Chapter 19: The Escape From The Mines Of Moria
Authors Note:
Status update at the end of the chapter.
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A week after I spoke with Lex I was finally finished with my preparations to complete the trial I received.
'Okay, so I got my gear ready and most importantly I got a few new spells that should guarantee our safety. I even have a single Senzu Bean just in case. System enter the trial.'
[Ding]
[Entering The Trial Mines Of Moria]
I vanish and reappear in a musty and decrepit room full of dead bodies. In the center of the room is a sarcophagus. I also start to hear the sounds of screeching and drums approaching.
'Great I guess I am in the thick of it now.'
We quickly barricade the door with old weapons and retreat away from the door. As the Orcs try to breach the door I hear Gimli say.
Gimli: "Let them come. There is yet one dwarf in Moria who still draws breath."
As they are about to breach the door I get into Form I: Shii-Cho. Then they break through the door and the chaotic melee starts. I cut through dozens of Orcs before the Cave Troll appears and I have to dodge its club. I quickly charge a spell to kill it quickly.
Rio: "Twin Maximize Magic Thunderlance."
BOOM
The spell hits and blasts a massive hole through the Cave Troll's chest. It looks down before falling over dead. The entire battle pauses for a few seconds as everyone looks at me then the dead Cave Troll. I don't hesitate and use the opportunity to begin attacking again. In a few minutes, we finish the Orcs off. Before we can even breath a sigh of relief we hear screeching.
Gandalf: "To the Bridge of Khazad-dûm!"
As we run I look back and see an entire army of Orcs.
'I know I have seen the movies but in person, this is legitimately terrifying.'
Eventually, we are surrounded and I tell everyone to buy me some time as I gather a massive amount of mana into a spell. It takes me 30 seconds but I finish charging and release the spell.
Rio: "Triplet Maximize Magic Unlimited Chain Lightning!"
BLAST
Once I release the spell I feel almost all my mana drain out of me but the results are horrifying. The spell jumps from one Orc to the next in an unlimited chain. Each hit is an almost guaranteed kill. It takes no more than 15 seconds for the spell to resolve. The result is thousands of dead Orcs filling the entire area. The few that survived are gravely injured. I nearly collapse from mana exhaustion but I am caught by Aragorn. Before we can even realize what happened a guttural growl comes from deeper down the corridor.
GROWL
We all look to the direction it came from and I see the light from the Balrog.
'Crap we need to buy time so my mana can regenerate.'
Boromir: "What is this new devilry?"
Gandalf: "A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond most of you. Run!"
We quickly start running with Boromir going ahead as I have recovered enough to run on my own. As we run we eventually get to a destroyed staircase.
Aragorn: "Gandalf."
Gandalf: "Lead them on, Aragorn. The Bridge is near. Do as I say swords are no more use here."
We run down a nearby staircase until we get to a broken piece we have to jump across. We hear louder roars and we quickly jump across and keep going.
'I guess me wiping out the Orcs made it so they could attack us during our escape.'
As we leave the gap the staircase collapses behind us. After a while, we finally manage to make it to the bridge.
Gandalf: "Over the bridge. Fly!"
After Gandalf says that the Balrog appears and I immediately step towards the back to ensure we are safe. We then start running to the bridge while I talk to Gandalf.
Rio: "Gandalf, Go! I will hold it off. You must ensure the Fellowship escapes. I will catch up with all of you later."
Gandalf: "You must still be exhausted from your spellcraft earlier you go I will stay."
Rio: "There is no time to argue. I will be fine now GO!"
Gandalf looks reluctant but eventually leaves across the bridge with everyone else. While he does that I stand near the start of the bridge.
'I always wanted to say this.'
Rio: "You cannot pass!"
Frodo: "What is he doing we need to leave?"
Gandalf: "He is buying us time we must now use it to escape while we can. Don't worry about him he said he will return to us."
Rio: "Flame Resist. Maximize Magic Greater Magic Shield!"
The Balrog creates a sword of fire and slashes down on my shield shattering his sword. After the sword shattered the Balrog made a whip of fire and cracked it.
SNAP
I lift up my sword and smash it into the ground while silent casting Shockwave and shouting.
Rio: "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"
BOOM
(You can start playing The Lord of the Rings - The Balrog Song for music)
Then as the Balrog is recovering from the knockback effect of the spell I quickly cast another spell.
Rio: "Triplet Maximize Magic Holy Lance!"
Three massive lances of pure white energy hit the Balrog as it screams in pain from the Holy Element. I don't give it time and quickly use the spell again and again until I am low on mana. By that time the Balrog had finally broken my magic shield and was charging at me. I quickly moved into Form IV: Ataru and started leaping out of the way of its attack. As I was slashing into it here and there I was caught and cut badly while being thrown several meters away.
'Crap that would have killed me if I didn't have the Fire Resistance spell active. I need to eat the Senzu Bean now before it's too late.'
