With a goal in mind and eager to test his skills, Kaden soon fell into a rhythm. He dived in and out of the pool, offering himself up as bait to lure the slimes in. When he saw their movements, he leapt out, not giving them a chance to latch onto him. Like the first time, they followed him above ground where he easily dispatched them.
In the beginning, this strategy worked well and was rather effective. His first four trips netting him eight kills. But then the slimes became scarce, his supply drying up. Even after waiting an hour, he didn’t see or attract a single one.
Frustrated but undeterred, Kaden ventured deeper, letting go of the ledge and submerging himself fully in the water. And it worked… he lured over a single slime. One that was far smaller than the others, the reason for which he soon discovered when he killed it and saw it was a full level behind. It was the only time that strategy worked, and after that it was back to constant failure.
He knew he could go even deeper, but the risk was substantial. The further he went, the harder it was to return. And then there was also the ominous underwater passage he had noticed earlier. He had ventured close to it a few times, peering into the darkness, but the strong current emanating from within threatened to pull him in if he tried to get a better look. The passage was tempting, almost calling to him, but his instincts warned him against it and gave him a bad feeling.
He didn’t dare not to listen to it. It was something to consider when he was higher level and had both of his arms back.
With his hunting ground now barren, Kaden decided to give up and move on. It was disappointing; he had hoped to level up here, but that seemed increasingly unlikely. He was only a little over halfway to the next level and struggling to find any more prey.
It was clear he needed to find another source of experience. The ground beneath him wet from the pool, he walked off in a random direction.
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In a dark tunnel, Kaden crept cautiously, trailing a pair of humans not far ahead. He had spotted them a few hours earlier and shadowed them ever since. The pair consisted of a teenage girl and a young man.
The girl, with her lustrous blonde hair, wore an elaborate blue robe and carried a long gray staff topped with a shining white crystal. She moved with an air of arrogance and indifference, her back straight as she walked around the dungeon, entirely at ease.
Beside her, the young man wielded a sword and shield, occasionally consulting a small map before choosing which direction to go. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with short brown hair and a bit of stubble on his cheeks. Though he exuded confidence and competence, he was very subservient and respectful of the girl.
“Ugh.. we haven’t seen anything in over an hour!” the girl complained, her voice haughty and shrill. She spoke like a spoiled brat, whining and complaining constantly. “Come on, let’s go deeper Brandon. It’s sooooo boring here…”
Kaden kept his distance, listening carefully to their conversation. Hearing what she said, he couldn’t help but agree with the girl. When he first met them, he saw the young girl burn a pair of wolves to death after emitting a blinding white light from her staff. They died in an instant, their bodies completely charred. But luckily for Kaden, they abandoned the bodies, and he joyfully ate what little bits that were left of them. His primary reason for following them was that he hoped to catch a few more scraps, but they had not run into a single monster.
Brandon, the young man, scratched his face apologetically. “I’m sorry Miss Jennifer. I wish I could, but your father explicitly told me not to.”
“So what? It’s not like he’s here. Please Brandon? Pleeaaseee~,” Jennifer begged, her incessant whining grating on the ears.
Brandon looked torn, struggling with the situation. “I’m really sorry but I can’t Miss. You know I can’t go against your father’s orders. He would kill me!”
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“God you’re so annoying,” Jennifer huffed, shaking her head. “Fine. Let’s go back then. This is a waste of time.”
“Yes Miss, understood.” Brandon replied, relief clear on his face as he unrolled the map. “Just give me a second.”
Kaden’s heart skipped a beat. They were leaving? This could be his chance to exit the cavern. If he followed them, he could finally make his way out of this dungeon.
Brandon seemed to be very familiar with the cave, and after a quick glance at the map, he led Jennifer in a new direction.
They had no idea that a crippled skeleton was following close behind them, grinning with anticipation. Kaden moved carefully, ensuring he didn’t make a sound, staying far enough back that the clicking of his bones wouldn’t reach their ears.
Excitement bubbled within him at the thought of finally getting outside and breathing fresh air again.
