"What do we do now?" Blatt asked of his own accord. When it came to the Weave, he subconsciously believed that a well-learned mage would have more insight.
"Your idea is sound. Most Underdark Creatures dislike Light. We'll hide on Dust Eagle Mountain tonight, but we can't stay in Baldurs Gate for long.
The Underdark is barren and cruel; the Gray Dwarves certainly won't be willing to leave easily once they've come up. Sentinels won't leave the Upper City, and the Flame Fist might not be reliable. We must flee this place; waiting passively might only make things worse.
Tomorrow we'll head to Wyvern Bridge. There's a Flame Fist Fortress there. Once we cross the Chongsa River, we'll be safe," Anser considered.
"I'll follow your lead." Blatt nodded slightly; leaving was indeed the safer bet.
Wyvern Bridge was southeast of Dust Eagle Mountain. If the Underdark Creatures wanted to get there, they would have to circle halfway around the mountain from the north and pass through several Outer City districts. They couldn't possibly be that fast.
"However," Anser's tone shifted, his expression complicated. "Before that, I need to save my parents first. They are in the Sow's Foot District. You don't have to come with me; we can part ways tomorrow morning."
He didn't have much affection for the original host's parents. His memories were like a slideshow, incomplete and difficult to connect with emotionally.
But if there was a chance, he still wanted to try and save them. If he just ignored it, there would always be a knot in his heart.
However, if he encountered danger, he would definitely prioritize his own self-preservation.
"I'll go with you," Blatt said without hesitation. "The Sow's Foot District isn't far from Wyvern Bridge. They should be fine."
"I hope so. How is your recovery coming along?" Anser felt a slight sense of urgency; the darker it got, the more disadvantaged they would be.
"No problem. I can fight and I can run. Don't underestimate a Fighter's recovery speed." Blatt tied back his hair with a strip of rag, looking sharp and capable.
"Let's go." Anser stood up, grabbed his staff, and walked out.
Blatt habitually picked up the pack, tied it tight, and overtook Anser in a few steps to walk ahead with his sword drawn.
Night fell, and the cold moonlight spilled down, making the Chongsa River shimmer brightly. Unfortunately, the surroundings were filled with ruins and corpses, resembling a hellscape.
"Don't go through Cliff Gate. Follow the Chongsa River into Tumbledown," Anser whispered after walking dozens of paces.
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Blatt understood and immediately turned south.
Gray Dwarves were an intelligent race and would likely occupy key intersections, waiting for humans to deliver themselves.
These refugees usually carried valuables and food, saving the dwarves the time of searching and packing.
After walking several hundred meters, the buildings became sparse and cover grew thin. A section of city wall, mostly collapsed, lay across their path.
Reaching the largest gap, Blatt suddenly stopped. His nose twitched as his eyes swept over the slimy soil on the stones, his gaze filled with vigilance.
Anser also sensed something unusual. "Let's find another way."
Blatt nodded slightly, slowly retreating with his sword in hand. After moving back a dozen meters, they continued south along the wall.
A few curses drifted from the darkness, and both of them quickened their pace. Escaping was the priority now; they couldn't afford to get entangled.
Where there is a natural disaster, there is also man-made trouble. What could be worse than people?
After this experience, Blatt specifically looked for a section of the wall that was only partially collapsed. It was littered with rubble and uneven ground, making it difficult to traverse, but it was safer.
Blatt truly lived up to being a Fighter. His Athletics ability was significantly better than Anser's. Carrying a large pack, he scouted the way, climbing and jumping, while frequently stopping to stay alert and wait for Anser.
Anser smiled bitterly to himself, admitting he had been fooled by Blatt's initial pathetic appearance.
In games, one could become a Professional even with poor stats, but reality was different. Without a bit of talent, it really wouldn't work. Nobles and major organizations wouldn't waste precious resources on useless failures.
Unless your luck was good enough!
"Watch out!" Blatt's voice was urgent.
Anser instinctively dove and rolled.
The next moment, a dark shadow streaked over his head. It was so fast he couldn't see it clearly, and a faint scent of blood wafted through the air.
[You were attacked by a Mosquito Bat. Miss...] The combat log flashed by.
Anser was startled. Mosquito Bats were social creatures.
