Hello everyone!
Jack: Where were you?
Yeah my bad. I got half way through this chapter before a mix of gaming, work, family get togethers and Summer time fun came in and I lost track of time. Bright side, this chapter is setting up one of the big bads for later.
Commander Link: Okay did I leave my notebook where everyone can read it or something? If I had a nickel for every time one of you predicting my later plans, I'll have four nickels. Which isn't a lot I know but it's still crazy it happened four times. But in all seriousness, I was planning dual element spells when Jack hits level 30. I even have a AOE spell call Thundersnow lined up for it. Still adding fire sounds awesome. Maybe I'll go the Fairy Tail route and have Flamewar and Arcee do that.
Spyro Fanboy: Funnily enough I did toy with the idea of a familiar but for Raf since I feel it fit with his character more. I haven't decided yet.
Gabriel The Fallen Archangel: Five nickels. That's it I'm getting a jar.
Atsik101: Yeah, spoilers I plan on breaking that dungeon into sections. Although you have to admit Ratchet looking up at a T-rex staring down at him would be funny.
I don't own Transformers.
Jack's thoughts about the day
It was a few days since the bots discovered that the Decepticons are digging in, since then they been upping their patrols and training. Honesty they weren't the only one, Me and the other teens were making strides as well. Yet today was different, as I and the others went out to investigate another possible dungeon. But with how it ended though, I don't know if this ended any better than Maplewood.
Omega One
Jack was double checking everything as He, Miko, Arcee, and Bulkhead were about to head out to California. He adjusted his new chest piece he bought from the gamer's store. It was a steel breastplate with chainmail that covered his abdomen. It wasn't much better than his old one, but it was more durable and had a resistance to slashing damage. The last one will come in handy if he encounters any more mutated animals.
"So Raf, what can you tell us about where we're going?" Jack asked as he strapped one of his bracers on. Going over his laptop Raf put several images on the main screen showing beautiful landscapes, rope bridges, and stoney cliffs.
"You're heading to Oasis Canyon, named for the freshwater spring that resides at the very end of the canyon. The first explorers often visited there as they made their way to the coast. It was declared a national park in 1957. Unfortunately, it has been closed off due to people suffering from an increase of scorpion attacks."
"Well at least we know what we'll be facing." Jack mused before turning back to the resident hacker. "Are you sure you don't want to come along?"
"Not this time." Raf replied shaking his head. "Bee and I are going to work on my constitution in the training room. I want to have a larger health pool before going to real dungeons. But next time you use the I.D. I'll come along." He explained. Jack nodded as he saw Raf's point, out of the three of them he had the lowest amount of health.
"Alright I'm ready to go!" Miko called out. Turning to her, Jack was able to see the teen was bouncing on her heels to get going. Well teen in age only, Miko was wearing a bangle of concealing allowing her to look like a woman in her early twenties who had her hair in a long ponytail. That wasn't the only new item the rocker had either, covering her lower face was a LED half face mask that had a cocky smile displayed. Miko was taking several steps to hide her identity to make sure there was no way she couldn't come.
"Easy Miko, we're simply preparing. If fact do you have everything?" Bulkhead asked.
"Yep, got my guitar restrung and my club ready." The club in question was a kanabo that she got at Bulkhead's insistence. This way she would have something to defend herself if she couldn't play her guitar.
"Alright everyone, the coordinates are set, we'll be appearing just outside the park. Agent Fowler has someone there waiting for us. Jack, you do the talking. Everyone ready?" Arcee asked. Everyone nodded as they went through the portal. On the other side the four found themselves on a nearly deserted parking lot with one man in a suit waiting for them.
"Are you the ones Fowler sent?" He asked.
"Yes, and you are?" Jack asked.
"Agent Jeston. Follow me as I explain the situation." He replied. "A few weeks ago, the canyon was a bustling tourist trap. Then reports of aggressive wildlife began to pour in. Animal control was sent in and nearly all of them left with scorpion stings. Not just them either, a couple of campers were rushed to the local hospital after they snuck in. If that wasn't the worst of it, the river has become poisonous."
"That's not good." Miko said.
"Especially since the spring helps supply the nearby towns with water." Jeston explained.
[New quest: Up the River]
[Oasis Canyon has been poisoned by something. Investigate what caused this and put a stop to it.]
[Objectives]
[Primary Objective: Find the source of the problem and stop it]
[Hidden Objective: ?]
[Rewards]
[Primary: 2,000 XP, $750]
[Hidden: ?]
[Failure: Nearby towns will be poisoned.]
[Y/N]
"We'll make sure, once we finish here Fowler will contact you." Jack said as the agent left.
"Poisoned river? Could a scorpion do that?" Miko asked.
"With whatever Dark Energon does to a creature anything is possible." Bulkhead answered as he and Arcee transformed. Walking to the gate they were greeted by the dungeon notification.
