DUNGEON DIVER: I become a Dark Knight in a world full of dungeons.
By Orangeowl
Vol 1 Chapter 2: luck is part of your strength (one in a million)
The next morning. Equip my leather chest plate above my shirt, I put on my gloves and boots, with a backpack on my back, I am once again going to venture inside the dungeon.
Take the elevator to the ground floor, today is the start of the weekend, the Canaria dungeon is crowded with adventurers and businesses alike. Walking toward the dungeon entrance, I could hear adventurers advertising their party and quest.
"New party needs a warrior, no level requirement!"
"Healer level requirement of 25 needed for 10th-floor giant forest wolf hunts!"
"Fire mage needed for 14th-floor exploration!"
"Carriers needed for 14th-floor expedition, level 20 or more!"
New party and veterans advertising their party and quest to invite new talents, walking past the hustle and bustle, I walk down the stairs into the dungeon.
What welcomed my eyes was a green meadow as far as eyes could see. This is the first floor of the Canaria dungeon, I planned to hunt goblins for the rest of the morning, walk inside the meadow, I saw more adventurers than usual today. Everyone trying to level up in their free time.
In this world, there a normal job, part-time adventurers and full-time adventurers.
A normal job is one where you don't need to go inside the dungeon, or fight monsters, part-time adventurers are adventurers that dive into the dungeon for a hobby, exercise or earn some money, but they are still doing normal jobs to feed themselves.
Full-time adventurers, on the other hand, an adventurers that could earn enough money from the dungeon to live, the difference being full-time adventurers is that they are strong enough to fight in the dungeon, and profit from it.
In reality, however, not many succeed, most lose their lives at the beginning of their careers, and some lose it in the middle of their careers, 99% of adventurers never even touch Silver rank,
wood, copper, iron, silver, gold, diamond, orichalcum, adamantite and lastly special rank 'heroes' this ranking is not only the mark of adventurers' strength but also a mark of social class outside the dungeons
The stronger you are, the more influence you have, it's that simple. No matter if you have a normal job, part-time, or full-time adventurers. Humans always want power. And power rules the world. No one going to fight you, if you can punch them, and their gut explodes through their back.
If a hero's rank adventurers choose to go rogue, the only ones who can hunt them down are other heroes' rank adventurers. Being an orichalcum adventurer alone could bring you billions of credits every year. Everyone trying their best to raise their level. For their lives, for their dreams.
"GYAHAA!!"
The discordant sound brings me back from my mind. A lone goblin has appeared in front of me holding a wooden stick. Hmph! What a little fish! Took a good-sized rock from the ground, I threw it toward the goblin.
"GAU!"
The goblin swiftly avoids my attack to the left. I follow it with a knife to the neck, the goblin once again avoiding my knife by lowering his head. Just like that, I kick him in the face. Holding his face in the ground, I pinned the goblin with my feet, and a knife to the chest to finish it.
After so many times hunting goblins, it's become beyond predictable. Fraudulent moves, followed with another attack, then launch a surprise attack, and finish it off.
Looking around, I saw a large number of people on the first floor. This floor monsters consist of normal goblins, slimes, horn rabbits, and night puppies. This floor was relatively safe, even for people who'd never entered dungeons before, making it very crowded.
That goblin was my luck, I might not see another one for the rest of the day.......But I still need money, since I gave all my credits to pay my rent, with these goblin cores, I have about 10 credits. Tempting what to do, I saw a group of people passing by.
There are more than 20 people in the group happily talking to each other, their equipment is cheap and basic like mine, so they must be new adventurers, In front were two men with better armor and weapons guiding this big group of beginners. However, they did not stop on the first floor and instead walked toward the direction of the 2nd floor.
I see......hehehe, this day is my lucky day!
Walk several tens of meters behind them, I'm trying to make it not suspicious.
A group of beginners like this usually here to learn how to fight monsters in the dungeon, but since the first floor was full, they usually chose to go to the second or third floor for hunts.
