《A Dungeon Monsters' Point of View》 Chapter 1: The Dungeon Invasion It was a day like any other, when the world suddenly changed. At the beginning, nothing suggested the mysterious phenomenon that was about to strike. The ground shook several times, but at that moment no one realized what was happening. The earthquake was already a disaster itself and nobody guessed that it was only the prelude to much worse: the arrival of the DUNGEON! Trembling with fear, our heroine opened her eyes which she had closed in terror. The fury of the earth seemed to have calmed, leaving a cruel scene of ruins. For a moment, she remained like that, motionless, without daring to look at the pieces of shattered bodies which showed through the rubble. Although the ground was now stable, she herself still trembled as she realized how little she just escaped death. Finally, she got to her feet and with an unsteady step she began to walk in this apocalyptic landscape. Still in shock, she couldnt gather her thoughts. Instinctively, she decided to go find her mother. Did she want to check that she was okay, or to be reassured by her presence herself? She didnt think about it and moved forward in the middle of the teeming crowd of panicked people. She stopped suddenly, in the middle of the street, struck by the mysterious presence that illuminated it entirely. There, floating in the air, less than a meter from the ground, a mysterious colored circle rippled with a reddish glow. A relatively calm crowd was beginning to form around it. The strange apparition attracted curiosity and distracted the residents from the shock of the earthquake. Like butterflies around a flame, they circled, approaching without real suspicion, without knowing if they were going to burn their wings. Was this thing the cause of the earthquake? So, what was it? This bright color What strange material was it made of? It was unlike anything known. Could we touch it? Was it edible? Was it dangerous? Should the army be asked to secure the area? But in the mind of our protagonist, it was not curiosity but anxiety that reigned: this thing could only be bad news! Her body shook with an uncontrollable shiver. Without thinking further, she began to run madly to escape the mysterious disaster that was coming. Out of breath, she stopped. It was then that she heard cries of distress coming from the crowd. She feared to turn around but her survival instinct definitely took over, forcing her to contemplate the danger. It was a scene of horror! From the red thing, hordes of monsters burst out as if it was a kind of passage, a door to some abominable places where such disgusting creature could live. Covered in fur, these things had four muscular legs ending in some sort of boxes. The upper part of their bodies had a thick torso from which sprouted arms armed with strange looking metal blades. As for their heads, they were of such an indescribable monstrosity that our heroine could not find words to describe it. Still, she had something else to do than analyzing the appearance of these invaders from elsewhere. They charged with fury, skewering everything that lived, attacking both adults and children. The atrocious was cries that escaped from their large, distorted mouths added a demonic touch to their carnage. Mother! Instead of running for her life, against all logical instinct, she started running in the opposite direction. Although it was madness, she couldnt bring herself to abandon her mother in the face of a threat, knowing however that her presence would change nothing. Diving through the side paths, she hoped to find a way around the awful portals that vomited its bloodthirsty horrors. At the bend of a path, she felt her heartbeat go to the next level: there, its armor covered with the remains of victims, one of the monsters was galloping, a long polearm brandished. On it was piled a macabre assemblage of heads. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Inexplicably, she knew how to name this kind of creature, but in her panic, she did not realize the strangeness of the phenomenon. The centaur trotted past, covering the ground with a suspicious eye. Then, uttering a mad scream, threw its weapon in her direction. At the spongy sound of the weapon meeting a body, she stiffened, almost feeling the strange sensation of emptiness from the hole that the spear would have created when piercing her But when she saw the monster take back its weapon and observe with satisfaction the new trophy who was threaded there, she understood that there had been another victim of this warlike madness: only her growing anxiety had given her the sensation of having been touched. Trotting towards further massacres, the creature passed without seeing her and they both continued on their respective paths. Finally, the familiar shape of her home came into view as she joined the main road again. Soldiers were already deploying there to counter the threat. She deeply hoped that the situation would be resolved quickly As if to prove her wrong, the air suddenly lit up. Located at a high point, she could see other red circles appearing all over the city. A whole pandemonium arose. There, flying creatures with shredded wings. Here, red giants with only one eye. Dozens of monsters, each uglier than the last, competed to see who could kill the most people. It was the end of the world! Desperate, she nevertheless started running again. She looked behind her at the devastation that engulfed her beloved city and ended, she knew it, the tranquility of her life Perhaps even that of the whole world. However, you should never look behind while running. This is obvious, but this time the lesson would be harsh. A shock shook her head and she found herself on her back, her head aching. Her eyes wide with terror saw a monstrously ugly face looking down at her, taking offense at the insignificant insect that had dared to hit its massive leg. The colossus raised a club that seemed to have been carved from a whole tree and brought it down on the unfortunate child. Without an ounce of hope of dodging such a large weapon, she closed her eyes wishing it would be over quickly But it was only the beginning The club was slow in coming. What was happening? After a wait, definitely long enough to have died twenty times, her eyes opened cautiously, as if this movement was going to precipitate a death suspended by her refusal to see it happen. But, instead of a furious colossus, she saw nothing. Surprised, she turned on her stomach and contemplated the strange spectacle of a peaceful, still intact, city. Had she dreamed? Getting up, she observed numerous soldiers and other inhabitants wandering here and there, without knowing where to go, so great was their disarray. No: she hadnt dreamed. Or had everyone dreamed? Still dazed, she walked as logically as possible towards to the better destination: her home. Perhaps with her mother she would have an answer to her many questions. Arriving in front of the palace doors, they suddenly opened wide. A stream of soldiers, seemingly endless, came out and spread in all directions. Apparently, her mother didnt know yet what was going on either and was going to great lengths to find out more. Obligingly, the guards moved slightly out of her way and she was able to progress slowly into the depths of the palace. In the throne room, messengers came and went quickly as the queen''s orders echoed throughout the room. When our princess found herself in her presence, she turned her attention towards her for a moment: "Xicackna! Join the other princesses immediately: we urgently need to find out what happened." "What happened Mother? I thought I was going to...that I was going to die! You too? The queen looked worried and looked at her daughter who was explaining to her that the monsters were going to kill her when everything suddenly disappeared. Had she almost lost her daughter? And all those who were missing, were they just late or had they died? Many guards also hadnt reappeared. What they had all seen was not a dream, but a mystery all too real. Xicackna stopped the panicked recounting of her latest experiences when she saw that her mother was about to speak. "Xica What is that? What is this writing? Why can I understand it?" The queen was looking into the air at something only she could see. Around her, everyone was looking into the air at some invisible centers of interest. But Xicackna didn''t wonder what it was: she too saw something floating in front of her. A strange luminous square covered with inscriptions and symbols was there, as if drawn in the air by some magic brushes. The language was unfamiliar but, oddly enough, she understood it as clearly as her mother tongue. Name: Xicackna ; Title: Princess ; Level 1 ; Class: unassigned ; Abilities " Another window announced: Welcome to the DUNGEON! To start the tutorial, press the button below. Feeling like she was in cloud cuckoo land, Xicackna took a breath, clenched her mandibles then touched with the tips of her claws the strange floating square that presented himself as the tutorial button... Chapter 2: The Dungeon Thus, the world changed completely. It quickly became apparent that this new world was limited. Exploration teams sent by Queen Xa-tar-Lona found the ancient tunnels collapsed, cutting off all access to the outside and the rest of the hive. Of course, they repaired them as quickly as possible, only to discover the unimaginable: an opaque barrier formed the boundary of the new domain. When they saw it, it had a pale gray color, similar to a cloudy sky, but then it took on the consistency of rock, as if to guarantee a more familiar universe to those who had just discovered the end of their world. The queen ordered this wall to be breached, but it seemed indestructible. The surviving princesses and princes were gathered within the palace. As the thinking heads of society, it was their duty to use their intellectual superiority to find a way to save the nation. Limited expansion meant limited resources and therefore sooner or later starvation. Although the population had declined greatly, the egg reserves were globally intact and, while the queen could slow down her egg-laying rate, she could not stop it. "My children," she announced. "We are facing an unprecedented crisis. There is no doubt that these monsters from elsewhere will reappear and attack us. We will therefore organize regular patrols throughout our entire territory. Mature princesses will be put in charge of territories matching their skills, but all of you will be tasked with gathering as much information as possible about this new world." "A new world?" Xom-Telba asked, the eldest of the princesses. "Mother, what do you mean by that? We are imprisoned, but we are still at home." The queen looked with seriousness at her high-ranking children gathered around her. They had all lived for less than thirty years: they therefore did not have the sensitivity that she had been able to develop during her century of existence in this place. "This is not our world: it is a replica of ours. Those who imprisoned us went so far as to reproduce the pheromones of our hive so that we do not see the difference... But I can tell you that it exists. Tiny, but nevertheless sufficient for me to be able to tell you this." A buzz rose up as the noble Zcarbbs all communicated at once. Apart from the understandable panic of some, others indicated that they had also noticed differences. Here a stalagmite which didnt have exactly the same shape as in their memories, there a straight wall when it should have been curved... It was probable that many were deluding themselves, exaggerating error of their senses without realizing it... But it was impossible for everyone to be so mistaken. Gradually, silence fell in the assembly as all worried eyes turned towards Xa-tar-Lona. The powerful queen spoke again: "Stop worrying. Our perfect organization is certainly disrupted. But we will reorganize, face the threat and destroy all our enemies. I will now divide the defense and logistics roles. The first threat we will have to face is the state of our food stock, the second is a possible enemy attack. Those of you who do not have a position, I invite you to study this mysterious System as best you can and to provide me with a report." At these words, everyone raised their eyes to the sky, towards a window that they were each the only ones to see. It stated:
Adjustment of the Dungeon to the System ongoing Analyze 53% in progress
Quietly installed in her personal room, Xicackna began to study these new phenomena. Apparently, "windows" could appear in the air with just a thought, and she could navigate the information like a boat going from island to island on the Great Lake. All she had to do was concentrate her thoughts on a particular piece of information for it to appear in a new, more detailed window. What mainly intrigued her was this level thing. What could that possibly mean? Some sort of competition? Her creature sheet, as it was called, indicated that she was Level: 1, being adjusted. Focusing on the information she learned more: "Starting level, analysis in progress 78%, racial advantages taken into account for the initial experience count. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. In fact, she felt like the more she learned, the less she understood. Leaving that mystery for later, she began to study the other information. It was very strange: as if her natural abilities had been roughly quantified and described. Some were still "under analysis", but she could see that she had a strength of 3, agility of 3, stamina of 5, intelligence of 20, and base hit points of 100, giving 102 actual hit points... Numbers to represent her qualities? Okay, but what were they based on? What measurement scale for force and from what standard? As for intelligence, was it really possible to quantify it? How could we assess the vitality of a body with these life points? It doesnt make any sense! Her skills were even stranger. They were associated with a value, a letter indicating their rarity, or perhaps their power, although she did not know the criteria used.
Skills (5): Chitin Armor (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP] Invisibility (A) [Natural power, consumes 1 stamina per minute] Camouflage (E) [Natural power] Acid projection (F) [Natural power, level 1] Sixth sense (C) [Natural power, +50% to detect nearby invisible or camouflaged enemies, +10 Intelligence]
If Xicackna understood that the scale value of letters went from "F" for the most basic to "S", even "SSS", or even "L" for the "legendary", it was illogical that chitin armor, which corresponded to the natural protection of any Zcarbb, was rank D, while "acid projection" was rank F. Although many Zcarbbs spit acid, it was not a characteristic shared by all, unlike chitin armor. Natural power seemed to correspond to innate abilities, as opposed to some unknown abilities that wouldnt be natural. "Well," she sneered wryly, "those who made this list forgot a few skills cut from the same cloth. Breathe and Walk for example. Or our ability to communicate by pheromones over long distances... ah, no, I think that this one is here..."
Attributes: Still growing (Natural penalty) [Vitality (HP) divided by 2, part of the XP gained is stored while waiting for the next molt] Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance]
"So, they called it hive mind? Funny idea. And what does Still growing mean? That I''m not yet mature? And XP Ah, okay, that means Experience Points, like HP means Hit Points But what does that really mean?"
Level analysis completed The sum of natural gift brings the experience to level 10 Current hit points: 150 Current experience: 2700
Xicackna jumped when she saw the message suddenly appear. She instantly became invisible and saw a symbol corresponding to the skill appear out of the corner of her eye, which immediately disappeared when she refused to see it. Once the fear had subsided, she returned to the visible spectrum, but the color of her chitin reflected the luxurious hangings that made her bed. The symbol for the camouflage skill did not appear, because she did not want it to. "So, she said to herself, we can decide whether or not information appears in our field of vision... But I don''t like that... I really don''t like that... It gives the impression that there is someone, somewhere, watching each of us constantly..."
Readjustment of the level! Due to the ? Still growing ? penalty, the level will be re-evaluated. New level: 5 Current hit points: 112 Current experience: 700 Experience stored: 2000 Experience needed for next level: 300
Faced with this information, she clenched her mandibles, containing her bad mood. She didn''t know what these levels were, but it must be some sort of ranking where the higher the number, the better you would be placed. Losing five places, or levels, all of a sudden was naturally frustrating. And how do you gain this damn experience? But if there was indeed permanent monitoring, or automation of this System to adjust information on prisoners in real time, then it should be possible to ask for more understanding of the situation. "Help!" She shouted while thinking it very hard. "Information! Manual! Manual!"
Help Access denied Dungeon monsters below Sub-boss level do not have access to the helps system.
The blood rose to the head of our little princess upon reading these words. Screaming in rage, she brandished her fist towards the bright window, expressing her displeasure: "What do you mean access denied? And, monster yourself!" Chapter 3: The invaders Several days passed, although without news from the surface it was difficult to know the exact passage of time. Princess Xana-Eloba, who had always been good with her hands, had designed a mechanical device which she claimed would accurately indicate the time passed. Whether it was true or not, her achievement had earned her the Engineer class, given by the System. Other princesses and princes, even occasionally workers and soldiers, had also received classes. These were apparently a set of secondary skills, not counted towards the skill limit, which enhanced the abilities of exceptional individuals in their fields. Sometime after the appearance of the classes, the system announced that the analysis and adjustment of the dungeon had been completed. A new window then appeared in the air:
Dungeon ? Hive of Xolona ? Rank F Opening soon
A countdown of these strange numbers appeared below. From that moment on the hive, already in turmoil faced with the odious limitation of its extension, began to live at a new rhythm: that of preparations for the unknown event which would undoubtedly occur shortly. When the 0 appeared, everyone was on alert
Dungeon open
After this message nothing happened immediately. Xicackna was starting to get bored. The queen had assigned her to the surveillance team led by one of the mature princesses: Xyry-Yria. This one was level 23, which was low compared to the levels of truly gifted princesses, like Xana-Eloba who was level 36, or the powerful Xom-Telba with her level 53. Of course, it was also low compared to the level 72 that the queen announced she had. But, even if Xyry-Yria was a princess with a low (D) level and did not even have a class, Xicackna knew she was much inferior with her level 5 (which was designated by the F letter) and the fact that she was still immature. Her bad mood increased as she observed "Captain Kurk" among the soldiers at the lookout post. A simple soldier among others, he had managed to obtain a warrior class. This simple fact had greatly increased it power and the System had even granted it the right to have a name, meaning that anyone meeting it could see a window appear announcing Captain Kurk. It was a named monster, as the few fragments of help available to Xicackna indicated. And what''s more, it was a level 15! It was not worthy of a princess, but Xicackna felt inferior to this soldier, even worse: she was jealous of it. Slumped on a stone seat, amorphous, the princess was content to remain motionless, almost wishing for the appearance of a horde of monsters who would come and put an end to her pathetic and useless life. The sudden irruption of Xyry-Yria into the room startled her and she fell to the ground like a miserable limp lump. Her superior looked at her with annoyance, then began to paw at her. "Standing! Get up Xicackna! Is this how you work?" "But uh," the little one grumbled in a lazy voice, "I have nothing to do: why are you mean to me." "Tsss! At least, take an example from the guards: when they have nothing to do, they remain at their posts... In a dignified posture." Xicackna stood up and glared at Captain Kurk, as if he was responsible for her being scolded. "Okay, okay Xyry-Yria, Ill sit down properly" "No: there is something new... and you would know it if you listened to the information relayed by the hive mind!" The little princess furrowed the chitinous patches of her eyebrows in annoyance: since the Disaster and the appearance of the System, more and more people have started using the idiotic names given by the system to their natural abilities. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Concentrating, she listened to the rumors from the hive that had reached their outpost. One of them rose to the surface of the flow of information due to its importance and there was no doubt that it would be relayed to the queen as quickly as possible. Workers had discovered a strange blue door that had suddenly appeared on the wall of a distant tunnel. It was identical to the red doors of the day of the Disaster, which made people fear the worst. A rumor from a distant outpost, under another responsibility, reported a similar discovery. "I have already sent a battalion to stand guard. I want you to join them. But remember to stay well away from the door: we cannot risk the life of a princess. Xicackna, did you understand me correctly? Xicackna?" "Well yes, why are you asking me? I''m going, I have to serve as a relay for the, pfff, for the hive mind as you all say now?" "Yes, yes But I am also counting on you to make the necessary decisions if the situation deteriorates. You know it will take some time for the information to reach me and... and stay away from the door!" "But its okay: you already said it!" "And I''ll say it again! Do you know how many young princesses die every year because of their curiosity?" "N no? How much?" "Well, almost none because everyone makes sure that they are not put in danger... But there, the danger is omnipresent. We have already lost too many people during the Disaster... So don''t put yourself in danger without my permission, stay hidden, if the danger is too great, flee under the cover of invisibility. All right?" A little upset by her big sister''s worry and the fact that she started to shake her until her teeth rattle, Xicackna approved. It was a shame. Okay, it was true that it was risky, but she would have liked to study a magical door closely... As if she had read her thoughts and guessed that she would eventually give in to her curiosity, Xyry-Yria dove her gaze in her with severity: "You dont come any closer to this door! But, if you really want to know more about this door... well, that''s our mission too. You can send guards to observe it more closely and use the hive mind to share their sensations. After all, the title of princess grants the title skill Commander." In the past, it would have simply been said that the upper caste could give orders. Xicackna did not emphasize this detail and simply approved. As she left, Xyry-Yria gave one last piece of information: "I have already ordered the workers present to touch the door. It seems solid and no side effects have been reported. Come on hurry up!" Without being told again, Xicackna set off on the adventure. The information carried in the air easily told her where to go while drawing in her head a detailed map of the tunnels impregnated with the pheromones of her hive. It was a long way, but she didn''t care: finally, she was going to make herself useful! But, suddenly, worrying information circulated: the door disappeared! Shortly after, she learned that it (or one similar to it) had reappeared a few tunnels away. So, she headed in the new direction, excited at the idea of ??getting there before the battalion. Deep down, she knew it wasn''t very smart, nor very safe, but it was good fun. At the bend of a path, she saw the strange energy affixed to the wall. The workers continued to work all around without paying attention, categorizing the minerals from their recent excavation. At a reasonable distance from the door, three soldiers observed it suspiciously. Without a superior to guide them and without a tangible threat, they hardly knew what to do. Despite the curiosity that gripped her, the princess decided to stop there, in this corner of the tunnel, far from the fascinating scene. Blending into the background, she communicated with the guards, indicating to those around her that she was becoming the main relay for orders. She immediately felt a wave of relief resonate through her: even the workers, always diligent in their tasks, felt anxious. Now that she was here, orders could arrive without delay. She suddenly jumped: the bluish portal rippled, as if it were made of water despite its verticality. Would he disappear again to reappear somewhere else? No: deformed monsters suddenly appeared, crossing the wall as if it were a simple tunnel to somewhere else. Bipedal, these things were few in number: only half a dozen. They staggered around (unless that was their normal gait) and made ridiculous grunts as they took in their surroundings. Oddly enough, they didn''t seem to notice the three motionless guards... Perhaps their vision was based on movement? No: in this case they would have noticed the imperturbable workers continuing their routines. The creatures pointed at places with no apparent coherence. Were they interested in the phosphorescent foams that lined the walls? Herbivores perhaps? Herbivorous monsters? Some then pointed some strange weapons held in the palms of their hands and from which a sinister whitish glow emanated. These torches of light swept around and stopped on the workers. Immediately, a horrible concert of infernal vociferations gushes from the throats of the creatures. Many rushed to the gate, only to find it desperately rigid. Others pointed into the air and bellowed at those who were panicking, making noises that seemed to reassure them. Then the attitude of the creatures changed. They began to pick up stones or stalagmites that had fallen to the ground, then rushed at the workers to beat them. The shell of a Zcarbb is solid, but under the violent and repeated blows, the first workers were quick to succumb. Xicackna stood paralyzed in horror, unable to give the slightest command in the face of the sudden violence that was unleashed. In her head, the memories of the Disaster took on a terrible intensity and she collapsed to the ground, invisible, trembling. The workers, emitting fear from every pore of their shells, continued assiduously with their work. The guards, relieved to see an understandable situation appear, rushed forward. Their powerful mandibles dismembered two monsters before they could make the slightest movement. Another made some kind of sword appear out of nowhere and stuck it in the first guard''s skull... without success. Quickly, the monsters were decimated and the invasion stopped. Chapter 4: The return of the invaders After that day, life became hard for Xicackna. Every time a blue door moved in the area, she had to run to it and wait for many hours until it moved again. There had been other monster incursions in various parts of the city, always in secondary areas. However, they could not neglect protecting the other strategic points under this pretext and the majority of the army therefore remained in the center. Between two running, the princess analyzed the evolution of the situation. The issue of obtaining experience points had been resolved. In fact, the three guards had told her that they had each obtained 20 XP after defeating the pitiful invaders. Killing monsters therefore earned experience. Yet it seemed too easy. Xicackna couldn''t help but think about how easily the monsters had been eliminated: their power was nothing like those of the Disaster. They looked like simple workers... Yes: that was it! These creatures were workers. Probably scouts from large armies waiting behind the gates to come and slaughter them! Fortunately, these blue portals seemed one way and they were unable to report to their superiors. However, this meant that it was dangerous to stay near the portals as they risked spewing out a flood of monstrous soldiers at any moment. She therefore tried to station her guards as close as possible to the gate and asked the workers to move away from it. But, the doors frequently changing place, this organization proved harmful to that of work. So, she ended up ordering the soldiers to place themselves in ambush every time they saw a portal (the shadow could be enough, since the monsters seemed not to see in the dark) while the workers would continue their work without worrying about the risk. After several days at this pace, the princess got into the habit of sleeping in ambush and having meals brought to her there. A servant remained nearby to wake her in case of portal activity. It was thus, while she slept peacefully, that the invasion continued. Startled awake by the servant, she peeked out between the stalagmites that hid her. This time, the portal had not changed position: it vomited out a group of monsters armed to the teeth with unknown objects. If the workers earlier were dressed in variegated fabrics, the newcomers wore identical clothes in a sort of very mottled green. They had none of the disorganization of the previous arrivals: they moved with the caution of warriors in unknown territory. Xicackna relayed the alert then focused on war maneuvers. She jumped when the monsters'' magic weapons spat fire and thunder at the workers present. The noise was terrible, accompanied by that of spongy explosions as the repeated blows of this firepower pierced the chitin of the unfortunate workers. Without losing her common sense this time, the princess ordered the workers to flee and the soldiers to maintain their positions, moving if necessary to remain hidden behind the stalagmites. The darkness was no longer a sufficient hiding place as each of the enemy''s weapons projected a beam of light in front of it. In the chaos of the fight, her order was not heard by a few soldiers who rushed forward. Immediately, around a dozen weapons were aimed at them and they trembled under the assaults of monstrous magic. But they were Zcarbbs and they advanced as much as they could. When the four soldiers collapsed, they were able to carry one of the monsters to death. It must have been someone important to them, because she saw them extract its torn remains from the mouth of the heroic fighter who had finished it off. While some stood guard around, the others brought the body to the door. After seeing the futility of trying to cross it again, they seemed to be discussing among themselves with complex grunts. According to their hand movements, Xicackna assumed that they were debating whether it was better to leave the remains alone or keep a few guards for them. After a moment, often spent pointing stupidly at the air for no apparent reason, they decided to move forward together, leaving the corpse here. Immobile, Xicackna observed the enemy advance through the eyes of a few small workers who had remained hidden nearby. The eleven enemies were advancing slowly and all the time wasted discussing beforehand had been their first mistake: as they reached the first corridor allowing them to leave the place, several soldiers burst out. Reinforcements had arrived! Although the first soldiers died quickly, they had the merit of monopolizing the enemy''s attention. The princess then ordered her troops to attack, briefly annoyed by the "Command" skill icon that appeared in her field of vision. Between each soldier they felled, the monsters performed a curious maneuver with their weapons: they tore off a part which they threw away and, quickly, added a new one taken from the pockets of their belts. During these moments, they were particularly vulnerable. So, when the soldiers in ambush appeared in their rear, many were unable to return fire. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Caught in a pincer movement, the monsters were massacred to the last one.
Dungeon invasion defeated Quest successful Combat XP: 6 Participation XP: 10 Current experience: 708 Experience stored: 2008 Experience needed for next level: 292
So, giving orders allowed you to gain part of the experience gained by the group? The princess sighed: it was not at this rate that she would gain a level. Her victory against the invaders, however small, allowed Xicackna to return to the palace to present the trophies collected. It was a nice change after so many days of running through the tunnels. Several other princesses and even princes or simple soldiers with a class were also present, also bringing monster remains. The invasions of recent days had varied in difficulty, with the enemy attacking in waves of one to twelve creatures. If the first attacks were carried out by workers, the last ones were almost systematically composed of a complete assault group of these abominable warriors. None had been announced in recent days. The room buzzed with conversations presenting each other''s theories. The soldiers themselves, despite their inferior intelligence and lack of initiative, participated by detailing their observations of enemy combat techniques. The trophies consisted of the strange material that made up the monsters'' arsenal as well as the multiple shredded pieces of meat that were the only remaining traces of the enemy. In fact, Xicackna was the only one to bring back an almost intact body and she was highly congratulated. She accepted the compliments with a little embarrassment because this intact body had not been obtained thanks to her: on the contrary it was the monster killed by the soldiers who, not having listened to her orders, had sacrificed themselves at the start of the fight. Two mature princesses divided the loot between them in order to study how to use it. First it was Xana-Eloba, with her Engineer class, who monopolized all the weapons and strange objects. She was so excited at the prospect of studying unknown tools that she took herself some of the loot and transported it personally to her laboratory. The intact body and the pieces were monopolized by Xevo-Micha who always had an important role in managing the hive''s supplies. Once the trophies disappeared, the conversations resumed. They hardly learned anything new, but a flock of princesses who had not been able to participate in the operations gradually infiltrated the room to marvel at all these new stories. Here they admired an effective combat strategy. There, peoples gave advice for next time, or discreetly showed strange devices from elsewhere which had not been handed over with the rest of the trophies. Xicackna watched with envy as one of her sisters activated and deactivated a curious square producing light, under the amazed gazes of those around her. She had already seen this type of device in the hands of the first invaders: the workers. At that moment, she hadn''t thought about taking one of these magical items for herself. As she had no role in this first confrontation, she had not been able to go to the palace to present them because Xyry-Yria had sent one of the victorious guards there. Suddenly, Xevo-Micha burst into the room, all excited. "Look what I found! Look!" She held between her claws, still bloody from her research, a tiny grayish crystal. "Its called an F-rank mana stone by the System! You find one in each of the monsters! When one of my servants ate one, it gained ten experience points at once!" She gave the stone to a younger princess to pass from hand to hand, then began to wriggle in place, moving her abdomen in all directions. She was in such a state that she seemed to have become an immature princess again. Her eyes shining with enthusiasm, she resumed her announcements, pointing at the System windows to punctuate her speech, forgetting that she was the only one to see them. "And that''s not all! That''s not all! I also won a class! And a level! And with the level, I had 50 additional life points and a skill! And I''m level 30 now!" "What is youw cwass?" asked one of the little ones, overcome by her excitement. "Well" Xevo-Micha gestured towards the door she had entered through. A servant waiting there received her message and opened the doors. Immediately, several other servants entered, pushing pots on wheels from which a pleasant aroma escaped. "I received the chef class! Apparently, it improves my cooking skills. I got this while testing the edibility of monsters... I obtained the S-rank class skills Invigorating Cooking and Mana Stone Working! And I have the joy and honor to offer you the first monster stew!" Spectators squealed with joy as they received steaming bowls of this new food. Greedily, the little princesses and princes devoured their pittance before surrounding the pots, bowls outstretched, to ask for more. The mature nobles barely restrained themselves from doing the same, while the soldiers ate slowly and calmly, as if wondering if they were really entitled to such a fine meal. In the confusion, a little princess took the opportunity to try to gluttonously devour the mana stone, which brought loud, indignant cries from her companions. They had the satisfaction of seeing her spit it out shortly after and start whining: "Whoa! It is too hawd! I am in pain!" With an indulgent smile, Xevo-Micha took the small stone and cleaned it of the acidic saliva that covered it. "Yes, we princesses have more delicate jaws than those of soldiers and workers. I started looking into the possibility of grinding these stones into powder to make them ingestible... Or we can try to increase our strength characteristics." "I dont think we can reawly eat that!" replied the little princess. "Its way too hawd." The cook sighed and she gave the stone to a nearby soldier, ordering it to eat. It did so without hesitation and stuffed it between its mandibles, directly into its mouth. There were rocky crunches as the stone was crushed, then the soldier spoke: "Thats right: 10 XP." Chapter 5: The Adventurers
Re-evaluation of the dungeon rank: F => E Dungeon ? Hive of Xolona ? Rank E Demarcation of the dungeons subsections completed
That day, the doors became green and fewer in number. Perhaps there was even only one active door left in the entire hive, continuing to move regularly, like the previous doors. Enemy attacks had also stopped, which was worrying. Food supplies were dangerously low as there were few mushroom farms in the part of the city that had been sealed off in the Dungeon. There were some burrowing prey and small insects, but it was necessary to secure more sustainable and numerous resources to feed new generations. Eventually, Xicackna heard of an enemy incursion. According to the story spread by The Hive Mind, there were first a few enemy scouts who helped to understand how the doors had changed. First, they were new monsters, a kind of servants obviously. Smaller than the bipeds, they were quadrupedal and covered in fur. Passing through the green door, they began to search the dungeon, sniffing it warily. They easily detected the workers, despite the darkness, and growled at them, revealing fangs more carnivorous than those of their masters. Then, without attacking, they went back through the door without it stopping them. Shortly after, they returned followed by their owners. These were connected to their animals by ropes and carried an arsenal similar to the soldiers from previous attacks. They didn''t stay very long either and left after a brief altercation during which they killed two guards, without going far enough to be ambushed. After that, the days passed without incident. Then, while Xicackna was observing the green shimmer of the portal without much motivation, the monsters came out. As before, there were only twelve of them, including one of those hairy monsters. However, there was something different about them. Xicackna knew it, but did not guess what it was. She continued to watch them carefully. The little monster that accompanied them growled left and right, systematically pointing towards the workers and soldiers, whether in ambush or not. The bipeds did not seem to care and began to quietly massacre the workers using their magic weapons or large metal spades. As on previous occasions, they were ordered to flee in order to lure the monsters into an ambush. Everything went well, until the ambush. As expected, the soldiers rushed to attack... but one of the monsters made a gesture in the air, freezing the attackers. It seemed as if an invisible force was pinning them to the ground. The monsters let out enthusiastic exclamations and attacked those who were supposed to take them by surprise. The magical weapons crackled again, mauling the shells until they pierced them. Other monsters used bladed weapons: strangely made swords and spears. If she thought that the use of such weapons was ridiculous next to their magic spitters, Xicackna changed her mind instantly: tracing luminous curves in the air, these weapons cut through armor more easily than those at a distance... It was as if the monsters had some sort of destructive power that came through their weapons. Freed from their stupor at the moment they were attacked, the soldiers defended themselves as best they could. One of them managed to slash an enemy with its spear. But just as it was about to collapse, seriously injured, another monster raised its hand and a green glow burst from it, spreading all over the injured body. Instantly, the wound closed. Paralyzed by fear, Xicackna watched the massacre motionless. Although she wanted to look away, she couldn''t help but observe. Only half of the monsters seemed to have strange powers. The other half consisted of three warriors similar to those before, who were no less formidable in groups, as well as the hairy creature and finally two monsters who must have been workers. The latter two carried strange weapons, perhaps tools. They stayed away from the fight, but did not stray too far and, as soon as the last soldier fell, they rushed to the remains. They picked up almost intact pieces to put them in sort of baskets and, sometimes, seemed to be holding with satisfaction an invisible object which they put in a separate pocket. During this stripping, the other creatures stood guard, then one of the monsters, probably a noble, ordered them to resume marching. They advanced into the tunnel and passed Xicackna, invisible. Even their beast did not detect her, its nose no doubt saturated with the smell of dead soldiers. And the princess remained motionless for a long, long time, in a state of shock. There were only a dozen of these creatures and they could wreak such havoc? What would happen if a portal similar to those of the Disaster opened at the palace, pouring out continuous streams of these bloodthirsty monsters? The queen herself would eventually succumb despite all her power! If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. She was taken out of the abyss of her despair by a new passage of monsters. Fewer in number, some appeared injured and supported by others. The one with the power to heal was still there, but perhaps there were limits to it power? Growling in their grotesque language, the leader of the monsters visibly urged its troops to reach the gate. The hairy beast was no longer there, but having remained invisible for too long, the princess could only rely on her camouflage to avoid the enemy''s gaze. She trembled as a stream of light illuminated her, but the monsters did not see her. The better-conditioned warriors established a defensive perimeter around the gate while their comrades carried the wounded through. Eyes wide, in a sort of unhealthy fascination, Xicackna did not miss a single moment of their movements. Crossing the last one, the leader of the monsters took one last look behind it, scanning the surroundings. It waved its hand and a wall of fire rose at the entrance to the tunnel, charring a soldier who was still pursuing the invader. Feeling the heat of the fire from her hiding place, Xicackna flinched. The movement coupled with the light of the flames was enough to reveal her to the monster who raised it hand again. Was she going to die like this? Roasted by the fire? But only a small flame erupted on the princess''s body, inflicting only a slight pain that the System estimated at five hit points. The attacker staggered, either from its injuries or from exhaustion. Apparently, its destructive power had run dry. With rage it threw itself towards the portal and disappeared.
Dungeon invasion defeated Quest successful Combat XP: 0 Participation XP: 0 Current experience: 708 Experience stored: 2008 Experience needed for next level: 292
The message startled Xicackna. Then, after observing it, it annoyed her: a message simply to tell her that she had been of no use? Her mood darkened: indeed, the System was right. She had only watched helplessly as the monsters massacred her own people. It was others, further away, who had repelled the invaders. Probably Captain Kurk''s guard post, located at a strategic crossroads.
Validated achievement ? Survivor ? Condition: Survive alone, for the first time, in a confrontation against a higher status enemy Detail: With your F status, you survived alone a confrontation with a level 11 (Status E) Human Hunter adventurer with the Mage class. Reward: 600 XP
Xicackna was speechless at this second message, her anger falling immediately. Without losing track, she analyzed the information that was thus delivered to her. You could therefore gain experience, perhaps even other rewards, by completing difficult conditions. And the enemy faced was called a Human Hunter. The monsters now had a name.
You gain a level! Current level: 6 Current experience: 1008 Stored experience: 2308 Experience needed for next level: 342
A mysterious warmth ran through Xicackna''s body at this announcement. All traces of the burn she had received disappeared. So that was what gaining a level was like? Instant treatment and was that all? She checked her creature sheet and looked around but didn''t see any other changes. No increase in hit points or additional skills... This was to be reserved for passing certain particular levels, but not the six one apparently. Ah, yes, there was a change! Near her stats, a new symbol appeared, indicating that she could increase them. Next to it, a small window stated 1 unassigned ability point. It wasn''t much, but cumulatively from level to level, she guessed that it could greatly change an individual''s power. She would have to think long and hard about the best stat to increase this time. Perhaps endurance, since it seemed linked to hit points?
Class gained! ? Analyst ? You are now a named monster! ? Xicackna the Observer ?
What? A class? Finally! But The princess frowned at the name the System gave her. Observer? Was it really glorious? Not even The Survivor? Was it to emphasize that she had only observed and only survived by luck? Anyway, she finally had a class and they usually came with one or more bonus skills.
Class: Analyst Class Skills (1): Observation (F) [supernatural power, allow you to obtain information on targets using the System]
A supernatural power, this time, and not a natural one? Did this differentiate the simple normal abilities of individuals from the abnormal ones given by the System? But, more importantly Tears clouded Xicackna''s vision and she fell onto her back, watching the stalactites of the vault as if she hoped they would fall from it and pierce her. "I finally have a class," she moaned, "but why does it come with a single, useless skill of the lowest rank? Sniff! Even those who get F-rank skills with their class, they have at least several, and useful ones! Bwaaaa! Why does the System hate me?" Chapter 6: “Magic” It had been several months since the Disaster struck and life had become difficult for the Zcarbbs. Regularly, seemingly increasingly powerful enemy troops launched attacks through the green gates and advanced further from them with each passage. At least when the doors turned blue again, which happened too rarely, they could be certain that the monsters would not dare to attack, apparently having understood that they could not go back. The Queen, on the other hand, much preferred that the doors remained green. Food from fallen enemies became increasingly necessary as the food shortage worsened. To alleviate the crisis, the majority of unemployed soldiers and workers, particularly those who protected the city center, went into hibernation. This way, they would no longer consume resources but could still wake up to face a major invasion. Apparently, the exchanges between Queen Xa-tar-Lona and the System were more advanced than for her subjects. She received rewards for each quest completed by her subjects, particularly when they succeeded in stopping an enemy invasion. This resulted in a few experience points, a few mysterious items appearing out of nowhere, and dungeon points. These allowed the city to be improved, whether its defenses, its food stock or many other options that the queen had not detailed. "And I still havent had any quests!" Xicackna soliloquized. "Even workers receive quests for profitability in their work!" But really, what job could she possibly do? She was too young a princess to have any real responsibility. At best, if she encountered more monsters, she could gain a few points by directing the soldiers from afar... But that would be extremely risky, so she didn''t really want that to happen. At least all the nobles had recently developed a very useful characteristic, inaccessible to other castes due to lack of mental abilities. However, it was with a growl of annoyance that the little princess thought about it. A few months earlier, all the princesses and princes had been gathered before the queen to listen to the oldest among them. There were the five eldest princesses, Xom-Telba, Xaza-Yaban, Xana-Eloba, Xubu-Lemonay and Xevo-Micha as well as three of the most powerful princes, Jek-Nelva, Bole-Hozy and Mek-Natal. The most important announcement was given by the first two, who were the oldest and therefore respectable princesses. "We found out how to unlock new abilities!" Had announced Xom-Telba, before being interrupted by Xaza-Yaban: "Indeed, a new ability, but it suggests that other hidden features could possibly exist." "Yes, I was going to say that. This characteristic is called" "And I even got a new class! I am now a mage, since I can do magic!" "We said we wouldn''t use this word!" Xana-Eloba then protested. "And it was said that it was me who made the announcement!" added Xom-Telba, furious. Under the raging gaze of her closest sisters, the new mage cowered and muttered an excuse, but was quickly cheered up by the amazed exclamations of the young nobles. "Magic! Magic! ", "Can you make wisps that burst in the air? ?, Are you teaching us? Say, you teach us! Unleashed, the young people bombarded Xaza-Yaban with questions and ran everywhere, excited. The older ones were barely more restrained in the face of this announcement straight out of a fairy tale. "Its not magic," explained Xana-Eloba, "its just how the System itself calls its own functioning." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "Absolutely," Xom-Telba had agreed. "We have made great progress in our analysis of how this System works and, although we have not yet found any way to circumvent it, we are better able to understand its nature. Although we cannot yet say whether it is controlled by intelligences or automatons, we now know that it is a particularly complex information network based on the transportation of matter and that its not of natural origin but of a deeply thought-out construction. More precisely, this device makes it possible to instantly transform matter into energy and vice versa. In a form of energy whose particle nature we do not know exactly how to describe, it can be transported instantly, on our scale in any case, to another place participating in this network. The complex intercrossing of different information allows the production of various effects controlled by the informative part of the energy in a manner directly associated with the orders resulting from the wishes of the users recognized by said information which is roughly called the System..." The exposition of the facts could have lasted a little longer, but as her gaze swept over the suddenly calm ranks of the princesses, the eldest understood that it was not necessary. Many had stalled, giving her a blank stare with sometimes a trickle of drool flowing carelessly from their small mandibles, while some of the larger ones seemed to have a headache from trying to understand her information. Xom-Telba had sighed. "Okay, you can call it magic if you want! But, a more appropriate name would be a network of transformation and transportation of the energy value of matter via a... Oh, okay! Were going to say magic" The little ones then began to scream with joy and go wild as before, the older ones following their example in an opportunity to let off steam. Xaza-Yaban herself was rolling on the ground, twisted with laughter as she looked at her eldest, in an attitude unworthy of her age. Even the oldest princes, usually very serious, could not help but smile. Jek-Nelva was the exception, trying to defend Xom-Telba with no more success than also dragging Xana-Eloba into her sister''s laughter. Initially upset, the oldest princess had always been very quick to analyze a situation. She calmed down quickly and told her devoted guardian to relax. It was clear that the colony had not had much occasion for celebration in recent times and this moment of relaxation was more than welcome. The mood had finally died down when the crowd learned that they would now have daily exercises to unlock this new power, and that these mainly consisted of standing for hours concentrating on a fixed point without the slightest interest. "Its logical," Xom-Telba explained trying to simplify as best as possible, "if the System recognizes its users will, you need to practice developing it. You will then have the possibility of receiving the hidden characteristic ''mana'', a rather strange name which means nothing but seems to designate the degree of authorization in the application of the effects of the System." Xicackna had to admit that after a few hours of immobility and boredom, it took a lot of willpower not to simply drop to the ground to rest her aching muscles, or not to fall asleep standing up, devoured by the idleness. For the princesses, used to being pampered and protected from all difficulties by the entire hive, this training had been an ordeal. However, they had the satisfaction of seeing that despite their pretensions, the princes did not succeed much better. Lined up on the palace square, those of the nobility were regularly awakened with sticks by the guards appointed for this purpose and thus spent days, weeks, with little rest or food, until the System recognized as users. The blows given were not particularly violent, intended only to wake them up, but all of these drastic conditions made sleeping in ambush near the doors seem like a leisurely stroll. Obviously, the mature nobles had progressed faster and were therefore able to escape this grueling and boring training first after having unlocked their mana. It had taken weeks and a good hundred strokes before Xicackna received the long-awaited notification from the System:
Ability unlocked! Mana Maximum Mana value: 1 Current maximum Energy: 120
Mana, coupled with level and intelligence, thus gave an Energy value that the System put at the same level as Hit Points or Vigor. However, it seemed necessary to have a magical class, like Xaza-Yaban, or magical skills, for this new characteristic to have any use. But hey, it was better than nothing. Since then, even by continuing these idiotic exercises from time to time, she had not managed to change the value of her characteristic one iota. At least she received a few meager XP for each series of long hours spent, wasted even, on these poor attempts... "If at least I received quests, I could gain more experience and more easily... I''m bored!" Chapter 7: Strengths in Defeat It was at this moment of these reflections that the green portal began to ripple, allowing passage to a group of monsters. Stepping back further into the shadows, the princess checked her attributes once again, convinced she would find something called "bad luck" or the like. However, it turned out that she had no such penalty... Checking that the soldiers were in ambush, she prepared to lead the usual maneuver. All that remained was to wait for the enemies to arrive, busy pursuing the fleeing workers without suspecting the trap that had been set for them. The monsters were all named "Human Hunters", except for one of these "Human" who was simply called that. Unlike the invaders of previous times, they wore strange armor or loose clothing similar to robes, but adapted to the morphology of their species. By concentrating, Xicackna could figure out their classes and levels...and that was pretty much the whole point of her skill. She had heard that others could also estimate enemy levels without using skills, which amplified her feeling of uselessness. There was a level 1 enemy. Weak in appearance, he was the only one in the group to wear clothes similar to those of the first monsters: the workers. He was carrying a huge bag that was recognized by the system as a scannable object. Maybe if her skill upgraded to E rank, she could learn the name of it, but she guessed that it must be a gathering tool. The monsters seemed to hunt the Zcarbbs for food, since they took body parts with them when their expeditions were successful, so it made sense that a worker would accompany the group. On the other hand, everyone else was clearly a fighter, with levels ranging from 7 to 13. A shiver ran through her when she realized that the least of them was ranked higher than her. She didn''t know if it was fear or disgust, but she was very irritated by it. Finally, there was a monster whose level she couldn''t read. From the research conducted, it seemed that in general skills, other than combat skills, worked more on lower ranks and less on the next higher rank, while they had little effect on ranks beyond. Her observation skill being of rank F, Xicackna clearly saw the difference between monsters of level 1 to 9 (i.e. those of status F) and those of levels 10 to, here, 13 (status E). She could see the number of F-rank skills, and the nature of them when they were also F-rank, as well as the classes possessed by these monsters. On the other hand, for those with levels placing them in E status, she knew nothing more than said level. So, this probably meant that the monster whose level she didn''t even read was D status, so higher than 19. Knowing that Xyry-Yria was only level 24, this monster was going to be a major threat. In fact, no monster of such power had ever been recorded since the Dungeon appeared. But the number palliates the level, never a group of twelve monsters (eleven if we except their worker) would succeed in defeating the princess of the zone and her bodyguards. On the other hand, they could wreak significant havoc in the tunnels and leave with their loot without daring to confront her. Suddenly, as the enemy approached, they stopped for a moment and one of them growled something to the others who shook their heads in return. They then began to continue their journey as before. Xicackna''s heart started racing as she realized something was wrong. Two of the enemies had an Analysis skill, a variant of her Observation skill which gave more information but at a shorter distance and it was one of them who had communicated with its people: she was almost certain that the ambush had been discovered and that it would backfire if they attacked... But what could she do? Her talents for observation were refined day by day and she noticed all these details more and more easily, giving her a better picture of the situation. Yet what was the point if she couldn''t use this information? Although, like any princess, she could easily organize the logistics of any activity, she had no knowledge of strategies and tactics. If there had been more surviving princes, they would be the ones in her place and, trained all their lives in this work, they would know what to do. The monsters were approaching. She could clearly see, despite the distance, their hands tightening on their weapons. One of them seemed to be weaving threads of light between its hands, preparing some magical attack. Was she going to remain paralyzed by fear, like last time? Was she going to fail again in the defense of the hive? Was she useless? She bit her arm. The rush of pain helped her to strengthen her concentration, or at least she convinced herself of it. She had to come up with an idea! She wasn''t stupid after all. With 20 intelligence points, she was at least four times smarter than a human: she could well find an idea to stop their invasion! As she concentrated, the battlefield situation appeared clearly to her, like a colorful map. She had around thirty level 8 soldiers, two thirds of which were in ambush in the enemy''s path. The rest had the mission of taking the enemy from the rear. Two of them had even developed an incredible skill: Burrowing. This allowed them to hide in the ground, even made of rock. The most incredible thing was that, even with her personal skill, she herself struggled to identify the places where they were buried because they left few traces. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. It defied the laws of logic slightly, but any advantage was worth taking. Even if the enemy had spotted their ambushers, they would be surprised by an assault under their feet. The confusion generated by this attack and the numerical superiority of the Zcarbbs would ensure victory! However, if the enemy had spotted some of the soldiers, the ambush could fail: the enemies could attack the camouflaged troops from a distance without being close enough to the trap. It was therefore necessary to give the enemy confidence to advance that far, and to do so sacrifice a few troops. Xicackna ordered three of the soldiers, those she considered less well camouflaged, to attack. As expected, the monsters massacred them in no time. As expected, this easy victory seemed to ease their tension and they seemed to relax as they marched to their doom... A detail suddenly disrupted her certainty of victory. She saw the human worker communicating with the most powerful hunter and she couldn''t help but have a bad feeling. Strangely, it did not seem to be the leader of the group despite its power. She supposed he lacked the appearance of strength to be recognized by its peers. It was also one of the two users of the Analysis skill, the one who had previously spotted the presence of the soldiers. By observing her own class skill more carefully, she had discovered some hidden properties, or at least not explained in the basic summary. She could thus protect her own data against another Observation skill of a similar or lower level. It was likely that the Analysis skill had a similar property. The icon for the Sixth Sense skill flashed annoyingly, confirming her certainty that this encounter was going to end in her disfavor. Ah, if only she could read the thoughts of these creatures, it would be so much easier. And understand their primitive language, of course. Suddenly, the D status hunter got ahead of the group, to the surprised grunts of its peers, and planted its sword in the ground. It burst the stone in a spray of fluid as the first burrower''s skull exploded. Without waiting, the monster planted its sword in the second location discreetly indicated to it by the worker. The other monsters, realizing that they had managed a narrow escape, wailed with joy as they thanked the killer. With an annoyed clicking of her mandibles, the princess ordered the attack. There was still a chance to win through numbers. As her soldiers rushed forward in the face of an enemy fully prepared to receive them, she ordered those attacking from the rear to wait until the fight was engaged before advancing as discreetly as possible. Despite their small size compared to the imposing soldiers, the nasty beasts defended themselves fearsomely. They even won! As if it guessed that an attack would inevitably come from behind, the worker raised the alarm even before the soldiers arrived from the rear. With each second that passed, Xicackna felt the number of soldiers dwindle across the hive mind. Panic took hold of her thoughts and she fell, shaking, to the rocky ground. Suddenly, she saw four soldiers arrive in front of her, seriously injured. She could feel the fight continuing in the distance: what was happening? Why didn''t they fight to the death? Sensing her silent question, they replied[1]: "Princess, the fight is lost. Those of us who are still able-bodied try to inflict at least one loss on the enemy. But we are too injured to be useful and its out of the question that we will give experience to the invaders by our death!" "Ex experience? For what?" "It is very likely that the enemy will also benefit from the System. So, it''s reasonable to think that, like us, they get better by killing creatures." Xicackna bit her mouth. Yes: it was indeed obvious. Why would a soldier, inferior even to humans in terms of intelligence, come to such an obvious conclusion while she herself remained blind to it? Without realizing it, she had transmitted her thoughts to the soldier who explained to her: "Its not a question of intelligence, princess. It is about experience, in the original sense of the term. You find yourself faced with situations for which you are not ready. Panic also disrupts your thinking. You must learn, survive and emerge stronger. Take." The soldier handed her a war knife. She mechanically took the weapon which seemed as large as a sword from her point of view. The soldier pointed to a damaged spot on its neck: "Hit here." The others did the same, pointing out different weak spots where their armor had been damaged. Xicackna opened her mouth, surprised. "Kill us quickly," ordered the soldier, "if you wait too long the enemy will follow in our footsteps and surprise you! Kill us and take our XP!" "Ah Uh Are you sure?" "We have already tested the question: it is totally possible to gain experience by killing our fellow beings. The only problem is that it is not profitable since the XP given at death are little compared to the XP accumulated. But in this case, it is of great interest. Hurry up and then run away!" With trembling hands, the princess raised the knife, aiming at the indicated weak point. She knew the soldier''s analysis was logical. It was a joy for them to die for the hive and she felt their satisfaction in depriving the enemy of the XP they give her. However, she could not remove from her thoughts the impression of doing wrong by killing another Zcarbb with her own hands. Overriding her own thoughts, she thrust the sharpened blade with all her might. She quickly understood that her three points of strength did not amount to much and she had to try several times before the blade finally penetrated deeply and she received 80 experience points. Keeping her momentum, she moved on to the next soldier, tears in her eyes.
[1] Zcarbb nobles automatically translate information given by commoners into more complex sentences. Chapter 8: Survive and evolve
Current experience: 1282 Stored experience: 2582 Experience needed for next level: 68
Xicackna swallowed. The voluntary sacrifice of these four level 8 guards had given her more XP than all of her training over the past months and the few crushed mana stones that had been allocated to her. However, despite all this, she still needed a little to finally reach the next level... not that obtaining one more level would change the outcome of a confrontation against eleven monsters from level 7 to at least twenty... She jumped when she heard the growls of the monsters following her. After discovering the corpses of her guards, they patrolled the surrounding area, probably to make sure they eliminated any remaining ambushers. Since she delivered the killing blows, the humans who injured them only got participation XP. It was possible that they thought their comrades were responsible for the final elimination, but since she wasn''t in their heads, she couldn''t be sure.
