Chapter 8: Chapter. 8: Pushing the Limits

I gazed ahead, taking calm and collected breaths as the edges of my vision darkened and blurred. After every heave of my chest I felt sharp pain, and yet the susurrations of calm breathing and mild scratching kept me calm. I could simply hear the rhythmic footsteps around me, the small echoes when their claws would scrape against the rocky ground. The pain coursing through my body did not make things easier if at all.

Slowly, I closed my eyes, simply focusing on my breathing and the ambient sounds. Closely holding my pickaxe against my increasingly cold body. The small — almost raspy — breaths from each of the Prowling Harvesters, the grating of the rubble whenever one of them stepped over the remains of the Compound Golem. It felt as if time had come to a crawl. Any and all sounds were beginning to startle me, my own breathing buzzed through my ears as I tried to make it even quieter but to no avail.

I could hear the Prowling Harvesters loom closer to the stairs, and even heard one of them do a soft and quiet growl as they approached the pillar. Each Prowling Harvester was doing their own thing, but eventually they all reached the base of the stairs. And slowly, one of them got on the steps with a small patter sound as they drifted up. My breath stilled, as it slowly got close to the top of the stairs.

I felt frustration. I had nowhere to hide, and my circumstances felt unfortunate, almost unfair. Even if they had come just right after killing the Compound Golem, the situation wouldn’t have changed much. I heard the scraping of the claws and forcefully calmed myself. I was in the Grand Mine of Armag Hollow, deep past the explored regions. It was a normal occurrence. Death in the mines was normal; danger lurked everywhere.

My heart calmed as the Prowling Harvester loomed around the corner, but it stopped. It stopped just at the fringe, just slightly before the entrance of the passageway where I resided. It simply breathed, standing about a meter away from me. They resonated in my ears, and at that moment I felt something catch in my throat. My chest heaved as my body nearly forced me to cough. I stifled it, letting out nothing more than a single breath, and at that moment.

My eyes snapped open to my side and at that moment the Prowling Harvester to my side growled and lurched forward. Still holding my pickaxe and on the ground I met eyes with it and just for a moment, there was calm between me and the Beast of the Dark Hollow.

[(Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 7]

And then it pounced. I ignited my flames and swung my pickaxe hitting it through its chest, impaling it to the side with a grunt. My arms trembled from the strength, but I had no time as the Prowling Harvester cried in pain. Two growls entered my ears, and I heard the Prowling Harvesters coming forward, encroaching upon my position. My mouth tasted of blood as I stood up, the Prowling Harvester was still rammed onto the pick and trying to get out.

I looked at the vault room for just a moment as I made my decision. The bridge in the middle was long, the vault was off in the distance and the door that would be dozens of meters tall was nothing more than the size of my fingernail in the distance, and yet I still had to do it. The desperate howls and snarls grew closer in just a second as I turned towards the Prowling Harvester on the ground, dislodging my pick. It was slightly smaller than me, much smaller than the other two that I had fought. It rapidly got up and glared at me, it considered extinguishing the flames but instead it chose to pounce, and I grinned by charging it.

The choice was more than simple, either go step onto the vault room alone, or bring something with me. The Prowling Harvester opened its mouth wide, but I just ducked and hugged onto its torso as I charged it into the room. It yelped and its hind legs scraped against the cloth of my stomach, ripping it apart in an instant and scratching at my skin. I gritted my teeth as the orange room flashed in orange from my intrusion.

In a single moment the first statue flashed and aimed its palm at me. I shifted and the three stakes of light were shot into the Prowling Harvester’s back, it cried in pain as its legs lost all strength while I continued charging onto the room. My footsteps echoed as I heard growls behind me, but I didn’t so much as slow down as I charged ahead.

The Prowling Harvesters chased after me, while the one that I practically carried over my shoulder recovered with a snarl and tried to swing itself away from me, however its strength was quickly dwindling from being actively burnt. I was about a fifth of the way there, as the statue once more raised its arm and fired.

I turned, but at that moment the Prowling Harvester over my shoulder kicked⁠— I groaned in pain as the Beast of the Dark Hollow cried. Two bolts hit its back and one ended up piercing through my arm. I staggered for a moment, as I heard the quickened steps from behind. But at that moment, a second statue activated and fired at one of the Prowling Harvesters behind.

