Chapter 27

Chapter 27

We sat around a fire and I recalled Rose having sparked one to life. If her Class had something to do with fire, as evidenced by that [Firebolt], then it made sense. I was sitting on a log, surreptitiously glancing at the others over a kebab of glistening gloom tiger meat. Apparently, Jack had a Skill that allowed him to determine if something was edible. Technically, I had one too, but this method was more convenient.

Elsewhere in the [Sleepywood], my clones were on reconnaissance.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

The increased PER was tangible. Every sound and movement somehow more pronounced. There was a layer beneath the eerie quiet of the woods, a sound unheard, like the buzz of insects lost to the monotony.

A clone dodged forward as a snarlingthing appeared. This time it was an oddly lithe creature, having been pressed against the shadow of a tree. Two arms came down into scythes and its bug-like eyes were complimented with horns.

Its arm came down, aimed for my neck. Idly, I noticed I wasnt panicking. I saw its strike, traced the path in a moment between moments. I was processing it faster, much faster than I should. It was taller than me, hunting me, but I never faltered.

Sixth dodged again, coming to his feet in half-surprise. Then Seventh came, peeling away from the treeline and approaching from behind. From the other side, Eighth and then Ninth, until suddenly it was surrounded.

The scythes came down again but I had a view from four different angles. I watched myself dodge, never in danger for a moment, mastery of that singular space unparalleled. An itch across all my senses, [Solos Instinct] working in tandem across all my clones, amplified even.

None of my clones had any weapons. And if not for the Title and boost to my physical stats, my numbers wouldnt have meant much. As it stood, my clones reached the physical attributes of my prior original self, and then a bit more.

Each of my selves weaved between its strikes and I didnt freeze or panic, locked in a state of flow. I didnt hesitate to get close, oddly confident at being untouched. I grappled the creature down, clones tearing at its limbs with a foot on its joints and a pull with both arms. Multiple arms, at times.

It died quietly, without sound, and left four Evahns coming down from adrenaline.

[Dungeon Notice]: For defeating a Gloaming Scythe, you are rewarded with a [Dark Wand].

How long are we talking? Someone asked, concerned.

Days at least. This time I recognized Jack. Were leveling, getting useful Items, if everyone comes out stronger weve got more tools to survive once we leave. We cant let an opportunity like this go to waste.

So what? We just hunt? Go out, search for monsters, and kill them?

It might be for the best, Parker replied.

There were a few murmurs and I listened to that buzzing noise, that frequency of thought. It was strange, grabbing snippets of internal monologue. Less daunting, now that I could practice in close proximity. The general sentiment was agreement and nervousness.

I directed my mental focus on Rose, whose thoughts were already hard to ignore. Reaching for that mental equilibrium, where all other noise was filtered and only a clear stream of thought remained, wouldve been impossible without the increase in mental attributes.

Evahn, what do you think of all this? She asked once the conversation died down and people spread out. He seems oddly relaxed. Is he not nervous?

I glanced at her, catching curious blue eyes. Someone has to take that first step, right? I dont think we can survive without getting stronger. Theres no telling what else is out there in the swamp. Or the rest of the world, for that matter.

Hes right, you know. Parker joined, holding a skewer over the fire. People need to see that, for their own good.

He nodded to me politely and I felt his gaze linger before he turned back to the fire. Hes stronger than he looks. He was the first person saving people and he somehow knew how to deal with the rootmothers mind control. His gaze flicked back to me. Im glad hes here, at least.

I scratched my head. Well, lets hope we can make our time here worthwhile.