January 8th, 2022
***
"I think we can handle it."
"Yeah! Come on, it won't be much harder than the last."
"And we've all leveled up since then too."
The three young adults - two boys and one girl - pestered Mira.
The new dungeon they found didn't have any requirements for entry. Only a recommended level range of six to eight. But her instincts screamed at her every time she approached the entrance. Since acquiring the status page, she had come to trust them without question. But was it worth missing out on XP?
She looked up at the three in front of her. "We will enter, trust me. I just think we should find one more person first."
But perhaps she would regret this. A baleful aura brazenly swept past the entire area before locking onto her. The feeling originated from several blocks down. Two of the members didn't notice; while Cain - a young swordsman she had grown to respect - twitched his eyebrow. His face contorted as he looked for the source.
"Mira, I trust your caution, but we're about to lose the XP if we don't go in now."
Goosebumps formed on her skin. "You know him?"
Cain hesitated. "Yeah. You could say that. He won't fight us, but he'll hog the kills."
"Is he really strong enough to do that? What level is he?"
Cain snorted. "His level doesn't matter. He's just greedy."
'How can you say it doesn't matter...' she pondered.
The source of the aura would come into view any second. Her instincts went from screaming to a complete hush. As if they were scared of being caught. A tanned well-built man came into view. His short brown hair stopped shy of his bushy eyebrows. A beautiful pair of hazel eyes scanned the four. It seems the other two members had noticed.
The man equipped a grin on his face while jogging over.
"Haha, Cain! Out chasing ladies again I see"- He looked over at Mira. -"I don't think she sees you that way though. It'd be best to look elsewhere."
Cain stepped forward, indignant. "She's done a good job of leading us. And she's also shared some useful tips. You don't have to be an asshole all the time."
The man gave a light smile. "Just giving a friendly warning Cain, glad you're still alive. Any word from the others?"
Cain's eyebrows furrowed. He looked bewildered at his former teacher. "I've called a few, yes. Ren is doing well if that's who you're asking about."
Cain recognized that among the disciples, Ren was the one Richter cared for the most. It was a point of contention among them. Even if Ren did in fact practice more than everyone else.
Richter turned to Mira and introduced himself.
"So what's going on? Why is everyone standing outside?"
Mira hesitated. Her first impression of Richter was bad. He tried sowing discourse between her team and seemed to have a deeper connection to Cain than he let on. If they both turned against her she likely wouldn't survive.
She'd entertain him for now, but if the chance came; she'd make sure he died in the dungeon.
"We were waiting for a fifth person, so we could enter."
"Well I'd love to."
"Great," she breathed. "Head up to the entrance then. we'll be there in a second."
Cain, Nellie, and Sion fell in beside Mira.
"I hate this guy."
"Yeah, I don't like him either."
Nellie and Sion gave their respective opinions. She turned over to Cain again.
"At the very least, he's dependable. I doubt anyone will die." He did his best to lighten the mood as they arrived at the entrance.
Unbeknownst to them during their hushed conversation, Richter was confused. Last time he had simply walked into the cave entrance, nothing to it. But this one had a swirling blue wall of energy which he smacked into. Embarrassed, he managed to learn the basic information about dungeons.
'Why was Dru's cave different?' he wondered.
***
When everyone arrived at the entrance, Richter pushed 'enter' on the blue screen and walked forward, disappearing inside. They followed him in one by one.
Mira paused outside briefly. With Richter gone, a giant weight lifted off her mind. Her body's state returned to normal, and her breathing steadied. It was a brief moment of respite.
"Status."
Her eyes darted down to her 'Abilities' section, where a single ability rested.
[Transcendent Instinct (innate)]
Yep, she trusted her instincts wholeheartedly. How could she not? They hadn't led her astray before.
She took a deep breath and walked through the entrance.
'I need Richter to die.'
***
Richter was growing slightly weary. He could feel Mira's apprehension toward him. Initially, she stood back with the others, letting Richter slash and slay as he pleased. Now, she had changed her mind and pushed past Richter to slay every goblin she could. It was taxing between using his Sense to observe her, and watching for goblins. He didn't mind the shift but her teammates looked uncomfortable. He slid back next to Cain.
"She looks like a maniac," Richter commented.
Mira pushed down a goblin and bruised its head several times with her staff. The poor goblin gave a faint croak, which Mira responded to by jumping on its head. It didn't move again.
Cain tore his gaze away from the scene.
"It obviously has to do with you. What did you do to drive her into a frenzy?"
Richter shrugged, "I really don't know."
"Well it's killed our team dynamic. Nellie and Sion said they don't want to travel with us after we're done here."
Mira killed another goblin.
"Yes!"
She pocketed a dagger, her gaze fixated on Richter, raising the hair on his neck.
"Status."
The group watched her excitedly fiddle with her status page.
"You know what's got her so happy? It's just a level up." Richter's eyes narrowed.
"It's because she reached level 5."
"There something special about that?"
Mira closed her status page and motioned them over.
Cain took a few steps forward. "At level 5, you pick your first skill and unlock your first class-related skill or ability. Mages apparently have a pretty good one."
Richter nodded and followed his lead. He thought back to Mira fiddling with her status.
'Did he have to use his attribute points before he could pick a skill?'
Regardless, Mira's aura underwent a noticeable change. Her calm and collected front reappeared as she led the group to the final room.
