Jer Patch
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Chapter 51: Midnight Wanderings
🕑 Added 2025-04-07 14:00:04 +0000 UTC“You did need to sleep,” said Noseen from somewhere near my right shoulder.
I blinked several times, trying to figure out what was happening. The tent was gone, and I lay on a bed of grass, staring at a bright blue sky without a cloud in sight.
“I’m dreaming…”
“Of course,” he buzzed. “I didn’t want anyone listening in on this. You’ve been busy becoming less squishy, and your timing was perfect for completing that professional dungeon.”
I opened my mouth to thank him for the compliment, when a rush of memories from both dungeons rapid-fired in front of my eyes. It took a few seconds for me to focus after that.
“From your memories, it looks like you did well.”
I sat up, staring at the green forest surrounding us, then noticed the campfire with the logs surrounding it.
It was the freaking campsite from the dungeon. I wanted nothing else to do with this dungeon. Especially since it wouldn’t help my family.
“So, why did we land here?” I asked, wanting the truth.
Noseen chuckled.
The sound sent shivers down my spine.
“Good to see you are still smart.” The mosquito appeared on the grass next to me, somehow bigger than before. This time I spotted armor plating covering his body, and extra razor-thin wings on his back. Multiple glittering black eyes stared at me, almost reminding me of the spiders.
“Lenna is correct about fighting an enemy ranked higher than you,” he said before pausing dramatically. “Normally it's not done, but you're not the only hungry one in these parts looking to level. A target such as this doesn't come up very often on this planet, given its low overall rankings.”
He needed to get to the point.
“Why this one? What makes it special?”
He glared at me.
“It didn't become a citizen, so it didn't increase its intelligence like the Raptor.” He paused, with all those black eyes staring at me again, like he waited for me to say something.
“You mean I can beat it because it's not thinking. Or, at least, not coming up with strategies based on how I fight.”
“Exactly, it is only a beast.” His words came out like he tasted something disgusting. “That gives you a chance to take out a higher-ranked creature.”
“Okay, so back to this location. What's up?” I fiddled with a piece of grass between my fingers. It felt real.
“You should take a walk and find out.”
My head snapped up as everything ripped and then vanished.
I jerked awake in the canvas tent, back in my bedroll, and I resisted swearing at the bug.
Several people slept soundly, based on the snores I heard, and I silently exited, grabbing my backpack with my now clean armor and boots, which lay on top. Mentally, I thanked Sang and Cass for coming through.
The fire still burned, and Abby quietly sat on a log next to it.
“I wondered if you'd get up,” she said, as she pulled a metal pot away from the edges of the fire. “I have some food for you.”
My stomach growled at her words, and I moved closer before setting my backpack and armor down. Then, I sat near her, pulling on my boots. The two holes were plugged with some black substance, but when I touched it, the plugs felt like a good seal.
Abby held out a spoon, which I took.
Then I lifted the lid off the pot, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. It was an actual stew, with carrots and potatoes. Plus some sort of meat.
I didn't say a word as I blew on a spoonful before eating it. It was tasty, tasty lava. It reminded me of the last night in the colony, before I’d headed off with John. This time, Abby didn’t need to sneak me extra food. Such a difference.
Bugs fluttered around the fire as I finished the stew.
“You are a goddess,” I said, as I set the empty pot off to the side.
Abby chuckled in the firelight. “I'm happy to see you're still the same you.”
“Of course I am.” I leaned back, looking at the stars and the moon cresting above the trees. “I've just gained levels.”
“We don't know how that changes people.”
“I think it gives us an opportunity to become whomever we want.” I hesitated, but continued, “If someone turns out to be a jerk, that will come out as they level and evolve their skills. The levels didn’t cause that, they were always a jerk. Classes just help describe who we are.”
Though, being honest, if I had power like Noseen, I wouldn’t mind.
“What does that say about me then?”
“You mean your sentinel class?” I asked, sitting up and looking at her. “What does it do?”
“I can create shields and tank hits,” she mumbled, staring into the fire.
“That's perfect for you.” I almost clapped my hands but resisted. “Think about it. You protect others and let them get work done.”
Her eyes flickered to me.
“You cook and take care of people you care about. Adopting those who need someone on their side. Your class is such a reflection of you and how awesome you are.” Fighting with someone like her had to be amazing. I wanted to see it so bad.
Abby's eyes watered, and she wiped them, sniffling.
I leaned back to stare at the sky. The stars shone so brightly overhead, making me think about my own class. I frowned a little before focusing on the real reason I was awake right now. I needed to go on a walk, and I wasn't sure how long we had till daybreak.
“I'm gonna take a walk and stretch my legs.”
“Mary's on watch, but her shift should be ending soon,” she said with a glance at the tents.
“I'll keep an eye out,” I said standing. My armor didn’t take long to get on, and I tossed my backpack into my inventory. Then with a wave, I picked a direction and headed out.
