Was He An Assassin Or A Mage?

"The Ice Queen is rumored to be around level 48 although we really wouldn't know. Some say she is beyond level 50 already and is just hiding it to take her enemies by surprise," Lilo voiced like an excited fan girl.

"It's suspected that The Shadow Reaper is already a tier 2 player but it's impossible to confirm really. Big players always have many enchantments to hide their levels," Boris pointed out as well.

"Tier 2?" August voiced in confoundment.

"Evolved players who have reached a higher realm of their class. You need have achieved a specific set of goals before you can reach Tier 2 but usually you can't be less than level 45," The talkative Lilo swiftly explained to August.

'Oh, I see... I guess we're all still Tier 1 until we meet the necessary requirements,' August noted internally.

Ezran added, "There are also powerful teams, like The Iron Vanguard, known for their tanking skills, and The Arcane Order, a group of high-level mages who can decimate entire armies with their spells."

August nodded, processing everything he'd learned. "Seems like there's a lot to explore here."

August decided to ask a question that had been on his mind since he first spotted them.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, why'd you guys come into the Cave of Shadows without a fourth party member? A cleric would have made things a lot easier against that brute," August said, glancing between Lilo, Boris, and Ezran.

Lilo sighed as her cheerful demeanor momentarily dimmed. "Yeah, we usually have a cleric, but our friend had some real-life stuff come up and couldn't get into the game today. We didn't want to waste the day, so we decided to grind on our own. Figured we could handle it... but that didn't go as planned."

Ezran chuckled weakly. "Clearly, we overestimated ourselves. We were in way over our heads."

Boris grunted while leaning back against the cave wall. "We thought we could manage, but without our healer, we were just getting hammered. I hate relying on potions."

August nodded, understanding their predicament. Real-life issues often interfered with game plans, and grinding without a complete team could be dangerous, especially in a place like the Cave of Shadows. "Well, you guys did well considering the circumstances," he said. "I'm glad I stumbled upon you when I did."

Lilo grinned. "Yeah, no kidding! We owe you one for sure."

With the tension from the battle easing, they decided it was time to part ways for now. The three of them had clearly been in the game for a long time already, and it showed in their weary expressions and the way they stretched their in-game avatars as if their real bodies were aching.

"Hey, we're logging out for now," Lilo said as she opened her player menu. "We've been in here for too long, and we need a break. But we should definitely team up again sometime."

Ezran nodded, adding, "Yeah, it'd be great to have you on our team. You're pretty handy with those daggers and spells."

Boris, always the more reserved one, nodded as well. "You held your own. Not bad."

August opened his menu, accepting the friend requests from the three players. He wasn't against the idea of teaming up with them again. It could be beneficial to have allies, especially in tougher areas where solo play wasn't always viable. "Sure, hit me up anytime," he said with a small smile.

With that, Lilo, Ezran, and Boris left the cave of shadows while selecting their logout options.

As they logged out of the game, their consciousnesses returned to the real world, but the conversation about their mysterious new ally continued in their group chat.

Lilo was the first to speak up. "Hey, what do you guys think about Aleman? Was he an assassin or a mage? I saw him use both types of abilities."

Ezran, now back in his room and stretching his real limbs, replied, "Yeah, that was weird, right? At first, I thought he was an assassin with those quick moves and that stealthy attack, but then he started casting spells like a mage. Can you even do that?"

Boris, sitting in his gaming chair, chimed in, "I did hear about dual classes one time but they're supposed to be impossible to unlock. At least, that's what everyone says. But he definitely used both a Shadow skill which is privy to assassin class alone and a Lightning Bolt spell in that fight. It doesn't add up."

Lilo nodded in curiosity. "And did you see his level? He's only level 19, but the amount of damage he was dealing to that Level 28 Shadowmaw Brute... that wasn't normal. He hit harder than some of the level 25 players I've seen."

Ezran agreed. "It makes no sense. Either he's got some insane gear we don't know about, or there's more to him than meets the eye."

Boris scratched his chin thoughtfully. "If he's really dual-classed, that could explain the power discrepancy. He might have access to a wider range of skills that enhance his combat abilities."

Lilo leaned back, a grin spreading across her face. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad we ran into him. Having someone like that on our side could be a game-changer."

Ezran chuckled. "Yeah, but we should keep an eye on him. If he's got some secret trick or strategy, we might be able to learn a thing or two."

Boris nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Next time we team up, let's see if we can get more information out of him."

Lilo added with a wink, "Maybe I'll do a little digging of my own. He seems like a nice guy, but a little mystery doesn't hurt."

The three friends decided to rest for now, but the intrigue surrounding their new ally, Aleman, lingered in their minds. In a game filled with secrets and hidden mechanics, anything was possible. And it seemed that Aleman was a player worth watching closely.

~~

Back in the game, August took a moment to consider the events of the day. Teaming up with other players wasn't usually his style, but today had proven that there could be benefits.

They hadn't gotten mad at him for landing the final blow; instead, they were grateful for his help. It was a refreshing change from the usual hostility he faced.

He glanced at his player menu, seeing their usernames now listed under his friends' tab. It felt strange, seeing that list no longer empty. "Not bad," he murmured to himself.

He decided he'd be open to grinding with them again. After all, they seemed competent, and he could use more allies in this unpredictable world.

After parting ways with Lilo, Ezran, and Boris, August delved deeper into the Cave of Shadows.

The dimly lit tunnels twisted and turned like a labyrinth, illuminated only by the eerie glow of bioluminescent crystals embedded in the walls.

August moved with stealth, sipping from shadow to shadow with his << Shadow Stealth >> ability.

The Cave of Shadows was notorious for being unforgiving to solo players, but August still had no intention of joining any groups—not when he could use his unique skills to gain experience at others' expense.

He continued his assault on the creatures within the cave, targeting groups of players who were already engaged in fierce battles with the beasts.

His strategy was the same: wait for the monsters' health to drop to critical levels and then deliver the final blow from a distance.

By dealing the killing strike, he would reap the largest portion of the EXP, while the other players were left with only a fraction of the EXP and loot as a reward for all their hard work.

Ahead of him, he spotted a group of six players—two separate teams had banded together to grind in an area densely populated with a pack of Cave Fangfiends.

These monstrous, canine-like creatures had dark, sinewy fur and glowing blue eyes. Their fangs dripped with venom, and their claws could tear through even the sturdiest armor.