They departed later than expected, but Nero needed time to explain some concepts to Serena and define their battle plan. For their party, with an average level of 3, rounded up, and three members, the trippers weren't worth the trouble. They settled on the high-level shamblers on the border of the forest near the rivers.

Nero converted his shield to its maximum size, a rectangular spiked pavise that covered his entire torso. Altia took a large bottle of potion and filled all the flasks she could. Serena and Daisy were going too but the princess would not charm shamblers this time. Nero wanted to kill things the fastest way possible and a small shambler would only slow them down. If it weren't for Daisy's mega-punches, they'd have left the pet shambler home.

Daisy served two other purposes as well. The first one was to topple trees. The almost rectangular and vaguely people-shaped pile of moss and vines would push trees aside, bringing them down and marking the path they were walking through. And the second one was to carry a huge woven basket they used to transport the fruit, nuts, and herbs they gathered from the forest. Some of the latter were useful for other recipes Altia wanted to try, and the former would help them save the food cards, therefore extending the time they could stay inside the Dungeon.

Nero went with his defensive [Warrior] setup. He would do the part of Serena's charmed shambler. He was to charge the shambler and depending on his Stamina and positioning, use [Shield Bash] or [Dash n' Slash] if the shambler was close. The spikes raked the moss and even helped avoid the bounce back from the blow. Daisy would then come from the side while Nero was keeping the shambler occupied and launch it away. Altia would use potions or [Magic Arrow] and Serena shot [Holy Bolts] at the shamblers or just did nothing.

Mana was not a concern. Altia had hundreds of potion doses from poor batches to spend before they spoiled. She needed specially made vials to preserve the concoctions. The hunt also solved that problem. Every other use of [Potion Toss] triggered [Double Tap], not only doubling the healing effect on health, mana, and stamina but also created a second vial from the Dungeon's Essence that would exist until they left the Dungeon. In Serena's case, maybe many months after the other two Nero and Altia planned on staying inside.

They were killing the moss shamblers faster than either Nero or Serena and Daisy alone, but slower than if they split up and went on their own. They didn't do that for two good reasons. First, this was a purple Dungeon and the big party brought safety in numbers. The three Adventurers had Attributes and abilities well beyond their levels. Serena lived six months inside the Dungeon since she escaped a few days ago - in the real world - because of the rarity of her cards and the fact they were hand-picked by the royal family. This was her first delve. Nero had his Accolades and unique class, and Altia was support. Even for them, the Dungeon had their risks.

The trippers were sessile but extremely hard to find. Tripping on one was a death sentence for a classless person or even someone with a less-robust Skill selection. A slam from the shamblers on the head would be fatal. If you had allies with you, that was a lesser concern as they would draw the monster's attention away and quickly use a healing Skill.

Second, it was a team-building exercise. The three of them had to learn to fight together, to deepen the bonds between Adventurers that only the dangers of a Dungeon could forge. Nero and Altia needed that to be sure Serena wouldn't discard them once their usefulness was over. Serena needed the contact, the reassurance that she wasn't alone.

Their raucous fighting style also meant they opened themselves to drawing more shamblers into the fray. Daisy "recoil punch" as Nero baptized the attack, plunged the shambler straight into another of its brethren that was lurching through the forest. The two connected and shared the momentum between them. Like billiards, they flung through the forest at opposing angles but with half the energy. One of them got close enough to a third to stir yet another into action.

The three shamblers plodded as fast as they could with the intent of smothering the intruders. Nero's goggles picked the red emanations of their Essence first and he shouted.

"Serena, halt Daisy's advance. Cast your shield and prepare to dump holy bolts on the enemies. We have at least three incomings. Altia, you too join the attack. You girls get the one on the far left, I will attack the one in the middle and Daisy will trade punches with the one on the right."

