Henry led the adventuring team through the eighth floor. However when they got close to the end he halted the group and even sent a bugbear forward to scout out the upcoming final room. Like the previous seven floors, the eighth did not seem to hold any real surprises. No complicated floor structure, no traps, just a large contingent of troops awaiting in a final room.
The contingent in the eighth floor was by far the biggest, including forces from at least three spawners. The 25 construct defenders occupied the center of the forces. Mark quickly sized them up, 18 gargoyle kings, 5 bishops, and this time 2 amalgamations. The first of the amalgamation constructs looked like an oversized gorilla. Two thick arms, whose forearms flared out into the shape of a shield, were held out before it, which would effectively shield the rest of the construct’s body. Which includes a bunch of rocks and earth held together by tree roots. It turned out this unit was the guardian of the floor with a power rating of 7.1.
The other construct amalgamation had the look of a hedgehog with a power rating of 5.1. A large round earthen body with wooden, rock, and bone spikes jutting out from its back. It’s front legs were slightly more elongated than its hind legs exposing a large earthen rock encrusted chest that resembled a bejeweled look for Mark. Both creatures looked like they would be extremely difficult to take down.
Flanking the constructs, was a squad of 9 orc warmongers. Bulky pig humanoids that were at least 7 feet tall. Their corded muscles were barely contained by their greenish skin, contorted far past the range that even a human body builder could ever hope to reach. Each had a power rating of 3.8 indicating that they were likely powerful level 2 units for the orc branch. They matched the bugbears, each wielding a massive two handed warhammer.
Mirroring them on the other side was a cluster of plant type units. The weakest of which were the same level 1 roughwoods that Derrick had likely gotten courtesy of one of Avery’s attacks on his dungeon. The roughwoods were actually the tallest of the plant types at 7 or 8 feet. Wooden armor plates covered their chest and shoulders. Having the roughwoods as a spawner, Mark knew them to be strong and difficult to kill, but they were also extremely slow.
The second myconid type seemed to be a mage class since all four from this variety carried a staff. They were low level 2 units with only a power rating of 2.7 after some likely boosts. The four stood 5 feet tall and had white pale bark like skin that actually resembled a mushroom stem from this distance. Since their mushroom heads were a dark reddish brown and they were named Balefire, Mark had an idea on what to expect from the myconid mages. Mark was glad that all of the bugbears had a fire resistant undershirt as a part of their ensemble.
The last type was a fungus branch unit. By looks it would have been the easiest to dismiss. If they did not each have a power level of 3.3. They were called Shrieker’s. The diminutive units stood less than 4 feet tall. Their dark purple mushroom caps concealed everything from the chest up in shadow except for the illuminated yellow eyes. Their brown bark like arms ended in three pronged dagger like claws.
“What can you tell me about the shriekers?” Mark could only hope that Amelia had gleaned something about the small strikers.
“The Shriekers were the only level 2 unit Avery got for the fungus branch. Like any plant they can take root to recover health or stamina. However they differ from the rest, in that they specialize in melee fighting, and are fast when they aren’t rooted… Like really fast…” Amelia replied coolly.
“Great,” Mark muttered turning his attention back to the screen. In other words they were awkwardly short and fast opponents. They would be extremely difficult for the bugbears to counter, since the bugbears swung warhammers which were relatively slower than other weapons.
Finally there were two dozen panther-like units, half on each side. The ‘shadow cats’ each had a power rating of 1.9. They were not overly powerful, but they would bring their own unique aspect to the upcoming fight.
Mark’s mind raced on what their best course of attack would be, as the scout debriefed Henry and the other bugbears. It was just his own speculation since Mark could not communicate with the bugbear leader despite being linked. Apparently sending a squad in as adventurers severed the communication link. However, Mark could not complain too much since they were able to get visuals on non linked units when they went into a dungeon. It was a tradeoff. They could always watch their adventurers regardless of link, but would not be able to feed them more information.
“How are they going to beat them?” Amelia asked worriedly.
