Harry Potter: The Gamer's Dimension Chapter 4

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. Just like Pokemon Resurgence, this story will get a massive edit once I have released five chapters. The previous chapters are not good enough, and I have been playing around with how the system works, so there will be inconsistencies.

Chapter 4

The horde of zombies was closing in on them with alarming speed, their undead moans growing louder as they drew nearer.

Celeste, being able to stay out of their reach in the air, seemed unperturbed. Harry, on the other hand, felt the weight of the situation bearing down on him. Gripping the dagger tightly, he fought against the rising panic inside him, knowing it would be of no use in the current situation.

"Now would be a good time to share any ideas on how to escape this predicament," he urged, his voice tense.

"Why does it have to be me?" Celeste protested.

"Because I'm out of ideas," Harry admitted, swiftly darting to the corner of the room in search of some breathing space. The zombies, moving as a single entity, turned and shuffled towards him. When they got too close for comfort, he swiftly manoeuvred to the opposite corner.

Two things worked in his favour: he was still faster than the undead creatures, and they lacked intelligence. If only they were more coordinated and surrounded him, he would have been in a much worse position.

Pointing to the far side of the room, Celeste offered a solution. "You need to make your way to the other side, where there's an alcove that will funnel the zombies into a narrow corridor. You can face them one at a time."

Weighing the plan carefully, Harry recognized the potential downside. "But it would mean I'm trapped."

"Do you have a better idea?" Celeste challenged.

"Alright, let's give it a try. See if you can lure some of them away from me."

"No problem," Celeste said confidently, taking to the air and drawing the attention of a portion of the zombie horde.

Now that the numbers had reduced, Harry saw the way forward to the other side. Dashing forward, he deftly weaved between their grasping hands, actively avoiding the level three zombies whose capabilities still remained unknown. The strength of the level-two zombies was still fresh in his mind.

As he reached the other side of the room, Harry's eyes landed on the alcove nestled in the far left corner, conveniently close to the gate leading out.

“Look out!” Celeste cried.

He instinctively dodged to the side but received a glancing blow to his shoulder. The impact sent him sprawling onto the floor. He disregarded the searing pain and scrambled to his feet. He turned to see Celeste locked in combat with the level three zombie that had struck him down. Reacting swiftly, she conjured a small black spike and sent it hurtling towards her opponent. However, the spike seemed to have no effect as it pierced the zombie's flesh. The undead creature retaliated, launching itself at Celeste with a vicious leap.

Celeste gasped and flew upward to evade the attack. It became clear that the reason the zombie caught him off guard was that the level three zombies could jump, unlike their weaker counterparts.

Once he found refuge inside the alcove, Harry pivoted and prepared for the first zombie's arrival. His first opponent arrived, known as Zombie A, and it was a level two. It seemed that the system gave them distinct identities when they formed a large enough group, likely to make it easier to target specific opponents in chaotic situations.

Time was of the essence, as the next zombie wasn't far behind the first. Although he could confront them one by one, there was nothing preventing them from pushing against each other in order to back him against the wall.

As Zombie A lunged forward, Harry deftly avoided the attack and attempted a desperate stab at its head. Unfortunately, his haste caused him to miss the target, only grazing the zombie's cheek with the dagger and leaving a long scratch.

Ducking under a swinging arm, Harry inserted the knife into the zombie's midsection, but it had no effect whatsoever. Note to self: avoid targeting the body.

Then an idea struck. As Zombie A lunged forward once more, Harry stuck a leg out and tripped its legs, causing it to tumble to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, he drove the knife downward into the back of the zombie's head. The blade sank all the way to the hilt, and he swiftly withdrew it once Zombie A stopped moving.

Zombie B was rapidly approaching. Harry took a few steps back. Now that there was a body on the ground, it served as a barrier to impede the zombie's progress. Zombie B stumbled over the fallen one, allowing Harry to dispatch it without difficulty. The same fate awaited the third and fourth zombies.

A notification appeared on his user interface, and he dismissed it after taking a quick glance at it.

Dagger Mastery {Novice} Rank 2 -> Rank 3

Zombie E, a level three threat, was drawing near. Harry grew immediately wary, uncertain whether the pile of zombies would hinder its progress. His intuition was correct. Zombie E effortlessly leapt over the bodies and landed in front of him.

