Instant Dungeon Assault Gone Awry
There was a large estate about a thirty-minute walk from the Instant Dungeon in Tswan Castle. This place, nearly a full-scale farm where four families and twenty slaves tended crops and livestock, ranked among the largest estates on the third floor.
When Namgung Seojun's party arrived to fulfill the commission, the estate's owner—a veteran adventurer named Hideo—greeted them with a hearty laugh.
"Haha, welcome!"
The handsome Japanese man warmly invited the group into his residence and offered simple refreshments as he explained the situation.
"An Instant Dungeon has spawned on my estate, so I can't use that area anymore. Please clear it as quickly as possible."
He then pulled out the items he'd prepared.
"We won't know the dungeon's internal layout until we go inside, so I've narrowed it down to only the essentials based on possible scenarios."
"Thank you."
Jo Jaehun took custody of Hideo's bag. After enjoying light snacks, the party headed with Hideo to the area where the dungeon had opened. Upon reaching the portal-like entrance, he said,
"This is it. Best of luck."
With Hideo seeing them off, the group entered the Instant Dungeon one by one.
You have entered the Instant Dungeon.
Namgung Seojun, who entered first, immediately scanned the surroundings. Though rare, some dungeons assaulted entrants right at the threshold. Fortunately, this Instant Dungeon had no enemies at the entrance.
Once everyone was inside, Seojun began the briefing.
"No enemies nearby for now, and visibility is good."
The dungeon was a mysterious space with stone walls on all sides, bathed in a soft, glowing light. A single door indicated the path forward. It was a stable environment, no special tools required for exploration.
"We'll start the dungeon sweep right away. I'll take point, open the door, and enter the next room first. Everyone else, follow once I'm inside."
Everyone nodded. Relying on his Super Sense, Namgung Seojun approached the door cautiously, opening it carefully to guard against traps.
Kek!
Spotting three goblins in the next room, he hurled a dagger.
Kwek! Kek, kek!
Three goblins were no match for Seojun alone. He dispatched them effortlessly.
"Come on in. Just grab the goblin noses for cleanup, then we move."
Kim Hoon swiftly sliced off the goblin noses, bagged them, and they pressed on to the next room.
The Instant Dungeon sweep proceeded smoothly.
Kek.
Only goblins appeared, and Seojun handled them solo with daggers upon entry. The party collected noses and advanced. After clearing six rooms, they faced their first dilemma.
"Hmm..."
Unlike previous rooms, two doors stood side by side. Seojun pondered.
Which way?
His Super Sense pointed right.
"We go right."
Everyone nodded at Seojun's decision. Yuki didn't understand logically but stayed silent, trusting the results so far.
Clank.
The door opened quietly. Namgung Seojun stepped cautiously into the new room—and his Super Sense triggered a roll.
Ping. Ping! Ping!
An arrow trap fired in rapid succession. He tumbled several times, barely dodging.
"Don't come in yet!"
Seojun ordered the others to wait outside and observed the room. Empty, but deadly—the trap triggered right at the entrance.
Thud thud.
He deliberately prodded risky spots with hands and feet.
Click, boom.
The trap sprang. Seojun triggered all four systematically, disarming them completely before calling out.
"Come in."
His use of polite speech signaled the crisis was over. The party entered.
"I've triggered most traps here, but stay cautious. Don't touch anything—follow single file behind me."
The party obeyed, forming a neat line as Seojun led toward the exit door. But his Super Sense pinged again.
Hm?
It drew his attention to the right wall near the exit. He couldn't ignore it.
"Hold position."
Leaving the puzzled group, he approached the wall alone, tapping and probing carefully.
Thunk.
A different echo. This is it! He smashed the wall gingerly.
"Whoa, a treasure chest!"
Gisohee spotted it from afar—a gleaming golden chest hidden behind the wall.
The party gathered around the golden chest, buzzing with anticipation. Per the contract, item distribution was predefined: warrior weapons/skills to Namgung Seojun, archer gear to Gisohee, shields/defense to Jo Jaehun, mage items to Lee Guho, priestess gear to Yuki. Other classes or production items went to Kim Hoon first, with compensation paid equivalent to the item's value. Multiple items would be divided by consensus back in town.
"Opening it."
Seojun opened the chest eagerly—and found a single sheet of paper.
◈ Tear to select any Low-Grade Talent.
◈ Selecting an existing talent upgrades it to Mid-Grade.
"Whoa..."
It was an incredible reward. The Low-Grade Talent Selection Ticket was a divine item that granted any low-grade talent upon tearing. Its true value lay in upgrading existing ones to mid-grade. Temples rarely sold such high-value divine items, and even then, only for exorbitant Merit Points. Random low-grade talent items cost 3,000 Merit Points; this selectable one easily topped 10,000. The party had scored something priceless.
The amazing find left them thrilled yet awkward.
"It's a communal item. Too valuable to assign easily—better to sell and split. We'll discuss back in town."
No clear owner for the jackpot. Seojun stowed it in his bag for now.
The dungeon search resumed with renewed vigor.
Energy Bolt. Boom!
Lee Guho neatly vaporized a slime with magic.
Slash. Kwek!
Seojun's sword felled two orcs effortlessly. Further in, a golden door appeared.
"Boss room, right?"
Its ornate design screamed it to anyone. Seojun's Super Sense confirmed it.
"High chance. Treat it as such and enter."
He opened the door.
"Kyahaha!"
A grating, metallic laugh pierced the air—the Goblin Shaman.
"Goblin Shaman! Scatter!"
No sooner had Seojun shouted than the shaman hurled an Energy Bolt at the entrance.
Boom!
Everyone dodged, but positions were off. Seojun, in front, had to evade inside. The others should've retreated to the prior room—but Yuki was inside too. She'd dodged the wrong way.
"Regroup!"
"Defenders, cluster up!"
Seojun called orders; Jo Jaehun shouted too. But it fell apart.
Kekeke!
Goblins poured from all sides.
"Damn it! Rally!!!"
Despite Jo Jaehun's yell, they couldn't unite. Yuki, terrified, huddled against the wall, shield up, frozen. The shaman seized the moment.
Kyahaha.
Another Energy Bolt flew.
"Dodge!"
Formation shattered, Jo Jaehun lunged forward, blocking with his steel shield.
Boom!
"Urk!"
The powerful spell hurled him back. Kim Hoon followed.
"You okay?"
"The... formation... formation!!!"
By the time Jo Jaehun gasped it, the main group's line was broken: Yuki isolated, Jo Jaehun and Kim Hoon separate, only Gisohee beside Lee Guho.
Damn!
Namgung Seojun slashed toward the shaman, his Super Sense screaming to kill it fast. Yuki barely held against encircling goblins at the wall; Jo Jaehun and Kim Hoon blocked theirs. Gisohee and Lee Guho were the issue.
"Cast your spell! I'll cover you!"
Gisohee steeled herself, drawing her backup dagger from her belt—her main gear was leather armor, bow. She grabbed her spare small wooden shield too.
"Got it."
Lee Guho worried but began channeling. They needed max firepower fast. Defenders scattered, goblins swarming, no reunion possible. Gisohee guarded the mage desperately, but the shaman's next spell would doom them.
I have to do it!
Namgung Seojun resolved and shouted,
The wind fairy Sylph materialized, immediately boosting his movements as her humming tune applied a buff.
♪♪♪~ ♪ ♪~ ♪~
Attack Power +200%
Defense -50% (High Risk)
Attack surged, defense plummeted—the perilous skill activated. Namgung Seojun charged the Goblin Shaman.