This is…embarrassing…
After receiving the special reward for our first time clearing the dungeon - collecting three [Bag of Blood] and three [Black Wood] -, Rosabel and I left the dungeon.
At this point, Rosabel had grown to the point that our 'safety' period had ended. Upon reaching this point, the world around us would become 'open'. Enemies would appear outside of dungeons and it becomes possible to encounter other Soulemer and their Soulmek - for better or worse.
This presented an issue of how to transport everything. Storing it all within my soul, I immediately felt an almost crushing weight and felt a need to sit down. It then occurred to me that removing all that weight, getting used to not carrying it, and then putting it all back on might not have been the best idea.
I still refuse to let anything go. These are the precious resources we'll need for the future. Leaving anything behind is a last resort.
I tried to raise the issue with Rosabel, but she seemed lost and was just staring at me.
It took a minute to get her attention, and when she realized she was staring, she became flustered. I asked what was wrong and she made various, somewhat embarrassed motions and noises. After a moment, I interpreted her as saying something along the lines of 'so handsome', 'being surprised by my change', etc.
I simply nodded at her words. Though not important in this dungeon, demons and some undead boast strong powers of persuasion based on an individual's charm stat. Physically, this tends to influence one's beauty. So, it stands that my appearance improved with this last dungeon.
I don't have a mirror to look at myself, so I can't really see the change. Every five points to a particular stat typically come with some sort of notable change. Taking a moment to focus upon my own soul, I confirmed that my charm had now exceeded ten points. I don't know if I would say I am handsome, but I should be undoubtably more attractive than I was.
If I had cared more, I might have noticed my hair had gained some gloss and looked less brittle. That my sickly complexion looked healthier - though still somewhat pasty -, my facial features were better proportioned, and sharp nails seemed cleaner and better groomed. But I didn't.
Our transportation issue was more important. I asked Rosabel for ideas.
I rejected the idea of her carrying things. We'll start encountering enemies in the open now; so, it seemed like a bad idea for Rosabel to be weighed down by anything. And, anything she could carry that wouldn't get in the way wouldn't help much.
Then Rosabel seemed to have an idea. If it was too much trouble for her to carry things and guard me, then why not carry me? Although I felt incredibly heavy and weighed down, my physical weight was unaffected. So, when Rosabel suddenly ran up to me, she had no trouble lifting me. This led to now.
Using Rosabel's superior strength, I was fighting back my embarrassment as I rode atop her shoulders on our way to the next dungeon due north - carrying her club in my arms. This dungeon gave a sense of comfort which revealed it as an angel or holy dungeon. The counterpart of a demon dungeon, it is almost exactly the same. Although, there is one thing. Depending on circumstances this dungeon can be much easier though far more frustrating.
I'm broken from my thoughts as Rosabel comes to a sudden halt. Nearly losing my balance on her shoulders, I have to wave one of my arms to stabilize myself. Bending down to try and see her face, I ask, "What's wrong?"
In response, Rosabel offers a short noise. I can sense how serious she is through our bond. She kneels down as a silent indication for me to get off her and I do. I hand her her club while I cast my gaze over our surroundings. Then I see it.
The grass of the Vast Plains is not terribly tall and only comes up to my shins. As such, it is not as effective for hiding as it is in a dungeon. This leaves the slow bird crouching in it visible.
Club in hand, Rosabel stands ready.
Realizing it's been seen, the bird lets out a mighty squawk before rushing forward.
Rosabel charges forward to meet it - club raised.
Kicking off the ground, the slow bird rises into the air using its wings to glide. It raised its talons as it neared Rosabel who in turn swung her club. However, the bird madly flapped its wings to gain more altitude and flew over her club.
Rosabel barely has a moment to guard her face from the bird's talons - receiving several scratches across her arm.
Avoiding a swipe of her arm, the bird landed back on the ground. Unfortunately for it, the brief pause between its attack and landing was enough for Rosabel to regroup, grip her club, and rush at it again.
Unable to evade in time, Rosabel was able to quickly finish the bird - killing it with one swing.
"Good job Rosabel," I congratulated as I approached her.
Rosabel offered a half-hearted noise of thanks as she tried to nurse her scratched up and bleeding arm.
I quickly act to heal Rosabel's injury while internally thinking that it was a good thing it was her than me. I hate thinking that, but there's no denying that she can heal from any injury so long as she has me. The reverse is not true. I can only be healed upon clearing a dungeon. Any injury sustained in the open field, there is no such easy mechanic.
Once she's taken care of, I look over to the defeated small bird. I would think that Rosabel's current power makes her more than a match for any current adversary we would face, yet a simple slow bird injured her. I try to engrave in my heart that just because we've gained a little power does not mean we can be careless.
The only reason we're getting off so easy is because we only just became part of the open world. Enemies are still few in numbers. Overtime they will increase and unlike a dungeon they won't follow any sort of pattern or rules. We could end up fighting a whole group at once.
I put a hand to the crushed bird to extract resources.
The process is similar but also different from how it works in a dungeon. I'm not clear on the exact difference but I know there's more to it than the excess energy being absorbed and recycled to recreate the monster.
