The New Bond

Aster

Pulling up my bow, I used the go-to skill, Frosted Arrow, letting the cold mana fill the head as I took several steps back. Once ready, I let the arrow fly. At the same time, Kat and Wren passed me. The arrow hit but only sunk in an inch. Pulling out another arrow, I repeated the process, the thrum of the bowstring marking my pace as I moved to the side near a pillar. Wren moved up, his feet and sword glowing a pale blue. I watched as he lifted his shield, grunting and taking a step back when one of the spider's legs collided with his shield. He angled the shield slightly, letting the leg slide off the shield, the exoskeleton causing sparks. Bringing his sword down, he bit deep into the spider's leg. It didn’t carve clean through, which was a tell of how thick the chitin had to be.

Orbs of light flew past my side, moving high and shedding light over the battle. It reminded me that everyone else was fighting with only the light of the pillars and their own skills, something I probably should have known. With the orbs of light, two small condensed balls of white force passed them, they impacted the body of the spider, denting and cracking the carapace but not going through the thick shell.

After letting another pair of arrows fly, I moved my gaze to Kat, who had started to distract the other spider, moving around the legs, dancing under it and to the side, deftly avoiding the strikes. Unlike the spiders I’d fought in the forest, if you discounted that these were twice the height, they didn't have nearly as good movement or reflexes, but they had to be multiple times as sturdy, and the carapace was thicker than the ones I’d fought even at half their level.

Had I been in the forest with the wolves or with Umbra, taking one out would have been easy, a game of wolf and rabbit leading it while pelting it with arrows. Right now, though, all I could do was shoot arrows at a distance and aim for the joints and weak spots, so that’s what I did. Kat was amazing as she moved; her attacks left shallow cuts, but she always seemed to remember where she left them time after time, hitting the same spot, all while managing to keep clear of its legs. Arrow after arrow let left my bow, picking at its eyes and even once hitting the insides of its mouth. I had run out of the ones I kept on my back and had switched to drawing them out of the gem. A glance at my mana showed that, true to what I was told, the cost of taking out each arrow was five mana, a crazy amount. That, mixed with using my skill, my mana had already dropped to two hundred. We had to kill it faster, but as much as I wanted to change the course of the fight to speed up the spider's death, there was little I could think of to do so.

A hissing clattering noise filled the room as one of the legs the spider Wren and Fernand were fighting fell off. A glance showed that their spider was faring far worse than ours, with half of a leg missing and two dragging on the ground with cracks and dents. It had taken a few steps back, and its mandibles parted as it made a screech. An orange glow had started to build in its mouth. Wren and Fernand moved back. Wren raised his shield, and Fernand erected a curved half-dome in front of them, the translucent barrier thicker than anything I’d seen him create. Then ash poured from its mouth, red glowing ash mixed with black flecks. I didn’t get to see the impact of the cloud of ash on Fernand and Wren as I had to refocus on our spider, letting loose another set of arrows, the thud of them impacting the chitin and cracking as the mana from the area froze it. Mentally, I pulled up the party screen in the corner of my vision as I sent a message.

[PMS, Aster: What was that? Are you guys okay? How are mana and stamina looking?]

There was the risk of distraction, but we needed more information on the monsters and needed to know how everyone was looking, and with how the fight had slowly spread out, more yelling had the risk of catching the other's attention.

[PMS, Kat: I’m at a third of both; we need to change up what we are doing, or I’m going to run out. Any ideas?]

I had none as I tried to think of something as I moved pillars, getting closer. Thankfully, a response came from Fernand a few seconds later.

[PMS, Fernand: It was a mana attack; the force shield held up but was only just. One of the embers landed on Wren and burned and scorched the metal, but the pillars held up without damage. We’ll be able to get ours if you can hold on aim for the limb joints together with your skills and take out its legs. If you can manage it, it’ll move slower.]

I redoubled my attention with his words, changing my aim to purely the leg joints. If I could land enough hits to freeze them, then Kat would be able to break them with way less effort.

Aiming for the ones that weren’t being used to attack Kat made it easier to hit them, but still, I had to get closer. Kat also changed her attacks, waiting for one limb to come down in a swing before attacking the joint; she only managed to get in one good hit at a time before having to move and back up to avoid its legs.

After several pauses, she managed to strike one that I had landed two arrows on. The frost build-up made the limb slow as it bent down. Kat wasted no time ducking under one limb to get close to the joint before bringing down the dagger in a stabbing motion, it briefly glowing a dull red onto the leg. When she hit the joint, I could hear the crack from where I was. Half of the eight foot long leg fell to the ground. The spider hissed, screeching at it, and backed up. Thankfully, Kat didn’t pursue it; instead, backing up as well. The glowing build-up in its mouth was all the warning I needed. Reaching out a hand to Kat as she sprinted towards me, I watched the ash move like a cloud aimed toward us, its movement reminding me of how Umbra’s frost breath worked, just with less force. The world seemed to move slowly as the ash practically licked Kat’s feet. For the briefest moment, I thought she wouldn't make it, but then her hand was in mine, and I pulled her behind the pillar using all my weight and momentum.

