The Way of the Clan 3 (World of Valdira)

by Dem Mikhaylov

  -- Got it— replied Doc a little nervously, putting his glowing palm upon the back of the warrior— Aha! Done!

  Well done.

  I nodded slightly, expressing my approval.

  The first Kobold crashed with a roar into the exposed shields and furiously hissed, trying to catch Doc with his spear. Such a possibility was not offered to him and another Kobold fell at our feet. A few seconds later, he was joined by the shooter, felled down by the joint efforts of myself and Kaylen.

  -- Not bad, not bad, not bad— Bom muttered, sweeping products into his bag— But few! Oh, mushrooms!

  Bom collected trophies so quickly and professionally, that I didn’t even think to object. Kaylen and Cray were also silent, and only Doc could not resist:

  -- You do, truly, share— right?

  -- I promised— I replied shortly, and Doc breathed a sigh of relief.

  Looks like the healers lead a hard life. And a poor one.

  Judging by the map, a cross section of the Breeding Grounds looked like a swollen and rotting pear.

  The upper level was the smallest in length, and in less than an hour we reached the gaping wet rock wall with an inclining tunnel, leading steeply down. During this time, Tyrant had gained one level up and nearly reached the next, but we did not, although we had killed several dozen Kobolds. The Kobolds were not able to bring us any special benefits.

  Clashes would have been much larger, but competitors weren’t sleeping through their chances and acted fast— travelling through the dark corridors, we met at least five groups of players, cleaning out all living creatures in a row.

  Fortunately, the Proteus wave, maddened with mushrooms, did not occur, but I was sure that this fun was yet to come.

  Looking into the dark passage, I glanced at the fireflies hovering in the air and made sure that it would serve us for quite some time. Then I looked at the group and stopped to ask:

  -- All good? Is everyone fine? Ready to continue?

  Waiting for another affirmative, I nodded, pleased. There was no need or desire to stop. Time was running out. Soon, very soon it would be midnight.

  -- There are many more Kobolds on the second level— warned Bom— Not only hunters, but also military patrols. Doc, be on alert. We have no tank.

  -- I know it— said the doctor, hurriedly placing mana potions in his pockets.

  -- Let’s go— I ordered.

  The narrow curving passage “spat” us out to the second level and we were suddenly knee-deep in water. Cray was almost in the water to his waist, which meant he would have to spend more energy on movement, and fatigue would overtake him faster. But, being underground made up for this disadvantage and repaid him in kind.

  Tyrant kept on— he was up to his throat. Above the surface could be seen only his very dissatisfied black and white face, his tail lifted in vigor. A sidelong glance backwards into the darkness, and I could see the looming figure of Grim. I quickly shuffled spells and my faithful serpent splashed into the water… and immediately a dozen Proteus rushed forwards to it. No sooner had the snake had a chance to respond to this chaos, it had been torn to pieces, and I looked at the rollback of mana and cursed. Tyrant rushed to the aquatic reptiles with a joyous zeal, grabbing the fattest of them and wagging his tail as he bit into the helpless Proteus.

  Proteus had taken my snake as food. If the serpent was cast back, they would again attack immediately.

  -- Hmph…-- said Cray, looking at me— Like starving piranhas.

  -- Yeah— I said with a sigh, returning the spell “Thorn Hedge” to my left palm, which I had not yet used.

  -- We’ll manage without— encouraged the woman.

  -- I really hope so – I replied, looking under my feet— there, at the very toe of my left boot, gently rolled a human skull at the bottom of the stream, inside which busily scurried a newborn Proteus.

  A little further, there were the scattered bones belonging to the skull, and another— this time an elf, narrower than a human’s and their “classic” broad eye sockets. Debris and garbage floated in the water, within which swam dozens of the seemingly harmless creatures. Here, they were much more than first leveled. If, god forbid, now they would eat some of the Light Mushrooms and go mad…

  -- The decoration is on point— muttered Doc, looking at the skull of the unknown elf— So cheerful. Ros, should I activate the aura?

