The underground hall opened like the heart of a living cave. The dark stone walls dripped with moisture, and small torches embedded in makeshift holders illuminated the space with a flickering light. Several tunnels connected to that central point, forming a labyrinthine network that seemed to breathe along with the guttural sounds echoing through the air.

Grrrahhh… Khrrrk… Urghhh!

The goblins gathered in a band, their green and yellowish skins stained with dirt, their lean bodies covered only by rags. Some wielded sticks and sharp stones, others brandished rudimentary blades forged from corroded metal. The atmosphere was tense, almost like an emergency assembly.

A larger goblin, probably the leader of the group, raised its voice in a louder grunt. GRAHHHH!

The next instant, the silence was broken.

Fwooooshhh… BOOOOM!

A flaming sphere crossed the hall, exploding in the center of the crowd. The goblins' screams echoed in agony. Khhraaahhh! Urrghhh! Ghhrrraaa! The smell of burning flesh and smoke spread, filling the claustrophobic environment.

When the dust settled, a solitary figure walked through the twisted bodies. The hood fell over his face, and the flaming sword still smoked in his hand.

Jon observed the remains around him with a cold gaze. "At last I've reached the center of the dungeon..."

He put away Luminar and began to collect the goblins' bodies, storing them directly in his inventory. Each body meant extra til at the adventurers' guild, and he wouldn't leave anything behind.

When he finished, he took a deep breath and chose a corner near a wall to set up a small camp. He took some simple tools from his bag: a folded magic canvas, a crystalline torch, and most importantly, a Phoenix Blood Invigorating Pill.

Jon sat on the canvas, opened his mouth, and swallowed the pill whole. The bitter taste spread, but soon a warm wave ran through his body, as if every muscle was massaged by vital energy. He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes for a few seconds.

'Perfect... this will keep my body at its limit without burning all reserves.'

When he opened his eyes again, he pulled up the system menu. The bluish screen floated before him, clear and organized as always, but there was something different.

"There are some very interesting things here..." he murmured, sliding his fingers through the air, as if touching something invisible. "This function is new. It didn't come from any mod."

A new tab had appeared in the corner of the interface, marked as [System Store]. Upon opening it, Jon's eyes widened. It felt like he had unlocked a secret mechanic.

The panel resembled a virtual game store, with well-organized icons and detailed descriptions.

[System Store]Advanced Manuals: Detailed guides that enhance specific skills (e.g., Intermediate Archer → Advanced).Hidden Recipes: Alchemy and forging formulas that didn't exist in any common manual.Utility Items: Teleportation scrolls, expanded inventory bags, survival kits.Rare Skills: Combat and magic techniques that could be purchased with system points.In the upper corner, Jon saw a balance marker.

System Points: 10

Probably the hidden reward for his performance in the survival mission.

He opened the Advanced Manuals tab and was tempted. A manual for "Mana Control — Intermediate" cost exactly the 10 points he had. But deep down, he hesitated.

'If I spend everything now, I might miss something even more valuable. Better explore all options first.'

Scrolling the screen, he found descriptions that intrigued him. Recipes for pills that even he wouldn't know, elemental manipulation skills that seemed straight out of a fantasy RPG, and even single-use artifacts capable of saving his life in desperate situations.

"This... isn't part of the modpack. It's something completely new." Jon smiled, shaking his head. "As if the system decided to play with me, give me more tools... or maybe more responsibilities."

The flame of the magic torch flickered with the cold wind blowing through the tunnels. Jon closed the screen for now and leaned against the wall, letting the pill's energy work.

In the silence of the dungeon, only the sound of his breathing and the distant crackling of torches echoed. But in his mind, the possibilities expanded endlessly.

The dungeon trembled in silence as Jon advanced through the main tunnel. The heat of the bonfire behind him had already disappeared, and now the damp, heavy air was accompanied by a single sound: thump… thump… rhythmic beats, as if something was waiting ahead.

When he rounded the bend, he found the scene.

An immense stone door, covered with worn runes, blocked the end of the corridor. Before it, three goblins stood guard. Two of them were larger than common ones, their muscles swollen and weapons improvised, clubs of bone and rusty iron. The third was different: a shaman, with a staff made of twisted roots and eyes glowing with a sickly green.

