Reborn into solo leveling as a Phoenix

Chapter 4: The Dungeon of Goblins

The cool air of the dungeon entrance enveloped Fang Yuan as he passed through the thick stone archway. The eerie silence of the dense, lush forest stretched out before him. His boots crunched on the ground, and he could feel the soft moisture of the forest floor beneath his feet. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and the sound of distant creatures, but Fang Yuan was focused—his mind sharp, his body ready. Today would be his first real test in the dungeon.

The guards had let him pass without much hassle after seeing his newly updated Hunter's license. With a flick of his wrist, Fang Yuan summoned the two swords from his inventory. Ice Wolf and Lightning Wolf gleamed ominously in the shadowy light. He gripped their hilts firmly, his body tingling with the elemental energy that they radiated. His eyes flashed briefly, activating the Six Eyes as he scanned the environment ahead, his senses sharpening, aware of every twig snap and rustling leaf.

The dungeon was crawling with goblins. Weak and slow, they were the perfect first challenge to gauge his combat style. But even in their simplicity, they were dangerous in numbers. There were at least 70 goblins ahead, scattered across the forest clearing. Fang Yuan's focus narrowed as his eyes traced their movements.

The goblins weren't expecting anyone to challenge them, which gave Fang Yuan the advantage. He could already see their crude weapons—a mix of jagged daggers, rusty axes, and battered shields. There were too many to fight recklessly, but Fang Yuan wasn't one to shy away from battle. He had learned long ago that precision and control were the keys to victory.

He activated Stealth and slipped silently into the shadows, his body blending seamlessly into the forest around him. The goblins' eyes darted about, unaware of his presence, their chatter filling the air. Fang Yuan crouched low, calculating his approach. He needed to take them down one by one, using the terrain to his advantage.

The first goblin stood by a tree, its back turned. Fang Yuan silently approached, drawing Ice Wolf from its sheath. He stepped lightly, the frost-covered sword leaving a trail of icy vapor behind him. With a swift motion, he struck. The goblin's body froze instantly upon contact with the blade, its surprised scream muffled by the ice that encased it.

Frostbite Slash—the first strike.

The goblin fell to the ground, lifeless, a frozen statue. Fang Yuan didn't waste a moment. He moved swiftly, keeping his body low and blending into the forest again. The Stealth skill was still active, and he moved with the shadows. One after another, goblins fell to his silent attacks. Frost Step allowed him to glide over the icy patches he created on the ground, dodging attacks and repositioning himself for another kill.

The numbers of goblins thinned quickly, but they began to realize something was wrong. A few of them raised their heads and sniffed the air, their eyes narrowing suspiciously. The sound of clashing weapons echoed as one goblin spotted Fang Yuan's figure, charging at him with a rusted spear.

Fang Yuan's eyes flared as he deactivated Stealth, his body appearing before the goblin in a blur. He switched weapons, pulling out Lightning Wolf and twirling it with grace. The electric energy coursed through him, surging as he struck the goblin with a powerful Storm Blade.

The slash sent a wave of crackling electricity through the goblin's body, stunning it momentarily. The goblin convulsed in pain, its body shaking from the electrical surge. Fang Yuan's Thunderstrike followed immediately, sending a jolt of lightning straight through the creature's chest. It dropped to the ground with a final spasm, its body smoldering.

His body crackled with energy as he absorbed the results of the kill. The Static Charge from the Lightning Wolf sword heightened his own speed and power, boosting his agility in the next moments of the battle.

The remaining goblins seemed to hesitate, sensing something amiss in the air. Fang Yuan smiled inwardly. They had no idea what they were dealing with. He wasn't just some low-level hunter. He had power, strategy, and more importantly, the will to win.

With a roar, several of the goblins rushed toward him, brandishing their weapons wildly. Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed. He couldn't afford to waste time.

