Castaway core a litrpg f.., p.62
Castaway Core: A LitRPG Fantasy Dungeon, page 62
*clang*
As Knut stepped on them, a curse escaped his lips.
“Really? Copper fucking grass?”
He looked around, noticing that the ground was covered in the brown plant, with the sharp knife-bushes growing near the walls. Not counting these a whole lot of unknown flora was happily growing in the lightless environment.
Normally Knut would be ecstatic about the samples. New types of plants meant more money after they returned to the surface.
Right now however a much simpler thought rattled inside his skull. Which of those fucking plants are dangerous?
As an explorer, no matter how inexperienced, he knew that dungeons rarely made creatures and items that weren’t lethal. Thus seeing the straight, whiteish trees growing near the walls, the varied bushes, and exotic flowers made him doubly cautious.
Step after step, clang after clang he moved over the coppery bed, first advancing west, where the tunnel seemed to expand in a large, silver-green area.
The lights grew brighter as he hid behind a plant he recognized - a thick bush covered in sharp leaves. Knut poked his head out, his eyes widening at the sight of the organized movement in the room.
There were dozens of rats wearing brown robes working away in the near-silence. Rarely one of them squeaked, ordering their brethren or the undead to finish some tasks. Amongst them, a sole figure drew his attention - a giant rat, half-covered in pulsating roots.
The scout immediately dived back behind his cover. “Shit! A leader-type monster!” He mumbled under his nose, trembling. “Think, think, think! What did they say about them during training?”
“They lead other creatures - duh, obvious! Some are aggressive, others passive. Even the passive ones are territorial.” He gulped. “There are those who manifest magic skills or magic-like abilities. Most of them are intelligent and capable of strengthening their subordinates.” His whisper turned even more frantic. “But what do they do after the dungeon collapses? I don’t remember… I don’t fuckin’ remember!” He massaged his temples in panic.
“Calm. Calm. I need to be calm.” He poked his head out once again, only to notice the root-rat staring directly at him.
A soundless scream escaped Knut’s lips.
“Retreat!”
Without any hesitation, he turned back and ran in the direction of the hole. His thoughts were galloping. Fuck that! A leader-type monster can lead the whole room towards us! We don’t stand a chance!
Seconds later he arrived, ready to pull the rope and inform his comrades about the danger. And then, preferably, get the fuck out of here.
Then he stopped.
“Wait a moment.”
“I didn’t feel my skill feedback kicking in…” He thought. “It means that the creature either ignored me or isn’t powerful enough to do us harm.” Knut mused. “Then I guess we’re… safe?”
He stared at the brownish flora surrounding him. “There is always the eastern route to scout too. It would be a shame if we retreated before getting something worthwhile out of this place.” The feeling of greed started to win out.
“Let’s do it.”
The thief decided to bet on the other side of the tunnel. Slowly and methodically he avoided the copper grass, using the fallen boulders as impromptu platforms. His advance was completely silent.
He also made sure to not step on one of the three Sundews lying flat on the ground, their smooth surfaces easily recognizable amongst the rubble and copper grass littering the place. Looking at them curiously, Knut threw a large rock on it only to wince as the plant’s sharp spears attempted to skewer it.
“These fuckers are down here too, eh? I swear I’ll find and strange the guy that called them Sun-dews...” He mumbled to himself, remembering how some careless civilians had been hurt by the plant’s equivalent growing on the surface.
The tunnel he chose was curving southwards and ended up in a brightly lit room that contained a stairway leading upwards. Knut glanced at the chamber from far away, noticing that it had a much more civilized feel than the rest of the tunnels.
“I smell loot!” He mumbled happily but still had the presence of mind to retreat and gather his comrades before continuing. Turning back he failed to notice small green sprouts tracking his movement. Seeing their prey leaving before it entered the optimal range caused the little monsters to sulk, their barrels pointing sadly at the ground.
Unaware, Knut returned to the rope and pulled it three times.
