Dungeon Sniper

The wind was strong so high up, almost knocking me over as soon as I planted both feet on the surface.

I was standing a hundred feet off the ground, on the ledge of the open roof of the coliseum. The giant Gate hovered in the sky above my head, but I had long stopped paying attention to the unnatural structure as soon as the first round of Colosseum Ultimatum had begun ten minutes ago.

I could feel the eyes of the ten thousand spectators from all six races staring at me, in awe and disbelief. I did not blame them: for the first time in the history of Colosseum Ultimatum, a champion took the fight away from the ground-level arena and expanded it out beyond the spectator seats.

It was quite a view, from where I stood, but I had a match to win.

My opponent, a Reptilina mage that looked like a beautiful woman from the waist up and like a giant snake waist down, was writhing and coughing inside a colorful 'miasma.'

I took out my longbow and carefully nocked the arrow.

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"So even if a champion runs away, the fight is not over?"

"The arena is just a convenient setting for the spectators to watch the fight. The entire Level One is the battlefield. Colosseum Ultimatum is a microcosmic war, after all."

"You're sure there's no penalty for running into the spectator seats, away from the arena floor?"

"Other than that you would look like a coward, no. The other champion can and will hunt you down and seek victory wherever, however."

"Good. I have an idea."

"Please do not run away. It will be disgraceful for me to have befriended a champion who ran away."

"I won't. I've got my own stakes, you know."

For the last five days, Baraka and I had been seeking particular animals that could grant me useful 'Skills.' I had even consulted with other Runnels, and we had all agreed it was best to avoid going for 'Perks.' Their rough understanding of how Critical Siphon worked, in turn, worried them enough for possible, unwanted outcomes.

"The way I understand it, you can't control the activation of Perks?" Janon had asked curiously.

"No. But it's not like they 'need' to be activated every time. They're just... there."

"The annoying thing that you do to make your voice echo, is that a Perk?" Dumont had asked, referring to my Reflect Voice.

"No, that's a Skill. I can control it."

"That means your inability to stop making inappropriate jokes must be a Perk then, right?"

"... No, that's just who I am."

"I was going to pity you for a second there."

"I don't need your pity, Dumont. Just your knowledge of animals around this area."

"Wait, Beta, this is a serious decision. You can't just go out and hoard all Skills and Perks animals give you. They're animals. You don't know what you're going to get."

"I know, Kev, that's why I've decided I would be aiming for the heads only. That way I only get Skills that I can actually switch on and off."

"I think that's smart."

"Thanks, Illisiv."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be around someone who eats his own poop for snack. Imagine getting a Perk like that."

"That's just sick, Dumont."

Everyone, including me, had clamored in unpleasantness.

"What? Almost all animals eat their feces to cover their tracks!"

"Yeah, I'll need more substantive intel than that."

We had talked for some more, but only Baraka and I had ended up going into the woods. Illisv had been busy taking care of the horses that would take us to the Colosseum-Beneath-the-Gate. That was its full name, but everyone just called it the Colosseum. Kevlon had had his own share of work helping the reconstruction of New Deltaris. Janon had spent many sleepless nights preparing the gear for my upcoming tournament. Dumont had been so eager to train me for melee fights, and when I had told him that I would be fighting in my style, he had not taken it well.

"While you're out hunting, siphoning, or whatever, I'll be here carving a boat that's going to be used for your funeral. Get it? Because you'll die for sure, the way you fight, or can't fight."

"Aww, Dumont, you're going to give me a Runnel's funeral? It's so touching that you've accepted me as one of your own."

Baraka and I had left the camp with the sound of Dumont's fl.u.s.tered, anguished cry. In my hand, I had held a list of twenty or so animals with potential game-breaker Skills.

It was not easy.

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Two weeks had passed, and the day of Colosseum Ultimatum had finally arrived. The Colosseum and the Gate were located at the northeastern-most of the Level One. The male Runnels and I rode on the strong, well-tended horses, courtesy of Illisiv. Elysia and others had left on their own from the Western Camp, or so I was told.

It was a full day's ride to the Colosseum, and along the way, we encountered some Dwarves and Goblins heading the same way. A sort of detente, or temporary truce, had been established for all races during the Colosseum Ultimatum so there was no actual conflict between races, but that did not mean everyone suddenly came to love each other.

