Chapter Nine: Cunning and Ferocious, Start of An Adventure

 The battle continued, but the shield-bearing woman did not take any damage. Her companions had taken a few blows and their HP was nearing a dangerous spot. Even though the attackers were many, they could not find a way to overwhelm them. The small pool of starting skills certainly helped them survive. It is much easier to predict and parry repetitive skills.

“What’s the matter, so many of you can’t take her down? Heh, you’re not so tough after all!” The Half-Orc grinned. He had a huge scar above his eye, spiked green hair, and long teeth. Other than that, his body looked humanlike.

If words could kill the man wielding daggers would have an attack right now. How come so many of them couldn’t take them down? They had spears, swords, bows, and maces, and that ended in a stalemate. The forest’s geography didn’t help them either. There were too many places to take cover behind branches and trees.

“You think you can hold out forever? We already called for help. You better give up fast or I’ll make my mission to hunt you down.” The man who carried bow and arrow and tried to convince them to join before spoke.

But before the trio could answer, Yushin sent the lady a Private Text Message, “Get ready to run.”

‘...?!’ Surprised and confused, before she could ask anything things were already in motion.

The Majestic Brown Bear mowed trees and branches down like a madman. His claws extended and fangs were much larger than normal. His eyes were bloodshot and the left one had signs of a cut above it.

To a being as prideful as the [Monarch Bear], that was the most humiliating experience it ever had in its short digital existence. A tiny human appeared, injured him and made a pitiful expression after. He mocked it repeatedly, then ran.

The sight of the bear followed by Ranroths and Ratres was frightening. Yushin wasn’t sure he could make it in time. There were some close calls.

“What the hell is going on!?” The dagger wielding man cried. The group’s attention was already on the upcoming monster mob. The trio was the last of their problems right now.

Yushin weaved, dodged a few attacks and jumped forward after running on branches. He then tumbled amidst the large group. Even if they wanted to attack him not everyone had time to react. A couple of the most skilled players stepped back a bit and raised their weapons, but Yushin’s target was the dagger wielding man.

[Spear Thrust] exploded towards his heart!

Now, a common player would take that attack straight away, but that one was pretty skilled. He managed to block with his daggers at the last moment. Both broke and he still took some damage. Yushin didn’t lose time either and spun around him towards the trio.

“...Bro!” The long red haired fellow was too slow to react and could only watch. At that point, they weren’t sure where to look.

“Run!” Yushin Private Messaged the trio again and was ready to run by their side.

“Wait, let’s cut their retreat!” The woman answered back right away.

‘....!’ Yushin was definitely surprised, but a wicked smile soon followed. If everyone ran it was impossible to know who the monsters would chase. He was a prime target for the bear, but it was so mad it attacked like a Berserker. Dooming all in its path.

In front there were the Elven Chewers, running back the Monster Mob and Monarch Bear! Panic ensued, but the core members of the enemy moved northeast. In a group of that size, it was unlikely that all were friends. Some only partied to have an easier time in the forest. The more coordinated part of the group moved in unison trying to escape. The others became food for Ratres and Ranroths.

Yet, when they moved northeast, Yushin’s group cut their retreat.

If it was only the shield lady it would be hard to stop five or six players from running. But, with Yushin there, they complemented each other so well it was hard to accept they didn’t know each other at all.

An opening!

Spear strikes!

The enemy strikes!

Shield parries or blocks. Rinse and repeat.

“...Who the f**k is that guy?!” One of the fellows screamed in rage. Three of their players had already died running from the Monster Mob, and now the group couldn’t run away. The Bear Monarch had finished a straggler companion and was now running to them.

“That’s enough, run into the forest!” Yushin messaged the trio at the same time.

While the enemies’ attention shifted to the upcoming bear, Yushin’s group already started running. The lady, however, had another idea. She stepped forward, aimed at the man with broken daggers and used [Shield Bash]. He was already with a backup sword but didn’t expect the attack, since he was in the middle of the group. Taking a few hits to get there, Shield Bash landed. The guy flew all the way to the middle of the Monster Mob, almost in front of the Monarch Bear.

