Since he understood the gravity of the situation, aware that many guilds were beginning to make their move as a result of the rchant Association's price hike and the appearance of Kieran's Union, Khaos made a reasonable decision.
"Let's enter the dungeon imdiately. As we've discussed before, I'll allow you to take the lead for this run. All of my mbers have been briefed to listen to your instructions as if they were my own," Khaos said.
As Khaos was experienced in joint efforts, he understood the practicality of having one person lead everyone to minimize confusion. If too many voices spoke at once and delivered conflicting orders, it could potentially harm the run's outco.
An insufferable pride wasn't sothing Khaos struggled with, so he knew how to relinquish his role as the leader with ease.
Not to ntion, Kieran's current track record was far too illustrious for Khaos to not take the risk and see where it would inevitably lead him.
"Excellent," Kieran replied with a faint smile.
〈System: You have beco the «Party Leader» of a large party.〉
As the na of the dungeon suggested, reaching the Mad Alchemist's Hidden Laboratory was not straightforward. However, Kieran led the party through the rocky terrain, ultimately coming to the edge of the canyon where a thin descending pathway existed.
〈System: You have entered the «Concealed Rocky Canyon».〉
There was no reward because Khaos and his mbers were the first to stumble across this area and attempt to clear it.
Of course, Kieran didn't complain about so ager World Fa when everything he accomplished thus far delivered an abundance of it.
Eventually, Kieran led everyone before a pair of enormous stone doors that blended with the canyon's walls. The exterior was rough and matched the gravelly texture of the canyon wall.
A second later, a screen appeared before Kieran's eyes.
┌───────────────────
«Mad Alchemist's Hidden Laboratory» - Team Dungeon
Recomnded Level: 47 - 53
Recomnded Party Size: 10 - 20
Maximum Party Size: 20
Available Difficulty: Easy - Hell
Do you wish to enter? [ Y / N ]?
└───────────────────
When everyone gleaned the information on the screen, they could not help but subconsciously gulp. They had attempted to run the Insane setting one ti, which ended up in horrific failure, especially after recalling the enemies they faced.
Unfortunately, Insane Mode wasn't worth ntioning once Hell Mode beca the topic.
For one, it was a dungeon difficulty that only appeared in dungeons with recomnded levels above 50. On the other hand, Insane already appeared after Lv.20.
Unless one possessed supre confidence or a team filled with Advanced Classes, running Hell Mode was never advised.
"Are you prepared to proceed as we discussed?" Kieran questioned.
"Claiming that I'm not on the fence regarding our decision would be a lie, but I'm honestly intrigued—how will this all play out? It's definitely sothing I must see for myself. In any case, when you're ready, enter," Khaos voiced.
A mont later, Kieran lifted his hand and motioned his finger in a straight line, which turned the difficulty dial from Normal to Hell. As soon as that happened, a strange skull, abyss black in color with fiery eye sockets and large horns, emitted a burst of diabolical laughter.
The diabolical laughter created an eerie atmosphere potent enough to affect most people's ntal states. However, Kieran blinked with an unperturbed expression as he tapped the bottom prompt.
〈System: You have chosen the «Mad Alchemist's Hidden Laboratory»'s Hell Mode. The decision has been finalized and may not be changed.〉
〈Warning: The monsters inside the dungeon will be empowered and much stronger than all of the previous settings combined. Extre caution is advised during the run.〉
〈Warning: Hell Mode introduces so unforeseen circumstances not present inside other difficulties. The EXP Penalty and Death Penalty have been severely increased and are unavoidable.〉
〈Warning: If a party mber successfully clears the dungeon, the mbers afflicted by the EXP Penalty and Death Penalty face lessened consequences.〉
〈System: …Entrance into the Team Dungeon «Mad Scientist's Hidden Laboratory» has been granted.〉
Rummmmbllle!
Soon, the large doors parted, revealing a space large enough to fit a party walking in a single-file line. As the Party Leader, Kieran naturally led everyone within the dungeon with a calm gait to express his lack of fear.
Once everyone stepped past the door's threshold, the doors slamd shut, leading to a powerful tremor spreading through the area.
Several seconds later, Soulless, followed by the Seven Antumbra Agents and Vielens, appeared before the dungeon's entrance point.
"We were too late," Soulless remarked, softly clicking his tongue. 'The way they sped up… it was as if they could sense when we were gaining on them. To have such keen senses at that distance, they must possess a phenonal scout. I wouldn't mind offering them to co to my side.'
"What do we do?" Vielens asked in response. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, dungeons in Zenith Online were instanced, so even if a second party appeared and attempted to start a run, they'd never interact with the party that preceded them.
