“Ah- My current quest is to collect a few pieces of metal actually,” Barron suddenly remembered the primary task at hand.

That Gnome will receive his debt eventually. Barron lamented, it seems True King was going to walk him through the mine and collect metal with him. Barron was still very grateful to True King. As he didn’t need to help Barron after all.

“Then we should begin with that,” True King said while looking up towards the roof, the metal still wedged in the same place, the rope dangling nearby as always, “Although we should get rid of the Dark Gnome, tricky part is forcing him out,” he thought aloud while looking towards the corner of the room.

Dark Gnomes were always tricky creatures as True King explained to Barron, they could easily move and hide within the nearby shadows. Even if you walked right up to them their stealth skill was stronger than what most people at this level could detect.

So that’s how you were avoiding me! Barron realized while putting a puzzle together in his head.

“Well that actually isn’t too difficult,” Barron told True King honestly.

“Oh? Even if you go for the metal he won’t necessarily come out, they typically wait until you’re distracted. But that doesn’t mean they attack right away,” True King continued to share his knowledge of the dungeon, explaining the crafty nature of the Dark Gnomes.

From what he said it appeared if there was a larger group or someone with greater strength then the Dark Gnome would continue to follow them before launching a crippling attack when it was least expected.

It seemed this was a common problem people faced while clearing through the mine, which was a popular location because of its abundant metals that weren’t particularly hard to acquire. However, Barron had faced this Gnome many times.

He now considered himself an expert at dealing with these Gnomes if you ignored the fact he hadn’t actually defeated this Gnome once.

“Is it really that difficult? I think I found a pretty good solution earlier” Barron said, although he wasn’t confident in killing the Gnome, drawing it out was extremely easy to him.

“Then I’ll leave it to the expert,” True King said while gesturing him to continue, clearly not believing Barron.

Not minding True King and casually walking toward the minecart, positioning the cart between himself and where the Gnome most often was, “Aye ya stupid goblin, I’m taking your metal!” Barron shouted, as the word ‘goblin’ left his mouth a bolt instantly was loosed toward him.

He had been frustrated on one of his attempts to kill the Gnome which caused him to slip up and accidentally call him a goblin, something that seemed to unleash its fury.

Ducking behind the minecart and a loud ‘thunk’ as the bolt was stuck into the side of it. The Gnome already reloading, no longer cloaked as he moved towards another position where he could shoot Barron who was moving to keep himself opposite of the Gnome, running around the minecart for safety.

True King was caught off guard, the pale cracked stone skin of the Gnome almost as frightening as the twisted expression on its face. Snarling loudly as its brows pinched together, seething in rage while tightening its grip on the crossbow.

Regaining his composure True King dashed toward the – now visible – Gnome.

Activating a skill as a series of sword slashes erupt from him, catching the Gnome in its center as numbers start appearing over its head ‘-13, -18, -24’.

The Gnome retaliated swiftly without staying withing striking distance for long, hopping back clearing a large distance in a single bound, launching a series of bolts toward True King.

True King didn’t seem to be particularly adept at moving, although Barron wasn’t one to comment as he fumbled about worse than a toddler in some of his attempts at combat with the Gnome.

Taking all three bolts head on as a series of red numbers blinked above him in tune with the bolts, ‘-8, -12, -11’.

Ignoring them entirely, in what Barron could only assume to be a show of bravado. Rushing forward True King dealt another flurry of sword attacks on the Gnome. Its rock like skin crumbling to dust as it kneels over, it’s still black beady eyes hatefully glaring at them.

You have assisted in killing the Dark Gnome (Lv: 4)!

Experience has been granted.

You have gained Crooked Bolts (6)

Stupid goblin Barron cheered as he watched it die. Inwardly swearing a debt to True King.

True King was completely baffled as he watched Barron kick the Gnomes ashes around while cursing its entire family tree, deciding it was best to leave him be for now.

“Sorry about that,” Barron said after a moment, a bit embarrassed at his earlier show although he didn’t regret it one bit.

“Right…” True King said while handing a piece of metal to Barron, “That’s one,” True King said already having taken the metal out of the roof while Barron was celebrating, walking toward a corridor which Barron had never been down before.

You have acquired a quest material!

1/4 metal ore gathered.

“Thanks,” Barron said, hiding his face in shame as True King walked away.

Ahhh, although the Gnome needed that lesson. Thinking to himself and catching up to True King.

The corridor leading to a gaping hole punching through the ground about 30 meters wide as though a chunk of the mine was removed, being able to walk on a ledge which wrapped around the inside of the hole giving a person half a meter or so of foot space.

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An ominous wind being produced by the pit, giving him chills much like the entrance had earlier however it felt much colder. Feeling like he was trudging through an icy tundra, seeing his breath create whisps of smoke before floating away and melting beyond sight.

As Barron was leaning his back against the wall while readjusting his footing, he notices a single piece of metal ore on the opposite side of the hole, had they taken the other route around they would have walked along it without problem.

Reaching the opposite side of the hole True King smiling happily, “That was easy, it’s normally extremely difficult when you have larger groups. Takes longer so they get caught in the air eruptions,” True King had worried Barron would go slowly around, giving it time to erupt and catching them in it.

Looking back True King’s eyes widened as he watched Barron continue around the circle as though he planned to go all the way around.

“That really isn’t necessary!” True King shouted out, thinking Barron hadn’t realized they reached the other side.

Barron responded by simply pointing to the piece of metal ore lodged in the wall, as he had told True King his reason for being the mine earlier. Going around as the whistling wind slowly grew harsher, almost as though the pit was angry at Barron’s continued advance around the ledge.

He continued along the ledge, True King watched from the corridor on the other side. He understood what Barron was doing, but True King could tell there was about to be another eruption as dirt and rocks started to get flung around by the wind as it grew harsher once again.

Barron struggled to keep his footing, trying to reach his arm out fully and grab onto the metal ore while keeping his back completely against the wall.

The wind almost trying Barron to lift off of the ground, pushing large rocks up from the depths of the pit eroding the surrounding ledges as rocks started to pelt him, occasionally a -1 could be seen above him.

I can use that! A thought occurred to Barron as he pulled out a couple of the Crooked Bolts he had received from the Gnome, stabbing them into the rock as a makeshift ice axe of sorts. Stabbing two in using one hand each and pulling himself as close to the wall as he could.

True King was used to the eruptions as he had been in the mine a number of times already, seeing people who weren’t familiar with them quickly rush to either corridor to avoid it and ultimately being lifted up with the rocks and thrown around before…

True Kings thoughts were interrupted as the wind suddenly stopped and almost reversed, pulling everything that was lifted back into the crater.

‘Crash!’ as everything slammed back to the hole at once. The dust making it hard to see inside as he made his way closer to see if Barron were alright.

I can’t believe I forgot to warn him! What a waste… True King’s thoughts trailed off as he saw Barron walking along the ledge once again, metal ore in hand and shooing away a notification:

You have acquired a quest material!

2/4 metal ore gathered.

“I- Well done,” True King nodded before feeling more relaxed again and walked back into the corridor, heading further into the mines as Barron followed closely behind.

Checking his health and seeing it sit comfortably at only 5 points less than his new maximum of 16 he wasn’t worried and instead pulled a red berry out of his inventory and started snacking away.

***

You have assisted in killing the Gnome Worker (Lv: 3)!

Experience has been granted.

You have assisted in killing the Gnome Worker (Lv: 4)!

Experience has been granted.

You have gained a Stone-cap Mushroom (1)

Barron watched as True King swept through the room, as they got further in the mine it felt like it got more difficult.

“Good work,” True King gave him a thumbs up and a smile. Barron felt awkward at the praise as he was just throwing an occasional Arcane Bolt when it came off cooldown, only doing 3-6 damage for each one.

“Right,” Barron said, acknowledging the praise.

Moving on while breaking through the ore in the wall, pulling it out and sending it into his inventory with a system notification telling him he was only a single piece away from completing his quest.

The mine started to shake, the powdered substance flying up and dashing every which way making it harder to see.

Barron instinctually covered his mouth and closed his eyes, opening them again after a moment as he realized that he needn’t worry about it.

The grim look on True King’s face causing him to panic, moments later his look of grimace shifted to one of excitement as he told Barron to follow him, leading him down corridor after corridor.

The mine crumbling in time with their advance, with every new area they entered the one before would come crushing down and blocking off entirely. It seemed as though True King was familiar with each twist and turn as he led them down the maze-like paths of the mine.

True King picked up his pace, Barron following behind him the sudden shift in attitude causing him to be curious as he followed. Unfortunately, Barron was quite a bit slower than True King, causing him to turn back at Barron with a slight look of annoyance.

Barron tried to pick up his pace, although True King did slow down to allow him to stay within a certain distance it wasn’t by much.

What’s got him excited to suddenly? Barron wondered; he hadn’t seen True King make many expressions besides an occasional smile the entire time they were in the mine.

Although he seemed very amiable, Barron got a strange feeling from True King. One that made him feel uncomfortable. His strange tone and manner of speech had been off putting to Barron, he ignored it because True King had been nothing but nice to him thus far.

Maybe he’s shy. Barron decided to rationalize it to himself while following along.

Now the crumbling mines thumping to the tune of what Barron could only associate to steps as he got closer to a large opening as the corridor opened up.

True King already in the lead, the small bar on his side labeled True King dropped suddenly. Losing a quarter of his HP as Barron entered into the room.

The True King stood, chomping down on what seemed to be a chicken leg. His health filling up fully as he finished.

The hulking behemoth of a Gnome, if it could even be called a Gnome stood opposite of him.

[Reluctant Guardian of the Mine: Humanoid]

[Level: 9 | Health: 240]

It’s pale features and hooked nose reminding him much of the Gnomes they had dealt with before.

It’s massive stature and less stone-jagged like body made him feel as though it was something else, something more dangerous. That was if the golden health bar wasn’t a good way to tell.

The weapon it wielded wasn’t a pickaxe or crossbow like any of the other Gnomes, instead this behemoth of a creature wore chains wrapped around its ankles and wrists.

Crashing them into the ground causing the rubble to lift and break around him, their weight evident by the indents it leaves behind in the stone.

“Go now!” it shouted its voice deep and grating.

Opening its mouth once again as dust falls from its cracked lips, “Leave this place,” it bellowed out, “Or be forever buried with it!” saying so while slamming its chains into the columns supporting the ceiling of the mine. The chains acting like a whip as they wrapped around the column. It’s pulling clearly affecting the room.

Although the room they were currently in was large, it couldn’t be supported if the giant had time to destroy the pillars.

“It’s a secret boss!” True King shouted to Barron, noticing his arrival, “I’ll take care of it don’t worry.” Saying so while clearly signaling for Barron to leave or at least get out of his way.

Barron started leaving towards the other side of the room where an entrance opposite from where he had entered was.

I really can’t help… His thoughts trailed off as he suddenly realized something that stopped him in his tracks.

Do we have to fight him? Barron suddenly turned around and shouted towards True King

“Wait!”