Read There is Something Wrong with This Game ?006 – Washing Blood with Grinding

?006 – Washing Blood with Grinding

Back to Ruri's side.

One press of a button and the Capsule Pod hatch closed down. In that moment, various parts of the Capsule glows, indicating that the machine started to operate.

"Link Start!"

Ruri closed her eyes, allowing the Pod to connect her brainwave into the Quantum Network.

Her field of vision instantly darkened with a familiar starting notification.

Soon later, the notification closed and the scenery changed into a digitized space with lots of moving fractal objects in the background. Her consciousness floated in the Quantum Network corridor silently, waiting for something.

Then, a pop-up window message appeared inside her mind.

; ;

Checking user brainwave data... Done!

...

Legal user confirmed.

Welcome back, Yasaka Ruri-sama.

; ;

..Please designate your dive destination:

VRG - Ascension (Japan Server).

Kyoto Academy Virtual Space.

Enter an address.

The network identifies Ruri by her brainwave pattern. It was an unique identification that can't be falsified, at least with the current technology. The process was quick, not more than 10 seconds to complete.

This method of scanning is unlike retina, finger, or any body-related scan. Those method is imperfect and still have the possibility of impersonation. For example, by chopping off the body parts from the said victim then placed it on the scanner and done.

But the brain is different, even if someone pried your skull and stole your brain off, they still can't use your brainwave!

With a command of thought, Ruri selected VRG - Ascension (Japan Server). Soon after that, the color of the pop-up window changed, along with its message content.

; ;

VRG - Ascension (Japan Server) was selected.

Confirming user identity data... Done!

Citizen ID: 450048348204200

Player ID: 38800

Game Avatar: Hecate

Constructing avatar... Done!

Good luck on your journey, Hecate.

At the moment the message ends, Ruri's consciousness moved automatically in a great speed inside the Quantum Network. Something was steering her dive into a certain direction.

She did not resist and allowed herself to dive towards the network address destination.

Not long after, she stopped and entered a security gate, not far from her position. That was her destination, as well as the network address of Ascension game server.

The fractal objects in the background quickly disintegrate into fine particle and the Ascension logo started to appear, accompanied by a familiar BGM that Ruri have heard every day.

; ;

NOW LOADING

; ;

[ - ]

: | :

While waiting for the loading screen to finish, Ruri listened to the song without any emotion.

The song is not particularly bad, on the contrary, it was considered as a masterpiece. But when you heard the same song over and over every day, you couldn't help but grow numb on it.

She didn't have to wait for too long. Five minutes later, the scenery changed and Ruri appeared inside a dilapidated hall of an unnamed ruins, in Hecate's body. Her attire was still wearing black cloak and disturbing mask like before.

The difference is, above her head there is a bright red writing that says her name. Naturally, the effects of the Crime Scroll had long since expired, so her name could no longer be hidden.

"Fortunately, there are no one here or else I will be in trouble."

Sighed in helplessness, she waved her hand and clicked another hotkey button to change her entire equipment set.

In that instant, her appearance returned to a normal loli Archwitch.

; ;

You have equipped +7 Lunar Wand.

You have equipped +4 Earring of Wisdom.

You have equipped +6 Lunar Cape.

You have equipped +7 Moon Glacier Armguard.

Now even if someone sees her red name, they won't connect her to the fugitive Black Phantom. At most, they probably just look at her as another PK-ers.

Hecate checked her status window and nodded with a satisfied smile.

