Forest Dungeon’s First Area
黒森ダンジョンの一階層
As we had a time bomb, by the name of Ran on our midst, we hurriedly entered the Dark Forest Dungeon. As to be expected of a Mine type Dungeon, the first floor had a cave like appearance. This was probably to ensure the minerals in the area continue to receive nutrients.
According to the book that we had brought, this appearance is dominant in Mine type Dungeons, since minerals and ores mined here are stone like, and blends in with the view. However, according to the book, the cave like structure is not necessary since the Dungeon Core will provide the nutrients needed for the ores to form. Therefore, the next areas probably do not necessarily have cave-like structure, but being able to mine for minerals should doable.
Although everything is left to theories, the book seemed accurate enough… or so at least it was congruent with my knowledge from the Nameless Dungeon. Like for example:
- 10 Floors does indeed make up one area of the dungeon
- 1st to 4th floors spawn random magical beasts
- The fifth floor a Mid-boss battle that will indicate the ‘RANKA’ of the Area Boss, which will also be one Rank stronger.
- 6th to 9th floors will have low rank threats spawning of the same ‘RANKA’ of the Mid-Boss; and
- On the10th, floor the Area Boss.
Of course, the book did say that this is system only a standard view of normal dungeons. There are also accounts where some eccentric dungeons exist that do not follow this pattern and is as Random as the nature of Magical Beast that created it. As Dungeons are sentient beings, is has its own preferences in protecting and creating floors for their dungeon.
However, even with the eccentric distribution of magical beasts and bosses that appear in the Dungeon, it still follows the systematic structure of levels, floors, and areas.
“Master, how do we proceed?” as usual the highly energized Ran, beckons for me. Truthfully, this is the first time I am battling with a party. This is also the first time I am tasked as leader of a party (as the twins’ master), so I am a bit at a loss.
“Okay, since we will consider this is a practice field and the fact that none of us are caster types, the two of you will act alternately as attacker and support.” I handed them my first advice as their (amateur of a) master. “And make sure that someone is always watching your backs, I will stay farther back as support when the needs arise. But it would be better if you do not treat me as your back up.”
I made sure to tell them that they must always protect each other and that I am not going to move unless they are really real danger, after all this is their training to make them stronger. Am I a Spartan teacher now?
We proceeded to map the first floor and did not forget to eliminate monsters we meet on the way. The first floor had TRENTS with Monster Threat Rank F, E and D, which were a great source for fruits and wood resources.
TRENTS are Monsters that have the bodies of trees. I had a little run in with these Monsters in the Nameless Dungeon and had claimed a few wonderful drops. Unlike monsters that spawn in dungeons, TRENTS do not just disintegrate to light when killed. Instead, will become normal trees where their branches, saplings, roots, leaves, barks, trunks, and fruits can then be harvested. The drops are random, I mean I was so shocked that that a single TRENT had different genus of trees as it died.
Thanks to its fruits, we were able to augment our rations. The rest we left, and soon enough those fruits and nuts we had left behind due to overload in our packages, they disappeared to become nutrients to the Dungeon.
Aside from the TREANTS, there were also these pesky monsters known as MONGREYS, basically baboon like monsters almost the same size but with horns on their forehead. They like to jump on the TRENTS and hurl whatever they get from the TRENTs. Amazingly enough the TRENTS do not seem to run out of things these pesky little critters throw at us.
*****
As we progressed with mapping the First Floor of Area 1, the twin seems to have finally recovered their confidence as they started to sweep the monsters that try to attack us. Not only have their Source Level increased their Skills were also slightly higher as well. Oh, on a side note after the battle against the RAVENOUS FOREST WOLF, they had leveled up quite a bit even though I was the one who defeated them.
As Master and Disciples, we share experiences: the Disciples share 80 Percent of the gathered experience and 10 percent will be for me. This scheme seems to be the case whoever gives the final blow. Since I still have two disciples it is not yet conclusive but, this experience sharing seem to be active even when we are apart and not in the same party. This is as long as I recognize them as my disciple, and they recognize me as their master.
Before entering the forest, Ran and Len’s levels were ‘8’ and ‘6’ respectively. Now it was proceeding quite well as the two has doubled that number while inside the dungeon.
“Master, we have reached our goal and mapped the first floor!” Ran was happy for our achievement. “I will start helping in the harvesting of the [MAGIC CORES].”
“Hmm, what is it, Len?” curious Ran approached her brother. “Is it gone again?”
“Mmm!” Ran pouted and started to scratch her head. “Some of the TRENTS drops are gone too. What the hell is happening, there is no way [MAGIC CORES] just magically disappears”
Although there was a lot of things I want to say about her contradicting words, I finally get why the twins were having trouble for some time now. I am guessing my [Carry to Ship] skill is getting in their way. Sorry for that.
“I wonder if there are Raiders in the area.”
