Their humble party stepped into the foreboding depths of the necropolis, each footfall echoing ominously against the ancient, decaying stone. At the front of the group was the woman ranger, her eyes sharp and movements fluid as she scanned their surroundings. Beside her, the male healer walked with a cautious grace, his staff emitting a faint, soothing glow. Firelez trailed slightly behind, his confidence reassuring his companions.
Between them, Tenza felt a strange mix of excitement and trepidation. As they ventured further, the oppressive atmosphere of the necropolis pressed in, the distant whispers of long-dead spirits adding to the sense of impending danger. They could hear other players in the distance, struggling.
Tenza broke the silence, her voice steady but curious, "I'm Tenza. Nice to meet you, can I know your names?"
Both, the ranger and the healer, exchanged puzzled glances, their confusion noticeable. Firelez broke the awkward moment, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Let me point you at the very basics of PvP," he rumbled. "You can inspect other players to know their set, the one they will use to fight you or mobs, their combat power, meaning their prowess at using that set, and their names. That's why they didn't ask yours and didn't need us to present ourselves."
Tenza felt a flush of embarrassment but quickly nodded. "Sorry about that."
The ranger offered a reassuring smile. "No problem. I'm Woomilla, nice to meet you too."
"And I'm Pinchitavo, but you can call me Tavo." the healer added with a friendly nod.
As they continued their descent, the path narrowed, leading them to a vast chamber dominated by a massive, oxidized metallic door at its far end. The air grew colder, and the sense of dread intensified, but the camaraderie among the group provided a small, comforting light amidst the encroaching darkness. The faint sound of distant battles rumbled in the background, Latin American players pushing their luck against the lower mobs for a few precious levels and drops. Still, none had made it far—this dungeon was too much for most.
Ahead of them, the enormous, oxidized door loomed like a forgotten sentinel, blocking their path forward. The metal was corroded and covered in patches of seaweed, much like the rest of the necropolis, its surface cold and damp from centuries of exposure to the elements.
The group stopped in front of the door. Tenza reached out and touched the metal, feeling the cold seep into her fingers. Woomilla scratched her head, staring at the door with a frown. "It's stuck, isn't it?" she asked, kicking a nearby rock out of frustration. "What do you think is behind it? Flooded rooms, traps...?"
Pinchitavo knelt closer, examining the door as well. "There's got to be something blocking it from the other side. Maybe a mechanism we haven't found?" he mused, tapping the surface lightly with the end of his staff. His eyes flicked towards Firelez, who stood silent, arms crossed, waiting for them to figure it out.
Tenza narrowed her eyes at the door, her mind racing. Something about this puzzle felt familiar, a lesson on the edge of her memory. Air pressure. Archon had taught her about air pressure during one of their late-night study sessions—about how different pressures could keep barriers in place.
She crouched low, pressing her hand near the bottom of the door, close to a small gap between the corroded metal and the ground. She closed her eyes and focused, trying to sense any movement in the air. Slowly, she felt a subtle but steady flow of air, moving towards the other side of the door.
"There's a pressure difference," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Woomilla raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Tenza stood up, brushing her hands off. "The air—it's moving towards the other side. Which means the pressure here is higher than on the other side of the door. That's why it won't open."
Pinchitavo looked at her in disbelief. "You're using physics to solve a game puzzle?" he asked, half-amused, half-confused.
Tenza met his gaze, a small smirk creeping onto her face. "Godslayer did the same thing. Both in the game and in real life. He always said information wins battles, not fighting blindly." She knelt again and gestured to Pinchitavo to come closer. "It's all about knowing what's happening, both here and out there. The air's flowing towards the door, meaning we have to equalize the pressure."
Pinchitavo's eyes lit up in curiosity. "Wait, you're serious?" He knelt beside her and examined the air movement more closely, feeling the flow for himself. "I mean, I like physics in real life too, but I didn't think it would apply to something like this..."
Firelez chuckled softly, his voice carrying a hint of approval. "That's exactly why Godslayer is respected," he said. "Players get caught up in combat stats and forget the basics. Critical thinking, observation—those are your real weapons in both the game and life."
Woomilla tilted her head, still processing the idea. "So what's the plan then?"
