Dungeon Core Online 45 Chapter 45

"So, I'm guessing the mobs changed?" Z and the others had stopped near the entrance to the city, and were looking down the main road. Across from them, eyeing the group, was a single tricercog.

"I mean, I don't live in the country, but I would take a guess triceratops aren't a common farm animal." Faust's comment drew laughter from the group, as Oak sighed and stepped forward. The warrior may have resigned himself to his tank role, but James could guess he was not looking forward to tanking the tricercog.

"What about tricercogs?" Z stressed the last part of the mob, and the group started laughing.

"Yeah, pretty sure they don't have those either." Faust shook his head, taking up a stance, preparing to cast his spells. Med Ic took up a position next to him, eying the mob.

"So, do we agro him out of the city, and fight him out here?" Elm had his bow drawn, and was glancing from Z to Oak to the mob.

"Oh, please don't fight him in the city." James really didn't want to lose this bet. And he was sure if they fought the mob in the city, they would get ambushed, much like Skar's group had. But, if they pulled the mob out into the plains, they stood a good chance of winning, which would bring James one step closer to winning his bet.

"You a little worried there Glyax?" Rue had a bowl of popcorn in her lap, and she grabbed a handful as she smirked at James. "Afraid you're going to lose the bet?"

"Afraid? No. Z's group is the best group in the dungeon. They'll be fine." James winced as he said those words.

"Famous last words." Rue chuckled as she ate her popcorn, turning back to the fight at hand. James had a sinking feeling he had just jinxed himself.

"Alright. It doesn't look like the mob has a ranged attack. So let's just pull agro from here, and see how much damage we can do before it engages Oak."

"Sounds like a good plan." James whispered as he pulled up his mob's information, curious just how much damage Z's group could do.

Tricercog (8) lvl 15

Type: Steam Powered three horn

HP: 500

MP: 50

Atk: 50

Def: 60

Unique Traits

Tri-gun- Tricercogs can launch their three horns at enemies. The 2 large horns deal 50 + lvl damage and ignore 15% of defenses. The smaller horn deals 40 + lvl damage and ignores 5% of defenses.

Steam-powered- When charging enemies, tricercogs gain +50% movement speed. When moving at top speed, the next attack deals 125% damage, and ignores 25% of armor.

Armor Plated- Tricercogs take 20% less damage from physical attacks. (After def is applied)

"Well s.h.i.+t." James looked at Z's group, and couldn't help but sigh. Which developer had decided to make a hybrid tank mob? Like seriously? Based off of Z's stats, the archer, with his 86 atk, would be able to do 26 points of damage per shot on the mob, which would then be mitigate by another 20%, meaning every shot would only do 21 points of damage. By James's quick math, that meant it would take close to 25 shots to bring the mob down. How fast could the tricercog reach Oak and his team? How much damage could that mob do?

"Let's do this." Z's cry pulled James from his mulling, and arrows flew quickly from Z and Elm's bows. The arrows flew rapidly and smashed into the metal that was the Tricercog. James saw the mobs health drop a little, and the armor plating on it appeared to become dented. James wondered if they would be able to knock the plating off of the mob with enough attacks, to expose the cogs that spun within. He had seen similar mechanics in other games against armored mobs. Do enough to break the hard outer sh.e.l.l, to get at the squishy vulnerable bits on the inside.

The tricercog let out a roar after the arrows impacted, and before Z and Elm could launch another volley, the mob lowered its head, launching its three spikes forward with surprising speed. The larger spikes, propelled from a burst of steam, flew rapidly past Oak, catching Elm and Z both in the shoulder, knocking them backwards. The third, smaller spike, smashed into Oak's s.h.i.+eld, denting it and making the warrior grunt in surprise.

"Seriously, who gave that thing a ranged attack?" Oak growled as he peeked over his s.h.i.+eld. Elm and Z were getting back up, having been knocked down by the impact of the larger spikes. James could tell they were both taken off guard by the attack. The horn had done 22 damage to Z, taking him from 113 life to 91. If not for the buffs he and his group were getting from their set gear, it would have been even more damage.

"Uh, I think it was just getting started." Oak's words drew Elm and Z's attention, as the tricecog had three new horns. The mob shook its head angrily from side to side, and pawed at the ground angrily. As it did, steam began to rise all around its body

"Here comes the pain train." Rue giggled at her own comment, and sure enough, the tricercog lowered its head and began rus.h.i.+ng towards the group. Steam and fire shot from its sides as its armor plating lifted slightly away from its body, and James could see the gears working in overtime to propel the beast forward at impossible speeds. The very ground shook as it rumbled along the street, directly towards Oak.