"We will eat you alive, Elves!" croaked and jeered some Goblins we passed by.

"One of them is a human. That human!"

I could hear a malice in the Goblins' voice. So they knew about me and what I did to their southern brethren.

"We will tear off your t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e.s, Human!"

Typical Goblins.

"Wanna make a bet, lads? Ten gold that says the Dwarf champ will lose in the first round."

I almost fell off the horse at the comment.

"You're betting against your own champion?"

"Hey, I'm just being realistic," shrugged the Dwarf with the beer in his hand. Drunk traveling, all seven of them.

"Y'all the Runnels, no? How's the search for the Minetown Bomber going?" asked the other Dwarf.

As the diligent Illisiv murmured an evasive response, I furtively put back on the black scowl and covered my face.

By the time we had arrived, it was already nightbreak. But it seemed as if a city had been built around the Colosseum overnight. Thousands of camps were set up, with merry, excited crowd drinking and enjoying the night. I saw several Orc guards running patrol and breaking off any skirmish between different races, and sometimes within the same race. The campsites were segregated to prevent potential interracial fight, and so far, the night seemed playfully peaceful.

"Now you see why everyone's welcomed the renewal of Colosseum Ultimatum," said Kevlon satisfactorily as he got off the horse.

"I don't know. Is this what 'peace' really looks like?"

To me it seemed a buoyant, precarious, distracted peace.

"Maybe not. But it's the peace that we can have, for now."

I turned to Kevlon and others, who all got off their horses and stared at me expectantly.

"What?" I asked suspiciously.

"Beta, we know that you're an outsider, and that our 'tradition' is trifling and irrelevant to you."

"That's not it. It's just... I feel pressured, that's all."

"And we thank you, for sticking around and going through this, in spite of."

"What are you doing, Kev? You're making me uncomfortable."

"Just wanted to say good luck, and tell you to do your best."

"And try not to get killed," added Baraka.

"If you change your mind about the weapon lots, you know I'm here for you," said Janon, pointing to the large cargo, the portable arsenal, tied to a struggling horse.

"Avoid fighting at close-range. We all know you're a pathetic melee fighter, but they don't know it yet," said Dumont, with a hint of actual encouragement in his voice.

"Thanks guys, but why are you telling me this now? The tournament doesn't begin until the morning."

"This is where we part ways. The campsites are divided by races, and I'm sure Gart is already here to take you in—there he is."

I turned to where Kevlon pointed and saw Gart approaching us with an eager, merry smile. He seemed much better since the last time I had seen him.

"I, too, must join my brothers and sisters. For the next three days, I relinquish my duty as a Runnel and relish the fake, festive peace. I am looking forward to seeing you out there, Beta. I will be stymied if you are paired against Moniqa the Lioness."

"But you'll root for me, right, B?"

Baraka blinked and then smiled uncomfortably as he left.

The Elves parted ways as well, leaving me with Gart.

"Come, everyone's excited to have our champion join us for the evening."

I followed Gart, only to look over my shoulder at the already nostalgic backs of four Elves and an Orc.

I was dying to meet Elysia again tonight, but that chance was gone as well.

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Next morning, I was led by an officiating Orc to a room inside the Colosseum. I passed by the crowd entering the building to the raised seats as I went underground and into a room.

I could see a chair, small table, and Janon's aresnal cargo in the corner. No one else was inside. I was completely by myself.

"Hold up. What am I supposed to do here?" I stopped the Orc officiator from leaving.

"Wait for an announcement. I will come get you when your turn comes up."

"Can I have my friends brought over and wait together?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Tradition."

F.u.c.k tradition, I wanted to say, but the Orc was huge. Compared to him, Baraka could be considered 'bony.' Hey, I was reckless, but I knew place, especially when life and injury were at stakes.

"One last question. Why do you, the Orcs, run this place? Isn't that kind of—what's the word—oh, 'cheating?'"

"Orcs do not cheat. Orcs are fair and impartial."

"You don't have to show me your fists, okay, now I know it's a common thing for you guys to curl your fists when you speak emphatically—I get it. I believe you. Relax, please."

"Anything else?" growled the Orc.

I looked around the simple room. There was water, some dried fruits for snack, and a small door leading to a restroom.

"I'm good."

The Orc left with a grunt, not without a hint of annoyance and condescension. I flipped the finger, after the door was closed, of course.

