CH7: Dealing With Numbers

The time elapsed, bringing my spell back to use. I needed every advantage I could get against the monsters in the dungeon. I was most likely on a relatively high floor, close to the exit. That or the dungeon felt sorry for me.

Lit torches weren't the best light sources; the shifting shadows could easily hide traps. Being alone didn't help my chances either; no one said a dungeon had to play fair.

My steps through the dungeon were cautious. I wasn't Indiana Jones; I would probably die if I hit a trap. Not far from where I started, another undead walked aimlessly. The monster followed a track and didn't seem likely to change it.

I whispered, "Burst," the monster immediately turned to me and roared. From around the corner, two more undead stepped through as I lunged, gripped the butt of the spear, and poked forward. Standing at my full height helped my reach extend a little further.

My spear jammed into the side of the zombie's face missing its eyesocket. Another zombie slapped my spear, knocking it out of my current foe while the other lunged for me. Fighting three enemies felt impossible; I was already getting overwhelmed. So I jabbed the closest zombie repeatedly.

While I focused on one, the other two tackled me. Just when one fell apart, the other two bit me. I managed to position one of the bites to only get my glove. The other bit my leg hard. I screamed and punched the zombie. Its head turned aside despite the leather helmet.

I fought them on the ground, flailing until I managed to get my spear lined up. My spear shot through the zombie's eye socket this time, and the monster biting me stopped. I pulled my spear back as the third zombie stood back up. Its rotten eyes faced me, and it lunged for me. My spear punched through its throat while burst dealt extra double damage.

With two down, the other was alone, biting my gloved arm. I struggled to my feet as it tore its head side to side, bruising me. The glove held up like magic.

The dombie zog was a maggot-ridden mess barely held together with leather armor and mangy fur. Yellow muscles were covered in green maggots long and thick as angel hair noodles broke through the skin. Something was happening to them; they were in an in-between process of monster and corpse. I didn't want to see what they would become or smell it.

I drew my spear back with my hand in the middle of the haft. With a single thrust, I pierced the monster's eye socket for a crit. The last undead melted into goop, and I was exhausted.

Less than four minutes have passed since I encountered the three, but it felt like I ran a marathon. There was no level-up; I had to kill 7 more to heal. Blood flowed from my hip wound, black and clotty. I didn't know if that was a bonus from my constitution or the nasty beginnings of an infection. Maybe the undead clotted wounds to seal up infections in the host.

Notifications were still blessedly off, and I didn't want to check my stats. My red health bar was still well over half, and my green stamina bar was recovering quickly. Mana had barely taken a hit from my burst spell.

From the goo, three items appeared.

Leather Boots lvl1

Rarity: Common

DEF: 2

+1 DEX

Value: 10 Credits

Gambeson lvl1

Rarity: Common

DEF: 5

+2 CON

Value: 40 Credits

Magic Pants lvl1

Rarity: Uncommon

DEF: 7

+2 CON

+1 STR

Value: 60 Credits

There were some problems with my latest drops. While my boots were brown, my pants were red, and the gambeson coat was bright green with flower patterns. The dungeon was thankfully cold; otherwise, I might overheat. It was unfortunate I would get blood all over my new magic pants.

Instead of changing out in the open like a fool, I returned to the cell. The cell door was almost shut, and I kept my eyes on the corpse on the bench. Once I buttoned up the thick long-sleeved coat that extended past my knees, I removed my shorts and put on my pants. The magic from the armor upped my CON, directly adding to my health pool.

That would be unbelievably great news if I was healing normally. There was little in the way of regeneration in my current state. It might have been an ability or a milestone for DEX, but with the additions to my CON, my remaining health didn't increase.

I tore a piece of my wife beater off and wrapped my wound. That should have been my first act, but my mind was clouded by the increased stats. A higher DEF that covered my body was what I needed most. Bites hurt like hell, and I had taken too many of them.

Once my sound was wrapped, I tried putting some weight on my leg and felt comfortable. Then I finished armoring up and felt far more secure. I was sure that was a trap by the dungeon. Give a guy what they need to make them bold and stupid, and they will run onto the lion's claws.