SWNOVELXO Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - Reward!
As Sam turned his attention to his team, he quickly assessed the situation. Michael seemed to be holding his own, his strikes steady and precise, though his movements were growing sluggish. Ann, on the other hand, was exceeding expectations. She had already taken down one goblin by herself, her spear glowing with a radiant blue aura.
Her skill, Judgment Thrust, was a sight to behold. Each attack was imbued with a star-like brilliance, the spear tip piercing through her target with deadly precision. The goblin she struck collapsed instantly, a clean hole in its chest marking the fatal blow.
However, the rest of the team wasn't faring as well. Most were barely holding their ground, their movements frantic as they focused more on avoiding death than landing effective hits. Eddie, at least, was handling himself. His speed and agility allowed him to stay ahead of the goblins, dodging their clumsy strikes with ease.
The worst off was Maria, the group's alchemist. Her arm was badly injured, nearly severed, and she was struggling to retreat. The others did their best to cover her, but their efforts were strained, their injuries mounting.
Sam's eyes narrowed as he spotted the five goblins relentlessly pursuing Maria's group. Without hesitation, he dashed toward them, his body a blur of motion.
He didn't have his sword—it was lost in the pool of green blood from the goblin leader. But he didn't need it.
The first goblin barely had time to register his presence before Sam's fist slammed into its face with devastating force.
CRACK!
The goblin's head exploded in a spray of green ichor, its body crumpling to the ground.
The remaining four goblins roared in anger, lunging at him all at once. Sam dodged their attacks with fluid precision, weaving through their strikes as though predicting their every move.
One goblin swung a rusty blade at his side, but Sam twisted away, delivering a bone-shattering punch to its ribs. It collapsed, wheezing, before going still.
The second goblin lunged from behind, but Sam ducked low, sweeping its legs out from under it and slamming his fist into its chest.
The final two hesitated, their feral instincts recognizing the predator before them. It didn't matter. Sam closed the gap in an instant, dispatching them with swift, brutal efficiency.
In just ten seconds, all five goblins lay dead at his feet.
Sam didn't pause to admire his work. He immediately turned his attention to Michael, Ann, and Eddie, who were still fighting the last three goblins. Ann's spear glowed as she delivered another devastating strike, impaling her opponent.
Sam moved to assist Michael, blocking an incoming attack and countering with a powerful blow that left the goblin lifeless. Eddie, with Sam's help, dispatched the final goblin, ending the fight.
The room grew silent, save for the heavy breathing of the group. The air reeked of blood and sweat, but the danger was finally gone.
Sam took a moment to scan the room, ensuring no other threats remained before turning to his team. "Everyone okay?" he asked, his tone firm but laced with concern.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!"
Maria's scream pierced the air, raw with agony and fear. Her arm dangled by a mere shred of flesh, the wound grotesque and oozing blood. The rest of the group, including Sam, couldn't help but recoil at the sight, a wave of nausea and horror washing over them.
"Help me! I don't want to be crippled! Help!" Maria's voice trembled, panic overtaking her as she clutched at her mangled arm.
Michael immediately rushed to her side, his expression a mix of determination and desperation. "Hold still, Maria. I've got you," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.
Yellow energy began to gather around him, glowing brighter as it coalesced into a concentrated aura. With a burst of motion, he released the energy outward in a radiant wave. It was his skill, Healing Pulse.
The aura washed over Maria's wound, momentarily staunching the bleeding. For a brief second, the group let out a collective sigh of relief.
But the bleeding resumed just as quickly, crimson streaks seeping through the makeshift bandage.
"Ahhhhhh! It doesn't work! It doesn't work! I'm going to die! I don't want to die!" Maria screamed again, tears streaming down her face as panic gripped her entirely.
Michael gritted his teeth, his hands shaking as he pulled out five red potions—the rewards they had received from clearing the floor. He uncorked one and quickly held it to Maria's lips. "Drink this," he urged, his voice tight.
Maria gulped the potion down, her body trembling as the liquid took effect. The wound began to close slightly, the bleeding slowing but not stopping entirely. Her flesh knit together just enough to hold, but the injury was still severe, her bones fractured and unhealed.
"It's not enough," Michael muttered under his breath, frustration clear on his face.
Sam knelt beside them, his expression hardened. He glanced at the wound, then at Michael.
Sam's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. He thought for a moment before speaking, his voice calm but firm. "Maria, I'm going to try something. I'll use my skill to heal you, but whatever you feel, don't resist it. If you fight it, it could make things worse."
Maria nodded weakly, her eyes brimming with tears. "O-okay... I won't," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Sam knelt beside her and placed his hand gently over her mangled arm. He focused, activating his unique skill: Source of All Matter. A faint, gray mist began to seep from his palm, flowing like a living entity toward Maria's wound.
The moment the mist touched her flesh, Maria flinched. Sam felt a subtle resistance, the mist hesitating at the wound's edge.
"Don't resist," Sam reminded her, his tone steady but insistent.
Maria winced, biting her lip. "It's... ticklish. Sorry."
Sam nodded, adjusting his focus. This time, he carefully guided the mist into the wound, the resistance fading as Maria forced herself to relax. The gray energy flowed into her arm, seeping into the torn flesh and fractured bone with a strange, almost ethereal precision.
Sam worked slowly. It wasn't his body, and he couldn't afford to rush. The mist began to integrate with Maria's cells, transforming and repairing them one by one. The process was painstaking, but the results were undeniable.
The jagged edges of the wound smoothed out, the severed tissues knitting back together. Bones that had been shattered fused seamlessly, and the deep gashes vanished entirely, leaving behind unblemished skin.
