Brandon woke in a daze, lying on the floor of the chamber. As his foggy head cleared, he realised he was back on the glowing glyphs in the safe room. The realisation hit him that he must have died. He had no recollection of how or by what. The last thing he could remember was walking into the corridor with its amazing patterns. He felt down his body and noticed he had several holes in his clothing, and they were soaked in the red of his blood. Whatever he had died by had at least stuck into him.
He shuddered at the thought of the floor spikes they had encountered and the one that had penetrated his foot. The lanterns the companions had left in the room were still burning brightly, and he moved over to where they had placed their backpacks. He routed through his backpack until he found a canteen and shakingly sat down on the floor again.
The uncertainty over what had happened to him made his dazed state even more confused than it was. The symbolic fact that he had died struck him like a truck, and he began shaking in shock. His mouth went dry, and a cold sweat broke out. It was the strangest feeling in the world, and he wondered why Kyto had not mentioned it after his death.
Lars appeared next, and as he came around, he lashed out with his arms as though stabbing at enemies. Brandon watched in shock as he went through the movements. He suddenly stopped looking around and realised he was back in the safe room. He turned, looking at Brandon, seeing the man sitting on the floor, and moved straight towards him.
The look on Lars's face was not friendly, his clothes covered in blood, and as he reached him, he bent down and grabbed the front of his clothing, yanking him to his feet. Brandon had no idea why Lars was suddenly holding him and squeaked in panic at the big man’s sudden attention. Lars, picking him onto his tiptoes, slammed him backwards into the chamber wall, staring into his eyes. Lars snarled, letting out a deep guttural growl like that of a wild animal, drawing his balled fist back and striking Brandon hard in his stomach. He gasped from the strike and grabbed at his stomach as Lars dropped him like a sack of potatoes onto the floor. He moaned loudly as he held his now tender and bruised stomach.
"What the fuck was that for." he gasped out.
Lars looked at him with an anger-filled face, pointed at himself, and then drew his finger across his throat before pointing at Brandon.
"You are going to kill me?" Brandon replied, squeaking at the thought of the big man.
Lars shook his head angrily and again repeated his signs.
"I do not understand," Brandon said.
Lars took a step forward, again looking up to the ceiling and then looking at Brandon again. Again, he indicated his body with both hands before drawing his finger across his throat and pointing at Brandon.
Understanding suddenly struck home. "You died because of me?" he questioned.
Lars nodded vigorously.
"I am sorry. I have no idea what has happened." he spluttered.
Lars sighed and turned away, walking over to where his backpack lay, bending down and routing through it. He then sat on the floor with his back to him. As their interaction concluded, the next flash of light occurred, and this time, Sniffer's body arrived. It took time before he came around, and when he did, he did not lash out but took a deep, gasping breath, frantically looking around. Je slowly sat up. "Fucking hell. That is horrible," he stated, looking at his tattered and torn blood-soaked clothing.
"It is," Brandon said, looking at him. Lars had turned to look at Sniffer and smiled at him.
"Not sure what the fuck was wrong with you," Sniffer said, looking at Brandon.
"I don't know what you mean. Lars said I killed him," he said, looking sideways at the big man cautiously.
"I suppose you killed us all, really," Sniffer said, walking over to him.
"What? How?" he replied, confused by the comment.
"Whatever you did in that chamber tainted you somehow. When we entered the Geblex cavern, you ran at them like a lunatic committing suicide. Kyto tried to save your stupid arse, but by then, it was too late. The other Geblex had been alerted, and we got swarmed." Sniffer answered.
"I have no idea. The last thing I remember is walking into the corridor," he said, frowning.
"Well, whatever took you, you opened the next door and then killed yourself and the rest of us in the process," Sniffer said, shrugging at him.
Brandon was shocked and overwhelmed by the information from Sniffer. All these people had ever done was help him and get him off the streets, turning his pitiful existence around, and he had now thanked them by getting them killed. The comprehension of the situation was unfathomable, and he sat with his head down and shoulders slumped.
Kyto appeared next, and as he came around, his hand went up to his forehead, feeling for the cut he had received running into the wall. He slowly sat up, looking at the state of the others, all looking like they were walking dead with the amount of blood covering their clothes. He looked at his own, sighing, realising he was just as bad. "This sucks," he said.
Brandon sat still, slumped forward, and did not look up at Kyto.
"You guys, ok?" he asked, looking around the chamber at his friends.
Lars smiled and nodded. Sniffer replied. "As good as I can be after being skewered."
"It is a strange feeling, isn't it," Kyto said, subconsciously putting his hand to the hole in his jacket where the final blow had sunk into his heart.
"Unnerving, more like," Sniffer replied.
Brandon looked up from where he sat, "I am sorry." he said mutedly.
"Sorry? For what?" Kyto asked.
"Getting you all killed," he replied, dropping his head again.
"I do not think it was truly your fault. We would not have gotten through that room without you completing the puzzle. None of us could even look at it for over a minute." Kyto said.
"What puzzle?"
"The spinning cylinder thing that shot into the roof when you completed it," Sniffer replied.
