Heroes, Magic and Monsters

My morning started with usual spell practice exercise. I was able to cast seven times without failing once, and finally started to feel confident in my casting abilities. Afterwards I visited adventurers guild and after my morning practice, hired Gord for more swordsmanship lessons. He taught me some new moves, and told me about basic strategies in sword arts. Then we spent the rest of the time sparring, which allowed me to improve my sense of distance. In the afternoon I went shopping to buy myself new arrows and stamina recovery potion.

I also visited the church, but was disappointed when instead of usual numbers appeared only my basic information:

Elf, LV 4

Name - Avone;

Job: Ranger.

I already knew that it meant, that I don't have enough monster life force to level up. Thanks to my Night vision skill I killed more monsters than other party members, but it still wasn't enough to level up. I wondered how much monsters I need to kill before reaching next level. I knew that with every level I needed to kill more monsters and killing weak monster gave too little life force, but still, after jumping two levels previous time I expected increase of at least one level. That was disappointing, since I wanted to increase my levels, before going to dungeon's second floor. Rest of the day as usually I spend in the Adventurer guild reference room.

* * *

Next morning everyone felt a little nervous. Luara had previously reached floor two, and Myne was the only one among us who went to the dungeon third floor. I wondered how strong we were comparing to her previous party. Well Evan was D rank adventurer, so probably we were weaker than her previous party.

We managed to get through first floor without any surprises. We dealt with usual monsters the same way as before and successfully reached level two. Levels were divided by a long stairs. They led to another dark cavern, and I didn't see any difference from the first floor. We crossed half of the cavern when something started falling on us from the ceiling. Many, many of them.

- Watch out! - I screamed to warn others and shot one of the shadows. That was all that I managed to do since they were falling really fast. Thanks to my warning we managed to avoid direct hit from the monsters, when they reached us. First one fell on the ground near us and Luara hissed in disgust. It was a huge leech. At least meter long, fat and covered with slime it started to crawl near us. Trevor kicked it away, to free more space. Several dozens of them were falling on the ground all around us. Can't imagine what would happen to us, if one of those things would fall on our shoulders.

After the fall leeches needed several moments, before they started to crawl towards us. There sky attack turned out to be their most dangerous feature. On the ground they were quit slow, and we started to hack them in pieces as soon as rain of leeches ended. First we killed the ones in the middle of our formation, and then easily disposed of the rest.

I wiped the sweat of my forehead and looked at the corpses. We needed to remove the magic stones, but nobody moved. Leeches were really disgusting, and nobody wanted to touch them.

- Trevor could you handle magic stone gathering, while we stand watch? - I glanced at the boy. He was the only guy here and we were three cute ladies. Myne and Luara expectantly looked at him, and Trevor sighed.

- Fine. Stand watch, while I do it.

We nodded and watched surroundings, while Trevor cut out magic stones. Mostly I watched the cavern because I didn't want to see those leeches. Brrr.

They had tough skin and Trevor had to work hard to gather all stones. I think this was the first time when we all felt grateful to the boy. Good for him.Second floor was similar to the first one. Many corridors with different size caverns. We crossed few of them, when I finally noticed next monster. It was big, at least three meters high.

- Get ready?

- What is it?

- Donno, something big, - I answered Luara and shot the shadow. I didn't miss, but monster didn't slow down or reacted. My second arrow didn't have any effect either. I put down my bow and prepared a sword.

- Don't think my arrows are working.

Luara took a step closer to us and we prepared for battle. Monster was slowly approaching, at least it wasn't very fast.

- Troll, - exhaled Trevor in surprise. To be precise it was undead troll. What was it doing here? Did trolls also visited the dungeon to level up or evolve? I set aside my questions and concentrated on the fight. Myne casted her slow spell and we attacked the monster.

We attacked him from three sides, trying to cut off its legs. Troll was unarmed, and in response to our attacks tried to grab us with his hands. At least it was slow and didn't regenerate. But it had thick skin, that was hard to cut threw.

Myne shot him with magic arrow and it blew up part of its fat belly.

