It didn’t take long before the group of four found a group of Volkars. Damien found them, but was discovered before he could warn the group properly. He came running to them all with seven of them all chasing him.
Their speed was almost enough to catch him. If not for the distance he had, he would have surely been overrun by the group. As soon as Damien was behind Zack, he clashed his axe-hammer weapon against his shield and let out his taunt ability.
“Come and get me you chickens!”
Mathew readied a knife in his main hand. It was time to put the training into practice. With seven targets all grouped up, it would be easier to hit one of them. He aimed for a moment, took a steady breath as when he first started using [Mana Bolt] and threw it.
It sliced across one of the Volkar’s hides, but didn’t stick in it. However, it didn’t matter. The small cut still started to bleed profusely as if it was a deeper cut. Mathew grinned as three ranged blasts, two ice and one cold flew at the enemy he hit.
With a wave of his hand, and a bit of mana, the knife returned to his hand a few seconds later. “It’s a slow return. Need to keep that in mind.”
Damien let shot after shot from his crossbow, while Sameul had a channeled heal targeting Zack. It was enough to keep him from over fatiguing from the constant attacks. Very few made it past his armor.
The pack soon realized they couldn’t take down Zack. With his insane defensive stats and armor, he was impossible to knock down. Mathew respected that sort of power. Being an impenetrable wall. It made targeting the weak creatures that much easier when they were all focused on Zack.
It didn’t take but another volley of attacks before one of the feathered beasts fell to the ground. That was the signal to the pack to break the taunt and charge passed the tank. Luckily, this was somewhat expected. Jeffrey was right there to take the next volley and met them head on.
Even without a taunt, two stayed behind to attack Zack, leaving three more to charge the backlines. Mathew forwent his knives and charged a strong magical attack through his staff. “Agnox now!”
Mathew let loose the attack that was followed by a ball of fire. The Imp hovered over the battle and let out a little victory shout. “Gottem! Woo! Take that! And that makes four for me!”
Ignoring his early celebration, Mathew turned to the last two, seeing them both dead. Damien and his two Wisps had killed them. Once again, proving how fragile they were to powerful attacks.
Sameul looked slightly worried, but composed herself. “Anyone need healing? Everyone, okay?”
“I think Jeffrey could use a patch up, but that’s about it. I don’t want to use pills just yet if we can avoid it. They are only useful once or twice. Di mentioned it clogging up your body with impurities.”
She nodded, “Dr. Garcia mentioned that as well. We are using the pills for the most critical of injuries. Everything else is old school medicine. Rest, a warm meal, and healing to keep the worst of the pain down.”
“Woo, that was great. Keep this up, and we will get a smorgasborg of Currency!” Agnox said.
“You seem a bit chipper.” Damien commented as he reloaded his crossbow.
“Well, at first I was worried. But these guys are rollovers. Almost as easy as you humans were at the beginning. So, it’s just free experience, money, and items for me!”
“Does it really work like that for you?” Zack asked.
“Sounds lazy. You shouldn’t let your pets walk all over you Mathew.” Samuel said with a slight glare.”
“Oi, i’m not his pet. Partner is the correct term. Secondly, yes. You think everyone can’t gain levels and money? It’s the best part of The System. Unless you are brainless or lack a proper willpower, then you just get experience. I doubt these Volkars get any Universal Currency for killing things. A full belly, and maybe a level now and then.”
“Huh, that kinda makes sense.” Zack said, looking at the bodies. “Well, Henderson has the body bags, so we can just leave these guys here. Are you all ready to move on?”
Everyone nodded, and headed deeper into the Dungeons. Walking a slight angle to the Mountain base. They soon agreed that while they don’t want to fight the boss with just them four, minus Zack and secretly Mathew, they should be close by in case the other group needed them.
It was two hours later before they reached the mountain base. They didn’t reach there unscathed however. Mathew had lost his wisps twice from surprise jumping attacks. Agnox himself took a nasy attack as well as everyone else multiple times.
If not for Samuel and the medical items they had, the travel thus far would have ended up being shortened with death or a quick retreat.
Zack was looking at his shield grumbling, “Those claws are sharp. Just look at my shield! not even a day full of battle and it’s ruined. I’m going to need to melt it down and reforge it. No way I can buff out all these scars.”
Mathew closed his eyes trying to ignore the pain of mana fatigue. He had just resummoned Jeffrey after a nasty fight that ended with a close death. Luckily, it seems an unsummon and resummon brings him back to full fighting power. A good thing to remember in the future. Even with his long casting time and high mana cost, a free reset to his stamina and health could be a huge benefit.
