Elara marveled at the sensation of Boogie's warmth in her hand, the elemental's flickering flames dancing between her fingers. With a gentle touch, she pet Boogie, her fingers gliding over the fiery core. Boogie seemed to enjoy the affectionate gesture, its flames growing brighter and more vibrant with each stroke.
Suddenly, Boogie leapt from her hand, floating effortlessly around the room. She watched in awe as the Juvenile Fire Elemental glided through the air, its movements fluid and graceful. She wondered why flying wasn't listed among Boogie's skills, but then a thought struck her. Walking wasn't one of her skills, yet it came naturally to her. Perhaps floating was to Boogie what walking was to her—an innate ability that required no specific skill.
With Boogie exploring the room, she turned her attention to the mana crystals scattered around the table. She gathered them up, carefully placing each one into the satchels she had found earlier. As she worked, her gaze fell upon the two shampoo potions she had discovered on the shelves. After a moment's hesitation, she reached for them, feeling a twinge of sheepishness as she placed them into one of the satchels.
"Now that I have more space, it's okay to take these, right?" she asked aloud, glancing at Boogie as if seeking approval. The elemental, however, seemed more interested in the fire mana crystals inside the satchel than her question. Boogie's gaze was fixed on the glowing stones peaking out, its flames flickering with anticipation. She smiled, understanding Boogie's fascination. She reached into the satchel and retrieved one of the fire mana crystals, placing it gently on the table. With a nod of encouragement, she invited Boogie to take it.
Boogie wasted no time darting towards the crystal with an excited flicker of its flames. The elemental hovered over the glowing stone, its core pulsing with energy as it absorbed the fire mana. Elara slipped the belt around her waist, pleasantly surprised to find that it fit, albeit a bit loosely. She wouldn't complain, though; a belt was a belt, and she was happy to have it. She glanced around the chamber once more, realizing that they had spent enough time there. It was time to move on and explore further. She gently scooped up Boogie and made her way towards the door, stepping out into the hallway once again.
Her gaze fell upon the three other doors, each adorned with a glowing glyph. She tried to use her inspect skill on one of the glyphs, but to her surprise, nothing happened. Undeterred, she attempted to decipher the glyph as she had done before, focusing her vision and zooming in on the intricate symbols. As her sight expanded, she felt that familiar sense of wonder washing over her, but it was abruptly cut short. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to fully comprehend the expanded glyph. Confusion creased her brow; this was unlike anything she had come across before.
She made a few more attempts, but each one proved unsuccessful. She considered the doors, wondering if she should try to teleport inside using her Voidwalk ability. However, she quickly dismissed the idea. If she had teleported through the rubble she’d seen earlier. She would have been free-falling towards her doom. And now, with Boogie in her care, she had to think about more than just herself. Instead, she focused on finding a comfortable place to rest and, hopefully, an exit to the building. She had already decided to return and explore the other avenues she had passed up, but for now, her priority was to ensure their well-being.
She and Boogie continued down the hallway. As they walked, she noticed a change in the ground beneath her feet. The once smooth surface had become uneven, with marks that suggested something had pressed up from below. Each step required careful consideration, as the disrupted ground made it difficult to maintain her balance. Her brow furrowed as she navigated the challenging terrain, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of what might have caused the disturbance. Boogie now floating alongside her, its flickering flames casting a warm glow on the walls.
After a minute of cautious progress, they came across a gaping hole in the ground. Debris lay scattered around the edges as if something had burst through from beneath. Elara approached the hole, peering down into the darkness below. Even with Boogie's light at her side, she couldn't see the bottom. A sense of unease crept over her as she considered her options. Part of her wanted to explore the depths. Her goal was to get lower. Yet, the unknown nature of what awaited them gave her pause.
Boogie, however, seemed to have no such reservations. The Juvenile Fire Elemental left her side, floating down into the hole with a curious flicker of its flames. As Boogie descended, its light illuminated the way, casting a soft purple glow on the walls of the passage below and onto the floor. She felt a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of Boogie's light. With the elemental leading the way, the prospect of venturing into the unknown seemed less daunting. Taking a deep breath, she focused her mind and activated her Voidwalk ability. In an instant, she felt the familiar sensation of her body dematerializing; her form becoming one with the void.
