Chapter 153 – First Floor Guardian
Chapter 153
First Floor Guardian
Date : Day 4 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The next morning, after finishing breakfast and tearing down their camp, the three of them stood before the large archway leading deeper into the dungeon.
Beyond it awaited the Floor Guardian, a challenge that would test everything they had learned during their four days of relentless exploration.
Hyoren looked toward his party members, his dark eyes moving from Elise's composed expression to Jackey's barely contained excitement.
"Before we challenge the guardian, let's do one final status check."
He crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"I want to see how much we've grown after clearing Floor One."
Jackey grinned excitedly while Elise nodded calmly.
The Beastkin's golden eyes gleamed with anticipation, his tabby cat tail swishing behind him with barely contained energy. Meanwhile, the silver-haired elf simply tucked a strand of hair behind her pointed ear, her emerald gaze steady and patient.
Hyoren then took out his Guild Card first. He poured Aethell into it. The card softly glowed with pale blue light before lines of text slowly materialized across its surface, revealing his private information in neat rows that seemed to hover just above the metallic surface.
Level : 13
Experience to next level up : 1,001/7,873
Status :
Strength : 16
Vitality : 15
Dexterity : 13
Agility : 13
Magic : 14
Skills :
Forest Walking Lvl 1
Spear Mastery Lvl 3
Throwing Lvl 2
Magic Manipulation Lvl 4
Instinct Lvl 2
Dissection Lvl 1
Aethell Sense Lvl 2
Magic Blade Lvl 3
Light Magic Lvl 2
Strong Legs Lvl 2
Sword Mastery Lvl 3
Shield Mastery Lvl 3
Dark Magic Lvl 2
Spell Learned:
Basic Light Magic : Healing Light
Basic Dark Magic : Enchant Maledict
Active Skill :
Spear : Piercing Thrust
Sword : Quick Slash
Shield : Provoke
Throwing : Precision Throw
Unique Skill : Berserker
Blessing : Divine Protection of Twin Goddesses
Hyoren looked genuinely amused, his eyebrows rising slightly as he scanned the numbers that represented his growth.
"I leveled up twice again… I'm level 13 now…"
Even he sounded slightly incredulous.
"Combined with the level-ups from the Monster Room… I gained four levels in a single dungeon dive…"
He lowered his gaze toward the skill section, his dark eyes tracing the list of abilities that had improved during their expedition.
"My Sword Mastery, Shield Mastery, Strong Legs, Light Magic, and Dark Magic also leveled up."
Jackey immediately raised both arms high into the air, his voice booming through the chamber with characteristic enthusiasm.
"BIG BRO KEEPS GETTING STRONGER!"
Hyoren could only smile wryly at the loud declaration, shaking his head slightly at the Beastkin's boundless energy.
Meanwhile, Elise quietly stepped forward and showed her own Guild Card. The pale blue glow illuminated her features from below as she held the card steady, her emerald eyes watching Hyoren's reaction with quiet interest.
Level: 17
Experience to next level up: 5,394/16,327
Status:
Strength: 14
Vitality : 14
Dexterity : 26
Agility : 25
Magic : 11
Skills :
Bow Mastery Lvl 5
Magic Manipulation Lvl 3
Magic Arrow lvl 1
Forest Walking Lvl 4
Silent Step Lvl 4
Tracking Lvl 4
Sword Mastery Lvl 2
Dissection Lvl 3
Mapping Lvl 2
Poison Mastery Lvl 1
Trap Dismantling Lvl 2
Active Skill :
Bow : Charge Arrow, Double Shot,
Unique Skill : -
Blessing : Blessing of the Verdant Mother
Hyoren looked at her status card, his gaze moving across the numbers and skills with careful attention.
"Finally you leveled up, Elise. And your Mapping and Trap Dismantling both leveled up too. Our dives should become easier now."
Elise smiled softly before nodding.
"Mapping reached level 2. The area I can uncover with each step increased slightly."
She brushed her silver hair over her shoulder.
"This will definitely help our progress."
