Chapter 17: Unlocking the Secret Dungeon (Seeking Your Support)

At the predetermined location, within the ten-minute window around the scheduled time, the Fairy Beast and her group appeared once again. What surprised Ichimon somewhat was that standing beside the Fairy Beast was the Omegamon he had seen before.

By rights, since he had died, his account should have been discarded. It was truly baffling how he had managed to cultivate yet another account. However, his level was rather low, only at level six.

Ichimon looked at Omegamon and his companions, a peculiar expression on his face. “Weren’t your accounts wiped out? How are you still able to play?”

Omegamon sighed. “Our accounts were indeed erased. These are new ones we started. A Foundation-grade standard gaming pod allows you to transfer data from a deceased account to a new one once, but there’s always a data loss. Whether it’s player experience, other stats, or our Digimon data, some of it is lost.”

The Foundation-grade standard gaming pod was five tiers above the basic Qi Refining-grade standard gaming glasses Ichimon had started with. Even compared to his current Qi Refining-grade standard gaming helmet, it was still four tiers higher.

“…Well,” Ichimon wanted to complain, but couldn’t find the words.

Omegamon shook his head and sighed. “Just think of it as a perk for the wealthy. Honestly, it’s not that great—it only lets us transfer data once. I hope the game will introduce some kind of protection system. Otherwise, even a thousand transfers wouldn’t be enough to avoid being killed.”

Ichimon actually wanted to tell them that such a protection system did exist, but unfortunately, they just hadn’t encountered it.

“All right, enough talk. Let’s form a party. You know as well as I do, time is running out.” With that, Omegamon sent Ichimon a party invitation.

[You are now the party leader!] As soon as Ichimon joined, Omegamon handed over the leadership. There was no other way; without being the leader, Ichimon couldn’t unlock the hidden dungeon.

“Let’s go.” Ichimon glanced at the party leader badge and then led the group toward the dungeon called Agumon’s Wrath.

[You hold the right to challenge a hidden dungeon. Time remaining: forty-eight minutes and twenty-three seconds. Would you like to challenge the hidden dungeon or the regular dungeon?] As soon as Ichimon entered Agumon’s Wrath, a system interface appeared before him.

Of course, Ichimon was there for the hidden dungeon. Without hesitation, he tapped the option to challenge the hidden dungeon, and the interface disappeared.

“How odd—why are there no monsters around?” As they entered, the others noticed that the area was devoid of any monsters.

Omegamon pondered for a moment. “Perhaps activating the hidden dungeon caused all the monsters in the regular dungeon to vanish.”

No one could say for sure if Omegamon’s guess was correct, but the absence of monsters was a good thing—it spared them some effort. Eventually, under Ichimon’s lead, they reached the entrance to the hidden dungeon.

Pointing at the entrance, Ichimon addressed the others: “Listen up, beyond here is the hidden dungeon. I can’t guarantee what dangers await—there’s even a chance we’ll all be wiped out. But I hope everyone gives it their best.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t let minor setbacks become major ones,” Omegamon replied confidently.

[Hidden dungeon unlocked!] With that, all ten of them stepped into the hidden dungeon. As Ichimon, the first player to enter, crossed the threshold, a system notification chimed in their ears.

Instead of the cavernous tunnels they had expected, a vast canyon spread out before them, its surroundings open and wide, with a system-generated blue sky and white clouds overhead.

The first to greet them was a group of ToyAgumon, ClearAgumon, and BlackToyAgumon—three of each, making nine in total.

ToyAgumon, a puppet-type vaccine Digimon in its rookie stage, had the special move [Toy Flame]. Its whole body was composed of special plastic building blocks, modeled after Agumon by internet-loving children. It was extremely cute and possessed a heart of unyielding justice in the face of evil.

ClearAgumon, also a puppet-type vaccine Digimon in its rookie stage, wielded the special move [Precious Flame]. Like ToyAgumon, it was made of special plastic blocks, but transparent, hence the name. It too bore a heart of unwavering justice.

BlackToyAgumon, a puppet-type virus Digimon in its rookie stage, boasted the special move [Toy Flame]. Corrupted by computer viruses online, its body had been dyed black, turning it into a Digimon that bullied children.

[Precious Flame!] ClearAgumon immediately launched a fiery toy missile at them.

Omegamon shouted, “Everyone, attack together! Let’s take them down first!”

At his command, the other players sprang into action. Each one faced off against a different Agumon variant. It was clear, despite Ichimon’s nominal leadership, that true authority in the group rested with Omegamon.

“Go ahead,” Ichimon signaled to his Digimon, Ichimon. Although he wasn’t sure how powerful these nine Agumon variants were, he knew his own Digimon’s combat strength was 155—five points higher than the dungeon boss they’d faced before.

These nine Agumon variants, even as hidden dungeon monsters, couldn’t possibly be stronger than the boss, could they? Plus, with ten players against nine monsters, and the others keeping them occupied, his Digimon could dispatch one with each attack.

In less than nine seconds, the nine Agumon variants were all taken down by Ichimon’s Digimon.

Watching this, the faces of the other nine players—apart from Ichimon—were filled with complex emotions. Of course, they knew why this Digimon was so powerful. Their own Digimon had once been this strong too. But unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world.

After defeating those nine Agumon variants, they finally faced the first mini-boss of the dungeon.