In the sewers
About fifteen minutes later, I return to my base with my arms full of swords and daggers that I took from the soldier, but I discover that my camp is in darkness. All the torches are out, luckily I don't need them to see. I jump across the river, drop the stuff on the ground and pick up one of the torches to take a look at it.
As I examine it, I find something written on the top, where the flame normally is. There are two words in the ancient language; when I translate them, they are "ignite" and "extinguish."
"Ignite!"
The torch lights up when I say the command word.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, you have acquired the magic skill Ignite!
√ Ignite
√ Level 1
- MP cost 5
- You can light small fires.
"How handy, no more rubbing sticks together for half an hour!"
But did I get that from the torch or just from seeing how the magic worked? Hmm, let's see, language is an expression of thoughts. In anime, chanting spells is a means of shaping your thoughts correctly. So, if I understand how magic works and can create the form in my mind, do I get the ability?
"Extinguish!"
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, you have acquired the magic skill Extinguish!
√ Extinguish
√ Level 1
- MP cost 5
- You can extinguish small fires.
I then turn around and light all the torches. Before experimenting further, I make two more trips down to the pit to retrieve the equipment I stole from the soldiers. I seal the false wall as much as I can on my last trip. On my return, I quickly catch a couple of fish and build a small fire.
'Light up!'
MP: 115/205
As the small pile of kindling begins to burn merrily, I smile and place the fish on top to roast. Looking at my dwindling supply of firewood, I realize I need to find more soon. I look around and see that I still have a lot of work to do in my new camp.
While the fish is cooking, I walk around my camp area, pick up all the poisonous mushrooms and throw them across the river. After eating, I decide to test my theory. I sit and concentrate on a stone and form in my mind the image of Mana moving the stone for me. I extend my hand and concentrate, and after a minute the stone flies into my hand.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, you've acquired the magic skill Remote Hand!
√ Remote Hand
√ Level 1
- MP cost 10
- You can use mana to manipulate objects. You can lift a weight up to 5 lbs, distance up to 20 ft.
"Ha, it worked! The Force is powerful in me! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Well, if that worked, then improving my knowledge of magic should pave my way to new abilities. Now the question is: can I apply my knowledge of physics to magic? I'll have to try that later.
For the moment, I think I've done enough for one day, so I set out to meditate for the night. I meditate for the next eight hours because, while I didn't come to any harm, I went through a lot on a mental level and I want to be sure I've had adequate rest.
The next morning I get up from my meditation and look around. I don't really have space to do my usual routine, so first I start cleaning the area. First I pick up all the loose stones and pile them up along the river bank.
Then I get to work with the mushrooms, there are six types that I don't recognize, one of which is huge, almost four feet tall. I tear off a small piece and taste it, then immediately spit it out, it is definitely not edible. However, it has the consistency of wood, so maybe I can use it for other things. The next guy I pick up gives me a bad feeling just before I put it in my mouth, so I stop.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Danger Sense skill has advanced to level 2!
√ Danger Sense.
√ Level 2
- Wisdom +2
- A feeling that warns you of great danger.
Yeah, I definitely won't try that one! I immediately pick up all of that type in my area and throw them into the river. The next type doesn't arouse my sense of danger, so I try it, it's good and it's not poisonous. The next three are also not poisonous, so I collect a bunch of the six edible types.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Herb Gathering skill has advanced to level 4!
√ Herb Gathering
√ Level 4
- Intelligence. +4
- You will be able to collect useful herbs and plants.
I then fill a pot with water and place it on the tripod on some wood. Then I cut up all the mushrooms I have collected and put them in the pot. Next, I catch three fish to add to my stew. Once everything is ready, I look at the wood and think "Light it" and the wood starts burning instantly.
MP: 200/205
While the stew is cooking, I go through my normal exercises and, before doing any combat work, I take a breastplate and use it to rake the cleared ground to make it more level. I then take two of the soldiers' swords and begin a combat routine. I move faster than normal thanks to the new skill and keep trying dance moves. I keep working on it until the stew is ready, by which time I'm pretty exhausted anyway.
After I finish eating, I put aside the leftovers for later and then clean and maintain my equipment. After that, it's time to sort through the loot I got from the soldiers yesterday; none of the gear is as good as what I'm already using, although the daggers are better than the goblin ones. Next, I empty all the pouches from my belt and count the money.
128 Gold 439 Silver 64 Copper.
Well, at least now I'll have money to spend when I get out of here. I put all the coins in a pouch and stowed it safely under my belt. Then I put on my gear and weapons and set out to explore a bit. I went back into the tunnel and then turned around, but this time, as I headed towards my base, I took the first right that I ignored earlier.
I head down the corridor and after about six meters I start to see spider webs. Over the next ten meters the cobwebs get thicker until the hallway opens up into a room covered in cobwebs. The room looks round, but it's hard to tell because of all the cobwebs, so I stop at the door and look around carefully.
It takes me a minute, but I can see three giant spiders, two are the size of the one I killed in the hole, the third is more than twice the size. Hi mom. I wonder how cute your core is.
