BXBX NOVEL Chapter 28: A Hidden Room (2)
Chapter 28: A Hidden Room (2)
Upon entering the room, Jake crumbled into his Joker Form and raised his bow, resting his arrow on the arrow rest he had carved on his wooden bow.
It was one of the modifications he had done inspired by the modern bows from his master's club.
This was one of the prerequisites to the recent quest Jake had received from Richard, meaning that Jake was only one tree short from receiving the steel knife to enhance his crafting progress and skills.
The arrow rest helped his weapon's precision, a good and convenient bonus.
'It's dark... and I haven't seen anyone yet,' Jake analyzed as he confirmed his safety.
Appearing in the room where darkness reigned, Jake couldn't make out anything but his hands. Even his bow seemed to have disappeared in the darkness, which wasn't terrible as it meant his arrows would be the same. The only problem would be their whistles, but Jake didn't bother thinking this far as the opponent had yet to make himself clear.
'Am I in the corridor to the room, or have I appeared in the room directly? Should I risk taking out a torch and lighting it up?' Jake questioned.
He couldn't see himself progressing in the darkness, let alone fighting, so he bet on whatever was in the room not to make any assault attack on him. That said, if Jake were to die, he would return soon enough.
'I'll go with the torch and at least get some info,' Jake decided.
He knelt on his one knee and carefully put down his bow on the ground. Opening his system meticulously, Jake clicked on his inventory and silently took out a torch and a small stick.
With his skill, Richard's Survival Kit, and high dexterity, Jake believed he could start a fire without any problem. The room wasn't cold or warm, so he was confident in his calculations.
Once he stuffed the stick between his palms as though he wanted to clap it, Jake began rubbing his hands together, creating so much friction that sparks flew before him.
At last, his torch lit up in flames, staving darkness off him.
Jake stood up with the torch's handle clenched in his right hand and extended it forward.
'Looks like a cave,' Jake thought as he could only spot rocks.
But he could make up some ancient writings plastered on the rocky ground when he looked below. They were old and wasted by time, but Jake didn't think their use had worn off.
It wouldn't have been a hidden room with a teleportation had those writings been useless.
[You have stored The Harbinger Of The Archer in your inventory.]
Since no threat had come out yet, Jake stuffed his bow in the inventory and took a few steps forward.
On his way forth, he made out two pillars on the sides on which ancient writings seemed to have been sprinkled with anti-time abstergent, as the writings were as though written just recently with dense ink.
The pillars and the cave were small as Jake could lift his torch and splash its light onto the ceiling.
Jake was compelled to stop a few steps ahead as he noticed an eagle in the middle of the cave. The eagle was black with an eye-catching white beak that seemed brittle and valuable.
It wasn't of an adult eagle size, but it also was not that small—it could have been said it was of a perfect size to perch on a human adult's shoulder. It slept on its two legs with its beak low.
[Ender, The Eagle Of Darkness,(Legendary Boss) Lv. ??? HP:??? MP:???]
'Only Richard had his stats hidden from me until now... can I even defeat this eagle?' Jake thought.
That was when the ancient writings lit up in white, brightening every corner of the cave. Jake momentarily became blinded by the light as his eyes had been used to the darkness.
When he could open them again, he was compelled to look at the eagle spreading its wings wide. Its eyes were no longer closed, and now the indignant black eyes pierced Jake.
That, however, wasn't the most surprising part.
The eagle screeched, and its voice reached Jake's mind.
[HUMAN TRAITOR!]
It was a male voice that sounded deep and profound despite his fury. Such a voice would be able to instill glory into anyone and be used for voice acting for the best games and movies!
Well, Jake was in the game!
The eagle took off and hung close to the ceiling.
At this point, Jake could feel that he was pretty much not welcome there. The eagle's killing intent could have also been felt, as Jake got goosebumps on his arms and back.
The eagle shook his feathers, conjuring dark blades of darkness and shooting them toward Jake!
Responding to this move, Jake threw his torch to the side and tumbled in the opposite direction, hiding behind the pillar.
The blades connected, shaking the pillar and the cave.
It sounded like more than ten grenades had exploded beside Jake, yet the pillar stood tall and proud, having managed to withstand the attack.
The eagle scoffed in a human voice and spun, covering himself in the cocoon of darkness.
A moment later, once he finished his skill, Ender shouted, "Do you think the restraints of your ancestors are enough to keep you safe?! Enough to turn me into your slave?!"
The cocoon detonated with darkness so flowing and sinuous it seemed to have been turned into silk. It wasn't any material, however, but a skill that sank like water into a sponge into every corner of the cave, except the ancient writings, truly drowning the cave in darkness for a few seconds.
Jake looked around and questioned aloud, "Has the cave expanded?"
"Keen eyesight, just like your traitorous ancestors," the eagle proudly snarled, "You have nowhere to escape, the human traitor. I'll use your blood to escape this prison and punish humans, demons, and other traitors for what they've done!"
Jake sneered, "All I can say is that times changed. If I die, I will return. And I will repeat that until I get you as my summon! Let's see how good you are, Ender!"
"Insolent kid!" Ender screeched.
The ancient writings—the only source of light in the cave because even the darkness of the legendary boss couldn't have shadowed them—shone upon Ender, weakening him.
The white shackles had stretched from the floor, pillars, and even the ceiling to wrap around the poor eagle.
The chains squeezed him, sapping him of his might.
His status now looked as such...
[Ender, The Eagle Of Darkness Lv. 10 HP: 2500/2500 MP: 1564/3500]
Jake thought, 'It's doable.'