Stones rolled down the cliff as I lost my grip for what had to be the hundredth time. My hands slid down the rock face, searching for a grip while my pack threatened to tilt me back and toss me from the mountain. My Strength hadn't been great enough to use the climbing picks, so this was unavoidable.
Eighteen... I struggled to find a handhold while gravity tried to get the better of me. Nineteen... My foot slipped, and my thigh snagged on a jagged rock. Gravity won...
Twenty. The cooldown for Dash ended, and I careened upward along the steep precipice and onto the flat summit of the great mountain. I landed awkwardly and collapsed in a heap beside one of the great tree's mighty roots. That was a close one.
My hands were bloodied from scraping against the cliff. Luckily none of the damage was too severe. The worst was my thigh, where my uniform was torn apart to reveal a bleeding scrape. It wasn't deep. I was experiencing more pain from the backlash of pushing Dash to do something it shouldn't be able to than I was from the various cuts and bruises.
"Heal..." I grimaced as the healing effects of the Card took effect. Not because of the pain but because I'd always found it awkward to have to speak the spell when using it. It was only temporary. The magic was still relatively new to me, and it took using a Card regularly for one's body to properly acclimatize to having it in their Deck.
The downside to this was that the more attached one became to a Card, the more backlash one faced when unequipping it. It became worse the more powerful the Card was. A Level 2 Card might only cost a migraine to remove, while a Level 5 Card could leave one bedridden for months if it didn't kill them first.
Thus, building an appropriate Deck from the start was crucial. As I thought of this, I calculated the Essence I had left after paying Jacopo and collecting shards from the corpses during the previous day's travels. I was up to 5,238 Essence.
If I'd Leveled Constitution and Stamina, that climb wouldn't have given me so much trouble... No. I need to wait until I've seen my Origin Card. Tara forbid it's the same as last time... If it is, I'll need to build a Deck that can counter the effects.
I really... Really don't want to be trapped by that weakness again. One lifetime of endless pain was enough. Regardless, I'll have to wait to use my Essence until I know what shape my future Deck will take.
"Heal," I targeted the injuries on my hands again, watching as the skin laced itself together and left light pink marks in place of the wounds. One more Heal would keep the scarring to a minimum.
While waiting for the cooldown, I pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash to take care of the blood and dirt on my equipment. I now had just over two cases of the stuff left and didn't really need the extra case Crook had given me... There had already been enough to last me at least a month. Still, I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
With a grunt, I stood and walked to the cliff's edge. The sun shone brilliantly, the early morning light casting shadows across the horizon. No mist or fog was blocking my view, and I could clearly see the Academy in the distance. Its pearlescent walls shimmered as the rays were cast upon its surface.
I turned my gaze to the foot of the mountain, my grin widening as I scanned the distance. Maybe I was a bit mad, but there was a thrill to succeeding at something that could have taken my life. Acting so recklessly was something I'd never been able to do in my previous life.
"Hahaha," I laughed heartily and turned away from the scene. Sightseeing wasn't on the agenda for today. I cast heal again as it came off cooldown and looked up at the mountain's only tree.
It was an impressive specimen, about three times the width and height of the trees in the Old Boar Forest. The roots extended into the flat, stone top of the mountain. They ran deep enough that there were even hand and foot holds formed from the roots on the cliff face I'd just climbed.
There it is, the first of the last four tasks.
I looked at the tree's crown, several tens of yards above me. This part of the task would be much easier than scaling the cliff side, as the branches offered plenty of support.
Nothing to it but to do it.
I cast heal one last time while jogging up to the nearest branch. My head was still aching from compelling Dash to do things it shouldn't without taking breaks between, but my wounds were closed, and I didn't have time for the backlash to wear off.
When I reached the base of the tree, I tucked my pack cozily in a cranny under one of the roots before grabbing the lowest limb and hoisting myself up. The branch was broad, at least wide enough for three or four people to sit comfortably and play a game of brag.
Not really in a rush and also not in any danger at this point, I decided to hold off on using Dash. It would take a few minutes for the migraine to cease, and I didn't care to make it worse. So, I leapt up and caught the next branch with a bit of a running start, foregoing the use of any active skills.
As I made my way to the top of the tree, the smaller limbs growing off the larger branches became more abundant, slowing my pace to a crawl. Leaves and twigs scratched at my exposed skin and snagged on my uniform, making the climb more of a hassle than it should have been. At least it was safe.
It took several minutes to burst through the canopy, but once I did, the view took my breath away. I stared into the distance, clearly seeing the mountains surrounding the entire First Floor. The Howling Hills spanned a large ring after that, with four canyons each leading from the foot of the mountains to the beginnings of the Old Boar Forest.
The vast farmlands took up the next ring after the forest before finally coming to the large villas of the wealthy. I could make out the steeples of the two Churches on either side of the Academy. The charts in the cartography room didn't do it justice.
"Haahh..." I took a deep breath, tasting the fresh air while watching the light of the Floor's sun flood over the landscape. Glancing at my watch, I saw that there were around fourteen hours to the next day, so it had taken me three and a half to climb from my campsite to the top of the tree.