“Just watch,” Mark replied. He would have loved to fill her in on everything, but since he anticipated that his actions would likely draw the battle managers into making another patch he couldn’t. Once the die was cast in another minute, it would be too late for a patch to prevent the golem balls. Since there were over 80 powerful enemy units in the next room, they definitely needed the stone golems each average quality golem ball would summon. Each should summon 3 rock golems about 5 feet tall with a power rating of about 1.8.
Mark had the gnome craftsmen work overtime on the project for the last few days. The payoff was the increase of an additional quality level. The downside was that Mark had discovered a restriction. Each unit could only cast one golem ball. There were some in battle summoning restrictions that were hit since units had to activate the balls with their manna prior to throwing. Units were prevented from summoning or resummoning over a short period of time. Even the spiritualists had a cool down associated before their spirits reconstituted. It was not too big of a deal. An additional 60 units, despite being on the weaker side, would even the odds with the opposing force they now faced.
The only real worrisome opponents were the two construct amalgamations. Both looked like they would be difficult to take down. Henry could likely manage one like he had on the last floor, but this floor had two, and these two looked more difficult. The only thing that left Mark with some hope was that Henry had not had to go full tilt with the four arm amalgamation on the last floor.
Henry concluded the quick huddle and the bugbears resumed their positions. Each awkwardly shouldered their war hammer with their shield arm, leaving their other hand free to throw. Each first threw back a rock skin pill to raise their defense by an additional 4 points for the next ten plus minutes. The battle would likely be decided before they wore off. Then with one loud shout the bugbears shouted as they stormed their way down the tunnel. Mark watched as the gargoyle bishop's hands flared with magic. There was nothing hidden from the dungeon owner, so the mages spell cast times were near perfect. Only a few premature lances were sent streaking down into the tunnel.
One struck Henry, who was leading the attack, head on. Of course an energy shield winked into place ahead of the general from his shield and caught it. Henry had a limited manna pool even after getting a boost to all of his stats with his new Relentless title, but he could still flare the energy shield for a handful of critical moments. Conversely the other bugbears with energy shield enchantments would likely only be able to manage it once, and even then it would only be for like half a second. The other lance that went down the tunnel blew its target back, the bugbear having failed to get the timing right.
Henry entered the room first, just in time to receive a second lance. A moment later a third hit after that. Each time the shield winked into existence briefly to intercept and stop them. Henry’s battlefield awareness was high enough to easily turn the shield on and off as required. His only limit was his manna pool. Other lances quickly followed, but targeted other bugbears. Only 1 of 4 successfully blocked the magic lance with their energy shield. The other three like the one prior were all blown back from the impact.
Then came a torrent of velvet red flames from the four balefire fungus mages. All four attacks hit Henry first. Upon seeing the attacks, the bugbear leader had leapt in front of the rest to stem the flow.. A transparent shield formed like a ball around the general, and flames were sent crashing over it and to the sides like water crashing to all sides of an obstacle. The lines of fire halted the charge, despite only lasting a couple of seconds.
Henry was revealed to be kneeling when the flames finally abated. He had blocked the attack, but was now in a severe manna deprived state. The stone was charred diagonally and back to both sides of him. The other bugbears were more or less unharmed. In seconds a dozen golem balls were launched forward. Some landed in between the two armies, but most went soaring past, a part of Henry’s strategy to create a pincering force on the other side of their opponents. The balls exploded into white light that crackled like white lightning across the ground in a circle around where they had landed. Figures started to emerge from the stone, even as the surrounding stone started to seemingly be eaten away to account for the mass of the golems. The dungeon would soon hold 20 new shallow craters and 60 new rock golems. However it would take a good 10 seconds for the units to form.
The bugbears charged surging to either side of their kneeling leader. Henry was struggling to get a mana potion from his waist. Keeping the energy shield energized had pushed him to his limit, making him groggy.
