Project Daily Grind (Mirror World Book #1)
Page 15
Chapter Seventeen
We’d reached level 7. We had another hour and a half until the first mobs reappeared. We had 118 Twilight Crystals in the kitty. Everyone was tuckered out but it felt good. The guys were happy. According to my calculations, we’d earned about four hundred gold each and had done a bit of skill leveling. As for me... each swing of my pick sent cold shivers down my spine. Eighty-three points! Two more points, and I’d get a new level.
I took a heavy, purposefully slow swing. My pick lingered in mid-air.
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal.
That was close.
By mutual agreement, we did level 7 all by ourselves. As the other guys explained to me, you didn’t get as many bonus resources when you let the bots to do the job.
Another swing.
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal.
Big sigh of relief.
Level 7 was one huge throne hall. Admittedly it looked more like a mass grave. Its floor was littered with skulls and bones, pieces of rusty armor and broken shields, swords, axes, halberds, arrows and spear tips. This disgusting mix was generously garnished with stiff gray cobwebs.
I’d mined thirty-four Twilight Crystals. I’d lost count of the Gray ones. If I made Experienced Digger now, I’d ruin the whole raid, both for myself and for the others. I’d already decided to tell them the truth once I made level 84. I just hoped they’d understand. That wasn’t what worried me. But where four people shared a secret, it was only a question of time before it became common knowledge.
Should I keep it under wraps, maybe? Should I hit 85 points, get my new level, then promptly quit both the group and the game and start over in some other cluster as far from here as possible? Never mind the crystals—never mind what the guys were going to think about me. But this way my secret definitely wasn’t safe. It wouldn’t take Flint and the others long to put two and two together. And then they wouldn’t keep their mouths shut, if only just to punish the jerk who’d done the dirty on them.
No. This wasn’t an option. I hated the very idea of it.
Another swing.
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal
“Keep going, guys!” Flint cheered. “I got another Twilight one!”
“Olgerd, hold on!” Knuckles shouted to me from the opposite side of the hall. “We’re nearly there!”
“Leave him alone,” Sprat interfered. “Can’t you see he can barely lift his pick? First time is never easy!”
“Don’t shortchange him, man,” Flint joined the quip exchange. “He’s gonna surprise us all, trust me!”
Sullenly I kept picking at the rock. He didn’t even know how right he was.
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal.
Your tool slipped as you picked at the slab of dark rock.
You’ve received a resource: Twilight Crystal.
“I got another one!” I wheezed.
“So!” Flint echoed. “What did I tell you?”
He had indeed. And the worst was still to come. I could imagine his face once I started telling them my story.
A swing.
“Comrades,” Sir Tristan called out, “our time is up! One last swing and we’re out of here!”
A swing.
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal.
Saved by the bell.
I stopped. I was heaving. For the first time in the last two hours I cracked a happy smile, meeting my friends’ cheerful eyes. Yes: my friends. Nothing brings people closer than hard work. Especially when you know that each of them, you included, had given it their all.
I noticed an enormous carving in the rock wall a few paces away from me. It depicted a battle of dwarves with hordes of Rhogghs and Horruds. That was unusual. As I’d worked, I hadn’t even had time to cast a look around. But now I could finally enjoy a bit of local artwork, why not? I still had a couple of minutes to catch my breath.
“Olgerd!” Flint called out. “Whassup?”
“Just a sec! I need a breather!”
“I see! All right then! We’re going up! You’ll have to catch up with us! Don’t forget that the spiders will be here in forty minutes!”
“They’re the biggest ones in there!” Sprat added, grinning.
I waved their warnings away: like, don’t worry, I have plenty of time. Then I stepped toward the carving. I couldn’t yet understand what it was but my eye had caught on something very... very familiar.
I had three more paces to take when I sensed a light prickling in my right hand. My ring finger.
Surprised, I pulled off the glove. The ring. The fine runic script encircling it glowed an intense blue.
I took another step. The ring prickled my hand again. Another one of Pierrot’s tricks.
I immediately remembered the conversation we’d had earlier about stashes and things. What if I managed to find a treasure as well? But what if it was a trap?
I took another step. The ring gave me one last prickle and became inanimate again. Not that I needed its warnings now. I’d already worked out what it was in the carving that had seemed so strange to me.
The warriors fighting the hordes of fanged Rhogghs and thick-skinned Horruds were no dwarves.
They were Ennans.
I peered closer at the scene. No, I wasn’t mistaken. A squat figure of a warrior at my eye level was clad in a set of armor, his helmet in his right hand, his left one reaching for his face. Just like my own Ennan: a sullen stare, an aquiline nose. This one didn’t have a shock of hair, though: his was neatly braided into lots of plaits, both his head and his beard. A tattoo on his cheek looked very much like a rune.
What an interesting individual. He wasn’t in the thick of battle but it somehow seemed to flow around him. I got the impression that the Rhogghs and the Horruds seemed to be trying to get to him, hindered by the thick ranks of squat broad-shouldered Ennan soldiers bristling with long spears and blocking the way with their tall shields.
