The moment I logged back into the game, I didn't head straight to the dungeon. Instead, I checked the status of the boss I had managed to acquire last time whom I named Atlas. If his cooldown for usage was already over, I could summon him to help me clear the dungeon.
Unfortunately, he still needed at least 4 hours before his cooldown disappeared and he could be at my beck and call. But that was already expected, considering he was a boss monster. If he were a monster of normal rarity, like the ones found on the outskirts of town, in forests, and in other places, his cooldown would have been over a few hours ago.
I checked the latest news and the developments of the game while I was busy out there and doing my best to help my family. Things have gone smoothly in this place I guess that I wouldn't even say that the place is undergoing its mode where the guilds will start to dominate a certain area now. This is one of the reasons I hated guilds. Not only they are annoying of a presence but they act like they own the land and sometimes even stop others from using these places because they own them. It really pisses me off.
Now, the Kazuki's guild is now eyeing the first dungeon.
I still have plenty of gold in my account even after exchanging a few amounts of gold for real money, and I'm still not short on gold. So why am I trying so hard to secure the first clear of the first dungeon? To me, Kazuki is not someone you should allow to grow in the future. If his future success is slowly being impeded, it's a good way to stall him before he can become even stronger, allowing me to overpower him.
I can't kill him in real life; I'm not a killer, and I won't stoop to his level. I still have a conscience when it comes to taking a person's life. Of course, things are different in the game. If I spot him on the outskirts or catch him in a vulnerable state, I won't hesitate to act. I'll stop his growth as slowly as possible and let him suffer before he gets stronger, although I doubt I can do that, especially since he's still in the limelight of attention.
Alright, let's go back to the topic. In my past timeline, it was indeed the Burning Dragon Guild that managed to achieve the first clear of the Abyss difficulty of Lesser Purgatory. According to the posts, this achievement was announced server-wide, creating significant buzz throughout the community. This was a monumental moment since it marked the first successful Abyss difficulty clear at the time. Clearing the Abyss difficulty during the early stages, when player levels were still low, was no small feat. When the Burning Dragon accomplished it, it ignited a flurry of discussions and conversations regarding their accomplishment.
The fame the Burning Dragon Guild garnered from this achievement allowed them to climb the ranks, giving them a strong start in the gaming world. However, in the current timeline, with two other guilds competing, the pressure might be mounting, and they might be eager to reclaim the title of being the first to conquer the Abyss difficulty of the dungeon.
Although the title may not seem like much to some, it holds significant value, especially for players who are still trying to obtain any title at all.
I headed straight to the auction house this time. With plenty of gold to spare, I believed I had the means to significantly boost my stats using the [Devour] skill of the Versatile weapon.
The auction house was relatively empty today, as the exceptional items showcased yesterday had all been sold, leaving only a few rare-stat items procured by some players on the market. Nevertheless, this place was still a prime source for acquiring beginner items with additional effects.
Upon arrival, I spotted Tress behind the counter, busy jotting down notes and processing transactions. When he noticed me, he greeted me warmly.
"Good day, Mr. Bladeheart. Did you receive the money safely?"
"Yes, it was an overwhelming amount, but it's safely stashed in my pockets."
"What can we assist you with today? Just a reminder, the auction is already over."
"I'm aware of that. I'm here to purchase weapons with stats and skill effects."
"Do you have specific stats and skills in mind? Any particular type of weapon you're interested in?" Tress inquired as he readied a sheet of paper.
"Anything will do. I don't even care about the type of weapon—swords, canes, bows, anything, as long as they come with additional stats and skill effects."
"Alright, and how many are you looking for? Are you planning to amalgamate a weapon?"
"Yes, something like that. Give me at least 30 pieces, if available," I replied, even though it wasn't the actual case.
"Alright, please wait for a moment. We'll acquire the best weapons available. Kindly wait in the lobby," Tress said, bowing before heading to the supply room to issue orders to his workers.
I patiently watched the players browsing the area. For some reason, they were gazing at me with awe. Then, it hit me—I was still wearing the wolf mask, making me appear like a monster. If not for the player mark above my head, they might have mistaken me for one. I could tell they wanted to ask me about the item, but my appearance seemed intimidating.
Nothing particularly interesting happened during my wait. Tress returned a few minutes later with a few workers carrying crates of the requested weapons.
"We've managed to secure the 30 weapons you requested. You may take them now."
I handed over the required amount of gold and stashed all the weapons in my inventory. After bidding farewell, I returned to the inn and locked my room. I had already checked the Dragon Guild, and they were still in the preparation phase. I had time to get ready.
Drawing the Versatile Weapon, I began selecting which weapons to devour. Since I could pick out all 30 weapons in my inventory at once, I selected them all. They had random stats, so I was uncertain about the stat bonuses. I also had weapons in my bag, all looted from monsters I'd killed before, but those were not a top priority for devouring.
"DEVOUR!"
[Notice: Devouring weapons with unique stats and skills. Requirements for the third skill of the Versatile Weapon are met. The third skill will be unlocked during the process. Proceed?]
YES/NO
I blinked at the interface. The third skill? It hadn't shown me any requirements for unlocking the skill, so why now? Though I was surprised, I decided to proceed with the process without expectations to avoid disappointment.
When I clicked 'Yes,' the shadow once again appeared on the sword, drooling. The weapons I had chosen lay before me, and in a single sweep, the shadow devoured all of them. Another interface appeared before me.
[Skill Extraction unlocked.]
[Skill Extraction: All the devoured weapons with embedded skills can be extracted when devoured by the Versatile Weapon. There is no limit to the number of skills that can be extracted and learned, but you can only extract one skill from one weapon.]