NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40: Party Conflict
[You can retrieve:]
[Rusted Brute Axe (Common) x3 Brute Fang Necklace (Common) Bloodlust Charm (Uncommon)]
The Goblin Brutes did drop some reasonable loot after all, but looking at them one by one, Darien wasn't sure if he could call them valuable.
(Item Name: Rusted Brute Axe)
(Type: Weapon/ Axe)
(Rank: Common)
(LV. 3)
(Description: A heavy, dull, and rusted axe. Delivers brutal, crushing strikes.)
(Skills: nil)
---
(Item Name: Brute Fang Necklace)
(Type: Accessory/ Necklace)
(Rank: Common)
(LV. 7)
(Description: A necklace strung with crude goblin fangs. Slightly increases the wearer's Strength.)
(Skills: nil)
---
(Item Name: Bloodlust Charm)
(Type: Accessory/ Charm)
(Rank: Uncommon)
(LV. 2)
(Description: A talisman with little infused Primordial Energy. Grants a surge of Strength when the wearer's health drops below 30%.)
(Skills: nil)
After inspecting them all, Darien concluded they weren't totally useless, even though none came close to matching his standards.
Both Common and Uncommon, they all had their niche values, considering this was a Rank 1 Novice dungeon, and the warriors clearing them needed items like these.
Perhaps the rusted axe was totally useless, though, but emergencies should never be counted out of the picture.
It could be used as a disposable weapon, but whoever wielded it must have storage set aside.
The Brute Fang Necklace was more useful, and the Bloodlust Charm, even better.
In the right hands, these scraps could really matter.
'I don't need any of these. They'd only weigh me down. Jakob and the rest can have them.'
Thinking that, Darien prepared to advance, but he halted, turning around when he heard the footsteps of his party mates approaching.
At the shadowed entrance of the bigger bronze hall were Ayn, Jakob, Bowen, and Ramsey, wear and tear in their uniforms, and sweat clinging to their brows.
What stood out the most were the expressions on their faces: exhaustion mixed with disbelief and caution.
Darien laughed inwardly to himself as he realized he had a lot of explaining to do. But that was the point. He didn't owe them or anyone an explanation.
"Darien, you are already at Intermediate level, while we only have a few experience points to our names. How are you doing this?"
Ayn demanded, stepping forward to confront their party mate who was hovering above them. "How did you even get a weapon like that?"
"Did you secretly train in another Academy? Since when can you hover?"
"You must've gotten some kind of special class that's making you so powerful, right?"
Darien slowly descended from his height, the flames around his blade dimming until only sparkling residues clung to its edge.
As his boots touched the scorched ground, he scratched the back of his head sheepishly, trying to piece together what was best to say.
Fortunately, Bowen had asked something he could proceed with.
"Yeah. I guess it must be my class. And don't bother asking what it is—I'm not telling."
All Novice warriors stared at the Intermediate with flat faces, folding their arms and shaking their heads in disapproval.
They were all disappointed not only because Darien's vague answer left them with nothing, but also because every strike he had just delivered in Novice Depths had robbed them of chances to grow.
While he racked up all the kills and soaked in the experience points that should have been shared, they were left trailing behind, their progress crawling compared to his leaps.
The party was aware Darien was the strongest among them, which was precisely why he was invited.
As a powerhouse, he could support them through challenges that could go south.
But they did not expect Darien to tilt the balance.
This was literally a 90:10 ratio, with him doing nearly everything while their efforts were background noise.
"Well, Darien, that fancy class of yours is limiting our growth. You're taking everything, and all the experience that comes with it."
Darien raised a brow and shrugged, scratching his jaw as if he didn't have a clue what his mates were talking about.
"And… what do you want me to do? Stand around and twiddle my thumbs?"
"Leave enough monsters for us too, dummy! We need to grow as much as you do."
Darien groaned, clearly disliking their idea.
This was exactly why he had wanted to go solo.
Since he couldn't get skill points from Rank 1 dungeons, XP was all there was then, and he didn't want to fall short on it.
But he understood his party mates and their own need for growth, so he complied.
After all, there were more dungeons to clear in the future, and even the First Zone of the Primordial World with real challenges and rewards.
"Fine. I'll hold back and let you handle some of the monsters," Darien said. "But on one condition, and that's every Life Core is mine. All of them."
"All of them? Then what do we get?"
Darien shrugged, motioning toward the loot from the Goblin Brutes: Rusted Brute Axe (Common) x3 Brute Fang Necklace (Common) Bloodlust Charm (Uncommon).
"You guys can have all the loot items. I think I can do without them. But all Life Cores, I'd take them."
Ayn and the rest put their fists on their hips, staring at Darien's greed with frowns on their faces.
His request was considered because they were knights, needing fewer Life Cores than mages.
As knights, they could only absorb a limited amount of Energy before all they could do with Life Cores was sell them.
In that case, it was practically the same as loot for them.
"Tch… greedy much."
"At least it sounds fairer than before…"
"Guess we don't have a choice. Deal."
After a bit of back-and-forth, the party came to a healthy conclusion.
Darien would let them fight to their satisfaction. He takes all Life Cores; they take all loot.
Together, they turned their focus toward advancing into the next tier of the dungeon with their weapons ready and their Flow pulsing.
But Ayn lingered a step behind, his narrowed gaze still on Darien.
Grrkk-Kkhrr… skrrraaagh!
The growly sounds and chants of goblins startled them as they emerged from the wider chamber into a bigger domain that resembled a goblin community.
(Goblin Shaman)
(HP: 550)
(Affinity: Arcane)
(Rank 1 Stray!)
From the smoky haze ahead, five Goblin Shamans suddenly pounced into view with their tall staffs, startling the party.
Darien smirked as he realized that they were magical monsters, using the power of their staffs.
The Goblin Shamans were fast, shorter, with ugly dents and big foreheads, each chanting gutturally as a certain purple energy surrounded both them and their staffs.
Darien tightened his grip on his weapon, his eyes narrowing sharply in assessment of the goblin village they had just entered.
"These ones are mine. Deal with the goons in the village. Leave the shamans to me."
Darien said to his party, expecting them to agree.
Ayn and the rest exchanged uneasy glances before deciding it would be wise to let Darien handle the shamans while they slayed the goons in the village.
With cautious steps, they slipped from the edges toward the settlements, leaving Darien to face the green-skinned spellcasters head-on.