Chapter 50 – The Sovereign’s Heist.

The third floor of the Silver Abyss Dungeon was a deep gorge illuminated by veins of arcane ore pulsing in a shade of sapphire and pure silver.

The Arcane Greed Faction pressed through the west gallery at a crushing pace.

With every defeated horde of Arcane Silver Scorpions (Level 26) and Marble Automatons (Level 27), the party's synchronization bordered on perfection. Kael held back the monsters' advance with his Volcanic Shield, Aurelia-Elysia kept protection barriers active without interruption, Rhea sliced through joints with her dragon daggers, and Diana pulverized entire mobs with her Arcane Storm Orb.

The moment the final Level 27 automaton collapsed into dust on the cave floor, a monumental surge of golden light erupted from the entire squad's interfaces:

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[SQUAD EVOLUTION ACHIEVED!]

- DIANA REACHED LEVEL 27! (2 Levels Gained!)

- RHEA REACHED LEVEL 25! (2 Levels Gained!)

- KAEL REACHED LEVEL 24! (2 Levels Gained!)

- AURELIA-ELYSIA REACHED LEVEL 24! (2 Levels Gained!)

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With Level 27 reached, Diana's class interface vibrated in glowing black gold, unlocking her Third Official Class Skill:

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[NEW CLASS SKILL UNLOCKED!]

- [Greed's Command - Sovereign's Will - Level 1]: Supreme Class Active. Channels the accumulated wealth in the faction vault to bolster squad reality. Grants a temporary +20% bonus to ALL attributes for Diana and all party members for 60 seconds. (Cost: 35 MP / Cooldown: 5 Minutes).

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—Well look at that…

The System's voice echoed in Diana's mind, in a tone of pure ironic admiration.

—A skill that converts the amount of money in your vault into raw power for your team. That is so you, Diana. The richer you get, the harder your army hits.

Diana sat on a silver rock to coordinate the strict distribution of free points with Kael and Aurelia-Elysia (5 points per level up):

- Kael (Level 24): 10 Free Points -> +6 Vitality (44 -> 50 VIT -> HP reaches a colossal 550 HP POINTS!), +4 Strength (30 -> 34 STR).

- Aurelia-Elysia (Level 24): 10 Free Points -> +6 Intelligence (43 -> 49 INT +6 Robe = 55 INT!), +4 Wisdom (29 -> 33 WIS). (MP reaches 470 MP POINTS!)

- Rhea (Level 25): 10 Free Points -> +6 Agility (60 -> 66 AGI +8 Gear = 74 AGI!), +2 Strength (29 -> 31 STR), +2 Vitality (20 -> 22 VIT). (HP: 220 / 220)

- Diana (Level 27 - Commander of Greed): 10 Free Points + Class Passives (+6 INT, +4 PER, +2 WIS) -> +5 Free Intelligence (87 + 6 + 5 = 98 INT!), +3 Vitality (32 -> 35 VIT -> HP reaches 350 HP POINTS!), +2 Perception (43 + 4 + 2 = 49 PER!). (MP reaches an incredible 520 MP POINTS!)

***

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The Great Central Chasm - Contest for the Colossus

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A deafening roar made the crystal stalactites on the dungeon ceiling tremble.

In the vast central hall dividing the east and west sectors, the third floor's Main Boss had just spawned: the Ancestral Silver Colossus (Level 28 - Hall Boss). The beast was a titanic six-meter-tall golem composed of pure magic silver plates, wielding two massive stone hammers.

From the east side of the hall, Lord Cassius and his veteran Silver Legion officers were already engaged in violent combat against the Colossus.

Cassius landed heavy strikes with his Strength 68 Gravity Cleaver, whittling down the Colossus's HP bit by bit: 600… 400… 200 HP…

Cassius readied the killing blow with his two-handed cleaver: “BACK OFF! THE KILL IS MINE!”

Atop the west cliff, Diana observed the scene, her dark eyes gleaming through [Command Eye].

“We're taking this boss.” Diana declared with a sharp smile.

“Commander? Cassius is finishing the monster!” Kael said, holding his shield.

