After securing trade goods for ourselves, and flying high with the knowledge that we might be able to make huge profits thanks to our purchases, we bought ourselves some lunch, and then headed straight to the dungeon.
We need to continue levelling up in the dungeon today, because tomorrow will be spent preparing to set sail for our new destination. We will need to organize and stow multiple boxes of goods, as well as double check ship supplies, and confirm, the work the ship outfitters are doing.
We arrive at the dungeon and immediately head down the central corridor to the third floor. It is time to take on the floor boss again!
While we are lining up for the boss, a couple of dungeon-divers keep turning around and staring daggers at Kaelin.
They are 2 young men, not much older than 20 years old, and they are armed with cheap wooden spears. I can tell that they are slightly malnourished just by how skinny and pale they are.
The taller one looks at me just as their turn comes, and then starts talking. 'Did this filth trick you into diving with her? You know her brethren ransacked this town a few years ago. You should be careful, she might shoot you in the back and steal your gear if you aren't careful.'
Kaelin pretends she is ignoring him, but after her tears yesterday, I can't let this slide.
I check my surroundings to guarantee that we are the only ones hereI draw my falchion, and step into his space, were are basically nose to nose.
"Eyes front scum! Say another word or give her another dirty look, and I'll slit your throat and dump your body in the boss room!"
His attitude immediately changes, and he and his partner rush through the open door to challenge the floor boss together.
"Leon, you didn't need to do that! We could have just ignored them. What if they come back looking to get revenge for your words?" Her words sound logical, but honestly, I couldn't just allow them to keep speaking.
"I told you yesterday, you won't have to put up with their bullshit anymore. If they come for revenge, then we will just defend ourselves and slaughter the scum. Nobody gets to talk to you like that!"
She looks at me with a slightly open mouth, as though I have said something strange, and then breaks out into a huge smile. "You got angry on my behalf, didn't you?"
"Of course I did!"
Before I can react, she grabs me by my arm and pulls me towards her, then she buries her head in my chest and holds on for dear life. I look down and see that her fox ears are twitching in excitement.
I land a kiss on the top of her head and hold her back until the door to the boss's room opens again.
"Thanks, Leon!"
We walk inside, confident of victory after yesterday, and once again, I manage to defeat the boss by myself without much difficulty. This time, the boss drops a large aether crystal, but no other loot.
We enter the 4th floor ready to take on the world. Kaelin reminds me that from this floor, it is possible for 2 enemies to spawn together, and so she will aid me if she needs to.
The goal is the same: reach level 5, and then advance to the next floor.
The number of people on this floor is far lower than on the first 3, I guess some people don't go below level 3. The two scumbags who were giving us the stinkeye are queuing up on the far end of the chamber, so I make sure to stare them down a little as we join a different line for the chambers.
When we get inside, the familiar mist swirling begins in earnest, except this time, there are two. I guess it is time for our first 2 on 2 fight. Let's test our teamwork.
From the heart of the mist, clawed feet step forward, heavy, deliberate, and dripping with condensed shadow. The creatures that emerge are massive: part hyena, part nightmare, with matted fur clinging to a hulking, scarred frame. Their eyes burn like embers, and their lips curl into snarling grins as they heft jagged battle axes, crude and chipped. (picture)
Leather scraps and rusted metal hang from their bodies like trophies of slaughter. Their yellowed fangs glisten as they inhale deeply through flared nostrils, savoring our scent.
A single, guttural word escapes the throat of one, unintelligible, but unmistakably a challenge.
The creatures break into a charge.
"Left" Kelin murmurs.
I nod. Without another word, we begin moving.
The creatures split instinctively, one toward each of us. But this is no random pairing.
I meet my opponent with a sudden dash forward. My falchion carves a diagonal arc, too fast for the beast to counter. Steel bites into collarbone, then twists free as I pivot on the ball of my foot. The creature stumbles, confused, and that moment is its last. I bring the blade down in a finishing cleave that slams the beast into the stone floor.
[Slain - Gnoll lvl 4 - 21 EXP]
The second monster approaches Kaelin, snarling and swinging wide.
She sidesteps, smooth and tight, letting the axe whistle past her. One revolver fires at its elbow, the limb jerks, the creature's swing goes wide. A second shot cracks into its thigh, slowing it.
That was all I needed.
I charge forward like a missile, falchion flashing. Kaelin jumps aside without hesitation. My blade cleaves through where she'd been standing a heartbeat before, right into the beast's exposed side.
It drops with a heavy grunt, lifeless.
[Slain - Gnoll lvl 4 - 9 EXP]
I got less EXP from the second kill, so I am guessing that means Kaelin did most of the work in killing it.
They drop nothing but aether crystals, and so we move on.
It takes me a little less than an hour and multiple fights to reach level 5.
[Name: Leon Maxwell]
[Race: Sky Sovereign]
[Level: 5 XP 8/285]
[Primary Class: Fighter lvl 5]
[Secondary Class
-Sky Captain lvl 5
- Resident lvl 1 ]
[HP: 190/190]
[MP: 120/120]
[Strength: 19 (+1)]
[Vitality: 19]
[Agility: 19]
[Intelligence: 12]
[Wisdom: 12]
[Unused Skill Points: 8]
[Unused Attribute Points: 5]