[Oasis Canyon]
[Recommend LVL 21]
[Enter Y/N]
[Warning you are about to enter a dungeon that is several levels lower than yours. You will not receive any XP and all-party members will not gain any shared XP. As compensation you will be rewarded one random item. Or you can refuse to take the debuff, but the entire party will earn 50% less XP.]
[Warning due to having party members with levels ten greater than yours all XP from their actions will be reduced to zero]
"Didn't Arcee and Cliffjumper simply shrunk, it didn't give them an option before?" Bulkhead asked.
"Yeah, but that was in the I.D., I never had one of you bots join me in a natural dungeon." Jack said.
"Either way we're going in." Arcee added. Nodding everyone walked in, both of the cybertronains shrunken down once they crossed the threshold agreeing that even in an weaken state they could handle things.
"Whoa, this is weird." Bulkhead commented as he was now eight feet tall.
"You'll get used to it." Arcee assured. "Now, Jack, take point, Miko back him up. Bulkhead and I will cover you two." Arcee ordered. Jack listens as he took the lead. As they went through the reserve, he could honestly enjoy the scenery, the wide-open air, the steep rock formations that made up the cliff side and the river calmly going by, Jack could see why so many would come here. Turning a bend, they found themselves on a stoney path leading down into the canyon. Looking over the edge Miko whistled.
"That is a long way down."
"Yeah, so let's avoid the ledge when we get into a fight." Jack agreed. Over two thousand HP or not he did not what to fall from this height.
"Speaking of which we have company." Bulkhead called out. In front of them the sounds of skittering became louder as the first monsters appeared. Five giant scorpions were coming towards them. Each one of them was nine feet long from head to stinger. Their exoskeleton was deep black and in between each of their plates was a dark purple glow. With each twitch of their stingers a drop of venom hits the ground causing a small burst of fire.
[Infernal Scorpion]
[Race: Monster Scorpion]
[LVL 20]
[Title: Burning Sting]
[HP 500/500]
[MP 300/300]
[SP 350/350]
[CON 30]
[STR 35]
[DEX 25]
[INT 3]
[WIS 9 -10]
[LCK 4]
[What once was a regular California Scorpion is now a monster mutated by exposure to Dark Energon. It's venom that is so potent it burns.]
[Perks]
[Burning Venom: All attacks with stingers gain 25 fire damage.]
[Burning Heart: Immune to all fire attack, every time your struck by a fire attack you gain health equal to the damage you would have taken.]
[Hard Shell: Take 50% less damage from Slashing damage.]
[Madness: Due to the constant pain of your own venom causes, you have been driven to madness. Immune to fear and intimidation. -10 WIS]
"Scrap, [Stone Skin, [Binding Shadows, [Weapon Enchantment Frost, [Shatter Sight]!" Jack called out. Two of the scorpions were bound to the ground as their shadows came to life. The remaining three charged the team as Miko launched several [Forte Fist] at them. They took several hits but didn't care as they charged on. Jack ran to the leading one and struck out with frostedge nailing it right between the eyes ending it. The other two went to attack him on both sides but Miko sent one flying with a forte fist. The remaining infernal scorpion tried to stab Jack with its stinger, but he was able to dodge the strike. He swung his axe cutting the stinger clean off, unfortunately some of the burning venom splashed on him.
[-25 HP!]
Grunting in pain, Jack sent an [Ice Spike] to the beast head ending it.
"Jack! Are you all right." Arcee asked.
"I'm fine. Be careful that venom hurts." Jack grimaced. Turning to the two scorpions that were bound he looked over to Miko. "I'll take one you take the other?" Nodding the two humans ended the bound beast.
[You slain 3 Infernal Scorpions]
[675 XP]
[Your party member slain 2 Infernal Scorpions. You gain 10% of XP gained]
[46 XP]
"Good work you two. You started out well but got sloppy in the end. Miko, next time lead your shots, you'll hit more targets like that. Jack, good work keeping some of them out of the fight but next time be more vigilant." Arcee instructed. The two nodded as the four began to move forward. Soon enough they found themselves at a fork in the road. To the right was a stoney path that led down to the lower parts of the canyon, to the left was a wooden rope bridge leading to a hoodoo.
So which way do we go?" Miko asked.
"I don't those ropes would support me or Arcee." Bulkhead pointed out. Even if they were shrunk the two of them were still made of metal. The choice made the four began to walk down to the stoney path but before they could…
SSSRRREEEECCCCCHHHHH!
The sound of bird screaming mix with scraping metal pierced the air as a flock of birds came flying straight to them. There were three of them, each one had a wingspan of three feet and their feathers were a dark shiny black.
[Razor Hawk]
[Race: Monster Hawk]
[LVL 20]
[Title: Sharp Wings]
[HP 100/100]
[MP 800/800]
[SP 700/700]
[CON 20]
[STR 25]
[DEX 75]
[INT 10]
[WIS 20]
[LCK 12]
[What once was a regular Red-Tailed Hawk now a monster due to Dark Energon. Its feathers are covered in an iron alloy that can cut through stone.]