A golden flash drew me from my admiration, and I glanced at the tip of the tree beside me. There was a Card hovering there, just above the highest branch. I plucked the item out of the air and examined it.
There was no reason to pull out my Demon Glass, as I recognized the Card immediately. It was a relatively common Card called Leap, which extended the height of a Wielder's jump, and lessened the impact from the landing.
Dash should be enough for now...
I slipped the Card into my uniform pocket. For now, I had to be picky about what Cards I put in my Deck, lest I face a significant migraine after I leave the Floor. I sighed and looked over the land again before scurrying down the tree. The landscape wouldn't be so serene after I left this Floor.
It didn't take long to reach the ground and secure my pack. I hefted the massive bundle up while pulling my cane from the side, along with a half ration of dried meat. The journey down to the next task wouldn't be as demanding as the trip up, and I wanted to ensure I was armed in case any bears had spawned in the area.
The jerky was tough and tasteless, and if it weren't for the convenience of the stuff, I wouldn't be eating it. Eating healthy was one habit that I didn't want to break, but this heavily salted meat was all that was available on the First Floor. Finding a Relic for storing proper meals would just be one more item to add to the list.
The northwestern side of the mountain's crest broke into a gentle slope that led down into one of the deep valleys below. Once I came to the foot of the mountain, I would have to travel around another until I reached the back side, where a waterfall should be waiting.
I was trusting my memory to lead me in the right direction, as I'd only seen maps of this area through the Network when information about the tasks had been revealed. Below the waterfall was the deepest valley in the area, and within the valley lay a massive pond. That was my next task, explore the depths, and reach the lowest point of the First Floor.
My cane tapped away as I traveled, resonating with the sound of my steps. It was quiet here. Peaceful. At least for now. That would likely change when the Descendants arrived.
Having a more accurate time frame would have been nice. But, an old man can only do so much. Now... was it a left or a right at the cleaved boulder?
With a shrug, I took a left. Left was always right, or so they said. The Memory Enhancement I had was helpful, but my memories... weren't exactly in my mind. Huh... Where were my memories coming from then?
I continued my venture in silence, contemplating my existence and how the Cards would interpret my past. The Memory Enhancement... I could feel it. Minor details of the textbooks I'd studied throughout my Academy years sprung to mind, along with the lessons I'd been taught in swordplay... and, for some reason, an image of Galen picking his nose.
However, my memories of my advancement through the Tower were normal. Some minor nuances escaped me, but I could still recall everything I'd learned while working for the government. Hell, they'd practically forced it into me to memorize everything, and I hadn't had a Memory Enhancement at the time.
So... Either the Cards worked in some way that I couldn't begin to fathom, or my memories of the future were attached to something else. A soul? If that were the case, did my soul replace the soul of the younger me?
The sound of rushing water pulled me from my reverie, which was fine because I didn't care to contemplate whether I'd accidentally murdered myself or committed some form of assisted suicide. I tucked my cane under my arm and sprinted forward, focusing on the wind rushing through my hair rather than the lingering thoughts.
The noise of the falls grew, and the air became humid as I made my way around the foot of another mountain. Before long, I could see the spray of the falls filling the small valley, and the lake I was searching for sat just below. It was... beautiful.
The falls descended from the top of the mountain, splashing against the surface of a small pond and forming rainbows in the emerging mist. The diameter of the pond was no longer than ten yards, which struck me as odd for the amount of water being funneled into it.
With a light click, I pulled my sword from the shaft of the cane and proceeded forward cautiously. I hadn't run into a single bear during my trip, which struck me as odd. The place should have been swarming with them.
I found a tiny crevice at the foot of the mountain to cram my pack into and then proceeded to the pond. Contrary to what I thought would happen, there were no surprises. No bandits tried to leap out from the rocks, and no bears spawned on top of me. It was simply... peaceful.
For half an hour, I stood there, observing my surroundings to ensure the area was devoid of life. Nothing. I shrugged and began to pull off my uniform, surprised at the simplicity of it all.
These missions were so bizarre. Seven of the tasks on this floor required killing. I just couldn't wrap my head around these three being as simple as they looked. Climb to the highest location, swim to the deepest location, and make your way to the darkest location. They just seemed so mundane.
I pulled off my boots, took a deep breath, and dived into the water without hesitation. It was a bit nippy but could hardly be considered freezing. If anything, it was about the temperature of a bath you'd let sit for too long before climbing in.
Green light emanated from the algae that clung to the sides of the small pond, making it easy to see once I opened my eyes. I looked around, studying the area, though there wasn't much to observe. The pond looked one hundred percent man-made. It stretched down approximately fifteen yards before coming to an abrupt stop on what looked like a flat bottom.
If it weren't for the glowing algae, I'd think this was dug in some wealthy chap's backyard rather than a natural occurrence. My lungs started to burn while I took in my surroundings, and I kicked my legs, quickly propelling myself until I broke the surface.
