Below the Academy Grounds, Professor Candy was on duty.
"Markus, bringing your classmates on an adventure, I see," Candy smirked, "Which one of them is your girlfriend?"
The girls blushed at the professor's teasing comment.
"Professor Candy, I'm too busy to be dating. See you around," Markus waved, scanning his student badge to enter the passageway leading to the portal.
Neon lights lit up the floor, guiding them to one of the many portals within the Academy.
A vibrant blue portal appeared at the end of the corridor.
The mana output pulsing unnaturally, like an ancient heartbeat.
"Alright, girls, as planned, Donna takes the lead," Markus commanded.
Markus stepped through the portal, finding himself atop a Grand Canyon.
Using his wide spatial perception, he perceived no immediate threats and equipped his adaptive cloak.
Its effects were felt immediately; the wind-resistant properties of the cloak eased the wind pressure acting upon Markus.
Donna stepped in, followed by the rest of the team.
She conjured a barrier of wind right away, relieving the strong wind pressure from the other members of the team.
"Coo Coo, Coo Coo"
A level 22 Tri-Horned Owl was hanging on a dried branch off a cliff.
More echoes resounded through the Canyon.
A wisdom of owls took to the skies. (Group of 3)
Its wingspan is 7 feet long, covering the skies menacingly.
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 22
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 21
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 23
Donna took the initiative.
[Wind Blade]
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 22
Health: 2,000/3,100
Jessica and Mika followed up right away.
[Ice Lance]
[Lightning Strike]
[Tri-Horned Owl Defeated]
[Level up]
The owls, enraged by the attacks and their fallen comrade, nosedived, targeting Donna at the front.
[Donna Michealson]
Health: 3,400/5,000
[Healing Light]
Health: 4,400/5,000
"THANKS ROSANNE"
[Wind Barrier]
Health: 4,400/5000 (Shield: 1000)
In no time, the group of 4 took down the three owls assaulting them.
They sat down in an open area and replenished their spent mana.
[Mana potion consumed]
+50 Mana
[Mana potion consumed]
+50 Mana
The prolonged combat earlier attracted another wisdom of owls.
Markus got up, "You girls take a break, I'll handle these."
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 22
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 23
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 23
[Spatial Slash]
[Spatial Slash]
[Spatial Slash]
Markus's attributes and mastery over spatial laws struck them down in 1 hit.
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 22 defeated
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 23 defeated
[Tri-Horned Owl] Level 23 defeated
"Clap Clap Clap"
"Wow!! Big Bro, you took them all down in 1 hit! How strong are you now?!" Rosanne exclaimed.
"Level 32," Markus shrugged, flicking his wrist, collecting the remains of the Tri-Horned owls.
After a 15-minute break, the group got back on their feet and trekked through the canyon.
Rosanne assigned some attributes to her status panel.
----------------------------------------------------------
Name: Rosanne Vance
Age: 10
Class: Priestess of Light (Tier 1)
Affinities: Light (SS)
Level: 12
Strength: 40
Agility: 70
Constitution: 70
Intelligence: 120
Available free attributes: 10
Active Skills:
Healing Light
Blinding Light
Passive Skills:
Body refinement (Tier 3)
Equipment:
Vance Family Crest
Dimensional Storage Ring (Tier 2)
----------------------------------------------------------
5 Freedom Chicken circled them above the skies.
[Freedom Chicken] Level 24
[Freedom Chicken] Level 23
[Freedom Chicken] Level 25
[Freedom Chicken] Level 25
[Alpha Freedom Chicken] Level 27
"Ladies, do what you can, I'll provide defensive support for this battle"
[Spatial Bubble] x 4
Markus applied a protective film of spatial energies over his teammates.
[Lightning Strike]
[Ice Lance]
[Wind Blade]
[Light Beam]
The girls went on a full offensive strike.
Their mana draining rapidly.
Donna's wind blade and Jessica's lightning strike fused in the air.
Combining into an entirely new spell.
[Lightning Wind Blade]
The lightning wind blade possessed destructive elements.
It struck two freedom chickens and exploded mid-air.
[Freedom Chicken] Level 24 Slain
[Freedom Chicken] Level 25 Slain
With the discovery of a new elemental synergy, they stood side by side and coordinated their abilities.
[Lightning Wind Blade]
[Freedom Chicken] Level 23 Slain
[Freedom Chicken] Level 25 Slain
[Level up]
The Alpha Freedom Chicken despaired at the group of young students and turned tail.
Before it could escape into the horizon, Markus deployed his spatial domain.
Locking it down in space.
