Outside of dungeons, the
But during combat events like Dungeon Breaks or Broken Impairments, the location of portals, shattered spaces, and enemies will also reveal on the minimap in noticeable symbols. Blue circular icon for Portals, dark shard-like icon for Shattered Spaces, and red dots for monsters.
What Zeke and Circe saw on the minimap appeared relatively normal at first glance, but after looking at the image for a second longer, they saw two red upside-down triangles scattered across the map, along with a large, deep crimson face resembling an angry demon.
“This is messed up.” Zeke could only muster a dry laugh as he shook his head in denial. “Two elite monsters and a boss monster? They expect us to fight them with just the three of us?”
“Young Master? Lady Ruelle?” Einar’s concerned voice sounded from behind them, though they didn’t turn around as he continued to speak. “My apologies, I couldn’t help but overhear…Even without me, I believe the Salvador knights will be enough to defeat one of the elite monsters, and the commander can stand his own against the other one.”
“Didn’t you say that my brother got separated by the shattered spaces?” Zeke and Circe faced Einar, their expressions returning to neutral after they’d taken a moment to gather themselves. “And the knights all need to protect the guests that came here, leaving them open to the wolves weaponless might not be a good idea.”
“I understand your concerns,” Einar responded with a stern face, as if he’d already weighed the pros and cons of his plan. “But leaving the Broken Impairment for too long can replace this entire space with the dungeon’s layout. If we gather all the civilians to a safe space, we should be able to afford deploying the knights elsewhere.”
“We could try and wait for both Lord Lysander and Marquess Salvador,” Circe suggested as she crossed her arms. “Shattered spaces are a one-way portal…either the dungeon monster comes out, or one of us gets caught up during its formation and gets locked in. But with their skills, it shouldn’t be long until they find their way out.”
“Wait,” Zeke’s sudden stern tone commanded attention from Circe and Einar. As their heads shifted to meet his eyes, he continued speaking. “We don’t necessarily need to fight them here, right? So instead of waiting for my father and brother, we can just lure the monsters to them.”
While Einar continued to stare at him with a baffled expression, Circe tapped her palm with her fist, a look of comprehension dawning on her face. “Oh! You’re right, that could work. How about we let the knights handle one Elite Monster? That way, we don’t have to risk having two strong creatures chasing us all at once.”
Zeke looked at the knight, wondering why he maintained his stunned silence. “…Einar?” At first, Zeke guessed that he had something to say about his plan, but the thought vanished when Einar shook his head.
”My apologies…I just didn’t think that Young Master could come up with something like this.” Genuine disbelief laced Einar’s words. If Zeke hadn’t known any better, he would’ve thought that his knight was being sarcastic. “It’s an excellent strategy, then I will rally up the knights once we’ve made sure all the guests are safe. Do you two perhaps know where each of the elite monsters are?”
Circe nodded, responding with a poise smile. “Yes, there’s one loitering around the east of this garden, and another close by to the banquet hall.”
They expected Einar to ask how she could pinpoint their locations with clear confidence, but instead he simply nodded. “Then we shall take the latter one. What will you two be doing with the boss monster?”
Circe and Zeke exchanged a glance, smiling at their silent conversation. “We’ll fight it, of course,” returning his focus to Einar, Zeke gave him a bold reply, his words confirmed by Circe’s satisfied nod. “You don’t have to worry about a thing, just focus on killing the elite monster, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
Einar’s lips creased into a straight line, a doubtful look reflected clearly in his eyes. Despite feeling uncertain, the knight gave in anyway and nodded. “Your wish is my command, Young Master.”
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“Cut it with the formalities.” Zeke answered with a playful scoff. “I know you like being sarcastic.”
His jesting words instead earned him a confused frown from Einar. “But I never…”
“I know.” Waving his hand in dismissal, Zeke turned to the path ahead. “Learn to take a joke.”
.
.
.
