The rest of the day went by smoothly for Helo and the rest of the group. Helo had some anxiety because everyone seemed to know who he was. He didn’t like all the attention but realized it is something he will have to get used to. He promised himself that he would get a social media account, even if he never uses it, so that he won’t get blindsided by rumors again. He even talked to Luna and asked her to add rumor mongering to her daily tasks.
Watching the other duels was entertaining and frustrating for Helo. He enjoyed watching the skilled and powerful individuals. But most of the combatants were lackluster in their skills.
The day ended smoothly and they said goodbye to the Kashiwagi family before heading to their plane and flying home.
The next day Helo woke up feeling great. The last three months he has been constantly training, the pressure started to ware on him. He enjoys fighting and doesn’t mind constantly entering the dungeon. But the pressure of a single fight that would decide his future was a lot for him.
Now that he is back home Helo can take the time to relax. Getting up Helo heads downstairs and goes out to start his day with a run. Even if he is relaxing, he won’t stop his daily training. Moving his body is fun for him, but now he is going to focus on his knife style and skills.
Throughout the day the party gets together to eat and talk, but most of the day is free. Finally, during dinner Hinata steps up to address the group. “At the end of January, we all will be going to my family’s home in Japan. We will spend the rest of our time there before we go to the School of Awakening.” After speaking she sits down and goes back to eating her vegetarian meal.
That night Helo, Allie, Hinata and Lelai are realizing on the third-floor patio. Gazing up at the sky Helo asks out loud. “I wonder where my parents came from.” Both girls look at him with a sad gaze. “Don’t look at me like that. Something happened, Ms.Accleas was with me. But then she disappeared.”
“Yeah. That is true.” Allie says back. “They left you that crazy cool necklace. So, they must care.”
Hinata hums and nods her head. She is warm under a blanket and cuddling with Lelai and Allie. “Eventually we will find out. The world won’t be sealed forever.”
“Sealed.” Helo sits up and asks.
“Yeah. The world seals itself during the integration, this is so stronger entities don’t come here and destroy the world before it can protect itself.” Hinata says. “Why does it matter?”
“Well. She told me she had to go somewhere before she left. I barely remember. But I do remember that. Maybe she got stuck outside.” Helo says to them, starting to feel uncomfortable he changes the topic by asking. “Well, what is the plan for training?”
“We will continue to enter the dungeon. But we will most likely split up more. We will all stay on the same floor but we will start attacking enemies in smaller groups.” Hinata says in response to his question.
“Yeah, we need to increase our skills and levels. Your supposed to be near level forty when you enter the school.” Allie says.
That makes sense to Helo. As you get further into the tier, leveling gets slower. The amount of experience monsters give you starts to shirk. The only way to mitigate that is to fight stronger monsters and enter more dangerous situations.
The next day Helo and the party get ready to enter the dungeon. The group heads out together and a short time later they are walking into the 34th level. This is the same level as Allie and Hinata. As long as everyone else can keep up, they will grow stronger quickly. Otherwise, Allie and Hinata will continue to have a gap. It is easier for them due to the added strength in their bloodlines.
Stepping into the level the group is surprised by the overwhelming heat. Looking around they can see a massive volcano in the distance. Down at its base is a massive body of water, it looks like it expands infinitely.
The volcano has a constant stream of lava that is pooling from its sides and top. All around the volcano antlike creatures are swarming and moving rocks and lava. At the base there seems to be a constant war between the ants and another type of creature.
Pulling on his bloodline and empowering his eyes Helo can see that the ants are actually fighting an entire ocean worth of creatures. There are turtles, sea horses, seals, and all different sorts of creatures.
The odd thing is that it doesn’t appear that either side is winning or losing. They are just fighting. This seems odd to Helo, they have obvious habitats that are separate so why are they fighting. “Why?” He says to himself.
“It is an unfortunate side effect of a dungeon’s nature and the master’s meddling. Dungeons are places of conflict and killing. Dungeon masters can control a dungeon and shape how it develops. They can even use dungeons as cities if the dungeon master is strong enough. But when a dungeon master tries to make a unique level with multiple affinities…” Hinata points to the fighting. “Sometimes the inhabitants have a natural enmity due to their affinity.”
Alli who is standing by her friend adds. “Honestly, we were surprised you didn’t feel similarly with Dorimer or Aiko. The light affinity is strong to dark.”
