Chapter 164 – Less for More
Chapter 164
Less for More
Date : Day 10 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Silence returned to the chamber.
The clash of steel had ceased. The guttural roars of the goblins were gone. Only the ragged breathing of the three adventurers echoed softly through the ancient ruins.
The last particles of the Goblin Saber slowly faded into the air.
Hyoren lowered his sword.
He took a long, deep breath before exhaling slowly. Then he looked at his companions.
“Whew...”
He smiled wryly.
“These enemies were tough...”
Jackey rested both axes against his shoulders. His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath.
“Yeah, Big Bro! I even had to give it my everything!”
He scratched the back of his head before laughing.
“Those green skulkers weren't easy to whack!”
Near the wall, Elise finally lowered her Moonveil Bow. The tension gradually left her shoulders.
She walked toward the other two while returning the arrow she had prepared to her quiver.
“Yeah...”
She nodded thoughtfully.
“I was surprised when that Goblin Shielder kept dodging my arrows.”
She recalled the battle.
“Even while it was busy dealing with Jackey at the same time...”
Her grip tightened slightly around the shaft of her bow.
“It felt like we were fighting another Guardian.”
Hyoren sheathed his Mithril-Alloy Broadsword. The blade slid into its scabbard with a soft scrape.
“Yeah… These enemies felt like bosses.”
He looked around the chamber once more.
“Their level and raw strength actually weren't that high.”
He paused.
“But...”
His words trailed off.
Elise immediately understood what he meant.
She nodded. Her silver hair gently swayed with the movement.
“They had skill. And technique.”
She looked toward the place where the Goblin Shielder had disappeared.
“That made them far more troublesome than monsters that were simply higher level with better stats.”
She smiled wryly.
“We couldn't brute-force our way through them.”
Hyoren crouched beside the Goblin Saber's fallen weapon. He picked up the two-handed sword. Its weight settled comfortably in his hand.
He carefully examined the blade before lightly tapping the metal with a finger—a clear metallic ring echoed softly.
“This weapon too...”
He slowly turned the sword under the pale blue light of the magic lamps.
“It was far beyond the crude, rusted weapons the first-floor goblins carried.”
His eyes narrowed.
“This is definitely made of iron...”
He paused briefly.
“Or perhaps even steel.”
He carefully tested the edge with his thumb. The blade felt remarkably sharp.
“And it was properly forged. It cuts well.”
Nearby, Elise crouched and picked up one of the shattered pieces of the Goblin Shielder's buckler.
She carefully examined the fractured surface.
“Yeah… Their equipment was well made too.”
She lightly knocked on the broken buckler with her knuckle.
It produced a solid sound beneath the wooden surface.
Jackey twirled both axes once before hooking them back onto his belt.
“Yes! That buckler was annoying!”
He puffed out his cheeks.
“Unless I combined Strong Legs with Cross Slash… That green skulker just kept redirecting my attacks!”
Hyoren couldn't help smiling wryly.
“This second floor is completely different from the first.”
He slowly stood and surveyed the chamber once again.
“The encounter rate is much lower...”
His gaze swept across the quiet ruins.
“But… Every encounter feels like fighting a mini boss.”
Hyoren then examined his right flank.
The bleeding had already stopped. But the wound still prickled.
He carefully lifted part of his chainmail.
The cut wasn't deep. The armor had absorbed most of the slash, leaving only a shallow wound. However, the skin around it had already become swollen and red from the impact.
Elise stepped closer to inspect it.
“So those goblins actually managed to hit you...”
Hyoren smiled wryly.
“Yeah... I was careless.”
He took a slow breath.
Then focused on the healing spell. He formed the Runic Array in his mind. Then he pictured the torn flesh knitting back together. The strained muscles reconnecting. The damaged skin closing.
“Healing Light.”
Soft pale light gathered around his hand before flowing into the wound.
The cut slowly closed. The redness gradually faded as well.
Hyoren lightly touched his side before nodding in satisfaction.
“Good.”
He then walked over to Jackey.
The beastkin's thigh still carried a bloodstain from the Goblin Shielder's slash.
“Stay still, Jackey.”
Jackey obediently stopped moving.
Hyoren placed a hand near the wound.
“Healing Light.”
