"That is the hardest fight I have ever had," Tiddles stated as he stepped away from the Garoulop's corpse. It began to shimmer, and as it did, the rest of the field also began to shimmer, gradually winking out of existence. In place of the beast's corpse, Sniffer's head now lay on the cavern floor from where it had been swallowed. Seeing the sight of his dead stare and torn features made Kyto gag.
Next came the resurrection light surrounding Sniffer's corpse and his head spinning alongside his body as they were dragged into the same pool of light before they vanished. Brandon was not in the chamber with them being able to see its entirety now, and they would have to find him. Lars still lay unconscious, and Kyto had begun pushing his remaining mana strands into him to heal him. He did not have enough mana to heal him fully and needed to refresh his pool.
"That is two from two for Sniffer now," Tiddles said.
"What do you mean?" Kyto asked.
"Two bosses, two deaths. I wonder if he will aim for a hattrick," Tiddles added.
"I hope not," Kyto replied.
Kyto bent down beside Lars, touching his forehead. Lars was burning up, and Kyto was sure the beast's bites were to blame. "I have to refresh my mana to heal Lars fully. Are you ok staying here with him while I go and grab some?" he asked.
"Of course, and see if you can find the chicken as well," Tiddles said, referring to Brandon.
"He was terrified, the look on his face when he ran," Kyto said.
"I could smell the fear from all of you, but he was extreme," Tiddles said as he lay down by Lars's side.
"I will be back as soon as possible," Kyto replied as he began to jog across to the entrance. He had noticed the white pedestal at the end of the room, but he would wait until everyone was back together before claiming their prize.
He found Brandon in the corner of the Geblex bubble chamber. He was curled up in a tight ball and sobbing.
"Brandon," he called as he approached to no response.
"Brandon!" he shouted at him.
Slowly, the man’s face turned to look at him. His face was an expression of terror, his wide eyes flitting wildly as he looked around.
"It is dead. You are safe now," he said, walking closer to him.
"Stay away from me, don't touch me," he screamed at Kyto as he approached.
Kyto had never witnessed anything like this before and was deeply concerned looking at the broken man before him.
"It is dead, Brandon. You have nothing to fear." Kyto said.
At the word fear, Brandon stood up and began to run back towards the entrance tunnel. 'Shit' Kyto thought as he ran after him.
"Stop," he yelled. Brandon ignored his plea as he disappeared up the tunnel; he was faster than Kyto realised, whether that was fear causing him to run as fast as he did. He ran after him and eventually caught him again at the far end of the puzzle corridor just before the safe room. He was sat staring at the floor in front of him as though in a trance again. This was not good. The last time, he went rogue and killed them all. Kyto grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him to his feet as he reached him. Brandon lashed out at him, hitting him in the face. Kyto felt his teeth rattle in his skull as his fist connected and reflexively hit back, striking him in his solar plexus. This sent Brandon crashing back to the floor, holding his chest. The crazed look seemed to have gone from his gaze.
"What the hell am I doing here," he said, looking up at Kyto in surprise.
"Difficult to answer, but you seem to get easily affected by things. I think you were feared by the beast we just fought as you fled from the fight." Kyto said, offering his hand to help him up.
Brandon accepted it, rubbing his chest where Kyto had just struck him. "You punch hard."
"I need to refill my pool and go and collect Sniffer before we head to level 3. Lars is still injured," he said, leading them out of the corridor, his stomach churning slightly from the patterns. He drew from Brandon slightly and pushed strands at the side of his face where Brandon's fist had struck him. He would let Brandon suffer, for now, feeling angry at being hit by him.
As they reached the safe room, Sniffer screamed, reaching for his head, feeling it, and rubbing his hands through his hair.
"You, ok?" Kyto asked as they walked in.
Sniffer turned to look at him, eyes wide in shock. His voice was shaky as he replied. "Word of advice do not get your head bitten off by a fucking beast. Seeing your head travel down the throat of a beast is not a fun sight."
"What do you mean see?" Kyto said.
"I could still see as my head was swallowed until I ended up in the dark of its stomach," he replied.
"Fucking hell. I hope never to experience it then. I am going to leave and come back in once my mana is full. Lars is still injured." Kyto said.
"Sure. I will pull myself together before I go back down there." Sniffer replied.
Kyto left Brandon and Sniffer in the safe room and walked up to the exit. Touching the barrier, the message appeared as expected.
Would you like to leave the Infestation Dungeon? Yes/No
He accepted yes.
Dungeon progress saved. Level 2 is complete. Time remaining 6 days, 21 hours, 41 minutes.
Kyto walked through the barrier, calling out to the guards, whom he could see sitting and chatting in the chamber.
"Hi, guys. Just after some mana and then going back in," he called.
The guards turned to look at him open-mouthed. "You do know you look like a walking bloodbath, and what the fuck is that smell?" one of them asked.
