Wall sconces lit the walls of a big room with a wide counter setting a warm atmosphere. A large shelf stood behind this counter, containing various alcoholic drinks.
Numerous circular tables occupy this humongous room, bustling with people that sat in them while some stick close to the walls. Noises of idle chit-chat and merry conversations cover this place.
It was a tavern. And somewhere in the middle of these numerous, circular tables, sat Arka and Banelfsing.
Banelfsing's donned in new armor... a white, thin, hooded gambeson and a gold circlet— thinner, padded gauntlets and leggings designed in the colors of white and green.
At the moment, Banelfsing's enjoying a certain drink his avatar has been consuming— "Mindstruck Ale" is what it was called. Whenever he drinks from his wooden mug, his vision splits into two... and then four, as he loosely leaned back sloppily on the tavern's wooden chair. He wa having fun with the visual effects the system registers on his avatar.
There are other visual effects that the tavern's wide selection of drinks offers. Banelfsing already emptied twelve of these bottles.
Arka meanwhile, appeared high-strung as she sat on the other side of the table, holding onto a wooden cup.
"—and then he just... spawned some... fleshy arm with countless innards...! It's— It's surprising that I even made out of there alive,” She could barely contain her emotions about what happened as she began to stutter.
"S'that so...?" Banelfsing tilted his head, swaying along with the visuals as he also wobbled on his wooden chair. It was unclear on whether he was attentive to Arka's story, as he made a drifted look on his face.
Still, Arka continued to surmise about the events that happened earlier that day. "—then they just opened portals... and both of them went in there and they got away," She finished her ridiculous-sounding story.
"Uh-huh," Banelfsing said with eyes looking straight through Arka, loosely sitting on the chair.
As she heard Banelfsing's answer, she momentarily fell silent to assess Banelfsing's condition. She glared at him. "Hey, Ban... did you even get what I was saying?"
"Y-yeah... I'm listening! It'z juzz... I think I'm diz...zy...? It's a strange feeling..." He said. "I might throw up," As he said this, the tone of his voice expressed malady.
Arka looked at the drink Banelfsing held onto. She reached for the mug in the flush, in an unfussy manner— thinking that she doesn't want to attract much attention since they are sitting around the center tables of the tavern. As she took the mug, she couldn't help but look side to side at the other players and groups hanging out.
She took the mug away from him and brought it to her side of the table.
"I think y-you've had enough of this stuff..." She said.
Banelfsing leaned closer to the table in a sluggish condition. "Hold on... you... you haven't even... touched your drink yet," He said, looking at her woozily.
"Well..." she paused for a moment, thinking of what to say. ”You see..."
Arka waved a hand in front of her helmet.
"Oh..." Banelfsing tried his best to look at her with the staggering visuals, unimpressed at her reply. "You're still shy from taking off that helmet?" Banelfsing pointed weakly at the helmet she's wearing— understanding her predicament.
"Y-Yeah... sorry. I'm still trying to get used to... all this... you get me...?" She said.
Banelfsing knew about her social anxiety. Through the few days they've played together, it didn't take long until Banelfsing took notice of her irregular speech. It all happened during a field hunt. She happened to tell him the reason for this, as she even ended up mentioning a part of her lifestyle to him.
She felt fearful that he would think of her in a negative light. But instead, all he said was: "Well, we can keep hanging out until you get used to talking again... if you want," and this phrase stuck with her since.
She is thankful as the person she talked to understands her situation and lifestyle without trying to mock her.
Banelfsing's a kind person. And she knows this.
"Oh, but I do get it," Banelfsing said. "The thing is though... you agreed to drink with me," Banelfsing said, asserting his invitation.
"Uhm..." Arka uttered. "Yeah... I guess, I did agree,"
Although, he can be a bit pushy sometimes without letting some things go...
Still, Banelfsing was right. She did agree to drink with him beforehand through their private messages. Arka felt bad about this.
Then again... he already drank various bottles of virtual ale without her before she even arrived at the tavern. Banelfsing was already in a 'drunken' state when she sat on their table. Judging from the multiple bottles under his seat, he has been enjoying the drinking mechanic for hours now since this morning. She doesn't want to force herself to catch up with him on this drinking game of his.
"But you see, when you mentioned drinking— I thought you meant together..." As she said this, she rested both of her elbows on the table, and clasped her hands. "Although, it looks to me you've already downed a lot... It— It wouldn't be fun for your... drinking buddy to make them catch up, right...?" She said, justifying her actions with a gesture of her hand... in a way, she also saw her argument would be a scapegoat to have avoided the trouble of taking off her helmet.