She rematerialized at the bottom of the hole, her feet touching solid ground once more. She glanced around, taking in her new surroundings. The passage was narrow, with rough walls that seemed to have been carved out by some unknown force. Boogie floated nearby, its flames casting dancing shadows on the stone. She took a moment to settle herself, crossing her legs and closing her eyes. She focused on her breathing, allowing her mind to clear as she activated her meditation skill. As she sat in silence, she could feel her mana and stamina slowly replenishing, the energy flowing through her body like a gentle stream.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and ready to continue. She glanced around, noting that there was only one way forward. With a nod to Boogie, she set off down the passage, the Juvenile Fire Elemental floating a few meters ahead, its flames illuminating the path. As they ventured deeper into the unknown, her senses were on high alert, her eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. Suddenly, she caught sight of something in the distance—a humanoid figure slumped against the left wall of the tunnel. Elara's heart raced as she hissed urgently for Boogie to stop and stay. The elemental obeyed, hovering in place as she crouched down, trying to creep closer to the figure without making a sound.
As she approached, she noticed the figure was unresponsive, showing no signs of movement or reaction to her presence or Boogie's light. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized the figure wasn't breathing at all.
Her mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. Was this some kind of trap? Or worse, a glimpse of what fate awaited her in this strange place? Despite her fear, she forced herself to keep moving, inching closer to the figure with each passing second. As she drew nearer, the details of the figure became clearer, and Elara's terror only grew. The humanoid shape was undeniable, but its appearance was far from natural. Its skin was pale and shiny, almost like polished marble, and its face was devoid of any distinguishable features. Where eyes, nose, and mouth should have been, there were only slight dents and small extrusions, giving the impression of a blank, unfinished sculpture.
As her gaze traveled over the figure's head, she noticed the absence of hair. Instead, the pale, shiny surface continued uninterrupted, save for a handle of something protruding from the back of its head. Her eyes continued to study the figure, taking in every unsettling detail. The being before her was not wearing any clothing. Its smooth, featureless skin was exposed for all to see. Despite its humanoid shape, with a torso, two arms, and two legs, there was something distinctly off about its proportions. The arms and legs seemed too long, as did the torso, giving the figure an almost stretched appearance.
As her gaze roamed over the figure's body, she noted the absence of any sex-defining features. It was as if the figure had been crafted with the sole purpose of resembling a human, but without any of the intricacies that made humans unique. Her mind raced with questions as she stood before the unsettling figure. Was it alive, or was it some kind of puppet or stature? Elara focused her gaze on the unsettling figure, her curiosity overriding her fear. She activated her Inspect skill, hoping to glean some information about the being before her.
"Servitor Golem," Elara whispered, the words appearing in front of her by the system. She studied the golem more closely, taking in the intricate details of its construction.
The golem's body was crafted from a smooth, white material that resembled marble. Its surface was adorned with thin, barely visible lines that formed intricate patterns reminiscent of the circuitry found in advanced technology. The golem's joints were seamless, giving the impression that it had been carved from a single piece of stone. As her inspection continued, she noticed a small, circular indent on the golem's chest. It was clear that this indent served a purpose, perhaps as a power source or a means of activation. However, upon closer examination, Elara realized that the indent was empty, and the golem remained lifeless and unresponsive.
Stolen novel; please report.
Her mind raced with questions as she tried to make sense of her discovery. What was the purpose of this Servitor Golem? Who did it serve and to what purpose? and why had it been left here, abandoned and with its power source removed?
Despite the golem's unsettling appearance, she found herself drawn to it. There was something about its craftsmanship that spoke of advanced technology and a level of skill that was beyond anything she had ever encountered here or in her world. She reached out, her fingers hovering just above the golem's smooth surface. She hesitated, wondering if it was wise to touch the lifeless being. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she gently placed her hand on the golem's chest, feeling the cool, unyielding material beneath her palm.
