Infinite Farmer: A Plants vs Dungeon

Tulland did look, watching as the rogue he previously met on the third floor emerged from behind a building, standing in the shadow of a huge, leather-armored woman holding a double-sided axe. Both of them were fresh, and very ready to fight.

“Ah. There you are.” The rogue grinned. The usual insanity was there, maybe stronger than it had been before. The leather-clad woman didn’t appear to be crazy, at least not in the same way. She was just amused, not needing to try to be intimidating to succeed at it. “We could only keep up our guard about half the time, you know. I wondered if you might slip through. Looks like not.”

“Why do this?” Tulland glanced down at the notifications he had received from taking down the archer previously. It was experience, enough that he had gained another level, but not some insane amount. “Just the experience?”

“Hey, every little bit helps.” The rogue scratched his cheek with the point of his dagger, then appeared to notice he was cutting himself and stopped. “But really it’s because you stole from me. And then got away. I don’t like it when people get away, you know. I was known for that, back on my world. They called me The Chaser for that.”

“They really did.” The leather-clad axe-wielding woman nodded. “I had heard of him.”

“And that’s why you help him? Same world? That’s enough?” Tulland was scared, but deeply disgusted at the same time. He was probably going to die here, and none of the reasons why even made sense. “That’s all it takes to start killing other people?”

“Oh, that. And that if he’s who he says he is, and he is, then he’ll kill me if I don’t. He’s kind of crazy.”

After saying this, the woman winced and looked over at the chaser, who glared for a split second before he cracked up laughing.

“Worried? You don’t think I know that I’m crazy?” The rogue laughed himself into a cough, then banged on his own chest with his first as he laughed his way out of it. “If I’m crazy, then I like being crazy. It’s a compliment, as far as I’m concerned.” The rogue waved his arm at the trio standing in front of him. “In fact, just go ahead. Take the experience for yourself. It shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

“Sure. I’ll cut in if you need the help, but otherwise, have fun,” the rogue laughed.

The woman took her axe off her shoulder, letting it swing as she walked towards the group, smiling.

“Sorry everyone. It’s like he said. Every little bit helps. Try to put up a fight though. It won’t help, but I might get an achievement.”

Tulland crouched in place, as Necia braced and Ley wiped his dagger on his pants. They were beat up, and not much regeneration had happened in the last few minutes. One axe strike would be enough to take out Tulland’s last plant, which would leave him barely stronger than a normal person back on his world. After that, the fight would be determined by a fully rested warrior against two bloodied and beaten melee fighters, neither of whom could run without the rogue falling on them and ending things himself.

“All right. I’ll try to make this qui…” As the woman lifted her axe for a swing, her taunt was cut short as a glowing crossbow bolt pierced straight through her neck, back to front. Her eyes went wide as she reached her hand up to feel the bone arrowhead. As her blood started flowing, she turned to find the source of it, as did Tulland, his friends, and the rogue.

“Now, that’s not nice, Halter.” Licht nocked another bolt in his crossbow and leveled it at the rogue. “Did you guys know that was his other name, back on his world? He doesn’t like it very much, though.”

“No. I don’t.” Halter the rogue narrowed his eyes at Licht. “Which makes this confusing. Do you really think I can’t get to you, Licht? You can’t hit me with those toys.”

To the side, Tulland heard a wet gasp as Necia and Ley stabbed the leather-armor woman at once. He was impressed by their presence of mind.

“Don’t need to. Try getting me. You’ll see,” Licht taunted.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The chaser looked around suspiciously for a moment, then sheathed his dagger.

“No, don’t think I will.” He rubbed his cheek again, smearing blood from the earlier cut. “I’ll just get you later. When you are asleep. You like sleeping, right?”

“No, you won’t, either.” An armored man walked out of the woods, the same man who had sold Tulland his orange. “Maybe if Licht hadn’t told me all this was going on. But I don’t think you want to tangle with me, Halter. I really don’t.”

“Who are you, sheriff?” Halter laughed. “This is what you brought, Licht? A heavy? You think I should be worried about that?”

“Not just a heavy.” Licht kept his crossbow aimed at Halter. “A sentry. White here was a city guard, he tells me. You know what that means.”

Halter narrowed his eyes at the orange salesman. “You’re not serious. A city guard in The Infinite?”

Licht shrugged and looked back at Halter.