I quickly grab the Senzu Bean and eat it before the Balrog can close the distance. I then feel my mana topping up again and decide to finish this with a bang. I immediately create as much distance while I charge a very costly spell I bought in case I could defeat the Balrog quickly and had to use my Senzu Bean. Once I reach a decent distance I start the casting of the spell and a massive amount of Holy Aura starts to emanate from me. This seems to frighten the Balrog as it immediately starts to run at me.
'Too late.'
Rio: "Triplet Maximize Magic Holy Smite!"
A blast of blinding pure white light shoots out from me towards the Balrog. What follows is an unholy screech of pure agony as the Balrog is slowly disintegrated by the Holy Smite.
SCREEEEEECH!!!!!!
Once the spell ends nothing is left of the Balrog and I collapse paralysed from the magical overexertion. As I lay there I keep my ears open to make sure nothing else is around to get me. After a while, I can start to move again.
'Ugh, I feel like crap. I won't be using that spell again until I have higher mana.'
Once I sit up I see a small force of Orcs approaching.
'Crap, I can't use magic for a few hours and my body is barely able to move. I need to get out of here before they see me.'
I slowly start crawling away hoping not to be seen. I eventually make it behind a pillar while the Orcs investigate the scene of the battle. I hear them getting closer but before they arrive one of the Orcs calls the others away. I breathe a sigh of relief until I hear the sounds of many Orcs coming this way.
'Oh feather. System why haven't I left the trial?'
[Ding]
[The Host Must Escape Moria Before The Trial Can Complete.]
'Great just great. I need at least a few more minutes before I can try to sneak over to the bridge.'
After a few minutes, I start to slowly crawl over to the bridge to see if I can make it across without them noticing.
'Not going to happen. I will be shot long before I make it across. I will have to fight through them. Luckily it seems there are no more than 20 Orcs. I can do it, but I will need to use my stealth skills to eliminate as many as possible before the all-out battle.'
I slowly sneak behind an Orc and cover his mouth while I slash his throat. I quickly pull his body away and out of sight. I then repeat the same process 6 more times before the Orcs realize something is wrong. I only kill one more by surprise before I am spotted and I have to draw my sword and enter into the fight.
'1 vs 12, not the worst odds I have faced.'
I enter Form III: Soresu and begin to slowly but surely kill most of them due to their mistakes and openings. The problem lies with the last 2. Both are good swordsmen. I try to make my way to the bridge slowly. As I am making my way there I see an Orc far away drawing his bow and I smile. The Orc lets loose the arrow and I purposely open myself for one of my 2 opponents to take it. One of them does and is struck in the back by the arrow which causes them to be distracted allowing me to cut them down. Now that only one opponent is left I move into Form II: Makashi. The Orc lasts only a few seconds before I overwhelm him and he too is cut down. Leaving only the single archer but they ran away once I killed the last melee Orc.
'Finally, now I need to get out of here before more show up as I can guarantee that Orc is calling for help.'
I quickly make my way over the bridge and out of Moria. As I make it out the system tells me I have completed the Trial.
[Ding]
[The Host Has Completed The Trial The Mines Of Moria. Calculating Score.
Rank: S
Score: 147235
Rewards:
1 Legendary Palantír
1 Ton Of Mithril
1 Celebrimbor Created Ring (Customizable)
10 Stat Points
50000 System Points ]
[Exiting Trial]
[Done]
I appear back in my base and begin looking at my rewards in-depth.
[Name: Legendary Palantír
A legendary Palantír that can see anywhere regardless of obstructions. Those being seen by the Palantír cannot sense they are being watched. Can be used to find objects. No limit on distance. Cannot see into other dimensions, can only see what is in dimension Palantír is present in. ]
'Nice, mithril is self-explanatory. The ring I can apparently have one made for me but it will not be as powerful as the One Ring. I will have to think hard about what I want the ring to do. Stat Points and system points are always welcome.'
I check my status to see how much I have grown.
[ Status
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HP: 240 (Endurance x 10 )
SP: 360 (Endurance x Agility/2 )
MP: 1500 (Intelligence x 50)
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Strength: 20 (+50%) = 30
Perception: 23
Endurance: 24
Charisma: 23
Intelligence: 30
Agility: 30 (+50%) = 45
Luck: 65 (+50%) = 97.5
Stat Points: 0
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Showing Updated Skills:
Force Mastery lvl: 30/100
1500/3000 xp
Mana Manipulation lvl: 25/75
900/2500 xp
Damage Resistance lvl: 34/100
2000/3400 xp
Stealth lvl: 34/100
550/3400 xp
Weapons Proficiency lvl: 24/100
800/2400 xp
Observe lvl: 30/100
900/3000
Aura Mastery lvl: 14/100
750/1400 xp
Instrument Playing lvl: 11
905/1100
Programming lvl 31
2900/3100
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Authors Note:
I left out the descriptions since I figured you have all read them before, If you prefer the previous way let me know. Also, this chapter officially debuts the Trials in action. The Trials will basically be quests that I think won't last more than one chapter. If you have any ideas for future Trials let me know. If I use them I will credit whoever gave me the idea. Until next time Ciao.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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