[Scorpion Lord Field Dungeon]

[Recommended Level: 20+]

Ash looked into the armory and spent 50,000 coins on the Burst-fire SMG.

[Burst-fire SMG]

Type: Submachine Gun

Cost: 50,000 Coins

Description: A lightweight, high-recoil firearm designed for close to mid-range combat. Fires in controlled three-round bursts with enhanced mana-charging.

Surprisingly, it didn't stop there — the system displayed detailed stats of the gun.

[Rate of Fire: 900 RPM (3-round burst)

Effective Range: 60 meters

Magazine Size: Nil [Buy magazine to unlock]

Cost: 8 MP/Bullet in Burst mode or 10 MP/Bullet in Single-fire mode.

Recoil Control: Basic [Buy moderate/Advanced Grip to improve]

Special: Charge your next set of bullets with extra Mana for increased damage.]

There were many things to understand, but he had no time to ponder.

He examined the SMG. It didn't have any magazine, meaning it would consume his personal MP with every attack.

'Perhaps…' Ash thought, taking the Mana Cartridge from his pistol and equipping it to the SMG. It was an attachment that enabled him to use Beast Cores' MP to supplement the bullets.

As they decided to move further, the ground shook violently, revealing a massive Scorpion.

[Lord's Domain has been used]

[Your stats will be lowered to 50%]

[AGILITY: 3 (+12) | ENDURANCE: 2.5 (+20) | STRENGTH: 2 (+14) | LUCK: 6.5 | WILLPOWER: 499]

Ash squinted at his stats. It was almost funny — his personal stats were nearly non-existent if he ignored those provided by the armor.

However, the debuff didn't affect his armor's stats; it only halved his personal attributes.

And if he considered his title buffs, he would return to normal in that aspect.

His Luck stat, however, being class-exclusive, hit him the hardest — his intuition and ability to foresee were drastically dulled.

Mostly, his physical strength wasn't much affected, but his MP had taken a heavy blow.

[MP: 50/50]

It was concerning. He couldn't even use most of his skills with that low MP.

In front of him, sand poured off the rising mound like a collapsing dune as a massive scorpion emerged from beneath.

Its obsidian hide shimmered with green veins of venom, each pulse like a heartbeat echoing through the desert. The air itself grew heavy—Ash's instincts were suppressed, yet the danger screamed louder than ever.

The creature's three tails lashed out, cutting through the air and breaking the sound barrier. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling across the sand.

"C-rank…" Ash muttered, his heartbeat slowing as everything seemed to move in slow motion. What they had assumed to be a D-rank beast turned out to be far beyond their expectations.

Ash exhaled sharply. "You've got to be kidding me."

The beast's presence distorted the mana around it. Poison mist coiled from its carapace—thick, oily, and alive. Wherever it touched, the sand hissed and turned black.

Jessie shouted from a distance, her voice echoing, "It's corrupting the terrain—don't step there!"

The scorpion raised its tails, and the mist expanded outward.

[Poison Resistance reduced by 30%]

Ash felt it immediately. His lungs burned, and his movements grew sluggish. He rolled aside as one of the tails struck down, splitting the sand like a fissure.

Jessie had already retreated as usual, but for the first time, he was glad she did. This beast was beyond their limits — even if they gave their all, it wouldn't be enough.

He raised the SMG, switching to burst mode. The weapon thrummed as he fed a D-rank core into the attached cartridge. Blue light flickered along the barrel.

"Let's see if you bleed."

The beast's tails rose again, glowing a sinister violet.

A volley of venomous orbs launched into the sky, arcing before crashing down like falling stars. Each orb detonated into a pool of acid, melting the ground into wide craters.

Ash sprinted, using the bursts between explosions to slide across safer ground.

His instincts spiked—left flank. He turned and fired three bursts mid-roll. One bullet caught a venom orb mid-air, causing a premature detonation that shielded him from the rest.

He clicked his tongue. "That was too close."

The beast core was already emptied, forcing Ash to use another.

He reloaded the cartridge with another D-rank core.

His next burst shimmered black, liquid venom coating each round. He knew his poison wouldn't work on this beast, but at this point, he needed every edge he could get.

He aimed for the scorpion's joints—the softer flesh between carapace plates—and fired.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets pierced through, releasing the venom inside. The beast screeched, its tails moving wildly—one stabbing into its own corrupted ground in rage.

Green smoke erupted from the wound. The scorpion shrieked, slamming its tails down again.

The ground beneath Ash quaked violently. Sand exploded upward, forming dozens of venom-tipped spikes.

Ash twisted sideways; one spike grazed his thigh. Pain flared, but he didn't stop. He dove forward, landing on one knee—his mind and instincts working at full efficiency.

His vision blurred from pain, but his resolve remained sharp. If they wanted to survive, they needed to kill this beast quickly.

"Jessie, now!" he shouted, giving her the signal she'd been waiting for.

Ash knew he didn't stand a chance in a direct physical fight. The weapon was in his hand — all he needed was proper preparation.

A black circle flared beneath the giant scorpion, reducing its defense. Then, a raging inferno surrounded it, trying to contain it within the circle.

If he had his new skill Heartpiercer, the fight would have ended instantly — but with only 50 MP left, he couldn't afford it.

He switched the gun to single-shot mode with a click and poured all 50 MP into the next bullet.

[Overcharge Mode: Active]

He'd tested its defense earlier — his bullets had pierced the joints easily, boosting his confidence. With Jessie's Twilight Spell sapping its vitality, now was the time to finish it.

Bang!

The bullet hit its head — or at least the part that resembled one.

The creature screamed, stumbling backward. Its tails whipped blindly.

Jessie casted Dragon Flame, forming a stronger barrier that burned it every time it tried to escape the Twilight Trap.

The charged bullet tore through its skull. Poison, blood, and steam erupted in every direction.

The beast thrashed, stabbing its tails into the sand in agony—each impact weaker than the last—until finally, its body slumped. The venomous mist dispersed.

[+4000 EXP]

[+15000 Coins]

[+10 MP]

[Field dungeon has been cleared]

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