[WARNING: Increased security on the following levels. Some enemies will call for backup. Ambush possible.]
"Sure, shit. And I thought it would be easy," he muttered, running his hand over his forehead, feeling the cold sweat gather on his skin. "Okay, enough thinking. Time to see what my findings are worth and what I can squeeze out of this dungeon."
He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment, feeling the calm return to his mind. Nix checked his inventory, his gaze lingering on the items he had found for a moment. "Better use it all up now. Before it's too late."
- Okay, enough thinking. Time to check what my findings are worth... and what I can squeeze out of this dungeon, - the voice became firmer, almost steel.
Nix checked his inventory, his gaze lingering on the artifacts and potions.
- Using everything at once is stupid. If the trap goes off prematurely, the buffs will be wasted.
He narrowed his eyes, took out the potion of agility and left it at hand.
- I'll start with this. The rest - if it comes to a fight.
He moved on, cutting through the silence with each step—knowing that someone was already listening in it.
[SYSTEM: Congratulations! You have reached LEVEL 5!]
New skill available for selection:
Fighting Instinct (Passive/Automatic)
Activates upon sudden attack. Increases reaction speed, gives +20% dodge chance, and +10% movement speed for 3 seconds.
The effect is triggered automatically, does not require activation. Archery
Passive skill. Increases accuracy, bowstring speed, and the chance to deal a critical hit from a distance.
Effect: +10% accuracy, +5% damage when shooting.
Dash (Active Skill)
Instant movement in the chosen direction. Allows you to avoid an attack or reduce the distance.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Bonus: +15% to dodge chance for 2 seconds after cast.
Nix froze, feeling the System touch his consciousness again. New lines of the interface appeared, each one beckoning with possibilities.
"Okay, let's see..." He frowned, looking at the list.
Fighting instinct.
- Useful. Especially if I run into more ambushes. But... it works automatically. That means I won't be able to control when to use it. - He shook his head thoughtfully. - We'll save that for later.
Dash.
- A good way to dodge a blow or get close quickly. But it uses up mana and has a cooldown. It would be better if I fought close more often.
Archery.
His gaze lingered on this point.
"That's different. Accuracy, crit, speed. I already carry a bow, and it's time to finally learn how to hit from afar with more than just luck." He nodded, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Distance is my shield. The sooner I start investing in this, the more alive I'll be in the future."
He focused on the line and mentally confirmed the choice.
[Skill selected: Archery]
Immediately after choosing, Nix felt as if his hands remembered the correct grip. The bow became a little lighter, his fingers - more confident, his gaze - more precise.
"Well then..." He smiled. "Welcome to the armory. Let's see how many arrows I have to show the goblins that coming near me is a bad idea."
He took a few more steps forward when a barely perceptible sound—the crunch of gravel, a short breath, a bowstring being pulled—made him stop dead in his tracks.
And then, as if fury had burst from the wall itself, a cry rang out:
— KHRRAAAA!!
Ten goblin warriors , with crooked axes, rusty blades and wild eyes, jumped out of the darkness ahead with a roar . Their armor rattled and their faces were distorted with grins.
Behind them, on the ledges on the sides of the tunnel, the silhouettes of four archers loomed in the semi-darkness . They were already pulling the bowstring.
— …Oh, great. The fun evening is about to begin, — Nix said through his teeth.
He took a sharp step back, at the same second hiding his hand behind his back and pulling out a potion of agility. A splash of liquid — and warmth spread through his veins.
[You used: Potion of Agility! +3 to Agility for 5 minutes]
- Okay, calm down... - he exhaled, quickly analyzing. - Ten in the forehead, four on top. If they close up, it's the end. We need to break the formation. Quickly.
He darted sideways, toward one of the boulders that jutted out from the wall like natural cover. The first arrow whistled past his ear.
Eyes narrowed. Heart pounded, but mind was cold.
[ACTIVATED: Archery Skill]
[ +15% Accuracy. Increased critical hit chance when shooting from cover.]
Nix emerged from behind a rock, his bow already drawn. He barely aimed, instincts leading him. The first arrow went into the throat of a goblin archer on the rise .
The second one - into the eye of the one who was trying to flank him .
