14 The Grave Keeper
{{{Author}}} Happy New Year!
With the New Year and the holidays, I'm back home and I'm relatively free. So, let's resume this story.
But before that, I'd like to thank you all for your support and I really appreciate your reviews and comments "and also, stones XD". And I'd like to apologize for being late and making you wait for me.
Oh, by the way. I noticed that some people didn't read Solo Leveling and once they reach the [Class: Paladin] part they become appalled. And they drop the story thinking that the MC will stay a paladin forever. So I changed it from Paladin to 'Preacher'. Hopefully, it will be vague enough to pique their curiosity and make them read a few more lines *sigh*.
Also, I know you must have forgotten most of the details in this story since it's been some time since the last update. With that in mind, I'll add extra details in this chapter to refresh your minds.
Happy holidays, everyone.
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After the instant dungeon, I stayed for a few days on the Middle Floors grinding and leveling-up my soldiers. I let the soldiers do all the fight while I watched over them with the 'Stealth' skill activated.
I had to be extra sure that the passing adventurers don't encounter my soldiers. I don't want to attract any attention to myself or my soldiers. I'm still officially a Level One adventurer after all. And my soldiers are monsters that use weapons to attack and exterminate other monsters.
During that time, two of my soldiers were upgraded to Knight-Grade. Tigeril and Wolverine. They underwent some physical changes with the upgrade.
They were Lygerfangs before. The muscles of their hind legs have been enlarged and strengthened. They are now standing and walking on two feet. They looked like big muscular tigers before, now they are bipedal big muscular tigers.
Also, my Stealth skill level went up.
[Stealth (Level: 2)
Active Skill.
Mana Cost: 500 Initiation +10 /second.
You suppress your mana and your movements don't make any sound. No one can sense your presence unless they are looking directly at you.
If you cease moving for 3 seconds, the 'Camouflage' effect will be activated.
Camouflage: Your Mana blends with the surrounding environment making your body invisible. No one can see you or detect your presence.]
It now makes me invisible as long as I don't move. I think it will be complete invisibility once the skill reaches level 3.
Anyway, I had to leave the Middle Floors because someone with an overwhelming amount of Aura started (hunting?) there. I don't know who that is and I don't know how far their senses can reach. The Aura I sensed was so oppressing that I couldn't think of anything but fleeing. So, I just left the place.
Now I'm on the 1st Floor in front of the entrance to the instant dungeon 'Shadow Catacombs'.
Ring~
[You have entered the specified location. Do you wish to create an instant dungeon using "Shadow Catacombs Key"?]
[Shadow Catacombs Key
Rarity: S-rank
Grants entry to the Shadow catacombs. Usable on the deepest room of the 1st Floor of Dungeon of Orario.]
"I think I'm ready to challenge it now". I say it, then I enter with my soldiers.
---
It's a graveyard with tombstones littered everywhere. In the middle, there is some kind of large building. In front of that building, stands a giant humanoid monster with two heads, four arms, and a bright red name floating above it.
[Grave Keeper: Twin-headed Binold].
Once it detects us, it charges. With a gigantic club in each hand and an echoing thud with each step. This monster is as threatening as monsters can be.
My soldiers take the enemy on while I stay in the back preparing a powerful light magic attack. But it looks like I won't be needing to use it. My soldiers initiate the battle with their usual formation.
The two Minotaurs ('Bjorn' is a Knight-Grade and the other is an Elite-Grade) are in the front acting as Tanks, fending on the attacks of the 'Grave Keeper' with their shields.
The Elite-rank Minotaur gets thrown a few steps back every time he takes a swing from those giant clubs. Bjorn is doing fine on his own.
The two Lygerfangs ('Tigeril' and 'Wolverine' are both Knight-Grade) act as Damage Dealers and use their high agility to circle around the 'Keeper' and attack its bare back with their sharp claws.
The 'Keeper' lets out a roar, turning around while swinging two of its clubs at the Lygerfangs.
Wolverine jumps back quickly and avoids it. But Tigeril didn't have enough time and gets hit. He is sent flying for a dozen meters before it hits the ground where it lays there to regenerate.
Instead of attacking, the two Minotaurs back down to make way for the Mages' incoming attacks.
The two Hell Hounds ('Fenrir' is a Knight-Grade and the other is an Elite-Grade) unleash their Fireballs on the Keeper's back that is now facing them.
Bang!
The Fireballs explode and the 'Keeper' is engulfed in flames. It lets out yet another roar.
Ring~
[The Grave Keeper: Twin-headed Binold has used 'Rage'. Binold's pain perception has been decreased to 0% and all abilities will be increased by 50%].
The 'Keeper' charges at the Mages but the Tanks stand in its way. It swings his clubs at them but this time, both of them get thrown out of its way and it continues its charge on the Mages.
This time the one to stand in its way is Gold (he was the boss of a B-rank instant dungeon and is now a Knight-Grade and my strongest soldier).
As soon as he steps forward, the 'Keeper' swings at him. But Gold skillfully avoids the club while slashing the Keeper's hand with his spear at the same time.
'I gave him the "Orcish Spear" that I had in the inventory'.
