Warbreaker's Risk: A LitRPG Apocalypse Adventure (The Connected System Book 2), page 49
A couple of minutes later, he was back out in the central vestibule. A glance at the door showed the same people still gathered. He waved. Harper and Piper waved back. He flashed a thumbs up, showing them that everything was good.
Getting a thumbs up from Harper, Loch turned away from them, heading for the stairs.
Up or down? Where to go first.
He chose down.
It was the most likely place.
Up were the classrooms and lockers along the corridor. Lots of places to look, but nothing that made sense logically. Not that there was much he could find logically about the Connection. But he thought it would be better to eliminate the basement area first—less area than the upper floors.
He’d have felt like he’d wasted time going upstairs and searching every classroom only to have it confirmed that the Core wasn’t there.
The stairs down were off to the side, away from the main stairs up, which were wider. A single door led down. This was normal access. He knew there were larger doors and a ramp that gave access to the basement from outside, a way to get larger equipment down.
One of the first places they would have to secure when they took over the place.
Opening the door, he saw darkness.
No lights and no windows to let daylight in.
Loch cursed.
Unlike a Dungeon that provided some means of illumination, there was none here.
Maybe it would be better to search the upper floors first?
Loch looked for a way to keep the door open. It was on an automatic closer. It would shut behind him, closing off what little light it let into the stairwell. There was nothing.
He looked up at the closer, wondering how he could disable it. Loch had no idea how closers worked. There was a cover over the mechanisms, one held on by screws. With no screwdriver, he couldn’t even get that off to look at the parts.
He’d have to go back into the office. There would be something in there he could use.
Turning, about to head back, he cursed again.
Letting the door lean against him, Loch reached up and grabbed the closer bar. He pulled. The metal protested, starting to bend. He pulled some more, the metal snapping with a loud crack. Pushing the door against the wall, he moved his hand.
The door stayed open.
Just to be safe, Loch wedged the broken closer bar between the bottom of the door and the floor, holding it open.
The stairs creaked under him as he walked down the stairwell. It was open on one side, a railing the only protection from falling onto the hard concrete floor of the basement.
From what little he could see, the basement was a large open space with columns spread throughout. There looked to be shelves to the side. He wished he’d brought some of the glowsticks with him.
Loch stepped off the stairs onto the floor. He thought he saw a small glow in the middle of the room, taking a step in that direction. He stopped.
There was something down there with him.
Loch wasn’t sure why he thought that. There’d been no noise. Nothing moving. Not even the pressure from an aura. He just knew there was something in the darkness.
He took another step, quickly turning to the side and raising Onyx.
Something slammed into the axe, knocking Loch back a couple of steps.
Something big and strong.
There was no follow-up attack.
He stretched his senses, trying to track whatever was in the shadows.
No sound or fleeting hint of motion in the corner of the eye.
Loch Activated Bulwark, raising his arm, the shield appearing barely in time. He was pushed back a few feet from the impact, claws raking across his armor.
He still couldn’t see what was attacking him.
No sound. No hint of motion.
He didn’t dare turn to look for it.
He didn’t dare move.
Loch focused inward. He’d sensed the attacks seconds before they happened. Barely in time. How?
He didn’t have any kind of danger sense. None of his Skills or Abilities functioned that way. Not that he knew of. But what other explanation was there?
The energy shield gave off some light, pushing away the darkness but only for a couple of feet around him. Nothing was revealed.
Loch turned his head, trying to sense where the thing was.
He twisted, ducking low, feeling claws tear along his back. He’d been hurt in the Dungeon, back all torn up. It had been healed, but some tightness and pain still remained. That pain was joined by new agony, as the claws cut through his leather armor, breaking skin.
Loch fell to the ground, turning onto his back, raising Bulwark in time to catch the attack.
Whatever it was ran off.
Pushing himself up, Loch slid along the ground, biting back the pain in his back, pushing up against the wall of the basement. He held the shield up, moving his arm, using it like a lantern. He’d expected to see the creature crouched nearby, waiting to attack. But there was nothing.
What was attacking him?
He’d sensed it again. Not the creature, but the attack. That was an important distinction, he knew. He wasn’t sensing it in the act of approaching or attacking, but in the seconds before the attack struck.
Not the greatest early warning system, but it was something Loch could work with.
As long as he was fast.
He stood up, keeping his back against the wall.
Raising the shield, he kept Onyx low to the side. Eyes moved around the space, trying to pick out darker shadows. Maybe there was more than one of the creatures?
He felt the attack coming from his right. He twisted, fighting back against the instinct to dodge, moving Bulwark in place, barely getting it in time. A heavy weight slammed into the shield, Loch fought not to get pushed back, to hold the shield where it was.
Mentally sending Spirit from his Core into Bulwark, Loch made the shield erupt in spikes. Immediately after that thought, he Activated Elemental Surge pushing Spirit into the Ability, making it stronger. At the same time, with a last surge of Spirit, he Activated the lightning aspect of Bulwark, sending waves of energy out from the shield.
Each attack came a second after the other.
