We turn in early this evening. The night is restful, and I find myself waking up at half past five. Chloe is still fast asleep beside , and for a few minutes, I lie there and look up at the ceiling.
I think back to the phrase ‘guardian angel’. Given my na, it fits. I wonder if I had the sa na in my previous life. I want to dismiss the prospect out of hand. There are hundreds of languages here on Earth and thousands more that have gone extinct. The chances that I was nad after a rank of angel on this planet is practically absurd. If even so tiny fraction of planets throughout the myriad universes harbor life, the sheer infinitude of the cosmos ans there’s so astronomical number throughout the multiverse.
But it is not impossible, especially if the Jacobs family really does have so sort of [Lady Luck] Unique Trait in the vein of my [Touched By the Multiverse]. And the nigh-omnipotence of the System and its machinations cannot be understated either, nor can whatever force allowed
to reincarnate into this world. If, indeed, the two are not one and the sa.
If they’re not, then I am hopeful. It ans that whatever force sent
here had ans to resist the System and whatever lies beyond it, if only to the smallest extent. If that is the case, then perhaps we might have a chance of cutting ourselves free from the strings upon which we dance. But for now, all I can do is play my part, get stronger, learn more about my abilities, and remain vigilant for any clues about my past.
Chloe awakens soon after dawn. I go and take a quick shower first, giving her a few more minutes before she has to get up.
Once I get done, I start preparing plenty of food, water, and other essentials and loading them into our backpacks. We don’t even plan to be gone the entirety of the day, but we can’t be sure there won’t be trouble that keeps us gone longer than expected. We both know the risks involved in dungeon diving, including the risk of there being risks we can’t properly account for. But I fear the risks of complacency just the sa.
We eat a breakfast of eggs and toast, enjoying the last of the strawberry jam in the refrigerator. Chloe does one final look over our provisions, I head to my car to grab our weapons, the Ether canister, and my cache of [Ether Bullets], and we’re off.
The cool breeze of the early morning is refreshing upon my face. Though we move only at a light jog, we still make great ti through the fields leading to the dungeon entrance. And, to my great surprise and joy, neither of us feel all that fatigued when we complete the four mile journey half an hour later. [Vitality] also seems to affect physical endurance, and the both of us have heavily prioritized that stat, as well as our [Mind].
The outer structure of the dungeon is like the mouth of a small cave, perhaps a dozen feet high and maybe a bit wider at its base. It is fenced off by barbed wire, with the exception of a gate that looks suspiciously like a ticket booth leading into a movie theater or concert hall, turnstyle and all. There’s a small dirt parking lot nearby, though it’s clear it’s more that it had recently been a patch of grass like all the others, torched by so [Fire Mage] for that exact purpose. Several mbers of the ard forces— probably National Guard mbers— are stationed in full combat gear, patrolling the periter for any monsters that try to sneak out. Most of them have weapons or armor that glows slightly with the tint of Ether.
There’s no line, so we’re able to head right up to the entrance. We’re stopped by the soldier manning the station, a young man a year or two out of high school with the naplate ‘Roberts’ emblazoned on his vest. He looks at the two of us, sighs, and recites a speech he’s probably said a hundred tis by now.
“This is the entrance to the South County Dungeon. Before you enter the dungeon, I am required to read you the following script and get you to each sign a waiver acknowledging that you understand the risks involved. Beyond this gate, you are responsible for your individual and collective welfare. There are dangerous monsters inside, so of which have yet to be seen on the surface.
“For those who venture within, you will find strange and powerful artifacts for those individuals who brave the challenges contained within. Upon exiting the dungeon, the National Guard will confiscate one-third of any artifacts acquired to be agreed upon with the explorer. This is non-negotiable, and ensures that our team remains equipped to handle the threats of any monsters which might try to escape and threaten the people living on the surface.
“The inside of this dungeon has not been mapped, and preliminary reports suggest that it is constantly changing shape. Once you go inside, there is a chance that you will not co out. The National Guard will not send a rescue team after any individual who ventures into the dungeon. You acknowledge this fact and disclaim all responsibility the Oklahoma National Guard has for your safety and well-being, as well as the responsibilities of the federal governnt, state or city governnt, or any governnt agency, departnt, or bureau. If you do not agree to these terms, you may turn around and head ho. If you do agree, please fill out and sign the forms provided on the table in front of .”
I look over the forms. I’m not an expert in the law by any stretch, but all of the terms look in line with the verbal disclair. Seeing no objection, I sign the form. Chloe does as well, and after a quick search of our belongings and an inventory of what we took into the dungeon, the two of us venture inside.
The air is chilly and my hair stands up on end as we pass through the entrance and enter the dungeon. I regret my decision not to wear anything heavier than a mid-sleeve blouse. Body armor would have been nice, but neither of us have any and I haven’t the materials to make it. With any luck, we’ll find so within the dungeon.
We turn on our flashlights as the light streaming in from the entrance begins to fade. The first thing of note we find is a skeleton— one which is thankfully not moving. I don’t know if it’s one from an unfortunate adventurer or sothing put here by the System as a deterrent or warning, but it unnerves Chloe.
