Chương 13: Goblins den (1)

Chapter 13: Descent into the Goblin's Den

Alypos stood at the edge of the dungeon, his breath steady and eyes focused. The entrance to the Goblin's Den yawned open before him, a dark, jagged mouth of stone and earth, leading into the unknown. He had told Marina he would be gone for a week, but he hadn't mentioned where he was going. Trust was still a commodity he wasn't willing to give.

"I'll be back in a week. Don't cause trouble," he had said coldly before turning away, giving no further explanation.

As the shadows of the forest deepened around him, Alypos's mind focused on the task ahead. Nibbles darted around his feet, his tiny paws making faint rustling sounds on the forest floor. The squirrel made a rapid series of gestures, pointing toward the dungeon's entrance with an exaggerated shake of his tail, mimicking hesitation or maybe warning. Alypos gave the creature a brief nod.

"Don't worry. It's not you going in," he muttered dryly. Nibbles responded by sitting back on his haunches and crossing his little arms, almost as if mocking Alypos's sense of calm.

A small smirk tugged at Alypos's lips for a second before his expression returned to its usual cold stoicism. The humor was not lost on him, but the time for jest was over. He entered the dungeon.

The temperature immediately dropped as he stepped into the narrow, winding passage, the light from outside dimming behind him. The Karmic System flickered in his mind, its voice cutting through the silence.

{Dungeon Discovered: Goblin's Den.}

{Rank: F.}

{Danger level: Moderate.}

Alypos scoffed. "Moderate," he muttered under his breath. He'd faced worse, much worse, but he knew not to underestimate any dungeon. They were notorious for their unpredictability. Artifacts, rare materials, and skill books were hidden within these dangerous lairs, but so were deadly traps and stronger monsters lurking in the deeper recesses.

The path was narrow, with uneven stone underfoot. Flickers of torchlight illuminated patches of the walls ahead. Alypos's mind worked quickly, analyzing the environment as he advanced. There was no immediate sound of goblins, but he could feel the faint thrum of mana in the air—goblins always traveled in packs.

Nibbles skittered ahead, silent but ever alert, peering around corners before darting back to Alypos, signaling all clear with a quick gesture of his paw. Alypos nodded again. His instincts were sharp, but Nibbles was proving to be invaluable in these situations, his scouting ability allowing them to move without risking ambush.

They walked in silence for another hour before Alypos came to a stop, his hand tightening around his spear. The air had shifted; something was close. Water manipulation whispered through his fingertips, the familiar coldness of the element ready to spring to life at his command.

Then he heard it. The faint clatter of goblin feet, followed by their guttural voices echoing from a nearby chamber. Alypos crouched low, motioning to Nibbles, who quickly mimicked the gesture before scurrying behind a rock. Alypos's heart beat steady as he waited for the goblins to emerge.

Two goblins appeared, dragging crude weapons behind them, muttering in their harsh language. Their yellow eyes scanned the dark passage, oblivious to the predator waiting for them. Alypos moved swiftly, a single step forward as his water tendrils snaked out from the shadows, silent as the grave. In a fluid motion, the water coiled around the goblins' feet, pulling them down with a force that made them yelp in surprise. Before they could react, Alypos was on them.

His spear pierced through the first goblin's throat with ease, silencing it before it could scream. The second goblin struggled against the water's grip, but Alypos was faster. His spear spun in his hands, and with a precise strike, he impaled the creature's chest, killing it instantly.

He stood over their bodies, blood pooling at his feet. His expression was unreadable, his mind already calculating the next steps. These were just scouts. More would come, stronger ones. He would have to pace himself.

Nibbles reappeared at his side, looking up at the corpses with a curious tilt of his head. The squirrel then made a quick gesture, holding his tiny paws to his throat and mimicking a choking sound before dramatically collapsing onto his back, as if reenacting the goblins' deaths.

Alypos raised an eyebrow. "Not bad," he said, deadpan.

Nibbles stood up quickly, puffing out his chest with exaggerated pride before scurrying ahead once more. The small creature's antics added an odd contrast to the otherwise grim surroundings, but Alypos found that he didn't mind it. It broke the monotony of killing, just for a moment.

Continuing deeper into the dungeon, Alypos encountered more goblins. As the battles intensified, so did his control over his Flowing Style. The way he moved now was different—more fluid, more precise. Each attack was calculated, each movement efficient, like the steady flow of water adapting to the terrain. His Water Manipulation melded perfectly with the combat style, forming barriers, traps, and offensive strikes.

Hours passed, and Alypos found himself at a crossroads. The deeper he went, the more dangerous it would become, but the greater the rewards. He wasn't here just for loot; he was here for experience, for growth. Every enemy he faced was a test, a way to measure how far he'd come.

On the first day, the goblins were simple, and weak. On the second, they came in larger packs, better equipped, but Alypos remained ahead of them, adapting his tactics to stay one step ahead. He'd taken a few hits but nothing serious. His focus remained sharp, and Nibbles had managed to keep him clear of traps. He had eaten their cores even though they were ranked {G+}, cumulatively they added to his strength.

By the time the second night fell, Alypos had set up a small camp in one of the dungeon's safer alcoves. Nibbles curled up next to him, occasionally twitching as if dreaming of nuts or whatever squirrels thought about. Alypos stared into the small fire he had made, reflecting on the day's events. He was stronger now, but he needed to be more. His thoughts were interrupted by Nibbles, who woke up and dramatically pointed at the fire before making a circular motion over his stomach.

"You're hungry?" Alypos said, raising an eyebrow.

The squirrel nodded enthusiastically, then made another exaggerated gesture of picking something up and biting into it, mimicking a feast.

Alypos sighed. "I suppose you've earned it."

He tossed a piece of dried meat toward Nibbles, who caught it mid-air with a surprising level of grace for such a small creature. The squirrel nibbled at the food happily, his antics a strange yet welcome reprieve from the dark, cold world of the dungeon.

But as Alypos leaned back against the wall, his spear resting at his side, his mind wandered back to what lay ahead. This was just the beginning. He could feel it. The deeper parts of the dungeon were still waiting for him, and with them, greater dangers.

And Alypos would be ready.

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