Feral Beast Master: A Gamelit Adventure, page 11
Hours passed. Trella returned to say that she’d found the Boss room, which didn’t have a door at all. The boss was, to no one’s surprise, undead, a [Festering Rot], some kind of magic user who would no doubt apply debuffs. She recapped the layout. “The dungeon shifted levels while I was scouting, and the Bone Giants became nothing but Bone Behemoths. But there’s several problems. First off, there are skeletons chained to the walls all around the room. I’ll pay anyone ten silver if they don’t join the battle. Second, the ceiling is covered in skulls that look like they have bones attached like spider legs.”
“A swarmer,” Sara said.
“I hate them,” Mara added.
“The boss is aware of where I am. He doesn’t attack while I’m outside the door, but I sent out my Deception, and his gaze tracked my movements outside the room. And he burst my Deception. But I think he’s got a trump card.” Trella said. “His throne is, of course, bones. But I don’t think it’s random bones. I think we’re looking at a buffed Tomb Champion, and I’d bet at some point he breaks it out.”
“That there, that battle knowledge, is why a Rogue is worth her share.” Mara’s words were high praise. “I’m up to half HP, and actually gained a quarter mana. Ban?”
The [Shield] grunted and pushed himself up. “Stamina debuff is still rocking me, but I’m in better shape than I was. Any chance we can cancel Roon’s mana debuff?”
Eve still looked half dead. “I can try, or I can work on you. The odds of reducing a debuff are about one in one hundred, so choose.”
“Hit Ban.” Mara spoke with absolute conviction. “We need a solid [Shield] or we don’t have a shot.”
Eve stood and began working, while Kaden hit her with Mana dart over and over. After nearly two hours, The tank stood. “That’s it! Stamina debuff is now at a quarter of what it was. That’s enough for me to function.”
“Eve, how are you holding up?” Sara asked.
“I’ve got four mana out of nearly two hundred. I need to regen. I can’t kick the debuff on Mara.” Eve used Life Harvest on herself, and as she did, the blood around her rose into a mist, then settled down.
Kaden dumped Mana into her as fast as it regenerated. The skill no longer fought him. It was less like forcing an orb to appear and more like turning on a faucet that gushed Mana. Soon, he was drained, providing it to Eve on each tick.
The dungeon shook like an earthquake passed through it.
“Tier four,” Sara said, looking to the door.
“That spells ‘go’ to me. It spent nearly three days at tier five.” Mara stood, balancing herself with the bow. The rest of the party, did, too. “One question - how close are all of you to leveling? Every point could make the difference.”
“I’ll pick up another with my next kill,” Eve said. “It won’t grant a skill or talent, and my Class won’t let me increase my hit points.”
“The level modifier will still help,” Sara said. “I won’t gain without a major boost.”
“Same,” Trella said. “I’d need to clear a dungeon, I think.”
Mara gave a quiet tsk. “Wait until you hit twenty five. Taking on higher tier enemies is the only way to level. Kaden?”
“I’ll hit another level soon. Maybe if I go back and bash down the Bone Giant. Another point in strength will make Remembrance that much more deadly.” Kaden looked to Eve. “You want to help me smash a skeleton?”
“I’m ready to get out of this dungeon. I didn’t know skills could ache.” Eve followed him and Trella as they headed all the way back to the broken Giant’s room. The Dungeon shift had left it a [Bone Behemoth], roughly a two thirds the size it had been. This time, the strategy was different. They circled behind the giant.
Eve picked up a fragment from a finger, and swung it over and over. The Behemoth didn’t even notice—until a fragment chipped off of its vertebrae.
“I hurt it!” Eve shouted in pride.
The Behemoth gripped a pillar, twisting itself—and received a blow from Remembrance to the forehead that left it stunned. Another blow, another. Kaden let the rage of battle take over, slamming the hammer down until it sang with every blow—and the skull caved in.
You have defeated a [Bone Behemoth.]
You have gained a level. Distribute points?
Kaden dumped it in strength again. “I gained a point in battle hammer and axe!”
Eve nodded. “I put a point in Intelligence.”
It was time to bust the Dungeon.
