A/N: Hey everyone, yes Ben will be a swordsman instead of an assassin. The reason why Riptides a C tier sword well you'll understand in the upcoming chapters. Until he gets a new favored sword, but for now it's his go to sword.
Chapter 3: The Lizards Tail
One Week Later
It had been one whole week since Ben had defeated the Goblin King Gorkil, and since then he hasn't gotten another key to a dungeon. He was currently in the midst of completing his daily quest. The teenager was currently shirtless and doing push ups, "96... 97... 98... 99... 100." The teenager got up as he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm kinda hungry." He mutters when a knock erupts through his room.
"Mr. Tennyson, you have some visitors." A blonde haired nurse walked inside to find the shirtless and fit teenager standing in his room. Her face turned red as she gazed at him.
"Visitors?" He asks curiously shocking the embarrassed nurse from her staring stupor. She squealed in embarrassment before running away. Ben raised an eyebrow as his Aunt Natalie, Uncle Frank, and his cousin Kenny.
His family's eyes widened when they saw Ben. He used to be short and scrawny, but now he was standing about the same height as Kenny, and incredibly muscular compared to when he was admitted two weeks ago.
"Ben, is that you?" His uncle Frank asked through wide eyes as Ben chuckled grabbing his shirt from the bed and puts it on.
"Yep, it's me. What are you guys doing here?" Ben asked adjusting his shirt.
"Hospital said you're cleared to be dismissed, so we're here to pick you up." Natalie smiled as Kenny nodded in agreement.
"Yep, so gather your stuff and we can leave." Kenny added as Ben nodded.
"Give me a minute to pack everything up." The trio nodded before leaving as Ben proceeded to pack up all his clothes.
Soon the group were at the hospital's reception with Ben checking out. The nurse from earlier then spoke up, "Um, do yo-you mind if I get yo-your number?" She stuttered in embarrassment, Kenny and Frank had a knowing look on there faces while Natalie smiled softly.
"Sure." Ben replied nonchalantly, as he scribbled his number onto a piece of paper and slid it over to her. As he and his family left the hospital.
"Benny, I didn't know you had a way with woman." Kenny laughs wrapping his arm around Ben's neck who was looking at his like he was crazy.
"I do?" Ben asked incredulously while Natalie and Frank laughed.
"Don't worry, Ben, you'll find the one for you sooner or later." Frank patted his nephew on the shoulder as they headed to the car.
Ben was confused on how this turned into a joke over his lack of love life. He dated Julie, but she left him for some blonde guy part of that dumb team the 'Revengers' or something like that. Then there was the whole him and Kai thing, she wasn't interested in someone like him. So at the moment, no one really caught Ben's eye. Well there was Eunice, but she left with Azmuth. Then there was Hope Spellbinder, but at the time he didn't wanna date his cousin's enemy.
Ben sighed as they drove home, "So Ben, what's your plan now that you're out of the hospital?" Natalie turned from the passenger seat to look at her nephew.
"I'm gonna attempt to look for some nearby gates around town." Ben answered gazing out the window.
"You sure that's a good idea? You just got checked out the hospital." Frank asked as they headed towards Bellwood's neighborhood.
"In order for me to get stronger, I wanna keep dungeon raiding." Ben replied as he gazed at the system screen infront of him.
[Daily Quest: Preparations to become strong!]
[Sit Ups - 100 times (Completed) 100/100]
[Push Ups - 100 times (Completed) 100/100]
[Squats - 100 times (Completed) 100/100]
[Running - 10km (Incomplete) 0/10km]
[Warning: Incompletion of Daily Quest will result in a severe punishment.]
Ben leaned his face onto his hand which was bent against the window when Kenny spoke up, "Ben, your car should be at your house, I drove it home for you after your accident."
"Thank you, Kenny." Ben smiled before pulling out his phone and started scrolling through the Federal Bureau of Hunters postings for any dunegeons closeby that would welcome him as an E-rank which won't be easy.
Ben tuned out his family's discussion on there daughter and Max. Ben could see one job that needed two people to fill up the headcount for a closeby C-Rank dungeon. He clicked on it before scrolling through the requirements which wasn't much and he seemed to fill out the criteria for it.
He quickly called the number and after a quick back and forth with the leader: Austin Graham. He quickly hung up when Kenny spoke up.
"Seems you've got plans for the day?" He smirked as Ben nodded with a small smile.
"Yeah, I'm gonna meet up with them around 11 because they also found some else to fill up the other spot." Ben answered.
"Alright, I hope you know what you're doing." Kenny patted him on his shoulder as Ben nodded.