- Minus two. - He went into cover again. - Another twelve.
Nix narrowed his eyes at the upper platform where the remaining archers were huddled. Their arrows were already being prepared to fire. He couldn't afford any more misses... or wounds.
Nix clenched his fist and exhaled raggedly through his teeth:
- Shadow, distract the warriors .
The shadow, as if understanding him not by words but by intention, growled softly and darted to the side. His silhouette dissolved in the shadows of the tunnel, merging with the darkness - almost invisible to the eye, but deadly dangerous.
The goblin warriors were distracted almost immediately: one of them yelled something, waving his weapon, trying to spot the approaching enemy. But it was too late - the wolf crashed into them with a furious roar, knocking one over and throwing the rest off their rhythm.
"Now," Nix whispered.
Nix's eyes caught the last archer, who was retreating to the edge of the platform, frantically drawing his bowstring. Too slowly.
"Not anymore," Nix said quietly and fired.
The arrow pierced the air, leaving behind an almost inaudible rustle - and pierced the goblin's chest precisely. He staggered back, lost his balance, and fell off the platform, spinning awkwardly in the air before landing heavily on the rocks below.
"Minus one," Nix muttered, hiding behind a boulder.
Only the goblin warriors remained in the arena. Shadow circled around them, preventing them from forming a line, and Nix, holding his breath, was already looking for a new position for the next strike.
The goblins suddenly stopped rushing about in panic. Their looks became angrier, their movements more coordinated. One of them barked something in a rough, clipped language, and the group instantly split: seven goblins moved toward Nix, stretching out a chain like a hunting fence, and three rushed at Shadow, trying to surround the wolf.
"Damn," Nix breathed, pressing himself against the boulder. "They're getting smarter, the bastards."
He emerged from cover, ran to the side and immediately fired - the arrow hit one of the front ones in the shoulder, but did not stop him. The goblins sped up, now they were running, as if driving him into a trap.
At this time, Shadow had already managed to wound one of the attackers, but the other two tried to pin him against the wall, not allowing him to run wild.
Nyx quickly assessed the situation. The seven goblins were closing in with fury, and Shadow, despite his speed and strength, was in danger. The three remaining opponents were pressing him, and he could already feel their footsteps approaching.
"Okay, time to change tactics," Nix muttered. It was too late for accurate shots, but he was ready for close combat. He tossed aside his empty quiver ribbon and drew his goblin battle axe.
He rolled to the side again, waiting for the moment when one of the goblins stumbled and opened his side. At that moment, Nix lunged forward, jumping straight towards the enemy group.
His fingers tightened around the handle of his axe and it sank into the shoulder of one of the goblins, causing him to squeal and fall to the ground. While the others tried to react, Nix quickly grabbed the axe with both hands and slammed it into the other goblin, knocking him off his feet.
Shadow sensed a moment of weakness in the defense at this point, and seized his chance to lunge at the second goblin, grabbing him by the neck. The three enemies on the wolf quickly turned into one, and those who had tried to surround him were now on the verge of panic.
The goblins, seeing their comrades fall one after another, did not hesitate any longer. They rushed at Nix at once, with furious cries and menacing eyes.
Nyx took a step back, feeling the tension in the air grow. All five goblins were on him at once… This was the moment that would either strengthen him or lead to a fatal mistake.
His gaze met Shadow's. The wolf growled, continuing to circle his enemies, but keeping his distance. Nix gritted his teeth, feeling his muscles tense, and instantly pushed all doubts out of his mind. He was ready.
The goblins attacked simultaneously, each with a weapon, and one with an axe. Their blows came from different directions, and he had to make decisions instantly. His fingers tightened on the handle of his axe, and Nx jumped to the side, dodging one blow while blocking the next with his axe.
One of the goblins came within range, and Nix, a predatory glint in his eyes, dealt him a powerful blow to the stomach, sending him flying. The next enemies did not give him time to think. They began to press, trying to surround him.
Suddenly, one of the goblins, unable to bear the closeness of the fight, threw his axe like a dart straight at Nyx. The axe whistled through the air, and Nyx felt his instincts kick in, giving him a moment's opportunity to move to the side. He dodged, but the axe still managed to catch him on the sides. Pain shot through his body, but he did not allow himself to stop - he just gritted his teeth for a moment and continued to fight.
