Chapter 9: Descent
Beron and his team were deep within the caverns beneath the kingdom of Purtasi. They were members of the Adventurers League, a multinational organization dedicated to tackling quests and contracts, combating monsters, and exploring dangerous or unknown regions. The League encompassed a wide range of jobs and vocations, with adventurers like Beron and his team specializing in fieldwork.
Within the League, members were organized into a hierarchical ranking system. The ranks ranged from 6, the lowest, to 1, the highest. Technically, rank 0 is the ultimate peak, though no living person has ever reached it. Only about three individuals hold rank 1. The ranks measure both combat and non-combat prowess, with each rank representing a tenfold increase in capability compared to the previous one. For example, a rank 6 adventurer can handle a task equivalent to what 10 unranked individuals could manage. A rank 5 can tackle what 10 rank 6s could handle, and so on. In theory, a rank 1 adventurer possesses the power and skill to manage a situation that would require 1,000,000 rank 6s.
While Beron and his team were individually ranked at 6, their cohesion and strategy as a unit elevated their team rank to 5. This higher rank allowed them to undertake 5th rank quests and contracts. The League’s ranking system acknowledges that not all adventurers at a given rank possess identical power, but the grading scale remains consistent.
Rank advancements are determined by the League based on factors such as contract difficulty, completion, trials, and acts of bravery. Members can inquire about their status and request reevaluation every few years, although the timing and criteria for promotion are at the League’s discretion.
Beron hoped that completing this 5th rank contract would provide his team with an opportunity to advance their personal ranks. While he acknowledged that they were nowhere near achieving 4th rank, he remained optimistic that someday they would reach that level—if they could keep the team together, that is.
He glanced over his shoulder at his three companions, their faces illuminated by the soft, magical light of his lantern. A smile spread across his face as he saw the familiar mix of determination and camaraderie in their expressions. He turned his gaze back to the winding tunnel ahead, its dark walls barely visible against the pale glow.
The caves were an eerie contrast to the vibrant forest they had left behind. The walls were damp and lined with jagged rocks, and the air was cool and musty. Beron’s magical lantern cut through the darkness with its steady, pale light. The lantern was an expensive piece of gear, powered by rechargeable runes that stored sunlight and released it in the dark. Beron had shelled out a small fortune for it, but he valued its practicality and the advantage it provided. The runes, etched with intricate symbols, glowed faintly, casting long shadows on the cave walls.
As Beron adjusted his grip on the lantern, he could feel the weight of the compass in his other hand. The compass needle pointed steadily to the right, but the dense rock and winding tunnels complicated their path. Beron had to rely on his instincts and experience to navigate through the maze-like cave system.
Fael, walking just behind him, adjusted the heavy pack on her back with a grunt. “So, Beron, do you really think we’re going to get an upgrade after this? I’m not exactly holding my breath.”
Beron chuckled, casting a sidelong glance at her. “Well, I’m optimistic. We’ve tackled tougher stuff before. If we pull this off, it should show the League that we’re ready for more challenging contracts.”
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Jora, bringing up the rear, adjusted her grip on her sword. “Let’s just focus on getting through this first. I’d rather not celebrate prematurely. We’ve still got a monster or two to deal with.”
Tain, struggling with the weight of his pack, added with a dry smile, “And let’s hope we don’t run into anything that likes to play ‘hide and seek.’ I’ve had enough surprises for one day.”
Beron laughed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. “Don’t worry, Tain. If we do encounter something, I’ll make sure it doesn’t have the chance to play games with us. We’ll handle it just like we’ve handled everything else.”
As they pressed on, Beron’s thoughts wandered to the future. He envisioned his team advancing through the ranks, gaining recognition, and tackling even greater challenges. The prospect was exciting, but he knew it hinged on their ability to work together and handle whatever the caves—and their quest—threw at them.
With the lantern’s light casting a comforting glow and the compass guiding their way, the team ventured deeper into the caverns, ready to face the unknown that lay ahead.
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Cal stopped abruptly, his senses sharpening as he detected the presence of a large, moving creature ahead. His Essence Sense picked up on its distinctive signature—a massive, bug-like form with an armored exoskeleton resembling sharp, bone-like plates. It was another insect, and it had yet to notice him. It seemed the creature lacked the constant, all-encompassing Essence Sense that Cal possessed.
A smirk tugged at Cal's lips. “Ha, guess I’m just that much better. Thank God I found you, though—I was running low.”
He glanced at the dwindling essence in his core. With only about half a day’s worth of essence left, this encounter was a fortuitous stroke of luck. It was like finding a feast when starving. Cal moved cautiously, each step measured and deliberate. The cavern’s darkness seemed to press in around him as he crept closer to the unsuspecting creature. He knew that one wrong move could jeopardize his opportunity to replenish his essence.
The creature continued its slow, rhythmic movement, unaware of the predator lurking in the shadows. Cal's heart raced with anticipation as he prepared to close the distance, ready to seize this moment of opportunity. But then, the insect stopped abruptly. A surge of essence from the beast slammed into Cal, pinging his core. His face contorted with surprise and anger.
The insect let out a screech that echoed through the cavern, a horrible, laugh-like cry. It charged at him. Cal braced himself, lowering his shoulder to absorb the impact. The creature’s powerful arm crashed into the armor he had fashioned, causing him to stumble to the left.
Instinctively, Cal dropped to the floor as he sensed the monster’s claw coming at him. The claw nicked his helmet, shattering it into pieces that clattered to the ground. Grimacing as the fragments fell away, Cal pulled essence from his core, channeling what little he had left into his body. It wasn’t much, but it was crucial. If he didn’t secure the creature’s core, he wouldn’t have enough essence to even return to his makeshift home.
Cal gripped his homemade knife tightly and rolled towards the monster, his movements quick and precise. The insect's massive form loomed above him as he slashed upwards towards its belly. The creature’s screech intensified as it tried to counter his attack. Cal's blade cut through the tough exoskeleton, drawing a stream of dark, viscous fluid. He rolled away just in time to evade a retaliatory swipe from the monster’s claws, using his enhanced agility to stay out of reach. The cavern's darkness and the creature's erratic movements made it a challenging fight, but Cal's heightened senses allowed him to predict the beast’s attacks.
As the battle raged on, Cal began to notice a pattern. The essence around the creature seemed to shift and move before the physical attack occurred. It was subtle, a change in the ambient essence that preceded the creature’s physical movements. He realized that by focusing on these essence movements, he could anticipate the monster’s strikes.
With this newfound insight, Cal adjusted his tactics. He could now see the essence before the physical action, giving him a split-second advantage. When the creature reared up for a powerful blow, Cal saw the shift in essence and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. His movements became fluid and responsive, his strikes more precise.
He launched a series of rapid slashes, guided by the essence shifts he observed. The monster’s screeches grew weaker, its movements slower as Cal continued his relentless assault. With a final, decisive thrust, he plunged his knife into the creature’s brain. The insect let out a final, anguished cry before collapsing, its massive form twitching before going still.
Breathing heavily, Cal wiped his blade on the creature’s exoskeleton and knelt beside the fallen beast. He carefully extracted the essence core, feeling its potent energy resonate with his own. Without hesitation, he consumed the core, the essence flooding into his system and revitalizing him. The surge of energy was invigorating, replenishing his dwindling reserves. He now had another three days worth of essence. However there was no influx of memories or pain like before.
Interesting.
Standing up, Cal surveyed the remains of the battle. His armor was damaged, and his helmet was shattered, but he had secured what he needed. With renewed strength and the creature’s essence now part of him, he continued deeper into the tunnel.