READ NOVEL FREE Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Leveling Up
"I need to get stronger!"
[Slime: Level 1]
Granger made his first move and jumped to attack the nearest slime.
Armid cheered, raising his hand.
Granger sliced the slime with his sword.
Although it was damaged, the slime rebuilt itself and jumped toward Granger.
Granger activated his barrier for the first time.
A light blue barrier appeared around him. It had a one-meter radius.
The slime collided with the barrier.
The barrier wasn't destroyed, but it took enough damage to lose half its power.
Granger attacked. His sword passed through the barrier as if it wasn't there.
He sliced the slime again.
The slime shrank from the damage.
Suddenly, two more slimes rushed toward him to attack.
[Slime: Level 1]
[Slime: Level 1]
Now, Granger was surrounded by three slimes.
The three slimes jumped toward him, but before they could hit the barrier, Granger activated Pulse Wave.
The barrier released a weak shockwave, knocking the slimes back. It also dealt damage based on Granger's strength.
Seeing his chance, Granger finished off the first slime with a slice of his sword.
He quickly followed up by slicing the next slime repeatedly.
It took three slices to kill it.
Without hesitation, Granger rushed at the last slime before it could recover.
He sliced the slime three times, shrinking it to nothing.
[Congratulations, you just won your very first battle, Master.]
[You leveled up.]
[You have received 3 stat points.]
[Your stamina, HP, and MP have been replenished.]
"Since these are the weakest monsters in this dungeon, that wasn't bad," Granger said.
He looked at his sword, which was covered in blue slime.
Armid walked over, clapping and smiling.
"You did a great job, Player. I was a little worried for a moment."
Granger laughed.
Armid cleared his throat. "Anyway, let's continue with the tutorial."
Granger stood up straight. "Sure."
Armid waved at the slime remains. "Monsters drop experience points and loot that can help on your journey." He pointed at one of the slime's splattered remains. "Take a look."
Granger leaned closer and saw a blue orb in the slime.
He picked it up and held it up to examine it. The orb was soft and felt like gelatin.
[Jelly Core: Common.]
"You can sell that at the marketplace. It won't fetch a high price, but it's enough to buy low-quality potions."
"I see." Granger picked up the other two Jelly Cores.
"Slimes will keep dropping these and giving experience points until you reach Level 3," Armid explained.
"Level 3?" Granger murmured.
[Yes. Once you are two levels higher than a monster, you won't get loot or experience points from them anymore. This rule applies to mobs and floor bosses.]
"I see. So, I can only stay on the first floor until I reach Level 3." Granger nodded.
[It's a mechanic to push players to explore lower floors and grow stronger, instead of staying in one place or farming a single floor boss.]
"I see."
Armid and Granger went to the marketplace. Armid taught Granger how to sell his loot to specific buyers.
They sold three Jelly Cores for three Agrasia Coins.
Armid showed Granger where to buy cheap potions and gear.
The tutorial ended, and Armid said goodbye.
After that, Granger returned to the first floor to continue leveling up.
"This time, I'll maximize my weapon proficiency. I'll put one point into Dexterity for better control, one into Agility for faster movement, and one into Constitution to make my barrier last longer."
Granger walked into the greenlands of the first floor.
With his three Agrasia Coins, he only managed to buy one Small HP Potion, even with a big beginner discount from the shopkeeper.
Granger rushed toward the nearest slime.
By increasing his Dexterity and Agility, he could now control his sword better, attack with precision, and strike faster.
He executed three quick attacks with such speed and accuracy that the slime died before it could react.
That was the power of one Stat Point.
Excited, Granger rushed toward another slime.
Five slimes responded and jumped at him all at once.
Granger activated Barrier and used Pulse Wave.
The slimes stopped mid-air and rolled on the ground.
Granger took the opportunity to slice the nearest slime.
As it was slain, he moved to the next, then another.
The last two slimes recovered and attacked. They jumped into his Barrier.
Granger activated Pulse Wave again, knocking them back.
He finished them off as they rolled on the ground.
All five slimes were slain.
[You leveled up.]
[You have received 3 stat points.]
[Your stamina, HP, and MP have been replenished.]
"I'm starting to understand how this works."
Granger looked around and saw more slimes appearing out of thin air.
"No matter how many you kill, they just keep spawning."
[Monsters in this dungeon are manifestations of pure mana essence that accumulates here. As long as the strongest being in the deepest part of the dungeon is alive and producing mana, monsters will keep spawning.]
Granger picked up the final loot he could get from this floor: five Jelly Cores.
"It's time to move to the lower floors."
[I agree. However, be cautious. The dungeon is filled with Unholy Mana. Even gods cannot see what happens inside. Starting from the second floor, anything can happen… anything.]
Granger looked at the massive stone gate at the far end of the dome.
"So… what happens in the dungeon, stays in the dungeon."
Eyes were watching from the shadows.
The real game was about to begin.
•••••
NAME: Granger Reiner.
PATRON: EDRINA
ASCENSION RANK: Weak.
LEVEL: 2/10.
NEXT ASCENSION: Level 100.
[STATUS]
HP: 30
MP: 20
[STAT POINTS]
STRENGTH: 2
CONSTITUTION: 3
INTELLIGENCE: 2
DEXTERITY: 2
AGILITY: 2
CHARISMA: 1
AVAILABLE STAT POINTS: 3
[Abilities]
SKILL: WEAK BARRIER.
HP: 10% of the user's HP.
RANGE: 1 Meter Radius.
[Barrier Special Effects]
—WEAK—
ACTIVE: Pulse Wave,
PASSIVE:
AVAILABLE SPECIAL EFFECT: 0
•••••