"Dodge." James pleaded as his mob neared the warrior, but true to his role as the tank, Oak stood fast. Just before the mob connected with him, his s.h.i.+eld began to glow, and he braced his feet. James knew he was activating a tank ability, likely to mitigate damage. The poor warrior might as well have been trying to stop a train with his hand. The tricercog smashed into his s.h.i.+eld, and he was sent flying backwards, surprise evident in his face as he crashed down onto the ground.

"For a tank, you get sent flying a lot." Z was laughing as he jogged away from the tricercog, working to flank the dinosaur. Elm was doing the same on its other side, and together they began launching arrows into its side. James knew they were trying not only to bring the mob down, but also to draw its agro. This was because when the tricercog had launched Oak away it had given it direct line of sight to Faust and Med Ic. The cleric had run the moment he realized this, rus.h.i.+ng to Oak's aid, his hands glowing. Faust however, stood still, waving his hands in an intricate pattern, continuing to chant. If James had to guess, the mage was stuck standing still until he cast his spell.

"You going to join us any time soon Faust?" Z launched another arrow into the tricercog, this time managing to score a hit near its eye. The dinosaur let out a mechanical roar of rage, and spun swiftly in Z's direction, its tail barely missing the immobile Faust. A moment later, the mage began to glow, and a cl.u.s.ter of magic missiles appeared behind the mage. As one, the missiles all launched themselves at the tricercog, smas.h.i.+ng into the clockwork mob, causing it to roar in pain with each impact. As he watched the mobs health decrease by a good chunk with each missile, James realized the mobs had a high physical defense, but didn't have much in the way of magic defense. There was hope for Z and his group. There was hope for James and his bet.

"You guys have a terrible habit of starting the attack before my spell is cast." Faust let out a sigh as the tricercog fell to the ground, defeated, and they began to loot its body.

"Well, you just need to learn to cast faster." Z joked as he looked at his inventory screen. James was curious just what loot had dropped from the tricercog. He knew they had likely received at least 50 copper from it, and more than likely had gotten some of its armor plating. Other options for the mob involved gears, oil, and the ability to gather one of its horns.

"Hey guys, check this out." Oak was staring hard at his screen, which James hated he couldn't see, and the warrior's face was breaking out into a huge grin. With a swipe of his hand, he activated whatever it was he was staring at, and a moment later, a small, baby tricercog appeared by his side. The little mechanical mob let out an adorable roar as it stomped the ground playfully.

"Did you just get a pet drop?" Z glanced from Oak to the mob, and then back at Oak.

"Yeah I did." Oak knelt down and patted the mob on its head as he grinned at the others. "Judging from the information on the drop, he's currently a lvl 10 pet mob, and, get this guys, he can a.s.sist us in battles."

James already knew that from when he implemented the pets as mob drops. They could be trained, level up, and battle against other players pets. They also granted slight buffs to their owners while summoned, and could aid in battle. Some, like the baby sacrificial lambs, even had special abilities that could do a decent amount of damage, though they had long cool downs. James had specifically double checked the lamb drops, because he didn't want players running around with an infinitely self-detonating pet. That seemed a little too op.

"Man, now I want one." Elm walked up to Oak's side and looked at the little pet, before he turned to the others.

"So, mechanical dinosaurs for this floors mobs?"

"Eh, I would say more steampunk. I mean come on, did you see how that mob looked when it charged at us?" Z's comment caused Oak to grimace, and the warrior cast a sideways glance at his s.h.i.+eld.

"Mechanical, steampunk. Same thing right?" Elm was staring at Z, who shook his head.

"You make me sad sometimes Elm." Z commented, before he smiled and looked at the others. "Any who. The first floor had five different mob types, and a boss. If we figure this floor is similar, there are at least 4 other mobs for us to find." Z made a motion as he checked his screen, before continuing. "That Tricercog gave us 29 experience points each. Considering we only get 10 experience points from killing mad cows again, I'd definitely say it is worth it for us to keep going on this floor.

The others all seemed to check their screens, before nodding at Z, smiles on their faces. Z continued. "If the rest of the mobs are like this, we should be able to gain some levels a lot faster than by simply farming the first floor. However, I'm sure as you guys can guess, this floor is also going to be a bit more dangerous."

"As long as we avoid the boss, we should be fine." Faust's comment caused the others to nod, and James watched as they all turned back to the city.

"So, shall we keep exploring this city, and see what the dungeon has in store for us?" Z's comment was met with a resounding set of huzzahs, and James heard Rue cheering them on next to him. The pixie could see the exactly same thing he could on the screen. The pixie knew stepping into that city was going to signal the party's doom, and cause James to lose the bet. All he could do was sigh as the group entered the city, chatting together happily, unaware of the doom that waited for them. This was going to be painful for James to watch.