Volume 1 Chapter 33
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After descending the long staircase, I found myself at the mouth of a cavern roughly four meters high and wide. It stretched out before me, a straight, branchless tunnel that seemed to go on forever.
(It’s just like the dungeons I’ve heard about… but actually being here, the pressure of the Dungeon Energy¹ is incredible.)
It was a physical sensation, the stark difference between Phase Zero and Phase One. The moment I stepped off the final stair, I felt the Dungeon Energy surging into my body, almost as if it were forcing its way through my pores.
(I wish I could get stronger just by standing here, but they say your Dungeon Infiltration rank² won’t budge unless you actually fight monsters. Once my body acclimates to this density, I’ll have to go hunting.)
I went through a routine of dynamic stretches and calisthenics, forcing my limbs to adjust to the heavy atmosphere. Gradually, the sense of displacement faded, and I felt I could move as freely as I did on the surface.
(People say just entering isn’t enough, but I honestly feel like my coordination has improved already.)
It might have been a placebo effect, but I felt sharper and more fluid than before I entered. Once I was fully adjusted, I began practice-swinging my Goblin Sword. I was decked out in new weapons and armor; if I didn’t get a feel for them now, I’d likely end up as just another corpse on the floor. Once my swings felt fluid and my footing felt secure, my preparations for Phase One were complete.
”Alright, let’s do this. I’m nervous, but as long as I stay calm and stick to the basics, I’ll be fine.”
The only reason I had been granted entry to Phase One was because the instructor recognized I had the capacity to survive here. He’d judged that I had the power to trade blows with the initial floor monsters without dying instantly-and at the very least, the speed to tuck tail and run back to the surface if things went south. Behind me were the stairs, a safe zone where monsters wouldn’t spawn. I just had to keep that escape route in mind.
I steeled my resolve and ventured deeper into the dungeon. After about fifty meters, a raspy grunt echoed through the dim tunnel.
”Gruk!”
There stood a small, hideous creature with pale green skin and a twisted face.
”So… that’s a Goblin.”
The most iconic monster in fantasy fiction. In reality, I think people just called them “Goblins” because it was the first word that came to mind when they saw something so ugly. Regardless, the creature before me was exactly what anyone would recognize as one. I raised my Goblin Sword, watching it warily. The creature was unarmed. It edged closer, closing the gap with predatory caution, then suddenly lunged.
(Fast! …But I can see it!)
The Goblin’s movements were similar to the instructor’s during my trial. Since I had learned to read the instructor’s high-level attacks, I could read these too. As I calmly evaded its lunges, I began to find the rhythm of the fight. The effects of my Perception Pulse³ were significant; I was able to react to every telegraphed swing and lunge the Goblin threw at me.
”Alright, time to hit back!”
I steeled my resolve and glared at the creature. Sensing the shift in the air, the Goblin leaped again, swinging its spindly arms. I stepped inside its guard and swung the Goblin Sword with everything I had.
”Skreeee!”
The blade buried itself into the Goblin’s abdomen, and the force of the blow sent it tumbling across the ground. It scrambled back to its feet, shrieking. It wasn’t bleeding or deeply cut-the sword felt more like a blunt club against its hide-but it had clearly taken damage. Rubbing its belly, the Goblin lunged again with desperate ferocity.
It became a grueling war of attrition. I slammed my sword into the creature again and again as it relentlessly attacked. Slowly, its movements became sluggish and its breathing turned into a labored wheeze, but it refused to go down. We traded blows for nearly twenty minutes.
”Almost there. It’s my turn now!”
The Goblin was visibly exhausted. It stopped leaping and resorted to desperate stabs and kicks, but there was no force left behind them. I closed the gap and unleashed a flurry of strikes, catching it again and again.
”Hah! Seiyah! Haaaaah!”
I spent another ten minutes systematically breaking it down until, with one final, agonizing shriek, the Goblin’s body dissolved into a cloud of black smoke.
(I… I did it. No drop item, though. Guess I don’t have beginner’s luck.)
Even a simple Dungeon Stone from a Goblin would have been worth some decent money, but it seemed there would be no easy payday today.
”One kill took thirty minutes. It was a total struggle, but I actually defeated a Goblin. This is the starting line.”
Being able to secure that first kill made all the difference. Now, I could begin absorbing Dungeon Energy and increasing my internal reserves. Just like Mana, who had grown so much since I saw her last… if I kept this up, I could reach that level too.
”Still, I’ve got a long road ahead. I’m beat; I think I’ll call it a day.”
Thanks to my Stamina Pulse, my body wasn’t too sore, but the mental strain of my first life-and-death struggle left me drained. I decided to head back after just one kill, marking the end of my first foray into the Phase One dungeon.
—
Summary:
The protagonist enters a ‘Phase One’ dungeon for the first time, experiencing the heavy pressure of Dungeon Energy. He encounters a single Goblin and engages in a grueling thirty-minute battle of attrition. Despite the struggle, he successfully defeats the monster and decides to retreat for the day due to mental fatigue.
—
Trivia:
- Monsters do not spawn at the entrance stairs, providing a safe zone.
- Dungeon Infiltration rank requires active combat to increase; passive exposure is insufficient.
- Goblins do not bleed in this world but dissolve into smoke upon death.
- The protagonist is using a specific ‘Goblin Sword’ weapon.
- The Perception Pulse skill allows the user to see through attacks by reading patterns
—
Character Insight:
The protagonist shows a cautious but determined mindset. He doesn’t let his ‘cheat skill’ make him overconfident, choosing to retreat and rest after a single kill rather than pushing his luck while mentally exhausted.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
This chapter establishes the ‘grind’ aspect of the world’s power system, emphasizing that even with skills, low-level combat is time-consuming and taxing for beginners.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Mana – A beautiful Class President-type girl and one of the Four Heavenly Kings, wielding the Sage job with elite close-quarters martial arts prowess; she sports a long black ponytail, glasses, and neat attire with bracers and leg guards. Partnered with Kanade, she undergoes his treatments to counteract his aphrodisiac side-effects, demonstrating fierce loyalty and remarkable growth since her mock battle debut—now in Phase One, she balances refined discipline with heightened physical ability.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply