RaidKing caught the scout first, his greatsword sweeping low and cutting the bandit's legs. The enemy crashed to the ground, and Max finished him with a thrust to the chest.
[Bandit Scout Defeated!]
The final warrior made it to a secondary tunnel and shouted something in a language Max didn't recognize—probably alerting more enemies. But before reinforcements could arrive, RaidKing's empowered attack cleaved through the warrior's defenses.
-385 HP!
[Bandit Warrior Defeated!]
Silence fell over the cave, broken only by their heavy breathing.
[BATTLE COMPLETE]
[EXP Gained: 450]
[You are now Level 5!]
Max felt the surge of power as his level increased. His stats jumped, and new skill points appeared. RaidKing had also leveled up, his health bar refilling to max.
"That was intense," Max said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"That was awesome," RaidKing corrected, grinning. "Did you see that last hit? I basically cut him in half!"
They looted the bodies, finding:
[Bandit Leather Vest] – Defense +8, Agility +2
[Bandit Trousers] – Defense +5, Agility +1
[Iron Dagger] x2
[150 Silver coins]
"Finally, some actual gear," Max said, immediately equipping the leather vest and trousers. His defense jumped from a pitiful 7 to 20. "These are way better than starter clothes."
"I got a belt that gives +3 Strength," RaidKing said, showing off his loot. "Not bad for a first dungeon clear."
They ventured deeper into the cave system, the tunnels branching in multiple directions. More bandits awaited them—scouts, warriors, and eventually a new enemy type:
[Bandit Mage – Level 7]
The mage hurled fireballs that actually felt hot when they passed close by. Max had to dodge frantically, his stamina draining as he dodged the magical attacks. RaidKing tanked most of the damage, but even his high health pool took a beating.
They developed a rhythm: RaidKing would charge in, drawing aggro with his high-damage attacks and taunts, while Max exploited openings from behind. It was basic MMO strategy, but effective.
After thirty minutes of fighting through waves of bandits, they reached the deepest chamber.
[MINI-BOSS CHAMBER]
[Bandit Leader Gareth – Level 8 Elite]
HP: 2,000/2,000
The bandit leader was massive—nearly seven feet tall, covered in mismatched armor pieces clearly looted from victims. He wielded a warhammer that looked like it could crush stone.
"Well, well," Gareth rumbled, his voice deep and menacing. "More fools come to die. Your bones will join the others."
Around the chamber, Max spotted the stolen merchant goods—crates and barrels stacked against the walls. Quest objective in sight.
"You take left, I'll take right," RaidKing said, activating his Berserker Rage immediately. "Go hard, go fast."
They charged.
Gareth was faster than his size suggested. The warhammer came down in a devastating arc, and RaidKing barely rolled aside. The weapon struck stone, sending cracks across the floor.
[AOE WARNING]
Max leaped back as debris exploded outward. Small rocks met him, each one dealing minor damage.
-5 HP!
-8 HP!
-6 HP!
He circled around while Gareth focused on RaidKing, looking for an opening. The boss had obvious weak points—gaps in his armor at the joints, an unprotected back.
Max darted in and slashed at Gareth's hamstring.
-65 HP!
[Bandit Leader Gareth: 1,935/2,000 HP]
The boss roared and spun, his warhammer sweeping horizontally. Max ducked under it, barely, and scrambled away.
RaidKing took advantage of the distraction, his greatsword biting deep into Gareth's side.
CRITICAL HIT!
-280 HP!
[Bandit Leader Gareth: 1,655/2,000 HP]
The battle became a brutal dance. Gareth's attacks hit like a truck—one solid blow to RaidKing took him down to half health—but they were predictable. The boss followed every move with obvious build-ups.
Max and RaidKing exploited this, attacking during recovery frames, dodging the heavy strikes, draining down the health bar bit by bit.
When Gareth hit 30% health, he changed tactics.
[ENRAGE MODE ACTIVATED]
[Bandit Leader Gareth has entered Bloodlust state]
Attack Speed +50%, Damage +30%
"Oh shit," RaidKing muttered as Gareth's attacks suddenly doubled in speed.
The warhammer came down in rapid succession, forcing them both to focus purely on defense. Max's stamina drained dangerously low as he dodged and rolled, looking for any opening.
Then he saw it—Gareth overextended on a particularly aggressive swing, his armor exposing his back completely.
Max lunged forward and drove his sword into the gap between armor plates, aiming for the spine.
CRITICAL HIT!
-150 HP!
[Bandit Leader Gareth: 385/2,000 HP]
Gareth howled in pain, stumbling forward. RaidKing moved immediately, his Berserker Rage still active, unleashing a devastating combo of strikes.
-195 HP!
-220 HP!
[Bandit Leader Gareth: Defeated!]
The massive bandit leader crashed to his knees, then face-first into the stone floor, dissolving into light particles.
[MINI-BOSS DEFEATED!]
[EXP Gained: 800]
[DUNGEON CLEAR: HOLLOW CAVES]
[Bonus Rewards for First Clear!]
Max and RaidKing stood panting, their health and stamina bars depleted but victorious.
Loot materialized where Gareth had fallen:
[Reinforced Combat Shirt] – Defense +15, Vitality +3
[Sturdy Combat Pants] – Defense +12, Stamina +20
[Bandit Leader's Ring] – Strength +5
[500 Gold]
[Quest Item: Merchant's Ledger]
"Holy shit, actual good drops!" RaidKing equipped the ring immediately. "That strength bonus is massive."
Max grabbed the shirt and pants, his gear improving dramatically. With these equipped, his defense jumped to 47—nearly seven times what he had started with.