The landscape of the dungeon was radically different from those Xicackna had previously experienced. There was a vast meadow covered in yellow grass, sand, and scattered with bushes, wedged between large arid hills. The different layers that formed the latter were easily seen because they were brightly colored, especially by yellow and orange bands.
In the middle of the valley, strange buildings stood. You could make out walls with holes, like a kind of fence, as well as tall towers that watched over the surroundings.
Kol-Gaar signaled the group to lower themselves to reduce their visibility. He observed the structure in the distance and seemed to use his “Stratagem” skill as he gesticulated in the air, moving and modifying invisible windows. He grimaced:
“Ah, I had hoped for an underground labyrinth. An open-air fortress is harder to manage. We could start by ambushing distant patrols, but they would immediately put their base on alert: like us, they have the means to communicate remotely. A frontal attack on the base could prove risky, but since it is a rank ‘F’ dungeon, they will not have their gigantic armored machines...”
“Gigantic armored machines?”
“They can be found from rank ‘E’, but generally no more than one at that rank. They are a kind of very resistant vehicle capable of eliminating us in one hit if we are far enough away from them for them to use their attack. Up close, they can crawl on us to kill us instantly, but they are easier to dodge. Of course, at higher levels they are more numerous, but the adventurers are also more resistant.”
Xicackna watched with concern the constructions in the distance which now seemed to her to hide a thousand machines of death behind their almost harmless appearance. What creatures could be out there, lurking in those strange blocky buildings?
“We’re lucky,” Kol-Gaar said as he heard his Scouts’ report, “there are no patrols nearby. At least, none that they’ve detected: the enemy has clothing designed to blend into the landscape, which gives them a small camouflage bonus.”
Following the scouts' directions, the rest of the group moved quickly, crawling to reduce the risk of being spotted. They arrived at the foot of one of the steep hills, where a particularly dense group of bushes could easily shelter them.
The scouts were nearby, using camouflage skills, allowing Kol-Gaar to keep an eye on the surroundings with the help of the Hive Mind. The strategist observed some information and informed the princess that they would attack at night.
“The local monsters don't see well in the dark: it's the only way to stealthily approach their base... at least with the skills of the soldiers I have: what a shame to have lost the one who had the ‘Burrowing’ skill to save someone...”
Xicackna decided not to take up the provocation. She nevertheless asked:
“Why don't you still want to tell me what we're dealing with?”
“Two reasons. First, you need to use your skills as much as possible to give them a chance to improve. It’s unlikely that they’ll be more than one rank higher than your own, but it can happen, especially with class skills.”
“And what’s the second reason?”
“I want to see the look on your face when you discover the enemy.”
She glared at him.
“Very funny. You call that a good reason?”
“Not necessarily a good one, but it doesn’t hurt anyone.”
She didn’t respond to his provocative smile.
Night fell on the Dungeon.
“Good,” said Kol-Gaar, “it's time to attack. The goal is to quickly eliminate the enemy boss: no need to take risks by facing the Dungeon for too long. Xicackna, stay on the lookout for its presence: with your skill you can spot it from much further away than us. Are you ready?”
She answered affirmatively and they set off. The night fortress was illuminated by curious jets of light that swept the surrounding space. The path of the rays had a remarkable precision, making any discreet approach practically impossible. The princess cast a questioning glance at the prince, but he concentrated and did not worry about it. Holding out a hand in front of him to facilitate his concentration on his target, he used one of his skills:
Skill “Smoke Cloud [E]” used by Kol-Gaar [E]
Immediately, a smoke blurring all perceptions invaded the space that separated them from the camp. Trusting their memories, the Zcarbbs rushed inside the opaque mass, running towards the strange fence surrounding the camp.
Xicackna was stopped abruptly by bumping into the mass of the soldier in front of her. It had apparently stopped. The smoke blurring the precision of the pheromones, she asked out loud what was happening. Kol-Gaar answered her:
“They are cutting the barbed wire: a kind of bristling iron wire that surrounds the enemy's fences. Don't speak so loudly: the monsters have good hearing.”
