Chapter 72 - Counter-Attack

Running across the wall, jumping from [Tether] to [Tether] was tiring, even with the venom debuff already gone. This little stunt had cost him a [Greater Mana Regeneration Potion], [Mana Potion] and [Minor Stamina Potion].

Looking down, Max decided it was all worth it. A great swarm, like a skittering black sea, churned below him. One screw-up with a [Tether] would mean a horrible, horrible death of being eaten alive by ravenous bugs.

But the bugs were not great climbers and they were sufficiently single-minded for the plan to work.

Max had been running along the corridors and swinging around the walls for a good hour now. The swarm at his feet was enough to fill a living room floor. Maybe two or three thousand of those toxic fat beetles were following him. It was hard to say accurately, because it was still very dark.

Max thought it was enough for his plan. He would take the enemy by surprise when they were their most tired.

Max decided it had to be enough. He didn’t want to waste time. So now he was making his way back to the stairway to ascend back to the second floor, where he would retrieve Maverick.

It took some effort for the bugs to get through the staircase. The steps weren’t steep, but the beetles weren’t terrific climbers either. Their violent hunger seemed to drive them on, and that was good enough for Max.

Now I just need to avoid the traps.

He saw a few immediately. That [Trapper] had not gone back to sleep. There was one very close to the staircase. Not a tripwire this time, but a rope trap, half-concealed in rubble. They had suspected Max had gone down.

Or they’re just covering their bases.

Max made sure he had enough Mana to play at being Dungeon Spiderman, and hopped up to a wall. The bugs climbed over each other, snapping their ugly maws, but they quickly gave up. But as single minded as they were, they kept following, if Max just kept low enough. That would be a problem if there were sentries, but it was too late for a plan-B.

Maverick was in his hibernation, but Max could still sense where he was. Not far. He wasn’t moving either, so either they had put him on a table or someone who slept or sat still was holding on to the gun. It didn’t matter. Max would get back his little buddy.

The enemy hadn’t moved the camp, but they had the sense to not have a fire this time. Max actually preferred that. Having been so long in the darkness, his eyes had developed a decent measure of darkvision. He could see the outlines of two lizards keeping watch.

They saw Max coming too late.

“The enemy is here!” One of them shouted as the other one ran off, probably to make sure everyone was awake.

Max grinned to himself. The remaining lizard pulled two swords out of their scabbards and prepared for Max who was closing the distance.

Max lightened his body and when he got close enough, he attached a number of [Tethers] of the pulling kind to himself and the enemy. Max zoomed past the air and landed knee first on the enemy’s head. The lizard yelped and fell. Max figured he had done an alright amount of damage with that move, but he wouldn’t stay to finish the job. He didn’t have to.

As Max ran forward into the darkness he could hear the skitter and hiss behind him as the simple-minded monsterbugs found new, easier prey. The lizard behind Max screamed in horror as the beetles swarmed him.

Max didn’t have the presence of mind to attach himself back to the walls, so he ran into a trap. A simple one with rocks falling. He managed to get out of the way of most of them, but a flash of red was his confirmation of failure.

He cussed to himself. The 50 odd damage he had taken wasn’t the problem. The problem was that the [Trapper] had his location now. Max smirked to himself. That problem was greatly mitigated by the swarming wave of monstrous insects attacking their camp. The [Trapper] simply wouldn’t have time for Max.

Still, Max figured it was best to turn back. First of all it would be a great place to hide, right above their camp. Secondly, it would do him well to observe the enemy, so he would know if they survived the attack and how many were left.

The problem was that it was a risky move. Max was mostly out of Mana. He still had a bit over 200 left, and while he did have potions, he’d rather not use them. While using [Tether] as extensively as he did, Max had noticed that his Mana regenerated quite a bit slower when he had a spell active.

Eh. It’s still the best choice to stay and watch. If they notice me I’ll drink a [Mana Potion] and escape.

So Max found a nice spot in the shadows and watched the show. The bugs were relentless and the lizards were absolutely not prepared for this. Four of the lizards faced a horrible death and went soon limp when the bugs reached them. The smarter lizards ran. Max found himself enjoying his machinations. Then he realized he had pretty much taken a page out of the Stranger’s playbook and his mood soured some.

If only that rabid fool had used his talents for this.

But soon the shouts of the lizards became more and more distant. Max listened very carefully. A stray scuttle was to be heard here and there. The disgusting crunch of flesh being eaten by the bugs that had sated their predatory instincts.

Most importantly, Max could feel [The Maverick] close by, still as pond water. The escaping lizards hadn’t grabbed him.

Tentatively Max dropped down from the wall. He was going to make the world record in using [Gravity Well] if the bugs happened to decide they were still looking for sport. Fortunately it did not come to that, but Max passed the corpses swirling with black very, very carefully.

He couldn’t help but to smile. This had been a success. It was time to get back his buddy.