The first thing I noticed as we went inside the dungeon was that the air was thick with the scent of something metallic and faintly sweet, like copper and blooming roses. It was a peculiar combination that sent a shiver down my spine. The walls of the chamber were adorned with intricate carvings of what looked like intertwined serpents and hands reaching out to each other, as if in a dance of unity.
[Dungeon: Cavern of the Twin Celestial Snakes]
[Level: 3026]
[Requirements: Minimum 3 Players needed.]
[Time Remaining: 00:05:30]
[Quest: Pass the trial of the serpents.]
Seth had said the original duration for the dungeon was around three hours, meaning that its dungeon resonance indicated a higher difficulty. Not that that was a big deal to me anyway.
"Psst. Luquier," Seth whispered to me, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Come here real quick."
I stepped aside from the group, curious as to what he had to say. He leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Look, are you interested in my methods for gaining experience points despite overwhelming stats? Something that still works even if by a little bit?"
My eyebrows shot up. "Really? You figured out a way around the system?"
Seth chuckled as he held up his wrist, a red metallic bracelet hugging it. "It's not really a way around the system, more so than an actual mechanic. This bracelet on my arm has a really unique effect."
I squinted my eyes, seeing a description box pop up next to it.
[Name: Shackles of Restraint]
[Traits: Bound | Restrictive]
[Description: A peculiar piece of unknown metal, this cuff suppresses power.]
[Bound: Cannot be removed from user's possession unless willingly relinquished.]
[Restrictive: Forcibly lowers user's stats to the maximum limit in relation to level of tower floor, dungeon, or other users (selection).]
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow at the item. At first glance, to any other ordinary Player, this item would be seen as useless. But to Players like Seth and I, who can only gain experience one step at a time because our stats were so overwhelming? This was a goldmine. "That's a really awesome item."
"Right? The only downside is, the experience gained from it is still negligible. Since your original stats are still taken into consideration, you’d think that you roughly gain the same amount of experience as before, but instead of a rate of one-hundred, it’s a rate of one-thousand. It also means you'll be seeing a lot of zero point ones- even double to triple zeroes," Seth said with a knowing smile. "But it's something, and it keeps the challenge alive."
He did have a point. I was getting tired of one-shotting everything, and it'd be nice to feel that same thrill of death every time I was faced with a challenge. Plus, I'd still be earning experience points, albeit slowly. So instead of a 100 times bonus from a Magic stat of 10,000, it’d be 10 times. "Let's do it," I said, eager to feel that adrenaline rush again. Maybe I was a true masochist after all.
Seth nodded approvingly, opening his Inventory and producing another cuff. "Also, keep in mind that when you take the bracelet off, the rewards you gained aren’t adjusted. Which means, it’ll just be added to your original stat. So, if you put five points into your Health and took it off, it would simply remain as is." I nodded in acknowledgement before I took the shackle and slipped it on my left wrist, feeling a sudden pressure as the cold metal snaked around my skin. An option menu popped up in front of me as soon as it was on, and I tapped the dungeon level button. The status window in my vision updated, showing my stats drop to reach the maximum limit for the dungeon.
[Health: 21,175,750 | Strength: 21,107,300]
[Speed: 21,106,250 | Magic: 21,106,100]
[Risk: 7,200,000]
Huh, not bad. All things considered, it made me realize that the monsters and bosses in this dungeon would be around similar levels. Just as I was finished looking over my stats, a thought occurred to me.
"Wait... did you have the bracelet on when we first sparred?" I asked Seth as we trailed behind the group.
The Behemoth grinned sheepishly. "Yep. Sorry 'bout that. I just didn't want to squash you too early on," he said, slapping me on the back. "But now that you know the trick, I expect you to keep up."
"Then... what are your real stats?" It was killing me that I didn't know which of us was stronger.
"Hmm... my base stats are pretty much what you saw, but my Behemoth form... close to around twenty-five billion each?" Seth mused, using a finger to scratch the side of his head. "The stats of my transformation is based on my original ones, using a percentage of the number of monsters I've killed. There's a lot of math to it, but basically, my experience points are transferred to my Behemoth form whether or not I'm transformed. And since the system adds Magic bonus, it uses the Behemoth's Magic stat as reference instead."
[!!!]