The next half of an hour was spent with his companions slowly making their way down. The ever-present darkness present unnerved them, but at Knut’s behest, no torch was lit. He quickly explained the dangers he encountered - mostly the rats he saw next door. Hearing that tale any voices of dissent (no matter how they longed for light) were immediately crushed.
The team walked through the blackness in a single file, led by the slouched scout.
“I’ll repeat it one more time. Step only where I step, move quietly, and, for Gods sake, do not touch anything!” He spoke, mainly looking at the Big Jon lumbering just behind him.
The giant nodded in acceptance.
Minutes later it was clear that Knut’s warnings had fallen on deaf ears, the large man physically incapable of following the agile movements of the thief. Big Jon managed to barely dodge out of the way of Sundew’s spears only to tumble right into the pressure plate of another.
There was an ominous *click* as his foot landed in the middle of the plant, and with a powerful sound, sharp wooden spears emerged to pierce the incoming prey. The large warrior tried desperately to avoid the incoming attack, but his effort only partially paid off. His thigh was pierced anyway, both the trained muscle and throw-away leather armor a small obstacle for the bloodthirsty enemy.
“Gyaaaaaaa!” The giant bellowed, snapping the spears with sheer force and sending the carnivorous plant reeling back. “Shut up!” Knut whispered angrily.
The damage was done, however. A moment later Big Jon crashed on the floor, whimpering in pain. The copper grass floor reacted with a choir of metallic noises. In any other situation, the sound would feel poetic and peaceful. Right now they couldn’t help but feel that the flora was jeering at them, celebrating the invader’s demise.
“Fuck!” Silence swore while glancing back restlessly. Big Jon’s screams echoed in the tunnel, which could bring unwanted trouble. The eyes of the criminals were turning colder and colder the more they looked at the fallen giant. “If only you retards were competent enough to follow orders!” He gnashed his teeth.
“What are we going to do now?” Huffed Mudan, his face paler than ever.
“Let’s just bandage the wound. Then cauterize it.” His fat friend flinched.
“Is it necessary?”
“Down here I would rather bet on the smell of cooked meat than blood.” Knut smiled grimly, heating his knife over the quickly lit-up torch. At the same time, Silence turned to him and spoke through the clenched teeth.
“We will go ahead.” His gaze was clearly focused on the skinny criminal, not Mudan, the nominal leader. “You’re welcome to follow.”
“Sorry, I’ll stick with my guys.”
“It could get you killed.”
Knut shrugged. “I’m good at running away.” In his mind, he added and not stupid enough to follow the guys who clearly wanted to kill me before.
“Have it your way.” Silence stare lingered on him for a long while, until he turned back to his cronies. “Let’s go. Prepare your weapons.”
On his command, the cloaked thugs slowly took out the blackjacks. Knut squinted his eyes. These were proper weapons, totally different from the shabby equipment given to the Oasis militia.
“Hmph.” One of the bald brothers snorted derisively.
“What?”
“It’s all good, but if they wanted to have some blunt instruments, why not buy the Lightning Maces? They’re magical, sturdy, and cheap.” He stared at the Family’s thugs. “Overall they should work much better when braving the underground.”
Knut tilted his head. “I guess you’re right.” He observed thugs' confident stride. Their eyes were full of greed. He could nearly tell what were they thinking. It was not his problem. Shrugging, he turned his attention to the whimpering giant. “Now, Jon, be a big boy and make sure you won’t scream.”
“W-will it h-hurt?”
“Sadly, yes.”
“Then I don’t wanna!”
“For fuck’s sake! Don’t be a child…”
They conversed back and forth for a few long minutes until Knut managed to “convince” Big Jon that there was no other way. Focused on the task ahead none of them noticed the slight rumble coming from their surroundings. With a cloth gag filling his mouth and bound hands, the large man looked like an animal ready for the slaughter. He gnashed his teeth in pain as the searing blade roasted the wounded leg. Normally there would be a lot more screaming and kicking, but the blood loss had already weakened the giant.
