NOVEL NEXT Chapter 111 - Drops
Lucien's dread twisted into amusement.
'Could it be...? Are they going to paint this same circle inside my Lootwell dungeon too?'
A smirk tugged at his lips.
'I'd love to see them try. The slimes alone would chew them up. And... I haven't even seen its dungeon core.'
He nearly laughed at the image of robed figures flailing against a tide of slimes but instead shook his head and looked forward.
The others were still gathered around the dungeon core, studying the strange formation.
At last, Cielius stroked his beard and spoke. "Grandson… this circle reverses the dungeon's mana flow."
The words struck the group into silence.
Only Maxim and Elunara seemed to follow his meaning. Their eyes flickered with sudden understanding. The rest including Lucien only stared, waiting.
Cielius continued.
"A dungeon core is like a heart. Normally, it draws mana inward, circulating it through the dungeon."
He pointed at the glowing magic circle.
"But this formation pushes mana outward instead. And the monsters…" His eyes narrowed. "They follow mana currents like fish follow a stream. That is why they spilled into the world."
Lucien's eyes lit up. Cielius really did know how to explain things.
He then focused, channeling divine energy into his sight and the truth revealed itself... the mana wasn't flowing inward but bleeding outward like a leaking wound.
That confirmed it.
Edric's voice broke the silence. "That's… ingenious. A deliberate way to force a dungeon break. Whoever designed this circle is no ordinary fool."
The chamber grew still. No one needed to name the culprit. Lucien's group all already had the same face in mind.
Lucien let out a slow sigh. 'This conspiracy's gone too far. Time to start pulling weeds… beginning with Coalheart.'
A dangerous glint flickered in his eyes. Plans were already taking shape.
'Bastards, playing with lives. This won't end well for you.'
He stepped forward.
Divine energy surged into his hands. It crackled faintly as he pressed them against the circle. The magic circle shuddered then unraveled in strands of pale light.
The markings faded until nothing remained but a faint afterglow.
The dungeon pulsed. Mana shifted course, no longer bleeding outward but once again flowing naturally like blood restored to a heart.
Balance returned and the air grew calm.
And just like that… the disaster was over.
Everyone let out a breath they hadn't realized they were holding. Relief spread through the chamber like a ripple.
Lucien turned to Baron Hornvale and Baron Needlehart.
"Barons, the dungeon is stable again. There's no need to destroy it. You'll still be able to harvest resources here and grow stronger."
At his words, both men's eyes lit up.
"Baron Lootwell, we are truly grateful," Hornvale said with feeling.
"Yes… and those who fell here would be grateful too," Needlehart added softly.
But the light in their eyes dimmed almost as quickly as it came. Their faces turned somber.
Soldiers from their households had been stationed here… and surely met their end when the monsters surged out.
They could only imagine the terror, the helplessness, the despair their men must have felt in their final moments.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Lucien reached into his INVENTORY, drawing out a spatial bag.
From it, he retrieved several Slime Candles. With steady hands, he lit them one by one and set them around the chamber. Their faint glow filled the air with a soothing warmth.
"This," Lucien said quietly, "is to mourn the souls we've lost and to give thanks for those who were saved."
The candles' effect spread outward.
Slowly, grief eased.
The sharp ache dulled.
Calm washed over the group as though invisible hands had smoothed the weight from their hearts.
"We will not let history repeat itself."
"That's right. From now on, a new system will be in place. No strangers enter without a permit."
The two Barons spoke with firm resolve and their words carried weight.
Elunara raised her hand. Dark threads of mana swirled around her fingertips before weaving into the dungeon core. It pulsed faintly as the spell settled.
"I've placed a seal," she said with a calm smile. "If anyone tampers with the core again, I'll know instantly. This time, there's no need to worry."
The Barons exchanged relieved nods.
Lucien, however, had another matter in mind. His allies needed to grow stronger.
He reached into his INVENTORY and drew out a glowing crystal.
The Essence of Purity.
"Everyone," he lifted it for all to see, "place a finger on this."
Those who recognized it widened their eyes in shock.
Edric lunged forward and tried pressing a finger against it again, hoping for a doubled effect. But before he could, Maxim caught his wrist with a stern glare.
"Once is enough," Maxim said firmly.
Edric groaned and backed off, sulking.
The others, one by one, followed Lucien's instruction, reaching toward the crystal.
And so…
One by one, each person pressed a finger against the glowing crystal.
Shock followed shock.
