Alzuring gave a slight bow. “Understood, my lord,” he said calmly before stepping back into position.
His piercing eyes lingered on Anzo for a moment longer… a small reminder of his warning… before shifting his focus back to the dungeon gate.
The team stood ready, all suited in sleek black-and-white suits of basic tech armor that hummed faintly with energy.
The armor was minimalist yet functional, enhancing their agility and offering basic protection against physical and magical attacks.
Axel twirled a pair of lightweight daggers in his hands, their edges gleaming faintly in the sunlight. Beside him, Blitz adjusted the straps on her daggers’ holsters swiftly and with ease.
Lila, standing slightly behind them, held a slim sword that shimmered faintly with a blue hue, suggesting it was enchanted.
Beatrice rested a massive hammer against her shoulder, its head inscribed with faintly glowing runes.
Blitz glanced over at Alister, her sharp eyes narrowing as she noticed something amiss. She took a step closer, tilting her head in curiosity.
“Hey, Alister,” she called out with a touch of humor and shock. “Are you seriously going in like that?”
Alister turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Blitz pointed vaguely toward his empty hands and lack of visible weaponry. “I mean, you’re not carrying anything. Not even a basic weapon. I know you’ve got powerful summons, so you might not need any, but what are you planning to do if one manages to sneak up on you? Punch ’em to death?”
Her question drew a glance from Axel, who couldn’t resist chiming in. “Yeah, I get you’re the boss and all, but shouldn’t you at least look like you’re ready to fight?”
Alister smirked faintly, his confidence evident. “Don’t worry about me,” he replied calmly. “I have everything I need.”
Blitz crossed her arms, unconvinced. “Oh really? Care to share the big secret, or are we just supposed to hope you pull something out of thin air?”
Before Alister could respond, Mar’Garet, who had been standing silently nearby, interjected, her tone sharp. “Do not underestimate my lord’s capabilities,” she said, her crimson eyes glaring at Blitz.
“You’ll see soon enough why he doesn’t need to carry a conventional weapon.”
Blitz raised her hands in mock surrender, smirking. “Alright, alright, I get it. Just don’t eat me.”
Alister chuckled softly but said nothing more, his gaze returning to the swirling energy of the dungeon gate. “Let’s get moving,” he said firmly. “The dungeon won’t wait for us.”
Axel glanced at the team, then at the portal, before raising a hand hesitantly. “Uh, not to nitpick or anything,” he began, scratching the back of his neck, “but, uh, who’s supposed to carry back all the loot we harvest? I mean, we don’t exactly have any porters here.”
Blitz rolled her eyes, and Beatrice sighed, hefting her massive hammer as if the weight alone were enough to answer the question. Alister, however, remained calm.
“We don’t need any,” Alister replied calmly. “My dragons can handle the carrying.”
Axel blinked, his awkward grin faltering. “Oh… okay. I guess that’s one way to handle it…” he muttered, his voice trailing off as he exchanged uncertain looks with Blitz.
Alister ignored the reaction, his gaze fixed on the shimmering dungeon portal before them. As they watched, a talent system window materialized, casting a faint blue glow over the group.
Dungeon Name: Field of Tides!!
Type: Field Dungeon – Nagal
Rank: Al
Alister redirected his gaze ahead as the window faded. “We’re going in.”
With that, he stepped forward, the energy of the portal rippling around him like liquid light. One by one, the rest of the team followed. Blitz and Axel exchanged one last glance… the excitement in Axel’s eyes matched by Blitz’s smirk… before they both stepped through.
As they entered, the world around them shifted, the warm daylight of the surface giving way to the eerie twilight of the dungeon.
The moment they stepped through, massive humidity engulfed them. The air was thick and damp, with a faint briny scent that clung to their senses.
They stood on the edge of a sprawling lagoon, its waters shimmering with an unnatural, bioluminescent green glow.
Jagged coral formations jutted out from the shallows, while strange sounds of hissing and slithering echoed in the distance.
Alister looked around the area, his sharp gaze assessing every detail. The field dungeon lived up to its name… the watery terrain stretched far into the horizon, dotted with scattered ruins and mangroves shrouded in a faint mist.
Blitz tapped her daggers together lightly, her sharp grin growing. “Creepy, slimy, and full of ambush potential. Just how I like it.”
Axel, on the other hand, looked less thrilled. “Yeah, great. Except, you know, the whole drowning hazard thing. Not really my style.”
Beatrice hoisted her hammer over her shoulder with ease, her pink hair catching the faint glow of the lagoon. “Stay out of the water, then. Problem solved.”
Alister took a few steps forward, his boots splashing lightly against the soggy ground.
“Stick close and stay alert,” he commanded. “Field dungeons aren’t as straightforward as standard ones. The terrain works against you as much as the enemies do.”
Lila nodded, clutching the hilt of her sword nervously. “What kind of Nagas are we expecting?” she asked softly, her green eyes looking at the misty ruins ahead.
“Scout units at first,” Alister replied. “Smaller, quicker ones. But the deeper we go, the more organized and dangerous they’ll become.”
As if on cue, a faint ripple disturbed the water nearby. Everyone froze… except Alister and his generals. Blitz crouched low, her daggers gleaming in the dim light. “We’ve got company,”
she whispered.
The water near the ripple erupted suddenly, and two serpent-like figures burst forth. Their humanoid torsos were covered with scaled armor, while their lower halves writhed with long, powerful tails. The Nagas held curved tridents that glinted menacingly.
Axel groaned, raising his daggers. “Of course. Why does it always have to be tridents?”
Watching the approaching monsters, Beatrice adjusted her grip on her hammer and glanced at Alister. “So, what’s the plan of appro… ”
“My wyverns, come forth!” Before she could finish, Alister interrupted, his yellow eyes gleaming with intensity as he raised his hand.
The air behind them shimmered, rifts tearing open in reality. From these rifts, massive
figures emerged.
First came the wyverns with skin like gleaming steel, their massive frames glinting under the
soft light of the lagoon.
Following them were creatures with scales of sickly purple and green, exuding a toxic aura as tendrils of poison mist spiraled from their gaping maws.
Finally, pale-white wyverns with desiccated bone-like scales stepped forth, their green eyes
glowing.
Axel and Blitz froze, their jaws slightly ajar. Even Beatrice, who rarely expressed awe, couldn’t help but let out a soft whistle. Lila’s eyes widened as she murmured, “Incredible…”
Blitz grinned, nudging Axel with her elbow. “And here I thought we were impressive.”
Axel mumbled, “But that amount… there’s practically a hundred of them…”
“SSS class is no joke. Jokes on people who thought it was.”
Alister stood tall, his presence commanding even in the midst of the fearsome wyverns.
He addressed all of them. “Spread out and attack the monsters. If you wish to eat some of
them, I demand you leave parts of their bodies and their cores intact.
“Have I made myself clear?”
Graaaaaa!
The wyverns roared together, causing the air around them to vibrate.