“Those two really are strong. I should probably take Ria with me to the next fissure. Maybe she can get Limit Break.” I pondered, as I was finishing everything with the dungeon core.
Wilma was also very impressive. The way she was able to get the monster's attention even without the Taunt skill. If she keeps that up, she’ll get the skill in no time.
“Let’s finish this so we can regroup.” I said to myself as I got back to work.
A little while later, I was done with the core so I walked to floor 7 and regrouped with Wilma and Ria.
“Hey Brian. Did you do it?” Ria asked.
“Kind of, but also no. I was able to add an exception to an exception, but the core doesn’t allow me to make Card Summoner skill orbs directly.”
“You should just do that thing you did with the prison dungeon. Maybe that way you could do it?” Ria suggested.
“Hack the dungeon? … would that even..? Yeah. That might actually work. I’ll try that before we leave.”
Spoiler [collapse]“... hacking a dungeon? What does that mean?” Wilma asked.
“Did I never tell you about how we found Cailie?” I asked.
“Yes? She was banished and trapped in some kind of prison, right?”
“Yeah. In a prison dungeon to be specific. Basically, the Nixie clan, the merfolk clan she was a member of, have a powerful dungeon somewhere near the dragon coast. But at some point, a member of the clan came inland and took over a small dungeon that was made to be a sub-dungeon of their more powerful dungeon. And because the sub-dungeon is effectively a slave to the more powerful dungeon, they can order the weaker dungeon around. And they used it as a sort of prison or punishment. They would send someone there using the main dungeon, the person would automatically be made the dungeon master of the slave dungeon, and they couldn’t get out until they got enough points to ‘buy’ their freedom. They would have to do that by hunting the fish in the lake around the dungeon and if they go too far, the dungeon would forcefully teleport them back to the core.”
“So Cailie was trapped in that kind of prison. I see. What about that ‘hacking’ part?”
“Hacking is just a term I use to for when I take over something without the owner’s permission. Kind of like hijacking, but not quite, as with hacking, the goal is usually just temporary control. You do what you want and then give the control back to the real owner, preferably without the real owner noticing.”
“... but you are already in control of this dungeon.”
“Yes. I didn’t even consider using a card like Enemy Controller on the dungeon core, because it is my core. But when I hacked the Hallow Prison, I was able to access parts of the dungeon’s ‘code’ that you can’t by just using the core, even if you are the dungeon founder. Well in HomeBase I can, but HomeBase is a special case. So maybe by hacking the core, I can get past the regular limitations of normal dungeon cores, so if I hack the core, I might be able to directly make the skill orb.”
“Alright. … directly? Does that mean you had an indirect way of doing it?”
“Yeah. I won’t really go into detail on how Card Summoner drop works because it is a pain, but I was able to add an exception. If someone who already has Card Summoner, or in my case Pack Opener, would be given Card Summoner as a drop, the dungeon can now give them a Card Summoner skill orb instead of trying to give out the skill, which will at most level up the skill, but will more likely do nothing.”
“But isn’t getting the skill very difficult?”
“There is a very low chance for it, yes. Well technically there is a full formula on how you can calculate it and I can have Laura write it down. But honestly, don’t. Just accept the fact that it is random and you’ll get away with less.”
“... then how did you plan on getting the skill orb?”
“Simple. I go to a challenge room and have Laura and Tahlia calculate my every move. That way, I should be guaranteed to get a Card Summoner skill orb and then I should be able to make more with HomeBase.”
“That doesn’t sound so simple.”
“No. It really is simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy.” I corrected. “I mean, compare it to forging a sword. All you do is hit metal with a hammer. Simple, but simple doesn’t mean easy.”
“Yes. I understand now.” Wilma said. “... but do you really think you can do it?”
“Sure. It is really nothing but practice where I do exactly what Laura says.”
“Okay Ria. Unsummon Nephthys. I’ll open the challenge room for you.”
“Can’t I just leave him summoned? He shouldn’t interfere as long as I don't bring him into the room.”
“True, but better to just unsummon him. You can just summon him again after the cooldown is over.”
“... fine.”
“You really love that bird, don’t you?”
“Don’t call my Phoenix a bird or I’ll call your Blue-Eyes a lizard.”
“Deal.” I agreed just to end the playful banter.
