Halonar

The Head of The Snake

The dungeon wasn't far from town, just a couple of Yuts away. Jack killed a few monsters along the way too. He didn't mind the walk. He checked his level ever so often.

He was level 24, which surprised him. A week ago he fought for five days straight. He had forgotten to check his level.

Still not enough. He thought.

The shovel had been a lot easier to use, it cut through monsters like a hot knife through butter, speaking of which, he was also in possession of. The knife was more of his sidearm, in case he lost his shovel or something, he heard Adaraians recommended sidearms. The Adaraians might be inconsiderate jerks, but at least they knew what they were doing.

As he got closer to the dungeon entrance, he heard weird whispering. I am the spirit of this cave... If you wish to slay thy beast, I must give a warning, the weak will not last long...

Jack stopped, he saw Adaraians coming in and out of the area a few times. Maybe the monster that laid in the dungeon was not nearly as formidable as one might suspect.

As he entered the cave, the voices immediately stopped. Stone slab steps resembled a stairway. He descended slowly.

When he got to the bottom, it was pitch black except for one torch on one of the walls. A metal door was illuminated directly ahead of him. He opened it with just one hand, drawing his shovel with the other, aiming to strike whatever laid on the other side of the door. It creaked as he pushed it slowly. If whatever lurked in the darkness didn't know he was there they certainly did now.

Thankfully, there was nothing on the other side of the door, other than a slightly brighter room, more specifically, a hallway. He walked at a normal pace now, his shovel held with both hands. This was a huge step up from what he was doing before, killing monsters in the plains was child's play compared to what Adaraians could actually do. He knew damn well that if he wanted to stand against, he would have to at least match their strength.

He saw another door, he opened it faster this time. It didn't have the chance to creak due to him lifting it slightly.

The skeleton caught him off guard though.

It came out of nowhere, swinging a horrid mace at him. He dodged, to which the skeleton responded by shoulder slamming him. He didn't know that something that couldn't have weighed more than a bag of firewood could hit so hard.

The skeleton got into a fighting position, It leveled its mace at him. Jack kept his body low to the ground and his feet spread out. The skeleton seemed to be trying to come up with his next move.

Jack took the opportunity to strike, swinging his shovel. The skeleton weaved past his attack and jabbed his mace forward.

Jack felt the spikes of the mace in his abdomen, he gritted his teeth, he kicked the skeleton. It stumbled backward. It was like kicking a bag of sand. The skeleton regained its balance. Then it cocked its head, its jaw hinged open, and its skull glowed blue.

"Just what kind of hero are you? You don't seem very skilled. Perhaps you don't deserve to see me. But don't worry, once you perish you will work for me." The skeleton moved his hand across his empty ribcage, as if to say; You will look like me soon.

Jack was already downing a healing potion. The green liquid dribbled down his chin, as he drank it swiftly. He threw the empty bottle at the skeleton's face. It smashed against his head and shattered. He didn't even flinch.

"Didn't you die already?" Jack coughed. "Shame if it happened twice."

The skeleton got into a fighting stance again, a different one, with the mace lifted at his side.