Although they could outrun the shamblers, their dash was slightly faster than a person's walking speed but had two advantages. They were tireless and the terrain did not hinder them. They had to watch out for roots and vines. It was too easy to trip in the forest's irregular terrain with the grass hiding what was beneath. Running away in any Dungeon also brought the problem of not having a safe path to retreat. More monsters could always lie in wait along the path you chose.

Serena was impressed. Nero set a strategy and barked commands like an experienced military leader. What really impressed her was that his commanding voice didn't trigger her trauma. It reassured and washed away her worry at being mobbed by the shamblers. But she couldn't waste time. She activated [Mana Shield].

"I can see them!" Altia cried.

"Hold your fire," Nero ordered. "I need to get the attention of both of them. Stay close, I need you to remain in the range of [Intervene]. Don't run away. Trust me."

"Understood," Altia replied curtly and took a step closer to him.

The shamblers approached. "Stay where you are. [Slash n' Dash]-[Mobile Strike]"

Nero blurred and moved six yards into the melee range of the left shambler. With the momentum of his sudden movement, he stabbed the shambler where the solar plexus of a person would be. The buzzing clockwork sword dug into the moss and tore the vines underneath. The writhing plants that made the shambler's body sucked the sword in. The weapon greedily sheared more and more vines as its grinding teeth dug into the monster's plant flesh. Without an option, Nero executed a shield bash with the pavise, scraping some moss with the spikes and stunning the shambler.

"I'm stuck. Attack the one in the middle!" He shouted.

Daisy engaged her target. The two monsters punched each other's stumpy limbs head-on. The impact burst the moss covering the limbs and sent both reeling backward, according to their mass. Daisy took two steps backward and the shambler was launched into a tree, cracking the trunk and leaving it at a forty-five-degree angle.

"Altia, I'll be at the front. Wait for me to shoot twice, then we discharge our mana," Serena combined the women's attack. She moved, confident her [Mana Shield] could hold a blow or two from the shambler. If he hit. It was always a risk putting oneself in harms' way but to Serena, this was the first fight alongside her siblings-in-arms. She dreamt of the day she would be on the frontlines, exchanging sweat, blood, and camaraderie for power and friendship. Just like the romances she read.

The middle shambler, probably annoyed by the shimmering field around the nereid changed course and readied a slam. Serena didn't wait to start shooting [Holy Bolt]s one after another. After the opening salvo, Altia added [Magic Arrow] to the mix.

The first shot caused a strange reaction. The spell first created the arrow, then launched it. Before the second effect happened, the arrow vibrated and split. Both projectiles flew toward the shambler, piercing the moss and sticking into the vines. The writhing movement of the monster's innards made the arrows shake and move to and fro. The wooden shafts dissolved and fell to the ground thanks to the shambler's ability to absorb plant matter.

The leftmost shambler's stun was brief though. Nero saw the limb flying his way and decided not to abandon the sword. He triggered [Stoneskin], increasing his Vigor by five. The blow hit his waist, forcing him to move to the side. He felt the pain but his current Vigor of seventeen soaked the force of the blow. The sudden jerk made the clockwork sword twist inside the shambler like a lever, cutting through even more vines.

He finally yanked his sword free, splitting the shambler's shoulder in half. The limb that punched him dangled along the side, the few vines that attached to the body unable to move it properly. Nero saw an opportunity and drove the clockwork sword down on those vines, severing the limb.

Daisy didn't wait for her opponent to recover. She lurched forward, the ground trembling with each stomp. Shamblers had a hard time getting back on their feet. She reached her enemy and launched a series of punches at its fallen form, pummeling the smaller monster to death.

The middle shambler attempted to slam Serena. With uncanny grace, she as much dodged as the limb veered away from her. Her [Enchantress] Class benefit added half her absurdly high Charisma to her Agility to dodge. She focused her [Holy Bolt] on the same spot she hit before, increasing the size of the burnt area where the monster's neck should be.

