Sounds of fighting can be heard echoing throughout the interiors of the ruins, a group of three Adventurers can be seen battling against a spider type monster. The spider's leg span reaches 7 meters, It's black, hairy carapace is near impervious to blades, the spider is also venomous. And to make things worse, not only is the spider's web extremely sticky, it can also shed some of it's hair deliberately to cause irritation on it's enemy's eyes and skin. The three Adventurers's identities were, as expected, Evan, Luke and Melania. Let's see what they're thinking~
[ Evan's POV ]
The Giant Enemy Spider in front of me is causing much trouble. So far, since we arrived at the ruin roughly a week ago, the monster encounters were casual, with mostly just small fry creatures and the likes appearing. Sure, the deeper we went, the harder the monster encounters were, but all of them were easily managed. But now, we encountered a proper monster, almost a demon.
Also, unrelated, the interior of this ruin, or, "dungeon" is very brightly lit. Unlike my image of ruins, which is a crumbling structure with dimly lit stone corridors and rooms, with a damp and still air hanging around, bringing a sense of foreboding and calm horror. But noo, this "ruin" looks more like an abandoned office to me, with it's pristine white walls and the tall glass windows, which is impossible to break, mind you, showing the magnificent view outside, and the occasional random stuff strewn about, like chairs, desks, and drawers. Heck, there are even recently abandoned buildings that are more decrepit than this place, which has been supposedly abandoned for millennia. Okay, back on track.
I was busy chanting support magic through a medium, namely, a scroll. Because I haven't learned support magic yet. As always, I was grateful at the convenience of this world's magical prowess. Why was I taking a support role, you ask? Because my most powerful attack spell, << Void Bullet >>, is almost ineffective against that damned arachnid, my physical attack power is also negligible when compared to the others. It probably has an affinity for Space Magic, or a powerful magic barrier, to be able to withstand the << Void Bullet >>. But physical attacks towards it's underside is highly effective, especially when the attack is magically reinforced, like what Luke and Melania is doing right now.
In my hands, there are three scrolls, each holding a single spell, I got them from loot. One for << Agility Boost >>, one for << Attack Boost >>, and the last one for << Defense Up >>. To use it, you just simply pour your magic power into the scroll, and let the magic runes of the scroll do it's thing! Very cool! It's also easy to control the output and where it's effects will show. But compared against a conventional chanted spell, it's power is very lacklustre. But is very handy nonetheless.
Luke and Melania were doing their very best in defeating the monster, yes, even Luke is working hard. I encouraged them further by chanting << Agility Boost >> and << Attack Boost >> at them, much to their delight. The spider seemed to have learned that it's enemies were aiming for it's underside, so it laid prone on the ground, to protect it's belly that has been quite torn apart by the attacks. Luke and Melania responded by targeting it's joints which were too high to reach until now. The spider screeched and tossed and turned because of the pain, and the leg which joint has been severed, was cut off from the rest of the body. The attack also cut one of it's major blood vessels, causing it's hemolymph to spurt out everywhere, making a putrid mess. It finally died after losing too much blood.
Unlike ordinary monsters, the creatures from the ruins, or dungeons, immediately disintegrate into small light particles, and disperse into the air. Leaving only it's useful parts behind for loot, very much like RPGs. Thus eliminating the need to process the carcass yourself. We rejoiced after defeating the Giant Enemy Spider, and happily looted the useful parts, the loot was carried by me using << Pocket Dimension >>, of course.
" Great job on the Support magic, Evan! You were a valuable help! ". Praised Melania.
" Yeah! My body never felt so light and agile before! I think this is your forte! ". Added Luke.
" Yeah, yeah. Whatever, I just did what I could because I'll be practically useless otherwise. ". I answered.
" Oh come on! You are more than just that! ". Luke said.
" Oh yeah? What else am I good at? ".
" A baggage porter! ". Luke said, laughing his ass off. Even Melania seemed entertained by his joke.
