Chapter 16: Obliterate

The party was huddled around the pile of loot they had scavenged from around the cul-de-sac. There were enough complete sets of leather armor for the group to gear up in, despite the poor fits.

Riley wanted to cry in frustration as he half-heartedly started putting on the armor. He looked at the description of his new ability, which he had pulled from the boss slime, replacing the Spore Breath.

Rock Armor

Conjure a suit of armor made from stone greatly increasing your defense at the cost of a decrease in your dexterity.

The armor was impressive. It covered his entire body in a layer of stone that resembled full plate armor. The stone was somehow able to bend along his joints allowing Riley some degree of freedom, but he could feel the decrease in his dexterity as the bulky armor limited his range of motion. The spell also came with a helmet molded to fit around his mask. The group said it made for a very eerie picture. The bone white mask standing out starkly from the surrounding stone.

As impressive as the armor was it didn’t even come close to comparing what Heather’s second ability had been. It didn’t take much prompting for her to show off the ability.

Obliterate

Channel your mana to create a beam of energy which will deal devastating damage to all who stand before it. Try me, I dare you.

The spell was one of her rewards for completing the Trial. The spell had belonged to one of her late game units, the Arch Magus, which she had used to devastating effect within the game. And devastating effect out of the game as well, apparently.

Riley was honestly impressed with Heather’s self-control. If he had had that spell, he would have used it at the first opportunity he could. Though he didn’t envy the cost. Heather was practically dead on her feet after the spell, having to purchase and chug down a mana potion to become functional again. It was too early for her to be using such a powerful spell casually.

Riley was forced to dispel the armor to equip the leather armor, but he was feeling a lot better about his role within the group. With a defensive spell finally in his repertoire Riley was prepared to actually start tanking.

His previous shield was unfortunately ruined. He was able to find a suitable replacement from one of the dead pig-headed creatures. It was slightly larger, with a tear drop shape that came to a point at the bottom of the shield. The edge was sharp, and Riley looked forward to using his shield as more than just a way to block attacks. It was a weapon.

The pig-headed creatures did not come to this location unprepared. Among their various belongings were some packs filled with some very useful basic equipment the group had been missing. Flint and Tinder, two torches, and most importantly some rope. No adventuring group was complete without rope. Rope was really the sixth character in any decent party.

After the rope the rest of the items paled in comparison. There was a shaman’s fetish that made casting spells through it cost less mana that went to Heather. Casey picked up an enchanted dagger that had increased piercing power and grabbed a short sword to use in her main hand. Nermit acquired a bone necklace that increased his faith by 4 points.

Riley was feeling a little in the lurch with his lack of loot. The Rock Armor and the 3 levels he got for the fight made him feel better and he got priority on the next piece of loot he wanted so he couldn’t complain too much.

Dr. Funk had watched all of these proceedings with a detached interest despite Heather’s best efforts at coaxing the cat down. Casey refused to attempt teleporting to the small ledge the cat was on saying that she preferred being scratch free.

Riley, inspired by one of his favorite games, tried a high-level technique. He stared deep into the dark abyss that was the cat’s slitted eyes and slowly blinked. The cat stared at Riley, considering. To his surprise the cat blinked back at him. The cat finally stood, stretching that stretch that draws relief even from those who only watch it, and jumped down.

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Heather squealed in glee and rushed the cat whose ears flapped back and let out a hiss in response drawing Heather short. Satisfied that it wasn’t going to get mobbed the cat strutted its way towards Riley giving his boot a tentative sniff. Riley stayed standing, watching the curious creature. He’d only ever been around virtual cats before but he knew enough to know to not make any sudden moves which might scare the cat.

The cat, seemingly satisfied with whatever it had been sniffing for, rubbed his body against Riley’s boot, circling around for a second pass immediately after. Feeling it was safe to do so Riley squatted down and set out his hand. After another round of tentative sniffing the cat deigned to allow Riley to pet them, much to Heather’s dismay.

