Chapter 28. Day 10. Meat and Potatoes

Things were not going the way that Nenn had anticipated. He had thought non-light aspected healing would work on his [Shapeshift - Deathstalker] form. That theory was quickly put to rest the moment the healing water began to drizzle down onto Nenn’s side. He spontaneously burst into flames. The legend of tindercat would continue on. This time with a much less glorious chapter.

Nenn, out of trained instinct, stopped what he was doing and began to roll on the ground in an attempt to extinguish the flames on his back. A brilliant thought crossed his mind a moment later, and with a usage of [Entangling Roots], Nenn buried himself in the ground, starving the fire of the oxygen it needed to burn. Or the air mana. Or whatever physics the world of The Trial ran on. Either way, it worked, and Nenn’s hide was only a little scorched.

“Oh my goddess. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to set you on fire. What in the sweet depths was that. Why did you catch fire? None of this makes any sense. Did I say I’m sorry, because I am. I-”

“It’s okay,” Nenn said. He got out of the dirt and stretched his back out. “It looks worse than it is. I only lost 30 points of health or so. I’ll be back to normal soon enough.”

Nenn began to draw upon the reserves of decomposed bone mana using [Osteomancer’s Control]. He had refilled his reservoir using the bones from the Helkis’ colossal corpse, so there was plenty of energy to use. The charred portions of his wooden body began to fall away as new growth formed beneath it. Within a minute Nenn was back to looking like a clean, washed-up, piece of driftwood once more.

“That’s pretty neat. Why did you want external healing if you can just do that?” Nessie asked, her eyes wide with concern.

“I can’t really use this in combat. It requires a lot more of a focused effort than I would like it to be. I guess this is one of the setbacks of being a death-aspected being.” Nenn sighed.

“I think the advantages outweigh the negatives,” Elkorin said. “When you get on a roll, there is no stopping you.”

“That’s true when I fight weaker opponents, and can, as you said, roll over them. When I fight strong opponents at level, or higher, then the negatives shine through. Especially when cold-starting a fight against one or more,” Nenn said.

Shirley nodded in agreement of the assessment. Nessie turned her attention his way. She held her hands out in front of her, forming a triangle with her thumbs and index fingers and [Healing Water] began to fall from an imaginary rain cloud located a couple of feet above Shirley. The blood and grim that had layered itself upon the monk washed away, leaving a damp, but freshly laundered monk in his place. Shirley bowed towards Nessie, then stepped out of the shower.

Elkorin seized the opportunity and rinsed the gore off of his trident. With that, the group was once again clean, and no longer reeking of freshly spilled blood and orphaned organs.

“Let’s keep moving. We have a lot of ground to cover before we find the ruins,” Nenn said. The group followed behind him, as they backtracked to the game trail they had previously been following.

***

It did not take long before the party found the first ruin, which was a small solitary stone dwelling that had long since seen its glory days. The remainder of the building consisted of a corner of the house where a stone fireplace and chimney had been, along with part of a stone floor. The rest had crumbled, or been buried and since reclaimed by nature.

The party investigated but found nothing of note, except for the trail of paver stones that sometimes broke through the surface of the forest floor in front of the house. The trail passed straight infront of the ruined dwelling and continued in both directions. The group decided to follow the path away from the sun, which would have eventually shone in their eyes.

It seemed to have been the correct decision as the trail led to more dwellings that began to occur more frequently and in small clusters. The ruins were just as Nenn had remembered them. Overgrown and more than half reclaimed by nature. The sky was beginning to darken as the group finally reached the desired point of interest. The individual ruins had given way to tight clusters of ruins, and the road grew more defined as the party continued on. Eventually the advancement of nature had not quite managed to lay claim to all of the buildings, as some still stood mostly intact.

The party came to the decision to set up camp for the night before they lost the light. While one’s first thought would be to camp inside one of the structurally-intact buildings, it was actually much safer to be in the open when your concern was night predators, as per Velnoriss’ advice. Thankfully, there was a perfect spot available for them. The ruins had clearly been part of a town, and in the middle of it outside some of the larger buildings there was a wide open square. Some of the stone infrastructure remained, but for the most part, it was flat and open, perfect for warding off night predators.

