Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Mana or any other game series.
Update (2/7/2023): I made a slight change to the end of the chapter. It's in the Author's Notes down below.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Chapter 15: Sewers
Fort Reed
"But, mom!" Kieran whined. "I'm tired of lying here."
"Be that as it may-might, young kit," Vetch replied. "It's for your own good-well-being."
The pair were just a couple of the many still residing within the infirmary. All those previously afflicted with [The Fifth Day] were being held under observation for a few more days in case of resurgence. Some of those resistant went on ahead to the village to better reinforce it and keep an eye on their treacherous brethren. The ones who elected to stay behind killed time by either patrolling the fort grounds or visiting the training yards.
Warriors wove around cracking whips and batted them away using the flats of their blades as their opponents tried their best to disarm them. Not everyone participated in practicing forms. Eyes narrowed in steel resolve when one side dashed forward and the opposing met them in kind. Knives clashed loudly against each other hard enough to create sparks and this cycle would repeat, be broken up due to high tensions, and repeat once more.
Meanwhile, parents sat by their children's beds and passed the time telling softly spoken stories, not just in the infirmary, but also the adjacent rooms used to house them.
The thunk of arrows from the archery range intermingled with the scraping of steel as the Chobin Hoods tried to one-up each other in a shooting contest. Competitive glances passed between them and each competitor performed increasingly difficult trick shots that would make Rider proud. A crowd of onlookers was drawn to the combined spectacle and admired their tenacity, a grim firmness in their gaze. They stood proud to see the warriors' efforts to better themselves, to better protect their people from future incidences.
Their training program also included the practice of mithridatism, something they neglected up until that point. Blaine warned them not to self-administer till they were medically cleared and promised bodily harm to anyone stupid enough to be caught disobeying doctor's orders.
"But I'm so bored." Kieran crossed his arms. "There's nothing to do around here."
"So just take the damn thing and give it to your son for your absence."
Vetch simmered internally at the man-thing's attitude, but ultimately chose to reach under the bed to bring out her son's gift. "Here-here," she said and handed the box to him. "I bought-purchased a surprise for you, yes-yes." She smiled amusedly at his puzzled expression, neither having heard of the game prior to bumping into the human.
"What's this?" He asked. The young rat titled the blue and golden, cardboard box every which way and examined it like it was the world's greatest enigma.
"Triple Triad. A game the man-things invented-created." She'd already opened the box after she and Schierke returned to make sure it wasn't too complicated or violent for him. "I'll set it up for you."
She took the starter kit from his hands and pulled out a deck of cards, a 3x3 grid gaming platform for card placement, and multiple little tokens and other game pieces. Kieran's confusion only grew as Vetch opened the card pack and pulled one out depicting a [Poto], the first monster encountered at [Mekiv Caverns]. Four low number values sat in the upper left-hand corner of the card.
Vetch placed the card face-up in the upper right-hand corner of the grid and Kieran's eyes widened in amazement when the board lit up and a hologram of said creature appeared.
"Wow!" He exclaimed, unknowingly catching the other children's attention. The [Poto]'s life-like image hopped about and swiveled its head. "That's so cool."
Vetch chuckled and ruffled the fur on his head. "You-you haven't seen-witnessed anything yet." She placed another card below it, this time bearing the image of a tiny, cartoonish green cactus. It was suitably named [Cactuar]. "Watch-observe."
The small cactus turned towards the [Poto] and shot [1,000 Needles] at it. The white monster fell over and disappeared and the card's face changed colors from pink to blue to reflect the players' scores.
"Awesome!" Kieran reached over and hugged her. "Thanks, mom."
"It was no trouble-problem at all, my young pup." She looked at his peers who stared at the game in obvious interest. Children from the nearby rooms also arrived when some of the younglings from the infirmary told them of Kieran's new toy. "And it appears you'll possess-have plenty of friends-pals to play with." Vetch beckoned them over, her eyes granting silent permission to the children's parents.
They nodded to their kids and the excited, little rugrats jumped out of their beds and hurried over to see Kieran's gift. Vetch stepped back to give the young ones room, but not too far to where she wouldn't be able to supervise. Her heart warmed at the sight of the younglings having fun, though her smile dropped slightly when she heard Blaine making a racket in the medical labs.
Blaine POV
"This doesn't make any sense," the forest green rodent muttered as he read over the data charts on his clipboard. X-rays of Sean's skeletal structure were displayed on an illuminator on the wall and beakers containing traces of his hair bubbled beneath. Both were obtained during his unconscious state and Quill used her wind magic to discreetly cut off a few strands.
Given the lack of proper hospital equipment, the Chobin Hoods were forced to become creative to fulfill their medical needs. Case in point, Clan Reed employed a complicated array of runes throughout the fort to monitor the patients' general health. This included their heartbeats, body temperature, and respiration. That's not to say they didn't have any of the proper tools, a portion of which was gained through trade, but it wasn't enough.
These very sigils captured traces of Sean's [Purify] spell right when the clan folk were cured and simultaneously recorded its effects. However, besides a passing resemblance to the cleansing properties found in [Altena Alloy], the clan was left empty-handed, much to their displeasure.
The Chobin Hood's brow furrowed. "It's as if something is interfering with the results. But what could it be?" He scratched his head. "The human shouldn't be capable of this."
Blaine was soon knocked from his contemplation by a big, blue, bioluminescent flower growing from the floor. He frowned when the flora blossomed and out came Vetch's voice.
"Try-try to keep it down in there," she said calmly. She held no desire to disturb her son's fun. "The younglings-kids are playing, yes-yes."
"I beg your pardon, but this isn't the simplest conundrum I've had the satisfaction of dealing with. It will take time and potentially more samples," Blaine replied, none too tickled by the interruption. "The Wisdom did say he was a foreigner, yes?"
"Yes. The rock referred-called him an unknowing visitor-guest."
"Do you have any clue from which land he hails?"
"No-no. At this time-hour, it's only a guess."
"Hey, mom! Is something wrong?" Kieran's voice asked from the other end of the line. "You're acting funny."
"All is well-fine," Vetch answered sweetly. "Just thinking about Slade."
"Do you think he's all right?" The young rat asked in a worried tone. The [Echo Flower] shrank back into the floor and Blaine caught the tail end of the conversation, glad to once more be unmolested so he could return to his work.
"Nothing to worry-fret about. Schierke will release-free him. I'm sure-positive he's doing—"
Slade POV
"Absolutely wonderful," the grey rat grumbled to himself from within the confines of his cell.
He'd been sent to the Kobold District four days ago and languished there since. The kobolds were still trying to reach a consensus on his punishment, yet no actual crime had been committed. Not that they believed him. Her honeyed words were the sweetest ambrosia to their gullible ears.
Slade leaned back against the cold brick wall and tried to make himself comfortable on the shabby mattress.
No easy task given the racket outside.
Swords clashed in synchronized fashion in the training yards as the canid warriors ran their own daily drills. Each strike was preceded by the shouted orders of a higher-ranked officer. It was all he had to look forward to including the guards' stellar company. They mainly left him alone during his temporary imprisonment aside from bringing him meals of substandard quality and checking up on him. The unidentifiable chunks of meat in his stew were especially noteworthy in their atrociousness.
This gave him plenty of time to reflect on how he arrived at his current predicament.
Whispers of a supposed miracle woman reached the city of [Reverence] once upon a time. Wild claims circulated around her, espoused by her growing web of adoring fans. They spoke reverentially of the healer's concoctions, of how they could cure all ailments, reinvigorate the elderly, and even bring back the dead.
Horatio was the one to relay these old rumors and was once hired by a client seeking the truth to these grand delusions.
Investigation into the matter revealed little of the woman's background. The only shred of information he uncovered was that she entered the Kobold District three months prior, closer to four at this time, and made herself at home. No name was found nor earlier address and her newfound popularity blocked Horatio from catching a glimpse of her, regardless of his disguise.
It was as if she'd suddenly manifested from the earth.
