Upping The Ante - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора RinoZ (21. Back into the Breach Once More!) #21

21. Back into the Breach Once More!

It is a known phenomenon that not all monsters of the same species are created equal. From as far back as the Rending, when monsters first appeared on the surface of Pangera, it had been noted that some monsters boasted far more individual strength than others of the same kind. The difference was so pronounced it could not be explained by a simple difference of Levels.

Indeed, over the centuries, as all the sentient species of the surface delved into the Dungeon, eager to unlock its mysteries, it was discovered that some monsters are simply spawned stronger than others. Faster, more powerful, more intelligent and altogether more deadly.

When these monsters reached maturity, they were typically able to display a leadership type quality amongst other monsters of their own kind, gathering together bands of followers, groups of monsters that grew in power rapidly due to the leadership and guidance they received.

It is generally accepted that this is the reason such monsters came to be known amongst scholars as ‘Champions.’ Mercenaries and freelance explorers were crude and direct with their naming, out of the fear these elite monsters caused in them, as well as the strength they displayed, the common name for such monsters became ‘Brutes.’

It isn’t known why such monsters spawn or how. They appear infrequently in normal times, but numerous studies suggest that in times of great conflict or upheaval in the Dungeon, the spawn rate of Champions rises tremendously.

Some have claimed that Champion monsters can grow so powerful as to exert their controlling influence over monsters not of their own kind, forming armies of mixed monsters in the depths that endlessly rampage until they burn themselves out through their conflict, or settle down and go into hiding.

Such claims are often rebuffed, as little evidence of such has reached the surface in the time of writing.

Excerpt from Chapter 4 - Dungeon Champions, from The Dungeon Monsters, a primer

Hedger Oldfinger

After breaking down the final bit of dirt, the now familiar glow of the Dungeon assaults my eyes. The screaming of the monsters, the sound of claws tearing at flesh and the pulse running through the Mana veins on the walls, like the pulse of the very planet itself.

I almost missed this. Not quite, but almost.

Tiny certainly did. Crouching in the narrow tunnel behind me, the sounds of vicious combat are like music in the ears of the ape. In an incredibly short amount of time, he can no longer contain himself and shoves me forward, leaping into the Dungeon with a bloodthirsty roar.

Tiny is back in town!

I however, am crumpled on the floor with a rather heavy ape standing on my back.

[Get off me, you goon!]

I don’t think he hears me. And if he does, he’s clearly choosing to ignore me. Screeching with rage, the giant ape hurls himself onto centipedes, hounds, lizards and rabbits in his path, fists blazing with electricity.

We are not significantly deeper into the Dungeon here than the farm, but I can already see the monsters are visibly more powerful, with some of the more dominant low-Level monsters appearing.

Even this little upgrade is enough to pump Tiny’s blood and wake his thirst for battle.

As the giant ape leaps into action, the enemies rapidly crumple one by one, unable to resist those potent fists. Body after body is blasted into the walls or smashed into the floor, never to rise again.

Hold on! Leave some for me!

I scramble to get my feet under me and hurl myself into the fight.

Ten minutes later, we’ve cut down everything in our way in this section of tunnel, and have settled down to munch on some Biomass.

[You happy now, Tiny? You finally got to have a decent fight,] I say to my gorging pet.

He doesn’t even pause his eating, but a frown creases his bat forehead as he ponders my question, turning the words over in his mind.

[No,] he replies.

I’d figured as much. Although it was a little tougher than the farm, it simply isn’t enough to satisfy the big guy. That’s ok. We’ll keep digging deeper until we find something and start to Level up once more.

Speaking of Levels, I actually gained one in this fight! Nobody was as surprised as me to finally get my Level up from killing a Thorn Lizard, but hey, there it is.

The little worker and Jellymaw have also leaped off their transportation—me—to stuff themselves, packing their miniature bodies with absurd amounts of food. I really have to name these two. Thinking of them as ‘little worker’ and ‘Jellymaw’ is starting to feel a little rude.

Surely a bit more consideration wouldn’t hurt, right?

The worker is small and hyperactive, full of energy and a complete pain in the gaster. Her name should represent her curious and exhausting self. I’ll call her Vibrant.

I’m not sure why, but the name just speaks to me.

Satisfied, I turn my attention to the ball of magical black rubber that is busy feeling its way around with small tentacles, trying to locate the next mouthful. So far, the young Jellymaw has been fairly quiet. Mind you I’m not sure if she can even talk back to me at this stage of her development.

I don’t have too much to go on.

Also, should I give a boy or girl name? Tiny is fairly gender neutral, maybe I should go down that road again.

What sort of name would fit a blind tentacle monster of endless doom? I’m fairly stumped. I may just have to pick something I think sounds fitting and not worry too much about the meaning.

…Crinis?

Eh, sure, why not.

Sounds sort of Latiny, like most of the monster species names. I’ll roll with it.

I’m not the sort to put too much thought into these things.

We find three cores amongst the remains and I take two, leaving one for Tiny to absorb. I make sure to give him a hard stare until he does, in fact, absorb the thing. He knows what’ll happen if he doesn’t!

Although it would have been troublesome, I could have taken these cores to the surface for skill grinding, but I decided to straight up absorb them and return to the path of powering up my core. It feels nice to be on the path of strengthening oneself again.

As we rummage around in what used to be the tail end of the escape tunnel, I make something of a discovery.

It appears as if the loosely packed soil the colony left behind was not enough of a deterrent to the Dungeon veins. They remained inside the dirt, possibly spawning the odd monster inside the earth, or something may have followed the trail of veins and dug its way through, but certainly something has followed from below.

Right at the end of the old escape tunnel, I find a hole that opens into a narrow passage that retraces the colony’s steps back into the depths of the Dungeon.

Nards.

I was afraid of something like this. This means the human church isn’t only exposed to the small monster producing space we left behind, but is potentially connected to the entire Dungeon!

[Tiny! Crinis! We have to get moving. It’s time to explore a little deeper.]

Tiny is visibly pleased with the news, but I don’t get a response from the small blob. Oh, right, I didn’t tell it what its name was.

I walk over to it and tap it with one leg.

[Climb on up. From now on your name will be Crinis. Pleased to have you on the team!]

The little ball wobbles with what I think might be joy before latching onto my leg and climbing onto my back. Once Crinis is securely positioned, I collect the little worker.

“From now on your name is Vibrant! Make sure to get the Pheromone Language mutation as soon as you can, you might need to evolve first, but then we can chat. Let’s go!”

Vibrant twitches back and forth with nervous energy as her eyes focus on me for a long moment, then she leaps up onto her normal position and we descend farther into the Dungeon.