The party prepared themselves in their hearts as Silver Blade pushed open the first door. Imdiately a terrifying heat welcod them as black flas danced towards the ceiling.
Cyclone gulped, speaking carefully:
“Why don’t we try the other door?”
“It’s pretty much the sa.”
Hearing Liam’s words, the party knew they had no other choice. They preemptively turned down the options for pain simulation as they waited for Silver Blade to take the lead.
The young woman observed carefully. Through the black fla, vents could vaguely be seen on the floor along the entire hallway.
A few seconds later the fire in front of the party gradually died down, allowing them a clearer view.
The hallway’s floor was separated into squares, alternating between fire-spewing vents and stone flooring.
Silver Blade quickly waved her hand.
“Go, go, go! Hurry up!”
Everyone naturally understood, dashing across the vent before another burst of flas could burn them to a crisp.
But as soon as they reached the supposedly safe stone floor, the fire on both sides suddenly burned fiercely. Their path was cut off.
“What is happening?”
Suddenly holes opened in the ceiling.
“Oh no, it’s a trap.”
Silver Blade’s face turned grim as piles of bones dropped down, crashing onto the floor.
It only took a mont for these bones to begin moving, reassembling themselves and forming skeleton soldiers.
“So many!”
The group was chaotic. Before they could get into formation, the skeleton soldiers already started attacking.
Balm was panicking, standing at the edge of the group. Two rusty swords aid for her neck. She hastily turned away, but it wasn’t enough.
[-198!]
“Damn! Protect our healer!”
Silver Blade noticed the predicant as Balm was only a single strike from dying. She tried to push through the skeletons, even ignoring their attacks.
But suddenly a spear tip enlarged in front of her face. Silver Blade reacted instinctively, raising her shield.
[Stance -14]
“An elite! Careful!”
Balm didn’t know how to get out of the situation, hastily casting a [Push].
The skeletons around her were shoved away, one of them landing in the flas, taking a lot of damage.
But the others collided with their brethren, making the space even more cramped, their movents stopping briefly.
Liam wasn’t sure if there was still a way to salvage the situation. He attacked left and right, but the opponents were too nurous.
A second later a notification pooped up in the party chat.
[Player Balm has died!]
The party mbers took a hit to their motivation. They tried to hold on for a while, but eventually they were t with their first wipe.
A few monts later they revived at the beginning of the dungeon.
Balm sat on the ground, back against the wall, her face looking disheartened.
Cyclone sighed as she patted her friend’s shoulder.
“Sorry guys. I let you down.”
The young woman apologized sadly. But Silver Blade shook her head. She looked unhappy as well, stating solemnly:
“Don’t say this. It was my mistake. I led all of you into a trap.”
“Don’t bla yourself young lady!”, said Watchful Eye.
Fortune looked left and right, comnting in a narrator’s voice:
“Our heart fell victim to the flas. Can the party recover from such a setback? Find out in the next video!”
Quickstep shoved her friend’s shoulder, clearly showing her disapproval. She knew that this was one of the reasons why Fortune and other content creators weren’t well received among pros.
Liam watched his party mbers, surprised that a considerable number of them were sulking.
Silent Acacia felt similar to Bleary Mirage, addressing the group nonchalantly:
“Guys, what’s with your faces? You didn’t really expect we would succeed at first try?”
“Well…”, Cyclone smiled sheepishly.
“Don’t kid yourself. Dungeons aren’t ant to be easy. We need to learn their workings through trial and error.
Do you know the record for the fastest clear of competitive dungeons in RR?”
“Pray tell.”
“It’s seven wipes. and Quickstep were part of the team, surrounded by seasoned veterans. Yet it still took us seven attempts.
And the longest we ever struggled was 241 attempts! It took us months!”
“So, don’t give up this easily. That’s not how the ga is ant to be played.”
“Acacia is right.”, agreed Quickstep with her boyfriend.
The others mulled over those words. It took a few minutes, but they gradually managed to recover their spirits.
“My friends, we can’t falter like this! Let us prove our courage, advance with brain and brawn, and conquer this dungeon!”
