Chapter 117: The stars are smiling on me

[Available loot from Folwin:]

[Blue Robe]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Cloth]

[Chest]

[DEF: 3]

[INT: 6]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Woollen Boots]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Cloth]

[Feet]

[DEF: 2]

[INT: 5]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Quest Item: Bandit Insignia automatically awarded]

[Quest Update]

[Bandit Insignias: 2/25]

John read through the loot table before asking, “So the loot doesn’t always include a weapon?”

“That’s right,” Emberslag said with a nod before adding. “Even though we can all wear these items, I suggest we leave them to Shelur since she can only wear cloth.”

John nodded before selecting to pass on both items.

[You have selected pass on: Blue Robe]

[You have selected pass on: Woollen Boots]

[Shelur has been awarded: Blue Robe]

[Shelur has been awarded: Woollen Boots]

“Next is Tuggug,” Emberslag announced with a smile.

[Available loot from Tuggug:]

[Relic Crossbow]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Crossbow]

[P ATP: 36]

[STR: 6]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Agile Boots]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Leather]

[Feet]

[DEF: 5]

[STR: 5]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Quest Item: Bandit Insignia automatically awarded]

[Quest Update]

[Bandit Insignias: 3/25]

“Ok, so while I would already normally advise you to pass on both, I can see that your current feet gear are barley above the starter gear, so I suggest you try to upgrade them,” Emberslag suggested as she stared at John’s feet with a smirk.

[You have selected pass on: Relic Crossbow]

[You have selected roll on: Agile Boots]

[All party members selected pass on: Relic Crossbow]

[Black Dragoon has won the roll and been awarded: Relic Crossbow]

[The roll will now commence; the results are:]

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[Agile Boots results:]

[Emberslag: 24]

[Vincarna: 9]

[Dream Star: 87]

[Dream Star has won the roll and been awarded: Agile Boots]

"Oh, come on," John said as he threw his arms up in the air, causing the women to laugh, while Dream Star added happily, “The stars are smiling on me.”

Emberslag, who was still laughing, bent down and touched Nakrit’s corpse while saying, “Last one.”

[Available loot from Nakrit:]

[Lupine Axe]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Great Axe]

[P ATP: 36]

[STR: 6]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Mystic's Breeches]

[Rank: Uncommon (Green)]

[Mail]

[Legs]

[DEF: 14]

[SPI: 6]

[Requires Level: 15]

[Quest Item: Bandit Insignia automatically awarded]

[Quest Update]

[Bandit Insignias: 4/25]

Emberslag gave John an expectant expression before asking, “What do you think you should do here?”

“Well,” John said thoughtfully. “I should definitely roll on the mail leggings since I should be able to use them; however, I should pass on the great axe because it’s a two-handed weapon and I’m tanking with a shield.”

“Not bad, but you're missing an important detail,” Emberslag said patiently. “What about after the dungeon, when you're questing alone?”

“Is that ok?” John asked in realisation. “I mean, this is the dungeon loot.”

“True, but we do dungeons not only for the experience but for the loot and gear,” Emberslag explained. “That gear will help us level up in other areas of Genesis as well, so there is nothing wrong with you rolling on a weapon that gives you a dramatic improvement.”

“Don’t get greedy, though,” Shelur advised. “Only roll for something you truly intend to use; otherwise, players might not invite you back to their party.”

“And also, having the corresponding weapon mastery is a good reason to roll,” Mel advised with a knowing smile, while Black Dragoon groaned and said. “Ugh, don’t remind me of that hell. It took sooooo long for me to get my spear mastery.”

“Ugh, I know,” Emberslag replied while raising the mace she was wielding.

“Thankfully, as a ranged class, I never had to complete it; I only picked up the spear training for the arcane missiles spell before dropping it,” Shelur bragged, causing her two friends to glare at her.

John smiled but didn’t say anything as he once again chose to roll for both items.

[You have selected roll on: Lupine Axe]

[You have selected roll on: Mystic's Breeches]

[The roll will now commence; the results are:]

[Lupine Axe results:]

[Emberslag: 91]

[Vincarna: 3]

[Dream Star: 44]

[Emberslag has won the roll and been awarded: Lupine Axe]

[Mystic's Breeches results:]

[Black Dragoon: 11]

[Vincarna: 7]

[BLack Dragoon has won the roll and been awarded: Mystic's Breeches]

Everyone stared at the results in shock before Shelur asked, “How can you be so unlucky? In every roll, you received a result of less than ten.”

