NCsoft has announced today through a press release that Gracia Part 2, the newest Lineage II expansion, has been released for free to all subscribers. According to NCsoft, this expansion will greatly speed up character progression in the game.

Players of all levels will be able to enjoy Gracia Part 2. The expansion includes the Labyrinth of the Abyss, a multi-tiered new section of the Kamaloka hunting area; Kratei’s Cube, an arena where players fight against monsters and each other for special items; and the addition of the Vitality Replenishing Herb, which will keep the player from expending their current Vitality Points.

More information on the second part of the Gracia trilogy can be found here. The full press release can be found after the jump.

SEATTLE, October 29, 2008 – NCsoft ®, the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, today announced the release of Gracia Part 2, the newest addition to the popular Lineage® II franchise. The expansion is free to all Lineage II subscribers. Building on systems introduced in the first Gracia expansion, this update helps players advance their characters and achieve their goals faster than ever before.

            Gracia Part 2 offers a variety of new challenges to players of all levels, including the Labyrinth of the Abyss, a new section of the Kamaloka hunting area. The Labyrinth of the Abyss is a multi-tiered cavern where players in a private party battle through monsters and bosses to earn valuable rewards and experience.  

            This update also introduces Kratei’s Cube, where players simultaneously fight against monsters and each other for bragging rights and special items. Contests run every half hour, twenty-four hours a day. Here players work through a maze of interconnecting rooms, slaying monsters and players alike in hopes of achieving renown and glory. Kratei’s Cube is the first solo player versus player (PvP) and player versus environment (PvE) arena in Lineage II.

The popular Vitality System, which allows for faster character progression, has been enhanced with the Vitality Replenishing Herb. Taking the Vitality Replenishing Herb, which some monsters drop when defeated, will keep the player from expending their current Vitality Points. While under the influence of this powerful herb, players even regain Vitality Points for each defeat. Now players can advance their characters significantly faster than ever before.

“The Gracia series of updates add features that literally change the way Lineage II is played,” said Sam Han, producer of Lineage II for NCsoft West. “We are polishing the player experience, enhancing character development and increasing the fun factor significantly for our players. The community feedback on these changes has been overwhelming, and there is still more to come.”

Gracia Part 2 is a continuation of a three-part story about Gracia, a forbidden land where players face their innermost fears through a series of inter-dimensional and dream-like areas.

Lineage II is known as the gaming market’s premier player-versus-player (PvP) online role-playing game, with a customer reach of more than 19 million players worldwide.

The Lineage II 4th Anniversary Edition pack is now available at retail. For more information about the retail box contents and where to purchase go to: www.lineage2.com/4thanniv.html.