But then, a sudden chime rang in his ears, and a flood of information rushed into his brain. His eyes flickered as image after image flashed through his mind, like pure knowledge.
Shocked and distracted, Kaden’s foot slipped on a rock, sending a loud clack echoing through the tunnel.
Shit! Kaden swore under his breath, quickly ducking into a crevice, staying still and holding his breath as he listened. The footsteps ahead halted, and the cavern fell into an almost eerie silence.
“What was that?” Jennifer asked, her calm tone carrying just the slightest hint of unconcerned curiosity.
“I’m not sure, Miss… maybe just a falling rock. Let’s keep going. We are not far from the surface, just a few more minutes,” Brandon replied.
Kaden exhaled in relief as the footsteps resumed, fading down the tunnel. He was lucky they weren’t the paranoid type.
With the immediate danger gone, Kaden turned his attention to the notification that had appeared before him. His eyes widening in disbelief as he read it.
─ New General Proficiency Learned [ Sneaking (Basic) ]
─ Description: Gives a minor boost to the user’s sneaking skill.
─ Reward: 50 Experience Points
─ Basic Feat Complete: “Learn A Proficiency”
─ Reward: 200 Experience Points
“What the fuck?” Kaden muttered, the mix of shock and confusion too overwhelming to contain. He stared at the screens, feeling as if his eyes were deceiving him. He couldn’t believe it.
There was even something like this?! This whole fucking time?!
It was infuriating, to say the least. Things could’ve gone so differently if he knew about it from the start.
He reread the notifications, struggling to grasp the full implications. Proficiencies that directly increased his skill… knowledge streamed into his head… all quite unbelievable.
And then there was the basic feat that gave him a reward. Two hundred experience points was not a lot, but it was certainly nothing to scoff at either. If that was just a basic one, did that mean there were rarer ones that gave him even more? Even the proficiencies had grades!
Exactly how many other secrets was this system hiding from him? He had considered it before, but it was clear that there was far more to uncover—too much that he had overlooked. It was not that he had forgotten… there was just always so much other stuff going on.
Even now. He wanted to think this stuff over, but he didn’t have the time for it. While lost in thoughts, he had already fallen behind the two humans. He couldn’t afford to give up this chance.
Forced to let it go, Kaden pushed his thoughts aside and resumed his stalking. The proficiency immediately proved its worth. He could tell from the very first step—sneaking felt more natural, his movements quieter, more fluid. His bones no longer clattering as loud with every step, and he moved across the rocks with a newfound finesse.
The rest of the journey was uneventful, with Kaden’s enhanced sneaking skill ensuring that he remained undetected. Before long, he spotted a distant glow of light seeping into the cavern through a large opening, beautifully illuminating the rocks.
He caught glimpses of green, brown, even blue and white. After being trapped in darkness for so long, he had almost forgotten what the outside world looked like.
As he approached the exit, Kaden forced himself to stay back, resisting the urge to rush forward. The sight was mesmerizing, but he waited until the two humans had fully exited the cavern and stepped out onto the grass.
He watched them disappear into the distance, shrinking to tiny dots before vanishing entirely. With the coast clear, Kaden cautiously advanced.
The outside world was a lush paradise, filled with bushes, trees, and grass, not unlike the nature he remembered from his own world. The day was warm and bright, with a few fluffy clouds spread across the light blue sky.
Lost in the tranquility of it all, Kaden reached the boundary between the cave and the outside world, where the rock gave way to grass.
As he stepped forward, his hand suddenly struck something solid, and an electrical shock surged through his arm, throwing him back with a sharp crack.
“Arghh!” he screamed, hitting the ground hard. His arm trembled as his eyes darted around in bewilderment.
What just happened?
Confused, Kaden got up and cautiously approached the exit again, scanning for whatever had struck him. Seeing nothing, he frowned and, with trepidation, slowly extended his hand forward once more.
Tense and shaking slightly, he braced himself as, once again, an arc of electricity shot through him, numbing his arm and sending him sprawling backward.