Chapter 88. It's a Skill issue!

On his way to the point marked on the map, Michael encountered another Elite duo. These two also liked teamwork, making things difficult for the Necromancer.

One was similar to Skeew but slightly weaker, as its aggro was on the Skeleton Warriors, while the second was a ranged damage dealer.

[ Shivering Carver Overseer (Elite) - Level 25

*Cold Enchanted: All attacks deal an extra 50 Cold damage. ]

[ Mirroring Carver Shaman (Elite) - Level 25

*Tripple shot: All ranged attacks are mirrored by two more attacks dealing 50% of the initial damage. ]

In the end, the duo died mostly due to the many other minions around them, which allowed Michael to display his superiority against hordes of enemies fully. The Corpse Tendrils + Corpse Explosion combo was too strong!

Furthermore, with the Skeletons protecting him, he could freely explode all Corpses in his range of vision, dealing monstrous damage.

"Luckily, the battlefield is these rooms. While they are spacious, they aren't open spaces. I hold the advantage while using tactics and my immortal minions. Immortal might be too much, but even if they die, they can be instantly resurrected! Hahahaha!" 

Laughing crazedly, the Necromancer continued to steamroll through the Dungeon, reaching the second Demonic Vanguard.

[ Panca, Demonic Vanguard (Elite) - Level 25

*Cold Enchanted: All attacks deal an extra 50 Cold damage.

*Frozen: Summons three balls of frost. Upon explosion, they freeze and deal 200 fixed damage in a five-meter radius. ]

Panca was a Shaman Carver, holding a strange two-meter scepter with a human skull as its headpiece. 

In the end, it fell in the same manner as his previous companion, updating the Dungeon objectives.

[ Dungeon Quest update - Lost Archives

Objective: Return the Mechanical Box to the Pedestal (0/2) ]

Scratching his head and curiously sizing the Boss Room, Michael admired the colossal statue in the middle, covered in chains and strange symbols.

It was undoubtedly the 'coffin' mentioned by Felix and her party. What came as a surprise was the statue's description once Micheal moved closer to it.

[ Necromancer's Coffin

*The coffin remains sealed. ]

It was simple to find and bring the boxes back, but it was rather interesting to see the identity of the Boss.

"A Necromancer, huh? Things might become tricky in that case."

Michael's fighting style revolved around Corpses and their use. Fighting another Necromancer who might use Corpses himself was a bit daunting.

Sighing, he could only pray that the main method of attack of this Boss was the ice shards mentioned by Felix.

Unsurprisingly, the next portion of the map consisted of droves of monsters continuously battering his minions. The Wrathful Phantoms also made a reappearance in the form of ranged damage dealers, making Michael's Dungeon experience plummet. 

He decided to give this Lost Archives a 1/5 star for customer-friendliness.

If there was one thing worth mentioning among the boring routine of killing monsters, it was the Mechanic Box. Upon grabbing it, Michael gained a movement speed buff.

"I've tested it, but I'm at least twice faster than before. Plus... this thing doesn't take an equipment slot." 

Wondering if he could take this Mechanic Box out of the Dungeon, Michael returned to the Boss room.

In the end, he gave up since it would be strange to carry a one-meter cubic box on your back in battle, regardless of the movement speed buff. He still cared about his reputation.

[ Dungeon Quest update - Lost Archives

Objective: Return the Mechanical Box to the Pedestal (1/2) ]

Putting the Mechanic Box on the Pedestal with a regretful face, Michael continued wreaking havoc throughout the Dungeon.

The next Elite he met was a Phantom type.

[ Bloodthirsty Wraith (Elite) - Level 25

*Vampiric: Each successful hit on an enemy heals you for 25% of the damage dealt. ]

With this Elite's modifier and its constant repositioning, it took Michael a full ten minutes to kill it. As unfortunate as it was, the Elite would attack him with magic missiles from a distance and then hit the Skeletons in melee range to recover its Life points.

