Snow Cavern

Chapter 109 - Snow Cavern

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"Kyaaaa—?!"

Without wasting any seconds in mind, I hooked the screaming Lemuen and pulled her into me then immediately crafted a [Torch], materializing into my hands and threw it below as strong as I could.

"Everyone! Time your jumps! Take a careful look at the [Torch] below!"

The [Torch] will serve as a light to guide and allow us to time our ⟨⟨Double Jump⟩⟩ safely. Astra was now with Luna, grabbing her securely as we fall. The rest we're looking calm as well. As expected of the Characters of the game. Their composure sure were remarkable.

"—?!"

Unfortunately, there we're more problem that need settling.

The Frozen Zombies who we're still persistently chasing us also jumped to the hole without any care in the world. Well, it's their nature but still...

Click! The [Torch] has finally landed at the bottom of the Cave. Alright, we can now clearly see the floor. With that in mind, I princess carried Lemuen as I prepare for a ⟨⟨Double Jump⟩⟩.

"Everyone, get ready!"

The girls focused themselves into landing the floor. The moment all of us had reached a few meters, all of us jumped almost in sync midair, propelling slightly upwards. Next came Akari who just glided using her wings and landed with ease.

With the other problem in mind, I put down Lemuen and leaped upward in great height that looked like I just jumped out of a trampoline. Once I reached the roof the Cave, I grappled to the Ice walls of the Cave and began covering it with stone. The plan is to block the Frozen Zombies from entering the Cave. Of course, we could just kill them with ease, but the Frozen Zombies will just keep coming endlessly which will end up fending them really useless.

While I'm covering the hole as fast as I could, one of the Zombie landed into the roof I'm building. I was about to take my sword up, but the Zombie was suddenly shot into the head by an arrow. No, it wasn't an only arrow but instead, was a pair of bolts of energy in a shape of an arrow.

"Just do what you're doing. We'll handle the Zombies ourselves." Lily, who was sporting a gold bow into her hands assured so.

However, it wasn't just your standard gold bow. The bow was crafted sophisticatedly, having a very detailed to both its design and shape, with little bit of a black design with it. It was a gold bow that wasn't for your average-joe.

"Fuu~ This bow sure was so strong," Lily remarked as she shoots all the falling  Zombies. "And it's easy to use also. The  『Crescent Shot』, was it? It feels like this bow was meant to be mine. Haha~"

Similar to my IDS1,  Shot was  also crafted by sacrificing the four specific weapons which then was merged to turn into what she is holding today. I remembered she was happy and upset at the same time. It was too good to be true weapon, but she needs to sacrifice the gift which is the bow (Bow and  the Radiant Bow) that I gave her. In the end, she resigned on the bargain and here we are.

And also, Nice precognition. Was that a coincidence or Lily really felt it herself? Anyhow, the news will come at a later time.

Now that I've remembered, I still haven't Lily's stats yet, aren't I? Let's see... oh?

『Lily Helianthus』 current stats:

『HP: 800』

『MP: 400』

『Armor: 23』

『AGI: 820-1640』

『DEX: 499(500)』

『ENDURANCE: 729(730)』

  Armor: 『Ancient Damascus Armor』

  Weapon and Equipment:

『Crescent Shot』 『Bane Arbalest』

  Accessory:

『Thunderboots』 『Enchanted Quiver』 『Nihilist Cloak』 『Antipathy Gloves』 『Diamond Hook』

  Skills:

⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Dash⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Passive: Precision⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Triple Jump⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Rapid Life Regeneration⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Quickshot⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Basic Offensive Technique⟩⟩ ⟨⟨Basic Defensive Technique⟩⟩

Man, what numbers. With these stats, she can probably have a chance if she fought Jett on a rematch. I'm still not sure, though. That guy was a crafty one after all.

Everyone also came to fend the falling Zombies. Although it was a bit overkill, it was thanks to them that blocking the hole went faster than expected.

"And the final..."

Finally, with everyone now on the inside, I placed the last stone block to the cover. The [Torch] was now the only source of light, with the rest engulfed with eerie darkness. What to do now...

"So uhh... we're trapped here, huh. How unfortunate." Astra who was looking around nonchalantly remarked. "They weren't lying when they said that the [Artic] was very dangerous."

"Yeah. Looks like we came here in a wrong timing." Luna replied and took the [Torch] that I threw earlier. "It was unexpected that we got caught by a blizzard."

"Really?" I asked, obviously surprised. No wonder the absurd number of monsters... Now that Luna mentioned it, I can hear a violent howl above us, albeit faintly.

"Yes. Although it only appeared after we fell here." Luna nodded.

I see.

"We all manage to get out of a predicament. Although in the end, we're stuck here. I don't know if we call that lucky or not. Ahaha..." Luna remarked, wearing a bitter smile.

"Shall we wait here until morning?" Lemuen suggests. She looks quite pale but it's probably because it's her first time. She'll get used to it surely.

"No," as I said so. I took a bottle of Potion into my pouch and drink it. Shortly, my vision reveals all the Minerals, Chest, and other important items like I'm looking at an X-ray. "We'll continue. It seems like this hole, or should I say, a Cavern, had something great to give us. looks like we hit a jackpot this time."

"Really? I guess destroying the floor was worth it then?"

In response to her shameless remark, I stared at Astra in disbelief, and so, the rest of us (with the exception of Akari). Seeing our dismayed reaction, Astra looks away and shrugged with a grin. This girl...

I cleared my throat as to attract their attention. "Anyways, for starters, Luna."

"Yes?"

* * *

With the plan set in stone, we started to explore the frigid cavern. I, together with Luna who has a bright halo floating in her head we're currently at front, leading the group, while traversing to every possible place with great valuables as per the Potion had told me to. I was also placing some [Torch] through walls as to prevent any monster spawning.