I then opened the challenge room door for Ria and also opened Dungeon Founder for our viewing pleasure.
What Ria faced in the room was something kind of familiar to me. It was once the dungeon’s final boss, and Sorcerer of Dark Magic even annihilated one when I had him test out this very challenge room.
A lich. An undead sorcerer. Whatever you want to call it, it is a B-rank monster and not the easiest to take on. But Ria took on an A-rank just now, so a B-rank should be no problem.
Soon after appearing, the lich began casting spells. Specifically ones of the Wind variety.
Wind Wall, Wind Spears, Wind Bomb. Multiple spells were used to both defend and attack, but Ria didn’t seem to care much.
She was weaving through the attacks like they were easy to dodge, while seemingly chanting magic. At least I could see her mouth moving. That is interesting as usually Ria’s spells are the kind that she can use without chanting with Internal Magic Technique.
Ria then quickly moved using her Flickering Step, appearing right at the side of the lich, punching it with her fist, before letting loose a giant explosion of fire.
“Flare Impact.” She called out to finish her spell chant.
The explosion punch sent the lich flying to the other end of the room, but it didn’t seem to be finished yet.
But neither was Ria. She again moved with Flickering Step, likely also using some Fire spell to boost her movement even more if the flames trailing her are any indication.
With a speed that could be mistaken for teleportation, she approached the lich. She quickly threw another punch, but a weaker one this time, before throwing second and then a third.
I then noticed something strange happening on Ria’s back. It looked like something was growing out of it.
And indeed there was, as a pair of arms appeared from Ria’s back. They looked … well, not really like arms but more like some misshapen appendages, but they still seemingly operated as arms. Ria used them to take a hold on the lich, while using her regular arms to pummel the lich with a quick series of punches.
And to end her combo of punches, she let out another Flare Impact, ending the life of the lich.
“... you made that look easy.” I told Ria when she returned.
“Thanks. But I think that is because a lich isn’t that defensive. It does good damage with spells, but can’t take much, right?”
“Yeah, basically.” I confirmed.
“So as long as I kept punching, it couldn’t chant or even let out spells.”
“It actually used some Wind spell to protect itself.” I pointed out. “If it hadn’t, the punch combo would have ended the lich before you finished the chant on the second Flare Impact.”
“Oh? So it focused on defense instead of trying to push me away? What a fool.”
“Well, it is a monster, so it did what it thought was best for survival. Probably.” I theorized. “What did you get as a reward?”
“... It is kind of boring. Just these.” Ria said, as she brought out two bracelets.
I quickly recognized the shape. They were magic amplification bracelets that just needed an elemental magic stone set into them and they’d be ready to use. And they were made of mithril, so they were likely high quality.
“I think they are perfect for you.” I said, and then explained to Ria what they were. I then recommended that she turn some monster cores into magic stones. Maybe get some help from Agunan so that the magic stones will hold some of his draconic fire magic in addition to Ria’s own fire magic. I’ll give her two B or A-rank cores to use for that and lend them Dark Sage to compress the cores.
Then it was my turn to try floor 7 challenge room. I didn’t do it to test anything, but to earn myself a Card Summoner skill orb. I was a little hesitant to do it on floor 7, but Laura said it would likely be the only floor I could even get the skill orb from, as the easier floors would die too quickly, even if I was holding back.
My opponent in the challenge room was something I had never fought myself and had even only seen once. Well, I had seen a regular variant of it, this one was skeletal.
A skeletal twin-headed hydra. Higher B-rank monster, but I can take it on. The only question is, can I take it on while following the optimal route?
(Laura?)
(Yes. This monster will work. I’m still calculating optimal moves, so just go at it normally for now. Try to only use Sword Technique and Shield Technique for now.)
(Alright. I’ll buy you some time.)
I looked at the hydra that looked at me with its empty eye sockets. It then screeched before rushing at me, with its two maws ready to bite me in half.
As if I’d let the monster do so. Using my duel disk as a shield, I blocked the left … wait is it technically the right mouth because from the hydra’s POV, that is right? Well for me it is the left mouth. I blocked it with my duel disk, while also using my sword to stab at the nostrils of the right mouth, causing it to pull back the right head while screeching in pain.
“Now let go of my duel disk!” I yelled at the hydra, as I stabbed one of the empty eye sockets of its other head that was biting my duel disk.