Turning to the group Hinata speaks up. “Well, we will take on the first few ants together. Then we will split up and make our way across the bottom of the volcano. Stay away from the ocean life and clear out all ants before moving higher.”
The group nods and they step forward in their usual formation. Running ahead Helo finds a group of three ants that have separated from the mass that is moving rock to affect the flow of the lava.
Getting the attention of the ants Helo leads them back. When he gets to Kenneth, he runs past and Kenneth uses his ‘Control Grudge’. As the three ants divert their attention to Kenneth the rest of the group gets ready to attack.
Killing the ants is simpler than Helo expected. Their tough exterior cracks more easily than he anticipated. It was Gabi who had a guess about why that is. She yells out her guess while dodging back from a pincer. “I think they move through the lava flow, so most of their resistance is geared toward heat!”
To test the theory Allie uses her ‘Runic Construct’ skill to summon a ball of fire. Tossing the fireball at the ant, Alli pants out. “Why do you make me do summon fire in this heat.” Everyone is sweating and uncomfortable but Lelai and Cody have it the worst.
As the fireball strikes the ant it explodes in a wave of heat. The heat seems to do very little damage to the ant, but the explosion knocked it backward and made a small crack in the carapace.
“Well, that prove its.” Allie yell as she goes back to attacking with water. She, Cody and Lelai are staying near one another in the back. Alli and Lelai are enjoying the effect of Cody’s ‘Cold Enhancement’ skill.
Stepping forward Helo spins in a circle with his naginata out. Spinning the blade, he creates a projection in front an ant’s pincer before unsummoning his naginata and drawing his knives. He does this in a quick and smooth motion. Continuing his spin Helo drives the knives into the neck of the ant, where its head meets its thorax.
The right knife connects as does less damage than he was expecting. Coating his left knife in his bloodline energy Helo plunges it into the ant and tears it out. As the head of the ant separates Helo thinks about how little damage his bloodline did to the light golem.
Looking around he can see that all of the party are done testing their skills on the other two ants. With the testing done the party splits into four groups. Helo goes alone, Hinata and Alli go together, Aiko and Gabi head off and Cody, Kenneth and Luna leave together. This split gives each group a front-line and back-line fighter.
Wrapping himself in his shadows Helo focuses on how his bloodline affects the area around him. During the duel he experienced his bloodline mixing with his movement skill and the effect was confusing. For just a moment it seemed like the space between himself and where he wanted to go shrunk. Like the distance that was between him and his naginata stopped meaning anything.
Shaking his head to stop his mind from wondering Helo lets his aura spread out through the area. Alli and Hinata are planning to go up the center where the most enemies are. The other two groups are spreading to the side and Helo is heading to the back of the volcano.
Running around the back of the volcano Helo can feel the heat rising as he goes further into the dungeon floor. The air around him is starting to waver from the heat and plums of lava are running down the mountain.
Climbing up a boulder Helo uses it to jump over a river of lava. As he lands, he rolls on the rocky ground and keeps going. Finding himself enjoying his little hit Helo vanishes his sweatshirt into his storage and decides to go shirtless in the warm weather.
By this point Helo is 5’8” and muscular. His bloodline and stats make him appear like he is seventeen and with the levels he is gaining he might look that way for the rest of his life. His hair is getting longer and it appears to be black, but if you look at it closely it is actually a dark red. Pulling his hair into a bun Helo puts it up with a hair tie that Alli gave him. She told him that he would need it and he didn’t believe her. Letting his instincts run free Helo enjoys a hunt for the first time since he start training with Micah.
Dashing over orange and grey landscape Helo finds his first ant coming down the side of the mountain. It is pushing a boulder and seems to have a trail of ants following slowly behind it. What is it again… Pheromones? Helo thinks to himself as he watches a group of ants follow the exact line that the ant in front of him is following.
Jumping on top of the rock the ant is moving Helo jumps over the ant’s head. Doing a one-eighty-degree twist in the air he lands on the giant ant’s thorax. Slashing down with both knives in an ‘X’ shape Helo cuts the head of the ant off before moving on.
Running up the mountain, the group of ants following the one he killed sees him coming. I think I read somewhere that ants swarm their prey and sacrifice tons of their kin. Helo thinks as he is dashing up the mountain.
Before he reaches the group, he uses ‘Identify’.
Giant Fire Ant
Tier 1 Level 34
Large ants that live in volcanic regions. Known for their heat-resistant carapace.
