Elara weighed her options, her gaze flitting between the raging Servitor Golem and the vast expanse of the hall before her. Turn back and retrace her steps, or press forward? A part of her screamed to retreat. But another voice, quieter yet more insistent, urged her onward. She had come too far. Why turn back when there is no guarantee that there wouldn't be a golem in the other places as well?
She made her choice. She would press on, but with caution. Keeping low to the ground, she made her way down and began to slink along the edges of the hall, using the towering pillars and debris piles as cover. Her eyes remained fixed on the Servitor Golem, watching its every movement like a hawk. As she crept forward, she reached down and scooped up a small pebble, rolling it between her fingers. With a deft flick of her wrist, she sent the pebble skittering across the floor; the sound echoing off the walls. The Golem immediately whirled in the direction of the noise, its deformed limbs flailing wildly.
She seized the opportunity, scurrying forward a few meters before pausing to repeat the process. Pebble after pebble, she kept the Golem's attention diverted, its focus drawn away from her stealthy advance. A faint chime sounded in her mind, accompanied by a message that flickered across her vision.
General Skill Acquired: Soft Footing [Level: 1]
She ignored the notification and its description, her focus unwavering. She couldn't afford any distractions now, not with the constant threat of discovery looming over her. One meter turned into dozens as she continued her cautious trek, always keeping a wall at her side and pillar between herself and the raging Golem. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins with every step.
Then, as she rounded a particularly large pillar, something caught her eye. A massive structure loomed before her, its shape vaguely reminiscent of an airplane staircase, but on a far grander scale than anything she had ever seen. The staircase stood between two towering pillars, completely isolated, with nothing surrounding it. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight. The stairs were indeed colossal. She would guess about 2 stories high. But what truly captured her attention were the wheels attached to the base. The entire structure was designed to move.
Questions swirled in her mind as she studied the peculiar staircase. What could be so large that it would require such a contraption? The sheer size of it was staggering, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creep up her spine. The staircase, devoid of any railing, stretched up into empty air, leading to nothing. Whatever it had once been used to access, it was no longer there. Despite the unease that crept through her, she couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer scale and peculiarity of the structure.
Boogie seemed equally intrigued, their fiery form wriggling with excitement. Before she could react, the Juvenile Fire Elemental slipped out from under her shirt and began floating up the staircase, leaving a trail of flickering embers in their wake. Panic seized her heart as she watched Boogie ascend. She couldn't risk drawing the attention of the Servitor Golem, but she couldn't let Boogie wander off alone either. With a quick glance over her shoulder to ensure the Golem was still distracted, she climbed the stairs as quietly as she could, her soft footsteps barely audible against the ancient stone.
"Boogie!" she hissed, her voice a desperate whisper. "Get back here!"
But Boogie seemed not to hear her, or chose to ignore her pleas. They continued to float upwards, their fiery form casting an eerie glow on the surrounding stairs. She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to close the distance between herself and Boogie. She reached out, her fingers stretching to grab hold of the elemental, but Boogie dodged her grasp with a playful twirl, always just out of reach.
Higher and higher they climbed, the ground below growing more distant with each step. Her mind raced with what might happen if the Golem spotted them from below.
Just as she was about to make another attempt to snatch Boogie, the elemental came to an abrupt halt at the very top of the staircase. They hovered there, their fiery form pulsing with curiosity as they peered out into the empty air beyond. She finally caught up, her breath coming in short gasps as she reached the top step. She reached out once more, this time wrapping her fingers around Boogie's warm, flickering form.
"Boogie, please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.
She sucked in the words she wanted to speak, her heart pounding in her chest as she heard the Servitor right below the staircase, not where she had last seen it. Her stomach churned with fear, and she glanced down, finding the golem dragging itself up towards her, using its hands to quicken its ascent, one leg being dragged behind. Her hands trembled as she looked at the lumbering monstrosity. The sight sent a jolt of terror through her. Her eyes flicked to her skills. She didn't have time for second guessing.
She pressed both of her hands flat together, letting go of Boogie and the Solstice Shard dagger. She activated her Umbral Shift skill, feeling the world around her blur and warp as she entered a state of Void.
The Servitor Golem reached her and wailed on her with its massive limbs, but every blow passed through empty air as her Umbral Shift kept her safe from harm. She saw Boogie float to the other side of the Golem and explode fire outwards from its core, hitting the Golem and pushing it back.
Elara saw an opportunity. As the Golem stumbled forward, she made herself go into a crouch, and darted out her leg, tripping the one working leg of the golem. With a deafening crash, the golem lost its balance and fell over to the side before plummeting to the ground, defeated. A notification flashed in front of her eyes.
You have defeated Servitor Golem [Level 28].
You have earned 1272 Exp.
You have leveled up to Level 5.
Her heart raced with exhilaration and relief as she caught her breath, heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the fallen Servitor Golem, its lifeless form sprawled across the ground below. A notification flashed before her eyes, informing her of the stat points she had gained from the encounter.
