As I ate, I thought back to the past and what I knew about the Manhattan Rooftops. According to my knowledge, there was supposed to be a Hidden Dungeon. Not the same kind I had gone into earlier, but a place to fight a named enemy. Not as formidable an enemy as the Obsidian Minotaur in the Advanced Tutorial, but still a good goal for loot and rewards. However, considering the theme of the tutorial and the enemies I’d seen so far, I figured it was likely an insect. I just hoped it wasn’t something like a centipede or roach.
I was over bugs if they could be avoided.
Looking around, while I finished the last of the food from within the Survival Kit, I scouted. The current rooftop was more cluttered than the last with piles of garbage piling up against sealed fencing. I occasionally activated my Eyes of Legacy.
The building we’d just come from started to shake and then collapsed.
Only one wall remained of the building behind us. The rest of it had collapsed into a heap while water flowed like a waterfall from broken pipes that ran down the side of the building.
Pipes…
I finally found a clue.
Glancing around, I saw there was a long, thick pipe that led from the rooftop over to a nearby building that wasn’t connected in the same way the other buildings were.
Under normal circumstances, I’d never have bothered, but with the way the rooftops were set up, only the bridges Zagren had placed connected rooftops, yet this one was connected with a pipe and the pipe was the only way to reach the other side.
It was an approach that demanded climbing skills. But with that approach, I could reach a Hidden Dungeon that otherwise was impossible to get to.
I took off.
For some inexplicable reason, the rest of the group decided to follow me.
I groaned wishing I had been more discreet about taking off.
"What’s wrong Nick? What are you doing?” Kenney shouted out carrying his sledgehammer as he looked around to see what had got me riled up.
“Just a lead, nothing to worry about,” I answered, hoping he’d take the hint and leave me be.
After walking the perimeter of the building, I ignored the iron and steel cable bridges that wove through the skyline. My focus was on a jutting pipe that inconspicuously had fallen, connecting the building where I was, to the fire escape of another building. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but it was close enough.
I grabbed ahold of the pipe, testing to make sure it could support my weight, and I wrapped my legs around it and began to shimmy across. The cold metal of the pipe was strong enough and the thick clouds beneath me went mostly ignored. Once I got to the other end, I dropped down onto the metallic fire escape and started up the steps.
Once I got to the top, I saw the rooftop with an enclosed-looking basketball court. It wasn’t the same as the other Hidden Dungeon, but it didn’t have to be. This one was a Battle Type. The fencing of the basketball court had a sort of glow that was reminiscent of the ones that held everyone captive in Times Square at the start.
Thankfully, this arena wasn't equipped for that kind of a challenge. As I ventured further onto the roof, the dense concentration of Mana was a lot more notification and a tension built around me, prickling at my senses.
Something was there. A formidable force lurked there, one not to be underestimated.
"Are we sure this is the right place, Nick?" Kenney shouted at me as he looked at the pipe hesitantly. He grabbed a hold to test it, while a few of the others from the group blanched. "Seems a bit off the beaten path."
| [System Fall Notification] Title: Hidden Dungeon Discovery - Battle Type Congratulations! You've stumbled upon a Hidden Dungeon of the Battle Type. This dungeon offers a unique challenge and the chance to earn valuable rewards. Be advised, a formidable boss monster lurks within, waiting for any brave or foolish enough to face it. This is a special challenge, optional, and intended for well-prepared teams or solo adventurers with substantial combat experience. Be aware that your standard System Fall protections may not fully apply in this environment. Take this as a cautionary note - retreat is a valid strategy.
|
"I can't speak for the 'we' in your question," I responded, tilting my neck and stretching with a gratifying grin "But judging by the notification I got, this is the place. Besides, I go where I please. If you decided to tag along, that's on you."
Silence fell over the group. They didn't have an answer; they never did. A gust of wind whipped across the rooftop, and the pipe swayed a bit. Kenney was the first to try and follow me.
With a deep breath, he swung himself onto the pipe, legs coiling tightly around it. Kenney shuffled across, muscles straining, hands white-knuckled from gripping the pipe. Despite the height and the way the pipe groaned, he made it across without a problem, landing safely on the fire escape with a low, triumphant laugh.
"Alright, not so bad!" He called back, waving us over. Lydia, surprisingly enough, was next to follow. She hesitated at the edge, eyes narrowed as she calculated the risk. With a scoff, she muttered something under her breath - I only caught the words "fool's errand" - before grasping the pipe.
Unlike Kenney, Lydia took a more methodical, almost clinical approach. She moved steadily, never rushing, her every action measured and deliberate. When she finally reached the other side, she merely brushed some grime off her hands, her cool demeanor unbroken.
