After around half a day, they finally got through the second floor of the dungeon. It was really a good thing they managed to gain after many hard days.
All of them were sharing the same smile at this point. But still, the journey wasn't over yet. They had to beat the final boss of the third floor. Yes, every candidate held a strong trust that they would pass this challenge and reach the Academy, where they could become stronger and have more authority.
It would be like a dream if they could reach the boss's lair safely.
"Everyone, don't worry! Once we get through this forest, we'll see the cave, and the boss will end up with a corpse under our hands."
Wilbur gave the candidates a thumbs-up and a confident smile. His firm words helped everyone relax and feel reassured.
But Carl just clicked his tongue and frowned.
"Alright then. You seem like a decent guy… but I kinda want to caress that handsome face of yours with a punch."
Carl stepped aside, trying to hide himself deeper among the candidates. He didn't like standing out like some vanguard.
However, his action quickly caught Wilbur's attention.
Wilbur just smiled at Carl and walked back, closing the gap between them.
He said, "Let's have a talk."
Carl wrinkled his face for a while and grumbled:
"Don't try talking to me."
Wilbur let out a long sigh and smiled politely as usual. He looked around this place a few times, noticing everyone's tired state, before shouting to all the candidates:
"I think we should take a rest."
As if releasing exhaustion that had built up for hours, they dropped their packs and began to set up camp for a long night, before facing the final boss tomorrow when they made it through the forest in the north.
"It's so tasty! Why don't you become a cook? I believe you'd be a great one and maybe get a high position in some noble family. Then you'd live a warm, dreamy life."
A guy sat on the ground, chewing the roasted meat with satisfaction.
"I think so too. Your cooking talent's really good. What a waste if you don't use it for something better."
Another guy replied while smelling the meat's scent.
A girl clicked her tongue and grumbled at the boys' shallow opinions:
" Why say that to a gentleman like Wilbur? He's a perfect guy. Just his power alone is enough to crush you. I bet he'll be a strong and noble man in the future. So it'd be a waste if he ended up doing something small like you said."
"Right, Lord Wilbur?"
Yeah, a perfect boy like Wilbur always attracted those stupid girls—blind with admiration
Carl scoffed because those things were rather humorous to him. He was once the perfect guy, even the most handsome man in the world. None of the same generation could compare to him.
All the beautiful girls in the big families used to beg just to see him… but now, even a common girl didn't want to look at Carl.
"What a human," Carl spat bitterly, chewing on his chicken leg. He didn't even want to savor the meat cooked by that lizard. Who knows—maybe he had thrown something into it, like poison or even spit. Just thinking about it made Carl feel disgusted.
[System Notice]: Don't be sad. I will always be by your side, even if you are useless garbage.
"My wife… I'd be so happy even if you only said half of that sentence."
Carl wiped away a few tears, thinking about the hardest day of his life so far.
The day he was expelled from his own family? No.
The day his mana core was destroyed by his sister? No.
It was the day he realized everyone in the world didn't need his presence.
"How pathetic… when I once needed acknowledgment from someone just to exist."
Carl slightly shook his head, devoured the chicken leg, then stood up, preparing to find a patch of flat grass to sleep on.
Ting!
—--------------------------------------------------
[Side Quest]:
– 1:Clear your first dungeon.
.Reward: Dimensional Slash Skill
– 2: Escape from this place!
.Reward:?????
—--------------------------------------------------
"What the fuck?"
In shock, Carl scratched his head as he looked at the system screen that had just suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Escape from this place? Are there dangers here?"
Carl used his [Dragon Sense] skill to scan for even the slightest trace of strange creatures around, but he couldn't sense anything.
"Damn! If that's the case, and I can't use my skill, it means there's a creature capable of hiding its existence with some trick."
Carl dismissed the system screen and triggered all his skills.
[Dragonic Physical: Activated]
Carl drew his sword and stepped back a few meters, scanning the whole area—the edge of the forest from the center of the leveled ground.
The only thing he could hear now was the pounding of his heartbeat.
Such a high concentration. Then suddenly, a chill ran down his spine as he sensed an intruder lurking nearby.
Instinctively, Carl snapped his eyes toward the spot.
"There."
Fifty meters away, the other candidates were still gathered around the campfire, cheerful yet cautious.
From the shadow of one random guy, a minotaur slowly emerged beneath them.
With the form of a gigantic half-human, half-buffalo, it let out a hot breath right onto the unlucky man.
Without hesitation—just the madness of a monster unleashed—the minotaur swung its axe horizontally.
The man's fat body was smashed into a bubbling mess of blood and meat, splattering into the dirt.
In shock, the candidates stood frozen, not even understanding what had just happened. Just a moment ago, they'd been having a party, eating in a cheerful mood—yet now one of their comrades had been cut down by a monster from nowhere, as if sent by some dead god to slaughter them.
They quickly snapped out of their daze as the monster's roar echoed loudly, and more creatures began crawling out from the candidates' shadows.
At this moment, there was only screaming in terror and desperate howls, as if they had fallen into a great slaughter, while the minotaurs played the role of merciless butchers.