Once Jake and his team learned about the possible hidden route to the dungeon boss' room, their plan went on to the second stage—hiding!
Jake and Sin were hidden in a deep groove left behind by miners. It wasn't that wide, so their shoulders were in constant touch, but it was deep enough to store inside their bodies. On top of their invisible mantle providing them enough measures to hide, no one should ever suspect that two players were hiding in there.
From their position, these two could easily keep tabs on the fake ore layer.
Because their spot didn't have enough space for three, Prince was delegated to a miner work not too far away from them. It was also decided that it was better to have him outside because of his class and heavy armor.
Jake and Sin's armor was leather and stuck closely to their bodies. On the other hand, Prince's heavy armor was like an additional set of bulging muscles that turned him into a giant.
It was a sensible choice.
Jake crossed his arms and put his chin in them. He was like a man sunbathing, except he was in the dungeon, where the sun could only dream of getting in.
Sin was in the same position.
Jake thought, 'If only I could summon Odin now. He would make a perfect pillow.'
Jake's tattoo on his right arm burned.
Jake sneered, 'What? So you like it when girls snuggle you up but not me?'
Odin grew conflicted. His tattoo was now warm.
The baby eagle's ferocious tattoo on Jake's neck burned then. Jake could imagine what Ender felt and even what kind of expression he would have done had he been outside.
He chuckled.
Odin's tattoo grew warmer, and its warmth was now directed toward Jake's neck. It was like a blanket had been suddenly thrown over Jake's right side, which wasn't bad. read-first-at-NovelFire
Jake enjoyed it.
'Seems like my companions can now hear me well... I'm skeptical about this breach of privacy, but it's a good feature nonetheless. I have to pick up a beast-tamer class even faster because of it. It's not like I don't like you guys hearing what I think, but come on, you also wouldn't like me reading your thoughts all the time!' Jake said.
All four agreed.
'Anyway, Odin. It's not like me calling you a pillow is belittling,' Jake said, 'We're a family, aren't we? That said, I think others treating you like a pillow is a little disrespectful. You can't let those girls just enjoy your cuddling!'
After those words, a second battle between the baby wolf and baby eagle erupted.
Jake inwardly grinned as he had been expecting it.
While these two fought with their feelings, Jake turned his head to the side.
He wasn't alone, after all.
Jake said, "It's like camping for a rare boss, waiting for his respawn."
"Is it?" Sin asked, her eyes momentarily resting on Jake's face before quickly returning to watch the fake ore layer.
Jake smiled, "I haven't camped for a rare boss yet in this game. I used to play a few MMORPGs, so I often waited for a boss to respawn. PC's MMORPGs have the same quests for everyone, but this immersive virtual reality is like an open world. Well, I think many players fought over bosses on the game's release. But no one has a main quest, so... you get the point, right?"
"Yes," Sin nodded. "Even though this is the first game I've ever played."
"I figured," Jake replied. "We lack soda, a few snacks, and music now. Just waiting like that can get boring. Well, not like we're sitting before PCs now."
Infiltration on!"
Prince turned around and took in the entire vista of the corridor. It was like Swiss cheese because many miners constantly worked here.
After throwing his pickax to his inventory, Prince replaced his equipment with a vast shield and broad sword.
He stabbed the ground with his weapon and leaned on it.
He inhaled so much then that his chest ballooned!
Finally, he screamed, "Stealing Spotlight!"
His thunderous roar turned into a whip of black lightning, which darted between everyone Prince had seen. It was so fast that no one could have dodged it.
All miners here weren't even prepared for a battle!
Stealing Spotlight was Prince's original taunt skill! It drew everyone's eyes to him and forced them to come to him for an autograph.
In reality, of course, everyone wanted to attack him.
All enemies rushed in Prince's direction.
That was when arrows rained upon them, and a beautiful swordsman emerged from the shadows to slit their throats with otherworldly precision!
Jake stood by his hiding spot.
He didn't need his strongest, so he was in Joker's Form, rapidly releasing arrows.
Every member of The Ark had to be taken down before they could notify their high-level players of someone else knowing about their hidden path. Of course, it was impossible to prevent that.
It was a game world.
Those dead players could call others in the real world and make them pass the information.
That said, Jake and his team still brought precious minutes for themselves!
Prince rushed through the helpless miners as though galloping on a horse, his broad sword easily taking down enemies. He was the first one to approach the fake layer.
Using his strength, he slammed his fist into it... and failed.
"Another countermeasure!" Prince exclaimed.
Jake squatted before the fake ore and examined it.
He read its structure with his Miner's Golden Eye. He even stressed his Death's Lock and The Perception to see through the fake ore layer and find weaknesses.
Jake sneered.
He took out his chisel and hammer.
"Looks like they have a mage who can move the ores! I'll get us to the other side!"
"My dark horse!"
"He's not yours."
Meanwhile, Cerberus roared. His health points were dangerously falling as high-level players ganged on him with measures to break through his special, untouchable privilege!