Every touch made the crystal flare, washing them in light that sank beneath their skin.
It was as if a veil had been lifted. As if they were reborn!
Cielius chuckled quietly, stroking his beard with satisfaction. He could feel the truth of it in his very bones. The Essence was extraordinary.
Elunara, graceful as ever, kept her composure… but her eyes betrayed her wonder.
For an elf with centuries of life, talent was both blessing and prison. She had already reached her limit... or so she thought.
Yet at a mere touch of this crystal, that wall crumbled. She glanced at Lucien. A genuine smile touched her lips.
The Barons and their soldiers fared no differently. Gasps of disbelief echoed as some of them instantly broke through to the next tier as though years of suppressed potential had been unshackled in a single breath.
Hornvale and Needlehart grasped Lucien's hands, laughing heartily.
"Ha! Baron Lootwell, I don't know what else to say. You must be sick of hearing thanks from old men like us!"
"Indeed! And as for the monsters outside. Please don't trouble yourself. We'll send a team tomorrow and gather the materials for you."
"Yes, yes. With both our territories working together, it won't take long at all."
Lucien couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.
"How could I let you do all the trouble? The monsters number in the thousands. It would be too much for your men alone. Let my people help as well. We'll handle it tomorrow. Tonight, we rest."
He added firmly,
"And remember. Whatever we collect, it must be shared. The stronger we all become, the stronger our alliance will be."
The two Barons exchanged a look then nodded deeply.
The group began their walk back toward the surface.
"Grandpa Ciel," Lucien asked, glancing at the catastrophe outside, "could you set an earth barrier again to enclose this place?"
"Anything for you, my boy," Cielius replied with a warm smile.
He raised his hand and the ground trembled.
The earth itself rolled like waves, gathering the scattered monster corpses into neat piles. Then with a deep rumble, towering walls of stone rose to encircle the area, sealing it off from intruders.
Lucien's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Grandpa! That's incredible!"
Cielius chuckled as he stroked his beard with pride.
"Hohoho!" His laughter echoed, brimming with joy at his grandson's praise.
Lucien then turned to Nyxis. "Use your time magic. Slow down everything here."
The slime leapt onto his shoulder, but Lucien immediately felt its hesitation.
'I see… not enough mana.'
Without a second thought, he funneled divine energy into it.
The air shivered. A colossal clock manifested high above, its hands spinning at a sluggish pace. Time itself bent, slowed and wrapped around the grounds like an unseen cocoon.
Gasps of awe broke from the group. Even the veterans couldn't hide their shock. Who would have thought such a small slime could wield such formidable power?
With their work done, they boarded the airship once again. The night carried them away, each heart heavy with thought.
Tomorrow, they would gather materials, strengthen their alliance and begin crafting countermeasures.
And perhaps… a plan to strike back.
After escorting the two Barons and their men to their territories, Lucien and the rest finally returned home.
•••
After returning, Lucien sat in his chamber.
His status flickered before his eyes.
Level 59.
He smirked. The climb was steep.
"Nyxis," he called softly.
The little slime hopped out of his shadow, bouncing with an eager squish. Its body shimmered faintly.
"Let's see what we got."
Nyxis let out a playful sound then projected a cluster of glowing cubes before Lucien. The sheer amount was overwhelming.
Lucien's eyes glowed. A slow grin crept onto his face.
"Now this… this is interesting."
