VIP System

Leo's heart pounded as he saw the notifications. His pulse quickened, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he prepared to unleash his new skill. Surrounded by a swarm of slimes, he tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the power build within him.

"Meteor Slash!" he shouted, channeling his inner energy into a devastating slash.

As his sword struck the ground, a fiery shockwave erupted from the impact point, radiating outwards in a brilliant display of power. The initial blast engulfed the slimes within a wide 10-meter radius, reducing them to smoldering heaps. The ground where the strike landed remained ablaze with lingering flames, crackling and dancing with intense heat.

Slimes unfortunate enough to be out of the initial impact zone were drawn towards Leo, their instincts compelling them to attack. As they entered the area of the lingering flames, their gelatinous bodies sizzled and popped, succumbing to the continuous burn damage.

The fiery zone acted as a deadly barrier, annihilating wave after wave of the remaining slimes. The last wave was no exception; they sensed Leo and moved towards him, only to be consumed by the intense flames. The air was filled with the sound of crackling fire and the smell of scorched slime.

With the final wave destroyed, a notification appeared before Leo:

Slimes defeated: 1000/1000

Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 11.

A sense of accomplishment washed over him. He had successfully completed his first EXP dungeon run and leveled up. But there was no time to rest; he had another quest to tackle.

Determined, Leo entered another EXP dungeon, this time to complete his wolves' quest. The entrance fee was now 100 VIP coins, but he didn't hesitate. Stepping into the dungeon, he was immediately confronted by a pack of aggressive wolves.

Using Whirlwind Strike and Meteor Slash interchangeably, Leo moved with precision and power. Whirlwind Strike created a deadly vortex of blades around him, cutting through the wolves with ease. Meteor Slash followed, unleashing fiery devastation and ensuring any survivors were caught in the lingering flames.

The combination of the two skills proved incredibly effective. In less than two minutes, Leo had defeated all the wolves, their bodies littering the ground, consumed by the flames. Another notification appeared:

Wolves defeated: 1000/1000

Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 12.

Leo leaned on his sword, catching his breath as the fiery glow of his Meteor Slash slowly dissipated, leaving only the smoldering remains of the defeated slimes. His heart was still pounding from the exhilaration of battle, but the weight of his accomplishments gave him a moment of satisfaction.

He glanced at Ai, who floated nearby, her usual calm demeanor back in place after the intense fight. The silence in the cave felt refreshing, a stark contrast to the chaos of combat.

He took a seat on one of the smooth, cold stones nearby. He leaned back and let out a deep sigh, wiping the sweat from his brow.

The dungeon’s atmosphere, with its faint glow and the quiet drip of water echoing through the vast space, gave him a momentary sense of peace. Despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, this was one of those rare moments where Leo could actually relax. He closed his eyes briefly, letting the calm wash over him.

Leo still savoring the brief relief. But before he could fully stand up, a mechanical voice echoed in the cave, causing him to snap alert.

"Five... four... three..." The timer had started counting down without warning.

Leo’s eyes widened as he glanced at Ai, who gave a quick nod. "Looks like our time is up."

"Two... one..."

Without any further warning, the ground beneath them began to glow. A magical circle formed, intricate runes swirling around the edge, enveloping them in its soft light. Before Leo could even fully react, the world around them began to shift.

In a flash, the cave dissolved into a blur of colors, and within seconds, they were no longer in the dungeon. The familiar sights and sounds of the inn greeted Leo as they reappeared in the real world. The feeling of teleportation left a slight tingling sensation in his limbs as he blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden shift.

With the two kill quests finished, Leo and Ai proceeded to the guild center to check for available quests. He needed to complete four more to finish his weekly quest.

Leo approached the quest board, scanning the available tasks.

The carriage rattled along the rugged path, its wooden wheels creaking under the weight of its passengers. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of sweat and the coarse laughter of the bandits who had recently captured their prize. They huddled around a bound and hooded figure, their voices dripping with crude humor and malice.

"Can't believe we got ourselves an Arcanite," one bandit guffawed, his grimy face split in a wide grin. "Thought they were just a legend."

"Too bad she's a useless one," another sneered. "But who knows, maybe some noble will pay a pretty penny for a legendary servant."

"Arcanites are all women, right?" a third chimed in mockingly. "Maybe the boss can use her for something else. Who knows, she might produce a working Arcanite!"

"They aren't born like that, you fools," a fourth snapped. "If they could reproduce, they'd be worth their weight in gold."

A particularly lecherous bandit leaned closer, his breath sour and his eyes gleaming with cruel intentions. "Now that you mention it, she does smell nice. Since they can't reproduce, maybe we can have some fun with her."

A chorus of agreement and menacing laughter filled the carriage. Two of the bandits reached out, gripping the Arcanite's arms tightly. She struggled against their hold, her muffled cries for help barely audible under the hood.

Terror surged through her veins as the bandits’ laughter echoed behind her. An Arcanite was supposed to be a symbol of power, a being of legend. But right now, she felt nothing more than a hunted animal. The stories her kins used to tell her about the strength that lay within her kind seemed distant and out of reach as she struggled to outrun her captors.

"No one will hear you," the bandit in the middle sneered, his voice filled with dark satisfaction. "You're ours now."

He yanked the hood off, revealing the ethereal beauty of the Arcanite. Her skin glowed faintly, a soft blue light emanating from her very essence. Her hair, like strands of moonlight, cascaded over her shoulders. Her eyes, filled with fear and defiance, were the color of the clearest skies.

"She may be worth a lot, but do we really want to mess with an Arcanite?" one bandit muttered, his voice low. The leader shot him a glare. "You want to stay poor forever? She’s our ticket out of this miserable life. Now shut up and keep moving!"

"Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Let me go."

The bandits laughed cruelly, their eyes glinting with malice. "No one will hear you," the leader sneered, reaching out to touch her.

Before he could lay a hand on her, a deafening roar shattered the air. The carriage rocked violently, and the bandits were thrown off balance. Panic flashed in their eyes as they turned to see a massive shadow looming over them.

A colossal beast, covered in thick, dark fur and with eyes burning like embers, crashed through the trees. With a single swipe of its enormous claws, the carriage was torn apart, splintering into pieces. The force of the attack sent the bandits sprawling, their laughter replaced with screams of terror.

Seizing the moment, she scrambled to her feet and darted into the forest. Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran, the cold air stinging her lungs. She could hear the surviving bandits shouting, their footsteps pounding behind her.

"Don't let her get away!" one of them yelled, his voice filled with fury.

Branches whipped against her skin, but she pressed on, driven by the desperate need to escape. The forest around her seemed to blur as she pushed herself to run faster. She could hear the bandits crashing through the underbrush, their curses echoing in the night.

Suddenly, she stumbled upon a narrow path, barely visible in the dim light. Without a second thought, she veered onto it, hoping it would lead her to safety. The path twisted and turned, and she prayed it would help her lose her pursuers.

The bandits were relentless, their shouts growing louder as they closed in. Desperation clawed at her, but she forced herself to keep moving. Her lungs burned, and her legs felt like lead, but she couldn't stop now. She had to survive.

The path led to a small clearing, and for a brief moment, she thought she might be safe. But the bandits burst through the trees, their faces twisted with rage and determination.

"There she is!" one of them yelled.

She turned and ran again, her strength waning. The bandits' footsteps thundered behind her, closer and closer. Panic surged through her, and she stumbled, falling to the ground.

"Got you now," the leader sneered, reaching down to grab her.