Quest rank ? F ? ? The survivor strikes again ? Success condition: You find yourself in an extremely critical situation with little chance of survival. Escape from you enemies without them spotting you. Reward: 150 XP Failure: Probable death
Xicackna gaped at the quest window that appeared before her eyes. Why was the System waiting now to give her one? And what was that name? Was the System making fun of her and the Achievement she had validated earlier? In any case, the reward was not as high as for this one. As she reread the details of the message, she was overcome by two contradictory feelings. First of all, the desire to simply despair while the System itself hinted that she would likely die soon. Then, a sense of urgency and panic as her Sixth Sense buzzed like never before. Panicked, she rushed, knocking over stones as she went. She then heard a growl that she considered interrogative and had the impression that the noises of monsters were converging in her direction. She stopped suddenly! A chasm blocked her path. In the depths she could see the lower level, much lower. She could possibly bypass this cavity but she would certainly find herself surrounded before she can succeed. Taking deep breaths, she forced herself to regain her composure. The System seemed to have a minor influence on physics. If, logically, a fall from this height could be fatal depending on how it was received, the System increased the probability of suffering a fixed number of damages. She still had 115 hit points: that should be enough to survive... Aiming for a spot where the rocks weren''t too sharp, she prepared to jump. Having doubts, she stopped. Opening the characteristics window, she attributed her undistributed point to endurance: it was better to limit the risks.
Stamina increased: 5 > 6 If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Maximum Vigor increased: 30 > 36 Maximum Hit Point increased: 115 > 118
Tears came to Xicackna''s eyes when she noticed the too slight increase in her vitality. But hey: three hit points could mean the difference between life and death. Holding her breath (as if that would change anything), she jumped. Xicackna came back to her senses with difficulty. Her body ached all over and she couldn''t remember if she passed out during or after landing. Responding to her silent wish, a window appeared summarizing the fall damage. She had taken 97 points of damage, reduced by 30 by her natural armor. So, she had 51 HP left, so a little less than half. The message also said "no additional penalties", which probably meant that she was not amputated or seriously injured in the fall, even if she felt like she had broken something or even several times something.
? The survivor strikes again ? Quest successful Reward: 150 XP
Current experience: 1357 Stored experience: 2657
You gain a level! Current level: 7 Experience needed for next level: 393
The mysterious heat of the level-up coursed through her body again... She no longer felt the pain. Surprised, she observed her body, intact, all her wounds had closed. Her Creature Sheet indicated that she was now at 121 Hit Points, three more than before her fall. The increase in her Energy characteristic was more satisfactory, going from 120 to 140, since it was based on her high intelligence and not her rather average endurance if only she had powers relating to this characteristic, which was currently useless. Being able to project walls of fire from afar, like the monster that almost killed her during the first encounter, would be so interesting.
Class Skill gain As you progress in your mastery of your class, you can choose one additional class skill from the three skills below: Death stare (D): (magical power) Allows you to shoot deadly rays from your eyes. Avoids most of the damage reductions. Requires 20 energy points per shot (per eye: possibility of simultaneous shots). Damage base 50. Thought Observation (F): (supernatural power) Allows you to detect the immediate thoughts of targets. Cannot evolve into "Memory Reading" but upgrades and is replaced by it if obtained. Analysis (F): (supernatural power) Allows you to obtain very detailed information on a nearby target. [Reference ability of the Analyst class, this power allows you to deeply understand the nature of the targets analyzed]
For the first time in a long time, Xicackna smiled. Finally, a chance to improve! But she still had to choose. There were therefore three options, all seeming to refer to one of her deep aspirations. Death stare was a skill starting at D rank, which showed that it was quite powerful. It was an offensive skill using her mana, so finally the possibility of fighting effectively and using the energy, until then useless. Firing one ray per eye had devastating potential. Although she had two large main eyes, she also had six secondary eyes which she generally kept closed. Located on her forehead in three separate pairs, she wasn''t sure she''d be able to open the last one before she reached adulthood, but that still left her with six usable death rays. Thought observation sounded tempting too, except for its limitation to immediate thoughts and the fact that it couldn''t evolve into a visibly more whole skill. However, this gave her essential information: skills could evolve and even develop synergies between them. Finally, Analysis was a more advanced version than Observation but only usable at close range. It was the eponymous skill of her class and she wondered why she hadn''t received it from the start. There was no need to rush too much: she had time to choose what would be the best decision... A shiver ran through her body all the way to her abdomen as she suddenly recognized the landscape around her: she was further along the main road to their sub-part of the dungeon... This meant that the monsters would soon pass over there! Focusing on the hive mind, she discovered its absence in one direction, indicating the advance of the hunters. She also heard Xyry-Yria''s relief when she discovered that she was still alive. This relief immediately turned into a series of frantic orders asking her to join her as quickly as possible and to remain careful. Turning invisible, Xicackna headed as quickly as possible towards the command room. She only stopped for a moment to select her new skill. Chapter 9: Memories I look sadly at the corridors, all too familiar. This is now the eighteenth time I have gone through them. I know all the traps; I know how to succeed in this dungeon. Yet, each time I fall into this first ambush, I can''t help but imagine myself setting up a grave there. My own grave. Like every other place where I died, I imagine an epitaph. Here lies Sung-Yong the regressor, after his first death. I remember it like it was yesterday, despite all the adventures that have happened to me since. The second time, I didn''t manage to save everyone, but the first time I was the last survivor. Even Park Kang-Dae, with his cheated King of Thieves skill and his level 20, was not enough. Surrounded by enemies, taken from behind, surprised by the insectoids emerging from the ground beneath their feet, the others had been massacred without being able to eliminate the slightest monster. I myself only owed my salvation to my mediocre level. Hired as a porter in hopes of paying my debts and getting some participation XP, I wasn''t even a real hunter. The System only recognizes this title from level 2 and it seems that even monsters know the difference between a threat and a simple snack. Overwhelmed by enemies, Kang-Dae had been torn to pieces... No: I don''t even want to remember that. Despite all the blood and suffering I have seen since; these images still haunt me... To my surprise, the monsters hadn''t killed me. Not immediately. Armed with a military knife, almost ineffective against the Zcarbbs natural armor, I was nothing to them, except a small packet of 10 XP waiting for the harvest. Even if they had a skill to see my stats, they would only have seen my starting skill. A priori, having an A rank skill should have propelled me into the highest ranks of the Hunters Association from the start But some skills are quite mediocre on their own. Infinite Critical gives me a 50% chance of doing a critical hit again at the same time as another critical hit. Of course, once I had obtained the skills and equipment increasing the probability of critical hits, I would have a good chance of systematically making at least double critical hits, and even a small chance of one-shooting any monster, with some luck. But with the current state of my stats, there was little chance that this skill would benefit me. The monsters had moved aside to let their leader pass. An optional sub-boss named monster: Xicackna the Observer. At the time, I also had a magic item that allowed me to read the level of enemies. If it''s useless to me now, I was then able to discover that she was level 6 while most of the guards were level 9... This probably made her the weakest optional boss I''ve ever heard of. It was obvious that the soldiers were looking to help her growth by giving her the opportunity to earn some XP without risk... At least that''s what they thought. I distinctly remember the terror and fascination I felt when faced with this creature. This was the first time anyone had observed a Zcarbb princess up close, with all the videos featuring them being taken from a distance and very blurry. What struck me then was the very human appearance of the creature. Aside from her insect-like features, she looked like a young girl, maybe still a child. This contrasted radically with the appearance of the soldiers, more like ants or giant spiders. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. While other Zcarbbs, and even older princesses as I later learned, often walked with all their legs, the young princess was raised in a bipedal position, barely taller than a human child. Despite the thick chitin that covered her body, she wore clothing similar to a small dress, short enough to hide only half of her insect-like abdomen. In her hands she held a crude knife given to her by one of the Zcarbbs soldiers. It was obvious, from her actions, that she would soon use it to take my life and collect the measly 10 XP given by the death of a level 1 person. However, I felt that she was also driven by curiosity and that she took advantage of this moment to observe a living human specimen, up close. There was something strangely graceful about her facial features, a little disturbed by the small mandibles surrounding her mouth, six strange horizontal slits forming two columns on her forehead and two small antennae, but the thought crossed my mind that a talented designer would have no trouble to draw her as a cute character. However, I had then emerged from the morass of my thoughts and, rather than despair and abandon myself to this cruel fate, I had decided to face it one last time, with more courage than I had manifested throughout my life. With a quick gesture, accentuated by the absence of any hope, I planted my paltry knife in the middle of the creature''s forehead. Not agile enough to dodge even such a mediocre attack, she looked back at me in surprise. I didn''t know then that I had hit a weak point of the monster, but several windows opened to announce a critical hit, then the success of a second, thanks to my skill, then a third and so on following. In my entire life, and even since, I have never had such luck. Struck to death, the princess collapsed while the 60 XP from my victory finally brought me to level 2. I was going to gain an attribute point and a skill, but I knew I wouldn''t even have the time to consult them before being torn apart by furious monsters. I barely had time to examine the loot I had dropped from this rare monster: The Stone of Regrets. Without really reading the description, I activated it just as I was being... cut into pieces... The memories of all my deaths should now be indifferent to me, but I cannot completely escape the trauma... I really hope not to have to suffer an eighteenth death... I then woke up a few days earlier, in my bed. It was the day after I became an Awakened One. I came back from my test, desperate. Despite my A-rank skill, I had been classified as an F-rank hunter due to its uselessness and it was made clear to me that I would have little chance of progressing one day. Without any possibility of being recruited by a guild, or even as an adventure companion, I resolved to become a porter and signed the contract. A mediocre and probably short life awaited me, but I had to pay my debts, still weighed down by the multiple loans that had lined the pockets of the crooks promising to help me become Awakened. My stats were exactly the same as the first time, with one tiny difference: the title Regressor, Part Two Now its called Regressor, Part Eighteen, but its description hasnt changed: Grace at the stone of regrets, your death has sent you back to your past: what will you do with this unexpected chance? ". The answer is simple: I correct my previous mistakes and determine the best course of action to save humanity from destruction. This time, I won''t fail! It seems that the stone of regret is now a part of me, allowing me to escape death every time. I never saw the optional boss Xicackna the Observer again. Does she still exist in this reality, or was she erased by dropping this stone? I will probably never know the answer to that question, but no matter how hard I tried, I never saw her again. Even on my fifteenth time, when I didn''t try to stop the success of the ambush... We arrive at the boss room. Come on, I need to concentrate: I need to do it right. I have to manage to take all the advantages of the last time without making the mistakes of the first two times...
Dungeon ? Hive of Xolona ? (subsection) Dungeon boss Princesse Xyry-Yria [Rank D]
Still so impressive... But with Kang-Dae, it will be a piece of cake. The whole point is to limit the deaths of others and gain really interesting loot... Chapter 10: Total defeat Xicackna''s gaze was lost in space as she felt unphased by the horrible reality unfolding before her eyes. Hidden in the heights of the room, not far from an escape tunnel, she saw the Humans confront the Zcarbbs with distressing success. Xyry-Yria had done her best to prepare the defense, but to no avail. It was rather reassuring to see that an adult wasn''t really doing any better than her at a strategic level... No, no: that wasn''t reassuring in the least! It was quite the opposite! A shiver made her tremble all over and she stood on all legs so as not to faint. Her stomach was screaming at her to return its contents and her head was hurting, preventing her from fully concentrating on her skills. Observation had suddenly risen to E rank, apparently thanks to her frequent use of the skill. This was good news, but she was still having a little trouble getting used to all the additional information she could perceive. It was all about the good news. For the bad ones, the list went on and on. She had already used her six minutes of invisibility: while waiting to have it once again, in one hour, she could only count on her camouflage to escape enemy gaze. Fortunately, they were focused on the battle. The D-rank monster was wreaking havoc among the soldiers, moving ever closer to the big princess. This one did not have any particularly useful skills and relied on the tactic of the tide of soldiers to eliminate this danger. Unfortunately, the other humans supported the attacker and did not allow it to be surrounded. This damned human worker seemed even more dangerous to her view. Avoiding too much exposure to combat, it appeared here and there, turning around tense situations for its kind by its mere presence. Oh, it didn''t do much: it lightly jostled one of its comrades who then avoided a fatal blow, threw a stone which distracted a soldier at the worst possible moment, all sorts of small events which had until now prevented the death of the least of the invaders. But Xyry-Yria was not without resources. Attacking directly, quite unexpectedly, she pushed back the most powerful of the attackers and threw it violently against a wall, reducing its vitality to half. The human spat out red blood that stained its clothes and the edge of its mouth. It barely had time to cast a dirty look at the princess before disappearing under a swarming mass of soldiers. On her side, the big princess personally threw herself into attacking the other creatures. Supported by the remaining soldiers, she had forces equivalent to them, superior even if one counted her own level. She had been injured during her contact with the D-rank hunter and some injuries were added, but she retained the advantage against F and E-rank opponents. Suddenly, the human worker stood before Xyry-Yria, waving at her. Taken aback, the princess stopped and looked suspiciously at the weak creature, convinced that she was detecting the beginnings of an unknown plan. Baring its teeth in what vaguely seemed to be a smile or some kind of threat, the monster gestured with its hand to one of the large stalagmites that formed one of the ornamental columns of the cave. Its other hand held a mysterious metal box which the System did not offer observation. The ground shook as an explosion obliterated the base of the column. It collapsed and fell in one piece on the scene of the fight. A stunned expression on her face, Xyry-Yria looked helplessly at the mass of stone that was approaching her face. Like Xicackna, she had little agility and such an attack took her by surprise. The princess trembled in shock, receiving the column right on the sensitive part of her forehead. Despite the massive damage, she could have survived. However, the worker''s only skill activated, triggering its one chance out of two to double critical damage, that is to say, that inflicted on a sensitive point, increasing the damage. Xyry-Yria''s life points dropped to 0 and she died instantly!
Dungeon ? Hive of Xolona ? (subsection) Dungeon boss defeated Princesse Xyry-Yria [Rank D] Time remaining before dungeon collapse: 5 min
Xicackna huddled in her hiding place, trying to hold back the tears that were streaming down her face. The tears of defeat, but also of the loss of her big sister. Tears also of fear, of terror, which paralyzed her body with the poisons of indecision and despair. In the room, the Humans were exalted, singing their victory, among the disoriented soldiers and workers who were fleeing without aim or direction. The monsters congratulated each other and collected mana stones from the corpses of the Zcarbbs that only they could see. The worker, the one who dealt the fatal blow (even if it was through the column) had received so much XP that it was now level 5. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. In the air, a large green portal appeared, providing an escape route for the humans as the caves began to mysteriously break apart, raining down a few pebbles in the moment, stones later. The shock of a rock twice her size crashing a short distance away shook Xicackna from her waking torpor. She had to run away! Now: before she dies stupidly! Even under the cover of invisibility, it would be crazy to follow Humans through their portal. Who knew what the demonic world from which they emerged looked like? How many of these abominations were swarming there, hungry for the flesh of the Zcarbbs? She would end up being discovered and killed there, far from any civilization worthy of the name. In this case, the only solution would be to exit the subsection of the dungeon. Each time the monsters attacked them an invisible barrier rose, like the one limiting their prison, blocking access to the rest of the hive. However, now that the Humans were leaving the area, perhaps the passage would be open again? As she headed towards the exit, she noticed that many Zcarbbs were also following this route. Some were just following her, reassured to be able to follow a superior again, but others were following another order. Projecting herself into the "hive mind", she detected the presence of "Captain Kurk". The warrior had not been able to arrive in time to confront the humans. It was now coordinating efforts to clear the passage. Notifying Xicackna, it called out to her: "Princess? You are still alive! Hurry up: the ground is collapsing!" "Th the floor? Ffff Ffff You mean the ceiling?" "No: the ground. Our Queen was right: this place is not our home!" She quickly understood what the soldier meant. The exit did exist, which was reassuring, but it was surrounded by an unreal landscape. Not only was the cave collapsing, larger and larger blocks smashing to the ground, but it was collapsing into an abyssal void. Indeed, the ground itself was crumbling, the rocks falling endlessly through the starry vault beneath their feet. With a mixture of horror and fascination, the princess watched the pieces of the dungeon drift until they were lost among the unknown stars. Strange luminous disks with jagged edges also appeared here and there, similar to the drawings of scholars supposed to represent galaxies. Such a view was impossible from home and she could not imagine how far she could be from her true home. A violent shove jostled her and pulled her from her thoughts. As she turned in annoyance towards the one who had pushed her, she didn''t even have time to check if it was a soldier or a worker: she saw it disappear under a huge rock fell from the ceiling...a rock she could have ended up under. Looking around her, Xicackna noticed that the stampede had stopped at the same time as her: all the Zcarbbs present who were not clearing the path were watching the air and the ground, ready to sacrifice themselves to prevent her from being crushed or falling. As she looked at them, several disappeared, swallowed up by the abyss of nothingness. Kurk''s voice rang out, full of urgency and a severity to which she was unaccustomed: "Hurry up princess! The path has almost disappeared!" It was true: with every second that passed, an ever-thinner stone gateway disappeared, taking the only chance of survival with it. A rush of adrenaline propelled the princess forward and she ran with all her legs. Due to the growth of their abdomens, most mature princesses preferred to abandon the bipedal posture favored by younger ones. If she too had often made fun of her elders about this, Xicackna had to admit that using all her legs gave her a burst of speed that she would never have thought herself capable of. However, she remained desperately slow compared to the others and compared to the disappearance of the track. There was suddenly no ground beneath her paws, which began to wave wildly in the void. She felt her dress squeeze her brutally as large mandibles caught her at the last minute, using her own movement to make her describe a curve in the air that ended violently on the ground... At least there was a floor. "Thats bad" At her side, her savior, Kurk, contemplated the impassable chasm which had replaced the meager path. Mysteriously floating in the air, pieces of the dungeon continued to disintegrate all around them into a fantastical nightmare landscape. A short distance away, and yet so far, a large vertical block of rock, covering the horizon, indicated the presence of the rest of the dungeon, the only visible entrance of which represented the only hope of survival. There were around thirty Zcarbbs, mostly workers, on the same rock. Only two of them had a class. If the princess had been alone, she would have counted on the collective intelligence of commoners, accustomed to carrying out various jobs, to find a solution to survive. With Kurk present, she turned to it. Their eyes met and exchanged more information than words could. If the little princess had superior intelligence, she was far too young and inexperienced. Kurk felt the weight of its responsibilities and made the most of its experience to compensate for its low intelligence. It transmitted its order to the workers and they instantly set to work, calculating the distances, the workforce present, the priorities. They ordered the soldiers to position themselves in the places they designated and took position themselves, forming a large pyramid leaning towards the exit. "Follow me! Quickly!" Obeying the captain''s orders, the princess climbed the pyramid of Zcarbbs. She had already heard of this technique: workers did this when they had to build a bridge, in order to establish a temporary infrastructure which would gradually be replaced by the final work. But this time there weren''t enough of them. Arriving at the end of the bridge, Xicackna saw that there was still a space five times larger than her to cross. She turned a questioning look towards Kurk. "Well have to jump, "it grumbled. "There is no other solution." "It''s impossible!" the princess complained, "waving her tiny wings. I''m still unable to fly and I certainly couldn''t jump that far!" She bit the edge of her mouth nervously. So, this was where she was going to die? If at least she could have been useful to the hive... Kurk would survive: it had enough strength to jump. Probably not while carrying her: there would be too much risk of them both falling. But it was for the best: a level 17 warrior would always be better than her. Although she potentially represented a large number of future Zcarbbs, what the hive needed to survive right now was powerful fighters. Xicackna felt a violent push and suddenly found herself in the air, diving to meet the saving opening. Panicked, she waved her hands, paws and wings by instinct before heavily encountering the earth which, fortunately, covered her reception area. Getting up almost immediately, she glanced back. Unbalanced by the princess throw, Zcarbb''s pyramid swayed dangerously. She saw at its summit the Kurk warrior beckoning to her. "Whatever you think, "it shouted, "princesses are the most important!" As the points of support became fewer for the base of the living construction, as the oscillation accelerated the collapse of both the bridge and the rock on which it stood, slowly the end point was reached and the whole group of Zcarbbs was thrown into the void. Like a cry of defiance against the Dungeon, their voice resonated with a chorus chanted in unison before being caught up in the void outside: "For Xa-tar-Lona!" Chapter 11: Council The throne room was the largest and most impressive room in the palace, apart from the army training areas. Lying on her massive throne, carved from the rock itself, the queen did not appear in the least to be small despite the immensity that surrounded her, but only more important. The heights of the room were covered with hangings, wires and nets on which elite guards moved, the queen''s defense attendants, one of the only armed groups not to have been diminished by the recent crisis. Faced with such a strike force, a group of A-level invaders, even guided by an S-level, would probably not stand a chance. On the ground, the nurses were busy. They caught the eggs and took them to the hatching chambers corresponding to their castes. The noble eggs were kept nearby and the larvae, from their hatching to their first molt after three years, crawled into every corner of the room. From time to time the nurses moved them, fed them or taught them, under the watchful eyes of the queen. Those eyes were all on Xicackna for the moment as the queen and the older nobles listened intently to her story. She told everything, without neglecting the slightest detail. Her eyes were clouded with tears and she wasn''t sure she was very coherent, but she trusted Xa-tar-Lona''s infinite wisdom to get the gist of it. The queen had been alive for over a century and she would know what to do. As the little princess finished her story, the adults looked at each other with serious looks. She felt the information passing between them through the hive mind, but it was so fast that she could only perceive it in fragments. Feeling despair overcome her, she burst into tears: "And I Waaaa! No use Waaaaa!" The queen''s face lowered to her, her many eyes looking at her lovingly. Her voice resonated in her particularly, because it was addressed to her alone: "My little Xicackna, calm down. Why do you think you were of no use?" "They they are all dead! And I didn''t do anything... Not even the slightest injury to a monster... I''m a zeeeeeeeero!" "Do you really think thats why I sent you there? You weren''t there to fight. You shouldn''t have taken any risk! You''re still so little... Captain Kurk... I still wonder where the System got that name... It was right to save you. And thanks to it, you were useful, contrary to what you think. In this war, it is not brute force that will give us victory: its information!" "Information?" "Yes. Knowing who these monsters are, why they attack us, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what they think... You received the Analyst class, which is perfect for this..." "But, to gain XP, I have to fight!" "That''s... another problem that we''ll deal with later. All you need to know is that you did a good job reporting this information to us. We may have lost a battle and an outpost, but the knowledge gained makes the sacrifices of... of Xyry-Yria and her troops worth their salt." The queen''s gaze filled with sadness. Xicackna felt her mother''s large secondary legs grab her and lift her off the ground to press her against the maternal shell. Surrounded by the unique pheromones that her mother generated, the little princess felt swept through by a wave of well-being. "You did a good job Xicackna. You were absolutely right to choose Thought Observation: it was the best choice for your work. Now, rest: you really need it" The princess''s eyes closed and she fell into a deep, soothing sleep. Xicackna woke up in great shape, responding to a discreet request via the hive mind. Looking around with fresh eyes, she saw that the queen''s chief advisors were still there, although she was sure she had been asleep for a long time. The participants were still discussing the situation and the strategies to adopt. Her awakening was expected and she was invited to join the conversation. "This information," summarized engineer Xana-Eloba, "is as interesting as it is disturbing." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "This story of regressor especially," added Archmage Xaza-Yaban. "A time traveler... How to fight such an aberration?" "I think," replied Xom-Telba, "that we should rather be wary of this... Kangtal, or whatever its name is. Its King of Thieves skill has dangerous potential. Over time, it will grow in power!" "It''s not like we could send an army after it in the Human world, but it''s easier to imagine ways to counter it than against this so-called time traveler." Xicackna looked in annoyance at the engineer princess who seemed to doubt what she had said. "It really is a regressor! Worse than a time traveler: it returns to its own past when it dies, with all its knowledge! And what''s more, it killed me... apparently... Why don''t you believe me!" "I didn''t say I don''t believe you. The information you extracted from its thoughts is very valuable..." "And," interrupted Prince Bole-Hozy, "we can assume that this guy has some mental problems. Seriously: it''s creating a real novel in its head if its superficial thoughts are like that." "I suppose it''s a way for it to maintain its sanity," Xubu-Lemonay supposed. "If it has experienced the same events and traumas many times, even if its a monster, I suppose it can endanger its mental health." "Regardless," said Xana-Eloba, "we know that time travel is impossible. The nature of time is that it does not exist outside of the present. The future does not exist and the past no longer exists: our ancestors themselves, in ancestral times, proved it." "How then can we interpret this?" Xana-Eloba nodded politely to thank the queen for her question. Since Xicackna had mentioned the abominable power of the monster, she had thought up numerous theoretical models to try to explain this mystery. "First of all, we know that the phenomenon comes from this System. If we do not yet understand how it works and our models often end with mentions of unknown energies or properties, this does not prevent us from having a good idea of ??the possibilities and limits offered. We now know that our prison is located on the edge of a galaxy. Ours, perhaps, or another more distant one. The System therefore acts on a galactic, even intergalactic, scale. I suppose that the original energy comes from the exploitation of suns..." "Ehm, interrupted Xom-Telba, what does this have to do with the temporal question?" Several nobles and the queen herself supported this question. The engineer frowned, then she resumed her explanation, trying to get a little straighter to the point: "Well, lets say The only way to produce the appearance of time travel would be to return all the samples of matter to the place they previously occupied. Presumably the phenomenon would also affect memories in the same way, to complete the illusion. However, even if the System used all the energy in the universe, it would be strictly impossible." "Even with all the energy in the universe?" the queen wondered. "Yes. You see Mother, to cause the entire universe to take a leap backwards, it would take more energy than the universe contains, just to coordinate the reversal of the movement. I therefore think that the pseudo-rewind of time is limited to a specific zone of influence. Perhaps to all the planets victims of the System. We can assume that its creators have excluded themselves and that they must have fun watching us make the same mistakes again and again." "Overall," remarked Xom-Telba, "this doesn''t change anything on our scale. For us, it is as if a time travel had indeed taken place, taking us back to a previous state." "Yes, but knowing this allows us to deduce two things!" "Come on, give us your answer rather than making us wait!" "Tss You really have no patience" The look of all the participants told Xana-Eloba that the oldest princess was not the only one impatiently awaiting her conclusion. She considered prolonging the suspense a little longer. Both because it amused her, but also because she was a little angry with others for not being able to follow all of her reasoning. It''s not like she''s explaining complicated things. "Okay. First, it means that this regressor has probably captured the attention of some of the masters of the System. Otherwise, they would not use so much energy to watch the same events happen over and over again. It is also reasonable to assume that only this monster has this power. Otherwise, it would be quite complicated to organize. Second, we can assume that not all creatures that have died so far are dead. If it is possible to return matter to a previous state, it is impossible to bring a dead person back to life. So, we can assume that our enemies have found a way to temporarily stop death. If we could find out how they do it, then we could eliminate this enemy for good: it will then be enough to free its being from the System after its death. Thus, it will die for good and we will be protected from another so-called regression!" Silence followed the engineer''s statements. If some still had difficulty understanding everything, others weighed the serious implications that flowed from this theory. "I see," affirmed the queen, "so stay attentive to any information allowing us to get rid of this danger once and for all. There''s nothing more we can do at the moment... Of course, avoid killing this specific monster at all costs if we ever want to get out of this." The hive council remained silent for a moment, but it was clear that everyone was meditating on the immeasurable threat that weighed on them. How to win against monsters with such terrifying powers? Like a soft whisper, the thought of the queen invaded their minds as she sought to distract them from the despair that was gripping them: "Let us not worry more than necessary about what we cannot control. The secret project is about to bear fruit: we are on the eve of carrying out our first response against the monstrous hordes!" BONUS: Arena A small, plump creature wiggle around in a red jacket adorned with gold buttons. His skin is covered in light green fur and he has large, captivating eyes. His four arms and legs are rounded at the ends, but that doesn''t stop him from holding a sort of microphone in the crook of his paws. He enthusiastically greets the audience in the arena and elsewhere. Music seems to come out of nowhere to accompany his words: Welcome! Welcome! Yes, welcome to the GM4 Arena! Today, a new exciting match will pit two creatures against each other in a fight to the death! Who will emerge victorious? What magnificent moves will we see? Have you already placed your bets? For this last question, I hope the answer is yes, because it is too late now: the die is cast! Here are the participants who are already teleported to the field. On one side, an adventurer climbing one of the Towers on planet Earth: !
Human Warrior, Level 8 [Rank F] Name: Random human warrior Race: [Human] Class: Warrior [Rank F]; Level 8 Hit points (HP): 156(+0)/156(+0) Vigor: 56(+0)/56(+0) Armor: 0 (+3)/0(+3) Abilities: Strength: 12 (+1 !) Agility: 5 (+1 !) Stamina: 7 Intelligence: 5 Armor (natural): 0 Human Warriors are the standard unit for adventurers of this race. Attributes (0): - Skills (5): Observation (F) (Supernatural Power) [Allows you to obtain information on targets using the System [Allows you to see the target of the focus from afar; allows you to protect your information from an "Observation" skill of equal or lower level]] First Aid [F] (Natural Power) [Allows you to treat minor injuries and stop bleeding. Requires equipment. Allows you to heal up to 1 Hit Point outside of combat.] Second Wind (F) (Supernatural Power) (You regain 1 additional Vigor Point per level during your natural regeneration.) [Max +10] Detection (F): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things, and points of interest. Offensive Stance [F] (Natural Power) Temporarily increases Strength and chance to hit by 1. Decreases Parry and Evasion by the same amount. Class Skills (4): Feint [F] (Natural Power) [You can trick your opponent. By spending 5 Vigor Points, you gain a 10% chance to reduce your opponent''s accuracy and increase your own] Parry [F] (Natural Power) [Gain a 10% chance to parry an attack at the cost of 2 Vigor points. The higher the opponent''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.] Rush (F) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to move very quickly towards a target, in a straight line. Temporarily increases Agility and Strength by 1, costs 10 Vigor. Defensive Stance (F) [Natural Power] Temporarily increases Stamina and Armor by 1 while in this stance. Does not allow offensive actions. ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Advanced Beginner Sword [F] [+1 Strength] [Weapon] Leather Gloves (F) [+1 Agility] [Hand Armor] Protective Helmet (F) [+1 Armor] [Head Armor] Basic Armor (F) [+2 Armor] [Chest Armor] Solid Pants (F) [] [Leg Armor]
! On the other side, a Zcarbb warrior pulled from the depths of a dark Dungeon:
Zcarbb Soldier, Level 4 [Rank F] Race: [Zcarbb] Hit points (HP): 160/160 Vigor: 60/60 Armor: 20/20 Abilities: Strength: 12 Agility: 9 Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Stamina: 15 Intelligence: 4 Armor (natural): 20 Zcarbb Soldiers are the basic unit for the defense of the hive. [Soldiers start at level 4.] Attributes (1): Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance] Skills (3): Chitin Armor [E] [passive natural power, +20 Armor, +50 HP] Acid throw [E] [Natural power] Total immunity to acid [D] [Natural power] ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Spear (F) [] [2-handed weapon]
! I can already hear some people protesting: a level 8 fighter against a level 4 fighter, is that fair? But remember that the Human race is categorized as F while the Zcarbb race is D, meaning that the Zcarbb start with greater innate advantages while the Humans have the long-term growth potential. With both fighters being at F status levels, its a fair fight. Who will win? Well find out soon: LET THE FIGHT BEGIN! The Human looked warily at the heights of the stands and the blurred crowd of spectators. Were they creatures from the Dungeon, people from another world, or illusions? He turned his attention back to more immediate problems. So, this time the ordeal was solitary. If he got through it, how many of his comrades would he find on the next floor? And why did the enormous window floating in the air that displayed his status call him "Random human warrior"? The arena was a circle nearly 50 meters in diameter, which made it a very large space for a single fight. The ground was covered in sand and the architecture of the stands suggested a crude copy of the Roman arenas, remixed with fantasy sauce. Half of the circle was cut by a sort of wall of fog that hid from him what he was apparently going to have to face. He couldnt see the window describing his fighter, but he had heard the announcer talk about a level 4. Instead of rejoicing, the Human was worried: the trials of the Tower had already taught him not to trust appearances. Positioning himself in a defensive posture, his sword raised straight in front of him, he prepared himself for what was to come. The Zcarbb warrior panicked: where was it? Where was the scent of the hive? Where were the instructions? Furious, it raised its spear in a threatening gesture towards the inaccessible audience and snapped its mandibles. Without instructions, it would fight and kill everything it encountered until it could find the hive again! It resolves strengthened; it began to thrust its spear into the strange wall of mist that stood before it: it seemed to it the weakest thing to break in order to advance. Was this the fruit of its efforts? In any case, the intangible barrier shattered, revealing the rest of the arena. A horrible monster awaited it, weapon in hand. The warrior let out a shrill cry of defiance and charged. The Human watched with concern as the approaching enemy raised clouds of dust, then breathed a sigh of relief: it was just a normal charge, and the repulsive insectoid monster didn''t seem to have any specific skill in this regard. As the monster approached, he decided to switch to an offensive stance and go meet it.
Random Human Warrior deals 6 damage
Zcarbb Warrior deals 17 damage
The two fighters exchanged their first blows. The Human''s sword, although sharper, struggled to penetrate the Zcarbb''s chitin, but the latter had inflicted a deep spear blow on its opponent that could have proved fatal without the System. Knowing that it would be difficult for it to wield the spear up close, the insectoid threw itself back, narrowly dodging an enemy attack and immediately retaliating, inflicting 12 points of damage. Frowning, the Human warrior rushed forward to deliver a vertical blow... But he suddenly lowered his sword for an oblique blow... which the enemy avoided: having perfectly understood the maneuver, implemented too hastily, the Zcarbb took advantage of the gap in the Human''s defenses to strike.
Critical hit on Random Human Warrior: damage x3 51 damage inflicted! Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [E]
Human Warrior, Level 8 [rank F] Name: Random human warrior Race: [Human] Classe : Guerrier [rang F] Niveau 8 Hit points (HP): 76/156 Vigor: 48/56 Armor: 0 (+3)/0 (+3) Attributes (1): Hemorrhage [E] (Natural Penalty) [Loss of 1 Hit Point every 1 minute, blocks Vigor regeneration]
Zcarbb Soldier, Level 4 [Rank F] Hit points (HP): 154/160 Vigor: 57/60 Armor: 20/20
With a grimace of pain, the Human returned to a defensive stance. With this skill, he would temporarily receive seven additional points of Vigor and Life and slightly increase his armor. The insect did not care about his new stance and continued its relentless attacks. The Human failed to deflect the spear, which inflicted another cruel wound on him.
Zcarbb Warrior inflicts 14 damage
Continuing its butchery, the monster almost missed its next blow but the Human''s clumsy dodge placed him directly in the path of the spear that he should have easily avoided. He was definitely lacking luck since the beginning of the fight...
Zcarbb Warrior inflicts 16 damage
Luck finally turned: as the Zcarbb tried to press its advantage, it missed its opponent and planted its spear deep into the sand of the arena. Trying to pull it out, it found himself vulnerable to a masterful blow from its enemy: while the description of his defensive skill forbade offensive actions, that didnt actually prevent him from counterattacking.
Masterful critical hit inflicted on Zcarbb Warrior: damage x5 140 damage points inflicted! Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [C]
Zcarbb Soldier, Level 4 [Rank F] Hit points (HP): 14/160 Vigor: 55/60 Armor: 15/20 Attributes (2): Hemorrhage [C] (Natural Penalty) [Loss of 1 Hit Point every 10 seconds, blocks Vigor regeneration]
The blade had penetrated deeply through a crack in the monster''s natural armor, on the abdomen, tearing off a large piece of chitin and coming out in a gush of green blood and acid. The rest of its armor cracked all over its body but held firm. Not caring about the pain it felt, other than by letting out shrill howls, the monster continued its assaults with its weapon just torn from the ground. The warrior avoided the weapon and planted his own successfully.
Minor critical hit on Zcarbb Warrior: damage x2 51 damage inflicted! OVERKILL!
Catching his breath, the warrior skillfully bandaged his wounds to stem the bleeding, then wiped away the greenish blood that coated his blade with disgust, using the sand of the arena to clean it. He briefly noted the 40 XP brought by this violent fight before turning his attention to the screams and applause of the crowd. He responded by raising his weapon triumphantly, as he must have seen done in some films, before advancing towards the blue portal that had just appeared in front of him to take him to the next floor of the Tower. Meanwhile, the presenter commented: Well, wow! You can say that our Human warrior was lucky: I myself would have bet on the Zcarbb given the start of the fight. No, no, I assure you: this fight was not rigged at all, the laws of the arena prohibit all manipulation and the field is strictly protected by the System. Whether it is luck or talent, we have a winner, we have a loser. Who will be the next opponents to face each other? You will find out next time Chapter 12: The Hunt (1) Xicackna wiggled between her mother''s paws, surprised to be told what was hidden from the rest of the hive. Apparently, the food shortage was half artificial. Indeed, the queen had unique ways of expanding the hive''s resources. Quests completed by her subjects not only gave her XP, but also dungeon coins: a currency she could spend to open a door to a hunting ground. Similar to the dungeon, this strange place with invisible boundaries was teeming with prey and plant resources to feed the hive. "What is a currency?" asked Xicackna. Xa-tar-Lona''s body shook as she suppressed a burst of laughter, then she fixed her caring gaze on the little princess. "Its true: youve probably never heard of money. It''s been quite a while since we last used one." "You can explain to me?" "Of course... So... Do you know that sometimes hives exchange products? Often, we exchange a product for another that we need. But, sometimes, the hive that requests the exchange has nothing that could interest the other. Currency, or money is a resource without real value, but a fictitious one fixed by agreements between hives. Thus, the hive which acquires currency in exchange for its resources can later exchange it with another hive for the resources that interest it." "Oh? It''s convenient!" "Yes. Dungeon coins work in much the same way. I acquire them through quests and thanks to the harvests of various resources by the workers. I can then use it on a sort of System market to buy various things. Objects, precise quantities of resources, access time to the hunting ground... There is even the possibility of opening the passage for our troops to the human world! But it is very expensive." Relief and incomprehension invaded Xicackna''s mind together. So, there were ways to leave this prison that was the Dungeon! And even as prisoners, they could obtain many resources allowing the survival of the hive... But why did the queen and her council hide this from the rest of the hive? "Why am I hiding this? Oh, some people know, of course. Hunting teams for example. However, the more people who ignore it and despair, pining for more resources and freedom, the more easily we can get out of this. Currently, further reinforced by the very regrettable loss of one of our outposts, the gauge of desire for freedom continues to fill... This is one of the parameters of the hive of which the System give me the information. Once it is completely filled, one of the doors will turn red and our armies will be able to cross it to confront the enemy! And without spending a single dungeon coin. I prefer to keep them for the moment in order to buy expansions of the Dungeon." "I understand." "When the door opens, you will join the fight too. Don''t take any risks: if the assault fails, retreat and come back here. The information you will have obtained about the Human world will allow us to succeed in the next attack." The princess shivered, dreading meeting the monsters again. She rather wanted to stay in the palace and not leave it for a few months, but the hive came first. "Come on, dont make that face: its going to be fine. You stay close to the door and if the assault fails, you go back through it. Normally, you shouldn''t even approach the slightest monster... But in the meantime, I have a little idea to distract you: why don''t you join a hunting team? There isn''t much danger...at least the hunters won''t let you approach dangerous areas. Bring Xafara, Xorpha and Xilofane with you: they need a little exercise." Placed on the ground, Xicackna felt herself leaving the maternal embrace with regret. She left the council in full discussion regarding plans for the future attack and headed towards the princess quarters. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She had barely left the room when she fell to the ground, jostled by a fuzzy red-colored mass. Her body shook multiple times, as an excited voice called out to her: "It''s awesome! We''re sent on a mission together! I''ve been waiting to do something for sooooo long!" As her sense of vision stabilized again, Xicackna looked sternly at the beaming face of Xafara: a princess younger than her by almost two years, but already having reached a level 8. "What? Were you eavesdropping on the conversation?" "Ah... a little... But I''m sure Mother knew that! She forbade me to go to the front. I''m not even allowed to leave the palace on the pretext that I would be too reckless and impulsive... It''s somewhat true, but monsters don''t scare me! I can knock out a lot of them: they''re not that much bigger than us." Xicackna sighed. This little sister would probably never change. The day she became a queen, we could already imagine the aggressive hive she would give birth to. It was not for nothing that her class was Barbarian: a category that valued physical violence. The queen herself had great difficulty channeling this excited one. At least on the hunting ground she could have fun without risking getting killed by the monsters. "Okay, okay We have to go get Xorpha and Xilofane first." "Well, I can already hear their recriminations: we should leave them there... But hey, Mother''s order..." A mischievous smile formed on the little barbarian''s face. She slammed her fist into her other hand with violent determination. "Come on, lets drag them out of their rooms!" Xorpha''s room was empty of useful items. Hangings and cushions were piled up on the floor and walls, while in the air numerous thick canvases formed countless hammocks. Luckily, Xorpha was asleep in one of the lowest ones. Although almost an adult, Xorpha was an exception among princesses in that she did not take her responsibilities to heart. She preferred to spend her time dreaming rather than playing or working. With her level 5 and her lack of class, she was probably the least useful of the princesses. She claimed to be trying to develop a rare class with sleep-related powers, but no one believed it. "Get up you!" Merciless, Xafara had pushed Xorpha with all her might, tearing her from her hammock and sending her crashing onto cushions located much further away in the room. As she lay limp after a simple grunt of protest, Xicackna gave the barbarian a hand to drag their big sister out of the room. "Hey," she finally protested, "leave me alone!" "We have a mission to accomplish and you''re coming with us!" "Yes," added Xafara, "and I''ll kick your abdomen right there if you don''t move on your own!" Xorpha glared at the barbarian but followed them, dragging her paws. She moved on all her feet, but she managed to stay slower than the other two princesses. They stopped in front of Xilofane''s room. It was closed by a door made of a thicker than average amber[1] alloy and Xafara opened it with a merciless crash. This room was more furnished than the previous one. Passionate about sounds, the princess who occupied it had multiple instruments capable of producing varied sounds. Numerous chimes oscillated gently in the air, animated by a gentle wind produced by a strange machine. The sudden opening of the room had disrupted the harmony that the little princess appreciated and she turned furiously towards Xafara: "Get out, Xafara! I already said I didn''t want to play with you! You spend your time shouting and breaking things! Get out of my room or I''ll tell Mother!" "Go ahead!" Furious, Xilofane rushed towards the door. Although older than Xafara, she had a growth problem that made her the smallest of the group. Xicackna found out that she was level 7 and her class was Musician. She didn''t know what use such class could have, but that didn''t stop the little princess from being ready to fight with the barbarian who, with a provocative smile, blocked her way. Xicackna intervened between them: "We are here by order of Xa-tar-Lona for a mission and you are coming with us And you, Xafara, stop annoying her: we are supposed to have a good time with this hunting mission, not argue!" "Everyone has their own definition of a good time then." Xicackna clenched her fist and her teeth as she tried to calm herself. She had forgotten how annoying some of her sisters were. At least the mention of their Mother by name had given a solemn quality to her words, which had calmed Xilofane. Grabbing a small bag filled with her musical instruments, she set off, ignoring Xafara''s mockery about the usefulness of her load. "What are you going to do with this? Charm prey on the hunting ground?" The world had become so strange that it didn''t seem as improbable as Xafara implied.
[1] The technological mastery of amber by the Zcarbbs is very advanced. Depending on the resins used and mixed with each other and with other substances, they can produce materials with variable properties... Chapter 13: The Hunt (2) The gate to the hunting ground was located in an off-center and strongly guarded barracks. It formed a yellow circle in the air and the princesses'' sixth sense felt no threat, but rather a form of calm. Even Xorpha broke out of her sullen demeanor into a dreamy one. Passing through this circle floating in the air was a strange experience. From the moment the princess touched the weird material, she felt herself pushed forward, as if sucked in entirely. However, it was only a feeling and she had to move forward to get through the door. As her face sank into the rippling material, she felt like she was sticking her head into some kind of giant jelly. The feeling of being pushed forward grew stronger and for a brief moment she found herself in the middle of an endless ocean of yellow... Then, suddenly, she was on the other side, her head spinning a little because of the sudden change of environment. Once through the door, Xorpha changed her mind and closed her eyes with a painful pout. Visually, it didn''t change much because they were half closed all the time. Xicackna supposed that even as she grew up this princess would never be able to open her other six eyes. "Too much light!" moaned the sleepy girl. Sure enough, they were now outside, in a magnificent light. The landscape was made up of forests and meadows with magical colors oscillating between summer and autumn. The brown of Xicackna, the green of Xilofane and the red[1] of Xafara blended pleasantly into the landscape but the midnight blue of Xorpha''s carapace contrasted strongly, accentuating her uneasiness. With a displeased pout, she activated her camouflage and took on the color of the grass she was crawling on. Several workers and soldiers dedicated to hunting were busy, carrying the carcasses of strange animals through the portal or organizing for a new expedition. The arrival of the princesses was discreetly noticed, but they did not disturb them. However, it was certain that they would be constantly followed by scouts, ready to intervene at the slightest real danger. "On the hunt!" Xafara exclaimed happily. "What do you think we''ll find as prey first? Oh! I know! What if we had a competition? The first one to eliminate a prey wins!" "Okay," Xorpha murmured, "then I forfeit." "Go ahead, Xafara," said Xilofane with a mischievous smile before whispering, "she will get lost and it will serve her right... "We''d better stay together," replied Xicackna, "even if the places are relatively safe, it can always happen that prey turns out to be dangerous..." The barbarian pouted at her sisters'' reactions, but she quickly found a solution that restored her good mood: "Okay, we stay in groups, but the competition will be the first to spot the prey!" With the exception of the eldest, the others approved the course of action and immediately began to search the surroundings. Spreading the branches with their arms and the bushes with their secondary legs, frolicking through the green or yellowing grass, they had a field day. Suddenly, a small brown creature, disturbed by their activities, jumped out of a thicket and began running in a zigzag fashion at high speed. Small in size, the beast was covered in fur and had pointed ears, longer than its head. Screaming with joy and surprise, the princesses jumped on both sides to block the path. Although unknown, the monster seemed harmless but it was fast. To its cost, it learned that princesses could be nearly as fast[2] when they were motivated. He''s there! Be careful, hes going that way! Hey! You almost ran into me! Xafara, Xilofane and Xicackna threw themselves from one side to the other, intercepting the unknown creature in its attempts to escape. Although slightly faster than the Zcarbbs, the beast found no escape. One princess shoved another and, while they were arguing, the Level 1/4 Hare as the system named and rated the monster, found its door to salvation. To the displeased cries of the princesses, it jumped into the air towards a bush which was no longer protected. A sharp paw suddenly appeared in the air and pierced the beast right through. Observing in disgust the creature impaled on her appendage, Xorpha lay down again in the grass as its shell took on the color of her surroundings. She gave her sisters a small smirk. "You just had to wait for the right moment. It seems I won." For a moment stunned, the sisters reacted: "I didn''t know you could move that fast..." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "I didn''t know she could move!" "The game was whoever saw first won! You refused when I suggested who was the first to hunt, so we''re sticking with the one who saw first!" The argument then turned to who actually saw the beast first as Xorpha fell asleep. Although arguing vehemently, Xicackna felt joyful. For the first time since the Disaster, she relaxed. She was sure the same was true for the others, even Xorpha. Xicackna stretched, taking the time to savor the gentle breeze that caressed her face and the sun on her shell. It had been so long since she had seen the surface. Although it was that of a foreign world, or perhaps a copy of a part of this world, like the Dungeon, she felt good there. When I become a queen, she thought, I will build a secondary palace on the surface, just above my hive... I will plant fields and orchards there; I will leave some reserves of hunting. Maybe I could introduce a few animals like this hare, and I could watch my children chase them..." "Wow! What is that?" Snapping back to reality, the princess turned to Xafara, who had screamed. A beast, huge like a classic soldier, had just appeared, seeming even taller on its long, slender legs. Four legs. The creature had hairy skin and a mane extending from its strange neck. Surprised by the presence of the Zcarbbs, it let out a shrill howl and galloped away from them. Of course, the princesses rushed after it. However, much faster, the creature began to outdistance them across the long grassy plain. Furious, the Zcarbbs began to spit streams of acid to reach their target. The result was surprising: barely touched, the beast began to utter atrocious cries and become even more panicked until its legs got tangled. The three princesses who had pursued it began to surround the dying animal, without daring to approach its strange legs ending in a sort of solid box practically divided in two by a slit. A blow from this appendage would likely prove painful, and the creature flailed desperately in its slow demise. "Xicackna?" Xafara asked. "What is the name of this monster?" The analyst felt a shiver as she saw what the system called "hooves" moving: it reminded her of the very first monstrous invaders she had seen during the Disaster. The main difference was that the neck and head of this creature were replaced by a torso with hands and a smaller head among monsters. "A A level 1 horse Thats what the System calls this alien creature." The horse''s agony was cut short by a jet of Xilofane acid which hit the beast in the head, provoking a howl of protest from Xafara: "Hey! I was observing! You did this just to take all the XP for yourself!" "How can you bear the disharmonious cries of agony of this beast? And then, I dont see what observing ones death can teach us." "Still, you steal the XP! I only received two XP for participation, and one for stored experience!" "And I only received five in normal XP and the same in stock. The difference is not huge: we are not going to fight for that. I''ll let you kill the next beasts if you do it quietly and quickly!" "He Ho!" Xicackna then protested. "I also want XP: I don''t have much opportunity to earn it!" While protesting, she calculated that she would need to personally finish off at least seventy-nine level 1 creatures to finally reach the next level. Lower-level creatures didn''t seem to give XP. If there were no higher-level creatures, it would probably take her weeks of hunting to succeed. But at least she was progressing, slowly but faster than before. And indeed, after two weeks of hunting, the only monster above level 1 was a Level 2 Bull: a massive and aggressive creature with sharp horns. It was the only beast that managed to hurt the princesses and they only owed their salvation to their strong chitin. Scouts then appeared from the bushes and the princesses, upset at being defeated by an animal of lower level, forbade them from intervening during the confrontation. Xicackna then learned that the level did not make all the difference, at least for creatures of the same status in the level classification (i.e., here, F). Combat technique was also important. However, Vigor, Level and numbers remained decisive advantages that brought the four princesses to victory, with Xafara savagely finishing off the monster using knives improvised from tree branches. Although the princesses had rarely encountered other hunters, their close presence remained visible, particularly to Xicackna and her Observation skill. Scouts kept watch in case of unforeseen danger and workers took the prey they collected to the hive. Finally, a messenger arrived telling them that it was time to return to their usual duties. "Finally!" Xorpha exclaimed happily. "It''s not too soon." "Dont say that," Xicackna replied, "Im sure you had fun too." "Oh? What game do you want to talk about? Drop the prey on Xorpha, Use Xorpha as a pillow, Make noise while Xorpha sleeps?" "It was music!" Xilofane protested. But while protesting, she giggled, contaminated by that of Xafara who had lost all seriousness. Xicackna herself smiled and barely held back laughter, also remembering all the games of the past weeks. It was true that they had often made Xorpha the target of their jests, but fortunately she had a good character. Even if she complained openly, Xicackna had often observed her smiling discreetly after being the butt of jokes, or even before when she detected the beginnings of it. This vacation period of responsibility had been very refreshing and had strengthened the friendly relations between the princesses while increasing their XP gains. These three objectives were certainly what the Queen had planned. This period of calm would serve as a happy memory to help them hang on in the hard times to come and the bonds formed as well as the combat habits developed would allow them to cooperate more easily on future battlefields. Because, Xicackna were not deluding herself: if the queen called them back now, it was because the offensive was about to begin. If successful, this first foothold in the world of monsters would only be the beginning of a long conflict to free their people from the Dungeon and secure locations for new hives. It would be a long time before she experienced another period of rest.
