As Nathen found himself, once again, standing before the portal leading into the tower, he inhaled deeply, bracing his spirit, before venturing forward. Within an instant, he materialized within the familiarity of the tower's first floor.

“I feel perfectly fine going through the portal now. I usually feel some form of discomfort…maybe it’s because I got stronger?” Nathan questioned, feeling around his body ensuring that he was fine.

Walking away from the portal, Nathan observed the bustling scene before him. Many hunters were scattered around the clearing, some venturing into the forest, others departing with triumph, while a few sat in groups meticulously strategizing their hunts. Amidst this scene, Nathan noticed that each hunter was within a group.

“Hopefully people don’t start questioning why I hunt alone,” Nathan thought, scanning the groups of hunters.

A sigh escaped Nathan's lips as he made his way toward a tree nestled alongside the clearing. He lowered himself onto the ground and leaned back against the rough bark.

“Am I ready to face the first-floor boss?” he pondered, his mind replaying past encounters. “The Goblin King wasn’t too tough, but the Goblin Sorcerer... That’s the real challenge. Though its magic didn't seem too fast last time, maybe I can dodge or block it now with my higher level.”

After a moment of contemplation, Nathan concluded. “If I want to reach the top, I need to take risks. Also, staying on the first floor for too long will only hinder my growth.”

Nathan sprang to his feet, and set off toward the lair of the Goblin King,

“If I remember correctly, it shouldn’t be too far. I just have to continue walking down the path, and eventually take a left when the path splits,” A smirk of anticipation graced his face, eager to prove his newfound strength by confronting this challenge head-on.

The path toward the Goblin King’s lair was long, but nothing Nathen had not already experienced before. This path could not even be compared to the great distance he had to travel the day before. The path was quiet, marked only by the occasional distant shriek of goblins, and passing two Sentinels. After a brisk half-hour walk, Nathan arrived at his destination.

Before him stood a large, rocky hill, a stark contrast to the otherwise flat landscape of the first floor. The entrance loomed like a gaping maw of a cave, guarded by two watchful goblins. The dirt path ended discreetly, shrouded from the guards' view. Crouching, Nathan slipped into the forest, his heart pounding in anticipation of the upcoming battle.

Closing his eyes, he recalled the strategy his guild used, and smiled slightly,

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“That won’t work. I can’t just rush in…the only way I can succeed is by eliminating as many goblins as I can without being noticed. I might even be able to kill the goblin king quickly if I'm lucky.” Resolute in his plan of attack, Nathan jumped into the trees. He ran along the branches, getting as close to the entrance as he could, and getting the perfect view of the two goblin guards. After finding the perfect spot, Nathan conjured two throwing knives made of shadows. He took a deep breath and carefully aimed his hands. With a fluid motion, he sent them flying in quick succession. Each knife found its mark, sinking into a goblin guard's skull. They collapsed soundlessly. Nathan, familiar with the lair's layout, jumped down from the branches and made his way inside silently.

“Just two more goblins guarding the throne room,” he reminded himself. “I can dispatch them just as quickly.” Every muscle in his body tensed as he navigated the cave system, its walls flickering with the glow of luminescent moss.

Finally, he emerged into a cavern that was markedly different from the rugged, natural tunnels he had just traversed. This cavern seemed to be an artificially carved hallway with a high, arched ceiling. As Nathan approached this hallway, he halted abruptly, concealing himself behind a massive boulder that jutted out from the moist cave walls. His eyes scanned the scene ahead. Two goblin guards stood at the hallway's end, which led to a dome-like chamber.

There, seated on a simple wooden throne, was the Goblin King, adorned with a modest crown and holding a surprisingly well-made spear. Standing a few feet to the left of the throne, was a goblin wearing a purple robe, a hood covering its head, and holding a wooden staff. That was the Goblin Sorcerer, the most tricky part of this boss fight.

“I’ll use the knives for the guards, then try for a surprise attack on the King. The Sorcerer will have to wait, I don’t have a clear line of sight,” Nathan whispered to himself.

The damp, musty air of the goblin lair filled his lungs as he inhaled deeply. Summoning two throwing knives, he leaped from his cover behind the massive, moss-covered rock. As he emerged, he hurled the knives. They whistled through the air, finding their mark in the skulls of the two unsuspecting goblin guards.

Without wasting a second, Nathan conjured a shadow spear. He gripped it tightly, his muscles tensing as he spun around and launched it with all his might toward the Goblin King. The spear cut through the air as it hurtled towards the king with surprising speed. The Goblin King reacted, twisting his body in a desperate attempt to evade the deadly projectile. The spear, narrowly missing its intended lethal mark, embedded itself into the Goblin King's left shoulder. The king's scream of pain and rage echoed off the cavern walls.

In an instant, Nathan manifested a shadow sword in his left hand, and in his right, he conjured a shield no larger than a basketball. He charged towards the Goblin Sorcerer, his feet pounding on the stone floor. The Sorcerer, perched in the heart of the boss’s chamber, had sufficient time to observe Nathan's approach. With a grin, it raised its wooden staff, summoning a barrage of needle-like stones. They materialized around the sorcerer, spinning violently before being launched with a vicious speed towards Nathan.

Nathan angled his shadow shield, deflecting the incoming barrage to the floor. The stones, redirected by his maneuver, embedded themselves into the ground with a series of thuds. Nathan stubbled to keep his balance from the force of the impact,

“That almost knocked me on my back!” Nathan thought, gritting his teeth.