Maimon landed back on the ground and shifted into his white-robed human form and hastily started sending heals to Auto, who breathed in relief, his Health recovering over 300 Health Points in a flash. The Rabbi’s Mana was draining quickly as he replaced the protective bubble around the tank then topped off his HP with another heal.
Garath, who’d watched Daisy’s aerial maneuver in awe, attempted to copy her movements to keep his three stacks of QE active on Illunitus, along with another Creeping Death. He was also in Crow form to take advantage of the +15% increased damage to all Death Magic spells he received from the Class synergy bonus.
He gained altitude. From the top of the square-shaped pocket dimension, Garath spread his wings to slow his fall and funneled Mana into Creeping Death. The concentration necessary to complete the casting was much more difficult to manage than Daisy had made it look moments before, but Garath released the spell and pulled out of the free fall just in time.
Handsome, out of Mana from his uninterrupted spamming of Creeping Death, scratched a word into Garath’s mind. *Rest?*
Garath dismissed the winged demon as he gained altitude again. A quick glance over his shoulder showed Bill and the Golem were hacking and scratching and biting at Illunitus’ exposed rear. He also caught a glimpse of the dungeon Bosses Healthbar as it dropped below 50%.
Illunitus spoke a guttural incantation, then lifted both hands with his palms facing up. A green barrier rose from the ground to cover his body. Auto barreled into the protective barrier but it may as well have been a brick wall. The Chimerist roared in pain and glared at Illunitus through the barrier with one arm hanging limp at his side.
Illunitus , now behind a spell shield, completed another cast, but this time no magic left his tall form. Instead, the pale green smoke that he’d sent into Auto left the Chimerist in a whoosh and entered the boss. The horned demon swelled as his level doubled, and improved Attributes strengthened his body. Garath was pretty sure he understood what had just happened, but he triggered Inspect on Illunitus again to be sure.
Illunitus
Arch Demon
Health: 1,622/5,100
Level: 32
Station: Boss
Mana: 2,150/3,990
Description: Long held against his will by the half-demons of Goabanga who sought to drain his power for themselves, Illunitus is now free.
Along with Bill and Garath’s Golem, Auto continued slashing and stabbing and pummeling the spell shield around their foe with no apparent result. Daisy’s next aerial Frostfire Bolt blessed Illunitus’ spell-shield with its first crack. Moments later, Garath’s follow-up Deathbolt connected in the same spot, and a spider web of hairline cracks spread across it. Already descending for another attack, Daisy sent another Frostfire Bolt, and the shield shattered.
“I’m almost out of Mana,” Maimon said. He summoned the blue potion from his Items panel, downed its contents, and placed it back through the black disk.
Illunitus raised his hand again, eyes locked on Auto. As he opened his lips to speak the word of power to finalize the spell, Daisy impressed the Party once again.
*Counterspell!* she shouted, interrupting the demon's spell a second time.
The towering dungeon boss fell to his knees and wrapped both hands around his horned head.
*Nice one, Daisy!* Auto cheered.
Auto, Bill, and Garath’s Golem didn't waste a second of Illunitus' moment of weakness. Auto clamped down on one shoulder with his powerful jaws as Bill chomped down on the other. The Golem brought its club-hand down to smash the hard skull between Illunitus’ horns once, then again while the boss screamed in pain.
By the time Illunitus recovered from the spell backlash, his HP was dangerously low, and he must have known the fight was lost. With unholy resolve, the demon refused to go down. His total remaining Health in single digits, he swiveled his attention to the Elementalist that had caused him so much pain.
After eight seconds of enduring the ripping jaws of the Chimerist and Fel Hound and the pummeling of the Golem, Illunitus raised his hand and spoke to release the spell. The words trickled weakly off his lips along with a hot stream of black blood, but it was enough. The tri-colored mass of energies shot from his hand as his body fell, dead, to the ground. The dying vengeance of Illunitus soared through the air on an intercept course with Daisy.
Athios knew it was her turn to do something awesome. She sent a silver disk with one outstretched wing between the little girl and the oncoming attack. The tri-colored spell vanished into it, then Athios sent a second black disk from her other wing to release the spell harmlessly into the ground.
The fight was won. Athios, Garath, and Daisy shifted back into their natural forms to join Auto, and Maimon on the pocket dimension’s ground level.
The pocket dimension started to flake away in small pieces, then dispersed into nothing like a pile of ash in a high wind. Seconds later, the Party stood next to the corpse of the late dungeon boss inside the cavernous dungeon of Molten Glacier Peak. Garath noticed an exciting addition to the subterranean world, the hard-earned reward for completing the dungeon.
Five wooden crates adorned with gold plating stood in the room that once housed Illunitus, one on each point of the pentagram. One of the chests glowed brighter than the others and was encrusted with glimmering jewels.
"Nice! Rare chest!" Auto exclaimed, back in human form and running excitedly to the glowing vessel. He whistled admiringly, but stopped just short of opening it. "Daisy, this one's yours. You earned it."
