Weakling Goblins of the First Floor Dungeon
The weakling goblins were unique monsters found in the dungeons on the first floor of the Tower.
It was easy to assume these creatures roamed freely outside the Tower, but reality was different.
The world beyond the Tower was far more perilous than anyone imagined—nowhere near safe enough for ordinary goblins to survive. These creatures endured only because they dwelled within the Tower’s dungeons.
It was ironic that humanity inside the Tower protected the very monsters that inhabited those dungeons, yet given the circumstances, there was no alternative.
“Yeongdeung.”
Thanks to the Tower’s mysterious power, monsters within its internal dungeons continued to spawn endlessly. Unlike creatures outside that bred recklessly, these monsters emerged in controlled numbers, as though calibrated by the Tower itself.
No matter how thoroughly a dungeon was cleared, monsters would reappear after enough time passed. That was why the guards stationed only minimal forces at dungeon entrances and why deliverymen periodically swept through them.
“Roughly ten of them.”
Through Yeongdeung, Yeon Cheong sensed the approximate number of goblins. Their night vision far surpassed a human’s, allowing them to approach him with precise, cautious steps.
“I can see their eyes.”
Yet the yellow glow unique to monsters could not be concealed. In such darkness, meeting those eyes meant there was no chance of missing them.
Yeon Cheong moved slowly toward the lantern. “With pupils that dilated, a sudden flash should blind them for a moment.”
The dungeon interior was pitch black, and creatures accustomed to such conditions would have poor defenses against bright light.
The goblin pack crept closer, attempting to surround him in an ambush that reminded Yeon Cheong of wolves closing in for the kill. The only difference was that these weakling goblins were far inferior to wolves.
This situation might have been dangerous for an ordinary deliveryman.
In limited visibility, those yellow eyes approaching from all sides doubled the fear. A body tensed with dread created openings, and inexperienced deliverymen often fell quickly to such ambushes.
If only I could use the derived techniques.
Yeon Cheong picked up the lantern buried in the darkness and prepared to ignite it. His plan was to light it the instant they attacked, stealing their vision in one stroke. Still, the lantern’s glow would limit his own sight, so he would have to rely on Yeongdeung to compensate.
A derived technique of Yeongdeung suited for this moment.
Every martial art possessed core techniques and variations born from them. Yeongdeung, cultivated through internal energy, was no exception, nor were the physical arts honed through external training.
Yeongdeung, the Spirit of the Desert.
Leaving not a single footprint across a desert of endless sand—the most fundamental yet most difficult technique of Yeongdeung. Concealing one’s presence was possible, but avoiding footprints in shifting sand was nearly impossible. Yeon Cheong had once reached a level where only a true shadow could even attempt it.
“Keruk!”
The yellow glows swelled larger as they drew near. Their movements quickened, and the patter of feet echoed through the chamber. As the enraged goblins rushed forward, Yeon Cheong lit the lantern exactly as planned.
Flash!
The sudden blaze filled the space, striking the goblins’ yellow eyes. The foremost creatures cried out and shielded their faces with their arms. Yeon Cheong did not waste the opening; his knife flashed.
Slash!
The blade sank deep into a goblin’s carotid artery and tore free, sending blood spraying across the floor like a fountain. The blinded goblins struggled to recover their vision, rage building once more, but Yeon Cheong had already spun and driven his knife into the crown of another’s head.
“Eight left.”
Since Yeongdeung had counted roughly ten, only eight remained. Yeon Cheong dodged a strike from behind and delivered a powerful kick.
Thud!
The charging goblin flew backward. Yeon Cheong frowned slightly; his current body lacked the muscle mass of his former self, so the kick carried far less force than before.
“This is inconvenient.”
Before he could dwell on it, the remaining goblins charged again. They had adapted to the lantern light in that brief moment, eyes wide and furious.
“Get lost!”
Yeon Cheong dropped low and spun his body in a fluid arc. The goblins’ positions shifted abruptly, leaving them momentarily bewildered.
At least this body is flexible.
Yeon Cheong chained his movements and thrust the knife. Thanks to Yeongdeung, he already knew their locations; he could strike without needing to look. With Yeongdeung active, he had no blind spots.
