CHAPTER XXXXIV: PROFESSION QUEST
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{1:25 DUNGEON TIME}
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LONG BEACH AIRPORT
COLONEL & SOTO
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< Objective Control South runway tower >
< 1 TOWER UNREPAIRABLE >
< THE BOSS IS DEAD >
< Tower building resources: +1000 free Mana for Trade use >
{South runway defensive Tower 0/1 UNREPAIRABLE.(Rebuild in progress.)
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 1/1.
1000/1000 durability. (Tower durability MAXED)
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 1000/1000 durability.(Tower durability MAXED)
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< WARNING RECLAIM OTHER TOWERS TO MOVE ON >
{Killing monsters to will build resources now.}
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< THE SOUTH RUNWAY BOSS HAS DIED >
{Time until Bat is respawned: 14M:57s.}
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Colonel was infusing Mana into the final tower with Jimmy and Soto watching his back. It had taken him about twenty-five minutes to build the second Tower, which had leveled up his Stronghold structures Forging and Wall Forging Trades in the process.
Before that, he had given everyone at least two Style tattoos. It seemed that a Player could have as many Style tattoos as their Tier. So needless to say, he had got some levels on his Trade skills.
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< TRADE RANK UP X2 >
{+15 STR, CON, INT}
{TRADE NAME: Armored Vehicle Forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 4
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources around you using your Mana to make Armored Vehicles of war.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 1 month per level of trade.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge Mid-Rare Armored Vehicles with time and resources at a 100% chance of completion rate; the higher the professional rank, the better the chances to make higher-level weapons.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Weapon Systems can be attached to Vehicles.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: 40% less MP used.
RARE Trade Benefit: Reactive Armor.
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Every one of his citizens got a Weapon System Style so that they could use the equipment he made since they all had prerequisites now. Julia still looked at him with a promise of some kind of retribution.
He had even made an Armored Personnel Carrier(APC), which they used to drive between the towers. It disappeared after about fifteen minutes but had a ridiculous amount of durability.
Protecting the others from any instant death was the next priority he took care of. Colonel was pretty confident he could save everyone as long as they stayed close. His sheer amount of stats alone could handle this level of Dungeon, and if all failed, he still had his Class-Path and Skill-Path.
He could use them to bail them out. He didn’t want to fail the quest line, but what is a quest to a person’s life? If something that could kill them quickly attacked them, there was nothing he could do about it before, but he could do something now.
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{CREATION NAME: Kinetic Shield Style
CREATION RANK: Peak Rare
CREATION DURABILITY: 5000
CREATION TYPE: Defensive Tattoo(Triggered)
CREATION DURATION: Until durability is depleted.
Cool down: none.
RECHARGE COST & TIME: 5000MP & 1 hour
Description: This Tattoo is infused with Mana, which turns durability into defense. Stops any physical component of any attack.
Cost: None.
RARE EFFECT: While moving, the Shield recovers slowly.}
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It only took him a few tries to get the Rare version of the Style, but that skyrocketed his growth of the Trade skill.
Unfortunately, there was a little snag.
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< TRADE RANK UP X5 >
{+1 CON & INT (+30 CON & INT Deferred until after Profession Quest)}
{TRADE NAME: Magic Armor Forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 6
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources around you using your mana to make Style tattoos that can conjure protective armor and shields.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 1 week per level of Trade.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge Peak Rare Magic armor with time and resources at a 98% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher level weapons.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Increase defense when in a party.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: 20% reduced cost.
RARE Trade Benefit: Can shape shield for increased defense.
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With the protection part done, he wanted to arm every member of the party with an offensive weapon on top of their personal weapons. He chose Magic Weapon Forging on a whim. Something Colonel had noticed about his Forger Profession was that it was very simplistic. It was so simplistic that all he had to do was think about the Trade he wanted to use and concentrate, and Mana would flow out of him and into his creation. When he asked the other Professionals about their Trades, he discovered quite a few things.
One, the Trades that the NPCs had were closer to Colonel’s forging than the ones Smith’s hunter team had gotten. Theirs didn’t require nearly as much Mana to create things, but they needed tools, infused ink, artist skills, and other materials to make their tattoos. But their tattoos lasted longer, and they had certain design upgrades downloaded into their mind as they leveled up.
Colonel always had to have something in mind when he used a Trade, but didn’t get any information downloaded to him. He made what he already knew, and he supposed that was the difference between the types of Trades.
Magical verses Mundane types have their own sort of power. Colonel was limited to what he knew with his Magical Profession, but that wasn’t so bad, he was a writer, and grew up in the golden age of visual effects and warfare. Besides, he didn’t want to have anything downloaded into his brain anyway.
