Meanwhile, Tessa Kendall shares her plans with the assassin.
"Considering it's appropriate to encounter another party, we were unaware of their strength before facing the Titan Orc Lord; it's only natural to preserve our strengths and only fight to warm up and not leave that brat to die."
"Considering that the mentioned party is still alive," she continued.
"Never underestimate them; I've emphasized this repeatedly," Tessa warned.
"Huhuhu. Alright," chuckled Killy Donahue, turning to observe the Dealer in battle. "Simply put, if he dies, we'll also be screwed in this raid."
In sync with Tessa's thoughts, the assassin prepared to face the Titan Orcs. Tessa's magic staff gleamed, striking the ground.
SLAM!
CRACK—CRACK!
The paved ground carved into itself with intertwined ruptures. Immense tree tentacles erupted, coiling among themselves and slicing through the air, each end sharper than blades.
"KIEEEEK…! HUMANS!"
RUMBLE!
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had…]
[Titan…]
[…]
As the Titan Orcs approached, hollows formed on their chest as each tentacle plunged through, causing blood to splatter.
A deep rumble echoed.
"…!"
But that wasn't all. More Titan Orcs thwarted the tree tentacles with their gargantuan sizes and poisoned weapons, wielding curved arcs and slashes. As her staff roused, its mounted cube glowed. [Mana Blasts] and [Ice Missiles] shot towards them, disintegrating sixteenth Titan Orcs into nothing but gory messes.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had…]
[Titan…]
[…]
Tessa Kendall wasn't merely a thinker; alongside Killy Donahue, an adept of [Extreme] difficulty and quite skilled, they could be deemed schemers.
"It's about time we finish this damned tasking raid," the assassin declared, deftly tossing multiple diminutive daggers dripping with lethal poison. She couldn't employ [String Deviative Daggers] yet, lacking the skill learned in Eliluam, but these were precise enough to target the impending Titan Orcs' vital points.
'I need to survive and return to Eliluam to learn that skill,' she concluded, focused on her mission.
"KIEEEK! STRO… NGER!"
"SCREEKK…!"
Even with their 'adaptability' trait activated, these monstrous beings displayed no visible changes; instead, their bodies were merely toughened, resembling steel. Moreover, each adaptation varied; some axe-wielders mastered [Mana Coating], while others with daggers honed [Dagger Techniques], countering the assassin's deadly, diminutive daggers.
"Wonderful, you pigs can awaken the dagger technique, but—" Killy's words trailed off abruptly. The thrown daggers turned out to be decoys.
… and those who favored fists possessed [Strengthening], transforming their skin into a searing red, akin to a skill seen in the Goblin King. In essence, more fists lunged towards the assassins. Yet, their strikes found only empty air.
Despite awakening complementary skills to support their intricate movements, none of it mattered to the assassin. Silently, the lethal figure emerged behind each target, wielding dual daggers.
"KIEEEK…?"
"SCRECCK…!"
Gore splashed as each dagger found its mark in their napes. The fully-adapted monsters were cruelly dispatched, their comprehension failing them in the face of such ruthless efficiency.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had…]
[Titan…]
[…]
"Good job. If we can go on like this…" the mage observed briefly, her eyes shifting to Randell Kinsey. 'Still, it's baffling that 'Dealer' can endure these monster attacks until now,' she inwardly admired. Despite being attacked by the majority of fully-adapted Titan Orcs, it was an incredible feat for a [Medium] difficulty individual to survive this long. If not for the raid condition…
Tessa's lips twisted. "It doesn't matter. Soon enough, he will be dead," she hypothesized.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan…]
[…]
Amidst the repeated euphoric messages, grins adorned the faces of the mage and assassin, while the 'boy' could only express his frustration with a deep curse. Beneath the chaotic twilight sky, the foundations of nearby soaring clock towers weakened, becoming unstable and collapsing. In the ensuing turmoil, rubble and shrapnel rained down on the Titan Orcs.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan…]
[…]
TAK! WHOOSH!
Something. No, rather, someone got knocked back…
"Urggghhh!" A familiar, pained groan resonated through the air.
Killy and Tessa's eyes widened simultaneously. "Huh?" Killy clicked her tongue. "What? That brat can't even—"
BOOM!