Emboldened by their success, a few others from the group decided to make the crossing too. Some did it with ease, others with trembling limbs and faces pale as ghosts, but in the end, they all made it. They worked their way up the fire escape to where I was. A peculiar energy resonated from one direction, drawing my attention. I felt eyes on me, a presence watching from the shadows. Unfazed, I strode forward, taking a defensive stance.
"What are you doing?" Kenney asked, a note of panic in his voice. "I just saw that notification. You got it too, right? We need to get out of here."
Ignoring him, I kept moving, each step accompanied by a feeling of eagerness until I felt a metaphysical snap. The wind roared, plucking old trash, dead bugs, and debris, and gathering them into a swirling vortex at the center of the rooftop. It all fused, forming an imposing figure.
The creature was a bizarre fusion of a grasshopper and praying mantis, standing at a menacing fifteen feet tall. Its body was a mass of leaves and yellowed paper and cans held together by Mana, and its menacing head, more grasshopper than mantis, bore four glowing green eyes arranged in a 'V' formation, all focused on me.
| [System Fall Notification] Title: Hidden Boss Encounter - The Detritus Mantis, Anaxyrus Title: New Challenge - Rooftop Rumble Emerging from the rubble of the metropolis, an ominous entity manifests, colossal and vibrating with palpable energy. Dubbed Anaxyrus, this Detritus Mantis is a creature of urban decay, assembled from the city's discarded refuse. It is a monster of curious neutrality, a threatening glow set against the worn rooftop backdrop. As players traverse the System Fall enhanced rooftops, Anaxyrus remains a dormant challenge. It awaits the crossing of an unseen boundary, its potential fury held in check until the right trigger is tripped. This is not a compulsory confrontation but an optional challenge for those daring |
"I think it's high time we made our exit," Lydia advised, her usual arrogance replaced with genuine fear. She turned towards the others. "This was a mistake. I can't speak for our sword-wielding friend here, but I have no intention of battling this monster."
"You're free to leave," I shot back, turning a cold glare on her. "I'll hold my ground. But don't blame me if our new friend here loses patience waiting for your indecision."
All of them except Kenney and the bruised-up Healer began their cautious retreat. Kenney looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and confusion, clearly not understanding that I wanted to fight the thing.
"Why not join us, son?" he implored. "We'd progress more as a group, and there's safety in numbers. The Healer's medical aid isn't free, but it's worth it. And when night falls, you'll need someone to watch your back. Think about it, Nick."
Despite the asking, I knew my path was set. The Detritus Mantis loomed ahead, and I was ready for the battle that awaited.
"He's got a point. If we want to conquer System Fall and take down [Admin], then we need to stick together," The Healer chimed in, his voice echoing and somewhat different than I remembered. "Surely you have a goal in mind, right? Why not take a slower, safer path towards it? Not every risk yields a reward. Sometimes retreat is the smartest move. No one has a perfect success rate. Not even you Nick Vandall."
I paused, turning to face them mid-stride. The Healer was the first to mention [Admin], and that caught my attention and put me on guard, I wasn’t sure the Healer was the same person. "I appreciate your concern," I said, sincerely meaning it, "But I've already chosen my path. Allying myself with a team of varying skill levels, those who expect others to fight their battles, it's just not my style.
Whether it's fate, coincidence, or pure chance that brought me to you, it doesn't mean I'm going to team up with someone who can't pull their own weight."
The Detritus Mantis waited and didn’t move.
It hadn’t been activated yet and I didn’t have that much time.
"The harsh truth of this world is that only those who risk it all will reap the rewards. Ever wondered why this creature lurks here? Do you really believe it's just to sleep and remain dormant until disturbed?" I asked them.
"What are you implying? Do you know something?" Kenney's curiosity ignited, reflecting in his eyes.
"All I know is that ignoring trouble in this world just means it can sneak up on you from behind." I turned away, signaling the end of our discussion. The Healer moved to step forward, reaching out, but Kenney caught his arm, shaking his head with a resigned sigh.
"We should go. He's made his decision." Despite his irritation at my perceived arrogance, Kenney knew a lost cause when he saw one. He missed the days of true teamwork and cooperation.
"Stay safe, kid. Don't make me regret leaving you here alone." With those parting words, they disappeared into the urban jungle, leaving me alone on the rooftop.
I activated Eyes of Legacy and discovered that the creature had a cursor of its own, a flat diamond shape lazily spinning above its head.
'Odd. I thought only humans had these.'
The creature's cursor was red, unlike the black cursors I’d seen for Lydia and the Healer. [Eyes of Legacy] allowed me to see faint red tendrils seeping from the Detritus Mantis. It was a higher-ranked enemy.
“High risk, high return,” I muttered to myself. The rooftop, now my battlefield, awaited. “Let's go.”
