Varfelt Kingdom, the Brainless Flood
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The journey continued with the soft clatter of hooves against the dirt road. Tobe leaned back in the carriage, lost in thought. Something tickled the edge of his memory—the Wind King's defeat. Suddenly, he sat upright, breaking the quiet hum of the journey.
"Hey, what happened to the dungeon rewards?" Tobe asked.
Max, who had been half-asleep, blinked himself awake and scratched his head. "Ah, right! We got 100 silver coins, 1 gold coin, a white ore called Wind Rock… and an empty tome called the 'Wind King's Air Entirety.'" He paused, his expression thoughtful. "Apparently, the Wind Rock can't be used for smithing unless combined with another ore—the Gale Stone. Once the two are fused, they're needed to unlock the secrets in the tome."
Tobe's brows furrowed as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out the greenish, shimmering stone. "You mean this?"
Max glanced at the stone and froze. His eyes widened comically, and he whipped his head back for a double-take. "HUUUUUH?! THAT IS THE… the Gale Stone! YES!"
Tobe grinned cheekily. "Well, looks like when we're back in Riscone Kingdom, that empty tome won't be so empty anymore."
Their banter was interrupted as Miri tapped Tobe on the shoulder. "We're approaching Varfelt," she said, her tone cautious. Yuka stirred from her nap, stretching and yawning as the group's excitement grew.
Tobe and Max stood, peering over the carriage's edge. Expecting the bustling life of a grand kingdom, they were instead greeted by an eerie silence. A thick, unnatural mist blanketed the kingdom's perimeter, stretching both inside and out.
The carriage slowed as they reached the gate. Two guards stood motionless by the entrance. Their eyes were vacant, almost soulless. One of them approached, his steps mechanical.
"State your business," he said, his voice monotone.
Miri stepped forward, adopting an overly pleasant demeanor. "We're just adventurers here to explore and enjoy the sights of Varfelt." She presented their guild cards with a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The guard examined them briefly before nodding and stepping aside.
As the group passed, Tobe leaned close to Miri, whispering mockingly, "That was so unlike you~" He pitched his voice higher, mimicking her earlier tone. "'We're mere adventurers here to lavish the sights and experiences!~'"
Max, Yuka, and even the carriage driver stifled laughter as Miri's cheeks flushed. "I know! Shut up!" she hissed, glaring at him.
Tobe chuckled, covering his mouth. "It was adorable, though," he teased, earning an exasperated groan from Miri.
Once inside, the atmosphere grew even stranger. The mist thickened, curling around their feet almost like living tendrils. The streets were eerily empty, the buildings worn and lifeless. Tobe stepped down from the carriage, waving to the driver as he departed.
"Well," Tobe said, gesturing around dramatically, "this place is… uh… foggy, empty, desolate…" He paused, squinting. "Yeeeaaahhh... this place is hella weird. Why would the Grey Veil keep trying to invade it?"
Miri shrugged, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Doesn't make sense. We should ask the locals."
Max nodded. "Good idea. Let's split up and gather information."
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The group dispersed, each heading in different directions. Tobe approached a shopkeeper who stood behind a fog-drenched stall, "Excuse me," Tobe began, "can you tell me what's been going on in Varfelt?"
The shopkeeper's voice was hushed and also a bit monotone. "They say this place is cursed. Ever since the mist came, people started getting sick. Some say the Grey Veil's behind it. Others whisper about… something darker."
Tobe thanked him awkwardly and regrouped with the others at the fountain. Each shared their findings in turn.
"Apparently, this place is cursed," Tobe summarized, leaning against the fountain.
Yuka added, "It was thriving once. Then a plague swept through, and now people are falling ill left and right."
"One person told me there's somehow nothing wrong with Varfelt," Miri said, frowning. "Another said the Grey Veil rarely invades here."
Max's expression was troubled. "I heard about a cloaked stranger. He's been seen with an elegant scythe, always hiding his face. Sometimes he's at the adventurers' guild. Other times, the brothel. Creepy guy."
