Dungeon and Stone was, at its core, a cultivation game. The main objective was to strengthen your character by accumulating experience points, consuming essences and acquiring equipment. Normally, you had to increase your stats by consuming essences to be strong enough to climb to the next floor and get more XP. After all, you only earned XP the first time you killed a new type of monster. The natural consequence of this was that if you couldn't get higher quality essences, you wouldn't be able to grow to get new points on the next plant.
But, oddly enough, even though I'm already level seven, I haven't gotten stuck even once.
This is largely due to the fact that he already had the level 7 Corpse Golem, level 5 Vampire, and Orc Hero essences. With that alone it was a piece of cake to clear the lower floors and accumulate XP. When I reached the middle floors, I had been lucky enough to get an Ogre essence through the Labyrinth of Larcaz. Oh, and it also helped that the royal family was at war. Otherwise, right now he would be busy cultivating the Bayon and his Transcendence ability.
In that sense, it's actually the first time my progress has stalled...
But it has nothing to do with a lack of skill on my part. It was just that I needed to get past the seventh floor to get stronger, and that place had become a war zone. Honestly speaking, if we invested just a little more time and effort into the clan, it wouldn't be long before we would be able to cultivate for a Bellarios.
«Bjorn, how much longer do we have to wait? The monsters here are too weak! This is boring!»
Most of our expedition this month would be a low-ranking raid. He had thought about it over and over again, and each time, he came to the same conclusion. We would take advantage of this time to hunt down the monsters we were missing to ensure that all team members were on equal terms. We would consume all the essences we found along the way. We all had an empty essence slot at that time.
«Be patient. As I told you before, this is where the essence you need appears». The monster we were hunting would drop a useful essence for Ainar. It wouldn't be the best to reach the final stretch, but for now, it would help her be 30% stronger.
«But still...» Ainar hesitated, not entirely convinced. He'd probably have a hard time believing that a second-story essence would do him any good now, so... «Isn't he just a rank-five monster?! Why don't we keep going up? I want to show you how strong I am now, and I can only do it if a stronger enemy appears!».
Ah, so that's the problem.
I ignored his whining and continued chewing my jerky.
Amelia was taking a break from self-war against a group of monsters when she suddenly called me. «Yandel. We have company».
«Yes», Erwen intervened, «I can feel them coming this way too. There is...»
«There are twelve».
I sighed. It was a pain to hear these two constantly cutting each other off. I didn't understand why they had to compete for something so trivial.
«They'll be here in about two minutes.»
«Very good.»
With that update, we waited until the team of twelve adventurers slowly emerged from the darkness, although they were more of a clan than a team. Furthermore, they were well equipped to be adventurers wandering around the second floor.
The man I assumed was their captain came forward to speak as soon as our eyes met. «...So there are others here».
It seemed like they had the same goal as us. The monster we were hunting was famous enough that there were more interested parties. However, since we were both looking for the same thing, the solution to our problem was simple. «Yes, we arrived first. So get lost».
Now we will take these lands as ours.
When I claimed ownership of these hunting grounds, their leader looked away at our group, looking at each of them in turn. In the past, if I had seen someone do something like that, I would have put myself on high alert. Now, however, I wasn't worried in the least.
«It's a shame».
Well, you being disappointed is not my problem.
«I guess we should consider ourselves lucky to have been able to meet a celebrity. May the blessings of Rafdonia be with you, Baron Yandel». They turned around without saying anything else, just as the three groups we had crossed paths with before them had done.
With that, our hunt resumed.
[You have killed a sandworm.]
[You have killed a sandworm.]
[You have killed a Sandworm.]
[You have killed...]
Once we had killed all the Sandworms, a unique Rock Desert monster, the conditions were finally met.
«Whoa, the ground is shaking!»
The entire desert began to shake as if there were an earthquake.
¡Shwaaaaaa!
A sandstorm arose, blocking our escape route, and in its center, a huge worm burst from the ground with its jaws wide open.
