[231 of 632 candidates are currently taking the first trial on the second floor, Goblin Labyrinth.]
"231… That proves that this floor is the largest among the tutorial floors."
Sorath dismissed the window interface with a sweep of his hand. Lowering his torch to the ground, he spotted a rusty short sword, once the weapon of a goblin.
"It's better than nothing."
He retrieved it from the ground and tried a few practice swings. Satisfied with the grip, he held onto it tightly. It was his only means to attack and defend. There was no way in the world he would let it slip from his grasp.
"Trial Progress."
He uttered another magic word to summon the so-called Tower System that had been helping the awakened ones.
[Sorath Shedever, you haven't completed a single trial. You are currently taking the first trial. To progress to the next trial, you must clear the previous one.]
[The requirement to clear the first trial is to eliminate 100 goblins. Current progress: 1/100]
"100 goblins…"
Sorath fell in thought.
He was thinking about the treasure hidden on the second floor. He had memorized the route to find the hidden treasure through reading the novel.
So, why was he hesitating? Why not just go and claim it?
It was because the novel was narrated from the protagonist's viewpoint. Unless he was transported to the same starting spot as the protagonist, locating the treasure wouldn't be as easy as ripping paper.
Sorath considered his options.
The first option was to pinpoint his location first. He needed to know where he was, and if possible, look for a place that bore a familiarity with what he had memorized.
The second option involved hunting a goblin bearing a star-shaped mark somewhere on its body. He wasn't entirely certain about this, but if his hunch was correct, he could gather the map pieces and put them together to create a map of Goblin Labyrinth. That way, it would be easier to locate the treasure.
But, regardless of the plan he chose, he needed to act quickly before the protagonist, Julian, beat him to hit.
Ultimately, Sorath resolved to implement both plans simultaneously. He would move with haste to pinpoint his location and scout for a familiar place. And at the same time, he would kill a goblin with the distinctive star mark if he ever came across them.
With that in mind, Sorath pressed on with his exploration of the labyrinth.
It was fortunate that he trained in stamina and agility. Other than moving swiftly, he was able to maintain his sprint for a long time. Every 15 minutes or so, he would take a short break before sprinting again.
When thirst struck, he quenched it by drinking water dripped from stalactites in a narrow, dead-end passage. To be more precise, he drank from the pool of water that had collected beneath.
During his exploration, he came across several goblins. He ignored those that didn't have a star mark, only focusing on the ones that had it, and successfully collecting 23 map pieces from them.
Finally, after four hours, Sorath stumbled upon a place he had been searching for.
It was, by far, the largest and most variative environment he had seen in this cave, a stark contrast to the labyrinth-like cave with numerous interconnected tunnels he had traversed thus far.
"Woah…"
Upon witnessing this place, his mind desynced with his body. His body wanted to keep moving, but his mind insisted on staying for a short break. Letting out a long breath, Sorath allowed himself to recover from exhaustion.
"Well… a little rest won't hurt."
Sorath perched at the tunnel's edge, legs swinging freely. The rough floor beneath him was cool and reassuring, contrasting with the dizzying drop below.
"And," he searched his pocket. "Even if I lose to that trash here, I still have this."
Clutching a scroll in his hand, Sorath observed the multitude of lines, giving the impression that it was constructed from several pieces of paper affixed together with glue or tape.
With a satisfied smile, he unfurled the scroll.
It revealed a map intricately assembled from the 24 smaller pieces he had collected from the goblins with a star mark. And the first thing that caught his attention was the handwriting at the top, spelling out "Velniz Temple."
"Velniz Temple… the name of the third floor," he murmured to himself.
This one was… one thing he never expected. A new variable that wasn't told in the novel nor the past lives.
With that map in his possession, searching for a hidden treasure on the third floor would be easy. Also, it didn't matter if he ended up losing the treasure on the second floor because one on the third floor was more valuable.
A treasure that even Julian, the protagonist, could not find even after his regression in the remake story.
Sorath relaxed his body, eyes wandering, taking in the sight of the cave.
From where Sorath was sitting, he could see the expanse of the cave's interior. The ceiling stretched far above, adorned with an extravagant display of stalactites, some thin as needles, others resembling colossal icicles.
The walls, once a series of narrow, winding passages, now expanded into a vast expanse of textured stone. Veins of gleaming minerals traced intricate patterns across the surface below.
A thought surfaced in his mind after seeing this place.
"It's a shame that we can't hold control over the tutorial floors. This place is just rich in resources that will help with the development in Havenlock and the other habitable floors."
Gazing down, Sorath spotted a stream tens of meters surrounding the surface below.
'This the only way to get down there and continue the treasure hunt.'
Sorath's heart beat fast as he stood up. He took a deep breath, steadying himself for the descent. With a calculated leap, he plunged into the crystalline water, its cool embrace enveloping him.
The water was clear, allowing Sorath to see the rocky bed below. He kicked his legs and propelled himself towards the surface. As he stood on the flat, solid ground, he took in a sharp breath, feeling the cool air against his wet skin.
"Cough! Cough! I thought I was gonna die."
Now, he was standing on the bottom surface of the expansive cave, a mere ant in comparison to its size.
A swift equipment check confirmed all was in order — the rusty short sword, the independent torch, and the map of the third floor were perfectly secured.
After a moment of contemplation regarding which route would lead him to the hidden treasure, he began to sprint.
And so, the race continued.