— Remember to always pay attention to your surroundings, especially when collecting spoils, and never underestimate anything down there. Even the walls are dangerous!— And don't you dare go too deep just because you're feeling confident. Only the first floor—come back home in one piece!— And another thing...
Hestia kept going, her voice hurried and full of worry. She paced back and forth, gesturing wildly as if sheer repetition could burn the rules into Luki's mind.
— Hahaha! — Luki burst out laughing, cutting through her avalanche of words. He couldn't understand anything she said, but her actions were as clear as day. His goddess was genuinely worried about him, and that touched him deeply.
— Stop laughing! This isn't funny! What if you— Hestia halted mid-sentence when she saw Luki's face now carrying a soft smile.
Though he found her paranoia amusing, he understood the reason behind it. Today was an important milestone for him.
After a week of adjusting to life in Orario, Luki felt it was finally time to begin his journey as a true adventurer and explore the Dungeon for the first time.
Ever since he announced his decision, Hestia had turned into a bundle of nerves, constantly drilling him with the essential lessons for surviving that treacherous place.
— Hestia… worried… — Luki said, his voice calm and filled with gratitude.
The goddess's eyes widened for a moment, surprised. Luki had spoken—but not in his original language. He had used words from the local tongue, though his pronunciation was hesitant and heavily accented.
Yes, during this time, Luki had been working hard to learn Orario's language. Hestia, ever enthusiastic, took every opportunity to help him.
Though far from fluent, he could already speak key words like "Hestia," "family," "food," and other simple expressions. Now, he had used what he learned to reassure his goddess, even if in a basic way.
— You… are learning fast… — Hestia said, her expression softening. She was visibly touched, though the worry still clung to her.
Luki tilted his head with a smile. He didn't need to say more, his actions and efforts spoke for themselves.
— All right, but don't forget what I said! First floor only, understood? — Hestia added, crossing her arms and trying to look stern, though the smile on her face betrayed her feelings.
As he prepared to leave, Luki cast one last look at his goddess. He could see the mix of anxiety and hope in her eyes, something that made him feel even more responsible for returning safely.
— (See you later, Hestia!) Luki shouted, bidding farewell as he started his way toward the Dungeon.
Hestia stayed where she was, standing in front of the humble home they called theirs. Her eyes followed Luki until he disappeared into the distance. This was the first adventure of her first child, and she was prepared to wait every second until he returned.
It was early morning, the calmest time of day in Orario. The streets were still relatively quiet, and the same was true at the Dungeon's entrance, where only a few adventurers had arrived.
Luki had chosen this hour for two reasons. The first was practical: to avoid the long line that often formed later. The second was strategic: with fewer adventurers around, he didn't have to worry as much about the dangers that came from humans themselves.
People say the greatest danger in Orario is the Dungeon, but those who live in the city know that isn't entirely true. The greatest danger is its own inhabitants, greedy adventurers. Monsters in human skin, who wouldn't hesitate to end another's life for profit.
For them, it's a matter of survival, "better him than me."
When he reached the massive entrance to the Dungeon, Luki paused for a moment. The grand white-marble structure, towering as if to touch the sky, now loomed right before him, intimidating and silent. He took a deep breath and did one last check of his gear.
He wore a simple leather armor that covered only the essentials, a metal standard sword at his belt, and a smaller dagger by his side.
Both were basic items provided by the Guild as part of a beginner's adventurer registration. They weren't of great quality, but they were enough to keep him from going in unarmed.
Luki touched the sword's blade briefly, testing its steadiness. It was a little heavy, seemed sturdy enough to handle low-level monsters. He adjusted the armor's shoulder strap, making sure it fit comfortably, and secured the dagger firmly at his waist.
'This is it.' He thought.
No more excuses, no turning back. He was about to take his first step into the unknown world that so many feared and admired at the same time.
With a mix of determination and caution, Luki stepped into the vast labyrinth.
...
The Dungeon's first floor had a cavernous, austere look. Uneven gray stone walls. The ground was treacherous, shifting between smooth areas and others full of cracks and natural ridges, demanding attention at every step.
Dim light came from bioluminescent fungi scattered along the walls or from tiny glowing crystals embedded in the rock. The light was faint, but enough to guide the eyes.
Wide corridors, about three to four meters across, allowed for free movement, but the silence and vastness of the space heightened the feeling of vulnerability. Larger rooms appeared occasionally—vast spaces where danger seemed even more imminent.
At a glance, it might seem like nothing more than a regular cave system, devoid of real threats. But Luki knew it was just an illusion.
The air was heavier here—not just from the depth, but from something else: a constant sense of being watched, as if the Dungeon itself were alive and observing.
And more than that—he couldn't ignore the fact that those seemingly inert walls could "give birth" to hordes of monsters at any moment.
