Pro gamer move

For most adventurers, passing through the 17th floor was routine, a necessary step toward the safety point of the 18th.

 Two weeks ago, the Loki Familia had swept through the Dungeon, clearing out every monster in their path. That included Goliath, the oversized monster that reigned on this floor.

I knew this because I overheard adventurers chatting about it back when I still slept on the surface. The Goliath also respawned every two weeks, like clockwork, and had been killed yet again two days ago by some familia or other. 

Goliath was one loud motherfucker, I'd heard its roar from two floors up.

So, for the average Level 2 adventurer playing around on the middle floors, today was as safe as it got.

I took in the layout of the room.

On one side, a massive translucent crystal wall dominated the space. No Goliath inside—it was clear as day that his spawn timer wasn't up yet. 

The opposite wall was the standard stone, the type you'd find all over the middle floors. Behind us were several staircases and holes leading back to the upper levels. And in front of us, a large corridor stretched ahead, leading to a room with multiple holes, each dropping down to the next floor. That was where we were headed.

The only sound in the room was Golbin grunting as he dragged his sack behind him. I moved silently, Feline Flexibility making my steps even more smooth and effortless than before.

Then it happened. Just as we reached the center of the room, every entrance and exit slammed shut. The crystal wall began to glow, and a towering shadow formed within.

Golbin dropped to the ground instantly. He collapsed, face-first, like he'd been hit by a truck, unconscious from fear. 

I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls as I bolted for the nearest exit. Without my black bone helmet on, my face was visible—wide-eyed, mouth open, looking as horrified as I could manage. I clawed at the stone wall with everything I had, but my claws didn't leave a mark.

"Golbin!" I shouted, turning back as if I were in a panic. He stayed face-down, not moving an inch.

I turned again, facing the crystal, putting on my best look of despair. The figure inside grew clearer, and then—

*ROARRR!*

The Goliath's face broke through the crystal. Its roar shook the entire cavern, and my ears rang from the force. The beast used its strength to tear itself free, breaking chunks of the crystal with every movement.

*Boom!*

*CRACK!*

The sounds of stone shattering filled the room. Dust and debris flew everywhere, but the Goliath was so massive I could still see its chest and face above the haze. It was over ten meters tall, with gray skin that bulged with muscle and veins. Silver hair spilled down its back, swaying as it moved. 

The Goliath roared again, pulling itself free of the crystal wall entirely. Its enormous foot slammed into the ground, sending another shockwave through the room. Dust rose like a thick fog, and I stumbled, then dropped to my knees as it began to walk toward me, each step a heavy thud that rattled my bones.

 I trembled, my hands clutching the ground.

It was honestly the hardest thing I'd done since arriving in this world...

...holding back my laughter. 

The fact that a simple trick could bait the Dungeon into spawning the G like this...I honestly gave it a 10% chance to work at most, but, well, I wasn't about to complain.

Golbin was still sprawled out on the ground, pretending to be unconscious, doing his best impression of a corpse. Good.

Then, just as the Goliath's roar faded into the echoes, I allowed the facade to drop. The fear drained from my eyes, and black bone encased my head, snapping into place. With my real face hidden, there was no need to pretend anymore. Only one thing remained in my eyes, I was sure.

I braced myself, my Draconic Blood all but singing in my veins.

"Alright, big guy," I whispered, fingers tightening into claws, a dozen times sharper than before.

 "Let's get started."

.