Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Chapter 76: Nebulous Gate

With the knight on high alert, Jasper watched the mud right in front of him as the rain trickled down, finally watching as it pushed in. Just as it did, he raised his shield while lunging forward–CLANG.

Jasper steadied himself, locking his knees and pressing his shoulder against the shield as the unseen force failed to throw him back.

"--Yeah, I'm ready for that this time, mate!" Jasper called out.

["Moonlight Slash"]

A bright-blue light engulfed the helmed, hoodie-wearing knight's blade as he slashed it in front of himself, casting the visceral glow forth. Through the fog and slicing into the tree ahead of him, the slash revealed what it had gone through: the lurker's camouflage dissipated, leaving it falling over into two halves.

"Nice!" Finn called out, keeping his daggers raised, watching his own direction.

["Mist Lurker defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x250 obtained."]

[Experience points: +1500] [14500/50000]

"I think there's one more–right?" Charlotte asked.

As they each moved within the same clearing, it was the cannoneer that watched a section of the mud quietly cave in from between both the assassin and knight, leading to a pull of the trigger–BOOM.

The cannonfire hit the drenched ground with a small, volatile impact, bringing Finn to jump back at the sudden combustion.

"Hey!" Finn called out.

Jasper raised his shield as mud sprayed from the point of impact, "--Again?!"

Yet, the cannoneer's shot proved effective, revealing one of the lurkers to be thrown back, smacking into a tree with a tattered body.

["Mist Lurker defeated."] ["Anarch Coin x250 obtained."]

[Experience points: +1500] [16000/50000]

"You're welcome," Magnus said, hoisting his cannon up as steam exuded from the barrel.

"Would it kill you to give a warning when you're about to shoot one hair away from my body, mate?" Jasper asked.

Magnus brushed the remark aside, "Have I once hit you? I think it's time you accept that my aim is impeccable."

"When hell freezes over, mate," Jasper responded.

There were no longer any footprints appearing nor the subtle sounds that came with it, only the overbearing mist and the rainfall that seemed to continue on endlessly.

"We should keep moving," Finn said, "I doubt those are the only of those things in this area."

"They weren't all that bad once you realize what's going on," Jasper chipperly remarked, tapping the dull side of his sword against his shoulder.

"Let's see, the trail is…" Charlotte lingered her words, looking down at the ground as she moved, as the mist had brought them to lose their sense of direction, "...Here."

The only way to dictate the proper path was the small, decayed log that the spellblade pointed out, which confused the others for a moment.

"It's a good thing you were keeping track. I definitely wasn't," Finn said.

Charlotte smiled, "I just kept a small mental note of this bush, that's all."

Deeper into the forest, the trail opened up from the busy forest to a cliffside trail, bringing them to cross along a narrow, cliffside trail that overlooked a foggy river a hundred feet below.

"I wonder how long we'll be hiking," Jasper said between breaths.

"You're free to shed that armor if you're tired," Magnus playfully remarked with a serious expression.

"...Nobody said anything about "tired"--just a bit bored of all this walking, is all," Jasper responded, picking up his pace again.

Seeing the view of the misty forest below felt surprising to Finn, not feeling before as though they were at such high elevation.

Amidst his steps along the tree-occupied cliffside trail, Finn found a shadow passing over, followed by an inhuman call.

What soared past brought them to a pause at the sight of the sky-dwelling creature.

"What're those?" Charlotte pointed out.

"Birds?" Jasper half answered.

It was devoid of feathers or talons, larger than any avian Finn had seen. What the flying creature of sleek, sapphire skin more resembled was a manta ray, yet unbound from the sea.

The majestic creature didn't seem to pay the visitors to the transient region any mind as it flew just beneath the sky of trees.

"Let's just hope it doesn't have a taste for humans," Magnus remarked.

Even if it wasn't an actively malicious creature, the sight of an otherworldly entity of such magnitude stirred up thoughts of the land they found themselves in.

