[The Crucible of Chains 1] - Peace Before the Forge

The bustling streets of Duskmire Outpost hummed with life, filled with adventurers bartering, training, and preparing for their next journey. The town had always been lively, but to Raven, it had never felt more peaceful.

He walked along the stone-paved paths, the hood of his tattered cloak pulled low as he blended into the crowd. No one recognized him. No one whispered rumors about a dungeon mastermind. The Bloodfeast incident was already slipping into obscurity, buried beneath the constant flow of new battles, quests, and conquests.

A crisp breeze carried the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread through the air. The nearby tavern's doors swung open, releasing a wave of warmth and the low murmur of conversations. Raven exhaled slightly, allowing himself to soak in the rare moment of calm.

He passed the market stalls where merchants called out their wares.

"Fresh Abyssium Ore! Limited stock! Upgrade your weapons before your next dungeon run!"

"Elixir of Shadow Veil! A must-have for solo dungeon delves! Half price today only!"

Another vendor, an older man with calloused hands, waved a small gemstone toward a passing adventurer. "Dungeon-exclusive enchantments, lad! Increase your drop rate by ten percent!"

Raven stopped near a small black-market trader, one who specializes in rare, untraceable goods. With a simple exchange, he sold off Bloodshade Fang, a rare PK dagger looted from Bloodfeast's ganking, making a tidy profit without drawing attention to himself.

The coins clinked softly as the trader handed them over. "Good haul," the man muttered, barely glancing at Raven. "You keep bringing goods like this, and we'll do fine business."

Raven only nodded, slipping the pouch into his cloak. Transactions like these weren't about conversation—they were about efficiency.

He leaned casually against a nearby stone wall, watching as players moved in and out of the trading hub. The energy of the town was infectious—newcomers excitedly gearing up for their first dungeons, seasoned veterans discussing strategies, and a few solo players brooding over their next moves. Zone chat remained chaotic as ever—players recruiting for dungeon runs, arguing about PvP duels, and, occasionally, whispering about the mysterious ganker who destroyed Bloodfeast. But no concrete details had surfaced.

Good. That means I can move forward without any distractions.

Raven made his way toward the tavern, stepping inside just as a fresh round of laughter erupted from a group of adventurers near the hearth. The warmth from the fireplace wrapped around him, a stark contrast to the cool night air outside. The scent of seared meat and spiced ale filled the room, mixing with the faint tinge of old wood and burning candle wax.

He settled into a dimly lit corner, away from the main crowd, and ordered a simple meal—dark bread, roasted venison, and a mug of herbal tea. As the tavern keeper placed the plate in front of him, a young NPC waitress lingered for a moment.

"Haven't seen you around much," she commented, adjusting the tray in her hands. "Solo player?"

Raven lifted his mug slightly. "Something like that."

She didn't push, only giving a polite nod before moving to another table. He appreciated the lack of prying questions. The fewer people noticed him, the better.

Pulling up his dungeon control interface, he reviewed what was already under his command.

Subjugated Dungeons (Lv 1-15):

Bone Ruins (Bone Tyrant) – Provided low-level alchemy & medium armor materials.

Goblin Lair (Goblin King) – Produced alchemy ingredients, with Goblin Shamans brewing potions for him.

Hollow Fang Den (Duskrunner Alpha) – No valuable farm materials, meaning few players frequent it. A perfect place for Duskrunner to level up peacefully without interference, while remaining a powerful summon under Raven's command.

Veilshade Catacombs (Phantom Seer) – Supplied Abyssium Ore, a high-tier crafting material.

Raven sighed, leaning back as he stared at the glowing interface before him.

Four dungeons. Enough to build a foundation. Enough to stay afloat. But in a system boasting over fifty active dungeons, it wasn't power. It was potential.

He could craft mid-tier gear, produce basic alchemy ingredients, and field a few controlled summons—but there were gaps. Dangerous ones.

He had no way to counter elemental damage. A single fire-based boss could cripple his current builds and dungeon bosses as available team. And his potion output? Still capped at minor buffs—nothing game-changing.

If he wanted to survive the deeper zones, let alone dominate them, he needed more.More resources. More synergy. More options.

Nearby Dungeons in This Zone:

🕷 Shadowfen Hollow (Lv 15-20)

Materials: Deathshade Root & Nightmire Moss (Advanced Alchemy: Poisons & Buff Potions)

Ideal For: Assassins, stealth players, and PvP poison crafting.

Risk Assesment: High - PK guilds farm here for poison-enhanced weapons.

🔥 Emberstone Burrows (Lv 20-25)

Materials: Emberstone Ore & Infernal Shards (Upgrades for Weapons & Heavy Armor, Fire Resistance Gear)

Ideal For: Tanks, blacksmithing, and fire-resistant equipment.

Risk Assesment: Moderate - PvE-focused dungeon with lower PvP interference.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing his thumb over the rim of his mug. Shadowfen Hollow and Emberstone Burrows. Two entirely different paths, each offering their own rewards and risks. One filled with poisons and assassins, the other fire and fortitude.

Shadowfen Hollow practically oozed profit—deathshade roots for poison, rare moss for stamina buffs. High-value alchemy, easy to sell to PvP-focused guilds, and yet, that was exactly the problem. Too many players. Too much chaos. If he wanted that place, he'd have to fight for it.

Emberstone Burrows, on the other hand, was quieter. Hot, dangerous, but with fewer interruptions. Heavy armor, fire resistance, ore that could be reforged into something powerful. Not flashy, but useful. Reliable. Something he could take advantage of without drawing attention.

Shadowfen Hollow offered high-value poison materials, making it an excellent money-making opportunity, but its high PK activity meant a constant battle against rogue players.

Emberstone Burrows, on the other hand, provided durability-focused gear upgrades, something that would directly benefit him in future dungeons. It was also less contested, making it an easier target for subjugation.

His gaze flicked toward the zone chat feed at the corner of his vision. A group of rogues were bragging about their latest haul from Shadowfen Hollow, flaunting poison builds and stealth techniques. They thought they owned that place.

Raven lips curled slightly. That settled it.

Tomorrow, he would go to Emberstone Burrows.

But for tonight? He simply enjoyed the peace.