Jessica, being the professional that she is, manages to sort everything out before we enter the dungeon. She's usually meek but when it's about her work or anything she's passionate about, a switch inside her gets flipped. The loud guy earlier, who calls himself Infinity, can't even make his usual moves when she's become like this.
*clap clap*
"Ok everyone," Jessica calls out. "If you're done with your preparations, please follow me down. Remember, this is R&R's property so don't break anything. When you're ready, just say, 'Dungeon Reveal' and enter. Do you have any questions?"
I raise up my hand. "Uh.. Eleanor said there'd be people I know coming?"
"Hmm let's see. George and Samuel cancelled unfortunately. So it's just us," she replies.
Oh man. I wish I could've entered this dungeon with them. I still haven't thanked George for saving Sher during the boss fight. I'll try to find him after we clear this dungeon but him being a Wanderer is gonna make things difficult.
"Any other questions?" Jessica announces once more.
The other two, Damien the tank and Lamar the healer, shake their heads. Meanwhile, Infinity steps up and does a victory pose.
"Just hide behind me Miss Jessica! I'll clear this dungeon by myself!"
"Right, no questions," Jessica ignores him and proceeds. "In that case, let's get started. Dungeon Reveal"
"Dungeon Reveal" we say altogether.
At once, my entire vision changes. What once was a set of concrete stairs and iron walls is now slick and porous limestone. As we descend, we are greeted with stalagmites and stalactites that give this place a dash of personality.
"Wow..." I gasp.
"It's fascinating isn't it?" Jessica chimes in. "With one word, the Kaleidoscopes can show us a whole different world."
I simply nod. I experienced it when I first got out of the hospital but I only now realize that my 5 senses are fully engaged in this virtual space. In addition to seeing all of this, I sense the smell of water, the echoes of each footsteps, the rough stone on my fingertips, and even the stale taste of the air. We finish descending the steps and reach a long corridor.
Jessica turns to us. "Now, we've officially entered the [Clockworker's Dungeon]. Please be on high alert. According to the reconnaissance team, the enemies here are made up of machines so I advise you use water and electric elements to deal with them."
Infinity scoffs. "I don't need those elemental bullshit. Whatever they are, I'll just slice them in half with my sword!"
"Right..." Jessica trails. Her patience is immense but her face shows a bit of worry. "As you may know, I'll be in charge of dealing with traps and finding hidden passages so I'll leave the enemies to you. And lastly, have fun!"
Oh, I will. I used to convince myself that getting a Kaleidoscope is a waste of money and that I have better things to do but this is just awesome! Even if I can't make money from this, I'll still buy one just so I can do stuff like this. I look at Veronica who is still on my shoulders. It looks like she's having fun. Her eyes dart curiously at everything and she keeps moving around.
"Hey, Veronica do you want to walk?"
She shakes her head. "Nuuh. Mommy said to stay on your showlders so I will."
"Hehe, ok but stop moving so much ok? You might fall."
"Okay!"
Damn, Eleanor. Is this still part of my punishment? Not that I mind but having her on my shoulders for the entire raid is for sure gonna tire me out. We continue to walk until Jessica suddenly puts up her hand. We stop and wait. She crouches on the ground and inspects the floor. Then, she inspects the walls as if trying to find something.
"Aha!" she exclaims and rips out some wires from the wall.
"What was that?" I blurt out in surprise.
"That, my dear noob friend, is a trap mechanism," she replies. "It's hidden with [Encryption] and only special roles can reveal them."
"Can you reveal it to us or are you the only one who gets them?"
She looks at me curiously. "I could with my skill but why do you ask?"
"It's just, you know, I'm a noob and I like to take my time enjoying this game," I reply.
She chuckles and says, "I didn't think you were so into games Devon. If I've known, I would've approached you sooner."
She then turns to the empty space and waves her hand. "Dig up"
Immediately, the limestones disappear and reveal a metal plate on the floor and spikes on the walls. If any of us stepped on that, we would have been skewered!
+
[Robotics Lv. 3 Activated]
[Analyzing: Simple Spike Trap]
[Completed]
[Your understanding of robotics and mechanisms increase]
[Robotics Lv. 3 --> Lv. 4]
+
Great! My hunch was right. Since the dungeon's theme is clockwork, I figured that analyzing the traps and enemies here would increase my [Robotics] level.
"Oh, come on! You're slowing us down dude," Infinity interjects. "Just let Miss Jessica do her work and finish this."