“Since we entered, there has been no presence of other humans aside from us. Ran, you aside, me and master will never mistake human presence for monsters.”
“Raiders?” while the two were in deep thought, I then asked for this new terminology.
“Master, I guess you haven’t gotten to that part of the book yet” Len again scans the book to act as reference.
According to how Len summarized it, Raiders are illegal dungeon explorers that horde MAGIC CORE to sell it for higher Pera. This is a direct violation to the contract of the Guild and the State. According to the Kingdom and the Hunter’s Guild contract, the Guild given freedom to operate in one’s kingdom under the agreement that all MAGIC CORES becomes Kingdom property (of course for a fee). Meaning, all [MAGIC CORES] are to be sold exclusively to the kingdom. Raiders do not abide this agreement and thus branded as criminals.
What to do with this info.
“There is no need to look for something that no longer exists…” trying to mask the truth, I then decided to change the topic. “Since we’ve also mapped the first floor, how about we go home now?”
“Ehhhh!” clearly Ran had that disapproving look written all over on her face. “Why don’t we go a little farther, better yet let’s go beat the First Area’s Level Boss.”
I knew she was going to say something like that. Len who is usually logical and levelheaded of the two seems to agree with her for some reason. I guess he too wants to become stronger for her sister and parent’s sake.
“Well…” whether they choose to go home or move forward as long as the topic about the missing [MAGIC CORES] and Loots are changed, I was good to go. “If you say you can still go on, might as well go for it, I guess?”
The dungeons in Resmere are divided into Areas. Each Area compose 10 Floors. For every fifth floor in an Area is a Mid-boss battle and the 10th a Boss battle. If we go by that logic, we should expect this dungeon to have three Areas (30 Floors). The first Area Boss should be a Rank C Threat.
With that decided, we then proceeded to go deeper on the dungeon. As usual, the scenery was still that of a cave. This should stretch until the 10th floor.
Because I did not want to raise any more suspicion, I decided to eliminate monsters stealthily, killing them without the twins ever noticing. Thanks to that:
Captain, due to killing monster without being noticed, [NINJA ASSASSIN] Title upgraded to [STEALTH NINJA] Title.
LOG {
. STEALTH NINJA {
- Attained by eliminating monsters without being noticed by observers and the targets
- Decreases presence, decreases stamina usage to skills
- EXP Gain +20%
- Phys STR +20%
- Mag POW +20%
- Captain! That is so cool. But, really don’t be going to the dark side now, okay.
- It’s dark and cool.
There was the usual warning from Grim-chan about me going to the dark side, then there is the second line which is a bit of a different tone, I guess she must be really lonely from the past few days without any other activity.
On another note, it was too bad that Titles do not automatically equip. The perks of decreasing my presence and stamina usage would have been nice to have in my current situation. Well, there is no use in fussing about what can and cannot be done, let’s just focus on what’s at present.
The monsters in the 2nd to the 4th floors are generic forest type monsters, like an assortment of cats, dogs and wolves, there were also plant monsters like the TRENTS and mushroom types. They were not much of a threat though. The twins proceeded to slaughter them as we proceed to the lower levels.
The Mid-boss was something I haven’t fought in my venture with the Nameless Dungeon. According to the book, these monsters are called [GOLEMS] Monster Threat Rank C – golem made of stone. Registered name [GIANT STONE GOLEM].
Standard Sized GOLEMS reach only 3 – 5 meters. The GIANT STONE GOLEM however could very well reach 8 – 10 meters. As of the moment, our party is facing a close 10-meter-tall GOLEM. Then again, even with this size it is still ways off compared to the Dungeon Lord of that Nameless Dungeon.
I had the twins do the attacks while I support them from behind. While the size was definitely a threat, it did not have the intelligence to do any composite attacks. Its attack patterns where simple: See-target plus Smash-Target or Punch-Target or Stomp-target. For the agile twins its movements were basically paused.
The next levels had these types of monsters as well, with limited attack patterns we decided to break a few to level grind and proceeded to the boss room where –you’ve guessed it… a GOLEM awaits us.
“Ran, I will act as decoy, Remove its [MAGIC CORE].”
“Okay!”
Right, unlike other monsters that have their Magic Cores materialize when they die, GOLEMS have their Magic Cores act as their power source and is visible in any part of its body. Due to its visibility it becomes its weakness and when removed they turn into rubble.
“Yeah!” the twins were ecstatic when they finally put an end to the GOLEM Boss.
With the defeat of the first Area’s Boss, their Source Level should have increased significantly.
“Okay, shall we get back?” now that we have fought and won against the 1st Area’s boss, I thought that it was finally time to head back but…
“No, let’s go deeper master!” I knew she would say that. Now that you mentioned it, this feels a bit nostalgic. Back in the Nameless Dungeon, no matter how many times there was a need to get back to the first floor, I would push myself to the lower floors.
“If you still have some stamina left, shall we head down?”
“Ohhhh!”