Rewards

\Reward Mail: Congratulation on clearing a [Level 5] dungeon\

\Achievement Mail: Congratulation on being the second party to clear a dungeon\

\Achievement Mail: Congratulation on being the second party to clear a [Level 5] dungeon\

\Achievement Mail: Achievement of being the tenth to reach level ten\

\Level Mail: Pick your level 10 skill\

\Level Mail: Pick your level 10 ability\

\You have unlocked Level Ranking\

"Damn, that's a lot of mail," Edward shouted, shocked. "This is the most I have ever gotten."

"I know, right. Three mails and each gives a lot of AP and some SP." Ezekiel said, laughing. "Damn. Our hard work paid out."

"Oh, no. I got seven. We are not the same." Edward chuckled, opening his first mail.

_______________________

Reward: 3 AP, 1 SP

_______________________

"Huh?" Michael turned to Edward, "How?"

"I leveled up to level ten," Edward explained, opening the second mail.

_______________________

Reward: 5 AP, 1 SP, One Uncommon equipment orb

_______________________

Suddenly, an orb that glowed green appeared on his lap. Focusing on it, the description appeared.

[Uncommon equipment orb: By crushing it, a random piece of uncommon equipment would appear]

"There is no way you leveled up before me. Unless you get more EXP from crushing the boss core." Elizabeth said, noticing Edwards's smirk.

"Got 11,000 from the boss's death and an extra 25% by crushing the core." He explained after looking through his logs. "More than enough to get me to level 10."

"Huh." That was all Elizabeth said before looking at his book. "Can I read that?" "Can I read that?" she asked as if the decision had already been made.

Edward handed it to her before focusing on his next mail.

_______________________

Reward: 5 AP, 2 SP, One Rare equipment orb

_______________________

Yet another orb dropped, but this one glowed blue. Seeing the rewards, Edward couldn't help but grin. No matter how hard the dungeon was or if Brody died, the risk was definitely worth it. 4 SP? That was more someone can get from just leveling up from level up from 0 to 10.

The next mail just congratulated him for being the tenth to reach level 10, giving him five extra AP and two SP. "Second to reach level 2. Ninth to reach level five. And tenth to reach level 10." He mumbled to himself, "There is no way I am slacking off, so talented people are rushing to the top."

Michael had overheard him sitting up while grunting. "So there are nine other people in level ten?" Edward nodded at his question, "Damn. I wonder if they cleared a dungeon. Like us."

"They were most likely a team. We were the second to clear a dungeon, so they must be the first." Ezekiel pointed out, sitting on the ground and leaning on the pillar. "Maybe it was even a team of ten, but one died like Brody." He added.

"Right..." Michael mumbled, looking up at Elizabeth quietly reading Edward's book, then at Edward going through the system mail. "I wonder if we are the protagonist or just the side characters. I mean, the group of protagonists is supposed to be the first in everything--"

"Stop trying to use books to decide what role we play in this world," Andrew said, walking to them. He held a 24inches long eight-flanged mace with a solid shaft on his left hand and wore a thick gauntlet that covered his right hand and forearms, acting as arm guards. The gauntlets have a black-gray color and seem heavy.

"A mace and a gauntlet." Elizabeth chuckled, looking at him. "Great combination."

"I can't tell if you are sarcastic or not because it looks great," Ezekiel said, staring at his right arm protected by the gauntlet. "It looks like you can smash someone's face by punching them. Damn, that's cool.

"I know that is rare because of its faint blue glow, but what dose does it give? I can't see its stats because you are wearing it." Michael asked, curious about what he should expect when he crushes his own equipment cores.

Raising his gauntlet, Andrew clenched his fist. "it gives +10 strength--"

"Wait, I must have heard wrong." Michael cut him off, rubbing his forehead. "Ten?"

"Yes." Andrew nodded, adding, "But its -1 agility for every point base strength is below 18."

"Great way to balance it." Leonardo's voice came. Elizabeth supported him with his arm around her shoulder as they walked. "I think equipment would be the most important thing in this world. With that fist, someone with 18 strength would have 28."

"Just imagine a level 12 killing a level 50 because he had a legendary set while the level fifty had a common set." Edward chuckled, a frown immediately forming on his face. "That means we have to clear more dungeons to get better gears."

"Forget about that for now. Let's enjoy the moment." Emma smiled, helping Leonardo sit across Edward, leaning on the wall. "We can talk about clearing more dungeons after Leonardo and Michael heal."

Michael nodded, agreeing with Emma. Crushing both of his cores at the same time, two items appeared in front of him. One was a black pair of female ballroom shoes, and the other was a sharp-bladed silver pendulum dangling at the end of a long rope.

"Kahahaha!" Ezekiel busted out laughing, Edward joining him. "Y..you will be wearing hills!" He shouted in between laughter.

