E-Rank Dungeon Key - A key that opens the entrance to a low-level dungeon. This dungeon is located nearby and can be used to gain experience, obtain items, and complete challenges. However, despite its low level, the dungeon can still be dangerous for those who are not careful. Failure to be aware and careful can lead to serious consequences, including death.
System notification: You have received a map indicating the location of a dungeon. Be careful - entering the dungeon can be dangerous, especially if you are not prepared for its challenges.
Nyx narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. Dungeons, especially ones like this one, often held challenges, monsters, and valuable resources. He quickly figured out that the nearest dungeon might be in the alleyway near his apartment. If he decided to go there, it might be an opportunity to not only get useful items, but also test his strength.
"This could be a good start to test my new skills and abilities. Maybe this is exactly what I need," thought Nyx.
He pulled out a map and studied it carefully, noting that the entrance to the dungeon was very close to his apartment. A small mark pointed to a narrow alley where the portal was apparently hidden. The place seemed inconspicuous, as if it had been deliberately designed to remain unnoticed. Nyx considered that this could be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Dungeons usually attracted not only adventurers, but also those who knew how to use danger to their advantage.
"On the other hand, if I make a mistake, this could be my last venture. But I'm willing to take the risk," he told himself, hiding any doubts behind determination.
For a moment, Nyx hesitated, imagining what might be waiting for him inside. His skills and training left no doubt that he was ready for this challenge. Even if the dungeon was not particularly threatening, he knew he had to remain on guard.
"Let's see what's inside," he thought, putting the map in his pocket and heading towards the alley.
Nix moved quickly, trying not to attract too much attention. The buildings around him seemed darker and more abandoned than he expected. It seemed like this place was rarely visited, and whatever was hiding here was clearly something special.
As Nyx pulled the dungeon key from his inventory, his hand shook slightly from the weight of the moment. A faint glow surrounded the key, and suddenly the air before him thickened unnaturally. Without warning, a portal flared in front of the door, as if space itself had warped to form an entrance. But just as Nyx was about to step, an invisible barrier blocked his path—some kind of force field preventing him from continuing.
He paused, momentarily puzzled, and looked at the curtain of light. The barrier was invisible but tangible, a cold pressure that kept him from moving forward.
"What the...?" Nix muttered, stepping closer and running his hand over the invisible obstacle. The portal didn't seem to be the final step - something was preventing him from simply entering.
He didn't panic, though. Remembering the key, Nix suddenly realized that the artifact itself might be the solution. He pulled it out of his pocket and, with a little force, thrust it into the air in front of him.
The key responded with a quiet ringing sound and suddenly began to glow.
At that moment, the barrier shimmered like water, and then disappeared, leaving behind a faint crackling sound. The obstacle was gone, and the portal was fully open again.
"So it really does work..." Nix muttered in relief. He stepped forward, confidently entering the glowing gate that seemed to pull him into the dark depths of the dungeon.
As soon as Nix stepped over the threshold, the world around him changed instantly. The air became thick and cold, and before his eyes everything around him was transformed. The gloomy stone walls were dimly lit, barely illuminating the narrow corridors. Strange sounds could be heard from afar, and the very atmosphere of the dungeon was filled with a sense of danger and the unknown.
At that moment, a familiar system voice was heard, conveying important information:
System Notification: You have entered the dungeon: "Goblin's Lair". Objective: To exit the dungeon, complete one of the following conditions:
Defeat the dungeon boss.
Find the Return Stone to teleport back to the surface.
Nyx raised an eyebrow, realizing that he now had two possible paths. The exit was clear, but getting to it meant either defeating the dungeon boss or finding a rare Return Stone that could teleport him back.
He immediately tensed, realizing that the situation was becoming even more dangerous. The Goblin Lair was definitely not the weakest dungeon. Judging by the name, he was likely to face some nasty opponents: small but agile, with a pack-hunting strategy.
"Goblins... They like to fight in groups, attacking from different sides," Nyx thought, remembering their tactics. "This should be interesting - I'll have to figure out the best way to defeat them."
He pulled out a dagger from his inventory, preparing for possible clashes while simultaneously scanning the area for possible cover or escape routes.
The dim light of the torches cast flickering shadows on the damp stone walls, making the space even more ominous. A cold draft seeped through him, sending shivers down his spine.