The available resources are also different as a bird will not conveniently drop a pile of sand. The only available resources are [Slab of Meat] and a [Bird Wing] of poor-to-average quality. In this case, I earned one of each - poor- and average-quality.
Comparing the two qualities of [Bird Wing], I can see the difference. [Bird Wing] in general resembles the actual wing of the slow bird. However, poor-quality is damaged, missing feathers, etc. as if it were removed by someone physically grabbing the wing and ripping it off. Meanwhile, average-quality is still somewhat rough looking but otherwise looks like the wing had been cleanly severed from the bird.
I store the items before turning to Rosabel to ask if she wants something to drink something before continuing. However, before I can say anything, I suddenly find myself being hoisted onto her shoulders as she moves behind me and slips between my legs.
Rosabel holds her club up for me to take.
Caught off-guard by the sudden action, I absentmindedly accept the club. It is only after Rosabel gives a determined noise of 'Alright, let's go!' that I snap out of it.
Wondering what's wrong, I try to sense her through our bond. What I feel is a sense of determination and indignation. I guess while I'm more concerned about Rosabel getting injured by the slow bird, she's more frustrated.
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Arriving at a pair of iron doors bearing a pair of wings situated over a halo, Rosabel and I walked through them to find ourselves within Holy Sanctuary.
A shining sun and clear sky overhead, we stood on a white, carved, stone bridge over a gentle river as far as the eye could see. Despite the two-colored scenery of blue water and sky and white bridge, the colors seemed particularly vibrant. Something about the scene just inspired a sense of calm and tranquility.
Just like the demon dungeon, we pass four goblins and then a pair of them. These goblins differed from those in other dungeons due to their white skin, calmer disposition, and higher quality tunics - more resembling robes.
I used a [Goblin's Ear] to improve Rosabel's strength, endurance, and dexterity before using the remaining three to improve her spirit. At this stage, spirit and charm are not very valuable, but I think it'll be good to try and cultivate these now before we need them. We already have enough physical ability; so I don't see the harm in raising her lower stats.
Besides [Goblin's Ear], I also collected three [Bag of Water] and three [Acid].
[Acid] is a higher quality of liquid resource in the same way that [Black Wood] is a higher quality of wood resource to [White Wood]. It appears as a slightly large, rubbery ball filled with a clear liquid.
Just like before, it isn't long until we find the other type of enemy in this dungeon. 'Timid Spirit'. It doesn't look like much: a crystal ball the size of Rosabel's head floating within a thin, white haze.
Expecting it to be aggressive, Rosabel charges forward with her club.
The spirit responds to this by slowly backing away - moving quicker as Rosabel got closer.
Then, once Rosabel seemed almost close enough to strike at the spirit, it quickly turned and fled off the bridge.
Rosabel tried to pursue but had to stop as it flew off the side of the bridge and stayed outside of striking range. Looking between the water and the spirit, she seemed to grow frustrated and started yelling at it while waving her club menacingly.
Looking over this scene, I scratch my head.
The more difficult monsters of each dungeon are based on superior evolutions of goblins after being negatively affected in some way. How they're affected depends on the dungeon. A beast dungeon whose power emphasizes endurance has sickly beasts, a bird dungeon emphasizing dexterity has slow birds, and an insect dungeon centered on intelligence has confused insects.
Angel dungeons' power leans toward spirit. The stat itself is vague but generally involves mental fortitude and resisting others influence. Roughly, it is courage and the ability to resist others. As such, the otherwise powerful creatures of the dungeon are inversely rendered timid as a result.
In the demon dungeon, rotting corpses are brainless and slow but possess no fear and surprising strength from their unrestricted muscles - if weakened due to their state of decay. We made it through because Rosabel was already stronger than they were.
Here, however, we have the opposite problem. Spirits aren't terribly strong and I don't think we'd have too much trouble in a fight. However, it becomes incredibly tedious and irritating if they continue to run away and flee onto the river where we won't be able to reach them. As if my snail's pace wasn't time consuming enough; now we have to figure out how to lure these creatures to us.
Hmm…
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This is officially the longest dungeon we have ever faced.
Even with how slow I am right now, that would only mean it would take as long as normal with how easily Rosabel is defeating our enemies.
Unlike the confused insects we faced before, timid spirits could not be lured in simply by throwing things at them. Losing all my [Used bag], any that came close to hitting just caused them to move away and any that hit caused them to fly out even further away from us. Confused insects are dumb but still aggressive creatures; timid spirits are not.
Eventually we had to give up and wait for it to come back. Sure, we could have probably just pressed forward and ignored it. Far as I know there's no reason we can't bypass the enemies and head straight for the boss.
However, as much as a burden on me as it is, I want the resources.
Rosabel seems to agree, but it feels like it's more out of stubbornness and a feeling that just leaving would mean defeat than anything. Oh well, whatever her reason, we're on the same page.
So, pulling out a [Bag of Water] for me, a [Bag of Blood] for Rosabel, and a [Slab of Meat] for us both, we decided to have a snack while trying to think of a plan.