"It's 2022. You can't laugh at people wearing hills." Andrew said, trying to hold back his laughter. "I mean, you can get canceled--HAHAHAHA!" He too started laughing.

"Shut up," Michael glowered, not even bothering to check the shoe's stats and throwing them to Emma. "Give me your uncommon core, and you can have the shoes."

Emma chuckled, picking up both shoes. "They look good, and when both of them are worn, it gives three dexterity."

"I don't care," Michael said, outstretching his hand.

Emma threw her uncommon equipment core at him, which almost hit Edward on his face, but he caught it out of the air. "Oof! Sorry about that." Emma said, giving a strained smile.

"No problem," Edward said, handing it to Michael. He looked at the other equipment, confused. "What kind of weapon is that?"

"A crescent pendulum. Saw it in black desert online." Leonardo said, looking at the weapon.

"It would be best if Emma uses that. It needs a lot of dexterity to handle, or else you will harm yourself." Elizabeth added, closing the book.

"Yep. It gives +8 dexterity and +2 agility. It also -1 dexterity for every point base strength is below 10, and -1 agility for every point base dexterity is below 10." Michael sighed, rubbing his temple. "You can have it, Emma."

Emma stood up, giving him her rare equipment core before picking up the crescent pendulum. "A bit heavy, but it will need a lot of practice before I can use this without hurting myself."

Everyone else began crushing their core, getting their equipment. Edward got a 4.5ft bronze tower shield from the rare one and a gray mage cloak from the uncommon one. The mage cloak gives the user +3 intelligence. He had given Leonardo and took the 9ft Friedrich IV silver spear that Leonardo had gotten from his rare orb.

After suiting up, their new equipment was now as shown:

Edward:

[Mage Cloak(Uncommon): Gives user +3 agility]

[Silver Friedrich IV spear(Rare) Gives user +6 agility, +4 dexterity]

Leonardo:

[Eight-flanged mace(Uncommon): Gives user +3 strength, -1 agility for every point base strength is below 10]

[Black iron Greatshield(Rare): Gives user +8 defense, +2 strength, and -1 agility for every point base strength is below 15]

Emma:

[Ballroom shoes(Uncommon): Gives user +3 dexterity]

[Silver crescent pendulum: Gives user +8 dexterity and +2 agility]

Andrew:

[Gauntlet(Uncommon): Gives user +3 strength, -1 agility for every point base strength is below 9]

[Gauntlet of Force(Rare): Gives user +10 strength, -1 agility for every point base strength is below 18]

Michael:

[Quarterstaff(Uncommon): Gives user +3 dexterity]

[Glasses of Sense(Rare): Gives user +3 Sense, +7 agility]

Elizabeth:

[Necklace of Intellect(Uncommon): Gives user +3 Intelligence]

[Ring of Intellect(Rare): Gives user +8 intelligence, +2 sense]

Ezekiel:

[Thief cloak(Uncommon): Gives user +3 dexterity]

[Silver Shortsword(Rare): Gives user +8 agility and +2 strength]

"It seems like only accessories give intelligence or sense," Andrew remarked, watching Elizabeth put a silver ring on her right middle finger. "Just like most RPGs."

"Soon, Elizabeth will be brought with." Ezekiel chuckled, fixing his cloak.

"I just hope my 22 points of vitality heals my legs quickly." Michael groaned, leaning back.

Putting on the cloak's hood and taking his book from Elizabeth, who wasn't reading it anymore, he stretched. "I will be leaving the dungeon to get some fresh air and read in peace. Please, don't disturb me." Edward said, picking up his silver spear and walking out of the boss room.

The six of them silently watched him leave before Leonardo said, "He looks like a mage but just needs to ditch the spear and learn new spells."

"Let's annoy him," Ezekiel said, a sly grin on his face. "Who's with me?"

"I had 22 intelligence, but the theories and lessons in that book were a bit confusing," Elizabeth stated, scanning the room, looking for a clean place to sleep. "What I am saying is that he needs utmost attention, focus, and time to even learn the basics of spells."

"Wow." Emma gaped, "Something Elizabeth can't understand."

Scoffing, Elizabeth walked away. Andrew turned and left the room, saying, "I will be in the first room practicing using this gauntlet. I would say you do the same, Emma, but in the second room." He completely left the room, his voice coming from the passage. "But, it is your choice."

"Right." Emma sighed, standing up. She was now wearing the ballroom shoes, her old straw sandals on the ground.

Seeing her with new shoes and a burlap sack dress, Leonardo snickered. "Looking good, Emma."

"Well, you aren't looking good. So, I hope you sleep." Emma smirked, picking up her crescent pendulum and leaving the room.

Leonardo watched her leave before looking down at his arm. 'Is this the life of a tank?'