Chapter 33: Going Hunting

Finding myself alone in the passage, I surveyed the battlefield. I could no hear no other goblin cries nearby and the alarm bells had stopped clanging, but I knew that sooner, rather than later, more goblins would turn up.

And before that happened, I had to be gone.

I didn’t think I had time to search any of the dead goblins, and once more no loot chest had appeared. Wiping my blades clean on a corpse, I sheathed my swords and dropped into a crouch.

You and your familiar are hidden.

Padding stealthily through the passage, I put some distance between myself and the recent scene of carnage. Once I was sure I was far enough away that I wouldn’t be immediately uncovered by a search, I ducked into the closest suitable room to take stock and plan my next move.

The room I entered was empty. From the lumps of furs evenly spaced about the floor, I assumed the cavern served as the sleeping quarters of about a dozen goblins. The room was unlit, and I immediately crept to its darkness corner. Placing my back against the cold rock, I slumped to the ground.

The last hour or so had been frenetic. Danger had dogged my heels every step of the way. And now I could feel weariness settle in. I needed rest, real rest and soon.

But not just yet. I was still in danger. How many goblins still remain? I wondered. And how do I defeat them all?

I could follow in the dire wolves’ footsteps, but I doubted I would be able to keep up with the two beasts. Besides, I had gotten the distinct impression that the pair didn’t want me tagging along. Whatever they were about, they didn’t want—or need—my help.

I was on my own. I glanced at the bat resting on my shoulder. Well, except for my familiar. My gazed flicked to the room entrance. I still didn’t hear the tread of approaching feet. Whatever the dire wolves were doing, they seemed to have drawn attention away from this section of passage. I had time, I thought, to risk a short conversation with the familiar.

“Gnat, why didn’t any loot chests appear?” I asked in a low-voiced tone. The mystery was still bugging me. Given the number of enemies in the area, I was hoping that I would be able to fill out my skill list and perhaps even obtain my second and third Classes with all the loot I would collect.

“I told you, training was over,” Gnat grumbled. “Loot chests will not appear as often, or as regularly as they did in the first phase.”

“But the Game granted me loot chests on both my previous encounters,” I protested. “After I ambushed the archers and killed the guards. Why stop now?”

“Hmpf,” Gnat sniffed. “Those were distinct and contained conflicts. Consider the battle you are in now one big encounter. It may be drawn out, but it won’t end until all the goblins are dead—or you are.” The bat paused. “But given the odds you are facing, it is probable the Game will reward you—and handsomely too—once you complete this challenge.”

My eyes narrowed in consideration. I wasn’t sure if I believed Gnat, but the evidence before my eyes was undeniable: I had been rewarded with no loot chests thus far. And I couldn’t bank on getting any more soon.

So either I get a whole treasure trove when I finish clearing out these tunnels, or I get nothing.

Still, it didn’t change what I knew I needed to do: hunt down all the goblins. It was the surest means of securing my escape, and despite the lack of loot chests, each kill I made would only make me stronger.

But first, I must prepare.

Closing my eyes, I willed the Game to display my player data. It had been a while since I had looked at it.

Player Profile: Michael

Level: 11. Rank: 1. Current Health: 100%.

Stamina: 40%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.

Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 3.

Attributes

Available: 1 point.

Strength: 0. Constitution: 0. Dexterity: 4. Perception: 8. Mind: 0. Magic: 0. and Faith: 0.

Classes

Primary Class: Scout (basic).

Secondary Class: None.

Tertiary Class: None.

Traits

Undead familiar: +1 to necromancy rank.

Nimble: +2 Dexterity.

Skills

Available skill slots: 2.

Dodging (current level: 16. max level:40. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Sneaking (current level: 26. max level:40. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Shortswords (current level: 23. max level:40. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: basic).

Two weapon fighting (current level: 18. max level:40. governing attribute: Dexterity. Type: advanced).

Abilities

None.

Equipped

1 common thief’s cloak (+3 sneaking).

2 basic steel shortswords (+10% damage each).

Backpack Contents

11 x field rations.

1 x flask of water.

3 x used poison darts.

2 x unused poison darts.

5 x empty potion flasks.

1 x summon lesser wight spellbook.

3 x minor healing potions.

1 x archer Class stone.

2 x goblin shortbows.

4 x iron daggers.

1 x bedroll.

1 x heavy shields skillbook.

1 x moderate healing potions.

My stamina was low, I saw, and restoring it was my first priority. Pulling out a field ration, I unwrapped it and popped a piece in my mouth, while I studied the rest of my player profile.

I frowned as I chewed, less than pleased with my advancement. My skills were progressing slowly, I was still badly underequipped, and had yet no abilities to speak off.

Even worse, I was unhappily aware that my attributes were skewed. Despite my high investment in Perception, I had no perception-based skills yet. It didn’t matter that circumstances—and my dire need to improve my night vision—had forced my choices in that respect, in the long run further investment in Perception would hamper my future development.

I can see well enough in the dark now, I decided. It was time to stop improving my Perception. But what do I invest in now? I rubbed my chin as I considered how to spend my single remaining attribute point.

Dexterity was the obvious choice, but the latest encounter with the goblins had made clear that if I was going to keep throwing myself in melee combat, I would need to make at least some improvements to my Strength. The last goblin I had fought had overpowered me too easily.

But I also needed Constitution to be able to soak up more damage. And it was still my hope to obtain a magic Class at some point, which made the Magic attribute important as well. Faith and Mind I wasn’t too sure about yet, but they could also be necessary. I sighed. Too many options and not enough points.

I pondered my choices a while longer before reaching a decision. For now, it makes the most sense to play to my strengths, I concluded. Investment in other attributes could wait until I at least obtained some useable skills for them. I willed my choice to the Game.

Your Dexterity has increased to rank 5.

There was one other matter I needed to consider before moving on: the archer Class stone. It was the only other Class option available to me at the moment and despite it being only a basic Class, I needed to at least deliberate on its potential benefits once more. I willed the Adjudicator to display the Class’ properties again.

The archer is a basic Class that confers a player with three skills: light armor, daggers, and a ranged weapon skill of the player’s choice. This Class also permanently boosts your Perception attribute by: +1, and your Constitution attribute by: +1.

Should I acquire the Class? I wondered. Archery itself was useless to me at the moment. I couldn’t see well enough in the tunnels’ poor light to shoot any over any meaningful distance. In that respect, the Class was of little worth to me in my current predicament.

But becoming an archer would also give me access to the all-important light armor skill. The goblins’ hide armor was crude, but it would give me at least a modicum of protection.

Still, I had only two Class slots remaining, and taking up another basic Class was not the smart choice in the long run. Don’t forget Michael, you have three lives, I told myself. If you die, you die.

I grimaced. It was a fatalistic attitude to adopt. But I knew I could not escape taking some measure of risks. And as much as I didn’t want to experience death, I couldn’t shirk from it.

I will play the long game, I decided. The archer Class is not for me.

I rose to my feet. I was ready as I could be and settled in my mind as to what needed to be done. Finishing my field ration, I tossed away the wrapper.

It was time to go hunting.