The bus slowly rolled to a stop at their destination, and the atmosphere was tense and quiet.
As Lucas stepped off, he noticed a group of middle-aged men in military uniforms approaching Yang and the other organizers to discuss something.
Behind the soldiers, a large military camp stretched out, heavily fortified with patrols and military tents scattered everywhere.
This wasn't just any checkpoint—it was the frontline base defending the dimensional dungeons.
While these dungeons provided valuable resources, they were also dangerous, often posing deadly threats. Every year, monsters would break through and invade the human world.
Even with military protection, there was always a risk, especially near lower-level dungeons like this one.
For students who didn't go to college, there were usually two options after graduation: either work construction in the city or join the military, defending these dungeons from monster invasions.
Luckily, the school had arranged things beforehand, so after a short talk, the military allowed them access to the dungeon.
"Listen up," one of the soldiers began in a serious tone, "this dungeon may be classified as low-tier, but it's still dangerous. If you find yourself outmatched, retreat immediately. Once you enter the boss's domain, it's a fight to the death."
Lucas stood among the group of eager students, scanning the faces of those around him. Excitement was in the air.
At the dungeon entrance, there was an imposing black stone gate guarded by two soldiers with sharp, no-nonsense expressions.
"Once inside, the dungeon's spatial magic will split everyone up, except for those holding hands with their team members," Yang explained. "Remember, if you get hurt, don't push yourself. Teleport out. No one's coming in to rescue you."
Dimensional dungeons had mysterious, powerful magic. Unless you were an elite, not even official teams could ensure anyone's safety.
"Relax, it's just a beginner dungeon. If anyone manages to die in there, they'd have to be incredibly unlucky or just plain dumb," one of the teachers chuckled, patting a student on the back.
Despite being a lower-level dungeon, students still died every year in places like the Lightning Goblin Dungeon. It wasn't a walk in the park.
"Let's go! We're aiming for the top three spots this time!" Jeff said excitedly, his beginner armor glinting as he led the charge.
The other students were just as pumped, rushing into the dungeon entrance as though they were finally getting their chance to live out their long-awaited adventures.
Lucas sighed and reluctantly joined his team, holding hands with Emily, Jeff, and Jack as they crossed the threshold into the dungeon.
Once inside, the spatial magic distorted the air around them. When Lucas could see again, only his teammates—Emily, Jeff, and Jack—were with him. The others had been scattered throughout the dungeon.
"Familiar surroundings... Let's hope we don't run into anything too tough," Lucas muttered, glancing around. The dungeon looked eerily similar to the virtual dungeons he was used to, but something about being here in person made him uneasy.
"What's there to be scared of?" Jack laughed casually. "It's just a beginner dungeon. If things get hairy, we can always run."
Lucas shook his head, staying quiet. Sure, beginner dungeons were safer, and you could always teleport out, but he knew that if they encountered evolved goblins, especially Frost Goblins with their slowing abilities, even running wouldn't be easy.
"Let's not get too cocky," Lucas finally said, unable to hold back. "Some of the monsters in here can be tricky."
"Tricky? Come on, man," Jeff scoffed, swinging his weapon carelessly. "We've got top-tier gear. This'll be a breeze!"
Jeff then pulled a few items from his storage ring. "Here, Lucas, your magic gun. You just hang back and fire away. Leave the front line to us tanks."
"Wow, nice!" Lucas's eyes lit up as he took the sleek silver magic gun. It felt perfect in his hand, as if it were made just for him.
His gaze shifted to Jeff's ring—a space storage item crafted by rare spatial mages. It must've cost a fortune.
"It's top-of-the-line, of course," Jeff grinned proudly. "The bullets are custom-made with armor-piercing power."
"Each bullet costs 20 grand, though, and I've only got 20. So don't waste them."
Lucas winced. Twenty thousand per bullet? That was absurd. He thought about his own financial struggles and felt a little sting of envy.
"Don't worry, these bullets are simple to use," Jeff added. "Just hit the target, and they'll do the rest."
At the same time, Jack and Emily drew their magic swords. The blades shimmered, enchanted to deal extra armor-piercing damage.
Seeing their gear, Lucas couldn't help but feel a bit more hopeful about the upcoming battles.
With their preparations complete, the team ventured deeper into the Lightning Goblin Dungeon.
The dungeon was vast, an open field stretching out before them, but overhead, dark clouds loomed ominously, threatening a storm.
"This weather doesn't feel right," Lucas muttered, glancing up at the heavy clouds. An unsettling feeling crept over him.
They hadn't walked far before encountering their first enemies—three regular goblins. The creatures wielded crude wooden clubs and charged at them aggressively.
Lucas barely gave them a second look. They seemed far weaker than the goblins he'd fought in the game.
But Jeff and the others were hyped, rushing forward with gleaming weapons. The two groups collided quickly.
Clang! Clang!
Thanks to their beginner armor, the fight was over in moments. The goblins were easily dispatched, and after the battle, a few small dust particles were left behind on the ground.
"Monster dust," Lucas said as he bent down to pick one up.
He could feel the energy in the dust, and his magic began to stir. With his passive skill, Mana Surge, the energy slowly absorbed into his body.
"These dust particles boost your stats," Lucas explained. "Collect enough, and your attributes get a huge boost."
As the dust fused with his magic, Lucas began to understand why high-level players preferred grinding dungeons instead of traditional training.
"Training is like plants doing photosynthesis—it's slow but steady. But absorbing monster dust? That's like eating a steak. You grow fast and see results in just a few weeks," Lucas said, a mix of awe and understanding in his voice.
No wonder top players were obsessed with dungeon runs. The rewards were unbeatable.
As they moved forward, Lucas's confidence grew. This wasn't just about fighting monsters—it was about gaining power at a speed he never thought possible.
But he knew that with greater rewards came greater risks. And in this dungeon, the real danger was yet to come.