Tenza glanced at the door again. "We need to balance the pressure between this room and the next. Look for vents or openings that might help release some of the air here."
They scanned the room, and after a few moments, Pinchitavo spotted small vents at the top of the walls, half-covered by the necropolis's ever-present seaweed. He quickly went to work clearing them out. Slowly, the air in the room began to shift, the once overwhelming pressure lightening as they equalized it with the room beyond.
The door groaned, then with a final creak, it slowly began to open.
As it did, a gust of cooler air rushed past them from the now-accessible chamber. A musty, damp smell filled the room, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of decay. The path forward was revealed—another stretch of dimly lit corridors, dark water shimmering under the faint light of bioluminescent kelp hanging from the ceiling.
Woomilla let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Alright, physics wins this one," she said with a playful smile.
Pinchitavo stood, nodding at Tenza with newfound respect. "I never thought I'd be solving puzzles like this in a game. It's... kinda cool."
Tenza shrugged, though a part of her felt a surge of pride. "You never know when you'll need this stuff. Archon used to say that everything we learn has a place, even if we don't realize it at the time."
As they prepared to move forward, Firelez glanced back at the door. "Remember," he said, his voice firm, "it's not about brute force. The more you observe, the more you'll learn. Keep that in mind when the real fights begin."
The distant sounds of the other teams' struggles grew fainter as they delved deeper into the necropolis. But the unsettling feeling of being watched persisted, a cold, unseen presence lingering just beyond their reach. Whatever lay ahead, it wasn't just the dungeon they'd need to worry about.
Skeletons appeared from the ground, slowly and menacing but the necropolis seemed to pulse with an eerie energy as the group braced for the onslaught of skeletal hordes. Firelez didn't retreat a single step, he stood resolute, a determined glint in his eye as he prepared to summon a guardian force unlike any other. The air crackled with anticipation, shadows dancing across the decayed stone walls.
With a commanding gesture, Firelez called forth his guardian "Shaelyn, answer my call!". In an instant, the atmosphere shifted, and a beam of luminescent light descended from above, illuminating the darkened chamber. From this celestial light, a figure emerged, sleek and deadly, exuding an aura of unparalleled precision and lethal grace.
She was a vision of futuristic elegance, clad in high-tech armor that melded seamlessly with her form. Her skin gleamed with a breathtaking sheen, pulsating with vibrant energy lines that coursed through her entire being. Her eyes, glowing a fierce, unyielding red, scanned the area with calculating intensity, locking onto the approaching threat with unwavering focus.
In her hands, she wielded a formidable crossbow, its design advanced, even for game standards, capable of delivering devastating precision strikes.
The guardian's presence was both awe-inspiring and intimidating, a world class guardian force.
As the first wave of skeletons began to advance, she leaped into action, her crossbow humming with deadly efficiency. Bolts of energy shot forth, striking down foes with unerring accuracy, turning the tide of battle before it had even truly begun.
The party, emboldened by the guardian's prowess, readied themselves for the fight, knowing they had a force of unmatched power on their side.
As Shaelyn Verayne unleashed a flurry of precision shots, the party were momentarily struck with awe. The skeletons staggered under the force of her energy bolts, falling in heaps as the guardian carved a path through their ranks.
"Shaelyn Verayne, the Shadow Huntress!" Woomilla exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe, eyes sparkling like she'd just seen an idol. She had studied Firelez's past battles meticulously, but this was a new level. "She's... even more powerful now than she was in the World Championship!"
Pinchitavo stood dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open as he watched Shaelyn's lethal efficiency. He blinked, realizing he hadn't drawn his staff. "I... wow. How does one even get something like that?" he muttered.
"Eyes forward, Tavo!" Firelez barked, jolting Pinchitavo back to the present. "Buff the party now. Snapshotting matters here."
Pinchitavo fumbled for a moment, raising his staff, still absorbing what had just unfolded. "Right! Snapshotting—got it! Buffing everyone... now!"
A faint golden glow enveloped the group as Pinchitavo cast a protective barrier, enhancing their defensive stats. Firelez nodded approvingly but kept his focus sharp.
