- Day 15 into Day 16 -

Soloing the Catacombs

With Emily out of the picture for the foreseeable future and the girl's blood supply at a premium, it's time to find an alternative solution to this ridiculous daily requirement of mine.

HP: 3266 / 3266 MP: 12,924 / 15,924 ST: 2450 / 2450

Hunger: 69% Thirst: 42%

Blood State: Dangerous

The good news is that my mana supply is starting to get high enough to take me large distances in a single warp so I've warped directly into the Catacombs, somewhere between level two and level three where we faced the Rackshaw before fleeing for our lives.

[Activate Night Eye]

HP: 3266 / 3266 MP: 12,924 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

No point playing low key if I'm soloing here after all.

I proceed carefully and quietly through the cave system, watching and listening for movement as I go. I'm hoping to find where the three-hundred plus goblins that got away from us during the massacre have fled to and yes, I remember goblin blood is disgusting, but beggars can't be choosers or is it 'badgers can be choosers?'. Ha...

After what feels like an hour, I'm starting to lose hope. I need some sort of detection skill that allows me to find creatures and monster… The best I have currently is [Magic Eye], but it’s for seeing mana flow, so it doesn’t pick anything up.

AE, is there something that could help with this?

[** Detection **]

[** Detect Life **]

[** Field: Perception **]

[** PER stat increase **]

[** Alchemical substance **]

[** Multiple spells **]

And I don't have any of these. Damn it all, guess I have to keep searching...

Eventually, I find myself at the entrance to a new floor. Something feels a little off here, so I immediately equip my spear, shield and chain mail just in case and begin to descend onto the fourth floor.

It's hot, easily thirty or forty degrees Celsius and scolding pockets of steam can be seen to burst out of cracks randomly. This is dangerous... AE, is the air here safe?

[** Correct. No toxic gasses found **]

If you detect any, you'll let me know...right?

If I was moving slow and careful before, I'm travelling at half that pace now. Trying to avoid exploding steam pockets while watching my surrounds and trying to listen for enemies is exhausting! I couldn’t imagine the six of us moving through this in the dark using our standard tactics... We're going to need an area light spell of some sort or torches.

Eventually, I come to a cavern, and the temperature feels lower than before. For an additional bonus, the exploding steam pockets look to have stopped here as well.

*blink*

I decide this is as good a spot as any to take a break and drink some water, so I take the last water barrel from storage and crack it open before gulping it down me.

Hunger: 71% Thirst: 5%

Blood State: Dangerous

*ssssssshhhhh-noc*

I saw it, out of the corner of my left eye, I bloody well saw it coming. Literally, half a second before it hit my left pork bun, the crude Nall Cave Goblin arrow that was hurtling through the air, I damn well saw it and did nothing!

“OWW--”

Yep, right in the bum. I'd be impressed if it wasn't me it had hit!

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 13,981 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

Oh.. that didn't hurt all that much...

I pull the damn arrow from my arse and check it for poison… Luckily it looks clean, so I toss it away.

"KA KA! GRRRREEKK KA!!!!"

Yeah yeah. I'd laugh too, but the ten of you are perfect practice.

[Hellfire]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 12,983 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2200 / 2450

Hmm...? That seriously cost me a thousand MP, and nothing happens?

"Tha--"

Suddenly I feel it. A burning sensation in the back of my throat and an incredible urge to scream at the top of my lungs--

"BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN"

Searing flames spew forth, covering and engulfing everything in sight. The flames are so high, so bright that even I cannot see anything as the jet of fire just keeps spewing forward from my mouth with an immense hissing, screeching sound.

It's incredible, mesmerising and terrifying, all at the same time before it just as crazily stops.

"..."

Ha.. What lays before my eyes now is just as incredible, if not even more so than the spell itself. Not only does nothing remain of any of the goblins but the walls of the cavern are either melting or have turned to pools of molten magma, slowly pooling together.

..Once you get past the 'deadly destruction' part, the aftermath is really quite beautiful.

"Oh, of course... It's a draconic spell."

Ah, welcome back verbal buddy, how ya been? It's interesting how the very moment we're alone, you rear your head, but yes, we should have realised that before casting. *nod*. Spot on!

"We should have also remembered why we're here..."

Right, to drain... Ah.

Shit. Well, just shit... You certainly can't drain ash, can you? Argh, so stupid... but worth it… I guess. Ugh. Ah well. No point dwelling on it, but let's agree not to use the overly-powered draconic spells when we find our next potential food source, yo'kay? Okay. Moving on!

