Chapter 5 – Piles of Bones
The giant lay dead on the stone floor of the Serpent's Den. The group of adventurers took advantage of the calm environment to rest before continuing through the dark passages of the dungeon.
The only source of light came from a hole in the ceiling, through which a yellowish beam fell on the lap of the group's assassin, who was sitting on the giant's lifeless body.
She pulled the daggers from her belt and rested them on the creature's back. Then she opened her inventory, equipped a small hammer, and began to carefully tap one of the dagger blades.
“What is she doing?” Skiff asked Ragnar, who was currently healing the knight.
“Why don't you ask her?” the druid replied.
“Skiff, don't be afraid to talk to me. I'm repairing my weapons,” Niki replied. “If you want, I can repair yours too. It's the least I can do.” She tapped the side of her head twice with the hammer.
“But… but if I give you my weapon, you might steal it.”
“Damn, you figured it out!” she joked, slapping her knees. “My plan is ruined.”
Her response was dripping with sarcasm, but after seeing the hunter's embarrassed face, she climbed down from the giant, approached him, and sent a request that also appeared to Ragnar:
Niki would like to repair your equipment for 0 rubros.
With no reason to refuse a free repair, they accepted. All they had to do next was select the equipment.
During this step, Niki said, “I'll only repair your weapons. Artic and I don't have enough iron and wood for more than that.”
“No problem,” said Ragnar.
Niki then started working on their weapons, increasing their durability from 31% and 44% to 51% and 64%.
As soon as she finished, Skiff said, “Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure,” Niki replied.
Ragnar decided to investigate the place while the others were mingling. He began by studying the walls of the place, looking for clues to the whereabouts of the group of druids sent to this lair.
His enhanced vision indicated the presence of blood in the same pattern as the stains found in the snake chamber.
He went deeper, closer to the chamber's exit, where it was darker. Mr. Plissken, the allied snake, flicked his tongue, not in threat, but as if he wanted to show something. Ragnar followed the snake to the darkest corner of the place.
A strong stench of rot made him hesitate for a moment, his eyes watering with each breath. Ragnar conjured Will-o'-the-Wisp, and the greenish light revealed a dozen bodies piled up near the wall.
After the initial shock, he covered his nose with one hand. These were the bodies of giants, similar to the one they had defeated.
Ragnar called the rest of the group.
“What is it?” Artic asked as soon as he arrived, but stopped when the stench invaded his nostrils. “Ew, gross!”
The druid pointed his spear at the pile, illuminating the decomposing bodies.
“Holy shit!” exclaimed Niki, who didn't have to worry about the bad smell, as her assassin's outfit already came with a black mask.
“Someone was here before us,” said Ragnar.
“Indeed,” the knight agreed.
“We'd better prepare ourselves before moving on. Since you two don't have any healing potions left, I'll give you one each.” Ragnar opened the exchange menu and handed Artic and Niki a potion each. “Skiff, do you still have those overpriced potions you bought in Bremer?”
“Yeah.”
“Great.” Ragnar turned to the knight. “Artic, since you're the only one here with a shield, you're perfect to lead the formation. Niki, I suggest you stay behind him and be on the lookout for traps. Assassins have enhanced vision similar to druids. I'll stay second to last, as I can attack up close with my spear and from afar with my Lightning Bolts. If we're attacked from behind, I can hold out for a while using my bear form. So, Skiff, don't worry if the worst happens. I'll be here to help you, but I need you to hit our targets with arrows so that no one breaks formation.”
“What an incredible strategy!” Niki said, raising her right fist in excitement.
“Yes, sir, supreme leader,” Artic scoffed, rolling his eyes.
The group advanced into the lair in the formation suggested by Ragnar. That section of the cave consisted of dark, damp corridors connected by smaller chambers. Nothing could be heard but their own footsteps. More decomposing bodies were found along the way.
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A thud echoed through the cave, followed by a faint rattling, like dragging chains in a horror movie. The group looked at each other, but no one spoke, so they moved on. With each room they passed, the sound of dragging chains grew louder.
They hurried to a small hall lit by torches attached to half a dozen pillars. A deep, prolonged growl reverberated off the walls, causing Artic to recoil in shock. Niki, also nervous, held him by the shoulders, comforting him. “Calm down...”
“It was just a little scare, I’m totally fine!” said Artic, somewhat irritated.
Ragnar studied the environment, a circular room similar to the others, but longer, less than three meters high, with concave walls of greenish stones.
In the center of the hall were two piles of bones that fell a few centimeters short of the ceiling. Ragnar, suspicious, pointed his spear at the pile on the left and conjured a Lightning Bolt. The electric discharge ran through his spear, crackled in the air, and struck the pile, pulverizing half of the bones and scattering the others nearby. His action resulted in the appearance of five messages:
Skeleton Soldier defeated
Skeleton Soldier defeated
Skeleton Soldier defeated
Skeleton Soldier defeated
Skeleton Soldier defeated
“Destroy the pile on the right, quickly!” the druid ordered as the bones not destroyed by his lightning began to shake.
