“I can’t believe we forgot to pick up the cores!” Allie yells into the cavern ceiling. “My mom is going to laugh to me so much, and I can already see dad's disappointed yet amused face.” Allie starts rubbing her face before she turns on Hinata. “This is your fault!” She says while lightly smacking her on the shoulder repeatedly. “You probably set this up to laugh with my mother. I always knew she was a prankster. But for her to be this vicious.” She reaches her hands toward the sky before grabbing Hinata. “But you! You betrayed me. For her. My own mother.” By this point Allie falls to the ground and starts muttering about all the dresses she could have bought.

  Hinata with a shocked expression on her face watches Allie. “Me? Why would I do this? Maybe it was you!” After this the girls start arguing about who will get more laughter in watching the other’s parents look disappointed at their forgetfulness.

  Everyone else just watches the girls argue, they aren’t really sure about what to do. For Cody, Kenneth and Gabi they expect this kind of behavior from Allie, but they have never seen the composed and polite Hinata act like this. Aiko and Luna have seen this song and dance before.

  The truth is once one their parents get into lecturing modes; it is the other who finds the most humor. Usually, Hinata or Allie will be snickering at the other getting lectured, only to forget that their families are so close that the other’s parents have no issues lecturing them as well.

  Helo watching as this who thing happens just shrugs. He has seen the playful side of both girls before. Turning to the group he asks, “Why don’t we go back and pick up the cores. I know it would waste time but if we run it wouldn’t take long.”

  The other men don’t hear him. Cody is watching the girls argue with amusement, while Kenneth looks a bit perverted. His face makes it seem like he thinks they’re going to start tearing off another’s clothes or something.

  It is Luna that speaks up. “You have spent so much time reading in the library that it is hard to know where your knowledge might have gaps. The dungeons absorb anything that isn’t picked up once you leave. In a few hours other monster will spawn.”

  With a nod Helo focuses back on the girls who are pointing and yelling at one another with no real heat in their voices. Realizing that nobody else is going to get involved Helo steps forward. Grabbing both of the girl’s hands he pulls then toward the entrance to the 18th level. “You can argue while we walk. Your yelling might do some good in attracting monsters.” Helo says while looking back at them. “You wanted more cores so that’s a great idea.” In the end he obviously was speaking sarcastically.

  The group enters the 18th floor and takes a moment to look around. The floor is one massive cavern. Except it is modeled after a prairie with a small wooded area. The trees are sparse and spread out through much of the floor with pockets of more dense areas. The cavern is lite up by a concentrated group of glowing crystals on the ceiling.

  Staring at the ceiling’s fake sun Helo can’t help but wonder what it is. Cody walks up beside him and in a classic Cody move doesn’t speak. But he does follow Helo’s gaze. Seeing him looking at the light source Cody reaches in his bag. He pulls out a small crystal and tosses it to Helo. It’s brightly glowing and casting off a slight warmth. ‘Identify’

  Light Crystal

  Tier 1

  This is a crystal that has attuned itself to light mana.

  “Thanks” he says while tossing the crystal back. Looking up he wonders if he should try and harvest them.

  Hinata seeing his gaze explains things to him. “They are not worth much.” Looking at her in surprise, it is the business minded Luna that speaks up.

  She starts pulling out folders until she finds on that she wants. Handing it to Helo the covers reads ‘Dungeon Harvest Report’. As he flips it open Luna starts to explain. “First, Tier 1 materials are important for us and only us. We are the youngest group trying to grow right now. Tier 1 materials will become important enough in the future when the world is integrated, but the worth of Tier 1 is much lower than higher tiers. Each tier has an increased value with the lowest being 10 times. So as one of the 16 elite organizations on earth. Tier 1 is pennies to the dollars they will make with higher stuff. If you look at that report you will see how many Tier 1 materials are brought in and how many are needed.”

  Taking a second to read the sheet Helo can see a column highlighted green. “There is a surplus.”

  “Yes, all of that gets stored away for the future or used by the crafters. Things will change in the future. But dungeons are great at providing, and powerful dungeons with dungeon masters can be the lifeblood of a county, even a world. This dungeon is providing for about 9,000 people right now.” She says that with a shrug.

  But Helo understands what she is saying. From what he already knew, dungeons start at tier 1 and it can be difficult for a dungeon master to connect with them. He isn’t sure about the process or how dungeons truly work. But he is sure that for a dungeon that is truly pulling the world into a higher tier, like this one, must be amazing.

