Chapter 50: Ascension to Level 15: A New Threshold

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[Prompt! You have killed Zombie! Exp gain 9,250!] × 58 

[Prompt! You have killed Zombie! Exp gain 9,200!] × 33 

[Prompt! You have killed Zombie! Exp gain 9,150!] × 38 

[Prompt! Congratulations! You have leveled up, +1 level] 

[Prompt! Congratulations! You have leveled up, +1 level] 

[Prompt! Congratulations! You have leveled up, +1 level]

[Prompt! You obtained 20 status points!] 

[Prompt! You obtained 20 status points!] 

[Prompt! You obtained 20 status points!] 

[Prompt! You obtained 4 skill points!] 

[Prompt! You obtained 4 skill points!] 

[Prompt! You obtained 4 skill points!]

[Prompt! You have obtained Zombie Core!]× 15

...

As Gabriel stood there, a wave of euphoria washed over him, momentarily rendering the series of prompts irrelevant. He was utterly absorbed in the present moment, reveling in the thrill of becoming stronger.

"I've got it!" Gabriel exclaimed, his excitement barely contained. "Instead of focusing solely on quantity, I need to prioritize quality and make every experience count. Then, when the moment is right, I can unleash my AOE skills and take down larger groups of monsters efficiently."

This new realization filled Gabriel with renewed energy. He hadn't considered this strategy before; his focus had been solely on defeating stronger monsters to satisfy the ever-growing demands of his experience bar. Now, he saw the potential in targeting numerous lower-level enemies with a single, powerful blow.

...

Taking a moment to reflect on his progress, Gabriel decided to find a secure location before analyzing his gains and stats. After ensuring he was in a safe spot, he accessed his status screen and discovered he had earned a total of 60 status points and 12 skill points.

With no other immediate skills to level up, he chose to max out his [Goddess Blessing] skill to level 10, storing the remaining skill points for future use. He knew they would be invaluable when the time came to advance his class.

To optimize his build, Gabriel decided to distribute his points in a 10:30:20 ratio, allocating the majority to INT, a significant portion to VIT, and a smaller amount to DEX.

Satisfied, he reviewed his updated status:

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[Name: Gabriel Heart] 

[Class: Cleric] 

[Level: 15, Bronze Mid Stage]

[Health Points: 8,930/8,930 (+8,930)]

[Mana: 9,320/9,320]

[Experience: 10/550,000]

[Magic Attack: 1,910 (↑1,006)] 

[Defense: 1,184 (+60)] 

[Attributes: STR: 25, AGI: 21, DEX: 51, INT: 133 (+157), VIT: 103 (+167)]

[Skills: 

Light Hurricane Level 10 

Healing Totem Level 10 

Goddess Blessing Level 10]

[Tome Skills: 

Tail Wind 

Blessing of the Ocean]

[Talent [☯]: Yin-Yang Soul Harmony (D)]

[Harmony Essence: 252,200]

[Equipment: 

Golden Staff, Gold Robe, Gold Boots, Gold Mitten, Gold Mitra, Gold Trousers, Crimson Shield]

[Equipment Effects: 

+140% Healing 

+100% Max HP 

+300 HP 

+200 Mana 

+50% Mana Regeneration 

+40% MATK 

+15% Movement Speed 

+40% Cooldown Reduction 

+60 Defense 

+25% Damage Reduction 

+600 Magic Attack]

[Engravement Effects: 

+500 HP 

+15% MATK 

+15% Magic Penetration]

[Unused Skill Points: 11]

...

Gabriel's face lit up with joy as he reviewed the status updates. His hard work was clearly paying off, and he was thrilled to see the significant improvements in his abilities. Eagerly, he began sorting through his loot, hoping to find something of great value.

However, his excitement waned slightly as he assessed his haul. While there were some valuable items—like 15 cores, a skill book, and an [Engravement Stone]—much of his loot consisted of [Rotten Flesh], [Rotten Claw], and copper coins. Even if he converted the coins to gold, he would only get 129 coins, a modest reward considering he had killed over a hundred zombies.

Gabriel couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at not finding the [Engravement Dagger] he had hoped for. Still, he was content with his progress and decided to press on.

As he sprinted through the Corpse Valley, Gabriel felt an urgency to maximize his remaining time. He knew that once his experience points neared the threshold of level 15, his experience bar would lock, preventing him from gaining more experience until he completed his class advancement.

