After finally getting together. The crew decided it was time to check out this glowing stone. Was it a prize or a trap? No one knew for certain but it defended by a level 4 Minotaur, so that had to count for something
As they walked up to the glowing stone Dan said " I used IDENTIFY on it and we can't use it. It says you must be level 5. We fought that thing for nothing."
" I can use it" D said "I'm level 6"
"How the fuck are you level 6? What were you doing out there all alone slaughtering beasts for fun?." Dave snapped
"No I started at level 5 the AI told me I'm a champion or something. I'm not sure what it meant but I only killed a level 4 mammoth and two boar before this minotaur." D replied
"You mean an elephant right?" Dan asked confused
" No a fuckin mammoth, a big ass hairy mammoth. We just fought a god damn minotaur and you can't wrap your mind around a mammoth." D laughed "Well let's see what the glowing stone is all about."
They gathered around the stone as D touched it and a message became visible in his minds eye.
: Territory Stone:
Claiming the territory stone will allow the claimer to set up a 1/4 mile defensive parameter. No monsters will be able to enter this area. Defenses will be available after completing the random quest to claim the stone. Awards based on performance. Do you wish to claim the territory stone Yes /No
D "guys it's called a territory stone. If we claim it we will be able to set up a safe zone of sorts where monsters can't spawn. It says we will be able to set up defense's after we complete the quest to claim it. Rewards will be based on our performance."
"A safe zone would be nice. We have some food access to water that's not far away. Having a place to sleep we could defend would be beneficial." Dan said
"Agreed. I think we should go for it. How hard could the challenge be? We just fucked up a minotaur." Dave said
"Ok I'm gonna do it." D said "Everyone out their hands on the stone Incase there's a reward or it moves us somewhere remote for the challenge."
"Good idea" Rob said "See if we can play the system. We just got back together don't want to get split up again so soon."
They all placed their hands on the stone and D sent a mental command for Yes to start claiming the stone. A new message appeared
:First to claim a territory stone on newly integrated planet. 10% bonus to all stats. Random challenge selected. 15 min beast horde survival. Challenge starts in 5 minutes. Rewards based on performance and completion.
"Shit 10% that's a nice bonus, I mean not now. Image when we have stats around 100 we get an extra 10 as a bonus this is going to be huge later on." Dave said
The next 5 minutes were what felt like the longest of their lives. Rob was analyzing the opening in the tree lines and brush in the area that surrounded them. Dave's eye we slightly glowing with electricity. Dan was shifting his weight from on foot to the other. D seemed to be just standing there with his eyes closed. He was always able to go from normal to fight mode in the blink of an eye.
"We have about two mins left. If we get split up Dave and I will stay together. We're both level 3. Dan stay with D it's helps our level average. Hopefully they come in waves and not all at once." Rob said
"Sounds like a plan. We all know plans goto shit with first contact but atleast we have something we can try and stick to." D said
As the last two excruciating minutes passed Rob noticed sounds and movement to his 2 o'clock. He pointed "We've got movement coming from over there."
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Everyone tensed up and got ready. Then slowly a pack of wolves came through the tree line. These weren't just regular wolves they were huge like Dire wolves. 5 in total and the one at the front of the V shape formation was the biggest. It was all black with huge teeth, mouth dripping with drool. It's paws were the side of a bear, and it had a look of intelligence in it's eyes.
D used IDENTIFY on the pack.
*Ding* Alpha Wolf level 3
*Ding* wolf level 2
*Ding* wolf level 2
*Ding* wolf level 1
*Ding* wolf level 1
Ok so a pack of 5 beasts to start atleast it's only level 3. We got this D thought to himself.
The wolves chargers out of the clearing. They were clearly smarter then the boar. They circled the group. Everyone scanned around so far they only had these wolves to deal with. Must be they're going to come in waves. Most likely getting harder as the waves came.
The Alpha hung back but the 4 other wolves leapt into action. Then the Alpha let out a strange growl. It must have been infused with mana because for a split second they all froze. It didn't last long but it was still a shock to their pride.
