metal chair pieces and wooden planks, storing them in his inventory. Unfortunately, each item occupied a separate slot. He also collected what was left of a projector and discovered a new crafting tab in his inventory. This tab filtered out items unrelated to crafting, leaving only the twelve broken chairs, a ball of copper wire, and four wooden planks. These materials would likely prove useful later on.
He left the conference room and continued along the corridor. A few dozen meters farther, he saw it. A large wall of natural stone blocked the end of the tunnel. The stone wasn't smooth, but it was obvious the tunnel had just appeared in the middle of it, making its own space in the dense stone. G frowned, this way was blocked. He turned around, hoping he could find a way out of these tunnels.
He dreaded having to sneak past the spider arboretum. He remembered an elevator down that hallway and a large metal door from back on Earth. G had followed Ryan down to the VR capsule and lab using that elevator. He had been so excited to get this first-hand view of Planarverse then. Now, he just wanted to go home to his crappy apartment. Then he thought about his girlfriend leaving him and how empty it had felt the last week. He sighed and continued along the corridor.
If the elevator or big door was still there, perhaps he could find a way out that didn't involve fighting a nest of hungry magically enhanced giant spiders.
***