Chapter 33: Skeletal Stalker

Not questioning the command, Peace fell to his knees.

In the span of a breath, something whizzed over his head, ruffling his hair.

Still crouching, he looked up just in time to see a spear made of bone rocket off into the distance.

Gulping, Peace swiveled around to see a lone skeleton leisurely walking toward them. Its body was shrouded in loose black rags, its hood completely obscuring its skull. The only things visible were two glowing red eyes.

’Skeletal Stalker...’

It wasn’t much bigger than the others.

Yet...

Its sheer menacing aura was enough to make Peace’s knees quiver as he forced himself to stand.

Not to mention he knew its special feature...

The Stalker adjusted its speed to match its target, then moved just a little faster. If its target walked, it walked a little faster. If they ran, it ran a little faster. No matter the pace, it would always be gaining on them.

It was especially freaky when its target stopped.

The Stalker would slow to little more than a crawl, inching closer and closer without ever coming to a complete stop.

That mechanic did offer Peace some advantage, though.

Since he wasn’t the target, his own movements had no effect on its speed. He could sprint away, and the Stalker wouldn’t suddenly accelerate after him. Hence why leaving her didn’t pose too much danger.

Though he wasn’t going to abandon his potential ally... unless she gracelessly declined his offer.

There was another useful part of the mechanic. No matter how its target moved, the gap in their speeds remained consistent enough that the outcome never changed: the Stalker would always catch its target after exactly twenty-four hours of in-game time — assuming they didn’t walk toward it and shorten that time... or get into a fight where she had to move a lot.

In any case, that twenty-four hours was likely an exact translation into his current reality, unlike with the Eye of Truth.

Peace cried out:

"Shit! Already?! How long has it been following you?!"

The woman scowled as she got back to her feet. Her gaze shifted from the Stalker to Peace. An odd expression flashed across her face as she narrowed her eyes, but then her countenance eased.

"Dita... that’s my name."

Glancing back at the Stalker, she watched as it crouched, plunged a hand into the field of bone, and ripped out another spear.

Keeping her eyes fixed on it, Dita added:

"Will you truly... help me escape?"

Peace drew a long breath as he locked his red eyes on the glowing pair staring back at them.

"That’s... what I said."

"Fine, then I accept your offer. I’ll party up with you."

Dita, her eyes still locked on the Skeletal Stalker, extended a hand toward Peace. Just like his own, it was absolutely covered in sticky blood from the rain.

He stared at her outstretched hand with a strange curiosity before finally taking it in his own and shaking it. As their hands clasped, Peace felt an odd connection form between them.

’The party function...’

He was sure of it. He’d just engaged the party function to join up with her.

Not that he knew how it worked or what functions a ’party’ even had in this world...

Pulling her hand away, she added:

"Sixteen... It’s been after me for sixteen hours."

’Less than eight hours then...’

Probably closer to seven due to that fight.

Nowhere near enough time to escape the zone. Especially given that they were being pushed toward the River of Blood.

"We don’t have enough time."

Dita’s brows furrowed.

"You know the timing?"

Peace, having expected suspicion like this, put on his pre-planned look of confusion and said:

"Well, of course. All dungeon aspirants learn the bare minimum about the first level."

Dita nodded, a weak smile forming on her face.

"Glad to see you’re not completely hopeless, Night Elf."

’She said that like it’s a slur...’

If she really was a Soul Stealer...

’Is she trying to be racist against me as a cover-up?!’

Peace sighed, then decided to just drop it.

Looking back, Peace watched the Skeletal Stalker reel its arm back. Thankfully, its spears were easy to dodge since it always aimed for the head with very little drop-off, but as long as they were walking, spears would keep coming.

"It’s launching another."

Dita cast a sidelong glare at Peace.

"I have eyes."

The moment it launched the spear, both ducked and let it sail overhead before disappearing into the distance. After a long flight, it finally dipped and sank into the ground as if phasing through the bone.

Even knowing it wouldn’t hit, Peace shuddered slightly as he stood.

"We should probably... start running."

"Yes. But first, do you have water and food? I lost my supplies hours ago."

"Oh, yes, I do."

Keeping his eyes on the Skeletal Stalker as it bent to retrieve another spear, Peace fished out a canteen and a bit of jerky, then handed them over to Dita.

She gave a light nod in thanks before devouring the rations. After forcing down half the jerky he’d given her, she asked:

"Your name... what is it?"

’Ah, right. I didn’t tell her.’

For all the memories it dredged up, saying it himself was fairly difficult.

"Call me... Peace."

Chewing on the last slice of jerky he’d given her, she asked:

"Peash? Ish that a nickname?"

"Yes."

Dita swallowed, then patted herself down to make sure she hadn’t dropped any of the little gear she had. As she did, she replied:

"Dita... is a nickname as well."

Cocking his head to the side, Peace asked:

"Oh? Then what’s your real name?"

"Didn’t you say you studied the dungeon? Did you skip out on the etiquette portion? Names can be sensitive in the dungeon."

Squinting, Peace replied:

"Huh? You brought it up."

Dita shrugged.

"That I did. Duck."

’Sassy, much...?’

A little salty perhaps, Peace spat back the same passive-aggressive phrase:

"I have eyes."

A moment later, the two ducked as another spear blitzed over their heads.

Finally, as they rose to their feet, Peace took the canteen back and made sure everything was neatly tucked away in his bag.

Dita wasted little time once Peace finished preparing, kicking off the ground into a sprint.

"Let’s go."