Thorian gazed at the barrage of notifications flooding his display panel, a wide grin spreading across his face. The early floors of the abyss are perfect for rapid progression, he thought, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. And with our collective strength, clearing the twentieth floor should be a safe bet.
Display Panel
Ding
Race Elemental Lord Kobold Level 7/45 (EXP: 14098/36000) Class Elemental Magus Level 33/40 (EXP: 3893/39000)
I'm nearly at the peak of my class, Thorian mused, his thoughts lingering on the notification. And the upcoming floors are mere puzzles, the solutions to which I already hold. This is practically a bounty of free experience points.
As Thorian contemplated, Forlune appeared beside him, a sly smirk on his face. "Well, that was a breeze," he quipped.
Zogarth, panting slightly, joined them atop the steep incline. "Indeed," he agreed, a hint of disappointment in his tone. "I scarcely had the chance to unleash my full arsenal of skills."
With everyone gathered and ready, Thorian took command. "Let's advance to the next level," he declared.
In an instant, the group was whisked away, teleporting into an entirely new realm. The comforting warmth and light of the sun were replaced by the oppressive heat and dark orange hues of molten metal. They found themselves on a floor of hard, dark brown stone, the space around them dimly illuminated. They had entered a colossal forge.
Floor Quest Description Reach the exit of the dwarven forge. Rewards
15000 Experience Points.
7500 Arcane Coins.
Thorian's smile broadened as he read the Floor Quest. Turning to his companions, he explained, "This floor is quite straightforward. It's a puzzle where we must discover the correct sequence of levers to forge our path to the exit."
Forlune raised an eyebrow in mild disappointment. "Is that all?" he asked. "I was gearing up for a skirmish."
"You'll get your fight," Thorian replied with a shrug. "Throughout this forge, stone sentinels roam, and we'll have to vanquish them."
Aqua, lost in contemplation, finally shared his thoughts. "If only we had a vantage point to observe the effects of the levers. It would greatly aid in deciphering the puzzle."
Thorian, appreciating the insight, quickly scanned the forge. His eyes locked onto a high platform offering a panoramic view of the area. "That's the spot you need," he pointed out. "From there, you can oversee and guide us to the exit."
Aqua, his eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration and surprise, chuckled. "You always find the way so swiftly, my king. Your acumen never ceases to amaze me."
Thorian, brushing off the praise with a modest shake of his head, thought to himself, I could easily solve this puzzle alone, but they need to learn to navigate challenges without me. It's vital they gain independence in safer environments.
With Aqua positioned on the platform, the team methodically worked through the forge, following his instructions. They expertly manipulated the levers, controlling the metal bridge that interconnected the fiery sections of the forge.
The stone sentinels, though formidable for some, were trivial for Thorian's significantly overpowered group. They were mere footnotes compared to their dominant might.
Subsequent floors unfolded in a similar manner – a succession of puzzles and traps, all rendered ineffective by Thorian's Elemental Sight. The monsters they encountered were no more challenging than the stone sentinels.
As they progressed, the rewards increased exponentially: 20,000 experience points from the 12th floor, 25,000 from the 13th, and 30,000 from the 14th. Upon clearing these levels, Thorian experienced multiple advancements in both his race and class. After receiving the level-up notifications repeatedly, Thorian finally decided to review his status in the window.
Display Panel
Ding
Race Elemental Lord Kobold Level 14/45 (EXP: 5098/66000) Class Elemental Magus Level 38/40 (EXP: 30893/66000)
Thorian, marveling at his own progress, mused aloud, "Seven levels up in race, and six in class," he chuckled. "This rate of advancement is nothing short of ludicrous."
Turning to his comrades, he inquired of Vigil, "And how have you fared? What level are you at now?"
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Vigil, still reeling from the influx of notifications, took a moment before replying, "It's been staggering, my king. My race is now at level 12, and my class at level 37."
Thorian glanced at Aqua and Zogarth, who silently confirmed similar progress with a nod.
Forlune, visibly excited yet awestruck, interjected, "King, can we revisit the earlier floors? This abyss is a phenomenal boon. If we continue to clear these levels, we could become invincible."
Thorian, however, shook his head in dismissal. "That's not feasible," he said. "If repeating floors indefinitely were possible, it would render the entire concept of levels and strength meaningless."
Forlune's enthusiasm dampened as he sighed in disappointment.
Aqua, interjecting with a more pragmatic view, added, "That's for the best. If anyone could endlessly gain experience in this abyss, our current advantages would be nullified. It would lead to chaos. A distinct power hierarchy is essential for maintaining order."
