So, Berys is at level 4… 230 experience away from 5. Both Lux and Borys are now 7, along with me. Theron eyed the status pages of all his current active aspects, studying the numbers and statistics he had to keep a constant watch of. With two rank-1 summons available as backup, he faced the prospect of having multiple rank ones ready for evolution after this lair was completed.
But… to say today was productive would be a massive understatement. He’d gained so much from his morning hunting, and his recent venture only supplemented his growth even further.
The party breezed through the wide passage with trepidation in their steps. Inside, nothing but the blow of worn air accompanied their footsteps, resounding from the enclosed space. Darkness upon darkness filled his sights, only to be dissipated when they reached another curious spot within the cave—a large space rivaling the previous opening in size. The same innumerable burrows peppered the walls, with two giant passages leading further into the cave, a structure he’d grown used to after delving multiple lairs outside.
Again? He frowned, picturing the bloodbath about to happen after their entrance, the guts and shit raining from the dead beetles. Never once was he a fan of insects, and this experience didn’t nudge him toward the path of loving them either. Their steps crunched the wet soil, mucky from a source of dampness he considered not ruminating over.
And just like the previous room, the flutter of wings clamored while he retreated to another safe spot below a wall of dirt, bracing for another swarm filled with incessant guts and blood. He lacked mana to maintain his aura, however, their last battle showed this encounter didn’t necessitate the usage of his abilities; the whole shtick with his ability ended up being a waste in their first bout. Borys and Berys held their own well enough, and with Lux’s support, they proved capable enough to brave the tide of black insects.
Like a rain of black, they came. Dozens of smaller beetles thronged into the room, eyes locked onto their party, upset, filled with the intent to kill those naive enough to invade their home. Each felled by his aspects, each feeding them strength, each granting him another step forward closer to the power he craved for. With their increased levels, the fight proved slightly less tedious this time around. Lux’s horn pulses packed more punch, almost rupturing the beetles’ insides from each blast. The tail swipes from Berys launched any stray beetles peering their heads in, and Borys’ black fur flowed as it bolted around their location, killing those in its way.
[You gained 10 experience points!.] x32
[Aspect: (Elite) Metal-clawed Bear gains reduced experience: 5] x32
Theron swiped the beads of stench clinging to his forehead as he dredged through the piles of dead bugs, retrieving what little essence he could. These lesser beetles appeared to not provide much materias—if any.
Another rumble unveiled a path across the other two openings to his left, inside, a moss-filled passage brooded, beckoning for their approach. This is new, Theron squinted at the opening.
[Secret lair found! It is not recommended to traverse this path with your current level.]
“Secret… lair?” Theron shifted a few steps before the lichen-ridden path, eyeing the steep decline leading to the darkness within. Not a hint of light emanated, not a dew of sound nor rumble existed, only blackness and the whiff of moss wafted from within. Something about this place roused the hair of his neck, enough for a bead of sweat to drip before he pulled back.
This one… feels just like the spiked bear. Theron never forgot the sheer pressure that thing emitted, and this sable hole exuded the same aura. An aura screaming at him to get the fuck away.
A place so heinous system warned him to avoid, like the giant bear prior. It had never lied, so he assumed the warning was there for a reason. And… well, Theron couldn’t risk any of his aspects dying from an obvious death spot. Not now. Theron yanked the curiosity off his legs, forcing his head away from the entrance.
An exhale and a sigh later, He broached one of the other openings not filled with moss… and death…
…which led to a dead end. He turned his way back, followed the source of light, and peered into the final path, noting the slant of the surface, leading somewhere below. It wasn’t as steep as the secret lair’s path, not as oppressively dark and perilous as the other one, and no warnings. A few minutes passed before another ray of light entered his dilated eyes, earning a squint as he gawked the gargantuan insect waiting within. The elite? He pondered as he studied its figure; black, almost menacingly wide abdomen with two additional horns sticking beside the giant one between its eyes. At a glance, the extra appendages seemed… different, but Theron couldn’t quite conjure the appropriate words to describe what he saw. They looked… loose, somehow, as if they were designed to be ejectable.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Checking his party’s status once more and waiting until he refilled his mana, he breached into the scene with hesitant steps, uncertain of what plans suited this encounter best. The gargantuan beetle turned its head to meet the invaders, eyes red and furious, producing a boisterous sound from its open mouth—a sound an insect could never make. Answering its call, multiple beetles veered from holes in the walls, each appearing as big as the beetles Theron met outside. Five… He counted as he braced, ordering his party to prepare for an all-out assault. First, let’s take care of the minions, he commanded Lux to fire its projectile, clipping the flightless wings and heads of the swift beetles. Borys and Berys charged as the Elite barreled toward them, hoping that the bears could tide its advance long enough for Lux to deal with the stray beetles.
