Heroes, Magic and Monsters

I spend first two days to learn Stone skin spell. That spell increase body's defense and acted as full body armor. After I mastered the spell Sally informed me that Nelly finally reached level ten and her Water magic skill was at advanced level. That was good news for Nelly, but also meant that soon our dungeon visits with Nelly will come to an end.

During third day I bought several replacement magic stones for my magic lantern in the Magic tools and artifacts shop and shopkeeper taught me how to replace them. Then I spend some time sparring with Gord, bought enough food for twelve days, along with additional water canteens, and finally took some rest buy lazing in my bed.

Next morning we picked up Nelly and met with Ashurga at the gate. We used our usual strategies and reached level six. Nelly lightning spell made fighting strong monsters easy for us, and also helped her to increase her levels faster than we thought possible.

Tracks left by our mining, were almost gone. All the rubble disappeared and new corridor created buy Ashurga was now only a small hole inside caverns wall.

- Well, I hoped it would be better, but nothing can be done about that, - sighed weaponsmith, and got to work. We again placed lanterns around the cavern, and spend first hour waiting for monster attack. After a single horned bear, Luara relaxed, and we again started helping the dwarf with adamantium extraction. After first three days, I slowly started getting used to mining work, and my back didn't hurt as much as in the beginning. Still I used cure spell at least once a day, to help with my muscle pain. Elves weren't born for such hard work.

Monster attacks were rear, and after fourth day only once in two days. Small mountain of rubble was located on the left side of the cavern. We dug almost twelve meters deep inside the wall and then created several branching corridors, guided by Nelly's spell. We needed seven days to extract all adamantium. It was more than I expected, and after Ashurga's backpack was full, we placed the rest in my magic bag. Ashurga's lanterns used up their magic stones and he needed to use up two replacements stones. My lantern and Luara's also faded by the end of our mining, and we replaced magic stones in them. Ashurga broke two of his pickaxes and we broke one shovel, but experienced dwarf had enough spares.

We finished one day earlier than we expected, and still had some spare food supplies. Luara decided that we should rest for the end of the day and leave the dungeon next morning. Night ended peacefully and we gathered our things. Everyone was in good mood. Nelly managed to kill many monsters and probably will greatly level up, and we also succeeded in mining a lot of adamantium. All that was left was leaving the dungeon, and them waiting for our adamantium equipment.

We were on our way to leave the floor six and entered one of the caverns. It was almost two hundred meters across and had four entrances, on all sides of it. We entered from the south and needed to exit through north exit. On caverns left side I noticed several monster shaped rocks. I didn't remember seeing them, but decided that they were probably some fallen stalactites. I doubled my caution, just in case, and when we reached the middle of the cavern noticed a monster exiting left corridor.

- Monster, left side, - I warned others and used my Slow spell. To my surprise the monster's speed did not change: - My Slow spell didn't work. Nelly get ready your Lightning spell and act fast.

I took out my glowing stone bracelet and just in case casted Haste spell on myself. Since my Slow spell did not work, it probably meant that we were dealing with high level monster.

I threw my bracelet and it landed near the monster. Next moment lightning struck it. Electric sparks run through him and monster slowed down. Its head caught on fire, but soon flames disappeared. Monster released crowing sound and we all froze in fear.

It was a cockatrice. Two legged dragon like monster with bat wings and rooster's neck and head, that was covered with feathers, while rest of his body was covered with grey skin. That was a floor guardian, who could turn to stone other monsters and adventurers just by looking at them. Monster's head and body had nasty looking burn scars on it, left by Nelly's spell. Cockatrice shook his head and looked at Nelly. She tried to use another spell, but her left arm started turning to stone. She had moments left before her heart would petrify, which would meant certain death. I acted without thinking. I run back to the corridor that we exited and released my arrow.

Arrow hit monsters neck. It did not pierce his feathers, but distracted monster from Nelly. Cockatrice looked at me and my second arrow hit his stomach. This time it pierced his skin, and a drop of blood went down his body.