Spoiler ; <td colspan="4">;


Name:	Hecate	EXP:	5,114,674 / 33,560,000
Race:	Human /	Gold:	218,000
Class:	Archwitch - Lv131
Sub:	Acrobatics	Guild:	Genesis
	Collector
	Blacksmith

HP:	7,100 / 7,100	STR:	1 + 14
MP:	42,700 / 42,700	AGI:	1 + 6
STA:	100%	VIT:	1 + 15
		INT:	221 + 68 ( 1 UP!)
Karma:	-140	DEX:	1 + 19
Stat Pt:	33 -> 9	LUC:	1 + 3


Status:	MP Regeneration Disabled		(5:10:32 left)

; <td colspan="3"> <td rowspan="3"><big>Head</big> <td rowspan="2"><big>Weapon</big> <td rowspan="5"><big>Armor</big> <td rowspan="2">+6 Magician Robe⁵[Item Name: +6 Magician Robe]

Requirement: Mage, INT 15

Type: Armor - Body

Rarity:

Durability: 140/369

Effect:

INT+3, VIT+4, DEX+3, MAX MP+5%

Upgrade Bonus: DEF +24, MDEF +30

Details:

The uniform of Mage Association in Rosenweil Kingdom.

It's specially designed to enhance the wearer's magic.

<td rowspan="2"><big>Underwear</big> <td rowspan="10"><big>Accessories</big> <td rowspan="10"> <td rowspan="2"><big>Set Equip</big> <td rowspan="2"> ;


Upper:	+6 Ornamental Hairpin¹ [Item Name: +6 Ornamental Hairpin] Requirement: All Classes, Lv40 Type: Hairpin Rarity: Durability: 290/453 Effect: All Stats +2, MAX HP +10%, MAX MP +5% Upgrade Bonus: DEF +24, MDEF +30 Details: A hairpin from an ancient dynasty. There is a mysterious power inside.
Middle:	+4 Earring of Wisdom² [Item Name: +4 Earring of Wisdom] Requirement: Mage, Cleric Type: Earring Rarity: Durability: 290/453 Effect: INT +3, DEX +7, LUC +1, MAX MP +800 Increase spell power by 10%, Double MP consumption. Upgrade Bonus: DEF +16, MDEF +25. Details: Earring that was made by the Great Mage, Lyndell Souren. It is said this earring could make its wearer reach greater power.
Lower:	+4 Saintess Necklace³ [Item Name: +4 Saintess Necklace] Requirement: Mage, Cleric Type: Necklace Rarity: Durability: 240/253 Effect: Immune to Silence, Charm, Confuse STR+6, AGI+2, VIT+4 Halve Stamina Consumption Upgrade Bonus: DEF +16, MDEF +25 Details: Necklace that was bestowed to a Saintess. Has a protection from Ashera, your soul won't be defiled.

Left:	+7 Lunar Wand⁴ [Item Name: +7 Lunar Wand] Requirement: Wizard/Witch, INT 30 Type: Weapon - Rod Rarity: Durability: 540/653 Effect: INT+50, DEX+5 MATK+200 Upgrade Bonus: MATK +70 Details: A wand blessed by the power of the Moon. This wand was created with a special wood from a tree that was bathed by the moonlight for more than 30 years.
Right:	None

Body:
Lower:
Garment:	+6 Lunar Cape⁶ [Item Name: +6 Lunar Cape] Requirement: Wizard/Witch, INT 30 Type: Armor - Garment Rarity: Durability: 140/369 Effect: STR+6, AGI+2, VIT+5 Upgrade Bonus: DEF +24, MDEF +30 Details: A cape blessed by the power of the Moon. This cape was created with a special fabric that was bathed by the moonlight for more than 30 years.
L. Arm:	+7 Moon Glacier Armguard⁷ [Item Name: +7 Moon Glacier Armguard] Requirement: All Classes - Lv70, INT 40 Type: Armor - Arms Rarity: Durability: 240/269 Effect: INT +10, DEX +2 Can use Ice Barrage Lv5, for (2UpgLv) per day (7/14) - MP costs still applied normally. Upgrade Bonus: DEF +28, MDEF +35 Details: A relic from the Ruins of Ice Palace, enchanted by a spell diagram by the Great Mage, Lyndell Souren.
Shoes:	+5 Shadow Walker⁸ [Item Name:+5 Shadow Walker] Requirement: Assassin or Hunter class, Lv120 Type: Armor - Shoes Rarity: Durability: 200/200 Effect: Increase Movement Speed by (UpgLv)% If the user learned Flexible Body (Lv1): - Ignore the class requirements of this item. - Movement Speed increases by 10% - Reduce cooldown skill by (UpgLv)% If the user is an Assassin: - Stealth does not consume MP If the user is a Hunter: - Camouflage does not consume MP If UpgLv +9: - Movement Speed increases by 20% Upgrade Bonus: DEF +20, MDEF +25 Details: Shoes made from the skin of a Shadow Demon. It grants the wearer a part of its speed.