" F*ck you, honestly. Why do I even bother. ".
We all had a hearty laugh, and moved on after a brief rest. We advanced deeper into the ruin. Strangely, we started from the very top of the ruin and worked our way down in a quick pace, we are currently at the 38th floor, a little bit more, and we'll finally hit ground level. Along the way, I feel an uncanny feeling of familiarity with this ruin, like I know all of it's twists and turns, all of the rooms and doors, which hallways lead to where, what level we are on, and which sectors are which, but I can't seem to recall exactly why do I possess such knowledge. I also noticed that the words were all printed in english.. Blatantly english.. completely different from the characters of the common language, which sounds like a mix of arabic and chinese. This means that either the Author is lazy, or that there's some connection between my previous world, and this one.
Adding to the absurdity of it all, random music would play at random intervals all throughout the ruin, causing searing headaches to Luke and Melania. Strangely, I didn't seem to be affected at all, in fact, I thought the music was nice. Whoever is in charge of the PA system has nice taste in music in my opinion.
This ruin gets weirder and weirder with each passing day. One day I awoke to the feeling of sensing someone breaking into my house, like, I know that an unfamiliar presence is currently snooping around somewhere, but I just can't seem to grasp why I am sensing such things. Luke and Melania is unaware of the weird situation I'm in, but I didn't bother telling them anyway. Let's just hope that it's really nothing.
==========
Skyscraper ruin, basement floor.
A pair of men were arguing with each other in front of a large steel door, one of them is wearing full plate armor painted jet black, with a featureless full face helmet, while the other party was a scholarly looking fellow wearing black long scholar robes with red accents, his head was covered by a hood and his face was similarly covered with a red mask in the shape of a grimacing demon. The knight looking fellow said.
" Listen, if we use my powers here, we might alert the security systems and the mission will fail! Don't risk that! ".
" I don't care! You're strong enough to destroy the security systems around here, right? or are you saying that your strength is lacking? ". The hooded figure said.
" It's not a matter of strength! We are here to extract the data without a sound! ".
" Then, do you have a better idea?! ".
" Let me try! ".
The black knight then approached the steel door and saw that the way to open it is password protected.
" Let's see.. Will this work? ". The knight muttered.
The black knight tapped a few keys on the door and entered a random password, the large steel door then groaned and creaked as it slowly opened, much to the surprise of the pair. The knight had an expression of disbelief under his helmet while the hooded figure's mouth was agape.
" I can't believe the password was actually 123456... What idiot set it up???? ". The knight muttered.
" Wha-.. What... How.. Did.. How did you... Grrr... Whatever! Yes! You were right! Hmph! ". The hooded figure said. He can feel his face burning from humiliation.
The black knight looked at the hooded figure and smugly said.
" Come on, the door's open. Let's not waste time. ".
The hooded figure grumbled while storming in through the door the black knight could only watch the antics of his partner as he followed behind him while closing the door.
=======
Somewhere up north, undisclosed testing grounds.
Teams of people are fussing over a small control panel festooned with buttons, levers, and dials. They are currently in the middle of nowhere, testing a new experimental weapon, designated as "NB-001 (City Killer)", it is said that the designer of this contraption was an other-worlder, but their Instructors dismissed such things as mere gossips. The teams present were complaining about the unreasonable cold they were in, as they are doing the testing up north, away from any civilization of concern. As for the reason why, the teams don't know, all they know is that they're here for testing and that's it.
A man in his mid thirties approached the team of magic engineer Acolytes, he walks with a slight limp, as his left leg is replaced with an artificial one. The man walked over to the control panels and addressed a youth in his early twenties.
" Heinkel! How are you doing? ". The old man asked.
" Hmm? Oh! Professor Gunther! I'm fine, just a little cold. ". The youth answered.
" Hahahaha! We are all in the cold here! So, status report! ". The man, Gunther, asked.
