Callisa's wide carapace was like a giant, floating plateau. Asher sat with a straight back, feeling the slight warmth emanating from her shell. The gentle bobbing motion was hypnotic, making him wonder why he hadn't indulged her more often.
Every now and then, he could feel a tendril of her emotions intertwine with his— relief, joy, worry — all mixed into one.
Ever since she saw him awake, she had insisted and made him sit atop her.
Others might think her insistence on him sitting atop her was just an act of endearment, but it was also her way of ensuring he was truly well.
Callisa's bulbous eyes blinked slowly, as she keenly listened to the discussion going on between Ceti, Merina, and Isola settled next to Asher, all atop her carapace.
The gentle luminescence of the magical environment around them gave the scene an almost dreamlike quality.
"More than 10 million shards?" Asher mused, letting the number roll off his tongue with a smirk, "We must be the richest group in this quest," He knew it was a very rare opportunity to get to kill so many Hunters, including powerful ones, in such a short time. And since the shard count doubled, it made things easier.
Ceti leaned forward, her eyes scanning the horizon, "It's the only silver lining to us being out of the game for two months. Had we not accumulated so much, we'd be far behind the competition."
Merina's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "Does that mean we can breeze through the next two mini-dungeons? I mean, they only require 2.4 million shards collectively," Merina knew Asher had a special Title that allowed him to carry over 25% of shards, and it was way better than nothing.
However, she also knew he was quite lucky to get that title since the rewards for surviving a bounty vary based on how difficult it was for the one who managed to survive it.
Isola adjusted her position, her gaze thoughtful, "In theory, yes. But reaching the marker to forge a deviar crystal won't be a walk in the sea. Depending on the mini-dungeon's environment, things might get complicated. We also have to remember that we can only carry over 25% in the next mini-dungeon as well. We still need to earn some shards, but since we have so many shards in our hands now, we can buy powerful items from this Safe Zone to let us breeze through mini-quests," However, Isola felt they didn't have to buy much since they had already looted a lot of precious items from the Hunters they killed that night.
"And don't forget allies," Ceti interjected, her fingers drumming on her knee, "Moving forward, we're going to meet more formidable groups in those dungeons. We need to have strong allies on our side."
Asher felt the weight of their words settle in his mind. He took a deep breath, releasing it slowly, "We'll see how things progress. But one thing's for sure, we can't ally with just anyone. We need trustworthy partners."
Ceti nodded with a sharp gaze and was glad at least he didn't reject the idea outright.
The group fell silent, each absorbed in their thoughts, considering the challenges that lay ahead. As they made their plans, Callisa moved gracefully beneath them, her giant pincers stirring the waters and creating ripples that shimmered in the light.
The next three months for Asher and his group were a series of calculated risks, narrow escapes, and constantly watching their backs.
The 5th mini-dungeon, while simpler in its construction, was a vast maze-like structure, challenging them with its deceptive paths.
However, its real challenge wasn't the dungeon itself but reaching the marker where they were to forge the Deviar Crystal since they already had enough shards to advance to the next dungeon.
It was easy to lose track, and the map in their minds wasn't as useful as they thought in a mini-dungeon like this.
But thanks to the Wayfinder Compass they had, they were able to keep track of their location on the map accurately. The compass was surely quite expensive, but since they looted it from Boden, it didn't hurt their pockets at all.
However, because of the treacherous structure of the mini-dungeon, they had to frequently set up shelters. But thanks to their accumulated resources, these moments of rest weren't a scramble for survival but opportunities for recuperation.
They utilized a few powerful artifacts they had to set up wards and barriers around their makeshift abodes, and it wasn't long before they had advanced to the 6th mini-dungeon.
One evening, as they huddled under a shelter, Merina whispered, "It's weird, isn't it? We've managed to avoid other groups so far, but it feels almost...too easy…easier than the previous mini-dungeons we had survived."
Isola nodded, "With the powerful artifacts we have, it certainly gives us an edge. But we've been careful, always laying low. No unnecessary confrontations."
However, Ceti sighed with furrowed brows, "True, but it's just...worrisome. The fact that we haven't found any potential allies worries me."
Asher nodded in agreement. The absence of potential allies did loom over them, especially with the 7th and final mini-dungeon approaching.
But he also felt that larger groups should break up into individual groups once they reach the final mini-dungeon since the interests of each group would matter most, and why would any group help another group get the Deviar or Radem?
There was even a good chance that friends would turn enemies in such a situation, and it wouldn't be the first time he had seen such things.
