After a few days had passed, the four of us began to feel a genuine camaraderie. The friendship that had grown between us no longer required words to understand each other. We had reached a deep understanding, where a single glance or small gesture was enough to communicate. In every battle, each of us knew our roles and responsibilities without needing to discuss them verbally.
We were still hunting small monsters ranging from goblins, hobgoblins, direwolves, to skeletons. Our formation had solidified: Takeshi as the tank, standing firm on the front lines, protecting us with his large shield and unwavering bravery. Hiroshi, with his magical prowess, served as the Mage, launching devastating magical attacks from a distance. Yumi, with her exceptional archery skills, was the Archer, shooting arrows with deadly accuracy. I, Johan, played the role of the Damage Dealer, using my combat skills to strike the enemies swiftly and efficiently.
Everything seemed systematic. Every movement and attack was well-coordinated, as if we had been training together for years. We always succeeded in every conquest, not just because of our individual strengths but also because of the teamwork and trust we had built.
Although our group had achieved several feats, it hadn't changed people's perception of the 'outcast group.' However, we didn't care about their judgments. We were happy and had fun, enjoying every challenge that came our way. Our friendship and successes in facing those monsters brought us immense satisfaction and happiness.
On the last day of our dungeon exploration, the atmosphere felt different. There was a sense of pride and emotion in our hearts, realizing how far we had come. The torchlight illuminating the dungeon corridors gave a dramatic effect, our shadows dancing on the cold stone walls. We walked with steady steps, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
"Look, there's a large room ahead," Takeshi said, his voice low but filled with caution. We all nodded, understanding that this might be our final challenge in this dungeon.
Yumi took a deep breath, her hands ready with her bow and arrow. "Whatever's in there, we'll face it together," she said with determination.
Hiroshi gripped his magic staff tighter, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "Yes, we'll leave here with our heads held high," he added.
I smiled, feeling proud of my friends. "Let's show them that we're not just an outcast group. We're a strong team," I said, leading the way forward.
With burning spirits and steadfast hearts, we stepped into the large room, ready to face whatever awaited us. Today, we weren't just fighting to survive but to prove that we deserved respect and recognition. And that made our adventure all the more meaningful.
...
But I was naive to think our adventure was meaningful without knowing what lay ahead. 'Damn,' I muttered in despair as my friends fell one by one to a single monster that shared a bloodline with dragons, a Drake.
We had entered the large room with high spirits, but suddenly the atmosphere turned ominous. The torchlight cast deep shadows on the stone walls, and the air grew heavy with an impending threat. From the darkness, a large and terrifying figure emerged. The Drake had dark green scales that glistened in the dim light, and its blazing red eyes glared at us with hatred.
"Takeshi, watch out!" I shouted as the monster lunged with unexpected speed, striking Takeshi with immense force. Takeshi was thrown several meters, landing with a horrifying thud. His shield cracked, and his face showed immense pain.
Yumi quickly fired arrows, but the Drake moved too fast, dodging each of her shots. "I can't hit it!" Yumi cried out, her voice filled with desperation.
Hiroshi tried to cast a spell, but the Drake slashed at him with its massive claw before he could finish. "No!" Hiroshi yelled as his body was hurled against the wall, blood pouring from his wounds.
I stood there, panting, feeling panic creeping through my entire body. 'What should I do?' I thought, my mind racing for a solution amid the chaos. My friends lay around me, wounded and helpless, while the Drake kept advancing, its fiery breath making the air even hotter.
Then, in that moment of despair, an idea struck me. I shouldn't worry about what others thought anymore. It didn't matter, even if they distanced themselves from me again because I had kept this secret from them. What mattered now was that we had to get out of this dungeon alive!
I looked at my friends who were hurt and lying around the room. Takeshi struggled to stand, his shield nearly shattered. Yumi, bow in hand, looked exhausted but still tried to stay upright. Hiroshi was gathering his last bit of strength to cast a spell, though his breath was ragged. My heart ached seeing their suffering.
Without thinking any further, I opened the shop feature in the system. A holographic screen appeared before my eyes, displaying various weapon and equipment options. My fingers moved quickly, searching for a weapon that could give us an edge in this battle. My eyes locked onto one choice: a modern firearm, the FN SCAR-H, capable of piercing through metal.
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Name: FN SCAR-H (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle - Heavy)
Caliber: 7.62×51mm NATO
Magazine Capacity: 20 rounds
Effective Range: 800 meters
Special Features:
Penetrator Rounds: Bullets capable of penetrating up to 20mm of armor.Fire Modes: Semi-automatic and automatic.Tactical Scope: Equipped with a scope that has night vision and thermal imaging.Suppressor: Reduces gunshot noise by up to 60%, ideal for stealth operations.
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I whispered to myself, my hands trembling as I selected the weapon. The holographic screen flickered momentarily before the rifle materialized in my hands. Its weight felt foreign, but the power emanating from the weapon gave me a glimmer of hope.
I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins. "I have to protect them," I muttered, gripping the rifle tightly. Quickly, I aimed the rifle at the approaching Drake. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears, but I remained focused.
"Johan, what are you doing?" Yumi asked, her eyes widening as she saw the weapon in my hands.
"No time to explain. Just trust me," I replied firmly, though there was worry behind my words. I didn't know how they would react to this secret, but what mattered now was our safety.
The Drake roared, ready to attack again. I pulled the trigger, and the loud bang reverberated throughout the room. The armor-piercing bullets shot out swiftly, penetrating the Drake's tough scales. The monster howled in pain, its blood spurting from the open wound.
"We've got a chance! Attack now!" I shouted, signaling my friends to continue the assault.
Takeshi lifted his broken shield and charged with renewed courage. "Let's finish this monster!" Hiroshi, with the last of his strength, cast a powerful spell aimed at the Drake's open wound. Yumi drew her bow with all her might, releasing an arrow that struck the Drake's weak spot with perfect accuracy.
We fought with an unyielding spirit, combining our strengths and skills. The FN SCAR-H in my hands kept firing, maintaining relentless pressure on the Drake. Each shot gave us a slight edge.
In the midst of the fierce battle, I felt something warm in my heart. Not just adrenaline, but also a sense of confidence and belief that we could overcome this together. Even though we faced a formidable and terrifying monster, we had each other.
And as the Drake finally collapsed with its last roar, we all fell to the ground, gasping for breath but filled with triumph. We had done it. We had succeeded.
"Johan... that weapon..." Hiroshi managed to speak between his heavy breaths.
I smiled wearily. "Sorry for keeping it a secret," I said, and then a silence fell over us.