He had also learned that combining the Trades was possible, but it lowered the percentage chance of completing their creations by a large amount. Apparently, creating high-Tier gear had been slow going. Peak Rare and Low Platinum gear was the highest gear Tier of created stuff in the LA Stronghold.
Only when two Professionals worked together could they keep their percentage chance high enough to make higher-tier gear, but the time it took to make the gear increased per person involved, which would eventually affect the player’s concentration.
Focus was very important, especially on high-level or High-Tier creations. For most players, not so much for Colonel so far.
The bonus effects of Trade skills were mostly random based on materials and the Mana affinity of the creator. For Colonel, he didn’t have any idea what the bonus effects were until they were forged. They were always helpful, so he never really thought about it. As he got to the Tier 5 threshold in his Profession, he understood why Tier 5 was the dividing line in the GREAT GAME.
-Intent- was the way Professionals guided the bonuses on their creations and so much more.
He wanted to look at his new quest option, but they were on a clock. He continued to work. Deferred meant he would eventually get his levels, so he kept working, giving out sweet new Weapon-Style tattoos.
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{CREATION NAME: Electric Lance Style
CREATION TYPE: Conjured weapon tattoo
CREATION RANK: Mid Platinum
CREATION Durability: 1250
CREATION DAMAGE: Variable
DESCRIPTION: When activated, this style creates a lance with multiple special attacks. Each attack causes Mana to drain.
Cost: 150MP}
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{Item Name: Electric Lance
Creation Type: Polearm
Creation Rank: Platinum
Creation Durability:2300
Description: Conjured Lance powered by mana and electricity.
Weapon Damage:1500. Cost:1 Mana per attack.
RARE Special Attack: Lunge.
PLATINUM Special Attack: Pierce the sky.}
Prerequisite: Strength & Constitution over 150.
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Colonel made those for the front-line combatants. It was purely damage dealing; both special attacks caused massive penetration damage. For the others, he used his imagination and got kind of lucky; it was his highest stat, after all.
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{CREATION NAME: Light beam Gauntlet Style
CREATION RANK: Low Platinum
CREATION DURABILITY: 1100
CREATION TYPE: Conjured Power Gauntlet Tattoo(Triggered)
CREATION DURATION: 1 use.
Cool down: none.
RECHARGE COST & TIME: 5000MP & 1 hour
Description: Conjured Power Gauntlet powered by Mana and fires light beams.
Cost: 150.}
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{Item Name: Light Beam Gauntlet
Creation Type: Power gauntlet
Creation Rank: Platinum
Creation Durability:1900
Description: Conjured Power Gauntlet powered by Mana and fires light beams.
Weapon Damage:750. Cost:10 Mana per beam. Range: 500 meters. Cool down: 2 seconds.
RARE MOD: Progressive damage: The longer you fire, the more damage the beams do, but the cost also increases.
PLATINUM MOD: Burn: prevent regeneration of flesh burns caused by beams.}
Prerequisite: All stats except for magic over 200.
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Colonel had everyone invest their free stats to ensure they could use the gauntlets. It wasn’t a problem for everyone since they had all leveled a lot since entering the Wild Dungeon.
All in all, he had gotten the most levels in the Magic weapon forging Trade skill.
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< TRADE RANK UP X7 >
{+130 DEX, INT, & LUCK Deferred until after Profession Quest)}
{TRADE NAME: Magic Weapon Forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 8
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources around you using your mana to make Style tattoos that can conjure weapons.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 1 week per level of Trade.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge Mid Platinum weapon with time and resources at a 100% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher level weapons.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Increase durability.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: Increase uses.
RARE Trade Benefit: Progressive damage.
PLATINUM Trade Benefit: 40% less MP to use.
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He knew weapons pretty well, and it showed with his growth in this Trade alone.
He made strides in his other Trades as well.
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< TRADE LEVEL UP >
{+100 to all stats except Magic Deferred.}
{TRADE NAME: Stronghold Structure forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 11
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources of a designated area while using your mana to make non combat structures for any level Stronghold.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 5 years.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge Low Diamond Structures with time, concentration, and resources at a 90% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the Professional the better chance to make higher level weapons.
Structures available: A ton.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Durability.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Duration.
RARE Trade Benefit: Upkeep cost reduced.
PLATINUM Trade Benefit: Minor Regen.
DIAMOND Trade Benefit: Self Clean and Mana Pool.}
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< TRADE LEVEL UP >
{+200 CON & +100 INT Deferred.}
{TRADE NAME: Wall forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 11
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the ground using mana to make a wall. Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: none. Duration: 4 months per level of Trade rank, Variable base of available materials
EFFECTS: The Legacy can build a Low Diamond walls with time and resources at a 94% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher level walls.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Durability.
UNCOMMON Trade Benefit: Increased Duration.