"Tenza!" Firelez called, his voice calm but commanding. "The melee skellys are rushing us. You need to position between them and our caster. Get your snapshot right—stay close enough to benefit from Tavo's buffs but not so close that you'll take hits meant for him."
Tenza, tightening her grip on her blade, gave a firm nod. "Understood!" Even if she couldn't understand the concept of snapshotting completely, she moved swiftly into position. The thrill of combat rushed through her veins as she saw the horde charging in. She longed for her own Guardian Force, but this was her moment to prove her worth. "I'll keep them off us," she added, resolute.
"Good," Firelez replied, his voice steady. "Focus on snapshotting cleanly. When the server checks your position, it'll determine if you get the buff or take damage. Keep that in mind with every movement."
Tenza's eyes flickered with determination, finally understanding the concept. She advanced, careful to pace her steps, knowing that any reckless movement would ruin the timing of her positioning and snapshot.
"Woomilla," Firelez continued, "the ranged skeletons are hanging back. Pick them off—stay mobile, but make sure your positioning syncs with Tavo's buffs too. Your damage will spike if you're within his buff radius when you shoot."
Woomilla grinned. "Got it!" she said, notching an arrow. She bounced lightly on her feet, calculating her positioning. With a quick, fluid movement, she drew back her bowstring and loosed her first shot. It struck a skeleton archer square in the chest, its bones crumbling to dust. "I've got this," she whispered to herself, feeling the rhythm of battle fall into place.
Firelez's voice cut through the clatter of bones and the hum of Shaelyn's crossbow. "Listen, everyone! This is all about efficiency. We need to work as one, or we'll get overwhelmed. Keep your heads, keep your spacing right, and watch your snapshots. If you're in sync, you'll maximize buffs and minimize damage."
The skeletons surged again, but Shaelyn moved like a phantom, her bolts ripping through the air, each one landing with devastating accuracy. It was as if she anticipated the skeletons' movements before they even made them. Woomilla shot a quick glance at Shaelyn, eyes wide with admiration.
"She's unreal... so cool," Woomilla whispered, unable to hide her excitement.
Tenza, meanwhile, swung her blade in a tight arc, taking down two advancing skeletons with not so much precision. "Firelez," she said between breaths, "when will I get a Guardian Force like that?"
"We'll take you there," Firelez responded, his voice calm, even as Shaelyn leaped over his shoulder, firing bolts at a skeleton commander creeping behind him. "And understanding the basics, makes you one step closer."
The skeleton horde was thinning, but there was still no sign of the greater threat that Pinchitavo had sensed earlier. The necropolis pulsed with dark energy, the feeling of being watched growing stronger with every moment. Firelez's gaze darted across the room, still sharp, still focused.
"The real danger hasn't shown itself yet," Pinchitavo warned, his voice low but serious. "Whatever it is… it's waiting."
Firelez nodded. "I know. That's why we stick to the basics. Focus on positioning, work as a unit. No solo plays, not yet."
The atmosphere thickened, tension rising. Shaelyn Verayne continued her relentless assault on the skeletal rear ranks, and the players braced themselves for whatever was watching in the shadows, knowing that they had a world-class Guardian Force at their side—and the battle was just beginning.
The battle raged on as skeletons emerged in relentless waves, testing the group's limits. Shaelyn Verayne danced through the shadows, her crossbow never missing its mark, bolts zipping through the air and striking down enemies with pinpoint accuracy. But even with her unmatched skill, the others were struggling.
Woomilla, flushed with excitement, had initially kept pace, firing arrow after arrow at the advancing skeletons. But something wasn't right. Her shots weren't hitting as hard as they should have. Frustration crept into her expression.
"Why am I doing less damage?" she muttered under her breath, glancing at her damage meter. Her eyes flicked over to Pinchitavo, who was casting buffs and heals, his face a mask of concentration. "Wait… I moved out of range, didn't I?"
Pinchitavo groaned internally, his mana draining faster than anticipated as he tried to balance healing both Woomilla and Tenza. He noticed Woomilla had strayed too far from his buff radius, forcing him to adjust constantly.
"I can't keep up with you both!" he called out, his voice strained. "Woomilla, get back within range! I'm wasting mana trying to keep you alive!"
