Ep. 7 — Chapter 26: Time on the Clock (2)

Currently, we are both past level 15. Though the dungeons would still be a bit difficult to clear, at our level, we should be able to assist each other to clear it without any massive casualties. There were two things I wanted to get from going to the dungeon. An ability for myself.

And if possible, an 'Ascent'.

What good would the name [World Ascension] be without a system that allows you to ascend? There was the ascension between worlds and there is also a player's ascent which is the same as an awakening in other games.

Nightfall had reached. The surroundings were dark, giving way for me and Leon to roam from ≪Shell≫ without being noticed. I mentioned of our plans to Alicia, but she wouldn't let us go during the daytime and insisted we move at night, most likely to maintain the secrecy of ≪Shell≫'s existence.

Fair enough, ≪Shell≫ provided us with some items that would help us clear the dungeons without much problems. When Alicia first heard that we'd move to the eastern front, she was worried about the possibility of the Guild Tower discovering their existence, if we were caught. It took a long time of convincing to make her finally allow it. And if we did return, ≪Shell≫ would be greatly rewarded by it.

"Are you sure there will be dungeons this way, Sir Rayes?" Leon asked, keeping up with my pace despite my speed being far above his. Sure, I was pacing myself, but it still should be a bit of a struggle for him to keep up, even at this speed.

"Yes. From what I know, there should be some this way. There's only one problem though."

"And that is?"

"Members of the Guild Tower. Unlike us, the Guild Tower has workers to continually manufacture items that could detect dungeons and areas with a high frequency of monsters. So it's likely that they'd already have this spot all figured out."

"And we're still headed this way?"

I stayed silent for a bit, jumping over a huge crack on the ground. "Yes. I sort of have some personal bone to pick with these guys. So it would be better if it is one of the dungeons under their control."

"Isn't that…a bit dangerous? For the other guys."

True. Who knows just how many workers there would be situated at a single dungeon. "That's why I asked to borrow the [Obscuring Cloaks]. It will hide our identities long as we have it on."

"Got it."

Still, it would be a bit problematic if there were members associated with a guild amongst them. It's unlikely, since the guilds would normally do their own business and don't meddle with the Guild Tower's work much. But there's always a possibility.

And as a precaution, I kept the [XP Orbs] with me. I still haven't told anyone from ≪Shell≫ about it, since it'll cause too many suspicions on us. Especially for Leon if I mentioned the sudden commissioned quest. Together, we would have 12 [XP Orbs] in total, so we could level up at least twice or three times before running out of supply.

"Stop running, we're here." I skidded to a halt and Leon quickly halted his movements. We were still a but of a distance away, watching them from behind the trees.

"Is that…where the dungeon is?"

"It seems like it."

"Then those guys are people from the Guild Tower."

I nodded my head and continued to observe. There were a number of trucks, and a hell lot of people around. But there doesn't seem to be anyone from other guilds, especially the major ones. I tapped Leon's shoulder. "You do remember what the three main guild's emblems look like, right?"

"Yeah."

"If you see anyone at all with those emblems, even if it's just one. Abort the mission and don't get caught. Bulldoze your way through the barricade if you have to, but don't let them catch you."

"And you?" Leon turned the question back to me.

"I'll do the same."

We crept around the trees. I nodded my head as a signal to approach. Leon and I put on the hoods to our [Obscuring Cloaks] and snuck into the perimeter. And as expected, a trigger quest came flying our way.

——

Trigger Quest: [Breaking and Entering]

Difficulty: ★★★

Requirements: Make your way through the group of players and enter the dungeon without being subdued. Both strategic or aggressive approaches are allowed.

Time Limit: 5 hours (including the sub-quest to be added once entering the dungeon)

Compensation: Entrance to the dungeon.

Upon Failure: ???

——

It seems like Leon had received the same message and he turned back to me for confirmation. I nodded my head and he went forward, his shovel still hidden under the cloak. I climbed to the top of the truck and observed the area.

"Hey, who the hell are you?! Get down from there!"

One of the members flashes their flashlight at me. Soon after, the entire place was threatening me with guns and other weapons. I stayed standing, my eyes focused on Leon.

"You have three seconds! Put your hands up—!"

Clannggg!

The next moment, blood dripped from the officer's mouth and he dropped to the floor. A big wound on his head. All of the other officers turned around and met Leon, a shovel in his hand. With this terrible lighting, the man looked demonic and pure evil. As soon as the situation registered, they began attacking. I leapt up from the truck and subdued a number of them in an instant.

Alicia had modified my chains to an extent, making it more like a real weapon. In fact, it even has a status now.

The officers from the Guild Tower were disoriented as both Leon and I attacked them at once from both sides. I focused mainly on the long distance fighter, whipping my chains around and watching it slap them across the field. The sounds it made as they were whipped made me flinch. Damn it, that must hurt like hell.

"Don't let a single one of them radio in!" I told Leon and smashed their radios with my chains.

"Got it!" Leon tried to focus on the ones with radios as well.

I ran around, jumping from trucks to trucks before making my way on the ground. I leapt forward, straight towards a group of officers and whipped the chains around. It wrapped around their legs and bodies, spinning them around and hitting their bodies.

"Dammit! What is this?! Call for backup!"

"We're under attack!"

I had expected Guild Tower officers to be on a higher level than this one. However, that doesn't seem to be the case. They were falling much too quickly, without being able to put up much of a fight. Maybe it's because this dungeon wasn't too high of a priority for the Guild Tower. Poor bastard, having to work for such a shitty place.

Most of them were down by now, grovelling and groaning on the floor. They crawled towards safety, barely able to hide themselves under the tables set outside the trucks. But I didn't go for them. I only watched a number of them running towards Leon and him swinging them all away with a single swipe of his hand. An absurd sight to see. And now, they were all fully subdued. I would really like to go in without being noticed, but it seems it'll be more rewarding this way.

Leon shook them all down. He gripped onto their collars and raised them high up, their feet hanging from the ground. After thoroughly inspecting them, he'd place them back down and carry on with the next one. I also searched through the officers, looking for any valuables or even weapons.

"With your skill, you should be able to use the guns just fine." I told him, analysing one of the guns utilised by the officers. About all of them were the same type, and they seemed to be powered by magic of the user. Meaning that they won't have to worry about skills or abilities. As long as they have enough magic, they can use it for as long as they like until their magic capacity runs out. And Leon's magic level should be well past 10.

"I don't like using guns. They terrify me." Leon admitted.

"But you don't seem to mind bashing heads with shovels?"

"I had to get used to that too…"

I bit my lips for a moment, realising that I was probably headed into a red zone with my words. I peeled a bit of my dry lips. And in a small voice, I apologised to him. "Sorry, I shouldn't have."

"It's fine, really…! It's not really a topic I'm too sensitive about, so don't feel like you have to walk on eggshells around me. When you do that, I feel that we're not as close as I'd like for us to actually be…"

Leon continued to blabber on, but I already zoned out. One of the other officers had a baton in his hand. He was knocked out, so it wasn't too strong of a grip. I managed to pry his fingers and took the baton from him. It was an electric baton, already powered with lightning magic. Damn, I started to realise just how powerful the Guild Tower really is with their advancements with the technologies.

"...And so that's why, I want us to be closer."

"Leon, take this."

"Huh?"

I tossed the baton in the air and he reflexively let out his hands to catch it. "Careful. Only grab the handle and not the other parts."

Instantly, Leon adjusted his hands and caught the baton with his right hand, swinging it around to get into the feeling of it. He tapped the shovel with it and blue sparks of lightning appeared before him, lighting the shovel brightly. Even I was amazed at the power the baton held. For sure, it could work as a temporary weapon for this dungeon.

"Leon will go inside without me first."

"What? No way. Last time I did we…you got hurt." Leon protested and quickly tried to change his words. "I'm not saying you can't fend for yourself but I don't want you getting in trouble without me being able to help. No, I can't go without you, Sir Rayes."

"This isn't like last time. It's only a dungeon, so I can catch up with you later."

"And how do you know? Even though you played that game before, you didn't seem to know much about the Forest of Mist. I don't know what your plans are, but I don't like it." Leon had a determined glare on his face. His eyes glistened even more because of the sparks of lightning from the baton.

I retracted the chains back to me and turned in front of me. "I promise, I'll come to you. Either one of us safely gets inside, or neither of us do. Your choice."

I did feel bad for having to force Leon to enter alone. However, there wasn't much choice. The noises from earlier had gathered the attention of other officers nearby. I could see their flashlight coming this way. I think Leon could see them too and he lets out a silent incomplete cursing. Eventually, he nodded and ran inside the dungeon first.

"Don't take too long!"

I can't promise that, unfortunately.

The groups of officers approaching were disturbed at the sight of the other unconscious officers. And even the barricades to the dungeons were also destroyed. Fearing that it may be a gas attack, they instantly pulled down their gas masks.

"Search the area! Report back to the Guild Tower!"

"Don't let anyone out!"

"Yes, sir!"

Sorry, but I can't let you do that. In an instant, I whipped the chains around, extending far and striking a number of officers at once. They all tripped over the chains and others were struck against their chest. Their radios were all destroyed within a few cracks of the whip-like chains.

Their moans were heard as they clasped their hands in pain, pulling out their guns and batons. I appeared from atop the truck, the chains at my sides.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have a lot of time. Let's make this quick, yeah?"