《Solo Apocalypse》Chapter 27
Advertisement
We sat around a fire and I recalled Rose having sparked one to life. If her Class had something to do with fire, as evidenced by that [Firebolt], then it made sense. I was sitting on a log, surreptitiously glancing at the others over a kebab of glistening gloom tiger meat. Apparently, Jack had a Skill that allowed him to determine if something was edible. Technically, I had one too, but this method was more convenient.
Elsewhere in the [Sleepywood], my clones were on reconnaissance.
The increased PER was tangible. Every sound and movement somehow more pronounced. There was a layer beneath the eerie quiet of the woods, a sound unheard, like the buzz of insects lost to the monotony.
A clone dodged forward as a snarling…thing appeared. This time it was an oddly lithe creature, having been pressed against the shadow of a tree. Two arms came down into scythes and its bug-like eyes were complimented with horns.
Its arm came down, aimed for my neck. Idly, I noticed I wasn’t panicking. I saw its strike, traced the path in a moment between moments. I was processing it faster, much faster than I should. It was taller than me, hunting me, but I never faltered.
Sixth dodged again, coming to his feet in half-surprise. Then Seventh came, peeling away from the treeline and approaching from behind. From the other side, Eighth and then Ninth, until suddenly it was surrounded.
The scythes came down again but I had a view from four different angles. I watched myself dodge, never in danger for a moment, mastery of that singular space unparalleled. An itch across all my senses, [Solo’s Instinct] working in tandem across all my clones, amplified even.
None of my clones had any weapons. And if not for the Title and boost to my physical stats, my numbers wouldn’t have meant much. As it stood, my clones reached the physical attributes of my prior original self, and then a bit more.
Advertisement
Each of my selves weaved between its strikes and I didn’t freeze or panic, locked in a state of flow. I didn’t hesitate to get close, oddly confident at being untouched. I grappled the creature down, clones tearing at its limbs with a foot on its joints and a pull with both arms. Multiple arms, at times.
It died quietly, without sound, and left four Evahn’s coming down from adrenaline.
[Dungeon Notice]: For defeating a Gloaming Scythe, you are rewarded with a [Dark Wand].
[Dungeon Notice]: Congratulations! As you are part of the first group to explore the [Sleepywood] the [Dark Wand] reward has been upgraded to a [Twilight Wand].
Item: [Twilight Wand]
A wand crafted from moon-soaked wood. It is perfect for harnessing the scattered rays of the dawn, the soft glow of twilight, and the shadows of dusk.
- 20% increase in the effectiveness of twilight, light, and dark magic.
I stared at the Item, a shot of excitement at the thought of magic. But the wand itself didn’t declare any support toward learning. There wasn't anything immediately obvious when holding it, no surge of power, or mysterious arcane knowledge. I looked at the wand in my hand, amounting, currently, to nothing more than a stick.
It was a little disappointing but I held hope, allowing a clone to experiment with it.
Back with my original body, we were discussing the nature of the Dungeon.
“I think it’s an open space.” Rickson was saying. “I’m not sure if we’re supposed to defeat anything. We can leave whenever we want, but that will be the end of our bonuses.”
I tore into my kebab and tried to ignore the thoughts so intently directed towards me. He hasn’t said anything. I wonder what he can do… to have escaped that thing. Rose shuffled beside me and I felt her gaze lift for a moment.
Advertisement
“That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some kind of Dungeon Boss,” Rickson added, to the effect of uncomfortable shuffling.
“Risk for reward.” Parker intoned, crossing his arms. He was wearing a furred vest that would’ve looked entirely out of place if we hadn’t seen him pull it out of the [Common Chest]. It was blue and I couldn’t pull up a description on it. Apparently, it was gloom tiger hide.
“Well, now that we’re here we have no choice but to make the most of it,” Gary said gruffly. “It may seem greedy but I don’t think we can afford to leave empty-handed. Not with so much to gain.”
“How long are we talking?” Someone asked, concerned.
