Chapter One Hundred and Ninety - Deadweight

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety - Deadweight

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety - Deadweight

We huddled together a little as we walked down the dark tunnel leading into the dungeon. I had cleaning magic glowing in my hand, and Amaryllis cast a light spell that followed over her shoulder. Even the buns had some magic to light their path, and yet the darkness swallowed it all.

Imagine a nine-pointed star, Peter said. He, like the other buns, didnt seem bothered by the dark at all.

Oh, okay, Awen said.

Right, this fortress, the ruins behind us, used to be shaped like a squarish star. Four points around a square, he continued.

Thats just a square with more edge, Amaryllis muttered.

This dungeon was originally the same. Four areas. Then five, six, and now nine.

The path ahead lightened up a little, and soon we were crossing under the tooth-like bars of a giant portcullis. We were in a city. An old medieval city, like Needleford, or Fort Sylphrot, only unlike those, there was no life here. The sky was a near-monotone grey, only deeper shadows hinting at the fact that there were clouds above.

The buildings around us were in ruins, with broken windows and smashed walls. A few had signs of fire damage, and everywhere I looked, huge roots poked out of the ground and tore into the houses. They looked normal though, not terribly evil.

I shivered as a soft, cold wind tickled the back of my neck.

First floor used to be nothing but ghosts. Low level ones at that, Peter said. Now the walls between this floor and the next have broken. He looked around, wary. There are more roots now.

So, theres no central path through this dungeon? Amaryllis asked.

Carrot was the one to answer. Yup, there is. If you imagine this place looking like a wheel, with each floor being a spoke, then the middle is the safe zone. Every time you finish a floor, you can access the next floor through the wall, but theres also a door to the middle that opens. So you can go there to leave the dungeon, or reach any other floor that youd already cleared. She snapped her fingers. Clearing a floor means opening the gate to the next floor, not killing everything. Sometimes monsters that you didnt kill earlier will move through the safe zone from a previous level.

I nodded. That meant we had to watch our backs. It was a good thing the buns were so strong and cool or else this place would be really dangerous.

The chill in the air grew a lot worse, and even though the false sky above was a brilliant blue, and it felt warm on my skin, I still felt as though my skin was rippling with goosebumps.

I saw Busters one ear twitch. Left, he said.

I looked over to the left, then gulped.

The first ghosts were those bleeding out of the walls, first a few, then dozens more. They moved through the air slowly and gently, so many white forms packed so close together that I might have mistaken them for a rolling wall of fog.

Insight, I said as I looked to one of them.

Spirit of Forgotten Pain, Level 8.

Not too strong, but there had to be well over a hundred.

Hmph, Buster said as he moved over and planted his shield into the ground with a dull thump. Orders? he asked.

Momma tilted her head to the side, ears flopping a little. Lets move to the gate to the second floor, she said. Peter, take care of the ghosts.

Yes maam, Peter said.

Buster huffed again as he lifted his shield. Very well.

Were just leaving Peter here? I asked.

Momma nodded. Dont worry, hell get all of them. Ghosts like that are best attacked using wide-area abilities. We dont want to be around in case we get caught in that. She took off, heading towards the right and around an intersection in the middle of the road. I jogged after her along with my friends, but I couldnt help but glance over my shoulder.

Peter was stretching before the wall of ghosts, leaning one way until his little white bun tail wiggled, then all the way to the other side.

Just as I was about to turn around to try and help, the bun disappeared.

Two dozen ghosts warped as lines were cut into and through them.

Carrot continued to clear the next floor, slowing down as the number of skeletons pouring out towards her fell to a trickle. Some were armed, with swords and shields and spread, but that didn't seem to slow her down at all.

Were done.

I jumped and spun around to see Peter casually walking over. He was rubbing a rag over a long knife. Well done, Momma said. Buster, the gate please?

Buster nodded, then grunted as he started to spin the wheel again. The portcullis rose, and soon we were moving past and into the dungeons second floor.

Any trouble? Momma asked Peter.

Not really, he said. I chipped the edge of one of my favourite knives with a bad swing. I need to practice a bit more it seems.

Youll never be done practicing, Momma said. Thats how things work.

Peter hummed as he tucked his knife away and moved past up.

Awa, these buns are kind of scary, Awen whispered next to me.

I nodded. I didnt know buns could be scary. They look so fluffy.

Arent you the very image of someone who doesnt look terrifying, but is? Amaryllis asked.

I snorted. What are you talking about? Im not scary. Im friendly.

My harpy friend rolled her eyes and moved on past us. Bastion waited by the gate for us to pass, then stayed right behind us as we moved into the second floor. I dont think Ive ever crossed a dungeon this quickly before, he said.

This is just the second floor, I said. Is it weird that its called a floor even though its all on the same level? The last dungeons we were in all had distinct sections, but this one feels kinda... same-y.

Amaryllis shrugged. Its not entirely unusual. This seems to be a very straightforward dungeon. Dangerous, but in a simple way.

Carrot hopped over to our group, then stretched her arms out wide. That was fun! she said. Dont often get to just stomp out a bunch of weak monsters like that.

Youre very strong, I said.

Aww, thanks captn, she said. I remember when I first came here. My tail was shaking as if it was caught in a storm. Its kinda fun to return here after so long.

Havent you escorted a few little ones here for training? Momma asked.

Carrot ran her hands through her hair and brushed her ears back. Ah, yeah but that doesnt count. Babysitting dutys not the same.

You bring the little buns here? I asked.

Just those that are a bit older, Momma said. Its good to make sure that every bun knows how to defend themselves, no matter what they want to do when theyre older. Some find a love for it, some come to appreciate the difficulty those keeping the forest safe have to face, and a rare few decide to become the next generation of defenders."

Isnt that dangerous for the little ones though?

Awa, I think... maybe not doing it is more dangerous? Awen fiddled with the string of her crossbow. I lived in a big safe city, we had people to protect us, but out here theres none of that. Um, a monster could sneak into Hopsalot at any time?

We wouldnt let that happen, Carrot said. But... yeah, it could. Youre a clever little human, arent you?

Awa? Awen asked. No, its just logical, I guess.

I tapped my chin. Insmouth doesnt approach it the same way, I dont think.

We are not Insmouth, Momma said. Were just a little village of buns that wants to live in peace.

I nodded along. I couldnt argue against that.

The next walls coming up, Buster said. Out ahead of us, right up against the edge of the graveyard, was another wall like the last. This one in even worse shape, with large sections entirely missing and revealing the one huge building on the other side. Get ready. The first boss is coming up.

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