*Ping* Silver Jobs Available:
- Dungeon Clear (Root of the Forest Dungeon) (0/1)
- Outer Deadwoods Patrol (0/1)
- Dungeon Clear (Badger’s Den) (0/1)
“Dungeon?! I wonder if I’m going to have to worry about cores and dungeon fairies.” Marco thinks, surprised that dungeons are real.
“Oh, two dungeon clear options? We don’t have time for a proper patrol even if it is just the Outer Deadwoods.” Ben says, staring into the same space as Marco and Shen.
“So, it is just a choice between dungeons then?” Shen says, “I would feel more comfortable in the first choice, seemingly nature based and probably containing plant monsters.”
“Plants monsters? I’m down to tackle Root of the Forest if that works for everyone else.” Marco says, tired of sharp claws and if badgers were anything like back home, he didn’t want anything to do with them.
Both of the remaining team members nod to Marco and all of them mentally select the first option. Ben gestures for them to follow him and they begin to head out of the Guildhall, turning toward The Forest Gate.
“I only have a couple of spells but I can cast them both a ton of times before I have to rest.” Marco says, beginning an exchange of information on each of their spells and specialties.
Shen uses a [Earthen Armor] as his main defense, dense rock covering any part of his body that he wishes. Once he is wrapped in his armor he relies on his armor for protection while he wields a manifested [Hammer of Granite], a manifested greathammer capable of dishing out massive blunt damage.
Ben is a support role, focusing on [Renew], [Shield of Hardlight], and [Field of Wisps]. The first spell a basic heal, capable of restoring bruises and closing cuts. The shield spell is a manifestation of hardlight, deflecting blows until broken or dismissed and finally his crowd control spell is an area of twinkling lights that have a confusion effect on enemies and will wrap ankles and feet in a web of light, slowing enemies.
Marco runs through his very short list of spells, telling them of his buffs and enhancements and his three active spells while they make their way through town and out of The Forest Gate.
“Can one of you explain dungeons to me? We have stories of them back home but I don’t know how well those will translate.” Marco asks, an odd feeling of familiarity coming over him seeing the forest he appeared in once again.
“Yes, dungeons are just locations where Mana has compressed, luring in creatures and monsters. The high-level of compressed Mana twists and changes the creatures and can strengthen the monsters that wander in if they stay long enough.” Ben, rattles off, the systemologist in his element. “Killing the monsters often keeps them from growing too strong and leaving the dungeon area and wrecking the local ecosystem.”
Marco nods in understanding, “Interesting, just locales of Mana density and not a underground cave area filled with respawning mobs.”
The pick up serious speed, blurring by travelers on the road often forest workers that keep the area healthy and blight free. About thirty minutes later, having traveled through a good portion of forest, they arrive in a clearing teeming with Mana and monsters.
The monsters are different than Marco anticipated, having imagined plants with huge thorns and teeth for some reason. The waist high tangle of roots and flora don’t have any visible or recognizable faces, just bundles of green wandering around their clearing with Mana.
“Okay Marco, you’re going to attack first. These are Root Tangles; whip attacks, mild poison, and swarm tactics.” Ben says, “They are pretty weak individually but will swarm and cause large amount of damage with whips and poison.”
Marco nods, beginning to summon [Salt Bolts], he looks over to see Shen covering himself to [Earthen Armor], pulling earth from the forest floor and hardening it into dense stone. Ben casts [Shield of Hardlight] on Shen and Marco, protecting them from the initial retaliation.
Marco, having gathered a dozen or so [Salt Bolts] around his body, makes eye contact with his party members and fires his first salvo into the Root Tangles. Thuds and creaking noises sound from the clearing as he launches his projectiles into the small monsters, turning ten into lifeless chunks of brown wood and shredded greenery.
Stolen story; please report.
The onslaught forms a small cloud of [Salt] dust that Marco compresses back into a pair of [Salt Bolts] that fly at the closest monsters, turning them to debris and finally looks away from the monsters and sees the astonishment on the faces of his team.
*Ping* Root Tangles Slain (12/124)
“What? Did I do something wrong?” Marco asks, casting [Flash Cure] on a Root Tangle that approaches Shen, the monster stiffening and falling still.
“No! I just wasn’t expecting that level of damage.” Shen says, forming his [Hammer of Granite] and sending a root monster into the distance with a small swing.
“Watch the ground! More Root Tangles are coming, the disturbance from the first attack is going to make them more likely to swarm.” Ben says, [Field of Wisps] winking into existence in the clearing. “Great opening Marco, focus on any monster that looks different and any that get around Shen.”