[Perks]
[Metal Coating: You are coated in metal protecting you from attacks. 50 Defense, 25% weaker to lightning and fire attacks.]
[Keen Eye: No matter how bad the weather you can track any prey in your sight.]
They fluttered in the air before shooting out several razor-sharp feathers at the party. The four splits up avoiding the attack. The three Razor Hawks began to swoop by them, Bulkhead deciding that enough was enough shot at the three, but he missed hitting the cliffside instead. This caused cracks to form and soon rocks began to fall.
"Scrap! Run!" As the rocks rained down Jack and Arcee got onto the rope bridge while Bulkhead and Miko went down the stone path. Soon the rocks stopped falling but the whole landing was now blocked. Even with the rocks settled they weren't out of the woods yet, as the Razor Hawks were still taking pot shots at Jack and Arcee. Seeing one of the feathers nearly cut one of the ropes Jack quickly sent out several [Lightning Bolts] knocking them out of the sky.
[You slain 3 Razor Hawks]
[525 XP]
"Bulkhead, are you and Miko alright?" Arcee asked over the comms.
We're all good Cee. But the rocks are completely blocking the way to you." * Bulkhead responded.
"We'll try to link back up, just be careful."
"Got it."*
"Look and the bright side, at least the bridge is holding." Jack said as they made their way to the hoodoo. Arcee being extra cautious of her steps.
"For how long I don't know. Why do humans like using bridges like this?"
"Sometimes it's for the thrill, sometimes it's all we got." Jack said as they made it to the other side. As they looked around a hissing sound accompanied by rattling drew their attention. A large snake came out of some rocks, it was ten feet long with brown diamond patterns, its rattle was covered in spikes, but the most eye-catching feature was its two heads!
[Two-Headed Rattlesnake]
[Race: Monster Snake]
[LVL 20]
[Title: Twin Bite]
[HP 400/400]
[MP 650/650]
[SP 300/300]
[CON 30]
[STR 50]
[DEX 40]
[INT 10]
[WIS 15]
[LCK 6]
[What once was a regular diamondback rattlesnake now a monster due to Dark Energon. Its venom can melt stone.]
[Perks]
[Venomous Bite: All bite attack add 50 Poison damage.]
[Tremor Sense: Can locate any prey touching the ground within twenty feet.]
The snake hissed before spitting out a green blob that landed behind the two as they ducked. The ground sizzled as Arcee charged the snake, with a quick flick of her arm blades both heads of the snake flopped onto the ground.
"Dang, Cee."
"I. Don't. Want. To. Be. Puked. On." She growled out. Jack put his hands up in surrender. Hissing began to fill the air again as four more snakes came out of the rocks. Jack used [Stone Skin, [Frost Cloak, and [Shadow Binding] followed by [Ice Spike Eruption] striking all the reptiles. The two that were free hissed in anger before spitting venom at them. Jack quickly sprung up an [Ice Wall] blocking the spit. He then sent out several [Lightning Bolts] at the two in retaliation. With a guttural hiss the mutant snakes fell to the ground dead. Walking over to the other two he sent an [Ice Spike] in each one of the bound snakes' head.
[You have slain 4 Two-Headed Rattlesnakes]
[800 XP]
[Skills Leveled up!]
[Stone Skin LVL: 5 (45/145)]
[D-Rank]
[Harden your skin at the cost of mobility]
[70 defense]
[- 5 DEX]
[Cost: 20 MP]
[Lightning Bolt: LVL: 9 (0/215)]
[D-rank]
[Create a bolt of lightning to strike down your enemies]
[90 Damage]
[15% chance to paralyze]
[Cost:10 MP]
[Binding Shadows: LVL 3 (5/121]
[B-rank]
[Have shadows come and ensnare your target.]
[Binding threshold 100 STR]
[Max Targets: 3]
[Cost: 9 MP]
[Ice Spike LVL: 5 (0/146)]
[C-rank]
[Create a large ice spike to impale your targets.]
[Damage: 250]
[Chance to freeze: 25%]
[Slows down target by 25%]
[Cost: 40 MP]
Seeing that was done Jack and Arcee went to the next rope bridge that led to the over side of the canyon. But as they made it halfway, a few familiar faces made an appearance. A dozen Razor Hawks were swooping down at them, unleashing a storm of feathers at them. They began to fight back when one of the feathers cut through one of the ropes supporting the bridge causing it to tilt sideways. The human and femme grabbed onto the bridge to avoid falling into the canyon as more and more feathers rained down upon them.
"Scrap we need to get to the other side!" Arcee yelled out. They began to shimmy along the bridge as monstrous birds continued to attack them.
SNAP!
Eyes and optics went wide at the sound before feeling the free fall as the bridge was split in two. Both Autobot and human held on for dear life as the bridge fell into the cliff face.
