First Dungeon With a System
1920 Words
While getting dragged by Christine, Ernest gives in to the fleeting sensation. This is his first time getting touched by a beautiful woman, this moment would not last so he took it.
They arrived at the reception hall.
“I’m going to take a look at the bulletin’s board. Please wait here.” Christine said.
Ernest nodded while letting out a sigh of admiration. She is truly gorgeous.
Leaving him, Ernest was finally able to return to his past self. He pondered.
‘How can we finish a B-Class dungeon by ourselves? I mean she’s just a healer? Does she expect me to be the lead? This is so embarrassing, she has too much expectation of me.’
“I’m back!” Christine was waving a paper in her hands at Ernest who was busy with his thoughts.
“I have selected a quest for us. Take a look.” Christine gave him the paper filled with information about the dungeon.
The name of the dungeon is Flooded Downstream Ruins. A B-rank dungeon that is only recommended for C and above. It has the setting of a swamp filled with lizardmen and carnivorous plants.
In order to reconsider picking this quest, the adventurer’s association lists down the strengths of the monsters so that anyone who would want to enter has some information to plan out.
They are agile and can spew out acid that can melt through flesh and slows down movements.
For an adventurer like Ernest, who is D-rank, who also has no talent, this was enough to scare him.
But he wanted to test his new self in the field. He wasn’t afraid anymore. But courage isn’t enough. Only C-rank and above can enter this dungeon.
Ernest looked at Christine and opened his mouth.
“You may not be able to enter this dungeon? Am I right?”
Ernest was shocked slightly, is this woman capable of mind-reading?
“Don’t worry, I already handled it.”
“How did you…”
“Like talking to the right officials…Anyways let’s go!” Christine grabbed him by the hand. Ernest’s face blushed. She kept doing that since earlier. Why does she like to touch him?
Christine handed the form. Normally, it would be denied by the receptionist since he’s only a D-rank adventurer and they are serious about this. But the receptionist stamped it. Wait. Does that mean he can enter? Just who is this girl who can bend rules?
After that, they went straight to the Obelisk. An entrance to the dungeon where monsters from another world exist. Speaking of the world. There is a literal world beyond that gate. There, demi-humans exist and live in that world such as elves, dwarves, warbeast, et cetera.
The paper stamped by the receptionist earliest serves as a ticket for transportation to a specific dungeon. Just like a ticket to ride a bus to head to a specific location.
It will automatically activate the moment they step through the gate.
“Are you ready?” Christine asked, “I can heal and cast defensive magic on you but no more...Ernest, I trust you.”
“Eh?” Ernest instantly gets nervous, Why is this girl putting so much trust in him? “I’ll do my best.”
Thus they entered the dungeon.
Their visions turned white. Moments later, the Obelisk standing before them turned into a vast swamp.
…
A stench of rotting woods, algae, moss, struck their nose in an instant. They were literally in a swamp.
“Let me tell you a fact about this dungeon.” Christine said, getting Ernest's attention, “This dungeon is one of the favorite places for the adventurers who want fast money since it only has one pathway with an average completion of 15 minutes. It's so easy that you can even solo it.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’re not worried huh? But let me tell you this fact of mine. I’m just a D-rank adventurer. Don’t put your trust in me.”
‘At last! A straight sentence!’ Ernest celebrated.
“I’m not concerned or wary at all.”
“...”
Something writhing on the ground.
Ernest glanced at his left and saw a lizardman wielding a spear and shields. There are five of them.
“Okay, show me what you got. Ernest.” Christina said.
Ernest turned and faced the lizardman. Brandishing their spear and growling at him. He raised his hand in the sky.
“Thunder Strike.”
Ernest activated a skill that he stole from a goblin caster. Black clouds formed above them accompanied by the roar of thunder.
Christina who was watching him turned silent. He has a sword fixed in his waist. Isn’t he supposed to be a warrior class? How can he cast magic?
Boom.
Thunder streaked down and struck the five lizardmen. Turning their flesh into charcoal. Their burnt flesh wafted throughout the area.
“I think they are dead…” Ernest said, looking over at Christine, “Let’s go.”
“Right…” Christine was dumbstruck.
They traverse the damp soil, moss sticking to their shoes, and a green ooze dirtying their clothes.
“I forgot to cast buffs on you.” Christine tugged his white cape, “Please stop moving.”
“...Okay.”
With her wand pointed at Ernest, she began casting defensive spells.
“Blessing of Light.”
“Ability Boost.”
“Physical Boost.”
