Current progress: Floor 5.
Daily Dungeons open from Floor 5, but only three types are accessible initially: Isralta Mine, Kendert Forest, and Singmire Plateau.
By collecting Low-Grade Attribute Stones from the monsters appearing in these three dungeons, one can obtain a Promotion Stone.
Monday and Tuesday are Mine, Wednesday and Thursday are Forest, Friday and Saturday are Plateau. On Sunday, all three Daily Dungeons are open.
I sat on a bench in the plaza, gnawing on a chicken leg.
How long has it been since I last ate meat? Since coming here, I haven't had it once, so a little over a month.
Finally, after Jena's hunt yesterday yielded meat, it started appearing in our meals. A welcome change. Taste aside, eating only potatoes throws off the nutritional balance.
"Waiting long?"
"Nah."
"Wouldn't kill you to say you weren't waiting."
Jena walked out from the dorm.
Bow and quiver on her back, dagger at her waist.
"Did they enjoy it?"
"They were ecstatic. One deer is already gone."
Right now, a party is probably going on in the dorm's dining hall.
Well, that doesn't matter. I said.
"Isel! I want to go to the Daily Dungeon."
"[Opening the door right now!]"
Creeeak.
The Rift of Time and Space slowly opened. Current time: 7:48 AM.
"The Daily Dungeon open now is the Plateau. Right?"
"[Yeah.]"
A day passed on Earth between yesterday and today. The calendar correlating the waiting room and Earth time was gradually taking shape. I finished the remaining chicken leg and tossed the bone into the trash bin.
Jena and I entered the Rift of Time and Space.
[Climb the Tower, Save the World!]
[Main Dungeon: Current Floor – 5]
[A Feast of Dungeons Changing Daily!]
[Daily Dungeon: Singmire Plateau (11 hours)]
[Collect Various Rare Materials!]
[Expedition Dungeon]
[Access Denied! Clear Main Dungeon Floor 10.]
'Opened as expected.'
The middle mirror, which had been greyed out, regained its color.
It was the passage to the Daily Dungeon.
"But can we really get stronger just by collecting materials?"
"Have I ever been wrong? Just follow me quietly."
Not just me, Jena is also close to promotion. To promote Jena as well, we need to collect two of each attribute stone.
Therefore, just the two of us are going. Aaron, seemingly trying to make up for yesterday's missed training, was swinging his spear in the Training Ground since dawn. Dika was mixed in there too.
"[The passage is open. Just enter the mirror!]"
"Alright."
I looked up.
Dark clouds bloomed in the grey sky. Amkena wasn't logged in.
Putting my finger into the middle mirror, it passed right through. Faint ripples spread from the point of contact. Taking one deep breath, I pushed my body through at once.
The scenery changed.
A strong wind was blowing. Reeds growing in the field bent low.
['Temporary Party (Han, Jena)' has entered the Daily Dungeon, Singmire Plateau (Lowest Grade). They will return after collecting materials!]
[Tips/ The dungeon type changes depending on the day. Be sure to check!]
Behind us spread the same dimensional portal seen in the forest.
Jena emerged from the portal. Shading her eyes with her hand, she looked around.
"Nice view! The wind is refreshing too."
From the cliff we stood on, the vista of the plains stretched far below. Though I didn't know the exact height, it seemed to be at least over 1,000m above sea level. Touching the air beyond the cliff edge, sure enough, an invisible wall blocked the way.
Inland from the cliff spread a grassy field. Suddenly, a red flower growing in a rock crevice caught my eye.
'Life Herb.'
I had seen illustrations of its six-petaled red flower. It was Life Herb, the core ingredient for making healing potions. Let's gather some if there's time left after finishing our business.
"Follow me."
"Yes sir!"
We pushed through the grassy field.
The monster to hunt here is the Plateau Tracker. I know the searching trick too. Following the path here also leads to a river, and near the river...
'Lucky.'
Found it right away.
[Plateau Tracker Lv.10]
The Plateau Tracker was a giant wolf with bluish-black fur.