So the tournament finally began. I sat on the chair and sighed nervously. I was conflicted. I hoped I faced Elysia in the first round before anyone could get to her. That way I could finish the fight without having her killed by others. But I was also reluctant to fight him. In the worst-case scenario, I lose and let Elysia advance, only to have her get killed by the more skilled, stronger champion in the second round, the semi-finals.

The Orc officiator came back half an hour later. I opened the door to let him in, but he stayed on the spot.

"Your first round match will be against a Reptil champion."

I nodded, feeling conflicted.

"And the match begins now."

"Now? You mean like, 'right now?'"

"Yes. Gear up, champion. I will escort you to the arena."

And so the honor of the first fight of the fist Colosseum Ultimatum after a decade of hiatus came to me.

I rummaged through Janon's comprehensive, thorough mini-arsenal and packed up according to the plan.

There was only 'one' plan, regardless of the opponent, so that part was easy.

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I walked out of the tunnel and stepped into the bright, open-roofed arena for the first time.

The place was deafening with shouts and chants. I was surrounded by the seemingly endless rows of ten thousand individuals of all six races staring down at me. The circular wall that separated the arena floor and the spectator seats stood at least ten feet tall, but I had already known about that. In fact, the height of the wall was one of the first questions I had asked my Runnel friends when I came up with the 'plan.'

All in all, it was an intimidating sight, but also arousing at the same time. The seats were also divided by races. Rows of different colors and attitudes swam and shook at the first match of the tournament.

It was only after I had completed the three-sixty-degree scan of my surrounding that I noticed my opponent standing across me.

Standing was a weird term, but there was no way to describe how 'she' was holding herself up.

From afar, she seemed like a monster. She 'slithered' closely as I approached the center tentatively.

"Holy shit."

I was not cursing at how grotesque she looked. Sure, she looked like a freak. No one told me Reptil females looked different from the males. And by different, they looked like different species. Male Reptils looked like muscular crocodiles walking on two feet. Female Reptils looked like half-Human above the torso and half-snake below.

And I was not sure if it was a universal thing, but this particular Reptilina looked so beautiful that almost made me dizzy. Not to mention that she was basically topless, with gold scales covering the t.i.t.s just barely, and very e.r.o.t.i.cally at that.

Nice.

She looked golden in every way except her hair, which was pitch black. Again, very s.e.xy and the color suited her. The only thing that was off was her eyes, which were the eyes of the snake with the vertically slit irises. But even that seemed charming, like an intentional blemish that only highlighted the otherwise perfect, seductive features of her face.

"First round, Beta of the Humans versus Laania of the Reptils!"

An Orc commentator bellowed so loudly that the entire colosseum reverberated with his deep voice as if an earthquake had passed. Then the crowd erupted, chanting the word 'fight' in all octaves and frequencies.

The fight had begun. I was inhaling deeply when I noticed that Laania was smiling (and I almost smiled back like a fool) while her delicate lips moved, silently and inaudibly.

The Premonition Perk made me jump backward, not knowing what she was doing.

A thunderbolt struck on the spot I had been standing just a second ago. Laania was still smiling like some snake goddess, but her beauty no longer felt mesmerizing.

It felt murderous.

I checked to see a burn mark on the dirt ground and a six-inch hole left by the thunder strike. Again, no one told me that I would be facing a freaking witch. Heck, I did not even know magic existed in this world.

And now I did.

Laania moved her lips again to intone another spell. But this time I was not going to stand idly appreciating her half-n.a.k.e.d upper body.

I took out the bottles filled with colorful—dangerously colorful—potions.

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"A smokescreen?" Janon had stared at me blankly at my request.

"What's with the look? You don't have any?"

"Not in stock. We rarely use smokescreens, and when we do need them, we order them from the Dwarves."

"Okay, well, better ask the Dwarves—"

"Is this for the tournament?" Janon had asked warily.

"No, Janon, it's not for the tournament. I need a smokescreen so I can get high huffing the fumes, of course it's for the tournament, what do you think?" I had snapped rather impatiently.

"Ooh. I don't know, Beta, the Dwarves are a pretty stingy bunch. And they know that you are a champion, and that we're helping you. I doubt they'll help us like that. Not until Colosseum Ultimatum is over."

"Come on, the Dwarves? They'd do anything to get some money and spend it on drinking beer."