Upper:	None
Lower:	White Silk Panties⁹ [Item Name: White Silk Panties] Requirement: All Classes, Female Type: Underwear - Lower Rarity: Durability: 20/20 Effect: - Details: A panties made of silk and very comfortable to wear.

Ring of Ventus¹⁰ [Item Name: Ring of Ventus] Requirement: All Classes, Lv70 Type: Accessory - Ring Rarity: Durability: 200/200 Effect: - Wind DMG Boosts +40% - Wind DMG Resistance +20% - Fire, Water, Earth DMG taken +80% - Can use [Wind Slash] Lv5, 10 times per day - Can use [Wind Barrage] Lv3, 5 times per day - Can use [Cyclonic Storm] Lv1, 3 times per day Details: Ring blessed by Ventus, the Spirit of Wind. Grants its user the power of the wind.
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus
Ring of Ventus

Lunar Set Condition: Lunar Wand, Lunar Cape
MAX MP +10%, MATK +40%

Mana Explosion from Eldritch Bone Wand can't be used until next week, and there also karma deduction for each spell used with the wand equipped. So, it's more useful for Hecate to replace it with her Lunar Wand. Although it was not as good as the former, Lunar Wand still has Set Equip effect that increases Hecate's firepower by 40%.

More importantly, no more karma deduction when casting spells.

Hecate used the available stat points to increase her INT by 1. There are only 33 points after the level ups, but to increase her INT from 220 to 221 requires 24 points. The more she uses her stat points to INT, the more points required to use it. Even so, she still did it.

Everything was in order to pursue the ultimate firepower!

"Done, now to replenish items..."

She closed the window and walked to the Save Crystal in the center of the hall. Everything was in ruins, but the Save Crystal is still glowing with vigor. As if everything here was not a ruins and still belongs to the civilization.

With a touch, the crystal glows brighter and a window appeared in front of Hecate.

; ;

Please select an action:

Access the storage.

Access the cash shop.

Redeem Glory Points.

Ignoring the greyed choice, Hecate sent all of the loot inside her inventory into the storage. Then, she checked the cash shop.

Large number of items were neatly arranged, formed into a list. This is cash shop, where premium items can be bought with real money. Though, most of the items here were consumable or joke equipment, and they have purchase limit per day so tycoons can't abuse them to tilt the game balance too much.

Hecate sorted the items by "Recent Purchase" category and the long list has trimmed into only just few items.

Spoiler ; <td colspan="4"><big><big><big>

</big></big></big>


[ ] Search			Your Gems: 12600 []

