As the Elemental Fog Knight dissipated into the ether and the fog around the lake slowly began to thin, Team 0 found themselves in a surreal moment of victory. The adrenaline of battle was still coursing through their veins, yet a sense of accomplishment filled the air. They had just vanquished an F-rank entity, an almost unheard of achievement for a team of their level.
Having defeated Callum Wright once, James was well aware of just how vast the gap between the Awakening Tiers truly was, and during that fight they had had several advantages.
Well, considering just how injured it had been, I'd say the same thing goes for this time too. But at least we'll get the rewards now.
On cue, a flurry of notifications hit him, the System going crazy with it. Each member of Team 0 received a barrage of messages indicating their rewards, but there was no time to stop and review them all. They needed to move quickly, to escape the dungeon before the situation outside changed or the Awakeners they had seen earlier made their move.
James, glancing briefly at his notifications, noted a significant leap in levels. It was a testament to the magnitude of their achievement, but he pushed the thought aside. "We can check the details later. Right now, we need to get out of here." He told his team, his voice firm with urgency.
The first and only alert he allowed himself to read was the confirmation of the Boss' death, but James told himself that was not out of curiosity, but rather because he needed to be sure.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have slayed a [Elemental Knight - Fog Servant]! You have gained 31420 EXP!
Following that were several level-up notifications, but he put them aside since they wouldn't matter much should the Guild team find them.
Tired and battered as Team 0 was, they wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight, which meant they needed to take advantage of the still hanging fog to get out of the dungeon and hope it would be enough to shield them.
James' proposal to leave immediately was met with nods of agreement from his teammates. They were all too aware of the risks involved in lingering within the boundaries of the dungeon, especially with the murderers still hanging around.
"There might still be some Sprites left.” Lauren pointed out, not in disagreement so much as to ensure they had considered everything thoroughly, her eyes scanning the slowly clearing fog. "They could pose a threat to civilians if they wander out of the dungeon."
James weighed her words, knowing the risk was real. "We need to move quickly. We can alert the AA and get back up to secure the area. Our first priority is to report what we've uncovered and get Miss Walker involved."
It would be a right mess if a few Sprites left the cordoned park to attack civilians, but the possibility of the murderers leaving unmolested was simply too great.
The team moved with purpose, navigating through the dissipating fog. Landmarks previously obscured by the dense mist started to become recognizable, helping them find their way towards the exit. The once-alien landscape of the park was slowly returning to its familiar state, revealing paths and hidden features.
As they made their way out, a few stray Fog Sprites, remnants of the Knight's retinue, emerged from the thinning fog. These encounters were brief and less intense compared to their earlier battles. Team 0 dispatched the Sprites swiftly, their experience in the dungeon having honed their response to these lesser threats despite their tired and battered forms.
The fog continued to lift as they approached the park's boundaries, the sounds of the city growing louder with each step, signifying just how deeply intertwined the dungeon's effects had been with its Boss' presence. The sense of urgency propelled them forward, their minds focused on the task at hand.
Well, considering just how much stronger the Knight was compared to everything else, it makes sense that without it to sustain the bulk of the expense, the dungeon would revert to being a G-rank.
The walk through the park was similar to how it felt to go out in the early winter morning when no one was present and the city felt deserted. Still, James kept his guard up and senses peeled, not wanting the successful dive to end badly.
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The number of monsters they encountered ended up being much lower than he expected, but a theory as to why quickly formed in his mind.
If the Fog Elementals are born from a place of dense mana charged with only one type, the absence of the Knight, which was the most significant contributor to the mist, means a lot less are going to spawn. Which means the entire balance of the dungeon rested entirely on the Boss. Differing from an average monster filled one, which even without the most powerful beast can continue going if all the monsters are not killed, and with enough time, can see another rise to become the Boss.
It made a lot of sense the more James thought about it. Elemental dungeons had the ability to spawn monsters endlessly as long as the power was provided, but there had to be a downside too, as all things had to be in balance.
Absently, he dispatched a new Sprite he felt forming close to them, though it was weak and thin looking, as if there hadn't been enough fog to truly finish constructing its body.
That made him nod to himself, shelving his considerations for later, when he wasn't in danger of being silenced by the Guild team for what he had witnessed.
The moment his communicator started flashing again, signifying that the dungeon's isolating effects were over, James immediately sent a distress signal back to the HQ. He shot another to Miss Walker, knowing she would know what it meant.
Best to always make sure. I don't want to think there are infiltrators even in the crisis management unit, but it's better to be too careful than to be fucked in the ass later because of negligence.