Harry cursed under his breath and took a few steps backwards. He was now trapped in close quarters with a level three zombie, and the others were rapidly closing in, relentlessly pressing forward.

Zombie E lunged at him, but he quickly sidestepped the attack. He swung his dagger at the back of its head, but the zombie moved its head at the last moment. Harry lost his balance after the attack failed to hit its target. Zombie E grabbed Harry's shoulder and tried to take a bite of his neck.

Harry elbowed the side of its head, causing it to turn to the side. He swiftly brought his arms up, knocking the zombie's arms off his shoulders, and followed up with a powerful kick to its midsection. It stumbled backwards, giving Harry an opportunity to strike again.

Lunging forward, Harry pierced the gap between its eyes with his dagger, although it only went an inch deep before it stopped. Zombie E grabbed his arm and bit down on his wrist. Thankfully, his gauntlets protected his wrist from being bitten, but the force applied to it hurt like a bitch.

Using his free arm, Harry struck the zombie squarely between the eyes, aiming for the exact same spot as before. With a swift and forceful strike, the dagger effortlessly pierced through to the hilt. Zombie E, now lifeless, collapsed to the floor. Before Harry could celebrate his victory, something shoved him from behind.

Harry spun around and landed another kick to stop the advancing zombie. Ready with his knife, he taunted it, saying, "Come and get me, bitch. I can do this all day."

Harry continued to kill the zombies, causing the bodies to pile up. Climbing over the bodies proved challenging for the zombies and bought Harry some time to catch his breath. Some of them even got stuck, making for easy kills. Harry was so focused that he didn't realise for a minute that no more zombies were coming. They were all dead.

Harry collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. The floor was scattered with bodies, evidence of the countless kills he had made to stay alive. As his adrenaline subsided, the foul stench of the undead overwhelmed him, nearly causing him to vomit. With great effort, he managed to suppress the nausea and got to his feet.

Perhaps looting the bodies would diminish the smell. Upon noticing the gore staining his clothes, he grimaced, realising it was unlikely.

Celeste appeared, seemingly unaffected. "Impressive work, minion. You had me worried for a moment."

Harry winced. "It was a close call. I'm running low on stamina."

"Well, at least we gained valuable experience from the encounter."

"We? I did most of the work. How is it that you also benefit? Is it because of the party system?" Harry asked.

"By default, experience is split fifty-fifty. Did I forget to mention that?" Celeste looked away from his angry expression.

"Once I clean up this mess, I'll carefully examine the party settings. You've been taking advantage of my lack of knowledge."

Celeste pouted. "Don't forget that I saved your life. Besides, the stronger I become, the more I can assist in battles. It's a win-win situation."

"Lucky me,” Harry drawled. “Well, I'm taking all the loot, at least."

"Ew, go ahead. Oh, and when you're done, a treasure chest has appeared since you cleared out all of the zombies."

Harry nodded and began looting the bodies, counting them as he did so. In total, he had killed nineteen zombies in the alcove. Among the spoils were ninety-five pounds, seven Zombie Flesh, three Health Potions, and a new item that he hadn’t seen before. It was a potion containing a green liquid.

"That's a Stamina Potion," Celeste said.

Without hesitation, Harry uncorked it and downed the potion, recovering twenty per cent of his stamina. At least now he had some breathing room if he got into another fight. He didn't feel like returning to camp to sleep another eight hours.

Harry wrinkled his nose as he sniffed himself. "I really stink. Did you happen to see a bath anywhere nearby?"

Celeste shook her head. "Nope, but if you give me your clothes, I can put them in my inventory and they'll be automatically cleaned."

Harry hesitated for a moment before undressing down to his baggy drawers. Celeste giggled at his attire, which earned her a scathing glare. She took his clothes and they vanished into thin air, only to reappear a moment later looking pristine.

"I need to get my own inventory. They're so useful."

"I'll show you how to get one once we're out of here. It might take some time though," Celeste replied.

He checked his notifications and discovered that he had gained two more ranks in his Dagger Mastery. The accumulation of damage bonus was progressing nicely.

