Monster Hunting 401: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure by Andrew Karevik (book suggestions .TXT) 📗

our fallen foe’s deathbed came into view. Blood was splattered all over the grass. The dirt had moved quite a bit, as if a creature had fallen and rolled around the ground, unable to get up. And lying perfectly still on the floor were the six arrows I had fired into the beast, small chunks of flesh hanging off the barbs. All that was missing was the corpse of the creature we had killed. It had vanished without a sound.

Chapter 14

The thought of turning the hell around and going home came to both of us at once. Neither of us said a word, but we both looked behind us, as if thinking of bringing up the topic. It was then that the reality struck. With our limited visibility, there was no way we could find our way out. We didn’t leave anything as much as footprints behind, walking with caution to throw off tracking monsters. Without full vision or at least the ability to see the trees ahead of us, how would we ever get out?

This meant, of course, that we would have to press onward. Though, where onward meant was anyone’s guess. The silence fell between Trig and I, and we walked through the woods, huddled closely together. I no longer minded him being practically atop me. Frankly, if I didn’t need both hands on my bow, I’d be holding his hand as tight as possible, to ensure he wasn’t just pulled away in a moment’s notice. Seeing a comrade die was one thing, horrible yes, but at least it was final. But having a friend just vanish, never to be seen again? It would haunt me the rest of my life.

“We should try fire,” Trig said as we approached a particularly large branch sitting on the ground. The wood was just as black as the darkness around us, even when the lightstone was brought close. “Maybe this darkness is repelled by heat?”

Not a bad idea. The woods were fairly chilly. And at least if our torches were put out, we could light them again. The light stones on the other hand…well, the broken one didn’t seem to come back, no matter what we tried.

I stood guard while Trig struggled to start the fire. “Damn ground is so wet. But not a drop of rain in the sky.”

I glanced upwards, raising my light stone once more, hoping to see something. Nothing. Nothing but endless darkness, more vast than anything I had ever seen before.

“Got it!” he cheered as the flames roared to life. He raised the torch high, causing the darkness around us to recede. The rolling dark mist moved backwards quite a bit, giving us space to breathe for once. It was as if we were standing in a bubble of light, protecting us from the dark energy. Thirty feet might not seem like a lot, but to someone confined in an eight foot space, it was like moving out of a hole in the ground and into a hotel.

“Nice work,” I said, watching as he moved the flames about. The darkness did not like the fire one bit and seemed to move out of the way. Even when Trig advanced a half step forward, it took a moment for the mist to return. As if it were hesitant to come back.

“Looks like fire is the main weakness here,” Trig muttered, raising the torch far away from his body, as far into the darkness as he could. The shadows receded quickly, though still not as fast as darkness usually did when light was present. Whatever this fog was, it was a supernatural effect for certain.

I nodded and prepared my own torch. Why hadn’t we thought of this before? Though to be fair, this was the first time we had ever seen a light stone go out. As far as we knew they would glow forever. Who knows? Maybe they’d come back when we got out of this place?

Emboldened by the fire, we moved forward, standing a few feet apart to maximize our field of view. Now, with the torches, we could see all manner of curious things around us. Little creatures hung from the trees, watching us with interest. At first, I thought they were monsters, but they seemed somewhat familiar, as if I had read about them before. Eventually, I remembered that they were called monkeys.

This specific breed was small and silent, watching us with judging eyes. Their faces were grim and cold, and they had little interest in motions. I had read that monkeys were curious and intelligent animals who were prone to all manner of funny behavior, but these beasts did not fit the description of the history books. They were still and grim. Like harbingers of the doom that was to come.

This, of course, did not stop Trig from fawning over them and immediately catching one to adopt. “I’m gonna name it Little Hig!” he said, holding the beast up with one hand. The tiny monkey didn’t seem to care that it was grabbed and merely held onto Trig’s wrist with a sluggish look. “Isn’t he cute? Way more handsome than your husband too!”

“Cuter yes, more handsome? No,” I said, paying no mind to him. His jokes were returning and while I was still uneasy, the humor was welcome.

With Little Hig placed in his hair, Trig continued to explore the area, searching for clues. The monkey nestled in its new spot without complaint or sound, grabbing hold of the hair like a branch and staring at me with the same judgmental look as its peers. What did it know that I didn’t?

“Footprint!” Trig cheered, pointing to a spot on the ground. I was quick to rush up. Indeed, it was a footprint, one belonging to a human, or humanoid at least. A humanoid wearing boots, to be exact. “I bet there’s a tribe here!”

“Or a shape changer. Or one of those infected Fungara maestro,” I warned. “No reason to get