It stood with its paws in the river, drinking water. We crouched below a rock about 5m away from the river.
"Is that creature the prey?"
I nodded silently.
Drew my sword from its sheath and raised my shield. Jena nocked an arrow to her bow.
Thus, each Daily Dungeon has a monster that acts as a gatekeeper. For the lowest grade, it's the deer in the forest, the wolf in the plateau, and the snake in the cave.
"Aim for the legs."
"Wouldn't it be better to shoot the head and kill it in one shot?"
"Like it'll let you."
Jena aimed her bow at the wolf.
The arrow was shot.
Ping!
"Grrr!"
The wolf leaped sideways as if expecting it, dodging the arrow.
"I shot from behind!"
"Told you."
That creature has a special skill called Ambush Prevention.
An advanced skill that blocks preemptive attacks with high probability. It has the weakness of lower defense against non-vital areas, but seems like that failed too.
"Grrrr..." The wolf turned towards us, displaying hostility.
No need to hide anymore. I slowly stepped out from behind the rock.
"Woof woof!" Yellow saliva flew each time the wolf barked.
This creature was also an abnormal animal like the Forest Queen. Bulging muscles packed its limbs tightly. Sharp molars were visible each time it barked.
"Don't hit me, or I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry."
"Go!"
Shield forward, I charged. The wolf charged back to meet me.
'Activate Berserk state.'
Anyway, this battle requires no strategy, just a pure brawl. Decided to utilize the Berserk Temperament gained from the last mission. A high-risk, high-return skill that boosts all stats at the cost of reason.
How can I trigger it?
Get angry?
I stopped thinking and raised my shield.
Intense impact shook my left hand.
The creature had slammed its forepaw, as thick as a grown man's waist, against the shield. Not as strong as the Forest Queen, but still formidable strength.
Regaining my stance, I rolled. Claws dug into the earth.
The wolf immediately swung its claws sideways.
The claws grazed the tip of my nose.
With the sound of wind, a drop of blood trickled from the bridge of my nose.
Fast.
Little gap between attacks. Even dealing with it with a sword was tricky. Block wrongly, and my right arm gets severed. If not for the shield, it would have been quite troublesome to face.
I gradually retreated, deflecting all attacks with the shield.
Thwack!
A well-timed arrow embedded itself in the wolf's flank.
"Grrr!" The wolf turned around and bared its teeth at Jena.
I thrust my sword at the wolf showing its back. The wolf quickly spun its body around and swung its claws.
Duck under the arc of the claws. My leather forearm guard got shredded, but I managed to plunge the sword into its side. Right next to where the arrow hit.
Ping!
An arrow flew and pierced the wolf's hindquarters.
I slammed my shield into the side of the wolf's head as it turned towards Jena.
"Woof!"
Another arrow hit.
Jena behind, me in front.
Caught in the middle, unable to advance or retreat, the Plateau Tracker died under the onslaught of sword and arrow.
A short while later.
The wolf lay sprawled, tongue lolling out.
A small orb rolled out from between its lips.
[Low-Grade Water Attribute Stone]
[Grade - D-]
[An attribute stone imbued with the plateau's energy. Used in crafting various items and for promoting some heroes.]
Good luck.
Got the attribute stone in one go this time too.
Finding only one was also fortunate. Plateau Trackers usually travel in packs of at least two. Seems this one wandered off alone from its pack to drink water.
Disappointed I couldn't try out Berserk Temperament, but there will be opportunities in the future.
"Jena, skin this creature."
"What are you going to use it for?"
"It'll be useful later."
"When is later."
Jena grumbled but began skinning the wolf with her dagger.
I picked the red flowers blooming beside the riverbank.
'Let's see, potion ingredients...'
Life Herb, Plateau Water, Rasp Fungus, and Gold Dust Rock.
The first two can be obtained here. Rasp Fungus from the forest, Gold Dust Rock from the mine. No idea why a lump of rock is needed, but questioning it is endless.
