The chamber opened up before me, larger than I had imagined. Natural rock pillars rose to the vaulted ceiling, creating shadowy areas conducive to ambushes. The bluish, ghostly light seemed to emanate from crystals embedded in the walls, their glow faint and flickering. The smell of mold and something else, an acrid, animalistic stench, was stronger here.

  And the sounds... the hoarse growls and excited cackles were more distinct now. I could discern at least three or four different sources, coming from a dark corner of the chamber, near a rudimentary campfire that cracked faintly.

  I pressed myself against the rock wall, trying to be as discreet as possible. My [Shadow Camouflage (Basic)] skill was not yet unlocked – I needed to look into that earned skill point – but instinct dictated that I stay in the shadows.

  Cautiously, I risked a peek. Around the fire, three squat, hunched figures stirred. Their skin was a sickly green, their ears pointed and oversized, their yellow, cruel eyes gleaming in the gloom. They wore dirty rags and were armed with crude clubs studded with sharp stones. Goblins. No doubt about it.

  Above their heads, the familiar inscription: [Goblin Scavenger - Level 2].

  Level 2. Like me. But there were three of them. And they looked hungry and mean.

  My initial plan was to observe, maybe try to eliminate them one by one if possible. But the configuration of the chamber wasn't really suitable. They were grouped together, and there weren't many hiding places between me and them.

  I had to make a decision. Attack first and hope to surprise them? Or wait for them to spot me, which was inevitable if I stayed there?

  The Shadow Shard in my hand seemed to vibrate slightly again, as if to encourage me. Or maybe it was just the blood pulsing in my veins.

  I decided to use my new skill. Ten mana points, it wasn't huge, but it was better than nothing.

  "Shadow Strike," I thought, focusing my intention on the dagger.

  A sensation of cold ran up my arm, and the blade of the Shadow Shard was wreathed in tendrils of shadowy energy. It seemed darker, more menacing. My MP bar dropped slightly: 40/50. The effect would last for the next attack.

  I took a deep breath, then another. It was now.

  I sprang from my hiding place, running as fast as my legs would carry me towards the nearest goblin. It had its back to me, busy poking the fire with its club. The other two were squabbling over a suspicious piece of meat roasting on the flame.

  My sudden appearance took them by surprise. The goblin facing away turned sharply, its yellow eyes widening in astonishment. It opened its mouth to shout, but it was too late.

  I lunged, the dagger forward. The [Shadow Strike] connected squarely in its chest. The blade sank in with disconcerting ease, piercing the rags and tough skin. Dark energy seemed to flare from the wound, and the goblin was flung backward, a strangled cry escaping its throat. It fell heavily, an expression of pure agony on its contorted face.

  [-28 HP! Critical Hit! [Minor Blindness] effect applied!]

  A critical hit! Luck was with me. The goblin thrashed on the ground, its hands clawing at its eyes, visibly disoriented by the blindness.

  The other two goblins, alerted by their fellow's cry, turned towards me, their pig-like faces distorted by rage and surprise. They brandished their clubs and charged, letting out guttural war cries.

  I didn't have time to savor my first attack. I focused on the blinded goblin on the ground and quickly finished it with a dagger thrust to the throat. It gargled, then fell still. Its body began to glow before being absorbed by the Shadow Shard.

  [You have defeated: Goblin Scavenger (Level 2)]

  [You have gained 25 XP!]

  [Shadow Shard has absorbed the essence of Goblin Scavenger.]

  [Shadow Shard Affinity increased: 0.54%]

  One down. Two to face.

  They were coming fast. I didn't have time to reactivate [Shadow Strike]. I had to rely on my speed and reflexes. The first goblin brought its club down in a vicious arc aimed at my head. I ducked just in time, the wind of the weapon whistling over my hair. I took advantage of its imbalance to slash its leg with my dagger.

  [-12 HP!]

  It screamed in pain and stumbled back a step, limping. But the second goblin was already on me, its club striking from the side. I raised my left arm to block, but the force of the impact almost made me drop my dagger. A dull pain radiated in my forearm.

  [-15 HP!] My own health bar dropped. 95/110.

  These goblins hit hard. And they were coordinated, or at least, they attacked together, leaving me no respite.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I retreated, trying to create distance, to force them to separate. The chamber was full of natural obstacles, the rock pillars. I could perhaps use them to my advantage.

  I feigned an attack on the goblin with the injured leg, then quickly moved behind a pillar. As expected, they followed me. The uninjured goblin arrived first, its club raised. I sprang from behind the pillar and plunged my dagger into its flank.

