The three of them exited the adventurer's guild, their footsteps steady on the cobbled streets of Esverita. Thomas paused briefly, turning to Catherine and Virginia.
"Navigator," he thought, "where exactly is this dungeon? Veli only mentioned it being on the western side of the kingdom, but she didn't provide precise coordinates."
Catherine cast a cold glance at Thomas, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't that woman already tell you? How could you miss such a crucial detail?"
Thomas exhaled briefly. "She only said it's located in the west. Nothing more." His tone was calm, but there was a faint hint of defensiveness.
The navigator's voice came through their shared mental link, firm and confident. "I've checked the map. The dungeon, Direfang Wolf, is located west of Esverita, not far from the palace gates. I'll guide you there."
Virginia, walking beside Catherine, gave a small smile. "Thankfully, we have the navigator. Without him, we'd probably get lost due to incomplete information."
Catherine let out a soft scoff but refrained from commenting further.
They made their way toward the city's western gate. The bustling streets were lively, but what caught their attention was the unusually high number of knights. Soldiers clad in armor moved in large groups, some carrying spears, longswords, or bows. Their movements were swift and coordinated, exuding military discipline.
Catherine observed them intently, her eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher the reason behind such a massive presence. "This is unusual," she muttered quietly. "A force this large… this isn't just routine patrol. Something is happening in this city."
Thomas nodded, maintaining his usual composure. "There might be a threat near the city, or they're preparing for war. Those seem like the most logical explanations."
Virginia glanced at a knight who appeared to be issuing orders to a group. His crimson cloak draped over his armor signaled a high rank. "If it's war, that explains the preparations. But where's the enemy?"
The navigator spoke again, his tone cautious this time. "I feel something is wrong here. A troop movement this large is unusual, even for a city like Esverita. Stay alert, especially as you approach the dungeon. We don't know if this ties into our mission."
Thomas quickened his pace, his gaze fixed ahead. "Alright. Let's complete this mission as quickly as possible. If anything seems suspicious, we'll report back to the navigator."
Catherine chuckled lightly, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Of course, the great thinker always has a plan. But don't forget, we're part of this world now. Anything happening here could affect us, even if it seems unrelated to our mission."
Virginia nodded in agreement but didn't add anything.
As they neared the western gate, the atmosphere of the city shifted. The streets became quieter, and the guards stationed here appeared more vigilant compared to other parts of the city. A soldier standing near the gate gave them a brief glance but did not stop them.
Beyond the gate, the scenery changed drastically. The urban buildings gave way to sprawling open fields that gradually transitioned into a small forest. In the distance, low hills shrouded in a thin veil of mist could be seen.
"The Direfang Wolf dungeon is in that direction," the navigator said in their minds, marking a point on the map visible only to them. "Stay cautious. Something about this city doesn't feel right, and I want you to finish this mission quickly."
Their steps carried them deeper into the forest west of Esverita. The cobbled path and dense trees began to give way to grassy terrain and wild underbrush, signaling they were drawing closer to their destination. Catherine let out a long sigh, kicking a stray branch aside.
"Another forest," she grumbled, folding her arms. Her tone was full of complaint. "As if the exploration in Lilac wasn't enough. And now, we're back to this scenery."
The navigator interjected in their minds. "This forest isn't as vast as Lilac's. The dungeon is not far now—just a few more steps ahead."
Virginia walked alongside Catherine, trying to maintain a calm atmosphere. "At least we know what we're up against this time. And if there are no miscalculations, this mission shouldn't be too difficult."
Thomas, walking ahead of them, remained silent, his eyes scanning the surroundings carefully for any signs of danger.
A few moments later, they reached a small clearing among the dense trees. Ahead of them, a pack of large wolves with dark gray fur moved cautiously. Their piercing yellow eyes glinted as they surveyed their surroundings with natural vigilance.
