'So that's what Lan wanted to tell me. I don't get it, I thought she was busy with something.'
Checking out his map and seeing the icon indicating Vestralia's position as being near the square.
Once someone enters a Challenge Dungeon, they can only exit by clearing the floor they're on, clearing the entire Dungeon or by dying.
The Challenge Dungeons also had two different modes.
The General Mode allows a player or party to enter the Dungeon from the first floor and clear it on their way, while Global Mode resets a Dungeon instance once a day along with new rewards.
The Global Mode sets itself apart by having a floor that is cleared remaining so, while the rewards are more unique and rare they are available to those that clear the Dungeon or floor first.
'I could go and get more equipment or I could keep going' I wondered while I consumed a Vial of a Lesser Healing Potion.
Looking at the swirling waters of the cracked lake, I let out a deep sigh.
Going through the gate that appeared in the cracked ice of the wetland, a shadowy pool made violet and deep blue smoke swirled about.
Passing over me as I slipped into the hole down a passage that seemed to be winding in every direction.
The journey was made in complete darkness with its end coming when I was suddenly plunged into freezing waters that were just as dark.
Unlike the veil that was cast over the entrance to this place, this darkness was not without its limits.
As the waters dragged me further and further along while my path widened as I was brought against the banks of the massive opening.
I found myself in an expanse of cold dark walls shimmering as though they were carved out of the night sky.
The ground, while sturdy, was mostly rimed and frozen over with jagged shards sticking out as though they were rocky outcrops.
This space was some sort of cave and seemed to be quite uninviting considering the lack of flora around.
Checking my map didn't help either.
Within Dungeons, only the path you've already travelled is highlighted.
The only workarounds are items that allow the player to scry the Dungeons layout, or maps and the occasional Dungeoneering tips from Treasure Hunters that give you the needed insight.
Venturing deeper into the holds of the cold and dark cavern with the only thing I could rely on being my Darkvision that had helped in avoiding the frozen shards sprouting from every crack, jagged crevasses that seemed to stretch into the endless void and the trappings of what sounded like fearsome beasts skittering about, every so often drawing near.
The frequency of the noise was more apparent the deeper I wandered into the cavern.
Kicking some pebbles while walking, the impact echoed with the sound growing more distant until it was too faint to hear.
I came to a stop when I realised that the ice shards were less of a problem while the path grew more craggy with even more rocks getting in the way.
I reached down to find that the ice had receded, only the wet dirt was left with muddy pools dotting the place.
Despite hearing the continuing skittering, I couldn't find the source, only my senses flared as though I was being watched.
Another step knocked a stone into the distance and again the echoes trailed off, even if the cavern stretched on for some distance, I knew that I didn't put so much power behind it.
"Dammit…" grabbing several pebbles from the ground, a cast a few before marching forward, each time the echoes stopped, I paused, until I could see more of the cavern.
Ahead was a massive chasm lined with needles forming rows upon rows at its entrance, but what was truly frightening was what laid at the bottom of the crevasse.
While he stood in pretty dim light, the occasional shimmer revealed something odd.
Focusing enough on the shimmering lines, a prompt appeared above:
"Blueback Duellicas: Level 12 '' Looking across the gap, the prompt appears several times over.
'10, 11, 15, 17, 20, 26…' They were all gathered down there, crawling and moving things with the muffled movements giving little away to the terrifying mass of beasts occupied with their task.
This was probably a nest, which raised a question I did not want to ask for fear of the answer:
'Where's the Boss…hang on' The shock of the idea that struck me had me paused for a moment.
Was it insane, absolutely, but it had the potential to clear the area of enemies before I could face the floor boss, so I had to try it.
Finding the edge of the chasm, I reached down and used my Frost Effect skill to cover the walls of the chasm with ice.
Drinking two mana potions to get the job done, once the cold had reached the shimmering threads, the beasts were alerted, skittering and hissing as they turned their attention upwards, they began their rush.
Trying to begin their assault by travelling up the walls, one after the other they would slip back down.
But that wouldn't keep them at bay for long. So below the web of threads, I used my Spear of Glacias skill once more.
The skill when charged can create a single powerful and nigh-unstoppable javelin of blue ice but used normally it can create much smaller polearms.
The creatures would eventually take notice of what I was doing, but the preparations were already put in place.
Equipping the Mask of the Reviled and using its skill, it didn't take long for the crawling mass to come to a halt, before they began their rush upwards.