I couldn’t see any archers. Ah, there they were. Not archers: crossbowmen.
A group of bearded midgets hovered around the Ennan leader. Cassocks, long beards, twisted staffs in their hands. They carried neither armor nor weapons. These must have been wizards.
I stepped ever closer to the picture. I wanted to see everything in every detail.
But... what was this? It couldn’t be! Then again... who did I think I was fooling? Apparently, whoever had created Ennans had his own far-fetched plans for their race. The Ennans’ leader sported the exact same ring on his hand as I did.
Could I have been wrong? I raised my hand and took a look. The ring was identical.
I’d been expecting what happened next with a complex mix of fear and impatience. Both our rings glowed with the familiar blue hue. Fine blue threads emanated from the Ennan’s ring. Mine followed suit, the threads reaching out for each other. It was fascinating.
I nearly missed the moment when they met. I snatched my hand away. The light went out. Gasping, I looked around me but saw no one.
What could this mean? Was it yet another surprise from the disfavored programmer? Or was it a complex activation of something very dangerous—or alternatively, very useful?
Later, I kept asking myself the question hundreds of times. What had triggered my next action? Could it be the guys’ talks of hidden treasures? Or my constant musings to the point that Pierrot or what’s his name, Andrew Petrov, hadn’t done anything that could have hurt me yet?
I really couldn’t tell. I only remember thinking clearly that if the ring would allow me to earn a bit more money, I shouldn’t let this chance slip.
I raised my hand. The threads of blue light reappeared, reaching toward each other even faster than the first time. It was as if they were scared to fail again.
Finally, they met. For a while nothing happened. I admittedly thought this was the end of it. As if! A system message popped up,
Greetings, O Olgerd, from the guardian spirit of the Der Swyor Clan!
Would you like to download the clan’s app suite?
Accept: Yes/No
An app suite. What harm could an app suite do to me? An expert would probably warn me against it. But once I started, I had to complete this route. The first thing that sprang to mind was a treasure map of the notorious cursed clan.
I pressed Yes.
A download bar came on. Oh. The download was big. I’d have to wait. And I really had very little time.
As if in confirmation, Flint PM’d me,
Olgerd, where the hell are you? What do you think you’re doing?
I’m coming!
Drop everything and get here quick! The spiders will be there in a minute! Then you’re fucked!
54% downloaded. If I broke the fine thread now, the download would stop. Just one more minute...
75%...
89%...
96%...
Finally—100%!
Yes!
The fine thread disappeared. My little ring followed suit and crumbled into dust. So that’s how it was, then? A single-use ring? Never mind. I’d think about it later.
Would you like to install the Der Swyor app suite?
Not now. It would have to wait until a more convenient opportunity. Time was an issue.
I was about to reply to Flint’s message when I heard a rustling noise behind my back. Had the mobs already arrived? I still had about forty minutes, hadn’t I?
Chill poured down my spine. My heart fluttered.
I swung round.
“You shit for brains, whatcha stalling for?”
Yes, he had remembered me alright. And he’d noticed me outside earlier that morning. Vindictive bastard. I didn’t envy his father.
His wizard minion Slayer stood slightly aside. A nasty smirk curved his lips. He had the typically slanted eyes of an Alven and a navy suit of armor that all the magic classes wore in Mirror World. He stood there with his arms crossed, glaring at me from under his eyebrows. I really didn’t like what I read in his glare.
“What’s that for a tone?” I tried to browbeat him as I stepped toward the exit.
Slayer only grinned, then waved his hand as if brushing aside an annoying fly.
A system message popped up,
You’ve been cursed! Name of curse: Midday Shroud.
Effect: From now on, you can’t talk to other players.
Duration: 2 hrs.
Then another,
You’ve been cursed! Name of curse: Wasted Prisoner
Effect: From now on, you cannot leave the location.
Duration: 2 hrs.
“That’s better,” Slayer smirked, then added, “Don’t even try to escape. It won’t work. And I can see in your face that you realize it already. Your chat isn’t available, is it? Cool, eh? Your idiot friends must be spamming you with messages. And you can’t write back like the dumb asshole that you are. Can you or can’t you? The Shroud is an excellent thing. Especially when one needs to talk. To teach some cheeky noobs to show some respect to their superiors.”
I could feel my face turn crimson. I wasn’t afraid, no. I was enraged. I took a better grip of my pick.
Seeing this, Slayer shook his head. “Once a noob, always a noob. Don’t stare at my lash. I’m not going to soil my hands on you. All I want is to teach you a lesson. Next time you’ll be more respectful,” he started for the stairs, speaking as he climbed, “All right, time for me to go. I’m not wishing you good luck but trust me you’ll need it. See you later, shithead! Repeat after me: respect!”
All my attempts to break through the invisible wall failed. All I achieved was a nasty fall and a few points’ drop in my pants and jacket’s Durability.
Flint kept flooding my PM box with messages while all I could do was open my mouth soundlessly like a fish out of water.