While the two sides were stuck in their standoff, Tulland whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “Why does that matter?”

“He’s a law-and-order class.” Necia kept her eyes on the rogue as she and Ley stood over the corpse of the axe-woman. “If Halter is a normal rogue, then Ley is a weaker version of the same thing, but with tricks. A sentry class on my world was like a knight or infantry class. Weaker than those classes in a straight fight. But stronger against the right opponent.”

“And for a rogue, they are just death.” Ley smiled. “A sentry can pierce stealth and move faster during an ambush. They’re stronger when they are defending a defined territory. That’s almost certainly how his class treats the safe zone.”

“Ah.” Tulland smiled a bit. “Thanks.”

“You can’t watch me all the time,” Halter spat.

“No, but I can hunt you down. And I will. I don’t hunt people, usually, but if I have to in order to keep the peace, I don’t think I mind so much,” the sentry-orange-salesman replied calmly.

“Damn.” Halter stomped the ground. “Damn. Damn.”

Tulland and the others watched as the rogue’s complaining devolved into nearly a full tantrum. He kicked the ground, cursed, and almost looked like he was going to cry in rage for a bit.

“Fine.” Halter’s face snapped back to calm in an instant. “Fine. Got it. Not the first time I’ve had to calm down for a bit.” Halter looked around and locked eyes with Tulland. The man’s madness was on clear display. Tulland felt like he was looking into an abyss of emotions. Halter took a few steps back. “He won’t be here forever. And when he’s gone, I’ll take my revenge then. Enjoy your time, I guess. There’s not much of it left.”

Halter then blurred into an afterimage that Tulland’s eyes couldn’t track. Licht and the others watched the rogue go. Of them, only Necia pulled her weapon up in an attempt to track the man before she let it drop back down to her side.

White sighed. “They think that looks so amazing. I wish they could see how they look in my eyes. Damn rogues.”

“Hey now. It’s not like that didn’t work. I didn’t expect him to have an escape skill though. Didn’t seem like his style.” Licht took the bolt out of his crossbow and shouldered it.

“And are you all okay over there?” White asked. “No poison in your systems?”

“Some in mine, but it’s under control.” Ley yelled back. “Think he’ll keep his end of the deal? We’d like to go home and eat. Not that we aren’t appreciative.”

“No appreciation needed. If I have to live in this hellhole, I might as well make it a nice place. Helps me sell the things I find.”

“Actually, about that.” Tulland limped over to where the sentry was standing. “Am I right that our princess and servant act didn’t fool you very long?”

“Not very long, no.”

“Well, then. Take this.” Tulland fished the provisions he had packed for him and the others out of his pack. There was about half left, enough for plenty of meals. “And Licht, I’ll get you yours back at home. As far as I’m concerned, both of you are fed for as long as I’m close enough to do it.”

“What, are you spending all your experience on food, boy?” White pressed the back bag into Tulland’s hand. It was an odd moment of home, with an older person trying hard to avoid Tulland’s younger-person generosity. His uncle had done the same thing, every time Tulland had remembered to buy him a gift. “Keep this.”

“It’s okay, White,” Licht said. “You’ll want to keep it a secret so you can keep selling your roots and things, but look how he’s dressed. He can feed you.”

White’s mouth curled into an oh expression of sudden realization, then went back to neutral.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Then thank you. But, Tulland? It’s Tulland?” After Tulland nodded in confirmation, the man tucked the bag of grains into his belt. “He wasn’t wrong. I really won’t be here forever. I have level nine to beat, then it’s off to level ten. And when that happens, I’m not coming back. One way or another, that puts you outside of my reach.”

“I understand.” Tulland gulped. “Any advice?”

“Same as for everyone, son.” White turned to walk away. “Get stronger. As strong as you can. It’s the only way, in here.”

“Even with allies?” Tulland asked Licht.

“That was the seventh for you, right?” Licht asked. Tulland nodded. “I just did it too. So we’re all onto the eighth next. And the eighth is solo.”

“Ah.”

“So yes. Get stronger, Tulland. And do you mind if I wait a little bit to try and get some of that food? I’m still working through the last you gave me,” Licht said.

“Anytime.”

Licht nodded and moved back into the trees, then was gone himself.

“Home?”

“Yes. But just to get soap.” Necia flicked some blood off her hands. “It’s been a long week. I could stand to scrape some of this off of me.”

“Good point. I’ll get food going while you do.”