Ch 96
Matt sat patiently, watching as his HP gradually refilled. Emily had ceased healing him momentarily to allow her ability to cast multiple healing spells to rejuvenate. It was evident that she was at a significant disadvantage without a mana pool like Greg's, as it restricted her to only 14 healing casts before she had to endure a full minute's wait to cast again. Needless to say, a minute in most combat scenarios could feel like an eternity. If she hadn’t been on their side in the last battle, Bob might have been sidelined prematurely, even though his copy had been dealt with efficiently.
Meanwhile, the others were still deep in discussion, sharing their thoughts about the fight and contemplating their next steps. Matt wasn't particularly concerned with their debate until, after spending ten minutes recuperating, he stood up and glanced at Greg and Emily with a determined expression. They interpreted this as the cue to move and swiftly joined him, with Emily speaking up first.
"We're considering using Apricity's ability to locate a safe room, but there's a risk it might be considered an escape tool. So, we want you to make the decision," she explained, her voice steady yet cautious.
"Greg, what do you think?" Matt inquired, turning his attention to him.
Greg pondered for a moment before responding, "It's an ability, not a tool, so I believe it could be a loophole—similar to having someone who can walk through walls and using them to escape by simply passing through a door. However, we can't be certain unless we attempt to use it and observe the outcome."
"Alright, let's go for it, but make sure everyone is prepared for the possibility of things going awry," Matt instructed, his tone firm.
Both of them nodded before issuing their commands, and a minute later, everyone stood in formation as Apricity activated her skill. They waited patiently, and after a few seconds, Apricity turned to Matt and spoke with a hint of concern.
“I have a feeling that if we move from this spot, we’ll be attacked,” she said, her voice steady but tinged with unease.
“That sounds like one of the scenarios we were worried about,” Emily commented, her brow furrowing slightly. “It seems we’ll just have to wait for her skill to run its course.”
“I wish skills like this could be canceled,” Greg added, shaking his head. “But at least we know it won't work now. The question is whether the threat level will be what this dungeon usually throws at us or if it will be heightened like it was in the main dungeon.”
“Everyone, take a seat where you are, and we’ll wait this out,” Matt instructed, his voice calm yet firm. “Greg, please use that warm wind spell whenever your mana pool is full. The last thing we want is to freeze, but we also need to be prepared in case we’re attacked while just sitting here. We might use this skill again if we don’t get attacked, and it could be quite useful if we need a break.”
“That’s actually a brilliant idea,” Greg remarked, nodding in agreement. “It could serve as a portable safe room, even if only for a limited time.”
“A very limited time,” Emily added, her voice pragmatic. “Still, even 20-minute naps are better than nothing if it really comes down to it…”
About an hour passed as they all continued to chat before Apricity finally informed them that her skill had ended, prompting them to proceed. Matt and the others were still uncertain whether the instance dungeon was designed as an endurance challenge or if they should anticipate facing more duplicates of themselves at the next obstacle. However, as they progressed rather than just fighting enemies, Matt felt it resembled a puzzle intertwined with an obstacle course.
The first obstacle they reached felt like a bottomless cavern, dotted with several small platforms, each only large enough for one person to stand on. To complicate matters, the platforms were coated in slippery ice, and unless someone had the ability to fly, Matt doubted there was any way to bypass the puzzle. The ceiling was only eight feet high, necessitating a much higher arc to jump far enough. All they had to work with were two planks of wood, which appeared sturdy enough to support only one or two people at a time. The tension hung in the air until, after a long, contemplative pause, Greg finally spoke.
"This is just a trap. It looks like there's a solution, but it would only allow at most two of us to make it across. Then we'd have to throw everything back across, but one of the boards would get stuck in the middle. Even then, I feel like the ice poses too much of a risk for a board to slip while we're trying to cross it, plus..." Greg trailed off, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he assessed the perilous situation.
"Then what would you say we are meant to do?" asked Eleanor, her voice echoing slightly in the narrow tunnel. "So far, there haven't been any turn-offs in the tunnel."
"Use what we have to cross it," stated Greg confidently. He summoned a ball of magma and hurled it at the top of the nearest pillar. The fiery sphere sizzled upon contact, creating a wave of magma that surged forward. "If the path doesn't exist, then we simply need to make it."
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Unfortunately, Greg's magma only succeeded in melting the ice that covered the pillars before it vanished, as summoned matter always seemed to do once it had served its purpose. Despite this setback, seeing the rock now free of ice, Greg turned to Yumiko with a determined look.
"You have the highest dexterity," he noted, "so you're the one best suited for what comes next, if you're willing."
"What do you need me to do?" Yumiko asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Get a running start and use each of the platforms to cross by launching yourself from one to the other," Greg explained. "All while having a rope tied to your waist."
"Okay," Yumiko replied, nodding as she visualized the task ahead. "Doesn't sound too bad, and with a rope tied to me, I should be able to get pulled back if I fall."
"What happens if an enemy attacks the moment she gets across?" Emily inquired with a hint of anxiety in her voice.