Seeing about what he expected Helo uses ‘Dashing Lunge’, in the five seconds the skill is active Helo weaves his way through the ants while cutting legs. Each ant he passes losses at least two of the three legs on their sides.
Getting to the back of the group as his skill ends, he turns to see six of the eight ants walking toward him with a limp. Wiping the sweat from his brow Helo heads back into the fray by skirting the left side.
Circling the group and not letting them surround him, Helo continues to kite the ants until they all lose the ability to move freely. Once each ant is immobile, he smoothly sweeps through and finish them off.
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Looking back over the bodies he is surprised by the lack of wet blood and body parts. These are ants but he expected more. Wiping the sweat from his chest, Helo flicks it to the rocky ground and watches as his sweat quickly evaporates. Ah yeah, I’m an idiot.
Laughing to himself and enjoying his time, even with the heat Helo is about to continue but stops. Hearing a yip behind him he finds Lelai running up while trailing mist. She continues to constant use her mana to make mist so that she stays cool.
“Huh, why are you here? I thought you went with Cody to stay in his ‘Cold Enhancement’ aura?” He says to the fox. Getting a yip in reply, he just shrugs and gives her a scratch on here ear.
Looking the around Helo continues his hunt with a warm fox in toe. Finding another group Helo and Lelai use their normal tactics. Lelai distracts and then escapes into her mist, and Helo hits them hard.
Continuing this for five hours, Helo and Lelai kill at least two-hundred ants before they decide to meet the group. In that time Helo practiced with both his knives and his naginata. But a lot oh his time with on using his skills. ‘Bleeding Cut’ didn’t seem to help much due to the unique bodies of the ants.
But mixing ‘Fang Extension’ and ‘Dashing Lunge’, Helo was able to sweep through ant groups and cut off a lot of legs. The extra reach helped. ‘Forced Still’ is a great skill on an individual fighter, with the increased cooldown time. He only used it if he was in a tight place and mostly with his throwing knives.
A lot of today Helo spent practicing the energy manipulations needed for his ‘Twin Fang of the Beast’ style. It wasn’t something he was able to understand on his own. But thanks to Micah showing him how techniques work, he was able to understand.
The ‘Twin Fang’ style has a strong focus on instincts; striking first, striking heavy, and striking a lot. The first energy technique is actually a way to hide your signature from the outside. This isn’t something Helo needs due to his own bloodline’s ability.
But one unique aspect of this technique is its ability to leave an imprint on something for only a moment. But that moment can help a lot in a surprise attack. Helo is hoping that this technique might also help him learn how to use his bloodline’s piercing ability on his throwing knives.
Name: Helo
Tier 1
Class: Shaded Predator (Pseudo Tier 3)
Level: 20 (685,299/1,034,000) (1,000 + 1,024,000)
Stats: 270
- Str: 17 (+5%)
- Agl: 42 (+15%)
- Dex:29 (+15%)
- Per: 38 (+30%)
- Vit: 52(+40%)
- End: 20 (+15%)
- Int: 20 (+5%)
- Will: 52 (+40%)
Surprised by the massive gain in his experience Helo goes back to look at his muted notifications.
You have killed a ‘Giant Fire Ant’ * 10.
Experience is increased due to level difference.
Experience is increased due to ‘Nature’s Alpha’ title.
That last line catches Helo off guard. That means that all the ants are considered a part of a pack. That means he gets his experience multiplied by four for all of the ants. They are numerus, high level, and easy prey.
Smiling at this amazing find Helo runs off to talk to the others. They agreed to meet up near the entrance of the level. Pulling out and checking his tablet he can see that he still has thirty minutes.
Letting out a big heated breath Helo looks at Lelai. This level is great isn’t it. The hot fox just looks at him in annoyance.
Running back down the mountain Helo kills every ant on his way back. When he is about half way there he feels a mental nudge coming from his tablet. “That must be Allie or Hinata.” He says to Lelai, she just looks at him weirdly.
About fifteen minutes late Helo meets up with the rest of the party. He gets back sweaty shirtless and panting. Smiling at the group he starts wiping the sweat and ant viscera off his body.
“You look way to happy.” Allie says while scowling at her hair. She keeps petting in and trying to get it to calm down in the humidity.
“These ants are great experience.” Helo says to her, never losing his smile.
“No Helo-Kun. You’re just enjoying the fact that you don’t have to sit around with a polearm and defend.” Hinata says to him in a playful tone. She seems to be doing fine in the weather. Confused by that Helo looks at her and using his aura can feel something radiating cold mana. She must have some kind of enchantment.