In the distance up the mountain, they heard the sounds of a fight and screeches from the Volkars. “Sounds like the other group is about halfway up.” Samuel said.
“Should we go up as well?” Damien asked.
“Of course we should!” Zack exclaimed, “We still have a bet to win.”
“I don’t know man.” Samuel said. “We could just let them do it, what's two weeks of work compared to dying?”
“Two weeks I’m not in the forge improving my skills. I uh, kinda have a secret quest i’m trying to complete okay?”
Mathew perked up at hearing that. “Secret quest? From The System?”
“Not exactly…” Zack looked down at his shield, “Listen, some people were visited by Gods during that battle with the Infernals remember? I was visited as well. I was given a quest. I have to make an Adept ranked item before the end of Phase 2. If I do that, I receive a huge reward. Something that helps everyone.”
“What is the reward?” Mathew asked, curious as to what the other Gods were up to. Gaia gave him one to prepare for Droozkora, but it was to help him and her. Nobody else. What kind of God would visit Zack?
“A crafting building for whatever Safe Zone I’m allied to. Which means yours Mathew. He is a God that cares more about improvement of craft. He mentioned that many crafters are part of the clan he started when he was younger.” He scratched at his head where the helmet rubbed when he wore it.
“Anyways, if I can make an Adept ranked item, he will bless a building himself. I did a bit of research through Di, and it’s not something to discard as a side quest. This is the main story material here. We are talking about anything made in that building will be at least Apprentice ranked. Even the scraps.”
Agnox let out a whistle, “That is something. Adept ranked items are not common. Those Star Fruits you had Mathew were probably Beginner ranked or Novice if I had to guess.”
“Wait, items have ranks?” Mathew asked.
“Everything does, but sometimes the quality matters too. A low tier and poorly made Adept item will never compare to a high class perfected Apprecintice item. Usually the higher quality it is of that rank, the better odds it can even grow and become a higher tier. Rarely more than once. Those items are extremely uncommon. Murthos had one, a whip or something.”
Mathew blinked, “You mean this one?” He pulled the whip he received as a reward from his bag. He threw it in there, not giving it a second thought. Planning on selling it, or giving it away as a trade in the future.”
“Yup, that’s it. Why do you have it in your bag? You do realize how much that thing is worth right?” Agnox said, eyeing the whip’s poisoned ends.
“I don’t. Care to indulge me?” Mathew asked.
“I don’t know the exact price. I would compare it to a top tier Apprentice rank item. Ballpark of 500-800 thousand UC.”
Everyone was shocked by the price. “Mathew, we are selling that when we get back to Di.”
“Bah, why sell it to him? He’s just one merchant.” Agnox complained.
Everyone rolled their eyes, thinking Di wouldn’t rip them off. Yet Mathew paused to think it over. However, their conversation was quickly broken by the sound of an explosion far above them toward the peaks.
They all looked to see a bright red flare slowly floating to the ground.
“That’s the emergency flare!” Damien exclaimed. He was already to his feet taking off, leaving the temporary rest area behind.
Everyone else was half a stride behind him, running up the mountain.
----------------------------------------
Henderson, Lindsey, Brown, Leo // Zack, Damien, Mathew, Samuel
“They better get here soon, or I’ll kill them!” Henderson yelled as she cleaved two Volakar’s in half with one swing. Adrenaline was running full force through her. More and more brightly colored dinosaurs rushed to them.
Lindsey drew her bow and mana flowed into the arrow as she shot it over everyone. It split into five arrows, landing in the most closely knitted group of enemies. Leo was chopping them one by one, occasionally leting out a shot from the barrel of his gun.
“They can’t be that far behind, we were racing to get up here!” Brown looked up the mountain, where the Dungeon Boss sat. A scaled humanoid sat on a throne made of bones, in it’s hand is a metal staff.
“Go, my children, kill the intruders!” His voice was nasily. Which was odd since he had no nose.
“Oh come on. Can this get any more cliche?” Lindsey half yelled.”
“Less comparing the dungeon to fantasy novels, more killing!” Henderson yelled.
Leo and Henderson were practically back to back. Brown was close to Lindsey as she was hiding in a tree. Brown guarded the base of the tree, but was close enough to heal everyone. It was sheer chaos. The numbers of the dinosaurs were nothing compared to the imps, but it was almost double than what they fought in the Goblin Dungeon.
The battle went on for several more moments when Leo yelled, “They arn’t coming, or are too far away. Fuck it, I’m ending this here!”
“Leo, I gave you a damn o- '' She was interrupted by Leo exploding with energy. It was just like when they fought Pittrux. She cursed, wanting to save this ability for when they actually fought the boss.