As soon as Heather tried to present her hand for sniffing the cat went on the defensive, hiding behind Riley. “Noooo, love me.” Heather’s eyes pleaded at the creature who only looked back at her with disgust.

The cat allowed Riley to pick them up and Riley cradled it as he pet it gently. “What should we name the little fella,” he asked the group, keeping the cat away from Heather’s grasping hands.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” Casey asked, peering at the cat from a safe distance. The cat was purring now. Riley could feel the soft rumble passing through his arms and chest. It sent a thrill of excitement through him.

“I don’t know how to check,” Riley admitted.

“Then we need a gender-neutral name.” Scott said.

“Something with a title, the best pets have titles,” Heather said. “Like, Princess Butterball, Mrs. Fluffers.”

“Those aren’t gender neutral names,” Casey pointed out.

“But they’re so cute,” Heather said. You would never be able to tell that she had just decimated half a dozen monsters and a boss just ten minutes prior.

“How about we name them Garbage, because we found him amongst all this garbage.” Scott said, “Huh, little Garbage kitty. Lil Garby.” Scott poked his finger towards the cat which earned him a paw swatting at him.

“Boss,” Nermit suggested. He summoned his screen showing the cat’s level. At 18 they were still 1 level above Riley’s.

“How is this cat doing this?” Riley exasperated. He turned towards the animal in question, “how are you doing this you scamp? Where do you even find the time.” Riley trailed off thinking. “So we need a gender-neutral title, and something that shows off how hard this little one is working. How about Dr. Funk?”

“Funk? Ew, doesn’t that mean stinky?” Heather asked, offended.

“No. I mean, yes but not only in a bad way. It can also be used to describe the smell of a day’s hard work. Of all the effort put in building towards something worthwhile.” Riley looked down at the ball of fur in his arms. Their eyes were closed in contentment, and they were leaning in ever so slightly to Riley’s gentle petting.

“Well, that’s basically calling the cat Garbage, so you have my vote,” Scott said.

“Same,” Nermit said, being unusually talkative.

“What, no! Casey, you’re with me, right?” Heather pleaded.

Casey shook her head, putting her arm around Heather’s shoulder. “You lost this round, but hey, you can name the next cat we meet.”

The boss gave 60 points for its kill alone, with the rest of the slimes the group was able to purchase a healing potion to keep in reserve in case of emergencies. Riley no longer needed his points to buy armor, so he didn’t feel bad for the loss of the points.

Scott and Casey were making bets on how long they thought the cat would stick around when both the cat and Heather’s heads snapped to the entrance of the cul-de-sac. Dr. Funk wriggled free of Riley’s arms and retreated to the back of the area as Heather hissed a warning, “enemies incoming.”

The party burst into action. Riley called his new skill. The mana flowing through his body in a tidal wave condensing beneath his skin before bursting out all over his body. He hefted his new shield and his sword and moved to block the only entrance to the area. Casey stood next to him with Nermit once again providing support from the back with a spear in hand this time.

The sound of boots on the stone floor reached them after a few tense minutes. Riley was curious how Heather had even sensed that something was wrong. Then the first enemies came around the corner and that was the last thing on his mind.

Marching in even step was a flood of the pig-headed creatures. They were even uglier alive than they had been dead. Squeals erupted from their them as they spotted Riley and Casey waiting for them. Their beady little eyes seeing the leather armor Casey and the rest of the party was wearing matched theirs perfectly. Their squeals growing in fervor. Riley examined one of them.

Porc Warrior - Level 25

The Porc Warriors carried shields and short swords to match their leather armor. They just kept coming, line after line of the warriors covering the canyon in a wall of bodies that marched toward Riley and his party. All of them filled with a righteous fury, wanting nothing more than to tear Riley apart.

Riley chanced a glance back at their cul-de-sac. It looked the same as it had previously, walls of stone standing tall all around them. They were trapped, there was no way out.