The entrance to the Ivory Catacombs resembled the gaping maw of a stone monster.
Diana handed the official high-level hunting permit to the Mercenaries' Guild guard at the underground complex gate. The stamped paper had cost one silver coin, but granted full exploration rights to galleries of Level 8 to 10 and unrestricted loot harvesting.
[DUNGEON PERMIT PAYMENT]
- Ivory Catacombs Hunting License: -1 Silver Coin (100 Bronze).
[TEMPORARY POCKET BALANCE: 10 SILVER COINS AND 40 BRONZE COINS (1,040 Bronze)]
"No backing down today, Rhea." Diana said, adjusting the strap on her new Dark Crystal Chestplate. "Today we didn't just come to gather herbs. We came to clear this place."
Rhea drew her new Corrosive Crystal Daggers, her amber eyes gleaming with lethal ferocity. "I'm ready, Diana!"
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First Gallery - Hall of Bone Knights
The slaughter began in the first hall.
A horde of ten Ivory Bone Knights (Level 8) emerged from stone tombs, wielding rusted swords and iron shields.
Diana didn't wait. She charged head-on.
ARCANE ENERGY ARROW!
A glowing magic arrow fired from her left hand, exploding the first knight's head. The new Dark Crystal Chestplate absorbed the impact of the second knight's axe without allowing Diana to take a single point of damage.
With Strength 15, Diana delivered a direct punch to the knight's helm and drove her dagger into the monster's neck.
Meanwhile, Rhea was a blur of green and black light.
With Agility 25, Rhea moved so fast the bone knights could barely turn their necks before having their joints severed by her corrosive crystal daggers. The elemental poison melted the skeletons' frames in a matter of seconds.
In under twenty minutes of frantic combat, the first hall was completely cleared.
[TROOP HORDE LOOT]
- Coins Gathered from Knights: +1 Silver Coin and 60 Bronze.
But the momentum didn't stop. Diana didn't even wipe the sweat from her forehead before pointing to the massive iron door leading to the first boss chamber.
"Next hall!" Diana ordered.
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BOSS CHAMBER #1 - THE GOLEM OF BONE AND STEEL
The iron door opened with a deafening creak.
In the center of a circular hall rose the Golem of Bone and Steel (Level 9 - Hall Boss). The five-meter-tall structure was made of compacted skulls braced by heavy iron armor, wielding a colossal stone warhammer.
[HALL BOSS #1 DETECTED!]
[Golem of Bone and Steel - Level 9]
HP: 450 / 450 | Main Stat: Defense / Crushing Damage
The Golem bellowed, raising its colossal warhammer and smashing the floor.
BOOM!
The stone floor caved in.
"RHEA, FLANK!" Diana shouted.
Rhea used [Shadow Step], vanishing into thin air and reappearing at the Golem's back. Her corrosive crystal daggers drove into the joints of the structure's iron legs, inflicting the paralysis poison.
The Golem faltered.
Diana charged head-on. She channeled 15 MP into the blade of her black steel dagger and landed a [Predatory Strike] targeted right at the giant's shoulder joint.
CRUNCH! DAMAGE: 180!
The Golem's iron armor shattered. Diana vaulted onto the beast's chest and fired an Arcane Arrow straight into the energy core glowing inside the creature's thorax.
BOOM!
The Level 9 Golem collapsed into a heap of bones and iron in the chamber's dust.
[BOSS #1 DEFEATED!]
[Experience Gained: 800 EXP]
[Diana Leveled Up! Level 8 -> 9!]
[BOSS #1 LOOT]
- Direct Coins: +4 Gleaming Silver Coins!
Level 9 for Diana.
The surge of renewed energy from leveling up healed her minor scratches and restored her MP.
Rhea looked at Diana, panting lightly. "Diana… we killed the Hall Boss! We can go back to the city and-"
"No." Diana cut in, her dark eyes burning with insatiable hunger and ambition. "We are at Level 9. Level 10 is just one chamber away. We are killing the Crypt Boss TODAY."
Rhea stared at Diana… and a savage smile tore across the wolf girl's face. "Let's do this!"
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HOLY CRYPT CHAMBER - BOSS #2
The deepest chamber of the catacombs was freezing cold. The air was saturated with dark magic and unholy frost.