***
Kobold Drops
Common:
• Flint shards (for fire-starting)
• Sticky resin (good for sealing or binding)
• Torch bundles
Uncommon:
• Smoke powder pouch (distraction or cover)
• Minor gem dust (used for enchanting)
• Kobold oil flask (flammable liquid, doubles as lamp fuel)
Rare:
• Trapmaker's Kit (reusable parts to craft snares on the go)
• Powdered dragon scale (boosts fire resistance in potions)
Epic:
• Kobold Clan Totem Shard (enchanted charm that improves stealth in darkness)
Legendary:
• Hatchling's Egg (may hatch into a companion or serve as a powerful alchemy core)
---
Orcs
Common:
• Orc meat (restores stamina)
• War paint jars (temporary buff: intimidation, courage)
• Carved bone dice (luck charm)
Uncommon:
• Stamina brew (restores energy)
• Orc tribal amulet (minor boost to morale, protects against fear)
• Bone carving knife (good for survival/crafting)
Rare:
• Bloodbrew Flask (drink that increases strength but lowers defense briefly)
• Totem of the Hunt (improves tracking and perception for a time)
Epic:
• Spirit Ash Pouch (summons an orc spirit to guide or protect briefly)
Legendary:
• Banner of the Warlord (once planted, allies nearby fight with greater strength, resist fear and heal slowly)
---
Ogres
Common:
• Ogre marrow (used in healing salves)
• Coarse rope (can handle heavy loads)
• Crushed herbs (gathered and chewed for pain relief)
Uncommon:
• Ogre stomach pouch (tough, used as a durable waterskin)
• Ogre marrow vial (used in crafting strength tonics)
• Hardened hide strips (good for reinforcing armor or shields)
Rare:
• Giant's Breath Salts (snorted for temporary endurance boost)
• Ogre Heart Resin (potent alchemy reagent for strength/elixirs)
Epic:
• Ogre Totem Skull (grants a short boost to physical resilience when carried)
Legendary:
• Titan's Core Fragment (crystallized essence that greatly enhances strength/endurance when consumed or forged into relics)
---
Trolls
Common:
• Troll blood vial (weak healing tonic)
• Troll claws (alchemy for anti-poison brews)
• Fungus scraps (used in simple potions)
Uncommon:
• Troll marrow paste (salve that closes wounds quickly)
• Fire-resistant slime (coating to protect gear briefly)
• Stinking gland (used for repelling monsters)
Rare:
• Regenerative ichor (brewed into healing potions with regeneration effect)
• Trollbone powder (fortifies bones when mixed into potions)
Epic:
• Heartseed (rare organ shard that grants rapid healing when consumed)
Legendary:
• Core of Eternal Flesh (grants permanent regeneration, slow healing over time)
---
Minotaurs
Common:
• Horn powder (used for stamina potions)
• Chalk sticks (useful for map-making)
• Bull-hide strips (sturdy crafting leather)
Uncommon:
• Stamina draught (brew that keeps fatigue at bay)
• Minotaur incense (burned to sharpen focus or ward off fear)
• Clay labyrinth token (used as minor protective charm)
Rare:
• Heartstone fragment (prevents getting lost in dungeons)
• Minotaur's blood vial (used in potions that boost physical resilience)
Epic:
• Horned Totem (increases endurance & improves orientation in dungeons)
Legendary:
• Horn of the Maze-Breaker (unleashes a deafening roar that stuns and terrifies enemies. Can also shatter illusions and barriers)
***
Lucien gleamed at the descriptions. Everything was useful.
But what caught his attention most were the legendary drops.
Then his gaze sharpened. Among the pile were several skill cards. They pulsed faintly, waiting to be claimed.
Lucien picked them up.
He smirked.
***
• Tunnel Vision — see better in darkness and cramped spaces.
• Trap-Setters Hands — increases trap-setting/disarming speed.
• Blood Frenzy — increases attack power as blood decreases.
• Warrior's Endurance — temporary resistance to fatigue & pain.
• Ground Slam — stomp that shakes the ground in a small radius.
• Bone Breaker — attacks ignore a portion of enemy armor.
• Regenerative Burst — heals small wounds over time.
• Beast's Hunger — slight health restoration when eating food.
• Guardian's Endurance — increases stamina and reduces exhaustion.
• Bull's Charge — short dash attack that knocks back enemies.
***
The harvest was so great…
Lucien was floating in cloud nine.
Naturally, he consumed the new Skill Cards first. He stored the duplicates for later.
Then with a thought, he entered his Divine Energy Core.
He looked around.
'My space has expanded again. The mini Earth is bigger too. Good..."
The inner space expanded like an endless sky but Lucien treated it as if it were a vault. With a flicker of will, shelves and compartments manifested.
Perfectly categorized.
Perfectly ordered.
He placed the drops there, securing each one with Preservation Gels to keep them pristine and frozen in time.
Only the life-saving consumables and convenient items remained in his INVENTORY.
Lucien folded his arms, nodding in deep satisfaction.
"Perfect. A kingdom of loot, all mine and well-kept."
But he didn't stop there.
Inside the core, he summoned dummies of hardened energy.
His eyes gleamed. With so many skills acquired, he needed more than raw power.
He needed management, synergy, mastery.
'Too many skills can be a weakness if you can't chain them properly.'
Lucien grit his teeth, pushing himself harder. He tried weaving combos. He tested his timing, his stamina, his divine energy flow.
Every second here was safe, preserved and efficient. And Lucien intended to make every drop of power count.