Feral Beast Master: A Gamelit Adventure, page 21
“If there’s no loot, there’s no real money,” Trella said. “We’d be better off hunting in FangWood. We’d make more money doing Beast Control.”
“We’ll have a month off from Guild obligations afterwards, and the pay is ten silver a day base. Completing the run will yield another fifty silver each. It’s not gold but it’s not terrible. Any more questions?” Sara’s tone said there probably shouldn’t be.
But Kaden had one more. “It’s safe to pass the night in dungeons because Night spawns can’t enter. But this is open air. So we have to backtrack every time? And how do we keep the dungeon from resetting in between?”
“Ruining my surprise!” Sara said. “There are no night spawns here. We think it’s because of the dungeon state, but it’s been well tested. Secondly, we won’t be leaving the dungeon. We’ll camp inside and push as we can. Third, in the event of a catastrophic event, we can exit to the town, heal at the local temple. Because the dungeon is in a constant break state, it repopulates slowly. Any more questions?”
Trella raised her hand. “I don’t have a question, I just enjoyed seeing a piece of you die inside when you thought I did. Hey, where are you going? I thought of a question! Come back!”
Sara kept walking.
Kaden realized almost immediately why Green Hades had to be kept under control. The entrance to the dungeon—at least the marked entrance—lay not half a mile from the town. While an open air dungeon could technically be entered from almost anywhere, the dungeon could warp Adventurers to this entrance.
“First ‘room’ is a clearing. There’s two alligators in the pond at the edge and a giant scorpion buried in the sand,” Sara said. “Scorpion first, alligators second. Lash techniques won’t work here, but Trella, please distract when you can.”
“She’s got a map with the monsters on it? Not cool,” Trella said. “Plus, it’s the middle of the day in a jungle. Not a ton of shadows for me.”
Kaden gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Focus on the fun. Focus on the killing.”
“Oh, I focused on something all right. Eve? This is thanks for helping with Kaden’s taxes. Not payment, just…thanks.” Trella took a skill book from her Inventory. “It’s only good for people with cooking, so don’t act like it’s a big deal.”
“Foraging!” Eve flipped open the book and read it. “This is part of a set. This one is only edible plants, but I love it. That grass? It’s edible. The bark on that tree isn’t poisonous. Slugs can be cooked!”
But as they entered the edges of the dungeon, Eve stopped and studied the greenery. “The plants here are real. That’s wild onion, that’s mustard. That one over there is so poisonous if you pick it, I won’t have time to heal you.”
“Told you [Forager] would be handy,” Sara said to Eve. She was many things, but gracious wasn’t one of them. “Eyes on mobs?”
This was the clearing where the giant scorpion would be hiding.
The giant scorpion was not hiding.
It was also not living.
It lay on its back, its tail chopped neatly off, its legs torn and tossed.
The pair of alligators, too, were either really well disguised as dead alligators or actually dead, and Kaden knew which one he’d put a bet on. [Field Harvest] collected a stinger and two claws from the Scorpion.
“Someone’s been here ahead of us,” Sara said. “Recently.” She navigated them through the next four “rooms”, each of which was a distinctive clearing, copse of trees, or even an open, rolling grassland. All the monsters were dead.
Some of them torn to pieces so badly [Field Harvest] couldn’t recover anything.
Half a mile in, Sara called a stop. “I sent a bird to the Guild. This doesn’t make any sense. Why send us if a more powerful team is leading the way?”
Dungeon “Green Hades” has been defeated by Adventurer Party (1): Robert Aurora
Dungeon Core “Green Hades” has been destroyed by: Robert Aurora. No Title granted for defective non-combative Core.
Dungeon Node “Green Hades has been reconstituted by Robert Aurora using: Alternate Core.
Dungeon Node re-initializing…
Dungeon is currently occupied, complete reset halted, partial reset completed. Dungeon theme may not be changed. Dungeon mobs may not be changed. Dungeon Difficulty has already been changed. Dungeon layout has already been changed.
New Dungeon Node designation: Jungle Hell
Kaden looked to the others. “That’s not good.”
Sara pulled a messenger bird from Inventory and spoke to it, but when she released it, the bird zipped back and forth, circling for almost a minute, then landed on her arm and tucked its head under its wing. She stored it away. “It can’t get out. Don’t panic. Don’t. Panic.”
Panic seemed like a decent strategy. “If the bird can’t get out, should we check the exit?” Kaden asked.
“No point. One of the Sisters taught me how to catch one, once. Well, she tried to. They’re small and fast, and all their attribute points are on agility.” Trella sat down and began to stretch. “The only real question is, is the golden bastard going to come finish the job himself, or does he want the dungeon to do his dirty work?”
“He won’t get involved,” Eve said. “There are Centurions who investigate intra-guild conflict. They can tell who was involved in a battle, what skills they used, and on occasion who started the battle. He doesn’t need to.”
Sara’s eyes whipped open. “Everyone on their feet. We’re going to push to find the first mob we can and get a level gauge.”
Kaden was ready. Almost. He summoned Vip and Trinity. “Vip, there are serpents here. Just scout, don’t attack. Trinity, this is more like your home.”
With both removed from his soul, Kaden’s skills would be the only thing protecting him, but he like the odds with greater numbers, and Vip’s ability to smell enemies couldn’t be discounted. The dungeon layout had changed, according to the system messages, but the monsters had not, so Sara’s map wouldn’t reflect the right order of rooms, but might still give clues about what they’d face.
Trella sent her deception ahead to scout, while Kaden fed her mana darts. “First branch is up ahead, and we have one scorpion, level nineteen. There are two exits from the clearing, and a heavy cluster of brush at the back that could have a second scorpion or something else.”
Sara thought for a moment. “Eve, hit it with Moon Strike. We’ll try to draw the scorpion away. That makes it less likely we draw in another mob.”
Eve moved to the front of the party and raised her hands to unleash a beam of moonlight. “It only did one point of damage.”
“Incoming,” Trella said, as she fell back.
Giant Scorpion was an accurate description, covered in heavy black armor that reminded Kaden of Rocky’s shell. Rocky would have loved this environment, but Kaden couldn’t carry all his beasts yet. The giant scorpion was as long as a man. Its stinger and claws glowed with red light that was probably fire mana.
“Vip, stay clear. Trinity, watch the stingers. And the claws. And the mouth.” Kaden pulled Remembrance and began a dance, moving closer to the scorpion so it raised its tail to strike, but pulling back before it could, while Trinity bounded into position behind the scorpion.
But before he could attack, a [Moon Strike] beam hit the scorpion. It pivoted and scurried away from Kade, headed for Eve. A quick Mana-Dart had it pivot. Before it could strike with its tail, Kaden leaped over the claws and grabbed it. “Trinity, hit it!”
Every ounce of his strength barely kept the scorpion’s tail from stinging him, but a drop of venom trickled out, burning his cheek.
“Trinity’s tail stab isn’t piercing its armor,” Sara called. “I’m engaging.”
She fed one pseudopod to each claw and stabbed for the eyes, striking over and over.
Trella re-appeared behind the scorpion. “Backstab isn’t working at all. I’m going to try stabbing leg joints.”
Kaden’s grip on the tail slipped, and the stinger plunged forward, piercing his armor as easily as paper. Sheer agony exploded in him.
You have acquired a status effect: Poisoned.
Your skill with Poison Resistance has increased!
The scorpion whipped its tail backwards, flat along the ground, and it threw Kaden. He should have rolled and attacked, but the venom made him dizzy and weak. “Eve, I’m poisoned.”
Pain rolled over him as blood seeped from his skin, followed by a wash of healing from Life Harvest.
Now the scorpion danced with Sara and Trinity. A [Moon Strike] struck it in the eyes, and Eve shouted. “It’s blind!”
Kaden took no chances, swinging Remembrance in a high arc to bring down the axe head on the base of the scorpion’s tail.
[Crippling Strikes] has inflicted a crippling blow.
