Chapter 66: The Rock-Cave King

Seventh floor beneath the dungeon——

The dungeon in Kilensk only spawns goblins and a few oaks. There’s a spot marked red on the map, so I head that way and find an old wooden crate tucked into a recessed side tunnel.

When I opened it, there was a tiny vial inside—so I鉴定 it—

"Potion?!"

That famous healing tonic... it’s real. I mean, it’s useless for me—completely useless—but I guess it’s worth something to someone else.

The enemies inside the dungeon were wiped out—one by one—by the chimera and the phoenix. Thanks to that, EXP was pouring in, and the “Explorer”职业 board was maxing out one after another!

This dungeon goes down to at least the 15th floor… but we’re already at the 13th. And look—just from this far, we’ve already snagged all these items.

Flame Gemstone U ×2

Water Rune U

Darkstone U

Unicorn Horn R

Potion C ×3

High Potion ×2

Mana Potion C ×2

Fur of the Beastkin

Mithril Shortsword R

Scroll (Wind) R

Holy Water R

Yeah, there’s a lot here… These gems, unicorn horns—definitely useful as materials for a blacksmith’s “creation” or an alchemist’s “transmutation.” Gotta keep these safe.

This "C" is common... ordinary, I guess. "U" means uncommon—kinda rare, you know. Rarity's labeled properly too.

When we descended to the fourteenth floor, we stepped into an open space. Jagged rock walls, but the atmosphere was like a grand hall in a castle or fortress.

From the wall, goblins swarm out. They emerge in a creepy, unnatural way—as if birthed straight from the stone itself. Bigger than the goblins we'd seen before.鉴定 reveals—

Hob Goblin

Warrior Lv282

Hob Goblin... there's over a hundred of them...!! I'm counting on you—Phoenix!!

The Phoenix soars up to the ceiling of the grand hall, flames roaring wildly from its body, then dives straight down with a burst, slamming into the ground!

Flames spread outward in a wave, rippling across the entire hall. The Hob Goblins caught in the blaze scream as they're burned by flames that won't go out.

A single ember hovering in the air transforms back into the Phoenix, watching from above as the Hob Goblins are utterly incinerated.

"Whoa... incredible..."

The flames stop right in front of us, parting to avoid us. The Phoenix seems to control fire at will... I'm still thinking that when a dozen or so Hob Goblins, burning alive, charge straight at us.

The Chimera's body trembles slightly. One after another, the Hob Goblins are torn apart, flying apart in pieces!

Still reliable as ever... I guess it's safe to leave the boss of this dungeon to these two. I glance back at the Chimera—then it vanishes, dissolving into faint particles of light.

"Ah... timing, huh?"

Summoning has a time limit, after all... so the Phoenix should be fading soon. But it doesn't. Not even after time passes.

Why...? Could it be I'm doing the "taming" wrong? I tamed the Chimera after defeating it, but the Phoenix... it just... let itself be tamed!

Maybe the Phoenix doesn't have a time limit at all. If that's true, then the other restriction—cooldown after summoning—might not apply either. Summoned beasts can't be summoned again until the next day after they vanish.

Could the Phoenix be exempt from that too? Let me test it... just for a second. I'll make it disappear.

I focus magic into my hands again, summoning the spell...

"Aw, damn it! Not coming out!"

Seems like the time limit’s the only thing without restrictions... damn it. I was counting on that phoenix today—can’t summon it for the whole day...

Damn it, I had no choice—I headed down to the fifteenth floor, the deepest level of this dungeon.

The area was pitch black, but I knew she was there—right away.

"Fire Dragon!!"

Flames shaped like a dragon, conjured by fire magic, torching the walls and ground! In the deeper shadows of the now-brighter area, a single goblin stood. Scanning it—

Goblin King

Warrior Lv1102

"Goblin King...?"

Not a Leader—that’s for sure. This dungeon’s a bust...

"Gyaghyaghyaghyaghyaaarrrr!!"

Screaming like she’s threatening to cut you open, she raises a weapon that looks like a giant Chinese cleaver.

I pulled the mithril sword from the pocket dimension... then shoved it back in.

"Whoa?"

The goblin king took a step forward—then realized his legs weren’t moving. He toppled to the ground, balance gone. Impact. Body shattered. The earth turned red. A sea of blood.

Even though I stopped time... I can't even get a reaction out of my movements.

Not worth my time.

No need to "tame" it, I guess. But killing the goblin king? That’s locked the explorer’s board for good.

The explorer's职业 board originally had nine cards, and now the last one is the one that's stuck. Checking the职业 skill...

Explorer Lv99

[Profession Skill]

Mapping Rank C → SSS Title: "Wang of the Rock Cave"

Acquired "Skill": Heat and Cold Resistance (I) ×7, Perception (I) ×7

Spatial Awareness (I) ×6

称号’s been applied… “Cave King”…? The 3D map’s upgraded too. Hidden items that weren’t showing before—now they’re visible!

There’s a spot marked red even deeper in this fifteenth floor. When I go check it out—there’s a slightly fancy metal box. I open it up and take a look inside—

Elixir SR

Fully restored vitality and magical energy

Heals every wound and illness.

This is the elixir?!...My heart’s racing!