〈System: You have gained 14,000 EXP.〉
Following the shower of EXP, Kieran stood before Grifear's lifeless carcass with a somewhat blank gaze. The dungeon run was finally over!
The surreal feeling hit him as a golden and white banner coalesced above everyone's head.
┌───────────────────
«Special Partywide Announcement»-
Congratulations on obtaining «Grifear, King of the Forest»'s First Blood and «Forest of Beast»'s First Clear on Very Difficult. Would you like to announce your feat within your area?
└───────────────────
Because the Forest of Beasts was a Beginner Dungeon, the notification would only spread throughout the nearby Beginner Zone. Global announcements were reserved for feats large enough to trigger worldwide renown.
Rather than immediately respond to the prompt, Kieran leaned against the tree near his body and slumped powerlessly. His ears droned as his vision blurred slightly.
He was familiar with the condition, but its presence alarmed Kieran. 'No way… this shouldn't appear so fast. I barely triggered my H-COS, so why am I feeling the drawbacks?'
Contrary to his earlier exuberant state, Kieran felt somewhat feeble.
'Don't tell me my circumstances have led to things I couldn't account for… I had my course of action planned out, but if my H-COS is now an early problem, I must prepare to handle it soon,' Kieran thought.
A moment later, he closed his eyes and regulated his breathing to suppress the nauseous feeling rising from the pit of his stomach.
Once he grabbed ahold of the feeling and managed it, Kieran shifted his attention to the frantic stream chat and the stream of donations that followed the diverse comments.
Some viewers congratulated Kieran and others praised him, but many voiced their scorn, contempt, and skepticism.
'Imagine trying to belittle me as you donate. I wonder if they were dropped on their heads as children. If you want to toss money at me in an attempt to reach me foolishly, I'll gladly accept it,' Kieran inwardly thought with a slight chuckle.
The comments intended to shatter Kieran's confidence, but it was impossible. These viewers were more or less insignificant in his eyes—a means to an end. Aside from that, Kieran couldn't care less.
Once the chat seemed to simmer down, Kieran waved and smirked at the audience. "Until the next time."
The chat had several questions, but Kieran ignored them and directly ended the stream.
Many were furious because he ended the stream at the best part. They needed to know what loot dropped! How could he rob them of this joy?! The viewers felt it was incredibly selfish.
After all, he had cut the stream visuals and audio several times during the run, and it happened during several inticing parts which lead to some viewers feeling the urge to pull their hair out.
However, Kieran decided it was the best decision. Allowing the loot and certain knowledge to be displayed would remove the element of surprise and destroy the mysterious aspect that snagged viewers.
In retaliation, many viewers took to the forums and began cursing Kieran for how he blue-balled them. After compiling their thoughts, many players decided to camp in the dungeon entrance lobby, waiting for the moment they returned.
Meanwhile, Sithik ran up to Kieran with eyes full of adoration as he extended his hand with a thumbs up. "You rock!"
Because of Kieran's efforts, the party's average level had reached Lv.13.
However, Kieran was more focused on the notification that he had yet to answer. "I'll be publicizing the results and will most likely announce your names. Even though I streamed the dungeon, there's bound to be people that didn't bother to watch."
"Do what you must. I'm not really worried. In fact, this is what I looked forward to," Altair shrugged.
Kieran nodded but glanced in Aspaira's direction, who looked at him with sparkling eyes.
"I'm sorry for ever doubting you. You accomplished what you claimed you would," Aspaira commented. Like everyone else, Aspaira had her initial doubts during the rocky moments, but they prevailed, which mattered most to her.
Unfortunately, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed a few seconds later as reality assaulted her. 'There's no way he'd be willing to party with me again after learning of my shortcomings. In his eyes, I'm most likely a noob—a replaceable component.'
Aspaira's thoughts weren't completely incorrect.
Kieran's opinion of this party wasn't the greatest, but he did appreciate their propensity to listen and learn from him after exhibiting some of his combat prowess.
Though he didn't hold them in the best light, Kieran understood that everyone possessed decent potential.
But, as of now, Kieran was unsure whether or not their futures would continue to intertwine.
