Chapter 12 : Dungeon Raid
771 Words
The dungeon was silent.
Too silent.
Ethan walked deeper into the unknown corridor, his footsteps echoing against the ancient stone walls.
Every sense was focused.
Before awakening the system, entering a dungeon alone would have been impossible for him.
An E-rank hunter entering an unknown dungeon without a team was almost the same as asking for death.
But Ethan was no longer the same person who entered the Redfall dungeon.
He had changed.
His body was stronger.
His mind was sharper.
And most importantly...
He had something he never had before.
A chance.
The system remained quietly in the corner of his vision.
[Dungeon Exploration: 3%]
Ethan looked around.
"Only three percent?"
The dungeon was clearly larger than he expected.
He continued walking.
After several minutes, Ethan noticed something.
A strange smell.
Not human.
Not animal.
Something else.
He immediately stopped.
His hand moved toward the small dagger attached to his side.
A sound came from ahead.
"Grrr..."
Then another.
And another.
Three small figures stepped out from the darkness.
Goblins.
They were creatures that most hunters considered weak.
The lowest-level monsters found in beginner dungeons.
Normally, even an E-rank hunter could defeat them easily.
But Ethan didn't underestimate them.
Because he knew something others didn't.
A weak monster could still kill a careless hunter.
The goblins held rusty weapons and stared at him.
They weren't afraid.
They saw him as easy prey.
Ethan tightened his grip on the dagger.
"So these are my first enemies after getting the system."
The goblins suddenly charged.
The first goblin attacked quickly.
Ethan barely moved out of the way.
He was surprised.
Their speed was higher than he expected.
He immediately countered, striking with his dagger.
The attack landed.
The goblin was sent flying.
Ethan's expression changed.
"Even these?"
He had expected his new strength to make this easy.
But the system had not transformed him into an unstoppable warrior.
It had only given him the ability to grow.
He was still inexperienced.
The second goblin attacked from the side.
Ethan blocked with his arm and was pushed backward.
Pain spread through his body.
He gritted his teeth.
The goblins were weak.
But Ethan was fighting alone.
No healer.
No tank.
No teammates covering his mistakes.
Every decision mattered.
The battle became a struggle.
Ethan used everything he had learned as a hunter.
He watched their movements.
He studied their attacks.
He waited for openings.
The old Ethan would have panicked.
The old Ethan would have relied on others.
But the person standing here now had survived the shrine.
He had faced monsters far beyond these creatures.
Slowly...
He adapted.
The goblins became easier to predict.
Their movements became clearer.
Their weaknesses became obvious.
Ethan waited for the perfect moment.
One goblin rushed forward.
Ethan stepped aside.
A quick movement.
A precise stap to the goblings head
The goblin fell.
The remaining two became more aggressive.
But Ethan was different now.
He wasn't just fighting.
He was learning.
After a difficult battle...
The final goblin collapsed.
Silence returned.
Ethan stood there, breathing heavily.
He looked at the defeated monsters.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then a notification appeared.
[First Monster Defeated.]
[Combat experience gained.]
[System points awarded.]
Ethan looked at the message.
A small smile appeared.
"I did it."
It wasn't a powerful enemy.
It wasn't a legendary battle.
But it was important.
Because this was the first time he had won a fight alone.
Not because someone protected him.
Not because someone saved him.
Because he did it himself.
A few seconds later...
A new sound echoed through the dungeon.
A much heavier sound.
BOOM.
Ethan's smile disappeared.
That wasn't a goblin.
The pressure in the air changed.
His instincts immediately warned him.
Something stronger was nearby.
From the darkness ahead...
A creature slowly appeared.
A massive wolf covered in metallic fur.
Its eyes glowed with hostility.
Every step it took created sparks against the stone floor.
Ethan stared.
The system immediately analyzed it.
[Monster Detected.]
[Iron Wolf.]
[Rank: D.]
Ethan's expression became serious.
A D-rank monster.
One full rank above him.
The Iron Wolf lowered its body.
It wasn't like the goblins.
It wasn't afraid.
It wasn't careless.
It looked at Ethan like a real opponent.
Ethan slowly tightened his grip around his dagger.
The difference between him and the creature was obvious.
The goblins had tested his courage.
This monster would test his progress.
The Iron Wolf growled.
Ethan took a deep breath.
"Alright."
He lowered his stance.
"Let's see if my training was enough."
The wolf charged.
And Ethan faced his first true challenge since receiving the Sacrifice System.
- Writer
