The Dungeon entrance rippled.
A drop in temperature swept through the humid, reeking sewers. Frost began to creep along the rusty pipes.
"She's here," Nova whispered, hovering close to Asher's shoulder. "Check the global stream chat. It's exploding."
Asher didn't need the chat. He could feel the mana density change.
A woman stepped out of the shadows. She had silver-white hair tied in a high ponytail and eyes the color of a frozen lake. She wore sleek, white combat armor that cost more than a standard Hunter's lifetime earnings.
[Player: Lysandra Vance]
[Class: Frost Knight (A-Rank)]
[Affiliation: Freelancer / Top Prospect]
She didn't walk; she glided.
A group of ten Goblins screeched, rushing her from the darkness.
Lysandra didn't even draw the rapier at her hip. She simply raised a hand.
"Freeze."
CRACKLE!
A wave of jagged ice erupted from the floor.
In a split second, the ten Goblins were encased in blue crystal, their terrified expressions frozen in place. Lysandra snapped her fingers.
SHATTER!
The ice exploded. The Goblins disintegrated into sparkling blue dust and loot drops.
[Global Stream Chat:]
xX_Slayer_Xx: OMG! Did you see that? Instant wipe!
Simp4Queen: STEP ON ME LYSANDRA!
Analyst_01: That's high-tier mana control. She's definitely S-Rank material.
Asher watched from the ceiling, crouching on a ventilation pipe. He was shrouded in darkness thanks to his [Shadow Monarch] passive.
"Show off," Nova muttered. "She wasted 200 Mana on trash mobs. Inefficient."
"It's not about efficiency," Asher corrected, his eyes scanning Lysandra's data like a spreadsheet. "It's marketing. She's building her brand to attract a Sponsor Constellation."
He looked at the path ahead.
The dungeon split into two tunnels.
Left: The main path, filled with elites. Lysandra was heading that way.
Right: A narrow, collapsed maintenance shaft.
"Nova," Asher whispered. "Scan the right tunnel."
"It's a dead end, genius. Just rubble."
"In the game," Asher said, dropping from the ceiling silently behind Lysandra's group (who were too busy cheering), "The developers put a Hidden Room behind that rubble. It only spawns if a Player with an Ice Attribute lowers the dungeon temperature below zero."
He smirked.
"Lysandra just unlocked the door for me."
Asher moved while Lysandra drew the attention of the dungeon's monsters.
[Skill: Shadow Step]
He blinked through the darkness, bypassing a Hobgoblin patrol that was marching toward the sounds of Lysandra's battle.
He reached the collapsed tunnel. Sure enough, the frost from Lysandra's earlier attack had made the rubble brittle.
KICK!
Asher smashed his heel into the cracked concrete. The wall crumbled, revealing a small, hidden chamber bathing in a golden glow.
"Jackpot," Nova gasped.
In the center of the room sat a single, ornate chest.
[System Message: You have discovered a Hidden Treasure Room!]
[First Discoverer Bonus: Luck +5]
Asher approached the chest. He didn't rush. He checked for traps. (None).
He threw the lid open.
Inside wasn't gold. It was a single, dusty skill book and a strange, rusted key.
[Item Obtained: Skill Book - 'Dagger Throw' (E-Rank)]
[Item Obtained: Rusted Key (Unknown Usage)]
"Trash," Nova complained. "An E-Rank skill? You have the Shadow Monarch class! You need S-Rank skills!"
Asher picked up the book. "E-Rank skills have low mana cost. Low cooldowns. If I combine this with my high stats..."
He learned the book instantly. The knowledge of weight distribution and trajectory snapped into his mind.
Then he picked up the key.
"And this..." Asher's eyes narrowed. "This is the key to the Heroic Difficulty boss room."
Suddenly, the ground shook.
ROAAAAR!
A deafening scream echoed from the main tunnel.
[Warning: The Dungeon Boss 'Mutated Sewer King' has awakened early!]
[Reason: High Mana Disturbance detected.]
"Lysandra made too much noise," Asher noted calmly.
He looked at the holographic map. The Boss was charging straight for Lysandra. She was strong, but she was currently Level 5. The Boss was Level 10.
If she died, the dungeon might collapse before Asher could farm enough coins.
"Nova," Asher equipped his Dull Knife. "How much is a kill assist worth for a Boss Monster?"
Nova checked her database. "A lot. Plus, if you save her, you might get a donation from her fans."
Asher's grin widened.
"Time to stream snipe."
[Main Chamber]
Lysandra panted, her mana running low. Her rapier was chipped.
Standing before her was a monstrosity—a massive alligator-goblin hybrid, standing on two legs, wielding a streetlamp as a club.
SMASH!
Lysandra dodged, but the shockwave threw her back. She hit the wall hard.
[HP: 350/800]
The Monster raised the streetlamp for a killing blow. Lysandra tried to summon ice, but her mana was empty.
Is this it? she thought. I die in an F-Rank dungeon?
Just as the club came down—
SHINK!
A rusted knife flew out of the shadows with the force of a cannonball.
It struck the Monster's right eye, burying itself deep.
GRAAAH!
The Monster recoiled, dropping its weapon to claw at its face.
A figure landed silently between Lysandra and the beast. He wore cheap rookie gear, but the shadow beneath him writhed like a living thing.
Asher looked back at her, his expression bored.
"You're blocking the loot drop."