The second-floor monsters consist of a gray wolf, goblin warriors, giant slimes, and giant spiders at night. There is no goblins archer and the spiders are not venomous, so I guess the beginner could hold their feet in there.
Keeping my distance from them, I entered the stairs to the second floor. The stairs were stones and the landscape changed to caves and chambers of rooms. The caves were 10 feet (3m) wide, and the ceiling was twice as tall.
I'm right now at level 7, if I go in a party of the same level, I could hunt daily on the 2nd floor, however, I'm a solo adventurer, I couldn't make sure I would come back alive if I did it badly. That's why I have been trapped inside the first floor for 3 years, On rare occasions, however, I could get into a beginner party who hasn't heard about my reputation, and in a moment like this, I could indirectly latch onto a group of people, this would drastically decrease my risk.
Indeed this is a veteran strategy not many know!
Arrive in one of the room chambers, it's more of a giant dome than anything else. Maybe 1000 feet (300m) in diameter. Monsters could be seen wandering below with adventurers fighting here and there. It's really crowded today, isn't it?
"Alright, everyone! Now we are going to hunt the monsters! Cooperation is key! Make sure you fight together with your party! And do not wander too far so we could see you!"
"""""""YES SIR!""""""""""
Mmm, what spirited greenhorns. Walking past them, I too start to search for my victims.
From afar, I saw a lone goblin warrior, its weapon is a small rusty sword. If I could loot that sword, I would get about 3 credits. Walking with wide steps, I challenge the goblin warrior into a duel.
The only difference between goblin warrior and normal goblins was their sharp weapon and leather chest plate.
"GHAYUA!!"
"Hmph! What a weakling"
"GYAA!"
As if to understand my words, the goblin warrior charged toward me.
"very good, I have tired of normal goblins"
The goblin warrior swung his sword toward me, stepped aside, I easily evaded the goblin attack. Even if you are a warrior, you are still a goblin!
"GYUAA!"
The goblin whose attack I evade easily seems irritated, instead, the goblin warrior jumps toward me in a failed surprise attack.
"hmph!"
Parry the goblin's sword with my knife, the goblin loses its balance. Now is my chance!
Kicked the goblin warrior from behind, the goblin fell head first into the ground. Kukuku.....it's the end. Pinning the goblin with my feet, I'm about to finish it off until.
"GYAA!"
"Ugh?! A second goblin warrior?!"
It's a mistake in my plan, the second goblin warrior comes to the rescue of his comrade. The first goblin warrior recovered his footing and stood up while shaking his head.
Now I'm faced with two goblin warriors.
"GYUGAA!!" "GYAHA!"
Kuh! Should I ask for help? No. I can't embarrass myself in front of all these greenhorns, hardened my will. I fight at a disadvantage.
"look, that guy fighting a goblin"
"where is his party?"
"uwahh, Is he solo?"
"he looks like a beginner"
It seems my fight has gathered some attention. Haha! If it comes to this. Now I have no choice but to win!
"come!"
Hearing my words of courage, the two goblin warriors ran toward me from left and right. That's a good move. But!
"GYUU?!" "GWAA!"
Kicking the goblin warrior on the left, the goblin knocked backward, and now for the one on the right, swing my knife from above, I activate my skill, and the knife blade glows a little.
"Slash!!!"
"GAHA!"
Sudden strength filled my hand and my knife became a bit more sharp. Behold! Level 2 Slash!
The goblin warrior face was deeply cut with a vertical wound. The goblin warrior falls onto the ground holding his bloody face, The other goblin warrior who's seeing this unfold hesitates for the first time. Fear carved in its face.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"now...."
"GYAUU!"
Turning my face toward the goblin warrior that still standing, I pointed my blade toward it. But unexpectedly, the goblin warrior turned his back around and tried to run away.
"you are not going anywhere!"
