Chương 6: Zero Players, Boss Alive

Later that afternoon, Matt Hayes pushed open the door to Black Hollow Gear & Gem. A little over two thousand dollars from the morning run now sat in his account, most of it courtesy of one extremely cooperative Treasure Chest. The bell above the shop door jingled. The blue-streaked clerk sat behind the counter flipping through a physical magazine. She looked up, took in Matt's armor, and recognized him immediately.

"Back already?"

"Apparently." Matt walked to the counter.

"I've been told I need something called the Beginner Set."

"Yeah." Matt paused.

"That's really all I have to say?"

"Pretty much."

"So they weren't joking."

"They were not." The clerk set the magazine aside, unlocked a secured drawer behind the counter, and returned with two small velvet-lined cases. Matt looked at them.

"So that's actually what everyone calls it."

"Yep."

"No proper sales pitch?"

"We can do one if you want."

"No." He reconsidered.

"Actually, yes. Explain it." He'd learned something over the previous forty-eight hours. Assuming he understood Dungeon equipment was a reliable way to find out he didn't. The clerk smiled slightly.

"Good call." She placed both cases on the glass counter but opened only the first.

"Core piece first." Inside lay a surprisingly plain necklace. A thin silver-colored chain held a single translucent crystal that caught the store lights and split them into faint hints of red, blue, and pale yellow. Matt's AR contacts recognized it. PURE ELEMENT Item Type: Necklace Rarity: Unique Effects All Resistances +5% Maximum Life +40 Grants Level 10 Elemental Shield ELEMENTAL SHIELD Creates an aura around the user. You and nearby allies gain +26% Fire, Cold, and Lightning Resistance.

Flavor Text Kings, heroes, even gods— all began alike with this small light. Do not be afraid. That first step is blessed. Matt read the card twice. At Level Three, forty Maximum Life alone was enormous. Broad Elemental Resistance on top of that made Chloe's insistence that he buy the Set substantially easier to understand. He looked up.

"…That's really strong."

"Yep."

"And this is beginner equipment?"

"Part of it." Matt looked toward the second case.

"Of course there's a second part."

"We'll get there." He studied the word Unique.

"How is something this good cheap enough to hand to beginners?"

"Because people keep finding them. Unique doesn't mean only one exists." The clerk tapped the glass.

"Pure Element and its partner drop often enough that supply stays healthy. It's strong enough to be useful and common enough that beginners can actually afford it."

"How long do people keep wearing it?"

"Longer than you'd think. You'll see Level Thirty-plus Delvers still using the pair. Forty Life and broad resistance are boring." She shrugged.

"Boring is useful." Matt smiled faintly.

"I keep hearing that."

"Because staying alive isn't stylish." She pointed toward his armor.

"Black Hollow is mostly physical damage, so the resistance portion won't do much here. The Life still matters, and the next Dungeon might care a lot more about Fire, Cold, or Lightning." That was enough for Matt.

"Okay. I'll take it."

"Wait." Matt stopped reaching for his wallet.

"There's a catch."

"There's always a catch." The clerk expanded the item card. One additional line appeared. ELEMENTAL SHIELD Mana Reservation: 50% of Maximum Mana Matt frowned.

"Reservation?"

"It doesn't spend the Mana. It locks that portion of your maximum while the aura is active, so you can't use it for other Skills." Matt had fifty-three Mana. Cleave cost four per use. Giving up half his available pool was not a small price.

"That's a problem."

"If you wear the necklace by itself? Yes." Matt caught the wording immediately.

"By itself." The clerk pushed the second velvet case toward him.

"Fortunately, the Dungeon—in its infinite generosity—provided a solution."

"That sentence worries me."

"It gave Pure Element a friend." She opened the case. Inside sat a plain dark ring with no stone, engraving, or decorative glow. Matt's contacts scanned it. ELEMENTAL RING Item Type: Ring Rarity: Unique Effect Reduces the Mana Reservation Cost of Elemental Shield by 100%. This item has no other modifiers. Flavor Text Pure power is too noble. An untempered soul cannot bear its radiance. But through this circle, it is another matter. This is the first qualification to wield a god's shield. Matt read the effect again.

