The notification was clear in front of Ludwig.
[Would you like to use 1 {Wayward Soul}?]
‘Yes’
[You have obtained 10 souls.]
[Which stats would you like to increase?]
‘Use nine souls to increase strength,’
[Your strength has been increased by 8 points.]
[You have reached 30 in strength]
[You need to use two souls per each level up from now on.]
[Would you like to use, X2 {Piece of a Wayward Soul}to increase your strength to 31?]
Ludwig thought about it but refrained from doing so, if he were to do that, he’ll end up with only Vondel’s soul in his lantern, if he were to die, then vondel’s soul will be used up.
Ludwig knew for sure that he had nothing crazy to worry about, after all, even if he were to die, the lantern will bring him back in time enough that he could even change the whole outcome of this dungeon venture. But he needed the assurance so he didn’t use them.
[You have leveled up!]
‘Status Screen’ Ludwig muttered.
***
‘Status Screen’ Ludwig muttered.
Race: Skeleton
Soul Level: 2
Health: 100/100
Stamina: Infinite
Mana: 100/100
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 20
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 10
Vigor: 10
Luck: 15
Class: Skeleton Grunt
Title: Apostle of Death
Skills: [Trace] [Basic Undead Summon Sigil]
Passives: Basic Swordsmanship – Undead Resolve – [Blessed Body]
Overt Genius: Increased proficiency in all sorts of masteries.
***
Ludwig tightened the grip on his hand and felt that he had become somewhat stronger. He thought the growth was negligible but it was an improvement anyways.
“Where are you heading man?” Hoyo asked, intrigued by Ludwig’s words from earlier.
“I have an inkling on where their base is, I’ll go there and check things out, you guys should stick together,” Ludwig said as he looked around, the nobles seemed adamant on not doing anything and waiting for the teachers to come in, while the commoners were worried that if they do or try anything they’ll be reprimanded by the nobles.
“I’ll come with you,” Hoyo said.
“Don’t, it’s too risky,” Ludwig said, not because he was confident in clearing this dungeon or killing the boss, but Hoyo’s stamina was too low for it to be of any use and Ludwig didn’t need anyone to interfere with his scouting mission.
“But what about you? If it’s risky for me.” Hoyo asked.
“I can defend myself,” Ludwig said as he showed the glint of the sword under his robes, “You clearly can’t, you’re too slow, and have shitty stamina.”
“Just leave him, though I think you’re all the same at least you were once a noble, don’t waste your time with that fool, or you’ll end up dead,” Bron said.
Hoyo’s expressions soured and he was about to retort, “Don’t give them a reason to put pressure on you, just go back and stay with Kassandra, also I’d recommend you guys don’t light up any fires for the night,” he said.
“Why?” Kassandra who was closely asked.
“Remember, we don’t know the terrain and the Lizardmen lived here most if not all their lives, they also have better vision during the night, and I might even add that it’s not just superior sight, but more like heat detection. If you light up a fire it’ll attract them.”
Ludwig hunched down and began grabbing some soggy mud from the ground and smearing it all over his body.
“What are you doing?” Hoyo asked.
“What do you think? I’m using mud to lower my body’s temperature,” he said though he didn’t need to, after all he was an undead. But this was the only thing he could do to help them. If they were to understand his intentions and do the same they’ll survive the night.
The nobles however seemed too disgusted and even laughed at Ludwig’s antics.
“Don’t let stupid notions like shame or foolish honor blind you, death is mean and unforgiving.” Ludwig said as he continued applying the mud all over his body and clothes until not a single spot was clean.
Kassandra immediately dropped down and began doing the same. Ludwig smiled, ‘at least she is sensible,’
Hoyo, encouraged by her also did the same, while a few of the commoners refused the majority also began doing the same and helping each other apply the mud.
“Stay close to the ground and don’t get near any fires, it will be cold tonight but mere cold won’t kill you,” Ludwig said as he stood up and headed down the area they were at.
He soon left the clearing amidst the mockery of the nobles.
‘Though it is a bit unfortunate, seems like these guys will serve as a great distraction for me,’ Ludwig thought as he began trekking his way to the north.
