Vol.01: Ch.12: Facing the Fiery Foes of the Abyss - Battling Scorched Ravens

In this fantastical world full of magic and wonder, dungeons held a special place in the hearts of hunters, adventurers, and nobles alike.

These challenging labyrinths, filled with traps, treasures, and beasts, were ranked according to the strength of the creature lurking at the bottom-most floor, known as the 'Boss Floor'.

However, the first three ranks of dungeons were considered too lowly for these illustrious individuals to bother with.

After all, the rewards offered by these lower-ranked dungeons were paltry in comparison to the treasures that awaited them in higher-ranked dungeons.

But for the common folk, these dungeons were a lifeline. Despite having to pay a few measly copper coins for entry, the benefits that awaited them were worth hundreds of silver coins.

The commoners, therefore, flocked to these dungeons in droves, eager to test their mettle against the creatures that lurked within.

Moreover, these dungeons held a special status among the common folk. As the property of the King, no noble could claim these dungeons as their own and demand payment from the commoners.

To do so would mean challenging the authority of the King himself - an act that no noble family would dare to undertake. And so, the lower-ranked dungeons remained a haven for the common folk, untouched by the greed of the nobles.

On the other hand, noble families, adventurers, and hunters would often raid dungeons ranked 04 to 06. These dungeons were challenging but not impossible to clear.

However, dungeons ranked higher than rank 07 were mostly untouched as they required a large number of high-leveled individuals to clear them. Unfortunately, no noble family had more than 10 such individuals, making it impossible for them to clear these dungeons alone.

Therefore, the only way to clear these dungeons was to form alliances with other noble families, something that most noble families were not willing to do.

They wanted to horde all the spell scrolls and beast cores for themselves, which was why most never attempted to clear these higher-ranked dungeons.

Deep within the County of Telemark lay the treacherous Abyss of Scorched Ravens, a rank 06 dungeon that posed a significant challenge to even the most seasoned adventurers.

On its last floor lurked a formidable rank 06 Scorched Raven, a beast feared by many for its fiery prowess.

Scorched Ravens were peculiar creatures, with a striking resemblance to the common raven, but with a distinctive red-colored beak and wings adorned with crimson feathers.

Standing at the size of a horse, these creatures could unleash a devastating stream of fireballs from their mouths, making them a fearsome adversary to face.

While Scorched Ravens were generally known to be a nuisance, they were not inherently hostile unless provoked. However, if a Scorched Raven General commanded them, they would not hesitate to attack any intruders that trespassed into their territory.

As such, most individuals chose to steer clear of these creatures or eliminate them swiftly to avoid being overwhelmed by their fierce attacks.

...

In the expansive training hall, Darell let out a wicked smile upon seeing the system's quest. It was a perfect opportunity to level up and gain some combat experience.

He felt a rush of nervousness because the system had failed to give him a quest when he was training with Lilith in the Forest Of Fyn. He had spent hours trying to figure out what he needed to do to trigger the system to give him a quest, but he had come up empty-handed.

Now, his excitement was palpable. He finally had a quest and couldn't wait to level up and ask the system all sorts of questions.

The prospect of accessing the system shop was also tantalizing. Although he currently had zero system points, he knew that leveling up would grant him access to more system points.

The sky was darkened by the flock of Scorched Ravens flying straight towards Darell and his comrades. The air around them was crackling with the anticipation of battle as the beasts launched fireballs at the group.

Darell clicked his tongue in frustration at the incoming onslaught of fiery missiles. He quickly formulated a plan of attack and instructed his companions, "20 Ravens are approaching us. I will take down five while the rest of you target as many as you can. We have to move fast and take them down before they overwhelm us."

With determined looks on their faces, the group readied themselves for battle. Eric stepped forward and cast his skill.

"Earth Wall!"

Instantly, a massive rock wall appeared in front of them, stretching 20 meters long.

The fireballs exploded as they hit the barrier, but Eric was ready, and cast another Earth Wall to protect them from the incoming barrage.

The Ravens soon realized that their fire attacks were ineffective and changed their strategy.

Darell and his companions braced themselves as the Scorched Ravens abandoned their fireball attack and charged straight at them.

The air was filled with the beating of powerful wings and the smell of burning feathers.

As the Ravens spread their wings, the red feathers began to glow and ignite. This was the creature's signature ability - a skill that allowed them to slice through their opponents with burning feathers.

However, Darell and his friends were not so easily caught off guard.

"Ice Prison!"

With a flick of her wrist, Lilith summoned her magical ability as she cast her skill and formed a large block of ice around several of the Scorched Ravens.

The Ravens struggled to break free but were trapped, giving Lilith the chance to strike. She drew her sword and with a single swift motion, sliced the frozen Ravens in half.

As the bodies of the beasts were cleaved apart, they vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a few stray feathers and a faint wisp of smoke.

"Death's Scream!"

Ariel's sharp cry echoed across the battlefield as she unleashed her skill 'Death's Scream'.

The sound waves shook the surrounding air, and the Scorched Ravens charging at her were caught off guard, losing their balance.

Seizing the opportunity, Ariel swiftly hurled her chakra at the disoriented beasts, slicing through their necks with deadly precision. The weapon then deftly returned to her hand, leaving no trace of its lethal trajectory.

"Earth's Golem!"

Eric called forth his powerful skill 'Earth Golem.' With a wave of his hand, two massive creatures made of solid earth erupted from the ground.

Standing at ten feet tall, the golems wielded swords and shields and were ready to defend their summoner.

The Ravens swooped in, launching fireballs and slashing with their burning wings, but the golems were unyielding. With their shields held high, they deflected the flames and sharp feathers with ease, while their swords slashed through the air, cutting down the oncoming flock.

As the Ravens began to thin out, the golems surged forward, striking down the remaining enemies with a powerful downward stroke of their swords.

With the threat vanquished, the golems crumbled back into the earth from which they had emerged.

Emma was surrounded by three fierce Scorched Ravens. However, she remained calm and collected, and with a smirk on her face, she used her skill 'Blind'.

"Blind!"

A blinding light emanated from her body, enveloping the area around her. The Ravens charging towards her were instantly blinded by the overwhelming light, their black eyes turning completely white with panic.

With her opponents now disoriented, Emma took advantage of their confusion and swiftly struck.

She deftly sliced off the head of one of the Ravens with her dagger, the creature letting out a piercing cry before it crumpled to the ground.

With her dagger still in hand, Emma hurled it at another Raven, piercing it right through its heart. The Raven let out a blood-curdling scream before it too, fell to the ground, lifeless.

Seeing the last remaining Raven, Emma approached it with a confident stride. She focused her energy into her fist and unleashed a devastating punch at the creature.

The Raven's head twisted in a gruesome manner, and blood splattered all over Emma's hand.

Darell expertly wielded his sword, executing his combat technique 'Earth-Shattering Slash' with lethal precision, sending two of the Scorched Ravens tumbling down to the ground in a flurry of feathers.

He repeated the move, cleaving through two more of the vicious beasts. Only one more Raven remained, and it was his key to completing the system's quest.

With a confident grin, Darell watched the last Raven hurtling towards him, ready for the final showdown.

As the Raven approached him, Darell remained motionless, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The Raven, sensing an easy kill, accelerated towards Darell, eager to finish him off.

But Darell had other plans. At the last moment, he threw a punch with effortless ease, connecting with the Raven's frail body.

The Raven, a rank 01 beast, being no match for Darell's strength, disintegrated into a puff of smoke, completing the system's quest in a flash.

A notification appeared before Darell, signaling his achievement.

[DING]

[ Quest - Completed ]

[ Reward - 50 XP ]

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