[Dash]

In almost an instant the Abyss Watcher dodged to the side, narrowly missing the giant creature that had erupted from the ground below him. It roared as it looked towards the Abyss Watcher, no eyes visible on its long fleshy body. It roared with it's large circular mouth, four large claw-like protrusions sticking out of the sides of the mouth, which had rows upon rows of sharp teeth tat seemed to go on forever.

It smashed back into the ground, but instead of digging again, it slithered across it as it charged at the Abyss Watcher. Crouching low he pounced forward, swiftly dodging to the left of the beasts charge and slicing downwards with his sword. It managed to cleave most of the way through, however the creatures fleshy appearance was very deceiving in terms of it's toughness.

Regardless this was enough to stop it's movement as it fell lifeless to the ground. After looking to make sure that the others were all right, he approached the corpse.

[Analyse]

Adult Earthworm

A subterranean creature that uses it's massive mandibles to crush and dig through even [Dungeon] rock. This doesn't mean that it won't use them for other purposes though, such as crushing the life from you.

This Earthworm is fully grown and so quite large and tough despite it's apparent fleshy exterior.

Level 115 Core Stats:

[Health] 580 [Stamina] 1200 [Mana] Skills:

[Dig] Burst through the ground at insane speeds. Can be executed with any tool or weapon, however they will take the same amount of damage they would when digging normally. [Devour] You can stomach almost anything, and will not hesitate to eat whatever it is you are eating, and will also gain an increase in [Bite Power]. Physical limitations still apply. [Worm Call] (Monster) A monster move used by Earthworms. A screeching call is emitted and will summon all Earthworms in a 10km radius.

After poking it with his sword, which was now covered in the same sludge as the injured man's dagger, to see if it was dead, he looked over to his teammates, all except Alissa, who was walking in his direction, caring for the man. Crouching down he stuck his hook dagger into the large open wound that he had made, levering the body apart. Inside was more of the sludge, which the Abyss Watcher believed to be blood, as well as rows upon rows of teeth that continued to go further down the body.

Alissa came and crouched down beside the mouth of the earthworm, taking out her own knife and beginning to saw away at the area around the large mandibles. After she sawed off the mandible, she observed it intensely, nodding to herself and pocketing it into the large satchel that sat opposite her quiver on the belt. Noticing the Abyss Watcher looking at her, she explained.

"The Guild pays a lot of money for proof of kills on monsters. Of course, an earthworm mandible would sell well with basically anyone. Blacksmiths especially, as these are tough and good for weapon making." She looked at her Platinum band that was on her wrist, fiddling with it idly. It was then that the Abyss Watcher noticed the rose symbol in the middle of the shield, different from his own that had none, "Or, the least profitable option, you can give it to whatever faction you belong to."

Nodding, the Abyss Watcher looked at his own band, sheathing his dagger as he traced the blank shield. What could the rose mean? Maybe it just meant she was Platinum? But that didn't make sense. Why would a rose mean Platinum? Alissa took notice of his tracing of the shield, and her eyes widened as they fell upon his band. She shot towards him, still crouched, with speed that surprised even the Abyss Watcher.

"You're not in a faction?!" She said in disbelief, grabbing his right arm and jerking it towards her. She looked up at him, clearly expecting an answer.

He tilted his head in confusion. Factions? Was he supposed to be in one? Still confused, he nodded slowly, Alissa's eyes widening to unimaginable levels. Frowning the Abyss Watcher pulled his hand free of her, looking to the other two, who had clearly heard the conversation. They were now glancing at him occasionally and whispering between themselves, the injured man's injuries fully healed. Before anyone could speak about this whole faction business though, the man shot up, glancing around at all the gathered.

"Please!" He yelled, looking at the Abyss Watcher once he noticed his Adamantine band, eyes wide in fear and worry, "You have to help my party! They're in the lower floors, we were ambushed by earthworms and one of them used [Worm Call]!" He pointed to the hole in the ground, ignoring the two Platinum's trying to calm him down, "They're down that hole! Please save them!"

Eventually Alissa also moved to calm down the man, who still yelled for them to descend down the hole and save his party. Glancing to the hole, he walked over to it, looking down. Sure enough, the sounds of fighting were much clearer now, even with [Enhanced Hearing], although he couldn't see far down the dark depths. He folded his sword in front of him, pointing it downwards, to see if he could fit through it like that. He could.

Nodding to himself, he unsheathed his dagger, looking back to is party who finally took notice of him standing in front of the earthworm size hole. He took a step forward, holding his dagger up high, planning to use it to slow his fall.

Geronimo.

Calon grunted as he swung his long sword with all his might, managing to inflict a gnarly gash against the earthworm's side. He smiled for the briefest moment before he screamed in pain, his ribcage cracking as he found himself flying through the air, colliding with the rough rock wall. He got the briefest of glances at the fleshy red tail of the earthworm that had wacked him before he had to shut his eyes from the pain.

