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[Dungeon of Stories] 37 – The Beast Tide
🕑 Added 2024-07-09 01:34:59 +0000 UTC/=========+=========\
Quest Name: Trouble on the Horizon
Quest Type: Region Quest
Quest Description: Due to the rapid and unrestrained growth of Monsters within the Dome Recreational Park, a Monster Wave will soon be upon the poor souls calling the area home. Run or fight, for soon, the monsters will leave their homes.
Quest Option 1: Cull Monsters within the Dome to Stop the Wave. Culled Monsters: 406/10,000
Quest Option 1 Rewards: Title, exp, and ???
Quest Option 2: Help the monsters grow and stop the locals from interfering with the wave.
Quest Option 2 Rewards: Class, exp, and ???
Quest Option 3: Contribute and assist in whatever way you can to stop or assist the Monster Wave.
Quest Option 3 Reward: Daily EXP based on contribution.
Time until Monster Wave Begins: 13 Days
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A mere two days had passed, and they were no closer to stopping the monster wave. The biomes were filled with countless dangers, as monsters were far higher in level and number, making it dangerous to even travel in the outer edges of the various biomes. The average monster was stronger than the average person who called ARK home, and with the rise in the strength of monsters, it was decided that more people needed to fight.
It was a Grimm time, as a dreary atmosphere hung over the humans who called ARK home. Still, despite that, the people were determined to survive as everyone put in the effort, with cooks making large batches of food for everyone, the craftsmen making as many weapons, arrows, and armor as they could, and so much more.
Yet, while they were determined to survive against the incoming beast wave, people were wary of one another after the incident that happened on the first day. There were rumors of traitors still among them, waiting for the opportunity to cause more chaos and bloodshed. With Vernon's death, many were on edge, angry, and lashing out at everything around them. Vernon had to be the town's sort of therapist, and with Vernon being a friendly, outgoing guy, many were saddened by his loss.
Yet the ever-curious Dungeon Core watched it all with fascination, watching the humans work together like ants preparing for war, but they were not alone in their quest however, as the splinter faction, henceforth known as the 'Dark Faction' numbered only a dozen in number had set up camp within the Arctic Biome, where they continuously fought against the wolves, birds, and other predators that called the biome home while they established a camp.
Surprisingly, these Dark Faction humans proved to be capable warriors and builders, as they managed to construct a wall of logs around their camp in the span of a few hours and fend off the increasing monster threat around them. If they had been unlucky and had come across the Wolf Beast Lord of the biome, they would have been slaughtered like chickens before a shotgun.
Of the dozen humans, the strongest of them was an [Aspiring Hunter], who was surprisingly talented with a bow and proved to be one of the best hunters of the humans. These Dark Faction humans rose in strength tremendously as they faced monster by monster, quickly raising the levels of each man and woman to over level fifty.
Kohl by no means expected these humans to survive if they didn't increase their numbers soon. It was only a matter of time until they became exhausted or too weak to fight the arctic monsters surrounding them.
Humming in thought, Kohl realized that he may have to interfere. If he sat back and did nothing, this splinter faction would be snuffed out like a spark before a storm. He needed to cultivate this group so that they'd provide sufficient conflict with the ARK settlement or even overcome it, but, in the end, Kohl decided against it. He would not play favorites. The spark would either grow into a wildfire or be snuffed out by the coming wind. However, with some time, so long as they survive this event, their contribution would at least grant them a class change or special reward, with potential unique class evolutions. In the meantime, they best do what they can to survive against the monsters that constantly hound their walls.
...
Three more days passed as Bright and the others fought daily, culling countless monsters ranging from a small level to a dangerous one. Six had died so far, yet they had no time even to give them a burial due to the time crunch they had before the 'Monster Wave' would grow out of control.
However, it was not all bad news. With the increase in the level of the monsters, the humans leveled up far faster than normal. With their nonstop effort to kill all of the monsters they could before the 15 days were over, one of the humans finally hit level 100, allowing for a class evolution.
The human that reached level 100? Of course, it was none other than Jay who had some interesting choices, to say the least.
[Warriror (Common) - A direct and common evolution of the Aspiring Warrior that gifts no advantages nor disadvantages.
Bonuses: +4 Strength, +4 Endurance, +2 Vitality Per Level (10)]
[Swordsman (Common) - To some, a sword is merely a weapon, but it is a way of life for many others.
Bonuses: +4 Strength, +4 Dexterity, +2 Endurance Per Level (10)]
[Guard (Uncommon) - Guards are the unyielding protectors and law enforcers of countless civilizations, gifted with abilities to better protect and serve.
Bonuses: +5 Strength, +3 Endurance, +2 Vitality, +2 Dexterity Per Level (12)]
[Berserker (Uncommon) - Like the berserker of old, become an unyielding whirlwind of death, becoming stronger for a brief moment of time in battle.
Bonuses: +6 Strength, +3 Endurance, +3 Viality Per Level (12)]
[Knight (Rare) - The heavy infantry of countless kingdoms. Knights are stout warriors bearing heavy armor or majestic steeds.
Bonuses: +5 Strength, +5 Endurance, +5 Vitality Per Level (15)]
Jay had a few more common options, such as [Footman], [Shieldsman], or [Spearman], but they were relatively basic and on the nose as to their purpose. Footman was a reality basic class meant for armies, while [Shiedsman] was likely a class that involved using a shield and [Spearman]? It was obvious.
In the end, much to Kohl's surprise, Jay became a Berserker, gaining and evolving a few skills.
Jay obtained four new skills: [Cleaving Strike], [Bloodlust], [Thick Skin], and [Berserker Rage].
[Cleaving Strike] was a skill best suited for a bladed weapon like a sword or axe.
[Bloodlust] was an aura skill that invoked fear in weaker targets, with a chance of invoking fear in targets of similar strength and near no success in stronger targets.
[Thick Skin] granted a sort of tangible increase in Jay's natural defenses, thickening his skin and making his body more difficult to injure.
Finally, [Berserker Rage], at lower levels, this skill granted a massive increase to strength, durability, and speed, but came at a great cost, as Jay would lose all reasoning and go...well, berserk. It would also come with a drawback of severe exhaustion and weakness after use, leaving it to be a last resort sort of skill.
With Jay reaching the next stage, many others were not that far behind either.