  -- Do not— I shook my head. Bom nodded approvingly, agreeing with my decision— It’s necessary to get by the second level with a minimum of tricks or spending of mana. I’ve still not spend a single bubble of mana, and neither have the others. That’s good— but we need to save. And if you do the aura now, and also heal us every once in a while…

  -- Then the mana’s going to drain very quickly— sadly nodded Doc— The aura consumes a lot. But if the attack is immediate, and there are both warriors and archers… I might not have time. That’s the only thing I am afraid of.

  -- Pay attention to me the least— said I, following a short hesitation and pushing a trembling Proteus directly into the toothy jaws of Tyrant— My hands are free, and we will always have time to swallow a health potion. Kaylen… and you

  -- I’ve got em too— nodded the girl— I’ll manage.

  -- Just don’t forget— grudgingly muttered Cray, glancing at his partner— I know how you are!

  -- Okay, dad— appeasably replied Kaylen, to everyone’s fun.

  -- Do you know the healer traffic light, doc?— I asked the guy.

  -- Of course – resentfully nodded Doc— I’m a healer, after all!

  -- Good, so act according to that principle— I suggested— Whoever is red is the highest priority. If you see that everyone is yellow, and you do not have time— do the aura. All green— do nothing. Just go on and smile.

  -- Yes, I know— Doc sighed— Dumb and simple. And… and why smile?

  -- So that the enemy gets nervous— I said with a grin.

  -- Aggrs are red too, but don’t try to heal them— Bom snickered.

  -- Moving on— I ordered, and the party took up their positions— Straight to the third level of the dungeons. And let’s not even think about aggrs. They’re the last thing we need.

  We went onwards, and the doctor “charged” his arms with healing, Kaylen and I lifted our palms with charges of “Flaming Coal,” holding “Stickers” in our lowered hands. The wet Tyrant ineptly got underfoot, jumping and snorting with pleasure after a murder of a soft and tasty Proteus. Yes— he did not kill them, but also ate them.

  And behind us was the dark shadow of Grim. And he continued grimly silent, not following up on his words on wanting to talk. And my desire to say something unprintable and terrible grew.

  If only someone devoured him! And that was the paradox— the Kobolds, attacking everything and everyone, perfectly saw the huge figure of Grim but did not think to attack him, pretending not to notice the unarmed and bearded man, who was making absolutely no effort to hide. How blind! Huh.

  We ran into serious trouble only ten or so steps away from the entrance. Hardly having turned on the order of Bom down one of the corridors, we were met face to face with a dozen Kobold warriors, who also did not expect such a meeting.

  -- Two patrol! – howled the doomed Bom – We got a full plat…

  -- Flash! Beware! – I shouted, momentarily blocking out not only the cry of Bom but also the incessant sound of running water. Under the feet of the soldiers a small sphere fell with a splash and, in a split second, a bright flash flared which was still visible through screwed up eyelids and through the palms of hands.

  There was a many-toned howl and, it seemed to me, the yelling not only of the subterranean monsters, but also of some of the clearly stunned party members.

  I opened my eyes and, putting out both hands, covered the blinded and shrieking Kobolds with buzzing “tracers” and glowing coals, while “planting” whole thickets of “thorn hedges.” Burned and pricked, the Kobolds howled even louder, but the effects of th
e flash were ongoing and they did not even think to attack. Some dropped their weapons completely and sunk into the seemingly boiling, churning water— the flash had hit all living beings, including Proteus who had never before seen the sun. The “planted” shrubs and prickly bushes did not add to their optimism and peace.

  Just a little late, my magic spells were joined by those of Kaylen, and the number of bursts of fire soaring through the air at the enemy had doubled. Sharp and angular rocks emerged among the funny bushes. One such spike appeared right in front of a screaming Kobold and got him in the knee. The Kobold pitched forwards with a shout and got his head caught in a thorn bush, twitching so much that you would think he caught an electrical discharge. Another of his kind— smoking and blackening— had two charred marks of his chest, caused by bursts of glowing coals. The water and steam overtook his smoldering body with a hiss, and at the same time another Kobold buckled to his knees.

  Continuing to cast magic, I looked around the battlefield with a short glance.