After his family dropped him off, Ben hopped into his car and headed towards a partial complete building downtown within Bellwood. It took him half an hour to reach the building which looked to be a tower, but there was a gate right in the middle of the construction sight. He got out his car and looked around before spotting a group of humans and hybrid aliens.
Ben approached them as a tall muscular man approached, he had brown hair, brown eyes, and a scar over his left eyebrow. He wore a tank top, combat jeans, and boots. He had a shield on his back, with armor wristbands on his forearms.
"Are you Ben Tennyson?" The man had a gruff voice as the two shook hands.
"Yeah, are you Austin Graham?" Ben asked as the man smiled and nodded.
"You are correct, I'm the party leader here and I appreciate you coming out on such short notice. Come on I'll introduce you to the rest of the team and I'll grab your contract." Austin grinned wrapping his arm around the teenagers neck dragging him towards the group.
"So what kind of dunegeon is it?" Ben asked curiously on what kind of monsters would appear within the gate.
"The Association say it's a Chimera. Ya'know from Greek Mythology." Austin answered, "There's lowly insect types inside as well."
Ben nodded, he knew the history on the Chimera. Half Goat. Half Lion. Half Snake. Ben's mind was already running through the information on the boss he was given. Chimera, a monster hybrid, capable of shooting fireballs and poison due to its snake head tail. It was said to be monstrous and vicious during it's time. Before someone slayed it, 'Bellerophone. He used lead when he defeated the beast.' He thought before him and Austin stopped infront of group of men and hybrid aliens.
"Ben, I'd like you to meet my friends. This is Chris, he's our Archer." He gestured to the blonde haired man, wearing light armor with a quiver and bow strapped to his back and had a pair of hunting knives attached to his belt.
"Hey Ben, welcome to the team." Chris grinned shaking the teenagers hand.
"This is Charlie, our mage." Austin pointed towards the black haired man with glasses and a robe carrying a staff.
"Pleasure to meet you Benjamin." Charlie shook his hand firmly as Ben nodded towards him in return.
"This is Matthew, our scout." He gestured to a smaller man with brown hair and a pair of hunting knives.
"Nice to meet you, Ben." Matthew smiled shaking Ben's hand.
"Likewise." Ben nodded shaking his hand.
"Alex and Andrew Thompson, their twins, and also our damage dealers." He gestured to a pair of Tetramand twins stacked in armor. Alex had a pair of swords on his back while Andrew had an axe and hammer.
"Nice to meet you, Ben." Alex patted the teenager on his back as Andrew grinned.
"Yeah, glad you can help us out today." Andrew added crossing his four arms over his chest.
"And this is Zak Saturday, he's also here to help fill in our numbers today." Austin gestured to a biracial teenager his age, with black hair and a streak of white in the front. He wore orange and black armor with a 'S' on his chest.
"Nice to meet you, Ben." Zak shook his hand.
"Likewise." Ben smiled as Austin spoke up again.
"Give me a minute, I'll get your contracts since this is a C-Rank gate, we need eight people in total to investigate the dungeon." He said swifily before walking over to grab his bag and grab the two contracts for Ben and Zak since they weren't official members of the party.
After explaining the difference between Zak and Ben's pay, Zak being a C-Rank and Ben being an E-Rank the two quickly signed before Austin took a look at the contracts and nodded before handing them back to them, "We leave in ten. Check your gear one last time." He ordered as everyone immediately got to checking everything one last time.
Ben eyed them warily, 'Something is up with them. Why do you need two people to fill up your head count instead of finding two others to be a part of your party.' Ben narrowed his eyes cautiously, 'I should stay on guard incase they try something.'
He soon remembered something Kevin told him back when they'd run a few dungeon raids together and he talked about one experience, he'd ran into on a raid with some men he met in the Federal Bureau of Hunters. Kevin told him, that they were in dunegeons with no cameras, so basically anything goes inside the other world.
He called them lizards. Lizards are Hunters who abuse there powers inside dungeons. Since there's no cameras inside dungeons anything goes. There'll be a few who will attempt to take your life. And Kevin warned him not to trust anyone he isn't familiar with. So he was gonna take that warning to heart and not trust these guys so easily, but even more something was off about them. Kevin also told him, that if he were ever in that situation, he'd do whatever it took to survive.
As he kept tryna figure out what that chill in the air was, the other teenager named Zak Saturday approached him, "Hey man, I know we just met, but once again, I'm Zak Saturday." He held out his hand for Ben interrupting his musings.
Ben looked at Zak and shock his hand, "Ben Tennyson, nice to meet you."