As I ate, I thought back to the past and what I knew about the Manhattan Rooftops. According to my knowledge, there was supposed to be a Hidden Dungeon. Not the same kind I had gone into earlier, but a place to fight a named enemy. Not as formidable an enemy as the Obsidian Minotaur in the Advanced Tutorial, but still a good goal for loot and rewards. However, considering the theme of the tutorial and the enemies I’d seen so far, I figured it was likely an insect. I just hoped it wasn’t something like a centipede or roach.
I was over bugs if they could be avoided.
Looking around, while I finished the last of the food from within the Survival Kit, I scouted. The current rooftop was more cluttered than the last with piles of garbage piling up against sealed fencing. I occasionally activated my Eyes of Legacy.
The building we’d just come from started to shake and then collapsed.
Only one wall remained of the building behind us. The rest of it had collapsed into a heap while water flowed like a waterfall from broken pipes that ran down the side of the building.
Pipes…
I finally found a clue.
Glancing around, I saw there was a long, thick pipe that led from the rooftop over to a nearby building that wasn’t connected in the same way the other buildings were.
Under normal circumstances, I’d never have bothered, but with the way the rooftops were set up, only the bridges Zagren had placed connected rooftops, yet this one was connected with a pipe and the pipe was the only way to reach the other side.
It was an approach that demanded climbing skills. But with that approach, I could reach a Hidden Dungeon that otherwise was impossible to get to.
I took off.
For some inexplicable reason, the rest of the group decided to follow me.
I groaned wishing I had been more discreet about taking off.
"What’s wrong Nick? What are you doing?” Kenney shouted out carrying his sledgehammer as he looked around to see what had got me riled up.
“Just a lead, nothing to worry about,” I answered, hoping he’d take the hint and leave me be.
After walking the perimeter of the building, I ignored the iron and steel cable bridges that wove through the skyline. My focus was on a jutting pipe that inconspicuously had fallen, connecting the building where I was, to the fire escape of another building. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but it was close enough.
I grabbed ahold of the pipe, testing to make sure it could support my weight, and I wrapped my legs around it and began to shimmy across. The cold metal of the pipe was strong enough and the thick clouds beneath me went mostly ignored. Once I got to the other end, I dropped down onto the metallic fire escape and started up the steps.
Once I got to the top, I saw the rooftop with an enclosed-looking basketball court. It wasn’t the same as the other Hidden Dungeon, but it didn’t have to be. This one was a Battle Type. The fencing of the basketball court had a sort of glow that was reminiscent of the ones that held everyone captive in Times Square at the start.
Thankfully, this arena wasn't equipped for that kind of a challenge. As I ventured further onto the roof, the dense concentration of Mana was a lot more notification and a tension built around me, prickling at my senses.
Something was there. A formidable force lurked there, one not to be underestimated.
"Are we sure this is the right place, Nick?" Kenney shouted at me as he looked at the pipe hesitantly. He grabbed a hold to test it, while a few of the others from the group blanched. "Seems a bit off the beaten path."
| [System Fall Notification] Title: Hidden Dungeon Discovery - Battle Type Congratulations! You've stumbled upon a Hidden Dungeon of the Battle Type. This dungeon offers a unique challenge and the chance to earn valuable rewards. Be advised, a formidable boss monster lurks within, waiting for any brave or foolish enough to face it. This is a special challenge, optional, and intended for well-prepared teams or solo adventurers with substantial combat experience. Be aware that your standard System Fall protections may not fully apply in this environment. Take this as a cautionary note - retreat is a valid strategy.
|
"I can't speak for the 'we' in your question," I responded, tilting my neck and stretching with a gratifying grin "But judging by the notification I got, this is the place. Besides, I go where I please. If you decided to tag along, that's on you."
Silence fell over the group. They didn't have an answer; they never did. A gust of wind whipped across the rooftop, and the pipe swayed a bit. Kenney was the first to try and follow me.
With a deep breath, he swung himself onto the pipe, legs coiling tightly around it. Kenney shuffled across, muscles straining, hands white-knuckled from gripping the pipe. Despite the height and the way the pipe groaned, he made it across without a problem, landing safely on the fire escape with a low, triumphant laugh.
"Alright, not so bad!" He called back, waving us over. Lydia, surprisingly enough, was next to follow. She hesitated at the edge, eyes narrowed as she calculated the risk. With a scoff, she muttered something under her breath - I only caught the words "fool's errand" - before grasping the pipe.
Unlike Kenney, Lydia took a more methodical, almost clinical approach. She moved steadily, never rushing, her every action measured and deliberate. When she finally reached the other side, she merely brushed some grime off her hands, her cool demeanor unbroken.