- Aim for the head! - screamed I to Myne, remembering that undead could be killed by cutting of their heads. Troll turned towards Myne and we all screamed and attacked him, trying to distract troll from our mage. Undead troll turned out to be much dumber than its living counterpart. It concentrated on us again, and Myne managed to release her spell. Troll's head blew off and it heavily fell on the ground. I wiped out sweat. Finally it was over. Undead troll was slow, but hard to kill, and unlike us undead never got tired. Prolonged battle could led to mistakes, that we couldn't afford. We also were lucky that he was alone, and that we had mage on our side. I realized just how much balanced party was important during adventures.

Luara cut out magic stone and we went deeper into the dungeon.

- My sense or time tells me that it's night already. We should make camp, - unlike Luara my sense of time didn't tell me anything, but I learned to trust catgirl. Myne took out of her magic bag red crystal. She placed it on the ground and channeled mana inside it. Crystal gloved and released a light barrier around it. It grew in size until it became at least twenty meters in diameter. It gloved for a while and then disappeared.

- Don't go outside the barriers range or you will set off the alarm.

So that was warning crystal. Useful. We sat down on the ground and I eat some smoked meat. We prepared for sleep, but I doubted that I will get much of sleep here. Most of our preparations was taking off our cloaks, so we could use them as blankets.

- Feels weird to sleep in dungeon, - Trevor looked around, too afraid to go to sleep.

- You need to get use to it. Imagine that you are in Grimsburg, were you can sleep all day long.

- Is that what you do in town?

- Meow, cats like to sleep. I sleep when I have free time.

- That sounds nice, I spent my time training. By the way Myne, your spell speed increased. Do you practice a lot?

- Yes, every day. Until I run out of mana.

- So do I, except that I have only small amount of mana and my magic practice ends really fast.

- Oh, I have a mage job. My teacher told me that thanks to that I need less mana points to cast a spell, than other people.

- What about you Trevor, do you spend all day practicing with your sword?

- Only first part of the day. After that I usually take herb gathering quests. I want to save enough money, so I could go to school, were they teach Swordsmanship skill.

- Doesn't Evan teaches you? - I was surprised that Trevor wanted another teacher.

- Master Evan can only teach me how to use a sword and techniques. If I want Swordsmanship skill I need to visit school were they teach how to get a skill. Most of the teachers there have Teaching skill, that's why their lessons are special, and I will be able to learn the skill from them in several month, half a year at most.

- I want to save money, so I could go to Magic academy. I have advanced level of Earth magic skill, but I also want to learn Wisdom skill, and more magic related skills.

- Why bother, you can get a skill when you level up. I use leveling crystal after every mission, and have already six skills.

- You do now that you can get only ten skills? - Luara surprised me. I thought that everyone wanted special skill set, not randomly gained ones.

- Master Evan told me not to level up until I get Swordsmanship skill. That's why I'm only level three now.

- Really. Don't you want to increase your stats as fast as you can? Catpeople always try to level up as fast as we can.

- I also try to level up, as rarely as possible, - added surprised Myne: - I already have two useless skills for mage, like Knitting and Agriculture. Are all of yours skills useful Luara?

- Well guess they are. I have Foresight and Scouting at novice level. Also novice Hunting, Tracking, and Butchery skill. My Martial arts are at basic.

Well I guess that was useful. But only single offense skill, with only four skill slots left. Well maybe two counting Hunting, but not the skill set that I would want. Still that's the skill set that I could end up with, if I'm not careful.

- Wow, you're like a perfect scout. Mind if I ask you what job you have? - Myne seem to be impressed, which made me feel strange.

- I have a Scout job, so feel free to call me perfect scout. I'm also at level nine, and soon hope to reach level ten. But it is hard to reach. I heard that to reach level ten you need to kill at least ten times more monsters than before, and after that leveling up is just as difficult. What level are you at?

- You have a specialized job. That's amazing! I only have a commoner job. That's why master Evan always tells me not to level up thoughtlessly. Guess it's different from your people.

- I'm at level four. But I had basic Archery skill, so guild gave me rank E as soon as I registered.

- I'm at level seven. But I haven't leveled up in a while. Like I said I want to save money for Magic academy first.

- My advice level up as much as you can. Stats will make you strong. And strong survive, - Luara yawned: - Think on that, but try to sleep now.I spend most of the night trying to do that, bet fell asleep only after a long while.

Next morning we were woken up by a loud chime. At first I was disoriented, but then realized that it was warning crystal. We were under attack.

