The early morning found us at the dungeon's entrance having all the equipment and knowledge we needed. A ragged cloak too so I didn't have to walk around like a naked beggar. It was the first day -for the next three days- of the dungeon opening that sennight. They quickly checked our stats and we were cleared. We had met 300 vital stat threshold.
[A/N: Vital stats are three stats integral for your class.]
"It was 250 last I checked," I said.
"Yeah but a lot of people have been dying in there recently," one of the guards said.
"The adventurers sent in last sennight said the monsters are leveled up but nothing too serious, be careful though,"
I smirked. I may just be able to get a good stat grind out of this dungeon. I turned to Runa. She was tensed up.
"You ok?"
She nearly jumped out of her skin, "Y-yeah I'm fine."
That was uncharacteristic of her but I paid no heed to it. We walked in.
The city center transformed into a lush jungle. There were ruins present though. An ancient city overrun by nature it seemed. With the deathly silence that haunted such sites. Runa quickly drew her daggers. She was hyperventilating.
(It's just some twi-)
What walked into our view was nothing more than a monstrosity. A twig blight was supposed to be about 2 feet tall. Shorter than a damn goblin. This damned thing was a 3 feet taller than me. I would've called it a tree blight but that didn't happen to be the case. They were on the second floor not the first.
(This isn't a damned level up, this is an evolution!)
It immediately charged at us. Its joints creaking, legs moving in unnatural ways. The blazing speed incompatible with something so large. Runa's breath hitched.
(Not again! Not again!)
"Pull yourself together!"
Other than startling her that didn't manage to do much. Notably though, her daggers had already been drawn. At least the training had done something!
It swiped its claw at me. Dodged. I countered with a body shot with a disgusting crunch. Nothing. Just bits and pieces of its wood falling off. A claw attack. Searing pain erupted across my chest. It continued its onslaught. Every time I didn't perfectly dodge it's attacks it got stronger and stronger. Every block felt like my bones were about to shatter! It came in for another claw attack. I raised my guard. Feint! It struck my gut with a disgustingly wet crunch of organs turning to mush. I whizzed. Another blow to the face knocked me back a couple feet.
My ears erupted into a cacophony of ringing. I could only see in blurs. I glared at Runa. She was even more terrified now. She was dead weight. Even worse was the fact that all the damage I had dealt had now miraculously healed and it was even bigger now. The damned thing was healing with every attack. I couldn't even read its movements! The thing was rushing straight for me.
I barely managed to get up, the pain in my core nearly making me keel over. It threw a claw attack. Bullet Jab! It got blown back. Powershot! A savage crunch erupted as I landed a hit straight into its chest. Most of it falling off with something gleaming within it.
(The magic crystal!)
I immediately tried front kicking it but the twig blight's punch got to me first, knocking me back. Its growing size throwing me off rhythm. It rushed toward me. I kicked its knee joint making it lose balance and fall. Powershot! An uppercut to its falling head blew it straight off. It collapsed onto the ground.
[+37 Vitalis, +17 Experience, +3 Strength, +6 Endurance, +4 Dexterity]
Its body dematerializing leaving the crystal behind. If I had managed to kick it out of its body it would've been game over.
(I'm too slow.)
I picked up the crystal and looked at Runa. She couldn't even look me in the eye.
"What's wrong with you?!"
"I-I'm sorry,"
I took a deep breath.
"Do you realize where we are?"
"..."
She stood there motionless.
(Again and again! Worthless!)
She screamed at herself. She gripped her daggers tighter. Drawn yet unused. Tears welled up. He moved like a god to her and her only competency was to stand there like a scarecrow.
I sighed. That was immature of me. I shouldn't have said that. He stared at her. Her hands trembled just as much as mine did. A pang of ache struck at him and yet anger still swirled in his heart confusing him.
(Getting angry wouldn't solve jack shit.) I concluded.
That didn't shake the near irresistible urge to throw her against a wall.
"Can you detect the monsters in this dungeon?"
She nodded her head. She could smell them. Now we were getting somewhere.
"Alright, lead us to the safe zone, I'll take care of any twigs we come across,"
"...where is it?"
"Wherever there's less of those monsters, just follow that path,"
She nodded. She took a deep breathe. She turned and led the way. Running. Soon enough they came across three more. She could only watch as I handled it. They were more powerful this time and didn't have the concept of honor. They swarmed me. She watched. Her muscles locked like rusted chains. Every instinct screamed 'MOVE!' but her body was a prisoner of old failures. Her mind unable to overcome that wall. She continued on watching as I fought, blood spluttering, wounds accumulating.
