First Food
After Eternix got defeated, the snowing weather of the dungeon stops completely.
However, it's not the time to celebrate.
I then go to check Ren. He is lying on the ground and can barely move. I'm starting to panic since I don't know what to do.
We have been through a lot and I can't afford to let him die here.
"Ren, are you alive? What should I do to help? Will healing magic work?"
However, I notice, I don't have a healing magic. Isn't healing magic also harmful to the undead?
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Just my recovery will take a while because I used holy magic too much."
"That was to reckless of you to use holy magic. Next time, don't use it if possible."
Ren harrumphs. "It's quite odd for a human to be concerned for a ghoul."
"What does me being a human have to do with it?"
It's embarrassing to ask since I don't have one back then but I think I should.
"Hey Ren, aren't we friends?"
Ugh, did I say something embarassing?
Since Ren is a ghoul without a muscle to make expressions, I can't make out his reaction, but I can tell he is flustered.
"Friends, huh? If you promise me to make your heart strong then I can be one."
I then tear up a little. Huh? Am I crying? That's right, I used to have no one that the thought of losing someone makes me sentimental.
I hope I don't look bad in front of him.
The Ren who is weakened got his energy up after seeing me cry. He then looks away. "Sheesh, what are you crying for? You're embarrassing me."
I then wipe the tears from my face and act tough. "Huh? Why would I cry for you...? Idiot." I say trying to deny it.
Do I sound like a tsundere now?
"Alright, alright."
Afterward, we then meet up with Vermil and rest in this domain for a moment until we are ready to depart.
We set up a camp in the forest. Thankfully, it isn't as cold as before.
Since there are wood in these areas, I'm able to make a camp fire. At that moment, Ren is still resting and I have Vermil hunt for food.
I tried to stop her but she is quite the persistent one.
Earlier, she spoke to me when I am about to use my clones to hunt for food.
"Brother no, since this time I wasn't a good use for you. I'll be gathering food for you."
It seems I can't deny her, thus I answer, "yes" with a sigh.
She then brings some snow golems close to me. I got surprised. I feel like I'm about to whine if she thinks this is a food for me. "Vermil, how am I supposed to eat that?"
"Huh? You can't? Isn't anything edible? I saw your clones eat this one a moment ago."
My clones can eat anything since it doesn't matter if they die. At this point, the only reason I want to eat is just to enjoy the taste of food. But then...
How am I supposed to eat that thing? It's made of rocks.
In fact, when is the last time I ate? I have been in this dungeon for about 2 months and a few weeks and I haven't put anything into my mouth in that period.
Afterward, I heard some growls behind the woods. Using my [Ultimate Sight], I found some tasty and plumpy looking wolves which makes me glad. I then lick my lips.
Hehe, finally, some meat!
Looks like we will have have roasted wolf for dinner.
In an instant, I pounced upon them and then slayed them.
Due to my adventurer title, the wolves instantly drop raw wolf meat and some dire wolf pelt which is lucky since I don't have to skin it and wash its blood.
There are dire wolf leather armor as well.
Perhaps I should take a break for now and study all the skills that I have. I have been too carefree and it might cause our downfall in the future.
I didn't notice but it seems I have a useful skill that I got from the level up.
[Clone Object:
If the user holds a specific material, it can be duplicated if used with [Character Division]
MP: May vary depending on the selected object
CD: May vary depending on the selected object ]
I guess, I'll try it.
I hold the meat and create a clone of myself.
Beside me, the clone is also holding the same meat and wearing my Valkeryun armor.
This skill is cool since I also can let my clones fight with my armor.
This may seem neat but its also eating my MP and CD a lot because of the duplicated armor.
First, I unequipped the armor in order to reduce the MP and CD consumption.
I then duplicate the wolf meat several times with my skill. Its MP consumption seems negligible now that I'm wearing my school uniform. At least we won't be running out of beast meat soon.
We also won't have to worry about it spoiling since I can store them in the [Temporal Bag]. It is quite useful since in that inventory, no time passes by. It's like a convenient fridge.
