Chapter 42 42:Dungeon Exploration



Heavy footsteps resonating through the place started to get louder drawing everyone's attention towards the source.

Lucas's battle instinct was triggered instantly on hearing Aaron's words. Gritting his teeth to shake away his uneasiness, he stood up only to stumble to the side and get caught by Morgana.

"Relax kid. Leave them to adults and just observe."

"These are just some ants."Aaron waved his hand, signaling Esper and Angus to do their job quickly.

"Khkk!"

"Khuemmmm!"

"Kikkikk!"

After a few moments, Lucas finally spotted the enemy.

Emitting a sound akin to the scratching of metal, Lucas glanced at the few green humanoid monsters with yellow eyes jumping around and sprinting toward them like clowns.

Lucas took a moment to identify them.

They have short stature and move nimbly.

On noticing some humans, a mischievous grin appeared on their faces with saliva dripping from their lips.

Esper and Angus on getting the command jumped into the fray.

The goblins rushed at Esper with their wooden club.

Esper who stood at the front covered Angus with his huge shield.

TING!TING!TING!

The goblins struck his shield at once but that wasn't even enough to make Esper take back a step.

Esper nudged his shield slightly and the moment the goblin raised his club to strike, he thrust his spear stabbing a goblin's chest. He then threw it aside, tossing it onto the other one.

Startled, the other goblin fell due to being hit while the remaining one was struck by Angus with his great sword and then he bashed the remaining one that fell onto the floor into a pulp

Observing them, Lucas unable to stop his praise, spoke admiringly"They have some great coordination."

"It's not great. They are still Greenhorns but they will do well."Aaron kept on commenting throughout while Angus and Esper kept on fighting.

"Listen Lucas, the only advantage the goblin has is superior speed. Even if they are in the same realm as you, don't try to outrun them or engage them in a battle of speed. Their strength is on the weaker side so hit them as hard as possible."

Lucas noted down Aaron's advice. He was already feeling well and he couldn't afford to drag them down. The members of Skies are kind, still, there is bound to be a limit so he needs to prove himself useful.

Collecting his thoughts, he looked up at the blue oceanic sky and the endless greenish plain in sight. Warm and gentle air caressed him, calming his sickening mood.

"I want to fight..''Lucas stopped in the middle belatedly realizing something was wrong seeing Aaron's expression.

"Get back…"

Aaron forcibly squeezed his voice out and pulled out his glossy axe from his back.

Esper and Angus reacted immediately. They stepped back on seeing a group of trolls.

Their realm differs from mid-3-Star to peak 3-Star, headed by an early 4-Star. Sensing their realm alerted everyone because only the boss monster should be at 4-Star.

"It seems the difficulty of the dungeon has increased a bit."Aaron snorted and then with a stomp, shot forward like a cannon leaving behind the cracked ground.

Meanwhile, Esper and Angus retreated behind Morgana who was at the peak 4-Star.

"Kids, be sure to stay behind my back," Morgana spoke with a smile, seeing the three nod their heads like obedient children.

BANG!

Dust arose and a faint shock wave emerged as Aaron landed between the 7 trolls.

"You are all partying without me."

"Tsk!" Aaron clicked his tongue swinging his axe.

Swish!

Swish!

The trolls who jumped on Aaron with their mace found themselves eating dirt at the very next second.

Blood splattered everywhere and screams reverberated out.

Aaron decapitated two and then kicked one, sending him flying like a football.

SCREECH!

With a sound akin to tearing off paper, Aaron cut the troll from the middle inflicting fear in the remaining who tried to scream calling for help.

Though they succeeded to grab the attention of a few trolls however it was too late.

Drenched in blood, Aaron laughed like a maniac and shouted"Come and meet your daddy."

It was then...

Pandemonium broke out as 6-Star started bullying the pitiful trolls without any shred of mercy.

Engulfing his saliva, Lucas pointed at Aaron and asked"Why is the leader behaving like that?"

"Don't mind him. This baldy sometimes gets too out of character."

