CHAPTER XXXIX: WILD DUNGEON
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{13:36 LOCAL TIME 2ND JULY 1ME}
UNCOMMON PERIOD
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LONG BEACH AIRPORT
COLONEL & SOTO
After reading all of the prompts, the scene unfroze, and the horde kept attacking the tower. Colonel looked around and noticed that wherever they were standing wasn’t affected by the horde but knew somehow that would change as soon as they joined.
“We are sure this is where the hunters disappeared, correct?” Clyde asked, already knowing what they had to do. That didn’t mean he liked it.
“Shit.” Soto hissed, all levity gone. “We don’t have seven weeks, Colonel.” He also knew what they were going to have to do.
“I’m not a mathematician, but I think that three of the six in there are our hunters.” Jimmy pointed out the blatantly obvious.
“I don’t know what to expect in there, so be ready to fight,” The Colonel said.
“We don’t have seven weeks, Colonel,” Soto said firmly. “We have another choice.”
“Sergeant major is right, they have already basically lost we can start over fresh.” Dina said, shaking her head at the scene before her, “They will live.”
“Oh, I am sorry,” Colonel began firmly.
“Jake,” Soto said dangerously.
“I somehow made what I said sound like a request. It was not. We are going to get our people,” the Colonel said coldly.
“And what about the Fort’s people? Are you willing to roll the dice on a fort of ten thousand for three people?” Berta asked, not reading the Colonel’s mood.
“Yes.” Soto and Colonel said.
“But that is not the case here.” Soto continued. “They will be back in seven weeks, Colonel. We can be more productive if we went in with a full contingent of towers; be reasonable.”
“I’ll say this once.” Clyde started. “They, the newest members of our fort, made the decision to help a failing team. Why do you think they did that?”
“Because they want to be heroes,” Dina said in a clipped tone.
“No, Private Dina, they ARE heroes. They didn’t hesitate when people were in need of help, they did it because they believed that WE would also follow, and that, we would have the power overcome this obstacle.” Colonel said, looking at everyone in their eyes. “I do not intend to disappoint them. If you think we are going to fail, before we go, stay here. I don’t need that kind of energy on this trip. We won’t fail, and we will prove our newest members absolutely right. Besides, the rewards will be proportional to the challenge, which is the worst-kept secret of the GREAT GAME.”
“Tower Mode Dungeons are generally for Professionals, particularly builder and siege style base Profession. The Tower is your friend. Just keep it alive. I can’t go with you though. The level gap will cause a cataclysm.” Bour said sadly. Startling everyone but Colonel. “I’ll tell Sugar when I get back to the fort. Good luck.” He made to leave, then stopped. ”Is Keke staying?”
“Of course she is...” The Colonel started when Kekere flew off his shoulder and over to Bour, landing in the dwarf’s massive palm. “Traitor.” He joked. Inwardly he was happy she took herself out of the fight; the damn bird was just a big stubborn flying mule. Through their companion link, she knew it wasn’t a place for her at her current level and ability. Being able to fly high above in the outside world but in a wild Dungeon, her ancestral knowledge told her it wouldn’t be safe.
“Why can’t you stay?” Soto asked. “Isn’t this what being an Adventurer is? Clearing Dungeons and saving people in need.”
Bour shook his head. ”Even though my level is down to the Tier CAP of this world, my tier is still too high for a platinum Dungeon. Rouge Dungeons like the one you were in before don’t have protectors because they aren’t sanctioned or natural Dungeons. Wild Dungeons are natural Dungeons, and like all natural Dungeons, once you get to a specific Tier, they stop providing the player with EXP or skill progression. After another Tier, they start to reject the player by offering events to rush the high-tier player with everything in the Dungeon, even out-tiering them. A player can’t handle thousands, if not tens of thousands, of mobs attacking. Two Tiers above, the Dungeon can call for help from the Source.” Bour locked eyes with Colonel, “We don’t want that. The response could be one or more Dungeon entities of similar power or tier to the high-tier player. Which in this case would be me.”
