Chapter 35


    From what Ive gathered, most <strong>Skills</strong> are affected in some way by the attributes. Rickson was telling us, looking out the buildings windows. The group had taken to specting about the system and theorizing how it might function in our free time.


    The structure used to be some kind of study or warehouse. There were more of those faint symbols on the stone. Tables strewn with diagrams, scrolls, and odd containers. Shelves full of oddities and trinkets, chests and trunks ced against the walls.


    Wed already been here long enough to confirm rtive safety.


    <strong>[Power Strike]</strong> uses my <strong>STR</strong> and multiplies it by a function of my physical attributes.  Parker supplied, looking around the building.


    That might lend credence to the careful allocation of <strong>Stat Points</strong>, Rickson replied. Beyond using them for just the raw effects, I wouldnt mind being physically strong, but the <strong>[Seeker]</strong><strong>ss</strong> revolves around reconnaissance and speed. The <strong>Skills</strong> I have benefit from certain attributes.


    Thats my experience too, I said, distracted.


    I swiped my finger across the table,ing away with dust. Then my eyes alighted on the diagrams, tracing odd patterns. A browned scroll, pinned t, detailing some strange system of symbols. Words in anguage I didntprehend.


    Rose spoke nearby. I can see them. She said calmly. Theyre noting close to the buildings. Theyre fighting, in the middle. She nced at me and I knew why.


    Parker looked up, Evahn, how about your clones?


    I answered without turning. Physical attacks dont work on them. The sabers able to cut them and Roses <strong>[Firebolt]</strong> did <em>some </em>damage. Theyre staying away from patches of deep shadow like the ones the buildings cast. As for my clones


    Sixth rolled forward, dodging the swooping ghost without ncing back. The <strong>[Twilight Saber]</strong> flicked outward and I beheaded one of them, their body evaporating as the de passed through their neck, an edge of sharp shadow.


    Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth watched from the sidelines, monitoring the fighting and surveying the area. Sixth fought.


    I stepped forward, twirling with my de, aware of three other ghosts. They flickered in the twilight, like some optical illusion. One charged at me with a sword of his own, the one that had delimbed Seventh. I red, watching every movement.


    There was no cadence to his step, no indicator of attack. He flickered, then <em>rushed</em> forward, gliding across the air with no respect to the ground. He still swung though. And the deep shadowed edge of my saber caught his sword.


    The ghost screamed as my de rode up his sword with the ringing noise of burning sunlight and beheaded him. It was the third or fourth one that I had killed.


    Then I got stabbed in the back, burning pain shooting through my chest. <em>Literally</em> through my chest. I turned and thrust my own sword into my enemy, the ghost screamed, jerking away. Even <em>knowing</em> where the enemy was, I was too slow. They were faster, more agile, a difference in speed and number my sheer awareness couldnt ovee.


    It was the first time I could so clearly watch a clone die. Sixth, after some time, degenerated into nothing, the same effect of <strong>[Never Alone]</strong> only as if winking out of existence instead ofing into it. The other clones moved


    Back in the building, I found Rose ncing at me worried. I was bracing myself against the table and clutching my heart. I took a breath as my other clones worked to recover the saber. Seventh first, as he was already missing an arm.


    The conversation continued as part of me died.


    Theyre the opposite of the ifrits, Parker grunted, arm resting on his knee. He nced at his gauntlets, a faint glow to them. I should be able to hit them with these, then.


    Does it have an effect to do with darkness? Rose asked curiously.


    Imbued with shadow and sunlight. He replied. My strikes were burning the ifrits earlier.


    Then it should work like my saber, I responded, slightly depleted. That still leaves us with embarrassingly little to retaliate with. And those thingse in numbers. I said gravely.


    It might be safer to leave, Parker said after a moment.


    That same danger is what makes us level. Rickson yed the other side. But yeah, we might want to cash out. Whatevers in the middle of this ce is protected and we dont really have a reliable way to fight ghosts made of literal sunlight.


    Parker nced out the window. Are we leaving the <strong>Dungeon</strong>? He asked simply.


    I nced around. Everyone here wanted to stay as long as possible, to be stronger. But there was mental fatigue in the group that I saw in their postures. A weariness stemming from constant alertness.