The shadow cats, constructs, and shriekers surged forward to meet the charging bugbears. Only the 9 orc warmongers moved the opposite direction to deal with the stone golems forming behind their ranks. It was a great response by Derrick. The orcs with their warhammers could likely easily take on the 40 or so forming stone golems by themselves. After all their power rating was twice that of the golems, and their warhammers were well suited for the task, as Mark and Amelia well knew.
Seeing the disparity the bugbears that had been blown back by the magic lances threw their golem balls to create more stone golems on their side of the fight. However, their golems would not join the fight till a while after it began.
The shadow cats closed the distance first, with the shriekers only a few steps behind. However, only one of the bugbears got tackled backwards by one of the beasts, and that was only after he had bashed one in the side. Most of the bugbears had met a cat with a well timed swing. One hammer blow was plenty to crush in one side of the cats with only a 1.9 power rating. They might not be killed instantly, but the damage was enough to take them out of the fight. The shriekers on the other hand easily dodged between the hammer swings. Their dagger-like hands continually sought out gaps in their opponents armor as they passed right by.
In two seconds the shriekers were dispersed through the entire bugbear force. Their attacks were not causing critical damage against the bugbears with their high defense, but a bunch of little wounds could accumulate. The bugbears all made additional swings at the difficult to hit enemies, but Mark had not seen any succeed. A couple more bugbears were born to the ground by the shadow cats. The bugbears could not contest one of the beasts by itself. In fact, Mark watched as the first bugbear that had been tackled grabbed both of the creature's jaws before pulling them in opposite directions, killing the beast. However, some of the bugbears had several shadow cats working together pulling on a bugbear like a game of tug of war. The large cats were having a difficult time killing the bugbears, but keeping them occupied and inflicting small wounds was already a noteworthy contribution.
The standing bugbears however had to turn their attention to the other forces incoming. The gargoyle kings slammed into the melee, pushing the bugbears back. The slow moving rough woods were only a few strides behind, as were the amalgamations. Although it appeared the amalgamations might actually hang back so as not to cause collateral damage on their own forces. After all by the looks of it, even to Mark who knew better, the bugbears were already getting overwhelmed and might soon fall by the droves.
However, across the bugbear force a change started to happen. Bugbears' speed increased all of a sudden. Several shreikers that had perfectly timed their approaches and exits into and out of a bugbears range suddenly found out they were not quite quick enough. One hammer strike bashed those that had been caught unaware by the nine bugbears that had the dash skill. The other bugbears who only had one skill started burning their fierce skill to easily crush the gargoyle kings once again. Then some of their wounds started to close. The nine bugbears had already had the soak skill before going through the gymnasium. The others also carried a soldier pill. The soldier pill wound did not heal anything, but once ingested blood loss through wounds would significantly be decreased among its other benefits. Then finally some of the rock golems started to join the attack, elevating the strain on the outnumbered bugbears.
Henry was back on his feet a second later. He had recovered enough mana from the manna potion to function again. He even had enough to spare to launch the golem ball. A second later, he hefted his war hammer and charged forward. A second after that, he was in the thick of the melee. A shrieker was crushed into splinters, too slow to avoid the general’s swing. Two shadow cats were the next target. Henry bashed the cats away freeing the bugbear they had been mauling back into the fight.
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The next instant magic lances passed each other in flight. Flame's blazed from the Balefire fungi mages, although two were almost immediately cut short by two bugbear magic lances. Lances and flames struck bugbears already embroiled in the fight. After the magic exchange, several bugbears were left dead, the first casualties from the adventuring party. A third followed soon after, as one bugbear had a gargoyle king sword glance up off his shoulder plate and decapitate him. A fourth and fifth bugbear fell within the next seconds due to accumulated wounds. However, the battle had otherwise gone in their favor.
By the time of the next magic exchange, the shriekers and shadow cats had nearly been wiped out. Soon the last of the gargoyle kings would join them. The roughwood myconids had joined in, but all they had were their durability. It would only cost the bugbears time in wiping them out. The amalgamations still held back. The orc warmongers were still finishing up on their side. It would be a powerful second wave.
