In the next two runs of the Level 30 Nightmare dungeon, Lucas's fiery streak of luck seemed to fizzle out. No glowing treasures, no rare gear, nothing but piles of ordinary crafting materials.
It wasn't a loss—at least the drops covered his dungeon entry fees, leaving him with enough coin for meals and daily upkeep. But compared to the double jackpot from the Hob Goblin, the haul felt underwhelming.
Still, Lucas wasn't discouraged. How could he be? That first run had already paid for nearly a month's income. He was practically buzzing with energy. Even an empty-handed run couldn't dent his good mood.
Once the three dungeon clears were complete, Lucas wasted no time. He stepped out of the dim Goblin Forest and made a beeline for the wilderness. His boots crunched against the gravel path until he reached open ground. There, with a grin, he summoned his beloved motorcycle.
The heavy bike appeared with a flash of light. Its sleek frame and growling engine were as much a part of him as his dagger. Swinging a leg over the seat, he twisted the throttle and roared toward the hunting zones where high-level wild monsters prowled.
This became his rhythm in the days that followed. Every morning began with dungeon clears—first Level 20, then Level 30. Once his tickets were spent, he would race into the wilderness, carving through monsters until exhaustion set in. The strategy was simple: earn money and gain levels simultaneously.
And it worked.
Day by day, his experience bar crept upward. His wallet fattened. His reputation in the guild quietly grew.
Weeks passed.
And then—
"Phew… finally, Level 40!"
On that milestone day, Lucas stood in a desolate canyon, wiping goblin blood from his dagger. He had just cleaved through a hulking Level 56 beast in a single strike. As its body crumbled into light, a surge of golden radiance erupted from his own frame.
The glow was unmistakable. He had advanced.
Lucas had officially reached Level 40.
He exhaled, almost trembling. "All that grinding, all those sleepless nights… it's worth it."
Opening his personal attributes panel, his eyes locked on the change. His progress bar had split into two long empty bars again. No matter how many monsters he killed now, his experience wouldn't move.
He had hit the bottleneck. The next step wasn't grinding—it was the second job advancement dungeon.
Lucas nodded to himself. "Alright. Before I even attempt it, I need proper gear. A full set of Level 40 purple-quality equipment. I won't take risks."
For that, there was only one place to go: the guild headquarters. And only one person he needed to see—the head of logistics, Emily Frost.
Fortunately, being vice president of the guild had its perks. He could write his own requisition note, stamp it with his own authority, and skip the bureaucratic red tape.
That was one advantage he never took for granted.
---
Back in the city, Lucas revved his motorcycle through the crowded streets. The guild's towering headquarters soon loomed above him. Parking his bike, he strode inside, his note of requisition in hand.
The logistics hall was neat and orderly, every shelf and counter carefully catalogued. Behind the desk stood Emily Frost, her trademark calm expression intact as she sorted records.
"Hello, Minister Emily. I'm here to apply for new guild equipment." Lucas smiled politely, handing her the note.
Emily accepted it with a slight tilt of her head. Her eyes skimmed the paper, her brow furrowing. "You're… applying for a full set of Level 40 purple equipment?"
"That's right," Lucas replied simply.
Emily blinked, then looked up sharply. "But didn't you just apply for a full Level 30 set… a month ago?"
Her voice carried both confusion and suspicion. For a moment, she thought perhaps she'd misread the form. But the words on the parchment were clear.
Then an absurd idea crept into her mind. Could it be? No—it was too ridiculous to even consider.
Lucas, meanwhile, answered her unspoken question with perfect calm. "Because I've already reached Level 40."
"What?!"
The usually composed Emily Frost shot to her feet, her eyes wide. Her jaw dropped so far she looked ready to swallow a goose egg whole.
"You—you've reached Level 40 already?!"
Her mind reeled. She remembered clearly—just a month ago, Lucas had only crossed into Level 30. And now, in a mere four weeks, he had climbed another ten levels?
"That's… faster than a rocket," she muttered, nearly shaking. "No, faster than a spaceship!"
Her disbelief only deepened as she stared at him. Lucas, of course, knew exactly how outrageous it sounded. But he wasn't about to apologize for progress.
He had pushed himself ruthlessly—counting every second of double and five-times experience, never wasting a buff. Every battle had been calculated, every kill efficient. Even as monster levels rose and the experience required skyrocketed, his pace hadn't slowed. He had clawed his way to Level 40 in just one month.
With a casual shrug, Lucas opened his attributes panel and showed her. The bright Level 40 marker gleamed on the screen.
Emily staggered back, clutching the desk for balance. "My god… You really did it. Level 40 in less than four months since awakening? Even President Jade Walker wasn't this fast when she was your age!"
Her brain whirled. This was beyond genius. Beyond prodigy. Lucas was becoming a legend within their guild, right before her eyes.
"Minister Emily? Minister Emily?"
Lucas waved a hand in front of her face, pulling her out of her daze. She blinked, blushing faintly.
"Ah—sorry! It's just… unbelievable. But yes, of course. You'll be one of our core pillars soon, no doubt."
Lucas chuckled. Compliments were nice, but he had work to do. "So, Minister Emily, can we proceed? I need that Level 40 gear to prepare for my advancement dungeon."
"Y-yes, right away." She regained her composure quickly, though her cheeks still carried a trace of color.
As she began the formalities, Lucas gently reminded her: "Don't forget, I'll need to return my Level 30 set."
Emily froze, then smacked her forehead lightly. "Oh—of course! Thank you for reminding me. I almost forgot the process entirely."
Her embarrassment deepened. She was usually meticulous, yet Lucas's insane growth had shaken her so badly that she nearly skipped basic procedure. She accepted the Level 30 gear from him, logged it properly, and filed it away.
Once everything was squared, she gestured for him to follow. "Please come with me. You can choose your Level 40 set from the warehouse."
---
The guild's logistics warehouse was vast, lined with racks of gleaming armor and weapons. Emily guided Lucas inside, her steps brisk, her eyes still flicking toward him as if to reassure herself he was real.
Lucas smiled at her reaction. Jade Walker was right. Emily really is the backbone of this guild. Loyal, diligent, trustworthy.
Together, they selected a set of Level 40 purple rare-quality gear perfectly suited for Lucas's assassin build. Each piece was checked, fitted, and packed into his inventory with care.
As he walked out, the weight of the new gear was more than just numbers on a stat sheet. His attributes had soared. His strength had climbed to new heights.
Excitement thrummed in his veins. He had one more step to take.
The Second Job Advancement Dungeon awaited.
But Lucas wasn't reckless. Before diving in, he planned to test his upgraded abilities in the guild training ground, fine-tune his combat style, and research the dungeon's mechanics. He wanted to know what trials lay ahead before walking into them blind.
Still, as he left the logistics hall with Emily's awed gaze on his back, he couldn't suppress the anticipation building in his chest.
"Soon… I'll challenge the advancement dungeon. Whatever waits inside, I'll conquer it."
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