The Siege Slayer is an incredibly valuable item.

Not just because of its stats, but especially because, compared to Numbers items of similar rank, it commands a high price.

‘There are quite a few mace warriors in this world.’

Swords, hammers, maces, polearms, spears...

There are countless weapons, and in most games, maces are considered niche weapons.

But...

‘Not a bad weapon at all.’

In Dungeon & Stone, mace types are pretty decent weapons.

They have a slow attack speed penalty, but their damage output surpasses nearly every other weapon.

Of course, that’s assuming equal user stats.

No weapon can match a mace that employs centrifugal force.

At least for beginners.

‘I also leveled them a lot at the start...’

Though I switched to other weapons later due to mace limitations, that was just my story.

People here don’t have a second or third playthrough.

The more you use a weapon, the more skilled you get, and most explorers whose livelihood depends on it don’t easily switch weapons.

Meaning they often use the same weapon from start to finish.

‘Above the seventh floor, there’s always at least one mace user.’

There are actually many mace users among explorers above the seventh floor.

The problem is supply can’t keep up with demand.

That’s because there are very few Numbers items that are maces.

‘Effectively, this is their final weapon.’

Though it’s only equipment in the 600 range, there’s no better choice for a mace user.

And mace users know this well.

They fetch high prices at the auction house for this reason...

‘But that’s not the important part now.’

I shook my head, forcibly clearing distracting thoughts.

No.687 Siege Slayer.

A rare item good to sell or use as a swap weapon.

That item was now in my hands.

And I got it by ‘luckily’ winning the dice roll.

Thump!

At first, I couldn’t tell why my heart was pounding so hard.

Was it joy? Or anxiety?

But as time passed, I realized.

Thump thump thump thump!

This feeling was not excitement in a good way.

Even when I got Aegis Barrier, my heart didn’t beat this fast.

No matter how happy I was.

“What are you doing? Keep going?”

Standing there dazed was uncomfortable, so I pulled myself together and picked up the Siege Slayer.

「Character equipped No.687 Siege Slayer.」

「Overall item level increased by +2,800.」

As soon as I grasped it, I felt changes in my physical stats.

That’s because the item had stats attached.

And percentage stats, no less.

「Strength increased by 40%.」

「Agility decreased by 80%.」

Agility dropped while strength rose.

Overall specs weren’t comparable to the Demon Crusher, but this was the main reason I judged I could use it sometimes.

Because I could boost strength when needed.

‘But man, the body really feels sluggish now.’

Of course, there were also gains.

I’d need to test to know for sure, though.

‘Swing.’

I tried using a skill in the air.

After all, a ‘mace’ counts as a blunt weapon.

“Huh? Baron, why so slow—”

Just like that.

Paaaaang!!!

The mace sliced through the air with a blast of wind.

All of us, including me, flinched.

“Huh?”

Seeing those faces, I made my decision.

‘Better to keep it than sell it.’

I got a new weapon.

Though I wasn’t free from unease.

The more I liked the Siege Slayer, the more anxiety grew.

But...

Thump!

Yeah, better think of it as a reward.

A reward for all the hardship endured in the dream world for months.

Thump!

Uh... but I still need to stay alert.

This could be a harbinger of the next misfortune.

Whatever happens suddenly, I have to be ready.

Yes, then—

“E-e-e—!”

Suddenly the archer shouted urgently.

“Everyone, dodge!”

...Huh?

This happens so fast?

What on earth was going on?

The moment the incident happened, I quickly scanned around.

One of my habits—to see and judge for myself.

Maybe because my agility dropped, my senses dulled.

No immediate threat was felt.

But...

“...Shit!”

“...!”

The expressions of those around me were so urgent.

Not just expressions—everyone was hurriedly moving away.

“Jaina!!”

The archer rushed the sluggish priest.

“Grandpa!”

Ibaekho helped Grandpa Destruction up.

“Piggyback!”

The dazed GM was hurriedly carried away by Lek Aures nearby.

Until then, I didn’t know what was happening, but one thing was crystal clear.

Thump!

This place was dangerous.

I had to run with ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) them.

So I tried to move my legs.

‘Damn it.’

Wearing Siege Slayer made my body 80% sluggish.

I was too slow.

Realizing this late, I tried to put the weapon back into extra space, but the golden time was already lost.

“Look up!!”

Ibaekho shouted, looking back at me while carrying Grandpa Destruction.

‘Up...?’

Noticing his gaze toward the sky, I unconsciously lifted my head.

And...

‘Ah, so that’s why they ran.’

Only then did I realize why they were so desperate.

[Kiyaaahhhh—!]

A chilling pterodactyl-like scream as a colossal flying creature descended from the sky.

The only unique case in Yonggol Mountain’s generally moderate difficulty.

One of the infamous ‘Three Star Graves.’

Grade 1 Undead species.

‘Bone Dragon...’

Though called ‘bone,’ it’s neither a drake nor a dragonian.