Any who sought her services directly were required to make an appointment weeks ahead of time. This was enforced by the imposing guards posted around her workshop and dwelling.
Of course, if one simply wanted to visit her main store and be bent over the barrel by extortionate prices, then they were entirely free to do so.
Horatio did manage to snag one of her potions and brought it to his client who found it sadly lacking. Its restorative properties turned out to be little better than the standard [Potion], ill-fitting for their needs. This also ran contrary to the words of his fellow shoppers.
One old winger enthusiastically backed up the claims by describing how she took away the arthritis from his wings. Her clients weren't limited to the "lesser" races, either. A young human woman, surprisingly enough, spoke of her inability to walk prior to meeting the healer. Both were quick to laugh Horatio off, along with the rest of the naysayers, when he questioned why they didn't find these supposed miracle cures suspicious.
His client deemed the investigation a dead end and cared not to hear the words of the dimwitted and insane. It was only due to Clan Reed's perilous position that Horatio thought to bring it up.
Certain members of Schierke's inner circle, namely Vetch, equated the woman to a snake oil salesman and decried the people as fools. Evidence to her words was the fact Horatio did not witness the peoples' before and after, what they were like previous to being "healed."
"She may-might as well have been selling-vending male enhancement pills," Vetch said in offense. The female rat was sickened by pretenders and medical practitioners only in it for wealth.
Despite the healthy amount of skepticism, Schierke decided to send someone to meet the woman and obtain one of her brews for study. She and Hyssop set up a meeting through the healer's agent by disguising themselves as a rich, elderly human couple in elegant dress. This was done shortly after [The Fifth Day] reared its ugly head and they sped up the waiting process by greasing a few palms.
And, much to his chagrin, Slade was the best option available.
"Why do I have to be the one to go?" He asked.
"This one must return to Reverence," Horatio answered. "Business dealings don't permit this one time off."
"And while Quill is admirable, she lacks the character needed to navigate her way through social climates," Schierke stated. She turned to Quill. "No offense meant."
Quill smiled in a lighthearted manner and signed the words: "None taken."
"Well, what about Bracken?" Slade proffered. "He should be a better fit given how good at hiding he is."
"That's exactly the reason why he isn't." Dawn frowned at the reminder of his laziness. "Bracken has a habit of avoiding troublesome affairs."
"And I and everyone else are needed-required here," Vetch said, allowing no argument.
"I already knew that." He shot her an annoyed glance, insulted that she would think him stupid enough to ask. "Is there really no one else?"
"Does this one not claim to be a great thief?"
Slade cocked his head. "Thief? One of the best. Conversationalist? Not so much."
"Get moving-going and stop wasting-squandering time," Vetch snapped.
"Fine. But I'm not happy about this."
The grey rat would leave later that day under the guise of a pampered prince, a little rich boy living off his parent's wealth. His sharp, black suit and white, high-collared shirt made him stand out from the poorer crowds that congregated around the healer's abode. Slade wasn't spared anything more than a passing glance considering the not uncommon sightings of the so-called elite trying to hide their visits.
His false name was called shortly after he reached the front of the line and was permitted entry into a frenzied lobby, occupied by people from every walk of life. Some sported silly smiles as they sat in rapt anticipation while others whispered excitedly about the virtuous woman. One of the uniformed guards rolled his eyes at the display, but offered no comment.
The lobby was rather plain and boring with nary any décor to be seen. Slade felt this was done purposefully and took a deep breath out of sheer boredom. Blinking, he sniffed the air and detected the faint aroma of matcha tea and abura-age, a type of Japanese food made from twice-fried soybeans.
Before he could ponder their presence further, being out of place in this Western European-inspired environment, Slade's false name was called again. He adopted a self-confident smirk as he rose from his seat and made sure his slick black hair was tidy. He was met by a female Australian Shepherd kobold and she led him through a set of double doors and down a long hallway to the meeting room.
The scents grew stronger when Slade entered and he could also detect an earthy, smoky aroma, something attractive and tantalizing. Empty flowerpots sat in the room's four corners, untouched by a single speck of soil. And, besides a small tea table and couch for guests to sit, there was little else in the way of furniture.
These observances were forgotten when he beheld the sight of an attractive, young Japanese woman, clothed in a blue dress and white sash.
The lone female sat comfortably on a massive, red cushion near the back of the room, elevated, he thought, to give her a measure of superiority over her clients. Black hair shaded her right eye and the top of her dress opened just enough to give a teasing glance of her cleavage. Full red lips juxtaposed with flawless, porcelain skin.
She looked up to greet Slade with a pleasant smile and what he pictured would be the start of a nice visit soon took a turn for the worst.
Fear and shock flickered across her yellow eyes as the beauty's already light skin paled and her smile twisted hideously. Slade felt concerned by this strange reaction and tried to inquire what was wrong. He was cut-off by the woman letting loose a blood-curdling scream for the guards.
What followed was a whirlwind of activity that he knew not to struggle against.
Several sentries stormed into the room as the healer curled in on herself and pointed scornfully at the rat, her gaze showing nothing but hatred. Slade raised his hands to show he was unarmed and allowed himself to be taken away by the overzealous guards when they grabbed ahold of him. Two German Shepherds seized him by the arms and hauled him away.
Slade held the woman's gaze till she left his view, his eyes apologetic for whatever affront he unknowingly committed. She stared back warily and sighed in relief when he was gone.
The grey rat then wondered how his clan would feel about this and hoped that Schierke wouldn't be too upset with his decisions. Slade was confident that he could've beaten many of the guards, but the room's size, around that of a psychiatrist's office, offered little space for maneuverability. He also knew that his identity being exposed could lead to an incident that would draw unwanted attention from Reverence and disastrous misunderstandings.
Thankfully, his disguise remained intact through the coming proceedings.
Slade hung his head and watched his feet trail along the floor. They passed back through the hall into the now silent lobby. A range of emotions were visible as those waiting watched him go, suspicion, puzzlement, and hostility chief among them. The only one not to view him in a negative light was the female Aussie who wondered what about him disturbed the healer.
He wished he knew.
The guards stood Slade upright when they were back outside and shoved him roughly to keep moving. Being a rat made dealing with the public's scrutiny easier, having been judged far too often to be bothered by the people waiting in line. Though theirs was more curiosity versus those inside.
Slade was practically paraded all the way to the local jail where he was escorted into an interrogation room. He was pushed down onto a wooden chair and grilled by a separate pair of authoritarian dogs, this time a Rottweiler and Pitbull. They questioned him on what nefarious plans he had for her while senior officers observed the interrogation behind a one-way mirror.
"Nefarious intentions?" Slade mocked. "She started screaming when I entered. Obviously, something else was bothering her."
"She said you tried to attack her," the Rottweiler informed in barely restrained anger. A thick vein throbbed above his left eye at the rat's impudent tone.
"She's clearly lying."
That earned him a punch to the face courtesy of the trigger-happy Pitbull who glowered at him venomously.
"She has fresh cuts on her arms. Do you think she did that to herself?"
"Yes," he replied. That got him another smack and the Rottweiler ordered the Pitbull out of the room to cool off. Slade spit out a glob of blood and kept a neutral expression. "Do you normally attack prisoners?"
"His sister is alive thanks to her," the officer responded. "As are many others, you would do well not to further provoke their ire."
"I'm innocent in this."
"That remains to be seen."
Slade was later led out of the interrogation room to an empty cell, but not before he had some of his possessions confiscated. Among them was a badge that was stolen from the shipment to [Gato Grottoes]. He wore it underneath his green, high-necked tunic because he heard it raised a person's ATK power.
So that's how everything went. These past four days boringly shuffled on and he would receive the occasional glare for daring to try anything against the respected healer. Slade also kept his mouth shut and avoided all conversation after he accidentally let slip the words, "Stupid bitch."
One guard in particular, an orange-haired, female Doberman, assumed he was talking about her and got angry enough to the point she stomped into the cell and slapped him.
