A City Expedition

'So an Insignia is like a set of some sort? Maybe more like a title or collection bonus than an armor bonus. That makes it even stronger then, doesn't it?'

Usually, later armors in the game offered some bonus, like stats, a passive, or maybe even an active ability if you collected its set. These effects were often very powerful, but they also required you to wear that exact armor.

If the Insignia operated the way he thought he did it would be broken even if the effect wasn't as good. This was because he wouldn't have to equip them– they'd essentially be passive boosts in a sense.

Applauding his new additions, Nick thanked the system for the first time. 'Maybe you're not so bad. Keep doing your best not to kill me and we might even be friends!'

The system responded in kind, somehow knowing Nick's subconscious desire to see all his new additions laid out.

--(Stats)-- 

+-- Personal 

Name: Nick 

Title: King of the Cosmos 

Race: Human; [Dragon Walker] 

Gender: Male 

Age: 25 

Path: Warrior 

Level: 3 

Exp: 638/1,500 

+-- General 

CP: 85,000 

Strength: 17(+3)[20] 

Dexterity: 24 

Intelligence: 24 

Luck: 10 

Defense: 16(+10)[26] 

Health: 80/80 

Mana: 35/35 

Stamina: 100/110 

+-- Path: Warrior 

*One-Handed: 23 

*Block: 20 

*Medium-Armor: 20 

Stealth: 15 

Annihilation Magic: 15 

Illusion Magic: 15 

Restorative Magic: 10 

Heavy-Armor: 15 

Light-Armor: 15 

Two-Handed: 15 

Clairvoyance: 13 

Divinity: 100 

+-- Perks 

Emperor's Slash 

Farseeing Eyes 

+-- Skills 

Ultimate Skill: N/A 

Active Skill 1: N/A 

Active Skill 2: N/A 

Rearguard Passive: N/A 

Advance: N/A 

Area Skill: N/A 

Zone State: Emperor's Will 

+-- Equipped Items

Helmet: None

Shoulder: None

Chest: None

Gauntlets: [Leather Greaves; Uncommon]

Sword: [Fang of Finality; 0/9]

Ring 1: None

Ring 2: None

Ring 3: None

Ring 4: None

Ring 5: None

Amulet: None

Leggings: [Leather Leggings; Uncommon]

Boots: [Leather Boots; Uncommon]

_______________________________________________

'5 rings?' Nick thought as he looked over the equipment screen and all of his other progress. His new items boosted his stats a decent amount.

Flexing his muscles, he could feel the growth caused by his Str increase. It felt the same as the pumps he would get back in the days he worked out.

His defense also saw a substantial increase thanks to his new equipment–a fact he was very thankful for. Anything that would make it harder for him to die.

And then there was his sword: [Fang of Finality]. The system basically confirmed his suspicion that the lack of its rank didn't mean the weapon was weak, but rather the complete opposite.

'I need to find these Seals of Annihilation...'

And there was one last thing. That insignia... he had to find the other 2 pieces, but still. The more he killed goblins, the stronger he'd be.

[Goblins killed: 33]

Yeah... the system was even monitoring that. Could the same be true for other monsters? Would all of them have Insignia like this, with a powerful collection set that became stronger the more he killed their kind?

'As long as there isn't a human Insignia or something.'

...

[Juliana's Pov]

While Nick was busy looking over his new types of equipment, Juliana was making herself useful. Walking through the ruins of the goblins' homes, she paused only to collect any gold she found lying around.

'Just 98 pieces? You broke a$$ goblins!' Juliana lamented the lack of gold, knowing that it wasn't going to be enough to pay for a single dungeon raid.

The stupid goblins failed her and her master! In a sudden burst of anger, she zapped one of the goblin corpses, turning it into dust instantly.

Seconds later, the putrid scent of its scarred skin danced around her nose with a smell worse than 1,000 skunks. Scrunching her nose, she went to kick the stupid goblin but there wasn't anything left to kick.

"Uh, why are we beating up dead goblins? Does it give us gold or something?"

She jumped at Nick's innocent voice, knowing she had been caught in a fit of rage unbecoming of his first Valkyrie. A fine lady didn't lose their manners. They were always poised, elegant–perfect.

The familiar shadow of doubt crept its way into her heart again. For a little while she was useful, but now... Well, they didn't get nearly enough gold. That was self-explanatory enough.

"No, it won't. Though I wish it would, because they didn't have much gold to begin with. It's not even enough to get into the worst dungeons."

Her head fell defeatedly. "Sorry."

Nick shuffled uncomfortably for a second before saying, "Uh, why are you sorry? Do you have some kind of create infinite gold spell I didn't know about?"

Huh? Infinite gold spell? What the hell is that?!

"No..." Juliana whispered.

Nick shrugged and took the few pieces of gold Juliana found, sending them to the void. Then he said, "Ok then. We'll just rob somebody or something."

...

The city of Jenia was built on the outskirts of destruction. Logistically, it didn't make much sense for a city to exist so close to dungeons. Whoever first settled here realistically should've just died.

Like 'Oh, land!', 'Oh, monsters!', 'Oh, I'm dead!'

As usual, games cut corners to make essentials more accessible to enter. Because it would be far more efficient for players to be able to sell and buy gear and then enter a dungeon moments after, the city was designed to be right next to all the dungeon rifts.

For some reason, that general idea seemed to be followed in this game as well.

Any second, some huge dragon could jump out of a higher-ranked rift and just let loose destruction on the city. And nobody cared.

'Ugh. I don't really care either.' Nick thought as he walked through the bustling city, doing his best to ignore any attempts at socializing.

He was here to slay strong monsters that were known for murdering groups of men like it was nothing. He wasn't here to attempt the daunting task of communication.

"So, who are we robbing?" Juliana whispered with an excited lift to her words. Her eyes were darting around the city, probably looking for some old grandma to beat up and rob.

Tentatively placing his left hand on her shoulder as if afraid she'd bite back, he whispered, "We're not robbing anyone, ok." Instead, let's just complete a quest like normal, morally good people."

"Well, I'm just saying that robbing would be faster."

"No robbing!"

"Not even a little?"

"No!"

Juliana fell silent after losing the argument, almost pouting as they walked to the reception area– the place where they could enter a dungeon rift or accept a quest.

Nick couldn't tell if she looked silly or hot because, on the one hand, the tantrum did make her look immature, but on the other hand, the way she bit a small part of her lip...

'Focus!'

They were here to obtain enough gold to enter a dungeon.

'Stupid capitalism.' Nick kicked a rock across an alley as he thought about the absurdity.

People really tried to profit off a thing that could kill thousands at any moment?

It didn't take them long to reach the reception area, and once they did they were met with quite the reception. The reception area was one big stall in the middle of a field. Behind it, he could see 10 different portals of different colors representing the difficulty of the dungeon.

Some guard was carrying 3 people with one arm.

"You need 2 more party members! If you try to enter any dungeon again, I'll send you to the worst dungeon of them all. Hell!!!"

A guard roared as he threw them before huffing and turning around. It was like one of those scenes in a movie where someone would be kicked out of a bar.

But if the guard was right... these people needed 2 more people. They were their ticket into dungeons...