Shortly after, he shook her to signal her to move forward again. The smoke cleared and she discovered that their small group was near one of the strange enemy buildings, discreetly skirting it to stay as much as possible in the shadows. There was one soldier missing.
Kol-Gaar answered her barely formulated question by pointing to one of the strange towers that surrounded the camp. The one near their entry point was now occupied by a Zcarbb covered in the blood of its enemies. The light continued to sweep the terrain, as if controlled by an automaton. The soldier pointed at them a strange metal weapon that it had found up there and seemed to use it to protect the group in the event of a fight.
Approaching the center of the camp, more likely to shelter the boss, they suddenly came face to face with a patrol of monsters.
Lit by the strange lamps that dotted the base and by their own light diffusers, a group of Humans in outfits oscillating between green and brown pointed their steel spitters at the valiant soldiers who attacked immediately.
Seeing the enemy they were facing, Xicackna understood why Kol-Gaar was impatiently waiting for her reaction. She didn’t know what he thought he would see, but she didn’t let it get to her and observed the situation. The monsters were level 1, but their weapons were marked as higher rank than “F”. Surprised by the sudden attack, the Humans had trouble aiming correctly and must have realized that their life expectancy was seriously compromised at such a short distance.
The characteristic sound of strange weapons resonated. The incredible speed of their projectiles allowed them to penetrate deep into the soldiers' natural armor, but they suffered little damage before finding themselves in the middle of the enemies whom they violently massacred. Xicackna nevertheless noted that one of them had suffered a full burst that had cost it a tenth of its Hit Points.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Use your acid projection!” Kol-Gaar ordered. “Aim for as many targets as possible: this will allow you to obtain some participation XP when they die.”
She obeyed immediately. The System required new reasoning in combat situations, and one of them was clearly to inflict at least a few wounds on the enemy in order to become more powerful later.
Despite the low virulence of her acid, the Humans affected screamed in pain, losing nearly a fifth of their Hit Points. They remained ready to fight, as if mysteriously supported by the System where a normal beast would have fled or rolled on the ground in pain. Of course, the creatures were quickly finished off by the soldiers and their resistance was therefore futile.
The use of acid attacks allowed Xicackna to accumulate a few XP, but three by three: one obtained and two in reserve… This was not how she would finally move on to the next level.
The confrontation had attracted attention: from everywhere one could hear the roars of Humans coming out of their lairs to search for the enemy. From the guard towers, new light projectors were turned on to explore the interior of the camp.
Xicackna bent down to pick up one of the monsters' weapons.
Colt M16A4 rifle (E) [Armor piercing property, 20 rounds magazine, free slot for [M203], range 550/800/3600 meters] [Ranged weapon]
The weapon's activation mechanism seemed simple enough, but she would need a quiet moment to decipher it. So, she put it in the empty slot of her inventory. And she moved forward, seeing almost nothing other than the massive silhouette of the soldiers protecting her.
She heard sounds of fighting and understood roughly what was happening. Their group was using the cover of the buildings to eliminate the advantage of the enemy's ranged weapons, while the latter regrouped, ever more numerous, and organized themself more and more efficiently to launch assaults or retreat. Many soldiers were covered in bloody wounds from the multiple hits of the enemy projectiles.
Suddenly, as a view of the central building briefly appeared before her, the princess caught sight of the enemy boss. Surrounded by a larger group of monsters, he was watching the fight that was gradually moving towards its location and giving orders to a box it was holding in its hand.
Captain "Texas Bill" (E), Boss Level 10
The soldiers surrounding it all seemed to be level 2, except for one of them who was level 5. It had just taken charge of some of the soldiers and was arranging them in formation to prepare for the arrival of the adventurers. It seemed hesitant to shoot because of the presence of other monsters between them and the Zcarbbs, but it was ordering them to move aside.
Lieutenant Noah Smith (F), Sub-boss Level 5
It was holding the same weapon as the others but had added an accessory. Despite the distance, the “Observation” skill worked:
M203A2 Grenade Launcher (D) [Attachment (requires compatible weapon); range 150 (vehicle)/350 (personnel)/400 meters (maximum)], one ammunition.]