[1] ? roux ? in French, like a redheads color, more orange that a deep red [2] to block its path: not to move at the same speed. Bonus: Arena 2, preparation. A small, plump creature wiggle around in a red jacket adorned with gold buttons. His skin is covered in light green fur and he has large, captivating eyes. His four arms and legs are rounded at the ends, but that doesn''t stop him from holding a sort of microphone in the crook of his paws. He enthusiastically greets the audience in the arena and elsewhere. Music seems to come out of nowhere to accompany his words: Welcome! Welcome! Yes, welcome to the GM4 Arena! Today, no new match Well, sorry: it will be for next week This is an announcement about this next arena match. After careful research, we managed to find the ideal opponents for the next match, corresponding as much as possible to the requests of the winner of the contest On this subject, I dare to hope that more of you will participate next time: otherwise, I risk losing my place I have invested a lot of resources in the arena project and, if I get fired Lets say that unemployment would be less terrifying than what would happen to me But I have great confidence in you, loyal public, for your future support Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The creature takes a small green handkerchief out of one of his pockets and wipes the sweat that is dripping from his forehead. Contrary to his statement, GM4 does not seem very reassured. Here are the participants in the next match: On one side, a pair of Naga fighters. A level 11 magician and her protector, a tank, level 11 as well. Interestingly, these Nagas come from a fairly rare mutant species that we went to find in a distant arid place: they are desert Nagas! Their opponent will be none other than a Minotaur with the Barbarian class which doesnt change much from a normal Minotaur, I grant you. At level 15, will he be a sufficiently powerful opponent against the powerful level 11 duo? A veteran of the Tower arenas from which he was drawn, he could well come out on top thanks to his combat science and powerful equipment. ITS TIME TO TAKE BETS! According to your technical support, enter the group of fighters that you think should win this confrontation (the opponents creature sheets will only be revealed at the time of the confrontation). In case of victory, you will receive a large amount of currency according to the one used by your technical support (Trust, Gold, Reputation, Favor, Points etc.) And thats it: thats all for today. Dont forget to bet (one bet maximum per person) and expect a fantastic fight next week! Chapter 14: The Red Door (1) It was once again the solitude and confinement of the underground paths that formed the daily life of Xicackna. Queen Xa-tar-Lona had assigned the princess to defend one of the subsections of the Dungeon as before. She had tried to express to her the fears that another unfortunate event would occur, like the last time, but the queen had been inflexible: "Danger is low. When we lost last time, all the doors turned blue again, decreasing the danger we were in but also preventing the red doors from forming. The doors have just returned to their green color and the desire for freedom gauge has never been so full. The assault on the monster world could begin at any moment. Unlike intentionally triggered red doors, I wouldn''t be able to choose which door to open and there isn''t much explanation about this in the System help. I suppose, however, that the individuals who want to go out the most could be selected first." "I see. This is why you assign me to these dark tunnels, far from the comfort of the city, after these days spent on the surface... Would I really be useful?" "Of course. Remember: the most important thing in war is to obtain information about the enemy. Take care of yourself out there." A shiver ran through Xicackna''s body and she stood up abruptly. A strange feeling ran through the Dungeon. Her senses perceived it as clearly as pheromones or light, but yet it was neither. She felt it in the form of serpents of red smoke that roamed the tunnels and danced around the Zcarbbs they encountered, around her. A powerful desire to move filled her and she began to run, joining an ever-increasing crowd. The still conscious part of her mind realized that she was moving much faster than she should be able to, as if carried away by the red streamers. Now she found herself in another subsection of the dungeon, a few hours of normal walking away. She wasn''t out of breath in the slightest as she stared at a large, glowing door. In front of her, many soldiers and workers were massing, gradually passing through this red door. She saw one of the mature princesses, the arcanist Xubu-Lemonay, who was pressing all her paws against the door without succeeding in crossing it. As she reached her, she turned her head towards Xicackna. Except for a slight confusion indicating that she was seized by the same irresistible desire to pass through the door as the one who dominated her, it was seen that she remained lucid. The same could not be said for the commoners who seemed literally hypnotized by the coils of smoke and the brightness of the door. "Ah, Xicackna. So, you managed to get called, as expected. See, it looks like I''m going to be leading this assault. The door refuses me passage for the moment, but it slowly nourishes me with its energy: there is no doubt that I will be greatly strengthened when it finally lets me through." "What should I do?" "Go through the door. I will join you soon. Several soldiers with classes are already on the other side and directing operations. Help them, but don''t forget that your mission is above all to observe and survive. I will succeed in securing the ground before reinforcements arrive, but even if we are not defeated, your observations will be necessary for the future: take this seriously!" The little princess nodded then turned her gaze towards the door. The structure shimmered, both solid and fluid, a strange aberration that opened the passage to the unknown. Her sixth sense trembled at the hostility that seemed to emanate from it, unlike the sensations of the yellow door of the hunting ground. Taking a deep breath, Xicackna stepped forward. She felt the strange sensation, as if she were surrounded by jelly, as she passed through the colored material, and then she found herself somewhere else. The first sight of the monster world filled her with terror and a sense of crushing: as far as the eye could see, gigantic columns of stone and glass (probably) rose, as large as surface palaces. It looked like a great gathering of thousands of monstrous termite mounds. Many of these incongruous buildings were in ruins, at least for those closest to them. Fighting raged everywhere as soldiers arrived and confronted the monsters. Some climbed termite mounds while others faced the swarming mass of monsters and their iron-spitting weapons on the strangest roads imaginable. Touching the ground, Xicackna considered that it must be some sort of amalgam of stones melted to trace a path. Such a strange technique would probably interest Xana-Eloba, so she tried to commit the details to her memory and picked up a small piece to put it in her bag. Her attention then returned to the fight. Strange metal structures cluttered the streets, often overturned or half-melted by the violence of the clashes. They looked like some sort of covered wagons. Hiding in one that was damaged enough to enter, but intact enough to serve as a hiding place, she began to observe everything she could from this shelter. She took the opportunity to study the messages from the System that had appeared during her entry:
World: ? Earth ? Dominant species: Humans [F]
Congratulations: You have entered a new world for the first time. Bonus: +200 XP
Quest rank ? F ? ? Bridge-Head ? Success Condition: Secure a forward base for your people on this new world. The longer you hold out, the more higher-level reinforcements will be able to join you. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Bonus: Following your entry into this scenario, you benefit from a x2 bonus to XP gain for one hour. Reward: 500 XP. The gate becomes permanent and the surrounding land adapts to the needs of your people. Failure: If your advanced troops are defeated, the gate will close. Total failure: If the Boss of your assault is eliminated, the door will close.
500 XP! For a supposedly F-rank collective quest? Even if she did nothing, her next level and the next were going to happen quickly and probably simultaneously. She took a look at her experience:
Current experience: 1740 Stored experience: 3038 Experience needed for next level: 10
All she would need to do is eliminate a level 1 enemy! Just one and she would advance to the next level. Even the still growing penalty wouldn''t stop her if she accomplished this while the experience multiplication bonus remained active... The sight of countless corpses of Zcarbbs, scattered among the remains of the monsters, suddenly robbed the princess of her enthusiasm: Oh... Okay, I''ll just calmly wait for some event to give me the missing XP... I''m not going to die stupidly just for one more level. Extending her perceptions to the hive mind and opening her eyes wide, Xicackna began to visualize the state of the battle. Some inferiors who were not busy fighting transmitted to her their experience of the first clashes, clarifying her perception of the situation. Apparently, the first to arrive were among the weakest soldiers and some workers. Fortunately, their numbers had easily overcome the first defenses of the Humans, allowing reinforcements to arrive, ever more powerful. Despite very significant losses, the area around the gate had been secured. Several patrols roamed the monstrous termite mounds, exterminating any monster nest that could directly threaten the gate, while heavy guards formed a first security cordon in the streets of this sort of town for monsters. The assault troops were currently facing many hostile creatures. Some resembled classic human warriors, using their iron spitters and explosive objects to attack the gate defenders or man their own barricades. Others, fewer in number, wore the strange robes and armor of the last waves of Humans. All having classes, these monsters were often of high levels. She swallowed when she spotted one of them level 28, or category D and a few others close to this power. Knowing that Xubu-Lemonay was approaching level 35 which would (according to predictions) bring her to category C, the fight was going to be difficult. With such striking power, it was understandable that there were more corpses of Zcarbbs than monsters on the battlefield. There were also some Human workers who were hiding as best they could. Xicackna considers the possibility of trying to hunt one to gain a level. No: there was no point in exposing yourself for that. And then, they seemed harmless: it would be more interesting to capture some to study them. She saw a few warriors pushing captives towards the gate, proof that Xubu-Lemonay must have already given them this type of instruction before they crossed: left to their own choices, soldiers would not take prisoners and would simply mercilessly kill anything that appeared to them to be a threat to the hive. Curious, she watched the prisoners until they passed through the door. This confirmed to her that the red door worked in both directions. Reassured, she was about to resume observing the fight when, suddenly, she caught a not very reassuring thought: It''s an arachnidan hidden in what''s left of this car. From what I can see, it must be a worker given the size. [Expression of displeasure]! I''m not going to be able to sneak to the door if this [Expression of Displeasure] [Expression of Contempt] notices me. I have to smash it discreetly... The princess looked around in panic. While her Thought Observation allowed her to hear this, she had difficulty locating the source. As far as she could understand, her power only worked on subjects she targeted, which meant that she must have seen the monster who thought like this, but without realizing its presence. That also meant it was dangerously close! [Expression of displeasure]! It looks like it''s panicking. Its appearance is still odd: it looks a bit like a young girl. Some kind of mutant infiltrator? [Expression of displeasure]! There really is everything in these [Expression of contempt] portals! Tss! Ah! There you have it: right in the line of sight. With the silencer it should do it... Xicackna rushed out of what appeared to be a car. Immediately, a small metal projectile reduced to shreds a sort of seat on which she had been sitting a moment before. She made herself invisible and moved again. [Expression of displeasure]! This thing can also make itself invisible. Tsss! Fortunately, I have the Detection skill. Coupled with Analysis, this should give me a good idea of ??what Im up against. Her heartbeat accelerated. If she understood correctly, the enemy had a skill of a nature close to hers, but coupled with another allowing it to see her even invisible. Oh, Xicackna the Observer? A named monster! An optional sub-boss? Never heard of one as low as 7. It''s my lucky day: I wonder what loot she drops... Let''s see... She has the classic Zcarbb skills, but also invisibility, camouflage and some kind of sixth sense... Maybe some kind of assassin? No: the class is Analyst... Oh, maybe that''s what coordinates their swarm. If I kill her, we''ll clear this Dungeon Break in no time... If she had taken "Analysis" instead of "Thought Observation", assuming the enemy''s skill was of equal level, the enemy would not be able to obtain more information about her and would therefore be more cautious ...But that wouldn''t change its "Detection" ability which saw through her invisibility. It looks like the beast didn''t spot me. She looks around her with the look of a beaten dog... [Expression of displeasure]! I really feel like I''m going to shoot a kid here... Ah, no: it''s just a monster that looks a little human, it''s like the Orcs or the Snow Elves... It''s still ironic: I''m going to kill her using the place she occupied just before avoiding my first shot. This time, with burst mode, there is no way around for her. Come on, for the record, let''s see what her other skills are... Oh, never seen such a high intelligence stat in a low-level monster... Observation? Ah! Ah! Ah! What a [Expression of Contempt] skill! Oh, and she has one more Observation of Oh [Expression of displeasure]! [Expression of displeasure]! [Expression of displeasure]! [Expression of displeasure]! [Expression of discontent]!... But by the time the Human realized this, it was already too late. Before it could pull the trigger on its gun, a rain of acid rained down on the car from all sides. Before being melted into a block with the remains of the vehicle, the creature saw the Zcarbb turn in its direction and click incomprehensible noises. "Ah! Too late monster!" Xicackna looked with satisfaction at the pile of metal and bubbling acid that eliminated the terrible threat. While monitoring the captured thoughts, she coordinated all the nearby soldiers to simultaneously spit their acid towards the target she designated for them. It had worked perfectly. Despite the fear that still filled her, the adrenaline of victory made her euphoric. Only the realization that she had only gained 2 XP from participation brought her back to a more even mood. "Seriously System? Maybe it was the acid that killed it, but without my direction... Why only two XP? And even just one with this annoying still growing? You are poorly adjusted, stupid System! Recognize my merits a little more and give me your XP!" Chapter 15: The Red Door (2) The situation was looking worse and worse, with the enemy slowly regaining ground. Going from hiding place to hiding place, invisible in her movements, Xicackna had circled the protected area. Her senses on the lookout, she relied heavily on her Sixth Sense skill to warn her in the event of the presence of other killers in ambush. From the thoughts she picked up, some of the monsters didn''t seem to take much time to think. This could be due to the life and death situations they found themselves in, which left no room for reflection but for action, or it could be an indication that they belonged to a lower class. However, it was disturbing to note that the thoughts of their workers were much more complex than those of the Zcarbbs commoners. Perhaps the princess had misjudged their role in monstrous society? Were they in fact nobles and not workers? So why were they wearing workers'' clothes? How can they understand such strange creatures? Large movements attracted her attention. A group of humans clad in metallic armor or strange robes had just broken through the Zcarbbs lines. Gradually joined by more and more reinforcements, they forced the soldiers to increasingly tighten the security perimeter. Their thoughts indicated that they considered themselves Adventurers or Hunters. The System called them "Human Hunters". Those leading the assault were high level. Fortunately, the portal had spewed out a new stream of soldiers containing the elite of their troops. The confrontation returned to the status quo Suddenly, a corpse crashed a few meters from Xicackna''s hiding place, startling her. It was a tunnel guard: a massive soldier with heavy armor and gigantic mandibles. It was the type of shock troop that was put on the front line to stop an enemy assault in an underground war... What could have thrown such a powerful and heavy fighter like this? From the monsters side, roars of victory could be heard. Even from here she could perceive streaks of victorious thoughts, all directed towards the same point: the one from which the unfortunate guard must have taken off. Also focusing her attention in this direction, she saw that a new human had arrived. It was probably a male, with a large blond mane blowing in the wind and showing his white teeth in what appeared to be a smile or a display of ferocity. Extremely muscular, he was dressed in a strange, tight-fitting outfit. The colors of his outfit were a strange choice of blue and red with a sort of ball with five spikes sticking out of it, probably the representation of an explosion. He carried a large round shield on which the same symbol and colors appeared. Strangely, his other hand did not carry weapons and given the Zcarbb blood dripping from it, he did not need it to fight. A wave of admiring thoughts, sometimes disturbed by jealousy, burst forth from the crowd of monsters. It was The Puncher, greatest hero of the United States of America, the first Hunter in the world ranking, the one who soloed a rank A dungeon. And amidst these thoughts and cries of victory, the great monstrous warrior struck a victorious pose that enraged the Zcarbbs soldiers nearby. He also thought: Hope my wig holds If only my intensive training hadnt made me bald Shouting with rage, the soldiers present charged, aiming exclusively at the new arrival. His smile deepened and he too rushed forward, followed by the other hunters. The Zcarbbs ranks gave way, their soldiers cut into pieces by the irresistible enemy push. Under cover of invisibility, Xicackna began her retreat towards the gate and then froze, stunned: the gate shook and undulated strangely as columns of elite soldiers suddenly burst out of it. In the air, flashes of red light, similar to lightning, scattered in all directions without seeming to cause any damage. Suddenly, a gigantic form burst out. With amazement, Xicackna recognized Xubu-Lemonay. The great princess had doubled in size and radiated rage and power. Mysterious magic symbols danced in the air around her as she prepared devastating powers. All the Zcarbbs present could see her name and level. Humans, with the exception of the most powerful, only seemed capable of reading her name, the level replaced by a strange "??". A gigantic window of the System appeared in front of everyone, giving this information:
Raid Boss Xubu-Lemonay the Arcane Seeker [Rank B] Level 56
Level 56? Her passage through the door, as a boss, had therefore given her such an amount of energy that her XP had... Xicackna quickly calculated: if current theories of calculating levels were correct, Xubu-Lemonay''s experience had tripled! She had gone from rank D to B and had even surpassed Xom-Telba in power. If this one had led the assault, she would perhaps be level 86, and if it was the queen, she would have leveled up... She would have exceeded level 100 but nobody knows if it was really feasible. Of course, all these theories worked when the number of XP was tripled. If it were a gain of a fixed quantity, that would be a different matter. A wave of well-being ran through the ranks of the Zcarbbs as their leader unleashed one of her powers.
You have been targeted by the temporary buff Power of the Swarm. All Stats increased by 1 for 1 hour.
The confidence of the Zcarbbs increased and the troops organized for the counterattack. The monsters would perish and a powerful outpost would be built here to protect the hive from their incursions. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. But, on the Human side, reactions were mixed. Weve waited too long!, Their boss has appeared!", "Well, it''s only a rank B monster: with the Puncher at our side, we will win!". For his part, the human hero seemed disappointed: Oh I was hoping for an S-rank boss for a bit of challenge Well, lets look on the bright side: lives will be spared. The two camps rushed against each other. The clash of blades and skills echoed in the ruins of the glass termite mounds and on the roads of molten stones. Charging forward, the monster champion decimated the soldiers who stood in his way, dangerously approaching Xubu-Lemonay. Aware of the threat, she made strange gestures as she activated the functions of the System she controlled. Immediately, bursting out from the mysterious luminous symbols that floated in the air, various projectiles devastated the terrain where the enemy was located. Lightning, rays of light, flaming balls Xicackna had never before seen such a display of magic. The ground itself was disturbed and the strange stone became a sticky mud. When the smoke cleared, all that remained were the corpses of the soldiers who had not been able to take shelter in time and those of a few humans. The majority of enemies had survived, protected by large luminous domes produced by their own magicians. Their champion did not have this protection but had simply survived receiving the full force of the magical assault. His clothes were barely soiled. "Oh! he said to himself. I underestimated this boss a little: magicians are always a little more dangerous than their level... Come on: I shouldn''t let this confrontation drag on. And with these thoughts, he leapt, reaching an unimaginable height. The curve of his trajectory ended on the powerful princess. She united her powers and generated a series of luminous domes, much more powerful than those of Humans, while new rays burst out to crash on the living projectile which plunged in her direction. In vain. The enemy''s fist slammed into the domes which burst into a multitude of luminous fragments which dissipated in the air. Letting out a cry of terror, Xubu-Lemonay threw herself back. There was a violent shock and a cloud of dust hid the view for a moment. Connected by the hive mind, Xicackna did not miss a detail of what was happening. Only the sacrifice of a handful of guards, who had thrown themselves into the enemy''s path, had prevented the blow from reaching its goal. Rising among the dislocated bodies of his adversaries, the monster advanced towards the leader of the assault. Xubu-Lemonay''s eight eyes were wide open and her body shook in terror. She had the Analysis skill at rank B and it told her that her enemy was at least rank S, i.e. level 90 or higher, because she could not read his level. The entire army felt terror in the face of the insane power of the enemy. All the troops immediately converged in his direction, throwing themselves one after the other towards certain death, neglecting the other humans. Only the thought of saving their princess now guided the soldiers and even a direct order could not dissuade them. While his allies finished off many of the Zcarbbs who had their backs turned to them, the monstrous Puncher advanced calmly, occasionally raising his fist or shield to annihilate an attacker who lunged at him. The multiple powers that Xubu-Lemonay unleashed against him were countered with a vague hand gesture, or they simply seemed to have no effect. Paralyzed with terror, the arcanist observed the advance of her enemy. Walking backwards, she tried to go through the red door, but it wouldn''t let the raid boss leave. In front of her, the super-powerful monster was growling something. Reading his thoughts, Xicackna understood: "I always wondered if a monster could feel fear It seems so" And he jumped towards her head. Xubu-Lemonay then tried everything, channeling her powers in her mouth into a powerful destructive ray. The beam hit the enemy head-on and split, continuing its path to two human buildings whose tops were literally annihilated by the destructive power. But the monster''s clothes barely smoked as he landed on the princess''s head, fist thrust forward. There was an explosion, a spray of blood, as the head literally disappeared.
? Bridge-Head ? Quest failed Total failure: The Boss of your assault has been eliminated. Closing the door
The fear that Xicackna felt when she saw the red portal dissipate managed to exceed in intensity that which she felt in the face of the brutal death of Xubu-Lemonay. Deprived of direction and a way out, the soldiers began to wander, attacking anything that moved, becoming easy prey for coordinated packs of human hunters. The little princess did not feel able to reorganize them, fearing that this would betray her position in one way or another. Tears were falling from her eyes, even from the slits of her secondary eyes. But the time to mourn the dead had not arrived: she had to survive. Without hope of returning home... She would think about it later. Using her observations of the battlefield, she climbed up one of the ruined glass hives which was located in an area where the presence of monsters was less significant. She went back down the other side, passing through a grim area of ??corpses, ruins and broken weapons. Humans of different castes came and went, some making sure the Zcarbbs were dead, others checking the condition of their comrades on the ground. There were workers already cutting up the bodies of the Zcarbbs, probably to take them to their colony''s pantries. Invisible, Xicackna was careful with each step not to bump into anything, not to leave too visible traces of her passage. Every time she saw monsters passing by, she trembled, fearing that it might have ''Detection'' or a similar skill. Fortunately, she managed to reach a shelter far from the battlefield before her time of invisibility was entirely used up. It was a small, dark alley where humans seemed to be piling various resources into containers. Catching her breath, she curled up on herself, hoping to stop her nervous tremors. She knew well that she would never be a warrior roaming the battlefields without fear: that was not the role of a princess. However, she hoped that one day, perhaps when she will be of a higher level, she would be able to stand fearlessly against her enemies before sending swarms of fierce warriors in their faces. She grimaced as she remembered that such a scenario could only happen if she survived and found a way to return to the hive. Exhausted, she was about to fall asleep when a message from the System disturbed her.
Due to its frequent use and related circumstances, your skill has improved: Invisibility (A) [Natural power] > Invisibility (A) [Supernatural power]
Xicackna furrowed her chitinous eyebrows. So, her natural ability seemed upgraded to a System ability? She looked at the details.
Invisibility (A) [Supernatural power, consumes 10 vigor per minute]
She quickly did the calculation then she groaned. Her stamina was 6, she could even increase it to 7 if she used her unallocated ability point. Her vigor was 42, seemingly equivalent to multiplying her level with her stamina. This therefore meant that instead of 6 minutes of invisibility, she would only have 4! Talk about an improvement! Certainly, beyond level 10, her power would become more powerful than its natural version, but she was barely approaching level 8... Grinding her teeth, she tried to fall asleep. She knew it was paranoia, but she couldn''t help but think that the System wanted her dead. BONUS: Arena 2 A small, plump creature wiggle around in a red jacket adorned with gold buttons. His skin is covered in light green fur and he has large, captivating eyes. His four arms and legs are rounded at the ends, but that doesnt stop him from holding a sort of microphone in the crook of his paws. He clears his throat apprehensively and then greets the audience in the arena and elsewhere. Music seems to come out of nowhere to accompany his words: Welcome! Welcome! Yes, welcome to the GM4 Arena! Today, a new exciting match will pit two creatures against each other in a fight to the death! Well, rather two groups. Who will emerge victorious? What magnificent moves will we see? Have you already placed your bets? For this last question, I hope the answer is yes, because it is too late now: the die is cast! Here are the participants who are already teleported to the field. On one side, a couple of desert Nagas: The sinister metal portcullis creaked upwards, opening access to a new space, a large square covered in sand. Slipping cautiously into this new place, the Naga warrior used his detection skill to detect any traps that this new test could conceal. Nothing. Nothing visible at least. His massive, scaled body slid easily over the sandy ground thanks to his thick tail protected by enchanted leather. Tightening his grip on his heavy spear and solid shield, he observed the fog that separated the arena into two parts. Nothing could be seen beyond it; he could not even detect sources of heat However, it was obvious that danger lurked there. Apparently, they were going to have a little time to prepare before the test. Raising his unblinking eyes, he glared furiously at the spectators in the arena and the presenter who was revealing his information sheet before their eyes. !
Naga (Tank), Level 11 [Rank E] Name: Zack-J?azk Race: [Naga] Class: Tank [Rank E]; Level 11 Hit points (HP): 348/348 Energy Points (EP): 55/55 Vigor: 198/198 Armor: 8 (+9)/8 (+9) Abilities: Strength: 8 (+2!) Agility: 5 Stamina: 18 Intelligence: 5 Mana: 1 Armor: 8 (+9!) Description: In Naga society, men are trained from a young age to defend sorceress while they prepare their spells. It is rare to meet a classless naga. Attributes (2): Aquatic (Natural Modifier) ??Suffers penalties outside of an aquatic environment. Has doubled Agility underwater. Can breathe underwater. [In synergy with "Mutant"] Mutant (Special modifier) ??[From the desert] Adapted to desert territories [Removes all penalties due to desert territories.] [In synergy with "Aquatic"] Skills (6): Scaly armor (F): (Natural power) Increases armor by 3. Parry [F] (Natural Power) [Gain a 10% chance to parry an attack at the cost of 2 Vigor points. The higher the opponent''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.] Damage reduction (F) (Supernatural power) [1 point of damage taken is removed from Vigor instead of Vitality.] Heat detection [F] (Magical power) Allows you to detect heat sources even through walls. [1 Energy point per 10 seconds] Camouflage (E) [Supernatural Power] (Allows you to take on the color of your environment, only for your natural parts). Detection (E): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things and points of interest. Class Skills (8): Provocation (E) (Supernatural Power) Annoys enemies [Costs 5 Vigor per use] Intimidate (F) (Supernatural Power) Slightly worries enemies [Costs 2 Vigor per use] Second Wind (E) (Supernatural Power) (You regain 1 Vigor Point per level every 10 seconds.) [Max +10] Defensive Stance (F) [Natural Power] Temporarily increases Stamina and Armor by 1 while in this stance. Does not allow offensive actions. Harden (F) (Supernatural Power) Temporarily increases armor by 3. Consumes 10 Vigor per minute. Sacrifice (E) (Supernatural Power) [Quarters personal damage taken, prevents any dodge or parry, makes you immune to critical hits against you, you receive all damage inflicted on your allies in their place, without it being reduced by your skills. Costs 80 Energy or 800 Stamina per minute to maintain after one minute. Blocks Energy and Vigor regeneration. Can be used once per day. Rush (F) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to move very quickly towards a target, in a straight line. Temporarily increases Agility and Strength by 1, costs 10 Vigor. Piercing Blow (F) (Supernatural Power) [Special attack costing 1 Vigor and ignoring 1 Armor Point] SPECIALIZATION: Vindictive Tank Specialization => Grants a 1 damage reflection point. Grants a +1 bonus to accuracy and damage on the last five targets that caused you damage points. ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Spear (E) [+2 Strength, +1 Armor] [2-handed weapon] Solid Shield [E] [+3 Armor] [Weapon and Armor] [+5% chance to parry, double the total bonus to parry] Protector''s Armor (E) [+2 Armor, +1 damage reflection] [Chest Armor] Enchanted Leather Tailguard (E) [+3 Armor] [Leg Armor] Hidden Trait (1): Specialization Affinity (Due to a significant expenditure of plausibility on the part of their protector, Nagas are assigned to a class from level 1)
! As you can see, we have added a little bonus for you this time: we reveal Hidden Traits of creatures. As you probably already know, the different species receive additional and racial Traits that are rarely revealed by scrying skills Slipping cautiously behind her protector, the female Naga warily observed the surroundings, sifting them through with her Observation skill, without learning anything relevant. Slenderer and smaller than the male, she moved in his tailsteps, ready to hide behind his back from enemy lines of sight. Due to her class, she wore lighter clothing, not risking interfering with the gestures necessary for her enchantments. The wand she held in her hand glowed with a faint blue light at its tip, ready to serve as a focus for her attacks. Zack-J?azk! she ordered. Stay on your guard[1]! !
Naga (Magician), Level 11 [Rank E] Name: Nash-Jakkra Race: [Naga] Class: Magician [Rank E]; Level 11 Hit points (HP): 205/205 Energy Points (EP): 1584/1584 Vigor: 55/55 Armor: 4 (+2)/4 (+2) Abilities: Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Stamina: 5 Intelligence: 12 Mana: 12 Armor: 4 (+2!) Description: In Naga society, women are trained in the "magician" class from a young age. It is rare to meet a naga without a class. Attributes (2): Aquatic (Natural Modifier) ??Suffers penalties outside of an aquatic environment. Has doubled Agility underwater. Can breathe underwater. [In synergy with "Mutant"] Mutant (Special modifier) ??[From the desert] Adapted to desert territories [Removes all penalties due to desert territories.] [In synergy with "Aquatic"] Skills (6): Scaly armor (F): (Natural power) Increases armor by 3. Mana reserve (F) (Magical power) Increases the speed of regeneration of Energy points per hour by one point per rank of the skill. Increases the Energy reserve by 10. Heat detection [F] (Magical power) Allows you to detect heat sources even through walls. [1 Energy point per 10 seconds] Camouflage (E) [Supernatural Power] (Allows you to take on the color of your environment, only for your natural parts). Observation (E) (Supernatural Power) [Allows you to obtain information on targets using the System [Allows you to see the target of the focus from afar; allows you to protect your information from an "Observation" skill of equal or lower level]] [Observation can make it easier to detect camouflaged enemies or points of interest.] Magical Healing (E) [Magic Power, allows you to convert 5 Energy Points to heal Hit Point] [1d20 healing] Class Skills (9): Generalist Grimoire (F) [Magical Power, stores magical secondary skills, you can learn more by deciphering other grimoires]
  • Control [Water] (F)
Charm (F) [Magical Power, takes control of the actions of a living target, transforming it into a servant. It is impossible to give a directly suicidal order or to personally perform an action that is visibly hostile towards the target.] [Costs 10 Energy Points to activate, then 1 Point per minute to maintain. It is possible to consume up to 10 additional points to strengthen control against a recalcitrant target.] [Each point of Intelligence above the target increases the chance of success, each point of Intelligence below decreases the chance of success. The hidden characteristic "Charisma" increases the chance of success.] Ethereal Body (F) (Magical Power) Makes the user intangible to physical attacks for a certain duration and reduces their armor to 0. The user cannot launch physical attacks either and all Energy costs of other skills are tripled. The user can end the power at will. [F=10/10 seconds] [BLOCKS the regeneration of Energy, Vitality and Vigor; temporarily blocks physical states.] Magic Armor (F) (Magic Power) Generates a magical armor of 3. The armor can block intangible blows. Consumes 5 Energy per minute and each blocked blow consumes 1 Energy point for every ten blocked damage. Minor Illusions (F) [Sound] (Magic Power) Allows you to create an illusion concerning one of the six senses
  • Imaginary Sounds [F] (Magic Power) Allows you to make everyone hear sounds that do not exist and seem to originate from a specific point. Costs 1 Energy per second.
Summon Ethereal Weapon (F) (Magic Power) Summons an ethereal weapon that can strike and block in a tangible and ethereal way. It has no weight and inflicts the normal damage of its weapon type. Costs 10 Energy points per minute. [Quality varies depending on the skill rank.] Invisibility (E) [Magical Power] Allows you to make the target (personnel, willing ally or object) disappear from sight, consuming 10 Energy per 20 seconds. Sand Cloud [E] (Magical Power) [Air] Generates a cloud of sand that blurs most perception abilities. [Costs 20 Energy; +Additional Energy to extend the area; costs 5 Energy if the area is less than 1 meter; costs 10 Energy per minute to maintain] Mana Regeneration (F) (Magical Power) Increases the speed of regeneration of Energy points by +1/Hour. SPECIALIZATION: Combat Mage Specialization => Your attack spells restore 1 Energy point for every 10 points of damage inflicted. Your spells inflict 1 bonus damage point. ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Focus Wand [F] [+1 Spell Accuracy] [Weapon] Mages Tunic (F) [+1 Armor] [Chest Armor] Leather Tailguard (F) [+1 Armor] [Leg Armor] Hidden Trait (1): Specialization Affinity (Due to a significant expenditure of plausibility on the part of their protector, Nagas are assigned to a class from level 1)
! Zack-J?azk grimaced: of course he was on his guard. Who did she take him for, constantly giving advice? But he wasnt going to argue with her on the eve of a fight, so he nodded: Yes Nash-Jakkra. And on the other side, we have a veteran champion, a terrible Minotaur who has defeated countless opponents in the arenas from which he originated! Standing tall, the bull-headed monster stared emotionlessly at the fog that hid his future opponents. Hearing the announcer mention it, he turned to the audience, raising his gigantic two-handed axe high. MOOOOOOOOOO! The audience loved it. He turned his attention back to the fog, indifferent to the display of his abilities to the audience, concentrating on his future opponents. All he could know was that they were Nagas and that there were two of them. What was it? He would see. That was also the game of the arenas: discovering exotic life forms and learning to gut them. !
Minotaur Barbarian, Level 15 [Rank E] Name: Mo-oh-gra the Champion Race: [Minotaur] Class: Barbarian [Rank E]; Level 15 Hit points (HP): 590/590 Vigor: 390 (+10)/ 390 (+10) Armor: 6 (+10!)/6 (+10!) Abilities: Strength: 24 (+3!) Agility: 4 (+1!) Stamina: 26 Intelligence: 4 Armor: 6 (+10!) Description: Minotaurs are a brutal people who believe that those who die deserve to die for their weakness. Despite their individualism, they often gather in powerful herds under the leadership of the one who hits the hardest and even manage to build a true civilization in this way. [An adult minotaur that has not reached level 10 is an exception.] Attributes (0): Skills (6): Rage (E) (Natural Power) Partially clouds the user''s discernment and increases their power at the expense of their ability to absorb damage. Immunizes against terror and pain. [Prohibits passive or defensive postures] [Strength x2, Intelligence %2, Damage taken x2, costs 1 Vigor/10 seconds] Charge (D) (Natural Power) Allows you to move very quickly towards a target to strike it and try to jostle it. Temporarily increases Strength by 3 and increases accuracy by 6, costs 30 Vigor. Generates a Strength roll versus an Endurance roll for a projection of the target. It is possible to use it at a lower rank. Superior Endurance (E) (Natural Power) [Your Endurance is permanently increased by 5] Fur Armor (E) (Natural Power) Increases Armor by 5. Sixth Sense (E) (Supernatural Power) [+5% to detecting nearby invisible or stealthed enemies] [+10 Perception] Offensive Stance (E) (Natural Power) [Stance] Temporarily increases Strength and chance to hit by 2. Decreases Parry and Evasion by the same amount. [Cannot be used at the same time as defensive stance.] Class Skills (3): Intimidate (E) (Supernatural Power) Worries enemies [Costs 10 Vigor per use] Second Wind (E) (Supernatural Power) (You regain 1 Vigor Point per level every 10 seconds.) [Max +10] First Aid [E] (Natural Power) [Allows you to treat minor injuries and stop bleeding. Requires equipment. Allows you to heal up to 2 Hit Points outside of combat.] SPECIALIZATION: Champion Specialization => Increases actions against a well-known type of opponent by 1. Adds a bonus to courage when you are alone. ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Massive War Axe (E) [+3 Strength, +1 Accuracy] [2-handed weapon] Labyrinth Helm (E) [+1 Armor, -1 (-2) Accuracy to opponents] [Part of the Labyrinth set (2). Active set effect: Doubles the confusion of opponents] [Head armor] Executioner''s Gauntlets (F) [+2 Armor] [Part of the Executioner set] [Hand armor] Labyrinth Armor (E) [+3 Armor, -1 (-2) Accuracy to opponents] [Part of the Labyrinth set (2). Active Set Effect: Doubles the confusion of enemies] [Chest Armor] Vigorous Leggings (E) [+3 Armor, +10 Vigor] [Leg Armor] Solid Boots (E) [+1 Armor, +1 Agility] [Foot Armor] Hidden Trait (1): Uncontrollable Rage (Below 10% of its Hit Points, the minotaur will use its rage skill to hit EVERYTHING that comes within its range, until it faints.)
! As you can see, the difference in level is minimal, although level 15 represents an additional step compared to the previous level, it is not a sufficient step to change rank But our Minotaur is rather well equipped with the spoils of his many victories and is used to this type of confrontation Will it be enough? LET THE FIGHT BEGIN! The magical mist cleared, revealing to the fighters the danger they were about to face. The two Nagas tensed, nervous, observing the monster in front of them. Massive, taller than them, this bipedal creature had legs with hooves, but a normal torso except that it was covered in fur... at least, from what could be guessed despite the presence of the armor. Once was not customary, the Nagas blinked their lidless eyes, as when they adapted their sights to the passage in the marine element, or in a low-light environment. In fact, it was not really a blink, rather a kind of strange twitching of the eye that probably fulfilled a similar function. The horned monster was equipped with armor and a helmet with complicated patterns, a color close to sea green... or metal... or a kind of greenish-blue... The simple fact of observing these pieces of armor caused a terrible headache to the couple. The monster advanced towards them; its body covered in metal shaking the earth during its peaceful movement... like that of a mountain with murderous intentions... Without consulting each other, the two Nagas reacted immediately. Mo-oh-gra advanced without fear or apprehension. He had learned long ago that there was a time for violence and a time for intimidation. There was no other time, except the time of victory. Using his Intimidation skill, he mooed ferociously, shaking the confidence of his enemies. The male Naga used his own skill against him, hissing and sticking out his tongue, but without the slightest success. These creatures that the minotaur was facing looked like large snakes with a fairly normal torso, but covered in scales. Their scales were yellow, almost the color of the sand of the arena In fact, no: they had indeed taken on the color of the sand of the arena and they were difficult to distinguish, if not for their weapons and armor. Accustomed to studying, in a very short time, new unknown species, the Minotaur observed from their dimorphism that they must be a male and a female. Perhaps mammals, from their physical appearance, but it was possible that they were still oviparous, because one never knew how an alien creature really functioned. Guessing what the life of individuals who would soon disappear was like was truly a fascinating pastime. The male stood forward, brandishing a gigantic shield that he planted in the ground in a defensive posture. Shield and spear: optimal protection and reach, a dangerous combination. He was waiting for the assault and would not initiate it. A tank, probably. Behind him, a short distance away, the female seemed more lightly armored and had a wand for only weapon. Probably an object intended to improve the precision and power of spells. A sorceress He growled: he did not like sorcerers. Their powers were too powerful, not fair in the least. She would have to be eliminated first, but the male might then intervene The female raised her wand and traced strange symbols in the air, with mysterious meanings Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Nash-Jakkra raised her wand and drew a symbolic heart in the air, using her powers, she materialized a pink image surrounded by a shimmering purple glow. With her other hand, she took the magical construction and blew delicately on it, sending it into the air. The heart fell back on the enemy monster before it could make the slightest move: the action had not taken more than a second...
Skill Charm [F] used by Nash-Jakkra [E] on Minotaur [E] Consumption 10 Energy
Oh! A Charm skill right off the bat! Ideal for dominating an enemy target and getting them into a position to receive a few critical hits! I love the visuals of this power! Unfortunately, our minotaur is used to combat: he had barely guessed that he was the target of the spell, when he used his rage skill. Not content with immunizing against terror and pain, this skill also protects against most mental control effects... In any case, as long as there are no allies to target in the vicinity... The minotaur threw his head back and bellowed in anger. Lowering his head so that his horns pointed forward, he immediately charged at the magician. Given her position, this effectively meant that he was charging at the warrior first. The warrior prepared to take the blow.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 59 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Dodging without noticing the spear brandished by his opponent, the minotaur hit him head on, striking with horns like with the axe. Under the violence of the blow, the Naga was lifted into the air and described an arc high in the air before crashing violently into the sand, suffering three additional damage points. Barely taking the time to raise its head, the monster lowered it and continued its charge towards the magician. Still shaken by the previous intimidation, the female reacted too slowly and the monster hit her. The magic armor, which Nash-Jakkra had discreetly wrapped her body in before the fight, sparkled as it absorbed a tiny portion of the shock.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 64 damage to Naga Magician
Unable to endure the shock, the magician was thrown far back, hitting the edges of the arena hard. Several of her scales flew into the air on the impact and she remained half-lying on the ground, confused. The gigantic minotaur advanced heavily, raising his axe to deliver a powerful blow Suddenly, a strange rattling noise was heard, annoying the monster. Turning his furious gaze in that direction, he saw the male Naga who was provoking him. Having stood up, he remained in place, brandishing his shield and spear in a threatening manner. The thin tip of his tail was raised in front of him, waving curiously and emitting this annoying noise The still conscious part of the minotaurs brain was screaming at him to finish off the spellcaster immediately But this noise Annoying ANNOYING! Enraged, the minotaur charged towards the defender, determined to tear off his tail. But as the barbarian was about to strike his target, it moved at full speed towards him No, not exactly: Zack-J?azk had focused his Rush skill towards his companion, causing him to brush against the monsters trajectory. There was a shrill noise as the axe scraped the shield, leaving a long groove, but the impact had been avoided. Taking advantage of the time it took for his opponent to stop running and charge in the opposite direction, Zack-J?azk planted his shield in the sand and posed his spear, going to Nash-Jakkras bedside. She was bleeding a little, but nothing that the System considered a hemorrhage. Seeing her gradually regaining her senses, he gently lifted her up to help her stand up. Are you okay? She looked at him for a moment as if she didnt understand anything, then her gaze hardened: Cant you take the hits properly, you idiot? I only have 136 life points left! Resuming his weapons, Zack-J?azk sighed with relief: she was fine. As for him, he knew he was going to have to be more efficient: the failure of his previous block was entirely his fault because he had let himself be shaken by the enemys intimidation. Gripping his shield tightly, still planted in the ground, he prepared to take the full force of the enormous monster that was hurtling towards him at full speed Well, it looks like our magician just pulled a scroll out of her inventory. Consuming this expensive item will allow her to cast a spell she doesn''t know... Oh, I see what it is... Very good choice. Nash-Jakkra took the parchment in one hand and pointed her wand at the assailant with the other. Her words echoed in the strange native language of the System as she read the document and channeled its power.
Parchment (E) [Slowness Wall] Used successfully. A slowness zone is generated for 1 minute at the designated location.
The air began to shimmer in front of the two Nagas and it seemed to become heavier, which is a visual effect that is quite hard to describe. The most visible aspect was a slight... a very slight slowdown in the Minotaur''s charge... Well, at the same time it was a rank E scroll used on a monster moving at an extraordinary speed and having an extraordinary strength... With all his raw power, the Minotaur struck Zack-J?azk... who with a clever shield movement deflected all the power of the blow. Wow! Great action! We just saw a perfect parry I think it was the tanks one and only chance to avoid repeating the initial scenario and he succeeded! However, his spear is poorly positioned and he wont be able to take benefit of this advantage immediately. At least, from now on, the fight will be played out in close proximity and no longer with distance Enraged at being stopped like this, the massive barbarian mooed loudly in disappointment. With rage still animating his mind, he struck without waiting. The Naga struck as well despite the proximity which made the handling of his spear more complex.
Minor critical hit successful: damage x2 Naga Tank inflicts 36 damage to Barbarian Minotaur Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [F]
For his part, Zack-J?azk had not suffered the slightest damage, having managed to deflect his opponent''s axe again. The shield had nevertheless suffered impressive damage and, if it held up to the shock, it kept the mark, reducing its durability and its capacities. Nash-Jakkra, for her part, moved slowly, cautiously, in order to have a line of sight on their enemy. In doing so, she used her healing ability to recover a little of her life. Once again, the fighters clashed. Disturbed by the strange undulating curves of the Minotaur''s armor, the tank missed it. He nevertheless remained focused enough to deflect another enemy strike, while this time preventing his shield from suffering too much damage. The magician, for her part, passed the wand to the ribbon that served as her belt and raised her hands, causing an ethereal bow to materialize out of nowhere. She pointed it at the enemy and fired in his direction and completely missed her target. Mo-oh-gra growled as his peripheral vision informed him of the passage of a projectile. His raging brain remained deeply accustomed to battle, so he felt, more than he thought, that the situation was beginning to escape him. His instinct taking over his rage, he turned towards the magician and charged. The rattling sound coming from the other Naga intensified as he tried to distract him from his plan by provoking him, but the movement had already begun. The spear clumsily grazed the Minotaur''s armor, but the next moment he was already in front of the magician. Despite the red veil of terror, he could fully appreciate the expression of stupefaction on the female''s face, her useless bow in her hands, as the axe fell violently...
Minotaur Barbarian deals 68 damage to Naga Mage
Then his target disappeared from his sight in a whirlwind of sand that continued to rise. He saw Nothing.
Nash-Jakkra [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 78/205 Energy Points (EP): 1534/1594 Vigor: 54/55 Armor: 4(+5)/4(+2)
Zack-J?azk [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 300/348 Energy Points (EP): 55/55 Vigor: 183/198 Armor: 8(+8)/8(+9)
Mo-oh-gra [Minotaur] Level 15 Hit Points (HP): 553/590 Vigor: 237/390(+10) Armor: 6(+10)/6(+10)
The cloud of sand she had raised made it impossible for anyone to see where they were, or even detect anything. She could have opted for invisibility, but her Observation of the opponent had taught her that he had a Sixth Sense skill. Even though the probability of detecting invisible creatures was only 5%, many factors came into play, such as her recent position and the marks she left on the ground: even enraged, the beast could instinctively follow these clues. She had been able to cast her spell in extremis, just before being injured again. In that short time, she had memorized the best route to reach Zack-J?azk. They had to review their strategy: she would now hide right behind him and shoot over his shoulders, rather than being at a distance. In fact, the main problem was the type of enemy they were facing and the environment. A barbarian should have been easy to defeat, but this one had thwarted her secret weapon from the start and managed to pierce their defenses. She really needed to find a way to develop a more powerful attack skill, like a chain lightning. Combined with her control of water, it could be devastating The cloud of sand dissipated as she emerged from the blindness it generated. She saw a dark shape advancing towards her: Ah, Zack-J?azk, we''re going to have to... But it wasn''t her companion! As the axe flew straight towards her face, she barely had time to use her Ethereal Body skill. Her body became transparent, the universe taking on a purple hue, the enemy weapon passing through her body without doing her the slightest harm.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 1 damage to Naga Mage
Well, yes, a rank E weapon could cause minimal damage to an ethereal form because it was slightly magical. However, without a slightly more magical weapon, the Minotaur could do nothing for it. However, it tripled all her Energy costs and made most of her attacks ineffective. Magic projectiles fired by an ethereal bow were considered physical, so that left, as an aggressive skill Absolutely nothing? Well... If Zack-J?azk ever dared to make a comment about her specialization in combat mage, he was going to suffer... Where was he anyway? Oh. As the cloud dissipated, she saw that her companion was... in the exact place where she was before she fled. Mo-oh-gra managed to stop his rage skill. Perfect. Instead of standing there stupidly trying to hit an ethereal enemy, he was going to be able to find a solution. With a glance, he assessed the distance to the second enemy and the time it would take for him to arrive using Rush. He had time. Opening his inventory, he took out a pot filled with a mysterious luminous blue paste. Breaking the container with one hand, he spread its contents on his axe.
Faerie Dust (E) [oil] [Grants a weapon the semi-ethereal property. Halves damage but allows it to hit both material and ethereal targets while ignoring 50% of physical armor.]
He now had 10 minutes to eliminate the sorceress before the oil''s property wore off. A sudden pain forced him to turn towards the second opponent.
Naga Tank deals 3 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
As Zack-J?azk withdrew his weapon from the enemys wound and stepped back, ready to continue the fight, he felt his courage weaken in the face of the monsters calm and merciless gaze. Enraged until now, the Minotaur fought without fear of injury. He now seemed determined to make better use of his armor. Neglecting the tank, he turned his attention to the magician who was trying to get away as quickly as possible. This was a disaster! The Charm would not work so quickly after a failure, effectively immunizing the monster against their greatest asset. Nash-Jakkra had no offensive spell she could manipulate in her state, unless she found a river, a pond, or even a puddle. Moreover, she had used their last scroll Zack! Catch! An ethereal object described a curve in the air to fall at his feet, in the sand. It was a bottle filled with a black liquid that seemed to move on its own. His gaze brightened: it was their last potion, the one that gave its consumer the Chaos state. This would allow him to have a one in two chance of passing through his enemy''s armor as if it did not exist! With the greatest vivacity, he extended his hand... ...which passed through the ethereal bottle. Turning his gaze, once again panicked, towards his companion, he saw his expression transmit to her as she understood the dilemma: to be able to use this potion, she had to end her ethereal protection. She dodged, for the third time in recent times, the monster''s axe and continued to crawl in circles with all her might around her bodyguard''s position, pursued by the calm and merciless Minotaur. With a cry of rage, Zack-J?azk rushed into combat.
Naga Tank deals 1 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Ignoring him, the barbarian continued his attack, pursuing the ethereal magician who circled around her companion, himself pursuing the first pursuer in a round that would seem comical if one forgot the mortal aspect.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 16 damage to Naga Mage
While the magician had just hidden behind her protector, the minotaur had attacked him without worrying about receiving possible damage. Zack-J?azk had tried. His eyes stung, disturbed by the strange undulations of the cursed armor of this cursed Minotaur who was going to Nash-Jakkra! he shouted. No choice, you have to take a risk! Potion, only hope. She gave him a furious look, indicating that she did not appreciate that he was making her take such an unreasonable risk, but she insensibly approved: she had also understood that it was their only hope. Reintegrating a tangible form, she cried out when the axe struck her. Fear gripped her companions heart because, turning his back to the scene, he leaned over to make his own the bottle filled with the black liquid, unable to follow the action except by sound. Turning quickly, he saw
Minotaur Barbarian deals 9 damage to Naga Mage
His return to his material form had allowed her armor to function, while the raw damage inflicted by the monsters weapon was reduced by half by the oil. Zack-J?azk uncorked the bottle and swallowed the contents in one gulp. Immediately, a black vapor rose from his body as his eyes began to glow with a sinister glow.
Applied Property: Chaos (Supernatural Bonus) [Adds the Chaos property to attacks. Chaos has a 50% chance to ignore armor (including magic). Chaos has a 10% chance to turn the attack back on its user.]
Now it''s our turn, you ugly monster! Mo-oh-gra considered the situation. Removing the oil from his weapon would cause the sorceress to become intangible again, thus taking away his chances of victory. It was obvious that, with his new property, the other Naga would throw himself body and soul in his path to slow down his attacks against the other serpent The Minotaur opened his massive mouth in an amused grin: okay, it was time to bet everything on violence again. Letting out a roar of rage, he let madness blind his vision as he charged towards his target. Even with his Rush, the Naga would not be able to block his path and would be reduced to continuing his pathetic attacks on his flanks.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 31 damage to Naga Mage
The sorceress cried out in pain, but survived the shock, allowing her protector to finally position himself between her and the unleashed beast. Annoyed by the constant rattling noise emanating from Zack-J?azk, the Minotaur''s foggy consciousness made him his main target again, allowing him to cement his companion''s defense once again. He felt her behind him, trembling with fear and somewhat hindering his movements, but using her power to heal herself... unfortunately quite slowly... Unleashed, the Minotaur made a sudden sideways movement that allowed him to avoid the spear, before bringing down his axe with all his might against the guardian''s flank, thwarting his shield and delivering a violent critical blow.
Successful Critical Hit: Damage x3 Barbarian Minotaur deals 106 damage to Naga Tank Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [D] Naga Tank returns 2 damage to Barbarian Minotaur
Zack-J?azk spat out blood profusely. Despite his disgust and pain, he let it flow onto his armor and between his scales without paying too much attention to it: even if he should have some organs destroyed by the shock, the System was saving him from certain death and he was going to take advantage of it. From the difficulty, he also saw another opportunity to be optimistic. After his attack, the Minotaur had taken a step back, preparing his next attack. If he could not optimally use his spear to keep an opponent who was not afraid of getting hurt at a distance, this distance between the two fighters would allow the tank to use his spear without the proximity penalty induced by the System
Minotaur Barbarian deals 29 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Naga Tank deals 16 damage to itself (armor avoided)
Zack-J?azk cried out in surprise, more than in pain, as he felt like he was being pierced in a different place than the one hit by the enemy axe. He quickly guessed the source: Damned property of Chaos! 10% chance of having the damage reflected back, I understand now... But why from the first blow[2]? Filth! His mood improved slightly when he felt the caress of Nash-Jakkra''s hand on his neck, warm because it was imbued with healing magic. If he had only recovered two Hit Points this time, it had stopped his hemorrhage. The enemy''s hemorrhage was less serious, but it blocked his Vigor regeneration, increasing the chances of victory in the very long term... Well, that didn''t change anything, but if he could inflict a more significant hemorrhage, without magical care his enemy would weaken steadily... The fight intensified. The Minotaur hit first, dodging the spear again, more by luck than by intention. The monster''s second blow was clumsier and bounced off the armor while the spear sank into its side... inflicting the damage on its owner who cursed loudly against the chaotic property. The pain seemed to restore his strength as he parried the blow with his shield and planted his opponent in a noticeably painful spot, worsening his previous hemorrhage.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 31 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Successful critical hit: x3 damage Naga Tank deals 59 damage to itself (armor avoided) Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [D]
Successful minor critical hit: x2 damage Naga Tank deals 17 damage to Minotaur Barbarian (armor avoided) Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [F] ranks up to [E]
Throughout these passes of arms, the Naga saw small red or green numbers scroll before his eyes indicating the losses or gains of Life Points. +7, +5, +10 indicated to him that his companion was not idle, concentrating entirely on taking care of her line of defense.
Nash-Jakkra [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 33/205 Energy Points (EP): 1428/1594 Vigor: 55/55 Armor: 4(+5)/4(+2)
Zack-J?azk [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 83/348 Energy Points (EP): 55/55 Vigor: 126/198 Armor: 8(+8)/8(+9)
Mo-oh-gra [Minotaur] Level 15 Hit Points (HP): 526/590 Vigor: 184/390(+10) Armor: 6(+10)/6(+10)
But was there even a chance of victory? Zack-J?azk thought no more about it and threw himself headlong into the fight. However, the Minotaur prevailed. The visual disturbances induced by the powers of his armor prevented his opponent from aiming correctly while he himself struck several times with devastating precision.
Minotaur Barbarian deals 31 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
+12
Minotaur Barbarian deals 30 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
+7
Minotaur Barbarian deals 31 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank reflects 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
+13
But the fortunes of the fight came and went. As if galvanized by his imminent death, Zack-J?azk threw himself with more violence against his gigantic opponent. Spinning from one side to the other, dragging his companion clinging to his tail like a dead weight (but a dead weight that healed him), the enemy axe seemed to caress him as it passed by barely scratching his armor. It is true that after an initial minor critical injury inflicted, the fight did not seem to turn immediately in favor of the Naga: the weapons clashed, repelling each other, without result for a moment However, gaining time without suffering an injury was probably all to the tank''s advantage because he benefited from healing and watched his opponent slowly lose his breath too slowly, but he would gladly take all the small victories to restore his morale. The spear struck the axe again in a spray of sparks, shaking the very solidity of both weapons which cracked But the spear had pierced the opponent.