Nodding at the intelligence Helo agrees with her statement and turns to Luna. “Use some of our funds to by necessary equipment to handle different weather conditions.” He gets a nod back from the tired and wet girl.
The rest of the party are feeling similarly to Luna and Alli. The only person who had some kind of cooling item was Hinata. Looking at Alli, Helo asks, “Why aren’t you using your constructs to make a cooling array.”
Alli looks at Helo like he is crazy before rasing her hands and summoning a large circular construct in the air. As the construct float above them it starts to glow with power before it is filled with runes. Helo can see runes for ice, wind, containment, and stability.
Looking at Alli he is really impressed by her growth. This isn’t something that she could do a few months ago. As he thinks this a cool breeze sweeps through the entire group. Everyone but Hinata and Helo let out sighs of relief.
“OHHHH why didn’t you do this sooner!” Gabi says while stretching.
Looking over the party Helo can see Cody’s ‘Cold Enhancement’ being strengthened due to the array. “Cody.” Cody turns to look at him. “You should learn to add runs to your ice. Something like this array could really boost how quickly you grow and your top enhancement.”
The quiet giant’s eyes go wide and he nods his head once, very enthusiastically. Laughing he gives the giant a thumbs up.
The rest of the team is starting to fall asleep with the cold air so Hinata claps her hand. “We all had a productive day. Let’s head out for the day.” She gets cheers from everyone but Helo who asks to stay.
Getting approval, the rest of the party leaves and Helo does back to hunting.
When the team gets back into their house everyone goes their separate ways to get clean. Kenneth quickly enters his room and makes a phone call, as the call rings he starts to get cold feet. Before he can hang up the call Calain answers. “What do you want. I’m busy. Why didn’t you call your brother.”
“Sir.” Kenneth says with some respect. “Helo has decided to remain in the dungeon alone.”
“Okay.” Calain says with a neutral voice. “He enters the dungeon alone all the time.”
This is news to Kenneth and he pauses for a second. “Don’t bother me again.” Calain says in an annoyed tone.
As Kenneth tosses his phone away in anger at being dismissed, Calain looks up thoughtfully. “Maybe I can do something about this. If it is covered up well, he could disappear.”
Pulling out his tablet Calain starts going over dungeon rotations. Most guards share their dungeon slots. The floors are large enough for hundreds of people to blow through their mana reserves without killing everything. The only people who get clear floors are the main family.
Looking through the lists of individuals in the dungeon, Calain carefully chooses some men who are upset at losing their position. These are the kind of men that got looked over because of disciplinary issues, now they have some anger toward Graham and how he runs things.
Usually, men like that in a world that praises power and brutality gain levels quick. But with good men like Micah and Graham act to keep these people in line. Calain has a contact list of people like this so that he can make promises and get favors when he needs less than pleasant things done.
Calling on a peak tier 1 guard captain who has been looked over for the commander position for ten years, Calain makes plan. This particular captain has his squad filled with other individuals like him.
Most of the guards in Hanwi Valley start training young and enter the dungeon in their late teens. They grow slowly but steadily and the exceptional reach tier 2 within a few years. They might even earn solo dungeon slots to gain experience faster. Everyone else takes about ten years to reach tier 2.
In the grand scheme of things this is still fast growth to the multiverse. But living with wealth sometimes makes you look at the wealthiest with envy. This captain and his squad are a group of men who would have been considered exceptional but their attitudes held them back.
Instead of fixing it they just got angrier. That was when Calain found them and starting building a squad that was loyal to him and wants him to be the Clan Leader quickly.
“Grant. I have a job for you.” Calain says into his tablet. At the moment Grant is in the dungeon so he needs to contact him using the tablets, not a cell phone.
“Sir. The squad and I are engaged on the 48th floor. This dungeon slot is important for us to reach tier 2.” Grant says with a hint of annoyance. He and his squad work for Calain because he says he will help them grow, but all that he has experienced is Calain having them run his errands.
“Get this done and I’ll personally join you on a higher tier floor to level your squad.” Calain says. At that he can hear as Grant shouts orders to his men to disengage.
In the dungeon Grant is holding a unique item that lets him communicate with select tablets outside the dungeon. He isn’t important enough to have a tablet. But make these communicators is easier.
