Chapter 78 - Act Normal [2]
(Vael’s POV)
The next day, we couldn’t enter the dungeon after class because Cordelia and Crystal had an important meeting they needed to attend.
Cindy then decided that she would go home early to train with her sister, Ahri.
And Zion, he said he would train alone, trying to improve his swordsmanship even further.
He noticed during our dungeon diving that when fighting a group, some enemies would get close from his sides and behind him.
Cordelia would take care of them for him so it wasn’t really a problem, but he still wanted to improve to the point that he would do just fine even without a support.
Cindy on the other hand just wanted to improve her close combat skills, she didn’t want to rely on her ambushes anymore.
She knows that as we dive deeper in the dungeon and fight stronger monsters, there would be times where her ambushes would get blocked.
As for me... I decided to have a solo run in the dungeon again.
"Fuhhh~"
I’m near to leveling up, so killing a few more goblins on the first floor will do it for me.
I gripped the hilt of my silver blade, checking my equipment one last time before stepping down into the dimly lit, damp stone corridors of the first floor.
’Welp, this shouldn’t take long.’
I thought to myself, the cool air of the underground cavern washing over my skin.
’Since everyone is focusing on their own weaknesses today, I might as well polish my reaction speed while grinding out the remaining experience points.’
*****
Inside the dungeon...
The cavern was quiet, save for the faint dripping of water echoing against the mossy stone walls. The murky gloom extended down the winding pathway, but Vael’s eyes quickly adjusted to the low light.
He immediately entered a tunnel leading to a chamber full of goblins that he remembers from the game.
Though, before he could even get there—
TAP-
SWISH—!
A sharp screech pierced through the quiet cavern as a green-skinned goblin lunged out from the dark alcove, wielding a rusted dagger aimed directly at Vael’s chest!
"...?"
Vael didn’t flinch. With a subtle shift of his stance, he casually stepped to the side, letting the rusted tip scrape harmlessly against the empty air.
And before the creature could recover its balance, Verc’s silver dagger flashed like a crescent moon in the dim light.
SLASH!
The blade bit deep into the goblin’s neck, dropping it instantly into a silent, lifeless heap.
KIKIKIKI—!
GRRRRR—!
The sound of the brief scuffle echoed down the narrow tunnel, immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding pack. From behind nearby stalagmites and hidden crevices in the stone floor, nearly a dozen dark green figures emerged, their small, bloodshot eyes gleaming with pure malice.
In an instant, Vael found himself completely encircled.
It was a trap.
Eight goblins formed a tight ring around him, four holding crude wooden spears at the front, while the remaining four prepared to flank his blind spots from behind.
’Eight in total.’
Vael analyzed calmly, his mind remaining completely sharp despite the surrounding threat.
’A textbook surround tactic. Perfect for testing my ice coverage.’
-KIKIIII!
Two goblins from his blind spot leaped forward simultaneously, their rusty hatchets swinging toward his exposed back!
Without even turning his head around, Verc channeled a pulse of cold mana through his heels into the cavern floor!
CRACKLE—! FWOOSH!
A thick, jagged wall of solid ice erupted directly behind him!
TWHACK!
The twin hatchets slammed hard against the blue ice barrier with a dull sound, completely absorbing the impact and trapping the two attackers in place!
With his rear fully protected by the ice wall, Vael focused entirely on the enemies charging at his front.
FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!
His ice blade blurred into a series of lightning-fast thrusts! Each strike was terrifyingly precise, aiming directly for the exposed vital spots of the oncoming creatures.
THWACK! PLUNG! PHUCK!
The tip of his sword pierced through the throat of the first goblin, retracted in a fraction of a second, and drove cleanly through the eye socket of the second! Two bodies collapsed onto the wet stone before they could even finish their battle cries.
-GRRRR!
The third goblin rushed into melee range, swinging its crude iron shortsword in a desperate horizontal slash aimed at Vael’s waist.
TIIING!
Vael brought his silver dagger down, parrying the attack effortlessly. The metallic collision echoed through the cavern, knocking the creature’s weapon completely out of line.
Before the monster could recover its posture—
STAB!
"[Frost]"
Vael muttered that softly as he drove his rapier to the goblin’s chest!
