Day 7 part 2
It got quieter the deeper we tracked into the forest. The occasional sounds of leaves flickering from the passing wind or the footsteps of Armored Tanuki passing us by were obsolete. The eeriness in this quiet forest could not be put into mere words.
『Are we there yet?! s(・｀ヘ´・; )ゞ』
No… stop asking me that.
Silica was sitting on her wooden like stick. The stick with a red gem at the tip was a wand. It was glowing, emitting a faint yellow light to show what was ahead. Apparently, wands are magical items. The gems at the tip are “Mana Catalysts”. They act as a medium to help reduce the amount of Mana lost when casting a spell, making the strength of spells stronger.
She was initially going to lead me to the door of the fifth room. But after she constantly led us to groups of Armored Tanukis, I took the lead. My keen sense of smell could spot an Armored Tanukis from a mile away. Silica was now behind me, acting as a flash light and navigator. I would say we made a great team.
Silica also telepathically communicated with me while we were travelling. We are currently located in an S class dungeon. Dungeons range from F -> E-> D -> C -> B -> A -> S. With S rank being the hardest. In order to access an S class dungeon, you would need to be either an A rank or S rank adventurer or have permission from the king. This world is one of your run-of-the-mill fantasy world. I’ve already read tons of fictions on worlds like this.
Silica lost majority of her powers to the Sin of Gluttony. The Sin of Gluttony was apparently the boss of this dungeon who resides in the 69th room of this dungeon and there are mini bosses in every three levels of the dungeon. Silica barely managed to escape with her life by teleporting here. And that’s how she managed to run into me
*sniff sniff*
I spotted something weird. I could pick up the scent of a group of Armored Tanukis. I could not pick up the exact amount due to their scent mixing together. But unlike the other Tanukis, who were constantly moving, they seemed to be guarding something. Could it be the door?
Hey Silica, there’s a group of Armored Tanukis about a mile west from here. They seem to be stationary and not searching for us. Could it be the location of the door?
『Nope! I know this place inside out. The door is straight ahead. (｡・ω・｡)?』
The Tanukis are acting weird… let’s check it out.
『Fine… but I’m telling you it’s a waste of time (*´Д｀)=3』
We headed west. It was not that far away from our previous location.
Hiding in a bush, we saw a group of Armored Tanukis guarding a blue crystal. The crystal gave off its own light making it easy to spot. There were only three Tanukis guarding it.
『（○□○）… Hey baka Kitsune we have to get that stone.』
Why? Just moments ago you said it was a waste of time and gave me that idiotic emoticon…
『My emoticons aren’t idiotic!!! Anyways that’s a Mana Crystal. I’ll be able to get some of my Mana restored if I consume it.』
In other words you’ll finally be useful?
『Hey! Be grateful that you get to travel with such a high class fairy… you… baka Kitsune what was your name again?』
I don’t have a name.
『I’ll just call you Anon then. You better be grateful baka Kitsune.』
If only her attitude matched her looks. Her foul mouth and emoticon spam was starting to get to me. I was glad to have somebody to travel with. But now, I’m having my doubts. Are all girls like this?
Fighting against three Tanukis was an easy task. The weak underside of their bodies made them an easy kill. The problem was the feelers on their heads. According to Silica, the feelers acted as a mind controlling device. The Ant Queen apparently has the power to control thousands of monsters at the same time. Attacking the group will surely notify the rest of our location.
The best solution I could come up with was for someone to distract the Tanukis while the other member grabs the stone. But that could be risky as well. There were around a hundred Tanukis in the forest. Getting surrounded would mean death.
Wait a second… where’s Silica.
Snapping back into reality, I noticed Silica floating in front of the Tanukis. What’s that idiot doing?!
I ran out of the bush that I was hiding in and dived into the shadow of the forest. Using the shark tactic was lame, but effective. I exited from the screen before dragging the Tanukis into the shadow with me. It allowed me to snap my fangs into their weak underbellies easily.
After killing the last Tanuki, I exited the shadow. Silica was in a trance. She was ignoring everything in her surroundings including me. She was flying with her wand in hand, in front of the crystal. Her constant stares into the luminous rock was starting to scare me. Is she ok?
Silica?
“….”
