As the blue light dissipated, a massive stone gate covered in ancient runes materialized out of thin air. The runes emitted a mystical glow that flowed slowly through the air.
"Another one of these portals..."
Having entered dungeons multiple times, Natsuki Subaru was already used to this. He looked up at the system prompt above the gate:
[Job Change Quest Initiated: Please pass through the portal to enter the trial dungeon.]
"A dungeon for a Job Change Quest. I wonder how it's different from the ones I've entered before?"
With this thought, Natsuki Subaru strode into the stone gate, his figure instantly vanishing from the room.
[NOTICE: You have entered the dungeon.]
[NOTICE: The time flow ratio between the main world and the dungeon is 1:10.]
[NOTICE: In this area, you cannot use recovery potions or access the store. Leveling up will not restore your status.]
The moment he passed through the portal, the surrounding scenery changed abruptly.
Natsuki Subaru found himself standing at the entrance of a deep, long corridor. On the stone walls to either side, burning torches were arranged in rows, their flickering flames stretching his shadow long behind him. The air was filled with an ancient, mysterious aura, mixed with the faint smell of rust and an indescribable sense of pressure.
"Recovery potions are disabled, and even leveling up doesn't heal me. Does this mean I can't get out until I complete the quest...? The rules are pretty harsh."
Subaru stared at the system prompt, a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips.
"It's like taking a life-or-death exam... Heh, how exciting."
Taking a deep breath, Natsuki Subaru clenched his fists and took his first step into the depths of the corridor. The crisp echo of his footsteps on the stone slabs was particularly stark in the silent space. He didn't know what awaited him, but one thing was clear.
Either he passed the trials of the Job Change Quest and came back alive, or he would remain here forever.
There was no third option.
Just then...
Clank, clank...
The heavy sound of metal footsteps suddenly echoed from the depths of the corridor. A knight, completely encased in armor, slowly walked out. An eerie red light shone from the gaps in its plating.
The system interface clearly displayed the word [Knight].
"Huh? Is it an armored-type monster...? The ones I've met in dungeons before were all things like goblins and steel wolves. This is the first time I've seen a humanoid monster."
As he thought this, Natsuki Subaru quickly drew the Kasaka's Venom Fang from his inventory, its sharp edge glinting in the torchlight.
CLANG!
In a flash, the two crossed paths. The collision of blade and armor sent sparks flying, the impact making the web of Subaru's thumb go numb.
"Dammit, the attack was completely ineffective!" Subaru frowned, seeing that his dagger had only left a shallow white scratch on the knight's armor. It was blocked by its armor.
At that moment—
The knight had already turned, its two-handed greatsword sweeping horizontally with a sound that tore through the air.
"This is no good. This guy's armor is too tough."
Seeing this, Subaru sidestepped the attack, the wind from the blade stinging his cheek. As rubble flew, he quickly pushed himself up with one hand, only to see the knight's sword already pursuing him like a shadow.
CRACK!
Subaru blocked the greatsword with his dagger. The immense impact forced his legs to sink into the stone floor. The knight's crimson eyes, visible through the helmet's slit, were just inches away, radiating a cold killing intent.
"Get... OFF ME!"
Natsuki Subaru roared, using all his strength to fling the greatsword away. Seizing the fleeting opening, he darted behind the knight, his dagger stabbing like a viper towards the gap in the armor at the back of the neck.
A dull thud of a blade sinking into flesh sounded out. The knight's movements froze, and an inhuman roar came from within its armor. Subaru took the opportunity to kick the knight in the back, sending it crashing heavily to the ground.
At the same time, a system notification flashed. Since this was the Job Change Quest, damage taken and stamina lost could not be recovered. I have to be as careful as possible... Natsuki Subaru glanced at his status bar, his expression growing more solemn. He tightened his grip on his dagger and stared straight ahead. But these enemies aren't going to hold back.
More metallic footsteps echoed from the corridor ahead. In the torchlight, dozens of identically clad knights emerged from the darkness. They raised their greatswords in unison and charged toward him.
"Hmph, starting right off with the tough ones!" Subaru's eyes narrowed as he watched the dozens of knights approach. "Seriously, dealing with one was already a pain, and now there are this many. I knew the Job Change Quest wouldn't be this simple."
"But... you want to take my life? Then come on!"
The moment the first knight charged, Natsuki Subaru's figure vanished. In the next second, he was already behind it, his blade accurately piercing the gap in its armor. But this time, the greatswords of the other knights were already whistling toward him—
The instant the blades were upon him, a fierce flame ignited in Subaru's eyes. His figure suddenly blurred, dodging the fatal attacks at an impossible angle. His dagger became a silver flash, weaving through the phalanx of knights.
"What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger!"
With splashes of blood, one knight after another collapsed. But this cruel trial had only just begun...
An unknown amount of time passed before the entire corridor finally fell silent again. With the sound of the last knight's armor shattering, Subaru's dagger precisely slit its throat. He straightened up, breathing heavily, and shook his sore wrist. Although he hadn't sustained any injuries, the continuous battle had consumed a great deal of his stamina.
"Hmph... these knights aren't as strong as me individually, but there were just too many of them." Subaru wiped the sweat from his brow, surveying the mountain of knight corpses around him. It took him about five seconds to deal with each one. A battle of attrition like this was taxing, even for him. "But at least they were all clumsy tin cans. It would have been a lot more trouble if they were agility-based enemies..."
The moment Natsuki Subaru let his guard down, a strange sense of unease suddenly washed over him. It was an intuition honed by facing death multiple times, allowing him to dodge to the side at the very last second—
Zing!
A streak of cold light flew past his cheek, leaving a deep gash in the stone wall.
"Someone's there?!"