He forced them open again as he heard his other teammates scream and yell. Struggling to breath he raised his longsword in a single shaking hand, the other hanging limp at his side. Breathing heavily he looked to his side, finding his party bruised, battered and bleeding at his side. He flinched as he noticed the three bodies that lay strewn throughout the large cavern they were battling in.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded to the remaining five members of his party, who nodded in return, gripping their weapons even tighter. This would be their final stand. There were five adult earthworms in front of them, which had slowly but surely been herding them towards the jagged wall of the [Dungeon], which lay just a few steps behind.

Letting out a roar he took a step forward, ready to go out in a blaze of glory.

A man dropped from the roof from seemingly nowhere, a massive sword heading towards one of the worms. The man spun forward in midair, building up momentum in his sword as he finally made contact. The head of the worm flopped to the ground, landing with a resounding thud. The man followed shortly after, now surrounded by the other four worms. Screaming in rage they streamed towards him, terrifying maws opened wide.

The man turned into a blur as he shot towards the farthest one from him, slicing into it's body with his sword, cutting most of the way through, and leaving it to give out a strangled cry before falling as well, the man dodging away from it. He blinked as he realised the situation they were currently in.

He turned to Cithrel, the party's healer, "Quick! Heal us!" He shouted, shocking the rest out of their stupor as Cithrel quickly began instructing them to lay down. Calon refused however, choosing to remain standing with sword at the ready. He glanced back at Cithrel, beginning to worry about her [Mana] before dismissing it. Cithrel had been unable to heal them before due to the large amount of earthworms that had attacked them, and so should have a large pool of [Mana] still at the ready.

Looking back to the battle, his jaw dropped in shock as the man leapt into the air, flipping to gain momentum before slicing downwards. The worm was cleaved in two, falling to the ground alongside it's brethren. He lay in a crouched position for a moment, head shifting to the sides ever so slightly as if he was listening for something. After a moment of stillness he stood up turning to them.

With a large flick the majority of blood flew off his blade, splashing it onto the cold ground. He silently approached, placing the massive weapon back onto his shoulder with minimal effort. Calon released all the tension that had built up in him with a sigh, sheathing his sword as he approached in kind.

"By Celest you arrived at one hell of a time mister." He said, running a hand through his brown hair, "But I would like to request the name of our...saviour." His eyes widened in confusion the joy as he spotted the Adamantine band on his wrist. And the golden engraved blank shield.

"I see that you haven't joined a faction yet. Surely you would wish to join the holiest one of the Church?" He said, switching into pitch mode. An Adamantine class adventurer that wasn't in a faction was an opportunity the Church couldn't miss out on. He pointed at his own Platinum band, particularly the engraving of a blazing sun. "We worship the great Celest, and are the one most in the right. All these other factions are controlled by devils who do not truly worship Celest, and so must be punished! And looking at you, you are clearly a holy warrior! We would love to have you work with us to establish the true rule of Celest."

He looked up at the warrior with a bright grin on his face, completely forgetting his injured teammates. Sure he mourned the losses, and wanted to help with the injured, but the benefit of the Church came first. And this would greatly benefit them. The man stared at Calon in what he could only assume was shock at being offered a position in such an esteemed faction.

His gaze suddenly turned towards the roof, particularly the hole where he had come from. Calon followed his gaze, recognising it as the hole where one of the worms had dug into. Confused, Calon opened his mouth to ask why he was looking at it when he heard something. Almost like someone screaming.

Suddenly, a heavily armoured figure plopped out of the sealing, crashing onto the ground with a loud oof. Groaning the man picked himself up, clearly disoriented as he looked around, his sword in one hand, and shield in the other. Unfortunately Calon recognised the man.

"Xander!" He yelled in rage, redrawing his sword. "What the hell are you doing here!?"

Xander immediately faced Calon, readying his own sword, "Calon you rotten bastard, I could ask the same as you!"

The both of them growled as they stared each other down. Calon then remembered something. An evil smile made it's way onto his face as he used one hand to gesture to the warrior standing beside him. "You won't win this time. I have this holy warrior of Celest on my side!" He declared. He couldn't tell because of Xander's helmet, but he was sure that the continuous shifting of his armour was him shaking in fear.

He frowned though as noises of not fear, but mirth, began to come from the armoured man. Xander began to laugh his ass off, holding one hand to his stomach as he continued to chuckle. This had the effect of infuriating Calon.

"What!" He demanded, rage building up in him, "What's so funny huh?"

Xander continued to laugh for a good while, but eventually it died down as he stood straight. "So, basically, that 'holy warrior' of yours," He said, making quotation marks with his hands, "Is our party member."

Calon's eyes widened. No. Surely not. Xander made a thumbs up gesture to the man behind him. Eyes widening in panic he spun around, swinging his sword.

Only to find the butt end of a dagger colliding with his face.