Magic: 56/64

"Not like this..."

Magic: 48/64

"I am sure you did it like this."

Magic: 40/64

A loud explosion is heard, and mud is blown up high into the air with some even splattering the ceiling.

"Oops."

Magic: 32/64

"[Lesser animate object] Ah, there we go!"

Lesser animate object

School\Affinity: Transmutation\Dark

Base Cost: 8

Animates an object by infusing it with dark attuned magic. Novice dark mages use this spell to create living tools, traps and mindless small servants.

"Arise my minion!" I say in a highly dramatic voice as my plushie now takes its first step into the realm of the living! My plushie clumsily climbs up from the floor and it takes a few seconds to balance itself before looking at me. Purple smoke is constantly emitted from where its eyes should be. My cute bunny plushie now stumble toward me and tilts its head as if waiting for me to do something. I scratch the back of my neck and looks at Arbri.

Arbri has been watching the whole time and laughed at my failed attempts. Seems like one gets easily amused if they has been stuck down here for a very long time. Anyway, with my plushie minion I got both of my hands free when I look for food! I should give my dumb but cute minion a name...

"Hmm..." I walk around in small circle as I try to think up something good. After a while I stop and look at my plushie. Carrot? Sounds like a fitting name for my plushie which looks like a bunny. I smile and look at Carrot now.

"Minion, your name is now Carrot!" I point as I say in a commanding tone to Carrot. Carrot simply nodded its head and stands still. I wish Carrot has a little more personality. Oh well, can't expect much from a novice level spell.

Now for the next thing on the agenda: food. Lots of food. I start tapping my foot and look at Arbri which now sits by the trunk of her tree. She is staring into the cracks in the ceiling above her tree, and streaks of sun is stroking her face. Arbri looks like a striped tiger now in her face.

"Arbri, what do you know about food?" Arbri then looks at me and tilts her head.

"Food?"

"Yes, food!"

"I only require the aura, water from the lake and the little sun that come through the cracks in the ceiling to live."

"That is not helpful at all!" She then looks annoyed and sighs.

"Occasionally a stray monster cross the lake and try to eat my fruits. But I kill them and then bury them into the mud. My tree then eats them until just bones remain." Not exactly the answer I am looking for Arbri.

"Arbri."

"I get it, I get it. You want to know about food that you can eat? Try murdering the local fauna by the lake." Arbri then sighs and stares into the ceiling cracks again and then makes a shooing motion with her hand.

I has never been into a fight before. So what Arbri is suggesting is completely out of my comfort zone! Maybe if Carrot helps me, I can take down a small critter and roast them with [Lesser dark bolt]. Aww, I feel anxious now... Come on Biali, it is a life or death situation! If I can't even do this, I will never be able to defeat the heroes. So calm down now...

Lesser dark bolt

School\Affinity: Evocation\Dark

Base Cost: 4

Conjures a bolt of dark flame which is then flung at the target. This low powered variant of [Dark bolt] is potent enough to burn through thin fur in seconds if not put out. Novice dark mages can use this both for combat and utility.

One last thing before I head out... I look at a branch which lies next to Arbri's tree. The length of the branch is just a little bit more than my arm. Should make a better weapon than my puny fists. I better ask Arbri before I grab it.

"Umm, Arbri." Arbri sighs as I talk with her again.

"What is it now Biali?"

"Can I take that branch next to you?" I then point at the branch just lying on the grass. Arbri then just shrugs.

"Go ahead, it is dead anyway." She then returns yet again to whatever she was doing. I then pick up the branch which is unusually heavy for its size. But with my little club training I quickly find where the best place is to grab it by. Improvised weapon acquired!

Chromatic wood branch

Weapon Class: Club (Improvised)

Damage: 8 (4 from Base + 4 from Material)

A dried out branch from a chromatic tree. Still contains traces of crystallized mana in it.

Woah! That is one helluva of a branch! Why is it so special? It does as much damage as the wooden mace I got to try swinging during my training! Maybe if I keep it and give it to someone who is a skilled carpenter, it can be turned into a proper weapon? Will think more about that once I get out of this dungeon. But now I need to find a poor monster to kill and then eat.

Arbri mentioned that the monsters come by the lake. Maybe I can sneak up one while it is drinking? Now I need to traverse the muddy lake again. I do not look forward to doing it again, but I got little choice.

My now soaked nightgown lies dirtied on the muddy floor next to the lake as I took it off after getting back on land again. I figure I would try drying it up with my dark flame, because then it would be easier to at least shake off all the mud. Carrot, my plushie just stared at me while I undressed myself.