[-57 HP!]
Jack groaned from the impact as he looked down at the two-wheeler. "Are you alright Cee?"
"Peachy." Arcee deadpanned before ducking as more feathers shot at them. "Jack! Create a tunnel!"
Understanding what she meant he channeled his mana and manipulated [Ice wall] to create a massive ice tunnel that wrapped around the bridge turned ladder protecting them from the onslaught. With that taken care of the two began to climb up as fast as possible not wanting to risk the rest of the bridge braking, thankfully they made it, unfortunately they had company.
[Infernal Scorpions X7]
[LVL: 20]
[HP: 500/500]
[Two-headed Rattlesnakes X3]
[LVL: 20]
[HP: 400/400]
Jack quickly casted [Binding Shadows] ensnaring the snakes. He was not going to deal with range attackers while dodging scorpion stings thank you very much. Three of the mutated arachnids charged at him. Not giving them a chance he quickly used [Frost Cloak] and followed it with [Ice Spike Eruption] dealing a decent two hundred points of damage to them. Readying frostedge he rushes towards the nearest scorpion and began to hit it with a pair of quick strikes ending it. The other two struck out with their pincers but Jack was able to dodge one and parry the other. Jack slammed his axe into the one he parried and watched in shock as ice began to encase the beast. Deciding not to waste time he slashed at the one still free knocking it back and ending it with a [Lightning Bolt].
He didn't have time to rest as the remaining four began their assault. Jack began to back petal trying to avoid the storm of stingers. It was harder to avoid the onslaught as none of them gave him a second to counter. Just as it seemed like they were about to overwhelm him three of them were shot down by Arcee. The last scorpion was taken off guard by the sudden deaths of its brothers but before it could recover Jack slammed his axe into it followed by an [Ice Spike].
"Thanks, Arcee. Those creeps were giving me too much trouble."
"You were doing pretty well. Next time be more aware of your surroundings. Also, you could have used more wide range attacks to weaken them all while fighting." She instructed. Nodding his head in agreement Jack would admit he had tunnel vision. Going over to the bound snakes he made short work of them.
[You slain 4 Infernal Scorpions]
[ 900 XP!]
[You slain 3 Two-Headed Rattlesnakes]
[ 600 XP]
[Blunt Mastery Level 7 35/194]
[C-rank]
[Since the earliest caveman picked up a branch, humans have been fighting each other with blunt force trauma for over millennia. From clubs to polearms to axes to even a baseball bat, your skill with these is greater than before.]
[Passively increase all blunt weapon damage by 35%]
[Passively increase chances to break bones by 18%]
[Passively increase critical hit chances by 7%]
[Ice Spike Eruption: LVL 4 (47/133)]
[C-Rank]
[Create an eruption of ice spikes to impale your targets from the ground.]
[Damage: 200]
[Chance to freeze: 30%]
[Slows down target by 30%]
[Adds Bleeding status effect.]
[Cost: 45 MP]
[For constantly attacking 1 STR]
[For constantly dodging 1 DEX]
[For freezing one enemy 1 LCK]
[Your party member as slain 7 Toxic Tails, you gain 10% of the EP]
[140 XP]
The two blinked at the last part before turning to each other.
"I guess Miko and Bulkhead are having their own trouble." Jack said.
With Miko and Bulkhead, right after being separated.
The rocker and bot were making their way down the path while keeping an eye out for any more attacks. They were on high alert as they didn't know what to expect.
"Hey Bulk?" Miko asked as they came across the river, there was a sign telling them the river can run as deep as thirty feet and the only way across were the natural stone archways.
"Yeah Miko?"
"What do you think of Jack's powers?" That caught the wrecker off guard.
"Why do you ask?" He replied as they climbed up the arch.
"Well, I think it's awesome, Ratchet seems to hate it because of magic or whatever and Optimus seems okay with it. I just wanted to know what you think." The rocker explained.
Bulkhead paused for a moment. In truth he hadn't really thought about it. The powers or system was just weird, nothing else. Just weird. He didn't have any real feeling about it. To him it was more like a tool that can be used, a tool that puts you in danger, yeah, but a tool none the less. He shared this with the rocker.
"Yeah, but on the bright side-." Whatever Miko was going to say was interrupted, a massive figure burst out of the water. Narrowly dodging, Miko and Bulkhead as it as a massive fish the size of Arcee's alt mode. Its green scales glimmered in the light as it swam back around for another pass. It shot out ready to take a bite out of Miko only to get blasted my Bulkhead.
"Thanks Bulk but I kinda need to fight these too." Miko said as she saw the corpse float down the river.
"Heh heh. Sorry."
CRASH!
The two jumped as they watched in horror as the rope bridge snapped in two. They watched with bated breath before seeing a massive ice tunnel formed around the remaining part.