Finn led the way along the trail, finding Jasper walking right beside him, glancing over as if intending to say something.

"What's up?" Finn asked.

"I'm just wondering, mate," Jasper sincerely approached. "Do you think we're out of our depth here? I'm just saying, frankly I'm still surprised I'm even alive after facing that beast before."

"I get what you're saying. The "lord" of this place is going to be a much harder task than that, for sure," Finn responded.

"That's what I mean, mate. We've got no chance," Jasper said.

"I agree, but that's what our systems are for–we don't need to rush anything. If we level up and grow stronger, we will be fine," Finn assured the knight.

"I know, mate. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page is all–making sure you're being realistic here," Jasper clarified.

The pathway brought them out of the thickness of the mist, stepping into an open valley, away from the forest with the sights of lush grass and mountains in the distance. What stuck out was a sight completely foreign from the stretch of nature that had been marched through: tall walls of stone, chiseled with craftsmanship unmistakable from one thing: human ingenuity.

"Is that…a town?" Charlotte observed.

"I'd say so," Magnus answered.

Just by the sights of those walls amidst the grass valley, with a dirt trail leading to the front gates, it was assuredly a piece of civilization faraway from one he recognized.

Finn watched from a distance, remaining wary, "Let's not be in a rush, alright? We don't even know what's behind those walls–it might not be humans."

"Who else is building massive walls like that?" Jasper asked.

"I'm going to have to agree with Finn here. I wouldn't try to apply normal logic to this place," Magnus interjected. "Not when it's shown us every reason not to."

Charlotte noticed the glance from the knight as if expecting her to agree, though she lightly shook her head, "I agree with them. I mean…when has anything in the Tower ever been welcoming?"

"I guess I can't deny that. What do we do, then? Just avoid that place just based on suspicion?" Jasper asked.

"Nobody said that. We just need to be cautious, that's all," Finn clarified.

"And what does that entail?" Magnus asked.

There was a small hesitation from Finn as he stayed near the tree line of the forest, as there wasn't much to provide cover in the valley itself, "...I'll sneak in and scope it out."

"Absolutely not," Charlotte blatantly rejected.

"What?--" Finn said, raising an eyebrow.

It was the only logical choice in the young man's mind, seeing as he had the skills and experience to perform such a task, though found himself going against the grain.

"No offense, but are you crazy, mate? You're talking about being cautious, then turning around and trying to go at it alone?" Jasper asked, placing his hands on his sides like a disappointed parent.

"Obviously I'm not intending to get caught. If I really want to, I can remain undetected–I can get in and out safely, I promise you that," Finn reasoned with them.

"We should consider it," Magnus said.

"Magnus! Really?" Charlotte looked at the swede with a glare.

"I hate to agree with this, but what are our other options? We can try going around those walls and pass by, maybe it's safe, maybe it's not. If we don't know for sure what's there, we're just moving blindly," Magnus explained.

Finn was happy to receive some support, though surprised it came from the man who was usually a contrarian to him, "Listen, it'll be a quick in-and-out. Just stay hidden behind these bushes, and I'll be back before you know it." He assured, pointing his words at the spellblade.

The expression scrunched by confliction made Charlotte easy to read, though she finally forced out an answer, "Fine–but if you're not back soon, we're coming in there for you."

Though he preferred not to have anybody risk themselves for him, Finn knew he wouldn't be able to convince his stubborn companions against it.

"Fair enough," Finn said, standing up from behind the bushes, adjusting his gloves. "I'll be back soon, then."

"Good luck, mate," Jasper said.

The bushes along the outskirts of the valley were good enough for him to quietly approach the towering, gray walls from the side. Rain continued ascending and descending, running along the slick walls of the strange town.

'I would've seen somebody by now, right? That either means this isn't a human city, or if it is, they don't want to come out–they're bunkering down, too scared of what's out here,' Finn reasoned.