Arcane Fountain Gauntlet 1

(Robin's POV):

"That was impressive Jay, why'd you have to give false hope though?"

"Ah! Well, I was really hoping to collect information but it's Praetorian after all. We can't really expect them to give information." - Jay

"True, but false hope? Well eh, I guess it's fine."

"Sorry, should I have given him no mercy?" - Jay

Jay seems a little dejected but it really wasn't a big deal so I'll forgive him.

"It's fine, you guys are info collectors after all."

"I see, thanks." - Jay

"Anyways, who wants to go next when we bump into another group?"

"Can I?" - Ridley

"Sure!"

Ridley is now the next person to who seems to want to clash against a group that will be hostile. First thing we did is that we went towards the town which has a lot of players trying to act flashy and powerful with the effects of their constant supply of mana.

"Uwah... These guys are being flashy..." - Jay

"They're flexing, don't mind them. They wouldn't be able to deal with us who are just continuously spending on stat bonuses."

"I see, where are we supposed to go?" - Grace

"For now we have to collect information, ask various people if they know a cave entrance within this biome which could allow us to gather arcane ore. I'll give you until lunch alright? Spread out!"

Everyone spreads out and disappeared from my view instantly. I went around the town by simply walking around and revealed a pair of wings and pour an influx of mana to Heaven's Beacon. I could be flashy too so I can get some attention.

I then moved around to the central area which has a fountain with glistening blue water. This could be filled with mana so there might be something hidden in there.

I simply do the deed whenever I have to do something in the central area. I always take out a few pieces of coins. I tossed in a copper coin into the fountain but nothing happened excluding a \noticeable increase of luck. So this fountain works, let's see if we can get something out of it.

I threw another coin but it's a silver coin this time. I then started to feel a bit lighter when I move around. Is this a speed boost? Or lesser gravity?

I brought out Mana Breaker and tried lifting it up a little bit. It was completely light, which means that a silver coin would lessen your gravity. I took out a gold coin and tossed it in there. I didn't feel anything but a ground tremor which was weird.

The surrounding people who noticed that I'm throwing coins to the fountain suddenly stood up and moved away from the fountain. Something's in here?

I contacted everyone about the information I got from simply throwing coins into a fountain.

I brought out my Mana Breaker and dipped it into the fountain. The water starts to gradually drain until I can see through the glistening liquid. Looks like we got a hidden entrance here.

"Robin, what the hell are you doing?" - Jay

"Gamer logic, always throw a coin to the fountain."

"You're kidding..." - Jay

"Want to wait for the others to arrive here?"

"Eh sure, want a waffle?" - Jay

Jay offered me a waffle while we sat down on the fountain exchanging information.

"What do you think about this? I think it's just a secret area that could get us something." - Jay

"I hope that it's ore that we get here. At the same time, I hope that this place isn't empty."

"Why so?" - Jay

"Well, Seymour is collecting various exclusive objects that will be essential for later down in the game."

"You're kidding right? He's gonna get super buffed to the point where it will be completely impossible to defeat him alone!" - Jay

"He's already unbeatable alone though? I'd have to team up with Michael and Denzel just to deal substantial damage to him."

"What's your score though? Against him?" - Jay

"Let's just say all three of us never won, even once. The best we did is shave half of his health."

"You're kidding right?" - Jay

"Nope, a single strike could get Michael down instantly. We have to be careful at all times. Denzel plans out and Michael maintains us all pretty smoothly. While I try to keep Seymour's attention since it's extremely dangerous for the both of them. I often switch with Denzel but it is mainly a difficult battle guaranteed."

Jay was looking at me with a face of wary that seemingly couldn't handle hearing something.

"Initially, we had planned to get Seymour one death. We can't do it because of the server transfer bs we're gonna end up taking if we die."

"Yeah... Oh, there they are!" - Jay

Jay stood up and waved his hand towards the others walking here Grace was walking slowly while flipping a coin constantly. Ridley was holding a book and quill for a reason I just theorized. Does Ridley have Alzheimer's or Dementia? He seems to learn some things though so I don't think it's that bad.

Rylle was walking beside Ridley while they were talking about something. Probably exchanging information, those two seem pretty close.

