Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Pyramid (1)
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“We've arrived, human. It's been quite a while since we had a visitor. This place can't be reached even by magical means, so if you wish to return, use this to summon me. But you'll need a suitable offering.”
[You have acquired the Sphinx's Flute.]
Like a sulking child, the Sphinx dropped Rokan off at the pyramid, handed over the item, and vanished.
At least he could summon it anytime to enter the pyramid, which was fortunate, but the hassle of offering tribute each time was a downside.
If he summoned the Sphinx without preparation, he'd probably end up as its meal.
The offerings changed each time, which was an issue, but it wasn't a big problem since checking the flute would reveal what was needed.
“Then, shall we go in?”
Rokan planned to hole up here for three days anyway.
[You have entered the secret dungeon 'Legendary Pyramid.']
[First entry bonus: Acquired experience increased by 30% for three days.]
[First entry bonus: Drop rate increased by 30% for three days.]
[Title 'Pioneer' effect: First entry bonus enhanced by 10%.]
Actually, even discovering the pyramid was problematic because it was sealed with massive stones, leaving no visible way in.
The entrance was mischievously placed midway up, so frail casters had to be carried by fighters just to reach it.
But for Rokan, who was unmatched in strength, it was as simple as post-meal exercise. Each grip sent him shooting upward, reaching the midpoint in no time.
Along with that came the echoing first entry bonus notifications.
Flashing a sly grin, Rokan strode inside.
“The starters are sand soldiers, as expected.”
Immediately, his greeters appeared.
“Offer…… your body…… to the Emperor…….”
Sand-formed bodies dragging along, sharp spear tips glinting.
They resembled the sand human monsters called Sandmen, but these were equipped and coordinated with each other.
“These trash mobs are noisy!”
Boom!
What he launched was a bombardment.
When Rokan's hand axe struck, the sand bodies exploded, scattering grains into the air—but complacency was forbidden. As long as HP remained, their sand essence allowed infinite regeneration.
“Annoying.”
Confirming the exploded ones reforming to original state, Rokan grimaced and charged forward, leaping over them.
“Ca……pture.”
The sand soldiers swept across the floor like waves in pursuit, but Rokan ignored them.
“Sand Wall.”
“Sand Grab.”
However, the sand soldiers weren't about to let Rokan go easily.
Exploiting their sand nature, they erected walls of sand, and sand-formed hands snatched at his ankles.
“Strike, Unyielding Advance!”
But Rokan forced his way through with raw power.
The obstacles they raised crumbled into sand piles, leaving them no choice but to follow behind.
In the wake of his charge trailed a whopping twenty sand soldiers.
Glancing back to gauge them, Rokan took position, then spun around and hurled himself into their midst.
“Wheel Wind!”
Smash-smash-smash-smash!
As if intent on grinding them to fine dust, he began pulverizing them with overwhelming force.
Thanks to the 'Cut Anything' title allowing full damage even to formless entities, the effect was dramatic.
“Grrraaah!”
Clang.
He'd merely swept from one end to the other, yet turning back revealed only loot from the sand soldiers.
“Oh ho, juicy.”
Sand soldiers dropped only the gear they wore, at a set probability.
However, those items couldn't be used right away—they were things like 'Ancient Spear', 'Ancient Armor', 'Ancient Boots', requiring appraisal to reveal true power.
Of course, most were rare or lower junk.
“But users go crazy for gambles. And…….”
That said, jackpots happened occasionally. That was exactly what Rokan was after.
He wasn't planning to appraise them like lottery tickets for big hits.
His plan was to sell them as-is, straight to the shop.
Set up a dedicated gamble vendor and list each for dozens of gold—an outrageous price.
Depending on the slot, but weapons could fetch 30-40 gold and sell like hotcakes.
“Humans' greed knows no bounds, and they repeat the same mistakes.”
Especially since he'd spread rumors of possible unique-grade drops.
In truth, it wasn't a bad deal at all. Post-appraisal, they were 200-level gear, and with normal-grade 200-level restricted items going for 8-10 gold, this was very fair pricing.
Higher grades alone would net 15-20 gold, magic-grade 30-40.