Now, he sat and waited for either the kobolds' judgment or his rescue, whichever came first. Though something did capture his notice that the guards missed. There was a faint scraping coming from beneath the stone floor and…a rooster's crow? Slade looked back through the bars and acted natural to not arouse suspicion. He felt relieved that his friends finally arrived.
Because, who else could it be?
Sean POV
"Come on, Faith, jump," he said. Sean stared up the ladder and spread his arms open. "I'll catch you."
Faith barked back at him in refusal and stood out of view.
Sean exhaled and rubbed his head. This back and forth had been going on for the past few minutes and he could feel the quiet gazes scratching at his back. "Mandragora," he called. The little plant people appeared around his legs and whistled happily in greeting. "Can you help me get her down?" He pointed upwards at Faith.
All five saluted him in unison and a small, solitary sunflower sprouted from a crack in the floor. What started off as a tiny, green seedling rapidly ballooned in size in the next couple seconds. The flower grew large enough to fill the sewer shaft and rose higher as the stem swelled to the thickness of a tree trunk.
Faith sniffed at the sunflower hesitantly when it reached the surface and pawed at it to make sure it was safe. Sensing no danger, she carefully stepped aboard the floral elevator and was gently lowered down to the rest of the group. The she-wolf then disembarked and the flower shrunk and disappeared into the floor from whence it came.
"That wasn't too bad, was it?" Sean asked playfully. Faith growled in response.
"Are these the ones you used to free the others," Horatio inquired. The rat gestured his head towards their surprise guest and Sean nodded back. Both understood the necessity of discretion with Hanna standing around and Sean wasn't sure if Jack managed to let slip any details concerning the breakout.
"Yeah, that's them."
"Haven't seen creatures like that before."
They started walking the entrance tunnels now that everyone was together again. Rocks of varying cuts, sizes, and shades of brown were unevenly embedded in the floor and walls. The only difference was the darker hues of the wall and the larger spaces in between, offering a view of dirt, cement, and shoddy craftsmanship.
Flickering, yellow lights hung along the walls and their radiance revealed a thin film of green slime that coated not just the walls, but every surface.
Sean stepped around a blob of translucent gunk and regularly looked up at the ceiling for falling surprises. Dark Souls taught him that. He half-expected the wretched glob to reveal itself as a generic slime monster and almost wished he was soloing a boss when he [Observed] it, an action Sean regretted going by his grimace. "On second thought, that might be worse."
"I've been getting that a lot," he remarked. "Oh, and be careful where you step. You don't want to know what that stuff is." The sharp senses available to the rodents clued them in to the muck's nature.
They both seemed unbothered and adopted expressions of bland resignation.
"It's taken care of." Horatio stomped his foot and a wave of rushing water shot through the corridor and cleared all of the gunk away. It opened around the group in such a way to where everyone was left dry.
"You couldn't have done that earlier?" "Thanks. But onto other matters, who all knows we're down here? The Winged Horde definitely do, but I don't want to give the other districts a nasty surprise."
Quill started signing and Sean [Paused] and turned on his [Subtitles]. That part of his menu seemingly worked for every language.
We've already contacted the proper authorities.
Her appearance was that of a young, red-headed woman of fair complexion wearing a lightly freckled face. The rich shade of crimson complemented her sparkling sapphire eyes. Blue overalls and a bright red shirt underneath made up her ensemble and she retained her red neckerchief.
"Horatio did say you all took the job a moment ago, but do the governments of Two River also require proof of quest completion? Do I need to bring back a head? And was this time appointed because we did just get in here through a hidden gate switch?"
Dawn met with the officials in charge of the job posting and sorted out all the details. We don't need to bring back proof. There are special runes that [Scan] the sewers for the presence of monsters. They'll use that to determine if we actually completed the job.
"It's also the reason why the sewers are built using stones instead of brick," Horatio added. He slapped the wall and a glowing, undecipherable sigil appeared. "This material allows for easier mana imbuement."
"Should really study those one day," Sean muttered to himself. "Though that's probably going to be a ways off considering my to-do list."
During their conversation, Horatio watched the human's eyes and noticed their focus travel from Quill's own to her feet whenever she signed. "He appears to be reading. Most peculiar. And this one's vision holds comprehension. Not simple body interpretation or context. A translate spell, perhaps?" His train of thought slowed. "But no mana passed from his person."
It took a moment, but Quill stilled when her brain caught up to her. She looked at Sean in intrigue.
Do you know [Sign Language]?
He shook his head. "Not really. I mean, I think it's interesting, but I don't know much beyond saying 'hello' or 'goodbye.'" "And there's a new notification…kind of redundant, isn't it?"
You've gained a new skill!
American Sign Language (Passive) Lvl 2 [28%] Cost: 0 TP
Grants the ability to communicate using ASL, a type of language using hand signs that is practiced by the Mute and the Deaf. Believed to have originated in the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in Hartford, Connecticut in 1817. ASL developed from a mixture of influences such as French Sign Language (LSF) and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL). Don't say [The Gamer] never taught you anything.
Quill found that hard to believe and frowned slightly, but let it go. Their secondary purpose was observation.
This whole time, Hanna kept her eyes trained forward and watched for trouble. She hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary yet, but held herself in a loose stance to trick enemies into thinking her guard was down. A couple of the Mandragora hopped along next to her and hummed joyfully while Faith walked at her other side, still peeved at her master.
Sean then summoned [Remora] and almost called another, but hesitated, his face unsure. He closed his mouth and decided to wait. "Not like it'd do much good now anyway."
Hanna stared at the fish impassively and turned away, mildly disappointed that they weren't that interesting.
The party soon passed through an entryway and found themselves in the sewer proper. Walkways thinned considerably to make room for dark, watery channels. The liquid filth flowed inside from smaller tunnels blocked by metal bars. Some bars were broken or warped inwards and the rusted pieces glinted in the murky depths. And, due to aforementioned political tensions, there were no bridges spanning the gaps, but instead old, wooden boards.
"If you're a Winger, I suppose it doesn't matter."
You have entered a [Dungeon].
Two River Sewers: [Recommended Level: 30]
"Guess it's time." Sean paused once more and opened his inventory.
He removed every article of clothing sans socks and underwear and dragged a set of leather medium armor to his silhouette that looked suspiciously like the [Manticore Armor] from [The Witcher 3]. The dark brown material was reinforced with [Forsena Iron], the next metal up from [Menos Bronze], in place of the metals used in said game. The iron's presence was apparent around the upper chest and shoulders given the visible scale-like pattern.
Curiously enough, there was no sense of temperature in the [Pause] menu.
Next, there came underneath a white, long-sleeved, button-up shirt that traveled to a pair of studded gauntlets. Sean fidgeted from the itchiness of the brown trousers, and the accompanying boots weren't too comfortable either, but he put up with it to test them out and see if the benefits outweighed the discomfort.
"Really glad I learned [Soothe] before this." Sean applied the spell and his rigid posture relaxed.
Soothe: Lvl 5 → Lvl 6
[Uncommon] False Chimera Armor Durability: 300/300 Physical Defense: +50
[Uncommon] False Chimera Boots Durability: 300/300 Physical Defense: +30
[Uncommon] False Chimera Gauntlets Durability: 300/300 Physical Defense: +30
[Uncommon] False Chimera Trousers Durability: 300/300 Physical Defense: +40
[Uncommon] False Chimera Armor Set (Medium)
Sold as the "True Set" to fool gullible customers, this set of armor has been enchanted to support the lie. Ideal equipment for Rogues and Assassins. Can be upgraded to the [True Chimera Armor] set when the right requirements are met.
Effect: Increases Poison Resistance by 10% per piece equipped.
Effect: Increases Poison-elemental damage by 10% per piece equipped.
Bonus: (when 3/6 pieces equipped): Critical hit chance increased by 25%
Bonus: (when all 6 pieces equipped): Instant [Poisoned] status afflicted to whoever attacks the player
Sean also equipped his new magic ring and weapons and resumed his quest.
Hanna didn't even register his change in threads and said act fell so low on the scale of magical impressiveness that Horatio didn't comment either. Quill, on the other hand, signed that he looked rather dapper wearing his new armor.