"Looks like we're not the only ones seeing some action." Bulkhead said before spotting two dozen shadows racing towards them.
"And we have company!" Miko said firing off several Forte Fists. Miko caught a glance at one of them.
[Toxic Tail]
[LVL 20]
As Miko sent arcane fists at the fish Bulkhead was smacking any of them who got too close. One of the massive fish managed to bite the wrecker only for its teeth to shatter, it didn't suffer long though as Bulkhead grabbed both ends of it and ripped it in two. In a short amount of time the two took out the fish.
"You know, when we first got to this planet. Not once did I think we'll have to deal with aggressive wildlife."
Miko only shrugged as they continued.
Back with Jack and Arcee the two came across an abandoned campsite. Arcee knelt to examine it.
"This is several days old. Dirt build up gave it away."
"Could it be from those campers' agent Jeston told us about?" Jack asked, keeping an eye out.
"Wait...I found something." Arcee pulls out a camcorder from underneath the tent.
"A camcorder, do you think it still works?"
"Let's see."
// // // /
"Sue are you sure we should be here? They been blocking off this place." A male voice asked.
"Oh, come on Derick, this place is like a totally public space. They can't be like "You can't be here" that's like so illegal." Sue replied.
"I don't think that's how it works- what's that?" The camera turns to an out cropping on the other side of the bridge catching something large slithering behind a cliff face.
"Was, was that a snake?" Sue asks.
"No. It couldn't be. It was too big."
"AHHH!" The camera turns to show smaller hell scorpions the size of cats crawling towards them. The screams continue as the two seems to try to run away before dropping the camera.
// // // /
"That must have been the teens the agent mentioned. You think the thing we saw in the video was the boss?" Arcee asked.
"Probably, but it looks like we're only halfway in the dungeon." Then again no one said a boss had to be at the very end.
"Well, no point in standing around." Arcee said as she made her way to the bridge with Jack following her.
"Shouldn't we wait for Bulkhead and Miko?"
"Normally I say yes but the longer we wait the more poisoned the water becomes. If we take out the boss now, we don't have to worry about that anymore." Nodding to her logic Jack followed her as they made their way across the bridge that led to the out cropping in the video. The out cropping was a large trapezoid shape with steep walls. A metal fence was blocking the cliff edge to keep anyone from falling off. Yet Jack's attention was on the small cave as what he assumed to be the boss emerging. At first, he thought it was just a normal woman but as more and more of her came out he realized how wrong he was. Her upper body was that of a woman, her long brown hair was matted with dirt and grime, her skin was covered with tan and brown scales, her hands ended with claws and her slitted eyes eyed him with hunger. Her lower body was that of a rattlesnake which was easily a dozen feet long. She bares her fangs as she begins to hiss.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[Race: Mutated Human]
[LVL 21]
[Title: The Rattler]
[HP 2,200/2,200]
[MP 1,600/1,600]
[SP 1,300/1,300]
[CON 50]
[STR 80]
[DEX 70]
[INT 40]
[WIS 45]
[LCK 23]
[Forcefully turned against her will with the use of dark energon and snake DNA Anna had been dumped her to cause as much damage as possible.]
[Perks]
[Rare Boss Blessing: 200 to HP, MP, and SP.
[Venomous Bite: All bite attack add 50 Poison damage.]
[Tremor Sense: Can locate any prey touching the ground within twenty feet.]
This shocked the two, there was someone out there with dark energon and mutating people. Before either of them could say anything, they head to dodge the mutated woman as she lunges at them. Jack sent a wave of frost darts hoping to slow the monster down only for her to create a miniature sandstorm blocking the projectiles. Jack watched the dust cloud waiting for anything when a small green blast came rocketing out! Jumping to the side Jack was able to avoid what he assumed to be venomous spit but he was knocked to the ground by a tail slap.
[-500 HP!]
[Jack Darby]
[HP: 2,900/3,400]
"Ow." Jack groaned as he looked up to see the lamina towering over him. Just as he was going to create an ice wall to buy him some time.
POW!
Arcee delivered a right hook knocking the snake lady away. She turns to him and begins to help him up.
"Jack, we need to capture her." Arcee told shocking him.
"Capture!?" Jack said as he eyed the downed mutant.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[HP 2,000/2,200]
"Two hundred from a punch. I really need to work on my stats if I want to survive against a con."
"Yes capture. Someone out there has found dark energon and is using it. If we can get her to base maybe Ratchet could cure her and she can tell us who." Arcee explained.
"Alright but we have to be careful one wrong move and we could kill her." Jack said watching the snake woman get up and glare at them.
"Like its ever easy." Arcee said as they charged at the mutant. Jack on the left and her on the right.