Cockatrice angrily crowed and started running after me.

- Get out of here! - I screamed: - I will distract it!

Myne managed to cast a Slow spell, and I had to keep shooting to keep monsters' attention at me. I led cockatrice into the corridor behind me, hoping that Luara bought potion that had anti-petrifaction properties. Cockatrice angrily squeaked and run after me. I am still running, and he did not turned me to stone. So he needed to stop and concentrate his vision. That is good. I needed to blind him, or wound him bad enough for me to escape. Myne's spells were stronger than mine and her Slow spell gave me an advantage. I exchanged my quiver for the one with orichalcum arrows, and took out the bracelet with glowing stone.

I run inside the next cavern and turned left of the entrance. At the same time I threw bracelet forwards and a little right. I hoped that light will attract monsters attention, otherwise I will be doomed. I still have some time so I drunk the anti-petrifaction potion. Unlike the healing potion, it had to be poured over petrified part of the body and wouldn't help if I would drink it, so I did not swallow it. I prepared my Magic arrow and next moment cockatrice came inside the cavern. Floor guardian noticed the light and moved towards it to investigate.

I used my Magic arrow and wounded its leg. Wound was not deep, bet damaged monsters leg and blood run down from few centimeters deep hole in its thigh. Cockatrice chirped and turned around. Floor guardian noticed me and concentrated his gaze. He stood still and that was my chance, I aimed at him and released my arrow. My Archery skill improved my aim and orichalcum arrow went right inside monsters eye. Cockatrice chirped in pain and shook his head.

I felt pain in my chest and spat out potion from my mouth. My close and skin were already turned to stone, but potion worked and grey-stone color disappeared. I fell on my knees. My Hast spell wore off and I was in no shape to move. I drunk healing potion. It helped and I stood up.

Wounded cockatrice run towards me. It was too close to corridor that we came from, and I run towards second closest exit. It was not the one that we used before, but corridor, that led to our mine, was behind the monster. Cockatrice followed me. I run much faster than part rooster part dragon monster, but then Myne's Slow spell stopped working. Cockatrice started getting closer and I casted my Haste spell again. It helped and I managed to maintain the distance between us. I prepared my Magic arrow and one more orichalcum arrow. As I reached the entrance to the corridor I turned around and used both of my arrows aiming at monster wounded led. Both arrows wounded monster leg, and more blood came out of his wounds. I noticed that first leg wound was not healing. That was good, as long as cockatrice was not regenerating I had a chance. Floor guardian stopped and concentrated his eye on me, but I was already gone inside the corridor. Corridor was almost four hundred meters long. I continued running until I reached the exit. Then I again turned around and used my Magic and orichalcum arrows aiming at monsters leg. Two more wounds, retreat to the cavern and running towards the next corridor. I drunk stamina potion and repeated this cycle four more time, casting Haste spell one more time, as soon as it wore off. Finally cockatrice's leg gave in and rooster headed monster fell on the ground. Cockatrice flapped his wings, but was not able to get up. I took out my last anti-petrifaction potion and poured it in my mouth, while continuing my run, this time towards the cockatrice. I stayed on its blind side and managed to prepare Magic arrow spell when he finally noticed me. Cockatrice concentrated his gaze, but I was close enough and guided my Magic arrow towards its remaining eye. Just like last time out attacks overlapped. I started to petrify, but my spell took out monsters eye. I again spat out the potion and petrifaction disappeared.

Cockatrice chirped in pain. Huge bloody hole was in the place where its right eye used to be. I drunk one more healing potion and approached the monster. I took out mana potion and prepared Magic arrow. My spell hit monster's head. Monster chirped in pain again and started crawling towards me. I drunk mana potion and continued using my Magic arrows. Dozen spells later cockatrice's head was bloody mess. Floor guardian was dead. It laid on the ground with blood coming out of the remainders of its head.