Somewhere in the distance, faint sounds could be heard - a quiet rustling, the scraping of claws on stone, rare drops of water breaking the silence.
Nix froze, listening intently. Ahead, through the thick bushes, he heard muffled whispers and shuffling feet. Several voices mingled, producing rough, croaking sounds.
"Goblins".
Nix pressed himself against the wall, slowing his breathing. He heard footsteps approaching around the corner of the corridor. The goblins were close.
"They don't know I'm here yet. That gives me an advantage."
His eyes scanned the area for cover. To the left was a narrow alcove; further ahead was a pile of fallen beams that could serve as a barricade. But if he hid, the goblins might get suspicious and start searching the area.
"Better to strike first."
Torchlight played on the walls, creating ghostly silhouettes. Nyx moved forward silently, hiding behind a broken column. The voices grew clearer.
He peered out cautiously.
The goblin was short, barely reaching his chest, but his sinewy frame looked strong and agile. His grey-green skin was scarred and dirty. His sharp, twitching ears moved constantly, picking up even the faintest noise, and his narrow yellow eyes glittered in the dim light, scanning his surroundings.
The goblin wore tattered leather armor stitched together from random scraps, and his legs were wrapped in light bandages, allowing him to move silently. A rusty short sabre was clutched in his clawed hand, and a small bone flute hung from his belt, probably an instrument for signaling allies.
Nix narrowed his eyes and activated [Scan].
[Scan] Name: Goblin Scout
Level: 3 HP: 60/60
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 9
Stamina: 9
Skills: • Keen sense of smell – can detect enemies by smell.
• Fast Feet – Increased movement speed.
• Call for Reinforcements – Calls for allies when an enemy is detected.
• Description: Small but dangerous, the Goblin Scout rarely fights alone, preferring to call for reinforcements. Quick destruction is the key to success.
Nyx frowned, quickly assessing the situation. The goblin's keen sense of smell meant he only had a few seconds before he spotted her.
"If I'm not quick enough, he'll immediately alert the others."
He took a deep breath, crouched lower, and moved with slow, controlled steps, his dagger feeling like an extension of his arm.
Suddenly the goblin scout froze, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled sharply, sensing something in the air.
"It's too late."
Nix lunged forward, his movement as fast as a shadow, the dagger cutting through the air.
Silent strike.
The blade sank into the goblin's throat. His yellow eyes widened in shock. He gurgled, clutching at the wound, but moments later he collapsed without making a sound.
Nix exhaled slowly.
"It happened on time"
A system notification flashed before Nix's eyes.
📜[System]📜 ✅ You defeated: Goblin Scout (Lv. 3) 🎯 Experience gained: 100 EXP [EXP: 150/200]
Nyx smirked. "Another 50 exp until the next level."
His fingers trembled slightly from the adrenaline rush, but his gaze was already directed forward. The other two goblins had their backs to him, unaware of his presence.
Without wasting any time, Nyx activated [Scan] on the nearest remaining goblin.
───[Scan]─── Name: Goblin Warrior
Level: 4
HP: 80/80
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 7
Endurance: 10
Skills:
• Brute Force - Deals 20% more melee damage, but reduces attack speed.
• Resilience - Reduces incoming damage by 10%.
• Battle Roar - Temporarily increases strength and intimidates enemies.
Description: The Goblin Warrior is better equipped and trained than his kin. Although he is slower, his attacks are powerful, and his high health makes him more durable in combat. Do not let him use Battle Roar , or the other goblins will become more aggressive.
───[End of analysis]───
Nix held his breath for a moment, then activated [Scan] again, this time targeting the second goblin.
───[Scan]─── Name: Goblin Thief
Level: 3 HP: 50/50
Strength: 9
Dexterity: 10
Stamina: 8
Skills:
• Quick Hands - Increases the speed of stealing and disarming weapons.
• Elusiveness - Gives a chance to dodge attacks while moving.
• Dirty Trick - Throws sand or dirt into the enemy's eyes, temporarily blinding them.
Description: The Goblin Thief does not fight fairly. Using agility, cunning, and cheap tactics, he evens the odds. He may try to steal weapons or blind his opponent before escaping. Dangerous if the fight drags on.
───[End of analysis]───
"This one isn't the strongest, but if he manages to blind me or knock my dagger out, things will get more difficult."
Nix narrowed his eyes, quickly forming a plan.