Next moment I saw a giant snake. When it lifted its head and hissed its eyes were at my eye level.

- Myne Slow spell! - Luara threw a knife and bolted aside to distract the reptile. I also grabbed my sword and run to the other side. Facing this monster head on was suicide. Trevor also avoided direct attack, we scattered as much as lantern's light allowed us. I tried slashing the snake, but only managed to cut out few of its scales. Monster was distracted by the loud sound of warning crystal, and then it had to decide who to attack first. Trevor managed to cut it and drew the first blood. That angered the snake and it turned towards Trevor. Monster prepared for the attack, but it was too late. Myne's Slow spell manifested as bubbles below it, and snake got distracted again. Luara stabbed it, and her sword went deep inside monster's body. Snake hissed again and launched her head towards Luara. Catgirl jumped back, but had to leave her sword inside snake's body. We got lucky that Myne managed to cast her spell. At full speed it would be nearly impossible for us to avoid it's attack.

Trevor again managed to cut the monster. Snake was distracted by Trevor, and that created an opening for me. I swung my sword putting all my strength and body mass into my attack. I managed to break reptile's scales and left deep wound in its body. Snake shook her head, annoyed by her prey. Then I saw Myne, she was sitting on the ground, going threw her magic bag. Dammit, she used up her mana to slow down the big monster. She was defenseless right now and needed mana restoration potion to regain her strength. Snake also noticed her and prepared for an attack. Defenseless prey was too big of a prize for her to pass up. Luara had only her dagger, and it was useless to attack. Luckily Trevor also noticed that and slashed snakes body. But he made a mistake he got too close to snakes tail, and monster used an opportunity for an attack. Trevor tried to block snake's tail with his sword, but flew away from the strength of the blow. Snake again turned towards Myne, who only now managed to take out mana restoration potion. She was defenseless, and I was the only one who could do something to protect her. Dammit, that was bad.

I had only one chance, or Myne will die. Luara screamed something to distract the snake, but monster ignored her. I run towards snake's head and the moment it attacked Myne stabbed her neck, using monsters speed against it. Sword went deep inside and blood gushed out like a fountain. Snake hissed in pain and shook her head violently. I tried to hold on to my sword and take it out, but it was too deep inside snake's body. Snake's movements lifted me up and then threw me away. Monster violently trashed around and it was impossible to get near to her.

Myne managed to drink the potion and crawled away from the snake. I was lying on the ground, the fall knock my breath out and I was half unconscious. Finally snake movements became slower, and she fell on the ground. Huge blood loss finally killed the monster. I got up, but my legs were shaking. That was close. We got lucky that snake was distracted by the warning crystal, otherwise we could have lost this battle.

- Everyone all right? - asked Luara from the other side of the monster.

- Alive at least, - I answered checking my body for injuries. I was fine, just a little shaken from the fight.

Myne and Trevor also avoided serious injuries. Trevor had some cuts and bruises, but nothing serious.Luara needed some time to cut out monsters magic stone, while Trevor and me collected its venom. Magic stone was two centimeters in diameter, biggest one that we got until now.

Catgirl showed as the stone, when she lifted up her ears.

- I hear something. That direction.I followed her finger. There was something running at as. Was it a giant centipede? One, two, dozen, more, two dozen. Then I saw them. Almost a hundred.

- Run! - I grabbed Myne's arm and started running, dragging her after me: - Run!! - I screamed as loud as I could.

Luara looked at me with surprise, but seeing my back immediately started running after me. I released Myne's arm, when she started running by herself. Trevor was the last one to follow. I glanced back. Centipedes were getting closer, but slowly. With enough light and on the even terrain we could outrun them, but in the surrounding darkness, when we needed to watch our steps, we had no chance. I took the lead hoping that my memory won't fail me. Two caverns back I noticed a small hill, I hoped that no one lived there. That was our only chance, but if we run into a monster until we reach it, we were done for.

- What's happening? - asked Luara.

- Run! - I screamed. Explaining would take my breath, and I already was panting. They followed me, scared and worried. We again got lucky, well we reached the hill. I run up the hill and took a look back. Centipedes were approaching but we still got time.

- Get on the hill! Myne get ready Slow spell and all your mana potions! Use only Slow spell! Trevor, Luara we will protect her.