Subaru's eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, his dagger stabbed into a shadow that appeared to be empty.
Squelch!
A distorted ripple appeared in the air. A figure in a dark cloak materialized, looking down in disbelief at the dagger piercing its chest.
[NOTICE: Assassin eliminated. EXP +1086]
"There are even assassins with stealth in this dungeon?" Natsuki Subaru pulled out his dagger, his brow furrowed. He carefully examined this new enemy, noticing its attire was completely different from the knights. "I thought the Job Change Quest only had knights. It seems there's more than one type of enemy. Good thing my perception is high."
Though his stamina was low, Subaru's mind remained highly focused. His numerous life-and-death battle experiences, combined with his super-high Spirit stat, had made his intuition exceptionally sharp. This level of sneak attack was not enough to get the better of him.
"But then again, this system quest is pretty damn treacherous..." He stretched his stiff shoulders, an excited arc forming on his lips. "But that's what makes it interesting, isn't it?"
In the distance, new footsteps were approaching. Natsuki Subaru gripped his Kasaka's Venom Fang, a battle-hungry light shining in his eyes. He didn't know what kind of enemy would appear next, but he was ready.
"Come on. Let's see what other surprises are waiting for me."
The battle continued, the dim corridor flickering in and out of brightness from the light of exploding fireballs. A basketball-sized orb of fire suddenly shot out from the darkness, drawing a scorching trajectory through the air, warping the very air it passed through.
Natsuki Subaru quickly ducked. The fireball flew past his back, the searing heat wave causing a stinging sensation on his skin. It exploded behind him, sending rubble flying and a wave of heat washing over him.
"A mage-type enemy this time...?" Natsuki Subaru narrowed his eyes, staring at a slender, black-robed figure not far away. A dangerous fire danced between its gaunt fingers as it chanted an incantation. "It can even use fire magic. This quest is much trickier than I expected."
This was already the fourth type of humanoid enemy he had encountered in this dungeon. First, the heavily armored knights, then the stealthy assassins, followed by ranged archers, and now a mage that just kept casting spells.
It seems different types of enemies require different approaches, Subaru thought. Against the heavy knights, he needed enough strength to break their defense. Against the invisible assassins, he relied on his keen spiritual perception. Facing the archers, agility was key. And now this mage... it would probably require a more comprehensive set of abilities to deal with.
At that moment, the black-robed mage raised its hand again, beginning a new round of spellcasting. Subaru noticed that after each cast, there was a brief moment of stiffness.
"This might be an opening."
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Three fireballs flew toward him in a triangular formation, sealing off all escape routes. A glint flashed in Subaru's eyes. Instead of retreating, he charged forward. The moment before the fireballs hit, he suddenly changed direction, kicked off the wall, and launched himself like an arrow toward the mage.
The mage clearly hadn't expected this response and tried to retreat, but it was too late. Natsuki Subaru's figure suddenly vanished from its field of view.
"Over here."
A cold voice sounded by its ear. The mage whipped its head around, only to see a flash of cold light.
Thump!
The dagger accurately pierced the mage's back, and it collapsed to the ground.
[NOTICE: EXP +1280]
"Mages really are squishy..." Subaru looked at the corpse on the ground, his lip twitching. "But that magic is seriously dangerous. Getting hit by one of those is no joke."
"Can't let my guard down. According to standard game logic, there must be a final boss hiding behind all these mobs." Subaru scanned his surroundings. The corridor had returned to silence, with only the scorching smell of the explosions lingering in the air. He regulated his breathing, gripped his dagger, and continued forward.
In the darkness ahead, a new batch of enemies gradually emerged. Fully armored knights formed a line in front, with mages ready to cast behind them. The shadows on either side hinted at the presence of assassins and archers.
"So many enemies again? You really think highly of me, you bastards!"
Before the words were even out, Natsuki Subaru's body was already moving, charging forward.
An unknown amount of time later, Natsuki Subaru leaned against a pile of corpses and took a large swig from his water canteen. The cool water soothed his parched throat, and he let out a long sigh. "Good thing I stored some food and water in my inventory beforehand..."
He looked up at his status panel. Killing these enemies had caused him to level up five times; he was now level 45. Although leveling up didn't restore his status, the increase in his attributes was real. He could clearly feel that his strength, speed, and reflexes were all much sharper than before.
"Stamina's almost recovered. Time to keep moving..." Natsuki Subaru stood up, stretched his muscles, and looked toward a massive, closed door that had suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor. The door, dozens of meters high, radiated a suffocating pressure. Its surface was carved with ancient runes, and a magnificent crown was embossed in the center.
"Alright, what kind of monster is hiding behind this door?" Subaru gripped his dagger, the fire of battle in his eyes. "Since I can't get out without clearing it, the only way is forward! Defeat the final boss and complete the Job Change Quest!"
Staring at the giant door with a calm gaze, Subaru slowly exhaled and placed his hands on the cold metal surface, feeling its immense weight. "Now then, let's see what's waiting for me inside."
As he pushed with his arms, the heavy doors swung open with a groan. In that instant, a powerful pressure washed out like a tidal wave, the force of the air making his clothes whip and snap.
"This intimidating aura..." Natsuki Subaru unconsciously held his breath, his pupils shrinking in shock. He calmly assessed the situation, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene inside the door.
Click—
The great doors closed silently behind him. The torches on the walls all ignited at once, illuminating the entire space.
Before him was a magnificent hall. A golden throne stood majestically in the center, and a crimson carpet, thousands of meters long, cascated down from the high platform like a waterfall, extending all the way to his feet. The entire space exuded an inviolable, kingly majesty.
[NOTICE: You have entered the King's Audience Chamber.]
_____
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