While Lean had left the center, and gotten to the inn, he prepared himself to take a shower. At this time it was already dark. It was a very long day for him. From dying, to up waking in a cave, fighting monsters, and then the registration. It was like he lived two days at once.
Sigh'
Lean took off his clothes, tied a towel around his waist—one that was already provided in the room—and then entered the bathing room.
Staring at the mirror, he saw a handsome young man with dark hair and grey eyes, about 6'2 tall, not too muscular, but had just the right fit a normal teenage boy would have.
"Wow— So this is what I actually look like—not too shabby. I wouldn't expect to be this handsome. Unlike how I was in back in my previous life."
Lean admired his new body for a while then took a shower before leaving the bathroom.
..
The next day, Lean prepared to raid a dungeon so he could earn more experience and also increase his level. Because among the three stages of the examinations, there was the final and most difficult, The Combat stage.
This stage involves two individuals facing themselves, they were to use any means at their disposal to take down their opponents, without worrying about actually killing them.
"All right!… I am all set!" he proclaimed. As he set out for his raid.
In this world, there were many ways of earning a living. Most people who weren't confident enough about their strength go into financial business, while those who were more confident about their magic powers go to raid dungeons.
Dungeons are strange hidden caves that appear everywhere in the kingdom. Within these dungeons Magical creatures are found inside, along with magic material such as magical Crystals and magical herbs.
These creatures were different from the Fallens. The Fallens possessed intelligence just like humans while these other creatures don't, they are just like a normal animals with no sense of direction.
Although they both have one thing in common, Destruction.
..
At this time, because of the influence one will get after they are accepted into the academy, many people gather at different dungeons so they can increase their strengths.
While Lean arrived at a particular hidden dungeon, which had no one around it. As someone who had read the novel multiple times, he knew where all dungeons were located, especially the hidden ones. This hidden dungeon had more powerful magic beasts, which was the reasons he chose it.
"Now… it's time to level up."
Lean entered the dungeon, it was pitch black as a typical dungeon would be. No sound except the dripping water from the top.
"God's Eye Active!" Lean proclaimed.
[Notice!]
[Unique Skill: God's Eye had been activated!]
Lean then walked into the dungeon carefully, because he didn't know when a monster would pop out.
After a few minutes of walking through the dungeon, he started hearing strange noises. There were not the sound of a normal beast, instead it sounded more like an insect. While he was careful not to make a single noise, the sound became closer.
"This noise, insect huh."
"If I remember correctly back when I read the novel, dungeons with insect monsters weren't always on the ground, they were… above!"
Lean exclaimed as he flipped backwards to avoid the insects as they landed on the ground.
[Notice!]
[Venomous Spider encountered!]
[Total number 23/23]
[Defeat all monsters!]
"Spider, huh? Well, this will be fun," he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. Without hesitation, he charged toward the writhing mass of spiders, as his fang dagger materialized on his hand.
The spiders skittered towards him, their legs a blur as they closed the distance. He braced himself, the dagger ready, its serrated edge poised to slice through chitin.
One lunged at him, fangs dripping with venom, but he swung his dagger in a swift arc, deflecting its attack with a sharp clang.
Another spider darted from the side. He twisted, using the momentum to drive the dagger into its body, feeling the crunch as it pierced through.
Black ichor splattered, and he pulled the blade free just in time to deflect a strike from another spider, its claws slashing the air inches from his face.
Each movement was a dance, a brutal ballet of steel against venom. The spiders seemed endless, but he pressed on, every strike pushing him closer to victory.
_
After what felt like an eternity of slashing and dodging, he finally stood over the lifeless bodies of the spiders, his chest heaving with each breath. Black ichor dripped from his dagger, pooling around his feet. However, Lean knew better than to let his guard down.
[Notice!]
[Venomous Spider defeated! 23/23]
[You Leveled Up!]
"Just a single level up? Well I guess these monsters weren't worth much."
This was no ordinary dungeon. The first monsters were always the minor threats, mere shadows of the real danger lurking in the depths.
Lean brushed off the remnants of the fight, his expression steady and unshaken. He had expected the spiders to be weak, but he knew there was worse to come.
Without a second thought, he gripped his dagger tighter and stepped deeper into the darkness, ready to face whatever waited for him deeper.
After getting much deeper, he encountered a giant spider.
[Notice!]
[Urgent Quest Available!]
[Shelob - Mother of spiders encountered]
[Defeat the monster!]
[Monster Slayed: 0/1]
[Reward: 5000 points, plus extra drop from the monster]
[Failure to defeat the Monster: Well, you will die!]
"Mother of Spiders?" Lean's eyes narrowed, as he looked at the unexpected creature before him. It was an immense, nightmarish creature with a bulbous body covered in rough, armored plating. Its eight spindly legs stretched out in all directions, each ending in a sharp, claw-like point.
The creature's fangs were long and curved, dripping with venom as they jutted out from a grotesque, mandible-filled mouth. Eight eyes, dark and menacing, glistened with a predatory gleam, focused intently on its prey.
Jagged spines lined its back, and the creature exuded an aura of ancient, malevolent power, as if it had been waiting in the shadows for centuries to strike.
He was shocked at the sudden appearance of such creatures, he hadn't remembered reading about this creature in the novel. How was that possible? Perhaps this world held secrets even he hadn't anticipated. But questions would have to wait as the monster made its first strike.
Lean instantly dodged the attack, which carried a heavy blow. This was no mere monster—its size was immense. Although he was not surprised, he knew there were even more creatures like this in this world."
"Invincible Body Armor Active!" he exclaimed.
[Notice!]
[Unique Skill: Invincible Body Armor Activated]
"Looks like I might just level up a lot with this one." His smirk was back, but his focus was razor-sharp as he faced the monster.