Harry stepped out of the alcove and approached the chest in the centre of the room cautiously. He didn't want to fall for another trap so soon after falling for the last one. That would be embarrassing. He opened the lid and peered inside. There was only one item in the chest: an ancient-looking leather-bound book with the image of a white rose on the front.

Celeste flew down to inspect the book. "Wow, that's Grimoire. You're really lucky."

"What's a Grimoire?" Harry asked.

"It's an item that grants you access to new spells and abilities. There are various kinds of Grimoires, each offering a distinct set of interrelated spells."

“So, they are completely different from skills. I can’t learn them by experimenting with my magic.”

“There are some spells and abilities that you can learn if you have the knowledge and capability. Take wandless magic as an example. Everyone that is native to Dimensia can use it from birth. If you wanted to learn the ability, you would likely have to spend several GP to obtain it. But if you had instruction, you could learn it yourself."

“GP?”

“GP is short for Grimoire Points. Once you reach level five, you will start earning one per level, although there are ways of earning GP elsewhere. Another thing that will unlock is the Grimoire Board. Every spell and ability that you unlock from Grimoires you find will be displayed there."

Harry picked up the book. He gently ran his hands across the cover, feeling the soft and smooth texture of the leather. "What does the white rose signify? Do you know what spells I will get from it?`"

"I have no idea. You'll have to find out for yourself."

"I earned plenty of experience from that fight. Let's level up and see what I get."

"I'm going to level up and unlock mine too," Celeste said.

"Are you the same as me? Do you have to use a Grimoire to gain spells as well?" Harry asked.

Celeste shook her head. "No, I was born with Silence and Shadow Spike already learnt. However, I can't access the Grimoire Board until I reach level five, the same as you. I might be able to unlock more spells from Grimoires, but I am not sure. I have no reference to guide me, as I am the last of my kind."

Celeste fell silent, her gaze focused on something only she could see. He surmised that she must be accessing her menu, so he did the same. Harry spent some experience points to increase his level to five. As soon as he did, a notification appeared on his user interface.

=======

The player has reached level five.

The Grimoire Board has been unlocked!

It can be accessed through the Gamer's Menu or by saying the command word: Grimoire Board.

The player has gained 1 GP to unlock new spells and abilities.

A Grimoire has been detected in the player’s possession. Do you wish to consume the Grimoire and gain its knowledge? Y/N

======

Harry pressed 'Yes' and watched as the Grimoire transformed into shimmering motes of light. A rush of trepidation coursed through him as the particles swirled and converged, before being absorbed into his forehead.

The sensation was overwhelming, a flood of knowledge inundating him with information about the Purification skill tree. He realised how fortunate he was that this was the first Grimoire he received. It was effective in dealing with the undead monsters in the Dead Lands. However, he couldn't help but suspect that its placement here was a deliberate act.

======

The knowledge contained within the Purification Grimoire has been added to the Grimoire Board.

The Panacea and Undead Slayer Paths have been unlocked. Spend GP to gain more spells and abilities from them.

======

Harry opened the menu and looked over the Grimoire Board. It was completely blank, with the exception of the new additions. Harry zoomed in on the left corner, where there was a cluster of nodes that represented the different spells and abilities obtained from the Purification Grimoire. The two paths branched out from the centre. The first two skills were highlighted, while the others were greyed out. He focused on each skill and received additional information about them.

=======

Spell: Cleanse Lv1

Description: Cleanse is akin to a magical panacea, which is capable of curing a variety of minor status ailments.

Cost: 5 MP

Healing Effect: Minor (Halved)

Target: Single

Cast time: 1

Range: 1

Modifier: Willpower

Primary Effect: Cures minor status ailments. Effectiveness relies on the user's Willpower and the strength of the status ailment.

Secondary Effect: Removes dirt, germs, and parasites from water and surfaces. It is safe to use on oneself and other living beings.

Additional Notes: The user lacks the ability to perform wandless magic. They may use their wand as a substitute, but the effectiveness of the spell will be reduced by half.

======

Spell: Searing Light Lv1

Description: Focusing divine power akin to a sunbeam, the player channels a burst of radiant light from their open palm.