Couple of weeks passed, and soon they had conquered the 6th mini-dungeon, finding themselves at the teleportation gate leading to the final mini-dungeon.
They now had managed to collect 6 Deviar Crystals, each a different color consisting of dark red, dark green, dark blue, dark yellow, dark brown, and dark violet.
Now, all they needed was the final Deviar Crystal to forge the Deviar.
As their faces reflected the light of the large and grand teleportation gate, everyone had a look of tension and anxiety.
Except for Asher, the rest felt it a bit surreal that they managed to reach this far on their own when many groups, stronger than theirs had already fallen.
Right when the quest started, Ceti thought Asher would give up on his own after realizing how dangerous and insanely impossible it was to accomplish his dream of getting the Deviar.
But now she felt as if not only Asher but she also had surprised herself by being capable of things she never thought she could be.
Merina was partly astonished but partly felt that it wasn't so surprising since anything was possible as long as her Master willed it.
Isola also felt that she had learned things about herself and others in this quest she never expected. But in the end, she was relieved they all made it here safe and sound. It was what lay before them that was making her feel worried.
However, the one thing all three had in common was feeling determined to help Asher get the Deviar, especially Ceti who no longer felt it as an obligation or duty.
Ceti stepped forward, her brows knitted in concern. She paused before the gate, turning to face the group, "Are we sure about this? Going in alone? Without any allies?"
Asher took a deep breath, the weight of the upcoming challenge heavy on his shoulders.
He knew only the strongest among the strongest would make it into the final mini-dungeon. This also meant that there was a higher chance of them running into a powerful group of enemies.
Groups stronger than them had fallen while they were fortunate they had enough shards and resources to speed run through the 5th and 6th mini-dungeons.
But despite that realization, he felt a deep sense of resolve.
Looking directly into Ceti's eyes, he responded with firmness in his voice, "We've come this far on our own, faced countless challenges, and risked our lives the entire time. We can't second-guess ourselves now and let everything we suffered be for nothing. We will finish what we started."
A heavy silence followed, each member aware of the dangers ahead but also drawing strength from Asher's unwavering spirit. They knew the last leg of their journey was upon them, and they were ready to face it head-on.
Stepping through the shimmering veil of the teleportation gate, Asher and his group emerged onto a floating island that stretched far and wide, surrounded by an endless horizon of golden twilight.
The soft, perpetual glow illuminated the diverse terrains of the island.
Beneath their feet, lush moss spread out, contrasting with the patches of jagged cliffs that seemed to drop into the abyss.
Asher took a deep breath, feeling the slightly moist, charged air filling his lungs, "So this is the final mini-dungeon…Elysium Skies," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
Merina looked out, her eyes wide with wonder, taking in the distant sight of cascading waterfalls flowing from one island to the next, eventually merging with the vast sea of clouds below, "It's magnificent," she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.
Ceti, with a sharp gaze, was already scanning the horizon, noting the patterns of the drifting islands and trying to chart a possible path forward, "And dangerous," she added, her tone sobering, "Look."
Following her pointing finger, they spotted the faint silhouettes of storm drakes circling in the distance, their majestic wings casting dark shadows against the twilight.
Isola, fascinated by the beauty around her yet understanding the hidden danger murmured, "It's like a dream but we can't lower our guards…" Just as she said this, her eyes suddenly widened in alarm when she noticed the swift, approaching form of a sky manta, its graceful wings cutting through the air with an eerie silence.
Asher, sensing the immediate threat, quickly cautioned, "Stay low. Remember, they're territorial. We're the intruders here."
As if underscoring his point, the wind began to pick up, sending gusts that ruffled their clothing and tousled their hair. Ceti put pressure on her feet to get a good grip on the ground, realizing that mastering the unpredictable winds was a necessity.
*Crackle!*
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light illuminated the horizon, followed by the deafening roar of thunder. A fierce lightning storm was forming, its electric dance making its way towards them. The unpredictability of Elysium Skies was already becoming evident.
Gathering his wits, Asher declared, "We need to move, and quickly. This realm might be breathtaking, but it won't hesitate to take our breath away permanently."
The others nodded in agreement, their initial wonder now mingled with wariness for the formidable world of Elysium Skies. Their quest for the Deviar had truly begun.
But what made them freeze their breaths was the sudden messages that popped up in their mind,
[ Deviar Shards will no longer be doubled if you kill a Hunter but only earn half of what they have ]
[ There will be no Safe Zones ]
[ If you fail a mini-quest, deviar shards will be deducted as a penalty ]
"Damn..."
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