Miri's brow furrowed. "None of these stories line up. Maybe we should ask the ruler directly."
As they prepared to leave for the kingdom's palace, a chilling sensation crept over them. The locals began to gather, moving with jerky, unnatural motions. One by one, they began to speak, their voices overlapping.
"Tobe."
"Miri."
"Yuka."
"And you… Red Spikes."
Max bristled at the nickname. The locals continued, their voices blending into a haunting chorus.
"Welcome to Varfelt… We'll make sure… to give you the… utmost hospitality."
The group instinctively readied their weapons. Miri drew her sword and raised her shield, Max hefted his greatsword, and Tobe's gloves crackled with concentrated mana. Yuka half-summoned Blubby in turret form and Spryt, her elemental companion, shifting between fire and wind.
The locals lunged, their movements erratic but feral. The group sprang into action. Tobe dodged a clawed swipe, countering with a blast of Explosion Impact, sending several attackers flying. Miri parried a strike, her shield gleaming as she pushed forward with Shield Bash, knocking three enemies back.
Max swung his greatsword in a wide arc, cleaving through the horde. "These aren't normal people!" he shouted.
Yuka unleashed a barrage of elemental blasts from Spryt while Blubby fired precision shots. "They're being controlled or something!" she exclaimed.
The fight was chaotic and relentless. Tobe leaped onto a nearby cart for higher ground, summoning Fall Lightning to strike a cluster of attackers. The air crackled as lightning bolts rained down, scattering the enemies.
Miri activated Strength Up, her strikes becoming even more powerful. She slashed through the zombie-like attackers with precision, her movements fluid and controlled. Max covered her flank, his blade moving like a force of nature.
Yuka coordinated with her familiars, using their unique abilities to control the battlefield. Blubby fired rapid slime shots at incoming enemies, while Spryt unleashed a gale wave that blasted most of them back.
As even Flake and Oculis also helped out, Flake used her Frost Breath to slow incoming attackers and Icicle Rush to strike and damage other incoming attackers, while Oculis helped by constantly healing them with Wide Party Heal.
Despite their efforts, the horde kept coming. The group backed toward the fountain, their breaths heavy. The ground began to tremble, a low rumble growing louder.
"What now?" Tobe muttered, as they never expected what was coming...
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The rumbling slow and steadily was getting closer to where they were...
As then a gigantic flood of kingdom local zombie folk (let's just call them the
As they all instinctively turned their backs and ran for their lives,
The group instinctively turned and bolted for their lives as the Brainless Flood surged toward them like a relentless tide. Miri activated her Agility Up skill, her movements becoming a blur as she urged Tobe to follow. Yuka, quick to act, summoned Scale, her draconic summon, and leaped onto his back.
"Max, grab his tail!" Yuka shouted.
Max barely managed to latch onto Scale's tail as the beast took flight. Scale's wings beat furiously, lifting him into the air. Yuka glanced down, urging Scale to stay close to Miri and Tobe below. However, Tobe's pace lagged, his stamina wavering. Miri noticed and quickly formulated a plan.
"Bastion, ready the rocket boosters!" she commanded. Her shield hummed in response, its mechanisms whirring to life as the boosters aligned downward.
Tobe, still running, turned and unleashed a partially charged Firas Bolto at the incoming flood. "Let me handle this—"
Before he could finish, Miri grabbed him by the collar. "No time for heroics!" she snapped.
With a quick adjustment, she slammed Bastion into the ground and activated the rocket boosters. A deafening roar echoed as the shield rocketed them forward.
"MIRIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Tobe yelled, flailing comically before catching his balance.
"Can you use Aqua Control to make a minigun?" Miri asked, her voice sharp and focused.
"Huh? A minigun? Oh, I can do that!" Tobe grinned, summoning water from the air and shaping it into a rotating cannon of liquid destruction. Streams of high-pressure water tore into the flood, slicing through the Brainless like butter. His tongue stuck out in concentration as he aimed with precision.
