[D.C] Ch 14: First Goblin Kill

— — — — — — 

The dungeon's layout was shaped like an inverted pyramid—The deeper you went, the wider and more expansive it became.

At the very top was the narrowest point: the entryway to the entire dungeon, also known as Floor 1.

There, right in the middle of the stone floor, was a massive black hole—Like some kind of man-made bottomless well.

A spiral staircase wrapped around the edge, winding downward into the abyss.

All an adventurer had to do… was keep walking down.

And just like that—

They'd officially enter the first floor of the Upper Levels.

Klaus stood at the entrance, eyes fixed ahead.

The dungeon's walls glowed with a constant, soft phosphorescent light—dim, yet strangely calming.

No time to hesitate.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward, descending the long spiral staircase.

A few minutes later, he was in.

Dungeon – Floor 1

Klaus moved through a tight corridor, barely wide enough for comfort.

The ceiling was maybe four or five meters high, and the whole space felt cramped—not exactly ideal for a fight.

He'd been walking for five minutes now…

Still no monsters.

"Seriously? Not even a single goblin?"

"Did someone clear this place out just before I got here?"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, whatever. Guess this is a good chance to check out that billion-valis magic staff of mine."

With that thought, he snapped his fingers in the air.

A ripple shimmered around his hand—His Storage Space opened with a quiet hum.

He reached in and pulled out his weapon: the Thousand Feather Staff.

One look at it—

And Klaus's eyes practically lit up.

He was in love.

[Thousand-Feather Staff – Overview]

•Extremely high magic conductivity

•A living staff that grows with the user's abilities

•Greatly amplifies magic power and effect

•Boosts overall mana output for stronger spells

 ▸The staff stood just under two meters tall, forged from enchanted metals and Holy Crystal. Solid and resilient.

 ▸The handle was engraved with elegant, jet-black swan feathers—Exactly one thousand of them, no more, no less.

 ▸When casting spells of different attributes, the staff would emit dazzling particles of light—Like stardust dancing through the air.

 ▸At the top: a fearsome skull head.

 ▸At the bottom: a sharp, pointed tip—Perfect for stabbing like a spear in close combat.

---

For comparison—

Riveria's famous magic staff, Magna Alfs, was valued at 340 million valis and considered one of the Top Five Wands in the world.

Klaus's staff? Priced at 9.9 billion valis.

A one-of-a-kind, top-tier magic weapon. The absolute best.

He ran his fingers over the handle, admiring the craftsmanship.

Lightweight. Perfectly balanced. Like it was custom-made for him.

At one point, he'd even thought about selling it.

Maybe trade it in for a mountain of valis, live the easy life, and level up by flirting with girls instead.

He didn't really care about being a hero.

Everyone knows—Heroes always die first.

But now? Now that he'd seen this beauty in person?

Yeah, no shot he was letting it go.

Not in this lifetime.

...

"This is… amazing."

He smiled, eyes glinting with excitement.

With one hand, he raised the staff and gave it a test spin.

Then jabbed it into the ground.

The tip sank in effortlessly—Like the stone floor was made of tofu.

After getting a feel for the grip, Klaus grinned.

"Not bad… not bad at all."

Then, he cleared his throat.

Time for a test spell.

His expression shifted—calm, focused, reverent.

"O mightiest light of this world, greatest among elements, I summon you with my magic to bring hope to the hearts of warriors..."

Halfway through the chant, golden rings of light began to shimmer around him.

Soft and glowing, the aura felt healing, almost dreamlike.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of golden feathers materialized in the air, dancing gently in the radiant glow.

"Let fear vanish, let courage return! Grant them the strength they need, spread your shining wings, and block out all evil in this world!"

"Feather of Fantasia!"

As the chant finished, his face relaxed.

The floating feathers swirled inward and surrounded him—Condensing into a gleaming golden magic barrier.

No spell circle appeared beneath his feet.

Just a warm, golden dome of light wrapped around him like armor.

Inside, it felt… great.

Like being bathed in warmth and peace.

No fatigue. No stress.

Sure, he could feel his stamina, mental focus, and mana steadily draining—But the cost was minimal.

His second passive skill replenished it almost instantly.

(A/N: Check the post for Klaus Falna—it'll be updated every time there's a change.)

---

"Hm…"

"To avoid surprise attacks, I guess I'll just keep the shield up while I explore."

He wasn't stupid. Going in blind was a good way to die.

Especially here. In this place, even one careless mistake could be fatal.

And just then— Crack.

A nearby wall split open.

Out stumbled a small, green-skinned creature—A goblin, snarling as it bared its teeth.

"Grahh! Guh-bii!"

Its red eyes locked onto him like prey.

Klaus saw it immediately—And in that instant, something inside him lit up.

Excitement. Adrenaline. The thrill of battle.

His gaze locked onto the goblin like it was a walking bag of valis.

In the dungeon, every monster is hostile.

If they see a human, they attack. No exceptions.

"Grahh!"

The goblin let out a shriek and charged, fist raised.

Klaus narrowed his eyes.

He didn't dodge. Didn't counter.

Instead, he stood still—watching.

He wanted to test his new shield.

The goblin's punch slammed into the golden barrier—Thud!

Klaus didn't even flinch.

The goblin, on the other hand, was launched backward like it'd hit a wall of steel.

It slammed into the opposite wall and stuck there like a splattered bug.

"…Yeah, that's what I thought."

Klaus exhaled calmly, then took a step forward. "Now die, you little freak."

He grabbed his staff like a spear and charged.

Every guy has a bit of hot-blooded instinct deep down—Klaus was no different.

He drove the pointed tip straight into the goblin's chest.

Crunch!

A spray of blood burst out—But none of it touched him. The golden barrier blocked every drop.

The goblin collapsed, twitching once, then lay still.

Dead.

Klaus's eyes lit up, breathing heavy.

The rush of that kill—the feeling of overwhelming power—was intoxicating.

It was thrilling. Addictive.

This…

This was the life.

.

.

.