Her gaze was drawn to the handle protruding from the back of the Servitor Golem's head. Curiosity getting the better of her, she reached out and grasped the handle, giving it a gentle tug. To her surprise, the handle didn't budge. It was stuck in place.
Frowning, she adjusted her grip and tried again, putting more force into her pull. Still, the handle remained stubbornly in place. Frustration welled up inside her, and she muttered a curse under her breath. Determined to get the object out, she braced one of her feet against the wall beside the lifeless golem. She took a deep breath and, with a grunt of effort, pulled on the handle once more, putting her entire weight against it.
This time, the handle gave way, sliding out of the golem's head with a soft click. She stumbled back a few steps, her eyes widening as she took in the object she now held in her hand. It was a dagger, its blade a pristine white that seemed to glow softly in the dim light of Boogie. The weapon was unlike anything she had ever seen before, its surface marked with intricate golden lines that resembled cracks in the white metal. Her heart raced as she studied the dagger in her hand, its blade glowing softly in the dim light. She focused her mind and activated her Inspect skill. Immediately, words began to materialize before her eyes, hovering in the air like ghostly whispers:
Solstice Shard
Quality: Superior
Crafted from metal harvested from an Arcane Nullifier, the Solstice Shard possesses a unique ability—it ignores mana. This means that it can penetrate through creation made from mana, rendering it ineffective against its piercing strike. However, it's crucial to note that only the dagger itself bypasses mana constructs; the wielder remains unable to breach such creations.
Her eyes widened as she read the description, her grasp on the dagger's hilt growing firmer. A weapon capable of bypassing mana sounds useful, though she admittedly wasn't entirely sure what counts as mana constructs. She could envision something of the sort. She held the Solstice Shard aloft, a triumphant grin spreading across her face as she turned to face Boogie. The Juvenile Fire Elemental flickered with excitement, mirroring her enthusiasm despite not fully understanding the significance of the weapon.
"Look at this, Boogie!" She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. "It's a dagger that can bypass mana! Isn't that incredible?"
Boogie bobbed up and down, its flames dancing with joy at seeing its companion so happy. She chuckled, amused by the elemental's reaction, even though she knew it was simply feeding off her own emotions.
As she lowered the dagger, she realized she had no proper place to store it. The weapon lacked a sheath, leaving her with no choice but to keep it in her right hand for the time being. She frowned slightly, wondering if she would manage to wield the dagger effectively.
Elara had never received any combat training, let alone how to handle a dagger. She had only seen such weapons being used in movies and video games, and she doubted those depictions were entirely accurate. Still, she figured that some practice was better than none. With that thought in mind, she turned to Boogie and asked the elemental to keep its distance. She didn’t want to accidentally harm her companion while attempting to familiarize herself with the dagger.
Taking a deep breath, she shifted her stance, trying to mimic the postures she had seen in various forms of media. She gripped the dagger tightly in her right hand and swung it through the air, attempting to execute cuts and stabs with as much precision as she could muster. As she continued to practice, she felt a sudden rush of knowledge flowing into her mind. The system recognized her efforts and rewarded her with a new skill:
Congratulations!
General Skill Acquired: Dagger Handling [Level 1]
[Dagger Handling lvl 1]: You have acquired the foundational expertise in dagger handling, encompassing grips, stances, and basic strikes. This forms the bedrock for further mastery of this weapon.
Elara couldn't help but grin as she read the skill description. It was exactly as she expected that the system would reward such behavior. It made it worth it to flail about a dagger, one that was more likely to hurt her than any adversary she would fight against. As she got the skill, she could immediately feel her stance and grip on the dagger change. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt with a newfound confidence, the weapon feeling like an extension of her arm rather than a dangerous object she had to be careful with. Her feet shifted, her body instinctively adopting a more balanced and stable posture.
She nodded at Boogie, a satisfied smile on her face. "Let's keep going," she said, her voice filled with determination. "We've got some more ground to cover."
With the Solstice Shard in hand and Boogie at her side, she set off down the tunnel once more. The passage stretched on, its walls rough and uneven, a testament to the unknown force that had carved it out.