“Yeah, get the fuck out of here. I don’t want to fight anyone at your Power level.” Soto started to shoo the smaller player and bird back.
“No, you do not.” Bour chuckled, and then his face turned serious again. “This being a platinum zone will be problematic. The monsters will have much higher HP, MP, and DR pools than inside the Rouge Dungeon, so be very careful; hit it until you see a loot globe, or it’s not dead; remember that. Keep your hunter-killer teams safe; in a Platinum Dungeon, Tier 5s are not the exception; they are the norm, and they will kill the lesser teams quickly. The bosses will be either tier 6 or 7. If they are 7, just try to outlast them instead of taking the fight to them. I would say you would be fine, but having to be inside of buildings takes away your mortar and artillery advantage.”
Soto looked at Colonel. “I think we will be fine. Jake, the builder, is on the job.”
Clyde rolled his eyes and clicked join. “See you on the flip...” He didn’t finish his sentence as the haze around the world disappeared, and the noise and sounds of the wild Dungeon world slammed into him.
The sound wasn’t the only thing that slammed into him. A body hit him hard. The ghoul died from slamming into Colonel with ridiculous force. Colonel’s sheer amount of stats trumped the Ghoul and its lack of self-preservation. A loot globe formed as the body was quickly absorbed. The loot globe then shot to the Tower, and Colonel gets several prompts.
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< BATTLE LOG >
{Enhanced Feral Ghoul level 53 has died +10,600 EXP}
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< Objective Control South runway tower >
< Tower durability increased: +1 >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 14/1000 durability.
(Time Remaining until boss arrival: 59M:58S)}
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< WARNING TOWER DURABILITY IS DANGEROUSLY LOW! >
{Kill monsters to increase the durability of Towers.}
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“Whoa, that is a shit load of EXP,” Soto said as he stepped up next to Colonel, stabbing out with his bladed arrows, easily killing the ghouls in front of him and sending their two loot globes towards the Tower. Colonel got another few kill notifications but ignored them while he scanned the pandemonium before him.
First, the enemy they faced. He Analyzed one.
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< ANALYZE >
{Name: Enhanced Feral Ghoul(Undead),
Level:57
HP:190,000
MP:150
Bane: Fire
Weaknesses: Light magic and Life magic. Decapitation = True Death.
Description: Ghouls come in many varieties. The one constant between them all is the insatiable appetite for living flesh. Undead Ghouls' appetites are seconded by their strength and constitution. At their level, they will always be stronger and tougher than their frame suggests. Enhanced Feral ghouls are mindless creatures seeking out food and destruction, at Level 50 they gain +40 strength and constitution, +25 Dexterity and Luck and +5 Intelligence and Charisma per level.
EFFECTS: Insatiable Hunger. Undead regeneration}
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Then, they had to deal with the problem ASAP.
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< Tower durability increased: +2 >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 16/1000 durability.
< WARNING TOWER DURABILITY IS DANGEROUSLY LOW! >
{Kill monsters to increase the durability of Towers.}
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They were on the first floor, at the front door of the air traffic controller tower, which happened to be the last Tower standing in their scenario. The door was broken, but it was still an impediment to the Ghouls because it was the first piece of the Tower to grow back.
Clyde looked out the door and saw a sea of undead clamoring over each other to take down their Tower. In the distance, he saw two more broken Towers glowing in his Synergistic Sight.
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This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
< FORGER TITLE >
{TITLE EFFECT: Synergistic Sight;
Passive scan that allows the Forger to figure out and put together anything. Look for a slight glow in the world, and it will guide you. Be wary of what you make, for creatures and beings of power will seek them out. Make sure you can protect what you create.}
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Another ghoul pushed through the healing door, and Clyde punched it. The skin on the Ghoul’s face seemed to run away from Colonel’s fist before its head exploded backward in a spray of gore. Colonel looked at his clean hand in surprise. They were slow, but he didn’t expect them to be so squishy. “Uh, Huh?”
“Our Bane Mark, I am guessing,” Soto said, reading Colonel’s confusion.
