Five: The First Dungeon

Not long after their conversation at the cafe, Nico found himself standing outside of a bookstore. It was called Gulliver's Attic, and it was a charming establishment built into the side of the street. The brick exterior blended in with the other stores on that street, and it was distinguished by a vintage gold sign on the outside. The entrance is framed by a small patch of garden on both sides of the door, leading to an inviting opening. It was open to non-magical people, of course, but the location, as discovered many years ago, of a beginner-level dungeon was located inside this firm. But the interior was cozy, illuminated by the midday sunlight as well as modern lighting on the ceiling, combining the bucolic aesthetic with a contemporary touch. At the counter, there was a regular-looking older woman, and she didn't give Nico or Ingrid so much as a glance as they entered the relatively empty store.It was an early afternoon on a Saturday, so it made sense that people weren't flocking to a small bookstore that was a twenty minute walk away from a place that was already a ten minute walk away from the dorms. Luckily, it seemed that the almost-for granted weather continued to stay pleasant, making the delightful walk over to the bookstore with Ingrid an enjoyable experience for Nico–though he doubted he would ever find it not enjoyable, especially if it was with her.Inside the firm, a peaceful quiet atmosphere welcomed the duo. Without saying anything, Ingrid led Nico to the back of the store, where they came face to face with an inconspicuous rusted-looking wooden door. It seemed like it led to a back room, perhaps for maintenance or storage. But the girl then turned her pale-blue eyes at Nico, prompting him with a look that asked, 'are you ready?'Not uttering a word, he nodded with as much firmness as he could muster in that moment, a determined look in his sable eyes. Then, Ingrid opened the oak-brown door and instead of it leading to another room, the doorway consisted of a pulsating swirl of a vibrant shade of lazuline. It was like a vortex of shifting hues of blue, emitting a delicate yet ethereal glow. It could've only been described as an otherworldly spectacle, as no such thing could ever exist according to regular reality's laws of physics. The portal was not made up matter nor did it possess a surface–it seemed to simply be an intermission in the space-time continuum that made its way into humans' realm of existence; furthermore, the gateway was illuminating an anticipatory glow that seemed to shimmer with a mesmerizing luster.Nico found himself not being able to peel his eyes from the entrance of the dungeon, encaptured by its strange, foreign properties. He was entering a domain that was completely alien to him, and the pull emanating from the portal drew him to enter it, like his very existence as a player was being called out to by the opening. "See you on the other side." Ingrid whispered ever so softly before effortlessly taking a step through the threshold like she was stepping past a real door. Her body disappeared as it was sucked in to the portal, and Nico saw her entire physique disappear, the last trace of her left foot being consumed by the gate as she entered it. Opting not to hesitate for even a moment, the black-haired boy stepped through for himself, giving in to the chilling magnetism of the entryway. In a flash, a numbing sensation passed through his body before his eyes adjusted to his new surroundings; in one moment, he had been standing in the bookshop in downtown Brooklyn with Ingrid, and in the next, he had been transported to an preternatural realm; this dungeon in particular took the form of endless grasslands, stretching beyond what the eye could see. Nico had heard of dungeons and the infinite number of settings they could hold, and this one seemed to be as simple as its conception. As a beginner-level dungeon, it made sense for it to be an immeasurable field of grass. A message displayed in front of him in the form of the same blue screen that was seen by every player.<You have entered the dungeon Gulliver's Attic's Slime Tutorial.> "Welcome to your first dungeon, Nico," Ingrid began, seeing him step through, "Non-players just see that door lead to a janitorial closet. We see it as a portal to a dungeon." She explained. Judging by the unique name of the dungeon, it wasn't a very sought after location. Nico scanned his surroundings quickly, noticing that the same rectangular portal remained behind him where he had come through for ease of access. If the two of them needed to exit this dungeon, it wouldn't be difficult to do so. As he nodded in understanding, Nico asked, "So what now?" Before he could do anything further, out of the corner of Nico's eyes, he spotted a strange figure he had never seen before. Upon further inspection, it was a Slime, a basic monster that existed in all sorts of video games. The Slime came in the shape of a gelatinous blob, sort of glowing in a sickly green manner; it oozed along the grassy ground, leaving a slimy trail in its wake.The mob didn't have eyes or a face, only existing as a viscous mass. It seemed harmless to the naked eye, but Nico knew to not underestimate any creature, especially as a seasoned gamer. When you were a newbie, you could be caught off guard by a relatively harmless monster, and letting your guard down is the biggest mistake anyone can make in a competitive and potentially dangerous scenario."According to what I could find on the the New York City player database of dungeons, this one is relatively