"NOW!"
The stone hallway echoed with Lucian's command. Glacielle moved right away, slamming both frost fans into the ground with perfect timing.
Ice burst out of the point of impact, quickly spreading across the floor and up the walls until a solid wall separated the three Fire Phantoms into three separate fighting areas.
Exactly how he had planned for the perfect tactical execution.
The center phantom turned to face Lucian, holding its sword high in the air. He charged forward with ice magic running through his veins in a cold, controlled way.
The ghost swung in a predictable arc, just like the training constructs he had fought with Marshal.
Lucian was able to block the attack because of the footwork lessons she had given him over the past week. The impact shook his arm, but he stayed strong.
"HRAAHHH!" He turned his blade and slashed across the ghost's core in one smooth motion.
Frost spread through the wound like ice magic, coating it in a chilling layer. The flames sputtered and were extinguished due to the intense cold. The ghost transformed into tiny golden lights that gradually faded away.
His first kill in the dungeon all by himself.
Lucian was still standing there, breathing hard. "Hah... hah... fuhh..."
"I really did it," he said, mostly to himself.
This time, it's not luck, but a real skill used when under pressure.
Glacielle had already killed her target to his left. Before the phantom could even finish its attack pattern, an ice lance went straight through its chest.
She moved like a trained warrior, with every step being quick and deadly.
On the right, Marshal didn't even bother to pull out her swords. She held out one hand and let out a powerful burst of solar magic.
The ghost blew up from the heat and was gone in less than two seconds.
"That's how it's done when you have a good foundation, rookie," she said, brushing off her hands.
[Combat Complete: Victory!]
[Experience Gained: 450 XP]
[Lucian Level 8 → 9]
[Glacielle Level 12 → 13]
The corridor ahead opened as a magical barrier dropped away. Three small items materialized from the defeated phantoms and clattered to the stone floor.
Minor Fire Resistance Potions, common quality but useful. A small pouch contained 150 gold coins.
The last item was a Phantom Core Fragment, glowing faintly with residual magic.
Marshal looked at Lucian's performance with those sharp amber eyes. "It's kind of okay for your first real command in battle."
"Your choice to split them up with the ice wall was smart. Even though the execution wasn't perfect, you didn't freeze up when things got tough."
It was probably the most honest tactical approval she'd given him so far.
"Thank you, Marshal... I will improve again for the next battle!"
They went further into Floor 1, where the hallway split into several paths. As I explored, the layout of the dungeon became clear.
There were five combat encounters on the floor, two puzzle rooms that tested problem-solving skills, one safe restroom, and an exit portal to Floor 2 at the end.
The second encounter brought Stone Golems, which were slow-moving but heavily armored creatures that didn't care about most attacks. At first, Lucian wasted energy by hacking at stone plating that couldn't be broken until Marshal stopped him.
"Don't waste strength on things you can't hurt," she said, hitting the golem's joints with precise blows to show what she meant. "Look for weak spots, structural flaws, and gaps in armor."
"Use efficiency over brute force."
"Even though you want to get strong, all you have to do is be smarter first!"
The lesson stuck with him right away, making Lucian change his strategy and aim for the golems' knees and elbows, where the stone was thinner. It was accuracy, not brute force, that led to victory.
Wind Elementals, which are magical beings associated with the air and wind, tested his patience next. Four of them darted around the chamber at speeds he couldn't match, evading every strike. Frustration built until Glacielle demonstrated a solution.
"Freeze the air itself," she said calmly, and a wave of cold spread through the air, slowing it down.
The elementals moved slowly enough for me to hit them. "Master, change your tactics based on the type of enemy."
For the first time, the fourth encounter had different kinds of enemies. Two Fire Phantoms and one Stone Golem were attacking Lucian at the same time, so he had to quickly decide which ones were the most dangerous.
"First, kill the fast ones!" he shouted. "Get rid of the slow one while we get rid of mobility!"
Marshal nodded in agreement with the right tactical choice. They did a good job, burning down the phantoms before the golem could get close.
The fifth and last fight before the rest chamber was with an Elite Fire Warrior. This was a more advanced construct with different attack patterns and better combat AI.
This one didn't just swing in a way that was easy to guess. It faked them out, fought back, and changed its plans, making the battle more unpredictable and challenging for Lucian and his team.
Lucian led the fight and used synchronization better than he had before. He told Glacielle where to attack, worked with Marshal to set up a finishing blow, and really felt like he was in charge instead of just reacting.
Real teamwork led to victory.
By the time they reached the rest chamber, Lucian had leveled up twice more. The safe zone was marked by glowing protective runes that prevented monster spawns.
Marshal set up camp with her usual military efficiency, while Lucian collapsed against a wall, exhausted but satisfied.
"Today you didn't make a fool of yourself, rookie," Marshal said as he cooked food over a small magical fire. "I want you to do better tomorrow."
That was a lot of praise coming from her.
Lucian nodded with full determination. "Yes! I will!"
...
Lucian began his second night of Dragon Breathing practice after dinner. He spent forty-five minutes carefully meditating, using controlled breathing to draw energy through.
The foundation was getting stronger, but only a little at a time. He could feel spiritual paths opening up that had never been there before.
Marshal watched from across the fire without saying anything, but her face showed that she approved.
After Lucian's practice, Glacielle sat next to him.
"Master, you're getting better faster than I thought you would." Her voice, which was usually calm, was full of pride.
She put her head on his shoulder for a short time. "Stay at this pace, and you'll be strong soon, until you surpass me."
"Hahaha... I won't surprise my own warrior, but I'll try to be at the same level as them and you."
...
The second floor was harder than the first. The second floor was characterized by larger rooms, more challenging fights, and environmental dangers that could kill you just as easily as your enemies.
Lava pits bubbled dangerously, floors fell apart without warning, and new kinds of enemies showed up.
Lava Serpents moved through molten rock, making it impossible to fight them head-on. Lucian learned to think ahead instead of just swinging his sword.
Glacielle froze parts of the lava solid, trapping the snakes in cooled stone where they could be safely killed.
Even though they were animated by fire magic, possessed armor constructs were weak to fire. Marshal showed how superheating metal made it lose its structural integrity.
Lucian tried to use ice magic to do the same thing, and he was partially successful, which was enough to make a real difference.
The Crystal Constructs on the second floor were the hardest for him. They completely blocked magic attacks, so the only way to fight was with pure physical force.
He had neither borrowed ice magic nor relied on synchronization as a crutch. He relied solely on his skill with a sword and, also, willpower.
The fight pushed him to his limits. He barely won, but he took enough damage to lower his HP to 60%.
After that, he sat down, tired, against a crystal formation, feeling unsure of himself.
"I still feel so weak without borrowed power," he said.
"You fought a Level 14 enemy at Level 10 and lived. That's not a sign of weakness; it's an example of fighting far above your class." It was surprising how kind Marshal's answer was.
She knelt before him. "Stop comparing yourself to where you SHOULD be!"
"From now on, try to compare yourself to where you WERE three days ago! Anyone who is paying attention can see how much you've grown."
The change in perspective helped Lucian more than he thought it would.
"Yes! I will change my mindset from now on!"