The Hargrave Forest had become a familiar yet enigmatic place for Noah. His repeated ventures, battles, and experiences had prepared him for the dangers it held. But today was different. Today, he had only one goal: to find the hidden dungeon that housed the magic gem capable of purifying his mana.
Noah prepared himself meticulously. His father's shop had become a treasure trove of knowledge, especially regarding weapons and runes. He equipped himself with a set of throwing daggers, their edges sharpened to perfection, and a short sword—practical and reliable. For safety, he wore light leather armor, something he had bought with the allowance he earned by helping his father.
The sun was just beginning to rise as Noah entered the forest, its dim light casting long shadows across the dense undergrowth.
This time, Noah moved with purpose, venturing into the inner parts of the forest where middle-tier monsters roamed. The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, the air heavy with the taint of corrupt mana. He sharpened his senses, using his psychokinesis to feel the subtle vibrations of life around him.
He avoided unnecessary battles, slipping past lone wolves and small groups of monsters. His focus was on finding the dungeon. The novel described it as hidden within a dense part of the forest, concealed by an ancient tree whose roots formed an arch over its entrance.
Hours passed as he searched, the forest growing darker and more foreboding. Finally, his senses picked up something unusual—a faint, pulsing energy emanating from a specific direction. Following the trail, he found himself standing before a massive, gnarled tree. Its roots twisted and curled, forming a natural archway that led into darkness.
"This must be it," Noah murmured, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through him.
The air inside the dungeon was cold and damp. The narrow passageway was dimly lit by bioluminescent moss growing along the walls, casting an eerie green glow. The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern. Noah tightened his grip on his short sword, his other hand ready to summon his psychokinetic powers at a moment's notice.
The first room he entered was empty save for a few broken crates and scattered bones. He moved cautiously, aware that the real danger lay ahead.
As he advanced deeper into the dungeon, the first wave of monsters appeared—a group of goblins. They snarled and charged at him, crude weapons raised.
Noah reacted instantly. With a flick of his hand, two daggers flew through the air, striking the nearest goblins in their chests. The remaining goblins hesitated, giving Noah the opening he needed to close the distance. He dispatched them with swift, calculated strikes of his sword, their bodies crumpling to the ground.
"This isn't so bad," he muttered, though he knew the challenges would only increase.
The Dungeon's Threats
The next room presented a larger group of goblins, led by a hobgoblin. Unlike its smaller counterparts, the hobgoblin was taller and more muscular, wielding a spiked club.
The goblins charged as the hobgoblin roared, its voice echoing through the chamber. Noah took a deep breath, focusing his psychokinesis on the daggers strapped to his belt. They floated into the air, poised to strike.
The daggers shot forward, taking out two goblins instantly. Noah ducked under a swing from another goblin, slicing its legs before finishing it off with a quick stab.
The hobgoblin, seeing its subordinates fall, roared in fury and charged. Its movements were slower than the goblins but far more deliberate. Noah dodged its swing, the club smashing into the ground where he had stood moments before.
Using his psychokinesis, he sent a dagger toward the hobgoblin's neck. The creature raised its club to block, but Noah had anticipated this. He redirected the dagger mid-flight, striking the hobgoblin in the side. It stumbled, giving Noah the opportunity to deliver the finishing blow.
After defeating the hobgoblin, Noah pressed on. The air grew heavier, the pulsing energy he had felt earlier growing stronger. He entered a large chamber
The air in the final chamber was suffocating, thick with the aura of corrupt mana. Noah stepped forward cautiously, his short sword in one hand and daggers floating at his side, controlled by the precision of his psychokinesis. At the center of the room stood the dungeon's boss—a goblin shaman.
The creature was hunched, its bony frame draped in dark, tattered robes that swayed with an unnatural energy. In its clawed hand, it held a gnarled staff adorned with glowing red runes. The shaman's yellow eyes locked onto Noah, glowing with malice and intelligence that far surpassed its lesser kin.
The goblin shaman raised its staff and let out a guttural chant. Immediately, the runes on the staff flared to life, and a fiery orb began to form at its tip.