Successful critical hit: damage x3 Naga Tank inflicts 42 damage to Minotaur Barbarian (armor avoided) Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [D]
Mooing with fury, the enemy launched a lightning riposte. Nevertheless, the defender parried with his shield before planting his weapon once again in the gap in the enemy''s armor.
Naga Tank deals 16 damage to Minotaur Barbarian (armor avoided)
Nash-Jakkra [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 33/205 Energy Points (EP): 1378/1594 Vigor: 55/55 Armor: 4(+5)/4(+2)
Zack-J?azk [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 86/348 Energy Points (EP): 55/55 Vigor: 123/198 Armor: 8(+8)/8(+9)
Mo-oh-gra [Minotaur] Level 15 Hit Points (HP): 432/590 Vigor: 172/390(+10) Armor: 6(+10)/6(+10)
Again, the axe struck back, then the fight became uncertain before a new advance of the Naga. He pierced his enemy once again and deflected the blow, but this movement too wide left an opening for the monster who struck him violently twice. Again and again, the weapons clashed. The Naga struck once, but received two violent successive blows in return
Naga Tank deals 3 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Successful Minor critical hit: x2 damage Minotaur Barbarian deals 65 damage to Naga Tank Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [F] Naga Tank returns 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Minotaur Barbarian deals 28 damage to Naga Tank Naga Tank returns 2 damage to Minotaur Barbarian
Mo-oh-gra [Minotaur] Level 15 Hit Points (HP): 383/590 Vigor: 154/390(+10) Armor: 6(+10)/6(+10)
Nash-Jakkra [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): 33/205 Energy Points (EP): 1358/1594 Vigor: 55/55 Armor: 4(+5)/4(+2)
Zack-J?azk [Naga] Level 11 Hit Points (HP): -2/348 Energy Points (EP): 55/55 Vigor: 106/198 Armor: 8(+8)/8(+9)
Zack-J?azk spun around before collapsing to the ground, motionless. A pool of blood spread before being quickly absorbed by the greedy sand. Nash-Jakkra froze, her eyes wide open, unable to think clearly. She leaned over the inert body and did the only thing that crossed her mind: continue to heal him while encouraging him: Hey? What are you doing, moron? Get up right now! What are you... what are you doing to me now...
Skill Magical Healing [E] used by Nash-Jakkra [E] on Zack-J?azk [E] Consumption 5 Energy. This has no effect on a dead person.
Skill Magical Healing [E] used by Nash-Jakkra [E] on Zack-J?azk [E] Consumption 5 Energy. This has no effect on a dead person.
Skill Magical Healing [E] used by Nash-Jakkra [E] on Zack-J?azk [E] Consumption 5 Energy. This has no effect on a dead person. Do you read notifications or not?
Get up! Get up! This this is an order! Come on? Trembling with a terror she had never felt before, the magician weakly lifted her companions heavy body, trying to shake him awake. If her tear glands werent inside her serpentine eye, and if it wasnt covered in a transparent protective scale, she would probably have cried. Indifferent to the threatening shadow that hid the sun from her, she raised her head by pure instinct to observe a large metallic object approaching her head at high speed.
FINISHING ACTION: Damage x10 Minotaur Barbarian inflicts 300 damage to Naga Mage OVERKILL!
The lack of a visible target helped Mo-oh-gra regain his composure. His brain starting to function again, he grabbed some pieces of half-clean clothing from the shredded mush that used to be a Naga sorceress, then used them to bandage his wounds using the skill First Aid. Although noted as a "natural power", it instantly stopped the multiple internal hemorrhages he was suffering from. It was better not to think too far into how the System worked and just accept it as it was. The Minotaur then stood up, brandishing his bloody axe in a victorious pause and mooed in triumph under the applause of the audience. He smiled as he observed the many XP bonus brought by the audience thanks to one of the effects of his Champion specialty. He then collected the useful items dropped by the enemy bodies, notably the Gold Coins, filling his inventory. And a superb victory for the Minotaur who finishes with 65% of his Hit Points! A crushing victory And yet, if our two Nagas had not been unlucky, they could have won Perhaps if their battle mage had learned a real attack spell, that would have also changed the situation However, I would like to point out that she had impressive control and escape skills as well as a healing ability that is extremely rare in the Magician class! Whether it is luck or talent, we have a winner, we have a loser. Who will be the next opponents to face each other? We will find out next time ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// BONUS SCENE:
[She who is Lazy] protests the death of her champions.
[She who is Lazy] says, Hey? I just fall asleep for a few days and find my champions dead? Its unfair[3]!
[She who is Lazy] accepts the System''s offer to pay a large amount of probability to save her champions.
{The adventurers Zack-J?azk and Nash-Jakkra are restored. The damage and loss of their equipment will not be compensated. An XP penalty has been inflicted. A penalty ordeal will be inflicted.}
Zack-J?azk coughed as his vision returned. Oddly enough, he wasnt in pain Glancing cautiously around him, he noticed that he no longer had his protectors armor, nor his weapon and shield. He was in a large invisible cage, seemingly made of some kind of force field, floating far above the arena where his body should have been. Against his side, lay Nash-Jakkra. She woke up suddenly and turned her gaze to him, a rare emotion painting itself on her features. Without saying a word, she embraced him, holding her trembling body against his, also still shaken by the violent events. A System window told him what he needed to know:
[She who is Lazy] spent a large amount of probability to save her champions. An XP penalty has been inflicted. A penalty ordeal will be inflicted. Ordeal Start: 00:19:34
She who is Lazy? He had no idea what it could be. One of those mysterious beings the System had been designed for? One of those creatures rumored to favor champions? It seemed they had been chosen... He would think about that later. They had to prepare for the Ordeal... And they really needed to stay like that for at least five minutes... I thought... Nash-Jakkra murmured, I thought you were... That I had lost you... And they remained motionless for a long time, until they felt ready to face the trials that relentlessly threatened their world...
[1] The Naga language is long and sibilant, but for ease of understanding, this will not be represented here... Zack-J?azk, for example, is pronounced something like this: Zassssck-Jsss?azzzzk. [2] Well its totally random actually. [3] Well, AFK get what they deserve... Chapter 16: Behind Enemy Lines Xicackna woke suddenly, her sleep disturbed by strange noises. Xilofane would no doubt have found the words to describe the exact sounds of this din, but she herself could not compare it to anything known. Peeking cautiously and unseen out of the shelter provided by the containers, she saw several humans approaching her hiding place. Dressed in strange clothing of an aggressive bright yellow, they were simple level 1 humans. Growling among themselves in their monster tongues, they began to carry away the containers. The Zcarbb slammed her mandibles in annoyance. There was no doubt that she could easily kill these few workers in the event of a conflict, but this risked revealing her location to higher level hunters who would come after her. It was better to try to escape discreetly. The humans were blocking the exit from the street and behind them was the massive silhouette of one of their mysterious vehicles, as big as, if not larger than, an elite soldier. The only escape was therefore the ascent. Looking at the facades of the termite mounds that surrounded her, she saw that they were full of crevices, making climbing easier than most of the buildings in the hive, except for the verticality. From what she had observed, humans seemed less flexible than Zcarbbs when it came to moving overhead. It was therefore also likely that there would be less chance of encountering them at height. Maybe they weren''t even in the habit of looking up, which would allow her to save her precious... four... minutes... of invisibility... Taking a deep breath, she chased away her galloping anger and continued her climb. The nearby termite mounds were not as tall as those at the battle site, so she quickly found herself overlooking the Humans world. Many Humans were moving in all directions and she could not yet guess the tasks to which they were assigned, nor the castes to which they belonged. She took the risk of lowering her invisibility and relying only on her camouflage. No cry, nor any discordant thought, came to disturb her safety. Observing the crowd, she noticed that with rare exceptions, all the humans were level 1. Some, tiny, were probably larvae and had a level of a quarter. They were walked without any apparent purpose by the adults, since several passed in one direction then the other. The purpose of this transport remained mysterious. There were also a few low-level hunters, none higher than her own. She found herself thinking that she could find a heavy object to drop from the terrace of the termite mound, onto passing Humans, thus gaining the experience needed for her next level. However, she corrected herself: it was far too dangerous. Maybe all their workers would rush to her to figure out what could have caused the incident, then call their soldiers to eliminate her at the slightest hint of her presence. Worse still: one of the eliminated humans could turn out to be one of these mysterious regressors. It risked avoiding the projectile and, having a head start, devising a foolproof plan to eliminate her. The statistical probability that there was a second regressor was close to zero, but she knew that sometimes theories didn''t agree with reality. It was better to use this time to study these strange creatures. They were disturbing: except for their grotesque lower half, they were too similar to the nobles of the Zcarbbs. Some of them could be males or commoners, based on the shape of their chests, but the other half seemed to be females. They had no chitinous protrusions to protect their bodies and had to make do with clothing, but their shape was close to that of mature princesses in the most unsettling way. How was it that the proportion of females was so high? Was she in a noble neighborhood? This perhaps explained the significant presence of larvae: a human queen must necessarily be nearby. Among the hunters, there were also a few females. Given their small proportion, this did not surprise her: they probably led groups made up of males and soldiers. Here, everything gave the impression of disorder. There was a distinct lack of servants and soldiers to protect all these princesses. Did they think they were safe? A few distances away a red door was found and, at this very moment, a daring princess Zcarbb could attack them at any moment... Daring or a little lost... But if Queen Xa-tar-Lona had produced assassins, with the ability to turn invisible, she could easily have sent them here the same way she herself had arrived without being see. This could be a long-term strategy for fighting monsters: she estimated that an assassin would take three years to reach maturity if they were laid now. Much simpler than a noble, it was nonetheless a complex Zcarbb which required a fairly long development time to be perfectly competent. Thus, Xicackna spent long hours examining humans in their natural habitat. Her observations took her little further. At most, she managed to distinguish members of the soldier class by their dark blue clothes and their curious headgear. She manages to understand their role by their way of moving around and being on the lookout as well as by the presence of weapons at their side: small versions of the steel spitters. The most astonishing thing was that humans, male or female, seemed to be able to belong to all castes of society. However, it was inconceivable that a developed species would not be more strictly organized. And where were the sexless workers needed to maintain good living conditions for the upper class? She also saw many of the human vehicles pass by. Functional and not in ruins, these surprised her greatly. Although humans seemed to communicate relatively little by pheromones, their vehicles left interesting trails in their path, probably to indicate to following vehicles where to pass. An active principle, probably mechanical and self-powered, allowed these large masses of scrap metal to move. If she had one on hand, her eldest Xana-Eloba would be over the moon. She would probably find a way to duplicate this principle to increase the productivity of the colony. But all time of observation has its limit: that of the need to seek sustenance. The princess therefore had to start looking for human canteens. To her great astonishment, this research very quickly bore fruit: locals with varied appearances punctuated the landscape, signaling with their tempting smells that one could eat there. Xicackna descended cautiously and reached ground level, near one of these canteens which she judged to be less exposed than the others. Taking her courage in both hands, she prepared to enter under cover of invisibility, to steal something to survive, when she stopped abruptly. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. There, near the building, in a deserted outdoor area, several containers exuded the scent of mysterious foods. Approaching warily, she checked several times for guards before becoming visible again. She lifted the fragrant lid and found underneath the unthinkable: stored crudely, without the slightest consideration for its preservation, a large quantity of food was mixed with inedible materials. Did humans like their food to go moldy? One could expect anything from such strange monsters. Fortunately, the present pittance had not yet had time to spoil. She took one of the dishes she had frequently observed in the hands of Humans and analyzed it. It was very simple and crude, but she didn''t expect more refinement from such a disorganized species. There were two slices of a kind of soft dough that vaguely resembled the breads some distant colonies made by grinding seeds. Between the two, pieces of vegetables and meat of mysterious origins mixed with a sticky yellow substance whose consistency was reminiscent of Sprouz''s slime, but without its pleasant smell. Tasting this otherworldly dish, she almost vomited: the edibility remained acceptable, but mysterious sauces, yellow and red, permeated the pittance, making it nauseating. But what must be done must be done, she forced herself to eat enough food to regain her strength. She poured some into her bag as well, grimacing at the thought that she would never be able to wash it enough to get rid of the stains and the smell. Continuing her exploration, Xicackna accumulated numerous observations on the aberrant behavior of monsters and copied them into scent tablets. Even if she had an excellent memory, an essential quality for a future queen, these documents would help her to transmit her report more easily to make it available to the notables of the hive. She had several amber tablets and a heating punch to project her pheromones inside them. Throughout her exploration, fear did not leave her and horror at the incongruity of alien society frequently disturbed her: how could such a poorly organized civilization have reached such a degree of development? Certainly, humans must have been at their peak and on the verge of collapse. They could never reach the lowest level of Zcarbbs civilizations. But this thought was quickly overturned by a new discovery. She had found a new hiding place: a dark building which, however, was frequently teeming with humans. Even when these diurnal creatures mysteriously made appear light to illuminate the places, they concealed numerous crevices and subtle hiding places to protect the princess. Better yet: the monsters went there with packets of food. The main food of those who went to these places consisted of small sweet balls that the humans ate very noisily. During this time, they watched images projected on a wall recounting the distant past of their people. Humans'' techniques for reproducing images and sound were quite impressive, surpassing current Zcarbbs technologies. However, they seemed to forget most of the information since no odor was emitted. Xicackna remained for very long hours observing, captivated, the secrets of humanity. If she didn''t understand the sounds emitted, she had no problem getting out the translation of the thoughts of the monsters present. She thus learned that humanity actually came from another galaxy, where they lived a long time ago. At that time, they had monstrous technologies, such as flying machines and ships capable of crossing the expanses of space. A technique that seemed an aberration of physics, called hyperspace, allowed them to travel quickly from one planet to another. In this galaxy, humans had encountered many species, as ugly and disorganized as themselves, and had formed a large community. Violent wars had broken out and their enemies had raised immense armies of combat automatons. Fighters of the time used weapons that fired fiery rays of light. While their composition was mysterious, they did not seem as effective as the projectile weapons humans had since invented. Having no legitimate authority to bring them together, despite the presence of a female qualified as queen, humans and other monsters were organized into a large assembly where each sought their own interests. Through deception, one of the humans had finally succeeded in creating a supreme authority, but he was not worthy of it because he was crazy. Indeed, he had gone so far as to build a weapon capable of destroying planets, which was totally stupid since a destroyed planet is no longer useful. Fortunately, less evil humans had destroyed his monstrous weapons twice and finally killed the madman. Then the story became even more bizarre. The weapons grew as big as planets and destroyed many of them. The dead madman turns out not to be dead, once again proving the dangerous powers of Humans using the System, and prepares a strictly aberrant number of war machines each capable of destroying a planet. Xicackna had great difficulty understanding the sequences of mysterious actions ultimately leading to the destruction of all of these devices. She supposed that far from being totally crazy, the madman must have programmed some kind of device to destroy his own weapons to prevent them from falling into other bad hands. The projection had stopped without explaining the events that had led humans to leave their galaxy to come to this one. Given their tendency to create tens of thousands of weapons each capable of destroying planets, it was very likely that they simply annihilated their home galaxy. However, we could guess that the humans must have maintained links with the other surviving monsters thanks to the portals they used to attack the Zcarbbs. In this galaxy, however, humans no longer seemed to have flying machines or automatons, even if the technology of their ranged weapons had progressed. The movie often talked about humans having strange powers, such as the ability to jump very high or make objects move from a distance. They fought with mysterious blades of light that Xicackna had never seen wielded by Hunters before. Their powers, in such distant times, were one more clue proving that Humans were indeed responsible for the creation of the System.
YOU HAVE COMPLETED A hidden QUEST! ? Marathon of the best films ? Quest successful You watched all the episodes of the prelogy and the trilogy in succession (the third so-called trilogy doesn''t count because it sucks). You have completed a hidden quest!! Reward: 60 XP
Current experience: 1771 Stored experience: 3069
You gain a level! Current level: 8 Experience needed for next level: 429
All of Xicackna''s eyes opened briefly in surprise. Hidden quests? She didn''t expect to receive the experience needed for her next level like this... But it was... good. Surprising, but finally a positive thing in the midst of his misfortunes. She also noted that the System expressed a point of view. She did not know if this third trilogy suck because of poor quality of visual reproduction or because of discrepancies with the real history of humanity, but in any case, an opinion was expressed. Since no civilization would ever use machines to issue opinions, there was evidence of real intelligence, controlling the System, or at least inserting the information necessary for the mechanism that made it work... At the same time, the humans of the past seemed to design needlessly complicated automatons that spoke to say nothing. If Humans were indeed the creators of the System, it was not impossible that their civilization would be stupid enough to entrust its choice processes to automatons... and perhaps they would do a better job than these disorganized creatures... Chapter 17: The way home
Class Skill Gain As you progress in your mastery of your class, you can choose one additional class skill from the three skills below: Pathfinder (C): (magical power) Allows you to analyze paths or determine a path to your destination (use consumes 1 point of energy every 60 seconds). Falsification (D): (supernatural power) Allows you to falsify the information that other users of the System can obtain about you. Analysis (F): (supernatural power) Allows you to obtain very detailed information on a nearby target. [Reference ability of the Analyst class, this power allows you to deeply understand the nature of the targets analyzed]
Xicackna growled in displeasure. Why have to choose just one skill? She wanted them all! Falsification was the power she literally dreamed of: thanks to it, she could prevent the Human Hunters from knowing her abilities and her name. If the regressor ever learned that she was still alive, he could track her down to get his hands on a second Stone of Regrets. Unfortunately, she was going to have to choose Pathfinder. Among those proposed, only this one could allow her to find her way back to the Dungeon. But is it really the best choice? Xicackna jumped: it wasnt her who had thought that! Was there anyone nearby who could project its thoughts the way she could read them? Yes, exactly Well, I can do both. Turning from side to side, she saw no one. She had entered a dark alley sheltered from human lighting systems and obviously used to store anything and everything. This allowed her to save her invisibility by making an encounter with a monster less likely... and now this mysterious, undetectable creature was approaching her. "Whowho are you? Show yourself! You... you don''t... don''t scare me!" Really? Boo! Suddenly a small dark shape appeared on top of a container, a few steps from her face. The thing literally came out of nowhere, in a sort of cloud of black smoke, odorless. Frightened, the princess suddenly threw herself backwards and collided with a precarious pile of objects, knocking it off balance. It buried her brutally and she was sure she saw one of her hit points flashes before her eyes. With a killer look, but increased suspicion, she freed herself from the pile to observe the mysterious creature. Small in size, this thing was a little longer than her forearm if we didn''t count its tail. Completely covered in some kind of black smoke, or fur that seemed ethereal in a dark way, it was a four-legged creature with a very expressive face and red eyes. The creature burst out laughing, both audibly and in its head: Ah! Ah! Ah! I''ll never grow tired! No, stop, don''t attack. Come on, good Zcarbb! Yes, all caution aside, Xicackna really wanted to rush towards this beast and beat it at her feet for its reckless mockery. Did she really think she wouldn''t dare... But what was her level?
Chaos'' Beast, ? Fast one ? breed, Level 13
Well, the creature didn''t seem that strong, although higher level than her... Oh, if I were you, Xicackna, I wouldn''t trust the level: we Chaotiuns are a little... outside the System. Who What How do you know my name? Well Let''s say that I can read minds a little, so there you go. What do you want from me? You don''t seem very... Human. Do you serve them? The creature burst out laughing again, rolling into a ball on the ground in its mirth. A very vulnerable pose which could hide dangerous assurances, or else proof of total imbecility... Xicackna preferred not to try it. When the Chaotiun finally calmed down, he stared his pitiless red eyes into those of the princess. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Let me be perfectly clear: I deeply hate your kind. Not that you did anything to me: no, it''s more something visceral. You are constantly trying to organize, to order the world... In a way you are even closer to Humans than to us, whatever they say. My people travel easily, without the constraints of distances. I have heard stories passed down for many generations of worlds where our kind form the bulwark against the expansion of your loathsome race... Our species, protecting worlds? It''s pretty ridiculous... But maybe it''s true. In any case What was I talking about again? It took a moment for her to understand that the creature was not joking: it had truly forgotten what it was talking about. Xicackna refreshes its memory: You said that you viscerally hated the Zcarbbs and that you were part of an Evil species opposed to Good. Um... I''m not sure I phrased it that way... The thoughts of your people are so disturbing that they are complicated to read... So, what do you want from me if not to confront me? Eh? No, no, I don''t want to fight you... And even if I don''t like your people... Let''s say that I like those who play with you even less... Well, for the moment, eh, because deep down, youre the worst species. Those who play with us? Do you want to talk about the creators of the System? Creators? Yes Thats quick to say. More like tinkerers, if you ask me... Ah, it''s painful to have this conversation every time... Well, it doesn''t change much in the end if I make variations..." What do you mean every time? And tell me who are these tinkerers of the System? Everything in its own time... Let''s say I play too but... if I do too much, they will capture me, put me in a cage and sell me to a laboratory... at the very least. All you need to know is that I''m offering you an interesting opportunity: you choose the skill you want, then I''ll personally take you to another portal to your Dungeon. So, what do you say? The creature seemed to smile with its monstrous mouth vaguely resembling human mouths, with sharper fangs. While it was obviously an Evil creature, while it was possible that it was simply playing a trick on Xicackna, it was also possible that it had common, temporary interests, with the young Zcarbb. What would you gain? she asked suspiciously. Who''s to tell me it''s not a trap? Nothing. But you will accept. Of course, you will tell me that you will not select your skill right away. It''s logical, you fear that once this choice is made, I will abandon you without the possibility of finding your way back... And yes, I have already thought about it. Thats what you thought, huh? You youre also a regressor, arent you? Like humans! No. But indeed, I am aware of these regressions, as you say. But I''m not reset like that. I don''t have all the time: do you accept or do you pretend not to accept in order to accept later after racking your brain? The Zcarbb frowned. Cornered as she was, lost in enemy territory, she didn''t have much choice. If this creature was capable of taking her home, perhaps she should accept? Obviously, the beast knew much more than she did about the System, its origins and its purpose, but it would not reveal it. It seemed that the matter was more complex than a simple human construction: perhaps Humans had also been victims of the System for many years, since the time when they lived in a galaxy far, far away? In any case, it seemed confirmed that the System had the ability to return its victims to a previous state, causing an apparent return in time. It was also confirmed that out-of-System creatures escaped... Unless this Chaotiun had invented everything based on the worries and theories that perpetually swirled in the back of the princess''s mind? She was going to accept the offer, as the creature was already convinced. After all, if it could transport her to a faraway place, it could do it even without her consent. However, was this the right solution? Perhaps the beast was linked to the System more than it claimed and needed approval to use its powers on Xicackna? The creature''s thoughts were too muddled and shallow, easily distracted even by the insects buzzing around them, thoughts impossible to read for useful information. With a sigh, the princess accepted the offer. The creature smiled and, standing on its hind legs, held out a hand-like paw. She took it and darkness briefly invaded her vision. She was still in a human world. There were some minor differences in the architecture and appearance of the monsters that inhabited this new city. In a single moment, she found herself there, stationed on a small hill in a natural area in the heart of the human hive. The creature beside her pointed to a point in the distance. Over there is a portal that leads to your Dungeon. It is currently green in color, which means that Humans, and any other creatures associated with their adventure group by the System, can only enter in limited numbers. This is one of the consequences of your defeat with the red door: temporary protection. A few days ago, the door had recently reappeared, in blue. You were lucky that the Humans were so clumsy: if they had waited to kill your boss and done the side quests around the gate, they could have reversed it to make it a raid gate to the entire Dungeon... But this is rather rare because the secondary objectives are not necessarily easy to find. The creature flinched, noticing the intense gaze of its interlocutor. Oh, I see, you feed off every little bit of information I let slip? Sorry to disappoint you, but even with you have an optional sub-boss level, you could find them by digging far enough into the System help. Well, I''m going to leave before attracting the attention of an administrator... They know that I''m there, but if I do too much, they won''t hesitate to smack me, under the pretext that I''m "not approved, or that I do not pay for the activation of an interaction option As if we did not have the right to cheat! And with these words, the Chaotiun disappeared as it had appeared. Still perplexed, Xicackna moved as stealthily as possible towards the door. The Human guards were few in number, probably less frightened by a green door than a red door. None of them pierced her invisibility and she approached the portal without problem. As always, this unreal matter or light, suspended in the air, seemed strange. She took a moment to observe one last time the no less strange human termite mounds that rose up everywhere and the monsters that went about their mysterious occupations outside the area secured by their warriors, without worrying too much about the proximity of the door. Then she crossed. Chapter 18: Between two missions The familiar walls of the tunnel, the indistinct sensation of multiple information transmitted by pheromones, the scent of home: she was back! Soon, her senses met those of the cloaked guards near the door, connecting her to the "hive mind." The multiple information relayed so far through the exchanges of pheromones were for the most part of no interest to Xicackna, simply confirming that the hive was functioning correctly. Then, gradually, a feeling of well-being came over her as the news of her arrival reached the rest of the colony and their responses reached her. Commoners emitted buzzing joy at the news that a supposedly lost princess had returned, while nobles relayed more complex messages of welcome. Then came the presence of the queen herself, powerful, profound. Although it was only a message relayed from Zcarbb to Zcarbb, the priority given to it made it shine among all the others. Unlike those of the other nobles, it expressed no words: only a feeling of well-being aimed directly at Xicackna. Twirling with happiness, she was able to forget for a moment her torments of the last few days and let herself indulge in this sensation. Then, while letting it twist and turn in her mind, she headed towards the royal room to make her report. Her passage must have been noticed far throughout the hive by the liveliness of the reactions of the workers, transmitted far and wide. Of course, neither of them interrupted their task, but their abdomens vibrated vigorously, expressing their joy and she returned the favor. The queen was not the only one waiting for her in the room: all the nobles who had no particular mission at that moment were gathered. Cutting through the crowd, Xafara rushed towards Xicackna: "You are back! Xicackna survived!" Showing her joy, she began to walk in a circle around her, leading in her trail a flock of the littlest princesses, who easily followed her in all her escapades. They shouted Xicackna survived! like a heady refrain. The survivor felt more touched than annoyed. Xafara might be a little rough and excited, but she always knew how to cheer her sisters up... when she wasn''t trying to do the exact opposite. The remaining of the princesses and princes also showed their joy, but in a less excessive way. They were aware of the solemn presence of the queen, or perhaps of Xicackna''s tired state. It was the sovereign who gently put an end to the acclamations. She invited Xicackna to approach her and took her in her arms, bringing her high enough so that their antennae touched, facilitating the exchange of information. The princess was literally under the queen''s eyes: she saw almost only them. The crowd also followed their conversation, sometimes uttering cries of surprise or indignation as she told her story. Finally, once it was completed, the queen decided to wait a bit before discussing it, taking a little moment to update Xicackna on the latest information from the hive. There wasn''t much to say: a new, more advanced type of exercise to achieve a higher level of mana, new genetic blueprints for the queen intended to design new castes of specialists, like battle mages, technicians specialized in human sciences and enchanting workers Then, placing Xicackna on the ground, the queen conveyed her feelings to the crowd: she allowed discussion out loud and sought advice. Immediately, a hubbub arose as everyone transmitted what they had silently exchanged shortly before. Regarding the mysterious creature that had helped her, everyone agreed that it could not be trusted, but there were very varied ideas on what to do next. Of course, the voices of the older princesses eventually gradually rose. Xom-Telba, in particular, vibrated with anger and fear: "Xubu-Lemonay, killed in one hit by this super-powerful monster? Even though her power had been amplified by her arrival as a raid boss? We must take action... yes, we must find something to crush these monsters before they come and kill us all!" "Automatic mechanisms for moving?" Xana-Eloba cut her off. "I need it! I have some ideas to design my own version, but I still lack raw materials... It is said that our ancestors had designed automatons to compensate for our deaths in times of war and to increase the productivity of our industries: if we could put ahead of our armies some mechanical Zcarbbs, like the armies that the Humans faced in their historical documentary, we could counter their power with numbers..." "You will never have the raw materials you need until we take mining territories! This is not the right solution right now. It seems that higher level Humans cannot enter our dungeon, but there is no guarantee that it will always stay that way: the level of the Dungeon will one day become high enough to bring this monster in... And if we don''t improve ourselves to avoid this disaster, we will end up killed by other Humans, weaker but with equally insane powers!" "So, what do you suggest?" "Better training, better strategies... I also have another idea, but I would prefer to discuss it privately with our mother Xa-tar-Lona first." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The discussion continued, but of course no real solution emerged: these things took time. Xicackna was perpetually assailed with questions from nobles curious about this or that detail of her adventure, until the queen gently insisted that she be let go, return to her room to rest. Arriving there, she rolled around in the drapes and other fabrics that furnished her room, finding comfort in these soft and familiar textures. Quickly, she fell into a deep sleep, although disturbed by horrible dreams where monstrous termite mounds blocked the sun and vomited streams of bloodthirsty and disorderly monsters. Xicackna stretched until her joints vibrated, then looked around with satisfaction. The long period of sleep had finally chased away the anxiety and fatigue, leaving her in great shape to face... her mood darkened. Yes, the war was far from over, it was even just beginning. Absorbed in strategic thoughts that led nowhere, she pulled towards her the amber door that closed her room. The hallway was obstructed by the body of a mature princess who blocked access to her room. She recognized the midnight blue color that characterized both Xorpha''s shell and clothing. Or rather Xor-Pha, now. With her molt, her body became bulkier, particularly in the abdomen, which would continue to grow over the next few years to facilitate the molt of the day she became a queen. If she could always stand on two legs, knowing her she would probably never make the effort. She communicated a short message to the obstacle, congratulating her on her growth and gently pointing out that she was preventing her from getting out. Immediately, the mass stood up and turned around, presenting her with a barely awake face. Before Xor-Pha could communicate, she was jostled by Xafara who rushed into the room, instinctively forcing Xicackna to step back. "Ah, are you finally awake?" asked the excited girl. "That damn Xor-Pha refused to let me pass because you were sleeping. Phew!" "Which goes to show," added Xilofane who had also just appeared, "Xor-Pha has more consideration for others than one might suspect. I too tried to hold Xafara back, but it took Xor-Pha blocking the way to finally get her to wait a little... When are you going to calm down?" "Shut up dwarf!" Replied Xafara with verve before turning kindlier towards our young princess: "Im so glad youre still alive! We have already lost too many people and I like you... well, even if Xor-Pha or Xilofane died, I would be sad, but probably less than if you died: you are nicer." "Let''s just say that she doesn''t give you what you deserve every time you come to disturb her peace." The young barbarian ignored the reply and emitted a small, high-pitched whistle. Immediately, a flock of little princesses burst out from the corridor, increasing the invasion of Xicackna''s room. Full of life and madness, they ran around the older princesses or after each other in some immature games. There were also a few little princes, although they mostly kept to themselves, having their own games. They were nonetheless running in all directions. Before the owner of the place had time to be indignant at this sudden encroachment on her private space, two little princesses approached her. They clumsily carried a tray above their heads, presenting it to her as a gift. Xicackna squinted at it, observing an unstable pile of small red circles rising from it. Her eyes lit up immediately and saliva came naturally to his mouth, a few acidic drops falling to the ground, perforating the hangings that covered it and polishing the rock below. But she didn''t notice it, only having eyes for these appetizing spheres. "Mushred[1]!" she exclaimed, "recognizing the little round mushrooms. My favorite!" She immediately grabbed some and popped it into her mouth and chewed it slowly, savoring the spicy flavor of the treat. Although deadly to most creatures, this mushroom was a delicious luxury treat for the Zcarbb nobility. Her sisters smiled as they watched her eat with a blissful look on her face. When she came to her senses, she was slightly ashamed of having indulged her gluttony. "I T Thank you, will you take some too?" They responded to her with signs of denial, being very amused by her reaction. It was Xafara who answered for them: "No, no, its all for you. After everything you endured in the monster lands, I thought it would be good for you to have your favorite food again." "But, during the Disaster the majority of our specialist mushroom cultivators died. This species is so difficult to reproduce that this pile must represent our entire current consumable stock." "Shut up and eat. Anyway, I always found them too spicy for my taste." Gluttony winning out, Xicackna did not need to be asked twice, putting two into her mouth at once. While she savored her mouthful with passion, despite the shouting of the young Zcarbbs, Xilofane spoke: "It was Xafara who organized everything. She said that everything had to be done to make you forget the monstrosities you encountered. Its true that I myself still tremble at the memory of the story of all these horrors She thought that your favorite treats would cheer you up. She also thought that being surrounded by Zcarbbs would help you feel at ease after such a long period of solitude surrounded by danger. I have to say that I was more doubtful about the idea of ??bringing all these screeching larvae." Xicackna looked at the happy mess that surrounded her. Normally, she would never have tolerated anyone entering her room without permission, or causing disorder. However, this painful environment was indeed pleasant in her present situation. Without responding directly, she simply expressed the emotion of her joy while enjoying another handful of treats.
[1] Word-for-word translation from the Zcarbb language. As it is a species endemic to Zcarbbs hives, there are no names in other languages. A certain number of tree species and mushrooms are found in all Zcarbbs colonies, even the most isolated. It was once assumed that they obtained them through trade, but recent discoveries call this theory into question. It appears that Princess Zcarbbs are capable of storing and regurgitating seeds and spores. The rare dissections of one of them proved the existence of an additional stomach, without gastric juice, absent in the rest of their species. This contained seeds and spores whose essences corresponded to the endemic cultures of the Zcarbbs, as well as a few others depending on the regional cultures of their original colonies. Chapter 19: Plans for the future The queen summoned Xicackna a few days later, not to the throne room but to the Xana-Elobas laboratory. The message mentioned a mission, without further details. It was very intrigued that the young princess found herself facing the immense iron door which could now block access to the workshops of Xana-Eloba in the event of an attack. Her activities now occupied an entire section of the palace and hundreds of workers. She knew that the engineer had asked the queen to produce units specialized in new disciplines such as magic and human technology. True specialists would take at least another year to mature, but simpler specimens were already at work. Walking through the many corridors, she saw multiple experiments in progress, the principle of which she only vaguely guessed. Finally, she reached the large room which constituted the heart of this production center: the laboratory itself. Many soldiers were stationed there, sometimes equipped with new weapons: copies and adaptations of enemy equipment. Xana-Eloba was there too. As is often the case, Xicackna was impressed by the size that mature princesses could reach over several years. She no longer remembered the engineer''s exact age, but she must have been around twenty-eight and had therefore lived a few years longer than double her own life. "AH, XICACKNA, FINALLY!" Xana-Eloba''s voice sounded strangely, as if duplicated. Sensing the presence of the queen, the little princess understood that she was using her daughter as a direct relay. This natural ability of queens had been amplified by the System with a special skill called "Avatar" which allowed the queen to express herself and act through her consenting daughters. This went much further than being Xa-tar-Lona''s preferred relay, but the girl''s consciousness remained present and aware, able to regain control at any moment. "Welcome to my laboratory!" cried the engineer. "As you can see, the places have changed a lot. I built myself a real dream factory. Here, the future of our people is born... HUM... HUM... Yes, yes, of course this is the case with the hatching chambers: I am talking here about the technological future. The weapons...and others...that will give us victory are germinating in these places. We study the System itself and one day we will bend it to our will." "We?" the analyst asked. "You mean Queen Xa-tar-Lona and you, Xana-Eloba[1]?" "Not only that: many small nobles, gifted in the areas where I carry out my research, carry out their own work. In a few years, they will undoubtedly get classes related to these skills they are developing." "So, I suppose you also want to entrust me with a project related to my Analyst class?" "Not exactly but yes, all the same. IN FACT, I HESITATED TO ENTRUST YOU WITH SUCH A MISSION, AFTER BELIEVING YOU LOST. HOWEVER, OUR WORKFORCE IS TOO SMALL AND NO ONE HAS SUCH DEVELOPED SURVIVAL ABILITIES... IN ANY CASE, NOT COMBINED WITH YOUR ANALYTICAL ABILITIES... I WILL LEAVE IT TO XANA-ELOBA TO DETAIL YOU YOUR MISSION: THIS SKILL, AVATAR, IS EXHAUSTING TO USE FOR TOO LONG AT FULL POWER." Regaining full use of her body, the ingenious Zcarbb dragged her little sister towards the back of her laboratory. The queen''s presence persisted within her, but in a more tenuous way. Strange machines, often half dismantled, dotted this corner. Although their usefulness was completely unknown to her, it was not them that surprised young Zcarbb the most, but the contents of large cages connected to one of these inventions. Inside, there were more than twenty Humans! Most appeared to be simple workers, males, females and even larvae, probably captured during the raid. Others appeared to be Hunters. It was surprising that these specimens were kept alive rather than killed to extract mana stones and meat. "I see your astonishment. Well, imagine that I have progressed a lot in understanding how the System works. I will show you my detailed documents a little later: it is important that all princesses your age understand these principles. Let''s say that originally, I wondered where the energy of the mana stones came from. Apparently, Humans can see them on our corpses and extract them, while the stones that they themselves drop when they die are invisible to them, intangible even." The engineer approached a series of levers incorporated into the machine connected to the cages. Immediately, all the captive monsters expressed symptoms of fear and began to moan. Their thoughts, which Xicackna could perceive with her skill, were quite confused and expressed suffering in anticipation. "My theories," continued the big princess, "are that these mana stones represent a crystallization of the energy invested by the System in the different individuals who are subject to it. So, the higher level the creature, the more powerful the energy. Apparently, creatures from the same world cannot perceive their own energy crystals: I have done tests with our livestock, Humans and animals captured in their world. As such, we can clearly see that the Dungeon is special because our miners sometimes find crystals fulfilling the same function as mana stones. Too little, unfortunately, to power my machine." "You mean that you designed a machine powered by the energy of the System?" "More than that: a machine that uses the System! But I was talking to you about my energy problem. Can you guess how I solved it?" "By by a process absorbing the suffering of monsters?" tried Xicackna. Xana-Eloba smiled and pulled the lever. Immediately, strange blue lightning flashed through the cages and their prisoners who screamed horribly. "Almost," she said, "I designed a process that directly absorbs the life of monsters, without pumping too much so as not to kill them. In short, each monster provides me with the energy equivalent of its mana stone... or a little less... but without dying. With enough monsters, I could power... Oh, I have lots of plans!" The mature princess was as excited as the monsters were writhing in pain. She nevertheless thought about turning off the machine so as not to exhaust its resources too much. Bringing her face closer to Xicackna, she placed her hands on her shoulders. The little princess expressed her curiosity about the use of this machinery and her sister continued her enthusiastic explanations: "What is my machine for? Oh, I have pierced the very limits of our prison: I have designed a portal generator!" "Portals? Like the red portals?" "No: better! I can create... Yeah, actually I should call it a teleporter rather than a portal generator: that would be less confusing. In fact, the portal is very localized and instantaneous: everything that is then in the half-sphere that you see there is sent to our original planet!"The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Xicackna tried to speak but remained silent in astonishment. Was the time of their confinement over? Probably not: Humans would certainly not survive the transfer of the entire hive. There also remained some doubts about the effectiveness of this invention. But, if it worked, it would at least mean the end of their isolation. "If it works!" protested the Engineer, "sensing her sister''s doubt. I did a few tests and, apart from the first ones... and the ones before I found a way to bring them back too... Let''s just say that now the last workers I tested it on have all come back alive and whole. The most recent ones didn''t even feel nauseous...at least nothing unbearable." The little princess was beginning to have a strong suspicion as to the necessity of her presence. She hoped she was wrong, so she relegated all her theories to a corner of her mind. Unfortunately, Xana-Eloba quickly disabused her of her illusions: "Anyway, its perfectly safe now for you to use it." "ME!" she exclaimed. "I... Is it really safe? What would I do in our world... Alone?" "Well, Queen Xa-tar-Lona will want to give you more details in person. Let''s say you have to go get us some information that will be crucial to our fight for survival. And, yes, you will be alone: ??feeding the machine is one thing, but starting the transfer could cost us some Human resources. Without new supply, we are quite restricted on that. Take this." With these words she placed a small necklace around her sister''s neck. This one observed it and fingered it delicately with an intrigued look. A slightly holed mana stone was passed over the strong silk thread and was engraved with mysterious symbols. "I made this object with the help of Xubu-Lemonay one more reason to mourn her death. It was not yet finished at that time, but with the help of Xaza-Yaban I finally finished it. This is a return stone. When you want to come back here, you will have to break it. Just avoid swallowing it: I''m not sure of the effects in this case." Following this disturbing announcement, Xicackna joined her mother to receive the rest of her instructions. Like the other times, she was lifted and approached the noble face of the mother of all the hive. She felt both flattered and frightened by all the attention. Flattered because it meant she was useful and important. Frightened by the danger and the unknown that awaited her. "Xicackna," said her mother, "do you know that we already knew about Humans long before they came to attack us? Although there are some doubts that it is really them, they look a lot like some monsters that our legends call "demons". Bipeds with soft skin and hands as dexterous as ours, with heads rather round than oval and a strange facial similarity to our nobility... apart from all their unsightly shortcomings, such as the absence of mandibles and antennas. The ancient legends are not very clear... Well, let''s also say that it never seemed very useful to me to study them." The queen sighed and slowly walked towards a huge slab of amber that covered part of the wall of her room, moving her imposing mass with difficulty. Many workers dedicated to this task rushed to help her move. Engraved on the amber was a vague relief map, depicting the colony''s former territory and the notable nations of part of their world. Many complex smells were implanted there, subtly describing the presence of resources and industries as well as agreements and conflicts between nations. The queen stretched one of her paws and pointed to one of the neighboring nations. "We still do not know the current state of our world, or even if other nations have survived. Due to our disappearance, it is very likely that our vassal colonies have gained independence, if they have not been eradicated by the monsters. If any of my princesses survived, they have certainly become queens since then. We could win them over by establishing permanent access to these lands, but our current science does not yet allow this." She tapped the same spot again and Xicackna noticed that it was scratched, testifying to a too pronounced habit of pointing out this place. This didn''t mean anything good. "My sister, Xl-tar-Lomenia, has always been passionate about history and even myths. You will have to go to her hive of Xmne to find information about Humans and their possible relationship to our past. It will also be necessary to analyze the state of our world and how the System has affected it. Even if you find the Xmne hive in ruins, I have no doubt that your abilities will allow you to exploit their library... But it will take time. Remember, we can''t afford to produce more return stones yet, but if you''re in mortal danger, don''t hesitate to use it..." "Wait!" Xicackna exclaimed, suddenly realizing a disturbing detail. "If I believe the map and my memories... This means that Xl-tar-Lomenia is the one who tried to steal our salt mine!" "Indeed, we are at war with her. I guess with our disappearance, she took the opportunity to take over our mine. It doesn''t matter too much at the moment. The first problem you are likely to encounter is that of your location. Our system is not yet sufficiently reliable in terms of its teleportation accuracy. Our few tests with the workers often provided only fragmentary information. Unfortunately, they do not have the vocabulary and skills to convey all the information one might want. We finally managed to guess where they had appeared and Xana-Eloba did... something... I''m still having trouble understanding how her devices work, but normally you should be sent in the right direction. You''ll have to search a little, but you should find this hive." The little princess was trembling with fear in anticipation. What if their world was invaded by monsters? Wouldn''t she be sent to her death? Not to mention the uncertainty about the reactions of the local Zcarbbs: would they take her prisoner? Why send her and not someone else? The queen felt her fears and sighed, momentarily annoyed, then immediately benevolent. She tried to reassure her: "You know you are the most qualified for this job. Princes are currently too rare to risk them, while older princesses not only have important positions, but have also lost their ability to camouflage. You will probably have to use invisibility more than once if the situation there is dangerous. As for the younger princesses, they are not as mature as you. You have even already explored another world teeming with monsters: you have the experience." The young Zcarbb nodded but didn''t seem convinced. Xa-tar-Lona stared at her lovingly, well aware of the difficulty a princess could experience when faced with the need to put herself in danger willingly: a priori such a choice was contrary to Good, to the natural instinct which pushed all members of the hive to protect them. But as queen she had a far greater experience of the difficulties of life, though she had never faced so great a peril as that which now threatened them. Xicackna, she said, you know the proverb: Every hive is born from a sacrifice; the greater the sacrifice, the larger the hive will be. . This applies to all circumstances of life. The hive constantly requires sacrifice, and while in an ideal world only commoners, or perhaps males in harsher circumstances, should have to sacrifice, reality sometimes requires princesses to risk their lives as well. Sacrifice does not necessarily mean death, which would be counterproductive in your case, but for example the loss of comfort and security to ensure the survival of the hive. And the queens? Should they sacrifice themselves too? Her mother looked very amused at this question: Of course: we do that all the time. Don''t you think I''d like to be able to walk around like I used to? To be able to leave this room more often? Move with ease, on land and in the air? But I cannot afford it, both because of the mass of my body and because of my responsibilities towards the hive. Do you understand? This time, the little one seemed a little more convinced. The queen looked at her with tenderness, remembering the distant time when she too was a young and naive princess, protected and pampered, without the slightest idea of ??the difficulties of life. Xicackna understood what was expected of her and that it was necessary, but it didn''t make it any easier. She took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she could muster. I am ready. When do I go?
[1] In case you were wondering about the frequency of their appearance in conversations, reminding names is a mark of respect among the Zcarbbs. Also, although it will not be seen in the modern English translation, polite person is used to speak to Zcarbbs of a higher age category, while to thou (tutoyer) is used for those of the same category, and lower category or commoners. But as the meaning of tutoiement (thou) and vouvoiement (you) has been totally reversed in English, it would be too complicated to translate. Chapter 20: Inter-dimensional mission The departure did not take place as quickly as she thought.The queen first took care of checking whether her geographical knowledge was up to date and had her perform the new concentration exercises, allowing her to raise her mana by an additional point. She also received more equipment from Xana-Eloba. A few belts and bags that she hung over a sturdy dress: you might as well be well equipped and elegant when going to meet another colony. She had several days'' supplies and a few weapons, including a small sword and a dart thrower. This could still be useful if the monsters were not too numerous or too powerful. The princess felt nervous. Besides the more obvious reasons for her fears, this was also the first time she would encounter a foreign colony, if one still existed. She had no idea how different smelling Zcarbbs would react. She also took a few wax tablets with her to make sketches and notes of her possible discoveries. Despite her excellent memory as a princess, it was always useful to take some notes. Xaza-Yaban, Princess Archmage, had also entrusted her with some amber tablets containing information about the System. This was both for her to study and educate herself, but they could also serve as an object of negotiation in the event that Xl-tar-Lomenia was reluctant to share her information. The queen had cast doubt on this possibility, saying that the question would be how to silence her rather than how to make her speak. Everything was finally ready. Xicackna was inside the glass half-sphere of the teleporter, connected to the cage full of Humans by a strange machine full of pipes and levers. She was quite nervous as Xana-Eloba finished her presets. Well, she said, normally with these new parameters, I should lose less energy reserves than the other times. It must be said that we also need it for other work, for example to decipher their language. We have made a lot of progress since we understood that it was exclusively oral and that the odors they emitted meant absolutely nothing. I If you want, I can stay and help you with Thoughts Observation. Maybe I''d be more useful that way, don''t you think? Young prince Sobneka is already taking care of it. He recently developed the Sniper class and has a Telepathy skill. Pfff! Xicackna grumbled with annoyance. What does a sniper have to do with telepathy? The skills, even class skills, that we accumulate do not always have a direct relation with our class. For example, I have Electricity Manipulation. See, no relation to Engineer. Well, it serves me well for studying human technology: they seem to use it as a power source... In fact, now even half of my inventions use it too... I know, I know... I was just a little frustrated that I couldn''t be useful while being safer. There is no risk. Then, troubled by her own reassuring statement, she couldn''t help but correct it: Well, I was talking about my teleportation system, not the dangers of the mission itself. And then, my system is not that reliable: I estimate that there is still a 10% possible failure, but most of the time without deleterious effects.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Xicackna turned pale while Xana-Eloba blushed as she realized the effect her words could have. Anyway, she tried to reassure, with invisibility the mission should be fine. And then, in the 10% I count minor risks, such as finding yourself on the other side of the world instead of the targeted location. The analyst sighed then closed her eyes, gathering all her willpower. Okay send me now before Im totally scared to death. The Engineer approved and powered up the machine. The screams of the Humans vibrated through the air as the strange blue lightning that tortured them found itself forming circles around the dome housing Xicackna. The air vibrated and Xicackna felt the energy of the System manifest around her, enclosing her, oppressing her. Then suddenly she opened her eyes as an electric shock passed through her spine. The familiar boundary that the rock represented had disappeared, as had the dome that sheltered her. She saw and felt herself falling through an infinite void where multiple colors danced. Bright bluish or mysterious black flashes continued to dance around her, seeming to carry her away and guide her through the monstrous void. A System window opened, informing her of her whereabouts.
Alteworld: intermediate zone Dominant specie: Not-specified Danger level: Maximum
She screamed in terror without even seeing the danger mentioned, flapping her legs and arms in the air. Then, circles of color formed in front of her, like smoke rings that she passed through at full speed. Her mind tried to calm itself by finding comfort in the order that appeared in the colors: that of a rainbow. Perhaps there was something to be understood, concerning the physical rules which still applied to this mysterious place, or at least she convinced herself to find something reassuring there. Then suddenly, she writhed in pain and stopped thinking, sinking into nothingness. Xicackna woke up with a start and immediately made herself invisible. She was lying in some grass and a lush and rather unkempt wood surrounded her. No danger was immediately visible and so she became that again. Had she arrived? She summoned the last window of the System to be sure.
World: ? Infestation Z 12.480.6389 ? Dominant specie: Zcarbbs [D]
Good. At least there were apparently other Zcarbbs here. She didn''t know how her planet - if it was indeed her - had received such a strange name from the System, but in any case, she didn''t like it. To her knowledge, no one had taken the trouble to name their world because it was of no importance as long as other planets were thought to be inaccessible. Perhaps Xl-tar-Lomenia, who kept a lot of information about the past of their people, would know more about it. She stood up, leaning painfully against a log as her head spun. She barely held back from vomiting and promised herself that she would sharply criticize her big sister regarding the quality of her invention. Having regained her senses, she began to analyze the surroundings. Without even using her Observation skill, Xicackna recognized the plant species present. That didn''t mean much: it wasn''t impossible that other worlds had similar vegetation, especially if they were inhabited by Zcarbbs. None of the nearby trees, despite their height, were climbable. They all had trunks and branches that were too thin, which risked breaking under her weight. She would therefore not be able to gain height to find landmarks. She waved in annoyance her wings, which were too small to allow her to fly. To think that if she was just a little older, she would have molted and had the ability to fly. Sighing, she began to wander through the vast forest, searching for a path to secrets that might perhaps help the Zcarbbs of the Dungeon in their fight for survival... Interlude
With a musical background, a curious character appears on your device, as on many other very varied communications systems. This character is very rounded, whether it is his head, which cannot be distinguished from his body, the ends of his little legs or those of his four arms which he holds crossed on his chest. He floats in the air, his skin covered in green fur and a large, folkloric purple coat with golden shoulder pads. No doubt, on a distant planet, this clothing would serve as a ceremonial costume rather than a clown''s outfit. He looks a bit like a big eggplant, but an eggplant with two big, round eyes full of sweetness and a completely artificial smile. He greets you cheerfully and begins his speech:
Welcome everyone, gods, goddesses, constellations or whatever you say you are, to this brand-new season of GAME OF WORLDS! I am your main host, Game Master Number 1, or GM1 as you may call me. So here we are back for a new and exciting season of our great game. Oh, I see many enthusiastic comments! Yes, like previous seasons, Earth remains the favorite server. We are very excited to discover the surprises we will encounter this time. Will regressor Park Sung-Yong survive his trials this time? Ah unless the hero The Puncher manages to triumph over his nemesis and finally gain the right to join us? Let us not forget that Baek Ho joo, with his knowledge acquired in the other world during his victory in an ancient campaign, could perhaps bring victory to humanity. Of course, as always, new favorite characters will appear as you interact. We also remind you that all your purchases and interactions from past seasons remain active and cannot be modified without paying a significant additional cost to compensate for the damage inflicted on causality or plausibility, so think carefully before all your interactions.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Concerning our newcomers, we notice that some of you do not yet have a real nickname or even an avatar. We remind you that these are necessary for advanced interactions. You have the option to choose from the list already available, unless you prefer to purchase the additional avatar customization content. We also remind you of the possibility of upgrading your account to premium to benefit from increased interactions and the possibility of going to live events, which offer many exclusive bonuses! This subscription is accompanied by the definitive sale of a teleportation system with transmorphology, including a psychic module with automatic roleplay option, operating using T energy, which will allow you to join the live with the skin and powers of your avatar... Or even to access any point in the universe We remind you, however, that without the appropriate authorizations, the use of these devices is strictly illegal and the company will decline all responsibilities and deny any involvement in the event of a dispute with Administration inspectors. We also remind you that a Live is being held at this very moment on the occasion of the launch of the new season, in case you have forgotten Well, otherwise, I am here in person in front of you, so I guess my speech is starting to bore you. So, lets not procrastinate any longer! It''s time to start the new phase of this campaign, the new season. The regulars among you already know that this will be accompanied by an increase in the frequency and difficulty of the dungeons. Our heroes will have to redouble their courage to face the hordes of monsters that are coming to invade their worlds. Will their society collapse or will it instead be stimulated and accelerate the development of its new economy based on the trade in dungeon resources? During this season the possibility of allied races will also be introduced. We also ask our veterans not to spoil associated events from newcomers: the forum moderator will fine anyone who says too much. We will only tell you that, with a few exceptions like these Krolo brutes from the planet Draf, the majority of pawns will have to find allies to hope to survive the next season... but trust will not be easily obtained. Okay, okay: I sense your impatience. Yes, I procrastinated again... Eh! No profanity on the forum! Okay, let''s go, let''s go: I, GM1, declare the new season of GAME OF WORLDS open. Access to servers and the store is now authorized. Have fun!