I then jumped back to take some distance, trying to buy time for Laura and Tahlia. Sadly I couldn’t just run in circles, as that would make it more difficult to get the reward I want.
(Lucky for you, we have a plan.) Laura said in my mind. (And I do have to commend you on those two critical hits. They will help us a lot.)
(Thanks. Now let’s do this.) And thus began the task of playing a game with the hydra, with the skill orb I need being the reward.
(You have to take this hit, then slash at the right leg.) Laura instructed.
I steadied my footing to take the hydra’s tail slam, and then rushed towards its legs. Cutting the leg off completely, I then quickly moved to the side before the hydra completed its 360.
(Now use Dark Chain to chain up the other leg, then wait for the hydra’s reaction.)
Again, I did as instructed.
With the hydra’s uninjured hind leg chained up and the other being out of commission, the hydra began gathering mana into its two maws.
(Use Space Shield, then dodge when the shield gives.)
“Space, consolidate into a wall and protect me, Space Wall.”
My shield of consolidated space blocked the double breath-attack for a while, but eventually it began to crack, so I quickly moved out of the way.
(Now rush in and slash at one of the necks while the hydra is recovering from the attack.)
The battle continued like that for some time. Me taking or blocking a hit, before going in with a powerful counter. Each of my hits was to hit a specific point on the skeletal hydra’s body. I was essentially farming critical hits to boost my score.
After a total of 9 critical hits, as well as the two accidental ones I started off with, Laura finally said that I should end the fight with the next attack, so I started chanting some spells.
“Time, quicken my movement, Time Accel. Time, slow down my opponent, Time Decel.” I started off with my two supportive Time spells. I then began chanting the Space Magic spell I’d use to end the fight.
“Space, cut apart my enemy, Space Cutter!”
With the spell flying at the hydra, it cut off both of its necks that I had already weakened with my sword, thus ending the monster.
As it disappeared, a marble-like thing about the size of a tennis ball appeared from its disappearing corpse.
I held it up high and basked in my victory. Now I can cheat Card Summoner onto my employees without having to put them through difficult fights.
“Those two really are strong. I should probably take Ria with me to the next fissure. Maybe she can get Limit Break.” I pondered, as I was finishing everything with the dungeon core.
Wilma was also very impressive. The way she was able to get the monster's attention even without the Taunt skill. If she keeps that up, she’ll get the skill in no time.
“Let’s finish this so we can regroup.” I said to myself as I got back to work.
A little while later, I was done with the core so I walked to floor 7 and regrouped with Wilma and Ria.
“Hey Brian. Did you do it?” Ria asked.
“Kind of, but also no. I was able to add an exception to an exception, but the core doesn’t allow me to make Card Summoner skill orbs directly.”
“You should just do that thing you did with the prison dungeon. Maybe that way you could do it?” Ria suggested.
“Hack the dungeon? … would that even..? Yeah. That might actually work. I’ll try that before we leave.”
Spoiler [collapse]“... hacking a dungeon? What does that mean?” Wilma asked.
“Did I never tell you about how we found Cailie?” I asked.
“Yes? She was banished and trapped in some kind of prison, right?”
“Yeah. In a prison dungeon to be specific. Basically, the Nixie clan, the merfolk clan she was a member of, have a powerful dungeon somewhere near the dragon coast. But at some point, a member of the clan came inland and took over a small dungeon that was made to be a sub-dungeon of their more powerful dungeon. And because the sub-dungeon is effectively a slave to the more powerful dungeon, they can order the weaker dungeon around. And they used it as a sort of prison or punishment. They would send someone there using the main dungeon, the person would automatically be made the dungeon master of the slave dungeon, and they couldn’t get out until they got enough points to ‘buy’ their freedom. They would have to do that by hunting the fish in the lake around the dungeon and if they go too far, the dungeon would forcefully teleport them back to the core.”
“So Cailie was trapped in that kind of prison. I see. What about that ‘hacking’ part?”
“Hacking is just a term I use to for when I take over something without the owner’s permission. Kind of like hijacking, but not quite, as with hacking, the goal is usually just temporary control. You do what you want and then give the control back to the real owner, preferably without the real owner noticing.”
“... but you are already in control of this dungeon.”
