A Gamer Into Trails

Surprise wild book cover change!

With attention now shifting from Renne to Tio, I decided to change it up a bit. I do not own the cover, if you want it taken down just ask!

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

Outside of Crossbell City.

Mainz Tunnel Entrance.

2PM.

Three figures walked along the man-made bridge that connected the Mainz Tunnel to the rest of the Mainz Mountain Path. Loud sounds of crashing water struck against their eardrums. It wasn't too loud, and it was steady. There was a beautiful waterfall crashing down to the group's right. Droplets of water would splash onto the bridge. It was still winter, and thanks to the flowing waterfall nearby, it made the air in the atmosphere around the group especially crisp and cold.

Cold breaths of air escaped from their lips with each step they took. Thankfully the bridge wasn't long. There was even an orbal light placed in the middle of it to ward off monsters. There were many criss-crossing paths that one could easily get lost in, and they could fight monsters there if they so desired.

Naoto did have an initial interest in hunting a monster or two along the way, but by the time he explained everything and got Tio properly equipped, another hour had already passed. It was two o'clock in the afternoon. He needed to be back in Crossbell City by 5PM at the Harbor District, where the Heiyue Branch Office was currently situated.

Naoto did have an interest in striking a deal with Heiyue. He wanted to see if he could get his hands on one of those elusive invitations to the Schwarze Auction. This auction was a black-market auction meant for classy individuals, higher-ups in government agencies, and nobles alike. As long as you had the mira for it, that is. The next known one is set to happen in S1204 when Lloyd infiltrates it, but it was S1200 presently. More than likely, a Schwarze Auction is due sometime soon. Naoto wanted to go for the experience, and see if he could acquire any goods out of it. Goods that he couldn't normally come across.

"Looks like we made it. You sure it's fine heading all the way here without some practice beforehand?", Lechter asked me. We could now see a large tunnel that was lit up. The main path continued inside of it, and lurking darkness stretched deeper inside.

"Yeah. I can only use a couple more hours at most here. I was going to let Tio fight a monster before arriving, but the Instance Dungeon should suffice. I'm sure we'll fight plenty of monsters inside. Do not forget we need to take down those worms after clearing the dungeon. We might find them inside the dungeon too.", I nodded.

Adding to that, it was unfortunate, but we did not come across a single treasure chest. I haven't seen any treasure chest for that matter, no matter what place or area I went to. Not a single one existed. I half-expected as such, considering this wasn't the games. These treasure chests would give the player Quartz, Master Quartz, Weapons and Armor, Sepith, and Items. Those were the most common drops, anyways.

On the other hand, my Gamer System does have the ability to create Instance Dungeons. It's very possible we'll find treasure chests inside them, and not in the outside world. I'll be very curious to see if such a thing happens.

"Either way, Tio is prepared. How do we enter the dungeon?", Tio wondered. This was still both new to Tio and Lechter. They haven't been as exposed to the Gamer System like me. Tio looked around the entrance of the tunnel and back toward the bridge we just crossed. The waterfall behind us also appeared normal. Nothing was pixelated. Everything around us just appeared normal.

"Easy. Just follow me.", I answered Tio. I didn't have to do anything fancy to enter the Instance Dungeon. The last time, it just spawned around us, but this time, we had to approach it from a distance. If I used one of those keys, more than likely it would warp us directly inside them. In response to this, the three of us saw another blue screen appear in our view.

[Ding! You have arrived at the Mainz Tunnel - Level 10 Instance Dungeon. Proceed to enter?]

A single prompt appeared before us, asking a single question of whether we wanted to answer. It even had the Yes or No selection beneath the question. Seeing as it was presented to all three of us, I mused at that. This was my first experience in doing a party Instance Dungeon. Does that mean all three of us have to select it to enter?

"Looks like we all need to select Yes to enter it.", I answered the two. Without hesitation, I reached out my left hand, and tapped the screen, selecting Yes.

Seeing me do this, Tio and Lechter followed suit. They both pressed Yes.

[Ding! Gamer Naoto's Party has chosen to enter the Instance Dungeon. Now warping Party Members...]

"Eh?", I uttered.

"What did it mean by warp---?", Tio also tried to ask me.

Lechter's eyes turned wide as he saw mine and Tio's body started shining with a bright glow. Just like how you would move around with those warp monuments in Phantasma, my body distorted into nothingness. Tio followed suit. Before Lechter could do anything, he saw his own person glow in that same bright light.

All of a sudden, the three of us warped out of existence. Following that, the same thing happened when I set Tio as the Party Member. Pixelated cubes spread out all around the nearby surrounding, in the reverse direction this time. It was as if it was returning the atmosphere to normal.

As that happened, the three of us quickly materialized back into existence, ending the warping. It didn't take long for more notifications to follow suit.

[Ding! You have entered the Instance Dungeon.]

"Is everyone alright?", I said, getting a good look at Tio and Lechter. They appeared normal.

"That was unexpected. Did we just move several arge forward?", Lechter wondered.

"That seems to be the case. And...", Tio answered, only to turn backwards. We were warped to the entrance of Mainz Tunnel. There was just one slight problem.

