by Konrad Ryan
*Another entry has been unlocked: Zero’s Second Quest!*
Tad’s stomach rolled. The second quest. Complete a dungeon as the sole survivor. That had been the requirements. Tad opened the book to the second page, almost afraid of what he was about to see. The symbols on the page swirled into the vortex once more.
Tad was in a dungeon. The walls dripped with mud and tar. The dark-haired figure flashed through the air toward a massive mud creature. Covered with mud, rocks for eyes, the creature’s hands burned with fire. Large jets of flame shot across the muddy landscape as the boss tried to kill the figure. Three other slayers cast spells from a distance. Finally, the mud boss’s health bar dropped to zero.
The group of four celebrated. They looked human, but not quite. One had a tail. Another, a hint of feathers. Zero celebrated with them. Right until the moment he plunged his sword through the healer’s back. The remaining two tried to escape, but Zero was too fast. His group comprised of healers and mages, no doubt chosen for their lack of physical abilities. They were no match for his speed and strength. Ruthlessly, Zero dismantled his party. Their corpses were still fresh on the ground, when a small object, shaped like a key, appeared in the air in front of him. He grabbed it and left the dungeon.
Tad was back in his living room. He fell to his knees, sick. How could Zero do that? How could he care so little for the lives of others, for power? This was Zero? Zero was a psychopath! This was the being with all power that awaited Tad each time he entered or left a dungeon?
But something trapped Zero. Trapped him within Titan. The mummified voidboy had told him as much. And Tad had a book showing his entire journey. His progression to power. Tad could study him. Find his weaknesses. If he had weaknesses. The man was ruthless. Strong. Fast. There had to be a weak point somewhere. Tad flipped to the third page, but it was blank. More would appear as Tad grew stronger. As he finished more quests and trials.
With a thought, Tad stowed the book into the dungeon pouch still affixed to his side as he pulled up his quest menu. Tad hadn’t meant for Bunta to die. Hadn’t meant for his entire party to die, but the results were the same. He’d completed his quest, just as Zero had. He wouldn’t wait to accept the quest reward this time. Zero hadn’t waited. He had that black blade during his soldier trial. Just like Tad could have. Instead, he had gone in weaponless, afraid to make the wrong choice. Zero had accepted a quest reward while his blade still dripped with the blood of his party members. It had looked like a key. A key to what?
*Congratulations on completing your second quest: clear a dungeon as the sole survivor! You now have access to the Class Tower! Press to accept your item!*
Class tower? What was that? Tad reached out his hand to accept the quest reward. A key dropped into the air in front of him. Tad caught it. It was identical to the key that Tad had seen in the book. The same key Zero had held in his hands. Words appeared before his eyes.
*Key to Class Tower: The keyword ‘Teleport’ will move you to the class tower and back again. Can only be used from your room. Earn classes by climbing the tower! You may enter and leave as many times as you wish.*
Classes. If it was anything like games that he’d played then he could probably choose from classes like fighter, assassin, mage, wizard, hunter, thief, healer, and more.
What class did Tad want to be? The question burned in Tad’s mind. He’d been chasing Bunta’s impossibly quick shadow since he’d met the man. Tad could become an assassin. It seemed like a solid choice, but then again he felt like he healed people more than anything else. And everyone appreciated a talented healer.
Tad suddenly realized that he hadn’t even asked her name. The name of the champion healer who had saved Bunta’s life. Funny. He wouldn’t have thought to ask her name before when his charisma had been negative. But now, it seemed like such an important detail. How could he not know the name of the woman who saved his friend’s life?
The key in his hand seemed to mock him. Challenge him. How far could he? How high could he climb? It was exciting. Tad grinned at the prospect. A wave of guilt followed as his grin disappeared. Was it okay to be excited and keep raiding and slaying, even after what it had cost him? And what about Bunta? After everything that happened, would he allow Tad to tag along or should Tad find a fresh group? Or make a group of his own. Become the dungeon leader he wanted to be? If not, he could join a guild, until he grew strong enough to move on. Tad had always planned on joining a guild anyway, after he put on some strength. Was he strong enough? Or would it just bring more unwanted attention?
Tad’s memory flickered back to Gerald’s office.
“I have sent no one to follow you, Tad…” Gerald had continued. “If someone has taken an interest in you, we should proceed cautiously. If someone knows about your… capabilities, then they have more information than we have. We can only guess at their intentions. To the Department of Dungeon Defense, you are unique. The first we have seen. Maybe other countries know more. Be careful.”
Gerald offered a protection detail, but Tad refused. He didn’t want a government security detail. They would watch him too. Study him like a rat. That was the last thing he wanted. So far, whoever was interested in Tad had only watched and asked questions. Perhaps they were harmless.
Yeah. Just like dungeons were harmless.
