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Chapter 39: The Craze Triggered by Artifacts
Compared to everyone else's curiosity, Finn was thinking more, and further ahead.
"If we can obtain a large number of Artifacts, or Artifacts of even higher quality, the Loki Familia's overall strength will climb to a whole new height. At that time, our expeditions will be able to enter deeper floors, until... we break the records ostensibly held by the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia, making the Loki Familia's renown echo through the world once again."
To revitalize the Prum race, he needed fame. The appearance of Artifacts was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him. He cleared his throat and issued an order: "From today on, all available executive members can enter the Dungeon to hunt the new monsters capable of dropping Artifacts."
"But, Finn," Riveria frowned slightly. "Currently, the new monsters only appear in the Upper Floors. Those monsters are too weak for us. If the Loki Familia hunts Upper Floor monsters in large numbers, it will not only cut off the income of lower-level adventurers but also deprive them of opportunities to train. The Guild will absolutely not allow us to do this."
Hearing this, Finn revealed a confident smile. "Riveria, of course I've considered that. According to intelligence, the ones dropping Artifacts are Level 2 Kairagi. Monsters of this level shouldn't appear in the Upper Floors in the first place. If the Loki Familia actively clears out these threats that are fatal to lower-level adventurers, they will only thank us. And the Guild won't find any reason to stop us."
Finn's words enlightened everyone. Right, they weren't going to "steal kills"; they were going to "clear threats." The matter was settled just like that. First-Class Adventurers like Ais, as well as Second-Class Adventurers like Raul, all obtained permission to go to the Upper Floors to hunt the new Level 2 monsters.
The Loki Familia wasn't the only one getting Artifacts. Among other adventurers, there were those with excellent luck who killed Kairagi in life-or-death situations and obtained these strange objects. Within just a few days, the existence of "Artifacts" spread throughout the adventurer circles of Orario. The speed at which this storm spread was beyond imagination.
Soon, all of Orario was boiling over. Some high-level adventurers who usually operated in the Middle and Lower Floors and looked down on the Upper Floors began to appear frequently on Floors 1 through 12. Even the Freya Familia, who spent their days in the "Battle Wilderness" obsessed with fighting their own kin, had several high-level adventurers step into the Dungeon after a long absence under the Beauty God's instructions. Their purpose was self-evident. For the sake of Artifacts that could enhance strength, almost all adventurers were searching for those rare, powerful new monsters that shouldn't exist in the Upper Floors.
For a time, the Upper Floors of the Dungeon became livelier than ever before. However, these experienced high-level adventurers adhered strictly to unwritten rules. They precisely locked onto their targets and didn't slaughter large numbers of low-level ordinary monsters, leaving the lower-level adventurers their means of livelihood and opportunities for growth. A craze surrounding "Artifacts" had already swept through the Labyrinth City.
On the main road to the Dungeon entrance, the massive shadow of Babel Tower loomed over the streaming crowd below. The atmosphere today was completely different from usual. In the past, although there were many adventurers entering the Dungeon, there was always a sense of rhythm and order. But now, it had become like a market about to boil over, the air filled with restlessness and desire.
Among the endless stream of adventurers, many unfamiliar faces appeared. Some people who had long given up adventuring to find other work in the city had now picked up their dusty weapons again. Even more were adventurers who had hit a bottleneck and couldn't improve an inch no matter how they struggled. For them, the appearance of Artifacts was tantamount to opening a second path to the summit on a cliff of despair.
"Did you hear? The Guild posted an announcement. A 3-star Artifact has a purchase price of one million Valis."
"One million? My god, that's enough to buy a set of decent equipment."
"It's not about the money. If you can gather a set of Artifacts and upgrade them using the dropped crumbs... even if your ability scores don't change, your strength can increase by a large margin. By then, maybe we can challenge floors we never dared to dream of before."
"That's right. As long as we can gain higher-level Experience Points (Excelia), we have a chance to level up."
As long as one was an adventurer, they yearned for the metamorphosis of "Leveling Up." Now, the opportunity was right in front of them, and everyone wanted to risk everything to grab it. The Guild's purchase announcement had indeed been released. Not only were 3-star Artifacts valued at a million, but even the "Artifact Sanctifying Unction" (crumbs) used for upgrading were priced at ten thousand Valis a piece. But this was more of a gesture, an affirmation of the value of this new resource. So far, not a single adventurer had chosen to sell the Artifact they had obtained with such difficulty. After all, the drop rate was too low. At this stage, they were scarce, and each one was a treasure that could change one's fate.
Aiden and his three companions walked toward the entrance, sandwiched in the crowd. Just as they were about to enter the spiral staircase of Babel Tower, they even saw the Loki Familia's executive team. Leading them was Riveria, followed by elites like Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Bete. Such a luxurious lineup appearing at the Upper Floor entrance attracted countless gazes of awe and curiosity from the surrounding adventurers.
Just then, Ais's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly. Her gaze passed through the crowd and landed on that familiar white-haired back.
"Ais, what are you looking at?"
Beside her, Riveria followed her gaze, but only managed to see Aiden's group of four disappearing into the darkness of the Dungeon entrance.
"...Nothing." Ais shook her head and retracted her gaze.
"Let's go," Riveria didn't press further, simply speaking calmly. "Finn wants us to collect a set of Artifacts as soon as possible and upgrade them to the maximum level to see exactly what the effects are."
She led this group of problem children—First-Class Adventurers—into the Dungeon as well.
With Aiden's entry, it was as if an invisible switch had been pressed. The new monsters, whose numbers had dwindled due to the mass hunting by adventurers, once again began to be frantically spawned by the Dungeon. Walls, ceilings, the ground—black smoke and ominous light intertwined as Hilichurls and Slimes condensed into form out of thin air.
"They're coming! It's starting again!"
"Quick, now!"
The adventurers who had been camping in the Upper Floors, waiting patiently, felt their spirits lift.
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