“Activate skills!” Diana ordered.

GREED'S COMMAND - SOVEREIGN'S WILL!

Diana channeled her new Level 27 skill.

A light of colossal black gold erupted from Diana's body, fueled by the twelve gold coins stashed in the faction vault.

The skill's effect kicked in instantly across the entire squad: +20% BONUS TO ALL ATTRIBUTES FOR 60 SECONDS!

Rhea's Agility exploded to an impressive 88 AGILITY POINTS! Diana's Intelligence surged to a monumental 117 INTELLIGENCE POINTS! Kael's HP climbed to 660 HP POINTS!

***

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The Heist of the Century

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Rhea launched off the cliff like an invisible silver comet.

PHANTOM STEP!

With Agility 88, Rhea crossed two hundred meters of cavern in a single millisecond, appearing midair right between the Colossus's hammer and Cassius's cleaver. Her dragon daggers ripped through the joints of the Colossus's knees, sending the giant pitching forward.

Cassius widened his gray eyes in shock. “WHAT?! THAT WOLF GIRL?!”

Before Cassius could bring down his cleaver, Diana appeared midair directly above the Colossus's head.

ARCANE TELEPORTATION!

With Intelligence 117 boosted by the vault's gold bonus, Diana extended both hands downward.

GREED'S FLAME + STORM ORB + DOUBLE ARCANE ARROW!

A devastating elemental storm of black fire, static electricity, and beams of pure arcane destruction exploded directly inside the Level 28 Colossus's mana core.

BOOM!

The Ancestral Silver Colossus shattered into a million glowing fragments before Cassius's blade could even touch the monster.

***

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[HALL BOSS DEFEATED BY ARCANE GREED FACTION!]

[Kill Claimed by: Diana (Commander of Arcane Greed)]

[COMMANDER'S LOOT ACTIVATED (+30% LOOT BONUS)]

- Direct Coins from Colossus: +20 Gleaming Silver Coins!

- Legendary Item: 1x Ancestral Silver Core (Level 28).

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***

Silence descended over the central cavern.

The smoke from the magic explosion dissipated slowly.

Cassius stood in the middle of the hall with his Gravity Cleaver raised midair, covered in dust and blue sparks, staring dumbfounded at the spot where the Boss had stood a second before.

Diana touched down gently onto the stone floor ahead of him, her Dragon Chestplate cloak fluttering in the wind, snatching the heavy pouch containing twenty silver coins out of midair with an elegant flick of her left hand.

Rhea reappeared beside Diana with a mischievous grin, while Kael and Aurelia-Elysia descended the slope, chests puffed with pride.

Cassius lowered his war cleaver slowly, letting out a huff of air that seemed a blend of shock, exhaustion, and an inevitable admiration.

“You stole my boss right out from under my nose, Diana.” Cassius said, his voice raspy.

Diana stashed the pouch of twenty silver coins into her belt with a calm, arrogant, dangerously bright smile.

“A true merchant never misses a high-yield opportunity, Cassius.” Diana replied with tranquility.

***

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[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]

Previous Balance (After Dungeon Reagents): 120 Silver Coins.

Silver Colossus Loot (+30% Bonus): +20 Silver Coins!

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 140 SILVER COINS (14,000 Bronze! / EXACTLY 14 PURE GOLD COINS!)]

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One hundred and forty silver coins in the faction vault. Exactly Fourteen Pure Gold Coins.

Diana at Level 27 with Intelligence 98 and 520 MP.

Rhea at Level 25 with Agility 74. Kael at Level 24 with 550 HP. Aurelia-Elysia with 470 MP.

Cassius looked at Diana, then at the elite squad of Arcane Greed, and let out a short, genuine veteran's laugh.

“You are a public hazard to this Circle's economy, girl.” Cassius shook his head, sheathing his cleaver on his back. “The west gallery is all yours.”

Diana turned around with her team, her dark eyes sparking with the certainty of absolute domain.

Level 30 was on the horizon. The Second Circle was nearly conquered. And the Arcane Greed Faction pressed forward on its unstoppable march toward the top of Hell.