Fighting off some orcs that had gotten in the way of the carriage. "Are you a good driver?" he called back to the driver, who was valiantly defending himself with sticks and stones. Ismael's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, you're really strong..." he exclaimed.
"I've been doing this for years, young one. I once got stranded and had to fight against high orcs like this. It's not hard," the driver replied with a chuckle.
Ismael nodded and climbed back onto the carriage. "Did you travel with the others?" he asked.
"Yes, I did. Why do you ask? Are you looking for someone?" the driver inquired.
"No, but I was wondering if you could tell me about the people you dropped off—like their parties and classes," Ismael requested.
"Well, there were four groups. One group consisted of four tanks: one male and three females. The leader was the male, who wore red dragon armor. Their party name was 'Crimson Tank.'
The second group was made up of assassins and rogues, led by a female with shoulder-length black and white hair. There were three members in total; she had an army but only decided to bring two with her. Their party was called 'Bats and Daggers.' It was hard to tell the sex of the members, aside from the leader.
The third group had a knight as the leader, along with a tank, two healers, and one mage. There were three males and two females in this group, and their party was called 'V.2.' I don't know what that means; I didn't ask.
"Finally, the fourth group consisted of two brothers, both male. One was a necromancer, and the other was an assassin. Their party was called 'Twin Blades.'" The driver said this while guiding the carriage, leaving Ismael to think. When they arrived, they spotted a campsite where all the parties were gathered. As Ismael stepped out, the members took note of his appearance. The leader of the "Bats and Daggers" party was particularly scrutinizing him. They were a bit confused since Ismael was alone, but they didn't express their concerns; instead, they gave him sidelong glances, aware of his rapid growth. Despite their skepticism, they decided to focus on their own business and rest, as the next day they would enter the labyrinth.
Ismael thought it would be better to keep quiet and sleep in a tree for the night. He climbed up and settled in, watching the sky. Then, the leader of "Bats and Daggers" emerged from her tent. "Hey! Mind if I ask you a question?" she called out, looking at Ismael lying in the tree.
"Yes? What is your question?" he replied, turning to face her.
"You're an assassin and a mage. It's quite rare to see someone like you around. I'll keep this short: would you like to join my party? My name is Sasha, but people call me Big Sister," she said with a nonchalant smile, gazing up at him.
"Sorry, but it's a no. I prefer to go solo for now. I had companions, but they're not here at the moment; they're at an inn," Ismael explained.
Sasha nodded, slightly disappointed. "That's unfortunate, but at least you're loyal. Loyalty and strength are hard to find together," she commented as she walked back to her tent. "I'll see you tomorrow during the ride, I guess," she added, winking and sticking out her tongue.
The next day, everyone was prepared for the raid. There were a total of 15 adventurers, plus Ismael, bringing the total to 16. They had already agreed that the leader of the raid would be Kain, the leader of the "Crimson Tank." He was chosen for his greater experience and superior leadership skills.
"Alright, we're going in. The formation will be as follows: the 'Crimson Tank' will be at the front since we are tanks and in charge of defense. The assassins, rogues, and healers will be positioned on the sides, while the knights will be right behind us tanks. The necromancer and mages will line up behind the tanks and knights!"
Kain said this as Ismael thought about the formation. "It's not a bad setup. Having the assassins and rogues on the sides allows for better stealth attacks and allows them to sneak behind the enemy inside the labyrinth. We could effectively corner them from the front and sides. The healers, positioned alongside the assassins and rogues, will have the agility to navigate to safety while benefiting from a wide view if they are on higher ground. This positioning also makes it easier for the assassins and rogues to protect the healers." Ismael reflected to himself. As he looked at the out-of-place labyrinth door that looked huge and out of place
We all entered the labyrinth together, but I stayed to the side with the other assassins and rogues. The tanks engaged in both offense and defense, swinging their swords and spears, while the mages provided enhancements to bolster the tanks' defense, power, and the knights' strength and speed. The assassins and rogues accompanied each healer, while the necromancer manipulated the dead. We faced higher orcs, hobgoblins, and mid-sized ten-legged spiders, all roughly the size of an average seven-year-old. Ismael knelt on one knee, one hand resting on the sheath of his katana strapped to his back, ready to strike.