Abruptly, one got past him and lunged at her. Its claws coming in low and fast!
"Block!"
She fumbled with her daggers. She unconsciously stepped back, scared for her life, and held out the daggers. Nothing like he taught her. She looked like a toddler playing with her toys. By sheer luck it worked. The little distance she created enough to soften the blow enough so that she could block it.
However, that was nowhere near enough. A savage blow to the face sent her flying straight into a tree with a powerful thud. Unimaginable pain assailed her as her brain sloshed in her skull. For a brief period she was blinded only engulfed in that hellish pain. She tried moving but couldn't feel a thing in all her limbs.
Even more painful was the fact that she saw it coming but didn't move. Cowardice had engulfed her. That's when the questions came in. Why? Why couldn't she do anything right?! She had sunk so much effort into getting better and yet nothing had changed! A small voice started whispering in her ear. That maybe her father was right.
She remembered. Her awakening ceremony. The torchlights dimming before the priest spoke. 'Thief' it was declared. Her father's face -pride contorting into disgust- was the last expression she ever saw. From then on she never did anything right. She desperately tried training like the rest. Even teaching herself to read to learn the tribe's mage craft. Waking up in the morning to train physically. Yet there was no progress. Every time he scoffed. Every effort she made seemed to send her three steps back in a melancholic cycle.
Her brother tried standing up for her but that just made it worse.
"A lowly thief from MY bloodline," he yelled indignantly, "she'd amount to nothing."
Before she knew it. She was banished. Together with her brother and mother. All that because of her.
"na!...runa!"
(...R-rayk?)
Her vision came back slowly. A blur first then slowly she saw clearly. She saw him covered in blood, sweat and flesh wounds. She wanted her vision to disappear again. Maybe permanently. She didn't want to look into his eyes. He carried her on his back.
"Where to next?" I asked.
She was shocked for a bit. She pointed in the direction they should head and finally found the safe area. It was brightly lit by a central column of luminescent crystal. Other adventurers were present.
"Whoa! You guys survived those nightmares alone!" one of them spoke up.
"Of course they did! He's NOFACE!" another chimed in.
"Who?"
"Damn outsider know noth-"
"Look at him you dung for brains. The man's half dead," a gritty old man interrupted shooting a glance at Runa, "seems someone was deadweight."
She clung to me tighter.
"Shut it," I said glaring at the man.
"Whoa there! We're on the same side!" he exclaimed.
I snorted and took a secluded spot. I laid Runa down and sat beside her. One adventurer had an hour glass next to him. It was already half drained. The safe zone had a time limit of how long it'd stay active. Afterwards, another safe zone would activate somewhere else, displacing a lot of monsters. For a certain time they'd be hyper aggressive usually meaning an increase in stats. They would even know their locations. At least from what he had gathered. It wouldn't be pretty.
The only way to exit the dungeon was an escape route located on each floor. Though they were guarded by an insane number of monsters. I left Runa for a bit and went over to the adventurers.
"How'd you guys even get here?" I asked.
"Traitors that's how!" one fumed.
"Our hired mercenaries abandoned us here once we got an ambrosia drop from a Moss Lurker," the old man said.
"Hope they choke on those gold coins!" one cursed.
I was glad I hadn't gotten one then. That would've been a problem. I turned to Runa. She still couldn't meet my eyes. She was a horrible mess. I recalled one of my gaming sessions with Ben.
"Damn it! These noobs! They keep dying too early!" Ben yelled in the middle of a boss fight.
"Then you shut up and carry!" I yelled back.
"Ugh! Fuck it then! Les do this!"
I sighed and held my head in disappointment. I remembered that that was a lesson I had learned throughout my years of gaming and memes. Yet I couldn't apply it to her. I couldn't apply it when needed most.
'Your best can't always be the best but you can always do your best.'
I let those words ring in my head for a bit before heading to Runa. I swallowed hard.
"Runa,"
Her ears perked up but she still wouldn't turn to me.
"Sorry for what I did and said before, that was immature of me,"
She glanced at me. Her teary eyes widened in shock.
"...N-no, who wouldn't be mad at being let down like that, I'm still as weak as before," she said, curling up even further
"You blocked that hit half decently, you aren't the same,"
"...How? I held the daggers in the absolute worst way possible,"
"No, if that were that bad your guard would've broken. Besides, stepping away was the correct move, I taught you that,"
She stayed silent for a while.
"...I was scared,"
He pat her head, "Scared or not you did as taught, that's good."
Her tension eased a bit.
"I still can't do anything right,"
To this he stood up and ordered her to do so. She did so albeit confused. Abruptly, he threw a punch straight at her face. Her daggers were already drawn ready to dice my hand into pieces before it even got close to her. He gestured at what she just did.
"You can," I said.
I caressed her cheeks.
"You just have to let yourself do it," I leaned and kissed her on the forehead. Some kind of instinct kicked in.
She trembled. The kiss, electrifying. She felt her worries partially dissolve.
"Wha-wha-what are you doing?!" she screamed before pushing me away.
"Aha! There she is!" I said playfully teasing her.
"Stop it!"
I sighed in relief after playing with her for a bit. He had to do his part. He turned and headed out the safe zone. She stopped me.
"Where are you going?" she said, her voice trembling.
"Don't worry I'll be back, just rest up,"
She looked at me and let go reluctantly. I left the safe zone and found me some Twig Blights. I had to get used to their movements. I practiced my dodging and when it became untenable to continue practicing, I killed them. This cycle continued. Found a twig blight, practiced and then killed them. I also spotted some vine blights. I could only imagine how difficult that thing would be to fight. With resolve, I continued on.
After a while I finally came back to the safe zone, successful. Banged up and bloodied but worth it. I had even leveled up.
[
Greg Quagmire:
Class: Pugil {Common}
Class Level 3: 148/1000
Level 1: 6707/7000
Strength: 224
Endurance: 293
Dexterity: 287
Mana: 45
Flux: 18
Skills: Powershot(Lvl.2) Dash (Lvl.3), Masochist (Lvl.1), Bullet Jab (Lvl.2), Tireless Endurance (Lvl.1), Steadfast Heart (Lvl.1), Rapid Recovery (Lvl.1), Hardened Fists (Lvl.1), Slippery (Lvl.1)
Mp: 17/45
]
[
Slippery: Increase movement speed when dodging. Perfectly dodging an attack will increase damage by 1.5X when countering. {Passive}
Powershot (Lvl.1 -> Lvl.2): Multiplies base damage of a punch by 2X stunning opponents. If already stunned, the damage goes up to 4X the original. 5 mp.
]
He had gotten more than what he wanted on top of leveling up on of his main skills. I had even gotten a good grasp of those twigs. Even got some of their crystals. Though the mana would've been an issue. I sighed.
(Masochist will have to come in clutch.)
When I stepped into the safe zone I found Runa diligently swinging her daggers, dodging and using her footwork to get around a tree.
(She's getting good though she needs to get better at shifting her weight around.)
She spotted me and quickly rushed to me.
"Are you ok?!"
"Very ok, never been better," I said blood dripping into my mouth as I spoke.
She pouted her lips. She grabbed my hand and made me sit down and rest up. Though she still continued. I looked at the hour glass. Not much time was left. The others were visibly shaking. Some were even praying.
(Pointless. They won't answer.)
[Vampiric!]
I activated the skill. A silent howl was heard as the blood pouring out of me and in my veins reversed and headed straight into my earrings. I could feel myself get lighter and stronger though it stung a bit. That 20% buff would be necessary.
"Oi kid!" The old man yelled after staring for the phenomenon for a moment.
"What's the plan,"
"Since when was I the leader here?"
"You'd trust those piss soaked sissies to lead?" he said pointing at the rest, "you're the most composed."
I nodded, "The plan's simple, we get out of here,"
He clicked his tongue, "How?! Finding the escape portal in this mess would be a nightmare,"
I gestured at Runa.
"So? Is that coward a scout or something,"
I glanced at Runa. She was bothered but didn't quiver. I smiled.
"No, she's a beastkin, we just have to find go where there are a lot of monsters,"
He was about to retort with something before he silenced himself and thought.
"...That may just work,"
"What?! Are you crazy?! We could barely face three and now you want us to just charge right into a horde of them!" one of the other adventurers protested.
"If that's the best you could come up with, someone else should lead,"
I shrugged my shoulders, "You're right."
I called Runa to me. She rushed to me and stood beside me as I stood up.
"We'll go on our own then,"
"No," the old man stood up, "I'm coming too."
The other adventurers remained silent. As we left one stood up and followed us, then another and another until all five of them came along. I scoffed. I put myself and the old man as vanguards. Two to the sides of Runa and the other three as rear guard.
"If anything happens to Runa out there, know we're dead," I cautioned the two.
They visibly shook.
We quickly took off. Runa directing on the path. Soon enough we came across three twig blights and one Vine blight. From nearly ten meters away, its vine shot at me like a bullet. Faster than every other attack I had seen. However, I was faster too! I instantly weaved under it. Powershot! A blow straight to its chest shattered its magical crystal instantly.
