Shadow's Call in Orario [[Damachi]]

A few corridors deeper, I picked my way forward carefully, my eyes scanning not just for monsters but for the telltale shimmer of mineral deposits. I had tried using the pick on the dungeon walls but it didn't do anything to it at all, Strange.

Not long after, I slowed, squinting at a small alcove where the rock looked discolored. Sure enough, a cluster of dull gray lumps was half-buried in the wall, ore outcrops.

Nyx hopped down from my shoulder, landing silently, while the Shadow Konchu on my chest chirped as I approached the stone. The shell pressed against my ribs as I shifted the shield around, freeing the pick. Dragonite Ore might be on a lower floor, but Iron and Machalite could be gathered here.

I raised the pick and swung. Sparks danced as metal struck the ore. The first hit barely chipped the surface. I braced my legs and tried again, adjusting my angle. This time a chunk of dark-gray ore dislodged, clattering to my feet. I scooped it up and recognized the faint metallic sheen of Iron Ore. Perfect. I worked steadily, ignoring the discomfort throbbing in my arms. Another piece of Iron Ore, then another, until I had enough to meet at least part of the quest's requirement.

Further along the corridor, a section of bluish rock caught my eye. Machalite Ore usually had a faint, almost turquoise hue. Kneeling, I tapped at the outcrop with the pick. Sure enough, after a few good strikes, small chunks of bluish-green stone fell free. It was tougher to break off than Iron, but I managed, sweat trickling down my neck as I collected the sparkling pieces. I slipped them into my backpack, careful not to crush the Monster Fluid or Armor Sphere I'd already stowed.

I wiped my forehead, leaning on the pick for a moment. Nyx's ears twitched, and she let out a low, warning growl. I didn't need to ask what was wrong. Footsteps, heavy, scraping footsteps echoed from around the bend.

I barely had time to stash the pick back in its makeshift holder before a pair of kobolds rushed at us, teeth bared, claws clacking against the stone floor. They must've heard my mining.

I moved to meet them head-on. My sword flashed in the dim light as the first kobold lunged. I sidestepped, shield raised, letting its claws rake uselessly across the metal rim. The Konchu on my chest clung tight. Before the kobold could recover, I brought my blade down, hacking into its shoulder. It screeched, twisting away, only to stagger right into Nyx's wooden katana. It distracted the creature long enough for me to finish it with a swift slash to the neck. The kobold dissolved into fragments of ash.

The second kobold came in from my left, hoping to catch me while I was still killing its friend. I caught its movement in the corner of my eye and spun, sword singing through the air. The kobold ducked beneath the strike, snapping at my leg. I hopped back, gritting my teeth against the ache in my wounded shin. Enough playing around. As it rushed again, I raised my shield, caught its head-on charge, and shoved forward. It stumbled. I didn't wait, my sword plunged straight into its torso, cutting short its snarl. With a fading howl, it vanished.

I breathed hard, shoulders tense, waiting for more. Nothing came. Good. I relaxed slightly. My throat felt dry. The Dragonite Ore, though, was still missing. That meant I'd have to push deeper.

As I gathered my bearings and walked for a bit, I heard voices further down the corridor, hushed conversation, the clink of metal against stone, and a few muffled laughs. Other adventurers. I stepped forward cautiously until I saw them, their silhouettes outlined by the glow of a nearby crystal cluster. Three or four of them, maybe more, standing at an intersection. They wore mismatched armor, carried weapons in decent shape, and seemed relaxed. 

For a second, I considered calling out, maybe they'd have information, or maybe they'd be hostile. This wasn't a game where I'd trust everyone on sight. Still, they looked engaged in their own conversation, not searching for trouble. Carefully, I eased back, letting their voices drift past without interfering. They didn't notice me, too busy discussing something about a rare drop they'd gotten. It didn't seem worth the risk of announcing myself.

The idea wasn't ideal. Hell, it was downright reckless. But the risk was better than being alone if my summon turned out to be more than I could handle. The monsters were random. I wasn't ready to roll the dice without backup.

I scanned the corridor behind me, making sure the adventurers I'd passed earlier were out of view before ducking into a branching passage. Nyx, her ears flicking in curiosity and settled nearby. 

"Alright," I muttered under my breath, gripping my sword and bracing myself for what was about to come. "Let's hope this isn't a colossal mistake."

With a deep breath, I whispered, "Summon Monster."