As they neared the exit, the outline of figures became visible through the thinning mist. The Guild team was there, hanging back just enough not to be bothered by the civilians, waiting beyond the park's boundary.
Alongside them, straining the police's ability to keep them out, the throng of press and media that had gathered had multiplied in number, their cameras and microphones poised to capture the moment.
The appearance of Team 0 emerging from the fog caused a stir among the reporters. Questions were hurled in their direction, camera flashes lighting up their tired forms. James was glad for his mask, which hid his exasperated expression, but straightened up nonetheless, not wanting to give a bad impression.
James, leading his team, kept his demeanor neutral. They had to navigate this situation carefully, aware that their every word and action were being scrutinized. The presence of the Guild team added a layer of complexity to the situation. Maintaining a professional demeanor and avoiding confrontation in front of so many possible casualties was crucial.
Despite how much he wanted to walk over and arrest the lot of them, they were unlikely to go along with it, and he still possessed enough mental acuity to realize how bad of an idea it would be to fight them.
Once everyone's attention was on them, James took a deep breath. "We've killed the Boss." He announced to the crowd, his voice calm and steady. "We'll be making a full report to the Awakeners Association. Please direct your questions to them."
A murmur of surprise went to the crowd, but they didn't seem too shocked. Had they known of the entity Team 0 had to face inside the park, their reaction would have been much different.
The Guild team, on the other hand, watched silently, their expressions unreadable. They were clearly assessing the situation, perhaps gauging Team 0's intentions or the extent of what they knew.
James didn't dignify them with a look, though his Awareness was entirely focused on them. He scoured every bit of their presences, trying to grasp their thoughts.
The Awakeners were relatively calm and a bit suspicious, which made him relax. Had they believed them to have witnessed the murder, they wouldn't have been that carefree.
They likely think we found the injured Knight and took advantage of its condition. Which is what their plan had been, once they could ensure we were taken care of.
James gave them a brief nod, a silent acknowledgment of their presence, as it would have been weirder not to, but said nothing more. He steered his team past the media and the Guild members, their steps deliberate and focused.
Unfortunately, the confrontation he wanted to avoid couldn't be postponed any more, as he felt the F-rankers' presences come closer.
They didn't have the privacy to do anything particularly threatening in the parking lot next to the park, especially because the press would likely come running in just a few minutes once they realized the Awakeners were not truly gone.
Still, he felt himself tense up, preparing for anything.
The leader of the Guild team, a tall man with a scrutinizing gaze, regarded James and his team with a mix of surprise and begrudging respect. "It's impressive that you have managed to clear this dungeon in such a short amount of time." He finally said, his voice tinged with an unspoken question. Clearly, he hadn't expected them to succeed and was fishing for more.
"We were lucky." James replied, trying his best to sound casual. "The Boss had been injured by a rogue Awakener, though he lost his life in the attempt. We came upon his body and need to call it in as soon as possible."
He was skirting the truth, to be honest, but James wasn't about to confront them directly with what he had seen in such a public location, and to lie outright would be just as risky.
"I see." The man hummed, his dark eyes boring into James' as if attempting to grasp his thoughts. "That was very lucky indeed. It's a pity that man went in without backup, but considering how illegal it is to poach monsters inside an assigned dungeon, it was for the better."
Now, he's just pushing it. You killed the poor man. Isn't that enough?
Despite the anger he was feeling, James held back from saying anything. He felt the same process happen with all his teammates, who would have greatly enjoyed telling the man off, but refrained. Still, he couldn't avoid prodding him. "It was very unfortunate. That, however, doesn't explain why your team was so close to a dungeon you have said belongs to the AA."
James was touching a dangerous territory, but to let the murderers go without even questioning their presence felt like too much.
Tension ratcheted up immediately. Had Team 0 been of an equal rank to the still unknown Guild Team, they would have been expected to question them, but it was an unspoken rule in the world of Awakeners that the weak were not to bother the strong, despite whatever right they might have.
James felt the instinct to explain himself, to say that they had no right to be there and had to announce their presence before, but he held back, not wanting the confrontation to end in blood.
"The Crimson Blade Guild has received the right to access any unclaimed dungeon in the state of New York." The man finally said.
Though he didn't say much, the implications were clear. They were saying that they didn't recognize Brooklyn as AA territory and, as such, believed the Prospect Park dungeon to be free for them to plunder.
James hummed quietly, eyes hard. "We'll have to see about that, won't we?” He said, turning away to walk towards Mr. Robinson, where they’d wait for the reinforcements to finish the job.