Hyoren nodded in satisfaction before turning toward Jackey.
"Jackey, your turn."
Jackey immediately grinned and presented his Guild Card proudly, his chest puffing out with characteristic bravado as he held the card aloft like a trophy.
Level : 14
Experience to next level up : 4,446/9,448
Status :
Strength : 18
Vitality : 10
Dexterity : 14
Agility : 15
Magic : 5
Skills :
Axe Mastery Lvl 5
Throwing Lvl 3
Dual Wielding Lvl 3
Keen Instinct Lvl 4
Dissection Lvl 1
Strong Legs Lvl 2
Active Skill :
Axe: Power Slash, Rotating Slash.
Dual Wield : Cross Slash
Throwing : Precision Throw
Unique Skill : -
Blessing : -
Hyoren nodded, his gaze lingering on the new skill that had appeared in Jackey's repertoire.
"Good… one level up. And some of your skills increased."
He smiled, the expression carrying quiet confidence as he considered their combined strength.
"Okay. Time to fight the guardian…"
He looked at his party members, his dark eyes meeting each of their gazes in turn.
"Ready?"
Jackey and Elise nodded without hesitation.
"Okay. Let's go."
They placed their hands on the gate, the cold surface acting like a familiar anchor beneath their palms. The surface was frigid against their skin, the chill seeping through flesh and bone as if the portal itself was testing their resolve before allowing them passage.
Then Gidol's mocking voice echoed inside their minds, the psychic intrusion carrying contempt and amusement in equal measure.
So you've come to die? Xixixi... Very well. Enter my arena and enjoy your death!
Hyoren answered calmly inside his mind, his mental voice steady and unwavering despite the demon god's taunting presence.
Yes.
***
The moment he did, the world dissolved. Their vision twisted. Then, just as suddenly, light and sound rushed back in. Their boots landed on solid stone.
Hyoren immediately steadied himself and looked around sharply. His dark eyes swept across the new environment with the practiced efficiency of someone who had learned to assess threats quickly, his body shifting into a defensive stance before conscious thought could catch up with instinct.
They had arrived on a slightly raised platform connected to a broad set of stone stairs leading downward into a circular arena. The stairs descended perhaps three meters, their worn surfaces suggesting countless battles that had taken place in the space below. Behind them stood another familiar Archway embedded into the stone wall, glowing with the same eerie blue light that characterized every portal they had encountered in this dungeon.
An escape route.
Hyoren narrowed his eyes slightly while studying it, his gaze tracing the distance between their current position and the safety of the archway.
They definitely could escape if necessary. But the distance between the arena floor and the archway was fairly long. Reaching it during battle would not be easy. Especially since they still needed to physically touch the archway and answer Gidol's voice again to teleport out.
Meaning retreat was possible. But dangerous.
His gaze then shifted forward toward the arena itself.
It was roughly twenty meters wide, a massive circular battlefield surrounded by towering ancient smooth rock wall. The floor was composed of fitted stone blocks worn smooth by time and conflict.
And standing at the far side of the arena–was the Guardian.
It was a goblin. But unlike the small, scrawny creatures they had slaughtered for the past four days, this one looked completely different. Taller. Broader. More muscular. Its height was around one hundred sixty to one hundred sixty-five centimeters, almost comparable to a human.
Dense muscles bulged beneath its green skin. It wore nothing except rough rags around its waist.
And in both of its hands were massive crimson axes. Dual wielding.
Hyoren immediately felt something strange. No armor. Two axes. Aggressive weapon choice.
Hyoren focused his senses and activated his Aethell Sense.
His vision sharpened slightly as he observed the core inside the goblin's body. The Aethell within it burned bright and dense, far more concentrated than anything he had observed in the normal goblins they had fought. He silently estimated it. Level fifteen.
A grin slowly formed on Jackey's face beside him.
"Now this looks fun…"
Meanwhile Elise already nocked an arrow silently, her emerald eyes sharp and focused entirely on the Guardian. Her movements were fluid and practiced, the bowstring settling against her fingers with the ease of long familiarity.
