After reaching the C rank Seth knew he would be stuck being this rank for a few more months (read years) until he could find an honest lover who truly cared for him. Or if he could meet any of his promised ladies from his childhood sooner than they promised.
Unfortunately this last year was not the year.
Instead to keep the momentum going and find a way to break the limits he dungeon dived and accepted as many C ranked quests as he could to earn that house.
He was close this year. By the end of it he had finally managed to save 1 gold, 35 electrum, 75 silver, and 31 copper in the bank.
He wanted a good magic house so his budget changed to 8-11 gold coins for a magical expanding house that added rooms over time as the family grew.
He had his work cut out for him but he was making his way up to that goal. To supplement his questing rewards he decided to return to conquering dungeons from C rank and below. And it was here he gained a very helpful artifact. In fact 4 helpful artifacts from the C ranked dungeons. They were ancient ranked drops from the bosses that were just below legendary. Finding any legendary drops in any dungeon below B is impossible so finding ancient grade was the goal for C and lower rankers. So Seth was more than happy about this development.
His stats and equipment reflected it. And the artifacts even replaced some of his previous gear. He even finally maxed out his stats for the allowed level he has at the moment.
Seth Silverfang
Age:18
Race: Human
Class: Hero (Soul curse)
Level: 30/30 (Rest of levels sealed)
HP: 1,500
MP: 750
Str: 330 (+260)
Agi: 330 (+195)
End: 330 (+140)
Magic: 330 (+140)
Skill: 330 (+110)
Equipment:
Heroes sword of legend (God rank): X5 users level added to str and agi
Heroic gauntlets of the chosen (Legendary rank): x3 users level added to end and str
Grimoire of the Sage (Legendary Rank): x3 users level added to magic and skill
Holy symbol of Saints (Legendary Rank): User is immune to all diseases and poisons
Magic half plate armor set (Ancient Rank): +30 End and +20 magic, reduce damage from magic attacks by 30%
Ring of the Wind spirits(Ancient Rank): +25 agi, +20 skill, +10 magic, Gain ability to double jumping distance without a skill
Mantle of the famous Warriors (Ancient Rank): +20 to str, agi, and end, reduce physical damage by 20%
Necklace of recovery: Heal 15 HP back per minute, and 10 MP back per minute (Level requirement 10)
Ring of Magic: +20 to Magic (Level requirement 10)
Ring of Barriers (Ancient Rank): Up to five times a day summon a powerful barrier that lasts up to an hour and has a durability of an A rank spell
With these ancient level gear he was equal to any mid ranked or veteran C ranked adventurer. But he could feel his limit being reached.
There were more C ranked dungeons to conquer but he knew he only had so many options. After all ancient gear only had the chance to drop the first time you defeat a boss in the dungeon. Once you go again you just get the boss magic core which sells for a decent amount of silver.
He grins as he realizes he needs to dungeon hunt for the drops specifically. If nothing else than to get a boost to his savings for that house.
He dove into the next dungeon not realizing that he had an unexpected encounter waiting for him. And unfortunately it wasn't going to be a love encounter.
-- C ranked dungeon: Den of the wolves --
He slew another powerful shadow hound. The monsters in the dungeon were troublesome. But he didn't mind it. He was stronger now and could match any of the mobs move for move and actually deal more damage to them than they thought. They were even worth a hefty amount of experience points. His only regret was that he could only gain the bare minimum even though these wolves were worth around 200-300 points each.
*You have slain a Shadow Hound gained 3 exp!
Level limit reached! Excess exp will be stored in your soul until level limit is broken or class change has occured.*
Yes in this world you can break your limits by reaching level 100 and class changing. You become a level 101 with the next class but you only gain the new stat increases after that point. Your old stats aren't fixed to grow like the new stats.
That's why everyone covets the Hero class. They gain 10 points to every stat per level no matter what. This makes them powerful and balanced for any situation.
However its a moot point when the Hero is stuck by a curse that removes the main appeal of any Hero class. The infinite level potential!
A Hero can gain levels forever. There is not limit for them. Instead they go until the next Hero is chosen and passes this blessing onto them. Thus his father will forever be stuck at his ending level of 642 from when he passed the seal to Seth at the class granting ceremony.
He knew his father had the potential to hold off any new demon lords that arose given how he was now 100 levels higher than during the war. But they quickly learned from previous heroes that the demon lords have a way of weakening past heroes or getting stronger than the previous demon lord generation.