More Prompts.
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{Mark Name: Undead Bane
Mark Type: Bane Mark
Effect 1: Do True damage to Undead creatures, bypassing any defensive power.
Effect 2: All damage against the undead is Critical Damage. All damage against the Living Dead is Greatly increased.
Effect 3: LOCKED(Kill 10000 undead at least a tier above you or 25000 any undead. 5513/10000 a Tier above killed 5513/25000 any.)}
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< Tower durability increased: +5 >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 21/1000 durability.
< WARNING TOWER DURABILITY IS DANGEROUSLY LOW! >
{Kill monsters to increase the durability of Towers.}
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Jimmy’s team appeared behind Colonel and Soto and looked around, confused.
“Head up those stairs and find our people,” Clyde said, opening his map. He saw all of the green dots on top of each other. He rotated the map a little and went down to a ground-level view. Three green dots were on the top floor next to three yellow dots. Two of those dots had golden Es next to them.
“I am guessing we found the monks,” Soto said, looking at his updated map. He stabbed another ghoul in the face, and the door healed shut.
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< Tower durability increased: +4 >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 25/1000 durability.
< WARNING TOWER DURABILITY IS DANGEROUSLY LOW! >
{*Kill monsters to increase the durability of Towers.
*Defensive Structure repair is Significantly easier and is completed Significantly quicker.}
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“Head up with them, Sergeant Major, and barricade the last room, just in case of any surprises. I want to leave my own surprise.” Clyde grinned and started forging a defensive Siege weapon.
The turret came to life quickly, and everyone in the room heard and saw the Diamond Cracking sound, but this time, it was twice.
CRACK!
CRACK!
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< TRADE RANK UP >
{+240 INT, CHA, & LUCK}
{TRADE NAME: Defensive siege weapon forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 12
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources around you using your mana to make defensive weapons of war.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 1 month per level of trade.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge Mid Diamond defensive siege weapons with time and resources at a 85% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher level weapons.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Durability.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Duration.
RARE Trade Benefit: Reduces usage costs.
PLATINUM Trade Benefit: Escalating damage.
DIAMOND Trade Benefit: Stun chance.}
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< PROFESSION LEVEL UP >
{+37 to all stats except magic}
{PROFESSION NAME: Forger
PROFESSION RANK: 38 (Recruit-Trainee 2nd)
PROFESSION TYPE: Hybrid-Energy Creation
DESCRIPTION: A Forger is a unique profession as it needs no special materials, only the legacy’s Mana and, in some cases, blood to fill in the blanks of what is being forged. The legacy can still use materials to augment and reduce the Mana cost. You can learn Trades, but all of that is second to the Mana creation.
Initiate Benefit: Use mana with all trades to forge creations.
Amateur Benefit: Absorb Mana from kills within a controlled area for use in forging creations
Recruit Benefit: All Styles have an extra use or reduced cool down.
Trainee Benefit: All creation bonus effects are triggered more often.}
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Clyde was a little surprised at the quick level. He had made these turrets at the Fort before they had left and didn’t get any levels. But none of them had been Diamond Tier, so he looked at the creation prompt.
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< ANALYZE >
{Creation Name: Light Auto Cannon
Creation Type: Defensive siege system
Creation Rank: Mid Diamond
Creation Durability: 203,000
Description: A mana-powered dual barrel weapon that fires light base ammo on any hostile target in range.
Weapon Damage: 500 per round Critical X6.25. Mana Cost: 100 Mana per shot. Range: 500 meters.
Duration:1 week
Status: Active Scanning.
MP: 15000/15000 regen 500 per minute.
RARE ATTACHMENT: Reduced Cost: Mana cost is reduced by 30%.
PLATINUM ATTACHMENT: Wall bypass: Rounds have a 40% chance to bypass all walls, barriers, and standing shields (100% if the walls are made or owned by you.)
DIAMOND ATTACHMENT: 1000% damage against Undead and 500% damage against Living Dead.}
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The construct rotated its barrels around and stopped facing the door. A ghoul banged against the door, trying to break in.