[A death worm has appeared.]
The rank five deathworm was a monster exclusive to the lower floors. I always made sure to hunt him down to get the much-needed experience points.
«Gyeeeeeek!» With only his upper body on the surface, he let out a terrifying roar.
«Behel-aaah!» Ainar leaped into the sky with a roar of equal ferocity. Unfortunately for her, it came too late.
[Amelia Rainwales has released Power of the Abyss.]
[Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has released Ruptura.]
Before Ainar could strike, Amelia's dagger and Erwen's arrow pierced the Death Worm, causing it to collapse into the sand.
[You have killed a Death Worm. EXP +5]
[High Rank Mutant Bonus. EXP +1]
He had no idea we would defeat him in less than a second.
«Was he weaker than I thought?»
«Lord! I killed him for you!»
«What are you talking about? Didn't you see that my sword cut him before your arrow hit him?»
«But it was my arrow that blew his head off».
«Aghhh! What the hell was that? Have I been waiting all this time for this?!»
I sighed. The essence did not fall.
***
After defeating the Death Worm, we left the Rock Desert and returned to the first floor Crystal Cave for one reason and one reason only. Three months had passed since we had entered the Green Coal Mine. This would be our chance to enter a crack in the first floor.
Come to think of it, I haven't looked around yet.
I suddenly realized that I had not explored every corner of this place. In fact, I had skipped all the lower floors. The only crevices he had been in were the White Temple on the third floor and the Doppelganger Forest on the fourth. The second floor had practically been a footnote in my search, to the point that I had not even opened or entered its crack.
I wonder if I can go this time...
It was difficult to know. Although we had planned to enter the second floor crack, there were no guarantees that we would be able to do so. After all, cracks weren't something you could enter whenever you wanted.
«Hahaha! It's been a while since I've been here». Ainar exclaimed as soon as we reached the statue of the Great Sage, in the center of the Crystal Cave. «It's kind of nostalgic! Don't you think, Bjorn?».
No wonder he felt that way. When I came here three months ago, I had that same feeling. This was the place where I had entered my first rift with Ainar and had met Raven and that dwarf, not to mention the place where we had suffered Noark's attacks for days.
But I guess that was three years ago...
Although I had been stuck in the past most of the time, even I could sense how much time had passed. However, it seemed to me that everything had happened just a few days ago.
Clink.
As soon as we placed the rank eight mana stone that we got in the Desert of Rocks on the altar, the portal opened and we hurried in.
[You have entered the crack on the first floor].
Beyond the portal was the last crack on the first floor, the only one I had left to clear.
«This is the Iron Tomb...»
Erwen used one of her spirits to illuminate the dark hallway before us. It seemed like we were entering one of those documentary pyramids that they always played on random channels late at night. However, it went without saying that this was not a pyramid.
The walls were metal.
«Sir, what language is this?»
«No first me idea.»
«Hahaha, don't you think Aruru would have loved this place?»
«Let's stop chatting and keep moving forward.»
There was no reason to waste any more time. As we moved forward, Ainar suddenly insisted on leading the way. Amelia and Erwen also pushed for her to take the lead alone, as they were eager to see her new abilities in action. To be honest, I wanted to see them too.
«¡Become-aaaaaa!»
Ainar took the lead and quickly cleared the way. Normally, the Iron Tomb was supposed to clear itself by dismantling the traps along the hallway, but all of that made no sense against someone like Ainar. As long as you had the strength to pull it off, simply stepping over each trap was much easier than dismantling them one by one.
«Ainar, turn left!»
«¡Raaaaah!»
I shouted directions from behind as Ainar continued forward. He passed over all the traps while slicing the monsters with his sword.
Crash! Wham! Hit!
It was the kind of incredible performance you would expect from a master of the greatsword.
[Ainar Fenelin has launched Tajo Repetido.]
[The same area has been hit twice. Explosion Scars have been activated.]