"You know you can relax for now, right?" Sasha glanced at Ismael, her eyes glowing yellow with each fireball launched by the mages, but Ismael remained alert.
"It's not that... I have a really bad feeling that something is about to go wrong... I can sense it," Ismael replied, detecting a clear surge of aura as they pushed forward.
"Would you care to elaborate, masked one?" Sasha asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sensing a surge of energy. I can't quite pinpoint it, but it's getting stronger," Ismael said. Sasha observed the mages; they didn't seem to be sensing anything—no magic, no aura, no energy—nothing at all. This made Sasha look at Ismael with suspicion.
"You're either lying or special. You must be special; you have no reason to lie, and your rapid growth... I'm being foolish. Why would you lie?" Sasha thought to herself, now gripping her Twin-Bladed Chain as she surveyed the area while everyone else effortlessly cleared the monsters.
As they pushed forward, they quickly came to a stop. Rebecca, one of the "crimson tank" tanks, spoke to her leader, Kain, "Boss what... Is this?" Rebecca asked as there is a huge door similar to the labyrinth door they entered from but this one The door, a massive circular structure resembling a grinding millstone, loomed before them, its surface adorned with intricate spiral engravings that mimicked natural erosion, while jagged cracks glowed faintly in red and orange, suggesting veins of magma; crafted from dark, weathered stone that hummed with a cold, unsettling energy, it featured embedded shards of pulsating crystals, and was surrounded by glowing runes in an ancient language that reacted to touch, two large hand-shaped indentations on either side promising activation—but caution was warranted, for those who approached might awaken the stone statues flanking the entrance, their hollow eyes scanning for worthiness before seeing specificly Ismael the door ground open with a deep rumble, revealing a shadowy corridor within, framed by jagged, moss-covered stone that felt like claws reaching inward, all while a faint, otherworldly mist seeped through the gaps, carrying the metallic scent of earth and danger.
"What's the call? Do we enter?" an assassin asked from the group, known as "Bats and Daggers." Kain held up his shield and said, "Hey Mage, hold a fireball near my shield." The mage complied, but they didn't see anything unusual—just a normal labyrinth cave.
"It doesn't seem dangerous... but it feels dangerous. Am I strong enough to go in? If I enter, there's a chance I can't keep everyone safe. But if I go in, I might level up and become stronger, making this easier." Ismael thought to himself, but ultimately, the decision lay with Kain.
"Not like we have a choice; we have to go in or we're stuck. We're going in, but everyone stay close." Kain took out a magical rope that extended to any length.
"Wow, I heard those are expensive..." the knight remarked.
"It's not expensive if it saves your life, is it?" Kain replied, handing everyone a piece to tie around themselves. "We need to stay close. Whatever you do, don't take it off. We don't know what's beyond this door, and it could be extremely dangerous, so keep this on at all times."
Everyone nodded and wrapped the rope around their waists before entering through the door. They looked around for a few minutes, admiring the beautiful glowing stones, crystals, and diamonds that sparkled in their eyes. But their attention quickly shifted to a loud stomping noise approaching them—it was the Rock Dreads.
**Appearance:** Massive humanoid creatures with jagged, rock-like exteriors. Glowing veins of magma or crystal run across their bodies, pulsating faintly.
**Abilities:**
- **Stealth:** Despite their size, they can blend seamlessly into the stone walls.
- **Trap Manipulation:** They can cause walls to collapse, create pitfalls, or seal off routes.
- **Stone Manipulation:** They can hurl boulders or create spikes to impale intruders.
- **Regeneration:** They can absorb nearby stone or crystals to heal themselves.
**Variants:**
- **Scout Dreads:** Smaller, faster Rock Dreads that patrol the corridors.
- **Guardian Dreads:** Massive, slow-moving tanks that block key passages.
