advance/early chapters : p atreon.com/Ritesh_Jadhav0869
Though $600 million in first-day entry fees was far less than a movie's opening box office, the subsequent profitability and sustainability of a dungeon far exceeded film revenue.
A movie's box office dropped sharply after the first two days. True lifespan: about a month, maybe two.
But a dungeon? Completely different. Continuous income generation. Influence that could grow larger over time.
As long as players wanted equipment that could drop from a dungeon, they'd continue paying entry fees. Newly leveled-up players would bring sustained revenue streams.
Moreover, entry fees were only part of the income.
Revenue generated from consumable items players used within the dungeon also gave the developer a percentage cut.
Even if players didn't need the legendary equipment drops, developers qualified to create level 70 content could add essential materials for main quests—rare ores, crafting components—that would continuously attract player traffic.
With the Avengers dungeon's first-day market performance, subsequent revenue would definitely be several times—maybe over a dozen times—the film's box office.
Everyone understood: with the Avengers as an official dungeon, Stormwind Studios had definitively entered the top tier of content developers.
Not just because of profit potential, but because of the level 70 official dungeon's astonishing market performance, immense commercial value, and cultural influence.
The Avengers IP had completely exploded. For the foreseeable future, legendary gear from this dungeon would become players' most coveted equipment.
In following days, news about the official Avengers dungeon continuously dominated relevant media front pages. Popularity never diminished.
The official Avengers dungeon, generating several hundred million dollars daily, became the best-selling official content in Infinite Realms. Established itself atop multiple authoritative rankings, becoming the platform's most dazzling star.
Not only that—on equipment bounty boards in player communities, the Mark 7 Iron Man armor became the highest-bounty item ever. A top American player directly offered an $8 million bounty.
In Europe, a Russian oligarch offered $5 million.
Other regions had similarly high prices. Bounties for Mjolnir and Loki's Scepter in Europe and North America hovered around $2-3 million.
The Mark 7's price had exceeded the ceiling for mech-type equipment in Infinite Realms history.
Worth noting: the previous most sought-after and expensive equipment—the Striker-Vickers legendary mech—had peaked at around $6 million in transactions.
These astronomical bounties stimulated countless players, guilds, and esports organizations to desperately farm the official Avengers dungeon, hoping to drop Mark 7 armor, Mjolnir, or Loki's Scepter.
Guilds and teams that obtained relevant blueprints were grinding dungeons non-stop for crafting materials...
Ohio State University – Student Housing
In a dorm room, Tyler Harris and two roommates were teaming up with their guild to clear the Avengers dungeon.
"Everyone here? Hey, why are we still missing one person?" Tyler asked.
"Wait up, Tyler. Sponge just texted saying class is almost done, asked us to wait," a member said via voice chat.
"Alright, everyone hold on!" Tyler said.
He was guild leader of the Starfall Guild.
Their guild was basically unknown across North America—only about a hundred members total. Only 35 had reached level 60+, barely enough to form a raid team.
"Oh, right—found a new buyer for the Vibranium we got yesterday. They're offering fifty per piece, so we can sell for three hundred fifty bucks this time. Same old rules, split evenly!" Tyler added.
"Ooh, that's solid pricing!"
"Haha, looks like I won't be eating ramen all week!"
"Come on, let's work hard today. If we get Mark 7, we hit the jackpot all at once!"
"Dude, before I logged on I literally prayed to Morrison, hoping today we get blessed with RNG and drop Mark 7, haha!"
"That's legit possible though. Some whale overseas is offering eight million dollars. Domestic bounty's already twenty-eight million. If we actually get Mark 7 and sell it, we'd each get almost a million!"
"Holy shit, that's insane money. I'm suddenly hyped!"
"If we actually get Mark 7, I'll build a shrine to Morrison and burn incense daily from now on!"
"What would you do with a million dollars?"
"First I'd buy a VR pod, then get new gaming gear, then buy my dad a car!"
"I'd withdraw it all in cash and show my mom we CAN make money playing games!"
"Why do I genuinely feel like I'm about to have a million dollars?"
"Haha, I'd rent an apartment right across from Emily's place. Or upstairs, downstairs, whatever—just close to her. That way I won't have to run so far to copy her notes anymore!"
"Bro, you're playing the long game. Respect!"
Everyone laughed.
Tyler and his guild members were mostly students, average age twenty, all from ordinary middle-class families with limited spending money.
But they were genuinely passionate about gaming.
Like Tyler—in real life he was introverted, almost invisible in social situations. But in-game? He experienced accomplishment, recognition, joy, excitement, camaraderie he couldn't find IRL.
So this group were light spenders, heavy grinders.
Their equipment wasn't particularly good or bad—just average. However, their individual mechanics were definitely top-tier, even excellent. Team coordination was extremely high.
This was how small guilds of ordinary players like them survived: if gear wasn't enough, skill made up for it.
Over the years, equipment and items they obtained clearing dungeons—besides being used by guild members—were also sold to cover daily gaming expenses.
Overall though, money earned was far less than time and money invested.
But gaming was their hobby. They didn't play to profit.
Of course, if they ever got lucky and dropped legendary equipment, it might let them turn fortunes around instantly.
They all knew this probability was similar to winning the lottery jackpot—maybe lower. So though they fantasized, they never really believed Lady Luck would descend upon them.
"Sorry I'm late, guys!"
"Sponge finally made it. Alright everyone, stop daydreaming and get ready to enter. Hope we drop a blueprint or Hulk's Strength today!"
"Let's DO this!" Everyone cheered excitedly, then entered the dungeon together.
They'd already cleared the Avengers dungeon multiple times, developed familiar cooperative tactics and strategies. Clearing it wasn't particularly difficult anymore.
Just required focus, coordination, and maybe a little luck.
Today might be their day.