The party divided up labor. Nenn would scout out the immediate area. Shirley and Nessie would gather firewood and anything else useful, while Elkorin unpacked the camping supplies that the Helkis’ army had kindly abandoned. At the same time Elkorin would serve as the rally point if anything went wrong.

Nenn was unsure what dangers could be hiding out in the ruins. In video games, there were usually monsters tied to the ruins. Or, a small tribe of intelligent creatures that had taken up residence. Or bandits. There were lots of possibilities swimming around in his head, but the more that he looked, the more sure he became that the ruins had truly been abandoned.

The ruins here are a lot better preserved than the first bunch we found. Is that because this was a town, and these buildings had a larger buffer with nature, or is this some form of dungeon fuckery, where the dungeon tries to preserve its surroundings? Nenn wondered.

Either way, the ruins around the town center were more robust. Most of the buildings had all of their floors intact, although the wooden floorboards were making an unhealthy cracking sound when Nenn put his weight on them. All in all, the completeness of the ruins made it hard for Nenn to explore every nook and cranny with the limited time he had left in the day. While he was primarily looking out for threats and danger, what he really hoped to find was the entrance to the dungeon. Nenn thought back on Velnoriss’ advice.

“You’ll know it when you see it. You can’t confuse the visual swirling of mana in a doorway-like opening for anything else. At least, that is what I have heard.” Velnoriss had said.

Unfortunately Nenn had to stop looking before he could find the entrance. The sun had set behind the tallest remaining building, which looked to have been a stone clocktower of sorts. Ironically the tower was once again telling the time. It was time to regroup with the others as previously arranged.

***

Nenn was the last to arrive. Elkorin had already taken the gathered firewood and had started a fire. A black cookpot hung over the flames, covered with a lid that betrayed a thin wisp of steam from the contents inside. The party had been lucky in terms of provisions, once again, compliments of the Helkis’ army.

The Helkis might not have been the strongest warlord, but he sure had his logistical game down, Nenn thought. Within a few days he had built out the fortress, and had a supply line in place to keep it fed, Nenn thought. Memories flashed through Nenn’s mind from today’s morning when he had participated in ambushing the latest of the Helkis’ supply caravans.

Evidently there were either no survivors from the fortress, or none of the survivors had warned the rest of the supply line, otherwise word should have reached the caravans and halted them. But it was a very welcome influx of supplies that the newly integrated could not make yet. Starting from nothing made it very difficult to outfit an army, especially when the army keeps growing day-over-day.

Dinner was a simple meal of boiled meat and root vegetables that Nenn recalled tasted like potatoes from his two meal experience with the forest goblins. The smell alone was enough to make Nenn figuratively salivated at the smell. The enhanced ability of his nose was working against him at the moment, but his body had long since transitioned away from eating conventional food. Still, his metaphorical stomach was beginning to grumble. There was a need building deep within Nenn that only intensified when he watched the others chow down on their meal.

The rest of the party sat around the fire and were telling stories of their past lives. And by the rest of the party, that meant Elkorin and Nessie were mostly talking to one another while Shirley nodded along. The naga had it rough. Their world had been several rounds of The Culling already, and things were starting to get thin, now that they had lost nearly 50% of their population. Nessie talked about her time serving in her nation’s navy. She had served as a railgun technician for a number of years, and in the post Trial years, things had started to get spicy.

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A creaking sound broke the party’s lively conversation in its tracks. A scent wafted its way to Nenn’s nose. Hmm, that’s a new scent he thought. He got back onto his feet, and stretched his back out. Whatever that is, it's not good news. The sun’s already set, so could it be a night predator?

The party drew their arms in a hurry. Shirley, by the nature of his weapons, was first to his feet, with Elkorin following close behind. Nessie, on the other hand, was scrambling to find her staff that she had set out of arm's reach.

“Hold down the camp. This one is mine,” Nenn said.

“Are you sure?” Elkorin asked without looking away from the origin of the sound.

“You had your meal. It’s time for me to have mine.”

As if on cue a lumbering shadow just barely came into view on the outskirts of the fire’s sphere of light mana infusion. To Nenn’s enhanced eyes the shadow seemed ill-defined, but it was tall and broad, reaching somewhere close to ten feet in height. It looked humanoid in shape, standing on two legs, two arm-like appendages flanking the creature’s shoulders, and a spherical head, completing the figure.