BANG!
The auto-cannon fired, destroying the ghoul in one headshot. The Bane Mark turned the Critical hit into a catastrophic hit as the Light round phased through the door.
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< Tower durability increased: +25 >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 0/1 destroyed.
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 50/1000 durability.
< WARNING TOWER DURABILITY IS DANGEROUSLY LOW! >
{*Kill monsters to increase the durability of Towers.
*Defensive Structure repair is Significantly easier and is completed significantly quicker.}
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In Colonel's perception ability, he saw that the shot had cleared out a large group of ghouls behind the first ghoul, the shot traveling in a straight line before running out of power in the crowd. Clyde smiled. “I got this.” As he started to create another auto-cannon. “Stand by. I’ll come with you.”
Three minutes later, the seven of them were heading up the stairs, three auto-cannons firing out the front door every time a ghoul tried to break in. The Platinum ones weren’t as precise as the Diamond cannon, but they still killed multiple ghouls per shot if they were lined up just right.
The party got to the top of the tower, and four people stood over two downed players, one of which had an Event mark on them, a monk. He was breathing heavily while sweat dripped off his pale, light brown skin. Clyde could make out a festering wound on his stomach area with his Presence.
A black man on the ground next to him looked dead; if Clyde hadn’t seen his chest rise shallowly, he would have thought so, too.
The group looked up to Colonel’s party. The three girl hunter team members looked relieved to see them, but the last man stood up cautiously, his face guarded. He had an Event marker on him. His eyes were those of a leader, and his worry was written all over his face. Colonel Analyzed the three, realizing he knew one by reputation.
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< ANALYZE >
{PLAYER NAME: Knight Terrence
LEVEL: 48
CASTE: Commoner CLASS/JOB: Fighter/Junior Knight. RACE: Human
POOLS:
HP 19/89000 regen 3850HP per day
MP 6/1200 regen 2670MP per hour
DR:120/120
Highest ATTRIBUTES:
Physical; Constitution
Mental; Charisma
EFFECTS: Bleeding I, Cursed II, Poisoned I.}
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< ANALYZE >
{PLAYER NAME: David Morales
LEVEL: 58
CASTE: Clergy CLASSes: Paladin/Feral Monk. RACE: Human
POOLS:
HP 2359/40450 regen 2580HP per day
MP 610/2400 regen 2670MP per hour
DR:60/60
Highest ATTRIBUTES:
Physical; Dexterity
Mental; LUCK
EFFECTS: Cursed II, Poisoned I.}
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< ANALYZE >
{PLAYER NAME: Governor Ron
LEVEL: 49
CASTE: Noble. CLASSes: Guardian Surgeon/Count. RACE: Human
POOLS:
HP 10,600/80.000 regen 3190HP per day
MP 2200/2200 regen 2870MP per hour
DR:10/10
Highest ATTRIBUTES:
Physical; Strength
Mental; Charisma
EFFECTS: Exhausted.}
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“Dina, to that window. Set up your lava cannon and go to work, Private.” The Colonel ordered. “Clear the door first. I want to be moving as soon as we can. Molly, heal that one first,” He pointed at Knight Terrence. “When you get rid of the bleeding and the poison, work on the monk. We can figure out the curses later.”
Dina marched over to the window and looked out. It was barely propped open. She saw the mass of bodies below and smiled. “Fish in a barrel, Colonel.”
“Copy that, Colonel.” Molly moved to Terrance’s weakening body, pulling out her first aid bag from a storage satchel that was issued to her at the beginning of the mission by the quartermaster NPC.
Governor Ron stepped in front of her, but Soto stepped out of his shadow and placed his hand on his chest. “Let her save your man‘s life, Admiral. Stand down,” Soto said, remembering the Governor’s face from an article he had read a few months back.
Ron’s eyes narrowed at the Puerto Rican man and then at the black man behind him. His facial expression told the room that he recognized both men from somewhere. The rank Colonel rang a bell. “JTF?”
Soto nodded.
