Chapter 42: Inferno Dominion, The True Goal Of The Retrieval Quest Revealed
2235 Words
Grimm’s salvo of gunshots pierced the body of Second Floor Guardian, Duoso in rapid succession.
TGAM! TGAM! TGAM! TGAM! TGAM! TGAM!
A high speed series of attacks bypassing all defenses and dealing from critical to colossal amount of damages, an onslaught that Duoso can’t do anything except receiving.
Grimm is in a frenzied state, recklessly bombarding the Guardian of the Second Floor with all he’d got.
‘Of all the designs, why did they had to make this Guardian looks like a Terraformars!?’
It was very much unexpected. All the monsters he’d fought throughout the wreckages of the Second Floor, in which he was responsible for, were reptiles and walking toadstools. So it came as a horrible surprise that the Guardian turns out to be a cockroach walking in two legs.
Grimm could still remember the first he’d saw it among his Great-Grandfather’s Anime Collections and until now it’s still the creepiest thing he’d seen in his life. Humanoid cockroaches, with antennas, and creepy faces. Grimm shuddered. ‘For crying out loud just die already!’
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
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+You dealt a Colossal Damage.
+You dealt a Critical Damage x 5.
+You dealt a Colossal Damage.
+You dealt a Critical Damage x 8.
+You dealt a Critical Damage x 4.
+You dealt a Colossal Damage x 2.
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Duoso continued to take dozens to hundreds of hits, sending him into a precarious state. But even with that, he’s still unfazed and intending to charge and retaliate. Typical for a cockroach, he has agility, strength, toughness, a sturdy carapace, and an absence of pain receptor, making incapacitation impossible.
“Joh joh joh joh!”
‘Fine! Have it your way!’
Whenever he is logged out during the hellish week(IGT) of finding the way out through the collapsed passages of the Second Floor, Grimm spent his time researching on new stuffs in regards to the Skill System of Eternal Empire specifically towards spell casting and usage.
Skill Combination: Depending on the User’s Level, combination of Skills is possible:
ØLevel 0-199, can only 1-Skill at a time,
ØLevel 200-299, can use or combine 2-Skills at a time,
ØLevel 300-399, can use or combine 3-Skills at a time,
ØAnd so on.
However, Skill Combo has several limitations. Limitations that often involve the nature of the skill, the weapons in use, and sometimes, even the profession of the user.
For example, for Magic Spells, two Magic Spells can’t be used at the same time without [Dual Cast] or [Multi-Cast] Skills, but a Magic Spell paired with a Curse Spell can be used at the same time though with a mental strain but without restriction. Same goes for Combat Skills. Two Sword-Attack Skills can’t be activated at the same time without [Dual Wield] or [Dual Strike] but a Sword Skill and a Magic Spell can be used at the same time.
Well, disregarding the other complexities, the result of Grimm’s research had enabled him to discover a method that can perfectly and proficiently combine and utilize his Black Tempest along with his other skills specifically to those that fall under the Range Type.
[Black Tempest] + [Full Buster], minus the Disaster of course.
Their effects might look similar but they’re completely different, Black Tempest is a Black Magic while Full Buster is a Sub-Skill, so passive skill such as Dual or Multi Cast is unnecessary to combine and unleash them together. However, both of them are unique and complicated skills for usage, so with his current in-game INT and mindset, it will require an insane amount concentration to be done. But bottom line, it can be done.
“Qora qora qorara, Thye thye thyella…”
Grimm casts the Black Tempest and charge the Full Buster at once. The mental strain was an ass but not something that’s unbearable.
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Charging at 60%
Charging at 70%
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“Vete vete vetera…”
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Charging at 80%
Charging at 90%
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“Viha viha vihaar!”
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Charging at 100%
Charged at 100% Completed
Black Tempest Activated
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And upon completing both preparations, the Black Tempest, instead of emerging as a black vortex in the field like it normally should have had materializes around the Mana Sphere, wrapping, dyeing it with its color, and then shrinking it until it is just the size of a basketball, smaller size but with denser energy content and fiercer rotations.
And Bang…the sphere was fired, hitting Duoso, who was motioning to lunge, in the gut. Then, upon contact, the sphere immobilizes Duoso before further shrinking until it was just the size of a dot before slowly growing again into a huge hole that absorbed Duoso until nothing was left.
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Current usable Skill Combo – Reverse Tempest [Black Tempest + Full Buster]
An Advance Magic Spell that absorb and obliterates its target into nothingness.
Casting Success Effect: If the target’s Health is 15% or less of your Maximum Health, inflict instant Death. If not, inflict (+15,000% MATK).
Casting Failure Effect: Receive Damage equivalent to 50% of your Maximum Health.
Additional Effect: If the Shadow Crow, Specter is within a 5 Meters distance and is in Standby Mode during the activation of the Skill Combo Reverse Tempest, 30% chance to activate Auto-Predation.
