Erza sat up straight. Her eyes were wide and her heart rate increased. Her palms felt sweaty as she replayed Gavin's last words in her mind. I can bring someone with me into the dungeon.
He grew so much just from the first time he entered the dungeon. Would the rest of us benefit as much if we went with him? Or did he grow so much thanks to Veronica?
Erza's thoughts ran in circles as she contemplated the possibilities. I never imagined that was a possibility before now.
"Hold on just a minute. How exactly does the so called training dungeon thing work?" Jackson was the first to speak as he leaned forward.
"So, each level has a minor boss, and team of enemies to fight. Every fifth floor houses a major boss type according to Koray. Every floor is designed to teach a different fighting element, strategy and so on," Gavin explained. He tried to recall all the information that Koray originally told him about the dungeon.
Jackson stroked his chin while he listened. "So, each floor has a different kind of obstacle or enemy we have to overcome. In doing so, we get the experience of the fighting, and knowledge of how to counter that said obstacle."
Gavin nodded, then his face turned grave. "Though, there is one important aspect you all should know. Time spent in the dungeon is nearly infinite. By that, I mean days spent going through it, will pass as only heart beats here in the real world."
Erza frowned in realization. "That's how you spent days in the dungeon over the summer, and when you returned in such a horrible condition out of nowhere."
Gavin nodded. "I went through three floors of the dungeon. When I beat the third floor, I was granted an evolution through the system. That is why I was able to leave the dungeon so soon."
A bad feeling went down Erza's spine. "You speak like it's going to be an issue to leave the dungeon."
Gavin's face soured. "Let me start with saying that any perceived death that happens in the dungeon is not real."
Helena narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean perceived death?" She crossed her arms over chest.
Gavin winced at her question and hesitated for a moment. "Inside the dungeon, we can get injured and even die. But, death is not real inside the dungeon for us, according to Koray and the system. If we die, we will automatically be removed from the dungeon, back to where we were when the key was used."
Silence filled the hospital room. Heavy-like the air before a storm. No one spoke, no one moved.
"So, how do we leave the dungeon without dying?" Jackson's voice was soft and filled with disbelief.
"I'm not exactly sure how it will work for everyone. I was given two rules or options by Koray." Another huff came from AJ.
"The first and probably easiest that will work for everyone, we defeat the floor boss on each level. That will prompt a system message and allow us the option to leave. But, the second option for me, was by leveling up in the system itself." Gavin said.
Jackson frowned. "So, what level are you in this system now?"
Gavin grinned sheepishly. "When I arrived to the academy, I was at level 30."
Jackson let out a shrill whistle. "Well, without knowing how hard that actually is, I can't say if that's impressive or not." He laughed.
"How many keys do you currently have?" Erza's voice was laced with curiosity as she sat besides him.
Gavin opened the system menu and scrolled over to the inventory screen. He selected both keys and they appeared before everyone's eyes in the palm of his hand. "I currently have two keys. That's two trips into the dungeon."
Whispers of excitement came from everyone when Gavin manifested the keys. "Woah, dude, what else do you have tucked away in that system of yours?" Jackson asked as he examined the two golden keys in Gavin's hand.
"Nothing much at the moment, promise." Gavin held up his hands defensively. "The inventory part of the system is still a new feature that I'm learning." Gavin placed the keys back into the system.
AlexiaJane coughed to get everyone's attention. "Okay, let's rein in the collective ADHD for five minutes people." She clapped her hands several times.
Gavin nodded and yawned. "Right. We don't have to decide everything today. But," Gavin tried to reposition on the bed to a more comfortable position. "If we are going to do this, I need everyone's answer before classes resume. About being linked by the pack magic bond, and about going into the dungeon."
Everyone started talking at once and he lifted one tired hand. "We need to be realistic. We barely survived the last battle. The enemy is strong in power, high in numbers and full of resources. I highly doubt this is the last time we will encounter them." Gavin interrupted their complaints.
"Listen," Gavin's voice was exhausted and his eyelids grew heavy. "I'm not some idiot that wants to go to some big dramatic war. Shit like that is for the books or movies." He ran a hand through his black curls.
"That being said, I'm not so kind as to roll over and let someone kill me or those I love. If there is even remotely a chance we will encounter their forces again on this suicidal mission from Koray, then I have no choice but to push myself and those with me, as hard as I can, as quick as I can." Gavin took a moment to look each of them in the eyes.
He could tell by the burning sensation that his eyes shifted to their crimson red. "Do I want vengeance against the ones that slaughtered my birth family? Hell yes. But I'm not stupid enough to make that the priority. I realize that I can't do this alone. However, I won't hold it against anyone that doesn't want to be a part of this crusade."