Artic and Niki advanced, but they weren't fast enough. Skiff managed to shoot an arrow, but it hit the top of the pile, knocking down a small fraction of the whole. The intact bones rattled until they rearranged themselves into fifteen humanoid skeletal forms.
The good news was that the skeletons were gathered close together.
Artic took the lead by stepping forward, swinging his flail high and bringing it down on the skull of the nearest enemy, stunning him and allowing Niki to deliver a series of six stabs to its back. With its health points reduced to zero, the skeleton's bones crumbled to dust.
“Watch out!” the knight shouted, pushing the assassin back with an elbow.
Niki fell backward onto the ground and cursed through clenched teeth and angry eyes. Immediately afterwards, she swung her legs in the air and used the momentum to lift herself up with a forward jump.
“Interesting,” Ragnar said quietly as he caught the assassin's movement in his peripheral vision.
But the knight needed help, as he was surrounded by skeletons, and all he could do was block their attacks with his shield.
Ragnar saw Artic's health bar decrease but remained calm and cast a Healing Breeze on him. Even so, the knight's health continued to plummet. Looking over his shoulder, Skiff was firing arrow after arrow, and Niki was striking several skeletons at once.
“Artic, use a potion and retreat toward me.”
“It's too early…” His health points were approaching 10% of the total.
“Just do as I say,” Ragnar insisted.
Despite his reluctance, Artic snorted and followed the suggestion.
The druid took a deep breath, assumed a combat stance, and lunged at the formation of skeletons, aiming to position himself next to the knight.
Ragnar swung his spear, striking all the skeletons around him to draw their attention, but before the first undead could swing its sword, he transformed into a bear.
The transformation caused a strong shockwave within a two-meter radius, throwing the struck skeletons against those attacking the knight. In two moves, Ragnar drew the enemies' attention to himself.
In animal form, he advanced in the opposite direction from where his group was. During the escape, he returned to human form, thrust his spear into the skull of a skeleton, parried a sword with the shaft, and spun his leg in a sweep that knocked down two others.
Now he was at the opposite end of the hall. The army of skeletons was coming, their bones cracking with every step. Ragnar checked his health points; they were at half, which was acceptable considering the situation.
And his main goal was achieved. The knight had recovered more than half of his health points thanks to the health potion.
The druid cast his healing magic on himself and followed up with a Lightning Bolt against a skeleton, throwing it against the wall and causing additional damage that scattered its bones across the hall.
His mana was below 10%, too low to continue casting spells at will. To get around the problem, he consumed the mana potion he had bought at the Sanctuary of Lilies.
Eight skeletons remained with full health.
Artic returned to combat, striking one with his flail and shield-butting another to allow Niki to stab it in the back.
From a safe distance, Skiff took aim and used his Precise Shot skill. The projectile whizzed through the air and shattered the bones of the third skeleton. A loud crack resounded, signaling a critical hit that neutralized yet another.
Ragnar stepped back and reveled in the sight of the three fighting together against the remaining skeletons. The battle was brief, ending with Niki obliterating the last one with a kick to the back.
“You fought well,” said Ragnar. “Artic had good situational awareness and made the right decision to save his friend and protect us at that moment.” Then he turned to Niki. "Your movement is excellent. Your strikes are precise. There's no doubt Assassin is the perfect class for you.” He finished by looking at Skiff. “I'm glad to see you managed to keep your cool.”
Artic smiled mockingly in response to the compliments. “Your tone is getting on my nerves. Who do you think you are to say whether we fight well or not?”
“I used to be a professional.”
“Don't get me wrong,” Niki interjected. “You fought well, but not much better than us, and definitely not to the point of calling yourself a professional.”
“Don't you believe me?” asked Ragnar, with a smug smile on his face.
Artic and Niki confirmed their disbelief.
“I believe you,” admitted Skiff.
Ragnar even thought about telling the truth, but it was still too early. He knew he would be hunted across the country if everyone knew about his return.
So he raised his head, looked them in the eye, and announced, “I plan to start a guild when I reach level 20, so I'd like to know if you'd like to be part of it.”
“Take it easy, Mr. Professional,” said Artic. “One step at a time. You still have 15 levels to go before you get there.”
Ragnar stretched and issued a challenge. “How about a bet? Whoever reaches level 20 first wins.”
“If you win, we'll join your guild?” Niki predicted his intentions.
He agreed and announced his part of the bet. “Now, if one of you wins, I'll be your healer for a month, and I promise to willingly hand over all the spoils and rewards our group earns.”
The knight and the assassin looked at each other.
“That's not a bad idea,” said Artic.
“Healers are hard to find,” added Niki, excitedly. “We accept the bet. May the best one win.”