Seth shakes his head as he continues to walk through the dungeon.
"Well that's a future me problem. Right now I need to figure out how to get the boss drop and pray for it to be an Ancient class gear."
Seth heads deeper into the dungeon defeating countless mobs and even a mid boss which sadly even that only nets him 6 exp.
And he finally comes to the boss room.
There stands a powerful C ranked boss. The boss of the wolf den. The Fallen Young Fenrir.
Its stats averaged around 350 to 400. Just above Seths and he knew it.
But no one said life was easy. Plus he heard in town from some veteran dungeon divers that if you fight a boss stronger than your stats and level. Then you have a x5 chance to get the ancient level drops. Plus Seth had the advantage of having the huge stat boosts to himself at the moment that made him on par with either nearly max level C rankers or beginner B ranks. So he had a chance here.
Seth grinned while readying his stance and blade and edging his way towards the boss while remaining on his guard.
Fallen Fenrirs are those of the legendary fenrir family who help with disaster level events. However even though they are pure and given blessings from the goddess. Some of them do fall to corruption from high level demons. This is one of those that fell to that kind of magic. And it being teenager wolf meant it was going to be tricky. It had the possibility of knowing some powerful spell combinations and excellent fighting instincts.
However Seth knew what he needed to do to power through.
Be smarter. Be stronger. And use his need for a future family to make sure he survives this! Plus he doesn't want to die a virgin.
Let it not be said that his priorities weren't honest.
He readied his stance to use a combination of boosting magic and his sword arts to open up a powerful initial attack.
The fenrir got ready in its own stance ready to pounce and exchange blows.
Seth boosted himself with a dual cast skill he was taught by his mother and aunt. Giving him a temporary boost to his movement speed and his dmg output. He rushed towards the Fenrir and began to dodge the monster bosses long range attacks.
The boss was shooting out shadow fireballs, shadow spikes, and even shadow chains. Each one came close to Seth but he had mastered his bodies limits so well that he was dodging within just an inch of each attack allowing him to keep on the straight path he was carving towards the Fenrir.
Once the monster realized that Seth wasn't going to stop any time soon it rushed at him physically with its claws out and its jaws wide.
Seth smirked as it left itself wide open. He summoned a support spell his aunt taught him and imbued an elemental ki to hi blade. He summoned a whole gallon of highly flammable oil used for anti siege tactics in the air and dodged to the left.
The Fenrir bit down on the ball thinking it had reached Seth. Only for it to howl in pain and disgust at the taste and recoiled from the trap.
Seth then grinned and drew his sword wrapped in flames. The monster widened its eyes in fear from instinct at seeing flames. But it's true fear should have been from the liquid coating its face and neck. Seth swung the blade down and shot out a flaming slash right into the oil.
The monsters fave and neck instantly caught fire and burned hotter than an oven. It howled and thrashed in pain before Seth ran in and began to use his fathers signature technique. He used the powerful 10 fold slash of light. Leaving 10 deep magic imbued cuts across the wolfs body. It howled again as its HP was diminishing quickly.
It summoned a bunch of shadow balls to explode around it hoping to deter Seth while sacrificing itself.
But self used minor teleport to back away by 60ft leaving the Fenrir to bash its own body with the force of each explosion.
After the flurry of explosions the Fenrir was laying on its side exhausted and heavily injured. Seth came up and readied his blade to plunge deeply into its eye and mercy kill it.
He looked at its sight and sighed sadly, "Nothing personal. But i need to get as strong as possible."
He plunged the blade in and saw the notification.
*You have slain the boss of the dungeon! The fallen young Fenrir! You have gained 15 exp!
Level limit reached! Excess exp will be stored in your soul until level limit is broken or class change has occured.
You have conquered the dungeon! Reward is being granted!*
Seth sighed from tiredness as he awaited his reward. He looked around to make sure he wasn't missing anything. Then saw the drop chest come out. He pumped his fist as he saw the Mithral make of the chest denoting an Ancient level reward.
Seth opened it up and saw a wonderful drop.
Boots of the Fenrir (Ancient Rank): Boots thst were made of a slain Fenrirs fur. Grants the wearer ×2 of level to agi, str, and skill.
Seth grins at this before heading out of the dungeon through the return circle.
He sighs as he hopes that his upcoming year will be the one when things can finally turn around for him.