Chapter 8-Dungeon Diving

Days passed, Morpheus and Reyna were both beaten senseless by Brevair. Morpheus also realised he could use ‘Arcane Rebirth’ to heal Reyna. So they both could continue to get beaten senseless. Finally after a week. Brevair said.

“You're ready, Morpheus.”

“Fantastic, I’d rather take my chances in the dungeon that another day of this.” Morpheus slightly jokes. Bring up all his new notifications from the past week.

+6 Vitality

+6 Constitution

+6 Endurance

+2 Strength

+3 Agility

+9 Dexterity

…

You have levelled up Arcane Step Level (13)

You have levelled up Arcane Strike Level (12)

You have levelled up Battle-Axe Arts Level (12)

You have levelled up Arcane Rebirth Level (17)

You have levelled up Spartans Essence Level (14)

You have levelled up Pain Resistance Level (15)

General and Class Skills:

Arcane Step Level (13)

Arcane Strike Level (12)

Spartan’s Essence Level (14)

Battle-Axe Arts Level (12)

Arcane Rebirth Level (15)

Resistances

Pain Resistance Level (15)

Fear Resistance Level (4)

Status

Health:4180/4200

Stamina:5250/5460

Mana:1600/1600

Stats

Strength: 58

Vitality: 64

Constitution: 39

Endurance: 51

Agility: 49

Dexterity: 36

Wisdom: 30

Intelligence: 36

Charisma: 23

Luck: 14

“I think you should go in one by yourself.” “Reyna is too experienced in the dungeon I’m thinking of sending you.”

“But pops…” Reyna looked so heart broken.

“No questions, Morpheus has gotten better than you in a week. His ability to heal makes him far more durable, I’m starting to think of getting you a hybrid class too but they’re hard to achieve.”

Just then, Morpheus realised what Brevair just did. He had wanted to test Morphues against Reyna, test her strength against a double marked. During his training, his stats and skills increased dramatically. Whereas Reyna seemed to have gotten weaker to him. His battle axe skills had almost gotten better than Reyna and he began to win more and more battles as the days passed. He felt bad for Reyna but it was still beneficial to her.

“Then do it for when I get my primary at fifty.” Reyna firmly said.

“Are you sure, it will be more brutal than when you were fifteen.”

“I’ll still do it, since this ugly chimera took over me I have to get stronger.”

“So be it, we'll begin tomorrow when Morpheus goes to the dungeon.”

Brevair turned to Morpgues and said “Do you think you’re ready.”

“Yes.”

So the next morning Morpheus set off. With enough food to last a week and his slightly torn leather armour. In the booklet from the adventuring guild, this dungeon was created due to the large influx of orcs and mana in a cave. In the booklet it stated.

‘Dungeon: Aptitude of the Orc. Levels from 35-75. Multiple varieties of orcs. Fee is 5 coppers per entry.’

Brevair told Morpheus about a back entrance into the dungeon that he used back in his ‘broke’ stage of adventuring. It was only a ten minute jog to where the dungeon was. Or a forty minute jog for a normal person. The dungeon was located in a small single mountain near where Morpgues first arrived.

Morpheus had arrived at the location. He saw a few boulders that covered a crack in the stone. The young chimera started to move the boulders, as he stepped into the crack he saw a notification pop up.

‘You entered the dungeon Aptitude of the Orc’

He felt a shiver down his back thinking of all the third legs he would see. He kept on walking, keeping his enhanced senses on constantly, his night vision came in very handy for caves. The cave was roughly five metres by three in a semi circle of sorts. As he was walking the cave switched between concrete walls with square pillars surrounding them and the rocky walls of the cave.

As he arrived at a split point in the cave. He heard a deep moan from his left. As he looked down the cave hot his left he saw an orc blindly stumbling towards him with a giant club.

(Orc, Level 37)

He could feel himself wanting to cut the orc into pieces but remained calm. His heart began to beat like an engine, as described by his trait. He was eager, he was happy. He began to jog towards the orc activating Arcane Strike and Spartans Essence. Theorc noticed and showed his large tusks. As he got closer the orc readied his club to slam down on Morpphues. As the orc slammed down his club, Morpheus twisted his body to spin around and bring his axe towards the orc’s head. In one fell swoop the orc’s head was cleaved off from his shoulders and his axe slammed against the cave wall. Morpheus just smiled, which he had learned to hate by now. But there was nothing he could really do, so he thought it was better to just accept it.

Morgues was shocked by his strength and movement from training with Brevair. The battle-axe was a truly magnificent weapon. His body could move gracefully while swinging the axe, the moment carrying him forward to deal a critical blow with just one movement.

‘Amazing!’ You have slain (Orc, Level 37)

You have levelled up Battle Axe Arts Level (13)

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up Level (34) (1 stat point available)

‘So it must level up faster when I’m fighting, makes sense really.’ Morgues thought, looking down at the beheaded corpse. He put the orc and his weapons in his magic pouch, ignoring the thing between its legs.

