Online Game: I Have A 100\% Drop Rate

With two weeks before the Level 6 Monster Tide, Leon knew for a fact that this was his last shot.

His final opportunity before facing the overwhelming power of whatever horrors the Monster Tide would unleash upon them, a deadline that loomed over him like a shadow.

His very last chance to get much stronger, both in terms of Combat Power but also overall fighting capabilities that would determine whether he could survive the coming storm and protect those who relied on him.

’Grinding for Monster Essences in the open takes too long, or I’d need to do it 24/7 and consume all myself just to see meaningful gains,’ he thought as he exited the Central Building, his mind racing with possibilities and strategies, ’My best bet would indeed be dungeons where the monsters are more concentrated and the rewards more consistent.’

Ding!

Leon’s thoughts were cut off by a sudden announcement that echoed across the entire stronghold, interrupting his planning and drawing his attention upward.

[I know that we do not usually make these announcements in the middle of the day but...]

[Current Progress: 100/100 Stronghold Crystals.]

The thunder of applause across the entire stronghold was unlike anything Leon had ever heard before.

It was a deafening roar of joy and celebration that seemed to shake the very foundations of the buildings and reverberate through the streets.

Hundreds of thousands of players and natives were all clapping, extremely happy by what was happening, their voices rising in a chorus of excitement that filled the air with palpable energy.

"So fast!"

"This might be the fastest they have ever acquired these Stronghold Crystals in the history of our stronghold, it’s incredible!"

"It has to be related to Celestial, I mean did you see all the items he sells in the [Trading House]? He must have found them somewhere and brought them to us."

The announcement continued, the voice calm and measured despite the chaos below, cutting through the noise with practiced authority.

[As we have obtained all the Stronghold Crystals, it means that it is time for the Level 6 Monster Tide, the greatest challenge our stronghold has ever faced and the culmination of years of building.]

[But due to the lack of preparation and the need for proper organization, we will postpone it to in two weeks, please await more information and prepare yourselves accordingly for the battle ahead.]

Just like that, almost every awakener in the stronghold was more prepared than ever before, their excitement driving them to action as they rushed to train and gather resources.

They all rushed to get stronger in hopes of helping the stronghold and the requiem guild achieve their ultimate goal of reaching Level 6.

But as Leon watched the frenzy unfold around him, a cold thought crossed his mind that made him pause.

’For some reason, I have the feeling none of these people will survive the coming tide, they have no idea what they’re signing up for.’

This was a Level 6 Monster Tide, something that even Leon had never seen before in either of his lives, a force of nature that would test the limits of any stronghold and push its defenders to their breaking point.

The sheer strength of the monsters and beings there would be enough to overpower 99% of players, leaving only the truly elite standing among the carnage.

But the Requiem Guild likely knew that already, each of their members with an extremely high combat power that far surpassed the average player, making them the only ones with a real chance of surviving.

’So why are they allowing so many of their own to fight, knowing damn well almost all will die in the process,’ Leon wondered, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications.

Or perhaps... all of these players and natives were nothing but shields to them, cannon fodder to slow down the monsters while the guild members claimed the real rewards and achieved their goals.

In the end, did they actually even care about the [Requiem Stronghold] or was it simply to achieve something more for themselves, some hidden agenda they hadn’t revealed?

Regardless, Leon teleported out of the [Requiem Stronghold] using his [World Map], appearing in the wilderness beyond its walls in a flash of light.

Then he sent a quick message to Celeste, Emilia and Violet, letting them know of the situation and his plans.

[Celestial: The Monster Tide is in two weeks from now, they got all the crystals, prepare, I’ll be out all this time to look for ways to get stronger.]

This was a short and comprehensible message that he hoped they’d understand and act upon without too much worry.

[UndyingPhoenix: Alright!]

[RainbowDragon: I will be waiting and training until then, don’t worry about us.]

[Saintess: Make sure to kick their asses ٩(◕‿◕)۶]

They were more supportive than Leon thought, their words bringing a small smile to his face as he read them.

’Well, I can always teleport to them whenever I want anyway,’ he reminded himself, feeling reassured.

He could quite literally see their positions in the [World Map] wherever he was in the domain, so it didn’t really matter if they were apart for a while, he could always reach them.

Just like that, Leon rushed through the lands near the [Requiem Stronghold], his feet pounding against the earth as he pushed forward with relentless determination.

He decided to take a map that was greyed out in his [World Map], meaning that he had never taken that path before, and went further than it into unknown territory that held untold secrets.

Slash!

He killed a few monsters on the way, absorbing their essences to grow stronger, though no skill stones dropped from any of them, much to his growing frustration.

For several hours after that, Leon looked for any sign of a dungeon, killing all the monsters that got near him to get stronger and expand his map of the surrounding area.

And after many hours of relentless searching and traveling through increasingly harsh terrain... he found one: apromising discovery that made his heart race with excitement.

The ground beneath his feet went from plain grass to actually snowy grass and ice, the temperature dropping noticeably as he ventured deeper into the frozen landscape.

He moved forward, and he found a massive wall of ice with a cave inside, its entrance glowing with a faint blue light that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat, inviting him inside.

He approached it and a notification appeared, confirming his find and offering him a choice.

Ding!

[You are about to enter the "Frostbite Cavern"]