Miri steered them sharply left, narrowly dodging an encroaching wave of enemies. Above, Yuka and Max held on as Scale maneuvered to match their movements. Blubby, Yuka's slime summon, perched on Scale's back, shot rapid bursts of slime into the horde below, aiming to slow them down.
Tobe anchored the minigun against the edge of Bastion, multitasking as he cast Firas Bolto with one hand and Fall Lightning with the other.
"This is endless!" he shouted over the chaos.
Miri's eyes darted to Yuka in the sky. An idea sparked. She gestured for them to speed ahead and land.
"Scale, full speed!" Yuka yelled.
Scale surged forward, but the sudden acceleration proved too much for Max.
"YUKAAAAA!" Max screamed as his grip slipped, sending him plummeting toward the Brainless.
At the last moment, a blur of white snatched him mid-air. Max blinked in disbelief, gasping as his savior set him down safely on a rooftop.
"Who—?" he stammered.
Meanwhile, Yuka and Scale landed as Miri and Tobe skidded to a stop in front of them.
"Here's the plan," Miri announced. "Tobe, this is going to drain a lot of your mana. You'll imbue your body with mana and use High Jump to reach Scale's jaw. You'll face the incoming flood and launch a fully charged Firas Bolto. At the same time, Scale will fire his Wind Cannon to propel you forward. Before the cannon blast hits, cast Vine Whip on both hands. When you collide with your own Firas Bolto, your body and vines will be covered in blue flames. Then, spin at high velocity and activate Explosion Impact with each vine strike. You'll take out as many as possible. After that, we'll clean up the rest."
Tobe stared at her, wide-eyed. "Are you serious? What if this doesn't work?"
"If everything goes perfectly? Fifty to sixty percent chance," Miri admitted with a shrug.
Tobe groaned, then smirked. "Screw it. I'm in. But buff me first, just in case."
Miri nodded, casting Defense Up, Strength Up, and Agility Up on him. Tobe took a deep breath, pulled out a mana potion from his Space Space storage, and chugged it.
"Alright, let's do this!" he shouted, leaping into the air with High Jump. He soared to Scale's face, turning to charge and fire a blazing blue Firas Bolto, as he then casted multiple Vine Whips from his palms.
"Now, Scale!" Yuka commanded. The wyvern's Wind Cannon erupted, propelling Tobe forward.
"Hope this works!" Tobe muttered as he collided with his own spell. Blue flames engulfed him, his vines igniting as he began spinning at blinding speed.
"Let's call this move…
On the ground, Miri, Yuka, and their summons sprang into action. Yuka summoned all her creatures: Blubby, Balboa the Rock Golem, Spryt the elemental sprite, Gyutei the poison frog, along with them are Flake and Oculis. Together, they unleashed a coordinated assault, carving through the remnants of the horde.
As the dust settled, they regrouped.
"Where's Max?" Tobe asked, panting.
"Good question," Miri said, scanning the area.
"Don't look at me!" Yuka protested. "You didn't notice either!"
Before the argument escalated, a voice called out. "Hey, over here!"
They turned to see Max jogging out of an alley, grinning. "You won't believe it. I lost my grip and thought I was a goner, but this guy saved me." He gestured over his shoulder.
A familiar figure stepped forward, a playful smile on his face. "Told you I'd be back, shortstack-senpai," Jun said, giving a casual wave.
The group stared in shock before breaking into relieved laughter.
"Ha! Welcome back, Jun," Tobe said, smirking. "You've got some explaining to do, bud."
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The group welcomed Jun back with a mix of awe and amusement. He and Max exchanged brief introductions before Tobe, Miri, and Yuka bombarded him with questions.
"Where the hell have you been, white-haired brat?!" Tobe asked, arms crossed but grinning.
Jun smirked, his sharp, confident tone matching his demeanor. "Seturia. Spent a month grinding like crazy—leveled up, got some sick gear, and picked up a few new tricks."
