[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (3) SLAIN]
[+30 XP; 450/450 XP]
[NOTICE: LEVEL UP; VITAL STATS RESTORED; +6 AP]
[LV. 5 -> LV. 6; 10/550 XP]
Kindle has developed a more interesting routine now, one that leaves little room for boredom. Thanks to having so much of the basics of magic shoved into their head, Kindle has chosen to tinker with spell circles and such while wandering, and continue beating the other Living Skeletons to death like before. It allows Kindle to distract themself while wandering, while also not having to use the MP they spend entertaining themselves on fighting the skeletons that still break under a few punches.
They've taught themselves a few neat spells, one that shoots fire, another that shoots ice, another that shoots sparks of... well, they've been pretty focused on projectile spells.
[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (4) SLAIN]
[+20 XP; 30/550 XP]
A problem arises, when Kindle realizes something new about XP gain. Being that they're on the first floor, only LV. 1 Living Skeletons are around. And upon reaching LV. 6, Kindle's next group of Living Skeletons only gives half of the normal amount of XP. It turns out, that when the slain being is five levels lower, the XP reward is halved. The only way Kindle will be able to properly continue progressing, is if they move down to the next floor of the dungeon.
Of course, Kindle remembers how close to death they were when they first fought something they didn't properly prepare for, the Living Skeletons they first encountered having implanted a paranoia of hostiles they don't have a good read on.
Still, they don't want to remain on the first floor forever, and if they want to get stronger, they'll need to take risks. With hesitation quelled by directionless ambition, Kindle marches towards one of the Floor 2 entrances, or at least where they remember one being. Being that Kindle seems to be bad with directions, it takes a while to find one.
What Kindle didn't expect, was that the Farentz Dungeon's second floor was not a jump in difficulty at all.
[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (12) SLAIN]
[+120 XP; 150/550 XP]
The Living Skeletons on this floor were LV. 2, so they provided the normal amount of XP, and they grouped up in larger quantities. But still, it was only Living Skeletons, and they all were just as affected by ///Undead Dominance (F)/// as the ones on Floor 1.
Only four hours later, and Kindle already reaches LV. 7, and moves onto the next floor, still wary but less so than before. Floor 3 is no different, however, with no variation aside from the LV. 3 Living Skeletons in great numbers that still fall victim to ///Undead Dominance (F)///. One of them is able to back away at some point, only by about half a meter, but enough to show genuine successful resistance to the overwhelming pressure. Still, their skull is caved in by a few punches, and Kindle moves on, noting the fact with an understanding that difficulty will soon increase once the undead can actually fight back.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Upon reach LV. 8, Kindle moves to Floor 4. The Living Skeletons here actually have a few with weapons, but their sluggish movements under the pressure and Kindle's higher level makes one of their sword's end up in Kindle's ownership after they finish killing them.
Having a sword makes slaying the Living Skeletons even easier, cleaving through them with similar ease as the Human girl once before. Each slice meets resistance from the bones, a lot more than expected, but that's due to Kindle's inexperience with swordsmanship, and perhaps the sword's quality as well. Either way, they fall just as easily.
[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (17) SLAIN]
[+170 XP; 420/750 XP]
Whilst playing with modifying spell circles and exploring, Kindle hears a scuffle in the distance, echoed by the stony halls that look a bit grimier than the other floors. Of course, while most would probably let curiosity guide them and check out the source, Kindle is not keen on facing what is likely a Diving Party and possibly getting killed due to their equipment being better.
Unfortunately, Kindle's bad sense of direction lead them there anyways, though the scuffle has long since ended. The same two girls from before, the short-haired swordswoman and the long-haired archer look at Kindle as they loot the few weapons of the Living Skeletons, obviously not recognizing Kindle, and immediately draw their weapons again.
When Kindle bolts once more, they both pause before the swordswoman makes a choked sound of shock and yells while she gives chase. "Is this a thing Living Skeletons do!? This is the second time this has happened in here, is this dungeon just weird, or is this the same one?"
Kindle's stamina still greatly outperforms their own, and they soon seem to lose their pursuers. Upon doing so, Kindle moves to continue hunting more Living Skeletons.
[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (9) SLAIN]
[+90 XP; 510/750 XP]
The other Living Skeletons don't have a chance to really resist the influence of ///Undead Dominance (F)/// before Kindle starts slicing them down with crude but powerful swings of the sword, but not long after the notification pops up, the pair of Dungeon Divers seem to have followed the noise of the commotion.
They were likely expecting to see another Diving Party facing a few Living Skeletons, not a lone skeleton standing amongst the remains of their fellow undead. The archer blink in surprise and confusion for a moment, but before she can speak, Kindle sprints away. They don't give chase this time, and instead, she walks over to the dead skeletons.
"Did..." she starts as she squats down near one of the skeletons that with a spine cut in half. "Did that skeleton kill these ones? That's not how skeletons work, they don't just go around killing their own guys."
The swordswoman kneels beside her, looking at the spliced vertebrae. "Sloppy swordsmanship," she mutters, though the implication is not lost on her. Most low-rank undead aren't strong enough to maintain their full sapience, and instead act more akin to complex beasts, with Living Skeletons some of the most simple.
"We should definitely report this to the Dungeon Guild" the archer states, both curious and concerned. An intelligent low-rank undead is one thing, a problem most certainly, but an intelligent low-rank undead killing it's kin, likely to get stronger, is a whole other, potentially bigger problem.
[NOTICE: LIVING SKELETON (11) SLAIN]
[+110 XP; 620/750 XP]
Kindle's continued work of playing with magic then cutting through other undead has become natural, the former guilt and hesitation that plagued them now muffled as they distract themselves with messing with their sword and trying out another slight tweak to the "Fire Bolt" spell.
It only takes another hour before Kindle finally reaches LV. 9, and moves onto the next floor.
Hopefully, it won't be a jump in difficulty.
NAME: KINDLE
SPECIES: LESSER SKELETON MAGE
SEX: N/A
XP: 10/850
AP: 0
HP: 180/180
MP: 180/180
SP: 180/180
CON: 9
AGI: 9
DEX: 9
PER: 9
INT: 9
SIMPLE ARCANIST (F)
///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///
///UNIFIED FORM (F)///
///HEROIC POTENTIAL (F)///
///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (F)///
///NATURAL ARCANIST (F)///