Forlune, understanding the gravity of Aqua's words, chuckled in agreement. "Indeed, it would be frustrating if just anyone could reach our level of power by exploiting the abyss."
As the discussion continued, Thorian delved into deep contemplation. After a thoughtful pause, he declared, "We will cease our venture after the next floor."
Zogarth, puzzled, raised an eyebrow. "May I ask why, my lord?"
Thorian, with a sigh of understanding, explained, "After we conquer the next floor, which includes all hidden quests, I'll reach my class's maximum level. Any further floors would yield only half the usual experience points, making them inefficient."
Zogarth, stroking his chin thoughtfully, admitted, "I hadn't considered that. In fact, the next floor should bring me fairly close to maxing out my class level as well."
Forlune, unable to hide his eagerness, speculated, "I'm curious about the boss monster on the next floor." His grin widened. "I just hope it's not another puzzle. I'm looking for a real challenge."
"We'll find out soon enough," Thorian replied, his smile reflecting a hint of anticipation. He then turned his attention to the notification.
Do you wish to continue to the fifteenth floor?
Yes, I wish.
With their decision made, the party was teleported anew. They arrived in a vast chamber, its ambiance dominated by lava cascading down the walls, pooling into a fiery moat encircling the room. The intense heat was so severe that even Thorian felt a tinge of discomfort.
Floor Quest Description Kill the Magma Golem. Rewards
50000 Experience Points.
20000 Arcane Coins.
Suddenly, a cacophony of mechanical sounds echoed through the chamber as a rock formation began to shift and grow. It morphed into the shape of an immense golem, its eyes seething with molten lava and glaring down at them with palpable rage. The creature's sheer size dwarfed even the imposing stature of Zogarth, making him appear almost diminutive in comparison.
Observing the magma golem, Thorian assessed its strength. It seems to be just a notch below Zogarth's level post-evolution, he mused.
Forlune's eyes lit up with excitement as he drew his sword, the anticipation clear in his voice. "Finally, a worthy challenge!"
Covered in a luminescent moonlight aura, Forlune closed the distance to the golem in a blur. His blade, now glowing with a radiant golden light, sliced through the air towards the creature's leg.
To his surprise, the usual devastating effect of his attack was mitigated. The golem's leg sustained only a minor cut before the rock-like material seamlessly healed. Then, with a thunderous roar, the golem retaliated with a massive punch aimed at Forlune.
"Dodging this," Forlune murmured, swiftly evading the strike. The golem's fist slammed into the ground, leaving a crater and sending rock spikes jutting out in all directions.
"Zogarth, join the fray," Thorian commanded.
The Warbound Orc, acknowledging with a nod, charged towards the behemoth. His battleaxe, wreathed in a sinister blend of black and red auras, struck the golem's other leg with formidable force. Unlike Forlune's attack, Zogarth's blow had a tangible impact, causing the golem to momentarily lose balance as its leg cracked under the assault.
Forlune, witnessing Zogarth's success, clenched his teeth in frustration. Without uttering a word, he lunged again at the golem's weakened leg. This time, his blade surged with a golden aura of such intensity that it enveloped him entirely, a fierce display of power far surpassing his earlier efforts.
With a decisive thrust, Forlune's blade, cloaked in a brilliant golden aura, pierced the golem's rocky leg. The aura transformed into a radiant beam that sliced through the hardened material. Following up with a powerful diagonal slash, Forlune's attack cleaved through the entire leg, severing it cleanly.
The golem, overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught from both sides, toppled forward, crashing to the ground. Refusing to be vanquished in such a disgraceful manner, it opened its maw wide, revealing the torrent of molten lava churning within. An intense orange glow began emanating from its depths, signaling an imminent beam attack.
Thorian, quickly recognizing the golem's intent, sprang into action. Lord’s Fury: Elemental Embodiment. Flames.
Raising his emberstrike cane, Thorian directed it towards the golem's gaping mouth. Fire Stream, he commanded. The spell materialized with an intensity beyond any Greater Fire Ball. The heat was so fierce it parched Thorian’s skin and sent waves of scorching wind buffeting him.
In a flash, the Fire Stream surged forward, plunging into the golem's mouth before its own attack could launch. The spell barreled deep into the creature's chest, culminating in a cataclysmic explosion. Flames engulfed the golem, sending fiery debris rocketing in all directions. Burning rocks splattered against the surrounding lava moat, a fiery spectacle illuminating the chamber.
Floor Quest Cleared
Congratulations, you have successfully cleared Hidden Quest #1: One Minute Kill.
Reward Updated
+25000 Experience Points
+10000 Arcane Coins
Reward Distributed
Level up!
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Level up!
Do you wish to continue to the sixteenth floor?