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Chapter 56 - The Witchwood (Part 3)
Priest of Karui was a hidden class that the player could only access after reaching the 5th floor; Unlike a regular priest, this one was endowed with all kinds of combat spells and curse abilities.
"What?!" She ran away!
I expected our destruction in the worst-case scenario, but in the end we were able to overcome this danger without harm.
How could this happen? There were several reasons for this.
"Priestess of Karui... I've heard it's a terrifying creature. Bjorn, if it weren't for you, we'd be in big trouble," Brown muttered.
I took care to take away their weapons at the very beginning: the sword, shield, spear, and even Eliza's wand. I didn't know then, but it was luck that the wand was confiscated. Without her, casting a spell was completely different. However, there were other key factors.
"As expected, a reliable barbarian is the best. I wondered if Brown had been mistaken when he said she was a priestess. But I didn't think you'd smash her head!"
"I—I didn't expect that either," Dvalki said, stammering. "Bjorn, when you swung that weapon, it seemed to me that my heart sank into my heels...
This blow was unexpected for both allies and enemies. Due to her head shattering from a single blow, Elise had to absorb the life force of her comrades in order to be resurrected. However, this was not a resurrection to normal. Her brain was shattered, so her body couldn't return to normal.
Perhaps the reason she spoke like a retarded was because her recovery was not complete.
There were many advantages to this. However, along with the feeling of relief came dizziness. What would happen if we fought in a situation where we were both 100%? Well, the win rate would be about half to half. Assuming that no matter which side won, at least two people would die on each side, then it would definitely be a fierce battle.
Knowing this, they came to us, cosplaying victims of monster attacks.
Then, perhaps, almost equal combat power turned out to be useful.
After finishing reviewing this incident, I checked my physical condition. Needless to say, it was terrible.
[[Energy Reduction] is active. Energy regeneration rate is reduced]
[[Low-level decay] is active. Wound healing rate is reduced]
[[Tracking] is active. The character's location is shared with the caster]
[[Spirit Walk] is active. When the character moves, a slight pain occurs].
[Stamina decay is active...]
Damn, I was close to going crazy. His eyes ached, and his head seemed to ferment in salt. And for some reason, I didn't feel the lower part of my body.
Damn, how many curses did she put on me?
[Warning: You have more than 15 curses, and if you are not healed with divine power or magic, your physical abilities may be permanently reduced].
My physical health was a complete mess. A complete disaster, if you will. To the point where it's hard to even put into words how bad it was.
But I wasn't too worried, because there was a mage on our team.
"Dvalki, cast magic on me to remove the curse.
"Ma-magic to break the curse?"
Why are you so surprised?
That makes me worry.
"Didn't you say you could use curse breaking magic?"
"Yes, but...
But what?
As I kept looking at him to say, "Keep talking," Dvalki avoided my gaze.
"I said I could use several types of curse magic, but I didn't say I could dispel them..."
And?
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
"That's because I learned it myself, not in a magic tower. I've also heard that there's almost no need to dispel curses while exploring..."
In general, it was a very simple story:
"In other words, you didn't have any money.
When I summed up the situation in one sentence, like a barbarian, Dvalki nodded, displeased.
— That's right. I thought it would be better to learn what is most needed first.
Yes, this has always been the case in our team. There was no point in blaming each other now. Since we've all been in the same boat, complaining here, I'm only going to make myself a bad person. I decided to forget about the impossible and do what I could.
"Brown, is there a way to pursue her?"
— ... Unfortunately, no. I started looking for her right away, but I couldn't even find a clue.
Hmm, I see. It was... quite a big headache, although it seemed that some had not yet figured it out.
"What is your opinion?" How dangerous will it be?
— Well, I don't know yet. But it is clear that we must leave this place right now.
"Go away... But where?
"Wait!" What're you talking about?
I was having a serious conversation with Brown when Dvalki stepped in.
To be honest, I wanted to tell him to get away and let the adults have their own conversation, but... still. He was a magician. He could come up with some good ideas during the discussion, so I explained briefly.
"Didn't that woman say when she ran away?" She will never allow us to leave this place alive. She will definitely come back to find us soon.
"Yes, but if she comes back, we can just deal with her like this time, can't we?"
Do you think it's going to be easy?
Perhaps it was because it was the first time he had been in a labyrinth. Although he was a magician, it seemed that his level of judgment was lower than Misha's.
— This is definitely a big problem! If she attacks us from behind while we're fighting a monster, it will be a nuisance!
It was known all over the world that the invisible enemy is more terrible than the visible one. By the time she comes to find us, she will also have almost completely recovered all of her strength.
It will also determine the time of the surprise attack.
As you can see from the fact that I benefited from the tactics of striking first, initiating a fight was almost always the most profitable way. When Brown kindly explained this, Dvalki fell silent in horror.
"In the dark, the priestess of Karui lies in wait for us. It seems that we have a serious obstacle on the way. Hahaha.
The puppet leader (aka Hikurod) feigned calm and patted Dvalki on the shoulder, but the harsh atmosphere did not abate in the least.
Well, since they had just participated in a one-on-five fight as well, they should have known better than anyone how troublesome the bastard priests of Karui were.
As anxiety gradually grew, I offered the only way out of the situation.
"Since this has already happened, I think it would be best to enter the Witchwood as soon as possible.
Brown asked curtly:
"What is your reason?"
"She won't be able to track us down there. And the problem with the curse will also be solved.