Putting part of its paw on the ground, the monster aimed its weapon at their formation. When its warriors had moved away or were killed, it fired at the first Zcarbb that came along.
Xicackna had trouble following what followed. Suddenly, one of the soldiers grabbed her with its mandibles and threw her brutally behind it. The next second, the first soldier of the group disappeared in a burst of light and noise, a terrifying explosion that also engulfed the nearby soldiers.
Crashing onto the metal roof of one of the camp's structures, the princess watched in amazement as the result of the attack unfolded:
The first soldier was still alive, but barely. Its shell was in pieces and its flesh ravaged by the explosion was covered in a stream of green blood. Without protection, it took the full force of the enemy's ammunition and died quickly. The three soldiers closest to it were also badly damaged, but despite their tattered armor, they still had enough Hit Points to continue fighting successfully.
Three more soldiers passed in front of them and charged the enemy with incredible speed, quickly followed by the wounded and another soldier.
Rush (E) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to move very quickly towards a target, in a straight line. Temporarily increases Agility and Strength by 2, costs 30 Vigor. It is possible to use it at a lower rank.
Surprised, the enemies defended themselves vigorously, others gradually emerging from the alleys to support them from afar. The outcome of the confrontation was uncertain.
Behind her, the sound of a burst of weapons resonated as the soldier who remained in the tower manipulated human weapons against their reinforcements.
Where was Kol-Gaar? She couldn’t see him…
As she looked for him, a System window appeared in a corner of her vision, far in the air. Looking up, she saw Kol-Gaar, his name and level indicated in green above his head, carrying a soldier.
She opened her eyes wide, astonished: how could he manage to lift something so big?
He was clearly struggling, and wouldn’t have been able to keep up this pace for long despite his still satisfactory reserve of Vigor. He abruptly dropped the soldier above the enemy boss then began to hover and focused his most powerful power on the enemy:
Skill “Time Freeze [D]” used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 40 Human Military [F], 1 Human Sub-Boss [F] and 1 Human Boss [E]
Consumption 430 Energy / minute
The Human leader seemed to have noticed the air assault at the moment of the drop, but, paralyzed, it could only watch the huge soldier fall on its. It disappeared in a cloud of dust.
Many Humans were running, ever more numerous. There were hundreds of them! Kol-Gaar grimaced as he extended his power to the newcomers: no doubt he would still complain about the loss of Energy for a long time. She heard him through the Hive Mind:
“Well then, you idiot, are you planning on staying there until the end? Help defeat the boss while I hold the minions! Quickly!”
Grinding her teeth, she said nothing and observed the space that stretched between the roof and the ground. It seemed high to her. That said, her shell had absorbed the shock of her arrival at the top and she could see in the distance the soldier who was battling with the enemy boss, each having survived their collision.
She jumped and crashed heavily to the ground. She got up covered in dust and hurried to join the fight, passing between the paralyzed monsters. They tried to free themselves, but most seemed exhausted by their futile efforts. She knew that their attempts weighed heavily on Kol-Gaar's Energy.
The Sub-Boss was long dead and the few soldiers around the Boss who had been freed from paralysis when the soldier had crushed them had since been killed. The Boss, meanwhile, resisted fiercely against the multiple soldiers who attacked it.
Having exhausted the ammunition of its weapon, it seized that of its fallen men to unload them on the soldiers, or else it threw small explosive devices from a distance, or it fought with the help of a good-sized knife. Even though the soldiers surrounding it were of equal level, some bonuses granted by the Boss status allowed this monster to stand up to them and it had already taken down the most seriously injured.
Joining the fight, the princess spat a small jet of acid on the creature.
“Now wait,” the prince ordered, “and watch his Hit Points carefully. Prepare to spit again when he is low enough.”
That moment approached quickly and Xicackna spat at the same time as the prince decided to give her the order. Delighted to have acted before hearing the order, she watched the creature collapse to the ground, finally devoid of life.
BOSS: Captain "Texas Bill" (E), Level 10 Defeated:
Combat XP: 22
Finisher XP: 24