Chapter 289 - 54: The Caliber of a Rich Second-Generation

On the second layer, Eight Desolates bounced along through the mushroom forest.

Although it was pitch-black all around, his movements were unaffected. His round, chubby body was agile and coordinated, dashing swiftly across the soft ground.

As the second-ranked player, Eight Desolates had his own guild, but he wasn’t the guild master.

There was no need.

The entire guild was built around him. All its members were his grunts, providing him with Abyss Coins, Equipment, Skills, and dungeon information.

This was the power of his money.

This time was no different. After guild members died hundreds of times on the second layer, they finally figured out the dungeon’s patterns and provided him with a method to get through.

Just brute-force your way through.

Although you couldn’t see anything in the darkness, as long as you didn’t reveal a light source, the Monsters in the mushroom forest wouldn’t attack.

Furthermore, according to the dungeon’s characteristics, you could reach the second boss room just by charging straight in one direction.

The second layer’s boss was an animal, with a chance of encountering a rabbit, a turtle, a fox, a wolf, or a chimpanzee. For some unknown reason, however, the rabbit was temporarily absent. So, if you found the room empty, you could either commit suicide to restart or just wait.

After madly dashing through the darkness for a while, Eight Desolates finally saw a light.

A wooden cabin appeared ahead. A chimpanzee, gnawing on a watermelon, saw Eight Desolates approaching and happily stood up.

But before it could give a warm greeting, Eight Desolates immediately said, "Skip the gamble. I forfeit. Here’s the wager. I demand to pass."

Then, he took out a bunch of bananas he had prepared earlier from his pack and handed them over.

His guild members had already verified the logic for each animal. The chimpanzee’s logic was to gamble, but you could skip the process by forfeiting immediately and gain the right to enter the next layer.

Holding the bunch of bananas, the chimpanzee was baffled.

’Did I want bananas?’

’I wanted someone to play dice with me!’

But rules were rules. The chimpanzee could only sigh and say, "Alright, you can pass. But wait a day, and I’ll help you..."

"No need. I have one."

Putting on a funny little hat, Eight Desolates urgently prompted the chimpanzee to lead him to the pool. He then contacted his guild members via Fly-Net and asked, "I’ve reached the third layer. What’s the situation on the stone tablet?"

"Boss, you’re currently in fourth," Eight Desolates’s secretary replied.

"Fourth, huh... Has the Great Sword Master entered the event dungeon yet?"

"No, the Great Sword Master hasn’t. The ones ahead of you are Duan Someone, Darts Guest, and Cuihua. They should be on the same team, because I saw their rankings change at the same time. They reached the third layer about twelve hours ahead of you."

As they spoke, Eight Desolates had already walked into the third layer.

The third layer was an underwater world. The passage behind the pool led directly to the deep seabed, bringing with it a cold, gloomy atmosphere.

But, wearing the little hat provided by his guild members, Eight Desolates saw a different scene.

Strange-looking creatures roamed about. Octopuses and unidentified sea fish hid in the sand, while nameless seaweed swayed. A world completely different from the surface unfolded before Eight Desolates.

Based on prior experience, just as Eight Desolates was about to press forward, a giant tentacle suddenly appeared. Its suckers latched onto him and began dragging him toward a large mouth.

His opponent’s speed was astonishing, but Eight Desolates was prepared.

’This isn’t the darkness layer. I can fully unleash my abilities here without worrying about sneak attacks.’

He spat out a small gem, which immediately shot out a red laser beam. Eight Desolates bit down on the beam and forcefully snapped it in two.

Half of the laser beam became a weapon in his mouth. The scorching heat made the surrounding seawater boil and bubble, and under his control, it easily sliced through the tentacle binding him.

Blue blood spread through the water. A several-meter-long octopus dropped its camouflage, its fluorescent eyes glaring fiercely at Eight Desolates.

Although it knew this prey was not to be trifled with, the creatures of the Dungeon were born with an intense hatred for outsiders.

Therefore, even after being sliced by the laser, the octopus still controlled its tentacles and charged madly at Eight Desolates, only stopping when it had been cut to pieces.

He ate the octopus tentacles raw to restore his stamina. Just as Eight Desolates was about to continue on, he saw more octopuses and strange fish swarming toward him.

’I’m screwed.’

With a bitter smile, Eight Desolates crushed the gem. Countless rays of light filled his body, transforming him into light itself.

The Energy converted from this instantly boiled the surrounding seawater, cooking the Monsters that got too close and releasing an aroma so tantalizing it would make the kid next door cry with craving.

Reappearing in the plaza, Eight Desolates tossed out the recording of his latest adventure for other players in his guild to analyze.

Meanwhile, he himself took the time to complete the NPC quests in the village to gain new benefits.

The NPCs in the village weren’t just for show. Some of them were often linked to crucial information, and completing the quests they offered could provide many advantages.

After quickly finishing the quests, Eight Desolates was about to set out again with his newly obtained items when he heard his secretary say, "Boss, they’ve already reached the fourth layer."

"Who? Duan Someone and his team?"

"Yes."

After a moment of contemplation, Eight Desolates finally remembered that he had heard of Duan Someone before.

It was at a guild gathering. He had heard the vice president of Glory, Bystander A, mention a newcomer, saying the guy had a lot of potential and would be a great talent in the future.

At the time, he had assumed Bystander A was just hyping up his own rookie, so he didn’t pay it any mind. He never expected to hear that name again here.

’Duan Someone, huh...’

After thinking for a moment, Eight Desolates said to his secretary, "Have the guild members work overtime. They’ll get a 50% bonus on their overtime pay. After this event is over, we’ll all go to the beach, company-funded. They can each bring one family member for free. After the trip, everyone gets compensatory leave."

"Why the beach?"

"I just cooked some seafood. It gave me a craving."

"Understood. I’ll make the arrangements."

"Also, help me find out more about this Duan Someone. See if there’s any possibility of recruiting him. If not, then we’ll try to cooperate. See what his price is."

"Got it."

As a rich second-generation heir, Eight Desolates knew what money was worth spending and when to spend more of it.

Trying to sabotage someone just because they’re ahead was the kind of thing that only made you countless enemies and brought no benefits.

He wasn’t a madman like that Lone Ranger.

With his arrangements made, Eight Desolates organized his items, received some supplies from other guild members, and once again advanced into the Dungeon, charging into the third layer.