The tail fell off, flexing, and the scorpion spun to grab his left leg with a pincer before Kaden could dodge, but as it did, Trinity’s blind head struck, snatching the scorpion’s hind leg, and the bone head struck the joint over and over, while the serpent head…probably cheered them on. It wasn’t really meant for this kind of fight.
Sara’s Horror had latched on to the claw that wasn’t buried in Kaden’s leg, and she struck its eyes over and over. “It’s weaker at the leg joints than the head.”
“Got it!” Trella used both daggers at once, crouching to stab into two different leg sockets at once, then leaping back so that only one leg managed to smash her. The giant scorpion moved slower and slower, but kept digging the claw into Kaden’s leg.
His health was down to 30% and dropping, and Remembrance was less effective at close range, so he hacked at the heavily armored center, chipping away chitin with every strike. “There! Armor’s open!”
Trella leaped atop the scorpion and slammed both daggers down. “[Backstab]!”
The scorpion collapsed.
So did Kaden.
You have defeated a giant scorpion.
You have gained experience.
One giant scorpion. One minion class monster in a twelve room dungeon. He wouldn’t allow desperation to sink in, but if one minion had done this, what chance did they have?
26
TWENTY SIX - THE LONG HAUL
After nearly two hours, Kaden had regained enough health to push forward. Eve had to split healing between the different party members, but Sara’s title helped as well. Finally, Sara signaled they’d move forward. “Trella, I agree with your assessment. That corner is too well covered and looks like an ambush spot.”
Trella’s Deception slunk forward, but didn’t return for almost a minute. “No snakes, no scorpions. No chests, either, though I was hoping for one of those.”
“Move forward, eyes out in case there’s another buried scorpion,” Sara called. “I looked over the map, the scorpions are ambush rooms, usually for giant snakes.”
The wide clearing held rough, barren soil at the center, where the scorpion would have been buried. Heavy green vines hung from the trunk of a giant tree in one corner, but two exits stood out. One was a vine arbor that led down a shaded tunnel, the other an opening in a rock face that led to a cave.
Kaden checked the barren soil, letting Vip scout, ready to leap away if something burst out.
Nothing.
But as they evaluated openings, Trinity threw back her snake head and hissed, and charged the corner. A roar sounded across the clearing, and from the branches of the tree, a spotted cat leaped. As tall at the shoulders as Kaden, it twisted to avoid Trinity’s middle head—but couldn’t avoid the serpent head, which sank its venomous fangs into the shoulder before the cat tore itself loose.
[Golden Leopard]
Once a Beast ensnared by a dungeon, this monster is well optimized for killing adventurers, given the element of surprise. Do not let the lack of skills or mana fool you, it was deadly as a Beast. It is even more so, now. Like a puma, you would be wise to check for it often.
Level:18
HP: 240
Mana: 0
“No skills, no talents, but it’s a carving, killing machine,” Kaden said. Trinity took the lead here, pressuring the Golden Leopard. Eve’s [Moon Strikes] fired off at every opportunity, and Kaden tossed her Mana Darts while he bided his time, looking for an opening to attack.
The Golden Leopard’s claws raked out, but Trinity caught the attack with her bone shielded head and the Serpentine head lashed out, poisoning again.
“Moving in to pressure it,” Sara called.
“Don’t—” Kaden couldn’t shout it in time. The Golden Leopard turned on Sara, a much easier target. It lunged for her, and while her pseudopods blocked its bite and front claws, the sheer weight knocked Sara over so it could rake with its rear claws in her gut.
And Kaden couldn’t risk hitting Sara with Remembrance.
“Bad Kitty!” Trella shouted, stabbing it right under the tail, then using her Deception to dodge as the Golden Leopard leaped off of Sara to crush the shadow.
“Eve, take Sara,” Kaden called.
Sara wasn’t moving, but Kaden had to focus. Three on one, he let Trinity lead. Without question, the leopard would circle them to attack Eve and Sara if it could. So he wouldn’t let it. Instead, he swung out left with Trella just behind him. “Pspspspspsps,” he called.
“I can’t heal fast enough!” Eve shouted. “I have to use a potion.”
