I suddenly realized—the skills I possessed were utterly useless in a real fight. Eyes of Desire, Lustful Touch, Fertility Control... they were all designed to manipulate women, not for surviving in a dungeon. True, they were my own choices, and I didn't regret them, but in a situation like this, I felt incredibly vulnerable.
The hobgoblin kept moving frantically, as if fleeing from something terrifying. It seemed to be running away from Hammermaiden's group. Carefully, I circled around, keeping my position hidden behind large rock formations.
'I have to kill it,' I resolved. If I couldn't even defeat a monster this badly injured, how could I possibly exact revenge on those who were far stronger?
I stalked the hobgoblin with cautious steps, trying to walk without making a sound. My own heartbeat thundered in my ears. Once I was directly behind it, I raised my dagger high, ready to plunge it into its neck.
But suddenly... it turned around!
Its red eyes, once full of fear, now stared at me wildly. Without a second thought, it lunged at me with its sharp claws.
"Damn it!" I cursed, leaping sideways. Its claws narrowly missed my face. I countered, stabbing wildly towards its neck. Luckily, my dagger found its mark. Blood gushed out.
But the hobgoblin wasn't done. With its last ounce of strength, it threw a punch that sent me staggering back. Fortunately, its severe wounds made the blow less lethal. I fell onto the muddy ground but got up immediately.
It roared in agony while I relentlessly kept stabbing. We grappled on the ground, rolling in the mud and blood. The metallic stench of its blood mixed with the pungent smell of wet earth filled my nostrils. Finally, after several deep stabs, its body went still.
A blue screen appeared in my vision:
[Successfully killed Hobgoblin]
[Received 15 EXP]
I was stunned. All this time I thought EXP could only be gained from completing quests. It turned out killing monsters also gave EXP! This was a crucial discovery—it meant I could level up faster if I hunted monsters diligently.
I stared at the hobgoblin corpse beneath me. This was my first time killing a monster, and even though it was messy, a flicker of pride stirred in my chest. But looking at my own condition—my entire body covered in mud and blood—I cursed inwardly. Just one monster and I was already in this miserable state. If I went out now and someone saw me like this, I'd definitely be suspected. I could even be reported to the authorities.
I pressed deeper into the dungeon, navigating the increasingly dark and damp cave tunnels. More and more goblin corpses littered the path—some cleanly severed, others crushed as if by an explosion. The atmosphere in the dungeon grew increasingly grim.
Along the way, I had encountered five small goblins. I killed them one by one by ambushing them from behind, using the element of surprise. This time, however, I deliberately tried facing one goblin head-on.
The fight was harder than I expected. I managed to kill it, but not without consequence. A gash on my chest reminded me that even lowly monsters like this couldn't be underestimated.
'Damn monster,' I thought.
'Those sons of bitches could probably kill a monster like this easily.But me...'
A blue notification appeared in my vision:
[Successfully killed Goblin]
[Received 10 EXP]
I stared at the small goblin's corpse for a moment, then continued my journey more cautiously. Blood still dripped from my wound, reminding me just how weak I still was—and how much I had to learn.
I quickened my pace, my heart growing anxious. I'd been inside the dungeon for twenty minutes but still saw no signs of other humans. A nagging question haunted me: what exactly did the quest "destroy the dungeon core" mean? Did I have to kill the dungeon boss with my own hands? Or was it enough to just be inside when someone else did it?
According to the books I'd read, to permanently close a dungeon gate, its boss must be defeated. I couldn't take the risk—if the answer was the former, and I let Hammermaiden kill the boss, my stats could be halved. My chest tightened at the thought of the consequences.
"No," I resolved inwardly, "I must reach the boss chamber before they kill it!"
Fifteen minutes passed, and I finally found them—the five members of Hammer Maiden, just as the officer had said. Holding my breath, I watched Hammer Maiden fight from behind a large rock. The scene unfolding before me was like a mesmerizing martial arts performance.
Hammer Maiden stood firm in the center of a vast cavern, both hands gripping the handle of a hammer that started out the size of a regular sledgehammer. Suddenly, her blue eyes flashed, and the hammer began to glow with a silvery light. In seconds, the weapon expanded into a two-meter-long giant, its massive head the size of a tombstone.
A Goblin Knight charged at her, its armor clanking. With an agility astounding for someone wielding such a heavy weapon, Hammermaiden leaped into the air, her body spinning like a top. She swung the giant hammer with devastating force, slamming it down onto the Goblin Knight from above.
KRAA-SMASH!
A thunderous roar filled the cave. The Goblin Knight was instantly pulverized, its armor shattered into pieces like a crushed soda can. Blood and flesh splattered across the cave floor.
Without pause, a group of small goblins swarmed her from all directions. Hammer Maiden showed no panic. With perfect balance, she pivoted, the giant hammer whirling around her like a propeller. Each swing struck three or four goblins at once, hurling their bodies against the cave walls with lethal force.
What amazed me was that despite wielding a heavy weapon, her movements were so graceful and measured. Every swing of the hammer was precise, every step evaded attacks with perfect precision. Her blue hair fluttered in this dance of death, yet not a single strand seemed tangled or stained.
Meanwhile, her four teammates seemed like mere accessories beside her.
In less than a minute, over twenty goblins lay lifeless around her. Hammer Maiden stood tall amidst the carnage, her breath not even labored. With a smooth motion, she dusted off her shoulder, and the giant hammer shrank back to its original size.
I couldn't help myself. With my heart pounding, I used Eye of Desire on her, wanting to uncover the secrets behind this formidable woman. Immediately, the status window visible only to me unfolded.
_______________
NAME: Ruth Anvilhart
AGE: 27
CLASS: Hammer Maiden
RANK: S
DOMINANCE: 1%
SEXUAL AROUSAL: 7%
VAGINA VIRGINITY: No
ANAL VIRGINITY: Yes
WEAK POINTS: Vagina, Breasts.
FETISH: Masochistic, Cosplay, Humiliation.
______________
So, Ruth Anvilhart. That was her real name. Of course, after officially becoming Hunters, they usually use codenames like "Hammer Maiden" for their public identity. But what made my eyes widen was her Rank—S! According to all public information, she was only Rank A. Was she hiding her true power?
I nearly choked reading the part about her fetishes. Masochistic? Cosplay? Humiliation? My mind reeled between awe and disbelief. You really can't judge a book by its cover... Who would have thought that behind such a cool and powerful figure lay hidden desires like these?
An involuntary smile spread across my lips. This information... was very valuable. I couldn't help but be reminded of my stepmother's friend, Charlotte Haverty.
They continued their journey, and with extreme caution, I followed from behind, maintaining a safe distance while using every rock formation and bend in the cave as hiding spots.
Several times they encountered more groups of goblins, and each time, Hammer Maiden and her team demonstrated impressive efficiency and power.
Finally, they arrived before a massive, wide-open cave entrance, made of natural stone covered in chaotic carvings. From beyond the doorway, an incredibly powerful aura of energy radiated.
Burning with curiosity, I peeked into the boss chamber. And what I saw next made my eyes widen in disbelief.