"How about this—we accompany each other but won’t intervene unless the other’s life is in danger. This way, we can still face challenges while playing it safe," Leon suggested.
Roselia nodded in agreement. "Mmm, we should do that. It’s better this way," she said before glancing at the quest board. "So, which one should we tackle first?"
Leon looked at the options thoughtfully. "Dunno, just pick one randomly," he replied.
Roselia chose the Archmage quest. "Let’s go take care of him first," she said.
Leon shrugged and nodded. "Alright, let’s do it."
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Together, they began moving toward their destination, unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching them from the shadows.
"So, it’s them?" one of the figures asked, his voice low.
"Yes," the other confirmed. "They’re the ones who took the Archmage quest."
The first man frowned deeply. "That quest has been vacant for nine months because of its deadly nature. After the last group failed and perished, the dungeon must have accumulated a lot of valuable loot."
The second man nodded, a cunning smile spreading across his face. "Should I call the others? We can camp outside the dungeon. When they come out, we’ll ambush them."
The first man smirked. "Yes, let’s do that. Get the others ready."
With a final nod, the two disappeared, leaving to finalize their plans.
Leon and Roselia made their way through the bustling streets, heading toward the Archmage’s dungeon. The city was alive with activity, but the tension of their upcoming quest didn’t distract them as they continued to move. Stay connected with freewebnovel
"You think this Archmage is as dangerous as they say?" Roselia asked, breaking the silence as they walked.
Leon glanced at her, his expression calm but focused. "If the reports are accurate, he’s not just dangerous—he’s lethal. A former Tier-5 level 548 Archmage, now a Tier 1 level 80 King class Lich with a mastery of forbidden arcane arts. If we’re not prepared, we won’t stand a chance."
Roselia’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Good thing we stocked up on mana potions and enchanted gear, then. Still, I don’t like how few people have attempted this quest lately. Nine months without takers feels... odd."
Leon nodded. "That could mean two things. Either the rewards aren’t worth the risk, or the dungeon is hiding something much worse than we’ve been told."
As they approached the outskirts of the city, the air grew colder, and the noise of the city faded into an eerie silence. They took mounts from the Monster Stable as they hopped on the back of big Squirrel like ministers as they went toward the location of the Dungeon, a former County estate. After an hour they reached the estate as they looked at it. The dungeon’s entrance loomed before them—a massive stone archway etched with glowing runes, pulsing faintly with a malevolent energy.
Roselia shivered. "Creepy. Why do all these high-level dungeons have to look like something out of a nightmare?"
Leon chuckled softly, though his grip tightened on the hilt of his sword. "Keeps the weak away, I guess."
Unseen Threats
Unbeknownst to them, the two shadowy figures from earlier had gathered a small group of mercenaries. The group, hidden in a nearby grove, watched Leon and Roselia from a distance.
"They’re entering the dungeon," one of the mercenaries whispered.
The leader, a rugged man with a scar running down his cheek, smirked. "Good. Let them clear the dungeon for us. When they come out, they’ll be weak and tired. That’s when we strike."
Another mercenary shifted uneasily. "But what if they don’t survive? The Archmage might kill them before we even get a chance."
The leader’s eyes glinted with greed. "Then we go in ourselves and claim whatever they left behind. Either way, we win."
The Dungeon
Inside the dungeon, Leon and Roselia moved cautiously through the dimly lit corridors. The air was thick with an unnatural chill, and the walls seemed to hum with arcane energy.
As they ventured deeper into the dimly lit dungeon, the faint glow of arcane symbols on the walls began to intensify. A chilling breeze swept past them, sending a shiver down Roselia’s spine.
"Stay close," Leon said, his voice low but steady.
Roselia nodded, her weapon drawn and ready. "This place reeks of magic. Be on the lookout for traps."
They cautiously advanced, the echo of their footsteps swallowed by the oppressive silence. Suddenly, the glow ahead flickered, and two ghostly figures materialized. They were cloaked in tattered, floating robes that shimmered with an eerie, otherworldly light. Their skeletal hands clutched glowing staves, and faint whispers of arcane incantations filled the air.
"Spectral Mages," Leon muttered, narrowing his eyes. "They’re pure magic constructs. No physical body—only spells and death."
"Okay now, you can back off," Leon said, stepping forward a few paces and raising his staff. With a calm demeanor, he chanted, "Aether Bolt." Two glowing energy bolts shot out from the tip of his staff, striking the Spectral Mages with precision and obliterating them instantly.
"One-shot kill," he muttered with a faint smirk, continuing forward with Roselia following closely behind. From time to time, more Spectral Mages, and even a few Grandmages, appeared to attack them. However, all of them fell easily to Leon’s minor spells.
Leon had recently reached level 60, with most of his stat points allocated to Intelligence. Combined with his Sage Crown—a powerful magical artifact that further amplified his abilities—and his Divine Insight passive skill, which boosted his Intelligence by an additional 50%, he had become a formidable force.
Despite his relatively low level compared to some of the dungeon’s enemies, Leon’s overwhelming Intelligence stat allowed him to unleash devastating spells with ease. He could rival even level 200 opponents purely through his raw magical prowess. It was as though he were a living, breathing magical cannon.
"You’re making this look too easy," Roselia remarked, watching as Leon dispatched another group of enemies with a flick of his staff.
"Efficiency," Leon replied, glancing back at her. "Why waste effort when a well-placed spell can do the job?"