Despite this, Gabriel was determined to find more hordes of zombies. He spent hours searching the valley, but aside from his initial encounter, the hordes were elusive. His relentless pursuit yielded only 39 more kills, raising his experience bar to the maximum 550,000 points. Frustration gnawed at him—he had hoped to find more hordes to further his progress.

...

Gabriel had been wandering through the dark, eerie dungeon for what felt like an eternity. His eyes scanned every corner, every shadow, searching for the elusive [Undead Soul-Zombie]. The dungeon was teeming with zombies, and Gabriel had fought his way through them all, but the sought-after drop remained out of reach. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, and he could feel his armor and weapons dragging him down.

Finally, he slumped onto a jagged rock, its surface marred with deep scratches and stained with crimson algae. A sense of defeat settled over him as the thought of continuing his search seemed increasingly futile. He let out a deep sigh, his voice heavy with fatigue, and muttered, "Hours of trudging through this gloomy dungeon, and still no sign of the [Undead Soul-Zombie]."

As he sat there, lost in thought, Gabriel's gaze fell upon the token he carried. He retrieved it from his pocket, turning it over in his hands. He knew what he had to do, though a flicker of reluctance crossed his face. With a decisive motion, he crushed the token in his grasp. A brilliant aureate glow enveloped him, lifting him gently into the air. Suspended in the golden light, he felt a momentary pause before being propelled toward the dungeon's exit.

...

As Gabriel emerged from the enigmatic realm, he was met with a sudden rush of rejuvenation. The stark contrast between the desolate Fallen Undead Mysterious Realm and the vibrant world outside its entrance was striking. The cool breeze on his skin and the gentle rustling of leaves filled him with a sense of calm and serenity.

Closing his eyes, Gabriel took a deep breath, but his moment of peace was interrupted by a familiar voice behind him. "You're punctual today. Did everything go smoothly?" the fourth guard asked.

Turning toward her, Gabriel responded, "In part, yes, and in part, no."

With a hint of amusement, the fourth guard remarked, "Well, at least there's a 'yes' in there! Relax, young man. There's no need to rush everything."

As she finished her comment, the fourth guard began to walk away, her eyes carefully noting every detail of Gabriel's appearance and demeanor. Her gaze was sharp, missing nothing essential to her duties. She conducted her observation with the utmost dedication and professionalism, ensuring that no detail escaped her scrutiny.

Just as she was about to leave, Gabriel called out to her, "Miss!"

She turned her head back toward him, her expression inquisitive. "Yes? How may I assist you?" she asked.

Caught off guard by her prompt response, Gabriel stammered, "Ye... Ye... Yes... ma'am." His face flushed with embarrassment.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Gabriel took a deep breath and focused on the name tag pinned to her uniform, reading "Yumi Aikawa." With his thoughts gathered, he spoke again, his voice steady. "Excuse me, Miss Yumi. I have a question about one of the potential treasures inside the dungeon."

Yumi remained silent, her steady gaze encouraging Gabriel to continue.

"What is the likelihood of obtaining an [Undead Soul-Zombie] inside the mysterious realm?" Gabriel inquired.

Yumi furrowed her brows in thought before responding. "Generally speaking, the only way to obtain this item is by killing zombies. However, the drop rate is extremely low—only about 1 in 1,000. Zombies often attack in large groups, so it's not advisable to attempt this alone. Ghouls also drop this item, but they are much stronger and harder to defeat. Even if you're skilled enough to take them on, the drop rate is still low, around 1 in 700."

Gabriel sighed heavily as Yumi's words sank in. He muttered under his breath, "The drop rate is incredibly low. It's like being back in my world, grinding for hours with a 0.001% chance of getting the item I need."

Noticing Gabriel lost in thought,

 Yumi waited patiently, giving him space to process the information. When she saw the light return to his eyes, she gently asked, "Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

Gabriel shook his head. "No, thank you, Miss Yumi. You've been very helpful." 

With a polite nod, Yumi continued on her way, leaving Gabriel to his thoughts.

As she walked away, Gabriel couldn't help but feel grateful for her assistance. He too began to leave the entrance of the mysterious realm. As he ambled down the road, he realized it was getting late. "I should keep going," he murmured to himself, quickening his pace to reach his destination before nightfall.