Item Name	Price	Limit	Inventory
Elixir¹¹ [Item Name: Elixir] Type: Consumable - Potion Rarity: Durability: 50/50 Maker: - Price: 200 Effect: Completely restores HP and MP Cures all bad status. Details: A miracle potion that is said made from Yggdrasil Fruit. Can heals all injuries and brings back people from the verge of death. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased only once per day (0/1).	200	(0 / 1)	4
Exp Potion¹² [Item Name: Exp Potion] Type: Consumable - Potion Rarity: Durability: 10/10 Maker: - Price: 50 Effect: Increase EXP gain rate by 50% for 1 hour Details: A special brew made by combining Elfen and Rune technology. This potion can increase learning efficiency after consumption. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased 7 times per day (3/7).	50	(3 / 7)	4
30 Condensed Hi-Potion Box¹³ [Item Name: 30 Condensed Hi-Potion Box] Type: Consumable - Box Rarity: Durability: 30/30 Maker: - Price: 90 Effect: Contains 30 Condensed Hi-Potion Details: Condensed Hi-Potion is more lighter than normal Hi-Potion. However, it can bring the same HP restoration amount. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased 10 times per day (10/10).	90	(10 / 10)	15
30 Condensed Hi-Ether Box¹⁴ [Item Name: 30 Condensed Hi-Ether Box] Type: Consumable - Box Rarity: Durability: 30/30 Maker: - Price: 150 Effect: Contains 30 Condensed Hi-Ether Details: Condensed Hi-Ether is more lighter than normal Hi-Ether. However, it can bring the same MP restoration amount. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased 10 times per day (10/10).	150	(10 / 10)	15
Life Insurance Scroll¹⁵ [Item Name: Life Insurance Scroll] Type: Consumable - Scroll Rarity: Durability: 5/5 Maker: - Price: 75 Effect: Prevents the death penality for the user when they die for 30 minutes. Details: A life insurance certificate issued by Gaia Headquarters. This item loses its effect once the player receives its benefit. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased 8 times per day (3/8).	75	(3 / 8)	5
Crime Scroll¹⁶ [Item Name: Crime Scroll] Type: Consumable - Scroll Rarity: Durability: 5/5 Maker: - Price: 500 Effect: Hides own name for 10 minutes. Details: A scroll enchanted by powerful dark entity. It gives the user the ability to hide their name. Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased 2 times per day (1/2).	500	(1 / 2)	2
Amnesia Stone¹⁷ [Item Name: Amnesia Stone] Type: Misc Item Rarity: Durability: 10/10 Maker: - Price: 300 Details: Bring this item to the Pope or Shaman in any country and he can help you to reset your Stat and Skill Points. The higher the user's level will requires more Amnesia Stone. Lv01-20 - 1 stone Lv21-40 - 2 stone Lv41-60 - 3 stone Lv61-80 - 4 stone Lv81-99 - 5 stone Lv100+ - 10 stone Note: They won't help you if your karma is negative! Obtainable from cash shop items. Can be purchased only once times per day (1/1).	300	(1 / 1)	0

Those items were the cash items that she bought regularly, especially Exp Potion and Life Insurance Scroll. Amnesia Stone was used to change her builds into the current one, who discards everything in order to bring most destructible power.

As for Condensed Hi-Potion and Hi-Ether Boxes, Hecate did not use potions nor there is any need to use, but they were the most popular demand in the market and can bring quick buck of

Gold.

Hecate pressed the purchase button and bought out 4 Exp Potion, 5 Life Insurance Scroll, and 1 Crime Scroll.

The total costs was

1075.

"Life Insurance must not be empty. With my paper-like defense and +800% damage taken, a scratch is already lethal."

Negative karma makes her Exp and Drop Penalty become doubled. This means she will lose 2 levels if she died without activating Life Insurance. She can only cry blood if that truly happens.

With

1 = 50, she spent 53570 ($488.82) in that push of button. And including every items she bought at the day, her expenditure reaches

2150, or equals 107500 ($980.93)!

Hecate frowned in a thought as she calculated her own spending rate.

"Hmm, I think I need to make another DIY stuff again later... preferably that can sold in a very high price."

But that can be done later.

For now, Hecate will have to clear her name first... by grinding monsters.

Negative karma point can be neutralized by defeating 10 monsters for each karma point. Meanwhile, her current karma was -140. In order to make that number to 0 and return her red name to normal before tomorrow, Hecate had to kill 1400 monsters!

"My login limit for the day is still around 4 hours. To kill 1400 monsters in just 4 hours... Haah..."

Just imagining the number, Hecate couldn't help but shudder. However, for her this was still achievable.

If any other players were to do extreme grinding non-stop without rest, their bodies might not endure it and fall ill. However, this problem would not befall Ruri.

Thanks to the Elixir she drank in the real world earlier, her body and mind had completely recovered to their peak. Elixir is truly a magical drink. Any injury or illness healed immediately, no matter how deplorable her lifestyle. This was also the reason why her levels are so high in a game where bots or cheats are impossible.