With that and the return of my old travelling compatriot, we continue on, through the cave system towards where I think the goblins came from... After we dodged the pools of magma of course.

I'm reasonably confident that the goblins are somewhere up ahead based on the smell that's filling this part of the cavern. After killing them in droves, I all too keenly remember their odorous scent, so I instinctively creep up stealthily to every corner, expecting to find them laying in wait just ahead. This is so much less stressful when Sybil takes care of the scouting in advance, but I have to remember that doing this ensures I'm not ambushed!

...After about an hour, I start to find myself losing patience.

Just where the hell are they all? Have they been retreating this whole fricking time while I've been in pursuit!? They could be miles ahead by now if that’s the case, what with the snail pace I've been taking!

...No, there's no way they could know I'm here as none of the goblins escaped [Hellfire] earlier--

"They might have sensed the power of the spell though, if you’re honest."

...I've already admitted that spell was a mistake so give over. Besides, goblins can't be the only creatures down here. We'll just have to keep going and hope we find another prey or catch up to them.

I decide to throw caution to the wind and pick up the pace into a jog. I know it's a risk, but I don't have all night to resolve my blood requirement, and if I don't feed soon, I'll go full monster mode again, so I don't really have a choice any more.

I continue charging ahead without caution or care. As such, it's not really surprising that something found me before I found it. Something that would run towards, rather than away, from a spell like [Hellfire]. Something so big, it doesn't believe it has anything to fear... I mean, it was bound to happen right--

The blackened hellspawn arises from the ground, standing on two-feet while letting out its thunderous roar and focusing its giant eye on me--

[Resisted]

Somehow, it’s savage, murderous roar doesn’t seem as loud as before as I scramble to get out of its path.

[Scan]

Name: Rakshaw [Greater]

Race: Demon

Level: 136

HP: 100% MP: 100% ST: 100%

Yeah... I still don't have a guaranteed method of dealing with you yet, but that doesn't mean I'll just run this time!

[Field of Winter][Gravity]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 15,824 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

The Rakshaw quickly whips its tail up and swings the enormous thing right at me at a terrifying speed.

*Zip* *Zip*

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 15,724 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

I'm completely forced to use warp to get out of its way at the very last second as it crashes and flips through my after-images and right into the wall of the cavern. The sheer force of the impacts is enough to cause a small cave-in with dust and debris going everywhere.

The beast leaves me no time to think as it immediately lets out another ear-shattering roar.

[Resisted]

I don't know what you're trying to do, but you sure are loud!

Seems [Gravity] was useless, let's up it a notch.

[Gravity Field] 500 MP +100 MP per 1-metre radius, causes pressure on all, excluding casters party inside the field

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 14,725 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

The Rakshaw let’s out a slight groan before falling onto all fours and snapping it toothy jaw.

Damn it. This isn’t massively effective either... I think my plan of slowing it down and freezing it isn't going to work--

Before having the chance to come up with a new plan, it seems the beast has one of its own, as the Rakshaw's eye begins to pulsate with black sparks of electricity, spurting and arching off from it in various directions

...Ha, he's charging his laser, isn't he?

"This is no time to laugh at obscure references!"

Sorry, you're right, we're in trouble here. I probably won't be able to dodge whatever it’s planning, so I've got one last attack before it's time to [Warp] out of here...

I open the menu quickly and scroll through it in bitter desperation that something will jump out at me.

...Ah! Would it work though? I mean.. Screw it; this isn't the time to doubt!

[Blind]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 14,526 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

It gives a waning screech before throwing its head around as if trying to shake something from it. After a moment, the Rakshaw movements again become steady but unusual... It seems to have cancelled the laser eye as sparks no longer emanate from it, with the existing black-arcing bolts dissipating.

“It... worked?”

Apparently so... [Blind] looks to have served its vision entirely. I mean, it is a giant eyeballed monster after all... I don't know why I doubted it--

"Because boss monsters aren't usually affected by status ailments."

And yet this one was! He who dares, wins!!

Let's bring out the big guns.

[Gravity Well] 1000 MP +500 MP per 1 metre radius (Lv 7 version of [Gravity Field])

Okay, this is my first time casting a spell above level five so carefully now! I really ought to have test fired some of these when I first learned them but oh well. What's a little 'trial by fire' anyway?

So first, draw… Now bind-- the mana and!

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 12,028 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

Whoa... A gigantic circle of runes appear around the monster as it's throw down further.