"He likes to roleplay as a bandit which also suits his look," Morgana replied casually.

Hearing this Lucas, Esper, and Agnus had one thought in mind.

'Isn't this guy too old to have such fetish?'

.........

The party advanced, killing monsters one after another.

Aaron led from the front while Esper and Agnus were at the back. Lucas and Morgana were in the middle. If not for the burning heat, Lucas might have thought that he was strolling in the park.

"Lucas."

Lucas's body yanked upon hearing Aaron roaring his name as if calling him out for war.

"Your time to hunt has come."

Lucas's exhausted expression brightened and he immediately stepped forward with excitement"Who is my opponent?"

"Dungeon Jackal. It looks like a newborn so it might not have much experience, still don't lower your guard."Aaron advised Lucas and stepped back.

After entering the dungeon and hunting for hours, it was only now that he had encountered someone of his match so he cannot let this matter go wasted.

'Till now, I have only won by using a gun to deal surprise attacks and putting my life on the line. I need to finish this fight properly without much damage. It's in peak 1-Star, however, my speed and perception are around that level.'

Taking in a long and deep breath, Lucas tightens his grip on the sword and bent his knees while skimming for the right moment to strike.

The jackal trudging his front paw, being unaware of the hunter behind it, walked ahead leisurely.

Whoosh!

Exerting all his strength towards his legs, Lucas dashed towards the jackal with the greatest speed possible. In response to Lucas's sound made by the dash, the jackal raised its back hurriedly, turning at Lucas with its sharp paws.

Unfortunately before the trajectory of the paws could strike the place it expected Lucas to appear, Lucas halted his movements and took a few steps back as if he foresaw this.

Stretching back his sword, he pressed his left leg and then stabbed the sword aiming at the jackal's front legs.

The sharp end of the sword brushed past the jackal's front legs leaving behind a deep gash causing the jackal's stance to somewhat falter.

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"

Letting out a pained whine, it stabilized itself with its other limbs and bared its teeth at Lucas.

Fighting a dozen of four-legged beasts, Lucas already learned most of their aggressive attack pattern which is similar at lower levels due to lesser intelligence and lack of experience.

Gripping the hilt of his sword, Lucas charged again, seeing the jackal keeping an eye on his movement.

With light footsteps, Lucas dashed forward again prompting the jackal to open its jaw and take a bite inflicting a certain kind of severe wound on the human however at the very last moment, Lucas moved to the side letting the jackal close its jaw

and eat empty air in front of it.

Feeling the tempo of the battle, a wide grin formed on Lucas's lips as he started to control the flow of the battle and played the game of guess and trial with the jackal. Taking advantage of the jackal's lack of experience, he threw faints at it.

The jackal faltered in its step, unable to keep up with Lucas's play of halt, and start, got attacked again by the same trick.

Awoooooo!

Without any hesitation, Lucas dodged another attack from the jackal, and letting it pass through his body, he behind its back and aimed at the jackal's limbs while making sure it was the same side as that of the front.

In response to the attack, the jackal let out a painful bestial shriek as it stumbled in its step and fell over to the side realizing that it was too late to escape.

Mustering all its remaining strength, it kicked its hind limbs to propel itself forward after getting up. However, with its other legs wounded the speed of the jackal had slowed down greatly and was nowhere enough to get out from Lucas's hands.

"Awwwwwoooooo."Seeing no other way out of its escape, the jackal stared at Lucas with brimming moist eyes as if asking him to spare his life.

Lucas's heart stirred and tightened a bit, seeing the beast putting a pleading expression on its face as the figure of death loomed over it.

GULP!

Swallowing his saliva, Lucas suppressed his guilty consciousness and struck his sword, ending the beast's life.

[You have killed a peak 1-Star. You have gained 1850 experience points.]

Lucas's brows creased seeing the experience point but before he could think about it properly, Aaron patted his shoulder.

"Job done wonderfully. Everything was flawless."Aaron spoke with a smile.

"Don't boost my ego Boss."

"Hahaha! Okay, let's move to the next spot."