I vomited. That was most ruthless thing that I ever did. But it was either me or the monster and I made my choice long ago. Survival above all. All the arrows that I used to shoot the monster were broken, so I had only six orichalcum arrows left. I replaced them with my regular arrows. No use using orichalcum arrows on regular monsters.

I lay down on the ground and rested for a while. I needed to get back, but had no strength left for it. Finally I stood up and took out my sword. I still needed to collect the magic stone and monster materials, and also to cut out my arrowheads.

* * *

Luara watched as petrifaction tracks disappeared from Nelly's body, after Myne used the potion. Nelly fell on the ground, holding her chest and coughing. Myne gave her healing potion and the girl was able to sit down. Trevor picked up Avone's glowing stone bracelet and out it on his hand. He came back and looked at Nelly. Girl was sitting on the ground. She was pail and even after drinking healing potion, was heavily breathing.- How are you feeling? - asked Myne.- Thank you, - I'm better: - What happened to that monster?Myne averted her eyes: - It followed Avone. She distracted the Cockatrice to save you.

- A cockatrice! Floor guardian? We must save Avone!

Dwarf scratched his cheek: - I doubt that Avone will choose unfamiliar route. She will probably go back to the mine, trying to run away from the monster.

- How many anti-petrifaction potions we have? - asked Luara.

Myne took a look inside her magic bag.

- Only one left, - she shook her head.

- I also have one, - said Nelly and took out her potion to show the others.

Luara hesitated. Nelly's most powerful spell, only slowed down the monster and barely wounded it. But she also did not like the idea of abandoning her party member.

- Fine, - she finally decided. We will go back to the mine. Myne, Nelly, if we run into the monster use the Slow spell and then destroy his eyes using Magic arrows or Fire ball.

Luara took the lead, carefully listening to any sound. Without Avone her sense of smell and hearing where the only way's to receive advance warning of coming monsters. The main problem was that Cockatrice could use its petrifaction gaze before they would see it. Catgirl hoped that two potions will be enough, or one of them or several will die.

They found Avone's second glowing stone bracelet. Luara put in inside her magic bag, not knowing that bracelets could have acted as road signs to Avone.

Catgirl found blood tracks, but could not tell if they belonged to cockatrice or Avone.

- One of them is wounded, - she showed blood tracks to the others.

- Let's hope that blood belongs to the monster, - said Ashurga.

Nelly paled and squeezed her staff. They returned to the mine, but did not find neither Avone or cockatrice.

- Maybe she continued running? - asked Myne.

Luara looked around. There were two unexplored exits. The problem was that they did not know which one to choose.

- Lets check the nearest caverns, - decided catgirl. They checked four more caverns, two on the both sides, but did not find anything.

- Maybe she run inside one of the cavers that we passed on our way here? - dwarf shook his head. Every cavern had at least one exit, sometimes even five or six. Walking around blindly was almost useless. In forest Luara could track Avone or cockatrice, but cavern's rocky ground did not leave any tracks.

- Let's check nearest caverns, that we passed. Maybe we will found more blood or at least some tracks, - Luara started to feel desperate. The more time passed, the less chances of finding Avone alive they had.

They checked nearest caverns, but failed to locate Avone.

Inside the sixth cavern something flew from above and grabbed Trevor. Giant bat grabbed adventurer in its claws and flew towards the ceiling. Trevor tried to struggle, but dropped his sword. He took out his dagger and stabbed monsters leg. Bat-monster shuddered and released Trevor. He fell on the ground and screamed in pain. Trevor fell on its legs and broke one of them.

Bat-monster turned around in the sky and went after defenseless adventurer. His companions were running towards him. Myne and Nelly casted Magic arrows, and damaged bats wings. Monster silently fell on the ground. Luara heard its bones breaking, but monster managed to get up and turned towards them, baring his fangs. Nelly casted Lightning and monster blew apart.

Luara sighed in relief. They got lucky that bat went after Trevor first. His chainmail was damaged, but it at least partially protected him, when monster's claws grabbed him. For female party's members such grip could have been deadly.

Myne had to use three healing potions, until Trevor's broken leg and wounds finally healed.

