"Breath attack?" John asked while glancing curiously at Black Dragoon, who smiled and said. "You have probably heard how my race can use breath attacks IRL. Well, to make Genesis as realistic as possible, Tia granted us the same privilege here. Though they're naturally not as powerful, since that would upset the balance of the game. Let me show you."
And as she finished speaking, a new information window appeared before them all.
[Draconian Breath (Rank 1)]
[Draconian Breath: Release your breath attack in a cone in front of you, damaging anything it makes contact with.]
[50 + physical or magical ATP Damage (Whichever is higher)]
[50 MP Cost]
[Cast Time: 2 Seconds]
[Cooldown: 30 seconds.]
"Wow, that's cool," John replied before asking, "Can you also fly?"
Black Dragoon gave a proud smirk at his response as she suddenly revealed black, leathery wings; a long dragon's tail that fell behind her; and two sets of horns: the ones at the front were small and sharp, while the ones behind were longer, thicker and spiralled, before saying, "It's more glide than fly, at least in the beginning. At my current level, I can glide a few feet above the ground; it's basically just another form of walking. However, once my level gets high and I find a skillbook or trainer that teaches me to fly, I'll be able to fly like in real life."
"Alright, alright. Let's get moving; time's ticking," Emberslag stated in annoyance, to which Shelur teased. "And whose fault is that?"
"Shut up already, I already apologised, god. Let's go," Emberslag replied before leading the way.
John glanced at the quest notification that was still showing on his screen and thought, {Accept}, before jogging to catch up with Emberslag and walking alongside her while heading deeper into the cave, which was illuminated by manor stones in the walls.
"Accept"
[Quest Accepted]
[You have left the safe zone]
Emberslag glanced at him and smiled before asking, "Do you have a shield?"
"I got one as a reward when I got my class," John replied before equipping the apprentice staff and Bahamut's Aegis while adding. "Though I've not had a chance to practice with it yet."
"Yeah, that's about normal," Emberslag replied. "Shields are pretty rare since before now; only the shaman and guardian used them."
And as she finished speaking, a hammer appeared in her main hand while a shield in her off and she added. "Shamans can off-tank, but that's not really my style, as Shelur keeps telling me; I tend to get too focused on dealing damage."
"Well, I'll try to keep the enemy's attention on me so you can have fun and go to town on them," John replied, prompting Emberslag to smile at him and say. "Appreciate it." Before she glanced back at Shelur and asked, "Are you going to summon your minion?"
"I'm gonna wait until the fight starts," Shelur replied before adding. "You know that thing never shuts up."
Emberslag rolled her eyes while saying, "I told you to buy the next summon as soon as you ranked up, but nooo, you had to get a new attack spell."
"Says the girl who can't tank or heal because she gets tunnel vision," Shelur retorted while Mel leaned in close to Dragoon and asked. "Are they normally like this?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Dragoon whispered back. "They're close friends IRL, so they have this dynamic between them."
Soon John heard the sound of talking, so he raised his hand and slowed down while asking, "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Emberslag asked as she, Shelur and Black Dragoon all gave him confused looks.
"I can." Mel nodded, causing Shelur to frown and ask. "Do you two have some strange human diseases? It's not contagious, right?"
"Shut up, Shelur," Emberslag complained before looking back at John and asking. "What can you hear?"
"It sounds like an argument, but I think we need to get closer for me to make it out," John replied before the group began to cautiously head down the tunnel.
"Look, bro, I'm telling you, if you wanna hook up with her, you gotta show her how strong you are; chicks dig a strong male," A male voice said, only for a female to ask. "Oh yeah, who made you the expert on women?"
"Well, I have my share of women," The first voice said proudly before continuing. "Just the other day I met this gorgeous babe, and we had at it for hours. I'm telling you, it was the best action I've had in at least a week."
"Only a week?" Another voice asked, causing the first to say. "What can I say, the chicks dig me."
"Yeah, not seeing it," The female voice replied before adding. "Plus, I'm not sure how you could satisfy anyone with that small thing."
"Hey! I never said I would use it on you; why would I even bother considering how big you are?" The first voice retorted, causing John and Mel to share a confused look.
"So?" Shelur asked, prompting John to glance at Mel, who pointedly looked away in embarrassment.
John sighed before saying, "It sounds like there are at least four individuals in there, and they are having a rather heated discussion."
"Heated about what?" Black Dragoon asked, at which point John scratched the back of his neck before saying. "Sex."
Excuse me?" Emberslag asked as all three women blushed and Shelur glared at John while asking in a louder and angrier tone. "Are you messing with us? We were kind enough to invite you along, and here you are messing with us. I knew humans couldn't be trusted."
"It's true," Mel replied, and John was about to try to explain when the first voice said. "Quiet, I think they're returning."
"Huh!" John said in confusion while looking at Mel and asking. "Why would they go quiet if they think their comrades are returning?"
"Maybe they're worried the leader will catch them goofing off?" Mel suggested.
"Maybe, but something feels off about this. Wait here," John said as he placed his shield on his back, allowing him to sneak along the tunnel's side without the shield catching on it.
"What's wrong?" Emberslag asked Mel as John neared a corner, and he carefully looked around it to see a large open room filled with a bunch of cages with animals in. The cages were all filthy, as were their occupants; it was apparent the bandits did not care for these animals in the least.
John inspected the room once more, but upon seeing that there were no bandits present, he waved for the women to come join him as he stepped into the room.
"Who are these people? They don't look like those damn bandits that locked us up?" The first voice suddenly said, and John found that it came from a rabbit that was locked in one of the cages.
"Maybe they're here to help us," The female voice, which turned out to be a deer, replied.
"Oh, well, that explains it," Mel remarked while John nodded in agreement.
"Explains what?" Black Dragoon asked. "I thought you heard voices."
"We did," Mel replied before pointing at the animals and saying, "Theirs."
"Theirs?" Black Dragoon repeated in confusion, while the rabbit asked in equal confusion, "Ours?"
"J… I mean, Vincarna and I both have the Language of Beasts passive," Mel replied, prompting Black Dragoon's eyes to widen and ask. "Seriously?"
"Bullshit, I don't buy it," The rabbit retorted while a boar said. "Yeah, they're obviously both human; no way they can understand us."
"Uh huh, uh huh," The rabbit nodded. "The guy is probably only saying it to look good with the chicks; not a bad plan, really."
"The what about the human female, dumbass?" The deer asked.
"She's obviously his mate that he's conquered in the bedroom, and so she now obeys his every command," The rabbit said sagely while the boar said. "Wow, I wonder if he'll teach me a thing or two."
John's eyebrow twitched while Mel smirked in amusement as she asked. "Conquered me in the bedroom, did you? Apparently it was so good that I don't remember it happening."
"See, told you," The rabbit said proudly while the three women flushed after hearing Mel and Emberslag said in embarrassment. "I had no idea you two were in that kind of relationship."
"We're not," John replied while glaring at Mel, who smiled in amusement before giving him a flirtatious wink and saying. "At least not yet."
"I'm totally confused," Shelur remarked, the rabbit said in agreement. "Same here, babe."
Upon hearing the rabbit's remark, Mel frowned before asking, "Did you seriously just address her as babe?"
"What can I say, I'm a man of pleasure, and as long as they're female, I'm game," The rabbit replied with absolutely zero shame, while the deer scoffed and said. "Oh yeah, then what happened to me being too big before?"
"Errr," The rabbit replied before saying. "Well, even I have my limits. Why are you interested? I don't mind giving it a shot."
"In your dreams, ya damn perverted rabbit," The deer replied.