Cyberserk

Chapter 25 - Breakthrough in the Dungeon

By evening, the partners were fully acquainted with the new conditions of battle. Veteran skeletons approached one after every minute. To handle an experienced warrior Tom spent several blows. The clone spared no mana in applying skills to enhance the damage of his sword and dagger. Sometimes a phantom could manage in four precise blows to the skull of an experienced warrior.

Wolves and ravens became an annoying constant nuisance. Den was frustrated by the constant cawing of the big birds. The ravens attacked in flocks and there was no end to these adversaries. The wolves were annoying with their howling. These predators were a danger when they attacked as the skeleton veteran attacked. But even without the help of the brave hobbits, the boys were doing well.

Raven felt tired. Sometimes Tom ordered him to stand back and rest. The first time the man resisted for a long time, but then was forced to admit the rightness of his partner. Dan summoned the hobbits and took advantage of the full composition of their group.

The hobbits and the phantom handled the wolves and ravens with confidence. Dan healed his shaggy helpers. He also cast the Curse of Slowing on the wolves to help the hobbits. The braves showed excellent mastery of their daggers against the slowed beast.

Raven had time to rest for a few minutes and was back in battle with his enemies.

The day was drawing to a close and the two suns were beginning to set behind the wall of mountains. Phantom asked an unexpected question.

"How much experience do you have?"

"88,000 experience points," Dan replied after checking his attribute bar. "You want me to raise the level of the ring?"

"The evening is coming up. I want you to raise your level. We need to boost your health before we break into the dungeon," Tom explained.

Dan didn't respond. At that moment, two wolves ran out from behind a large tree, warning by howling of an imminent attack. The clone calmly fended off the veteran's saber blows and struck back at the nimble skeleton with his katana.

"Hobbits stand behind our backs! Kill the ravens in silence. Then throw stones at the wolves," Dan ordered his new helpers.

The player thought over the clone's suggestion. Raising the level was a good decision. Skipping through a line of veterans wasn't the problem. The problem was the wolves! These creatures were running fast. There was no direct route to the dungeon entrance.

The clone had already checked the route. Running had to be looped between tree trunks and the clone gathered a large pack of pursuers. The beasts and veterans pounced on him at the dungeon entrance. The phantom could have rushed inside but didn't take any unnecessary risks. The clone died trying to get back to Dan.

The friends decided to make a reconnaissance when the Samurai's armor had already lost much of its durability. Tom winked at the man with a cheeky grin.

"Combine spending on new equipment with new information. I'm sure you and the hobbits can hold out for a few minutes. I'm ready to find out what the conditions are for entering the dungeon."

"It's about time! We don't even know the main thing. Is there a dungeon entrance in these mountains? Could the entrance be somewhere in the center of this location? A guard of a crowd of evil wolves and a pack of vile ravens seems a more dangerous obstacle to me than a chain of skeletal veterans," Dan said.

"I agree with you. The animals are capable of tearing us apart if they pounce on all sides. It's good to know that wolves rarely jump the enemy. But the evil bastards do bite at our legs! Are you ready? I'm running," Tom rushed out to explore.

He didn't come back. Dan sensed his death and immediately summoned a new phantom. The samurai armor and the katana and tanto were already lying on the grass, waiting for their new owner.

"Good news. There is an entrance to the dungeon. Available to level 7 to 9 players," the clone was telling the results of his reconnaissance and quickly putting on his armor. "The bad news. The wolves have time to sense my approach and by the middle of the mountains, I've come running in with a large flock of animals. I don't want to talk about the ravens. They destroyed my helmet and shoulder pads!"

The boys decided not to wait too long to try to break into the dungeon. The man and the clone completely renewed their armor and Dan raised his level. A free point he put into the Body. Now the player was ready to take the risk.

The best news was that there were only 2 veterans with ranged attacks at the entrance. The archer and the skeleton sorcerer posed the main threat to Dan. With three skeletons at the entrance, the clone was ready to distract. In case of extreme danger, Dan could summon hobbits.

For an hour, the player saved mana and had a full supply of energy to constantly heal himself while running. 300 health points was a solid advantage on the part of the player and the phantom.

When Tom killed another veteran swordsman he gave the command.

"Run after me. Good luck Dan Raven!"

Dan immediately rushed after Tom. The clone was very fast. He did not tire like a human. The moment for the breakthrough was well chosen. They had just killed the wolves. Only ravens flew after the runaways.

Dan ran and saw that the skeletons were in no hurry to catch up with the players. These veterans demonstrated agility and speed only in combat. The skeletons approached their opponents with the stride of confident warriors. Wolves were the main threat! The howls rang out from three sides. It seemed that evil animals anticipate the m******e of insolent players and rejoice at their future victory.

The wolves did not have time to grab Dan by the legs. The player had a plan for that. He spared no mana and cursed every wolf that showed up in dangerous proximity in front of him!

A Slowing spell cost three points of mana. Dan expected to use no more than seven curses.

Much to the guys' regret, they didn't get the skill that increased the player's defense! In this dangerous breakthrough, Dan couldn't use the Air School skill. Speeding boosts gave a 25% increase in speed for 10 seconds. Raven upgraded the useful skill to level 7 and got a 34% boost for 19 seconds. But this skill was useless! Dan's Speed attribute was equal to 1 point. A third of a 1 had no tangible effect!

Dan cursed at the wolf who had missed Tom's jump and was now ready to claw at the player's leg with his mouth.

"Be ready! We're there!" Tom warned his friend of the most dangerous part of the breakthrough with a loud shout.

Dan saw the clone make a nimble left turn in front of a huge tree trunk.

Boom!

The rumble of armor from the collision between the phantom and the guards drowned out the howls of wolves and the cawing of ravens. Dan turned sharply to the left and managed to dodge the three opponents who started the fight. Two veterans tried to kill the clone. A skeleton with a spear was delivering swift and accurate blows to the phantom's helmet. The swordsman with the shield had already begun to circle the clone to attack from the back.

A flash of blue flew past the man's head. A sorcerer of the School of Water Magic with a nasty freeze spell! Dan saw an arrow plunge into the samurai's shoulder.

Raven could see perfectly well that his health reserve was down by only two-thirds. He had about 200 health points left. Enough to take out 15 to 20 veteran blows! But not in this fight.

Dan jumped forward and pushed the spear out of the way. The coveted inscription flickered before his eyes.

[Attention, the location of the Byre has been discovered. Type of location: Dungeon.

Warning. The entrance to the location is available to players of levels 7-9. Do you want to enter Byre? Yes/No.

Attention! You can leave the location until you have destroyed all monsters!]

"Yes," Dan Raven exhaled and jumped onto the shimmering foil that covered the rocks of the cliff. He felt no sense of fear. Such wonders no longer impressed him. A new portal instantly lets the player through.

Dan landed on his feet and almost fell. He quickly took a step to the side. Before the dangerous run, Tom reminded him with a laugh that standing in the passageway was foolish. At the same moment, the player called for helpers.

"Hobbits be silent! Shoot any enemy you see!"

The low figures stepped forward and shielded their master from danger. Slings and stones appeared in the hands of the hobbits. In a second the well-aimed braves were ready for battle.

At that moment a phantom burst into the dungeon.

"They almost finished me off, but I got away. No fools to die in that cursed place. One wolf bit me in the a*s! My armor is no good. Weapons will last. Better renew me while we're safe," Tom said in a low voice. He was aware that in a dungeon one must not express one's emotions out loud.

You need to be especially careful in the dungeon called Byre.