Warm light enveloped Jackey's thigh. The shallow cut visibly closed before their eyes. A few moments later, the wound had completely disappeared.
Jackey immediately bent his knee several times before hopping in place. Then he grinned.
“Thanks, Big Bro! Back to full power! WOHOO!”
Hyoren chuckled.
“Good. Now let's collect the loot before we continue.”
Elise and Jackey nodded.
The three of them spread out around the chamber.
They collected the two Magic Stones first. After that came the Goblin Saber's two-handed sword and the Goblin Shielder's short sword.
The shattered buckler was beyond repair. They left it behind.
Hyoren picked up the leather armor worn by the Goblin Saber. He examined the material carefully.
“This armor isn't crude...”
He looked at the large hole in the chest and the deep gashes carved across it.
“But with this much damage… I guess we should just leave it.”
Elise briefly examined the armor in his hands before nodding.
“Yeah. The weapons are still in good condition. They should sell for a decent price.”
She glanced around the now-empty chamber. Her silver hair gently swayed as she turned.
“Our earnings will definitely be lower than on the first floor, though.”
Hyoren nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. Both the experience and the loot.”
He looked toward the corridor leading deeper into the dungeon.
“There are far fewer encounters. Even if the monsters are stronger and drop better equipment… I think the first floor is still much better for farming experience and loot.”
Jackey's shoulders immediately slumped.
“So… We won't get rich?”
He dramatically raised both hands toward the ceiling.
“How am I supposed to pay for the brothel later?”
Hyoren and Elise burst into laughter.
Hyoren walked over and lightly patted Jackey's shoulder.
“We'll still earn a good amount.”
He smiled.
“And who knows? We might find another treasure chest later.”
Jackey visibly relaxed.
“Phew… That's good then.”
Hyoren chuckled before turning toward Elise.
“Okay. Let's keep moving.”
He gave her a small nod.
“Please lead the way again, Elise.”
Elise smiled softly.
“Leave it to me.”
She moved to the front once more.
Her footsteps became nearly silent as Silent Step activated. Moonveil Bow rested in her hand, while her emerald eyes carefully scanned every corridor ahead.
The Freedom Party resumed their exploration.
***
The Freedom Party continued their exploration.
Once again—silence accompanied them.
They walked through one corridor after another. Empty passages. Dead ends. Abandoned chambers.
The labyrinth twisted endlessly before them. Every intersection looked almost identical to the last.
Time slowly passed. The exploration became almost monotonous.
Jackey yawned. Then another. A few minutes later—he yawned once more.
Hyoren glanced at him before smiling wryly.
“Jackey.”
The beastkin scratched his cheek.
“Sorry...”
He stretched both arms.
“This floor is too quiet. I almost miss those green skulkers.”
Hyoren chuckled.
“That's the first time I've heard someone complain because there aren't enough monsters.”
Jackey grinned.
“If there aren't monsters… How am I supposed to whack them?”
Elise simply smiled faintly at their exchange. She never relaxed her vigilance. Her pointed ears twitched every few seconds, listening for even the faintest sound. Her emerald eyes carefully scanned every corner ahead.
Until—she abruptly stopped. One hand rose into the air.
Hyoren immediately understood.
Without a word, he moved past Elise and took the front. Shield raised. He slowly leaned around the corner. Another chamber.
Almost identical to the previous one. Cracked stone walls. Broken barrels. Rotting wooden crates. Dust covering the floor.
And—there were three goblins.
Each stood with the same upright posture as the Goblin Saber and Goblin Shielder they had just defeated.
Hyoren narrowed his eyes.
His gaze settled on the first one.
The goblin carried a long two-handed spear. Unlike the crude weapons from the first floor, the spear looked properly forged and well maintained.
Simple Appraisal.
Goblin Lancer — Level 12.
His gaze shifted toward the second goblin.
At first glance, it appeared unarmed. But after looking more carefully—he noticed multiple daggers strapped around its leather belt.
Simple Appraisal.
Goblin Assassin — Level 12.
Hyoren's expression became even more serious.
Finally—he looked at the last monster. Shield. Short sword. A familiar sight. Shielder.
Three elite variants. Working together.
Hyoren quietly withdrew from the corner.
He lowered his shield slightly before turning toward Elise and Jackey. Then he gestured for both of them to follow. They needed to discuss their strategy.
