Floor 20 of the Lutzam Dungeon is more pool than floor, though the large size makes up for it. Brick paths along the edge of the circular chamber with four paths towards a small stone circle in the middle, with large pools between each path and covering most of the area of the ground. It's eerily quiet at first, enough for Kindle to presume that a Diving Party recently beat whatever boss resides here.
It only takes a moment, however, for the water to ripple a bit, and for dozens of Lesser Sahuagin Warriors and Shamans to jump out of the pools. It's a far larger amount than any other number of monsters they've had to face, and each of them are LV. 20, making them decently strong too. Sure, Kindle can handle a group of LV. 19 monsters with ease, but the expenditure of MP is still considerable, and taking on a few dozen is going to be expensive.
When the first bunch charges at them, Kindle attempts to slice down multiple in one horizontal swing, the resistance against the thick scales minimized by the mana sharpening the edge of the sword artificially. It works well enough, three going down in a single blow only costing 10 MP to make strong enough, but the next advancing group only distances themselves a bit in response. They aren't just animals, they're near intelligent.
Another 40 MP from Kindle is spent on taking down three more in two strikes, and then another 10 MP on blocking a volley of Ice Bolts from the shamans, who recieve 30 MP worth of Ice Bolts in turn that shred through a few. Only ten of the many, and one of the pools is beginning to ripple again, much to Kindle's irritation.
Then Sahuagin that jumps out isn't like the rest, it's scales are more of a cherry red, and their size is double Kindle's own. They carry an odd, coral staff and a necklace with a Human skull on it, and they gurgle a shout that seems to rally the few dozen Sahuagin rushing at Kindle. A Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan, LV. 25, it's already casting a spell.
Kindle slices through a few more and shoots a few Ice Bolts out, taking down another eight and spending another 90 MP before the Chieftan's large scale spell completes, the thirty or so Sahuagin remaining shouting as Kindle's blade meets a bit more resistance on the next one's scales. A boost to the defense of that many Sahuagin drained most of it's MP, but it doesn't seem bothered, seemingly confident in being able to witness the death of the intruder.
Still, despite their concern for their MP expenditure, Kindle knows better than to hesitate now, especially when they're surrounded and under pressure. They accept the added resistance and continue using the same amount of MP in each attack, since it killed the buffed Sahuagin anyways, if only a bit slower. Another Sahuagin slashed open, then another, then another.
[WARNING: MP BELOW 50%; 220/480 MP]
Most others would have already been drained of MP in this situation, with ///Unified Form (F)/// being Kindle's saving grace. Their sword's poor edge requires the act of infusing mana into it for it to be effective, and they've already used over half their MP, with nearly two dozen Sahuagins left.
Another volley of Ice Bolts blocked and replied with the same, three more Lesser Sahuagin Shamans dead, another 20 MP spent. Another quartet of Lesser Sahuagin Warriors charging towards Kindle, another 20 MP spent on two slashes that cut down two each.Sahuagin after Sahuagin, Kindle slashes and casts through them all as the Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan simply leers from the center. Kindle hates having to preserve ever bit of MP, having to make the most of each movement, each position, each moment, just to ensure they survive something they didn't expect.
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[WARNING: MP BELOW 25%; 100/480 MP]
[WARNING: SP BELOW 50%; 200/480 SP]
The ache in the mana holding Kindle's bones together tightens from the strain on their mana stores and stamina, but with only thirteen more Sahuagin left, they ignore it.
[WARNING: SP BELOW 25%; 110/480 SP]
The Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan gurgles as it watches Kindle struggle more and more despite the few Sahuagin left, an almost sadistic look settling upon their fishlike face.
[WARNING: MP BELOW 10%; 30/480 MP]
With only two Sahuagin left, a Lesser Sahuagin Shaman and the Chieftan, Kindle spends 20 MP on getting rid of the Shaman, it's lean body split in two vertically. It's only now that the giant fishman begins to move, walking towards Kindle with confidence.
