Part Six

This feels almost surreal. Those are fruit trees, aren’t they? It’s definitely a trap, it has to be a trap. Why would there be an orchard in a dungeon? There wouldn’t, that’s why. Welp, if it’s a trap I’ll spring it magnificently.

Boldly walking into the orchard, I started to look for fruit. I didn’t need to eat anything, but fighting monsters for the past couple days was exhausting, so anything that wasn’t more fighting, would be most welcome. Hmm, that tree isn’t quite right, is it a monster?

Survival Instinct was warning me about the tree in question. Honestly, this skill was a little broken, as it could warn me about monsters that I didn’t even know about. Only, this time I didn’t know if the tree was a monster or just poisonous. It looked like any old apple tree, but analyze told a different story.

Treant

Rank: D

Description: A tree that became a monster. Immobile. Produces fruit with restorative effects

If it can’t move, maybe this won’t be so hard? I started by chucking my acid axe at the tree's trunk, which struck it square in the side.

*shshshshshshshs……….Bang bangbang*

When it hit, the treant shook, then multiple branches slammed down rapidly. Oof, if I’d been there, I’d have been crushed for sure. As I watched the treant, my axe had begun to burn through it. Soon, a large hole had been opened in the trunk, and its branches slumped over. Wait, it’s dead? Wasn’t that too easy? Survival Instinct went quiet, that’s generally meant the threat is gone.

Checking the trunk, it looked like the acid had burned through some sort of core in the trunk. Aren’t treants a little weak for D-Rank? Though, looking at the craters from its branches, its rank probably comes from its camouflage and attack power. Since I have an acid weapon and a way to detect them easily, I’m basically their worst enemy.

My logic was surely flawless, so I grabbed a fruit from a branch. Looks kind of like a cross between an apple and a plum. It’s soft and smells delectable, but it could be poisonous. Analyze!

Treant's Fruit

Rank: Special

Description: A fruit from a treant. Treants are among the rarest of monsters, making their fruit a delicacy. Possesses great power.

This was even better than I’d dared hope! If these could even stregthen me, then they were almost priceless. The treant had about a dozen fruits, each the size of my fist. Hahaha, this is great, so great I hope there’s more treants. Heheheheheheh.

Long story short, there weren’t any more treants. I did find a pond, which I used to clean off the grime and muck I’d been covered in in the last couple days, only to get attacked by a swarm of piranhas. Then, if that wasn’t bad enough, a swarm of stingray-like creatures came out of the sky. Haaa, I feel so depressed again. What I wouldn’t give to see the sun. Though, I usually hate being outside.

The fruit on the other hand, was incredible. Mostly, because it was the first thing I’d eaten in days, and less because of how it tasted. Though it looked like an apple or plum, it tasted more like an orange, with watermelon undertones. What a strange improbable fruit. I already want to eat more of them, but I can’t, because getting more will be next to impossible.

Thankfully, I’d already determined that magic bags either stopped or slowed time for objects inside, though I was running out of space. All told I’d gathered too many items. If I didn’t get another bag soon, I’d have to start leaving things behind. As a gamer and a human being, I don’t want to do that!! It goes against every instinct I have. Oh look, more zombies.

Fragrant Meat

Rank: Special

Effect: Attracts certain kinds of monsters

Description: Meat from a monster. Has been marinated in seventeen herbs and spices

This is……haaaa, I think the system just likes to mess with me by this point. I mean, I’ll still use it, but it just feels like I’m losing in some way. I should plan this out, find a good place to fight, though I have no idea what will show up.

Eventually, I found another orchard, this one without a treant, that was surrounded by walls with only one entrance. This should work perfectly. I’ll just leave the meat here, and go hide in a nearby tree.

I made sure that my lookout tree would be behind whatever showed up to eat the meat, then I waited. This is probably gonna take awhile. I should get comfortable, but remain vigilant.

After an hour, Survival Instinct kicked in hard. It’s coming!

“Grrrrrrr Grr grrrrrr"

Shadow Wolf

Rank: D

Description: An evolved monster that can force other canine monsters to submit. Possesses both cunning and physical might.

Oh shit, that thing is huge! The Shadow Wolf had the same pitch black fur as the weaker foxes, but also had glowing red eyes and was as big as a horse. Still, no matter how big it is, it is a wolf. It’ll weaken if I wound it, it’ll bleed if I cut it.

I started my attack off the same way I always had, by throwing knives. Only this time, I had something new.

Paralyzing Knife

Rank: E

Effect: Delivers a paralytic agent

Description: A knife dipped in poison taken from Stinger Morays.

This gem had come from the flying monsters I’d encountered the day before. They were troublesome beasts that looked like a cross between a stingray and an eel. I’d either lost or broken a few knives during the battle, so this was a useful find. A single cut had been enough to completely paralyze a Shadow Fox.

