Lynn sank into the worn couch, his weary body seeking solace in its embrace. With a sigh, his hands absently traced the faint scars that remained on his body. These lingering signs served as physical reminders of the recent experience.
Taking a moment to regain his strength and energy, he activated his ability [Cell Proliferation]. Focusing his mind on the damaged tissue, he willed the cells to multiply and regenerate, erasing any visible trace.
A warm and tingling sensation spread throughout his physique, akin to a gentle fire. The few scabs and discolored patches of skin swiftly returned to their undamaged state.
After a few minutes, he examined himself once more and nodded in approval, satisfied with the outcome. This would help prevent any potential inquiries or suspicions.
"Now, it's time to claim the rest of the rewards," he declared, his anticipation surging as he sat up straight. He summoned his panel, which materialized in front of him.
Almost instantly, a deluge of system notifications flooded his view.
[Ding!]
[You completed the dungeon: The Town's Nocturnal Panic with an outstanding performance!]
[Your evaluation is: S]
[Number of missions completed: 5. (Main Mission: Patrol Officers’ Death, Side Mission: The Murder Case, Side Mission: Medical Enlightenment, Hidden Mission: Monsters’ Lair, Hidden Mission: The Chimera's Feast.)]
"An S rank evaluation?" he murmured in surprise. He certainly hadn't expected to receive such a high assessment, especially on only his second dungeon attempt.
[Here are the unredeemed rewards from this dungeon:
[Nightmare Coin]*5800
[+300% experience]
[Skill Memory Crystal]*2
[Veil of Shadows]*1
[Magnifying Lens Pendant]*1
[Skill Point]*12
[Attribute Point]*5 ]
Lynn could barely contain his excitement upon seeing the wealth of rewards. If he counted the ones that he already redeemed during the dungeon he seemed to have struck gold.
Just as he thought it was the end, prepared to inspect his inventory and admire his newfound prizes more closely, several more notifications demanded his attention.
[Ding!]
[Player has reached the max level with the current class!]
[Converting excess experience to Nightmare Coins]
[+3000 Nightmare Coins]
[Ding!]
[Player has received an S rank evaluation!]
[Additional rewards unlocked]
[Dungeon Escape Pass]*1
[Time Extension Pass]*2
[All the rewards have been received or transferred to the [Inventory], please verify.]
His eyes widened as he saw the two special tickets that he just received. "If it's what I think it is..." he muttered under his breath, immediately opening up the item descriptions to learn more.
[Dungeon Escape Pass]
[Evaluation: A token that allows the player to exit from any dungeon or mission instantaneously and without incurring any penalties or consequences. Can only be used once.]
Lynn's eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. He couldn't believe what he was reading - an object that would allow him to immediately exit any dungeon. It was too good to be true.
With this mysterious ticket in hand, he now possessed what amounted to a get out of jail free card. A single-use lifeline that could potentially save him in a dire situation where escape or retreat was essential.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
No amount of nightmare coins or other rewards could compare to having an emergency exit if things went horribly wrong. He resolved to treasure it and save this ace up his sleeve until absolutely necessary.
Next, he examined the description of the other object with great intrigue:
[Time Extension Pass]
[Evaluation: A token that extends the dungeon selection deadline by 1 week without incurring any penalties or consequences, giving the player additional time to prepare before their next attempt. Can only be used once.]
Lynn exclaimed with excitement as he read the information provided by his [Evaluation] skill. "This couldn't have come at a better time to alleviate my previous concerns," he thought.
He had been deeply concerned about the discrepancies in the flow of time across the different worlds he traveled between. The inconsistent time ratios made scheduling and planning exceedingly difficult.
This fluctuation meant he could potentially miss important events or opportunities in Blue Star while trapped in completing missions.
However, this could provide the much-needed flexibility to better coordinate the timing of his real-world activities with his obligations in the dungeon domains.
As an example, his mind turned to the infamous central district - the mysterious heart of the abandoned district's black market that supposedly operated only one day each month.
According to the old beggar who had served as his guide, the gates to the central district would open on the 15th day of the month, allowing temporary access inside. He had no intention of missing such a rare opportunity.
"There are only a few days left," he remembered, gazing outside the window at the morning sun. According to his internal calendar, that fated day was now just three days away.
He intended to utilize this rare occurrence to potentially acquire something of great value; specifically, the third and final component required to undergo his first sublimation.
So far on his mystical journey since being selected by the mysterious Nightmare Paradise system, Lynn had managed to obtain two of the three necessary materials.
The first was the [Distorted Flesh] obtained in the hospital dungeon trial. If not for the knowledge shared by Alice, the mysterious detective who had been tracking Dr. Stein's research, he would have missed it.
At the time, unsure of the fleshy orb's potential value, he had simply stored it away in his inventory until the information from the forum finally revealed its importance.
His thoughts turned to the second sublimation material he had acquired - the [Bestial Heart] obtained after his recent confrontation with Knott.
When he had received the rewards for completing the mission [The Chimera's Feast], he was too preoccupied with dealing with his injuries and talking to the sheriff to immediately inspect them.
With a surge of curiosity, he reached out, extending his hand toward his inventory. As his fingertips delicately brushed against the surface of one particular item, he firmly grasped it.
Normally, he wouldn't dare directly touch such dangerous material without taking safety precautions. After all, the fear of contamination and spiritual pollution was ever-present.
However, this item had been directly granted by the Nightmare Paradise as a reward. Its polluting power was already sealed to prevent any risks when he received it.
[Bestial Heart]
[Grade: Special]
[Evaluation: A translucent, crystalline structure reminiscent of a heart organ that seemed to contain a constantly shifting, amorphous dark mass. Can be used as a sublimation material.]
Lynn's hands trembled faintly as he held the mysterious thing in his palm, gazing at it with a mix of awe and apprehension. Despite its sealed state, he could sense the formidable power contained within.
At its core, what appeared to be an amorphous, pulsating dark mass shifted constantly. Its strands seemed to wrap around each other, expanding and contracting rhythmically like a heartbeat.
“The [Bestial Heart]," he whispered softly, scrutinizing the object closely. The surface felt smooth and cool to the touch, yet appearances were deceiving. He knew better than to underestimate what lurked beneath the innocuous exterior.
As he focused his senses, he detected a resonant energy emanating from the heart, subtly trying to establish a connection. It was attempting to sync with his mind and spirit.
He could faintly detect the roar and snarl of multiple beasts resonating from deep within this thing. Some of the sounds he could recognize — the howl of wolves, the bellow of bears, even the snarl of the werewolves he had faced.
But amongst the familiar cries were others that were wholly unknown to him, noises no creature on Blue Star should be capable of producing. “It’s the influence of the sublimation material,” he realized.
Despite sensing the raging turmoil contained inside, Lynn felt no threat. A barrier seemed to exist between himself and the volatile energy of the [Bestial Heart], shielding him from its effects.
Satisfied that the object was safely contained, he carefully returned it to his inventory for safekeeping. With two of the three required sublimation materials now in his possession, all that remained was acquiring the final component.
"I wonder if I can acquire the last one on the black market," he murmured, his mind swirling with anticipation. It's the only place within his knowledge that could potentially hold extraordinary objects. Perhaps the final piece he sought would be found within its mysterious walls.
"Even if I can't find the last component there if I sell some of my accumulated rewards, I'll have enough nightmare coins to purchase it from the [Trading] section," he reassured himself.
Lynn promptly manifested his status panel again, examining his currently available resources. He began taking inventory, examining the remaining rewards, and making note of items that could be liquidated into nightmare coins if needed.