It's TIME!!!!!!(3)
Talk - " "
Think + abilities/passives names - [ ]
System - ( )
Author thought - [[ ]]
Action - * *
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"You guys can go ahead without me, I'm going to take care of something. Just meet me back here later," Alex said as he pulled up the [Map]. As he studied it, he made a decision to plant his dungeon in a location that was around 2 hours away walking. He had chosen a spot near a river that flowed through several towns and cities, and it was located at the base of a massive mountain range. Judging from the map he had gotten earlier, he knew the range was enormous as it couldn't be fully displayed.
He chose the location because of its proximity to the river, which would enable him to fish and escape through it if needed. Additionally, being close to the massive mountain range provided opportunities to discover various plants and animals. So to save time, he entered the body of the Death Angel, which was very fast. However, using echolocation to 'see' felt very strange to him, so he left the body and allowed the Death Angel to carry him on the journey.
He embarked on this solitary expedition accompanied only by the Death Angel. Driven by Alexa's persistent encouragement, he set out to construct his dungeon—a place to call home and a space to cultivate his strength.
Before leaving, he entrusted Gastly, Trebor, Ethan, and his Ankylosaurus to the guardianship of Artin and Bella. Gastly operated stealthily in the shadows, scouting for potential threats, especially for Ethan, whom he equipped with a ghillie suit acquired through one of his item tokens.
Prior to departure, he utilized his [Shop], expending 120 SP out of his initial 842, leaving him with 722 points. Among his acquisitions were three magazines, each capable of holding 20 rounds of 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition. The [Shop] also offered a variety of bullet types, including Armor Piercing, Incendiary, FMJ, Explosive, Hollow Point, and other unfamiliar or previously inconceivable rounds.
For additional close-range defense, he bestowed upon Ethan the Flyssa sword. Once preparations were complete, he had the Death Angel transport him, significantly reducing the anticipated two-hour trek to a mere 30 minutes with its impressive speed. Though constrained by the forest terrain, the Death Angel's nimbleness allowed it to navigate through trees efficiently, compensating for the inability to reach its maximum speed of approximately 100 mph.
Despite the swiftness of the journey, an undeniable sense of discomfort lingered throughout. Very slimy as he was inside of the Death Angel Mouth.
Because the Death Angel lacked hands and required all four limbs for efficient movement, he found himself nestled inside its mouth. Despite the awkwardness and the damp surroundings, he closed his 'eyes' and focused on disregarding the discomfort.
Meanwhile, Artin and Bella engaged in conversation, with the vibrant orange Ankylosaurus positioned in front of them, and Trebor trailing behind. Gastly lurked in the shadows nearby, while Ethan, concealed by the ghillie suit, walked beside them. Artin and Bella remained unaware of Ethan's presence, assuming he was with Alex.
As Artin and Bella reminisced about their lives and the rescue by Alex and his companions, they reached Merry's house, where Bella currently resides. The journey wasn't extensive, considering the proximity of the battle site.
Merry's house took the form of an expansive treehouse, situated on a tree with greater thickness but shorter height than the surrounding ones. The tree stood in the midst of a vast clearing, enclosed by sturdy tree roots acting as natural walls. A single entrance provided access to the clearing, accessible only to those possessing a token crafted by Merry.
This meant that Artin, Bella, Trebor, and the Ankylosaurus could effortlessly pass through the entrance created by the roots. Meanwhile, Ethan remained outside per his instructions, concealed with gratitude by the M110A1 rifle's ACOG scope, which afforded him a closer view of the surroundings.
However, Gastly faced a different challenge. Being a being composed partly of negative, dark, and poison energy, he found the life energy emanating from the roots unbearable. Attempting to approach caused damage to his body, prompting him to stay within Ethan's shadow, from where he aimed to deter anything that ventured too close.
As the group approached the Treehouse, leaving Anky at the base, they were warmly greeted by Merry, who had already set out tea and cookies at the table. The steam rising from the freshly prepared treats indicated their recent placement.
"Welcome, children. Please, have a seat. I'm Merry, and I must hear about the little incident," Merry announced, somehow already aware of the battle between Alex's group and the robed individuals.
Perplexed expressions filled the room, with the exception of the man in shiny white armor. Observing the confusion, Merry realized the need to clarify her statement.
"Bella, did you honestly believe I would let you venture out and deliver my package to my husband without concern for your safety?" Merry sported a sly smirk, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Bella's face turning crimson with embarrassment.
"In any case, I had one of my familiars keeping an eye on you. However, the moment I sent it to retrieve something nearby, the second it moved away, you found yourself captured again. Explain to me, how can you be so unlucky?" Merry massaged her temples, attempting to alleviate the annoyance that the recollection induced.
"Fortunately, these individuals saved you from further peril," Merry expressed her gratitude to Trebor and Artin, believing them to be the rescuers. Oddly, Merry's familiar had only witnessed the conclusion, unaware of the events leading to Warren's demise and Alex's departure with the Death Angel.
"Oh, and there were two additional entities trailing your group, so I took care of them." As she mentioned this, blue runes materialized on the floor, accompanied by a resounding thud.
"This is new," remarked Ethan, still clad in the ghillie suit, restrained by tree bark and sprawled on the floor, trying to make sense of the sudden turn of events. Next to him, Gastly seethed inside a jar, his fury evident on his ethereal face.
Merely two minutes earlier, Ethan had been attempting to surveil the surroundings through the windows with his ACOG sight when, without warning, the tree he perched on morphed like jelly and ensnared him with its bark. In the blink of an eye, he found himself inside the treehouse, thankfully still armed with his rifle.
"Oh, Ethan! I thought you were with Alex. And what's with the clothes?" Artin initiated the conversation, attempting to break the silence that had been dominated by Merry.
"Yeah, Alex wanted to ensure your safety. I'm in incognito, I've been right beside you all before you entered here," Ethan explained, engaging in small talk. The bark that had bound him soon released its grip, likely due to Merry's intervention or understanding.
Merry, however, began to realize something peculiar. She sensed no life force from Ethan, and there was an absence of mana within his body. In a world where everything typically had a connection to mana, Ethan defied this norm. Even as she observed the others, the man in armor and Artin exhibited mana, while their mount outside displayed. None? This anomaly fascinated Merry, sparking a desire to delve into this unique case for study.
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Thanks for reading
Comment any mistakes
Full-on Dungeon building next chapter.
Thanks for reading
Comment any mistakes
Full-on Dungeon building next chapter.