LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 36
It was over.
After Ephusio’s body shattered into pieces, a huge white sphere appeared in its place, floating low in the air, seemingly larger than my own torso.
“I don’t see any information with my eyes, should I touch it with my sword?”
We had gone through so much to defeat Ephusio, there was no way this would be another betrayal.
I wondered if it could be a unique item, recalling the memories of acquiring Barrak on the third floor.
No matter how closely I looked, it didn’t seem like a ball of light that would transform into something else; it looked more like an egg.
“I hope this isn’t some cliché where he shrink, hatch from an egg, lose his memory, and become a pet or companion.”
Fuck, just the thought of it made my skin crawl. I prayed it wasn’t the case.
“Do you think something terrible will happen, like the dungeon boss reviving in a weakened state inside this strange sphere?”
Leesia seemed to have the same thought, speaking with a worried tone.
As I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak, Victor approached.
He threw his greatsword to the ground.
“Why are we hesitating? Let’s just touch it or break it, and get it over with!”
Victor was ready to punch the outer shell, thinking that things couldn’t get any worse.
“I’m tired of being manipulated by something I don’t understand!”
Just then, Heinz shouted.
“Wait!”
He stopped Victor and pointed at me, speaking with a determined voice.
“I agree, there’s no point in leaving it as it is. But!”
He pointed at me.
“If this isn’t a trap but something related to a special reward, the one who should touch it is the one who contributed the most to defeating the dungeon boss.”
Leesia nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Yes! I think so too, I mean… I mean, I agree!”
I wondered why she kept correcting her natural speech, trying to sound more refined.
I decided to ask her about it, thinking that if it was a sensitive issue, I could always apologize.
“Your speech is cute, but why do you keep correcting yourself and repeating similar phrases?”
“Oh, do you think it’s cute?”
Leesia twisted her body.
“After adventuring for a few years, I felt embarrassed about sounding like a noble and showing off, so I tried to correct myself when it came out naturally…”
Apparently, my question wasn’t offensive.
“Anyway! If it weren’t for Ahren, we would have all died or become nutrients for the dungeon boss!”
Victor, who had been quietly watching the conversation, scratched his cheek and spoke.
“Of course. I was just impatient, that’s all.”
Victor pointed at me.
“You, Ahren, right? We defeated that monster, the dungeon boss or whatever. Why are you hesitating? Let’s finish this and rest!”
I thought, ‘At most, it’s probably just a raid reward. What other gimmick could there be? I’ll touch it.’
We had experienced so much on this first floor, more than one would expect.
But being too tense wouldn’t help either.
I tensed my body and reached out to touch the unknown sphere.
[You have made contact with the source of the dungeon boss.]
[Raid boss confirmed… Reward calculation begins.]
“Huh?”
A deep rumbling sound filled the air, and the sphere rose high into the sky.
[The traits absorbed by the source are being returned to their original owners.]
The shell of the sphere cracked, and a brilliant light burst forth.
A shower of pure white arrows filled the sky, like rain.
When these arrows reached the adventurers who had been confused by the effects of Obliviousness, their memories returned.
“Teh… Huh?”
“Yes! I’m not Ttiya, I’m Luke, a proud adventurer of the dungeon city! Crib, you’re expelled when we return!”
“My memory is back! My memory has returned!”
Everyone had returned to normal.
Furthermore, the rewards for defeating the first dungeon boss weren’t over yet.
After all, we had just returned what had been taken from us by the boss.
A deep, drum-like sound echoed through the air.
“What’s that sound?”
Victor looked around.
I recognized the sound from when Ephusio had emitted his shockwave.
We had already returned the traits and restored everyone’s sanity; there couldn’t be another serious issue. I wondered what it was.
[Analyzing combat and overall contribution… Complete.]
[Unique raid rewards are being granted to adventurers Ahren, Leesia, Victor, and Heinz.]
[All 52 surviving adventurers who participated in the battle will receive traits according to their contributions.]
‘Unique raid rewards?’
As the system message indicated, a glowing white sphere appeared in front of each of us.
At first, I was confused by the strange appearance of the ‘source,’ but as the light continued to flash like on the third floor…
It seemed that the true reward, a unique item, was finally being given.
‘I should have touched it right away, I was too tense from the fight with Ephusio.’
“Is this what I think it is?!”
Leesia covered her mouth in amazement.
“Unique item… I’ve heard of it. It’s a rare phenomenon that occurs when you defeat a powerful enemy or a unique species, and something is given.”
Victor smiled, hoping for equipment.
“To obtain my first unique item on the first floor… Is this a joke of fate? Haha, whatever it is, it’s worth the struggle.”
Heinz pushed up his glasses, his eyes shining.
[Chaos claps its hands in joy.]
I clenched my fist, overwhelmed with emotion.
‘Yes, this is the right reward for all the effort we put in!’
Not only did we survive the struggle, but we also obtained a unique item, something that even mid-level adventurers rarely see, for the second time.
.
.
.
A brilliant light filled the air.
“Finally!”
After a short wait, the light in front of each of us took on a different shape.
Victor cheered as he watched the transformation.
A glove?
I reached out to grab it.
[Eligibility check.]
[Qualification confirmed.]
[Equipment bound to user.]
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[Gathering of the Unarmed] [Unique]
The first dungeon boss, Ephusio, the Beginning.
After awakening from a long slumber, he gathered adventurers in one place, absorbing and gathering the power of all the sacrifices.
The dungeon boss had harbored ambitions to reclaim the glory of its past, but those ambitions were shattered by the four adventurers. Now, only the remnants of its abilities, born from its obsession, remained in the dungeon.
As the consciousness was used as material, it would not become dirty or damaged.
