A Dungeon’s Survival

Adraugon

I meant use it on the enemy! I shouted at Hunt.

I had done everything I could to push him out of the way of the incoming swipe, burning almost all of my remaining mana in the process, and I'd succeeded in that. More importantly, though, I'd successfully changed his trajectory so that he was on path to collide with the predator that was threatening us. It was the perfect opportunity for him to use Velocity Transference, and had he done so properly, it would've been enough to create distance between the enemy and ourselves, distance that I could've used to get my vassals out of harm's way. Instead, the fool had used it to throw away his own weapon. I could scarcely believe it.

Ugh, no time for that, I thought to myself before dismissing that blunder and yelling for the fool to hear, Move! Move or die!

Momentarily, I felt a surge of envy towards the lifespring stone. She could communicate her thoughts to us directly. I, however, didn't have that benefit. While the System did translate my meaning to both her servants and my own, they still needed to be able to hear me for that to mean anything, and with how loud the invading monster was roaring right now, I feared any sound I made would be drowned out. Fortunately, that didn't seem to be the case as the Draconic Lizard Man in question scrambled to pick himself up, but then, he froze.

Seriously? This is hopeless!

Things were getting worse by the moment. All the bear needed to do to kill the three of us was to unleash a roar attack like it had back when it'd destroyed a chunk of my hoard. Even another simple swipe of its claws would've been enough to crush both Hunt and Rein, and that was to say nothing of the mage that was still somewhere above us. Had it not been for her wasting most of her mana beforehand, my servants likely would've already been dead. Even now, I couldn't be sure she was completely out.

Originally, I'd wanted to have Rein use the potion she'd grabbed to block off the route to the next room, ineffective as simple flames may have been. Meanwhile, I'd been planning on having Hunt use Velocity Transference to take control of the flow of battle and potentially create an opening I could exploit with the what mana I did have left. Everything had gone awry in an instant, however.

Potions were no longer an option. Rein had made the right call in using the pair she had. By doing so, she'd bought us the time we'd needed to retreat. Now, that we had gotten out of there, though, those bottles were weapons we no longer had.

Likewise, Velocity Transference was no longer an option. Hunt had wasted his use of the ability, and I'd been forced to use mine to deflect the staff that'd nearly crushed me. My Unnatural Survival had been burned from the backlash of Hunt killing his momentum while I was pressed against his back, and I'd used Gale Impact on the fire my potions had started to temporarily blind the mage.

It had been a hectic scramble out of one bad situation and into another. We'd made it, but it hadn't left us with much to work with. Simply put, we were no longer equipped to handle the enemy that was now towering over us, my vassals doubly so. Just escaping was going to be difficult enough for them at this point. Fortunately, there was still one edge I could assure them.

At first, I considered just shouting my order, but it was clear that Hunt wasn't mentally holding up in this situation. Even as he began to move, his fleeing was closer to a desperate scramble than anything deliberate. I doubted giving him anything else to focus on would be beneficial, so instead, I turned my attention to Rein, scrambling up Hunt's back to reach her.

My second servant was much different from my first. Where Hunt was straightforward, cared about strength, and not much else, two traits that befitted the servant of a dragon, Rein, instead, was cunning and prioritized her mind. That wasn't to say she wasn't deserving of her role. Her pride and ambition were beautiful things that demanded respect. Her methods, however, far closer resembled the snakes' rather than my own.

That wasn't a bad thing. I knew how effective my rivals' methods could be, and they were exactly what I needed right now. Between the tenacity she'd displayed when she'd been reacted to the surprise attack we'd been subjected to in an instant and her MIND that she'd prioritized as much as she had, it was going to have to be enough. I'd leave things up to her.

Resolved to do that, I spoke softer than usual as I reached her shoulder, You, new ability, I commanded her, Choose now.

Rather than waiting for an answer, I returned my focus to the one carrying her and issued another order, Hunt, take Rein to bog. Hide there and wait.

[You have learned the skill Tactics!]

[You have learned the skill Group Organization!]

I paid the messages no mind as I used what mana I still had left to take to the air. So long as my servants did as I'd commanded, I was confident they'd be left with the best chance possible at survival. I still had things to take care of here, though. Just because they were leaving the battlefield didn't mean Hunt and Rein were safe yet. The invader trespassing in my territory could still target them as things were. It needed to be distracted, and besides, I still had a score to settle with it for the damage it'd done to my shinies.

As I flew toward my enemy, I failed to notice just how fast I was moving. Hoard of Dragons was fully active.