" Well sir, the weapon is primed and ready, and the preparatory teams are already evacuated, so we are all good to go. ". Heinkel answered
" Good, make sure you stay behind the barrier, or you'll have a very bad day. ".
" Sir, with all due respect, but I find it hard to believe that we have to take such extreme measures of security, surely this weapon we are testing can't be that deadly... And we are also so far away, how can we observe anything from this distance? ".
" Well sonny, it's just a safety measure, better safe than sorry! ".
" What IS this weapon we are testing anyways? ".
" Okay everybody! Listen here! ". Gunther said in a loud voice, attracting attention of the teams of engineers.
" Now, I think it's time to explain what we are doing here in this God forsaken land! You see, a group of researchers called out to me, asking for our assistance in this project of theirs. ". As Gunther was about to continue, an Acolyte raised his hand and asked.
" Who are they? The group of researchers, I mean. ".
" They call themselves the "Restorers". ". Gunther answered.
" The Restorers? Aren't they that cult of weirdos that worship the Progenitors? Why are we working together with them, of all people? I'd rather cooperate with the Savages rather than them.. ". The Acolyte said.
" They promised that they'll share some of their own research materials and papers about Progenitor technology, so I think it's a nice deal. ". Gunther answered.
" Anyways, moving on.. They promised that this weapon of theirs will revolutionize warfare and politics if it is able to be perfected. They say that this weapon holds enough power to completely obliterate any city it comes into contact with, rendering siege warfare obsolete. Hence the name "City Killer". It works by harnessing the energy of an element called Plutonium, used by the Progenitors to power their civilization. I cannot go into detail about how it works, but I can assure you that today, we shall witness a power so devastating, the gods shall quiver in their boots! ". The professor excitedly said.
Moments later, a bell rang indicating that the test will start soon.
" Ah! Just in time! Well, everyone, go get into position! Remember to write down anything interesting! Good luck! ".
The professor then went off into his own protective bunker to watch the event. With excitement and glee apparent in his jade green eyes.
As the team got into position behind their barrier domes, they started the final last minute checks to insure the success of the test. They hunkered down low and readied their notepads and magical instruments. Their expressions were a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a little bit of dread.
As the countdown begins, they waited patiently, their attention was at the small black dot on the distance. The countdown reaches zero, alarm bells went off wildly, the detonator team determinedly nodded, and they clicked the big red button.
Suspense filled the air, the heavy pressure of expectations seem to almost choke the observation teams, yet nothing happened.
⟨ This is pointless! All of the troubles we went through to set up this test, yet nothing happened?! As I thought! Teaming up with those cultists was a terrible idea! ⟩. Heinkel thought to himself, but, as if mocking him. The weapon finally detonated.
A flash of light momentarily blinded the observers, but the barrier opaqued itself to ease the viewing of the people inside of it. A ball of fire so large it looked like the gods threw the sun right onto the earth appeared, then, as quickly as it appears, it disappears and formed a tall cloud of dust in the shape of a mushroom. Seconds later, the shockwave hit the barrier the Acolytes were under, the barrier flickered wildly as it struggled to keep itself up against the shockwave. The dust cloud covered the sky and darkens it to the point where it seems like night time, the Acolytes were horrified, they thought that the day of reckoning was upon them. Many of the Acolytes got down on their knees and started praying for forgiveness from their respective gods.
After the shock subsided, Heinkel, the observation team leader, wrote down the following on his notepad.
" It was on that fateful day I was put in my place. I witnessed devastation so severe, I fear the gods have awakened from their slumber. I never imagined that mere mortals could achieve such power, destruction so divine, it cleansed the land around it with holy flames. The amount of dust it kicked was so immense, it towered over the mountains, and turned the brightest day into the bleakest night. I fear the day when this weapon is perfected. ".
It was said that Heinkel and his team stopped researching and took up a more simple life.
====[ Author's Note ]====
This dumb Author is stricken with procrastination...
Also, new characters, yeah! World building, yeah! Lore, yeah!
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