"Uh, " Daisy said. "Thanks. It's a really nice box but I don't think I can carry it. You can have it if you want."
"You don't carry it, Daisy. You open it," Athios explained patiently. "These chests are the reward for clearing the dungeon."
"Oh," Daisy said, surprised. "Then I do want it."
Athios smiled at the girl's innocence and unapologetic take-back of her offer to give up the rare chest upon hearing she didn't have to carry it. Even Maimon laughed as Daisy hurried over to the chest. Auto and Garath watched in jealousy as she struggled to open the box.
"Just put your hand on top of it," Auto instructed. "It'll open."
Daisy looked at the Chimerist, then back to the chest. She placed her right hand on the jewel-encrusted chest and heard a click as the locking mechanism unlatched and the contents were revealed. Garath watched closely, hoping to trigger Inspect on the single item that emerged, floating, from the chest.
It was a garment, carefully folded and wrapped with an intricately tied ribbon. At first the cloth was red, but it quickly shifted to yellow, and then blue, white, and continued changing colors seamlessly. Daisy tugged on one end of the ribbon and the bow came loose. She lifted the cloth to inspect her new gear. Garath triggered Inspect from over her shoulder.
Technicolored Dream Robe
Raiment Slot: Chest
Armor: +16
Magic Resistance: +10%
Durability: 100/100
Item Score: 73
Defense Rating: 304
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Craftwork
Rarity: Epic
+10% damage to all Elementalist spells
+25 Wisdom
+15 Regeneration
+15 Vitality
***Weave of the elements of change.
Item Requirements:
Level: 19
Class: Elementalist
Daisy’s new robe was ridiculous. Auto told a supremely jealous Garath that his jade shield had also come from a rare chest and Garath almost drooled as he considered what a Necrologist might gain from one of these rare chests.
The other members of the Party each opened their respective chests as well. Garath placed his hand on his chest, which clicked open and revealed his loot.
Waist Strap of the Wise
Raiment Slot: Waist
Armor: +3
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 20/20
Item Score: 29
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
2 Potion Holsters
+5 Wisdom
Item Requirements:
Level: 6
Dark Trousers
Raiment Slot: Legs
Armor: +6
Magic Resistance: 0%
Durability: 30/30
Item Score: 27
Defense Rating: 30
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Average
Rarity: Common
+5 Wisdom
+5 Vitality
Item Requirements:
Level: 6
Cinderstaff
Attack Damage: 9-13
Attack Speed: 2.25
DPS (damage per second): 4.889
Durability: 40/40
Item Score: 36
Two-handed weapon
Type: Staff
Quality: Above Average
Rarity: Uncommon
Spell Targeting Assistance: Basic
+35 Wisdom
+30 Vitality
+11 Regeneration
Item Requirements:
Level: 15
Garath was pumped to get three new pieces of gear that he’d immediately put to use. He quickly wrapped the belt around his waist and filled its two Potion holsters with the Endless Potions in his Items panel. Using a trick he’d learned in Aquawood Depths, he equipped the new pants with a thought.
You have equipped Dark Trousers. Because the Raiment Slot for Leg Armor was occupied, your Old Jeans have been placed in your Items panel.
Garath smirked. It was a useful way to change clothes and maintain a level of modesty. He gave Daisy his Hypnotic Staff of the Wise and replaced it with the new Cinderstaff, a solid upgrade for the Necrologist. Its smooth black shaft felt warm to the touch and he gained an additional 5 Wisdom, 30 Vitality, and 1 Regeneration from the weapon upgrade.
After the chests were emptied, Garath enlisted Auto and Maimon to help him slip Illunitus’ corpse out of the long black robe he’d been wearing. Athios covered Daisy’s eyes as the now-naked corpse fell limply to the ground. Garath couldn’t have been sure but, because the demon-boss had employed magics similar to his own, he was hoping the robe would be of some benefit to him.
Illunitus’ Dreadrobe of Reaping
Raiment Slot: Chest
Armor: +15
Magic Resistance: +15%
Durability: 81/100
Item Score: 59
Defense Rating: 225
Type: Cloth Armor
Quality: Craftwork
Rarity: Epic
+20 Wisdom
Gain +1% to the base damage of your Skills for each slain enemy (Maximum: 30%). Effect lasts for 30 minutes (refreshed with each kill)
***The wearer of this Dreadrobe receives the Ability ‘Go Down Fighting’. Even within an inch of death, your need for revenge will sustain you through any amount of damage received for as long as it takes to cast one final spell. (Note: if the casting of a spell has not been initiated within one-second of your total Health reaching zero, Go Down Fighting will not be activated)
Item Requirements:
Level: 19
The robe shrank to Garath’s size upon looting it. If it hadn’t, the dang thing would have been too big for Andre the Giant. He guessed the bonus effect was how the dungeon Boss was able to remain in the fight long seconds after he should have died to send that last spell at Daisy. Garath put it on immediately.
You have equipped Illunitus’ Dreadrobe of Reaping. Because the Raiment Slot for Chest Armor was occupied, your Sturdy Leather Cuirass of Wisdom has been placed in your Items panel.