"Sorry, if I interrupted whatever you were thinking. Just didn't wanna feel like the odd man out." He gestured towards the others who were happily chatting with each other while looking over there gear. Ben looked at him a little strangely, "I meant that they only need us to fill up there headcount instead of finding someone to join there party."
Ben chuckled softly earning a look from Zak, "Believe it or not, I was just thinking that." Zak joined Ben as the two shared a nice laugh. But Ben didn't tell Zak about the chill he felt in the air.
"Have you been in a dungeon before?" Zak asked curiously.
"Yeah, multiple but none above C-Rank. How about you?"
"Nope, first time in one. My family and I were explorers. So we're becoming Hunters now." Zak answered shedding a bit of light on his family situation.
"Cool, but you feel oddly familiar have we met before?" Ben asked looking at Zak, who grinned in return.
"I met your cousin, Gwen Tennyson, awhile back. She helped me and my family. She did mention she had a cousin named Ben Tennyson." Zak answered when he felt a sudden chill in the air, when he gazed at Ben, he felt his blood turn cold.
"Gwen is NOT my family." The dark look on his face spoke volumes as Zak nodded noting to himself never to bring up Ben's family again.
"I'm sorry. I won't mention her again." Zak apologized quickly.
Ben tried to reign himself in at the anger he felt at them, "No it's not your fault. You didn't know. I don't like speaking about my family." He answers solemnly.
"I'm sorry once again. Didn't mean to bring up unwanted memories." Zak apologized once again.
"It's okay." Ben said, but before he could continue Austin interrupted everyone.
"Alright, everyone enough chit chat. Time to move out." Austin commanded as he and his teammates started heading towards the blue portal.
"To commute our friendship, you watch my back. I watch yours, deal?" Zak smiled as he held out his hand for Ben to shake.
Ben grinned, he didn't know why, but he knew he could trust Zak. Despite this being his first dunegeon, he was genuine and not putting on a mask like everyone present. He shook his hand firmly, "Deal."
The group soon entered the dunegeon to find themselves in a cave like system with various ant covered holes scattered around them. There were various corpses of monsters laid around them. Some were torn to bits and others half eaten.
Ben's senses were going haywire with how disgusting it smelt in the cave. Austin and the others didn't seem bothered by the monsters corpses, but Zak felt a bit rattled that most of the monsters hers were half eaten or torn to shreds.
"Did the chimera really do all this?" He asked suspiciously noticing all the dead ants torn and half eaten bodies.
"Seems so. Keep your guards up at all times." Austin said taking the lead with the Tetramand twins behind him, followed by Chris and Charlie. With Ben and Zak bringing up the rear.
"Is it just me or is it extremely empty in here?" Chris replied casually wrapping his arms around his head as they continued walking towards the boss room.
"It's not just you." Andrew stated his arms reaching for his weapons on his back. His second set of arms were crossed across his chest.
"Stay in formation and don't let your guards down." Austin ordered, but Ben used his enhanced hearing to listen in on anything approaching them.
'Damn. Should have increased my perception stat.' He thought in annoyance when he heard something. It sounded like crawling and chittering, but where was it coming from? His eyes widened, "ABOVE US!" Ben shouted gaining everyone's attention.
Everyone's eyes snapped to Ben then to the tunnels above where various bug type monsters started coming out as Austin and everyone's eyes widened in shock, "BATTLE FORMATIONS! NOW!" Austin ordered as everyone, but Ben drew there weapons.
Ben and Zak watched as the six of them slaughtered the ants and spiders as quickly as possible while not breaking formation, "Do you think we should help them?" Zak whispered holding a golden staff in his hand that had an eagle claw on one end and a eagle head on the end of it. In the other was a golden sword with a crown jewel in the middle. The blade was looked to be curved a bit, but maybe that was just his imagination.
"Don't need too looks like they're finishing up right now." He watched as Alex smashed all four of his blades into the final spider, while Ben took the opportunity to check out Zak's staff, "Cool staff. Did you get it on one of your expeditions?"
"No. My dad created it to help me control my powers. It's called the Hand of Tsul 'Kalu, but I call it the Claw. It's a multi functioning tool that's once again helps control my powers." Zak explains briefly not diving too much into his powers aside from his hunter abilities.
Ben was kinda impressed with the quality of the staff, "That's pretty cool. Might need to meet your family then. See if your dad could make something for me." He laughed slightly, as did Zak.
"I'm sure that can be arranged." Zak said as he and Ben fist bumped as the group collected the crystals inside the monster that Hunters exchange for money.
