Jazmel stepped through the doorway of the lowered door and the others followed him. the inner tunnel was dark, and the air was thick, as if it had stayed stagnant in the tunnel for many and many years. Jazmel led the way, his eyes guiding him through the tunnel and though he had to crane his neck. He wasn’t claustrophobic at all.
DING!
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE DEAD MOUNTAIN!
A DWARVEN MOUNTAIN CAN ONLY DIE WHEN ALL THE DWARVES OF HIS HEART HAVE LEFT!
OR BEEN SLAIN!
THE MOUNTAIN HAS LOST ITS NAME AND HIS HEART!!
…
YOU NEED TO DEFEAT THE THREE WARD BOSSES TO ADVANCE THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN!
…
The golden light from the origami swan appeared, floating above his head. It glimmered and then vanished down tunnel. The system announcement hadn't made a sound, but Jazmel could tell his friends had been sent the same notice too.
“Onward.” Katie said from behind him, and he nodded in the dark. Leading the way and through the tunnel that was going towards something or somewhere. The tunnel finally expanded into a junction of many tunnels, Jazmel had expected it. But he hadn't hoped for it.
“We will have to split up then.” Jazmel said and everyone nodded.
“I will go alone; well I will be with Paldane.” He offered and Sadé stepped forward already ready to argue.
“Why?” she questioned him.
“Because I want you and Kazumi to go with Patton. I know Bannerman and Katie will keep each other safe. So the only option is for me to go on my own.” he explained, his logic was sound, and she rolled her eyes. Patton hadn't said anything of merit, but he inclined his head out of respect.
There were a total of five tunnels. The three in the middle were split between the team, Katie and Bannerman taking the first, Jazmel entered the middle one alone. Sadé and Patton headed down the one to his right.
Jazmel walked down the tunnel, his senses fanning out about him. his eyes were picking up every minute detail and he was hurrying down the tunnel, his head on the swivel and his Mana coalesced around him like a shield.
He sprinted down his tunnel for ages, first it was a moment, and then the moment became hours and finally it was ages. He ran on and on for ages, on incline and then on decline. The tunnel seemed to enter deeply into the mountain. Jazmel hadn't considered the size of the mountain beforehand, but now he was wondering just how deep it ran. The tunnel descended in a steep decline and then the temperature of the tunnel climbed. Soon he was sweating, and he had to open his jacket and Paldane crawled up onto his shoulder.
The floor is heating up. Paldane said and he was right, Jazmel could feel it all around him. but the floor was catching up too.
The tunnel was dug close to the core of this land. Paldane explained and Jazmel listened as he took a quick moment to catch his breath.
The air changes here, you will soon reach the end of this tunnel. Paldane yawned and Jazmel nodded, suddenly motivated to be out of the heat.
He ran up the last length of the tunnel, it was a sharp incline. Almost as if he ran up two flights of stairs. But once he was free of the tunnel he crouched over, catching his breath, and doing his best to not throw up.
DING!
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE LAIR OF THE TIER III MANTICORE!
BEWARE IT DESPISES ALL CHALLENGERS!
DEFEAT THE FIRST WARD BOSS!
…
SLAY YOUR ENEMY!
The system hadn't said that to him before. That caught him off guard, but he wasn’t completely worried.
“Are you with me?” he asked and Paldane nuzzled him from within his collar.
Always.
The manticore was a creature unlike anything Jazmel had seen before. It had the body of a large lion, its head was level with Jazmel’s his ghost blue eyes, stared into the yellow cat eyes of the manticore. Spittle and dribble flecked its long canines as it snarled defiantly at him. the long body had two folded wings atop its back and as it hopped from the shelf it was lounging on. The wings flared, they reminded him of bat wings, the thin membrane showing all the blood veins and vessels. When it landed, its tail curled up and over its back, Jazmel almost gasped. It was a scorpion tail, the segmented tail with a coiled and curled stinger at the top. He watched it with interest, wondering what it meant. But he wasn’t fearful yet.
TIER III MANTICORE!
IT SNEERS AT YOU AND RAGES AT YOUR DEFILING ITS LAIR!
NONE WHO ENTER CAN RETURN THE WAY THEY CAME!!
NO!!!
FACE THE MANTICORE AND ADVANCE!
…
The system notices were floating across his face, but he didn’t let it block his vision. He willed it to disappear, and it did. Slowly, he drew his sword. Nozarashi the keen edge sliding out of its sheath.
