Live Dungeon! Chapter 1, Welcome to Live Dungeon

Translator: TipToe

Live Dungeon, the free MMORPG where players race to reach the lowest floor. Tsutomu Kyoutani, who dwells alone in his apartment, is presently orchestrating the creation of characters under the identical name across his five laptops.

He observed the five screens while simultaneously consuming jello. The initial character he selected was a healer. Subsequently, the tank and attacker were established, both having already attained the level cap. Lastly, he had brought into existence one more character – a magic tank – which, too, was on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of its level.

Given that this game is a level-based dungeon crawler, alongside being an MMORPG, it is only natural that forming parties with other players becomes a necessity. Approximately two years prior, I myself ventured into forming one with a guild, a friend, and even a complete stranger, exploring the depths of the dungeon.

However, the relentless march of time is unforgiving. And Live Dungeon, which commenced its service around seven years ago, is slated to cease operations in January.

This was precisely the game that Tsutomu first immersed himself in during his high school days, coinciding with his initial encounter with a computer. For a span of about six years, Tsutomu has devoted himself to this very game, and he deemed it fitting to bid it a memorable farewell. He began to contemplate.

Conquering the bottom-most level single-handedly – Tsutomu harbored this dream quite frequently. Nevertheless, Live Dungeon is an MMORPG. It is an established principle that no individual should be capable of beating the game solo. Therefore, he procured a second-hand laptop and borrowed three additional ones from his university peers and seniors. The point is, for games released seven years ago, the system requirements are exceptionally low, rendering the use of aging laptops perfectly viable.

[Completion Achieved…]

After confirming that the final character's level had reached its cap, he discarded his empty jello containers into the trash receptacle. Then, pouring all his might into it, I applauded and pointed my finger skyward, performing a triumphant dance. From this juncture forward, he would commence the distribution of one of Live Dungeon's truest pleasures throughout the existing gaming community.

The game boasts a function allowing the delivery of dungeon clears within its virtual confines. The deities who govern the dungeon have integrated a feature enabling them to observe human player endeavors. Furthermore, this feature underwent an update, becoming distributable across the internet, and it met with considerable acclaim on the forums.

Nonetheless, Tsutomu made a concerted effort to distribute it exclusively within the game. This server typically maintains a perpetually active BOT, but that presents no issue. Even upon its distribution online, it was undeniably apparent that it would face substantial criticism.

“Very well, let us commence.”

Regaining his composure, Tsutomu steeled his expression and linked each of his characters to the server. With a pre-emptive expression of gratitude, he submitted the requisite forms through the party chat and applied for entry into the party.

Within this game, party roles are fundamentally divided into three categories. Primarily, there is the Tank (Shield), followed by the Attacker (Offense), and concluding with the Healer (Support/Recovery). Tsutomu has mastered roles including physical tank, magic tank, physical attacker, and magic attacker, and has even completed the game while fulfilling the duties of the recovery role.

Inside the dungeon, the environment undergoes transformation primarily every ten levels, with the ultimate floor designated as the hundredth. At this lowest stratum, the final adversary, a solitary dragon, makes its appearance.

Beneath the realm of rudimentary specifications lies a clandestine dungeon, yet its difficulty is such that even a single individual adeptly managing five machines cannot conquer it, as would be logically expected. Consequently, his endeavors were concentrated on triumphing over all dungeons listed.

The strategy for dungeon conquest had been meticulously devised during the extensive grinding phases, but this marks the inaugural instance of engaging in actual combat. Indeed, if he were to fully leverage his summer vacation, he should be capable of achieving this, he mused as he actuated the Enter key.

Floors one through ten constitute the Grasslands. Levels eleven to twenty encompass the Forests. Ranges twenty-one to thirty are designated as the Swamps. From thirty-one to forty lies the Wilderness. The debilitating poison effects prevalent on these floors are rather troublesome, but they can be adequately managed by utilizing the character's GORI attribute at that level. The true challenge emerges with the beaches spanning floors forty-one to fifty. In order to vanquish the formidable shell crab, the boss encountered here, countermeasures to prevent its subterranean evasion are imperative.

He posited that intercepting it before it could burrow would prove effective, yet accomplishing this solo proved exceedingly difficult, necessitating a strategic positioning that anticipated its movements. There exist three distinct movement patterns that shift in accordance with its remaining vitality, and knowledge of these would allow for its easy defeat before its full recovery.

Should one plummet from the ravines within floors fifty-one to sixty, immediate demise is assured. Consequently, these areas are heavily populated with both treacherous traps and perilous enemy encounters. However, by bestowing the party with the magic of wind, these threats can be neutralized. Tsutomu also exerted considerable effort to evade detection by the dragon that perpetually soared high above the level.

The formidable boss presiding over the valley is none other than a fire dragon. Without the benefit of any aerial traversal items, it would relentlessly hover above, unleashing torrents of flame. Yet, if one possesses long-range offensive capabilities, its wings can be weakened, facilitating its descent closer to the ground, thereby transforming the ensuing battle into a distinctly winnable affair.

The 61st to 70th floors of the dungeon present a hazardous volcanic landscape. Instant death is common on these levels, making heat protection equipment a crucial necessity. While players tread through lava, bosses unleash fiery barrages, instantly vanquishing foes who lack immunity, a trait these powerful entities naturally possess.

Floors 71 through 80 transform into desolate snowy fields. While not overly perilous with appropriate antifreeze measures, a notorious location named Onimon harbors an endless swarm of fish-like monsters called “Setsurou.” Confronting such overwhelming numbers with a single player controlling five units proves incredibly difficult, marking this zone as Tsutomu's most precarious challenge.

