NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Orion
Day 24 of Landing
Population of Thornhill - 53
The beach’s once-pure ocean scent was now clouded with smoke and fish. When I opened the smokehouse door, the pungent musk that greeted me smelled like fish sauce mixed with ash. Inside, my assorted meats—filets of elk, muskrat, and scarlet fowl—were smoked into a rich mahogany. I wrapped each in banana leaves to bring to my cook stove near the mess hall.
I’d chop the dried smoked meat and combine it with boar tallow and dried firecracker berries to make my rations: pemmican.
Special Pemmican - C
Firecracker Blast - 20% Increased Alertness and Energy (6 hours)
Boar Padding - 20% resistance against piercing and slashing attacks (6 hours)
Migration of the Elk - Stamina and endurance decrease at a slower rate (6 hours)
Flight of the Scarlet Fowl - 15% increase in top sprinting speed (2 hours)
Hide of the Muskrat - Grants brief shield against rain and water (6 hours)
Five buffs for six hours. I thought about how I could improve this recipe. I could, of course, use higher-quality fat for my pemmican binder. The meats could be marinated before smoking to enhance their flavor. The dried berries could be sprinkled with sugar. Once our farmers and animal keepers improve their products, I could raise my cooking rating to B or A. I would also need to find new meat—perhaps bear meat could replace muskrat; I’m sure bear meat would give me a great buff, though I heard bears had a ton of parasites.
With the creation of the pemmican, I could feel my level increase and pulled out my Cook class card to notice the new number 8 on it. Only two levels left until I unlock a new skill.
The pemmican needed to rest and set before I could collect it for my dungeon raid later. I wrapped my finished creation in leaves and set it in a dry place before heading to the blacksmith.
The new blacksmiths were currently focused on nails and hinges because of their dwindling supply of iron ingots. We needed a source of ore and miners soon. There was an expectation that Slate would handle it, but his work orders for buildings would see the golem busy for a long time. The well was being worked on, and soon Marek would continue work on his own house.
Marek was planning and laying the foundation for his own home. Having his own house would relieve the burden on the overcrowded shelters with five fewer people crammed in the overcrowded shelters.
Speaking of overcrowded shelters, Some people had started sleeping on the pirate ship. There was enough room for many people on board, but most were afraid of the ship drifting away, sinking, or being haunted. As for me, I stole a hammock from a cabin and used it in Shelter Two after Alex and Sasha had been too noisy on the ship.
Arriving at the blacksmith, Bart and Jesus glanced up from their work. I dropped four copper credits onto the workbench. Immediately, they both reached for it, locking eyes in silent competition.
“You have my order?” I asked.
Bart smiled and brought out my three new throwing knives, made of iron.
Iron Throwing Knife (3) - D
20% Increased Accuracy
The black iron knives were narrow and long, looking like black lances. In my hand, they felt like feathers compared to my old obsidian knives. I tested them on a nearby tree. Each knife landed a hair length next to the other.
I grinned as I retrieved the knives from the trunk, feeling its balance in my hand. 'Very nice.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Jesus said, bringing out his set of knives.
Iron Throwing Knife (3) - D
20% Armor Penetration
I tested them on a tree trunk outside with my Deadly Shot activated, and they cut through the trunk, leaving a slit and coming out the other side to plant themselves in the dirt. My accuracy knives would go on the left side of my apron, and my armor-penetration knives would go on the right side.
“Bro, I’ll let you keep your two coins,” Bart said, holding up the war hammer he’d looted from the lobster pirate Alex had killed. “In exchange, let me go with you to the dungeon.”
“Hell no, pendejo. Orion homes, you’ve got to bring me,” Jesus pleaded.
“I’ll bring one of you at a time since we need a blacksmith here every day. Bart, you’re up first. Meet me at the edge of Shelter Two in an hour.”
Arguments erupted between the two over the dungeon as I pocketed two coins from Bart.
Was it unethical to carry favor with the blacksmiths by taking them to the dungeon? Yes. Yes, it was.