Luckily, the spiders are spread out around the room, so hopefully I can take them down one by one. I think killing the two smaller spiders first will be easier. So I draw my sword and, with the shield on my arm, I take off running towards the nearest spider.
Thanks to the set bonus, I can run through the web to where the spider is. I'm pretty sure that, if spiders could look surprised, this one would. Knowing how tough the spider's carapace is, I aim for the joint of a leg with my first strike. I easily sever the leg and then dance backwards to avoid the spider's bite.
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Dodge skill has advanced to level 3!
√ Dodge
√ Level 3
- Defense +3
- Your agility allows you to evade attacks.
After dodging the spider's bite, I dart backwards to cut off a second leg, and since its mobility is reduced, I can try to kill it. Instead, I get a bad feeling and leap to the side, narrowly avoiding the bite of the second, smaller spider.
'Phew, I was hoping they wouldn't help each other!'
I quickly check and see that the big one hasn't moved but the distraction costs me money as I can't dodge the second spider bite unharmed.
- You've suffered a bite attack! 28 HP damage!
- You've been poisoned! 43 HP damage!
HP: 477/548
I move quickly backwards, away from the wounded spider and, as I expected, the second spider follows me as the wounded one stands still. As soon as the second spider is a decent distance from the first, I attack, again aiming for a leg joint first. I block the spider's bite with my shield and drive my sword into one of the joints of its body shell.
I receive a splash of green ichor as a reward as I release the sword and leap backwards to avoid another bite. I move closer, luring the spider to try to bite me again, and when it does, I dodge the bite and cut off a second leg. Now that I have the advantage of mobility, I'm confident I can kill the spider as long as the other two stay away.
I stab the spider twice more as I dodge the bites and it moves slower and slower. Then my foot catches on a strand of web and I stumble and the spider bites me before I can regain my balance.
- You've suffered a bite attack! 26 HP damage!
- You've been poisoned! 43 HP damage!
HP: 408/548
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, the Poison Resistance skill has advanced to level 5!
√ Poison Resistance
√ Level 5
- Resistance +5
- You take 25% less poison damage.
Well, that will help a little, but I'd rather not poison myself any more. I walk slowly around the spider as I catch my breath. I also check the other two to make sure they haven't moved. Being more careful with my balance, I dance closer and stab the spider again, then step aside to avoid its bite and stab it again.
Now the spider starts to wobble a bit as it moves and I know it's close to dying. Instead of waiting for it to die, I reach over and punch it in the face as it tries to bite me and then plunge my sword deep into its body. With a shudder he collapses and his remaining legs curl upward. I keep my eye on the other two as I stab it again to make sure it is dead.
Once I'm sure it's dead, I start walking through the cobwebs toward the wounded one, keeping my eye on the big one. It takes me a few minutes of dancing, but I manage to kill it without it biting me. Now that I know how they move, it's much easier to finish them off. I hope the big one moves the same way.
With only the big one I slowly approach it, watching it closely to see how it will react. What happens next takes me by surprise, the big one opens its mouth and suddenly throws a web at me. I'm too surprised to move out of the way and the web covers me, but after a second it falls to the ground as it can't stick to me thanks to the set bonus.
I take this opportunity to leap forward and thrust my sword into the spider's open mouth. I quickly draw my sword and move out of the spider's reach. I am rewarded with a jet of green ichor spurting from the spider's mouth.
Then, for the first time, the large spider moves and I find myself in trouble immediately. Every time the spider moves, the webs bounce and sway, so I have to make a great effort to stay on my feet. It's like trying to fight on an active trampoline and the big spider has no problem moving.
Suddenly, the big spider moves much faster, much faster than something this big should be able to move, and the bounce of the web launches me into the air. I have no chance to dodge it and the spider catches me in mid-air and bites me.
- You've suffered a bite attack! 75 HP damage!
- You've been poisoned! 143 HP damage!
HP: 190/549
I scream out in pain as the venom tears through me like fire, knowing that another bite will kill me. I plunge my sword into the spider up to the hilt and leave it there. When the spider releases me, I drop onto the web and move away from it as fast as I can.
Once I'm a good distance away, I stand up and draw my spare blades. When I look back, I see the big spider flailing around. trying to pull the sword out with its legs. I look around trying to think of a way to finish him off without getting close enough for him to bite me, when I seeing all the webs moving and rubbing together, I come up with a crazy idea.
Okay, now concentrate, use mana to gather all the static electricity in the room into a single point on my hand, then throw it at the hilt of the sword! Thunder deafens me as a bolt of lightning shoots from my hand into the hilt of the sword trapped in the spider.
MP: 130/205
⟨⟨-DING-⟩⟩.
- Congratulations, you have acquired the magic skill Lightning Bolt!
√ Lightning
√ Level 1
- MP cost 75
- You cast a lightning bolt that deals 100 points of electrical damage.
I was surprised because I only expected a small arc, not a full lightning bolt, but I happily watched the spider flail and die after being hit. I simply sat on the web and watched the spider as it caught its breath. I didn't want to go near it until it stopped moving.