With a single blow, the healer's health was brought down from a full 100% to almost nothing; in fact, it kept going down.
_____________________________
Name: Seraphina
Level: 37
Race: HighBreed
Class: Healer
Health: 3%
Status: In combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
It seemed the healer couldn't bear the crushing weight of the Guardian's ferrum fist. The healer, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the Guardian's attack, lay incapacitated on the ground. Soon through the interface, we received confirmation of her defeat.
_____________________________
[Guardian, Enhanced, Level 42, has slain HighBreed Intruder, Healer, Level 37]
_____________________________
With the healer now eliminated, Dungeon Master 02 most likely felt a sense of satisfaction, having rid himself of the nuisance that provided support to her comrades. Eager to dispatch the remaining intruders, especially the mage who had survived the initial onslaught, the Guardian raised its hand to crush the mage. However, before it could strike, the Guardian found itself assaulted from two directions—the Paladin and the Warrior launched a relentless barrage of attacks.
_____________________________
[Real-time Feedback]
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used abilities: Celestial Aegis
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used ability: Celestial Blessing
HighBreed, Warrior, Level 61, used skill: Warlord's Roar
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used skill: Shield of Faith
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used ability: Avenging Justice
HighBreed, Warrior, Level 61, used ability: Adrenaline Rush
HighBreed, Warrior, Level 61, used skill: Berserker's Fury
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used skill: Divine Wrath
HighBreed, Warrior, Level 61, used skill: Power Strike
_____________________________
Seemingly fueled by deep anger over the loss of their healer, the Paladin and the Warrior unleashed a barrage of attacks with unforgiving intent. They employed all their skills and abilities with precision, aiming to bring down Dungeon Master 02's Guardian. As the assault intensified, the Monk who had been initially caught in the tempestuous step and lightning surge attacks joined the fray, signaling that the battle was far from over.
***
Usually, we don't encounter healer-class invaders often. If we were to calculate the ratio, it would be approximately one healer for every 1500 or more invaders. The majority of invaders we face are either knights or warriors. In the rare instances where a healer is part of a group—because healers never invade alone—they typically have below-average levels compared to their fellow partymen. Despite their lower levels, healers are always treated with the utmost importance, safeguarded and kept away from the frontline, as they should be.
During invasions, where H.P diminish after each confrontation, the presence of a healer becomes crucial as they can act as a clutch for the entire party. This was no different for the party Dungeon Master 02 faced. With the healer's demise, the party lost a crucial element of support. In the midst of the battle, the mage attempted to assume the healer's role, but with only level 2 in healing magic, she quickly abandoned the approach. Recognizing her strength lay in offense rather than support, she opted for an aggressive strategy. While it was a more suitable approach for her, it didn't change the inevitable outcome.
_____________________________
[Guardian, Enhanced, Level 42, has slain HighBreed Intruder, Knight, Level 49]
_____________________________
One after another, the invaders were systematically taken down. The first to go down after the mage was the knight Pascal, who was followed by the twin monks.
_____________________________
[Guardian, Enhanced, Level 42, has slain HighBreed Intruder, Monk, Level 48]
_____________________________
_____________________________
[Guardian, Enhanced, Level 42, has slain HighBreed Intruder, Monk, Level 48]
_____________________________
—Monks who themselves were swiftly followed by the second strongest of the group,
_____________________________
[Guardian, Enhanced, Level 61, has slain HighBreed Intruder, Monk, Level 61]
_____________________________
—leaving only two invaders in the guardian chambers.
_____________________________
Name: Elowen
Level: 50
Race: VerdenKind
Class: Mage
Health: 23%
Status: In combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
_____________________________
Name: Kevin Karstark
Level: 63
Race: HighBreed
Class: Paladin
Health: 11%
Status: In Combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
"I guess it's finally it, boys, the final stretch."
"It seemed," we all agreed, after all, the invaders were one attack away from being defeated.
"And yet we've yet to see what that authority does."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Yep," that was indeed the issue at hand. "Do you guys think this authority—this Greed and Resurgence Authority—could be a passive authority like Authority gathering and Otherworldly synergy?"
While each of the authorities were different from one another, as we thought about it, we could more or less divide authorities into two types: there were the first ones like Ethereal Echoes, which allowed its wielder to multiply its existence, not physically, into multiple selves, something we agreed to be an active process. Then there were authorities with passive effects like Authority Gathering and Otherworldly Synergy, which, from the looks of it, didn't provide much of an active change but instead more of a continuous passive effect that could easily go undetected.
"I don't know."
"It could be."
"Just as it could also not be."
"While I'm relieved this authority isn't something that is absolutely 'explosive,' I don't like the feeling of uncertainty it puts me in. So let's put an end to this, take that authority from him, and figure out what it does ourselves."
"Nice idea," we all collectively agreed.
"You heard that, Guardian of mine: let’s put an end to this."
_____________________________
[ Real-time Feedback ]
Guardian, Enhanced, Level 42, used ability: Summon Thunder Minions
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
Lightning Golem, Level 25, joined the battle
_____________________________
***
_____________________________
Lightning Golem (1), Level 25, left the battle
Lightning Golem (4), Level 25, left the battle
_____________________________
Surprisingly managing to survive and witness the defeat of all the Domain Guardian’s Thunder Minions, the VerdenKind mage, Elowen, fought valiantly but eventually succumbed to the relentless onslaught, collapsing to the ground in defeat. Kevin Karstark, the authority wielder and the last HighBreed Paladin standing, most likely felt the weight of desperation settling in. After all, he witnessed his comrades fall one by one, and the sight of Elowen's defeat shattered the last remnants of his resolve.