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[Unarmed Gathering] [Unique]
Up to five pieces of equipment can be registered and stored in a separate space.
If you wish to register additional equipment after reaching the limit of five, you must permanently destroy one of the previously registered items.
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All effects and bonuses of the registered equipment are always applied.
When using the registered weapons, a basic level of enhancement is applied to each.
The user’s weapon skill traits take priority.
As the user grows, the enhancement level may increase.
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The transformed light took the form of a pair of gloves, dyed in the same white as Ephusio.
‘The abilities seem to be… storage, constant effect application, and basic enhancement?’
It seemed that the equipment had transformed into the various weapons Ephusio had used during his final struggle, when he absorbed dozens of traits and wielded eight arms, each holding a different weapon.
He had used a dagger for Sting Dagger, a spear for Piercing Thrust, and a mace for Mace Strike.
‘Let’s equip it.’
The gloves slid onto my hands, almost imperceptibly.
I felt like I was bare-handed. I’d test the abilities later in a more private setting.
“Wow!”
“Oh my, this is incredible.”
While I examined my unique equipment, the others seemed to have used appraisal scrolls as well, each holding something and expressing awe.
Leesia had obtained Gauntlets.
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[Vitality Devourer] [Unique]
The first dungeon boss, Ephusio, the Beginning.
His ability to absorb others, which he attempted to use in his weakened state after awakening from a deep slumber, has materialized.
Despite its appearance resembling pure white gauntlets, it contains sinister abilities.
Very sturdy.
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Upon landing a successful attack, a small amount of health is absorbed based on the damage dealt.
When attacked, the attacker is inflicted with a Weakness debuff, stackable up to three times.
When attacked, the user gains a Vitality boost, stackable up to three times.
Can be repaired with magic if damaged.
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Wow, Leesia must be feeling like she hit the jackpot.
The pair of white gauntlets looked impressive even to me.
Now, let’s see what Heinz got.
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[Terra’s Tome] [Unique]
The first dungeon boss, Ephusio, the Beginning.
A combination of his summoning ability, which created countless copies of himself, and the desires of earth magic users has resulted in this tome.
When equipped, it enhances the user’s earth magic in various ways, but at the cost of being unable to use any other type of magic.
As the user grows, they can unlock and read the locked pages at the back, which contain enhanced spells.
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Heinz’s unique item was a tome, a book-shaped weapon.
Being obtained from the dungeon boss, its quality was exceptional.
A true specialization weapon for an earth mage.
Lastly, Victor.
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[Talisman of Oblivion] [Unique]
The first dungeon boss, Ephusio, the Beginning.
After awakening, his mutated body was crafted into a gem-like form.
A portion of his powerful ability, Oblivion, was sealed within the gem.
While it appears to be a radiant pendant, there is undoubtedly a price to pay for wearing this powerful talisman.
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When subjected to mental attacks, a strong mental resistance is applied.
When subjected to physical attacks, a minor damage resistance is applied.
When attacking, there is a very rare chance of inflicting the opponent with a Stupidity debuff.
When attacked, there is a rare chance of inflicting the opponent with a Confusion debuff.
While equipped, the user constantly suffers from a headache and tinnitus.
Once equipped, it cannot be unequipped. However, it will never become dirty or damaged.
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The strong resistance alone makes it worthwhile, but the penalties are concerning.
“Damn it! Ugh.”
Victor didn’t seem pleased, probably due to the headache and tinnitus.
“As a northern warrior, I have to wear this sparkling necklace with a gem!”
The radiant, gleaming gem stood out against his scarred upper body.
‘So, it was you…’
The penalties seemed manageable, which was a relief.
However, it was inevitable that the news of the four of us obtaining unique items on the first floor would spread.
‘I’m not worried, but I might get caught up in some troublesome matters. I’ll have to deal with it.’
Too many people had seen it. How could we keep it a secret from dozens of adventurers?
Just as we were finishing up checking our unique items, something happened.
“Huh?”
“What’s this feeling?”
“Trait! It’s a trait! I’m sure of it! And we haven’t even left the dungeon yet?”
I turned to look around as a commotion broke out.
Soon, I felt the same strange sensation and intense trembling as the others.
[You have acquired the trait ‘Raid Token – First Slayer’.]
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[Raid Token – First Slayer] [P]
A token and a mark given to the 52 adventurers who participated in the raid of the first dungeon boss, ‘Ephusio, the Beginning’, on the first floor.
Only the adventurer with the highest contribution can acquire the ‘First Slayer’ trait.
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Luck increases by two levels.
Due to defeating an opponent far beyond your level, the chance of gaining favor with higher-level individuals increases.
Very rarely, luck comes your way.
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So, only I received the ‘First Slayer’ trait?
As I turned my head, I spotted Luke, whose face I vaguely recognized.
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[Luke]
[Strength: E+] [Agility: E] [Endurance: E+]
[Health: E+] [Magic: E-] [Luck: E+]
[Traits] (Expand)
Caution
Basic Sword Defense
Raid Token
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[Raid Token] [P]
A token and a mark given to the 52 adventurers who participated in the raid of the first dungeon boss, ‘Ephusio, the Beginning’, on the first floor.
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Luck increases by one level.
Due to participating in the raid of a powerful opponent beyond your level, the chance of gaining favor with higher-level individuals slightly increases.
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There’s definitely a difference.
‘Very rarely, luck comes your way.’
I particularly like this one.
It’s the opposite of the ‘Misfortune’ option included in the ‘Dragon’s heart’.
It’s a vague description, but it will surely be helpful in the future.
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Just then, something else happened.
“Huh?”
[The raid has caused the terrain of the first floor to change again.]
[The Gathering Prison begins to disappear.]
The barrier that remained even after defeating the boss finally started to dissipate.