"How much is it?" Zayden asked restlessly. Anything that could generate money instantly excited him.
"Relax. This monster core is impure, so its value is half of the original. Plus, it's only a Rank 1 Common monster core. If purified, it can be sold for around 50 Zents."
"Fifty Zents? For something this small?" Zayden was astonished as he stared at the core in Max's hand. It was the size of a small marble.
---
[MONSTER CORE – IMPURE]
Rank: 1
Rarity: Common
Give one stat to random attributes.
Purify this core to be able to use it.
---
"What is it used for?"
"This is one of the most valuable things in the world. So, listen carefully. These cores are used for the growth of individuals and equipment. Once purified, you can use it to increase stats. Like my previous sword, it's currently at level 20, which means I've fed 20 cores into it. Got it?" Max explained.
"Yeah, I get it. But you said you've only used twenty cores? I thought you'd been a hunter for three years already. Isn't that... a bit low?"
"Well, I once had a weapon at level 50," Max said with a sigh. "But due to certain... circumstances, I... lost it. Anyway, a monster core's value depends on its rank and rarity. The higher those are, the more stats it boosts. This one here, really common, so nobody really wants it. It only raises a single stat by one point, and even that stat is random."
"I see. That is why I saw you put the cores into the sword just now. But why don't you just hoard them and give as many as possible to the weapons? You can increase your stats that way too, right?"
"It doesn't work like that. Every weapon has its level limit. Like the Whitesteel Sword you gave me, it has a max level of 30. So I can only put 30 Monster Cores into it. After that, it can't increase it any more unless it is Awakened. That's why most hunters focus more on quality than quantity.
"If I use 10 Rank 1 Common Monster Cores, it only gives me 10 stats. But if I use 10 Rank 2 Common Monster Cores, it gives me 20 stats. And it keeps scaling the higher the rank and rarity. You get the math."
Zayden frowned as he tried to process it all. "That's... quite complicated."
"And for individual stats, there's no limit on how many Monster Cores you can use on your body. But each one drains your stamina when used, so using too many at once isn't really recommended," Max added.
Zayden nodded. "This core… do you want it? If not, can you give it to me?" He smiled awkwardly. Every Zent mattered now, even if it was just 50.
"Why do you want it? For someone as rich as you, that's nothing," Max said, confused.
"Actually, I'm now-" Zayden was just about to tell Max everything when suddenly, a sound of steel clashing pierced the air.
"What was that?" Max said with alert.
"Is anyone fighting nearby?" Zayden replied.
Without hesitation, they both sprinted deeper into the dungeon.
---
A group of men were circling a girl. Her back was against the wall as the thugs closed in. The girl was holding a bow in her hands.
"Looks like we got a nice one here, Jared," said one of the men with a scar on his face, named Draymond.
"Hehe... how much do you think her bow sell for?" Alex grinned. He was the shortest among the three.
"Before we do that, I think we should… test her, ain't it?" Jared added, his eyes sharply scanning the girl's body. The girl had golden hair that reached her neck and wore a standard hunter's outfit. A quiver was strapped behind her back.
The girl, named Iris, was in trouble. She only had 5 arrows left. She was just on her way back to the exit when she encountered these scumbags. She didn't want to use all her arrows here, as it would be dangerous if she ran into monsters on her way to the Exit Crystal.
"What do you want from me? If it's money or monster cores, I'll give it to you," she said.
"You think we're that poor we'd need that? We're Rank C, woman. Don't belittle us," Jared scoffed.
'Tch. What a nuisance. Looks like I have no other choice.' Her eyes sharpened as she nocked an arrow onto the bow and pointed it at them.
"Divine Arrow!"
The iron arrow glowed yellow as she pulled it back and let it fly.
"Damn it! She has a Epic Rank skill!" the three of them shouted in alarm. They immediately stepped back and summoned their weapons.
An arrow flew through the air, aiming straight for Jared. But before it could hit, the arrow exploded mid-flight.
Iris's eyes widened. When the smoke cleared, Draymond was standing in front of Jared, his raised arm coated in a metallic sheen.
"Phew... lucky I've got a 'Steel Body' skill," Draymond said with a grin. The steel shimmer slowly faded as his arm returned to its normal color.
Jared raised his daggers, while Alex brandished his claws. Without a word, they both dashed toward Iris at the same time.
Iris quickly nocked two arrows onto her bow.
"Homing Arrow!"
She released them, and the arrows curved through the air, chasing after the two men.
'Who is this girl? How can she have multiple skills above Rare rank? And why is she in a lower-rank dungeon?'Jared thought. They had clearly underestimated their prey.
He dodged to the side, and the arrow missed him, at first. But it twisted midair and flew toward his back.
"So damn annoying! Horizontal Slash !" Jared growled, slashing with both daggers. The blades struck the arrow, cutting it cleanly.
Draymond, on the other side, also struck the arrow down with a swift swing of his sword.
They continued their charge. Iris was preparing to nock another arrow when suddenly Jared dashed forward using a "Dash" skill, instantly closing the distance.
"Damn it! I can't make it in time!" Iris frowned as Jared's dagger came rushing toward her abdomen. She instinctively shut her eyes.
"Counter Slash !"
Ping!
The sound of steel clashing echoed through the cave. Jared's eyes widened as he saw his dagger stopped by a gleaming white sword.
He quickly leapt backward.
Iris slowly opened her eyes, and saw two figures standing in front of her. One held a white sword. The other, a pitch-black spear.