"Thanks." Sean smiled and comically admired her figure, his gaze roving up and down her form. "You're not looking too bad, yourself."
Due to your actions, your reputation has changed.
Quill: +20
Horatio: +10
Current Reputations:
Quill: (Neutral: 370/499)
Horatio: (Neutral: 280/499)
Quill blushed and the grin tugging at Horatio's mouth gave away his amusement.
You're just saying that. This isn't the real me.
She made sure Hanna wasn't looking when she signed that. Quill also felt that there was no point in hiding their true forms from him since Vetch suggested that Sean could see through disguises based on his body language and change in heart rate when the two met in Norwich.
"I think that's adorable, too."
Quill: +10
Reputation: (Neutral: 380/499)
She playfully slapped his arm.
"Mandragora," he called. Each of them jolted in surprise and scurried back to him. "Can you guys listen for sounds to let us know if there're monsters coming? I also need you to help me find hidden passages and rooms."
They hummed delightedly in affirmation and started using their powers to sense for vibrations and air currents.
"Let's also do this." He went back into his [Options Menu] and brightened his field of view to keep stuff from popping out at him. Sean then checked the dungeon map every so often for red dots as more and more of the area was revealed to him.
For making smart decisions, you have gained +3 INT and +3 WIS.
INT: 76 → 79
WIS: 91 → 94
"Are you sure it's a good idea to have her down here?" Horatio pointed at Faith.
"It's fine," Sean replied confidently. "She knows more than just fire-based moves." His eyes wandered around and spotted a treasure chest. "Treasure chest, sweet!" "Unless it's a [Mimic]." "Hey, Mandragora. Can you grab that for me?"
The Pikmin-like people hummed again and a vine sprouted next to the chest and tossed it to him. Sean caught the chest and set it down gently. It was an exact copy of the teal and golden one he found in his new [Home] some days ago; the one that contained the main quest to [Restore the Tree of Mana].
"Was that chest always there?" Horatio inquired. He'd been in the sewers many times before and had never caught even a glimpse of one.
"Not sure." Sean shrugged. He stared at the chest greedily. "But so long as it's not booby-trapped, I don't really care." The sparkle fled from his eyes when all he found inside was a piece of [Head Gear], a metal-plated headband that raised a person's DEF by +14.
He already owned something better and unsure if it would interfere with his new armor, he deposited the item and chest into his inventory.
Horatio sensed a disturbance in the depths and watch the human for other peculiarities. They started compiling a list of his oddities not long ago and that number gradually increased at every meeting. Sean glanced to the upper right and quickly down towards the underground channel as Hanna palmed her sword's pommel.
Quill herself heard a faint splash from down the tunnel and prepared to attack. A hidden signal from her compatriot stopped her in her tracks. She looked at him in confusion and the black rat pointed towards Sean.
"Remora," the human said calmly. "Please dive into the water. Use [Livewire] when they get close." He turned to present company. "I'm going to cast the [Shade] spell so I don't get blinded. Do you guys want it to?"
Horatio and Quill agreed with his reasoning and Hanna gave a faint nod whilst Remora dove into the dirty water.
He cast the [Shade] spell around each pair of eyes and did the same for Faith. "Mandragora, shield your eyes," he said sternly. The plant people created big leaves to cover their faces.
The school of fish swam in place, not minding the sludge around them. Piranha were known to live in such environments back home, one example being the Amazon River, so Sean felt no fear for them. He was more concerned about the red dots speeding their way and the tall, blue fins poking up through the filth.
When the creatures neared the 10 ft. mark, Remora acted and discharged a blast of electricity from their bodies. The channel lit up in a bright, blue flash, a magnificent display that would render most anyone blind. Loud zapping filled the air as energy conducted and it gave off the faint, pungent stench of ozone.
And it wasn't limited to the one waterway.
Throughout the entire sewer system, anyone unlucky enough to find themselves taking a dip were instantly paralyzed by the current. Convulsions rocked their bodies which drew out strangled cries and feminine screams that echoed through the passages like the wails of the damned. Eventually, the noise died down as their hearts stopped and organs failed. A plethora of corpses floated up to the surface, those closest belonging to big blue sharks with white underbellies and solid yellow eyes.
Enemy Slain! Land Shark Lvl 28 (x23)! Siren Lvl 32 (x17)!
+11,000 EXP
Level Up!
Sean Rent: Lvl 22 → Lvl 24
+10 Stat Points and +4 Perk Points
Stat Points: 35 → 45
Perk Points: 44 → 48
Remora: Lvl 8 → Lvl 11
Mandragora: Lvl 7 → Lvl 10
Faith: Lvl 3 → Lvl 8
STR: 154 → 156 → 176
SPI: 232 → 237 → 257
WIS: 94 → 99
DEX: 92 → 99
VIT: 78 → 80
Elemental Affinities:
Wood/Plant: 400 → 415 → 455
Moon/Space: 420 → 460
Lightning/Thunder: 85 → 100
Water: 85 → 100
Sound: 80 → 95
Fire: 440 → 475 → 515
Soul: 320 → 360
Several notifications promptly appeared.
For reaching 250 SPI, you've gained a new skill!
Converter (Passive) Lvl Max
Allows the player to change one type of Mana into another. For example, from Fire to Water or vice versa. Greater proficiency in skills such as [Mana Manipulation], higher elemental affinities, and a better understanding of the world will allow the gamer to convert any type of energy into another, regardless of magical nature.
For reaching 500 Fire Affinity, you've gained a new skill!
Beginner Fire Mastery (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
Fire, the great destroyer yet also a cultivator of life. Those who seek to master this branch of magic and enter Salamander's domain would be well-advised to exercise caution lest they get burned, the tragic end of many an aspiring mage. Take your first steps and show proper respect towards the power of the flame.
Effect: Learn all fire-related abilities +5% faster
Effect: Fire-elemental damage decreased by 5% and fire-elemental spells are 5% more effective
Effect: Decreases the cost of fire-related abilities by 5%
Sean glanced at his wisdom and dexterity stats. "Might as well." He added a single point to both.
Stat Points: 45 → 43
For reaching 100 WIS, you've gained a new skill!
Zone Seeker (Active/Passive) Lvl Max
Easter Egg Hunter, Secret Searcher, and Explorer of the Out of Bounds, these are just a few of the names that could apply to you. This skill untethers the player from locations on [The World Map] and allows them to traverse the spaces in between and beyond. To uncover the hidden secrets strewn throughout Fa'Diel. Word of caution: stronger enemies tend to lurk in these places.
Skill doesn't bypass the requirement of an artifact to enter locations.
For reaching 100 DEX, you've gained a new skill!
Quick Time Event (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
A mechanic in video games, a quick time event (QTE) is a situation where the game switches from its normal playstyle and forces the player into a position where they must speedily perform button commands to match the prompts on screen. In lieu of button inputs, there will be different prompts here.
This skill can be augmented by other skills such as [Observe] and [Sense Danger].
Effect: When activated, the player's speed and reaction time increase by 10%
"Damn. That was something," Sean commented in amazement as the light faded. He glanced at the bodies. "We all float down here." And smirked at the dark humor.
The [Shade] spell expired and Hanna used her sword to poke one of the corpses. She stared emotionlessly as it and the other cadavers exploded into light particles. Hanna did quirk a brow when several items rose up to the surface. Mandragora automatically went about fetching them and dropped them in the same chest Sean recently acquired, the young man being happy to have them.
Shade: Lvl 9 → Lvl 10
"Good job, guys." Mandragora danced at his praise.
The two rodents looked at his back and easily spotted the changes in Sean's mana, how much more potent and denser his signature became. A silent conversation swiftly passed between the two lest the human also be capable of comprehending [Rat Speak]. Horatio kept him in his peripheral to avoid possible confirmation of the fact.
Quill frowned when he showed her a specific hand sign, leading her to stare regretfully over her shoulder at her bag.
"It is a must, my dear," Horatio assuaged in his native tongue. "These ones need answers."
