Beating Instances through Words Left by the Dead

Chapter 134: Chapter 126: Midnight Cemetery

In order to prevent suspicion from the Management Bureau, Wu Chang did not go to the Red Wave Space to match a dungeon, but entered the Crimson Courtyard instead.

Entering the Crimson Courtyard once more, upon arriving at the public area, he paid extra attention to the countdown on the central lighthouse.

The time displayed above was 72 days.

Only 72 days remain until the opening of the World Dungeon.

Many players were passing through the public area, but few raised their heads to notice the countdown above.

After all, it had no explanation, no warning, and it’s hard to find related information on the forum.

Over time, everyone became accustomed to the countdown, thinking that once it ends, a natural answer would reveal itself.

Although major organizations had jointly locked the news about the World Dungeon, some keen individuals had already sensed something was wrong.

The closer it got to the date on the countdown, the more frequent the activities of major organizations and Evil God believers became, often seen battling in the advanced dungeons of the Desolate Realm, as if conducting a silent arms race.

Lately, many players who tasted the situation began posting rumors such as ”version update,” ”gameplay revolution,” and ”player tournament” on the forum.

Influenced by these rumors, the prices across the Desolate Realm have started to rise significantly, with consumables and Skill Scrolls seeing the greatest increase.

The two Skill Scrolls Wu Chang previously bought both increased by at least 20%, with various Recovery Potions rising by 30%-50%.

Especially all sorts of lower-level Skill Scrolls and Potions, once just practical items, suddenly turned into financial products, enabling individual players who had hoarded items or raw materials to make a fortune with the trend.

Only seeing an increase, never a drop, almost all players participated in this price surge, with many unable to resist the temptation of Rotten Silver Coins, even selling their life-saving recovery items to recycling merchants.

The entire trading market in the Desolate Realm was plunged into madness.

If Wu Chang wasn’t already aware that the World Dungeon opening after the countdown ends is the main event, he might have joined in the frenzy.

Passing through the bustling trading area in the square, he entered the dungeon waiting area to begin matching a dungeon.

”Matching dungeon for the player, Player Level 15, dungeon difficulty matching probability: F-Level: 1%; E-Level: 5%; D-Level: 25%; C-Level: 60%; B-Level: 9%; A-Level: 0.1%.”

Looking at the matching probability before him, especially the additional 0.1% probability for an A-Level dungeon, he knew the game admins hadn’t forgiven him.

The difficulty of dungeon matching kept jumping, moving towards A-Level, but just before confirming, under the influence of a colorful force, unwillingly dropped to B-Level.

”Matching complete!”

Wu Chang’s vision blurred, and he appeared in a desolate small square.

”Successfully entered ’Desolate—51503 Plane’.”

”Dungeon Name: Midnight Cemetery.”

”Dungeon Type: Multiplayer Survival Dungeon.”

”Dungeon Mode: Competitive Mode, player-inflicted damage decreased by 50%.”

”Dungeon Difficulty: B.”

”Official Suggested Minimum Level for Dungeon Exploration: 15, please approach with caution.”

”Dungeon Status: On the verge of losing control!”

”Main Quest One: As a Gravekeeper, survive for thirty days in the Royal Tomb. Abandoning the Gravekeeper role or failing to complete Gravekeeper tasks for a total of three days will result in failure of Main Quest One.”

”Main Quest Two: Witness the birth of at least one miracle.”

”Competitive Side Quest: Upon dungeon settlement, the top three players in dungeon completion will receive an extra completion percentage of 5%, 10%, and 20% respectively according to ranking. The extra completion percentage can boost the total completion up to 90%, with the excess converted into basic dungeon rewards.”

Looking at the prompts before him, Wu Chang’s first thought was, isn’t the Stone of Miracles quite capable, actually lowering the A-Level dungeon that was supposed to be randomly assigned back to B-Level, comparable to Reward Dungeon privileges.

But upon seeing the official suggested minimum level for dungeon exploration, he quickly realized, darn it, I’ve been PUA-ed by the game admins, how did I get matched to a B-Level dungeon on the verge of losing control, and believed he’s using Reward Dungeon privileges.

He looked at the ”on the verge of losing control” dungeon status, activating the Master of Breaking the Game title.

”Current Dungeon Pollution Value: 100.”

”Master of Breaking the Game Attribute Boost: 50%.”

With the Master of Breaking the Game’s boost, Wu Chang’s current Attribute Panel was:

Player Nickname: Doesn’t Eat Beef.

Player Level: 15 (4460/4700)

Title: Perfectionism, Master of Breaking the Game.

Life: 54 (36)

Power: 45 (30)

Agility: 30 (20)

Endurance: 30 (20)

Energy: 45 (30)

Inspiration: 96

Will: 90

(Note: Values in parentheses are attributes before the Master of Breaking the Game’s enhancement.)

