Training Dungeon (1)
"So does anyone have any questions?", the teacher finished her explanations and asked.
One of the students signaled that he had a question and after the teacher asked him to say it out, he then asked, "According to what I know, there are many more fighters than mages, so how would the distribution work?"
"It's correct that there aren't enough mages, so there will be many groups, that will have no mage but instead another fighter. That is a bit unfair for them, but sadly there is no other way."
Everyone nodded. It was a fact that there weren't enough mages because it required one to have unlocked the stat 'Magic Power'. The other pure skill using group are the priests, but unlike mages, they get their power bestowed by their god, which removed their need to have 'Magic Power'. Instead, their power was mainly based on faith as well as the strength of their body, since a strong body was necessary for channeling the power of their god. Because of that, there were more than enough priests, to have one in each group.
"Any other questions?"
Seeing that nobody else had any questions the teacher then lead the class to the training ground, where the groups would be announced.
It was slow going since every single student's name would be called until everyone had finally found his or her group, making one wonder if there isn't another more efficient method.
Finally, it was Ivan's turn. After his name had been called he went towards the area were his group should gather.
Since he was a mage, he was called first, but the others arrived just after him. First came a group of three, with one girl clinging to one of the guys, while another guy in priest robes followed behind them. Since everyone kept their weapons in their inventory there was no way to guess their role, besides the priests, who would always wear their robes.
"Hi, I'm Tina and these are Tom and Lars.", the girl introduced herself as well as the two guys. Her small face giving him a friendly smile. Together with her small frame, it gave her a very cute feeling.
Then before Ivan could even introduce himself she directly continued. "Tom is my brother.", she pointed at the priest, "He is a bit quiet so don't mind if he doesn't say anything. "And this is my boyfriend Lars.", she then introduced the boy she was clinging onto. He was slender with a common looking face. On his face was a friendly smile as he nodded in greeting. It seemed like he was used to his girlfriends nonstop talking and had opted to be silent too. One couldn't help but wonder if it was because of this habit of her that her brother was always quiet.
Finally finding a pause he hurriedly introduced himself too. "Hello, I'm Ivan. Nice to meet you."
He had barely finished his sentence when Tina once again wanted to continue talking, but luckily another woman came over. She should be the last member of the team.
"Hello, I'm Susan. And I'm specialized in tanking.", she too introduced herself and also named her specialization, which the other hurriedly followed suit.
Tina was an archer and her boyfriend was a swordsman. After everyone had announced their role, they then decided on a group leader. Unsurprisingly it became Tina's job since nobody else wanted to do the job, and her lively and friendly nature suited the job. Besides that, being an archer made it easier for her to keep control of a battle. After having decided on their group leader, Tina then activated the teleport to the entrance hall of the Training Dungeon, which was available only on the training ground.
<< Welcome to the Training Dungeon Entrance Hall >>
<<
Party Name: Locked (Clear floor 5 to unlock)
Party Leader: Tina Celler
Party Member: Tom Celler, Lars Trevor, Susan Hess, Ivan Hope
Minimum Party Level: 45
Maximum Party Level: 257
Average Party Level: 89
Dungeon Level: Not Selected
Dungeon Difficulty: Not Selected
Current Floor: 1
>>
<< Congratulations, because at least one member of your group is 100 levels or more above the member with the lowest level, while there is less than one year age difference, you have unlocked the following modes:
Nightmare Mode:
The level of the dungeon will be set to the level of the highest member.
Increases the grade and amounts of rewards for slaying monsters and clearing floors.
Hard Mode:
The level of the dungeon will be set to the average level of the party.
Slightly increased grade and amount of rewards for slaying monsters and clearing floors.
Normal Mode:
The level of the dungeon will be set to the average level of the party without the highest leveled members. Their level will be suppressed to the average level of your party.
Normal grade and amount of rewards for slaying monsters and clearing floors.
>>
"What the...", Tina exclaimed and stared at Susan and Ivan, "One of you is already level 257???"
She knew the level of her brother and boyfriend, so she was sure that it had to be either of them. But honestly to already be of such a high level was very surprising.
"Not me.", Susan said and looked at Ivan, "So it should be you. What kind of training skill do you use, to have already reached such a level?"
"Sorry can't tell you.", Ivan answered. Lara had warned him not to tell anyone what kind of training skill he used. It was better to hide it.
Tina looked at him in envy. "Whatever, if you don't want to tell then don't. But this is good for us."
"How so?", Susan asked.
"Because we can do Nightmare Mode. I have heard that the drops are much better in this mode, especially the training skill one can get if one is below level 50 and hasn't trained in one."
The others nodded in understanding. One of the best features of the Training Dungeon was the possibility to get a training skill after clearing a floor. If not for it only dropping under certain conditions and also only one per person, it would be ideal to farm them here.
"Sure, Nightmare Mode would be ideal, but are you sure we can do it?", Lars asked concerned.
"I'm not sure, but we should at least try. Whether we will be able to do it, will mostly depend on you, Ivan."
As the highest leveled member of the group, it would be on his shoulder to carry the team. After all, there would be more than 200 levels between the other members and the monsters, which would make it hard for them to do anything. Tina and Tom would still be alright since one was ranged, while the other was the healer, but the other two would be mostly useless.
If Susan tried to tank even one monster she surely wouldn't be able to last more than one or two hits. For Lars, the situation was even worse, since his defense was much lower and the speed and agility that normally ensured his survival was way too low to dodge these monsters attack.
All this meant, that Ivan would have to practically solo a five-man dungeon, while also being unable to even summon Vlada because of the rules of the Slavers Alliance.
"I'm not sure if it will work. The difference in level for you is really too high and we don't have any experience working together. If it was only a solo dungeon it wouldn't be a problem, but with it being a five-man dungeon, there should be much more monsters and if the groups are too big, I don't think I can handle them.", Ivan cautiously said.
"If it's only for a short time, I should be able to handle up to five, depending on the monster.", Susan interjected, surprising everyone else.
"You can?", Tina asked baffled. She too had thought that Susan would be next to useless.
"It's because of a skill handed down in my family.", Susan explained. Unlike the skill books for mages, that vanished after one use, most of the fighter skill books didn't vanish and would be handed down in the families, so it wasn't surprising that she had learned some unique skills. But what was surprising was that the skill would make her capable of tanking monsters, more than 200 levels higher than her.
"Your family has such a skill?", Lars was surprised. Such skills were usually only found in noble families.
"Yes. But it has a high stamina consumption, so I can't just spam it."
"It's already enough if you can tank them for a short time if we run into big groups. So I think we can try Nightmare Mode."
"Everyone what do you think?", Tina asked the group and everyone agreed to try out the Nightmare Mode.
<< Congratulations, you have selected Nightmare Mode.
Dungeon Level has been set to 257. All rewards are of increased quality and the amount is increased too.
>>