unknown and untouched. Not many people know about it, and it took me some digging to find; that probably explains why we're the only two people here right now." Ingrid began, "It's a training-type dungeon, meaning that the mobs here continously respawn without a clearing objective. Here, you can practice your novice-level skills." Nico nodded in affirmation, though he didn't know what to truly expect. Fighting beasts through a computer screen was one thing, but taking them on in real life was a completely different task. During the tutorial, sheer adrenaline was what enabled him to take down the Shadowmaw, which Ingrid had already informed him was a weakened version of the creature.But Nico knew that he needed to learn how to stay calm and composed in dangerous situations in order to make the best of his environment. Therefore, learning to calmly assess threats in the face of danger was a much-needed skill. Though he also didn't know the degree of his skill compared to others right now; he had never fought a player, and didn't have an inkling of a clue of what Ingrid's class could be, though he didn't want to ask her. "I'm assuming you're an offensive-oriented class, based on you not being scared of Francisco last night." Ingrid stated with a questioning undertone."That's right," Nico replied before concentrating. After the tutorial, he had come to at least become accustomed to his class's arsenal, and he learned how to summon Tear, his sword, at will now. All it took was the active thought of evoking the weapon's general shape, silhouette, and weight on his hand before it appeared there, like pulling the item out of his inventory. The blade, still in its basic, non-upgraded form, manifested itself in Nico's right hand, the tip pointing straight up at the sky. The slightly curved sword was a little shorter than the average medieval European longsword, but it was longer than a traditional Arab scimitar; its blade was entirely metallic, though Nico was unsure of the exact material it was made of.Still, it looked like a regular, blacksmith-forged creation, and only Nico knew what its fully evolved version was truly capable of; the magic scimitar was not just a regular sharpened stick of steel, but a refined weapon fitting a regal warrior. Not only was it an excellent channeler of magic, but it could grow alongside its user, a property that not many other weapons shared, in video games or in the world of players according to Nico's understanding."A Knight class?" He heard Ingrid mutter to herself, her blonde hair tied into a ponytail, as if she was preparing for combat. Nico guessed that even if she was an experienced player, her know-how told her to stay alert no matter the environment, which he mentally praised her for. Then, the girl said louder, "Kill some Slimes, let's see what you can do so far."It was a rudimentary exercise–Nico guessed that it was to assess his competency more than anything; she was going under the premise that he was a complete amateur with no fighting knowledge. While she was mostly right, for some reason, the system decided to bless him with some of the wherewithal of his virtual prime, meaning that a small part of him did know the basics of combat."Got it." Nico replied, readying himself. The Slime from earlier had now crawled closer, and while it was slow, Nico knew that these creatures could make sudden movements with speeds a normal human might find surprising. So, he kept his guard up. Nico approached the miniscule monster, and its aggro immediately turned to him. A smooth, tender sensation pricked the back of his brain, and Nico immediately understood what it was. One of his passive skills, [Danger Premonition], had just perked up–it was an, in Nico's opinion, insanely overpowered ability. He was naturally able to perceive and sense imminent threats or danger before it occurs, giving him unparalleled situational awareness when the ability was at its maximum capability. Anything that could be of harm to him, including intent, could be sensed and given to him as a signal to his brain in the form of a warm, sharp stimulation. It had activated a few times during the summer, so he got used to the feeling. Overall, it was an extremely powerful passive skill if he had the physicality to react to the incoming malicious intent that was displayed towards him; even if there was no intent, any upcoming danger to his overall well-being would be detected. In this case, the monster in front of him poised, stopping itself in its trudge across the grassland. All of a sudden, the Slime sprung forward with precision and speed that shouldn't have been possible for a mere blob of jelly. However, it was a meager effort–even without [Danger Premonition], Nico's enhanced senses as a player were more than enough to read the movement of the creature. Nico merely held out Tear, his sword, in expectancy, intercepting the Slime's trajectory; after all, once it was airborn, there was no way for it to change its route. The creature met cutting edge at full force, splitting in half with a clean whish of steel meeting glop. The creature faded into the same light-blue pixels as the Shadowmaw. His emotional and physical state barely changed; though it may seem like a mundane task to a skilled player, ordinary humans barely know how to hold a sword properly, let alone react to the, albeit not the quickest, movements of a monster that fights players. Of course, when he awakened, Nico gained elementary enhanced reflexes, physicality, and stamina, but there would still be an adjustment period, especially as a late