The battles concluded at around the same time, just after the fourth exchange of magic lances and fire. The smoke rose after the latest streams of flames winked out. A sixth and seventh bugbear had fallen. A handful of others were in rough shape despite their skills or soldier pills. Their healing potions had already been consumed. The attackers actually more than doubled the defenders now, but half of their number were the weak rock golems. It was them that would start the second half of the fight. Mindless constructs, they attacked whatever enemies were close to them. Until that point there had been more of the weaker enemies. Now all of the other enemies were a hundred or more feet away. They mindlessly stumbled toward the amalgamations who were actually the closest. The bugbears frozen for a second followed quickly in their wake.
All nine of the warmonger orcs charged forward and past the amalgamations to meet them. Henry overtook the rock golems and met them first. His hammer rocketed down, pushing through the orcs defense. The head was either turned to pulp, or knocked down into the chest cavity. For a fraction of a second, Mark just saw the bugbear general’s hammer resting on top of the shoulders, but it was gone the next moment. The hammer trailed blueish blood as it trailed behind the bugbear general.
Henry had already left the orcs behind. Just a little contribution before he moved on to engage the gorilla like amalgamation lumbering forward. Henry leapt swinging his hammer. The amalgamation lifted one of its overly large forearms to receive the blow. At its zenith, lightning started crackling from the hammer. The hammer smashed down with a concussive force that could be felt throughout the room. Small chunks of rock were sprayed in all directions as even the floor guardian’s defense gave way. White lighting streaks cracked down the amalgamations arm and into its body. There were definite signs of damage on the forearm, but the floor guardian proceeded heedless of the cracked and damaged forearm. The two started exchanging strikes that sounded just like the thunder normally associated with the lightning pulsing from the bugbear general.
The warmonger orcs smashed apart any rock golem they came across, but soon became gridlocked with bugbears who were similarly equipped and could match them blow for blow. One bugbear avoided the melee and rushed toward the mages. However that was when a previously unseen attack caught him from the side. A tail flipped out from behind the hedgehog amalgamation. Wood, rock and bone spikes streaked toward the bugbear. The unit saw the incoming projectiles, choosing to dive to the ground to avoid. It did not do him much good. Some spikes flew past where he had been, but several more struck the ground before him and where he had landed. The bugbear had taken at least three projectiles. To his credit, the bugbear pushed his way back to his feet and started staggering once again toward the mages. However, seconds later he was engulfed by the flames of the last surviving Balefire mage. The velvet fire licked across the unit, bringing him down. It would be the balefire mage’s last contribution to the fight as a bugbear magic lance blasted it back a second later.
Hency continued to trade blows with the floor guardian, and looked to be getting the better of the much larger floor guardian until the second amalgamation pincered in from the side. Derrick recognized Henry as the biggest threat of the attack. Another swath of projectiles were sent toward the bugbear general. In a fluid motion, Henry used his hammer to guard his upper torso, while dropping his shield to guard legs and lower body. The projectiles slammed into his defense or passed around and into the ground. A half second later the general dodged to avoid a crushing blow from the floor guardian’s oversized arms.
The high intensity battle continued for several minutes. The orcs were getting the worst of it. In another minute they would likely be eliminated, but there were only six bugbears other than the general still standing. The last bishop had fallen half a minute ago. The next and last magic lances were sent into two of the orcs holding their own. It was enough to kill one out right and wound the other enough to make it easy for the bugbear it had been fighting to finish it off. Apparently, the two bugbear mages were low on manna and had run out of manna potions. After the last attack, they picked up warhammers from the fallen on their way to join the melee.
With that fight wrapping up, things appeared to be taking a positive turn. However a second later, Henry entered the floor guardians guard to deliver a blow to its main body. One of the guardian’s shield forearms had been reduced to rubble, leaving only a stub that could be swung like a club. It was at this point where the floor guardian demonstrated a before unseen capability. Roots unfurled from the body shooting out. Some flew forward in an attempt to spear the general. Others flew past and curled in an apparent attempt to coil around their enemy.