The ring had no Life, damage, attributes, or other utility. Its entire purpose was to erase the necklace's Mana Reservation.

"That's impressively committed." The clerk laughed.

"That's why they're a pair."

"And together everyone calls them the Beginner Set."

"Now you've got it." Matt looked at the two pieces.

"Can I try them?"

"That's what they're here for." He fastened Pure Element around his neck. The System responded immediately. Life: 73 → 113 Matt blinked. He didn't physically grow or suddenly feel harder to injure in the ordinary sense. The invisible reserve protecting his body simply felt deeper.

"Forty is a lot at Level Three."

"Told you."

"Turn on the aura." Matt focused on Elemental Shield. The function felt different from a Skill Gem or COPY because the necklace itself supplied it. He activated the Skill. A soft prismatic glow spread outward from his body. ELEMENTAL SHIELD — Level 10 Active Fire Resistance +26% Cold Resistance +26% Lightning Resistance +26% This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Mana Reservation: 50% Half of Matt's Mana pool became visibly unavailable.

He immediately disliked it.

"Ring," the clerk reminded him. Matt slid Elemental Ring onto one finger. MANA RESERVATION MODIFIER DETECTED Elemental Shield Reservation Cost: -100% Reserved Mana: 0 The locked section vanished while the aura remained active. Matt stared at the interface.

"…Oh."

"There you go."

"No, seriously. This is really strong."

"Yes."

"How much?"

"One thousand for the pair." Matt waited for the second half of the price. There wasn't one.

"…That's it?"

"That's it." One unusually good F-rank run could pay for the entire Set.

"Common doesn't mean bad," the clerk said.

"It means supply exists." Matt looked down at the necklace and ring.

"I understand why people keep these for so long."

"Eventually the slots themselves become the question. A better necklace might beat forty Life. A good ring can be worth more than eliminating the reservation. Your Mana pool and recovery improve, other Gear exists, and then you start deciding what each slot is worth." Matt looked at Elemental Ring.

"So even the Beginner Set eventually becomes a build decision." The clerk picked up her magazine again.

"Everything eventually becomes a build decision." Matt smiled.

"… I'm beginning to notice." He bought the pair. $1, 000 — PAID ◆ Back at G-214, Matt added the Beginner Set to his build notes and spent the rest of the afternoon doing almost nothing productive. He ate late, browsed the Group Board, and watched a few short videos about The Old Foreman without committing to a full Boss guide. He wasn't planning a Boss attempt yet. At least, he didn't think he was. That evening, Ethan and Chloe argued in the group chat about morning time again.

Matt went to sleep with the necklace and ring stored beside his other equipment and the comfortable knowledge that, if nothing else, tomorrow he would be considerably harder to kill. ◆ 7: 25 AM. The next morning, Matt approached the Black Hollow Gate. The staging plaza was already active but hadn't reached its late-morning crowd. Delvers moved between terminals while a few breakfast trucks did brisk business. Two Atlantic Delver Academy students stood near one of the entry interfaces.

Matt checked his watch, then looked at Ethan.

"You're early." Ethan folded his arms.

"I can be on time." Chloe didn't look away from the terminal.

"This is a historic event."

"I hate both of you." Matt stepped closer. Chloe finally turned and immediately noticed the necklace and ring.

"You bought it."

"Yep."

"Good." That was apparently the entire inspection. Matt activated Elemental Shield, then restored his usual Dungeon COPY loadout before they entered. Anchored Step — C Sure Grip — E Chloe turned back to the terminal.

"Let's pick one." Their plan was the same as yesterday: a moderately populated Instance and no serious Boss race. The list appeared. Instance 238 — 31/64 — Boss Defeated Instance 239 — 27/64 — Boss Alive Instance 240 — 18/64 — Boss Alive Chloe raised her hand toward Instance 240. The list refreshed. A new line appeared. Instance 241 — 0/64 — Boss Alive Nobody moved. Ethan stared.

"…Oh." Chloe's hand stayed where it was.

"That's fresh." Matt looked between them.

"Fresh?"

