1.10 Big Smokey

Chapter 10

“Common Dungeon huh? Guess that means this is an easy one?” Dupree said.

I closed the notification and raised a brow at Francis. Did he really just say that? Does he not know gamer rules? Don’t call something easy before it’s actually done.

Of course, I didn’t say any of that out loud. I knew getting these people to like me was a pivotal task to staying within the team, and surviving the dungeon.

“Adam, Angela,” Barry called out. Huwett and I both looked at each other then stepped forward at Barry’s request. “You two will probably be our vanguard. Adam, you said you had a stealth skill. And Angela, you’re a ranger or whatever so you must have some cool ass tracking skill, right?”

We both nodded to him.

“If we want to find this Lord, we probably need to track it, hunt it down. You two are our best shot at that,” Barry gave a big smile.

“Actually not a bad idea,” I admitted.

In video games, specific classes would be designed for certain tasks and roles. Barry seemed to understand this as well, and decided to lean into the two of us who were most suited to scouting ahead. It was dangerous, being out in the lead, but it was our best choice.

“I can’t track, but I can stay hidden as we search, for sure,” I said.

Huwett sucked in a breath before deflating once more, “Fine,” she eventually said, “you’re right. We’ll go ahead. Let’s see what these skills can really do.”

Barry, Norton, Vasquez and Francis all lagged slowly behind as Huwett and I stalked ahead into the trees.

My stealth skill was a fun one. Lucilla had tested me in its use back at the facility quite a few times, and even its description was interesting.

[Shade Stealth – Lvl 1- Beginner

Effect: Dampens the user’s presence in other beings’ perceptions. Greater effect in shadowy areas, at night, or busy and crowded surroundings. Effect increases with Dexterity and Skill level.]

I mentally activated the skill and my body seemed to attract the shadows around my body as we moved. Huwett used her own stealth skill, which seemed to work differently, giving her some kind of minor camouflage which changed the color of her clothes and body to match her surroundings.

At the same time, her eyes flashed as she began using some kind of tracking or hunting skill. I stayed close by, watching for movement, or any sign of danger as she worked. It wasn’t long at all before she came across something, tracks.

“Animal, large for sure. Probably a few hours old,” she whispered as we both crouched in the dirt in front of the tracks.

To me, they simply looked like large paw or claw prints.

I got no system notification of pop up when looking at them, even after attempting to use my [Inspect] skill. The skill also didn’t really give me any information when I tried using it on the others as well.

[Angela Huwett – ?]

I only got names from everyone, that was it. I thought that perhaps it would only show information I already knew, but I also couldn’t see Barry or Francis’ class, which I did already know. And if that’s really how it would, it would be a really shitty inspection skill.

I decided it was because my level was too low. Or perhaps some other factors were in play.

Regardless, whatever information Huwett was getting from the animal tracks, the System was only showing it to her.

“I think it’s a bear,” she said.

“Bear, like a black bear from Earth? Not a giant monster bear with laser eyes?”

“No, a normal bear as far as I can tell,” she said, brushing dirt from her clothes as she stood up. “System doesn’t tell me its skills or abilities. Just a question mark.”

“Maybe, your skill level is too low? Those are rookie numbers, you need to get those numbers up.” I said.

“Maybe, yeah,” she grinned softly and shook her head.

“Let’s go back and inform the others then,” I finally stood as well.

The idea that the main objective, the Lord of the Woods, was a simple bear felt off. But if we were really in an “easy” dungeon, it wasn’t totally far-fetched.

“We can get some experience from killing it in either case,” Barry said.

I smiled at the man and clapped him on the shoulder, “Now that’s the kind of thinking I like to hear.” I said.

“Lets go for a hunt then,” Barry beamed.

“Only when Vasquez casts,” Barry whispered beside me in the brush.

I nodded as I squatted next to him, sword in hand, even though I heard him say this twice before, not even counting the fact I was there when we made the plan.

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It took us two hours to finally track the bear back to its resting place. A small cave in a rocky outcropping close to a clearing. It didn’t seem to be paying much attention to its surroundings, just laying inside with hardly a single care in the world. In the Dungeon? Hardly a single care in the Dungeon.

You know what I mean.

So, we backtracked and made a plan.

Vasquez’s spells took the longest to cast, so he would attack first. Then, once the bear began to engage, Huwett would sling arrows at it, while Barry and Francis went into melee. I would try getting a clean hit on the thing after sneaking during the fight.

My stealth skill worked best with shadows, and at night, but it wasn’t required, as it created a blurring effect that made my presence almost, missable. It was hard to describe, weird magic shit was at play somehow.

But I could use it to try closing in and attacking with my other skill active.