Vali, a name that resounds through stories of great heroes. A secret place in the northwind forest where monsters boast the highest vitality and endurance. Many aspirant knights, mages, and heroes travel to the dangerous are in hopes of picking black apples, drinking from the streams of life, or finding a talisman of Vali.

Vali’s Dungeon is a place where the greatness of Vali congregates. Enchantments and wards curl around the entrance enticing those seeking profit. It is well known that the more mana leaking from a dungeon the more powerful artefacts naturally exist in a dungeon. Dungeon cores will often create a piping system to expunge mana in the air to increase the number of fortune seeker. An artefact lay on the ground where the worm hounds’ corpses fell.

Markus picked it up and turned the artefact over. It was a chalice overflowing with a blue liquid. “I’m the eternal flow of mana spring. Drink from me ten times and I will disappear.” Putting the chalice to his lips he drank deeply feeling his headache clear, but his body still felt all the familiar aches and pains. “Nine uses until I disappear.”

Markus bought the inventory and placed the chalice in one of the precious slots. This time when the darkness swirled a worm hound didn’t appear. This creature was a snagger. Markus stared at the figure and felt his heart skip a beat.

The tall lanky figure had yellow eyes. claws for hands, and tentacles covering its body. Its mouth opened revealing a long-pointed bone like tongue. He dove behind a pillar and waited for the monster to snatch him up.

He knew what they did from the stories. Snaggers the silent child eaters. They creep into homes and abduct children without making a sound. Corpses of children are found later just dried skin and bones. Markus turned his head and saw the snagger staring at him with its hungry yellow eyes. Terror came over him.

Markus began to scurry back away from the creature. It followed him on all fours cackling. His hand shot out sending a wave of spiraling chains. The creature leapt onto a pillar and as the chains failed to stop it.

He slashed his hands launching lances and slashes of telekinetic power. New skills popped up as he backtracked from the creature. They did nothing shattering with no visible damage. He had left the iron dust on the ground, too far to do any good with this terror clouding his mind.

When his back hit the nearby wall, a final gallon of adrenaline hit his system. This was the end. He was going to end up as another chicken or hog. The snagger moved slowly. It was like the stories. These creature’s savored fear like a noble does fine wine.

The light of his chain winked out and in the dark his vision cleared. Something clicked in the rush of adrenaline he did something. He stepped forward and punched with all his might. The creature chuckled and held out it hand to catch Markus’ punch. Bones twisted as a twelve-year old’s fist hit the creature.

A loud crack resounded and a body thumped against a wall. Markus stepped forward looking over the broken body of the snagger. Even with his right arm hanging limply a sense of triumph resounded through him. “There was one tool I hadn’t used my power on.” His right arm hung limply, and his body was vibrating with adrenaline. He had done what no child has before him. Markus defeated the child eater the snagger.

He looked at his shoulder and yelled as it shot back into place. “Can I even keep this up?” The adrenaline left his body feeling weak like a band of straw. “Marie, where are you?” Markus yelled out.

Markus took the chalice out of his inventory and drank it down. A black apple appeared when the snagger’s body vanished. Picking it up, he took out the chalice. “Do you know what this thing does?” Markus asked the artefact.

“That is a black apple used to strengthen the body. If humans eat one their vitality without stats will double. But after eating three the effects no longer work. Most humans don’t manage to defeat a snagger by themselves or at your level. You are a lucky one.” The artefact said.

“How do you figure? It died in one punch.” Markus said.

“Snaggers are creatures of the dark. Silent and cruel most never see them coming. Those that do with they hadn’t. They often kill with terror. Didn’t you feel the fear?” Markus nodded. If he couldn’t see in the dark clearer than day, he would be dead. No, he would be dead regardless, if he hadn’t figured out how to use telekinesis to strengthen his body.

He ate the apple quickly. It was amazing. His body buzzed with energy and his skin grew tougher. When the effects ended Markus felt like he could go another few rounds with the snaggers.

Two more snaggers appeared. They locked on to him and ran in opposite directions, one crawling up to the sealing, while the other kept to the floor. This time, Markus felt he didn’t need to take a sip from the chalice and put it back in his inventory.

After spotting the ceiling climbing snagger, he leapt up to grab the creature and slam it to the ground. The other came out of nowhere stabbing its claws into Markus’s side while the other leapt off the ceiling to deliver a punishing bite to Markus’ face.

Before the other snagger could get him, Markus reached out with his hand grabbed a chunk of the snagger and ripped it off. Using his hands as shovels he ripped through flesh shearing it from bone. It was insane and unsustainable. Without adrenaline pumping through his body, Markus knew he would be unconscious from blood loss.

