Chapter 6. Dungeon (2)
The goblin collapsed to the floor with half its head gone.
"Kiek..."
The remaining two goblins hesitated, clearly spooked by the gruesome sight. Even I was shocked by the sheer destructive power. I could still feel the sensation in my fingertips—the flail crushing through flesh and bone.
This thing... it feels kinda off.
The fear faded, replaced by a strange queasiness. But one thing was clear: I could take goblins.
I readjusted my grip on the weapon and squared up against the survivors.
"Next up—"
"Kee, kiik!"
They turned to flee, but my ring-enhanced feet were faster. Paat!
I closed the gap in an instant and swung the flail wide from the side.
Thwack! Splurch!
Two hits, and they toppled like bowling pins. This time, I squeezed my eyes shut on impact. No need to watch their skulls explode up close.
My hands trembled faintly as I scooped up the fallen mana stones. The shock from the flail lingered a bit.
"Alright. Let's push deeper."
I flexed my aching hand and stepped toward the cave's depths.
The air grew heavier and damper the further in I went. The squelching moss underfoot was gross, and the distant drip, drip of water droplets shattered the silence, setting my nerves on edge. I got why games always included that sound—it built tension like nothing else.
About ten minutes in, my view suddenly opened up into a vast chamber.
"...What the hell."
I swallowed hard. At the center of the massive space, atop a rock formation like an altar, sat something straight out of a game: a treasure chest. Jet-black like ebony, framed in gold, with an ethereal blue glow seeping from the lid's seams. It screamed epic loot.
Gulp.
I swallowed without thinking. What was inside? Gear? Mana stones?
I drifted toward it like a moth to flame. But after three steps, I froze.
"Grroo... grrrroo..."
A thunderous snore rumbled from the shadows behind the chest. I dropped low, ducked behind a boulder, and peered into the dark. As my eyes adjusted, the massive shadow took form.
"...No fucking way."
It was a goblin—but not like the trash mobs I'd smashed. Easily over two meters tall, decked in patchwork leather armor and colorful wooden trinkets. Its dark green skin gleamed, yellow tusks protruded from its maw, drool dripping between them.
"Hobgoblin...?"
A red system warning overlaid my vision. Beside it leaned an axe as tall as a grown man—brutal. One graze, and I'd be bisected.
Run?
Instinct screamed yes. The chest tempted, but life came first. I tensed to backpedal.
But I hesitated. My eyes kept drifting to that shimmering glow.
It's a golden opportunity.
The boss was snoring away. In this monster apocalypse, how often would I get this setup? Weak goblin dungeon spitting lowest-grade stones, straight shot to the boss room unscathed—and it was asleep. Plus, I had my aces: the vicious toothed flail and the ring.
My cautious self warred with my greedy side. Tension dried my mouth; my heart pounded like it might burst.
Then—crack.
I'd gripped the flail too hard in nerves, and the tiny sound echoed hugely in the silence.
Drip.
The snoring stopped.
"...Shit."
Two eerie yellow eyes flashed in the dark. We locked gazes.
"Grrr?"
It rose slowly with a puzzled growl, an overwhelming pressure crashing over me like a storm. It snatched the stone axe one-handed, using it as a crutch, still wobbly from sleep.
No time left. I gritted my teeth.
"Fuck it, let's do this!"
I kicked off and launched forward.
"GRRROOAR!"
It swung its upper body and hurled the axe. Didn't expect my ring-boosted speed? It whiffed past me.
KABOOM!
The boulder I'd hidden behind shattered, shards flying everywhere. One grazed my cheek—sharp sting.
Fast!
Almost ate that axe. It raised a fist next; instinct took over. I slid under its legs into its blind spot. Small body had perks.
It lost sight, tilting to search—
"Eat this!"
I poured everything into a swing at its knee joint.
SPLURCH—CRUNCH!
Dull impact, then a chilling rip. The flail's serrated teeth tore through thick hide and muscle.
"GRRRAARGH!"
It howled, staggering. Stance broken. My chance.
I didn't stop. Aimed for its gut—upward swing.
Stab! Riiip!
Deep penetration. I twisted my wrist, shredding internals.
"GRAAACK!"
"Urgh!"
The gruesome grind vibrated up the handle. Even I winced. Our screams mingled; blood stench filled the air. Horrific, but pausing meant death.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
Apologizing through gritted teeth, I swung for the head—finishing blow.
THUD!
The massive hobgoblin chief hit the ground with a heavy boom. Roars silenced; only my ragged breaths remained.
"Hah... hah... Got it?"
Half its skull gone—no death flag here. I slumped, hands shaking on the flail. Muscles screamed, palms throbbing from recoil.
"But I'm alive."
Ring dodges saved me from lethal grazes.
"Whew."
I wiped sweat and crawled to the corpse. It dissolved into smoke, leaving mana stone and loot.
First: a flashy dreamcatcher necklace around its neck—feathers, wood, string. Crude but mystical.
The mana stone: blue, low-grade at least—not purple lowest-grade.
"Mana stones always welcome."
Finally, the treasure chest. Trembling hands opened it—blinding flash, then a worn leather-bound book inside.
"This is..."
Wriggling script on the cover. Alien letters, but my mind auto-translated.
◈ Consumable: Grants the Leap skill upon use.
"Leap? A jumping skill?"
As I picked it up—
"Wait, hold on—!"
Flash!
Vision whited out. When I blinked, I was at the dungeon entrance.
"...Got everything, at least."
I stood dazed, then sighed in relief. Time to head back to my safe home—the train.
Hiss.
Door slid open; I entered and locked it tight. Warm air, soft lights. Barely any time passed, but this felt like home now. No outings for a while.
"I'm back, Donggle."
I wanted to flop on the sofa but held off. Loot check first, no matter how tired.
The mana stone was low-grade—converted to fuel: two months' worth. Added the lowest-grade ones from goblins too.
The real prizes:
The necklace didn't activate like the ring. Scanned upgrade menu—no appraisal till next weapon depot level. Burned two weeks' fuel for it.
"I burned two weeks' fuel to appraise this?"
Hung the necklace on the wall and eyed the skillbook next. Appraised it too.
"This looks solid."
Great for evasion, escape, or offense. Mobility skills were always top-tier in games.
No hesitation—I used it.
Leap
Concentrate power in legs to jump 3x higher than a normal human.
Cooldown: 10 seconds
"Nice..."
Ring speed plus Leap? Evasion god, attack booster. Still, no outings for a bit. Sweaty mess—time for a guilty shower after fresh clothes.