Damn that carving on the wall! Damn Shantarsky and his sorry excuse for a son! Damn this sadist Slayer scumbag!
Gasping, I sat on the floor by the wall. I tried not to think what was going to happen once the instance came back to life. One thing I knew was that this was the top level and top mobs. Plus Steel Widow, the instance boss. I wasn’t going to like it, that’s for sure. It was going to hurt. A lot. I didn’t even want to think how it was going to feel. Shame about my clothes. Their Durability was about to suffer somewhat.
What could I do? Had I had a standard account, I could have promptly “died“, then resurrected at the main square. But now... How was I going to survive the two hours until the curse wore off? And once it did, how was I supposed to battle my way out of a dungeon swarming with spiders? Now my hopes lay with Flint. If he disbanded the group quickly, I might get off easy. But they had to declare the stones first. They were still on their way to the exit—and would be for the next half-hour. Then they would have to use the terminal. They weren’t going to lose their haul—what was the point? I wouldn’t want to, either. So I’d have to suffer in silence. I had no other way.
So what did we have? It would take the group another thirty minutes to get to the terminal. Give it five more minutes to declare their spoils. Then they’d walk out. The spiders would arrive. And then-
A message from Flint interrupted my calculations.
Olgerd, we’ve just seen Slayer going out past us. I think we know why you don’t answer.
The motherfucker must have cast a Gag on you! Knuckles butted in.
I beg of you to hold on, Sir Tristan added. Please listen to us—or rather, read the messages. I know you can see them even though you can’t answer. Most likely, he cast one of those virtual curses on you. According to the instance map, you must still be at level 7. Which means you aren’t just gagged but also immobilized. In the worst-case scenario, the scoundrel cast a Ball and Chain on you which means you’re standing there unable to take a single step. The best-case scenario, however, could be one of the minor curses that block the instance’s exits. I’m going to pre-empt your question as I know you can’t ask it yourself. Judging by your references to online games, you’re apparently not familiar with combat tactics. Here in Mirror World, they’re basically the same as in all other game worlds. You must know then that all monsters possess a quality commonly known as aggression...
He means aggro, Flint butted in.
Exactly. This is a particular mob’s radius of vision. In your case, it’s spiders’. If he cast a Ball and Chain on you and if you’re located at the center of the hall, this is very bad news. Very. The moment the monsters arrive, they’ll attack you. As long as a group member is engaged in combat, Flint as the group’s leader can’t disband it. But if you’re only denied exit from the location—as we all hope you are—you need to find the most inconspicuous cranny in the whole location and keep quiet. In that case there’s some chance they might not notice you at all.
Hold on man, we’re gonna get you out! Sprat assured me.
Even if we dump the haul! Knuckles promised.
Oh no. Anything but that. All that work! My mind was screaming as I desperately tried to find a safe spot in the cave.
As if listening in to my thoughts, Sir Tristan added,
Please don’t worry. I’m sure it won’t come to that. We’ve doubled up speed so we might gain about ten minutes. I’m pretty sure you’ll come out unscathed.
I could sense he was struggling to add, provided you’re not under Ball and Chain. I couldn’t suppress a nervous grin. Wasn’t I the lucky one?
As far as this shameful incident is concerned, Sir Tristan went on, we’re going to file a collective complaint. Both with the admins and with our employer.
I’m fed up with his little skunk and his pranks! Sprat vented his indignation. About time I look for a new job.
Me too, Knuckles added.
So we’ll just quit, all of us, Flint summed up. A group of Seasoned Diggers is always welcome. Fuck Shantarsky.
I’m more than sure that our collective complaint will give us enough ground to cancel our employment agreement, Sir Tristan informed us. I
suppose, quite a few other players in this cluster will follow suit. Many of them have a bone to pick with Shantarsky Jr.
Their support made me feel so good. These were guys you could follow through hell and high water.
Their idea made sense. Why not? I’d been thinking about quitting too, hadn’t I? In any case, I couldn’t stay in this cluster for much longer. And now I had a perfect official excuse. I wouldn’t be quitting on my own even but as part of a top group. Stupid as it might sound in my situation, whatever happened would be for the best. My cheat ability wasn’t exactly welcome here.
Wait! A cheat ability? Of course! My Shrewd Operator! Why hadn’t I thought about it earlier!
I grabbed my pick and ran toward the trolley, pulling a Stamina stone out of my pocket as I ran. Now was the time to use it!
You’ve used a magic stone of Stamina.
Effect: +3 to Energy every 40 sec.
Duration: 30 min
Excellent. I screeched to a halt next to the trolley and hurried to change the bot’s settings to Speed Mode. Off we go!
You’ve received a resource: Gray Crystal
My idea was simple. The same thing that I’d been trying so desperately to avoid could now save me. If I leveled up now, I’d be thrown out of the instance. By then the guys would have their haul safely in the terminal. Counting on the mobs not noticing me wasn’t a particularly smart idea.
Okay, so I’ll blow my secret, big deal. I was going to quit anyway.