Chapter 10 Dungeon Exploration#1
16th, Ashadha, 1965
Inside the gate, light is dim, fluorescent moss is growing, the air is damp, and one can see stalactites growing down from the ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the cave floor.
'All this would have been a fortune in my previous world, but here in this world inside the tower, they just might be a rock in their eyes. I will take two samples on the way, after defeating the boss.'
Adrian who was in front, started giving instructions.
" Warriors in front, and magicians behind. Don't let the front liners get surrounded by more than one goblin at a time."
Ortson and the party started to walk forward in formation as instructed by Adrian.
Adrian has traversed this dungeon multiple times, that's why one can't see the nervousness on his face.
But all the other 10 explorers have anxiety and nervous expression on their faces, few of them are even sweating bullets.
For many of them, it will be the first time they will fight in their life because if they were powerful they would not have gotten caught in the first place.
There are very few powerful people ever kidnaped this tower, and the rest were villagers, slum dwellers, and slaves brought from outside.
"Goblins have poor eyesight, they search for prey through their enhanced smelling and hearing capabilities. Their physical strength is not that impressive, even a beginner can defeat them that's why they move in groups. Goblins are cunning creatures they can make use of makeshift weapons and poison made from their excrete and wild plants."
Adrian started to explain about goblins to the newbie explorers.
Khieek! Khieek!
"Goblins incoming, as I have instructed, be calm and take those goblins down one by one, and don't panic I am here."
Having Adrian said that he gives the feeling of protection to the explorer.
'yes, it will be similar to FPS, just like in VR.'
Explorers who can fight in melee run forward with weapons in hand to confront the goblins, and the mage apprentice tries to disperse the goblins by hurling elements at them.
Ortson makes a hand gesture like firing a gun, and a null bullet buries itself in the stomach of the goblin.
Like this Ortson keeps firing null bullets one after another at the goblins.
"Headshot!"
Ortson rejoices when he gets a headshot.
Adrian who was watching from the sidelines, gives instruction from time to time.
"You are pushing too far ahead, you will get surrounded, don't break the line."
"Magicians conserve your mana if you can. Don't stand in one place for long."
Among the goblins who came toward the group, three were archers among their rank.
When an arrow came toward them, Adrian took them down by swinging the great sword in a very nimble way.
"Goblin archer always tries to take the mages down first, so attack them on sight."
There were even places where goblins dug the ground to create traps.
"Always look where you are going, and be conscious of your surrounding at all times, a little bit of distraction can lead to injury and an untimely death."
Adrian was giving the newbie explorer advice on how to be an explorer.
"An explorer's mission does not end until he is at his home."
Ortson and the team reached a door made of stone.
"This is the final destination, beyond this door is a Goblin General, In this tower one can challenge a boss monster only once. Once the door closes after you guys enter inside there are only two outcomes, you either kill the monster and come out with tower points another you die and the door remains closed. Those who have defeated the boss cannot challenge it again, that's why nobody can come and save you guys, because a fixed number of people can enter the dungeon at the same time."
"So, that means we are on our own."
"Yes."
"Many people can not take such risks, that's why they don't advance in this tower, I will not judge you, many of my friends also cannot take the risk of stepping forward. But I guarantee you guys can defeat the goblin general."
'As far as remember, in the monster encyclopedia it was written that a goblin general is an expert in group battle, and their personal strength is that of 4th-5th level warriors. Is he asking us to die
"Don't worry, and take these vials."
Adrian takes out a few vials from a pouch on his waist.
'That looks like a fanny pouch.'
"These are explosive potions, if you throw them they will explode after breaking, and don't forget to hear the call of the mages behind you. So be careful."
"Happy Hunting."
All 9 explorer enters the room, and the stone door closes behind them.
Inside the cave, sunlight is pouring down from above, like a spotlight through a hole in the ceiling.
At the center of the cave, the explorers can see a green goblin with a muscular build and hideous face, unlike the malnourished goblin mobs.
The Goblin general had a crude cleaver in his hand and leather armor on his body which was made of many leather materials stitched together.
Just as explorers saw their target, the monster saw them too.
Ghaaaaaa!
The goblin started to run toward them with the cleaver held high.
"Attack."
The melee fighters run forward to stop the monster's rush.
But the goblin general's physical capabilities were higher than the explorers, that's why on 1vs1 they were overpowered.
Goblin General can only use brute force and has no skill in handling weapons, while, close range fighters were switching with each other when they are unable to hold the onslaught of the monster.
Ortson saw they were able to wound the monster but they were only flesh wounds. But the close-range fighters were getting tired as they were huffing and puffing while moving, their movement had slowed down.
Seeing the situation Ortson shouted.
"Fall back."
Hearing the call, the fighters started to fall back.
To stop the monster from pursuing them, Ortson threw his explosive potion at the monster.
The goblin general got doused in the fire.
'It is like a Molotov cocktail.'
Aaaahh! Ghaaaaa!
The Goblin general started screaming and thrashing due to being burned alive.
Due to thrashing, that monster threw the cleaver in his hand at a magician wounding him greatly.
And those who were in close proximity to the monster, and unable to fall back in time got singed due to fire.
Ortson started to fire null bullets at the monster as fast as he could.
One pierced the shoulder, and two hit on the chest but due to the armor, not much damage was done.
Falling Ortson's example other mages started to throw their vials and magic attacks at the monster.
That barrage of attacks did a number on the goblin general.
Seeing the monster at his last leg.
"Finish him."
The close-range fighters ran forward and pierce the monster with their blade, ending its life.
As the monster died, everyone heard a voice in their head and their status window opened up automatically.
Ortson also saw his window,
Name Ortson Soy
Age 19
Constitution 30/100
Wisdom 30/100
Agility 20
Strength 25
Stamina 20
Endurance 19
Mana 35
Skills Proficiency
Slight of Hands Intermediate
Covert Intermediate
Mathematics Advanced
Engineering Intermediate
Chemist Advanced
Reading Advanced
Listening Advanced
Cooking Intermediate
Singing Intermediate
Linguist Basic
Atomic Mana circulation(new) Novice (1st circle)
Pranayama(new) Novice
Tower Points-5
Ortson noticed he has 5 tower points.
The door which had closed itself behind them, opened up on their own after the boss was defeated.
Behind the door, Adrian was standing there.
"Everybody alive?"
"Yes, Instructor."
Explorers started to exit the room, one after another limping and relying on the other person to help them walk out.
Ortson walks toward the person who got burned.
"Give me your hand."
As both of them started to walk out, Ortson apologized.
"I am sorry about your hand."
"Ah, don't worry about it."
"But why are you saying sorry."
"I was the one who threw the explosive vial."
"It was you, thanks man, if not for you I would have been cleaved in two, ya' know, while falling back I tripped, that explosive vial was god sent to me."
"I am Ortson, nice to meet you."
"I am Max, nice to meet 'cha."
All the explorers are leaving the dungeon, contemplating about the future and thinking will ever do it again.