I could not comprehend the language she just spoke out loud. But she grabbed the crystal that was two times larger than her and ate it whole. I kid you not she ate it whole.
I was blinded by the light which seared my vision. Water started to accumulate in my eyes. Silica’s whole body glowed, emitting the same blue light as the Mana Crystal.
Level: 2
HP: 1569/1569
MP: 4286/4286
Species: High Elemental(Water) Fairy
It seemed that her status window updated. Her MP bar was full again.
Rumbling sounds could be heard. The sounds were getting louder by the seconds. It felt as if an army was arriving.
『Anon… it’s time for me to kick some butt.』
I was speechless. Does she not know that all the Tanukis are coming? How can she be so calm?
Then they finally arrived. A horde of Tanukis. They were uncountable by paws. Silica better have a plan or we are dead.
They charged straight for Silica. Ignoring me. Wait… why is it so cold?
Looking around I could see Silica pointing her wand in the direction of the Tanukis. Her expression was serious. Opposite from her useful playful self.
“….”
She shouted words in the same language I could not understand. Her high pitch voice forced me to cover my ears.
The cold air that passed by the Tanukis made them frozen at their spots. They stood lifelessly in the same charging motion as they were doing before. The forest that stood behind them had a layer of ice covering them as well.
『Ohohoho! Be grateful I saved your life.』
… To start off, you caused this mess by flying ahead to the crystals. Anyway you only have 300 mana points left.
『Of course I would have very little mana left. <
Silica had the strength to take out that large horde of Tanukis. Her strength rivaled her words. She was obviously stronger than me. The only thing I could do in such a situation was run. Damnit.. why do I have to be so weak. Am I even capable enough to get my revenge? At this rate… I would not stand a chance. I can’t always rely on Silica. I have to get stronger.
『Let’s go! The door’s this way. I doubt that there are any more Armored Tanukis. The Ant-』
Hey Silica. Don’t save me anymore. If we encounter a situation like this again, let me die.
『…』
Just agree already.
『Fine.』
Silica began to fly off quietly towards the direction of the door. The atmosphere was different from the cheerful one we had moments ago. My declaration had formed a rift in our relationship.
Opening the door lead to another stairwell. There were candles that lit the room up. It looked exactly the same as the one before. We were both exhausted. After closing the door, I laid down on the cold concrete floor. Silica flew onto my back before hugging my fur.
Get off Silica… Silica?
I think she fell asleep. Even though we just met I feel like I could trust her. She had already saved me once. I’ll let her sleep on my back this time. Today has been a long day after all. I closed my heavy eyelids and fell asleep.
***
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Day 8
『Wake up… BAKA KITSUNE WAKE UP!』
Silica’s voice echoed throughout my mind; she was like my personal alarm clock. The noise instinctively made me open my eyes. Normally seeing a cute girl’s face would make me jump for joy, but her tiny stature and pouted lips made me jump back in shock.
I rolled down the stairs. Only to land face first onto the base of the steps. What a great way to start the morning!
We left for the fifth room after eating breakfast which consisted of vampire bats. Silica watched me eat the bats raw in disgust. She eventually gave in to eating them cooked after her stomach growled a few times. Silica praised my ability to store items in shadows. She acknowledge that such an ability was rare and unheard of.
I still haven’t the slightest idea of what magic is. Was my ability a spell because it cost mana? I would have liked to ask Silica a lot of questions but she still seems to be angry at me for yesterday.
The fifth room was cleared easily. The monsters were just easy add ons. They did not have feelers on their body showing that they weren’t controlled by the Ant Queen. As to what they were, here are their status window.
Level: 15
HP: 321/321
MP: 200/200
Species: Monkey Shaman
Description: Monkeys with affinity to Mana
Level: 17
HP: 622/622
MP: -/-
Species: Monkey Warrior
Description: Wields wooden sticks to fend off enemies
Level: 26
HP: 1227/1227
MP: -/-
Species: Monkey Chieftain
Description: Chief of the monkey tribe that resides in the dungeon
The fifth room was a forest, similar to the forth room. But there was a huge crystal on the ceiling that made the whole room bright. The inhabitants were harmless animals and a tribe of monkeys. The monkeys looked like the caveman of the past. They wore scraps of wood that acted as armor. The shaman could cast weak spells while the warriors carried sticks.