However, while we were eating, the spirit gradually drifted closer…before scurrying back to the water when Rosabel saw it and rushed toward it.
This gave me an idea and I told Rosabel to ignore the spirit until I said so.
Then, after a while, it came back and returned to its position in the middle of the bridge.
My plan was simple, Rosabel stood ready in front of the spirit while I moved over to the side. I pulled out a unit of [Black Wood] and gave Rosabel a nod to go. She charged at the spirit and again it started to float away. That's when I stepped toward it and threw the [Black Wood] at it.
The spirit seemed to panic and move out of the way, but this gave Rosabel the chance to get close and hit it with her club. The orb that made a spirit's body wasn't fragile but it was still weak enough to shatter from Rosabel's attack - the white haze carrying it vanishing as it did.
Once again, Rosabel showed her frustration by repeatedly bashing the broken shards left behind by the spirit.
I retrieved the [Black Wood] and walked over to collect the items. [Holy Essence] and [Acid]. I store the [Acid] while having Rosabel absorb the [Holy Essence].
Now that we had a way to deal with the timid spirits, we continued forward.
Things did not go easily as the plan didn't always work the first time. But, eventually, we arrived at a small temple after collecting three poor quality [Blessed Fragment] and three [Acid].
I look to Rosabel to ask if she's ready but hold my tongue. The expression on her face and incredible frustration I feel through our bond are telling me she doesn't want to hear anything but the sound of us leaving the dungeon.
We push open the pearly gates and step into the temple.
Ignoring the doors closing behind us, we step forward and walk down a small hallway before stepping out into a large, circular room. Around the room are small, carved indents with candles lit. The room can be divided into an outer and inner ring by the supporting columns circling the room.
After we stepped into the room, a ray of light descended through the stain-glass window in the middle of the ceiling. Then, a creature soon followed and floated down to the middle of the room. It resembled a larger goblin with very pale, almost white, green skin and was dressed in white, almost priestly robes. Its pointed ears were smaller but still poked through the straight, blonde hair that reached its chin. This enemy is known as a 'Lesser Cherub'.
The boss opened its closed, blue eyes just in time to see Rosabel's club a moment before it smashed into its face - sending it across the room.
Rosabel looked at her downed opponent before raising her club in victory - happy to be leaving this dungeon and swearing never to come back. However, to her confused shock, she heard the cherub grousing.
Slowly, the cherub sat up. The wounds on its heavily bloodied face were shining with light as they healed.
While Rosabel stared on in disbelief, I sighed. Where an imp focuses on destructive power, cherubs have defensive and healing capabilities. The main difference between a cherub and its lesser counterpart is that it can only heal itself.
As I think of what we can do, Rosabel roars in frustration before charging at the cherub. In response, the cherub raised their hand in fear at her. Its hand glowed before releasing a blast of light.
Though fast, Rosabel was able to block the blast with her club. Unfazed, she continued her charge. The cherub shrieked before scrambling to its feet to flee.
What followed was Rosabel chasing the cherub around the room like a madman while occasionally needing to block or evade a blast of light.
My presence all but ignored, I decided to try and help. Pulling out [Black Wood], I threw it at the cherub as I had the timid spirits before. It noticed my throw and evaded before turning on me and trying to blast me. I narrowly dodged while receiving a slight burn to my shoulder. However, my distraction was a success.
Once I got back to my feet, I could see Rosabel viciously beating the cherub well beyond what it could possibly recover from - not leaving much left.
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Angel Dungeon - Holy Sanctuary Lv 1 (SPT)
Mobs & Items
-Goblin (white): [Goblin's Ear]
-Timid Spirit: [Holy Essence], [Blessed Fragment] (Poor)
--[Bag of Water], [Acid]
Boss: Lesser Cherub (angelic goblin)
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Layfon
STR 4
END 7
DEX 7
INT 14
WIS 11
CHA 11
SPT 8 +3
Weighs about 60kg or 132.28lbs
Demonstrated Skills: Summoner's Bond (Empathy, Command/Obey Summon), Status, Summon Status, Locate Dungeon, Loot Collection, Use Item, Inventory, Heal Summon
Inventory: [Slab of Meat] x4 (1 = 1 unit of food), [Beast Pelt] (Poor) x2, [Bag of Water] x12 (1 = 1 unit of water), [Bird Wing] (Poor) x4, [Insect Silk] (Poor) x2, [Plant Stem] (Poor) x1, [Radish] x1, [Bag of Juice] x1, [Onion] x1, [Carrot] x1, [Bag of Blood] x4, [Cursed Bone] (Poor) x2, [Bird Wing] (Average) x1, [Blessed Fragment] (Poor) x3
Resources: 9 Units of [Fine Sand], 9 Unit of [White Wood], 11 Unit of [Black Wood], x9 [Acid]
Held Items: [Used bags] x2
Rosabel (6/10)
STR 16 +1
END 16 +1
DEX 16 +1
INT 8
WIS 8
CHA 5
SPT 5 +3
(+2 Broken Fang) (+1 Fallen Feather) (+1 Plucked Petals) (+2 Tainted Flesh) (+1 Holy Essence)
Can carry 160lbs