Logging back in, Tianhao bypassed the usual Level 10 grinding spots. Instead, he headed towards the sheer cliffs looming behind the Newbie Village. Hidden here was a secret dungeon, its First Clear rewards legendary.
The area was deserted – no mobs, just imposing rock faces. No players ventured here. In his past life, this dungeon wasn't discovered until a week after launch. The trigger was simple: kill a specific "tree" among the scattered giants lining the base of the cliffs. To the untrained eye, it blended perfectly.
"Found you."
Camouflage Treant (Common): Level 10
HP: 2,100 / 2,100
Attack: 32
Skill: Camouflage
A pitifully weak mob. Tianhao drew his bow. Three non-critical arrows later, it collapsed.Ding! You have slain a Camouflage Treant. EXP +43.Ding! You have slain a hidden Newbie Zone monster! The hidden dungeon [Twisted Thicket] is now open!Ding! You are the first player to unlock a dungeon! A global announcement will be made. Hide your identity? [Yes/No]"No."
<< GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT >><< CONGRATULATIONS TO PLAYER [SNOW EMPEROR] FOR DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN DUNGEON [TWISTED THICKET] IN THE NEWBIE ZONE! >><< FIRST DUNGEON UNLOCK REWARD: +10 Free Attribute Points, +10 Gold, +1 Obsidian Equipment! >><< MAY ALL ADVENTURERS STRIVE FOR GREATNESS! >>(Announcement repeated twice)
Instantly, the Twisted Thicket dungeon entrance shimmered into existence in every Newbie Village worldwide. Tianhao allocated his 10 Free Points into Attack Speed without hesitation. Then, he examined the Obsidian gear.
Thicket Longbow (Obsidian):
Requirement: None (Archer Only)
Effect 1: Attack +65
Effect 2: HP +500
Effect 3: Life Steal +2%
Durability: 100/100
Tianhao rubbed his temples. Another one? Attack Speed, Attack Speed, ATTACK SPEED! Couldn't the system throw him a bone? Just one piece with the stat he desperately needed? The frustration was palpable.
Across the game world, players erupted."NEWBIE ZONE HAS A DUNGEON?! I left too soon! D*MN IT!""Haha! Slow leveling pays off! Time for loot!""First Clear rewards must be insane! LFG! Dream Chaser recruiting TANK!"
Ignoring the chaos, Tianhao stepped up to the newly formed dungeon portal. Godslayer's Twilight dungeons offered four difficulties: Simple, Hard, Nightmare, Hell. The higher the difficulty of the First Clear, the richer the reward.Hell.Ding! Warning: Hell difficulty is NOT recommended for solo play. Proceed? [Yes/No]"Confirm."
Fortune favored the bold. Stat-wise, he wasn't truly ready for Hell. But stats were only half the equation. His experience was the other half.
The world shifted. He stood at the edge of a dense, unnatural jungle choked with gnarled, pulsating trees. Ahead, masses of Elite Twisted Treants lurched towards him.
Elite Twisted Treant (Dungeon): Level 10
HP: 8,500 / 8,500
Attack: 129
Skills: Renewal, Vine Whip, Vine Bind
Stronger. Noticeably stronger than their overworld counterparts.Thwip!-1812! (CRITICAL HIT!)Simultaneously, Lightning Leap (now ★★) crackled out, its radius and target count increased.-362!-362!...Five critical arrows felled one Treant. The chained damage softened others significantly. EXP flooded in: +351 per kill – boosted by dungeon and level difference.Ding! You have reached Level 8! +5 Free Attribute Points.Attack Speed: 2.33 → 2.43.
Tianhao leveraged every inch of his Basic Attack Enhancement range, kiting relentlessly, never letting the Treants close enough to use Vine Bind. That root was his biggest threat.
The first wave cleared. He stepped through the shimmering barrier into the second chamber.
Here, the density increased. Dozens more Elite Treants advanced. Among them, towering figures stood out: Treant Lieutenants.
Treant Lieutenant (Elite - Dungeon): Level 10
HP: 35,280 / 35,280
Attack: 412
Skills: Vine Bind, Renewal, Vine Whip, Frenzied Lash
Another skill. Exponentially higher stats.Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!Tianhao resumed his dance. Range was his lifeline. But movement speed was his Achilles' heel.
Three Lieutenants reared back simultaneously. Vines snaked from their limbs – Vine Bind.CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!-823!-821!-823!<< ROOTED! >>
Bad.Before he could break free, a barrage followed. Basic attacks, Vine Whips, and the new, brutal Frenzied Lash slammed into his immobilized form.-123! (Basic)-421! (Vine Whip)-423! (Frenzied Lash)...His health plummeted. Over 13,000 HP vanished in two seconds. Only the Treants' limited AI saved him – the rear ranks couldn't reach him, and they didn't perfectly chain their CC. If they had... it would have been instant death.No cleanse skill... that hurts. Move speed too low.The root effect broke. Tianhao exploded backward, putting precious distance between himself and the mob. Simultaneously, an arrow snapped from his bow, striking a Lieutenant mid-cast, interrupting its next Vine Bind.Phew. That was too close. Death meant losing a level. Worse, losing the potential First Clear to someone else? Unthinkable.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!Tianhao's focus became razor-sharp. Pure DPS was secondary now. Survival was paramount. Every step was calculated to dodge whipping vines. His eyes constantly scanned the field, identifying casting Lieutenants. Arrows flew not just to kill, but to interrupt. He needed 360-degree awareness. Every split-second counted. The true challenge of Hell had begun.