Lenora loves to make new friends, not just nobles, but also with everyone. The thrill of adventure and hunting while mingling with her friends was very enjoyable to her.
Ethan let out a relieved breath. "Thank you. I hope not let you guys down."
"Alright, Everyone. Let's board on the carriage, we are getting late already," Cedric said playing his role as the leader.
As they boarded the carriage, the mood was still somewhat tense. The six of them sat opposite of each other, 3 girls 3 boys.
The carriage jolted as it set off, the metalic wheels creaking under the weight of its passengers. The carriage was rented to just drop them off. The driver operated the vehicle from the front.
The journey to the Rock Giant's Cave would take a few hours, giving them time to discuss their roles and strategies.
Cedric, always the leader, took charge of the conversation. "Alright, everyone, let's go over our roles again. Iris, you're on healing duty as usual. Yona, cover us from a distance with your arrows. Marcus will be a tank and Lenora and I will assist him taking position left and right not to get surprise attack from the Rock Giants.
He then turned to Ethan. "Ethan, what role do you want to take in this raid? You have sword in you possession, does that mean you're going to be aggressive?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Yes. I want to be on the front line, fighting alongside you and Marcus."
Marcus's scowl deepened, his eyes narrowing at Ethan. "So, you think you can just barge in and take my position, huh?" he said, his voice dripping with hostility.
Ethan shook his head at the misunderstanding, trying to diffuse the tension. "No, that's not it. I just think I can be most effective up front. I have some abilities that might come in handy against the Rock Giants."
Marcus grunted, clearly unconvinced. "We'll see about that."
Cedric intervened before things could escalate. "Marcus, calm down. Ethan's here to help, not to replace anyone. We'll need all the strength we can get in there."
Marcus reluctantly nodded, though his expression didn't soften a bit.
Ethan became curious about their party's strength, so used [Appraisal] to find out their Info.
[ Appraisal ]
[ Name: Cedric ]
[ Age: 15 ]
[ Level: 16 ]
[ Affiliation: Arcadia Hunter's Guild ]
...
[ Name: Iris ]
[ Age: 15 ]
[ Level: 15 ]
[ Affiliation: Arcadia Hunter's Guild ]
.....
[ Name: Yona ]
[ Age: 16 ]
[ Level: 16 ]
[ Affiliation: Arcadia Hunter's Guild ]
...
[ Name: Marcus ]
[ Age: 16 ]
[ Level: 18 ]
[ Affiliation: Arcadia Hunter's Guild.]
They were in the same age group with similar power levels. Lenora was also 15 years old with level 14 power.
But that doesn't mean that they were kids. Their growth were equal to age 18 of Earth's people.
Wait, does that mean Ethan was the oldest one among the group. "Well whatever!" He shrugged in his mind.
Then his attention fixed on their levels.
"Levels 14-18 weren't actually a little low? Is it that hard to level up? But, Aria had reached level 40 at the age of 19. What about that?"
"Is it simply because of talent and potential?" Ethan asked himself in doubt. Only then he realised how serious the fact was.
The carriage rolled on, the scenery outside changing from the bustling cityscape to the more serene countryside. Rolling hills and lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, the air growing fresher with each passing mile. Ethan tried to appreciate the natural beauty, but he couldn't shake the feeling of tension within the carriage.
Lenora, sitting next to him, leaned in and whispered, "Don't mind Marcus. He's just protective of his role and a little hotheaded. Once he sees you in action, he'll surely come appreciate you more. Maybe you two could become good friends, who knows?" She chuckled.
Ethan nodded, found her explanation reasonable. "Thanks, Lenora. I can only do my best."
As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, casting a golden glow over the landscape, they finally approached their destination. The terrain became rocky and uneven, signaling they were close to the Rock Giant's Cave. The carriage came to a halt, and everyone disembarked, stretching their legs and preparing their gears.
The group took a moment to take in the surroundings. The cave entrance loomed ahead, a dark maw set into the rocky hillside. Around them, jagged rocks and boulders created a natural, imposing barrier. It was easy to see how the dungeon earned its name.
