"Huff… huff…"
Sweat rolled down Aariz's face as he leaned against the cold dungeon wall.
"I've only killed three… and I'm already this tired…"
Another goblin lunged at him from the side.
Clang!
Aariz barely blocked with his sword. The impact pushed him back several steps.
"Damn it!"
He steadied himself and slashed downward.
The goblin screamed before collapsing.
[Level Up!]
A warm energy spread through his body.
All the injuries on his arms and legs healed instantly. The burning pain vanished. His fatigue disappeared.
Aariz's eyes widened.
"…This is the best feeling in the world."
Replica's calm voice echoed inside his mind.
"You are now Level 3. All nearby minor enemies have been cleared. Only the boss chamber remains."
Aariz wiped the blood from his blade.
"Then let's finish what we started."
Inside the Boss Room
The large wooden door creaked open.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The room was wider… darker… heavier.
Three figures stood inside.
Replica spoke.
"Information update: This dungeon contains one Boss and two Elite Guards."
Aariz narrowed his eyes.
"In front — Goblin Chief. Behind him — two Goblin Knights."
The two knights wore crude iron armor and held long swords.
The Goblin Chief sat on a stone throne, holding a massive axe.
Replica warned him.
"You cannot fight all three at once."
Aariz stepped forward anyway.
"No."
His grip tightened on his sword.
"I will fight."
The Goblin Knights moved first.
One attacked from the front.
Clang!
Aariz blocked.
The second knight moved behind him—
Slash!
A blade cut across his back.
"Ghh—!"
He stumbled forward.
[HP: 58%]
Blood dripped down his side.
"Damn it… I can't fight two at the same time…"
The Goblin Chief laughed from his throne.
Aariz gritted his teeth.
"Is this… really the end?"
Suddenly—
[Reminder: You have unused Stat Points.]
Replica spoke calmly.
"You gained stat points upon leveling up. Use them."
Aariz's eyes widened.
"That's right…"
A blue screen appeared before him.
Name: AarizLevel: 3
Strength: 20Agility: 27Stamina: 29Mana: 28
Available Stat Points: 10
Aariz didn't hesitate.
"All stat points into Strength."
[Stat Distribution Complete.]
The numbers changed.
Strength: 30Agility: 37Stamina: 29Mana: 28
A surge of power exploded through his muscles.
Veins tightened.
His grip on the sword felt lighter.
The world slowed.
The Goblin Knight attacked again—
But this time—
Aariz moved first.
The Counterattack
He stepped inside the knight's guard.
Slash!
The blade cut clean through armor.
The knight's body split.
One down.
The second knight roared and swung wildly.
Aariz ducked.
His speed felt unreal.
He drove his sword upward.
Pierce.
The knight collapsed.
Two down.
The Goblin Chief finally stood up.
The dungeon trembled as it stepped forward.
"You… little insect…"
It swung its massive axe.
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
Aariz jumped back, barely avoiding the strike.
Even with his new strength, the boss pressure was overwhelming.
Replica spoke.
"Focus. His attack speed is low. Exploit openings."
The Chief swung again.
Aariz dashed to the side.
He attacked the boss's leg—
Clang!
The skin was tougher than the knights'.
The Chief backhanded him.
CRASH!
Aariz slammed into the wall.
[HP: 41%]
Blood filled his mouth.
But he stood up.
This time…
He smiled.
"So this is a real fight."
The boss charged again.
Aariz waited.
Waited.
Waited—
At the last second, he slid under the axe swing.
He poured every ounce of his 30 Strength into one single strike.
"Die."
Slash.
The blade cut deep into the boss's abdomen.
The Goblin Chief roared in pain.
Aariz didn't stop.
He twisted the sword.
And with one final upward swing—
He severed the monster's head.
Silence.
Then—
[Boss Defeated.][Level Up!][Dungeon Clear!]
Golden light filled the chamber.
A chest appeared.
Aariz stood there, breathing heavily.
Covered in blood.
But smiling.
Replica's voice sounded softer.
"You survived."
Aariz looked at his trembling hands.
"No."
He corrected her.
"I won."
For the first time…
He didn't look like the weakest hunter anymore.
He looked like someone who could climb higher.
Much higher.
And somewhere far away…
A dark presence watched silently.
And smiled.