"Haaaaahhhh!" I gulped in the air while I cast my eyes about for any signs of movement. Still nothing. Once my breathing calmed, I swam to the pond's edge and hoisted myself out. I was going to need some outside assistance to tackle this task.
Sure, swimming to the bottom wasn't an issue. Even having some spare seconds to reach the center wasn't impossible. The problem was that I didn't know how long it would take for the Card to appear. So far, the average time was around thirty seconds.
"It's not that deep..." I glanced down at the water and ran some numbers. Swimming to the bottom will take me around 30 to 40 seconds. I'll need some time to find the deepest section. Another 30 or so to wait for the Card... and if I push from the bottom, the swim up shouldn't take more than 20 seconds.
I should be able to handle about two and a half minutes, so that leaves a minute to find the deepest section when I get down there. Hopefully, it's in the center.
I found a small, round boulder along the edge of the mountain. It was only about as large as my head, but it would do. With a thought, I used the Throw Ability, increasing my accuracy before tossing the bolder into the center of the pond with a loud splash. Without hesitation, I took a deep breath and dived in after it.
My estimations were right, and it took me just over half a minute to reach the bottom... but there was a problem. The algae had fooled my eyes, and the pond bed was not flat. The ground sloped, and the boulder I tossed slowly rolled toward the edge.
Tara be damned, this is not what I'd been expecting. My arms scooped the water behind me as I chased the boulder to the bottom of the slope, where I found a small opening carved into the wall. Like the rest of the pond, the space looked as if it had been sculpted by human hands. Unlike the rest of the pond, there wasn't a spec of algae growing near the little cubby.
I swam to the bottom and wedged my foot beneath the boulder, which had come to rest neatly under the small niche. Well, at least there wasn't any question about this being the deepest point. My lungs were already starting to burn, and I didn't think I had it in me to search the whole pond.
By the time the Card appeared in the cubby, I was nearing my limit. The extra time to swim to the pond's edge may have been within my estimation, but apparently, my lung capacity wasn't what I thought it was. I snatched the Card and pushed off the ground as hard as possible, even using Dash to speed my progress.
Part of me was glad there was no one around to see as I shot from the water's surface like a carp from a lake. My bare back hit the ground hard, scraping against the gravel terrain and knocking my breath out. I gasped for air, drinking in the life-giving substance as fast as I could. And even through all of that, I couldn't help but laugh.
I'd never felt so alive!
Twice this day, I'd faced death and lived. Sure, I'd done so on occasion in my previous life, but never on my own terms like this. Through all my years, I'd never felt so alive as I did right now.
Once I caught my breath, and my heart slowed, I looked at the Card I was still clutching in my hand. It was one that I somewhat recognized but had never actually cared for it enough to learn the description. The image on the front depicted a man swimming in a small creek. I grabbed my pants from where I'd laid them and pulled my Demon Glass from the pocket, tapping it on the edge of the Card.
[Card Name: Swimming]
[Class: Enhancement]
[Rank: Blessed]
[Level: 1]
[Essence: 0/1000]
[Foundation: Agility, Endurance]
[Effect: Increases the Wielder's litheness when in any body of water. Speed while swimming increased by 10%, further affected by Agility. Lung capacity while submerged increased by 50%, further enhanced by Endurance]
Well... that would have been useful a moment ago.
I chuckled and pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash while casting Heal. The cleansing liquid instantly dispersed the water and blood while the spell took care of the scrapes along my back and shoulders. I pulled on my clothes and tucked the Card into my pocket with Leap. Both were useful, but I was still hesitant to add them to my Deck.
After retrieving my pack from its hideaway, I jogged around the pond's edge, avoiding the splashing droplets and making my way behind the raging waterfall. It was there, just like the Network had described. Embedded in the mountain wall, just behind the cascade of water, was a massive cave entrance leading into bottomless darkness.
The last of these three tasks was a maze. It was the most dangerous of the three, though not overly so. From the reports I'd read, this maze was filled with Level 1 Rodent type creatures around half the size of the Wild Boars. They were weak and easy enough to deal with... the danger lay in the darkness.
I could vaguely recall the map that had been made for this place, but my memory was fuzzy. There were close to twenty dead ends, and only one marked the completion of the task and gave the achievement. I knew it was one of the leftmost three, but I would have to try each of the forks unless I got lucky.
The Descendants that were sure to arrive in the next day or two would have trouble completing this one. Whatever powers kept this place dark only allowed the light of the Cards to grace its interior. Torches would be snuffed out upon reaching the first fork, and the rats would take away any trail markers left on the ground. Getting lost wasn't an impossibility.
With a thought, an orb the size of a football appeared, its glow extending a few feet in each direction. Maybe it was only a child's toy, but it was one I was grateful for.
Thank you, Boulder.
I laughed as I thought of the three siblings. The wretched Skull Brothers had undoubtedly been very generous in their contributions. After positioning the ball comfortably on top of my pack, I unhooked my cane and confidently made my way into the inky darkness.
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