There were a few party also present, readying their gear and stuff for dungeon dive. But it was not a problem as dungeon mechanism allows 10 separate channels to allow a lot people to join separately. It is controlled by itself. No one else can interfere.
Cedric gathered the group. "Alright, everyone, stay focused. We need to move fast as we are late already. The Rock Giants are tough, but if we work together, we can take them down. Let's move out."
Ethan could feel the weight of Marcus's gaze on his back, a constant reminder of the warrior's distrust. He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task ahead. This was an totally new dungeon with unfamiliar monsters all around. Fortunately Cedric said some of the abilities the Rock Giant's may posses.
As they approached the cave, they were asked to show their credentials by two guards station at the entrance. They showed their hunter ID and paid the entrance fee for the raid—600 silver coins. 100 silver coins for each.
They went inside, the air grew cooler, and the sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls. The party moved in formation, with Cedric and Marcus at the front, followed by Ethan, Lenora, Iris, and Yona bringing up the rear. The deeper they went, the darker it became, until they were forced to rely on the light from Iris's staff to see.
Cedric motioned for them to halt. "Alright, remember our strategy. We need to take these giants down quickly and efficiently. Aim for their weak spots—their joints and eyes. Don't let them get too close."
The group nodded in agreement. Ethan tightened his grip on his sword, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. This was his first real battle with the party, and he was ready show his worth.
As they ventured further into the cave, the ground beneath them began to shake. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern, growing louder with each passing second. The first Rock Giant appeared, its massive form emerging from the shadows. Its stone skin glistened in the dim light, and its eyes glowed with a menacing red hue.
Cedric raised his spear. "They are here! Everyone, stick to the plan!"
Ethan cast Appraisal to get some information about the rock giants.
[ Appraisal ]
[Stone Golem (Classic) ]
[ Power Level: 10 ]
On the first floor, the Stone golems' levels were expected to be low. However, their formidable strength lay in their hardened bodies of stone, making them formidable opponents.
Marcus charged forward first with a roar, his greatsword swinging in a wide arc. He struck the giant's leg, causing it to stagger. Cedric followed up with a precise thrust to its knee joint, weakening it further. With a final swing from Marcus's greatsword, the Stone Golem crumbled into rubble.
Ethan and the others didn't need to intervene since it was a low-level monster. However, this was just the beginning. More Stone Golems began to appear one after another.
One Stone Golem let out a bellow of rage, swinging its massive fists at the attackers. Yona's arrows flew from the back, striking its eyes and distracting it. Iris was ready with her staff to heal anyone who got injured.
"Ethan, go get him. Let's see what you've got that Lenora approves of you so much," Cedric said, looking expectant.
Lenora smiled confidently at Ethan, her eyes never failing her. There was definitely something within Ethan that made his potential so high.
"Sure!" Ethan smiled as he unsheathed his sword and charged forward with radiating confidence.
The others remained impassive, eager to watch Ethan's fight. Marcus was the same. He also wanted to see what made Ethan so special to Lenora.
Cedric, noticing Ethan's sword, asked Lenora beside him, "Lenora, what grade is Ethan's sword? Do you know? It looks very expensive and powerful."
Iris and the others also got curious after hearing Cedric's inquiry. They noticed the sword radiating some kind of magical, holy aura. It was really intriguing.
Lenora shook her head, "I don't know. I think you need to ask him yourself."
Marcus was envious of the sight of the sword gleaming in the dim light. He also wanted a powerful greatsword for himself but couldn't afford one due to his financial conditions.
"Must be some kind of scion of a wealthy family!" Marcus commented as jealousy grew within him.
Lenora denied his comment vehemently, "No. He is not any scion of that sort. He probably has no family. He lives alone!"
The party members, except Marcus, began to feel sympathy for Ethan and became curious about his story.
"Whoa! Doesn't that mean he became this powerful all by himself! That's amazing!" Cedric said, feeling impressed.
"Tsk," Marcus snorted, not believing Lenora's revelation. He was sure Ethan must have an impressive background. Otherwise, how could he get so much money to buy such high gear?