If rare or above popped, it'd be a huge profit.
“One in a hundred would be lucky.”
'If it's meant to be, even one will be rare or better.' Not his problem to fret over.
“Floors up to 2 were sand soldiers. Time to grind here first.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Rokan hummed a tune and strolled deeper inside like he was out for a leisurely walk.
While grinding every last sand soldier.
[You have leveled up.]
For Rokan, not yet at 230, the early-240-level sand soldiers were an excellent EXP source.
Same level felt too easy, too big a gap meant EXP penalties ruined hunt time efficiency.
Then came the fast-respawning sand soldiers—a godsend. Decent EXP, and first entry bonus boosted ancient-series drops.
As the saying goes, 'row when the tide comes in'—he pushed hard before the bonus ended, reaching 240 over three days.
[First entry bonus for secret dungeon 'Legendary Pyramid' has ended.]
“Time to move on.”
Spending three full days without going deeper, just on sand soldiers, might seem wasteful, but nonsense. He knew deeper monsters weren't efficient for repeats.
Plus, his inventory was now stuffed with items.
“Not robots, but combining…….”
[Giant Sand Soldier][Lv 248]
Descending to what could be called the third floor brought massive sand monsters. Simply put, think multiple sand soldiers fused together.
Bigger, stronger, more HP.
In return, only about 10% more EXP and similar drops, but slow respawn made them poor for grinding.
“Get lost!”
Splat!
Thus, Rokan's choice was decisive.
Pass.
No intent to defeat—just smashed through and past. Straight to the fourth floor.
[Sand Knight][Lv 250]
The next floor was just as tricky.
Higher knight rank than soldiers, but EXP and drops no different from giant sand soldiers—no need to grind desperately.
Smashed down with force and passed.
Then appeared the fifth floor, where the environment shifted.
'Now it's real.'
Unlike the upper floors shedding sand like they might collapse any second, the material here was different. Like another structure hidden inside the pyramid.
If upper floors were slaves and soldiers, from here it was elites or nobles.
Rokan tensed slightly and adjusted his stance.
'From now on, think low/mid/high nobles per floor.'
The monsters' caliber changed too. Above were soulless husks; now came ones with proper bodies.
And naturally, combat power differed vastly.
'Warhorse users and mummies.'
Precise names: 'Buried Retainers' and 'Noble Mummies'.
Buried Retainers came in stone and metal variants; higher nobles had more and stronger ones. Touch one, and affiliated retainers plus the noble mummy swarmed for a beating.
“I really hate draws.”
That said, no need to fight them all.
Each noble mummy randomly held key pieces to the next floor—collect three, combine, and skip the rest.
But for luckless Rokan, weak at pulls and draws, he had to brace for all.
And it happened.
“Damn.”
Of the ten noble mummies on the fifth floor, downing nine yielded only two key pieces.
“Catch him! Rip out the living one's heart and offer it to me!”
Last one meant full hunt. As Rokan approached grumbling, the bandage-wrapped mummy pointed and screamed.
“Glory to our lord!”
With that, stone statues charged in droves.
Statues mimicking life forms, souls forcibly bound, took up arms with undying loyalty.
“Binding Bandages!”
The noble mummy lent an arm too.
Magic-reinforced bandages unspooled long to bind Rokan.
“You bastard…….”
Snap!
Rokan snatched it with his left hand.
Gripping the compressing bandage like a pressure wrap, he bared furious fangs.
“Who you pointing at?”
Rip!
Yanking hard, the noble mummy's body dragged over disgracefully.
Whoosh!
Rokan swung it like a weapon on momentum.
Bandages too tough to sever normally, body wrapped tight. At this point, perfect morning star substitute?
Having used maces and such for fun in his past life, Rokan wielded it skillfully against the retainers.
“L-Lord!”
AI glitched instantly.
Lord turned weapon—couldn't attack or defend properly, just hesitated and got smashed.
“Oh, this is useful.”
Rokan felt pretty good now.
Grinning innocently like a kid with a fun toy, he spun like a hammer thrower.
“Wheel Wind!”
Whooooosh!
Sweeping everything around.