Chapter 50: Goblin Dungeon...

The goblin's footsteps grew closer, its guttural muttering audible above the faint rustling of leaves. Leon held his breath, every muscle tensed as he tried to blend into the shadows under the bridge. He could hear the goblin's labored breathing as it passed overhead, pausing briefly as if sensing something was amiss.

Leon remained still, his fingers aching from the strain of holding his weight. The goblin's dagger scraped against the wooden planks of the bridge, creating an eerie, grating sound. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the goblin continued its patrol, moving away from the bridge.

Releasing a slow, controlled breath, Leon cautiously pulled himself out from under the bridge. He waited a few moments to ensure the goblin was truly gone before stepping onto the bridge. His eyes scanned the small forest ahead, alert for any signs of danger.

He had to move quickly and quietly. The dungeon was likely filled with more creatures, and he needed to be prepared. As he crossed the bridge, Leon's thoughts raced, formulating a plan for navigating the treacherous terrain and dealing with whatever else lay in wait.

'First, I need to deal with that goblin,' Leon thought, his gaze fierce. He wasn't here to goof around, so he had to be very fast about everything he was doing.

He began to follow the goblin, moving light on his feet. Using the assassin techniques he knew from Earth, maintaining silent, stealthy movements was second nature to him. Even when he walked normally, his footsteps were light, but focusing on the technique made his movements almost ghostly silent.

Closing the distance between himself and the patrolling goblin within moments, Leon remained undetected. The goblin didn't notice Leon until he was right behind it. Its ears perked up when, from a side glance, it caught a shadow of a figure behind it.

It sensed danger instantly. The shape and size of Leon's human shadow were unfamiliar, and it immediately knew that the figure sneaking up on it wasn't another goblin.

Sensing the danger, the goblin immediately turned, snarling with disdain as it gripped its rusty dagger tighter. However, before it could fully turn around, it saw a cold silver light from the corner of its eye.

Leon slashed at the goblin's neck, the katana cleanly severing its head from its body. The goblin's head spun in the air, green blood spurting from its neck. In its final moments, its life flashed before its eyes. It glimpsed its headless body, green blood gushing from the severed neck like water from a pump, before slumping to the ground.

The head hit the ground with a dull thud, its vision fading to black as it died.

Leon wiped the green blood from his blade, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any other threats. Satisfied that he was alone, he stored the katana in his spatial ring and moved forward, his senses on high alert.

[Valor points +2]

The beast was a wild creature, the same rank as the bandit monkeys Leon faced outside. However, even with their sharp claws and teeth, the bandit monkeys wouldn't stand a chance against the goblin.

Leon had killed it quickly and stealthily to prevent it from alerting its comrades. As the goblin's body hit the ground, it began to disintegrate into pixels, leaving behind only its rusty dagger.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't expect a skill book from the first goblin I see," Leon muttered, sighing as he picked up the dagger. It was heavy and dull, clearly well-worn from use. He decided to keep it, though, figuring it might come in handy later.

In this world, beasts killed INSIDE A DUNGEON had the probability of dropping skill books and equipment after disintegrating. These items were ranked and could provide increased attack power and special effects that normal weapons couldn't offer.

Leon stored the dagger into his spatial ring and moved forward cautiously. The forest ahead seemed quiet, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and foliage, and the faint rustling of leaves suggested the presence of other creatures.

He advanced, his steps silent, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement. The dungeon was a perilous place, filled with unpredictable dangers, but Leon felt a thrill of excitement. Each step brought him closer to potential rewards and the thrill and excitement he sought.

Leon advanced, running stealthily from tree to tree, expertly utilizing the dense foliage as cover.

'I have around a few hours left in this dungeon, which cannot be wasted,' he thought to himself.

If he finished clearing the dungeon before nightfall, it would be ideal. If not, he might have to return to the estate and come back later. He had promised Amelia he would be back tonight, and she was leaving tomorrow morning after his duel with Euwen. The last thing he wanted was to lose track of time.

The dungeon floor was small, only about 15 square kilometers, so it made sense for Leon to assume the center would have the most beasts. He had encountered the first goblin only a few meters into the dungeon, so he figured more goblin guards of the wild beast rank would be patrolling the outskirts.

Reaching the spot where he had fought the first goblin, he began to circle around the center toward the right, hoping to find more guards. Leon felt an increasing urgency; he couldn't afford to waste any time.

As he moved deeper into the forest, he heard faint whispers, almost like voices carried on the wind. He paused, listening intently, trying to discern if it was just the rustling leaves or something more sinister.

Silence greeted him, broken only by the gentle swaying of the trees. He pressed on, every sense heightened, aware that the dungeon's true challenges were still ahead.

The whispers grew louder, and he could make out snippets of conversation in the guttural language of the goblins. It sounded like there were several of them, perhaps a small patrol.

'Perfect,' Leon thought, a determined glint in his eyes.

He crept forward, the soft forest floor muffling his steps. Ahead, he saw a small group of goblins huddled together, seemingly engrossed in a heated discussion. They hadn't noticed him yet.

In the center, a group of goblins huddled around a fire, their guttural conversations punctuated by occasional bursts of harsh laughter. Leon crouched behind a thick bush, observing them. He needed a plan.

As he formulated his plan, the goblins continued their chatter, oblivious to the danger lurking just beyond the shadows. Leon knew that success required patience and precision. He tightened his grip on his katana, ready to strike.

He moved silently around the edge of the clearing, positioning himself for the best approach. After thinking things through,he knew he had no other choice than to face them head on, waiting for them to part ways was dumb and would waste to much of his time but then, The first goblin on his list was slightly apart from the group, its back turned as it focused on sharpening a bone knife.

'This is my chance,' he thought, tightening his grip on his katana.

He positioned himself behind a thick tree trunk, planning his approach. The goblins were too close together for him to take them out one by one without alerting the others. He needed to be quick and efficient.

Leon crept closer, his movements fluid and controlled. The group were to lost in their conversation to notice him and when they did, it was too late, With one swift motion, he struck, his katana slicing through the goblin's neck before it could make a sound. The body slumped forward, disintegrating into pixels almost immediately. This time, it left behind a small, shimmering book.

"Hmmm..." Leon murmured, a grin spreading across his face. Though he didn't get the skill book he was expecting what he gained from that kill was unexpected, and it sent waves of excitement coursing through him. But he didn't let himself get carried away in the thrill of his gains...

Taking a deep breath, he darted forward, his katana flashing in the dim light. He struck the first goblin, the blade slicing cleanly through its neck. Before the others could react, he spun around, his katana arcing through the air and cutting down a second goblin.

The remaining goblins shrieked in alarm, drawing their weapons, but Leon was already moving. He ducked under a wild swing, driving his blade into the attacker's chest. The goblin fell, disintegrating into pixels.

The last goblin hesitated, its eyes wide with fear. Leon didn't give it a chance to recover. He lunged forward, his katana piercing the goblin's heart. It too dissolved into pixels, leaving behind a small pile of loot.

Completely ignoring the equipment dropped by the goblins, his eyes gleamed with excitement once again, he got another skill!

Yes, not a skill book but a skill!

*****

AN;

How was the chapter... Sorry for the late post.

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