Together, they made it to the Boss’s room. Eve’s level had refilled her Mana, and she burned it all trying to cleanse Mara—then accepted all of Kaden’s. “It’s not going to get better,” Eve said.
“Then let’s do this. Sara, stick with me for melee protection” Mara looked to Sara, who nodded, and marched into the boss room.
The Boss stood, raising his hands to the sky. “You have come into my domain. You dare—”
An arrow of Mana pinned him to the throne.
And all hell broke loose.
First, dozens of skulls dropped to the ground on finger bones like spider legs. Kaden summoned Vip and sent her to work, tearing their legs off. Secondly, the throne rose up. It was, in fact, a [Tomb Champion], a skeleton so tall it towered over Kaden. One arm ended in a bone axe, the other in a separate skull that looked like solid bone.
The [Shield] gave Kaden a bump. “I’m the main tank here. Your job is to keep the other skeletons from swarming me—or them. I’ll handle the big guy.” With a stomp, the [Shield] summoned a slab of rock from the floor and picked it up. Equal parts weapon and protection, the big man held it like it was paper.
“Moving in to melee!” Sara called.
The moment she did, the [Festering Rot]’s gaze looked to her. He waved his hands, and the skeletons chained to the wall swung in like pirates, rolling to their feet with crude swords held aloft. That was Kaden’s cue. He rushed the closest skeleton, using Remembrance to break bones.
But these were remarkably durable.
[Bone Guard]
Once regular skeletons, these simple minions live their unlife to protect their master with their bodies or by destroying yours.
Skills: Mana Reinforcement, Edged Weapons
Talent: Tough Hide.
Trella worked with him, harassing the skeletons who would swarm the damage dealers.
And through the fight, the [Shield] danced with his oversized nemesis. He used a skill that made enemies focus on him, and though the [Tomb Champion] would glare at the others, he never failed to attack the [Shield].
The plan was working.
Except that the [Festering Rot] wasn’t doing anything. He let his minions battle, unconcerned as Vip finished off the last of the skull spiders. Kaden took a blow to the chest from a skeleton and rolled away, trying to reset.
A wave of healing swept through him. Life Harvest, powered by his own blood. He blocked one crude swing, let [Fortress of Stone] protect him from another, and delivered a blow aimed at a skeleton’s leg.
[Brutal Blows] has delivered a crippling injury.
That made things better. Now he could step away from the crippled skeleton, block one swing, and bashed the remaining skeleton so it dropped its sword.
“Kaden!” Sara called.
Her pseudopods had engaged with two of the skeletons, but swords weren’t as effective. A hammer blow to the back of the skeleton was effective, sending the skeleton to its bony knees, though stabbing pain hit Kaden in the shoulder.
He’d mistimed his strike and taken a glancing blow. His turn for Life Harvest would come soon. Right now, he needed to—the skeleton he was attacking collapsed in a pile of bones as Trella re-appeared. “Backstab does work on them. Keep ‘em distracted!”
Two skeletons, one crippled, Kaden accepted a blow to the ribs in return for delivering another crippling blow, then wound up for a strike that smashed one skeleton’s knee. The tide was turning.
But a weight like a runaway wagon hit Kaden as the [Shield] fell, dazed by a Skill. And the Tomb Champion turned and headed for Mara, who hadn’t stopped yet, blasting Mana arrows at the [Festering Rot].
Kaden struggled loose, sprinting over to deliver a blow from Remembrance to the ankle of the Tomb Champion. Sure enough, Remembrance rang like a bell. Which meant it had stored another blow as an echo of the past. Now the name made sense.
But face to face with a [Tomb Champion], Kaden couldn’t help the fear.
[Tomb Champion]
This is not a skeleton, it is the embodiment of its master’s might. The Tomb Champion has defeated all comers, and does not fear your attacks so much as it desires your death. Stronger than Death itself, you will join it soon.
Skills: Thundering Smash, Violent Cleave, Grasp of the Grave.
[Grasp of the Grave]
To be struck by a Tomb Champion is to be drawn toward death itself. You may not heal or regenerate mana until the Tomb Champion is defeated.
