[14th Everdusk 2103], CGA branch, Dyna Crest country.
<Dragon flame orb> <-5750 MP>
The ball of fire Lucas was holding onto began to grow larger and larger while the flames were being simultaneously suppressed inside of it. It only ended when the normal flame ball turned into a massive ball about 100 times its original size.
The power of the skill was evident as the hut beside them started to burn, and many goblins nearby had their skin burned as they tried to run away but were unable to. Lucas, standing below it and holding it, smiled as he truly felt the power of his Talent, <Draconic Insight>, which could turn one of his skills into a forbidden high-level skill for one use every week without any cost.
He still couldn't use these skills while being in Tier 0 or maybe until Peak Tier 1 due to the high mana consumption limit, and this skill had many drawbacks for now.
"Enjoy this present I prepared for you, hobgoblin," Lucas said as he threw the massive flame orb at the boss, who, upon seeing it coming towards him, started running away, as anyone would if they were unsure of blocking or dodging it, or their health wasn't high enough to take the hit directly.
The orb hit the ground as the throwing wasn't good enough, and after it touched the ground, the whole tribe fell into silence when a blast occurred.
/BOOOOOMMMM/
A large orange mushroom grew in the area, reducing everything within a thirty-meter radius to ashes, the surrounding area was also massively affected, with many trees and corpses burning, and the few goblins left alive were dying rapidly. Lucas, standing in the burning area, remain undamaged as casting the spell provided with resistance against its effects.
This resistance helped him avoid any damage. As he looked around, spell's effects and penalties dissipated, and he fell to the ground, his hand landing on the burning surface, causing additional damage.
After using the skill, the user always faces penalties such as losing resistance to the element and other stat penalties. Lucas now had a -50% MP bar and -50% STA stat for two hours. As he was feeling weakened quite a lot now after it. As his legs was trying to fall down to rest but he still didn't want to go down as his sense was telling now to lie down until everything is over.
Despite this, his plan work and he had finished off all the monsters. He searched for the boss's body but did not find it, his face growing gloomy as he grew impatient. Without finding the boss, he would not be able to destroy the totem.
His worries were dismissed when he found the boss attempting to stand up. Lucas was shocked that his attack had not killed the boss outright, but his concern turned to joy when he saw the boss's HP was at its lowest point.
Without further delay, he approached and pierced his sword through the back of the monster. The monster, in disbelief, realized that the caster of the spell had survived and remained unharmed. Initially, the boss had thought the caster must have used a destructive spell to take everyone down with him, as his chance of escape was already null.
But now seeing it like this, the boss died away still being shocked face and Lucas who finished him off pull out of his sword and come in front of his body to pull out something which he needs to complete the dungeon raid as he quickly found it hanging on his neck.
Yes, the pendant in which the totem he had to destroy was here. he crushed the totem which was made of wood and clothes and many monster parts.
After destroying it did, he got the notification he was waiting for.
{Host has destroyed the Totem of the goblin tribe finishing the final condition for the dungeon completion.}
{You've killed 54~Lv.9, 8~Lv.10 Goblins, Lv.13 Hobgoblin Warlord (Mutated), you've gained 3,520 EXP points.} [3,730/600 EXP]
{You've levelled up from Lv.9 --> 14} [730/1000 EXP]
{You've gained 50 Unassigned stat points.}
"Wow, so that's why the system took some time to do some things here and there, huh? Good, this much experience is enough for me to level up this much. From now onwards, the path will be hard," Lucas said as he started looking at the stuff he wanted to do to his stats and also began checking his screen to see the new skills he got in his system.
___
Meanwhile, in another dungeon, Lyre stood in front of a large flame, or what you might call a large flame in a circle. She used her skills to cover the whole tribe from the outside and started shooting them one by one, with many empty bottles of mana potions lying on the ground beside her.
Her stamina was getting low minute by minute, but she couldn't afford stop as she cast an AOE skill to perform mass killing in one shot.
<Hellfire Rain> <-120 MP>
Her skill, and from above the sky, many small wisps of flames started raining down on the tribe. At first, they appeared harmless, but when one fell on a running goblin trying to save his life, everything changed. The wisps expanded into large masses of flame, attaching themselves to the enemies like snakes, killing them in the process. Even the boss was not excluded from the effect, as he was also engulfed in flames, crying out in agony. There was no glint of sympathy in Lyre's eyes.
She understood that in a world full of cruel and powerful people, the simple rule should be learned and recited in everyone's mind: "Be killed or kill others to turn them into your growth."
Being the daughter of a high Guildmaster did not mean she was treated like a princess; her life was far more miserable than that of normal children. From a young age, she had to train with who taught her self-defense, combat with monsters, and battles with humans. She was also tutored by esteemed scholars in knowledge about monsters and their weaknesses, as well as human anatomy and its vulnerabilities, since humans were often greater enemies than monsters.
Without any remorse, she watched the monsters' bodies fall, her eyes fixed on boss figure, already burned in many areas. His HP was low but not enough to render him immobile. He lunged at her to kill, but she was prepared. She backed slightly while using her skill.
<Witch's Pyre> <-60 MP>
A large flame pillar engulfed the boss, burning his remaining HP. Still standing on the edge of death, she used her final skill to finish him off.
<Cursed Flamebolt> <-25 HP>
A single bolt appeared in front of her and shot toward the boss, who was kneeling before her. It pierced his chest from one side to the other, and the hobgoblin's body fell to the ground, claiming her victory.
In the process, even the totem was destroyed, leaving her with nothing to do after his kill. She saw the notifications start appearing simultaneously, with some of the main ones.
{You've completed the objective; the dungeon is completed.}
{You've reached Lv.13} [850/900 EXP]
{You've gained 10 Unassigned stat points.}
{Your skill <Blazing Hex> is level up to Lv.6, <Witch Pyre> up to Lv.2, <Cursed Flamebolt> up to Lv.5, <Infernal Pact> up to Lv.4.}
Which was the most her interest was occupied while several were not something she was interested into like how much she killed, what she got, the dungeon entrance coming timing etc.
Her eyes were fixed with resolve as she was thinking that she was bound to be first, but little did she know that someone has already claimed that place a while ago.
As she after reading everything walked out of the exit portal which was opened after few minutes later as she returned to the entrance of the dungeon.
As what she saw in front made her shocked as she saw the board of ranking.
"How is this possible....." She said as she looked at the board in disbelief.
-- To be continued --