It was a unique sight to witness. Since the day we became “we,” many and one, I’ve witnessed numerous invasions taken to the guardian chamber. Before, invaders had to literally hack through an army of powerful undead to make it to my guardian room, but since we adopted our current strategy, many “human” invaders have encountered the Dungeon Master's guardian. This allowed us all to witness their demise not just as a dot on a map but rather as a very tragic spectacle.
In most cases, after the initial confusion of being suddenly brought into the domain, the party is usually left in a state of confusion, one that really doesn’t align with the battle that almost instantly greets them. Generally, they don’t have much time to react, and in most cases, they’re just shocked, and then boom, the invasion is repelled. But in rare instances, like this one where the battle is dragged on, we get to witness what panic and despair are really like.
We were assholes, but not that much of an asshole to say that we enjoyed the spectacle we were witnessing. In fact, in some ways, it reminded us of how that fateful day was for us. So Dungeon Master 02, much like I, felt like putting an end to this spectacle as fast as possible.
The guardian was striking its gauntleted fist down at the paladin as he knelt beside the lifeless mage, having a breakdown when he rallied his strength to block the attack.
And next, he countered with a powerful attack against the guardian.
_____________________________
[Real-time Feedback]
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used skill: Shield of Faith
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used ability: Avenging Justice
HighBreed, Paladin, Level 63, used skill: Divine Wrath
_____________________________
The burst of energy powerfully struck the guardian, but only to this extent.
_____________________________
[ Stormforged Colossus ]
Level: 42
Type: Elemental Colossus
Class: Lightning Colossus (Guardian)
Health: 43%
Status: In Combat
『Expand』
_____________________________
Seeing the guardian virtually undamaged by his attack, the expression on the paladin changed. It wasn’t one that one would call accepting but rather one resisting his fate. Not planning on wasting any time, the guardian retaliated, crushing the paladin in a devastating attack that singlehandedly put an end to the invasion.
____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
System Notification
Intrusion Report:
Invasion successfully repelled, G.P and domain secured, all interfaces are now available.
_____________________________
The chamber fell into an eerie silence as the notification praised Dungeon Master 02’s victory.
"I guess I won, right?"
"Yes Dungeon Master 02, you won. That sure you did."
"I see. Since I won then I guess it’s time to check our rewards"
"Yep, about time."
***
"Where is it?! Who has it?!"
As per usual, the first thing we did after an invasion was repelled was check the rewards. That's just how we do things; it's always been our routine, especially today, where among the repelled invaders was an authority wielder. We were all eager to see what the said authority could do. However, as we checked, the authority was simply nowhere to be seen.
"Not me," responded one of us to dispel the suspicion cast onto him.
"Not me either," responded another.
"Not me either. You can check my interface?"
"What about you, Dungeon Master 06?" Dungeon Master 02 asked, trying to find an answer to what was happening.
"It’s not with me."
"Dungeon Master 01?"
"Do I really have to answer that?"
"Tsk. Then where is it?"
"May I ask why you didn’t ask if it weren’t on me?" I inquired, feeling somewhat left out.
"Your interface is the first one I checked out, so I know it’s not on you," Dungeon Master 02 explained without a hint of remorse over his lack of trust, but, well, I can’t say I wouldn’t have the exact same reaction.
_____________________________
[ ???'s Interface ]
Name: Pascal
Level: 49
Race: HighBreed
Class: Knight
『Expand』
Harvest [207 GP]
Name: Adriant
Level: 61
Race: HighBreed
Class: Warrior
『Expand』
Harvest [329 GP]
Name: Jaime
Level: 48
Race: HighBreed
Class: Monk
『Expand』
Harvest [189 GP]
HeadCutter
(Undead-Slaying enhancement / Enhanced Slashing / Enhanced Bludgeon)
『Expand』
Harvest [22.1 GP]
Store
Name: Jaimy
Level: 48
Race: HighBreed
Class: Monk
『Expand』
Harvest [192 GP]
Name: Kevin Karstark
Level: 63
Race: HighBreed
Class: Paladin
『Expand』
Harvest [8256 GP]
『Expand』
Harvest All Now [10078 GP]
Harvest Later [10078 GP]
Exit
_____________________________
The invaders' remains, their enhancement-infused tools, and even Kevin Karstark himself were there, available for harvest, and yet there was no sign of Greed and Resurgence, the authority we were all sure was there.
“Where is Greed and Resurgence?! Where is my authority?”
“Nuance.”
“‘Our’ authority, not just your authority.”
“You might have been the one to defeat the guardian, but authority doesn’t fall within the distribution system we ratified. It’s a common and shared property.”
“Tsk. The authority is nowhere to be seen. Who cares about that anyway, dumbasses.
“Happiness is in the details.”
“Dungeon Master 02, I agree with Dungeon Master 04, ‘Happiness is in the details.’ Now, guys, can I bring your attention to something?”
“What?”
“While I’m as puzzled as you all are about where the authority is, there is something absolutely abnormal here that, with the disappearance of the authority, flew right over our heads. Look at that interface; it's right there.”
As we all collectively stared at it, as it was pointed out to us, it didn’t take us long to notice it.
There was no authority; that was a fact. But another fact was the ridiculous amount of G.P there was for us to harvest.
Generally, each authority-wieling invader that had come to us thus far, when the invasion was repelled, left behind their enhanced tools, their remains, which usually were no different from any other invaders if not of a higher G.P value than the average, and lastly, the authority, which tended to come around with a large amount of G.P.
In our case, there were the remains, there were the enhanced tools, but there was no authority. However, while there was no authority, there was the G.P reward authorities usually come with. It came attached to the remains of Kevin Karstark—HighBreed, who, aside from his above-average aptitude as a paladin, had little to nothing special about himself.
“What’s happening?”
“Well, we’re all asking ourselves the same question.”