Scaled bodies dropped with each swing from Leo, not a single attack slowed down by the bones and muscles that were cleanly cut through. He was a beacon of power, and everything saw him as the largest threat. Waves of Dinosaurs came at him.
Lindsey fired arrow after arrow to help thin the groups, but it was barely a dent. She risked looking around to see if the other group was close by. That’s when she saw a red missile flying past her tree.
A ball of fire slammed into a volakar killing it instantly.
“That makes twenty! I’m still winning, ha!” Agnox yelled out. He had jumped off Jeffrey and allowed him to barrel into the waves of beasts next to Leo and Henderson. His larger size gave him a true advantage. With so many, they couldn’t easily dodge his maw.
Following up was a crossbow bolt, and three blue bolts of magic, killing more of the volakar’s.
The boss called out in what sounded like a series of clicks and whistles. At first, Mathew was confused. So far he understood every other creature he had encountered.
“Oh dang, who invited Voldemort’s dino cousin?” Zack yelled out as he ran to help defend his friends.
“Dungeon Boss, named Klautic!” Damien yelled as he scanned the creature. Mathew looked up at him, eyeing the staff.
“A spell caster? Why is he just sitting there?” Mathew wondered, However he didn’t focus too much on it. Right now, he has a weapon skill to train.
Knife after knife was thrown from him, and would a moment later return to his hand. He focused on the training he followed thus far, and aimed at vital areas. Necks, limbs where he assumed arteries would run through, and any central body location that had the heart. He could just rely upon [Mana Bolt], but he knew that was the wrong choice. He could use that for the boss fight.
The tide of battle easily turned with all eight of them there. It was just a minute later that the power Leo extruded died down. “I’m tapped out.” He grunted as he fell to a knee.
Brown and Samuel were right there healing him, and dragging him further back. Zack to Leo’s position, and with Henderson the two held off the volakar’s very well.
Soon the numbers were mostly dead, a few sparse ones remained, and had yet to attack as if waiting.
Klautic stood up, raising his staff. More clicks and whistles sounded from him. Clouds started to move slowly in the sky. They began to darken and the wind also picked up speed, forcing everyones clothes to flutter rapidly.
Mathew then remembered that other creatures could understand him due to an ability. So that creature himself doesn’t have such an ability. Thankfully, he didn’t waste too much time focusing on such a small thing to ignore the battle.
“Guys, that’s a mage. I don’t like this.” Zack said. “We need to take him out quickly!”
“Got it!” Brown called out as he raised his rifle up to fire. Mathew was already charging his staff with his go to spell, while Damien and Lindsey also aimed their weapons. The four of them rained down attacks but realized none of them were hitting except for Mathew’s
The Dungeon Boss slammed the staff into the ground. A lightning bolt simultaneously slammed into the group of seven, plus the four summons causing massive damage. Both Mathew’s wisps were instantly killed. Jeffrey seemed fine, but Agnox looked worse for wear.
“Large AOE high damage spell!” Lindsey coughed. “Melee forward!”
“Hey, I'll give the orders here.” Henderson half shouted. “Charge the fucker with me Zack. Everyone else, keep the small ones off us!”
The two charged forward, while Mathew grimaced. He was down his two strongest summons. He glanced at Agnox who was sitting on Jeffrey’s back. One of his wings was heavily damaged. “Agnox, let me-”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Nope, I’m good. Such a big spell like that has a high mana cost. He won’t be able to use it again. If your Captain lady can end him here, we are good.” He glanced down at one of his arms, green blood dripping down it. “However, just in case he does it again, recall me first.”
Mathew huffed, and threw a knife with one hand, while blasting consecutive [Mana Bolts] at anything that was still alive. He pushed hard with the spells, feeling a familiar energy flowing with his mana. Each bolt had a white sliver along with them. He refused to lose such a simple battle, let alone let anyone die. These were his people now, he had a precedent to establish.
A McGonald doesn’t lose, especially himself. Jurassic Park VII wasn’t going to change that. He fully let lose with his attacks, not carrying for true killing blows. Everyone else could finish them off, or they would bleed out from his knives. Right now, he was going to give Henderson and Zack a safe passage forward.
Zack ran infront of her, shield down. Several volkars slid to the sides as he plowed through them. Henderson charged her sword with her empowered attack technique. Mathew knew his own weakness, it was physical attacks in close range.
The Dungeon Boss however, seemed to not realize that. He let out a high pitched laugh as he welcomed the two with open arms. His staff was raised high, but the clouds did not move. He looked confused for a moment, looking at the staff. He then let out a screech just before Henderson was ontop of him.