Black aristocrat nightgown (Torn, Wet, Filthy)

Health: 83%

Armor Class: Clothing

Defense: 1

A frilly black nightgown with red trims fit for an aristocrat. It is modest and have a small pocket on its right hip.

It has seen better days. No time to waste!

"[Lesser dark bolt]" I chant and snap my fingers while trying to hold back the magic I spend on it. Within a moment a flame the size of my thumb shoots toward my nightgown. Look, I am getting the hang of magic again! My life as a princess truly made me soft.

As the dark flaming bolt hits the nightgown a smell of steam, cotton and dried mud hits my nostrils. It makes a sizzling sounds before the flame fully engulfs the whole nightgown and disappears as quickly. What I see afterward is a tiny burn mark on the nightgown and steam rising from it.

"Success..?" I meekly ask as I look at Carrot which only tilts its head. Better than nothing, now to hunt something to eat. I put my still steaming nightgown back on and then start skulking around the boulders surrounding the lake.

After what felt like an hour I finally found some funny looking monster drinking from the lake. It leaned forward on its four legs with its head calmly lapping water into its mouth. Its naked tail simply rested in a tangled mess behind it. It looks like a naked rat without any fur! What the heck even is it?

Querying shell database...

Closest match: Dungeon rodent

Suggested action(s):

Identify shell through any of these methods; Neutralizing the shell, eating the shell or cast identification magic on the shell.

The heck is the box going on about now? I just asked what it was! At least the boxes do not talk back or try to be funny. Anyway, I now have to somehow turn this poor fellow into food. My anxiety is now through the roof. First real battle and the first life I has to end, just calm down...

After I finally calmed down the rodent looking creature looked up and started sniffing the air. Then it stood up on its hind legs and looked around. It looks like it has not spotted me yet...

Stealth Lv. 1 skill acquired.

Effect: Each level makes it easier to stay undetected. Improves sneaking and lowers visibility by +10% per level.

Well, that is convenient. Shortly after the rodent starts calmly walking towards my direction. Now is the time to act! I order Carrot to hide behind the boulder next to me so it can punch the rat in the face as it passes by. Meanwhile I try to animate some of the mud along the rats path so it forms a trap. Not perfect, but should at least distract it.

As the rat gets closer and closer I feel how my heart starts beating faster and faster. My breathing feels heavier and it feels like time is almost at a standstill. But then I hear the sound of the rat crying out in rage, as the mud it steps on make it sink under the ground enough to cover all of its legs up to its knees. Carrot interpreted this as it was time to strike, and dashed to the rat and clumsily punched the rat on the nose.

I let out a long breath and peeked out of my hiding place and saw how a furious rat tried to bite at Carrot. But Carrot is too fast and was outside the biting range all the time, while doing seemingly no damage at all toward the rat. Well, maybe the rats pride got hurt by being slapped by a plushie.

"Now or never Biali." I say to myself and let out a long sigh before steeling my resolve. I bite my lip hard. Remember, it is either you Biali, or the rat. Law of the jungle, do you remember that saying? If it is not me who will eat the rat, then the rat will eat me! I slap myself before facing the rat which now has got one leg out of the mud trap.

"YAAAH!" I cry out as I finally resolve myself to end this rats life. With a leap while holding my wood branch over my head I swing down towards the rat.

Critical hit on weak spot!

Hit the dungeon rat for 16 damage!

Dungeon rat is now concussed!

A loud crunching noise is heard. The rat now lets out a blood chilling scream as it cries out in pain. I feel shocked over what is happening and nearly feel like I just want to cry. You has now decided to walk down this path Biali, commit yourself to it! I sniffle as I ready my next strike against the now defenseless rat.

Then I smash in its head again.

Critical hit on weak spot!

Hit the dungeon rat for 16 damage!

Defeated dungeon rat!

You absorbed its life force!

With a sickening crunch the head splits open on the rat and exposes its now destroyed brain. I drop my bloodied wooden branch and fall backwards in a daze. Carrot has already anticipated it and caught my back so I sit down instead.

I look at my now blood covered hands and watch as my tears fall down on them.

"...I did it..." I mutter as I try to comprehend the course of events. After what felt like an eternity I feel a light tap on my shoulder and the sound of a bell is heard. I look back and I can see a worried looking Arbri with her arms crossed.

"You are not a warrior. I can see that much." Arbri says and flies in front of me. She then puts her small hands under my cheeks. "But if you want to survive down here, you will need to get used to it."

I then start crying loudly while Arbri comforts me.

Updated skill(s)

Mental fortitude Lv. 4 → Mental fortitude Lv. 5