“Not likely!” Shen calls, voice muffled slightly by his armor. Mighty hammer blows turn the monsters into a smashed piles of brown and green, Shen stepping over them to get to new monsters.
More [Flash Cures] turn the tangles into unliving statues and [Salt Bolts] form around Marco, firing two at a Root Tangle with lighter bark he is amazing when the monster lives through the attack.
“Variant!” Marco calls, warning his team members of the more dangerous monster.
*Ping* Root Tangle, Ironwood Variant
A beam of light flashes out of Ben’s hand, spearing the monster through the center and killing it. The larger and lighter colored tangle falls slowly pinning one of its brethren under its larger bulk.
*Ping* Root Tangles Slain (56/124)
“Obviously Shen is having a great time,” Marco thinks, watching the tank play whack-a-mole with Root Tangles digging their way to the surface. A near continuous stream of [Salt Bolts] is being summoned around Marco before streaking away, his competitive spirit not allowing the tank to kill more root monsters than him.
*Ping* Root Tangles Slain (77/124)
He smiles, killing a newly appeared Ironwood Variant with a trio of bolts, [Flash Cure] taking out another at the same moment. “I need an area of effect spell so badly.” Marco thinks to himself, tired of having to cast his projectile so many times.
He begins to think about what an AOE spell would look like for [Salt] easily envisioning spells for other elements. A flash freezing puddle for [Water], a mass of [Air] blades like Cloud of Daggers from D&D, softening the earth and solidifying it around a target for [Earth], a large pillar of fire; a [Flamestrike].
That last idea makes Marco freeze for half a second, missing one of his shots at the root monsters, “What about explosive salt crystal growth? Compress [Salt] Mana until it explodes into a jagged crystal?”
Marco splits his focus, watching out for different colored mobs and any sneaky roots creeping toward Ben, but thinking about his [Saltstrike], a compressed orb of [Salt] comes to mind. Launching that orb toward a target and having it rupture and grow into a massive pillar of spiky crystal and damage.
He begins to use his stockpile of bolts while he tries to create his vision, an orb of [Salt] the size of his head to start quickly shrinks into a pebble the size of his thumbnail. A feeling of danger overwhelms Marco, he panics and shoots his bolt away into the forest a thunderous sound following the impact.
A huge crystalline growth consumes a tree, like a pure white pine tree from the depths of hell. Massive jagged spikes nearly a foot long spear out of a central post of solid [Salt]. A wave of lightheadedness comes over Marco, the first casting of his new spell taking its toll on his body and Mana, he pants slightly and looks focus on the fight.
*Ping* Root Tangles Slain (110/124)
“Yikes, I must have been focused on that new spell for a little bit too long.” Marco kicks himself; they were in combat and he wasn’t focused.
“What was that!? Marco did you just form a new spell?” Ben says, looking at the mass of [Salt] with a look of incredulity before turning a look of exasperation on Marco, “Did you just form a spell in the middle of combat? Marco! What is wrong with you?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was such a long time. It won’t happen again.” Marco says, a deep blush covering his face and neck.
“You are concerned it took too long? We aren’t exactly outclassed here but that spell could have hurt one of us if it formed wrong!” Ben says, anger evident in his eyes. “I know you are new to Omnia but spell formation is usually done in a controlled environment away from others so if something goes wrong nobody gets hurt.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that, I formed my other spell, [Flash Cure] during my first fight with slimes.” Marco admits.
Ben proves that facepalms are universal and turns back to combat just in time to see Shen finish of the last Root Tangle.
*Ping* Root Tangles Slain (124/124)
Congratulations, The First Wave of the Root of the Forest Dungeon has been cleared.
Rewards not available due to Affinity disparity.
The Second Wave will begin in Twenty Minutes.
“Great work! That was a painless First Wave other than the spell experiment.” Shen says, helmet dissolving to show his teasing smile. “Rest and replenish as much Mana as you can.” He sits down on the spot, folding his legs into a lotus pose and starts to regenerate Mana. Ben quickly follows suit but due to Marco’s unique form of Mana circulation he doesn’t need to actively use the technique.
He smiles and thinks about his new spell, the damage looks to be incredible, but the range is still lacking in Marco’s mind, “Maybe I can make it explode? I probably shouldn’t work on that with my teammates so close!” Marco grimaces at himself, feeling dumb for making such a large blunder.