The Primal Hunter

Jake and company had visited many city floors before and knew what to expect. Except, this was not a normal city floor. This one was made by Minaga, and the Unique Lifeform had already warned them this place would be special. A special floor made by a special guy.

Upon their immediate arrival, Jake did not see what was so different. At first glance, it looked just like a usual city. As long as you ignored the fact that Jake spotted at least a dozen statues of Minaga just from where they entered, and the general architecture reminded him a bit of that mage area he had visited to buy his current bracers.

As usual, the system messages also appeared, inviting them to the floor.

You have arrived on Minaga’s City Floor of Nevermore.

All violence outside of the arenas is strictly prohibited on all city floors, including this unique City Floor. Challenge Dungeon(s) can be found in the central square. If Nevermore is left and reentered, you will automatically be taken to the latest city floor unlocked.

Nothing really seemed off… but then he saw the next part.

Due to the nature of Minaga’s City Floor, you cannot proceed to floor thirty-six immediately. In order to proceed, you must pay the toll at the city gates. Minaga’s City Floor uses the currency known as Minaga Coins. Minaga Coins can be earned by selling items through brokers in the many stores spread throughout the city. Normal Credits can be used to pay for other goods through the stores or between non-residents of the floor. Minaga Coins cannot be traded between dungeoneers. All party members must pay their own toll.

The toll to enter the next floor is determined based on your level upon entering this floor the first time.

“Hm, this is quite the curveball,” the Sword Saint muttered as he read the description.

“Yeah…” Dina nodded.

“This is definitely something,” Jake commented. “But what exactly is the point of this? It wants us to sell items to some stores? And we can only buy stuff using Credits… is this some kind of money sink created to battle Credit inflation by forcing us to spend money on getting a currency that is useless to us outside of paying some toll?”

“I find the lack of trade-ability of these coins a severe oversight. What exactly is one meant to sell? I can see the hunter sell his potions, and perhaps the Dryad sell her herbs and such, but why would the Sylphian or I have any goods these brokers are willing to buy?” the Fallen King complained.

Jake was about to propose maybe someone could just leave Nevermore and bring a bunch of valuable stuff to sell… but then he saw the next message.

Main objective: Pay the toll to move onto the thirty-sixth floor.

Bonus objectives: Do not leave Nevermore before paying the toll.

Current progress: Pay the Toll. Do not leave Nevermore.

Note: This floor has no hidden objectives, achievements, or events.

Current Nevermore Points: 28473

Reading it, Jake saw the bonus objective. They were not allowed to leave this place, so even if one wanted to get help from outside, it wouldn’t work. Jake thought for a second before sighing.

“Worst comes to worst; I am sure we can scrounge stuff together. I quite frankly have a shitload of valuable stuff hidden away from the ceremony,” Jake shook his head.

“Hm, I guess that is an option,” the Sword Saint nodded.

“Won’t work,” a voice spoke from ahead of them as a figure teleported in from outside of Jake’s Sphere of Perception. Instantly, he was put on guard as Jake felt the aura of the person in front of them, and he used Identify, going for a full scan.

[Human – lvl 349 – Minor Blessing of Alcradia]

the peak of C-grade… nearly B-grade. Jake knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if it came down to a fight, he would not stand a chance. Luckily, a fight was

it a bit suspicious when a random person just

said as he bowed. “I am but a mere worker from a subsidiary of the Golden Road Emporium, and I serve the merchant god Alcradia. As for

Jake nodded. “And why did you feel the need to teleport over to volunteer

entering the floor, and I teleported over because I was informed of a change on the central Leaderboards. Seeing as your party had just appeared, I put two and two together,”

“Ree!” Sylphie screeched.

“Spoilers aren’t nice. We wanted to go and see that

“I apolo-“

real reason you are here,” Jake shook his head. “Actually, let me guess. Seeing as everything you can trade for Minaga Coins has to be from Nevermore, you are here to buy some valuable items we have that can be

smiled. “I will not deny that. The Demon Lord on the highest difficulty offers quite the rewards if a party such

thanks for the info,” Jake shrugged as he motioned for them

nice. “There are still some things

counts as “from Nevermore” even if the creation uses materials from the outside,” Jake interrupted him. “Still not interested, and worst comes to worst,

been true on prior floors, here, that is not possible. The dungeon master does not appear here or speak, as it is a city floor. He does not have a copy here

am not some guy just at your beck and call, appearing whenever you want me to,” Minaga agreed wholeheartedly as he stood with his arms

you to,” Jake

frozen in place as the blue dungeon master appeared. He slowly turned his head as if to confirm the Unique Lifeform

“This one greets the-“

as the

was just about to reveal your godly title,” Jake said, pointing at where

I don’t think he was,”

“He totally was.”

you would think

gaslighting will not work,” Jake

said with a sad expression before his mood took a one-eighty,

just raised

Jake relented. “Now, could you tell me why you decided to make this floor the way you did

like you do – and that includes the city floors. I wanted this one to at least take some time and give people a good reason to spend longer here than on other city floors. So I introduced the Minaga Coin and the toll, but the coins can also be used for other things than just the toll. Though, I am not going to lie… none of these things matter to your party. I would advise you five to just quickly gather the toll and get out of here,” Minaga explained before sighing. “I

“How would we go about collecting coins, and was my assessment

Ah, but one warning, even if I told you to rush through, you will probably still spend a bit of time here to get enough to pay the toll. While you do have some stuff to sell from prior floors, none of it gives a lot outside of those ingots from the

can be traded for coins, can’t we just spend a shitload of Credits, buy a lot of crafted stuff from others, and sell that for coins to move on instantly? You know, steamroll the

coins you can earn monthly from non-self-obtained items...” Minaga said

sighed. He had a feeling there really was no easy way

get coins! Get that

conversation as he referred to himself and Sylphie. “How are

are non-combat that earn tokens you can exchange for coins. You can also fight in the arena once a day, something I feel like you both would enjoy. The arena is time-limited and will repeatedly send new things out to kill to rack up more points for a better

Jake questioned. Usually, Minaga liked to

floor, you get no points for doing it. Only the bonus objective gives any bonus points,” Minaga shrugged. “Me helping you while giving some basic advice will have a minimal effect. Plus, I teleported away the guy who would have said

floor gives no points?” Jake

course not. It is a city floor,”

doing this to waste everyone’s

you, it is for a better overall experience and allow you all to socialize a bit,” Minaga grinned. “Now, from your point of view, it may seem like a waste of time,

ideas that would help him cheese this floor. Minaga seemed to have thought of most things with the limit on things you could sell that you hadn’t