Kyto had not even thought about how he looked or smelt after being in the Geblex pit and the damage he had received previously. "Oh, this. Nothing, just Geblex guts and shit and a few other dead things thrown in," he replied, smiling.
"You need to get clean," he said as Kyto approached one of them, moving back from his grim-covered body.
"No time, just need some mana and then back in to heal. Lars is injured," he said as he jogged past them up the tunnel.
On reaching the end, two other guards met him again, giving him similar looks, and their noses turned up at the stench he gave off. Once outside, began to draw mana from the surrounding plant life. He walked around the clearing, not paying any attention to the guards who were trying to keep their distance from him.
"Kyto," TJ called in a friendly voice, making him turn and smile.
"Hey, TJ," he said as he drew from the next tree.
"How are you doing in there? You look like shit," he said, walking up but resisting the urge to clap him on his back.
"Imagine the worst nightmare you ever had and multiply it. Death, fear, panic, sickness, oh and a pit full of Geblex remains and their shit that we had to dig through," he replied.
"How many times have you died," he asked worryingly.
"Only once more since going back in, so twice in total now. Sniffer just had his third, and Lars is still seriously wounded from the last boss fight, so I need to get mana and go to heal him. We are just about to enter the third level," Kyto replied.
TJ frowned at his response. It was so matter-of-fact in reply yet horrendously unnerving as well. "While you are out here, I have the clothes from the girls and some for Lars. I guess you could do with them looking at your state."
"Yeah, I will take them back with me," he replied casually.
"You sure you are, ok?" TJ asked.
"Fine. I just wish I could get my mana replenished easier," he replied.
"Why do you not do some potions to take in," TJ asked.
"It is not healing mana I need. It is pure mana," Kyto replied.
"But do they not store mana in them," TJ asked.
"It is a different type of mana. The mana I draw in is pure mana from the surroundings. I create the mana strands for healing and then can break down the mana for endurance but have not identified how to store pure mana yet, or even if you can." he replied.
He pulled from the last plant as his pool again reached maximum. "Ok, I am full again. I am heading back inside."
"Clothes," TJ said as he headed to one of the larger tents pitched in the opening. Moments later, returning with two large backpacks.
"Thanks," Kyto said as he threw them on his shoulders. "Be back out later." he smiled and walked back into the entrance tunnel.
The guards gave him a wide berth as he returned to the barrier and re-entered. Reaching the safe room, he dropped the backpacks off and headed straight back to Lars. On reaching the cavern, Tiddles sat by his side like any loyal companion would. "How is he doing?" Kyto asked, jogging over.
"Not good. He has been shaking with a fever, I think. I have stayed away as I do not think my body heat will help him." Tiddles said.
"Thoughtful of you." Kyto smiled at the beast as he focussed his strands and began pushing them at Lars. Initially, they resisted entering his body due to whatever infection he had, but as he concentrated, he managed to break through his outer shell and began feeding him healing strands. Slowly but surely, Lars's shoulders and arm began to heal fully, the nasty torn wounds eventually returning to their clean, blemish-free appearance. His health had increased back to nearly full, but his strands suddenly stopped healing.
"What now?" he said.
"What is wrong?" Tiddles asked.
"I cannot heal him fully. Whatever this sickness is that he has, my strands don't seem to want to purge it fully." Kyto replied.
"That is not good."
"No. It is not." Kyto bent down and felt Lars's forehead. He was still unconscious and burning hot to the touch.
"What can we do?" Tiddles asked.
"Not sure there is anything we can do apart from keeping an eye on his health and monitoring him while he fights it."
"You managed to purge the dark aura from me, though."
"Yeah, but this seems to be different. His health is not decreasing, so it is not attacking him as the aura did but rendering him sick."
"So, the System has now added diseases to the mix."
"Looks like it. Then again, getting bitten by that thing's mouth and the rancid state of it, I am not surprised if he contracted something."
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"How long will he be out?"
"No idea. It could be an hour, could be a few. Let us move him back to the safe room, though."
"Same as last time?"
Kyto had forgotten entirely about them bringing Lars back to the house previously when he had been injured fighting the first Geblex. "If you are up to it."
"I am three levels higher than I was then. I am sure I am more than up to it." he grinned.
Kyto moved Lars's body and sat it up as Tiddles lay down next to him, and as they had previously done, Kyto then pulled his unconscious form over his back. He found it much easier this time, and he was starting to realise the benefits that the levelling was doing for them both. "You head back to the safe room with Lars. I will go down to the pedestal and see what we are offered this time."
"Sure," Tiddles replied as he slowly walked back towards the safe room, trying not to jostle Lars.
Kyto headed to the pedestal. It was the same as the one from completing the first level, and he read the surface before touching it again.