Mathew was banking on a single attack ending this, but the walking lizard was lucky. His staff blocked the attack with a metalic *ping* reverberating across the plateau. The two were locked in a crude melee of metal rod versus sword.
Mathew was going to attack but realized doing so would risk him hitting Henderson. Instead he refocused on the few remaining pawns. Jeffrey and Agnox were a dynamic duo. Jeffrey ran, dodging the attacks, or took a weak one so Agnox was never hit.
Agnox’s one good arm was releasing bolts and balls of fire. Mathew personally didn’t know the difference, but based on their effects, the balls were larger areas, while the bolts were more accurate and pinpoint with their damage.
Henderson was surprisingly pushed back, the boss was stronger than he looked. He slammed his staff into the ground, Mathew saw the clouds converging. “Shit”
This was it, they were all going to die, unless someone killed the boss. He didn’t dare trust anyone else to take the shot, they would be too afraid to hit Henderson. A risk he was willing to make. Either she got injured and they all took one step closer to death, more than likely himself would if the attack was direct, or she didn’t and nobody died.
He pulled the mana from his ring, using it to fuel the attack through [Droozkora’s Rod]. He channled his Axiom, although he had zero reason to know why, it was pure instinct. Refusal to miss the one attack to end it all. That was his current mindset.
He aimed his weapon carefully before firing it. His control over the attack after it left him was miniscual. He had no way to warn Henderson in time, but he saw the opening and had to take it.
The bolt clippled Henderson across her abdomen, yet it carried through and directly hit the boss in the shoulder. Knocking him away from the staff.
“End it!” Mathew screamed.
An arrow and gun shot flew toward the lizard killing him. The clouds stopped swirling, and simultaneously all the reptiles let out a high pitched screech. Mathew readied to finish the scant few, but they all ran away, toward the bottom of the mountain.
“Where are they all going?!” Samuel shouted.
“The portal. Same thing happened with the goblins.” Leo said.
“Oh, and why we were not told of this before? We could have just spear headed him, and ended this much quicker.” Lindsey complained.
“Swarm tactics.” Zack said as he put his shield down and fell to the ground, sweat covered his entire head. “If we tried to just go for him directly, we would have been covered head to toe in lizard saliva. I thought you were a MMO RPG expert?”
“I am!” She scoffed, “Besides, that’s a tactic we’ve done dozens of times to kill bosses.”
“And how many players died?”
Lindsey paused, realizing what Zack was saying.
“It’s not about winning at all costs, it’s about winning safely. Hence why we should have stuck together! What would you all have done if one of you died?”
“We were fine.” Leo said.
“Sure, and if we didn’t show up, all four of you would be dead.” Samuel scoffed as she placed a hand on Henderson to patch her up. Brown was started on Leo, since he was tapped out of mana.
“Thanks by the way.” Lindsey muttered.
Zack put a hand to his ear, “I’m sorry what was that? I couldnt’ hear you over my ego.”
“Not saying it again, but I think we can say you won the bet. I’m 99% sure Damien’s attack killed him.”
“Wasn’t me.” He said. “No blue screen of victory.”
Everyone looked confused, until Leo chuckled. “I believe that would be me.”
Confusion was on everyones faces. How did his shotgun reach so far?
Leo raised a handgun up for everyone to see, “You think I only had one gun? Please, soon as I started to go out alone, I bought a second one. Just in case something was too far away from me to reach with Lucky.”
He made a motion with his hand, and then blue screens popped up infront of everyone, two for Mathew.
Dungeon Conquored by Conflict.
Rewards:
Title: Dungeoneer II
20 Volkar Hides
5 sets of Volkar Claws
10,000 UC
Hearth Crystal (Automatically added to your own)
Dungeon Core [Novice]
Claim and add it’s power to your Hearth Crystal?
Or
Claim and reset the Dungeon?
Mathew went ahead and selected to claim the Dungeon, but reset it. A small countdown appeared, showing it had a six day timer. “Six days till it resets? Not bad. Not great. We finished it in five hours, and we took our time. This Novice Dungeon better be worth it.”
After that, he opened his menu to show he is now Level 22. That put a smile on his face. He went ahead and dumped all the stat points into his Dexterity. He wanted to better use his knives, both in melee and as thrown weapons.
Dexterity is the only stat that would be needed with a little help from Wisdom and Intelligence. He would need to calculate how to throw, and the math involved. All in all, he gave himself a mediocre C- for his performance with the knives. The skill did most of the work for him, he could feel it.