After all the Mana stones (the monster crystals) were collected and packed up, the group once again resumed there journey to the boss room and not once did anyone thank Ben for discovering the monsters were about the ambush them except Zak that is.
"Hey, thanks for warning us back there on the monsters. You really saved our asses back there." Zak whispered to his newest friend as Ben shoulder bumped Zak.
"Don't mention it. It was nothing. Thank you for defending me." He whispered back so the others wouldn't hear them, but Ben could feel the air. It was tense. And that chill, he felt before entering the portal was back, but this time he didn't enhanced senses to feel it. It was hitting him hard, he was honestly surprised Zak wasn't feeling it considering he's a C-Rank himself. Either he couldn't detect the amount of blood lust being sent there way or he was straight up ignoring it.
Ben's hands were in his jacket pockets, but his right hand grasped Riptide tightly as he and Zak made light conversation. He could tell they were glaring at them, but they didn't say much as they passed by multiple mutilated corpses. Until they reached a pair of double doors when the conversations between them died down. Ben felt something spring into his head as he stared at the doors.
A memory he tried to keep down, but it wasn't just a memory it was trauma that kept him sane. The trauma that forged him into the man he was shaping into. Flashes of the God Statue and his warriors plagued his mind. Being shot with lasers, dislimbed, slashed, and impaled. He stiffened as the images flashed repeatedly on end through his mind.
"Ben?" Zak whispered trying to snap Ben out of it, "Ben?!" He called slightly louder as Austin opened the doors and Ben paled further. He unconsciously took two steps back due to the overwhelming fear that was coursing through him.
The group moved into the boss room as Zak attempted to snap Ben out of his traumatic event. Austin and the group entered to find a gold mine of crystals littering the entire dungeon room. Zak literally had to drag the shell shocked teenager into the boss room. The group of C-Rank's had complete greed on there eyes.
"We've hit a gold mine, boys!" Chris yelled happily, but Zak wasn't too thrilled.
"Shh, keep your voices down!" Zak shushed them as there demeanors shifted to one of confusion.
"Why? We're rich!" Andrew grinned gazing at all the Mana crystals around them.
"Because of that!" He pointed to a large monster behind them. It was the size of a large RV, it's skin was Brown, with a goat's head and horns ontop, a lion's head located below the goat's head laying on its front paws. It's tail was green and white, scales littered the top as it was curled around the monsters body revealing a snake. It had hooves resembling a goat for its back legs. And scattered around the body were half eaten monsters.
Everyone's cheering immediately stopped as they gazed at the massive monster sleeping seventy feet away from them.
Ben felt everything in his body stop as he relived the trauma, he was forced to endure, 'Don't let it define you. Learn from it. And start anew!' He soon looked up to find himself in the boss room as Austin and Zak were talking about being quiet in the boss room. His gaze then went over to the sleeping beast on the other side of the room.
"We've been speaking at full volume since we got in here. It must have overate all those monsters and fell asleep." Austin assumed which didn't really bode well with Ben.
"It's still a boss room we can't just be letting our guards down because we see all these Mana crystals. Besides if I remember correctly it'll be split eight ways, correct?" Zak stated crossing his arms over his chest.
Austin raised an eyebrow, "Eight ways? No, it'll be split seven ways considering that Mr. Tennyson over there is just a lowly E-Rank, he gets none of the crystals we've found." Zak's eyes widened as Ben rolled his eyes, "If you read your contract you've woulda known that little fact." He taunted.
"But that's not fair, each party member deserves compensation for the crystals found within the dungeon." Zak preached as Austin and his team grinned.
"Well if Mr. Tennyson bothered reading his contract he'd understand that aside from the monster cores, Mana crystals found within the dungeon belong to the party and he was perfectly fine with it since he signed it." Austin stated as Ben was getting a little ticked off with these assholes.
"Let it go. It doesn't bother me." Ben said from behind Zak. The chill was in the air and so was blood lust and it wasn't from the boss. It was from them.
"It's honestly meaningless to argue over something like this, but you have no objections if I give him my share of the mana crystals?" Zak stated, but Austin waved them off.
"Do what you want, but first things first we gotta mine these crystals, Alex, where'd you put the mining gear?" Austin smirked knowingly as Alex crossed his all four arms over his chest.
"Left it outside with everything else." He responded with a grin that Ben could see.
'Lying bastards.' Ben thought as he narrowed his eyes as they started heading to the doors.
"You two stay here and guard this place, we're gonna go get the mining gear. Make sure the boss doesn't wake up, alright?" Austin said as they started leaving.