The group watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with awe.
"What... what is that?" Michael murmured, unable to tear his gaze away.
"It's like her arm is a vampire," Ann whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
As the last traces of gray mist faded, Maria stared at her arm, now fully restored. Her fingers flexed tentatively, her eyes filling with tears—not of pain, but of relief.
"It's... it's healed," she said, her voice trembling with gratitude. "Sam, you... you saved me."
Sam exhaled slowly, the faintest hint of exhaustion flickering across his face. He stood, brushing off his hands. "Just don't make a habit of it," he said gruffly, though there was a softness in his tone.
Sam remained cautious throughout the process, fully aware of the risks. One wrong move with his skill and Maria could end up like the goblin leader—dead in a gruesome explosion of uncontrolled growth. As he carefully healed her, Sam discovered something new about his unique skill.
Source of All Matter didn't just repair; it allowed him to form a temporary connection with the cells he created. He could feel Maria's cells responding to his energy, almost as if they were an extension of himself.
The realization unsettled him. It wasn't right to have that kind of control over another person, even if it was unintentional. As soon as Maria's wound was fully healed, Sam severed the connection, releasing the faint thread that tied his energy to her.
Maria flexed her newly healed arm, her expression shifting from fear to awe. "Thank you, Sam," she said softly, her gratitude clear, Sam nodded.
He stood and addressed the group. "Let's get our reward and rest for a minute before we move on to Floor 2," he said.
The group nodded, still shaken but visibly relieved.
Sam reopened his system interface, the translucent window materializing before his eyes. His focus shifted to the notification awaiting him.
Ding!
You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 20]
...…
...…
...…
[Congratulations! You have reached level 20]
[DUNGEON QUEST]
Quest Name: Goblins Village - Floor 1 [Complete]
Time Remaining: -
Objective: Eliminate all goblins [ 100 / 100 ]
Rewards: 5 Health Potion, Random Common skill book.
As he scanned the rewards, Sam allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. The team had managed to clear the floor, and while they had taken risks and suffered injuries, they were stronger for it.
The group murmured in agreement, the tension in the air slowly giving way to a cautious sense of accomplishment.
Sam chose to accept the rewards. A soft glow enveloped his hands, and moments later, five red potions and a small white book materialized in his grip.
Ding!
A system notification appeared before Sam, its familiar chime cutting through the silence.
[System Challenger Title Activated]
You have received additional quest rewards: 1 Common Random Box
Sam glanced at the shimmering box that materialized in his hand. Its surface was smooth, with faint golden patterns that danced across its exterior. He inspected it briefly before tucking it into his backpack.
I'll open them all at once after we clear the dungeon, he thought. If his calculations were correct, he should have at least three random boxes by the time they exited.
Then he inspected the potions first, their crimson liquid shimmering faintly in the dim light. A translucent window appeared before him, detailing the item's properties.
[Health Potion]
[Rarity]: Common
[Use]: 1
[Description]: Restores a small amount of life force.
Sam's brow furrowed slightly as he considered the description. A small amount, he thought. Better than nothing, but not enough for emergencies like Maria's wound. He pocketed the potions, silently vowing to keep them for moments when every second mattered.
Next, he turned his attention to the small white book. Its surface was smooth, almost glossy, and it emitted a faint glow. The system window updated as he examined it:
[Skill Book: Quick Step]
[Rarity]: Common
[Use]: 1
[Description]: Grants the skill Quick Step, a burst of agility to enhance movement speed for a short duration.
Sam paused as he inspected the white skill book. Quick Step, he mused.
I don't have anything like this yet. Might as well use it.
Without hesitation, Sam sent his intent into the book. The surface of the book shimmered before dissolving into a brilliant white light. The energy flowed into his body, spreading a warm, tingling sensation through his limbs.
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have earned a new skill: Quick Step
[Quick Step
Sam flexed his hands, feeling a faint surge of energy in his legs. Not bad, he thought. It's simple, but it could make all the difference in a fight.
He closed the notification and turned his focus back to the group. "Alright," he said, his tone steady. "Let's finish up here and get ready for the next floor."
Sam walked toward the far side of the cavern, his boots crunching softly against the bloodstained ground. The room was eerily quiet now, the echoes of the battle fading into silence.
As the last goblin's body hit the floor, a faint hum filled the air. In the corner of the cavern, the shimmering vortex of a portal began to materialize. Its swirling energy glowed with the same blue hue as the one they had stepped through to enter the dungeon.
Sam approached cautiously, the light from the portal casting flickering shadows against the walls. As he drew closer, a translucent system window appeared in front of him.
Sam walked toward the far side of the cavern, his boots crunching softly against the bloodstained ground. The room was eerily quiet now, the echoes of the battle fading into silence.
As the last goblin's body hit the floor, a faint hum filled the air. In the corner of the cavern, the shimmering vortex of a portal began to materialize. Its swirling energy glowed with the same blue hue as the one they had stepped through to enter the dungeon.
Sam approached cautiously, the light from the portal casting flickering shadows against the walls. As he drew closer, a translucent system window appeared in front of him.
[Goblins Village - Floor 2 Entrance]
He studied the portal for a moment, noting the familiar vortex spinning like water caught in a whirlpool. Its energy pulsed faintly, inviting them to continue.
Sam turned to glance back at his team, who were still tending to their wounds and recovering from the intense battle. They had made it this far, but Floor 2 would undoubtedly be even more dangerous.
Time to see what's next, he thought, his gaze returning to the portal.