Dystopian Tales Online

Death is the only escape.

Leon wandered off behind the boulders just to enchant the tracing scent he has been releasing ever since they entered the cave. It was hard to walk and run in a dark place especially that his sight is not accustomed to it. He might even slip once, or twice, along the irregular paved ground that has been waxed and grown out moss by nature. But with the fifteen foot tall humongous monster in front of him, getting scratches would be nonsense.

Rather, everything would be numb compare to the fear that he have.

Leon is trying to identify the beast on rampage. It has the looks of a gorilla with a very long beard down to its face, eyes closer to that of a wolf, with a twin tail rampaging furiously on its back. It has black fur around its body, hairs that can be needle sharp in contact with people. Or if not, fumes that were released are also acidic enough to melt a metal and dissolve the flesh and bone to nothingness.

Is it a gorilla? Or a mixed creature called chimera?

Though, one thing is for sure - it would be the death of him if he will be caught.

The tracing scent spell he casted will last for five minutes after the activation sequence, giving Leon and his party members some time, though not enough, to think on how to escape this death dance. The tracing scent spell is like a diversion spell where the caster will release tantamount scents of various strengths that could attract any beast that catches it. Running around in a close, not ventilated area, will only keep the scent stay still on the place it was casted.

That idea made it easier for the elf to confuse the beast for a while, however, he knows that doing this random running around and releasing scents would be useless if they can't go out the cave. In a cave wide enough to fit two football fields with only one door for entrance and exit, they only have to run pass the beast and escape through the front door.

If only that idea is easier than being done.

For amateurs like them, it is impossible to level their speed on the beast that can actually chase a bullet train without wasting any effort and energy. Also adding the fact that they are now only left with some people having the Humanoid race, and one that is of the Elven race that can currently use basic healing magic.

None of these two races posses the quirk skill for running.

Leon remained in one of the huge rocks, leaning on his back while peeking on the event in the center. He used almost most of his mana giving him only a few more rounds of activating some spells under the remaining radar. He can no longer use his [SPECIAL SPELLS] that drains a half of mana even though it is really useful in an emergency situation like this.

This is all my fault, Leon thought.

He counted through his mind how many members left on their party during this quest. They started with fifteen members - the minimum number required to form a party that will be questing on the dungeons. Actually, lesser number of people will be allowed if it has been approved by the guild. Mostly, these parties are composed of highly skilled adventurers that can kill this level of beast in one sight.

Well, they are down to eight members now.

They lost two of their members during on their way down to the floors and both are magic users and capable of casting healing magic. With a group of thirteen with lesser number of people who can grant a healing magic, it is advisable, rather, it is obvious that going to a higher tier floor without getting slaughtered is totally impossible. It would be better if they just backed out, save some energy while waiting for the reincarnation process before going back in.

Leon gritted his teeth.

It wasn't his idea to continue excavating to the higher tier floors. Since the earlier adventures unlocked the map of the said floors, to which a map can only be obtained once the Floor's Boss is defeated, the place is still safe for low level profiles who wanted to venture out and check the floor.

The monsters' level would be minimized while restricting their original prowess to give way and an ease of access to the next players. Though, the minimizing effect also affects the experience points. That is why high level adventurers, no, all adventurers wanted to go first in flagging a dungeon floor to earn higher points for them to level up.

And that must be the reason why their party leader decided to continue.

Once a floor is cleared, a door leading to the other floor will be visibly open. However tempting, it is clear for any rational beings to know that facing an unknown place filled with unexpected mazes and dead ends would be dangerous.

That is to say, aside the Boss that is sitting on a throne room, rare monsters must have nested somewhere in the maze that can actually kill a party of high-level adventurers if they are not careful. Much more on the group of Leon where everyone is still on the edge of the low level class of adventurers.

One swoosh, and they will be annihilated.

He was able to think of this possibility while just watching the ominous door open. Of course, they are pretty much allowed to enter. Nobody will stop them, everyone is allowed to get it first. But that must be in the consideration of having a troupe that can actually finish an impossible task. But to his statistics, they will definitely die without even walking halfway.

The map of the next floor is still unknown, giving them higher chance of wandering in a wrong direction that may lead them to a dead end. The higher the floor, the more complex the maze will be, terrorizing the idea of easy entrance towards the boss. On the way, they will surely encounter high level monsters that in any means is anywhere stronger than them. And if by luck that they manage to reach the Boss' throne...

It is still impossible to win.

That is why Leon is feeling guilty.

He knows the exact probability of walking through a dead end but still he remained silent. Seeing the infinite numbers running in front of his eyes, directions are being made, keeping him on track on to which direction they should go. He was able to see the spec of each of the players, calculating them in one sight, knowing their weaknesses and the possibility of maximizing their abilities in this quest. He was able to grasp the team's potential... No, he can actually see more than what is being presented.

Leon is gifted with an outstanding intelligence.

He is born as a genius.

