"I am coming," Ainen said as he saw Dylan and Sofia stepping onto the island while he stepped on the 10th step.

[ Duel — Ainen vs Gobline Elite Champion ]

Same stage, a stronger goblin.

This one had four arms, wielding a bow and a sword. A muscled figure with tattoos on its body.

"Roar!"

The Goblins roared and released a vertical whirlwind of flames towards Ainen.

"Get lost."

A similar whirlwind, but one made of sand, clashed against it.

The clash resulted in the formation of glass that Ainen turned into spikes, shooting towards the incoming Goblin.

It destroyed the glass spikes with its sword while buffing itself and jumping up in the sky, its bow aiming at Ainen.

Alas, Ainen already had a bow floating above him.

Boom!

The arrow shot blindingly and struck the Goblin, exploding it into a firework.

[ You have won the duel. ]

[ You have killed a level 200 Goblin Elite Champion. You have reached level 160. ]

[ You have acquired level 160 Mystery Box. ]

Ainen stepped on the island.

[While you are on the island. You may challenge anyone in your sight to a duel of life and death. Refusal of the duel is not allowed.]

'Whoa!' Ainen was surprised.

'I need to get fooking strong fast. Mystery boxes and all other rewards. I need to use them.'

Elemental Resonance was already active, and he had sensed the location of all resources within 10 kilometers of himself.

'But first, I'll harvest.'

Ainen seamlessly drilled into the ground before traveling towards the nearest resource.

Tier-2 Darkcloud Mushroom.

'Next.'

'Master, we will help.'

'Alright. Actually, you should try climbing the steps as well. If you win, you can get experience since the monsters in the duels are all at level 200.'

'Brother, will you take a break soon?'

'Yeah. I will. I want to power up before climbing further.'

'Yey!'

Ainen, Saffa, Clovelle, and Frasea were collecting resources.

After collecting eight resources, Ainen noticed a glowing stone emitting a faint, unique energy a few steps away from the Tier-3 Flower he just plucked.

'What's that?' Ainen walked over and touched it.

'Looks like the so-called hidden reward of the island,' Lord Black said.

The moment Ainen touched that stone, it dispersed into colorful sparks that took the shape of a treasure chest.

[ Mystery Reward Box ]

Ainen curiously opened it, and inside was a small golden-bird whistle.

[ Artifact: Golden Bird Whistle (One-time-use) ]

Rank: Tier-3

Effect:

—> Using this whistle summons a random mythical bird who can buff you randomly and heed one command of yours. The comprehensive parameters of the summoned bird will be at the true peak of Adept-rank.

Note: Once this whistle is used, it will transform into 3000 kilograms of Tier-3 Legendary-grade Alugist Ore.

'This is amazing, no? I can use it as an artifact once, and then it will transform into a Tier-3 Legendary-grade Ore! I want to cook that Ore.'

'It's good. The hidden rewards may have a variety. Let's see what you get in the next one.'

Ainen grinned.

He connected to Saffa, Clovelle, and Fraisea with their bond and told them to look out for suspicious-looking normal stuff that emits strange energy.

The faint energy had a very short range. Ainen only sensed it because he was within a meter of it.

Otherwise, he would have sensed it earlier before going to pick up the flower. His Elemental Resonance also didn't detect it.

So the rewards were hidden in plain sight, but only when someone approached within a meter of those objects and picked up that faint energy would they find the hidden rewards.

'Labyrinth is fun, to be honest.'

Ainen was roaming around, collecting resources and finding hidden rewards. Ten minutes passed by just like that, but he had yet to find the second hidden reward.

However, he was steadily collecting the resources he sensed.

Some more had arrived on the island, and Ainen encountered Diana as well, but they naturally didn't duel each other to the death.

But he told her something, and she could relay it to others who came together with Ainen on this floor.

He also encountered Naresh later.

And then, he encountered three people. Prince Maurin, Vorton, and Nico.

But Ainen wasn't alone anymore. Saffa, Clovelle, and Fraisea were with him since he was done harvesting for resources and rewards.

He didn't find the second hidden reward, but he didn't want to waste time finding them while others were doing the same.

He wanted to power up, maximize his stats, and cook a new catalyst for his Magic Core.

He, Saffa, Clovelle, and Fraisea already collected twenty-seven stalks of resources, consisting of Tier-3!

"Hey, Ainen. Did you find any hidden rewards?" Prince Maurin asked with a smile. His eyes were darting at the foxes. 'Fuck.'

'So close, yet so fucking far.'

"Yeah, I found one." Ainen nodded with a chuckle. "They are quite tricky to find, but good luck."

After saying that, Ainen left.

'Master, I don't like that guy.'

'Yeah. He feels bad.'

'I somehow feel angry when I look at him.'

Ainen chuckled. 'Next time I see him, I'll duel him. He can die or he can use the bangle to escape.'

Lord Black wryly smiled. 'Quite ruthless of you when you aren't like that at all.'

'Well…I am also feeling bad vibes from him. He is not exactly hard to read when I look at him carefully. There's something he wants from me, the way he looks at me, but I don't know what it is.'

'Well, I agree with you. I've observed him just now, and he was looking frustrated. I don't know why, though,' Lord Black said.'

'Does he want me to marry his sister, but he thinks I am too overqualified, so he is frustrated?'

'Now, you are cooking too much.'

'Hahaha...'

Ainen soon stopped as he found a rather spacious area on the island with a pond nearby.

"This spot is good. Time to camp."

Ainen took out his Interdimensional Restaurant, which was upgraded to stage 2.

From Diner Wagon to a Cafe Bistro. And it was quite large.

The general interior had a massive upgrade. Limitless Kitchen was separated into a door leading there, while this stage 2 restaurant had a proper dining arrangement for customers in the dining hall.

Its walls were smooth stone brushed in soft amber hues, with carved wooden patterns that flowed like rivers across the surface, catching the glow of dozens of floating lanterns drifting lazily in the air. Each lantern was different — some shaped like lotus blossoms, some like tiny stars, some carrying liquid flame that rippled inside their glassy shells.

The seating was intimate: round oak tables with cushioned chairs, spaced so conversations could remain private yet still bask in the restaurant's gentle hum of life. Delicate strings of enchanted lights coiled along the ceiling beams, twinkling in slow rhythm.

[Interdimensional Restaurant]

Stage: 2 - Cafe Bistro [ 16 / 10,000 Exp ]

Dining Hall:

—> Size: 100 x 100 meters.

—> Nothing can break or die within the restaurant without the owner's permission.

—> Buffs gained from food eaten in the Dining Hall have a 2-hour extra duration.

Limitless Kitchen:

—> Size: 200 x 200 meters.

—> Limitless Tools: Imagine and design the tools you require for cooking.

Features:

—> Hell's Kitchen Transformation 2.0.

—> No Entry Barrier 2.0.

Hell's Kitchen Transformation has been upgraded, allowing him to transform 20 dishes now.

No Entry Barrier's range increased to a 100-meter radius and its recharge period shortened to 12 hours from 24 hours.

But there was just one problem now.

So far, only sixteen dishes were sold and eaten inside the restaurant, but he had sold more overall after the restaurant upgraded.

However, the experience counter only increased by 16.

It meant that he wouldn't get experience if he just sold his food dishes. He would only get experience if he sold and people ate the food inside the dining hall.

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