… and crashed into a ruined building. The audible crash instantly permeated the cold air, and dust oozed out. The shocking reality left them awestruck; they seemed to have forgotten about the raid condition. If one of their party members died, it was over. Technically, this incident hadn't happened until now, so it had slipped their minds.
"Why does this kid have to fall now that we've planned the progress so well?" Tessa murmured, a chill creeping down her back. Since the raid began, Randell Kinsey had always held on, no matter what, aware of the potential consequences of a mishap. But why now?
'Are the Titan Orcs more aggressive than the one I fought?' The assassin mused. No, if their 'adaptability' were truly a problem, he would have cowardly declined, just like he did in the barrier when she ordered him to take the lead.
"Dammit." The mage became impatient, biting her fingers as she racked her brain for the next move. "10, 20, 37, 40…" Inwardly counting the remaining Titan Orcs, she took a deep breath. Thankfully, the number of formidable monsters wasn't overwhelming. "About forty-something," she concluded. With this manageable number, preserving their strength wouldn't be impossible. Clenching her staff tightly, she turned to the visible assassin.
"Let's split the monsters and conserve our strength as much as possible."
"What about that brat?"
The mage's eyes brimmed with malice. "Don't bother him; at least let him rest a bit."
"Right!" Like vapor once more, she vanished.
WHOOSH!
From somewhere within the invisible realm, the assassin's voice echoed, gripping dual daggers. "Let's show all those fucking pigs what [Extreme] difficulty Walkers are."
SWSHOO!
As purple mana erupted, a multitude of [Magic Missiles] and [Mana Blasts] encircled the mage in the air. "This is going to be entertaining."
RUMBLE!
BOOM!
The [Mana Blasts] and [Ice Missiles] soared towards each monster, shattering them into pieces, their gruesome remains tearing through the cold atmosphere.
"…!"
"We'll take care of these creatures and slay that Titan Orc lord…" The mage's voice trailed off, her tongue painfully sucked in as white currents danced around, exerting pressure on her body. It was the drawback of relying on [Ice Missiles] more than usual, given her limited mana pool for generating a substantial number of [Mana Blasts]. But… 'This much is definitely bearable.' She thought.
Until now, Killy Donahue had been strategically poisoning each Titan Orc to impede their advancement and hinder their nerve functions. Simultaneously, she executed a mid-air twist, generating momentum at the tips of her dual daggers, expertly severing their heads from their robust necks.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had…]
[Titan…]
[…]
STEP! STEP!
After a brief pause to catch her breath, the assassin echoed the mage's sentiments.
"Huah, haah, It-It's over…"
"Fuah—I thought I was going to die." Tessa and Killy panted, gasping for air, hot sweat streaming down their cheeks. Exhaustion relentlessly plagued them. Fortunately, there were no major injuries, but for the first time, someone like Randell Kinsey lay unconscious amidst the crushed rubble.
"Should we drag him out and give him a beating?" The assassin gestured with her left thumb.
"Nah, not yet; we still need to gather more strength for the next batch."
"Dammit, so this wave isn't over this time as well?" Impatient, the assassin flicked the blood from her daggers.
"It's too early to give up. We've got to fight this time without him as well."
"Ah, that's true."
There was hope. As long as neither the mage nor the assassin was injured, they could handle any number of Titan Orcs. "The other party should be in the same situation, right?" The mage involuntarily asked.
"Probably. I don't think there's a party that could have survived this, even if they did make it past the barrier."
The mage warned, "Maybe you shouldn't underestimate the other party."
The assassin sighed, "I guess we shouldn't have overestimated [Medium] difficulty, Walker."
As a [Medium] difficulty Walker, despite his former D-rank Hunter status, he couldn't progress as swiftly as a [Hard] difficulty Walker. Yet, his experience battling monsters as an ex-hunter made him more proficient than most [Easy] difficulty Walkers. Despite his skill, he was crushed somewhere.
Soon, they found themselves in a precarious situation, with more Titan orcs closing in. Simply put, their thinking changed.
"Though, I'm starting to feel weary," the assassin admitted, agreeing with a nod. "This demerit…" She murmured to herself as cyanosis crept up from her fingertips, accompanied by a wheezing sound in her muscles. Before she could dwell on her distress, more Titan orcs approached, and they had to act swiftly.