After a few seconds, Kieran announced the results.
┌───────────────────
«Gena Village Announcement»-
Congratulations to Party Members: Aatrox, Altair, Cygnus, Sithik, and Aspaira for obtaining the First Clear of «Forest of Beast» Very Difficult Mode. They have been rewarded accordingly.
└───────────────────
┌───────────────────
«Beginner Zone Announcement»-
Congratulations to Party Members: Aatrox, Altair, Cygnus, Sithik, and Aspaira for obtaining the First Blood of «Grifear, King of the Forest». As a reward, a random Field Boss will spawn within the Fanged Forest soon.
└───────────────────
〈System: You have gained 1 Gold Coin.〉
〈System: You have received 50 World Fame.〉
〈System: You have gained 10,000 EXP.〉
〈System: Congratulations, you have leveled up! [Lv.16→Lv.17]〉
〈System: You have received 5 Unassigned Attribute Points and 2 Skill Points.〉
[Experience: 9,020/22,500]
'A Gold Coin. Nice,' Kieran thought with a faint smile.
He didn't expect the rewards to be so good. But considering that he accomplished a First Clear and First Blood in one, the rewards made sense.
After swiping away the notifications, Kieran stood up, but his frown deepened as an even more violent wave of exhaustion assaulted him.
'This isn't good. I thought I had a handle on it, but I forgot my body is truly fragile,' Kieran thought, simultaneously stowing his Novice Greatsword.
"Let's deal with the loot," Kieran voiced, shaking his head with a slight groan.
This comment made everyone giddy because Grifear's loot was the highlight of this dungeon run! The boss runs were where all the goodies existed.
From what Kieran saw, the loot pile was composed of several Rare Items, but unlike the others who eyed the armor, Kieran's gaze fell upon one item in particular.
"Whoa, why is there so much loot?" Cygnus questioned, blinking her round cerulean eyes.
"It's what happens when you get the First Blood on a Dungeon Boss. The loot experiences a drastic increase," Kieran remarked.
"I see," Cygnus muttered, focusing on a small cross amidst the pile of loot. She looked at Sithik, and their sights met. Naturally, the cross was something that interested them both.
While the two stared at each other, Kieran picked up and inspected a necklace with glistening eyes. It was a simple string necklace, but an amber crystalline gem in the form of a bear's claw dangled in the center.
「 Bear King Pendant (Accessory)
Item Rank: Rare
Health +150
Defense +25
Strength +15, Endurance +10, Vitality +5
Item Ability «Spirit of the Bear King» - Releases a ferocious growl that affects any enemy inside a 12-meter radius, putting them in a «Dazed» state for 10 seconds. This ability has a cooldown of 120 seconds.
Description: A decently made pendant that harnesses the ferocious spirit of a Bear King to an acceptable degree.
Requirements: Lv.15 」
This item had a 100% drop rate on the First Clear, and it was the dungeon's hidden item, which was why Kieran desired the First Clear. An item that could forcibly inflict a Dazed status was an indispensable advantage in combat.
"Is anyone against me taking this accessory?" Kieran asked out of respect for the others.
"Dude, have you taken drugs recently? Do you seriously believe we'll complain about you taking any item you desire? This would have been impossible without your contribution," Sithik scoffed, looking at Kieran in disbelief.
Sithik's opinion was the party's unanimous opinion as well. Without Kieran's suggestions, assistance, and damage, the run would have failed the moment they went against Hrulhar.
Kieran chuckled softly before equipping the pendant. The loot was shared equally, but Kieran let the others keep the additional equipment because he had no use for it. He didn't intend to waste any time trying to sell it.
At this point in time, players were more or less beggars, so asking for an item's actual value was virtually impossible. Kieran would rather rely on quests to increase his wealth.
"I believe it's time for us to end the dungeon run," Kieran said, bringing up the dungeon exit menu.
However, the other's expressions changed when they realized Kieran had ignored the rest of the items. It was too unusual because everyone should be scurrying to obtain better equipment.
Aspaira gently scratched her cheek."Wait, that pendant is all you're going to take? What about the other items? They should be worth a pretty penny to the right people."