Jon took a deep breath. 'So this is the boss's hall. It makes sense that there are guardians at the entrance.'

Without hesitation, he pulled the bow from his inventory. The energy in his Mystic Eyes glowed, and he felt the flow of wind concentrating around the arrow he strung.

Fwip! Whooooshhh!

The arrow shot with force amplified by the wind element, piercing the shoulder of one of the larger goblins and ricocheting off the wall. The monster roared in pain, staggering backward.

The second goblin didn't wait. It advanced with its club raised, hitting the ground. Jon put away the bow with a quick gesture, and in the same movement pulled Luminar from his inventory.

Shhhraaahh!

The flaming blade cut through the air, meeting the green flesh with a dry thud. Jon dodged the club with a sideways spin and decapitated the goblin at the waist.

"This skill is great," he murmured, raising his eyes to the third enemy. His perception had warned him of the attack coming from his blind spot, the direct reflex of the instinct acquired after defeating the assassin.

The other goblin growled and tried to attack from behind, but Jon already spun Luminar in a horizontal arc. The sound of the flaming steel cut through the flesh, and the enemy's body fell in two parts on the moss-covered ground.

Only the shaman remained.

The monster raised its staff and screamed, its voice reverberating off the dungeon walls. GHRRAAAHHHH! A fireball formed at the tip of the wood, growing until it was launched at Jon.

Fwooooshhh!

Jon raised his free hand, and a wind shield projected in front of him. The impact made the corridor tremble, sparks and embers ricocheting in the air.

But the shaman didn't stop. Hitting the staff against the ground, black roots emerged from the stone, wrapping around Jon's legs.

"Aarrghhh!" He screamed, feeling the throbbing pain as if thorns were piercing his skin.

His cold smile returned. "Now it's my turn."

With effort, he gathered all the fire energy he could. Luminar shone like a sun within the dungeon, and an incandescent sphere formed in his palm.

Fwoooshhh… BOOOOM!

The fireball exploded against the shaman, consuming its body in flames that spread to the door behind it. The impact was so strong that the ancient runes shattered, cracks appearing throughout the structure.

CRRRRRAAACK!

The door gave way with a crash, collapsing into the hall.

The bluish screen appeared before Jon's eyes.

EXP: +5 000! 55 000 / 55 000 ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ (≈100.0%) Leveled Up: 30

Jon took a deep breath, leaning on Luminar. The fire still burned on the ground, illuminating the newly opened entrance.

[MENU] — Status Window

Name: Jon Woodmoon

Age: 15 | Level: 30

EXP: 0/60 000 — ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ (≈0.0%)

Tils: 753 152 | Academy Points: 140 000

[STATISTICS]

HP: 2 000 | MP: 2 300

Attributes (base + bonus = total)Strength: 65 + 50 = 115Agility: 75 + 50 = 125Constitution: 40 + 50 = 90Intelligence: 95 + 10 = 105Luck: 100 + 50 = 150

Free Points: 100[EQUIPMENT]

Luminar, the Sword of Serenity — RANK SS

Level: 10 | EXP: 1 277/9 000 — ▰▰▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ (≈32.7%)

Granted BonusesStrength +50 | Agility +50 | Constitution +50Intelligence +10 | Luck +50EnchantmentsOwner Suitability: Perfect fit for the wielder.Energy Absorption: Converts energy from victims into bonus attributes (unlimited capacity).Description

Straight and sober blade, silver runes along the edge; handle in aged brown leather; crescent-shaped guard with a discreet golden glow.

History

Belonged to a chosen one who sealed conflicts in Aeloria. Wielded in despair, it became a symbol of lasting unity and peace.

[SKILLS]Mystic EyesPassives and ProficienciesElven Race: Amplifies mana manipulation.Human Race: +50% EXP gain due to adaptability.Archer (Intermediate) — Lvl 9Warrior (Intermediate) — Lvl 7Arcane Swordsman (Intermediate) — Lvl 10Explorer (Specialist) — Lvl 10Alchemy (Beginner) — Lvl 1Assassin (Beginner) — Lvl 1[MISSIONS]None active at the moment.

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