Chapter 12- Midnight Dungeon Expedition

Yael walked in front, and Reed followed behind him as they made their way to the dungeon.

"Are you afraid that I will stab you from behind if you walk ahead of me?" Yael asked.

"You can't hurt me, kid. Just do what I have asked you to do. It will be better for both of us," Reed responded.

After walking for a few minutes, they reached the dungeon.

"Here we are. Most heroes come here after entering the tower. It's like the first dungeon of the tower," Yael informed.

"Okay. Let's go," Reed stood in front of the dungeon's entrance.

"Huh? I am coming with you?!" Yael exclaimed in shock.

"Obviously. Do you think I will give you a chance to escape?" Reed smirked at Yael.

"But I don't know how to fight."

"That's fine. You don't have to fight. Now, shut up and follow me."

With that, Reed and Yael entered the dungeon.

However, the real reason Reed wanted to keep Yael with him was that Reed didn't know how to get back to the town. He had no sense of direction and would easily get lost in places like forests and mountains. The dungeon cave was like a maze, a labyrinth designed to confuse and separate people.

As they entered the dungeon, Yael proceeded cautiously, walking at a slow pace. Irritated by his hesitance, Reed decided to take the lead. Worried that monsters might attack from behind, Yael matched Reed's speed, walking alongside him.

Holding his shield and his late father's sword, Yael kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings while they moved forward. In contrast, Reed strolled nonchalantly, seemingly unconcerned.

"Shouldn't you be holding your weapon?" Yael questioned Reed.

"Yes, I should be," Reed acknowledged.

"The other heroes I went to the dungeon with always had their weapons out before entering," Yael shared.

"You mean the heroes you killed when they were sleeping?" Reed retorted. "Don't teach me survival, kid."

As they delved deeper into the dungeon, where the likelihood of encountering monsters increased, Reed's mind was preoccupied.

'Judging by the dungeon's rules and patterns, the weakest monsters should appear first, gradually giving way to tougher ones as we go deeper. The weakest foes would probably be imps and goblins, easy to handle. I just hope they drop items I can use—stones, perhaps, which I can sell for some money. Well, even if that doesn't happen, at least I'll level up, increasing my chances of unlocking new skills and magic.'

Unexpectedly, a horde of monsters materialized before Reed, but it was not the anticipated imps or goblins. Instead, dozens of slimes blocked their path.

"This is bad!" Yael exclaimed, hastily retreating.

Observing Reed still weaponless, Yael cried out, "What are you doing? Get back! Slimes are dangerous! Don't be fooled by their appearance. They can dissolve anything they touch, including your clothes and flesh! They're sticky too! They won't come off until they've consumed everything!"

"I am aware."

Reed signaled for Yael to stay back, stretching his arms and legs for a warm-up. Then, he casually slipped his hands into his pockets and began to jump.

The slimes closed in, bouncing and leaping in all directions to attack Reed.

Yael's eyes widened, fixated on Reed. He had never witnessed a hero approach dungeon monsters with such nonchalance, even the high level heroes.

Yael watched in awe as the slimes launched their assaults, only to be met by Reed's swift and precise kicks, sending them slamming into the walls like deflected projectiles.

Reed systematically stomped and kicked every slime, all while keeping his hands comfortably in his pockets.

"Oh, come on... no item drops..." Reed grumbled, delivering a final kick to a stone in frustration.

Turning to Yael, he declared, "Let's go deeper. We're not leaving this dungeon until I'm satisfied."

With determination, Yael and Reed ventured further into the depths of the dungeon.

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, they encountered the formidable Slime King. Only a little taller than Yael, who, at seven years old and four feet tall. The Slime King posed a considerable threat, capable of devouring Yael in a single gulp. However, Reed saw it differently.

"The slimes are indeed dangerous. Above goblins, I'd say. But slimes lack any direct attack. With the right strategy, they're harmless. Going melee against the slime is not a great idea. Magic attacks or attacking with a party is a different thing. The Slime King, however, is a different story. Not for me, though."

Reed swiftly grabbed his dagger and charged towards the Slime King, a mere few meters away. With unyielding momentum, Reed dashed through the Slime King, creating a hole in its gelatinous body.

