Entering the Dungeon, I was immediately greeted by the largest notification I’ve seen since this new reality was announced to us.
Welcome to the Gauntlet!
In this Dungeon, you will be tested but only as far as you are willing!
Fight only one battle and depart or push yourself to the limit and aim for the Peak!
But beware…Death is real and the only escape is after a battle is won.
You may leave after this prompt is over, but take one step forward and you must fight at least once.
Win your battle and you will be rewarded.
Lose your battle and that will be the end…Permanently
So what will it be? Strive for Glory or go back from where you came.
The Choice is Yours.
Notes
· There are 50 Battles per Grade
· Battles Progressively Increase in Danger
· There is NO help
Well.
I don’t think I need much more explanation than that. It’s literally a gauntlet. The further I go, the harder it becomes, and I’m sure the rewards it mentioned increase in quality as well.
Simple enough.
Now.
Take one step forward and I have no choice but to fight at least one battle right? Considering I walked in here ready to risk my life, then this is the best situation I could possibly ask for.
I would only ever fight one battle at a time and it would be up to me to continue or not.
Honestly it feels too good to be true, and some might say it is a bit too coincidental, but it was here the entire time. Someone just needed to take a chance. Something I planned on doing.
Though before I took that step forward, I looked around the room I was in. It was a small room in the shape of a square. The walls seemed to be made of wood, and the ground was a grayish stone.
On the wall opposite me, there was a simple metal gate. It reached from the floor to the ceiling, and even though it clearly had empty spaces, only darkness lay beyond it.
To the right, I saw something that caused me to smirk.
On the wall hung a sign board which was titled ‘Gauntlet Leaderboards’. There was only one entry on it.
1. Derrick – 2 – 00:2:35:47
So I wasn’t the first person to take the chance huh.
If I’m understanding this board right, then I think it means this Derrick took two and a half hours to clear two battles.
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Interesting, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter all that much. I won’t rush ahead trying to beat anyone’s time if it adds unnecessary risk to an already risky situation.
Anyway, there was nothing else of note in the room so I finally took that step forward and was promptly greeted by another notification.
Enter the Gate to begin Battle!
Time Until Automatic Start - 00:00:29:59
So I can either start right now or be forced to start in 30 minutes regardless. Well I saw no reason to wait and began walking to the gate.
All I had on me was the Dagger I earned on the first run of the Snakebite Dungeon. I didn’t have a spear for two reasons. One, it was easier to be inconspicuous with a dagger, and two, I don’t think my right arm can handle the pressure of handling a spear right now.
Handling a dagger with my left will hopefully be all I need to clear at least one or two battles here.
With that in mind, I stepped to the gate and reached to open it and the second I touched it, I suddenly found myself in a different place.
It was an arena. One that kind of reminded me of the roman colosseum with the type of architecture on display. It even had that same sort of rustic and vintage nature to it.
The biggest difference was that it was small. Like really small. Literally just a decently large room with a roman style stage in the middle, and small empty stands off to the side.
Then out of nowhere, I heard a small chime, it was accompanied by both a notification and the spawning of something across from me.
Battle 1 – Lesser Horned Frog
It was a frog about the size of a basketball, brown in color, and two horns that curled backwards.
Definitely the biggest frog I’ve ever seen, by a long shot...oh its doing something…
Oh shit!
Croak!
The giant frog let out a loud croak before leaping towards me like a damn canon ball.
Though…I simply stepped out of the way. It was fast, but my eyes could keep up with its speed with no problem.
It landed past me with a loud thud, and as it moved it turn around one Surging Step was all it took to quickly rush to it and before driving my dagger straight into the top of it’s head.
Weird green blood spurted out as it made another loud croak, only to fall still moments later as I pulled the dagger out.
Then it simply disappeared. Even the blood that fell on the floor went away.
You have won a Battle.
Claim Rewards or Continue
The Choice is Yours
I was completely fine to continue, but there is no harm in testing out the full process now. After making my selection another choice selection popped up. One that made my eye twinkle.
Rewards Claimed
Please Select
Weapon/Armor – XP – Coins
Well then. This will definitely serve me well I think. Now let’s think about it. I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that because I only completed one battle, that was relatively easy, that these rewards won’t be much of anything.
With that in mind, I don’t think I’m in dire need of new armor and my dagger will probably serve me fine for now. Next if I’m going to assume this reward will be meager, then getting a few Copper Coins don’t seem all that important.
Now I’m probably not going to get a lot of XP either but considering the chasm that exists between my current level and the next, then even this amount should help.
Rewards Granted – 200XP
Yep, pretty small amount.
After that I was promptly teleported back to the first room.
Leave or Continue
Time Until Automatic Start - 00:00:29:59
So either I left, or I would be forced to return to battle. Makes sense.
Ignoring the countdown for a minute, I took a look over at the leaderboard just to see if there would be a change.
1. Derrick – 2 – 00:2:35:47
2. Fred – 1 – 00:00:2:15
Interesting.
Alright, let’s get back into it then.
Entering the arena once more, I was once again faced with the big ass frog and I didn’t waste anytime killing it.
You have won a Battle.
Leave or Continue
Ah. So I don’t get rewards again for completing the same battle which means this isn’t farmable.
Well then. This time let’s just go as far as I can.
Continue.
Battle 2 – Ashen Viper
Oh another snake. This one was pitch black in color and looked pretty normal for the most part in terms of size and overall appearance.
Just based on appearance alone, I think the frog should probably be here instead of the snake but it didn’t take long for it to prove why it was worth its slightly advanced battle position.
The snake spit at me, and like the frog and it’s canon ball leap, I easily dodged it. The ground where the spit landed immediately started to sizzle.
No matter.
I was too fast for it and the snake was easily dispatched.
On to the next.
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