"Hopefully, that's the case," Janon had kept his quizzical look.

We had asked Illisiv to ride to Minetown and get some smokescreens. Illisiv had come back three hours later, empty-handed.

"F.u.c.k.i.n.g Dwarves."

F.u.c.k.i.n.g Dwarves.

"What do you need the smokescreen for?" Kevlon had joined us inside Janon's arsenal tent and asked nonchalantly.

"Seriously? You're asking me what smokescreens are used for? It literally has one use. One."

"Let me get this straight. So you need something 'like' smokescreen, but not 'the' smokescreen?"

"Kevlon, in case you didn't notice, I've been super stressed the past few days and if you're here to play on words, I'm just going to say I'm going unleash full Alstair on you, and you'll get to play on all the words you want and are there."

"Please don't, and meanwhile, try to remember what I did with my expired potions at the streets of Deltaris."

"Those, you can get high on," Janon had chuckled restlessly.

Just before snapping again, I had remembered Kevlon throwing and dropping various (and toxic) potions to create gases that covered their tracks on the run. I had not been able to see it in person, but I had seen the Deltaris guards being sick and hospitalized in the aftermath. They had breathed in too much of the 'fumes.'

Everyone had said it had been quite a scene, colorful, giggly, so basically a giant psychedelic fest.

"I don't know, Kev, sounds too dangerous."

"Hey, smokes, fumes, they're pretty much the same. Trust me. I know my stuff."

Kevlon was wrong. Fumes were way more dangerous.

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I winced apologetically at Laania as I activated the Pouch Thrower Skill and threw the potions in a perfect arc. I was surprised to find the skill working so perfectly despite the potions being contained in vials, not pouches.

The unintentionally toxic potions flew and spilled right in front of Laania, who, like a snake, could not slither backward. As a result, she could only jolt as she found technicolor grenades landing in her face. The potions mixed and started to create a dangerous-looking cloud of fumes, blocking her view.

Now was my time.

I took out the composite bow and the grapple arrow, a signature item of Worra, and shot it over the ten-foot wall. I aimed it specifically at the Human seats. The Human crowd dispersed as I pointed the arrow toward their direction.

I grabbed the rope dangling at the eye height by the wall and began to climb.

[Skill activated: Crafty Climber - Level B]

I had gotten the Skill from a particularly nimble monkey in the woods. I prayed for his soul as I climbed the rope and ascended with ease and speed.

I climbed the wall in just a matter of seconds and pulled out another grapple arrow to shoot at the higher ledge—and I was knocked off my feet forward, crashing into the stone seats of the emptied spectator stand.

I turned and saw, with horror, Laania chanting the intonation... deliriously. Her eyes turned white and she was swaying sideways as she slithered out of the toxic fumes.

Whatever was inside the potions, it did not stop Laania. It only made her crazy.

Another ball of fire formed in front of Laania, and I quickly shot the grapple arrow and climbed higher.

The fireball narrowly missed the rope above my head. But the heatwave was enough for me to dangle dangerously by the rope.

I wanted to be far away from the opponent and be able to shoot down from above. But this particular opponent was also a ranged-attacker. Despite her unstable state and rolled-to-the-white eyes, Laania seemed capable of locating me.

I climbed the rope and shot another grapple arrow to the topmost ledge of the open roof. I was still thinking. There was no cover for me to snipe down Laania unseen, undetected. Besides, for all I knew, Laania was able to conjure up some powerful elemental spells, and I could imagine all too vividly my arrows getting swept by the small tornado she conveniently conjured with a few mouthful of words.

Laania was still swaying and writhing by the effects of the potions. Several spectators were chanting 'cheater' in my direction, booing me and throwing that fell way too short to reach me.

A hundred feet above the ground, I replaced the composite bow with the longbow and carefully nocked an arrow: a tranquilizer arrow. I aimed at Laania, a big enough target for me to hit without activating the Falcon Eye.

But I changed my mind and hung the longbow on the back again. I was, however, still holding the tranquilizer arrow.

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[Skill gained: Crafty Climber - Level B]

[Skill gained: Finger Toes]

[Skill gained: Monkey Shriek]

[Skill gained: Tail Maneuver - Level B]

"Look, Baraka, I can pick up things with my feet now."

"If you are going to impress me, picking up a wooden stick is not enough. At least try to shoot arrows with your feet, then I will applaud."