Because she has turned herself into a hunting bot!

Now that her preparation are complete, Hecate closes the window and walked into one of the door in the right side.

But before that...

; ;

You have consumed an Exp Potion!

For the next 1 hour, your Exp rate increased by 50%

"Mystical Amplification!"

Done with that, Hecate proceeds to open the door. The moment she does that, a scenery which probably the main reason why nobody dares to hunt and leveling up in this place was shown in front of her.

*Hisss* *Hisss* *Hisss* *Splurt* *Splurt*

Meat, Meat, Meat, Meat, Maggot, Maggot, Meat....

Almost the entire wall and ceiling of the corridor is mostly filled with chunk of meat that throbbed every few seconds in a rhythm, as if it was alive. Sometimes, the meat would spurt some kind of yellow liquid like pus and a large number of cat-sized maggots appears inside the wounds. The stench also definitely not a pleasant one to smell.

[][Maggot - Lv122]

The name really did said Maggot, but they weren't any kind of maggots that she knew from the biology class. They has countless small tentacles in their entire body that constantly moves. And in each of their tentacles, more precisely in the tip, there was an eyelid that reveals a small eye-ball.

In the ceiling, beside the meat, it also filled with huge cobwebs that have few cow-sized spiders with dreadful appearance. They did nothing but observe, sometimes snacking on the maggot that trapped into its web. Even so, it still a threat and could attack any player that dared to walk below them anytime.

[][Veliperalocator Spider - Lv135]

Don't forget that Ascension is a Virtual Reality game. People can feel sense of touch and smell as close as the real thing. If weak-hearted people were to see this scenery, they might faint and urinate themselves in their real body.

Numerous maggots creeping up from every corner of the wall and ceiling, some also fall into the floor but they basically crawled their way towards Hecate's position. Not only that, the maggots were Lv122 and it's HP pool is not low. At least it wouldn't die in one or two strikes. That is, if the opponent was not Hecate.

"PERISH TO NOTHINGNESS, MAGGOTS! CYCLONIC STORM!!"

With the wave of her wand, Hecate casts a wind storm that wrecks havoc to whatever in front of her path.

WHOOOOOOSHHHH!!

SHUA! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

-50344 -50664 -50234 -50424 -50435 -50734 -50845 -50210 -50193 -50030 -51023 -50275 Spoiler

; ;

You have unleashed Cyclonic Storm!

Your passive skill resonates and empowers the spell by 85%!

Ten Ring of Ventus resonated and empowers the spell further by 400%!

Mystical Amplification has doubled the entirety of the spell might!

Devastating Wind!

You have unleashed a spell with powerful might that causes

great destruction to the enemies.

The monsters in this area has been intimidated by you.

; ;

You have killed a Maggot - Exp +2300

...

You have killed 10 monsters - Karma +1

You have killed a Veliperalocator Spider - Exp +3500

You have killed a Maggot - Exp +2300

...

Just a single spell was able to create devastating destruction to the enemy. Even the spiders that stays in the ceiling was not spared from her rampage.

The chunk of meat in the wall shredded into fine pieces and its acidic fluid splattered in the air, making "pshhh" sound to whatever it touches. Mucus from the maggots were sprayed everywhere, making the place become thicker with foul stench.

Such stench did not affect Hecate to step forward and loot the corpses.

In the pursuit of power, any hesitation can be feed to the dogs!

Utilizing the +5 Shadow Walker shoes that increases her speed, Hecate's movement was faster than average player even though her AGI stat is only 1. She runs and touched all the loot-able things in her path.

Although this world a VR that closely resembling real world, but in the end it is undoubtedly a game.

Hecate did not need to pick the loot with her hand, and then put them in a bag like common sense in the real world. All she need to do is touch the item and a confirmation window would appear. The confirmation window did not need to be pressed with her finger.

Just a single will "Yes!" from her brainwave can also do, and the loot will safely transported into her Inventory space.

; ;

Would you take Sticky Mucus into your Inventory?

