Chapter Twenty-Six

Upon exiting the dungeon, they fell into formation, though her team kept a bit more distance from her than they usually did. Maybe because Ione trotted next to her, tail proudly raised, obviously proud of her new size.

Soon after they left the clearing, Ione snuck away, caused an almost audible sigh of relief from her team. Did Ione do something while she was unconscious? Sure, she was bigger and acted a little more bold but that didn’t explain their reaction.

Fortunately, with her bond gone, the previously loose formation tightened up, though not like it was before.

Thaux pointed to the right, signifying another dungeon. However, Elysia received images of a dungeon to their left. After scanning for any threats, Elysia spoke. “Ione found a dungeon to our left.”

Contrary to what she expected, everyone gave her a sharp look as if she broke some cardinal rule, which she supposed she did if the silence and hand signals were anything to go by. Instead of answering her directly, Thuax gave an unfamiliar hand signal to Thauzo, causing him to nod and point to the right as if the decision was final.

Elysia scowled but understanding their desire to not speak to avoid drawing attention, she kept quiet. Though their jungle clearing earlier was hardly quiet. Fortunately, that was no longer needed as they had several paths to walk.

Annoyance radiated through her bond upon relaying their decision. Ione sent back images showing both dungeon entrances, then a scale showing the one she wanted them to go to was stronger, meaning better loot and more challenge.

Apparently Ione could sense the strength of dungeons too. That would come in handy. Hopefully, they learned to trust Ione’s scouting soon. Though she understood them taking their dedicated scout’s word over her bond, she just wished they would at least take it into account.

A few minutes later, they found themselves at another dungeon, which they entered without delay. Inside, they found a single massive sauropod towering over them while eating leaves off a just as massive trees. They fell into formation ready to attack the massive dinosaur, but Elysia paused as images flashed through her mind from Ione, who somehow snuck into the dungeon and passed them. The images showed a much smaller but still big dinosaur with three fifty centimeter claws on each front leg.

Figuring Thres had a better chance of getting her siblings’ attention, she poked the smaller Chrotile, then made the hand signals to tell her there was another enemy.

Thres glanced at Thaux, seeing him solely focused on the massive sauropod causing disbelief to form, but remembering how Elysia saved them, she poked Thauzo and formed several hand signs, most of which Elysia didn’t recognize.

After giving Elysia a look to confirm prompting her to nod, he waved for the team to retreat to the dungeon entrance, then gave her the signal to speak. “Ione spotted another enemy. It’s much smaller, but it has some nasty-looking claws. According to her, it’s circling in the forest looking for an opportunity to strike the other creature.”

Thauzo looked to Thaux to confirm which after a few seconds he did, though not without a flash of annoyance. “Change of plans. We will stay here and wait for the other creature to make a move. Am I right in assuming it isn’t focused on us?”

Thaux nodded his head, now focused on the forest to their left instead of the massive creature towering over them, unaware of its predator. “Good. Once the creature strikes, we will use the same tactic as the triceratops.”

Smugness and pride radiated through her bond from beating Thaux, causing Elysia to smile, proud of her no longer small kitten. Curious about what was going on, Elysia sent images to Ione, asking for a consistent update.

A moment later she received several images showing her laying in some tall weeds staring at the creature who was in turn staring through the trees toward the sauropod.

Who needed hand signals when she had on-demand pictures? Ione was a far better scout than Thuax. If only she had her during her first dungeons. Now, if only she had a tank, then she could really strike off on her own. But was it really on her own? Ione counted as a person in her mind. She knew humans who were far less intelligent than her, many of which had a college degree. Sure, the system counted her kills as solo, but she would never truly be alone ever again.

Warm and fuzzy feelings bubbled up, prompting her to send praise to Ione for her help and just being a constant companion.

On a whim, she prodded the bond with her twin, but frowned when she found it unresponsive. Panic shot through her, but upon checking the bond with Umbra and finding it similarly unresponsive, she took a deep breath. The dungeon island must block outside bonds. No way was Umbra in trouble protected on Urus, so her sister must be safe, six too. At least she hoped so. She would have to try again after she left the dungeon. Maybe the double layered interference blocked it.

Any further thoughts paused as the clawed creature shot out of the tree line, straight toward the sauropod. The ground rumbled as the sauropod sensed the predator. It whipped its massive tail toward the charging creature but was far too slow, earning itself a deep gash along its flank.

Greedy, the clawed creature took another swipe, only to jump back as a foot stomped down, sending ripples through the ground.

The earth continued to rumble well past what should be natural for even a creature of its size, causing Elysia to frown. Was it using magic? The sisters mentioned some creatures on the dungeon island would have elemental affinity. So maybe that’s what this was. Something earth related would make sense for something so massive. Though even without magic, she doubted it would be easy to take it down.

Elysia refocused on the confrontation to find the clawed creature circling the sauropod with caution, maybe coming to the same conclusion she did. Once the vibrations died down, it struck again, but the massive creature was ready for it. With a loud smack, the likely heavy clawed creature flew across the clearing before impacting a tree with a wet crunch.