"Girls, there's your chance," Markus signaled.
They threw another volley of spells and finished off the giant bird.
[Alpha Freedom Chicken] Level 27 Slain
[Level up]
Markus nodded with approval; their teamwork has been steadily improving.
Furthermore, they had discovered elemental synergies with one another.
"Let's take a 30-minute break here," Markus guided them under the shade of an aspen tree.
"We should be getting to the boss zone soon."
"Since this is an open area, expect the boss to approach from any angle," Markus said, pointing towards the end of the dungeon.
A steep drop where the canyons loom over.
"Switch formations, you girls should face your backs against one another to prevent ambushes," Markus explained, "Remember to look for weak points to deal critical damage."
"If the boss is a flying type, try to maim its wings and turn it into a ground battle."
"We have a disadvantage battling air beasts; it costs too much mana to cast spells consecutively."
Markus tossed them 12 mana potions he bought before the expedition.
"Drink up, I brought extra just in case, and I was right."
"Thank you, brother Markus!!" Rosanne hugged Markus from the back, prompting a whistle from Jessica.
Markus activated his fate's eyes to scout for dangers ahead.
It's always better to be safe than sorry.
The path forward shone blue, prompting no danger for him.
(Hmm, no danger for me, does not mean it's not dangerous for them.)
Markus took out his sword and buckled it on his belt.
To ensure easy access in case a situation arises.
The girls approached the canyon cliffs, and a gust of wind blew upwards.
"KYAAAAAAAAA"
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health: 100,000/100,000
The dungeon boss, meant to be a griffin, mutated into a sphynx.
"Humans, how dare you trespass on my domain!!" The Sphynx roared.
[Spatial Domain]
Markus unsheathed his blade.
[Vorpal Strike]
[Vorpal Strike]
[Vorpal Strike]
3 crescent arcs cleaved through the air, containing deadly space laws.
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health: 57,000/100,000
The mutated beast fell to the ground.
[Thud]
Markus cut down one of its wings.
"It's all yours, ladies," Markus stepped aside, "This mutation was too much for you guys to deal with."
"I merely humbled it a little."
Markus didn't steal the kill, but he grounded the threat so his team could practice their finishers.
[Lightning Wind Blade]
-6,700
[Ice Lance]
-1,200
[Light Beam]
-1,100
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health: 48,000/100,000
"You puny mortals, DIE!!" the sphynx roared, its tail whipped at them, the serpent's head lashed towards Donna.
[Wind Barrier]
-1,000
The Sphynx, which had the body of a lion, maneuvered the battlefield with agility.
With its remaining wing, it extended it outwards and did a 360.
The girls ducked; its wing cut through the air where their heads had been.
[Lightning Wind Blade]
-7,300
[Ice Lance]
-1,300
[Ice Lance]
-1,300
[Light Beam]
-1,100
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health:37,000/100,000
Its body was riddled with cuts, burns, and holes caused by the barrage of spells.
[Bleeding]
-8,000
[Burn]
-5,000
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health:24,000/100,000
"Focus on its tail!" Markus hollered at the ladies.
[Lightning Wind Blade]
[Critical Hit] – 14,000
Its severed tail fell onto the ground limply.
The snake's head lost its luster in its eyes.
"Finish it off!" Markus commanded, "Don't let it escape!"
[Light Beam]
-2,000
[Ice Lance]
-3,000
[Lightning Wind Blade]
–5,000
[Elder Sphynx] Level 30
Health: 0/100,000
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
The ladies levelled up twice with the fall of the mutated dungeon boss.
The girls collapsed onto the canyon floor, breathless but exhilarated. Rosanne looked at her glowing hands, the light of her level-up still fading.
"We actually did it," she whispered, looking up at Markus. He stood at the edge of the cliff, his adaptive cloak fluttering in the updraft, looking not at the loot, but at the horizon.
He could feel a pulse in his inventory—a rhythmic, spatial thrumming. The egg wasn't just waiting anymore. It was hungry.
[System quest: 3/5 Dungeons Cleared]
[Reward: 10 Attribute Points]
----------------------------------------------------------
Name: Rosanne Vance
Age: 10
Class: Priestess of Light (Tier 1)
Affinities: Light (SS)
Level: 17
Health: 10,000/10,000
Mana: 2,700/23,000
Strength: 40
Agility: 70
Constitution: 70
Intelligence: 120
Available free attributes: 50
Active Skills:
Healing Light
Blinding Light
Passive Skills:
Body refinement (Tier 3)
Equipment:
Vance Family Crest
Dimensional Storage Ring (Tier 2)
----------------------------------------------------------