Anna hiss as she swung her tail out hoping to hit her prey, Jack pulled a hook slide under the tail while Arcee jumped over it. The femme brough her heal down on the tail causing a roar of pain.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[HP 1,750/2,200]
Jack seeing an opening used ice spike eruption to hit the mutant.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[HP 1,550/2,200]
A scream of pain tore out of the mutant's mouth followed by another blast of venom at Jack. Thinking quick he created an ice wall to block the attack and use frost step to get behind the snake woman. Arcee seeing this got up close and delivered a haymaker sending Anna reeling back right into the frost bomb Jack sent out.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[HP 1,050/2,200]
Hissing Anna began to claw into the ground faster than an excavator tunneling beneath the two. This causes them to be wary as they watch the ground waiting. Arcee looked over to Jack to tell him to move to the bridge but Anna sprung out underneath Arcee and began to wrap around her. With the bot in her coils Anna began to squeeze only to find she couldn't seem to tighten. Confusion turns to shock as Arcee begins to push away the coils. So, shock in fact that Jack was able to hit her with an ice spike allowing Arcee to become free and punch the snake away.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[HP 600/2,200]
"You alright Cee?"
"I'm fine, even with the nerf I'm still far stronger than her. The lamia hissed and created a sandstorm covering the area blinding the two.
"Arcee!" Jack called out hoping to make out anything from the storm.
"Keep alert! She could attack from anywhere!" He heard the two-wheeler ordered. A hiss was all the warning he got before he was sent flying into the metal railing by the cliff edge.
[-300 HP!]
Groaning, Jack looked up to see anything but all he saw was sand. Trying to think of anything an idea came to mind. A very stupid idea but one that just might work. Staying down Jack channeled a spell into both hands and waited. Sure enough, there was a hissing above him, lashing both hands out like they were vipers he send out a combination of frost bomb and lightning bolt. Time seemed to slow down as Jack watched the two spells fly right into the open maw of May and detonated. The blast knocked the lamia away as the sandstorm ceased. Jack groans as he was caught up in the blast, he was right it was a stupid idea but it worked.
"Jack!" Arcee rushed to his side. Crouching, she looks over him. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah." He gasps before casting healing vail. "Is she…?" Looking over to the down mutant.
[Anna Lee Smith]
[100/ 2,200 HP]
[Status: Unconscious.]
"Looks like you did it." Arcee told him as she helped him to his feet.
"How do we get her in back to base?"
"Could there be anything in the shop?" Jack shrugged before opening the store menu. After a couple of minutes, he found something. It was a small glass cube with metal corners that could be held in the palm of a human hand.
[Capture Cube]
[Quality: Uncommon]
[Multiple use item]
[Capture an enemy that is incapacitated.]
Purchasing it he pointed at the down woman and watched as the she shrunk down to fit inside the cube and was shucked in.
[Hidden objective Complete]
[Captured Anna Lee Smtih]
[Reward]
[2,000 XP]
[uest: Dark Creations]
[New Quest: Dark Creations]
[Someone out there has been using dark energon on various animals and has moved onto humans. Find evidence and his main base of operations.]
[Objectives]
[Gather three (3) pieces of evidence.]
[Find where the experiments are taking place.]
[Inform Agent Fowler]
[Rewards]
[6 Uncommon Skill Boosters]
[$ 6,000]
[6,000 XP]
[Failure]
[ Criminal organizations will gain dark energon fueled mutants.]
[You defeated Anne Lee Smith]
[ 1,000 XP]
[ 2 spell tomes gained]
"Good work Jack."
"Anything I could improve on?" Arcee stood in thought for a moment before shaking her head.
"You did the best that you could, between her sandstorm and spit you handle that well."
*Arcee? Are you there? * Bulkhead called over the comms.
"Here."
* Miko and I just got a message about a Smith and XP. Did you guys already find the source of the poison? *
"I wish. We'll explain when we link back up, but for now we still have to find the source of the poison." The two began to head back to the destroyed tent when something caught Jack's eye. Off to the side under a bush was a chest. Going over to it he found a ring and a stone.
[Ring Arcane Life]
[Quality: Rare]
[A sliver ring with blue and red gems forming an infinity symbol. For every point of magic, the wearer has the wearer gains that much life.]
[EX: 50 HP 100 MP Ring = 150 HP]
[Stone of the Thunderbird]
[Quality: Epic]
[Single use item]
[A yellow crystal that was once inside a Thunderbird, bow though all that's left of the great bird is stone that holds its power. Can be use as a crafting ingredient. Can be broken to gain a bonus to one's Lightning based skills.]
[For finding two items that are rare or above 1 LCK]
Jack put the ring in his inventory before looking at the stone. He could use it right now but the only thing that would help was Lightning bolt and that wasn't much. Thinking it over he would save it for later. A few moments later the two found themselves back at the tents. Walking down to the they were met with a group of infernal scorpions.
[Infernal Scorpion x5]
[500/500 HP]
Jack watched the bed approach them before he noticed something. Smirking he created two ice walls trapping them. Using a couple more ice walls to create a set of stairs he climbs to the top and looked down at the trapped arachnids. After sending down a couple (Thirty) lightning bolts down. Soon enough there were no more scorpions and Jack saw the expected screens.