"Wait! What happens if the boss wakes up?!" Zak said seriously, "It'll be a big problem that neither Ben nor I could handle."
Ben almost scoffed, 'Speak for yourself.'
"Listen we've been talking almost at full volume, I doubt the boss is gonna wake up when we leave. Just hang out and take a break. We'll be back soon." Austin tried to reassure them, but Ben wasn't an idiot, he heard Austin's final order to Charlie, "Blow up the rubble and so they can't escape."
A large explosion rocked the boss room, rubble collided against the door trapping the two hunters inside. Zak raced to the door and attempted to open it, but the rubble blocking it made it impossible to open.
"NO! Dammit! Zak shouted angrily as he pounded on the door.
'Kevin warned me. Lizards. They planned this from the beginning.' Ben sighed when he felt it, blood lust filled the room as he quickly made his way to Zak.
"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! LET US OUT!" Zak yelled, but he knew it was hopeless.
Ben raced over to Zak, "Hey, calm down! We'll deal with them later. Right now, we've got bigger things to worry about." Zak's eyes widened as he and Ben's gaze shifted over to the Chimera, who roared loudly, the snake tail hissed aggressively. It seemed to be approaching them, the lion head growled menacingly as it's claws came out of its paws.
Zak stood in front of Ben, he'd never faced a monster like this considering he faced mainly historical monsters and Argost. He drew his dragon clawed dagger and his claw staff, "B-Ben ju-just stay be-behind me."
Ben tapped Zak on the shoulder, "Step aside, Saturday. This isn't your fight anymore." Ben said shocking the teenager who reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black ballpoint pen.
"Ben, you can't fight that thing! Especially with a pen! Are you insane!" Zak replied hysterical to what Ben was about to do, but stopped when he noticed Ben push the cap of the pen.
"I have no intentions of dying here today." Ben responded as he glared at the Chimera. His pen soon transformed into a 3 foot long double edged bronze sword. Zak's eyes widened in even more shock having seen the pen transform into a sword.
"What the hell? Who are you?" Zak whispered as Ben just grinned.
"I'm the person who's gonna kill the chimera!" Ben then launched forward as did the Chimera. Ben raised Riptide above his head as the chimera roared loudly ready to tear him to shreds.
Ben swung his sword downward to avoid the Snake head from biting him considering the toxins running through its fangs could kill him instantly. The lion head attempted to snap its jaws at him, but Ben parried it. The claws were coming at him from both sides, but Ben was quicker as he ducked and dodged while avoiding the Snake head that attempted to strike him in his blind spot. Ben leaped over the Snake's head, slashing a deep cut into his back as it snarled in pain.
The Chimera roared as fire came rushing out the Lions mouth, "God dammit, I forgot you can breathe fire." He barrel rolled to his left dodging the intense heat from the flames. The chimera roared once again as Ben came in, leaping over the snakes jaws and plunging his sword into its back as it roared in pain. It soo started leaping off the crystals in the room to show how agile it was. Ben held on for his life when he felt something was wrong. As the Chimera attempted to buck Ben from it's back, Ben could feel the danger and turned around to dodged immediately as the snake attempted to attack him once again.
Ben pulled his sword free as he leaped off the Chimera's back as he free fell to the ground before rebounding off of it, 'Dash!'
[Dash will consume 1 mp per second upon activation!]
In a blur, Ben was bouncing off the walls slashing at the chimera's body. Doing everything he can to slash at the Chimera, but the cuts weren't deep enough to slow him down. Zak watched in awe at the way, Ben was moving. He watched as the chimera attempted to claw at his body, 'No E-Rank can move like that? Is he a false ranker?' When Zak muttered those words he instantly felt fear. Someone like Ben was a false ranker?
Ben gritted his teeth as he slashed a deep cut into the chimera's skin, as he noticed the chimera leap at him, it's goat horns raised as it attempted to impale him. Ben's eyes widened as he brought Riptide back up using one of his sword skills, 'Vertical Arc!' He noticed his mp bar drop.
Mp: 110
Ben brought Riptide up and parried the horn, before spinning around and slashed downwards in a upside down V onto the Chimera's left goat eye blinding it. The beast roared in pain, when the snake finally saw an opening and struck Ben in the shoulder. The teenager roared in pain turning around when the chimera scratched Ben in the chest. The teenager was launched off his feet into abunch of crystals seeing his Hp drop and his fatigue rise.
Hp: 1150
Fatigue: 45
Ben could feel the poison coursing through his body when a system window appeared infront.
[Player has been poisoned!]