Chapter 21: A familiar but unfamiliar world And there came a day unlike any other, when our world was invaded by monsters coming from strange light portals. That day, the survivors of our people found themselves locked in a strange place, similar to our city but in a limited environment: the Dungeon. Periodically, violent monsters appeared to attack us. But we have adapted, we have learned to use the mysterious System that governs the Dungeon, the portals between worlds and the new powers we have received. Alongside the other surviving nobles, I Xicackna fought heroically against the invaders, even accompanying the military force sent to their homeworld in order to end the threat. However, these cruel monsters called Humans were given unfair advantages by this biased System and pushed us back. Surviving through my heroic qualities, I managed to find my way back to the Dungeon. Bringing essential information to my queen, I immediately volunteered for a dangerous new mission. I knew that the princesses'' place was not on the field, being too valuable to the future of our people, but at the time, with our reduced elite, we had no choice if we wanted to survive. I was thus thrown through many dangers to our own homeworld in order to find the secrets of our past, which could well be the key to our victory. This is how I found myself, full of courage and determination, in the middle of a unknow forest with familiar tree species, in search of a hive which happened to be our enemy... Xicackna nodded thoughtfully. Yes: this version of the facts would be ideal when she would have to pass on her life experience to her descendants... But still! What was the idea of ??sending her on such a risky mission? It was true that she was the most logical person for this task, but was it really worth the effort? She trotted a bit through the woods, moving carefully from one tree to another, then stopped to express her frustration again: But why did I take Falsification instead of Pathfinder?! Here I don''t need the first, but I need the second! Oh, even if I had the right skill, would I advance faster? This forest makes me uncomfortable for some reason... Well, at least I''ll know if I''m heading in the right direction... Pfff... Why can''t I just stay home and be quiet? She stopped suddenly, her Sixth Sense ringing as loud as her heartbeat. Something was approaching: something dangerous. Immediately becoming invisible, she flattens herself against the trunk of a tree, nevertheless curious to discover her first threat of this mission. Emerging from the thickets with quiet steps, a monster appeared. Quadriped, it was covered in fur that was both white and tawny, divided into numerous black stripes. If, on all fours, it seemed a little lower than Xicackna who was standing, it would be twice as long as her if it adopted the same posture, perhaps three times even. It was a monstrous hunter who silently roamed the forest in search of a victim. Holding her breath, little Zcarbb didn''t understand why the beast seemed to be looking in her direction. Then, the creature sniffed and opened its mouth to reveal its sharp fangs in an aggressive growl: it smelled its prey! In terror, Xicackna tried to use her Falsification skill to alter her scent. After all, if all of the creatures'' senses were transformed by the System, that must mean that they were also part of the "information that other System users can obtain about you", right? Either way, it was too late. Having located its prey and apparently not surprised by its invisibility, the beast rushed forward. Xicackna opened her mouth and spat a stream of acid towards the leaping monster. It was probably just an animal, like the ones in the hunting ground, this attack should be enough to discourage it... But as the acid cut into the fur, the zcarbb did not see the monster flinch. Its claws dug violently into her shell, piercing it with surprising ease. The princess squealed as the pain overtook her. A window appeared in her eyes indicating a gauge of her life points. 12 went for the scratch and 18 for the bite that followed. She had 91 lefts, but they would disappear quickly at this rate: the monster was more powerful than it seemed. As this thought crossed her, her gaze became piercing, analyzing the slightest detectable information about the creature. A window opened displaying the results of her Observation according to the System:
Superior Tiger, Level 12 [rank E] Hit points (HP): 290/294 Vigor: 143/144 Abilities: Strength: 15 Agility: 12 Stamina: 12 Intelligence: 5 Armor: 4 Skills (6): Fur Armor (F): (natural power) Increases armor by 3. Born Hunter (F): (natural power) Bonus to stealth, silent movement and balance. Tracker (F): Allows you to follow a track. Leaping attack (F): (natural power) Allows you to chain two quick attacks together after a jump. Pack Hunting (F): (natural power) Increases the likelihood of being associated with a pack and increases base characteristics by +1 (Strength, Agility, Stamina and Intelligence) if there are at least two allied pack members nearby. [Yes, tigers are normally solitary, but not these ones anymore...]This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Veteran Hunter (C): (supernatural power) Ignores 20 points of armor against a known creature type.
The princess turned pale with terror and would have died if it wasn''t such a bad idea. The creature had barely taken any damage from her weak acid blast and was definitely stronger than her... She felt totally stupid for having underestimated the level 13 Chaotiun she had encountered before: that monster, weaker than the other by a single level, was not an opponent she could defeat with her current level. This thought brought up a summary of her creature sheet. She didn''t even look at it because she knew it by heart and had no time to read, too busy with her imminent death.
Status: Name: Xicackna Race: [Zcarbb] Class: Analyst [rank F] Level 8 Profession: Princess Hit points (HP): 91/124 Energy Points (EP): 320/320 Vigor: 25/48 Armor: 29/30 Current experience: 1771 Stored experience: 3069 Experience needed for next level: 429 Abilities: Strength: 3 Agility: 3 Stamina: 6 Intelligence: 20 Armor (natural): 30 Mana: 2 Points available: 2 Attributes (2): Still growing (Natural penalty) [Vitality (HP) divided by 2, part of the XP gained is stored while waiting for the next molt] Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance] Skills (5): Chitin Armor (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP] Invisibility (A) [Natural power, consumes 1 stamina per minute] Camouflage (E) [Natural power] Acid throw (F) [Natural power, level 1] Sixth sense (C) [Natural power, +50% to detect nearby invisible or camouflaged enemies, +10 Intelligence] Class Skills (3): Observation (F) [supernatural power, allow you to obtain information on targets using the System] Thought Observation (F): (supernatural power) Allows you to detect the immediate thoughts of targets. Cannot evolve into "Memory Reading" but upgrades and is replaced by it if obtained. Falsification (D): (supernatural power) Allows you to falsify the information that other users of the System can obtain about you.
Intelligence, armor, mana: there you have it, her strengths compared to her opponent were summed up. Armor could slow down her agony, mana was of no use without skills using it and intelligence... It was very stupid to assert that intelligence always prevails over brutal force: here there was no chance of that happening. As for her weapons, the dart thrower was useless up close and the small sword... She caused her opponent to lose 6 hit points with a rather well-aimed blow, but in exchange received 9 points of damage from its merciless claws. It seemed to her that time was slowing down as she mobilized all her intelligence to search for a solution to get out of this situation. But it was wasted effort: even if she fought fiercely, at this rate, she would die long before the monster... Her entire body emitted distress pheromones and she generated a shrill alarm sound which, in theory, would scare away animals. However, she could hope for no help, lost as she was, while the fierce hunter seemed more annoyed than impressed by her stridulations. When you compared the levels and characteristics of the opponents, the outcome was obvious Oh! To Earth, with this dumb numbers! shouted Xicackna angrily. Since when have these aberrations of the System had the first place in my reasoning? Dismissing the bias generated by comparing Hit Points and characteristics, Xicackna carefully observed her enemy, wondering how she could get rid of it without thinking in terms of skills. The System may had rigged the resistance of creatures by setting a number of Hit Points, but the fact remained that if you hit in the right place, it would be more dangerous than others The Zcarbb''s intellectual acuity coupled wonderfully with her Observation skill and her vision itself was disturbed: vulnerable points appeared, like spots of light, on the fur of the creature whose mouth plunged dangerously towards the princess. With a shout of rage, Xicackna also attacked, her sword going towards the tiger and striking one of its two eyes. Surprised, painfully injured, the beast threw itself back with an atrocious scream, abandoning its assault for a time. The short sword was dripping with red blood and other alien fluids which also flowed down the monster''s face.
Successful critical hit: damage x3 38 damage points inflicted! Penalty imposed: One-eyed
Superior Tiger Level 12 Attributes (1): One-eyed (Natural penalty) [Accuracy reduced by 25%]
The beast roared again several times, causing Xicackna to tremble uncontrollably in fear. With the cunning of a monster as intelligent as a human, it began to circle around her, back and forth, keeping her cornered against the grove of trees. More cautious, the monster calculated its next attack to avoid suffering such cruel injuries. It still had 246 Hit Points, compared to Xicackna''s 82... Thanks to the distance gained, the monster jumped again. Xicackna tried to aim for its last eye, but the cunning beast deflected her blow and managed to bite and claw at her at the same time, tearing off a few more pieces of chitin. It was Xicackna''s turn to scream in pain. The blows had been violent, tearing into her chitin and wounding her deeply. The monster spat out a large chunk of shell as it threw itself back and began to wait again for its next leap. Through her tears, little Zcarbb was still able to take into account the results of the exchange: she had inflicted 7 points of damage and received two terrible attacks inflicting 17 and 31 damage respectively, reducing her armor by 2 points and leaving her with a measly 34 Hit Points... The next attack would probably be fatal! Moaning, she collapsed to the ground, several paws resting on her wounds from which her own blood was escaping, coloring the ground with a more or less greenish puddle.
Xicackna the Observer Level 8 Attributes (3): Hemorrhage [C] (Natural penalty) [Loss of 1 Hit Point every 10 seconds, blocks vigor regeneration]
Okay. She was dead. Chapter 22: Rescue? Xicackna closed her eyes. Maybe it would hurt less if she didn''t see the predator rushing towards her to finish her off? Of course not, but she preferred to try to convince herself of it to make her last moments a little less distressing. An immense sadness overwhelmed her, almost surpassing the pain, as she thought back to everything she would have liked to do in her life, to the colony she would have liked to build and of which she had so often dreamed. A voice resonated powerfully in the air, authoritative: STEPS BACK! YOU HIDEOUS OTHERWORDLY MONSTER! Filled with surprise, she opened her eyes. Above her, hovering in place, a male waved his wings in a threatening pose, seemingly born from an intimidation skill. Impressed, the tiger backed away, but its single eye looked angrily for a cautious opportunity to counterattack. The male took advantage of the monster''s distance to land and, immediately, the beast jumped... to remain frozen in the air with a gesture of hand. Despite her blurred vision, Xicackna managed to grasp what was happening:
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on Superior Tiger [E] Consumption 20 Energy / minute
Apparently, Observation also allowed her to obtain information on the skills used around her. She was convinced that she had already seen a Human Hunter use this power before, or a similar ability. However, the pain prevented her from thinking about it any longer as her life points scrolled by, slowly but surely. Then, nothing happened. The prince, who was apparently called Kol-Gaar, continued to watch the animal immobilized in the air. Xicackna felt impatience invade her as surely as her blood left her: What are you waiting for to attack? You paralyzed it, finish this monster! The male moved so that he could observe both the creature and Xicackna, to whom he threw an annoyed look: Shut up, idiot! If I attack it, its immobilization will be over and it will become immune to this power for ten minutes! Xicackna nearly choked and spat a clot of blood mixed with acid on the ground. Idiot? No one had ever insulted her to this extent, much less a male. Who did he think he was? She clung to the anger she felt, appreciating the fact that it chased the pain from her thoughts: So, whats the point of what youre doing? Youre the one whos an idiot! If you can only stop this enemy, youre useless since Ill be dead soon! Youd better leave then! Risking a longer glance in the princesss direction, the prince seemed to notice her injury.
Skill "Analysis [D]" used on you [F] by Kol-Gaar [E] You use "Falsification [D]" to hide some of your information
Falsification Failure: All of your information is analyzable by Kol-Gaar
The male let out a small exclamation as he noticed the severity of the princess''s injury.
Superior Tiger [E] uses 120 Vigor to disrupt Time Freeze [D] Kol-Gaar [E] consumes 240 Energy to counter this effort.
The male clenched his mandibles in anger and concentration. This was not planned. He thought. This idiot will die if she is not treated soon and my soldiers are slow to come. I have no potions Ah How long would it take me to kill the tiger if I faced it?
Superior Tiger [E] uses 20 Vigor to disrupt Time Freeze [D] Kol-Gaar [E] consumes 40 Energy to counter this effort.
The prince''s hands gripped his spear tightly and, his decision made, he rushed forward. Taking advantage of his target''s paralysis, he aimed well and his first hit was a critical hit inflicting 98 damage points on the monster. The latter had narrowly avoided going blind, the disappearance of its invisible restraint having allowed it to slightly deflect its head at the last moment. Mad with rage, the tiger rushed forward and a furious hand-to-hand combat began. The princess could see that her savior was more used to fighting than she was. Well, he also had a better weapon, which was not insignificant. The way he moved indicated better characteristics than hers, but the tiger kept pace. Its blows penetrated the prince''s chitin, but unlike what had happened to Xicackna, the monster could not find a good enough hold to tear off a piece. At the rate of her life points fleeing, the princess followed the exchange by dividing it into ten-second periods. On average, the prince inflicted ten to twenty points of damage more than his opponent, which was not glorious since it was roughly equivalent to the difference given by the reduction of his armor compared to that of his opponent. He nevertheless managed some nice actions, like nimbly dodging a violent claw blow during the third time.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. A little delirious because of her significant blood loss, she didn''t miss anything of the exchange and counted seven times before the monster collapsed dead. The beast had not tried to flee, which was probably a strange attitude for an animal confronted with something stronger than itself. Unless the rage from its injuries had completely blinded it, taking away any thought of retreat?
Superior Tiger Level 12 defeated: Xicackna the Observer Combat XP : 80 Kol-Gaar Combat XP : 80 Finisher XP: 80
Finally, the monster was dead. With 80 XP gained, that made 40 stored and 40 actually gained, so she had 389 XP left before the next level. With such a large margin, there was no point in counting on a level up to heal. Xicackna still had 15 HP left and if the prince didnt have the means to save her, she would die in two to three minutes She had caught a few glimpses of Kol-Gaar''s features, but this time she focused to see more:
Status: Name: Kol-Gaar Race: [Zcarbb] Class: Strategist [rank E] Level 17 Profession: Prince Hit points (HP): 554 (+0)/555 (+34) Energy Points (EP): 3536 (+122)/3536 (+442) Vigor: 255 (+17)/255 (+34) Armor: 31 (+7)/31 (+7) Current experience: 7912 Experience needed for next level: 588 Abilities: Strength: 33 (+3!) Agility: 333 (+3!) Stamina: 15 (+2!) Intelligence: 26 Armor (natural): 3 (+7!) Mana: 0,8 (+1!) Luck: 3 Points available: 0 Attributes (1): Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance] Skills (7): Chitin Armor (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP] Acid throw (E) [Natural power] Total immunity to acid [D] [Natural power] Flight (wings) [D] [Natural power] Class Skills (8): Stratagem (D) (Supernatural Power) [The System provides you with tools to develop your plans] [Hidden Trait [Unlocked] "Hidden Hand" half of your skills are undetectable (based on detection level), 1/3 of your characteristics will appear higher and 1/3 will appear lower] Intimidate (E) (Supernatural Power) Worries enemies [Costs 10 Vigor per use] Provoke (E) (Supernatural Power) Irritates enemies [Costs 5 Vigor per use] Analyze (D) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to obtain very detailed information on a nearby target. [This power allows you to understand in depth the nature of the targets analyzed; allows you to protect your information from an Analysis skill of equal or lower level] ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Hive Defense Spear (E) [+2 Armor; +2 Stamina] [2-handed weapon] Minor Bracers of Strength (E) [+3 Strength] [Arm Ornament, Pair] 2x Armor Necklace (E) [+1 Armor] [Neck Ornament] Focus Headband (E) [+1 Mana] [Head Armor] Leather Gloves (F) [+1 Agility] [Hand Armor] Adventurer''s Tunic (E) [+2 Armor, +1 Agility] [Chest Armor] Leather Leg Guards (F) [+1 Armor] [Leg Armor] Pedestrian Protection Bandages (F) [+1 Agility] [Foot Armor]
The princess furrowed her chitinous brows at the many inconsistencies she saw, before seeing the source: the skill "Stratagem" and its trait: "Hidden Hand". She assumed that strength and agility had overestimated values... especially agility... and it was certainly armor and mana that were underestimated. Half of the skills were hidden, but she could probably see all of his equipment. The items reinforced by the System were truly considerable assets and he was literally covered in them! Kol-Gaar approached her and opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by his own cry of pain. Emerging from the vegetation cover, having leapt on his back, a new Superior Tiger inflicted two terrible critical hits: a brutal laceration for 54 points of damage and a deep bite for 96 points. Rolling on the ground, the male shook off the assailant and then stood up, spear pointed forward. Unperturbed, the beast spat out a piece of shell and roared in a manner that seemed triumphant. Other roars answered it and six other predators quietly left the tall bushes that concealed them.
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 7 Superior Tigers [E] Consumption 140 Energy / minute
The prince''s raised hand stopped the pack in its tracks.
7 Superior Tigers [E] each use 120 Vigor to disrupt Time Freeze [D] Kol-Gaar [E] consumes 1680 Energy to counter this effort.
Well, thought the prince, if I calculated correctly and their stats are similar to the first, they have used up a lot of their stamina. I could hold them off for ten minutes, but the fool will be dead in less than two I could carry her away in the air, but that would make her bleeding worse: if it drops to B rank, she will probably die in my arms before I have time to do anything. If I try to stop the bleeding, I would give the seven attackers the opportunity to attack me by jumping and I would increase their probability of critical hits: with the 394 Hit Points I have left, I am not certain to survive. Xicackna grimaced. She was going to die soon: couldnt that idiot refrain from insulting her, even in thought? He had seen her skills and most certainly knew that she could hear his superficial thoughts without any problem! As a response to her own reasoning, Kol-Gaars thoughts suddenly became extremely complex. He seemed to be transmitting complex pheromonal instructions in all directions, in the vain hope that someone would hear them and follow them. Xicackna groaned as she saw one of her last ten Hit Points fly away. A part of her wished to ask for death rather than endure this agony, but deep down she knew that she wanted to live and did not lose hope Chapter 23: Unpleasant
Due to their frequent use and the related circumstances, your skills are improved: Observation (E) (Supernatural Power) > Observation (D) (Supernatural Power) Thought Observation (F) (Supernatural Power) > Thought Observation (E) (Supernatural Power)
Great! Xicackna thought sarcastically. Just what I needed to get out of this situation. Its so satisfying to know that you can still improve in the last minutes of your life She glared at Kol-Gaar. Even though he had no solution to save her, as far as she knew, she resented him for this failure that was not his fault And also, because he hadnt stopped insulting her since he arrived In fact, that was mainly why she felt angry with him. What are you waiting for to do something! she shouted at him. Silence! I''m doing something! Well, you wouldn''t think so! Xicackna knew that this wasn''t very fair criticism on her part, but she wanted to vent her frustration. Besides, didn''t being in the process of dying give you the right to insult whoever you want and still be treated well? Probably not, but thats how she felt. She suddenly perceived a change in Kol-Gaar''s thoughts: a kind of satisfaction. Was he rejoicing in her imminent death, which would relieve him of the responsibility of protecting her? No: no Zcarbb would have such evil thoughts. So, there was something else. Suddenly, she heard noises approaching, coming from behind her. Disillusioned about her life expectancy, she chose not to worry and quietly observed what was going to happen. With a bit of luck, it would arise in less than a minute and she would therefore live long enough to satisfy her curiosity. Immediately, five soldiers burst out between the trees, massive and armored with iron. Obeying the instructions received, they positioned themselves so as to form a semicircle, a wall of spears pointed forward that protected the two nobles. Once they were in position, they struck the enemies and these ones, freed from their paralysis, engaged their attackers in battle. Kol-Gaar quickly moved away and leaned over her, observing the princess''s serious wound. Vaguely conscious, she observed his own, noting that it was bleeding only slightly, like if it was already nearly cicatrized.
Kol-Gaar [E] Strategist Level 17 Hit Points (HP): 394(+0)/555 (+34) Energy Points (PE): 1362 (+0) /3536 (+442) Vigor: 255(+17)/255(+34) Armor: 29 (+6)/31 (+7)
Opening his mouth, the prince vomited acid onto the princess''s wound, who opened her eyes wide in astonishment.
Skill "Regenerating Acid [E]" used by Kol-Gaar [E] on Xicackna the Observer [F] Kol-Gaar''s Consumption: 10 Vigor You regain 8 Hit Points and the "Hemorrhage [C]" status is removed from your attributes.
The pain finally faded and Xicackna''s thoughts became clear again. She felt the prince''s arms and legs encircle her as he lifted her up and flew into the air. He had a little trouble taking off but, increasing the pace of his wings, he managed it and she saw the ground move away. The five soldiers, each around level 10, were being massacred on the spot to cover their escape and prevent any enemy leaps that would have sent them back to the ground. They were quickly out of range of such danger.
Ability unlocked! Luck [Slightly increases chance of success] Maximum Luck value: 1
Oh? It was true that she had been very lucky, but to unlock a new ability She snapped back to more material considerations as she met the ground abruptly.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Having landed in a seemingly peaceful clearing, the prince had dropped his burden without the slightest regard. She glared at him, but was destabilized by his own anger: No way! What are you doing here! What hive are you from? Yes, what hive is stupid enough to send a spy alone and without an escort, in our dangerous times? And a princess at that? What madness! I''m not a spy! Well... probably not. I didn''t even know if there were still survivors on our planet anyway! And besides, I don''t even know if I''m close to my destination. What hive are you from? Hey! You could talk to me with more respect, kid[1]: I''m an adult. Pff! You don''t look much older than me: I bet you''ve only been an adult for two years or less! She had aimed correctly because Kol-Gaar blushed but said nothing for a minute. Finally, while she was visibly savoring her triumph, he retorted: In any case I am mature and you owe me respect! I will never respect someone who called me an idiot from the moment he saw me. Because you are not one? You did not even think to use your two unassigned points on Stamina to slow down your agony! I I just forgot: I wasnt thinking clearly. Im not an idiot! Really? So, tell me again: where is your escort? I havent detected any pheromones or other signs that there are more Zcarbbs in the area, coming from an unknown hive. And yet I have the Detection skill! We just didn''t have enough fuel to send more people here! They could have used less in the previous tests, but then I would have run greater risks... And besides, I don''t have time to waste arguing with you: I have to find the hive of Xmne, led by Queen Xl-tar-Lomenia. I am sent by my queen, Xa-tar-Lona, from the hive of Xolona. The prince looked intrigued and his hostility faded immediately. He observed the princess more attentively, inhaling the pheromones she emitted, characteristic of her hive. Xicackna did the same, although she knew that it was useless: she had never listened well during the lessons of pheromonal heraldry and would be incapable of recognizing the hive of origin of her interlocutor. Oh? he said in astonishment. You come from the disappeared hive? Directly from here. We didn''t think there were any survivors from your mother-colony, after the day of the Catastrophe. The Catastrophe? Ah, yes, we called it the Disaster. This day, we were taken elsewhere. A sinister place called the Dungeon, where we regularly face bloodthirsty hordes of Humans. Oddly enough, Kol-Gaar seemed to understand what she meant. The notions of "Dungeon" and "Humans" were not foreign to him. I had never thought of things like this, he said. I would not have imagined that our people could end up in a Dungeon like all these monsters that have been attacking us since the day of the Catastrophe... I absolutely must bring you to my queen. In any case, you are obviously my prisoner. And why? she asked indignantly. Because you are alone, without an escort, in a territory of my colony. Ah. You are right. I hope that your queen will free me quickly because I have a mission to accomplish. Are we far from the hive of Xmne? No: it is my hive and it is close. Xicackna felt relieved. If it was normal to protect princesses regardless of their colony of origin, it was also customary for them to let themselves be arrested without resistance if they found themselves captured in a territory under the control of another hive. At least, it was to her destination that he would lead her. However, she could not help a mocking comment: Ah, okay! You come from Xmne; I understand your bad manners now: you couldn''t expect more from salt thieves... What do you mean by thieves! exploded Kol-Gaar. You''re the ones who stole our salt mine! It wasn''t theft: it was underexploited! We made it profitable. It was just the beginning of the exploitation! We were going to increase our efforts! Well, you should have done it before! If you can''t launch a project properly, then leave it to a colony that has the means! Clenching their mandibles, they faced each other, arguing about an old conflict that they had each only known from afar. In the end, it was Kol-Gaar who showed himself to be the least immature and interrupted the argument: Well, we''re not going to stay here and discuss it until the salt evaporates[2]! These woods were once victims of a Dungeon Break: many monsters, often of rank "E", still roam there despite its jugulation. Now that I no longer have my escort, we have no one to sacrifice to cover our retreat... Theres you As if youd survive five minutes without my help! How do you manage to be so weak? She couldnt find anything to say. Wasnt she weak? Still unable to tip the scales towards victory in the face of adversity? Still low-level and unable to fight properly? She kept reproaching herself for it inwardly, but seeing it announced to her face was the last straw: she burst into tears. Embarrassed, Kol-Gaar tried to redeem himself: Uh... Well, maybe it''s not your fault. I guess with the limited means of a Dungeon, you don''t have many opportunities to gain experience: it''s not like us adventurers. The... sniff... adventurers? That''s how the System designates those who will challenge the Dungeons, Towers and other monstrosities that have fallen upon us. Well, we''ll talk about it later, okay? With that, he grabbed Xicackna by the waist and furiously flapped his wings to carry them both into the air. The exhilarating sensation of gliding through the skies soothed the princess: so, this was what she would feel when she could fly by herself? A magnificent view of the entire relief and local resources, the feeling of the wind surrounding her And above all, rapid travel over a long distance. Quickly, the forest gave way to a wide river, then to a long wall protecting vast fields and orchards stretching as far as the eye could see. In the distance, getting closer and closer, a large structure emerged from the ground. Xicackna was astonished and could not suppress an exclamation of amazement: it was gigantic! Miles of mysteriously intertwined walls surrounded powerfully fortified buildings. She had never heard of a hive extending so far on the surface. We had to significantly strengthen our defenses, Kol-Gaar explained. Faced with the many monster incursions, especially from fallen territories, like your colony Lets just say that we made sure that they could no longer approach important places. The nurseries, the reserves, the essential industries, all are surrounded by labyrinths filled with deadly traps and soldiers in ambush. Ironically, we call them our Dungeons. He headed towards a high palace, similarly fortified, and landed on one of the lowest terraces. Xicackna shuddered as she felt a hive mind very different from the one she was used to. She did not understand the meaning of most of the pheromones that were circulating, so impregnated were they with unknown odors: those specific to Xmne. As she passed, the soldiers turned, instinctively threatening, then lost interest in her when they saw that she was a princess: any other foreigner would have been mercilessly massacred before a noble even knew of its intrusion. They descended like this, deeper and deeper through a network of tunnels that were unfamiliar to her. Worried for no real reason, she literally clung to Kol-Gaar, who preceded her. Even if he was unpleasant, he was a person with whom she could communicate among these unknown commoners, which reassured her. Finally, he stopped in front of a massive half-open door, made of a mixture of finely sculpted metal alloys and over-impregnated with pheromones telling many stories. Huge guards defended the access, encased in so much metal that one did not know if they were not these automatons spoken of in legends rather than real Zcarbbs. Here we are, Kol-Gaar said proudly as they entered a vast cave, welcome to the royal chamber of Xmne, before our illustrious sovereign Xl-tar-Lomenia!
[1] In French, according to Zcarbb politeness standards, Xicackna should have "vouvoy" Kol-Gaar because he is of a higher age category; however, she "tutoies" him as if she were speaking to a Zcarbb noble of an equal or lower age category. Of course, this detail is lost in translation. [2] Zcarbb expression indicating an unquantifiable duration. Chapter 24: Xèl-tar-Lomenia As she entered the room, Xicackna could see nothing but the presence of the queen. She was far from the entrance but she generated such a strong impression that the little princess could not concentrate on the surrounding scenery. It was the first time she had met a queen other than her own It was true that it was also the first time she had met Zcarbbs belonging to another colony, but their queen left a stronger impression on her. She emitted powerful pheromones of dominance in the midst of many other exchanges that designated her as the center of the hive. A specific, unique smell surrounded her, probably reassuring for her children, but only impressive for strangers. Xicackna sensed a significant exchange of information between Kol-Gaar and the queen as they approached the latter. She didnt understand a thing, even when she tried to read the princes thoughts. She preferred to limit this kind of disrespectful intrusion into the thoughts of civilized[1] creatures, but her safety demanded that she try anyway. The queen lowered her massive hands and the two young Zcarbbs climbed into them. She then raised them to the height of her head in order to better see her interlocutors. So, youre the little princess from the hive of Xa-tar-Lona? How is she? I thought you all died in the Catastrophe. The queens voice vibrated with power, like hers, but it also had a strange gentleness that reassured. Her eight enormous eyes were fixed on the little Zcarbb curled up in her hand. Come on, tell me everything: how did you come here? What message does my sister have for me? I doubt that your situation is advantageous for her to send me a little princess as a messenger. Taking her courage in both hands, Xicackna straightened up, her eyes lost in the queen''s immense ones. "I... I am Xicackna, I... I am honored to be in the presence of Xl-tar-Lomenia. My queen, Xa-tar-Lona is currently a prisoner in a System Dungeon, as are all our people. We have found a way to travel between worlds, even if we still lack the energy for better functionality. I was sent to discover the state of our world and find your hive, Xl-tar-Lomenia, to discover if our ancient texts really describe Humans: dangerous monsters that constantly attack us. I was chosen because we lack princes for this kind of mission and because I have demonstrated good survival skills. I even survived alone in the Humans'' homeworld!" If the beginning had been laborious, now her words flowed like a river. Answering the queen''s questions, she described the situation of the Dungeon, the perils they had faced, the new technologies they had developed. The queen listened attentively, with kindness and eagerness. She finally arrived at the description of her arrival in this world and the fight against the tigers. Saving her will have cost us five perfectly functional soldiers around rank E! Kol-Gaar interrupted. Not to mention the twenty-four-hour depletion of the Life, Energy and Vigor bonuses of my equipment and an expenditure of 161 Hit Points, 2 Armor points and 2174 Energy Points! By natural regeneration it would take me about two days to regenerate Vitality, but hey that doesnt count because Im going to see our healers for the Armor. On the other hand, the lost Energy will only be recovered in about 22 days, maybe less if I spend all my time sleeping. A considerable overall loss. Xicackna ground her mandibles together, expressing her anger: how dare he count what her rescue had cost? The queen, for her part, cast a seemingly tender look on her offspring and waited for him to finish his indictment to reply: Indeed, these are considerable resources. I congratulate you on having spent them wisely. But Kol-Gaar still had complaints and added: And she called us salt thieves! Huh? First, it''s true and then you had called me an idiot before! Do You see? She confesses! Against all expectations, the queen burst out laughing. Calming down quickly, she looked at the two young people, taken aback. Of course she thinks that: I would find it a shame if she had an opinion that was the opposite of her queen, especially at such a young age. In any case, as long as her queen does not find a way to return, there is no point in fighting over this mine. It is mine for the moment Even if its exploitation is made rather difficult with the Dungeon that has partially invaded it She brought her enormous head even closer to the little Zcarbb, to the point that one of her long, drooping antennae touched hers. "We are still at war, of course. However, I believe we can agree that the Good asks us not to fight until we have defeated those who threaten the Zcarbbs. All across the planet, our surviving hives have developed a cooperation not seen since the era of the Great Queen Dem-tar-Mao. Transports have been set up to quickly bring our adventurers to the gates requiring fighters of their levels, and our armies patrol together in the lost territories. Queen Dem-tar-Mao? Xicackna wondered. Who is she? You youve never heard of her?Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The queen raised her chitinous eyebrows and closed her secondary eyes. Recovering from her surprise, she began to smile again. It is true that few hives preserve traces of such a distant period. Some queens have even speculated that its existence is nothing more than a pure legend The queens eyes sparkled with excitement as she continued: Of course, now we have proof. Besides some relics given by the System and bearing her name, distant hives have told me that they have found the remains of the Great Steel Palace from which she ruled the planet nearly ten thousand years ago They have sent back representations of the excavation. Oh, I will show you that later. If everything is confirmed, we may be on the verge of greater discoveries But you came here to learn more about Humans So, welcome to my Great Library of Xmne! The queen moved her hand away, forcing the princess to look around. It took her breath away! The royal room was immense, a cave higher than any Xicackna had ever known. The walls and heights were lined with rows of shelves filled with amber or stone tablets, scrolls of plant fibers, wax plates, and many other writing materials. Strange machinery and ropes passed from one place to another while on catwalks, countless workers transported the data from one place to another. There were also many soldiers, ready to intervene by sliding down from the ceiling, if ever monsters arrived here. The queen gave instructions through the hive mind. Immediately, the ground shook and rose. Xicackna cautiously clung to one of the queens fingers to observe what was happening below without risking falling. A platform, pulled by the ropes of the mysterious mechanism she had spotted, lifted the mass of the queen herself upwards. There, a line of workers presented her with large amber tablets, each placed in the chronological order of the story being told. Xl-tar-Lomenia could thus move from one part of her reading to another without having to pick up and put down the archives. The hand brought Xicackna closer to a particular tablet. She looked at it, wondering what could be on it. It was a relief representation, accompanied by common pheromones, describing the demon from another world who defeated Dem-tar-Mao and began the Bloody Century. It looked like a male, but without mandibles and with a rather strange face shape The evidence struck her and she turned to the queen: It is! Is it a Human? "Probably. This representation is quite old: I acquired it for many resources, even though it was not certain that this image of a "demon" truly represented an existing creature. Some princesses, also interested in archeology, supposed that it was an imaginary representation from the descriptions in the legends... Of course, now that we know Humans, we know that these monsters do indeed exist... It is more than likely that this portrait faithfully represents the killer." Why exchange useful resources for this? Xicackna would certainly not understand this strange queen. Far from answering her questions, these revelations rather brought her new questions: You say you know Humans? In what way? For us, its because they regularly attack the Dungeon, but you? We attack their Dungeons. Human Dungeons are about as common as Goblin or Elf Dungeons. In the same way that the latter two have multiple variants, its also true for Humans. We find very different cultures and weaponry depending on the Dungeon. If, like you, they were torn from their homeworld to be locked in these Dungeons, I suppose that their variants come from different worlds. From the ones you described to me, I can clearly visualize the human race you are facing: the one that uses steel spitters and explosives. They are called the Chameleon Humans, because they often have green or beige clothing, intended to blend into the environment of their Dungeon. The queen smiled cruelly, full of hatred as she observed the portrait of the monster. This monster is called Zagamotayo, according to legend. It is said that the other demons brought it from another world, where they travel in metal boxes, sometimes flying, and where they have weapons that breathe fire... I think that these are actually the metal spitters and that this race of Humans comes from Zagamotayo''s original world... The stories from that time suggest that the System existed, because they tell of strange powers... How long has this System been oppressing us? But, if it is possible for us to go to the original world of this monster who, killing Dem-tar-Mao, almost caused the near extinction of our species Fortunately, there had been the Great Purification after A bloody war but which definitively eliminated all the great threats that our world knew She observed Xicacknas helpless expression and sighed: "Well... I feel like I''m going to have to give a lot of history lessons to help you to catch up... Tsss, I''m not surprised by Xa-tar-Lona: she was always saying that History is useless..." And so, Xicackna began to learn the History and legends of her people, under the tutelage of Xl-tar-Lomenia. She talked a lot, although she summarized her words, testifying to her passion for these subjects. The legends about Humans were multiple. The truth about their existence was questionable, notably by the absence of discovery of skeletons or other proof of their passage in this world, until the arrival of the Dungeons of course. Some legends were pure fiction, but Xl-tar-Lomenia taught her them too because she could well retain a grain of truth. One of them, for example, claimed that Humans made fire descend from the sky and fell from there themselves in groups of four, spitting metal and exploding hives with a terrifying arsenal, before leaving carried away by a large metal bird. A total fabrication, of course, inspired by the terror generated by Humans at the time of the Bloody Century, when they had almost annihilated the Zcarbbs before seeing the favor returned by the Great Purification. Exhausted, the little princess began to lose track of Xl-tar-Lomenia''s stories, her eyes closing at regular intervals. All the adventures and injuries of the day were starting to catch up with her now that she was safe. The queen finally realized it and began to put the young Zcarbbs back on the ground. It might be a good idea to stop here today. Kol-Gaar? Take her to Xer-Shola: you will have your chitin repaired there. After that, she can rest at the observatory What?! Kol-Gaar protested with sudden vehemence. No way: it''s my room! Yes: because you are the one who will take care of her during her stay here. You brought her, it is only right that you should be the one to watch over her. The male remained furious for a moment before calming down, agreeing with his queen''s arguments. Xicackna, for her part, was very surprised by this exchange: how dare this prince contradict his queen? Why didn''t she reprimand him, but remained so benevolent in the face of his insolence? This hive was truly a world apart from her own. Not as much as the world of Humans, but it was also surprising. Kol-Gaar began to head towards the exit and Xl-tar-Lomenia motioned with her paws for her to follow: Come on, go before you fall asleep from exhaustion.
[1] For the Zcarbbs, Humans don''t really count as a civilization because they aren''t organized enough. Chapter 25: In the Hive of Xéméne Xer-Shola was a mature princess of a good size, at least ten years older than Xicackna and Kol-Gaar. She had a class called Healer, previously unknown to the young princess Although, some monsters might have had a similar class: she remembered having seen some capable of healing others. The room she entered was filled with strange instruments, proof that Xer-Shola was not only using the System, but also engaged in normal medical research. She asked them to lie down on two stone tables, made soft by thick white sheets, and then she carefully examined their wounds. She then began to clean them before using her skills to speed up the healing, seeming to produce a golden light with each use. While doing so, she chatted with the newcomer. She was much more cordial than the male, without being as impressive as the queen, and Xicackna immediately felt at ease in her company. His injuries being lighter, Kol-Gaar thanked Xer-Shola and left the room, preferring to wait in the corridor until Xicackna was ready to follow him. She took the opportunity to complain about him to the caregiver: Tell me: is he always so unpleasant? I have never met such a disrespectful male in my hive. Even your queen, Xl-tar-Lomenia, doesnt seem to hold it against him when he talks back to her! Ah, I see what you mean. You know, Kol-Gaar used to be quite nice Before the Catastrophe She fell silent for a moment, carefully observing the reconstruction of the little princesss shell. While her powers allowed for instant healing, and any healing in excess of the total number of Hit Points regenerated the natural armor, Xer-Shola was a proponent of not going too fast when treating wounds. She had theorized that too frequent recourse to accelerated healing by the System could leave after-effects, although she had not yet been able to prove it. But maybe her silence also had to do with the memories of the Disaster? Xicackna knew that she herself would never forget that sinister day. The dead in the streets, the unimaginable monsters emerging from their portals, death approaching in the form of a giant club Before these events, Kolgaar had settled in our northern outpost, not far from the sea. He hoped to find a way to increase our fishing resources there. He was very enthusiastic and not the least bit aggressive, less even than the average prince: you know how they can be sometimes Ah, he was a very cute little guy. At the time of the Catastrophe, he was molting. He had just wrapped himself in the cocoon he had woven in order to facilitate his metamorphosis, which of course had plunged him into a trance where he no longer knew anything about the outside world Xer-Shola sighed, sadness piercing through all her eyes. He woke up in the ruins of our outpost He was the only survivor. The outpost director, Xaz-Reka, covered his cocoon with her corpse. Faced with the futility of their defense, she had tried to succeed in protecting at least something And the monsters had disappeared? No, but they had stopped coming. The majority had killed each other after annihilating ours, while the survivors had dispersed, still infesting the region for weeks to come. At that time, the safest route was by air, and that was the one he took to return to the capital[1]. Its a sad thing to fly for the first time without being able to enjoy it. Xicackna agreed. She only knew about flying from her brief aerial baptism, when she arrived in Xmne, but it allowed her to guess the exhilarating sensations one would experience when flying by oneself. Although touched by the story, she told herself that it still didnt justify his attitude: Yes, very sad. But thats no reason to act rude! Ha, ha, ha! Its true that hes become rather incisive, but hes still good at heart. I think he blames himself for having survived while the priority individuals of his outpost were all dead. A prince is worth less than a princess, because she represents an infinite number of future lives. Even though its not his fault, I think he feels that his place would have been to die defending the princesses present rather than transforming quietly in the shelter of his cocoon, unaware of the tragedy that was taking place. Since then, hes worked very hard to ensure the defense of the hive. I havent seen him smile again after that day. Well, he was traumatized: okay. If he had insulted her, it was because her endangerment had scared him, she understood that But that didnt justify what he had said! She was determined never to forgive him, but there was no need to say it. There, Im done. Your shell is as good as new now! Xicackna doubled over to observe with satisfaction that the pieces of torn off shell were there again, as if they had grown back. She thanked Xer-Shola warmly and left her reluctantly, dragging her feet to go find Kol-Gaar. If she felt a little sympathy, now, for what he had experienced, she would have liked to be free of his presence and his gaze which seemed perpetually irritated or absorbed in some serious thought. Well, you took your time. I have other things to do than wait for you: I need to sleep to recover all the Energy Points you made me lose. Okay: she could easily forget about sympathy now. Oh, thats fine, we were just discussing why youre so annoying. I need to find out how to put up with you: I cant imagine harder things during my stay here. Kol-Gaar grunted but couldnt find any relevant retorts. He set off, making sure that the princess who followed him had a hard time keeping up with him. Given the difference in Agility between them, this little game was very easy.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. It was thus that, totally exhausted by a long walk at a fast pace, Xicackna discovered the observatory. It was the highest tower, overlooking the entire palace, far above the land. Large amber windows with rounded shapes filtered the sunlight of the fading day. The room was small and cluttered with shelves filled with tablets dealing with astronomy or relating observations on the movements of monsters in the surrounding regions. A few workers were moving along the wires in the ceiling, tasked with collecting data. They were using strange metal devices that moved magnifying lenses of glass and amber. Probably a System for monitoring what was far away. This is the observatory, Kol-Gaar announced, this is where I sleep. This way I can be more responsive when a new door is signaled by the scouts. Apparently, Im going to have to put up with you for a while longer, so this is where youll sleep too Turning to his host, he saw that she had already collapsed onto the thick cushions that occupied the center of the room. She was already asleep. Xicackna woke with a start, the image of a tiger leaping toward her still etched in her retina. She shook her head to chase away the nightmare and looked curiously at her surroundings. The dome was dark and the stars twinkled in the sky, forming familiar constellations. It seemed as if the opacity of the amber had mysteriously faded to complete transparency through some feat of engineering. The workers were still working, in total silence, moving nimbly across the ceiling, apparently avoiding passing in front of the windows. Slowly breathing in the fresh air that came from the vents, Xicackna calmed down completely, bathed in this reassuring environment. Even the foreign pheromones were more attenuated in this isolated height, allowing her to feel the familiarity of Zcarbbs'' presence without feeling oppressed by too much of the foreign hive''s odor. Only the workers'' odors, faint and few in number, slightly disturbed her sense of smell. Perhaps this was planned by the queen when she had assigned her this place. Turning her head, she observed the form lying next to her, sound asleep on the edge of the cushions. Kol-Gaar no longer looked so awful now. As with all males, his scent was pleasant even while retaining the mark of Xmne and thus did not disturb Xicacknas senses. Standing up silently, she went to the shelves and began to study the information there, reading in the darkness the pheromones impregnating the tablets and discovering the state of her homeworld. When Kol-Gaar woke up, his bad mood returned immediately as soon as the confusion of sleep was banished. Fortunately, he refrained from any comment and with a silent agreement they began the descent the grand staircase of the observatory. The prince, probably in a hurry to get rid of the princess, even carried her into the air to speed up their descent. Once again, she enjoyed the aerial journey and felt her eagerness to grow up increase. Arriving in the royal chamber, Kol-Gaar greeted the queen then curled up in an empty shelf, determined to continue his recovery of Energy. Xl-tar-Lomenia greeted them enthusiastically and carried the little princess in her hand, delighted to be able to tell her the History of the world. Focusing all her energy on her memory, Xicackna patiently recorded the real or legendary events of the past, concerning the Humans, as well as the names of the destroyed hives, the new ones built as well as the major events and the organization of the planetary alliance. The queen also told her what they had discovered about the System, for example the possibility of creating experience potions, which instantly gave XP, by grinding mana stones and other ingredients according to a complex process. Xicackna also gave as many details as she could about their own discoveries. After a long and fruitful exchange, Xicackna thanked the queen deeply: Thank you for all this information, Queen Xl-tar-Lomenia. All this will be very useful for the Dungeon... I mean Xolona... It''s horrible: we end up adopting the vocabulary of this monstrosity of a System! In any case, thank you very much for everything: I will now use my return stone to go home... So quickly? No: you still have a lot to learn. Suddenly, a Zcarbb flew through the air, so fast that Xicackna didnt realize it had passed until it was in Xl-tar-Lomenias other hand. It was a mature male dressed in strange dark clothing, probably from the System. She couldnt see his level or other information. The mysterious newcomer was placing an object in the palm of the royal hand, an object that looked like No: it was it! My return stone! Xicackana cried furiously. Thief! The queen burst out laughing as she dropped off the mysterious Zcarbb, keeping the tiny stone in the palm of her enormous hand. Ah, ah, ah! Thief, indeed: that is the name of his class. W Why are you doing this? Give me back my stone! It''s mine and I want to go home! Like I said: not right away. It would be criminal to send you away like this, when there are still so many things to learn here. Wha What do you mean? No! Xicackna was starting to panic. This queen was completely insane: she was probably going to keep her prisoner here until she had learned by heart the entire history and myths of the world! The stone, her only way out, so close but separated by an abyss of emptiness that she could not successfully jump Even if her life was not in danger, a terror filled her, similar to the one she had felt when the Xyry-Yria outpost collapsed, when the bridge had collapsed, leaving only a gigantic chasm in front of the exit Ah! Ah! Ah! Dont make that face: its for your own good I understood that the limited resources of your Dungeon did not encourage you to level up. I think that experiencing the other side of a Dungeon would be very instructive for you. I cant decently send you home before you have reached at least level 10. Kol-Gaar will accompany you and protect you: he will know how to find the most appropriate Dungeons for you HUH? What? Ouch! Kol-Gaar woke up with a start, hitting the shelf above and a series of stone tablets broke on his head. The queen grimaced: Good thing we always keep copies of our archives. There''s no way I''m taking Xicackna to a Dungeon! She''s just a kid, she''s not even an adult yet! Plus, it''s way too dangerous! I don''t want to put a princess in danger! It''s out of the question! You''re going to go and I''m ordering you to! Besides, don''t you think it would be more dangerous to send her away like that? Didn''t you say yourself that she was too weak and shouldn''t put herself in danger? What do you think will happen, with her current level, when she''s home? If a horde of Humans were to burst into her current location and she was killed, wouldn''t you feel responsible for not helping her improve? The prince looked away, ashamed. If he didnt verbally confirm his surrender, he accepted the mission through the hive mind, in a way so clear that Xicackna understood too. Her worst opponent in this place was her only support in this decision, but he had just given up? Sighing, Xicackna accepted as well. In any case, from a logical point of view, she had no argument: she did indeed need to improve.
[1] The term "capital" is used here because the outpost, even if distant, was part of the same colony. If he had come from a daughter colony, the term mother colony would have been used... Chapter 26: Preparations Leaving the royal room, the two forced companions had not spoken to each other. A dozen soldiers had silently joined them and were following. It seemed to Xicackna that instead of reaching the surface, they were sinking even deeper. Unable to hold back any longer, she broke the silence: Is it an underground dungeon? No: we''ve wiped out all the Dungeons near the hive a long time ago. We can''t just leave like that. What are you going to do: fight the dungeon monsters with your ridiculous little sword? Uh... I lost it... Unless you got it from the tigers? Tss... That thing was worthless anyway: to fight Dungeons, level isn''t everything, you need the right equipment. Most high-level equipment has already been assigned or, in any case, requires a minimum level to be able to use it... Or a minimum value in a characteristic, sometimes. Even F rank equipment, recognized by the System brings considerable advantages, especially for a low level. They entered a small, well-guarded cave in which weapons and armor of all kinds were lined up in an orderly fashion. Moving with the ease of habit between the shelves, Kol-Gaar grabbed various leather and fabric objects, then returned to Xicackna. "Here: these few objects should slightly increase your chances of survival." He helped the princess put on a rather ugly garment over her dress and hang leather and fabric protections around her legs and hands. She watched as the System added them to her creature sheet:
ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Leather Bandages (F) [+1 Agility] [Hand Armor] Beginners Tunic (F) [+1 Armor] [Chest Armor] Leather Leg Guards (F) [+1 Armor] [Leg Armor] Pedestrian Bandages (F) [+1 Agility] [Foot Armor]
Why does a tunic add as much armor as leg or foot guards? The System, Kol-Gaar explained, it''s better to ignore its inconsistencies And, if I get hit in the head, I suppose the armor on my feet helps protect me a little, right? Not really, but still a little, more or less. The enemy also has an increased chance of critical hits on unprotected limbs or if it manages to target a flaw in the armor. That''s nonsense... It''s like you''re deaf too: I told you it''s better to ignore the System''s inconsistencies! The princess snapped her mandibles at the prince to show her annoyance. He did the same and she had to admit that it was more impressive coming from him because his mandibles were at least three times bigger. Of course, it was still nothing compared to those that workers or soldiers could have and Xicackna realized how terrifying they could seem to their enemies Ah, if only that were enough to make them flee Take this too. He handed her a strangely shaped sword:
Advanced Beginners Sword [F] [+1 Strength] [Weapon]
This is the weapon I used before I obtained my current spear. Considering your physical weakness, I dont know if it will make much difference in combat Oh, I feel like this mission is going to be so tedious She frowned. Yes: on this point, Xicackna completely agreed. Kol-Gaar had also grabbed a handful of mysterious drinks protected by glass vials. One by one, he made them disappear into thin air, before the princess''s astonished eyes. How do you do that? Is that one of your skills? One I haven''t been able to see? The prince returned her astonished look and took a minute to understand what she meant. He then seemed even more astonished: You You dont even know about Inventory? Really? He must have thought that Xicackna was joking, but he quickly changed his mind when she looked confused. His gaze then turned jaded and he explained to her.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Well I suppose that most dungeon monsters dont have this power. However, it seems that monsters with a higher rank, the Bosses, have a small inventory that can be recovered as loot In fact, maybe even the other monsters have it without knowing it? Think hard about Inventory and see what appears. She followed his instructions and immediately a strange System window appeared. Blue, like the others, it did not contain text but boxes. Three boxes. One of them was occupied by a kind of pebble. Trying to see it more closely, she saw the image grow to occupy a new window, above the inventory one.
Stone of Regrets (L) [Loot drops on death. Bound. Cannot be used] [The Stone of Regrets fuses with its user''s profile, allowing them to rewind time after each death.]