The hardest part of the room was the chieftain. He was like a stronger version of the monkey warrior. The fight did not take long. He would have beaten me in a normal 1v1. But with my shadow ability, I wore him out with constant sneak attacks.
Silica just watched as I fought all the monsters. She was certainly stronger than me now that she got her mana back. I guess my words really stuck in her head.
I killed every single monster in the room. We then went to collect some fruits in the trees and hunted some wild animals. Silica was happy that she got to eat something other than fried vampire bats.
Personally, my sense of taste has changed. Now, the fruits I ate tasted like puke. I literally could not comprehend how people could put something so grotesque in their mouth. The lingering aftertaste made me skip my lunch. Silica however happily chomped on the banana that was around two times her size.
We stored the leftover bird meat and fruits in my shadow before heading to the sixth room. There should be a boss waiting for us.
The sixth room was a swamp. There was a crystal at the celling making the room bright. It was smaller than the other rooms. With the door to the next room visible from our current location. There was not a monster in sight. My eyes also did not pick up any status windows.
『This room should contain a crocodile boss. We should skip this room.』
Why?
『This boss is as strong as the monsters on the twentieth rooms. His too strong for you to face right now.』
I took her words as a challenge. I was planning to reach the end of the dungeon anyways. If I could not defeat this boss, the chances of me completing this dungeon would be close to zero.
I walked into the murky waters. It was surprisingly shallow. Was there really a crocodile in here?
『What are you doing.. ANON!』
Huh?
*Splash*
I was dragged into the murky water. I could not comprehend what just happened. Everything occurred in a split second. Something thick and rough had a firm grip on my leg. There weren’t any shadows for me to enter. I was trapped
I could not breathe. Everything was going dark; my consciousness was fading. Is this the end? No… I can’t die here. Not until I get my revenge. Wait… what was happening? The current of the water started to intensify. Pushing me to the surface.
I flew out of the water, along with a silhouette of a big creature.
『Anon… are you ok?』
*cough cough*
Y-yeah I’m fine. Thanks Silica
『Rely on me more you baka Kitsune. You’re not alone anymore.』
It seemed that Silica has saved me yet again. Coming to my senses, I could see a huge crocodile. It was huge. Its body took up half the swamp with scales that looked like pure iron. There was no way that I could crack that.
Level: 58
HP: 5910/6219
MP: -/-
Species: Demon Croc
Description: Last of its kind. One of the ancient monsters that roamed the land ages ago.
It was the strongest monster I’ve ever seen so far. The presence it emitted was deadlier than Roguards’. I would need Silicas’ help to defeat him.
Hey Silica. I’ll grab its attention. You do something about the shell.
『You can count on me! (*＾▽＾)／』
Silica started to speak in the same unknown language. In our party, Silica was outright stronger so I decided that I should aggro the crocodile and leave the damage to her. The Demon Croc stood still with its jaw wide open. With its small four legs, it should be hard to move.
*Boom*
I smashed into the wall. The tail of the crocodile swiped me off my feet. And the impact was so great I left a dent on the wall. My ribs broke and my organs felt misplaced. Looking at my status bar, I had only a hundred HP left. One more hit and I was dead.
I started to cough out blood. The crocodile started to approach me slowly.
“…”
Silica finally stopped chanting and pointed her wand at the crocodile. Water from the murky swamp started to spiral up into the air forming a large circle. The crocodile was unaware of the phenomena happening and was still walking towards me. The water bubble then flew at a straight line towards the crocodile’s head. Upon impact, it cracked a hole on the armor of his head, leaving his flesh exposed. The cracks then started to form like a web. Breaking out the shell on his head.
Taking this opportunity given by Silica, I pounced onto the Demon Croc’s head and started to bite it with my fangs. His outer skin was easily penetrable as compared to the armor layer.
『Anon! Jump back. NOW.』
Hearing Silica’s voice. I jumped back. The crocodile’s tail came down like a sword and pierced its own head. It tried to take me along with him to the afterlife. Silica saved me yet again.
You have gained 121,900 exp
*Day 8 to be continued*
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Sorry for the late chapter! ...I'm kind of sick. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter! :)