That was just plain unfair. “Stay clear of the big guy!” Kaden shouted, as he leaped to the side. A bone axe chipped the floor where he’d stood two seconds before.
“Give me time to work,” Eve called.
Kaden focused on attacking the way the [Shield] had. Just enough to keep its focus on him. Then the idea hit. He summoned a Mana Dart and hit the Tomb Champion with it. Its eyes blazed red, and it lumbered forward to smash with its bone hammer hand, and take another blow to the other ankle. Once again, Remembrance sang out.
“Stand aside,” The [Shield] roared, charging into Kaden’s place.
Just as Kaden released the blows he’d stored up.
The Tomb Champion stumbled and collapsed, and before it could rise, the [Shield] leaped into the air, bringing down his shield like a cleaver on the Tomb Champion’s spine. Bones splintered and the monster screamed.
Kaden had bigger problems. The [Festering Rot] flew at him, claws outstretched.
“Run! Why are you not running?” Sara shouted.
He did, racing for the far edge of the room.
The [Festering Rot] stumbled, as a Mana Arrow struck it between the shoulder blades, but the moment it turned, Kaden smashed its shoulder with Remembrance. The bell screamed an echo, but it was like striking a mountain. The hammer bounced off, and again Kaden swung it in an arc, this time, driving it through. The blow tripped the [Festering Rot] for the slightest moment—then it blocked a Mana Arrow with one hand, and extended the other toward Kaden.
A grip like iron closed on his throat, and his body lifted until his feet barely touched the ground, even six feet from the [Festering Rot]
You are bound by [Grip of the Grave]. You may not move while your enemy maintains their focus.
Focus which it apparently had no problem with, blocking mana arrow after mana arrow.
Desperate for breath, for freedom, Kaden released the blows held in Remembrance—and collapsed as the [Festering Rot] stumbled, gripping its shoulder. When it looked back at him, the gaze sent chills down Kaden’s spine.
Across the room, Trella [Backstabbed] the last of the skeleton minions, as the [Shield] continued chipping away at the Tomb Champion.
It wasn’t written in any of the Adventuring books Kaden had read, but it sure should have been: When the enemy takes flight, rising up to the center of the room, things have gone from bad to worse.
“You dare come to my home and strike me? Then learn why I bear the name Festering Rot!” The gravelly voice echoed through the room.
Then a noxious cloud rushed out from beneath the Boss.
You have been affected by [Curse of the Rot]. You will lose health continuously until the [Festering Rot] is slain.
Bad. Very bad. Mara’s group were fifteen levels higher, or more. Even if they won, Kaden’s party didn’t stand a chance.
13
THIRTEEN - ROTTEN TO THE CORE
The moment the [Curse of Rot] took affect, Kaden changed his strategy. With no healing, he’d need to be careful, and only take blows if it meant others wouldn’t. His skin erupted with [Blood Burn], but the status effect remained.
And now, the [Festering Rot] truly entered the battle, focusing on Mara.
Before, it had been content to block her arrows, now it struck back with bolts of pure black mana, forcing her to dodge. And if that wasn’t bad enough, a rain of skull spiders clattered down, though Kaden saw the chain skeletons coming. He met one with a wind-up smash of Remembrance, and delivered a crippling blow to the second.
But that meant dodging the third, and now, every swing came with caution and care.
Sara, too, understood what it meant, using her pseudopod to block blows and only hacking back when it wouldn’t expose her.
“This isn’t working!” Trella shouted as she [backstabbed] a skeleton. “We’ll all be dead soon, even if they don’t hit us.”
The realization hit Kaden harder than a Tomb Champion. “Vip, I need you to harass them.”
It wasn’t a fair ask, a small lightning dog versus full sized skeletons, but life wasn’t fair. He couldn’t summon Rocky, or the first real blow would probably kill him. Instead, he focused on perfect swings. Full force blows that made Remembrance ring.
Then pivoted at the last moment, smashing the spine of the Tomb Champion as it writhed. A split second later he released Remembrance, and the spinal cord shattered.
You have helped defeat a Boss Monster: Tomb Champion.