RARE Trade Benefit: Wall Spikes.
PLATINUM Trade Benefit: Defensive lightning.}
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< PROFESSION LEVEL UP X3
(X13 Deferred until Profession quest is complete.) >
{+144 to all stats except magic(+5890 to all but Magic Deferred until Profession quest was complete. All stat gain after Tier 5 is 5X.)}
{PROFESSION NAME: Forger
PROFESSION RANK: 50 (Recruit-Trainee 1st)
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
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
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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Colonel girted his teeth at the deferred stats; he had almost 10,000 Constitution he was missing out on because of the deferments.
Thank goodness that infusing mana into the Towers didn’t take much concentration, or he might have failed after reading everything and getting annoyed.
Instead, he opened his HUD to look at his Professional Quest. Unfortunately, the bad news kept coming, and he and the party got another unpleasant surprise.
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DUNGEON SCENARIO RESET
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{00:00 DUNGEON TIME}
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< YOUR ZONE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A LOW DIAMOND MANA ZONE >
< WELCOME BACK TO THE WILD DUNGEON FINAL DESTINATION >
Scenario: “Veteran Enhanced Ghouls have taken over the Long Beach Airport and created a Stronghold from the leftover Mana resources of the abandoned JTF compound. With the Stronghold, the leaders can reproduce ghouls at a prodigious rate. You have been given control of free defensive Tower emplacements inside all of the controlled areas, use these Towers to defend yourself from the hordes of enemies. They are not very smart and won’t attack weapon emplacements not on the main thoroughfare. But if they destroy all of the towers, your party will have failed and be expelled 1 year after you entered. Survive all waves, and Veteran Enhance Ghoul bosses to complete the Wild Dungeon. “
{Dungeon Mode is Tower Defense.}
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< ZONE EVENT Has been upgraded to ZONE QUEST >
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< YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED A QUEST >
{Quest Name: Professional Help I
Quest Tier: Diamond
Quest Type: Professional (Profession Chain)
Description: You and your party have entered the area of influence of this Wild Dungeon. While you are in the Dungeon, the expansion of the wild Dungeon has slowed significantly. Complete the Dungeon, and collect or destroy the Dungeon Core to stop the growth of the wild dungeon. Creature birth and spawn rates have risen tremendously. The chances of creature evolution have risen very Significantly. Control an area for an hour in order to bring out the area boss. Defeat the area boss to clear an area and fully control it.
Requirements: Use only Profession to finish Quest.
Objective 1: Control the South runway and Tower.
Objective 2: Control the main runway.
Objective 3: Control North Runway and Douglas Park.
Objective 4: Control Airport Terminal(Dungeon Core room)
Time limit: None. The Dungeon slowly grows while you are still in it.
Rewards: -Intent- Pool, +125 to Vitality Pool(Immortal).
Failure penalty: Path Forward is closed until a new quest is available.}
< NOTE >
{Now that this Dungeon has been upgraded, the monsters within have also been upgraded. They are not only now stronger, faster, and wiser. They will work together more effectively and have more Mana-based Spells.}
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< Scenario already in progress. >
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The good news was the current scenario was almost done.
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< Objective Control South runway tower >
{South runway defensive Tower 1/1. 1000/1000 durability.(Tower durability MAXED)
South runway Front gate defensive Tower 1/1.
1000/1000 durability.(Tower durability MAXED)
South runway air traffic control tower defensive Tower 1/1 1000/1000 durability.(Tower durability MAXED)
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< HOLD TOWERS >
{Killing monsters to earn building resources.}
{Time until fully secure: 11M:47s.}
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The final tower of the south runway was finished, and the sun started to break through the ever-night status. The skies above opened up, and light shined on all three Towers. The light slowly began to spread out from said Towers. The lit areas grew slowly but noticeably.
Over the next ten minutes, the sunlight spread out, encompassing the whole runway. The sound of monsters coming started to rise. The uniform footfalls were a little more disconcerting than the shambling feet of the previous ghouls. Colonel stood up and scanned his map Ability. To the north of the South Runway Towers was a massive cluster of undead buildings at the edge of the light.
“Looks like we have company.” Colonel smiled. “Good thing we are ready. Head up, this weapon system is yours, Jimmy.” He said to the Tamer. His wolves were held back so far, but they were ready to do some damage now that the sun was out.
[All gun systems check in over.] Colonel said in party chat.
[Tower 1 gun is red-con 1] Julia answered.
[Tower 2 gun is red-con 1] Alanna responded.
[Tower 3 gun is red-con 2 moving to 1 in 30 seconds] Jimmy replied, hustling up the stairs.
[Check your sectors. We have incoming.] Colonel said as the last seconds of the first scenario counted down.