* * *

Rein

From the moment that woman hit me, everything had been a blur. The pain was sharp, and the fall was disorienting. No matter how jarring the experience had been, however, I wasn't about to just sit back as death bared its fangs at us. The sight of the beast towering so high above us was enough to cause my pain to fall to the back of my mind and start my thoughts racing as Hunt turned on his heels and began feeling from it. A moment later, my lord's voice came from beside me with an order

“You,” he grabbed my attention, “new ability. Choose now.”

I blinked at that, it taking me a brief moment to parse his meaning, but soon, understanding dawned on me. He hadn't remained idle during that time, however. As soon as he'd given me the order, he'd turned his attention toward Hunt and gave him instructions, too, instructions to carry me to the bog and to hide there.

Wait, I thought as the implications his words carried set in, he doesn't intend to handle the Onikuma himself, does he?

It didn't take more than a moment for my suspicions to be confirmed. My liege wasted no time in taking to the air and zipping toward the creature. My heart skipped a beat at that sight. I had faith in him, but for him to go to such lengths to protect us? It was unthinkable. We weren't worthy of such a lord. In that moment, I was both struck with awe at his magnanimity and horrified at the risks he was exposing himself to for our sake.

Even overcome by emotions as I was, though, I didn't sit idle. I'd been given an order. Instinctively, I willed for the System to grant me the power I was told to obtain, and it responded to my plea. As soon as the screen entered my field of vision, I acted without hesitation.

[Please select a type of bonus.

Extra Stats / New Spell or Ability / Upgrade]

New Spell or Ability!

As soon as the options appeared, I began reading. It was urgent that I act quickly, but acting on anything other than complete information would've been foolish. For that reason, I reluctantly took the time to understand each in full.

[Ability: Bloody Rend

Cooldown: 2 minutes

Description: You empower your claws with your own life force for a powerful slash.

Effect: At the cost of 5% of your health, you can empower an attack made with your claws. The attack deals an additional base damage of 0.5 x (VIT) + 0.2 x (FORT) damage.]

It was a solid option, but to utilize it properly, the investments I'd have been needed to make to those two stats would've been significant. It also would've required me to pursue a melee focus that didn't rely on weapons. The impracticality of that aside, that wasn't what I desired for myself. Still, I would've chosen it in a heartbeat if I'd thought it would allowed me to assist my lord in the present moment. As it stood, though, it would've been next to worthless in my hands, so I moved on.

[Ability: Hoard of Dragons

Description: You become stronger while protecting your hoard.

Effect: While protecting your hoard, you gain +10% to every stat.]

It was my lord's ability. He had the exact same one. Undeniably, it was powerful and held great potential, but again, it was at odds with my desires.

I didn't seek to build a hoard of my own–quite the opposite. I desired only to add to my liege's wealth. More importantly, though, without an already established hoard of my own, it wouldn't have done a thing in this crucial moment.

By the time I realized that, we were already passing through the entrance to the hall leading to the bog. Going forward, the overgrowth would slow our progress some, but a clear path through it already existed. Soon, I would lose sight of the battle taking place behind us. If I was going to do anything, this was the moment for it, so hastily, I turned my attention toward my last option. Whatever it was, I was almost certain I'd take it, but desperately, I offered a silent plea to the System itself. I needed something ranged and powerful, something with a utility focus, perhaps.

[Ability: Offerings of Devotion]

Somehow, it was all of those things and yet none of them at the same time.

[Description: You sacrifice a portion of your strength to your overlord.

Effect: You temporarily sacrifice as many stat points as you would like to your overlord. In turn, your overlord gains half as many points to that stat for the next hour. For every hundred total points they have more than you in that stat, the amount they gain is halved. You must retain at least one point in each stat when making an offering. Additionally, offered stats do not return to you for a full day.]

Before I knew it, I'd accepted the ability and used it with every point I could spare. In an instant, every stat I had–save for my FORT, which I feared my current injures might've made it impossible for me to live without–dropped to one, and as they left me, so too did my perception of the world around me. My pain intensified, and my ability to form thoughts failed me.

It was unlikely what little power I could offer my lord would make a difference, but it was the most I could do. Under different circumstances, I may have still tried to figure out some way to support him from the sidelines. That option was no longer up to me, though.

All I knew from that point onward was a blur of darkness and a string of sensations I could vaguely notice but not truly understand. There was the sensation of water on my scales, glowing words I could not read, and a dim light in the distance. Hunt, I think, covered my mouth for a time. I didn't know why, nor did I have the presence of mind to question it. For the next day, I simply was.