The instant Grimm pressed [Yes], a familiar cascade of notifications flashed before his eyes.
---
[You have learned a new skill: Pocket Space (F-Rank)]
[Talent: Infinite Boost activated.]
[Would you like to enhance this skill using Infinite Boost?]
[Yes / No]
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Without hesitation, Grimm tapped [Yes].
The screen flared blue, its glow reflecting in his eyes.
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[Enhancing ability…]
[F-Rank 'Pocket Space' has evolved into: S-Rank 'Astral Vault.']
---
He stared for a heartbeat, then a grin spread across his face.
"Alright, let's see what kind of miracle you've turned into this time."
With a flick of his hand, the information window appeared.
---
[Astral Vault]
Skill Rank: S
Abilities:
(A) Astral Gate: Summon or recall stored items through shimmering portals manifest anywhere within the user's line of sight.
(S) Vault Dominion: Forge a personal astral domain spanning 10,000 cubic meters.
Space within is eternally frozen and sealed from time, perfectly preserving all stored items in their original state.
Only inanimate objects may be stored—living entities are instantly rejected or erased upon entry.
---
Grimm's eyes widened.
He had high expectations for this upgrade, yet it still managed to surpass them.
A slow smile curved his lips. "You really don't do halfway, do you?"
He extended his hand forward.
Space shimmered—reality bending like water under heat—and a small purple portal spiraled open before him, humming with quiet stability.
When he focused, his senses reached into the void beyond.
A space so vast it made him dizzy—silent, immense, and utterly stable.
Ten thousand cubic meters of absolute storage.
A private pocket dimension, frozen in time.
His grin widened. "Guess I won't be worrying about inventory slots anymore."
The portal flickered as he willed it closed, only to reopen several meters away in midair. Grimm laughed under his breath.
"Now that's convenient."
For a brief moment, he imagined tossing an army of beasts through one of these portals—unleashing them from the sky onto an enemy's head like divine punishment.
He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Too bad it rejects living things. Would've been fun."
Still smiling, he dismissed the portal completely.
"Alright… storage problem solved. Time to move."
He dropped from the tree branch he'd been sitting on.
His boots hit the forest floor with a soft thud, stirring the morning fog into swirling ribbons around him.
Grimm stretched, joints cracking faintly, then turned east.
"The goblin settlement should be close to the forest's edge," he murmured. "Let's see what kind of EXP you've got for me."
With that, he bolted forward—a blur of motion cutting through mist and brush alike.
Beasts roared in the distance as he sped past, their forms half-seen between trees, but Grimm didn't slow. The lesser monsters no longer interested him.
The EXP tax from his Authority drained most of what he earned from them anyway. Only stronger prey were worth the effort now.
The trees began to thin as the terrain sloped downward. The air grew heavier, carrying a faint, foul stench—goblins.
Grimm slowed, his steps turning silent as he crept forward.
The Goblin Settlement.
One of the most dangerous areas on the first floor.
Not just because of the sheer number of goblins that nested there—but because of what they were.
Goblins weren't beasts. They were pack creatures.
One scream, and you'd have a dozen more at your throat.
And unlike most first-floor monsters, goblins were clever. They laid traps—pits, snares, poisoned spikes—the whole field a labyrinth of crude, murderous designs.
One wrong step could end a beginner before the fight even began.
Grimm crouched low, eyes scanning the terrain. His gaze caught on something—a patch of disturbed earth, a faint smear of moisture that hadn't yet dried.
Blood.
And signs of a recent struggle.
He frowned. "Someone's been here."
No corpses, though. Which meant the body had already despawned.
He ran his fingers through the damp soil, estimating. "About an hour ago."
Someone had reached the settlement before him.
Grimm exhaled slowly. "Figures. Can't have all the fun."
He should have turned back then. There was no reason to risk it—whoever they were, they'd already cleared the outer area, and getting close could trigger unwanted hostility.
But curiosity gnawed at him like a whisper.
Who else had dared come here this early?
Beginners like him… or the few veterans still lingering on the first floor?
He hesitated for a moment… then sighed. "Just a peek."
Creeping through the thick undergrowth, he moved deeper into the settlement. The further he went, the more chaos he found—shattered goblin huts, scorched patches of earth, streaks of blood marking trees and soil.
Whoever fought here hadn't gone easy.
Then, from somewhere deeper—a sharp human scream tore through the air.
A battle cry—or perhaps, a desperate one.
Grimm's expression shifted, intrigue glinting in his eyes as he turned toward the sound.
"The boss room?"
Without hesitation, he started toward it.
---
Moments Earlier
A group of six advanced cautiously along the same forest trail.
If Grimm had been there, he would have recognized them instantly—the same team from Newbie Village #3, whose leader had once offered him the role of porter.
Now they had a new sixth member—a thin boy burdened with two heavy packs. Clearly, they'd found a replacement.
Their leader, the tall man with metallic-gray skin and a shaved head, raised his hand to signal a halt.
"Stop. Settlement's just ahead."
The group froze, eyes scanning the surroundings.
He turned to address them, his tone calm but commanding. "We'll start running into goblins soon. Watch your step. You know how they set traps—one wrong move and you're bait."
He looked to the short, red-haired girl at his left. "Mage, detection ready?"
She nodded, her staff materializing in a burst of red light. "Already prepared."
"Good." His gaze swept over the rest of the group. "Stick to formation. Don't break ranks unless I say so. We're here for one reason and one reason only—the drop."
The group murmured affirmatives, tension visible in their faces.
But then, the girl with a spear strapped to her back frowned and raised her hand.
"Captain, wait."
The leader arched a brow. "What is it?"
She hesitated before speaking. "You keep saying we'll get an Epic Item Drop from the boss. But… how sure are you about that? No one's ever heard of an Epic drop on the first floor—not even from the Floor Guardian, let alone a mini-boss."
Her gaze flicked toward the boy with messy blond hair and half-lidded, lazy eyes standing at the rear.
"So why are we trusting his word?"