Silver Blade chuckled from Radiant Shield’s little speech:
“Acacia and Radiant are right. Our expectations were too lofty. Let’s continue one step at a ti.”
Liam watched as the others nodded their heads, gradually getting up again. He didn’t expect them to need this much ti though. It ultimately goes to show the difference between pros and casual gars.
However, failures and setbacks weren’t necessarily a bad thing. They served to temper the team and offered opportunities to learn. One just had to grasp them.
Silver Blade obviously was of the sa opinion as she raised her attentiveness as a leader, keeping a keen eye on the formation, allowing the party to make it through the dungeon swiftly.
With knowledge of what to expect the party dominated the fight in the kitchen.
Cyclone was disgruntled because of the poor loot from the elites. Liam’s explanation that dungeon monsters offered the best loot after their first defeat, didn’t help to cheer the woman up, rather the contrary.
Still, when the party faced the wall of flas for a second ti, even Cyclone focused her mind.
Silver Blade stared at their place of defeat, speaking to the party:
“Let’s not make the sa mistake again. We need a solid formation and stick to it. Warriors, let’s form a circle.
The others will be protected in the middle. When those skeletons drop, focus on the circle’s inside.
Balm, you will have to concentrate on healing.
Understood?”
“Got it.”
“Yes, young lady.”
“A new attempt. Will Silver Blade lead the party to success this ti? Are we destined to take the first clear? Only ti will tell!”
Liam glanced at Fortune. There wasn’t much to say. He could only praise her dedication.
The party followed Silver Blade, staring intently at the wall of flas. A few monts later it died down.
“Now!”
Everyone moved orderly, adjusting their movent speed to the slower mages. They safely reached the other side.
Instantly the flas revived with a hiss, closing the escape route. The ceiling opened and the fight began.
Three opponents landed within the formation. They were barely able to stand up before dozens of attacks focused on them.
One skeleton fell imdiately.
“Continue!”
Cyclone swung her wand, while watching the warriors protecting them. Suddenly her eyes nearly popped out.
She observed as two swords aid for Liam’s back. But the expert only swayed and with a smooth step he evaded both attacks.
Quickstep did sothing similar, but she still had to look over her shoulder.
anwhile, Silver Blade and Radiant Shield didn’t bother with dodging, letting the skeletons clash with their sturdy armors.
[-110!]
[-54!]
The difference between a physical and magical tank began to show itself. Balm focused on the health of her teammates, ready to heal Silver Blade at any mont.
However, the situation changed quickly.
The elite skeleton guard had arrived, its spear aiming for Watchful Eye. The tall man was forced to dodge to the side. He didn’t consider it a big deal, his face remaining calm.
But just as he was about to close the gap again, dark energy enveloped the skeleton guard.
The party was caught off guard as the elite used its skill right at the start of the battle.
“Che, che, che.”
With an eerie cackle the skeleton guard suddenly began swinging its spear widely, affecting a large area.
Watchful Eye gritted his teeth, raising his sword to defend.
“Careful!”
Liam saw what was happening, issuing a warning. But it was too late. The skeleton’s skill hit. A pulse ran along the spear, erupting against Watchful Eye’s weapon and pushing him away.
Caught off guard, the man lost his balance, stumbling into the fire.
Flas latched onto his armor. Although they didn’t hurt, the fierce heat still made Watchful Eye sweat, as burn damage began to stack.
Fortunately, Watchful Eye only entered the flas briefly, getting back onto the stone. But the damage still continued to tick.
[-60!]
[-60!]
[-60!]
Silver Blade noticed what happened, hastily reminding her bodyguard.
“Use Tacaria!”
Watchful Eye reacted instinctively, grabbing two herbs from his inventory and shoving it into his mouth.
The burn was negated, but his HP had dropped considerably.
anwhile the elite skeleton didn’t stop its rampage.
With Watchful Eye out of the way its sight was set on the frail mages.
A spear swiped through the air.
“Oh no, you don’t!”
Silver Blade shouted angrily as she used [Brutal Strike]. The stun triggered, finally interrupting the skeleton’s skill.
The opponents within the formation fell at the sa ti.
“Keep it up! We got this!”
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