"8 o'clock."
A shot then erupted from deeper in the dimly lit cavern. It came across Leek's face, nearly brushing his left ear as it passed.
Its dark red hue embedded itself into the creature's fur, burning it enough to brand the fur covering its body.
The monster yelped at the sharp pain. Its advance stopped at attention, dying as a result of the attack.
-ALTgray: "Are you not being even a bit serious? Watch your mini-map if you can't bother." Again, he grew agitated at Leek and his lackluster attempt to remain present and alert.
-Leek: His head, now turned back to face Gray again. "Don't blame me, I'm new to this game still. You're just a smurf, so don't get judgy!" Even with the critical feedback facing him, he knew that there was no actual malice.
Gray has a competitive mindset, so even when trying to have fun, it bleeds into his actions and words.
The two decided to complete the instance dungeon Gray had mentioned before.
It was a musty cavern that had been a section of mountain, which Faerilm is carved into, intended to extend the city. Rather, the project had been abandoned as result of early settlers being incapable of dispatching the creatures that live within.
They weren't anything overwhelming, instead it was the numbers they had. They were like the horde of some monster lord.
In addition to the horrible conditions in the cavern, it was lacking lighting or acceptable oxygen levels. This would be detrimental in the needed sustain expected to cut down the rapidly reproducing monster population.
With the current capabilities of hunters, and even miners, it would not be too much to assume the project could resume. But at this time city officials seem to have forgotten about its initial use case.
Choosing not to cover it up as a simple place for leveling nearby guildsmen, and aiding in needed recreational usage.
-ALTgray: "We're going deeper. Watch for the sneak attacks. They WILL target you specifically."
-Leek: With his hand at salute Leek spouted, "Aye Aye CAPTAIN!" He forced a faux grin, showing as much sarcasm as the games facial models would allow.
Gray did not look back to see this, he moved deeper into the dungeon as he said earlier. With Gray at the helm of this expedition Leek did not have the initiative he would otherwise try and muster.
A veteran would likely keep him safe the whole way through, breezing past hurdles. As its expected of him to have grinded sufficiently here before, when his original play-through needed to do so.
His character had, in its hands, a sword. Its shape was standard, a blade, with a symmetrical cross-guard, attached to a hilt. It was no different to the templates given in fantasy settings, when deciding on weapons to design.
Something peculiar about this had been a dark liquid pooling in the fuller; of which had began at the hilt, and extended into about thirty percent of the blade. It was not the most practical construction, but did have a slight aesthetic appeal.
___
Status Page: Leek (16)
[ Skill Points: 4 ]
HP 18 (+2)
SPD 8 (+2)
VIT 9 (+0)
TEQ 3 (+3)
EVN 5 (+4)
SSK 2
[ LUCK: 7 ](+5)
Inventory: (1)Elixir: Vitality/Basic, Coin Pouch: 97, (6)Angora Tails: Rotten, (7)Angora Tails: Fresh, (1)Drawstring Bag: Basic, (9)Shuriken, (16)Kunai, Gauntlet Pair(Pristine), (6)Potion: Speed/Normal, (3)Elixir: Health/Normal, (3)Elixir: Mana/Higher, (4)Potion: Health/Higher, (6)Scroll: Transcribe/Superior, Glaive(Pristine), Clothing (Pristine), Shoes (Pristine),(+47)Toad Legs: Common/Material, (+7)Toad Tongue: Common/Material, (+12)Scales: Common/Material, (+3)Oral Glands: Uncommon/Venomous
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
___
Coldening Feeling: When Active The User Gains Increased Perception To Nearby Characters/Mobs | Paranoia (1)Stacks With Each Character/Mob In Vicinity While Active, Increasing Hyper-Fixation. Decreases Vitality With Every (2)Stack.
Cut Throat: Increases The Chances To Land Critical Hits For As Long As Bloodlust (3)Stacks Have Been Placed On The User | Reduces Accuracy And Evasion, The User Becomes Frenzied.
___
As they went down Leek took another look at his inventory. It was getting to the point where he felt it was overcrowded, though for an MMORPG his current state of items was nowhere near overzealous.