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{Time until fully secure: 47s.}
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Colonel walked with Soto and a few wolves to an embattlement he had created earlier.
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< ANALYZE >
{Building Name: Wall Embattlement.
Building type: Defensive Wall.
Building Rank: 1
Building Tier: High Platinum
Building Description: A wall that is wide enough to comfortably hold a squad of troops in columns of 3 players deep.
Building Durability: 10,000/10,000 regen 100 per hour per rank.
Mana Pool:1000/1000
Capacity for each: 3 full squads.
RARE ATTACHMENT: Reduced Cost: The cost of powers is reduced by 60%.
PLATINUM ATTACHMENT: Recovery: While on embattlement and not engaged in combat, the player’s HP and MP regeneration is Slightly increased.}
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[30 seconds!] Colonel announced over party chat. He and Soto sat in two weapon systems on the embattlements.
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< ANALYZE >
{Creation Name: Heavy Light cannon
Creation Type: Defensive siege system
Creation Rank: High Platinum
Creation Durability: 13000
Description: A Mana-powered weapon that uses the Mana of its gunners to create a laser-like attack that cauterizes wounds and prevents healing. This weapon system does double damage in the sunlight.
Weapon Damage: 600 damage plus Intelligence and Charisma stats of all gunners per second. Mana Cost: 60 Mana per shot. Range: 500 meters. Duration: 6 months
Manned By: Colonel
RARE ATTACHMENT: Reduced Cost; cost is reduced by 30%.
PLATINUM ATTACHMENT: Mana Pool; 1500/1500 regen 1500 an hour.}
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Just as the sunlight spread to the north and started to burn the first of the thousands of new ghouls standing there, the party got a new prompt.
[15 seconds!]
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< OBJECTIVE COMPLETE >
{Quest Name: Professional Help I
Quest Tier: Diamond
Quest Type: Professional (Artisan)
Description: You and your party have entered the area of influence of this Wild Dungeon. While you are in the Dungeon, the expansion of the wild Dungeon has slowed significantly. Complete the Dungeon, and collect or destroy the Dungeon Core to stop the growth of the wild dungeon. Creature birth and spawn rates have risen tremendously. The chances of creature evolution have risen very Significantly. Control an area for 24 hours in order to bring out the area boss. Defeat the area boss to clear an area and fully control it.
Requirements: Use only Profession to finish Quest.
Objective 1: Control the South runway and Tower.(Complete)
Objective 2: Control the main runway.
Objective 3: Control North Runway and Douglas Park.
Objective 4: Control Airport Terminal(Dungeon Core room)
Time limit: None. The Dungeon slowly grows while you are still in it.
Rewards: -Intent- & Battle -Intent- Pool, +125 to Vitality Pool(Immortal).
Failure penalty: Path Forward is closed until a new quest is available.}
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< ASCENSION QUEST UPDATED >
{QUEST NAME: Cultivation III; PEAK SKY REALM I
QUEST TYPE: Cultivator(Chain)
Quest Tier: High Diamond
DESCRIPTION: You have made it to the Peak of the Disciple or Body Realm Cultivator. You are unaffected by the liquids and the solids of the natural world. Now it is time separate yourself from the mortal coil even more and take on the gases, now it is time to reach for the sky...
Requirements: Make it to the Sky Realm.
Objective 1: Own at least 13 Bronze COREs 13/13(Complete)
Objective 2: 100% Completion on Iron Ascension Trial(Complete)Prize: free Rank Upgrade
Objective 3: Complete all Tier 5 Quest (Quest in progress)
Objective 4: Get the second path to Tier 5 in the Iron Ascension Trial(Complete)
Objective 5: Have over 94% compatibility with the Iron CORE Technique slot. (Perfect compatibility)(Complete)
Objective 6: Get the third path to Tier 5 (Complete Artisan Quest)
Time remaining: 1 year
Rewards: PEAK SKY REALM II Quest, EXPERIENCE, Upgraded lifeboat CORE, Essence, 100 skill points, 1300 free Attributes.
Failure penalty: -300 Attributes from 3 random stats except magic}
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< New Scenario begins. >
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< Objective Control Main runway tower >
{Main runway defensive Tower 0/1.
0/1000 durability.
Main runway Hangar defensive Tower 0/1.
0/1000 durability.
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< REPAIR TOWERS >
{Killing monsters to repair the towers.}
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< THE MAIN RUNWAY BOSS >
{Time until BOSS spawns: 59M:58s.}
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[Light them up troopers.] Colonel said as he depressed his butterfly trigger and held it tight.
A beam of uninterrupted yellow light shot out and cut right through the front line of the ghouls just as they started to rush the south runway. Colonel moved his weapon system beam back and forth across the wave of ghouls heading their way in a Z pattern.