"That's true, but it's a hassle that I'm not interested in. You all can sell it as thanks for attending the run with me," Kieran said indifferently.
Aspaira was taken aback by Kieran's disregard for the items and stuttered. "T-this… that's too much. At least add us so we can send you your portion later on."
Kieran's brow twitched, partially surprised by her suggestion. Most people would happily accept the gesture without saying a word. Aspaira, on the other hand, understood humility.
As a result, Kieran decided to add them, which increased his Friend List by three.
Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.
Thank you, guys!
P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:
Outside Forest of Beast's Dungeon Entrance…
A large, growing crowd formed outside the area as their jaws dropped upon reading the announcement sent out to all of the nearby villages in the Beginner Zone.
Although every village was somewhat unique, they followed the same base structure, including dungeons.
This growing crowd also consisted of the players who vowed to express their grievances.
"No shot! Are you telling me they received extra rewards in addition to the dungeon loot? Their haul must be disgusting! That's so unfair. I hate this shit," someone shouted in the crowd.
Another followed up with a seemingly jealous tone, "Damn! That's insane. I wonder what level they've reached. I've heard rumors that the hardest difficulty gives an insane bonus. Their average level should be around Lv.12!"
Upon listening to the remark, everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
Considering the game went live less than 10 hours ago, this leveling speed was simply ridiculous. It was a known fact that the EXP slope steepened with each successive level-up.
Players speculated how much EXP was required to surpass Lv.15, which the guides mentioned experienced a slight change.
If Kieran could hear their conversation, he would most likely wonder about their reaction toward his current level.
Meanwhile, before exiting the dungeon, Kieran unequipped his items and disabled his player status bar, which was a feature unlocked after reaching Lv.15.
A few seconds later, the dungeon entrance released a glorious crescendo that called everyone's attention.
However, apart from Kieran and the others walking outside the dungeon, another party appeared beside them.
Kieran looked to the side and noticed it was the same party he had run into not too long ago. Their expressions seemed worn and defeated. Evidently, they had just failed their run, and judging by the condition, it had to be the most challenging dungeon setting.
"It's… you," Bastion commented, slightly out of breath.
Kieran nodded faintly after examining the party. "Not much luck, huh?"
"No," Bastion grimaced. The pain in his eyes increased after recalling the announcement moments ago. "The same can't be said about you. You've gotten damn lucky, completing the dungeon before anyone else."
"Lucky?" Kieran raised his brow. "Or skill? Don't confuse the two."
All of a sudden, Kieran noticed a commotion not too far away.
"Hey! You there! You lot just came out of the dungeon, yeah? Say, how about you spill the beans about clearing the dungeon, eh?" A slender man said within the crowd. They approached Altair and the others with two daggers strapped behind their waist.
Evidently, this individual was a Thief like Altair. They went by the name of Despot. What's more, they weren't just some unknown passerby.
This individual belonged to a gaming organization known as the Shadow Cartel.
The conversation made Kieran pause momentarily and turn around while standing beside Bastion. Many people overlooked him since he had unequipped his items and disabled his information.
Kieran's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Despot's appearance.
"How about no? Because I don't possess such information," Altair replied with an emotionless expression.
The disregard in Altair's gaze made Despot click his tongue in annoyance before scowling at Altair.
"So, you mean to say you cleared the dungeon but don't know how to clear it? Do you think my Shadow Cartel will believe that half-assed excuse?"
"Did I ever ask if you believed it? Or did I ever mention that I cared?" Altair scoffed, conveying how foolish he felt this person before him was.
The comment naturally infuriated Despot, leading him to move his hand to one of his daggers subtly. But this action made Altair chuckle.
'Heh, the Shadow Cartel. Merely a small-time tyrant attempting to wreak havoc to no avail. Trying to pry information from Altair is like pulling teeth. Not to mention, Altair should possess skills surpassing a Ranker,' Kieran thought.
A Ranker referred to how the Gamer Republic Corporation judged players.
To be called a Ranker meant the player was skilled enough to make it on the Exemplar Records, which was a compilation of several players with worldwide renown.