Banelfsing's lips turned down at her reasoning. "I guess you aren't wrong..." He leaned back on the chair slowly, crossed his arms; and bowed his head with his eyes closed— trying his best to tolerate the dizzying sensation. He cleared his throat. "Seriouzly though... I didn't expect... that you're... actually a woman ubder that armor," He said as his voice slurred and peeked at her with one eye.
"You... you still... can't get over that...?" Arka asked Banelfsing.
Banelfsing began gesturing with a hand. "I mean, it's just surprising. It's not obvious under that metal suit of yours if you ask anyone else..." he said as he pointed at her. "Especially the way you move when you fight..." Banelfsing then pumped a fist. "Your moves... are killer..." he commented.
She crossed her arms as well and leaned back. Once again, she felt a shred of doubt plague her at the back of her mind on his comment. Arka wants adjust to taking a compliment for once.
Banelfsing leaned forward on his seat, as he held on the edges of his chair. He could not keep still. "I mean... don't get me wrong. I see you as one of the guys," He said.
"I-I see... Thanks." Arka stuttered.
Banelfsing then exhaled, placed both of his hands on the table and looked up at Arka. His vision began to split into six as he made a sullen look.
"Geez... it's not... going away..." He expressed in a sickened tone. "This is some... strong stuff...!" He exclaimed.
"Hang in there, buddy..." Arka told Banelfsing.
If Mikrim were here, would she have something to treat this kind of sickness...? Arka thought as she looked at Banelfsing, struggling to regain his composure.
Now that she thought of her, she almost forgot to mention her as well to Banelfsing... a player who knows about the magic system of the game world.
I'll tell him later about her... She thought as she watched Banelfsing's eyes squint at her; whilst he breathes through his mouth, gasping for air. The way his arms are struggling to keep his upper-body balanced on the table reveals the strength of his internal conflict.
Are you dizzy or are you having a stroke...? She thought
Suddenly, the double doors of the tavern opened. Because of the strong stage presence of the player who entered, Arka couldn't help but look behind her seat to see. It was a tall player with short blonde hair and blue eyes with a giant object on his back, enough to cover his body. He wears a metal chest plate, leather gloves, metal greaves and leather, boots reaching the bottom of his knees.
It wasn’t just her who looked at the hulking player.
As this player entered, he turned to the counter at the corner and beelined his way towards it among the numerous tables. As the player turned to face the counter, Arka saw the large object strapped on this player's back. It was a giant shield.
"Huge..." Arka uttered.
He sat down on the stool near the counter.
Just then, Arka heard murmurs of the other players seated near her. As they did, she couldn't help but eavesdrop at the players, as she held on the drinkware she held on both hands. It's directed at the hulking player with the giant shield just now.
It was all a mix of reputable deeds he did. He tanked for a full party of players in a dungeon and helped them escape; he was the first player who completed a dungeon with another party in the game, and he only uses the shield as a weapon. Specifically, a Pavise.
Among this mix of rumors also lay spiteful ones, saying that he has attained maximal progression only by being carried by jumping to different parties of other players, and that he had recently had an infighting with another party.
As Arka heard these rumors, only one thing piqued her interest which was how this player uses a shield as a weapon. It was an impressive feat. She has only heard of players using practical weapons themselves like spears, great swords and scimitars... but never, a shield.
However, among the mix of rumors, none of them have any information about the duo she met in the forest. Everybody just talked about the tall man with humongous shield.
She soon lost her interest as she turned back towards Banelfsing.
Sure enough, he was still down and out with the virtual ale he has drunk. Banelfsing laid his head on the circular table with his eyes closed so he wouldn't see the splitting visuals.
"We should probably try to run a dungeon again." Arka told him.
"What...?" Banelfsing said groggily. "You know it's impossible. No one has ever completed one yet..." While his head's rested on the table, he gestured with his hands at her. "Nil... Nada, Zilch." After that, he dropped his raised hands lazily on the table once more. "Just what makes you think we can do that...?" Banelfsing asked with his rested head.
"Well..." As Arka thought of what to say, she already felt exhausted from the thought of what to even explain to Banelfsing. "Look... I'm having... having trouble explaining it... just trust me." Arka said. "Can you stand yet...?"
Banelfsing raised his head once more and then opened his eyes slowly. He saw Arka in splits of three this time. "I think the effect's about to wear off," He said as he began to stand up slowly.