Henry blocked those thrust directly at him with his shield. A split second later, he noticed the roots closing in from behind him. He leapt corkscrewing in the air with his hammer. There were too many roots behind him, but above there were far fewer, his hammer was as good as a blender mashing the roots it met as the general made it 15 feet in the air.
Henry hung for a moment at the zenith of his jump, his body was still turning but at a far reduced rate. That was when the floor guardian’s stub batted him from the air. The general caught the attack on his shield, but he was still sent like a rocket away from the melee. His shield separated from him in flight, the hand and forearm straps having snapped. A second later the general slammed into the floor and rolled a half a dozen revolutions away from the battle.
Henry was on his feet a second later, and sprinted back the hundred feet to rejoin the battle. Mid stride he yelled for the other bugbears to attack the hedgehog amalgamation. The last orc had fallen, leaving five already weary bugbears still on their feet. However, after hearing their commander’s orders they charged their designated target.
The hedgehog amalgamation turned to face them, but the floor guardian ignored them completely, unwilling to shift any focus from the deadliest threat. Henry's speed increased substantially, making him a literal blue. He was flaring his dash and fierce skills together. The two bars were dropping at a rapid rate, but the general’s speed and power was near double what he was normally capable of. At the edge of the guardian’s range, Henry leapt forward. Lighting crackled from his hammer as he brought it down.
The floor guardian was not fast enough to react to the much smaller figure. It could do nothing as the warhammer slammed into its head. The large rock that was the guardian’s head was obliterated. Shards and rubble were sent out in all directions. Henry continued through his arch landing on the far side.
With the head gone, Mark half expected the creature to topple lifelessly to the ground. Instead the headless amalgamation slowly turned its body to face the bugbear commander. There likely was a limit of accumulated damage that the creature could withstand, but it had not reached it yet even without a head. Whatever sense it used to find and locate enemies was similarly not affected.
Henry charged back in this time without using any of his skills. Dash had bottomed as had his pull skill when tanking the magic attacks at the beginning of the battle. The leader still had his full soak bar, and about a quarter of his fierce bar. It was enough to deliver another powerful blow or two slightly weaker than his last attack, but the bugbear leader would have to be able to reach the guardian’s body. Tens of roots tentacles flared out to all sides increasing the angles that they could streak in to grab or pierce their enemy.
Even an unenhanced hammer swing could mince roots that it met, but the guardian seemed to have plenty to spare. Not to mention the creature still had one shielded forearm and the stub that it could swing surprisingly fast for something of its size. It would take time for Henry to work himself back in close enough to deliver another strike to the main body.
The other five bugbears had engaged the hedgehog amalgamation. One of the mages was almost immediately turned into a pin cushion. With no shield to guard against the projectile swath, the mage took quite a few. The mages did not have the soak skill as the rest had. Mark had chosen the pull skill since it would allow them to regain manna to perform more magic attacks. The unit tried to bring a potion to his lips, but eventually the arm fell back down to the ground allowing the healing potion to roll away.
The potion did not go to waste. One of the injured bugbears of the warhammer class had noticed the effort and elected to scoop it up. One of its arms was badly mangled. The other three had closed in. The earthen hedgehog also had another attack that could be performed against units that entered into close range. It could push out any of the hundred projectiles to three times its length in an effort to skewer anything close by. The two bugbears of the warhammer class reacted fast enough to dodge the unexpected attack. One was even able to continue its attack, slamming its hammer into the rock encrusted chest. The bejeweled rocks showered and cracks spread out from the impact point. The second mage bugbear on the other hand had been a touch slower, and had caught a makeshift bone quill to the side.
The bugbear mage stumbled away, one of his hands trying to locate the healing potion that he carried. The other three bugbears renewed the attack. Perhaps if there were a few more bugbears or the ones that were here were in peak condition they would be able to manage this amalgamation, but as they were, Mark would not hold out hope for their victory. Mark just hoped they could hold this one off, allowing Henry the space he needed to finish the floor guardian.