He held the snagger that stabbed him by the arm. The creature yanked and screeched trying to get free. Markus held its arm in place with his right hand and began ripping it apart with his left. Joints tore, and pieces of flesh was pulled free. Black blood that smelled like bile covered the ground slowly sinking into the floor. As a last-ditch effort to get free the creature began biting chunks out of its shoulder.

When the creature tried to bite him, Markus punched it or ripped ears or eyes out. The long tentacles that covered its body were nearly picked clean. Only when the creature went still did he rip the claws out of his side and freeze the wound stopping the bleeding. Another black apple appeared on the ground. Markus picked the fruit up and began eating it keeping his eyes on the final snagger.

His body became tougher still. Wounds that felt debilitating were more of an irritation now. Markus dashed forward collecting momentum. The creature fled and for its life. He couldn’t believe how quickly the tables had turned. What was once a huge threat, was nothing to him now.

It wasn’t until he drove it into a corner, that he realized how mistaken he was. The creature opened its mouth and charged at him in a last-ditch effort to kill him. Markus threw his hands up on instinct and felt the bone spear rip through his hand. He yelled, pulled, and tore the tongue out of the creature. He stabbed it repeatedly. He only stopping when it started dissolving.

Markus fell against a pillar and let himself slid down. Sweat and blood covered his body. This was getting to be too much. Picking up the final apple he ate it. The black apple tasted sour like the ones before. He felt himself become heavier. This was the third time he doubled his vitality. This meant every point in vitality was worth eight

Eating: Novice 1

Nourishment +100%

Vitality +1%

Endurance +0.01%

Telekinesis: Novice 20

Willpower +2000%

Intelligence +20%

Defense +0.2%

Points 130

Markus invested 93 in willpower. His head began to pulse as his psychic powers became denser. With 37 points left he invested them in vitality. Something happened when willpower reached 100. Each new increase had went up in price to 100points. That meant just to bring his willpower up another 100 he needed 10,000points. An unreal number.

Quest #5

Collect 100 dungeon drops

Reward 100points

Quest #6

Slay 1 dungeon boss

Reward 50points

Quest #7

Combine 2 skills

Reward 30points

They were all possible in here he was in a dungeon. Is that why the quests didn’t show up before? Did they need certain locations to appear? Markus let the thoughts drop as the newest monster appeared.

It was a large headed 8-year-old with yellow eyes tentacles for hair and black halo hovering over its head. Markus could call it cute if he didn’t know what it was. The creature stood up on two ebony legs covered in small tentacles that resembled hair. She was also naked. This was a Kaliatama though he preferred their local names squid heads, or brain eaters. He even heard one story where they were called squeads.

The second it appeared all the psychic energy outside of Markus’ body vanished. Tentacles on her head opened revealing a multitude of mouths. They quickly sucked in what few bits of energy Markus left, the energy in his body was unaffected.

She dashed at him in a mad hungry charge. Markus dashed away keeping up a comfortable distance. Soon there was no energy in the room except for what was within Markus and the Kalitama. Fun fact about the species. When they had no source of psychic energy they quickly become dormant. Even at night they had little energy. The strongest psychic monsters often kept them as pets. Feeding them a little psychic energy to keep them moving. They were frail and often used up their energy quickly.

When he wouldn’t let her get close she started throwing condensed spears of darkness. The solid masses of dark mana pierced the wall a few inches but never came close to him. He wasn’t about to let her get close. They had an uncanny ability to turn on their psychic masters. Their mouths were equipped to crack skulls.

Markus approached her when she slowed down, and her tentacles began to cover her face. This was what he was waiting for. They only did that when they were out of power. Markus got behind the Kalitama and she moved.

She spun around and opened her maw her back legs sprang, and her tentacles spread to latch on to him. A chain appeared in Markus’s hand and he quickly wrapped it around the creature’s head. All dark energy within the monster left her and she went slack as a board. He looped the chain around and pulled it like he was cutting through a tree limb with wire. The head came tumbling down.

“That was too close.” Marie said. He turned to see the vampire dressed in a red dress with a small rapier at her side. The mana pouring out of the weapon alone made it a powerful artefact at a level Markus couldn’t imagine.

“So, what would you have done if I died?” Markus asked. She tapped her chin like she was really contemplating it.

“I would have fled to live with my parents. Though, I doubt that would stop Philip. You wouldn’t have died. They were commanded to stop just before killing you. I’m impressed with your progress.” Markus stuck his chest out in pride.