The ash cloud split on the pillar, like water on a rock moving across both sides. I winced as it licked at my shoulder, and I could feel the fur on my tail being singed. I had no idea how the spider managed to let out the amount of ash, but it took painstaking seconds for it to stop. Slowly, though, it stopped. The floor around us was covered in ankle-deep soot and ash. Kat leaned around the pillar and then moved around it at a sprint, wasting no time trying to return to the spider. I followed her lead, pulling another arrow out and turning around the pillar, letting it fly at the spider. Another screech sounded from the other spider but was cut off, and a glance showed Wren pulling out a sword that had been stuck into the head of the spider through its mandibles. Moments later, a force ball hit the spider in the side. I smiled in relief at the sight.

The fight ended with Kat in a display of impressive acrobatics and gruesome efficiency, using one of the spider's legs to mantle on top of the body of the creature, riding it like a wolf. At the same time, Wren distracted it from the front, slamming his shield into the spider's front legs. Then, with quick movements, Kat proceeded to stab it through the eyes. I shivered at the death squeal. The sound made my hair prickle.

[You have killed A Dungeon - Under-cavern Ash Widow Spinner - Level 67]

[You have defeated a Greater Dungeon Monster, Grade 1, Increased Experience is awarded]

[You have leveled up multiple times]

[Notice: You have killed multiple similar dungeon monsters ranked in grade 1. Would you like to see the complete list?]

[You have leveled multiple times]

I dismissed the screen before I had read them all as I looked over to Fernand and Wren as Kat slid off the head of the creature. All of us were covered in ash and soot that we had kicked up while moving. It reminded me of the party we had spoken to who had come out before we went in. They had been covered in soot as well.

“Well, damn,” Kat panted, and she sunk to her knees, not seeming to mind the ash. “I now have a firm hatred for spiders or anything with that many legs.”

There were a set of nods, as we all agreed. I took the moment to look at my tail, which was still stinging. It wasn’t as bad as it felt, only the end of it taking any real damage. Still, it stung like hell, and any of the typical blue colors were hidden under the black soot.

“Let’s take a moment, then we can do the dial. We all need to regen our stamina and mana.” Fernand said as he tried to wipe the ash off the front of his robe but only smeared it instead. He grimaced.

Taking a look at my current mana, I winced. I was sitting at thirty-seven, watching as it went up to thirty-eight. My stamina wasn't much better. I didn't immediately sink to the ground, though; instead, I moved to a place where there was no ash and then attempted to start cleaning some of it off.

“I'd say that could have gone way worse,” Wren said. He was the only one of the four of us who had a grin on his face, even with the upper part of his hand that held the sword being burned. “These things have to have bigger cores. My message said they were rated Greater dungeon monsters. That means they were the floor's last monster before the boss, right?” He turned his gaze to Fernand. Kat and I did as well.

Fernand looked between all of us incredulously. “Do any of you study your courses?”

I felt slightly embarrassed at his words. I did like to read and loved it even, but the idea of being told or forced to read to learn and study was something that made doing it hard to enjoy. There was also the fact that I would have to train with Umbra and finish projects in all of my courses, so my time for reading was and would be short.

Kat snorted, not appearing fazed at his words. “You read the most books here, and you did say you would look into dungeons.” Wren didn't say anything.

Fernand sighed, letting out a long breath that stirred up some of the ash. “Yes and no. It's common for greater monsters to be before a floor boss, but it doesn't guarantee it. I personally think that you’re right, especially with how new the dungeon is. It is likely the floor boss is after this dial puzzle. The question we should be asking is if we fight the boss.”

There was a moment of silence as we all took in his words. The next thing we fought could very likely be a grade-two monster. I felt a tinge of excitement and apprehension. Were we ready for something like this? Even after a rest, we would not be at our best. The lure of levels and a core, though, were tempting, and there was the task my skill had given us. Would it go away if another party in the first grade cleared it before us? I rubbed my ear, trying to decide.

“Well, as unfair as it sounds, we do have Ellysa to pull us out if necessary, right?” Kat pointed out.

“Actually, no.” The words came from Elyssa herself, the first she had spoken since we’d gone into the dungeon. Thinking about it, her entire personality had shifted once we'd gone in, almost none of the happiness or excitement from before showing.

“What do you mean?” I asked

Wren let out a snort and was the one to answer “Commoners and lowborn don't really understand because they don't tend to have the coin to pay for leveling, but don't you think nobles would pay adventures to be walked through a few dungeons to gain levels?”

Tilting my head, I thought about it, trying to think of a downside, but having grade five adventures walk a few students like us through a dungeon would work, wouldn't it? In fact, wasn't that almost exactly what was happening right now?