His breath shuddered as he adjusted himself on the bed. "This was proof, that I am not at the level I need to be. None of us are. If the entire enemy army were Draconians, then the amount of casualties would have been astronomical. I doubt we'd have survived." Gavin looked between Erza and AlexiaJane.
"AJ, you know better than anyone here how terrifyingly strong the average Draconian warrior is. Is there any part of what I said that was wrong?"
Silence momentarily filled the hospital room, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of his monitors.
AlexiaJane nodded. "No, everything was a correct summary. If there had been other Draconians in that battle, the likely outcome would have been the campus razed to the ground with no survivors."
AlexiaJane gestured to Gavin's condition. "I doubt, even with your grandfather and myself, that we would have been able to stop an army of Draconian Warriors."
Erza covered her mouth with her hand. Her stomach felt queasy and she reached for Gavin's hand. She intertwined their fingers and he looked over at her.
"We will face whatever comes together. After all," Erza looked at everyone gathered in his room and offered a small smile. "We are a family now. It's what we do."
Helena and Jackson let out a sigh, almost in unison. "She's right. You and I are literally cousins. Whatever you need, I'm there. These bastards took my parents from me as well that day." Helena trembled and clenched the hem of her shirt by her sides.
Jackson reached over to grab onto her hand. "We already went over this. We're in. Now stop asking dumb questions."
AlexiaJane stepped back from the others to give them their moment. Erza noticed this and reached out to grab her hand. "Where do you think you're going?"
AJ lifted one eyebrow in confusion. "I was going to give you all a moment to yourselves."
Erza looked back to Gavin who nodded with a grin on his face. "This family idea, it includes you, dummy." Erza pulled AlexiaJane closer to join the group.
AJ looked surprised as Erza brought her over to them. "You sure Red?"
Erza nodded. "You helped us train over the summer, and you were even nicer than Kara and Astrid. Since we met, you've been like a big sister to me. If you are willing, please join us." Erza's voice was soft and gentle as she spoke.
AJ hesitated then a single tear slid down her cheek as she smiled wide. "You don't understand what it means, in my culture to claim another as a sister." She clasped both Gavin's and Erza's hands together in hers. "Sisters."
Erza laughed and a wide grin spread over her cheeks. "Sisters."
Initiate the pack magic linking user Gavin Johnson with the following individuals; Erza O'Malley, Jackson Smith, AlexiaJane Bolthaven, and Helena Jaegar. Doing so will enable mental thought communication between users. User Gavin Johnson will be able to monitor the health of each member connected through the pack magic in the system as a status screen. Veronica's voice filled Gavin's mind.
Multiple windows and messages appeared in Gavin's field of vision. Each one had a name and confirmation screen for the ancient magic.
This will be the beginning of the rebirth of the Lykos pack and clan. Veronica informed Gavin as a warm flow of crimson energy filled the hospital room.
No going back now. Let's do it Veronica. Gavin replied tiredly as his eyes began to glow vibrantly.
Helena gasped and Jackson took a step back as the swirling crimson energy wrapped itself around everyone. The energy carried a faint thrum of power as it entered their bodies. One by one, each member in the room was enveloped by Gavin's crimson mana.
Helena's eyes widened as she felt Gavin's mana fill. It flowed through her mana circuits, empowering her, strengthening her body as it merged with her own. Her vision tinted red for a moment, giving everything in the room vivid color.
Jackson cursed as he felt Gavin's mana. It was wild, yet warm. It flowed through his mana circuits and merged with his own. Jackson reached back to grip the counter as he felt it coursing through his circuits. "Holy Gods." Jackson whispered. His eyes also glowed a faint red.
Connection with new pack members Helena Jaegar and Jackson Smith confirmed. Merging of Alpha mana with new members; successful. Initializing internal thought communication pathways- Successful. Veronica meticulously worked on combining Gavin's mana and a small part of the system with the individuals in the room.
AlexiaJane narrowed her eyes as the scarlet energy flowed into her body. She closed her eyes as she felt Gavin's energy merging with her own. The sheer power she felt from his mana stole her breath away as it flowed through her own mana circuits. "Damn, you really are a monster, wolf." AJ opened her eyes and noticed that both Helena and Jackson had a matching red glow.
A voice spoke softly in AJ's mind. Greetings AlexiaJane. I am the system Veronica. I am initializing the internal thought abilities through the system. You will now be able to communicate with other members of the pack through your mana. Veronica spoke calmly in AJ's mind.
I assume that you reside only in Gavin's soul and can't actively control anything through myself or the others? AJ responded internally as her brows wrinkled.
That is correct. I am merely working through the system that resides in Gavin, and connecting everyone present. Your bodily functions, abilities, everything is still at your own control. Veronica replied, and AJ noticed the system had a soothing, almost cooling presence in her mind.
Good, for the record- Stay out of my mind.