Their screams of anger, rage, or protest were wiped out the instant when the beam sliced some heads off and burned huge holes in some. The ghouls behind the dead and injured ones still surged forward like rabid wolves on a lone helpless sheep. Unfortunately for them, there were no sheep here.
BRRRRRRZZZZT
BRRRRRRZZZZT
BRRRRRRZZZZT
The wave simply just stopped. The wall of ice bubbles of death ripping up chunks of the ground while completely freezing their charge. EXP flooded into them fast and furious; it would seem that killing these new ghouls was much more lucrative.
Colonel Analyzed an armless torso of a ghoul who had been cut in half and thrown closer to him.
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< ANALYZE >
{Name: Veteran Enhanced Lesser Ghoul(Undead)
Level:59
HP:1237/2,555,000
MP:120/150
DR:0/110
Highest Stat:
Physical: Constitution
Mental: Luck
Bane: Fire
Weaknesses: Light magic and Life magic. Decapitation = True Death.
Description: Ghouls come in many varieties. The one constant between them all is their insatiable appetite for living flesh. Undead Ghouls' appetite is seconded by their strength and constitution. At their level, they will always be stronger and tougher than their frame suggests. Lesser ghouls are semi-mindless creatures seeking out food. Veteran-Enhanced Lesser Ghouls are boosted with more HP and MP and do more damage, but also increase hunger. At level 50, they gain +230 Strength and Constitution & +105 Dexterity and Luck.
EFFECTS: Insatiable Hunger, Viral bite, Enhanced Undead regeneration, Crippled, Brittle & Slowed.}
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Colonel shared with Soto. “New type of ghoul check out, what do you think?”
“They are much more powerful than the ones in the first Dungeon, not just in level. The stats don’t add up. Even if the first ghouls doubled, they wouldn’t have gotten this high naturally. Look at how fast its regeneration is. That is ridiculous.” Soto gawked at the rapidly recovering Veteran Enhanced Lesser ghoul.
The armless torso now had both arms again and was still pulling itself ever closer to their position. Colonel decided to use his Style tattoo.
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{CREATION NAME: Light whip Gauntlet Style
CREATION RANK: Mid Platinum
CREATION DURABILITY: 1900
CREATION TYPE: Conjured physical Gauntlet Tattoo(Triggered)
CREATION DURATION: until released or mana runs out.
Cool down: none.
RECHARGE COST & TIME: 7000MP & 30 minutes
Description: Conjured Gauntlet powered by Mana that can conjure a whip made out of light.
Cost:250.}
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{Item Name: Light Whip Gauntlet
Creation Type: Physical gauntlet
Creation Rank: Mid Platinum
Creation Durability:2700
Description: Conjured Gauntlet powered by Mana that can conjure a whip made out of light.
Weapon Damage:100 damage a second. Cost: 50 Mana per second. Range: 100 meters. Cool down: none.
RARE MOD: Restore in tattoo.
PLATINUM MOD: 40% chance of hurting incorporeal targets.}
Prerequisite: All stats except for magic over 250.
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“You got that?” Soto asked, looking at the Ghoul crawling towards them.
“Sure do,” Colonel replied.
Colonel’s tattoo on his left arm flared bright, and a gauntlet construct appeared on his hand. He flexed his arm, and a whip of light snaked out and attached itself to the ghoul’s neck; almost immediately, it started to burn. The ghoul struggled, trying to pull Colonel with its prodigious strength. The problem with that strategy was that Colonel wasn’t sure any being in the Mortal realm was as strong as him, and he knew a Level 59 Ghoul definitely was not even with his debuffs.
Colonel yanked with a little more effort than he thought he would need, and the Lesser Ghoul’s head was ripped off, black blood bubbling and steaming in the sunlight. Soto then continued to fire. The enemy wave was broken. Pieces of monsters were everywhere; some were recovering, and most were loot globes that littered the runway next to black, melting ice shrapnel.
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< Objective Control Main runway tower >
< Tower durability increased: +1 >
{Main runway defensive Tower 1/1.
13/1000 durability.
Main runway Hanger defensive Tower 1/1.
789/1000 durability.
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< REPAIR TOWERS >
{Killing monsters to repair the towers.}
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< THE MAIN RUNWAY BOSS SPAWNS >
{Time until BOSS spawns: 57M:58s.}
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“These weapon systems are something special, boss; well done. In two minutes, we have made a significant dent in recovering the Towers.” Soto cheered.
“Thanks,” Colonel chuckled.
Soto continued, “Diamond Tier creations are mad crazy for real.” Another Lesser ghoul had its lower half cut off and continued to crawl toward the teammates on the weapon systems.