While Jena skinned the wolf, I diligently picked Life Herbs.
Normally, it's hard to gather without the Herbalist skill, but since item names appear just by looking, collecting wasn't difficult.
Plateau Water is literally river water from the plateau.
I took out a prepared waterskin and filled it with river water.
"What about the claws and teeth?"
"Tear them all out and sort them."
"Yessir."
Scritch scratch.
Jena spoke while cutting behind me.
"It's peaceful."
"Wipe the blood off your hands before saying that."
"Why? It's proof I worked hard."
The wolf's bluish-black pelt came off.
Jena started prying out the claws.
"It would be nice if it could always be this peaceful. Hunting and gathering herbs. I wish the Master would never come back. Right? There's food, a place to sleep. Yeah. Without the Master, this is paradise!"
'I'm the former Master, brat.'
I swallowed the words inwardly. Paradise without the Master. Definitely not wrong. Made people to hang out with, and with daily dungeons opening, various food ingredients can be obtained. Could be considered a small village being formed.
'Wonder if the Niflheim guys thought that way too.'
Thoughts about wishing the Master was gone.
I'm not without complaints about the current Master either.
If possible, I'd want to take over. If I could just inherit the Master position, I'm confident I could run the waiting room far more efficiently than now.
"Don't want to fight?" I asked Jena.
"What do you mean?"
"Fighting on the front lines isn't everything. You can hunt, and you're not entirely without skills, so you probably don't need to worry about being synthesized."
"Trying to offer me a position?"
"When the situation improves, it's not impossible."
Truthfully, survival-wise, staying in a non-combat role is better than fighting in the main party. If I prioritized survival, I would have somehow found a way into that path.
Like that carpenter currently busy sanding wood in the Workshop.
"Oppa, why didn't you take that path?"
I didn't answer, just smiled.
Before long, the foraging pouch was full of red herbs.
"Let's go. Not much time left."
Jena flicked her blood-covered hands clean and stood up.
Carrying various spoils, we headed towards the dimensional portal.
On the way back, I shouted to Jena.
"Run!"
"Grrr, Woof Woof!"
Five Plateau Trackers bared their teeth.
Seems they're the dead one's packmates. Not far to the portal. We immediately took off running.
"Eiit!" Jena threw the thick wolf pelt into the portal.
['Jena (★)' gathers 'Plateau Tracker Hide'.]
['Jena (★)' gathers 'Sharp Fangs'.]
['Han (★)' gathers 'Life Herb'....]
After dumping all the materials at once, we threw ourselves into the portal.
[Mission Complete!]
[Heroes returning to the Waiting Room.]
[Acquired Item List]
[Life Herb....]
Returning to the plaza, we lightly tidied our appearances.
The materials just entered through the portal are automatically packaged and stacked on the warehouse shelves.
"Thought I was gonna die! How are we supposed to gather anything with packs of those around?"
"They usually don't hang around near the portal."
Even if encountered, one can just escape into the portal. You lose the entry ticket, but it's better than the main dungeon where you can't escape if it's not your first time.
Later, combat personnel are mixed one by one into daily dungeon parties as escorts. 4 gatherers, 1 escort. The standard daily party composition.
I briefly explained the daily dungeons to Jena.
I can't handle every little thing for her. Told her what's needed for 2-star promotion and how to do it.
Jena also intuitively understood concepts like levels and grades. With physical abilities jumping up each time she leveled, she couldn't help but feel it.
"So strange though. The place changes daily, and you can only go once."
"It's daily for the Master, not daily for us. When you enter that place, find those monsters first and hunt them down. Leave the trivial materials to the others."
"Okay."
The more attribute stones or rare materials, the better.
After promotion, they can be used to create special items or imbue equipment with special powers.
'This is it for now, I guess.'
Promotion is a necessary step, but no need to rush it frantically right now. Besides unlocking the level cap, there aren't many immediate benefits. Even without leveling up, experience can still accumulate. Materials will naturally gather by running daily dungeons.
I headed towards the training ground.