Damage: Minor; Moderate damage against Undead (Halved)

Cost: 6 MP

Target: Single

Cast time: 2

Range: 5

Modifier: Willpower

Primary Effect: A ranged spell attack that deals light magic on the target. Especially effective against the undead.

Secondary Effect: Illuminates the surroundings momentarily.

Additional Notes: The user lacks the ability to perform wandless magic. They may use their wand as a substitute, but the effectiveness of the spell will be reduced by half.

======

They both sounded highly useful, but the Searing Light spell was more practical in the current situation. He didn't have any long-range offensive spells, except for the ones he learned at Hogwarts, which proved to be ineffective against the zombies. Moreover, the spell was particularly effective against the undead. If he had it when he faced the horde of zombies, the battle would have been much easier.

The good thing was that he didn't have to choose between the two spells; he could acquire both if he wanted to. He had enough experience points in his cache to reach level six and gain an additional point to spend. Harry wasted no time and used his remaining experience points.

First, he invested one point to learn the Searing Light spell. The knowledge of casting the spell filled his mind, although he sensed that it was incomplete because he didn't know how to perform wandless magic. There were no wand movements involved; he only needed to point at the target and utter the spell's name. He also noticed that the spell could be further levelled up twice more by spending more GP, which would increase its range and damage output.

Acquiring the Searing Light spell also unlocked two more nodes in the Undead Slayer Path, one being an ability and the other an offensive spell. However, Harry decided to go with Cleanse for now, as the ability to cure status afflictions seemed important to him. He didn’t have access to a potion that could cure status ailments after all. Two more spells became available in the Panacea path, but since he couldn't obtain them at the moment, he left them alone.

It was finally time to test his new offensive spell. Harry summoned his wand and directed his attention to the nearest wall.

"Searing Light," Harry chanted.

A beam of intense light shot out from the tip of his wand and struck the wall, leaving a scorch mark behind. Harry couldn't help but grin as he stored his wand away. The spell was truly amazing.

He opened his menu to spend the ten additional AP he earned. After a moment's consideration, he allocated three points to Willpower, increasing it to twenty; four points to Senses, raising it to ten; and three points to Endurance, bringing it up to eight. Strengthening his Willpower would enhance the effectiveness of the Purification spells while improving his Senses would enable him to better observe the parameters of the monsters. Finally, raising his Endurance would fortify his defence.

"Are you finished?" Celeste asked, flying over and perching on his shoulder.

"Yes. Have you acquired another spell?" Harry asked.

"Yep. It's a manifestation spell called Thorn Whip. It conjures a whip that inflicts wounds and intense pain on the target."

Harry couldn't help but jokingly comment, "Are you secretly a dominatrix?"

“What’s that?”

“Nevermind.”

=====

Before moving on, Harry accessed the party settings. Aside from the experience distribution, he found no other settings that Celeste could deceive him on. For now, he decided to maintain an equal experience split since they were a team and relied on each other for survival. Exiting through the north gate, Harry used another Magelight scroll to illuminate the surroundings. He wanted to conserve his MP.

Celeste took the lead since she came from this direction. They proceeded along the northern corridor for a few minutes until it opened up to another corridor to the left.

"Be careful," Celeste warned. "There are zombie bats hanging from the ceiling up ahead."

"Luckily, I have a spell that can handle them," Harry said.

"My thorn whip should be effective against them as well," Celeste added cheerfully.

A minute later, Harry spotted the first Zombie Bat. The most unsettling thing about it was the human-like face hidden beneath its black wings. It was not particularly large, roughly the size of an average fruit bat, with a wingspan measuring around four feet.

The Zombie Bat screeched and spread its wings, swiftly taking flight towards him.

Harry cast the Searing Light spell, and the beam pierced through the bat's body. With one final screech, it fell to the ground lifeless.

"That was rather underwhelming," Harry remarked.

"I want the next one," Celeste demanded. "I still have a score to settle with those little bastards."

"You can loot the corpses," Harry said,

Celeste received a bat wing from the fallen creature. Continuing their journey, they followed the path until they encountered the next bat.

"Time for your punishment," Celeste exclaimed. She propelled forward and manifested a whip - about eight feet long - adorned with serrated thorns along its length. It was impossible for her to physically hold it, but she controlled it with her mind. After a few practice swings, she struck out at the vampire bat.

