Number Two and Three got back to the Guild Island, bringing Combat Mastery Tomes worth 30 Million Coins.
Dexter then divided it and gave it all to the Numbers.
"Don't use it yet, wait for me here..."
Leaving the Guild Island, he then proceeded to his personal Island, opened his storage, and got all the equipment he crafted, from Tier II to Tier X that he was storing, All Masterpiece.
"I think it's better for you all to be used, than to get stuck here without an owner..."
Though Dexter's hobby became crafting, he couldn't use any other equipment, other than the Mythical Fishing Twig.
Dexter didn't know, but somehow, The Bracers of the Immortal Djinn hadn't registered the Mythical Fishing Twig as an Equipment.
"Maybe it thought it's just a stick?"
After storing all the equipment in his bracers, he left and got back again to the Guild Island.
Dexter then spread all the equipment, without segregating it, all mixed up, armors, weapons, everything, even gathering tools and some kits.
"Listen up! Take any Tier II gear you like, and use the Combat Mastery Tome I've given you... Stop when your Combat Mastery reaches Level 20."
Dexter let the Numbers carefully choose their equipment. Most of the females asked how to use the Staff and their different effects. Men chose swords, either dual swords, or with a shield.
After the equipping spree of the Numbers, Dexter noticed that no one chose to be a Healer.
He asked them one by one the reason why they hadn't chosen a Holy Staff.
All of them almost had the same answer: Either they didn't have Holy Power or that they were not a Saint.
It was the same as Stella's complaint when Dexter told her to be the Healer of their party.
With that, Dexter knew that all the Numbers, like Stella, didn't know the basic understanding of the World of Eldrion.
'/g How long can you hold?'
(Mojomojo: Maybe a week or two? Just come here ASAP, my food won't last long...)
'/g Okay... Are you being chased? Got stuck? or anything? Just give me information regarding your status as of now...'
Golden light emitted from the body of the Numbers while they were continuously using the combat mastery, while wearing their set they chose.
(Mojomojo: Gankers are waiting outside the entrance. I can't get out. They can't get in either... As for their numbers, I'm not sure. Tell me if you're in Bearswood, I'll ping you my location. I'll also join the fight if you ask me to.)
'/g Wait for us, don't come out, also add another 20 million since it has become a rescue mission...'
(Mojomojo: Sure... no worries... just get me out of here immediately.)
"Uhh... Master... I mean Sir, why is my equipment not leveling up?" Number One asked, looking at her chosen weapon shakingly.
Dexter then looked at her, and the equipment she chose. It was a Dual curved blade attached to a short handle like a crescent moon. In short, a two Sickle, a gathering tool used by Harvesters.
"Because you chose a gathering tool as a weapon, it's not considered a weapon... Wait, give me that."
Number One gave the two sickle to Dexter. He then went to the crafting station and attached a long chain to its both handles, making it a Chained Sickle.
"Here... be careful using it."
After looking at everyone who was almost ready with their gears, he then told them to continue using all the combat mastery tomes until everything was used. This gave all the Numbers the ability to use Tier VI equipment.
Dexter then stored all the Tier VI Gears in his bracers and left all the other equipment in the Guild Storage.
They left the Guild Island, and proceeded to the Market Place. They bought some Tier V Sabertooth mounts. Although it was their first time using a mount, it didn't hinder them from riding it like a normal wanderer.
Dexter hadn't forgotten to buy some Rolled Dry Leaf, and also food for their journey, especially the food just for Stella.
"Let's go! We will do training along the way... nothing beats real combat in a life and death situation."
Though the Numbers hesitated, they still obeyed the command of their Master. Stella was even more eager to participate in this training.
"Dex, is this also considered training for me before I can leave with you to the Uncharted Zone?" Stella asked, riding a Tier IV Llama.
"Your training was done a long time ago, and also since I've given you that necklace, I think no one can harm you except someone like Gridlock."
Riding their mounts, they proceeded towards the northern gate of the Sunscar Kingdom.
This time, Dexter was not alone going to the PK Zone, though it would be much harder for him than going solo, since he would have to babysit his newly created mercenary guild.
***1
Deep inside the Bearswood Forest, atop its towering trees, FrozenDonkey, with other members of the Happy Go Lucky Guild, were watching the movements of the people having a barbecue in front of a dungeon.
"Looks like there's something in that dungeon. Do you wanna ask them?"
"Then go die asking them. Couldn't you see that insignia on their chests? they're from Blackreach Throne. That bandit kingdom is much closer than the Eldermere Kingdom," FrozenDonkey replied, adjusting his mask.
"We'll wait until midnight. If there's something that's really important in that dungeon that's making them stay, we'll attack them while they're asleep. For now, we rest. Take turns keeping watch... we sleep till midnight."
***
Dexter led the Numbers and Stella. Though the easiest way to level up was to kill someone, and the safest way was to use a Combat Mastery Tome, he still chose dungeon crawling.
First, monster tier is limited to its zone. Second, monster movements are predictable and easy to counter. Since the Numbers were just starting, Dexter thought the thing they needed the most now was "Trust" – trusting their companions in a life and death situation.
After Dexter's initial scouting, they dismounted in a Tier VI Zone near a dungeon, five zones away from Bearswood Forest.
"Okay... all of you, get inside and kill all the monsters. I don't care what you do or how you do it, but kill anything you see inside. And if you see some people there... go kill them too."
"B-but Master... we don't know how to fight..."
"So, are you just willing to give your life away because you don't know how to fight?" Dexter retorted.
He changed his bracer into his favorite weapon, the Necromancer Bone Scepter, and pointed it towards the Numbers.
"If anyone of you can't fight after this dungeon, I think it's better if I turn you into a skeleton. At least that one could fight," Dexter said, a purple flame igniting from his eyes.
From ... to *** for clear breaks.