Eternal Rest

The day before embarking on his dungeon climb, Bones meticulously reviewed his progress. Since the dungeon run with the dwarves two months prior, he had completed two solo dungeon runs without finishing the second stage. The difference in experience was evident, as he now found himself over-leveled compared to most of the monsters. During this time, he had only gained one level in each class and a race.

The remaining time between dungeon runs was dedicated to his profession, and it proved to be time well spent. His mana engraving skill had advanced from level 4 to level 9, earning him a free attribute point at level 5, which he allocated to the VIT attribute.

With all the free points gained from his Soul Weaver class invested into WIS, Bones decided to channel the free points from his profession and Bonemancer Adept class into VIT moving forward. This decision aimed to strengthen his Bone Armor and enhance the effect of his passive Calcium Carbonate skill. The increased mana regeneration from Meditation provided just enough boost for comfortable spellcasting without the risk of running out of mana.

“Status.”

Status

Attributes

Name: Bones

Race: Undead Skeleton lvl 23

Class: Bonemancer Adept Lvl 30

Soul Weaver lvl 9

Profession: Mana Engraver lvl 9

Hp - 510 (5.1 hp/s)

Mp - 910 (38.3+7.66 mp/s)

Sta - ∞

STR: 27

AGI: 5

END: 5

VIT: 51

INT: 93

WIS: 29

Free points:

Bones acknowledged that his point distribution had become somewhat disorganized, lacking a clear path. He had been allocating points based on intuition rather than adhering to a set distribution plan, and he didn't anticipate this changing anytime soon.

The intensive engraving he had undertaken over the past month had left him mentally and spiritually drained, and he could feel the strain on his body from the excessive use of mana. This was one of the motivating factors behind his decision to focus on boosting his VIT, in the hopes of alleviating some of the strain he was experiencing.

On the day of the dungeon run, Solin convened the team at a small pub near the tower, a popular gathering spot for adventurers. There, he introduced Bones to the rest of the team and outlined a few rules they followed as a cohesive unit. With a veteran defender and damage dealers among them, the party leaned heavily towards offense. Opting not to start from the first floor, where monsters were below level thirty, the team's average level stood at thirty-two, with Bones—the lowest level in the party—sitting at level thirty after gaining a level previously.

While Solin had organized the dungeon run, the leadership fell to a middle-aged defender named Vern. Vern possessed an unusual variant class specializing in shielding abilities and shield attacks. He wielded a giant shield vertically instead of horizontally and went into battle without any weapon equipped. The rest of the party comprised another rogue, similar to Solin, armed with a sword and a dagger in the off hand, and a ranger variant class capable of lesser healing and summoning spectral wolves for short durations. Bones assumed the role of a support mage, accompanied by his golem in combat.

Upon reaching the safe zone inside the dungeon, Bones proudly summoned his golem from the dimensional space provided by his newly acquired class skill, Bone Collector. This skill proved to be greatly beneficial and came at the perfect moment for their expedition.

Bone Collector [passive] - is an add-on to the Inventory which allows the user to store and separate bones according to type, size and quality. The Bonemancer gains an ability to store created constructs and golems and reduce the time needed to repair a conszruct while stored.

Bones had always been able to store and retrieve bones from his inventory, but now they were neatly organized in a separate tab. Additionally, his golem had its own private slot in his inventory.

Solin whistled in amazement and leaned in closer to ask Bones if the golem was wearing his old gear. Bones confirmed that was indeed the case, explaining that the equipment gave the golem the appearance of a proper adventurer.

"Well, it's great to have an addition to the party. Our ranger also has a summoning ability, but it's short-term," Solin remarked before walking over to the rest of the team. Bones followed suit, and after confirming that everyone was ready, they stepped outside the safe zone and onto the path leading deeper into the lush green vegetation of a tropical forest.

Glancing around, Bones observed his surroundings. "Is it not an open space?" he inquired. One of the damage dealers, the one with a sword and a dagger, responded to his question. "Nah, not on this floor anyway. The path is pretty straightforward, and the instance is private—just us inside."

Bones nodded in understanding. The first floor consisted of a vast area with numerous linear paths, each designated for a single instance. This setup ensured that each party had its own instance of a stage, preventing any potential loot stealing by other parties. High walls of roots and vines further partitioned the area, preventing access to the other side where another instance likely existed. Whether direct interaction with these other instances was possible remained unknown to Bones and his teammates.

As they delved deeper into the dungeon's second floor, themed around plant wildlife—a new experience for Bones—Solin's warning resonated. He cautioned against relaxing or underestimating the monsters, emphasizing the potential struggle of battling against plants. Soon enough, Bones understood the validity of Solin's words. The party navigated along the earth path covered in vines and roots, with no clear road to walk on, with movements detected in the nearby forest. Though Bones sensed the presence of something, he remained silent, noting that the others were also on alert but refrained from voicing their observations.

The leaves rustled as whatever was moving approached rapidly, and moments later, a wild boar charged through the foliage. It collapsed onto the path in front of them, hindered by vines ensnaring its hind legs. Watching in fascination, Bones witnessed more vines emerge from the forest, ensnaring the boar and dragging it back into the bushes from which it had emerged. The sound of distant squeals echoed through the forest, silenced shortly after.

Bones turned to Solin, who simply shrugged and remarked, "Monster plants, man." Aside from the plant creatures, the party expected to encounter insects, small beasts like boars, venomous snakes, and arthropods. They were now heading toward one such miniboss.

The party dispatched beasts and monsters with practiced ease, their cohesion evident as they seamlessly coordinated their actions. Each member knew their role and contributed effectively to the group's success. Bones, positioned at the rear, kept his golem ready to intervene if needed, while the defender demonstrated capable leadership, guiding the party forward with confidence. The ranger and rogue skillfully held off vines and beasts, preventing them from breaching the party's defenses.