- We need to return, - said Luara. She did not want to do that, but as a party leader, she was responsible for all their lives.

- No we can't! - screamed Nelly, she started crying, and Myne hugged the girl.

- If anyone can survive in her, then it's Avone, - said Ashurga: - Her Night vision skill gives her advantage, that we don't have. It will be hard enough for us to return without her. Walking blindly around the dungeon will get us killed.

- He is right, - agreed Luara: - You'll see. She probably is already on her way back, after running away from the cockatrice, and will be waiting us in adventurers guild, wandering why it took us so long to return.

- You think so, - Nelly wiped her nose, and hopefully looked at Luara.

- You'll see. You have no idea how tough she is, and what adventures she already survived.

- Dragon slayers don't die easily, - agreed Ashurga.

Nelly calmed down a little and they turned towards the exit. On her way out of the cavern, Luara looked back. No matter how strong and skilled Avone was, she was alone on floor six. Deepest explored floor, that only strongest adventurer parties in Grimsburg dared to enter.

* * *

I was lost. While running away from the floor guardian I choose first cavern exits that I saw, and on my way back, I must have chosen a wrong corridor.

That was bad. I had enough food for three day, but needed at least two to get outside. By rationing the food I could survive for six days. Well if I do not get outside by then I will be dead anyway. Bright side, I did not need to worry about food and water.

I had maps for floors one to five, but Adventurers guild did not have any detailed maps for floor six. While we were excavating adamantium, I studied Ashurga's map, and was sure, that I will be able to find my way back, if I can find our mining spot, or the cave where cockatrice attacked us. I could recognize that cavern, by the monster statues that cockatrice left behind. But first I will need to find them.

I tried to remember which corridors I chose while running away from that lizard-bird. Was it left, right and left. Or was it left, right and right again. No cannot remember. I was too occupied by running away and preparing my spells and arrows.

In a stories, that I read, adventurers would make markings on the walls, but in the dungeon, such markings would disappear within an hour. There was also nothing that I could left, to mark the corridors that I passed. Guess I will have to do it old fashion way, by drawing the map. Well, I had nothing to write with, even if I had some pieces of paper, that I kept after buying the in Mage guild for drawing practices. So I will have to rely on my memory and make a mental map. I sighed. My memory was not that good. But since I will not have to explore the whole sixth floor, but only nearest caverns, it will have to be good enough.

I started my exploration, trying to remember all the caverns and the passages that I explore. I inspected already four caverns, when I noticed sixth legged saber tooth tiger sleeping in the next cavern. I considered killing it, but I had no idea how effective my Magic arrow will be against floor six monsters. All of them were killed by Nelly, using her Lightning spell. Not running few experiments, was a mistake that I never predicted.

I silently retreated. This was wrong cavern anyway, so no use to risk my life. But on the other hand it was a perfect chance for the experiment. I casted Haste and Bless spells on myself, and then silently went back. Tiger-monster was still sleeping, so I casted Slow spell on him. Monster woke up after sensing the spell. He looked around and started running towards me. I had enough time to use may regular and Magic arrow. Steel arrow barely pierced his skin, but magic arrow blew off his right leg. I took out my sword and attacked monster from wounded side. His skin was tough and protected him better than leather armor, but with my increased strength and superior sword it was not more that regular cat skin for me.

My sword left a deep wound in monster shoulder. Tiger roared in pain and tried to jump back. It's movements were slowed by his wounds and my spell, and were easy for me to follow. I jumped after him and used an opportunity to cut off his middle leg. Tiger roared again and fell on his side. I jumped back, closely watching him. Monster tried to crawl towards me, but was barely able to move. I used Magic arrow and aimed it at his head. My attack spell left deep wound in his head, but not a deadly one. One of his eyes was destroyed and blood run down its neck. I needed to use three more spells before saber toothed tiger finally died.

