THE GOBLIN CAVE
1222 Words
Ren arrived at the Adventurer Guild early the next morning.
The city was already awake.
Merchants pushed carts through the streets, blacksmiths worked at their furnaces, and adventurers gathered around the guild entrance, discussing quests.
Ren adjusted the sword at his waist.
Today would be his first mission with a party.
He still wasn't sure how well he would work with other people.
In his previous life, Ren had mostly kept to himself.
Now, he was expected to trust two strangers with his life.
He entered the guild.
Kael was already waiting.
"Ren!"
Ren looked over.
Kael waved enthusiastically.
"You came!"
"I said I would."
Kael laughed.
"I wasn't completely sure."
Mira stood beside him with her staff.
"You're late."
Ren looked at the clock.
"It's seven minutes before the agreed time."
Mira stared at him.
"Exactly."
Kael sighed.
"Don't worry about her. She's always like that."
Mira ignored him.
"Did you bring everything?"
Ren checked his backpack.
"Food, water, rope, healing potion, torch, sword."
Mira nodded.
"Good."
Kael raised his thumb.
"Then we're ready."
They left the guild together.
---
The goblin cave was several hours from Elaria.
As they traveled, Ren learned more about his new companions.
Kael was seventeen, although he constantly claimed to be older whenever he wanted to sound impressive.
He had trained with a village swordsman since childhood and dreamed of becoming a famous knight.
Mira was eighteen and had studied magic at a small academy.
Unlike Kael, she was quiet and serious.
Ren found her difficult to read.
"You don't talk much," Ren said.
Mira looked at him.
"I talk when necessary."
Kael laughed.
"She's been like that since I met her."
Mira ignored him.
Ren smiled.
"Fair enough."
They eventually reached a hill surrounded by thick trees.
At its base was a dark cave.
Kael drew his sword.
"That's it."
Ren activated Mana Detection.
Immediately, he felt something.
"There are monsters inside."
Mira looked at him.
"How many?"
Ren closed his eyes.
He concentrated.
"At least fifteen."
Mira's expression changed.
"That's more than the report said."
Kael frowned.
"Are you sure?"
Ren nodded.
"Yes."
They stood silently for a moment.
Kael looked toward the cave.
"Then we need to be careful."
Ren smiled.
"That's why we're here."
---
The party entered.
The cave was dark and damp.
Mira created a small ball of light above them.
The walls reflected the blue glow.
Kael walked in front.
Ren stayed behind him.
Mira stood in the middle.
They moved carefully.
After several minutes, they found the first goblin.
Kael raised his hand.
The party stopped.
The goblin hadn't noticed them.
Kael whispered:
"On three."
Ren nodded.
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
Kael charged.
His sword struck the goblin before it could react.
Ren immediately moved toward another.
The goblin tried to attack him.
Ren stepped aside and struck its weapon away.
One quick movement ended the battle.
Mira cast a spell.
A small sphere of fire struck another goblin hiding behind a rock.
The battle was over within seconds.
Kael smiled.
"Not bad."
Ren nodded.
"You too."
Mira examined the bodies.
"These aren't normal goblins."
Ren frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Their weapons."
She pointed at the goblin swords.
"They've been forged."
Kael picked one up.
"You're right."
Ren looked deeper into the cave.
"Someone is supplying them."
Nobody spoke.
That changed the mission completely.
---
They continued deeper.
The cave became larger.
Then they heard voices.
Goblin voices.
But there were other sounds too.
Metal.
Hammering.
Kael raised his sword.
They approached carefully.
Beyond the tunnel was a large chamber.
Dozens of goblins worked around a furnace.
Some were making weapons.
Others were carrying boxes.
Ren counted them.
"Thirty."
Kael's expression became serious.
Mira whispered:
"We can't fight all of them."
Ren looked around.
There was another passage on the opposite side.
"We don't have to."
He pointed toward the weapons.
"If we destroy those, they'll lose their advantage."
Kael smiled.
"Good idea."
Mira prepared a spell.
Ren and Kael moved into position.
Mira whispered:
"Now."
A fireball flew across the chamber.
It struck the weapon storage.
BOOM!
Flames spread.
The goblins screamed.
Chaos erupted.
Kael charged.
Ren followed.
The goblins were unprepared.
Ren moved between them with his sword.
His body reacted naturally.
Every swing became faster.
Every dodge became smoother.
[Combat skill improving.]
[Swordsmanship proficiency increased.]
Ren felt something changing inside him.
Absolute Growth was working again.
He wasn't simply gaining levels.
He was becoming better at everything.
A goblin attacked from behind.
Ren didn't see it.
But Kael did.
Kael blocked the attack.
"Behind you!"
Ren turned.
"Thanks."
Kael smiled.
"That's what teammates are for."
The words stayed with Ren.
Teammates.
He liked how they sounded.
---
The battle ended after several minutes.
The remaining goblins fled.
Ren opened his status.
Level: 18
His experience had increased rapidly.
Kael stared at him.
"You leveled up again?"
Ren nodded.
"Apparently."
Mira studied him.
"Your growth is abnormal."
Ren scratched his head.
"I'm just lucky."
Mira clearly didn't believe him.
Before she could question him, a loud growl echoed through the cave.
Everyone froze.
Kael tightened his grip.
"What was that?"
The ground shook.
A massive goblin stepped into the chamber.
It was twice the size of the others.
Its body was covered in crude armor.
A giant axe rested on its shoulder.
The system appeared.
[Goblin General]
Level: 27
Ren's smile disappeared.
"This one is stronger."
Kael stepped forward.
"I'll distract it."
Ren shook his head.
"We fight together."
Kael looked surprised.
Then he smiled.
"Right."
Mira raised her staff.
"I'll support both of you."
The Goblin General roared.
It charged.
Kael blocked the first strike.
The impact forced him backward.
Ren attacked from the side.
His sword struck the creature's armor.
The goblin swung toward him.
Ren ducked.
Mira launched a spell.
The monster stumbled.
Kael attacked.
Ren followed.
For several minutes, the three worked together.
Eventually, Ren saw an opening.
He rushed forward.
His sword struck the monster's exposed shoulder.
The Goblin General fell.
[Goblin General defeated.]
[Experience gained: 1,500.]
[×5 Experience Bonus applied.]
[7,500 EXP obtained.]
[Level Up!]
[Level 18 → Level 23]
Ren stared.
"Five levels?"
Kael laughed.
"You're insane!"
Mira looked at the defeated monster.
Then at Ren.
"There is definitely something unusual about you."
Ren smiled nervously.
"I've heard that before."
---
After searching the chamber, they discovered something disturbing.
A black crystal sat inside a wooden box.
It pulsed with dark energy.
Mira immediately stepped backward.
"Don't touch it."
Ren looked at her.
"Why?"
"That symbol."
Carved into the crystal was a black crown.
Kael frowned.
"What is it?"
Mira's voice became quiet.
"The symbol of the Demon King."
Silence filled the cave.
Ren stared at the crystal.
He remembered the mysterious dream.
The black moon.
The ancient door.
The voice saying:
He has awakened.
Mira looked at Ren.
"We need to report this to the guild."
Ren nodded.
They carefully sealed the crystal.
As they left the cave, Ren looked back.
For a moment, he thought he saw a pair of red eyes watching them from the darkness.
He blinked.
Nothing was there.
But far beneath the cave, something moved.
A voice whispered:
"The Otherworlder has found the first seal."
And somewhere far away, a silver-haired girl suddenly opened her eyes.
She whispered:
"Ren... hurry."
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