With the pain shooting through his side, Nix didn't allow himself a second of weakness. Every step was like his last, every movement was thought out to the millimeter. He felt the tension building, the blood pounding in his temples, but his mind remained cold.
"No time to waste," he muttered under his breath as one of the goblins tried to raise his axe again.
Nix leapt to the side again, blocking a blow from behind, preventing the enemies from closing the circle. His heart was pounding faster and every breath was becoming heavy, but the adrenaline kept him from slowing down. Grabbing the axe with both hands, he lunged forward, breaking through the armor of one of the enemies. The man dropped his weapon and fell to the ground, but Nix could already see the other two goblins coming at him with more blows.
Nyx dodged another blow, jumping to the side, giving himself time to recharge and catch his breath. The goblins pursued him, but he slid across the stone floor, avoiding each blow with incredible precision. He felt the tension growing with each passing moment, but his mind was focused.
"Damn it," he whispered, looking back at his opponents. "I can't afford to make a mistake anymore."
But suddenly his attention was caught by the sound of a system notification.
[SYSTEM: Warning! One of the goblin spies has reported your presence to the dungeon boss.]
[Return to surface activated to ensure safety.]
Nix had just managed to get into a fighting stance, preparing for the next blow, when he felt the ground beneath his feet suddenly disappear. A sudden feeling of weightlessness engulfed him, and before he could even comprehend what was happening, the space around him began to distort.
An explosion of light and darkness. The shadow, like him, was there in an instant, and everything was in slow motion. It seemed like an eternity before they were somewhere else.
When the picture cleared, Nix found himself standing in a narrow alley, standing in a narrow alley, far away from the dungeon. There were no sounds of battle or goblins around, only a cold wind and dark walls that hid the sky. His heart was beating fast, but he was able to breathe out in relief.There were no sounds of battle or goblins around, only a cold wind and dark walls that hid the sky. His heart was beating fast, but he was able to breathe out in relief.
Nyx felt his heart pounding, but he gritted his teeth, trying to calm himself. His eyes couldn't tear themselves away from what had appeared before him - a portal. He hadn't expected this. Even though his instincts were trying to calm down, his mind still couldn't comprehend what had happened.
Nix clenched his fists, feeling the adrenaline in his blood slowly drain away.
System, don't tell me this is..." He tilted his head slightly, remembering the notification he had just heard.
[SYSTEM: Return to surface activated for safety.]
"So that's it..." Nix rolled his shoulders, trying to get rid of the tension. "Looks like I was just pulled out of the dungeon. Instantly. And just in case - with the Shadow."
He looked around again. The alley was unremarkable - narrow, with dark walls covered in moss and dirt. Old metal doors and windows with drawn curtains ran along them. The light of the lanterns barely illuminated the way, and it seemed that this place had long been forgotten by people. The shadow standing nearby nervously scratched the ground, sensing the change, but not finding it a threat.
"Okay," said Nix, clenching his fists, "let's see what happens next."
He took a step forward and, without wasting time, entered the portal that had been opened earlier. At that moment, when the portal began to glow and the space in front of it began to swirl, Nix felt his body as if being compressed and stretched, and everything around him began to darken.
In a moment, the world was transformed again
A flash of light, a sharp change in the surrounding reality. When Nix's eyes got used to the new place, he realized that he was exactly where he had opened the portal - in that very narrow alley, not far from his apartment.
There was silence all around, only a cool wind played with the trash, rolling it along the asphalt. Unlike the dungeon, everything here was so familiar: dirty walls of houses, flickering light of street lamps and the smell of dampness. But the heart continued to beat faster, the echoes of adrenaline did not disappear.
He glanced back and noticed that Shadow was standing there, unfazed. Wolf seemed as calm as ever, despite the fact that they had just survived a fight with a whole squad of goblins.
Nix exhaled, slowly lowering his weapon. His gaze slid over the same streets he knew like the back of his hand. It all felt like coming home, but there was a lingering sense of unease. That moment when you sense that something might be wrong, that this isn't the end.
"Now I need to think about what to do next," flashed through his mind.