Chapter 25: Dungeon (IV)
Chapter 24: Dungeon (IV).
Francisca's POV
"We need to watch our step. It's dark and the monsters that you've warned me about could be lurking close." When we got into the cave, we could see nothing but darkness.
This was the entrance onto the next section of the labyrinth.
"Can you do your fireball spell again, human?" (Elre) asked politely… still calling me human.
I lowered the brightness of my phone and glanced at how many glowing red rights there were about ten meters away from us. "[Fire Magic: Fireball]."
The moment light filled the cave, as I raised my hand a little I saw huge teeth right in front of me and almost bit my head off clean-!
"...!"
I managed to dodge it in time and took the dagger that was in my other hand, stabbing the monster right in the eye upon instinct.
"RAWHHH!" A screeching sound that was similar to a cat's cry of pain was let out- the only difference was this… made the ground vibrate.
The other monsters that were part of the pack started pouncing on us the moment one of their buddies got hurt.
"A night prowler?! But those are supposed to be on the second level-" (Elre) seemed to be shocked upon the discovery of the monster and took one of his arrows, loading it into his bow with speed before releasing it with wind magic. "How could they be here at this time?!"
It must be because… the labyrinth sections are moving.
The night prowler seemed to be creatures that looked similar to a cat but with gray and black patterns similar to a tiger, sharp claws that retract and teeth large as a saber tooth.
The night prowler that I managed to hit with the dagger in its eye was now glaring at me, and bellowed with rage.
Well after that much contact let's see what information I can get using [Scan]!
"[Scan]!"
{Properties}
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Name: Night Prowler
Monster Class/Element: Dark
Monster Rank: Dangerous (Level: III)
Note: A [Night Prowler] is a feline monster that evokes sinister, stealthy, and predatory, feeding on the fear of the unknown that darkness brings. This creature would likely be one that thrives in the shadows, exploiting the cover of night to stalk its prey.
Its presence would be felt long before it's seen, with whispers of movement or fleeting glimpses creating a sense of paranoia and terror. A night prowler would be relentless, following its victims over time, wearing them down psychologically as well as physically.
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"Wait, what's this thing's weakness?!" I tried doing [Scan] again but it only gives me this, don't tell me I have to actually find out what this thing's weakness is before it could register onto my information system?!
"C-Can you handle this by yourself Elre?" I asked the elven boy who laughed dryly. I just need a few minutes to find out what the weakness of this thing is, maybe I can get it through the book that he gave me.
"Of course, I can! I am the son of a chief! I won't die that easily!" Is what he says but he wasn't expecting to have one if the night prowlers sneaking up on him, leaving his back completely open.
"H-Human, help me!"
"Watch out!"
I have to help him, quick!
What magic did he say that I needed to use- oh! Right earth Magic!
"[Earth Magic]!" With a flick of my hand a pillar of rock appeared behind the night prowler and hit it hard, making it fly across the wall leaving Elre free.
"Whew! You have my gratitude, human!" He takes another arrow and shoots it onto the other night prowlers encircling him.
Even the one I knocked off with a rock pillar didn't get much damage, I need something sharper and stronger.
Ordinary rocks won't be able to kill them with that tough body of theirs, I don't even have a proper weapon on me… but!
"[Map]."
That's it!
I saw silver ore purities that were in this cave and got to work quickly. "Okay! [Earth Magic: Deform]!"
I placed my hand onto the ground of the cave, and concentrated on finding the silver metal that was resting in the walls of the cave for god who knows how long and controlled them to be formed outside into a sharp thick needle.
"Human what are you-?!"
Deforming them into a shape that I wanted, adding sharpness and controlling them to where they needed to go proved to be difficult.
"Hngh…"
But not impossible!
I aimed right into the head of the night prowlers and released the thick silver needle right through the head of the monsters, leaving blood splattered everywhere.
Some of the blood got to my sleeve and I tried wiping it off clean, "Ew."
The blood wasn't coming off as expected.
There were enough silvers for me to make about fifteen needles, that was all the night prowlers… gone and it seems I will be leaving their bodies to rot and be feasted on by other monsters roaming around the area.
"I hope you don't mind but I finished them off before you could get hurt." I could see Elre saying nothing as he bends down into one of the night prowler's corpses, inspecting my work.
"A… silver needle, made with an elite spell… by a child. Taking the resources of the dungeon, using it to make simple tools to kill enemies with a single blow." (Elre) grazes the needle slightly before standing up. "You even made sure to hit them in the head, not even an elfing would know where to hit."
Suddenly, the expression on his face looked so relieved. "This is what my father meant when he told me, you were stronger than I am."
It… took me a while of acting but when you're in a dungeon where you need to fight in order to get out alive-
"..."
I was expecting me to call me a freak or that the true monster in this dungeon was me-
But instead he shrugs, taking the dagger off the first night prowler that I attacked and giving it back to me. "I respect a warrior spirit, even if it is a human child. You are peculiar indeed but who am I to judge?"
Eh?
Wait, he's not going to question me and interrogate me more about the whole thing? Most normal people would be shocked or confused if they saw a child killing literal [Level: III] dangerous monsters.
"If you have the strength to finally defeat that monster then I trust your power. You can have this by the way." He offers the dagger once more, it was covered in blood.
I awkwardly took it out of his hand for politeness, holding it by the handle and was grateful that Elre trusts me. "T-Thank you… for the dagger and not asking too many questions."
"Oh… wait, asking questions is not allowed?" He tilts his head rather adorably as we press on to the new section of the labyrinth.
"It's okay to ask questions, just not too personal ones."
I made sure to take the new tools I made in my [Inventory] before leaving. They might be a bit dirty but still could be of good use.
"My name is Francisca Schuyler by the way, I noticed that you're still calling me human. I think it's about time you called me by my name."
"It's a pleasure to meet you then, Francisca." He lowers his head, placing a hand to his chest and addressing me. "You may be human and a child but you have earned my trust and respect, truly I appreciate you helping me back then or else I would've been clawed to death."
"I have your back, we're the only ones who can protect each other so… it's a pleasure to meet and to be working with you, Elre."
"Human children have manners too." He proceeded to pat my head before we talked some more about each other's lives.