In one swoop I jumped toward the goblin, activated my skill once again, I cut the goblin across its body.
"Slash!"
"Gyaaaa...."
"Gugu......"
The goblin warrior turned into a particle of light, the other goblin that I cut in the face also turned into a particle of light at the same time.
It's my indisputable victory.
"He got some move....but, isn't he just fighting a goblin?"
"he's so dramatic for fighting goblin"
"isn't he a bit old to be a beginner?"
"he acts like he's fighting a boss monster"
Ugh! What a rude brat! They didn't know my super impeccable move! Fixing my furious gaze toward them, I tried to mutter a word from my mouth.
"....he's looked here"
"let's move on, we need to search for a wolf"
"let's fight goblins!"
"no, I would rather not cringe like him"
"""""Hahahahaha"""""""
What a greenhorn! Didn't know the ethics of being an adventurer! Protested in my mind, I picked the monster cores and the swords. Now this is worth 26 credits, with my other goblin core, I have 36 credits! That's enough to buy special dragon ramen with extra chicken!
Seeing another goblin warrior in the distance, I'm immediately running toward it. Fufufu! Moments like this do not happen every day, I'm going to profit from it as much as possible.
8 hours later. Looking at The screen in my phone, it shows three in the afternoon according to the outside time, the dungeon time was 1 hour early. So it's four in the afternoon on the first floor. I have to go back before the night puppies come out.
Feeling the pain in my stomach, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. My face was pale and my hand was shaking, but my poaches were fat. I managed to hunt 20 goblins today and loot 20 rusty swords. If I sell all of this, I would get 260 credits!
My soul was tired, and my body was crushed, Yet my heart was blooming.
Seeing around, people start to prepare camping sites for themselves. Tents were built in close proximity to protect them against monsters.
Ah , I see. This is one of those camping training for the beginner's, I was also doing this training 3 years ago.
Walking like a zombie toward the stairs to the first floor, I feel something weird in my heart.
"Hmm?"
What is this? I saw the rock in the ground moving. Ahhh......to hallucinating like this, I'm going to pass out, am I, I hope the hospital bill wasn't too expensive.
"did someone feel the ground shaking?"
One of the woman adventurers in the campsite says to her party.
"O-oi! What is this!"
"Is this earthquake?"
"don't be stupid! There are no earthquakes inside a dungeon!"
"But!-"
The adventurers on the second floor start to panic. Many have left their tent to see what happens. I immediately enter the campsite and hides among them.
"Keep calm!!!"
One of the adventurers stepped up, these men were one of those beginner's guides. A middle age man. Wearing full plate armor from hair to feet, a big two-hand sword in his hips and a shield hanging on his back. He's started giving instructions to other adventurers.
"What you need is to keep calm! Pack your important belongings! Leave the tent and go out of the dungeon as fast as possible!"
"but we can't just leave our supply aren't we!?"
One of the adventurers protested, Other adventurers nodded with what he was saying. While I was listening in silence, what that old man said was right, I wanted to get out of of this place as fast as possible, but it was hundreds times safer to go with this group.
"We need to report this to the dungeon guild as fast as we can. Send one person to go out of the dungeon, while we pack our stuff, If you want to die, you could take your supply with you"
The ground starts to shake harder. Agreed with the veteran, the adventurers start to panic-packed their precious belongings. Most adventurers on this floor were beginners, their lack of experience made them vulnerable to pressure.
"Now! Was anyone willing to be the messenger?"
"M-me"
I shyly raised my hand.
"what's your name?"
"Ren...Ren Sarain"
"Alright Ren. Listen, you need to report these findings directly to the dungeon center"
Listening to the veteran, I actually didn't want to go alone, and it's not I want to be a hero or something, but my sense tells me something is very wrong. My skill retreat lv 6 was a passive skill that I got from encountering death so many times, it makes me able to feel incoming danger, but this old man must have realized the situation better than me.
