Chapter 3: Balsar In A Dungeon Expedition

"The pleasure's ours." Fin with a cheeky smile said and added, "For us to fully understand each other's role in this expedition. First, let me explain to Sir Balsar each of my and my team's roles or specializations. I'm a fighter, Sarah is a Mage, Creon is a Healer, and Jake is an archer. Umm, is it alright for you to become our tank?" Fin asked Balsar.

"Yes, I'm alright with it," Balsar replied earning a smile from Fin. "By the way this dungeon is a low-ranking dungeon right?" Balsar asked.

"Yep, this dungeon consists of goblins and a boss monster," Creon said and showed the dungeon's information to Balsar. "The boss monster is a low-ranking shaman."

"Hmm, good. Then shall we go?" Balsar asked and the four members nodded in response.

"Let's go, we have a dungeon to clear!" Fin shouted aloud, his playful persona eased his teammates.

The five began their journey. The dungeon was located in the Azure Forest, near a small village. 

"We have to clear this dungeon to ease the villagers, it seems like they have been having trouble due to the never-ending spawn of goblins," Creon said earning a nod from his team members.

"By the way, Sir Balsar are you a lone player?" Fin asked.

"Normally yes, but since it has been a while since I entered a dungeon, I decided to team up," Balsar replied.

"That's good, I had some intel that the monsters are strangely getting stronger," Fin said. "It would be better to team up than act alone, especially since with one wrong move we would end up dead."

Balsar nodded his head and added. "By the way, this question has been bugging me. But aren't the four of you too young to become adventurers? This job isn't easy, and as you said we can die any moment." Balsar said.

"That's true, although it's scary and that death's door awaits at every turn. The pay is good." Fin pointed at himself and added. "I'm the breadwinner, and I have three little siblings I have to take care of. Part-time jobs aren't sufficient enough, that's why I decided to become a player." Fin said and added. "Once I save up tons of money and graduate then I'll leave this job."

"You...are a kind child," Balsar said. 'Although he's an NPC, his words are filled with sincerity.'

Ethan who was watching the interaction between his character and the NPC's smiled heartedly. The young man deeply loved his family, and Ethan who also wanted to provide the best for his mother tightened his resolve.

'Right, just like what Jacob said! Don't lose hope!' Ethan clenched his fist, and a new profound determination sprouted in his heart.

"We're here!" Creon shouted and pointed at the cave. "This is the dungeon.." 

"This is the first time we see a dungeon. It's...Smaller than I had expected." Sarah said holding her staff.

"It is a goblin dungeon so I think it lives to its title?" Jake said he was also unsure seeing the small entrance of the dungeon. "Creon you aren't mistaken, are you? I mean, how can we enter this dungeon? We have to crouch while killing a goblin?"

"Um...I think so...But..." Creon turned around facing Balsar. "Umm, I don't think Sir Balsar can fit.."

"Have you never entered a dungeon?" Balsar asked and earned a nod from the four. "Hah.." Balsar walked forward, he touched the small cave, and all of a sudden the cave grew wider and a tunnel formed. "There.."

"Wow.." Fin said and added. "How did you do that?"

"It's common knowledge...If you regularly enter a dungeon." Balsar facepalmed. He thought at least these young adventurers had prior knowledge of how a dungeon works.

"Anyways, let's enter." Balsar gestured and entered the dungeon followed by the other team members.

"It's so dark.." Sarah held her staff and cast a small fire spell. "There you go, now we can see."

"The place looks scary," Fin said, he glanced at Balsar and asked. "Sir Balsar, what should we do from now?"

"We get ready," Balsar said, he held a small torchwood and Sarah lit it up. "In just a few seconds the dungeon would start spawning. So we should gear up."

[The Dungeon has spawned three goblins]

"That's the cue. Tighten your hold of your weapons, as the tank I'll rush forward. Fin, Jake, and Sarah provide backup. Creon since you are a healer, you aren't that much of use yet, thus you are the extra eyes. " Balsar said, he opened his inventory and took out a razor-sharp axe.

"An axe?" Creon asked unsure of Balsar's weapon choice.

"It's alright, my body is tough, normal attacks wouldn't do any damage, it would be better for me to fight head-on than use counterattacks," Balsar said. "Alright, tighten your grip they're here." 

In the dim cave, three figures appeared. Green skin, small stature, holding clubs.

Kek-kre!

Shriek-kek!

Keik-kek-ke!

"Oh my god, they're damn ugly!" Fin shouted and the three other members facepalmed due to their friend's sudden outburst.

"Really Fin? We're in the middle of fighting those things." Creon said earning a serious glance from Fin.

"But they are.." With Fin's serious tone, Sarah covers her mouth stopping herself from laughing.

'Hah these newbies' Balsar sighed, he held his axe as the goblins began their move. "Get ready!"

Balsar rushed forward using his dash skill, he charged in the direction of one of the goblins completely crushing the goblin as it hit the wall of the cave.

Kiek-kek!

Next, Balsar spun his axe, throwing the axe with his strength at one of the goblins.

Keik!

The goblin tried to dodge, but due to the fast incoming axe, his head was cleanly cut and blood sprayed on the ground.

Keikkk!

The last goblin could feel the aura coming from the Human. Seeing its two comrades dying without even inflicting a single wound, the goblin turned its face into the four humans. 

With its agility, it rushed forward at the four humans. But before it could even move, a hand covered its mouth and pushed it with great force unto the ground.

The goblin couldn't move, it tried to do as it could to break free, but to no avail. 

Balsar gripped the goblin's head, and with his strength, he crushed the goblin's skull. Balsar didn't flinch in front of the crushed goblin head, instead, he stood up and put away his axe.

"Wow.." Fin's eyes gleamed with admiration. "T-That was amazing! How did you do that? You killed three goblins in one go!"

"You didn't even need our help." Creon touched the back of his neck a bit embarrassed. 

"It's alright, it would be better not to exhaust you. Since we're going to fight not only three but over hundreds of goblins." Balsar said earning a nod from the four.

"Now, let's continue." Balsar held his torch as the five of them marched through the cave.

After an hour of nonstop fighting againt's goblins, the five decided to rest. Their mana and stamina had been depleted.

"I'm so sorry.." Fin bowed his head in front of Balsar who was being healed by Creon. "I was too negligent and the goblin managed to find my weakness.."

Balsar grunted and said. "It's alright, everyone makes mistakes. You have to learn from that simple mistake, you aren't a solo player, instead a team player, always remember that if you make one wrong move, that would not only endanger yourself but also your team."

"Y-Yes.." Fin nodded his head. The other members were also listening closely to Balsar's instructions.

"Umm. Sir Balsar, with your skills and experience, wouldn't it be good for you to enter a guild?" Sarah asked.

"A guild? It does sound nice, but I don't want to be tied down," Balsar replied earning a nod from Sarah.

"That's true, my big sister is part of a guild, and once the guild calls she always has to be present. Not only that they have to do tons of tasks from the guild nonstop." Sarah said and added. "Sir Balsar, how long have you been a player?"

Ethan was in deep thought, he began counting at his fingertips. 'Balsar was my second character...I think that was around thirteen years ago. I had trouble leveling up my character Mathias since I was still new to the game...'

"Hmm, I have been an adventurer for thirteen years now," Balsar replied earning a shocked expression on the four's face. "It was hard back then, but I managed to reach this far."

Ethan sighed he could vividly remember how tiring it was to level up Mathias. But after reaching max level in Mathias's character, Ethan moved unto Balsar. Although the progress was slow, at least Ethan had a few hints of the game from Mathias's character.

"T-Thirteen years ago? Does that mean you were there in the golden age?" Creon adjusted his glasses as he seriously gazed at Balsar.

'Golden ages? Do they mean the third-year anniversary of the game? Well, it was popular, and was called the Avelon era.' Ethan pressed his cursor picking the choices his character could reply.

"Yes, but I wouldn't call it the golden ages. Although it was amazing, still I faced problems here and there." Balsar replied earning another gasp from the four.

"That's amazing...Although that era was also called 'The Rise' many people faced problems with facing the monsters." Creon said.

The four of them looked at Balsar in another way, instead of their cowardly glances, they looked up to Balsar with admiration and respect.

'True, back then I would always die in the hands of the monsters.' Ethan nodded his head, he could vividly remember all the hard work he did just to level up his character.

"Anyways, enough of chit-chat. Since we are all healed, and our mana has been replenished. I think it's time for us to continue our journey." Balsar stood up and held his axe.

The four members followed Balsar as they got deeper into the dungeon. They faced goblins here and there, but it wasn't enough to scathe them, especially with Balsar as their leader. 

After another hour of walking, they reached the boss's room.

"Remember what I told you, although the goblin shaman is a low-ranking monster. Its intellect and spell-casting can't be looked down on." Balsair said earning a nod from the four. "All we have to do is to let its guard down. Now let's go!"

Balsar pushed open the towering doors, the goblin shaman wearing ornaments on its clothing held its staff as it immediately began firing fireballs.

Hiss

Kiek! Kek-Kie!

Hiss

Balsar and the rest of the team tried their best to evade the scorching hot fireballs. Some of the fireballs that didn't hit the target scorched the ground letting out steam.

Sarah and Creon were on the left side, while Jake, Fin, and Balsar were on the right side.

'This isn't good..' Balsar glanced at Sarah and Creon, the two could be easily killed. Balsar gritted his teeth. 'So he was planning this from the start.' Balsar rushed forward to the goblin using his skill, he was planning to divert the goblin shaman's attention to him.

"Fin, Jake! Protect Creon and Sarah at all costs!" Balsar shouted and the two nodded their heads. Balsar rushed with speed, but the goblin shaman fired fireballs aimed at Balsar.

'Dodge!' Balsar kept on dodging the fireballs, but due to its hundredth amount, Balsar was hit on his chest. "Shit!" Balsar winced in pain, he glanced at his chest, his skin melted revealing his pink flesh.

'Damn, Balsar's health is now at 70.' Ethan couldn't heal Balsar, since the goblin shaman didn't stop firing fireballs, Ethan couldn't find the time for Balsar to drink an elixir.

"Oh no he's badly wounded," Fin said and the three had grim expressions. All this time they were always under the protection of Balsar, they knew that without Balsar they would have died!

"Creon you should heal him," Jake said as he held a steel shield to block the fireballs. 

"I can't he's too far away!" Creon replied. He glanced at Jake's hand. "Shit, your hand!" Creon immediately began healing Jake's hand. 

Due to the scorching heat of the fireballs and the steel shield, Jake's hand was burned. "Urgh.." Jake grunted, yet he still held the shield blocking the fireballs.

"I finished!" Sarah shouted, and two force fields appeared enveloping Balsar and them. "Sir Balsar!" Sarah shouted and Balsar who noticed that the fireballs couldn't damage the force field rushed once again forward.

"Prepare to be crushed!" Balsar shouted aloud, his thunderous voice resonating inside the dungeon room. Balsar held his axe and smashed the ground. 

The dungeon room shook, and the ground erupted. Due to the quake, the goblin shaman lost its footing presenting a chance for Balsar to kill the goblin shaman. 

Balsar using his dash skill was in front of the goblin shaman who shivered in fright. Balsar held his axe. "You will be crushed!" With that last sentence, Balsar with great force moved his axe downwards crushing the goblin's chest and head.

Keikkkkkk!

The goblin shaman's last scream ended the battle.