"Good, then..." Arka stood up from her seat. "Let's go," She gestured with a tilt of her head.
Banelfsing followed after that.
As the two left the tavern, the shield player noticed their departure. Just then, the bartender arrived with the drink the shield player's waited as he turned his attention on this instead.
Arka and Ban have just arrived at their location. A dungeon, called Great Atrophy's Barrow. It was distances east from the grand city's walls. It was a large-sized dungeon that was said to go two floors deep with unknown history.
"Here we are again. Will things really be different this time...?" Banelfsing said. "I remember my first time here... I didn't even know it was a dungeon,"
"Yeah... the lack of information this game has is... staggering. Even... Even the website itself doesn't have any guides about these places. But I guess, t-that's what you get for a game still being in its alpha phase," she said.
"So, what do you even plan to—" as Banelfsing looked to Arka, he saw a floating message window hovered in front of her avatar's visuals. She was sending messages to somebody. Banelfsing held back from asking his question for now.
"We're about to run a dungeon~ wanna come~?" Asked Arka to Mikrim through their private messages.
"You mean right now~?" Mikrim quickly replied.
"Yes~ We're waiting for you~ :)"
"Okay~ I got a buncha new magic i want to try~ I'll be there soon~! ┏(＾0＾)┛"
Cute emoji! She thought, as her eyes widened.
"Okay~ we'll be waiting~ ^_^"
"Okay~! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧"
Cute! She smiled. I want to know how to do that...!
She closed her messages.
As her window distorted, Arka saw Banelfsing in front, looking at her.
"W-What...?" She asked, as she felt her confidence was suddenly repressed.
Banelfsing noticed himself staring at her. "Oh, nothing... I just thought— I dunno... you looked happy...?" Banelfsing scratched the back of his head on saying this to her.
"Oh... is that it...?" She asked him, as her shoulders loosened up.
"Yeah, I mean... it's not often I see you like that," He said. "I think it's good," He stopped scratching his head.
"I see..." Arka said as she pondered over her recent actions.
Thirty minutes later, Mikrim finally arrived at the said location. It didn't take her long as she had a teleportation crystal to cut her travel time to head eastwards to the dungeon.
"A-Arakar!" Mikrim called out to Arka timidly, as she noticed another person with her.
"Mikrim! I'm glad you could make it," Arka said to her.
Banelfsing placed a hand on his chin as the two ladies meet, wondering about their relationship.
"This is— this is Ban, he's the talent I've mentioned..." Arka gestured to Banelfsing with a palm of her hand.
"Hi, there," Mikrim smiled and waved at Banelfsing.
"Ban, this is Mikrim. She's our specialist," She said.
"It's nice to meet you," Banelfsing said, as he reached towards Mikrim for a handshake. Mikrim felt hesitant in Banelfsing's gesture. She still ended up reaching for his hand anyway.
And so, they shook. However, Mikrim's rarely had any experiences with giving handshakes. How strong should her grip be...? Which direction should she start...?
She ended up gripping lightly onto Banelfsing's hand, with a feeble arm. As Banelfsing felt the way she gripped his hand, he hesitated at that moment on whether he should have even went for a handshake with Mikrim.
He ended up grasping her palm, also giving a feeble handshake in the same manner as her. They kept at this for seconds... then minutes... then an eternity. Well, at least in their perspective.
"O-Okay, I think that's enough handshaking..." Arka said as she broke it off between the two. She felt the longer they do it, the more their first meeting will grow more awkward. It should just be the right call.
Three of them stood in a circle of the forest. The daylight shone brightly on them past the thick leaves of the trees. Rays of the sun struck on the heads and shoulders of Arka, Banelfsing, and Mikrim. They just finished sending each other a party invitation, as all three of appear to have their party window on the left side of their HUD.
Arka exhaled assuming she was about to take responsibility as the one who will take the lead for the small group they have. After all, she was the one who brought them both on the way to their destination. "So... Let's head in," She said as she, Banelfsing, and Mikrim looked at the giant stone doors that sealed off the barrows.
Inside the dungeon, was a wide, stony area with lit, torches that hung over the walls. The floor's engravings are faded due to the earth's dust, and erosion. The walls have lined humongous stone shelves, storing numerous sarcophagi with the mummified dead in them.
The three walk through these halls in a triangle formation with Arka and Banelfsing in front, and Mikrim at the back of them for any support fire. For each step they took, an echo resounded deep into the depths of this barrow.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
While they were traveling in this dimly lit hallway, Banelfsing asked Arka, "So, Mikrim's our specialist, huh...? Does it have anything to do with how she uses her bow?" Arka turned to him as he asked this. Mikrim approached closer between the two upon hearing Banelfsing mention her.
"Uhmm..." Arka uttered as she heard Banelfsing question, "You'll find out in a bit," was all she said, not wanting to spoil the surprise.
With an unchanging expression, Banelfsing thought it wouldn't be much of a revelation to him whatever it could be. After all, Banelfsing's held a certain philosophy that 'The world is full of obvious things.'— was how a part of this saying went. He got this from a popular book about a legendary detective in England, and he held onto this idea as he realized more of the current reality he resides.
Just then, after Arka looked back in front of the direction they're walking in; Banelfsing saw Mikrim at the corner of his eye. She was smiling at him, looking at his unchanging expression.
As they both caught each other's eyes, Mikrim backed away a few feet, reforming their triangle formation.
Banelfsing couldn't help but felt some form of curiosity on whatever she can do. Perhaps it was a human instinct to be curious, despite knowing what was obvious in the world.
Speaking of obvious, Banelfsing just remembered something.
"Oh, hold on." He said. Arka and Mikrim stopped in their tracks. He went behind them and removed his rucksack. After that, he took out some thick, metal pads, double the size of his hands, and set up numerous of them in a dispersed line on the floor. "What's that?" Mikrim asked him.
"Contingency plan in case we get ambushed." He said. "They're mines. I made them myself... did I mention I'm a high-level Artisan?" Banelfsing boasted as he smiled and pointed at himself with his thumb.
Mikrim's interest piqued, displaying enthusiasm upon hearing Banelfsing's profession. "Isn't that the profession where you can make mount consumables?" She asked him.
"Yeah," Banelfsing finished setting up the mines, as he slung his rucksack over his back. "Actually, I just found out recently we can make traps too," He said. "This profession's quite generalized on what it can craft. There should be other cool stuff... unlocking the next artisan item is a fun experience in itself," He said to Mikrim.
Mikrim made a slow, and agreeable hum. "That's cool," She kept smiling at him. Banelfsing smiled and quickly averted his gaze from her.
"Well, I've got the traps set up so... Let's keep going," He said.
And so, the three continued moving onwards in the barrow.
Deeper into the dungeon, more and more sarcophagi lined up at the stone walls. They eventually reached a wide area around the middle parts of this dungeon. It wasn't soon until the three stood before a humongous, hall with stone tables, ancient candelabras, and pairs of tattered banners hanging over the towering walls of the barrow. The symbols embedded on it are unrecognizable due to the cloth's wear and tear.
At the center of this great hall, lies a pit just waiting to be descended by the climbable staircase on it, leading down. The walls surrounding this pit are further filled with more sarcophagi on both sides.
Banelfsing then noticed something at the corner of his eye. "Oh... there's that chest," He pointed at it, as Arka and Mikrim looked towards it.
It was a chest at the corner of the stone walls. It was a familiar chest to him. Nothing truly stood out about it, except that it was the first chest that they could encounter in the barrow. He began to approach it. "Did any new loot, spawn...?" He said, as he knelt in front of it and started investigating the chest's contents. "Aaand, nope. Just low tier junk again," he said as he looked in.
Why am I not surprised...? Arka thought.
"Can I see what's inside?" Mikrim asked Banelfsing before he closed the chest he's investigating. "Err... yeah, sure. But I doubt you'll find anything useful," he said.
"Hmm... Maybe." Mikrim said. "Some good quality junk can still be rewarding," she said as she began to rummage through the contents of the small chest.
"You mean, by selling them?" Banelfsing asked satirically.
"No," Mikrim looked at Banelfsing. "Recycling them," Mikrim said.
Banelfsing just looked at her.
As Mikrim saw his puzzled expression, she grinned at him. "I suppose, you might be thinking, 'But what does that even mean?'" She said, mimicking Banelfsing's voice. "Well, let's just say that I like collecting things..." She went back to rummaging through the contents of the chest... whichever is useful for her. "Yep. Let's leave it at that,"
"Well then..." Banelfsing stood up, to let Mikrim have the small chest. "Knock yourself out, I guess. I'll just... plan with Ara for our strat on this floor,"
"Okay," She said.
Afterward, Banelfsing walked back to Arka. She is looking down below the stone stairs of the room; eyeing the bottom, of the large, open-pit. Arka, playing video games for a long time, already gave her the impression that a horde of monsters will spawn judging from the looks of this open space.