Emboldened by their success, a few others from the group decided to make the crossing too. Some did it with ease, others with trembling limbs and faces pale as ghosts, but in the end, they all made it. They worked their way up the fire escape to where I was. A peculiar energy resonated from one direction, drawing my attention. I felt eyes on me, a presence watching from the shadows. Unfazed, I strode forward, taking a defensive stance.
"What are you doing?" Kenney asked, a note of panic in his voice. "I just saw that notification. You got it too, right? We need to get out of here."
Ignoring him, I kept moving, each step accompanied by a feeling of eagerness until I felt a metaphysical snap. The wind roared, plucking old trash, dead bugs, and debris, and gathering them into a swirling vortex at the center of the rooftop. It all fused, forming an imposing figure.
The creature was a bizarre fusion of a grasshopper and praying mantis, standing at a menacing fifteen feet tall. Its body was a mass of leaves and yellowed paper and cans held together by Mana, and its menacing head, more grasshopper than mantis, bore four glowing green eyes arranged in a 'V' formation, all focused on me.
| [System Fall Notification] Title: Hidden Boss Encounter - The Detritus Mantis, Anaxyrus Title: New Challenge - Rooftop Rumble Emerging from the rubble of the metropolis, an ominous entity manifests, colossal and vibrating with palpable energy. Dubbed Anaxyrus, this Detritus Mantis is a creature of urban decay, assembled from the city's discarded refuse. It is a monster of curious neutrality, a threatening glow set against the worn rooftop backdrop. As players traverse the System Fall enhanced rooftops, Anaxyrus remains a dormant challenge. It awaits the crossing of an unseen boundary, its potential fury held in check until the right trigger is tripped. This is not a compulsory confrontation but an optional challenge for those daring |
"I think it's high time we made our exit," Lydia advised, her usual arrogance replaced with genuine fear. She turned towards the others. "This was a mistake. I can't speak for our sword-wielding friend here, but I have no intention of battling this monster."
"You're free to leave," I shot back, turning a cold glare on her. "I'll hold my ground. But don't blame me if our new friend here loses patience waiting for your indecision."
All of them except Kenney and the bruised-up Healer began their cautious retreat. Kenney looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and confusion, clearly not understanding that I wanted to fight the thing.
"Why not join us, son?" he implored. "We'd progress more as a group, and there's safety in numbers. The Healer's medical aid isn't free, but it's worth it. And when night falls, you'll need someone to watch your back. Think about it, Nick."
Despite the asking, I knew my path was set. The Detritus Mantis loomed ahead, and I was ready for the battle that awaited.
"He's got a point. If we want to conquer System Fall and take down [Admin], then we need to stick together," The Healer chimed in, his voice echoing and somewhat different than I remembered. "Surely you have a goal in mind, right? Why not take a slower, safer path towards it? Not every risk yields a reward. Sometimes retreat is the smartest move. No one has a perfect success rate. Not even you Nick Vandall."
I paused, turning to face them mid-stride. The Healer was the first to mention [Admin], and that caught my attention and put me on guard, I wasn’t sure the Healer was the same person. "I appreciate your concern," I said, sincerely meaning it, "But I've already chosen my path. Allying myself with a team of varying skill levels, those who expect others to fight their battles, it's just not my style.
Whether it's fate, coincidence, or pure chance that brought me to you, it doesn't mean I'm going to team up with someone who can't pull their own weight."
The Detritus Mantis waited and didn’t move.
It hadn’t been activated yet and I didn’t have that much time.
"The harsh truth of this world is that only those who risk it all will reap the rewards. Ever wondered why this creature lurks here? Do you really believe it's just to sleep and remain dormant until disturbed?" I asked them.
"What are you implying? Do you know something?" Kenney's curiosity ignited, reflecting in his eyes.
"All I know is that ignoring trouble in this world just means it can sneak up on you from behind." I turned away, signaling the end of our discussion. The Healer moved to step forward, reaching out, but Kenney caught his arm, shaking his head with a resigned sigh.
"We should go. He's made his decision." Despite his irritation at my perceived arrogance, Kenney knew a lost cause when he saw one. He missed the days of true teamwork and cooperation.
"Stay safe, kid. Don't make me regret leaving you here alone." With those parting words, they disappeared into the urban jungle, leaving me alone on the rooftop.
I activated Eyes of Legacy and discovered that the creature had a cursor of its own, a flat diamond shape lazily spinning above its head.
'Odd. I thought only humans had these.'
The creature's cursor was red, unlike the black cursors I’d seen for Lydia and the Healer. [Eyes of Legacy] allowed me to see faint red tendrils seeping from the Detritus Mantis. It was a higher-ranked enemy.
“High risk, high return,” I muttered to myself. The rooftop, now my battlefield, awaited. “Let's go.”