She tried to grab it, but her hand only passed through the image, the words "Loot drops on death. Bound. Cannot be used" highlighted to indicate the futility of her effort. I see three boxes, she said, two empty and one containing an item that I cant remove. The prince scanned the air with Analyze, which apparently allowed him to detect the window. Observe didnt allow that action, and Xicackna found herself jealous. Interesting, he said. Well, you have two empty boxes left thats very few for an inventory Nothing like a regular[1] beginner adventurers inventory, but you can always use real bags to carry more equipment. Theyll just be vulnerable to shocks and less easily accessible. And you, how many boxes do you have? Currently? Thirty-four. It is also possible to accumulate several identical objects on the same box, ten at most. You will also notice that some objects take up more space. My spear, for example, takes up two boxes. So, a spear takes up two boxes and a tiny, tiny stone one? Yes. The System was a real torture for the refined senses of the Zcarbbs, natural lovers of logic. However, Xicackna knew that she would eventually get used to these aberrations and consider them normal, like so many others before. They then went back up to the surface, to one of the terraces overlooking the palace. Strange circles were drawn on them and a strangely shaped worker was in one of them, about its size. Their small group settled in the center of the largest circle and Kol-Gaar began to emit complex pheromones aimed at the mysterious worker, who looked a bit like a tree without branches. Immediately, Xicackna felt that the message was being relayed, much further and in a much more targeted manner than what the hive mind usually allowed. If other similar relays were elsewhere, it was perhaps possible to communicate with a distant hive? They waited a few minutes. Xicackna, unable to hold back any longer, was about to ask a question when suddenly a figure appeared in one of the small circles surrounding the large one. The image was vaguely ghostly and represented a mature princess, dressed in a very ornate dress. The apparition seemed able to see them because, speaking through a voice that came out of nowhere, it spoke: Oh, is that you Kol-Gaar? Couldn''t you have booked in advance instead of calling me that? Well, where do you want to go? Oh? Hello, you! Xicackna realized that the great princess was speaking to her. I don''t know you. You''re a little old to be a new adventurer. Were you late in receiving your class? Or maybe you''ve never been called for tasks outside your hive?... Oh... Wait a minute... She sniffed the air, apparently seeming able to perceive scents despite the distance. Hey! You''re not from the hive of Xmne... Ah, I can''t seem to associate your scent. Are you from a recent hive, which doesn''t yet have transportation facilities? But... Hey, Kol-Gaar, you''re leaving to found a new colony, right? Stop your nonsense Ilya-Na! She''s just a novice adventurer whose training I''ve been entrusted with. Her name is Xicackna and she comes from the disappeared hive of Xolona: they were taken by the System and locked in the Dungeon as monsters. Oh really? Is that really possible? My queen Xl-tar-Lomenia will send you her information for the next meeting of the Planetary Union. In the meantime, I''ve been given the task of taking care of this kid so that she isn''t massacred too quickly by the monsters once she gets back... Xicackna, annoyed by the way he had called her, strongly pushed the prince who fell on all his legs. He immediately retaliated by sending her a blow to the abdomen which threw her to the ground and stood up. So, I was saying that I have to go to a beginner''s dungeon. It''s about finding something where she can make a few mistakes without too much risk. Then, I could have a small dungeon of rank F. The clearing of the Goblins: it''s a classic, there are often some that appear with this name. Okay. Raising her hands and a kind of staff, Ilya-Na seemed to use a skill. Immediately, the circle lit up and a multitude of blue particles seemed to escape from it. In the blink of an eye, they were somewhere else, in the middle of similar circles. It was a sort of cave No: a mountain so full of holes that one could not see where the cave began and where the outside began. A crowd of Zcarbbs was busy on the dark slopes that resulted, numerous suspension bridges and rope ladders allowing them to move around in complete safety. Their smell was unknown. Fascinated by the sight of a new hive, Xicackna stepped forward. She was roughly restrained by her clothes by the prince. Hey! she protested. Let go of me! What are you doing? Are you an idiot or something? Do you want to get captured by the soldiers? If we dont wait for the guide, well be treated as hostile by their commoners! Although she wanted to protest, Xicackna didnt find anything to complain about. At the same time, this was her first time traveling outside her home: it was normal for her to make mistakes! There was no point in insulting her! Finally, a young local prince arrived and, without ceremony, invited them to follow. They walked through the settlement, and an additional escort joined them when they reached the light outside. Their group walked like this for the rest of the day, and then for much of the next after a brief rest. They finally found themselves in front of a heavily fortified outpost, where their guide left them in the care of the princess in charge of the place. Her job was mainly to keep the soldiers from slaughtering their escort while they approached the gate. It was a green door floating in the air, exactly like the ones Xicackna had seen from inside the Dungeon. Before entering, Kol-Gaar warned his protg[2]: We are going to enter a Dungeon where the enemies will be small, vicious green creatures. Normally their level should vary between one and five, but do not underestimate them. Never stray from the escort and do not touch anything: there may be traps Thats enough! I survived in a world that was crawling with much worse monsters! Do you think I managed that without a minimum of common sense? The prince did not verbally acknowledge that she was right, but he at least stopped treating her like a little girl. With a few simple orders, he organized the soldiers around them and they entered the monsters'' lair after them.
[1] Reminder: Noble Zcarbbs start at level 5 and therefore have 5 inventory slots [2] Not sure of the translation Chapter 27: First dungeon as an Honorary Adventurer Again, the strange sensation of passing between worlds gripped her. A new landscape succeeded that of the outpost bathed in the twilight glow. She was now in a forest lit by a light filtered by the leafy canopy. It reminded her strongly of the world of the hunting ground although the shape of the trees was different. A System window appeared before her eyes:
Dungeon The Goblin Glade Rank F Entry requirement: group of 12 maximum, levels 1 to 19
Available Dungeon Objectives: Goblin Hunt (F): Kill 100 Goblins. Dungeon Clearing (E): Kill Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad and take the Dungeon Heart.
Oh, so thats what the monsters see when they attack our Dungeon! And I see that there is indeed a level restriction, as we suspected. Yes, thats also why our escort is made up of soldiers and not of other princes. The majority of those available were either too young or too high level. So, youre a low-level prince? Stung, Kol-Gaar pressed his head against Xicacknas, forcing her back. Youd better not make fun of me with your own level! There are plenty of princes of lower level than me, but theyre either too young or gone elsewhere. There are other dungeons, other projects, other fortresses to protect! So now you focus, okay? Even if they seem pathetic, monsters can be formidable when you underestimate them Especially with your characteristics. Xicackna hissed a little in annoyance, but she followed the advice. This place was more dangerous than the hunting ground despite appearances The soldiers spread out in a wide circle, surprisingly silent even as they dove into the tall brush and hid in the shadows of the trees. Kol-Gaars gaze seemed to wander into space, but the many pheromones he emitted indicated that he must be seeing information and giving orders accordingly. Xicackna followed him as he advanced on a strange forest path, walking on all his legs to skim the ground as closely as possible. She imitated him. The path brought them to a clearing where a small being was feeding on berries. It could be called humanoid, since it had two arms and two legs like Humans. However, it was much smaller and uglier. A disproportionate snout, large ears almost longer than its head and numerous protuberances on its skin, probably pustules, completed the grotesque picture. The monster was dressed in rags covering only its lower abdomen and had a rope belt with a bone knife stuck through it. Suddenly stopping eating, alert, the beast turned its gaze around suspiciously. "Wasa?... Oh, Musav bee winde..." And the monster started to gorge itself again. Xicackna focused his sight on the creature to observe its details.
Observation Skill Failed: The Hidden Trait Just a Goblin has canceled your attempt. The Goblin will be immune to further scrying for 1 Hour.
Ah? That was new. A "Hidden Trait"? And capable of canceling her power? Was the creature more formidable than it seemed, or was it on the contrary a ridiculous advantage that concealed its obvious weakness? The soldiers suddenly appeared all around the creature, forming a circle of their weapons that cut off any retreat. The monster let out a terrified cry and remained in the center, turning its gaze from side to side while showing its fangs in a vain attempt at intimidation. Kol-Gaar signaled Xicackna to advance: Here''s a monster: it''s up to you to face it. She gave him a worried look: without knowing the details of this monster, she was afraid of going into unpleasant surprises. Alone? Do you want to progress or not? It''s just a little Goblin. The probability that it''s a higher level than you are close to zero. Reproaching herself for her attitude, Xicackna entered the circle, sword brandished in front of her. She didn''t really have any idea how to handle this instrument, but she supposed that it would be enough to violently hit the monster with it. Realizing that he now had an opponent, the Goblin looked away from those who imprisoned him to stare hatefully at the princess. Its knife, made of sharpened bones, cut through the air in a threatening manner. Raising her weapon high, Xicackna rushed towards the monster and struck as hard as she could. The Goblin easily dodged her clumsy move and struck with all its might with its blade on its opponent''s shell.
You received 0 damage
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Surprised by this announcement, Xicackna received another blow from the monster.
You received 0 damage
You received 0 damage
The monster persisted, sweating profusely as it realized the futility of its efforts. Xicackna tried to hit it again, with more success this time. The weapon split the Goblin''s skull and it staggered.
You inflicted 23 damage
Bleeding profusely, the monster was still alive. Logically, it should collapse to the ground and writhe in pain as its blood and life drained from its fatal wound. However, this monstrous System seemed to allow its prisoners to surpass normal reactions and fight to the bitter end.
You received 0 damage
You inflicted 11 damage
Level 1 Goblin defeated: Xicackna the Observer Combat XP: 10 Current Experience: 1816 Stored Experience: 3115 Experience needed for next level: 384
Surprised by the ease of her victory, Xicackna stamped her feet with joy. Those pathetic Goblins could do nothing against the solidity of the Zcarbb chitin! If she learned to aim better, she could easily slaughter another thirty-nine Goblins on her own to reach the next level! Well, seventy-eight: she had forgotten that half of the XP earned would be stored Less enthusiastic, the prince theatrically hid his eyes with his hand and complained: Ah, thats not true, right? I never thought I would see the practice of swordsmanship massacred to this extent If only you knew how to aim Your two unallocated points should be placed in Agility: it would increase both the fluidity of your movements and your aiming ability. Do these two things have a connection? No, dont say anything, I know: The System. Anyway, it would be ridiculous for me to increase this stat. I will become a queen one day and then there will be no question of moving. I believe that although queens receive a 20 penalty to their Agility... I hadn''t thought about it. We males don''t have this problem to take into consideration. But if we follow your reasoning, there''s no point in increasing your Strength either, since when you''re queen, you won''t move. And then, we don''t even know if the System will still exist the day you can found a colony! He was probably right: maybe short-term choices had to be made for the moment? She was still going to take the time to think about it. However, the prince continued, you could actually choose to put your points into Mana instead to increase your Energy... Well, if you had a skill that used Energy... The hunt resumed and they quickly reached a larger clearing where caricatures of tents were erected using disgusting skins, probably removed recently, crudely and without treatment, from some animals and sewn together haphazardly. About twenty of these monsters, infinitely more crude and poorly organized than Humans, were going about their uninteresting activities: they fought, watched others fight, stupidly and salivatingly observed the cooking of some mammals barely smaller than them Xicackna smiled: 200 easy XP! Throwing herself forward, clumsily waving her sword, she quickly found herself surrounded by a gesticulating horde of small, idiotic creatures who were vainly trying to hurt her. Swinging her sword left and right, she was almost guaranteed to hit and hurt several of these monsters with each blow. Several Goblins had already bitten the dust, but the others continued their futile assaults. However, they seemed less confident than at the beginning and their hesitations made them easier prey. She had to admit that it was rather amusing, although a little messy. If she were Xafara, she would burst out laughing and mock the Goblins. But she was more serious than that. Suddenly, a shiver ran down the princess''s spine: something was wrong. She couldn''t put her finger on what was wrong, but her sixth sense was screaming at her to flee. Could it be due to the red light that suddenly emanated from the monsters'' eyes? Could it not be a natural phenomenon of these alien creatures?
You received 8 points of damage
You received 11 points of damage
You received 11 points of damage
You received 11 points of damage
Panic flooded Xicacknas mind: while some blows still ricocheted off her shell, others simply passed through, seemingly without damaging her but causing painful damage. No! No! No! This wasnt supposed to happen! Focusing on her skill, she managed to observe the creature sheet of one of the Goblins:
Goblin [OF CHAOS], Level 1 [rank F] Hit points (HP): 26(+1)/26(+1) Vigor: 3(+1)/3(+1) Abilities: Strength: 3 (+1) Agility: 6 (+1) Stamina: 3 (+1) Intelligence: 3 (+1) Armor (natural): 0 Attributes (2): Weak Constitution (Natural Penalty) [Vitality (HP) halved; At level 5 and at certain specific levels [15, 25, 30, 40, 45, 55, 60, 65, 75, 80, 85], gain 1 talent and +1 to basic characteristics (Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence)] Chaos (Supernatural Bonus) [Adds the Chaos property to attacks. Chaos has a 50% chance to ignore armor (including magic). Chaos has a 10% chance to turn the attack against its user.] Skills (2): Sneak Attack (F) (supernatural power) Attacking by surprise or from behind systematically doubles the involvement of force in the damage. Pack Hunting [F] (Natural Power) Increases the likelihood of being associated with a pack and increases base characteristics by +1 (Strength, Agility, Stamina and Intelligence), if there are at least two allied members of the pack nearby. Hidden Trait (1): Just a Goblin (Can sometimes keep its creature sheet free from scrutiny: its just another Goblin after all)
50% chance to avoid her armor? That wasnt fair: why were they suddenly getting a bonus that negated her overwhelming advantage? She swallowed: she wouldnt survive a minute Chapter 28: The Dungeon Boss With war cries, the soldiers charged the swarming mass of enemies, dismembering them or throwing them into the air with all their might. Defending themselves as best they could, the Goblins landed a few blows, but the charge had thinned their ranks, putting them outnumbered. Several Goblins tried to flee, only to find themselves mercilessly skewered in the back. Walking in the middle of the bloody scene, shaking his spear to chase away an impaled Goblin, Kol-Gaar advanced with an implacable face. Sensing well-deserved reproaches coming, Xicackna looked away and curled up slightly. The prince''s stern gaze weighed on the princess, but when he spoke, he was not as critical as she had feared: he probably knew that she had understood her mistakes. Here is one of the reasons to remain cautious when exploring a dungeon. It is what the System claims to call the principle of fairness: if creatures attacking a Dungeon have too great an advantage over its residents, in this case the solidity of our chitin, the System will give a bonus to the monsters to allow them to remain dangers. The reverse is not true, however: the monsters in the Dungeon will never receive a fairness penalty from the System, or the adventurers any fairness bonuses. Look.
Analysis Result: Dungeon Fairness Adjustment: Added "Chaos" property for Goblins Added an additional level for Goblin fighters
Apparently, a new adjustment has just raised the level of the enemies. That''s good: more experience points. But Xicackna didn''t listen to him, opening her eyes wide in astonishment: But... How can I see one of your windows? How come I can see it? If we want, we can make our windows visible to others, in the same way that we use our skills or the help of the System. Yet another interesting piece of information. Despite the hints of recent fear that continued to shake her, Xicackna felt positively excited: so far, her mission had been more than a success because she had learned much more than she had hoped. All she had to do was return alive to transmit all this data. Driven by a sudden curiosity, she took a look at Kol-Gaars experience and saw that he had gained 72 XP in the fight, compared to only 49 XP for her gains. Not to mention the fact that 25 of those XP went into her storage Sensing that she had used the System to observe him, Kol-Gaar did the same with his Analysis, in a sort of instinctive retort. He looked surprised at what he was reading, then gave an amused grin: Ah, you probably used the Falsification skill. You should think ahead about the false information you want to make appear. Add two zeros to each characteristic and rename yourself Xicackna the Virtuoso In the end, the second lie is more relevant than the first What do you mean a lie? Who says the System didnt really give me this name? Pure logic? At the same time, you princesses are generally far from virtuosity, especially at your age. When we see you, we wonder how people stupid enough to perpetually put themselves in danger can later become respectable queens. Really, there is a mystery there Stupid yourself! And you think that''s a relevant answer? Well, that''s enough: we don''t have time for that. Now that the Goblins have the Chaos property, we have to finish this Dungeon as soon as possible. The ideal would be to come across the boss: they sometimes give more experience when they die than other monsters of their level. Xicackna bit her mouth in rage. She didn''t want to stay on a defeat, but the unbearable prince was right: this Dungeon had to be finished quickly now that it had become so dangerous. Two of the soldiers had particularly effective stealth skills and were walking in front. They quickly located what seemed to be the command center of this Goblin hive and quickly, they all found themselves hidden by a slight drop and tall grass, observing the strange construction. It seemed as if these creatures had tried to build a wall and construct houses, but for creatures with advanced intelligence, it was rather a failure. Many animals would probably have done better, or at least would have stacked the logs of these constructions in such a way as to fill the holes and reduce their dangerous inclination. The Goblins present were much more numerous than those encountered previously and all had at least level two and the "Chaos" property. Kol-Gaar asked the princess to observe the terrain carefully and to report to him everything she saw and noticed. He also gave some analyses of his own from time to time. Setting aside her resentment, she concentrated entirely on the exercise. No important detail would escape her: she was going to prove her worth! The organization of the Goblins was deeply pathetic, but that also worked in their favor: it was impossible to predict their movements and at any moment Goblins could arrive in the village or leave it, or even wander without any real goal. She also discovered, the fence hiding almost nothing, a few Goblins that contrasted with the others. There were the females. All those on which she succeeded her "Observation" were level 1, which must have meant that they were not fighters. That did not mean that they did not risk attacking them from behind.
Goblin (female), Level 1 [rank F] Hit points (HP): 26/26 Vigor: 3/3 Abilities: Strength: 2 Agility: 6 Stamina: 3 Intelligence: 4 Armor (natural): 0 Description: At the bottom of the Goblin hierarchy, females are no less sneaky than males, but much weaker. They are just as aggressive, but nevertheless more cautious. Attributes (1): Weak Constitution (Natural Penalty) [Vitality (HP) halved; At level 5 and at certain specific levels [15, 25, 30, 40, 45, 55, 60, 65, 75, 80, 85], gain 1 talent and +1 to basic characteristics (Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence)] Skills (2): Sneak Attack (F) (supernatural power) Attacking by surprise or from behind systematically doubles the involvement of force in the damage. Defense Stance (F) (Natural Power) Temporarily increases Stamina and Armor by 1 while you remain in this stance. Does not allow offensive actions. Hidden Trait (1): Just a Goblin (Can sometimes keep its creature sheet free from scrutiny: its just another Goblin after all)If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Xicackna jumped when she noticed the description that appeared on the window. Making it visible to the others, she shook Kol-Gaar''s shoulder to show him this new feature. That''s normal, the prince explained unenthusiastically, it''s a convergence of skills: when two people work together, certain skills can combine naturally. The System Help itself uses several terms to explain this Synergy, depending on the wording of the question asked. My Analysis easily allows me to obtain such information, but it doesn''t work at this distance unlike your Observation. Convergence allows me to add properties of my skill to yours, simply by dialoguing. Other convergences require other types of cooperation. Good: one more knowledge. Turning her attention back to the non-civilization of the Goblins (one could not call a civilization a society granting such a contemptible place to queens), she observed the second anomaly. One Goblin stood out from the others with a colorful outfit and a crown of long, colorful feathers that stuck up in the air. He sat on a sort of wooden chair that sat atop a pile of skulls. Goblin skulls: perhaps dead ancestors or vanquished enemies. Although she had failed her Observation on this target, she saw a System window floating clearly above its head, announcing:
Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad, Boss Level ??
Reporting the information to Kol-Gaar, she saw the shadow of a smile appear on his face. Good. If we kill him, we''ll get a new exit portal: it''s the best way to finish this dungeon while losing as few resources as possible. So, what''s your strategy? We rush in and kill everything that gets in our way. Did you need a Strategist class to come up with this plan? Without picking up on the mockery, the prince focused on the assault. If the strategy was indeed crude, he had paid great attention to positioning. Since their armor was no longer an advantage, it would be the warriors with the "Parry" skill who would be responsible for repelling the assaults and protecting the heart of the group. The monsters reacted as soon as they saw the attackers. Screaming and squawking, they fled the enemy to better regroup, in front of their leader''s throne. He stood up and seemed to shout a challenge to the adventurers from the shelter of his army: Zyrim beel ontou ze Gob! The precaution taken in organizing the attack formation had been exaggerated, since Kol-Gaar then used his power to freeze the crowd of enemies.
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 45 Goblins [F] Consumption 450 Energy / minute
Growling as he noticed that his consumption exceeded the bonus granted by his equipment by a few points, the prince ordered: Come on! Slaughter these monsters in less than a minute! Obeying his order, the soldiers opened the passage, skewering the Goblins in their path. Although freed from paralysis by the approach of an attack, the miserable creatures were unable to thwart it and died quickly. High-pitched screams rose up in the distance, a sort of alarm system calling more and more Goblins back to the village. They came out in small groups and were received violently by the Zcarbbs rearguard. Xicackna noticed that the new arrivals tended to retreat when they suffered losses, but to return in greater numbers. She also saw that pushing the paralyzed targets was considered an attack and freed them: they would soon be overwhelmed! The leader was now within assault range. As expected, the soldiers were to weaken him and Xicackna would deal him the fatal blow. Contrary to what was expected, the leader had more than one trick up his sleeve. Barely recovered from paralysis, he shouted with a force so great that it could only have come from a skill. The air displacement generated threw the soldiers far away, into the mass of Goblins, where they immediately fought for their lives. Spared by the attack, Xicackna was now alone facing the boss.
Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad, Boss Level 5
This time, the level appeared. How could a creature with a level half as low as those soldiers have gotten rid of them like that? Bosses probably had unique abilities and were much more powerful than their level suggested. But, Im a boss too. Optional perhaps, but doesnt that mean Im superior to another level 8 creature? No, actually I dont think so The skill used by the monster seemed like it wouldnt be reusable right away, but it wasnt impossible that it would be soon. Knowing that she couldnt see herself surviving if thrown into the middle of the enemies, she had to win quickly!
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 38 Goblins [F] Consumption 380 Energy / minute
Gathering her courage, she threw herself at the monster, swinging her sword wildly. Without much effort, but seeming to move much faster, the Goblin dodged his attacker and planted his own sword - obviously of a different make than those used by his people - in a flaw in Xicacknas shell. She cried out in pain as the blade sank deep into her entrails. It was a critical hit amplifying an attack of masterful precision that made her lose 40 Hit Points, reduced her armor and applied a rank E hemorrhage. So much damage and yet, the attackers Chaos property had not activated!
Hemorrhage [E] (Natural penalty) [Loss of 1 Hit Point every 1 minute, blocks vigor regeneration]
With tears in her eyes, Xicackna retaliated violently but suffered another blow herself. She inflicted a few points of damage on her opponent but suffered 15 due to the Chaos attribute avoiding her armor. With only 28 Hit Points remaining, it was too dangerous to continue like this: Xicackna became invisible and moved away slightly. Ulfric cried out in surprise and waved his sword in the air at random, hoping to hit her.
Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad, Boss Level 5 Hit points (HP): 50(+0)/62(+0) Energy Points (EP): 30/40 Vigor: 25 (+0)/25 (+5) Armor: 0 (+1!)/0(+1!)
She spat out a jet of acid, but the enemy spotted its origin and dodged it with ease. He continued his movement with an attack on the location where the projection had come from, but fortunately she had shifted just in time. The Goblin then shouted, using his mysterious power. Xicackna had not yet managed to observe what it was, but she assumed that it must have been an air projection attack. The Goblin having misjudged her position, she was spared, but a few soldiers who tried to leave the melee to join her were pushed back. Determined not to remain under the threat of an invisible enemy, the Goblin leader began to flee and the princess set off in pursuit. Her clumsy attacks, launched while running, only managed to scratch the monster, without causing it any real damage. The boss stopped abruptly, turned around and attacked. They were then surrounded by a portion of crude palisade that formed a natural path. The reason for such a structure within the camp was a mystery, but in any case, the monster was proving a certain intelligence by attracting his invisible adversary to a place restricting its movements At least, that was the theory: striking the air in front of him, Ulfric seemed surprised to encounter no resistance. Even with the "Chaos" property, he should feel something solid if he hit. Just above him, using both sides of the fence as support, Xicackna towered over him. Zcarbbs were natural climbers, a skill necessary for moving through hives where the floor and ceiling sometimes merged, a skill the System omitted from its list, along with breathing and walking. Dropping down onto her enemy, sword forward, Xicackna landed on his back and sank her blade deep into her victim.
Critical hit successful: damage x3 56 damage inflicted! Malus inflicted: Hemorrhage [E]
BOSS: Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad, Level 5 defeated: Combat XP: 50
She had won! But apparently, this boss didn''t give any extra XP... Only 50 XP for such a fight? An object shone in her eyes, coming out of the monster''s wound. There was a small gray mana stone, and right next to it a sort of sphere emitting a glow of a similar color. When she grabbed it, a text appeared in her sight:
Dungeon Heart [Goblin Glade] [F] [Proof of conquering a Dungeon. Can be consumed for additional experience, stat, or skill gain.]
Dungeon "The Goblin Glade" (Recurring Dungeon) Dungeon Boss Defeated Little Chieftain Ulfric the Mad [Rank F] Time Remaining Before Dungeon Destruction: 10 min
"Dungeon Clearing" (E) Group Quest Completed XP Bonus: 100 Finisher Bonus: 100 Current Experience: 1965 Stored Experience: 3265 Experience needed for next level: 235
The sunlight flickered and the periods of darkness were illuminated by a large green portal, which appeared some distance from the Goblin Chief''s corpse. Chapter 29: The Fruits of Victory Xicackna? Where are you? As the adrenaline from the fight wore off, she finally heard Kol-Gaar''s voice. She emitted position pheromones in response and he quickly appeared in front of her, followed by a few soldiers who protected his rear. He looked relieved to see her still alive, glanced briefly at the leaders corpse, then pointed to the portal: We have to hurry to cross. There are still about a hundred goblins left and even if they are quite confused by the beginnings of the Dungeons collapse, they can still attack us. Their Chaos bonus could even be reinforced by the situation Did you search the bosss corpse? They usually drop valuable items. She crouched down near the remains of the monster and searched them with disgust, sweeping the body with her Observation. A curious metal circle was on the ground. The Goblin was not carrying it on him, it must have been an object that had fallen from his inventory. Picking it up, she discovered that it was slightly stained with blood. Rare stones were embedded in the structure.
Toryggs Bloody Crown [E] [Increases Mana by 2] [Head Armor]
Having made sure there was nothing else to take, she headed towards the portal and passed through, soon followed by Kol-Gaar and the surviving soldiers. Finding herself back in the small military outpost, she noticed a flurry of activity taking place there: the workers seemed to be packing up all sorts of things while the soldiers watched the portal carefully, ready to attack whatever came out. Can... monsters get through here? No, Kol-Gaar replied, not as a general rule. However, there may be a few exceptions where a monster, or even a group, manages to get through the portal. It''s exceptional, but it''s better to be prepared for it. They turned to look at the green portal. It was undulating strangely, its edges like bubbling water. The shape of the circle was distorting at times. The Dungeon should disappear within ten minutes; the outpost will then be dismantled: without the Dungeon it is useless. Since it is a type of recurring Dungeon, another similar one will appear one day or another, but not in the same place. And these soldiers who enter inside, what are they doing? They are going to clean the area to allow the workers to come and take away the useful resources, especially the mana stones. With the defeat of the Boss, the adventurer limit for this Dungeon has been removed. A dungeon of this level has little interest, but it should not be wasted. The two nobles collapsed to the ground, letting the tension within them escape through this release. Pff, Kol-Gaar breathed, I only had 1235 Energy Points left... If we continue at this rate, I''ll have to use an Energy potion... They''re rare and expensive... And I only have 28 Hit Points left... Oh, no: 26... I was convinced that was... Idiot! Surprised, she jumped and stood up, glaring at the prince. Strangely, he looked more worried than angry. Before she could complain, he explained: You''re bleeding! A hemorrhage! We need to treat that right away! Ah, that''s right, I forgot... Rustlessly shoving the princess, Kol-Gaar looked at the wound and vomited a regenerating acid, restoring 18 Hit Points and healing the flesh. I... I really don''t know how I could have forgotten something like... It happens... The System disrupts our sensations and we can forget the source of the pain we feel, or even get used to being in pain to the point of forgetting it. It''s one of the dangers that awaits us... In any case, congratulations on your victory against this boss. His power of repulsion could have turned the battle against us. Yes I almost died Well, I would have fled under the cover of invisibility if I had lost a few more points, but you never know: if the monster had made another critical hit A realization slowly dawned on Xicacknas mind and she looked at the prince in surprise. Had he complimented her? Him? Well, he had still called her an idiot just before, but he had also congratulated her Not knowing whether or not she should point out these facts, she chose to focus on the loot. With the exception of the Mana stone, her winnings were new things. The Dungeon Heart and the Crown Observing the latter more closely, she began to scratch it frantically, in vain. But? These blood stains wont come off! Let me see.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. She passed the crown to Kol-Gaar who studied it briefly before handing it back to her. That''s normal: blood is part of the description of this item, so the System prevents it from being removed. At least it''s dry: you can put it on your head without any problem. But, it''s disgusting! The important thing is the bonus. In the life of an adventurer, you shouldn''t complain about the aesthetics of the objects you find and focus on their contributions: survival is sometimes played out by a Hit Point... With a grimace, Xicackna placed the object on her head. By some mysterious optical effect, it adjusted to it perfectly. Okay, it doubles my Energy... So, it''s useless for the moment. And this Dungeon Heart, what exactly is it? I have to eat it, right? The prince observed the small gray sphere and moved his head positively. Yes, exactly. Each Dungeon boss has a Dungeon Heart in its inventory. You can swallow it: although it seems solid, it is immediately absorbed by the body unlike Mana stones. As stated in its description, you will obtain one of the indicated benefits. If it is a skill, then you will have the choice to replace one of the ones you already have or to convert this skill into experience points. The princess looked warily at the small sphere that radiated a gray, slightly white color. Was it really possible to absorb it? Could she? I... Can I really take it? If you hadn''t earned it, if I thought it would be a waste to leave it to you, it would already be out of your hands. Sweeping aside her apprehensions, she swallowed the sphere. This thing had no taste and, as promised, disappeared almost instantly, as if melting inside her body.
You gain the skill: Camouflage (E) [Supernatural Power] (Allows you to take on the color of your environment, only for your natural parts). You have no skill slots available. Please select a skill to destroy, or the option to convert this skill gained to 200 XP.
Damn: a skill she already had and at the same level too. The only difference would be that one was natural and the other supernatural. Well, extra XP was always welcome. Kol-Gaar had of course observed her choice via "Analysis", unless she had managed to prevent it using "Falsification": she was not systematically informed of the failure or success of her actions. She turned to him and asked: And now, what do we do? What do you think? We go back. I only have a third of my Energy reserve and you really need more advanced care. There is no one here with healing skills: they are posted on the side of more dangerous doors. We also need to replenish our stock of soldiers because we lost half of them and the survivors really need a break So, they made the journey in reverse to the hive of Xmne. Once there, Xicackna stopped at Xer-Sholas to get treatment. The mature princess was delighted to see the young one again but gave her a strong reprimand for her imprudence when she heard the story of her adventure. You should have retreated when the soldiers were swept away: a princess should not fight alone. Even a prince should not be so imprudent! She promised to be more thoughtful in the future and took her leave. Following the prince, she found herself back at the observatory. She assumed that Kol-Gaar had already given the queen an account of their adventure via the hive mind. In any case, he was in no hurry to go there personally and contented himself with slumping down on the cushions, falling into a deep sleep. Of course, he had taken up the best part! Grumbling slightly, she tried to collect as many cushions as she could and settled herself as comfortably as she could in the remaining area. She too fell into a deep, restorative sleep. When she woke up, Kol-Gaar was still asleep. He slept for the rest of the day as well, and then a good part of the next. Sometimes he would wake briefly to have a snack brought by the servants, then fall back asleep. At first, Xicackna would consult the documents present to occupy herself, or those sent by the queen from the library. She was beginning to want to do something else, but when she wanted to go out for a walk, a massive guard blocked her way: without a noble accompanying her, she could not move around the hive. Occupying her time, she played with the tools present, observing the landscape during the day and the stars at night, having fun stacking objects on Kol-Gaar without the pile collapsing, recovering the cushions on which he slept without waking him, drawing on his shell using charcoal... Okay, Kol-Gaar said after being crushed by a pile of amber tablets when he woke up, I would have liked to take care of it later personally, but deep down, given your level, a simple soldier will do just fine. I haven''t even recovered to half my Energy yet... Although in a bad mood (you had to admit that it wasn''t the best of awakenings), he remained relatively calm as he brought the princess down from his tower. He accompanied her to an army training ground and gave instructions to the soldiers present. Turning to the princess, he explained what awaited her: So, to put it simply: when I saw you wielding your sword, I discovered a level of mediocrity in its use that I would never have thought possible. I know that you little princesses don''t play with swords, but to go from there to handling them like badly wielded clubs... Hey! I know a princess who plays with swords! Xicackna protested rather for form''s sake, feeling a little offended by the tone of these remarks, but she knew that it was relatively true: the only princess she knew who was interested in weapons was Xafara. And even then: before the Disaster their mother had had her collection of sharp objects confiscated. Instructed by Kol-Gaar, a soldier suddenly advanced towards her, dominating her with its monstrous mass. As she instinctively shrank, it handed her a sword whose edge was visibly dull. You take! The smells emitted by these foreign soldiers were too strange for her to interpret their sentences in a more complex way. She quickly took the weapon. You hit. He pointed to a sort of pile of earth, recently moistened to prevent it from drying out. It was probably some kind of training target because it showed many marks of blows. Obediently, she tapped the target. Not good. Holding like that. The gigantic soldier unsheathed a massive sword and showed her how to hold the sword. It then took a long straight root and used it to correct the princess''s posture without risking piercing her with its solid pointed legs. It did not hesitate, however, to tap quite hard with its wand when she was slow to follow the movement it wanted to impose on her. Understanding the uselessness of protesting these rudenesses to the soldier, Xicackna turned an angry head towards Kol-Gaar... He was no longer there. A cry of rage and despair burst from the princess''s chest when she understood that she would remain there, to be lectured by one of these stupid soldiers for hours, until the prince deigned to come and deliver her. He would pay for it! She did not know how, but she would definitely make him pay! You hit. Faster! Constrained and forced, she concentrated on her lesson. Chapter 30: New Dungeon When Kol-Gaar finally returned to the training ground, he was greeted by a furious princess. Ah! You''re finally here! You left me alone here for days! It must have been a moon! The prince greeted this accusation with an amused smile. Exactly. At first, I had planned to come back once my Energy was restored... and then I thought that this training would do you good. I... I''m going to slaughter you! I can leave if you want. Tightly gripping her training sword, the princess gnashed her mandibles and narrowed her eyes. After such a long period of suffering, punctuated only by a few rests when she was too tired and snacks brought when she was hungry, she had the impression of seeing targets dancing before her eyes to beat up. Currently, these were merging with Kol-Gaar. Oh, of course she didn''t want to hurt him... But at least hit him until he has pain. Still, the risk was too great: he could leave her there for another month if he took offense. Kol-Gaar had a training sword brought to him and then stood in front of the princess. So, let''s see how you''re doing. A fierce smile answered him. Since he asked for it, he would receive it and would not be able to take petty revenge without being seen as a bad sport. The blunt blades reduced the risk of injury and the existence of the System would prevent any fatal blow, since neither of them had the strength and weapons to reduce the other''s Hit Points to 0... Although, with the "bleeding" state, it could happen, but not instantly. The first pass of arms was not extraordinary, their weapons clashing without showing great mastery of their handling. Then Kol-Gaar left an opening in his guard allowing Xicackna to strike him. Touched! she cried joyfully. Grazed, nothing more: in a real fight it wouldn''t matter too much. Well, you''re only saying that because you''re offended! It must have been true because the prince reacted sharply. Dodging the adversary blade without any problem, he approached the princess and violently struck the flat of his blade on her head. In pain, she dropped her weapon to bring her hands to her forehead, moaning. Wow! What''s wrong? It hurts like hell! With a mocking smile, the prince had picked up the sword in a quick movement and, armed with both hands, was waving the weapons in a threatening manner. Worried, the princess stepped back, keeping her hands to protect her head and a dark look at the prince. Well, said the latter, I see that you have made some progress. That''s good. Against all expectations, he complimented her after having humiliated and struck her. She looked at him furiously: she was convinced that if she had defeated him, he would not have congratulated her but would have pretended she have only been lucky or something. It was obvious that I had made progress: starting with zero knowledge in a discipline, one can only progress. Do you realize what you put me through? The training was so hard that I even received a notification from the System informing me that by working ten times harder, I would obtain a point of Strength! But there is no way I am going to suffer for ten more months! I am a princess, not a soldier: I should not even have to face enemies! She almost cried. Almost, because she did not want to show weakness in a foreign hive. And even less in front of this unbearable prince. You are right, he said, but we cannot predict what can happen in these troubled times. You must at least be able to defend yourself properly. The ideal, of course, would be for you to continue training until you obtain this additional point in strength. As long as your stats stay within a realistic range, usually below 9 or 12[1], it is possible to train them without going through the System. It would obviously be convenient to optimize your stats in this way. The princesss heart leapt violently in her chest and her face turned livid. No: if he forced her to continue this horrible training, she would refuse to move! Even if it was indeed the best way to make the System work, she was not going to do it at the expense of her well-being! Of course, this is only the theory: in practice it would not be good to make a future queen go through this. In any case, this training was intended to teach you how to handle weapons.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. And to free myself a little from your presence while I recharge my Energy... He had not tried to hide this thought, knowing perfectly well that such a clear expression of it would be readable by Xicackna without concentrating too much on her skill. The princess gave him a look of contempt as a silent response to this inaudible insult. I didn''t even gain any Experience points, she complained, while I was getting some with the exercises to improve mana! Yes: only those with a martial class can gain experience with this type of training. I didn''t gain any either. By the way, it''s time to go back to a dungeon. I remind you that you will not leave this place without having reached level 10. She decided to collapse on the ground. Looking up at the ceiling at her theatrical gesture, Kol-Gaar granted her a slowdown in the program: Okay, not right away. You''ll be able to rest a few days before. The princess sighed with relief. Those few days turned out to be two. The prince had booked another F rank dungeon, refusing to say more. The day before, the princess had struggled to sleep, more out of excitement than fear. Yet, she had fear too. Turning to Kol-Gaars prone form, she asked: Hey, are you asleep? Are you asleep? Are you asleep? He finally turned his head toward her, looking more annoyed than sleepy. What? Is it How do you think this is going to end? I mean these dungeons, these monsters, this System He seemed surprised by the question, but looking at the princess''s face, he understood that she was truly worried. Why were these worries manifesting themselves now, instead of sleeping? He didn''t know. In any case, she seemed anxious enough to confide these fears to him despite their strained relationship. So, he decided to make an effort to answer her seriously. I don''t know. The more time passes, the more we analyze the System and understand how to control it. I suppose that one day we will be able to find those responsible and make them pay for their crimes... Maybe that day has already arrived but we have failed? Maybe we have failed many times? The information you have given us about this Human Regressor is absolutely terrifying. And, do you think that... that we will succeed one day? Kol-Gaar really wanted to tell her that he didn''t know. That they had to keep trying, again and again, even if they lost all memory of past failures. But he could sense the fear and discouragement, usually repressed, surfacing in the princess''s voice, which was vibrant with fear. Of course. Maybe it will even be your hive that will be the vanguard of our victory: imprisoned in the Dungeon, you are much more surrounded by the System than we are, which gives you more opportunity to analyze it. A class like yours, although given by the System, could well be the key to our victory. Xicackna remained silent, her head turned towards the stars. She knew that Kol-Gaar said this in large part to reassure her and she was grateful to him. But she also told herself that it could well be true, that she had a responsibility towards their people and that she would not fail, this time. With the appeasement, fatigue returned. Yawning widely, she settled comfortably against Kol-Gaar and instantly fell into a deep sleep. The next day, they went to the transportation deck again. Ilya-Na appeared like last time and the young princess wondered if she single-handedly managed the instant transportation network of the entire planet or if others had her abilities and sometimes replaced her. Xicackna! she exclaimed. Nice to see you again. Kol-Gaar, glad to see you thought to book this time! Then she transported them to another hive. Of a good size, forming a real artificial hill on the surface, this one had the particularity of seeming almost deserted. With the exception of a strong guard blocking the accesses, the population movements seemed limited. There were the usual flows of workers, bringing the necessary goods to the hive, but they seemed reduced to a minimum. Surprised, she questioned Kol-Gaar: Is this a new hive? It seems very little animated for its apparent size. Have they lost many people because of monster attacks? No, he explained, the region is relatively safe because several old colonies are well anchored there. I suppose that most of the inhabitants of the city have left to work at the excavation site of the Great Steel Palace: it is not very far from here. Guided by a local prince, they then headed northeast. The next day, they arrived at the foothills of a massive mountain range. Many lines of workers were heading there, in small groups escorted by soldiers, to reinforce the teams at the excavation site. However, their groups destination was closer. Similar to the previous gate, a solid outpost had been erected to protect the mountain range from any monster overflow. The princess in charge of the place greeted them and led their team towards the undulating portal. A green gate again. Xicackna tried again to ask Kol-Gaar what kind of monsters they were going to face, arguing that they needed to be prepared to face them, but he countered by saying that she had to train to analyze situations quickly and that he would therefore not give her any clues. Giving up, Xicackna followed the soldiers who had already entered the Dungeon. Again, the strange sensation of traveling between worlds gripped her, but the novelty of the phenomenon had passed and she quickly lost interest.
Dungeon Fort Hill Camp Rank F Entry requirement: group of 12 maximum, levels 1 to 19
Available Dungeon Objectives: Hunt (F): Kill 100 enemies. Dungeon Clearing (E): Kill Captain Texas Bill" and take the Dungeon Heart.
[1] For Zcarbbs of course: for Humans the limit of off-system training would be around 7. Chapter 31: A Human Dungeon The landscape of the dungeon was radically different from those Xicackna had previously experienced. There was a vast meadow covered in yellow grass, sand, and scattered with bushes, wedged between large arid hills. The different layers that formed the latter were easily seen because they were brightly colored, especially by yellow and orange bands. In the middle of the valley, strange buildings stood. You could make out walls with holes, like a kind of fence, as well as tall towers that watched over the surroundings. Kol-Gaar signaled the group to lower themselves to reduce their visibility. He observed the structure in the distance and seemed to use his Stratagem skill as he gesticulated in the air, moving and modifying invisible windows. He grimaced: Ah, I had hoped for an underground labyrinth. An open-air fortress is harder to manage. We could start by ambushing distant patrols, but they would immediately put their base on alert: like us, they have the means to communicate remotely. A frontal attack on the base could prove risky, but since it is a rank F dungeon, they will not have their gigantic armored machines... Gigantic armored machines? They can be found from rank E, but generally no more than one at that rank. They are a kind of very resistant vehicle capable of eliminating us in one hit if we are far enough away from them for them to use their attack. Up close, they can crawl on us to kill us instantly, but they are easier to dodge. Of course, at higher levels they are more numerous, but the adventurers are also more resistant. Xicackna watched with concern the constructions in the distance which now seemed to her to hide a thousand machines of death behind their almost harmless appearance. What creatures could be out there, lurking in those strange blocky buildings? Were lucky, Kol-Gaar said as he heard his Scouts report, there are no patrols nearby. At least, none that theyve detected: the enemy has clothing designed to blend into the landscape, which gives them a small camouflage bonus. Following the scouts'' directions, the rest of the group moved quickly, crawling to reduce the risk of being spotted. They arrived at the foot of one of the steep hills, where a particularly dense group of bushes could easily shelter them. The scouts were nearby, using camouflage skills, allowing Kol-Gaar to keep an eye on the surroundings with the help of the Hive Mind. The strategist observed some information and informed the princess that they would attack at night. The local monsters don''t see well in the dark: it''s the only way to stealthily approach their base... at least with the skills of the soldiers I have: what a shame to have lost the one who had the Burrowing skill to save someone... Xicackna decided not to take up the provocation. She nevertheless asked: Why don''t you still want to tell me what we''re dealing with? Two reasons. First, you need to use your skills as much as possible to give them a chance to improve. Its unlikely that theyll be more than one rank higher than your own, but it can happen, especially with class skills. And whats the second reason? I want to see the look on your face when you discover the enemy. She glared at him. Very funny. You call that a good reason? Not necessarily a good one, but it doesnt hurt anyone. She didnt respond to his provocative smile. Night fell on the Dungeon. Good, said Kol-Gaar, it''s time to attack. The goal is to quickly eliminate the enemy boss: no need to take risks by facing the Dungeon for too long. Xicackna, stay on the lookout for its presence: with your skill you can spot it from much further away than us. Are you ready? She answered affirmatively and they set off. The night fortress was illuminated by curious jets of light that swept the surrounding space. The path of the rays had a remarkable precision, making any discreet approach practically impossible. The princess cast a questioning glance at the prince, but he concentrated and did not worry about it. Holding out a hand in front of him to facilitate his concentration on his target, he used one of his skills:
Skill Smoke Cloud [E] used by Kol-Gaar [E]
Immediately, a smoke blurring all perceptions invaded the space that separated them from the camp. Trusting their memories, the Zcarbbs rushed inside the opaque mass, running towards the strange fence surrounding the camp. Xicackna was stopped abruptly by bumping into the mass of the soldier in front of her. It had apparently stopped. The smoke blurring the precision of the pheromones, she asked out loud what was happening. Kol-Gaar answered her: They are cutting the barbed wire: a kind of bristling iron wire that surrounds the enemy''s fences. Don''t speak so loudly: the monsters have good hearing. Shortly after, he shook her to signal her to move forward again. The smoke cleared and she discovered that their small group was near one of the strange enemy buildings, discreetly skirting it to stay as much as possible in the shadows. There was one soldier missing. Kol-Gaar answered her barely formulated question by pointing to one of the strange towers that surrounded the camp. The one near their entry point was now occupied by a Zcarbb covered in the blood of its enemies. The light continued to sweep the terrain, as if controlled by an automaton. The soldier pointed at them a strange metal weapon that it had found up there and seemed to use it to protect the group in the event of a fight. Approaching the center of the camp, more likely to shelter the boss, they suddenly came face to face with a patrol of monsters. Lit by the strange lamps that dotted the base and by their own light diffusers, a group of Humans in outfits oscillating between green and brown pointed their steel spitters at the valiant soldiers who attacked immediately. Seeing the enemy they were facing, Xicackna understood why Kol-Gaar was impatiently waiting for her reaction. She didnt know what he thought he would see, but she didnt let it get to her and observed the situation. The monsters were level 1, but their weapons were marked as higher rank than F. Surprised by the sudden attack, the Humans had trouble aiming correctly and must have realized that their life expectancy was seriously compromised at such a short distance. The characteristic sound of strange weapons resonated. The incredible speed of their projectiles allowed them to penetrate deep into the soldiers'' natural armor, but they suffered little damage before finding themselves in the middle of the enemies whom they violently massacred. Xicackna nevertheless noted that one of them had suffered a full burst that had cost it a tenth of its Hit Points. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Use your acid projection! Kol-Gaar ordered. Aim for as many targets as possible: this will allow you to obtain some participation XP when they die. She obeyed immediately. The System required new reasoning in combat situations, and one of them was clearly to inflict at least a few wounds on the enemy in order to become more powerful later. Despite the low virulence of her acid, the Humans affected screamed in pain, losing nearly a fifth of their Hit Points. They remained ready to fight, as if mysteriously supported by the System where a normal beast would have fled or rolled on the ground in pain. Of course, the creatures were quickly finished off by the soldiers and their resistance was therefore futile. The use of acid attacks allowed Xicackna to accumulate a few XP, but three by three: one obtained and two in reserve This was not how she would finally move on to the next level. The confrontation had attracted attention: from everywhere one could hear the roars of Humans coming out of their lairs to search for the enemy. From the guard towers, new light projectors were turned on to explore the interior of the camp. Xicackna bent down to pick up one of the monsters'' weapons.
Colt M16A4 rifle (E) [Armor piercing property, 20 rounds magazine, free slot for [M203], range 550/800/3600 meters] [Ranged weapon]
The weapon''s activation mechanism seemed simple enough, but she would need a quiet moment to decipher it. So, she put it in the empty slot of her inventory. And she moved forward, seeing almost nothing other than the massive silhouette of the soldiers protecting her. She heard sounds of fighting and understood roughly what was happening. Their group was using the cover of the buildings to eliminate the advantage of the enemy''s ranged weapons, while the latter regrouped, ever more numerous, and organized themself more and more efficiently to launch assaults or retreat. Many soldiers were covered in bloody wounds from the multiple hits of the enemy projectiles. Suddenly, as a view of the central building briefly appeared before her, the princess caught sight of the enemy boss. Surrounded by a larger group of monsters, he was watching the fight that was gradually moving towards its location and giving orders to a box it was holding in its hand.
Captain "Texas Bill" (E), Boss Level 10
The soldiers surrounding it all seemed to be level 2, except for one of them who was level 5. It had just taken charge of some of the soldiers and was arranging them in formation to prepare for the arrival of the adventurers. It seemed hesitant to shoot because of the presence of other monsters between them and the Zcarbbs, but it was ordering them to move aside.
Lieutenant Noah Smith (F), Sub-boss Level 5
It was holding the same weapon as the others but had added an accessory. Despite the distance, the Observation skill worked:
M203A2 Grenade Launcher (D) [Attachment (requires compatible weapon); range 150 (vehicle)/350 (personnel)/400 meters (maximum)], one ammunition.]
Putting part of its paw on the ground, the monster aimed its weapon at their formation. When its warriors had moved away or were killed, it fired at the first Zcarbb that came along. Xicackna had trouble following what followed. Suddenly, one of the soldiers grabbed her with its mandibles and threw her brutally behind it. The next second, the first soldier of the group disappeared in a burst of light and noise, a terrifying explosion that also engulfed the nearby soldiers. Crashing onto the metal roof of one of the camp''s structures, the princess watched in amazement as the result of the attack unfolded: The first soldier was still alive, but barely. Its shell was in pieces and its flesh ravaged by the explosion was covered in a stream of green blood. Without protection, it took the full force of the enemy''s ammunition and died quickly. The three soldiers closest to it were also badly damaged, but despite their tattered armor, they still had enough Hit Points to continue fighting successfully. Three more soldiers passed in front of them and charged the enemy with incredible speed, quickly followed by the wounded and another soldier.
Rush (E) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to move very quickly towards a target, in a straight line. Temporarily increases Agility and Strength by 2, costs 30 Vigor. It is possible to use it at a lower rank.
Surprised, the enemies defended themselves vigorously, others gradually emerging from the alleys to support them from afar. The outcome of the confrontation was uncertain. Behind her, the sound of a burst of weapons resonated as the soldier who remained in the tower manipulated human weapons against their reinforcements. Where was Kol-Gaar? She couldnt see him As she looked for him, a System window appeared in a corner of her vision, far in the air. Looking up, she saw Kol-Gaar, his name and level indicated in green above his head, carrying a soldier. She opened her eyes wide, astonished: how could he manage to lift something so big? He was clearly struggling, and wouldnt have been able to keep up this pace for long despite his still satisfactory reserve of Vigor. He abruptly dropped the soldier above the enemy boss then began to hover and focused his most powerful power on the enemy:
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 40 Human Military [F], 1 Human Sub-Boss [F] and 1 Human Boss [E] Consumption 430 Energy / minute
The Human leader seemed to have noticed the air assault at the moment of the drop, but, paralyzed, it could only watch the huge soldier fall on its. It disappeared in a cloud of dust. Many Humans were running, ever more numerous. There were hundreds of them! Kol-Gaar grimaced as he extended his power to the newcomers: no doubt he would still complain about the loss of Energy for a long time. She heard him through the Hive Mind: Well then, you idiot, are you planning on staying there until the end? Help defeat the boss while I hold the minions! Quickly! Grinding her teeth, she said nothing and observed the space that stretched between the roof and the ground. It seemed high to her. That said, her shell had absorbed the shock of her arrival at the top and she could see in the distance the soldier who was battling with the enemy boss, each having survived their collision. She jumped and crashed heavily to the ground. She got up covered in dust and hurried to join the fight, passing between the paralyzed monsters. They tried to free themselves, but most seemed exhausted by their futile efforts. She knew that their attempts weighed heavily on Kol-Gaar''s Energy. The Sub-Boss was long dead and the few soldiers around the Boss who had been freed from paralysis when the soldier had crushed them had since been killed. The Boss, meanwhile, resisted fiercely against the multiple soldiers who attacked it. Having exhausted the ammunition of its weapon, it seized that of its fallen men to unload them on the soldiers, or else it threw small explosive devices from a distance, or it fought with the help of a good-sized knife. Even though the soldiers surrounding it were of equal level, some bonuses granted by the Boss status allowed this monster to stand up to them and it had already taken down the most seriously injured. Joining the fight, the princess spat a small jet of acid on the creature. Now wait, the prince ordered, and watch his Hit Points carefully. Prepare to spit again when he is low enough. That moment approached quickly and Xicackna spat at the same time as the prince decided to give her the order. Delighted to have acted before hearing the order, she watched the creature collapse to the ground, finally devoid of life.
BOSS: Captain "Texas Bill" (E), Level 10 Defeated: Combat XP: 22 Finisher XP: 24
Chapter 32: Level-up The Dungeon boss was defeated! However, the detailed announcement was slow in coming, as was the exit portal. She narrowed her eyes, taken aback. What could she be missing? All around, still unable to emerge from their paralysis, the Humans were growling and barking furiously, seeming to find in the death of their leader a renewed courage to fight to the end And there were many of them: everywhere she looked, more than a hundred warriors surrounded them, weapons in hand. None seemed to have explosives, but such a deluge of iron would be fatal. Taking great care not to touch the paralyzed, the soldier guarding the tower joined them while its comrades formed a defensive perimeter around the princess, killing the paralyzed monsters one by one.
Skill Time Freeze [D] used by Kol-Gaar [E] on 140 Human Military [F] Consumption 1400 Energy / minute
Hurry up, idiot! Take the Dungeon Heart! I know! Stop calling me an idiot, idiot! So, taking the Dungeon Heart was what triggered the process of ending it? Searching the remains of the Boss, she discovered several items and a small gray orb. Since the monster was of rank E, she would have expected another color, but this one was probably related to the rank of the Dungeon itself.