It was a basic combo that Tajo Repetido used to its full potential, and showed how much it had grown in recent years.
[Due to Mandel Oil, the power of Explosion Scars has doubled.]
Additionally, he added a passive fire-type ability of the Smug rank five monster essence.
[Residual heat activated. Additional damage will be dealt in proportion to the damage dealt].
Now came a rank four ability that granted a 50% bonus to Damage Resistance if fire damage was dealt to multiple enemies in a short enough period of time.
Boom! Crush! Crash!
Each blow of Ainar's sword brought with it dozens of explosions. I followed her with pride.
I didn't expect it to really bring together all the essences I mentioned.
I felt like a teacher who sees his students return from vacation with all their homework done. He had recommended essences that would increase almost all of his Stamina stats equally. That's why she was completely fine even after stepping on traps or being attacked by monsters, and even if she was injured, the wounds healed quickly.
[Ainar Fenelin has launched Wings of Greed. Its Natural Regeneration has increased significantly].
Due to Ainar's structure, most of the damage he dealt came from his passive abilities, so he did not consume much Soul Power. The only exception, of course, was his final move, repeated Slash. Therefore, even if he had to constantly heal, he ran very little risk of depleting his reserves.
[Ainar Fenelin has killed a rank eight monster. His Soul Power is restored in proportion to the monster's rank].
Thanks to the satisfaction that the third phase of the Huntress Imprint gave her, she was able to replenish both her MP and PS while fighting. And from the looks of it, he had even reached the sixth phase.
[Ainar Fenelin is fighting a rank eight monster. His physique increases in proportion to the monster's rank].
I didn't expect him to already have the Combat Studio. It made you stronger the more you fought, an ideal ability for barbarian warriors who were constantly trying to become more powerful.
...It must be fun to be able to fight like that.
I watched Ainar happily lunge at the monsters in front and felt jealousy wash over me, but I quickly crushed the feeling before it could grow. The shield barbarians were incredible in their own right. After all, Dungeon and Stone was the home of tanks, as nothing could be done in the game without a proper tank. A raid could be made without priests, mages or archers, but a main tank was irreplaceable.
«¡Become-aaaaaa!»
We continue behind Ainar, with nothing to do. As time went by, the experience we gained hunting began to accumulate.
[You have killed a Mummy. EXP +1]
[You have killed an Iron Cavalry. EXP +3]
[You have killed a Viridian. EXP +2]
[You have killed the Guardian's Eyes. EXP +2]
[You have killed an Iron Lizard. EXP +3]
[You have killed a Riddler Gate Guardian...]
[You have killed...]
As we ran through the crack, I made sure to pick up any hidden objects to share with the rest of the group.
[You have taken a Mercurial Liquid. Your Mana Stamina has permanently increased by +3. This effect cannot be accumulated. This effect cannot be accumulated].
[You have received an iron Blessing. Your Physical Stamina has permanently increased by +3. This effect cannot be accumulated. This effect cannot be accumulated].
Since this was only a crack in the first floor, the stat increases were smaller, but would grow considerably as we continued to cultivate them.
[You have entered the Iron Tomb.]
Even after spending time gathering all the hidden items, it didn't take us long to reach the boss room - about three hours in total.
Only three hours to get to the solo boss room at the front... That's definitely quick.
Ainar had more than proven her worth, but she was not satisfied and demanded to fight the boss alone.
[You have killed the Iron Ildio. EXP +4]
[High Rank Mutant Bonus. EXP +1]
[Guardian death bonus. EXP +3]
The battle against the boss ended quickly, and the moment it ended, everyone noticed the light that began to shine as the monster's body disappeared. After all, we were all greedy adventurers.
Shaaaaaa-
There was no essence, and the same was true of the Crack Stones, which could be sold for a good amount of money.
A flower,
«Hey? Is there a numbered object that is a flower?»
However, in one incredibly rare case, a numbered item, the number 9999: Beginner's Luck, had fallen.