I sighed in relief. At least I could deal with level six monster by myself. A pack of these monsters would definitely kill me, but such strong monster ordinarily hunted alone in this floor. I collected monster's huge fangs and magic stone and continued with my exploration. I killed a horned bear monster, and explored eight more caverns, when I started to feel tired and decided to rest. I forced myself to eat and took a short nap. I had no idea how much time passed and if was day or night. I continued my mental mapping and six more caverns later I finally got lucky and found the cavern with petrified monster statues.

Finally success! Guess the noise from our mining attracted all nearby monsters and I was able to explore nearby caverns without any more monster encounters. And now that I knew my location way outside was closer to me than before. I used the same route that my party used several times before. On my way I found several monster corpses. That meant that the rest of my friends survived and were on their way out. That was good. First they were alive and second, they cleared the path in front of them. That was easier for them, thanks to their number and presence of magicians with superior spells and magic skills. All I had to do was follow them, and not to get lost again. Several times I confirmed with my maps, to make sure, that I am going the right way.

I considered going without any sleep, but decided against it. Magic required clear mind and exhausted mages mentally, it needed ability to concentrate, just as it needed mana. So I spend night in the dungeon. I used my warning crystal and hide near to one of the walls in the fourth floor. I wrapped myself in my cloak and had a restless sleep. Several times I woke up during my sleep, but felt too sleepy and, after making sure that I was alone, I continued sleeping.

I woke up again, but this time noticed some shadows entering the cavern. Monster-wolves. Monsters that were little bigger than their animal counterparts and had spikes going down their spines. I almost jumped up, but managed to stay quit. The pack had six monsters in it. More than enough to kill me if I make a single mistake.

They did not noticed me yet, but were clearly following me. Their noses were close to the ground and they followed my exact footsteps. I had a little time, and had to use it as best I could. My Slow spell could only slow down one of the monsters. I was jealous of Myne who could use her spell to affect all the monsters at the same time. More than that, my spell only slowed the monster down a little, and did not work on stronger monsters, while Myne's spell reduced even strong monsters speed by half. If I will get out alive I will definitely need to go to Magic academy and learn Earth magic skill.

Instead I used Haste and Bless spells on myself. Wolves finally noticed me and I jumped up and grabbed my bow. I managed to shoot twice and wounded two wolves. When they got closer I used Magic arrow to kill one of the monsters and took out my sword and dagger. Instead of waiting this time I attacked myself. I cut one of the wolves and used my dagger to hit the second wolf, who tried to bite me. I used the dagger to hit the monster from below his mouth and blade went directly into his brain.

I had no time to take out the dagger and had to jump aside to avoid next attack. I used horizontal slash and cut off half of the wolf's head. Two monsters left.

One of them managed to sneak up on me and bitted my leg. His teeth went through my boot and into my flesh.

I grit my teeth and showed my sword into his back, right into wolf's heart. Remaining monster jumped at me and I grabbed his head trying to pull him away from me. I fell on the ground with wolf on top of me. Wolf's jaws clapped next to my nose. Thanks to my increased strength stats I managed to keep him away. I changed my grip and grabbed his neck. Wolf struggled, but I was stronger than him. I slowly started strangling him. Monster tried to rip me apart using his front legs, but his claws slid down my chainmail.

Wolf's started to run out of air and tried to get back from me. That was exactly what I wanted. My Magic arrow spell was already ready and as soon as wolf jumped back, I used it to blow apart his head. Blood gushed from his neck and covered my body. Wolf's body fell on my legs and I pushed him away. My leg was badly wounded, but my boots at least partially protected me. Wolf's jaws were strong enough to broke my bones without them. I used most of my mana on Cure spell, but managed to heal myself. I needed time to restore my mana, since I wanted to keep my mana potions for an emergencies. I used the time to collect wolves magic stones. Thanks to my Mana rapid recovery skill my magic points restored faster than before, so soon I decided that I am ready to go.

Rest of my way went easier. I encountered only few weak monsters and managed to reach the exit from the dungeon after midnight. My mining job and second solo adventure in the dungeon was finally over.