“GROOOOOWWWWWWW"

The first knife stabbed into the wolf’s back right leg, while the second stabbed deep into its flank. Howling, it whipped around towards me, which sent a shiver down my spine. I leapt off the tree branch just before a shockwave ripped the tree from the ground. Shit! If that hits ……well, I’d rather not think about it.

“Grrrrrrrr"

I darted towards the wolf before it could use its howling attack again. It was the kind of move that wasn’t that dangerous, so long as you kept an eye out for it.

With me closing the distance, the wolf had to prepare itself for melee combat. However, before I could get In range, it leapt into a shadow, vanishing. Crap! It can do the same thing as the foxes? This is bad, it’ll be harder to counter its attacks like this.

Survival Instinct wouldn’t be any help here, all it could tell me was that a monster was right beside me. I knew there would be Skills that could counter Survival Instinct, but I didn’t think I’d come across one so early. I can tell, it’s waiting for me to lower my guard. If I try to run, it’ll get me from behind. Though, maybe I can use that against it.

I feigned that I was running for another tree, and just like I expected, the wolf leaped out aiming for the back of my neck. I see, even if it is cunning, that’s only to a beast’s level of intelligence. Most humans never would’ve fallen for that.

“Arrrrrrrroooooo"

“Gaaaaaaa"

As my axe took off its outstretched arm, its claws raked along my side leaving several gashes in my armor. Shit that hurts! This might actually be the first serious wound I’ve taken since I came to this place. Even in my current state, I’d still be capable of fighting, but the same could not be said of my opponent. If losing one of its forelegs wasn’t bad enough, the paralysis from my knives was finally taking effect.

“Grg grrrr"

With all the poison flowing through it, it’s already shocking that it’s still conscious, but it’s still trying to get up. I threw another knife at its eye, but it jerked its head causing it to miss. Grrrr, just let me kill you already!

There was a real possibility of me bleeding out. This time, I decided to use the momentum axe and try to behead it. You know, I’m using this more than I thought I would. As the wolf was completely paralyzed by this point, I was able to decapitate it without further issue. Only thing left is treating my side.

Thankfully, I had plenty of treant fruit left. When I’d eaten the first one, all the cuts, scrapes, and bruises I’d accumulated over the last week or so, had instantly vanished.

*nom nom nom*

Mmmm, so goood! They really were the perfect treat, so much so that I wasn’t certain I’d be able to share. Ahahahaha, I’ll never let anyone have my precious fruit. It’s mine. Mine I say Ahahahaha.

While I was having a temporary breakdown, the wolf's body turned into particles of light, only to be replaced by an ornate chest. Hmm? Was the wolf a mid-boss or something? It dropped a chest just like the minotaur.

Obviously, I immediately ran over to the chest. What’s that? Trapped? Hold for suspense? Why would I do that? There’s treasure, I simply must open it now!

Inside, I found three delect… I mean delightful items.

Magic Bag

Rank: D

Effect: Stores items in a subspace

Description: A bag enchanted with subspace magic. Can store up to one hundred cubic meters of space. Items must fit in the mouth of the bag to be stored.

Yes! I’d been waiting for another of these! And it’s even bigger than the first one I got!

Desecrated Sword

Rank: D

Equipment Skills: Cursed Blade

Description: A sword created using unholy techniques and sacrifices. Carries the grudges of those sacrificed for its creation.

Upgrade Requirement: Kill one hundred living things ( 0/100 )

This was almost too nice to use. The blade had a black tint to the steel, and the hilt had gold ornamentation. Even its skill was excellent. Ah, for those who don’t know or didn’t guess, equipment skills were essentially more powerful effects. They came in two types: static and mobile. Mobile Skills could actually be learned, if the item was used long enough or you practiced the skill enough.

Static Skills were bound to specific equipment that had gimmicks or quirks that caused the skill. It was basically like the paralysis or acid effects on some weapons. It was unique to the gear, so you wouldn’t be able to use it.

Cursed Blade was a static skill that cursed anyone cut by the blade. Curses were basically just debuffs, and were effective on anything at the same rank or below. By the way, buffs were known as Blessings in the system.

Cloak of Shadow

Rank: D

Equipment Skills: Stealth, Shadow Lurk

Description: A cloak made using the pelt of a Shadow Wolf. The fur is surprisingly fluffy. Hides the wearer inside darkness.

This last item isn’t really my style. And why did it go out of its way to mention how fluffy it is? I mean, it is wonderfully fluffy, so much so that I’d like to nap with it, but was that appropriate for the description? Or is this just more of the system’s snark?

I’d finally gotten new equipment, and there’s nothing better.