Chapter 22: Kelly the Skeleton
The next day the group tackled the dungeon with a renewed vigilance. There were more hidden Zombies in the ceiling but none of them got the drop on the party like the first time had.
When Riley summoned his Rock Armor the first time he didn’t try and add any extra mana to the spell. After the events of the previous day he realized that he didn’t need stronger armor, he needed repairable armor. With that in mind Riley focused on just feeling what the mana was doing when the spell activated, trying to better understand its mechanisms of activation.
Defining progress in upgrading his skill was difficult as it was all done by feel but Riley felt like he had made some progress in it. Both of his previous upgrades to his abilities came during the middle of combat and Riley felt that there might be something to that. He tried to focus on recreating the skill in combat without activating the ability. Flooding only a single limb with mana instead of his whole body.
He had to be careful with his experiments as the mana he used was lost to the environment, leaving him with less to use to resummon his armor when he needed it.
The others had also noticed the same thing regarding abilities and they were using the opportunity the Zombies provided to hone their own abilities.
Heather, stymied from using her Obliterate ability, had managed to add a spin to her mana bolts, greatly increasing their piercing power and allowing them to do real damage to the Zombies again. She was also working on adding a homing feature to her bolts but had only managed to add a slight curve to the ability for the moment.
Scott was working on upgrading his spores to be able to stick to his arrows better. What had been a placeholder ability had grown on the man. It acted as both a poison for his arrows and as a close range attack for when zombies inevitably fell on his head.
Casey was making progress increasing the speed bonus from her Pummeling Blows. She wanted something she could use to finish fights quickly. It didn’t matter if the buff was short if her enemies ended up dead by the end of it.
Nermit’s progress was harder to gage due to their taciturn nature but Riley got the impression that Nermit was very satisfied with something.
The group finally reached the end of the mineshaft, mine carts left on the tracks in the center of the shaft. The path extended off to the side but it the door in front of them drew everyone’s attention.
A wooden door was built into the tunnel wall. “Kelly’s Bone Zone” was written in blood on a large wooden sign above the door.
“There’s no way its the same, right?” Scott asked.
“Same as what?” Heather asked, looking at the confused faces of the rest of the party.
“It’s from a kids show,” Riley offered. “Kelly, the talking skeleton, would do choreographed dances. It’s supposed to help kids keep active before they can enter the pods full time. I always loved it, my parents would learn the dances with me.”
“But what is it doing here?” Casey asked.
No one had any answers for her. The group prepared for combat. Riley summoned a fresh Rock Armor. He had only one left in him for the day but he wanted to go into this situation fresh.
He opened to door to see a graveyard with a dance floor built into it. Multi-colored spot lights were moving across the dance floor in tune with the energetic music that was playing and a light fog covered the floor.
Standing in the center of the dance floor was a nightmare version of Kelly the Skeleton. The cartoon character looked like a nightmare in real life. It’s bleached white bones looked puffy and bloated as the proportions that looked cute in cartoon form didn’t translate well. The ever grinning smile on the skeleton’s face looked menacing and the tiny flames flicking in its otherwise empty eye sockets gave off a malevolent feel.
“Welcome kids to the Bone Zone, I’d ask you guys to dance, but I don’t have the guts, hoho!” The skeleton’s voice was bright and energetic. “I’m just playing. Now we only take volunteers here at the Bone Zone, if you want to play please join us on the dance floor.”
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New quest received: The Bone Zone
Survive three dances with Kelly the Skeleton to earn a prize.
Riley scanned Kelly for good measure.
Kelly the Skeleton (Elite Raid Boss) - Level ???
“So, what do we do?” Heather asked. Kelly seemed content to stand where they were. There were no other enemies or hazards for the moment.
“We could just kill them?” Scott said tentatively.
A cackle followed Scott’s statement and all eyes turned towards Kelly. “You kids must have brought your funny bones,” Kelly was miming grabbing their nonexistent stomach as their shoulders shook with laughter. “But I’d love to see you try.” The fires in their eyes grew just a little bit brighter in anticipation.
