Akiol wasn't entirely sure what the flying creatures were supposed to be. Considering the other enemies were easily recognizable he was under the impression that this dungeon wasn't going to have too many mystical like creatures. This was not the case clearly. They looked like large insects, but their wings were webbed.
Green Pea Tea tried shooting them down, but barely any arrows hit. Out of frustration they shot a glowing arrow upwards, and it lingered for a moment before splitting into several other arrows that fell upon the flying creatures.
This was of interest to Akiol. One of the mystical Skills that seemed to defy common sense to be pulled off. So he paid careful attention to it, yet despite watching it for the entire duration he couldn't quite figure out how it worked.
No matter, he'd continue his research.
Akiol was beginning to understand why the team composition was balanced in this way. Usually it would only be one ranged attacker, either Sorcerer or Archer, but with the introduction of flying creatures increasing the ranged attacks was a smart choice.
Although Green Pea wasn't doing too well, and Pi was about to chew through more MP. A jet of flame launched forward and attacked the flying creatures, causing them to fly about in fear. Because of the poor choice of spell the creatures flew out of range and only a few fell victim to the flame.
Raising a finger Akiol drew a line in the air. Mana swirled and formed cuts that defeated a few of the flying creatures, reducing their density. Mana application and techniques like this were only useful on weaker enemies. Mostly because a counter to such techniques was your own mana control. When two individuals had peak mana control, the techniques could be nullified and thus were useless.
Of course this didn't include Kan'na, who somehow surpassed the peak of mana control.
Since the flying creatures had barely any mana control Akiol was able to use this technique to cut them down. A simple and straightforward method of mana application. The flying creatures collapsed onto the ground and Akiol returned his focus to the scorpions who were growing in number.
As Akiol continued this dungeon he considered how to tackle it with his party. Excluding their overwhelming strength in comparison to the low level dungeon of course. The easiest method seemed to gather them into a group and have Kan'na use a large AOE spell to wipe out a number of them. Considering this dungeon was a five person limit one, a party member had to be excluded.
Akiol considered it and came to the conclusion that it had to be either him, Wrock, or Jarvis who'd sit out. Tilia was too essential to a team composition, as was Yielya. Additionally his strategy required the firepower of Kan'na. Thus the final slots would be the damage dealers, and any one of them could sit out.
Once coming up with a simple strategy Akiol wondered how to get this ragtag team to follow a similar idea. He believed Pi lacked proper large scale damage abilities. The largest he'd seen so far was the flamethrower spell. The raining arrow Skill from Green Pea could do a decent amount of damage. It was a little too spread out for his strategy, but Akiol could silently make up for the difference.
Indeed, knowing your teammates and their capabilities was half the work to making a viable strategy! Akiol silently sighed in his heart. After crushing another scorpion he swiftly returned to Polou's side and asked, "How are you holding out?"
"Decently!", Polou kept his response short.
Moving to Green Pea Tea's side Akiol also checked up, "How much longer until the arrow rain skill is off cooldown?"
"Half a minute!"
As easy to launch AOE Skill usually has a high cooldown? Akiol kept a mental note to fact check later. Continuing he instructed, "Polou is going to draw a lot of attention, once the enemies are gathered up use the arrow rain Skill on the horde!"
"Okay!", Green Pea Tea didn't argue.
Moving to Pi he continued to silently conduct their actions, "Pi, what AOE abilities to you have?"
"Besides the flamethrower I have an acid pool, that's it though my build is more single target focused.", Pi explained curtly.
"Okay, Polou is going to draw a lot of attention, hit the large group with the acid pool!"
"I can do that!"
Two more to go! Akiol moved to the Priest side and quickly finished off two scorpions that were sneaking up on the Priest. Using the moment of relief the Priest felt Akiol continued, "You save enough Prayer? Polou is going to draw a lot of attention so we can wipe it out in one go, he needs to stay alive."
"I can if it's just him!"
"Alright!"
Now onto Polou! Akiol swiftly returned back to the defender's side and instructed, "Gather their attention? Green Pea and Pi have AOE abilities to wipe them out, and Saladly will keep you alive!"