"It just appeared." Ethan's entire posture changed. The relaxed student disappeared, his attention narrowing onto the terminal.

"Zero players." Matt looked at the number.

"So nobody's inside."

"Nobody."

"And the Boss is alive." Ethan looked at Chloe.

"We should go."

"Wait."

"Zero people."

"I can read."

"Boss Alive."

"I can also read that." Yesterday, they hadn't seriously considered The Old Foreman. The Instance had already been populated, and faster parties had a head start. Today was different. Nobody had one. Yet.

"If we go now, we can get there first," Ethan said.

"Probably."

"Then let's go." Chloe finally looked away from the screen. Her eyes landed on Matt. Then she stopped.

"No." Ethan stared at her.

"What?"

"Matt." Matt looked around.

"Me?"

"He has been Delving for two days."

"Three now." Chloe gave him a flat look.

"That did not improve the argument." Ethan opened his mouth, then closed it. Chloe continued.

"A normal training run and a Boss rush are not the same thing. We move faster, skip loot, ignore side passages, and make decisions under pressure because another group could be behind us." She pointed toward Matt.

"He's Level Three. One active combat Skill Gem. Boss attempts: zero." Matt nodded.

"Accurate." Ethan looked disappointed, but not reckless. After a moment, he sighed.

"Yeah. Fair." He reached toward Instance 240.

"Wait," Matt said. Both students looked at him. Matt looked back at Instance 241. Still zero.

"How dangerous is The Old Foreman for us?" Chloe crossed her arms.

"Manageable." Ethan nodded.

"We've trained it." Chloe shot him a look.

"Simulations."

"And classroom footage."

"Still." Matt continued.

"If it gets bad?"

"Portal." The answer was immediate. Matt nodded.

"We leave if it goes bad. No heroics, no arguing. If you call it, I leave." Ethan lifted his hand.

"Same." Chloe looked at them both, then at the terminal. 0/64 She exhaled.

"Fine." Ethan pumped one fist.

"Yes." Chloe pointed at him.

"If I call it, we leave."

"I said yes."

"I'm making sure." Then she selected the Instance. ENTER INSTANCE 241? Delvers: 0/64 Boss: Alive [YES]"Gate," Chloe said.

"Now." They moved. Three steps. Blue light. Transition. Cool mine air hit Matt's face. BLACK HOLLOW MINE — INSTANCE 241 Delvers: 3/64 Boss: Alive Ethan drew his sword.

"We're first."

"Move." They ran. Not an all-out sprint, but a hard, steady jog that three people in armor could sustain without reaching the Boss unable to breathe. Ethan's armor clanked. Matt's sword bounced against his hip. Chloe moved more smoothly than either of them.

"Main route," Ethan called.

"Side tunnels ignored." Matt looked down one passage as they passed.

"Loot?"

"If it's literally under your feet."

"No detours," Chloe added. Matt nodded. Boss first. Five Cave Rats blocked the route ahead. Ethan didn't slow.

"Straight through." Overmuscle activated in a crimson pulse, and he hit the pack with his shield. Two rats rolled while three compressed into the center. Matt came in behind him. Anchored Step. Cleave. A red arc tore through the pack. Chloe's Quick Frame flashed green, and two precise thrusts finished the survivors. Four seconds. An F-rank Mana Stone clattered onto the ground and rolled toward the wall. Matt's eyes followed it for half a second.

"Leave it," Ethan said, already moving. Matt kept running. That one hurt. A minute later he glanced at the Instance counter. Delvers: 6/64"Six." Chloe didn't slow.

"Expected." Another two minutes. Delvers: 9/64 Ethan grinned.

"Now it's a race." Matt could suddenly imagine another party somewhere behind them—or one Delver with a movement Unique that made their entire jog irrelevant. They reached another chamber containing four Goblin Miners and two Stone Beetles. Ethan pointed.

"Left?" Matt nodded.

"Left." No explanation needed. Ethan hit the right side and pulled the Beetles toward his shield while the Goblins compressed into Matt's angle. Cleave. Mana: 53 → 49 Matt stepped, rotated, and used it again. Mana: 49 → 45 Chloe crossed behind the Beetles under Quick Frame and finished the last targets. They ran immediately. No checking every ash pile. No standing around. The group wasn't dramatically stronger than yesterday. They were simply spending less time on anything that did not move them toward the Boss.

