Betrayal in the Dark
After stopping by the Warrior Guild to learn the simplest grips and techniques for using spears, one-handed swords, and other weapons, Dorne's party had rashly arrived at the labyrinth entrance. It was Dorne's assertion that, factoring in their strengthened power, the labyrinth's Layer 1 posed absolutely no threat. It was already astonishing that they'd taken down thirty-two goblins right there on the spot, including one exhausted guy among the four barely-awakened novice explorers. Now, with perfectly suited Supernatural Abilities acquired, they were even stronger—their confidence pierced the heavens.
Yet the prudent and meticulous strategist Dorne had shelled out a modest fee to learn proper weapon handling from an expert. Even tapping a stone bridge this much might crack it! (That was Dorne's thought as he bought five more Layer 1 potions.)
Raon wore an expression brimming with confidence, Lilia a cool one, and Dorne placed his hand on the labyrinth portal.
-Keruk! Before Dorne's party could even light their lantern upon entering the labyrinth, the night-eyed goblins started barking.
Dorne and Lilia shone their lanterns without hesitation.
-Thwack!
-Thud!
Dorne didn't even have time to draw his one-handed sword from its sheath before a goblin thrust its face forward; he shoved it back with his shield. Lilia kicked the remaining one to the ground. True to an explorer with[Agility Enhancement], she moved swiftly.
Dorne spun the lantern around, confirming there were only two goblins, then drew his sword and stabbed into the throat beside the Adam's apple of the one with its shoulder smashed. The goblin, unable to defend with its one good arm, had its carotid severed and spewed blood as it lost consciousness.
Shining the lantern on Lilia revealed her drawing her spear. Dorne held the light steady to let her finish the goblin comfortably. The goblin that had gotten up couldn't dodge the spear tip striking like a snake and had its neck half-severed.
-Grurk…
A bit slow but accurately assessing the situation, Raon didn't draw his sword but pulled out his dagger instead. He set the lantern on the ground, activated to shine light in all directions, and dodged the goblin dung-smeared wooden clubs while extracting the magic stone.
"We almost got in trouble right at the entrance. From next time, we should light the lantern before entering."
"Agreed. I overlooked that possibility."
Dorne's party regrouped, avoiding the spilled blood. Even Raon and Lilia, on only their second labyrinth delve, explored like seasoned veterans. If luck favors you with good abilities, growth is steep. But without money, growth stalls. Effort builds skill, skill rides luck, and luck demands money. Dorne felt the labyrinth city's logic mirrored the modern world.
Dorne's party smoothly fought a dozen or so battles and set up camp in a distant passage at a corner junction. Lilia pulled out the decent sand timer she'd bought from a decent shop.
"Lilia, that sand timer was for two hours, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then each of us stands watch for two hours. We'll only get four hours of sleep, but let's tough it out during the delve. We'll rest properly at the Beginner Forge Inn."
"Got it."
"Yes, bro."
If it had been their first delve as plain humans without a single ability, he might've allowed six hours of sleep. Back then, getting accustomed to combat without injury mattered more than squeezing out a few extra coins. But Dorne judged that on Layer 1, where they were blatantly over-specced, it was better to sleep less and hustle for money. With ability permitting, don't let lack of funds hinder delving.
Dorne slyly claimed the first watch like a crafty fox slipping through. Whether Raon and Lilia were naive or knowingly let him, he didn't know. He killed time in the labyrinth's darkness, watching the lantern light. As the last grain fell through the narrow neck of the sand timer, Dorne woke Lilia.
He informed the next watch of no incidents, spread his thick blanket, and lay down to sleep. About an hour later.
Suddenly, the bear beastkin shook Dorne awake.
"Dorne oppa! Oppa! Wave! Wave!"
"Hngh!… Fuck…."
The bear beastkin practically lifted Dorne to his feet. Rudely awakened, Dorne's head boiled at the fact that, like last delve, the wave hit right after his watch ended. He was very pissed at the dumb novices herding the wave and a tiny bit at the too-strong bear beastkin.
Dorne fumbled his lantern to shine everywhere, grabbed his one-handed sword and shield. Raon was literally hoisted up by Lilia, flailing to set his lantern.
Dorne set aside his irritation and checked his party. Previously two shield-bearing warriors, but after trying the spear a few times, Lilia opted for shield too—now all three had shields.
"Guys. This time, we stand side by side."
-Clack, clack, clack, clack. Three explorers in iron-plated boots ran into the lantern light's range. Astonishingly, the three who'd brought the wave were fully armored, with thick bags.
Sensing unease from the unknown, Dorne positioned Lilia and Raon against the wall.
"Hey! Sorry! Really sorry, but help us out! Stand side by side so we don't get surrounded!"
A shout from one of the three men.
"Stick to the left!"
Dorne clustered the running men to the left, standing between them and Raon to isolate. Their breathing felt off as they dropped bags and formed up. They didn't seem truly winded.
The two parties stood abreast, fully blocking the passage, and handled the charging goblins. As Dorne shield-bashed moderately and slowly stabbed one by one, without advancing much, the left-side men's formation crumbled.
Dorne stepped back one and yelled to Raon and Lilia.
"Step back one!"
After each killed three or four, the twenty-odd goblin wave was cleared. The men, who'd silently slain goblins, spoke up.
"I'll grab the dagger."
"Whoa—you fought well! Really sorry about this. Another group dumped the wave on us and ran. You know how goblins go toward more people. Wasn't intentional, but sorry again."
One man moved back for his dagger; the one nearest Dorne offered a left-handed handshake.
"…Yeah. But you still owe compensation, right?"
Dorne eyed the left hand briefly, then gripped and shook lightly.
"Of course. We'll extract the stones and take just five. Thanks for understanding…."
Then, from outside Dorne's vision, a sword tip shot forward like an arrow. Dorne hurriedly blocked with his left arm, but the man's grip strength blocked him. Reflexively shrugging and tilting his head, Dorne took the throat-aimed thrust on his skull.
-Kaching!
The hard, round skull glanced the sword, deeply tearing Dorne's scalp before sliding off. As the ambush failed, the handshake man released and yanked both Dorne's ankles, toppling him.
-Splat!
The man kneed Dorne's gut; another with sword rushed to finish. But Raon and Lilia, whom Dorne thought distracted, charged shield-first.
"Kill them!"
As Raon and Lilia threw themselves to save Dorne, tangling with two men, blood from Dorne's head reddened his vision. He and the remaining man joined the fray. Consumed by extreme rage from the moment the cute bear beastkin rudely woke him, Dorne sprang up from prone just by pushing his arms back—like a robot, not a human.
He didn't even think to grab his shield, palm-forward to block the foe, wildly swinging his right-hand one-handed sword. Acquiring [Iron Bone] unlocked an instinctive limit on [Iron Muscle] Dorne hadn't known existed. Its true power aided his enraged swings.
When fighting armored, shielded fellow humans—not monsters—effective strikes target gaps: armor joints, blind spots, behind their shield, vital arteries. Dorne ignored all that, butchering the men with sheer overwhelming force.
-Shwick!
The man's occiput sheared off, instant death, face-planting into another's chest; Lilia recoiled in horror. Exposed was the coiled brain matter and raggedly severed thick skull.
Meanwhile, the last man, dagger in hand leaping into the melee, froze as his two comrades died spilling brains.
"Ah, wait—hold on…."
Styx River shimmering before him, his mind spun at unprecedented speed. The foe had vastly superior strength, longer weapon. Above all, that half-mad human would charge recklessly, heedless of his own wounds. Decided, the man tossed his dagger, knelt, and begged.
-Clap clap clap!
If everyone could rub palms like this, no need for flint in the world.
"P-Please! I opposed it! First time! I was threatened too! Hometown friend, couldn't help it! Sick old mom and rabbit-like kid not even weaned…!"
Dorne's raging blade sheared off all ten fingers and the man's skull with them. Massive blood sprayed in the sword's arc; the noseless, lipless corpse flopped down. Having mercilessly slain the poor man supporting his sick mom and rabbit-kid, Dorne slightly quelled his surging rage. Ignoring Lilia rushing with potion, he leaned against the wall and sat.
Long illness makes no filial son… But even if not filial, shouldn't become such a fucking bastard?
"O-Oppa, potion first?"
Lilia, looking awkward, offered potion and waterskin.
Lilia's new to fighting people too. Kid's tense.
"Yeah. Rub some on my head. Thanks to [Iron Bone], skull seems fine."
Dorne entrusted treatment and closed his eyes.
Calming his pounding heart and lungs with deep Self-Contemplation, he felt his bone marrow laboring frantically. Red blood cells last about ninety days normally, freshly made yesterday, yet [Iron Bone] puzzledly replenished them. Lilia applied potion, partially healing the scalp; enhanced platelets sealed the wound, marrow remade lost blood. Dorne's body worked to restore itself—he just needed to drink water to keep blood from thickening.
"Suuu… Haaa…. Thanks, Lilia. Raon. Perfect timing to jump in."
Before the handshake, Dorne had frantically signaled behind his back; they'd caught it well. (Of course, no premeditated signals for human fights—just wild finger-wiggling.)
"They seemed suspicious from the start, but Dorne oppa signaled clearly."
Lilia thanked him, fully grasping the signals, the order to fall back, and positioning them wall-side without shoulder-to-shoulder. As Dorne's gaze calmed post-contemplation, Raon relaxed and sought tasks.
"Then I'll extract the goblin stones!"
Nothing urgent, yet he's rushing. After fighting people, need to move the body to shake off the malaise.
"Shall we check their bags?"
"Ah, no, oppa's injured—I'll do it."
His diligent platelets had sealed the wound tight, but Dorne just nodded. Rest is good.
By the time Raon extracted stones from all twenty-three goblins, Lilia had sorted the labyrinth bandits' bags. Astonishingly, their coin pouches held several golds. One gold equaled two hundred goblins. Amount you'd barely scrape in six days delving. Slightly understanding the mindset of ability-wielding people-hunters, yet conflicted on whether to rejoice at the windfall or rage.