As I made my way past the city gates, threading my way through the bustling streets of Arn, I could feel the tension in the air.
The place was packed—looked like every adventurer who thought they had a shot at making it through the dungeon was here, gripping their gear like it was their last lifeline.
Then there were the veterans, moving with that calm, self-assured confidence, the kind that only came from surviving past runs.
Some of them looked almost relaxed, like they were here to take care of business and nothing more. I even recognized a few faces from the last opening.
In the center of it all stood the statues, adventurers clustered around, trading supplies, adjusting their gear, or just eyeing each other up. It felt like a waiting game, with everyone on edge, ready for the gates to the dungeon to open.
Close to the statue, I spotted some familiar faces. I recognized a few of them from that boss rush event, the same ones gathered near the Overfiend Slime statue back inside of the dungeon.
The silver-haired woman and her party were stationed up front. She looked even more striking now, her silver hair catching the light, making her seem almost noble.
The shadows of the cave last time had masked that part of her presence. Now, though, she had this charming confidence that was hard to ignore.
Then there was that other guy—the one who always looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. Today, he had on a wide-brimmed hat that shaded his face, making him seem like he’d just wandered in from a day at the beach.
He stood with his usual lazy confidence, letting his party handle the last-minute checks, as if he was just waiting for the show to start.
And then, off to the side, was Ragnok. Just seeing him made me instinctively slow down and blend into the crowd.
He looked like he was about to explode, fists clenched tight, scowling at the silver-haired woman.
His voice sliced through the background noise, his argument with her loud enough to draw stares.
It was obvious these two weren’t friends—more like strong personalities bound to clash whenever they crossed paths.
They were, in the middle of a crowded square, practically radiating hostility at each other. Whatever history they had, it seemed to come to a head right here, right now.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I edged closer, doing my best to keep Ragnok from spotting me. I maneuvered behind a group of adventurers, letting the crowd mask my presence. With a bit of patience, I was close enough to overhear the heated exchange without drawing his attention.
Ragnok’s voice thundered through the crowd, thick with barely controlled rage. “You think this is funny, huh? Getting a laugh at my expense?” He sneered. “How’d you even find out?”
The silver-haired woman grinned, clearly enjoying every second of his frustration. “Oh, Ragnok, when you try to mess with a newbie inside city limits and end up getting blocked by Natalia, trust me, the whole place knows.” She shook her head, half laughing.
Ragnok’s expression twisted, practically spitting his fury. “That wench! I swear, once I’m stronger, she won’t be able to stand in my way. Not for long.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“Sure, sure,” she said, waving him off, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Only wish I’d seen it myself—Ragnok, taken down a peg by a low level rookie. Bet you looked ridiculous.” Her laugh was casual, mocking, but somehow you could tell she was enjoying the story.
Ragnok’s glare could’ve burned a hole in her, his cheeks flushed with rage. “Keep laughing, but that ‘rookie’ won’t stay lucky forever.”
She leaned in, dropping her voice but still loud enough for him to hear. “Lucky? Oh, Ragnok, you’re losing your touch. If you ask me, I’m almost a fan of this guy already. Barely started, and he’s got you flailing like a first-timer.”
The words clearly hit a nerve, his face red as he seethed. His eyes narrowed with pure malice, but the woman just raised her eyebrows, as if daring him to make his move.
Hearing them talk about me, my stomach clenched. Ragnok's glare alone was enough to make me want to be anywhere but here, and the silver-haired woman’s jabs were only stoking his rage.
Hanging around close to them felt like begging for trouble, so I started inching toward the back of the crowd, keeping my head low and my footsteps quiet.
The portal would open soon, and they’d be too eager to hit the higher floors to notice me.
Veterans like them had no patience for the low-level grind; last time was an exception. They’d skip right to the big leagues, chasing after the rewards at the top.
Meanwhile, I'd be sticking close to the lower floors, building up my strength slowly. As long as I kept a low profile at the start, the odds of bumping into them were slim at best.
I finally made it to the edge of the crowd and leaned against a post, keeping an eye on the portal spot.
Waiting by the portal, I mentally checked off everything I'd prepped. Yesterday I’d managed to grab some basic gear for my slimes, just the essentials they'd need to absorb and equip.
Among my picks were a greatsword, a shield, a quiver, and the arrow. That crossbow, though—that had been a lucky scavenged find from one of my slimes. Saved me from forking over extra credits, which were already running thin.
Last night, I’d had enough mana to have them absorb the greatsword, the crossbow, and the quiver.
This morning, I used a bit I could spare to let them consume the shield and a helmet.
Now, glancing over their stats, I felt a bit of pride seeing their defense numbers hit a solid 120.
They were more than tanky enough for the lowest floors, able to shield me while dealing some decent damage too.
I decided to keep the second helmet I’d bought for myself. It was heavier than I’d like, a bit clunky, but it added decent protection. It also spared me the mana I’d have spent to consume another item.
Each consumption cost five mana, and after using two charges this morning, I was down to a humble eight mana point.
Enough to summon a couple more slimes if needed or throw in a shapeshift. Either way, better to keep a few points in reserve just in case.
I’d used up the last of my credits to stock up on jerk meat—a handy amount for a fast bite to keep my energy up while on the move. As for the coin pouch from yesterday, It wasn’t much, but I figured it was worth keeping around. If things went south, it’d be good to have a little extra on hand, just in case I found myself in a bind.
With each passing minute, the hum around the portal grew stronger. I shifted the bag on my shoulder, feeling the weight of the slimes and Lila tucked inside.
As the hum reached its peak, the portal’s glow swelled and solidified, casting it's surreal light across the plaza.
A voice rang out, echoing through the crowd: "The portal is now open!"
Just like that, all the tension snapped into action. The veterans immediately dropped their arguments, refocusing with a silent intensity as they stepped forward and disappeared into the portal, one by one.
Around me, small groups formed, holding hands or gripping each other’s shoulders to stay together as they crossed.
Finally, it was my turn. I took a deep breath, stepping through the swirling light. A brief flash, a sense of weightlessness, and then—suddenly, I was somewhere else.
Blinking against the sunlight filtering through thick tree branches, I took in the scene around me.
I’d landed in a place far cry from the dank grotto of my first run; the air here was crisp and full of earthy scents, with a soft breeze stirring the leaves. Tall, trees rose around me, and patches of wildflowers splashed the ground with color. It was deceptively serene.
But I knew better than to be fooled by the calm. I’d seen this place too many times before to let my guard down.
Every time the dungeon opened, there was a high chance of landing in a completely different area than the one before.
This time, instead of the slime-filled grotto, I’d been dropped somewhere all too familiar.
The Goblinwood Grove.