The bat was unable to dodge in time and one of its wings was hit. It fell to the floor, but remained alive, attempting to crawl away. However, Celeste showed no mercy as she mercilessly lashed at it, all the while laughing like a two-bit villain. With a frightened expression, Harry retreated a few steps and watched until the bat stopped moving. Celeste definitely had a dominatrix personality.

“Trash loot,” Celeste muttered as she looted another bat wing.

Harry asked if she could store his backpack in her inventory, realising that it would give him more freedom of movement. She agreed and stored it away.

Continuing their exploration of the cave, they encountered Vampire Bats along the way, taking care of them easily. It took them another twenty minutes to cover the ground that Celeste had already explored. The terrain gradually sloped upwards, and Harry could feel a gentle breeze against his face, indicating that they must be close to an exit leading to the outside.

However, Harry did not want to leave the cave. He was determined to find the Dimension Key and return home. While the Dimension World offered many possibilities, he needed time to process everything that happened.

They reached a small open space with a dark sky overhead. Two tall rock pillars stood at the centre, while beneath them lay a carpet of foliage. The sound of a trickling stream could be heard, although he couldn’t see it.

"This is where I initially appeared," Celeste explained. “I found one of those notes on the top of that pillar.”

“Why didn’t you leave the cave through the opening?” Harry asked, pointing upwards.

"Are you serious? I had no idea why I was summoned here. I had no intention of leaving without checking out the cave. It was fortunate that I did so, or else I wouldn’t have found you. Besides, I am completely clueless about my location in the Dead Lands. I could step outside and find myself face to face with a monster that’s level one hundred.”

"I guess so," Harry shrugged, his gaze shifting towards the opposite side where another entrance could be seen. "Beyond this point, the area remains unexplored. So, let's remain vigilant."

They pressed forward into the cave, encountering additional zombies along the way. Fortunately, dealing with them was no longer a major issue as they were not grouped together in a horde as they had been before.

One observation he made while exploring was the haphazard arrangement of the cave. It consisted of a mix of natural limestone structures and artificially created chambers and rooms. He couldn't help but wonder if this peculiar arrangement had been preconstructed beforehand, or made at the last minute. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was the latter.

An hour later, they entered a room and stumbled upon another campsite. It was situated just outside a vast chamber, and Harry had a nagging sense of apprehension about it. Celeste speculated that this might be where the boss resided and also where they would find the Dimension Key. At long last, the end of their journey through the cave was within reach.

Looking around, he discovered a familiar layout of the previous campsite. His eyes lit up when he spotted another dimension note resting on the bedroll. During the past hour, he had already found two more notes, number two and seven. Although they didn't offer any new information, since Celeste had shared what she knew, he still needed to finish the quest. If this last note happened to be number six, there was a strong possibility that it was the last note he needed.

He picked up the note and read it.

=====

Dimension Note #6

Quests

Quests are tasks provided by the System in exchange for rewards. The player can have up to three quests simultaneously, although participation is entirely optional. Quests vary in difficulty, each offering better rewards as the challenge increases. It is up to the player to decide whether or not to take on these quests. Additionally, players have the freedom to cancel a quest at any time without facing any penalties.

How quests are generated depends on several factors, with time and location being the most influential. The player needs to be in the appropriate time and place. Another factor might be their level, as the system may determine that they are not prepared to take on the challenge. It is possible that the player will need to revisit certain areas from time to time to see if they activate more quests.

Some quests may offer bonus rewards by completing extra objectives. Although these rewards may provide more loot, they can also be more trouble than they are worth. Ultimately, it is up to the player to decide whether the effort required is worthwhile.

=====

“Anything good?” Celeste asked.

“So-so,” Harry replied.

He waited for a notification, but to his disappointment, none came. It appeared that there was another note remaining in the cave. The experience points from completing the quest would have been greatly appreciated, especially when there may be a boss up ahead. He could have easily levelled up at least twice and increased his capabilities before the fight.

“Let’s take a moment to rest,” Harry said.

They settled on the bedroll and retrieved the remaining food from his bag.

"If you find the Dimension Key, will you leave right away?" Celeste asked without looking at him.

