Arre in Third Floor of Dungeon
The next morning, Arre set out once again for the Great Rock Dungeon, feeling a sense of familiarity as he approached the entrance. The previous day's encounters had been straightforward, and he had reached the third underground floor without much difficulty. Today, though, he felt different—stronger, more confident.
His adventurer level had risen to 4, a milestone that was evident in his recent battles. The Cave Mantises, which had once been a challenge, now fell to his axe in a single strike. Even when two of them attacked simultaneously, he dispatched them with ease.
"Let's go down a bit deeper," he muttered to himself, steeling his resolve.
The previous night, Arre treated that young man to a drink in exchange for information. The young man had spoken of the third floor, warning that Cave Mantises and Goblins often formed groups of four or five. Other than that, he had mentioned, there were no significant changes from the upper floors. Arre knew that facing a group as a solo adventurer was risky, but he was confident. After all, he had handled similar situations with ease earlier.
His confidence stemmed from a new sensation he had experienced during the day's battles. As he focused on movement and positioning, he felt his mind sharpen, his thoughts quicken. It was as if he had acquired a new skill—something akin to 'Accelerated Thinking,' though he wasn't entirely sure yet.
After checking his equipment and ensuring everything was in order, Arre descended to the third underground floor. The corridors here were wider, about twice as broad as those on the previous levels. This added space gave him room to maneuver, but it also meant that there was more area to cover, and more places for enemies to lurk.
As he carefully made his way through the dungeon, his 'Presence Detection' skill tingled, alerting him to nearby danger. A group of five goblins was approaching. They moved quickly, fanning out to surround him. Arre knew that if he stayed still, he would be overwhelmed and beaten to a pulp.
Without hesitation, he braced his shield in front of him and charged forward with all his might. His target was the goblin in the center of the group. With a powerful thrust, he rammed the creature with his buckler, sending it flying backward and clearing a path through the group. As he ran through to the back, he noticed the goblin he had hit was already dead. The impact had been so forceful that it had crushed the goblin's chest.
Arre quickly turned around, his axe already in motion. The remaining goblins, disoriented by his sudden attack, were struggling to regain their footing. He didn't give them a chance. His axe struck with precision, each blow crushing a goblin's head in a single, decisive swing.
The fight was chaotic. In the frenzy, he took a few hits from their crude wooden sticks, the impacts bruising his arms and shoulders. But within 30 seconds, it was over. The goblins lay lifeless at his feet, their bodies a testament to his growing strength and skill.
Arre rolled up his sleeve to inspect the damage. One of the spots where he had been struck was already turning a deep shade of blue, the pain a throbbing reminder of the risk he had taken. Though it pained him to do so, he uncorked a potion and pour it on the wound.
The healing liquid worked quickly, but he knew it was wasteful—once opened, potions began to deteriorate and were meant for single-use.
As the pain subsided, Arre considered the fight. Dealing with groups was tougher than he had anticipated. He had thought that his agility and maneuvering would be enough to handle any situation, but the reality was different. Monsters didn't fight with strategy or caution; they charged in with reckless abandon, turning any encounter into a chaotic brawl. If these had been Cave Mantises instead of goblins, he might have been seriously injured.
"I need a better strategy," he mused aloud, the words echoing in the empty corridor.
With that thought in mind, Arre decided to retreat for now. He made his way back to the dungeon's exit. It was still early, and there was plenty of time to head to the training ground. There, he would practice until his movements were as natural as breathing, ensuring that the next time he faced a group of monsters, he would be ready and also think of a strategy.