Fall Seven Times, Rise up Eight
七転び八起き
After defeating the nine or so meter FIRE IRON DOLL on the 25th floor, we readied ourselves for the [DOLL] battles on the next floors. Thankfully, they did not possess the [GOLEM] heights as we had anticipated.
When we fought the GOLEMS at the 6th to the 9th floors their sizes ranged from 3 – 5 meters and their most annoying function is repetitive actions: SEE-TARGET-SMASH, SEE-TARGET-PUNCH and SEE-TARGET-STOMP.
While the simple battle made traversing easy, training slowed badly when you get used to this see-through-patterns. We immediately sped our way through the Boss battle, which had the same only stronger attack-patterns.
Thankfully, the [DOLLS] posed more troubles as battles progressed. Since these [DOLLS] can imitate from their assailants, we had to be careful in our fights. Ran and Len saw through their own weaknesses from battling these [DOLLS]. To improve on their weaknesses, we stayed while alternating on floors to ensure battle against any Dungeon Sweeper would not occur.
“It should be the 6th day, but…” right since there was no concept of night and day inside the dungeon it was easier to miss the time. “How long have we been on this floor?”
“Don’t worry it is indeed just the 6th day.” luckily for us, we received watches from both sir Heid and Lady Anna. Although it did not show the days, I was still able to keep track of the Bells that passed and so easily assured them. By the way, we’ve only been on the dungeon for 6 days straight, just a few more hours and it will be the 7th day.
“Shall we pay the Dungeon Lord a visit?” thinking that training together with the assorted dolls was enough, we then opened the door to the Dungeon Lord’s Chamber.
It was unfortunate that we were unable to get the killer titles that would make the boss battle easy though. Just as predicted, the spawn time of the DOLLS were the same as the GOLEMS. Because of that, we could not defeat one hundred of them in one setting, which I think was the condition for unlocking the killer title.
But, the twins, me included did gain a few experiences, both in combat and for our Source Level. While it will probably take a while for me to level up, the twins had leveled up quite a bit thanks to grinding with the DOLLs, since they were lump of Mana -they were a good source of the experience point it would seem.
According to Grim-chan’s latest psychic report, as stated in the Disciple’s Column:
- RAN SEVILES ROMARIA : SOURCE LEVEL 21
- LEN SEVILES ROMARIA : SOURCE LEVEL 18
“I concur!” even the logical Len rubbed by his sister’s enthusiasm.
Since they have somehow gotten their confidence back now, it should be safe to return to the surface. However, the twins still wanted to have a go with the Dungeon Lord. My grudge aside, I feel that the two seems to have grown smug about it. I just hope they don’t go too overconfident.
I was not too jubilant with their overconfidence though. However, there was no need to think as the two cheerfully opened the door the Boss’ room.
*****
Inside the boss, room was quite a structure. The area was like that of a hall that any mansion, complete with the tapestry, to the carpets, even the chandeliers, and they beautifully meshed with ambiance of one. The only difference was room’s size – it was ginormous in comparison any mansion that we have seen.
I am guessing that this is probably due to the Dungeon Lord’s size. The 2nd Area’s boss room also had this gigantic size. In fact, I also had an experience with this scenario when I fought with the Dungeon Lord of the Nameless Dungeon. The humanoid dragon was of a massive size so the arena -the dome-sized-cave boss room also matched its size.
As soon as the door closed on our backs, as if waiting for us to come inside, the gigantic DOLL leered its head towards us. She/he stands tall in our midst, it was 16 or perhaps 17 meters tall DOLL with weapons on its both hands, our guess is it was probably imitating Len.
This is something we had seen in the 26th to the 29th floors. The lower tiered DOLLS seem to learn form the defeated DOLLS and imitate and copy the ones that have defeated them as if their memories are connected.
This Boss is clearly using the stance that Ran is using but the ambiance resembled Len’s. I was glad that I had not fought too much in the previous floors. This looked like a monster that is especially tricky to defeat.
“I won’t be defeated by any copy-cats” Ran pumped herself up.
Taking Ran’s provocation, the [DOLL] launches on us.
“What kind of greeting is this?” Len bemused at the sudden attack.
“Ran, we need to regroup ourselves.” Sharing his older sister’s bewilderment, he then gave orders to regroup.
The two had finally gotten used to fighting by now and immediately made logical decisions for themselves. Judging from their growth, I even thought that they would no longer need me intervening.
However, my earlier hesitation finally took form. As I was looking at their battle tactics. They were attacking as if a cradle was at their bottom – a safety harness. Their combat structures were too dependent that someone would be there when they make a wrong turn. I guess they were too assured that I was strong enough to battle against anything.
“Thanks master. Looks like this will become easy as long as we win battle of attrition. Ran on my left!”
“Sister, master will handle the defense let’s stop these defensive tactics.”
It was nice to be relied on. However, the purpose of this training while it meant for them to gain confidence, it also meant for them to become independent. Meaning as their mentor, I had failed to give them their own battles even if I haven’t done anything to support them at all.
As I was thinking how to address my own faults, the twins battle had become too one sided. Both Ran and Len were now in the complete defense. While I shot as many provocations as possible to momentarily delay the boss’ attacks.
And so unfortunately for the second time, as cruel as it may seem, I needed them to fail a second time.
I had stopped giving them support and only barely shielded them so that they will not die from any major attacks.
Eventually their battle with the Dungeon Lord, a GIGANTIC WIND PLATINUM DOLL ended with their defeat. They had the speed and the skills to become true hunters but lacked the experience to completely wield it as their own, they were merely using it as they saw me used them. Well, they are still kids they have more room for improvement.