That didn't make her feel any better, but she nodded and wiped the frown off her face.
"There are more enemies approaching…"
Sean closed the chest and threw it back into his inventory. "Yeah, there sure are." He glanced at his map and started buffing himself. "And it seems they've wised up."
[Bravery]! [Haste]! [Protect]! [Shell]!
A shiver of sharks swam towards them through the concrete floors, displacing zero material and making no sound. Dorsal fins poked up overhead forebodingly like a whisper in the dark, the imagined Jaws theme announcing their presence. Then they submerged.
Silence lingered.
Behind!
Sense Danger: Lvl 7 → Lvl 8
[Maelstrom]!
Sean drew his new sword and spun around twice with a devastating slash. Energy trailed along the blade and created a deadly whirlpool during his revolutions, the aura around him further expanding into a spinning buzzsaw. Piece by piece were the sharks sliced apart and reduced to sashimi by the sharpened steel.
They believed themselves smart in trying to dogpile him from all sides, but the meaty chunks that slapped wetly against the stones stated otherwise.
Sean finished the technique and wobbled around. "Damn, I need more practice." He tried steadying himself to shake off the dizziness and accidentally stepped in the pool of ichor that leaked into the crevices.
Vines wrapped around his waist and yanked him out of the path of the berserk shark that shot up from below. Its eyes were now completely black, high off the blood of its kin. Sean raised his right hand and Hanna grabbed his arm to direct his aim.
[Float]!
Jaws snapped at him voraciously as the chondrichthyan froze in mid-air. It flailed about to reach him and let out an angry approximation of a gasp mixed with a roar. Being close up to its gaping maw also revealed row upon row of teeth, the crimson stains leading to thoughts none of them wished to dwell on.
Hanna bisected the creature symmetrically with a flying slash and watched the bloody halves fall.
She then witnessed blue hands coalesce from the cadaver's shadow and they tried to pull her into the floor by her ankles. Hanna stepped outside of their reach and swung downwards at the offensive appendages. Hands flew off and left behind bleeding stumps that sank back into the darkness. Others took their place and the attached monsters started pulling themselves up.
Faith breathed out a well-placed [Flamethrower] that scorched the rotting pile of flesh and aimed to incinerate it till a loud wail blew her away and caused Hanna to stumble. The she-wolf hit the wall, but rapidly recovered and shook herself to clear the ringing from her head.
Blue-skinned women appeared from down the tunnel and kneeled with their hands clasped together in prayer. Each wore a grass green dress and had bright orange hair that obscured their faces. Their mouths opened for a second attack, but a combined [Sonic Boom] from Mandragora knocked them down.
"You all go take care of that," Sean commanded. The little onions briefly hesitated before running off to face their opponent. "Remora, return! Faith! Destroy the corpse! It's a [Spawn Point]!"
Faith barked and charged another [Flamethrower] as the piranhas came to his aid.
Buff, blue-skinned humanoids faced him, their heads wrapped in white bandages and garbed in green pants. Yellow eyes like spotlights narrowed at him from within a sea of blackness. Those standing in the rear broke away to deal with Faith and Hanna moved to block them.
She sidestepped a right hook and decapitated her immediate foe. A kick to its sternum sent the corpse flying into the monster behind it, knocking both to the floor. The living shadow choked out a breath when it slammed harshly onto its back and coughed violently as its head spun.
Hanna stabbed her sword into its skull and flicked the dark purple blood off her blade into the eyes of another that lunged at her. The creature's hands flew to its face in anguish and started rubbing furiously, ripping and tearing off pieces of bandage to get rid of the burning pain.
It froze when her sword plunged into its chest and came out its back. Hanna gazed at the monster in boredom and twisted her wrist. The monster jerked when she removed her sword and its body slowly fell to its knees and collapsed on its front.
"Remora! [Riptide] followed by [Thunder]!"
A deluge of water shot from their mouths and twisted shape into sharpened teeth, biting and tearing into the enemy. Cuts and scratches swiftly littered their forms alongside weeping puncture wounds. His foes tried to dodge the attack, but a wall of wind from either side boxed them in, leaving them pressed tightly together like a can of sardines.
Lightning trailed its heels and struck the pool in which they stood, sending arcs of energy across their spasming, bloodied flesh. Remora continued till their HP reached zero and the monsters dissipated into a cloud of acrid, black smoke that the wind cleared away.
The group then smelled food burning and saw that the shark's corpse had been incinerated, leaving nothing behind.
Mandragora returned shortly thereafter, dragging the sirens along by barely scratched vines. Judging by the angle their heads tilted, everyone could tell the monsters' necks were snapped. Mandragora let the bodies go and stood there innocently as they looked up at Sean and sought his approval.
He shot them a thumbs up, his expression that of awkward surprise at the display of brutality. "Yeah, great work team. Same with the rest of you." Faith sat on her haunches proudly with a wolfish grin.
Off to the side, Hanna wiped her blade clean and sheathed it.
Sean, meanwhile, read over the influx of information, having managed to [Observe] the monsters during the battle.
Shadow Lvl 31 [Darkness] -Morph-
HP: 0/800
TP: 9500/9500
MP: 950/950
STR: 260
VIT: 32
DEX: 120
INT: 38
WIS: 25
SPI: 38
LUK: 36
Description: Strong warriors known for their grappling moves, these creatures blend into the shadows and can both attack from and hide away in them. All of them have bandages wrapped around their heads. Stronger variants can spirit people away into darkness.
Land Shark Lvl 28 [Water/Earth] -Aquatic-
HP: 0/1750
TP: 5875/5875 (7125/7125 (On Land))
MP: 250/250
STR: 135
VIT: 70
DEX: 100 (In Water), 150 (On Land)
INT: 10
WIS: 27
SPI: 35
LUK: 53
Description: A species of shark rarely found in the ocean and other open bodies of water. Capable of swimming through the earth, hence its name, it acts as an ambush predator waiting underfoot for unsuspecting prey. It has the potential to cause the [Bleed] status effect with its attacks and sometimes buries people alive.
Siren Lvl 32 [Water/Sound] -Demi-Human-
HP: 0/1750
TP: 4250/4250
MP: 1950/1950
STR: 70
VIT: 70
DEX: 100
INT: 78
WIS: 72
SPI: 110
LUK: 53
Description: Hailing from Greek mythology, Sirens are human-like women who used their alluring voices and otherworldly beauty to hypnotize and entrance men and cause the sinking of ships. They appear in multiple stories and have been described as possessing wings, tails, and avian bodies based on varying depictions. Share similarities with mermaids, sea hags, and nymphs.
Observe: Lvl 55 → Lvl 56
Someone tapped Sean on the shoulder and he turned to find Quill's concerned expression. She found his reaction telling. Even more bodies lie behind her and Horatio who crossed his arms in a relaxed stance.
Are you all right?
"Yeah, I'm fine." He looked at Horatio. "Was that enough?"
"You're doing well, but keeping casting until the sewers are clear." The rat sent Quill a glance and she stared back unapologetically.
"Sure thing."
Schierke POV
"I feel it safe presume the others have arrived," she spoke as she lowered her bow. Her friends' auras stood out like a lighthouse beacon to Sean's burning tundra.
"Is his arrival tied to the sudden influx of monsters?" Hyssop asked. He glanced at the perforated corpses with disdain.
Schierke was once more in her disguise from Norwich, a black-haired, pale-skinned beauty. Hyssop chose a regal look, that of a High Elf sporting platinum blonde hair and soft green eyes. He was suited in silver plate armor bedecked with regalia and wore a silver circlet to match. The sneer on his face befitted his guise. Arrogance and delusions of superiority were fairly common amongst elves.
"Perhaps," she answered neutrally. The arrows lodged in the monsters' bodies phased from existence and reappeared in her invisible quiver. "There was a sudden shift not dissimilar to the normal ones. But it was more inconspicuous and bared only the faintest traces of mana." She paused in macabre ponderance. "This occurrence would have doomed the common soul."