A refreshing pink mist washed over Nero. Altia's [Potion Toss] healed his sore flank and restored a point of stamina. She didn't pay attention to the thanks he gave his wife. She was already shooting more [Magic Arrow] spells at the shambler engaged with Serena. Nero chuckled, deflected a slam with his shield and drove the sword down on the other side of the massive gash he opened on the monster's torso, attempting to separate the head and left shoulder from the body. He cut the moss cover and was chewing the vines when some hidden sense tingled.

It was a tug that pulled his attention to Serena. He glanced that way and felt more than saw the shambler about to do a one-two combo that would shatter the shield and wound the princess. He let this tug carry him.

"[Intervene]!" He moved even faster than with his [Dash n' Slash]. He appeared abruptly between Serena and the Shambler and the Princess felt weightless for a moment as Nero nudged her in the five o'clock direction, away from the monster. Both slams connected, one on his shield and the other on his shoulder, unable to dodge because of the aftershock of the sudden movement but he wasn't done yet. "[Mobile Strike]!" He triggered his combo and stabbed the shambler's stump of a neck with the buzzing sword, capitalizing on the experience of the previous engagement and aiming at a thinner spot, compared to the torso.

Serena froze for a moment. The flood of emotions was too much for her. Nero brushed against her, pushed her away. While she knew he protected her on a conscious level, her trauma, and loathing of males in general triggered. She brought both hands to her head and crouched, screaming.

Daisy reacted to the perceived threat to her master and moved to deliver punishment. Meanwhile, Altia threw a potion on Nero and cast another [Magic Arrow], aiming at the shambler Nero maimed. Due to her Class abilities, [Potion Toss] took less time to activate and use than normal, allowing her to chain another Skill faster.

The middle shambler's vines dried under the assault of the searing energy of Serena's magic, part fire, part light. Nero's sword cut those with ease, beheading the shambler. Altia's arrows were aimed at the head of the last one. The force of the impacts dislodged the almost-severed upper torso of the monster and robbed its last dregs of vitality. It too died.

Nero and Altia's Arbitrium lit up. Serena's chimed.

Compatible Anima detected. Energy absorbed above the threshold. Processing upgrade. Weighing Attribute strain.

For defeating a foe eleven times your level, you gained +1 Strength.

Ignoring the message after a brief glance, Nero turned in place to check Serena's wellbeing when he noticed Daisy didn't stop. He raised his shield in time to block the giant shambler's slam. it still forced him down and away, almost dislodging his shoulder. The only thing that kept the limb in its socket was the boost to Vigor from [Stoneskin]. He used the momentum from the attack to get away from the stomping shambler pet. A double wave of refreshing mist enveloped him, healing his arm and refreshing his stamina. On his retreat, Nero made eye contact with his wife.

"Altia, help Serena recover her wits! She has to stop Daisy!"

Altia ran and hugged the nereid girl. Nero ran in circles around the two women, kiting Daisy and keeping out of her melee range. They danced two laps around the women before Serena gave a command.

"Daisy, stop! Don't hurt Nero!"

The shambler just stopped and let her limbs dangle from her torso. Nero still kept his shield up and spring on his legs, ready to bolt at any sign of hostility from Serena's pet. A minute later, he relaxed.

"Is everything alright? Anyone hurt? I am just tired, thanks for the assist, my love."

"We are not hurt," Altia replied. "Serena just needs to calm down."

The [Enchantress] looked up. She was still wrapped in her [Mana Shield]. "I'm sorry, Nero. I'm sorry."

"No problem," He waved a hand to dismiss her worry. "Hey, look! They both dropped cards!"

He thought better to leave Serena under Altia's care. This incident could be a setback to her recovery. He picked up the crystals and cards, reading the latter as he walked back.

[Lesser Dimensional Pouch] - yellow Item. Requires +5 Willpower. Binds on summon.

"Don't put in a bag of holding."

Summons a lesser dimensional pouch permanently. It can store a volume up to [Reason * Willpower * Perception (values without the limiter)] cubic inches. Requires a [Gadgeteer] to attach to a bandolier or belt. Drains 1 mana per day at midnight if not completely empty. Releases all content and dissolves upon the owner's death or if removed by the owner. A person can only have one dimensional pouch.

