A creepy eerie sensation comes from the temple entrance, warning me of the danger that lies ahead. Not that I need more warnings after the very first creature I found almost killed me...

It is hard to come back there after that. The feeling of electricity burning me, passing through my nerves is something hard to forget, I got too close to frying myself up this time... I know the only way for me to overcome my fears is facing them, but that was... Horrible. It's hard to keep going, but I must do it.

At least the potion has done its job, my health increased to a more survivable number.

♡50/96 Mind 60/75 ☆88/100 P•22/25

Having drunk some potions already the difference in recovery becomes quite clear. Maybe the herbs I used were of a different quality from each other? I don't have any herb skills to figure that out yet.

Before going back into the dungeon, I drink another potion just in case I need to fight again, leaving me with one homemade potion and two from the shop. I have yet to get used to this mint taste, it's like eating toothpaste or something like that.

Back at the dungeon, I walk to the hall with the secret passage. This time, I go to the normal passageway on the end of it instead, finding more bronze vases and taking the metal with me as I go.

Just as I was going to enter the corridor, a big insect, one-meter height comes out from it. The thing looks a lot like a mantis, but bigger... I have to get away from it.

The sharp claws of the insect pass close to me, but I evade it, sidestepping. I didn't see a second mantis waiting for me, this time, I was unable to evade the surprise strike that hit my shoulder, blood pouring slowly from the wound before stopping quickly thanks to the potion's effects.

I jump to the side, rolling on the ground, putting the weight on my other shoulder, and shooting an arcane bolt at the second mantis. A third one appears from the corridor, I am getting too outnumbered... What if more of them come? One was already hard enough...

I shoot again at the second mantis, twice this time, and it's dead. the other 2 however rush at me, making me fall back while I switch to the staff for closer combat. Both of the mantes attack me at once, each with 2 sharp claws. Defending against them is no easy task, I am on the edge of my abilities evading while trying to hit them. They are not aware of the electricity of my staff, however. Once the first mantis strike at me, I defend with the staff, sending lightning through it as the claw connects. They jump back while the other is distracted by the situation, I thrust the staff on its head, frying it up. The first mantis is retreating but I won’t let it go. I run towards it, finishing my job with a quick strike, electrifying it once more.

I feel a warmth on my body as if a fire is burning inside me... Must be the adrenaline running on my veins. I sit down with a smile on my face as I see the defeated insect corpses lying around.

What am I becoming? When did I start liking killing big scary insects?

Well... Whatever. I need to get the staff charges to show in the hud too, or I will run out of resources at the worst time again.

♡60/96 Mind 60/75 ☆86/100 P•18/25 S•19/50

The potion preventing bleeding was a major advantage in this fight, I would have lost much more health if I hadn't drunk it. It always pays to be prepared.

Still, I need to push myself much more if I want to be able to defend myself in this world.

◇New skill: Battle Magic Description: fighting with spells evolves a different set of skills. Often, the fight is decided by the one who calculates better and cast faster. Effects: You may think quicker on the battlefield. +1 to INT, REF, WIL. ◇Fighting is now level 6◇ ◇Fighting is now level 7◇ ◇Staff Mastery is now level 4◇ ◇Electricity resistance is now 20%◇ ◇Electricity Affinity is now 45%◇ ◇Arcane Affinity is now 45%◇

So using an artifact is considered spellcasting? Guess I am a mage now, in my way.

I walk through the corridor the mantis came, finding along the way a solitary one that I quickly shoot 3 arcane bolts at it, making quick work of the bug before it gets the chance to get me. Having Range is an advantage against a melee opponent... But against another ranged opponent, this even out. In the fight against that Archer for example, I got him because of surprise and luck. Had I done some mistake, an arrow could get me down in one shoot. But I lived and he died, that is what matters in the end.

The corridor goes a long way until it ends on a big open space full of plants and small bugs, the ceiling far too higher to count the meters. The place looks like a mantis den. Many holes on the walls where an occasional mantis goes out to hunt another bug before coming back with their prey. Going there now would be…hmm... hard. I turn back, my feet stepping lightly to not make a noise and draw the attention of hundreds of terrifying insects to me. I hate bugs.