He carried on, the further he went, the larger the cave seemed to grow. He ended up in a large rectangular room sporting multiple entrances, luckily the map that was developing in his interface showed him the way out so he wouldn’t get lost. He then heard multiple footsteps coming towards him. As he hid behind a pillar he saw three orcs, bigger than the last, two with clubs, the other with a mace.

(Orc, Level 39)

(Orc Brawler, Level 40)

(Orc, Level 41)

Morpheus planned to surprise the big one first which was in the middle. If he timed it right he could kill or severely injure him. A brawler type would cause him the most problems he deducted. As the trio was approaching, the brawler orc began to sniff the air as he began to walk in the archway. Just as he stepped in Morpheus lodged his axe directly in his chest. He quickly took it out which made the brawler type to fall backwards. The other two orcs were surprised but didn’t hesitate to launch their attacks, Morpheus ducked under one club, while another caught him in the shoulder, luckily the club only barely managed to slightly damage him, only doing five hundred of his health points which were healed almost instantly. As morpheus staggered back another club came towards him, he ducked under it then used the moment to spin and take off the orcs leg at knee point. The orc screened in pain as it fell onto the other knee. The other orc attempted to slam his head with his club, but failed as Morpheus easily dodged it, same with his first encounter and buried his axe halfway into the orcs head. He removed it quickly and backed away to see if both of the other orcs were up. The brawler type luckily had died from then first hit and the other one was trying to crawl towards him, with pure anger in his eyes. Morpgues smiled and lent over him swinging his axe through the club and decapitating him. Morphues then smiled, happy with his skills in battle.

Deactivating his buffs he sat down and lit a cigarette. Arcane strike was still too unfamiliar to him for use in battle as it still could nauseate him. He figured he could try against maybe one or two orcs but didn’t want to risk it on three. Morpheus also debated to take his leather armour off, to see if the buff from his class would help more in a fight. He felt it was risky to leave his chest exposed but decided that the next battle he would use his arcane step and remove his chest piece. Putting the corpses in his bag he set off again flicking the cigarette to the side. He chose the middle archway because it somehow seemed logical to him.

Roughly twenty minutes later, he had arrived to see two orcs walking away from him, with swords.

(Orc Warrior, Level 47)

(Orc Warrior, Level 45)

Morpheus discussed with himself if he should avoid the fight, they were both ten levels higher than him and had a class. But he had the element of surprise. He took off his chest piece and power flowed through him and he suddenly felt a lot more confident. So he began to slowly sneak up on them, dashing forward in an attempt gain a first strike. Both orcs drew their swords and faced him. Morpheus swung his axe, the orc brought his sword to quickly block and deflected the axe downwards which collided with his shoulder sending the orc flying into the other one. The other orc tried to move out of the way of his flying brother but was sent stumbling. Morpues wasted no time and used an arcane step to quickly gain on the falling orc. Planting his axe into the orcs back. He turned around and lifted his axe in the air to swing at the other orc. The orc dodged to the side and grabbed Morpheus by the neck and landed a punch on his face. He dropped his axe on the ground and toppled backwards.

Morpheus became enraged, he got to his feet and extended his claws, all while healing himself.

“COME ON THEN YOU UGLY FUCKER!” He screamed.

The orc lunged at him, throwing a right hook which the young chimera took straight to his cheek. He barely flinched, the adrenaline was getting to him and he wanted to rip the orc’s throat out. Morpheus threw his claws out towards the orc which cut the its neck. He then lunged at him, wrapping his body around the orc and began to dig his nails into its neck and face. Morpheus even bit into the orc’s neck. Blood began spurting everywhere covering him. The orc was screaming and began to try and throw Morpheus off, bashing him into the walls of the cave.

Finally, the orc dropped to its knees and it was dead.

“Fuck.” Morpheus whispered to himself, collapsing on the floor.

‘No time to contemplate, I need to get out of here.’ He thought to himself while hurriedly picking up their corpses and weapons.

The young chimera ran for twenty minutes until he found a room similar to the room the arches but slightly larger and with silver engravings.

He sat down and thought of what happened, and why he got so angry. It must have been the Viking blood or maybe it’s just him. Morpheus lit another cigarette as he took food out that Sophia had given him.

Thanking the lady, he tucked in and went over his notifications. He had four points, which he put all into dexterity.

Amazing! You have slain (Orc, Level 39)

…

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up (Level 35) (2 stat points available)

You have levelled up Arcane Strike Level (13)

You have levelled up Battle Axe-Arts Level (14)

Amazing! You have slain (Orc Warrior, Level 45) For killing an enemy 10 levels above your own additional experience has been added.

Amazing! You have slain (Orc Warrior, Level 47) For killing an enemy 10 levels above your own additional experience has been added.

