He stared at the ceiling.
"It's best to get a good night's sleep after a long hard day." He said smiling.
[ In reality, after declaring war on the dungeon he made a makeshift house to camp out for the night since his parents were away, his excuse was not wanting to risk going in without a weapon. ]
Kael didn't sleep much that night. Partially because of the bruised ribs from the jelly beatdown. Mostly because of the sheer embarrassment.
"Me? Killed by goblins or jellies?" he muttered, glaring up at the makeshift inn ceiling.
"That's like... dying from stubbing your toe and falling off a cliff. Unacceptable."
At the crack of dawn, with only three silver left to his name and pride clinging to life-support, he set out into the city market. The air was cold, crisp, and full of promise. Or maybe just full of the smell of dried fish. Either way, Kael had a goal.
He strutted up to one of the stall vendors, a gruff dwarf with a curly red beard and eyebrows that looked like they might be sentient. Weapons gleamed on the wooden rack behind him.
Kael slapped his remaining silver on the counter. "One dagger, preferably goblin-slaying, ego-healing, and dignity-restoring."
The dwarf blinked. "Ye' want it enchanted too?"
"If it's got a 'don't die like a noob' rune on it, I'll take two."
He walked away with a fairly ordinary iron dagger and about a half-coin to his name. But it felt right in his hand. It felt like revenge.
---
"ROUND TWO, BEGIN!"
Kael shouted loud enough for every bird in the forest to fly off, and probably loud enough for the goblins to ready their shortbows. Still, with dagger in hand and death in his heart (for them, not him this time), he entered the cave.
The dampness was familiar. So was the stench. And the goblins.
The first green little gremlin charged at him, but this time Kael was ready. He ducked under the spear swipe quickly side–stepping to a good angle and drove his dagger clean into the goblin's side.
It squealed, choked, and dropped. No hesitation. No mercy.
"Not today, you mucus-colored munchkin." He grinned.
Kael moved with new precision. He wasn't some super-skilled prodigy out of nowhere, but the sting of death (and shame) was an excellent motivator. He knew how they moved now. Knew where they spawned. Every corridor, every footstep mattered.
He ducked a poorly fired arrow, letting it glance off the stone wall. Another goblin tried to stab him from behind, but he twisted and slammed it into the wall with brute force, plunging the dagger into its throat.
He took hits. Some glancing blows. One arrow even scratched his arm. But nothing fatal.
And by the time he hit the last room before the boss, he stood over a pile of roughly 20 corpses, breathing hard, sweating rivers, arms trembling.
[LEVEL UP!]
[You are now Level 11.]
He smirked. "Let's see you laugh now, you scaly snow lion bastard."
---
He walked up to the massive boss door.
Boss monsters were usually one class above the dungeon rating.
So while this was an F-rank dungeon, the boss he was about to fight was easily an E-rank.
Which meant more than a match for the old Kael.
But new Kael?
He had a shiny knife and a grudge.
---
The final gate creaked open.
revealing a massive cavern glittering with icicles that drooped like jagged teeth. And at the center...
A Kovian Tiger. White fur. Eyes like frozen lightning. Muscles like boulders wrapped in frost.
It let out a guttural growl, breath misting in the cold air.
Kael didn't say a word.
~ FWOOOSH!
An icicle the size of a damn log launched from the ceiling like a spear. Kael rolled sideways, the shard slicing into the floor beside him. He felt its chill graze his leg.
He sprang to his feet, locking eyes with the beast.
"You want me dead quickly eh?
"That makes two of us."
The tiger pounced. A blur of white. Kael dodged back, sliding on the ice.
His feet barely found grip, but he launched himself forward anyway, activating his Double Shade skill.
It blurred his figure, gave him double the forward momentum—but it came at a cost.
His muscles screamed. His vision shook.
> Not now, not now...
The tiger spun mid-air, swiping its enormous right claw toward Kael.
Time slowed for a heartbeat.
Kael ducked under, twisted.
Then plunged the dagger right into the beast's jugular.
~ SCHLK!
Blood sprayed, hot and red against the cold white floor.
The tiger snarled, reeling. Kael staggered back—his knees buckling.
Kael gave a little chuckle but then—
Pain flooded his body.
He'd overused the skill. His stamina was drained. Arms shaking.
Breath ragged.
He collapsed onto one knee.
> If that wasn't a finishing blow... then I'm a dead man.
He couldn't even finish the thought.
The tiger roared. It leapt.
Shadow eclipsed his body.
It was right in front of him.
Claw raised.
Kael closed his eyes.
> Guess this is it. At least I didn't die to goblins this time...
But then—
~ WHUMPH.
The tiger froze.
It twitched.
Convulsed.
Then it collapsed beside him.
A red glow enveloped its body.
[BOSS DEFEATED.]
[You have cleared: Frozen Maw - F Rank Dungeon.]
Kael stared.
Then laughed.
Then cried.
Tears streamed down his face, hot against the cold.
His body collapsed backwards, sprawled out on the frosty stone.
"I always told you I would conquer a dungeon solo..."
His voice cracked.
He crossed both his arms over his eyes.
"I did this for you, Bezel."
[Leveled up]
[You are now level 15].