Dante glanced around at the assembled group, a thoughtful expression on his face. "We should probably start strategizing," he suggested, his eyes focusing on each member.
Sybil, eager to show off, interjected with a dismissive wave. "Come on, we're wasting time with this. Tanks at the front, mages at the back – it's simple."
Dante tried to reason with him, "We need a plan if we're going to succeed. It's not as straightforward as you think."
Saad, unsure of his role in the strategizing, remained silent, absorbing the exchange. He felt a bit out of his depth, unfamiliar with this type of tactical discussion.
Penelope, breaking her silence, suggested optimistically, "If we figure this out today, we might have a smoother run next time." Sybil, clearly more interested in the prospect of working with attractive girls, perked up at her words.
Tarquin, seemingly fed up with the talk, rolled his eyes. "Whatever strategy you guys decide on, won't I be up close in combat?" Since he was dual wielder, he seemed to think that perhaps his role was more important than others.
Verena, not appreciating Tarquin's tone, responded in a sweet yet slightly cutting manner, "If the tanks don't pull aggro in time, and the mages don't control the crowd, can you handle everything on your own?"
Tarquin's displeasure was evident, and he shot back, "I wasn't talking to you."
Saad found the tension a little overbearing. He wasn't here to see this drama. They only had four hours and he had a lot of materials to gather. He felt like they were just wasting time.
Verena didn't back down. "But you are. I am a part of this team and if what you are saying is going to get me in trouble later, I might as well as get it out of me right now."
Tension lingered briefly before Sylvan intervened with a huff, "Why don't we just stick to the usual – tanks at the front, pulling agro and rest can attack freely."
Dante, quick to agree, turned to Saad, seeking assurance. "Kael, can you handle crowd control? I will help as well with my magic."
Saad, eager to contribute, nodded and replied, "I can do it." The atmosphere remained tense, but the group seemed to settle on a plan, albeit reluctantly.
Dante led the group forward, signaling for everyone to get ready. Saad swiftly grasped his whips, feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. Sybil and Sylvan took the front positions as tanks, with the rest forming a tight formation behind them.
As they turned a corner in the tunnel, the bizarre and unsettling cave gave way to a vast area filled with towering flowers and stems, reaching towards the sky. The flowers sparkled with an otherworldly iridescence, creating an oddly beautiful but discomforting sight. Saad instinctively checked for any deceptive appearances.
The notifications appeared:
[Carrion Flower]
These tall, iridescent flowers often lured prey and served as the home for Flower Ladies.
[Yellow Worm]
Level: 3
Type: Darkness
Description: Yellow worms produced yellow threads used as clothing materials.
Attributes:
HP: 30/30
ATK: 20
DEF: 30
AGI: 3
INT: 3
Abilities:
[Acid Thread]
[Physical Resistant]
Weaknesses: Arcane Attacks
Tarquin turned back to the group, his eyes serious. "Alright, let's not waste any more time. We need to deal with those yellow worms first. Once they're out of the way, we can focus on the flowers. Keep your guard up, and let's make this quick."
Dante, nodding in agreement, added, "Tarquin's right. Our priority is to clear the immediate threats. Kael, any thoughts on how to avoid damaging the flowers?" It felt as if as the 'leader' Dante wanted his output as well.
Saad, still gripping his whips, hesitated before responding, "Well, we could try to lure the worms away from the flowers, leading them into a more open area. That way, when we engage, we'll have a better chance of keeping the fight away from the flowers. Maybe the tanks can pull in the aggro."
Tarquin grunted in approval. "Sounds reasonable. Let's do that, then. Lead the way, 'Tanks'."
Sybil smirked and took a deep breath, acknowledging the responsibility. "Alright, follow us. Stay close, and be ready to strike when the worms are isolated."
"What if the worms don't follow or we end up hitting the stems?" Sylavan asked as he put his shield forward and stared at the worms crawling on the stems.
Verena, wearing a cheerful smile, responded to Saad, "If that happens, it happens." They exchanged quick nods, preparing to engage with the creatures in the labyrinth.