At the next junction, an entire side tunnel was full of Cave Rats. Normally that meant experience and drops. Today Chloe ran straight past. Matt looked at the pack. Then ahead.

"This hurts." Ethan laughed.

"Boss."

"Right." They kept moving. The tunnel inclined sharply upward. By the time they reached the top, even Chloe was breathing harder. Then a derailed mine cart blocked most of the passage. Rocks had spilled across the track. One side dropped away into a narrow crevasse while the other offered a thin path along the wall. Everyone stopped. Ethan stared at it.

"You have got to be kidding me." Chloe immediately started across.

"Go." With a proper movement Skill, the obstacle would have taken seconds. Instead they shuffled sideways along the wall. Step. Balance. Step. Matt looked down once and decided not to again.

"I understand Leap Slam now."

"Welcome to enlightenment," Ethan muttered. They cleared the obstacle and immediately resumed running. Matt checked the Instance counter. Delvers: 11/64 That got Chloe's attention.

"Already?"

"Yep." They couldn't see another party, which almost made it worse. Someone was coming. They just didn't know how fast. Voices eventually echoed faintly through the mine behind them, followed by metal striking stone. Ethan glanced back.

"They're moving." Chloe increased her pace. Another pack blocked the tunnel ahead: three Goblin Miners, four Cave Rats, and a Stone Beetle. Ethan started forward.

"Wait," Matt said. Ethan looked back.

"We're racing."

"And wasting Mana on two targets is slower." Chloe studied the spacing.

"He's right." Ethan groaned but hit his shield. Clang. The Goblins reacted first, then the rats, with the Beetle turning last. Matt waited just long enough for the pack to compress. Anchored Step. Cleave. Mana: 53 → 49 Four monsters caught in one swing. Chloe moved into the gap while Ethan slammed the Beetle sideways. Second Cleave. Mana: 49 → 45 Done. Ethan stared at the ash.

"That was faster."

"That's what I said."

"I still hated waiting." They ran. Thirty seconds later, something blue flashed on the ground directly beside Matt's route. Not a Mana Stone. A weapon. MAGIC SHORTSWORD Matt bent without breaking stride, caught the hilt, and shoved the weapon through an open loop on his loot harness.

"Magic Shortsword," he called. Chloe glanced back.

"Bag it. Identify later."

"Already did." Ethan laughed.

"See? You can loot and run." Matt looked briefly offended.

"I was never against efficiency."

"You mourned a five-dollar Mana Stone."

"That was different." The footsteps behind them echoed again. Closer.

"Run," Chloe said. They ran. The tunnel dropped and then split. Chloe went right without hesitation. Matt followed.

"You know the route?"

"Academy drill. Black Hollow layouts vary, but the Boss approach keeps enough of the same structure to recognize." Ethan pointed farther ahead.

"Big reinforced shaft. That way." The Instance counter refreshed. Delvers: 14/64"Fourteen."

"Not all of them are necessarily behind us," Chloe said.

"Some could be farming side routes."

"And some could be faster than us."

"Correct." Matt could see why Ethan complained about her. The next tunnel was the largest they'd encountered so far. And it was blocked. Six Cave Rats, five Goblin Miners, and two Stone Beetles clustered around the central track. Chloe slowed.

"Can't bypass." Ethan lifted his shield.

"Then through." Matt checked his Mana. Near full.

"Ready." Overmuscle came on in a crimson pulse. Ethan charged shield-first and scattered the front rats. Two Goblin Miners turned toward him while one Beetle lagged behind. Matt planted himself. Anchored Step. A pickaxe struck his shoulder. Life absorbed it. He didn't move. Cleave. Mana: 53 → 49 Three Goblins disappeared. Ethan shoved the Beetle into Matt's angle. Second Cleave. Mana: 49 → 45 The arc cut through the Beetle and two rats.

