I Hate Systems

Chapter 923: A Lich’s Laboratory (part 1)

<Ding!>

[Quest: Stop the Monster Gate]

[Quest Details: The A-Rank Dungeon, ‘A Lich’s Laboratory’ has exploded, creating a wave of undead monsters in the heart of the city. Stop the monster wave and protect the city.]

[Duration: 2 Hours 30 Mins]

[Reward: Elven Tear]

“Run!” Ying shouted as he carried a child nearby and was about to run towards the safety of a nearby shelter when the Quest window popped up, causing his running feet to slow down before eventually, he stopped.

“Uncle, why did you stop?” The child said in fear and held onto him tightly, “I’m scared! I’m scared!”

“It’s fine,” Ying smiled as he placed the child on the ground, “I’ll take you to safety, alright?”

Skill—Orc Dragon Soar!

Carrying the child with him, Ying glided through the sky and quickly reached the nearby shelter, placing the child there as he looked around in a hurry, sighing in relief upon seeing the child spot his mother in the shelter.

“My son!” The lady shouted in relief and hugged her son tightly, sobbing in response. A few seconds later, she looked up to thank Ying, only to see that he was no longer there.

Standing on the terrace of a skyscraper was Ying, his expression dark, “An A-Rank dungeon break…can I handle it?”

“No, I can’t.” He sighed upon gazing at a portal that was two hundred metres away, for the first time in his life observing such a gigantic portal, one that spanned thirty metres in size. It was massive, for usually, such sizes meant the dungeon monsters within would be too terrifying.

It made sense when one thought of it. This was an infamous A-Rank Dungeon that was said to be the graveyard of countless Hunters, for it was filled to the brim with undead creatures, not to mention the Dungeon Boss being a Lich.

Ying stared at his status, feeling uncertain.

[Orc-Dragon Soul Fusion: 77%]

[Innate Trait: Devour]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Skin]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Claw]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Roar]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Sense]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Recovery]

[Skill: Orc Dragon Soar]

With his innate trait, Ying was capable of recovering his mana and stamina. At present, he was around a peak, A-Rank Hunter. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. Had it been any other A-Rank Dungeon, then Ying would have somehow found a way.

After all, with his recovery abilities, he was able to last long in a fight and could mow down his foes using his wits.

But the undead creatures of this A-Rank Dungeon were of the skeleton variety, unfit for his Devour to function against. So, with his recovery cut off, the moment he runs out of mana or stamina, he would be swarmed by the horde of skeletons and killed instead.

It was why the moment the Dungeon showed signs of collapse and the government issued warnings, he was one of the first to retreat. He did plan to join later when the city organised a punitive expedition though.

But in that darned situation, a Quest had to appear. And worst of all, the reward was an Elven Tear, the item he desperately needed to cure his sister.

His expression was dark as Ying observed the dungeon portal gradually turn reddish as it formed cracks before eventually, it shattered.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

Thousands of skeletons rushed out of the crack, immediately causing the air to turn heavy with the deathly energy they emitted.

The skeletons were all made out of Ogres, each being a B-Rank Monster. Each Ogre required a party of five B-Rank Hunters to take down. One-on-one fights against an Ogre were too risky and were only possible for geniuses among B-Rank Hunters to pull off.

A Skeleton Ogre was around sixty percent of a living Ogre in terms of strength. But even that was still strong enough, not to mention there being thousands of them marching out of the crack now.

But shockingly, they were just the first wave as Ying observed in fear that tiny, armoured skeletons marched at the end, “H-Hunters…dammit!”

The Lich had converted all the dead Hunters into part of its army. Considering the sheer death toll of the dungeon, it had more than fifty A-Rank Hunters and even three S-Rank Hunters.

This was a power enough to annihilate half a country.

The crack suddenly emitted screeching sounds as a claw peeked out and grabbed the ends of its spatial tear, emanating pressure as the crack widened.

“My god…”

“We’re doomed.”

“This country is done for.”

The Hunter Association Staff that were monitoring the situation from the terrace of the nearby buildings collapsed in despair, for just the claw that had peeked out occupied the entire size of the crack.

“These readings…” A Hunter Association Staff stammered as she almost fainted in response, “The mana levels have surpassed an A-Rank Dungeon. T-This…this is…”

“An S-Rank Dungeon Collapse!”

“S-Rank…” Ying paled in fright at her words, having listened in using his Orc-Dragon Sense. He immediately communicated with his Orc-Dragon Soul, ‘Is there any hope of surviving this disaster?’

[Nope, it doesn’t seem likely.]

The reply didn’t contain any good news, causing Ying to lose all hope, before soon, he began to laugh despairingly, “Just when…I saw hope in the Quest Reward…to think it would be an unbeatable Quest. Dammit!”

Crack!

The crack expanded to a height of hundred metres as a massive bonehead peeked through, trying to weasel its way out. But despite that, it was struggling, for the crack was still small.

S-Rank Monster—Bone Dragon!

It was one of the strongest monsters to exist and was a disaster-class monster, strong enough to wipe out a country on its own. A team of S-Rank Hunters were necessary to take one down, albeit with heavy casualties.

Unfortunately, there were just two S-Rank Hunters in their country. And they were currently in the capital. Even if they were to board an aircraft immediately, it would still take them three hours to reach the location.

By then, the entire city would be left in ruins, “Dammit. Meyn is still at the hospital.”

Swoosh!

Ying stared at the gaps between the crack and the Bone Dragon’s body, noticing a pair of eyes that sent chills down his spine.

S-Rank Monster—Lich!

It was riding the Bone Dragon’s back.

[No, there’s still a chance!]

Suddenly, the Orc-Dragon Soul said, sparking a tinge of hope in him. Immediately, life surged in Ying as he pulled out a longsword, “I’ll protect this city…somehow.”