'I... I did it.'
Nael stepped back, breathing hard, his hands trembling slightly from adrenaline and the shock of impact.
This was his first kill. But it felt nothing like he'd imagined it would.
"Huff... Huff..."
The Rock-Tail's body lay motionless on the stone floor. Then, something extraordinary happened. A small, rough-hewn crystal of earthy brown light materialized on the creature's chest.
'Is this the Essence Core?'
Before Nael could even take a step toward it, the light dissolved into shimmering motes that streaked across the short distance and flowed into his chest like liquid starlight.
The entire process, from victory to essence absorption, had taken less than two seconds.
Nael stared at the message, then at the spot where the Rock-Tail's body had been. It was already beginning to fade, dissolving into faint particles of light that would return to the dungeon's natural cycle. Only a small pile of rough scales remained as proof of his victory.
[ You have obtained x3 Rock-Tail Scales ]
Ten essence points. It wasn't much, but it was a start. But he'd need to accumulate one hundred essence in total to reach level 2. That meant nine more creatures like this one.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and gripped his quarterstaff tighter. One down, many more to go.
'I need to secure a safer place too. So I can refine the essence peacefully.'
The raw essence he'd absorbed from the Rock-Tail was currently stored in his Core, but it was volatile and unusable in its current state. Simply absorbing essence didn't automatically make someone stronger.
The energy had to be refined through conscious meditation and focused concentration, a process that required both time and safety. Attempting to refine essence while in danger could lead to energy loss or even backlash.
And only after converting raw essence into refined essence would it actually contribute to his level progression.
But first, he needed more raw energy to work with.
So, he spent the next two hours hunting while searching for a safe place.
He found Rock-Tails quickly enough; their distinctive scratching and skittering sounds echoed through the tunnels, making them easier to locate. But fortune was not fully on his side.
Every group he encountered was too large to engage safely. Packs of four, six, or even ten creatures clustered together around moss patches or small pools of water.
Fighting multiple enemies simultaneously would be suicide for someone with his limited combat experience and Common-grade class. So he could only abandon them and keep searching.
By the end of two hours, he had managed to kill only five more Rock-Tails, each one a carefully orchestrated ambush of isolated stragglers. Fifty more essence points brought his total to sixty, but the slow progress was frustrating.
Solo leveling without a combat class was proving to be brutally difficult.
'At this rate, it'll take me the entire day just to reach level 2,' he thought grimly.
As he explored deeper into the cavern system, following a narrow passage that sloped gently upward, he discovered something: a small alcove carved into the rock wall, partially hidden behind a curtain of hanging minerals. The space was just large enough for one person to sit comfortably, with a clear view of the main tunnel and multiple escape routes.
More importantly, it was only occupied by a single creature.
'Hehe, good.'
A Gloom-Bat hung upside down from the alcove's ceiling, its leathery wings wrapped around its body like a dark cocoon. The creature was about the size of a house cat, with midnight-black fur and oversized ears that twitched occasionally even in sleep.
Nael recalled his research immediately: Gloom-Bats were level 2-4 creatures, worth significantly more essence than Rock-Tails. They could use disorienting shrieks to stun their enemies and attack them. And they, too, were stronger in groups rather than alone.
Their wings were fragile membranes that could be easily damaged, and a solid blow to the head would disorient them completely. So... they were nearly helpless when caught sleeping.
He approached with careful, silent steps, quarterstaff raised. The bat remained motionless, its breathing slow and steady.
Nael positioned himself directly beneath the creature, then struck with a powerful thrust directly to its head.
'Squeak-!'
The Gloom-Bat let out a brief, startled shriek before its grip loosened and it fell.
'No, you don't!'
A quick follow-up strike to ensure it was finished, and the deed was done. A slightly larger, dark purple Essence Core materialized and streamed into him.
[ Gloom-Bat defeated: +20 Essence ]
[ You have obtained x2 Gloom-Bat Fangs ]
[ You have obtained x2 Gloom-Bat Wings]
Eighty essence in total now.
'And a safe place.'
The alcove was perfect for his needs: defensible, hidden, with clear sightlines and escape routes. Then...
'...Time to refine.'
He used the wings to block the entrance slightly, then settled into a comfortable position. Closing his eyes, he began the arduous process of turning the raw essence into stable power.
'...'
About 10 minutes later, he finally finished the refinement. It took him almost 1 minute for every 10 essence. That was an agonizingly long time to sit vulnerable in a dungeon, but for his Common-grade class, it was frustratingly logical.
'Hah...' Nael sighed to let out his frustration.
The difference between classes was laid bare before him once again.
Those with Rare and Epic classes could passively refine essence at a much faster rate, some even while moving. As for the Legendary classes... Well, it was rumored that they could instantly refine raw essence upon absorption or even draw in pre-refined energy directly, skyrocketing their progression with obscene speed.
It was brutally unfair, but it was reality. For Common classes like his, every ounce of power had to be painstakingly carved out of time and danger.
A chime sounded in his mind, a welcome reward for his patience.
[ Refinement Complete! ]
[ Refined Essence: 80/100 to Next Level ]
He was just 20 Essence away from Level 2. The refined energy settled in his core, a stable, warm pool of potential power, a stark contrast to the volatile buzz of the raw essence he'd started with.
He opened his eyes, the dim light of the alcove seeming a little brighter. He felt his perception was better than before. Now, he was ready to continue the grind.
'Hmm~'
Just as he was about to move the bat wings and leave his temporary sanctuary, a new sound reached his ears.
"KWW!"
But it wasn't the usual skittering of Rock-Tails or the flutter of bats, but the distinct, panicked shouts of people, followed by the aggressive screech of a larger monster.
'!'
It was coming from the main tunnel, further down and around a bend.
A battle must be taking place, but from the sound of it, it wasn't going well for his fellow graduates.
Nael's first instinct was to stay hidden. It wasn't his problem. And getting involved in other people's fights was a sure way to get killed.
"ARGH!"
"...!"
But the shouts grew more desperate. They must be in serious trouble. And if whatever was attacking them won, it might come exploring down his tunnel next.
'...Urgh.'
Gripping his quarterstaff, Nael made a decision. He decided to scout only. Knowledge was important after all, especially considering the fact that he was going to explore those places later.
'...Yeah, only scouting.'