Bones had learned about dungeons from the tales of the young adventurer Nica and from the tomes he perused. He understood that there were various kinds of dungeons.
Natural dungeons, for instance, formed over time as mana accumulated, often reflecting themes influenced by their surroundings. Once cleared, they could be conquered again after a certain period elapsed. These were deemed safe dungeons, often serving as the foundation around which cities were built.
In contrast, wild dungeons were the antithesis of their natural counterparts. Their themes could vary wildly, dictated by the dungeon core that governed them, and their inhabitants were notoriously aggressive monsters. Yet, they also offered the most lucrative rewards; as the risk increased, so did the potential gain. If left uncleared, these dungeons would eventually collapse, unleashing their hoard of monsters upon the land—an event known as a dungeon break. Multiple dungeon breaks could lead to a catastrophic monster surge.
Lastly, there were artificial dungeons, crafted through deliberate means rather than occurring naturally. These dungeons, the product of extensive dungeon core research, typically yielded the lowest rewards and were primarily utilized as training grounds for adventurers.
Bones recognized the dungeon he was in as a natural one, evident from the presence of a safe zone—a feature absent in the more treacherous wild dungeons. Surveying his surroundings, he found himself still within the cavern, encircled by stalagmites and stalactites that adorned the walls and ceiling. Crystallized fungi, resembling gems, punctuated the moss and ferns carpeting the ground.
Ahead, a tunnel beckoned, its entrance marked by the gentle glow emitted from the pores in the walls. Though unfamiliar, these ethereal lights posed no threat to Bones, who proceeded confidently into the passage, guided by their gentle luminescence.
Emerging into the biodome, Bones beheld a vast expanse dominated by towering cave columns, pockmarked with holes. The sheer size of these structures gave him pause, hinting at inhabitants of considerable stature.
Cautiously advancing, Bones found himself near one of the colossal columns when suddenly, giant ants began to emerge from the openings. "Shit, these are Woodland Army Ants!" he muttered, recognizing the species immediately.
These ants were formidable adversaries, armed with mandibles resembling scissors, which they used to slice through their prey. Their method of attack involved spreading a potent dissolving acid while cutting into their victims, reducing flesh and muscle to a liquefied state.
In moments like these, and recalling the night he battled the spiders, Bones felt grateful for purchasing the monster compendium. "Knowing the enemy is half the battle," as the saying goes, or as Bones amended, "Killing half the ants would be half the battle."
Rather than engaging in combat, Bones chose to flee and take cover. The giant ants towered over him, reaching his waist—a stark reminder of their formidable strength. Drawing from his previous encounter with the spiders, Bones understood that an enemy's size often correlated with its power. Observing the sturdy chitin of the ants, he anticipated formidable defenses and swift movements.
Approximately a dozen ants emerged from their nest, all ranging between levels thirteen and fifteen. Bones sought refuge behind one of the cavern's many stalagmite pillars, the clicking of mandibles sending chills down his bony spine. Ants were meant to be small and squishable, not towering behemoths of terror!
Meanwhile, outside the dungeon, Horus stood a mere two meters from the wall, scrutinizing the faint markings with a furrowed brow. "What did he do? Where did he disappear to?" he wondered, hesitant to venture closer.
A few minutes later...
"It would definitely have to be wisdom!" Bones concluded after battling a dozen ants. His bone spears proved effective at piercing their chitinous armor, but it took more than two well-placed strikes to dispatch them. Fortunately, their speed was not as alarming as he had anticipated. However, their ability to spray formic acid posed a significant threat, slowly eroding his bones with its damaging effects over time—a far more insidious danger than mere poison. Fortunately, no more than ten ants surfaced at once, allowing Bones to manage the situation.
After defeating the ants, Bones remained concealed and entered a state of meditation to replenish his mana reserves. While his health was sustained through the Mend skill, mana conservation became a pressing concern. For the first time, he found himself resorting to consuming mana potions in combat—a bitter necessity he had hoped to avoid.
"This is stupid. How is anyone supposed to clear dungeons solo?" Bones pondered, frustration evident in his thoughts. He grudgingly acknowledged that dungeons were designed to be conquered by groups, despite his aversion to sharing experience and loot with others.
Realizing that the ants surfaced in groups of ten by design provided some solace. With the assurance that he wouldn't be overwhelmed by hundreds of ants, Bones felt emboldened to confront them head-on, ten at a time. His objective was clear: reach the passage on the other side of the biodome. Though he only engaged the ants obstructing his path, the task still required dispatching more than fifty of the formidable creatures.
Through continuous use, Bones's Bone Spear skill experienced significant growth, inching closer to advancing to the next tier. However, he opted not to risk utilizing Bone Nova in close proximity to the acidic-spraying ants. Employing a hit-and-run strategy, Bones relied on his tactical prowess to outmaneuver his adversaries and emerge victorious.