“The story of my life,” John replied with slumped shoulders before weakly waving his hand while adding. “Let's just move on.”

There was nothing else in this room apart from a few boxes the bandits had been sitting on before they barged in, so they passed through it and left through the door on the opposite side of the room before entering another corridor, one that had five doors, two on either side and a fifth at the far end.

"Left or right first?" Emberslag asked with a smile, to which Shelur responded, “Right.”

"Left it is," Emberslag replied while sticking out her tongue before whispering to John and Mel in a not-so-low voice. “Never trust her directions; she constantly gets lost.”

“I can hear you, ya know,” Shelur retorted with a frown before mumbling. “I’m not that bad.”

“Oh really?” Emberslag asked with a grin. “Remind me again who it was that got lost in their own home?”

“No comment,” Shelur replied while looking away as Emberslag giggled and went to check the first door on the left.

After confirming that no sound came from the other side of the door, Emberslag pushed it open to reveal an empty room; there was nothing in here except a few cobwebs.

"Well, that's a letdown," Dream Star remarked, while Shelur added. "Told you we should have gone right."

"Sure, sure," Emberslag replied before crossing the hallway to the door on the right and pressing her ear against it, where she heard obvious signs coming from the other side. Signalling for them to be quiet, Emberslag slowly pushed open the door.

As Emberslag quietly opened the door, they saw six cheap beds in two rows of three on either side of the room. Lying atop each of the beds were sleeping bandits who occasionally made snoring noises.

John gave the room a quick sweep with his eyes, but upon not seeing anything else of interest, he decided to inspect the six sleeping bandits.

[Name: Rolduth]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Warrior (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 640/640]

[MP: 170/170]

[Name: Galan]

[Race: Elf]

[Class: Sorcerer (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 620/620]

[MP: 200/200]

[Name: Prigka]

[Race: Orc]

[Class: Guardian (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 660/660]

[MP: 170/170]

[Name: Hedgal]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Monk (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 620/620]

[MP: 170/170]

[Name: Elred]

[Race: Elf]

[Class: Hunter (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 620/620]

[MP: 180/1800]

[Name: Hiep]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Sorcerer (Bandit)]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 610/610]

[MP: 210/210]

Emberslag slowly closed the door again before John asked, "All level fifteen again? Isn’t this too easy? I mean, none of them have even ranked up."

“Not really,” Emberslag replied. “This is still harder than before because of the two extra bandits. We won't find any stronger ones, such as those who have ranked up until further into the dungeon. Don’t forget that this is still a newbie rank one dungeon and one of the first players' challenges; it’s possible we might not even face an opponent who has ranked up before the boss.”

As John nodded in understanding, Black Dragoon asked, "So what's the plan? Or do you do the same as before?"

“I say we go the same as before,” Shelur replied. “Although I’d like to give Vincarna a chance to practice tanking, we’re still on a timer.”

As he heard her reply, John glanced at the time that was still ticking down in the corner of his vision.

[Time Remaining until exclusivity expires and continental announcement occurs: 10:04:47]

Only then did he nod and say, ”I agree with Shelur; the exclusivity timer takes priority, and I have plenty of chances to practice tanking another time.”

Shelur gave him an appreciative smile as Emberslag nodded and said, “We’ll go the same as before and bombard them with AOE attacks.”

“Can I make a suggestion?” John suddenly cut in, causing them all to look at him curiously before he added. “Since we have the perfect opportunity, why don’t we take advantage of it to score some super critical hits?”

“Super critical?” Shelur repeated in excitement. “I've, of course, heard of them, though I've never managed to perform one myself. How do you suggest we do it?”

“Oh, you're gonna love this,” Mel said in amusement as John replied. “Simple, we each take one of the bandits, and you aim an attack directly into their throat.”

“That’s it?” Shelur asked in surprise, to which John nodded and said. “That’s it.”

Black Dragoon smiled while saying, “The throat is a weak point on the human body, so it’s guaranteed to be a critical hit; however, the fact that they're in a vulnerable position escalates it into a super critical.”

“No wonder I’ve never been able to achieve one; I always try to stay at range.”