[Temporary Effectwill to rehabilitate: Any dismembered body parts are restored.]
[Due to Longevity: All diseases, poisons, and status effects are healed, and sleeping effects will explosively increase regeneration ability.]
Ben raised an eyebrow not having seen this before. Then he felt it.
[Cleansing... Cleansing... Cleansing...]
His body was healing, the toxins in his body soon vanished as he slowly got back up. He reached into his pocket where Riptide was and took it out. As the chimera roared at him, shocked that he was still alive.
[Cleansing Complete!]
"Status Recovery." His body healed immediately, "Round 2, fucker!" Ben didn't hesitate as he rushed forward the snake didn't wait as it attempted to attack him. Ben lowered Riptide as low to the ground to the point where the tip barely touched the ground before slashing upward, slashing the snake in the face, using the momentum of his attack to backflip as he swung Riptide back around slashing the snake in the face, before sliding under it and bringing Riptide back up where he sliced the snake head off.
The chimera roared in pain as it used it's amputated tail to send the teenager off his feet. Ben flipped before colliding on the ground. The chimera was pissed as it started shooting fireballs at him, but Ben was faster and started slashing through the fireballs. He rushed forward as he slashed and slashed the fireballs. The chimera stood on his two feet, but Ben used spun Riptide in complete circles deflecting the flames. Ben swung low and slashed it's back foot off dropping it to its knee, he swung back around and slashed it in the back once, then twice, three times, and finally four times completing the 'Horizontal Square' skill which dropped his Mp bar.
Mp: 30
The Chimera roared in pain as Ben leaped onto it's back and rammed Riptide through the goats head and out the lions face. Blood came gushing out both heads mouths as it collapsed onto the ground. Ben was breathing heavily before he heard the familiar ding from the system.
[You have defeated the boss!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
Ben glanced at the two level up screens having shot up to level 19, he wiped the grime off his face as he approached Zak who was looking at Ben with awe and shock in his eyes, "Told you, I'd beat it." He stated gazing down at his clawed through shirt, "Great. That overgrown furball sliced up my shirt." He sighed in what Zak could guess was either sarcasm or annoyance.
"But dude, how'd you do that?" Zak asked as he ran to Ben's side as he pushed a button on his sword which made it shrink back into a pen which he stuffed into his pocket, "And please tell me where I can get one of those!"
"Trade secret. Come on. Let's try and get out of here." Ben and Zak started walking towards the caved-in door. When Ben heard footsteps on the other side, he stopped dead in his tracks earning a look of confusion from Zak
"What's wrong?"
"We're not alone." He said before the rubble on the other side of the door was blasted away as the Tetramand twins pushed the doors open. The group of Hunters came face to face with Ben and Zak who were still alive while the Chimera in the back was dead.
No one said a word as the group of backstabbers came back into the boss room. Looks of shock, confusion, and intrigue were riddled on there faces. Austin had a cigarette in between his lips as he walked forward.
"Well I'll be. I had absolutely no idea you'd be able to defeat the boss, Saturday." Austin remarked looking between the two, "I can tell from the E-Rank's clothes that he must have gotten in your way." He brushed Ben off trying to cozy up to Zak, "We did a little digging on you, Zak."
Zak glared at him, "What are talking about?!"
"Zak Saturday, son of Solomon 'Doc' Saturday and Drew Saturday. Two leading scientists in Cryptozoology." Austin laughed which made Ben and Zak share a look, "I know this E-Rank wasn't any help to you. Well I'll offer an apology and a chance to join us. If you kill Mr. Ben Tennyson here, the black sheep of the Tennyson family. I doubt anyone would miss a screw up like him." Ben glared at him like he knew anything about him, but he didn't allow his poker face to fade.
"I'm sorry, but Ben's my friend, and I trust him with my life. I'd rather die then betray his friendship." Zak spat out with venom which shocked Ben, considering anyone hardly would defend the black sheep of the Tennyson family aside from his aunt, uncle, and his older cousin.
Austin sighed as he started walking back to his comrades flicking his cigarette, "Then you can die along side him. Charlie, light him up."
"With pleasure, boss!" Charlie's hand was soon engulfed in a cloud of wind as he blasted Ben straight off his feet. Zak watched with wide eyes as Ben went sailing across the bosses room.
"BEN!"
"What a weakling? Only took one blast and he's out like a light." Austin soon paused to laugh as did his associates, "I wonder if his cousin Gwendolyn is aware of how weak her cousin truly is." He grinned maliciously.