Indeed, it was quite the surprise when monsters spawned around them from thin air where once there were none. But that wasn't their first shock.
Shiro's ears stood up straight earlier on and the now German Shepherd began barking at the opposite end of the tunnel, the direction from which Sean's group entered. A flicker of mana sent a tingle of static along their fur and alerted them to move closer to the wall. Schierke grabbed Shiro firmly by his scruff and pulled him away from the channel.
Not a moment later, they were subjected to the same electrical light show and the same scent of ozone.
"That shouldn't be anything less than confirmation," Hyssop remarked. "Horatio and Quill know no lightning spells and I feel little in the way of magic from their guest."
"Vetch did report some manner of fish floating about him, but we must first ascertain to what extent he was involved. Mystery surrounds him like a veil."
"I suppose time will tell."
The trio moved further into the sewers ahead of them to Slade's location. Familiarity made him easy to find.
Sean POV
"Did you have to knock him out?" He asked.
"…He startled me."
Sid, a member of the Winged Horde, was presently stretched out on his back, wings flared, as the skin around his left eye swelled to a pleasant plum purple. Horatio stood next to Quill who hovered over Sid like a mother hen, worriedly making sure he was okay. And, despite her embarrassment, Hanna barely reacted, her mood indicated by the subtle frown tugging on her lips.
"Well, at least we found the hidden paths." "As much good as that did."
Blazing red skulls in front of both showed how disastrous taking those routes would be. The branching paths were rated 40+ levels above his own.
Quill rose to her feet and signed to Horatio to pick Sid up. The vagabond did so without argument and carried the winger to his bed. Sid's home wasn't that far from the entrance, but the state of it left much to be desired.
Tattered and faded brown sheets covered a beaten mattress and busted bed frame that had seen better days. Dirt splotches stained it thoroughly, including the lone, rumpled pillow, and a couple springs poked out from it. The floor itself wasn't too bad, but was still covered in a layer of grime.
"Let me handle that," Sean said.
[Clean]
[Repair]
White mana from the [Clean] spell encompassed the bed and disappeared after a few seconds, leaving behind sparkles like those from a cleaning commercial. The frame no longer had a broken front leg and the springs returned to their freshly washed homes. Everything was in pristine condition.
Clean: Lvl 9 → Lvl 10
"Easiest spell to level up that."
The only other furniture in the dingy room was a water-stained table, two creaky chairs, and a bookcase stocked with various supplies. One of its shelves was broken and curious, green goop smeared the base. Sean walked over to them and speedily repeated the process while Horatio set Sid down.
He was a tall, lanky dude wearing tight black pants and a ragged blue shirt. Like other members of his race, Sid's clawed feet were bare. Black arm guards and blue bands wrapped around his lower arms and above his ankles, respectively. Long, shaggy, dirty blonde hair that normally covered his left eye was pushed aside.
Name: Sid
Race: Winged Horde
Title: Prankster
Age: 21
Level: Lvl 32 Next Level: 300/6600
Likes: Scaring People, Spooky Stories
Dislikes: Proper Etiquette, High Society
HP: 4800/4800
TP: 10250/10250
MP: 2150/2150
STR: 170
VIT: 192
DEX: 240
INT: 86
WIS: 100
SPI: 103
LUK: 77
Synchro Effect: [Flight by Night Lvl 1]
Effect: When travelling through the air, Sid's stats increase by 5%. When doing so at night, all of his stats increase by 10%.
Stat Points: 160
Perk Points: 64
Items: [Rare] [Waking Rune]—Wielder starts the battle asleep when in effect. Once the wielder is awoken, the rune inflicts them with the [Berserk] status effect.
Description: A member of the Winged Horde known for his pranks and odd behavior. He sometimes pretends to be nice to catch people off guard. Likes hiding and spending his time in dark places. Once told the people in the Winged District that he was moving as a joke and disappeared with all of their gifts. Now living in the sewers beneath Two River City.
"Just as I remember. Not the best idea to jump out at us, pal."
"Hey, this actually reminds me: can you elaborate further on why Vetch slept with me?" He asked. "I mean, the note explained it was for safety reasons, but was the physical contact necessary?"
"That is something we don't have the time to discuss," Horatio replied. "Try researching [Mana Suppression]. It is a beginner's skill that can be learned fairly quickly." His expression grew more serious and a touch of warning entered his tone. "If you ever ask for assistance in learning this skill, only do it with someone close to you. Someone you truly trust."
"Okay," Sean spoke slowly. "But I'm pretty sure most of the enemies are already dead." He read the quest description again. "We haven't seen any in a while and this guy clearly took some out." Said foes had been stabbed to death by Sid's spear and the remains eaten by Remora. "Damn that was grisly."
Main Objectives:
-Clear the sewers of all monsters: (112/123)
"And with that said, getting through the rest of the sewers should be a breeze." Quill nodded.
This person did leave a trail.
"Yet there are still more," Horatio responded. He could hear a chorus of heartbeats not far away. "What do you wish to do with him?" He gestured to Sid.
Should we take him with us?
The black rat shook his head. "He will only slow us down."
Quill looked reluctant to leave him alone, but didn't fancy the idea of someone staying behind.
"He'll be all right," Sean said. "This guy has the [Waking Rune] equipped. And it seems like he's been living down here a while. He's probably used to facing these creatures."
She remained unsure.
"How about this. I'll leave a few of my fish behind to watch over him. Does that sound good?"
Quill thought it over a moment and smiled at him while nodding in agreement.
"Good." Sean ordered three of the 8 fish to do as he said until the Winger awoke. "Let's get going again. I'm already sick of being down here."
The party exited the dwelling and sprinted through the sewers. Gaps were easily cleared and they only stopped a few times when Sean found another treasure chest. They also passed by Schierke's kills.
"There's no need to worry," Horatio assured. "This was done by a friend of ours."
Remora tried to stop for another snack and was firmly rebuked.
"We don't have time for that. Keep moving."
Another entrance to the sewers soon materialized on Sean's map. He knew where it led from Suikoden 2 and his eyes would flicker to it every few seconds like he would a speedometer. It was where he knew the boss to be.
"Did you talk to a certain someone recently?"
"Yes. He confirmed your story," Horatio replied.
"…No questions?"
"Not at this time, no. We sent a letter to one of our associates to track down more of them and we included your warning about the [Gorgon Eye]. A response is expected soon."
"That's good," Sean responded. "Because I'm not completely sure how petrification works." He dreaded the thought of curing the stoned student in Mark's shop and ending up with a corpse. "Might talk to Biggs about that, too."
The conversation stopped when they reached a pair of thick, metal doors. A large red dot was behind it, much larger than the rest. Ten small dots moved around it.
"Do you mind if I enter first?" Sean asked.
"Why?" While they were tasked with monitoring him, Schierke also issued the order to protect the human and keep him alive. He knew too many things. "You don't know what's on the other side."
"…smells like a rat."
Both rodents gazed at her curiously whereas Hanna's fellow human was more vocal.
"How do you know what a rat smells like?"
"Worked around them before. They have a distinctive scent…"
Horatio and Sean made eye contact and the human shrugged. "Makes sense, I guess."
Are you sure you don't want someone else to go ahead?
Sean nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure. And Hanna's right. There's a monster called [Pest Rat] behind these doors." He then smirked and called out his newest summon. "I have a plan."
From out of nowhere, an amalgam of creatures appeared, possessing the midnight blue head and wings of a rooster, an elongated yellow beak, and a long, green-scaled tail. The rest of its plumage was a dark red coloration. An orange, reptilian crest jutted from its crown in place of a rooster's regular comb and the same green scales covered its much thicker, bent legs, giving it a prehistoric look.
Dark blue feathers shook as the creature flapped its wings and let out a loud crow. Its beady yellow eyes glanced about till they fell upon Sean and the 30-inch-tall bird clucked angrily, but didn't charge. A low growl erupted from Faith's muzzle to remind him of potential consequences.