A system screen suddenly appeared before them, hovering mid-air with a soft blue glow:
---
Dungeon "Direfang Wolf Hideout"
Enemy Details:
Direfang Wolf x12 (Level 8)
Direfang Wolf x6 (Level 12)
Direfang Alpha x1 (Level 16)
Recommended Level: 13
---
A few seconds later, another screen popped up with a warning.
[Your unit level is below the recommended level for this dungeon. Do you wish to proceed?]
[Accept] [Decline]
Thomas turned slightly, raising an eyebrow as if seeking guidance from the navigator.
"Go ahead," the navigator's voice sounded firm in their minds. "The recommended level is just a guideline. Thomas, you can handle this. Press accept and move forward."
Without speaking, Thomas moved his hand and pressed the "accept" button on the screen without hesitation. Catherine, standing behind him, shook her head slowly.
"I hope you know what you're doing," she said softly, her gaze drifting toward the pack of wolves that now seemed to notice their presence.
Virginia gently touched Catherine's arm, trying to reassure her. "Thomas knows what he's doing. He's the brains of this group, isn't he?"
Thomas stepped forward, standing firmly before the wolves. His expression showed no fear or doubt. "Navigator," he thought, "is there anything else I need to know about these creatures?"
"Direfang Wolves operate in packs with coordinated attacks," the navigator replied. "Prioritize eliminating the weaker ones first to reduce their numbers. And be cautious with the Direfang Alpha—it's far stronger than the rest."
Suddenly, the Direfang Wolf pack, aware of their presence, growled, and the forest filled with the sound of approaching wolf steps. Thomas stood firm, his eyes scanning the wolves surrounding them. The magic tome in his hand glimmered faintly with gathering water energy.
"Thomas," Navigator's calm but commanding voice resonated in his mind. "Use your water element magic. Basic attacks will suffice for now. Focus on the wolves ahead."
Thomas gave a slight nod, raising his hand. Blue light began forming around him, shaping into a crescent of water hovering in the air, ready to strike.
Before he could unleash it, Navigator's voice spoke again, this time directed at Catherine. "Catherine, infuse your poison magic into this attack. The poison effect will amplify the damage of Thomas's water strike."
Catherine snorted, crossing her arms. "Commanding me like this... You must feel powerful, don't you, Navigator? Fine."
She raised a hand, channeling a dense green energy that quickly shot toward Thomas's water crescent. As the energies combined, the crescent transformed into a vibrant, dangerous green.
"Thomas, release it now," Navigator urged, his tone insistent yet composed.
Thomas stepped forward, swinging his hand to direct the poisoned water crescent toward the pack of Direfang Wolves. The attack shot forward with high speed, striking one of the wolves precisely. Instantly, the water magic exploded, spreading poisonous energy across the area.
The wolves caught in the blast stumbled, their bodies overwhelmed by the poison. Within seconds, they fell one by one, unable to resist the effects.
Thomas watched in surprise. "This isn't normal," he muttered. "My water magic has never had this kind of impact before."
Navigator responded in a flat tone, as if anticipating the reaction. "The Magic Tome I gave you has a special effect. If your HP is above 80%, your attacks spread to nearby targets. Coupled with Catherine's poison effect dealing damage over time, you won't need to expend much mana on low-level enemies like these."
Catherine crossed her arms again, her eyes narrowing at the unseen Navigator. "I don't like being forced to cooperate without prior explanation."
Navigator calmly replied, "I'm merely utilizing your resources efficiently. We have bigger goals ahead."
Virginia, who had been standing in the back, murmured softly as she watched the remaining wolves. "But... it's really effective."
As a few other Direfang Wolves advanced to attack, Navigator spoke again. "Thomas, Catherine, repeat the same strategy. This will finish off the rest."
Without further discussion, Thomas recreated the water crescent, and Catherine infused it with her poison. With swift precision, Thomas released it at the remaining wolves. Just like before, the magical explosion incapacitated all the enemies in a single strike.
After the dust settled, Thomas closed the Magic Tome. "Fourteen in total," he stated, surveying the Direfang Wolf corpses around them.
