Chapter 462

The portal from the fourth floor to the fifth floor opened up in a snowy expanse, a good distance from the safe zone. James, of course, knew where the safe zone was. However, for those who had never been on the floor, it was a toss-up. From where they were standing, surrounded by blinding snow, and the various exposed pines of the evergreens, it was impossible to tell. Without a guide, and without proper preparation, this snowy expanse was a literal death trap. Especially considering the level of the mobs on the fifth floor. Thanks to James’s dungeon level of Tier 6, all the mobs on his fifth floor were maxed, with the basic mobs being a whopping level 75, and Sergeant Jenkins a staggering 85.

“Everyone ready?” Alex was already mounted on his chosen ride for this adventure. Each floor had different mobs that could drop as mounts, and some players had even gotten mounts from other dungeons, or crafted them. Alex, it seemed, had opted for skeletal horse with blue flames around its hooves. James wondered if that mob was from JSKER’s bone dungeon, or somewhere else. Strangely, he’d not heard anything from that dungeon since the Cyb3Ru5 event…

“Ready.” James said as he summoned his own mount. The dicken let out a disgruntled bawk as he jumped atop it, the reigns appearing in his hand as he was awarded with multiple notifications. One, to inform him the mount was now locked, meaning only he could use it. The other, a simple, condescending achievement. Typical DCO.

“Let’s do this.” Rue said, her form already atop her snuggle woof mount. At least she’d gotten a basic snuggle woof, lacking the horn of the alpha. He knew that type could drop, but it was exceedingly rare, similar to the Infernal Dicken that Trogdor was using. Had Rue snagged such a rare mount so early on, he would have definitely had some words about her blasted luck.

“Stay close, and don’t stop moving.” Alex reiterated to the group. Most of the players, James noted, were riding dickens. They were, after all, the easiest mount to get in the game. Hell, he had no doubt the auction house probably had more dicken reigns listed, than he could count. Still, he also knew what having such basic mounts meant. It spoke, once again, of the differences in player caliber here. Those who were tagging along now with James and the others, were not heavy grinders. They were taking the game at their own pace, and likely wouldn’t have made it to the fifth floor for many more days, without this opportunity.

Just as James had that thought, a single beam of light punched through a player next to him. The poor player’s form burst immediately into a death orb, while the faintest hint of the laser beam lingered in the melted snow. The mount disappeared instantly as well, while all the others, and the players, shared concerned looks.

“Move it.” Alex yelled, and as he did Trogdor let out a roar, activating his buff for the party. It wouldn’t do much, to keep any of them alive, but at the very least, it would take two laser rifle shots, instead of one, to insta kill them.

“Just had to give them those upgrades.” Rue muttered next to James, her voice low, a smirk on her face. “It’d be funny, you said.”

James growled at her and made a swipe towards her, but her mount nimbly leapt away, laughter on her lips. A short moment later, a trio of shots burst into the group, two missing completely, while a third clipped one of the mounts. The player who’s mount had been shot was flung into the snow near the base of a tree, where his form promptly disappeared. In some places, the snow near such trees could be over ten feet deep. Traps, that James had implemented.

“Leave him.” Alex called to another player, who’d started to turn back. It seemed harsh, but James knew full well just how dangerous this floor was. The newbies here, were about to learn.

All around them, the woods lit up with laser shots as painguins, hidden far away, took pot shots at the racing group. James had wisely unsummoned ifrit just before coming to the floor, specifically because he knew the giant djinn would be killed instantly. He was strong, no doubt about that, but he was just too large a target. It’d be like shooting one very, very large fish, trapped in a very, very small barrel. The painguins, would have riddled him with holes before he could even let out an indignant roar.

“It’s a few minutes till the edge of the forest.” Alex said as the group raced through the trees. The mounts were agile, but the snow was deep, and the trees forced them to make their way somewhat slowly, keeping them from straight up dashing. James had designed it, specifically, to give the mobs a better chance to get him some experience, and to push the players. After all, the fifth floor was a safe zone, a finish line, so to speak. They needed to earn it. At least, that was what past him had thought. Present James, leaned low over a dicken as he tried to dodge and weave around lazers, had come to the realization that past James was a dick.

For the next few moments, they raced on without many words spoken. It was all they could do, to try and keep themselves mobile, to ensure the mobs couldn’t target them. Three times, James’s heart had jumped to his chest as he’d caught movement from his peripheral vision. Twice, he was certain he’d seen Solar Bears, and the third time, just barely, he’d glimpsed the telltale sign of a submerged Darth-Whal. Luckily, they were moving so quickly that they didn’t draw the aggro of those mobs, which were set more to patrol a given area, than to actively target enemies.

Then, for a blissful moment, James let himself feel hope, as the party burst out of the tree line. They were nearly intact, save for the two they’d lost early on. The one would have the chance to revive automatically soon, since the party hadn’t wiped. The other, James realized, hadn’t died, meaning he was likely still trapped in the snow pit. That, was likely a fate worse than death, since unless someone was there to free them, they’d be struggling to get out of the snowy grave. Again, something he’d thought was a brilliant move beforehand, and now was questioning. It was amazing how his perspective changed, the moment he actually had his feet on the ground. James knew being able to take part in the dungeon like this, would ultimately aid him in creating an even grandeur dungeon, and it excited him.

“Keep zigzagging.” Alex yelled as they beelined for the town. It was now completely visible, the high wooden walls keeping back mobs, the open expanse a literal killing ground for painguins perched in the mountain, or hidden in the trees. There was also, secretly, a Darth-Whal set to patrol this snowy expanse, and James hoped that particular mob stayed hidden for their dash. Behind them, in the woods, laser shots continued, as Fel’s skeletal army, and Alex’s summoned cannon fodder, continued to get picked off.

“Serpentine patterns.” Rue said, laughing all along. She was having the time of her life, her agile mount leaping left and right, pouncing the snow in a similarly playful manner. Even as lasers flew around the group, Rue was simply letting herself enjoy the moment.

“Don’t stop until you get to the gate.” Fel commanded the group. “Trogdor, take up the rear. We’ll come back for you after we get them to safety.”

“Right.” The dragonkin, who’d been in the lead previously, turned his infernal dicken around, boldly moving behind the group, to put himself between the forest, and the adventurers. Then, as James looked back to watch him, Trogdor unsummoned his mount, and waited. His scales flashed with color as he activated more skills, likely increasing his defensive stats as he did. He was going to be the last line, the final target, for the mobs to take aim at, while the rest raced towards safety. His eagerness, to be useful, was both admirable, and somewhat painful to see. James knew that attitude. He’d lived it himself. He wanted to be wanted, wanted to be useful, and in doing so, would do whatever he could to not seem like a burden, even if it put him at risk.

He pulled his eyes away, unable to keep watching Trogdor, and unwilling to deal with the thoughts that came to his mind. Closer and closer the town drew, and then, before he knew it, his mount was suddenly gone, his form launched forward with uncomfortable force. Mounts, weren’t aloud in safe zones.

His body crashed, unceremoniously, across the cobblestone streets, his form skipping a few feet as his life dropped slightly from the fall damage. A door opened from the building he’d just smashed into, and a pair of surprisingly familiar, and very small, feet exited. Steve, holding a drink in one hand, and what looked like roast painguin in the other, looked down at him, shit eating grin spread across his face.

“Well well well.” The spanker said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. Above his head, his level read 69. Steve had been power leveling. “‘Bout time you’ve made it here.”