Step, step, step.
Luki's footsteps echoed through the corridors as he advanced slowly, sword in hand, alert to any movement or strange sound.
Then, the silence was broken.
Shwriiiek!
A sharp, almost metallic screech reverberated through the corridors, slicing the air like a blade. Luki froze instantly, every muscle tensing as the hairs on his neck stood up. He recognized that sound.
'A goblin.'
Turning the next corner, he saw it.
It was small, short in stature, with a hunched posture. Sickly green skin. Its small eyes gleamed with a crude, hungry intelligence. In its claw-like hands, it held a makeshift blade more a sharp stone than a real weapon. Must have found on the ground and not "borned" with it.
Luki swallowed hard, tightening his grip on his sword.
Even if it was only a goblin, he knew he couldn't underestimate it. This was the first real enemy he'd face in the Dungeon.
With the monster before him, he didn't rush in. Hestia's words echoed in his mind, as vivid as if she were right beside him… or at least part of them:
'Remember ?? ????? pay attention ??? ???? surroundings, ????????????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ?? spoils, ? never underestimate anything ?? ???????. ??? ?? walls ??? dangerous!'
Taking a deep breath, Luki let his eyes scan the area. Every crack, every shadow, every irregularity in the wall was analyzed.
He glanced back, checking the path he'd come from. He couldn't afford to be surprised by something lurking in the shadows.
Satisfied there were no other threats nearby, he decided to act. Carefully, he crouched and picked up a small stone from the ground. With a quick motion, he tossed it toward a nearby wall.
Clack!
The dry sound echoed through the cavern, instantly drawing the goblin's attention.
— Shwriek? — The monster grunted curiously, its grotesque head turning toward the sound.
With awkward steps, it began moving toward the wall, its beady eyes searching for the noise's source.
That's when Luki saw his chance.
Slowly, deliberately, he began to advance. Each step was calculated, his feet touching only the firmest surfaces, avoiding loose stones or cracks that could betray him. Veeeeery slowly...
He held his sword close to his body to prevent it from swinging and making noise.
The goblin, oblivious, crouched to inspect the ground, inspecting like an animal.
Luki held his breath.
'Now!'
With a sudden burst, he lunged forward, gripping the sword tightly. His first strike went straight for the goblin's neck.
— Shwrargh! — The monster's grunt echoed through the corridor. The blade sliced its rough skin, but not deeply enough to be fatal. Dark blood trickled from the wound as the goblin instinctively clutched its neck, trying to stop the attack.
For a moment, Luki hesitated. 'Why is it still alive?!' Maybe it was the goblin's natural toughness, the dull blade, or his own lack of strength—but the creature was still standing.
— Die, damn you! — he snarled through clenched teeth, pulling back the bloodied blade.
Gathering his resolve, Luki swung again. This time, the sword struck the goblin's arms as it tried to shield itself. The cut was deep, touching the bones. The monster stumbled and fell backward, screaming in pain and fury.
On the ground, it tried to crawl away, but Luki didn't give it the chance. Raising the sword as high as he could, he brought it down in a brutal strike to the creature's back.
— Shwriiiek! — The goblin's agonized scream rang out, but Luki didn't stop. One slash. Then another. And another.
With each blow, the goblin's resistance faded, until with a final cry, its body dissolved.
Poof.
The almost ethereal sound marked the end of the fight. Where a grotesque creature had once stood, there was now only shimmering dust floating briefly in the air before fading away.
Luki took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the spot where the goblin had been moments before. On the ground, something faintly glimmered. He crouched to pick up the small mana stone fragment.
A very small, tiny stone, like a blue or purple crystal. Something so insignificant yet so valuable. This is an adventurer's primary currency, the living proof of their achievements, and their main source of profit. While there are other, more valuable objects within the vast dungeon of Orario, no one ignores the smallest of all the mana stone fragments lying on the ground.
Before he could catch his breath from the fight, an unsettling sound echoed through the corridors.
— Shwriiiek!!! Shwriiiek!!! Shwriiiek!!!
The sharp, threatening cries apparently sounded from everywhere. Luki froze for an instant, eyes wide. The sweat running down his forehead now felt colder.
'The goblin's screams, they brought others!'
Wasting no time, he wiped the sweat with his forearm, drew a deep breath, and began running in the opposite direction—his footsteps pounding against the uneven ground. There was no way he would face more goblins. Not now. Not alone. Not this weak.
The corridor felt longer than before, the shadows cast by glowing stones and bioluminescent fungi dancing around him, as if the Dungeon itself were watching.
As he ran, his fingers tightened around the mana stone fragment in his hand. The small stone felt heavy—not because of its size or material, but because of what it meant.
This was the first.