It was truly a disgusting Elite.

Fortunately, right after, he reached the room with the second Mechanical Box, which he grabbed and returned to the Boss Room. Then, he sat on the ground surrounded by his minions, catching his breath.

"Welp... I'm in the best condition I could be in; I have all my Life Potions unused, my own Life Points and Essence are topped up... It's showtime!" 

Walking confidently toward the coffin, Michael wanted to kick it open. However, on second thought, he decided to bestow this honor onto Pathfinder.

He couldn't overlook his minion's achievements after all. Rewards were needed from time to time.

Once Pathfinder hacked at the coffin with its scythe, a huge Life bar appeared in the air above it, signifying the start of the Boss raid.

[ Spiritcaller of Frost (Boss) - Level 25 ]

A mummified body got out of the coffin, spreading around a stench that made Michael's stomach churn.

It wasn't a human, nor was it a Carver, based on the huge horns on its head. In its putrid hands, it held a three-meter-tall Mage-like scepter with a glowing ice headpiece, probably over half a meter tall.

As soon as the scepter touched the ground, stone pillars rose from the ground, and the general temperature dropped considerably. Cold wouldn't affect Michael anymore, but the magically induced cold was a different story altogether. 

His fingers clenched on the weapon and unhesitantly gave his minions the order to attack.

'I need to figure out its damage output first. According to the party I met, its main method of attack is the ice arrows that would splinter and bounce from the nearby walls and pillars. So I must always keep an eye on the entire chamber.'

With a deep breath, the newbie Wanderer calmed down his nerves and began his own attacking repertoire, using Blight to hit the Boss and following up with Corpse Explosion and Corpse Tendrils as soon as his Reapers did their part.

It wasn't surprising, but once the vine-like tendrils wrapped around the Boss, the latter roared indignantly and broke free in a second. Luckily, though, the Vulnerable status still applied.

'The Ice Mages are also incredibly useful. They slow the Boss, allowing my Reapers to avoid most attacks. This is much easier than I expected!'

Unfortunately, as soon as the flag was raised, the Boss stopped whacking the Skeletons with its staff and instead cast the Ice spell the party told him about.

Watching three Ice Arrows pass through three Reapers and two Mages, barely missing him, Michael almost doubled over in fear. 

"Motherfucker! Doesn't a normal attack disappear after hitting the target!? What the fuck is this bullshit!?"

Looking behind him to see the previously three arrows turn into six as they bounced back toward him forced the young Necromancer to throw himself on the ground, as he desperately used Raise Skeleton to replenish his meatshields.

After more than fifteen minutes of careful analysis, the Boss's attacks would only split and multiply once after hitting the walls, but they could do it twice if they hit the pillars summoned previously. 

If there was one thing to be thankful for, it was that after being hit with the Ice Arrows in his Blood Mist form, the attack would be nullified immediately. 

So, Michael's job turned out to be a walking target as soon as his Blood Mist was available. If anyone else had completed this Dungeon with him, they would've cursed at the mornon for openly courting death.

After more than an hour of walking on a tightrope, the Spiritcaller of Frost finally fell, leaving the winner with a sour look on his face.

He didn't feel any pleasure as he collected his loot and instead immediately used his quick-travel portal back to the city.

Even the newly gained Aspect of Protector for his Codex wasn't interesting to him at the moment.

[ Aspect of Protector 

---------------------

Damaging an Elite enemy grants you a Barrier absorbing up to [200] damage for 10 seconds.

This effect can only happen once every 30 seconds. ]

His mind was occupied with the fight he had just gone through, and he didn't notice Felix and her team looking shocked at him. Passing through the portal with his head lowered, Michael kept replaying the fight in his mind, and one particular problem kept coming up: his lack of damage!

'My minions are decent in the early levels, but even with the passive mastery skills I bought for them, they are insufficient against stronger monsters. The higher level I become, the higher level the monsters I encounter. And the Skeletons can't keep up...'