Hence, Vielens was at a loss.
"We do what we can. Announce it to everyone that a dungeon has been found—seemingly one of high priority. I would like to see how Advent will handle the backlash of having several vultures clawing at them the mont they return."
"Venomous." Vielens gasped after hearing his words, but a mont later, he revealed a maniacal grin. "I love it!"
…
Inside the Mad Scientist's Hidden Laboratory…
"Cast Illuminate please," Kieran instructed.
Alice, along with the Elentalists that Khaos brought along, cast Illuminate in response, a basic yet super helpful skill that could create a source of light within extrely dark areas.
As the three Elentalists including Alice used Illuminate, Kieran learned that they were in an enormous stone corridor, a corridor that sowhat resembled an abandoned basent.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
All of a sudden, Kieran felt so dust and a few pebbles fall from the ceiling, prompting him to withdraw and brandish Crimson Ashrune in one swift yet fluid motion.
"Crimson Current!"
Bang!
The tide of ample vitality slamd against a large boulder that was loosened from the ceiling, offsetting its descent so that it landed a few ters away.
"You've got to be kidding ," a woman holding a longbow could not help but say. Her bangs swayed as she gawked and shook her head.
"Calm down, Sora," Khaos instructed. "You saw the warning. The environnt of this dungeon is liable to beco dangerous, so we must remain vigilant."
"Shine your light upward for a mont," Kieran suddenly remarked.
As they did so, Kieran learned that several boulders of identical size were embedded in the ceiling. Though he didn't need Illuminate to see this thanks to his special set of eyes, Kieran didn't wish to divulge his secrets through unsolicited actions.
'I don't have an exceptionally long amount of ti on my hands, so I'll deal with them right now,' Kieran thought.
"Give a mont," Kieran voiced. Soon after, the sanguine aura swirling around his body grew increasingly dense with every successive step he perford until it reached a state comparable to a dense mist.
At that ti, another boulder fell.
BANG!
Kieran clenched his right fist and swung it up, ignoring the aftermath of his action. In response, the boulder was blown into smithereens the second it contacted his fist. Despite its size and density, Kieran felt little to no pain radiating from his hand.
'This Imprint of Might is the truth… To think my body would beco this ferocious with its help. No wonder it was considered to be a Legendary Item,' Kieran thought.
Without stopping his montum, Kieran slashed out Crimson Ashrune once more.
"Blood Wave!"
Whoosh!
A dense arc of forceful blood energy sped through the air, cleaving two boulders in half. When they reached the ground, everything shook, leading to Bastion and Nean's gaze gushing with excitent.
'The boss has beco a damned monster!'
This was the universal thought in Bastion and Nean's minds. It was only natural that during his absence, Kieran was far from inactive.
"It's as the boss told us once before. Increasing our level isn't the only way to grow stronger. Look how adept he's beco at wielding his basic skills, sothing we've already seen countless tis before," Nean voiced.
"Yeah. I think the boss has refined what he possesses, which isn't far from what we accomplished."
All of a sudden, a billowing light blue aura spilled off Bastion's body and coalesced in the form of a majestic-looking shield. With that, he didn't hesitate to run forward.
Naturally, Kieran could sense Bastion's incoming presence, but he didn't stop him. After all, Kieran had beco quite curious of Bastion's current abilities now that he was Lv.50.
Fwoosh!
Bastion rushed past Kieran with a gust of wind.
"Indomitable Shield: Immovable Pillar!"
The shield against Bastion's arm blazed with a blinding blue light as he raised it above his head and drove it into the final boulder.
Despite its frightening size, Bastion's Health loss was minimal as the boulder was stopped in its tracks and was tossed aside with the help of a strange pillar-like reinforcent.
'As I suspected, he has gained so incredible Damage Reduction.'
anwhile, Khaos was at a loss for words. 'What type of tank is that? Also, what skill did he use? I suspected Aatrox possessed a Hidden Class, but it would seem like he isn't the only one on his team with frightening abilities.'
"What do ya think, boss? Not too bad, eh?" Bastion remarked with a cheeky grin.
Kieran responded with a light chuckle. "Not bad at all. But are you prepared for what's to co? We have officially entered our first Hell Mode. That might not seem very ominous to you, but it should."
Rather than cower, Bastion shook his head. "I made a vow during my Class Change. It was a vow to myself for the sake of our longevity. In that vow, I decided that I would stand firm and exhibit the potential that you said you see in ."
Listening to his words, Kieran gained a newfound respect for Bastion, which pierced deeper than him being a simple friend.
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