The crystals marking the perimeter hummed especially loud in the back of my mind as I stepped past them. I'd easily find my way back, that was for sure.
It took getting away from them to be able to really stretch my senses without being distracted. Then I felt it.
Noseen, you tricky bug.
A grouping of crystals lay not too far away, and I quickly headed in their direction, looping around the campsite.
The bright moonlight made it easy to see in the dark, and the tall trees were spaced a little farther apart here. It reminded me of a different type of forest from Earth but I couldn’t remember the name. It sat on the tip of my tongue, teasing me.
The trees had more needles and giant pine cones. Lots of short underbrush was around, but several trails were clear, winding through the woods. This place was well-traveled by large pack animals.
I stopped a few times to make sure nothing moved in the forest so I wouldn’t be surprised by anything. My prey sense felt a few things, far away, but they didn’t move and they weren’t in the direction I traveled.
Then I came to a freaking cliff.
“You’re mocking the fact that I don’t have wings,” I whispered to my shoulder. Yet, there didn’t come a response. I waved my hand over the area where he usually rested, but nothing. Maybe he wasn’t with me.
Why couldn't I have freaking wings?
Halfway up the cliff, from a crack in the rock, silver light glimmered, almost like a night light.
And right next to that sat a nest with a sleeping creature, one I recognized.
[Pterodactyl, level 45, Predator, Tasty.]
No wonder he’d wanted to stop here. I'd gain experience, and get my hands on some air crystals.
With a sigh, I stared at the cliff face, trying to find a path up. Several areas highlighted as ways to climb up to the nest. From there, I'd be able to reach the air crystals.
Up I went, yet again climbing a freaking cliff face.
This one wasn't as vertical as the last, and I could rest my body on the cliff race to reduce the weight on my hands and feet. My heart pounded as I crept upward, and I didn't look anywhere but directly in front of me for the next placement.
My fingers grabbed onto a rock which crumbled into bits that slowly tumbled down the cliff race, and I froze.
The pattering of each pebble bouncing its way down felt loud.
I stared up at the nest, waiting.
After a few moments, I let out a shallow breath and found a different handhold to keep making progress. I didn't pause again until I reached the cliff edge, beneath and to the right of the nest. The flier was completely out of my vision. I only dared to rest a few seconds before pulling myself higher up the rock.
Time ticked by as the moon traveled closer to the horizon.
The flier rested upright, with its head tucked under a wing, smack dab in the center of the nest. There weren't any eggs.
Slowly, I climbed to the right, keeping my feet away from the broken branches of the nest. One foot I set down on a rock without a sound. The next I couldn't find a spot for, so I revised my plan and climbed higher on the cliff.
Each movement was as slow and quiet as possible. Given that if it lifted its head, it couldn’t miss me, I really didn’t want to wake it up.
I found a narrow crack to wedge my foot into fifteen feet higher than the flier. Balancing on one foot didn't turn out to be that hard. The growth in my stats helped. I pulled my knife from my belt and extended it into a spear. Claws grew from the knuckles on my left hand as I flexed, still gripping the rock.
I had one shot. I didn't dare miss. There wasn't anyone to distract it as I pushed off the rock.
The air didn't have time to really rush past me before my spear jammed into the upper back of the flier. It stretched out at least three feet longer to do so, surprising me. It put the extension of my class to shame.
Then the rest of me hit as the Pterodactyl screamed. It tried to snap out with that wing, but it barely moved. I dangled from its back, gripping my spear, which was still lodged inside the creature.
Its beak twisted over its shoulder right at me. Too close to dodge.
I let go, sliding down its back, digging in with my claws, leaving massive gashes all the way down.
Blood dripped from the wounds as I yanked my hand free, landing on the nest only to be knocked back by a wing as it turned to face me.
The beak slammed into me, shattering something in my shoulder as I regained my footing. I yanked on the energy within the healing crystal around my neck as I clawed at its eye, now in range of my left hand. The cooling energy from the crystal fixed whatever had broken.
The Ptero jerked its head back, flickering blood everywhere. It jumped up, flapping its wings, but I leaped with the devourer tooth now in my right hand. I slammed it into the giant flier’s chest, knocking it back.
It stumbled backward as its feet caught the edge of the nest. Then it tumbled over the edge and out of sight.
My heart pounded as a thud echoed from below.
[You have gained bonus experience from combat for surviving against a level 45 Pterodactyl.]
[You have leveled your class.]
[You have leveled your class.]
[You have leveled your class.]
I did it.
Fliers weren’t so bad, as long as you grounded them.
I let out a sigh, leaning back and staring at the silver light coming from the crystals. While I still needed to remove them, my spear, and tooth were below. Thinking fast, I glanced at the crystal bracelet around my wrist.
Clapping came from below, making me pause.
