Chapter 29 – (Season 1) Sinister Maze
A palpable sense of unease hung in the air, thick and heavy like a physical and evil presence. The source of this discomfort was evident: a sinister, crimson glow emanated from within the cave, pulsing with a malevolent energy. Everyone could tell that the cave reaked of demonic energy. Some of the weaker players starting puking. The priests casted a large spell, lion’s courage to increase the morale of the groups and stop players from puking.
As the 1000 players began to descend into the cave, the initial sense of camaraderie quickly dissipated. The groups formed in the arena, once united by a common goal, now seemed to be competing for dominance. The Free Moon group, with their coordinated movements, was the first to disappear into the darkness.
Jake, under Jim's guidance, decided to stay towards the back of the pack and let his group lead the front. They needed to observe the situation, identify potential threats, and devise a strategy. As they ventured deeper into the cave, the demonic energy grew stronger, and strange, guttural sounds echoed through the tunnels.
As soon as all the groups gathered within the dark and eerie dungeon, a wave of goblins greeted the players. Groups of 5 goblins charged at players; however, the players were able to deal with them swiftly. Jake noticed that the goblins did not attack the players and instead looked like they were running away in fear. As everyone felt confident of this dungeon raid the main hall diverged into 30 to 50 paths. There were too many to count but it did not look like there were more than 100 paths. Each entrance was stacked on top of each other. A player limit was assigned to each door. The first entrance on eye level with all of the players counted a 1000 player limit.
One group of the church (60 players) and 940 players entered the first entrance. Jim decided to stay back and wait for the expedition team to return. However, as soon as they entered the pathway, the original entrance to the cave disappeared.
System Notification: You have entered the lesser demon’s cave. Defeat the lessor demon within 10 days.
The disappearance of the entrance was a stark realization of the gravity of the situation. They were trapped. A ten-day deadline loomed, a ticking time bomb that would detonate in chaos if they failed.
Jim’s mind raced. This was an opportunity. With the majority of the players consumed by the dungeon, the competition was significantly reduced. It was a chance to shine, to prove their worth, and to reap the rewards.
"We wait," Jim declared, his voice firm. "Let them be the cannon fodder. We'll learn from their mistakes, their strategies, and their failures."
Sera, ever the opportunist, grinned. "I like the sound of that. Let’s make some popcorn and enjoy the show."
Jake, still in character as the blind monk, nodded in agreement. His inner thoughts, however, were filled with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. He was eager to prove his worth, but the unknown dangers of the dungeon filled him with a sense of unease.
As they waited, Jim began to formulate a plan. They needed to gather as much information as possible about the lesser demon, its weaknesses, and the potential threats within the dungeon. They would need to be prepared for anything.
"Let’s observe the players who emerge," Jim continued. "We need to identify potential allies or rivals. And most importantly, we need to find a way to exploit this situation to our advantage."
The wait was filled with tension and anticipation. After an hour, the players returned, mostly unfazed. The church briefed their exploration with nothing important to note. The goblins in the dungeon were too weak to be of any challenge. The exploration took barely any effort. When the players came back, they received the same notification as players waiting outside. Jim was surprised that the exploration group did not see the system message. This meant that the space inside portal might be independent from the system.
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After resting for a couple of minutes, the church agreed to split groups into three groups to conquer all 30 floors within a 10 day period. Jake’s group entered Portal 29.
Portal 29
Everyone thought they were at a beach surrounded by water. They were most likely at the edge of an island. The sudden shift from the dark, claustrophobic cave to a sun-drenched beach was jarring. The salty breeze and the sound of waves crashing against the shore were a stark contrast to the ominous atmosphere of the dungeon. Yet, jake knew better than to be lulled into a false sense of security. This was no ordinary beach; it was a battleground disguised as a paradise.
im's eyes scanned the horizon, his mind already calculating possibilities. The island was relatively small, a circular expanse of white sand surrounded by turquoise waters. There was a dense jungle on the other side, promising hidden dangers and potential treasures.
"We're on an island," Jim stated, his voice carrying over the sound of the waves. "Limited space means limited resources and potentially, limited escape routes."
Sera, her eyes sparkling with excitement, was already shedding her clothes, eager to dive into the water. "I'm going for a swim!" she exclaimed, before plunging into the refreshing waves.
Jake, ever the cautious one, hesitated. The water was inviting, but something about it felt off. He decided to wait and observe.
As they explored the island, they discovered strange, glowing plants and unusual marine life. There was a sense of otherworldly beauty to the place, but it was undeniable that there was something sinister lurking beneath the surface.
"This place is too perfect," Jim muttered, his suspicion growing. "Something's not right."
As they ventured deeper into the jungle, they encountered their first challenge: a group of lizard-like creatures with razor-sharp claws and venomous tails. The battle was fierce, and it quickly became apparent that these creatures were far more intelligent and organized than the goblins they had faced before.
The group was hesitant to attack first; however the lizard did not have any hesitation as they looked at the foreign players. The lizard creatures lunged, their bodies moving with surprising agility for their size. Their claws raked at the air, missing Jake by inches. Jake dodged each attack and falled back into the group of players for them to take care of. Everyone was puzzled wondering how a blind man moved so well. They didn’t ask a lot of questions as they fought the lizard tribe.
The battle was chaotic, a blur of teeth and claws. The lizard creatures fought with a feral intensity, their eyes filled with a primal hatred. It was clear that they saw the humans as invaders, a threat to their territory. Lucklily, the lizardman were barely stronger than the goblins however, a quarter of the players received slight damages. Mostly external wounds but the healers came forward. The healers were about to use an area of effect healing before Jake said “stop”. He commanded the healers to use the spell after he started praying. The healers agreed and received a boost to their healing for 20%. This saved the healing spells needed and mana for the healing classes.
Jake commanded the group about his healing and buff skill. However, he asked the players in return to collect seeds of plants from the surrounding. Everyone agreed. As they collected seeds, they saw many variety of seeds. Some were small seeds, some smelled like apples, some were glowing. As they made their way more into the center of the jungle, more lizardmen appeared. The group prepared for battle again.
As the battle raged on, the lizard creatures began to tire, their attacks growing less coordinated. The group, emboldened by Jake's buffing skill and the increased efficiency of the healers, pressed their advantage. They began to push the lizard creatures back, forcing them to retreat deeper into the jungle.
With the battle seemingly under control, the players began to collect the seeds as Jake had requested. A variety of strange, glowing plants dotted the battlefield, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the carnage.
Sera and Jake questioned Jim why he wanted the seeds. The answer was simple. Collect everything they can of value. Seeds from a different environment was enticing as he wanted to create a vast ecosystem for the world tree. Jim felt that the more effort he placed on creating an environment favorable for the world tree would benefit him. He wouldn’t know until the world tree seed sprouts.
As the last of the lizard creatures retreated, the group took a moment to catch their breath. The sun was beginning to set, casting long, eerie shadows over the island. They knew they couldn't afford to rest for long. There were still countless mysteries to uncover, and they had a feeling that this was just the beginning.