    It was in the way Parkers breaths came. The bags under Ricksons eyes. The slouch and weight to Roses posture. I felt better than I had any right to. These people didnt have my constitution or levels.


    Well head back tomorrow. Weve stayed here long enough. I looked at Rickson. Whatevers here isnt worth out trouble, not as we are. He nodded without argument.


    There was some relief in that, knowing we were leaving. I took the first watch that night, Eighth was the only clone that returned, handing me the <strong>[Twilight Saber]</strong>. Every other clone had died. My mind shed to images of death, searing wounds and cauterized flesh. The sweet smell of burning meat.


    I shook my head and renewed the clones, feeling that faint drain of <strong>[Never Alone]</strong> before I fell asleep. I slumbered fitfully, but I managed.


    The <strong>[Sleepywood]</strong> didnt <em>exactly</em> have a day and night cycle, just varying degrees of twilight. One where dawn reigned, brightening the surroundings, and one where dusk dominated, throwing the forest in more shadow than normal. Neither far from the other.


    I woke up and found everyone more or less awake, Rickson and Rose inspecting the room.


    The clones had been quietly surveying the ruins in my sleep, watching each other move, acting as lookouts for an incredibly efficient one-man scouting party. Going as far as they could out of in curiosity. I hadnt seen anything that aligned with Ricksons <strong>[Search]</strong>.


    Morning, Rickson said, catching me wake up. Then he looked around. Its weird, the entire existence of these ruins implies some kind of civilization <em>within</em> the <strong>[Sleepywood]</strong>. At least, some history to the <strong>Dungeon</strong> itself, which is strange.


    Rose yawned. I thought this ce was just entirely removed from Earth.


    I think it is, Rickson replied. This stuff is alien. Rather, not human made. He said, picking up a scroll. But that means this ce is static.


    I stretched, minding to speed. Only more reason to treat the system as an unknown, I said, waking up. Is Parker awake?


    Hes outside, Rose responded. We went through the ce, scavenging. Its all literature or the like, nothing useful.


    Right, I said, distracted.


    I got up and walked over, feeling something faint. It took me a few minutes of moving through the area before I realized it was that particr aspect of <strong>[Solos Instinct]</strong> acting up.


    <strong>Skill: [Solos Instinct]</strong>


    <strong>You have an innate sense of your immediate surroundings. An uncanny awareness of potential harm, opportunity, and the world around you.</strong>


    Opportunity. I took a moment, picking through the shelves until I found a single tome. It didnt appear to me as an <strong>Item</strong> or anything like that. It was just a book. But to my senses, it was like a lighthouse if I focused.


    I pulled it off the shelf, took a look at it, and found it was in that unintelligiblenguage. I could almost swear the symbols were movings. I rubbed my chin and put it in my bag.


    Rose and Rickson were staring at me. What? It might be worthwhile.


    Rickson chuckled. I didnt say anything.


    Me neither, Rose smiled, eyeing the book. Why that one? She asked.


    Just a hunch, I said, looking out the building. Dim twilight, like every other day so far. Everything was awash in moonlight, the world in a palette of grey-blue.


    Our conversation was cut short. Parker walked through the door. Hey, are we ready? I dont see a single one of them, we could leave right now. My clones confirmed that.


    We were out the door within minutes, feet light as we swept through the ruins, tracing our path back. Retreating from danger, clones above as overwatch, eyeing the twilight beams. The bright ghosts werent the only danger, as we spotted nightmare ifrits roaming around the ruins, along with other monsters.


    We dealt with them easily, using our spears to keep them at bay, and the clones as an early warning system. They followed us out. But nothing was watching their backs.


    Outside the ruins, I turned around, suddenly stopping. The cold hand of fear grabbed my spine.


    Evahn? Whats wrong? Rose asked me. The relief in her posture froze as she looked at me.


    What the hell? I said, eyes wide. My arms went limp, my face was pale.


    What is it? Rickson asked, pulling me forward. We cant waste time here! Lets go!


    All the clones are dead, I said bluntly. Somethings following us.


    I had just died four times, and it had been the most painless Id ever felt. Somehow, that made it worse.