Cockatrice [Earth] Cost: 100 MP Cooldown: 30 Minutes (Upon Defeat)
Name: Axl
Link: Lvl 2 Next Level: 0/80 AP
Standing: 0/1000
HP: 750/750
TP: 2250/2250
MP: 1000/1000
STR: 40
VIT: 30
DEX: 50
INT: 40
WIS: 50
SPI: 45
LUK: 4
Overdrive: [Terra Shock]—Replacing the somewhat misleading [Petrifying Beak], Cockatrice lets out a loud crow that shakes the earth and causes massive stone spikes to rise up and skewer the enemy. Also inflicts the [Petrified] status effect on all enemies who are not immune to it. DMG Formula: SPI + (SPI * 300%)
Summon Effect: +55 Earth Affinity (Passive) (Initial: 50)
Summon Effect: Grants the user +1 VIT every time the summon or user levels up
Description: First mentioned within the Biblical book of Isaiah, the Cockatrice is a creature that is often described as having a rooster's head and a reptilian body, though depictions have differed. It is most famously known for its ability to kill or petrify someone by looking at its target. Other tales mention its touch or breath to also be deadly. Despite the similarities, it and the Basilisk are not the same creature.
The bird sniffed at the indignity and ruffled its feathers.
"That's a cockatrice," Horatio stated matter-of-factly and averted his gaze. His reached into his pocket and whispered soundless words.
"Don't make eye contact…" Hanna reminded them. She stayed focused on its tail which thrashed along the floor.
"Axl's not going to do anything," Sean said, recalling the brief scuffle earlier that day. "This guy already tried once."
Did any part of you get petrified?
He shook his head. "Nah. My other summons were too fast for him." Axl grumbled at the reminder. "Don't get snippy with me," Sean chided. "You're the one who tried to attack me."
"You said you had a plan?"
"I do." He picked the irritated avian up which resulted in a loud squawk. "Axl has an ability that can petrify every enemy in that room. The downside is that it'll cause a small earthquake."
"Will that not crush us…?" Hanna inquired tranquilly.
"I doubt it. I tested it out at [Mekiv Caverns] before I got to town. It wasn't strong enough to shake anything loose."
For thinking ahead, you have gained +3 INT and +3 WIS.
INT: 79 → 82
WIS: 100 → 103
"Anything else we should know about?" Horatio chose to wait to question his knowledge of the monster.
"The [Pest Rat] can also emit poisonous clouds and cause earthquakes," Sean replied. "If we act fast enough, it shouldn't be able to fight back."
If you're sure.
The pair approached the doors and grabbed the rusted handles as Sean moved into position. Hanna stood by his side with her sword ready and his summons hovered around him to unleash a barrage in case Axl's attack didn't work.
Rusty hinges whined as the old metal scraped against itself, revealing a spacious storage room filled with improperly stacked barrels, crates, and pots. In the middle of the space was a gigantic blue rodent that barely fit inside. Two long, ram-like horns lightly scratched the walls and the hair above its face swept back to its behind.
Three bloody red eyes glared at them balefully and chittered at being disturbed. Smaller versions of said monster were revealed to be the remaining circles. The New York-sized sewer rats squeaked and skittered around their parent's feet.
Pest Rat Lvl 40 [Poison] -Demonic-
HP: 5200/5200
TP: 7125/7125
MP: 1000/1000
STR: 200
VIT: 208
DEX: 85
INT: 40
WIS: 36
SPI: 58
LUK: 44
Description: Once an exotic pet purchased from a travelling merchant, it was thrown away by a disgruntled parent and eventually found its way into Two River City's sewers where it has proliferated ever since. Fast for its size, this critter is capable of causing earthquakes and can spew a poisonous green mist.
Toxic Rat Lvl 25 (x10) [Poison] -Demonic-
HP: 2600/2600
TP: 3750/3750
MP: 500/500
STR: 100
VIT: 104
DEX: 50
INT: 20
WIS: 18
SPI: 27
LUK: 22
Description: The younger version of the [Pest Rat]. Albeit weaker and smaller in size, this monster has the habit of swarming enemies and is rarely found alone. Has a venomous bite capable of inflicting the [Poisoned] and [Paralyzed] status effects.
[Terra Shock]!
True to his word, Axl let out a loud crow that reverberated throughout the room and shattered several jars and pots to pieces. Sean gritted his teeth and fought to keep his grip on the bird as the powerful soundwaves bounced off every surface and travelled through his bones. Tremors beleaguered the stones, becoming most apparent by rocks loosening nerve-rackingly in the ceiling.
Sharpened, stone spikes then impaled the rodents. Pained squeaks erupted from their little bodies and they wriggled on the skewers, kicking their tiny legs in the air to get free. The movement only served to worsen their bleeding and allowed the petrification to take hold faster. It turned the rivulets of blood flowing down each spire to stone.
[Pest Rat] fared better against the assault. Its thicker coat and bulkier form stopped some of the spikes from penetrating, but not all, and they missed its most vital organs. Mana rapidly pooled in its stomach when it smelled the well-known stench of copper and puffed up its cheeks. Charging was impossible with it staked to the floor and it wouldn't dare crush its young, so it picked the only option it had left.
[Wrap]!
Vines effectively muzzled the [Pest Rat] and separate ones also appeared and supported both Hanna and Faith who stumbled under the assault. Certain party members, Horatio and Quill, exhibited no difficulty and stood there unperturbed. They merely observed the petrification take hold and watched the mischief suddenly freeze and turn to marble.
The process crawled along the [Pest Rat] more slowly, starting at its rear and creeping towards its head.
Sensing the demise of its brood sent the creature into a maddened state, bruxing its teeth and attempting to swing its now stone tail. It tried hard enough that the appendage snapped off. Realization that death was coming struck the creature in a rare instance of sentience and it swiftly decided that if it was going to perish, it would take down these trespassers with it.
[Pest Rat] let out a pulse of mana into the floor from its stomach that increased the strength of the quakes by tenfold. Malicious joy shone in its eyes as the process reached its head and transformed it into a contemporary art piece.
"Shit!" Sean cursed, dropping Axl and casting [Float] at the collapsing ceiling. A few rocks fell past him and struck the floor, echoing a series of loud bangs, but he stopped most of them.
However, the seismic force wasn't limited to their immediate area and spread underneath the entirety of the Kobold and Winged Horde districts, leaving the Human one mostly untouched.
Slade POV
"What is going on?" He sprang to his feet in alarm. The grey rat could feel the epicenter of the destructive spell not far from his position. "I told them they should've sent Bracken!"
Wingers fled from their domiciles, took off into the sky, and watched their ramshackle town from above. Desperation grabbed ahold of them and many started praying for their home to survive, none wanting to resettle after having lost the last one. Those who didn't stayed quiet in cold acceptance and wrapped an arm around their nearest friend or loved one.
"Soldier, report! What's causing this?" A uniformed, Irish Wolfhound ordered in a gruff voice.
"I don't know, sir!" The Blue Heeler replied nervously as he struggled to stay standing. He could barely hear his superior over the blaring alarm of the town's emergency system. "It started just ten seconds ago near the training yard."
"Follow me! We're going to empty the town before we're neck deep in shit."
"Yes, sir!"
Officers and soldiers from their own and other platoons met up with them and they swiftly began extracting civilians. Dogs ran into houses and businesses alike and carried out those who weren't moving fast enough or of feeble body. Those of higher rank corralled groups of panicked citizens running about aimlessly and escorted them towards the river away from the buildings and any tall trees.
The guards watching Slade abandoned their post when the alarm started and neither bothered to unlock his cell nor anyone else's. He grabbed ahold of the bars and watched them both sprint around a corner and disappear.
"Thanks a lot."
He heard worried murmuring coming from behind him a short time later and went to the barred window where sunlight streamed in. Slade jumped and grabbed the black iron bars. Shadows danced across his face as spooked civilians passed him hurriedly.
"E-excuse me…pardon…if I could have a moment of your time."
A few tried to stop for him, but were ushered along by the leading officers who gave him contemptuous looks. The citizens glanced at him remorsefully and one mouthed the word 'sorry.' Slade stared back and waited for them to disappear like the guards.