RUMBLE!
The earth trembled beneath the relentless advance of a horde of Titan Orcs, a formidable force surging forward with savage intent. They appeared to be the final contingent of the second wave, their sheer numbers foreboding.
"You fucking pigs are done for." With a sense of pride, the mage tightly gripped her magic staff in her left hand. It gleamed more dazzlingly than ever, and additional [Mana Blasts] materialized around her. Tessa was confident that, if they managed to endure this wave, they could rest before the impending next challenge.
Time left: 3 hours, 45 minutes.
Two hours had elapsed, yet the atmosphere felt as apocalyptic as the days of Armaedggeon.
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
"Gasp…"
"Just how many have we killed?"
RUMBLE!
[Titan Orcs had been Slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been Slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been Slain.]
[Titan Orcs…]
[Titan…]
[…]
Euphoria-like messages flooded in relentlessly, one after another, as blood splattered, adorning the ground, walls, and run-down clock towers.
"Don't know… gasp. Don't care!" The mage replied. Though it seemed like an endless horde of Titan Orcs…
"KIEEEKYHK HUMANS!"
"KYHKGH STRO… NGER!"
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
… No, hundreds of Titan Orcs shook the earth, unleashing a maelstrom of [Magic blasts] and [Ice missiles] that rained down upon the monstrous horde. The once orderly road now resembled a chaotic path strewn with a grotesque mess of blood and flesh.
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had been slain.]
[Titan Orcs had…]
[Titan…]
[…]
Amidst the lifeless expanse of fallen Titan Orcs and dismantled structures, Tessa, shrouded in ethereal white currents, groaned in agony. "Finally," she murmured to herself, her trembling feet giving way. "… we survived." With a thud, she collapsed onto the ground.
Atop a heap of bloody Titan Orc corpses, Killy spat out clotted blood, evidence of the internal turmoil she endured. Her face, bluish-white, and limbs rendered immobile, she struggled to speak. "The wave has ended," she squealed, her blurred white eyes glancing at the unfocused, stunning sky. 'Really, the sky is truly beautiful.'
In their thoughts, they opted for a brief nap before proceeding towards the expansive gate leading to the main hall within their line of sight.
Time left: 3 hours, 00 minutes.
— — — —
After fifteen minutes, each member replenished their strength. Killy Donahue, her dual daggers sheathed, addressed the presumably fainted dealer, "Get up, boy."
"Huh… I fainted?" Confusedly awakened from a concussion, Randell Kinsey flinched not only from the atmospheric chills but also from the ear-jerking phrase. "O-okay!"
Injuries and bruises adorned his body, not just from the crash but also due to the demerit of his [Foresense]. Despite this, the mage felt disdain for the dealer's sluggishness.
"Tsk!" She rose from her meditation position after her mana recovered. Though only a few minutes had passed, her fatigued body and demerit had eased.
"How many times do I have to tell you? As a dealer, you should always take the lead." The mage's words were thorns in the teen's heart.
The black-haired teen, with grey eyes and clad in an enchanted hoodie, apologized while cowering. "I'm sorry, it's my mista—."
"A mistake?" Tessa Kendall interrupted him, raising her glasses with her index finger, and glaring at the dealer. "God damn. Do you even realize where you're at right now?"
It didn't sit well with them that a D-ranked Hunter, relying on the C-ranked Hunters to raid the B-rank Dungeon, was responding so slowly. What made them even more irritated was that this brat seemed proud, despite being of [Medium] difficulty. He couldn't carry out their order and almost put their lives at risk. At least he should have had more guts to improve eagerly by selecting [Extreme] or [Hard] difficulty. Hell, he chose [Medium] difficulty and wanted to be treated equally after nearly sacrificing their lives due to his incompetence. Such impudence.
Soon enough, the threatening atmosphere didn't last long.
"Well, whatever. Are you sure the Orc Lord is in that gate?" Killy Donahue stepped back at Tessa Kendall's question, gesturing with her chin. Randell Kinsey quietly answered her, "W-when I used my Query Point, it said the boss monster resides behind that gate."
