Chapter 12

Carl and Donut visit Mordecai at a tutorial guild to learn about boss classifications and open their loot boxes from defeating the Hoarder. Mordecai explains the six main types of bosses and how the achievement and loot system works, while Carl acquires protective gear and magic-based items that will help shape his combat build.

After killing the Hoarder, Carl and Donut find a tutorial guild where Mordecai sleeps among empty bottles, cradling a photo of his brother. Carl questions him about the bosses they encountered. Mordecai explains there are six main boss types—Neighborhood, Borough, City, Province, Country, and Floor—plus elites. Neighborhood bosses are the easiest and most common; the Hoarder was one such boss. Bosses drop persistent loot and corpses available to any crawler. Those who kill a boss receive an achievement, a Boss Box (Bronze for Neighborhood tier), and a star added to their name. Higher-tier bosses require larger groups. Mordecai warns that strong bosses exist on early floors but are designed for group combat, and runners cannot escape most boss fights on early floors. He notes that the first three floors shower crawlers with low-tier loot and skills to help them discover their eventual class. When Donut opens her Bronze Boss Box, she receives a Torch spell, which creates a curl of light that grows stronger with use—she equips it without reading the description, annoying Mordecai. Carl opens his remaining boxes, acquiring items including a Tome of Wisp Armor (a 5-mana magic defense spell), Stick of Dynamite X5, Scroll of Confusing Fog X3, Potion of Iron Skin X5, and Enchanted Spiked Kneepads of the Shade Gnoll Riot Forces, which reflect 10% damage and cancel momentum-based attacks. He equips the kneepads despite Donut mocking his appearance. Mordecai mentions that commentators host a show discussing dungeon happenings and interview selected winners, which airs almost as popular as the official program. Donut becomes excited about appearing on the show and enlists her agent Miss Beatrice to make it happen once they reunite, hoping that occurs by the fifth or sixth floor. Carl and Donut then prepare to continue exploring.