A wide, archway towards their next destination was visibly seen on the other side of this pit. The next room showed a dimmer pathway. Both of them couldn't scrutinize whatever was on the other side.
"So, this is the part of the dungeon where we couldn't get through," Banelfsing said.
She turned to Banelfsing. "Yeah... it's a death trap down there. Other Alpha test players were able to get to the other side, but... they still couldn't get past that area due to the difficulty of the monsters there proving far too high..." She said.
"It's even strange that this game limits us to only four members to form a party..." She continued telling Banelfsing. "It's a strange difficulty scaling, f-forcing us into a roadblock.”
She looked back at the lower floor of the room they're in. "After heading to the center, the monsters of this floor... will wake up and start ganging up on our party at that spot—followed up by a bigger one of its kind... might be the semi-boss for this specific floor of the dungeon," She said.
"Right..." Banelfsing said, with a quizzical look of her critical analysis of the dungeon.
"So... I suppose we'll be sticking with the ol' tactic, but with our new friend this time...? And I mean, hugging the walls and sticking near the staircase...? 'Cuz, that didn't end up well..." He said as he expressed a stultified look on his face that says, 'time and again'.
"No... this time, different plan. Since we already know what's gonna happen, it's pretty simple, really," She turned to Mikrim. "Krim, do you think you can quickly take down a massive crowd of weak, undead?"
Mikrim finished gathering the stuff she wanted at the corner chest of the room. "I dunno, but even my multi-shots are enough to pierce through steel,"
"That's... that's actually impressive. That'll have to do," She said.
"You sure? I wouldn't want to disappoint," Mikrim said. "Yes, I'm sure," Arka told Mikrim, with a tone of confidence in her.
After that, she turned to Ban. "Well Ban, that's it... All we gotta take care of is the big guy,"
"What...?" Banelfsing uttered. "What was the plan...? And why does—" As Banelfsing turned his look away from Mikrim, he realized something. "Is Mikrim even familiar with battle?"
"Art of war, Ban," Arka said. "If—If you know the enemy, and know yourself, you need not fear a hundred battles."
She dropped her leather satchel on the ground.
"Now, you're just messing with me, Arakar..." He said as he dropped his rucksack.
"Don't worry... we're good," She told him. "Just trust me," And then, she drew her sword, and proceeded to walk down the stone stairs. Banelfsing followed her down these sets of stairs, straight-faced.
As both of them descended, Mikrim went to the edge of the floor she was on and drew her Recurve bow; preparing for her wide-range attack. She took out a small bottle from her leg bag and placed it in the compartment of her Recurve bow. Banelfsing noticed this as he continued walking down the stone steps ahead of her.
He reached the lower floor. "So, don't want to head back for now, Ara?"
A familiar question, Arka pondered, as she heard it from a time not too long ago, though rephrased.
"No," She said with a tone of resolve. She looked at Banelfsing. "I don't feel like we have to, this time,"
Banelfsing smirked at Arka for understanding the question. After that, he spun the twin blades on his hands and held onto them in a reversed grip.
Mikrim placed a hand on her bowstring at the floor above, focusing on the floor below her for a wide-ranged attack.
Arka felt calm. A sense of confidence welled in her soul—certain of what's to come. The doubts she felt, and the thoughts of uncertainty she had, are silenced as Banelfsing and Mikrim stood with her. It's a strange feeling for Arka... How long has it been since she last felt this way...? Was this all that she was looking for over the years ever since she has locked herself up in her own home? Just a few good friends, playing a good DIVE VRMMORPG?
Thoughts like these embarrassed her. She knows thoughts like these were the result of being shut in for so long. She doesn't want to share how she truly felt with them. It was just too weird.
She questioned though, was the confidence that stirred within her, her true self all along? Or was it the one who was shy was her true self?
She wants to figure it out...
She wants to know more...
She wants to keep hanging out with Banelfsing and Mikrim and find out... just who was her true self?
Knowing the strength of her party; she is sure they will win the fight that was ahead of them.
"Let's slay some mobs," Arka said adamantly.
And after that, she and Banelfsing went off to the center of this pit.
Just as Arka and Banelfsing expected, the barrow echoed of countless sarcophagi rumbling, removing their lids and awakening the sleeping undead. The ground shook before them as it did.
Multiple explosions resounded in the distance from the way they came. Fortunately, Banelfsing set up their traps beforehand when they came into the dungeon.
