Gamers of the Underworld (Web Novel)
chapter-104

Chapter 104: Second Beta Is Commencing

“Hello everyone, I’m NotWearingPants ヾ(≧▽≦*)o

I would like to express my gratitude to the veterans of the forum for providing various technical support.

Apostle419’s post [The fastest way to solve a Labyrinth Strategy Guide, the scientific way], Supersight Boxter’s post [Sexy forum members, Online Mapping], and other veterans’ technical support.

And all those who were not afraid of death, darkness, and exhaustion and participated in the exploratory mission. Without everyone’s united contributions, we would not have been able to exit the Labyrinth within eight hours.

Good, enough idle chat. I shall show the screenshots for the Ancestral Ruins. The items in the new area will not be replenished, so the screenshots are rare!

(Picture) (Picture)…

Though the new area is attractive and realistic, compared to the previous Spiders’ Lair and Specter College, the difficulty level is extremely high.

The two previous areas were already difficult. The current one, which has Plot Animation, a Labyrinth, and non-renewable items, is a place of no return.

Next is the expert gamers’ Labyrinth map with indications of the path to the exit. There are traps along the way. The other parts of the map are not labeled.

(Expert gamers’ map)

After we solved the Labyrinth, we immediately built our comprehensive defenses.

(Picture) (Picture)…

After that, we used the first outpost as our base and began a new round of mapping the area.

The results were beyond our expectations!

The whole area was filled with Skeletons of various creatures. Most of the walls and floors were damaged.

We were unable to gain access to some areas and rooms. The game system assigned us missions to find the NPC Brainiac, who would help us unlock the areas or rooms. The process took about ten to twenty minutes.

Except for the elusive and harmless Skeleton Soldiers, we didn’t find other monsters.

We were able to take any items from the entire area! This must be the reward map before the Second Beta. It was a treasure-filled Instance Dungeon, one where we could obtain rewards even if we closed our eyes!

The following is the equipment. Please do not be green with envy.

[Ancient Ruins Breastplate (Blue Superior Equipment, Damaged, Gnome)]

Defense: 40

Weight: 20

Durability: 10

Loot Location: Spirit Legion, Ancestral Ruins

Required Reputation: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2

Only for Gnome-sized creatures

(Picture)

[Ancient Ruins Shoulder Armor (Blue Superior Equipment, Damaged, Orc)]

Defense: 20

Weight: 20

Durability: 10

Loot Location: Spirit Legion, Ancestral Ruins

Required Reputation: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2

Only for Orc-sized creatures

(Picture)

[Ancient Ruins Huge Axe (Blue Superior Equipment, Damaged)]

Damage: 0–25

Weight: 30

Durability: 10

Loot Location: Spirit Legion, Ancestral Ruins

Required Reputation: Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom Reputation Level 2

(Picture)

…

Okay, I will post these tens of equipment. Damaged means that it has to be repaired to be used, but this functionality has not been added. I tried asking the Blacksmith to repair them, but he gaped at my equipment before saying, ‘With my current low-level Blacksmith facilities, do you think I can handle such equipment? You are the 35th Goblin to ask me. Are you starting your battles again after Cramer’s defeat?’

The Blacksmith meant that a new version is required for such functionality.

More or less. ( ̆•ω•̆)

There were other non-equipment items that could be exchanged for Reputation and coins. For example, a Crystal Ball.

[Crystal Ball]

Mission Item

Description: Item can be exchanged for Reputation Points and coins. Lord Sherlock is very interested in the item.

(Picture)

There were no other descriptions.

Considering the 100% realism in the game and Brainiac, who was eyeing the equipment—though he did not show any emotion—we speculated that these items will be useful in the Second Beta.

There are precedents in the game!

I witnessed Mufasa use the materials that we submitted without compensation to create backpacks and put them on sale. That’s cheating!

We decided to keep our loot in case it’s worth a fortune.

There was a problem. Most of the items couldn’t be transported out.

We discovered a strange item deep in the Ancestral Ruins. It was a huge Light Ball. Once we released our hands, it would float by itself. It looked like a powerful item.

The item wasn’t appraised by the Dungeon Core.

(Picture)

The Light Ball was unable to be transported via the Rune Mana Formation, so we kept it at the Ancestral Ruins.

We will find out more in the near future. We saw Brainiac shivering as he looked at the Light Ball. Perhaps, Brainiac is related to the Plot?

The gamer, Hemp Rope Technology, pointed out that the Light Ball and Bru were quite similar.

Do not worry, I will protect this Light Ball with my life!

Okay, I am ending the post. I am going back to empty the treasure vault!

Goodbye, everyone!”

Sherlock closed the forum page after reading the post. He didn’t read the replies.

