Tiger Glades Dungeon (1)
Ethan returned to the central market and purchased some potions and food with a total worth of 50 coppers.
Leaving one and a half silver in his pouch, Ethan went on a search for items with DEX effects.
After several minutes of back and forth, Ethan, at last, found a level 3 common glove with a DEX +3 effect.
It was a useful item of equipment, but it cost him to spend his entire earnings.
Level 3 and above common items are still in silver at this point in the game, while uncommon items are more expensive.
It was expected given the game was still in its early stage.
There aren't many higher-ranking items found in the game. If there are rare or unique items, guilds and rankers are usually the ones who have them.
It was because higher-tier items could only be obtained by raiding higher-tier dungeons, exploring the uncharted zone, or completing difficult quests.
And it is usually guilds that have the power to challenge these things. Rankers are also talented, and they have reckless personalities that always challenge difficult things.
As such, it was pretty rare for an average player to have items that were above uncommon at this point of the game.
Hence Ethan didn't mind the cost because he understood why it was the case.
Ethan wears the glove and proceeded to the west side of the city, where the commoner's residence is located.
As additional evidence that the city is thriving, the commoner's area was pleasant and clean.
The houses lining the side of the road are all decent, and the people, especially the children who were running around, are all smiling.
'What a nice place.'
While looking at them, Ethan can't help but smile.
Minutes passed and he finally arrived at the city's west gate. After greeting the guards, he stepped out onto the vast prairie under the flickering sun.
***
Ethan arrived at a lush and verdant forest at the foot of a mountain after passing through a wide open prairie.
It took more than fifteen minutes of travel time to reach this destination from the city.
This place is called the Tiger Glades.
It was one of the zones scattered around the Ardale region.
Zones are places in Utopia where players can level up whether it is to fight wild monsters, do dungeons, or gather materials.
The Tiger Glades is a leveling zone for those who are level 5 and above.
The monsters inside this forest are varied in type but tiger-type monsters are the main occupant of this zone.
When Ethan arrive at the outskirts of the forest, he saw the many players bustling at the entrance of the zone.
While some players are leaving in a festive mood, others are dejected and appear to have eaten something bad.
'It seems Tiger Glades is always this lively. There sure are many people here.'
Ethan quietly scanned the players as he continue to walk inside the zone.
After a minute, he arrived at the dungeon area. Numerous open parties sat near the dungeon entrance where four monoliths could be seen standing.
Ethan step forward and casually selected a team that needed one more player, but when the other team members saw his novice get-up, they immediately kicked him out. Some parties even ignored his presence completely.
'Oh well, time to create my party.'
Ethan thought as he didn't appear to be bothered by their immediate rejection.
As a level 5 player, he understand that he wasn't in high demand.
Tiger Glades' was a 6-man party dungeon. It was a level 1 dungeon that requires players from level 5 up to level 10 to enter.
However, although the dungeon was only level 1, it was a special dungeon that was much harder than a basic dungeon.
So a level 5 player like him would be in a tight spot when it comes to finding a party.
But Ethan wasn't worried in the slightest. A simple problem like this only needs a simple solution.
He walked through the crowd. After selecting a vacant spot, he pointed his staff into that place and began to chant.
When they heard Ethan's rumbling, several players around tilted their heads in confusion while others in the background snickered, saying he had gone insane.
But their laughter comes to a halt at one point.
Their eyes widened as they focused on the direction that Ethan's staff was pointing.
Other players who were looking for their party members also stopped shouting.
Their eyes were drawn to an incredible scene.
A cyclone of fire, large enough to swallow a group of ten people was blazing through the dungeon area.
"Th-this is..."
Nobody knows who said those words, but that become the trigger for breaking the long silence that had descended on the place.
Some people panic while others become excited because they think a hidden event is about to begin.
The players who know what's happening, on the other hand, only look at Ethan in amazement.
'This guy!'
'Is an expert!'
Such words immediately entered their minds.
Their eyes sparkled in excitement.
'We must invite him!'
They simultaneously thought the same thing.
While others are still in awe, they have already made their move and sent party invitations to the man.
Tiger Glades is a special dungeon and currently, except for the
Even the guilds who were based in the city were unable to clear them.
Earlier, the said guilds competed to clear the dungeon's Hard difficulty.
But, in the end, they all failed in the span of two hours.
Since the entrance permit to this special dungeon was limited to only three chances a day, they were certain that no guilds would challenge it today.
If there are, these are the guilds that are weak or newly formed.
Hence they will seize this opportunity to challenge the Tiger Glades dungeon's Hard mode.
However, their current equipment is insufficient. That is why they are picky when it comes to recruiting their members.
And right now, an expert has appeared!
He used a powerful AoE spell.
What else could he be if he's not an expert? Even a guild executive rarely possesses such a spell!
They were thinking about these things while also waiting to see which party Ethan would join.
But minutes had passed and the man still hadn't decided on a party.
'Eh? What exactly is going on? '
They were perplexed for a moment but were stunned when they saw Ethan inspecting the attributes of some players.
It was as if he was a party leader inquiring about their stats.
That's when they realized what was going on.
This mysterious expert had formed his own team despite their invitations!
Because of this, they become irritated, but they soon realized something as they look around.
The only people Ethan ignores are those who initially rejected him.
They eventually calmed down when they noticed the similarity, and shame flashed across their faces.
Others look at Ethan with regret, while some remain hostile to him.
Ethan, on the other hand, couldn't help but flashed a grin of satisfaction when he saw their reactions.
'Ahh, such regretful faces are sometimes enjoyable to look at.'
He thought as he chuckled inwardly.