Buoyed by their hard-fought victory over the Deepwater Sludge Lord, the Iron Resolve party pressed deeper into the Sunken Reliquary. The initial elation, however, quickly gave way to renewed tension as the dungeon unveiled challenges that went beyond simple brute force or DPS checks. Drake (Level 20) found his role subtly shifting; while his damage output remained a cornerstone of their success against tougher trash packs (Level 23-24 Drowned Sentinels and Corrupted Alvari Spirits), his utility skills were becoming increasingly vital.
They entered a vast, flooded chamber, its ceiling lost in shadow far above. A series of narrow, crumbling stone platforms, slick with algae, formed the only path across a wide chasm filled with murky, turbulent water. On Normal mode, this had been a simple traversal. On Hard Mode, the platforms were intermittently swept by powerful jets of high-pressure water erupting from unseen vents in the chasm walls, threatening to knock players into the abyss below. Furthermore, ghostly Alvari Apparitions (Level 23 Hard Mode) materialized on the platforms, their chilling touch applying a potent slowing debuff.
"Alright, this looks nasty," Valerius muttered, eyeing the first water jet as it slammed against a nearby platform with concussive force. "Those jets weren't nearly that strong on Normal. And those Apparitions... if they slow us on these narrow ledges, we're going into the drink."
Their first attempt to cross was chaotic. Finn, the Rogue, tried to dash across between jet cycles but was clipped by an Apparition's touch, his movements becoming sluggish. A subsequent water jet caught him squarely, sending him tumbling into the chasm with a yelp. << Finn has died! >> Elara, trying to provide covering fire, was forced to dodge a jet and nearly slipped. They were forced to retreat and allow Finn to respawn and run back.
"Okay, direct approach is too risky. The jets are on a pattern, but it's tight. The Apparitions are the main problem, their slow makes dodging impossible. Need to deal with them, or find a way to bypass the jets."
Drake activated [Relic Hunter], his [Cartographer's Compass] enhancing its range. He meticulously scanned the chamber. The skill highlighted the water jet nozzles hidden in the chasm walls, confirming their firing arcs. It also picked up faint energy signatures on the platforms themselves – not traps, but specific, almost invisible Alvari runes etched into the stone, glowing faintly to his augmented senses. More interestingly, on the far side of the chasm, near the exit doorway, [Relic Hunter] revealed a larger, more complex runic console, also glowing faintly.
"Runes on the platforms... a console on the other side. This looks like a sequence puzzle. Maybe stepping on the platform runes in the correct order deactivates the jets or the Apparitions?" He accessed [Perfect Recall], searching for any similar Alvari rune sequences he might have encountered or read about in the 'Basics of Alvari Artifice' tome. He found a partial match – a sequence related to Alvari water flow control systems.
"Valerius, those runes on the platforms," Drake called out, pointing. "I think they're part of a sequence. If we activate them in the right order, it might control the jets. The console on the far side is likely the master control or reset."
"A rune sequence? While dodging those things?" Finn said doubtfully, having just rejoined the group.
"It's better than trying to bull-rush it," Elara commented, her eyes on the deadly jets.
"Drake, can you see an order?" Valerius asked.
[Relic Hunter] didn't reveal the order directly, but it did show that some runes pulsed with a slightly brighter energy than others when a water jet was about to fire from a nearby nozzle, as if they were part of the activation matrix. "The runes that glow brighter before a jet fires... that's probably not the safe sequence. Maybe the ones that remain dim, or pulse after?" This was still guesswork.
"The order isn't obvious," Drake admitted. "But some runes are reacting to the jet system. I might need to get closer to decipher it, or find a bypass for the Apparitions first. Elara, can you crowd control those ghosts? Root them, stun them, anything to keep them off us while we try the platforms?"
Elara nodded. "I have a Frost Nova that can root them temporarily, but the cooldown is long. We'll need to time it."
Their next attempt was more coordinated. Valerius drew the initial attention of the closest Apparitions. Elara waited for them to cluster, then unleashed her [Frost Nova], encasing two of them in ice. << Alvari Apparition x2 Rooted! >> "Now, Drake! Find the path!" Valerius urged, as he moved to intercept a third, unrooted Apparition.