The air in the corridor changed instantly, the temperature dropping as a cold, unnatural breeze swept past me. A dark inky slime came from the dungeon wall in front of me, shadows twisting and spiraling. My knuckles whitened around my sword hilt as I prepared to face whatever came through.

The sound of a thud echoed through the corridor as something massive dropped onto the stone floor. Dust kicked up around its hulking form as the shadows dispersed, revealing the summoned monster: a Chatacabra.

The thing was gigantic. Easily the size of a small boulder, its burly, amphibious body shimmered with a thick, slimy texture. Blue and green scales lined its back, but its forelimbs, those massive, rocky fists, drew my immediate focus. They were covered in stones, the saliva-drenched rocks adhered to its arms like clubs. Its huge, fleshy red tongue lolled out of its mouth, and its beady eyes fixed directly on me.

"Of course," I muttered. "Big, ugly, and ready to hit me."

The Chatacabra let out a deep, guttural roar, shaking the walls as it lunged forward, slamming its stone-encased fists toward me. I barely had time to raise my shield. The impact was brutal, the sheer force of its strike sending shockwaves through my body. My feet left the ground, and before I knew it, I was flying backwards.

I crashed into the floor, skidding across stone and landing in a crumpled heap near the corridor's entrance. Pain throbbed through my ribs, and my shield arm ached. The Konchu shell clung tightly to my chest, the impact thankfully blunted. Still, that fucking hurt.

Perfect, I thought, groaning as I looked up. The Chatacabra lumbered after me, heavy steps shaking the floor.

Voices rang out from the corridor I'd passed earlier. The adventurers. I heard their confused shouts:

"What the hell is that?!"

"Is that a new monster?!"

"Get ready! Rare monster!"

I couldn't help but smirk as I rolled to my feet, sword still in hand. The Chatacabra's roar echoed again, but this time it wasn't just focused on me. The adventurers, four of them, by my count, were already moving into position. They all wore clothes with the symbol of the Ganesha Familia.

The other three closed the gap, weapons drawn. Their leader, a tall woman with a spear, called out orders. "Spread out! Keep its arms busy! We're capturing this thing!"

Capturing? That's when I realized they weren't here to kill it. Tamers had different priorities. And that… complicated things.

The Chatacabra swung its massive arms again, but this time, the adventurers were ready. The spearman dodged left, his strikes fast and precise, keeping the creature's focus. The tamer began working his whip, shouting commands as a faint, unnatural hum filled the air, magic. 

I stepped back, sword still ready, watching as they worked the Chatacabra into a corner. Nyx appeared at my side, her tail flicking in agitation as she watched the fight. I muttered low enough for her to hear, "Yeah, I know. I shouldn't have dragged them into this." Nyx moved to hide in my shadow.

Minutes passed as they chipped away at the creature's stamina. The tamer shouted one final command, and with a crack of his whip, a golden net of energy flared into existence. It wrapped around the Chatacabra, tightening as the monster roared in frustration, unable to move. Finally, it collapsed into a heap, still alive but bound.

The adventurers cheered, panting as they regrouped around the subdued monster.

I stayed back, sheathing my sword, heart still racing from the earlier blow. That's when their leader spotted me. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she stalked over, spear still in hand. "Hey, you," she called out, her voice firm. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I said, brushing dust from my tunic and trying to look casual. "Thanks for the save."

Her gaze lingered on me, assessing, as the tamer and others began securing the Chatacabra. "What the hell was that thing doing on the first floor? I've never seen anything like it."

"Neither have I," I said quickly, hoping my expression stayed neutral. "I heard something rumbling from this corridor and thought it was just kobolds."

She didn't seem convinced. Her grip tightened on her spear. 

The tamer's voice broke the tension as he approached, a satisfied grin on his face. "Rare find," he said, motioning toward the bound Chatacabra. "This beast will fetch a fortune. Ganesha is going to love this one."

The others started packing up, clearly claiming the monster as theirs. My stomach sank, there went any chance of harvesting materials. I'd summoned it, taken the hit, and gotten no reward for the risk. Brilliant plan, I thought bitterly.

"You can head out now," the spearwoman said, waving me off. "We'll handle the rest. And don't get any ideas about touching that monster."

I didn't argue. There was no way they'd let me near it. 

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered under my breath as I turned away, slinging my backpack higher on my shoulders. Feeling a wetness coming from it, great seems the monster fluid broke.

At least the quest marked itself as complete. I hadn't needed to kill the thing. Small consolation. I pushed forward into the Dungeon, gritting my teeth. Dragonite Ore still waited somewhere below, and I wasn't leaving until I had it.