Before long, the undead sleeping in the sarcophagi on both sides of the pit in their room awakened next. The stone lids these undead removed fell towards the floor. As they sat up and jumped down the pit to surround Arka and Banelfsing, they roared an aggressive tone, as if assuming dominance of their territory.
The undead they faced are humanoid in shape. Their torn flesh shows the bone underneath their flaky skin. Each of their faces was partly torn, eroded throughout the years within the barrow, and wore broken pieces of ancient armor and other clothing from a time long before; with their eyes set aglow in a zest blue. They wield rusted and ancient bladed weapons and sticks, complementing their wear.
And then, at the top of this great hall; was a giant sarcophagus that shook the ceiling of this barrow. It has a unique design showing ancient, intricate symbols—structured differently from the rest of the other sarcophagi in the barrow, forming a diamond shape. The way it opened took four sides of this container to be opened—four lids for the greater undead to break forth. Each of these lids fell at the same time, and along with it—a large shadow descended, looming over which Arka and Banelfsing stood.
A loud crash—stone and rubble broke the floor... then a cloud of dust surrounded this grand creature.
Suddenly, the numerous undead that surrounded them on both sides quickly roared, beginning to charge in at Arka and Banelfsing.
Banelfsing began to make an ascending yell. "Hey—!"
Just then, the room was washed in a bluish-white flood of rain. The horde of undead on both sides stumbled and fell on top of each other, one by one. Banelfsing almost fell backward as he got caught in surprise witnessing such a spectacle. What surprised him more was that this bluish-white rain didn't hurt neither him nor Arka. Glimpses of this rain caught his eye, as it showed not to be rain, but rapidly falling energy arrows.
Banelfsing quickly turned around and saw Mikrim with her bow held up high, emitting a bluish-white glow of energy up until her forearms. She was shooting wide missiles of magic energy aimed above, stopping in midair, and spilling traces of light on the battleground they stood.
"What?!" He exclaimed. This wasn’t an obvious thing Banelfsing has seen yet in the game.
Arka was humored with internalized laughter upon seeing the look on his face.
"Now's our chance, Ban!" Arka yelled to him.
As Banelfsing looked in front, he saw the titanic undead which they faced before that stood in front of Arka and Banelfsing. What was different about this undead was that it has glowing runes and other intricate symbols surrounding its body, emitting a blue light throughout. It wielded an ancient, two-handed maul that looked like it was enough to squash either one of them in a single hit.
Arka and Banelfsing immediately charged in with their weapons at the ready at this beast.
As they both quickly closed their distance, this undead creature reacted by seeing the first target it saw. It swung its maul at Banelfsing rapidly and slammed it down on him. Its size proved to match its speed.
The great undead's maul smashed on the floor. However, Banelfsing swiftly avoids this hunk of ancient iron.
With forward momentum, he grabbed onto the grip of the beast's maul like a pole and spun his body on it like a topspin. He stepped on the maul, and then went straight running up to its arm. The beast flayed its arm to fling him away, swatting him like a bug. But Banelfsing was able to avoid all this in the last second as he jumped towards the undead's face; proving to be the faster combatant.
He swung his daggers in an upward motion in his reversed grip, tearing off more of the undead's face, revealing its whole skull. It staggered back.
Arka quickly went for a jumping slash, swinging her sword upwards at the creature's face. The creature further staggered upon a successful hit.
And then, Mikrim shot a concentrated magic arrow at the undead, aiming for the head.
The arrow left behind trails of bluish-white light, in the air, as it pierced through its neck instead. Half of its neck sliced off making the undead partly headless.
The undead fell, as Arka and Banelfsing delivered multiple stabs and slashes on the incapacitated creature to halt any more of its movement. Its torso riddled with multiple holes thereafter, and its skeletal structure mangled in a bizarre form because of their unrelenting blows... all this without a drop of blood from the being.
5 EXP earned. This appeared on their HUDs as the experience split among the three of them, as another small text appeared beside their HUDS—Greater Atrophy's Terror registered to the index.
Arka and Banelfsing sheathed their weapons in sequence. After that, Banelfsing turned to Arka. "Was that magic just now!?" Banelfsing exclaimed.
Arka wondered for the best way to explain it to Banelfsing as she glanced around the room hoping for a good way of presenting her answer at that sudden moment.
"Uh-huh," Arka said to him with a nod.
She felt pretty stupid now that she came up with a reply as plain as that.
It has been a while...
"No way... that's pretty groundbreaking...!" Banelfsing said. "How did she do it...?" Banelfsing asked Arka.