  Looking around the floor Helo can see multiple groups of animals. No groups as large as the pervious floor. Hinata who is also looking around speaks up. “Well, it seems Elder Anthony-Sama decided to change things up.”

  Allie who is next to her snorts, “What I think you mean is that grandpa Anthony finally left his emo stage.”

  Gabi then chimes in with a happy voice, “From the rumors I heard, Elders Anthony heard a guard talking about how the dungeon design sucked. So, he listened longer and modified it to be everything the guard didn’t like.” Laughing she says, “Poor guy is an arachnophobe, isn’t good at fighting groups and hates tunnels.” She keeps laughing at the poor guy’s suffering.

  “Well hopefully this means things will get back to normal.” Hinata says while getting serious. “Expect smaller numbers with stronger foes. Also, you can start expecting more skills to be used by the enemies. Thankfully large groups tend to have less skill use.”

  As the group starts moving into the floor Allie explains a few things to Helo. “You see there are a ton of ways that dungeons can operate. What you experienced before was mainly large groups of roaming monsters that attack anything on sight. They even attack one another and grow stronger. That is how a territory boss is born, a floor boss is when a monster grows so strong it is the uncontested king of the area. That spider probably survived for a long time and killed many roving groups.”

  “Anyway, what you should expect now are more territorial creatures who are sometimes guarding resources. Most monsters start at the level of the floor but the longer they survive and the more the fight the stronger they grow. There can still be roaming creatures but the strongest on the floor will have some kind of territory.” She says while pointing to their left where they can see a massive stag. It is a tan color with a massive rack of antlers. It has its head lowered, it is threatening to charge. To its left and right are does that are watching. “Like that deer, it is probably a higher level.”

  Following her finger Hinata speaks up, “Well, we might as well get started.” She gestures toward Kenneth and he steps forward. Hearing a snort from the deer they all watch as it gets ready. Its antlers start glowing green, they slowly get brighter. “It is some kind of channel skill, quick!” Before skill can channel further Kenneth casts ‘Taunt’.

  As the red light surrounds him the buck’s antlers stop growing brighter and it charges. As the deer gets closer, they can see that it is about as tall as Gabi at its shoulder. This makes it a massive deer that is about the size of an elk.

  As the deer gets closer Kenneth starts to worry. He has spent all his time working on his ‘Control Grudge’ skill that his ‘Steady Bash’ hasn’t grown much. Shouting for the others to strike it Kenneth is worried he will get trampled. An arrow shoots over his shoulder; it sprouts from the stag’s left forelimb and stumbling it. The stag doesn’t stop but its momentum was broken.

  As Helo watches all of this he casts ‘Identify’.

  Earthen Stag

  Tier 1 Level 21

  A deer with a growing affinity for earthen mana.

  Looking up Helo isn’t knowledgeable enough to do anything with what he learned but Allie is, “It has an affinity. Try to dodge its charge.” As she yells as the buck is almost on them.

  With a breath of relief Kenneth dives to the side. He was a little late though. As he is moving the buck’s antlers flash green and the earth below starts shifting. As it passes by a wave of earth rises up around it, trampling everything in its way. Kenneth, Luna, Aiko and Cody are all trapped within the earthen mound.

  Hinata and Allie were on the left side like normal and were able to move away. Gabi was also far enough away to not get caught in its passing and Helo wasn’t even close. Distracted by the buck everyone watches with awe as it moves past followed by a massive earthen mound.

  “Worry about them in a moment, being stuck in the earth won’t kill them.” Hinata says this as she sees them moving around and getting themselves free from the earth. They all watch the Buck making a turn before coming back around.

  Helo who takes a look around yells out to them, “The doe behind you!” Everyone was so focused on the buck that they all forgot about the two doe that were with it. Looking at their level with ‘Identify’ Helo realizes that this was a plan they have done many times before.

  Spotted Doe

  Tier 1 Level 19

  A spotted doe with a kicking streak.

  The two does were coming up directly behind Hinata and Gabi. Their hooves are glowing the soft blue of mana. Through her years of reflexive training Hinata snaps up a ‘Mana Shield’ blocking the first of the mana powered forelegs. Diving to the same side that she blocked Hinata is able to avoid the other. Getting back to her feet she faces the doe.

  Gabi wasn’t as lucky. With a loud “Umpffff” Gabi takes the first hoof on her chest. The strike ends her tumbling to the ground and coughing harshly. Trying to catch her breath Gabi barely moves her head out of the way of a descending second strike. The hoof grazes her face and leaves a gash on the side of her head.

