“I can see it,” Isabella said. “There on the far wall of the cavern, by one of the troll’s homes, is a glowing dungeon gem.”
“Let’s get this dungeon link initiated,” Atlas said. He placed his hand on the gem, which began a rapid countdown. Thanks to his bonus achievement for linking, this countdown was much faster than usual. Dungeons in the Wasteland allowed only 20 people in at a time, with a one-hour limit between entries. Clark had previously exploited this one-hour entry period by following groups in and ambushing them mid-fight. That was why Atlas was always cautious during the dungeon linking; it was the most vulnerable time and it was easy to get ganked because he couldn’t take his hand off during it.
‘The team is badly hurt, and bandits could easily take advantage of that. But what’s the chances of a bandit attack on us? Bandits would have to be insane or stupid to attack us. By now Fort Bone should have a pretty fearsome reputation in the wasteland.”
Right then as if the gods were just waiting to make a mockery of him, Atlas’s worst fear materialized, A group of insanely stupid bandits rushed in, taking advantage of the Portal Crushers’ weakened state.
‘These fuckers must have been camping the dungeon. And waited for the hour cooldown‘
The Portal Crushers, still bruised and bleeding from their earlier battle with the trolls, braced themselves. Atlas remained focused on the dungeon linking, hoping his seasoned team could hold their own. If he stopped the linking now, there would be an hour before it could be attempted again. And the badly injured recruits might not make it.
The bandits surged forward with savage intent. Atlas had killed Clark and his group of bandits, but the wasteland never seemed to run out of desperate men.
Despite their exhaustion, the Portal Crushers met the attack with fierce determination. Isabella’s twin swords flashed in the dim light, their blades carving through the bandits with swift, precise strikes. The shorter blade helped defend, while the longer one attacked aggressively. Each swing sent sprays of blood across the cavern walls, her expression one of hardy resolve.
Stu, fueled by anger and desperation, swung his mace with ferocious strength. Each blow landed with bone-crunching force, his maces a steadfast barrier against the bandits' onslaught. His face was set in a determined scowl, eyes blazing with the drive to safeguard his comrades and end the threat.
Alexander, despite his injuries, wielded his great sword with immense power. The blade cut through the bandits with wide, sweeping arcs, its edge biting deeply into their ranks. Blood spattered across his armor, mingling with sweat and grime. His face, etched with pain and fierce concentration, was a testament to his dedication and strength. “Trying a Hail Mary? Not on my watch, you no-good fucks!”
The battle raged with brutal intensity. The bandits, though numerous, were no match for the Portal Crushers’ experience and skill. Wang Bo, channelling his martial arts training, bellowed, “Dragon swings its tail” as he struck down foes with low blows to the back of their legs . His expression was a mix of satisfaction and unyielding focus.
Barbara, amidst the chaos, fought with a fierce resolve. Her sword flashed and her shield deflected blows as she battled to keep her wounded comrades safe. Her eyes darted between the combat and the badly wounded recruits, her heart heavy with concern.
As the number of bandits dwindled by half, their morale shattered. The remaining bandits, their faces pale with fear and desperation, began to flee. They abandoned their fallen comrades, their retreating steps echoing through the cavern. The Portal Crushers, their breaths ragged and bodies slick with blood, pressed on with unyielding determination.
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With the dungeon linking completing with a resounding chime, Atlas sprang into action, his hot pink armor gleaming as he charged after the fleeing bandits. His movements were a blur of precision and power, the armor’s glittering shine contrasting with the dark stains of battle. The bandits, desperate to escape, fought back. They found their weapons ineffective against Atlas’s formidable defenses, their attacks merely bouncing off the pink armor.
Atlas cut through the remaining bandits with ruthless efficiency, each strike a swift execution. His face, set in a rictus smile, remained focused as he finished off the last of the attackers. The cavern floor was covered with blood and viscera, from both the bandits and Portal Crushers.
Amid the aftermath of the brutal fight, Barbara’s attention shifted to the injured recruits scattered across the cavern. Her heart sank as she saw their pained, broken bodies. ‘Not like this,‘ she thought, her chest tight with worry. ‘We can’t lose them now. Not after everything we’ve fought through.‘
Barbara worked swiftly, her hands moving with practiced urgency as she used all her remaining supplies from the MediPod. ‘They need me to pull through,‘ she told herself, her face a mask of stoic strength. Each cry of pain from the recruits was a harsh reminder of the stakes. Her heart surged with desperate hope, her mind racing with prayers that it would be enough to save them.
As Atlas watched the last of the bandits fall beneath his blade, his mind was a whirlwind of reflection. The cavern, now eerily quiet save for the occasional groans of the wounded, bore silent testimony to the battle's ferocity. Atlas’s gaze swept over the bloodstained battlefield, contrasting his Portal Crushers with the bandits they had just fought.
‘Some people might think I wasted a year preparing this team,‘ he mused, his eyes scanning the aftermath. ‘They might argue that all the training, all the strategizing, was for nothing, given the random skirmishes we face.‘
This fight, so brutal and unforgiving, had underscored a crucial reality. Despite the bandits’ numbers and initial aggression, it was clear that the Portal Crushers’ skills, honed through months of rigorous preparation and high-stakes competition, made all the difference. The bandits thought they an opportunity for easy plunder, but instead encountered a team forged in the fires of the SFB championship—a team that had faced and triumphed over greater threats.
In that moment, the victory was a testament to the Portal Crushers' resilience and skill. The bandits had been a formidable challenge, but their lack of coordination and discipline had proven insufficient against a team that had been battle-tested and strategically prepared. The contrast was stark, and reinforced Atlas’s belief in the value of his painstaking preparation. That year of training hadn’t gone to waste
‘It’s easy to underestimate the importance of preparation,‘ Atlas reflected, a small smile tugging at his lips. ‘But when the chips are down and lives are on the line, it’s what makes the difference between a win and a loss, between survival and defeat.‘
As he turned his attention back to the wounded, Atlas felt a renewed sense of vindication. The preparation, the sacrifice, the countless hours spent training—it had all been worth it. The fight had been harsh, but it had proven beyond doubt the strength and worth of his team.
As the Portal Crushers began to loot the trolls’ lair, the spoils of their battle revealed a mixed trove of items. They sifted through the remains and discovered a variety of treasures and oddities. Among the spoils were scattered mana coins, their faint glow a reminder of the magic that infused them. They also found various partially chewed bones, remnants of the trolls' recent meals, strewn haphazardly across the cavern floor. The sight was a poignant testament to the trolls' voracious appetites.
In a corner of the cavern, they unearthed a large treasure chest. Despite its battered appearance, the chest held a significant cache of 468 mana coins. The Portal Crushers’ faces lit up with a mix of relief and satisfaction at the sight of the gleaming coins, a reward for their hard-fought victory. These coins combined with everything that had dropped would reward them greatly at the vending machines.
Amid the loot, they also came across some beat-up armor, clearly worn and damaged from numerous battles. The armor’s state suggested it had been ripped off the bodies of dead adventurers or lost in the chaos of the trolls’ rampages. Alongside it were several intact weapons, their blades and handles showing signs of use but still functional and potentially useful.
But the most surprising find was a pair of baby trolls, cowering in a corner of their lair.