  [-14 HP!]

  It growled, but didn't back down. It tried to grab me with its free hand. I dodged its grasp and kicked it in the knee. It lost its balance, and I took advantage of this opening to deliver another dagger strike, this time to the shoulder.

  [-16 HP!]

  It was clearly in bad shape, but it refused to give up. The goblin with the injured leg arrived, limping, its face twisted with hatred. It raised its club for a desperate attack.

  This was the moment. I needed to finish this quickly. I focused, ignoring the pain in my arm.

  "Shadow Strike!"

  Again, the dagger was wreathed in darkness. I blocked the limping goblin's blow with my forearm (another -10 HP, ouch! 85/110), absorbing the pain, and lunged at the most injured goblin, the one I had stabbed in the flank and shoulder. My shadow-infused dagger sank deep into its chest.

  [-30 HP! Critical Hit!]

  It collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut, without a sound. Its body disintegrated, absorbed by my dagger.

  [You have defeated: Goblin Scavenger (Level 2)]

  [You have gained 25 XP!]

  [Shadow Shard has absorbed the essence of Goblin Scavenger.]

  [Shadow Shard Affinity increased: 0.57%]

  Only the goblin with the injured leg remained. It looked at me with a mixture of fear and fury, its club trembling in its hand. It was alone now. And it knew it.

  It tried to flee, turning to limp towards the back of the cavern. But I wasn't going to let it escape. What if it alerted other goblins?

  I caught up easily. A well-placed dagger thrust to the back, and it was over.

  [You have defeated: Goblin Scavenger (Level 2)]

  [You have gained 25 XP!]

  [Shadow Shard has absorbed the essence of Goblin Scavenger.]

  [Shadow Shard Affinity increased: 0.60%]

  Silence fell upon the chamber again, only broken by my heavy breathing and the crackling of the campfire. I stood, surrounded by the faint glows indicating the spots where the goblins had disintegrated.

  I had won. Against three of them. My HP bar was at 75/110. Not great, but I was alive. And I had gained 75 XP in total. My experience bar was now at 75/200 for Level 3. Just a bit more and I would level up again.

  I cautiously approached the campfire. The piece of meat that was roasting looked even more suspicious up close. I was certainly not going to touch it. But next to the fire, there was a small pile of odds and ends: bones, worthless shiny stones, and... something else.

  A small, crude leather pouch.

  I picked it up. It was surprisingly heavy for its size. I untied it and poured its contents into my hand. A few bronze coins, identical to the one I had found on the Mutated Rat, fell out with a clatter. Five Gate Crystals. And a small rolled-up cloth item.

  I unrolled it. It was a bandage, a bit dirty, but seemed usable.

  [You have found: Makeshift Bandage (Common)]

  [Effect: Slowly restores 20 HP over 1 minute. Single use.]

  Useful. Very useful, in fact. I carefully stored it in my inventory. Every resource counted.

  I had explored the first room and defeated the threats. The quest should be complete.

  [Quest Objective Updated: Leave the Gate OR Continue Exploration (Risky).]

  [Warning: Greater threats may be found deeper within the Howling Goblin Cave.]

  Leave or continue? I was tempted. The XP, the loot... But I was also injured, and I had no more healing potions. That bandage wouldn't heal me instantly. And "greater threats" didn't bode well.

  Prudence won out. For now. I had to learn to manage my resources and not be too greedy. There would be other Gates, other dungeons.

  I looked for the way back. The distortion through which I had entered was no longer visible. How to get out?

  [To leave an Instanced Gate, please think or say "Leave Instance". You will be returned to your entry point.]

  Convenient, again.

  "Leave Instance."

  The phasing sensation returned, less violent this time. The cavern walls blurred, colors swirled. And in the blink of an eye, I was back in the campus grove of trees, the sunlight stinging my eyes after the gloom of the cave.

  The Gate, the distortion in the air, was still there, but it seemed even fainter, its hum barely audible.

  [Quest: Gate Exploration – COMPLETE!]

  [You have gained 100 XP!]

  [LEVEL UP! You are now Level 3.]

  [You have gained 5 Attribute Points.]

  [You have gained 1 Skill Point.]

  [Reward: Crude Leather Gloves (Uncommon) added to your inventory.]

  [Your understanding of the Game Nexus has slightly increased.]

  Level 3! And gloves! I felt exhausted, sore, but a wave of satisfaction washed over me. I had survived. I had progressed.

  And I had learned one thing: this world was dangerous, yes. But it also offered rewards to those who dared to face its perils.