bloomer compared to some individuals who have been players at the top of their communities for years now.Nico looked over at Ingrid, who had widened eyes–one quick glance at her and he could tell she wasn't expecting the boy from the curb yesterday to do that. On one hand, it made sense, as there shouldn't be a player who couldn't take on a single Slime, but Nico had merely held is blade out and the beast had perished due to its own trajectory, so Nico barely took any initiative action. That Slime was by no means a speedy monster, but it looked like the swordsman wasn't even remotely close to trying.In reality, Nico's could already detect the Slime's arc as it flung itself in the air due to his passive skill–living with such an ability wasn't relying on it, as it was imprinted into his very existence as a part of him, as with all player skills and attributes. The beginner quests he was issued after the tutorial helped him get acclimated to his new reality, so it wasn't alien to him anymore. "Were you lying to me, are you truly a beginner?" Ingrid asked with half-genuine suspicion; she wasn't a strong player when it came down to it, mainly because power wasn't her focus. In fact, Ingrid was a support-type player–still, she had been in this new phenomenon for years now, and she could tell what was considered low-level and what wasn't, and what Nico just displayed was reflective of a higher degree of understanding than what a rookie player could demonstrate. Of course, Nico earnestly shook his head, not wanting her to think he was a liar, but there was also not really a way he could explain it–though the player phenomenon was already a fantastical event that could arguably convince anyone to believe in things they'd normally consider ridiculous, he felt as if his case was a unique one, and telling people about his class's true nature might not be the best idea. "I'm not lying!" He exclaimed, looking her in the eyes, "I swear." "I thought you were untrained," Replied Ingrid, though she didn't exude any mistrust, "but I guess I was wrong. I can see that these Slimes won't do you any good." She concluded.Nico agreed with her–he could easily tell why there was no one in this dungeon; after all, finishing off a Slime gave the individual no reward of any kind. Normally, when defeating a monster in a dungeon, there could be loot dropped, such as the system's version of 'gold' or materials of some kind.Both types of substances could become real-world applicable supplies; for example, the system's 'gold' could be converted to actual currency, and leather from a monster could turn into real, cow leather. This was the way that players lived and even thrived, contributing to the greater global economy without breaking it. Of course, the mystical system somehow simply converted gold and materials proportionally, meaning the amount of real-world currency one would gain from a low-level dungeon could be considered an hour of a minimum wage job, for example, meaning that it wasn't very much and it wasn't sustainable; however, the strongest players who raided the higher difficulty dungeons could become financially independent with enough consistent clearing. That was another reason why strength was so coveted as a player, and why progression was everything to a majority of the playerbase. "How about we... spar?" Nico suggested, unsure; he didn't know what class she was, so she might not even be damage-focused, meaning that she might have very few or no attack capability at all. However, he did know that player versus player combat was an integral part of how the community functioned, and sparring with others wasn't uncommon, especially to train your own skills. Ingrid thought about for a second before replying, "Well, since I know your class, it's fair that you know mine," Nico was about to stop her and tell her that her assumption of the Knight class wasn't technically correct, but he didn't get the chance to before she continued, "I'm a Druid. It's a support-type, but it's one of the few support classes with some offensive capability." "Oh-" He opened his mouth to say something, but it was too late–she had already revealed her class; Druid wasn't an archetype he had heard of in the past, though he could assume what it entailed based on it name. "I'm guessing it has something to do with nature or plants? In that case, it fits you, doesn't it?""Yes, it does," Ingrid smiled, "Now prepare, let's just trade a few blows. Don't be afraid to go all out." Nico nodded in anticipation, readying himself again. He hadn't recalled Tear, so it stayed in his hand as they talked for a brief minute. He held it up again, wielding it in a one-handed style; the blade could be operated with a one- or two-handed grip, making it quite a versatile tool. Of course, his video game character Luminoir was familiar with both traditions, making him an unpredictable whirlwind of slashes on the battlefield. But right now, Nico was only familiar with the rudimentary foundations of both grips. Nonetheless, [Danger Premonition]'s now-commonplace feeling pricked the back of his mind as Ingrid got into a fighting stance of her own."Start!" He heard her voice exclaim. Unlike the fight with the Slime, Nico wanted to use more of his strength this time, since he knew underestimating fellow players was the last thing you wanted to do. And she said to not be afraid to go all out, so he had no reason to believe she was weak–as a matter of fact, with how experienced she seemed, he guessed that even if she had a supportive class, Ingrid still posed a threat in any arena. Nico dashed