Chapter 2: Progression and Guests

|3rd POV|

The situation in the Adventurer Guild is merry. One of the oracles that stay in the city declares there is a new dungeon being born not too far away from their city. The city of Xanbu is a trade city that sits next to a massive lake.

Because of the location of the city, it is known for its trade between all the cities that sit on the shore of the lake. With that many people coming in and leaving the city, Xanbu becomes a nest of adventurers who want to try their fortune from either a dungeon around the city or from taking missions from the merchants who come to the city.

After an adventurer successfully clears a dungeon and defeats its master, they leave the core undisturbed but ensure it's sealed. This prevents the core from doing its job of purifying the negative energy properly, and the dungeon continues to spawn monsters and crystals (even though it is less than before because purification is not done properly).

Unbeknownst to the adventurers, their actions are slowly harming the planet. By leaving the core intact, they unwittingly perpetuate the cycle of endless monster summoning, contributing to the planet's demise.

Now, a new dungeon appears, and that means it will result in new loot for them to take. Not only that, but it is also an easy dungeon, so the newbie adventurer will have a chance to get a better loot to sell or craft new equipment.

"What kind of dungeon is it?"

"I don't know. The Oracle does not say anything about the type because of the distance. However, I bet it is Beast-type. We are known for our beast-type dungeon, after all."

"I think it will be Aquatic-type! Many of the dungeons in the other city are Aquatic-type."

"Urgh. I hate Aquatic-type. I hope it is Lizardmen. They are easy to handle as long as you can maneuver in their habitat and give good loot for armor and weapons."

The people in the Adventurer Guild talk with each other happily. While talking with each other, a dwarf walks in front of the receptionist and takes a deep breath.

"Shut up!"

He shouted loudly, and the crowd obeyed his words. This man is the Guild Master of the Adventurer Guild of Xanbu City. He is a level seventy-five fighter, a former S-rank adventurer.

"A new dungeon has appeared, and now it is time for me to announce the search for the dungeon. Anyone above C-rank can join in this search, and the first one to discover it will be rewarded."

The guild has eight ranks: F-rank, E-rank, D-rank, C-rank, B-rank, A-rank, S-rank and SS-rank. The guild master is one step away from being known as the strongest in the country before he retires and becomes a guild master.

"When you guys find the dungeon, DON'T BE GREEDY!"

He shouts the last part to hammer these words into the head of the adventurer in front of him.

"Many adventurers died trying to conquer a new dungeon by themselves, and I don't want that. This will be the only and last warning you receive. The guild will not take responsibility for this idiotic action."

He looks around and notices some of them sneering at him. He can only sigh and hope those idiots are not the people that find the dungeon.

"With that being said, the expedition will start tomorrow. For now, you guys need to prepare for the scouting. Good day."

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"Oooh! That one is worth a lot, master!"

Lilith points at the crystal I have in my hand while I wipe sweat off my forehead. It has been a week since the last time I was transported here, and it has been hard work. The [Interdimensional Supermarket] is coming in clutch. I can buy a pickaxe from the [Shop] section of the system, but they are expensive. It is three times more expensive than the one I can buy using my boon.

It cost me three hundred points for one pickaxe from the [Shop], but it only cost me one hundred when I bought it using my boon.

Anyway, after my first harvest from the mine (400 Points), I immediately summon more skeletons and equip them with pickaxes. With new equipment, the skeletons can mine faster and better. With the income increasing, I can spend more to increase my number.

"Master! Your boon is done! You can use it once again!"

I look at Lilith and say.

"Really?"

"Yup! Let's get back to the throne room and upgrade more skeletons!"

I nod and say.

"What do you think we should do? Do we continue to upgrade the [Skeleton Mage]? Or should we upgrade another one and try a [Skeleton Soldier] to protect the mage?"

"Hmmm, that is a good question. One Elite monster is great, but I don't think being too focused on one monster is good. At least make it a pair."

"Hmm, you are right. A mage cannot fight in the front line. We need someone to protect the mage."

I summon another skeleton and put my hand on its head. I use my boon and pick the [Skeleton Soldier]. A second later, I can see the skeleton now holding a shield and a sword in its hands.

"Lilith, can I check what kind of ability my creatures have?"

"Oh, right! I know I am forgetting something! Focus on your summons and think of status to appear!"

I nod and do what she is saying. A second later, I can see a familiar blue panel.

|Skeleton Soldier| |Tier-2 Skeleton Undead|

|Racial Ability: Undying|

|Class Ability: Endure|

I press the racial ability and read the description.

[Undying]

[You are already dead. You no longer feel tired. Poison shall no longer affect you. You have immunity to cold-based attacks and a cold environment. Death-based spells will heal you rather than hurt you. However, Holy-based spells will hurt you more than any other spells.]

Just like regular undead in the game, huh? I can use this. I press the class ability and read it.

[Endure]

[Your body is automatically more durable than any undead. Also, once every three hours, you can cast a magic spell that decreases all damage taken by 50%, and you cannot be moved from where you stand.]

This one is great! A 50% damage decrease is something that can decide whether they will live or not. The second effect is something that can make it into a knight's path. An immovable wall is a great thing to have in this dungeon.

I look at the [Skeleton Mage] and bring up its status.

|Skeleton Mage| |Tier-2 Skeleton Undead|

|Racial Ability: Undying|

|Class Ability: Ice Elementalist|

Ah, that is why ice is the only attack this skeleton uses.

"Lilith, will another elemental [Skeleton Mage] appear if I upgrade another one?"

"Yes. It is random."

Urgh. I hate that word. I had a bad experience with gacha. I press the class ability and read it.

[Ice Elementalist]

[You are an ice Elementalist and able to control and create ice. Reduce enemy movement speed and attack them using an exploding ice bomb. Show your enemy the cold hand of death]

Oh! Debuffing and DPS class! This is great because my undead will be immune to any ice and cold magic. Speaking of undead, I summon one more undead and look at it.

|Undead Skeleton| |Tier-1 Skeleton Undead|

|Racial Ability: Undying|

|Class Ability: Detachment|

I blink at the class ability and click it.

[Detachment]

[The undead can detach their body and fall to the ground to make a pile of bones. It can rise back in a matter of a second, as long as all the parts are nearby (1m).]

This is… Perfect! The soldier can take all the attention of the adventuring party, and these guys can be assassins who stab them in the back while they are fighting. I can–

"Master!"

I snap from my thoughts when I hear Lilith shout at me.

"What is it?"

"There are intruders!"

She waves her hand, and I can see a group of people walking inside my dungeon. I grin a little and use all my points to buy more skeletons. Not only that, but I also bought a lot of kitchen knives to arm them.

"Lilith! I need you to command ten of these skeletons and do what I said. We will kill them all and use them as EXP."