Cooking without a kitchen felt anti-climatic. Zen hated using the system skills and game mechanics to craft food. It felt very impersonal, but they were short on time. The evasion cake was not just any cake. It was the key to survival against the boss monster. His party might be able to take care of the monster within five minutes, but there was no meaning in it if Zen died during the first wave of attack. Yet, it was the worst cake Zen had ever created in history.
Of course, the dungeon creator thought to include Lores in this dungeon. Zen was almost certain there was a hidden side quest somewhere. However, he did not have the luxury of time to explore them when he was getting carried to the vanguard members.“According to Greek mythology, when Medusa was slain, she birthed two children that belonged to Poseidon. The flying hogs we saw earlier were Chrysaor’s descendants. However, the boss is the actual twin brother of the flying hog. You wouldn’t guessAfter reaching the eighth stage, Zen spotted the Shady Merchant in a familiar war outfit. However, unlike on floor three, they were not surrounded by castle walls. He looked more terrified than Zen remembered him to be. As if spotting someone reliable from the new group of adventurers appearing from the portal, the Shady Merchant’s eyes lit up with delight as he waved at the new party. “Over here!” he called to Zen’s group. As the other members of his party headed straight for the Shady Merchant, Zen paused to study the new stage. It was odd. They were in the middle of a rocky mountain with no shelter in sight. The portal came out of a shallow rock crevice, and the Shady Merchant did not have any business in the Rocky Mountains. Why was he here? Most importantly, wasn’t the Shady Merchant a main quest-giving NPC? Why was he also dishing out side quests? Zen could not understand why the side quest only appeared on his log until he read the requirements. ===
Monster evolution had always been a strange thing. Even though Zen was an avid gamer in his previous life as a young master, he only knew some basics. For example, a powerful goblin could evolve into a hobgoblin. Ugi, the Goblin Lord, was the final evolution a goblin could turn into. However, he had no idea how this ugly orc general could share Ugi’s bloodline. Apparently, they were cousins.“You slay Ugi! Urum slay you!”Ah, yes. How wonderful. Zen wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome at the cliff when he arrived, much less to be recognised as a cousin slayer. Maybe all green-skinned monsters shared a similar ancestry. Too bad. Zen would never know the truth. Dead orcs tell no tales.“Ugi was a good warrior,” Zen confirmed. “Shall I send you to him?”Angered, Urum brandished his scimitar. Unlike goblins, who preferred blunt weapons, the orcs were stronger and more human-like. They preferred blades that could cut th
Between Zen’s weakening finger grips and Urum’s confusion, the orc general’s confusion caved in first. Unwilling to believe the human had fallen off along with two of his bodyguards, he stepped across to see if the clumsy human had really died. The grumpy orc general kicked aside the two other bodyguards slain by Urum’s scimitar as some warning to the human who might be playing a prank on him.Zen almost jumped out of fright when the first high orc body flew down the cliff. The dead orc’s face passed Zen’s by inches, and it was a look that would give Zen nightmares tonight. However, when the second high orc was kicked off the cliff, Zen had to let go of one arm to prevent getting pushed off the ledge he was clinging to.“There you are! Urum knows sly human don’t die easily! Revenge for Ugi!”With his movement, the Chameleon skill was cancelled, revealing how Zen was clinging onto the side of the cliff, balancing on
“How was it?” Liu Feng asked when Zen finally returned to the starting entrance, where he remained waiting with the Shady Merchant.Grinning, Zen retrieved the special reward he had received after finishing his solo quest. Although Urum was tougher than Zen expected, with Liu Feng’s suggestion, he cleared the mission in one try.===Item: Orc Token (special)Description: Summon the ghost of Urum, the orc general who will lead his fallen army and attack any other boss monsters in boss dungeons.Cool down: 12 hour===After Liu Feng heard what the special reward was capable of, he wondered why an army was required.“It doesn’t sound like the vanguard team is enough to deal with whatever is ahead of us if we need an army,” the long-haired man commented. “The other farming parties might eventually have to join us in raids.”Agreeing, Zen sighed. The other non-combatants in the farming parties wo
Anyone who had seen Party Godly Food battling Urum in the orc army camp would think they’d been working together for many years. Once socially awkward, Zen thought they were now brilliant communicators. If anything, he felt like the alien. They were speaking the same language, but Zen could not understand a single thing as everyone spoke over each other. Yet, their efficiency as they eliminated monsters, filled in unexpected gaps and swapped positions during battle proved how effective this strange communication method was.“Two loose!” Sasha yelled over the call as she dumped another fire spell over a tent further from the boss’ tent.“Cover!” Damian countered immediately after hearing how Sasha could not keep all the orc warriors at bay. Switching his focus from providing the main fighters with additional buff effects and binding the boss, the cyborg cast two missile spells targeted at the loose targets.Zen watched how Urum turne
As Oritha, Sasha, and Damian joined them back at the final boss dungeon for the reward reveal, Zen wondered what it would drop. Unlike the special stage, the rewards should not be as good as the orc token.“It became easier than the first time we cleared it,” Sasha grinned at Oritha. “Do you think we’ve become stronger?”Shrugging, the giantess stretched and eyed Damian strangely. Unlike them, who had a head start with the dungeon, Damian only became acquainted with the game recently. How was he matching their pace? She expected him to miss a few when he was covering the west. However, the engineer had completely gotten used to becoming a magician. His ability to adapt spells to the situation made him a more proficient mage than Sasha or Akiko.“Is the boss not dead yet?” Oritha finally asked after a while. It had been a while since the boss was defeated. However, the portal to the ninth stage was still not available.
"Run faster! Run faster! These legs are not mine!"What a lie. If only these words were true. Zen could feel his lungs burning and blamed the previous owner of this body for not exercising more. If they did, his flawless plan wouldn't have turned against him.Something whistled past his head, and Zen ducked narrowly. The forest was realistic... too realistic for a VR game. Why did they have to replicate even the physical capabilities of the player?"If this is truly a game, I should be able to use some cheat abilities. These lungs are not mine. These legs are not mine. Even if I can't dodge everything, I can still survive by taking damage in non-critical areas! GAH!"Just as he said it, a bullet embedded itself into his left shoulder from the back. The pain was nothing like Zen remembered. The last time he got shot, he died.With a yell born from his last burst of courage, Zen followed the increasing sound of roaring water. This was it! He was near
It was just another dull day at his job. As a civilian with no kin and no government to care for people like him, civilian #3207 got used to all the trashy things that life threw him. He worked at a restaurant as a cook and fed people on an empty stomach. The restaurant didn't pay him very well, but it helped him cover the rental of his shitty apartment in the shadier part of the town.It wasn't uncommon to see a body or two lying around somewhere in the alley. The residents here knew better than to meddle in the affairs of the underworld. If they lived in a claimed territory, the easiest thing to do was send a report to the protecting family and wash their hands off the case.Today, it was colder than usual. Winter was arriving, and civilian #3207 sighed. The grey skies mirrored his mood very well. As usual, the customers were being difficult. How could there be roaches in soup? Someone must have put it in deliberately as an excuse to start a fight. However, because o