“Yes. I didn’t even consider using a card like Enemy Controller on the dungeon core, because it is my core. But when I hacked the Hallow Prison, I was able to access parts of the dungeon’s ‘code’ that you can’t by just using the core, even if you are the dungeon founder. Well in HomeBase I can, but HomeBase is a special case. So maybe by hacking the core, I can get past the regular limitations of normal dungeon cores, so if I hack the core, I might be able to directly make the skill orb.”
“Alright. … directly? Does that mean you had an indirect way of doing it?”
“Yeah. I won’t really go into detail on how Card Summoner drop works because it is a pain, but I was able to add an exception. If someone who already has Card Summoner, or in my case Pack Opener, would be given Card Summoner as a drop, the dungeon can now give them a Card Summoner skill orb instead of trying to give out the skill, which will at most level up the skill, but will more likely do nothing.”
“But isn’t getting the skill very difficult?”
“There is a very low chance for it, yes. Well technically there is a full formula on how you can calculate it and I can have Laura write it down. But honestly, don’t. Just accept the fact that it is random and you’ll get away with less.”
“... then how did you plan on getting the skill orb?”
“Simple. I go to a challenge room and have Laura and Tahlia calculate my every move. That way, I should be guaranteed to get a Card Summoner skill orb and then I should be able to make more with HomeBase.”
“That doesn’t sound so simple.”
“No. It really is simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy.” I corrected. “I mean, compare it to forging a sword. All you do is hit metal with a hammer. Simple, but simple doesn’t mean easy.”
“Yes. I understand now.” Wilma said. “... but do you really think you can do it?”
“Sure. It is really nothing but practice where I do exactly what Laura says.”
“Okay Ria. Unsummon Nephthys. I’ll open the challenge room for you.”
“Can’t I just leave him summoned? He shouldn’t interfere as long as I don't bring him into the room.”
“True, but better to just unsummon him. You can just summon him again after the cooldown is over.”
“... fine.”
“You really love that bird, don’t you?”
“Don’t call my Phoenix a bird or I’ll call your Blue-Eyes a lizard.”
“Deal.” I agreed just to end the playful banter.
I then opened the challenge room door for Ria and also opened Dungeon Founder for our viewing pleasure.
What Ria faced in the room was something kind of familiar to me. It was once the dungeon’s final boss, and Sorcerer of Dark Magic even annihilated one when I had him test out this very challenge room.
A lich. An undead sorcerer. Whatever you want to call it, it is a B-rank monster and not the easiest to take on. But Ria took on an A-rank just now, so a B-rank should be no problem.
Soon after appearing, the lich began casting spells. Specifically ones of the Wind variety.
Wind Wall, Wind Spears, Wind Bomb. Multiple spells were used to both defend and attack, but Ria didn’t seem to care much.
She was weaving through the attacks like they were easy to dodge, while seemingly chanting magic. At least I could see her mouth moving. That is interesting as usually Ria’s spells are the kind that she can use without chanting with Internal Magic Technique.
Ria then quickly moved using her Flickering Step, appearing right at the side of the lich, punching it with her fist, before letting loose a giant explosion of fire.
“Flare Impact.” She called out to finish her spell chant.
The explosion punch sent the lich flying to the other end of the room, but it didn’t seem to be finished yet.
But neither was Ria. She again moved with Flickering Step, likely also using some Fire spell to boost her movement even more if the flames trailing her are any indication.
With a speed that could be mistaken for teleportation, she approached the lich. She quickly threw another punch, but a weaker one this time, before throwing second and then a third.
I then noticed something strange happening on Ria’s back. It looked like something was growing out of it.
And indeed there was, as a pair of arms appeared from Ria’s back. They looked … well, not really like arms but more like some misshapen appendages, but they still seemingly operated as arms. Ria used them to take a hold on the lich, while using her regular arms to pummel the lich with a quick series of punches.
And to end her combo of punches, she let out another Flare Impact, ending the life of the lich.
“... you made that look easy.” I told Ria when she returned.
“Thanks. But I think that is because a lich isn’t that defensive. It does good damage with spells, but can’t take much, right?”
“Yeah, basically.” I confirmed.
“So as long as I kept punching, it couldn’t chant or even let out spells.”