“And much more, Governor,” Clyde said, shaking the Governor’s hand. “We found and cleared the Rouge Dungeon in Long Beach a few days ago. We have been caught up with the Syndicate and West side Guild problem and intend to side with LA Stronghold for the war and forseeable futrure.”
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< QUEST COMPLETE >
{Quest Name: STOP THE OUTBREAK V
Quest Type: Legacy (Legendary Chain)
Description: Something ominous has been unleashed on your local area. Investigate for more updates. You have found and killed Feral ghouls, which means there is at least a lesser ghoul making the feral ones. Now that you have killed a lesser ghoul, you are aware that there must be a Greater ghoul controlling them. Also, the homeless NPC are under attack from the ghouls, so protect them.
Requirements: Find the source of the undead.
Lisette has died. She was the source.
Objective 1: Leave the Dungeon so it can reset. (Complete)
Objective 2: Report your findings to the local Stronghold. (Pick a side in the upcoming war.)(Complete)
Objective 3: Get the homeless to safety. (Complete)
Rewards: +3,000,000 EXP, Legacy headband, and all of the accumulated loot from killing everything in the Dungeon (Sent to Fort Bank.).
*25% Sent to all citizens as Quest, Mana Stones, and Crystals.
*25% sent to military pensions.
*20% sent to all Military Members.
*20% sent to Raid Party.
*10% sent to personal account.}
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“AYO!!!! That was enough to get my second class to Tier 5, too. Colonel from the way downtown.” Soto yelled as he dapped Colonel after making a jump-shooting motion. Clyde smirked at his friend’s antics.
“Wait, what? What do you mean...” Ron’s eyes unfocused, and he began to read through his HUD furiously as his Noble knowledge was updated for the first time in weeks. “The west side gang is now... the West side guild! They are a merchant slaver conglomerate, along with the Syndicate. What the fuck? I had heard rumors, but outright slavery. I didn’t think a group that big would be so bold. We have to get out of here. A war has been declared.”
“When?” Clyde asked flatly.
“Three Common periods,” Ron answered.
“If we fail this Dungeon, we will be dumped out seven weeks after we enter. So we have to win it.”
“Ahhhhh! Get some bitches!” Dina screamed out of the window while she sprayed her lava all over the thoroughfare, killing dozens of ghouls.
“We aren’t going to fail, right sir?” The Colonel asked the Governor, ignoring Dina's murderous noises.
Ron shook his head at the roller coaster of emotions he was going through.
“I can’t hear you, Admiral!” Colonel said powerfully.
“We can’t miss this war. I must protect my people. You lead, I’ll follow Colonel Jacob.” Ron said knowingly. Then he heard Terrence groan.
“Anyone get the plates on that bus that FUCKed me up?” Terrence choked out.
“What happened here?” Colonel asked.
The monk groaned next as Dina screamed again. Soto smiled, and Colonel rolled his eyes. ‘Privates.’ They both thought.
“What is going on?” The monk, David, asked groggily.
“Buddhist?” Soto asked.
“Yes, why do you have a problem with that?” David asked defensively.
“Whoa there, buddy. I'm just curious,” Soto said. “That’s what’s wrong with your generation; everything is an attack on your ideals... well, to be fair, that is the problem with every generation ever. The only problem I ha...”
“We have a Dungeon to clear.” Colonel cut him off. “David, we are with the local Stronghold, and we came to save you and your comrade...” Colonel looked at Soto, who was glaring at him, shaking his head obviously.
[What?]
[God damn, bro, I can’t believe you forgot this. The other monk is probably dead by the sheer fact that SHE AIN’T HERE. You don’t want to bring up bad memories. Come on, Colonel.] Soto replied.
“She died with only one request; she wanted to buy us time to get out of here and get to safety.” David sobbed out. “I just couldn’t maintain my Holy shroud long enough in this ever-dark.”
Clyde put his hand on his shoulder. “Then I am here to fulfill her last request and buy you more than just time. I’m going to buy you your freedom. But first, tell me your story, son.”