Chapter 65 – The Triple Harvest.

The third day of the expedition on the second floor of the Amethyst Labyrinth began with Diana spreading the sector map across the camp's stone table.

The Floor Boss had been eliminated the previous night, but the physical expanse of the Amethyst Galleries was monumental. Diana had identified at least three rich veins of untouched raw ore, dozens of rooms with ordinary Level 34 monsters, and two optional Guardian Bosses guarding secondary vaults.

Leaving all that value behind before descending to the third floor was something the Commander of Greed's soul categorically refused to accept.

Diana gathered the five hunters around the workbench.

“We are not descending to the third floor leaving money and ore behind.” Diana declared, her voice crisp and firm. “We are going to split the team into three specialized work fronts for twenty-four hours.”

She pointed to the members:

1. Mining and Logistics Team (Kael):“Kael, you have Strength 42 and Vitality 64. You take the enchanted pickaxes and spatial transport bags. Your job is to extract every single vein of Pure Amethyst Ore and Quartz Steel from the rooms we've already cleared.”
2. Sweeping and Clearing Team (Rhea and Aurelia-Elysia):“Rhea and Aurelia, you take the peripheral rooms of the north sector. Rhea eliminates the ordinary monsters with Agility 88, while Aurelia maintains barrier coverage and light stuns.”
3. Elite Boss Hunting Team (Diana and Seraphina):“Seraphina and I will hunt the two remaining Guardian Bosses in the south vaults: the Amethyst Devourer Worm (Level 35) and the Crypt Guardian Golem (Level 36).”

Kael gripped the heavy runic iron pickaxe with a wide grin, striking his gauntlet against his chest. “Leave the ores to me, Commander! I'll tear every last piece of crystal off the walls!”

Rhea adjusted her dragon daggers beside Aurelia-Elysia, and Seraphina opened her silver grimoire, her eyes glowing behind her glasses.

The three teams parted in the camp hall and began the operation.

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The Mining Front - Kael

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

In the cleared galleries of the west sector, the rhythmic, deafening sound of metal striking rock echoed off the walls.

Kael worked like a human excavation machine.

With Strength 42 and unshakeable endurance backed by his 690 hit points, the vanguard struck the crystal veins with brutal force. Entire blocks of pure amethyst and high-density quartz gravel dislodged from the walls, promptly gathered into the Bastion's spatial transport bags.

In less than six hours, Kael had extracted over thirty sacks of rare ores that would be worth a fortune on Master Volkan's anvils.

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The Sweeping Front - Rhea and Aurelia-Elysia

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

In the north sector, room clearing operated with clockwork precision.

With every chamber of crystal gargoyles and serpents crossed, Aurelia-Elysia raised her Mana Crystal Staff with her 610 MP points and detonated a [Blinding Light Orb] that stunned the entire room for three seconds.

The millisecond light blinded the monsters, Rhea turned into a silvery streak with Agility 88.

PHANTOM STEP!

Rhea shadow-blinked through the gloom and sliced the creatures' joints and heads in surgical sequences of critical slashes. Twenty ordinary monster rooms were eradicated without Aurelia or Rhea suffering a single scratch.

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The Boss Hunting Front - Diana and Seraphina

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

In the depths of the south vault, Diana and Seraphina engaged the last two Guardian Bosses of the second floor.

In the quartz pit, the Amethyst Devourer Worm (Level 35 - Guardian Boss) emerged from the rocky earth, gaping a circular maw of spinning sawteeth.

Seraphina didn't hesitate. With her silver grimoire glowing, she summoned the [Runic Quartz Titan (Level 35)].

The colossal stone summon came down with both closed fists onto the worm's head, pinning the beast against the crystal floor and locking the monster in direct physical combat.

Diana stepped two paces forward with Intelligence 133.

MANA PRISON + ARCANE ICE LANCE!

Diana sealed the worm's acid jets with transparent chains for four seconds, while driving a colossal ice stake into the center of the creature's thorax. Without missing a beat, she activated [Greed's Flame], incinerating the beast's core in black flames.

The second boss, the Crypt Guardian Golem (Level 36), was defeated right after with the same flawless synchronization: Seraphina's Titan absorbed the impact of the stone hammers, while Diana pulverized the golem's head with an [Arcane Storm Orb] and a double Arcane Arrow charged with her 790 mana points.

Seraphina stared at the two destroyed Level 35 and 36 bosses on the ground with an open mouth, impressed by the speed at which Diana obliterated elite targets.

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

The Reunion and Squad Level 30 Milestone

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

At the end of twenty-four hours, the three work fronts reunited at the descent portal camp.

Kael arrived carrying thirty sacks of raw crystal ore. Rhea and Aurelia-Elysia brought the report of twenty cleared rooms, and Diana and Seraphina brought the two guardian boss cores.

The massive amount of experience from the combined operation exploded through the entire party's interfaces:

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

[EXPEDITION EVOLUTION MILESTONE ACHIEVED!]

- DIANA REACHED LEVEL 34!

- RHEA REACHED LEVEL 31!

- KAEL REACHED THE MILESTONE OF LEVEL 30!

- AURELIA-ELYSIA REACHED THE MILESTONE OF LEVEL 30!

(Seraphina rose to Level 36).

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

[COMPLETE ATTRIBUTE DISTRIBUTION]

- Kael (Level 30): 5 Free Points -> +3 Vitality (67 VIT -> HP reaches a colossal 720 HP POINTS!), +2 Strength (42 -> 44 STR).

- Aurelia-Elysia (Level 30): 5 Free Points -> +3 Intelligence (63 -> 66 INT +6 Robe = 72 INT!), +2 Wisdom (41 -> 43 WIS). (MP reaches 640 MP POINTS!)

- Rhea (Level 31): 5 Free Points -> +3 Agility (80 -> 83 AGI +8 Gear = 91 AGI!), +2 Strength (39 -> 41 STR).

- Diana (Level 34 - Commander of Greed): 5 Free Points + Class Passives (+3 INT, +2 PER, +1 WIS) -> +3 Free Intelligence (133 + 3 + 3 = 139 INT!), +2 Vitality (45 -> 47 VIT -> HP reaches 470 POINTS!), +2 Perception (64 + 2 = 66 PER!), +1 Wisdom (28 + 1 = 29 WIS!). (MP reaches an incredible 850 MP POINTS!)

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

***

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]

Previous Balance: 249 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze.

Faction Share of Total Harvest (+30% Commander's Loot Bonus): +20 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze!

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 270 SILVER COINS (27,000 Bronze! / EXACTLY 27 PURE GOLD COINS!)]

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Two hundred seventy silver coins stashed securely in the vault. Exactly Twenty-Seven Pure Gold Coins.

Kael had reached the Level 30 milestone with 720 HP. Aurelia-Elysia reached Level 30 with 640 MP. Rhea with Agility 91. Diana with Intelligence 139 and 850 MP.

The entire second floor of the Amethyst Labyrinth had been completely stripped and cleared.

Diana stashed the map in her bag, looking toward the great stone arch leading to the Third and Final Floor of the Labyrinth, where the Level 36 Crypt Sovereign awaited.

Only one level remained for Diana to hit the Level 35 target. And the entire Arcane Greed Faction was heading down the exact same path.