The sun filtered through the towering trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Deep in the forest, Lucas's virtual character was cautiously exploring, the environment around him growing darker and denser. Thick trees blocked much of the view, and there was a distinct chill in the air, causing Lucas to shiver involuntarily.
"Why's it suddenly getting so cold?" Lucas muttered to himself. His character began to slow down, as the creeping cold affected his movement.
Whoosh!
A sharp flash of light shot out from the trees to his left. An icicle was headed straight for Lucas's character. Luckily, he had sensed the danger just in time and quickly activated his barrier. But even then, the barrier became coated in frost, threatening to crack at any moment.
"An ice-element monster?" Lucas muttered as he traced the direction of the attack.
A blue-skinned goblin stood in the distance, glaring coldly at him. It was wielding a staff, surrounded by a chilling aura, clearly an ice mage-type goblin.
"Ice Mage Goblin... great," Lucas sighed. This one was going to be a pain. Unlike the usual goblins he had fought, this one wasn't just about physical attacks. Its frost magic could slow him down, making it a nightmare for anyone who relied on mobility.
"Guess the Lightning Goblin dungeon lives up to its reputation," Lucas grumbled, summoning a new barrier and activating Wind Dash to quickly close the distance.
The Ice Mage Goblin didn't seem fazed by Lucas's speed. It raised its staff, chanting a spell, and instantly, three razor-sharp icicles formed in the air, shooting toward Lucas like bullets.
Smash! Smash! Smash!
The outer barrier shattered, and the newly summoned one began to freeze and crack under the cold assault.
Lucas gritted his teeth. Not only was his speed affected, but his barrier was also rapidly weakening. This was bad.
"Damn, this thing's tougher than I thought," he muttered as he pushed forward, his movements sluggish despite Wind Dash.
Just as the Ice Mage Goblin prepared to launch another attack, Lucas finally got within striking distance.
Without hesitation, he unleashed two Fire Blasts.
The scorching flames engulfed the Ice Mage Goblin, the intense heat turning its blue skin to ash.
With a final shriek, the goblin disintegrated into experience points.
*Ding! Ice Mage Goblin defeated.*
"Finally," Lucas sighed, though his face remained tense. This goblin had been tough. Its frost magic had countered his speed and nearly shattered his barriers. If he hadn't managed to close the gap in time, things could've ended badly.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by rustling from the nearby bushes.
Lucas tensed up again, holding his breath as he scanned the surroundings. Moments later, three more goblins emerged from the trees.
One was a Goblin Thrower, with a basket of rocks on its back. The second was another Ice Mage Goblin. And the third... was glowing with a fiery red light.
"A Flame Goblin too? This is not good," Lucas gritted his teeth.
The trio in front of him was far more dangerous than the lone Ice Mage Goblin he had just taken down. Especially the Flame Goblin—it looked like its attacks could be deadly.
In his current state, there was no way Lucas could handle all three.
Before he could react further, the screen went black, accompanied by a series of impact sounds.
Game over.
Lucas sighed heavily, staring at his phone. "Just like that, I'm done. Didn't even make it to the boss."
He frowned, realizing he had underestimated the difficulty of the Lightning Goblin dungeon.
"There's no way I can brute-force this with my current skills," he muttered, rubbing his temples. He needed to rethink his strategy if he wanted to beat this dungeon. Just as he was about to dive back into the game, the bus screeched to a sudden stop, nearly sending everyone flying out of their seats. Lucas almost dropped his phone.
Turns out, while he had been engrossed in his game, the bus had already traveled quite a distance. They had finally reached their destination.
"We're here!" A chorus of excited voices echoed through the bus as students stood up, buzzing with anticipation.
For many of them, this was their first real dungeon experience. Some were visibly nervous, knowing that real-life dungeons didn't offer second chances like games.
Lucas glanced out the window, feeling a wave of hesitation wash over him. Should he back out now? Reality was far more dangerous than the safe confines of his virtual world, where death was only temporary.
"You think we got here fast? You've been playing for two hours straight!" Emily teased, rolling her eyes as she nudged Lucas. She pointed excitedly out the window. "Look! It's the wild! I've never been here before. The scenery is incredible."
Outside, the view was indeed breathtaking.
Towering trees surrounded the area, flowers blooming in vibrant colors, butterflies fluttering about. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. But Lucas knew what lay beneath this picturesque landscape—dangerous, hidden threats lurking in the dungeon ahead.
A hundred years ago, technology had driven rapid industrial progress, but at a great cost to nature. Rivers became polluted, fields turned barren, and ancient forests were cut down. But with the arrival of dimensional creatures and the global shift towards a new era, technology had declined, allowing nature to reclaim its place. It was ironic how things had come full circle.
"All right, everyone, let's gear up and prepare for the real challenge," Emily said, clapping Lucas on the shoulder with a grin.
Lucas nodded, still feeling a bit unsure.
The real-world dungeon was a far cry from the virtual ones he was used to. But there was no turning back now. The risks were higher, but so were the rewards. This was the test that mattered.
He had already accepted that failures in games were just part of the process. But in real life, every mistake could be his last.
It was time to sharpen his skills, push himself harder, and prove he could survive—not just in the game, but in the real world too.