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Ding!
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The Second Floor Gourmet Guardian Duoso has been defeated.
Your Level has risen
Your Level has risen
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Ding!
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Specter had devoured the soul of Duoso
Soul Satiety has risen
Maturity has risen
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By the Effect of Specter’s [Predation], [Unbreakable Body B•LVL1] and [Fire Resistance +40%] were acquired.
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[Unbreakable Body B•LVL1] has unified into [Unbreakable Body I•LVL9]
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Ding!
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Level Up: Unbreakable Body [Passive: Advanced Level 1 (0.00%)]
Through your countless journeys in achieving greater heights, you’ve finally gained a body that’s unparalleled under the heavens and capable of resisting death endlessly, an accomplishment only possible for a warrior with unearthly dedication.
(+130%) Increase in Defense
(+125%) Resistance to Hunger
(+87%) Reduction in Stamina Usage
20% Chance of Immunity to Physical Damage for 11 seconds when HP drops below 20%
1% Chance to reduce Damage taken by 50%
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And at the end of the cascades of notification, Grimm breathed a heavy sigh of relief. ‘Glad that was over!’
He considers himself fearless but cockroaches really get into his nerves!
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Descending through the seemingly endless stairs, venturing to the deepest part of the Labyrinth, a cluster of molten magma came into view. And exiting the connecting passage, the wide magma filled field of the First Floor wholly manifests.
Ding!
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You have entered a Heart of the Gourmet Labyrinth
The Inferno DominionThe Sanctuary of the Fire Beings.
You have entered a special area with an applied environmental effect.
Ø Weakens all beings with Water and Ice Attributes.
Ø Alternatively, all beings with Fire Attribute will have their Abilities increased by 30%.
Ø The scourging heat increases Stamina consumption for non-Fire Attributes by 40%. Effect can be reduced or nullified by Fire or Fire-related Resistances.
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‘Woah!’ Grimm let out a surprised expression.
A special area at the end part of the dungeon? ‘How nostalgic. Feels like the Forest of Illusion once again.’ He thought.
And he doesn’t have to guess that the true challenge of the Gourmet Labyrinth officially starts here. Aside that it’s ideally obvious, it’s plainly obvious too evident by the proofs before his eyes.
Ding!
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Name: Magma Golem
Race: Elemental
Level: 400
Attribute: Fire
Max Health: 110,000
Max Mana: 20,000
Weakness: Wind, Water, Ice
Skills: *Fire Breath (Active)
*Fiery Takedown (Active), *Fireball (Active), *Fire Spin (Active), *Fire Curl (Active), *Flame Shower (Active), *Blaze Tackle (Active), *Magma Detonation (Active, Special)
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Dozens to hundreds of these 15 ft. Magma Golems emerged from the underneath of the Inferno Dominion’s sea of magma, all moving to the far eastern region where series of flashes and explosions could be seen.
“Eagle’s Eyes!”
Using his Eagle’s Eyes, Grimm intensifies his sense of sight to that of an eagle and takes a peek on what’s transpiring on the area where the Magma Golems are heading.
BLAST! KABOOM! KABOOM!
An intense battle!
Found in the middle of boiling pool of magma are two sides pummeling each other with everything they’ve got, a troop of hundreds of Magma Golem with their might of fire against a giant glowing Sphere protected by dozens of humongous Ghost…‘Chickens?’
Grimm rubbed his eyes to ensure that he’s not seeing things and at the same time, used his Eyes of Knowing to identify the spectral poultries.
Ding!
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Name: Astral Fowl
Race: Spirit*Summon
Level: 400
Attribute: Light
Max Health: Infinite
Max Mana: Infinite
The manifestation of all the Birds that departed the world of the living.
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High level spells and skills from both Fire and Light categories soared and exploded, eradicating anyone and anything struck by it. It was a breathtaking and extraordinary battle of races that’s rarely witnessed by anyone.
But Magma Golems versus haunting chickens!
The battle is amazing but the arrangement is sort of funny and ridiculous at the same time.
BLAST! KABOOM! KABOOM!
But putting the comical factors aside, some elements of the ongoing battle greatly enthralled Grimm.
One was the Astral Fowls, the ghost chickens. They’re not just monsters. They’re also Summons. And it’s pretty evident that the Sphere they’re protecting has something to do with that.
“Eyes of Knowing!”
Grimm activated his Eyes of Knowing once again, this time, targeting the giant Sphere.
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Unable to Identify!
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The target is not a Monster but a product of a Skill. Kindly use Espionage.
‘Okay.’ “Espionage!”
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[Espionage] => [Brilliance Dome]
An ancient and powerful defense magic that can absorb all types of damages.
Effect: Create a protective spherical shell that absorbs all type of damage.
Restriction: It’s not Unlimited. Can only absorb up to [100,000,000] worth of damage. Beyond that, the Brilliance Dome will be destroyed.