Away from the chamber. Before the goblins noticed their presence.
Hyoren stopped after they had put a safe distance between themselves and the chamber.
Far enough that their discussion wouldn't reach the goblins.
He turned toward Elise and Jackey.
“Okay… There's three goblins this time.”
He briefly described what he had seen.
“One Goblin Shielder. One Goblin Lancer carrying a two-handed spear. And one Goblin Assassin.”
He paused.
“The Assassin carries several daggers on its belt.”
Elise tightened her grip on her bow.
“Three… And one of them already sounds troublesome.”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yeah. The Goblin Shielder… we already know how it fights.”
He counted with his fingers.
“The Lancer might fight similarly to the Saber. But the Assassin...”
He narrowed his dark eyes.
“I have a feeling it'll have a few hidden tricks.”
Elise tucked a strand of her silver hair behind her pointed ear.
“And there are three of them now instead of two...”
She exhaled slowly.
“We truly need to go all out.”
Hyoren adjusted the grip on his shield.
“Yeah… We can't afford to become complacent.”
He looked toward the corridor leading back to the chamber.
“Fighting two was manageable. But adding one more changes everything. It gives them far more opportunities to support each other.”
Jackey frowned.
“So what do we do, Big Bro?”
He raised both axes onto his shoulders.
“Please don't say retreat!”
Hyoren glanced back toward the chamber for a brief moment.
Then he smiled.
“No. We're fighting them.”
His expression quickly became serious again.
“But we'll fight more carefully than before.”
He turned toward Jackey.
“Same as before. Focus on the Goblin Shielder. Use your skills and overwhelm it as quickly as possible.”
Jackey immediately grinned.
“Yes! Easy enough! Whack the Shielder first!”
Hyoren chuckled before looking at Elise.
“Elise. This time, I want you to keep the Goblin Assassin busy.”
He tapped his shield lightly.
“I have a feeling it'll keep moving around, looking for an opening to interfere with either me or Jackey. So don't let it move freely. Keep its attention on you until Jackey finishes the Shielder.”
Elise nodded without hesitation.
“Understood.”
Then Hyoren rested his hand on the hilt of his broadsword.
“I'll handle the Goblin Lancer.”
Jackey raised a fist.
“Roger that, Big Bro!”
Elise smiled softly.
With their plan settled, the three quietly returned toward the chamber.
***
Hyoren charged first. Shield raised.
“Magic Blade.”
“Enchant Maledict.”
His sword was ready.
Hyoren's gaze locked onto the Goblin Lancer standing on the left.
“Provoke.”
The skill immediately took effect.
The Goblin Lancer's eyes turned bloodshot. Without hesitation, it lowered its spear and charged.
Fast!
Hyoren's dark pupils narrowed.
The Goblin Lancer was noticeably faster than the Goblin Saber.
In the blink of an eye, it had already entered striking range. Its spear shot forward.
Hyoren raised his shield.
CLANG!
The spearhead struck the shield and slid away.
Before Hyoren could even breathe—the Goblin Lancer pulled the spear back and thrust again in one smooth motion.
CLANG!
Another thrust. Another successful block.
The Lancer didn't stop. Using the recoil, it leaped lightly into the air before swinging the spear downward.
Hyoren shifted his shield slightly.
CLANG!
The strike was deflected to the side. He immediately seized the opening. His broadsword swept toward the goblin's torso.
The Goblin Lancer reacted instantly. It jumped backward.
The blade sliced through empty air.
Fast… This one's truly a speed-oriented fighter.
Hyoren didn't chase.
Instead, he narrowed his dark eyes. Watching. Observing. Tracking every movement. The shifting of its feet. The twitch of its muscles. The subtle movement of its shoulders before every attack.
Every habit. Every rhythm.
The Goblin Lancer moved again. Its spear lunged forward.
CLANG!
The spear swept horizontally.
CLANG!
Another thrust came almost immediately after. Hyoren calmly redirected it with his shield.
CLANG!
The relentless assault continued.
The Goblin Lancer attacked with astonishing speed, flowing from one technique into the next without leaving obvious openings.
Yet—Hyoren never lost his focus. His breathing remained steady. His feet stayed firmly planted upon the cracked flagstones.
Even if the Goblin Lancer was faster than he had expected—as long as he didn't become careless—he would remain an immovable wall.
