[Xi Xi Kitten: Linbao, my Sync Rate is 60%. My body's actually started synchronizing with my in-game face!]

[Xi Xi Kitten: A system panel exactly like the one in the game has appeared in my field of vision.]

[Xi Xi Kitten: Linbao, didn't you say you weren't going into dungeons? Why does my interface show you're in an unknown dungeon?]

[Lu Lin: It's a long story.]

[Xi Xi Kitten: I see... Then, Linbao, did you see the news? Dungeons are really dangerous right now. Find a way to get out, quick!]

[Xi Xi Kitten: If you really have to, go to the Adventurer's Association and post a bounty for a map guide, or request assistance. If it's not enough, I'll send you the money.]

[Lu Lin: I saw the news. Conquering the dungeon is my own choice.]

Lu Lin closed the conversation.

After entering the frozen lake, Lu Lin had arrived at the current dungeon's 'Central Zone.'

[Frostsigh Path, Free Zone, Suitable Level: 25]

Despite having the affix [Frost Domain · Heart of Shelter], Lu Lin still felt the cold now. The hot air from her mouth condensed and fell instantly.

The so-called Frostsigh Path before her was a corridor paved with cold, bluestone bricks. Melted snow dripped down from the corridor roof, forming ice stalactites. Walking through it, the occasional crack and thud of shattering ice could be heard.

The bricks beneath her, mixed with drifting snow and wind, were very slippery. The fine cracks visible on the bluestones spoke of the corridor's ancient age.

In the distance, at the end of the broad corridor, the blizzard concealed an ancient castle with spires rising everywhere.

[Frost Castle]

Too far away, no detailed information could be displayed.

‘That place... is the center of the Black Mist emanating here.’

Ice Heart seemed to have just awakened. This time, her voice was no longer fragmented, nor so infantile:

‘Here is too close to the Black Mist's center. The purification effect will be greatly diminished. Directly destroy it—it's more efficient.’

"Mm..." Lu Lin replied lightly.

"Xi... don't worry about me." Lu Lin muttered again. A ray of destructive light drew across her hand, pointing towards a large tree branch ahead and to the left.

A violent explosion occurred at the point the light touched.

The arm-thick branch shattered to pieces instantly, and the blast's aftershock also toppled one of the countless pillars along the corridor.

[Frost Hunter 'Corroded by Black Mist', Level lv25, Elite Monster, eliminated]

The monster was jet-black all over, with a horn growing from its head and a body like an ape. Now only half its body remained, crashing heavily down from above.

[EXP gained: 865]

[Obtained: Low-Tier Elite Material*2]

[Black Mist Shard absorbed]

‘Xi, I saw the news too. Someone already posted a summary of the full Black Mist version update immediately.’

Somewhere deep within, Lu Lin sensed that while she was absorbing the Black Mist's power, the Black Mist was staring back at her.

‘Exactly because of that, I must continue conquering this dungeon.’

The magic Lu Lin had unleashed stirred the bloodlust of the monsters lurking around the Frostsigh Path. She could feel the killing intent lying in wait beyond the corridor.

‘Come, beasts! Magical Beasts! With my Devour power, I never fear a war of attrition.’

As those thoughts ran through her mind, a rainstorm of attacks burst forth. Ambushes lay on all sides, in all directions.

Sensing with magic, Lu Lin shifted her steps slightly, sidestepping a freezing arrow shot by an unknown magical beast. A retaliatory All-Element Magic from her hand: [EXP gained: 635]

Before the experience was credited, a thunderous boom sounded overhead. A black ape smashed through the dome, landing forcefully right in front of Lu Lin. Debris rained down from above. Though Lu Lin had been prepared, she was still grazed and bleeding.

[Frost Hunter Leader 'Corroded by Black Mist', lv30, Elite Leader.]

[Hit by debris. Lu Lin's Health Points: 1050/1100]

‘It's the leader of those earlier apes. It's huge. I can't get close.’

No sooner had Lu Lin pulled back than this black ape slammed its giant palm against the ground. The shockwave disrupted her footing. The broken stones already scattered everywhere rebounded from the vibrations and were sent flying off the ground.

With a sweeping arc of its massive arm, the black ape sent them hurtling as long-range weapons straight at Lu Lin.