I remember I gave Luna the [Halo] back then when we fought the False Abomination. Hm, it kind of brings me back to my memories. Anyhow, it will finally have its purpose work today. It was stupid of me to forget it when we explore the Jungle, but it is what it is.

"Man, you guys just keep surprising me whenever you guys do something, huh." Astra remarked.

"Ugh, I don't really like displaying it that much, though..."

Seems like Luna didn't really like having something on top of her head, so she decided to hide the Halo since it didn't really tweak to the standard of fashion in this world... why?

Hm, maybe I can do something about it on a later date.

Anyways, after reaching our supposed destination, I stopped midway and stare into the Ice wall. As if I'm seeing something beyond, I began rummaging into my pouch and took out my Pickaxe—the Ancient Damascus Pickaxe.

"Eh, A Pickaxe?! Why do you have something like that...?" Lemuen who was wearing a flabbergasted look voiced out her surprise.

"Ah, it's your first time seeing it, huh." Astra interjected. "I was also as surprised just like you. Man, I still remember on how confuse I was when I saw them suddenly taking a Pickaxe in their inventory and started mining."

"Ahaha... Yes. It's really weird but the Pickaxe was one of the necessary items you'll need when you're on an adventure." Seia added, wearing a bitter smile.

Whilst also listening to the girl's conversation, I started mining into the Ice wall as to create a passageway. The girls who we're having some informative discussion slowly followed suit. Not long after, we we're greeted with another network of small cavern, and laying at the center of it was—

"...a Cabin?" Lemuen confusedly asked.

"...That seems to be the case..." Luna replied.

"...J-just what is the thing between the Cabin and the Underground?" Lily asked, also confused. "Is a Cabin really the ideal structure to build to an underground? I don't get their intentions..."

"What do you think, Master?" Luna turned to me and asked.

"Who knows?" I replied. "Maybe because it's the most efficient and easiest to build since you'll only need some wood to construct it?"

"Ah, that might be the case." Lily who seems to understand something said so.

"Well, shall we head inside, for starters?" I remarked and walked my way towards the Cabin. The girls shortly followed suit.

"Sheesh! We didn't encounter any monsters after coming here, huh. Pretty unusual." I remarked. But as we get close to the Cabin, suddenly, a pair of someone—a Blue-Skinned Caveman and a Bearded Small Elf slammed the door and plunges towards us. Eh?

"Woah—?!"

""—?!""

I immediately took out my sword and strongly sweep it in front of me, but the blade was stuck into the ribs of the Blue-Skinned Caveman whilst the Bearded Small Elf continued to close its distance into mine.

"Master—!"

"Don't worry, I got it!" I interrupted Luna midway and kicked The Blue-Skinned Caveman, or should I call it Mahaha violently, then quickly bend and split my legs to dodge the Bearded Small Elf or Nisse who tried to swipe me with a dagger.

"Noh—?!" I removed my hands into my Serpent's Edge and took the IDS to my pouch then slice the Nisse in half. When I turned into the Mahaha, it was already lying on the ground with a hole pierced into its head. It seems like the girls went to the Mahaha while I finished the latter.

"Huu... That was surprising." I remarked wryly.

"Way to jinx the situation, huh?" Lily who entered the Cabin together with the girls sarcastically said.

"Haha. My bad."

Shrugging Lily's retort, I followed the girls who already went inside the Cabin. The place was just the same as we encountered on some occasions—it was in ruins.

While pondering so, I heard the voice of excitement the same time I entered inside the Cabin. When I entered, an Ice-themed Chest was exposed open to everyone, lying in bare at the wooden floor. 

"Oh! A Treasure Chest!" Lemuen cheered and was about to plunge towards the Chest but was pulled back by Astra.

"Don't be taken by the treasure and narrow your mind." Astra pointed-out. "Such treasure wouldn't be placed revealingly without any countermeasures."

"Correct," I added and picked something on the floor with my Pickaxe, then took it and unveiled the said countermeasure to them.

"A pressure plate..." Lemuen muttered.

"Exactly," I nodded. "Let's be careful next time, okay?"

My eyes influenced by a Potion is telling me that there we're no traps anymore, so I approach the Chest nonchalantly. Akari followed me without any care in the world, but the girls we're still looking wary because of the traps but followed shortly after.

"This is..." The Chest contains some pyramid of loots like Potion, Herbs, Iron bar, and a number of Silver Coins. But the most important item contained in this Chest is...

"...A Boots?" Akari asked.

"A Blizzard Boots." I replied, then took it and flaunted it to the girls who was coming towards us. All of us already had our own Mobility Boots. With the sole exception of someone.

"Lemuen, here."

"Yes?!"

"Take it," I replied, handing her the pair of boots. "You're the only one who still doesn't have any Mobility Boots yet."

"Eh?! ...Is that really okay?" Lemuen turned to the girls, but the girls just nodded without saying anything. "I-I see... then, thank you..."

"Ho... It's different compared to ours, though?" Lily retorted, the girls we're also giving the same impression.

"No need to be reserved," I informed. Then, I noticed that the Potion buffs we're running out, so I drink a variety of them as for replenishment. "Sorry, the buffs we're running out, so anyways—hm?"

"Master? Is there something wrong?"

"No... It's just that..."  Aside from the replenishment, I also drank a Potion called Hawksight Potion—a potion that grants me to see the location of enemies highlighted by a red color. It was a measure so that the surprise attack by the enemies like earlier won't happen again.

On the other hand, anything neutral or considered as safe will be highlighted by green. And right now, I'm currently seeing one... no three? entities highlighted as one.

"Man, I, sure likes to attract troubles, aren't I...?" I mused as I slowly resigned to the unfortunate.