Yuuto's plan was simple: shake the weak part of the ceiling, bring the rocks down, throw the goblins into chaos, and then pick them off one by one. The only problem was how to hit the ceiling with enough force.
All he carried was an iron dagger—not nearly strong enough to break stone if he threw it. But he did have something else.
He dug into the side of his backpack and pulled out a few small stones, the same kind he had used to lure a slime earlier. A normal person would get nothing from throwing them. Yuuto, however, was no longer the weak level-one boy who had first dropped into this dungeon. His Strength had climbed to thirteen. Not amazing, but just enough to count.
He drew his arm back like a baseball pitcher, fixed his eyes on a brittle point above the goblins' heads, and held his breath.
The stone whistled through the air and struck the ceiling with a dull clack. Dust rained down in a thin shower, but no real fall followed.
The goblins jumped to their feet with sharp cries, spinning around in confusion. They still hadn't noticed Yuuto hiding in the shadows.
One isn't enough... he thought.
He snapped his arm forward again. Then again. Stone after stone hammered the same weak spot. A crack split across the ceiling with a harsh groan.
The goblins finally sensed danger and tried to run—but it was too late.
With a deep roar, the ceiling gave way. A huge piece of rock crashed down onto the campfire they had gathered around, sending sparks and smoke flying.
One goblin was crushed under the rubble. The other two staggered back, stunned and terrified.
Now! Yuuto leapt from behind a boulder and rushed the closest one. Goblins had weak spots—unlike slimes—and he aimed for the throat.
The creature noticed him at the last instant and swung a club in panic. The strike was wild and slow. Yuuto slipped under it and, as they passed each other, drove his iron dagger deep into its neck. A burst of green blood followed, and the goblin fell without a sound.
A faint blue window blinked in the air.
[You defeated a Goblin]
[EXP +25]
More than double a slime... Yuuto's heart kicked up. Only one left.
The final goblin screamed, lost in rage and grief. It rushed him, swinging a dagger in mad, fast arcs. Yuuto backed away to buy space; a direct clash would end badly for him.
He pushed the goblin toward the spot where the rocks had fallen. Loose stone littered the ground, making it uneven. The creature, blinded by anger, stepped wrong and stumbled.
That instant was the opening Yuuto had prepared.
He surged in close and stabbed upward with a reverse grip, aiming straight for its heart.
The goblin stared down at the blade in shock, let out a broken gasp, and collapsed.
[You defeated a Goblin]
[EXP +25]
Yuuto dropped to one knee, panting hard as the dust settled around him.
He had taken down three goblins. Even if his plan had worked, the fight had been far from easy. One mistake and he would have been the one lying on the ground.
But he won.
With a plan, with his skills, and with a body that had grown just enough, he had beaten enemies stronger than himself. A warm glow rose inside him, the same feeling he had when he had leveled up before.
A light chime rang.
[Level Up → 3]
[All stats increased]
[Skill Points +2]
[Title earned: Solo Challenger]
Level three... and a title?
The experience from the goblins must have pushed him past the threshold. Strength flooded back into his tired limbs. Yuuto quickly opened his status window.
[Status]
Name: Tajima Yuuto
Rank: E
Level: 3
Class: None
HP: 105/105 (+20)
MP: 55/55 (+15)
STR: 15 (+2)
VIT: 20 (+3)
DEX: 32 (+4)
AGI: 24 (+4)
INT: 35 (+4)
LUK: 10 (+0)
[Skills]
Sort Lv.1
Keep Lv.1
Break Lv.1
[Skill Points]
4
[Title]
Solo Challenger (A small EXP bonus when acting alone)
Nice... The gains were higher than when he hit level two. His quick movements in battle must have helped, because his DEX and AGI had jumped the most. And the title could not have suited him better—he really was working solo.
"Four skill points... First, I should level up Break."
Money was his lifeline. The more valuable materials he could produce, the easier it would be to afford potions and supplies, which meant a higher chance of staying alive. He spent two points to raise Break to level two.
[Break → Lv.2]
The skill icon glowed softly, and new information flowed into his mind.
[Skill Detail: Break Lv.2]
Break a target into its base parts (materials, info).
• Slightly faster and more accurate material extraction
• New! Can Break more complex targets
• New! Can record target info as a "recipe"
• New! Gains a small amount of EXP from Break
Note: Very low effect on resisting targets
"...That's big. Two points left. For survival, raising Keep to level two is the smart move."
He invested the remaining two points in Keep.
[Keep → Lv.2]
His pool of points was now empty, but his abilities had taken a clear step forward. Time to test the upgraded Break. He faced one of the goblin corpses.
"Break."
Light spread across the body. It broke down into particles much faster than before, leaving several items at his feet.
[Obtained: Goblin Ear]
[Obtained: Rusted Dagger]
[Obtained: Small Mana Stone Fragment]
More messages followed.
[Break yielded +2 EXP]
[New Recipe recorded: Rusted Dagger]
"So I can pull out EXP too... small, but it adds up. And recipes—this could be the first step toward making gear."
Yuuto felt sure he had chosen well. What used to be a plain, low-value skill was beginning to bloom into something powerful through smart use and growth.
He picked up his loot, the quiet of the cavern settling around him, and allowed himself one small, satisfied smile.