“Helo Vital is alone on the 34th floor. Kill him and make him disappear.” Calain orders him. This makes Grant pause. Helo Vital is that little monster that was about to kill the son of Prince Victious.
“A…ah….sir.” Grant whispers. “He will kill a lot of my men. None of my men are good enough at stealth or tracking to finish him quickly.”
“Your squad has men in it that are not loyal to your cause. Use this as an opportunity to silence them.” Calain says with a cold tone. He doesn’t care if some nobodies die.
“Yes sir.” Grant says before signing off.
Back in the dungeon Helo is having a great time. For some reason the heat in the air feels better than he expected. He is running on top of a volcano as lava pours down around him and he feels great.
What Helo hasn’t noticed yet is that he only started feeling great when his bloodline started singing through his veins as he started to enjoy the hunt.
Dashing around a boulder, Helo performs a dive straight to the back of an ant that is walking past. Rolling over the ants back Helo runs his blade along the ant’s neck and slices its head off. In a spray of gore, the ant dies and Helo keeps running. Weaving through the bodies of the rest of the ants, Helo activates his ‘Dashing Lunge’ and he starts moving even faster.
Enjoying his hunting Helo finds that within the fake habitat of the dungeon he is able to hunt to his hearts content. He doesn’t have to worry about the population of civilians. He just kills whatever is in front of him.
Crippling the ants as he goes by, Helo circles around to finish them off. It has been two hours since his team left and, in that time, Helo has killed another 100 ants.
Class: Shaded Predator Level: 20 (985,299/1,034,000) (1,000 + 1,024,000)
With only a few more ants to kill before he hits a new level Helo keeps going. A few minutes later Helo hits level 21. Stopping for a few minutes Helo starts to catch his breath. He has been pushing himself to his bodies top speed and constantly using his skills. He even feels like he is close to a skill evolution in his movement skill.
He sits in a lotus position on a rock that is surrounded by lava and lets his reserves fill. Entering meditation Helo can feel as his bloodline cools down and recedes back into his heart. Letting his mind wander he think that if it is his bloodline, why does it always go away. Shouldn’t it be him. This realization makes Helo stop.
Looking in his heart and finding the array that is sealing it Helo realizes that he never truly knew what it meant. “The beast-kin like Hawk and Allie. They can gain a beast form if they awaken their bloodline enough. But their natural forms are their bi-pedal forms. For me every time my bloodline activates, I change.”
Pulling up the information on his necklace Helo reads through it.
A mothers first gift, a fathers first lesson. (Mythic/Hidden) (Rare/Shown)
This is a fang made from a divine being and soul bound to you.
It is enchanted to by another divine being and will awaken when you are ready.
- Bloodline Awakening 2.5 %
- Hides its nature and yours from others.
- Only another divine being will be able to read this item’s full status.
- Seal of Protection and Secrecy.
- A seal placed on you from your soul bound item.
- This seal helps you awaken your bloodline in gradual process. It allows you to better control your growing power and instincts.
- Soul Manifestation: This item was enchanted into your soul.
Tier 1 Awakening:
- Spatial Storage: 10m^3, stasis
- Tier 1 Compendium of Knowledge.
- +5% to all stat efficacies.
It hides my nature. “This isn’t my true form….” Helo is lost in thought after that moment. He keeps coming back to the question. “What am I.” He wants to say vampire, but his life and dark affinities don’t match up. His dark affinity is closer to some kind of void than shadow. And his life is more like vitality than blood.
If he had to make a guess on his affinities, he has a vitality affinity that focuses on the aspect of draining life. And a dark affinity that focusing on draining meaning and other affinities of concepts.
He isn’t totally sure but that is what he thinks is closest. It was something he noticed during his duel. He didn’t erase the mana in Dorimer’s attacks. He just got rid of the attacks concept of light. Weakening the mana and the structure of the skill.
He assumes that the draining aspect comes from the same place the dark aspect comes, the curse. The vitality is thing he has to go on to learn about his family and what he is. If he takes the curse out of his ability to absorb and empower himself with vitality, his regeneration would be insane.
Knowing that the only way he will get answers is to awaken his bloodline and find out what he is Helo gets up to start gaining levels. Focusing on the world around him Helo hears the hissing and crackling of the lava. Opening his red slitted eyes, he seems the orange glow that rises from the ground and reflect itself on the ash filled sky.
“Another thing to work on is using both affinities at the same time. Or merging them.” Helo says to himself before getting up.