Kaden carried two in his Inventory and a healing salve. Against a dungeon this size, each would be precious, but not losing a party member here was equally precious. Trinity struck with her bone head, but the Golden Leopard recognized it as a lure now.
So Kaden moved in, keeping Remembrance before him. Making the Leopard choose, face him or Trinity’s attacks. Of course, it chose Trinity. And the lessons Mr. Dervish had taught paid off. He didn’t need to speak to Trinity to tell her the plan. He didn’t need to leave himself open.
He rushed forward, using Remembrance for swift, short jabs, and when the Leopard shifted to swipe at him, Trinity’s serpent head struck, latching on near the spine.
With a roar, the leopard tore itself loose—as Remembrance descended to strike its shoulder.
Your skill with Brutal Blows has increased.
[Brutal Blows] has inflicted a permanently crippling injury.
The Leopard twisted to strike him, but one of Trella’s throwing daggers blossomed in its stomach, and it fell on the side Kaden had smashed.
Trinity at last used her blind head to gouge and rip and tear at the Leopard’s exposed side, until it didn’t move.
You have defeated a monster (Golden Leopard).
You have gained experience.
Kaden looked back to Sara, who rocked back and forth on the ground, her arms clasping at her stomach. One room down. This was going to be a very long haul.
Kaden carried Sara back to the entrance, not because he feared another ambush but because if this dungeon had patrols or wandering mobs, one entrance gave exactly one way to defend. He left Trinity to guard while he focused on Sara. “How bad are the wounds?”
“I wasted a health potion,” She said. “I said we were going to be cautious, and I was careless.”
“You need a nap or a meal or to get laid,” Trella said. “We’re stuck in an over level dungeon, against monsters we haven’t fought, and you’re acting like we’ll get everything right first go. We’re camping for the night. Eve needs to regain mana, we all need to heal, and tomorrow, we’re going to actually do what we said we were.”
Kaden wasn’t sure when Trella had assumed Party control, but Eve moved to make camp quickly, setting up a fire stone while he raised tents and checked on Vip. “Any small bads?”
*No. Smell blood.* Vip looked to Sara, then went and curled up beside her. *Stay love.*
His own leg still wept small trickles of blood, but every few Mana Darts, Eve cast [Life Harvest] on Sara.
“I gained a level in Life Harvest,” Eve said. “One more to ten. I know the skill will change then. I’m just not sure how.”
Kaden checked his own status. Brutal Blows had advanced faster than he would have thought possible, and the constant use of Mana Dart had recovered another point. He was only eleven down from when he’d bound Trinity. The reminder set him to using Mana Dart again. “Anyone level?”
The chorus of groans gave him his answer.
As night fell, his apprehension rose. Jungle Hell was reformed on an open air dungeon, which might mean Beasts could creep in from outside. Trinity would let him know if patrols approached, but for Beasts? He gave the thought to Vip.
While Eve cooked, Kaden unloaded the giant scorpion and golden leopard bodies. As a mix of Beast and Monster, they didn’t fade away. He [Field Harvest]ed the leopard. And found a pleasant surprise. “There’s loot in their bodies. Like, actually in the flesh.”
He emptied a wooden bow with a wet string from Inventory, along with three wooden arrows. “How did this even fit in the corpse?”
“Mixed monsters,” Sara said, her voice quiet. “The loot forms on death, and is almost always low quality. A full reset of the dungeon would probably be true monsters.”
Kaden set the bow out to dry and began chipping away at the Scorpion shell. “Eve, you’re the cook. Is this edible?”
“It’s a delicacy if cooked right. Let me say right now I don’t think I can cook it right.” Eve went back to stirring her pot.
And Kaden began cutting all the broad muscle he could, storing it in Inventory. [Field Harvest] yielded a [Scorpion Stinger] and nothing else.
The likelihood of death hung over them as they ate, even dampening Eve’s pleasure at successfully cooking a meal. While Eve worked on healing Sara, Trella proved that holding a bow and having the [Archery] skill were two different things. The only positive was that the Dungeon, by way of its internal walls, wouldn’t let the arrow fly off into the brush. “Do you wish we were home?”