***
Hyoren briefly glanced toward the other two battles before immediately refocusing on the Goblin Lancer.
Just as he had expected before—the biggest problem wasn't the Lancer or even Shielder—it was the Assassin.
The Goblin Assassin never stayed in one place.
Its footsteps were incredibly light as it constantly darted across the chamber. Left. Right. Forward. Backward.
Always moving. Never giving anyone a clear target.
Elise matched its movements.
She calmly nocked an arrow. Released.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked toward the Goblin Assassin.
With a quick sidestep, it dodged the shot.
Elise immediately nocked another. She released without hesitation.
SWOOSH!
This time, the Assassin drew one of the daggers from its belt.
CLANG!
The dagger deflected the arrow aside.
Elise's emerald eyes narrowed.
Its reaction speed… It's ridiculous…
Meanwhile—Jackey remained locked in battle against the Goblin Shielder. His Bloody Axe crashed down repeatedly. Each attack met the buckler.
CLANG!
The Goblin Shielder redirected the force with practiced movements.
Jackey followed with Flying Kite Axe.
CLANG!
The short sword intercepted it cleanly.
Neither side managed to gain the advantage.
Jackey clicked his tongue. He forcefully broke the deadlock and took several quick steps backward.
Then he lowered his stance. Both axes tightened in his grip.
He prepared to use skill.
“Eat this, green skulker!”
Just as he was about to activate it—a flash flew across his vision. A dagger. Thrown from the side.
THUD!
The blade struck Jackey's thigh.
“Ouch!”
His stance immediately collapsed. The sudden pain broke his concentration.
At the same moment, the Goblin Shielder seized the opening and stepped forward.
Jackey had no choice. He forcefully jumped backward to avoid the incoming attack. His charge was completely interrupted.
Near the wall, Elise frowned. Her emerald eyes never left the Goblin Assassin.
This Assassin is truly troublesome...
She had succeeded in keeping it occupied. But only partially. Even while dodging her arrows—the Goblin Assassin still found opportunities to interfere with Jackey's battle.
Elise immediately nocked another arrow. She drew her Moonveil Bow to its full length.
Released.
SWOOSH!
The Goblin Assassin twisted its body. The arrow missed.
Without waiting, Elise fired again.
SWOOSH!
The goblin reacted just as quickly.
CLANG!
Its dagger knocked the arrow away once more.
Elise quietly clicked her tongue.
She continued firing, refusing to let the Assassin roam freely.
Yet the nimble goblin kept weaving around the battlefield—constantly looking for another chance to disrupt Jackey.
***
Hyoren grimaced.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw exactly what the Goblin Assassin had done.
Even while exchanging blows with the Goblin Lancer, he continued monitoring the entire battlefield.
The Assassin was becoming a bigger problem with every passing second.
I need to do something... Fast.
If this continued—the Goblin Assassin would eventually find an opening to truly incapacitate one of them.
To make matters worse, the Goblin Lancer was simply too fast. Hyoren hadn't managed to land a single hit. Not even once.
Which meant—Enchant Maledict hadn't stacked even a single curse on it.
The Goblin Lancer continued circling lightly, spear always ready to strike.
Hyoren made his decision. He suddenly drove his shield forward.
THUD!
The force pushed the Goblin Lancer backward just enough to break its rhythm.
Without hesitating, Hyoren immediately jumped back to create a little distance.
Then he shouted.
“Jackey! Change of plan! Focus on the Assassin first!”
Using the brief opening while the Goblin Lancer was recovering its footing, Hyoren shifted his gaze toward the Goblin Shielder.
“Provoke!”
The skill immediately took effect. The Goblin Shielder's eyes turned bloodshot. Its attention left Jackey and shifted entirely toward Hyoren.
Hyoren didn't bother checking whether Jackey had already acted on his order.
He trusted his companions. Right now—he had to focus—he was about to face two elite monsters at once.
The Goblin Lancer recovered first. It lowered its spear before lunging forward.
At the same time. The Goblin Shielder cautiously advanced from the side, sword and shield ready.
The two monsters attacked together.
The spear thrust came first. Hyoren raised his shield.
CLANG!
The spearhead glanced harmlessly away.
Almost simultaneously, the Goblin Shielder slashed toward his flank.