Time to turn back and try the other corridor at the dungeon entrance.

My pistol is ready, my light-crystal rests on my belt as the place does not require additional lights, with the glowing stuff all over the walls. Entering the pathway to the right I notice that at first, there are similarities to the other, leading to a hall much like the one before. The difference however is that now 3 more doors can be seen. One on each side of the hall.

I have been charging my weapons with the rings while exploring, but the constant fights make it a little impractical. There are enough charges left but I will have to rest soon and wait for it to charge.

Looking at each of the 3 doors, I decide to enter the door to the right this time, moving slowly as the vegetation was a little dense. A corridor was after the door, leading to a long room full of tombs. I turn back slowly to the hall, not wanting to fight another undead mage.

Just as I get to the hall, I hear a growl behind me. Its another undead. I don't know if I can handle another one of those... The pain from the other fight comes back haunting my mind but I shrug it off, jumping forward, rolling and turning to the door with my pistol ready. A corpse stood there carrying a great sword with the right hand. The corpse lacked a mandible and a left arm, but still, if it is anything like the previous one I may be able to damage it… I shoot a charged arcane missile at him, the blue bolt flying into it and… passing through, the undead was gone, not there anymore. I quickly move to the side, expecting teleportation but the undead appears again on the same spot it was and proceed to walk to me, scratching the ground as he dragged his sword. The sound of metal against stone is giving me chills, but I don't have time to stop... There must be something I can do.

I shoot again, a normal bolt this time, but he just disappears like before, showing up a few moments later.

This won't work. I take my staff and go to close combat. The undead strikes with the sword far faster than it should be able but I still evade it. There is something wrong, the sword is heavy and he moves it with some difficulty, but when he swings it, he moves faster than he should be able to… unless... he can use time magic.

The real issue is the fading out when I try to hit. Every time I strike, the undead just disappears, coming back later in the same place, the same position... hmm there may be something I can try.

I strike him, he fades out, then I stay with the staff just where he was, waiting for him to come back to get the stuff inside him. The undead warrior however just appears a little to the side, my plan failed.

Little by little I am getting tired, blocking the heavy sword is hard and evading it too. I must do something… maybe trick him?

I wait for him to attack me and swing in his direction, he disappears, but I quickly reposition myself to behind him, using the momentum of the staff. He appears in the same spot, looking the same way he was before and I strike him, sending lighting through the staff. He is tougher than he looks, however. I had to get back as he tried to side cut me. I repeated the process a few times and he turned to dust, as did his sword.

I did it again, I won even if I couldn't see a way out... Maybe that is something to think about, I have to keep going even if I don't see a solution. Had I given up on any of the fights I had, I wouldn't be here now.

Looking at the remains of the undead, the only thing there is to see is his bracelet

SCANNING ARTIFACT Name: Bracelet of Time Skip Description: An ancient artifact that allows jumping into the near future. Affinity with time rune determines how much time can be skipped. Charges: 3/30

This is the sort of trick that can save my life if I use it wisely, but kill me if I misuse it. A good find all in all.

I place the bracelet on my pulse, it quickly changes to fit my arm. I need to study this one later, along with the eye gem I got.

◇Fighting is now level 8◇ ◇Staff Mastery is now level 5◇ ♡60/96 Mind 60/75 ☆86/100 P•14/25 S•14/50

I might need to think of a way to charge the weapons faster… but for now, nothing I can do, except exploring the room in front of me.

I am a little wary of entering the room the undead came, but doing it did not awake any more of the mummies here, thankfully. Inside, I find a few more vases and jewelry made of bronze and gold but nothing more. I also explore the door in the middle of the hall, finding a place with lots of wall paintings, showing the process of mummification, and turning a corpse into an undead. Just looking at the drawings don't give me much information as for the reason they did it, but I think they thought of the place as a sacred one and wished it to remain untouched... and It would have been if I had not come here. Oops.

There is now only one door left. Another corridor was waiting for me as I enter the door, I make sure there are no undead, mantis, or undead mantis following me around before going in.