"A month?" Yuka leaned in, her emerald eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You vanish without a trace and come back all decked out? Spill it!"
Jun raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, calm down! I picked up two new race abilities—
From under his cloak, he revealed a sleek, red and purple bladed dagger etched with glowing green runes that seemed to pulse faintly with life.
"This beauty's called
Miri whistled low, clearly impressed. "So you're joining the Sentient Weapon Club now, huh? Don't let it get to your head, wolf-boy."
Jun chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The group marveled at his gear and new abilities until Jun dropped the bombshell. "Oh, and one more thing—I got a girlfriend."
For a moment, there was silence, as though the group was processing the information. Then chaos erupted.
"WHAT?!" Tobe, Miri, and Yuka shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the quiet streets of Varfelt.
Max blinked in surprise, glancing at the three. "Uh... it's not that surprising, is it?"
Tobe clapped a hand on Jun's shoulder, shaking him slightly. "You're telling me, while we're out here risking our necks, you're out there leveling up and scoring a girlfriend?!"
Yuka crossed her arms, pretending not to care but failing miserably. "What's she like? Where'd you meet her?"
Miri, meanwhile, was lost in a dreamy haze, imagining herself and Tobe on romantic outings. She quickly snapped out of it, masking her thoughts with a neutral expression.
Jun raised a brow, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Her name's Annie. She's the daughter of an innkeeper in Fermamont. We met after a bandit ambush left me with some nasty wounds. She patched me up, we got to know each other, and... one thing led to another."
"Nice going," Max said, nodding with quiet approval.
Tobe smirked. "Damn, hella impressed, white-haired brat."
Jun shot back with mock indignation. "Why, thank you... Shortstack-senpai."
"Alright, break it up, you two," Miri said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "We've got a job to do."
Jun sobered slightly, nodding. "Right. So what's the deal with this place?"
Tobe filled him in. "The King of Riscone sent us here on a mission. We're investigating why the Grey Veil keeps targeting Varfelt."
Jun's sharp gaze flicked to the palace in the distance. "So we're paying the ruler of this place a visit for answers, yeah?"
"Correctamundo!" Tobe replied, pointing ahead with exaggerated flair.
Jun chuckled. "Then let's get moving."
The group nodded in unison and set off toward the palace, their determination evident in their strides.
(Jun rejoined the party!)
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End of Chapter Stats of our Young Adventurers:
Tobe Lvl 83 - (Race Abilities: High Jump, Cat-like Instinct) (Spells: Mana String, Explosion Impact, Fall Lighting, Space Space, Aqua Control, Reconstruct, Firas Bolto, Rock Spire Shotgun, Vine Whip) (Spark - Ambition Ignition 15% Current)
Flake Lvl 41 - (Skills: Ice Creation, Icicle Rush, Frost Breath, Ice Ball Shot, Familiar Fusion)
Miri Lvl 73 - (Race Abilities: Halo Flash, False Judgement, Weightless Embodiment) (Skills: Strength Up, Defense Up, Agility Up, Slash, Pierce, Shield Block, Shield Bash, Shield Rush, Bastion Wall Shield, Bastion Weapon Integration)
Oculis Lvl 39 - (Skills: Health Drain Tendril, Soft Healing Glow, Wide Party Heal)
Yuka Lvl 62 - (Race Abilities: Creaturea Lamvia) (Skills: Contract, Summon, Half-Summon, Encouragement. Summons: Blubby Lvl 47, Scale Lvl 52, Balboa Lvl 55, Spryt Lvl 48, Gyutei Lvl 46)
Jun Lvl 68 - (Race Abilities: Danger Sense, All-Four Rush, Bleeding Bite) (Skills: Disguise, Silent Step, Smoke Bomb Drop, Snatch, Stab, Slice, Hook Pull, Needles, Healing Steal, Decoy, Theft Hook, Escape Plan)