The healing amount might seem mediocre on paper, but that didn't matter to him. With his current stats, he had more than enough healing power to spare.
Status Panel
Name: Ethan
Class: Priest
Talents: Grace (SSS), Arrow Enhancement (E-rank), Fixed Damage Reduction (E-rank), Spell Cost Reduction (E-rank), Damage Reduction (B-rank)
Defense: 0 (Constitution × Defense Bonus)
Even the most lackluster heal would become terrifying with his 160 Spell Power!
And this was only at Level 1!
Most squishy classes wouldn't even have 1,000 total HP before Level 10—this single Mass Heal could easily save an entire team from certain death.
But that wasn't the best part.
From now on, he wouldn't have to waste time casting Heal on each target individually when facing groups of enemies.
"I hit the jackpot with this," Ethan said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Alright, the boss is dead," Amy said, equipping the Bramble Shield.
The gear added an air of steadiness to her demeanor.
"We should head out now."
With the final boss defeated, the dungeon exit portal had already begun to form not far away, glowing brightly.
"Let's go! Time to split the loot—wait, no, time to transfer money to you!"
Ella was in high spirits, slinging her sword over her shoulder as she led the way toward the portal.
Ethan and Amy exchanged a smile, following closely behind her.
Back at the dungeon plaza, flashes of white light appeared one after another.
Jason's team, who'd been teleported out long ago, huddled together with dark expressions, their voices filled with rage as they cursed Kane and Lilian.
Just then, the largest teleportation portal in the center of the plaza flared to life.
Under the curious and envious gazes of the countless failed players waiting there, three figures walked out side by side—Ethan, Amy, and Ella.
The moment they appeared, they became the center of attention.
"It's the Jones sisters! They cleared the dungeon!"
"That fast? How long were they even in there?"
"They must've gotten great loot! Look at the shield the eldest Miss Jones is holding—it looks like Fine quality!"
"I thought Ethan became a Priest? How did he get the boss kill?"
Whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd.
Jason's team noticed them immediately, their expressions complicated.
They recognized the Jones sisters, and the announcement had made it clear that Ethan had landed the final blow on the boss.
That loot should've been theirs…
The nature mage girl bit her lip, feeling a surge of bitterness—but she knew none of this was Ethan's fault.
The real villain was Kane, that dirty cheat.
If anything, Ethan had avenged them by ruining Kane's plans.
But speak of the devil—and he shall appear.
A smaller portal flared to life right after. Kane and Lilian stumbled out, looking disheveled and defeated.
Kane's face was ashen, his eyes burning with venomous rage—his mood couldn't have been worse.
Lilian followed closely behind him, her earlier arrogance replaced by a sullen scowl.
They'd managed to escape the minion swarm, but they'd come out of the dungeon empty-handed, having done all the hard work just to pave the way for someone else.
The moment they stepped out, they spotted Ethan, Amy, and Ella standing in the center of the plaza, the envy of everyone present—and the brand-new gear they were wearing.
Lilian's eyes instantly turned red with fury.
Old grudges and new hatreds welled up inside her, and the sight of Ethan's calm, indifferent face made her blood boil with rage.
"ETHAN!"
She shrieked, charging toward him without a care for the onlookers.
She pointed an accusing finger at his chest, her voice shrill enough to cut through the noise.
"You shameless thief! You stole our boss! Have you no decency?!"
Her scream silenced the bustling plaza instantly.
Every eye turned to them, filled with the gleeful anticipation of watching a drama unfold.
He stole their boss?
And the main character is that simp who was all over the gossip not long ago?
Did the simp finally rebel against his gold digger?
This was the juiciest news they'd heard all day!
Kane tried to grab her, but it was too late.
His face darkened even further.
He knew they were in the wrong here—making a scene would only humiliate them more.
Ethan stopped walking, looking at the hysterical Lilian with the same calm, detached expression one might use to watch a clown performing a silly trick.
Ella, however, had no patience for this nonsense.
She stepped forward, placing herself between Ethan and Lilian, and shot back without hesitation.
"Lilian, did a goblin bash your skull in? Since when is a dungeon boss your personal property? You couldn't hold onto it, so we killed it instead. Who's to blame but yourselves?!"
Ella, however, had no patience for this nonsense.
She stepped forward, placing herself between Ethan and Lilian, and shot back without hesitation.
"Lilian, did a goblin bash your skull in? Since when is a dungeon boss your personal property? You couldn't hold onto it, so we killed it instead. Who's to blame but yourselves?!"
"You—!" Lilian sputtered, unable to come up with a retort.
"Serves you right!"
Jason suddenly stepped forward, looking at Lilian with undisguised contempt.
"Lilian, how dare you open your mouth! Earlier, Kane enhanced the boss and backstabbed our team. Now someone's returned the favor, and you can't handle it?!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
"What? Kane backstabbed Jason's team first?!"
"So that's why Jason's group got eliminated so early!"
"Holy crap, Kane is such a snake!"
"When you start the dirty tricks, don't complain when someone pays you back in kind!"
The tide of gossip shifted instantly.
The gazes fixed on Kane and Lilian were now filled with disdain and contempt.
The other four members of Jason's team glared at Kane with even more animosity.
Kane could feel the piercing stares of the crowd burning into his skin.
