Alphonse wasn't sure how much time passed since he crossed the chasm. Based on his rations, he assumed it was at least a day, but the absence of the sky and endless darkness of the dungeon played with his senses.
He hunkered down in a rocky alcove as a squad of goblins rushed by on the trail above. So far, the 'sneak' skill he raised with his stat points was a godsend. He was certain it saved him more times than he could count on both hands.
He had also gained two stat points and, in desperation, he placed them into more 'perception.' It seemed easier to determine enemy locations in larger areas based on the number of sounds and distance. The gibbering, harsh cacophony of the goblin language didn't mess with his hearing as much as it used to either.
He wasn't about to win many engagements. The number of monsters, his injuries and sheer exhaustion were too many factors working against him.
Alphonse froze as his stomach suddenly complained of hunger. He gritted his teeth and pressed his hands down in a desperate attempt to quell the sound.
'Shut up! Shut up!'
He thought his belly was loud enough to wake an ogre on the opposite side of the cavern. It wouldn't have surprised him. He'd already eaten some of his rations a few hours ago, but the physical duress and sleep fatigue made his body demand more.
After a few more agonizing seconds the last of the goblins passed without hearing his stomach's insistence. Alphonse breathed a quiet, relieved sigh and lowered his hands.
He waited a full five minutes. No other sounds. Clear.
He pushed himself up and examined the canted wall behind him. It would expose him to the path above on one side, but he saw little choice other than backtracking. The latter was highly undesirable, as he'd barely snuck past the ogres guarding the previous area.
He climbed the lower portion of the wall and settled himself into a narrow crevasse. He pressed his back against it, rested his feet on the other side and shimmied up the rest of the way. The rock dug into his back, and he felt a warmth crawl down his skin as an old cut reopened.
Alphonse ignored the pain and forced himself up inch by painful inch. He pushed off when he reached the top and gripped the ledge on the opposite side. His undershirt clung uncomfortably to his back from the reopened cuts oozing small, but consistent flows of blood. He planted his feet and hoisted himself over the edge just enough to get a quick glimpse of the terrain.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw what awaited him. A few yards away slept a number of strange wolf-like creatures. They definitely weren't like the wolves he'd seen from his world. Spikes trailed their spines and stuck through matted fur. The curved nails on their paws were like those of a large reptile.
He considered sneaking past the sleeping monsters when a low growl came from somewhere to his right. He nearly lost his grip, and for a few seconds his body froze in place. Alphonse managed to turn his head slowly and saw one of the beasts lowered to the floor with its snout curled into a snarl. He stared dumbstruck until the monster raised its head and howled at the cavern's ceiling. The signal was obvious. The deranged shrieks of goblins joined in from somewhere, and the rest of the wolves roused themselves from sleep.
Alphonse didn't think. He dropped back down into the gap as the beast leaped forward. Its jaws snapped at the empty air a second after its prey vanished.
The adventurer climbed out of the alcove and scrambled to the path above. Already the goblins were rushing in from the tunnels on either side. They waved their clubs wildly and readied crude bows. The heavy thuds of ogre feet shook the ground.
Nowhere to go. End of the line. The wolves stared down from above with what seemed like a satisfied smirk as they panted and howled.
The only means of escape was the gaping pit on the opposite side of the path. All that greeted Alphonse's eyes was darkness.
He hastily released a clasp attached to his waist and removed a thick length of rope with a set of three curved, steel appendages at the end. A grappling hook. He loosened the string tied to the appendages that kept them from swinging against his leg.
He didn't know how deep the pit was, but he figured releasing at a lower angle was his best option. If he managed to swing himself sideways while jumping, he might be able to reduce the impact hitting the opposite wall. He examined the tip of a stalagmite piercing the darkness that the grapple could hook to. It was a major gamble, but he saw no other options. He had one shot.
Alphonse steadied his hands and twirled the end of the grapple in a controlled circle. He released, and a satisfying clank echoed as it hooked to the stalagmite. Alphonse followed through with his hand forward to keep the tension and gave the rope a few quick tugs. It appeared to be attached solid enough.
A volley of arrows missed their marks and clattered at his feet. One glanced off his boot and dared him to jump. And so he did.
He managed the correct angle for his descent. The edge of his boots scraped against a massive stalagmite that had been hidden within the darkness, but it managed to work in his favor. His momentum slowed somewhat, and he collided with the opposite wall. He let out a gasp as the air forced from his lungs. Some protruding rocks scraped his skin and tore off flesh on one elbow.
He swayed back and forth a few times before going still. The tall stalagmite, as well as the accompanying dark, concealed him from the path above. Below he saw nothing but more inky blackness. He considered what threats might be lying in wait. Perhaps the ground was riddled with nothing but sharp rocks. Maybe there was an underground water source home to some creatures like alligators. Maybe it was simply far enough to break his legs or make him go splat.
Alphonse started to wish he had crafted some climbing tools. But one could only carry so much in this world. Unfortunately, there was no magical, convenient inventory system. No special holographic menu for bringing items into existence. Adventurers could only carry what their body allowed them.
He remained suspended there for a few minutes. Soon it would be pointless. His arms would give out, and he'd drop anyway. At least if he dropped now he might have some energy left over in case more monsters showed up. He started to wonder if a path winded down from the tunnels he'd already traversed. He cursed himself as the thought dawned on him. The monsters could be waiting for him right now. He'd fall right into their greedy, nasty little hands.
'Fuck it,' he thought.
Alphonse let go of the rope and fell into the darkness.