“Not going to lie to you, man, pretty sure these weapon systems weren’t for humanoid targets,” Colonel said, grimacing at the bloody runway. The Veteran Lesser ghouls were already recovering from what should have been a fatal injury, but it barely slowed the damn thing down.
He thought with frustration and understanding at the ghoul crawling, a weird feeling for sure. He was frustrated that it was so tough even with the higher-tier gear, and he understood that these monsters were as powerful as the monsters in his trial, which made them even tougher.
“Diamond Tier siege weapons were overkill for these...”
The ground shook... Then again... “I bet if we had a glass of water, we could recreate that scene from Jurassic Park right about now, am I right?” Soto joked but still fired at the new wave of Lesser ghouls.
Colonel saw it then.
A ten-foot-tall amalgamation of bodies writhing against toughened undead skin, trying to escape a torment so deep, it brought fear to all who looked upon its visage.
He Analyzed it and cursed.
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< ANALYZE >
{Monster Name: Veteran Enhanced Greater Ghoul(Undead)(Elite)(Mini-boss)
Level: 63
HP: 59,600,000
MP: 1000
DR: 360
Highest Stat:
Physical: Constitution
Mental: Luck
Bane: Fire
Weaknesses: light magic and Life magic. Decapitation = True Death.
Description: Ghouls come in many varieties, but the insatiable appetite for living flesh is the one constant between them all. Undead Ghouls' appetite is seconded by their strength and constitution. For their level they will always be more robust and more brutal than their frame suggests. Greater ghouls are as mindless as their feral kin, but they do not discriminate between living and dead flesh, adding undead mass to themselves and making them more durable. At level 60, they gain +300 Strength and Constitution & +180 Dexterity and Luck. Ghoul Elites permanently boost HP (times 10) and damage(times 2). Ghoul Mini-Boss has a boost in intelligence, though their hunger mostly negates it. They are capable of basic subterfuge and great cunning. They also have a halo of Fear that causes anyone in it to freeze up.
EFFECTS: Insatiable Hunger. Undead dexterity, undead Regeneration, viral hit. Undead absorption. Fear Halo}
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An almost fully recovered ghoul had started to stand up despite its smoking skin from the sunlight when the car-sized foot of the Greater Ghoul stomped down on it, not even slowing its stride and absorbing the Lesser ghoul fully before that foot hit the ground again.
[Jimmy let the dogs out. Have them attack the Lessers ghouls, everyone else take out the Greater ghouls as fast as possible. It has a ton of HP over.] Colonel ordered through party chat.
[Copy that Prime actual.] Jimmy responded. A few seconds later, two large Silver Dire wolves stepped out of the Tower behind Colonel and Soto’s position with ten smaller Dire wolves in tow. They rushed the front line of Lesser ghouls, ripping into them with impressive skill as the air around the wolves began to whip out violently. The beast had leveled up just as much as the party, and the Alphas were all Tier 5 and had gained a wind ability that did constant damage to enemies around them and their pack-mates, including Jimmy.
[Check your fire gunners.] Soto order.
BRRRRRRZZZZT
BRRRRRRZZZZT
BRRRRRRZZZZT
Another wave of rushing ghouls was stopped cold, and even some of the Greater Ghouls were cut down to a smaller size. They didn’t lose body parts. They just lost body mass.
[Smith your team ready?] Colonel sent a message to the spy standing by in two up-armored vehicles that Colonel had made.
He opened his Map as Soto continued to provide covering fire, and the guns on the tower kept firing. The autocannons began to fire on the Greater Ghouls as they posed a real threat.
“I don’t think this Dungeon was for a party this small, Colonel,” Soto said as he drank some water. His Mana was getting low from constantly shooting, but he was still on a potion cooldown. When the Colonel wasn’t killing anything, the party didn’t get MP back, but the Colonel was always killing things. He just had to set up the next part of the plan first.
[Ready when you are, sir.] Smith replied.
Looking at his map, Colonel could see that the red dots representing the ghouls did have an ending, contrary to the flood of bodies currently being thrown at them.
[Start moving by the time you get here. This wave should be taken care of.]
“Colonel!” Soto yelled
But Colonel had already seen it. A Greater ghoul had thrown a lesser ghoul at him. With its massive strength stat, it may as well have shot the poor thing out of a cannon.
Still, this level of attack was not something that could surprise Colonel as he was, especially with his abilities and bonuses.
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< PERCEPTION + SUBTERFUGE CHECK >
{A powerful enemy combatant has thrown one of its companions at you. Block or get out of the way}
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DIAMOND BONUS: Glimpse+; 99% chance to see through subterfuge. The + adds a visual representation of the subterfuge, hopefully without transporting you halfway across time.
_____________________________________________________________
The lesser ghoul flew at Colonel in what seemed like slow motion, and he flicked his left hand, and the whip grabbed the ghoul out of mid-air, which turned out to be a mistake.
