Chapter 10: Disaster (2)

Step after step.

"Hooo…"

I'm running with all my might through the chilling cavern. My boots echo with each step.

With swift and calculated precision, I summoned a sleek spear from my spatial ring, its metallic surface gleaming in the dim dungeon light.

"Let's up a notch," I mutter under my breath, surveying my surrounding. Hard floor, rocky wall and ceiling covered with glowing moss as my guide.

I could see roughly five goblins clattering in panic upon my arrival. Each one pointing their weapon towards me. I tightened my grip on my weapon and swing with vigor.

The weapon became an extension of my will, a versatile tool in a deadly dance. The blade of my spear became faster than before.

Goblin passed me one by one, each with large wounds gushing with their green blood.

If before one strike only enough to send this goblin to death door, then this time each of my strike is enough to cut their life completely. My newfound strength after level up made it possible.

The echoing clinks of the spear slicing through the air merged with the symphony of goblin death cries, creating an eerie cacophony in the cavern.

'These screaming were irritating,' I thought to myself, but strangely, smiled never leave my face.

Each swing made me feel liberating. I can just kill through my frustration and continue on. I feel nothing sort of pity killing these guys. Even the uncomfortable feeling before was no more.

As I knew for sure, these guys were going to become my strength after this.

When I'm about to finish the fifth one, my instinct screamed and quickly I squat down on the spot, switching to the eastern blade and slashed goblin's legs in front of me.

Simultaneously as the goblin cries reverberated, I feel something brushed against my hair along with a stabbing sound to the wall beside me.

I glanced upward and saw an arrow stuck there.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the amputated goblin and blocked another shot of arrow with it. "Gahr!!"

'This bastard keeps moving,' the goblin in my hand still struggling even after being stuck with the arrow, making me irritated. Plus, its movement bothered my vision, so with a burst of strength, I severed its head.

"Shield need to move as intend," I said and focus my glance towards the source of the attack and spot two goblins, distinct from others, with their crude bows.

"Geh! Gegegeg!"

"Gegege."

The cavern echoes with their guttural laughter as they notch more arrows. Their eyes gleam with malicious intent, emboldened by the distance between us.

'Two goblin archers,' I think, analyzing the situation. The cavern, once filled with the chaotic symphony of combat, now holds a momentary pause.

I swiftly calculate the distance and the speed of their arrows.

As the goblins release their arrows, I dash and weave between them; the projectiles were either blocked by human…well, goblin shield or narrowly missing me.

The cavern becomes a deadly dance floor, with me as the unwilling performer.

Reaching to the suitable distance, I threw the disfigured goblin to one of the archer and reached into my spatial ring, drawing two throwing knives.

"Geh!?"

With a swift motion, I send one flying.

The knife embed itself in the shoulder of the goblin that not close to me, causing it to screech in pain. "Geeehh!"

I tried to slash the neck of the other but it jump back timely. My knife just grazes its cheek, leaving a shallow cut.

Seizing the opportunity, I sprint again, my spear ready. The wounded goblin struggles to draw its rusty sword, while the other attempts to ready another arrow.

In a fluid motion, I close the gap, parrying the goblin's feeble sword strike with my spear. The wounded goblin's desperate attempt to defend itself was futile as I thrust my spear through its chest.

The second goblin, still fumbling with its bow, meets a similar fate. With a quick spin, I deliver a sweeping kick that knocks the bow away. Before it can react, my spear finds its mark, silencing the goblin with a fatal strike.

As their lifeless bodies collapse, I take a moment to catch my breath. The thrill of combat courses through my veins, and my senses remain sharp.

As the arcane particles flowed towards me with each fallen foe, enhancing my strength and sharpening my senses, I couldn't help but feel a surge of exhilaration.

The subtle flickering of the arcane around me signaled the telltale sign of a level up, and a renewed sense of power surged through my veins.

'4 goblins for first level up, and 5 goblins and 2 goblin archers for another level up, so technically I'm level 3 now, right?' I mused to myself while trying to take a breath.

I don't remember exactly how it went in the game, but I think it is roughly the same.

The surrounding regain it's silent with glowing arcane from my level up, but sudden unease gnawed in me.

The tranquility was shattered by a shadowy figure—a Vagyr. The Vagyr's sudden lunge caught me off guard, and claws grazed my side. The pain seared through me, intensifying my focus.

I staggered backward while gritting my teeth, narrowly avoiding a more grievous injury.