I couldn't help but share Sephera's surprise. No wonder his Title was an SS-rank. It was an absurdly powerful class that could grow indefinitely with the right strategies. Compared to my Title, I wasn't sure that mine was so great anymore. Yeah, the immortality was nice, but Seth's unlimited potential was too tantalizing not to fantasize about. He even had an immortality condition as well, so long as he didn't transform into his Behemoth form.
The dungeon grew eerily quiet as we ventured deeper, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the ancient stone walls. The air grew colder, hinting at the presence of water somewhere nearby. The torches grew more frequent, flickering blue flames casting eerie shadows across the intricate carvings of snakes that adorned the walls.
Pretty soon, we came across some hordes of humanoid snakes. They hissed and slithered towards us, their movements eerily human-like despite their serpentine forms. Castor stepped forward, his sword blazing with blue aura, and swung it in a wide arc, slicing through the first few serpents. Gretchen followed suit, her hammer crashing down with surprising grace, reducing more of them to dust.
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Each of the snake monsters averaged 1-2 million in every stat, which wasn't much of a threat to us. Hell, Celine had the lowest stats, with 1.4 million in her Magic being the highest, yet she was able to keep up with the others pretty easily.
As for me, I had to stop myself from grinning as I pulled out the Soultaker, my Untouchable achievement boosting my Speed. I Linked my Strength with the blade's damage, rushing in head first. I didn't bother to equip my Realmwalker or ring, seeing as my newly acquired Blessed Hunger passive would restore some of my Health with every kill. Plus, I wanted to continue to hone my techniques instead of relying on my numbers.
The serpents didn't stand a chance. They were quick, but my enhanced Speed allowed me to dodge and weave through them with ease. The Soultaker sliced through their scales, and with every strike, I felt a pulse of energy flow into me, refreshing my vitality. The battle was exhilarating, and for the first time in a while, I felt alive.
[You have gained 0.0001 [x21,106] experience points.]
[You have gained...]
Fuck! Each kill only netted me 2 experience points, meaning I'd have to kill at least 50 to level up once. But that was okay, since I was still earning something rather than waiting around for an enemy strong enough to grant me rewards.
I glanced over at Celine as she dispatched a serpent with a well-placed fireball spell, her movements swift and precise. Her eyes met mine for a brief moment, and she nodded, a silent acknowledgment of our shared challenge. Despite her lower stats, she was handling herself well, casting offensive spells with a grace that suggested she had been practicing for years.
Mindless slashing aside, I could sense that the five of us were being observed by Gigi and Seth. While I was glad that we had the more chill Enigma members assessing us, I could tell that they weren't going to take their duty lightly. The dungeon emphasized teamwork, and there was none of that happening here. The others were fighting well individually, but our strategies weren't synced at all.
For a brief moment, I considered taking off the cuff and blitzing through the mobs in order to advance to the boss, but I stopped myself. I was pretty confident in my abilities to solo anything, but then again, there was only one- two, including my clone, of me. If I was busy facing something on one side of the world when the other side needed help, I'd have to learn how to work with others. Or at least, rely on them as well.
[Level up!]
[Soultaker damage: +53]
As we cleared the serpents, the room grew quieter. The only sound was the sizzle of their remains turning into dust and the dull thud of their bodies falling onto the stone floor. We continued deeper into the dungeon, the blue torches guiding our way. With over 286 million extra Stat Points, I went ahead and rounded my Risk stat to 21 million. No harm in cheesing out more points. It just meant that after I took off the item, the original 13.8 million I used would be added directly to my original Risk stat, yet my acquired Stat Points would still remain. This item was such a broken and hidden gem.
The walls began to shimmer with an otherworldly light, hinting at the presence of a boss room. The anticipation grew thicker as we approached a grand double door, adorned with a mural depicting twin massive snakes with wings, their fangs bared in a threatening snarl.
"Guys, I think this is it," Castor spoke up, pointing his sword at the doors. "The boss room."
I had to fight the urge to take the lead. Castor, Gretchen, and Eliwood had been working together for a while, whereas Celine and I just joined them for the first time today. It wouldn't be a good impression if I immediately jumped into the fray without a care for them. Plus, if this was indeed a dungeon designed to test our teamwork, then it was best to stick with the group.
"I wish you guys the best of luck!" Gigi encouraged us with a smile. Despite not feeling tired at all, her presence rejuvenated me.