"What are you talking about? I cannot remember anything after entering the corridor."
"Probably best then," Kyto said with sympathy.
The companions sat in silence for a few minutes before Brandon spoke again. "I think I will leave."
"What do you mean leave?" Kyto said, frowning.
"Leave the party and the dungeon."
"Why?" Kyto asked, surprised.
"I got you all killed, and I know I have pissed Lars off," he answered, standing to pick his backpack up.
"No way. You can't leave." Kyto replied sternly.
"Lars doesn't want me here. He made that clear when he hit me." Brandon said.
Kyto turned and glared at Lars. "You hit him?"
Lars shrugged as he looked back at the dried meat he was picking.
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"Lars. Why did you hit him?" Kyto asked.
Lars gave a flurry of motions with his hands. Only Kyto could understand what he said, and he replied with sign language himself. The exchange continued briefly before Lars dragged himself to his feet begrudgingly. Kyto had a look of thunder on his face, and for the big man to be looking as he did was a strange sight. His shoulders were hunched forward, and he walked towards Brandon. Brandon instinctively stepped back after their recent interaction, and Lars stopped holding his hand out to him. He then signed with his other hand.
"He says sorry," Kyto said.
Brandon looked at the big man, who looked like a scolded child, a dejected and shamed appearance compared to his ordinarily stoic appearance. He slowly put his hand out, taking it. Lars shook his hand and then turned away again.
"That is that sorted. No need to leave now." Kyto said.
"It does not feel right, though I got you all killed," he replied.
"With what has happened since we entered this damn place, nothing feels right or is right for that matter. We have impossible things that have occurred, from spinning cylinders to a fucking giant swimming serpent to these freaking Geblex, never mind the traps. This whole dungeon is a world away from normal, and I am sure that before we manage to get to the end, at least one of us will die at some point. It is the dungeons thing." he said.
All three companions were now looking at Kyto with resigned looks. He had, without even realising it, become a natural leader of the group, and it made him feel uncertain in his ability, but what he had said needed saying. "I wonder where Tiddles is?" Sniffer said.
"How long did it take us to return?" he asked Brandon.
"Not long. A few minutes between each of you, then a few minutes to come around," he replied.
"I would have expected Tiddles here by now, then," Kyto said, his display showing that he had died, but his body had not returned yet.
"We cannot go back in without him," Sniffer said.
"Let me check through the notifications and see what they say," Kyto replied.
He began trawling through the pages of data his display held from the recent events. He had paid them no attention since they had entered the first level and only now realised that his level icon was flashing. "Shit, I have levelled and did not even realise it. I had everything minimised due to fights." he kept working through the details and notifications, skipping through the details until he reached the bottom comments.
You have died. You will respawn in the safe room—time remaining to complete 6 days, 23 hours, 54 minutes.
Tiddles has died.
A new side quest is available: save him from the spit. Your companion has been deemed a tasty morsel and will be cooked for the Geblex's celebration feast after their recent victory.
If you manage to save your companion from being eaten by the Geblex, you will be rewarded with 10,000 experience for all eligible party members.
Save your friend's soul. There are 3 hours and 26 minutes remaining.
"What the actual fuck." Kyto blurted.
"What is it?" Sniffer asked.
"There is a side quest, and the fucking Geblex are trying to cook and eat Tiddles. It says we have 3hrs 26mins to save his soul," he said.
"You are actually kidding me. Right?" Sniffer replied wide-eyed.
"No, I wish I was. There is a chance of bonus experience if we save him."
Silence fell across their faces as they all took in the details. "How can we save him from down there?" Sniffer said.
Lars signed a finger across his throat.
"You saw how many there were, Lars. We cannot take them on alone without Tiddles's help, and he is currently still dead!" Kyto said.
"I don't understand this shit. What the fuck is this System trying to do to us." Sniffer snapped.
"It says it is a bonus quest, so maybe we can just wait out the timer?" Brandon asked.
"And leave Tiddles to be fucking eaten. Not over my dead body." Sniffer said.
"It was only a suggestion," Brandon replied.
"It may end up being over your dead body," Kyto said, looking at Sniffer with a concerned expression.
"I would be willing to die another fifty times if it stopped those revolting monsters from eating my friend," Sniffer replied in anger.
"I have no idea how we get through the Geblex though," Kyto said.
Lars signed at Kyto.
"Walk?" he replied.
Lars signed again, 'We walk through them, not fight, stay in the shadows until we find where he is, and then free him.'
"You think we could sneak through the cavern?" Kyto asked.
Lars shrugged.
"That is not a bad idea. The Geblex paid us no attention until Brandon ran at them. We could have stood at the bottom of the steps without them seeing us. If we can sneak through them to find Tiddles and free him." Sniffer said.
"How can we free him if he is already dead," Brandon said
"It says save his soul, not save him. He is dead already, so we need to stop them eating him, I assume." Kyto said.
"You do realise how absolutely insane we all sound currently," Sniffer said.
"Well and truly," Kyto said, raising an eyebrow.