Once the night drops, which seemed to be in less than a couple hours, the fire that the nobles were setting will look like a beacon to all the lizardmen. It will draw a good portion of them toward the camp, and Ludwig can use that time when the defenses are weak to investigate the boss if he were to find her.
Time went by as Ludwig continued marching through the forest, and soon happened upon a small canyon ledge that peered over a lake surrounded by large trees and a wide and tall cave.
The sky began darkening giving an eerie atmosphere to the whole place.
Ludwig immediately ducked under once he noticed the presence of lizardmen around the lake.
Ludwig had only inspected the Champion and didn’t have the time to inspect the normal lizardman he met earlier today.
[Inspect]
[Forest Lizardman]
Level 11
Damage 20-30
HP: 500
Tier: Common
Status effect: {Curse of Weakness} All offensive stats and defensive stats have been reduced by 60%
Status Effect: {Night Time} Increase visibility at night, but lowers reaction speed and attention.
Skills:
Passive: [Lesser Thermal Vision] can detect most sources of heat and recognize bodies that emit it.
Passive: [Stomach Half Full] the hungrier the lizardmen race become the stronger they are, the fuller they are the lazier they get and more sluggish they become.
Passive: [Claws & Jaws] all damage dealt by the Lizardman’s claws and jaws deal bleeding overtime damage that is stackable. Each cut increases the blood loss of the target twice.
Flavor Text:
Forest Lizardmen are the weakest of their kind, they struggle to survive in forest biomes, though they are superior to goblins, they are far lesser in numerical power. They share the bottom of the food chain when it comes to forest monsters alongside goblins and kobolds.
***
Ludwig noticed that the description was slightly different from that of the Champion. They do have lesser health and a lower level, but also their visibility is much weaker than that of their Champion.
There were about ten or so of them, two were resting with their back against the cave’s entrance while the rest were either loitering around or swimming casually in the lake.
On the far side of the lake there was a square shaped prison made entirely of felled trees and ropes. Two students lay unconscious there.
‘Must be the guys that got kidnapped, they’re lucky they’re still alive.’
The ground shuddered as the Champion Lizardmen exited the cave, it sniffed at the air and soon let out a loud hiss that gathered the attention of all of the lizardmen.
Ludwig paid attention to see what’s going on, and soon a smaller softer skinned lizardman appeared, small in comparison to the hulking four meter tall champion, but she was quite bigger than the other lizardmen.
Once she got out, she locked her tail with the champion as if trying to drag him back to the cave.
Ludwig inspected her.
[Lizardmen Queen]
Level 20
HP: 2,000
Damage 1-2
Tier: Rare {Boss}
Status effect: {Curse of Weakness} All offensive stats and defensive stats have been reduced by 60%
Status Effect: {Night Time} Increase visibility at night, but lowers reaction speed and attention.
Status Effect: {In Heat} the Queen is ready for mating, but requires a greater source of food to create powerful offspring.
Status Effect: {Pacifist} the Queen is completely vulnerable to attacks and usually hides behind her kin.
Skill: [Cry for Help] once the skill is used all the Lizardmen in the vicinity will come to her aid regardless of what they are doing. Cooldown 1 Day
Skill: [Instigate] Once applied on lizardmen their offensive stats will double and they’ll discard all negative effects. They will also enter [Frenzy] which increases their pain tolerance to the maximum. Cooldown 1 Day
Skill: [Reproduction] once the Queen uses this skill, she enters hibernation, and triple her defensive values. After the skill duration ends several lizardmen will be born to join the army.
Cooldown 6 months.
Addendum:
The Forest Lizardmen Queen is a passive creature that cannot fight and is always on the run, the most cowardly of all Forest lizardmen, though she is cowardly she is very sturdy, enough that she can always call for others to help her out when she is in trouble.
***
Ludwig thought for a second after he read through the Queen’s status screen and info
‘This won’t be easy,’ he muttered to himself
‘With all those guards, and that Champion here, getting even close to her would be a miracle, not to mention killing her, the moment she is even harmed she’ll call everyone here I’d be lucky to have bones for remains after they’re done. Oh wait, I’m already bones…’
Ludwig laughed at himself for such an absurd statement, after all what can one do but laugh against these odds?
