Daiki and Kakashi ventured deeper into the dungeon, their senses on high alert.
Initially, the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the jagged cracks above had been sufficient to guide them, but the further they descended, the darkness thickened.
It was troublesome for Kakashi though Daiki could see just fine.
"Let me light a torch," Kakashi said, his voice cutting through the quiet. With practiced ease, he unfurled a storage scroll, unsealing it with a puff of smoke that revealed a kerosene-dampened torch. A flick of his flint sparked it to life, casting flickering shadows against the stone walls.
Kakashi took the lead, holding the torch high. Their footsteps echoed unnervingly along the narrow, spiraling path, mingling with the distant drip of water. Daiki glanced around, taking in the details. The walls seemed to drink in the light, their black surface appearing almost alive in the way it absorbed and muted the torch's glow. It felt less like a dungeon and more like a natural cave twisted into something unnatural.
Water puddles dotted their path, each step producing soft splashes. Cold, Daiki thought as the dampness began to seep through his sandals.
He scanned their route, mentally mapping the slope's spiral trajectory. This could be trouble, he mused. If they needed to retreat in a hurry, he'd need to know the way back by instinct alone. Occasionally, he turned to glance behind them, burning the image of the path into his memory. To be doubly cautious, he pulled out a kunai, carving small marks into the walls as they moved.
They had walked for about 15 minutes without encountering a single creature or trap, and the silence gnawed at Daiki. His unease grew, his mind conjuring increasingly grim possibilities. No enemies yet? It feels like we're being set up for something big, he thought.
A sudden vision of towering, grotesque bosses from a certain infamous game franchise flashed in his mind. I just hope whoever created this dungeon is not a Dark Souls fan!
"Kakashi," Daiki finally said, breaking the silence. "I think we should set some traps before going any deeper. I don't like this—nothing about it feels right."
Kakashi nodded without looking back. "You're not wrong. For something of this scale, whoever designed it isn't just powerful—they're strategic. Laying traps would give us a fallback option."
He paused, finding a crevice in the wall to slot the torch. The flame danced, painting eerie shapes across their faces. Then Kakashi turned, one brow raised. "Though… something tells me you didn't actually bring any tools for this."
Daiki scoffed, crossing his arms. "Brother, I had to get my mom to safety first thing! After that, I came straight here! Give me a break—I don't even have my underwear on right now."
Kakashi froze mid-motion, the faintest twitch of his masked face betraying his reaction. He sighed deeply. "I didn't need to know that."
"What? Honesty is important," Daiki replied with a grin, shrugging.
Ignoring him, Kakashi unsealed another scroll and began pulling out an array of ninja tools. "We'll make do," he said. "But next time, maybe pack a bag—or at least wear some essentials."
Together, they set to work, Kakashi guiding Daiki through the finer points of laying effective traps much to the latter's annoyance. Wire traps were rigged between narrow sections of the walls, primed with explosive tags. Caltrops were scattered across sections of the floor, blending seamlessly with the puddles. Smoke bombs were nestled into hidden nooks, rigged to deploy at a single tug of wire.
As they worked, Daiki's sharp eyes picked up on small vulnerabilities in the layout—an area where the slope narrowed, perfect for a bottleneck trap. He pointed it out, and Kakashi nodded approvingly, adjusting their setup accordingly.
After some time, Kakashi straightened up, dusting his hands. "That should buy us some time if we're ambushed."
Daiki glanced back at their handiwork. "I can't help but remember our days at the Academy. Such fun days...especially beating your ass part."
"Just don't trip your own traps," Kakashi said dryly, picking up the torch. "I'd like to survive this without unnecessary comedy."
Daiki smirked, but his eyes were already scanning ahead, the flickering torchlight painting their next steps in shadows. "Lead the way, Jonin-sama! I'll be right behind you… far enough back to let you trigger the next trap, of course."
"You're hilarious," Kakashi replied flatly, though there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his visible eye.