***
The tunnel expanded into a 20-square-foot room. Very small, sharp stalagmites and stalactites covered the ground and ceiling. A supersized goblin stood on the bed of spikes near the back of the room, his leathery feet ignoring the hazard.
Richter was familiar with the concept of a bed of nails, but he had never thought to try fighting on one. A wicked smile spread across his face. This sounded fun.
Mira was the only other one who wasn't bothered by the room design. Cain, Nellie, and Sion paled and backed into the tunnel. The idea of tripping and puncturing the skin on a bed of spikes, only to get up and trip again... It sounded like torture.
Mira stepped forward before Richter. She would finish the boss in one attack. Her excitement couldn't be contained any longer.
Richter's sensed a familiar energy cycling through her body.
He arched an eyebrow. "Mira, what are you-"
[Fireball - 60%]
The air around her climbed rapidly, and the mana in her body cycled to her fingertips. A beautiful light red ball of fire grew quickly in her hand. Her skin started peeling off of her fingers as the ball reached 3 feet in diameter.
Mira cackled. This was the power she had been searching for. Mirage felt good, but it had always been missing something. Now, in reality, she finally had a power surpassing reason. And her first class ability was the cherry on top.
[Teleport.]
Mira disappeared and reappeared in front of the boss. She jumped up and slammed the fireball into its chest.
The supersized goblin never stood a chance. The big ball of fire bore straight into it, simultaneously melting and cauterizing his body. As the ball shrank in size the insides of the goblin were visible. Burnt and scorched beyond belief, half of his chest had been torched away. The goblin stumbled backward and fell onto the bed of spikes, dead.
Mira had backed up to watch the carnage she created. Her smirk flipped to anger after he fell back. Richter could already guess why; she didn't get the XP for killing him.
The final blow had been delivered by the spikes it fell on.
He barely held back a laugh. He almost suffered a similar embarrassment with Dru.
He had also filed away some important info about her movement ability. Using his sense, he could feel a marker of her aura placed where she would appear just before disappearing. The amount of time he would have to react was tiny, but could still prove useful.
Richter turned around to walk back when Cain called to him.
"Where are you going?"
Richter turned back to see a new blue portal at the back of the spike room. Nellie and Sion carefully climbed over the stalagmites to leave first. Cain glanced between Mira and Richter before walking through the exit.
Richter cautiously walked the spikes toward the portal. Mira didn't move her body, already touching distance from the portal.
She dropped her hand down to a dagger in her back pocket. This was her chance.
Mere feet apart, she drew the dagger and flicked it to Richter's waist. Finally, she'd rid herself of this feeling.
Her mana followed her veins into the aching fingertips of her right hand.
[Fireball - 15%]
A small ball of dark red fire formed in her hand. A pulse of mana washed through her.
[Teleport.]
She lunged forward, aiming for his back - only to find empty space.
"Shi-"
Her breath left her when a blunt impact swept her legs. Her body flipped up horizontally, forming a straight line.
Why was she suddenly facing the ceiling? Wait, the ceiling? Her eyes widened, and she reached out for anything to grab.
There was nothing. She fell straight down onto the bed of spikes.
She screamed in agony. Dozens of small points broke through her skin, drawing blood. She writhed in pain, unable to pick herself up.
Richter leaned over her.
The dagger she threw had never come close, even with such a short distance. It wasn't as easy as just 'aim and throw'. Her plan was also see-through. He didn't even hide the fact that he was tensing his legs waiting.
Richter was visibly disappointed. Still, he didn't plan on killing her. He lugged her unconscious body off the spikes and set her down gently against the wall.
This was a chance to test the healing potion.
He uncapped one and poured it between her lips. The matted holes on her back closed, and some color returned to her face. Satisfied, he left her inside and walked through the portal.
Cain was sitting on a step nearby. He looked up relieved when Richter walked through. He wasn't surprised at the lack of Mira.
"Is she dead?"
"Not necessarily." Richter bought a couple of drinks from a vending machine and sat next to Cain.
He handed Cain a juice box. "Though maybe she should be."
Cain sighed. "I hate that you were right about her."
Richter chuckled. "Give yourself some credit, you had your own suspicions too."
"Yeah, but I didn't think it was to this extent." Cain paused.
"You regret giving her a second chance?"
"Not yet. This incident should of put her in her place. She could become someone reliable in the future."
Cain squinted. "I doubt it."
Richter finished his juice and threw it away.
"I'm going to walk around some more, hopefully find a couple dungeons. What's your plan?"
"I've got a goblin tied up a few blocks away-
"Jesus, Cain what is wrong with you?"
"It's not what you think! I've got a friend who wants to acquire a class. So I'm going to let him kill it."
"Whatever you say kid." Richter slapped his back. "Be careful."
"Mmhm," Cain stood up. "And you were right about Mirage."
Richter smirked, "I know."
He started down the road, toward another group of goblins he sensed.
"Keep improving Cain, you've got a leg up on regular people. Don't fall behind."
"Thank you, Sensei." he bowed.
Cain left in the other direction, disappearing behind the homes and shrubbery.
'Ah, they grew up so fast.' Richter was proud of Cain's growth. Seems a world-changing event helps with that.
He drew his sword and stalked the goblins. A vicious smile blossomed on his face.
***