He dodged the first goblin's swing, ducking low and swiftly moving behind it. With an expert flick of his wrist, Ice Wolf flashed, sending a Frostbite Slash through the air. The blade cut through the goblin's midsection, freezing it in place. The next goblin swung an axe, but Fang Yuan was already gone. He appeared behind it with a fluid movement, striking with Storm Blade, sending another surge of lightning to obliterate the attacker.

His movements were a blur, as if he had become one with the environment—speed, power, and grace blending into a deadly symphony of attacks. With each swing of the swords, he cleared the clearing, leaving behind a trail of frozen and scorched goblins.

When the last goblin fell, Fang Yuan allowed himself a brief moment to breathe. He'd used his mana wisely, and his swords had served him well. The battlefield was littered with goblin corpses, some frozen solid, others smoldering from lightning strikes. His Reactive Copy skill had activated earlier, allowing him to pick up on their crude fighting styles and incorporate them into his own techniques, even if only at a basic level.

As he surveyed the aftermath, a slight ripple of magic in the air signaled the presence of something larger. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and Fang Yuan's eyes snapped to the horizon. The Hobgoblin Knight had appeared.

The hulking figure stood in the distance, its body armored with crude but strong plates of iron. It held a large, intimidating sword in one hand, and a shield in the other. A helmet obscured its face, but the monster's stature alone screamed danger.

Fang Yuan's heart quickened—not out of fear, but excitement. This was the real fight.

He gripped Ice Wolf and Lightning Wolf, summoning them to his hands. The atmosphere around him shifted as the two elemental swords seemed to hum with energy, ready to unleash their power. The Frostbite Slash and Thunderstrike had served him well, but he would need to combine their strengths to take down this knight.

The Hobgoblin Knight charged, swinging its sword in a brutal arc. Fang Yuan swiftly sidestepped the attack, using Frost Step to glide behind the knight. He struck quickly, delivering a powerful Frostbite Slash to its back. The ice began to spread, but the Hobgoblin roared in defiance, swinging its massive sword in retaliation.

Fang Yuan barely dodged, feeling the air crackle as the blade cut through the space where he had been just a moment ago. He leaped backward, just in time to avoid being skewered by the knight's enormous spear-like sword.

With a deep breath, Fang Yuan activated Static Charge once more. His body pulsed with energy, the speed of his movements increasing dramatically. The knight's movements grew sluggish in comparison, and Fang Yuan used the opening to launch a Storm Blade. The lightning surged through the knight's armor, causing it to stagger.

The knight retaliated with a heavy, crushing blow. Fang Yuan dodged to the side, using Stealth to briefly disappear from sight. The knight paused, its head swiveling, confused. Fang Yuan moved in, his Ice Wolf katana striking across its leg with a Frostbite Slash. The knight's movements were slowed by the freezing effect, but the battle was far from over.

Fang Yuan knew he had to end this quickly. The knight was powerful, but not invincible. He combined his two blades, spinning them together, and with a fluid motion, he executed a final Storm Blade, followed by a Frostbite Slash at point-blank range. The force of the lightning and ice together shattered the knight's defenses, and with a mighty roar, the Hobgoblin collapsed, lifeless.

Fang Yuan panted, his body exhausted but exhilarated. He had done it. He had overcome the dungeon's challenge. The Hobgoblin Knight was no more, and the dungeon was cleared.

With a final glance at the fallen boss, Fang Yuan knelt down, collecting the essence stones from its body. They were valuable, and he knew they could be sold later for a considerable amount. He placed them into his inventory, as he thought this system notifications started to appear.

[It has been detected that you have existed combat,all experience gained from combat will now be aded]

[Calculating experience points]

[You have killed 70 goblins(normal) and 1 hobgoblin knight(boss)]

[You have gained 9000 experience points]

[Your level has increased by 6

Curant level:7

Current free status points:45]

[The skill level of duel blade arts has increased form 0>1]

Seeing the system notification fang Yuan was satisfied with the results of this exposition,with this hunt completa Fang Yuan left the dungeon going back to his hotel.

End of Chapter 4.