110: Ventus Quiver
It didn’t take long for the party to breach into the fourth floor of the dungeon, especially after Aidan made quick work against the monsters with his newly made poison sword.
He made it as his main weapon, running up to the six-legged rhino called the Stomping Rhino. Weird naming sense aside, every time it stepped down, a cascading wave of force aimed directly at them, somehow diverting all the force generated from the stomp into a singular cone with murderous intent.
With his new weapon, he experimented by fighting it in close combat first, then activated Poison Control. He directly felt the transfer of mana running smoothly from his body, through his arm, connecting it all the way to the handle and then up to the blade. As soon as the blade made contact with the rhino’s body, poison magic was injected within, and the rhino visibly struggled to keep up.
While others would normally be unable to see the changes, thanks to his Sense Vibrations, he could see its spirit clearly agonizing over the poison infecting the body. It writhed and pulsed angrily, trying to use some form of mana control to get rid of the poison, which surprised Aidan. Was it possible to excise the poison from its body if it overwhelmed it with its mana?
Not that it mattered, as it was impossible to do all of that while currently fighting against the owner with the poison. This time, Aidan focused the internal power of the sword, changing the poison to only target the health of the creature. The rhino was slow and durable, which was the perfect target practice for his sword as he delivered another upward slice at its torso.
This time, the poison eagerly affected the inside, proving its potency by how much the spirit shivered in danger. On the outside, the rhino clearly became slower, its legs shivering to keep up its massive weight.
From the inside, he noticed that the spirit was forcibly trying its hardest to push the poison out, using whatever mana it had inside to flush the insides to get rid of it. He was astounded by the reaction, but perhaps it was more of an instinctual method rather than actual intent. This reminded him of how a debuff would normally appear, and there was a timer for how long the debuff would last. Was the timer actually the target’s body trying to push the harmful substances out of it in order to survive?
The more he focused on magic and mana as a whole, the farther he saw how it affected everything around it, perhaps even the system itself. That really begged the question on whether the entire system was made from the mana itself, which would give credit to the supposed one that made the system on his own, at least according to the principles of The Church of the One.
It didn’t even take that long for the fight to reach its end, the poison easily taking over the body of the rhino when Aidan continued to deal more attacks with his poison sword. Soon the body collapsed, unable to handle its own weight any longer due to the weakness blazing through its body. Its last breath was caught, with barely any damage done to the body, but its insides were wracked with intense poison.
You have slain ‘Stomping Rhino’. You have gained a moderate amount of experience points.
It was at level 55, but he supposed it made sense that he wouldn’t gain that much experience points considering how easy it was. It was just a really bad match up for the rhino to face a poison user that delivered such powerful poison on demand without rest.
There was also his Sword Proficiency skill at play, which he swore somehow helped him get accustomed to the poison sword, including the control over the poison. He wasn’t sure how, but it somehow did.
It’s not like skills are entirely subjected to only one aspect. I mean, there’s Soul Meditation which is not entirely made of magic.
The more he kept fighting, the more he studied magic, the lesser he truly understood how the system worked. He felt like the system only displayed the fundamental things, the basics that anyone could understand, but it required a vast amount of knowledge and study, plus a lot of trial and error, to realize that some things aren’t just stuck to their singular aspects.
Haley and Van kept fighting the other monsters, the ones that they could handle at least, to let them gain experience as they made their way to the fourth floor. Eventually they soon reached it, which was a simple cave entrance that had a staircase going downwards into the pitch black darkness.
You have entered the Leafair Dungeon’s fourth floor. Level recommendation: Level 50-55.
The fourth floor was surprisingly small. It turned into a cavernous area, rocks and walls surrounding every portion of it. It was still wide enough for his swords to fly around and create a resonance with each other to create his personal map, but there was a sense of stifleness that kept in the danger into a tightly-lidded bottle, ready to explode at any moment.
Which proved to be true when they passed through a fork in the path and were walking down the stone hallway. A disgusting-looking mole rat came screeching like a bat from hell, its long claws reaching to try and cut into Haley who was right near it.
Van stepped in quickly, blocking the sudden attack with his buckler. A few seconds later, the mole rat’s head fell to the ground, Nina standing beside the beheaded corpse as it hung there inside the hole it created. These things were equally small and ferocious, and according to their experiences so far, if there was something small like this hiding away, there were plenty more.
