Suddenly, a strange whirling sound filled the dungeon, catching Leon and Luna's attention. They turned just in time to see the Dungeon Core glowing intensely, radiating a brilliant, eerie light. Before they could react, the core lifted into the air, its form shimmering and distorting as it began casting Spatial Shift magic. In an instant, the core vanished, signaling the end of the dungeon's presence and leaving behind a few shimmering treasures on the floor next to Ratay's corpse.
As they approached, they noticed four items glinting on the ground. First was a beautifully crafted Magic Sword, far different from the awkward staff-sword Ratay had wielded. It radiated a potent aura, with intricate designs etched along its blade, glowing faintly with poisonous green energy—a sure sign of a poison attribute.
Next to it lay a Dagger equally potent, its slim, sleek form already shimmering with the same poison-infused magic. Both weapons clearly held a deadly enchantment, ideal for delivering toxic damage to foes.
Beside these lay two powerful Power Sources: one a Magic Source and the other a Physical Source. Both glowed a rich, green hue, marking them as Tier III items from the defeated Ratman boss, Level 201 Plague Magic Swordsman Ratay.
Luna picked up the dagger, admiring its light yet deadly form, while Leon reached for the sword, feeling the magic hum along its edge. "Looks like Ratay left us a parting gift," he muttered, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
The items scattered before them were the final rewards, a reluctant offering left by the Dungeon Core after its failed attempt to evolve into a demon. Despite all its built-up essence and preparation, the core had been forced to retreat, a costly sacrifice of power and potential. It had poured much of its accumulated essence into these items, unable to deny the ancient laws binding it.
If it hadn't provided a suitable reward to the challengers who cleared its dungeon, the core would have faced severe consequences—annihilation by the ancient laws, which would have erased it entirely, banishing any trace of its existence from this plane. The powerful essence within the magic sword, dagger, and sources showed just how close it had come to risking its own destruction.
"By the way, why is there even a dungeon here?" Leon asked.
Luna scoffed, a bitter edge to her voice. "Why else? That bastard Brian—well, dead Brian—wanted to hoard all the money for himself. He neglected everything else. My father used to take care of everything, from the city down to the underground, but after his death… after he was killed by Brian and his associates, the city has been in decline for a long time. And now, all of this has been left to ruin in just over half a year," she sighed, frustration evident.
Leon looked at her, surprised. "Wait, just half a year? Doesn't that mean… your family was killed right after the Monster Horde events?"
Luna nodded, her gaze distant. "We were celebrating that night when it happened. The Vice City Lord poisoned everyone—my father, my mother, and all of my father's close associates. None of them were spared. My sister and I only survived because I was taking her on a stroll through the city. She wanted to see it at night, and that's the only reason we escaped. Otherwise… we would've died too, that night." Her hands clenched, anger sparking in her eyes as her grip tightened around her weapons.
"Then you can have them," Leon said, handing over the two Tier III resources.
Luna looked at him, surprised. "Huh? No, you can take the magic one," she protested, shaking her head.
Leon rolled his eyes. "Well, you're strong enough as it is. I might gain more benefits under your protection," he replied with a faint smirk.
After a moment, Luna gave in, nodding as she accepted the two Tier III resources.
[Host donated…]
Leon's smile grew as the familiar notification flashed before his eyes, satisfaction gleaming in his expression.
Leon checked his gains eagerly, watching as the system confirmed his reward: two high-tier Tier III resources in exchange for his donation of the initial Tier III sources. A sense of accomplishment washed over him.
'Not a bad haul,' he thought, inspecting the valuable resources in his inventory. This Charity System was proving to be an invaluable tool, and each donation seemed to bring greater benefits.
He then looked at the sword in his hand, It is an Uncommon artifact.
"Shame," Leon mused to himself. "I wanted to donate that dagger too, but Luna got to it first." He felt a hint of disappointment but quickly let it pass. Luckily, he had been fast enough to grab the two sources. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gained anything from the exchange.
He glanced at Luna, who was examining the poison-infused dagger in her hand, her eyes sharp with focus. Then he looked down at his own sword, the one that had seen him through countless battles. "Still, this blade has served me well," he thought, running his fingers over its hilt, as he appraised it.
[Plague Bearer Sword]
Rating: Uncommon (Growth)
Durability: 310/310
Attack Power: 755
Attributes:
Sword Mastery Level +3.
The skill 'Infected Edge' is generated.Reduces target's healing ability by 40% upon hit.
Critical strikes inflict 'Poisoned Wound,' causing continuous damage over 4 seconds proportional to attack power.
Combo Effect: Upon three consecutive hits, poison intensity doubles, and inflicted damage increases by 150% for 1 second.
Combo Chain: Upon five consecutive hits, target suffers impaired movement and confusion for 0.2 seconds, enabling the use of 'Pestilent Slash' as a follow-up.
Description:
Forged from corrupted steel and tempered in toxic miasma, the Plague Bearer Sword carries a curse upon every strike. Its latent poison can fester within wounds, draining vitality and ravaging health. While it harbors immense power, few can wield it without succumbing to its venomous nature.
Conditions of Use: Wielder must possess resistance to poison-based effects and proficiency in one-handed sword combat.
Weight: 275
Growth Type : The weapon will evolve as it absorb more poison and venom and other poison related items. ]
"This...?" Leon exclaimed as he looked at the sword in disbelief.
"Leon, it's a growth-type weapon!" Luna said excitedly, looking at her own Dagger.
Leon felt a pang of regret, thinking, 'Damn it, why wasn't I fast enough to pick them up first?'