CHAPTER 17: TERROR RANK

Jack continued his journey down the passages, the eerie quiet of the dungeon made it feel like Jack was a little kid in a haunted mansion.

Not knowing what was around the next corner made Jack anxious, but also excited.

Bioluminescent vines hung from the tops of the labyrinth.

’This place is beautiful, but also creepy.’

[Environmental Buff: +10% to all stats]

What. System, this is crazy. A buff to stats inside of a dungeon.

’System....’

Hiss..... Crack.... slither...

Around the corner, Jack spotted something.

A large creature slithered on the floor towards Jack. It had two large green eyes with vertical slits. A large tongue slithered out of its mouth as it moved back and forth.

[FIELD BOSS DETECTED]

[RANK: TERROR]

[I suggest...]

’TERROR RANK!!’

Jack dove behind a stack of mossy rocks and hid as a large shadow passed overhead.

Jack wasn’t able to see the whole creature. But he saw its tail whip back and forth as it slithered away.

Jack gasped as he let air out of his mouth.

’System, what the heck was that?!’

[That was a very large field boss. At least twice the size of the fire wolf.]

’Was that a giant snake? But more importantly, why the heck would my father send me to a dungeon with a terror rank monster.’

[I do not have an answer for that. He must have felt like this dungeon is a good way to learn when to fight and when to run. You hid instinctively, you have some survival instincts.]

Jack moved further into the labyrinth.

Strange symbols were carved into the walls.

’System, do you know what these symbols mean?’

[Yes I do Jack.]

’Can you translate them for me?’

[No, I cannot.]

Jack checked his system and saw language translation was an option. But it was locked behind something he couldn’t open.

’This might as well be a pay wall.’

As Jack turned the next corner he could feel the air. It felt different. The air was thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe.

In the corners, lay giant carcasses.

’What is all that stuff.’

[That looks like the skin of the serpent you just ran into. This must be where it lives. It’s called ecdysis; It’s a process when a snake sheds its skin.]

In the middle of the room there is a giant silver pedestal. Floating above the pedestal was a silver orb.

Jack instinctively reached out for the orb.

[You have found Draven’s Memory Orb.]

[Do you wish to collect the Draven’s Memory Orb?]

’Yes!’

[Processing...]

[Memory incomplete....]

[Memory Orb 1 of 7 obtained.]

[Please collect all 7 to view the memories.]

’Damn, I knew that was too easy. Whatever, let’s keep going and see if we can hunt some monsters.’

Despite finding something precious, Jack was disappointed he couldn’t learn more about Draven.

Ever since he met Draven, he wanted to know more about why he was chosen, and why Draven was so giving.

Jack ventured deeper into the maze. The air was sticky, thick from humidity. The moss now stuck to the walls and pulsed like a heartbeat.

His boots squelched with every step he took.

Drip.

Blop.

Jack heard the sounds. It got louder and louder.

Jack turned the corner and froze.

At least a hundred slimes all turned to face Jack.

[Enemy Swarm Detected]

[Proceed with Caution.]

[Enemies: 289]

[Enemies: 326]

[Enemies: 392]

[Enemies: 437]

’Oh no.’

[Oh yes Jack. They’re multiplying. It’s best if you hurry up.]

They were all less than a meter tall. They did not look opposing as individual monsters, but together it looked like someone threw giant jello cubes at someone.

Hop.

Hop.

Hop.

The slimes began hopping towards Jack.

’Lightning Shock!’

A bolt of purple lightning exploded from Jack’s spear.

[Enemy Defeated.]

[Enemy Defeated.]

[Enemy Defeated.]

[Enemy Defeated.]

[Enemy Defeated.]

The purple bolt of lightning went through 5 slimes before the spell trailed off.

[Reward: 300 EXP]

The lightning bolt didn’t go as far as Jack thought it would.

[Enemies: 450]

’Damn these things never stop.’

BOOM!

Another lightning shock erupted from his spear again. This time the swarm was closer so he managed to kill 12 slimes this time.

[Reward: 720 EXP.]

They burst like balloons leaving goo everywhere.

Jack had reached polearm mastery Rank 6 by now.

He gripped his spear tightly. Put his left foot in front of the other and planted his foot firmly.

’Lightning Embrace.’

As the swarm was only moments from reaching Jack. He started to swing his spear in wide arcs as he attacked the slimes.

[Slimes Defeated: 87]

[Reward: 4,200 EXP]

Jack’s heart raced at the amount of EXP he was receiving. But, the thrill was short-lived.

One slime jumped past him, and then another did.

SPLAT!!

A slime latched on to his back.

Another one latched onto his leg.

Get off of me slimes! Dammit!

One after another, slimes began attaching themselves to Jack.

Jack put his hands together and screamed, ’Thundershock!’

[Enemies Defeated: 54]

[Reward: 3,240 EXP.]

’System, how many of them are left?’

[Enemies: 297]

’There’s way too many...’

[Enemy Swarm Enraged]

’You got to be kidding me. Any ideas on how to end this battle quickly?’

[Purchase Thunder Clap for 15 Skill Points.]

’Alright let’s do it.’

[Confirm purchase of Thunder Clap for 15 Skill Points.]

[YES] or [NO]

’Yes’

[Purchase successful.]

’Alright let’s do this. Let’s put the rest of my Stat Points into Magic to maximize Damage.’

Jack put one foot behind the other and ran towards the swarm. He leaped into the air and right before he was going to make contact with the front of the swarm, he disappeared.

CLAP!

RUMBLE!! CRACKLE!! BOOM!!

A high pitch rumble was followed by a hissing crackle and a loud booming sound. A big purple electrical ball erupted from Jack’s hand the second after he clapped.

Jack had used Lightning Steps to teleport himself until he reached the center of the Heard and used Thunder Clap.

The increase from 30 Magic to 33 Magic gave him a little boost. But the 10% buff brought his stat to 36. The slimes didn’t have a lot of health. But they made up for it with numbers and their physical immunity.

[297 Enemies Defeated.]

[Reward: 17,820 EXP]

[Congratulations you have leveled your Class to Rank 7 (16,060/50,000)]

[You have received 10 Stat Points and 10 Skill Points for ranking up!]

[Congratulations on slaying a Slime Swarm.]

[Quest Completed: Slay 200 Monsters | Reward: 20 Skill Points.]

’Oh man. That was crazy. What is in my hair?’

[Slime Ectoplasm.]

’That’s gross.’

Jack looked at his reflection in the tip of his spear. His hair was shiny.

’I should make shampoo out of this.’