They decided to go their separate ways, letting Einar rush forward to the banquet hall all by himself. Since Circe had already given him first-aid on his bite wound, they didn’t need to fret about the knight’s well-being, believing that he could take care of himself even without their assistance.
Circe acted like the spearhead of their march as they swiftly navigated through the maze-like structure of the garden. With her sword, she easily cleaved through the wolves that bolted out from the broken shards, leaving any that she couldn’t reach to the destructive power of Zeke’s magic missiles.
[‘Silas Salvador’ has leveled up! LVL: 10]
[Stat Points remaining: 8]
[Invest x8 Stat Points in
Too occupied by the minimap, Circe didn’t notice a wolf blocking her path. However, she quickly summoned a dagger from her inventory and hurled it at the enemy, striking it with a bull’s eye square in its head. Shortening the remaining distance with a single leap, she pierced the tip of her sword through the wolf’s neck.
[Killed x1
[‘Ruelle Peregrine’ has leveled up! LVL: 12]
[Stat Points remaining: 12]
[Invest x6 Stat Points in
[Invest x6 Stat Points in
“We’re here.” Circe announced after she pulled her sword and dagger from the wolf’s corpse. As she carefully made her way over to a tall hedge ahead, Zeke stepped around the dead body, stopping right behind her. Heavy footsteps sounded from somewhere in front of them, announcing the presence of a large beast.
Peeking their heads up ever so slightly, they could see the form of a majestic wolf as it paced around the opened area. Cladded in silver fur, moonlight seemed to envelope the creature in a gentle embrace, making the coat shimmer like the surface of a lake. Its pair of sharp, topaz-colored eyes surveyed its surroundings with vigilance, shining just as brightly as its body.
[Elite Monster:
Upon further inspection they noticed darkened patches around the wolf’s face, drawn into a mysterious pattern, seemingly unremarkable at first glance. Along with its abnormal size, those ambiguous lines were the only unordinary points about the Moonglow Fenrir.
“Wait.” Zeke’s brows knotted into a suspicious frown as he took a closer look at the monster, his whisper barely audible to Circe, though she still heard it, evident by the fact that she glanced at him. “I recognize those shapes…it’s…a symbol for wind. It’s in the Witch’s Codex.”
“So this one is a wind-type Fenrir.” Circe mused to herself, opening her inventory, and with a single thought, an illusive black fur coat wrapped itself around her shoulders, its long hems barely touching the ground.
[Equipped
[
Circe faced Zeke as she whispered. “You reckon thirty one points in speed is enough to outrun the wolf?”
“Maybe, considering that it’s also a wind-type,” while he responded, Zeke took out a piece of paper from his inventory, handing it over to Circe. When she gave it a look, a system panel informed her of its description. “But you can use that, just in case.”
< Item Description >
Name: Magic Scroll - Agility
Tier: D
Type: Consumable
Cost:
Original Owner: Silas Salvador
Effects
* Consumes mana to increase the user’s Agility Stat by (+5) for 60 Seconds.
<<>>
Without needing to be told twice, Circe gave a wide, satisfied grin in response before activating the magic circle. As the item vanished like paper consumed by fire, a soft, green glow enveloped her frame.
[Consumed x1
With the increased stats, a surge of confidence rose within Circe as she stepped out into the field. “Hey!” Her arrogant shout successfully drew the attention of the Moonglow Fenrir. When it faced her, she lunged the bloody dagger into the wolf’s face, embedding the blade deep into its left eye as it let out a thunderous cry in agony.
Now as angry as it could be, the Fenrir let loose an earthshaking growl before dashing towards her, killing intent oozing from its bloodshot eye. Circe swiftly stepped to the side, avoiding the wolf’s claws as it tore holes into the soil where she once stood. With her gaze locked on to the nearest shattered space, she wasted no time and rushed into it, hearing the beast’s thundering steps pursuing closely behind her.
When the two disappeared into the void, Zeke nonchalantly stepped out of his hiding place before following them through.