I turn to see what the source of this overwhelming power is and my jaw drops at the sight of a full-blown demon with red horns, white eyes, dark skin, and pointed white teeth staring at me curiously.
Dense white mana shielding covers its bulging muscles and I see the thin black line on its forearm stretch all the way up...
2023-08-11 22:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post
“…but something feels off…”
As the two of us make our way up the narrow sandy path up the mountain’s side, a light red glowing portal comes into full view.
It gives off minuscule amounts of mana radiation compared to what I was expecting to see.
The closer we get, the more I prepare for a wave of i...
2023-08-10 22:25:54 +0000 UTC View Post
“Hey, let’s let ‘em in. We have some new break challengers today.”
The second guard peeks his head around the corner of the box with a goofy grin across his face, making eye contact with me. This man is heavier set and has a body hardening skill, he’s most likely a tank.
“Is that right? Are you all fac...
2023-08-09 22:27:18 +0000 UTC View Post
“Your guess is as good as mine. All we can do is head over and find out.”
This is the response I get after asking Issac how the dungeon break could possibly be nearby when there are no monsters in sight.
I can’t sense any mana disturbances at all…
I’m pretty positive the barrier around this city is...
2023-08-08 22:55:14 +0000 UTC View Post
It’s [The Newest Vice Region Association Elite Squad] in bold letters with all four of our mug shots posted and bounties labeled underneath them.
Our time in DryRock is not going to be as easy as I thought it’d be.
I turn to Issac, now peeking my disguised face out from my hood.
“Hey, I need to check t...
2023-08-07 22:55:34 +0000 UTC View Post
“Here we are! Welcome to DryRock!”
Issac turns to the open area of desolate sandy flat land in front of the Red Mountain range. Immediately after he speaks these words, I feel the space around me begin to tingle and buzz.
The air before my eyes waves and shifts, giving off a rainbow hue. Almost like the rippli...
2023-08-06 23:21:03 +0000 UTC View Post
“Fine by me. Now get me out of this damn earth magic. I’ll take the 4 of you to DryRock so I can get paid.”
Abby nods at me, then turns to Issac as the stone around his neck starts to melt away, revealing his torso, then flowing off his legs back into the sandy earth.
The green-haired mage heals his leg, mak...
2023-08-05 22:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post
“Oh great. There’s more! Look’s like I’m going to have to teach all of ya a lesson!”
The hunter with a fire aptitude that I saw earlier in the mercenary guild is out here in the desert, most likely looking to get his hands on another Firestone to sell.
I walk closer to see him turn to me with a snide gri...
2023-08-04 22:02:56 +0000 UTC View Post
As the Golem trudges forward, it takes hit after hit from the Salamander’s molten attacks. Hot lava spews out after every impact staining the battlefield with hot red-orange mass. I continue to drink MP potions and heal its wounds.
Losing parts of an arm or a leg after every blow, the Golem moves forward without flinc...
2023-08-03 22:30:59 +0000 UTC View Post
The mutant boss peeks out from the bubbling lava pit that surrounds us. All that’s visible are its bright red eyes, jagged white teeth, and scaly black skin.
The island we stand on rumbles and shifts.
Portions of the rocky floor begin to fracture and flood the island with even more molten rock. The cracks are in...
2023-08-02 23:10:43 +0000 UTC View Post
I slowly turn around, taking in my surroundings from all directions.
The air ripples and bends from the incredible heat, making it near impossible to see without the aid of my perception skills. The intense royal blue glow by my side from Maria shines brighter than I’ve ever seen before.
Waves of fire-imbued mag...
2023-08-01 22:56:00 +0000 UTC View Post
I use my telekinesis skill to lift the Firestone from the bubbling pit of molten rock.
Its crackling and flaming with intense heat, but not nearly as powerful as the two stones I’ve encountered in the past.
There’s also a bright pink mana crystal floating by its side. I’ve never tried melting one since I was...
2023-07-31 23:29:26 +0000 UTC View Post
The light blue spinning mass of energy shines bright against the rock wall of the cave.
It lets off a barely audible hum.
Maria shrugs when she sees it, letting out a sigh then begins to walk off to where we were initially headed.
“Not the break. Let’s keep going.”
I throw a hand in the air.
<... 2023-07-30 22:48:05 +0000 UTC View Post
I stare into the cave in front of me, and it stares back…
The buzz of mana fills the air, even audible for those that don’t have advanced mana detection abilities like myself.
The yellow light from within the cave reflects off its orange walls, shining out with a warm inviting hue.
I take out my sword, a...
2023-07-29 22:30:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Danny waves to us as we approach.
"Not at all, I sure am happy to see you too. How do you like your new rides?"
Today he's wearing a new long red robe with a light defense buff, just like the older man that greeted us on our way in here yesterday.
The two golden brown camels have a similar colored cloth over...