Most of the explanations were omitted, but that was enough. Judging by his face, he seemed to understand everything I said.
"Use the Witchwood's features, hmm... It's a sensible decision," Brown nodded, but there was one thing that made him doubt. "By the way, didn't you say that this was the first time you were on the 3rd floor?"
Yes, it is. That's why I'm asking you to deal with things and get down to business before I have to say it out loud, old man.
— ... I studied it in the library.
"The library?" Brown shook his head at my excuse.
However, I was not too worried, because a witness happened to be next to me.
— Surprisingly, it's true. Bjorn goes to the library every day to read," Hikurod nodded.
"Wow, do barbarians read books?"
— No wonder. Even the way he speaks is not like other barbarians.
Eyes looked at me as if I were a mutant.
Enough attention. Can we please make a decision and do what we need to do?
"So what do you all think?"
"I agree with your plan.
After Brown backed up my argument, Hikurod and Misha followed suit, and the conclusion was quickly reached. There was only one thing left to do before we hurriedly left.
I looked at Hanson, who had both collapsed like dolls with broken threads at the very moment that Eliza had run away.
"Why haven't you taken off your gear yet?"
No matter how urgent it was, we still needed to bring something we could use.
Weren't we explorers who killed marauders and monsters?
If you add it all up, these things were worth more than 800,000 stones. Is it because they were looters from the 3rd floor?
The items that fell out of Hanson were different from the ones I had seen before. Of course, if you divide that amount by five, my income will be about the same as it was then.
"Seriously?" It turns out more than a hundred thousand stones per person! I've just cut my taxes this year, so I'm glad!
"With this money, I can learn a few more spells!" Oh, this time I will definitely learn the magic of removing curses!
Having instantly earned a large amount of money, Dvalki and Misha happily painted their future.
Brown, Hikurod, and I just smiled awkwardly and said nothing. It didn't matter how much money you made in the maze, it didn't matter if you didn't return to the city alive.
"The money from this loot will be paid when it is sold in the city," Hikurod explained.
The three of us with expanding backpacks decided to store the loot among us during the journey. After all, no one could guarantee the future. Someone could die during the expedition, lose a backpack or try to escape with it. However, this process surprised me a little.
I knew that the dwarf had, but I didn't think that Misha was also the owner of an expanding backpack...
Contrary to my impression of her, perhaps she was more frugal about money than I thought. Unexpectedly, Misha could even be smart in terms of finances.
"Then let's go."
We gathered the booty, put the camp in order, and hurriedly left. Brown went ahead and found the way, while the others followed behind, ready for any eventuality. We used Brown's sense of smell to avoid as many monster fights as possible, and focused only on movement.
***
How much time has passed?
[Warning: Your energy is constantly decreasing, unless you take urgent action, the effect will become permanent...]
I felt on the verge of death. Wearing a whole list of curses and running for 5 hours straight at the same time, I felt very bad. If it weren't for stats like Magic Resistance and Dark Resistance from Vampir, I probably would have fallen from exhaustion by now.
"Bjorn, you... Are you okay?
"I can do it, don't worry.
I pretended to ease the dwarf's worries, but to be honest, I wasn't okay at all. Unlike the rest who only had 2-3 curses, this crazy bitch put countless curses on me, and that particular curse was only placed on me.
[Curse of Energy Loss]...
Energy Reduction is a shitty skill that significantly reduced the stamina regeneration consumed with each movement or action of the character. Since stamina was separated from life force, no matter how high your natural regeneration ability was, it was useless.
In terms of playing, would I have about 30% left?
In the game, when the stamina level dropped below 10%, the character could not move at all. There have been many instances where NPCs have whined and just asked to kill them, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. Sure, it was insanely exhausting, but not so tiring that it would die. I was still able to survive on my mental strength, which meant there was still plenty of time.
[Achievement
Prerequisite: Your energy level reaches 5% or less.
Reward: Spirit +1].
Of course, it will be so. If I don't think like that, I can't go on.
I decided to focus on the positive aspects. Even though I overdid it a bit, our goal was slowly getting closer.
"Judging by the moisture of the soil, we should get there in 10 minutes," Brown announced.
The journey took about 5 hours. Contrary to my fears, we reached the Witchwood without being attacked.
If we've come all this way and still haven't seen her, then the bitch's body hasn't fully recovered yet.
It's good that I at least pressed it. I didn't think there was any chance that Elise would back down from us, considering that she even summoned the power of the dark god in front of us to save herself. If we, as witnesses, return to the city alive, it will put her in a difficult position.
"We're here.
Hearing Brown's words, I brushed aside the thoughts that filled my head. After all, it's best to think about other things when you're tired. Just look how I just missed 10 minutes.
"So this is the Witchwood...," Dvalki said. "I don't know why, but it makes me shiver.
"For some reason, all mages say that when they come here for the first time.
"It feels like some sinister force is vibrating throughout the forest.
In front of us was a withered thorn tree and a vine that wrapped around it like a snake.
"Wait!" This tree is moving!
The Witchwood was the place where it all came to life.
[You have entered the special area on the 3rd floor].
The Witchwood Field effect has been applied:
Leaning on the torch and stepping into the forest, cool air penetrated through the skin.
[All statuses except field effects will be deactivated].
Phew, now I felt like I could breathe.
***
[Bjorn Jandel]
Level: 3
Build: 155
Дух: 90 (нов. +1)
Special Abilities: 115
Item Level: 683
Total Combat Strength: 528.75 (New +1)
Essence Purchased: