The Gamer: Multiverse Travel

Daniel's vision shimmered for a second, and when it cleared, he found himself deep inside the dungeon. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, the dim light provided only by glowing fungi and flickering enchanted lanterns. Twisted roots formed tangled passageways, some shifting as if alive, while the uneven floor was slick with patches of slippery moss.

High-pitched chattering echoed through the labyrinth as Cornish pixies darted through crevices, their tiny wings buzzing like an infestation of oversized, electric-blue dragonflies. Some were undoubtedly setting traps. Others? Probably just plotting mischief for fun.

Instinctively, Daniel ducked behind a thick root, activating his Stealth skill. He stayed still, watching. The pixies were small, no more than eight inches tall, with sharp, pointed faces and gossamer wings. Their shrill, squeaky voices were chaotic. He focused his gaze and used Observe on one of them.

[Cornish Pixie, Lvl 11]

[A mischievous, electric-blue creature with unpredictable flight patterns. Enjoys pranks, lifting people by their ears, stealing small objects, and causing general havoc. Surprisingly strong for its size. Incomprehensible chatter sounds like a never-ending argument among hyperactive birds.]

Daniel analyzed their movement patterns. 'Too many of them here. My stealth tactics won't work in such an open space.' He took a deep breath and crept in the opposite direction, searching for an isolated group.

Traversing the dungeon was harder than expected. The lack of proper shadows made it difficult to stay hidden, and the slick, uneven terrain turned every step into a potential hazard. 'One wrong move, and I'll be the one getting hunted.'

After several careful minutes, he found a promising spot, just three pixies fluttering near a large root. 'This will do.'

Before engaging, he checked his new skill.

[Spinning Magic Arrow (Active) Lvl 4 / MP: 10]

[- Fires an arrow made from mana. The arrow spins, increasing its piercing damage to the opponent.]

Taking position behind the pixies, Daniel steadied his wand. He waited for the right moment, then fired three quick shots.

The first arrow shot through the air with a sharp whoosh, striking a pixie straight in the chest. It dropped instantly. The other two, however, reacted immediately, screeching as they darted erratically in every direction.

'Damn! I won't be able to hit them like this!'

Thinking fast, he flicked his wand and cast, "Immobulus!" A soft blue light engulfed the pixies, freezing them mid-air. With a quick flick, he finished them off with two precise shots.

Letting out a slow breath, he muttered, "I should start with the Freezing Charm from now on."

He gathered his loot and prepared to continue farming when a distant wave of sharp, excited shrieks sent a chill down his spine.

'Oh, come on…'

A horde of pixies was incoming. The high-pitched screams of their fallen comrades must have alerted them.

Without hesitation, Daniel slipped into the shadows, activating Stealth and slipping away as quickly, and quietly, as possible.

From there, hunting became more efficient. He found smaller groups, immobilized them first, then picked them off with swift Magic Arrows. The method worked well, and after about three hours of dungeon crawling, he finally exited, making his way to the common room.

Daniel slumped into his usual corner seat, stretching out with a satisfied sigh. His mind replayed his dungeon run. 'Harder, but the EXP is great, and the loot is worth it.' He was already considering ways to improve his strategy when his classmates interrupted his thoughts.

"Where were you?" Michael asked, raising a brow. "We checked the common room like an hour ago, but you weren't there."

"Went out exploring for a bit," Daniel replied vaguely, still half-lost in thought.

"Wanna go to the Black Lake?" Anthony suggested.

"Didn't we go there last week?" Terry pointed out, frowning. The two immediately started bickering.

Daniel sighed, then casually threw out a different idea. "Why don't we go to the kitchen, grab some food from the elves, and have a picnic instead?"

The arguing stopped.

"Oh, that actually sounds good," Terry admitted.

"Wait, you know where the kitchen is?" Michael asked, skeptical.

Daniel smirked. "I've been exploring more these past few days. Stumbled across it."

Navigating to the basement, they soon found themselves standing in front of a large painting of a silver fruit bowl. Without hesitation, Daniel reached out and tickled the pear. It squirmed under his touch before transforming into a massive green door handle. With a simple pull, the door swung open, revealing the Hogwarts kitchen.

A wave of warmth and mouthwatering aromas enveloped them as they stepped inside. The chamber was vast, with high, arched ceilings and flickering torchlight. Giant wooden tables mirrored those in the Great Hall, while enchanted copper pots hovered mid-air, stirring themselves. House-elves bustled about, their small forms zipping back and forth as they prepared the meals.

Almost immediately, a house-elf scurried up to them, eyes wide and excited. "Oh! A visitor, sir! Is young master hungry? Would you like some pudding? Or pumpkin pasties? Or perhaps a hot meal? The elves are happy to serve, yes, yes!"

She spoke so fast Daniel barely kept up. He held up his hands. "Uh, sorry for intruding! Could you make us a couple of sandwiches in a basket? We'd like to have a picnic."

The elf's ears perked up. "Oh, no intrusion at all, sir! It is our pleasure, yes, yes! The finest sandwiches for a perfect picnic!"

Within minutes, they were handed a large picnic basket, packed not only with sandwiches but also fresh fruit, pumpkin juice, and a neatly folded picnic blanket.

The group found a cozy spot near the Black Lake, laying out the blanket before unpacking their food. They spent the afternoon chatting about random things, classwork, Quidditch, Terry's ridiculous fear of garden gnomes, and Anthony's theory that Professor Flitwick was secretly a retired dueling champion.

With the sun setting over the lake, they all leaned back, content, enjoying the calm before another day awaited.