[
Status
Name: David Marigold
Health: 15/15
Mana: 280/280
Abilities: d*,kNruu's Successor, Consume, Crescent Moon Slash, Summon Tentacle
]
'Two hundred and eighty points of mana, that would make me..'
[A two star Red Core.]
'Hey, what's that other ability?'
[Ah yes.]
Ding!
[Mission Complete: Form a Mana Core]
[Granting User Reward...]
[Congratulations dear User, you have unlocked a new ability.]
[Active: Summon Tentacle - The user can manifest a tentacle using mana on any part of their body, and freely manipulate it. The tentacle will last as long as there is enough mana to sustain it.
Cost: 10 mana per second
Note: Damage to the tentacles will result in lost health, any summoned tentacles will disappear when mana levels are insufficient.]
For a moment David stood there, lost in thought. Then he stretched out his right arm, and focused.
Just like when he used Consume, he just imagined using the skill.
The mana rushed from his core to his arm, and countless purple tendrils burst out from his arm.
The tendrils fused together, forming a long purple tentacle. The surface of it appeared completely smooth, but if one looked closely they could see the countless smaller tendrils that made it up.
"Hmm."
David felt like he had just grown an extra limb. He could feel the air passing over the tentacle, and he could move it with a thought.
The tentacle swished through the air, picking up a small rock.
Swish
The rock was sent flying through the air, shattering against the side of a statue.
With another thought, the tentacle separated into the tendrils, which returned to David's body.
'Wow. It's like a whole extra arm, I won't even need to practice with it, it's just like moving my own arm.'
David was amazed, his mind was filled with endless strategies and ideas. This new skill, combined with his Crescent Moon Slash, would be a game changer.
He looked around the walls of the cavern, he could even use the tentacles to aid him in climbing or maneuvering, even his mobility had been enhanced.
This was perhaps the most versatile skill he could have learned.
'What about the new mana techniques?'
David remembered his initial goal in coming here, though he had already gained so much, he knew that even the lowest ranking members of a clan would have countless techniques available to them.
[Unfortunately User, the area we have explored so far was dedicated to the zombie ritual, I was unable to find any information on mana techniques.]
'I guess you can't have it all.'
David sighed, and looked around the walls of the cavern, surely one of the tunnels in the walls would lead him to a library or research lab.
'You don't have any input on where to go from here?'
He asked, surprised the system was quiet, it had guided him here, and now it was saying nothing?
[User, this location was central to this ruin, unfortunately I have no further information.]
'Fine.' Grumbling, David started climbing the nearest wall, picking a tunnel at random.
"Reginald! You have no right showing up here!"
David's head snapped around, a haughty female voice had yelled out, coming from one of the tunnels far to his left.
"Ahh, Miss Ophelia. I was simply passing by with my compatriots."
A deep voice rumbled through the ruin, there was a hint of mockery in its tone.
"We simply saw you entering this are and thought to offer our assistance."
The voice continued, ended with a booming laugh.
"Don't lie, your men have already been through here!"
"We even saw your supply cache outside!"
The female voice said, the anger in her voice growing.
"Oh shit." David clicked on to what was happening, the two groups had probably come across some of his traces, and were now blaming each other.
'Hey! Quickly, find me a way out of here!'
[Continue to the tunnel above, I shall guide you from there.]
Without looking back, David summoned two tentacles, scaling the wall in seconds as they easily gripped onto even the smallest cracks in the rock.
"Supply cache! You think that the Golden Wolves need to keep a supply cache! Like some backwards scavengers!"
The booming voice raised in volume, to the extent that rocks and dust had started to fall from the ceiling.
"Shit, shit, shit." David jumped into the tunnel and ran.
The system highlighted the route ahead for him, leading him down the twisting corridors.
[User, I have deduced an alternative exit, returning the way you entered is likely to lead to a confrontation with the other explorers.]
'Fine!'
David yelled, he drew his sword, noticing a stationary signal on his CoreScanner.
"That better be a zombie." The signal was a one star Red Core, and though it was moving in the same pattern a zombie might he couldn't be certain.
'The last thing I need is getting into a tussle with some clan member.'
David channeled his mana to his sword as he turned the corner.
He had never been so glad to see a zombie.
Slash
With one clean stroke, David cut the zombie in half, from the head down.
By the time the two halves had hit the floor, David was long gone, turning down the next corridor, sprinting away.
"If it wasn't your supply cache, then whose was it?" The woman yelled, and her voice trailed off.
"Everyone! Split up and find the scavengers!"
She yelled out a command. Immediately, David picked up his pace, using his mana to reinforce his legs, while also summoning tentacles to push off the walls.
'How far!' He called out to the system, his eyes flicking to the CoreScanner over and over, hoping he wouldn't see a signal appear.
[User, I estimate you will be near an exit in around 500 meters.]
David heaved a sighed of relief, he noticed the ground sloping up towards the surface.
The corridor grew narrower, and the glowing moss was thinner on the walls as he continued.
The further he went, the darker his surroundings became, and David was certain he was on the right track.
On instinct, David checked his CoreScanner, to his relief, there were no signals up ahead, it seemed that no one else had discovered this exit.
The opening grew so narrow that David had to crouch, and then crawl. The rocks squeezing around him, and the darkness growing ever closer.
'Are you sure this isn't a dead end?'
David asked, the rocks had grown so close that he was basically wriggling forward. But even before the system could answer him, David felt the crushing rocks give, and he went flying forwards.
In a rush of blinding sunlight and fresh air, David burst out onto the surface. Gone was the dusty, still air of the ruins, and the dim glow of the moss.
But he didn't take the time to enjoy the warmth of the sun on his face, or the fresh, clean air.
He scanned his surroundings, taking in the jungle plants and the terrain. He had come out of a tiny crack in a pile of fallen rocks.
'No wonder they didn't find this exit.'
Just as the tension started to leave David, his face fell. On the very edge of his CoreScanner, a signal had appeared.