NOVEL WEB Chapter 88 - Apex Dungeon
Edric and Maxim led the way.
They didn't allow Lucien to go alone.
Lucien didn't mind. For once, he could relax and let someone else take the lead.
There were countless dungeons scattered across the capital but they were headed for the closest one open to the public.
Apex Dungeon.
To save time, they boarded the Wind Chariot, soaring swiftly above the capital.
Meanwhile, the two drakes had officially become Lucien's tamed monsters.
He'd named the brutish-looking male "Korrak" and the sleek deadly female "Vyrran".
He stored them inside the MONSTERDEX.
If Golddust ever caught wind that drakes were spotted in the marketplace, they could simply claim the creatures had been sold off.
Edric and Maxim had no objections. It saved everyone the trouble of explaining where the drakes had gone.
As they flew, Edric began briefing Lucien about the dungeon ahead.
"Apex Dungeon has only five levels," he said. "But don't underestimate it. Even the weakest monsters are Tier 3... and that's just on the first floor."
Lucien's eyes lit up. That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
More experience points. More worthwhile fights.
He had no desire to return to the Academy Dungeon and deal with the disappointing slimes again.
Stronger dungeons were a welcome challenge.
After about an hour of travel, Edric leaned forward and pointed ahead.
"Look! We're here, Nephew."
Lucien glanced down and spotted a cluster of establishments below.
Some were gathering spots for explorers. Others appeared to be manned by officials.
They landed at one such place to park the Wind Chariot, entrusting Storm to the staff.
After receiving a token for safekeeping, they set off toward the dungeon.
The road leading there was surprisingly beautiful.
Wide.
Clean.
Well-paved.
The surrounding buildings were large and well-maintained.
Small markets lined the way, offering essentials for dungeon dives.
Potions. Gears. Tools.
A few clinics stood nearby as well and uniformed guards made steady patrols.
Lucien looked around.
There weren't many explorers in sight.
Maybe it's because this area's close to the noble district…
Or maybe there's a more convenient dungeon nearby.
Or… maybe the Apex Dungeon is just that intimidating.
As they followed the polished stone path, the dungeon entrance finally came into view.
It was enormous.
Lucien slowed to a stop, taking a moment to admire it.
Unlike Lootwell Dungeon, where they had to descend underground, this one stood at the surface.
The entrance opened into what looked like the base of a mountain. Its jagged slopes towered in the distance.
It was bold. Majestic. Intimidating.
They resumed walking.
"Nephew, you don't need to worry about the monsters on the first level," Maxim said with a grin. "The slimes back in your territory are probably better."
He chuckled then added with a shrug...
"Well… I haven't been inside another dungeon in twenty years so who knows? Hahaha."
They shared a light-hearted moment as they continued walking.
But then…
Lucien noticed something strange near the entrance.
The guards standing watch picked up some silver-framed magnifying glasses and peered through them...
He aimed directly at their group.
Lucien tilted his head. "What are they doing?"
"Ah, that's a magic tool," Maxim explained. "It detects if someone has the Item Box skill. It can even reveal the contents."
"It's said to be crafted by the king himself," Edric added. "The idea was to stop smugglers from sneaking out high-grade and highest-grade mana cores. Though… someone's already figured out how to bypass it huh."
Lucien's curiosity was piqued.
He quickly activated INSPECT.
<Pocketglass>
Type: Magic Tool
Rarity: Epic
Description: A small round crystal set in a silver frame. When looked through, faint golden rings appear around individuals who possess the Item Box skill. The contents of the Item Box are also revealed.
'Wow. First time seeing an Epic item that didn't come from a drop.'
Lucien stared at the Pocketglass for a moment. He was genuinely impressed.
Intricate runes and delicate magic circles were etched into its small frame.
The object was small yet the level of craftsmanship it required was immense. Only a skilled and dexterous enchanter could carve so many precise runes onto something so compact.
He couldn't help but be impressed.
'The king really is formidable…'
The ability to see inside someone's Item Box? That was genius.
Lucien's mind immediately turned toward his CRAFT feature.
'Maybe there's something better hidden in the system. I need to find one. Something discreet. Not as flashy as this Pocketglass.'