The monster let out a low growl, as if it was trying to goad the party into fighting away from the safe bastion of the fire. The growl sent the barest of shivers through Nenn’s body, but nothing more. Is that the monster’s attempt at using an ability like [Primal Roar]? Nenn wondered. The monster waited a moment then let loose a thunderous roar.

That’s more like it, Nenn thought. What should have caused fear and panic in Nenn instead awakened his senses, getting his metaphorical blood pumping. The hunger that had been building in him all day had built to a thunderous crescendo urging the deathstalker forward.

Nenn obliged the primal need within him. He dumped some mana and stamina into his body, imitating the power boost of [Ambush Predator] and felt his body surge with power. Two strides. That’s all it took to engage the lumbering shadow. Nenn explosively lunged towards the monster, as time began to slow down for his perspective. The monster reacted, but not quite quick enough. It managed to move one of its arms just enough to partially deflect Nenn’s attack.

Using his claws Nenn managed to slash at the creature's arm, cutting into its flesh. Using his hind legs as he passed Nenn was able to adjust and push off of the beast, moving out of range for its counter attack. From the monster's other arm, a flash of darkness sucked in the already dim radiance, and a bolt-like spell arced through the air at Nenn.

The spell caught Nenn at a vulnerable moment, just as his feet touched down. The attack stung, but far less than the deathstalker would have anticipated. The monster launched another spell, but Nenn dodged this one, only for the monster to move, having anticipated it’s opponent’s movements.

The creature swung its wounded arm towards Nenn, catching him in the shoulders, causing his leg to buckle, bouncing the druid into the ground. It again, stung, but was not enough to actually cause lasting damage. Nenn pounced away before the creature could get another swing at him.

I think I’ve felt out the creature’s abilities enough for now. It definitely lives up to the hype of being a night predator. But, I think it’s time for me to get serious.

Nenn pushed his mana into casting [Entangling Roots]. The overgrown ground was ripe with old growth roots which sprang to Nenn’s aid, breaking through the stone-paved street around the night predator. The roots latched onto the night predator’s injured arm. The monster tried to free itself, but that brief moment of dropping its guard cost it dearly as Nenn sailed straight over the beast’s shoulders. The monster’s severed head trailed behind him. Nenn had willed one of his own roots into a thin, bone-plated and edged-like sword, through a compound usage of [Entangling Roots] and [Osteomancer’s Control].

The night predator slumped over, and crashed to the ground creating a thunderous noise in the otherwise tranquil quiet of night. A moment later Nenn knew the task was done as [Essence Siphon] kicked in, feeding his hunger. Nenn made his way back to the camp. Judging by the looks on everyone’s faces it would appear the fight had garnered two shocked faces out of three. Elkorin of course was the odd one out, having previously fought side-by-side with Nenn.

“Mother below, what in the fuck was that?” Nessie asked. “How did you move so fast, and that- that thing, what did it do? It was hard to keep track in the dark.”

“Oh, let me see. Uhh. Status?” Nenn said and the telltale piece of parchment flew down from the heavens landing on the ground in front of Nenn.

NEW ENTRIES IN COMBAT LOG

You have slain, 1/1 enemy combatants. One Tier 1 Token has been awarded.

Level 30 Dark Lumbering Terror banished. Experience awarded.

“It’s called a Dark Lumbering Terror, apparently, given what the combat log says. I can tell you that the dark part probably refers to its ability to use dark-aspected bolt spells. They are nearly invisible in the dark, given that you have to look for the absence of light to see them. They seem to favor one arm for casting and one for melee combat, which specializes in blunt attacks.They are fast, as you saw, and they are quick to cast, and recast their abilities. And they can strategize and take advantage of openings that you present.”

Shirley raised his hands up, in line with his shoulders to chin level, and used his fingers to form a kind of flat platform in front of his chin, then moved the two hands away from one another horizontally.

“Level?” Nenn asked, receiving an enthusiastic nod in return. “It was level 30.”

The nodding stopped in its tracks. Even Elkorin looked to have been taken aback by that bit of info.

