Centoo was the first to fall, the three kalvex overriding his claw defense in a rush formation and dragging him down.
Skarm leaped free and struck out on his own in retaliation, but he didn't stand a chance against them all alone.
Levi rushed to his aid, sword flashing in rapid arcs as Skarm clawed and stabbed.
While they brought down the first kalvex, the others took advantage of their focus to flank them. Levi could have leaped clear, but that would leave Skarm defenseless. Instead, he tackled one of the kalvex to the ground, trusting Skarm and Cen to handle the other. The kalvex didn’t take kindly to his assault, biting and snapping furiously, thrashing its tusks at Levi, slashing at him with its claws.
They weren’t going to make it at this rate. He needed something to tip the scales, and he needed it fast.
“Sorry, Cen, I need a shield.” Levi grabbed Skarm and jumped behind Cen. The centipede obediently coiled protectively around them, even as his own health began dropping fast.
“Take these.” He shoved a health and stamina restorative into Skarm's hands, then drank one of health and mana for himself in quick succession. The combined weakness and blindness left him momentarily helpless; then their combined restored power flowed into him with nearly the same strength as an increase in level.
Cen's body protected him from the kalvex, but Cen himself wasn't so fortunate. In the seconds while Levi was incapacitated, the kalvex duo slashed away the last of his loyal minion's health, leaving only the husk of a coiled centipede to shield him and Skarm from their wrath.
But Levi had some wrath of his own to dish out. He and Skarm leaped from their protective barrier just as Cen's remains were torn apart by the hunting kalvex, each of them springing on one of the attackers.
The lingering strength of the health boost fed Levi’s regeneration for a few seconds longer, letting him dive recklessly into the fight without fear for his wellbeing as neither kalvex was strong enough to kill him in a single hit. His mana stayed full with only minor dips as he slammed Beast Bite after Beast Bite into his kalvex.
Meanwhile, Skarm was running and leaping, leading his kalvex on a chase through the room, turning to slash it across the snout or jump to stab it in the back whenever he found an opening. Without other enemies to distract them, they were able to focus fully on their individual adversaries and quickly brought their health down by a significant amount.
Soon, the brief burst of nigh untouchability wore off, the last remnants of the restoratives fading, and it became again a battle of attrition. Skarm was doing well, but Levi was in trouble. He'd burned through nearly all of his stamina.
There wasn't much to do but keep fighting. He didn't have any more tricks.
Skarm's health dropped dangerously low, and Levi abandoned his own kalvex to run to his minion's aid. He might have a hard time against one kalvex on his own, but he wouldn't stand a chance alone against two. Skarm's opponent was the more injured of the pair, so with Levi’s help, they finished it off before it could do any more damage. The diversion left him open from behind, but weighing the advantage of outnumbering their opponent, Levi accepted the potential dip in his health as necessary.
Level 2+
(Essence Kalvex)
Health 32%
The remaining kalvex snarled and snapped, but seemed aware that its minutes were numbered. It slunk about, darting in and retreating rather than maintaining a sustained attack or trying to savage them as it had before.
It took another twenty minutes to wear it down; neither Levi nor Skarm were able to use special attacks with their pools depleted, but Levi was more interested in surviving than rushing through the fight at any cost.
Level 2+
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
(Essence Kalvex)
Health 1%
With a final weary stab through its side, Skarm finished off the last of the kalvex's health. The doors unsealed, allowing them to exit the boss room at last.
Levi stumbled into the treasure room, sank to the floor beside the table without looking at it, and hugged Skarm to his chest. “You did good.”
Skarm seemed a bit uncertain how to handle the affection, but patted Levi's shoulder reassuringly.
Neither of them moved for a long time.
Once he'd recovered enough to force himself to his feet, Levi stood to look over the treasures laid out on the stone table. Two Destruction tokens and three items.
Circlet (Headwear, Standard)
Abilities: (Insert power stone)
Power stone: 0/1
Upgrade Slots: 0
Staff (Item, Basic)
Abilities: None
Longbow (Manabow, Standard)
Abilities: (Insert power stone)
Power stone: 0/1
Finally.
He would have preferred to save his Stone power stone for armor or a sword, but the ability to attack at range was too important. He fished out the stone and slid it into the manabow’s central socket. They fused together as though the gray sphere had always been a part of the bow’s design.
Stoneshaft Longbow (Manabow, Standard)
Abilities: (Basic) Stone Shot
Power stone: 1/1
Levi drew back on the bowstring and ran mana into the weapon. A shard of spectral gray stone, like a spearhead or bladed stalagmite, formed between the power stone and his hand on the string.
He felt it humming and strengthening the longer he held it, the edges refining, the missile elongating, the phantom energy solidifying. When he finally released it, the missile fired like a gunshot, shattering against the far wall in an explosion of sound. The spectral shrapnel dissipated short of hitting Levi or Skarm, but it would have done serious damage to anyone in the immediate vicinity.
After a few more shots to test the range and power of basic and more empowered attacks, he began to feel more comfortable with the weapon. The basic attacks were most mana-efficient and could be fired as quickly as he could physically draw the string. There didn't seem to be a limit on how overcharged an attack could be, but the cost and damage increase didn't seem to be proportional, which would mean diminishing returns at higher mana investments.
Levi stowed his new items away securely, then searched the dungeon thoroughly just in case he'd been mistaken, and the hidden treasure was still here to be found. He took it slow and methodical, staring into every crack, running his hand across every inch of the wall and floor and as much of the ceiling as he could reach. He sent Skarm down every crevice or hole too small for him, but he, too, came back empty-clawed.
Levi’s initial instincts were correct. This dungeon’s map treasure was missing.
It was disappointing to find someone else had come along and not only taken the treasure but left the boss uncontested as well, leaving Levi with the worst of both worlds. He was glad he’d at least caught the Essence before it could leave the dungeon and wreak havoc on the unAwakened town.
He backtracked into the boss room, looking down at Cen and Centoo's sundered remains. He'd not tried reviving violently dismembered minions, but the Revive option showed up when he focused on them, with the same roughly two hours remaining as for Gremlin Two.
The cooldown on his power clearly counted from when he’d used it last, rather than being based on any other factors. He could revive one soon; the rest would have to wait for a day or two. It would be a hit to their combat power, but he could live with it. With Gordon and Flomper to compensate, while they might have to stick to level 1 dungeons for a bit, they should still be able to make progress.
Levi exited the dungeon, then immediately re-entered at the beginning. He encountered only a small ambush of three rust scarabs on his way to where Gordon and Flomper waited.
Except… Gordon and Flomper were no longer alone.
Thomas Arlon: Level 3
(Fighter)
“Ah, there he is.” Gordon stood and pointed. “Levi, come meet our local dungeon guild representative!”
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