The whole process lasted no more than a few seconds, his companion working quickly and precisely. A sickly sweet smell filled the air. The speed he worked at was not solely for Big Jon’s benefit. As long as the odor of blood was present, not to mention the horrendous screams the giant tried to produce none of them were truly safe.
By the time the blessed silence returned to the tunnel, the party noticed a sound growing in the distance. The copper grass clanged louder and louder, smashed by the hurrying feet. Because of the gruesome scene, the rest of the party reacted slowly to the approaching threat. The militiamen barely managed to enter in a defensive stance, their spears sticking out dangerously when the fastest of the arrivals shouted in a weak voice.
“S-stop! F-f-friendly… we are friendly…” He gasped, the earlier run draining Silence’s endurance.
Not much has remained of his earlier confidence, with only one of his companions making it back alive. Their clothes were torn, and full of holes, while their skin bled from wounds made by cutting and piercing weapons. Seeing their state Knut’s face twisted as he bellowed.
“What’s going on? Where is the rest of your guys?”
Silence ignored his question, his eyes darting around the place, before collapsing on the ground. His blackjack was nowhere to be seen, replaced with a worn dagger. After a while, he stopped gasping for air a bit of color returning to his face.
He curled up, whimpering softly.
“Dammit, man!” Knut stood just above him, his face flickering. In the end, he unclenched his fist and turned towards the Family henchman standing nearby, motionless like a human-shaped statue.
“Can you tell me what happened?” There was a dangerous undertone in his voice.
The man turned pale, his eyes dilating. Still, he swallowed his fears before answering.
“T-they’re dead… sp-p-plattered e-everywhere. S-slaughtered... KILLED!” He suddenly screamed. “Hands r-re-reaching, pale fingers, h-hu-hungering faces. Hungering… T-their hatred, their greed… M-m-monsters...” The thug continued to repeat random words, a disjointed speech turning their blood cold. He was immersed in his personal nightmare for a few long minutes before quietening down, visibly deflating, and finishing the rant in a tiny, weak voice. “Don’t go. Don’t leave me… Please.”
“Fuck. What the hell happened?” Knut repeated his question in a much softer tone.
“Let me see.” Mudan hesitantly stepped forward, in a few calm movements checking the erratic man’s eyes, hands, pulse, and nails. With care, he barely managed to extract something that looked like metal shrapnel from his arm, eliciting only a small yelp of pain. Immediately the blood started seeping from the wound, prompting him to bandage the poor sod. There was also a strange needle sticking out of his clothes, which was carefully extracted.
After that he moved to clean Silence’s wounds, finding him in a much better condition than he appeared at first. On the other hand, the shivers, dilated eyes, and small chuckles escaping his mouth told a different story about the criminal’s psychological state.
“So?” Knut asked impatiently.
“Something tore them a new one.”
“I can see that. Details?”
“New monsters, probably? Some of them seem familiar though. The shrapnel is easy - these blue fuckers ambushed them. This explains the trauma.”
Knut gulped loudly. He still remembered the first encounter the militia had with the exploding undead. They lost good men that day. “What about the needle?”
“Now, that’s a problem. I mean… it's obviously coated in something, probably poison. No idea about how dangerous it is - and these chumps aren’t in the position to tell us. We can only infer that it’s bad.”
“That’s not much to go on.”
“Well, yeah. But at least we know that there are at least two types of enemies out there.”
“True.”
Their conversation was disrupted by loud wailing, alternating with bouts of a hysterical laugh. Silence was having a field day, screaming and kicking.
“Hyahahahahaha! We’re going to die! A-all of usssss! Damned! Left in this underground grave!”
This was too much for Knut, already angered beyond reason.