After what felt like an eternity, she and Boogie reached the end of the tunnel. The path had been abruptly cut off, and in its place was a gaping hole in the wall, leading into a vast hall. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. The hall was made of pristine white stone, with towering pillars lining either side. The ceiling was adorned with intricate glyphs that emitted a soft, ethereal light, bathing the room in a gentle glow.
She crept closer to the opening, her footsteps echoing softly in the cavernous space. Suddenly, a sound reached her ears, causing her to freeze in place. It was a dragging noise, like stone scraping against stone, and it sent a shiver down her spine. Acting on instinct, she reached out and scooped Boogie up, tucking the Juvenile Fire Elemental down the front of her shirt. The warmth of Boogie's flames against her chest was a comforting presence, helping to calm her racing heart.
With Boogie's light muffled by her shirt, she sneaked closer to the opening. The hole in the wall was about a meter above the ground, forcing her to climb up and peek over the edge. As she reached the opening, she quickly ducked behind a pile of rubble, her heart pounding in her chest. She peered around the edge of the debris, trying to locate the source of the unsettling sound. She waited with bated breath, her body pressed against the cold stone of the rubble pile. She strained her ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the dragging sound that echoed through the vast hall. Minutes ticked by, each second feeling like an eternity as the noise grew louder and closer.
Suddenly, a humanoid figure emerged from behind one of the towering pillars, its movements slow and labored. Elara's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the being. It looked like the Servitor Golem, similar to the lifeless one she had encountered in the tunnel, but this one was very much active and standing more upright. She instinctively activated her Inspect skill, focusing her attention on the golem. The words that materialized before her eyes sent a chill down her spine:
Servitor Golem [Level: ??]
The question marks that replaced the golem's level were a stark difference from the other ones she saw. Questions swirled in her mind as she observed the golem from her hiding place. Was it hostile, programmed to attack any intruders? Or was it simply carrying out its designated tasks, unaware of her presence? The uncertainty was almost as terrifying as the golem itself.
Her hand tightened around the hilt of the Solstice Shard, the dagger's weight a slight comfort in the face of the unknown. She could feel Boogie's warmth against her chest, the Juvenile Fire Elemental's presence a reminder that she wasn't alone now. Her heart raced as she observed the Servitor Golem from her hiding place. She scanned the vast hall, searching for any way forward. Her eyes darted from one towering pillar to another, hoping to spot a door or archway that could lead her away from the unsettling being.
As she searched, an idea formed in her mind. She needed to test the golem's reactions, to gauge its level of awareness and hostility if she wanted to sneak past. She reached down and picked up a small piece of rubble, weighing it in her hand. She drew her arm back and hurled the rubble with all her might, sending it arcing through the air. The stone sailed to the side, landing with a loud clatter some twenty meters to her left.
The Servitor Golem's reaction was instantaneous. It whirled around, its movements sudden and jerky, and hurried towards the source of the noise. She watched in stunned silence as the golem reached the fallen rubble and wailed on it with its deformed arms, striking the stone with a ferocity that sent shivers down her spine.
As the golem attacked the rubble, Elara took in its appearance more closely. Its elongated arms and legs were even more pronounced now that it was standing upright. One arm was bent at an unnatural angle, while the other seemed to be twisted and deformed. Its legs were equally unsettling, with one appearing to be broken, being dragged by the creature and the other dented and misshapen.
In the center of the golem's chest, a dull green light pulsed, casting an eerie glow across its smooth, white surface. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of what she was witnessing. A morbid thought crossed Elara's mind, and she couldn't help but just stare at the creature. If the golem was this aggressive towards a mere piece of rubble, she could only imagine what it would do to her if it discovered her presence. The thought of being on the receiving end of those flailing, deformed arms sent a chill through her body.
She glanced down at her status, her eyes falling on the number beside her health: 70. She wondered if that would be enough to withstand an assault from the Servitor Golem, should it come to that. The uncertainty gnawed at her, adding to the growing sense of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.