Her team itched to join the fray, figuring the smaller creature was down for the count, but contrary to their expectations, it climbed back to its feet and brandished its claws in rage. A breeze in the previously deathly still dungeon blew past them as the clawed creature shot forward far faster than what should be natural.

With a grace far beyond the heavy clawed creature, it danced around the sauropod’s attempts to hit it before delivering several deep gashes, earning a pained roar. The earth rumbled once more, but learning from its previous mistake, it retreated before the sauropod could retaliate.

A flash of silver caught Elysia’s eye, causing her to stiffen, but before she could stop her, Ione jumped onto the clawed creature’s back and bit down on its back while sparking with electricity. The breeze vanished in an instant as the creature locked up before crashing to the ground.

An image of a smite reached Elysia’s mind, prompting her to respond on instinct, releasing the payload on the downed creature before her team could react. Despite the distance, the smite struck true right on top of Ione. Instead of injuring her bond, Ione lit up, then sent the amplified lightning through her jaw, still clenched around the creature’s neck. Even a hundred meters away, the smell of burned flesh reached them, followed by a loud crack as Ione violently wrenched the paralyzed creature’s neck to the side, ending its life.

Killed Level 90 Therizinosaurus.

Experience Shared.

Experience reduced for group kill with Solo Adventuring.

Elysia scowled momentarily at the thought of wasted experience as she and Ione did all the work but quashed it as she doubted she would have gotten the level from it anyway, since she was technically a higher level. Probably the reason it was so easy to kill.

A smile replaced her scowl as she watched her bond stand on top of their killed prey.

Ione glanced at the sauropod who was staring down at her but making no move to attack. An understanding seemed to pass between them before Ione dug into the chest of the clawed creature to pull out a white sphere. Obscured by some tall grass, the sphere disintegrating into particles before vanishing into her mouth. Ione grew ever so slightly as she climbed back on top of the creature before staring towards her mother, puffed up with pride.

Elysia’s bright smile vanished as her gaze contacted three pairs of judgmental reptilian eyes. They didn’t say anything but from the looks alone, they did not like her actions despite the results. Refusing to be cowed, Elysia maintained eye contact, then motioned toward the bleeding sauropod, who was now aware of their presence. Two softball sized eyes stared down at them but remained where it was showing unease. Before they decided anything, however, Ione sent Elysia images of several glowing crystals by the body of the clawed creature.

Confused, Elysia glanced behind her to find the dungeon exit open. Since when did a dungeon complete without killing everything? Was the goal to pick a side? It would explain why the sauropod wasn’t attacking them. Even in its injured state, she had no doubt it could squash them, though they could probably escape the slow creature before it stepped on them. Still, who knew what its magic could do?

Since the sauropod knew where they were, Elysia broke the silence with a wave of her hand behind them toward the dungeon exit. “We cleared it. Ione told me there are eight mid-grade mana crystals by the body.”

Thauzo nodded his head, though his stern expression didn’t leave. Since they showed no inclination of moving Elysia send images to Ione to have her retrieve the crystals for them. She received annoyance and disgust back, but Ione appeared to be moving toward them, uncaring of the massive sauropod who was watching them all.

With one last kick, she sent the mana crystals shooting toward Elysia, who scooped them up, finding there to be ten, not eight, mid-grade mana crystals. She sent a glance toward her bond, but swiftly deposited the extra two in their personal stash and the other eight in the shared pocket.

Still without saying anything to her, the Chrotile left the dungeon through the exit, not wanting to stay any longer than they had to with the massive sauropod staring at them.

Elysia looked up at the dinosaur, giving it a nod before turning to leave followed closely by Ione, who happily trotted along tail raised with the finned tip swaying side to side.

Three judgmental gazes greeted her outside, but fell into formation a moment later before continuing on.

Despite growing annoyance, Elysia followed them at her usual spot next to Thres, who was a stride further away than she usually was. What was their problem? Sure, she went a little AWOL there, but it was a quick kill and clear. It wasn’t even her who started it. Ione attacked first. She just followed up. If they were going to be like this, maybe it would be better if she went off on her own with Ione. She already performed her end of the deal with Urus by accompanying them into the dungeon island.

Sure, she probably meant the entire event, but if they were going to pull the silent judgmental treatment for the rest of the week, she would go crazy.

She was never good with teams. Things always turned sour eventually. It didn’t help her first impression wasn’t the best. Oh well, she could only deal with things as they come and try to prepare for the future. She needed to be sure she could survive out here without a team before she tried. She trusted Ione to find them dungeons but what if they ran into a dungeon like the triceratops one?

Ione wasn’t a tank, and she doubted she could take them all down before they reached her. She had every other base covered, but neither of them were built to take damage, though with teamwork they might pull something off. Still too risky for now, though. Best to stay with the team and take what they could get while staying as safe as possible.

A scream ripped through the jungle, freezing the group.