Struggling against the ice walls, only gaining ground by climbing over one another and spinning new threads where they could to form makeshift bridges.
"One final step, Curse of Ash and Blood." The skill activated, raining down bloodfire that quickly marred the flesh of the beasts.
The flames ate at the threads burning them away and dropping the rising number of spider-like creatures into the bottom of the chasm.
Those that tried to cling to the walls felt the stinging and biting touch of the frost made any attempt to hold on futile as they too slipped into the burning void.
The void's end greeted the rising number of beasts falling into it with burning pikes skewering their bodies.
Duellicas Fangs x20.
Blueback Venom Sacs x20.
Duellicas Carapace Plates x12.
"All items are now in your inventory"
Reeling back from the exhaustion that washed over me, I drank another mana potion along with a Lesser Healing Potion as the flames continued to burn.
The skittering grew less frequent, as the beast's movement quieted down, the ground began to rumble with the quaking at its strongest towards the rim of the crevasse.
The puddles of mud pools strewn dotted about rippled rhythmically, as though something had been moving.
Being close to the rim of the crevasse, I looked over the edge into the void, only to find that the light of the bloodfires had been blotted out.
Instead a heavy shadow was cast, darkening the hole even further, and from its deepest umbra, the glint from several shiny points stuck out.
Initially there was some difficulty in making out the strange shapes but by reaching closer into the crevasse, the luminescent shapes shone brighter as the rumbling grew to shake loose the stalactites.
With the thrust of a forceful gale from the void, I was sent back into the icy cavern while I cautiously ventured further into the frozen depths of the cavern, a surge of anticipation mingled with trepidation coursed through my veins.
The biting chill of the air clung to my skin, each inhalation sending icy daggers into my lungs.
The ethereal glow of the ice formations cast an eerie luminescence, casting peculiar shadows that danced upon the cavern walls.
Abruptly, a low growl resonated through the chamber, reverberating in my core and causing a shiver to race down my spine.
My senses sharpened, attuned to the ominous source of the sound. Turning a corner, a vision straight from the recesses of my nightmares materialised before my eyes.
"Floor 2 Boss: Gunnþrá, the Duellican Ward of Agony. Level 22"
Lo and behold, a monstrous arachnid-like creature loomed, dominating the entire expanse of the chamber. Its colossal size stirred disbelief within me, my very being recoiling at its intimidating presence. Towering above, it seemed to brush against the ceiling, its monstrous silhouette casting a formidable shadow upon the frozen terrain.
Drawing nearer, the intensity of the encounter intensified, the clash of extreme temperatures transforming the once icy cavern into a sweltering haze.
Waves of scorching heat radiated from the creature's form, ensconcing it in a veil of steam.
The dance of mist and vapour obscured the creature, shrouding its true visage in an enigmatic aura.
My gaze fixated upon the creature's fearsome attributes, a sight that both horrified and enthralled.
Its body adorned with icicle-like cilia, honed to razor-sharp perfection, shimmered under the pale blue luminescence.
Every subtle movement sent the ice shards glistening, reflecting the otherworldly light, weaving a mesmerising spectacle before my eyes.
Yet, it was the creature's eyes that held me captive, twin orbs of abyssal blackness that emanated an uncanny power.
Their gaze seemed to penetrate the depths of my soul, bewitching me despite the instinctual fear coursing through my veins.
I could almost feel their hypnotic allure, drawing me inexorably closer.
As the monstrous arachnid reared back, its fangs came into view, deadly and glistening with venomous malice.
Each venomous droplet that fell to the ground hissed upon contact, marking its territory with a foreboding warning.
The venom cast an intangible shroud, cloaking the creature in an ethereal embrace.
My heart pounded within my chest, the gravity of the moment pressing upon me.
Every fibre of my being knew that this encounter would push the limits of my courage and resolve.
Steeling myself, gripping my weapon with unwavering determination, I readied to confront the monstrous spider, carving my own path amidst the swirling mist and the beguiling gaze of its shimmering black eyes.
"In a space this small, you've only made this easier" I said, with my longsword in hand as I charged forth through the hazy mist.
Only for my assault to be hampered after passing through the fog, stinging my flesh and slowly burning away at my health, the nature of the veil consumed me as I was in its embrace.
Passing through it to find the gleaming, blade-like jaws oozing the corrosive substance.