Killy Donahue's voice bore a threatening edge. "And you can't confirm it's the Titan Orc Lord?"
Randell Kinsey hesitated, doubt flickering across his face as he glanced toward the mage. "Yeah…"
Tessa Kendall scoffed, frustration evident. "Can't you think before you speak? If Titan Orcs were all we faced on the way here, the boss monster has to be the Titan Orc Lord."
"I-I see," Randell stammered, visibly uneasy.
"So, if Beelzebub is correct," Tessa asserted, "the boss monster is undoubtedly there." With that conclusion, she gazed toward the distant main entry, hoping they had slain the boss monster ahead of the other party and would make it out alive.
Time left: 2 hours, 26 minutes.
— — — —
The B-rank 24-hour raid concluded once any of the parties vanquished the boss monster, the Titan Orc Lord.
This raid condition was ingrained in their minds as they approached the main entry. Tessa Kendall delicately enveloped herself in a thin layer of mana to ward off the biting cold of the night. 'Stunning!' she marveled at the breathtaking night view, acknowledging the city's vastness. Even the haphazardly arranged clock towers surprised her with their impressive height.
The glowing clock mechanisms unexpectedly complemented the atmosphere, casting a dreamy aura over the city. Even for a seasoned Hunter like Tessa, the experience was unparalleled. "Though it lacked this brilliance before the battle," she reflected.
In the grand scheme, she couldn't fathom the inner workings of the Fortress of Dungeons that birthed such a unique environment. A sudden hypothesis crossed her mind: maybe it originated from an existing niche somewhere. However, it remained just a speculative guess.
In any case, she pondered that the place was quite impressive and stunning, enticing tourists from renowned powerhouses like Guilds and superior races who would pay a ransom to explore and wage bloody wars to acquire it. Lower-level districts, even the labyrinths on Eliluam, paled in comparison. The monsters were in a league of their own, and the items gained were equally intriguing. Inwardly, she clicked her tongue at the mysterious limiter, wondering who the hell added such a feature.
Moreover, the rewards didn't compare to what one could get from Eliluam's labyrinths. Despite the formidable monsters, their carcasses were useless, but the rewards justified the risk. Returning to the outside world could propel her above B-rank, elevating her continental ranking from the current 2593rd position. With that, she might not need to persist as a hunter; being a Walker would be sufficient.
The weapons and artifacts Tessa Kendall acquired in the Fortress would be priceless on the black market, free from taxes, transporter fees, item verification, and inspection bills. Surviving the SS+ raid could pave the way for a luxurious life upon permanent return, allowing her to travel freely across upper and lower districts without 'Moderator' restrictions. Perhaps, she could even venture into the mages' district and apply for the esteemed 'Archmage' position.
Whichever ambitions she had would work out for the mage if she managed to survive the SS+ raid. At first, she felt a little apprehensive when all her stats, skills, and titles reset, but looking back, this was such a delightful opportunity.
Tessa Kendall contemplated the swarm of billions of Lupin, envisioning the immense power she could amass, but she shook off the distraction. 'Whatever. At least, we reached here without any problems.' she mused.
The silver lining was that the opposing party hadn't reached the gate yet. Their defeat was imminent once Tessa's group vanquished the Titan Orc Lord.
Before long, they stood before the ostensibly colossal gate at the culmination of the chaotic path in the upside-down city. Indeed, it marked the entrance to the Titan Orc Lord, the formidable boss-level monster
"Let's take care of the boss and get our asses out of here," urgently declared Killy Donahue. There was no need for unnecessary confrontation. "Tessa, what formation should we use?" she inquired, turning to the mage.
"What else?" Tessa sneered, adjusting her glasses. "You and I will stand in the back. Kinsey weakens the boss monster from the front, and then we deliver the final blow."
"But what if the other party is still alive?" Killy questioned.
"Well, considering they're likely Walkers like us, same plan with a few tweaks," Tessa replied confidently.
"You catch that?" Killy eyed the Dealer. "Lead the way."
"Okay," Randell Kinsey mumbled, staring at the imposing metallic inscribed doors with a depressed look.
A comprehensive crown with patterned eyes engraved on the gate stared into his very soul. He sensed the boss battle looming as the gate would soon open.
