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I actually do miss this place—the sound of the birds chirping, the water flowing down the river, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. It's all so peaceful, so untouched by the chaos of the outside world. If things had turned out differently, I could have stayed here, training under Master Sin Ju forever. But now, I had a mission.
I needed to find someone to join my party—someone awakened. The problem was, how was I supposed to do that? It wasn't like awakened warriors just walked around the forest waiting to be recruited.
"This is giving me a headache," I muttered, rubbing my temple. Maybe this was pointless. Maybe I was doomed to wander this place forever, chasing after a dream that was never meant to be mine.
No. I refused to think like that. I had come too far to give up now.
I wondered what Reina and Renji were doing right now. Were they regretting rejecting me? Probably not. They had a guild to run, and I was just another applicant who didn't make the cut. But there had to be some explanation for why I hadn't awakened yet. Was it because I never fought demons or monsters when I was younger? Master Sin Ju always kept me away from real combat until I was ready. Maybe that held me back. Or maybe I was just a late bloomer.
Or maybe… maybe I had awakened, and I just didn't know it yet.
I shook my head. No, I was sure there had been a mistake. There had to be.
Suddenly—
Rustling.
I froze, gripping the hilt of my sword. The sound was faint, but it was close. Something was moving through the underbrush. I took a step forward, pushing aside the leaves, and there they were.
"Goblins," I muttered under my breath.
Two of them, short but vicious-looking, their green skin glistening under the dim light filtering through the trees. One carried a crude dagger, the other a jagged club.
I exhaled slowly and drew my sword.
Alright, let's do this.
The goblin with the dagger lunged first, snarling as it slashed toward me. I sidestepped just in time, feeling the wind from its blade brush past my cheek. Before I could counterattack, the second goblin swung its club at my legs. I jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike.
They were fast. Faster than I had expected.
I raised my sword, shifting my stance. This wasn't like sparring with Reina. These things were actually trying to kill me. No holding back, no playing fair.
The goblin with the dagger came at me again, but this time, I was ready. I parried the attack, knocking its weapon aside. It stumbled, and I took the opening, thrusting my sword forward. The blade pierced its chest, and the goblin let out a choked cry before collapsing.
One down.
The second goblin hesitated for a moment, but then it roared and charged. It was reckless, swinging its club wildly. I dodged left, then right, narrowly avoiding the blows. Then, just as it raised its weapon for another strike, I Quick-Dashed forward, closing the gap in an instant. My sword slashed through the air—
And the goblin was dead.
I exhaled, wiping the sweat off my forehead.
"Thank you, Master Sin Ju," I muttered. If he hadn't drilled Quick-Dash into my training, I would have been in serious trouble.
But something felt… familiar.
I looked around, taking in the trees, the path, the arrangement of rocks nearby.
Wait a minute…
This was the place where I fought the goblin on my way to the Adventurer's Guild. And there—just a few steps ahead—was the path I had seen before.
It led somewhere.
Perfect.
I followed it, my sword still drawn, my senses alert. The path twisted and turned, leading me deeper into the woods. Then, finally, I saw it.
A massive stone structure stood before me, its entrance like a gaping mouth leading into the dark.
"A dungeon?" I said aloud. My heart pounded in my chest.
This was my first time seeing a dungeon up close. I had heard stories about them—labyrinths filled with monsters, treasures, and unimaginable danger. But seeing one in person was different.
I should have turned back. I should have walked away. But instead—
I stepped inside.
The air was cold, damp. The stone walls glowed faintly with light crystals embedded in them, casting an eerie glow over the cavernous space. I took a few cautious steps forward, my eyes scanning the shadows.
And then—I saw them.
A group of goblins, scattered around the chamber. Nine, maybe ten of them.
I took a deep breath.
"Well," I muttered. "How about we get started, eh?"
I Quick-Dashed forward, closing the distance between me and the nearest goblin in an instant. My sword cut through the air, slicing clean through its chest. The others reacted immediately, shrieking in alarm.
I spun, blocking an incoming attack from the left. Another goblin lunged, but I ducked under its swing and drove my blade into its gut. I didn't stop moving, didn't stop attacking. Every strike was precise, every motion calculated. I twisted, dodged, countered—
Slash. Parry. Dodge. Strike.
One by one, they fell.
Finally, I stood there, panting, as the last goblin collapsed.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"That… was a lot harder than I thought."
But I wasn't done yet.
The dungeon stretched on ahead, its tunnels winding deeper into the darkness.
I had only just begun.
I walked forward, gripping my sword tightly. More goblins meant more combat experience. More chances to grow stronger.
After a few minutes of walking, I stopped. My breath hitched in my throat.
In front of me—
A massive chamber. And inside it—
Hundreds of creatures.
But they weren't goblins.
I swallowed hard.
"These aren't just monsters…"
They were wolf demons.
Their fur was jet black, their eyes glowing red, their fangs long and sharp. They prowled across the chamber, their muscular bodies tense with power. There had to be over a hundred of them, maybe more. And judging by the way they moved, they were far stronger than any goblin I had faced.
I gritted my teeth, tightening my grip on my sword.
"I don't think I can kill them… Not yet."
My heart pounded in my chest. Fear threatened to creep in, but I shoved it down.
No. I have to do this. No matter what.
I raised my sword.
And charged.
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