“Oh shut the fuck up!” A quick slap returned the Family’s thug to his senses. “Tell me what you saw and what happened to your companions.” The lanky man demanded with a cold expression on his face. His thought process had changed, degrading Silence’s importance from a powerful enemy to a mere annoyance.
“Huhuhuhu…” The despairing man chuckled hollowly before raising his head to meet Knut’s eyes. “We’re dead men walking. This place will never let us go. My people are dead. I am dead.”
“Can you please start making sense?”
“You’ll see. You all will see.”
“So you’re not going to work with us?” Knut cracked his knuckles.
“What’s the point?”
“Then what do you want to do now?” Asked Mudan in a serious tone.
“Retreat!” Silence’s answer was clear.
“Then do it. We’ll go ahead.” Knut spoke at the same time as the Family’s henchman.
“Are you stupid? We’ll never manage to return on our own!”
“So?” The lanky militiaman smiled. “What are you afraid of?”
“We will all die if we continue! It was a mistake to come here!”
“I disagree. You have already paved the way forward with your bodies. As long as we observe our surroundings and don’t touch any weird stuff we should be fine.” His expression sharpened. “Right?”
Both the brothers and Big Jon nodded seriously. Mudan was also on board, his sweaty palms and pale face telling a tale of determination. On the other hand Silence and with the last of his subordinates were only staring wide-eyed at the sudden commotion.
“You’re all insane.” He rasped.
Knut ignored the trembling man. “Big Jon, are you ready?”
His comrade stood up with a grunt. “Hurts. I’ll get over it.”
“Give him a sip.”
Mudan produced a leather flask from somewhere. “It’ll numb the pain. Just don’t drink the whole thing. We may need it for later.”
With a smile Big Jon swallowed a large portion of the liquid, ignoring Mudan’s cries of protest. “Good.” He flashed a wide smile, breathing out a nearly visible cloud of alcohol.
“Let’s get moving.” Knut ordered while turning back to the Family’s henchmen. “Do you want to stay here, or follow us?” There was a trace of disdain hidden in his voice.
Seemingly noticing it Silence grit his teeth. His eyes widened, darting between the rope and the back of the other criminals. “W-we’ll follow. You’ll understand what we faced…” His voice trailed off, the small tremble coming over the man.
“We’ll see.”
The group moved slowly and methodically, with their shields prepared. Only a few minutes later they noticed the change - both the floor and the walls were now made from carved stone. While covered in vegetation there was an unmistakable intelligent design behind it.
Following the Family’s footsteps, they arrived in the stairway chamber and noticed marks of the earlier battle. Pieces of armor, cloth, and flesh were strewn about, the smell of blood overwhelming their senses.
“There!” Shouted Silence, recognizing the “shooter” plants that were the cause of their demise. The team stiffened in worry, but no matter how long they waited, nothing happened in the end. The world stood still.
The secret doors in the four corners of the room were already opened, revealing small, dark, alcoves void of anything interesting. The four vivid statues of humanoid figures standing in the chamber created an unholy ambiance even if each of them was damaged nearly beyond recognition.
“Let’s get closer,” Knut mumbled, and the whole team moved while trying to maintain the shield wall formation.
The tensions were running high as they walked step-by-step…
But once again - nothing happened.
It was only when they arrived in the vicinity of the innocently-looking plants that understanding appeared in their eyes.
“Little fuckers are spent.” Knut mused while nudging the weakly swaying plant with his feet. “Seems like we’re in luck.”
“Okay, people. Keep the shields up, we don’t know what else is out here.” He ordered. “Now, we have three ways to go.” He pointed to the ceiling. “We can move up the stairs, which is a stupid move, as there should be some unknown Floor Guardian waiting for a snack.” The choir of grunts attested that the rest of the team had the same opinion.
“We can move back through the chamber where a leader-type creature had been spotted.” He grimaced. “Which could bring a whole lot of shit on our heads.”
“Or… we can go through there.” He pointed towards the ornate door surrounded by the statues of escapees twisted in various forms of panic.