A small nudge in his elbow to move it out more. A tingle in his fingers to better grip it. The occasional twitch in his wrist when he was going to let go too early or late. All of it as a guiding force, and not his own.
A normal man would consider that an acceptable aid. He was new to throwing knives. He was not a normal man. Mathew wouldn’t allow himself to be compared to normal people. He was close to Level 25 and a few rank ups for his powers. So close he was willing to delay going to the Undead Dungeon to better prepare himself. Yet, he couldn’t. Leo wouldn’t allow it. Not that Leo was his boss, but Mathew had to give and take. This was the time to give.
Mathew gave a proper look at his stats, and everything he improved upon. He then eyed his new ability with eager expectations.
Name: Mathew McGonald
Race: Human [Beginner]
Class: Summoner
Profession: Contract Scribe
Level: 22
Universal Currency: 55,235
Titles: Child of Axiom, Classy, Dungeoneer II, Forerunner, Hearth Crystal Owner, Lawyer, Pack Leader, Soloist, Survivor II
Axioms:
Glint of Resistance [Novice]
Strength:
53
Vitality:
111
Dexterity:
97
Endurance:
79
Intelligence:
217
Wisdom:
220
Unallotted Stat Points: 0
Abilities:
(New) Channel Mana | Novice 1
Conjure Weapon | Novice 1 -> 5
Skills:
Knives | Beginner 6 -> 9
Staves Beginner 4 -> 5
Spells:
Mana Bolt | Beginner 7 -> 9
Summon Jeffrey | Beginner 0 ->2
Summon Wispy & Whis | Beginner 6 ->7
Channel Mana | Novice 1
Your control over mana has improved through dedicated focus. You have more control over Mana itself and Abilities, Skills, and Spells that use mana.
“Yyyyeeeeesssss” An infernal hiss came from behind Mathew. Agnox was now Level 10. Such a reaction could only be reserved for such an accomplishment. “Let's go back! Lets go, now pleeeeeaaaaassseeeee.” He begged Mathew.
“Hey, can we at least rest? A few of us almost died out there.” Damien said. He was now being treated by Brown.
“Oh and my hurt wing and arm isn’t a testament to my close encounter? I want to get to my class already!”
“What would an Imp who hurls fire and is a Familiar get?” Zack asked, curious about it himself.
Agnox shrugged. “My first time, I acquired the [Pyrotechnic] class. Second time I was an [Horde Leader: Imp]. Depends on what Mathew and I agree upon.”
“We have to agree?” Mathew asked.
“Eh, technically you choose for me.” Agnox said hesitantly looking up at his Summoner. “But, I don’t expect you to force me like Bitch Tits did.”
A snort and chuckle echoed from Leo and Damien. “Dang, you are getting a hang of English. Who taught you that one?” Damien asked.
“Nobody specific. Crazy what I hear when floating around. One might think I have a stealth skill.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Damien was mostly healed, and Samuel finished ensuring Leo wasn’t going to die. Mathew and Agnox were next. Samuel said nothing as she tapped Agnox on the head and healed him. His arm was bandaged up and put in a tiny sling.
“That reminds me, did you get a skill for the knife I made?” Zack asked.
Agnox pursed his lips, “Why do you ask?”
Zack smirked, “My smithing skill went up 2 ranks. Which means, somebody got a rank up related to something I made. I get a tiny bit of experience for people using my items. However I can’t rank up using my own stuff, only making. Which means either Henderson or you did. Henderson is already good with her swordmanship, but a small bump or two isn’t anything significant. Logic dictates, you are the guilty party.”
Agnox rolled his eyes, “Yes, sadly I have a melee skill. [Small Blades]. A general weapon skill, one I plan to remove once I hit Student rank.”
“Wait, you can remove skills?” Henderson asked a little too curiously.
“Abilities and Spells too. Don’t know how, just know it’s possible. You think you are forced to keep what you acquire at such a low level? Nah, you get more slots sure, but that would be silly. But anything new would start all the way back at Novice.”
Damien let out a whistle, and Mathew saw Lindsey writing what was just said down. Mathew also filed that away for himself. Right now, he didn’t want to remove anything. However, he wasn’t a man to be unprepared. It was good to know in case he decided to change up his current power set. If anything, he might give up [Knives].
“So, when do we have to leave this place?” Samuel asked. “I doubt being inside a Dungeon when it resets is a good thing.”
“Six days is what the timer says.” Mathew stated. “Sounds like we have plenty of time.”
Henderson clapped her hands, seeing everyone fully healed up. “Lets top off the body bag, anyone with too much stuff from rewards and can't carry it all exchange items. Let’s head back home.”