I end up on yet another hall, this time, a gate blocked by big rocks on the left, indicating this is actually in front of the entrance. This hall is much bigger than the other ones. This one looks like a cathedral, with marble floor and statues of deformed beings with limbs and eyes all over the body resided in the walls. At the end of the cathedral, a 2 meter high stone humanoid statue with a sword in its chest stood there. There is... something odd as I look into it. Black wisps spin around the thing… I think I can see that because of arcane knowledge hitting level 10.

It is an enemy... Probably a strong one but I won't retreat, I need to get stronger now or I will never be able to.

SCANNING ENTITY Name: Golem of stone and bones Description: A being made of bones from multiple humans. Thick stone is present where flesh should be. Danger level: very hard Lore: All become one inside the stone. Become as bones, Become as gods.

Yeah, maybe I should retreat just this time…

The entrance to the cathedral closes as I tried to escape, leaving a sour taste in my mouth as I realize how stupid and greedy I got.

The golem starts to move. The sword in its chest shatters and falls on the ground as the golem focuses on the intruder of its sanctuary: me.

I can hear my heartbeat, its loud, fast... The sweat on my hands is loosening my grip on the pistol but I hold it tight... How can I fight this? It's not like I have any other option... Either I fight this amalgamation of souls giving everything I can or I just die doing nothing.

I start shooting arcane bolts at him but he charges in my direction, forcing me to dodge. From the golem hands, a black whirl forms and he summons a dark spear of black energy. I keep shooting him but only a few pieces of stone fall on the ground with each shot. He approaches slowly and thrusts the spear at me, I keep evading and shooting until my charges run out. I take out the staff and close in as I try to electrify him. The result is the same as with the pistol, only minor damage to the stone. The golem used the fact I was close to swing his spear, knowing I wouldn't be able to completely evade it. A shallow cut crossed my chest, the armor was cut like it wasn't even there. I retreat a few steps and drink the last of the potions homemade potions, two health potions from the store still available.

♡40/96 M 60/75 ☆86/100 P•0/25 S•13/50

The potion will take a while to regenerate, but now my blood won't spill out like a river at least.

The golem leaves me no time to rest, throwing the spear at me and missing it by some centimeters. He used it as a distraction... he is running at me since he threw the spear and before I can react, he strikes me with his left arm, sending me flying a little and making me slide on the smooth marble floor.

♡20/96

My left arm is hurting like shit... I try moving it but it's useless, the thing is broken. Before the golem comes again, I drink one more health potion. He summons another spear and throws at me and I evade, knowing he is charging again, I activate the bracelet to skip time in order to evade him. In an instant, he is now behind me, stuck on a wall he hit. He was not expecting my trick, so I run to the stone monster, thrusting the staff on its back, electrifying it until the charge runs out. The damage was much bigger now, a few cracks on the stone before it falls on the ground. Dark tendrils come out of their body and grab the stones back, reforming them in its body as if no damage had been done.

"Fuck." I say

I am out of options now, I need to find a solution soon or else… think, Kali. Fucking think... Don't give up now after coming so far...

The golem gets out of the wall and faces me. An orb appears on his hand, which he throws in my direction, then another orb and another. One of them hits me on my broken arm, blood comes out of it, ignoring the effect of the potion I drank. I am forced to use the bracelet again to skip time to avoid the last orb... I don't have much health left... I don't want to die here... but I don't think I can survive.

♡10/96

Evading the orb was a success, but now, the golem is in front of me, the thing took advantage of my time skip. He grabs me by my head, lifting as if my weight were nothing. The last days pass through my eyes as a flashback. I see myself exploring the caves, finding the dungeon, the secret room… that is it, the dagger!

♡8/96

I grab the dagger on my belt and place it on the bleeding wound, the dagger immediately drinks the blood and a red aura appears around it. I then slashed the dagger at the arm holding me. The arm falls on the ground and black wisps try to bring it back but I jump at the golem and stab his head and his chest over and over, darkness leaking from the wounds. He tries to grab me but I cut off his other arm, then his legs, and get back to stabbing him. One of the stabs hit something apparently and the golem starts to tremble. I step back with all of my strength and he turns to dust, leaving a cracked orb on the ground.

♡4/96

I start to lose consciousness but hold myself together, the last thing I do is drinking my last health potion before hitting the floor and blacking out.