"You sure?! The flying ones will quickly eat away at me!", Polou wasn't as cooperative.
"I'll help you fend them off! We can reduce the pressure this way!", Akiol urged him.
"Fine! If this fails it's on you!"
"I'll take the blame if that happens.", Akiol shouldered the responsibility.
Barely managing to smack his shield Polou released a powerful Taunt ability. Immediately the flying creatures and scorpions turned their attention and swarmed him. Akiol ripped a flying creature out of the sky and slammed it into the sand. Squishing it with his foot he grabbed another two and crushed them together.
At last the creatures swarmed Polou, and he suffered a lot of attacks. Then a green ball of acid launched forth and burst apart into a pool. Landing onto the ground it began to melt the various scorpions that tried to traverse the puddle.
Arrows rained from above, easily hitting any of the flying creatures. With the two AOE Skills the horde was beginning to thin, but despite Saladly's constant heals Polou wasn't going to last much longer. Akiol thrust forward a finger and used mana application to punch holes into a large number of the horde. Scorpions and flying creatures fell simultaneously, but how they died was masked in the density of the horde.
Immediately Polou felt the shift of pressure, he was even able to drink a potion to rapidly restore his HP. Soon enough a flamethrower shot forth and cleaved through a large portion of the remaining flying creatures. Arrows flew forward, and with the density of the horde accuracy didn't matter! Scorpions fell one after the other, and the piling corpses of the creatures started to slow the remaining scorpions!
Akiol felt the sand begin to shift underneath his feet. It moved to a whirl, as if sinking from one particular place. Reaching out Akiol grabbed ahold of Polou's armor and flung him back. Moments later a large worm leapt out of the sand and consumed the scorpions and flying creatures within a single gulp.
Just as Polou was about to curse out Akiol he quickly swallowed his words and stammered, "H-Hidden event?!"
Watching the worm returned back to the sand Akiol felt like he saw the Death Eater again. The massive sand worm moved underneath the sand before leaping out. Arcing through the air and threatening to swallow Saladly whole.
Akiol slid through the sand and dragged Saladly out of the way. As the party regained their bearings Polou shouted, "This is a super rare event! If we just survive for two minutes we can get some good rewards!"
As the worm burrowed Akiol clicked his tongue, "Pi! Move!"
Scrambling Pi barely managed to avoid the ascending worm from swallowing her whole. Simultaneously another worm broke the surface and attempted to swallow Polou.
"Two!? This wasn't in the Guide!"
It was clear to Akiol that this wasn't some sort of pure chance event. Rather this was something triggered because a Third Stage joined a beginner level dungeon. His reasoning for this was because not once was he being threatened by the worms! These worms were trying to take out the lower leveled players from being heavily carried!
A third worm began to break the surface and went for Green Pea Tea. Akiol stifled a sigh and silently apologized. He hadn't known this was going to happen. Since this was his fault Akiol figured he'd help the lower level ones survive for the two minutes.
Sand kicked up into a wave as Akiol launched forward. Kicking the side of the worm after Polou. It squirmed violently before hitting the sand, launching it outwards from the impact. Using mana to make a platform Akiol dashed towards the one after Green Pea Tea. Extending his hand to a chop he swung downwards and utilized mana application to form a rudimentary blade. Carving the worm in half!
Blood from the worm splattered downwards and covered Green Pea Tea. He stood there silently stunned. Akiol slid on the sand and grabbed Green Pea, carrying him away. After setting Green Pea Tea by Saladly, Akiol moved to a section of sand. Reaching back with his hand Akiol punched the sand, causing it to explode upwards and out from the force.
A crater formed and within it lay one of the sand worms, a large chunk of its body burst apart from the punch. Sand began to slowly fill the hole as it rained from the sky. And slowly the sands began to shift to normal.
An unsettling wind passed across the oasis, blowing the sand cloud away. Akiol stood silently, his cloak fluttering. The ragtag party couldn't help but stare at the dead sand worms, and then slowly their attention focused towards him.
Putting a hand to his head Akiol smiled, "Whoops! I didn't think this was going to happen."