  Bom and Cray had continued to stand firmly on the frontlines, taking the blows of fresher Kobold warriors and protecting us from the angry and wounded enemies, and Doc… Doc squatter on the ground and hid his face in his hands.

  -- Doc! – I yelled, snatching a bottle of mana out of my pocket— Heal! Heal!

  -- Y-yes! Okay! – he shouted, jumping to his feet and putting his glowing palms on the backs of the soldiers— Healing! Damn it! Damnit! What was that?!

  -- A “Flash” – answered Bom, lowering the blade of his sword on the head of a Kobold— Treat me too! I am yellow! Another is done! Stand at ready! Hold on!

  -- I am yellow, too! – anxiously shouted Cray— Doc! Don’t let us die! There are three of them coming at me!

  No… we won’t make it, Doc can’t heal fast enough.

  Come on…

  -- Don’t waste the charges, Doc! – I shouted a warning, seeing the panicked doctor reach behind him or his staff with the “Great Healing” charge.

  Emptying the bottle of mana in one sip, I chucked the empty bottle and “poured” the “little cure” into my hand, stepped forward, and put my hand on the back of the dwarf, who was furiously waving his ax— while, with the other hand, I continued to throw flaming coals at the remaining Kobolds. The water hissed, one by one consuming the steaming corpses. Soot and ashes flew in the air, and there was the strong smell of burning. At my feet trembled the whining Tyrant— I did not have time to train him to react to “Flash.”

  But this was nonsense. All little things.

  It was over. We had held out. The fight wasn’t finished, but I was absolutely sure of it. There were only four monsters left, in black cloaks, and those were already near death. A clear victory. With no tank in the party, we had stumbled upon a dozen Kobold warriors and were able to win the battle without losing a single soldier. But if I hadn’t had time to throw the flash… Well, you could say, we had made it out by the very skin of our teeth.

  And once again I congratulated myself on the fact that I did not brave it alone, and took the time to organize the party.

  -- Excellent, Ros! – pronounced Bom with feeling, dropping to one knee and eagerly reaching for trophies— And I thought— that’s the end of the kitten.

  -- You’re kind of a donkey, actually – I smiled— What kitten? Doc, what the devil did you freeze for?

  -- I didn’t freeze, but went blind! – corrected the doctor— I didn’t know this signal! When you yelled, I just thought hey, that word is strange, and then it flashed like hell! Sorry, guys.

  -- It’s a Flash— I reminded him, shuffling spells— Does anyone know, are there often big crowds like this wandering around?

  -- Ten at once? No— Bom shook his head— Just two or three patrols met by accident, but never ten. We were unlucky to run into them. Do you have any more flashes, Ros?

  -- Three left— I said, pulling out a sphere from my bag and putting it into my pocket as a shortcut— But would be better if we save them. Kaylen, you did well. Speared a whole crowd of Kobolds with those stones. Yes, everything was well done— no one ran, or broke the system. Thank you.

  -- But I screwed up— grimly said Doc.

  -- No— I do not agree— you pulled everyone through, no one went back to the check point. All is well. Bom! Done collecting?

  -- All swept clean! – called the “ass,” distinct and subtle notes of pleasure appearing in his voice— Not too shabby! Oh! There’s a lot more floating around over here! Give me a sec! By the way— is it impossible for you not to singe the coats?! You make holes in them when you burn them, and they fall in price! Some even become charred rags!

  -- Well, excuse me— I threw up my hands, to the accompaniment of general laughter— There’s nothing to be done there.

  -- We lose money— Bom sighed, crawling on all fours through the water and scattering Proteus, rummaging around the bottom.

  There was a barely audible clink, and before my eyes a message popped up— killing the Proteus, Tyrant had received another level. Not bad! The pet was already at the eleventh level. When it reached the twentieth— he’ll receive the first achievement.

  Another message alerted me that from the eleventh onward, the level of my pet activated another option— energy to be used to the application of warrior and civilian skills. The current value equal to five counts. Well, quite good.

