“You know it’s been bothering me for a while now….we have crossed two floors and no Gatekeepers. Could it be we have already kill them?” One of the three big warriors asked as they led the way.

“I noticed that too…but it isn’t necessary for each floor to have Gatekeeper…you are being too presumptuous Tulda.” Another one spoke.

“I concur with Hem.” Claire joined in.

“Me too.” The last of the three big warriors said - Boze.

The four then turned around to Crayford, who had been silent all this while for his opinion. “What do you think, Master?”

“I think I may have been wrong…” Crayford murmured as he was lost in deep thought.

The four gave a puzzled expression and stopped.

“Wrong?” Claire asked. “Wrong about what?”

“The intentions behind those waves…” Crayford replied – but he was only speaking to himself aloud.

“Heh, they underestimated. We showed them that we could handle their monster waves. It was too easy.” Hem roared out in laughter. They completely annihilated the monsters.

After four waves, there was no fifth wave. It completely discredited Crayford’s war of attrition theory. However, nobody pointed that out because it would make Crayford appear bad and also they couldn’t be too sure.

“Yes….that might be the problem. Maybe it wasn’t a war of attrition maybe the intention was something else….” Crayford continued in his lost tone.

“It wasn’t an attrition war?” Claire asked as she tried to get a glimpse of what Crayford could be thinking about.

“We may have revealed one of our hidden cards too soon.” Crayford’s voice finally became firmer.

The other four waited for an explanation.

“This is just a notion, but I have feeling we were being tested to reveal our true battle strength.”

“Then, we showed them. Didn’t we! They can’t go about messing with us.” Hem merrily added.

“Yes…” Crayford couldn’t disagree with that.

“We have plenty of hidden cards. There is nothing to worry about.” Tulda added.

“True…” Crayford couldn’t disagree with that either. “However, how many times have you seen monsters behaving with such precision?”

The other four had nothing to say. Monsters never displayed group behaviour unless they belonged to some heard or were under the control of a superior being. The four waves, attacked in a various precise manner. There were battle formations that had been deployed and even good attack combinations – it was another thing this party was too OP for the monsters.

“Maybe, I am reading into it too much.” Crayford confessed. He didn’t want to tense up his team mates unnecessarily.

“We are here.” Boze was the first speak, as he raised his massive axe pointing to an enormous entrance – a Gatekeeper’s chamber.

The five cautiously walked in – unlike the waves of bosses they fought, Gatekeepers tended to be, in their experience, unusually strong. If the average level of monsters was 5 on a particular floor, then the Gate Keeper would be at least level 15. That is how wide the gap was between a Gatekeeper and the normal mob.

The torch lights flickered on as the part made their way to the center of the chamber.

“Heh…” Tulda laughed as the lights lit up the chamber revealing the boss – a Giant Rodent.

“Is that the King of Rats?” Hem asked as he withdrew his sword. “Given, its size, I would say level thirty five. Hair colour normal. So it isn’t a variant. Class E.”

Crayford nodded in agreement. He could see all the stats.

Monster Status WindowMonster SpeciesKing of RatsLevel / Class35 / Class EVariantNoneHealth5000Mana-Strength140Agility183Wisdom30Intellect41Luck3Leadership99Attack250Defense353Dexterity23Stamina502HP Regen5HP/SecVitality300Monster Ranking1350071Endurance498

This Giant Rodent was about Four meters tall when it stood up on its hinds and at least 2 meters wide. Its main attack power came from its teeth, claws and tails. It was known for having a tough hide.

Just as Tulda was about to rush at the Giant Rodent, another figure emerged from the shadows – A Giant Orc.

Two bosses? What the hell? Crayford wondered. It wasn’t just Crayford the other four thought the same thing. Unconsciously, they took a step back – they weren’t frightened by this was rather unexpected.

Tulda maintained his brave front, his grin only became wider – “So now we have another weakling to help out!”

“Level 40, Class D. Flame Orc Variant.” Hem spoke out.

“Be wary of its strength, axe and body.” Crayford added. “It can’t do any real damage to the likes of us, but the flames of its body can definitely burn us….”

Monster Status WindowMonster SpeciesGiant Flame OrcLevel / Class40 / Class DVariantFlameHealth6000Mana997Strength180Agility150Wisdom50Intellect80Luck10Leadership8Attack300Defense110Dexterity23Stamina800HP Regen12HP/SecVitality400Monster Ranking123751Endurance300

Special Attack: Flame Body, Flame Axe.

Before Crayford could finish speaking, another monster made an appearance.

It was a huge lizard with scaly green skin, walking on its two feed.

“Emperor Lizard….” Hem muttered under his breath. “Level fifty…Class D.”

Monster Status WindowMonster SpeciesEmperor LizardLevel / Class50 / Class DVariantNoneHealth8000Mana200Strength90Agility350Wisdom167Intellect123Luck13Leadership67Attack180Defense500Dexterity23Stamina479HP Regen22HP/SecVitality999Monster Ranking99003Endurance999

Emperor Lizard, extremely fast and very high defense.

Three bosses would be troublesome but nothing that they can’t overcome…

Another monster made an appearance….a white colour wolf.

“Lightening wolf!” Claire spoke out aloud as spotted the familiar creature.

“Level 50, Class C.” Crayford said as he cracked his knuckles. Well this is interesting.

Monster Status WindowMonster SpeciesLightening WolfLevel / Class50 / Class CVariantLighteningHealth9080Mana3000Strength190Agility499Wisdom203Intellect200Luck30Leadership114Attack400Defense384Dexterity108Stamina1089HP Regen4HP/SecVitality189Monster Ranking58375Endurance274

Special Attacks: Lightening Rain, Shock, Lightening Charge.

At this point of time, so many monsters had made surprise appearances that the party decided to wait it out. They waited for more monsters to make an appearance but there were none.

“I think Tulda, Hem and Boze should enough for these guys.” Crayford said.

The three warriors began doing some stretches.

“It has been a while before we did some exercise.” Tulda spoke gleefully.

The Stats of the three warriors flashed in front of Crayford.

Ally Status WindowNameTulda HackLevel / Class99 / Class BProfessionMad BerserkerHealth5500Mana500Strength300Agility300Wisdom113Intellect254Luck53Leadership111Attack300Defense300Dexterity230Stamina499Charisma14HP Regen35HP/SecMana Regen13MP/Sec

Ally Status WindowNameHem HackLevel / Class99 / Class BProfessionBroad SwordsmanHealth6000Mana500Strength340Agility254Wisdom189Intellect340Luck53Leadership111Attack250Defense244Dexterity230Stamina600Charisma33HP Regen70HP/SecMana Regen13MP/Sec[/tbody]

Ally Status WindowNameBoze HackLevel / Class99 / Class +BProfessionDual WeilderHealth6800Mana399Strength368Agility254Wisdom432Intellect388Luck251Leadership451Attack270Defense218Dexterity196Stamina434Charisma144HP Regen33HP/SecMana Regen12MP/Sec

Special Skill: Limit Break, Dual Attack, Attack of Great Tides.

“Now, let us see, what these Gatekeepers are really made of.” The three warriors said as they began walking towards the four mini-bosses with an evil smile.

“Don’t play too long.” Crayford warned them.

Meanwhile, Claire was pouting. “I want to kill some too!” She complained.

Crayford smiled helplessly to the complaining beauty. “We can’t reveal all our strengths, can we now?”