“How can we manage to fight those things?” Nessie asked. “The level difference is too big. Isn’t it?”

“In solo combat, probably not. You are right on that front. But, thankfully there are three of you. Levels are not everything. If you have better technique and awareness, you can out maneuver and out-last an opponent,” Nenn said.

“But- That’s-”Nessie said

“But, think of the experience we’d get from fighting one of those. The bigger the level gap, the bigger the experience bonus,” Elkorin said.

“That’s very true, but for tonight, I think the rest of you should take it easy. The gap is too big and we’re too new to work together that well in the dark. I’ll keep watch,” Nenn said.

“Do you think there will be more of them tonight?” Elkorin asked.

The sound of a wall of bricks falling over in the distance answered the question.

“Oh, yeah, there are… four. Yeah, at least four making their way over right now,” Nenn said sniffing the air.

“You're confident you can handle them? The last one…” Elkorin trailed off.

“Mmm, yeah. I wanted to see what a dark lumbering terror could do so that we had that info going forward. I think now it’s going to be time for a bit more of a vulgar display of power,” Nenn said. Shirley gave him a thumbs up as a smile crossed his face.

A growl sounded out another of the roads that fed into the town square. Right on time the next contestant had appeared. This time Nenn did not even spare it the mercy of allowing it to get its full roar off before he had casted [Entangling Roots].

The earth rumbled as the ground cracked, revealing the empowered roots which sprung up around the dark lumbering terror. The monster spun and slashed with its arm trying to force its way out of the surrounding circle of roots, only to find its movements stymied. The instructions Nenn had given to the roots were very simple. Ensnare, then pull.

The roots contracted violently after wrapping around whatever appendage they could find purchase on. The pulling motion was a blur of activity as the dark lumbering terror was drawn and quartered. And quartered, only to be further quartered as the roots met less and less resistance as the monster transitioned into becoming a jigsaw puzzle of a corpse.

A second stream of [Essence Siphon] started up, fueling Nenn with even more excess death mana. His hunger was quickly becoming satiated, but in the emotional vacuum left behind an enthusiastic bloodthirst was building.

“Oh.” That was the only word to come out of Nessie’s mouth.

Elkorin just sighed. “Figures you could do that. Well, I’m going to get the second fire going so the rest of us can sleep with peace of mind.”

True to form, the party once again realized the wisdom of Velnoriss' advice. There was a reason a camping party slept between two fires. As long as you were between the two fires, you did not cast a long shadow out towards the perimeter, providing an access corridor to a night predator.

“That was-” Nessie’s attempt at following up her previous comment was short lived as another dark lumbering terror appeared where the first one had been, only for it to dissolve into a black bubbling mass of digested flesh with its bones protruding from the rapidly solidifying puddle.

“What the fuck!” Nessie yelled. Shirley was clutching his head trying to figure out what was happening.

The third lumbering terror appeared only to find its torso sliding off of its legs as a set of root lances bisected its body.

Before the fourth and final lumbering terror could make its appearance Nenn activated [Ambush Predator] and fully entered into its stealthy state. There was to be nothing stealthy in Nenn’s usage of the ability. The moment the fourth lumbering terror made its presence known, Nenn overloaded the mana and stamina requirements for the power boost, an easy thing to accomplish with four [Essence Siphon]’s empowering him. Raw, untapped power coursed through his body, which made the previous sprinting lunge look like child’s play.

To Shirley and Nessie, from one instant to the next, the lumbering terror had been there, then suddenly it was not. The sound of rain sounded out on the other side of the town square as the lumbering terror’s nearly vaporized corpse came to a rest. The bodily fluids did not stick around for long as they were quick to evaporate into a steaming stream of mana for [Essence Siphon].

A deep guttural roar ripped through the silence of night from Nenn, thanks to [Primal Roar]. Although Nenn did not actually want to use the ability, it was best to release some of the primal bloodlust that had built up from the [Essence Siphon].

“There we go. We shouldn’t be bothered again tonight,” Nenn said as he nonchalantly walked back to the center of camp, steam rising off of his body.

“Now you’re just showing off,” Elkorin said. “Reel it in a little and just be efficient, we won’t be able to sleep with the sound of exploding corpses raining down around us.”