The first level 2 wolf came for Dave but he had a nice electric bolt charged and ready for the last 5 minutes he released it. The level 2 wolf let out a loud yelp and the smell of burnt hair filled the area. The other level 2 wolf was headed for Rob. To Rob it was almost in the air in slow motion. He was able to easily dodge the jump for his neck and land three quick stabs to the wolfs side. Dan landed a decent uppercut to the level 1 wolf jumping for him, and was able to send it flying back passed where it had jumped from. D had a Void punch ready. As soon as it connected with the level 1 wolfs head the head exploded. Then some golden Exp spread into all of them. Dan was the only one to level finally making it to level 3.
The Alpha seem more pissed then it had been moments before. Dave stepped out of the circle. The wolf he had shocked was laying limp on the ground a few stomps with his boots should finish it off. The Alpha dove for him moving faster then Dave had realized. Dave was barely able to duck under the leapt and soon he felt a warm liquid all over his back. He jumped up shocked.
"You've had a sword this whole time D, and your just wiping it out now?" Dave yelled
"Forgot I had it for a second. Sorry, quickly finish off the rest of the pack before another wave comes." D answered
As a unit they all jumped towards the remaining wolfs. Finishing them off easily as the Alpha dieing seemed to crush the fighting spirit of the group.
They all back up towards the stone as more Exp flooded into them. They were going to gain some levels of they survived this mess. That was sure as shit another bonus they hadn't counted on.
Only seconds later Rob pointed behind himself "Movement coming from that direction."
They all turned to see a group of 10 small monkeys leap into the clearing. The monkeys we tiny almost like lemurs. The were mostly white with green rings on their tails. No claws really and the teeth didn't look very dangerous.
"What the fuck are these little monkeys going to do?" Dave laughed
"Oh shit there all level 3" Dan said "They're called Acidic monkeys. Wonder what that means?"
It didn't take long to figure out what that meant as the monkeys all started to shit in there hands. The shit that landed on the ground started to smoke. Then they all realized what it meant. No only were they going to get monkey shit flung at them it was acidic shit. Definitely worse then regular shit. Being level 3 this was going to be the biggest challenge for them so far.
Rob didn't want to waste his Shadow Blink he had cool down longer then this whole challenge would take he would only use them if he had to. As the monkeys got ready to hurl the first barrage of acid shit, the crew spread out. Dan dropped behind D, and Rob and Dave stepped a little to the left. Everyone had more room to maneuver this way.
At once all 10 monkeys let the attacks fly everyone tried to dodge but there was so much to block. D took two hits to the chest and it burned like hell. Then he remembered his class ability. The more damage he took the more damage he could deal. He threw himself into the fray. He grabbed one monkey and broke its neck using it's body as weapon to throw towards the next monkey. Dave had let a bolt fly and burned the hair off one of the monkeys. 3 wounded but still 7 to go. D felt and odd sensation. He turned to see Dan's eyes glowing white and felt a soothing feeling in his chest.
"I know what my mana does now it has a healing effect. I don't think I can use it on myself yet but it was the first time I felt it so anything when you were hit D." Dan told them. Now knowing they could somewhat heal they went to work on these little shit flinging monkeys. Rob sprinted into the group slashing left and right with his dagger some wounds more brutal then others. Every monkey he slowed down Dave was able to land a decent kick on. D was in the center of the group of monkey throwing mana punches left and right.
D glanced at his status screen and realized he only had 10/70 mana remaining. He wouldn't be able to throw void punches forever. His health was back up to 89/100 with Dan's heal. Rob had yet to take a hit. He dexterity was just to high for this group of monkeys. Dave had a huge burn on his left thigh. When the last of the monkey fell to Dave's boot the were all showing signs of being winded. Dan threw Dave a heal. They regrouped at the territory stone. It had only been almost 5 minutes, but they were almost spent. If the waves were going to get harder they might have bit off more then they could chew. It was to late now they were committed. The second half of this battle was going to make or break them