Dante issued the order, "Let's focus on the worms first. Sylvan, lead the charge."
Sylvan moved ahead confidently, his shield ready. The earlier tension now replaced with a shared purpose as they confronted the worms.
The group, led by Sybil and Sylvan, cautiously approached the patch of Carrion Flowers infested with Yellow Worms. The air was thick with the nauseating aroma of the flowers, and the worms wriggled ominously on the stems. Dante raised his hand, conjuring an Ice Ball and hurling it at the nearest cluster of worms.
The Ice Ball exploded, freezing a group of Yellow Worms in place. As the others were momentarily immobilized, Dante gestured, summoning a Healing Cage around his teammates to provide a protective barrier. The ice chains emanating from his hands reached out, binding the frozen worms further, rendering them helpless.
Tarquin dashed forward, wielding his dual swords with precision. His Twin Strike technique sliced through the icy encased worms, shattering them into crystalline fragments. With a swift spin, he unleashed a Crosscut, clearing a path through the remaining creatures. Engaging his Blade Storm skill, he became a whirlwind of blades, ensuring no worm was left standing.
Sylvan, with his sword and shield, moved in unison with Tarquin. He executed precise slashes with his sword, following up with a Shield Block to deflect any potential counterattacks. Channeling divine power, he unleashed Divine Justice, creating a radiant burst that obliterated several worms around him.
Sybil, the tank of the group, activated Taunt, drawing the attention of the remaining worms. His Guardian Shield absorbed the incoming attacks, and with a resolute stance, he invoked Impenetrable Fortress, fortifying the team's defense.
Verena, the spear master, exhibited incredible agility. She lunged forward with Piercing Thrust, impaling multiple worms on her spear. Transitioning seamlessly, she performed Whirling Assault, creating a deadly dance that dispatched worms in her vicinity. The Spear Dance skill added finesse to her attacks, making her movements almost mesmerizing.
Penelope, the Reaper, moved gracefully through the field of gigantic flowers. With a wave of her hand, she initiated Soul Harvest, draining the life force from the worms and replenishing her energy. Utilizing Shadow Step, she maneuvered effortlessly around the flowers, repositioning herself strategically. Finally, she embraced her Reaper's Embrace skill, engulfing her scythe in shadowy energy as she swung it with lethal precision.
Saad cracked his whips in the air, initiating Whip Strike. The whip cracked like thunder, striking multiple worms simultaneously. Without even him calling out, crimson sovereign was out and every time Saad moved around, Crimson sovereign protected him and it seemed that as every time Saad and other members of team defeated a worm, Saad would see the message that crimson sovereign had received a part of life source. Saad wondered just what was up with that but he was in the middle of fighting and had no time to check.
He then executed Grapple and Riposte, entangling a group of worms and swiftly counterattacking with his whip. The Whip of Fury skill, a more advanced move, allowed him to unleash a rapid barrage of strikes, creating a devastating whirlwind.
The collaboration of their skills resulted in a synchronized dance of destruction. The Yellow Worms fell before the combined might of the group, clearing out the worm's population.
Saad levelled up and repeatedly using his skills was also a great thing to see.
But as expected, their hits landed on the stems of flowers as well and every time it happened. They all could collectively see a message.
[The sleeping ladies are frowning.]
Saad remembered a closely related message from when he had done the grave hunt. It seemed like if this kept happening, any minute now and those sleeping ladies will wake up.
"We should stop for a bit. Maybe replenish the stamina and scout a little?" Dante shouted out and the other hesitated but killed the prey they were dealing with before pulling away.
Sybil grumbled as he stared at Dante, "I have plenty of stamina. I can go on. Maybe you guys can rest?"
"You need us to kill the worms you can't when you taunt them. Can't you see?" Tarquin rolled his eyes, looking his old arrogant self.
Sybil didn't seem to like that and Saad found the situation ridiculous. It was just a game, why were they all so hyper?
"I am going to scout. Who would like to come with me?" It seems like Penelope was also rather done with the situation.