The scene of the cave right outside of the tunnels flooded her vision once more, all three of her skills retained. She glanced to her side before settling for a crossbow and a short dagger. 'With the narrow halls o the tunnels, it should be hard for those pesky rats to dodge.'
Her eyes drifted to her skill interface, her mind falling into thought about her innate skill. However with the game still relatively new to her, she didn't bother herself too much about it. The torches lit by themselves the deeper she went before coming across a small pack of rats.
This time the regular, her finger quick with the trigger.
*Chik-Chik-Chik*
Arrows whizzed through that damp air, the scream of rodents following shortly after. She didn't give that much of a glance at her fallen prey as she made her way deeper. 'Looks like there is a hidden stat that I can't I interact with.' She pondered as she reloaded her crossbow.
The matter of ammunition was automatic, arrows manifesting out of thin air like digital edits and onto her quiver. 'I wonder what exactly is he watching.' She was sure that Jarren was watching her given how potent he seemed, the matter of the dungeon in on itself as a mystery went unanswered in her mind.
*Squeak*
This time rather than rabid rats, she could hear the flutter of wings and with a closer look, she came across four bats which resided in the shadows, their frames visible thanks to the light behind her spilling over. Bringing her bow to her chest, she took aim at one of them before pausing.
'If I manage to take one down then the rest will no doubt ambush me.' She could deal with two but a third would make the matters far too complicated for her. 'And with the difficulty of this...world, I doubt that it would be easy to deal with three.' With the theory that the bats would have their own means of attack, charging blindly would be detrimental to her progress.
After a few minutes an idea flashed in he mind. She took a couple of steps back and with lethal accuracy managed to hit one of the bats however it didn't die similar to the rats she had been facing. 'As suspected.' The bat she had hit fluttered it's wings with outrage, it's screams filling the hallway.
The rest woke up from their slumber now ready to face her. She fired another which managed to graze another however to her surprise, rather than persisting with it's flight, it was bathed in black flames dying on the spot.
[{Congratulations on taking down a common bat. The effect Bloodmark will now apply to any more common bats you may face later on}]
'What was that?' She was still in a daze with what had happened. She looked at her arms, nothing new before her mind instantly thought of her innate skill. 'The black flame. But what caused it to active?' As much as she was pleased with this, another question rose in her mind.
"Rar!" The bats now outraged with the death of their own began quick dives, their fangs gleaming in the darkness of the halls. Taking aim once more, an arrow flew managing to end the life of the first bat she had hit but it wasn't bathed in flames but fell limply to the ground.
'Is it by pure chance then?' She added as she kept on backing up. "RAR!!" Ear piercing cries filled her ears as a shiver ran down her spine. However unlike Seryn who by now was stunned, she managed to keep her distance greatly negating the effects of their screeches but not fully.
[{You have taken 5 damage}]
[{Your overall health is 15 out of 20}]
Now with two already gone, facing the other two with help from her {Bloodmark} skill eased her efforts.
[{Congratulations on slaying your first pack of common bats}]
The notification wasn't followed with options for picking more skills however. 'So it would seem that it's per level then.' She concluded taking a moment of respite. With her constant dodge and reloading of her crossbow, her stamina was partially spent. Waiting for a few more minutes, she was ready to face what the rest the first floor had to offer.
[{Ding! Player Seryn has joined the game}]
'Player Seryn?' Lyssara's brows furrowed, puzzled who the player was. Jarren hadn't elaborated with the prospect of other players thus it took her by surprise before falling into indifference. 'I wonder if she is stronger than me or not?' The thought danced in her mind the more she descended into the floor.
Rather than facing a pack of rabid rodents or bats, she came across a huge open room what she could consider an arena. Making her way through, halfway both the exits closed shut and a ear tingling screech filled her ears. Her grip on the crossbow tightened, her eyes darting to every corner of the room with wariness.
The sounds of a beast navigating the walls filled her vision that persisted before stopping right above her where she noticed a sewer drain. A dodge to the side allowed her to escape the elite's attack. Her gaze finally landed on the beast she was meant to kill.
[{First Elite – Vermin Scourge, Gnawback}]
It's figure was far larger than the fodder rats she had been facing prior. The elite's figure was far larger than hers equal to that of an elephant if not bigger. It's back riddled with white pus that would pulsate, it's jagged chrome teeth gnarling at Lyssara as it's eyes fell into a berserk state.
"Hah!" The sigh that she leg out wasn't that of dismay or fascination but function as she clutched her crossbow.
*Chik*
*Ting*
The arrow aimed at it's hide fell without a wince from the beast. She shifted her aim to it's eye but by now the beast had began to close the distance with her. "RAR!!" The beast snarled flashing it's teeth hungry for her blood. The fight grew into a chase, her frame darting all over while the beast tried to catch up.