My next stop was Anika’s “apothecary,” a mishmash of drying racks, stumps of giant trees with trays of arranged herbs, and worktables that Bianca promised would eventually become a proper building for Anika. She was currently picking petals off a flower and placing them into her drying rack. I placed a copper coin on her workbench, and she pocketed it, handing me a leaf package.
“I’ve analyzed the red potion we looted from the pirate. This is a herbal powder that will speed up recovery,” Anika said clinically.
Green Elixir of Health - F
Slightly Restores Health
“I know, I know. It’s not great, but it’s hard to wrap my mind around the idea of a potion,” Anika said, bowing her head apologetically. “By the way, those purple flowers you found in the dungeon—bring me more, and I’ll waive my fee today and tomorrow.”
“Will do, Ani,” I said with a smile and went on my way.
My next stop was Bianca, who handed me the clay pots I ordered. The four clay pots were formed into ball shapes with thin walls. At the top was a small circular neck for pouring liquids or other materials. I tucked the four clay bottles into my bag and offered her coins, but she waved them off.
“I probably owe you so much. Just take it and keep yourself safe, okay?” Bianca assured me warmly.
Waving goodbye, I went to see the priest or our brewer to collect some alcohol. He owed me for providing him with honey and potatoes. A strong concentration of alcohol and some pork lard I saved went into the bottles, which I stoppered with dry plant fibers as wicks.
Clay Molotovs - D
Fire spread 10% faster
With my potion, my new throwing knives, my rope, my Molotovs and flint, and my pemmican, I was ready to go.
After a brisk lunch, the party convened to ready themselves for the dungeon. Alex, Sasha, and Cade stood alongside two eager newcomers, Bart and Aiden. Sasha carried a crossbow looted from a pirate and a copper sword at her side. Cade had a new iron spear, thanks to the pirates. Bart gripped a huge hammer that the giant lobster had used to fight Alex on the beach. Aiden carried an axe. Alex, as usual, carried his longsword. Each weapon had been tweaked, edged, and granted additional modifications by the blacksmith brothers.
All of us were wearing a mix of dungeon gear and pirate loot.
I understood the risk of bringing so many people, especially newcomers, but we needed stronger people in Thornhill.
The pirate raid was the first wave, and we were lucky it wasn’t much worse. A ragtag pirate crew with one wizard should have wiped us all out had it not been for Cass’s Anti Mage class.
We marched toward the dungeon entrance at a brisker pace than usual.
“My ability lets us march faster to battle,” Alex bragged, showing me his “Party Leader” skill card.
Our formation was simple: Alex and Cade would be up front, and Sasha and I would guard the back. The new joiners would be sandwiched between us to carry loot and gain experience.
The first floor was straightforward—one Deadly Shot knife thrown by me followed by a spear into the backside of one rat and then onto the next. Another Deadly Shot and a bolt from Sasha's crossbow took out the final rat. We looted the weapons we found, with Aiden and Bart carrying them, and collected the coins into a party pot. Thanks to my tracking skills and Alex's Party Leader skill, we cleared the floor in under thirty minutes.
The second floor was much more complex. The tracks were jumbled, with many more enemies spread out in every direction. I decided not to venture to collect every chest and instead focused on following the main “highway” of foot traffic that led to the altar room. This would be our biggest challenge so far, and everyone prepared.
Our looters dropped their weapons to free their movement as we snuck into the altar room. Behind us, Cade guarded our backs while Alex took the vanguard. Bart’s giant war hammer trembled with fright as he saw the scene before him: dozens of gremlins on the stone stairs and a huge orc sitting on a throne.
I ate my pemmican and readied my armor-piercing throwing knife. Reaching back for some extra mustard, I launched a Deadly Shot straight between the orc’s eyes, piercing his skull and pinning his head to the stone throne behind him. He clutched his face mindlessly before collapsing on his throne.
A sea of glowing yellow eyes turned to face us. Sasha started loosing bolts into the front of the crowd charging us, aiming for their legs, and I followed with my accuracy knives. The front of the stampede of gremlins tripped as their legs and knees were shot, causing a mass of them to stumble up the altar steps toward us. Behind us, more gremlins rushed to pincer us.