“It actually used some Wind spell to protect itself.” I pointed out. “If it hadn’t, the punch combo would have ended the lich before you finished the chant on the second Flare Impact.”
“Oh? So it focused on defense instead of trying to push me away? What a fool.”
“Well, it is a monster, so it did what it thought was best for survival. Probably.” I theorized. “What did you get as a reward?”
“... It is kind of boring. Just these.” Ria said, as she brought out two bracelets.
I quickly recognized the shape. They were magic amplification bracelets that just needed an elemental magic stone set into them and they’d be ready to use. And they were made of mithril, so they were likely high quality.
“I think they are perfect for you.” I said, and then explained to Ria what they were. I then recommended that she turn some monster cores into magic stones. Maybe get some help from Agunan so that the magic stones will hold some of his draconic fire magic in addition to Ria’s own fire magic. I’ll give her two B or A-rank cores to use for that and lend them Dark Sage to compress the cores.
Then it was my turn to try floor 7 challenge room. I didn’t do it to test anything, but to earn myself a Card Summoner skill orb. I was a little hesitant to do it on floor 7, but Laura said it would likely be the only floor I could even get the skill orb from, as the easier floors would die too quickly, even if I was holding back.
My opponent in the challenge room was something I had never fought myself and had even only seen once. Well, I had seen a regular variant of it, this one was skeletal.
A skeletal twin-headed hydra. Higher B-rank monster, but I can take it on. The only question is, can I take it on while following the optimal route?
(Laura?)
(Yes. This monster will work. I’m still calculating optimal moves, so just go at it normally for now. Try to only use Sword Technique and Shield Technique for now.)
(Alright. I’ll buy you some time.)
I looked at the hydra that looked at me with its empty eye sockets. It then screeched before rushing at me, with its two maws ready to bite me in half.
As if I’d let the monster do so. Using my duel disk as a shield, I blocked the left … wait is it technically the right mouth because from the hydra’s POV, that is right? Well for me it is the left mouth. I blocked it with my duel disk, while also using my sword to stab at the nostrils of the right mouth, causing it to pull back the right head while screeching in pain.
“Now let go of my duel disk!” I yelled at the hydra, as I stabbed one of the empty eye sockets of its other head that was biting my duel disk.
I then jumped back to take some distance, trying to buy time for Laura and Tahlia. Sadly I couldn’t just run in circles, as that would make it more difficult to get the reward I want.
(Lucky for you, we have a plan.) Laura said in my mind. (And I do have to commend you on those two critical hits. They will help us a lot.)
(Thanks. Now let’s do this.) And thus began the task of playing a game with the hydra, with the skill orb I need being the reward.
(You have to take this hit, then slash at the right leg.) Laura instructed.
I steadied my footing to take the hydra’s tail slam, and then rushed towards its legs. Cutting the leg off completely, I then quickly moved to the side before the hydra completed its 360.
(Now use Dark Chain to chain up the other leg, then wait for the hydra’s reaction.)
Again, I did as instructed.
With the hydra’s uninjured hind leg chained up and the other being out of commission, the hydra began gathering mana into its two maws.
(Use Space Shield, then dodge when the shield gives.)
“Space, consolidate into a wall and protect me, Space Wall.”
My shield of consolidated space blocked the double breath-attack for a while, but eventually it began to crack, so I quickly moved out of the way.
(Now rush in and slash at one of the necks while the hydra is recovering from the attack.)
The battle continued like that for some time. Me taking or blocking a hit, before going in with a powerful counter. Each of my hits was to hit a specific point on the skeletal hydra’s body. I was essentially farming critical hits to boost my score.
After a total of 9 critical hits, as well as the two accidental ones I started off with, Laura finally said that I should end the fight with the next attack, so I started chanting some spells.
“Time, quicken my movement, Time Accel. Time, slow down my opponent, Time Decel.” I started off with my two supportive Time spells. I then began chanting the Space Magic spell I’d use to end the fight.
“Space, cut apart my enemy, Space Cutter!”
With the spell flying at the hydra, it cut off both of its necks that I had already weakened with my sword, thus ending the monster.
As it disappeared, a marble-like thing about the size of a tennis ball appeared from its disappearing corpse.
I held it up high and basked in my victory. Now I can cheat Card Summoner onto my employees without having to put them through difficult fights.