「Character is within range of [Dragon Pierce].」

The true dragon, bearing the passive symbol of the dragon race.

Oh, and this passive’s effect is simple.

「There is a gap in ranks.」

If below level 10, a debuff ignores all resistances like ‘Anti-Magic’ depending on level difference.

At level 9 it’s ‘Paralysis’ only...

Level 5 or below is instant death.

Level 6 causes ‘Stun’ and ‘Soul Exhaustion.’

Level 7 brings ‘Rigidity’ and ‘Soul Exhaustion.’

And for level 8 characters like me...

「Character is stunned for 10 seconds.」

A damn state where the body is frozen for ten whole seconds—and that’s not all.

The stun doesn’t just happen once; after a certain time, it triggers again, and as the fight drags, stacking counts trigger special effects.

That’s why dragon raids always recommend level 10 raids and minimum level 9.

...But that’s not what I should be thinking about now.

‘Transcend.’

I quickly cast a skill while stunned.

「Character cast [Gigantify].」

First, I boosted raw stats with Gigantify (Transcendence).

「Character cast [Iron Wall].」

Physical resistance.

「Character cast [Scales of Greed].」

Maximizing magic resistance.

And at the same moment.

Kwahhhhh!

The beast that landed with a crash crushed my rock-solid body with its front paw.

The physical collision was bearable.

“Ugh...!”

Though I involuntarily gasped and spat blood, I endured.

But the real problem came next.

「Character took physical damage.」

A passive all dragons share, like [Dragon Pierce].

「[Dragon Claw] condition triggered.」

Its effect is straightforward.

“Magical damage equal to physical damage dealt is applied.”

That cursed passive applies magic damage when you deal physical damage, and vice versa.

In other words, hybrid damage hits.

Beeeeeeeeep!

I felt something explode inside, and a nickname sounded in my head.

My carefully leveled shield warrior was near death after one hit, but that was expected.

This is Dungeon & Stone.

Grade 1 monsters are all insanely strong, especially dragons.

「Jaina Flyer summoned [Healing Leech].」

「Jaina Flyer cast [Curse of Regeneration].」

「Jaina Flyer cast [Emergency Transfusion].」

「Cursed blood...」

Luckily, Jaina was already casting beforehand, so healing began immediately as damage came in.

Hmm... maybe ‘lucky’ is premature?

「Body rapidly regenerates.」

「Body rapidly regenerates.」

「Body rapidly regenerates.」

「Body rapidly regenerates...」

An injury that could have been fatal began to heal instantly, but nothing changed.

I had already counted down as soon as my body stiffened.

‘Four seconds.’

Four seconds left until stun is over.

And in that time, if this bone dragon hit me twice with normal attacks or once with a skill...

‘I’d be dead. It’s a grade 1 monster.’

No matter how well-built, no one can survive unguarded hits from grade 1 monsters.

Just like this.

Kwahhhhh!

The bone dragon’s front paw struck again.

Like a cat playing with small animals, it moved lightly.

But for the target, it wasn’t light at all.

“Ugh...!”

It felt like two-thirds of my life had vanished.

Yet the beast’s front paw moved again.

But it wasn’t aiming to stomp this time...

‘Looks like it’s spreading its wings.’

Damn.

「Bone Dragon cast [Bone Breath].」

It was preparing to shoot.

The moment I sensed the next action, my vision blurred.

‘If I get hit...’

I’d definitely die.

That was how dangerous the situation felt.

“You bastard!!”

Then I heard Ibaekho’s voice from behind.

Tat-dat!

What? Coming to save me?

Tat-da-dat!

How is he running here?

As if unaffected by [Dragon Pierce]...

‘Ah... he’s already level 10...’

One more fact about Ibaekho.

Given the situation, I wondered if this even mattered anymore—

‘...Nope.’

My mind cleared completely despite the heavy blows.

Even if I’m on the ninth floor where anyone can die just breathing, would I really die here so pathetically?

Whoosh!

The bone dragon spread its wing-like bones again and opened its jaws.

Then...

Paaaaaahhhht!

It blasted a black beam breath.

But I never closed my eyes.

Though I was stunned, I couldn’t even perceive it.

Kkwaak.

That’s right, isn’t it?

I had already steeled myself to this and turned my back in the dream world without regrets; giving up now would be ridiculous—

“Safe!!”

At that moment, Ibaekho’s voice came close, and something yanked me sharply backward.

‘That was kind of touching.’

I never expected a dragon’s breath to be saved from.

‘Zero seconds.’

As I counted silently.

「‘Stun’ state has ended.」

My stiff body softened.

At the same time, Ibaekho shouted.

“What are you doing! Raise your guard!!!”

Did he see the same timing I did?

Had he timed the stun duration too?

I’ll have to ask later, but for now I raised my shield and covered myself.

「Defense success.」

「Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage.」

Ha, I really thought I was done for.