Just as he was lost in thought, a hand patted his shoulder, drawing him out of his reverie. 

Turning around, he saw the manly Felix grinning at him.

[It's good that you're alive, kid! I was worried since I forgot to tell you about the added damage of the Ice Arrows once they bounce back from the pillars and walls.](Felix)

"Huh!? They had extra damage?"

[Eh!? You didn't notice? How did you clear it then?](Felix)

The five people looked at each other in a confused manner, turning them speechless a moment later.

[Fuck! Come! We're going to the Inn, and you need to tell me how the hell you beat it alone so fast that you didn't even notice that disgusting added damage.](Felix)

[What about the Quest, Felix!? We need to complete it so we can be on our way. We still have...](Belv)

[Later, later! That fat merchant won't die if we go there an hour later. Let's go get some drinks, kid!](Felix)

In the end, Michael wasn't able to refuse the manly woman and was dragged into the Inn with her. Well... in his case, it was food and drinks since it was past noon already, and his stomach was empty.

He ended up giving a short description of his fight with the monsters in the Dungeon, including the Elites and the Boss, surprising the party.

[Fuck! I didn't think of that! You can just use an invulnerability skill to absorb the Ice Arrows, in which case they won't splinter upon hitting the walls anymore! Good kid! You're a genius!](Felix)

"You're exaggerating... I simply noticed it after getting flustered because of the number of Ice Arrows floating around in the Boss room." 

[Hmm? What's with you? You beat the Boss, and yet you're down for some reason.](Belv)

"*Sigh* I noticed my damage is severely lacking in the fight just now. I understand I am low-leveled, but it still feels off." 

[Eh? Then change your build?](Felix)

[Boss!](Belv)

[Huh!? Oh, right... sorry, kid. A slip of the tongue...](Felx)

"What? Wait, I'm confused. Why are you apologizing?"

[This brat... your common sense is severely lacking, even for a newbie. Listen up, kid! It's very rude to suggest a change of skill build to a different Wanderer. Even if the two of you are close.](Felix)

"I see... What you did say makes sense, though. I need to figure something out before I go Dungeon diving again. Otherwise, I risk dying in a stupid manner."

[That's a good mentality to have, kid! Manners and whatnot can go screw themselves! Staying alive is the main priority!](Felix)

"Mhm. Thank you for the advice and the information about the Dungeon. It was thanks to you that I managed to clear it out successfully." 

[Yeah, yeah! Don't get all sappy and mushy all of a sudden. If you feel generous, just treat us to another meal and drinks in the future.](Felix)

"I'd love that. Though... how can I get a hold of you? It's not that easy to randomly find you." 

[...](Felix)

[...](Belv)

[...](everyone else)

"Hmm? What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

[Kid... you seriously need to work on your common sense. You can just buy a Ring of Communication and synchronize the frequency with ours. That way, we can keep in touch.](Felix)

Michael felt like the world was collapsing on him. Did the Sanctuary have a magical version of a phone? 

But if that was true, why didn't Helen mention it to him? Why didn't nobody say that it exists in the first place?

Probably seeing the growing confusion on his face, Felix laughed loudly and smacked the table to show her amusement. Even the other three party members had smirks hanging on their lips.

[You don't know about it because you can't afford it, kid.](Felix)

"Is it expensive?"

[One million gold coins a piece.](Felix)

"What the fuck!? Why is it that expensive!?"

[Because of the materials. Also, it allows you to speak with people in Gea Kul when you're in Nevesk. That's literally on the other side of the continent. Don't you think the price is worth it?](Felix)

"Worth it, huh?" 

Looking back on Earth, where technology allowed one to speak with people all across the globe, Michael couldn't help but sigh in frustration.

One million gold coins. Looking at his stash that reached 45,031 after raiding the Lost Archives, he felt that his first 'phone' in the Sanctuary was too far away.