The keeper unleashes a series of continuous attacks with his four clubs, Gold avoids them with no chance to counter.
But he has already bought enough time for the Mages to circle back and launch another volley of Fireballs.
Bang!
This time the keeper didn't roar or try to charge at the Mages, he's still trying to hit Gold.
'Okay then, let's finish this up.' I say it as I release the attack I've been preparing.
A huge 'Sword of Light' as big as the keeper falls from the sky and impales the keeper to the ground.
Ring~
[You have defeated the "Grave Keeper: Twin-headed Binold".]
[You have leveled up.]
A few spots of light appear on the Keeper's body, so I extend my hand.
Ring~
[You have found the following items:
Keeper's Necklace 'S'.
Keeper's Key.
2x Keeper's Fang 'A'.
Would you like to acquire them?]
'Yes'.
[Keeper's Necklace
Rarity: S
Type: Accessory.
Endurance: +20
A necklace was worn by the Grave Keeper. It increases the wearer's durability.
You may equip this item. You may sell this item in the shop.]
[Keeper's Fang.
Rarity: A
Type: Ingredient.
A rare expensive Ingredient used in Alchemy.
You may keep this item in your inventory. You may sell this item in the shop.]
I don't know whether I'll ever use Alchemy or not. Anyway, I don't need to buy anything right now, so I'll keep them in the inventory.
[Keeper's Key
Used to open the gate of the Shadow Catacombs.]
I don't plan on entering an S-rank dungeon this time, so I'll keep this key in the inventory as well. The reason I came here is to test something.
My theory is that this graveyard is a real place. And the Instant Dungeon Entrance is, in fact, an inter-dimensional gate. If that is true, I can leave my soldiers here when I return to the surface.
To test that, I order a Lygerfang to stay in the graveyard. I left and spent a few hours on the 1st floor. When I returned to the graveyard, I found the Lygerfang where I left him.
So, I left all my soldiers inside and returned to the surface.
----
On the stairs leading out of the dungeon, I hear some adventurers talking about the strange behavior of Ottar (The strongest and the only Level-Seven adventurer in Orario).
"That man is really creepy. I mean he's not even hunting, it's as if he's toying with the Minotaurs just for fun".
"To begin with, what business does a Level-Seven have to do on the Middle Floors?"
"Oy! Cut it out ya two… 'a member 'f Freya Familia hear ya, ya're all dead".
"Jeez, what a rowdy bunch!"
So, the overwhelming presence I felt was Ottar. Good thing I ran away, I don't want to be involved with him or his Familia.
…
Leaving Babel tower, I find that it's an early night out there.
'Too bad, I wanted to see the sun and feel it on my skin'. I've been in the dungeon for about two weeks and I have every reason to miss the sun.
I avoid going to the guild and I walk through the West Main Street, heading straight home.
'I'll visit the guild tomorrow morning'. Then, I can enjoy the sun and avoid the rush hour of the returning adventurers.
And there is also the problem of the loot. I stayed two weeks hunting in the dungeon. The amount of Magic Stones and Drop Items I stored in the inventory can fill a cart or two. There is no way anyone can carry all that with him.
So, I filled my backpack with loot and decided to keep the rest in the inventory for now.
---
"I'm Home".
"RICK! Welcome back, Welcome back… You've been gone for long, I was worried!" Nahza jumps up and down in excitement once she sees me, her tail is swishing back and forth rapidly.
'What the..? Nahza is usually disinterested and her face is emotionless, so I can't quite process seeing her this excited'.
"Um, sorry?" I mumble while wondering what the hell happened.
"Come here, com'ere…" She starts talking fast.
'She's happy alright, but why do I get the feeling that I'm not the reason?'
"Let me show you this… I just finished brewing it" She continues while taking out a potion vial.
'Yep, that's more like it'.
----
[*Name: Rick Stark *Miach's Blessing (Level: 1)
*Level: 56
*Class: Ruler *Army Status: None (7/108)
*Title: Beast Lord - Transcendent of Predecessors
*HP: 52,520 *MP: 6,496 *Fatigue: 0
*Stats:
Strength: 120 Endurance: 92 Agility: 120 Intelligence: 116 Sense: 72
(Available stat points: 0)
*Damage Reduction: 47%
*Skills:
- Passive Skills: Unknown (Level: MAX), Advanced Sword Technique (Level: 2)
- Active Skills: Swift Strike (Level: 2), Whirlwind (Level: 2), Ruler's Hands (Level: 1), Stealth (Level: 2)
- Class Skills: Light Magic (Level: 1), Purify (Level: 1)
*Equipment: - Ancient Supreme Helmet 'S' (15%, +20 Strength, +20 Agility), Keeper's Necklace 'S' (+20 Endurance), Koffac's Cloak 'A' (10%), Ancient Breastplate B (12%), Ancient Boots B (5%), Ancient Gauntlets B (5%), Ancient Magician's Ring B (+5 Intelligence)
*Gold: 4,618,300]
---
Rick Stark - Level One
Strength: S 999 Endurance: S 999 Agility: S 999 Magic: S 999
Sense: I Tamer: I Swordsman: I
Magic: -
Skills: - Swift Strike - Whirlwind