“Magic Boost.”
“Okay, we’re all done.”
“Thank you, Christine.”
…
Three minutes walking in the swamp field. Something leaped on their way. Judging from the characteristics, they are lizardmen. 10 of them.
Ernest reflexively drew his sword. His Thunder Strike skill is on cooldown so he can’t use it yet. If only a firebolt has a wide-range effect, he can wipe them out in an instant.
Ernest clicked his tongue, pretending that he’s in a pinch. During grinding levels at the instance dungeon where he kills hundreds of goblins, Ernest mastered the sword. There is also a beautiful woman beside him so maybe this is the time to show off.
Ernest smiled mischievously. “Christine, stand back. If one of them gets through me. Yell. You put your trust in me so it’s only common sense to do my best. Right?”
‘Another success!’
“Okay...I’ll yell when one comes at me,” Christine assured.
With that, Ernest has no worries. But he promised to himself that no one would get through him. ‘I will end this in an instant.’
…
Ernest’s back was straight, shoulders high, as he strode directly to the lizardmen who sensed his approach.
They all prepared their spears and shields and rushed towards him at full speed. A lizardman whose feet have adapted to slippery soil managed to close the distance between him. There are three of them.
From another's perspective, with this lizardman's agility and mobility, they would be able to defeat a D-Class adventurer at ease. And yet.
“Sorry that you’ll have to make me look awesome to that beautiful lady back there.”
Christine heard it, which sounded almost haughty. In an instant, the three lizardmen were dead. With his swords, encased in lightning, he cuts the lizardmen neatly in half—armor and all—as easily as ripping a sheet of paper. Their blood stained the ground red, like a crimson field of flowers blooming.
‘Triple s***h is quite good when confronting close-combat monsters.’
Seven left. Ernest dashed towards. But to the eyes of those around, Ernest seemed to blink in front of them. The lizardmen displayed an expression of shock as Ernest materialized in front of them.
Then one by one, Ernest sliced them in half. Not even giving them a chance to retaliate. He was too fast for them to see. But to Ernest, he was simply running and dashing.
This nimble and quick movement is thanks to his agility attributes, he’d never felt so light as before.
Christine, who was watching at the scene, had her mouth gape. How can a D-rank adventurer move like that? And his speed is comparable to Rank-A or even S-rank swordsmen. This is impossible. There’s no way in this world this man is a D-rank adventurer. Did he conceal his magic power during his registration?
Christine thought of a possible logical explanation. She is aware of Ernest's existence as the lowest of the lowest. She even observed him when she had free time. Shunned and bullied and his skills are redundant and inconsequential. Did he undergo awakening?
Christine let out a devious smile.
After pondering for about fifteen seconds, Christine looked up. The lizardmen who were blocking their way fell to the ground in half.
The skill he displayed does not correlate to his rank. There are only two logical explanations about his strength. He is either awakened or concealing his magic power.
“I’m done...It’s a relief that no one got through me.” Ernest chuckled.
“I’m completely amazed by your skills, Ernest. Are you really a D-rank?”
“Is that a compliment?”
“You may think of it as one.”
“Then, I’ll accept it.”
…
Ernest found out that the monsters here are just weak. They are slow, contradicting the statement of the Adventurer’s Association about them. Maybe they exaggerated it for adventurers to feel scared. Or maybe it’s because of his system.
It’s only been one week since he has this but he can confirm that this system is the one responsible for his unprecedented growth. His movements were so fast that they almost appeared to be blinking.
‘What if I reached the max level? How strong would I become?’ Ernest thought.
Along the path that they are taking, carnivorous plants spitting acids appeared. However, the projectile velocity is not concerning. They are slow as if the paper were thrown in the air.
Ernest neatly evades them and sliced them along the way.
‘It’s so boring. The instance dungeon is better than this.’
And to the final gate. Ernest arrived at the boss' den. Killing lizardman along the way, at last. He would be able to fight a new boss.
‘I hope it’s not like the undead who wants to die. Please give me a real battle.’
Ernest hoped. He doesn’t want to end the battle in an instant or mere seconds. He wants his fight to last minutes.
…
As the door opened slowly. Ernest saw what seemed to be a Lamia. A half-woman half-snake. It has three sets of arms wielding six swords. There are four of them in total. But the one in front looks bigger than those behind her.
“The big one is the boss right?” Ernest asked.
“Yes,” Christine answered. “Please do your best. Don’t underestimate them. They are completely different from the ones you fought earlier.”
“Thank you.”
- Writer
