The descent to the fourth floor had taken less time than Kane expected.
With Elysia's radiant aura shielding them from sudden ambushes, and Reina's toys methodically crushing any straggler packs that dared cross their path, the group carved through the twisted dungeon passages like a blade through flesh. The air reeked of blood and iron, but there was no hesitation in their stride.
For the first time, every member of their makeshift warband moved with confidence born not from blind faith, but from growth. They were stronger, faster, sharper. Every clash, every kill had honed them.
Still, nothing in the dungeon came without cost.
The cavern widened abruptly, the ceiling arching into jagged stalactites. Torches guttered along the stone walls, unnatural flames that burned blue. At the center of this unnatural hall, a war-drum beat, low and steady.
And then they saw it.
A goblin rider, perched atop a massive wolf with mottled gray fur. His eyes gleamed yellow with cruel intelligence. Armor of scavenged steel clattered as he raised a jagged spear, and four figures moved into place beside him—two goblin warriors with hooked blades, and two wolves with saliva dripping from their maws.
[Boss Encounter – Floor 3]
Goblin Rider (Level 16)
Minions: Goblin Bladehand ×2 (Level 14), Wolf Fangmaw ×2 (Level 14)
Kane's eyes narrowed.
"That's strange…" he muttered.
Maya tilted her head, blades ready. "Strange how?"
"The levels," Kane replied, gaze fixed on the boss. "They're the same as us—or even lower for the minions. But don't let that fool you."
Elysia stepped forward, her spear glinting with moonlight. "Meaning?"
"They've got numbers, speed, and dirty tricks. Goblins always fight smarter than their size suggests. Wolves too. And this one—" Kane's eyes hardened as the rider's wolf snapped its jaws, "—combines them both. That means formation warfare, not just a brute clash."
The goblin rider let out a shrill cry, echoed by the snarling of wolves and the beat of drums.
The dungeon chamber vibrated with tension.
Kane raised his axe, his voice carrying command and iron.
"Positions. This won't be a straightforward fight."
The warband readied themselves. The next battle would not be won by strength alone, but by wits and unity.
And in Kane's mind, one thought repeated like a drumbeat:
Even equals can kill you—if you underestimate them.
"Orders are simple!" Kane barked, his axe flashing as he pointed to each flank.
"Rabbit, Robot—take the wolves. Don't let them circle back on us!"
The towering rabbit gave a deep, bestial growl as its claws dug into the stone, while the robot thumped its shield against its chest with metallic defiance. Both surged forward, intercepting the snapping wolves before they could flank.
"Maya, Lena—cut down those goblin trash!" Kane's voice carried like steel.
Maya darted low, blades gleaming, while Lena's spear thrust with precise, practiced strikes. The two goblins screeched as they rushed forward, but they met not prey, but predators.
"And the rest of you," Kane's eyes locked onto the mounted figure, "with me. The rider dies here."
The Goblin Rider shrieked, its wolf mount lunging in unison. The jagged spear thrust with unnerving speed, forcing Kane to parry with the haft of his axe. Sparks flew, the sheer force rattling up his arms.
"Hold formation!" Kane roared, his [Warlord's Command] flaring through the party. Strength surged in their limbs, precision sharpened in their strikes. The rider snarled in frustration as the advantage of coordination shifted to Kane's side.
Behind him, the mage unleashed a volley of crackling flame, forcing the rider's wolf to rear back. The twins followed, their fresh mana control surging as streams of frost licked at the wolf's paws, slowing its movements.
The goblin rider screamed in its guttural tongue, slashing out wildly, but for every strike he made, three retaliated. Kane's axe, the mage's fire, the twins' frost—all hammered into him, driving the beast back step by step.
On the flanks—The rabbit leapt, claws slashing in midair, tearing into a wolf's flank with the new ability it had awakened. The wolf yelped, staggered, and the robot smashed its shield down with bone-shattering force. The other wolf tried to retreat, but the rabbit landed again, a blur of agility, finishing the job.
Meanwhile, Lena and Maya fought like a storm. One goblin fell to a clean thrust through the throat, the other cut down as Maya danced behind him, blades carving through tendon and flesh.
It all came down to the rider.
"NOW!" Kane bellowed, his axe glowing faintly with the edge of [Warlord's Execution]. He swung upward in a brutal arc. The goblin rider shrieked, but the slowing frost kept him pinned, and the strike cleaved through armor, flesh, and bone.
The wolf toppled first, its chest split open from the mage's fireball. The rider fell last, impaled through the ground, his scream cut off as the cavern went silent.
The warband stood, panting.
