Chapter 36: The Corrupted Orb, The Gargoyle

Reaching level 10 has unlocked the potential for a third summon. However, Gu Chen is in no rush; he decides to open his treasure chest and gift box first. The Hell-grade treasure chest from the novice dungeon is guaranteed to drop a five-star rare piece of equipment, while the first-clear gift box is guaranteed to contain a rare-grade item, most likely exclusive to his class.

With a surge of excitement, Gu Chen opens the chest.

【You have opened the dungeon treasure chest [Hell-grade]】
【Obtained weapon: Fallen Orb】
【Quality: Rare ★★★★★】
【Level Requirement: 10】
【Class Requirement: Mage-type classes】
【Attributes: Spirit +150, Casting Speed +50%, Skill Damage +50%】
【Effect: Each time a skill hits a target, a Death Tentacle is generated beside the target, lasting for 2 seconds】
【Death Tentacle: Deals 3,000 true damage to the target and applies a slowing effect】

"This orb is excellent. Not only does it boost skill damage, but it also adds 150 to my Spirit," Gu Chen notes with delight. His current Spirit attribute is 219; this orb nearly doubles it. Furthermore, having witnessed the terror of the Fallen Witch’s Death Tentacles firsthand, he knows their value. For a Summoner, a summon’s skills are the Summoner's own skills.

The Blood Monarch’s [Fatal Shot] can fire six bullets at once, each carrying skill effects. Once all bullets hit, they would generate six tentacles. The Nightmare Sovereign’s [Nightmare Entanglement] can now summon fourteen nightmare minions to entangle a target, which would generate another fourteen tentacles. In other words, Gu Chen only needs both summons to cast their skills once to spawn twenty Death Tentacles. At 3,000 damage per tentacle, that is 60,000 damage. Given the one-second attack speed, that damage figure effectively doubles.

120,000! It is terrifying! Considering the final boss of the Hell-grade dungeon, the Fallen Witch, only has a maximum health of 158,000, a single orb-attached skill could deal 120,000 damage. That would leave the boss nearly dead! Gu Chen feels incredibly powerful. This orb is a perfect match for his situation. While a five-star rare orb is only mid-to-high tier for most, and its attached skill is standard, it would only offer a minor boost to other players who typically possess only three or four skills. But in Gu Chen's hands, the damage output is explosive. It is truly formidable.

After equipping the Fallen Orb, Gu Chen eagerly opens the first-clear gift box.

【You have opened the first-clear gift box [Hell-grade]】
【Obtained item: Attribute Fruit】
【Quality: Rare ★★★★★】
【Level Requirement: 10】
【Effect: All Attributes +100】

A level 10 Attribute Fruit that boosts all attributes by 100—this is fantastic. Attribute gains are multifaceted, impacting health, energy consumption, and skill cooldowns. Since a Summoner's attributes directly scale their summons' damage, everything is interconnected. Without hesitation, Gu Chen consumes the fruit. It tastes sweet and refreshing, like a peach, and a surge of potent energy flows through his limbs.

【You have consumed the Attribute Fruit, all attributes +100】

Gu Chen feels reborn, brimming with such immense power that he feels he could punch a star to pieces—though he knows this is merely the illusion caused by a rapid increase in stats. He swaps out his Black Butler Robe for the Priest Set obtained from the Red-robed Priest and checks his character panel.

【Name: Gu Chen】
【Class: Summoner】
【Level: LV.10 (7234/14500)】
【Strength: 317】
【Agility: 316】
【Constitution: 318】
【Spirit: 469】
【Talent: Dark-Born First Blood [God-tier]】
【Skill: Comprehensive Link LV.5 [Rare]】
【Equipment: Fallen Orb, Priest Set】
【Summons: Blood Monarch LV.10 [Legendary ★], Nightmare Sovereign LV.10 [Epic ★]】

With these four-dimensional attributes, Gu Chen is practically invincible at the first rank and could even hold his own against second-rank professionals. This gives him much more confidence for venturing into the wilderness.

Having cleared the novice dungeon, entering other dungeons would require significant fees to maintain the high-concentration energy crystals they rely on. Gu Chen has some savings, but he doesn't intend to stay in dungeons. The fastest way to level up is to head into the wilderness and the Abyss. The Abyss, located in the wilderness, is a manifestation of extraterrestrial invasion. Dungeons are merely constructed imitations located within cities to prevent professionals from having to endure the dangerous trek through the wilderness, where fierce alien species lurk. The danger there far exceeds that of a Hell-grade dungeon.

Determined to enter the wilderness, Gu Chen decides to finalize his third summon first. Browsing the professional trading platform, he finds five level 10 summon skill books: Unicorn, Earth Demon Turtle, Treant, Gargoyle, and Mountain Vulture. The Unicorn is a mage-type, the Turtle is a tank, the Treant is a warrior, the Vulture is an assassin, and only the Gargoyle is a support-type. Specifically, it is a debuff-support, capable of inflicting poison, curses, and weakness. Recalling the fear of being controlled by the Gray Mist curse, Gu Chen realizes that a powerful debuff state can be game-changing. With his Blood Monarch for tanking and damage, and his Nightmare Sovereign for burst, a debuff-support would be the perfect addition.

"You're the one, Gargoyle."

After careful deliberation, Gu Chen spends 150,000 to purchase the Gargoyle’s summon book. At the "Excellent" grade, this is a steal, as high-quality summon books are rarely available on the open market, usually reserved by large guilds. Since Gu Chen is neither a noble nor a guild member, finding a high-quality book is difficult. Fortunately, his God-tier talent allows him to use his Dark Blood to upgrade the summon's potential. The bloodline obtained at levels 9 and 10 can elevate the third summon directly to Epic one-star.

This is going to be excellent. Gu Chen is filled with anticipation. Fusing the Gargoyle with his Dark Blood will be well worth the effort.