‘Damn it, it's so clever.’

"Magic Flash Step." Lu Lin had no choice but to counter at the cost of 500 Magic Points.

She dodged the large chunks of stone, but couldn't evade all the tiny, fine stone fragments. Each impact carried considerable force, continuously chipping away at Lu Lin's HP.

[-5]

The damage per hit was very low, but all Lu Lin had in her bag were five pitiful Red Potions, and those were gifts from Xi.

Each Red Potion could restore 20% of her HP. Beyond that, Lu Lin could only wait for her health to regenerate naturally. But the Mage class's natural health regeneration was extremely minimal.

The castle in the distance was still very far.

‘A bit of a miscalculation. Even though I can sustain my magic by fighting, I have no HP recovery ability.’

No, it wasn't time to be pessimistic yet. If she could level up, she'd instantly recover 10% of all her stats. But the conditions for breaking through the version level cap—by herself alone—were far too difficult.

‘Wait. If it's just dealing with the predicament right in front of me, how could I forget that move?’

[Hundred Ways of Hidden Weapons Art lv10]

[Quality: Mid-tier combat skill.]

[Effect: Learn to use the vast majority of hidden weapons. Can catch the vast majority of hidden weapon attacks.]

The flying debris she couldn't dodge, Lu Lin caught with her bare hands.

With the immediate crisis resolved, her heart lightened for a moment—only to suddenly perceive a powerful magic locking onto her.

[Hit by Magic Imprisonment. Imprisonment effect judgment successful. Duration: 5 seconds.]

[Imprisonment: Debuff, unable to move.]

‘Damn it, where's this magic lock coming from?’

Lu Lin pushed her perception wide open before realizing that the trees were Magical Beasts as well. Magic Imprisonment was a skill of these tree-type magical beasts.

[Log Spirit 'Corroded by Black Mist', Level lv25, Elite]

In the blink of an eye, the black ape seized the opportunity and charged at Lu Lin with its mountain-like frame.

‘I can't dodge!’

Condensing her strongest magic in both hands, Lu Lin met the attack head-on. The volatile magic clashed against the black ape's body, causing even the air to shudder.

The blizzard swept past, drawing sight back. A foul, stinking hole had appeared in the black ape's body, and dark red filth splattered all over Lu Lin.

[Hit by charging attack. Lu Lin HP -400. Current Health Points: 650/1100]

‘My HP just dropped by a small chunk in an instant…’

[Imprisonment deactivated.]

[Killed Frost Hunter Leader 'Corroded by Black Mist' lv30]

[EXP gained: 1200. Current EXP overflow: 2700/2000.]

[Drops from kill: Low-Tier Elite Material*4]

[Obtained equipment: 'Hunter's Leather Vest']

[Hunter's Leather Vest, Torso Armor, Quality: Rare]

[Attributes: Health Points +300, Strength +20]

[Effect: Reduces physical damage taken by 10%]

[Black Mist Shard absorbed. Current Black Mist Possession skill progress: 20/1000]

[Absorbed Black Mist Shard. Magic Points cap increased. Current Magic Points: 7100]

‘Equipment dropped!’

The gear's attributes perfectly compensated for Lu Lin's weakness of having too low HP. A surge of joy in her heart, she opened her equipment panel and put it on immediately.

It was a black, vest-like protective gear. The appearance was anything but good-looking—it was just plain ugly—so Lu Lin chose to hide it outside of combat.

After putting it on, however, she discovered that the HP stat boost only applied to her maximum HP, not directly providing her any immediate health.

‘Ugh, they even have a setting where equipping gear in combat puts it on cooldown, yet the panel still locks!’

[Health Points: 640/1400]

‘But,’ Lu Lin wasn't discouraged. She had seen countless desperate situations before. Her mindset was excellent.

If someone else saw a half-full glass, they'd think there wasn't enough to drink. Lu Lin, though, would think at least there was still half a glass to quench thirst.

‘At least if I finish these five potions, I can heal over three hundred more HP.’

Lu Lin finally finished reading through the long list of rewards from the kill.

Noticing that the system had sent another message:

[Player Lu Lin, level requirement met, Magic Points requirement met, Hidden Class Mage, Class Advancement available.]