  -- Well done, hairy face, growing up! – I encouraged the wolf, who was joyfully jumping in the water, and noticed that he had grown slightly— a centimeter and a half, and the teeth had looked a little more solid than before. The cute fluffy puppy was turning into a vicious killer in front of my eyes. All from dad!

  Casting a glance back, I shuddered involuntarily— in Grim’s eyes momentarily flashed two dim, red lights. They flickered and went out. Before midnight, no time at all was left— a couple of hours and a hair. If Grim suddenly turns into a werewolf and begins to mince us all… no, the situation did not suit me at all. I don’t want to set anyone up, and there would be no other words for it besides that.

  But I did not particularly want to explain anything either…

  -- Right! – I grumbled— I beg your attention, comrades! Do you all have return crystals or teleport scrolls? Hm?

  -- We have them— Cray pointed to himself and the nodding woman— why?

  -- A second— I said, and switched to the doctor— Doc?

  -- Nope.

  -- Bom?

  -- I have crystals— said our hamster— Three pieces. From the second level to the exit of the dungeon. I just picked them up. Why?

  -- Give one to Doc— I said, and waited until the crystal was safely in Doc’s pocket to continue— Now listen carefully! If I suddenly yell, “Run!” Then you, without hesitating or asking anything, using scrolls or crystals, teleport to the exit. You hear me? No hesitating, and no questions such as “why” or “what is it?” Leave right away!

  -- Why? What is it? – asked Bom in surprise, and the urge to curse was unbearable.

  The others remained silent, but their faces were full of quiet inquisition. Well, that’s to be expected— they are right.

  -- I cannot explain right now— I said— but I will say this— if I shout “run” then some very serious stuff has begun, at which point you have to fly to the revival location. I don’t want to set anyone up, so I am warning you now. We’ll all go back to the exit, but in that case, it’ll just be a little quieter than expected.

  -- A mysterious person you are, Rosgard— said the dwarf, and I forced a smile:

  -- No need to tell me.

  -- Do you not think that you should add a few words? – languidly asked Bom.

  Doc blinked in surprise, and Kaylen… the girl looked thoughtfully toward the figure of Grim, barely rising out of the shadows.

  The fireflies flashes, signaling that they would go out soon, and I reached into my bag for the next “luminary.”

  I deactivated the old one and took out the new. I was about to
throw the exhausted fireflies into the water but was stopped by Bom, who grumbled:

  -- What are you doing? It still has some energy. Useful!

  -- Hoarder— I shook my head in admiration— Nothing I can explain now, guys. I can explain later, when we’re all sitting together. At a campfire. After the hike, after returning as heroes. And now… Kobolds!

  We were relaxing! That’s bad… talking idly and behaving as though it were a social event.

  In the dark corridor were heard distinct, approaching footsteps splashing through the water.

  -- Stop! – Cray shouted, dropping the shield— This is a player! Green!

  That’s what I meant when I said underground benefits! This little man saw way better than us in the dark dungeon.

  A player. Alone in the dungeon. Not an aggr. The only survivor after the death of his party?

  It could be so. But then why take the long way? After all, there were return crystals.

  A nickname flashed through the murk, and after a few seconds light hit the player, causing everyone in the group to gasp in astonishment. Everyone except me. Because I had already seen the shapeless orange pants and the completely bald head, covered with scars and crowned with a pair of protruding ears.

  We were looking at the bald elf Orbit. His level had changed to thirty-six. Thirty-six!

  And he had come without a firefly jar or any torch, without any other light source. Yes, and there were no brand-name AntiProt boots on his feet. His hands were absolutely empty. No weapon or shield.

  And there was a new element to his image. Around his neck hung a strange necklace00 something like a rope with a piece of skin strung tight, covered with strange characters and tiny pieces of a yellowish material with the same unintelligible characters. What the…

  -- He-ll-looo… -- greeted the elf, wiping his sweaty bald head with his hand.

  -- Ears? – Cray murmured, staring at the strange decoration around the neck of the elf— Kobold ears, some bones and skulls… of Proteus?

  -- I love beautiful things— said Orbit, smiling shyly— Hello, Rosgard.