Loch felt pressure slam into his mind, his body weakening. A backlash of pushing that much Spirit out his Core and through his body, not just what was required to Activate the Abilities but additional Spirit to make them stronger. It was more than his body could stand.
But it worked.
The creature shrieked in pain. The spikes pierced its attacking arm, pinning it in place. Elemental Surge slammed into it, the Ability attacking with the element that the creature had the least amount of resistance to. Loch didn’t even know what it was, the Ability not having a physical manifestation. Just a wave of force striking his unknown enemy.
Lightning bolts crackled in the air, surrounding the enemy, forming a shape.
Loch’s head was pounding from the backlash. It grew worse as the creature’s roar struck, a physical force slamming into Loch. He leaned against the concrete basement wall, fighting to stay upright. The shriek pierced into his mind, sending shivers through his body, adding to the weakness of the Spirit backlash.
He couldn’t get Onyx up in time, barely getting Bulwark in place as another attack slammed into the shield. Loch could see the attack coming this time, the creature’s uninjured arm swinging at him. The arm moved before Loch could impale it with the energy spikes. He’d had to deactivate them, releasing the arm, to get the shield in place in time.
Lightning crackled around the creature, highlighting a humanoid form. Tall and lanky.
Dark.
The lightning only revealed a darker shape against the lightless basement.
Long arms ending in five incredibly long fingers, like daggers. The creature was taller than Loch, having to bend down in the low ceiling of the basement. There were no other details, the creature dark on dark.
Loch managed to use Evaluate.
SHADOWSTALKER
That was it, just a name. Nothing that hinted at what kind of beast it was, to begin with.
It felt stronger than Loch. Not by a lot, but enough. A boss-level threat.
And he was tackling it solo.
At least now he could see it.
Loch struck with Onyx, using Cleave. The axe slammed into the Shadowstalker’s long arms. It shrieked again, and Loch’s mind lanced with pain. He thought he cut the arm off. It had felt like he had. It was hard to tell, the crackling bolts of Bulwark’s lightning attack starting to fade.
He wanted to use Elemental Surge again. Being alone had a benefit. There was no one that Elemental Surge or the lightning field from Bulwark could hurt, as neither Ability could tell friend from foe.
The problem with Surge was the Spirit cost. Offensively or defensively, it cost a lot of Spirit to Activate and maintain. Another reason he didn’t use it often. He had a lot of Spirit, but he also burned through it quickly when using all his Abilities.
He cursed as the Shadowstalker took a few steps back, almost disappearing in the darkness. He could barely see it. Now that he knew what to look for, the creature could be spotted.
Barely.
It moved quickly, staying about ten feet away from him. Loch had a hard time tracking it, almost losing it as it made jerky motions left and right before picking a direction. When it moved, the Shadowstalker moved quickly.
Loch moved back against the wall.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to use the same trick twice.
Luckily he had another trick.
Now that he could barely see, the creature Loch could use another Ability.
He Activated Precision Strike.
Bright glowing spots appeared around the Shadowstalker’s form—shoulders, knees, and neck. There weren’t many, but enough to highlight its shape.
It rushed at him, the bright spots moving with the creature. He couldn’t see the arm extending, but he could see the way the shoulder joint moved, indicating the arm was straight out.
Loch twisted to the side at the last second, feeling a claw scrap across his armor. He slammed Onyx down, the axe biting deep into the back of the monster. The force pushed the Shadowstalker to the ground. Loch tried to stomp on it, but the Stalker rolled out of the way. He kicked after it, missing.
The glowing spots disappeared, hiding the Shadowstalker in the darkness.
Loch moved back against the wall, wanting the protection it offered.
The attack came, aimed for his right shoulder. Loch ducked low, not able to get Onyx or the energy shield up to block. He felt the pressure wave as the Shadowstalker flew past. He twisted to the side, raising the side, but no attacks came. The creature had disappeared again.
It was moving too fast for him to use Thunderclap. He couldn’t react fast enough to score hits against the Shadowstalker when it attacked him. His strange way of sensing the monster kept him from getting too badly hurt.
But it was wearing him down.
If he didn’t find some way to change up the fight, the Shadowstalker would win.
Could he run away?
The stairs were right there.
He could back up them with the Shadowstalker attacking the whole time. It would have the advantage. Would it even follow him?
But what would a retreat do? Delay the fight. He’d heal up, but so would the Shadowstalker. To claim the Clanhold, he’d have to come into the basement again. He’d have to fight and win against the Shadowstalker. The rest would be beneficial to both of them, and the Shadowstalker would have seen his attacks. It would be ready.
Retreat far enough up the stairs to get into the light? Would the monster even follow him up the stairs?
Doubtful.
It had no reason to.
Its strength was the shadows of the basement. There was no benefit for it to move up the stairs. It knew Loch’s goal was down in the basement. It was strongest there. The thing would have to be stupid to follow him into the light.
Loch knew it wasn’t stupid.
This time he heard the Shadowstalker landing on the ground—a dull thud. No footsteps receding into the darkness. Just the solid sound of the monster landing.
He went through all his Abilities. Nothing stood out that could help him.
There had to be something he could do.