Would you like to share the list with all party members or, as party leader, claim your prize? Share/Claim
He selected share and received another notification of a flashing envelope. He selected the envelope, and a list of items appeared on his display precisely as before.
Garoulop's Tail Spike - These spikes are made from the beast's bones and have a preternatural strength. They make excellent spear tips.
+15% piercing damage, 10% chance of inducing Garoulop's bite
Cloak of the Garoulop - A cloak made from the finest fur of the Garoulop.
The cloak offers a source of climatic control for the wearer. Never hot and never cold. The cloak will continuously regulate your temperature.
Bracelet of the brawler - increases a wearer's brawler attribute by three
Bracelet of the acrobat - increases a wearer's acrobatics attribute by three
Unknown artefact - no description available
The only item Kyto was even the slightest bit interested in was the unknown artefact. On other occasions when he had picked new skills and the like, the unknown had always had the largest benefits, and he felt the same way about this now. He made his selection, and the tick appeared by it. Ticks appeared next to other items as he waited, but he knew he would have to wait for Lars, so he returned to the safe room. He caught up with Tiddles as he struggled to focus as he walked through the puzzle corridor.
"This is awful," he said as Kyto arrived. Kyto could see the strain on his beastly face, trying not to stagger. He could not move quickly with Lars on his back, and the corridor was taking full effect.
"Here," Kyto said, grabbing hold of his ear gently. "Close your eyes; I will lead you," he said.
Tiddles did as asked, and Kyto led the pair the rest of the distance to the end.
"Thanks." Tiddles huffed as he let go of his ear.
Kyto walked alongside them as they travelled the distance up the entrance corridor.
"Have you seen the rewards?" Kyto asked.
"Not yet. I have been a little busy." Tiddles’s sarcastic reply came back.
Kyto chuckled. They entered the safe room, and both Sniffer and Brandon were in the middle of getting changed, their filthy, soiled clothes thrown to one side and pulling fresh clothes on. Sniffer had even scrubbed his face with water and removed the bloody streaks on his face from his recent decapitation. Sniffer came over and helped Kyto lift Lars from Tiddles’ back and placed him gently on the ground.
"I guess he is not healing," Sniffer asked.
"No, whatever he has currently, I cannot heal. Reading the description of the rewards, I bet it is Garoulop's bite that is mentioned that has caused it," Kyto replied.
"Well, we cannot complete the level until Lars is conscious and makes his selection," Brandon added.
"No. We are stuck for now, so we may as well rest up and clean up fully. I will go and get changed and take these stinking clothes outside to burn," Kyto replied.
They spent the next few hours resting, entering and leaving the dungeon to freshen up and get food from the guards outside, who had a field kitchen area set up. The cooking was not as good as Matilda's from the barracks, but it was much better than eating dry rations. They thanked the chef before returning to the dungeon. Lars still lay unconscious, and Kyto had taken the time to strip him of his gore-ridden clothing and washed him down as best as he could. He had wanted to try to take him outside the dungeon, but the System had not allowed him to, saying that he was still involved in a fight. That had frustrated the party, and they had eventually grabbed a camp cot from the guard post to at least lay Lars on.
They took turns watching over Lars as they took rest breaks, cleaning weapons, packing, repacking, folding clothes, and even sharpening knives. Lars had been unconscious for over nine hours, and Kyto was worried that this could last a long time. The four of them had made their reward selections, and only three items had been selected. Tiddles and Kyto had gone for the unknown artefact, Sniffer the brawler's ring and Brandon the cloak. Kyto had questioned Brandon why he had decided on the cloak, and he had responded honestly that if he had only had such an item the years he was on the streets, his life would have been so much easier.
They sat chatting most of the time, Sniffer telling stories from his various tracking jobs with Tiddles and Tiddles, often correcting him, to Kyto's amusement at some of the facts. Brandon had explained more about the township and how the authority worked. Overall, the time was well spent. Just frustrating waiting to be able to try and get back into the dungeon. Even after the horrendous sights and encounters they had suffered, they all wanted to get back in and clear it.
Brandon had returned to the other chambers and given them a thorough search to ensure there were no more power gems they had missed.
Nine hours turned into twenty-four, and all four companions worried whether Lars would wake up. They had no idea what infection he was suffering from, but since Kyto could not heal it, they knew it had to be powerful.
"I wish Elizabeth was here. I am sure there is some medicine that she would be able to prescribe for him," Sniffer said.
"I wish all the girls were here, but we cannot remove Lars if he is still fighting it," Kyto replied.
"We could cheat the System," Tiddles said.
"What do you mean to cheat the System?" Kyto asked.
"Well, we have no idea how long he will be unconscious, and I think the System is playing another game," Tiddles said.
"Explain?" Kyto asked.
"I think it deliberately keeps him ill to run the dungeon timer down. You have incredible healing abilities - you can repair and heal most injuries, including combatting dark aura- and yet you cannot cure a disease. It just does not make sense."