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BRILLIANCE DOME HEALTH GAUGE: 2,922,888/100,000,000
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“Whoa!” Grimm exclaimed. Not just for discovering an amazing magic but also due to the circumstances it presented.
There’s only less than 3% left on the Dome’s Health Gauge, signifying that this battle had been ongoing for God knows how long. And it’s nearing its c****x, a c****x that favors the Magma Golems.
The Astral Fowls, they are invincible. But as Grimm observed, their numbers slowly disseminate, unsummoned to be exact. And Grimm can only think of one plausible explanation.
Their Summoner is weakening. Therefore, the numbers of the summoned Astral Fowls are being reduced to retain and maintain those that would be left.
‘Alright. Details gathered.’ Grimm inferred. ‘But how is this connected to my retrieval quest.’
Grimm had a hunch but he doesn’t want to jump into that conclusion immediately. And also, it’s a pile of troubles and headaches if it turned out to be that way.
“My luck on secret quests is consistent but I want to make sure.”
Pinpoint the key point. That’s all he need to push the ‘Voice of the World’ to trigger the update that will enlighten him.
And the best option is to dig deeper into the currently presented details. To identify the Summoner of the fowls, to unveil what the Dome is protecting.
“Pandora! Section: Monsters! Section: Abilities!”
Grimm opened the Monsters and Abilities sections simultaneously and absorbed all the details, letter by letter, that Pandora provided.
And through thorough search, one name emerged that linked the Astral Fowls, the Brilliance Dome, and even the Magma Golems together…
Ding!
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You Identified a Mythical Monster!
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Name: Seven Tailed Billion Phoenix
Race: Billion Phoenix
Level: 800
Attribute: Sacred Fire
Health: ???
Mana: ???
Billion Phoenix is a powerful breed of avian beast that originally inhabits and survived the Dark World and somewhat have a legendary status. They are implausibly fast fliers, capable of achieving the Speed of Light and beyond even at a young age. But, the most prominent about them is their Immense Life and Magic Force, Regeneration and Longevity. It is said that if not attacked or preyed on, the Billion Phoenix can live eternally where they grow a Radiant Tail for each breakthrough of a Billion Years. Their amazing regenerative ability also enables them to shrug off even the most fatal of wounds. And even if killed, their immense life force is powerful enough to allow them to bring themselves back to life.
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For identifying a Mythical Creature, your Intelligence had risen by 10 points (+10INT)
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“Ehhhh!” Grimm exclaimed and gaped. ‘Another Mythical Monster!? Like Specter.’
“Caw!?” Specter too exclaimed.
Titing!
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You have obtained new information relating to your Quest!
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A flashback then appeared in front of Grimm.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Underneath the clear blue sky, a man with a mighty stature could be seen.
He stood before a giant golden bird with seven multicolored tails greatly known as the Seven-Tailed Billion Phoenix.
However, the majestic Billion Phoenix looks drained, weary. She’d already lived for countless of years and had grown tired of the endless greed of the lower species that desires to prey on her.
She wanted to rest, to enter a deep slumber where she can be at peace.
Unfortunately, she’s the last of her kind. Millions to billions of years of wars and destructions, their once glorious race had been reduced to only just her.
She wanted to rest. She wanted to be at peace. But she couldn’t.
If her life ends, their race will vanish for good.
Extinction!
And she can’t let that happen. She can’t allow that her race will just disappear to nothing.
They don’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve that. For the memories of her family and loved ones, she must endure!
“You can’t keep doing this forever,” the man said. “You also don’t deserve to suffer.”
‘I have to,’ was her sad reply.
“I can’t accept that!”
‘That’s the way it is,’ she said. ‘This harsh world is very unfair. You simply just have to live with what you have.’
But the man refused to give up. “Come with me then.”
He suggested.
‘What!?’
“If we can’t change your fate then let me at least alleviate it,” he said. “Come with me and let me protect you.”
Seven-Tailed Billion Phoenix was taken aback. Receiving his sincere act of kindness, something that she rarely received in her endless lifetime, her heart was warmed and overfilled with great joy, a joy that brought her to tears.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
Ting!
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QUEST UPDATE: INGREDIENT RETRIEVAL
The true goal of the Retrieval Quest had been revealed.
Protect Seven-Tailed Billion Phoenix!
Under the guise of Ingredient Retrieval, Porthos Oner’s real aim is to actually send someone to save his friend from the threat of the Magma Golems.
Difficulty: B+
Quest Requirement: Fight alongside the Astral Fowls and prevent the Magma Golems from destroying the Brilliance Dome that protects Seven-Tailed Billion Phoenix.
Reward: Unknown
Warning: Quest will result to failure if you die, logout, or if Brilliance Dome’s health gauge reaches zero.
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“Oh boy, this is a serious bunch of complications.” Grimm mumbled as he prepares and motioned to take action.
- Writer
