Chapter 283 - 48: I Know Now

Although it was only one more companion, in the dark Dungeon, an extra companion was undoubtedly an extra layer of security.

And since that companion was Duan Fei, it felt even safer.

In a random and extremely dangerous instance like this, brains shouldn’t have been of much use, but his presence was somehow reassuring.

On reflection, Darts Guest realized this sense of security came from Duan Fei’s abundant self-confidence. It just went to show that confident people could thrive anywhere.

As the two walked, they exchanged intelligence, trying to deduce more of the rules.

The official announcement hadn’t explained much about the Dungeon. It only said that the Dungeon was ever-changing, Monsters ran rampant, and all sorts of situations could occur. Players had to remain vigilant to survive in the intricate Dungeon.

But death wasn’t something to fear. In this instance, every player had an Undying Body. The only penalty was losing any un-banked experience and Skills, as well as any items that hadn’t been saved in time.

But on the whole, thanks to Reincarnation Points, players could grow stronger with each cycle, eventually reaching the very depths.

Darts Guest hopped forward, telling Duan Fei about the insights he had just gained.

"Our Professional Skills and other Skills exist here as a sort of add-on. When we repeatedly perform an action, we gain experience for that specific action. Eventually, we’ll level up the action, increasing its power. That level is then multiplied by our Professional Level, which makes the effect of our Professional Skills even stronger."

Opening his mouth, Darts Guest spat out a pebble, instantly killing a fist-sized insect that had been tailing them.

"My Throwing Skill in this instance is already Level 1. Combined with my personal Professional Skills, I can deal decent damage with my throws even without great Attributes."

"I see. You really know your way around these kinds of games, Darts Guest."

Darts Guest laughed sheepishly. "I’m a big fan of roguelikes, so I’ve played quite a few. Oh, look, a room."

At the end of the path was a brown wooden door.

Based on what they knew, exploring the Dungeon gave a chance of encountering rooms, and the telltale sign of a room was a wooden door.

The door might be locked, or it might not be. It might be trapped, or it might not be.

Behind the door could be a room full of Monsters, or it could be gold and treasure. Everything was completely random.

Duan Fei walked up and tried ramming the door, but it wouldn’t budge.

The door must have been locked. The sturdy wood only shuddered with a THUD, but it refused to open.

Darts Guest peered through the keyhole, then shook his head. "No good. I can’t see a thing. We’ll have to go back the way we came, unless..."

"We ask the magic conch?"

"And it would say, ’I don’t know either.’"

Hearing Darts Guest play along with his reference, Duan Fei satisfyingly formed his tongue into a thumbs-up.

Darts Guest nodded back smugly.

With no way to get in, Duan Fei and Darts Guest could only turn and prepare to head back the way they came.

But at that exact moment, the door behind them creaked open.

A sinister wind rushed out from within. The howls of countless tormented souls rang out, like a cry from Hell itself, echoing throughout the entire Dungeon.

Behind the door, a Ghost floated in mid-air, bathed in a fluorescent glow. Its head swiveled a hundred and eighty degrees, and it flashed a ghastly smile at the two players outside.

In the next second, bone spikes shot out. Darts Guest was instantly impaled, while Duan Fei, thanks to his Mechanical Bracelet, barely managed to dodge. He knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge a second attack.

Seeing Darts Guest’s gruesome death and his own retreat cut off, Duan Fei simply turned around and furiously hurled the Long Spear from his hand toward the Ghost in the doorway.

He had no Throwing Skill; it was a haphazard toss.

It was meant to be his final, desperate attack, but the Long Spear, which should have missed, instead passed right through the Ghost’s body, causing it to let out a second roar.

Before Duan Fei could process what had happened, the white bone spikes appeared again. The enraged Ghost pierced through his body, sending him straight to respawn.

Back in the plaza, Duan Fei’s body materialized and plopped softly onto the ground.

He recalled the final moment, finding it incredible.

The randomly thrown Long Spear seemed to have traced an arc through the air, ultimately hitting the Ghost and dealing a tiny bit of damage.

’Could it be... my Talent?’

Just as Duan Fei was pondering what his Talent might be, a voice came from beneath him. "Duan Someone, mind getting off me while you think?"

"Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were under me."

After sliding off Darts Guest, Duan Fei was about to resume his thoughts when he felt himself being lifted up.

"This Slime looks just like mine. Can you make Black Mashed Potatoes?" a little boy asked expectantly.

"Ever consider the possibility that I *am* that same Slime?" Duan Fei replied wearily. "And since when was I ’yours’?"

Far from being upset at the rejection, the little boy actually seemed delighted.

Hugging Duan Fei to his chest again, he said happily, "I knew you couldn’t bear to leave me! Forget about that Dungeon, why don’t you stay with us? We promise we won’t eat you... unless we’re about to starve to death."

Ignoring the little boy’s request, Duan Fei struggled free from his grasp, leaving behind some mashed potatoes, then gestured for Darts Guest to join him as they headed back toward the Dungeon.

For successfully reaching the Dungeon and making a bit of progress, they both received a dozen or so Reincarnation Points.

Ten Reincarnation Points could be used to raise a single Attribute point. The cost would increase with each subsequent upgrade.

Additionally, Reincarnation Points could be used to unlock items in their backpacks or to temporarily enhance them, making them more powerful.

This alone was enough to tell that this instance was going to be an absolute grind.

’But it seems fun, too.’

After using ten Reincarnation Points to upgrade their Constitution, Duan Fei and Darts Guest charged back into the Dungeon. Following their memories, they found the previous trap and retrieved the spears from it one by one, stashing them in their backpacks.

This time, they avoided the path that led to the Ghost’s room, taking a different one instead.

But for some unknown reason, after they had cautiously advanced a certain distance, another room appeared before them.

Staring at the wooden door, Duan Fei and Darts Guest exchanged a glance and quickly backed away, but it was too late.

The wooden door swung open. This time, however, it wasn’t a Ghost that appeared, but a tall, burly Minotaur.

The Minotaur was tall and imposing, its eyes bloodshot. It brandished a heavy Giant Axe and, without a moment’s hesitation, swung it at the two Slimes.

Realizing he was the target, Darts Guest couldn’t help but curse, "What the hell is wrong with you?! You’re only attacking me!"

"Just shows how popular you are," Duan Fei quipped.

"Shut up!"

The Minotaur’s Attributes were extraordinarily high. It only took a single swing of its axe to send a mere Slime like Darts Guest back to respawn.

As for Duan Fei, he looked at the Minotaur, tossed his Long Spear without hesitation, and was immediately sent packing by it as well.

Respawning in the plaza, Duan Fei replayed the moment before his death in his mind. He finally understood.

He knew what his Talent was.