With the beast meeting my blade as I tried to cut off one of its legs.
The steam jettisoned from the beast swallowed is in a thicker haze as more of the envenomed air surrounded me.
"Drakeblood's Maw" Using the skill to launch myself out of the mist, putting some distance between me and the hidden beast.
'It's protecting itself with the heat it's generating, not to mention its venom that's mixing with all this mist. How am I supposed to fight something if I can't get close to it'
Putting away the longsword and equipping the shortswords before leaping into the air and over its lowered head.
I tried to aim for its abdomen when my blades were knocked away after clashing with the sharp hairs covering its body.
The exchange put me behind the beast, using the ice formations for cover.
I tried to recover my HP…but with the toxic mist still spreading, the regeneration of my HP was halted.
Forcing me to use another Lesser Healing Potion.
Such a foe had me realising just how limited my options would be in trying to face the beast.
While still trying to come up with a plan, I started hearing the familiar yet horrifying skitterings from before.
Now, facing directly at the crevasse, I watched as the mouth of the void began to spew a growing number of Duellicas.
Crawling up and over the mouth of the pit, they marched onwards towards the floor boss in a sea of armoured and hairy legs.
"Not this…rot right now" Getting up and throwing up a wall of bloodfire using the Curse of Ash and Blood skill, locking me in the icy cavern with the beast once again.
But getting up and addressing the oncoming wave of Duellicas caught the attention of Gunnþrá, using its armoured legs to shatter the glacial cover and shards I was hiding behind, with the blow knocking me into the dirt.
Decreasing HP and an enemy I couldn't get close to, despite the number of times I found myself thrust into these kinds of situations, I was unable to hold my excitement.
A grin that would appear malicious in any other situation, my mind began to race with the possibilities, as my eyes remained fixed in-between each dodge.
"Frost Effect" Imbuing the power of ice into my blades, I clashed with the beast's maws , freezing the venom from its jaws.
'So I can still use this' knocking the beast away and rushing under its massive frame.
"Rush of the Rimelord" Using the skill as I leapt into the air, the skill had me shooting into the beast, flinging us both into the air but for the first time since the fight started, the beast's HP finally went down.
The creature slammed the roof of the cavern with enough force to loosen the icicles that came crashing down, extinguishing the bloodfires, allowing the Duellicas to resume their charge.
"What the…" The beast slammed me into the ground, as it stuck to the ceiling, melting away the ice with its intense heat, and eventually freeing its jaws from its frozen clamps.
"The little ones can't handle the fire but the big one can. Same with slashing versus smashing. All right then, I think there's a chance…"
Consuming a Basic Mana Potion and restoring myself to full MP, I jumped back and faced the challenge ahead of me.
"First I need to deal with the Duellicas" Using the Curse of Ash and Blood skill to cast a shower of bloodfire that had the creatures leaping into the air to avoid the accursed flames.
Tthey tried to reach me while Gunnþrá let out his venomous spray above, cutting of my attempt to escape. But I had no such intentions.
"Drakeblood Slash" With all of the spiders in mid-air none could avoid my attack.
Charging the instantaneous slash, with a single stroke, I cleaved through creatures, with a second slash running through the remaining foes that were caught in the grasp of the flames.
A sudden and forceful wind followed my attack as all the beast were slain.
"Spear of Glacias" Again, by limiting the power of the skill allowed to spawn several icicles from the ceiling, being driven into the boss and knocking it back down.
As the creature staggered from the fall, I created a single dense spear behind me before rushing in.
Using the "Svol's Icewind" I was able to sweep past the creature, leaving a freezing aura in my wake that managed to inflict the Frost Affinity, slowing its movements as it tried to orient itself.
A final use of "Drakeblood's Maw" sent the beast hurtling back directly into the Ice spear.
Piercing it from its underside, before bursting open with crystal shards tearing through its insides.
"Defeated: Gunnþrá, the Duellican Ward of Agony. Floor 2 Cleared."