Free Attribute Points: 0

Rotten Silver Coins: 24,000.

Skills: Mamba Iron Elbow, Firearms Use (Proficient), Social Phobia, Advanced Stealth, Fighting Introduction (E).

Cultivation Technique: Thunder Skill Fragment (C), Intermediate Space Magic (D).

Items: Silver Dawn, Favor of the Goddess of Fortune, Whisperer’s Echo ×1, Mortal Poison, Secret Magic Knight Order Newcomer’s Guide, Soul Cleansing Banner, Four-sided Age Fire Lamp, Saint’s Legacy Mask, Proof of Arrogance, Cure Type I ×3, Small Recovery Potion ×2, Energy Activation Potion ×2.

Talent: Exorcism, Calamity, Ocean Race Transformation.

Before entering the dungeon, he allocated all the free Attribute Points saved from the Peaceful Town and Heart’s Desire dungeons.

According to the attribute allocation needed for the Secret Magic Knight reincarnation, he distributed the remaining attribute points to Life Value.

After all, carrying such a strong healer like Erin means the body must be tough enough to fully utilize the healer’s abilities. No matter how strong a healer is, they can’t save a fragile one-hit kill.

After allocating the attribute points and combining them with the Master of Breaking the Game’s enhancement, he felt a sense of security from the robust values on the Attribute Panel.

With everything prepared, the silhouettes of other players soon appeared in the plaza.

Including Wu Chang, there were a total of 9 people.

The matchmaking mechanism of the Abyssal Game aligns dungeon difficulty with player abilities, so being matched into a B-Level on-the-verge-of-out-of-control dungeon clearly means all the players in the field are veterans who have experienced dozens of dungeons.

They quickly reviewed the dungeon requirements and began to adopt defensive stances, observing the other players in the plaza.

Although the competitive mode in its essence still encourages cooperation among players, everyone aims for a top-three finish, so even if they’re not enemies, they are opponents, requiring careful prudence.

During the safe period before the dungeon started, a monk-clad man stepped out first and said:

”Although this is a competitive dungeon, please remember that it is also a B-Level on-the-verge-of-out-of-control dungeon. If I’m not mistaken, the Midnight Cemetery is ranked third in B-Level dungeon difficulty, a super high-difficulty dungeon where many players set their goal to survival rather than clearance from the start.”

”Everyone should prioritize harmony and mutual assistance to weather the most difficult times in the dungeon before considering competing for the top three positions.”

The monk’s words gained agreement from the players present. He was right; in such a super high-difficulty dungeon, staying alive is the primary task.

If you can’t even stay alive, what does ranking matter? Conversely, if you survive to the end, outlasting all other players, you become the first even if you didn’t compete for it.

Everyone temporarily put aside their vigilance and began introducing themselves briefly.

The monk who first stepped out was named Guang Zhi, a kindly and compassionate looking high monk, with strengths in power and agility, but unfortunately, he was not wielding a long saber, but a Vajra Meditation Staff.

The order of self-introduction largely depends on confidence in one’s ability.

The second person to introduce themselves was a fully armed player using high-tech weapons. Wearing a tactical helmet, his appearance was unclear, but he was known as ”Cannon.”

The third and fourth were a duo, a male and a female, likely queued as a team for the dungeon.

The female was petite, but wielded a Two-Handed Greatsword and wore light leather armor, specializing in Life and Power as a frontline warrior.

The male wore a Priest Robe, holding a Wooden Long Staff, specializing in Energy as a support mage.

The fifth to stand out could be considered an acquaintance of Wu Chang, thin in build with a tied-up bun hairstyle, hanging two Samurai Swords on his waist. He was Zhan Gui, the vice leader of the Iron Armor Corps’ C-Level dungeon strategy group from the Peaceful Town.

Back when the Iron Armor Corps trio only had him surviving, he reentered a dungeon, and it’s already a B-Level on-the-verge-of-out-of-control dungeon.

According to Sword Star, after returning, Zhan Gui protested to the Management Bureau, seemingly very dissatisfied with his words.

It’s uncertain whether Zhan Gui being consecutively queued into high-difficulty dungeons is due to offending the game administrator or if the wish of the Stone of Miracles regarded Zhan Gui as a hidden threat, matching them into the same dungeon.

However, Zhan Gui was also queued into the dungeon with a companion, a tall, burly man taking the center among the audience.

The once arrogantly postured Zhan Gui was now remarkably low-key, absent of any leader-like presence, glanced at Wu Chang, and whispered something to the strong man.

The strong man nodded after hearing it, turned to the crowd, and said:

”Everyone introducing themselves and then discussing how to cooperate is too time-consuming. I am Lei Hu from the Iron Armor Corps. I have a suggestion: Let’s agree to follow my command in this dungeon. This will enhance efficiency and avoid pointless debates.”

”I’ve made my suggestion. Who approves? Who disapproves?”