Dungeon Master (Karma System)

The Academy representatives spent another twenty minutes examining the empty stretch of land. Amelia paced out possible locations for classrooms while Varlan questioned one of the gnomes about construction. Master Halvern listened to both of them without committing to anything.

Lana had left several minutes earlier. She had a scheduled Orc Highlands attempt with Rod and the others, and Lady Winters had reluctantly allowed her to leave rather than delay the entire party.

Master Halvern turned to Max and Anna. "I believe we have seen enough to present an initial proposal to the Academy."

"Send Anna a list of what you want built," Max said. "The gnomes will give you a price. The lease covers the land. It does not include the trainers, food, equipment, or anything else your people decide to use."

"I expected as much," Halvern replied.

Amelia looked reluctant to leave. "Before we return to the Academy, I would still like to observe one of your trainers conducting a lesson."

"You can schedule that with Anna or go directly to class trainer building. It isn’t too expensive."

Amelia clicked her tongue, it was obvious she was trying to get a freebie, but Max simply didn’t care. Anna covered a small smile with her clipboard while Master Halvern chuckled.

"We will start small," the old mage said. "One building, a limited number of instructors, and a rotating group of students. If the arrangement proves as valuable as it appears, we can discuss expansion later."

"Sounds good to me."

Before anyone could begin discussing the exact size of the building, Anna’s clipboard chimed. She looked down at the new message. "Rod’s party is about to enter Orc Highlands." She announced.

Lady Winters immediately turned toward Max. "Can we watch?"

Max opened a portal. "Of course."

The portal led into one of the private observation rooms beneath the village. Quin was already seated before the large projection, watching Rod’s party gather at the dungeon arch. He moved one boot off an empty chair so Anna could sit beside Max.

"Fourth official attempt," Quin said. "They have spent considerably more time fighting the available creatures in the Orc Arena."

Varlan studied the party information displayed beside the projection. "Three of them are below the suggested level."

"They know," Max said.

Lady Winters stood behind the seats with her eyes fixed on Lana. She looked worried, but not surprised. By now, she had watched her daughter die inside the dungeon more than once. Master Halvern and Amelia moved closer to the projection. Amelia’s attention shifted between Lana’s listed spells and the image of the arena forming around the party.

"This should give you a better idea of what we offer," Max said. "Your Academy can teach people how a spell works. The dungeon teaches them how they can use it while something is trying to smash them into the ground."

Quin gave a quiet laugh. "Assuming they avoid being smashed."

***

Rod stepped through the dungeon arch with his axe resting across one shoulder. Cindy, his sister and Halbin, his father followed him, with Lana and Dirk bringing up the rear.

They had kept their promise to return after their first defeat against the Cyclops. Unfortunately, the creatures offered by the Beast Master changed every day. Their second attempt had ended when a manticore’s tail spikes tore through Lana and Dirk before the others could reach it. During another attempt, a ground wyrm had burrowed beneath Cindy and dragged her away from the group.

After that, Rod stopped throwing them into the level every day. They had spent their time studying the recordings and fighting the creatures they had already encountered in the Orc Arena.

Today they believed they were ready. The party emerged from the stone tunnel and entered the arena. Thousands of Orcs shouted from the stands while the Orc Chief rose from his throne. The scarred Beast Master announced the three creatures currently held in the pens: a troll, an undead mammoth, and a cyclops.

Rod did not need to consult the others for long. "We choose the Cyclops."

The crowd roared its approval. The heavy gate on the opposite side of the arena rose. The same one-eyed giant that had crushed them during their first attempt stepped into the sunlight.

This time, nobody charged forward. Rod walked into the open center of the arena while the others spread out. Cindy and Halbin moved in opposite directions. Lana took shelter behind one of the dilapidated pillars. Dirk disappeared among the boulders.

The Cyclops spotted Rod and charged.

"Come on," Rod muttered while tightening his grip on his axe.

The massive club rose overhead. Rod waited until the last possible moment before throwing himself diagonally behind a thick pillar.

*BOOM*

The club smashed through the upper half of the pillar. Stone fragments sprayed across the arena, but Rod had already rolled clear.

Three bolts of ice struck the Cyclops’s left knee. The giant turned toward Lana. Before it could take a step, Cindy’s saber cut across the back of the same leg. Halbin followed with two quick strikes before both weapon masters retreated.

An arrow flew from somewhere among the boulders. The Cyclops raised one hand and protected its eye. The arrow buried itself in its palm instead. That had been part of the plan. Rod charged from the creature’s unprotected side and buried his axe in its calf. He immediately released the weapon and dove away as the Cyclops kicked at him. The enormous foot missed him by less than a meter.

