“When are we getting to the mine monster?” asked Taylor.
“Sometime tonight. Maybe early in the morning tomorrow,” answered Rich as he held onto the map. “I didn’t expect the map to be so confusing and the mines to have these additional paths that aren’t marked on the map. It is also unintuitive how the different floors and levels of the mine have been demarcated on the map. You can try and decipher this if you want to.” He held out the map toward Taylor.
“No thank you. I don’t want to get us more lost than we already are. I wish we could have someone come along as a guide.”
“Can’t happen,” said Eric. “It is against the rules of the quest. We have been tied together since it started. We can’t use outside help for anything until this is finished.
“I know that,” said Taylor sarcastically. “I just wish that this trip would go by faster.”
They had been traveling for a few hours at this point and little had changed since they entered the mines. They hadn’t encountered any monsters. The only notation of their progress was the changes to the rock colorations along the mine walls.
“You could try playing some music? Sing some songs,” said Alex.
“With what? I am not a bard or an entertainer for your amusement.”
“There was some string instrument for sale in the city center. A few flute-like things as well if you are proficient in that instead,” said Alex.
“You are just messing with me. I will not give in,” said Taylor.
“It is ok. I brought the flute with me,” said Alex. He pretended to reach for his bag and open it up.
“No, you didn’t.”
Alex held a fake smile for a moment then dropped the bag back to his back. “I don’t have the flute. Or any instrument for that matter. You are safe in that regard.”
“Thank god for that.”
They moved down the tight corridors of the mines into deeper corners that had rarely been explored in recent years. The walls had been chipped away thoroughly in search of rare metals. They hit several dead ends in their search. Some tunnels end abruptly for no reason leaving just a wall scarred from pickaxes. This forced them to go backtrack many times as they tried to follow the given map and travel deeper into the mountain.
The damp air grew colder as they ventured deeper, and the once-steady rhythm of their footsteps echoed ominously throughout the winding tunnels. Eric stayed in front of the group and remained ever vigilant, his eyes darting back and forth, searching for any sign of danger.
A sudden scrabbling sound caught their attention. The group halted in their tracks, straining to hear the source of the noise. Rich tightened his grip on his shield and signaled for everyone to prepare for battle. The scraping grew louder, and the earth beneath their feet trembled ever so slightly.
With a deafening crash, the walls of the tunnel came alive as monstrous mole rats burst forth, their eyes gleaming with malevolence. Rich swung his sword, slicing through the nearest mole rat's thick hide. The creature screeched in pain, its vicious claws slashing in the air. Eric moved with the practiced grace of a seasoned warrior, cutting down two more of the beasts as they lunged at him.
“Everyone regroup but make sure you have enough room,” shouted Rich. “Don’t let them pile up on one person.
Kai's focus is magic as it reverberated through the tunnel. A torrent of water blasted from his outstretched hands, slamming into the mole rats, and sweeping them off their feet. The boiling water steamed against the rat’s skin and cut through their hides. Taylor threw out her plant seeds with her magic and the roots and vines snaked around the creatures, ensnaring them in a tight, unyielding grip. Eric quickly cut down the tied-up and injured rats while Alex followed close behind.
Finally seeing some action Alex jumped into the fight with fervor. He stabbed the rats and kicked away others. The rush of mole rats trickled down until all of them were surrounding them. Soon after the mole rats were all dead.
“That was close,” said Taylor. “Anyone hurt?”
“Just scrapes. We will be fine,” said Eric.
Alex checked his status. He had felt a change in his power.
<<<>>>
Name: Alex
Path: Magic (Sub-Path: Lightning)
Rating: G
Level: 15 (0%)
Abilities (1/1):
Manipulate Electricity [G]
Tower Points: 0
<<<>>>
He had broken through the level threshold and was now capped on this floor. Until they left this floor he could no longer gain XP. At the same time, he was now at the same level as everyone else. It brought him some excitement to be at that threshold and sadness that nothing else had changed in his status. There was no clear indication of his strength or possibility for new abilities. For the time being, it seemed like he would be once again stuck until he found a solution.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
A stillness settled over the tunnel, broken only by the heavy panting of the warriors. In the flickering torchlight, the slain mole rats lay scattered about, their grotesque forms a testament to the team's prowess. For a moment, it seemed as if the ordeal was over.
But this respite was short-lived. A tremor shuddered through the ground, the vibrations increasing in intensity. The team exchanged wary glances, knowing that the battle was far from over. In an eruption of dirt and stone, more mole rats surged from the walls, their numbers returning and their fury unquenchable.
Rich's eyes narrowed, and he barked orders to his comrades. "Eric, Kai, Taylor, form a defensive line! Alex, stay mobile and pick off the stragglers! We need to hold them off until we find an exit! We need a more defensible position or at least a spot that won’t attract these mole rats to us."
With renewed determination, the team sprang into action. Rich charged headlong into the fray, his sword a blur of silver as it cleaved through the air. His deft strikes found their mark, toppling the fearsome creatures one after another. Despite his tiredness from the previous fight, he fought on.
Eric, his brow furrowed, pressed forward alongside Rich. His weapon drew blood in his hands, slicing through mole rat after mole rat. Each swing of his blade was swift and precise, expertly severing limbs and necks alike. Together, the two warriors formed an impenetrable front.