Not exactly a speedy cast, but I’ll get faster with practice I'm sure. Now then!

[Mass Void Binding], 200MP per binding

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 10,029 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

The Rakshaw struggles with its footing, trying desperately to understand what's happening to it as I weave binding after binding around its four legs and tail, tying them tightly to one another in groups until over 20 bindings are holding the demon down.

I doubt the bindings alone would ordinarily be enough to pacify the massive creature, but combined with [Gravity Well] that's putting massive amounts of downward force onto it as well, I'm not really surprised it can't resist.

Phew... That's it completely bound. It's not even trying to move anymore…

“So now what?”

Good question… Don't get me wrong, I could try the draconic spells, but I don't know if those will kill it. What I do know is that those spells will erase my currently active magic, so it's a risk not worth taking... If I could make it bleed, I could try [Blood Syphon]?

“Worth a try.”

[Blood Wound] [Resisted]

[Blood Boil] [Resisted]

[Void Lance]

HP: 100% MP: 100% ST: 100%

Well frack me, that’s some insane armour you have... [Void Lance] worked but not even a scratch?

"I guess we stab it?"

Hmm, looks that way... I’m sure we must have something in here we can use--

I scroll through my spells and notice one that's not draconic and is offensive, so I try my luck and cast it.

[Void Ripper] 400 MP per disc. Level 8

I weave the mana circle in the air beside me and begin rotating it as I think of the spell--

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 9632 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

...Oh my god, total patent violation! This is totally a purple version of Destructo Disk!

*Zzzzoooooom* *Zoooooommm* *ZZZzzzzzZZZzoooooooommm*

Haha, I love it…

Ahem.

I mean, this should work.

[Void Ripper]

[Void Ripper]

[Void Ripper]

[Void Ripper]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 8035 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

"Hmph. Die!"

I launch all five void discs at the Rakshaw in a typical old Hollywood ‘bad guy’ pose, but as soon as they hit the creature, I feel all humour drain from my body immediately.

The spell may be a childhood relic, but it’s a spell designed to kill, and oh boy, does it kill with gruesome intent! All I can do is look on with utter surprise as the bladed-discs tear chunks of flesh from the monster, hurling them around the cave and spraying blood on everything.

The sound, oh my lord, the sound. The ripping noise of a chainsaw going super slowly through meat, the torturous screams of pain from the monster, my god… I think this will be stuck up here for quite some time.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to kill this creature and drain it, but jeez, I would have preferred a method somewhat less brutal.

HP: 30% MP: 100% ST: 100%

I manage to collect myself by the time the spells end but wow.

“Ha, that's a, that's pretty gruesome alright, ha, and the sound..”

I know right, sheesh. I'm glad I have a strong stomach, but that shit needs to be mosaicked! Wow.

*blink*

Seeing as victory looks to be all but assured. Bottoms up!

*Gulp*

*Shudder* I really need to make these EXP potions taste better. Now, to the task at hand.

[Blood Syphon]

[Blood Syphon]

[Blood Syphon]

[Blood Syphon]

[Blood Syphon]

[Blood Syphon]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 8001 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

That should do it, right?

The Rakshaw, once a mighty beast, truly deserving to be feared, now looking like a hapless deer caught in headlamps. It seems to be just meekly laying there awaiting its end. I do feel a little sorry for the giant predator, it was probably confident it was going to win the fight going in, but some battles just aren't as easy as they look are they, big fella.

The six large streams of blood finish pooling and start their usual rushing back towards me.

HP: 13% MP: 100% ST: 100%

They make their usual disgusting sound as they hurtle towards me, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eerily looking forward to finding out what Rakshaw tastes like.

I raise my arm, readying myself for something foul, as the blood begins to get absorbed into me.

...

Oh wow. That's.. Mmm, I can't describe it. It's a flavour I've never had the like of in my life. Kind of buttery sweet, but amazing all the same. Who knew something so ugly would taste so good? Keep it coming!

*Burp*

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 13,338 / 15,765 (15,924) ST: 2450 / 2450

Hunger: 0% Thirst: 0%

Blood State: Greater

Oo, excuse me~

Quite the feed and yet so much left... What's a vampire to do huh? ...I guess I should stop messing around and finish it off to collect its essence stone.

[Void Ripper]

[Void Ripper]

HP: 3216 / 3266 MP: 12538 / 15,924 ST: 2450 / 2450

Phew. Here we go… Okay… Right Aburi, close your eyes and just think of the prize. Pah!