“...S**t.” He wept.

Instant kill. The bear tore him apart with both claws in lightning speed.

The lady grinned and ran with the rest of her group.

“...Damn! Fall back to the other side!” The calm man with bow tried to organize the survivors at least to escape. But their leader’s death was quite a blow to them. Everyone ran for themselves.

Well, at least they tried for a while, before finally becoming monster food.

“Follow me!” The woman told Yushin and the others before going a certain path in the woods. They could hear the enraged bear wiping everything and everyone out, and the sounds weren’t too far. It wouldn’t let them go easily.

“Thanks, dude! You really helped us out there!” The Half-Orc thanked Yushin. The Kobold species also bowed in agreement.

The lady was a bit more reserved. Even though she was grateful, the newcomer’s motives were still unclear. He could even be planning to take the dungeon for himself.

An arrow flew and hit the kobold species right on the back, but it wasn’t enough to kill him. The calm man with bow and arrow and the red haired swordsman escaped from the peril and were after them.

“I’ll lead them and the monsters away and you guys clear that Dungeon,” Yushin said. “Do it as fast as you can before their backup gets here.”

“....!!!” Yushin’s attitude surprises the trio. The Half-Orc was the first to talk:

“No, dude, wait!” He was adamant in not letting Yushin go. “You go with her and clear it. We’re barely alive, no healing items or skills. I can see you’re more skilled than us, there’s no point in dying and losing the dun to those bastards!!!”

“Besides, we don’t even know the dungeon’s characteristics. They attacked us before we could check it out. All the bow dude said was it’s a two man dungeon.” The kobold species added. He was much more rational than the Half-Orc.

Yushin looked to the woman for confirmation. She answered by inviting him to the party.

[Rain Falls invites you to a party. Do you wish to accept?]

[>>>Yes.<<<]

[Yushin joined the party.]

“Let’s go, Kobo-bro!” The Half-Orc broke off from the group and weaved into the trees.

“...Em.” He followed.

Rain Falls and Yushin didn’t waver. They rushed straight ahead while the two of them used themselves as bait to stop the pursuers. She was also pretty adept at running through the branches and didn’t lose out in speed even with her small frame.

They arrived at a certain spot in the forest that had no monsters spawned. Yushin assumed they died before and no other monster moved into that place yet.

In a corner, the distortion was clear for all to see. The same as the beginner’s dungeon, the white light shone even brighter. The sound of the Monarch Bear was also getting closer.

“That bear is still after us? How did you make it so mad?” Rain asked.

“Hahaha… sorry. I didn’t have much time to think.” He smiled and bowed slightly.

“...Not that I am complaining anyway. We’d probably be dead if it weren’t for you. Let’s check the dungeon quickly.” At the same time, the both of them activated [Analyze Dungeon Gates] skill:

DUNGEON INFO

TREACHEROUS FRONTIER

TYPE ONE:

ADVENTURE

TYPE TWO:

QUEST

TYPE THREE:

PERMANENT - MOBILE

DURATION:

TEMPORARY

MASTER:

NONE

AVAILABILITY

PRIVATE (RAIN FALLS) - 44:25:16

HARDCORE

NO

QUALITY

RARE

PARTY SIZE

2 

LIMITATION

2 PLAYERS

“...No wonder they betrayed us over it. This is a Rare, Permanent and Mobile Dungeon.” Rain Falls exclaimed in surprise.

“You hit the jackpot. We may not be able to clear it.” Yushin didn’t want to discourage her, but to make sure she knew the dangers. They also had the option to come back a day or so later when they are stronger.

Yet it was certain the guys from earlier would do their best to kill them before that happened. It is a matter of risking it now or later. Each had its own dangers.

She thought for a few seconds, “...Going in now is the best option. If we can’t clear, they can’t either. Unless someone very skilled comes, in which case we can try to go back in first after we respawn.” It was a very clear headed analysis.

Yushin nodded, agreeing, and both of them touched the white light.

[Enter Dungeon?]

[>>>Yes.<<<]

The blinding light slowly disappeared. Several large landforms stretched across their views, many forming varied peaks. The earth’s surface rose and became uneven. The mountain range had no fixed road and seemed as vast as the eye could see.

Very large bird forms roamed through the air, their gaze piercing and brutal. Sometimes one of them would sweep to the ground and catch something like a random monster. Some had many monster like characteristics like claws and many wings. The sky this time wasn’t any different than Red Clay’s. Either this was a very similar world or this time the location was somewhere in their ‘original’ world.

The Quest window appears:

QUEST

Find and Reach Ardiham’s Stronghold alive to clear the dungeon. (At least one player must reach the entrance)

Yushin and Rain Falls exchanged glances.

“...It’s a good thing we can coordinate well. If I manage to keep tanking we might survive until the end.” She said.

“I agree. Since we have no idea where the stronghold is, let’s avoid combat for now and search.”

She nodded and let Yushin go first. He seemed pretty good at stealth and trickiness if his last action was something to go by.

Walking there wouldn’t be easy in Real Life as it is in Tales. Running for hours straight is possible if no mental fatigue stops them.

Many smaller peaks were hard to reach, with monsters lurking. Most of them were lizard species, but the duo avoided any conflict with skill and stealth. A commotion would draw the ones in the air to the fray and things would be very difficult. They walked a long time, but no sign of the stronghold. Yushin then remembered his first dungeon, looking in different ways for some kind of entrance.

“...Anything?” Rain asked in Private Message. Making noise there was a bad idea.

He shook his head, “No underground passages either. Tracking isn’t showing anything special in front of us. These paths are endless.”

“...Sorry, my skills are useless.” She told Yushin her starting skills before. Stonemasonry and Bridge Building as crafting skills. Horse Training and Spear Mastery as extra skills.

“There is definitely something here. Have you noticed? We’re followed.”

“...!” She didn’t turn around to look. She hadn’t noticed anything. “...Any idea who?”

“Some kind of reptile creature. It moves as soon as we do and hides in the mountain. It’s camouflaged well, I can only spot it when it moves because tracking skill is automatic.”

“...Should we attack it?”

“It doesn’t seem hostile for now. I’m not sure we can kill it before the other species come. We have limited options before finding a path to the stronghold.”

“Seems you have found me, human.” That reptilian voice sounded straight in their minds.

“....!” Both jumped around and stared at the thing’s direction.

It broke the camouflage and his dignified form appeared. It had silver scales and looked like a small, one-meter big dinosaur. Bright red eyes, bipedal with short hands and small pair of wings on its back. His teeth were small but looked blade sharp. He had a three pronged meter long tail with spear like points.

“No need to be jumpy, human. I am not your enemy. We have a common destination.” It maintained distance and was very careful.

The duo exchanged glances again and Yushin said, “We’re listening.”

“If you take me with you I will help you reach that Stronghold.”

“...You look small but pretty strong. Is it that dangerous?” Rain asked.

The thing shook its head, “Too many monsters, too many traps. Also, there is a human MACHINERY on the entrance, it needs more than one to start.”

Yushin thought he wouldn’t answer but asked anyway, “What is your goal there?”

However, the thing seemed to trust him, “My kind is very rare, we live long and reproduce slowly. the human in that stronghold created strong poison to kill us. If I cannot grab the antidote, they will eventually die.”

“...Aren’t you affected as well?” Rain asked.

“No, I am a bit special. I am the King of Zaracha, strongest of my kind, and blessed by our gods. My body is invulnerable to all kinds of poison.”

It didn’t seem to be lying. Yushin felt a venerable and dignified aura coming from the dino like. Suddenly it stared at him and nodded.

“You can read minds, can’t you?” Yushin asked before a surprised Rain.

“Yes. That is how I know I can trust both of you.” The intelligent being answered.

“That’s so frigging cool.” Yushin didn’t even hide his enthusiasm. An A.I. that can read brain waves in a game and respond accordingly? He had many things to be surprised about, but that was top of the list.

The dignified dino looked happy.

Their adventure had only begun.