The First Legendary Beast Master

Karl teleported to the mage and nodded politely.

"Thanks for the help. I was getting tired of running around trying not to get smashed."

The Dwarf laughed. Smashed by an Ogre Club is what happened to him the first time he engaged the enemy.

"How many of them did you get so far? Have you been luring them to this spot?" He asked professionally.

Karl shook his head. "I was with the group for the first few in the middle of the city, by the healing tree. Then the two who were at your body.

Then the nine here.

I'm going to have to move again, I can hear more Ogres nearby, but if you wish to lead the civilians here to safety in the middle of the city, you can.

I have assistance, as you can see."

The Mage shook his head. "Let them hide where they are comfortable. There are plenty of underground tunnels and boltholes in the city for them to escape through. It's better to let them stay in an area they're familiar with. It will increase their chances of survival if they're attacked.

The reports from the others say that the total number of Ogres isn't high. The City Guard has had some luck dealing with them, and most appeared alone.

I have no idea how I managed to get nine and then four together in my zone."

He must have killed the other two because Karl hadn't found them.

[Hawk, are there Ogres outside the city?] Karl asked.

[Nope, only inside the city. And most of them are gone. But I think that I found the portal. You know, the centre of the Monster Spawn.] Hawk replied.

[Where is it?]

[On the roof of the temple.]

That could make things interesting. If the centre of the spawn was over the Temple, then they were going to have to check it to see what sort of dungeon it was. But with all Totem Ranked Ogre spawns, there was a chance that it would have Mythic Ranked bosses.

It seemed unlikely, as Mythic would get the same sort of damage reduction against Totems that Totems did against Overlord and lower.

But it was possible, and Karl didn't know anything at all about this sort of powerful spawn.

"We could send someone in, one of the summoned creatures, and ask them what it is. There is a chance that it's not a dungeon, but a trial instance spawn.

If that is what it is, it might be a huge opportunity for us all." Dana suggested.

That was a good point. If it wasn't something they could handle, they could inform the City Council.

Assuming they weren't there already.

Most of the Ogres had been defeated by the city's residents already, and Rae was feeling quite smug about her collection of Totem Ranked Ogres.

Her next advancement bath would need a Totem Ranked base to go with the Mythic blood that she had gotten from the Dwarves. And now she had plenty, even if she didn't ask Karl to shrink her for the event.

Oh, that was a good idea. The bath could feel like an enormous swimming pool.

"Someone get Lotus and those under her care. Let's go to the Temple. Just have the wounded carry her healing totems so they can move without losing the effect." Karl decided.

There were two Totem Ranked Mages, plus the Earth Mage, a Ranger and a Bard among the rescued Totems.

Karl did a double take at that.

"Does a bard even have combat skills from their class? Or do you have to just hope for the best?" Karl asked as the middle-aged Dwarven woman got to her feet.

The Bard smiled at him and hummed a tune that made Karl's body surge with energy.

"We're not solo fighters. But a Totem Ranked Bard is one of the most powerful group combat classes. I know that your team has numerous group buffs, but so do I." She explained.

The motley group made their way through the streets, headed for the Temple. The city was getting quieter as they walked, the zone already cleared by the Clerics and their Paladins, whose barracks were right next to the Temple.

So, Karl didn't have high hopes for the situation until he saw where the actual portal was.

There was a statue of a Dwarf holding a sceptre placed on top of the dome of the temple, and the portal was above that.

Unless you were a Totem, or your species could fly, there was little chance anyone had entered yet.

Karl motioned to the Lamia on his right.

"Excuse the manhandling." Karl joked as he used [Unobtrusive Behemoth] to shrink the Lamia to the size of a python, then curled her in his hand.

An overhead toss sent the Lamia flying through the portal, and Cara's eyes went wide with realization. Sure, she could fly, but she could also fly. Karl could hurl her much faster than her wings would take her.

The Lamia vanished into the portal, and then came flying back out.

{Summoned Assistants may not participate}

Karl smiled. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have ourselves a Trial Instance. The System just informed me that Summoned Assistants may not participate. So, we will have to see what it is for ourselves."

Dana gritted her teeth and ran up to the portal. If there were limitations on this trial, she was not going to hesitate and miss her spot in the quota.

She vanished inside, and Karl tried to send her a message.

{What do you see inside?}

{User Unavailable. Communications are Instance Locked.}

"We can't contact anyone inside. But I'm going. I will see you all on the other side."

Tessa cleared her throat.

"Oh yeah, not everyone can fly."

The Dwarves laughed, and the bard took both Tessa and Lotus by the hand.

"I will bring the ladies up. Your lot can bring the green-haired Behemoth and the spider lady." She insisted.

Rae laughed and simply leapt to the portal.

Then bounced off it.

[What do you mean ineligible?] She complained, then jumped at it again.

Again she failed to enter.

Remi transformed into a Spirit Snake, and waited as the Bard entered with Tessa and Lotus. They entered just fine, so Remi went to follow, only to run nose first into the portal.

"Oh, this is some bullshit."

"Just return to your space, and I will bring you in that way." Karl instructed the beasts.

Most of them did, though Hawk took a few seconds to finish bombarding one of the remaining Ogres first.

But Cara decided to try anyhow. She was all set up, ready to grab onto the portal with her claws, but it let her pass through.

"Well, that's our signal. See you when you finish." The Dwarf beside Karl announced, then they were all headed for the portal.