2023-07-28 23:20:16 +0000 UTC View Post
“Sure, I think we can make a deal.”
I let the small dark red flame on my finger flicker out as the frail hunter replies.
“Really? You’ll help us out? What’s your price? I don’t have much at all, but I could get together 100 silver- or- well 1 Gold coin’s worth of silver and bronze that is. I’d have...
2023-07-27 23:20:47 +0000 UTC View Post
All 4 of us walk toward the back of the crowded mercenary guild through the tables full of people, sloshing drinks, various colored coins, and magical items being traded.
The situation with a presumably well-known fire-using grunt has distracted the crowd’s attention from our entrance enough that we make it to the fro...
2023-07-26 22:20:30 +0000 UTC View Post
We approach the desert village and my eyes widen as I take in the view.
This place looks so alive…
There are kids playing and villagers buying and selling goods in the streets.
Mana crystals, potions, food, handmade clothing, and all kinds of other magical items fill the tables and tents that line the stre...
2023-07-25 22:11:24 +0000 UTC View Post
“Perfect. It’s not on that map, but there’s a small village on our way if we take a quick detour. I recommend we stop there for the night.”
While Arie speaks about this mysterious village, I stare down at the clear crystal ball in my left hand.
The blue text from earlier still glows over it in my mind’s ...
2023-07-24 22:13:32 +0000 UTC View Post
“It has, four cores….”
My eyes adjust to the overly bright Boss Room light and see the readings my data collection skills have gathered.
The final boss is 100m meters away. It’s level 443 and it has 4 cores, one of which is [Bonded].
I’m not entirely sure what this additional detail means, but I do...
2023-07-23 23:10:31 +0000 UTC View Post
I watch the Boss Room portal turn a darker shade of grey after the eerie energy pulses out from it. I can't feel it, but my All-Seeing Eye picks up a reading of a nearly invisible mana shoot out in all directions.
More importantly, there are two Mutant Golems guarding the boss room portal with dual cores.
The land...
2023-07-22 22:50:46 +0000 UTC View Post
The 4 of us backtrack and collect all the shattered black cores from the fallen golems. Their bodies of rock and sand have not disappeared at all.
They’re just laying in chunks and piles all over the desert floor. It’s been close to 10 minutes now, so that confirms my theory that the monsters that die out here won...
2023-07-21 23:02:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Our first battle in the Dark Continent is getting started.
The hard sand-covered ground feels like it’s rumbling beneath my feet. The cloud of golden brown dust in front of us grows larger and larger until one of the monsters finally shows itself…
My gaze lifts upwards as Abby and Maria charge at the beast tha...
2023-07-20 20:46:29 +0000 UTC View Post
I peer down into the desolate landscape behind the stone wall that blocks the dark continent from the rest of the world.
There are rolling hills or sand and jagged pillars of rock that stick out in seemingly random formations. Abandoned dirt roads lead off in all directions and the hint of civilization still lingers… ...
2023-07-19 22:59:13 +0000 UTC View Post
Charlotte, the orange-haired bartender comes over to us with a bright smile across her face and two steaming hot circular trays of food.
Pitchers of juices and ice-cold water slosh around, making my mouth water at the sight of them.
“Dig in, you all have a long day ahead of you!”
We do as she says.
I hear the confident voice of a woman fill my ears as Leo disappears through the front entrance of the wooden cabin.
My other teammates are a few steps ahead of me, so they enter and I follow soon after.
Taking one last look over my shoulder, making a mental note of the open desert and lonely deserted town, I walk...
2023-07-17 22:56:35 +0000 UTC View Post
I watch the busy marketplace fade away in the distance as the train leaves the station. All my teammates and our silver-haired guide watch the capital disappear from view as we leave as well.
Almost immediately, we enter a more mountainous region with heavy trees and small lakes that line the train tracks.
We’ve...
2023-07-16 23:25:14 +0000 UTC View Post
"I can answer all your questions on the way. Come on, let's go. It's time to head out. You have some dungeons to clear."
Leo, the silver-haired artificer motions for all of us to follow as he begins walking toward the elevator at the back of the penthouse office.
I turn to follow, but Abby speaks up to stop us. 2023-07-16 22:51:20 +0000 UTC View Post
“Now, let’s talk about your new mission to the Dark Continent.”
The Director’s blond-haired assistant places 4 silver tablets on the wooden desk in front of us with a loud thud, exclaiming that our mission to the Dark Continent is about to begin.
The corners of my lips begin to curl upwards and I whisper u...
2023-07-15 22:18:04 +0000 UTC View Post
With a light click, the door from the mini market to the lounge area in the back of the Association HQ opens up and the sight before my eyes puts a smile on my face.
Sitting all together on one of the circular couches next to the small cafe, I see my 3 teammates drinking coffee and eating small pastries.
I begin t...
2023-07-14 22:15:43 +0000 UTC View Post