"Left knee!" Rod shouted.

Lana continued sending Ice Bolts into the damaged joint. Frost spread over its skin and reduced the monster’s movements. It was nowhere near enough to freeze something so large, but they did not need it frozen. They only needed it slower.

The Cyclops roared and swept its club horizontally. Cindy ducked beneath it. Halbin was forced to throw himself backward, but the wooden club as thick as a small tree still clipped his shoulder and sent him tumbling across the ground.

"I’m fine!" Halbin yelled before anyone could abandon their position to help him.

Golden light began gathering within the Cyclops’s eye.

"Cover!" Rod shouted.

Everyone moved behind stone. A beam of heat carved through the arena and cut across the pillar protecting Lana. The stone glowed red, and cracks spread across its surface. Dirk rose from behind a boulder on the opposite side of the arena. He released an arrow toward the glowing eye.

The Cyclops noticed the movement and raised its hand again.

Cindy had been waiting for that. White light gathered along her saber as she brought it down. The curved blade of energy struck the already injured knee. The Cyclops staggered, and Halbin rushed forward with Swift Blade active. His sword became a blur as he cut into the damaged joint.

Cindy dropped to one knee after expending so much energy. Halbin placed himself between her and the Cyclops until his daughter regained enough stamina to move again.

The giant lost its balance and dropped to one knee. Rod reclaimed his axe and attacked the other leg while Lana continued casting. The Cyclops slammed one fist into the ground, forcing everyone nearby to retreat before it could crush them.

It pushed itself upright, but its left leg nearly buckled beneath its weight. The monster changed tactics. Rather than chase them, it grabbed a broken section of pillar and hurled it towards the mage.

She ran, but the chunk of stone was too large. Rod saw it first. He sprinted toward Lana and tackled her from the side. Both of them tumbled out of the way as the stone shattered where she had been standing.

"Thanks," Lana gasped.

"Keep slowing it." Rod climbed to his feet and ran before the Cyclops could focus on them again.

Another arrow struck the giant’s hand. Then another came from a different direction. Dirk never remained in one place long enough for the Cyclops to find him. The eye began glowing again. This time, the Cyclops turned slowly, searching for the hidden archer before committing to a target.

Dirk waited. The monster finally focused on Cindy. The Saber Master stood in the open and raised her weapon as if preparing another large attack.

The Cyclops lowered its hand to protect its weakened knee from a surprise attack. Golden light filled its eye.

Dirk’s arrow entered the eye before the beam could be released. The Cyclops screamed. Light erupted in an uncontrolled flash, scorching its own face. It stumbled backward while clawing at the arrow.

"Now!" Rod shouted.

Lana unleashed Ice Spark after Ice Spark into its injured knee. Cindy and Halbin attacked the opposite leg, forcing the blinded creature to divide its weight between two failing limbs. The Cyclops swung wildly, but the party no longer stayed close enough to be caught. They attacked and withdrew, forcing it to turn toward sounds it could not properly locate.

The left knee finally gave out. The giant crashed onto its side hard enough to shake the arena. Rod quickly climbed onto its back while Cindy and Halbin attacked the neck and Lana and Dirk continued firing from a safe distance.

The Cyclops struggled to rise, but its damaged legs could no longer support it. Rod lifted his axe and brought it down on the back of its neck. The giant shuddered once before going still.

For a moment, the arena was silent. Then thousands of Orcs began cheering.

Rod pulled his axe free and looked toward his party. His Father’s shoulder was injured. Lana had used nearly half her mana, and Cindy was breathing heavily after her empowered strike. They had not escaped unharmed, but all five of them were alive. More importantly, nothing about the victory had depended upon luck.

The Orc Chief rose from his throne. "You have overcome the first challenge!" His voice rolled across the arena. "You have ten minutes to tend your wounds. Then we will see whether you can survive the second round!"

The stone beneath the dead Cyclops opened and swallowed the body. Small gates began appearing around the arena while the party gathered together in the center.

Lord Titters drank a health potion while Cindy helped bind his shoulder. Lana sat on the ground with a mana potion and took several small sips instead of emptying it at once. Dirk moved through the arena recovering every arrow he could find. Rod kept his eyes on the new gates while drinking a potion of his own.

They had defeated the first challenge, but the level had not restored their health or mana. Whatever came next would have to be faced with what they had left.

Ten minutes passed much too quickly.

When the gates opened, five Orcs and a large war hound entered from different directions. One carried a shield. Another held a spear. An archer and a shaman remained near the arena walls while the final Orc released the war hound from its chain.

Rod slowly turned as the hunting party surrounded them. Defeating one powerful enemy was tricky enough, now it was time to face the Orcs.