"Their going to be hard to cut," the knight said as the mages poured all their enhancements and buffs into him. He dodged the incoming attacks while the necromancer prepared to control the Rock Dreads once they went down. Ismael, however, dashed past them with his fist clenched and punched a hole in one of the Rock Dreads. He didn't stop there; he punched through all the Rock Dreads, surprising everyone. He was supposed to be an assassin and a mage, not a brawler.
"W-wh-what...?" Rebecca exclaimed in shock and disbelief.
"I don't like underestimating my own teammates, but if you had swung your sword, it would have broken with one swing, and you would have been crushed," Ismael said, pointing at the knight. But then Ismael pointed behind them.
They all looked back and saw Scout Dreads, prompting everyone to exclaim "Shit!" at the same moment. From their small size, they could tell these creatures were scouts. The mages quickly enhanced the tanks with speed buffs and light weight augmentation so that the tanks could stomp on the scouts.
The Scout Dreads Appearance:
Size: About 2-3-4 feet tall, smaller than other Dreads but lean and wiry.
Body Structure:
Resembles a humanoid skeleton carved from dark, jagged rock.
Their limbs are elongated, with sharp, talon-like fingers perfect for climbing and slashing.
Their spines protrude outward, giving them a menacing, almost insect-like appearance.
Eyes: Glowing yellow or green orbs that dart around constantly, scanning for prey.
Feet: Sharp, clawed feet that dig into walls and ceilings for silent movement.
Special Feature: The surface of their rocky skin is riddled with moss and lichen, helping them blend into their surroundings.
"Alright, I wasn't expecting that," Kain admitted with a sigh.
"No one was," Sasha replied as she sat down, deep in thought.
"Question... Can the tanks be used as brawlers?" Ismael asked, and everyone turned to look at him. "It wouldn't be impossible. The tanks could store their shields and their weapons, using their weight to increase damage and speed. However, they would still be slow. If we mages buff their speed, agility, and strength, we might run out of mana soon. We're all S-Z ranked, so we have enough mana for at least three days—maybe more—but our average is three days. We will have to take breaks in between. There's another problem: food and water," a female mage said, and everyone sighed at the mention of "food and water," knowing it would be a major issue.
"I wouldn't worry about the water," Ismael said, catching everyone's attention.
"What makes you say that, masked one?" Sasha asked.
"We mages could use water magic. If you still have concerns about the drinkability of magical water, we could use fire magic to purify it and cool it down with additional water. Also, I have some mana potions—though not many," Ismael replied calmly, sliding down against the wall to sit.
"Yes, you're right about the water. Why didn't I think of that..." the female mage said, looking down at the ground. "But we mages should definitely be carrying some mana potions, considering we're in a labyrinth and all."
Overall, they knew they had to keep pushing forward to fight off all types of Rock Dreads. With fist the knight, tanks and Ismael was doing all the work with defeating the rock dreads eventually coming across the boss door but outside were two Guardian Dreads
Appearance:
Size: Towering at 15-20 feet tall with a bulky, golem-like physique.
Body Structure:
Massive and heavily armored with thick, craggy stone plates.
Their shoulders and back are spiked, resembling a mountain's jagged peaks.
Arms are disproportionately large, ending in massive fists capable of pulverizing rock.
Their faces are featureless except for two molten, fiery eyes and a wide, jagged maw filled with glowing cracks.
Aura: Constantly radiates a faint heat and low rumbling, like a dormant volcano.
Special Feature: Their bodies are embedded with glowing crystals that serve as weak points, breaking them disables certain abilities.
There were four of them in a room, and everyone was feeling too tired. "I say we go back and rest," Ismael suggested, and everyone strongly agreed. They made their way back until they were out of sight, letting out sighs of relief from their exhaustion after battling the Rock Dreads. The knights had bloodied hands, but the mages tended to their wounds.
Sasha sat next to Ismael and remarked, "I'm surprised your hands aren't as messed up as everyone else's." Ismael simply shrugged in response. "I just feel like eating and sleeping right now," he said, leaning back, primarily fatigued. An assassin was busy cooking nearby.
Sasha then asked, "Any strategies for dealing with those things?" Ismael just shook his head in reply.