[Permanency I] - blue Modifier

"Essence is the root of all creation. Therefore, thou shall be made true."

Modifies an Item card that is not already permanent. Increases the likelihood of other Modifier-type cards to apply by 100%.

"Whoa! [Lesser Dimensional Pouch]. A few million here. Mom has one," Nero thought out loud.

He turned around and showed the girls the card.

"Nice. You should equip it," Altia suggested.

Serena was still shaken. She closed her eyes and spoke slowly. "I have the [Dimensional Pouch], the epic version, one step stronger than this you hold. I have no qualms about you having the loot, Nero."

"I will, but not now. Serena, can you keep hunting? I'm sorry but I felt the shambler would break you shield and injure you. Your vigor is too low and you don't have armor."

He examined the princess. She was obviously shaken but he could see a fire burning in her eyes. Serena controlled her breath and her nerves. She squeezed Altia's hand.

"Yes. I can't let a minor thing like this bring me down. We will hunt until dusk approaches. Let's hurry."

Altia checked her device. "I got a point of Dexterity. What about you?"

"Strength," Nero replied with a victorious grin. All these weeks of hauling timber paid off.

"Charisma!" Serena squealed. "It worked, Nero!"

"Great! Now let's get moving. There are more monsters to kill."

Thus they hunted the moss shamblers, ranging from levels nine to twelve. Behind them, they left a wedge of open sky as the trees were pushed aside by Daisy. The energy of the Dungeon increased the rarity of the drops, and after the first day of hunting, green cards, or uncommon as Serena called them, were commonplace enough to be set aside with the others. They returned home with more than a few blues and one other yellow card.

Nero [0/0]

Strength: +10 (+13 clockwork blade, +11 clockwork shield)

Vigor +8 (+12 Brigandine[1], amulet[3])

Endurance +8 (+9 Muffler)

Agility +11 (+12 Elven Boots)

Dexterity +5 (+8 Amulet, +9 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Reason +8 (+12 Clock[1], Amulet[3])

Willpower +7 (+10 Amulet)

Perception +5 (+8 Amulet, +10 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Charisma +8

Class: [Jester]

- Special: Ignores tier I Class level requirement.

- Special: The Jester has no Skill Slots.

- Special: Allows the Jester to equip and unequip a tier I Class and Skills to bind to that particular Class. All Attribute bonuses are halved while the Class is equipped. A Class card is bound to the Jester upon activation.

- Special: No Class information will be displayed or shown.

Equipment: [Rending Clockwork Blade of Regrowth +1], [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Dungeon Goggles], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Spiked Clockwork Shield of Regrowth +1], [Apprentice's Amulet +2]

Altia [Chemist 4/179]

Strength +6

Vigor +10

Endurance +5

Agility +9

Dexterity +12

Reason +4

Willpower +12

Perception +3

Charisma +10

Class: [Chemist]

- Special: All your beneficial combat consumables restore a little more of all resources.

- Special: You use 20% fewer ingredients with Alchemy.

- [Potion Toss] - Allows the use of beneficial combat consumables on others at a range of Dexterity / 2 yards.

- [Quickbrew] - The act of brewing alchemical concoctions or activating combat consumable cards requires 30% less time.

- [Empower Potion] - The effects of beneficial combat consumables and the speed of their effects is increased by 20%.

- [Cure Wounds] - Allows the user to heal wounds for 1 Mana. Healing based on Reason and Charisma.

- [Magic Arrow] - Allows the user to summon and shoot a physical arrow for 1 Mana, dealing damage based on Reason and Willpower. This spell does not ignore armor.

- [Double Tap] - When using a physical ranged Skill, 50% chance of duplicating the item thrown and triggering the Skill twice at no additional cost.

Equipment: [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Iron Staff]