With the items from the chests, Garath’s new-to-me robe, and the few assorted pieces they were able to scavenge from the corpses littering the long hallway, the first run of Molten Glacier Peak yielded a pretty good haul. In addition to the items, each member of the Party gained 9 Mana Crystals and a total of 93,450 Experience, bringing him all the way to Level 26. He took a second to distribute his Attribute Points, plugging every one into Wisdom. After a quick check to make sure they hadn’t missed any potential loot, the Party exited MGP to regroup with the others waiting outside.
Chapter Eighteen – Tryouts
Garath sat out for the second run of Molten Glacier Peak. The plateau on which the Necrologist waited rose from between ever-flowing rivers of magma. It was at least twenty feet above the orange streams of popping, superheated earth. Safe. At least, as safe as any plateau could be on a magically enhanced active volcano. There were occasional splashes against the rock wall of their waiting location, but nobody got burned. The air was thin, and though the day was still young, the burning July sun coupled with the heat from below made Garath feel as though he was being fried like an egg.
After giving a brief explanation of what to expect inside the dungeon, Auto led Sharon, Lorena, Duran, and NickCarter back through the portal. Garath didn’t think the group would have much trouble making it through the dungeon, but he still worried. He knew the group currently taking on Molten Glacier Peak would have an advantage over the first group. They were led by a terrific tank that had just finished his first run of MGP and knew exactly what was coming.
On top of that, Lorena and Duran were both already over Level 30 and would likely out-damage even the Necrologist himself. Still, he hoped Auto and Sharon would be able to keep everything under control in there. If there was anything Garath hated, it was being sidelined.
Having not taken a look at the Profile partition of his MENU panels in a while, Garath figured it was a good time to see how his stats were looking after Leveling up a few times and getting his hands on some gear upgrades.
Garath
Race: Human
Class: Necrologist
Level: 26
Age: 29
Health: 1,310/1,310
(base: 840)
Defense Rating: 1,290
Mana: 2,620/2,620
(base: 840)
Exp to next Level: 22,140/100,000
Attributes
Vitality: 131 (items:+35) - Each point of Vitality provides +10 to maximum Health.
Wisdom: 262 (items: +125) - Each point of Wisdom provides +10 to maximum Mana.
Regeneration: 65 (items: +19) - As a Necrologist, each point of Regeneration increases Mana recovery rate by +1.11 per second; Health recovery rate by +.25 per second; and recovery from injury by +2%.
Strength: 8 - In addition to making one stronger, each point of Strength increases physical attack damage by 1% and reduces damage received from physical attacks by .25%.
Dexterity: 10 - In addition to making one more agile, each point of Dexterity improves the critical strike chance of physical attacks by +.3%; the critical strike damage of physical attacks by +3%; and improves chance to dodge by +.5%.
Unused Attribute Points: 0
Unused skill points: 13
Overall, Garath was happy with the way his stats were looking, though it was clear from a glance that his build was anything but balanced. He was still tempted to add points to Strength, but he knew that was just silly. Unless he had to increase his Strength in order to equip an item with a Strength requirement, it would stay where it was indefinitely.
While he waited on the rock plateau with the others, Garath scrolled through his combat log to tally up the damage dealt in the first run of MGP. It was a giant pain in the ass. He wished there was a mod to do the math for him, but there wasn’t. So slowly, meticulously, Garath added up each line of damage dealt. When he finally came up with the completed numbers, Garath screwed up his face in confusion.
“Athios,” he said. “Will you double check my math on our dungeon run? I just used my combat log to add up all the damage numbers for each person. But this can’t be right.”
Athios agreed and her eyes went vacant as she began to count. Long minutes later, the Dimensionalist’s eyes came back into focus. She looked almost
as perplexed as Garath had felt upon seeing the final numbers.
“Archmage indeed,” Athios said, looking down with an impressed expression at the girl to her left.
“What?” Daisy asked. “Did I win?”
“Yeah, you did!” Athios said, still looking like she didn’t believe it herself.
“What?” Garath asked incredulously. “No she didn’t.”
“She did, unless you count the damage your demons did as yours,” Athios countered.
“I beat Garath?” Daisy nearly shouted the words, then looked up and pointed at Garath. “Ha!”
“Well, of course I counted the damage my demons did as my damage. Why wouldn’t I? They are my Summoned Creatures,” Garath huffed. “Still, Daisy, I’ve got to say I’m impressed. You even beat Auto in damage output and he had a huge head start on us.”
“And I followed directions!” Daisy said, excitement growing on her face. “Does that mean I made the team?”
Garath was silent for a moment as he tried to decide how to answer. Athios gave him a look that suggested it may be worth considering. Garath knew the Elementalist Class was a typical glass-cannon though, and reasoned that Lorena would easily surpass Daisy’s damage output. He couldn’t be sure that would be the case, but considering the Level gap between the two and the fact that Daisy had almost none of her Raiment slots filled, apart from the two rings Brandon had made for her, it was a pretty solid bet.
The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2) Page 20