He ducked, avoided the slashing claws, and raised Onyx. The axe bit into the Shadowstalker’s arm, the monster shrieking as it retreated. The sound blasted into Loch. He wanted to drop his weapon, cover his ears, but forced himself not to.
Another attack came, Loch barely sensing it, barely sliding to the right to avoid the claws. They slammed into the wall behind him. He heard breaking bone, the Shadowstalker shrieking once more.
It wasn’t as painful.
He didn’t get time to wonder as the Shadowstalker attacked again. He caught it on the shield, pushing the arm up high. The dark Shadowstalker was in front of him. Loch could barely make out the monster’s shape. He swung Onyx, Activating Cleave. The axe bit into the Shadowstalker’s side.
Loch saw his opening. It was a chance and could easily go terribly wrong.
So far, he had been letting the Shadowstalker dictate the pace of the fight.
It was time to change that.
The monster started to pull away.
Loch didn’t let it.
Twisting his left arm, he quickly grabbed the Shadowstalker’s arm, holding the creature still. It was hard to hold. There was a solidness to it, but not as much as Loch had thought there would be. He could grab it and feel the tendons and bones of the thin arm. At the same time, though, it felt like he was grabbing nothing.
It pulled, trying to get away.
Loch didn’t let it.
He swung Onyx into the monster’s side again.
And again.
The Shadowstalker’s free hand slashed across Loch’s armor. He felt the claws digging deep, cutting through the leather, cutting gouges into his flesh. He fought the urge to retreat, instead pulling the Shadowstalker closer. He felt his blood flowing out, the pain intense.
He shifted Onyx’s path, aiming up at an angle. The axe head bit deep into the Shadowstalker’s armpit. He pulled the axe out, swinging it up. The gash grew deeper. The Shadowstalker shrieked. Pain exploded in Loch’s head. A pounding against his mind, his vision going blurry. He felt blood leaking out of his ears.
Loch didn’t let go.
Didn’t stop his attacks.
Onyx swung up, cutting through the Shadowstalker’s arm. It fell to the ground with a quiet thud.
The monster didn’t shriek, it roared in pain.
Still holding its left arm, Loch kicked out, driving his boot into the monster’s stomach. Its body bent in half, twisting to the side as the blow pushed it away, but it was unable to move with the grip Loch had on its arm.
The axe head glowed with power as Onyx slammed into the Shadowstalker’s chest. Cleave cut deeper into the monster, its thin body not a barrier. It tried to collapse to the ground, pulling away. Loch felt his grip slipping.
He was stronger than the Shadowstalker, but not by much. It was all he could do to hold on.
Loch kicked out with his leg, slamming into the monster’s leg, wrapping his foot around it, and yanking. The Shadowstalker slipped, falling backward, arm extended. It tried to twist out of Loch’s grasp. He moved with it, kicking it again in the chest.
Adjusting his grip on Onyx, he raised the axe, swinging it straight out. It bit into the Shadowstalker’s arm, cutting through muscle and bone. The monster fell back, Loch dropping the arm. He stepped forward as the monster tried to scramble away. Onyx swept down, cutting into the monster’s chest. He Activated Precision Strike, finding the weak spot. Bulwark disappeared, Loch reaching down to clutch at his chest, feeling his blood leaking out of the wounds. He walked slowly toward the Shadowstalker. It hissed at him, the noise coming from the blackness that was its head. No mouth or eyes, just a blackness with a brightly glowing spark of light where a neck would be.
A nice target to line up with the blade of his axe.
The Shadowstalker’s head fell to the ground.
It didn’t land with a thud.
By the time the head reached the ground, it had started to fade away. What had been solid was now turning into a cloud of dark shadow.
That Loch could see.
He was surprised that he could see the smoke that had been the head.
As he looked around, Loch realized he could now see more of the basement. It was still dark, with many shadowed areas and very little detail.
But he could see.
The Shadowstalker’s body started to fade away like the head, a cloud of smoke drifting on a non-existent wind. Loch had to shield his eyes as bright sparks appeared in the air, swirling around the cloud, darting through it and into his body.
YOU HAVE SLAIN A LEVEL 23 SHADOWSTALKER.
Loch felt a large amount of Spirit enter his Core, pushing it closer to his next level. He felt like he’d gained enough for half a Level, maybe more.
He stretched, working the tightness out of his muscles. It had been a short but intense fight. He could feel the cuts across his chest and back starting to heal, the flesh and muscles mending themselves together.
It hurt.
Not as bad as when the wounds had been made, but it still hurt.
How much had his poor back been cut in the last couple of fights? It seemed the part of his body that constantly got targeted. Which made some sense, it was undefended. He couldn’t block attacks from that direction. His only defense was the armor.
There had to be something he could do about that.
Loch took more steps into the basement, trying to place the various shadows he saw. Boilers that weren’t working. Shelves filled with things that he couldn’t make out. Probably spare parts for various pieces of equipment around the school. Things that weren’t ever going to work again. Electrical power panels and transformers. Loch wasn’t sure what else would be down there. The group would have plenty of time to survey it all.
He was focused on the object in the middle.