"25 stat points to allocate," she muttered to herself, surprise and relief washing over her in equal measure. She couldn't believe how quickly the battle had ended, despite the stress and fear that had gripped her throughout.
As she sat down on one of the steps, her mind raced with the realization of just how crucial Boogie had been to their victory. Without the Juvenile Fire Elemental's timely intervention, she would have been in serious trouble. Her thoughts turned to her Umbral Shift skill and the limitations she had discovered during the fight. She had to keep both hands pressed together for the effect to last the full five seconds, rendering her unable to take any other actions during that time. Running wouldn't have gotten her far, and standing still left her vulnerable after the five seconds.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She glanced over at Boogie, who floated nearby, their fiery form casting a warm glow on the ancient stone. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she realized how much the elemental was beginning to mean to her.
"Thank you, Boogie," she whispered, reaching out to give the elemental an affectionate pat. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Boogie wiggled happily in response, their flames dancing with joy at the praise. She couldn't help but chuckle at the elemental's enthusiasm, feeling a sense of warmth and companionship wash over her. As she sat there, catching her breath, she couldn't help but thank whoever did a number on the Golem before they got here. Had the Golem not been on its last leg, the fall probably would have sufficed.
She took a deep breath and opened her status screen, her eyes scanning the information before her. The 25 stat points she had earned from defeating the Servitor Golem glowed invitingly, begging to be allocated. She considered her options, wondering if she should wait and try to gain some stats through natural means before assigning the points.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
But as she glanced around at the unfamiliar surroundings, she realized she didn't have the luxury of time. She needed to be prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead, and that meant making the most of her stat points now. Her thoughts turned to the idea of putting everything into wisdom, which would grant her 125 mana. The prospect of being able to use more skills, particularly Voidwalk twice in succession, was incredibly appealing. With some spare mana left over for her other abilities, she felt that this could give her a significant advantage in future encounters.
She acknowledged that this choice would leave her with her relatively low health, making her more vulnerable. However, she had already decided in her mind to avoid any injury and steer clear of close-quarters combat. She had no healing skills or experience dealing with injuries, and the thought of being left to fend for herself with a dislocated shoulder, or worse, was a terrifying prospect. Her fingers hovered over the wisdom stat, ready to commit her points. She took one last moment to consider her decision, weighing the potential risks and rewards. In the end, the allure of increased mana and the ability to use her skills more frequently won out. With a determined nod, she tapped the wisdom stat, watching as the points were allocated and her mana pool expanded.
Mana: 5/180
She glanced at her mana pool, her brow furrowing as she noticed that, despite the increase in her maximum capacity, her current mana remained unchanged. She had hoped that allocating her stat points into wisdom would grant her an immediate boost. Her gaze turned to Boogie, who hovered nearby, their fiery form casting a warm glow.
"Boogie, I need to meditate for a bit to regain my mana," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Could you keep an eye out for any disturbances and let me know if you detect anything?"
Boogie wiggled in acknowledgment, their flames dancing with a sense of purpose. She smiled, grateful for the elemental's companionship and willingness to help. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and focused her mind inward. She felt the world around her fade away as she tapped into the well of energy within her. The Meditate skill came naturally, as if she had been practicing it for years.
Time seemed to stand still as she sat there, her breathing slow and steady. She could feel the mana flowing into her, replenishing her reserves with each passing moment. The sensation was both invigorating and calming, a strange dichotomy that left her feeling more centered than ever before. She sat there, her eyes closed and her mind focused inward. The world around her faded away as she delved deeper into her meditation, the Meditate skill guiding her through the process.
Hours passed, but she didn't feel the weight of time pressing down on her. She was lost in a state of tranquility, her mana reserves slowly replenishing with each passing moment. As she finally opened her eyes, a notification flashed before her:
Meditation Skill Leveled Up!
[Meditation lvl 5]: Increases mana regeneration by 50% and stamina regeneration by 25% while meditating.
She blinked, surprise washing over her as she processed the information. She had been so immersed in her meditation that she hadn't even noticed the skill leveling up. A small frown tugged at the corners of her lips as she considered the implications.
Each level for the meditation skill was taking longer to achieve than the last. She recalled how quickly she had progressed from Level 1 to Level 4, the experience points flowing in at a steady pace. But now, reaching Level 5 had taken significantly more time and effort. She couldn't help but wonder if this was a pattern that would continue as she advanced further in the skill. She pondered the implications of the meditation skill's leveling process, her mind drifting to the other stats she had considered investing in. The intelligence stat, in particular, caught her attention.
She recalled how the intelligence stat was supposed to increase not only the experience points she earned but also her learning ability, which likely extended to her skills. The more she thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. She imagined how much faster she could progress through the levels of her various skills with a higher intelligence stat. The prospect of mastering her abilities more quickly and efficiently was incredibly enticing.