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At the other end of the biodome, a longer tunnel awaited, adorned with crystals on both sides emitting a faint green glow. Bones couldn't shake the thought that the glow might indicate toxicity, though it had no effect on him. He couldn't help but wonder how a typical group would handle such a hazardous environment. Undoubtedly, a healer would be essential, along with a defender to withstand the mandible attacks.
As the tunnel curved left, Bones halted at the unmistakable sound of clicking mandibles—sounds he had grown accustomed to. "They're here, right behind the curve," he surmised, summoning bone spears on each side in preparation for action. Yet, despite the anticipation, the ants failed to emerge. All that echoed was the intermittent clicking.
Realizing further waiting would be futile, Bones cautiously approached and peered around the bend. There, in the distance, he spotted two ants standing upright on their hind legs, brandishing spears—or the ant equivalent—in their appendages. Their antennae waved rhythmically, probing the surroundings for any signs of intruders. Bones identified them as Woodland Army Ant-men, though he found the name lacking in imagination.
Slightly smaller than their counterparts from the previous biodomes, these creatures possessed four arms and exhibited humanoid movements, suggesting a degree of expertise in combat. While Bones couldn't access detailed information about them, he presumed they, too, possessed the potent formic acid that their brethren utilized. Determined to maintain a safe distance, Bones remained vigilant, wary of any potential attack.
Bones seized a decent-sized rock from the ground and hurled it behind the ant-men, hoping to divert their attention and create an opening for attack. With practiced precision, he aimed and released the projectile, only to watch it ricochet off the ceiling, alerting both ant-men to his presence. Stunned by his own blunder, Bones found himself momentarily frozen in disbelief as the creatures furiously clicked in his direction before charging at him, spears poised for attack. Chuckling wryly, Bones summoned his bone spears once more, resigned to the absurdity of the situation.
Assuming a defensive stance, Bones launched the first spear, aiming for the ant-man's chest. The projectile cracked its chitinous armor but failed to penetrate fully. The second ant-man deftly deflected the incoming spear with a swift sweep of its own weapon, maintaining its momentum as it closed the distance. With lightning reflexes, Bones evaded the thrust and retaliated with a Mana Blast, unleashing a devastating wave of energy that maimed the creature, severing limbs and sending it hurtling backward.
Despite its grievous injuries, the ant-man refused to yield, lunging forward once more. A powerful swing struck Bones squarely in the chest, fracturing ribs and sending him sprawling. As Bones struggled to rise, a hissing sound pierced the air, followed by a splatter of acidic saliva that corroded his armor and flesh, leaving a gaping hole in his torso.
His fiery determination unyielding, Bones pressed on, launching bone spears that crippled the second ant-man's legs before dodging a barrage of acidic projectiles. Employing cunning tactics, Bones feigned a rightward movement, evading the acidic onslaught before closing in on his foe. With precision and speed, he impaled the creature through the head with a summoned sword, swiftly ending its life.
Bones turned to the remaining ant-man, swiftly dispatching it in a similar fashion. "That worked out well," he growled sarcastically, storing the sword and settling into a meditative posture. His mana dangerously depleted from the intense battle and overuse of the Mend skill, yet he found solace in its leveling up. As he reflected on the fight, he realized he had reached the milestone of level fifteen, a testament to his growing prowess in combat.
ding
Level up!
Congratulations, class Bonemancer is now lvl 15
You have learned a new skill: Bone Armor
Bone armor [basic] - wrap yourself in an extra, thin layer made of bones to act as a shield against physical damage. If the skill is channeled, mana cost is sustained. Cost: 50 mp + 5 mp/s sustain when channeled
Bones eagerly anticipated testing out his new skill. Cutting his meditation short, he summoned Bone Armor with half of his remaining mana pool. Sensing the layer materialize, he felt it envelop his body, providing protection for his vital areas. Knocking on the armor to test its durability, Bones found it promising, capable of withstanding a few blows.
Recalling that the skill could be channeled, Bones wondered if the armor would repair itself when damaged. With little else to do but test it out, he marveled at how the armor filled the gaps in his attire, giving him a more substantial appearance. Notably, the hole in his leather armor was already shrinking as the enchanted shirt underwent repair. The taxing battle had yielded results, leveling up his race and distributing attributes automatically, making him slightly stronger. With one free attribute point to allocate from his class level up, Bones pondered his options.
"Having mana and power is all well and good, but sustainability is key," Bones mused. Realizing the increasing mana consumption with each new ability at his disposal, he made the strategic decision to invest his free attribute point in Wisdom for increased mana regeneration. Although it meant sacrificing immediate power, Bones understood the importance of managing his resources efficiently, especially with more abilities on the horizon.
After replenishing his health and mana pools, Bones resumed his journey down the corridor, mindful of the dungeon's hive-like design. Encountering patrolling ant-men twice more, he noted their consistent pairs. The newly manifested defensive layer remained intact as long as he channeled the skill, repairing itself over time if damaged—a valuable asset despite the increased mana cost. With careful management, Bones could maintain the armor continuously, significantly bolstering his defense.