forward, Tear outstretched behind him, ready to be thrust forward. A mana signature emerged from Ingrid's physique as she held out her hands, outstretched and palms facing him. Out of nowhere, the ground began to move. A pair of tangling roots came forth from the ground, flying towards Nico a much faster speeds than the Slime; it stayed low to the ground, which made it harder to avoid than if it was above the waist. Reacting quickly, Nico attempted to intercept the brambles, using his sword as a tool to block them. One of the roots wrapped around Tear, but the other managed to sneak past his defenses. Nico felt a sudden pain on his right leg as the other tendril wrapped around it tightly, thorns digging into his flesh. As a player, his durability and regenerative capabilities were much more than that of the average person, meaning he could endure attacks that would normally leave someone much more damaged. Ingrid's active skill [Entangling Roots] was one of her bread-and-butter attack spells; she could use it in rapid succession to summon even an army of roots that snared her target, but a powerful player could get out of it if they had the strength or technique. It was a much better tool at momentarily trapping a victim so that an ally in her party could deal damage without worrying that the enemy could counter, block, or dodge. It required precise timing, but that was why quick thinking and fast decision-making were crucial knacks to have. Of course, Nico wasn't going to go down that easily. Flicking his wrist, he used brute strength to slice through the roots; while they were hardened wood, he was a physical-type damage dealer, and had the power to back it up. He could feel the essence of another of his passive skills, [Eldritch Swordsmanship], coming to life. Ordinarily, physical-type players began as basic classes, such as Knight, or Warrior. Each class that possessed a weapon also possessed a passive skill that gave them inherent knowledge on how to wield it, too. For Nico, the system's description–when he pulled it up via the video game-like blue screen interface–of this passive skill was that it was a peerless swordsmanship style unique to the magic swordmasters of the Mythic Age, whatever that meant, and it granted him, the user, a magical veil that safeguarded his mental well-being from corruption. He didn't know if it correlated to [Danger Premonition] at all, but it seemed like he had a gift for staying calm and composed during battle, which is mental state remaining at peak conditions. Furthermore, [Eldritch Swordsmanship] was the passive skill that allowed Tear to evolve alongside his growing power, drawing upon unique Witchblade magic. Nico wasn't sure how it compared to other blade-wielding passive skills, but he presumed there would be a time where he'd find out.For now, however, it was going to be used to spar with Ingrid. Nico wanted to keep the magical side of his abilities hidden for the time being, as for one, he wasn't fully sure on how to use them properly, and secondly, he knew that as a new player, he would be underestimated, and a trump card like that would surely win him a decisive fight if the time ever came. Therefore, for now, he wanted to rely on swordplay alone. The curling branches of wood crumbled with his scimitar's laceration, and he chopped off the neck of the tendril that wrapped itself around his leg as well, ending the suffocation. Though, he could feel the throbbing pain of the injury–still, Nico's mental composure allowed him to feel the pain but to not let it affect his thinking or concentration as it might've for other players.He saw the attack coming, but even if he predicted the trajectory of her roots, he could still only physically block one. Nico needed to find a way around Ingrid's multi-directional attacks. Wasting no time, he darted toward her in a zigzag formation, dodging another pair of tendrils that snaked right past him as he anticipated them that time. In a second, he was right up close to Ingrid, but she wasn't fazed. Instead, the Druid showed a visage of focus and determination, and at that moment, he knew she wasn't a player to be trifled with. He swung his sword suddenly, trying to catch her off guard, but Ingrid suddenly bolted backwards at breakneck speeds, unlike how she had moved before. It caught Nico off guard, and he wasn't able to follow through with the slash. This momentary lapse allowed Ingrid to cast the spell [Entangling Roots] once again, twin tendrils snaking from the grass underneath them. Letting his instincts take over, Nico jumped in the air, swinging his sword in a horizontal stroke to cut off the tendrils. However, in that time, an unexpected attack occured–abruptly, [Danger Premonition] activated while Nico jumped, but he was already reacting to the tendrils beneath him. He felt a fist connect with his chest as Ingrid's punch knocked him off balance while he was still midair. He hadn't expected her to use any physical attacks, being a magic-based support. Flung off his tempo, Nico gained balance once again once his feet touched the ground, now panting. It was an exchange that even the most peak condition of human beings couldn't achieve, as the spar had lasted probaby less than a minute, but contained so many actions and movements that it was impossible to keep up with normally. By now, Nico was breathing harder than before, catching his breath. He still had a lot more stamina, but their short duel was nothing but practice."Let's call it!" Ingrid exclaimed, releasing her control of tendrils as they fell onto the ground limply.