49 Lesser Purgatory [III]

Any healing spell, such as Dispel, can take down the boss, but only I am privy to this secret. Back then, I used to carry a scroll with [Heal] engraved on it to defeat this boss and grind some experience. Others might have a hint, but they usually opt for the brute force method. When the boss breathed its last, there wasn't much loot to be had. However, I did receive a special title, one that crowns the first person to conquer a dungeon across the entire worldwide server of the game.

[Title: Dungeon Cleaner Awarded]

Yet, like the first title I earned upon discovering the dungeon, this one holds little value, and I don't need to equip it. Afterward, I signaled to Leona and Lina. Leona made swift work of what remained of the boss's body, devouring it in a single gulp. As for me, the feeling of heaviness that I felt before has disappeared meaning that the f*cker was indeed the one who was doing that. I don't know if the [Dispel] worked to heal me or if it did both killing the boss and healing the effects that I was suffering from. Either way is fine.

"What's our next move, master?" Lina inquired.

"We'll exit for now and re-enter," I replied.

"Huh?"

Lina wore a puzzled expression. It was common knowledge for both players and NPCs that a dungeon could only be entered once it was cleared. However, who said we were going back in on Normal Difficulty? When we returned outside, I attempted to re-enter, and a prompt appeared with Normal Difficulty grayed out, displaying a countdown timer. Meanwhile, the Hard Mode option was now available.

"What do you mean we will re-enter the dungeon?"

"We will challenge the dungeon once again but in a different difficulty. The dungeon is boring in Normal Difficulty so to at least allow you to have some fun as well, we will enter the next difficulty."

"Master, are you sure we're heading for the Hard Difficulty? My fellow Battle Maid comrades warned me that Normal and Hard difficulty have a significant difficulty spike difference. We might not make it out alive!" Lina tightened her grip on her weapon.

"I'm certain. That's why we're taking on the challenge," I replied confidently.

Upon selecting Hard difficulty, the dungeon entrance heated up, its color shifting from its usual appearance to a menacing crimson hue. Even those in their early stages might hesitate upon seeing this eerie transformation. Lina visibly trembled at the sight.

"Let's move. The auction won't wait forever; we need to conquer this dungeon swiftly."

Despite Lina's apprehensions, as her master, she had no choice but to follow me into the dungeon. Alongside Leona, we ventured into the now scorching labyrinth, ready to face the impending surge in difficulty. Besides, this will be a good lesson for her as we will be doing this a lot in dangerous dungeons that are more dangerous than this place.

"Master, are you certain we should tackle the Hard Difficulty? My fellow Battle Maid comrades mentioned that both Normal and Hard Difficulties have a significant spike in challenge. Venturing in might lead us to our demise within the dungeon!" Lina clutched her weapon tightly.

Upon entering, the scorching air met our senses, and despite it being a virtual reality, the heat felt palpably real. I had forgotten how sweltering it could be here. I could handle it in my previous form, but after returning to my past self, my body had lost its tolerance for such heat.

"Master, it's unbearably hot here!"

"I underestimated the intensity of the flames in this difficulty. If I had known, we'd have brought some cooling agents to combat this."

Leona, covered in feathers and fur, appeared unfazed by the heat. Perhaps her resistance to it explained her composure. As we progressed, what once resembled a mansion had transformed into a blazing inferno, unrecognizable to anyone who had previously cleared the Normal Mode.

The second expected change awaited us in the form of the enemies. As we ventured further into the entrance, Fire Imps emerged, larger than before, clad in leather armor, and wielding formidable spears. They now posed a genuine threat to me and my comrades.

[Fire Imp]

Level 25

HP: 30,000/30,000

Attribute: Beast, Fire

"Lina, stand ready! Ensure Leona's safety at all costs!"

"Understood!"

Since they wielded spears, a sword became their natural adversary. My reflexes remained as sharp as ever, allowing me to swiftly navigate their reach and target their feet with my blade.

[Passive: Light Poison Activated!]

Excellent, the passive had kicked in! I learned this skill some time ago—Light Poison. While its activation rate was low, there were moments when even a small damage boost from the poison buff proved crucial. Its stacking effect over a brief period of time was invaluable in gradually whittling down the enemy's HP.

"Master, it's unbearably hot here!"

"I underestimated the intensity of the flames in this difficulty. If I had known, we'd have brought some cooling agents to combat this."

-----

[Fire Imp]

Level 25

HP: 30,000/30,000

Attribute: Beast, Fire

-------

"Lina, stand ready! Ensure Leona's safety at all costs!"

"Understood!"

Since they wielded spears, a sword became their natural adversary. My reflexes remained as sharp as ever, allowing me to swiftly navigate their reach and target their feet with my blade.

[Passive: Light Poison Activated!]

Lina did a decent job with her attacks, but her primary focus was on protecting Leona. It made sense since Leona was still in her infant stage and couldn't fight yet. Lina played a more defensive role, leaving me to deal with finishing off our foes. Attacking them wasn't a walk in the park, though; they moved with incredible speed.

I raised my sword, piercing the ground before activating my Magic Knight skill, Earth Fissure. As the ground trembled under the Fire Imps, I swiftly circled behind them, striking their weak spots with a single powerful swing of my blade.

The moment my attack landed, damage numbers appeared above their heads in crimson hues, and they plummeted to the ground, leaving behind valuable loot. Leona wasted no time, rushing forward to consume the monsters. She wasn't a picky eater, and it took only a short while for her to devour the remains.

As I prepared to press on, the ground quaked with a force that nearly threw me off balance. This wasn't the work of my Earth Fissure, as it didn't create aftershocks. I knew there was only one enemy capable of causing such tremors just by moving – a foe that swords couldn't easily harm. I remembered from a past encounter that Berserkers could deal with these monsters by tearing through their muscular defenses.

My versatile weapon shimmered and transformed into an axe. While hammers were effective, I preferred to carve through flesh rather than bash. The choice was clear – I went with the ax.

"Lina, stay clear for now. This battle is about to get messy, and I'll need your help for healing. Just follow our strategy from the Boss Room battle earlier."

"But I didn't do anything in that fight!"

"Exactly," I replied, observing the monsters as they drew nearer to my location.

------

[Barbarian Giant Ogre]

Level 30

HP: 100,000/100,000

Attributes: Monster, Dark, Nature

-----

Their levels surpass mine, boasting a whopping 100,000 HP. They strike with force and show no mercy. To make matters worse, they also outnumber me with a total of five. Combining their HP, it reaches 500,000. These circumstances ignite my excitement, a return to the thrill of danger. Despite my disadvantage, a grin of delight stretches across my face.

"COME! LET'S ENGAGE IN A BATTLE TO THE DEATH! I'LL TEAR YOU APART!"

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