He made a mental note to search for it later.
The guards let them pass without issue.
They even greeted them respectfully after recognizing Edric and Maxim.
As they stepped inside, the dungeon's interior became visible.
Not much had changed from the typical structure.
The glowing walls cast a soothing light across the wide open area.
It was eerily calm.
Edric gave another quick rundown as they walked.
"First level is home to Dire Wolves and Great Boars. The boss at the end is called the Rock Raptor."
Soon after, they encountered a pack of Dire Wolves.
Five in total.
Lucien's eyes lit up.
We'll leave them to you, Nephew," Maxim said with a grin. "With your strength, they'll be nothing but a warm-up."
Lucien gave a small nod, stepping forward without hesitation.
He activated INSPECT.
***
Dire Wolf
Level: 37
Weakness:
• Silver Weapons
• Fire
• Loud noises
***
Sure enough, the starting monsters were Tier 3.
Their levels ranged from 31 to 37 with the pack leader sitting at the top.
Edric and Maxim remained on standby.
Watching closely.
They were ready to step in if anything went wrong but so far, it didn't look like they'd need to.
Lucien glanced over the weakness list again.
"Silver weapons…" he muttered.
He had one.
His long-time weapon, Ironbite, had been losing durability lately... so he'd taken time to craft a few alternatives.
Reaching into his INVENTORY, he retrieved one.
***
<Moonfang>
Type: Short Sword
Rarity: Rare
Description: Forged from silver and tempered for durability. It glimmers like moonlight and is feared by beast-type monsters
***
The moment Moonfang appeared in his hand, it shimmered with mesmerizing glow.
Lucien paused to admire it for a second.
The Dire Wolves flinched instinctively at the sight of the silver blade.
But their leader snarled, snapping them back to aggression.
They moved.
The wolves dashed across the stone floor.
Their claws scraped.
Their muscles tensed.
They leapt forward in a synchronized attack.
Lucien blinked.
"What? These wolves…"
He narrowed his eyes as he shifted into a ready stance.
"Why are they… so slow?"
In fact, the wolves are fast and their pace remains consistent...
But to Lucien... it felt sluggish.
And almost laughable.
With a hint of disappointment, he swung Moonfang toward the first wolf that came within reach.
The blade cut clean.
The wolf collapsed in an instant.
"Seriously? The Solar Slimes were faster than this," he muttered.
He realized just how far he'd come.
He had grown stronger.
His instincts are sharper.
His judgment are more refined.
These wolves were nothing compared to what he'd already faced.
The remaining dire wolves followed soon after.
One after another, they fell to his blade. He danced through them with ease, striking before they could react.
The last of them let out a low, dying growl before disintegrating into light... leaving behind mana cores and drops.
And this was only the beginning.
Edric and Maxim both gave him a nod of approval.
A clean kill.
With no need to rest, they pressed deeper into the dungeon.
So far, the enemies on the first level weren't much of a challenge.
The wolves were slower than he expected and the longer the fight dragged on, the easier it was to predict their movements.
Lucien developed a pattern.
Dash in. Take out the pack leader first. Watch the rest crumble in confusion.
And go for the kill.
It worked every time.
He sighed.
'Too easy.'
The first level was vast and he had already fought more wolves than he cared to count.
Eventually, he grew bored of cutting them down with Moonfang so he switched tactics.
Magic.
Golden fireballs shimmered into existence, striking the wolves with pinpoint accuracy.
They blinked out of existence just as quickly as they appeared, leaving only scorch marks... and drops.
Soon after, new enemies emerged.
Great Boars.
Massive. Muscular. Intimidating.
They charged at Lucien with thunderous force.
But he was faster.
And his sword was sharper.
He breezed through them like wind slicing through leaves.
Much like the wolves, they didn't pose any real threat.
Time passed.
The group continued moving through the dungeon, sometimes crossing paths with other explorers.
Those who spotted Lucien couldn't help but watch.
The way he fought.
The ease.
The fluidity.
It didn't look like battle.
It looked like routine.
A chore.
No one dared approach, not with Edric and Maxim flanking him like guards. But admiration flickered in their eyes from a distance.
Lucien sighed again.