[Boss Defeated – Goblin Rider]
Distribution of Rewards Initiated…
The system chimed, one by one:
Experience gained: +2 Levels.
Coins gained: 2,500 per participant.
Loot Acquired:Goblin Rider's Warbanner (Rare Blueprint) – Can be converted into a fortification banner to bolster morale and fighting strength.
Loot Acquired:Wolf Fang Necklace (Uncommon Equipment) – Grants wearer +5 Agility, +3 Endurance.
And then—
Achievement Bonus: "Commander's Trial" – Successfully defeated a mounted creature with active coordination.
Reward: +1 Skill Point for each participant.
Kane exhaled, shoulders lowering. His team had performed better than he could've hoped—clean execution, minimal injury. The warband was becoming sharper, deadlier, evolving into something far more than just survivors.
But even as relief flickered, his mind sharpened again.
Four floors cleared. Stronger foes ahead. And Something still waiting, somewhere deeper.
The dungeon wasn't done testing them yet.
The cavern quieted as the Goblin Rider's body crumpled into dust, leaving only the faint shimmer of loot and the glowing message windows before the party's eyes.
Everyone stood in a haze of heavy breaths, relief, and satisfaction. The wolves were gone, the goblin minions slain, and the monstrous rider's shrieks silenced.
[You have leveled up – Level 21 achieved!]
Kane blinked as the notification pulsed across his vision. A grin tugged at his lips—finally.
"Level twenty-one…" he muttered under his breath. His eyes flicked across the group. Elysia gently adjusted Reina, still asleep in her arms, her soft breaths steady. The girl's aura pulsed faintly, her experience climbing even in slumber. She was nearly level twenty-five, and Kane knew it was only a matter of time before she surpassed even him in raw growth.
The rest of the party—Maya, Lena, the mage, even Rabbit and Robot—had broken through to level twenty-two. Their smiles and excitement spoke volumes. Victories were beginning to snowball.
But for Kane, growth meant more than numbers. He pulled up his stat screen.
Kane's Stat Growth
Previous Stats (Level 19):
Strength: 106
Agility: 93
Endurance: 104
Perception: 83
Intelligence: 82
Level 20 Natural & Profession Growth (+2 to all each):
Strength: +4
Agility: +4
Endurance: +4
Perception: +4
Intelligence: +4
Updated (Level 20):
Strength: 110
Agility: 97
Endurance: 108
Perception: 87
Intelligence: 86
Level 21 Natural & Profession Growth (+3 Nat / +2 Prof = +5 to all):
Strength: +5
Agility: +5
Endurance: +5
Perception: +5
Intelligence: +5
Total after Passive Growth:
Strength: 115
Agility: 102
Endurance: 113
Perception: 92
Intelligence: 91
Now came the free stat points.
From the level 20, Kane had 9 free points unspent. From level 21, he gained 11 more.
Total: 20 Free Stat Points available.
He rolled the thought over in his mind, considering balance versus specialization. The battle with the rider showed him that speed and awareness were just as critical as brute strength.
After careful allocation, his stats surged.
Kane's Final Stats (Level 21):
Strength: 120
Agility: 107
Endurance: 118
Perception: 97
Intelligence: 93
The power rushing through his body was undeniable. His muscles thrummed with force, reflexes sharpened like drawn steel. Even his endurance felt near unbreakable, like his body itself was hardening into living armor.
A new prompt flickered.
[Skill Points Available: 2]
– 1 from Level 20
– 1 from Achievement: "Commander's Trial"
Kane didn't hesitate.
[Warlord's Command] upgraded to Tier 2.
[Warlord's Wrath] upgraded to Tier 2.
The effect was immediate. Warlord's Command pulsed deeper, the aura of authority reaching wider, surging stronger through allies. Warlord's Wrath crackled within him, an even deadlier execution strike awaiting his call.
Elysia, noticing the faint glow fading from Kane's body, tilted her head. "You've pushed through again, haven't you?" she asked softly, a proud smile curving her lips.
Kane only nodded, gaze drifting toward Reina's sleeping face. Her innocent expression tugged at something deep in his chest. She was climbing so fast, but her childishness was untouched by the blood and battles raging around them.
If she really thinks Elysia is her mother, Kane thought bitterly, then I'll make damn sure she grows up in a world where she can keep believing in such warmth.
Around him, the others were also allocating their new points, testing small sparks of new power as they unlocked fresh skills. Their morale burned like fire—alive, eager, unbroken.
The loot shimmered nearby, waiting for collection. But Kane already knew—this was just the prelude.
The fifth floor awaited.
And it wouldn't show mercy.