Civilization

Shivers run down my spine as a chilling breeze brushes against my body from deep within the cave, blowing out the torch that Yor was holding. With our only source of light gone, the darkness envelops us but in front of us, dancing in the dark a small orange light. Small and bright like a firefly yet bouncing around erratically like a flea. Quietly under my breath, I whisper to everyone while I watch the small light in the distance.

"Careful everyone. I think the monsters spawned earlier than expected tonight. We might have to fight our way through to the door. No guarantees on what we are fighting as well so stay alert and watch all around us. Yor, are you able to create another torch?" - Kingston

"Already on it but the only problem is every time I try, the wood catches alight for a second before a cold breeze blows it out. It seems like there is something that is permanently trying to take away our only light." - Yor

"I don't know if any of you can see it but the light isn't a monster it feels more like… The tool Owen uses when he is capturing prey in the river." - Gopopo

"Fishing? Do you think the light is a bait and it is attached to something on the end?" - Kingston

"I don't just think it is, I can see it. A small white line comes from the center of the light and this line blends into the darkness behind it." - Gopopo

"That doesn't bode well for us. It means the monster is somewhat intelligent and has used this tactic before to fight or to engage in combat." - Yor

"We can't just stand here either, wait for it to do something." - Frank

"Maybe we should go forward and fight them." - David

"That is a stupid idea. Especially since Gopopo can shoot an arrow instead. Just focus and be ready to defend anything next to me." - Gibing

"Ah! Right." - David

"Then, I'll engage with a Heavy Shot." - Gopopo

Heavy Shot (Active) 2MP - Applying stronger pressure when about to fire a projectile in order to accumulate more damage (10 - 50 + 50% Strength). Holding the attack for a longer duration will increase the damage and at max duration, there is a chance to induce additional piercing damage. Duration (1 - 10) seconds. Cooldown 1 minute.

In the darkness, I hear Gopopo slide an arrow out of the quiver. The stone head brushed against the wooden body of the many arrows in his quiver. Letting out a small breath, I hear a quiet whistle as the bowstring is pulled taut. As Gopopo holds the arrow for a few seconds a rhythmic heartbeat and melodic breathing become the only music in this tunnel as an orange light dances to the tune.

Without a moment's notice, the bowstring snaps and high pitch whistle echoes in the cave as the arrow flies towards the light disappearing into the darkness. The long quick shadow of the arrow brushes the light and pierces whatever was behind it, resulting in a low grumbling sound followed but the ground around us shaking.

Like a crowd at a music festival lighting up their light sticks, tens of small blue lights appear around and behind the initial orange light and with the collective lights we were able to see the monsters hiding in the darkness. However, I would have much rather that I couldn't see what they looked like.

It is like looking at an aquarium of ugly, grotesque zombie fishmen. An assorted rainbow of dark colors ranging from deep violet to a dirty green to a very ashy grey, all with small warts on the surface of their skin. Cuts and scratches look more like a fashion statement on these monsters as a strange purple liquid oozes out of their body, dripping to the ground.

Some of the monsters had their mouths open, showcasing the rows of sharp needle-like teeth with some growing at obscure angles. Above their mouths were their tiny eyes or some without any eyes at all, however, all the monsters had one thing in common and it was the small antenna that produces a soft light.

The monster in the front that was emitting the orange light is also the most different of the new army of monsters. Its dark orange body is leaner with fewer warts and more distinctive features on its body. It was also holding onto two curved blades that were as long as its forearm, with a yellow spiral shell as the guard, whereas the other monsters were wielding spears or maces.

Gopopo's arrow had found its place on the orange fishman's thigh, penetrating through the flesh, however, it was the least of our concerns. The orange fishman grins as its allies grip onto their weapons tighter staring at us as if we were mere sand on the bottom of the ocean.

"Alright, everyone. Time to show these deep-sea fish what it is like to fight on the ground. Yor, direct us if needed. David and Gibing, show them. MAKE THEM REGRET COMING TO THE SURFACE!" Kingston

"HAHHHHHHHHHHH!" - David, Gibing

Stomping on the ground, David and Gibing, both charge toward the group of monsters, swinging their weapons behind their head as they draw closer. Not letting us get the upper hand, the orange fishman brings his right arm up, pointing his knife at David. Following his movement, 2 other fishmen dashes forward meeting David and Gibing in the middle.

David's Bone Warden smashes into a violet fishman's spear with the small bone fragments splintering into the fishman's skin. Replying to the attack, it gurgles at David shooting a Water Ball out of its mouth at David's face. Narrowly swinging his head to the side, David dodges the attack and pushes the monster back, proceeding to drop the Bone Warden's head to the left before gripping onto the body and swinging upwards crashing into the monster's waist as it awkwardly defends with the butt of the spear.

Its waist indents as David follows through his swing with multiple bone fragments penetrating into the monster's body as well. Gritting its teeth, at the pain, the monster drops its spear and grasps the body of the Bone Warden. It starts to send multiple water balls at David with little success at hitting any, instead, I burst each stray Water Ball behind David as it flies past him.

David's muscles budge under his armor as he lets out a shout, pulling the Bone Warden towards him making the monster lose balance. As the monster falls closer to David, he grabs its big rough head and forces it down while bringing his knee upward. The copper leg guards smash into the monster's face, followed up with a one-handed strike from David killing the monster.

As David was fighting the purple fishman, Gibing was also engaged in close-quarter-combat with a spiky moss green fishman. Gibing was using the golem stone ax and with his increase in strength over the past few battles, he had become extremely proficient in using the ax. Waving the ax around as if it was a stick, Gibing constantly applies pressure on the monster, attacking the neck, the wrist, and the feet with frightening accuracy.

The green fishman was using a mace which lacked in the defense department, however, the spikes that cover its body protects the monster from most of Gibing's attacks. Finding an opening in the monster's attacks, Gibing activates Cleave cutting through the monster's defense and pushing the mace out of its hands. Following up on his attack, Frank activates Quickstep, lunging forward and piercing the monster's throat. Gopopo also fires an arrow piercing the same spot Frank had just attacked, penetrating through creating a clean hole.

2 fishmen down and barely drawing any sweat. Confidence was key and we haven't even shown our true power yet but then again neither have they. However, the fact that 2 of the fishmen had died at our hands angered the orange monster. Screeching at the monsters surrounding it and pointing its knife toward us, it commands a second attack and like clockwork, the monsters charge toward us.

This time it wasn't just 2 monsters but it was the whole lot of them, however, the tunnel only allowed a maximum of 2 of them to fight us at the same time, or else they wouldn't have any room to move around. We already knew that this would work in our favor, and smiling at the result, I let out a battle cry as I help David fight against the many monsters in front of us.

"Wait, what's that? Wait. Wait. WAIT! Don't charge head first! It isn't just fish monsters we are facing! LOOK UP AT THE CEILING! KINGSTON, DAVID, GIBING, FRANK! RETREAT A FEW STEPS! IT IS A TRAP!" - Yor

Hearing Yor's desperate cry, I stop in my tracks and pull David who had just pushed a fishman off him, closer toward me as I hurriedly retrace my steps. Gibing and Frank were also running backward, unsure of the threat. I glance upward and my heart drops. This battle didn't look so good anymore.