You have gained experience.
Your health is low.
“What does it take to break this damned debuff?” Eve screamed. “This thing is nothing but…” Her cry trailed off into a wicked laugh. “Blood Burn!”
The Festering Rot’s skin exploded with black ichor, and it froze in place. Again, and again, Eve triggered her cleanse. “Life Harvest!”
The ichor evaporated into smoke, and for the first time the [Festering Rot] showed fear. Fear that flashed into anger. It flew at Eve—and slammed into a disoriented Rock Gobbler who wailed his displeasure at being drawn from his desert world, dropped into the path of a raging boss monster, and worst of all, Rocky had lost a fork he was contentedly crunching for the third time this day.
The Festering Rot fell to its knees as blood gushed from its skin. Every cast of Blood Burn destroyed a part of it. And Mara hit it with mana arrows straight in the skull. Kaden would have struck it, but staying out of Mara’s way was the smart move.
But as it writhed on the floor, a beam of green light shot from the side of the room.
The Rot stopped screaming.
It flung one arm out, striking Trella as she attempted her [Backstab]. The beam of light switched in an instant, hitting Mara from behind, and searing skin, then the Shield. Kaden dove behind the Rot to avoid the blast. Sara pushed Eve out of the way and screamed as the blast raked across her. The beam of death lashed out—and Vip ghosted to the side.
Wind Collar has activated. One mortal strike has been dodged. Reset timer: 23:59:59
Escaping death once was better than nothing.
Over and over, the Dungeon core fired at Eve, but each time, she was moving, just a foot away, too close, too far. Kaden didn’t understand, then he remembered. Moment of Perception, Eve’s talent, was about seeing the present clearly. It gave her just enough understanding to avoid the core’s strikes.
Across the room, the dungeon core began to spin, swirling with purple, green, and black. It no longer glowed or threw blasts, a mist seeped out from it, pouring into the [Festering Rot]. In moments, the [Rot] was on its feet. And headed for Eve.
Kaden sprinted for it, but before he could get there, the Rot held up both hands.
A bolt of sheer black exploded outward toward Eve.
Vip has gained a skill: Leap of Destiny.
And struck the dog who crackled with lightning, as it leapt between them.
For a heartbeat, Kaden stood frozen by shock. Then his eyes blurred with tears and he charged the [Rot], tackling it from behind. It knocked Remembrance away, and locked bony hands on his throat, but Kaden didn’t care.
You have obtained a status condition: Weakness of the Grave
You have obtained a status condition: Fog of the Grave
You have obtained a status condition: Terror of the Grave
You have obtained a status condition: Agony of the Grave.
He couldn’t think or move, but what he could do was focus on strangling the Rot. And shout. “Eve. Smash the core.”
One second. A dozen more status notifications.
Two. Flashing warnings.
Three…the Rot went still.
The light went out.
And system notifications rolled in again.
Hard to Kill grants you a new resistance: Status Effects (1)
You have helped defeat a Dungeon Boss (Festering Rot)
You have gained experience.
You have gained (2) levels.
You are critically ill.
Your HP is critically low
You require healing.
But none of that mattered. He lay there, curled in a ball, as system messages repeated in bold. And he didn’t care.
“Kaden? I need your help. I’m out of mana.” The voice was Eve. She kneeled over him. “You’re the only one with no status conditions. If you can give me Mana, I can probably wake Sara. She resisted three of them.”
Kaden sat up, fighting the urge to sob. He began to slam mana into Eve as fast as he could summon it.
“Let it regenerate, I’ll start with her.” Eve said.
You are affected by a Title: Queen of Entropy
A moment later, Sara stirred, and began sharing Mana with Eve. Then stalked over to Kaden, taking his hands. “Look at me. Say it with me. Permanent summons. Vip’s not dead, but it’ll take time for her to reform. Permanent.”
It didn’t help with the hurt. The sorrow of watching her disintegrate. “Permanent.”
An hour later, Trella, too had woken, and Eve worked on Mara and her party.
“We should be dead. Normal dungeons break down after the core is removed or destroyed,” Sara said. “Of course, nothing about this one was normal.”