When they lost consciousness, I then took over their battle. Thankfully, it had not seen my battle styles as I had refrained from it during our run through here, so it could not completely predict my actions. With me at the helm this time, I used all skills at my disposal. Invoking my ‘Half-Step’ and ‘Flashstep’ Maneuver Tactics I out speed the Dungeon Lord, Invoking Silent Step and Sneak plus concealing my MANA and KI reduced my presence so that the Dungeon Lord would not easily detect me, and unleashed an array of One-on-One and AOE Skills against it to reduce its LIFE FORCE to zero.
“You should thank the Romaria’s for not getting destroyed now” I am not sure if Dungeon Cores retain their sanity when they lose their monster forms, but I just had to talk to it even if it could not respond. “Hope you will give this two another try after they mature in a few years or so.”
With that, I took the twins on my arms and hauled them away from the Dungeon Lord’s Chamber. Hoping when they fully wakeup they will rise from their defeat.
*****
I took the twins to a designated safe zone. Each floor always has them. Once in that Nameless Dungeon, the designated ‘safezone’ was in front of a giant tree strapped with straw, other times it was near a mountain cave. In this 29th floor, it was an abandoned house surrounded by trees.
After a few minutes, the twins finally woke up.
“You two finally woke, I see?” Clearly devastated. They had this apologetic faces as if they had failed me as their disciple. However, I knew all too well, I was at fault. I was the one who failed them. “It was my fault it ended that way, Sorry.”
The twins were a bit confused. “We were just not strong enough, that’s all.”
Shaking my head, I then assured them again. “This time I will provide you with a better lesson.” I looked them in the eyes. “But first you must overcome a certain trial.”
“We will do it!” Ran and Len responded in chorus.
“Okay…” unsheathing my wooden sword I pointed towards the ceiling, however I meant slightly higher. “I want you to catch up to me on the first floor on your own.”
“Ha?” Ran’s voice could not hide her confusion. I could see it in her face that she was slightly afraid. A fear, where of a scenario where there is no longer a strong presence that would safeguard her.
“Your GOAL is to head towards the first-floor entrance area.” I continued. “Be careful, the Boss and the Mid-bosses have already respawned and should be lurking at their floors.”
“Wha… wait…” but before Ran could say any more words. Cruelly, I used Flash Step and disappeared from their sight.
I needed to teach the twins independence for them to proceed onwards as independent hunters capable of battling by themselves. While cruel, as I am pressed with time, there was a need to make them independent very soon.
Well, I am not that cruel as to completely leave them without providing at least any actual safety harness, although they are indeed capable combatants, they are still completely fledglings and could easily do anything stupid.
So, instead of speeding towards the first floor like I had told them earlier, I hid in the shadows and stealthily followed them.
On their way to the 28th floor, they fought almost all the DOLLS that came their way, probably to try to instill in their minds that they are indeed strong. This also happened on the succeeding floors.
There were times when they did some crazy stunts too, experimental stuffs that could lead to their deaths if they were not careful. Thankfully, they did not do anything too stupid and kept looking for the exits and only fighting those who are aggressively stopping them. However, other times they start hunting for DOLLS to test their strength.
“Ran! You are chasing them too far!” It would seem that Len, the logical twin somehow noticed the purpose of this training. Ran however kept chasing the monsters.
“What kind of weak thought is that…” and kept moving on her pace and defeating monsters, clearly irritated by her own weakness. “If we want to be stronger, we have to…”
Len who is still moving dependent to his older sister’s action could not voice out his thoughts and proceeded to cover for her.
When they arrived at the 25th floor the Mid-boss chamber of the 3rd Area however, their actions started to get limited. On the way down, they were able to eliminate this mid-boss with my help as their decoy. But, with me gone, they could not fight it as proficiently. This is where they should be able to identify their weakness… if not…
Conveniently, while trailing the twins I was able to get good Active Skills to trail the two and should be able to use in other scenario.
- Captain for trailing people while keeping MANA and KI Perceptions above level 5 without being noticed you evolve the Active Skill Erase Presence LVL 10 to Erase Existence
- Blend with the surroundings
- Captain what would you do if the two fails?
- Perfect skill for stalking.
To answer Grim-chan’s query they would have to get unconscious again and place them back to the 29th floor. The ‘stalking’ part was for some reason totally uncalled for though. I wonder why, I feel that Grim-chan sometime can be a bit mean. Hopefully, it is just my imagination.
Fortunately, the two seemed to have finally found out the answers. I had figured this out by cross-referencing it with my experience from that Nameless Dungeon. Most Boss and Mid-boss in the beginning strata there was an option to forego them.
I devised this lesson so that they would acknowledge their own weakness and strengths. Battles are an interplay between fight and flight. When dealing with enemies that you have utmost confidence that you can defeat, you fight. However, at times when fighting monsters that are beyond you, it is not cowardly to choose to flee and live to fight another day.
Eventually the two who had finally noticed their major weakness and the purpose of this training they choose to avoid the Boss Monster at the 20th floor and decided to fight to a bare minimum. With that assurance, I decided to speed to the first floor and waited for them at the entrance.
After a few hours of waiting, the two came through.
“You’re finally here.” smiling at them encouragingly, I called for them. “First things first, what have you learned while traversing with just the two of you?”
“We have to choose between Fight and Flight Tactics.” Len said the most obvious learning they had acquired in this trial.
“…and?”
“We were too dependent with your presence.” Finally, they had made their first step in becoming independent.
“Good answers. You are one-step to becoming stronger. Congratulations!” I was proud of them.
With that, we then left the dungeon and at the forest entrance, where we were greeted by a gallery.