The materials he had picked up for his last quest were still on his person. He had not taken the time to turn them in for his compensation, planning to do so some time after his current excursion.
-Leek: "I have four skill points." From the last time he checked he gained another level. "Maybe I could go with a little more vitality." This thought came from his lack of investment in the category, not from any necessity.
He did ponder a tad longer, but did not arrive to a satiating conclusion. So he refrained form putting any points into it. And with the spare time he went over, again, the items in his inventory; kept mental note of their potential utility.
Bringing him back to the task at hand was a small twitch.
Somewhere in the dark Leek could feel a threat lurking.
It was to his left. How far exactly, he did not know. Yet it mattered naught, he now had the chance to prepare a counter offense.
...
...
...
-Leek: Anti-climactic? "I'd say so"
His arms grew heavy in wait. It was the mental aspect causing this, as the game did not have such a minor system pertaining to-
"Grrggghrrraaahhh..."
Trying to blitz his immediate position was a small kobold.
Its war-cry gave even greater pretense to its attack. A sword in its hands, both clasped tightly as to choke the hilt.
Speed was not its strong suit, as by the time Leek could recognize what was going on it was still a few steps away.
His glaive, flaunted on his left hand followed his lead.
Together they closed the gap. Coming down well above the creatures head, intending fully to crack its skull under the force of their partnered attack.
The [Kobold Scout (9)] attempted to straight parry the force coming at it. It pulled its sword into a horizontal position, the flat side facing the incoming blow.
With no actual resistance the sword shattered, some pieces having even cut up the face of the kobold.
The [Kobold Scout (9)]'s health flatlined.
[(+1)Cloth: Tattered] was the left in the place of the quasi-sentient beast.
Gray had looked over his shoulder, witnessing the aftermath of his friends committed execution
*Wooosh*
-Leek: "Ughrrghh." He jerked back.
An arrow found its way past his reflex. It lodged into his upper right shoulder, poking out to taunt him in his carelessness.
-ALTgray: His head was still pointed towards the hardheaded friend of his. "wHaT dId I sAy?" Letting down his uptight perspective, to exchange it for sarcasm, he sat nicely atop his hill of conceit. "Don't listen to me; you get SHOT!!!;/?>>,"
Leek rolled his eyes into the back of his head.
Using his right hand, which was covered thoroughly by his gauntlet, he plucked the arrowhead from his body. And without a second thought, crushed it into a fine dust.
The material it was made of had likely been scavanged from around in the cave system. With no access to outside developments, such as smithing or crafting, they were equipped with crude weaponry.
Searching for the cause for his discomfort, Leek came about a shiver hidden behind a shadowed crevice. Clearly the ambush 'speacialist' realized its attacks were futile, and thus, rightfuly so, decided to hide.
He stepped forward, getting a better angle on the small life at his deadly discretion. When he placed proper sight on the being, [Kobold Archer (10)], it tried to jump at his face.
Anticipating some last ditch effort Leek grabbed the critter from out of the air. His iron-clad right hand clenched firmly on the [Kobold Archer (10)]'s throat.
Its face contorted as its airway restricted.
-Leek: He commented on the model of the kobold. "A dog... mixed with a physically retarded wyvern?" They were less like goblins, and closer to a bastardization of mythical and canine species.
It did squirm, and slash violently. Leek, though, decided to not react to its antics. Not wanting to give it any false sense of hope.
Slowly its movements became more encumbered. The light in its eyes which did not burn too brightly to begin with was left at a mere kindling.
*Cchraghhtt*
Its body went limp, the health above its head fell to zero, and its spine was fundamentally severed from its body. Released from Leek's deadly hold, it did not have the chance to hit the ground.
In its stead was an item drop; [(+3)Arrows: Crude/Common]
Leek and Gray, the demons of the shallow cavern, descended further.
""
*Hgmmhhhhh*
A deep grumble echoed along the unfurnished walls. Bouncing around, and embellishing the unnerving presence of the beast producing it.
Footsteps pattering along started not too long after.
Quickly they moved around the terrain of the cavern, not wasting more than a step. Escaping from whatever gave them the motive to head out as one unit.