His face flushed with shame.
He grabbed Lilian, who was still trying to argue, and growled, "Aren't you embarrassed enough?! Let's go!"
He practically dragged her away from the plaza, fleeing amidst the pointing fingers and mocking whispers.
The farce ended with them completely disgraced.
Ella snorted, flipping her ponytail triumphantly.
"Can't fight worth shit, can't even talk back properly. Pathetic losers."
Ethan watched her protective back and couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling stirring in his chest.
He turned to Ella, who had spun around, and said, "Thanks."
Amy shook her head slightly.
"It's nothing. Ella's just straightforward—she can't stand this kind of garbage."
She paused, pulling out her phone.
"Let's add each other as friends.
I'll transfer the money for the shield.
Market price for a Fine-quality piece, especially one with a unique trait like this, starts at around 100,000 credits."
Ethan didn't stand on ceremony.
He pulled out his phone and exchanged contact info with the two girls.
Moments later, a transfer of 150,000 credits appeared in his account.
Amy explained that the extra 50,000 was a thank-you gift for his help in the dungeon.
"Let's party up again sometime," Amy invited.
"Don't weasel out of it! Don't you dare forget about us, Ethan!"
Ella patted him hard on the shoulder.
Ethan smiled and nodded.
"Sure thing. Looking forward to it."
After bidding the Jones sisters farewell, Ethan glanced at the credit notification on his phone and the two new names in his contacts list.
Then he opened his status panel.
Status Panel
Name: Ethan
Class: Priest
Talents: Grace（SSS）, Arrow Enhancement (E-rank), Fixed Damage Reduction (E-rank), Spell Cost Reduction (E-rank), Damage Reduction (B-rank)
Skills: Lesser Heal Lv.5, Mass Heal Lv.1
Strength: 634
Constitution: 231
Agility: (Note: Missing value in original text, omitted here)
Spirit: 110
Free Attribute Points: 15 (Gain 5 per level-up)
Defense: 0 (Constitution × Defense Bonus)
"Leveled up three times, and Lesser Heal hit Level 5," Ethan muttered.
He tapped the skill to check its details.
Lesser Heal Lv.5: Channel holy light to heal a target, restoring (80 + 200% Spell Power) HP. Cost: 0 MP.
"50 more base healing. Not bad," Ethan nodded slightly, then turned his attention to his stats.
"10 free stats per level, plus 5 attribute points… this Priest's base stats are really mediocre."
Ethan didn't know much about other classes, but he knew the Jones sisters' stats like the back of his hand.
Their base HP and Attack were three times his own.
He suspected their level-up stat gains were triple his as well.
And this was just the early game.
After job advancement, the gap would only widen even further.
And theirs were only Rare-class professions—not the far more powerful Hidden Classes.
"Still a long way to go," Ethan sighed softly. "One dungeon run and my four core stats just barely broke triple digits. Can't get complacent. Gotta grind more dungeons."
He dumped all 15 free attribute points into Spirit.
Just as he was about to leave the plaza, a voice called out from behind him.
"Hey, wait up!"
It was Jason—the same guy who'd stood up for him earlier.
Ethan paused and turned around.
Jason stood awkwardly in front of him, while his teammates watched from a short distance away, their expressions a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
"Something you need?" Ethan asked calmly.
"Uh, Ethan…" Jason scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed, but spoke earnestly.
"Thanks to you and your team earlier. If you hadn't killed that boss and ruined Kane's scheme, we'd never have gotten over that grudge."
Ethan shook his head.
"No need to thank me. We were just trying to clear the dungeon—it was a coincidence."
"Either way, the result's the same," Jason said, hesitating for a moment before steeling his resolve.
"Also… I owe you an apology. For the way I acted at the dungeon entrance. I was narrow-minded, thought you were crazy for giving up the Paladin class… uh, turns out you're actually a total beast."
He stumbled over his words a bit, but his meaning was clear.
Class discrimination was rampant among low-rank professionals—but strength was always the most powerful weapon to shatter prejudice.
Jason hadn't seen Ethan fight firsthand, but everyone had witnessed how the Jones sisters treated him.
To earn their friendship, Ethan's strength must be nothing to scoff at—certainly not as useless as everyone had thought before.
Ethan thought for a moment before realizing what Jason was referring to.
Before the transmigration, the original Ethan had asked Jason to join his team.
Jason had refused, saying his team didn't welcome "simps."
Ethan didn't care—after all, it was the original owner who'd been insulted, and he'd deserved it.
But in Jason's eyes, that rejection must have felt like a huge slight.
If they'd never crossed paths again, it wouldn't have mattered.
Jason could've just avoided him in the future.
But Ethan had inadvertently avenged them.
Morally and logically, Jason had to come apologize.
Otherwise, his conscience would've haunted him.
"It's fine. Water under the bridge," Ethan said, his tone softening.
"If you really feel bad about it… how about teaming up for a dungeon run sometime? Show me the ropes."
Ethan truly didn't care about the past.
If Jason was willing to bury the hatchet, making a new friend was always better than making an enemy.
Jason might have been arrogant before, but he seemed straightforward and knew right from wrong.
Besides, rumors said Jason's entire team had A-rank talents—a prospect that made Ethan's eyes light up with greed.