Ben layed in a pile of shattered crystals, his Hp dropping. Blood started leaking from his face as his emerald eyes dulled as he glanced at his health bar.
Hp: 1250
'Why is this happening?' Ben thought, 'Why? Am I not strong enough? Why do I keep getting compared to her! Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY? WHY? WHY?' His eyes dilated, fury was coursing through him when a system screen appeared above him.
[Emergency Quest: Extermination!]
[There are Players who have killing intent towards you in a close proximity. Slay them and ensure your safety.]
[If this quest isn't completed, your heart will stop!]
[Number of players to kill: 6]
[Number of players killed: 0]
'Yes... The system. It uses me... Why can't I use it to cover up my weaknesses... Iwill do whatever I can to survive...' He thought and even he knew this wouldn't solve the growing rage within his heart when he remembered Kevin's words.
'Ben, if you ever find yourself in a situation where your life is in danger... Kill them. I know its wrong, but in a dunegeon anything goes. In this world it's killed or be killed. Survive no matter the consequences.' Kevin's voice echoed throughout his head.
'It's killed or... Be killed.' Ben's glare darkened as he climbed out the caved in crystal hole, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his pen.
Everyone, but Zak started laughing at him, "Look he brought out a pen!" Zak backed up because he got a first class look at what that pen could do.
"Ohh, I'm so scared!" They laughed even harder as he approached.
"Charlie, why'd you hold back. I told you to kill him." Austin laughed before reprimanding him.
"I guess I held back a bit." He chuckled, 'I put everything I had into that attack.'
Chris walked up to Ben before throwing an arm over his shoulders, "Benny, ole boy, I'm sure you don't understand the situation you're in. I'm gonna let you in on a litt-" He didn't even get to finish that sentence when a bronze long sword was lodged in his throat.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock as Ben cut straight through the bone, muscle, and skin as he separated Chris's head from his body. Chris's body dropped to the ground with blood pouring out of the now dead corpse. The head landed on the floor with a sickening thud.
When Ben looked up, it sent chills down everyone's backs. His emerald eyes were a dull shade of green to the point they almost looked black. And they held fury. Unbridled, unrestrained, absolute fury. When he spoke it didn't even sound like him, he sounded cold and deattched. Like he was a completely different person, "That's 1."
[Number of Players Killed: 1]
[Number of Players to Kill: 5]
'That E-Rank was able kill Chris? He was a C-Rank Archer. And where'd he get that sword from?' Austin narrowed his eyes at Ben, 'He was just holding a pen just a second ago, now it's a sword?'
Zak, Alex, Andrew, Matthew, and Charlie looked on in horror while Austin tried to analyze what just happened before he looked to his mage, "Charlie, fry him. Don't hold back either!" Austin ordered.
Charlie held out his staff, but Ben dashed around the boss room before appearing infront of him with Riptide poised to strike, "You're annoying." It happened in an instant, Ben sliced and diced Charlie into pieces. Charlie's body dropped to the ground in viscera, chunks, organs, and blood.
[Number of Players Killed: 2]
[Number of Players to Kill: 4]
Matthew roared in anger as he tried rushing Ben with his hunting knives drawn, but Ben just glared at him, "Not fast enough." He sneered as dodged each strike thrown at him, he slipped into his guard and slashed him in his chest once, then twice, ducking underneath a knife slash, before slashing him a third time, before slashing his arms off. Matthew roared in pain as blood erupted from his stumps before Ben silenced him by stabbing him in the throat.
[Number of Players Killed: 3]
[Number of Players to Kill: 3]
Alex and Andrew rushed towards him. The Tetramand twins drew there arms and immediately attacked him, but Ben dodged every single attack thrown by them. Andrew slammed his hammer into the ground hoping to squash him, but Ben launched Riptide into his large right arm earning a scream of pain from him as Ben raced forward, using both hands to grab Andrew's hammer, and slam it into his face.
Alex grabbed the boy from behind and gave him a bear hug using his strength to break him. Ben gritted his teeth as he felt the pressure crushing him, quickly reaching into his pocket, he pushed the cap of his Pen, and Riptide transformed stabbing Alex in the chest who immediately let go of the boy, but Ben wasn't done. Ben leaped above Alex, rotating Riptide as he came back down and stabbed Alex through his red skull.
Ben then flipped over Alex's massive alien body before slashing through his head as it came rolling off his shoulders.
"Alex..?" Andrew whimpered before rage fueled his body as he rushed towards Ben, with his axe raised, but Ben dodged and weaved through every slash launched at him.
