Chapter XXIX - Squishy

Rabidfang slain!

1621+1783 EXP

Silver Chest dropped!

Silver Chest dropped!

The party had collapsed onto the cold moldy concrete that made up these sewers. Artox had downed a [Basic Health Potion] and began using [First Aid] to recover his lost HP.

Everyone followed suit and began restoring their depleted reservoirs. Afterwards Marcus dismantled the body of the giant rat as Mawu opened both chests gaining a couple items worth wielding over their current gear and some silver coins.

Marcus and Artox didn't need the equipment so the items went to the twins. Artox had hit level 24 from the fight and he pumped everything into his health. The rest were still at 22, however Marcus was almost there thanks to his OP (OverPowered) gear.

The party had stood up and looked around the musty room. There where chains dangling from the ceiling near the walls with shackles hanging from the ends. A deep blackish red stained the shackles as if it had been centuries since this place was used as a makeshift dungeon.

In one corner of the room adjacent where the party entered to begin the battle with Ratfang, a passage forward was blocked by a strong sturdy metal and wooden gate.

Marcus looked around and went over to a mossy overgrown section that had water dripping down from above. Marcus used his [Basic Herbalism] to clear out the moss as it was a reagent in many active alchemical recipes, revealing a dilapidated stone handle pointing upward.

He grabbed it and pulled it down with force as stone particles and creaking was heard from behind the wall. The gears sprung into motion and multiple clicking sounds was heard as the gate began to raise.

A small puddle of water began flowing out from beneath the gate as it was prevented access into the room by the small grate in front of the Gate and disappeared into the sewers below.

The party began moving forward as Marcus explained "Now that Ratfang is dead, we will be facing rats from here to the next boss. The rest of the dungeon will follow this trend to the final boss."

Everyone nodded as the began their trek through the second portion of the dungeon. After they passed through the invisible barrier out of Ratfang's lair, their noses were assaulted with a scent of death and decrepit smells. The scenery had changed as the first part was just a plain boring looking sewer, grey and dark, nothing else.

The next section was a complete 180° change. There were pulpous blobs of fleshy masses littered everywhere. The walls had been stained with prints of paws and even the mold and mildew had to adapt to their new surroundings, being a bright crimson red rather than the normal emerald green.

Lisa covered her mouth and felt nauseated. The rest of the party wasn't faring much better, even Marcus never had the stomach for this place. Artox began to gag "oh… I don't… think…. I can do this!" He mustered to say through his awkward noises.

Marcus covered his nose as he urgently explained "We just need to rush this, they're just rats and we're all stronger than when we fought Ratfang so let's blitz through this part."

Everyone nodded plugging their noses as they quickly walked, near power jogging their way to the first group of rats.

<Decrepit Rat>

Level 25

???/??? HP

The party stared down 8 of them as Marcus said "Pull with double shot and bring us two." Mawu nodded as Artox pointed towards the one he wanted as [Double Shot] turned one arrow into two and hitting two of the semi-undead rats making them squeal and hiss and charge towards the group.

Lisa unleashed a [Wind Bolt] as Marcus used [Rush] to kill one of the rats immediately and they ganged up on the last rat with basic attacks.

Decrepit Rat slain!

Decrepit Rat slain!

180+198 EXP (this is doubled because two were killed)

They repeated this engagement three more times resulting in Marcus hitting 23 before the twins which surprised them as they had hit 21 before him and all three hit 22 at the same time, but now he had passed them.

Marcus decided that he didn't want to take any risks and dumped all 5 points into STR and with [Boost] he had gained an additional 2. He hoped this was going to be a noticeable difference.

The party recycled their tactics on the first group of rats on the remaining one slaying 40 more rats before reaching the next boss. Everyone had leveled up the party was looking as such:

Marcus - Squire Level 24

Artox - Squire Level 25

Mawu - Rogue Level 23

Lisa - Wizard Level 23

After getting to level 25 Artox had reached into the leaderboard as most rankers were 25 at this time, with the average player level being in the low teens.

The group approached the open gate as the notice a giant viscous blob bouncing around. Remains of corpses could be seen inside it's transparent form as skulls and bones were sizzling inside it.

"This boss's mechanic is similar to Rabidfang's but it's inverted. It's AoE is a blast of his slime out of the top of it's head and so the closer you are to it the better but don't touch it. He's even more poisonous than Rabidfang." Marcus explained.

Artox was beginning to sweat as he barely had 10% HP left when the rat had died but Lisa put him at ease "My Whispering Winds has leveled up twice since Rabidfang, it'll be healing quite better now, don't worry Art." she said with a smile.

"Lisa this is pretty much going to be your show as the slime is really only weak to magic. Don't move around too much and don't attack, just stand there and regenerate your mana as much as you can and keep the heals and spells flying. Make sure you don't bottom out your MP, the backlash would be a guaranteed party wipe." Marcus said one last piece of advise as the group entered through the barrier.

The carefree and whimsical giant blue blob immediately turned around at the invasion into it's territory and as if one could read the blank view, it looked angry!

<Squishy>

Level 25

200/200