When they were ready, the party gathered at the looming double doors ahead, the same carved iron-bound frame as before, etched with images of snarling monsters and intricate symbols. Josh tightened his gauntlets and nodded to the others.
“Same boss, same plan?” he asked.
“Mostly,” Perberos replied, drawing an arrow and smirking. “But maybe this time, I’ll aim for the eyes.”
Bheldur grunted. “I’ll take the legs. Bring the big bastard down faster.”
Carcan added quietly, “I’ll focus more on putting up shields when Josh is under pressure. Or anyone for that matter. No one’s getting caught out this time.”
Brett cracked his knuckles. “Let’s end this quickly, then.”
Josh pushed the doors open. The foul stench of the goblin boss’s lair hit them instantly, damp, rot, and blood. The massive goblin stood waiting, muscles bulging under mottled green skin, jagged teeth gleaming in a grin. It let out that same rasping cackle before grabbing its crude axe and stomping forward.
Josh moved in first, shield up, using his Dash skill to close the distance in a blink. He slammed into the boss’s chest, staggering it a step, then unleashed Lion’s Roar. The echoing bellow rippled through the chamber, stunning the boss and focusing all of its rage on him.
“Go!” he shouted.
Perberos’ arrows whistled past him, two finding their mark, one in the boss’s shoulder, the other sinking deep into its throat. The creature roared and ripped the arrow free, blood spraying.
Bheldur charged in next, swinging both axes low, hacking at the creature’s knees. This time, the dwarf didn’t go for brute force, he struck rhythmically, in quick bursts, aiming to cripple rather than kill outright.
Brett moved to the flank, weaving a sequence of gestures that lit his staff with blue light. His fire magic had got stronger since their last run; now he channelled it into tighter, more focused strikes with his new focus. A bolt of flame hit the goblin’s side with pinpoint precision, followed by another to the arm that held its large axe.
The boss swung wildly at Josh, the blow glancing off his raised shield. The impact rattled his bones but didn’t send him sprawling like before. He gritted his teeth and countered with Counter Swing, driving his blade into the monster’s gut.
“Keep it up!” Brett shouted, voice taut with focus.
Carcan stood behind them all, the calm centre of the storm. She raised her staff, chanting softly, and golden light shimmered over the front line, her shield spell appearing in front of Josh and hampering the bosses movement.
Bheldur took a glancing hit from the boss’s backhand, but instead of stumbling, he twisted with it, bringing one axe down across the monster’s thigh in retaliation.
“Not this time, lad!” he bellowed.
The goblin staggered, breathing raggedly. Perberos loosed another arrow, this one striking the creature directly in the eye. It reeled back, howling in pain, and Brett seized the moment.
“Down!” he yelled.
Everyone dropped back, Josh shoving the boss away from him, as Brett cast Fire Ball. A shockwave of blazing energy erupted from his staff, engulfing the goblin boss in fire. The explosion scorched the ground and filled the chamber with thick smoke.
When it cleared, the creature was on its knees, smouldering and broken. Josh stepped forward, breathing heavily, sword raised.
“For Eldanar,” he muttered under his breath, and drove his blade into the creature’s chest. Where did that come from? He wondered to himself.
The goblin boss gave one last twitch before collapsing, its body dissolving into faint light. The room fell silent except for the heavy breathing of the party.
Josh pulled his sword free and looked around. “Well,” he said, panting slightly, “that went smoother.”
“Faster, too,” Brett added, wiping sweat from his brow. “Guess we’re getting the hang of this.”
Perberos chuckled, slinging his bow over his shoulder. “Practice makes perfection.”
Even Bheldur managed a grin, brushing soot from his beard. “Or at least fewer broken bones.”
Carcan nodded approvingly, staff still glowing faintly. “You fought with more control this time. Less panic, more precision.”
Josh smiled, though there was still a trace of wariness in his eyes. “Yeah. Let’s not make it a habit, though.”
As before, the boss’s corpse shimmered and faded, replaced by another gleaming dungeon chest. Its golden trim caught the light from Brett’s still-glowing staff.