He sensed multiple spirits coming their way, each one hiding within the walls. Aidan couldn’t help but shout out the line he knew nobody from his planet could have resisted.
“They’re in the walls! They’re in the goddamn walls!”
He thought it was hilarious. For both Van and Haley, his sudden panicking tone and wide eyes made them fear for their lives. Now he felt like shit for meaninglessly scaring the crap out of them.
Anyhoo, the moles came running at them at high speed, coming out of the ground like missiles launching through the air to attack them.
Clod-Devouring Mole Rat, Level 57.
Clod-Devouring Mole Rat, Level 56.
Clod-Devouring Mole Rat, Level 58.
Clod-Devouring Mole Rat, Level 56.
Summoning his Venom sword, he slashed at one of the flying little mongrels, giving it a slight cut. That normally wouldn’t be enough, but in a few seconds, that changed utterly when the rat convulsed and spasmed, the edges of its mouth foaming suddenly before falling over quickly. He made the poison only target the health, and thanks to its low constitution and small size, the poison was immediate.
He tried to keep repeating the process, but it looked like the rats were smarter than they looked as they all avoided him and started going after his friends instead. What they didn’t realize was that Aidan was as much of a threat without his sword than with it. He crafted the air and shaped them to become blades, aiming straight at the rats. The rats dodged away, scurrying farther from the clear threat aiming for their lives, not realizing that he was purposefully guiding them straight to where his party wanted them.
One after another, the rats met their fates when met with a sudden glowing sword of magic thrusted deep into their guts while another was pierced with a wind-focused arrow blasting through their head and brain. Eventually the rats were dealt with, and the party continued on their way across the caverns.
Seeing the layout in his mind, he eventually spotted the pathway down to the next floor, but Nina decided to pause for a moment, giving her order that they should see if they could find any treasure with Haley’s talent. Haley gladly nodded to it with Aidan rolling his eyes for what was coming up next.
Thankfully, their joint fusion of talents to search for treasures didn’t hurt him as bad as before. While he still felt dizzy, it wasn’t so bad as he saw the dozens of treasures hidden away within the floor, a few within their closest vicinity.
“Mmh, a few miles from here, we should find it hiding behind the next turnover. Then we can sidetrack to the other side for another treasure that’s a bit farther away. Do we go after that one or just ignore it?”
“Better to pick up any that’s at least close to us. Even if it takes a bit of time, it would be worth it.”
“Wouldn’t it depend on what kind of treasure we find, though?” Van asked.
“Any treasure is good treasure. I’m surprised you believe otherwise.”
Van only raised his hands in defeat to Nina’s great logic. He certainly wouldn’t deny his own greed for it.
Even though they were in a hurry to get to the cursed relic supposedly on the fifth floor, thanks to their quick work, it was at least alright to try to find some treasures while on the way, even if they spent a little time on it. Passing over the few miles by picking up the pace, all thanks to their heightened Agility stats, they reached the section where they suspected the first treasure to be.
Like usual, the treasure was hidden away within the walls of the cavern, but there were at least a few glittering crystals that lit up the surroundings in a half-hazard circular pattern. He suspected that this could have been found by someone with a keen eye, but thanks to their literal treasure-seeking cheat, they didn’t have to figure that part out. Aidan placed his hand on the wall and did his Craft spell, melting the stone away to reveal a small entryway into the small room, where there was a treasure chest hanging at the top of a stone pedestal.
Like before, Aidan pushed his sword out into the room and, the moment it floated into it, green viscous gas shot out into the room, nearly covering the entire entry way and rushing straight outwards. Haley worked the fastest, blowing it all back into the room with her wind spell Breeze, taking up a notch to ensure nothing flowed outwards. While all of that was carrying on, Aidan willed the sword to just drag the treasure away by pushing it out of the room, constantly rolling it straight through the entry way and out to where they were.
A few seconds later, Aidan shut off the opening with his magic, leaving the possibly toxic gas trapped inside the now empty treasure room.
“Good work, Haley,” Nina praised. “You’re getting quite adept at using magic.”
“It’s all thanks to the experience here,” Haley said, smiling giddily.
“First time I see a treasure chest getting dragged outside,” Van commented, looking over at the treasure chest which was smaller than usual. “Is it safe inside?”