I heard a shriek, and that’s when I realized that it wasn’t as suicidal as I had thought. I felt inner satisfaction as the black blood from the Prowling Harvester fell upon my body, the flames wisped brightly and as I stepped onto the third of the way mark. The Beast of the Dark Hollow was clearly at the end of its life, but it growled and thrashed, its hind legs scratched at my arms and ribs in a final attempt for me to let it go.

It moved and flipped, nearly making me lose balance as I finally relinquished. I spun and with my utmost strength I flung the Prowling Harvester in front of me, it landed about a meter ahead as its body burned to the [Fallen Embers]. And then, three statues activated as I gripped my pickaxe.

One aimed at me, one at the Prowling Harvesters behind me, and the last one was aimed ahead. It happened instantly, all three of them fired their volleys at once as I swung my flaming pickaxe. Instantly destroying the projectiles that were sent my way. The process had taken just a second, and the projectiles seemed to zip through the air like arrows. My ears buzzed hearing the shrieks of pain echo through the chamber. I barely saw it at the edge of my vision, but all of the bolts had struck the Prowling Harvester ahead.

And as I looked ahead, it wobbled, struggling to stand up, the fire had been extinguished around its body but I paid it no mind as I began to run once more. My gaze instead landed on the distant vault door, my destination and the only safe place.

I ran past the Prowling Harvester, it tried to launch itself at me but it fell on the ground with a dull echo.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 7]

And just like that, it had breathed one last time as it bled to death, its last moments spent serving as a body shield.

My eyes darted around, looking and alternating through the statues. I also noticed that the bridge had tiles, and patterns on each tile, but it wasn’t something that I could truly take in or try to make sense of. Soon, I stepped close to the halfway point and the statues activated once more. But this time I didn’t stop running, for some reason every time I saw the statues fire there was something amiss in my opinion, at least I felt like their bolts could be dodged, and I wanted to try it. I slid my pickaxe along a hole in my clothes, using it as a holster.

A second passed as four statues activated, three that I had already run past and one that was directly laterally to me. They aimed and at that moment, I lunged forward ⁠— diving with a jump and simultaneously swinging my pickaxe. There was no shriek this time around as the bolts zipped past and landed on the ground or near me, and the one that almost hit me was incinerated by my flames.

I forced myself up as I felt my body refuse to cooperate for a moment, and staggered forward, nearly falling over before recovering my balance. I looked ahead and the vault door seemed so far away. My breathing was rushed and even though the [Fallen Embers] numbed the feelings all around my body, I could tell I was on the verge of collapsing, nevertheless I gritted my teeth and pushed forth.

My breaths were sharp and painful, but I still managed to sprint at almost full speed along with my pickaxe. It was slow and difficult, the edges of my vision blurred for a moment but I could hear the steps of the Prowling Harvesters that were chasing after me. The room was shining in an orange light, clearly determined to kill everything that was within.

I gritted my teeth, pushing myself to run further. The statues triggered once more, and I followed the same process of diving ahead. There were no shrieks and no shots on target as I pushed myself to get up. I could feel that my body was collapsing, the second dive just confirmed it as I felt something akin to a pit form within my chest. Nevertheless, I simply focused on moving forward.

After some struggle I made it to the two-thirds mark, repeating the diving process once more along the way. My breathing was rushed, and at this point the statues activated once more, this time however it was a whole six of them. I slowed down for a moment, getting ready to dive once more, as they began to point their judgment and then I heard a growl practically in my ear.

The statues fired as I was launched forward by the charge of two Prowling Harvesters. I had no idea where the light bolts struck as I rolled a couple of meters ahead with the two Beasts of the Dark Hollow trying to bite into my neck. I grunted, whirring my flames forward, burning and igniting both of the wretched beasts. They distanced themselves as they stared at me, growling with dripping saliva from their serrated teeth. Their eyes screamed hatred, and their bodies trembled in excitement as the flames were extinguished by their fur. Both of them were bleeding, but I knew they hadn’t been hit by the light bolts for some time now.

I gritted my teeth and turned, instantly exploding into a sprint. I felt a painful headache hammer at my brain, pounding at the sides of my skull begging to get out, my vision was spinning but I managed to still run forward as seven mechanical clicks resounded within my ears.

Seven statues.

This time I did not even slow, as I lunged forward. I felt my headache reach a new crescendo as I streaked through the air. Two bolts hit my thigh, making me cry in pain, as the others passed by my body. I landed on the ground with a dull sound as if I was some type of supply sack being thrown into the ground. My breath stilled for a moment, as I willed myself to stand up once more, and then it happened.