The manticore watched him, transfixed on the audaciousness of his presence, the glint of sword metal caught its eye and the lull it seemed to be in, shattered. It roared and with an odd jerking movement, its tail stinger shot too globs of light green liquid at him. he dodged them both and without looking, he smelt the vile scent of the liquid and then he heard the ground sizzle, eaten through the thick rock that the dwarves had tunnelled through.
He shuffled his step, lowering himself into a stance. His sword raised at his side and ready for the first move to be made. The manticore didn’t move either, it simply stared at Jazmel. Waiting to see what he would do, but neither of them moved. For something extraordinary happened.
WARNING!
ERROR!
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
…
ANOTHER WARD BOSS HAS STUMBLED INTO THE MANTICORE’S DOMAIN!
DEFEAT THEM BOTH!!
Jazmel sighed, the manticore was already strong and this new creature was bound to be the same. After all, it was a ward boss too.
The ceiling caved in, big pieces of debris fell and smashed into the ground around the lair. The manticore bounded out of the way whereas Jazmel danced back. Skipping out of the radius and standing at the entrance of the tunnel he had used to enter the lair. The ceiling fell and expanded the ward boss space. But the thing that fell through the cave in was something new. Jazmel had never seen a creature of its like before.
DING!
WARNING
A VERY STRONG WARD BOSS IS NEAR!!
…
TIER III ALCOLI THE GHOUL!
It was almost a man. It was taller than Jazmel, its legs were long, and its arms stretched. it was slouched, its shoulders hunched, and it seemed to crawl on one hand and its two legs. In the other hand, it clutched a curved sabre which was as tall as it was long. It held it over its shoulder now as it crouched and Jazmel could just make out the exquisite designs along the blade. it looked like a mural of a battle.
The ghoul wore rags of cloth around its waist. While on its chest it wore a cropped chest guard. It stopped at the stomach and Jazmel could see lean abs and muscles. Atop its head, it wore a helm that had been fashioned like a roaring lion. It even had matted fur that cascaded out the back of the helm.
It looked at Jazmel, he couldn’t see the face but their eyes locked. Burning red eyes of hate and anger stared at him. but the manticore attacked first.
It shot two barbs of acid from its stinger and Jazmel watched as they shot through the air. Aimed at Acholi the ghoul. Jazmel watched in horror and wonder as the ghoul stabbed its sabre into the ground. Within one fluid movement, it leapt up and hung in the air gripping onto the sword hilt. It maintained a perfect one-handed handstand as the acid barbs shot past where it had been. It waited for a moment and then it swung its body towards the manticore.
Jazmel watched as it flipped through the air, the momentum of its strength and its body sending it sailing through the air. It flipped in the air, propelling its body to change and Jazmel watched as it brought its sword down in a horrendous crash. The manticore leapt out of the way, the peak of the strike missed it, but the blast radius caught it.
Attack them both while they are busy!
Paldane formed the thought and Jazmel rushed, darting into the fray.
Eviscerate!
He struck out, his sword humming with Mana. The named ghoul flipped up onto the sword again and Jazmel missed it, but the manticore wasn’t so lucky. His strike hit it, cutting deeply into its flank. It bled freely and roared, ending in a whimper. The ghoul struck again, this time aiming for Jazmel. But he wasn’t stupid, he had seen how it attacked. No Jazmel leapt into the air to meet it. using its body as a springboard, he kicked off of its stomach and struck it out of the air. It fell, crashing into the ground and shattering a boulder of stone. the manticore leapt for it, chomping down onto the shoulder of the named ward boss.
Sunder!
Great rumbling dragon!
He struck again while they fought each other. A skill for each, and they both were too busy fighting one another to prepare. No sunder hit the ghoul across the chest. Almost caving its chest guard but instead cutting it across the stomach gravely. His spectral dragon struck the manticore in the side of the head, sending it reeling. Bloodily but still proud, it stumbled back up onto all fours and mewled before roaring again. clearly dazed but doing its best to fight off its attackers.
The ghoul rose up and Jazmel crashed into it, body against body. His tyrant tempered body almost breaking the formidable body of a tier III creature. A ward boss at that, the system hadn't called a creature a boss before. But here he was facing off against two of them.
Paldane leapt from the cover of his collar, flying up he spewed flames down onto the ghoul.
Aeonic flame!
The ghoul screeched under the torrents of Paldane and Jazmel took the moment to whirl. Spinning to build moment he bounded towards the manticore, its barbed tail struck twice. Once he deflected and the second he dodged. He evaded a direct piercing, but the stinger glanced across his neck, and he felt the burning feeling of poison.
