Chapter 4.13 - The Auto-Bolter Rifle

As Serin expected, the way he designed the bolts, the minor earth elementals were no match for them. Serin had politely requested that the other guides assist him with collecting supplies and carrying equipment. Serin smiled, "I promise on your turns to delve I will be behind you helping you salvage equipment." Serin had sent Ignis and Songbird to search out treasure and magic stones. Serin was on a mission. This was his evaluation, and he had to prove he was capable of solo entry.

And yes, he was a 'dungeon guide' getting approved for lower levels. But he had also pulled a quest from the adventurer's guild. 'Be the first to reach level 10'. The quest was repeating, and on the quest he pulled, he saw that it had every 10th level listed below it. Underneath each line, there was a greyed out line of "Reach level 10 for the first time". Serin mused that many people could take the quest, but one could be the first.

So with quick work, Serin cleared the first level.

***

Since Serin had already seen the follow on levels, it did not take much time for him to take the group down to level 7. The others had prepared winter clothes and spells, as it was expected to only get colder. Their progress was a little slower than the first time Serin had delved down. The team was making sure to explore and collect all valuable resources, as well as catalog what was found on each level. Mineral samples, lichen deposits, and fungal growth were found. Serin's Songbird did come across a thin vein of adamantine on level 4, and there were a few ruby deposits on level 6.

Level 8 was the first new level for everyone. Although the enemies were getting slightly stronger and slightly bigger, Serin had prepared. He took out the enemy with unpowered spells as he could, and when he couldn't he switched to his new bolter.

As soon as Serin had switched to the bolter, he realized it was absolute overkill on these creatures. So as quickly as Serin switched to his bolter, he switched to using his pistol or axe instead. His magical axe, named 'Folly's Axe', was able to increase the damage dealt by burning more stamina. This worked for Serin as his stamina was rarely used, and he could use it while his mana refilled.

And before long, Serin had reached the gate to level 9. Serin took a minute to rest at the gate. He had expended about 10% of both his mana and stamina. He also took the time to make rounds for his bolter. Jericho watched as he paused, "planning to call it?" Serin looked at him with a wink, "Just taking advantage of this quiet moment to restock and prepare."

With his mana and stamina refilled, Serin pulled his magical rod and pistol and moved through the gate.

***

On the other side of the gate, Serin was met by a misty bog. The temperature was low enough that the bog he looked at could prove a deadly obstacle. Serin also felt a message come in and viewed his quest. He had successfully met the requirements for "Be the first to reach level 10" and now it opened the next part of the quest of "Be the first to reach level 20". He smiled, as up until level 10 it hadn't been too much of an obstacle. He then checked the information on the floor and saw that there was only 1 creature on the floor. When it was one versus many, Serin was not the most equipped to fight. But one on one Serin could handle creatures many times his power level.

It was then that he saw it, in the middle of the bog there was a small bit of land with a large treasure chest on it. Serin looked at the object. Using [precognition], he focused on the chest and a dark red line of doom traced itself from Serin's position to the box.

'That's a trap', he thought to himself. Serin then saw that near the deeper part of the bog there was something bubbling. Serin took a handfull of rocks from near the shore, and started tossing them into the water. No sooner had he started tossing them, all around the bog large tentacles began coming from water. It reminded Serin of the small seaside streetfood of Ston, but about 1000 times the size.

Serin wasted no time. Using his bolter, Serin began to fire. The others came out of the gate to see Serin engaged with the tentacles, and as Serin fired and the tentacles fell, the bubbles moved towards the shore where Serin was. Serin started backing away as he fired.

Tentacles quickly severed and retracted into the water. And then a large beast pounced out of the water. Serin's [shield] held as the creature tried to bite down on Serin. Instead its teeth could not find purchase in the [shield].

His bolter needed reloading, Serin pulled his cut down two shot scattergun and fired both shots into the creature's mouth towards the top of its head. As soon as the fight had begun, it was now over, and Serin watched as the creature slumped to the side.

Serin was surprised, but his mana had significantly dropped from the creature's bite. His [Shield] spell was a very novice spell, so the protection provided to mana used was not in favor of any serious encounters. Serin predicted that had he taken several more bites, the shield, as well as his mana would have failed, his spine cracking shortly after. Serin would have to purchase a more powerful version from the Donation box when he had a chance.

Now that Serin had a chance to view the creature, he was impressed by what he saw. Its main body had four legs, the front two which were designed to grab and hold. Its overall size was that of a wooly, so roughly the height of a human when on all fours, but twice the height when it stood on its hind legs. Down its back are where the extremely long tentacles had come from. Even in death the quivered and moved, shrinking and elongating along its back.

From its design Serin could tell that the tentacles were meant to subdue its prey and then its quadraped body would pounce and bite down on the prey and pull it into the water, drowning it.

It was strength and speed in physical form, and using his study skill he could tell that it was near level 20. 'A normal level 20 human would be immediately killed by this creature', Serin thought.

The other guides had watched the fight and were quite impressed. Serin looked at the chest and smiled. Serin used terraforming magic to form a land bridge from the shore to the small land mass in the middle of the lake. He did not know the consistency of the mud in the bog but Serin was sure he would get hypothermia if exposed to that water for too long. 'Best not to get wet', Serin mused.

When he reached the center he found that the chest, although the size of a footlocker, was rather heavy. He motioned to the other guides, and it took almost four of them to load it into the cart.

Serin looked at them, "For numerous reasons, we won't open this here."

Serin then looked at them "We have about 2 hours until we head to the next level. Does anyone want anything to eat?"

The group smiled, and Serin brought out the small cooking kit and supplies he stored on the wagon. While cooking Ignis and the Songbird checked for magic and treasure, but other than the medium magical essence from the Lake Lurker and the chest they had already found, this part of the dungeon was barren.

***