Villain Ch 71. The Dungeon Boss
Realizing the girls' state, his sharp gaze settled on Zoe and Vivian, and he could see that they were struggling. They were different from him and Larissa, who had the ability to drain HP from their enemies and refill her own. Zoe and Vivian, on the other hand, had to rely on potions to heal themselves, a far more dangerous and precarious situation to be in.
Concern etched itself into Allen's features as he turned to address his companions. "Do you still want to continue?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
"We are fine," Vivian replied, her voice surprisingly steady. Her hand moved with a swift fluidity, summoning a glowing holographic inventory screen. She selected her HP potion and drank deeply, the liquid shimmering as it flowed down her throat. Zoe followed suit, her own potion vanishing with a flick of her wrist.
Leaving this place would be the easy option, but they were not the ones to shy away from a challenge. No, they were here for the EXP, and they would get it no matter what. They also knew they had to find a way to get more Coins. They couldn't join the player's market, so they had to get creative.
Fortunately, they noticed something that gave them a glimmer of hope. The NPCs in Cursed Crypts were willing to buy their drop items at a much higher price than those in the player's city. It seemed the game developer provided them with a way to earn more Coins. And so, with renewed determination, they decided to venture deeper.
"Just tell me if you need more potions, I have some in my inventory," said Allen, his voice calm and collected. He knew that he needed less than his companions and was always ready to lend a helping hand.
The three of them walked slowly, their eyes fixed in all directions, scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. They had decided to be a bit adventurous and explore this new floor, but they were cautious not to let their guard down. They couldn't afford to be careless, not when they didn't know what kind of monsters lurked on this floor.
They moved as one, their movements coordinated and precise, as they traversed the winding paths of the floor. They kept their distance from each other, always maintaining a safe distance in case of an ambush. They knew that their decision to explore this floor was a risky one, but they were determined to see it through.
Their caution was well-founded, as they soon encountered a group of monsters. The Green Ghoul, Red Bat, and Headless Horse. But the most annoying of all the monsters was the Ghost. It appeared suddenly, hitting them before teleporting away to dodge their retaliation. It was a frustrating opponent, but they simply used similar tactics as before. The same tactic as what Zoe used to kill the dual dagger user in Ilude's Underwater Dungeon.
Time seemed to pass quickly as the group fought their way through the monsters of the dungeon. Two hours flew by in the twinkling of an eye, and before they knew it, noon had passed. But despite the passing of time, the group was making tremendous progress.
In just those two hours, they had reached level 35 - a crazy feat considering they had been killing monsters above their level. They were also fortunate in that this floor was their own private hunting ground, with no need to fight over resources with other teams.
Despite their incredible progress, the group was beginning to feel the strain of the intense battle. Their breaths came in short, ragged gasps as they panted in exhaustion, their bodies pushed to their limits. Their stock of potions was nearly depleted, and their Demonic Power, a vital resource for casting powerful spells and abilities, was only a third left.
Even Allen had run out of his HP potions. He had given what he could spare to Zoe and Vivian. They knew that was their limit, but they decided to explore a little more.
Zoe's eyes flicked around their surroundings, scanning for any signs of danger. "Just one more," she said, her voice slightly breathless from the exertion of their battles. "Then I have to go."
Allen and Vivian exchanged glances, both knowing that they were feeling the same strain. They had been pushing themselves hard, and while they had made excellent progress, they knew they needed a break.
"I think that's a good idea," Allen said, his own voice sounding strained. "We need to replenish our supplies. And it's time for lunch anyway."
Soon, the group found themselves in a wider area with a completely different atmosphere from the enclosed space they had just left. The air was still thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, but the space around them was much larger, and they found themselves surrounded by a veritable cemetery.
Tall fences enclosed the area, with rows of gravestones stretching out as far as the eye could see. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves, and the occasional cawing of a crow perched on one of the twisted trees that dotted the landscape.
As they took in the view of the small cemetery inside, the group's footsteps came to an abrupt stop. The sound of their boots on the damp stone floor was drowned out by the cacophony of monster sounds emanating from within.
The Headless Horse galloped around, its hooves thudding heavily against the ground, while the Green Ghouls howled and groaned in unison. All of them were inside the cemetery. It was clear that the group was outnumbered and outmatched in their current state. They were in no condition to take on a horde of monsters of this magnitude.
But then, their attention was drawn to the end of the cemetery, where a fence surrounded a particular monster that looked different from the others. Its size was intimidating, and its aura was overwhelming.
He stood tall, with a regal posture, emanating an aura of power that made even the most experienced players shudder in fear. He was surrounded by a cloud of bats that flew around him, their wings flapping in unison. His feet didn't seem to touch the ground, giving him an almost supernatural presence.
His eyes glowed a bright red in the darkness, making it clear that he was not to be trifled with. The group couldn't help but feel intimidated by his imposing figure and aura.
Dracula (Boss) <Level 85>