Hyoren twisted his wrist. His broadsword intercepted the short sword.
CLANG!
The force traveled through both arms. Neither attack broke his stance.
His dark eyes constantly shifted between the two enemies. The Goblin Lancer. The Goblin Shielder. Back to the Lancer. Then the Shielder again.
He tracked every movement. Every twitch of muscle. Every subtle shift of footing. Never allowing himself to become fixated on only one opponent.
Never leaving an opening.
***
Jackey heard Hyoren's order.
The moment the Goblin Shielder's attention shifted away.
“Roger, Big Bro!”
He immediately abandoned the Goblin Shielder. Without the slightest hesitation.
He trusted Hyoren completely.
If Big Bro said he would handle it...
Then he would.
Jackey's golden eyes sharpened. His new target became the Goblin Assassin.
He charged.
The Goblin Assassin immediately noticed him. Without stopping its movement, it pulled another dagger from its belt and threw it.
SWOOSH!
But this time—Jackey was ready. He twisted his body. The dagger narrowly missed him.
CLANG!
It struck the stone floor harmlessly behind him.
Jackey grinned.
“Strong Legs!”
Aethell surged through his legs. His muscles tensed.
The next step would explode with power.
Nearby, Elise had also heard Hyoren's command. She saw Jackey charging straight toward the Goblin Assassin.
Without hesitation, she changed her approach.
Instead of aiming for a killing shot—she nocked another arrow. Her Moonveil Bow bent into a perfect curve.
“Charged Arrow!”
She released.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked across the chamber.
This time—it wasn't aimed at the Goblin Assassin's head. Nor its torso.
It was aimed at its feet.
The Goblin Assassin instinctively tried to dodge. But the unexpected target caught it off guard. A fraction too late.
SQUELCH!
The arrow pierced straight through its foot before embedding itself into the cracked flagstones beneath.
The Goblin Assassin let out a guttural cry. Its movement abruptly halted. Pinned.
Jackey's grin widened.
“This is it!”
Propelled by Strong Legs, he exploded forward. Then leaped.
Both axes descended simultaneously.
“Cross Slash!”
The Goblin Assassin desperately tried to evade. But the arrow through its foot slowed it just enough.
Flying Kite Axe struck first.
SCREEECK!
The white axe carved deeply into its shoulder, missing its neck by only a few centimeters.
A heartbeat later—Bloody Axe arrived.
SCREEECK!
The crimson blade cleanly sliced through the Goblin Assassin's neck. Its head flew into the air.
For a brief instant—the headless body remained standing.
Then both the body and the severed head dissolved into countless particles of light.
***
Meanwhile, Hyoren continued fighting two elite goblins at once.
The Goblin Lancer never stopped attacking. Neither did the Goblin Shielder.
The relentless assault came from two directions.
CLANG!
Hyoren blocked the Goblin Lancer's thrust with his shield.
CLANG!
He immediately parried the Goblin Shielder's short sword with his own blade.
The two attacks flowed one after another without giving him any room to breathe.
Then—Hyoren shoved his shield forward.
THUD!
The impact broke the Goblin Lancer's stance just enough.
He immediately jumped backward, creating a few steps of distance.
With a flick of his wrist, he activated one of his trump cards.
“Precision Throw.”
Thanks to the active skill, only a brief moment of aiming was needed. The skill will guide the rest.
The kunai shot out from his Ninja Gloves.
SWOOSH!
The small blade streaked through the air. It found its target.
SQUELCH!
The kunai buried itself deep into the Goblin Shielder's thigh.
The goblin actually tried to react. Its buckler rose instinctively—but it was a fraction too late to keep up with the speed granted by skill.
Hyoren immediately followed through.
“Quick Slash.”
His Mithril-Alloy Broadsword moved almost automatically under the guidance of the skill.
SQUELCH!
The blade slashed across the Goblin Shielder's right hand.
The goblin let out a guttural cry. Its fingers loosened.
CLANG!
The short sword slipped from its grasp and struck the stone floor.
Hyoren felt something from his left and instinctively raised his shield again.
CLANG!
The Goblin Lancer's spear thrust crashed into it. He absorbed the impact without losing his footing.
Now his burden became much lighter. The Goblin Shielder could no longer launch proper attacks without its weapon.
He could focus more of his attention on the Goblin Lancer.