Chloe activated Quick Frame, passed behind the remaining Goblins, and finished them with precise strikes. The final Beetle started a charge. Ethan braced. Matt stepped around him. Third Cleave. Mana: 45 → 41 The Beetle vanished. Silence. Matt exhaled.

"Still good?" Ethan asked.

"Mana's fine."

"Life?"

"Fine."

"Then move." Chloe was already running. They followed. A Mana Stone sat in the middle of the tunnel. Matt kept moving. He was learning. Painfully. The mine began to change. The rough wooden supports became thicker and reinforced with iron bands. The tunnel widened, and broken industrial equipment appeared along the walls—old chains, larger carts, oversized tools. The blue light deepened toward indigo. Chloe slowed just enough to speak.

"We're close." Matt looked around.

"How can you tell?"

"Black Hollow changes near the Foreman's room." Ethan pointed toward the heavy supports.

"Boss approach." The Instance still showed fourteen Delvers. Then a distant shout echoed behind them. Closer this time. Ethan looked over his shoulder.

"They cleared the big pack."

"Then they're gaining," Chloe said. They increased pace. A lone Goblin Miner stood in the center of the next bend. Ethan raised his shield. Matt shook his head.

"Don't stop."

"What?"

"One Goblin." Matt shifted the longsword and used a basic attack. One swing. The Goblin dissolved. No Cleave. No Mana. They kept moving. Another lesson. Not every enemy deserved a Skill. A minute later, the floor changed from rough mine stone to deliberate masonry. The air felt wider. Then Matt heard it. CLANG. The sound rolled down the corridor, heavy and metallic, deep enough that he felt it more than heard it. He tightened his grip. Another. CLANG.

"That him?"

"Yeah." Chloe's voice had changed. Less joking.

"The Foreman." Cave Rats, Goblin Miners, and Stone Beetles were already starting to feel ordinary. This was different. The strongest thing in Black Hollow. Matt's first Boss. Ethan glanced at him.

"Nervous?"

"A little."

"Good." Matt looked over.

"Good?"

"People who aren't nervous on their first Boss are usually the problem," Chloe said.

"They're the ones who think 'F-rank' means 'can't kill me.'" Matt nodded.

"Portal if it goes bad."

"Exactly." They rounded the final corner. A pair of enormous reinforced iron doors waited ahead. One stood slightly ajar. Beyond it was darkness and pale blue light. Chloe raised one hand.

"Hold." All three stopped. Competition or not, nobody ran directly into a Boss without checking.

"Life?"

"Full," Ethan said. Matt checked. 113 / 113"Full."

"Mana?"

"Good."

"Flasks?" Three confirmations.

"Portal Scrolls?" Three more. Chloe glanced at the faint prismatic aura around Matt.

"Elemental Shield stays on." Matt nodded. Then Ethan suddenly looked back. Matt heard it too. Footsteps. Several. Distant voices. A shield struck something. The other party was close. Ethan's expression sharpened.

"We've got company." Chloe drew her shortsword.

"Then we go." Matt drew his longsword fully.

"Ready." Ethan put one shoulder against the iron door and pushed. Rusty hinges screamed. The doors opened. The Boss Room stretched beyond them. A vast circular excavation chamber opened beneath a ceiling fifty feet overhead. Stone pillars rose around abandoned rail tracks, overturned carts, and ancient lifting rigs with heavy chains hanging from them. And in the center— something enormous stood beneath a shaft of pale blue light. Eight feet tall. Maybe more.

Heavy soot-stained mining Gear covered its body, while a battered yellow Foreman's helmet cast its face into shadow. Both hands wrapped around the handle of a massive sledgehammer. The hammer head alone looked large enough to crush Matt's torso. The figure slowly turned. Two red lights appeared beneath the rim of the helmet. Matt's AR interface flashed. THE OLD FOREMAN Black Hollow Mine — Instance Boss Matt stared.

"…Okay." Ethan raised his shield.

"First Boss?" Matt lifted his longsword.

"First Boss." Chloe lowered her stance.

"Then try not to make it your last." The Old Foreman raised the hammer. Then brought its head down once against the stone floor. CLANG. The entire cavern echoed.