Elyssa nodded to Wren. “What he's saying is that it doesn't work like that. If someone too far above the grade level gets involved in a dungeon, then the dungeon tends to react violently, spawning monsters at the same level on the floor or even higher, depending on the dungeon level.” she gestured to the dial. “Even helping to solve puzzles can count as intervention. The only reason I'm able to even be in this party without grade three or four monsters showing up is the dungeon can't manage it yet.”

My eyes widened as I imagined that happening and glanced at the grade-one spider. I shiver at the thought of what one three grades higher could do.

“So you're saying if you get involved in the boss fight, grade two monsters would show up, and maybe even the boss on the next floor?” Fernand asked, to which Ellysa nodded.

“Boss rooms remain locked with magic once entered until the boss is defeated or until the first party member dies. If I got involved, then there's no telling what the dungeon would be able to do,” Ellysa explained.

Another bout of silence followed, and I understood why no one in the first groups had tried to fight the boss yet. Either you'd win, or someone would die.

[PMS, Aster: should we mention the party system? I mean, if we do the boss fight. It seems wrong somehow to not let him in on the rewards. He hasn't been as bad as he is outside the dungeon.]

I looked at Kat and Fernand, and they exchanged looks.

[PMS, Kat: It's your skill, but it is rare, so be careful who you tell.]

[PMS, Fernand: I agree. Ellysa is here as well. There's no telling if either of them would agree to keep it quiet.]

I let my eyes drift down as I pulled up the task, reading it.

[First Come, First Serve - All appropriately leveled parties currently in the dungeon have failed to defeat the first-floor dungeon boss.]

[Task: Reach and defeat the first-floor dungeon boss on your first run without the help of a grade two or higher party member.] [Time Limit - 5 hours, 20 Minutes, 12 Seconds] [Reward based on accomplishments during the dungeon run.]

It didn't specify the reward, but even if it was experience, it would be good for all of us. I thought about the possibilities and outcomes and what would happen if I told people. Then I snorted as I realized it wouldn't matter. I'd already agreed with Umbra that we would be leaving after I learned as much as I could in the academy. It might even be sooner if she wasn't allowed to fly. Looking up, I half shrugged and met Wren's gaze. He looked the same as at that party, but he had a small grind on his face this time. If it was from the dungeon or fighting, I didn't know, but he seemed more relaxed.

I explained my skills.

“Before we make a choice to go or not, I have something to say.”

I went over my skill for the sake of Elyssa, who might have heard of my initial skill but not all of it. Then, with a bit of hesitation and a look at Kat and Fernand, I explained the task we’d received.

Wren at first looked cross, but when Kat pointed out that he had refused to join the party, he had the grace to look abashed. When I invited him to the party, he accepted the offer this time, and to my relief, he said he'd gotten the task as well.

“It still isn't wise to go into a dungeon without all the facts from all the party members. While this might not have altered the exploration this time, the task can change how a dungeon is explored,” Ellysa said. Her gaze wasn't as stern as Kulni’s, but it was still disapproving enough to make me look down to avoid it.

“You sound like you have experience with party tasks. Does your adventuring group have a party skill?”

Elyssa smiled. Her teeth matched her robes that somehow still remained white without any specs of soot on them. “All adventuring groups above in silver or grade three have a skill close to it, but I can't say more on the subject, and I'd advise none of you to tell anyone how advanced this skill is.” She gave me a wink. “You still have to make the choice though if you are going to attempt the boss, and that I can't say anything on.”

What was decided was a discussion headed by Fernand on the pros and cons of facing the boss of the floor. The biggest point was that we were tired, and if we faced the boss, we’d have to kill it.

“Are we absolutely sure we can kill the boss when we don't even know what it is?” Fernand asked.

“No, that would be stupid, but there's a lot to be gained. I think we should,” Kat said as she resumed wiping off her arm with a cloth. It was coming away black.

“But either we kill it or one of us dies,” Fernand said.

“That’s what happens when you fight a monster, usually in a dungeon or not. Being able to run away isn't always guaranteed. In fact, in most fights, there isn't even the chance.” Wren pointed out.

Fernand blinked, then slumped his shoulders and nodded in concession. “That's a fair point. I just figured it’d be a bit before we did something this dangerous.” He turned to look at me. “What do you think? You haven't said much on the topic.”

I yawned and then blinked, shaking away the sleepiness. I hadn't said much because I really hadn't been paying attention, as tired as I was. I think we all were pretty tired. “Well, I don't have much to say. I think most of us want to fight the boss. Well, if we're going to be running dungeons, having more levels would be good, but resting for a bit before the fight would be nice.” I also wanted the core from the boss. I didn't know how I'd get it, but the first step would be killing the boss.

Fernand smiled and put his hands up helplessly. “It looks like I'm outvoted; we still have five hours until the task has to be completed. Let's be the first this year to kill a dungeon boss.”

I don't know if he expected cheers, but all he got was another yawn from me.