He grit his teeth, stumbling back. His body rigid as if undergoing rigor mortis.
Watch out!
Paldane yelled into his mind, but he was stricken. Nothing he could do. All he could do was be knocked across the length of the lair and into the side of the cavern, stones and rocks caving in on him.
DING!
WARNING!!
YOU ARE GRAVELY INJURED!
…
POISONED!
BUT YOUR PASSIVE TRAIT IS FIGHTING ON YOUR BEHALF!
TYRANT BASTION IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE POISON!
…
YOUR STAMINA IS BATTLING AND WILL BE RESTRICTED!
He felt something in his abdomen be gripped by invisible hands. He was injured, barely able to move. He coughed and a wetness came up. Something was broken on the inside and was causing him damage still.
WARNING!
STATUS CONDITION!
PERFORATED LUNG (major)
BROKEN LEFT RIB CAGE (major)
BROKEN LEFT SHOULDER (major)
SHATTERED LEFT FOREARM (minor)
He coughed up more wet sticky liquid and he realised it was blood. He was bleeding internally; he couldn’t even move enough to draw a potion. But he wouldn’t be dying here, no he was going to free himself.
He willed a potion from his ring, and it appeared above his head. he caught its stoppered head between his lips, and boldly crunched down on the vial. The glass cut his tongue, but as the liquid bore down his throat. It healed the inside of his mouth.
He felt only slightly better and took a moment to will another vial of potion. Doing the same, he only cracked the topper and gently tilted his head, to let him draw the potions contents.
WARNING!
STATUS CONDITION!
PERFORATED LUNG (minor)
FRACTURED LEFT RIB CAGE (minor)
BROKEN LEFT SHOULDER (minor)
SHATTERED LEFT FOREARM (minor)
Still the same injuries, but he wasn’t so beaten. He crawled from the cave in, his body shifting through the sediment and rocks as easily as he could. He was still in immense pain, but Jazmel was able to do his best work in pain.
DING!
TYRANT BASTION HAS SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT OFF THE POISON!
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOUR STAMINA WILL NO LONGER BE HALTED!
+2 VIT
+3 END
+4 WIL
His body thrummed with system energy. He drank another potion just to support his body and with his stamina no longer being restricted. It began to churn around and try to heal his injuries.
The sounds of battle were ongoing, and when he could see them. The manticore and the named ghoul had been in a devastating fight. The ghoul had lost its right arm up to the bicep and the manticore had lost one wing, the other had been broken and hung limply across its back. It was walking on three of its four legs, its left foreleg bloody and wounded.
This was the best chance he was going to have. He leapt into their fight. Aiming for the ghoul who was clearly injured and not as agile as it had previously been.
Sunder!
The strike hit the ghoul and as it had been caught by surprise. The strike carved into its back, then also carried it across the ground off its feet and towards the prowling manticore. The ghoul dropped its huge sabre and the manticore leapt forward latching onto the neck of the ghoul. Chomping down, rivulets of blood burst into its mouth and then it jerked its head savagely. Breaking the neck of the ghoul.
Jazmel leapt at the manticore as it let the ghouls body drop to the floor.
Sunder!
DING!
SUNDER HAS RISEN FROM TIER I TO TIER II!
He hit the neck and throat of the manticore. It whimpered, mewled as its own life blood poured openly from the wound. Jazmel watched as it dropped to the ground, he felt almost sorry for the proud creature. But he didn’t stop, he stabbed down into the heart of it, and it died silently.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU MANAGED TO KILL THE WARD BOSS!
TIER III MANTICORE SLAIN!
LEVEL UP
LEVEL UP!
+3 STR
+3 AGL
+3 DEX
…
YOU MANAGED TO DEFEAT THE TIER III GHOUL ALCOLI!
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
LEVEL UP!
+3 INT
+3 PER
+3 INT
YOUR WARD BOSS REWARDS!
…
…
TIER III ALCOLI THE GHOUL CORE
TIER III MANTICORE BEAST CORE
TIER III GARGAUNTUAN SABRE OF CULLING
TIER III MANTICORE HEART
TIER III LION HELM OF ADVERSITY
Paldane floated down to land on his shoulder. Crawling into his collar again.
I will need that heart for when we leave this place. It will help me grow.
Paldane shared along their mental link, he agreed. He wanted Paldane to grow stronger and if he had items that would help. He would provide them right away.