The apartment door clicked shut with a sound like the sealing of a tomb. The noise echoed in the dimly lit hallway, a final punctuation mark on the life they had known. Luan felt the weight of that sound in his bones, the responsibility for having left his terrified parents behind. Beside him, Júlia was tense, her magic book held tight in her hands, her supportive aura a subtle, defiant warmth against the cold of fear.
The instant they took their first step, the System's Voice, now more concise and impersonal, manifested in their minds.
[Alert: You have entered an Unstable Dungeon Zone: Acácia Residential Building.]
[Emergency Cleanup Mission Initiated!]
Objective: Eliminate all Goblins in the area.
Progress: 1/10
Completion Reward: Minor Health Potion (x5), Minor Mana Potion (x5).
Bonus Reward (Unique Contribution): ?????
"Dungeon..." Júlia whispered, the word absurd amidst the worn carpet and familiar doors.
Luan didn't answer. His Dragon Eyes were already at work, painting the world with the language of intent. He saw the faint red glow of two murderous auras coming from the end of the hall, hidden behind a large fern pot that Mrs. Elza from 401 watered every morning.
His body wanted to retreat, to go back to the precarious safety of the apartment. But the timer in his vision 23:47:33 was a whip. And Leo's panicked voice was the spur.
"Two of them," he said, his voice low. "End of the hall. To the left."
Júlia nodded, her face pale but her eyes firm. She took a step closer to him, and Luan felt the buff from her passive intensify. The extra strength, the agility... it wasn't much, but it was enough to calm the tremor in his hands. It was her way of saying: I'm with you.
Luan raised his free hand. He focused on the feeling of static under his skin, on the newly acquired knowledge. A low hum filled the air as a small, crackling sphere of electricity formed in his palm. He threw it.
[Spark!]
The projectile flew down the hall, not very fast, but accurate. It shattered the pot, revealing the two crouching creatures. They let out shrieks of anger. These weren't Crawling Goblins. They were smaller, leaner, and held sharp-edged rocks. Slingers, Luan thought, the game knowledge surfacing.
One of them threw a rock. Thanks to his eyes, Luan saw the red trajectory line form an instant before the throw. He threw himself to the side, the clumsy movement saving him from having the rock embed itself in his shoulder. It hit the wall with alarming force.
The second goblin charged, a high-pitched shriek tearing from its throat.
"Luan!" Júlia yelled.
This time, he didn't wait. He charged too, dagger held steady. The goblin leaped, and Luan ducked under it, the creature flying over his head. He spun, the movement still slow but functional, and drove the dagger into the monster's back. One strike. Two. The goblin fell.
[You have killed a Goblin Slinger (Level 2). +65 EXP. +12 Gold.]
Mission Progress: 2/10
The other goblin, seeing its partner killed, hesitated for a second. It was enough. Another Spark from Luan hit it in the chest, making it stagger back, and he finished it with a quick thrust.
[You have killed a Goblin Slinger (Level 2). +65 EXP. +11 Gold.]
Mission Progress: 3/10
Luan leaned against the wall, panting. Sweat dripped down his forehead. The adrenaline had left him exhausted. There was no glory, only a nauseating relief. He looked at the dissolving bodies, at the small crystals left behind. This was real. His brain knew how to exploit aggro and cooldowns, but his body was screaming in protest against the violence.
That's when the door to 401 opened slowly. A stocky man in his 30s peered out. He was wearing a tank top and holding a crowbar that glowed with a faint system aura. It was Ricardo, the neighbor who was always complaining about the noise. His eyes swept over Luan and Júlia, assessed the crystals on the floor and the dagger in Luan's hand.
"So you guys too..." Ricardo said, his voice deep. "Got the call." He displayed his status with pride.
His class was [Savage Warrior (Common)].
"This cleanup mission... the reward is shared, right?"
"The system didn't specify," Júlia replied, stepping forward protectively.
"But I imagine it's individual, based on contribution."
Ricardo clicked his tongue, his gaze covetous. "Two against one doesn't seem fair. And you," he glanced at Júlia, "you don't even have a weapon, just that little book. How about we team up? We clear the building, split the crystals. Better than risking it alone."
Luan's anxiety manifested as static in his throat. He didn't want to. Trust a stranger whose aura, to his eyes, was a tangle of opportunism and distrust? But before he could refuse, Júlia spoke.
"We appreciate the offer, Ricardo. But my brother and I are in a hurry. We have to find a friend. We're moving on." Her voice was polite, but the message was clear.
Ricardo shrugged, a smile not reaching his eyes. "Suit yourselves, neighbors. But don't take too long. The clock is ticking." He retreated into his apartment, closing the door, but they knew he was watching.
"I don't trust him," Luan whispered.
"Me neither," Júlia agreed. "Let's go. Down."
They headed for the stairwell. With each floor they descended, the atmosphere grew thicker. They found more goblins. A lone scout on the third floor, which Luan managed to ambush thanks to his eyes. Two slingers on the second, which they defeated with a Spark and a coordinated attack. With each fight, their movements became a little less hesitant. Júlia hadn't used her "Soothing Touch" yet, but her presence, the constant buff, was a lifeline.
In the middle of the fight on the second floor, a new notification window flashed.
[You have leveled up! Current Level: 3]
The sensation was one of invigorating warmth, healing his fatigue and muscle aches. The power flowing through them was addicting.
Finally, they reached the ground floor. The lobby was a wreck. Broken glass, overturned furniture. There, guarding the exit, was the last group. Four goblins, led by a slightly larger one wielding a rotten wooden club.
"The last group," Luan said, his heart pounding.
The battle was the hardest yet. Luan used his Spark to draw the leader's attention while Júlia bravely created a distraction for the others. He danced between blows, his agility enhanced by his level and his sister's buff, his eyes predicting the club's every move. The dagger found its mark again and again. When the last goblin fell, the silence was filled by a celestial chime.
[Emergency Cleanup Mission Complete!]
Progress: 10/10 Rewards distributed.
Five small vials of glowing red liquid and five of blue liquid materialized in Júlia's hands. But for Luan, something else happened.
[Your affinity with fate and your exceptional contribution to clearing the Dungeon have been recognized.]
[You have received a bonus reward!]
A simple ring, made of a dark metal and set with a yellowed goblin tooth, appeared in his palm.
[Ring of the Goblin Tooth (Uncommon)]
Type: Accessory
Effects: +5 Health, +5 Mana.
Description: A primitive trophy that carries an echo of the goblins' stubborn vitality.
He equipped the ring, feeling a small but noticeable increase in his vigor.
They were in the lobby, the dungeon cleared. The clock read 23:10:04. They had spent nearly forty minutes. Forty minutes of terror and battle. They were level 3, with a few potions and a ring. But now, the real test lay ahead.
The building's shattered glass entrance revealed the world outside. Distant sirens, intermittent screams, and the sinister glow of portals opening and closing in the middle of the street.
Leo was out there. Alone.
Luan looked at Júlia, the fear still present in his eyes, but now mixed with something new: determination. He was no longer just the recluse from the dark room. He was a hunter. A protector. And his journey was just beginning.