A big, black and foggy cloud could now be seen behind us. We couldn't see the outside.

Lechter frowned seeing this black cloud lurking around.

"Did this thing seriously say we can't retreat now?", Lechter complained.

"No. It did say we can still retreat from the Instance Dungeon if we need to. But if we do that, we'll forfeit the clear rewards. I'm guessing this fog is meant so no one can disturb us in this place.", I said, wondering that to myself. Does that mean people won't be able to look into what we do during Instance Dungeons?

Will the Vermillion Trials behave similarly? Part of what made the Infernal Castle an amazing sequence was the reactions it had from its surroundings. What would happen if that gets blocked?

Something to ponder.

As I thought that, I saw Tio's ears perk up. She immediately turned around again, and her gaze shifted toward further inside the mine tunnel.

"Monsters coming at our six o'clock!", Tio yelled, quickly turning around again to our front. She was often one of the first people in a party to detect when monsters came into view. That's where her enhanced senses came into play. If Tio called Lechter a walking lie detector and me a walking orbal computer, then Tio would be a walking sonar radar, haha!

Joking aside, Lechter spoke out, seeing as we were now in the Mainz Tunnel.

"No rest for the weary eh?", Lechter said. He observed two small figures rapidly approaching us. It didn't take long to start hearing some 'Shashasha' noises. Two spider-like monsters came into view. Each one had six legs, and a very large abdomen that had a spiky tip, pointed upwards. It was mostly brown. Two large sacs could be seen atop their faces, likely to be venomous.

In response, Tio actually let out a sigh of relief.

"It's just two Mottled Killers. They aren't the red versions. Those are much more deadly.", Tio explained.

"Think you can handle it, Tio?", I asked her.

"Mmm.", Tio nodded. Already acting as if it was natural for her, Tio brandished her Orbal staff. A bluish glow appeared beneath her feet. It looked like she was casting a spell, but not in this case.

"Arts activate...", Tio uttered, becoming focused and concentrated. She raised her staff upward, letting the blue glow continue swirling around her body. The moment Tio brandished her staff, the blue glow intensified, signaling that she was receiving some buffs, likely from her orbal staff. She didn't even need to hold down on her Combat orbment and drag her finger across her quartz lines. She just simply activated an Art as if it was as easy as breathing air.

"Guess we'll leave the kiddo to it then. These spiders can be a bit nasty. They're quick too. Easy to catch someone off-guard. Be ready to help alleviate poison if the kiddo gets caught inside their breath.", Lechter said to me.

"Of course. And don't butt in unless Tio's in a pinch, got it?", I said to Lechter.

"Roger-roger!", Lechter confirmed. The two of us jumped back a bit, parting ways from Tio. She used this moment to cast an Art. I am not sure if she has already casted Arts before, but at the very least, it looks like she's used to it. Hopefully she'll manage to hit her first target.

Seeing Tio occupied with casting an Art, I used this moment to observe one of the two brown spiders.

'Display Monster Info: Mottled Killer.', I thought to myself.

I could have only displayed this in my mind, but seeing as we were in a Party, I decided to use the Gamer System to prompt a blue screen before me. An image of the same brown spider appeared on the blue screen that appeared before me. This immediately drew Lechter's gaze.

"This...", Lechter uttered, beginning to read the spider's info, as did I.

[Mottled Killer]

Level: 5

HP: 500/500 STR: 35 DEF 30

ATS: 0 ADF: 20 SPD: 20

Element Efficacy:

 Earth: 100%

 Water: 125%

 Fire: 175%

 Wind: 100%

EXP: 300

Mountainous spiders that lurk around Crossbell City's elevated regions. Its spit contains a deadly poison. Possesses a high chance of inflicting poison with its breath. Stronger variants of these spiders are known for their swift and fast deathblows.

'It's really like the games...eh?', I mused. And it was a level 5 right off the bat. Thankfully Tio was up for the challenge. Lechter's eyes remained on the monster's info, as I continued reviewing Tio's updated stats. I also had a quick peek at her Researcher Staff. It was a growth weapon, and sure enough, it did have a couple of special effects, just like how mine were. Is that why Tio's blue glow around her body intensified once the battle began?

[Tio Plato]

Level 1: 0/100

HP: 300/300 EP: 400/400

STR: 75 DEF: 50 ATS: 220 (+10%)

ADF: 60 SPD: 30 DEX: 50

[Combat Orbment:]

Slot 1: Mind II.

[Crafts]

 -Analyze

 -Beam Zanber

[Arts]

 -Aqua Bleed

 -Tear

[Equipment]

 Weapon: Researcher Staff

[Researcher (Orbal Staff) - Rank A - Growth Type Lv1 (0/100]

 (STR: 25, ATS: 100 SPD: 10 DEX: 10 EP: 200)

 -Special Effect 1: Water Efficacy % increases by 100%.

 -Special Effect 2: When battle begins, grant ATS Battle Buff 25%, Duration: 5 minutes.

[Aqua Bleed] Element: Water

 Skill Power: 100%

 Attack Range: One Target

 EP Cost: 10