Colonel had the stats to see it, assess where it was going, and then use his whip to redirect it. The problem was that pesky little thing called physics. The ghoul was moving at such a high speed that when the world had started to speed up again after the perception check, Colonel hadn’t anticipated it and was yanked out of his weapon system.
“FUCKKKKKKK!!!”
Soto laughed as he was looking at the whole thing as it happened.
[You good boss?] He asked in team chat, still laughing.
[Yeah, everything but my Trini pride.]
[You looked like a rag-doll. haha]
[Thanks.] Colonel said as he punched the ghoul in the face, completely annihilating its head with one blow.
[That bane mark is OP Soto]
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{Mark Name: Undead bane
Mark Type: Bane Mark
Effect 1: Do true damage to Undead creatures, bypassing any defensive power. (100 Undead over two tiers above you killed)
Effect 2: All damage against the undead is Critical Damage. All damage against the Living Dead is Greatly increased. (1000 Undead over two tiers above you killed.)
Effect 3: LOCKED(Kill 10000 undead at least a tier above you or 25000 any undead. 8203/10000 a Tier above killed 19203/25000 any.)}
_____________________________________________________________
[Hell yeah, it even translates to Jimmy’s pets and the gunners] Soto replied excitedly.
[True indeed, and I am getting close to unlocking the third effect]
[Oh snap you right.]
Colonel stepped back up to the weapon system and sat in it, smiling at himself for being yanked away. He could have just released the whip construct and would have been fine, but he got caught up in his power and not the Earth's natural forces. Lesson learned; Physics is still a bitch.
He looked out at the North runway, and the Greater ghouls were being reduced to smaller and smaller versions of themselves as more razor-ice clouds of death devastated their front line.
[I’m going to send Smith’s Hunter team to secure the towers; with two each of our NPCs on their main guns, they should be good. We pretty much have all of the swarm converging here.] Colonel explained.
[Yeah, good idea. The towers are finished being repaired now.]
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< Objective Control Main runway tower >
< Tower durability: Full >
{Main runway defensive Tower 1/1. (Unoccupied)
1000/1000 durability.
Main runway Hanger defensive Tower 1/1. (Unoccupied)
1000/1000 durability.
{Players in current Scenario: 13}
< OCCUPY TOWERS >
{Take over the towers to bring the boss early.}
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< THE MAIN RUNWAY BOSS SPAWNS >
{Time until BOSS spawns: 54M:28s.}
_____________________________________________________________
“Do we want to bring the boss early?” Colonel asked.
“I don’t see why not. We have the firepower, and once you mount some weapon systems on the towers, I am confident we can take anything they throw at us, even with the increased difficulty.” Soto said after a second of thinking. “We are getting some great EXP. I know Ron and Terrence completed their Class and Caste Quest, so they are ready to Tier up now.”
“Aight.”
[Smith, you up. Covering fire!] Colonel orders through party chat.
[Copy that, on the move.] Smith replied.
The sound of two tracked vehicles started moving north. Colonel fired his weapon system, killing ghoul after ghoul and watching his Bane Mark counter go up. Just as the last greater ghoul reached the sunlight of the southern runway, it died as well in a barrage of fire, ice, and light.
[Cease fire! Cease Fire.] Colonel ordered. As he looked at his map, he saw no more red dots. He relaxed a little, listening to the soothing sounds of tank tracks hitting concrete. It always sounded so calming for him. As he got higher in rank in the Army, the more often he had to get off his tank, but the more experience he got working with joint forces. So he accepted the trade-off, but he missed the sound.
The two tanks come into view. They pass Colonel and Soto’s position, moving much faster than Colonel would have thought the old school-looking tanks would move; he remembered making them, and the rank up for them as well.
_____________________________________________________________
{Creation Name: Flame Renault FT-17
Creation Type: Mana based Armored vehicle
Creation Rank: low Platinum
Creation Durability:12000
Description: The Renault light tank was one of the first major tanks to dominate the battlefield and changed the way humanity fought wars forever. Now reborn as a magical construct the Forger has brought out its true power.
Primary Weapon Damage: 3500 per round.
Secondary Weapon Damage: 150 per round.
Cost main:150 Mana per attack
Cost Secondary: 3 per round.
Crew Size: 3 Tank Commander, Driver & Gunner
Creator: Colonel
RARE Weapon attachment: Fire Bolt coax gun.
PLATINUM Weapon attachment: Exploding Fire Spear Main Gun.}
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{Creation Name: Flame M1917
Creation Type: Mana based Armored vehicle
Creation Rank: low Platinum
Creation Durability:12000
Description: The M1917 light tank was one of the first mass-produced tanks never to dominate the battlefield; it was always the bridesmaid but never the bride until now. It has been given a chance to shine as a magical construct, and it is truly ready to show the world what it can do.