[+47 Vitalis, +7 Experience, +1 Strength, +3 Dexterity]
The old man had managed to split one of the twig blights with his axe. However, the other two were giving him trouble.
I turned to go help. Abruptly, what I had assumed to be a patch of grass leapt at me.
(A moss lurker! Shit!)
A dagger flew right past my head, missed its magic crystal but struck it square in its head. It screeched. I instantly moved in and killed it.
[+65 Vitalis, +3 Experience, +3 Strength]
I looked back. Runa was shaking. Her arms trembling. Her pupils dilated. Heaving and gasping as if she fought the entire fight. The other adventurers were in her state yet paralyzed. I smiled and immediately went in and finished off the remaining two.
We continued on. More and monsters kept spawning. We ran past straight all those we could and only fought when we couldn't. The old man's stamina was giving out. The rest of the adventurers couldn't swap with him either. I glanced at Runa.
(No not yet.)
"Old man, rest up!"
"Bu-"
"You can't lose all your stamina at the start of this death march!"
He conceded. Five more twig blights showed up. I dropkicked three of them and we ran past the other two. Abruptly, a vine blight grabbed one of the adventurers in the midguard.
"He-help me!"
"Keep going!" I ordered and continued running.
The rest begrudgingly followed. I knew a tidal wave of monsters was headed there. The other safe zone must've already spawned. Besides, my only priority was Runa.
7 more monsters popped up ahead of us. Worse still 5 of them were Vine Blights!
(Shit!)
"I got this!" the old man yelled.
[BERSERKER!]
He charged ahead of us. His skin gaining a red hue as a red aura swirled around him backdropped by the hum of bones and tendons crackling with power. One swing was powerful enough to fell four monsters instantly! The shockwave nearly making the rest of us lose balance. He spurt out some blood and faltered. One vine blight shot its vine at him. Dash! Bullet Jab! I countered, staggering it. Again, I aimed for the chest with all my strength pulled into an uppercut.
[+43 Vitalis, +9 Experience, +3 Strength, +4 Dexterity]
The others had already ran past the remaining two. We ran away too and caught up to the head of the formation. This time another eleven spawned before us.
"Flank!"
They all headed to the left side of them as I charged right into them my guard raised. An onslaught of attacks. I managed to dodge, weave and block most. However, just as I managed to pierce through them, one vine crackled through the air and whipped me right in the back and melted skin right off my back. I gasped. All the air evicted out of my lungs. I pulled myself together.
[+4 Mana replenished!]
Dash!
My heart thundered against my chest as I felt my legs slowly turning to jelly. I could barely catch up to the formation. Thankfully, in the distance we could see the glow of the escape portal.
"Master! Your back!"
The skin surrounding the deep gush had already turned a deep purple. I could feel my consciousness start to fade. I persevered. There were surprisingly no monsters ahead of us, we just had to make it in before the monsters behind us caught up with us.
However, the bastards who were acting as rear guard rushed ahead of every body and dashed towards the gate.
Before they could even make it in, just like before, a green patch on the path instantly transformed into a Moss Lurker and lunged at them. It was too late. Their screams muffled as they disappeared behind its jaws. It was easily twice the size of the one before. Like a mini boss guarding the escape portal.
(Shit!)
All my mental power was concentrated on keeping myself from just collapsing from pain and exhaustion. My legs constantly wanted to give out. My run had degenerated into a painfull speedy limp. The old man was suffering from the drawbacks of berserker. Every misty breath was colored red from his internal injuries. Despite that, his hands trembled as he tried getting his axe ready. I took a deep breath and readied myself.
Suddenly, a dark red light whizzed right past us and pierced right through the monster.
(What the he-)
[Backstab]
Runa materialized behind it. She had her eyes closed. Terror consuming her but the momentum carrying her forward. Stab! Stab! She exhausted her mana with just those three moves. She got paralyzed for a moment. She swung her dagger and slashed it.
(Just this once!)
She slashed again.
(Just this once!)
She slashed twice more.
(Let me do something RIGHT just this once!)
She erupted into a flurry. A flurry attacks with no skill behind them only a terror she would be stuck in that hole she was in. Swirling and twirling till her death! She wouldn't let herself! The fury of her own incompetence fueling each strike with such power she managed to decimate the Moss Lurker's defenses and puncture its core.
Its body dematerialized. The path was clear! The old man jumped in, grabbing the huge core with him. I tried following suite but something suddenly snapped in my foot. I had snapped a tendon! Pain charged up my spine into my brain with a ruthless barbarity! I could feel myself fall and vision fading to black.
I fell to the ground with a deep thud. The last thing I heard. Runa's screams.