"That was easier than I expected," Catherine admitted reluctantly, though her voice still carried a hint of sarcasm. "But don't get me wrong, Navigator. This wasn't because your plan was flawless. I just don't want us stuck here any longer."
Virginia offered a small, slightly anxious smile. "What now? There's still the Direfang Alpha to deal with, isn't there?"
Navigator answered promptly. "Correct. But this strategy will remain effective. Gather your energy and prepare. The Direfang Alpha is the real challenge."
The trio began preparing, their eyes fixed on the darkening forest ahead, where the Alpha waited.
Their steps felt heavy as they passed the Direfang Wolf corpses, the air still thick with the remnants of Catherine's poisonous magic. While their initial victory gave them a slight boost of confidence, the increasingly ominous atmosphere of the forest reminded them that the true threat still lay ahead.
Suddenly, a loud growl echoed from up ahead, causing them to stop. Thomas raised his sword cautiously. From the shadows of the trees emerged the massive Direfang Alpha, flanked by four more Direfang Wolves. Its enormous frame was cloaked in a bright blue electrical aura, making its fur shimmer like razor-sharp blades.
"Navigator, instructions?" Thomas's voice was firm, though slightly hurried.
"Repeat the previous strategy," Navigator replied in their minds. "The poisoned water crescent will suffice to deal with them."
Thomas nodded, reopening his Magic Tome and beginning to form another water crescent. Catherine raised her hand without a word, injecting her poison energy into the magic. In an instant, the bright blue and green glow lit up the area, radiating an inescapable sense of danger.
Thomas launched the attack toward the Direfang Alpha and the wolves behind it. The crescent struck three of the lesser wolves, who immediately fell, succumbing to the potent combination of water and poison.
However, something unexpected happened. The Direfang Alpha remained unscathed. Its electrical aura sparked fiercely, vaporizing the water crescent before it could even reach the creature.
"That..." Thomas gritted his teeth, stepping back. "A magic shield."
"Correct," Navigator confirmed, their tone calm but calculating. "The Direfang Alpha possesses an electric shield. Any water-based or liquid-element attacks will be ineffective against it directly."
"And you're only telling me this now?" Catherine snapped sharply, though her eyes stayed locked on the enemy. "You should've known this before we attacked!"
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Navigator retorted, slightly defensive. "For now, keep attacking until its HP drops to 80%. Stay focused."
The Direfang Alpha, seemingly provoked by the attack, growled loudly and charged at Thomas with incredible speed.
"Thomas, watch out!" Virginia shouted, her voice shrill with worry.
Thomas tried to evade, but the massive wolf was too fast. It rammed into him with enough force to throw him several meters backward, slamming him to the ground.
Meanwhile, one of the remaining Direfang Wolves seized the opportunity to lunge at Catherine. The wolf leaped, its sharp fangs aiming directly for her throat. Catherine dodged swiftly, but the wolf managed to bite her arm.
"Filthy beast!" Catherine hissed, suppressing the pain as the wolf's fangs sank into her flesh. With her free hand, she unleashed her poison magic directly into the wolf's mouth. The green energy surged, and within seconds, the wolf collapsed, convulsing as the poison took hold.
Virginia rushed to Catherine, quickly inspecting her wound. "You're hurt," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.
"It's not serious," Catherine replied coldly, though her eyes betrayed the pain she tried to conceal. "Focus on that Alpha. It's our real problem."
Thomas slowly got to his feet, brushing dirt off his clothes. His eyes burned with quiet anger. "You're right. Catherine, your poison won't work externally. We need to find a way to break through its shield first."
Navigator's voice returned, more assertive this time. "Liquid-based magic won't bypass the electric shield, but Catherine's poison D.O.T (Damage Over Time) can still chip away at its HP. Keep draining it until it reaches 80%."
Hearing this, Thomas smirked faintly. "So you just need its HP down to 80%, right? Alright."
The Direfang Alpha let out another fierce growl, preparing to charge again. Meanwhile, the three of them readied themselves carefully, aware that this battle was far from over.
***