Numbers normally appear before him like a machine calculating every part of the screen, seeing the numbers running side by side, as if it is a holographic image showing the axes and points they are connected. He can calculate equations in the fastest seconds, passing sets of numerical values over integration, mostly giving him theoretical units. Theoretical - in a sense, however, still gives him an approachable valid answer. The best output that he can give would be the situation that he conspired to happen.

In a split second, his theories became the reality.

The beast found a pair of their members hiding on the corner. It took them by hand, gripping them up while the beast roared a loud noise. It vibrated all throughout the cave creating a series of earthquakes. One can just simple hear the hiding ones whimper while the abducted adventurers are now crying for help. Leon can't help but to hide and just watch. But who can actually watch their companion to be killed? Not that he is not scared at all.

He might be the next.

'How many minutes left for survival?"

Leon turned his head to the side to know who just talked. A man covered with a cheap looking metal b.r.e.a.s.t plate, a child's play safety hat, and a beginner's boots is leaning on the boulder beside him, looking unto the direction away from the center. He was actually sitting down, one knee folded up while the other leg is down. He created a calm aura around him that bothered Leon for a while.

Yet, he still replied.

"Two more minutes. I can still cast another five-minute tracking spell but that would be the last."

"Then seven more minutes left for praying."

Leon looked back at the scene and found the beast still playing the players at hand. One is actually slowly losing its life just by the touch of a higher rare being. While the other is not specifically dead, but not moving. One more slight grip and the adventurer started to glow, creating flashes of light going to the 'Other world'...

He looked back when he heard another sound. Searching for the source, it landed to that one member who thought he could escape by just running his way out and decided to take the chance while the beast is still playing. The member has speed, Leon admits it. He might be as fast of a scooter or a bicycle.

But Leon have seen it. His statistics. His physics.

And just by that, the beast stepped a foot unto the running person and smashed him down flat. The monster heaved his foot up to see what happened, seeing a body with no blood lying on the floor. His body emitted light rays and eventually vanished like a computer information dissipating.

Ah... Death is the only escape, he thought.

Worrying over something so simple, Leon decided to join the warrior of the humanoid race. Sitting beside the said companion, his mind slowly wandered off by shutting the numbers like a computer going off the power. And just by that, his sight is being cleared from numbers, seeing the scene normally than before.

"I never thought that I would be this scared to die," the warrior suddenly spoke. "I never thought dying could be this scary."

"That is depending on the situation. I am more scared of not getting out from this hell than dying," Leon said.

The warrior chuckled in a low tone. His calmness made Leon feel somehow relaxed after the tension that they are in. Actually, the two-minute off will be gone and he's not planning to enchant another tracing scent spell anymore. The beast will definitely find them in this setting but that could be the easiest way.

Why prolonged the death if at the end you will just face it anyway?

"I am actually having a hard time keeping everything up. I guess I'm not that focused on this quest. I'm sorry," the warrior apologized as if it was his fault for not defeating the beast.

It is true that his archetype should be the one to defend the team. But what is happening right now is different to his line of work. Though, Leon shook his head.

"You look so calm despite the attack. That is a good thing for a warrior to have," Leon said.

Unlike him who could only chant simple spells and a few healing magic, is more useless than the one who knows his own weakness. The warrior take a good look to the sharp-eared companion and showed his hand.

"I'm Shin Melville, actually a first year middle school in real life," the warrior introduced himself.

Leon stared at his hand for a while. The warrior's profile showed a cut of his name with the HP and MP in a warning color. It was quite weird for a player to reveal its name in the game but he accepted the shake and pump it twice before letting go to introduce his self.

"Leonard Graham, also on the same year."

"Leonard Graham? Your name sounds familiar," Shin said, showing a look of interest.

"Really? Well, my name is quite common though. Maybe that's the catch?"

"Well no, actually..." Shin paused, scratching his chin with his hand. "I think I've seen that name somewhere... Um... Aha!"

Leon almost jumped in surprise. The Warrior's eyes glinted with excitement.

"W-what is it?" Leon asked.

"Are you, perhaps, also a student of Foster Preparatory Academy?" He said.

Leon's eyes widened upon hearing the name. Indeed, he was a student there. A first year middle school student. That's when he thought that Shin Melville is also a familiar name. Wait... wait... now that the thought came in...It is now his time to exclaim.

"Hey, don't tell me... you are..." They chorused pointing to the other with mouths gaped.

A shadow hovered over them, snapping their playful senses to a serious look. The beast quickly dug its arms down to catch them, creating clouds of dusts from the impact of its fist to the ground. The beasts waited for the gust to dissipate when it realizes that what he caught is none other than the thin air. From the two opposite sides where its blind eyes are placed appeared two figures leaping out in the air.

One of them is a calm warrior.

The other is a thinking elf.

Flashed by a sudden flow of adrenaline, the two players with low level specs decided to team up without speaking out words. By just thinking, and just watching, their instincts suddenly matched in synchronicity, taking account of the advantages and disadvantages the other possess. It was just in a split second that both of them know a perfect plan to defeat the beast.