The fireball shot toward Noah with blistering speed. He reacted instinctively, propelling himself into the air with his psychokinetic ability. The fireball exploded against the stone wall behind him, sending shards of heated rock flying.
"So you can use fire magic," Noah muttered, his heart racing. "This won't be easy."
He flung one of his daggers toward the shaman, but the creature raised its staff and summoned a translucent barrier. The dagger bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground.
Before Noah could plan his next move, the shaman began another chant. This time, the runes on the staff glowed green. From the shadows, two hobgoblins and three goblins emerged, their bodies trembling as a greenish aura surrounded them. The shaman had enhanced their strength and speed.
The goblins charged at Noah, their movements unnaturally fast. He dodged to the side, spinning in midair as he launched his floating daggers. Two goblins fell instantly, the blades piercing their throats.
The hobgoblins were a different matter. Larger and more robust than the goblins, they coordinated their attacks, swinging their massive clubs with surprising agility.
Noah landed on the ground, narrowly avoiding a club that smashed into the floor where he had been. The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber, cracking the stone.
He countered by lifting the broken chunks of rock with his psychokinesis and hurling them at the hobgoblins. One stumbled back, momentarily dazed, but the other pressed forward.
As Noah fought off the hobgoblins, the shaman took advantage of the chaos. It pointed its staff at the injured hobgoblin, chanting once more. A golden light enveloped the creature, and its wounds began to heal.
"Tch, healing magic too?" Noah muttered.
The shaman's staff glowed red again, and another fireball streaked toward him. This time, Noah used one of the goblins as a shield, pulling its lifeless body in front of him with his psychokinesis. The fireball incinerated the goblin's corpse, giving Noah a moment to reposition.
He soared into the air, flipping over the hobgoblins, and sent his daggers flying toward the shaman. The creature raised its barrier again, but Noah was prepared. He directed one of the daggers to loop around, striking the shaman from behind. The blade grazed its shoulder, causing it to shriek in pain.
Turning the Tide
The shaman's chant changed, its tone darker and more frantic. A pulse of dark energy spread through the room, invigorating the remaining hobgoblin and goblin. They roared, their attacks becoming more ferocious.
Noah gritted his teeth. "This isn't just brute force; it's strategy."
He focused his psychokinetic power on one of the hobgoblins, lifting it off the ground. The creature thrashed wildly, its club falling from its grasp. Noah slammed it into the remaining goblin, knocking them both to the ground. With a swift motion, he sent a dagger plunging into their chests, ending their enhanced lives.
Now only the shaman and one hobgoblin remained.
The shaman let out a deafening screech, its staff glowing brighter than ever. The hobgoblin charged at Noah, its movements erratic but dangerous.
Noah engaged the hobgoblin directly, using his sword to block its strikes. Each swing of the hobgoblin's club was powerful enough to crack the stone floor, but Noah's agility and psychokinetic boosts kept him a step ahead. He parried a downward swing, then slashed across the hobgoblin's chest. The creature faltered, and Noah finished it with a stab to the heart.
Before he could catch his breath, the shaman unleashed a torrent of fireballs. Noah dodged them midair, zigzagging to avoid the blasts. The shaman chanted again, this time summoning a barrier and healing its wounds simultaneously.
Noah realized he needed to disrupt the shaman's rhythm. He propelled himself toward the creature, closing the gap in seconds. The shaman swung its staff wildly, releasing bursts of raw energy. Noah deflected them with his sword, the blade glowing faintly from the absorbed mana.
Using his psychokinesis, he lifted a fallen hobgoblin's club and sent it hurtling toward the shaman. The creature's barrier blocked the first strike but shattered under the force of the second.
With the barrier down, Noah seized his chance. He sent both his daggers flying, one aimed at the shaman's staff and the other at its chest. The first dagger struck true, snapping the staff in half and cutting off the shaman's magic. The second pierced its chest, and the creature let out a final, anguished cry before collapsing.
Noah landed on the ground, breathing heavily. The chamber was silent now, the oppressive aura fading with the shaman's death.
"That was tougher than I expected," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
He looked around the chamber, his eyes falling on the now-exposed treasure vault. A faint glow emanated from within, promising rewards for his hard-fought victory.