"Then we pull her back," Greg replied confidently. "I can provide covering fire since it's only 30 feet."
"Yes, but she's the best equipped to offer support," Emily countered, furrowing her brow. "I think we should send someone who can stand their ground depending on the situation."
"It's too risky for the rope to get cut," Greg considered, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps someone who can block a single blow before being yanked back. Zara, are you willing to go?"
As Greg posed the question, all eyes turned to Zara. She shrugged nonchalantly, a slight smirk playing at the corner of her lips, before answering.
"Fine, but if something happens and it looks like I'm going to fall, I want you to hit me with a wave of wind or something to push me the rest of the way."
"No, that risks cutting the rope," Greg argued, shaking his head. "However, if something does cut the rope, I'll be ready to help."
"Alright, let's do this," Zara said, determination in her eyes.
With that, Matt pulled out the best rope he possessed, a reward gifted to him by the system after conquering the tomb dungeon. Carefully, he tied it securely around Zara’s waist, ensuring it was snug before she assumed a ready stance. The other end of the rope was fastened to Matt’s wrist, with everyone, except Greg and Yumiko, clinging onto him for support. Rose even positioned herself in front of him, plunging her blade into the stone ledge to brace against any force. Only then did Zara start her run, sprinting with determination before leaping toward the first pillar.
As soon as Zara's foot touched the pillar, she was already propelling herself toward the next, moving with agile grace across the sequence. However, things took a turn for the worse when the rope was unexpectedly severed just as she reached the other side. As if that weren't enough, several monsters they had battled in the dungeon materialized, but now they were formed entirely from ice. Both Greg and Yumiko sprang into action, attacking swiftly, while Emily shouted out that the rope had been cut. Matt's stomach clenched with anxiety as he freed himself from the others' grip. Before they could even secure a firm hold on the slackened rope pulled back by his movements, Matt had gained enough momentum to begin his own running leap.
To say that what he was doing was foolish would be an understatement as Matt began to sprint, quickly following the path that Zara had taken. Despite his lack of agility, Matt covered the distance rapidly and arrived just in time to collide with Zara, who had been cornered by the menacing creatures. Although this placed them in a precarious position, a powerful gust of wind from Greg ensured that both were safely pushed away from the edge behind them. Remarkably, Matt managed to transform the fall into a seamless roll. Meanwhile, Zara regained her composure enough to prevent the monster from pouncing on her, brandishing her sword menacingly. This was all the encouragement Matt needed as he began hurling the ice monsters at one another, disregarding the searing pain from the tears their sharp teeth and claws inflicted on his skin.
Despite all their effort Zara was quickly on the brink of being pushed over the edge by the relentless monsters, forcing Matt to concentrate on fighting just to push the monsters back. However, he couldn’t fully commit to this without the risk of being overwhelmed himself, as there were simply too many creatures, even if they were not particularly strong, for him to prevent them from sneaking up behind him. So, his strategy involved tossing the monsters into each other or hurling them right over the edge while he battled to open room for Zara, buying her precious time to regain her footing. By this point, Eleanor and Rose had successfully made the crossing and quickly joined Matt and Zara. Together, the four of them focused intently on the fight, their unity bolstering their strength against the monstrous onslaught.
In a way, the situation was actually ideal, as the four most suited for close-quarters fighting were together, while the other five either supported them or waited for it to be safe to cross. That was until a sudden cry from Apricity caused Matt to turn and discover that monsters had appeared on their side as well. This unexpected development left only Bob and Apricity to battle on the front lines as Greg began to unleash a wave of molten magma towards the advancing creatures. This fiery assault was sufficient to hold back the first wave, but it was evident that it was merely a temporary measure. Greg urgently called out to Matt’s group, his voice echoing with urgency and tension.
“Clear a landing zone for us!”
Nodding to his companions, Matt intensified his efforts, prompting the others to step aside as he concentrated on dispatching the weak monsters with swift precision. Fortunately, with the other three holding back the horde from reaching his position, it took only about 15 seconds to clear a space. Almost instantly, Bob joined him to help maintain the area, providing a strong defense. Emily was the next to dash over, followed closely by Apricity, with Greg bringing up the rear, all hastening to join the fray.
All three of them navigated most of the chasm with relative ease, but Emily misjudged the final leap. Matt watched as she began to flail her arms, teetering on the brink of disaster. Instinctively, he dropped to the ground, plunging one of his knives into the rocky floor of the cave to anchor himself, and reached out his arm with urgency. With a swift tug, he found himself being pulled over as he managed to grab hold of Emily’s staff, which she just managed to extend within his reach. Matt clung to his knife with all his strength while Apricity and Greg successfully made it across, immediately turning their attention to helping pull their friends to safety. Moments later, the other members of the group joined them, and the tension dissipated as soon as they were all on the same side. Miraculously, the monsters that had been a looming threat returned to their dormant state, blending seamlessly into the ice that covered the walls all around them.