"We should all get some sleep, and when everyone wakes up, we'll handle them..." Kain said as the assassin handed out the food. Ismael ate through his mask, lost in thought. Soon, everyone settled in for the night, but Ismael got up to take a look at the Guardian Dreads. He sighed, thinking, "Of course, they don't sleep; they're just damn rocks." Resigned, Ismael eventually went back to sleep. Meanwhile, outside the labyrinth, it was still daylight, and the triplets were busy taking care of the eggs.
**A few hours later**
Everyone was waking up, still unsure about the time outside, but they forced themselves to get ready. They all walked up to the two Guardian Dreads. As soon as the Guardian Dreads noticed them, they began tearing chunks of rock from the environment and hurling them with devastating force.
However, the tanks immediately raised their shields, and the mages cast defensive enhancements. As the chunks struck the shields, Ismael dashed forward. Using his telekinesis, he pulled one of the Guardian Dreads down by retracting his fist and then launched a powerful uppercut.
The other Guardian Dread slammed the ground, creating localized tremors that knocked everyone off balance and caused weaker sections of the labyrinth to collapse.
"Shit!" Ismael thought to himself, but before he could react, the other Guardian Dread that Ismael executed an uppercut on was now right behind him. As Ismael glanced back, his eyes widened under his mask. The Guardian Dread has regenerated by absorbing the surrounding rock walls, and it used Sentinel Mode to disguise itself as part of the environment to sneak up on Ismael. Suddenly, the Guardian Dread kicked him into the wall.
"Dammit! How can these guys be so big yet so stealthy?!" Sasha shouted as she prepared to confront the other Guardian Dread. She knew she had to distract one of them, and the others followed her, aware that she would need help as an assassin.
The Guardian Dread that Ismael was battling grabbed him and slammed him against the wall, forcing him to face forward. It then charged at him, pushing Ismael further back. "I need an opening," Ismael thought, clenching tightly and blocking the attack as he was rushed into the corner. Suddenly, an idea popped up in his head. He started to repeatedly activate and deactivate his agility skill—on and off, on and off—until, finally, a smirk appeared beneath his mask.
Ismael leveled up his agility, granting him the ability to move so fast that time slowed down for three seconds. "Dead," Ismael uttered as he activated his agility again, just as the Guardian Dread pulled it's fist back. He dashed forward and unleashed a flurry of punches against the Guardian Dread during the last two seconds. When the time was up, the Guardian Dread exploded from all the impact.
"Seriously, a minute cooldown?!" Ismael exclaimed, glancing at the Guardian Dread. He used clap, clap hoping that could lift the Guardian Dread. And luckily, the Guardian Dread bounced up and down with each clap. The tanks protected the mages, assassins, rogues, and the knight while the Guardian Dread was completely destroyed. Everyone fell to the ground, tired, but Ismael remained standing, panting heavily.
"You need to rest. Sit down; you took a lot of punishment," the necromancer said.
"No," Ismael replied in a stern voice that sent shivers down everyone's spine which such aggression. He then walked up to the boss door, shrugging off his coat.
"Everyone, stay back! This guy in here is mine," Ismael declared, positioning himself in front of the door. "No matter what happens—whether you hear screams, clashing, or crashing, don't come in."
"Wait, you can't be serious! You just finished taking a beating, and you're tired! You need to rest, or you might just die in there!" Sasha shouted.
"I won't die... That's a promise." Ismael said glancing back and gave a thumbs up before opening the door as Ismael enters. The room lights up with torches on the sides and cracks in the ground where crystals were glowing there were also crystals up against the wall each glowing in different colors and then there he was the leader the Elder Dread
A colossal, towering entity standing 30 feet tall when upright, but usually hunched over at around 25 feet. Body Structure:
Its body is a mix of jagged rock, glowing magma veins, and shimmering crystals, making it look like a living volcano.
The torso has a gaping, hollow cavity that seems to radiate heat and a faint red glow.
Its arms are long and clawed, capable of ripping through stone and flesh alike.
Its head has an almost crown-like structure of sharp crystals, and its glowing eyes are deep-set and flicker with malevolence.