“They found my 20,000,000 Magic Stones in the Ancient Ruins, and they don’t intend to give them up?” Sherlock thought for a while and said, “I can design a hidden mission so that the Goblins will bring the 20,000,000 Magic Stones to me. I will then reward them Reputation Points and coins. What about 1,000 gold coins?”

“Lord Sherlock, the gamers recognized that it’s a rare item. Even with 1,000 gold coins, the gamers will not be happy. It’s best to avoid doing that,” Bru said earnestly.

“Lord Sherlock, we can try a Plot Animation to solve this problem. If it’s not enough, we can add a full-service reward.”

“This is a good suggestion.” Sherlock thought for a while and took out his Magic Stone card, which had very few Magic Stones. He walked towards the Teleport Portal.

“Let me do some preparation.”

…

Peasant sat at the entrance of the Ancestral Ruins’ Main Hall. He was eating and recovering his energy.

Though he didn’t feel tired, after a long period of activity, his body would slow down. It was time for him to rest.

There were other Goblins resting and chatting in the Main Hall.

Brainiac stood on the Rune Mana Formation and stared intensely at NotWearingPants, who was carrying a huge Light Ball in his arms.

If the contract terms didn’t prohibit him from conversing with the Goblins, he would have grabbed NotWearingPants and asked him where he found the Light Ball, which was a Dungeon Core.

He was thinking of how to inform Lord Sherlock about this important matter when the Goblins stopped talking. A few seconds later, a few Goblins stood up.

NotWearingPants, who was carrying the light ball, quickly said, “Gosh! The system is announcing a new version Plot Animation?”

Just as he finished speaking, a tall figure walked out from the Rune Mana Formation. It was Lord Sherlock!

Other Goblins were teleported in, and they gathered around Sherlock.

Before they had the chance to chat wildly, Sherlock made the Goblins enter the “Plot Animation” mode by exerting his dominant aura. The Goblins who were just teleported in went into the “Plot Animation” mode.

Sherlock looked sad when he approached NotWearingPants.

“Is this the Dungeon Core? Ah… with the protection of the Ancestral Spirit!”

NotWearingPants blinked his eyes, but he couldn’t say anything.

Sherlock extended his hand towards NotWearingPants, who was holding the Light Ball in his arms.

“Warrior, did you discover this Dungeon Core? What a remarkable feat! Eternal Kingdom will always remember your feat! The Underworld citizens will always remember your name! NotWearingPants!”

Sherlock grabbed the Dungeon Core and pulled, but it didn’t budge. He used more force and hauled NotWearingPants up. NotWearingPants’ green, weak figure dangled in midair.

Sherlock’s finger emitted invisible electricity, and NotWearingPants released his grip and fell to the ground with a thud.

“Let’s take a look at the Ancestral gift of the Dungeon Core and see its effect.” Sherlock seemed not to notice NotWearingPants. He covered the Dungeon Core with a piece of strange cloth and mumbled to himself as he walked into the Rune Mana Formation.

After Sherlock vanished, the restrained gamers recovered.

“NotWearingPants, you’re hilarious! I’m unable to laugh, and it’s hurting me badly! Hahahaha!”

“Are you trying to be Sherlie’s pendant?”

“D*mn! My treasure’s gone!”

A group of Goblins chatted jovially as they vanished into the Rune Mana Formation.

The emotionless Brainiac was left behind.

Sherlock returned to Eternal Kingdom with the Dungeon Core in his hand and walked towards Bru.

He unwrapped the cloth covering the Dungeon Core and threw the cloth to the ground. The cloth disintegrated into powder and vanished. It was a single-use prop.

When the cloth disintegrated, Sherlock was uneasy. The cost of the cloth was far greater than a torn Teleport Scroll.

Sherlock raised the Dungeon Core in front of Bru. Behind him were the group of gamers, Mufasa, Simba, Moroes, and Little Fairy, who was peeping out curiously.

The Goblin, Raintea, whose face was dirty and dusty, was eating the clay in her hand as she looked over curiously.

Brainiac also teleported back via the Rune Mana Formation.

Sherlock’s hand grabbed the Dungeon Core as it went deep into Bru.

Bru’s core burst into flames which transformed into a magical force and filled the entirety of Eternal Kingdom.

The magical power emitted bright rays and blurred the figure of Sherlock, who was standing close to Bru.

At the same time, two red public announcements appeared in the gamers’ mind.

[“Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom” is going offline for maintenance in 30 minutes. All gamers are to go offline to prevent unnecessary loss and damage.]

[After the maintenance, the Second Beta will be officially launched. All Beta Gamers will be awarded a special reward pack. For more details, please refer to the official announcement.]