19 - EXP Farming

I left the classroom, weighed down by the club recruitment ceremony, and geared up for another dungeon dive today.

After checking my rental weapons and tools, I eagerly prepared for the adventure ahead. Back home, I donned my new armor, feeling quite satisfied with how cool it looked.

Returning to school in high spirits, I quietly made my way to an empty classroom in the basement, or rather, the gate room.

"Now, can I use the «Gate» from here too?"

Having recently registered my magic power at the fifth-floor gate room, I hoped operating the magic circle here would open a warp gate to that floor. Could it work..?

The magic circle glowed blue and the gate opened with a soft hum.

"It's working. If the gate functions reliably, I'll use it every time."

The usual route through the guild's crowded front hall on busy Sundays could take up to 30 minutes just to enter the dungeon. Having the option of this gate room here was a relief.

Without hesitation, I stepped through the open gate. Vision momentarily distorted, then instantly restored. Checking my location on the terminal, it confirmed I was on the fifth floor. The room's appearance matched, affirming my successful entry into the dungeon.

This gate room lay in the opposite direction of the main street toward the sixth floor, conveniently deserted by other adventurers.

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Now onto the hunt on the fifth floor.

Unlike the flat maps of the previous floors, the «Map» of the fifth floor is three-dimensional and intricate, filled with ravines and connected by suspension bridges.

The terminal displays a flattened perspective of the map, making it easy to get lost in the complex terrain of the fifth floor without additional markers at crucial points.

Our hunting ground is located at the end of one of these intricate suspension bridges. One strategy involves luring monsters onto the bridge and then cutting it down to gain experience without direct combat.

However, when the monsters fall, we must retrieve their dropped items from the ground below. Depending on where the bridge is cut, recovering these items may not always be possible.

On this fifth floor, a formidable hidden boss, the Orc Lord, makes appearances. Despite being a level 10 monster, several levels higher than the usual inhabitants, the Orc Lord possesses formidable combat skills and weapon techniques. What's particularly troublesome is its ability to summon multiple level 6 Orc Soldiers with a powerful shout, and it can also boost the combat abilities of nearby Orcs.

The Orc Lord is such a formidable creature that the Adventurer's Guild has issued warnings due to numerous casualties caused by unsuspecting parties encountering it on the fifth floor.

However, Orc Lords are not known for their speed. By using a tactic known as the "yell strategy," where they attract Orc Soldiers one by one, adventurers can create a train of monsters without needing to cover a large area. Utilizing a bridge drop against this train can result in the simultaneous elimination of a significant number of Orcs, including the Orc Lord, which offers substantial experience rewards.

It's crucial to note that Orcs capable of long-range attacks, such as Orc Mages and Orc Archers, are not drawn into the train.

Only one Orc Lord appears on the map at a time, and even if defeated, it respawns after one hour. Likewise, any suspension bridges cut down will automatically repair themselves in the same timeframe, alongside other traps. Observing how quickly the bridge repairs can serve as a timer for when the Orc Lord will respawn. The environment here is remarkably conducive to executing a successful bridge drop strategy.

However, there are several critical checks that need to be completed before executing the bridge drop.

Firstly, I must ensure that the bridge I intend to target hasn't already been dropped by someone else, as performing the maneuver simultaneously would render it ineffective. In the game, the sheer number of players often made executing a proper bridge drop challenging.

Yet, if the Orc Lords in this world are indeed the formidable monsters we've been warned about, it's unlikely they're engaging in bridge drops themselves. If they were, Orc Lords would be continuously hunted, and the Orc Lord's Room would be a mere shadow of its former self.

Next, I need to meticulously examine the traps leading from the suspension bridge to the Orc Lord's room. Falling into a pit while dealing with the monster train could be catastrophic. Fighting an Orc Lord in a cramped pit would be a nightmare scenario. Furthermore, despite my familiarity with the «Map», I should confirm the route on my terminal to ensure I navigate to the bridge without losing my way.

Lastly, it's crucial to assess the activity around the Orc Lord's room. If there are numerous adventurers roaming about, I must remain vigilant to avoid getting entangled in their actions.

Fortunately, these tasks are straightforward as long as I remain vigilant. It's time to proceed without further delay.

There were a few goblin soldiers encountered along the way, but I ensured the bridge hadn't been dropped as I cautiously made my way around corners. Eventually, I arrived at the Orc Lord's room situated in the far western part of the map.

'There are no adventurers in the vicinity,' I observed, scanning the room. My gaze settled on the Orc Lord, who stood formidable and imposing. 'It looks much stronger than the Orc Lords I encountered in the game...'

In the roughly 20-meter-square room, there stood only one Orc Lord. Unlike typical Orcs, he towered over two meters tall, his arms bulging with muscular strength, clutching a massive club that resembled more of a tree trunk. He remained motionless, appearing almost as if he were asleep while standing. Occasionally, he muttered to himself with a low rumbling sound, perhaps lost in dreams.

Sigh.

As expected, I was fortunate that no one had initiated a bridge drop on Orc Road. It was a privilege reserved for a single group on the fifth floor, crucial for our leveling strategy.

"Alright, let's do this."

I ignited the firecrackers with a lighter and hurled them into the room.

Bam! Boom! BABABAN!

The firecrackers exploded loudly. The Orc Lord jerked his head around, searching for the source of the disturbance. When his eyes locked onto mine at the room's entrance, a wicked smirk crept across his face. Without hesitation, he unleashed his first move, activating |Yell|.

"GRUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Five swirling black mists materialized simultaneously around the Orc Lord, summoning Orc Soldiers armed with jagged iron swords and clad in leather armor.

"Woooo! Can't stop the train now, baby!"

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With a horde of monsters in pursuit, I sprinted at full speed towards the targeted suspension bridge.

The Orc Lords behind me kept using |Yell|, summoning Orc Soldiers in rapid succession. Along the way, goblin soldiers joined the fray, swelling the ranks of the train.

Although the Orc Lord's running speed was supposed to be similar to an ordinary Orc's, I was certain I could outrun them... until now.

"Whoa! This is way scarier than I expected, running for my life from a monster train!"

Glancing back as I ran, I saw the Orcs hot on my shoes, their eyes filled with murderous intent. If they caught me, it would likely mean death. Fear sent chills down my spine, and I felt my resolve falter.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed my legs harder, desperately navigating the dungeon for just over a minute. Finally, the bridge came into view.

There were numerous suspension bridges on the fifth floor, but this one was ideal because of its proximity to the Orc Lord's room and the ease of collecting dropped items.

"Ow shit! The bridge is shaking!"

As I hastily tried to cross, the bridge swayed more than I anticipated, and I nearly slipped. Maybe it was my weight. I carefully moved across, trying to minimize the swaying, but as I ran, the bridge filled with Orcs and Goblins. The narrow, 50-meter long bridge, only 1.5 meters wide, began to shake even more violently.

Leading the pack was the massive Orc Lord.

Despite the fear and the bridge's instability, there was no time to hesitate with the Orc Lord so close behind. The sound of the monsters chasing me and their roars mixed into a cacophony, echoing through the dungeon's canyon.

I forced myself to focus and sprinted to the other side, barely making it across. Quickly, I grabbed the rented machete from my waist and swung it down with all my strength at the two wires supporting the bridge.

"Heh, adios idiota~!"

"Grooh? Gruo-ooh-ooh...-ooh ...."

The Orcs plummeted with wide eyes, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the bridge had been cut. The fall was about 80 meters, and the force from such a height meant they had little chance of survival.

After about 10 seconds, I felt a surge of energy and noticed signs of leveling up.

"Ha...haha...HAHAHAHAHA!!! That's a ton of experience, level 6 all at once!"

In total, there were probably 30 to 40 Orcs in the group. Along with the Orc Lord and Orc Soldiers, who provided extra experience due to their higher ranks, there were several Goblin Soldiers mixed in, leading to a massive gain of experience from a single bridge drop.

After catching my breath, I stood up, a bit unsteady, and made my way down to the valley floor where the Orcs had fallen to collect the dropped items. Among the dozens of magic stones, I spotted several shiny objects scattered around.

"This is a... dungeon coin."

In the dungeon, there are stores run by various races. These stores are hidden and hard to find, but they sell rare magic items, appraisal tools, and offer job changes, making them a haven for players in the game.

It's important to note that you can't use Japanese yen to buy items in these special stores; only dungeon currency or magic stones are accepted. The exchange rate for magic stones is so low that you'll end up paying much more, so it's best to collect dungeon currency before making purchases.

The dungeon currency dropped by the Orc Lord consists of three copper coins, each worth one ril. A single copper coin is worth 1 ril, a silver coin is worth 10 ril, and a gold coin is worth 100 ril. One ril is equivalent to a magic stone from a monster on the 10th level, so having dungeon currency is essential for using the hidden stores on that level.

I had almost an hour before the next bridge drop. After picking up the magic stones and coins, I decided to take a break and sip on the sports drink I brought. I laid out the rush mat I carried with me, lay down to catch my breath, and thought back to the time when I was being chased.

Given debuff effect of halved AGI, I was concerned about my running ability. So, I had tested my speed with some Orcs and felt confident before attempting the bridge drop.

The pursuit by the Orc Lord was more terrifying than I had anticipated, and I almost gave up... I forgot that my life was on the line. Or rather, I didn't truly grasp it. This realization highlights how much more difficult this dungeon is compared to the game.

I reached the hunting ground quickly today, planning to do the bridge drop about five more times. But even doing it once was incredibly exhausting and nerve-wracking. Given my obese and debuffed state, I might not even be considered a typical level 5. If I don't take a good break, my body won't hold up.

On the other hand, I'm relieved that the bridge drop worked just as it did in the game. This success almost guarantees that power leveling here is feasible.

"Will I bring my family once my level is high enough?"

This bridge drop method is almost foolproof. All the experience points go to the person who drops the bridge, so if I catch an Orc Lord and have someone else cut the bridge, power leveling becomes effortless. However, given the risk of accidents during the last-minute chase, I'll need to ensure my level is solid before attempting it again.

There are other power leveling spots that utilize terrain and traps, but my sister is eager, so I'll bring her next time. If my dad has been stuck on the 4th floor for years, leveling him up here would be beneficial. As for my bag... I'll see if he's interested in dungeon diving.

"Well, time to clear the goblins on the way and prepare for the next train."

I defeat several Goblin Soldiers along the path. Their attacks are predictable, and my movements are so fluid that I avoid their hits easily. It seems I can defeat them without the need for surprise attacks anymore.

Eventually, that day, after three train runs, I reached my physical limit and called it a day. By then, I had reached level 7.