Regardless, I shall continue roasting my meat on the firewood.
Vermil is staring at it with curiousity. "Brother, is this thing you call a meat? For some reason, it's making my mouth water."
"Right, right? In fact, I'm the same as well."
After I cook it, it is making my heart throb. I gulp. Looks like this will be the first time I will try a proper meat. Its tender texture and light brown color is making my mouth water.
I then take a bite. Allowing it to enter my mouth, I almost feel like crying. This taste which I have almost forgotten.
It feels like heaven, I can't stop munching and tasting it. Regardless, I won't have to worry from eating too much since my physical stomach is empty. Though I'm not hungry since my clones are satisfying my hunger for me.
Vermil smiles widely as she consumes the meat. She also blushes as she feels its pleasant taste. "I never tasted this before. So this is what you call a meat? How odd."
Looking at her, she is indistinguishable from humans. To think she came from my system. I wonder if I can add more Essential Clones.
I'll try making another essential clone. This one looks like a main character from a well known manga.
However...
[Extracting EXP from user...]
[EXP extraction resisted!]
[EXP extraction failed]
Eh? What the hell happened?
[Answer, due to high mind stats, the user has resisted EXP extraction]
I can't believe my mind stats backfired against me. Since I experience headaches during the EXP extraction, the system must have thought its a negative mental debuff.
I sigh.
Well, I'll look for a way to bypass this soon.
However, it seems I have acquired some skills and some titles. I have my clones consume the beasts in this place again to acquire ice affinity skills.
[New Skills Acquired!
+Ice Shards
+Frozen Spear
+Slippery Footing
+Icy Howl
..... ]
New titles as well.
[New Titles Acquired!
+Tundra Expert!
+Wolf Hunter!
+Veteran Swordman! ]
As for the items, I hide them inside my Spatial Bag. Since I'm carrying too much, I'm ignoring the generic ones.
Regardless, I acquired this skill when my clones eat the Eternix.
[Absolute Zero: Freeze the entire area with a diameter of 300 m from the user
MP: 6,000
CD: 15 minutes]
Though that requires a lot of mana to activate.
I have to check my status now.
[System Title: Reckless Cloner
------------
Worldly Titles: Grand Assister, Monster Dungeon Slayer, Dragon Slayer, Child of Darkness, Suicidal Hero, Ultimate Sneaker, Heavy Trainer...
------------
Level: 210
Mana points: 440,800/440,800
Cooldown Loan: 0/9 hours
-------------
Strength: 2354
Agility: 2253
Defense: 2252
Stamina: 2103
Wisdom: 1290
Mind: 1253
Tolerance: 1340 ]
As always, every time I level up I put all of my stat points unto my wisdom. Also, someday I hope, I can recover the title so I can maximize every stat.
[Eternix Essence (Mythical)] I wonder what I can do with this. For now, I have to keep it inside my spatial bag.
As for Ren he still isn't waking up, but it looks like he is recovering by himself. I have my clone carry him for me.
I think we will have to proceed to the next domain. This time however, I will have to be more careful. No matter how strong I think I am, I can't let my guard down.
When we are ready I then give a nod to Vermil. "Vermil, we shall go."
Vermil nods as well. "Yes brother."
I hope the next domain won't be as dangerous as this one. It seems I can also see a pattern regarding the dungeons that we visit.
By creating a hole through the wall, we then go through it. We went through a dark tunnel until we finally arrived on the next domain.
Afterwards we find ourselves stopping.
From here on, there are no signs of path or land, rather it is a deep and wide trench that extends far out.
There are flying monsters which seem to be air affinity monsters gliding in mid-air.
So this time it's an air type of dungeon, huh?
Now how do we get across?
Shall I try Ren's method of walking across the walls sideways? No, that seems dangerous and is only done by experts.
Looking beneath us is just a pool of darkness. I doubt we can get back here easily once we fall.
I have plenty of skills but I have none for flight. I think I have some idea but I will have to leave Ren and one of my clones in here for now.
Well then, time to hunt for the General Monster of this place!