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  Watching as it happens, but too far away Helo can see that the deer has only its hindlegs glowing now. It is starting to turn around when one after another two knives stick out of its side. The first connects with its ribs digging in, while the second sticks into its foreleg making it stumble. This gives Gabi just enough time to roll away, dodging the mule kick that would have surely killed her.

  Getting up and holding out her axe. Every wince brings pain and she is still having trouble breathing. With a huff she says weakly, “Today just isn’t my day.”

  Looking back Helo can see Hinata using her ‘Mana Shield’ to block strikes while leaving slashes on the doe. Allie is trying to get a clean shot with her ‘Mana Bolt’ skill. She doesn’t use it often but it does have a much higher speed and firepower than her other skill.

  Yelling out Helo says, “Allie, Hinata is fine. Help Gabi. I’ll stop the stag. While everyone was distracted the stag had taken a moment to charge up another ‘Earth Wave’.

  With Allie going to assist the injured Gabi, Helo turns around and runs right at the stag.

  Man, I do so much better when I am alone. Helo thinks to himself. He would never have to run straight at a charging creature before. Well, I guess I might. But that is only after getting hopped up on the good stuff. Pulling his aura around him like a shadow cloak Helo draws out and manipulates his bloodline. With claws out, fangs elongated and a vicious growl Helo draws his blades and charges.

  Allie who realized that her friend was okay finally looked around and saw that Gabi was in trouble. She was wounded and having trouble moving. Running over to her Allie is half way when a glowing hoof hits Gabi’s axe and sends the girl to the ground.

  As the doe rears up to stomp on Gabi with her other glowing hoof, Allie shouts, “’Arcane Construct’”. In that moment a blue glowing cage like box appears around Gabi. It has a domed top and bars running down the side. As the doe’s hoof stops down it erupts with a shockwave.

  The construct shudders and hold itself together. Allie might not have worked on making her constructs complicated and numerous. But when it comes to making a single strong construct, like a hammer, Allie’s skill shines. Running forward Allie yells ‘Runic Conjuration’ with those words five runes appear in the area around her. Holding her staff up as she is shaping the first, a sixth rune appears. With a huge smile Allie shapes the first to form lighting, the second to make it a bolt, the third to have it launch forward, and with the final three she empowers the lighting bolt. Sending off the biggest lighting bolt she has ever made Allie laughs with glee.

  Feeling her blood pumping and her fighting spirit soar Allie steps onto her dome and jumps off as the bolt hits the doe with a “Cra..BOOM”. The doe is now paralyzed from the shock and stumbles to its knees. The dome vanishes as her foot leaves it and the same blue glow appears at the end of her staff. Now holding a long hammer Allie cocks her arms back like she is about to hit a dinger. With a scream Allie draws her arms over her shoulder and cracks her hammer along the shocked deer’s head.

  At the same time Hinata is fighting the other doe. It continues to use all its limbs while trying to make contact with Hinata. Dodging the left hoof, Hinata brings up her shield to block to right on. As it makes contact, she sends out her sword in a slash making another cut along its neck. Seeing the deer turn Hinata jumps back and dodges the mule kick aimed for her head.

  As the deer is turned Hinata says ‘Illusionary Copy’. With the deer’s back turned it is the perfect opportunity to use it. As the deer is turning back around it sees a blade coming for its eyes. Lowering its head the doe dodges the slash only for it to disperse after passing above. As the blade disperses the true blade stabs into the spine of the doe.

  With a whispered ‘Second Strike’ the cut along the deer’s back doubles in size severing the spine and killing the doe.

  While Allie and Hinata were finishing their fights Helo is just meeting the buck. Knowing that he can’t let himself get behind the buck due to the ‘Earth Wave’ Helo charges its front. Not wanting to see if there is any effect from the glowing green antlers Helo dodges to the side of the beast using ‘Double Step’. As he quickly crosses to the left the buck swings it’s head at Helo’s body. While mid-swing Helo’s right knife barely cuts into the side of the deer’s neck from around the swinging antlers.

  With a use of ‘Disabling Strike’ the neck of the deer locks up for a moment. With the deer’s neck locked and its momentum carrying it forward Helo does not want to get caught in the ‘Earth Wave’. Dropping his right knife, he can only think I hope I see you again my precious. Grabbing the base of the deer’s antler where it isn’t glowing, he uses the final step of ‘Double Step’ and swings himself around the deer’s neck and onto it’s back. With a mutter of ‘Penetrating Strike’ Helo slams his knife into the head of the buck. As the dead deer falls to the ground and slides to a stop Helo turns around and groans. “No. My knife.”

