Team 0 continued progressing through the central part of the swamp dungeon, encountering various mutated creatures. The next challenge came in the form of massive dragonflies, their wings shimmering with an unnatural iridescence. These creatures darted through the air with alarming speed, their mandibles clicking menacingly.
Not wanting to be the target of a dive bomb from a creature that could rival a horse in size, James focused his psychic abilities, targeting the dragonflies' simple minds. The creatures, being relatively straightforward in their mental makeup, offered little resistance to his skill. One by one, they were mentally stunned, their flight patterns disrupted, causing them to plummet to the ground.
Maria took advantage of their disoriented state, unleashing beams of fire that burned through the dragonflies and the thick vegetation alike. Her control over the flames was precise, allowing her to incinerate the targets without causing a widespread blaze. They stopped their advance to high five, having achieved a new level in unison, before refocusing.
As they moved deeper into the dungeon, the team encountered another group of murderous ducks. This time, forewarned by their previous fight, they didn't allow themselves to be pinned down. With Ezekiel's buffs still active, they engaged the ducks more aggressively, quickly dispatching them before they could mount a significant attack.
Despite their easy wins, the atmosphere in the dungeon was tense, the constant vigilance and battles against the bizarre creatures taking a mental toll on the team. Still, they pushed forward, determined to clear the dungeon and secure the area.
Eventually, having cleared the central ring of the dungeon, with just the island in the middle of the swamp where the Boss resided left, Team 0 regrouped at the designated meeting point. It wasn't long before Aaron's team joined them, emerging from the dense fog.
James immediately noticed the increased tension between Miriam and Jenna. The forced proximity in the dungeon seemed to have exacerbated their situation. He sensed frustration, sadness, and unresolved feelings emanating from them, indicating that their relationship was indeed on rocky ground. He wondered whether it might be wise to offer some support or advice but decided it was best to respect their privacy unless it began to affect the mission.
This is the perfect power for a tabloid journo. There is no need to wonder; I can just feel what everyone else is feeling. I didn't think it'd be this awkward, though. And I can't even complain because they are doing their best to keep it from showing in their body language.
Aaron, seemingly oblivious to the tension in his team, approached James with a nod of approval. "Looks like we both had a successful run. This dungeon was more of a challenge than we anticipated."
James returned the nod. "Yes, we encountered some interesting creatures. But everyone handled themselves well. How did your sweep of the perimeter go?"
"We cleared out several smaller nests, nothing we couldn't handle." Aaron replied. "A few ugly bugs here and there, but this being a new dungeon means they haven't had the time to grow too much."
The conversation remained light as the two teams checked their equipment, preparing for the Boss fight. Despite the underlying tension between Miriam and Jenna, the rest of the group tried to keep the mood upbeat, discussing strategies and sharing observations about the dungeon.
Sensing the discomfort between the two girls, James subtly guided the conversation away from anything that might exacerbate their situation. He knew maintaining team cohesion was crucial, especially with a looming boss fight.
"Alright, I think we should head over." James said once Aaron tried to engage the two, provoking a spike of deep annoyance from Jenna, the healer.
The others agreed, though he could sense some surprise at the abruptness, and he silently promised he would explain later, when the matter wouldn't risk distracting anyone.
The island in the middle of the swamp was a murky, foreboding place. The muddy waters surrounding it had an almost sinister quality, and the dense vegetation created a canopy that cast deep shadows over the area. As they waded through the muck, each step was cautious and deliberate while James searched the surroundings for any activity, eventually focusing on one powerful presence.
Upon reaching the island's center, they finally encountered the dungeon Boss – a colossal bullfrog with menacing horns protruding from its head. The creature was enormous, easily the size of an elephant, its eyes glowing with a malevolent intelligence.
The frog croaked thunderously, sending ripples through the swamp water. Its skin was a mottled green and brown, blending seamlessly with the environment. It was clear to everyone, without the need for enhanced senses, that this creature was not just another mutated monster.
As the fight commenced, James attempted to use his psychic abilities to stun the frog but found the creature's mind surprisingly resistant. It was as if the Boss had some innate protection against mental attacks, forcing James to reassess his strategy.
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It's not like it could work every time. I could probably chip at whatever defense it has, distracting it while the others attack…
The teams engaged the Boss from all sides, but the frog proved incredibly resilient. It used the swamp to its advantage, creating an armor of mud that rendered it nearly invulnerable to physical attacks. Aaron's team, relying on conventional tactics, found their efforts largely ineffective against the armored behemoth.
Miriam, the Wind Mage, did her best with cutting blades and powerful gusts, but they didn't have much effect beyond annoying the Boss even more, making it croak angrily as it healed the damage to the armor the moment it was done.
Maria, observing the creature's movements, saw an opportunity. She concentrated her mana, forming a whip of intense fire. With a flick of her wrist, she lashed out, the fiery whip wrapping around one of the bullfrog's arms. The heat was so intense that it immediately began to melt through the mud armor, exposing vulnerable flesh beneath.
Sensing the Boss' distress, James intensified his mental assault, crashing against its defenses, cracking them and making the monster bellow in pain. Alright, this is working, but it's not fun. Let's try something else.