Hovering over a black stone altar rose the Dark Mist Lich (Level 10 - Dungeon Boss). It wore tattered robes of black silk, hovering with a bone staff in hand, its eyes burning with twin icy-blue flames.
[FINAL DUNGEON BOSS DETECTED!]
[Dark Mist Lich - Level 10 (Crypt Boss)]
HP: 520 / 520 | Main Stat: Dark Magic / Unholy Frost
"MUNDANE MORTALS…" The Lich spoke, its voice echoing like a thousand icy whispers in their minds. "YOU SHALL BE MY NEW ARMY!"
The Lich raised its staff, firing three spears of unholy frost toward Rhea.
The spears flew at a terrifying speed.
Move!
Diana threw herself in front of Rhea. Her new Dark Crystal Chestplate absorbed the direct impact of the first two ice spears. The core's magic resistance bonus kept Diana from freezing solid.
"RHEA, NOW!" Diana shouted.
Diana pulled the second [Blinding Smoke Bomb] from her belt and hurled it straight at the Lich's altar.
BOOM!
The gray smoke blanketed the boss's magical sight.
Seizing the opening, Rhea emerged from the smoke shadows like silver lightning.
SHADOW STEP!
With Agility 25, Rhea leaped onto the altar and severed the Lich's right hand with a double slash of her corrosive crystal daggers, sending the bone staff clattering to the stone floor.
"ARGGHHH!" The Lich howled in magical pain.
Diana charged forward, channeling all her remaining MP into her dark steel dagger.
VORACIOUS THROW + PREDATORY STRIKE!
She hurled her dagger with Strength 15. The blade sliced through the smoke and embedded itself straight into the black energy core in the Lich's chest.
BOOM!
The arcane explosion shattered the Level 10 Boss's soul from the inside out.
The Dark Mist Lich crumbled into dust and ash upon the stone altar.
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[LEGENDARY BATTLE CONCLUDED!]
[Enemy Defeated: Dark Mist Lich (Level 10 - Dungeon Boss)]
[Experience Gained: 1,500 EXP (+300 Anomaly Bonus)]
[SYSTEM: HISTORIC MILESTONE REACHED!]
- DIANA REACHED LEVEL 10!
- RHEA REACHED LEVEL 9!
[BOSS #2 LOOT]
- Direct Lich Coins: +6 Gleaming Silver Coins!
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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]
Previous Balance: 11 Silver Coins and 40 Bronze.
Dungeon License Cost: -1 Silver Coin.
Subtotal: 10 Silver Coins and 40 Bronze.
DUNGEON LOOT SUM:
- Troop Horde Loot: +1 Silver and 60 Bronze.
- Boss #1 (Golem): +4 Silver.
- Boss #2 (Lich): +6 Silver.
GRAND TOTAL:
10 Silver + 1 Silver + 4 Silver + 6 Silver = 21 Silver.
40 Bronze + 60 Bronze = 100 Bronze -> (1 Silver Coin).
[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 22 SILVER COINS (2,200 Bronze!)]
Twenty-two silver coins in her pocket.
Two dungeon bosses defeated in a single day.
And Level 10 finally reached.
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As Diana and Rhea leaned on each other atop the crypt's cleared altar, the System interface flashed in a dark golden hue so bright it lit up the entire stone hall.
A monumental notification appeared before Diana's eyes:
[SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS!]
[LEVEL 10 SUCCESSFULLY REACHED!]
- FIRST OFFICIAL CLASS SYSTEM UNLOCKED!
- OFFICIAL GUILD / FACTION CREATION AUTHORIZATION UNLOCKED!
—You pulled it off, you insane girl.
The System's voice echoed in Diana's head, charged with historical solemnity.
—You reached Level 10. Now child's play is officially over. It's time to choose your First Official Class and decide how you will rule this world.
Diana looked at the glowing screen, then at Rhea, who smiled victoriously beside her.
With 22 Silver in her pocket, Level 10 reached, two bosses dead, and the Class System Unlocked, Diana let out a wide, arrogant, ravenous laugh.
The real journey through the Second Circle of Hell was just beginning.
Final Notes:
Level 10 reached!!!!!!! FINALLY FUCK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!