The duo inched to the corner and glanced down the hallway. Three skeletons shuffled to the sight of their fight. One was devoid of any equipment while another was wearing two gloves and one boot. The final creature sported an actual weapon for once. It stood a head taller than the other two and brandished a gilded ax. The bones gave off a sheen unseen on any of the other skeletons that they had fought yet.

https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FgrxpVtG.jpg [https://i.imgur.com/grxpVtG.jpg]

Plans formed in his mind of which to take out first. Would they destroy most dangerous one with the ax and then handle its lackeys afterwards or do they destroy two brittle looking skeletons that they understood well immediately? Fewer enemies to handle was always safer and fighting an unknown threat first might spell a disaster without knowing what their capabilities are. The weakling needed to go first. That was the only real option.

They laid in wait like they had done for the skull arachnid and launched their surprise attack on the two skeletons that led the group.

+40 xp for defeating Skeletal Shamblers [Summon small monster] has inherited the xp in your place. 15/400 xp Level Up! Nurgle matures slightly.

The surprise attack went smoothly and the first enemies quickly perished to their assault. The last skeleton was all that was left. The duo pulled back from the destroyed creatures and readied themselves for the upcoming combat with the unknown skeleton. It walked with more fluidity than the others and picked up the pace upon seeing them exit its range.

Drew raised his buckler up in front of him and waited for the skeleton to approach. It raised the ax and brought it down with surprising speed given its kin's relative clumsiness. A quick jerk backwards took Drew out of its range but the air splitting slash came closer than he was happy with.

“Watch out Nurgle, this thing could actually kill us.” The little cyclops put up his guard and circled to the side of it. The creature rushed forward into Drew’s range and started to swing again . He raised his shield just in time to block a swing that was aimed for his neck, ready to decapitate him. The force of the hit blew his arm back into his face and caused the ax to glance off inches from his nose.

Nurgle took the opportunity the hit provided to smash his club into the skeleton's ankle, causing it to lose its footing on the smooth stone. It slammed into the floor, but kept a tight hold onto its ax. Not one to waste an opportunity given, Drew rushed in and hammered his beaten buckler into the hand holding the ax tight. The skeleton didn’t stay still waiting for its demise and attempted to beat him back with its free hand.

Nurgle slammed his club into the boney shoulder nonstop to lessen the strength it could provide. Slowly cracks developed along the places the duo focused their assault and the creature started thrashing with renewed vigor in an attempt to ward off the attackers. One final hit with all Drew had shattered the wrist and caused the ax to clatter to the floor.

With the main threat neutralized, the duo felt safe to aggress on the downed monster. They switched their attacks to deadlier points of attack by focusing on the neck and head. Death was closer than they realized as the shattered ulna and radius bones turned into a deadly spear that would not be so easily disarmed.

The poor traction was Drew’s saving grace as the wild swipes of the mad skeleton caused it to slip forward and slam into the floor instead of his chest. The sheer force of the strike chipped the hard stone floor where it made contact. Using its disheveled state, the pair gathered their bearings with Drew picking up the discarded ax in his right hand and Nurgle positioning himself behind the larger man.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

They were out of breath from the mad scuffle they had just partaken in,, but the skeleton shared no such need for relief. It stood up and immediately rushed them with violence in its hollow eye sockets.

An overhead strike with the newly acquired ax landed poorly but achieved good results as the blow lodged itself into the creature's temple. Despite the new addition of a weapon stuck into its head, it pressed on and stabbed at Drew with its new spear. The bones snagged the janitor clothes and ripped right through the heavy stitching.

“Oh shit!” The near disembowelment sent shivers down his spine and renewed his fighting spirit in a bid to continue living. “Fuck you!”

He slammed the buckler into the back of the ax like a hammer and chisel. The new force split the skull in half and stopped the creature’s struggling.

+65 xp for defeating Skeletal lieutenant [Summon small monster] has inherited the xp in your place. 90/400 xp

“That was way too close to Nurgle.” The duo slumped against the wall and watched the bones turn to dust. The little cyclops seemed to agree with that conclusion and leaned against Drew’s leg to rest.

“An hour in and we nearly rushed to our deaths twice in a row.” The weapon sat on the floor randomly reflecting the flares of light given off by the torches.” That could have been really bad.”

They sat in relative silence watching the ends of the hallways while they regained a semblance of calm. Their hearts normalized and their bodies, drained of adrenaline, ached with the overuse.

“I think we need to take a break while we let our bodies rest.”

Timed ticked on and the odd skeleton or two would wander down the hallway and give Drew practice with his new weapon as well as fill out the armor he was missing. No new dangers arrived in the few hours they sat in rest with the steady stream of experience slowly inching his skill closer to level 4.

+100 xp for defeating Skeletal Shamblers [Summon small monster] has inherited the xp in your place. 190/400 xp

The duo looked almost like real fantasy adventurers now that their rest was over. Drew had collected shoulder pads, gloves, and pants at various stages of disrepair. All he was missing were a chest piece and helmet to complete his ensemble. Nurgle also received some new protective pieces.

Using the new ax, Drew cut the fingers off a few spare gloves and gave him nearly a full set of leather armor. The shin high cyclops looked like a shrunken garrison member with a bobble head and glove hat. If he had thread, he could have it look custom made with all the extra material laying around.

“You look pretty good there.” The little guy slapped his sides in excitement at the praise and seemed ready to get to the next fight. “Let’s kick some ass.”

The pair trudged ahead into the torch lit halfway finding no resistance all the way to the first split they had met the skull arachnid at. Sticking to what they knew well, the duo went to the spot it previously guarded. No new creature had spawned in to take its gruesome place.

The room it had occupied was only slightly larger than the hallway it connected to, yet it ended in a new feature. A wooden doorway sat where the creature had been stationed. Drew could only imagine what kind of treasure such a fearsome monster would be guarding. Forcing himself and Nurgle to approach the wooden structure with previously unseen care, the pair inspect everything in view closely, not wanting to be caught off guard.

This new weariness immediately paid dividends as the slow speed and careful nature allowed Drew to see a wire glinting in the torchlight a few feet in front of the door at shin level. Nurgle continued pass his master, oblivious to his discovery nor the danger he was walking into.

“Stop!” The little creature froze an inch away from the wire that sat at head level for him. “Come back to me very slowly.”

The cyclops turned his head to look at Drew which sent the fingers of the glove hat slapping into the thin wire and snapping it on contact.