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up (Level 36) (3 stat points available)

‘Congratulations’ you have levelled up (Level 37) (4 stat points available)

General and Class Skills:

Arcane Step Level (13)

Arcane Strike Level (13)

Spartan’s Essence Level (14)

Battle-Axe Arts Level (14)

Arcane Rebirth Level (17)

Resistances

Pain Resistance Level (15)

Fear Resistance Level (4)

Status

Health:4000/4200

Stamina:4300/5460

Mana:1456/1600

Stats

Strength: 58

Vitality: 64

Constitution: 39

Endurance: 51

Agility: 49

Dexterity: 40

Wisdom: 30

Intelligence: 36

Charisma: 23

Luck: 14

He hadn’t even come close to dying yet he felt like he had failed. Brevair’s training had helped him greatly and he felt that the battle axe is so natural to him now. He just needed to work on his battle experience that was all. It was roughly just past midday and Morpheus wanted to farm as much as he could before he tried to find a place to sleep for tonight. Brevair had told him to maybe come out for every one or two days so Morpheus could give him his spoils.

And so Morpheus carried on beheading orcs like it was a ‘nine to five’. The young chimera only encountered another group of the two orc warriors and a group of three. Two level forty orcs never could even touch Morpheus when he applied arcane step and his buffs.

Morpheus returned the way he came, carefully rolling the boulders back into place and jogged back double time to the family’s house. He had just his cloak over his topless body, covering Loki’s sign album leaving the rest uncovered.

Morpheus knocked on the door, and Sophia answered opening it for him. Morpheus was about to thank her but realised there were two unknown men facing away from him. Brevair walked out from the garden and said.

“Lance and the Ravens would like to have a word with you, don’t worry they mean no harm.”

“Sure.” Morpheus reluctantly said.

Both of the men got up and turned around, offering their hand towards Morpheus. He shook them both and sat down. Lance was the beast-kin guy he recognised from the monster horde and the other introduced himself as a ‘Raven’.

“What’s a Raven?” Morpheus curiosity asked.

“We The Ravens record the events of men across all continents, I heard tales of a chimera receiving a mark from a god. But it might seem like you have two.” The man said pointing towards Morpheus’s left peck.

Morpheus didn’t speak so the Raven carried on. “If you wouldn’t mind showing them to me in detail, I would like to record them in the name of Odin’s Ravens.”

“This one is from Isis, I don’t know much but she cares for the life of the living and the dead. These one” Morpheus extended both of his wrists. “These are both Hercules’, from me holding up the falling tower.”

The Raven removed an old book, he started to sketch down the markings. “Beautiful, to think of a chimera receiving god marks.”

Morpheus sighed, he was absolutely sick of this racism.

The Guild Leader then said “Don’t mind the Ravens, they speak the truth but don’t tell. They record all interesting things.”

“Anyway, I’m sure you know who I am. Firstly I would like to thank you for saving Reyna. If she had died Brevair would have raised all the dead in Ervos.” He said, sending a slight smirk to Brevair standing in the corner.

“And secondly, thank you for saving others even though you had no incentive to do so. That’s where I’m sure your second mark came from. I’ve never heard of receiving a mark because you saved lives.”

Morpheus then willed the mark of Isis to Lance.

“How interesting, so you wanted no gain. Only to save lives.” “You are a strange one.”

“Where I come from, all life is preserved at great cost. For me to save four others would be the right thing to do.”

“And where is that? Show me the marks too please young chimera.” The Raven said. He was thrilled with his findings.

“That Mr Raven is something you won’t find out.” Morpheus stated, willing his marks to the man

“Fine, I won’t hassle you.” The Raven solemnly said.

Brevair cleared his throat. “Lance, what are your plans then with Morpheus.”

“Nothing I just wanted to see, I heard this Raven whispering around the taverns and thought I should bring him along.”

Brevair said “Morpheus would be chased by the Ravens regardless so it was a good idea. What does the King know?”

“He knows by now, he doesn’t know that we are here though.” Lance responded. “Have you thought of a way to hide him? The rest of the kingdoms will try to recruit him too.”

“Yes, we have an illusion mage friend. I’ve spoken to her about an item that could change how people could see him.”

“That’s gonna be expensive, you have enough?”

“Morpheus is working on it, he’s currently diving Aptitude of the Orc.”

“That’ll be months, how much is it exactly?”

“Roughly six gold.” Brevair said.

“I’d be happy to put in one gold.”

Morphues would be happy to accept money from lance but definitely not Brevair and his family.

“That’s would be helpful, and what for the Raven?”

“The Raven?” Morphues asked.

Lance chuckled. “He pays you for the information, to think you wouldn’t have known.”

“How much?” Morpheus quickly asked.

The Raven responded. “Two gold for a mark to be fully documented. So four gold in total, we don’t value money but it does buy truth.”

“So we are almost there. I just need to find one more gold.”

Brevair went to speak but Morpgues said. “No brevair, I’ve farmed a lot of orcs today and I think that I could get the rest easily.

“How much does an orc corpse go for? I have their weapons as well.”

“Where?” Lance asked.

Morpheus held his bag up.

Lance nodded and responded. “Should be a two silvers a corpse.”

“I have thirty corpses in this bag with their weapons.”

Much to Morpheus's amazement, Lance and Brevair were shocked. “Let’s go outside and check, Mr Raven, are you ready to pay up?” Brevair said.

“Uhhh...Yes I’m all done.” The Raven stood up. “Young Morphues, may you seek what you are looking for.”

Morpheus nodded and the Raven calmly left leaving four gold in total.

The rest of them exited the house to see Morpheus’ spoils.