[NR] Shattered Spear - Chapter 472

After the exciting discovery of water vampire lollipop plants, the group continues onward finding more and more nonsense. Vines growing straight out from the sides of the walls that use the strength from being able to do so to wrap up prey. What looked like small clouds covering the ceiling, but was actually collections of algae like plants as far as the group could tell. Even some flora that looked like wagon wheels which used roots to slowly roll around so as to extract whatever little nutrients it could find in the rock and debris.

Though soon enough it became hard to even tell what was what as the plants covered more and more of the tunnel. And that was even after the tunnel expanded outward by about three times the original size to accommodate more of the stuff. Though ironically this mess of plant life actually made it easier to find the tardigroids.

Sure, the group had to wander back and forth, following the trails that had been cleared, but those trails  were where the monsters were. No sneaky hidden behind a corner or below the line of sight nonsense anymore. While the foliage got thicker, it was never bad enough that the party couldn’t see the next group of enemies coming up well in advance. Nevermind the fact that large groups tended to create clearings and thus stood out even more.

Then came the eighth floor. The group knew this was when traps would be introduced. They knew that the traps would be crude and to watch out for even simple things. That didn’t stop them from falling for the very first one on the floor.

See, the problem was that in the later parts of the seventh floor, vines and various other bits of plants had started to grow across even the clearings. This lowered their guard against such things after more than a few battles that forced them to step on those vines and leaves. That led directly to them missing one vine that stretched across their path in a straighter than not path.

So, Jason stepped on that vine and right away there was a noise similar to when you stretched a tree limb back and released it. Except this wasn’t a tree limb waving back and forth. Instead, a rough wooden spear screamed out of a nearby bush.

Jason didn’t even have enough to react. The rough wood spear pierced through his leather jerkin like it wasn’t even there and then shattered against his right shoulder. This knocked him to the ground in quite the convincing fashion and sent him into a short roll.

Rosha is about to rush over when Courtney stops her and points at the ground. While the vine Jason had stepped on was now limp. They couldn’t be sure there weren’t other traps. Then with great care, Courtney made her way over to Jason who by the time she got to him, had sat up.

Jason rolled his shoulder and groaned before taking off the beginners rabbit leather jerkin as well as the undershirt and sighed. “I guess this thing isn’t of much use anymore. Maybe I should ditch the helmet as well.”

Courtney frowns at him while inspecting his shoulder. “You’re just lucky that your skin is apparently tougher than leather. Though maybe not as it looks like the skin on your shoulder cracked like glass from that strike. This is going to take a lot to heal.”

Jason, “Meh, quicker than healing a hole directly through my shoulder. Give me enough time and stuff like that won’t even phase me.”

Rosha laughs, “Don’t get cocky about that! You aren’t the only person out there with tough skin. Whether it is Defense stacking, massive amounts of Toughness, or Qi there are a ton of options and just as many to beat it. I’ve already gotten a skill to handle piercing and don’t think I didn’t notice that the very first attack skill you seem to have stumbled on has a similar effect tacked on.”

Jason shrugs his undamaged shoulder, “I’m sure it won’t just be my skin that will get tougher next time.”

Rosha rolls her eyes, “Well I guess only having the options will work on you then. Don’t forget, there are literal animated piles of rocks out there that people have to fight and golems made of metal. You’re just a human with human weak points. Even if you made yourself as tough as steel all the way through I would rather fight you than an earth elemental. At least I would know where your heart is and that blood loss would eventually catch up to you.”

Jason laughs, “Well then I’ll just have to remove those weak points, won't I? Not that I’m easy to bleed out in the first place.”

Courtney sighs, “That is besides the point right now. While it might not be as bad as having a spear stuck through your shoulder, this isn’t good. It is like someone took a knife to you and tried to carve something into you. How much damage did this even do?”

Jason takes a look at the damage and lets out a dark laugh, “Well, that could have been bad. Knocked me down 98 points there. That is over a quarter of my health! Good thing I could handle it and that it didn’t hit Lily.”

Courtney shakes her head, “Lily would have been safe since she is in the harness space. I don’t know what you did to get that, but she is likely safe from anything in this dungeon while in there. That is just for this dungeon though. Don’t let your guard down because outside you never know what you might be facing.

“Anyway, given how much defense you must have and how tough your skin is, I’m not afraid to admit that I would have died if I took that spear to my torso like you did. It may have even been a bit touch and go if it hit a limb. So, with that in mind and with how long it will take to heal this, we need to figure out how to handle the traps as they’re a lot more serious than I was expecting.”