The bugbears had seemingly realized that they would not be able to quickly take down their foe, so were being more careful. All the while the bugbear general chipped away pieces off of the floor guardian. If the battle continued like this, Mark was sure that they would eventually prevail. However, the other side had likely noticed the same thing. The hedgehog obviously turned its attention away from the lesser foes and onto the bugbear leader whose back was to it.
A swath of projectiles lanced from its tail. Luckily the bugbear general was already moving to the side to avoid some of the root like tentacles from the guardian. The movement saved him from becoming a pincushion, although several projectiles still looked to have grazed Henry including one that tore through the side of his waist. Evidently it was a good enough shot to make a connection with Henry’s pelvic bone, since the force spun the bugbear commander about. A second disorientation was all that was needed for several roots to snake their way around various locations on the bugbears body. The guardian had a hold of him.
The other bugbears intercepted the hedgehog, punishing it dearly for disregarding them. They went to work on the only exposed surface near the front left leg. The left leg was turned to rubble by four successive strikes However the last of the bugbears was too slow in retreating and ended up getting speared through the chest. The wound might not be instantly fatal for the bugbear, but he would not be contributing any more for the minutes that he likely had left.
Henry strained against the roots. He was able to tear some free through pure force, but they were being replaced quicker than he could tear free. All the while the general struggled to keep the roots taunt, so the amalgamation could not reach him with either of its arms. However, then the guardian started stepping toward Henry to close the distance itself.
Henry made a split decision strategy change and rushed toward his foe. The vines slackened briefly as the bugbear commander reversed direction. The last of his fierce skill burned down as he ripped through roots moving forward. He was free, but had been slowed far too much to use the fumes of the fierce skill to deliver a final strike. The remaining shield arm whipped back in between intercepting the lightning charged strike. The earthen shield on the forearm fell apart crumbled, but the appendage was not severed like the other one had been.
The other stub swung in hard from the side. Henry was unable to dodge. His left arm was pinned against his side from the blow, before his entire body was sent pinwheeling away… towards the hedgehog. Henry’s left arm hung limply as he regained his feet right in front of the other amalgamation. He was still the focus for both amalgamations, so the hedgehog attacked him immediately.
Henry called the lightning to in a flash as he swung his hammer back up and through the swath of projectiles. It was partially effective. One speared through Henry’s thigh, and another through the lower part of his chest. Henry the relentless, continued through, bounding toward the amalgamations chest. The lightning charged hammer continued one full revolution over his head, back down behind him, and back up and into the earthen hedgehog’s chest. Cracks quickly fissured throughout the enemy's unit for a split second, before the unit just fell apart. The various parts crumpled to the ground.
Meanwhile the remaining four bugbears charged in to delay the guardian. The guardian powered on right through them to get to its target. One of the bugbear mages was batted away by the guardian’s arm. The other mage got caught in the roots. The remaining two bugbears made it through to either side of the guardian. They might not have been as powerful as Henry, but they both were still able to deliver powerful blows to their respective legs. Dual pockmarks were created on the legs and the guardian hobbled forward several steps.
Henry was limping away himself, his soak ability going full tilt to seal up the two serious wounds. His soak skill bar dropped to perhaps a tenth of the bar in a matter of seconds. Mark had been worried up to this point in time, but now the other amalgamation had been taken out of the picture it would be a more direct flight with no more surprises. Henry hardly had any skills to burn through, but his soak skill and some healing potions had brought him back up to near peak condition. Not to mention he still had the help of two other bugbears, and the guardian was not in peak condition. One arm was gone just past the elbow. The other no longer had the shield like protrusion, and seemingly half of the roots were already gone.
It might be a bit non climatic ending, but the three worked to whittle down the guardian’s defenses over a good 10 minutes before Henry moved to deliver the final strike. The bugbears paused only briefly outside of the doorway to the next level. A moment later the three stepped through. Amelia and Mark let out a sigh of relief as the view of a core room came into view. If there had been another level, the attack would have ended in failure.