"Yep. Even though Luquier gave himself a handicap, I'm sure the five of you will be able to clear the boss pretty easily," Seth added, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space. "We'll be watching from afar and jump in if things were to somehow go horribly wrong."
[Knowing Luquier, that might actually happen...] Sephera's message blinked before my eyes. I scowled, feeling the weight of her sarcasm. She had a point. Everything thus far had gone beyond my expectations, and I was only able to get through them by sheer luck and power. I couldn't reliably guarantee that the others would be able to do the same.
The five of us exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement before we turned our attention back to the mural. The winged serpents looked menacing, their eyes seemingly following us wherever we went. The room grew quiet as we approached the door, the anticipation thick in the air.
"Alright, here's the plan," Castor turned towards us, "Celine, you and Eliwood will be at the back, supporting us with ranged attacks. If things get too dangerous, Celine will switch to buffing and healing. Gretchen will act as our tank, using her pastry familiars to help keep the boss's attention on her. I'll back her up and chip away at the boss whenever I can. And Luquier," he paused, looking directly at me. "I'm not exactly sure what you're capable of. You've only shown your close-range swordsmanship so far, so maybe you can either help me backup Gretchen on the frontlines, or stay mid-range to cover our blind spots while protecting our rear."
To be honest, I was more than certain I could solo the boss with just my clone and slain specters, but I decided to cooperate. I never had much experience in team-play, so this would be a good time to learn. Maybe I could incorporate that with my clones and specters.
"Got it. I'll stay mid-range. If it comes down to it, I'll switch and move up front," I said, nodding in agreement with Castor's strategy. It was refreshing to have someone take charge without overestimating their own capabilities.
The door to the boss room creaked open, and we stepped into a cavernous space. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the faint echo of something large moving in the shadows. The room was dimly lit, with blue torches flickering along the walls, casting eerie shadows across the floor.
For some reason, even though it was my first time in here, the room felt strangely familiar. In fact, now that I thought about it, the murals of the snakes seemed oddly reminiscent of something else I had seen before.
The floor was made of stone, but it was polished to a mirror finish, reflecting the dim light of the torches. In the center of the room, there was a large stone pedestal with a single torch burning atop it. The flame was a deep red, unlike the blue ones that lit our way here. It was as if it was a beacon, calling forth whatever lurked in the shadows.
"Everyone, get into position," Castor ordered, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "Remember the plan. We have to–"
A low rumbling interjected Castor's instructions, echoing through the chamber. The snake mural on the door behind us began to twist and writhe as if alive, its eyes glowing a sinister red. The room shook slightly, and the torches flickered as if in response to the unseen threat approaching.
I watched in fascination as two gigantic snakes slithered into view in front of us, both as huge as planes. One was a brilliant sparkling silver while the other was a shining fiery gold. Their scales reflected the torchlight, making them seem like living jewels. The sight was mesmerizing, but the sheer power radiating from them was just as impressive.
[Name: Moonsnake Goddess Sevira | Level: 3026]
[Health: 25,000,000 | Strength: 12,000,000]
[Speed: 12,500,000 | Magic: 15,550,000]
[Description: One half of the Divine Celestial Serpent Twins. Cannot be slain as long as her twin lives.]
[Name: Sunsnake God Lumiro | Level: 3026]
[Health: 25,000,000 | Strength: 14,000,500]
[Speed: 11,990,000 | Magic: 14,650,000]
[Description: One half of the Divine Celestial Serpent Twins. Cannot be harmed as long as his twin lives.]
[!!!] Sephera's shocked message flashed in front of me, but I wasn't concerned about that. I realized why everything felt familiar.
I reached into my Inventory, pulling out the Silver Serpent and reading its description again.
[Description: A katana-like blade made from a Moonsnake's soul, this weapon is capable of slicing through nearly all objects, inflicting poisonous wounds and petrification with every successful strike.]
There it was. I had a weapon that was related to the Moonsnake boss. I didn't have time to process the discovery as Sevira turned her giant eyes towards me.
"You hold the essence of my kin," she hissed, her amplified voice echoing through the chamber. "Your audacity will be your downfall."
****
[Updating…]
[Current Stats (Shackles of Restraint)]
[Level: 3020]
[Health: 21,175,750 | Strength: 21,107,300]
[Speed: 21,106,250 | Magic: 21,106,100]
[Risk: 21,000,000]
[Items]
[Soultaker (10,125,998)]