"If you don't mind, would you tell me your name?" Carlos asked breaking the awkward silence while walking back to the Bedrooms.
"... I am Death, Senior!" Pedro answered in an unmotivated manner while glancing back to Carlos.
Carlos was astounded to what Pedro has said. Mixed emotions filled him, unable to know what to express at that moment.
'Is he mocking me?!' Carlos grasped his hands tightly and vibration, although weak, can be felt coming from it.
'What can I do... It is really my name!' Pedro uttered inwardly and opened his inventory interface, ready to take the Faithpursuer Katana.
'Man! I hope this doesn't end badly... That "rank" match had not given me any benefits! Although Carlos said I'd get organization points if I win, the system hadn't informed me of any notification at all!' Pedro had a frown in his face. He had exposed almost all his battle capabilities yet had not attained any benefits from it.
"Senior... It is really my name!" Pedro said in a bitterly smile and still glancing at Carlos.
Boooom!
Pedro had just passed a three-way hallway intersection, a punch suddenly hit him that made him fly to the wall. The punch was so strong that the wall where he impacted had a not so deep, oval hole and cracks running thru the walls for about a meter.
...
-100,000
You've been inflicted by [Homerun punch (Paralyzing effect!)]!
You are stunned for 3 seconds!
[~Undying~ skill activated!]
HP: 1
[Player's HP is below 20%... Potion Injector Activated!]
+50
HP: 50
[Player's HP is back to 100%.. ~Undying~ skill has been reset!]
[~Might of Pain~ skill activated!]
Attack Damage: 2 +10 +8 +100,000(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)
Magic Damage: +100,000(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)
...
'What now?' Just as Pedro has regained his self, the woman who punched him had sent another punch and was inches away from reaching Pedro's forehead.
'Sh@@!' He saw the already on the way fist of the woman as he was unable to move because of the paralyzation.
Boom!
...
-150,000
You've been inflicted by [Homerun punch (Paralyzing effect!)]!
You are stunned for 3 seconds!
[~Undying~ skill activated!]
HP: 1
[~Might of Pain~ skill activated!]
Attack Damage: 2 +10 +8 +250,000(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)
Magic Damage: +250,000(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)
...
Pedro sank deeper into the oval hole and the crack ran longer.
'God! I'm dead... for real!' His face completely darkened... The system had not notified that the potion injector had activated, hence the intermediate potion's 2 seconds was still in cooldown. Yet, another full powered high tier punch was heading straight to his stomach.
Pak!
...
-0
You've been inflicted by [Homerun punch (Paralyzing effect!)]!
You are stunned for 3 seconds!
[~Might of Pain~ skill activated!]
Attack Damage: 2 +10 +8 [+250,000 +0(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)]
Magic Damage: +250,000 +0(damage will be lost in 5s, stackable)
...
The punch landed on his stomach but it was just like a tap. Pedro had became dazed of what had happened. The intensity and strength of each punch of the woman get stronger every time it hit Pedro. Hence, he was dazed when the stronger and more intense punch hit him and it dealt no damage.
"As expected of Carlos! Your Amplify~Reduce ability is truly strong!" The woman who made Pedro a punching bag stopped her punch assault and approached Carlos with a smile. At the same time, Madame Soledad appeared from the hallway where the woman who punched Pedro, came from.
"Satisfied? Alivia?" Madame Soledad uttered normally as if nothing had happened.
"Ah... Yes, Soledad! Your apprentice is extraordinary!" She replied to Madame Soledad with a smile.
Her smile suddenly became a serious expression. Pedro, who had just recovered from the three seconds stun, threw a punch to Alivia.
In Pedro's point of view...
Just after Alivia's punch hit Pedro the system notified.
...
[Player's HP is below 20%... Potion Injector Activated!]
+50
HP: 50
[Player's HP is back to 100%.. ~Undying~ skill has been reset!]
...
Just before the stun duration was finished, Madame Soledad, who was just behind Alivia, looked at him and to Alivia like she was trying to say 'Punch her back! Let her taste your strength!'. Pedro smiled as if saying back, 'Hehe... O... Ok... you're the boss!'.
When the stun duration was finished, Pedro launches his fist straight to Alivia. However, his punch somehow stopped 12 inches away from Alivia and his knuckles somehow touched a transparent green barrier. As his knuckles hit the transparent green barrier, Pedro saw a red text at Alivia.
-0
'What did just happened? Where did the +250,000 damage go?' He was astounded as he looked at the smiling face of Alivia and his knuckles. He was filled with disbelief as Alivia began mocking him.
"Hahahaha! You've got guts to punch me! But has no strength to back it up! Soledad, your apprentice is really interesting!" Alivia burst into laughter. Even if Pedro's punch caused damage, Alivia won't still be receiving damage. Defensive magic barriers can be composed of several layers, especially to strong NPCs.
...
Other than strong NPCs, Dungeon Bosses on level 60 and above who had low intelligence had these Defensive magic barriers that absorb damage to make up for their low intellectual ability.
A green barrier can absorb total damage amounting to 1 Million, Yellow for 10 Million, Orange for 100 Million, Red for 1 Billion, Gold was unknown. This was based on his past knowledge of Bosses from 100 man dungeon raids.
The gold barrier was unknown, there were rumors from BHO membered players that explored the 'god's continent' and saw a small village protected by a Gold barrier, like a dome. The village seemed to be abandoned and looked like a god's village.
They assumed that some sort of treasure can be located there. No one can pass the golden barrier, hence they bombarded it with skills and damage for a week but the dome still looked unharmed.
After a week, the players gave up! The week-long bombardment already made them a level behind other players without getting any progress or benefits at all.
...
"Was there anything you need from me?" Pedro asked. He knew that Madame Soledad was the captain of the ship. Unless she was somehow resting, she wouldn't just roam around considering that the ship had only just departed to the open world. Various attackers can strike the ship at any time.
"I wanted to see you close, personally!" Alivia replied.
"Oh... Mister... You must be tired because of all of these! Let's hurry back to your Selected Bedroom!" Carlos then pulled Pedro hurriedly, ignoring Alivia and Madame Soledad!
"wait! wait!" Pedro was confused and could only glance to Alivia and Madame Soledad.
"CARLOOOOS!" Madame Soledad fumed as she tried to follow them. Thankfully, Alivia hugged Madame Soledad and restricted her from following them.
'I'm safe! For now! Thank you, Senior Alivia! Thank you... Mister... Death!' Carlos inwardly claimed as he hurriedly distances himself and Pedro from Madame Soledad and Alivia.
...
When the figure of Pedro and Carlos was lost, Alivia finally released Madame Soledad. They both wore a serious look.
"Train that apprentice of yours well... So that he could live another year!" Alivia uttered
"No worries! He'll last longer than that!" Madame Soledad replied in a serious but confident manner.
"It's good to hear! Let's go back to the bridge! Kentaro might be having a hard time already!" Alivia and Madame Soledad headed back to the ship's bridge.