Most likely. As I mentioned earlier, new entrances and exits of the dungeon are often found. Most likely you were taken through one when you were deposited here.
Alan glanced around the room again, testing out his new spectrum of vision. Unfortunately, none of it made much sense to Alan, and though Eve described much of the different types of waves he was able to see, the information was relatively unhelpful. Most of the time he was unable to see anything. There were no hidden switches or otherwise, much to Alan’s disappointment.
Alan did test out the X-ray and Program1 settings, but both didn’t show anything more. X-ray vision, much to Alan’s chagrin, simply showed people’s bone structures, at least if it could penetrate whatever armor or clothing they were wearing, or if they had bones. It also showed that a number of the other recruits were very, very well armed. Program1 showed nothing at all other than a blank space.
Alan made his way over to the other exit, looking out the doorway. All he saw was a replica of the same stone walkway outside. Nothing new.
Alan looked back over at Aurora, who seemed to have come to a decision. The whole group would form into one large company, also known as a raid group in most MMOs. They would carefully explore the dungeon, hopefully finding an exit nearby.
Alan volunteered to scout out ahead, but Aurora replied that she would prefer him in the back with the rest of the ranged damage dealers, available to provide cover fire at a moment’s notice. They would travel together, without risking anyone. Alan shrugged, and accepted his role, taking out Orion’s Cores, putting on the rifle attachment.
Once everyone was prepared, the group set out, slowly walking along the stone pathway. Leading the way were five tanks, damage absorbers, followed by several melee damage dealers and, bizarrely, at least to Alan, melee healers. Aurora’s ball of light guided the way. The tanks' gear ranged from heavy power armor to more energy or psionic-based defenses.
It was not long before they encountered a group of mobs, around 20 black, spiderlike mechs the size of small dogs walking about on four scythe legs. To Alan, they appeared to be sort of mechanized head crabs. Eve labeled them as level 25 Spiderbots.
Immediately, Aurora ordered everyone to fire at the robots. A barrage of laser fire and plasma erupted, decimating the Spiderbots before they even got close to the tanks. Immediately, the surviving few began to emit loud warning sounds, running backwards. With a few well placed shots Alan and the others were able to finish them off. Alan noted that shots often overlapped, concentrating more fire than necessary on enemies.
“Huh, that wasn’t too bad,” Sidestep said, turning back to look at Alan.
Right after Sidestep said that, Alan noticed a large shape in the distance. He immediately zoomed in on it using his enhanced, bionic eye, and alarmingly yelled, “Incoming!”
The other recruits, who had gathered around the remains of the Spiderbots, arguing over how to divide the loot, looked up. In the distance, there was a horde of incoming Spiderbots, hundreds of them with varying sizes and colors. The largest one, about the size of a tank or large Humvee was labeled as a level 250 Spiderbot Brood Mother. The Brood Mother had eight legs rather than four, each with jagged barbs, along with a large, mechanical jaw, a mouth of sorts.
Aurora called out for a steady retreat as all the ranged DPS fired at the oncoming horde. Every shot hit an enemy, but their numbers seemed endless. Alan watched as the Brood Mother shoved the remnants of the first group of Spiderbots into its mouth. A few seconds later, it spat out 10 brand new ones, slightly larger than the originals.
Before long, the wave of enemies was upon them, and the melee fighters tried to hold the line with the tanks. The melee fighters, which included Kitana and Sidestep, fought viciously to stem the tide of Spiderbots, ensuring that none passed them, stepping back for others to take their place when they got tired. Alan watched as Kitana’s glowing blade struck down tens of Spiderbots with each swing, slicing through them like they were made of air, gracefully avoiding the creature’s leaping attacks.
The tanks, meanwhile, focused on drawing the attention of four larger Hive Guard Spiderbots, level 150, and the Brood Mother. One tank summoned a giant phalanx of blue energy, and pushed the tide of Spiderbots back with it. Alan continued to rapidly fire at the Spiderbots, trying to hit the weak points of the larger ones, but his shots began missing, or striking already killed enemies. Eve was simply unable to keep track of the chaotic battle.
The Brood Mother continued to swallow its fallen brethren, spitting out additional Spiderbots a few moments later. The wave of Spiderbots was about to overwhelm the tired melee fighters when Aurora thrust her hands forward, and a wave of energy emerged. The entirety of the Spiderbots front line was suddenly encased in ice, giving everyone a much needed breather.
“Run back to the cavern!” someone shouted out as they started sprinting backwards.
“No, wait, we need to focus down the Brood Mother!” Aurora frustratingly cried out. But it was too late, all of the group was making a mad dash backwards.
Only Alan, Kitana and Sidestep as well as one other player, a hooded healer, held their ground. Eve returned to her usual efficiency as the number of variables lessened. Alan focused all his fire at the entrapped Brood Mother, but as it was encased in ice he could only fire at the joints connecting its legs to its metallic body. Shortly afterwards it broke free of the ice, only missing 5% of its health.
Aurora sent out another ice blast, encasing the smaller Spiderbots, and created an icy wall about five feet tall. She called out, "I only have about 20% of my energy left, we need to finish this fast!"
The hooded healer called out in a somewhat familiar voice, "Looks like the rest are too chicken to face this mighty foe! Do not worry, friends, for with our combined might we shall slay this abomination. I shall heal all those that prove themselves in this battle, so you need not fret. Just don’t get knocked off the side.” And then the giant construct was upon them.
Immediately, Kitana met it head on, swiping her blade at its jaws, deflecting the jabbing legs. Meanwhile, Sidestep took three quick steps, leaving behind three clones. Each clone leapt forward, attacking a different leg. Aurora began firing much smaller balls of ice aimed at the Brood Mother’s joints to hinder its movements. Alan detached the rifle attachment, and instead used Orion’s Cores in their base form, twin pistols, to also snipe at the legs of the Brood Mother.
Without all its children, or whatever they were, the fight turned relatively straightforward. Kitana, with her masterful swordsmanship, was able to easily deflect and divert the Brood Mother’s main form of attack, its bladed legs. While one of the Sidesteps was occasionally hit, it always dissolved into nothingness, revealing it was an image all along. Not even Eve could figure out which one was real. Alan, meanwhile, activated hypercognition and with Eve’s help was able to anticipate all of the movements of the machine. Aurora stood in the back, sending out the occasional ice blast while the healer stood back, arms folded, looking rather bored.
In minutes they brought the creature down to 50% HP. It sent out a signal that enraged the surrounding Spiderbots. They frantically began twitching, attempting to break free of the ice. Twin fangs emerged from the Brood Mother's mouth, dripping with a dark green poisonous looking liquid; from the top of its head a small turret appeared, and began firing lasers at the group.
The fight continued, and the group took care to avoid the additional weapons as well as the Brood Mother’s legs. Still, they were able to battle with surprising ease, continuing to avoid taking any damage at all. Alan managed to fire a lucky laser shot directly down the robot’s throat as it lunged at him with its fangs, scoring a critical hit for nearly 10x the damage. Alan let the others know about the weak point, and shortly thereafter they finally destroyed the Brood Mother as the hundreds of Spiderbots began to break free of the ice.