Seeing the unnatural agility of the elite, she chose to close the distance. 'There's nothing to lose.' Her dagger gleaming in her hand now leaping onto the elite's back. With a swing, she took a jab at the pus. "Roar!!" Gnaw-back let out a cry of pain, it's eyes shut thanks to the pain that radiated through it's body.
Before Lyssara could get another stab in, the beast made a huge leap to the ceiling with the aim of crushing her however she managed to hop off. Her descent was graceful however the beast wasn't as agile as she was as it game crashing down to the floor.
Letting out a roar, the elite began to burrow into the ground escaping her peripheral. Her guard rose once more, her ears twitching with each grumble she could hear through the walls. Unlike before, Gnaw-back attacked where she stood and her stamina now facing depletion was enough to save her but the tail whip sent her flying.
The elite didn't give her any time to breathe as it lunged at her. Her crossbow lost with her throw, she could only use the dagger once more.
*BAM*
The creature pinned her figure to the wall bringing her health to zero however she made sure to make it as equally painful for the beast as she embedded the dagger in it's eye. Lyssara's torso was chewed off, a fountain of blood splurging all over the floor coating the elite in her blood however it was entranced with the pain as it's body was bathed in black flames once more.
She didn't have the time to know the outcome as she was sent back to the abyss. 'Looks like a sword is in order for that.' She concluded as she prepared herself for another dive. The cave this time wasn't just the weapons she was used to but another figure lay not far from the rack.
Each of them glanced at each other, one with a look of curiosity and the other apathy. "I take it that you're Lyssara." Seryn was the first to break the silence. "Yes." The response short as Lyssara reached for a sword. "How do you know Jarren?" Lyssara didn't bother with her question as she inspected the sword in her hand.
Silence clung to her like a plague before she made her way to the cave. "Wait! I'm sure that you know how hard it is so why not we work together." Lyssara froze glancing past her shoulder. "I'll wait." Seryn still skeptical of why Jarren would associate with demons made her pick. 'A dagger huh?' Lyssara thought inwardly as the two began their descent.
The air between the pair was stiff which was filled with the occasional clashes with the rats and bats. With Lyssara's sword and Seryn's dagger, they had mid range and close range taken care of. Given the narrow halls, the two didn't have to bother themselves with long ranged attacks.
"I know that you might not answer but I was wondering what your stats are." Lyssara came to a halt at Seryn's words. Her face refused to show any emotions as she paused for a moment before divulging.
[{Player: Lyssara}]
[{Level:1}]
[{Innate skill: Black flame- A flame that burns through eternity with no pause, reminiscent of the abyss once before}]
[{Weapons: Banal Sword}]
[{Active Skills: Echo Step}]
[{Passive Skills: Predator's Calm}]
[{Utility Skill: Bloodmark}]
[{Charm: The Abyss's reminiscent}]
Seryn's brows furrowed looking at the charm section of her window interface. 'How come I'm lacking the charm. And how come she doesn't have a limit with her dives.' She wondered as she too showed her stats.
[{Player: Seryn}]
[{Level:1}]
[{Dives: 5/5}]
[{Weapons: Banal Dagger}]
[{Active Skills: Quick Slash}]
[{Passive Skills: Steady Grip}]
[{Utility Skill: Torchlight}]
Lyssara took a glance to realize the disparity between the two. It was clear that there was some tense history between the two for her stats to be so lackluster. "What is the relationship between you and Jarren?" Seryn was the first to ask however Lyssara had a similar question lingering in her mind.
"A master and his slave." Her tone cold which deeply disturbed Seryn. "Did you max out your obedience points?" The furrow from Lyssara made Seryn sure that she wasn't exposed to such a system. "No, he sent his lady Callista for me." The silence that had waned into irrelevance grew between the two once more.
'He really isn't subtle with who he likes and who he despises.' Seryn couldn't help but wonder as they came across a small pack of bats. With Lyssara's sword serving as long range for the two, the occasional smites of black flames would take her by surprise. Her question of the matter was that it was random which made her mind dart back to her innate ability.
'If what he meant for me was poison then why don't I have such a notification.' More and more questions piled in her mind with no answers and it irked her the more she thought about it. However before she could dwell on it for too long, Lyssara's calm monotone voice rang through the air.
"This should be the first elite, I didn't go too far into battle but expect a huge rat. Crossbows don't work on it except for the cysts on it's back." Lyssara's revelation brought a spark of envy to Seryn who hadn't made such progress. The silence once was out of alertness and the high stakes situation but with each march it felt more personal.
Almost like an attack from one of the two to the other. Still Seryn didn't let her emotions cloud her her judgement too quickly, aware that it was probably one of Jarren's games meant to watch as to how long she would be able to last and the worst part about it was that it seemed to be working. With a sigh, the two marched into the room, their guard up for the battle to come.