[You slain 5 Infernal Scorpions]
[ 1,250 XP]
[Lightning Bolt Maxed out!]
[Lightning Bolt: LVL: MAX]
[D-rank]
[Create a bolt of lightning to strike down your enemies]
[100 Damage]
[20% chance to paralyze]
[Cost:10 MP]
[New spell unlocked]
[Ball Lightning: LVL: 1 (0/100)
[C-Rank]
[Send out a small ball of lightning that slowly floats around the area damaging enemies]
[Radius: Three feet]
[Duration 1 Minute]
[10 Lightning DPS]
[Cost: 100 MP]
[For thinking of a solid plan that allowed you to safely max out your spell 2 INT]
Dispelling the ice wall Jack turned to his companion with a smirk. Rolling her optics Arcee poked Jack's forehead.
"Yeah, yeah, zappy, how about we take care of the boss before we celebrate." She said, passing him. Jack shook his head, still smiling as they made their way down the path. Reaching the end the two found themselves in front of a large pool of water stretching from canyon wall to canyon wall, in the center of the spring was a geyser spraying several feet in the air. With no other options the two began to wade into the pool. They found it was only a foot deep, but they continued to be cautious in case of any pit falls.
"Frosty! Cee!" Turning around they saw Bulkhead and Miko coming from a similar path to the one they came.
"Good to see you guys. So, what was with the whole snake lady thing?" Miko asked as they met up. Before either of them could reply, the water around them began to ripple as the geyser stop before the water erupted as a massive beast revealed itself. The best way to describe it was if a scorpion crawled out of hell itself. It had two sets of claws and three tails with stingers that were a foot long. Its black chitin exoskeleton was offset by the sickly dark green that oozed from its joints. With each drop hitting the water it gave off a sickly green smoke as the water seemed to boil and bleed into the same color.
[Infernal Scorpion]
[Venena]
[Race: Monster Scorpion]
[LVL 2022]
[Title: Burning Sting]
[HP 3,500/3,500]
[MP 1,300/1,300]
[SP 2,350/2,350]
[CON 3060]
[STR 3555]
[DEX 25]
[INT 320]
[WIS 9 -1018]
[LCK 456]
[What once was a regular California Scorpion is now a monster mutated by the exposure to Dark Energon. It's venom that is so potent it burns.]
[Through twisted experiments a once small scorpion has be turned into a giant monster that poisons all around it.]
[Perks]
[Corroding Venom: All attacks with stingers gain 25 fire100 poison damage 100 acid damage.]
[Burning Heart: Immune to all fire attack, every time your struck by a fire attack you gain health equal to the damage you would have taken.]
[Poisoned Blood Overflow: Your venom has begun to mix with your blood making corrode anything it touches but unfraternally you are making far too much blood causing it to burst through your joints. Bleed damage 10 HP every second.]
[Hard Shell: Take 50% less damage from Slashing damage.]
[Madness: Due to the constant pain of your own venom causes, you have been driven to madness. Immune to fear and intimidation. -10 WIS]
[Ravenous healing: Recover 20 HP per second for three hours after eating a creature.]
The party stared at the elephant size for a moment before Arcee narrowed her optics. "Miko back up and keep your distance, this thing's blood will hurt us as we damage it so you're on support. Bulkhead keep it distracted so the rest of us can attack. Jack, you go left I go right." She ordered. The others agreed as they moved. Venena screeched before lunching at the group. Bulkhead transformed his hands into maces before he began to knock away the pincers. Miko played rallying rhythm boosting everyone. Arcee shot the beast a couple of times.
[Venena]
[HP 3,000/3,500]
Jack meanwhile sent out ball lightning and ice spike hitting the monster.
[Venena]
[HP 2,750/3,500]
With a hiss Venena unleash a large breath of poisonous green fog hitting Bulkhead and Miko.
"Guys!" Jack yelled out but this moment of distraction was enough for the scorpion to grab him with its pincer. Before it could squeeze him, Jack used frost step to free himself and landed near the rocker.
[Miko Nakadai]
[HP: 975/1,100]
[Bulkhead]
[HP: 34,775/34,900]
"T-that was just a couple of seconds." Miko coughed before playing healing harmony. The scorpion hissed before its three stingers launched towards them. Jack created an ice wall to block the attack. Bulkhead lean around the side and shot the monster in the face forcing it to reel back. Arcee took a chance and activated her blades. Acting quickly, she rushed towards behind the beast she took a swipe and cut one of the tails off.
[Venena]
[HP 2,200/3,500]
[Heavy Bleeding status gained: -50 per second untiled healed]
Arcee turned invisible and backed away as the mutated creature thrashed around. As it continued to thrash about Jack used activated frost cloak and stone skin before using frost step to get behind the beast and unleashed ice spike eruption
[Venena]
[HP 1,744/3,500]
Seeing a tail swipe coming for him he managed to avoid it by using frost step again. The beast hissed as it went to attack when a pair of blasts from Bulkhead knocked it way.