"I killed, what, twenty monkeys and this is all I get. The same thing happened with the Goblins. Skills run dry fast."

"Then go for the hearts."

"And grow tails out of my ass? No thanks."

For the first three days, Baraka and I had concentrated on hunting the monkey mobs. We had also encountered some herbivores, the fanged rabbits and the three-horned gazelles, but I had let them go without shooting in the heads.

"I believe growing fangs or horns would help with your miserable melee prowess—"

"I want to keep looking like a Human if I can."

"Humans are weak."

"Yes, B, you've told me already."

"I sense frustration in your voice, Beta."

"Wow, you think?"

"I also sense sarcasm. I have told you Orcs do not like sarcasm."

Aaand there was the fist curling again.

"Sorry, but it's just that I'm beginning to think this may not work after all. I mean, no matter how many Skills I hoard, I'll only get as strong as... some monkeys."

"Monkeys are quite strong. Pure packs of muscles, those rascals are. Certainly stronger than puny Humans like yourself."

"Yes, but they also have the brain of a three year-old Goblin."

"That is unfair. Monkeys are obviously more intelligent than the Goblins."

Baraka and I had laughed for a few seconds, and then I had fallen into a sullen mood again.

Baraka had started to look around the serene woods and spotted a bird. Small, blue, and carefree.

"We have not hunted any bird, have we?"

"Nope. No bird on the list."

Baraka had nodded toward a lone, nonchalant blue birdie.

"Shoot it."

I had seen the bird as well and shaken my head at the sight.

"Are you kidding? How can I kill something so adorable?"

"Monkeys are adorable.

"Yeah, in a way, but they were also kind of annoying, flashing their butts to taunt at us."

"Also stroking their p.e.n.i.ses."

"Damn it, B, I really didn't want to picture that again."

"Still adorable, I found them."

"And I know you also found them tasty, the way you devoured them all. Anyway, I find that bird lovely, and I'll not kill something just for fun."

"Come now, Beta, the bird may yield a useful Skill. Land an arrow on its tiny head."

"Are you still confused how Skills and Perks work? Head yields a Skill, not a Perk like growing horns or wings."

"I am confused no more. I suggest you siphon a Skill from the little bird."

"What could the little bird possibly have that can help me? Spot worms from distance?"

Despite the whining, I had raised the bow and aimed at the small blue bird's head.

I had expected absolutely nothing.

[Skill gained—

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I stared down at the unstable Laania and made a decision. She did not seem like she could conjure a magic storm to ward off an arrow any time. She, however, was conjuring lightning and fireballs constantly in my direction, testing range and intensity as the attacks crept up slowly and but steadily to where I stood.

I had all the time to shoot down the arrow if I wanted. At the same time, I did not think I was capable of controlling the power and distance to land the tranquilizer safely without killing her.

I had long decided not to kill anyone at the tournament. I participated to save Elysia, and to proclaim that purpose while killing off other champions felt ironic, wrong. If I came across a Goblin or Dwarf champion, my resolve would have been tempted more than, say, killing a beautiful half-n.a.k.e.d snake lady, but my mind was made up now. Killing a champion in the first fight of the first round could create a momentum and tip other champions to go on a killing spree. I wanted to avoid that at all cost.

The Gate... the Gate could wait. My priorities were set.

So I took a stance and resolved to do my best, my way.

I took a leap of faith.

No, literally, I jumped off the ledge, but not before I 'connected' some cloth parts over and on my black Runnel outfit.

[Skill activated: Wind Reader]

[Skill activated: Aerodynamics Artistry - Level B]

The free fall only lasted for a second. Mid-air, I spread my arms, revealing the product of Janon's countless, sleepless, but ecstatic nights.

Acquired:

Wind-resistant Glider Suit

It was a wingsuit, basically, with resilient flaps between the arms and the torso and also between the legs.

I flew over the shocked faces of the crowd, but my eyes were fixed on one of the thousands of strands of air currents, the wind road which had become all too visible to my eyes now.

I glided down gracefully at the speed of the wind past the hazed Laania and grazed the tranquilizer arrow against her smooth, scaly arm.

The five-second flight had ended, and the Colosseum was still silent.

I was tearing up, thinking I could use a goggle to protect my eyes from the upwind next time.

And then the crowd erupted.