A piece of general, known knowledge, the Exemplar Records first appeared during the first generation of VRMMORPGs.
Despot was a player at the bottom of the Exemplar Records, but Kieran felt their skills didn't match up. This opinion was further reinforced by Altair's superior attributes. If Despot attacked him, it could only be called a suicidal act.
From what Kieran remembered, the Shadow Cartel was a third-class guild that wasn't worth mentioning. Although it could be considered a force to be reckoned with inside Gena Village, their presence was inconsequential on a grand scale.
Kieran didn't bother to interfere in this exchange because the odds of Altair losing a fight were practically zero.
"Tch, so that's how it will be? Good, I've understood your message loud and clear," Despot smirked, glancing over at the other party members.
However, it dawned upon him then that they were missing one.
'Where is that damned Warrior that acted as their Party Leader?' Despot thought.
Despot had caught a glimpse of the stream's end after the buzz it generated within the village. So, he was privy to the fact one party member was missing, which was the warrior responsible for the uproar.
When he failed to locate Kieran in the mass of players, Despot committed Altair and the others to memory before withdrawing from the area.
'There are too many eyes, and they hold the equipment advantage. But watch how the viper strikes later at an opportune time. Blame yourselves for being so foolish,' Despot thought.
Once Despot disappeared, Kieran smiled helplessly while watching the indicator on his screen flash nonstop. Countless friend and message requests were flooding his user interface. It soon reached a volume that forced him to disable most functions, including public friend and party invitations.
Though he disabled the function, he noticed a few messages that sparked an idea in his mind. 'I see some large names. Perhaps it'll be beneficial.'
Most of the requests from third and second-class guilds mentioned insider information. Because Kieran sometimes manipulated the video feed, many crucial gimmicks were omitted from the stream.
The only information they understood was the party composition. However, even that was tricky because they didn't understand how it worked.
Since the many guilds continued to request information, it was the best time to make an offer they couldn't refuse, especially with an unknown factor like Nightingale.
Before executing his plan, Kieran sifted through the names of several guilds that reached out to him. Once he acquired their details, he sent an identical message.
The contents were vague, so it didn't apply to any guild in particular. However, Kieran didn't mince his words, making his stance crystal clear.
In the reply, he first mentioned that he wasn't dispensing any exclusive information. It'd be accessible to only those who could afford it. Whether or not they could make any considerable impression in their region depended on their individual skill.
Next, Kieran divided the amount of information into three different packages—Basic, Standard, and Premium.
The Basic Version only mentioned the class combinations that worked well in beginner dungeons and what skills to focus on.
The Standard Version addressed the party synergy in deeper detail and hinted that the dungeon could be cleared if all members were above average.
If Kieran could have found a more talented Mage, the run wouldn't have been nearly as long.
Lastly, the Premium Version vaguely mentioned the dungeons' gimmicks and what class was best when attempting to tackle them. Kieran didn't delve into Attribute Allocation because that was a personal preference.
These packages weren't available on Zenith Online's official forum. After compiling and organizing the information, Kieran added the special link under his recently ended stream.
This increased the chances of the individuals viewing the stream's recording and allowed the funds to travel through the hub's secure payment platform.
With the platform dealing with the payment, Kieran wasn't worried about his real identity being exposed. There was no link to be made.
After all, he was unknown in the real world—a nobody.
The information's price ranged from $1,000 to $5,000.
The expensive price tag existed because Kieran tailored the information to the guilds that could afford the expenditure.
Moreover, he catered to guilds' herd-leading mentality.
Everyone sought to be at the head of the pack to gloat about their success, and this was something Kieran could take advantage of.
Kieran also attached a steep price to control the circulation of information. Who would expose such costly information? Of course, with the targeted system, Kieran could quickly launch an IDMCA strike and have the info nuked from the internet.
After making the necessary preparations, Kieran declined every friend request and began his journey back to Gena Village to hand in his quest.
Make sure to point out any spelling errors, grammar errors, or numbers/information that wasn't properly updated so I can immediately rectify those issues.
Thank you, guys!
P.S: A LOT of game terminology will appear in the novel, because well, I'm a gamer. :shrug:
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GOT IT