Alister and the small group of raiders stood at the edge of the dungeon portal, its swirling, blue glow was very different when compared to the fading light of the evening.
Amelia Rose was by his side, her calm demeanor sliently assured him. The others—two young men and a woman—had already introduced themselves: Erik, a lanky swordsman with a nervous demeanor; Lila, a cheerful healer with a quiet but excited look on her face; and Jarek, a bulky warrior who seemed to be the unofficial leader of their makeshift team.
As they stepped into the portal, a cold shiver ran down Alister's spine, the sensation of being transported to another realm felt alien to him. The world around them blurred and shifted, and then they found themselves standing at the mouth of a dark, damp cavern.
The air was thick with the musty scent of earth and decay, and the distant echoes of dripping water added to the chilling atmosphere.
A blue system announcement appeared before their eyes, its text glowing softly in the dim light:
「Dungeon: Goblin Cave
Objective: Clear the dungeon by eliminating the Goblin King and his minions.
Rank: F Rank
Time Limit: 8 hours」
Along with the blue system window, the yellow one seen by only Alister appeared before his eyes with a message:
[Notice to the player! The player has stepped into a dungeon with a constantly increasing mana frequency.]
[Meaning the dungeon's rank will continue to increase depending on how long it takes before it is cleared.]
[The player has been advised to proceed with caution!]
'The dungeon's rank will continue to increase? What is the system talking about?' a hint of panic creeped into Alister's thoughts. 'Is the system responsible for this? First the death penalty, now a dungeon with an increasing rank… is it really trying to kill me?'
Jarek nodded at the blue system window announcement, gripping his battle axe tightly. "Alright, team," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Stay sharp. These caves can be tricky, and goblins are known for their traps. Stick together, watch each other's backs, and we'll get through this."
Amelia adjusted the straps of her armor, her eyes looking around the cavern entrance. She extended her hand, conjuring a small flame that flickered above her palm, illuminating the dark path ahead. "Remember, goblins may be small, but they're cunning. Expect ambushes so don't let your guard down."
Erik shifted on his feet, looking around nervously. "I've got the front," he said, his voice emanating his anxiety. "I'll try to spot any traps before we stumble into them."
Lila gave a small nod, holding her staff close. "I'll stay in the middle," she offered. "I can heal any injuries if things get rough."
Alister tightened his grip on his dagger, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the darkness. 'Stay focused,' he told himself. 'This is just the beginning. I need to complete the quest here.' He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the time limit pressing on him. The system's warning about rank increase lingered in his mind, a reminder that danger could escalate at any moment.
As they moved deeper into the cave, the light from the entrance faded. Amelia's flame provided a steady glow, and Erik took out a torch, lighting it to help guide their way. The air grew colder, and the sound of their footsteps echoed in the narrow passageways.
It wasn't long before they encountered their first challenge. A group of goblins, their beady eyes glinting in the dim light, emerged from the shadows ahead. They were armed with crude weapons—rusty swords and makeshift clubs—yet their malicious grins and hunched clearly meant they were ready for a fight.
Jarek stepped forward, his axe at the ready. "Here we go," he muttered, his muscles tensing for the fight. With a mighty swing, his axe cleaved through the first goblin, the devastating blow sending the creature flying into the cave wall. His talent for immense physical strength made him a formidable force on the battlefield.
Amelia stood back, focusing her mana. She thrust her hand forward, sending a stream of flames towards the goblins. Incinerating several goblins at once, their screams echoing through the cavern.
The goblins let out a series of guttural snarls and charged. Alister darted to the side, his dagger slicing through the air as he targeted the nearest goblin. The creature screeched in pain and fury as he stabbed it through its abdomen, its greenish blood splattering the cavern floor.
Alister heard the system's voice again.
[Level up!]
Erik, despite being nervous earlier, moved as quickly as he could, his sword flashing as he deflected the goblins' attacks. "Watch out for the one on your left, Jarek!" he shouted.
Lila stood her ground, holding her staff ready to heal. "Hold on, Erik!" she called, casting a healing spell on him as he took a hit from a goblin trying to flank him. Her talent for healing was crucial, keeping the team in fighting shape.
Amelia continued her barrage of flame attacks, keeping the goblins at bay. "Keep pushing forward!" she commanded, "We need to clear them out quickly."
As they fought, Alister felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. 'What was that just now… did I get stronger?' he questioned as he stood and gazed at his hand then flexed his wrist, feeling the increased strength inside them. He felt stronger and refreshed, all the fatigue from the day felt like it all just disappeared. 'Is it an effect of the system? I heard it say 'level up' just now.'
Before Alister could wrap his head around what he just experienced, he noticed another goblin approaching him from the corner of his eye, charging in for an attack with its rusty dagger.
Alister sidestepped to the left, as the goblin's dagger sliced through the air as it swung it.
Being the combat genius he was, he instantly counterd, following up with a side thrust of his dagger to the goblin's side.
The creature screeched in pain and fury as he landed a blow, its greenish blood splattering the cavern floor. He pulled out his dagger to counter again, as he did he noticed a slight increase in his speed and skill.