Drake, using the brief window, carefully stepped onto the first platform, [Relic Hunter] highlighting the runes. He focused, using [Perfect Recall] to compare the pulsing patterns to the Alvari water control schematics he remembered. He identified a rune that pulsed out of sync with the jet activations. He stepped on it. A soft chime. He moved to the next platform, dodging a jet, and found another rune matching the pattern. Chime. He continued, calling out the sequence to Valerius, who relayed it to Finn. It was a tense, dangerous puzzle, requiring precise movement, timed dodges, and Drake's unique ability to perceive and recall ancient patterns.
They managed to activate three runes in sequence. Suddenly, the water jets along one side of the chasm sputtered and died. << Partial Runic Sequence Activated! Western Water Vents Deactivated! >>
"It's working!" Finn yelled. "Keep going!" But an Apparition broke free from Elara's ice and lunged at Lyra, the healer, who shrieked as the slowing touch hit her. Valerius intercepted, but the pressure was mounting. They cleared the remaining Apparitions on their side, but not before Lyra had used significant mana healing through the slows and stray jet impacts.
They reached a wider central platform. Here, a Sunken Reliquary Sentinel (Level 23 Hard Mode Mini-Boss), a smaller, more agile version of the Alvari constructs, animated from a pile of rubble. It had a nasty whirlwind attack and could summon more Apparitions. The fight was chaotic on the narrow platforms. Drake's [Parry]was crucial for negating the Sentinel's heavy hits, while his [Blade Dance] helped control the summoned Apparitions. It was a tough DPS race before they were overwhelmed or knocked off. They downed it, but Finn had died again to a whirlwind, and Elara was critically low on mana.
"This is brutal. Every section is a major hurdle. We're making mistakes, taking too much damage."
After the Sentinel, Drake managed to decipher the rest of the platform rune sequence, deactivating the remaining water jets. They finally reached the far side, exhausted and low on resources.
As they paused to recover before the next doorway, Valerius pulled Drake aside slightly, while Lyra tended to Elara and Finn (who had run back). "Drake," Valerius said, his voice low and serious, his faceplate hiding his expression. "We wouldn't have made it past that steam hall, or this chasm, without you. That's not just about your damage, which is insane. It's... how you see things. Those runes, the conduit overload... no one else spotted that."
Finn, overhearing as he approached, chimed in, "Yeah, man. Seriously. We were calling this place 'Iron Resolve's Tomb' before you showed up. Now it feels... actually doable, if still bloody hard." Elara, sipping a mana potion, just nodded, her usual sharp gaze now holding a grudging respect.
Valerius continued, "Look, we're a new guild. We have ambition, good core players, but we lack that... game-breaking edge for these Hard Mode firsts. You clearly have it. What I'm trying to say is... Iron Resolve needs you. Not just for this run. Long term. We know you said you're mostly solo, but... think about it. Officer position, loot priority on things you need, whatever resources we can pool... we want you to be a core part of what we're building."
Drake listened, surprised by the directness and the offer. "Officer? Loot priority? They're serious. They see the value of Eidetic Execution and Relic Hunter, even if they don't know what they are. It's tempting... a stable group, resources... but the commitment..."
He knew his path with Elder Jian and the Hilt was paramount, and the weekly Mirror Duel demanded constant personal improvement. But the synergy with a competent team was undeniably effective and, he had to admit, sometimes enjoyable.
"Valerius," Drake said finally, "I appreciate the offer, truly. And I'm committed to helping Iron Resolve succeed when I can. For now, let's focus on clearing this dungeon. We can talk about long-term guild roles later, after we see how this run plays out, and after I've made more progress on my personal quests. My path is... complicated right now."
Valerius nodded, a hint of disappointment but also understanding. "Fair enough, Drake. We appreciate your honesty. Just know the offer stands. Now, let's see what horrors this next section holds, eh?"
The pressure was mounting, not just from the dungeon's mechanics, but from the growing expectations of his new guildmates. His unique abilities were making him indispensable, a responsibility he hadn't sought but couldn't deny.