However, she knew she had already committed her stat points to wisdom. Though she didn’t regret the choice immediately, a flicker of doubt crept in, making her wonder how things might have turned out if she had chosen to invest in intelligence instead.
"Maybe next time," she muttered to herself, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She knew that there would be plenty of opportunities to allocate stat points in the future, and the Intelligence stat would definitely be a strong contender for her next investment.
With a determined nod, she rose to her feet, feeling refreshed and reinvigorated after her extended meditation session. She glanced over at Boogie, who had remained diligently by her side throughout the process.
"Thanks for keeping watch, Boogie," she said, reaching out to give the Juvenile Fire Elemental an affectionate pat. "I think it's time we get moving again." Boogie wiggled in response, their flames dancing with excitement at the prospect of further exploration.
She turned to Boogie, an idea forming in her mind as she considered their next move. "Boogie, do you think you could light up the room and float around while doing so?"
Boogie wiggled in response, their flames growing brighter and more intense as they understood her request. With a playful twirl, the Juvenile Fire Elemental ascended, casting a warm, flickering glow on the ancient stone walls.
She watched in awe as Boogie floated higher and higher, their purple light illuminating more of the vast hall than the glyphs did with each passing moment. She realized that the height of the staircase she stood on provided the perfect vantage point to survey their surroundings, now secure knowing that the commotion they had caused would have summoned any other creatures.
As Boogie floated in a circle, moving counterclockwise, her eyes widened in amazement. The hall was truly immense, stretching out for what seemed like multiple soccer fields in depth. Despite Boogie's brilliant light, she still couldn't see the ceiling, only the glowing glyphs that adorned its surface.
Far to her right, Boogie’s light revealed a set of massive doors previously concealed by the darkness, split down the middle to open on both sides. Thick iron chains stretched taut on each side, disappearing from the door into the floor. The chains, heavy and rusted, added to the ominous feeling of the towering structure, as if they had held the doors sealed for ages.
Her mind raced as she considered the implications of the door's size. She surmised that whatever came through those doors must be the reason for the staircase's existence, allowing access to the colossal thing that was intended to come through. As she stood atop the staircase, her curiosity piqued by the imposing doors that dominated the wall to her right. She couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond those massive barriers. The sheer size of the doors suggested that whatever was meant to pass through them must be colossal, and the thought both thrilled and terrified her.
Her gaze drifted to the chains that vanished into the ground, her mind racing as she tried to surmise where the controls for them might be located. With a determined nod, she descended the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the vast, empty hall.
The journey to the doors took several minutes, and with each step, she noticed a distinct change in the surrounding air. The temperature seemed to drop with every meter she covered, and a light breeze caressed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. As she approached the doors, her eyes scanned the surrounding walls, searching for any sign of a control mechanism. It didn't take long for her to spot a lever, its rusted surface barely visible in the dim light cast by Boogie's flickering flames.
Her heart raced as she realized that there was another lever, just a few meters away from the first. She called Boogie back to her side, the Juvenile Fire Elemental's warmth providing a comforting presence in the increasingly chilly atmosphere. With a deep breath, she reached out and grasped the lever, her fingers wrapping around the cold, rusted metal. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was making the right decision. But her curiosity won out, and with a determined grunt, she pulled the lever down.
The mechanism resisted at first, the years of disuse making it difficult to budge. She gritted her teeth and put all her strength into the task, her muscles straining as she fought against the stubborn lever.
Finally, with a loud, metallic groan, the lever gave way, and the chains connected to one half of the door moved. The sound of metal scraping against stone filled the hall, echoing off the ancient walls and reverberating in her ears. Slowly, painfully, the massive door opened inward, the process agonizingly slow and accompanied by a cacophony of creaks and groans. She watched in awe as the door slowly opened, revealing a glimpse of what lay beyond.
As the massive door slowly opened, her eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. Vast expanses of white stretched out before her, contrasting with the deep red sky above. The setting sun cast an eerie glow over the scene, bathing everything in a warm, otherworldly light.
Her steps faltered as she reached the doorway, her breath catching in her throat as her gaze was drawn inexorably to the expansive vista beyond. Before her stretched a platform, a slender bridge between the safety of the threshold and the vastness of the unknown. Gripping the edge of the door with trembling fingers, knuckles white with strain, she felt a sudden and overwhelming sense of helplessness wash over her like a tidal wave.
In the expanse before her, the clouds billowed and danced in a mesmerizing display, their fluffy forms drifting lazily through the air. The wind howled around her, a cacophony of sound that drowned out her thoughts and threatened to sweep her away. It whipped her hair into a frenzy, tossing the blonde strands about her face like golden tendrils, a stark reminder of her own insignificance against the backdrop of nature's grandeur.
As she stood there, a mere speck in the face of such magnificence, she couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of her own smallness. Who was she, faced with such beauty and greatness? A solitary figure, dwarfed by the immensity of the world around her, lost in a sea of clouds and sky. It was a humbling realization, one that left her feeling powerless and insignificant in the vastness of the universe.