  Committing to his heart that he will learn how to make an enchantment similar to his bracers recall Helo gets off the buck. Looking up he sees all three girls are alive and the deer are dead. With a yell a very dirty Kenneth breaks from the ground and looks around. “Huh.” Is the only thing he says that they can make out. As everyone starts digging in the ground and trying to get out their friend Helo is at the second pile.

  “Hey, why are you digging over there.” A freed Luna asks. She is a little irritated that while they are all trying to free Cody and Aiko, he isn’t helping.

  “I can hear their heartbeats. They are fine.” He says as his excuse. “And I lost my knife.” Hearing him sounding sad and dejected Aiko doesn’t say anything else.

  It takes another 15 minutes to free everyone else. As everyone is resting Helo is still digging. Once everyone was free Allie made a big deal about picking up the cores. Another thirty minutes, when everyone is about ready to get going, they hear a “YEEEES, MY BABY!!!!” Looking over they see a happy Helo holding up his blade like it is a baby lion that he is showing off to the savanna.

  With a shake of her head Allie just says, “Men.” At the same time Gabi can respect how Helo feels. She would do the same for her axe.

  Hinata hearing what Allie said decided that when they are home tonight, she is sneaking into Allie’s room and stealing her favorite hammer. Let’s see how you act then.

  With everyone finally ready and rested the journey through the 18th floor continues. After checking Allie’s compass to find the end of the 18th floor Helo takes off. Everyone else follows behind him.

  Traversing through the tall grass of the floor Helo focuses on his senses and leading the party. Everyone is following Lelai as she tracks Helo. Looking around Helo can see a vast plain that is interspersed with trees. Off in the distance he can see birds flying between the trees and diving into the grasses.

  Trying to find what the birds are diving for Helo keeps his eyes on the ground. Fifteen feet in front of him is a hole. The hole is about half a foot wide and he can’t see the bottom. As he steps closer Helo can hear a noise coming up from below. Ducking behind some grass with a knife ready Helo sees a cute head pop into view.

  The prairie dog had felt movement and came to investigate. Put as it sticks its head out and sniffs around it doesn’t see anything. They are used to watching the sky and maybe seeing a large predator but nothing that stays hidden low like Helo.

  Lunging forward Helo stabs the creature center mass, as it is dying it lets out a high-pitched squeak. At that noise Helo hears a mixture of yipping and barking from around him. Fulling concealing himself Helo backtracks to the group and explains what he has seen. “There were prairie dog tunnels all over place. You can still hear them barking around us.”

  At this Allie speaks up. “My father made me read a book with all of the tier 1 dungeon creatures in it. Unless Elder Anthony added more. Anyway, I remember something about them being distance fighters.”

  Hinata leads the group forward. “Let’s be cautious, move slow and be ready for an attack.”

  As the group moves forward, they can hear the prairie dogs yipping around them. Listening to the sounds they are making Helo can tell that they are coordinating something. “I think they are coordinating an attack. They are slowly getting closer.” As he says that both Hinata and Gabi shout.

  “There is one here!” “On this side” they shout at the same time. As everyone turns to look toward the sides more prairie dogs pop out of the ground. Once all of them get their heads above the ground the creatures launch a barrage of stone bullets at the group.

  “Get down!” Allie yells. Diving to the ground, everyone dodges the bullets but when they get up to return fire they don’t see anything. “Are you serious!”

  Hearing barks from the front and back both Allie and Cody prepare to attack. As the prairie dogs appear above ground both Allie and Cody fire on them. They kill two of the creatures but there is still about seven left.

  Only having seen ten in total Hinata sighs. “One of my friends in Japan has a prairie dog as a pet. She told me that they live in small groups of two to twenty. But their groups live in colonies that can be thousands. It seems like we have wondered into the territory of a group. If I had to guess this entire floor houses thousands of them.”

  Everyone looks at Hinata in surprise. Thousands would be to much. Hearing more barking the group is beset by a continues barrage of bullet shaped stones. “AWWE” “SHIT” “FUCKING DOGS” and other curses ring out as the group is pelted by bulled sized stones.