Grr…

The Vagyr, a grotesque creature with matted fur and glinting, predatory eyes, circled me with a low growl. Its claws dripped with my blood, and a hunger for more gleamed in its gaze. It looked like a large wolf with fur so black that even illuminating moss can't help.

"What a rude guy, not even a hello?" I looked at the perpetrator for my wound and said with venomous tone.

'Was it been watching me? From when? Did this guy want to play with me!?' I thought my perception was quite good now but as expected, not everything can move smoothly.

My mind raced to assess the situation. The encounter with the goblins had left me exhilarated, but this new adversary posed a different kind of threat. It was stronger, faster and if I lost concentration, it can go into hiding again.

'This dungeon, it seemed, held more than just goblins.'

As the Vagyr lunged again, I ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly escaping its razor-sharp claws. "Tch! Bad news after another!"

The cavern echoed with the creature's snarls, and its movements were swift and unpredictable, but I knew better to let it got out from my sight.

In the dim light of the moss-covered walls, I could see the Vagyr's feral grin. It was a predator, and I am its prey. Seeing its mocking smile made my anger rose, veins popping, and my arcane burst once again.

Thanks to level up, I still have spare arcane even after continuous use.

I summoned the eastern blade into my hand, its gleaming edge reflecting the cold light.

"Let's see who the real prey is here, you big mutt!"

"Rawr!" The Vagyr, sensing the change in my stance, hesitated for a moment. It seemed to recognize the newfound threat.

'I can't let it go into hiding,' with a swift motion, I lunged at the Vagyr, my blade meeting its claws in a clash of steel against sharp talons.

The creature's strength was formidable, and I struggled to maintain the upper hand.

"Rawr!" its roar reverberated with deviant and began to push harder. I redirected its claw and attack again from another direction, finding an opening.

The dance between predators continued, each move calculated and countered. My side throbbed with pain, but I ignored it. Any opening was not allowed now.

'I need to focus. Attack more! Predict more! Move faster and hit stronger!'

In a moment of desperation, I channeled arcane energy into my blade. The weapon shimmered with an ethereal glow, and with a powerful strike, I managed to injure the Vagyr's back.

"Rawr!!"

'Now!' I shouted inside, and narrowed my eyes.

Seizing the opportunity, I pressed the attack. The Vagyr, wounded but not defeated, snarled with renewed ferocity. Its struggling intensified, attacking everywhere without care.

Wounds keep building up on me, but I don't have a leisure to care now. 'I need to finish this before I ran out of fuel.'

Maybe because of my heighten focus but, in a flurry of movement, I remembered something…no should I say I noticed them.

With newfound clarity, I executed a swift combination of strikes. Flurry of slashes went towards Vagyr.

This combination moves were from the game. Maybe it's stupid to copy moves from the game, but if I'm in that said game?

Shouldn't it become the most effective strike?

"Hoo…" I took a breath and steps closer forward.

My blade flowing seamlessly into a deadly dance. The Vagyr, disoriented by the unexpected onslaught, faltered in its movements. I swiftly rushed in with a fake strike to its leg, making it jumped in panic.

In a final, decisive move, I unleashed a finishing combo. I charged my blade with a big amount of arcane and leaped into the air, slashing upward with the blade,

"Hah!" I shouted and released the strongest strike I could muster; hitting Vagyr in a vertical path—a precise strike to the creature's vulnerable exposed lower part.

"Woo!!" The Vagyr's howl of pain echoed in the cavern

Its blood raining down on me, but I don't have the strength to move yet. I just stood there with a rough breath while blood pooling under me.

It's a disgusting sight, but adrenaline coursing through my veins mixed with the elation of discovering a new aspect of my abilities became a saving grace until it crumpled to the ground, defeated.

I grin, looking at the flickering of the arcane around that signaled me of another level up.

"The stronger the monster, the better the rewards, of course." 'Just one kill was enough to go to level 4…well, it's expected. I can kill goblin without a scratch but just one of these mutts made me a mess'

I survey the surrounding and after I'm sure of no additional threat; I relaxed my stance and cancel [Enhance]. I took one large breath in to switch gear,

"…I can just smell corpses…fucking hell," which I quickly regret.

"Sigh"

The realization settles in—there may be more challenges awaiting me in this dungeon. Egil and Alisa's fates still hang in the balance, and the dungeon's brutality became apparent with every step.

I know nothing about this dungeon, or even if I can clear them or not, but I can't stop. That's the only thing I'm sure of.