We stop and take a break for a few minutes until she has a chance to settle in. While she’s taking deep breaths and recentering herself, I case the imdiate area. No signs of either enemies or anything that might be of use. No doubt these first few hallways have been thoroughly cleaned out by the people who’ve co here in the days and weeks before.
Not weeks, I quickly correct to myself. The System hasn't even been here for five full days. Maybe it's the echoes of my past life that make it feel like it's been a lot longer than just a few days. It all feels so... familiar, sohow. Like this is what I've always been ant to do.
But at the sa ti, we ca here for levels as well as loot, and that ans we'll have to go deeper.
We walk through the cave slowly and thodically, constantly scanning the area for signs of sothing trying to sneak up on us. I keep my blowgun at the ready at all tis and a pouch of [Ether Bullets] tied around my waist.
It’s ominous how empty the cave is. I don’t hear anything, nor does Chloe. I would have expected a colony of bats to take shelter here, but I see none on the walls. Even insects aren’t crawling around like they did in the mini-dungeon beneath Chloe’s house. My house? Should I start calling it that now? In any case, the quiet is unsettling, and I arm my blowgun as we proceed deeper into the depths.
We don’t have to wait too long, as I spot a large beast of so sort approaching us. It appears boarlike, as tall as I am and about as big and heavy as my car. It has two large tusks longer and thicker than my arm, and it looks an as sin as it prances toward us. It hasn’t charged, but I’m sure it will the second it gets close enough.
I don’t give it that opportunity. Once it gets within fifty yards of us, I fire a pair of [Ether Bullets] at the swine. Unfortunately, the damage I thought impressive before only singes its skin and dazes it. But it wasn’t completely ineffective, either, and that suggests that I have lowered its [Health] by a small amount.
It charges toward . I dodge to my left, suffering only a superficial wound as its tusk grazes against my shoulder. The boar turns around with deft swiftness. This ti, as I dodge, I fire an eight-unit [Flash of Insight] in its face. I don’t expect to stop it so easily. Only the tiniest traces of otherworldly light from crystals on the ceiling break the dungeon’s otherwise complete darkness. I have to assu this creature is well-equipped to fight and hunt in its natural environnt. But that doesn’t an its eyes are useless either.
It squeals like the hog it is, but not before goring
through my left shoulder. Thankfully, the wound missed my vitals and my health has only dropped by a hundred as a result. I bash it with my [Fire-Forged Bat], triggering its fla glyph right as I bash its nose.
This attack proves more fruitful than the first, and I follow up with another one to keep its attention. I suffer another small cut across my side, but my health is starting to bleed out. I’m down to just over a hundred and thirty health after just four attacks. The lack of any sort of defensive equipnt is making itself woefully apparent, and I’m only alive because my high [Vitality] for my level has bolstered my health and natural resistance to damage.
Chloe heals
when I get a chance to break off the close-quarter engagent. In an instant, my wounds stitch back together, blood vessels and muscles reform, and I regain my full freedom of movent. My [Health] is back close to 250, though even that could be depleted in an instant if I lower my guard and allow it a chance to score my vitals.
I land a shot of my [Ether Bullet] directly in its eye socket. The grotesque spray of vitreous fluid, sinew, and shards of bone and flesh fly everywhere, ruining my outfit but thankfully sparing Chloe, who is standing behind . But even the injury to its head and brain isn’t enough to put the creature down. It continues to charge
with its bloody socket, though its moves are more erratic. Slower, but the wobbling of its posture as it flails toward
makes it even harder to evade.
I do so by the skin of my teeth, diving out of the way at the last possible mont. As I force myself back up, I get an idea. It again charges at
and I ready my blowgun. But instead of aiming for the pig, I aim for the ground at its feet. And my plan works perfectly. The force of my bullet exploding topples it onto its side, giving
enough ti to plunge my bat clean through the wound in its head and cook its brain from the inside. It twitches, once, twice, and then dies. The System notification confirms the kill.
[You have slain a Lesser Cave Boar (Level 8). You have gained 220 Experience]
[Unique Trait [Touched by the Multiverse] increases Experience gain to 330]
[You have gained enough experience to reach Level 7. [Vitality]
1, [Mind]
1. Please allocate stat points (Remaining: 3)]
I decide to allocate my first point to increasing my [Strength] stat. There is sothing to be said for the old saying ‘the best defense is a good offense’. While I was able to deal with the wounds I suffered in the fight, it would have been better to avoid them altogether. I also would prefer to avoid long, protracted fights here in the dungeon for Chloe’s sake. I might be ntally acclimated to fighting in dungeons thanks to my past life, but she is struggling. I go ahead and allocate my remaining two points to [Vitality] and [Mind] in accordance with my class’s preference.
[Maximum Health increases by [Vitality] x2
Current Level
Rand[1, 3] = 64]
[Maximum Ether increases by [Mind]
Current Level
Rand[0, 2] = 36]
[Level: 7; Experience: 730; To Next: 220]
[Current Stats: [Health]: 291 / 402 ; [Ether]: 177 / 192]
[Current Stats: [Strength]: 13; [Speed]: 16; [Vitality]: 27; [Mind]: 29]
Chloe is taking a bit longer to process her level increase. In the anti, I look around and spot sothing very interesting.
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