Dakota Krout - Dungeon Born (The Divine Dungeon Book 1)

Only the normal amount of Mobs stood in the room, the five members of the Boss squad. I had cycled out the normal squad with the Alpha squad that I used specifically for ambushes I knew would succeed. The Alpha squad had grown, and were easily the oldest Mobs in the dungeon at this point, the only group that had not died. Intelligence shone in their eyes, showing me that if they had a Beast Core they would be sentient by now.

The Essence that they absorbed from each kill had increased the potency of their attacks, adding their affinity as elemental damage. Their bodies were now striped in the colors of their Essence as well. This would be a win-win battle for me, either I rid myself of these persistent interlopers, or I reclaim the upgraded patterns of the Alpha squad. In both situations, I could only get stronger. Dale’s group entered the room, ready for battle.

I was actually taken by surprise, before I could send the attack signal to my squad an arrow accurately flew across the room and sliced the jugular of one of the two Oppressors, effectively reducing the number of my multi-attack Bashers to one. With a cry of rage the remaining squad left their bleeding, twitching brother to his fate. The Alpha squad was well used to working together at this point, which showed in their movements and tactics. Utilizing its ability to its fullest, the remaining Oppressor leapt off the earthen affinity Smasher and unleashed his attack from a distance. A blast of air as sharp as a blade raced away from him in a horizontal line, aimed downward from a high point of the jump to slash at an angle.

The blast hit the ground in front of Dale’s group, blasting shards of stone into the party - who lost sight of the charging Mobs in the resultant dust cloud. The impact of the Smashers’ feet on the ground allowed for the humans to successfully dodge when the massive Bashers tried to ram Hans and Adam during their momentary blindness. The infernal Impaler slipped into a hidden tunnel and began to circle behind the group. A Warhammer landed on a Smasher, shattering its armor downward, literally shredding the animal’s insides with what had previously been its greatest protection.

A bow, acting as Rose’s staff, slammed into the other Smasher but its hard armor made the attack ineffectual. The Smasher turned and battered Rose to the ground with a heavy attack; she cried out as she fell. Tom’s hammer descended like the judgement of God onto her aggressor, blasting the dying Basher into a mess of flying gore with the power of his attack. Hans was attacking the final Oppressor, dodging its rapid attacks while barely seeming to touch the ground. Soon, his flashing blades overwhelmed the poor creature, allowing it to join its brethren in death’s release.

No other assailants visible, the group tried to catch their breath and began to sit down. I watched a flash of fear cross Dale’s face as a memory impacted him. Eyes flashing silvery-brown, he glanced around the room. Raising his Morningstar he ran at Adam, who was working to heal Rose, her leg shattered. With a primal yell Dale swung at the cleric, the Morningstar on a crash course with his midsection. I watched in glee, having no idea what was making Dale attack his friend, but glad to see it happening.

Mid-swing - just as Adam’s eyes began to widen with the realization that he was under attack - the top of the Morningstar released from the shaft of the weapon, traveling out in the same, smooth arc the weapon’s hilt was traveling in. The spiked ball missed Adam by a foot, yet buried itself in the skull of the Impaler just as it left the hidden tunnel, horn blazing with infernal fire. Skull shattered on the first hit, the hellfire then raced along the Impalers body, consuming it absolutely.

The head of the Morningstar came back to the hilt, resuming its place with a * click *. Adam returned to healing Rose, but had to ask how Dale had known what was about to happen. Dale was exceedingly relieved that he had made the correct call.

“A while back a guy in my old group, Steve, was standing in that spot and got skewered by a smaller version of that thing. I didn’t see it except right when we came through the door, so I knew it was trying the same trick.” Dale tried to say nonchalantly, still shaking from battle reaction.

Hans came and clapped him on the back, “Nice work! You’ve been practicing with that weapon then? Worked out the enchantment? I’m impressed by your control there, if you hadn’t known exactly what you were doing, you would have crushed Adam's ribs! When did you start working out the kinks of it?” He babbled excitedly.

“Erm,” Dale sheepishly looked around, “I ah, that’s actually the first time I’ve really used it…”

Hans looked on in shock as the others laughed a bit bleakly. “He’s mad. I’m stuck in the dungeon with a madman.” Hans was near inaudible as he passed judgement on Dale.

“Hey!” Dale yelled as the others laughed harder, “Better than skewered!” The group ignored him as they settled in to cultivate. Thanks to Adam, Rose was already healed from the fight.

“You do good work, Adam.” Rose praised him, “Thank you for fixing me up.”

Adam blushed furiously, he was very unused to female attention, regardless of his aristocratic looks. Perhaps because of them really. No commoner wanted to worry that their child would be slaughtered on suspicion of being a Royal bastard. “Um, anytime. Really. Sorry I’m not more... Useful... in a fight.”

“A fight is not over until you are fighting the next one!” Tom declared what was obviously ancient barbarian wisdom. “Healing is as much a part of this battle as was my turning of those bunnies into flying orbs of goo!”

“Thanks? I think?” Adam muttered, trying to parse what Tom had declared. Tom looked very pleased with himself for some reason.

The Essence in this room was still fairly dense, so the group was able to recuperate much of their lost energy. Even Hans joined this time, needing a bit of a pick-me-up. A few minutes into this Rose suddenly cried out and clutched at her chest.

“What? Rose, what's wrong?” Adam shouted, by her side in an instant, preparing to heal her.

“My Chi!” Rose gasped, tears in her eyes, “It’s healing! Get back, I need to cultivate!” The others took a step back as she drank in Essence as a sponge takes in water. Switching to his enhanced sight, Dale watched as the trillions of shards and imperfections in her spiral began to smooth, the natural flow being restored. Tears were pouring down her face as she smiled a real smile for the first time since Dale had met her; he watched as her Center became whole.

As the last of the broken Chi threads fixed themselves, the Essence around her increased the speed of refinement, howling into her center as her body took in the Essence it had been denied for over twenty years. In only a few minutes, the loose Essence in the air was depleted to the point that she could not pull another drop, though her entire being cried out for more. Her Center being restoring had an interesting effect on the rest of the group. Her smile had increased morale, and the relaxation in her stance told of her release from decades of pain. Determination solidified, the group resumed their dungeon dive, descending into the second floor.

Dale led the way, determined to clear the sub-level and heal his own center. The difference in speed between Rose’s cultivation before and after healing proved that his increased speed was but a fraction of what was possible. He threw himself at the first roaming squad of upgraded Bashers they found, killing two in as many strokes. His sudden violence and initiative shocked the others, and they became caught up in competition.