Pressuring on, we were able to eliminate the other 2 new monsters with one of them dropping 2 pieces of loot. Previously, I didn't pick up the zombie loot since nothing special had dropped but this time the new monster dropped a skill book and a thin needle-like object. I also took the opportunity to pick up the zombie loot, despite knowing it wasn't going to be anything special.
[ Zombie Skin
A piece of skin cut from a zombie. It has no use whatsoever however, combined with other ingredients it might do something. ]
[ Skill Book: Enhanced Muscles (Passive)
+5 Vitality
This skill book will allow the user to obtain the skill Enhanced Muscles. Enhanced Muscles will give the user a boost in Vitality, allowing them to endure more attacks. Open the book and say the skill name to learn it. ]
[ Licker's Teeth
A singular sharp needle-like tooth from a Licker. It is as long as an average human's finger and is slightly poisonous. ]
A poisonous needle, lots of zombie skin, and a skill book that enhances vitality. The loot was about the same as the loot from the skeletons which meant, that so long as the players killed a lot of monsters they would receive more or less the same rewards. Giving the skill book to Howard, I let him learn the skill while giving the needle to one of the goblins to place in their pouch.
We venture deeper into the cave, fighting zombies along the way with the occasional Licker climbing along the walls. Now that we were more accustomed to fighting them, killing them became easier. Even without Illuminating Beam to kill them, having Ball of Light was already enough to damage them significantly.
In addition, the goblin archers were able to find the Licker as it climbs along the wall, firing flaming arrows at the monster and revealing its position. With its position revealed, defending against the tongue attack became easier since we were able to react to the attack. It became easier for Howard to defend and retaliate as well as he was able to locate the attack and put up the shield correctly to defend against it.
Gobi became stronger the more enemies there are, and with the growing horde of zombies, his aggression, and damage became vital in our fight. While he was the main damage dealer, I focused on helping him with my spear attacks and my spider legs. My attacks were more pinpoint and were able to attack from different angles since my spider legs were able to reach different areas, covering our blind spots.
The zombie beasts were just as terrifying as a mixture of wolves, large snakes, and giant rats rushed at us. Their bodies were just as whole as the humanoid zombies, with the only difference being the dirty yellow eyes and the pungent rotting flesh they emit. Fighting them became harder due to their resilience. Cutting a limb off or gouging out a hole didn't stop the zombies, instead, it is inconvenient to fight them as they were crawling along the ground desperately trying to reach us.
Being unable to kill them in one stroke, made the fight harder as the number of enemies increased with each second, slowly overwhelming Gobi and Howard.
"Gobi, Howard, support me. I'll handle the front" - Ian
"Sorry for this Ian. It seems like the number of enemies is just too much for me." - Howard
"I'm sorry my lord. Fighting against so many is harder than I thought." - Gobi
"No, you did well. It's just my turn, plus my attacks are more useful and if I have more room, I can attack them easier. Solar, cast Shield on me. Lynn be ready to cast Bone Wall and Bubble if needed and Robin keep the arrows coming." - Ian
"Shield! I'll support with Ball of Light once I have more mana." - Solar
"Okay, Ian." - Lynn
"Alright, FIRE! KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE LICKERS!" - Robin
Howard and Gobi step back, taking out a potion to heal themselves while I activate Charge, slamming my trident into the first zombie piercing through it and into the next zombie causing two explosions. Pulling my trident back, I activate Cleave in front of me, eliminating the nearby zombies and creating a chain of explosions, setting the dry hair on the beasts alight.
Burnt flesh mixes with the rotting stench, causing me to wrinkle my nose, but alas, I continue my attack. I keep stabbing in front me creating explosions in a small cone while my spider legs managed the sides, not allowing even one zombie to come within my range.
"MY LORD GET DOWN!" - Gobi
Listening to Gobi's call, I Quickstep to the right and launch myself onto the ground, sweeping the legs of zombies with me. A pink tongue stabs into the ground where I once was and a small trail of fire retaliates against it.
"WATER BULLET!" - Lynn
Lynn casts Water Bullet towards the same location as the arrow and a loud shriek could be heard in the cavern. We knew it didn't kill the monster, but it was enough to stall it for a while, as I continue to breach through the zombie wall. Robin kept helping me with her arrows setting some beasts in the back alight and creating a small sea of fire in the cavern lighting up the surroundings.
Surprisingly there were as many zombies as I thought left, which causes me to raise an eyebrow. Being prepared for the worst-case scenario, I didn't rush out of the cave once I eliminated the final zombie. Standing in position ready to fight I waited…
I gulp down my saliva and glance behind me, nudging my head towards Robin. Taking the hint, she and the other goblins fired a volley of flaming arrows into the cave but to no avail. Nothing showed up. It wasn't like the cavern was completely dark either, there was still the pillar of light shining on the left side casting large shadows on the right.
"Gobi do you see anything?" - Ian
"At the moment nothing…" - Gobi
"Anyone hear anything?" - Ian
"Nothing…" - Howard
My heartbeat became the loudest sound in the cave, with my breathing coming in a close second. My lips turn dry as I suck in the air into my lungs.
"Okay, I'm going to slowly go in." - Ian
Signally, my intent, I shuffle forward but immediately stop. Chills run down my spine and the hairs along my neck stand tall. A singular step echoed in the cavern. A figure walks into the light emitted from the pillar of light. Silently it approaches as the shadow becomes smaller. Each step was quiet, yet it was louder than anything I had heard.
I wave my hand back, telling everyone to fall back, while I crouch slightly preparing for the monster. In the corner of my eye, a hand wraps around the top of the cavern entrance. A bony pearl white hand with strings of crimson muscles grip the rocks, cracking them and causing small bits of rubble to drop to the ground.
Its thick muscular leg appears next, with dried blood spattered all over it. Without any skin, it looked similar to the Lickers that appeared before, except this leg was more humanoid as if it was just a body builder's leg with the skin cut off.
Like lighting, its head appears from the top of the ceiling, and two pearl white eyes with a tiny dot stare at me. Its mouth opens along with the jaw opening downwards, revealing a set of disgustingly yellow canine teeth.
My heart skips a beat as a scarlet red liquid drips from its mouth to the ground, as it brings its head closer to me. Instinctively, I thrust my trident at the monster, hitting it in the forehead and causing a small explosion. Without letting up my attack, I continue to thrust my spear as explosion after explosion echoes in the cavern.
I dodge back after the 10th strike and wait for the smoke accumulated from the repeated explosion to disperse. To my surprise, the monster stood still, taking the hits but once the smoke disperses I see that it didn't need to move. Other than a small black mark on its forehead, there was no damage. Instead, it opens its mouth larger as it screams at me.
The sheer force of its scream, causes me to take a few steps back, but I ready myself for the following attack. As if it was following a script, it lowers its body and launches itself at me, slamming into my trident as I clock the attack. I stabilize myself with my spider legs, as I shove 2 of them into the ground and the other two into the sides of the cave. I cough up blood after the attack as the monster straightens its back.
Its thick muscular body takes up all surrounding area as it screams at me. However, what scares me most was that its chest had its rib cage bones exposed, pointing out towards me. With 12 bones on each side of its chest, sharp and ready to puncture me with holes, I couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed. I grip my trident tightly and took a deep breath, staring at the monster. Ready to attack the moment it moves.
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