A Prowling Harvester rammed into me as it tried to rip my head off. I rolled along with it, igniting it on fire once more, and the other Beast of the Dark Hollow pounced onto my back, scratching and tearing my flesh with its sharpened claws. Yet I forced myself to keep rolling with the stupid Prowling Harvester as its claws tore onto my forearms.

Then I heard the statues activate, and at that moment I knew that eight of them had been activated. I kept hold of the Prowling Harvester as I forced it to stay on top of me, and then⁠— the statues fired. All twenty-four bolts came into our direction, and I grunted in pain. The Prowling Harvester atop of me cried as it took well over two thirds of the bolts, meanwhile I had been pierced in the ribs and arms by about four bolts.

With deep and heavy breaths I threw the Beast of the Dark Hollow away from me and crawled forward limping to stand up. The other Prowling Harvester had ended up quite far away from dodging the bolts, I forced my legs to go into a jog as I saw the blood dripping onto the ground. For just a moment, I could hear my uneven and labored breaths in my ears as I pushed forward, in my vision only the vault door existed and it seemed closer than ever.

It was just a few meters ahead, and then the clicking resounded in my ears. I saw every single one of the statues light up in unison, and for just a moment I turned around as I saw the Prowling Harvester sprinting towards me at full speed. A lot of things passed through my mind but there was only a single decision that was clear to me. I raised my arm with a finger gun motion and fired.

A [Fallen Ember Bolt] that contained nearly all of my leftover mana struck the Prowling Harvester burning it out of the air. And then, I jumped backwards, throwing myself towards the vault door as all nine statues fired. I saw a myriad of flashing lights streak through my vision, and then the pain came. I felt my shoulder be grazed, my abdomen be pierced, my arm be scraped⁠— in just a moment a total of six bolts struck me as the [Fallen Embers] around my body became nothing more than actual embers.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 8]

I nearly cried as the statues deactivated. Everything felt so sluggish, my heart was rushing for me to push forward as I crawled towards the vault, the pickaxe at my waist scraped against the ground, as I remembered things. I gritted my teeth, as I forcefully stood up for the millionth time, I could just feel my life slipping away, but yet I wanted to overcome fate.

I dragged my feet in a limp sprint. The vault door looked so far away, yet so close at the same time. Small wisps of blue flame burned around my body as they tried to ease the pain and soreness, but my body was just giving up. I never actually understood what they actually did, other than help me ignore injuries, but even the [Fallen Embers] had gone past their limit.

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There was nothing in my vision as I lurched forward towards the vault. It was a slow and painful process, and just as I was about to reach it. I heard the mechanical clicks go off within my ears with a hollow ring. All nine statues were aiming at me once more.

My vision darkened. But I forced myself to sprint one last time. My vision grew blurry as I simply followed the gap in the vault, and then the bolts were fired. I tripped as one struck my ankle, and with a rattle I landed on the cold and rugged⁠— ground… My entire vision was glittering in gold and just for a moment, I kept breathing as I tried to figure out what happened.

My body relaxed for a moment, my flames still burning as my vision finally recovered. Everywhere I looked there were mountains of gold as I got on my knees.

I made it to the vault…

And then, I began to cough blood. Every time it felt like my throat was being taken apart, as if I was coughing my insides and my stomach out. I could feel the taste of iron within my mouth along with chunks of flesh. Soon, the gold coins in my surroundings grew bloodied. And yet, I did not panic as my eyes darted around the room, looking for things.

Maybe if I found another Relic⁠—

My mind paused as I saw a distant white pedestal. My vision blurred for a moment as I saw a glittering thing atop of it. It sparkled under blue light, it was akin to a small flask with numerous ventricles and veins, yet it was transparent and it had a myriad of liquids inside of it. And I grinned feasting on the words inside of my head.

[Fourth Grade Relic ⁠— Everlasting Elixir of Health ⁠— Consuming this elixir will grant an Immediate Health Boost and regenerate all injuries and diseases that the individual bears. It is unable to resurrect people.

<> Immediate Health Boost: An effect granted by the Elixir of Health that boosts an individual’s condition past their peak state for a short amount of time, making their skin more durable and amplifying their stamina. Lasts an hour.

The Everlasting Elixir of Health will replenish its contents slowly over the course of a month. Be warned that the body can build a tolerance towards the Elixir of Health.