"I-I'm sorry," I respond in embarrassment. "I got too excited. Please, continue and don't mind me. I promise we'll just be behind."
Damn it! I forgot about my party for a second there. In my experience with playing games, nothing kills the mood better than an NPC slowing down the game because they're observing something for too long. While levelling up my skills is fun for me, I have to be mindful of them too. So with that in mind, I just lag behind slightly from the rest while observing every trap Jessica disarms. She's kind enough to reveal them every single time. Eventually, we encounter our first enemy.
[Clockwork Rat Lv. 3]
It's a huge metallic rat the size of a child that stands upright and has a wheel for legs. It immediately lunges at us, but Damien easily blocks it with his shield while Infinity cuts it in half.
+
[Congratulations! You're Level 2]
[Here are your Rewards]
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 2
Sense: 2
Defense: 2
Magic: 2
+
Finally! So the stats match the level huh. Usually, you customize your character with stats but if it's like this, you'll have a balanced but mediocre character. If that's the case, you have to be creative with the items you purchase or the skills you cultivate to rise above everyone. Damn, so all those additions Eleanor has with her stats are all from items or skills? The more I know about this game, the more I realize how ridiculously strong she is.
"Debwon, what's a lebwel up?" Veronica asks me.
Shit, how am I supposed to explain such a complicated thing to a kid? Seeing my distress, Jessica approaches us.
"Just say, 'Mr. Kal, guide me' and Mr. Kal will show you everything," Jessica explains.
"Okay! Mr. Kal, guide me!" Veronica follows.
After she says that, a huge smile appears on her face.
"Debwon there's a monkey!" she exclaims.
"That's the Kaleidoscope's guide for children," Jessica whispers. "Medacorp made that when they managed to convince the government to lower the age restriction for users."
"Hehe, thanks," I reply.
Whew, thank you Medacorp for your user friendly product. While I'm feeling relieved, I see Infinity in the corner of my eye glancing at us with the most bitter look. Shit, is he jealous? I literally can't deal with this right now. Not in a dungeon.
"Uhh.. Miss Jessica, we should continue," I suggest while inching away from her slightly.
"What's with the Miss Jessica?" she pouts. "Call me Jess! Heck, you can even call me Jessie if you want."
Infinity's face becomes more contorted.
"A-alright, alright Jess let's go."
We continue our journey and we fight stronger and stronger mechanical monsters. From the rat, we met a rabbit, a fox, a footman, and now a pack of wolves. Throughout the fights, I analyze each enemy as much as I could and even kill a few with my dagger. Also, when nobody's looking, I have Sher eat the barely living ones.
+
[Status Window]
Name: Devon Miller
Class: Hero of Gluttony Lv. 7
EXP: 1436
Strength: 7 (+2)
Dexterity: 7
Sense: 7
Defense: 7
Magic: 7 (+4)
Gluttony's Abyss: 60% [30 min.]
Skills: Overeating Lv 2, Virus Digestion Lv. 2, Advanced Robotics Lv. 2
+
While I wasn't paying attention, [Robotics] upgraded to [Advanced Robotics]. It seems that when a skill reaches Lv. 5, it upgrades to a higher tier of the skill. To think that my very first dungeon is a robot themed one. Did I just use an entire year's worth of luck? Well, whatever. I think with this, I'll be able to work on Jimmy now. I look to Jessica's side and see that Veronica is still happily watching the children's guide. Just how long is that thing and what did Medacorp do to get a kid's attention for this long?
As I busy myself with my status window, an arm brusquely latches onto my neck.
"Hey, there newbie! How's it going?" Infinity asks as he forcefully pulls me towards himself.
I cough instinctively. "H-hey. Oww. What's up?"
He chuckles. "What kinda weakass guy are you? Just a little love tap and you hurting?"
I smile wryly.
Then, he pulls me in real close to his face. "You listen here buddy," he whispers harshly. "I don't know why Jessie's been soft on you but you better stay away from her yeah? She's mine."
I look toward Damien and Lamar for help but they avert my gaze.
"Oi oi who're you looking at?" he continues and laughs. "They're my boys, my pals, my henchmen. I pay them, they listen to me. So when I do something like this..."
*WHACK*
His fist finds his way to my stomach and winds me out.
"They ain't gonna help ya."
"Is something wrong back there?" Jessica asks quite a distance away to see what's going on.