“I would be kinda disappointed if it broke from that,” Aidan said, checking to see if any vestiges of the gas was still around the chest. Thankfully nothing was there, or it was too small that it didn’t even matter.
Kneeling down, he opened up the small treasure chest to reveal what was inside. He tilted his head at the sight, seeing a leather-made holster around 20 or so inches high with a black coloring across its surface but with a glowing green line that made a significant image on the surface. He wasn’t sure what that image represented, but he felt the power radiating off of it that felt similar to a furious storm. He later scanned it.
Ventus Quiver (Rare)
A support quiver meant to hold arrows for an archer with a deep connection to the wind. It gathers wind-affinity mana into its core, allowing the quiver to reproduce arrows made entirely out of air, solidified for physical damage. When placing normal arrows into the quiver, they turn enchanted, becoming wind-based arrows that fly great distances and deliver powerful piercing damage, also counting as magical damage.
Wind-Favored
+5 Speed
+5 Dexterity
+5 Intellect
+5 Wisdom
“Welp, I know who this will belong to.”
Aidan said, and when Haley herself couldn’t help but check it out, a loud gasp escaped from her while constantly pushing and pulling Aidan’s shoulders, her frantic voice shouting with explosive glee.
“Is it me? Is it me?! Please, let it be me!”
“Who else uses a bow and arrow plus uses wind magic?” Aidan shook his head. “Just take it.”
Haley squealed like any teenage girl would, picking up the quiver and practically holding it up to the air like a prized treasure, which might as well be. He couldn’t help but compare her to a regular high school girl who got a new smartphone for a present.
“Looks like it was worth going after the treasure,” Nina commented, sharing a look with Van who in turn shrugged in agreement.
“I’m glad you convinced me.”
“Wanna see if we find something for you then?” Aidan joked, to which Van couldn’t help but show a bit of giddiness himself through his spirit.
…..
It would be foolish for Bruno to not take the chance to learn new information regarding the newly founded governor of Forontia and her actions the moment they finished their meeting.
At first, he believed that she was simply making her rounds to visit her contacts that she surely planted within his city to learn more about his infrastructure. It wasn’t like he could contain every single secret he wished to keep hidden in every part of his city, as his people were often talking about his actions and other matters regardless of how much he wished to keep his internal affairs private.
Then she suddenly left after hearing that her confidant, the Hero of Forontia, met up with the high-tier adventurer Miko after making quite a fuss by actually fighting each other right in the middle of his city. When he received his report from the guard captain of the matter, he had to hold in his frustration in check.
He already knew that one of the contacts that devilish woman Nina wished to meet was none other than Miko, and he could only imagine what sort of plans she had for the outrageous adventurer woman that could barely function as a human being outside of combat.
But the latest piece of news finally struck him to his core. It was one thing to make an appearance out of nowhere and making a mess in his city, but to actually fund a hotel in a dungeon of all places? In the Leafair dungeon where his city has direct control over?
He could not forgive that.
He worked too hard and made too many sacrifices for a little upstart like that Albatrox woman to come on in and bulldoze everything to the ground for her liking. That child only held a fraction of the knowledge needed to take responsibility for a whole city, but she had the gall to step foot into his private affairs, to make a business without even bothering to notify him? There was only so much insult one could take before taking it too far.
He paced around in his office, his anxious footsteps echoing across the stifling room while his thoughts roared with multiple ways to handle this situation. Soon the door to his office was knocked, grabbing his attention fully.
“Enter.”
The door opened to reveal a lithe man with long blond hair flowing down his back, covered in a green cloak that covered most of his features except for his leather armor protecting his body. His eyes were solid and sharp, and one can instantly notice the danger they exhibited. Bruno scanned the man despite himself, reminding himself the reason why he doesn’t bother doing so for dangerous individuals like him.
Dark Assassin, Level 101.
“It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Lord Bruno,” The man replied, his voice as soothing as a lullaby despite his Class name. He bowed his head, his arm across his chest. “As per requested, I have arrived to meet with you. I take it you have need of me to get rid of an unwanted fly hovering over you?”
“You could say that, yes,” Bruno answered. He knew the only way for this man to have come here without arousing his guards’ concerns was because he hid his level with some kind of item. Obviously the man put that away when he eventually got into his office. “Did you make sure nobody followed you?”