"Uhmm... I-I don't... wanna bother explaining, you see," Arka shrugged as she said this like a casual teenager. She talked slowly because of her stutter. "You can... just go ahead and ask her," She pointed at Mikrim with her thumb.
Mikrim went down the steps, unharmed and clean in her chainmail. Banelfsing briskly walked towards her with a flap of his gambeson.
They began talking as she began explaining to him about the magic she did with the use of magic dust and the other objects she needs as she held onto her small bauble to him.
Apparently, the magic she did on the horde was called Storm Arrows and she was able to summon a rain of up to 30 arrows within seconds, while the concentrated shot was simply called Arrow Shot [Concentration] which amplifies the amount of damage on the next arrow shot she deals.
Arka watched Banelfsing and Mikrim, as they interacted with glee with one another.
Soon, the trio cleared the next two rooms of the barrow. All they had were the same boss and hordes of undead with varying looks and degrees in equipment. They were all doable and done with ease, mostly thanks to Mikrim' Storm Arrows and Arrow Shot [Concentration]. She proved to be the most powerful member of their party.
It didn't take long—dead end after dead end, treasure chest after treasure chest, and stone door after stone door in the barrow; they finally reached a room dimly lit by a blue flame in a humongous brazier at the center
Arka, Banelfsing, and Mikrim broke their formation as they all stood together with their bags almost filled with the dungeon's treasures and items. Arka stood in the middle of them.
They all looked up, and saw the grandiose chamber, as its ceiling towered in a curved angle, dimly lit by its light source—Etchings and illustrations, barely seen.
"This is incredible... this is... we've reached the last room." Banelfsing said. "No one's done this before! I think we're the first players who're able to do this Ara!" He said.
"Yeah... I can't believe we did it," Arka said, also astonished at their achievement.
Banelfsing and Arka turned to Mikrim.
After that, Banelfsing walked to her. "Mikrim, thank you!" He said as he held her arms. "Without you, we couldn't have done this...!" He told her, with a smile.
"Yeah," Arka said as she turned to Mikrim standing right next to her. "No one's done a dungeon before in this game... but now, there's a chance for that. And it's all thanks to you Mikrim," Arka said behind her helmet with a happy tone.
Mikrim looked in awe at the relieved expressions Arka and Banelfsing are showing. Banelfsing let go of her. She smiled at them.
"I'm glad to have helped. But I really couldn't have done this on my own without you guys," She said. "I should be the one thanking you two for letting me come with you,"
Ban and Arka smiled as they heard Mikrim's reply.
"Likewise, Krim... Likewise," Arka said with a pleasant tone.
"We should celebrate after this..." Banelfsing said. "One drink at the tavern before logging out!" He exclaimed joyously.
"What? There's actual drinking in this game?" Mikrim asked Banelfsing.
"Yeah...!" Banelfsing said. "Oh, don't tell me you haven't tried it yet? It does these fun, effects and...!" Banelfsing held off on what he's trying to say, not wanting to spoil Mikrim about the drinking mechanic. "You know what? It's easier to just show you! Just come drink with me later!" Banelfsing said with both of his hands on his hips.
"Alright! Let's go drinking later, Ban," Mikrim said with enthusiasm at the thought of trying the drinking mechanic. Banelfsing smiled as she called his name.
Arka turned to Banelfsing. "Just what's your definition of one drink, Ban...?" She asked him.
"Good question, Arakar..." Banelfsing said. "Well, one drink is to one glass, so..." Banelfsing gestured each of his hands as he said 'one' to Arka.
"One bottle... on each hand...!" Banelfsing said showing both of his hands.
"I knew you would say that," Arka said.
"You knew? Well, drinking should help you forget that," Banelfsing laughed while Mikrim blinked frantically at his joke with a kept smile.
"Well then..." Arka said. "What're we waiting for? Let’s... let's start looting this place! Then, we can drink," She said.
Banelfsing laughed. "I like that, Arakar!"
And so, they began to look around the room for the dungeon's main treasure. It was a dimly lit room, so they can hardly see in it. They searched near the walls, while carefully searching at the end of the room.
Eventually, Arka noticed something at the center of the room. Near this brazier, she noticed a stand with a large, metallic, blue button placed firmly at the center, just waiting to be pressed.
Out of curiosity, Arka pressed this button. Suddenly, the blue flame in the center of the room blazed stronger. It was enough to light the whole room, showing what was present in it.
Everyone scanned through the room as it was now visibly seen.
