Chapter 279: Rock Climbers
A trio of explorers made a temporary camp beneath the edifice of another enormous column that connected the Underlayer’s surface with its ceiling. At a glance, Coop could tell they were experienced and determined. Though they were in an unfamiliar place, they didn’t seem lost.
They rested around their crackling fire, made in more traditional ways that didn’t require magic, using materials provided by themselves. The orange glow from the small flames made the campfire seem hospitable, especially compared to the mysterious and directionless illumination that engulfed the underground tunnels. Coop was attracted like a moth to a flame.
Dangling ropes, anchored into the rock, were coiled all the way to the floor, originating from an impossible distance beyond the mana clouds at the top. Carabiners clicked together, tethered to the extensive chords after being disconnected from the climbers. Each of the three strangers wore bright red helmets and harnesses that clipped around their shoulders and chests. They even carried bags of chalk among their packs while wearing special flexible shoes. If Coop didn’t know any better, he would have thought he stumbled upon a small rock climbing club that was testing new routes.
Coop was no detective, but he could tell they had made it down the ridiculous rock wall through regular physical efforts. Spelunking what could have been a thousand miles into the depths of the Earth was pretty absurd. Then again, the ragtag citizens of Neon Park had stumbled their way down, hammering boards and summoning jutting platforms as they went. Coop had to recalibrate what was realistically accomplished by people. The limits of human capability had changed.
As they recuperated from what must have been a tremendous climb, an ethereal spear stabbed into the dirt, 20 yards opposite their small campfire, and their conversation abruptly cut off. All three stared at the weapon, more confused than surprised. Rather than witnessing its flight, as far as they could tell, it had simply appeared in the dirt, like a flagless pole that had somehow gone unnoticed until it made a sound of dirt being displaced.
Coop figured he should just rip the band aid off when it came to introductions for the foreseeable future, so he went straight to it. His mistjump would place him close enough to say hello before they noticed his distant approach.
His sudden appearance, emerging from a wave of mists that briefly engulfed the spear caused all three to have different reactions. Before they actually recognized what he was, his aura swept across their camp.
The one in the center fell off the back of his makeshift stool, landing in the dirt with his feet up in the air after he attempted to leap backwards. The one on the left froze, like a deer in headlights, eyes wide as her mind apparently worked overtime to understand what they were experiencing. The one on the right stood up, drawing a hatchet from her waist and grimacing as if she accepted death, but was prepared to fight anyway.
Coop inspected them from left to right as he lifted the palms of both his hands toward them, doing his best to overcome their fright with a harmless greeting.
[Human (Level 145)]
[Skald Invoker (Acumen)]
[Tailwind (Vanquisher)]