Moving silently, he approached, holding the dagger in a reverse grip. The goblin thief had his back turned, completely unsuspecting. His long fingers tapped nervously on the hilt of the small knife, and his large ears twitched in rhythm with the hushed conversation with the goblin warrior.
"If I do it right, he won't even know what happened."
Nyx lunged forward like a shadow and struck right at the base of the goblin's neck.
Critical hit!
The goblin thief tensed, his eyes wide, then went limp. Nyx carefully caught his body, making sure it didn't fall over with a bang.
📜[System]📜 ✅ You defeated: Goblin Thief (Lv. 3) 🎯 Experience gained: 80 EXP [EXP: 230/200] 🔺 Level up! You have reached level 3!
A surge of new strength ran through Nyx's body. But now was not the time to celebrate.
There is only one enemy left.
Goblin warrior.
He began to turn around, sensing that something was wrong.
Nix knew that if he waited even a second, Battle Roar would activate , making the fight much more difficult.
"No, I won't give you that chance."
Without hesitation, Nix threw the dagger at the goblin warrior.
WHISTLING!
The blade flashed in the dim torchlight as it flew straight towards its target.
The goblin opened his mouth, preparing to let out a battle cry, but the dagger sank deep into his throat.
His eyes widened in shock. Instead of a powerful roar, only a weak, muffled sigh escaped.
The goblin warrior staggered but did not fall.
"Damn, it's still standing!"
Nix rushed forward, not giving the enemy even a minute to come to his senses.
BAM!
He punched the goblin right in the face, causing him to stumble.
But he still refused to go down. He growled, his eyes blazing with rage. One hand ripped the dagger from his throat , spraying dark blood onto the floor, and the other raised a rusty axe to strike.
Nix dodged at the last second, feeling the air change as the axe blade passed just inches from his face.
"Stubborn bastard!"
Then he realized he was unarmed.
"Damn. Things just got more complicated."
But there was no time to hesitate.
Nyx grabbed the goblin's battle axe and tore it out of his hands.
📜 [System] 📜 ✅ You received:
Goblin Battle Axe (Uncommon)
• Attack: 18-25
• Weight: 3.5 kg
• Effect: +5% damage to enemies with low armor
• Feature: Rough but sturdy construction
Nix wasted no time. He got a better grip on the axe and brought it down with all his might on the goblin's neck.
SWOOCH—!
The sharp edge cut through flesh and muscle with a sickening crunch. The goblin twitched in his death throes , but his body was beyond saving.
📜 [System] 📜 ✅ You defeated: Goblin Warrior (Lv. 4) 🎯 Experience gained: 150 EXP [EXP: 180/400]
Nyx watched as the life drained from the goblin's yellow eyes . His body went limp, motionless.
"Phew... I didn't give him a single chance this time."
With a quick movement, he pulled the axe out of the cut neck, shook off the blood and looked around.
The tunnel was quiet, only the distant dripping of water breaking the eerie silence.
Nix took a slow, deep breath.
At his feet lay three lifeless goblins , their blood spreading across the stone floor.
He expected the murder to cause him some feeling - heaviness, fear, disgust . Something that would make him hesitate.
But nothing happened.
The hands did not shake. The heartbeat remained steady. The breathing was calm.
It was… natural.
He killed because he had to . Because otherwise he would have been the one who had to die.
"Why am I so calm?"
The answer came immediately.
[System] Passive skill [Cold-Blooded] is active.
Nix clenched his fists. Now everything became clear.
This skill did not make him emotionless. It kept his mind clear. It did not let fear freeze his body. It did not let doubt slow his attacks.
And yet… even knowing this, he felt a strange emptiness inside.
He didn't like killing. But he didn't regret it either.
"Is this good... or bad?"
Nix wiped his hand on his pants and crouched down, picking up the dagger from the stone floor.
[System] You received: Assassin's Dagger
He twirled it in his hand, checking its balance.
"Much better than this heavy axe. But I'll keep the axe, just in case."
Opening his inventory, he placed the Goblin Battle Axe in it .
[System]
Goblin Battle Axe added to inventory
$5000
Plastic Hammer
[Inventory: 9/12 slots]
"That's better. Now I'm light and fast again."
Nyx took a deep breath, listening to the silence of the dungeon.
So far, everything has been quiet.
But not for long.
He felt it - something much more dangerous was waiting for him ahead .
Clutching the dagger, Nix moved deeper into the dark tunnels.