HPDBC Chapter 16 16: I Just Want to Grab the NPC's Gear
Chapter 16 16: I Just Want to Grab the NPC's Gear
"You have acquired quest items: Holy Life Staff, Silver Dragon Rhino Pauldrons..."
Hazel's lost equipment automatically flew into Orson's inventory, and with a quick glance, he couldn't help but blurt out, "Whoa!"
[Staff of Divine Light]
Quality: Legendary
Level Requirement: 50
Class: Mage
Magic Attack Power: 1200
Attack Speed: 1.30
Critical Rate: 30%
Effect 1: Restores 5% HP per second
Effect 2: Increases max HP by 30%
Awakening Skill for Full Set: Hymn of Life
Effect: Increases all allies' max HP by 50% within 100 meters. Lasts 30 minutes, 2-hour cooldown.
Orson stared at the rows of orange text detailing the staff's attributes, practically drooling. Every piece of Hazel's equipment was a legendary, top-tier item—each one a masterpiece. Only her apprentice hat seemed oddly out of place with its basic stats.
"If only I could swipe the NPC's gear and log out," Orson thought, his eyes gleaming with desire. Who wouldn't be tempted by such loot?
"This item is Hazel's exclusive weapon. It cannot be used, dropped, or destroyed."
Orson gave a bitter chuckle. Of course, it was too good to be true. Infinite Dimensions didn't deal in free lunches—Hazel's equipment was bound to her alone. No one else could use or even pick up these items.
He turned back to grab the three hero-grade items dropped by the boss, but before he reached them, a seductive, whispering voice echoed from the dimensional rift, sending chills down his spine.
The voice was hypnotic—exactly his type. No wonder so many male players in his past life had gone wild over the Dark Elf Queen. That sultry voice was enough to make any man's knees weak.
From the portal stepped one perfectly shaped, porcelain-white leg, a sight so stunning it felt like an arrow to the heart. Another leg followed, and Orson's mouth went dry as flames of excitement shot through him.
Then... a third leg appeared.
And then... a fourth.
"Are you kidding me?"
Orson's expression shifted from infatuation to disbelief, then from disbelief to horror.
"Reliable as ever, disgrace of the mage world..." Orson muttered. Dealing with Hazel was like dealing with a storm of complications.
If he didn't know she could kill him a hundred times over, he might have tossed a fireball her way just to blow off steam.
In the distance, the injured pixies began to transform, merging into black cocoons that broke apart to reveal a formidable new form.
[Queen's Elite Guard: Level 15]
HP: 20,000/20,000
Attack Power: 230
Skills: Blink Strike, Dark Energy Burst, Blood Frenzy
Twelve of them emerged, clad in dark grey armor and wielding spears—the Queen's Royal Guard, each with power equivalent to a Level 10 boss. The guards spread out, searching the area for Orson.
Taking a deep breath, Orson prepared to follow the first rule of dungeon-clearing: always kill the minions before the boss.
In Infinite Dimensions, the minions weren't your standard MMO fodder. Under hardcore conditions, even the strongest players could get careless and wind up dead.
Summoning his six-pointed star, Orson unleashed a volley of fireballs at the closest groups of enemies.
Using the experience he'd gained sniping the Goblin Emperor, he aimed with deadly accuracy, igniting the guards with his Blazing Burn passive.
-1554!
-1554!
...
His attacks landed just outside the enemies' detection range, confusing the minions. But the Dark Elf Queen wasn't like the Goblin Emperor. Highly intelligent, she split her guards into three teams and ordered a search.
With quick repositioning and relentless fireballs, Orson managed to kill three of the guards. The remaining guards went berserk, activating their Blood Frenzy, which boosted their speed but drained their HP over time.
"You have slain the Queen's Elite Guard. EXP +900."
...
He repositioned himself and began the traditional mage's dance—kiting the mobs. But each of these minions had massive HP, and even with 1500+ burn damage, it took him nearly a minute to whittle down each one.
The guards didn't reach him until four remained. With practiced calm, he raised a Sacred Sun Shield to block their Blink Strike, preserving his mana. Dodging precisely, he sidestepped Dark Energy Burst and countered with fireballs.
To anyone else, it would have looked like magic: a mage effortlessly dodging attacks while casting spells with pinpoint accuracy.
After a grueling struggle, he finally killed the last of the elite guards. As he looked up, a colossal shadow descended over him.
The Dark Elf Queen hovered above, her gigantic wings stirring up powerful gusts of wind as she looked down on him, her chilling gaze piercing into him like a god looking at an insect.