The guardian was unmoving. Its yellow eyes stared forward without blinking, its massive arms hanging loose at its sides with the crimson axes resting against the stone floor. It seemed the Guardian would not move until someone stepped into the arena.
And at the same time, the Voice of Aethell rang inside Hyoren's head. That familiar mechanical voice which always announced growth to the people of Kresneger.
"Aethell Sense - Level Up to Level 3."
"Simple Appraisal - Skill Acquired."
Hyoren blinked. The announcement caught him off guard, the timing almost comical given the circumstances.
A rush of knowledge instantly flowed into his mind, making him understand how the new skill functioned. Simple Appraisal. A skill that allowed him to directly identify a creature's name and approximate level.
A culmination of how he had continuously used Aethell Sense to estimate enemy strength.
Until now, he could only roughly judge enemies by observing the size and density of their Aethell core. The process required concentration and experience, demanding that he interpret subtle variations in luminosity and density that could mean the difference between a level ten threat and a level twelve one.
But now, the process became simpler. Cleaner. More intuitive. Almost game-like.
Hyoren raised his hand suddenly, the gesture sharp enough to catch both of his companions' attention.
"Wait…"
Elise and Jackey immediately turned toward him, their expressions shifting from battle-ready focus to curious concern.
"What is it, Hyoren?"
Hyoren grinned slightly.
"I got a new skill. A really useful one. Simple Appraisal."
He quickly explained how the skill worked.
Jackey blinked repeatedly, his golden eyes widening with each revelation.
"Huh? There's skill like that?"
It was clear the Cat-clan Beastkin had never heard of it before. His expression carried genuine bewilderment.
But Elise's reaction was completely different.
Her emerald eyes widened noticeably, the surprise evident in the way her pointed ears twitched and her lips parted slightly.
"That's a rare skill… Usually only scholars, researchers, or court mages have it…"
She stared at him with disbelief, her gaze searching his face for some indication that he was joking.
"How could you actually get it, Hyoren?"
Hyoren scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well… I keep trying to estimate enemy strength using Aethell Sense. It's basically a similar concept, right?"
Elise still looked exasperated. Her silver hair swayed slightly as she shook her head.
"That just… You are truly impossible, Hyoren."
Jackey immediately laughed loudly, the sound booming through the chamber with characteristic enthusiasm.
"As expected of Big Bro!"
Hyoren chuckled awkwardly, though inwardly he was already curious to test the skill immediately. The opportunity was too tempting to resist, even with a Guardian waiting mere meters away.
He focused his mind and activated the new skill.
"Simple Appraisal."
Unlike Aethell Sense, where he needed to manually estimate the density and size of Aethell cores himself, the information now came naturally and instantly.
Clear. Direct. Almost like a game interface. Then the result surfaced inside his mind.
Goblin Berserker - Level 15
Hyoren's eyes narrowed slightly. So his earlier estimation had been correct. A level fifteen Guardian.
Then curiosity took over him. The skill worked on monsters—but what about people?
He shifted his gaze toward Jackey first.
"Simple Appraisal."
The result appeared immediately.
Cat-clan Beastkin - Level 14
Hyoren blinked slightly, surprise flickering across his features at the unexpected capability.
So it could appraise people too. Interesting...
But instead of showing names, it only displayed race or sub-race. The limitation made sense—names were personal information, and this was called ‘simple’ appraisal. Maybe higher tier appraisal skill existed which could gave him more information.
Then he turned toward Elise.
"Simple Appraisal."
For a brief moment, the skill tried to process the information. He could feel it working, reaching out toward the silver-haired elf with the same analytical intent it had applied to the others.
Then the result appeared.
Elf - Level ??
Hyoren gasped slightly. The question marks were unexpected, their presence suggesting limitations he had not anticipated.
Elise tilted her head, her pointed ears twitching with curiosity at his reaction.
"What is it?"
Hyoren stared at her for a moment before speaking, his brow furrowed slightly as he processed the implications.
"It worked on people too…"
He pointed at Jackey, whose chest was already puffing with anticipation.
"Jackey appeared as Cat-clan Beastkin - Level 14."
Jackey puffed his chest proudly, the motion almost reflexive.
"WOHOO!!"
Then Hyoren looked back at Elise, his dark eyes meeting her emerald gaze.
"But yours only showed Elf - Level ??"
Elise immediately understood. The realization settled across her features with quiet comprehension, her expression shifting from curiosity to thoughtful analysis.
"So the skill fails if the target's level is significantly above yours…"
Hyoren nodded slowly, his mind working through the implications.
"Seems like it."
Meanwhile Elise crossed her arms, still looking thoughtful.
"A rare appraisal-type skill… acquired naturally…"
She shook her head again in disbelief, silver hair swaying with the motion.
"You truly keep obtaining strange skills, Hyoren."
Hyoren chuckled awkwardly.
But inwardly, he was excited. Simple Appraisal. A skill every gamer would dream of having. And now it was real.
It would help him tremendously inside dungeons. He could now see enemy names and levels directly, then cross-reference them with existing knowledge. A truly invaluable skill for exploration and combat that would eliminate the guesswork that had characterized his earlier encounters.
Hyoren tightened his grip around his shield, the familiar weight settling against his arm with comforting solidity.
"Okay. Time to strategize."
His gaze focused on the hulking monster waiting silently across the arena, its yellow eyes still staring forward with vacant intensity.
"The Guardian is a Level 15 Goblin Berserker. Alone."
He then looked toward Jackey, his expression seeking confirmation of earlier information.
"You said Floor Guardians are usually stronger versions of the monsters found on that floor."
Jackey nodded enthusiastically, his tabby cat tail swishing behind him.
"Yeah!"
Hyoren continued, his voice carrying the methodical cadence of tactical analysis.
"So logically, the Guardian here should have been something like packs of stronger goblins and goblin archers. Maybe Level 11 or 12."
He narrowed his eyes toward the massive goblin wielding dual crimson axes, the creature's muscular frame seeming even more imposing in the context of his analysis.
"Considering the normal goblins on this floor are Level 10."
Jackey blinked. The excitement of the upcoming fight seemed to make him forget that detail earlier. His golden eyes widened slightly as the contradiction became apparent.
"Uhh… now that you mention it, Big Bro…"
He scratched his cheek.
"It is weird…"
Elise tapped her chin thoughtfully, her emerald eyes distant as she worked through the implications.
"Another complication of this dungeon…"
She tucked a strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear before continuing.
"I also never heard about goblin evolution into Goblin Berserker."
She began listing calmly, her fingers ticking off each variant as she named them.
"Goblin. Goblin Fighter. Goblin Archer. Goblin Warrior. Goblin Shaman. Goblin Lord. Goblin Chieftain. Goblin King."
Her emerald eyes settled onto the Guardian standing motionlessly inside the arena, its crimson axes catching the pale light.
"Those are the established goblin hierarchies."
She slowly shook her head, silver hair swaying with the motion.
"Goblin Berserker… I never heard such variant before."
Hyoren turned toward Jackey again, his expression questioning.
"Is that normal?"
Jackey immediately nodded enthusiastically, his earlier excitement returning again. His tabby cat tail swished energetically behind him.
"Yeah, Big Bro!"
He pointed dramatically toward the arena.
"Dungeon sometimes have monsters that don't exist outside! Sometimes it's just weird subspecies or variant. But sometimes…"
His grin widened, revealing sharp teeth that gleamed in the pale light.
"It's completely new creatures!"
He tapped the side of his Bloody Axe proudly, the black metal ringing softly under the impact.
"Axor! Those humanoid monsters I said before that only use axes? Never seen outside dungeon!"
His golden eyes gleamed brightly with the enthusiasm of someone sharing cherished knowledge.
"Or at least that's what my old party told me! HAHAHA!"
Jackey's booming laughter echoed through the Guardian Chamber, the sound bouncing off the ancient walls until it faded into silence.
Hyoren instinctively glanced toward the Goblin Berserker, half-expecting the noise to provoke some reaction.
But the monster remained unmoving. Its glowing yellow eyes were simply vacant, staring forward without focus or awareness.
It seemed unnecessary noise would not provoke it. Only aggression. Or entering its territory.
Hyoren slowly unsheathed his sword. The blade whispered against the scabbard, the sound sharp and clean in the chamber's heavy silence. Then he raised his shield.
"Okay."
He focused on the Guardian again, his dark eyes tracing the creature's outline with tactical assessment.
"New goblin variant. Goblin Berserker."
His eyes drifted toward the two crimson axes, their red surfaces seeming to pulse with malevolent promise.
"From the name, weapon choice, lack of armor, and physique…"
A faint grin appeared on his face, the expression carrying a note of dark humor.
"It honestly matches Jackey's fighting style."
Jackey instantly snorted loudly.
"Copycat!"
Elise giggled softly while Hyoren chuckled, the brief moment of levity providing a welcome contrast to the tension that hung heavy in the air.
Then his expression gradually turned serious again.
"But our strategy won't change. I will tank and hold its attention."
His eyes shifted toward the other two, his gaze settling on each of them in turn with deliberate weight.
"Jackey. Elise. Keep attacking it continuously."
Both of their expressions sharpened immediately. The casual conversation vanished, replaced by focus and tension that seemed to crystallize in the space between them. Elise's grip tightened on her Moonveil bow, her knuckles whitening slightly against the wood. Jackey's hands found his Bloody Axe and Flying Kite Axe, the weapons settling into his palms with familiar comfort.
***
Hyoren took point. His footsteps were slow and deliberate as he descended the stone stairs leading into the arena.
The atmosphere inside the Guardian Chamber felt fundamentally different from the corridors they had explored.
The Goblin Berserker still stood motionless at the far side of the arena, Its glowing yellow eyes were still vacant
Hyoren tightened his grip around his Steel Kite Shield and Mithril-alloy Broadsword. His fingers pressed harder against the leather-wrapped handles, the familiar texture providing an anchor against the tension that formed in his chest.
Then he activated his skill while continuing forward.
"Magic Blade."
Pale blue Aethell instantly coated the edge of his sword.
Then he activated his dark magic.
"Enchant Maledict."
Purple curse-like energy seeped across the blade afterward.
Hyoren narrowed his eyes slightly. This was important. They were not fighting ordinary goblins anymore. This was a boss. A Guardian. A creature designed to test adventurers who had proven themselves capable of clearing the floor below.
The stacking debuffs from Enchant Maledict would become incredibly valuable in a prolonged battle. Against weaker enemies, the curse's effect was negligible—fights ended too quickly for the accumulated weakness to matter. But against something like this, something that could withstand punishment and keep fighting, every application would compound upon the last.
Every successful strike would weaken the Guardian little by little. Reduce its speed. Lower its defense. Dull its attack power. Turn the battle increasingly in their favor.
A slow, methodical dismantling.
Behind him, Elise already nocked an arrow quietly while Jackey rolled his shoulders and spun one of his axes loosely in anticipation.
Meanwhile, across the arena, the Goblin Berserker finally moved. Its golden eyes suddenly lit up. Its massive muscles tensed beneath green skin.
Then the monster slowly raised both crimson axes. The weapons ascended with deliberate menace, their red surfaces catching the pale dungeon light and seeming to drink it in rather than reflect it.
A grin filled with savage bloodlust spread across its face. And with a deafening roar that seemed to shake the very walls of the chamber.
"GRAAAAAHHH!"
It charged.
Hyoren charged forward to meet it.
"Jackey! Elise! Do as we discussed!"
He did not look back for confirmation. He trusted them completely. The last four days inside the dungeon had forged their coordination into something seamless.
His shield rose into defensive position.
"Provoke!"
A pulse of Aethell spread from him instantly. The Goblin Berserker's glowing yellow eyes immediately turned bloodshot. The Guardian roared furiously, its entire killing intent locking onto Hyoren alone with almost physical force.
