Chapter 47: Lesser Purgatory [I]
Just like in many RPG games, Alternate World boasts its own dungeon. While you can certainly hunt monsters and bosses in open fields, they're just not as lucrative as the dungeon's denizens. For instance, open-field mobs may drop 10 to 10 silver coins and the occasional common to rare weapon, but dungeon mobs consistently yield bronze, silver, and gold coins in abundance. The bare minimum you can expect from a dungeon monster is 100 bronze coins.
The only catch is that dungeons are rather limited. Once a dungeon is cleared, you must wait for its respawn time, which can range from 1 day to 1 week, depending on the dungeon's quality. This is why, when a dungeon spawns, players eagerly vie for a slot in the raid. Regrettably for them, I'll be claiming the loot for myself, at least for now. Let them enjoy spending their real money.
I patiently awaited Lina's arrival in the Starlight Forest. Along the way, I spotted a few small mobs, all of which became Leona's dinner. While she can't battle yet, she can feast on the remains of unharvested monsters, steadily earning EXP even without direct combat. Many believe that pets must be 10 days old to gain EXP, but pet owners have found a loophole. By letting their pets consume the carcasses of fallen monsters, they can witness their pets gaining experience. So, even during the early stages of a pet's development, before they can fight, my pet will level up through eating, and currently, she's at level 6. Her stats have also increased, although I can't determine her growth attributes. All I can do is observe how her stats evolve.
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Name: Leona
Species: Gryphon
Level: 6
Tier: Legendary
Status: Newborn(Full)(Note: Newborns cannot fight yet. They can't earn EXP either in the Newborn state. They need 10 days old to get Exp.)
HP: 5500/5500
MP: 3500/3500
Stats:
STR: 107
AGI: 103
DEX: 105
END: 100
INT: 102
Skills:
Level 0: Air Wing: Conjures magical wings out of mana that summon gusts of wind. Enemies in a 100-meter radius get 1000-500 HP damage. The further the enemy is, the lesser the damage dealt. Cooldown: 10 minutes
Skills: Locked (Level 10)
Info: Gryphons are fantastical beings, known for their majestic flight, soaring the skies like a monarch ruling the skies, possessing an eagle's head, talons, wings, and a lion's body. To be able to ride one of these creatures is a rare privilege, granted to only a select few.
Owner: Bladeheart
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Leona's stats have seen significant growth, and it's rather unusual for her to acquire stat points so effortlessly. My suspicion is that she's gaining these points from the creatures she consumes, which could prove to be a convenient advantage.
Lina didn't keep me waiting for long as she reached the Crossroads of the Starlight Forest. She handed over the potions, and I quickly tallied them up. With all the potions I requested from Lina now in my possession, it was time to launch our assault and clear the Lesser Purgatory as swiftly as possible.
I inquired of Lina, "Have you ever ventured into the Lesser Purgatory before?"
She replied, "Unfortunately, I wasn't up to the challenge when I last considered it. Venturing into the dungeon would have led to an overwhelming encounter with the monsters."
I probed further, "You mean to say you've never undertaken a raid in this place with your other Battle Maid comrades?"
Battle Maids, those mercenary NPCs in the Alternate World, embark on occasional raids and lend their strength to human players facing dungeon bosses during their patrols. They are highly sought-after companions for such treacherous journeys. Yet, I was taken aback when I discovered that Lina had no prior experience with dungeons like the Lesser Purgatory.
"I've only been involved in subduing monsters like wolves and spiders in the forests, not these larger missions," Lina confessed.
I couldn't believe it. In my previous life, Lina might have been one of the lowest-ranked Battle Maids among those who accompanied me, but she had proven herself alongside the faction's elite, clearing dungeons with the mightiest among them. It seemed that her abilities had been grossly underestimated, and her true potential had yet to shine until the moment I offered my assistance.
As we stepped into the dungeon's entrance, a prompt materialized, presenting us with the choice of difficulty. Yet, delving into the higher difficulty tiers required mastering the normal mode first, the most accessible tier in the game. This dungeon offered five unlockable challenges: Normal, Hard, Hell, Insane, and Abyssmal. With each increment in difficulty came greater rewards and the allure of prestigious titles.
Having conquered the dreaded Abyssmal mode in this unforgiving labyrinth during my previous ventures, I'd etched its every nook and hidden secret into my memory, regardless of the chosen difficulty. Moreover, I was confident in my ability to tackle these challenges solo. With the impending bidding event granting me ample time to navigate the dungeons, I anticipated advancing at least as far as the Hell mode. However, the formidable Insane mode might demand a bit more time and effort to conquer fully.
I assessed the place and tried to recall the place. It wasn't that hard and it is one of the easiest dungeons. It can be crowded later on once players get permission to raid dungeons like me. Once they do, I will lose the chance to clear this place as this will become packed in a few days. Instead of taking my time, using my free time as a way to enter and clear this place is much better.
[Player stumbled upon a Dungeon: Lesser Purgatory]
[Title: Dungeon Finder Unlocked]
It was a familiar title, one every new player earned upon their first dungeon encounter. Decent, but not a choice title for a seasoned player like me; it merely granted an extra 500 HP. While it might serve beginners well, it lacked the stackability of other titles, forcing you to equip it for its effects to apply.
The interface materialized, presenting difficulty options. I swiftly selected Normal, as the other choices remained out of reach. I stole a quick glance at Lina before deciding to break the silence.
"Ready to face the dungeon's denizens, Lina? This marks your inaugural dungeon dive. You can opt-out, but it means forfeiting the EXP."
Lina flashed a confident smile. "No worries, Master. As a Battle Maid, I can handle whatever monsters dare cross our path. I won't back down."
I nodded, conjuring my Versatile Weapon, and transforming it into a Magic Sword. Lina did the same and readied her weapon as well. She is a bit nervous but knowing her, she will become a natural in this and it won't take long before she will be capable of fighting monsters without getting nervous anymore.
"Then let's begin."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone