The Corrupted Goblin Mage
While he caught his breath, I took a moment to check my status window. It hadn't been long since we'd entered the dungeon, but I'd already gained nine levels.
It was explosive growth, to be sure, but all I'd really done was hurl throwing knives, so my stat gains weren't all that impressive.
'Still, agility went up by 1.'
I allocated my remaining points.
Strength: 25 → 35
Agility: 26 → 30
Vitality: 6 → 20
Remaining Points: 25
'Pushing vitality to 20 should let me survive a single hit, barely. Best not to get hit at all, but I have to prepare for the worst.'
Maybe it was from boosting vitality, but hunger started gnawing at me. I chewed on some jerky I'd bought in the village as I thought it over.
If I didn't know the identity of the boss monster on the sword altar, I probably would've invested more in vitality. Even at 20, a single hit from hobgoblins would leave me on the brink of death. If there was something like a goblin champion, I might've dumped all my remaining points into it.
'But I already know what's inside. And if luck's on my side, maybe...'
I might need to save the rest for mana investment.
"Let's go."
As I stared down the stairs with gleaming eyes, Kael rose from his spot like he couldn't wait any longer.
"Kael, before we head in, put this in your mouth and chew."
"Hm?"
I pulled a small berry from my inventory and tossed it to him.
"Summer Moon Flower Berry, eh? Only Nazvi deals in stuff like this. You bought it from him?"
Kael eyed the small, red berry that looked like a bead.
"Yeah. Cost me a pretty penny."
"You could've told me—I'd have gotten it for free."
"...Thanks anyway."
I gave a wry smile at his words. We could chat like this now, but before, his affinity was too low for him to even help.
"He tries to stick me with the bill every chance he gets, but his skills as an herbalist are legit. If he's selling it, I trust it."
He popped the berry in his mouth as he spoke.
"If this goes well, I'll get you some Anchor Grass seeds instead of Summer Moon Flower."
"For real?"
"Of course."
I perked up at his unexpected offer.
'I was planning to snag some Anchor Grass before leaving the north anyway. Score. The berry's price is chump change if that's true.'
Anchor Grass was an item needed later in the White Swamp.
'Next destination's locked in.'
I grinned at Kael and popped my last berry in my mouth.
A wave of heat surges through your body.
Grants temporary resistance to cold.
Prevents frostbite.
Duration: 10 minutes
The tomb's temperature wasn't as frigid as outside, so the berry wasn't strictly necessary. But the key was its frostbite prevention effect.
'The boss in the Sword Tomb uses a freezing strike. One hit, and a body part freezes solid. Need this to thaw it fast.'
In my dream, it was just a precaution, but seeing the duration as a system timer really drove home that this was Dimension World, not a dream.
'Whatever. Better safe than sorry.'
I brushed past Kael and gripped the handle of the final door below.
"I'll open it."
The dungeon designates the first entrant as the discoverer and prioritizes rewards for them. Of course, an NPC like him wouldn't know that.
Click.
I turned the sturdy lock on the tomb's final door. Party play order could even affect entry buffs.
I exploit every advantage. That's my way.
A sinister chill wrapped around my wrist as I opened the door, accompanied by a thick, viscous aura.
Shwaaaaa—!!!
The tomb accepts you.
Whoosh...!!
Black mist surged over us in an instant.
[Grrr...]
The bizarre growl echoing from the darkened tomb interior was unmistakably different from the goblins' earlier cries.
"Ugh."
Kael halted as a nose-stinging stench hit us the moment we entered.
"What the hell is that?"
He growled low, staring at the monster perched on the altar.
[Grrr...]
The thing curled its lip at Kael in a playful sneer. Its mashed-up face looked like the skin might slough off any second, revealing grotesque, peeled-back gums when it grinned.
"It's been decades since Gullak left. This place was sealed in a barrier. No way a monster survives in an empty void like this."
"Undead?"
"Yeah."
"How...? This is where Gullak's sacred sword should be. How can it be a monster den and have undead?"
"Beats me. I don't know that far."
The reason undead and monsters infested the Sword Tomb—where Gullak's sword lay—wouldn't come out for years. No point explaining now.
'It's tied to the Whitescale Order religion that'll emerge later. Can't explain a group that doesn't exist yet.'
And that Whitescale Order was ultimately linked to him.
Right now, we just needed to conquer this place.
'Even back then, it gave me trouble. Looking at it now, this guy's no pushover. Makes sense—server's fresh, level cap's still on, and it's spitting out monsters averaging over 40.'
I eyed the monster on the altar.
Its name floated above its head in purple, alongside the level.
'Max level's 100, and this goblin's 95—Heroic grade to boot. Once second job changes unlock and levels adjust, it'll be ridiculous. Feels like 100+ already.'
I smacked my lips, staring it down.
'Maybe pumping vitality was pointless after all.'
Solo, it'd be impossible. But Kael beside me was a Rare NPC with the talent to wield aura blades.
'His power should handle it.'
Regrettably, I'd have to leave the goblin mage to him.
'Should I dump the rest of my points...?'
25 into agility might let me dodge and counter. But I shook my head.
'Nah. Still not enough.'
Vitality was non-negotiable—one hit would kill me otherwise. But now agility felt lacking. Dungeon buffs factored in.
'15 more into agility... Players could grind respawns, but NPCs can't...'
No 120-level players existed yet, so even player parties couldn't conquer this.
'Don't get greedy. Death means long respawn penalties.'
I steeled myself to hold back.
"That sword behind it must be Gullak's."
Kael eyed the blue-bladed sword past the goblin mage.
[Krek! Krek...!]
Like it understood us, the thing hopped onto the sword hilt behind it and perched there.
"How dare you...!! Defiling the War God's blade...!!!"
Kael roared the instant he saw it. His rage washed over me.
Red aura cloaked his shoulders.
"I'll tear you to shreds...!!"
Northern Warrior's Warcry Lv2 takes effect.
Party morale rises within 10m radius.
All party stats +20 within 10m radius.
Duration: 15 minutes
Range and duration scale with level.
"...?!"
His shout wrapped my body in a red aura buff. An inexplicable heat surged through me.
Monster level suppression reduced.
Movements feel freer.
"Hah..."
I stomped lightly. My steps felt noticeably lighter than before. I grinned at Kael.
'Didn't expect warriors to have buffs like this.'
This might make it possible.
I scanned around urgently.
'Changes everything.'
Kael advanced slowly toward the goblin mage.
'It should be around here...'
As they faced off, I rummaged through my memories for something.
'There!!'
I dashed over without hesitation and yanked one sword from the hundreds embedded in the tomb floor.
◈ Durability Low
◈ High Chance of Breaking
The Northern Heroes—five warriors who followed Gullak, the so-called War God. This was one of theirs.
Rare Grade
Durability: 1/1
Attack Power: 150
I nodded at the info. As expected. Forged partly from the same steel as Gullak's sword, its attack power was comparable.
It'd shatter after one swing from age alone, but that was enough. I couldn't unleash combos on the goblin mage anyway.
Just one strike.
One hit to sever the Corrupted Goblin Mage's neck.
Grip.
I clutched the sword tight.