Lin approached the glowing corpse of the Hobgoblin.
The blue light wasn't coming from the monster's armor. It was coming from a leather-bound book tucked into its belt sash.
Lin picked it up. The cover was cold to the touch, inscribed with faint runic symbols.
[Item: Skill Book] [Type: Passive] [Name: Darkvision (Basic)] [Effect: Allows the user to see in total darkness up to 50 meters. Thermal signature included.] [Rarity: Rare]
Lin's breath hitched. A Passive Skill. In the Hunter Market, Active Skills were common. You could buy a Fireball scroll for 5,000 Credits. But Passive Skills? They were permanent modifications to the body. They didn't consume Mana. They were always on.
"Market value..." Lin calculated rapidly. "Minimum 15,000 Credits. Maybe 20,000 at an auction."
20,000 Credits. That was ten days of life support for his sister. Or 4% of her surgery fee.
He held the book tight. His knuckles turned white. If he left the dungeon now, he could sell this, pay the hospital, and buy enough food to last a month. It was the safe play. The smart play for a normal person.
But Lin wasn't a normal person anymore. He was a Legion Commander.
He looked deeper into the tunnel. The bioluminescent moss was fading. Beyond the elite's territory, the dungeon was pitch black. If he went in there blindly, even with three clones, he would be ambushed. The Goblin Shaman—the Boss—would be hiding in the dark.
"If I sell this, I survive for a month," Lin whispered. "If I learn this, I can kill the Boss."
Boss drops were worth ten times an Elite drop. A Boss Core could sell for 100,000 Credits.
Risk vs. Reward. Short-term safety vs. Long-term domination.
Lin didn't hesitate for long. "Investment," he said.
He shoved the book against his chest and channeled a thread of Mana into it. FLASH. The book disintegrated into particles of blue light that rushed into Lin's eyes.
[Skill Learned: Darkvision (Passive) Lv. 1]
A burning sensation washed over his retinas. Lin blinked, tears streaming down his face. When he opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
The darkness was gone. The tunnel was now bathed in a crisp, grayscale overlay. He could see every pebble on the ground. More importantly, he could see heat signatures. Small red dots were moving in the distance—rats, insects, and... hiding goblins.
"Cheat code activated," Lin muttered.
He checked the Hobgoblin's corpse one last time. He pried a jagged bone dagger from its belt.
[Weapon: Hobgoblin's Fang] [Grade: E] [Attack: 15-20] [Durability: 50/50]
It was ugly, heavy, and smelled like death. "Better than a screwdriver," Lin said, swapping weapons.
He stood up, fully equipped. Rank E (Low). Three Clones. Night Vision. A real weapon.
He was no longer prey.
BOOOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the ground, originating from the deepest part of the cavern. A wave of heat rolled down the tunnel, carrying the scent of ozone and burnt flesh.
[System Warning: Boss Room Activated.] [Target: Goblin Shaman (Rank E+)] [Status: Casting Ritual.]
The Shaman knew he was coming. The Elite's death had broken the seal.
Lin's new thermal vision picked up a massive heat source flaring up 300 meters away. It burned like a bonfire in his vision.
"It's inviting me," Lin said, gripping the bone dagger.
He summoned his three clones. In his Darkvision, the clones looked like voids—patches of absolute zero temperature. Ghostly. Deadly.
"Let's go say hello," Lin ordered.
He stepped over the Hobgoblin's corpse and marched into the dark, his eyes glowing with a faint, predatory light.
("Enjoying the massacre? Drop a Power Stone to feed the Clone Army!")