Aura: Surrounded by an oppressive heat and choking dust cloud. Every step leaves molten footprints.
As he stood up, Ismael remarked coldly, "Wow, you're a big boy... I wouldn't mind punching you down." His eyes widened as the Elder Dread responded, "What a pathetic thing to say." Without hesitating, the Elder Dread summoned ten Guardian Dreads, each with doubled rocks to make Ismael clap, clap attack more difficult to use from there weight.
However, Ismael had overlooked an important detail from their first encounter: the Dreads' structure. Their bodies were embedded with crystals.
Ismael smirked beneath his mask as he summoned the four katanas he had received from Yusho before his departure. He grabbed two katanas and used telekinesis to pull the other two to him. "Four swords are way better than three!" Ismael shouted, dashing forward and slashing with all four blades, targeting the legs and then the heads of his opponents.
However, the elder Dread temporarily reanimated the fallen Dreads by piecing them together from the scattered rocks. This time, he combined them into one larger form, but Ismael being stubborn didn't back down down.
Ismael dashed at the Dread, quickly returning his katanas. He jumped right in front of the monster and used his agility to slow down time. In those three seconds, Ismael delivered a rapid series of punches to the Dread. "RABBIT FIRE SHOTGUN!!!" he shouted, slamming his fist and destroying every single pebble in the vicinity.
As soon as the three seconds were up, Ismael wasted no time and dashed towards the Elder Dread. The creature screamed so loudly that the sound sent Ismael crashing back, leaving him gasping for air. The immense pressure in his gut made him feel like he might throw up, but he sucked it up and charged towards the Elder Dread once more.
"Heh, you're not going to defeat me!" the Elder Dread remarked as he shrank down to Ismael's height. He dashed forward, his hands transforming into large, sharp rock needles. Ismael dodged, but with the Elder Dread's new stature, he was now faster. Ismael could only evade, waiting for his agility cooldown. However, the Elder Dread's speed continued to increase.
Ismael then used telekinesis to throw the Elder Dread back before dashing forward. He used his agility skill. but the Elder Dread wasn't bound by time. Ismael's eyes widened as the Elder Dread effortlessly dodged and punched him in the spine with rock gauntlets formed from his own body.
Ismael slammed his feet on the ground and used the skill "Super Throw," but the two of them clashed fists, resulting in Ismael being thrown back. The Elder Dread manipulated the walls, forming a hand that pulled Ismael away. As he punched the wall hand, the Elder Dread unleashed "Crystalline Barrage," firing razor-sharp crystal shards in all directions, making it difficult for Ismael to approach.
Ismael ran in circles around the Elder Dread, trying to avoid the "Crystalline Barrage." He kicked down a pillar, forcing the Elder Dread to block above himself, which left his chest open and vulnerable. Without wasting a second, Ismael took the opportunity and landed a slam. He then used telekinesis to reinforce his attacks; each punch generated mini shockwaves.
Ismael was determined not to let this advantage slip away. With his left hand, he pulled it back, preparing for another punch. Using telekinesis, he yanked the Elder Dread toward him and delivered a powerful punch with his right hand. After that, he repeated the process: pulling his right hand back and using telekinesis to draw the Elder Dread closer again, then hitting him with his left fist. Ismael continued this rhythmic assault, breaking through the Elder Dread's defenses with each strike.
But with the rocks breaking, Ismael could see lava. His eyes widened, and he quickly pulled away with a calm face, but however, the Elder Dread was pissed and screamed, turning into full lava, "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!! YOU THINK YOU COULD KILL ME!!!!??? I WILL DESTROY YOU!!!!!!" The Elder Dread charged at Ismael but he just took a deep breath "I never used ice before but I really gotta start using more of my elements if I want to win" Ismael thought to himself left hand was ice 1800 degrees below and the other hand water he immediately blasts it at the Elder Dread in hopes to freeze him.
He blasted full force "grrr!"Ismael struggled to keep his footing but eventually the Elder Dread turned into crystals... Ismael panting "I... Win..." Ismael sits down looking at his system that was still updating getting level up messages.
(Chapter 7 arc 1 new worlds. The first raid day 2.)