Main Weapon Damage: 2500 per round.
Secondary Weapon Damage: 150 per round
Cost: main: 120 Mana per attack
Secondary: 3 per round. Crew Size: 3 Tank Commander, Driver & Gunner
Creator: Colonel
RARE Weapon attachment: Fire Bullets coax gun.
PLATINUM Weapon attachment: Exploding Fire arrow Main Gun upgrade.}
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< TRADE RANK UP X3 >
{+15 STR, CON, INT}
{TRADE NAME: Armored Vehicle Forging(Active)
TRADE RANK: 7
DESCRIPTION: Manipulate the resources around you using your mana to make Armored Vehicles of war.
Cost: Variable. Cast time: Variable. Cool down: None. Duration: 1 month per level of trade.
EFFECTS: The Legacy can forge low Platinum Armored vehicles with time and resources at a 100% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher-level weapons.
COMMON Trade Benefit: Weapon Systems can be attached to Vehicles.
UnCommon Trade Benefit: Forger tattoos auto refills.
RARE Trade Benefit: Reactive Armor.
PLATINUM Trade Benefit: Spell Armaments.
_____________________________________________________________
< PROFESSION LEVEL UP X3
(X16 Deferred until Profession quest is complete.) >
{+6850 to all Stats but Magic Deferred until Profession quest is complete.}
_____________________________________________________________
Colonel gritted his teeth at the deferred Stats, but what could he do about it? He looked at the tanks speed away with pride. He knew his Profession was utterly broken. As far as he could tell, those tanks were permanent constructs, and he could see Peck Joy saying, ‘That’s impossible, my lord’ to him because it was supposed to be impossible. But the Colonel created the two tanks with his knowledge of tank warfare, which somehow breathed life into them, making them permanent.
The vehicles consist of Smith as one tank commander and Terence as a second one, they had to provide Mana to turret and had control over the secondary weapon which on both tanks were automatic spell weapons, shooting the ghouls bane or weakness. The Kenny’s were the drivers. They had to feed their Mana into the light tank to drive it. Some of the Tank commander’s Mana was also used for driving when their weapon wasn’t engaged. Dina and Molly were the gunners. They used their Mana to fire the primary weapon. Ron and David were hanging onto the rear of the tank as dismounted troops and melee support.
While tanks could do everything better than troops could, there was one thing troops could do better, and that was securing and holding a building. That required boots on the ground, so once they got to the Towers, Ron and David would move to secure them with the help of Colonel and Soto.
Soto stood and stretched. “Alright, things are going according to plan.”
Colonel nodded.
“What do you think the boss will be this time?” Soto asked, then hopped off the wall next to a six-wheeled armored vehicle. He walked around it quickly, checking the tires and underside.
Colonel hopped right on top of the armored car in one leap, his Dexterity making the move as easy as walking. “I doubt it would be a massive bat again. That was way too easy of a target to hit with our big guns.
“I don’t know much about Dungeons, but I don’t think they adjust based on how we fight them,” Soto said.
Colonel looked at him flatly. “Really?”
“That Dungeon doesn’t count. It was a Rouge Dungeon, ‘Rules! What that?’” Soto chuckled.
“Good point.”
[South Runway Towers, we are moving to secure the next objective.] Colonel said in Party chat while he sat in the vehicle turret.
[Copy that, Prime, I got my wolves on door guard with your autocannons, over] Jimmy replied.
Soto kept doing his checks.
“You know it is a Mana vehicle; there isn’t any oil or air pressure in the tire, right?”
“I do now, Jake, come on man why wouldn’t you tell me that before I did the PMCS,” Soto complained before he jumped into the driver seat and started the vehicle up. It purred to life, soft and humming with Mana.
Colonel Analyzed it.
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< ANALYZE >
{Creation Name: M8 Greyhound
Creation Type: Mana based Armored vehicle
Creation Rank: low Platinum
Creation Durability: 12000
Description: The M8 Greyhound is a light armored car that has incredible road mobility and slightly less-than-average off-road maneuverability. The armor is light, but it makes up for that in speed. The greyhound can also utilize certain movement powers of its driver with an extra infusion of Mana.
Main Weapon Damage: 500 per round. Secondary Weapon Damage: 100 per round. Cost: main: 50 Mana per attack, Secondary: 1 per round. Crew Size: 2 Driver & Gunner
Creator: Colonel
RARE Weapon attachment: flamethrower auto gun.
PLATINUM Weapon attachment: Light 50 cal Main Gun.}
_____________________________________________________________
“Let's get it!” Colonel said with a smirk. Soto floored it, and the vehicle drove into a shadow and disappeared.