Dungeon Heart [Fort Hill Camp] [F] [Proof of conquering a Dungeon. Can be consumed for additional experience, stat, or skill gain.]
She took hold of it.
Dungeon "Fort Hill Camp" Dungeon Boss Defeated Captain "Texas Bill" [Rank E] Time Remaining Before Dungeon Destruction: 10 min
"Dungeon Clearing" (E) Group Quest Completed XP Bonus: 100 Finisher Bonus: 100 Current Experience: 2191 Stored Experience: 3494 Experience needed for next level: 9
Flying a short distance from the ground, Kol-Gaar trembled as the monsters rushed into their invisible prison, forcing him to spend more and more Energy. Some were already breaking free The green door immediately appeared not far from the remains of the monster leader. As Xicackna was about to cross it, she saw the prince suddenly collapse, falling heavily to the ground. Had he been hit by a projectile? No: with his Hit Points it would affect him little. With his fall, the monsters would start shooting again any second. Counting on the presence of the soldiers to form a wall against this attack, Xicackna estimated that she had time to help Kol-Gaar without being put in danger. She lifted him as best she could Having forgotten her weak strength, the princess realized that she had underestimated the difficulty of the transport and her movement towards the door, although so close, was incredibly slow. She suddenly felt herself lifted into the air. A soldier, noticing the danger, had just taken the two young nobles in its mandibles and rushed towards the door. The air crackled with the shrill sound of metal projectiles and the roars of Men then calm returned as all three of them crashed on the other side of the door. Four other soldiers managed to evacuate. Suddenly, five monsters burst out of the door! Briefly astonished by the new scenery, they wasted no time and aimed their weapons The creatures didnt have time to cause any damage because the multiple soldiers stationed around the gate had already jumped on them. The monsters were torn apart in less time than it takes to say it. No other beast seemed to succeed in crossing the barrier between the worlds. The soldiers remained vigilant nonetheless. Xicackna pulled Kol-Gaar aside, with the help of his soldiers. The prince still hadnt woken up. Panicked, she called for help from the princess who led the outpost. She looked at the prince and then shrugged. Hes simply out of Energy. In a System hour, hell have come back to his senses. The young princess sighed with relief. Even if he annoyed her, she didnt want Kol-Gaar dead. Furthermore, without being able to put her finger on it, she felt a little responsible for what had happened. With the explanation, she understood that by taking too long to react, she had forced the prince to exhaust his Energy reserve to contain the monsters, inflicting his current state on him. While waiting for him to wake up, she reviewed the items obtained from the enemy boss. It reminded her that she had forgotten to search it to obtain its mana stone, but she probably wouldn''t have had the time anyway.
Military Jacket (E) [+1 Armor, +2 Stamina] [Chest Armor] The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Medal of Courage (F)[1] [Increases courage in desperate situations. Allows the use of the skill "Rush (F)" or "Provoke (F)" once per day] [Ornament]
The outfit was slightly different from the one worn by the monster, as it was roughly green rather than roughly sand-colored. Xicackna tried to wear it over the horrible "Beginner''s Tunic (F)", but upon discovering that the bonuses did not stack, she happily threw the latter aside and donned only her new jacket. The strange brooch featured a square of blue fabric with thirteen small white shapes that Xicackna guessed were small human figures, which overlooked the metal decoration. There was a monstrous creature resembling a kind of bird that held in its talons a small plaque with mysterious symbols. Below, held by rings, a figure consisting of a circle surrounded by five triangles was itself surrounded by a finely worked blue-green circle that connected the points, themselves ending in a kind of trefoil. In the center of the central circle, a helmeted, armored human figure with a strong mane was surrounded by other mysterious symbols. After trying to hang it on her antennae, but finding it too heavy, Xicackna decided to hang the small golden jewel on the upper part of the jacket, finding that it would look great there. She then wanted to observe the reward given by the Sub-boss and picked up by the soldiers, but they refused to even let her see it. They also refused to let her move away from Kol-Gaar. Of course: these commoners were not from her hive and she therefore had no power over them. But that had no impact on the young princess''s mood: she had gotten used to it. When Kol-Gaar finally woke up, his mind was still foggy and it took him another minute to think clearly again. Immediately glaring at Xicackna, he took stock of her mistakes. ... and then at that moment, you stood there, watching, instead of acting and taking that damn Dungeon Heart! I used all my 3536 Energy points and the 442 bonuses given by my equipment! And still five level 10 soldiers dead! Do you know how long it takes to make them gain 6 levels from the 4 they have at beginning? He was furious, but also a little scared, she felt it in her thoughts without him saying it: he had thought he would die there when he fainted. Once he was unable to act, he would have been an easy target for the enemies. I''m sorry... The prince turned his head away with an annoyed noise. He didn''t seem to want to forgive her. At least he wasn''t calling her an idiot again. Xicackna handed him the orb that glowed with a faint gray light. Here, take it. Kol-Gaars expression changed to one of intense surprise. Xicackna herself didnt know why she was giving him this precious consumable as a gift. Perhaps because she knew he had contributed much more to this victory than she had? Or perhaps so that he would forgive her for her mistakes? In any case, was it even normal? As a princess, didnt she have the right and the duty to seize this advantage for herself rather than leaving it to someone lower in the hierarchy and from another hive? The prince pushed the gift away with a peaceful gesture. No: its for you. The goal is, after all, to help you reach level ten. Thats the mission I was given And then, I know that you didnt make this mistake on purpose. As brilliant as you were against the Goblins, you failed this time. Thats normal: you still lack experience, real experience: not just that of the System. So, absorb this Heart and continue to learn: you can only become better. Wondering if these last words implied something, Xicackna decided not to try to imagine things where there could be nothing. Observing the Heart of the Dungeon one last time, she swallowed it.
You gain the skill: Sprint (E) (Magical Power) Allows you to move very quickly for one second for 5 Energy points. [Passive: Increases Maximum Energy by 5 per skill rank [+10]] [Speed ??increases according to skill rank] You have no available skill slots. Please select a skill to destroy, or the option to convert this skill gained for 200 XP.
Frowning her chitinous brows, Xicackna looked at the various skills eligible for replacement. They glowed slightly as she reviewed her status. There was no way she was replacing one of her class skills, but none of them glowed anyway. As for her general skills, she wasnt going to lose her Sixth Sense, nor her Invisibility, nor her Chitin Armor. That left Camouflage and Acid Throw. The latter, although locked at Rank F, would allow her to attack from a distance with a minimum of precision, unlike her use of any weapon. Since she mainly gained XP by participating in attacks, this skill was indispensable. So that left only Camouflage. Was it worth replacing her innate, cost-free skill, to hide in the environment, with a speed skill that used Energy? She could accelerate greatly for 128 seconds, a little over two minutes: enough to put some distance between herself and pursuers. After hesitating for a long time, she replaced her Camouflage with Sprint. Just after pressing the validation button, she looked at Kol-Gaar warily, expecting to hear him criticize her choice. He actually grumbled: You annoy me: why do you think I would necessarily criticize you? This choice is as good as any other. You replace part of your discretion, which is not total invisibility, with an increased possibility of escape. It is an acceptable choice. In any case, I don''t need you to choose! So why did you immediately turn to me after this choice? Because I knew you were going to reproach me for something! She blushed immediately, feeling ridiculous. The fact that he simply raised his eight eyes to the sky rather than answering contributed to her discomfort. Trying to change the subject, she asked a question: By the way, why do you use swords and spears rather than weapons like those of Humans? They seem very effective. Only against armored targets: against other monsters their guns are not as efficient and empty quickly. Against some creatures with strong armor, we sometimes use them, but they require maintenance and ammunition production. In addition, higher level weapons are more effective because they get special bonuses from the System. Even their explosives? No: those are very interesting at low levels, but we are currently lacking them. All our competent technicians are busy with other projects, including the Great Steel Palace project. Workers tend to blow themselves up when they work on it without supervision. The problem was supposed to be solved next year: my queen is producing workers specialized in the field. Reaching into his inventory, Kol-Gaar pulled out a transparent bottle in which a strange orange liquid was shining. He handed it to Xicackna who looked at it mechanically before looking at it suspiciously. As she was about to use her "Observation", the prince explained to her what it was: I see that you only need nine XP before your next level. I think it would be better if you obtained it now, quietly, rather than in the confusion of a Dungeon. It is a rank F XP potion that will give you between ten and one hundred XP. Drink it all. Oh? Why didn''t you give it to me earlier? Besides, what would happen if I only drank part of it? So many questions. Know that these potions are precious, resulting from the distillation of different ingredients, including crushed mana stones. I don''t have to waste them on a stranger! Furthermore, you also need to gain more knowledge of our new reality before returning home, so I''m not going to just give all the potions needed to reach level 10. As for your other question, then you would either receive the XP or not. If you only absorb part of any potion, only one of the two parts contains the effect. Half satisfied with the explanations, Xicackna uncorked the bottle and swallowed the liquid it contained in one go. Was it an effect of the medal of courage? Unless she simply did not want to appear ridiculous again in Kol-Gaar''s eyes? In any case, she drank this unknown liquid without hesitating. A strange, warm sensation filled her stomach and vibrated in all her muscles, then calmed down.
Consuming an XP potion (F) gives you 83 XP
Current experience: 2232 Stored experience: 3536
You gain a level! Current level: 9 Experience needed for next level: 468
[1] [Also called, Medal of Honor] BONUS : Arena 3, preparation
Announcement: You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The Arena bonus will return next week! Exceptional bonus episode: The great classic against the unthinkable! Place your bets now!
Chapter 33: A little calm So? That''s all? What about my skill? Annoyed, Xicackna waited in vain for the System to offer her a new skill choice. Nothing happened. Kol-Gaar burst out laughing. Staring at him furiously, Xicackna only provoked a redoubled laughter. Lying on his back, he trembled uncontrollably, mocking the princess''s annoyed and confused look all the more. She could feel that he was releasing all the pressure accumulated during the Dungeon, but she felt annoyed. Especially since this damn System owed her a new skill. No but, what an idiot! Ah! Ah! Ah! Well, there she went from annoyed to angry. She furiously pawed at the prince who didn''t even seem to feel it. Calming down slightly, he nevertheless agreed to explain the cause of his hilarity: You don''t systematically gain skills at each level. Level 9 doesn''t bring anything of that type and the fact that it''s your fourth classs level means that you''ve only received one point in your main characteristic. So, Intelligence given your class. And you really need it Stop insulting me! Not knowing something doesn''t make you stupid! And besides, it''s not very clear what the System means by Intelligence The ability to analyze complex facts quickly and accurately, perhaps? In any case, you don''t seem to have learned much in your Dungeon. I guess few of you have gained enough levels... Know that there are two progression curves: the general level and the class. They give their bonuses at the same time. The first three levels gained by having a class will give skills, then it will alternate between a point of the class characteristic and a skill. It is therefore better to obtain a class as quickly as possible rather than gaining levels without having one, because obtaining the next level always requires more XP. Did you follow? Of course: I have 21 in Intelligence now... Xicackna''s annoyance did not diminish. First because Kol-Gaar looked down on her under the simple pretext that he knew more than her, then because she really wanted to increase her arsenal with an additional skill. Well, in any case that now gives me three unassigned points... The shocked look that Kol-Gaar gave her was worth all the idiot uttered previously. Stung, Xicackna yelled at him: Whats the matter? He suddenly gave her a disdainful look and sighed: Why are you collecting unassigned points instead of using them? Well... I was thinking that they could be useful later, if I''m in a critical situation. For example, I could put them all in Stamina if I fall from a great height, all in Agility if I have to escape, all in Strength if it''s really essential... and so on. Rah! You princesses, with your mania for accumulating objects, storing them... What? It''s necessary to store to properly manage the logistics of a hive! But not in war: we must use the slightest resource, even if it means wasting it as long as it gives us an advantage! And we sacrifice the future for the immediate, is that it? If we don''t win in the present, there is no future! But if we manage the present badly, we will have trouble in the future! Intervening in the discussion, the princess of the outpost brought her point of view: I would rather agree with Xicackna: as long as she does not have an essential need to allocate her points, she might as well wait until a need arises... But do you think we have time for these decisions on a battlefield? We must prepare in advance by consuming everything that is necessary! So, replied Xicackna, why don''t you give me XP potions right away? Kol-Gaar took a moment to find an answer. Because you also need real field experience! Oh, and keep your points aside if you want! Just try to avoid being in danger Giving up, one against two, the prince decided instead to start calculating how much time it would take him to regain his Energy A half-moon of continuous sleep, apparently Since the sleep would not be continuous, that would make By the way, can you show me how you make XP potions when we get back? Okay, subtracting the time spent entertaining the princess Well, he would have to count roughly a whole moon With relief, Kol-Gaar finally saw the large dome of the hive where the teleportation circle was located appear: they would finally be back after this Dungeon that had nearly been a disaster and this annoying return trip The princess suddenly found herself in front of him, her antennas still vibrating from her rapid movement. As usual since the day before, she was totally excited. Are you okay? You look grumpy... Well, like usual... Hee! Hee! Hee! And immediately she set off again at breakneck speed. Annoyed, he shouted at her: Stop that! You''re hurting my eyes being all over the place with your stupid skill! Do you want to use all your Energy? She screeched in front of him and he narrowly missed knocking her over. On reflection, he wondered why he had also stopped instead of charging at her... Oh, it''s okay, she said. I have a crown that doubles my mana, so I''ll just have to wait a day and I''ll have everything back. I''m only using this reserve. Xicackna burst out laughing at his dark look. Come on, I''ve almost used all of my crown''s reserve: you''ll be fine now. Yes, just as we arrive... great... It was Ilya-Na again who appeared at the teleportation circle. Oh, how are you? Did the dungeon go well? Yes, said Xicackna, I even have a new skill, look! No, said Kol-Gaar at the same time, it was a disaster. A success but costly and risky. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He looked with annoyance at Xicackna who was running at full speed from one end of the circle to the other while Ilya-Na applauded, amused. I almost died and we lost five soldiers! Xicackna did not meet his gaze, ashamed of having let herself go, and preferred to watch a flock of birds passing by, their membranous wings beating the air strongly while the feathers of their dorsal crests fluttered in the wind. Ilya-Na lightened the mood: Ah, the main thing is that you came back alive. Isn''t there really any way to get the help of other princes right now? I have to continue to do dungeons with this novice, but it''s not easy if I''m the only one thinking. Hey! Xicackna protested, outraged. No, said the mature princess, rolling her eyes, still no one available. It''s the time of the big raids for those of higher levels, while those of lower levels are always in full groups of nobles. Too bad... Let me know if there are changes. As you wish. For when do you want to reserve a next dungeon? In a month, the time it takes me to recover my Energy. Couldnt you use an Energy potion? Kol-Gaar frowned his chitinous eyebrows at this proposal, as if it were the most absurd. They are too rare to waste like that. There is no rush... Wait, protested Xicackna, you mean that all this time, you''ve been making me wait for nothing? I want to go home! You''ll come back when you will be authorized. As long as my queen herself doesnt order me to speed up, I have no intention of changing my pace And besides, its your fault if Im lacking Energy! As the two young nobles glared at each other, Ilya-Na sighed something about children. By the time they both turned to her with a look that suspected mockery, she waved goodbye and teleported them to the hive of Xmne. After a brief stop at the potion synthesis labs, Kol-Gaar had led them to the observatory where he prepared to go into hibernation. He briefly mentioned the possibility of leaving her at the training ground, without developing the idea further: a subtle threat in case she disturbed his sleep. As time passed, bored to death despite the new documents that had been brought to her, Xicackna was also increasingly worried: what was happening in Xolona during her absence? Had there been new enemy attacks? New major deaths? Did they think she was dead? Her worry turned to annoyance: how, in these circumstances, did those of Xmne dare deprive her of the possibility of reaching her hive? She observed the massive guard blocking the exit of the tower. Without wings, only the rope stairs could allow her to descend from this perch, but they remained inaccessible. A new determination filled the young princess: she was not going to let herself be locked up any longer! As a plan formed in her head, she positioned herself in front of the exit, far enough away for the guard to remain impassive. She waited patiently. When the guard stepped aside to let one of the workers pass, she was ready: using her sprint and invisibility skills, she passed like lightning and found herself on the other side without the commoners understanding where she had gone. Their instructions being limited to preventing her from leaving, they certainly would not think to raise the alarm if she had simply disappeared. In any case, she hoped that their reasoning did not go beyond that stage. With a maximum of almost seven minutes of invisibility, she let herself slide along the rope bridges and stone stairs that allowed movement in the upper parts of the hive. Using her sprint on walkable land, she quickly ran through the corridors, sinking underground. Normally, she would have been spotted by scent, but she now knew how to use her "Falsification" to hide it, or at least pass it off as the local scent. No one stopped her. With barely contained excitement, she realized that she could come and go as she pleased, as long as she didn''t take too long. It was even possible that she could move freely without invisibility, aided by "Falsification", as long as she didn''t come across any nobles because they would then detect the subterfuge. But leaving the hive was pointless: she wouldn''t know where to go. She had to retrieve her return stone. In front of her, the massive door to the queen''s chamber was still impressive by its size and the complexity of its ornaments, but also by its army of fierce guards. They were high-level and it was not impossible that one of them had a detection skill higher than D rank. While it probably wouldnt pierce her invisibility, it might be able to detect her true scent Unless, of course, she passed too quickly With all the speed of her sprint, she passed the half-open doors right under the mandibles and antennae[1] of the guards. They nevertheless detected the air current generated by her movement and were on their guard, without knowing against what. The gigantic queen, who had previously seemed motionless and lost in her thoughts, turned abruptly towards the entrance upon feeling the tension of her soldiers. Her gaze nevertheless passed over Xicackna without stopping there. The princess became visible again. The queen, surprised, let out a sharp cry and made a movement of recoil, although this gesture did not make her recoil. Immediately, about twenty elite soldiers fell to the ground, sliding down along solid wires from the heights. Only a quick order from the queen prevented them from taking unfortunate initiatives against the intruder: they seemed able to detect her without difficulty. With an air of disappointment at not having been able to massacre her, the massive soldiers climbed back onto their wires, winding them behind them. Xicackna swallowed: these creatures were more monsters than Zcarbbs. Entirely dedicated to the protection of the queen, they would not have hesitated to kill the princess, however noble she may be. What are you doing here? the queen wondered. How did you get back in? So Sorry to come to you without permission, but I really have to go: my mother and the whole colony must think I''m dead. I''ve learned a lot of things and I thank you for that, but I have to go reassure them... She held out her cupped hands, hoping to receive the precious stone, the key to her return. However, the queen made no move in this direction. An amused smile stretched across her face, her eyes narrowing mischievously. Leave already? But, you''re still one level short. If you reach level 10, you''ll move up to rank E and you''ll then be better able to survive the terrible dangers that await you. I can''t decently let you leave before that. Xicackna felt desperate. Faced with the power and majesty of the queen, her arguments evaporated like snow in the sun. She knew she was right, but she didn''t know how to convince the queen. The excitement she had felt during her fantastic escapade dissipated. Xl-tar-Lomenia was shaken with laughter. Could queens also make fun of people? She held out her gigantic hands and Xicackna climbed on them, quickly finding herself hoisted up to the height of those large, calculating eyes that immediately captivated her. A queen, even from another hive, was truly a being apart from the rest of the Zcarbbs. In any case, thats what she was telling herself at that moment. Dont worry, little one: your queen knows youre alive. Zcarbbs werent in the habit of lying, especially queens. However, Xicackna gave her a most suspicious look. She pulled herself together, seized by the fear of having been disrespectful. The queen didnt seem to hold it against her, however, and on the contrary, was amused by it. Ah, you dont believe me? If I want to keep you here, I dont need any excuse: its my right. Know that I communicate well with my stupid sister uh, I meant your queen. In fact, we even get along a little better than before Well, when she doesnt say something like take good care of my salt mine, for example Your little recall necklace was very useful to me in developing an inter-dimensional communication system. The only problem is that its activation cost is too high to use it frequently. She furrowed her eyebrows, mumbling something like: And there are some who waste their energy on stupid messages intended to provoke me. Turning her attention back to the little princess, she saw her eyes widen with terror and immediately understood what was going through her mind. Raising her eight eyes to the sky, she reassured her: But yes, your stone is intact: we did not dismantle it to learn more about its functioning. We are not those science freaks from the hive of Yolbr. Consider yourself lucky to have been sent here rather than to Queen Xr-tar-Lor... She would not have been content to study this object from a distance and with caution... but perhaps she would have learned more than me... Seeing a dangerous glint of greed in the queen''s eyes, Xicackna decided to change the subject of the conversation before she changed her scientific methods to her detriment: And so, what did my queen Xa-tar-Lona say? Oh, she agrees that I keep you until level 10. She rightly believes that it is a very good experience for you. She mentioned new discoveries in the field of dimensional travel, but she didn''t have enough energy to tell me about them in detail... Scowling, she muttered something that Xicackna didn''t understand, then became audible again. Anyway, for now, take advantage of this quiet period to rest. From the report of your adventures in the Dungeon, you must have already understood that these are dangerous places, even at low levels, places to be taken seriously. So, continue training while waiting for Kol-Gaar to regain his Energy. Return to the observatory as soon as you have regained enough strength. Don''t hesitate to come back and see me if you want to talk again: it gives you good training in discretion... and I''m going to add a few instructions to my personal guard to prevent them from killing you...
[1] In French "au nez et la barbe", (approximatively right under their nose and beard) but they don''t have a beard and, unlike the nobles, they don''t have a nose either (their perception of odors goes more through the antennae: the nobles have a heightened perception since it goes through two different organs). Chapter 34: Night Garden (1) A new green portal shimmered in the sun, enclosed in a powerful fortified camp. Xicackna stretched, impatient for once to face the trials of a dungeon. Turning to Kol-Gaar, who was deeply buried in strategic reflections, she told herself that she was eager to impress him with the fruits of her training. Of course, she had to be able to show herself without disrupting his strategies and so she asked his permission to act: Kol-Gaar? Could I accompany the scouts this time? You know, I''ve trained a lot. Invisibility and sprint will allow me to easily cover the terrain and bring back information in record time without getting caught. No: out of the question. The princess''s mood darkened. She planted her head right in front of the prince''s head to make sure he would be embarrassed and could not ignore her. Oh yeah? And why? You think I''m incapable of it? Do you have the Detection skill? he sighed. No? Then you risk getting caught by the first trap that comes along. To give you an example, in E rank Human dungeons, there are explosive traps that are triggered if you step on them. With your current Hit Points, that would be instant death. But, aren''t we in an E rank dungeon here? That was an example! There are other types of traps that, even if they won''t necessarily kill you, risk putting you in danger... especially if you''re far from the rest of the group. Xicackna groaned but inwardly realized: he was right. "Detection" joined the list of skills she dreamed of obtaining. According to Kol-Gaar, the skill proposals for leveling up depended on the actions undertaken but also on the deep wishes or natural qualities of the adventurers. He also said that it was also possible to obtain "skill books" to exchange one skill for another. Don''t take the initiative, he added, it''s already complicated enough to adapt my strategies to cooperate with a... with you. Hey! What were you going to say? An idiot? But, not at all Liar! Thats not what I thought Oh really, you forgot what my skills were? I can read your thoughts! But you didnt do it. Oh really? You think so? Yes, because I didnt think that: I thought novice Well, until you came up with a more appropriate word Now you thought it! Youre annoying me! You started it this time! As they stared at each other angrily, forehead to forehead, one of the soldiers interrupted them, asking for instructions: Excuse me, Sire? Lets suppose we wait an hour or two for you to finish arguing: were thinking of hibernating to save strength. Can you predict the length of the argument to predict the length of the hibernation? The two nobles looked away, feeling a little humiliated to be corrected by a commoner. Xicackna noted in passing that she was able to better understand the sentences emitted by the members of the hive of Xmne. Uh, well, Kol-Gaar said, trying to regain his composure. I think we should focus a little more on the task at hand. Although rank F, this dungeon should contain monsters of a slightly higher level than the previous two, without being as dangerous as a Human dungeon. Does that remind you of the first rule of dungeons? The prince waited. Sighing, the princess finally said what he was waiting for: The number one rule of dungeons is that they remain dangerous regardless of the level of the monsters and that you must always remain cautious. The prince nodded while double-checking his equipment one last time. Thats it. Humans, although generally level 1, have a deadly arsenal, at least for human-chameleons. The monsters we will face this time are less dangerous, although of a higher level. This does not make our excursion any easier and it is possible that we will be forced to retreat without having killed the boss: the important thing is that we both get out alive. We will have to be careful of traps, which is why the majority of the soldiers selected this time have the Detection skill. Still no luck getting other nobles on the team? The few available ones declined the offer. They consider their own training more important or prefer to participate in priority missions or E rank doors. We could ask Xer-Shola to accompany us? Being able to be healed directly on the battlefield would be a huge advantage. A good idea for once, but it''s impossible. First of all, she''s too precious for the hive, and secondly, she''s D rank: she can no longer enter dungeons two ranks lower than hers. That was a shame. Kol-Gaar abruptly held out three vials, holding them in his fingers by their thin necks. Transparent, they were filled with a suspicious red liquid. Put these in your inventory. Only use them if necessary: ??their production costs a lot of resources.
Life Potion (E) [Consuming this potion restores 10 to 100 Hit Points.] [Consumable]
Accepting immediately the precious gift, she put the potions in her inventory, in place of her mana stones that she slipped into her bag. With that, she felt much more reassured. Following Kol-Gaar and the soldiers, she entered a new dungeon without much apprehension.
Dungeon The Night Garden Rank F Entry requirement: group of 12 maximum, levels 1 to 19
Available Dungeon Objectives: Hunt (F): Kill 100 enemies. Treasure (E): Find the treasure at the foot of the rainbow. Dungeon Clearing (E): Kill Big Ears and take the Dungeon Heart. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The new world was plunged into night, but the moon and the Zcarbbs'' developed senses made it easy to observe a strange flora. It seemed as if grass and flowers had increased in size by nearly a hundred. The vegetation was so large that one could believe that the adventurers had shrunk to the size of common insects. Between the plants, vast dirt paths seemed to form paths. It''s surprising, noted Xicackna, there''s a new kind of quest in the objectives. There are often hidden objectives in Dungeons. The fact that this one is announced indicates both that it is easier to find and more dangerous. We''ll try to complete it if everything goes well. Sometimes there are even neutral creatures and helping them allows you to complete quests. Not this time apparently. Suddenly, a first enemy appeared. A strange creature who looked a bit like a human, but smaller and stockier, appeared. Its clothing was composed of elements each having a bright color: green for the pants, blue for the vest and red for a curious pointed hat which rose as high as half the height of the monster.
Gnome, level 5 [Rank F] Hit points (HP): 135/135 Energy Points (EP): 65/65 Vigor: 35/35 Abilities: Strength: 3 Agility: 4 Stamina: 7 Intelligence: 13 Mana: 1 Armor (natural): 0 Description: Enduring and particularly clever, Gnomes dont seem very dangerous before you encounter their dangerous inventions Attributes (0): Skills (5): Imaginary Sounds [F] (Magical Power) Allows everyone to hear sounds that do not exist and seem to originate from a specific point. Costs 1 Energy per second. Detection (F): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things and points of interest. Identification (F) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to discover the properties of a target, including the uses that can be made of it. [Identification can allow you to discover part of the history of the identified target.] Trap Construction (F) (Natural Power) Allows you to build simple traps from a small amount of material. Dodge [F] (Natural Power) [Get a 5% chance of avoiding a targeted attack. The higher the enemy''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.]
The curious figure seemed slow-witted, unless its night vision was far inferior to that of the Zcarbbs. It wiggled, holding one of its hands over its eyes, as if trying to improve the clarity of what it was seeing by restricting its field of vision. It then jumped and brought its hands to its head, as if wondering what to do. Either the creature was particularly stupid, its Intelligence points not necessarily being synonymous with wisdom, or it was a trap. Turning to Kol-Gaar, Xicackna discovered that he was no longer there. Suddenly, he appeared in the air behind the monster, spear pointed forward. The creature detected his arrival and turned, letting out a cry of rage. However, it did not move from its place, pulling a small knife from its belt and facing him with trembling legs. She saw that he inflicted 23 points of damage to the Gnome, while keeping it at a sufficient distance with his spear to avoid any retaliation. Firmly camped on its position, the monster did not retreat and tried to counterattack only to find itself pushed back again. With great determination, it managed to get around the spear but failed to hit Kol-Gaar. The latter retaliated with a jet of acid to make his target retreat, then a new attack. This one almost cost him dearly because the Gnome avoided it and tried to slay him. Kol-Gaar majestically countered the attempt and unbalanced the monster, forcing it to retreat Suddenly, wooden spikes burst from the ground where the Gnome had been, piercing it on the spot. If it were not for the strange properties of the System, the Gnome would not have survived. However, it had only lost 9 Hit Points. As the prince pressed his enemy further, wounding it again, the latter finally managed to hit him with its weapon, but it bounced. Xicackna was impressed that Kol-Gaar had been able to avoid being hit for so long. Looking around, the princess did not understand why the guards did not come to their leader''s aid. She assumed that other traps must be set all around, which also explained why the Gnome did not flee despite its obvious disadvantage. Aiming carefully, she spat a magnificent arc of acid that fell right on the creature''s hat. The creature squealed in terror, knowing it was lost, and ended up trying its luck in the middle of the traps. Harassed from the air by the prince and slashed in multiple ways by the wooden spikes springing from the ground, the creature perished very quickly. The two nobles each received 25 XP, without one of them receiving any more by an act of completion: the trap, which had finished off the victim, was not among those who could share the experience. They continued to advance, stopping regularly to disarm the traps they detected along the way. With so many Zcarbbs capable of spotting them in the group, they did not seem to represent a real danger. Spotting a group of Gnomes in front of them, Kol-Gaar had them surrounded by his troops and they ambushed those who thought they were ambush. These Gnomes were armed with strange weapons, a kind of dart projectors that vaguely resembled human rifles but fired at an infinitely slower rate. Despite their piercing properties, the Gnomes inflicted little damage before succumbing. The dungeon continued like this with a minimum of injuries. In fact, the two nobles had not received any. Satisfied with this pace, Xicackna amused herself by seeing her experience climb thanks to her cautious participation in the fights, while wishing for a few opportunities to use her training in a more useful way. Kol-Gaar too, although more silent on the subject, began to inwardly enthuse when he saw that he had almost reached the next level: he needed only another 8 XP! His abdomen vibrated with excitement and he only noticed it when the princess could not help but giggle. A little annoyed, he managed to contain himself. Suddenly, the grassy terrain gave way to a vast plain of large flat stones. A dozen Gnomes were waiting for them there, stamping their feet impatiently. The plain stretched in two directions. On the left, it headed towards cliffs covering the horizon and from which a few mysterious rays of light were emerging. Rain fell there at regular intervals, which was very mysterious and could foreshadow, with the light, the presence of the rainbow of the quest. On the right, they could see a sort of large illuminated palace, perhaps the boss''s refuge. However, what stopped the group dead in its tracks was a terrifying giant surrounded by the small Gnomes. It looked like a version of one of them, but much taller than the giant grass. It peaked like a good-sized hill.
GARDEN GNOME (D), Optional Boss, Level 21 Mechanics Hit points (HP): 1000/1000 Energy Points (EP): 100/100 Vigor: -/- Fury: 0/15 Abilities: Strength: 30 Agility: 2 Armor: 30 Description: The ultimate dream of the Gnomes is to design a perfect version of the legendary "GARDEN GNOME". The level 30 version can fly, but not this one. Attributes (1): Mechanical (Natural Bonus) [Immune to effects intended for biological beings.] Skills (6): Arcane Engine (D) [Artificial Power] [Allows you to use certain skills for an Energy cost instead of Vigor. Consumes Energy for each action. Each offensive action provides 1 Fury point.] Armored (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP] Hand Beam (L, D-rank copy) [Legendary Power] [Projects 3 beams per hand at one to two targets, each dealing some damage. Costs 2 Energy.] [Each beam deals its damage and ignores Armor. They hit in groups of three.] Space Thunder (L, D-rank copy) [Legendary Power] [Projects lightning at a target. Doubles damage on targets below 50% of their Vitality. Costs 3 Energy and 3 Fury points, generates 4 Fury points and causes a cooldown of the skill...] ??[Ignores Armor. Minor and multipliable critical hits against a target equipped with metal] Crusher Punch (L, copy of rank D) [Legendary power] [Can project its fists on its opponents, generating an unblockable attack with doubled force. Ignores 5 points of Armor and destroys them. Costs 50 points of Energy and 10 Points of Fury.] Soundtrack (D) [Artificial power] [Allows to generate background music during combat phases.]
Xicackna turned pale and looked back at Kol-Gaar. The terror on his expression did not reassure her. BONUS : Arena 3 A small, plump creature wiggle in a red jacket adorned with gold buttons. The creature is female and of the order of mammals as indicated by four bumps on her chest. Her skin is covered with light orange fur and she has large, captivating eyes in which an ambitious spirit shines. Her four arms and legs are rounded at their ends, but that does not prevent her from holding a sort of microphone in the crook of her paws. She greets the audience, in the arena and elsewhere, with a satisfied and slightly sinister smile before speaking in a confident voice. Music seems to come out of nowhere to accompany her words: I am GM4 and I welcome you to this ultimate arena event! Welcome to the MJ4 Arena! Today a most exciting match will confront two creatures in a fight to the death! On one side a powerful classic and on the other a surprise. As the arena was divided in two by a solid fog, a blue glow shone in one half of the field. The creature that appeared there was a male of the same species as the announcer. Its fur was light green and thick enough to be his only clothing. He was not smiling. Turning a glance towards the spectators and the announcer, whose presence seemed to transcend the notion of space, he brandished his fluffy fist and shouted: Its me MJ4! They have no right to give you MY name! And then, I protest: you have no right to send me here either! And give me back my jacket! The female creature turns even more towards the audience, in order to speak to them. She does not speak to the creature in the arena: no, it is to you that she speaks. Yes, for real, that is indeed the case. As you can see, this contestant is a fallen GM, the former holder of the name GM4. How many of you are excited to see a GM thrown into the pit? Yes, that is quite the spectacle! The fallen one got even angrier: You have no right! Get me out of here! It''s illegal! The laughter of some spectators follows the exclamations of enthusiasm they had launched at the announcement of the nature of the protagonist of the future bloodbath. The new holder of the post sniggers with them, gargling about her new power, then speaks again to the spectators. And she specifies again in the narration that she is indeed addressing the spectators and not her fellow in disgrace: Indeed, it happens that some individuals do not have the skills required for their position and that their ideas do not have the expected success. Due to the poor performance of this arena, in particular the tiny number of participations in contests and other parts of the event that pay us, compared to the significant Energy expenditure for its operation, I therefore announce to you that this is indeed the last appearance of this arena. But we still end in style with this epic fight, as authorized by the productivity commission, as an example. It is the last fight before the closing of the arena. So, we have, on this side, this fallen and now nameless GM. And, on the other side... The arena shook as the laws of perspective and space were thrown into disarray. The area expanded, while still allowing the spectators to observe every detail of the action without any problem. On the other side of the fog, a gigantic shape stood out. To the audience, it was perfectly visible: a powerful red dragon of colossal size! And facing this powerful GM, now restricted in his powers, we find a classic not to be underestimated: an ancient dragon with formidable power! This is Fashmaug the Rancorous, removed from the game many versions ago, for some technical reasons... We finally have the opportunity to reuse him a little, in a fight that will also delight this hateful being! Yes, you have here an S-rank duel! Without further ado, let''s see the statistics of our two competitors and trigger this confrontation at the top! !
Fallen GM (Magician [adapted]), Level 92 [Rank S] Name: [?] Race: [Fallen GM] Class: Magician [Rank S]; Level 92 Hit points (HP): 2054/2054 Energy Points (EP): 531.392/531.392 Vigor: 1104/1104 Armor: 6/6 Abilities: Strength: 12 Agility: 12 Stamina: 12 Intelligence: 76 Mana: 76 Armor: 6 Description: Once at the top of the food chain, this wretched creature has failed to meet the financial targets outlined in the latest circular and has failed to convince the productivity committee to simply reassign him to a lesser position. Attributes (2): Administrator (Supernatural Modifier) ??Has additional rights in manipulating the System. Revoked (Supernatural Modifier) This individual''s rights over the System have been revoked by the combined power of the internal regulations and an L rank committee. Some skills will also be restricted or blocked. Skills (15): Flight (Levitation) [S] (Natural Power) Allows you to float in the air. Consumes 1 Energy per hour. [Triples consumption if heavily charged.] Telekinesis (B) (Magical Power) Allows you to manipulate objects from a distance by giving them a direction. [Weight, distance and speed vary according to the rank of the skill and the additional Energy spent.] Amplification (A) (Supernatural Power) (Triples the effects of a skill for 25% of maximum Energy points) Magical Armor (A) (Magical Power) Generates magical armor of 40. The armor can also block intangible blows. Consumes 50 Energy per minute and each blocked blow consumes 1 Energy point per ten blocked damage. The level is adjustable. [F=3 for 5/min, E=5 for 10/min, D=10 for 15/min, C=20 for 30/min, B=30 for 40/min, A=40 for 50/min] [It is possible to affix the armor to a target of your choice, but the caster pays the cost.] Magic Shield (A) (Magic Power) Quickly generates a barrier that absorbs magical attacks and physical attacks. The shield absorbs magical attacks and rapid physical attacks by draining the user''s Energy points at a rate of 5 Energy points for 1 point of raw damage. All forms of the user''s Energy regeneration are also blocked for one minute. Counterspell (S) (Magic Power) Allows you to dispel a magical power of equal or lower level that you notice being cast, by paying its Energy cost. You can also reflect it back for triple the Energy required to dispel the power. If you also know this power, the counterspell cost will be halved for dispel and will not be tripled for reflect. By doubling the final cost, it is possible to counter a higher-level power. Destructive Ray (S) [Magical Power] [Magical Energy] [Projects a ray of destructive energy: inflicts damage and applies the attribute of an energy (a basic magical energy will add 1d6 damage per rank)] [Additional damage (optional for a tripled cost in Energy and a cooldown of 5 minutes per rank): (Mana x Intelligence) (Below the power rank S, the maximum additional damage cannot exceed the maximum normal damage.)] Consumption: F=25 Energy; E=50 Energy; D=700 Energy; C=9.000 Energy; B= 30.000 Energy; A=125.000 Energy; S=300.000 Energy [Damage] (base attribute magic) [F=1 to 6; E=1 to 20; D=1 to 100+50; C=3 to 300+100; B=5 to 500+200; A=7 to 700+300; S=10 to 1000+500] Magic Projectiles (S) (Magic Power) [Magic] Projects a random number of magic projectiles at the chosen targets and automatically hits them. Consumes 2 Energy points per projectile] [S= 10 to 200 projectiles] Protection against projectiles (S) (Magic Power) Automatically reflects magical or physical projectiles that would hit you. Costs 1 additional Energy point per ten points of damage (min 0). Cannot block projectiles of rank equal to or lower than the skill. [Physical projectiles of rank F remain blockable.]. Costs 10 Energy points per rank and per minute to maintain. [Note: Below rank A, does not reflect projectiles but repels them] Spell Reflection (S) (Magical Power) Allows you to automatically reflect a magical power of equal or lower level targeting you. The cost of the reflection is equal to twice the Energy used to send (or reflect) the spell. Maintaining Spell Reflection costs 10 Energy points per Hour, minus 1 per rank of the skill above F. Total Invisibility (S) [Magical Power] Allows you to make the target (personal, voluntary ally or object) disappear from sight, consuming 10 Energy per hour. [If the target is an object, it is possible to imbue it in advance with the amount of Energy corresponding to the desired duration. With the exception of disruptive abilities and circumstances, only the caster can cancel the current invisibility.] [A voluntary ally target can break the invisibility of their own free will.]. Quick Incantations (S) [Magic Power] Allows you to cast magical powers more quickly, in cases where they should not be able to be cast simultaneously. Rank F allows you to cast two powers simultaneously and each additional rank increases this number by 1. [It is impossible to use most of the power options in this case.] Additional energy cost of additional powers compared to the cost multiplier of the previous one: [F= x10; E= x9; D= x8; C= x7; B= x6; A= x5; S= x4] Teleportation (SSS) (Magic Power) [Restricted] Allows you to move instantly. The cost is multiplied by the number of people (or equivalent targets) moved. Energy cost: 20/meter (max 300,000AU[1], cooldown 1s/100meter). Magical Healing (L) (Magical Power) [Restricted to S] [Allows you to convert Energy Points to heal Hit Points] [Energy/Hit Points (max at one time): F=5/1; E=5/1to20; D=10/2to40 (Max 20 Energy); C=100/1to100+10 (Max 200 Energy); B=1000/5to500+100 (Max 2000 Energy); A=10,000/10to100+1000 (Max 20,000 Energy); S=100,000/20to2000+2000 (Max 200,000 Energy); SS=500,000/10to1000+5000 (Max 2,000,000 Energy); SSS=1,000,000/10to1000+10,000 (max 10,000,000 Energy); L=1,000,000/full restoration (unlimited)] (Usable at a lower rank) [Using healing requires concentration.] Repair (S) (Magic Power) Allows you to repair equipment and buildings of varying levels from the Repair System, for a variable cost. Class Skills (10): General Grimoire (S) [Restricted] [Magical power, stores secondary magical skills, you can learn more, mainly by deciphering other grimoires] Quick Thinking (C) [Magical Power] Allows you to speed up your thinking. It costs 10 Energy to activate. The power always starts at rank F, but at the end of the duration the user has the choice to extend it by moving to the next rank. After ending, this power has a cooldown of one hour. [F=6 seconds; E= +54 seconds/20 Energy; D=+9 minutes/50 Energy; C=+20minutes/200Energy.] Administrator Access (L) [Supernatural Power] [Revoked] (Access to an unlimited source of Energy. Access to documentation according to the accreditation level. Access to System controls according to the accreditation level.) The All-Seeing Eye (S) (Supernatural Power, Magical Power, [Fusion])) Resulting from the combination of Observation, Analysis, Evaluation and Identification, this ability groups these skills together passively. Actively, it is possible to spend Energy to observe targets from a distance, passing through all means of protection of lower or equal rank. Overpower (S) [Supernatural Power] (Reduces a cooldown to 0. Sets an ability (greater than 10) to 1 for the remaining time of the cooldown (All effects affecting it are also temporarily reduced, except those coming from equipment). This skill has a cooldown equivalent to (rank x cooldown) (this cooldown cannot be modified). [The rank of this skill is fixed and always equals the rank of its user.] Trap Construction (S) (Magical Power) [Revoked] Allows you to generate traps of varying levels from the Trap System, for a variable cost. Charm (S) [Magical Power, takes control of the actions of a living target, transforming them into a servant. It is impossible to give a directly suicidal order or to personally perform an action visibly hostile towards the target.] [Costs 10 Energy Points to activate, then 1 Point per minute to maintain. It is possible to consume up to 10 additional points to strengthen control against a recalcitrant target.] [Each point of Intelligence above the target increases the chance of success, each point of Intelligence below decreases the chance of success. The hidden characteristic Charisma increases the chance of success.] [Each additional target costs double the previous one for all Energy expenditures.] Pathfinder (S) (Magical Power) (Passive) [Revoked] Allows you to analyze traces of passage or determine a path to your destination. Mana Absorption (S) (Magical Power) Allows you to siphon an object to absorb its magic as Energy. Starting at rank C, it is possible to also absorb the Energy of a living target, but the latter can resist it and cause a counter-attack. Starting at rank S, it is possible to absorb an amount of Energy greater than your maximum total. Summon (S) [General] (Magical Power) [Restricted] Allows you to make an object, building, or creature appear, in partial or complete form depending on the skill. [] Having a specific sub-skill for the type of summon increases the probability of success. [New categories of summons can be unlocked through training or a skill book, allowing them to be added to this skill.] SPECIALIZATION: Management Specialization => [Unknown bonus] ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Babelfish (S) [Gives access to the Universal Translator skill] [Implant] SECURA-01 (S) [unknown bonus] [Implant] Hidden Trait (1): ? (Missing data)
! !
Red Dragon (Ancient), Level 98 [Rank S] Name: Fashmaug the Rancorous Race: [Red Dragon] Class: ? [Rank S]; Level 98 Hit points (HP): 8552/8552 Energy Points (EP): 47.334/47.334 Vigor: 7252/7252 Armor: 76/76 Abilities: Strength: 112 Agility: 11 Stamina: 74 Intelligence: 21 Mana: 23 Armor: 76 Perception: 106 Description: Of all the dragons, the red ones are considered the most classic. They breathe fire and become more and more fearsome with age. As proud as they are greedy and violent, they do not appreciate those who disdain them under the pretext of being classic and will prove with fire and blood that the classics are still the best... then they will steal the treasures of their victims... Attributes (2): Dragon (Natural Modifier) ??Dragons automatically change rank as they age. If they dont have enough XP, they gain enough to reach the minimum of their age rank. Some of dragons natural abilities evolve in the same way. Dragons have a different class system based on age: adding a class to it only gives them a wider range of abilities. [Starting Rank: E, Starting Level: 5] Innate Property (Natural Modifier) ??[Fire] The creature is considered imbued with the Fire property. It does not have the ability to imbue its attacks with this property. Skills (15): Scale Armor [S] [Passive Natural Ability, +70 Armor, +300 HP] Fly (Wings) [D] [Natural Ability] (1 Vigor per minute) [Triples consumption if heavily laden.] Fire Breath [S] [Natural Power] [Fire] [inflicts damage and applies the attribute of a fire energy] Cooldown [Usable at different levels: the last level used determines the cooldown.] [F=1 minute; E=30 seconds; D=2 minutes; C=3 minutes; B=5mn; A=10mn; S=15mn Consumption: at levels F and E, costs as much Vigor as a regular action. D=10% Max Vigor, C=25% Max Vigor, B=30% Max Vigor, A=50% Max Vigor, S=60% Max Vigor. Regulated Breath option: for ranks D to S, 1 chance in 6 to reimburse 50% of the cost in Vigor. BUT then increases the chances of dodge of the targets by 5% per rank of the ability. [Damage] (attribute fire) [F=1 to 20; E=1 to 20; D=1 to 100+10; C=3 to 300+20; B=5 to 500+30; A=7 to 700+40; S=10 to 1000+100] [Additional damage (optional for a doubled cost in Vigor and a doubled cooldown to which is added 1 minute per rank beyond F): (Mana x Endurance)] Perfect Memory (banned skill) [L] (natural power) Makes you immune to lower-rank psychic powers. Allows you to have a perfect memory. From rank S, makes you immune to memory erasures and XP loss. [Passive: increases intelligence by 1 point per rank. (+10)] Polyglot (S) (Supernatural power) [Universal translation and decryption of most codes, for the most complex ones, its only being facilitated.] Diving attack (air) [F] (Natural power) Allows you to chain two quick attacks after an aerial dive. Locate object [S] (Magical power) [posture] Allows you to visualize and locate a specific object. Passes through protections of lower or equal rank, depending on the compared power of will. Perception (SS) (Supernatural power) [Passive] Allows you to detect presences around you. [Many parameters can affect the mastery of this skill]. It is possible to use this skill actively by spending 1 Energy OR Vigor per second (depending on the mastery of the skill) to increase the detection capacity, in precision and/or distance. [Increases the Perception characteristic by 10 per rank (+80).] Perfect Vision (S) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to see better and further, including in low light conditions. Allows you to zoom in on a point of interest. Night vision added. +15 to the chance to hit. Allows you to see certain data from the System. Sixth Sense (D) (Supernatural Power) [+10% to detect nearby invisible or camouflaged enemies, +1 Intelligence] [+20 Perception] Superior Strength (C) (Natural Power) [Passive] [Your Strength is permanently increased by 20] Rapid Regeneration (A) (Supernatural Power) (You regain 30 additional Health Points per hour. Or accelerate your regeneration by consuming 30 Energy Points per 10 seconds or 300 Vigor Points per 10 seconds to regain 30 Health Points per 10 seconds) [A wound by fire or acid blocks this skill for one minute per point of damage.] Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Decryption [C] (Natural Power) Increases intuition to decipher a riddle or an unknown document. Evaluation (S) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to understand the value of an object or material and to evaluate the price that can be obtained from it on the chosen markets. [Evaluation can suggest uses for the target being evaluated.] Identification (S) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to discover the properties of a target, in particular the uses that can be made of it. [Identification can allow you to discover part of the history of the identified target.] Class Skills (10): General Grimoire (S) [Restricted] [Magical Intimidate (S) (Supernatural Power) Worries enemies. Targets below S rank may faint. Targets below B rank may die [Costs 5000 Vigor per use] Magic Attack (S) (Magic Power) [Uses X Energy points to replace up to X damage points from your attack (if successful) with magic-type damage. [Maximum of X: S=no limit] [Possibility to add an available property to the magic damage type for double the Energy cost.] [Available properties: Fire, Psy.] Damage Reflection (S) (Magic Power) Allows you to reflect part of the damage (and effects) received to the attacker for a number of Energy points equal to the TOTAL damage received by this blow. This reflection is considered a homing attack. The skill can only be used every [F=1mn; E=10mn; D=30mn; C=1H; B=8H; A=12H; S=24H]. The damage reflected corresponds to [F=1%; E=10%; D=25%; C=50%; B=75%; A=100%; S=110%]. If you use the skill at a lower level, its cooldown is independent of other skill levels already used. Hardening (A) (Supernatural Power) Temporarily increases armor. Consumes Vigor per minute. Level is adjustable. [F=3 for 10/min, E=5 for 15/min, D=10 for 20/min, C=20 for 30/min, B=30 for 40/min, A=40 for 50/min] Damage Reduction (S) (Supernatural Power) [A portion of the damage (max 30) taken is removed from Vigor instead of Vitality.] Second Wind (A) (Supernatural Power) (You regain 5 Vigor Points per level every 10 seconds.) [Max +50] Conversion (B) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to use Life, Energy or Vigor Points instead of Energy or Vigor points. Exchange rate 6 to get 1. The maximum that can be obtained in one go is 400. Protection against scrying (S) (Magical Power) Protects the user against all types of magical or supernatural scrying. The probability of success depends on the skill rank, opposing will and concentration. The protection lasts 24 Hours and its renewal is automatically proposed. The cost of the protection is 10 Energy. It is possible to divide the cost per hour, but in this case the renewal is not proposed. Parry & Counter (S) (Supernatural Power, [Fusion]) Resulting from the combination of Parry and Counter. [Obtain a 70% chance of parrying an attack (including magical) at the cost of 500 Vigor points. The higher the enemy''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.] [If you successfully counter a magical attack, immediately spend as many Vigor points as the raw damage normally received. If you do not have enough Vigor, do not spend any and receive the attack. [Modification: The skill owner''s System manipulation allows him to face magical attacks without spending more Vigor.]] (It is possible to use it at a lower level) [Passive] [Gain a 40% chance to reflect an attack if successfully parried.] [Gives a 7% chance to automatically parry] Domination (A) [Magical Power, takes control of the actions of a living target, transforming them into a servant. It is impossible to give a directly suicidal order or to personally perform an action visibly hostile towards the target.] [Costs 10 Energy Points to activate, then 1 Point per minute to maintain. It is possible to consume up to 10 additional points to strengthen control against a recalcitrant target.] [Each point of Intelligence above the target increases the chance of success, each point of Intelligence below decreases the chance of success. The hidden characteristic Charisma increases the chance of success.] [Each additional target costs double the previous one for all Energy expenditures.] SPECIALIZATION: Vengeance Specialization => [Doubles damage against a designated hated enemy. Cannot reassign a new enemy for 24H] ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: - Hidden Trait (1): Draconic Obsession (Dragons are immune to any mental effects that distract them from their objective or treasure.)
! Fashmaug the Rancorous did not move as the mist cleared and his opponent appeared. Centuries of fighting the System had made him cautious. However, upon hearing the announcers words, he could not prevent what looked like a ferocious smile from appearing on his draconic features. He now looked at the small, hated creature before him. He opened his wide maw and sneered: MISERABLE CREATURE! YOU WILL PAY FOR ALL THE OTHERS! MAY YOUR ATROCIOUS DEATH BE FOR THEM AN EXAMPLE OF THEIR FUTURE FATE! Lifting his head, he roared so powerfully that the ground shook. All who knew the draconic tongue could hear the curses he poured out against the GMs and all their hated kin. He might still be a prisoner, and probably for a long time to come, but this distraction was a real gift from his enemies. He appreciated it very much and would thank them to their faces, the day he tore out their entrails. The ancient dragon turned his attention to his victim. The fight was about to begin! The fallen GM grimaced. There was no way to talk his way out of here. He turned his full attention to the monster in front of him. No fear troubled him: the wretched creature would soon see the difference between a mere monster and a Game Master!
Skill Quick Thinking [F] used by [?] [S] Consumption of 10 Energy points. Duration 6 seconds.
