Dexter waited patiently for an hour before sighing and proceeding to clear the dungeon alone.
Crossing the ancient stone bridge, he spotted a group of Tier VI Barbarians ahead. With a fluid motion, his Black Cloak and Sword shimred into a Firestaff and To, amplifying his magical potency.
His bracers, still limited to Tier II transformations, struggled against the enemies' high defense. Chain-casting fireballs drained his mana, forcing him to light a rolled dry leaf and inhale deeply to replenish his MP.
"Damn... butchering AI newbies are easier than this fucking dungeon," he muttered between drags.
thodically carving through the dungeon, Dexter finally reached a small chamber marked with the boss room sigil. As he caught his breath, the echo of approaching footsteps froze him mid-sucking. Behind him, a group of players stood snickering, their laughter bouncing off the cavern walls.
The man twirling the Ice Crystal sneered,
"Check this guy — running a Tier VI dungeon with Tier II gear. Got a death wish or what?"
His companion called out,
"Hey newbie! Wanna team up? Or you planning to solo the boss?" The group chuckled.
"Don't worry, we'll wait here. Wouldn't even loot your corpse if you die in there."
Dexter's eyes flickered across their equipnt.
'Solid PvP/PvE hybrid builds. These four are definitely pros...' Aloud, he feigned hesitation:
"I don't think my gear's good enough to help you much."
[Party invitation failed]
"Wait... you're already in a party?" The Ice Crystal wielder frowned. "How're we supposed to-"
Dexter scratched his head with practiced innocence.
"Sorry, I don't even know how to leave it..."
The apparent leader sighed.
"Whatever. You in a guild at least? We're taking in newbies — strictly peaceful PvE." He flashed a guild insignia depicting a dove.
"Noob-friendly environnt."
Dexter forced a smile, his instincts warring with opportunity. In Eldrion, so-called "newbie-friendly" guilds were either hopelessly naive or dangerously predatory — most often the latter. The worst would set tax rates at 100%, funneling every hard-earned coin straight to so scheming Guild Master's vault.
"Okay... invite !" Dexter chirped, adopting his best wide-eyed recruit persona.
[FireSnapper invites you to join 'Happy Go Lucky': Accept/Decline]
The mont he accepted, a guild interface materialized before him, revealing mber lists and — more importantly — their alliance affiliation.
'Limitless Alliance? Weren't they supposed to be defending Crimson Tree Zone? Why are these AIs skipping their Call-to-Arms?'
Before he could investigate further, FireSnapper and his party marched into the boss chamber. Dexter lingered just outside the boundary, one hand drifting toward his concealed Firestaff.
The dungeon boss sat before them — a hulking Giant Barbarian draped across his stone throne like a bored monarch. He barely acknowledged their entrance, rely cracking one bloodshot eye open with disinterest.
FireSnapper imdiately began weaving enhancent spells, his party glowing with layered buffs. Dexter watched the preparations with amusent.
'Let's see how these AIs handle a real fight.'
The tank charged first, shield raised high as he activated Taunt, instantly drawing the boss's furious attention. He stood unwavering, expertly deflecting every earth-shaking blow. Behind him, the healer's timing was flawless — her restorative magic flashed precisely whenever the tank's health dropped, never permitting it to fall below half.
All the while, FireSnapper rained down ice spells in a relentless barrage, his frost magic forming jagged stalactites above the boss. His crossbow-wielding comrade added to the assault, firing bolt after enchanted bolt in perfect rhythm.
'FireSnapper using ice magic?' Dexter smirked. 'Soone didn't think that na through.'
Dexter watched their by-the-book strategy with silent appreciation — a flawless demonstration of dungeon clearing fundantals. As the battle reached its climax, his Firestaff and To dissolved into mist, reforming as a deadly bow and notched arrow.
The preoccupied party failed to notice the transformation, their attention locked on the boss's dwindling health bar.
Dexter held his breath, bowstring taut, waiting for that perfect mont when a single shot would claim the kill.
The instant the boss's HP dipped into execution range, his arrow found its mark. Simultaneously, his vision flew through the guild interface, severing ties just as the system awarded him full XP for the Tier VI kill.
Power surged through his veins as his Combat Master level vaulted to 12, triggering his bracers' long-awaited evolution to Tier III capability.
In front of him, FireSnapper's enraged scream echoed through the chamber — but Dexter was already calculating his next move.
...
The players erupted in disgust at Dexter's stolen kill.
"YOU FUCKING NEWBIE!" the tank roared, spittle flying from his lips. "THAT WAS OUR KILL!"
Dexter rely chuckled.
"Shouldn't I be saying that? You saw all the dead mobs outside yet still barged in. What's that called? Kill-stealing, no?" He twirled his bow lazily. "You got complacent seeing my Tier II gear. Thought, 'He's not worth the effort,' right?"
FireSnapper's face twisted with rage, but the healer gripped his arm.
"He's just a newbie—"
But a crossbow bolt cut through the air. Dexter sidestepped, feeling the wind kiss his cheek.
'Gridlock's training better pay off now.'
With a neck crack, his bow and returned arrow morphed into twin blades. He lunged at the crossbowman, triggering gasps from the party.
"BUG USER!" FireSnapper scread. "KILL THE CHEATER!"
The tank intercepted with a shield bash, the impact sending Dexter skidding back, his HP dropping sharply.
"Nice reflect," he coughed, grinning through the pain.
In one fluid motion, his off-hand sword beca a Holy Staff, its healing light restoring him completely.
"Try to last longer," Dexter taunted, his voice dripping with madness. "Entertain properly this ti."
...
Dexter fought with calculated chaos, alternating between hurling fireballs at FireSnapper and deflecting crossbow bolts with his dagger. The flaming projectiles illuminated his manic grin as steel clashed against steel.
"GODDAMN CHEATER! WE CAN'T TOUCH HIM LIKE THIS!" the crossbowman scread.
The tank charged like a raging bull, but Dexter sidestepped effortlessly.
'Pathetic. Does he think I'm so dungeon mob that follows aggro rules?'
In one fluid motion, his firestaff dissolved into an invisibility cloak. The party froze as his form vanished — none wore detection helms. The air grew thick with tension, every rustle of fabric potentially lethal.
When a wet gasp broke the silence.
The crossbowman stared in horror at the dagger protruding from his gut.
"Wonder if this bleed stacks?" Dexter whispered in his ear, twisting the blade.
Golden light suddenly enveloped the wounded man as the healer's magic took effect. Dexter's head snapped toward her, all amusent gone from his eyes.
"I was going to spare you," he said, ice creeping into his voice. "But healers who ddle... deserve special attention."
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