[Venena]
[HP 1,294/3,500]
The beast sent out its two stingers out at the wrecker only to have a fist made of lightning smash into its side.
[Venena]
[HP 1,119/3,500]
Miko sent out three more lightning forte fists knocking the beast onto its back.
[Venena]
[HP 694/3,500]
Arcee jumped onto its exposed stomach and slashed the beast three times before jumping off.
[Venena]
[HP 34/3,500]
The beast while near death but refusing to die manages to stand up and unleashed a massive fog of poison covering itself. As the party members got ready a wave of poisoned water came out and knocked Jack, Miko and Arcee away. Bulkhead, due to his much heavier weight was able to stand against the wave as Venena launched from the cloud. Seeing the pincers ready to grab everyone, he got ready before avoiding them and unleashing a haymaker directedly into its maw knocking the beast away. Seeing the beast collapse Bulkhead kept his optics on it.
"Is it over?" He asked.
[Ding!]
"Yeah, it's over." Jack deadpanned.
[Quest Complete: Up the River]
[Oasis Canyon has been poisoned by Venena a mutated scorpion. You have found the source and now the spring is safe again.]
[Objectives]
[Primary Objective: Completed]
[Rewards]
[Primary: 2,000 XP, $750]
[Your party has slain Venena.]
[3,000 XP.]
[For defeating Venena for the first time please pick one of these rewards. Other party members will be able to pick from the same rewards except the ones with the penalties.]
[Venena's Spite: A pair of black daggers made from Venena stingers.]
[Spell Tome Venom Breath: Unleash a cloud of poisonous breath]
[Venena's reach: A spear made from one of the tails of Venena.]
Looking over the options Jack decided to grab the daggers. While he had Frostedge and his cutlass having a backup would be a good idea.
[Venena's Spite]
[Quality: Epic]
[Durability: 2,000/2,000]
[Damage Type: Slashing]
[Damage: DEX 100 poison damage]
[Poisons enemies lose 1 HP every second for 5 minutes]
[A pair of black daggers tinted with dark green was forged from Venena's stingers. Even separated from the monster these daggers still weeps with venom.]
Looking over the daggers he stores them in his inventory before turning to Miko. Seeing her with a spell book answered his question.
"Whoa." Hearing Bulkhead Jack saw an icosahedron in front of the two bots. Watching the two prisms began to spin around before bursting, revealing two weapons. In front of Bulkhead was a large gatling gun while in front of Arcee was an elegant bow. Grabbing their weapons they began to examine them.
Jack's perspective
We did it, we stopped the spring from being poisoned any further. But that didn't change that fact that someone out there had their hands on dark energon and creating monsters with it. A part of me is worried about what else they could be making.
[Name: Jack Darby]
[Title: The Gamer]
[Race: Human]
[LVL: 20 (21,409/22,824)]
[HP: 4,200/4,200]
[MP: 1,280/1,280]
[SP: 1,300/1,300]
[CON: 60]
[STR: 65 10]
[DEX: 61 3]
[INT: 59]
[WIS: 60]
[LCK: 51]
[AP: 0]
[$4,044]
Outtake (Non-canon) Stealth Archer too OP
On the Nemesis Megatron glare at his men as they flinched.
"How is it that Soundwave, Starscream, and Shockwave are all dead! And we have no idea who done it?"
"My lord we are doing our best but it as if they were killed by wind." Strika tried to explain but this only enrages Megatron further.
"The wind! They were inside the ship when-." Megatron was cut off as an arrow made of energon pierced his spark chamber ending his life.
"Lord Mega-." Strika couldn't finish as she had met the same fate.
"Whose out there!?" Breakdown yells before being silenced. Airachnid seeing what was happening tried to scurry away only for a hail of arrows shoot off her spider legs before several went through her head. Knockout the last one standing looked around before shrugging.
"Must be my imagination."
Meanwhile Arcee was sneaking away having run out of arrows. Ever since she got her bow things for the Autobots got a lot easier.
"Arcee to base come in."
* This is nurse Flamewar how are ya sis? *
"Megatron and the others are taken care of, Knockout is still alive, but I ran out of arrows. How's Ratchet?"
* Mr. Rust Grump is still in is coma. I mean sure you one shotted Unicron with your bow but he's acting like a total drama queen. * Arcee merely chuckled. Chaos god or not. All shall fall\ to the stealth archer.
Alright that chapter is done.
Jack: Looks like Raf will be joining the fun.
Yep, I just hope I didn't shoehorn that in too much He needs some screentime.
Have a good day everyone and please leave a review.
Jack: Please do, I want to see how many nickels he'll be adding to the jar.
Ha. Ha.