When they jumped into the portal, they were instantly transported into a cave. No interface, no loading screen, just instantaneous transport.
"Is this the inside of the dungeon? Why does it look exactly like a cave from our world?" Zayden asked as he looked around. He had read that dungeon portals transported people to another world or dimension. He didn't expect it to be this eerily similar to reality.
The cave walls were reddish-brown in color, with stalactites and stalagmites scattered throughout the area. The faint sound of dripping water echoed in the background.
"I chose the smallest dungeon for a start, and a closed-type one. Of course, some dungeons are similar to our world. But if you go to higher-ranked ones, they'll be totally different," Max said.
Behind them were a Blue crystal, hovering on the air. "This is the Exit Crystal. Used it if you want to exit the dungeon."
Zayden nodded.
Max then tapped his Space Ring, and from it, a sword materialized in his hand.
Max pointed his sword at Zayden. "You should be able to see the stats on this weapon now that you're officially a dungeon hunter. Cool system, isn't it?"
Zayden looked at the sword, and sure enough, he could see its stats.
---
Iron Sword
Rank: Common
Type: Sword
Level : 20 /20
HP: 0
MP: 0
Atk: 78
Def: 0
Int:0
Agi: 24
Luck: 0
A standard iron-forged.Though unremarkable in design, it is durable enough for beginners.
---
The sword looked very dull, with a simple design. Its blade was chipped all over the edges, a clear sign that its user had wielded it for quite a long time.
But the real problem was the stat, it was just… garbage. Already at level 20, yet it only had 78 Attack? And it only added stats to ATK and AGI? That's it?
'So he's been using this kind of weapon all these years… and survived?' Zayden thought, glancing at Max with a mix of disbelief and pity.
He then opened the Inventory section on his status screen. Due to his Generator Frame system, it had overridden the default system that dungeon hunters usually received, something he had noticed just now.
His eyes landed on the Whitesteel Sword. He pressed [Materialize] under its listing. Instantly, a white blade appeared in his hand. He had grasped the basics of this system after exploring the Generator Frame the night before.
"Max. Use this," Zayden said.
Max, who was adjusting his elbow braces, turned to look and froze in shock.
"What is this? Where did you get it?" he asked, quickly sheathing his own sword and taking the Whitesteel Sword instead.
It had a sleek, silvery-white blade with a faint shimmer under the light. The hilt was wrapped in dark gray leather, offering a firm and comfortable grip. A subtle engraving of a wind pattern ran along the flat of the blade.
---
[Whitesteel Sword]
Rank: Common
Type: Long Sword
Level : 0 / 30
Stats:
Atk: +12
Def: +2
Int: +1
Agi: +5
---
'The design was already nice. But the stats? Even better.' He looked truly amazed.
"Someone gave it to me. And I think you should use it to replace that broken sword."
"Are you sure? This sword has a starting 12 ATK, and it also adds stats to the other three attributes. This must be expensive," Max exclaimed.
'Even with this kind of stat, he's really amazed. I wonder what the standard quality of weapons is in the real world.' Zayden thought.
"You think if I sold this, how much could I get?" Zayden asked.
"Hmmm… I think in the current market, it could easily go for three thousand dollars," Max said as he tried swinging the sword. Even though the blade was larger than his old one, the weight felt perfectly balanced. Plus, the blade's design made each swing feel efficient and clean, it sliced through the air with ease.
"Three thousand!?" Zayden muttered.
'I didn't expect it to be worth this much. This is amazing! I should collect as much FP in this dungeon as possible to upgrade the reactor and mass-produce this weapon.'
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Then I'm giving it to you as a gift. Use it well. And with this, my debt to you is settled, okay?"
Max looked at Zayden, then at the sword.
He actually preferred cash over the weapon, he really needed money right now. Even though this weapon might be worth up to $3,000, that still depended on demand and negotiation. But seeing the stats and the sword itself… he would seriously regret it if someone else got their hands on it. And he couldn't be sure if he'd ever find a weapon like this again.
He sighed. "Fine. Your debt is settled."
'Nice. One debt done. Only ten million dollars to go,' he cheered at this minuscule achievement.
He then immediately summoned his Obsidian Spear.
"What the hell is that!?" Max's eyes widened, wider than ever before. "An ATK of 50, with AGI at 20? That's insane! Even its HP is 20, and it has 5 in Luck?"
"This is what they call a masterpiece," Zayden said. He still wasn't sure what was considered a masterpiece in the current market, but he knew well enough, this spear was an ultimate design.
"It's just Uncommon, but its stats are like a Rare, maybe even comparable to an Epic! This could easily sell for tens of thousands, if not a hundred thousand!" Max said, eyes glued to the weapon.
While Max was examining the spear, Zayden was grinning maniacally, facing the other way. Finally, he had a rough idea of how to make money out of the system.
'My wish really was granted. In no time, I can pay off all my debt and start my path to wealth. Thank you, God.' he said silently. He then turned to Max, who looked like a kid seeing a real-life mecha. His eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Okay, okay. We came here to hunt monsters. You can admire the greatness of this spear later," Zayden said.
"Oh, right! Alright, let's go."
Before they move, Zayden saw Max putting multiple circular objects into the sword. Zayden was confused but he did not ask.
They ventured deeper into the dungeon. Along the way, they passed other hunters also out hunting monsters. Zayden and Max noticed the stares they got, everyone's eyes locked onto the weapons they held.
"What was that spear? It looked like it came out of lava!"
"The sword that guy's holding looks amazing too."
"Those two must have some strong backing. I'm so jealous…"
Most looked on in awe.