Of particular note was Solin, whose abilities had undergone a significant improvement since he last trained with Bones. The progress was surprising, reflecting Solin's dedication and growth as an adventurer.

For Bones, the current dungeon run contrasted sharply with his previous experience with the dwarves. In that instance, they had breezed through the dungeon, effortlessly overpowering everything in their path. However, this time, the challenge matched their level, requiring a more deliberate approach. As they encountered their first obstacle—a rushing mushroom creature—Vern's command to spread out was met with immediate compliance from Bones, who instinctively fell into formation while assessing the threat before them.

Myconid Sprout, level 31

As the sprout closed in, the defender Vern sprang into action, rushing forward to intercept it. With a swift slide, he positioned himself between the sprout and the rest of the party. The moment the sprout collided with Vern's shield, a deafening boom reverberated through the air, sending the defender stumbling backward. In the spot where the sprout had been, a cloud of green substance lingered—a clear sign of poison.

"Is everyone alright?" Vern called out, quickly ensuring the safety of the team. After receiving affirmations from the others, he signaled for them to press on. However, their path was soon obstructed by more sprouts, sometimes attacking in pairs or even trios. It became apparent that the sprouts' primary tactic was to detonate themselves upon reaching their target. Despite their best efforts, there were a few close calls, particularly for Solin and the other rogue, who found themselves caught in the rapidly spreading poison fog due to their close-quarters combat tactics.

Solin swiftly activated a skill to counter the poison, bringing relief to the party as the toxic effects subsided. Meanwhile, the other rogue quickly consumed a potion, bolstering his poison resistance and nullifying its effects for the duration. The ranger's innate nature affinity provided him with a natural resistance to poison, further supported by his passive healing regeneration, which helped mitigate any lingering effects. With his high constitution and vitality, the defender proved resilient to the poison's effects, experiencing only a minimal impact.

As the others tended to their recovery, Bones took advantage of his natural immunity to poison, studying the surrounding plants while they rested. His immunity allowed him to explore the flora without concern for toxic effects, potentially uncovering valuable resources.

As the path ahead split into two, the party veered down a side path, drawing closer to their first miniboss encounter. Arriving in a spacious clearing devoid of grass and vines, shaded by towering trees, the team came to a halt. With practiced efficiency, they assumed their formation: the defender positioned at the forefront, flanked by the rogues on either side, while Bones and the ranger remained positioned at the rear.

"Alright, everyone knows their role! Bones, stick close to Gareth and maintain your distance," Vern cautioned, addressing the ranger by name. Gareth nodded in acknowledgment, readying himself for the imminent confrontation. The anticipation grew palpable as the ground trembled under the weight of approaching footsteps, the rhythmic skittering of countless legs heralding the miniboss's arrival.

As the miniboss closed in on the team, the thunderous thumping of its approach abruptly ceased, replaced by the rustling of leaves and snapping of branches. Suddenly, a massive centipede descended from the trees, landing squarely in front of Vern. Without hesitation, it lunged forward, its venomous fangs aimed directly at the defender. Vern reacted swiftly, deflecting the strike with a forceful bash, sending the creature's head recoiling. Solin swiftly joined the fray, targeting the soft spots between the segments of its body, while the other rogue mirrored his efforts on the opposite side.

Meanwhile, the ranger preemptively adjusted his position, anticipating the centipede's attack and seeking a strategic advantage. Sensing an opportunity, Bones unleashed Bone Spikes, aiming to cripple the creature's multitude of legs and hinder its mobility. The battle was underway, each member of the party seamlessly executing their roles in the coordinated assault against the formidable opponent.

The centipede proved to be a formidable adversary, its segmented body and multitude of legs granting it unparalleled agility and flexibility. Despite its erratic movements, Vern skillfully maintained its focus with taunting maneuvers, drawing the creature's attention away from the rest of the party. Bones keenly observed the fluctuations of mana surrounding the centipede each time the defender employed his taunt skill, puzzled by its mysterious effect on the creature's behavior.

Meanwhile, the two rogues executed a nimble dance around the colossal body, deftly evading the thrashing of its legs while inflicting precise, bleeding wounds upon its segmented form. Positioned strategically, the ranger utilized his spectral wolves to slow the centipede's movements, preventing it from delivering venomous strikes to Vern. With their jaws firmly clamped onto the creature's frontal legs, the spectral wolves effectively hindered its mobility and protected the defender from harm.

At the rear of the battlefield, Bones's golem launched relentless berserking assaults upon the centipede, its powerful strikes penetrating the creature's segments with each blow. Though only a fraction of its attacks found their mark, the cumulative damage steadily mounted, wearing down the creature's formidable defenses over time.

As the centipede's health dwindled to a mere 20%, its frenzied convulsions sent shockwaves through the clearing, prompting the party to retreat momentarily. Suddenly, the creature curled into a defensive fetal position, its segments tightly coiled as it prepared for its final gambit. Vern's urgent warning pierced the air just as a noxious gas erupted from the gaps between its segmented body, billowing outwards and enveloping the vicinity in a cloud of poisonous vapor.

Vern, equipped with a sturdy helmet and fortified by his robust vitality, resisted the paralyzing effects of the poison with relative ease. Solin swiftly activated his skill to counteract the toxin, but it took him precious moments to recover from its debilitating effects. Meanwhile, the ranger and the other rogue succumbed to the paralytic venom, immobilized and unable to move.

Unaffected by the poison's influence, Bones and his golem pressed on, launching a relentless barrage of attacks upon the incapacitated centipede. With each strike, they whittled away at its remaining strength, steadfastly holding the line until their comrades regained their mobility and rejoined the fray.