- What's happening? - asked Luara again.

- No time! - I panted, exhausted by the previous fight and running. I should listen to Gord and exercise more. I took out my stamina potion and put it inside my pocket, were I could reach it easily. Then I started shooting. Luara put her lantern higher on the hill and prepared for a fight. She could hear the centipedes, but had no idea who they were and what was happening. Trevor prepared his sword, peering into darkness. I managed to kill five centipedes using my arrows, when they entered our light circle.

Myne squealed, but managed to cast her spell. Centipedes who run in front slowed down and other monsters slammed into them. Myne's slow spell could affect dozen centipedes at a time It wasn't perfect, but good enough to give us a chance. Third row centipedes crawled over the backs of their slower brethren, and we used our swords. Myne drunk a mana potion and started casting again. She had six vials placed at her feet, and I hoped that it will be enough. Centipedes were tough, but our stats gave us advantage, and we were strong enough to slice them apart. We killed them creating a wall of body's in front of us. I cut down must be ten centipedes, and could barely hold my sword. Myne casted a fourths spell and centipedes slowed down, that gave me a moment reprieve and I drunk the potion. It tasted nasty, but some of my strength returned. I lifted my sword and continued defending Myne. They attacked in waves. Luckily centipedes acted as mindless insects and didn't surround us. That was the only reason way we had a chance to survive. With Myne behind our backs, we could count on her magic, and she could cast her spells without interference. Trevor screamed in pan when centipede bitted his leg. He cut her in two, and Luara protected him from second centipede, who tried to jump into his face. I mindlessly waved my sword in front of me, praying for this monster wave to finally end.

We all, except Myne, had bruises and cuts, left by centipedes legs and teeth. We were forced to slowly retreat to free the space in front of us. Myne casted her spell for the tenth time, and joined us in front. She used her staff to hit centipedes heads. That meant that she run out of potions, and had not enough mana to cast Slow spell. Without Slow spell centipedes moved faster. One of them jumped at Trevor and bitted his arm. He screamed in pain and Luara again saved him by killing the monsters. Myne smashed the head of the next centipede, who tried to use Luara's momentary distraction. I cut off the head of my opponent. Six left. God, why don't they run away!

Trevor lost his sword after centipede bitted him, and used his left arm with his spare sword. Luara killed one more, I pierced another one, but I slipped on the monster's blood and fell on the ground. Next monster jumped on me, and I caught it with my hands, trying to hold its teeth away from my face. Around us battle continued, but all I saw was ugly insects head with huge fangs. Monsters legs moved in the air cutting my arms, and I was slowly weakening. Dammit! I concentrated and casted on myself Cure spell. It worked. Magic circle in my mind's eye filled with mana and I send magic power towards my body. It gloved and my cuts healed. Monster got distracted by the glow, and I was able to threw it to the side. Centipede fell on its back, and this time I got on it. I unsheathed my dagger and started stabbing the centipede, holding it down with my left hand. It trashed around, waving its legs and cutting me all over, but I didn't stop. Finally centipede stopped moving, and I sat on the ground. I had no more strength left. No one jumped on my back, and everything was quiet.

I looked around. Myne and Trevor were sitting on the ground, covered by blood their own and ugly green insect liquids. Myne was the only one standing, using her staff as a crutch.

She made sure that there were no more monsters and then run to her magic bag. She returned with healing and stamina potions and distributed them among us. I gratefully took my share and drank them down. They were disgusting like always, but at least my wounds started to heal and some of my strength returned. Myne fell on her knees and started vomiting. If she had to drink six or seven mana potions, and they tasted the same, I understood her well.

- Gather the magic stones, and let's get out of here, - ordered Luara. After drinking stamina potion catgirl was full of energy.

I sighed, but followed her orders. We needed to work fast. We gathered most of the magic stones, when Luara ordered a retreat.

- That should be enough. It's too dangerous to stay longer. We are out of potions, and need to get back.

We all agreed, and hurried to get out of there. We didn't travel too far into the dungeon's second floor and reached the stairs without any more encounters with dungeon's second level monsters. On the first floor we run into several monsters, but nothing that we couldn't handle. To my surprise it was only midday when we exited the dungeon. I felt like we spent many days inside the dungeon, not a day and a half.