Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Both groups swiftly merged as they started to make their way towards the dungeon. Ajax’s entire class had their eyes trained on Fluffy. An elemental attuned inferior version of a feline or a wolf is considered the peak as a starting companion.

While Fluffy is far too young to be considered optimal as well as surpassing being an inferior version, his current age does represent what a mature inferior version like his parents were. This added on to the playful personality he displayed towards Anna and Lexi on top of his soft coat made him the centre of attention.

While the rest of his classmates were fawning over the shadow cat, Tom introduced Ajax to all the possible retainers and there was quite a lot to be said about the variety he was presented with. In terms of strength not a single one of the guards could stand up to Theron, this despite half of them being older than eighty with a strong focus on Vitality.

One of the former guards did stand out to him however. Ogre, was the complete opposite of his namesake. He was a slim man with sharp eyes and was the only one to notice that Ajax had used [Judge Threat] on them. That isn’t to say that he managed to stop the skill, however the result did surprise Ajax.

Ogre’s power level was around level thirty-five, one of the lowest of all the guards present and certainly no threat to Ajax. Oddly enough the skill also imparted the feeling that the man was slippery, most likely a stealth specialist that would even give Ajax trouble. He was naturally a dedicated scout.

Where the guard recruits were more mediocre, as a result of all who were slightly talented usually having already joined a different house, the two healer recruits that Kate had managed to persuade were not only younger but seemed to be decently talented, not only that but they were also younger and as such had more time to grow in their potential.

Once they finally entered the dungeon Ajax could see the change in all of the former guards. Despite their lack of outstanding talent all of them did have plenty of experience with dangerous situations as a result of a long service as part of the capitals guards.

Fluffy did seem a little upset that Tom would have to remain outside, his level simply not being high enough to safely enter the dungeon. While Tom was slightly underleveled for the dungeon Fluffy was already strong enough to head towards the next floor so Ajax sent the feline forward together with Ogre to scout for them.

It was here that the dungeon floor layout proved problematic for Ogre. Despite his high Perception and a long time spent practising his skills, he had very little experience in how to scout through the tall grass on the hilly open planes. His skill could barely find any footing to grasp onto the structured tunnels dug underground by snakes, spiders or rats.

Ajax could only sigh as they didn’t get the feeder floor variant. The extra levels the creatures would gain would be a good opportunity to allow for a small increase in difficulty without having to go up a full floor. Not only that but he would have been able to make a good impression on the potential recruits by sending them all home with a sack full of high quality meat from the rabbits as the floor ended.

Theron was quick to show his prowess once the first battle began. The bull beastkin had managed to catch a decent size snake by the back of the head mid leap with his massive size. Even more impressive was the fact that he looked to be squeezing the life out it.

Ajax’s first show of magic came when the light dimmed and the dungeon turned to night. He quickly used his ability to summon magma and water to create a large solid plane on which they set up their camp. Not only that but Ajax also stored all the provisions for this trip in his spatial storage.

Tom had told Ajax that he was only looking to recruit about half of the guards he had brought today, those that hadn’t yet given up on advancing in level and were still looking to push. A few of them were clearly done with progressing and were now only looky for a cushy job to partially retire on.

The night had been uneventful with nothing trying to get at them and everyone changing shifts without too much complaining. The one problem that did creep up on them was that Theron snored loudly, not only that but he had also been part of the first shift meaning that after he fell asleep everyone else also had a much harder time doing so. Ajax made a note to ensure there were some silencing runes placed on Theron's tent for next time.

The second day played out much differently than the first. The team had only gone through two fights before they had reached the obelisk. It was there that Ajax had them set up a defensive position in a cave and told the healers to look into restoring the blood the guards had lost.

Most of the team looked a little worried when Ajax activated the obelisk despite a large portion of the floor still not being cleared.

“I’ll take care of most of them, take up a defensive position just in case a few run past me.” Ajax said as he strode to the front of the cave.

All of the guards shared a few concerned looks with both healers going a little pale when they started seeing the wave of rodents rush towards them. The only one calm and collected beside Ajax was Theron.

“He’s got this.” the large beastkin reassured them.

What followed next was something that left a deep impression in the minds of the guards and the two healers as Ajax perceded to single handedly lay waste to everything the dungeon threw at him.

Both Tom and Kate had told them that Ajax was special but there was a difference between being told and being shown. His weird fighting style combined with the fluent change from one element to the other was a mesmerising experience. Their trance was only broken by the thunderclap that came from Ajax’s final and overcharged lightning spell that finished off the last of the beasts using the large puddle he had spread in front of the cave.

“That should be... all of them.” Ajax heaved out, despite not getting hit he had run through most of his mana as well as a good two thirds of his stamina. “We can... head out.”