“Days at least.” This time I recognized Jack. “We’re leveling, getting useful Items, if everyone comes out stronger we’ve got more tools to survive once we leave. We can’t let an opportunity like this go to waste.”
“So what? We just… hunt? Go out, search for monsters, and kill them?”
“It might be for the best,” Parker replied.
There were a few murmurs and I listened to that buzzing noise, that frequency of thought. It was strange, grabbing snippets of internal monologue. Less daunting, now that I could practice in close proximity. The general sentiment was agreement and nervousness.
I directed my mental focus on Rose, whose thoughts were already hard to ignore. Reaching for that mental equilibrium, where all other noise was filtered and only a clear stream of thought remained, would’ve been impossible without the increase in mental attributes.
“Evahn, what do you think of all this?” She asked once the conversation died down and people spread out. He seems oddly… relaxed. Is he not nervous?
I glanced at her, catching curious blue eyes. “Someone has to take that first step, right? I don’t think we can survive without getting stronger. There’s no telling what else is out there in the swamp.” Or the rest of the world, for that matter.
“He’s right, you know.” Parker joined, holding a skewer over the fire. “People need to see that, for their own good.”
He nodded to me politely and I felt his gaze linger before he turned back to the fire. He’s stronger than he looks. He was the first person saving people and he somehow knew how to deal with the rootmother’s mind control. His gaze flicked back to me. I’m glad he’s here, at least.
I scratched my head. “Well, let’s hope we can make our time here worthwhile.”
Advertisement
Apocalypse: Generic System
Jeb Trapper tried to kill himself. The gun jammed. Two months later the vet is participating in underground trials of ecstacy to treat his PTSD. Everything seemed to be going great until... >>>The System has Been InstalledNow he's got to choose the difficulty of his tutorial. Just one problem.He's high as a kite, and nothing seems Impossible. A:GS book one is up and running on Amazon! Book 2!Book 3!
8 149Throwing Dice
Mirnaya and Nebesa are futuristic city-states existing in parallel dimensions. Siblings Valya and Maxim are each stuck in a different city. Will they be able to break the divide between the two parallels and see each other again?
8 129Clavomancy
participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge I'm writing this everyday as a rough draft then I will clean it up Dean Fabre was just a boy when he discovered that all the legends, myths, and fairytales were real. Scouted by the Magic Investigation Bureau he is finally living under a roof with a stable job. He just has to put up with a senior partner that's a living grimoire with a palette for expensive meals and being mistrusted by most magical being.
8 192The Song of Seafarers
The old maps never lie. Here there be monsters. In the lands far to the north where the sky meets the ice, I saw them. (This story is also available on Archive Of Our Own) Cover art by the lovely Rosriel!
8 158Never understand
i do not own any of these characters🛑 Arthur Leywin was described as a mature and bright but also very intimidating and scary at times.But what if Arthur wasn't what everyone presumes? In reality Arthur is broken... he hates himself and has constant nightmares which causes him to have barely any sleep and He can't get over what happened in the past and blames himself and doesn't think he deserves this happy life.TW Warning ⚠️ suicidal thoughts, self harm, brief mention of child abuse
8 154My Vampire (Book Three)
She got me into this mess. She had to play around and get us both captured. That stupid fucking vampire. My pack will notice that I'm gone. But these men are good at covering my scent. But I know they'll find me.I hear her gasp again and thrash around making her chains jingle around the bars we're both kept in. God knows what they're injecting her with but I'm glad they're not doing the same to me."Give her the next dosage. She can take it" the older one says and I look away as I see them plunge the needle again into her arm. She screams and an unfamiliar sound comes to my ears. My wolf awakens at the sound as well and I stand to look at her.She's shaking like crazy and gasping as if she could even breath in the first place. It can't be? They shouldn't be able to reverse....my thoughts stop when she sits up and screams as she looks into my eyes. The dark irises I came to know over the past two weeks go from black to blue. Her heart starts beating. And my wolf calls for his mate.
8 99