Dungeon Diver: Stealing a Monster's Power

Chapter 94

"IS THAT A GRIFFIN'S NEST?"

An impossibly huge nest made from the branches of enormous trees rests on the back side of this mountain's peak. It's easily 20m in diameter and Maria is running around inside it without a care in the world.

"Hey! What are you-"

She looks up at me and points toward the backside of the nest.

"Look!"

Bruce, Nessa, and Abby make it over to us as I see what she means.

"It's one of those... gift boxes!"

A large white rectangular glowing box sits unopened at the back of this massive nest. I grin and walk over to it with Maria by my side. The others are close behind.

*Clink* *Clink*

I tap my sword's tip against the box's lid two times, then it springs open like before. Inside, there's a handful of potions, some food and water, a silver ring, and a large matching weapon to go with it.

I turn my head to see Bruce walking over and I point to the box.

"This might suit you well."

He raises an eyebrow as he peers in to see the assortment of magical items. With a wide smile, the tank grabs what's inside, raising up a heavy war hammer.

The long silver handle seems to be made of reinforced steel with leather wrappings to allow the user to grip it tightly. Its head has two sides. One is a square flat surface about the size of a human head, and the other is a smooth curved spike that points downward. The weapon shines silver, it's definitely unique.

I use Appraisal.

[Enchanted War Hammer] +450 Strength

Bruce examines it up and down as we continue to sit through the gear. The food, potions, and water are split evenly, and a quick Appraisal of the ring shows up as a 30% defense-boosting item. I let the others fight over it while looking off into the distance sizing up our final mountain.

I activate enemy detection to try and gauge if any teams are ahead of us, but still, it's hard to tell if they're people or flocks of Griffins... or is it packs of Griffins...? Depends on which direction you're looking at them I guess.

With a long quiet sigh, I let the cool breeze pass through my hair. I take a deep breath in and out slowly letting my eyelids shut. The moment they do, an ear-piercing screech jolts me awake as an enormous Griffin returns to its nest from above.

I watch Maria and Abby jump out of the way as it comes crashing down to eliminate the intruders in its home. Bruce and Nessa step forward, then jump out of the nest as well onto solid ground. Nessa calls out.

"Our turn."

Bruce swings his hammer around eyeing the beast up and down.

"Yeah, it's time to give this thing a trial run."

The enormous Griffin towering above us in its nest charges forward, but Bruce blocks its beak with a solid stance and a steady shield.

Abby, Maria, and I all jumped backward onto a rack pile nearby to watch the fight commence.

Bruce continues to hold the charging monster back as Nessa ignites her sword and body into flames. The four-legged beast retreats and lets out a screech flapping its wings and glowing with a faint yellow aura.

Nessa runs toward Bruce and he gets down on one knee lowering his shield. She steps onto the solid plate of steel and jumps upward as Bruce thrusts her into the air. With a trail of flames crackling behind her, Nessa lets out a yell and slices through the beast's thick hide in the blink of an eye.

Another violent screech erupts from the monster as it retaliates and claws at Nessa with its back legs. She manages to block its attack with the flat side of her sword but is thrown to the ground by the force of its hind legs. The beast stares them down and dive bombs in on the offensive.

Bruce runs at the monster, with a large shield in one hand and his new hammer in the other.

*THUDDDDD* *CRACKKKK*

As the Griffin dives focused on Nessa as its prey. Bruce comes charging in to land a mighty swing across the monster's head moments before impact. Its bones crunch and crack as the destructive force of the hammer's hit catapults the creature through a patch of trees straight at a stone wall over 10m away.

On impact, the formerly elegant beast lets out a deafening whine before falling to the rocky forest floor.

Nessa darts over to the fallen monster stabbing it through the neck, igniting it in flames, and turning the beast into a pile of Ash.

She points her flaming sword in the air to announce victory as Bruce lets his hammer hit the ground with a thud while leaning on the handle.

I walk over with the others following close behind, clapping my hands slowly.

"Good fight. That hammer really does suit you well."

"You got that right, we've all taken a crack at these Griffins. This just leaves you Jay."

I nod and turn toward the final mountain ahead.

"Yeah... To be honest, I'd rather just jump straight to the boss."