Cade defended the narrow entrance to the altar room with a series of spear thrusts, his jabs needling the reinforcements. I moved in to support him, ready to step in if any enemies broke through. Behind us, Alex cleaved through the stumbling gremlins, fighting to reach us like crabs in a bucket, while Bart and Aiden dealt with the stragglers and those who had been knocked over. We finished off the remaining gremlins and the orc with a final jab or stab, then gathered the coins and weapons before pressing on.
At the Jester’s room, we made our purchases. Alex picked up a pair of bronze gauntlets, Cade bought bronze greaves, and Sasha chose a leather hood.
“Go back up,” I instructed Bart and Aiden.
“I can still go, Orion,” Bart gripped his war hammer tightly.
“I’ll take the weapons back,” Aiden offered, stepping forward.
I glanced at Bart, who carried his massive hammer as if it were a pool cue. We might need him, but he was still so new.
“Fine, but don’t get hurt. Just stay behind Alex and Cade. We haven’t finished the next floor yet.”
“I’ll do whatever you say, Boss,” Bart said with a mock salute, causing Alex and Sasha to erupt into laughter.
I sighed, “Don’t call me that. You guys ready?”
Everyone nodded, and we moved forward. The next area was a swamp marsh with ruined stone walls and ramparts. Guard towers, patrolled by giant crocodiles walking on two legs, loomed over us. The water we stood in was about a foot deep, hampering our movement. We found patches of mud and sand to stand on, alongside bushes of purple flowers, which I harvested for Anika.
A hulking crocodile monster emerged, stalking past the shrub where we hid just five paces away. Its bronze scales glinted, and its jaws were packed with razor-sharp teeth. Its long arms ended in dagger-like claws. Even hunched on two feet, the creature towered over me, standing a full head taller.
I readied my armor penetration knives and targeted its legs, sinking one into its tendon. The beast hissed and limped towards us. I fired a Deadly Shot at its head, lodging into its right eye. Alex and Cade advanced to skewer the beast with twin thrusts. Our new weapons finally pierced its hide.
The crocodile, riddled with wounds, collapsed in a heap. Bart’s hammer came down on its head to finish it, the splashing of the water coming still after the final blow was dealt. A smile spread across the young blacksmith’s face as he revealed his new skill, “Path of the Warhammer.” My Throwing Weapons skill also leveled up to level 5.
Another crocodile came to investigate the noise and met with the same fate. We continued through the swamps tackling the crocodiles with the same approach, at a slow and steady rate, always with the option to rush back if we became overrun.
When we reached the first guard tower, we found stairs leading up to a large wooden chest. Cade prodded the chest with his spear from a safe distance. Suddenly, a giant brown anaconda with white rings down its body dropped from above, coiling around the chest with its tail rattling as it prepared to strike.
I fired a Deadly Shot, driving a knife into the snake’s neck. It hissed and lunged at Cade. Alex’s Holy Strike carved a deep, bloody gash into its side, but the snake continued its assault.
Cade deployed a Guard’s Shield card, and the snake’s head slammed into an invisible barrier. Arrows and knives peppered its body while Alex kept slashing and Cade held his defense. Eventually, the snake, now riddled with wounds, collapsed in a bloody mess, its body resembling red ribbons coiled around the chest.
I retrieved the loot the snake was guarding without complaints. Slipping it onto my middle finger, I tested it. A firestarter—interesting.
Ring of Ignition - C
Snapping the ring ignites a brief spark.
“Man, this is so easy. Why are you guys only on level three?” Bart asked.
“We didn’t work as a team last time. Plus, we’ve got better weapons now,” Alex smiled cleaning the blood off his long sword.
“What do you mean we?” Sasha laughed. “You were the one who always wanted to go 1v1 with enemies.”
The next guard tower had stairs leading down. A wide stone archway near the bottom opened into a room with a large iron gate and a giant frog, the size of an elephant, covered in green slime that left a sticky trail of goo beneath him.
“How the hell are we going to beat that?” Cade asked gripping his spear tightly to his chest.
“Same strategy. I’ll aim for its eyes,” I whispered and crept forward.
