Super Bazooka Treats All Equally! (1)
The next morning.
Leaving behind Govkun's tearful self-sacrifice, I head home, crash into the sweetest sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed as hell. Not worn out from yesterday's marathon search, but seriously invigorated. I decide to blitz straight into the 9th floor.
And of course, I've got my trusty Alabong prepped and ready before even stepping foot there.
The moment the entry message pops up for the 9th floor, that massive turtle shell appears right in front of me.
"Preemptive strike fuuuuuck YEAH!!!!"
I slam the already-mounted Alabong right into it.
And wouldn't you know it. This bad boy that shattered a massive boulder in one shot back on the 1st floor—the same one that took Wilson's 200-round barrage to crack—hits the shell. The impact fuse on the warhead triggers instantly, compressing the shaped charge inside. It blasts out a superheated, ultra-high-pressure metal jet straight into the shell, right on target.
The result...
-BOOOOOOM!!!!
Total Clear Time: 3 seconds
Final Combat Time Record: You've shattered the #1 ranking on Hardcore difficulty for the 1st floor!
˪ Rewards sent via mail! Please claim them!
"This! Fuuu! Ck! Fuuuuck!"
After grinding the 1st floor all damn day, I barely snatch back the top spot. Before heading out to claim my rewards, I gotta celebrate this win with some passionate butt-dancing right here.
Anyway, after wrapping up the passionate butt-dance and heading back home.
"See? I'm not the only one who thinks that."
9th floor has zero room for time-wasting, so I knew I'd be back right away. Before heading in, I'd fired up my computer monitor. Now I'm scrolling hunter community crap, checking reactions to my blank-nick ' ' 9th floor record. Super lazy way to claim rewards.
Not that it's lazy—at this low floor, every single floor's reward is a thrilling payoff for me.
About five seconds of enthusiastic hand-drumming on my desk later, a flashy effect pops, and the status window sparkles into view. Time to see what I got.
Random Item Box Result: Acquired Desert Wanderer Coat (A-Grade)!
"Oh?"
Unlike the potions and junk before, this time it's gear. An A-Grade 'outfit,' no less. Sleek dark gray trench coat vibes that tickle a guy's fantasies just right. No ragged, torn-up hem despite the 'Desert Wanderer' name.
After grinding all day, this feels like proper compensation. My chest swells with emotion.
But just for a moment.
"Oh shit."
Right after I post the proof pic, high-nick 'NicknameWithSpacesOK' drops a super realistic warning.
I was gonna check anyway, but now I yeet the coat across the room in case it auto-equips. Cautiously open the status window, appraise the item to dodge any bullshit curses.
Thankfully...
◈ Reduces all projectile damage by 10%.
◈ Reduces all melee damage by 5%.
"Phew, safe. And the stats look solid enough."
Never gotten an A-Grade outfit before, so I'm no expert. But no permanent bind curse like high-nick warned—just straightforward damage reduction. Pretty decent, I nod in satisfaction.
Sure, when I post the status window and ask if the performance is good, most drive-by hunter noobs say 'kinda meh for A-Grade'...
But the fixed-nick hunters—who actually climb or seem A-Grade+—all say 'more than enough, overflowing even.' No issues then. I nod, slip on the new Desert Wanderer Coat, and dive into the 10th floor.