Force Bolt!
This basic spell snaps out a ball of pure kinetic energy. When it hits something, they react much the same as if they’ve been punched. The more mana I pack into it, the harder they get punched. Against the stronger demons, it’s basically a tickle they shrug off at this point, but that certainly isn’t all the tricks I’ve developed with this mana type. The Force Spear is an interesting one, the pure lance of kinetic energy acts much like a regular spear would, except it’s totally invisible and formed entirely out of energy. Not sharp enough to cut through a demon… yet the spell is still useful for slipping damage through narrow windows. Anyone not carefully watching the mana around them could find themselves stabbed awfully fast.
The Force Domain isn’t too amazing. Similar to the Wind Domain in a way, but whereas the Wind Domain rather predictably creates a rotating sphere of wind, the Force Domain is invisible and exerts a ‘push,’ forcing opponents away from me. Useful to keep distance between me and other monsters, but at the level of its current strength, it’ll only really be able to force out much weaker monsters. Something like Grokus would barely notice it at all.
Applying force mana to my mandibles is another thing entirely. The mana has no obvious or flashy effect, but it does allow my jaws to close with even greater force than before, the added kinetic energy really slamming my mandibles together with an amazing CLACK. Anything caught in between is going to be in for a bad day, especially if I activate Doom Chomp at the same time. Gwehehehehe.
As I continue to grind my Skills and play with different abilities, the group descends farther into the tunnels, trying to sniff out traces of the demons who left Orpule. Despite our best efforts, it’s actually the hatchling who manages to get a sniff of their trail first.
“I think I have something!” she announces after we finished off a quick fight against some tier four demons.
“Oh? What have you picked up?”
“My Dungeon Oracle is picking up some strange whispers. Give me a minute.”
“How does that thing even work? Does Gandalf talk to you or something?”
“Stop stinking the place up! I’m trying to think.”
How rude…
“Some tier six demons came through this place. They were headed… that way!”
“How many?”
“I… I can’t be sure. More than five.”
“Hmmm.”
We need to be careful. If we assume that in our previous encounters with demons, they were taking us lightly, as Al suggested, then we can’t act as if every fight against a group of tier sixes is going to end up as an easy stomp. If they take us seriously, then things should be much more difficult than before. Tier sixes are capable of all sorts of shenanigans, after all, I should know! This is why we brought Sarah along. Also so she gets some experience fighting against third stratum opponents.
“So, how does the Dungeon Oracle work, anyway?”
Brilliant hesitates.
“It’s… a little hard to explain. It’s kind of like a whisper straight into my mind. I ‘hear’ little snippets of information, or I sense things that might have happened in the past. Usually, all of it’s pertaining to monsters who were spawned or move through the area, or about the flow and movement of mana.”
“Strange,” I muse. “So, you get a little window into the past? But only in the realm of information that the Dungeon itself can provide?”
“In a way. I don’t fully understand it yet myself.”
“Aright. We’ll proceed as if your information is correct. Keep your… ear… to the ground but don’t get too far forward. You’re still eminently squishable to monsters around here, so don’t do anything stupid.”
We advance carefully, following the directions of Brilliant, and on the way, I try to inform Sarah on what we’re in for.
[So, just to be aware, demons are freaking crazy.]
[Anthony, I’ve been alive in the Dungeon longer than you have. A lot longer. I’m sure it’s going to be fine.]
[I know! I know. You’re the senior in terms of experience in this world…]
Even if she spent a lot of her life in captivity.
[Just… be aware that the demons are a little more… out there than the shadow beasts. Tier six demons are sentient, remember? It’s a different sort of battle.]
The big bear stumbles for a moment before she recovers her footing.
[I almost forgot about that,] she says. [They are intelligent, aren’t they?]
[I mean… I’m not sure I’d say ‘intelligent’… but they can think for themselves…]
20. Tango with Orpule
As we move through the narrow and boiling hot tunnels, we start to see evidence of the demons’ passage in the form of littered Biomass and visible signs of damage on the walls. Claw marks, deep gouges in the stone, and even scorches along the floor, not an easy feat in this lava-filled place. Whoever we’re tracking must be packing some heat, in the literal sense.
[Tiny! Try to keep it down!]
“Harrr?”
[Shhh, you damn ape! We’re trying to be sneaky right now!]
“Ooooorrrr.”
Despite having the stealth abilities of a Mack truck that’s been loaded onto a train, Tiny does seem to understand my point and stops randomly punching the walls whenever he gets bored. Having inspected his core, I know he followed my instructions and ensured he remained at the level of Cunning I insisted he not fall below, but I swear to Gandalf he acts even dumber than that when he can get away with it.
It’s as if he would rather be stupid so he just shuts off enough brain to achieve the desired level of dumb. Next evolution, I’m going to insist he set his Cunning to fifty! He can discuss philosophy instead of punching walls all the time! Hah!
“Down this branch. I don’t think we’re that far behind them,” Brilliant tells us.
“Great work. Keep your head down for the next bit, I don’t want you getting caught up in the fighting.”
[Brilliant says we aren’t far behind them now, so we should be ready to fight at any moment. Anyone in particular want to go in first?]
Tiny’s hand shoots up.
[Anyone else?]
Despite wearing armour, I still don’t want Tiny to throw himself in the line of fire. He’s not a tank and he never will be. The only real candidates for going in first are me or…
[I don’t mind,] Sarah says. [I-I guess there’s no better way to get used to fighting demons than to throw myself into it, right?]
[Well said, Sarah! Not to worry, we’ll all be here to back you up. You aren’t going in alone.]
[Thanks.]
[Tiny and I will make up the second wave, with Invidia and Crinis running support. Al, you hang back and keep an eye on the hatchling, we’ll reserve you for our trump card in case the fight goes bad.]
[I will watch the little one.]
I have a thought.
[When I say watch the hatchling, I also want you to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. It’s more than just looking at her.]
[I see.]
After some more creeping, we finally get a bead on the targets. The first sense to trip is actually my antennae. The monsters don’t necessarily emit that much gravity, but even those tiny fields are enough to set my senses a tingling.
[I can feel them. Two hundred metres, maybe less. Keep an eye out, Crinis.]