He gripped his staff and scanned the area but didn't see a swarm, only hearing the faint sound of fluttering wings above.
"What the hell is that?" Blatt had also been attacked, but his Wisdom and reactions were faster.
He dropped the pack and jumped to Anser's side in a few steps, standing back-to-back on guard.
"Mosquito Bats, blood-sucking social creatures." Anser pulled a wooden stick enchanted with Light from his robe but didn't uncover the black cloth yet.
Blatt observed for a moment and found no other danger. "It seems there are only two."
"Maybe they got separated from the swarm, or maybe they're just high on blood," Anser speculated.
Mosquito Bats lived on the blood of living creatures and weren't very intelligent. After coming to the surface and seeing how easy humans were to bully, it wasn't surprising they were acting so brazenly.
"They haven't left."
"Let's move. Seize the opportunity."
"Alright."
The two moved forward slowly. Blatt followed behind Anser with the pack, waiting for the "opportunity" to arrive.
Anser was very calm. Mosquito Bats were weak and their attacks weren't fatal. Furthermore, he had the Shield Spell, which could trigger a force shield the moment an attack hit.
Just as they were about to enter the Dust Eagle Mountain area, the two Mosquito Bats could no longer restrain themselves and dived from the air almost simultaneously.
Blatt paused his step. "Here they come—"
Before he could finish, Anser suddenly tore off the black cloth. The Light instantly dispelled the darkness, revealing two strange creatures that looked like a cross between a large bat and a giant mosquito.
Mosquito Bats were Light-sensitive. The sudden brightness startled them, forcing them to change their flight path in an attempt to escape.
*Swish—*
A sword flash flickered, and one Mosquito Bat was sliced in two, leaving a trail of blood.
"Frīzere" (Ray of Frost)
A beam of white Light shot from Anser's palm, instantly landing on the other Mosquito Bat.
The Mosquito Bat stiffened as white mist enveloped it. With a plop, it fell to the ground. Its wings twitched twice before it went still.
[You cast Ray of Frost on the Mosquito Bat. The enemy is startled. The Mosquito Bat is hit, taking 4 points of cold damage. Critical hit. Target killed. Gained 25 combat experience...]
Blatt, still wary, stepped forward and pinned it to the ground with his sword.
"So ugly." Only then did he see the full appearance of the Mosquito Bat.
It was shaped like a bat but had a long, needle-like proboscis. Its body was crimson, with black fuzz on its head and back, many claws, and a long tail.
Anser re-wrapped the glowing stick and tucked it back into his robe.
"Move, move." With that, he picked up his staff and started walking.
Light was useful for combat but could also attract danger.
"Sigh," Blatt glanced at the Mosquito Bat corpse on the ground, sighed, and followed with the pack.
"Based on my experience as an Adventurer, Mosquito Bats are definitely high-quality magical materials. It's a pity to leave them."
"Let's focus on staying alive first." Anser felt quite odd. He hadn't expected the seemingly cautious Blatt to be so greedy. Was this a common ailment among Adventurers?
"You don't understand. You can't go anywhere without money." Blatt's heart throbbed with pain at the thought of his entire fortune having vanished into thin air.
"We'll find a way tomorrow."
"That... I hope we don't run into the Flame Fist. They never listen to explanations..."
Beyond the collapsed wall was Dust Eagle Mountain. At its foot lay the Outer City's Tumbledown district. As the two walked along, there were no Lights and no people.
A day after the disaster, everyone who could run had already fled.
Anser didn't go deep into the district but followed the Chongsa River eastward. Finally, he spotted some groups of refugees at the Cliffside Cemetery.
The two didn't stop and entered Dust Eagle Mountain. After crossing a ridge, they found a hidden hollow at a high point and finally stopped.
There was a small patch of woodland here, and with the mountain providing cover, it was enough to block the sight of other creatures.
Anser used his staff like a walking stick. After confirming no venomous snakes were hiding in the grass, he dropped his backpack, sat on the ground, and let out a heavy breath.
"We should be safe now."
Blatt placed the pack beside him and cleared the area with his long sword, while also cutting some branches to set up some simple alarm devices.
Anser possessed the Survival skill and knew some wilderness Survival techniques, but he didn't move.
Right now, he only felt hungry, tired, and mentally exhausted. Casting Cantrips was not without its price.