"Let’s go then," Sniffer said, turning to the corridor leading to the dungeon entrance.
"Wait. I have an idea; I will return in a few minutes." Kyto said as he turned and ran towards the exit.
Kyto reached the barrier and placed his hand on it.
Do you wish to leave the Infestation Dungeon? Yes/No
Kyto selected yes.
Warning - if you leave the dungeon during the side quest, your companion's soul will be lost forever.
'What the fuck' he thought.
He ran back towards the others. "I tried to see what leaving the dungeon would do, and it says his soul will be lost forever if I leave."
"If only we knew what that meant," Sniffer said.
"That is the problem, and seeing how this System has no problem with killing us whenever it chooses, I do not trust that it does not mean something horrific," Kyto said in response.
"Well, let's go then," Brandon said.
The four companions made their way back down to the entrance, quickly moving down the corridor as fast as they could, trying not to look at any patterns on the walls or floor. Brandon had shielded his eyes as much as he could after being scared about being put in a trance again or whatever had happened to him previously. Thankfully, none of them were sick, and they made it to the far corridor with a little staggering and dizziness but no severe side effects. Kyto looked at the remaining timer.
"We have 3 hours and 9 minutes," he said as they moved along the corridor again until they reached the ledge looking down into the chamber.
They looked out again at the fires that burned below. They could see a much larger fire further and deeper into the cavern from where they stood on the ledge. Its glow much brighter than the others.
"If we head left, keeping to the wall, we can get most of the way over there by the looks of it," Sniffer said.
"I cannot see it being that simple, but I agree the left looks the easiest option," Kyto said.
Lars nodded, preferring the look of the left side over the right.
"I think the right side," Brandon said.
"There are more fires," Sniffer said.
"Yes, but there are smaller fires also looking at them, which probably means less Geblex to pass," he replied.
They considered Brandon's logic for a few moments. "I am not sure now that Brandon has said that. Let's vote." Kyto said eventually.
"Left." Sniffer and Lars raised their arms.
"Right." Brandon raised his.
"I am leaning more to the right now, but I will stick with my original choice. Left it is," Kyto said.
The companions moved down the steps again to the floor and began to make their way around the left of the chamber wall. They followed it as far as they could in the darkness until it started to turn deeper into the cavern. None of them were whispering, their eyes straining to look for any movement in the dark. They continued for several minutes before approaching a fire in their path. The larger fire was in the distance and had appeared central to the chamber. As they got nearer this first fire, they began to see the forms of Geblex in the flickering light. Lars was leading and stopped suddenly, Kyto nearly walking into his back. Kyto reached out, touching his arm, and Lars turned as he signalled, pointing off to the side slightly. Kyto could not see what he was pointing at in the darkness, even straining as he was to see, the firelight playing tricks with his night vision.
Lars turned and signalled for them to go backwards. The companions slowly moved back away again until they were at a reasonable distance.
"What is wrong?" Kyto whispered.
Lars signed, and Kyto struggled to see his reply in the dark.
"I cannot see what you are signing," he whispered.
Lars continued heading back towards the ledge and steps. On reaching the base again, he carefully unhooded the lantern they had with them. Its glow was amazingly bright even with the thinnest of light beams released. Lars signed his message before hooding it again.
"Guards." was Kyto's one-word whispered comment to the other two.
"Should we go right?" Brandon asked.
"Yeah. Let us try the right side." Kyto said as he began to move off again.
As Kyto observed the fires in the chamber, he noticed that the light they gave off was unnatural and did not seem to penetrate the darkness as much as he would have expected. He had not seen it before, but it was as though there was a bubble around each location. As he stared, he suddenly realised that there was a faint mana glow, not the yellow of his healing or the blue of his shield but a dark grey mana. He had no idea what it related to, but as he looked around the area, he began to work out what they had seen from up on the ledge.
"They are bubbled." He whispered.
"What do you mean?" Sniffer asked.
"It is as though the firelight is restricted," Kyto said as he changed his direction, heading directly at one of the smaller fires.
"What are you doing?" Sniffer whispered harshly.
"I think this will work," Kyto replied.
"What?" Sniffer said.
Kyto did not reply but walked towards the firelight until he was a few feet from where the mana seemed to be. He stood still, looking at the moving Geblex forms, not one of them turning or noticing him. He then turned and edged slowly around the unnatural bubble that surrounded it.
'Yes,' he thought in glee. The firelight was not reaching them even though he would expect it usually would. Thinking back to Brandon's death, the Geblex had not reacted until he had been close, although they had reacted to hearing his scream.
He continued his path, weaving through the darkness, going much closer to the fires than the others would have thought possible. There were a couple of locations where the bubbles crossed, and he had to backtrack, but in general, he managed to keep moving towards the large fire. It was like a maze, and thinking back to what Brandon had to do on the cylinder, he wondered if it related somehow. It took him only a short time to begin nearing the large fire. This close, Kyto could see the form of Tiddles. His body was laid on the floor by a large spit. It looked like the Geblex stood near his body and were arguing.
'What now.' Kyto thought.