Andrew threw a horizontal slash at him, but Ben leaped off the ground slashing him in the face. As he landed, the Tetramand roared in anger as he through everything he had at him, but Ben parried every single one of his attacks before rushing into his defense, but Andrew grabbed him by his shirt and attempted to choke him, "You'll die for what you did to my brother!" Andrew slammed him into the ground, taking Riptide from him as he applied pressure on his neck.
"Die!" Andrew glared holding down both his arms as Ben did his absolute best to free himself. He gritted his teeth as he felt himself losing oxygen. He kneed Andrew in his chest, the Tetramand's eyes widened when he felt the power behind the kick, which loosened his grip on Ben allowing him to slip out, grab Andrew's axe, and slice him down the middle with it.
[Number of Players Killed: 5]
[Number of Players to Kill: 1]
Ben then heard clapping as he turned around to see Austin approaching, "Well, well, seems we have a false ranker in our midst." Austin sneered as he attempted to goad Ben into a fight, 'He took down two B-rank Tetramands. He's definitely a false ranker. No E-Rank can move like he can.'
Austin drew his shield and axe, "You're not leaving here alive-" Austin soon blinked when he noticed Ben was gone, making his eyes widen as he reappeared beside him, grabbing him by his face and slamming him straight through the floor, 'What just happened?' Austin thought in shock.
Ben stood over traitors leader, looking at him with disgust, "You're wondering what happened aren't you?" Austin's eyes once again widened as Ben grinned slightly, "You and your backstabbing band of pussies just got owned by a E-Rank. You know what that means?"
Austin didn't say anything as Ben continued, "It means you're weak. You prey on the weakness of others to hide the weakness you felt inside. And now its time for retribution." He pulled out Riptide and and pushed the cap as it transformed into a sword.
Austin's eyes widened in fear as Ben smiled, "Do-Don't thin-think you're go-gonna get aw-away with th-this. Do you know who my younger brother is?!"
"No, because if he comes here. I'll kill him too. He'll be joining you in the hottest pits of Hell. Besides, we're in a dungeon, no one will ever know what goes on in here." Austin was left speechless when Ben raised his sword up, "Any last words?"
"Ple-please, don't ki-kill me. The cry-crystals, take th-them there yours. Please, have mer-mercy." Austin begged as Ben glared at him.
"Save your pathetic pleas, and die with the last shred of dignity you still have." Ben snarled as he slashed his throat, Austin roared in pain as blood immediately started pouring out of his throat.
He quickly saw his life flashing before his eyes as his final breath drew closer, "Joshua." Ben watched as Austin went limp as his eyes met the Emergency quest.
[Number of Players Killed: 6]
[Number of Players to Kill: 0]
[Congratulations on completing the Emergency Quest: Extermination!]
[Leveled Up!]
Zak watched everything from the distance as Ben gazed over at him. Zak felt fear thinking he'd be next when Ben smiled, "Don't worry, Zak. I'm not gonna hurt you."
"You're not?" Zak asked hesitantly.
"I'm sure. Come on, let's get outta here before the dunegeon collapses ontop of us." Ben said as Zak nodded before grabbing one of the large mana crystals as the duo grabbed the duffel bag fill of monster cores and escaped the gate before it closed.
As the duo retreated outside the construction sight, Ben handed him the duffel bag, "I hope you'll keep what you saw a secret, deal?" Ben asked as Zak nodded.
"Of course, you saved my life. I owe you. I wasn't really expecting this on my first raid anyway. Uh, give me a bank number and your phone number and I'll route you the money from all this and maybe we could go dungeon raiding again." Zak offered as Ben nodded and quickly wrote down all his information.
"I look forward to seeing you, Zak Saturday."
"I look forward to seeing you too, Ben Tennyson."
The two shared a smiled and handshake before parting ways.
In the early morning, of New York City, a highrise studio apartment, a large muscular black man rose from his bed as tears started streaming down his face. He gazed over to his large window into the vast city which never slept, "Why am I crying?" He mumbled to himself as he gazed into the never ending city.
To Be Continued...
A/N: So last chapter I realized I messed up on Ben's stats so I posted it here fixed and updated
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 20
Class: None
Title: Goblin Slayer
Hp: 1450
Mp: 280
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 46
Agility: 38
Stamina: 38
Intelligence: 35
Perception: 38
[Available Stat Points to distribute:3]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lvl Max
-(Tenacity) Lvl 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lvl 2
-(Horizontal) Lvl 1
-(Horizontal Arc) Lvl 1
-(Vertical) Lvl 1
-(Vertical Arc) Lvl 1
-(Horizontal Square) Lvl 1