With my Deadly Shot activated, my accuracy knife shot toward the frog’s bulging eye. The slime-covered eyes resisted my knife, and it bounced off the slime membrane and fell to the ground.
“Crap, it’s coming,” Cade said.
I reached for my clay Molotovs in my bag, “Hold up. I’m going to light it up.”
Using the Ring of Ignition, I lit the Molotov’s wick with a snap of my thumb against the ring on my middle finger. I aimed it at the ground in front of the frog, careful to avoid the slime. My Throwing Weapons skill ensured a precise throw, and the Molotov shattered at the frog’s feet. With my Firewielder ability, flames quickly engulfed the frog, the slime acting as an accelerant.
The frog’s protective slime evaporated, revealing its scorched flesh. Its mouth gaped open as its tongue lashed out toward Alex, who charged forward letting out a Holy Strike. The attack left a spray of blood and a chunk of the beast’s severed tongue. Bolts and thrown knives followed, turning the frog into a pincushion.
The frog leaped high into the air, descending toward us and crashing into our formation, scattering us. Panic set in, but Cade acted quickly, thrusting his spear into the frog’s right thigh. We all charged in with melee weapons. As Alex tried to shield his face, the frog spat a foul purple substance onto his new bronze gauntlet.
“Get it off!” I yelled. Alex struggled to remove the gauntlet while his forearm began blistering.
Bart crept up behind the frog, lifted his hammer, and brought it crashing down on its left thigh. When the frog opened its mouth to scream, I threw a lit Molotov down its throat, cooking it from the inside out. The stench was sickening, and some of us retched while others held their noses.
A blue chest appeared, making the unpleasant smell a bit more bearable.
Bronze Spear of Stagger - C
Grants a chance to stagger opponents
Iron Shield of Warding - C
Resistant against Poison
Leather Boots of Feather - C
Jump 20 percent higher and farther
We chose the Iron Shield of Warding for Cade to block poison spittle in future runs. The frog dropped five glass jester coins marked with the number five, which I assumed were worth five regular coins. Each of us pocketed one.
I applied powdered herb to Alex’s burns. He grimaced as the green poultice sizzled and released minty smoke, soothing his skin.
“Wow… I’ve got to get some of that.” Alex let out a sigh of relief.
“Anika sells it for a copper. That wasn’t free, by the way. You owe me a copper,” I said, holding out my hand. Alex sighed and handed me a copper.
“Yo, what do you think is on the next level?” Cade asked, wiping sweat off his brow.
“Only one way to find out,” Sasha challenged, smiling at me. “Are we going through or back up?”
“We’ll take a quick peek and then head back up. Knowing what’s ahead will help us prepare.”
Alex and the others high-fived and cheered. We were finally heading down to level 4.
The imposing iron doors creaked open to reveal staircases—one leading into darkness and one into light. Alex and Cade led the way, with the rest of us following closely. The air buzzed with excitement and trepidation.
Beyond the darkness, a gray statue of cracked granite stood before a cliff, depicting a queen holding a glowing blue orb. Her eyes lit up as I touched the stone, and a card appeared before me.
Waypoint - Floor 4
You may now skip to floor 4 from the dungeon entrance.
The rest of the party touched the statue, receiving their waypoints to floor 4. Beyond the statue, a winding trail descended into a maze of rocky chasms. From the cliff, we could see our path—through the chasms to a bridge on the other side. Giant birds, harpies with humanoid faces, patrolled the cliffs.
“We can take them,” Alex said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
I checked my buff timers and said, “Maybe next time. We’ve got a waypoint now. Dinner should be ready soon.”
We turned back, and I waited for everyone to ascend the stairway before following.
We received two copper coins each from Sophie, for our copper weapons supplied to the village. Sophie wanted to speak with me after, but I was too busy.
For dinner, I enjoyed the cod caught by the fishers that I roasted for myself. It felt wrong not to cook for everyone, but the dungeon had consumed my time.
Roast Azure Reach Cod - F
Cod’s Fisheye - Grants vision underwater - 1 hour
I saved the rest of my cod for the smoker, appreciating the buff’s power.
Wonderful. I could now dive for lobster and sea urchins.