This Relic was produced by the Elven craftsmen of Laiken during the Golden Era.]

I slowly got up and limped in its direction. It was just what I needed. The perfect Relic. It glittered under the blue light as if it was nothing more than a piece of art, a display piece of the achievements of the Flying City of Laiken. And now, it was going to be mine. The coins beneath me rattled as I kicked them and moved myself through them.

I felt my vision grow blurry, but it didn’t matter. I was just a few meters away from the relic now.

A Fourth Grade Relic. I had found yet another one.

And then, I heard a crash behind me. It was one full of metallic rustling, followed by an angry growl. My eyes widened as I turned only to see a mangled and bloodied Prowling Harvester. It was missing one of its legs, and numerous holes permeated its body, and yet it snarled at me before trying to sprint.

[(Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 9]

Fuck⁠—

I turned and forced myself to push forward. I was so stupidly close to the Relic, all I had to do was grab the vial and drink it. I ran, dragging my quite literally broken foot through the ground as my entire body protested to me in pain. [Fallen Embers] were just barely active, and even though the Prowling Harvester was looming right behind me, I simply took one final step and reached for the pedestal, grabbing the Relic within my hand.

I moved my other hand to uncork it, but it was too late, the Prowling Harvester charged me to the ground, biting onto my leg at the same time, I cried. The vial was dropped out of my hands as my eyes widened, and for a moment I felt like everything was over as it landed⁠— it let out a cling and it bounced, its glass not even so much as damaged as it landed a meter away from me.

I grunted, nearly screamed as I burned the entirety of my mana in a burst of flames. Adrenaline pushed through my mind as the Prowling Harvester was sent tumbling from the burns. My legs trembled and grew numb as I clawed myself forward with my arms. I gritted my teeth pushing forward. The Prowling Harvester rolled on the ground for a moment, before extinguishing the flames.

And I reached the Relic, I grasped it, almost hugging it towards my body as the Prowling Harvester lunged itself atop of me, its claws dug onto my back as I cried. I could feel my life slipping away by the second as my vision grew dark, but I simply focused on the vial around my hands and felt its weird shape before landing on the smooth cork.

I twisted it as I brought it to my mouth shaking. My entire body was in pain, I could tell I was going to die soon, and yet I hoped that somehow the Relic would rescue me. I wrapped my lips around the tip of the bottle, and drank nearly half of its oddly sweet liquid, then I felt sharp pain as the Prowling Harvester bit onto my neck and ripped half of it in a moment.

I felt my vision blur as red bathed in it, my entire body grew instantly numb. There was only a single thought that remained. One that was filled with confusion and almost unfairness.

I died…?

And then I felt warmth⁠— burning. It was as if a spark had been ignited inside of me. [Fallen Embers] exploded around me as the Prowling Harvester cried in pain. The pain and numbness vanished as everything was replaced by everlasting warmth and comfort. My vision came back and I rolled, snapping my gaze to the Beast of the Dark Hollow.

I raised my finger and pointed.

In just a single moment, three [Fallen Ember Bolts] were fired, striking the Prowling Harvester away with incredible strength as it rolled through the ground burning, before it died.

[You have slain: (Beast of the Dark Hollow) Prowling Harvester. Lvl. 9]

[Your primary aspect has leveled once from this encounter. Current level: 9]

I took deep breaths as I looked at the dead Prowling Harvester, there was just silence now. My body felt warm, I looked at my feet and slowly saw the holes of flesh being filled, knitted by my own body. It was a gross sight, and then, my hand wandered over to my neck where I felt a fleshy thing. I could feel the missing flesh and the blood within my hand.

I recoiled for a moment, as I felt the flesh knit itself back. I stared at the vial that was flipped. None of its contents were spilled, but slowly I looked at the liquids inside of it and noticed that the red liquid was halfway now.

Closing my eyes, I grabbed the Relic and screwed the cork on it once more. I hugged it onto my body as I felt my flesh knit itself and then, I opened my eyes looking at the glittering gold all around me. I saw mountains and heaps of it as well as luxurious gems.

There had been a Relic inside of the vault. My lips curled into a grin.

Why wouldn’t there be more?

And then, I collapsed onto my back, staring at the ceiling as my body slowly regenerated. I would seek the relics later. For now I wanted to relax, and maybe think for a bit, my smile slowly disappeared.

I had pushed my limits more than I should have, and almost died for it.

I sighed. I really didn’t know what to think of it…

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