Randell Kinsey dreaded another life-threatening battle while his body hadn't fully healed from previous demerits. That's why he despised [Extreme] difficulty Walkers – always violent, bossy, and overpowered. Resisting with his stats and gear skill might buy him some time, but his [Foresense] anticipated an inevitable demise, either by the mage's or the assassin's hands.
Would things have unfolded differently had he chosen [Extreme] instead of [Medium] difficulty? Could his [Forsense] have foreseen an alternate future? It's plausible; after all, he might have been stronger than them or, at the very least, on par with them.
His life began with a rosy twist when he awoke as an E-rank Hunter instead of the usual F-rank. Thanks to his remarkable innate skill, [Foresight], he ascended to D-rank within just two years. Engaging in numerous labyrinth raids, both in parties and solo, he amassed a wealth of expensive treasures, monster fragments, and carcasses. The pinnacle was reached when a [Necromancy] Guild, drawn to his [Foresight], sought to sign him with an enticing contract.
Yet, amid prosperity, misfortune struck. A C-rank labyrinth surfaced beneath the blizzard-ridden 'second district,' wreaking havoc in a 50-meter radius and reducing a nearby city to ruins in a mere three days. Unluckily, he found himself in the vicinity during this catastrophe, drawn to raid the accursed labyrinth. The turning point came when he faced the 'spider boss monster,' resulting in a near-death encounter before a lavender interface of the Fortress of Dungeons invitation materialized before his blood-stained face.
Fortress of Dungeons' has selected all suitable Walkers from Eliluam.
Please select your difficulty.
Easy, Medium, Hard, and Extreme.
Medium had been selected.
The hunter's profession had been detected.
Hunter→ Walker's profession had been deployed.
Current skills and stats have been reset.
In agreement, he opted for [Medium], driven by a desperate desire to cling to another day of life. However, this choice proved to be a grave error, as he grappled with serious injuries, teetering on the brink of death. The consequence of this regrettable decision loomed ominously.
Biting his lower lip in remorse, he closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm opening it now." His hands, trembling with the weight of impending doom, inched towards the door, which emitted a grating sound as it swung open.
KRROONG!
Amid this jarring noise, his mind wandered through a cascade of thoughts. Although the Fortress had saved him, the repercussions of his ill-fated decision were still poised to claim him.
Entering, Tessa Kendall and Killy Donahue swiveled their heads, startled by the sudden yet familiar creak of the gate from behind.
The competing party has entered the Titan Orc Lord's, Nanzahemir Hall.
Momentarily, the mysterious crystal-clear messages jolted their eyes super-wide.
The condition had been fulfilled. The special objective 'Survival of the Fittest' commenced.
A concealed barrier stood between the Titan Orc Lord and the group, suspending the "boss battle" until only one party remained. Glancing at the gate they had entered, another barrier became evident. Tessa recognized the futility of leaving the current area. In reality, it was an impractical notion.
Bonus rewards will be calculated after the special objective.
Beyond the lavender holographic message, blurry figures halted abruptly, chaos swelling in their hearts, visibly startled. Tessa Kendall swiped the screen away, seeking a 'clearer analysis' of the opposing party now standing before them using [Magical Optical Sense]. An 184-cm, 85-kg blindfolded young man, possessing a slim muscular frame, adorned in a black cloak with a sword. Amidst them stood a dazzling female mage, 179cm and 71kg, and a 188cm, 82kg demon tanker, wielding an axe, a shield, and a greatsword, conspicuously not of Titan Orc origin.
This was the formidable party they must overcome to survive the raid. Tessa sighed; the possibility was never underestimated, yet the reality of this party making it this far was unexpected.
"Darn it," Killy Douche cursed, withdrawing her daggers, refusing to underestimate the threat. She'd always feared this worst-case scenario in the raid. Did the mage have an escape plan? She turned to the mage, saying, "Well, the worst fear has materialized."
"I know, so get ready to fight."
"You mean…"
"Yes, the 'tweaking' I mentioned earlier will be made now."
"Okay!"
The Assassin and the Dealer exchanged a glance, swallowing dryly before nodding. It was time to confront the opposing party that had just entered the hall.