13 Tao Lin's Mistress.

Big Steel Foot spent some time elaborating about everything his father told him. His dad, Scarlet Snow, died protecting this map. But as far as Tao was concerned, he didn't know why he should care. Weren't all these monsters made by the system? Well, they were, obviously, but currently they had feelings, families, life spans and lives.

"My dad was what you call a guardian, Tao Lin. He was even stronger than I was."

Tao Lin shook his head. "Sorry that you lost your dad. I understand how you feel."

"No, you don't! I feel glad he died. Because he saved the map!"

Tao Lin really didn't understand. Death was like a wanton mistress in his life. She cheated him out of his dad, and a lot of his friends.

All throughout growing up. When he was an adolescent, the haze took away his best friend. When he was a young adult, his dad was taken away by an accident, and his first girlfriend. A beautiful girl who he wanted to spend his life with. She died from a rare disease.

"I really don't understand. Why did your dad end up dying," Tao Lin asked, "If he was so strong, who was able to defeat him?"

"Well, it wasn't really a who, per se, it was a group of demon beasts! They are so strong! You'd have to be in the golden core stage to kill them."

Tao Lin curiously tilted his head. "Golden core stage?"

The golden core stage was the stage after the Foundation stage which was after Qi-10, Qi-9... It gave a longer life span, which in the olden days would have allowed Tao to live to a thousand. However, currently, it would maybe let him survive to 200. Which, because of the Haze, was already impressive. There hadn't been someone over 200 in a hundred years! That stage was just a dream to Tao Lin, right now. However, he patted the monster on his back.

"Well, if I ever make it up to the golden core stage, I will find them and vanquish them."

Big steel foot flexed his muscles. "Well, you're definitely going to need to go get what's in the dungeon. My dad said there is a precious stone in there for getting stronger. If you get that stone, provided everything goes as he said, only then will you be able to level up to golden core stage! Then you must come back to me, and I'll tell you where those bastards are! By the way, you should also revenge your dad."

Tao sighed. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to get his revenge. There was no real man responsible for killing him. And, however much he wanted to blame The Alchemist, it wasn't his fault! Moreover, he was out testing his family right now trying to get them to live longer. What did that mean? He had to forgive him, and if he didn't what would happen to his family? The Alchemist was the entire reason he could live longer. It was his dads dream for his family to live longer. So, following the monsters logic. Shouldn't he not be mad? It was too hard to think about this concept.

"So, how strong do we have to be to enter the Dungeon, Steel?" Tao Lin glowered seriously.

"Hmmm, well, I have no idea Tao Lin. My dad said he wouldn't enter unless there was three of him."

"How strong was your dad?"

"Uhm, he was at peak Foundation stage I think."

Tao Lin just gawked at him with his mouth agape. It took The Alchemist ten years to reach Foundation Stage, and he created the machines. Basically, if Tao Lin wanted to do the same thing. Well, he'd probably at least have to play for three more years. And even though he had just reached the seventh stage, it got harder after every level. Almost ten times harder. As far as he was concerned, about his level, it would take at least thirty years to get to Peak Foundation Stage. And that was only if he received the same encounters as The Alchemist!

"Uhm, do you know a faster way to level up, Steel?"

The Big Steel Foot nodded. "Yup, but you'll probably die if you go now. Why don't you come back to me when you're at my level? I'll take you to where my father died. You can earn lots of experience there."

Tao nodded, and a received a quest.

"Meet Big Steel Foot at the graveyard of gods in Endonia. Quest: Diamond Rank, Class requirments: Qi Condensation stage 9."

Tao accepted the request, and watched it hide into his visor. It was his first time receiving a Diamond request. The only other quests he had done were all Topaz to get him some beginner gear. Those were back in the days where he had to kill the slugs and hide in the dirt when the flocks passed by. Now, however, he had to leave this place. The system didn't want him to stay in this dungeon any longer!

"Thanks for the quest Steel. See you as soon as possible."

Big Steel Foot shook hands with Tao Lin. If you saw it, it looked like a giant snowman grabbing a bird's wing. And Tao walked into the distortion. Where would he end up this time?

….

Trekking in no man's land.

Diana Hong had not seen a single guy since she entered this forest. All the monsters were pink and had garish wardrobes. She sliced her way through the jungle and picked up all the essence pills she could find along the way.

However, the panther behind her was still tailing her curiously. It was one of the rare males in this forest.

And the forest of the Amazons was known for two things. One, its woman, which you already know about. And the other thing was the savageness of its creatures. Diana would be terrified if she found out about some of the creatures. One of them, a panther, sort of like the creature behind her, was so fast it could kill monsters three levels higher than itself. This alone was insane! But the black panther tailing her might have been just as strong.

"GRRRRR"

"You've encountered the rare fire panther. Estimated level Qi-4."

Diana Hong pulled out her blades and activated stomp before a series of earth spikes flew out of the ground.

She had found out a few hours ago, when she leveled up to Qi-3, that her two attributes were earth, and wind. However, her affinity for earth was the highest. Affinities were split into four levels kind of like the Foundation stage. There was a low, middle, high, and peak affinity. She had the highest earth affinity! Even Tao Lin's affinities were only high.

When you had a peak affinity in something, it meant your attacks would get a boost by your element. Moreover, it would take less energy to connect to your spells. But don't forget that the panther was also above his level. She drew out her blades and slashed at the pair of incoming claws.

….

The Alchemist arrived with Tao's family at the Fortress, and immediately found the two twins waiting for him in the hallway. They had this guilt ridden looks on their pretty faces. Violet was holding a broken egg, and Rosie had her face buried in a pretty track suit she'd put on. Her sister was in a pair of jeans and smiling.

"Did you guys do what I think you did?" The Alchemist said, "Did you hatch one of them?"

Rosie and Chrissy both nodded their heads. "We both did it. Please don't blame us. He's actually little cute."

A little beautiful tiger with wings on its back was under Rosie's head. However, when The Alchemist tried to pick him up all he received was a growl. Unfortunately, since the monster saw the two girls first, he had become very protective of them.

"RRRRRR!" He sounded like a gruff puppy.

The Alchemist just sighed. "You two better take good care of him! Now, go put him back in the incubator. Its about time we have a team debriefing!"

They looked sad to have to put him down. Soon, a new team of players would enter the game.