Then it swung both crimson axes downward with terrifying force. The weapons descended in parallel arcs.
BANG!
The explosive impact echoed violently throughout the Guardian Chamber.
Hyoren's entire body trembled beneath the assault. Pain instantly shot through his left arm, the agony sharp and immediate as the force transmitted through his shield and into his body. He felt muscles tearing under the strain, fibers snapping like overstressed ropes. And a sharp crack from his radius and ulna bones that sent fresh waves of agony cascading through his consciousness.
His stance almost collapsed from the sheer weight behind the attack. His knees buckled slightly, his body threatening to fold under the devastating pressure that sought to drive him into the stone floor.
But he endured it through pure stubbornness. His boots dug hard into the stone floor, the soles scraping against the surface as he forced his body to remain upright. He gritted his teeth painfully, the muscles in his jaw standing out in stark relief against his skin.
I couldn't fully absorb that attack! I need to redirect the force instead! The power behind those two axes is insane!
The Goblin Berserker was monstrously strong. Far beyond normal goblins.
But Hyoren immediately counterattacked.
“Quick Slash.”
SQUELCH.
The sword only grazed the Guardian's arm, leaving behind a shallow cut that barely qualified as a wound. Blood oozed from the incision, the liquid appearing almost black against the creature's green skin. But that was enough. One stack of Maledict curse seeped into the monster.
For now, the effect was almost unnoticeable. The curse would reduce the Guardian's capabilities by perhaps one or two percent—barely perceptible in the heat of combat. But if the fight dragged on, the debuffs would slowly pile up. And the Guardian would continuously weaken.
At the same time, Jackey completed his flank. The Cat-clan Beastkin had circled wide during the initial clash.
The Cat-clan Beastkin grinned wildly, his golden eyes blazing with battle fever.
"Cross Slash."
His twin axes moved simultaneously in a perfectly coordinated blur of black-red and white steel. The weapons crossed paths in an X-pattern, their edges biting into flesh from opposite directions with devastating synchronicity.
SCREEECK.
The Guardian's side exploded with deep slashes. Blood sprayed outward in a crimson mist. The sudden impact disrupted its balance slightly, breaking its posture and forcing it to shift its weight to compensate.
Then Elise followed immediately without hesitation. Her arrow was already drawn, the bowstring pulled taut against her cheek as she took aim at the distracted Guardian.
"Charge Magic Arrow!"
A dense concentration of Aethell gathered around her arrow. The glow intensified for a heartbeat before she released it.
SWOOSH.
The glowing projectile shot directly toward the Guardian's face.
But the Goblin Berserker reacted quickly. It raised one muscular arm instinctively to defend, the limb interposing itself between the arrow and its vulnerable face with surprising reflexes.
THUD.
The arrow embedded deeply into its forearm instead. The impact caused the creature to grunt, though the sound carried more annoyance than genuine distress.
Hyoren immediately noticed the faint purplish aura surrounding the arrow. Poison. Elise had already started utilizing her new Poison Mastery skill, coating her projectiles with toxins that would compound the damage they inflicted. The poison seeped into the Guardian's body almost instantly, the discoloration spreading outward from the wound like ink diffusing through water.
The Goblin Berserker roared in anger and pain as the toxin began gnawing at it from inside.
Meanwhile, Hyoren used the brief opening to heal himself. He focused Aethell directly into his damaged arm, directing the healing energy toward the injuries that threatened to compromise his ability to continue fighting. The torn muscles. The fractured radius and ulna bones.
"Healing Light."
Warm golden light enveloped his left arm. The pain rapidly faded, the sensation retreating like an outgoing tide. The snapped muscles reconnected, fibers weaving themselves back together with methodical precision. The fractured bones repaired itself, the crack sealing as if it had never existed.
Hyoren flexed his arm once, testing the restoration with careful attention. Then he tightened his grip around the shield again. Back to normal. He could continue tanking.
He fixated his eyes on the Goblin Berserker. Ready to took its absurd attack again.