Requires: 1 Empty Bottle to collect.

Yes No

If player collects some liquid or gas shaped loot, the system will detect any container that can be used to collect the loot. Otherwise, it will tell the said player that container is required.

In this case, Hecate already prepared 1200 Empty Bottles. It was a cheap but light container that can store most of liquid in the game, and it did not use more than 5% of her total weight limit.

She did not need any bag because the Game Inventory is her bag!

; ;

You picked up Sticky Mucus.

You picked up Unknown Meat.

You picked up Veliperalocator Spider leg.

You picked up Maggot Carcass.

You picked up Unknown Meat.

You picked up Broken Cobweb.

...

Hecate did not pay attention to the system log anymore as she was busy looting the field. There are some maggots and spiders that survives the onslaught, but she used Wind Slash and Wind Barrage to finish them off. Her MP continued to flick, decrease for a bit but maxed again in the next moment.

When she casts spells, her MP definitely decreases, but when her spell kills the enemy, her MP increases again even though she should still debuff-ed as a consequence casting Mana Explosion a while ago.

This was because her passive skill Soul Drain that restores her MP every time she killed an enemy with a spell.

Suddenly, a spider dared to attack from behind while Hecate chants. But with her Acrobatic skill, she flexibly did a backflip avoiding its attack. The spell casting was not interrupted due to her Free Cast passive skill.

Spoiler ; ;

Skill Name:	Soul Drain
Requirement:	Wizard/Witch, Increase MP Recovery Lv7, Soul Strike Lv1
Type:	Passive
Effect:	Receive MP every time the user use a magic attack to kill an enemy.
	The amount of MP received depending on the level of the enemy.
	This skill also increases the user's maximum MP.

; ;

Skill Name:	Free Cast
Requirement:	Archwizard / Archwitch, Cast Cancel Lv1
Type:	Passive
Effect:	Allows its user to move and attack while casting magic spells.
	Skill level affects on the moving speeds while casting a spell.

And so, she used the Wind Slash she had just cast to split the spider's ass in two.

SPLAT!

-12300!

; ;

You have struck a lethal damage to the Veliperalocator Spider's vital organ.

Critical Attack! -12300 HP

You have killed a Veliperalocator Spider - Exp +3500

Another soul has turned into Exp, and absorbed inside Hecate as her MP.

Done with the area, she casts Mystical Amplification again and slaughtered the filth that infested the next room with Cyclonic Storm. It did not take long time for her to annihilate all of the enemy in the first floor of the ruins. The chunk of meat also been cleaned from the wall and ceiling, making the ruins look nicer.

Although, those filthy things will return like normal in a day. Similar as the World Boss, Sharknath that will respawn again in a month in a random place. Any crater and battle marks will also restored somehow, although the marks would not completely disappear.

The crater that Hecate created most likely will restored as a lake by the AI.

At this time, Hecate had exhausted all of 24 Cyclonic Storm as well as 100 Wind Slash and 50 Wind Barrage. However, her kill count merely reached 672 kills and only 67 karma point restored. It's still half the way for reaching 1400 kills to wash off all the blood.

But Hecate wasn't worried at all. She waved her hand and changed her equipment again.

Spoiler ; ;

You have equipped Ring of Aqua.

; ;

Item Name:	Ring of Aqua
Requirement:	All Classes, Lv70
Type:	Accessory - Ring
Rarity:
Durability:	200/200
Crafter:	Hecate
Effect:	Water DMG Boosts +40% Water DMG Resistance +20% Fire, Earth, Wind DMG taken +80% Can use Waterbolt Lv5, 10 times per day (10/10) Can use Water Vapor Lv3, 5 times per day (5/5) Can use Tidal Wave Lv1, 3 times per day (3/3)
Details:	Ring blessed by Aqua, the Spirit of Water. Grants its user the power of the water.

The green glowing rings on all her fingers had now changed into blue glowing rings.

"Heh, time for the second round."

Hecate couldn't help but grin while she climbed down the stairs and headed into the B1F floor.

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