At the same moment—Jackey arrived.
The Goblin Shielder remained completely focused on Hyoren. It never realized the cat-clan beastkin had already lunged behind it.
“Cross Slash!”
Both axes descended simultaneously.
SCREEECK!
Two deep gashes crossed the Goblin Shielder's back. The monster stumbled forward.
Jackey immediately followed up. His Bloody Axe swung once more.
SCREEECK!
The crimson blade cleanly severed the Goblin Shielder's neck. The goblin froze for a brief moment before dissolving into countless particles of light.
Meanwhile—Hyoren continued receiving the Goblin Lancer's relentless assault.
CLANG!
Another spear thrust struck his shield.
CLANG!
He deflected the next sweeping attack with his broadsword.
Then—out of the corner of his eye—he saw Elise. Her Moonveil Bow was already fully drawn. She was waiting for an opening.
Hyoren reacted immediately.
He stepped forward. Then slammed his shield into the Goblin Lancer.
THUD!
The sudden impact made the monster stumble. That brief opening was all Elise needed. She released.
SWOOSH!
The arrow streaked across the chamber.
THUD!
It buried itself deep into the Goblin Lancer's forehead.
The monster froze in place.
Hyoren didn't waste the opportunity.
“Quick Slash.”
His Mithril-Alloy Broadsword flashed.
SQUELCH!
The blade slashed the Goblin Lancer's neck. For a brief moment—the monster remained standing—then its body dissolved into countless particles of light.
Following the Goblin Assassin and Goblin Shielder into oblivion.
***
The chamber fell silent once again. Only the ragged breathing of the three could be heard.
Then Jackey suddenly raised both axes high. His tabby cat tail spiraled excitedly behind him.
“WOHOO! We win! Freedom Party strong!”
Hyoren lowered both his sword and shield. He took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
“Whew...”
He smiled wryly.
“That was quite hard.”
Elise lowered her Moonveil Bow before walking over to the two of them.
“Yeah.”
She smiled softly.
“That was a good call, Hyoren. If you hadn't changed the plan...”
She glanced toward where the Goblin Assassin had disappeared.
“We could have lost... or at least received much worse injuries.”
Jackey bobbed his head repeatedly.
“Yes! Big Bro best leader! WOHOO!”
Hyoren scratched his cheek awkwardly.
Before he could answer—a familiar voice echoed inside his mind—the emotionless Voice of Aethell.
"Instinct — Level up to 3."
"Shield Mastery — Level up to 4."
"Shield Mastery — Active Skill acquired — Shield Bash."
Hyoren froze for a brief moment.
Two Skills had leveled up. And he had obtained a new Active Skill. He blinked once before looking toward Elise and Jackey.
The two of them also paused briefly, as though listening to something only they could hear.
A moment later, both regained their focus.
Hyoren grinned.
“Did you guys receive the Voice of Aethell too?”
Jackey recovered first. He enthusiastically nodded.
“Yes, Big Bro! My Keen Instinct became Level 5! And Strong Legs became Level 3! WOHOO!”
Elise tucked a strand of her silver hair behind her pointed ear before smiling.
“Same. I received several notifications. My Bow Mastery became Level 6.”
She gently rested a hand on her Moonveil Bow.
“And I learned a new Active Skill. Tracking Shot.”
Hyoren tilted his head.
“What does it do?”
Elise traced the shaft of her bow.
“It lets me fire a guided arrow… The arrow can't keep chasing an enemy forever. But it can adjust its trajectory while it's flying.”
She smiled.
“So even if the target dodges at the last moment… It still has a good chance of hitting.”
Hyoren nodded in appreciation.
“That'll be very useful against fast enemies like the assassin...”
He looked at both of them before smiling.
“Congratulations, Elise. Jackey. We're getting stronger.”
He then shared his own progress. About two skill level ups.
He lightly tapped his shield with his fist.
“I also learned a new Active Skill. Shield Bash. I've used my shield to shove enemies a lot before. But now the skill will assist my movement.”
He grinned.
“It'll make the strike stronger. It should be useful for staggering enemies and creating openings.”
Elise nodded thoughtfully.
“That suits your fighting style perfectly.”
Jackey laughed loudly.
“Hahaha! Big Bro becoming tougher again!”
