"Before you enter the teleportation portals, let me give you a few warnings..."
"You will be sent to dungeons up to G-rank. Since I personally divided the groups, I defined the difficulty level based on the group's average classification."
"As soon as you enter the teleportation portals, instructor Edgar and I will remain alert in case something goes wrong. There's no need to panic." Darius concluded.
Each group was directed toward a different teleportation portal. Once they entered, they would immediately be transported to one of the academy-controlled dungeons.
As soon as Edgar finished the preparations, enormous mana-powered devices began forming the portals.
With all the portals ready, every group was immediately teleported.
'Here we go...'
The moment Evan's group was teleported, the boy couldn't hold back his vomit.
"Ah, what a weakling." Christian laughed loudly.
Katherine, Karin, and Quelbert simply watched poor Evan throw up his entire breakfast.
'I didn't think it would feel this terrible...'
As soon as the nauseous feeling faded, Evan realized the group had already started moving ahead.
Looking around, the place resembled a forest filled with palm trees and other gigantic trees.
'What the hell is the level of this dungeon?'
Once he caught up with his group, Evan and the others found themselves facing a massive cave blocked by a wooden gate.
"Just stay behind me, idiots."
Christian said while forcing the gates open.
"Don't be so stupid. We don't even know what kinds of creatures exist in this place." Quelbert questioned.
The moment Christian managed to open the gates, strange noises echoed from inside the cave.
'What the hell is this?!' Evan questioned internally.
"WHOO!! Let's kill some stupid creatures!" Christian shouted as he rushed ahead, gripping his club.
"That idiot... Come on, just follow him carefully." Karin ordered.
Keeping a firm grip on his odachi, Evan followed behind the others, with Christian running ahead like a lunatic while Karin, Quelbert, and Katherine followed close behind.
As the group continued walking through the cave, the noises grew louder.
"They really do sound like some kind of creature." Quelbert noted.
But before they could properly analyze the situation, they heard a massive impact.
PHALLLL!!
It was Christian landing a devastating blow with his club on a creature resembling a goblin.
Quickly directing his scanner toward the creature, Evan immediately confirmed it.
"That bastard really sabotaged the dungeons."
{Analysis – Complete}
{Tropical Goblin}
{Threat Level – (D)}
Unlike common goblins, this tropical variant evolved constantly within the jungles of Etherea, reaching a level above its own species.
Immediately, Evan shouted to warn the others.
"G-guys!! These creatures are D-rank! Something probably went wrong during the teleportation!"
After hearing Evan's statement, everyone except Christian, who was still fiercely fighting the creature, immediately froze.
"D-rank? Tell me that's not true?" Karin questioned.
"How is that possible?? We barely reached E-rank! How are we supposed to believe something like that?" Katherine shot back, completely terrified.
Still fighting the goblin, believing he had knocked it out, Christian grinned proudly.
"Hey, worm. That damn goblin was D-rank? Don't joke with me, bastard. It almost sounds ridiculous."
But the instant the boy turned toward the creature, the goblin lunged forward, aiming its fierce claws at Christian's neck.
CRHULL!!
A rapid water blast struck the creature, throwing it against the wall.
"Didn't you hear what he just said? Just be careful." Karin said after intercepting the creature's attack.
Watching Karin's speed the moment she realized the creature was about to attack Christian, Evan couldn't help but admire the character he had always been so proud of in the story.
'Karin Roughstone... Looks like I'll have to cling to you if I want to survive this damn dungeon.'
...
After confirming the goblin was truly dead, the group continued deeper into the dungeon, this time with Karin taking the lead.
"The further we go, the harder it gets to see in this place." Quelbert complained.
Then an idea crossed Evan's mind.
"I think this might solve it."
Suddenly, crimson flames rested above Evan's palm. The flames were so vivid they illuminated the entire surrounding area of the cave.
"You only thought of that now?" Karin asked irritably.
Evan simply lowered his head and continued lighting the path between the rocks.
As they advanced, goblins began appearing along the way.
With Karin and Quelbert quickly moving to eliminate them.
Karin with her powerful water shots, and Quelbert with sharp wind needles.
'His control over the wind affinity is actually pretty decent.' Evan analyzed.
But before they could celebrate, a horde of nearly 15 goblins appeared ahead.
"LEAVE THEM TO ME!!"
Christian rushed forward, striking as many creatures as he could while drawing their attention. Karin and Quelbert fired at as many goblins as possible.
Behind them was Katherine, trying to shape the terrain with her earth affinity. Even though she apparently didn't have much control over her abilities, the girl tried to soften the ground in order to sink the creatures.
'Aagh... I can't let them handle this alone.'
Gripping his odachi, Evan dashed toward the goblins still fighting.
Although the creatures didn't possess overwhelming offensive power, they were highly resilient.
Coating his odachi with crimson flames, Evan fiercely struck the creatures within his reach.
The moment the flames touched the goblins, they burned the targets until they were completely carbonized.
"KEEP ATTACKING! MORE OF THEM ARE APPEARING!"
The more goblins the group defeated, the more creatures emerged from the shadows.
Aside from Evan, the others seemed completely exhausted.
'Urgh... Karin and Quelbert probably barely have enough mana left for a dozen attacks. Katherine is already weakened too, and Christian...'
The group's troglodyte was in the worst condition. With his clothes completely torn apart and countless injuries across his body, even Evan didn't know how he was still managing to keep attacking.
"You guys stay back while you recover your energy. I'll try to hold them off as long as I can." Evan ordered while dashing toward the goblins.
'That worm!!' Christian shouted internally, completely furious at having to rely on someone like Evan, a complete side character.
Watching Evan fight with his odachi, Karin was certain that the boy possessed absolutely no talent. The way he handled the blade was completely clumsy, limiting himself to simple attacks.
But there was something she couldn't understand.
Even without possessing any technique, the boy still remained standing, attacking like a true beast.
'Evan Thompson...'
While reading New Era, Evan had always imagined how cruel the lives of the main characters truly were. Having to face constant dangers, risking their own lives in order to save more and more people.
As he struck the creatures with his odachi, doubts and uncertainties crossed his mind.
What am I fighting for?
Why am I trying to save these people?
Fighting for my life... is it really worth all this effort?
But his thoughts were interrupted when one of the goblins' claws pierced through his ribs.
"AAAHRG!!"
The boy screamed while clenching his teeth and delivering a kick to the creature's head.
Even while watching blood run down his body, deep down... Evan felt completely exhilarated.
"You bastards are going to pay for this!!"