"What do you suggest?" Kyto asked.
"We kill him," Tiddles replied, shrugging his massive shoulders.
Kyto looked at him in disbelief. "Kill him."
"Yes. Force a reset," Tiddles said.
Kyto relayed Tiddles’s thoughts.
"That does not seem as crazy as it first sounds," Sniffer replied after hearing Tiddles’s thoughts.
"I cannot kill Lars. I spend my time trying to heal people and not harm them," Kyto replied.
"I could do it. Very fast and no pain," Tiddles replied.
"You could kill him?" Kyto replied.
"I don't want to, but I will do if it forces the reset. It is not as if it is killing him. He will resurrect again and hopefully be cured of the disease."
"Are you sure you can do it?" Kyto asked.
"Claw through the heart will be almost instant death, and I doubt he will feel a thing being unconscious already," Tiddles replied.
"What do you all think?" Kyto asked the others.
"If Tiddles is willing to do it, let’s see if it works. We cannot just sit here for the next five days as the timer runs out," Sniffer said.
"I do not like it at all, but understand the logic," Brandon replied.
"My vote is a no personally, but I will go with the majority. I cannot watch, though," Kyto added.
"I promise it will be quick as a flash," Tiddles lifted one of his giant paws and fired out his claw to show the speed they unsheathed. It was extremely fast, and Kyto shuddered, thinking of the long claw piercing into Lars's chest.
"Ok," Kyto said, turning away. Brandon could not watch either as Tiddles lined his paw up on Lars's chest.
"Slightly more central. You are too far right," Sniffer said as he watched Tiddles align his claw.
"Ok. Here goes," Tiddles said.
Kyto heard his claw insert into his chest, hearing the flesh puncture and a wet popping sound. Lars made no sound as it happened. "It is done," Tiddles said.
Kyto turned to see a neat hole just to the right of Lars's sternum. Blood was seeping from it, and his health bar had instantly plummeted when struck to zero, and a cross appeared by his name. As they watched, the brilliant light suddenly appeared around Lars, and his body was lifted, spinning in its vortex, to emerge moments later on the glowing glyphs. It took several minutes before Lars gasped as he drew a deep, shuddering breath. His eyes flashed open, and he turned, staring at Tiddles.
His face was contorted but not in anger in an expression of relief. He looked at Tiddles and signed towards him.
"He says thank you," Kyto said to Tiddles.
"How does he know he was unconscious," Tiddles replied.
"He was fully aware, just unable to do anything about it from what he says," Kyto added.
"This fucking System," Sniffer cried out in anger.
Lars stood up and smiled at them all. He then walked over to where his clothes were, got cleaned off, and put on clean clothes.
"You see the rewards?" Kyto asked him.
He nodded in response, and as Kyto looked, he selected the unknown artefact.
"Three for the artifact. When Lars is ready, we will go and claim it," Kyto stated.
A few minutes later, Lars finished picking up his knives and placing them in his sheaths. He left the pistol behind, having no ammunition for it now, and they returned to the last chamber and the pedestal. They all stood around the pedestal as Kyto accepted the artefact. A brilliant flash of light appeared and left on the pedestal when it faded was a bracer.
"What is that?" Brandon asked.
"No idea." Kyto picked it up and turned it in his hands. It was made of a rigid metallic material with leather fastening and metal buckles. His display triggered.
Unknown artefact - no description available
"That has not helped. There is still no description," Kyto said.
"Maybe put it on," Sniffer said.
"If you think I should. We have no idea if the System is just fucking with us or not." Kyto replied.
"I doubt it. They have always been genuine regarding rewards or other bonuses." Tiddles replied.
Kyto rolled the sleeve of his jacket up and placed the bracer over his right forearm. It fit snugly, and as he did the fasteners up, it seemed to meld even tighter against his arm.
"Anything now?" Brandon asked him.
"No, nothing new. Although it fits well and seemed to adjust to my arm," Kyto replied.
"Oh well, hopefully, we will find out what it does eventually. I cannot imagine it is just a standard bracer," Sniffer replied.
"Anyway, we have a third level to clear. Who is up for more dungeon diving," Kyto asked.
The companions walked to the final door in the chamber, opening it and following it as it curved back upwards. They knew they were once again going to end in the safe room. After a few minutes of walking, they came to another doorway, leading them into the safe room. As the last of them walked through, the door disappeared again, and they were left with the tunnel down to the dungeon starting door.
"Next level," Sniffer said as he turned the handle.
All their displays are triggered.
Dungeon level 3 - you have reached the final level of the infestation dungeon.
Warning - death is not so easily defeated; if the whole group is killed during an attempt, the dungeon level will reset to the start.
"Shit, that does not sound good," Sniffer said, looking into the dark corridor.