13 Dungeon Expedition (1)
"Daggers... Potions... Nice, everything seems to be ready."
I filled my backpack with everything I would need in the dungeon. The dungeon I would enter was named 'Goblin Cave', a (G+)-rank one. As the name suggests, it was a cave filled with goblins.
No one knew why dungeons were constantly appearing but one thing was for sure, they were needed to be closed as soon as possible. People thought dungeons were a kind of portal that occasionally opened gates to the demon world. However, that was wrong.
Dungeons were dimensions that were not a part of this universe. Those dimensions were created by the Demon King to indirectly attack the Arion.
In those dungeons, demons are produced rapidly. When the number of demons in a dungeon exceeds the limit it can withstand, the dungeon collapses and the demons inside it leaks into the Arion like a flood.
This was called as 'Dungeon Overload'.
Before I went out, I wore my new long coat. It was pitch-black, and most importantly, it had a hood.
---------------------------------------------------
Right now, I was in front of the entrance of the dungeon. It resembled to a whirlpool, but instead of water, there was mana. It had a dark-red color and emitted a sinister feeling.
The way dungeons worked was that people can enter enter the dungeon until the boss of the dungeon is alive. Otherwise, the dungeon would crumble and disappear along with the death of the boss anyway. So, after the death of the boss, there is a limited time until the people in the dungeon can get out of there before they disappear with the dungeon.
I walked towards it but was stopped midway by a bulky arm. I looked right to see a bald man with a suit. The symbol of black salamander was on his chest, pointing out that he was sent by the government.
Dungeons were mostly handled by the government, nobles and top guilds. While the dungeons owned by the government were open for public use. Nobles and top guilds often kept dungeons private.
I gave him the permission document. Briefly looking at the contents of the document, he gave it back to me and stepped aside.
"Have fun."
"Thank you."
Once I entered the whirlpool, my head started to spin uncontrollably. I felt dizzy and my surroundings faded away.
After what seemed like a long time, my senses returned. But I was no longer in the city. I was inside a dark cave, there was only dim light of torches. I shouldn't have been able to see one step ahead of me. But that wasn't the case, in fact, I was able to clearly see everything.
I could hear slow steps of goblins in the distant. The world around me had become very clear as if my senses were enhanced. Then I found out why this was the case.
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{Passive Abilities}
<Might of The Werewolf> [Level 1 (Max.)] --- The user's senses and concealment are enhanced greatly in darkness or shadow.
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Satisfied with the results of the passive ability, I proceeded towards the sound of footsteps. Soon I spotted 4 goblins whose ranks were at most (G)-rank. I pulled out my daggers and silently got behind it. They didn't notice me in the dark since my concealment was improved.
I raised my dagger up in the air, ready to strike any time. Still, I was hesitating. Regardless of the fact that it was a goblin, taking a life was just too unfamiliar to me. As someone who lived his life working behind a desk, this world was too brutal.
But I knew, I knew I had to get used to killing. This world didn't have any place for a coward. I knew I had to change my mindset. In the first place, my profession was designed to kill. I couldn't run away from the reality forever.
*Ba-thump*
*Ba-thump*
I tightened my grip on the dagger and with a swift motion, I penetrated its heart.
"Khh..."
*Thud*
The goblin fell to the ground with an echoing thud. The other three goblins snapped their heads towards where the sound came from, only to see one of their fellows had been killed. There stood a man in black with daggers in his hands.
The goblins rushed towards me with anger painted on their faces. They were coming closer but I didn't move. Actually it wasn't that I didn't but I couldn't. As the purple blood of the goblin spread across the ground, my mind betrayed me as it was in a turmoil. I stood still like a combat dummy. One of the goblins hit my side with tis wooden bat, which made me fell onto my butt.
"Fuck!"
I looked above only to see another wooden bat coming down onto my head. However, I had come to my senses thanks to the previous strike. I rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the bat as it connected with the ground. I quickly got up and took my stance.
It was time for me to reap the fruits of my hard work that I had put in the last four days. Though I was still nervous as it was my first real fight experience, I couldn't help but smile from exhilaration I felt.
I muttered under my breath.
"<Shadow Slash>"
My daggers gradually covered in shadow essence. It was so dark that it could be easily distinguished even amidst the darkness of the cave.
Just as one of the goblins was going to attack me with its claw-like nails. I slashed horizontally without moving a bit. My daggers move too fast for the goblin to react.
*Thud*
Its head rolled on the ground. Seeing how another one of their fellows was killed so easily, the other 2 goblins halted their steps. I didn't rush and attacked them. Even though goblins were one of the weakest and least intelligent demons, they were still dangerous for me if I wasn't careful enough and underestimated them. I waited until they charged at me again. But that was a mistake. I threw one of my daggers at one of them. It tried to block it with its arms crossed but it pierced its arms, making a painful screeching noise.
*Screech*
The other goblin was able to close the distance and swung his wooden bat towards my head. But I easily dodged it since my senses were improved due to my passive ability. I clumsily kicked his legs to make it fall down. But since my footing was unsteady I wasn't successful. We both fell to the ground. Though I was quicker and stabbed it on the chest with a fast maneuver while we were both on the ground.
"Ghkk..."
I looked around only to see the last goblin trying to free its arm from the dagger I had thrown earlier. The blade coated with shadow essence was proven to be really difficult to deal with. The goblin was, though injured on the arm, was struggling as if the blade was sucking its life energy.
To use this situation to my advantage, I dashed into the last goblin. I reversed my grip on the dagger and sliced its throat with a clean motion.
*Thud*
A loud thud came behind me. After a short moment of silence, I took a deep breath and tried to pull myself together. The effects of adrenaline was starting to disappear and what happened started to dawn on me.
I continued going down the dungeon. However, my hands were trembling.