"Tell them it's red codes"
"WHA-"
The veteran whispering in my ears makes me surprised. Red codes mean a rare unnatural phenomenon in the dungeon, this could manifest in various forms.
high-level monsters spawned in the beginner's floor, dungeon level suddenly increased unexpectedly, dungeon monsters somehow managed to enter the floor other than they are spawned in. And in all of this record, not one ended with a good ending.
"Do not let anyone know this. Listen, Ren, everyone lives at stake, there are a lot of newcomers here, I and my partner need to be here to guide them to safety, you need to get out of here as fast as you can, and tell the dungeon guild"
Wait a minute, I didn't raise my hand to be given this much responsibility.
"N-no.....after I'm thinking about it..."
"I believe in you"
Gah! He uses that card.
Running through the meadow under the warm sunset, my body bathed in cold sweats. My face was beyond pale and my breathing was irregular. I started seeing things, I couldn't feel my hand.....
My bad habits of being poor seem to have caught up to me. But I need to keep running.
"GYAA!"
God. This is the last thing I want to encounter. A lone goblin has stopped me in my way.
"Tch! Get out of my way!"
"GRAA!"
Swing my knife toward the goblin, the goblin easily evades my attack. Then I tried to follow it with a kick to the abdomen, yet somehow the goblin also avoided it. Swing my knife one more time, the goblin jumps backward.
This thing is annoying!
I charge toward the goblin and point my blade into its chest.
"TRRRKK"
The sound of my knife hitting a wood could be heard. I lose my balance, fall to the ground, the air is knocked out of my lungs.
Did a f**king goblin just parry my attack?
Laying on my stomach, I tried to stand up, but I couldn't mutter any power into my feet. Turning my body, I lay down on my back.
"GYAA!"
The goblin slowly walks toward me. The light from the sun shone into my eyes. The sky has turned dark blue mixed with purple, yesterday I wouldn't have imagined things to turn like this,
Is this how I die?
Am I going to get killed by a freaking goblin?
"At least make it a dragon or something....gahhh...."
It's hard to breathe.......
"GYAHA!"
The goblin pinned me with one of his feet in my chest, I could see the bastard was smiling, is it feel that good to be strong?
I thought I was strong, but turns out it's just my hope, I hope I could turn back times, what did I do, if I'm going back to the times when I first entered the dungeon?
I must have ended up the same......
I'm simply a stupid man. I thought I was special since I was a kid, I have gone through trouble after trouble, misfortune after misfortune I have fought, disadvantage in my shoulder, I thought I was strong.
That's why I never told anyone my problem, I never ask for help no matter what, I want people to think I'm strong no matter what happens.
I just want to fit in with the other.......
Yet why I am so weak.....
I hope people look at me and think how strong I am, in the end, what I have is only hope.......
Is everything a lie?
Did I just, deceive myself to feel better?
Am I unlucky......?
"I believe you would be a great adventurer Ren!"
What is Reika doing right now? If she heard I died would she be sad? No, she might laugh at me, for getting killed by a normal goblin on the first floor of the dungeon. Everyone would laugh at me, I knew it because they always do.
"Ren, why did your level not rise yet? I thought you would become an adventurer"
"Hahaha Ren you are still copper rank!?"
"you should work harder Ren, things aren't going to be good if you are lazy"
"Ren, didn't you embarrassed to come to this reunion?"
"well at least My life is not as bad as Ren"
Ugh.....I already could hear their laugh.....
......How long is this goblin going to stand on me?
"GYEHEHEHE"
The goblin looked into my eyes and laughed. He laughs.
I GOT LAUGHED BY A GOBLIN?!.
I had enough!
"....you!...bastaaaarrdddd!"
"GEE?!"
Muttered everything I got. I put strength into my hand to lift the goblin's dirty feet.
"get off of me!!!"
"GYAA!"
The goblin fell to the ground. Gripping the knife tightly in my hand, I put everything I had to stand up. Now you would learn not to mess with me!!!