Josh let out a tired laugh. “Right then… let’s see what rewards round two brings.”
As the dungeon chest shimmered into existence with the same deep hum as before, but when they opened it, the glow inside was dimmer. Josh pulled out a few trinkets, nothing terrible, but clearly of lesser quality than their last haul. A handful of coins, some lesser-grade mana potions, and a dull steel dagger that Perberos turned over once before shrugging.
“Guess the dungeon’s stingy if you run it twice in one day,” Brett muttered, forcing a grin.
Bheldur grunted, hefting a small sack of coins. “Aye, seems it thinks we’re gettin’ greedy.”
Josh smiled faintly. “Can’t say it’s wrong.”
With the last of the loot divvied up, the shimmering exit portal appeared once more, swirling with purple and gold light. Josh took the lead this time, shield raised out of habit.
“Let’s not spook the guards again,” he said dryly, stepping through first.
The disorienting pull of the portal hit again, though it was less violent this time, more like falling and landing in a dream. One by one, his companions followed, each emerging beside him on the grass.
When Josh blinked against the sudden change in light, he realised it was dark. The stars glittered overhead, and torches burned along the distant walls of the outpost.
“Well,” Perberos said, glancing up, “looks like we’ve been in there longer than we thought.”
“Felt like half the time,” Brett replied, rubbing at his eyes. “Guess the dungeon plays tricks on time too.”
They made their way toward the wall, exhaustion creeping into every movement. The sounds of the camp at night, distant laughter, clanging pots, crackling fires, were strangely comforting after the chaos of the dungeon. The smell of stew hit them before they reached the mess line, and none of them wasted time piling bowls with food.
They sat together at a long table, silent at first, just eating and breathing. The day’s weight was finally settling in, sinking deep into their bones.
It was Brett who noticed it first. He froze mid-bite, eyes going wide. “Uh… guys,” he said, voice a little shaky. “Check your notifications.”
Josh frowned and swiped open his interface. A moment later, his spoon clattered onto the table.
[You have reached Level 10.]
His heart gave a small jolt. Then another notification popped up beneath it.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
[You have gained 10 Attribute Points.]
“Level ten,” he said quietly. “We actually hit ten.”
Perberos leaned in, grinning wide. “Already? So we have! That’s, by the gods, that’s impressive.”
Bheldur let out a booming laugh that turned heads at nearby tables. “We’re bloody legends already!”
Carcan smiled softly, though there was a spark of pride in her eyes. “It’s well-earned. We fought with unity and discipline today.”
Josh and Brett exchanged a glance. Both of them looked surprised, but also… confused.
“Ten points,” Brett said quietly to his friend. “Not five. Did you get that too?”
Josh nodded, scrolling through the glowing blue display. “Yeah. Double. But why?”
“Could be a milestone bonus,” Brett suggested. “Some games did that every ten levels.” He paused thinking, “Or…” Brett mused, leaning back, “it’s something else. Maybe something to do with how we got here.”
Josh’s eyes lingered on his notification a moment longer before he dismissed it. “Whatever it is, it’s progress. Let’s enjoy that for now.”
Carcan smiled and raised her cup, getting their attention. “To progress, then. And to making it back alive.”
The others lifted theirs in return, laughter mixing with the flickering firelight.
Josh blinked as his interface flickered again, and a new notification appeared, one that immediately grabbed his full attention.
[Class Advancement Available]
You have reached Level 10. Your class has matured, and new advancement paths are open to you. Choose wisely, your choice will shape your growth and skills going forward.
The message pulsed faintly, and then, before his eyes, a series of glowing icons unfolded like spectral banners. Each one shimmered with a faint hue, the words beneath them burning with quiet promise.
Guardian
“The shield is not just a tool, but a promise.”
Guardians were the bulwark of any party—warriors who focused entirely on defence, protection, and battlefield control. This path emphasized endurance, shield mastery, and defensive auras that extended to allies. Their strength lay in turning themselves into an immovable wall.