Theron stepped into range of his aura, noting the elite’s swaying head.
Two horns shot outward, catching Theron’s left shoulder unaware, slipping through his shield as the impact sent him tumbling backward, the other easily avoided by Lux, whose speed eclipsed his. “GH!!” He shouted as he pulled the horn away.
[You resisted the effect of minor poison.]
“Shit.” He cursed as he watched the elite’s extra horns grow while meeting the bears’ claws with their mandibles and limbs. Three dead beetles fell as Lux struck them with its projectiles, allowing him to pull a potion and drench his wounded shoulder, relieved. Poison too, huh? He couldn’t help but smirk, then pulled his wand out, casting necrotic touch to clad Borys’ claws. Berys was surrounded by the rest of the beetles, swiping its limbs and tails to deter them from pushing further. Two left, Theron thought as he pulled his shield up. Won’t catch me off-guard again.
With Lux’s support, the stray beetles perished once Berys turned its aggression up a notch. The elite sensed the change of the tides, retreating a few steps behind, peacocking its menacing flightless wings and leaped backward, avoiding all the melee attacks his bears unleashed. It gyrated its head downward. Another horn attack, be ready! Theron gritted his teeth as he kept his eyes straight on its bobbing head. Two massive horns erupted, almost snatching Theron’s head had he came without his shield. An ugly screech clangored as the other projectile clashed Theron’s shield, the recoil of which flung him away, landing with an ungraceful tumble.
It’s abdomens! Lux!
Lux heeded his command, shooting the thin membranes hidden beneath the beetle’s elytra, some reaching its innards through its hard carapace as it attempted to intimidate again. Berys, distract the Elite and give Borys a chance to flank it from its left. Lux, approach from the right side. Shadows brooded over its head as Berys launched its all-out aggression, its massive figure matching the beetle’s, blockading its eyes from the other aspects rushing to the elite’s blind spots, supported by Theron’s shield ability. With a blitz, the beetle knocked Berys with its head, flinging it aside, showcasing the gap of might between a rank-2 elite compared to a rank-1. Berys landed with a thump, receiving enough damage that he ordered it to stay and recuperate.
Two venomous, emboldened claws sundered its left eye, followed by nasty chomp by Lux, who, at this point, had run out of mana. The elite yanked its head upward from the critical damage taken, withdrawing with unsteady limbs, unable to retaliate immediately. Borys, keep going. Lux, navigate to the side and strike its abdomen when it opens its wings. Wait for an opening. The beetle had lost its eyes, and it couldn’t dismiss its instincts to flee and reposition. At least, I hope it will be that way. None of his aspects could take a hit head-on.
Borys slashed and clawed, sidestepping the horn thrusts from the beetle as its carapace shuddered—a sign for Lux to strike. My aura, how many seconds have passed? Theron’s mind raced as it began to take flight, with Lux’s glinting fangs on their way to ravage its insides. Please die!
A splatter of blood burst from Lux’s bite, which drew its attention away from Borys’ lurching figure. Sabled blur shifted away from its massive horns while the elite thrashed to rid of Lux’s bite, but trembled when Borys launched its barrage of maddened swipes and bites, drawing more blood, showering under the contents of its abdomen. Globs of pusses, yellow and brown in color, drizzled the scene. And yet, the elite kept itself grounded, refusing to falter, eyes wide in anger and despair, a mixture of clashing emotions. It swung its body around, flinging both his aspects in a hasty attempt to flee their grasp, blood trailing with every frantic wriggling of its legs.
Both Lux and Borys tumbled on their sides, cushioning their fall with their strong limbs, growling. Berys entered the fray, its hulking figure looming over the beetle’s dipped head. Now that it was wounded, Theron grew confident its attacks wouldn’t fatally wound Berys, not when his other aspects were skulking on its sides, ready to strike when any opening displayed itself. His initial strategy repeated, Berys carved an opening with its massive figure, shielded by Theron’s active skill, then his other aspects did the rest; the necrotic poison and Lux’s icicles spelled their foe’s doom as the fight ended with a drizzle of blood and guts, trailed by a cry resonating throughout the empty lair.
Theron crumpled on the cavern floor, gasping for air. I won, he celebrated, pumping his fist into the air. Doubtless, this encounter displayed the non-tutorial elites’ power level. He’d never seen the actual strength of wild elites, at least, not those weakened by the system to aid newcomers. Without his numerous aspects, they never stood a chance at winning.
[You gained 240 experience points.]
Not reduced? Oh, right, since this is an elite, Berys don’t suffer the experience reduction. Cool.
[Your aspect core - Metal-clawed bear(Elite) reached level 5. Evolution to rank 2 is now possible. Visit an essence store to evolve your aspect if you possess a rank 1 evolution stone. Further level-ups are not possible, additional experience points are wasted.]
Finally!