The first floor was proving to be as frustrating as it was dangerous. The ore outcrops were sparse. Each one required careful inspection, and even when I found them. My pick clanged against the stone repeatedly as I chipped away at another outcrop, sweat dripping down my brow. 

Another crack, another chunk of ore fell loose. "Machalite," I muttered, picking up the faintly blue rock and slipping it into my backpack. That made 12 Machalite Ore and 15 Iron Ore. No Dragonite Ore yet.

"Nyx, I'm starting to think this damn stuff doesn't even exist on the first floor."

"Nyanyoo!" Nyx chirped, flicking her tail. She tapped at the pick I held, gesturing dramatically before flopping back down in mock exhaustion. She might as well have been saying, "You're slow, partner."

"Yeah, thanks for the support," I muttered, shaking my head. The shadows on the walls flickered as I turned away from the outcrop. The air was still, the faint hum of the Dungeon ever-present.

I pressed forward cautiously, avoiding the scattered kobold patrols I could hear in the distance. After my earlier fights, I wasn't exactly eager to keep testing my luck. The Konchu shifted slightly on my chest, its shell vibrating faintly.

Rounding a corner, I finally spotted something promising: a stairwell carved into the stone, leading downward. The second floor.

"Looks like we're moving on," I muttered, adjusting my backpack. Nyx stood next to me her tiny paws on the stone floor. She sniffed at the air, her glowing eyes scanning the corridor ahead.

"Nyanya," she trilled, hopping back up to my shoulder and batting the Konchu's shell lightly.

"Yeah, I know. The second floor's gonna be worse," I said, gripping my sword tightly. The first floor had already thrown enough surprises at me. But this quest wasn't going to complete itself. Dragonite Ore was waiting somewhere below, and I wasn't about to turn back now.

Faint sounds of growls and shifting echoed through the tunnels. My grip tightened on my sword as I moved cautiously, scanning every shadow for movement.

Nyx's ears perked suddenly, and she let out a low warning growl. I slowed my steps, straining to hear what had set her off. 

Then, I saw it. The shadows ahead shifted unnaturally, and a pair of glowing red eyes locked onto mine. The creature stepped into the dim light, revealing its sleek, bird-like form. A Velociprey.

Its claws scraped against the stone floor as it crouched, muscles tensing for a strike. Its sharp, angular head turned slightly as if assessing me.

"Great," I muttered, raising my sword.

The Velociprey lunged without warning, its claws outstretched. I barely had time to react, bringing my sword up to deflect the attack. The force of the impact sent a jolt through my arms, and I staggered back a step, the Konchu absorbing some of the blow to my chest.

Nyx hissed loudly, leaping from my shoulder and darting to the side. She circled the Velociprey, her movements quick and deliberate as she tried to distract it. The creature snapped at her, its razor-sharp teeth narrowly missing her tail.

"Focus on me, you overgrown turkey!" I shouted, slashing at its side. The blade cut shallowly into its scaled hide, drawing a hiss of pain.

The Velociprey retaliated instantly, spinning and slamming its tail toward me. I raised my shield just in time. My footing slipped, and I cursed under my breath as another Velociprey emerged from the shadows.

"Two? Really?" I groaned, positioning myself to face both.

The second Velociprey didn't wait for an invitation. It darted forward, claws scraping the ground as it lunged. I sidestepped, the creature's claws narrowly missing my leg, and countered with a quick slash. The blade struck its shoulder, but it wasn't enough to slow it down.

Nyx darted in, swiping at the first Velociprey's leg with her tiny blade. Her attack was more of an annoyance than a threat, but it gave me an opening. I lunged, driving my sword into the creature's side. It screeched, blood spraying as it staggered back, but its companion was already closing in.

The second Velociprey's claws raked toward my chest. The Konchu's shell took the brunt of the attack, but the force knocked me off balance. I stumbled, falling to one knee as the creature loomed over me, its teeth bared.

"Nyanya!" Nyx shouted, her small form slamming into the Velociprey's side. I seized the moment, driving my sword upward and into its neck.

The Velociprey let out a gurgling screech before collapsing, its body twitching as it hit the ground. I didn't have time to breathe. The first Velociprey was still alive, its bloodied form crouched low as it prepared for another strike.

"Round two," I muttered, rising to my feet. My arms ached, and my breath came in short bursts, but I wasn't done yet.

Nyx growled, positioning herself beside me as the Velociprey circled, its glowing eyes filled with fury.