“You still have five rounds to go and I think it’s time to teach you a thing or two about how to use psychic against dark types. Well you basically know how but I need to spell it out. You need to combine your skills and create a spell. Two mind flayers are about to appear so better get ready. Oh, and drink this.” She tossed him a small bottle containing a red liquid. “It’s a minor healing potion.” Marie said helpfully.

She was gone from the room in the next instant. He nodded to himself. She had forgotten about him completely. He held out his hand and thought about it for a second. What would he make to combat the kaliatama or mind flayer as Marie called them?

He took two lances of psychic power, put freeze on them, and covered them with chains connected to him. Then threw it once and saw how impractical it was. He was twelve and this was his first spell cut him some slack. The smoke was forming, and he would have two Kaliatama to deal with soon. What he was about to do was stupid and it shouldn’t work.

He made a thick telekinetic shape of a hammer made chains and wrapped them around them hammer. It was just telekinesis and chains. It looked stupid, just chains wrapped around a mass of psychic energy in the shape of a hammer. It was glowing and floated around him. The chains weren’t dissipating because it had the psychic energy to draw from. They kaliatama shouldn’t be able to feed off of it because of the chains.

The second the monster’s appeared Markus ran out them yelling and hit the first one with his hammer. His body crunched under the force of the hammer. Chain links clinked as the other Kaliatama turned to see him. It blinked its yellow eyes saw the other one on the ground bleeding black blood and fell to its knees. It began to cry and beg in a foreign language.

“Marie,” Markus yelled out.

She was there in a flash and shying away from him. “Markus step back and dispel the hammer. I can’t stand light.” The chains vanish but the Kaliatama remained on the floor not even daring to take in the psychic energy. Instead, he heard her warble out various pleas.

“What’s it saying Marie?” Markus asked.

“Its begging for its life. I understand why you called me it must be defective. Go back I’ll reset it with a new one.” Marie said.

“What will happen to this one?” Markus asked.

“I’ll chop her up into bits and feed her to the younger ones. That way at least she has some use.” Marie said in a calm voice. Markus didn’t feel right about that. It had begged for its life. Sure, he could ignore it and kill it anyway. That left a bad taste in his mouth.

He reached for it and grabbed one of her many tentacles. She didn’t shy away. They were smooth, cool to the touch, and a bit slimy. His hand traveled down rubbing her face and he felt her lean into his touch. “Could I have her? I promise to feed her other psychic monsters and keep her out of trouble.” Markus said.

Marie looked at him with one of her funny looks. “She isn’t a pet Markus, you’re a human and she is a dangerous monster. Her kind feeds on humans. The second you bring her home, she would be a danger to your family. Non-humans can’t be trusted. I have no idea why I’m arguing with you. I walked you through my pantry and you wanted a lesson in enchanting. It’s also Philips problem.” Markus reached down and picked up his new monster. How a vampire could be so judgmental was beyond him.

“Look how cute she is I’m going to name her Trixie.” Markus said.

“How much is the monster tamer ability for you?” Marie asked. Markus flipped open his ability menu and went down until he saw monster tamer.

“It’s 250points, I should be able to get that easily.” Markus said. He smiled at the sight of Marie caving.

Marie looked at the Kaliatama then back to him. She began to pace around the room. “Why first your father with that baby chimera now you with the young mind flayer. Do you have any idea how dangerous a fully grown one can be? Let me tell you they aren’t pleasant.” The Kaliatama was cutely flailing about as Markus poured psychic energy into her. “And now she’s high. Congratulations, you just gave the mind flayer the equivalent to shrooms for her species.” Markus had no idea what shrooms had to do with this.

Markus tossed her under an arm. “Can I put her somewhere safe until this is over?” Marie rubbed her temples. “How did the snaggers terrify you and the mind flayers make you go that is so adorable I must adopt it?” Markus shrugged.

“Aren’t they duel types like psychic and dark? I’ve always wondered why they seem so weak in the stories.” Markus said.

“They never reach adulthood outside a dungeon. It takes a powerful psychic to sustain them for years before they become adults. When they do reach adulthood, they are powerful beyond reason. Only light or divine ability users can reliably put them down. The powerful psychic that sustains them until adulthood normally die.” Marie said. Markus nodded.

“So, I will be the first to raise one to adulthood and remain alive.” Markus said.

“I’ll take her to a cell. Just don’t die Markus.” Marie said. Markus nodded and tossed her the kaliatama. Popping the top of the healing potion he drank it down. The wounds on his sides stopped aching. They had become passive pains that slowed him down more than he thought.

He was ready for the last four rounds of this gauntlet.