SWAAAAAAH~
A wave of concentrated sub-zero mana flared through his weapon, instantly washing over the stunned goblin.
The intense cold flash-froze the creature’s entire upper torso, turning its flesh and organs into brittle, ice-covered stone within a second!
THUD! CRASH!
Vael kicked the frozen statue aside, causing it to shatter into tiny, glittering ice fragments upon hitting the floor.
Seeing three of their pack members wiped out in a matter of seconds, the remaining five goblins shrieked in anger and rushed forward all at once, attempting to overwhelm him with sheer numbers!
Vael’s blue eyes narrowed slightly.
’Time to end this.’
He slammed his foot onto the ground once more!
FWOOSH—CRACKLE!
A ring of dark frost spread rapidly across the stone floor, catching all five goblins completely off guard. Before they could leap away, the frost climbed up their legs, freezing their feet solid and anchoring them firmly to the cavern floor!
-KIKIIIII?!
The creatures thrashed frantically, trying to tear their frozen limbs free from the floor, but the ice held them completely immobilized.
Vael lowered his stance, channeling mana into the soles of his boots. Smooth, glass-like paths of pure ice extended from beneath his feet, creating a frictionless track that wound directly through the trapped line of monsters.
FWIISH—!
Vael glided seamlessly across the ice path at incredible speed!
His ice blade became a singular streak of brilliant light as he zipped past the frozen goblins, landing five consecutive, devastating thrusts through their throats!
P H U C K—!
Vael brought his momentum to a smooth halt several meters behind them, sliding across the frost before flicking the residual blood off his silver blade.
TAP.
He sheathed his sword with a clean, metallic click.
Behind him, all five goblins stiffened before collapsing onto the frozen floor in unison.
"Huuu..."
Vael exhaled a quiet trail of white mist, taking a slow breath as the ambient mana of the cavern settled back into place.
FWAAAAAHH~
Suddenly, a warm, subtle sensation surged from deep within his body, expanding rapidly through his blood vessels and limbs.
The lingering fatigue in his muscles vanished instantly, replaced by a fresh, refined wave of stamina and increased mana capacity.
He had broken through the threshold.
He leveled up!
A small, subtle smile appeared on Vael’s face as he felt the notable bump in his overall attributes.
’That was smooth. The ice path glide works much better in tight cavern spaces than I expected.’
He stretched his shoulders lightly, looking around at the quiet, ice-covered floor littered with dissolving monster remains.
’That’s enough grinding for today. I reached my goal, so I should head back before it gets too late.’
Vael turned on his heel, preparing to walk back toward the exit stairs leading to the surface world.
BUT JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE—
"?!"
Vael’s body froze naturally as his instincts flared with a sharp warning.
He felt a figure behind him!
It wasn’t the chaotic, wild presence of a low-tier goblin or a dungeon monster. It was a smooth, dense, and refined mana signature, moving with complete silence and composure.
It was getting close little by little.
Tap- Tap- Tap-
The faint sound of soft, steady footsteps echoed lightly against the wet stone floor.
Vael turned his head, his sharp eyes landing on the dark, unlit path leading down to the 2nd floor of the dungeon.
The shadows near the stone archway shifted, and not long after—TAP.
A figure finally came into sight, stepping gracefully out of the darkness and into the dim torchlight of the first floor.
"...!"
Vael’s eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight of the person standing before him.
It was a strikingly beautiful young woman who looked as though she had walked straight out of a high-class portrait.
She had long, silky pink hair that cascaded smoothly over her shoulders like woven cherry blossoms, framing a delicate, perfectly sculpted face with smooth, porcelain-white skin.
Her eyes were a breathtaking shade of vibrant pink, glowing faintly that seemed to pierce right through the surrounding gloom. She wore a pristine, custom-tailored academy uniform that accentuated her elegant posture and slender frame, completely untainted by the dirt or dampness of the underground dungeon.
Every small movement she made carried an air of effortless grace and noble poise, making her look entirely out of place in a monster-infested cavern.
Vael was genuinely surprised seeing this person.
’What is she doing here on the first floor...?’
Vael thought to himself, his mind recognizing her identity instantly.
She was one of the main heroines in the game—a star student belonging to the elite, renowned [Z-Class]!
Lilia Roselith!