“It would be in my best interest to not make amateur mistakes like that, sir. Otherwise, I would find myself beheaded before I could even finish my croissant.”
The man responded cooly, a low smile adorning his face. Despite the harsh look of his eyes, his easy demeanor made it hard to believe that this man carried any indications of violence. But Bruno knew better than to believe that facade. This was just his social face that he clearly practiced for years to make sure nobody suspected him to be a hired contractor.
“Quite. I believe you,” Bruno answered. “Do you know this woman?”
Bruno picked up a stack of papers and tossed it over to the man, catching it with such ease that it made Bruno jealous. He could never have such high stats to make up for his aging body due to always being in his office most of the time. The man scanned it, recognizing the name from the way his single brow rose.
“Nina Alcatrox? Hard not to,” The man said. “Quite the little devil. Despite using her name so much, she managed to get away from the Alcatrox family from finding her by cleverly using guises across the country, spreading her name far and wide and making wild connections that made no sense or reason.”
“You make it sound like you worked with her before,” Bruno said, his heart slamming from the sudden casualness of her name.
“I personally haven’t. I have some friends that did, and they were paid handsomely. But not in the way that gold can easily be purchased.”
“You mean she paid you with information?” Bruno guessed.
“The perfect kind for people like me,” The man smirked. “How she managed to get it always confounds me. Might be some kind of talent involved for all I know. But enough about that–what is it about her that got you asking for my services?”
“You should know by now,” Bruno answered straight. “That woman is too dangerous to just be left alone to do whatever she wants. She found herself some tool that is clearly beyond anything someone like her should ever have the rights to own. I want you to find out what he is, and if possible, get rid of him.”
“Ah, yes, this… hero of Forontia,” The man replied, taking another glance at the papers beneath. “A powerful mage capable of tackling a demon on his own. And someone like that is under her employ? I wonder if she provided services other than information to have someone like him at her command. You think she’s that good in bed?”
“I don’t know, and honestly I don’t care,” Bruno closed his eyes, ridding his urge to hold the bridge of his nose. “I just want you to deal with this matter quietly, and make sure nobody finds out about this.”
“If I may ask,” The man looked back at him. “Why not work together with her? Wouldn’t it be in your best interest?”
Bruno let out a breath through his nose, turning back to his desk and sitting down at his chair. He faced the Assassin with a heavy stare, coiling his fingers together.
“You don’t understand. People like her, whose eyes spoke of ambition far beyond reasoning, are a threat to the peace and harmony we have established for many years. We already have trouble with the Federation clawing their way to our lands up north. Meanwhile, the Ruinga Mountains are starting to show troubling news of monster surges suddenly coming out of nowhere. We need to ensure there is at least no trouble when it comes to our own people, or else we would be swept in by the chaos that is soon to come. I can feel it in my bones.”
“Aren’t you just being a little paranoid?” The man shrugged. “Stress can do that to you, y’know. Not giving your mind its required rest can lead to sudden anxiety which can bring up unnecessary thought patterns. I know at least a few mind mages that can take care of that for you if you wish to spend the coin.”
“I will never let anyone touch my mind, no matter how fucked it is,” Bruno snarled, but he quickly amended it by clearing his throat. “Mmh, apologies.”
“Touchy,” The man simply nodded. “I can respect that. I don’t like the idea of those mind mages doing whatever they like with my mind either. I only got just one of those, after all.”
Shaking his head, he put on a serious expression.
“I’ll do as you command. But as usual, I prefer to handle it at my own pace. No matter how low level he is, anyone capable of handling a demon on their own requires me to not underestimate him.”
“I will accept that,” Bruno said, nodding. “I wish you luck, sir…”
“Just Cain is good enough,” The man smiled back. “I’ll be off.”
With a bow, Cain turned and left the office, leaving Bruno with his own thoughts.
He knew he might be overstepping on this, but he was resolute on his resolve. There were too many variables for him to consider, and Nina Alcatrox is one variable too many for his liking.
For instance, who the hell wants to make a damn hotel in a dungeon? That alone proved that she was too far gone in her head to be left alone, perhaps even alive for that matter.
That’s right. He was doing this for his people, and to make sure that no troubling news could affect this country before who knows what could suddenly shift the balance going on here.