His thoughts quickened, allowing him to calmly prepare his strategy for victory. First, analyze the opponent.
Skill The All-Seeing Eye [S] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon The active skill Protection from Scrying [S] has successfully canceled your attempt.
Damned, he thought quickly, this monster has protections. Given the level of pride of the dragons, there is no point in using the additional options of the power to try to force his barrier: he would surely resist it However, Fashmaug was a known boss. Even though he had been retired for a long time, his former stats were still known. His life could be estimated at something like 8000 Hit Points, probably. Might as well finish him quickly. Observing his own skill list, he began to list those that would not be useful to him. He might as well forget about the revoked ones, since they were considered linked to his former status as GM. Some had also been restricted for the same reasons, but he could still use them to a certain extent. Summon probably wouldnt be very useful in its limited form. Usually, he could make all sorts of objects, creatures and buildings appear, quickly building any dungeon, but in the current state of the skill, he could probably only summon a random creature. However, from memory, Fashmaug had a skill similar to Charm. If the summoned creature was able to be useful, the fight would turn into a duel for the mental domination of the unfortunate summoned and he wasnt sure he could win such a duel against the will of a dragon. Similarly, the Charm skill wouldnt be useful to him. First, because a dragon of his level, with his hidden trait of draconic obsession, could easily resist it. Second, because having a similar skill would further increase the difficulty. The All-Seeing Eye had just proven its ineffectiveness against the monsters anti-scrutiny skill. The General Grimoire notably allowed him to access the entire range of S-rank spells, but in its restricted form, it would only allow him a few small sleights of hand (like deflecting the course of his destructive ray, for example, or giving it a more stylish shape). Repair was useless without equipment to repair. Normally, Total Invisibility would have given him an advantage beyond measure. However, dragons generally developed the skill Perception, when they were not simply born with it. From what he remembered, Fashmaug''s skill Perception was particularly high for a dragon, completely removing any advantage to being invisible. Protection against projectiles was also useless, except in the unlikely case where the dragon had a power generating projectiles. The terrain, sandy and devoid of obstacles, did not offer him the possibility of throwing rocks, for example with a powerful blow of his tail. Finally, Telekinesis would probably not be very useful, for lack of things to manipulate... Or perhaps he could create a screen using sand? No: the dragon''s Perception would make this subterfuge useless. Flight wouldnt be much use either, unless he was looking for an aerial duel, but he was used to levitating in the air and had triggered that ability as soon as he arrived at the arena. It cost him next to nothing anyway, and it was better than walking on ugh sand! It stuck to your fur and is a pain to clean up; at least it was one less distraction. Well, he thought as he pointed his finger at the enemy, this wont last long anyway. Ill finish this quickly with a destructive ray. Ill use amplification to triple its damage, which will cost me one hundred and thirty-two thousand eight hundred and forty-eight Energy points. Ill have enough left to fire a category S or A ray. A is a better choice because by tripling the cost, I could add my additional damage bonus which is five thousand seven hundred and seventy-six. So, I would do raw damage of 927 to 3036, to which will be added the five thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, which being optional are not multiplied. That''s a minimum damage of 6703 and a maximum of 8812. That shouldn''t be enough for a one-shot, except with luck... Knowing that the enemy''s Agility is probably not high, there''s no chance he can dodge a magic ray... With an average of 7757 damage points and considering that the enemy has around 8000, that''ll be a little over 300 to eliminate if the enemy survives. In this case, a new D rank beam using the damage bonus, which will be reduced to 168 with an average of random damage at 109, or 277 And I would then have 2533 Energy points left Its risky, but the enemy should be shaken enough to allow me to successfully use Mana Absorption, which should allow me to pick up enough I could also just use Quick Incantations with the Destructive Beam? No: this option wouldnt allow me to use the damage bonus and its profitability would be meh Bad. Come on: Lets get this over with!
Skill Amplification [A] used by [?] [S] Consumption of 132.848 Energy points.
Skill Destructive Ray [A] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon [S] Option additional damage chosen: cost multiplied by 3 The skill is affected by Amplification Consumption of 375.000 Energy points.
From the fallen GM''s finger, a gigantic beam of energy was generated, growing to be three times larger than its caster. For a moment, it was no longer possible to see the target due to the intense brightness of the magic beam.
Skill Damage Reflection [S] used by Fashmaug the Rancorous [S] Consumption of 7723 Energy points, cooldown 24 Hours Reflects 8495 damage (magical). Hated Enemy increases damage to 16.990.
All the hairs on the former GMs body stood on, which was equivalent to an extreme paling, quite understandable as he saw the powerful ray coming back towards him. No time to teleport. Generating magic armor would be useless against such a sum of power: his only solution was the magic shield, but it would require 42.475 Energy points to absorb such a quantity of magic and he only had 23.533 left! The attack was still of a magical nature and, moreover, Damage Reflection was also a magical power type skill: he could therefore face it like a normal spell. Counterspell would be useless because the spell was already cast But Spell Reflection could work. Of course, normally, he wouldnt have time. However, one of the hidden bonuses of Quick Incantations was the ability to cast any magical power more quickly, at no additional cost.
The duration of the skill Quick Thinking [F] has ended. Do you wish to extend it? Yes/No
A simple quick thought allowed him to approve this essential extension.
Skill Quick Thinking [E] used by [?] [S] Consumption of 20 Energy points. Duration 54 seconds.
Skill Spell Reflection [S] used by [?] [S] Consumption of 4 Energy points.
The attack [???] emitted by Ancient Dragon [S] is reflected by the skill Spell Reflection [S] active on [?] [S] Consumption of 15.446 Energy points. Reflects 16.990 points of damage (magic)
As it was about to reach the little furry creature, the ray went back in the other direction, as if having hit an invisible wall. Fashmaug grimaced as the beam came back at him. He had survived enough fights to recognize a finishing move when he saw one, and he knew how to use the quintessence of his gifts to disappoint his opponents expectations. However, he hated to owe his survival to a risky gamble. He could have taken the first attack and still had enough hit points to hope to come out on top: after such a display of power, the enemy mage probably didnt have much Energy left. However, once reflected and multiplied by the effects of his specialization, the powerful attack now came back at him, absolutely deadly. Of course, he still had a good chance of surviving and even a chance of winning in one hit.
Skill Parry&Counter [S] used by Fashmaug the Rancorous [S] Consumption of 500 Vigor points.
With a defiant roar, the dragon made a sudden movement of its paw that swept the beam away, sending it crashing into the invisible dome that protected the spectators in the bleachers. The dome shook a little under the force of the shock, but it was mostly a dramatic effect, because it was very solid. Damn, thought the dragon, the automatic activation didnt happen and I had to use a bit of my strength Oh, and then I couldnt send that damned death ray back at him Well, I have plenty of other ways to kill him in reserve!
[?] [Fallen GM] Level 92 Hit Points (HP): 2054/2054 Energy Points (EP): 8063/531.392 Vigor: 1104/1104 Armor: 6/6
Fashmaug the Rancorous [Ancient Red Dragon] Level 98 Hit Points (HP): 8552/8552 Energy Points (EP): 39.611/47.334 Vigor: 6752/7252 Armor: 76/76
Well, what a fierce fight, right from the start. It was close, but the end could have come in those first seconds! But, isn''t one of our competitors in a bad position now? Fashmaug raised his head in joyful fury: ITS MY TURN NOW!
Skill Conversion [B] used by Fashmaug the Rancorous [S] 2400 Energy points are converted into 400 Vigor points.
The dragon rose abruptly into the air, carried by his powerful wings, before diving down at high speed and sweeping the ground with his claws in two powerful attacks. It had lasted the time of a blink of an eye
Skill Teleportation [SSS] used by [?] [S] Consumption of 200 Energy points (10 meters).
The former GM, deprived of his name, looked with a certain disdain at the dragon that had just landed in a whirlwind of sand at his former location. An attack at that speed, I have no trouble dodging it! He reached out towards the enemy form and concentrated on recovering his only chance of victory:
Skill Mana Absorption [S] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon [S] The skill has been adapted to be used on a living being. The skill can be countered with a risk of backlash!
Success: 18% of the target''s Energy has been absorbed! 6697 Energy Points have been obtained! A tiny amount of Energy has been lost in the ether...
DAMNED THIEF! roared the dragon. YOUR DEATH IS COMING SOON!
[?] [Fallen GM] Level 92 Hit Points (HP): 2054/2054 Energy Points (EP): 14.560/531.392 Vigor: 1104/1104 Armor: 6/6
Fashmaug the Rancorous [Ancient Red Dragon] Level 98 Hit Points (HP): 8552/8552 Energy Points (EP): 30.513/47.334 Vigor: 7248/7252 Armor: 76/76
The smaller of the two competitors considered his options. First of all, the enemy seemed to have the skill Parry & Counter at a high level. It was therefore necessary to avoid single attacks and focus on multiplying attacks. Each use of Parry & Counter cost a lot of Vigor and, if the dragon decided to use it at a lower rank to reduce this loss, it would be much less effective and more attacks would succeed. The former GM was not used to fighting without an unlimited supply of magic: he had to consider other methods than the usual ones and rely on spells of lesser power. For example, with Quick Incantations, he could fire four Destructive Rays of rank E for 4250[2] Energy points and a miserable total of 8 to 104 damage points. But by using the almost forgotten skill of magic projectiles, he could activate it four times for 1280 to 25600 Energy points for a total of 40 to 800 points of damage, but the expenditure could exceed his current total Energy. He could also be more cautious and limit the additional cost in Energy by activating it three times for 320 to 6400 Energy points, for a total of 30 to 600 points of damage Knowing that he was not certain of being able to successfully recover Energy again, this option was the most reliable. Of course, this strategy would be reduced to nothing in the case where the enemy had magic armor or a magic resistance higher than 1, this value corresponding to the fixed magic damage inflicted by each projectile. However, from what he knew of the dragons build, he seemed to rely more on his ability to physically deflect magical attacks. It was effective against single, powerful attacks, but it wouldnt be able to do anything against weak multiple attacks, except for taking them with his vitality The dragon let out a ferocious roar, pulling back his long neck as if he were gathering momentum to spit something out. He was clearly preparing to launch an area attack. If he teleported, the dragon would immediately spot his new location thanks to his heightened perception and simply change the target of his attack. It would be faster than physical movement and probably impossible to dodge with this technique But it could probably resist it. He waved his hand in the air, then forward. Multiple bright stars, oscillating in color between purple and blue, dotted the space above his head, then transformed into streaks of light plunging towards the enemy in curved trajectories. At the same time, the dragon''s neck suddenly projected forward and a torrent of fire gushed out, covering the ground in front of him with an infernal blaze.
Skill Magic Projectiles [S] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon [S] Consumption of 218 Energy points for 109 projectiles.
Skill Magic Projectiles [S] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon [S] Consumption of 736 Energy points for 92 projectiles.
Skill Magic Projectiles [S] used by [?] [S] on Ancient Dragon [S] Consumption of 3968 Energy points for 124 projectiles.
Skill Fire Breath [A] used by Fashmaug the Rancorous [S] Option additional damage chosen: cost multiplied by 2 and cooldown doubled then increased by 6 minutes Consumption of 7252 Energy points, cooldown of 36mn
Fashmaug gritted his teeth as his body trembled under the pounding of hundreds of tiny projectiles. His reflexes, conditioned by his skills, made his paws move at a prodigious speed and he sent back several clouds of projectiles, some of them towards the sender. His 7% chance of automatic parry had a high probability of activating against such a number of attacks. He nevertheless noted that he had taken 273 points of damage. His Vigor having fallen to zero, he had not been able to use damage reduction to take some of it, and the magical nature of the projectiles ignored his natural armor. But such damage was a pittance against the force of nature that he was... Just 3.2% of his vitality... He was still in quite a bit of pain, but he preferred to avoid thinking about it too much, knowing that part of his thoughts was being transcribed to the spectators.
DANGER! Your Vigor is at 0! Temporary penalty: Inability to move Inability to attack Inability to dodge Damage taken multiplied by 2 All types of regeneration divided by 2 These penalties will persist as long as you remain below 10 Vigor points!
Oh yeah, that was annoying. Using Conversion would be less profitable while he was in this state. However, in ten seconds, his diminished regeneration would have restored 25 points of Vigor and he would be freed from this state Still, it was lucky that the effect of the loss of vigor had triggered after he had taken the damage: otherwise, he would have lost 6% of his life and not 3% He turned his attention back to the smoke rising from the vitrified sand. With the doubling of damage brought by his specialization, it was unlikely that his target was still alive. The fact that the result had not yet been announced meant nothing: GMs loved to leave suspense As the flames covered the horizon, the nameless being took the most of the advantages that fast thinking gave him. He calculated the time it would take for the flames to reach him and the time between his last spell and the moment when he could cast another without it being counted in his quick incantations extra costs. Thanks to this, by the time the flames reached him, he was able to project his magic shield without incurring any extra Energy costs. Unfortunately, it was not possible to use teleportation in this short period of time What was particularly annoying about the dragon breath was that it was a natural skill and not a magical one, which limited the options he had to protect himself from it. The heat was scorching and, on its own, would have been enough to kill a creature not adapted to the System. Many metals would melt instantly, and if he had equipment, he would have to fear for its integrity. In this case, his fur was linked to his hit points: as long as they were not attacked, it was safe In front of his outstretched hand, a transparent bubble of luminous blue unfolded, surrounding the mage with its protective globe.
Skill Magic Shield [A] used by [?] [S] 4082 raw damage points encountered. 1927 damage points were absorbed in return of 9635 Energy points Any form of Energy regeneration of [?] [S] will be blocked for 1 minute
As the fire and fury dissipated, the scene became clear to the audience again:
[?] [Fallen GM] Level 92 Hit Points (HP): -95/2054 Energy Points (EP): 3/531.392 Vigor: 1104/1104 Armor: 6/6
Fashmaug the Rancorous [Ancient Red Dragon] Level 98 Hit Points (HP): 8279/8552 Energy Points (EP): 30.513/47.334 Vigor: 0/7252 Armor: 76/76
Of the old GM, there remained only a small pile of ash that was scattered by about twenty magic projectiles that, falling from the sky, had been sent back by the dragon. The dragon raised its head towards the sky, roared: VICTORY! THIS IS THE FATE I WILL MAKE YOU ALL SUFFER! TO ALL THE GMs, BUT ALSO TO YOU, THE SPECTATORS! I WILL BURN YOU! THEN I WILL BURN THE UNIVERSE! BURN! And so, we have a winner, who loudly expresses it, and a loser. Yes, all the experience and power of this GM was not enough or perhaps worked against him If he had had a hundred more hit points, or five hundred more Energy points, who knows if he could not have pulled himself together, taking advantage of his opponents temporary weakness? He could have absorbed his Energy more efficiently, to replenish his reserve, using his Overpower skill to reduce the waiting time generated by his shield to zero... Similarly, the attack at the beginning would have probably killed one or the other of the fighters instantly, or put him close to death, if it had hit... Battles are always a field where skill alone is not enough and where sometimes, luck determines the end... Although it is preferable to also have the skill to correctly steer the result, of course: let us not deny the incredible talents of our irascible winner. We leave you now, and this arena closes its doors for good... A final message from our directors, intended for those of our employees among the spectators: meet the profitability objectives!
[1] 1AU= 149.597.870.700m [2] He probably didn''t make a mistake in his calculations but I''m NOT going to recalculate all that AGAIN! (For my sanity ^^) Chapter 35: Night Garden (2) Perched on a foot of the abominable mechanical monster, one of the Gnomes exulted. If its language was not comprehensible, its thoughts clearly indicated what could also be guessed: Tremble before the omnipotence of Gnome engineering! Leaping to the ground, it bounced with the help of strange springs. In several increasingly smaller jumps, it found himself at ground level. Like its eleven other companions, it then made tools and DIY equipment appear out of nowhere, each assembling a few mysterious weapons.
Gnome Engineer, level 5 [Rank F] Hit points (HP): 135/135 Energy Points (EP): 64/70 Vigor: 35/35 Abilities: Strength: 3 Agility: 4 Stamina: 7 Intelligence: 14 Mana: 1 Armor (natural): 0 Description: Enduring and particularly clever, Gnomes dont seem very dangerous before you encounter their dangerous inventions Attributes (0): Skills (5): Imaginary Sounds [F] (Magical Power) Allows everyone to hear sounds that do not exist and seem to originate from a specific point. Costs 1 Energy per second. Detection (F): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things and points of interest. Identification (F) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to discover the properties of a target, including the uses that can be made of it. [Identification can allow you to discover part of the history of the identified target.] Trap Construction (F) (Natural Power) Allows you to build simple traps from a small amount of material. Dodge [F] (Natural Power) [Get a 5% chance of avoiding a targeted attack. The higher the enemy''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.] Class Skills (3): Gadget (F) (Natural Power) Allows you to quickly design small, useful but weakly durable equipment using a minimum of materials. The characteristics of the equipment will be more interesting with a high Intelligence. Repair (F) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to restore resistance points to equipment or a machine using a minimum of materials. Summon Tools (F) (Magical Power) Allows you to make tools and a minimum of materials appear out of nowhere for immediate use. Costs 5 Energy points per minute. The materials used will not disappear if the power is ended. [Nature of summons differs depending on the class]
Whats that? Xicackna asked through the Hive Mind. How come a D-level monster is in this F-level dungeon? Whats that! Its its an optional boss, which means we dont have to fight it to finish the dungeon This type of monster can exceed the level of its dungeon He suddenly steeled himself and gave his orders out loud: Its not its size that should impress us! Apart from life, its characteristics arent that high! Half of you, eliminate the minions! The others and Xicackna, with me on the monster! Follow the placement instructions! Immediately, everyones ideal path appeared in windows, a side effect of the skill Stratagem. With her heart pounding, Xicackna followed Kol-Gaar into battle against the giant automaton. As the Zcarbbs rushed forward, the steel giant began to move. It was extremely slow, but the distance it could cover in one step made up for this disadvantage. Before its enemies could reach the engineers, it was already blocking their path. A strange music filled the air, with unknown lyrics in gnomic. The Garden Gnome struck the ground with its colossal fist. Although they tried to dodge it, two soldiers found themselves caught in the crushed area. They both escaped, one having lost 34 Hit Points, but the other having suffered a critical hit that made it lose 205 Points. In exchange, the monster suffered the acidic riposte of the twelve Zcarbbs inflicting 128 points of damage. Against a monster as armored as them, it was better to use acid, which bypassed this protection. Unfortunately, this attack would not be reusable immediately. As the giant struck again, they defended themselves as best they could with their weapons, harassing it from all sides and collectively inflicting 45 points of damage. I cant even scratch it! complained Xicackna. Then try to reach the Gnomes! I didnt do anything to it this time either, but at this rate, the vic Suddenly straightening up, the artificial monster had just stretched out its hands in front of it and three rays of light shot out. One of the trios was dodged by its target but another soldier was hit, losing 19 Hit Points. Even capable of passing through its armor, the impressive ability had had however little effect. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Yes, victory is within reach! If the following attacks barely scratched the paint of the "Garden Gnome", the acid would soon be ready for a new devastating attack. Aiming at the damaged parts... A gnomic cry burst out over the music, different from the one shouted during the previous attack. Suddenly, the mechanical monster''s hat lit up: lightning crackled around it. The monster leaned over and the hat tilted towards a target. Immediately, the lightning left the apparent headgear to dive on the soldier in the worst shape. It was immediately grilled and collapsed lifeless. Xicackna, meanwhile, was successfully facing one of the Gnomes, when the others came to it support, bombarding her with small piercing projectiles. It was painful, seeming to pierce her chitin like nothing. Several of their devices fell to pieces in their hands and they struggled to repair it quickly. One of them was carrying a disturbing object from which flames were escaping The princess immediately retreated towards one of the guards, using her sprint, her sixth sense screaming at her to avoid this confrontation. Seeing the Gnomes becoming a threat again, Kol-Gaar ordered his soldiers to first spit on the giant and then for half of them to go and eliminate these nuisances. The giant struck again with its fist then, under the rain of blows from the insects surrounding it, pointed its hat at its next target. The warrior trembled under the lightning strike and smoked afterwards, but it came out alive. The fierce fight continued, the giant sometimes striking with its fists, always hitting at least a few warriors because of its size, or using its fingers with piercing rays. Some soldiers had clung to the monster and were holding on tight, trying to strike repeatedly in the seemingly more fragile parts of its metal skin. The monster struck another soldier with lightning, who, barely surviving, moved away from the fight on Kol-Gaar''s orders. Then, the metal giant straightened up, pointing its fists forward and powerfully projecting a new word in Gnomish. Immediately, the two fists detached themselves from the monster, flying into the air at lightning speed, as if projected by a trail of fire that allowed them to change direction. One of them headed towards Kol-Gaar and the other towards one of the soldiers in good condition who was massacring the Gnomes. The attack was so fast that neither one could dodge. They both got up from this final attack with their shells dented and a hundred Hit Points less. If, in a duel confrontation, this attack would have definitely turned the tide of the fight in favor of the enemy, the adventurers continued to have the advantage of numbers here and all turned in the direction of the giant to rain down acid while the destructive rays rained down around them without, this time, hitting a target.
GARDEN GNOME (D), Optional Boss, Level 21 Mechanics Hit points (HP): 448/1000 Energy Points (EP): 25/100 Vigor: -/- Fury: 3/15
The monster''s steel was impressively hard to have resisted the acid so well, but it wouldn''t last forever... Aiming at the soldier far from the fight, the monster seemed to want to prove the opposite by knocking it down, then projected its rays against Kol-Gaar, seeming more and more to focus on the leader of the group. Bursting out laughing, the prince rushed to the attack with a reinvigorated will: the wound had been slight and he had already calculated a victorious outcome. The fight continued, fierce, the night illuminated by lightning and the rays of the giant who little by little succumbed to the ant-like assaults of the Zcarbbs... Well, especially during the phases where they spat their acid, but it was a fight well on the way to victory...
GARDEN GNOME (D), Optional Boss, Level 21 Mechanics Hit points (HP): 117/1000 Energy Points (EP): 2/100 Vigor: -/- Fury: 15/15
The giant lifted its fist from the ground, sticky with the greenish blood of a crushed Zcarbb. Inside the soulless monster, Xicackna had finally detected a spark of life, a pilot who animated this monstrous automaton. Her " Thought Observation" skill was still unable to perceive the thoughts of her targets enough to detect their environment through their senses, but she guessed that it must be observing dials or windows of the System and that it was panicking. ƥ륨ͥ륮`ȼФg `Щ``ɣ֤ʥե``ų[1] The pilots thoughts were incomprehensible, cluttered with unfamiliar technical jargon. It seemed to have forgotten to equip its machine with a system necessary for prolonged fight, or something like that. Nevertheless, one thing was certain: it was finished. Spit! Kol-Gaar ordered through the Hive Mind. But its steel finally melting everywhere, the automaton was still functional. Its enormous hand advanced towards Kol-Gaar
GARDEN GNOME (D), Optional Boss, Level 21 Mechanics Hit points (HP): 56/1000 Energy Points (EP): 1/100 Vigor: -/- Fury: 16!/15
Suddenly, the internal mechanism of the "Garden Gnome" exploded and the monster split in two, throwing the mechanical head and the pieces of the pilot it contained far into the air. The giant''s components melted, leaving a gigantic void inside its half body...
Optional BOSS: GARDEN GNOME (D), Level 21 defeated: Combat XP: 63
Shared between the ten survivors[2], the XP from this hard fight was not very numerous. However, they were enough for Kol-Gaar and one of the soldiers (perhaps the one who received the XP for completion) to move up a level. A slight light surrounded them for a second, repairing their injuries and regenerating their points. The prince, a satisfied smile on his lips, immediately attributed his point gained to one of his characteristics and began to think about the new skill he was going to acquire from the choice offered to him. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard. On the side of the infinite cliff, it was suddenly torn apart by a large luminous opening. A colossus emerged from it, making the ground tremble with its incredible mass. Each step brought it closer and made it seem bigger. At full speed, the Zcarbbs abandoned the remains of the automaton to hide among the giant grass.
COLOSSUS (S), ??, Level ???
Xicackna''s gaze fell on Kol-Gaar with such insistence and terror that, without telepathy or use of the Hive Mind, he understood her question. No, it''s not another optional boss: there are still limits in the System. It must be a natural danger: an element of the landscape that is best avoided... This did not reassure the princess who hid, trembling, invisible, against the prince''s side. The latter, also terrified, ordered the formation of a defensive wall around them by the soldiers. He knew that it would be useless if the immense thing attacked them... The colossus let out a howl like thunder then lowered itself, its gigantic hands lifting the carcass of the destroyed Sub-boss. It let out new roars that made the earth shake and the wind blow. Despite her terror, the princess perceived fragments of thoughts emanating from this nightmarish being: Damn it! My garden gnome! They broke my garden gnome! Dirty thugs! Really, what country do we live in that kids behave like this at night? I''ll slap those [Expression of insult] if I find them...
[1] "Critical Energy! Fuel Out Near!" "Core Overload! Evacuate Excess Fury!" [2] Information: Dead people do not gain XP Bonus event announcement
Bonus event announcement: Following requests from some of you, especially those from a certain location, A Q&A (Questions and Answers) event will be held at the end of this season. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. GM4 will answer all[1] your questions. You can ask your questions, whether they concern the GMs or directly the Game of Worlds, in the area intended for the communication of your interaction support. No limit of questions per person, these will nevertheless be anonymized. It is possible to ask your questions here until the date (still uncertain) when the response event will take place.
[1] Subject to possible restrictions depending on your location area Chapter 36: Night Garden (3) The monster moved away without spotting anything, taking the remains of the mechanical monster with it. The great glow of the cliffs disappeared and everything seemed to return to normal. Breathing with relief, the Zcarbbs began to study the loot removed by the soldiers from the enemy carcass.
Rainbow armor [C]: The piece Engineer Gizmo was working on before his defeat. Would its completion have changed the outcome of the fight? [+10 Armor (immune to armor-destroying effects), +2 Strength] [Repulsion Special Ability: Throws a targeted nearby enemy back, causing minor damage with no armor reduction. 30-minute cooldown.] [Minimum Level Required: 25]
Actarus'' Ring (D): Just a Tinker''s Ring: Its owner tampered with the System to change its name. [Grants the ability to use the skills "Repair (E)" and "Summon Tinker''s Tools (E)"]
Skill Book (Rare): Gadget (D) (Natural Power) Allows you to quickly design small, useful but weakly durable equipment using a minimum of materials. The characteristics of the equipment will be more interesting with a high Intelligence.
Characteristic Book (Very Rare): Tome of Intelligence +1
The information given by the combination of the two nobles'' skills was very interesting. Well, at this distance it was mainly "Analysis" that did all the work. Reading the details of the ring, Xicackna thought that the enemies of this dungeon must have made interesting progress in their understanding of the System. As for the armor... Where does this armor come from? It seems to be our size but made of the automaton''s torso... Well... The System sometimes transforms part of the bodies of defeated bosses into useful equipment. Unfortunately, neither of us can use this piece: I''ll have to bring it back to the armory. He made the item disappear in his inventory then grabbed the ring. I''ll take this... And why you? Xicackna bit her mouth after saying these words. She had gotten into the bad habit of always antagonizing Kol-Gaar, because of his frequent annoyance with her, but now she was giving him plenty of opportunities to get in a few good retorts. After all, what use had she been during this fight? Yes, she had faced a Gnome and spat her acid, half as often as the others because her skill was of a lower rank But deep down, she didnt feel like she had been very useful. I have a trap building skill that will be greatly enhanced by those given as a bonus by this item. Ah, look at my adventurer sheet Surprisingly, he hadnt taken the opportunity to criticize her and even revealed his entire sheet to her, allowing the princess to see all of his data for the first time:
Status: Name: Kol-Gaar Race: [Zcarbb] Class: Strategist [rank E] Level 18 Profession: Prince Hit points (HP): 570(+0)/570 (+36) Energy Points (EP): 4212 (+442)/4212 (+468) Vigor: 270 (+0)/270 (+36) Armor: 31 (+7)/31 (+7) Current experience: 8555 Experience needed for next level: 895 Abilities: Strength: 13 (+3!) Agility: 13 (+3!) Stamina: 15 (+2!) Intelligence: 26 Armor (natural): 31 (+7!) Mana: 9 (+1!) Luck: 3 Points available: 0 Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Attributes (1): Hive Mind (Natural Power) [Ability to transmit limited information to the hive over a variable distance] Skills (7): Chitin Armor (D) [passive natural power, +30 Armor, +100 HP] Acid throw (E) [Natural power, level 1/3] Metamorphosis (E) [Natural power, level1] [Allows you to partially change your appearance] Total immunity to acid [D] [Natural power] Flight (wings) [D] [Natural power] [1 Vigor per minute, 3 Vigor per minute if heavily loaded] Regenerating acid [E] (Supernatural power) [Cannot be used on oneself but allows passive self-cicatrization, overcomes acid resistances] [Can be combined with acid throw for more distance; regenerates 1d20+5 hit points of the target and heals wounds, costs 10 Vigor to use but cannot be used again for 1 hour on the same target] Time freeze [D] (Magical power) Allows you to stop your enemies. Any damage inflicted stops the power. [Energy costs: 10x(target''s rank)/minute; multiple targets possible; If the power is interrupted, the target is immune for 10 minutes; targets can resist each minute by using up to 10 points of their Energy (or Vigor) per level, to increase the cost to the caster by double the Energy; targets of a higher rank than the skill cost 10 times more Energy to immobilize.] Class Skills (9): Stratagem (D) (Supernatural Power) [The System provides you with tools to develop your plans] [Hidden Trait [Unlocked] "Hidden Hand" half of your skills are undetectable (based on detection level), 1/3 of your characteristics will appear higher and 1/3 will appear lower] Intimidate (E) (Supernatural Power) Worries enemies [Costs 10 Vigor per use] Provoke (E) (Supernatural Power) Irritates enemies [Costs 5 Vigor per use] Analyze (D) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to obtain very detailed information on a nearby target. [This power allows you to understand in depth the nature of the targets analyzed; allows you to protect your information from an Analysis skill of equal or lower level] Detection (E) (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible objects, and points of interest. Smoke Cloud [E] (Magical Power) Generates a cloud of smoke that obscures most perception abilities. [Costs 20 Energy; +Additional Energy to extend the area; costs 5 Energy if the area is less than 1 meter; costs 10 Energy per minute to maintain] Trap Construction [F] (Natural Power) Allows you to build simple traps from a small amount of materials. Heat Detection [F] (Magical Power) Allows you to detect heat sources even through walls. [1 Energy point per 10 seconds] ? ACTIVE EQUIPMENT: Hive Defense Spear (E) [+2 Armor; +2 Stamina] [2-handed weapon] Minor Bracers of Strength (E) [+3 Strength] [Arm Ornament, Pair] 2x Armor Necklace (E) [+1 Armor] [Neck Ornament] Energy Regeneration Ring (D) [+10 Energy Regeneration per Minute] Focus Headband (E) [+1 Mana] [Head Armor] Leather Gloves (F) [+1 Agility] [Hand Armor] Adventurer''s Tunic (E) [+2 Armor, +1 Agility] [Chest Armor] Leather Leg Guards (F) [+1 Armor] [Leg Armor] Pedestrian Protection Bandages [F] [+1 Agility] [Foot Armor]
Oh, the princess wondered, you have an Energy regeneration ring now? And what''s that symbol at the end of your class skills? Does it replace one of the skills? Yes, the ring came from one of my previous dungeons. The queen decided that I would have custody of it again, given my recent Energy outages. As for the skill, it''s just that I haven''t chosen it yet... Could you take the skill book instead? It seems to complement what you already have. I''m not sure that this new skill falls within the scope of my class skills... Look at what''s being offered to me.
Class Skill Gain As you progress in your mastery of your class, you can choose one additional class skill from the three skills below: Magic Trap (E) (Magic Power) Allows you to remotely generate magic traps using attributes that match your other abilities. The traps will become invisible for one second after they are placed. Depending on your mastery level, it is possible to configure the traps [see extended description.]. [The attribute "Raw Energy" is added to the available power attributes.] Falsification (D) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to falsify the information that other users of the System can obtain about you. Observation (E) (Supernatural Power) [allows you to obtain information on targets using the System [allows you to see the target of the focus from afar; allows you to protect your information from an "Observation" skill of equal or lower level]] [Observation can make it easier to detect camouflaged enemies or points of interest.]
It seems like you influenced me a bit given the choices offered... I could take the Observation skill to benefit from my Analysis skill from afar, but it would be stupid to have two skills that are so similar... I could take Falsification, but I don''t think I need it, even against an enemy capable of studying me: my stratagem skill has its uses to hide my assets, especially when I master it better... So that leaves only Magic Trap... but is it the right choice when I can build other traps manually? Xicackna felt flattered that he finally acknowledged her opinion. For her part, the possibility of building magic traps from a distance seemed tempting, especially given the way Kol-Gaar had used his own traps against the first Gnome: his sense of strategy would surely allow him to use this skill well. However, "Observation" was also very interesting for spotting the characteristics of enemies well before facing them... I think you should take Magic Trap. This will give you an effective weapon to disrupt enemy lines without putting yourself in danger. I think so too. He confirmed his choice then turned his gaze towards the two books that were floating slightly in the air when not touched. You had to open them to see a window appear proposing their actions. It was a curious appearance for books: a sort of square covered on two sides and on one edge by a sort of leather protection, while the pages inside seemed to be made of a sort of leaves rather than solid amber pages... Wait a moment! the princess suddenly cried. Your class skills do not match the documents I studied! How so? Kol-Gaar asked her, taken aback. I mean, if you were already mature at the time of the Disaster, then you should have only developed five or six class skills I received my class before When I was metamorphosing The prince''s gaze became severe and Xicackna looked away, sorry for bringing back bad memories. Putting one of the books in his inventory, he abruptly handed her the other one. Surprised to receive this gift despite the prince''s bad mood, she wanted to refuse at first, considering the fact that he needed more points in Energy than she did, but he did not waver: It''s for you that we are here. Open this book and validate the window that will appear: you will then absorb the object and receive an intelligence point. The funny thing is that you will be able to read this book by diving into your memory. I have never found one before, but I was told about it. Given the point given, it will probably be a book on mathematics or other fascinating subjects. Full of curiosity for what she was going to discover, Xicackna followed the instructions. Chapter 37: Night Garden (4) The following hours, the Zcarbbs searched the surroundings of the cliffs in the hope of finding the treasure of the quest. If they managed to observe a few rainbows generated by the mysterious light and the water falling at a regular rhythm, they could not find the foot where the treasure should be. They fought a few Gnomes and sometimes encountered a few giant insects that did not show themselves to be hostile. Abandoning this chimerical treasure, they headed towards the luminous palace where the enemy boss should be: it was time to finish this dungeon. The palace bordered a vast pond where other strange luminous constructions rose. The Gnomes swarmed around, transporting multiple materials from one place to another for some mysterious activities. Kol-Gaar seemed to be having fun with his new skill, ambushing the enemies to gradually reduce their numbers before the assault on the palace. If, seeing a strange luminous symbol appear on the ground, some Gnomes avoided the trap, the Zcarbbs had until then always managed to eliminate them quickly enough to prevent them from raising the alarm. Then, it was the final assault! Emerging from everywhere, the Gnomes fired with their small projectile weapons, slowly nibbling away at the attackers'' Hit Points. Their resistance was however futile, so their trump card entered the field. The doors of the palace opened wide and a small man, smaller than the majority of the Gnomes, came out. He was dressed in a strange metal armor from which multiple dials and gears emerged. He seemed to be tampering with it using his tools, modifying it, adding components similar to weapons, all this with astonishing speed.
Big Ears, Boss level 10 Hit points (HP): 230/230 Energy Points (EP): 440/440 Vigor: 80/80 Abilities: Strength: 4 Agility: 5 Stamina: 8 Intelligence: 22 Mana: 2 Armor: 1 Description: Big Ears leads the Gnomes of the Night Garden thanks to his fantastic intelligence allowing him to control a mechanical army. Attributes (0): Skills (6): Imaginary Sounds [E] (Magical Power) Allows everyone to hear sounds that do not exist and seem to originate from a specific point. Costs 1 Energy per second. Detection (D): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things and points of interest. Identification (D) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to discover the properties of a target, including the uses that can be made of it. [Identification can allow you to discover part of the history of the identified target.] Trap Construction (D) (Natural Power) Allows you to build simple traps from a small amount of material. Dodge [D] (Natural Power) [Get a 15% chance of avoiding a targeted attack. The higher the enemy''s Agility is compared to yours, the more the percentage will decrease.] [Each point of agility more than your opponent increases the chance of dodging by 1% [Max D=+10%]] Universal Translator (B) (Supernatural Power, [Fusion]) Resulting from the fusion of Reader and Polyglot. Combines the two skills based on the higher of the two. Class Skills (6): Gadget (D) (Natural Power) Allows you to quickly design small, useful but weakly durable equipment using a minimum of materials. The characteristics of the equipment will be more interesting with a high Intelligence. Repair (E) (Supernatural Power) Allows you to restore resistance points to equipment or a machine using a minimum of materials. Summon Tools (D) (Magical Power) Allows you to make tools and a minimum of materials appear out of nowhere for immediate use. Costs 5 Energy points per minute. The materials used will not disappear if the power is ended. [Nature of summons differs depending on the class] Summon Weapons (E) (Magical Power) Summon weapons out of thin air. Costs 5 Energy per minute. [Quality varies with skill rank.] Summon Armor (E) (Magical Power) Summon armor pieces out of thin air and automatically equip them. Costs 5 Energy per minute. [Quality varies with skill rank.] Summon Mechs (C) (Magical Power) Summon mechanical creatures from the Workshop to fight at your side. Costs 10 Energy per rank for each creature to summon for 1 minute, and X Energy per creature per rank to maintain each hour thereafter.
As new devices were added to his armor, powered by some magnetism, the little creature took a useless pose that it must have thought impressive and pointed at the adventurers: Take on someone your own size instead! Xicackna glanced at Kol-Gaar, saying silently, An easier dungeon? Kol-Gaar raised his eyebrows and said silently too, Dungeons are unpredictable. and then, Come on, he doesn''t look that bad. Then he gave his movement orders. Three soldiers to eliminate the henchmen, or at least keep them busy to deflect the shots, all the others were to approach the enemy to lure him into the magical traps that the prince summoned in his blind spot. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! But the leader of the monsters wouldn''t let himself be approached, summoning eight automatons out of nowhere. As hideous to the Zcarbbs as their creators, because they looked like them, they grotesquely waddled their metal mass to surround their creator with a protective circle while lively music echoed in the air.
Mecha-gnome, Level 5 [Rank F] Mechanics Hit points (HP): 145/145 Energy Points (EP): 70/70 Vigor: -/- Fury: 0/5 Abilities: Strength: 10 Agility: 2 Armor: 10 Description: The first thing a Gnome inventor dreams of is creating servants that look like him. Attributes (1): Mechanical (Natural Bonus) [Immune to effects intended for biological beings.] Skills (4): Arcane Engine (F) [Artificial Power] [Allows you to use certain skills for an Energy cost instead of Vigor. Consumes Energy for each action. Each offensive action provides 1 Fury point.] Detection (F): (Supernatural Power) Increases the probability of detecting traps, invisible things and points of interest. Armored (F) [passive natural power, +10 Armor, +10 HP] Soundtrack (F) [Artificial power] [Allows to generate background music during combat phases.]
Zcarbbs and Gnomes fought for a long time, but compared to the fight against the giant automaton, this final boss was hardly impressive. Compensating for his low vitality by summoning new, sometimes more advanced, mechanics to replace those whose cogs filled the battlefield, the leader of the Gnomes also used multiple gadgets to cause significant damage or escape his enemies. A machine gun as effective as human ones, back thrusters lifting him into the air, giant mechanical armor offering him additional protection... Despite all his tricks, his Hit Points eventually reached zero. As he collapsed, struck to death in the middle of a pile of debris from his inventions, the other Gnomes scattered in a frantic flight. Surrounded by the triumphant Zcarbbs, Big Ears had a last gasp of agony despite his statistics already indicating him as dead. Words escaped his lips like a whisper of regret: We were so close to the truth Then he stopped moving.
BOSS: Big Ears (E), Level 10 Defeated: Combat XP: 20
Xicackna circled the enemys remains in triumph a dozen times, totally intoxicated by her successive uses of sprint during the battle. She had discovered that despite its absence from the description, acceleration increased the chances of dodging, reminding her that normal physics always interfered with the absurdities induced by the System. This had encouraged her to serve as a distraction by attracting the attention of the automatons. Despite Kol-Gaar and the soldiers disapproval of her endangerment, the tactic had worked well and limited the damage suffered by their group. Reassured of her ability to be useful to the group, she circled three more times before collapsing to the ground with a spinning head. Kol-Gaar sighed but made no comment, also enthusiastic about this victory without loss of troops and without feeling like he had come close to death. They gathered around the spoils to share it. There was a book called Secrets Discovered, a pair of metal gauntlets that had mysteriously been the right size for the wrists of the two noble Zcarbbs and those of the soldiers by some visual aberrations, a mana potion and a strange metal box called a wave jammer. Xicackna quickly grabbed the book before Kol-Gaar could claim it for his hive. I''ll take that! He didn''t answer but grabbed the rest and put it in his inventory, completing the division. It didn''t matter much: Xicackna was convinced that this book contained some really interesting secrets. There was little pragmatism in her reasoning but a strong feeling. Opening the book, she saw a window offering her the possibility to consume it. Inwardly amused by the idea of ??literally devouring a book, she accepted.
The Recurring Book You have already read this book.
And... That was all? Reviewing her memory, the young Zcarbb could clearly see the contents of the previously absorbed Intelligence tome, but the new book invariably gave this result. Panicked, worried, but mainly frustrated, she shared her dismay with Kol-Gaar and shared the vision of this window with him. He was also surprised: No: I don''t see what that means. I''ve never heard of such a thing. We''ll see about that later: how much XP are you missing? Ah... So, absorbing the Dungeon Heart won''t be enough. We''ll have to hunt Gnomes... About twenty, unless we manage to make you deliver the finishing blow... But are there still that many Gnomes left? Or else we find three that we eliminate and we validate the quest consisting of killing 100 enemies? Visibly embarrassed, Kol-Gaar didnt admit to having forgotten this quest and approved the plan. The soldiers immediately set off to hunt for survivors. They even brought back two alive so that Xicackna could finish them off.
"Hunting" (F) Group Quest Completed XP Bonus: 100 Current Experience: 2601 Stored Experience: 3907 Experience needed for next level: 99
Good. Kol-Gaar said, picking up the Dungeon Heart and handing it to the princess. Its time to leave now.
Dungeon Heart [The Night Garden] [F] [Proof of conquering a Dungeon. Can be consumed for additional experience, stat, or skill gain.]
Dungeon The Night Garden Dungeon Boss Defeated Big Ears [Rank E] Time Remaining Before Dungeon Destruction: 1 min
Dungeon Clearing (E) Group Quest Completed XP Bonus: 100 Current Experience: 2651 Stored Experience: 3957 Experience needed for next level: 49
As the Zcarbbs quietly passed through the usual portal, the two nobles were surprised at the shorter time than usual before the dungeon was destroyed. What could be the reason? Could there be hidden secrets? Would the world of the dungeon, with its monstrous colossus inhabiting the cliff, disappear or did some dungeons actually remain intact? None of these questions would be answered during this discussion. Finally safe from all danger, Xicackna swallowed the heart of the Dungeon. She was beginning to find them particularly pleasant to taste, no doubt due to some psychological effects. This was the third Heart she had absorbed. Would she end up receiving an achievement if this continued?
You obtain the skill: Plant Control (E) (Magical Power) Allows you to manipulate vegetation and multiply its abilities. Power varies according to level and Intelligence. You have no skill slots available. Please select a skill to destroy, or the option to convert this skill gained for 200 XP.
After hesitating for a long time, without being able to choose a skill to sacrifice, Xicackna opted for level-up. After all, there wouldn''t always be plants available around her, so she might as well choose to discover the next skills offered by the System with the new level... Chapiter 38: Back to the futu… I mean back to the hive… It was finally time to return! Once back at the hive, the powerful queen Xl-tar-Lomenia had given Xicackna her return stone and finally allowed her to take her leave. She shattered the stone in her hands, surprised at how easily it could be done. There were probably some magical mechanisms inside that bound this destruction to her will. Black and blue velvets suddenly surrounded her and she found herself sucked into the sidereal void.
Alteworld: intermediate zone Dominant specie: Not-specified Danger level: Maximum
The nothingness that surrounded her, with its mysterious dancing colors, was as terrifying as the last time. However, the princess had hardened herself: she had seen these places before and had survived much worse. The announced maximum danger was not visible and would probably not interfere with her journey. Circles of color formed in front of her, like smoke rings that she crossed at full speed. The last time, she had fainted. This time, despite an excruciating pain in her head, she managed to stay conscious while her vision blurred. She closed her eyes one second and the next she was under the transparent dome of Xana-Eloba''s machine. Clumsily, her limbs numb from the dimensional journey, she manipulated the interior openings to leave the machine. Xana-Eloba''s laboratory was strangely empty. Dusty and often crumbling machines were piled up much more than before, but there was not a soul alive, not even a worker. A little worried, she headed for the exit and stopped, stunned. This part of the palace had been completely remodeled into a vast room teeming with mysterious equipment and with many empty spaces. Tunnels left from both ends, heavily frequented as if this place was now an essential passage point of the palace. It was perhaps even one of the main poles of the internal defense. It was Xana-Eloba''s new laboratory, bigger, more efficient. All the Zcarbbs that our princess could observe were dressed in strange metallic clothes quite similar to the armor of the leader of the Gnomes by the presence of multiple dials and mysterious gadgets. Xana-Eloba noticed her presence and stopped her activity to come and greet her, dressed in a suit ten times more provided with various gadgets than those of the others. Xicackna! Finally, you''re back. We can say that you missed quite a few changes! But when she asked to know more, the Engineer didn''t answer right away: as usual, Xana-Eloba would go into detail about many things, saving the important revelations for the end. Guiding Xicackna through the new maze of the hive, whose walls were now covered with metal reinforcement plates, she gradually explained the many changes, stopping from time to time to point out this or that machine and say oh, that''s a latest-generation air purifier: a real little gem that I have... or That''s a control window, developed from the idea of ??copying the System: it allows you to remotely control different systems of the hive that.... Of course, she ended up indicating the most important thing: There was an announcement from the System saying ''Fantasy is really boring: we''re going to move on to SF now''. And what does that mean? No idea But now Ive unlocked new blueprints for my System abilities And heres the result! The corridor ended with a heavy metal door that opened by itself as they approached. Behind it, a large glass dome revealed a stunning landscape. Xicackna had the impression that they had climbed gradually as they moved through the hive, but now she discovered an outside that had nothing to do with that of their old world: a large arid plain riddled with holes stretched as far as the eye could see under an atmosphereless sky where the stars shone. More impressive still: in the sky floated gigantic metal constructions, each larger than the entire hive. Here is the new space fleet of the Xolona hive! Celestial ships capable of traveling through space. They have a propulsion system based on Stabilisium that can allow them to travel almost instantly to distant stars to bring Civilization there. Satisfied with the completely astonished expression of the young princess, her elder tapped the strange gadgets that covered her clothes and, immediately, a luminous beam blinded them. Opening their eyes, they found themselves on a metal walkway facing huge windows where they could contemplate the rocky appearance of the mass sheltering the Dungeon: they were aboard one of the spaceships. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. How? Oh, explained Xana-Eloba, a simple teleportation system. It''s not difficult to build now that we understand how the System works. It''s basically a System for instantaneous teleportation of matter with transformation of it into energy, immediate transport of the energy and retransformation of it into a material form. A much more complex process than this simple popularization, I grant you, but once it is analyzed, teleportation is much simpler to perform than more complex actions, such as remotely assembling a spaceship using a simple plan... Looking around, Xicackna saw many Zcarbbs in suits pacing the place, walking on the ceilings as well as on the ground, the soldiers carrying strange weapons that looked infinitely more complex than human rifles. In a large and comfortable armchair, a princess was slumped and waving at him. Oh... Xicackna... Are you finally back? Xor-Pha? Glad to see you again... What are you doing? Well... I lead this fleet. Xicackna frowned her chitinous eyebrows, instinctively doubting that the lazy princess could have been assigned such an important task. At the same time, most of the vital and defensive functions had to be occupied by soldiers and workers who would know what to do in case of her failure. Ah... Okay... And where are you going? The princess opened dreamy eyes in which the stars that covered the horizon were reflected. I''m going after my dreams. I''ve been seeing him in my dreams for a long time: my prince of space... I''ve been talking to him in my dreams... We''ve talked a lot and now I''m going to find him. There are countless Zcarbb hives out there, far away in space, fighting against the monsters... Our queen Xa-tar-Lona sent me as an ambassador for our hive and has allowed me to settle there as a vassal hive... It''s really... magnificent... The princess with the midnight blue shell wiped away a tear that was falling under the influence of emotion. Suddenly, a thunderous voice disrupted the moment. Before she even turned around, Xicackna knew who it belonged to. And I''m the military advisor of the expedition! I''m the one who says what to shoot and when... Well, as soon as we see something! Xafara! Our Mother entrusts you with a military post? The young red-shelled Zcarbb was equipped with a whole arsenal of war, as if she wanted to have it at hand to use whenever the mood struck her. Far from getting upset by Xicacknas criticism, she grimaced with an amused smile. Yeah Well, she said something about how at least I wouldnt risk finding myself in the middle of enemies with an axe in my hand, but that with our new weapons I could fight from the safety of our ships She glanced around and muttered: Well, she doesnt know about my semi-automated war armor that can transform between a ship form and a giant space Zcarbb form But dont worry: I had it put with the best armoring available and a whole bunch of weapons that will reduce enemies to dust before they can even attack me Ah! Ah! Ah! It''s going to be great! A sigh drew Xicackna''s attention to another princess who had just arrived. Xilofane rolled her eyes, having heard Xafara''s murmurs perfectly despite the strange helmet that hid her hearing. I don''t think she''ll live long enough to give birth to a hive... Anyway, nice to see you again Xicackna. You are joining our mission, it seems? I... no: I have to go make my report... Turning back to where Xana-Eloba had been, she saw an image of her made up of strange blue lights. Behind, the glass walls no longer showed the large rock wandering in space but only an infinite sea of ??stars. Ah, said the image, sorry Xicackna, I forgot to tell you that you were leaving with the expedition... Well, you were talking among yourselves and I didn''t want to interrupt you... But, my data? My report for the queen? Oh, you''ll send it to us remotely: we have the devices for that now. Good luck! And the image faded. Shocked, Xicackna turned a questioning look towards Xilofane who smiled kindly at her. Ah, that''s how it is these days: despite all the developments in our travel and communication technologies, it seems that we have less and less time and are in more and more of a hurry. We are already thousands of years behind at the speed of light compared to our old Dungeon. Come on, follow me: I''ll show you how to use our data processing devices. By the way, my job is communications officer. However, I was not informed of the position you were to hold. Perhaps a radar lookout? I suppose that once your Observation skill has been adapted to the System''s spatial update, you will have some facilities in this area... Suddenly, red lights began to flash. The stars, which had temporarily disappeared when the ship accelerated, reappeared when it abruptly re-entered normal space. Through the glass, other strangely shaped ships could be seen lining up in front of the Zcarbb fleet. A window, similar to those of the System, appeared in the air, producing an image rather than text. It showed a sort of pot-bellied Human wearing a suit covered in small pieces of metal, probably more artistic than practical. Behind him, stretched a control room quite similar to that of the Zcarbbs but where monsters of various species were busy. The voice of the leader of these monsters echoed mysteriously in the air: I am Commander Grumble of the Administrative Defense Fleet of the Madd System. Under the two thousand two hundred and third ceasefire agreement between the Universal Administration and the Zcarbbs, you have no right of passage in this system. Accordingly, I order you to shut down your machines and lay down your weapons. This is an official warning, in accordance with article one hundred and forty-three of the twelfth regulation of the Before anyone could react, Xafara grabbed a small instrument that Xilofane was carrying and replied to the Human: Are you kidding us? Our allies only signed these agreements so that you would leave us alone! We will not allow ourselves to be taken prisoner and give you our ships simply because we are passing through your solar system! All battle stations: FIRE AT WILL! Immediately, the air vibrated with rays of light of all colors, shooting from one ship to crash into an invisible shield protecting another. The combat maneuvers began. With a sigh of resignation, Xilofane retrieved her device from Xafara''s hands: Give it back to me: I have to warn the alliance to prepare a two thousand two hundred and fourth agreement... And perhaps also send us reinforcements against those that the enemy will soon ask for... As Xafara rushed to her command post, behind a screen, to direct her troops; as Xilofane calmly explained to a few distant queens that she needed to be sent a few thousand ships urgently; as Xor-Pha snored, probably dreaming of her space prince; Xicackna gazed fascinated at the gigantic structures that were clashing across space. This was now the new face of the war!