'The first level really is huge…'
But his spirits quickly lifted when he checked the drops.
They were excellent.
There were even a few skill cards that dropped!
He grinned to himself… then giggled.
This was turning out to be a very good day.
Eventually, a massive entrance came into view.
The Boss Room.
But…
It was empty.
Someone had already defeated the Rock Raptor.
Lucien frowned in disappointment.
With no reason to linger, they continued down to the second level.
Along the way, Edric filled him in.
"You'll be facing Sabertusk Panthers and Fang Bears down here," he said. "The floor boss is called Thunder Lynx."
The second level monsters were clearly a cut above the first.
Their levels ranged from 41 to 49.
The monsters here focused on agility and power.
Lucien welcomed the change.
The Sabertusk Panthers were fast and they worked in coordinated packs.
Perfect.
With Lucien's Underdog Champion title. His strength will be boosted with each additional enemy. The effect capped at double his normal power but even that was a very huge advantage.
He ducked, weaved and dashed through their ambushes with precise footwork, always staying one step ahead.
The panthers struck hard but Lucien's instincts were sharper and his sword, Moonfang, held firm.
Their claws couldn't even scratch its edge.
For the first time since entering the dungeon, Lucien was actually enjoying the fight.
The Fang Bears, however, were a different kind of challenge.
Big. Brutal. Relentless.
He quickly realized he couldn't afford to take their blows head-on.
So he didn't.
Instead, he relied on speed and technique.
Sidestepping their heavy swipes and striking back when they overextended.
It was a refreshing fight…
And it was fun.
At one point in the dungeon, something unexpected happened.
The Sabertusk Panthers and Fang Bears had joined forces.
But even together, they posed no real threat to Lucien.
He cut through them with calculated ease.
As they advanced, Lucien occasionally checked his INVENTORY and every time he did, a grin spread across his face.
Skill cards were dropping more frequently now and some of them were rare enough to make him skip with joy as they continued on.
Unfortunately… the second floor boss, Thunder Lynx, had already been defeated too.
Lucien sighed but didn't complain.
"Next floor, then."
They descended to the third level.
This time, the monsters waiting for them were far more formidable.
Manticores and Wyverns.
And the floor boss? A Basilisk.
The monster levels ranged from 51 to 59.
And for the first time in this dungeon, Lucien felt a real challenge.
The Manticores were huge, thick-skinned brutes and their vital points were buried beneath layers of natural armor.
The Wyverns, on the other hand, were more cautious.
They took flight the moment they sensed danger making them harder to pin down.
Still, Lucien held his own without needing help from Edric or Maxim.
He adapted.
His attack patterns shifted, combining swordplay with bursts of magic.
He timed every attack with perfect efficiency.
At one point, they came across an injured explorer.
Pale. Trembling. And clearly in pain.
A Manticore's venom spike had struck him.
Lucien recognized the what happened through INSPECT and handed over an antidote from his stash.
"I have plenty," he said casually.
The grateful explorer gave him several Mid-Grade Mana Cores in return.
Lucien accepted with a smile and made a mental note.
Avoid getting hit by those venom spikes.
They're no joke.
The Wyverns had another trick up their wings.
Wind magic.
By flapping aggressively, they could generate crushing shockwaves, battering the surroundings and forcing enemies off balance.
When they saw an opening, they'd swoop in from the air, slashing with razor-sharp claws before retreating to the skies.
To Lucien's surprise, some of them can even breathe fire and in some cases, even poison.
The third level was no joke.
Eventually, Edric and Maxim began lending a hand.
Not because Lucien needed help but to make clearing the monsters more efficient.
If a flock of Wyverns appeared, they would swoop in to clip their wings mid-air, grounding them so Lucien could finish the job quickly.
Lucien was thankful. It made the cleanup much easier.
The rhythm continued.
Fight. Loot. Level. Repeat.
His drops and skill cards were piling up.
And so was his experience points.
In just a few hours, Lucien had already reached Level 49.
Monster after monster fell before them as they pushed deeper through the third floor.
But then… the air shifted.
They weren't alone anymore.
Up ahead stood a familiar figure.
Dorian.
And behind him were several of his servants.
Lucien's expression darkened.
Of all people to run into…