“Well I don’t like his confidence,” Riley admitted. It could have been a bluff, but generally if you postured and your enemy laughed in your face you should be at least a little bit worried.
“Honestly that just makes me want to kill him more. I always hated the guy.” Casey said.
“I can’t see their level, I don’t think we’re supposed to beat this challenge that way,” Riley said.
“You can’t see their level?” Heather asked. The rest of the group shook their heads in denial. “Oh, well he’s level 39.”
“How can you see that?” Scott asked.
“Um, I don’t know. It might be related to one of my prizes from completing the Trial.”
“The prize you’re keeping a secret from the group?” Casey asked, cocking her head to the side.
“I’ll admit to maintaining an aura of mystique,” Heather said with a small smile. It was clear she wasn’t willing to share at this time.
“We’ll we can try the challenge first, and always kill Kelly later,” Riley said, diplomatically. His eyes drifted to the skeleton who was happily watching their conversation about killing him without a care in the world. No one had any issues with that suggestion.
“I’ll sit this one out then,” Heather said. “The quest clearly uses the word ‘survive’ and I’ve never been a great dancer.”
“I’m sure you’re a fine dancer,” Riley said, sending Heather a small smile which she returned.
“Oh my Bob, guys get a room,” Casey said, rolling her eyes. Riley’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“I’m out too,” Scott interjected. Riley was thankful for the save. “Not my preferred game either.”
“Nermit, are you good to dance?” Casey asked. Nermit, in response offered Casey his hand. She took it, after a moment’s hesitation, and Nermit pulled her into a twirl that blended seamlessly into a perfect dip. Their eyes held other’s gaze as they stayed locked into the position.
“Now who needs a room?” Riley couldn’t resist shooting back. Nermit laughed and ended the dip, releasing Casey. “Hey Kelly, is it alright if our friends watch while we dance?”
Kelly waved their hands and a spotlight appeared on the side of the room showing a three tiered section of bleachers enough to sit 25 comfortably.
Casey, Nermit, and Riley stepped onto the dance floor. As they did the music turned down low and three spotlights lit up three different starting positions on the dance floor. They each made their way to once of the starting positions.
As soon as they took their positions the lights in the entire place went dark and the music stopped. The door slammed closed behind them as well, the only light seeping in through the bottom of the wooden door.
When the lights came back on the room had changed. A stage had grown out of the dance floor where Kelly had been standing and a red curtain now hid the skeleton from view. All around the room were more bleachers, these ones filled with skeletons which were on their feet cheering.
The Bone Zone intro music started to play and the dance floor rumbled beneath Riley’s feet. The stage lifted into the air, gaps in the tiles of the floating dance floor showed a full graveyard below. A mix of open and freshly closed graves covered in loose soil littered the entire area below. Riley’s eyes were drawn to the stage as the red curtain rose.
Kelly the Skeleton was no longer just plain bones. They were now wearing a pirates hat and a fake beard on their head. One of their leg bones had been replaced with a peg leg and they held a cutlass in one hand. The crowd of skeletons roared their approval cheering Kelly’s entrance.
“Thank you, thank you. Welcome all to the Bone Zone, I hope you’re all feeling very lumbar. I only have one question to ask you all,” Kelly said, pausing for dramatic effect.
In unison with the skeleton Casey and Riley said, “Are. You. Randyyy!?”
All of the spotlights danced around the room before settling on a skeleton behind a DJ Booth wearing over-sized headphones and equally over-sized sunglasses. The music stopped and the world came to a still as everyone in the room waited with bated breath. “No, I am.” The music cut back in and room exploded into cheers.
“For our first dance we have the Scallywag Swag,” Kelly announced. “And it goes a little something like this.” Kelly went into a choreographed dance, calling out each of the moves as he performed them for his waiting audience.
Just like in the show the first part was learning the dance by watching, it was the second run through that they would be expected to participate. Riley memorized the moves, it was simple enough with his familiarity with the show. Watching the performance unlocking some core memories from his childhood.
The spotlights reappeared when it was their turn. Riley twirled, whirled, and ‘arr’-ed at all the appropriate moments as Kelly announced the dance moves and performed the dance with them. It was easy, almost too easy.