Infinity flasher her a smile. "It's ok Miss Jessica. We're just bonding." He maintains his act until Jessica turns away.
"I hope I made myself clear bitch boy," he says as he taps my cheek. Then, he finally lets me go.
I nurse the part of the stomach that he hit. What a shitshow. Who has henchmen nowadays? What a waste of money.
Not wanting any unnecessary trouble, I follow his warning and avoid getting close to Jessica for the rest of the journey. Fortunately, we are so busy with handling enemies that she and I couldn't even interact even if we want to. Eventually, we arrive at a large doorway where we stop for a bit.
"Phew! Thanks everyone," Jessica announces . "Beyond this door is where the boss is. Recon said that this one specializes in mental attacks so drink concentration potions if you have them to increase your [Sense]."
Shit! I only bought recovery and magic ones. It seems that Jessica notices me panic a bit and tosses me a yellow flask.
"On the house," she grins.
I nod slightly and reply, "Thanks."
I glance at Infinity and just as expected, he is annoyed. Oh well, this is the boss anyway. Hopefully after this we'll say goodbye and never see each other again.
+
[Medium Concentration Potion Consumed]
[Sense +15]
+
After taking a swig of the potion, I notice my surroundings widen. Every breath, every detail is committed to memory. I feel more alert like I drank pure caffeine. I was doubting the storeowner's drug rumor but if something like this is legal, it's most likely true.
"Everyone ready?" Jessica checks one last time. We nod in response and she pushes the door open.
Upon entering the room, the first thing I notice is that it's cold. So cold that it feels as if we entered a freezer. Then, as the door closes behind us, we hear long, raspy breaths.
*Heeeeeeh* *Haaaaaaah*
This rhythmic breathing echoes in this dimly lit room. We ready ourselves as we look around for the source of the sound.
"Weeeeelcooome," a fragile male voice reverberates through my ears.
*Heeeeeeeh* *Haaaaaaaaah*
"It's gooood oof youuu to vissit ssssomeone like me," he continues. His words are slow and almost whispering but the terror they put in my heart is immense.
*Voom* *Voom* *Voom*
One after another, the torches in the room are lit with bluish white flames revealing a decrepit old man hooked up to a life support machine. I look at the name floating over his head.
[Clockworker Sinter Lv. ??]
"What the hell?" Infinity scoffs, "The boss is an old man? This should be easy."
Upon hearing those words, the old man cackles in the most otherworldly way. As if hell itself has been summoned and we are in the presence of someone so great.
"Youuuuu huuuumor mmeee chiiiiild," he says as the bed lifts him up. Now facing us, I see that his entire body is disfigured, his skin has turned grey, and his hair are mere patches on an otherwise clear head.
Infinity groans in reply. "Let's just kill him yeah? I'm gonna kill him now," he says and immediately rushes to the old man with his sword poised to strike on his neck.
"Infinity, no!" Lamar yells at the top of his lungs. This is actually the first time I heard him speak. He's usually the calm one out of the trio and he has been composed ever since we entered. But now, his eyes are full of dread and beads of sweat roll on his forehead.
"The boss drop is mine!" he yells as he does one final lunge towards the bed. However, before he could reach one centimeter more, blurs of black from his sides hurtle towards him.
*CLANG*
The two objects collide and Infinity is caught in the middle.
*Silence*
My eyes go wide when I realize what happened. Shit that's ... an iron maiden isn't it? There's no way he survived being trapped inside an iron coffin with spikes in it.
"Damn it!" Jessica swears under her breath. "We can't beat the boss the easy way now."
The old man cackles again. This time, so loud and uncontrollable that he starts coughing up blood.
"Foooooolish chiiiiiiildren. Diiiiiiid youuuu reaaaaaally thiiiiiink I wouuuuld fiiiight you?" he spits at us with words full of malice and mischievousness. "Beeeeehooold. Myyyyy chaaaaampion."
"All of you! Get ready to run away! The plans have chang-!" before Jessica could finish her sentence, a large blade pierces through her abdomen.
"Big sister!" Veronica yells.
I watch as the light in Jessica's eyes dim as she collapses on the ground. My eyes quiver. They search for the owner of the sword. It's Infinity. His head is covered by a mechanical contraption that rotates and shifts with his movements. I look behind me to search for Lamar and Damien's help but they both look at me apologetically before yelling out
"Escape Dungeon!"
...
I scoff. What's this familiar feeling?