  Kenneth has his shield up and everyone is behind him. Hinata is using ‘Mana Shield’ and Aiko is using ‘Protect’. But the barking seems to signify where they are and then a barrage attacks.

  Every time a prairie dog is seen by Allie or Cody they get struck by an arrow or fireball. After a few minutes there is only one left. As it lifts up from its hole an arrow pierces it. “Well, that wasn’t so bad.” Gabi says while rubbing a few bloody welts on her body. The stone bullets weren’t enough to kill right away but they did draw blood.

  As the group continues forward, they keep running into groups of prairie dogs. The beasts are getting progressively stronger but at the same time the party is learning to deal with them. While resting under a tree after defeating a group of prairie dogs Helo looks up at the birds in the tree.

  “Do you think they will ever attack us?” He is wondering this because they just sit there watching them and then descend on the prairie dogs when they leave.

  “I hope not. Having to keep looking around while dodging stone bullets is already bad enough.” Luna says the him. Luna was a surprisingly big help during this trek. Her ‘Haste’ ability made it much easier for the group to land attacks and dodge the little buggers.

  Continuing onward Helo is listening to the noises on the prairie. He has not been much help during the fights. If he decided to break off from the group he could do well. But he is telling them when they enter the territory of a new group. While listening Helo can hear the normal sounds that signify them moving into a new area. The barking starts to get more coordinated while slowly surrounding them.

  Heading back to let the group know Helo hears a sound he hasn’t heard yet. This isn’t the sound of the prairie dogs coordinating but the cry to flee the area. Helo has heard this noise before, in the forest when he hunts. As he strikes at whatever prey he is after the creatures around the area seem to sense the killing intent and flee. The send out cries to any kin in the area then they flee. Like a flock of birds taking off, or squirrels going into the trees.

  Getting back to the group Helo speaks quietly. “There is something else out here.”

  “What do you mean, duh there is something else. This who floor is filled with little campers.” Kenneth says louding.

  Trying to shush him Helo speaks up. “That isn’t what I mean. There is something else.”

  While he is speaking Hinata and Allie who are petting Lelai watch as her hackles start to rise. Starting to realize that Helo is being serious they start to look around.

  “Stop being an idiot. Look around there is nothing here.” Kenneth says throwing his arms out.

  At this point Lelai is slowly starting to lower herself onto the ground getting ready to pounce and Helo is unconsciously drawing his blades. “The sound that the ‘campers’ as you put it changed. They are no longer coordinating together to attack us. They were calling out to flee. Now listen. You can’t hear them anymore.”

  Everyone else looks around and realizes that he is correct, but Kenneth is getting irritated. “Now listen here you little shit. I’m getting sick of you. You have barely done a thing as we have been walking. Just telling us that were in a new area. Your no better than a support class like map maker.” He says this while putting his shield down and throwing his arms out. “Now you’re telling me that the prairie dogs are speaking to you.” He says this as the take of his helmet to yell at Helo better. To Kenneth the fact that there is no sound means that they are safe.

  While Kenneth was talking Helo is sniffing the air. These actions are pissing Kenneth off more. Ignoring Kenneth Helo smells blood. “It’s blood… We’re being hunted.”

  As those words leave Helo’s mouth Kenneth is about to scoff only for him to get cut off by Helo tackling him to the ground. Where his head used to be a pair of jaws slam closed. Helo’s tackle didn’t stop the lion from racking it’s claws along Kenneths back. With them both on the ground Helo snarls and crouches over Kenneths body. His fangs are out and eye glowing red. With his aura putting pressure on the air around him the lion retreats back to its pride mates.

  As soon as the first attack is made a series of roars sound out and the lions start attacking.

  Quickly getting up Helo has his blades drawn and stalks forward. Infront of his is a female lion that is about the same size as it’s real world male counterparts. Standing about four feet tall it is a deadly predator.

  Further back and to the sides are two more female lions. These ones are about the same size as a normal lion should be. Looking them over with ‘Identity’

  Hidden Plaines Lioness

  Tier 1 Level 20

  These tier 1 lions are known for then stealth abilities in tall grass.

  Everyone prepares themselves for a fight, this time instead of Kenneth in the middle it is Helo. As Helo steps over Kenneth’s fallen body Aiko runs forward to heal him. Flipping him over she can see seven gouges running down his back.

  Cody steps over the two with his bow drawn and Luna starts casting her skills. Hinata steps forward beside Helo and so does Gabi. With Allie watching their back and Cody watching over their healer, Helo proceeds forward.