Harry paused his apple eating and wondered if she was worried about him leaving her alone. "Yes, I've been away for quite some time now. There will be questions if I don't return soon. But rest assured, I will be back shortly. The allure of Dimensia is simply irresistible."

"I wasn't concerned!"

Harry patted her head and she took a swipe at him.

"What will you eat? I don’t think there is more food in this cave unless you want to eat undead flesh."

"Gross,” Celeste groaned. ”I can go weeks without eating. I only eat for pleasure."

"That you certainly do," Harry teased as he poked her small stomach. "I wonder where it all goes."

"Shut up."

After ten minutes of rest, they got up. Harry consumed one of his potions to replenish his MP. It's best to be prepared for anything.

They entered the expansive chamber, taking in their surroundings for any signs of danger. The layout featured a large central stage encircled by a wide moat, making it a challenging gap to jump, spanning approximately ten feet. Two bridges provide access to the stage, one directly in front of them and the other on the opposite side near a massive barred gate with light streaming through it.

"That must be the cave’s exit,” Celeste said.

“Is there really a boss here?” Harry asked doubtfully.

“I’m sure as soon as we step onto the stage, it will make an appearance.”

“Well, only one way to find out,” Harry said.

They stepped across the bridge and onto the stage.

Immediately, a colossal figure fell from the ceiling, where it had been concealed by the darkness. It's landing on the stage generated a powerful tremor.

"What the hell?" Harry maintained his balance by firmly bracing himself.

The monstrous form rose to its feet, a hideous zombie looming over them with contemptuous superiority. Harry craned his neck to take in its immense size, estimating it to be over thirty feet tall. Known as the Giant Zombie, its name was a simple yet accurate descriptor.

"There's no way this is the boss, right?" Celeste exclaimed.

Harry attempted to gather more information about its capabilities, but his Senses attribute fell short. "Can you assess it?" he called out.

"No," Celeste called. “Would it even matter? This monster is beyond our capabilities.”

“This is the tutorial cave, right? I’m sure the system wouldn’t make it impossible. It must have a weakness we need to exploit."

It seemed they would be facing the monster without any prior knowledge.

Before Harry could devise a strategy, the Giant Zombie lifted a massive foot, leaving no doubt about its intentions.

“Look out,” Celeste shouted and flew off the stage.

He lacked the luxury of flight, so Harry dashed towards the stage's edge. However, to his dismay, the bridge retracted back into itself, effectively trapping him on the stage. He shouldn't have been surprised.

Bracing himself, Harry watched as the Giant Zombie's foot trample the stage. This time, the tremor was even more intense, causing Harry to fall to the ground. When he looked up, he saw the Giant Zombie raising its other foot, threatening to crush him if he didn't move. At that moment, he noticed something that startled him - a subtle shimmer on the bottom of its foot.

Some little voice in the back of his mind told him that he had discovered the Giant Zombie’s weak point. Without any hesitation, he swiftly unleashed a powerful Searing Light spell as the massive creature’s foot came down.

“Harry!” Celeste screamed.

The beam of light struck precisely on the sole where the shimmer was located. A thunderous roar echoed from the Giant Zombie as its foot was sliced open, causing it to waver. It managed to regain its balance by compensating with its other leg.

"The weakness lies on the bottom of its foot. Look for the shimmer,” Harry called out to Celeste. He noticed a slight decrease in the monster's HP, so he managed to injure it.

"Understood," Celeste replied promptly, swiftly returning to the stage to rejoin the intense battle.

Harry watched as the Giant Zombie prepared to attack once more, raising its leg high. He readied himself, prepared to unleash another Searing Light spell at precisely the right moment.

“Look out!” Celeste's voice cut through his concentration.

Confused, Harry glanced around and then felt a pair of claws tightly grip his legs. A cry escaped his lips as he was forcibly pulled into the moat. Falling into the water with a loud splash, Harry found himself disoriented by the murky surroundings. As he tried to regain his composure, he felt something grab him again. Looking down, he came face to face with the terrifying visage of the Drowner.

He was seriously screwed.

So, what do you think? Harry’s in a bind. Can he escape from the Drowner?

Thanks for reading.