*LUB DUB* my heartbeat echoes through my ears.
"Sorry, Devon but it's either you or me!" a voice of a young teenage boy brings me some clarification.
*LUB* *DUB*
Ah, that's right. How could I have forgotten.
*LUB* *DUB*
+
[Warning: Player Brainwaves Unstable]
+
Unstable? No. My mind's as clear as ever. I've grown too comfortable being surrounded by good people that I've forgotten that most of the people on this goddamn planet are scumbags.
*LUB* *DUB*
+
[Latent Player Skill Detected]
[Battle Instinct Lv. 1 Acquired]
+
It's been too long Devon. Too fucking long.
"He he he. Myyyyy myyyy I feeeel piiity foooor youuu. Dessserted by aallieees. Youuuur shaaaarp gaaaaze saaays iiiit aaaall," the old man keeps running his mouth. "Gooooo. Fiiiniish thiis."
The possessed Infinity bolts towards me. He's quick but his movements are clumsy since his body and mind are not synchronized. He swings his sword downwards and I sidestep to avoid it.
"Debwon!" Veronica cries.
"Shh shh, it's ok Veronica. I'm ok," Jessica grunts as she props herself up. "It's just a game see? I'm not bleeding."
Veronica sniffles and searches for the wound. "Not there?"
"That's right, not there. It's not real." Jessica replies. "Now, remember what Mr. Kal taught you?"
She nods.
"Since this is a game, I want you to help Devon ok? Can you do that for me?"
Finding her courage, Veronica wipes away her tears and nods firmly. She turns towards me and yells, "Go tiger!" Then, a spectral image of a tiger runs towards me and enters my chest.
+
[Player: Veronica Used The Skill "Fighting Spirit"]
[Your heart is on fire when fighting a strong opponent]
[When facing a stronger opponent, you gain +10 to your attack power]
+
*Whoosh*
My dagger bursts into flames.
"He he he. Paaaatheeeetic. Faaaster myyy chaaampion," the old man commands.
Without delay, Infinity increases his speed to the point that his blade kisses my cheek.
+
[Fight Protocols Activated]
[Battle Instinct Lv. 1 Activated]
[Showing an efficient way to eliminate the opponent]
+
I can see it. His next move, where he's going to swing, where he'll run to next, his breathing, his stance. I see everything as if time has slowed down just for me. Oh, when was the last time since I felt like this?
*Slash* *Slash*
I use the fiery dagger to slice his neck and his armpit in one quick motion.
+
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
+
Infinity roars and keeps up his barrage of attacks. But it's no use. I step to the side,twirl around, jump briefly; I dance to the swings of his sword. And every time he misses, I slice him on a vital spot.
*
[Critical hit!]
[Critical hit!]
+
"I-iiiimpoossible..." the old man stutters his face showing legitimate worry. "Whaaaat aree youu doing?! Fiiiiniiish hiiim off!"
Infinity shrieks. He's breath is ragged and his skin is riddled with slashes. It's weird since there's no blood but I can tell that he's on his last legs. As if sensing that he's nearing his limit, Infinity fashions a stance as if he's charging for one final strike.
+
[Warning: Player Scout Rando Charging Ultimate Skill "Iai Slash"]
+
So that's your real name? I feel a wide smile creep up on my face. My heart pounds through my ribs and my skin tingles. With one strike this is over! I wonder who's gonna come out on top?
"Bring it, bitch!" I roar.
He shrieks at the top of his lungs as he lunges at me for the last time.
*Slash*
+
[Perfect Counter!]
[Critical Strike!]
+
With one swift motion, Infinity falls to the ground and the device on his head shatters on impact. I exhale and sheathe my dagger.
"Noooooo. Impooosssibble!!" the old man yells with all his strength. His words are full of bitterness and hatred. I never experienced NPC's like this before. Medacorp really is awesome.
I fish the robots that I made yesterday out of my pouch and release them towards the bed. There's a rat, a jumping one, and one that does nothing but front flips. They all fit on my palm but the surprise inside them is anything but small.
"Whaaat aaare thoooose traaashy coooontraaaptions?" he chortles. "I thooought you weeeere sooomeone speeeecial buuut eveeen yoouuu caaan't eeeenter myyy spaaace."
I then bring out the remote that goes along with the robots. Upon seeing it, the color on the old man's face disappears.
"I don't have to get close to you to end you, motherfucker!" I flip him off and press the button.
*BOOOOOOOOM*