Kindle uses a bit more MP, just enough to speak, but not enough to run out and pass out. "I doubt you can understand me, but I feel like I should say it anyways." Kindle sheathes their sword, straightening and approaching the Chieftan in kind. "But your stats are more focused on casting, even if you didn't abandon your physical strength."
When the Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan pulls their fist back, Kindle does the same, but hits the Chieftan's gut before it can even swing, knocking it back into the pools farther than it seemed to expect. "I have the advantage in hand to hand against casters my level, and I intend to make use of it."
[WARNING: SP BELOW 10%; 47/480 SP]
Despite all their big talk just then, Kindle is aware that the Chieftan has a slight advantage in stamina, by over 30 SP currently, and that overexerting their SP will lead to fainting just as doing so with MP would. But the difference in HP is certainly on their side, with the Sahuagin currently at 84 HP after that punch, certainly affected by it enought to hide in the water.
It dives down fully, and the chamber is quiet for a moment aside from the occasional drip of moisture. Then a splash, the massive red Chieftan rushing at Kindle from the pool opposite from where they dived down from. Their coral staff, pointed at the bottom end, jabs towards Kindle with the intent to kill in a single blow.
When Kindle shifts to move, and it the coral staff pierces the worn leather armor's gut with ease, it finds no resistance of flesh, no blood drenching the other side. Cloth and leather armor, nothing else. Kindle is a Living Skeleton after all, and now they're rearing up a punch of their own to call it even.
The impact is far more intense than the previous, given an excellent opportunity by the hesitation and confusion of the Chieftan to drill a fist into it's gut. It doesn't die, but it certainly hit the chamber wall with a crack of bones, and falling back into the pool with a choking sound and splash.
When it doesn't reappear above the water, Kindle grabs some of the fishing spears from the dead Lesser Sahuagin Warriors, aims, and throws with plenty of force. When the first few miss due to the change in velocity, they change the amount of the strength they put in, and even add a little bit of MP just for safe measure, the next throw piercing through the water and straight into the Lesser Sahuagin Chieftan's back.
It's quiet for a moment, a small puddle of red appearing in the pool first. It takes a few more minutes, but soon enough, a notification pops up.
[NOTICE: LESSER SAHUAGIN WARRIOR (36), LESSER SAHUAGIN SHAMAN (18), LESSER SAHUAGIN CHIEFTAN SLAIN]
[+560 XP; 680/3600 XP]
[NOTICE: SIGNIFICANT FEAT ACHIEVED—FEND OFF OR SLAY A HORDE OF HOSTILES THAT LEAVE YOU EXHAUSTED.]
[+TRAIT ///HORDE BREAKER (F)///]
[///HORDE BREAKER///: DECREASES MP AND SP EXPENDITURE BY 10% WHEN FACING A GROUP OF AT LEAST THREE AND AT MOST TEN ALONE. DECREASES HOSTILE CONFIDENCE IN NUMBERS AGAINST SELF. (TRAINED TRAIT)]
Satisfied despite not getting a Level-Up or any cool items, Kindle lies in the center circle of the chamber, resting before they prepare to move on. Kindle won, not by a lot, but they won.
And in a life-or-death situation like they were just in, that's good enough.
NAME: KINDLE
SPECIES: LESSER SKELETON SPELLSWORD
SEX: N/A
XP: 680/3600
AP: 0
HP: 480/480
MP: 4/480
SP: 23/480
CON: 24
AGI: 24
DEX: 24
PER: 24
INT: 24
SIMPLE ARCANIST (F)
SIMPLE CRYOMANCER (F)
SIMPLE SWORDSMAN (F)
SIMPLE SPELLSWORD (F)
///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///
///WORLD EYE///
///UNIFIED FORM (F)///
///HEROIC POTENTIAL (F)///
///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (F)///
///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (F)///
///NATURAL ARCANIST (F)///
///NATURAL SWORDMAN (F)///
///HORDE BREAKER (F)///