Woomilla's face turned a deep shade of red. "Sorry, sorry! Coming back!" She leapt back into position, but the damage had already been done. Several skeletons had closed in, forcing her to hastily backpedal and fire with less precision.
Meanwhile, Tenza was in the thick of the fight, her katana slicing through skeletal bodies with brute force. But her swings were awkward, lacking finesse. She was trying to mimic the movements of Godslayer but every slash felt clumsy, unrefined.
"Why isn't this working?" Tenza thought, her frustration building. She had studied Godslayer's battle techniques every time she saw him fight, memorizing the fluidity and grace with which he dispatched enemies. But in practice, it was like her hands refused to follow her mind's commands. Every swing felt just a little too slow, a little too imprecise.
A skeleton lunged at her, and she slashed it down, but not without stumbling slightly as she repositioned. The force of her attack pushed her just outside of Pinchitavo's healing range, forcing him to cast yet another emergency heal to keep her on her feet.
"Tenza, stop moving too far!" Pinchitavo shouted, exasperated. "I can't keep draining my mana like this! If you're out of range, I can't help you!"
Tenza gritted her teeth, feeling a pang of disappointment. She was keeping the skeletons at bay, but it wasn't clean, and it wasn't efficient. "I'm trying," she muttered under her breath. But no matter how hard she tried, her movements lacked the elegance of Godslayer's techniques. She could see it in her mind—the perfect arcs, the flawless execution—but her body refused to cooperate.
Firelez watched all of this unfold, pressing a hand to his face in disbelief. He chuckled to himself, remembering a joke Godslayer had once told him: "Usually, rangers forget they need to kite, keeping their distance from enemies. That's why they were called ADCs in my time—Attacking Dangerously Close."
He laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Woomilla's living up to that nickname," he muttered. "And Tenza's trying too hard to mimic Godslayer without knowing the basics."
He glanced back at Shaelyn, who was effortlessly dispatching skeletons as though they were mere nuisances. Her crossbow hummed with energy, bolts flying faster than the eye could follow. While the others fumbled with positioning, Shaelyn never missed a beat. Each time Woomilla or Tenza faltered, Shaelyn was there to compensate, picking off enemies they had missed or hadn't seen.
"Shaelyn is doing all the heavy lifting," Firelez thought. But he could feel it—the presence Pinchitavo had warned them about. It was still watching, still lingering. And it was sending the skeletons in waves, as if testing them, waiting for them to grasp the concept of snapshotting. It felt deliberate, almost like whoever—or whatever—was watching wanted them to learn the mechanics under pressure.
Firelez sighed. "These waves aren't going to stop until they get it."
"Woomilla, kite them better! You're not just dodging, you're keeping your distance while attacking. Stay close enough to get buffs, but far enough to avoid the melee," Firelez instructed, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
Woomilla bit her lip, nodding quickly as she fired off another shot, this time while retreating in sync with Pinchitavo's range. Her arrows found their mark more effectively this time, her damage output increasing as she aligned herself with his buffs.
"Tenza, forget Godslayer's moves," Firelez called out. "You're not him, and you don't need to be. Focus on basic footwork and timing. You're moving too much—just focus on hitting clean and staying in range."
Tenza hesitated, her brow furrowing. She was frustrated, disappointed in herself for not being able to replicate what she had admired for so long. But she couldn't deny that Firelez was right. She wasn't Godslayer, and right now, she needed to survive this fight, not look flashy. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her stance, parrying an incoming strike with more focus on stability and control.
The tide of battle began to shift again, slowly but surely. Woomilla started kiting the ranged skeletons more effectively, maintaining her distance while staying within Pinchitavo's range. Tenza's strikes became more calculated, no longer imitating Godslayer's elaborate techniques but focusing on clear, efficient slashes.
But even as they improved, Firelez knew they were still only scratching the surface of what they needed to learn. The real challenge lay ahead, with whatever malevolent force was still watching, waiting for them to either rise to the occasion or fall.
As the last skeleton of the current wave crumbled to the ground, Firelez straightened, glancing at Shaelyn Verayne. She stood amidst the carnage, the chamber littered with the bones of their enemies. Her crossbow was still humming, her red eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Firelez smiled grimly. "We're not done yet."