Rewards:
Fragment of Hvergelmir (x3)
Onyx Fireheart (x1)
Duellican Razors (x2)
Onyx Firestones (x4)
Skill gained: Firestone Ward. Level 1(Active: 5-minute cooldown)
"With the power of a burning heart, a wall of heat radiates from your body providing temporary immunity to the Frost and Burning Affinity, whilst inflicting the Burning Affinity on anything within a 5m radius for 30 seconds"
Skill gained: Cruelstalker. Level 1(Active: 2-minute cooldown)
"Reduce the awareness of your presence to make yourself undetectable to your prey. Any natural sense is unable to detect you. This skill is deactivated when another skill is used, or when magic is cast by the user "
Skill gained: Argos, the Hundred Eyes. Level 1(Passive)
"With eyes as perceptive as those of a Duellica, your awareness increases significantly granting heightened senses and instincts as well as increasing your ability to detect hidden enemies"
Skill gained: Stakes of Sha'uli. Level 1(Active: 3-minute cooldown)
"Adapted from the unique skills: Curse of Ash and Blood, and Spear of Glacias, you can create a mass of burning stakes to pierce your enemies. Delivering a damning end as the flames burn the target from the inside out, bypassing any armour."
Skill gained: Burning Resistance. Level 1(Passive)
Skill Level Up: Frost Effect. Level 3
Level Up —> Level 17
"What…the hell...was that? This Dungeon shouldn't be this hard"
Pretty much having reached my limit, I sat back, waiting for my strength to return.
With the path to the third floor now open, anyone can make their way there without much trouble.
Still considering the condition I was in, had I tried to rush to the third floor, I would have been completely crushed...
"A prompt appeared on my HUD"
[Lucid Dreams Online - System Maintenance Alert]
Attention, Adventurers of Lucid Dreams Online!
Maintenance Notice: Zeta-Sign Servers (1-8) - Western Hemisphere
In the ever-evolving realm of Lucid Dreams Online, we strive to ensure the highest level of gaming experience for all players. To achieve this, we will be conducting essential system maintenance on the Zeta-Sign servers in the Western Hemisphere.
Maintenance Schedule: 15 May 2300. 03:00:00
- Date: [15 May 2300. 10:00:00]
- Time: [15 May 2300. 14:00:00]
- Duration: Approximately [4 days] in-game time
During this maintenance period, access to the Zeta-Sign servers (1-8) in the Western Hemisphere will be temporarily suspended. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience as we work to enhance the world of Lucid Dreams Online.
Please note the following details:
- Players will be unable to log in or access the Zeta-Sign servers during the maintenance period.
- The maintenance will primarily focus on server stability, performance optimization, and system upgrades.
- Your progress and in-game items will remain intact once the maintenance is complete.
- All other servers and regions of Lucid Dreams Online will remain operational and accessible.
We understand the value of your time and commitment to the game, and we thank you for your understanding as we continuously strive to create a better gaming environment.
Prepare yourselves for exciting adventures to come, as Lucid Dreams Online evolves with each maintenance session. Stay connected with us for the latest updates and news regarding this maintenance through our official website and social media channels.
May your dreams within Ulgree continue to flourish!
Best regards,
The Lucid Dreams Online Development Team.
'In 7 hours huh, that's a little under a week in here. Well, looks like I'll need to get a move on…right after I get some rest, most of the venomous mist has already cleared.' Going over the change in my stats and what was left of my equipment for some time.
As mentioned before, resting in-game offers a slight boost in recovery and EXP gain for a few hours. The same goes for short rests, though no EXP boost is gained, though it should be noted that resting outside of a safe zone is possible provided you have the equipment such as a tent, tarp or bedroll to use. However enemies can still damage you in a restful state.
Waking up from a 5 hour rest, I found that HP had fully recovered as well as my MP. Opening the map, the entirety of the second floor was now visible as well as an indication of the gate to the next floor with a beeping icon.
"Looks like it's down the same hole…All right" getting up and preparing my gear ahead of time, or more so for the chance to actually try out everything that I had picked up, it had become obvious now that the Dungeon wasn't normal and to continue with any sort of expectations would only lead to disaster.
Race: ?? Class: Sword-Wielder Level: 10. Derived Class: Swordsman Level: 5 HP: 280 MP: 150 Blessing:? Vitality: 29 Strength: 33 Agility: 44 Endurance: 28 Intelligence: 17 Dexterity: 39 Wisdom: 22 Luck: 0
"New Derived Classes are now Available"
A prompt filled my screen as I made my way to the opening of the pit.
"First, let's get to a safe spot. Then it'll be time to make my choice." Leaping into the hole that dropped me directly into a storm of ice-bound waters rushing in enough wayward directions to tear anything that would be caught in its current.