- Core Traits: Constitution and Strength
- New Abilities:
- Fortified Wall – Increases resistance to physical and magical damage for a short duration.
- Guardian’s Oath – Absorbs a portion of incoming damage aimed at nearby allies.
- Deflecting Counter – Successful blocks increase counterattack damage.
- Fighting Style: Anchored, defensive, and self-sacrificing. Ideal for defenders and prolonged battles.
Josh could almost feel the weight of that path it fit his instincts. But part of him wondered if he wanted to be more than just the shield.
Duellist
“Precision, speed, and the dance of blades.”
The Duellist walked a finer edge—replacing heavy armour and shields with agility, technique, and deadly timing. A duellist's strength lay in reading opponents, striking weak points, and turning combat into art.
- Core Traits: Dexterity
- New Abilities:
- Riposte – Parry incoming attacks, then counter with increased damage.
- Flowing Strikes – Each consecutive hit increases attack speed slightly.
- Combat Focus – Temporary surge of precision, raising critical strike chance.
- Fighting Style: Fast-paced, reactive, and graceful. Deadly against single targets.
Josh felt his hand twitch toward his sword hilt at the idea. It was tempting but it didn’t feel like him.
Berserker
“Embrace fury. Let your rage be the weapon.”
Raw power, reckless abandon. The Berserker sacrificed defense and subtlety for sheer destructive strength. Their attacks grew stronger as their health fell, and their roars could terrify weaker foes.
- Core Traits: Strength
- New Abilities:
- Rage Unleashed – Temporarily increases attack power and speed, but reduces defence.
- Blood for Power – Regain stamina with every hit landed while below half health.
- Frenzied Cleave – A sweeping attack that hits all nearby enemies with brutal force.
- Fighting Style: High risk, high reward. Frontline chaos, best suited for short, explosive fights.
He thought of the troll. The fear, the thrill. The idea of letting that adrenaline become power made his pulse quicken but he also knew how dangerous that temptation could be.
Knight
“Honour, discipline, and the blade tempered by duty.”
The Knight was a balance between offense and defense—commanding presence, battlefield leadership, and unwavering courage. They could wield both sword and shield or take to heavier weapons, relying on sheer will to inspire allies and crush enemies.
- Core Traits: Strength and Constitution
- New Abilities:
- Valour Strike – Empower a weapon with resolve, striking harder with each consecutive blow.
- Commanding Presence – Buffs nearby allies’ morale and resistance to fear effects.
- Second Wind – Restores a burst of stamina and health mid-combat.
- Fighting Style: Balanced, reliable, and inspiring. Excellent all-round fighter.
Josh lingered on this one longer than the others, it reminded him of the kind of hero he’d admired as a kid when watching TV or playing videogames, and of the kind of man he was trying to become.
Paladin
“A sword guided by faith, a shield lit by divine light.”
The Paladin walked the line between warrior and healer, empowered by holy energy. This path granted blessings, light-based attacks, and limited restorative magic. Paladins stood as champions of divine will—protectors of both life and hope.
- Core Traits: Strength and Wisdom
- New Abilities:
- Smite – Channel divine energy through your weapon, dealing radiant damage.
- Healing Hands – Heal yourself or an ally for a portion of your maximum health.
- Holy Shield – Temporarily increases resistance to dark or cursed magic.
- Fighting Style: Hybrid defender, excelling against undead and demonic foes. Ideal for protecting allies while dealing divine retribution.
A warmth stirred in Josh’s chest as he read it. It reminded him of the god who had given him this new life, and something stirred inside him. The idea of combining his strength with purpose, of fighting not just for survival but for something greater… it felt right.
The glowing icons faded slightly as if waiting for his decision, each one pulsing softly. Around him, the campfire crackled behind him and his friends were deep in their own choices, faces lit by the faint blue glow of their own interfaces.
Josh exhaled slowly, his mind spinning with the possibilities.
Each path was a future. Each one would change not just how he fought, but who he became.
He ran his thumb across the air, hesitating on the one that called to him most.
Bit of portally magic for you today.
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