“Kuruk.”
Their cries changed. They had expected an easy prey, yet several had fallen almost simultaneously to a human child. Ten had come, and now only a handful remained. Confusion rippled through the pack.
Interesting.
Yeon Cheong watched them exchange glances. They seemed to be coordinating, nodding as though forming a plan. Their encirclement tightened; the survivors intended to strike together.
Monsters using tactics can only manage so much.
Simple thinking was best. These were not humans, so psychological warfare was unnecessary.
“Lantern.”
Yeon Cheong checked the remaining fuel. The flame was fading fast. He had an idea.
Pat-pat-pat!
The goblins rushed once more. Faced with their aggressive charge, Yeon Cheong retreated lightly, dodging with ease.
It’s going out.
Confirming the light’s final flicker, he closed his eyes. He had already memorized the terrain. All that remained was to trust Yeongdeung.
Click!
Darkness swallowed the room. The goblins, their eyes still adjusting to light, froze in panic. The sudden return to blackness left them helpless. Yeon Cheong moved.
He knew their positions through Yeongdeung and had already noted every obstacle. All that was left was to follow the route he had pictured and cut them down.
Slash!
His knife sprayed blood as five goblins fell in an instant. Moving at such speed, only the rearmost goblin survived the flurry. It snatched up its stone knife and fled.
“Running away?”
Yeon Cheong strapped the lantern to his waist. “I’m not satisfied yet.”
He twirled the knife leisurely. Fear flashed across the goblin’s face. It turned and bolted. Yeon Cheong did not hesitate.
Thud!
Showing one’s back to an assassin was no different from begging for death. The blade sliced cleanly across the goblin’s nape.
Yeon Cheong wiped the blood from his sleeve. “That’s all of them.”
Blood pooled across the floor. Sweat ran down his cheeks after single-handedly subduing the pack. Using Yeongdeung had taken a heavy toll on his stamina.
At least I got some practice.
The sensation of killing clung to his hands—different from when he had beaten Gu Min-chan’s group. Back then, he had never struck with true killing intent. Even if he had, it was only when he twisted that jaw.
“As expected, it’s not there.”
Yeon Cheong pulled a small oil bottle from his pocket and refilled the lantern. He lit it and surveyed the corpses. Nothing worth taking. He had heard equipment sometimes dropped from monster bodies, but the first-floor dungeon had long since been picked clean.
“A little disappointing.”
He reviewed the fight. The encounter had been unexpected, yet it had ended cleanly. He had gained valuable experience with this body and now understood its limits clearly.
Overusing Yeongdeung strains the body. I need to know exactly where that line is.
At that moment, text appeared in his vision—identical in format to the message he had seen upon returning to the past. It meant only one thing.
He could now possess the artifact.
“...”
Yeon Cheong glanced at the artifact in his pocket. The second hand was moving; the relic had begun to activate.
“I still don’t know how to use it.”
Many thoughts surfaced. It was an object capable of wielding godlike power, yet such power came with heavy responsibility. The tragic ends of most artifact owners proved that. Once word spread that he possessed one, the Tower’s janitors would hunt him, and the criminal syndicates on the first floor would target him as well.
Until I learn its full capabilities, staying quiet is best.
Besides training Yeongdeung, he now had to study the artifact. There was much to do, yet compared to his former helpless self—waiting to die while collecting rations—this was genuine progress.
“Time to leave.”
Yeon Cheong gathered his belongings and stood. Another message appeared. He froze.
A long paragraph unfolded before his eyes, revealing information about the dungeon.
Tower of Trials – 1st Floor Goblin Dungeon
This dungeon is an artificially created space designed for 'Hunters' to hone combat experience and for support personnel to practice.
Hunters are advised to safeguard any artifacts in their possession before entering.
Please note that the resurrection system is not implemented here. Death in this dungeon is permanent.
Some words were unfamiliar, and portions of the text appeared corrupted or erased, yet the purpose was clear. This dungeon existed for people called Hunters—a training facility.
“Any other information?”
Yeon Cheong waved his hand through the air, but no further text appeared.