Tad shot to his feet. He’d forgotten to loot the boss! And Scar! Scar had the mosquito sword! Tad let out a pained groan. They had lost the mosquito sword. They had gone through all that hardship and didn’t even get to loot the boss or even harvest its essence. He still had several hundred roach essence stuffed in the soul lantern in his dungeon pouch, but the boss was probably worth more than all of them together. Especially with how formidable it had been.
“Stats.”
*Tad Harrington
Rank: Soldier
Level: 30
Health: 400/400
Mana: 42/42
Str: 15
Dex: 28
Con: 30
Mag: 21
Cou: 10
Cha: 1
Points to allocate: 35*
Tad looked over his stats. He’d come so far, but his future stretched out before him. Uncertain. He was only a soldier rank slayer. Second from the bottom. He still needed to climb warrior, champion, warlord and finally to creator. He could raid dungeons to get experience and find powerful items that would help him on his journey. Zero awaited within Titan’s gates. An entire party of creators hadn’t been able to defeat the man. But maybe Tad could. Could enter Titan, destroy Zero, close Titan, and save the world.
Or maybe he would die along the way. Like Gruff.
Tad looked down at the key still in his hand. This was the first step. A class would strengthen him. That’s always how it worked in games. Special skills and stat bonuses came with the territory. He wouldn’t make a mistake like before. Hoarding his rewards. He would get stronger now.
Tad gripped the decorative key tight in his fist as he climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He was ready.
“Teleport.”
Note from the Author
Hey there. This was my first book. If you enjoyed it, I would love to hear from you. Consider leaving a review on Amazon. I would appreciate the feedback. Where can I improve? What did you love?
Thank you for reading The Dungeon Slayer. If you find any errors, I would be happy to fix them. You can contact me at [email protected].
Glossary
Items:
Cloak of the Void: Formed from darkness by Tad Harrington.
Darkness Passive: Stealth requires no mana.
Active skills:
Shadow Burst. Charges 1/1. The shadow essence of your cloak disperses into a cloud of physical darkness for 10 seconds.
Brilliant Burst. Charges 1/1. The golden essence of your cloak absorbs the surrounding light, fueled by the power of the light you gain 50% speed for 60 seconds.
All charges refill at midnight.
Enhanced Dagger:
This dagger does 8 points of physical damage.
Fangblender: Named by Tad Harrington. Two-handed weapon. Fangblender can be activated for ten seconds with one mana.
Deals 6 Damage.
Deals 24 Damage while activated.
Hands of Meztlegoph: The severed hands of Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror. Increases the strength of the wearer by twenty percent. Grants resistance to elemental and acid damage.
Healer’s set: Boosts healing by 50%.
Meztlegoph’s Greatsword: The severed proboscis of Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror.
This greatsword can absorb a slime to enchant the weapon with elemental damage.
Damage is equal to the strength stat.
Current slime absorbed: Acid.
Strength required: 20
Raekast’s Fang:
Soulbound. Set 1 of 3. This dagger created from the left-upper canine of Raekast Dungeonshifter. The icy grip of this weapon is immune to disarm. Ignores armor.
Damage done is equal to dexterity.
Raekast’s Vessel: Occupied.
Vessel Contract: Not made.
This weapon has a trans-dimensional space. Raekast’s Fang grows in strength, dependent on the power of its occupant.
Raekast’s Bite: Absorbs the user’s health to deliver a massive blow for twice the damage absorbed.
Ring of the Conqueror: Obtained by defeating Meztlegoph the Mosquito Conqueror. Once per day consume 100 mana to cast the skill ‘Speed of the Conqueror.’
Speed of the Conqueror: Increase dexterity threefold for ten seconds.
Wraithford’s Trusted Right Axe:
80 damage. 160 when dual wielding with ‘Wraithford’s Mistrusted Left Axe.’
Strength required: 40
Spells:
Firebolt: A bolt of fire shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Firewall: Consumes 20 mana upon use. A magical wall of fire twenty feet across will appear where you designate. Duration: 600 seconds.
Heal: Recover 5 health. Costs 1 mana.
Heal Other: Touch a creature to heal 4 health. Consumes 1 health.
Icebolt: A bolt of ice shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Ice Vortex: Consumes 20 mana upon use. A magical pool of ice appears under one creature, decreasing their speed by 20%. Duration: 60 seconds.
Stealth: Consumes 1 mana per second. Blend with the darkness to avoid detection. This skill masks your scents and thermal signs. Can only be activated in shadows and darkness. Touching any living creature or moving too fast will break stealth. Stealth unlocks the passive skill: ‘Stealth Vision’.
Stealth Vision: You can see in the dark. This effect is stronger while stealth is activated.
Thunderbolt: A bolt of electricity shoots toward your target. Costs 1 mana.
Thunderstorm: Consumes 20 mana upon use. Lightning strikes a random enemy for 3 damage each second. Duration 600 Seconds.
About the Author
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