"GAAA!!!"
I raise the blade above my head. And slammed it into the goblin's face. One, two, three, four, five. I keep stabbing the goblin until it turns into lights.
"guuhhhh...."
Fallen into the ground one more time, I couldn't move a finger. I'm really going to die now, however, I'm happy with this. Now they wouldn't laugh at me anymore.
My mind going blank, I'm going to pass out....
Opening my eyes a little, I want to see the sky for the last time. Even if it's the fake one, however, something took my attention. Besides the goblin core I just defeated, there is a small white orb, reflecting the light from the sun, as if it's calling for me.
Is this a drop from the goblin? An Item like this from such weak monsters was an absolute rarity. Hehehe.....I am lucky after all......
"Aaaa......"
I tried to grab the orb, I don't know why. I slowly moved my hand toward the orb, my hand shaking like crazy, but I managed to touch it, I always wondered how it felt to touch one. I always saw this item in the store, it's an expensive item with different uses and effects, I thought I would never get to buy such items.
I wonder how much this would sell? I Wryly smiled to myself. I'm thinking about money even when I'm about to die.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS ITEM?
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A status notification pops up in front of my eyes, what is the point? Would I like to use this item? I don't even know its effect. There is an orb with a healing effect, maybe this one has that effect.
Did I really want to live? If I died, no one going to laugh at me anymore.....
Am I going to give up?
No. I don't want to, I have a hope, a dream........If I give up that's mean I'm weak......
I don't want to be weak.
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EXP ORB USED
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What....?
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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LEVEL UP
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CONGRATULATIONS: CLASS UNLOCKED
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"Aagh..... "
Opening my eyes, I woke up in the grass, My head hurt, what just happened?
Standing on my feet, I scan my surroundings. The sky has gone dark, the wind peacefully blowing in the dark meadow.
If I fall asleep here, how I'm not being attacked by dungeon monsters?
"Who are you?"
"huh?"
I heard the voice of a girl as clear as crystal, looking ahead of me, In the distance was a girl, wearing a beautiful armor decorated elegantly to show off its shape, even in the dark of the night, the armor shining as if it were glowing with holy light.
She doesn't wear any helmet, The girl has white hair and red eyes, her Beauty hypnotizes me, and her sharp eyes look at me with curiosity and carefulness.
"Are you an adventurer?"
The girl asked.
Isn't it obvious? How does she look at me and think I'm something else?
"Wait"
Looking down at my hand, I'm wearing dark-colored armor, my voice also has changed, touching my face, I could feel the hardness of metal.
"Status"
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STATUS
Name: Ren Sarain
Age: 21
Class: Dark Knight transformation (Transform)
Level: 15
Hp: 28/28 (+10)
Mp: 0/0
Strength: 24 (+5)
Speed: 13
Intelligence: 8
Agility: 10
Defense: 21 (+10)
Exp gained to level 16 : 21%
Status Point: 80
Skill: Slash Lv2, Knife Art Lv2, unbreakable mentality Lv4, Retreat Lv6, Dark magic Lv1(New), Sword Art Lv1(New), Shadow manipulation Lv1(New), Strength up Lv1(New), Speed up Lv1(New), HP UP Lv1(New), Defense up Lv1(New), Summon subordinate Lv1(New), Hell Fire Lv1(New), Evil Energy Lv1(New), Mana Drain Lv1(New), Dark Fire Lv1(New), Dark Aura Lv1(New), Intimidation Lv1(New), Dark Vision Lv1(New), Dimensional Storage Lv1(New), Charm Lv1(New), Dimensional movement Lv1(New), Dark Knight transformation Lv1 (New)
Title: Goblin Slayer, Slime Slayer, Professional Chicken, The one with iron spirit, Dungeon junkies, Coward, The one who dances with death, Unbreakable spirit, dark Knight of nightmares, immortal enemy of goblins.
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WHAT?
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Chapter 2 end