The Slime King attempted to reform, but it quickly lost cohesion and crumbled, defeated. Reed had targeted and destroyed the core of the Slime King, the vital part that maintained its form. Without the core, the Slime King succumbed.

And then, the moment Reed had been waiting for arrived. The Slime King dropped a yellow stone.

According to the extensive data collected from countless heroes across the world, the tower featured four distinct types of stones, each holding a specific value. The Yellow Stone held an equivalent worth of one coin, the Green Stone was valued at 10 coins, the Blue Stone at 100 coins, and the prestigious Red Stone at a staggering 1000 coins.

These stone values weren't determined by availability or market fluctuations. The tower system itself established these values, and every inhabitant, heroes, and residents alike, were bound to accept these valuations without question.

Upon vanquishing the Slime King, Reed's reward was a Yellow Stone, worth equal to a single coin.

Reed released a weary sigh, his fatigue evident. He stooped to retrieve the stone, then casually tossed it towards Yael, instructing, "Keep hold of that. And make sure you don't drop it."

Yael deftly caught the stone, securing it in his pocket as instructed.

Reed checked his XP bar and saw a total increase of 25 XP. He still needed 75 XP to level up.

"What now?" Yael inquired.

"Well, if the slime king were to respawn, I could've camped here, killed it repeatedly, say, 500 times, and amassed 500 Yellow Stones, totaling 500 coins. But the tower's regulations ensure that no one can exploit the dungeon system, right?"

"It's known as grinding, and while not prohibited, it's generally frowned upon. Other heroes aiming for the dungeon might find it frustrating if a single group monopolizes the dungeon," Yael explained.

"I'm well aware of that. I wasn't seeking your confirmation. I was just..." Reed sighed. "Anyway, what's the slime king's respawn rate?"

"Every 10 minutes," Yael replied.

"Hmm~ So, to make 10 coins, I'd have to invest 100 minutes. Yeah, no, can't afford that time loss," Reed mumbled.

"Not all respawns guarantee item drops," Yael added.

"Oh, come on. It's like going to a restaurant, deciding on a dish from the menu, and when you order, the waiter informs you it's currently unavailable," Reed groaned in annoyance.

With a dismissive tone, Reed declared, "Get ready. We're going deeper."

As Reed and Yael ventured deeper into the dungeon, Reed turned to Yael and said, "Kid, tell me everything you know about this dungeon. I want details, starting from the type of monsters we can encounter, the potential loot, and any secrets or traps we should be aware of."

Yael hesitated for a moment, considering how much information to share. After a brief pause, he began, "This dungeon is called the Labyrinth of Yenxi. It's known for its maze-like structure and unpredictable pathways. The monsters spawn in a specific order based on their level of danger."

"Go on," Reed urged.

"The first level usually has weak monsters like imps and goblins, as might know. As we go deeper, the difficulty increases. After goblins, we might encounter skeleton warriors, followed by cave spiders, and then perhaps armored trolls. The bosses vary, but the slime king is one of the early ones. There are also hidden chambers with more powerful monsters and better loot. But the secret chambers rarely spawn and there is no guaranteed way to know when and where that would happen."

Reed nodded, absorbing the information. "What about traps?"

"The dungeon is designed to challenge heroes. There are traps like hidden pits, falling rocks, and pressure plates that trigger arrow traps. We need to stay vigilant and watch our step. But I don't think there are any traps in this dungeon."

"Yeah, I agree. This is like the beginner's dungeon." Reed turned to Yael and asked, "How many dungeons are there in the first area?" 

"Two. But when you turn level five, you will unlock the neighboring areas which will grant you access to a total of 10 dungeons."

"Impressive. How far have you gone in this dungeon?"

"Troll floor."

"That's the fifth floor?"

"Yes."

"The monsters in this dungeon won't help me get better item drops. The XP gain is low too. Is the other dungeon in this area any different?" 

"I was born in the tower so I can't see the stuff the heroes can. I don't know much about the XP gain," Yael answered.

"Well, whatever. Let's see what lays ahead for us. If you behave well, I will share a portion of the reward."