The traps were laid. With measured breaths and steely focus, Daiki and Kakashi pressed deeper into the dungeon's ominous depths. The silence stretched, broken only by the faint echoes of their cautious steps. They continued to set up traps once in a while. And for over an hour, the oppressive atmosphere remained unchanged—until they heard it.
A soft rustling, faint but unmistakable, stirred in the far corner. Both shinobi froze simultaneously, muscles coiling like taut springs. Kakashi's hand shot up, a subtle gesture pointing toward the ceiling. It was enough.
Daiki nodded once, silently launching himself upward to cling to the jagged stone ceiling. His movements were precise, deliberate, and soundless as he began creeping toward the source of the disturbance. The faint noise grew clearer: snickers, high-pitched and malicious. A cold certainty crept over him. Goblins eh?
Pausing just above the corner, Daiki turned back to Kakashi and flashed a quick series of hand signs, each motion economical and fluid. Four targets. Stationary. Planning ambush. Kakashi acknowledged with the faintest tilt of his head, his single visible eye gleaming with intent. Without a moment's hesitation, Kakashi performed a single sign of his own. The torchlight vanished as a gust of wind extinguished the flame, plunging the dungeon into total darkness.
The goblins' snickers cut off abruptly, replaced by a sharp, guttural scream. The sound bounced off the dungeon walls, a panicked reaction to their sudden blindness. In the oppressive blackness, Daiki's lips curved into a faint smirk.
Kakashi can handle this, but this is my chance, he thought, his hand curling around the hilt of a kunai. I need this more than anyone. I have been weak long enough. These goblins should be the perfect opportunity for me to level up.
Daiki's mind worked quickly. Like every shinobi, he had his strengths, but his wasn't brute force or flashy jutsu. Instead, he possessed a rare and invaluable skill: perfect vision in the dark. Where others would be stumbling, blinded, and helpless, he saw the goblins with crystalline clarity. Their disarray was evident in their frantic, erratic movements.
They can't see. Excellent.
From his vantage point, Daiki analyzed them further. Four goblins huddled together, their primitive instincts forcing them to protect their backs. They're somewhat intelligent. Defensive, even—but that just makes it easier.
He weighed his options carefully, mind racing. A jutsu could take them all out at once, but it's risky. If they're faster than I anticipate, I'll be vulnerable. His eyes narrowed, locking onto the goblins below. No. Simpler is better. Silent, efficient.
Daiki slipped four kunai from his pouch, one for each goblin, and balanced them between his fingers. He exhaled slowly, feeling the pull of his chakra as he directed it into the weapons, sharpening their power. The familiar hum of energy coursed through his hand and the muscles primed for the throw.
The goblins below jerked suddenly, their heads snapping upward as if sensing the intent hanging heavy in the air.
Daiki released the kunai, each weapon streaking downward like silent meteors.
Thud. Splash.
The first kunai struck true, piercing the eye of the nearest goblin and driving through its skull with brutal efficiency. The second followed suit, then the third, and the fourth. The goblins didn't even have time to scream before their bodies collapsed in a heap, blood pooling beneath them.
Sensitive to chakra? Or did my killing intent tip them off? I will need to be more careful the next time.
A small chime echoed in Daiki's mind, and a series of notifications flared in his vision.
[You have killed a Goblin! x4]
[400 XP Gained!]
[Level-Up Experience Point Satisfied!]
[Level 0 => Level 1]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[Level-Up Experience Point Satisfied!]
[Level 1 => Level 2]
[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]
[You have obtained two Blank Cards!]
@!#$!@#$
ERROR!
!@#$!#@$
[You have the title "Scavenger." Evolving Blank Cards!]
[Blank Card x2 => Scavenger Card x2]
[Evolution Successful!]
Daiki felt a rush of energy course through him, invigorating every fiber of his being. His eyes flicked toward the evolving notifications.
Things just got real interesting. I can't wait to kill some more dungeon monsters!
A predatory grin spreading across his face.
...
A/N: How did you like the chapter? Also, I'm planning to release a chapter every two days. So let's see what happens.