Alex darted forward striking from unexpected angles. His dagger plunged into the soft underbellies of the mole rats, their agonized screams echoing through the tunnel. As he weaved through the chaos, his keen eyes scanned the darkness for any sign of escape. He knew the importance of them retreating. They were not ready to hunker down and fight these waves of enemies. The monster of the mines they were hunting clearly was not with the mole rats, so they needed to hunt elsewhere. They were on a timeline that was only shrinking.
Taylor, her expression resolute, reached out with her magic again. She felt the life energy of the plants she had summoned earlier, their roots and vines now entwined with the fallen foes. With a flick of her wrist, the plants surged back to life, their tendrils coiling and snapping at the new wave of mole rats. The creatures shrieked as they were caught in the deadly embrace of the plants, their struggles growing weaker by the moment.
The relentless tide of mole rats pressed on; their numbers seemingly endless. Even as they cut down dozens, more seemed to crawl forth from the shadows. Sweat and blood mingled on their brows, their muscles aching from the effort. It was only a matter of time before they would be overrun.
Kai caught the rush of mole rats with blasts of his water forcing them back. His attacks hit the walls of the tunnels causing dirt and pieces of rock to slide off creating a muddy mess. Taylor refocused her energy as new rats came in. She started to barricade the various tunnel entrances and harden the plant structures she built. It forced the rats to use their teeth and claws to either tear at the barricades or create new holes to travel through.
Alex felt the ground shudder beneath his feet, the tremors growing in intensity. He gritted his teeth, determined to keep his footing as he continued his attacks. His level-up had given him some energy and confidence back. His swift movements, however, couldn't keep him from the growing onslaught of mole rats. In a sudden, vicious swarm, the creatures surrounded Alex, their beady eyes gleaming with menace. They lunged at him, their teeth gnashing, claws slashing through the air. His armor held up against some of the attacks, deflecting the blows and shielding his vulnerable flesh. But he couldn't escape every strike, and pain shot through his limbs as teeth and claws found their mark.
Alex gritted his teeth as he pushed the mole rats back. His heart pounded in his chest as the relentless tide of mole rats overwhelmed him. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, his muscles straining to hold them at bay. He desperately tried to fend them off, his dagger a blur of motion as he slashed and stabbed. But for every rat he felled, two more seemed to take its place.
Eric watched Alex's plight from the side. He broke away from the defensive line after skewering two more rats with a single strike, his sword raised high. "Looks like you need some help, buddy!" he shouted as he charged into the fray, cleaving through the mole rats that threatened to engulf his comrade. The force of his blows sent the creatures flying, their broken bodies littering the ground.
Alex gasped, his chest heaving as he stared at Eric with a mix of gratitude and annoyance. "I had it under control," he muttered, knowing full well that he hadn't.
“We can’t get out of here if we aren’t all working together and pulling our weight,” said Eric as he slashed at a few more mole rats.
“Let talking more about killing,” said Rich as he breathed heavily from exhaustion. “Where is our escape route? I’ve lost track of where we’ve entered from. There are too many damn tunnels here.”
They were pushed back and followed a tighter set of corridors while bashing the rats. The rats fell dead all around them but more took their places.
“Do you think we will find some sort of mole rat queen? Or need to?” asked Taylor. “They aren’t stopping no matter what we do. They even keep slamming into my barbed plants assuming that it will change something.”
“That would probably make things worse. Send the mole rats into a frenzy instead of this surge attack they are trying now,” said Rich. “You know what. Kai get up here. We need to get to higher ground. When you are in place I need you to summon a wave of water and drown the things.”
“But that will drain all my mana. It will be massive,” said Kai.
“That is exactly what we need.”
Kai nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He maneuvered his way through the group, making his way to the front. As they moved deeper into the tunnel system, the path began to slope upward, leading them to higher ground. The rats pursued relentlessly, snapping at their heels with savage determination.
Reaching a ledge, Kai turned to face the oncoming horde. He steadied himself, planting his feet firmly on the ground, and raised his arms. His eyes glowed with determination as he focused every ounce of his magical energy on the task at hand. A torrent of water materialized, cascading from his outstretched palms, and he directed it toward the tunnel below.
The water crashed against the walls of the tunnel, tearing away at the earth, rocks, and debris, widening the passage, and forcing the mole rats to retreat. Within moments, the tunnel was flooded, the water level rising rapidly as the mole rats struggled to keep their heads above the surface. Their frantic squeals echoed throughout the cavern as they fought against the relentless current. Kai's mana drained with each passing moment, the sheer power of the spell taking its toll on his body. Sweat poured from his brow, and his muscles trembled with fatigue. Finally, with one last surge of power, he unleashed a massive wave that roared through the tunnel, sweeping away the remaining mole rats and drowning them in their wake.
As the water receded, the exhausted mage collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The others rushed to his side, relieved at the sudden reprieve from the relentless assault of the mole rats. They knew, however, that this was only a temporary solution; they needed to find a way out of this labyrinth before their luck ran out. But for now, they took the opportunity to regroup and catch their breath, knowing full well that they could not afford to let their guard down.
Alex scanned the current tunnel and the paths opened by Kai’s magic. He noticed a faint glimmer in the distance. He called out, "There! An opening! We need to move now!" He gestured towards a narrow passage, the faintest hint of light filtering through.
"Everyone let’s make for the exit!" said Rich. A few mole rats were scattered around the now larger tunnels. The rat’s made less of an effort to charge at them.
While they had the space and fewer monsters to deal with they stumbled forward through the new path torn open by the mole rats they had slain.