Upon finally conquering these formidable areas, Tsutomu glimpsed a clear path forward, the very end of the game now within his sight.

The 81st to 90th floors are patrolled by formidable foes: the divine angels who architected the dungeon, a devil masquerading as an angel, and fallen angels corrupted into undead by infernal influence. Against these enemies, countermeasures for confusion and status ailments become absolutely essential.

The ultimate boss of this section is an Archangel. Its presence is marked by an implicit condition where magic within its Holy and Dark attribute range is nullified. This boss is notorious for targeting healers, and success often hinges on the healer's skill in evading or nullifying its devastating attacks.

Beyond the 90th floor lies an ancient, forgotten castle. Its entrance is unlocked only by equipping the armor and weapons dropped by the bosses of the preceding levels. Within the castle's decaying halls, all the enemy types encountered thus far make a reappearance.

The 100th and final level is an arena where defeating a solitary dragon signifies the dungeon's completion.

To overcome this final foe, range attack bracelets are recommended to chip away at the dragon's weapon armor, which degrades with each successful strike. The dragon boasts high magic resistance, making direct magical assault perilous, yet its Holy attribute vulnerability provides an advantage to players who have cultivated such abilities. Even healers can contribute significantly to the damage output by attacking, ensuring no shortage of firepower.

[A tumultuous journey]

My first foray into the solo dungeon culminated in a surprisingly successful run. Death triggers a series of dramatic events within the respawn area, painting the surroundings crimson.

[What? There’s not much good here!]

Far from it, this experience yielded considerable benefits. I discovered the healer role to be quite enjoyable, especially since I retained my proficiency. Both tanking and offensive roles offered unique satisfactions for diverse reasons. Following this, applause erupted from the central square, directed towards me.

[No name tag… Is this an NPC? This individual shouldn't appear until the dungeon is cleared.]

Pondering this, Tsutomu initiated personal chats with the five characters present, making specific gestures.

“Congratulations on clearing the dungeon solo! We’ve prepared something for you!”

Accompanying the NPC's greeting was a hand gesture. Tsutomu paused, contemplation seizing him. A realization quickly dawned.

[Have I discovered it?]

Even a casual observer of Live Dungeon might infer from the NPC's actions that this was a solo player's triumph. However, this particular figure lacked a name tag, displaying only the designation BOT when inspected.

[Perhaps it's an admin? That would imply a rather sophisticated system.]

Even though his remarkable achievement might go unnoticed by many, Tsutomu documented his experience on the forums, anticipating a reward from the administrators.

“I have received an invitation from God.”

Upon accepting the offered item, his computer screen erupted in a cascade of flashing lights.

[Huh? Did it crash!?]

In that instant, Tsutomu's consciousness abruptly ceased, much like a laptop shutting down.

_______________________________________________________________

Within a castle long erased from collective memory, Tsutomu awoke in the arena of the forgotten fortress.

“Ugh… What is this!?”

Gazing around, he recognized the surroundings bore a striking resemblance to the 100th floor of the Live Dungeon.

[Is this a dream?]

Continuing his thoughts, Tsutomu rose, brushing the accumulated dust from his attire. A glance downwards revealed he was clad in striking red leather pants. A black robe adorned his upper body, fastened with a long chain. In his hand, he held a cane topped with a black crystal, and his feet were clad in brown boots.

[Wow, my recall is incredible! I can even cast spells!]

As he raised his cane, striking dramatic poses, a visceral roar echoed from the depths of his being, shaking him to his core. Tsutomu stumbled, his gaze snapping upwards towards the clouded sky, seeking the source of the thunderous sound.

Initially, small dark specks materialized in the distant sky. They rapidly grew in size and velocity as they plummeted towards him.

Covering his ears against the cacophony of roars, Tsutomu scrambled to his feet, intent on evading the unseen entity generating the noise. With determined effort, he ran. Suddenly, a colossal form descended into the center of the arena, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that swept outwards in all directions.

A putrid eye. The carcass of a festering ancient dragon, marred by numerous gaping holes. Tsutomu lay sprawled on the ground, paralyzed by fear and awe at the creature's immense scale, his body trembling uncontrollably.

[Why can’t I move… ]

Despite gritting his teeth, he couldn't shake the feeling that it had to be a dream. Tsutomu had often heard that to confirm if one was dreaming, they should try to grasp soil and let it trickle through their fingers. As he felt the fine particles stream down from his palm, he reluctantly concluded that this was, in all likelihood, not a dream.

These thoughts consumed him. The ancient, decaying dragon turned its sightless sockets towards him. Then, as it lowered its massive body closer to the ground, it exhaled a breath towards the floor. This noxious exhalation corroded everything it touched. Tsutomu, still utterly immobile, was struck by the breath with the force of a devastating tsunami.

The moment the corrosive breath made contact, his body began to dissolve, much like starch or syrup melting away. In the blink of an eye, his wrist had disintegrated.

[Ahhhhhhh!!!]

Agonizing pain engulfed his entire being, as if countless insects were biting at every inch of his flesh. His body felt heavy and sluggish, as if sinking into a swamp. His face was also directly hit by the vile breath, and it began to rot, stealing his sight, hearing, and sense of smell. There was only the overwhelming sensation of pain.

Slowly, that agonizing sense of pain began to fade from Tsutomu.

Tsutomu's form dissolved into faint particles of light, vanishing entirely from the ancient castle's arena. All that remained was the dragon and the equipment Tsutomu had been wearing.