The walls are etched with various illustrations inside wide, metal plates. The floor, now visible is engraved with a giant, unfamiliar symbol of various spirals and circles, all leading towards the center of the blue flame in the brazier.
And lastly, the ceiling, also discernable; allowed Arka to examine this. What she could make out of the ceiling, was that it seems to present a person, holding something in one hand, with an etching of another symbol. It looked to be a small circle, with various shapes within it... this small circle looked like the earth.
Arka then looked down from the ceiling, and in front of her, she saw the floor divide itself into two as the stand sank beneath the open floor.
"Hey guys, I... I think I found something," Arka called Banelfsing and Mikrim. They walked to her.
As the three witnessed the flooring divide, and restructure itself, a stone table soon appeared with a small, stone box on top of it. Upon closer examination, the box has intricate etchings and symbols around its edges, as an unfamiliar, rune was engraved on each side. Bizarrely shaped, twisted handles with an otherworldly design protrude on both sides of this box meant for carrying it. The etchings, symbols, and runes illuminated a faint, blue, glow.
It seems to have a lid that was easily openable with an effortless lift of the wrist.
"What is it...?" Mikrim not knowing what it was, asked the two experienced players with her. However, they were also utterly clueless about this as well.
"No idea..." Banelfsing said.
Arka not sure of what it was, admired its beauty. "I don't even know... but I'm gonna open it," She said.
"If video games tell me anything, it should have some kind of powerful artifact related to this game." Mikrim said. "And if anything else, the end of the world..." Banelfsing looked at Mikrim. He made a glance at her, contemplating the scary idea.
Arka was unnerved as Mikrim said this making her hesitate in opening the small box. "D-Don't just go saying things like that. It's making me think it's really gonna happen," Arka said.
"Te-he-he~!" Mikrim chuckled.
Arka inhaled, and let out a breath indicating her ease. "Well... I'm going to open it now," she said.
Arka opened the box.
Suddenly, an immediate, soft, gust of wind blew past them. With it, the blue glow of the engravings on the box disappeared. As the wind blew through them, the center torch of the brazier turned to an ordinary color of orange flame, shrinking down, dimming the room once more.
As Arka saw the inside contents, the object within sounded a soft hum, as it also illuminated a faint, blue.
Arka took out what was inside.
It was... a circular object that fits in the palm of her hand. A wicked design it had, as it's silver-colored metal twisted and turned and coiled around as if protecting its glowing blue light.
"That's cool," Banelfsing commented on seeing what Arka held.
Arka held onto the strange object. "I guess it's... it's time we get out of here. Afterward, we can decide what to do with this," She said.
"Nah, I think you should keep it." Banelfsing said. "I mean, you did find it first, and you led us all the way here," Banelfsing said as he gave her a thumbs up. "You deserve it," He said.
"I agree. If there are things like that in these dungeons, we can just run this again." Mikrim said. "There should be a lot more of that lying around at the end. Besides, you both got me now, so I'll keep up the support with my magic, and dungeons should be a breeze!” Mikrim suddenly made a quick wink and a peace sign.
"Aww... thanks, guys," Arka said. "T-This is pretty sweet," She chuckled.
Soon, Arka, Banelfsing and Mikrim backtracked from the dungeon, heading back from where they came from. They saw all the corpses of the undead they have encountered. Inanimate, and lifeless on the ground,
Just like how the dead, should just stay dead.
"So, you're an alchemist too, huh?" Banelfsing asked Mikrim.
"Yep. I can give buffs for you guys the next time we run a dungeon. I forgot to prepare any as I was busy making new magics," Mikrim said.
"You mean your alchemy and your magic aren't the same...?" Banelfsing asked her.
"Yes, they're pretty different from one another, you see..." Mikrim said.
The stone doors of the dungeon finally came into view in front of Arka, showing their exit.
"Exit's near, guys. I can't wait to get outta here!" Arka said.
"Drinks! Drinks at the tavern!" Banelfsing said.
Mikrim smiled as they all walked along together in the party.
They finally reached the stone doors of Great Atrophy's Barrow. As they pushed the stone doors away, they've finally reached the egress they've all been yearning for.
As they each stepped outside, an unfamiliar scenery greeted them.
The sun was gone, and the ever, bountiful forest they once stood, has its fauna and vegetation, disappear. Instead of tree leaves, dead branches are the ones that appeared in front of them to acknowledge their return. The familiar light that bounced off the heads of these three people was replaced by dark clouds, with the sky dyed in the deep, brown, color of rust.