Soundeffect made a sudden lunge at him, but Jack was ready now. He stored the Memory of Elding and took out his magic staff. He also did not forget to switch his title to Outworlder Slayer for a boost against players. As Jack was about to hit the approaching Soundeffect, he noticed a movement from above. A second Soundeffect had appeared above as he dived down.
Facing attacks from both sides, Jack decided to block both, his magic staff summoned Magic Shield to block the earth-bound Soundeffect while his sword parry the sky-bound one.
When the earth-bound Soundeffect touched Jack's magic shield, Jack felt no impact, it was just an image. While his sword that parried the diving Soundeffect made a loud clang. As Jack wanted to counterattack the sky-bound Soundeffect, the guy vanished into thin air.
This time, however, his dot was still visible on his radar as Jack saw him changed position to his back. This was a similar skill to the one Red Death used during their duel, or perhaps the same. Jack turned and swung to his back while executing Power Strike.
This move surprised Soundeffect but he still managed to send his stab to the approaching sword. The two attacks collided and Soundeffect was sent crashing to the wall.
He landed after bouncing from the wall with a shocked expression. His HP bar was less than half.
Jack was also surprised, a normal Rogue would have died outright being hit by his level 35 rare sword and max-leveled Power Strike. The guy was not kidding when he said he was geared in high-level rare grade equipment.
"I was trying to tell you not to underestimate him," Sunset said broodingly, but he still started casting Heal spell on Soundeffect.
Jack had expected it, he cast Mana Bullet at Sunset to interrupt his Heal spell once the rune started forming. Sunset had no chance but to cancel the casting and used Mana Shield to block Jack's spell. Jack ran to Soundeffect as he was still getting up.
Halfway through, blue chains shot up from the ground and coiled around his body. He was unable to move. He found this spell to be rather familiar. It was similar to the duke's crimson chain spell. Probably this was a weaker imitation of that spell.
He turned to Sunrise, but the guy was still reeling from his Mana Bullet, so it was not him that had cast the spell. While he was looking in Sunset's direction, he also noticed the air behind the healer distorted, and then two men were revealed. One was clad in heavy armor while the other was in a mage robe.
"I told you not to be hasty," the mage said, apparently to Soundeffect. "you should have activated your Concealed Ghost Attack first before you came out from the invisibility bubble. Sunset there had noticed you before your Concealed Ghost Attack turned you invisible. And his reaction had caused this guy to evade your ambush. You will not be able to do great things if you do not learn patience."
"I'm sorry, sir," Soundeffect replied respectfully.
Though Jack was surprised to see this cocky rogue acting so reverentially towards this mage, he was more surprised to see the tool besides their right eyes. It was the God-eye monocle, the same as what he was wearing.
"I didn't expect the one that had stolen from Master is also the one coming here with the key," the one wearing armor said. "It is good too, saving our time from looking for you."
Jack inspected them both. The mage was level 29 named Gridhacker, while the armored guy was a level 29 knight called GraphicZ. The two were also members of World Maker.
"Sir Gridhacker, mister GraphicZ," Sunrise greeted them.
GraphicZ didn't spare him a glance. Gridhacker asked him, "what is his level? He must be wearing some kind of rare camouflage equipment that can even block God-eye's Inspect."
"Level 27," Sunrise answered. Jeanny had given Jack the position of leader before they entered the dungeon, and Jack had kicked Sunrise out of the party once he confirmed the guy's intention, but Sunrise had seen Jack's level when he was still in the party.
"For someone that made it here, that's very low!" Soundeffect mocked as he drank recovery potion.
"Don't forget he had two classes. One with such trait will require more experience to level up, just like Master," GraphicZ said.
"Hmph, he holds no candle to Master. He is just a thief who gets lucky," Soundeffect said.
"Of course, let's prioritize on getting the key. Someone is coming," Gridhacker said. "Finish him while he is still incapacitated by my spell."
Jack also saw from his radar that a green dot was approaching. In fact, Jack had been giving instructions to this green dot to point him or her in his direction. He did not know who this green dot was, he simply waited for the dot to move towards him when he said in the party chat, for the ones in the maze to keep heading the way they were heading to at the moment. Although the maze was confusing, if they had a general direction to head to, they should be able to find a way. Just like him when he utilized his radar to come to this hall.
Of course, there were a few green dots that had already been on the move at this time. Because of Jack's instruction in the chat, the others who were not the closest dot were instead been sent in the wrong direction. But Jack didn't care about those other green dots, it's the closest one that he hoped to move in the correct direction.
Since his opponents also wore God-eye monocle, his would-be reinforcement was noticed. GraphicZ and Soundeffect moved towards him while he was still immobilized.
GraphicZ lifted his Two-handed broadsword high, a pitching sound was heard as his broadsword burst in flame. He then brought the broadsword down at Jack's head, while Soundeffect's dagger released drilling energy as he stabbed forward.
Jack waited until they made their attack, before he took out a small bead, Liberty of movement, and activated it. The blue chain shattered immediately. But it's too late, the two attacks had arrived. The flaming broadsword cleaved Jack's body cleanly as Soundeffect's drilling attack stabbed right through.
Yet, their faces did not show joy. Instead, bewilderment could be seen on both. Jack appeared at their backs while his image was still in front of them. "You people are not the only ones with non-standard skills and tools," he said as he executed Swing as a rune formation was forming on his staff.
His blade cut through them both, dealing damage. A cold blue ring followed soon, dealing another damage and freezing them at the same time. Sunrise who was nearby was also hit by the Ice Ring.
Jack was about to follow up with another slash to finish Soundeffect first, but a sudden black hammer slammed down on him. He felt a ton was weighing down on him as damage numbers appeared above him, he had trouble moving even one step. He glanced back and saw that it was the mage again, who now cast energy bolts. Six bolts rushing towards him, followed by Mana Bullet.
Jack again used Liberty of Movement to dispel the weight that restricted him, he put Magic Shield in front of him while using Shooting Dash to barge through half the bolts and Mana Bullet, ignoring all the damages they caused and arriving abruptly in front of Gridhacker.
The Mage was surprised but not flustered. He put a Magic Shield in front of him, his magic shield appeared to be larger and thicker than usual, probably one that had been enhanced by an Evolve Seed.
Jack's Power Strike slammed on the shield. His max-level Power Strike was boosted further by the effect of the Shooting Dash. This assault should have killed a mage with a single hit, but that evolved Magic Shield of his opponent reduced half of the damage, but the knock-back effect still threw Gridhacker away.
Jack's Shooting Dash could do two dashes, so once his Power Strike connected, he had already dashed away to another side. He sent Sword of Light, this max-level skill with the damage boost from Shooting Dash flew towards Soundeffect. Jack did not believe this skill won't kill him with a single hit even if the guy was fully clad with high-leveled rare armor.
However, before the crescent light hit the Rogue, GraphicZ instantaneously appeared in front of Soundeffect and parried the skill. The Knight's HP bar dropped significantly but a healing light from Sunrise brought it back up to almost full again.
Jack assumed that the move GraphicZ used to defend Soundeffect was also another non-standard skill. No way a slow Knight could move that fast to give that kind of cover. This group was all fully equipped with the best equipment and skills, the fight would be troublesome.
GraphicZ took out a magic scroll and activated it. When Jack saw that, he had started running. No matter what the spell contained within, it would be harder to hit him if he moved rather than standing still. Jack formed a spell formation as he ran.
😉