"You said that you found something Robin?" - Grace

"Yep."

I brought out Mana Breaker and dipped it into the water fountain once again. The mana pool gradually got dispersed and revealed a secret entrance.

"Let's come in."

I let Jay's group come in first as I check around for various things that might be off. When I looked around before entering, I saw a bunch more coins along with a second gold coin and a platinum coin.

"This place is pretty dark, and it looks pretty clean. Can you be front Robin? I can't see anything here." - Jay

"Alright, Beacon!"

I activated Beacon from my sword which caused it to glow pretty nicely. When I did so, the secret entrance suddenly closed up.

"I see... This is a one way area, up for an adventure guys?"

"Yep!" - Jay

"I'm with ya." - Ridley

"Count me in." - Grace

"Aight." - Rylle

"Let's go slowly, drink the Dangersense potions. Those are going to be essential."

Everyone drank the orange potion that provides a more sensitive sensor to traps that could be laid out in this narrow hallway.

"And drink these two, I'll be shutting the light soon."

I gave them the lime green potions that will allow them to see through the dark at perfect clarity.

"Now, let's get sneaky here."

We slowly traversed through the hallway and moved pretty deep into the tunnel. It gradually turned wider and wider as we continue to avoid the traps including the pressure plates and wiring.

"It's going downwards, what do you think?"

"It's a long way down, are we gonna go deeper?" - Jay

"Of course we are, we need whatever we're gonna get here."

We jumped down to the pitfall and landed gracefully without making much noise. When I noticed, my night vision gave me heat signatures within the area.

"Shh... Now we should be careful here."

Everyone nodded in silence. When I looked around, there are multiple rooms and a closed off area at the end of this hallway.

So it's gonna be a six segment trap before we open the central area huh?

"Guys, let's enter the first room in the left first."

Everyone once again nodded in response and followed me to the room in the left. After entering, we see a chest that is obviously rigged but we didn't have any other choice but to open it up.

"Who'll do the honors?"

"I'll do it." - Jay

Jay opens the chest which closes the entrance and opens the walls around the chest. It was a spacious area but we're completely surrounded by a horde of skeletons. The skeletons didn't have anything on them which gives me a little relief as a horde of these won't really deal that much damage.

"Formation! Surround and Protect!"

Each of us went to each corner and placed Jay in the center to watch over everyone. Me and Grace who can overwhelm the enemies are placed in the corners that have two sides. Ridley and Rylle moved to the corners where they have to defend from one side only. Jay is stationed on the chest with his sniper rifle out.

"Eliminate everything!"

Everyone starts slashing and clearing up all of the skeletons while holding out a last stand from all sides. I sensed a total of three-hundred skeletons and have to survive pretty quickly.

"Jay, focus your support on Grace! I can handle my side alone!"

"Got it!" - Jay

"Ridley! Rylle! Grace! Do not let a single one through!"

"Haa!" - Grace

"Got it!" - Ridley

"Roger!" - Rylle

We then held out against the hundreds of skeletons that could easily defeat any mediocre player. I hid both swords and brought out two searing swords and easily cleared off the approaching skeletons in my side.

"Dark!" - Ridley

"I can't see!" - Grace

The night vision potion had completely ran out. Grace and Ridley who are stationed on one side started having difficulties of seeing anything. Grace has trouble sensing anything because there isn't any wind within the area. The two start taking damage from the skeletons trying to push through. I slashed a wave and cleared a bunch of monster before giving them some attention and activated a healing skill and gave them a faint glow for some time.

"Illumination!"

"Hahh, thanks Robin!" - Ridley

"Thanks!" - Grace

Jay doesn't have much problem with being unable to see in the dark because he has an ability to activate night vision. I only gave him a potion to save up on his mana. After about ten minutes of constantly fighting, we had finally cleared off the skeletons. The large openings had closed along with the entrance opening once again.

"Hahh... That was exhausting, can we take a break at the center area?" - Ridley

"Got the key guys, let's get out of this room real quick." - Jay

We moved to the center which now has a circular table and lights.

"Well... Want to have lunch break before continuing this?"