Hyoren chuckled.
Then his gaze slowly swept across the quiet chamber. He suddenly realized something.
“This floor seems to serve a different purpose than the first floor...”
Elise tilted her head. Her silver hair cascaded gently over her shoulders.
“What do you mean, Hyoren?”
Jackey also tilted his head but remained silent, seemingly waiting for Hyoren to explain.
Hyoren gestured around the chamber.
“As we already know, this floor gives far less experience and loot.”
He began counting with his fingers.
“At most, we gain 36 EXP from an encounter like this. And three Level 12 Magic Stones worth around 36K Kres.”
He lightly kicked one of the fallen weapons.
“The weapons are much better than the crude ones on the first floor, so they'll sell for a decent price.”
He paused before continuing.
“But compared to the first floor… We gained 100 EXP from every group of ten Level 10 Goblins. And around 100K Kres just from their Magic Stones.”
He looked toward the corridor stretching deeper into the dungeon.
“Plus… On the first floor, we encountered a goblin group every few minutes. Here, we have to walk for 15 to 20 minutes before finding another enemy.”
A small smile appeared on his face.
“But...”
His words trailed off.
Elise's emerald eyes widened slightly. She already understood his implications.
“This second floor is a training ground...”
Hyoren nodded.
“Exactly. This floor doesn't reward us with EXP or loot.”
He tapped his temple lightly.
“It rewards us with combat instinct and skill proficiency.”
He looked back toward where the elite goblins had disappeared.
“Every encounter is difficult. Every enemy forces us to think. To adapt. To improve. That's why our Skills leveled up so quickly.”
Jackey finally understood. His head bobbed repeatedly.
“Oooh… So that's what Big Bro means!”
He grinned.
“Yeah! My skills leveled up really fast here!”
But his expression quickly changed as he scratched his cheek.
“But I still prefer the first floor. Money! For brothels! Hahaha!”
Hyoren and Elise couldn't help laughing along. Their laughter echoed briefly through the empty chamber before gradually subsiding.
Hyoren finally nodded.
“Okay. Time to clean up.”
He walked over to Jackey.
“Stay still, Jackey.”
The shallow wound on the beastkin's thigh had already stopped bleeding.
“Healing Light.”
Soft pale light enveloped the injury. The cut gradually closed before disappearing completely.
Meanwhile, Elise gathered the loot. The three Magic Stones. The spear. The short sword. The daggers carried by the Goblin Assassin.
Each item disappeared into her Storage Bag one after another. A few minutes later—everything had been collected.
With the loot collected and Jackey's injury taken care of, Hyoren finally looked toward the cat-clan beastkin.
“Jackey… You keep getting hit in your thighs.”
Jackey scratched his cheek sheepishly.
“Yeah… I don't know why. Hahaha!”
Hyoren smiled wryly.
“Maybe because your upper body is well protected now.”
Elise chuckled softly.
“I guess we need to buy leg armor for Jackey too.”
She gestured toward his newly made red leather armor.
“It protects his torso, shoulders, and arms well...”
Her gaze lowered to his legs.
“But he's still only wearing normal pants.”
Jackey blinked. Then looked down at his own legs.
“Oh… So that's why?”
Hyoren tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“That makes sense.”
He looked toward Elise.
“After this dive, could you ask Jena to make matching leg armor for him? Something that won't restrict his movement.”
Elise nodded. Her silver hair swayed gently with the motion.
“Okay, Hyoren. I'll talk to her.”
Jackey's ears perked up. His tabby cat tail immediately spiraled behind him.
“Thank you, Big Bro! WOHOO!”
Hyoren chuckled.
Satisfied that Jackey's equipment issue had already found a solution, he drew his Mithril-Alloy Broadsword once more.
The pale blue glow of the magic lamps reflected across the polished blade.
He looked at Jackey. Then at Elise.
“Ready to continue our dive?”
Both of them nodded.
Hyoren smiled.
“Let's go then.”
He looked toward the silver-haired elf.
“Elise. Please.”
Elise returned the smile before moving to the front once more. Moonveil Bow rested in her hand. Her footsteps became almost silent as she led the way.
The Freedom Party resumed their exploration.
Venturing deeper into the second floor of Akela Dungeon—a floor that seemed designed not to enrich adventurers—but to forge them into stronger ones.