Equipment Drops and a Frozen Rescue

“Host, this is a Cyclops. Its ability is Shockwave, an area attack that inflicts the ‘Fragile’ abnormal status. ‘Fragile’ increases the damage taken from attacks, but the effect decays over time.”

“The room effect is ‘Gigantification.’ As you can see, the beast’s size has increased, and its attack power and constitution have doubled.”

Su Xiaoqian explained, dutifully playing the role of commentator.

“Oh.” Red Spider Lily dodged the heavy hammer slammed into the ground, agilely somersaulting onto its thick arm. Taking the opportunity, she advanced and raised a blood-condensed firearm aimed directly at the Cyclops’s glaringly obvious eye—its self-proclaimed weak point.

*Bang*

A gunshot, a bloom of blood.

Stung by the pain, the Cyclops’s vision turned crimson. It swung its arm wildly, flinging Red Spider Lily off, only for her to be caught mid-flight by Saint Lily.

“Red Spider Lily, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but it’s about to have a bad time~” Red Spider Lily felt she had grown accustomed to being princess-carried; not even a hint of shyness stirred within her.

Watching the Cyclops, its hatred drawn by the ticklish beam attacks of a few Dandelion Sprites, Red Spider Lily pointed at the number floating above its head.

“Red Spider Lily is also known as the Flower of Doom, and this is my ability—’Death Omen.’ It triggers when I attack.”

“It displays a number based on the enemy’s strength and state, maxing out at 99. Think of it as a death countdown. When it hits zero, it’s an instant kill.”

“Of course, this countdown doesn’t follow normal seconds. Every action—attack, defense, dodge—decrements the number by one.”

Seeing the Cyclops, now blind and swinging its massive club wildly, accidentally hit a Dandelion Sprite, only to be further disoriented by the漫天 white fluff.

Its number plummeted.

“Ah… feels about the same as my sealing effect, but way easier~” Saint Lily sighed, half complaining. “I have to land a hundred consecutive hits to trigger a full seal. Not only does it take many hits, but it’s also manual, and I can’t interrupt the chain.”

Saint Lily landed and set Red Spider Lily down. She steadied herself.

Meanwhile, the Cyclops’s number finally reached zero, exhausted by its own actions.

A single Red Spider Lily bloomed, then countless more.

“Boom!”

It crashed to the ground, its body transformed into a field of flowers. A spirit worthy of lament.

…

“So… there really are equipment drops?”

After the Cyclops was buried in flowers, its body dissipated into specks of light, leaving behind an item. Strangely, a single glance revealed the equipment’s ability—was this another rule of the ‘Dungeon’?

What dropped was a bone hammer. Though its design didn’t suit a young lady, its effect was truly impressive.

Effect: Upon defeating an enemy, provides an absolute protection barrier to nearby allies, fully negating one attack.

Now, about the item distribution.

“I got the experience, so I’ll pass!” Red Spider Lily raised her hand.

“I didn’t contribute much, so I’ll pass too!” Saint Lily chimed in.

Thus,

Miss Dandelion looked left, then right, then back at Red Spider Lily, smiling. “Alright! Since everyone says so, I’ll take it! But are you sure you’re okay with that, Miss Red Spider Lily? This is a barrier that protects nearby allies, you know~”

(Translation: By ‘nearby allies,’ are you sure you count yourself among them, Miss Red Spider Lily?)

“Of course. I trust Miss Dandelion to use this equipment well and protect everyone. Right, Saint Lily?” Red Spider Lily smiled back.

(Translation: Dandelion, you wouldn’t want Saint Lily to find out you don’t consider me an ally, would you~)

“Mhm, Dandelion is very reliable!” Saint Lily nodded earnestly, smiling with certainty.

(Translation: Mhm, Dandelion is very reliable! Actually, is there even a need to translate this? Feels like padding the word count.)

…

……………………………..Not-padding-the-word-count Dividing Line~……………………………….

[Looks like it’s really confirmed to be a Dungeon!]

[They even dropped equipment!]

As various superpower teams delved deeper, more evidence confirming the ‘Dungeon’ was uncovered.

[So, anyone packing up and leaving?]

[No official notice, and the job’s still here… doesn’t feel right to leave.]

[Isn’t a Dungeon supposed to be underground? What’s there to pack?]

[Does anyone still think a Dungeon is underground? ‘Dungeon’ refers to a sealed area with treasures and calamity beasts; all known Dungeons appear above ground!]

[But what if? What if it doesn’t come up?]

[Not coming up? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get rich overnight! I’m sick of my little shack!]

People argued endlessly online. Clearly, without official intervention, these people remained all talk due to various reasons.

Meanwhile, the official forum for Hehe City had just posted a new announcement.

The gist: The public should not panic, trust in the abilities of Frost Snow Sovereign and the various superpower teams, etc.

And then, nothing more.

Scouring the existing information word by word, no one could discern the actual plan for resettlement or development.

Anxious, everyone could only continue watching the live streams from the superpower teams exploring the Dungeon to track the latest developments.

…

“Hey? You’re really giving this to me?” Tan Yuhan was somewhat surprised, looking at the pair of white wolfskin boots. This agility-boosting equipment was for her? Her gaze shifted, a bit embarrassed. Could this guy possibly like her?

“Didn’t I say I’d protect you? I figured if you can run faster, I can take out the other calamity beasts quicker and not have to watch out for you too much!” He Mo scratched his face, a little embarrassed but trying to sound serious.

Well, somehow that sounded weird?

“…So I’m dead weight?” Tan Yuhan’s smile turned into a mask again.

“Huh? I didn’t say that. I just think—look, if you run faster, you’ll be safer, and it’ll be easier for me. Yeah, just take it~”

“…” Tan Yuhan accepted the wolfskin boots shoved into her hands, looked at his earnest face, twitched the corner of her mouth, and after a long while, “Thanks a lot~”

“My pleasure, my pleasure!”

[Xiao Tan: I feel like my expression can’t hold up anymore.]

[Xiao Tan: “Thanks a lot~” He Mo: “What for, we’re buddies~”]

[Haha~]

Tan Yuhan glanced at the comments and sighed helplessly.

“Xiao Tan, which way should we go next?”

“Hmm…” Tan Yuhan looked around. “Not much to choose from. This is the only combat room, right? But let me change my shoes first so I can run faster and not slow down the great hero’s performance~”

“Oh~” He Mo rubbed his nose, blinked. Why did that sound sour? Was it just his imagination?

So the two took a short break.

They stepped into the next room.

A wave of freezing cold washed over. He Mo immediately shielded Tan Yuhan. Ice particles played a percussive tune on his gilded muscles.

Squinting through the wind and snow, he stared at the girl standing in the center of the storm, and at the disaster beasts and… humans? turned into ice statues around her.

“Save me… please save me…” A purple-robed girl clutching a staff tried to flee, but her legs were already encased in frost, preventing movement.

He Mo’s pupils contracted. Seeing her miserable state, anger swelled in his chest.

“Xiao Tan, exit the room first. I’ll save her!”

With that, He Mo let out a loud roar and charged straight into the heart of the storm.

“Let that girl go, you bastard!”