HP: 0% MP: 0% ST: 0%

Shesh-us... Well, it’s over… Off to work.

These talons and teeth may come in handy later so I'll harvest and store them separate from the corpse.

Yes, just like the Ogre, I plan to take the corpse with me. No idea what it might be used for later down the line but considering anything stored in inventory doesn't decay, why not take it?

I tear away at the flesh and sinew, breaking the odd bone until eventually--

Aha! Finally found the stone.

Huh, only Red? I was certain it would be at least purple or purple-grey... Well, it's still bigger than my hand though, so I can't really complain can I.

*blink*

Inventory: 54 / 99

- Rakshaw Corpse x1 -

- Rakshaw Talons x4 -

- Rakshaw Teeth x84 -

- Large Red Essence Stone x1 -

Okay, we're done.

That took quite a while to finish up but considering it's size, it could have taken longer.

With my blood state as it is, I can feel the unusual power flowing through me. I think I need only ‘flex’ to activate it... Well, I don’t need it’s power right now so I’ll leave it be.

I think I'll keep this whole debacle a secret from everyone. I don't believe they're all ready for finding out that I took on a Greater Rakshaw and won just yet. I am surprised it was so easy though, who knew that one innocent looking spell would be the instrument of doom for something so powerful... I guess that's why boss monsters are generally immune to status effects in games.

...AE, how much EXP did we just acquire?

[** 27,000 base. 108,000 Total **]

Guess that explains this then.

Level: 68

EXP: 229855 / 234850 HP: 4533 / 4533 MP: 21,878 / 21,878 (22,099) ST: 3400 / 3400

Hunger: 0% Thirst: 0%

Blood State: Greater STAT points remaining 194 Skill Points: 130

My concerns from earlier still weigh on me as I contemplate assigning my stat points.

As I sit here, hand hovering over the ‘INT [>]’ button, I try and decide if my curiosity is more significant than my fears.

Part of me appears to be sure 'greeny' needs me to be me, so even if I am changing, the core of me isn’t. I can’t be entirely sure of this, however, but I won’t let my irrational fears interfere with my progress!

I take a deep breath and decide to move forward. No point stagnating now...

STR: 060 / 999

AGI: 080 / 999

STA: 060 / 999

VIT: 060 / 999

PER: 060 / 999

INT: 200 / 999

WIS: 240 / 999 STAT points remaining 4 HP: 5440 / 5440 MP: 30,966 / 30,966 (31,279) ST: 3626 / 3626

Heh, a mana pool of thirty-one-thousand, nice.

I’m sure it’s getting late, but I think I'll continue down a bit deeper before heading back to the house. After all, I'm curious what else might be lurking down here as Risk was pretty confident a necromancer had moved in. I'm not so sure about that though, considering how warm it is down here and the fact that corpses decay... I might be just projecting fantasy knowledge from my world unfairly onto this one again so I'll keep an open mind for now...

I continue on and find a path leading to a higher floor. It seems this cave system is much larger than anyone in the Capital realises. I decide to continue to follow the winding path as curiosity now fully has its hooks in me.

While I'm walking through the carven, and since increasing my stats, it's not hard to understand why I've had no run-ins with monsters. I am continually sensing things fleeing from the general area around me... My perception stat must be starting to get high enough to sense creatures in my immediate area. It's not high enough that I can detect what the things fleeing are but I can sort of sense the direction and shape of things not trying to hide.

Based on the rough size, I think it's those bloody goblins, or maybe some spiders?

I'll have to find skills that increase my detection abilities. I should also have Sybil try and teach me [Stealth] when I get back to the house so I can attempt to hide my presence as she does. Hunting like this is quite the chore.

I continue on until reaching another path upwards. I was five levels down, so this puts me at level three right? Using [Warp] to calculate distance, I can tell I'm some serious mileage from the Capital right now. I have no idea for what direction though as it's not really a compass. I'm just using the projected MP requirement to gauge the miles, and it's going to use over eighteen-thousand mana to get home so yeah, I'm a few miles from the city...

*Yawn*

Oh yeah, today's my sleeping cycle... I really want to know where this ends up, but I can feel my concentration slipping from time to time. I’ll likely have trouble keeping my eyes open soon, and besides, I shouldn’t get overconfident. I can always come back another night.

*Zip*

[Deactivate Night Eye]

HP: 5440 / 5440 MP: 12,466 / 31,279 ST: 3626 / 3626