Seizing the moment, the team intensified their assault. Concentrating, James began to use Willpower Projection to subtly manipulate the environment, punishing the bullfrog for any mistake and exerting force on its wounded arm, creating openings for his teammates to exploit. Daniel and Lauren coordinated their attacks, using their enhanced strength and buffs to strike at the now-exposed areas.
Where the Tank caught the monster's attention and was pinned down under a river of mud or a powerful kick, the Rogue slipped in, her daggers finding weak spots in the creature's hide. Inspired by Team 0's tactics, Aaron and his team redoubled their efforts, using their abilities more creatively to bypass the mud armor by targeting the new weak spots.
The two melee fighters of the team joined Daniel in physically wrestling the Boss, preventing it from mounting a significant response, while the mages unleashed hell on its back, cracking and destroying the mud armor and exposing the flesh beneath to the rage of the elements.
Maria's fiery constructs were enhanced by the powerful gusts Miriam conjured, not just scorching the skin but burning through it, opening large, gaping wounds.
The swamp echoed with the sounds of battle – the croaking of the boss frog, the crackling of Maria's fire, and the shouts of the Awakeners.
James, realizing the need for a more decisive approach, decided to activate his new skill, Psychic Overdrive. He signaled to Ezekiel, who quickly enhanced James's vitality to better withstand the skill's strain. The moment he pushed mana into it, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, his senses sharpening and his physical abilities skyrocketing far beyond what he had ever been capable of.
With a determined look, James leaped into the air, channeling all his enhanced strength and psychic power into one devastating blow. He descended upon the bullfrog like a meteor, his fist shining with energy. The beast didn’t even have time to realize it was doomed, that it was over.
The impact was colossal, the force of the blow amplified by Psychic Overdrive into something that touched the higher ranks. The frog's body fell apart under the immense power, exploding in a shower of gore.
To James' surprise, he continued his path through the mud, the force of his blow enough to drive him several feet into the ground, though luckily, the vast majority of the surrounding mud was blown away by the impact.
The aftermath of the attack left everyone momentarily stunned as they picked themselves up from where they had been thrown. Breathing heavily from the exertion, James lay with his back on the ground, his battlesuit covered with mud and the Boss’ remnants.
"Sorry about the mess.” James joked, his voice slightly strained from the effort. "I'll look for the mana stone to make up for it." He took a deep breath, relishing in the notification alerting him that he had levelled up.
Despite being covered in unmentionable things, the others couldn't help but chuckle at his comment. Maria playfully flicked a piece of frog off her shoulder. "You better mover your ass, James, or I'm making you clean my gear later."
Using his enhanced Psychic Omniscience, James quickly scanned the surrounding area. The skill allowed him to sweep his surroundings for the mana stone, and it didn't take long for him to locate it. The stone was a vibrant blue, pulsating with energy, buried beneath a pile of mud and vegetation.
Painfully picking himself up and walking over to it, he retrieved the stone, holding it up triumphantly. "Found it!"
Aaron clapped James on the back, grinning broadly. "Impressive work. A bit flashy, but very effective."
The two teams gathered around, sharing a moment of victory. Despite the messy end to the fight, spirits were high.
----------------------------------------
The ride back to New York was quieter than usual. Everyone was physically and mentally drained from the intense dungeon clearing. The van hummed along the highway, the city's skyline slowly coming into view as they approached. Still processing the day's events, James decided to check Antares to pass the time.
Scrolling through the social media app designed for Awakeners, he came across several frantic posts and news articles from accounts he followed and trusted to tell the truth about the alarming escalation in Asia. It seemed things were getting worse.
"Allied groups to the KLF, previously unknown, conducted several terrorist attacks in capital cities all across Southeast Asia. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with national governments calling for emergency powers to deal with the threat, and there are growing fears that Europe and America might be next on their list." A post from independent journalist @MarthaMoreckiewic read.
James read out loud the most relevant parts to the team, dread pooling in his gut. "Fuck I think this is the start of something a lot bigger. Or rather, it had already started, and we're just seeing it now." He commented.
The van fell into a somber silence as everyone absorbed the news. Maria, who had been resting her eyes, opened them slowly. "This is getting out of hand. I thought the situation was under control with the A-ranks and S-ranks they sent over there."
Daniel, his forehead creased in worry, added. "The world's been unstable since the Apocalypse, but at least it was humanity against the monsters. This infighting is stupid… But I guess it was going to come back some day."
Ezekiel, biting his nails, tried to offer a different perspective. "Maybe it's just fear-mongering. These groups might not have the resources to carry out more attacks here. They lost almost everyone the last time they tried.”
Lauren, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "Even if it's a remote possibility, we can't ignore it. Our role might change drastically if these threats become more widespread."
James nodded, his expression grave. "We need to stay vigilant and prepared. If these groups are bold enough to attack in Asian capitals, despite the heavy Awakener presence, there's no telling what they might attempt next."
As the van entered the city, the conversation died down, each member lost in their thoughts about the uncertain future. The sight of New York, with its bustling streets and towering buildings, was a potent reminder of what they were fighting to protect.
None of them wanted to see it filled with smoke and devastation again.