Chapter 10
Chapter 10 Joanna Takes the Team’s Guide and Potions
However, as the team captain, how could Lucas make a mistake?
He had to maintain his authority and his image.
So, he furrowed his brows, his expression serious, even tinged with a trace of anguish.
“Joanna took the guide for the Desolate Castle. We didn’t get the chance to review it,” he said solemnly. “This run was meant as a test anyway, but we didn’t expect to encounter phantom-type monsters p>
Bruce, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
“And the potions p>
Previously, Joanna had always been the one to prepare the strategy guides-what potions to take, what extra items were needed.
They had been planning to challenge the Desolate Castle for a long time.
She should have had the potions.
Yes.
It absolutely wasn’t because he himself had failed to prepare.
That single remark, however, completely set Rhoda off.
“She took the potions too?” Rhoda snapped. “Do you have any idea how much it costs to prepare potions for a full team?
“One bottle of Holy Elixir costs 2,000 Starcoins and only lasts half an hour. From start to finish, this dungeon needs at least 20 bottles.
“For five people, that’s 200,000 Starcoins. And that’s not including Flaming Potions, Soul Toxins, and
others.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t even bring enough recovery potions. A pastor can’t cover everything.
“Cedric, did you bring enough mana potions p>
Under her relentless questioning, their eyes began to dart nervously.
All of this had always been Joanna’s responsibility before.
This time, each of them had brought some supplies, but nowhere near enough.
But Rhoda’s sharp interrogation grated on them.
Were all women this overbearing?
“Can’t we fight without potions?” Cedric said irritably.
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Once trouble arose, the four of them closed ranks with surprising unity. Neil even stepped in to defend Lucas. “My Holy Barrier can attach a Holy effect,” he said calmly. “I can apply it to the captain. We’ll clear the monsters slowly. it’s not like we can’t get through p>
Rhoda began to question her life choices.
Meanwhile…
Inside the Desolate Castle Dungeon.
The moment Joanna entered the instance, she swiftly ducked behind a massive, ancient floor lamp in the
corner.
The metal lamp weighed a full 132 pounds and stood nearly six feet tall. It couldn’t be removed from the dungeon, though the lamp oil inside could, as it was a consumable item.
Beneath the lamp’s glow, the darkness wouldn’t envelop the party, ensuring players wouldn’t be attacked proactively.
Joanna retrieved a skateboard from her spatial pack and placed it on the floor. Then, with practiced ease, she lifted the 132-pound lamp and set it atop the board.
Now she could push it effortlessly, illuminating invisible phantoms lurking throughout the castle.
Only then did she take out a Holy Elixir and drink it, followed by a Flame-enchanted potion, which she applied to her longsword.
Truthfully, her damage output wasn’t impressive at all. Without Nighthowl, she would never have come to the Desolate Castle alone.
As for why she hadn’t challenged it back when she was still in Lucas’s/party?
The answer was simple: lack of funds.
Preparing for a team raid required significant capital.
Her four teammates were all focused on upgrading their own equipment, leaving huge gaps in potion. funding. Joanna had planned to wait until the end-of-month assessment, when the team would receive scholarship rewards, before buying supplies and attempting the dungeon.
Well, that plan was out the window now.
She only needed to buy potions for herself, drastically cutting costs.
More importantly, with Nighthowl’s combat power, half an hour was more than enough to clear the dungeon. So, she had only bought two bottles of the Holy Elixir, spending 4,000 Starcoins.
Right on cue, Nighthowl sprang into action.
A silvery luminescence emanated from his form, coalescing into a protective shield around him.
It was the same skill he’d used in the cafeteria.
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Chapter 10 Joanna Takes the Team’s Guide, and Potions
Lunar Aegis.
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Moonlight might be reflected sunlight, but it was also a unique form of energy, one naturally effective against phantoms.
Moreover, Nighthowl possessed another skill, which was Cosmic Umbrage.
It absorbed gamma rays from space, a form of dark energy.
It also countered phantoms. While phantoms were beings of dark energy themselves, that didn’t mean they were immune to it.
As the pair advanced, castle phantoms drifted in from all sides, hovering eerily as they tried to extinguish the lamp.
Before they could even get close, beams of black radiance erupted outward, annihilating them instantly.
“You have slain Castle Phantoms x20 p>
“You have obtained: Phantom Maid’s Attire (Iron-tier p>
Equipment drop!
And Iron-tier at that.
“Phantom Maid’s Attire (Iron-tier): Defense +20, Spirit +2 p>
Perfect for Joanna.
She equipped it immediately. She’d decide later whether to sell it based on the total haul. If the run was profitable enough, she’d keep it to boost her own strength.
With the monsters slain and the experience from killing foes nine levels higher, Nighthowl finally reached
Level 2.
“Your contracted companion, Nighthowl, has reached Level 2. Vitality +100, Strength +200, Agility +200, Spirit +300 p>
المدينة
Nighthowl’s body expanded once more, now roughly the size of an adult golden retriever.
“Right, affinity points p>
Joanna spent 10 of her remaining 13 affinity points, and released a soothing aura toward him.
“You have pacified Nighthowl. Nighthowl thanks you sincerely. You receive a boon from your contracted companion: Vitality +10, Strength +20, Agility +20, Spirit +30 p>
Another boost.
So this is what explosive growth feels like.
Joanna’s eyes burned with renewed determination as she and Nighthowl began sweeping through the dungeon.
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The castle was vast, and the phantoms took on various forms, including phantom guards and phantom
guests.
The loot was plentiful as well.
In no time at all, three more items appeared.
“Knight’s Longsword (Iron-tier): Attack Power +20, Strength +2 p>
“Stygian Stilettos (Iron-tier): Movement Speed +0.1, Agility +2 p>
“Gentleman’s Hairpiece (Common-tier): Affinity +1 p>
The hairpiece was a headgear item that increased Affinity. It would be perfect for a bald gentleman and would fetch a slightly higher price than common-tier gear, around 8,000 Starcoins.
The Knight’s Longsword, as a weapon, was worth about 60,000.
Joanna slipped on the Stygian Stilettos herself.
She set a clear goal for the future.
After leaving the team, she’d first assemble a full set of Iron-tier gear for herself.
She was finally living well.
The slaughter continued at blistering speed, Joanna’s own experience steadily climbing.
The final area of the Desolate Castle lay within the bedchamber-the domain of the last boss, Duchess
Tanarissa.
Clad in an extravagant, crimson gown with a wide skirt, she sat upon an ornate, gold-trimmed, crimson leather-upholstered armchair, holding a goblet filled with what appeared to be congealed blood.
As Joanna pushed open the bedroom door, a string of sinister laughter echoed through the chamber.
“Fresh blood… I smell it once more p>
Before she could utter another word, a beam of black light erupted from Nighthowl, striking her instantly.
The duchess’s soul was ripped from her body, suspended in midair as the dark radiance ground it down to nothing.
Bang!
The ornate chair clattered to the floor.
In its place, a seat bathed in silver light materialized before Joanna.
“You have slain Duchess Tanarissa of the Desolate Castle p>
“You have obtained: Phantom Crimson Throne (Silver-tier): Movement Speed +10, Agility +200.
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“Special Effect: Low-Altitude Levitation, Phasing-grants brief intangibility, avoiding attacks.
“Note: Unique drop from the Desolate Castle p>
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