The grey rat dropped to the floor and let his arms hang limply at his sides. "Did I even need this disguise." Slade ruminated in disgust. He couldn't help but think that Two River's politics played a hand here, that the Kobolds' disregard and flippant attitude towards him were a result of his presumed identity. "Time to make my escape."
His plan was to use a Lightning spell to destroy the wall and shed his disguise once he was far enough away from town. He'd use his hearing to ensure that no dogs were nearby and sneak to the surrounding forest where he'd mask his scent. This idea of his flew out the window when one of the stones in the floor was pulled away and Slade peered into the hole.
A citrine eye gazed back at him.
Next thing he knew, the floor vanished and he tumbled a short ways into the palm of a giant, umbral hand. Slade hissed due to landing on his tail and quickly jumped off of it. He rubbed the appendage gently and blew on it like a cartoon character. Hyssop kept to his usual silence.
A throat cleared and Slade looked at Schierke who stared back at him blankly.
"Hello, Schierke," he spoke. "Thanks for coming to get me-E!" She leapt up and grabbed him by the ear, eliciting a pained squeak from the taller, grey rat. "Let go! It wasn't my fault."
"I left a warning for no one to touch the shipment. We'll be discussing what happened later," Schierke stated firmly. "Did you acquire what was asked?
He nodded rapidly. "Yes! I have it hidden on me. Just like you wanted."
"Very well." She let his ear go and he exhaled in relief. Slade stiffened, however, when she grabbed him by the tail. "We're leaving now." The ceiling reappeared in its original state. "Hyssop, be prepared to grab the others." The High Elf nodded.
Sean POV
"Is everyone okay?" He asked, staring at the sunflowers that held the roof up. He cast the [Repair] spell and fixed it now that the earthquake stopped.
"These ones are fine." Horatio let his normal syntax slip. Quill nodded and Hanna brushed dust off her shoulder in a placid mood. "But how did you know about the monster? Or the [Gorgon Eye]? Have you been here before?"
Schierke did say that the human acted as if he'd never been to Two River City. He also neglected to inform Sean that Clan Reed already received a reply back from Basil that [Clan Loch] had never seen the human around [Lake Kilma]. A working theory was that the human was a seer of some sort, like the fruit fortuneteller, [Meimei]. But that didn't explain everything about him.
Sean shook his head. "No." He walked up to the statue that hadn't yet shattered. He scowled and quickly fixed that by punching it below its third eye. "And I don't know about you, but I really need to take a shower."
Quest Completed!
Something Stinks
Reward: 20,000 Exp, 30,000 Lucre, Lavellan Summon, [Scent] Spell Book, Increased Reputation with all three districts
Bonus Objectives:
-Find Sid's Hideout: [Complete]
-Discover the hidden sewer passageways connecting the districts: [Complete]
Bonus Rewards: Ring of Strength, Basic Potion Recipe, Precious Painting
Enemy Slain! Toxic Rat Lvl 25 (x10)! Pest Rat Lvl 40!
+15,000 EXP
Level Up!
Sean Rent: Lvl 24 → Lvl 30 (Next Level: 3800/6200)
Stat Points: 43 → 73
Perk Points: 48 → 60
Remora: Lvl 11 → Lvl 15
Mandragora: Lvl 10 → Lvl 14
Faith: Lvl 8 → Lvl 13
Axl: Lvl 2 → Lvl 9
STR: 176 → 182 → 242
SPI: 257 → 267 → 327
WIS: 103 → 113
DEX: 100 → 111
VIT: 80 → 93
Elemental Affinities:
Wood/Plant: 455 → 475 → 595
Moon/Space: 460 → 580
Lightning/Thunder: 100 → 120
Water: 100 → 120
Sound: 95 → 115
Fire: 515 → 540 → 660
Soul: 360 → 480
Earth: 55 → 90
For reaching 500 Wood/Plant Affinity, you've gained a new skill!
Beginner Wood/Plant Mastery (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
Mother nature, gentle, yet harsh. Those who seek to enter Dryad's domain, the one regarded as being closest to the [Mana Tree] and the [Mana Goddess], should do so with a clear head. Kindness and patience are key here as is a relaxed mind. Take your first steps and harness the power of nature. It's handy for more than just growing vegetables, you know.
Effect: Learn all plant-related abilities +5% faster
Effect: Plant-elemental damage decreased by 5% and plant-elemental spells are 5% more effective
Effect: Decreases the cost of plant-related abilities by 5%
For reaching 500 Moon/Space Affinity, you've gained a new skill!
Beginner Moon/Space Mastery (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [0%]
The realm of space and dreamers, Luna's domain is also the least explored of the 8 primary affinities. Those who seek this path will encounter the surreal, the mysterious and strange, on their way to mastery. Explore the reaches of the cosmos and the deepest dreams. Stay firmly tethered to reality lest you float away.
Effect: Learn all moon-related abilities +5% faster
Effect: Moon-elemental damage decreased by 5% and moon-elemental spells are 5% more effective
Effect: Decreases the cost of moon-related abilities by 5%
Sean picked up the [Poison Orb] that the [Pest Rat] dropped and collected the rest of the drops with Mandragora's help.
Quill's ears twitched and both her and Horatio heard footsteps approach the top of the ladder beyond the storage room.
We need to go now.
"This one agrees," Horatio concurred. "We should—"
There was a loud pop and Sean found himself standing right outside Two River City's gates. He could see his fellow humans walking about and just stared. Hanna checked herself to make sure everything was still in place and Faith rubbed against Sean's leg to comfort him.
"I'm heading home," Sean announced tiredly. Anger burned in his chest at the misconception that petrification was instant. He truly believed that [Pest Rat] was immobilized and could've gotten those above killed because of it. "Thanks for your help, Hanna. Maybe I'll see you around sometime."
Hanna stared at him silently, then turned and left. He watched her go and looked at his map to see she was heading towards the nearest [Adventurer Guild]'s office. He petted Faith's head and turned around to head home.
A new notification appeared.
"Great. What now," Sean grumbled, staring at the window with distaste.
Event Alert: Monster Attack Impending!
The [Chocobo Eater] is heading towards Kathy's Ranch in Norwich. Hurry there and defend it. The monsters will arrive in 10 minutes. Hint: Try knocking it on its back. Recommended Level: 35
[Timer: 10 Minutes]
"Fantastic…well, I guess we better get over there." He looked down at Mandragora. "Sorry, guys. But I'm going to need to unsummon you. I can't have the police getting suspicious."
The little onions nodded back at him and disappeared in a flash of light.
For making a wise decision, you have gained +2 INT and +2 WIS.
INT: 82 → 84
WIS: 113 → 115
"Let's move." Sean disappeared to The World Map with Faith, Remora, and Axl at his sides.
Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 15. Hope everyone had a good holiday. It's been a while and I've been busy with things. Anyway, I thank you all for being patient and hope you like the chapter. Also, thanks for all of the favorites, follows, and reviews. I appreciate your kind words and reviews can really help authors along with their writing.
Concerning Horatio's wariness of having Faith in the sewers, I'm not sure how much fire would actually be needed to start an explosion. I feel like it'd take a good amount to set it off and this probably varies with the size of the sewers and methane concentration.
(Update: 2/7/2023): I took out the part with Hanna at the end because it didn't feel right. Hanna is a character from Suikoden 2 who you can recruit early on in the game. She barely speaks throughout the whole game. At the end of each Suikoden game, during the credits, it says what happened to each of the characters and what they did.
Hanna left after the war against the Highland Empire. She journeyed to the Grasslands, a region in the world of Suikoden, without saying a word to anyone. She spent the war fighting alongside all of these people and simply left without a single goodbye. That makes me feel that her comforting Sean is out of place. Also, her simply helping without pay is very lacking in agency and Sean wouldn't get too bent out of shape considering everyone was fine like how Shadow protected Norwich from [Stratoavis]'s attack in Chapter 9.
She'll appear again later.
Please leave a review.