《Dungeon Recruit Weapons Class SSS》


 Do I Really Have to Go?

    In a dimly lit room, thick with tobacco smoke and the sharp scent of alcohol, laughter and murmurs rise from a poker game.


    The low light barely allows the tense faces of the players to be seen.


    Among them is Leonar, a young man with a hardened expression and dark eyes, caught in a terrible hand with no clear way out.


    ''Another damn lousy hand¡­,'' Leonar thought, cursing his bad luck.


    Even though his hand was a disaster, he remained calm, trying to look unbothered.


    "What''s wrong, gonna fold again?" taunted one of the players as he saw him hesitate.


    "Come on, you''ve already lost everything; make it official," another added, pushing his chips to the center with a defiant grin.


    Ignoring the provocations, Leonar threw his cards down, deciding to drop out of the round.


    One of the players revealed his winning hand, a straight flush that took the entire pot.


    As they watched him lose, several players laughed, but Leonar just watched as the money changed hands.


    ''Damn¡­ at this rate, I''ll never get out of here¡­,'' he thought, growing more frustrated.


    Then one of them pointed at him and turned to the dealer with a mocking smile.


    "How much does our friend here owe?"


    The dealer, a thin man with a mischievous smile, chuckled.


    "I can''t reveal that, but let''s just say¡­ it''s not a small sum."


    Suddenly, two large men dressed in black entered the room and headed straight for Leonar.


    "Is the game over?" one of the men asked the dealer.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    He nodded slightly.


    "Perfect. You, come with us," one of them ordered.


    Leonar sighed, resigned, and stood without resisting. He followed the two men toward a private room at the back of the casino, where the atmosphere was quieter and more oppressive.


    There, behind a desk, sat the boss of the place, a man everyone called Barret.


    Barret looked at Leonar in silence, allowing the tension to fill the room before he finally spoke.


    "Seems like you''re still on a losing streak, huh?" he said at last, with a near-condescending smile.


    "Yeah, seems luck''s not on my side," Leonar replied, trying to stay calm.


    The truth was¡­ he was in deep trouble.


    His special skill had, for some reason, vanished a few weeks ago with no sign of returning.


    Barret drummed his fingers on the table and let out a short laugh before sliding an envelope toward him.


    "This time, you''re not getting off so easily. I found you a job."


    Leonar raised his eyebrows, surprised and a bit anxious.


    "And what kind of job is that?" he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.


    "One where you''ll be useful. And don''t even think about giving me any health excuses," warned Barret sternly. "I already know you''re allergic to lactose, wheat, pollen, and even seafood. That last one, I must say, surprised me," he added with a dry laugh.


    Leonar gave a strained smile.


    "What can I say? Even my body''s got it out for me."


    Barret eyed him disapprovingly at that response.


    "Not funny, you know?" he replied, wiping the smile off Leonar''s face. "This is your last chance. If you fail, all support is gone."


    Leonar swallowed hard at those words.


    ''If only I''d used that skill better¡­,'' he thought angrily, cursing himself.


    "I got you a position as a gatherer on an exploration team."


    For a moment, Leonar was silent, surprise on his face.


    "An exploration team? Does that mean¡­ I''ll be facing monsters?" Leonar asked, feeling a chill run down his spine.


    "Yes, but you''ll be in the back of the team. You just have to collect the resources they leave after clearing the dungeon," Barret explained impatiently.


    "Are you crazy? You want me to get killed? I''m not even a hunter, just an ordinary guy!"


    Barret looked at him with disdain.


    "Well, maybe you should''ve thought of that before getting into debt with me. This is the job; take it or leave it."


    Leonar lowered his gaze, knowing he had no other choice.


    "One more thing," Barret said, snapping his fingers.


    One of his men approached with a small bag and placed it in front of Leonar.


    "Here are your things. Get ready, because at dawn, you''ll be in the dungeon. There''s a car waiting outside."


    Resigned, Leonar took the bag despite the nervousness he felt.


    ''Am I really going into a dungeon¡­?'' he thought, recalling countless news stories about hunters who didn''t make it back alive.


    It was a dangerous job.


    A very dangerous job.


    As he left the room, Barret''s words echoed in his mind.

 The New Recruit

    Leonar arrived at the guild building, an imposing modern structure with multiple floors and glass panels that reflected the sunlight in cold, sharp glints.


    The sleek facade stood in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings, and Leonar was struck by the size of the place, larger than he''d imagined.


    He had never seen a guild up close before, and now he felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole situation.


    As he approached the main entrance, a guard with a stern face and an impeccable uniform stopped him.


    "Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked in a flat, firm tone.


    Leonar hesitated for a moment.


    ''What was I here for again? Oh, right¡­''


    Finally, Leonar took a deep breath and replied,


    "Uh¡­ I''m here as a collector."


    The guard raised an eyebrow, surprised.


    "A collector? Then you can''t enter through here. The entrance for collectors and support staff is around the back of the building."


    Leonar quickly nodded, grateful for the direction.


    "Thanks, I''ll head there now."


    He walked around the building, noticing how the neatness and order of the main facade faded as he approached the back.


    There, the surroundings changed: papers scattered about, oil stains, and tire marks on the ground.


    He stopped in front of a wide doorway, probably meant for loading vehicles, walked through, and descended a ramp leading to a large, cluttered warehouse.


    Inside, tables were strewn with crystals and gems of various sizes and colors.


    The place was bustling: workers of different ages and builds carried boxes, checked materials, and chatted as they moved around.


    Leonar took in the chaos, feeling a bit lost, until he spotted a man with messy hair and a half-wrinkled shirt, who seemed to be taking a short break.


    He approached and, with a nervous smile, asked,


    "Excuse me, do you know if there''s a place I can rest? I was sent here to work as a collector and¡­ well, I''m waiting for tomorrow''s expedition."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    The man burst out laughing before nodding.


    "So, you''re new, huh? Don''t see fresh faces around here every day."


    Leonar nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable.


    "Well, look, we''re processing the haul from the last expedition right now. Since you''re here, you might as well lend us a hand," the man added with a grin.


    Leonar blinked, a bit surprised.


    "Where can I leave my bag?"


    "Follow me. I''ll show you where we store things."


    The man led him to a small area where others had left their belongings, and Leonar set his bag down carefully.


    Then, without much ado, they put him to work.


    His task was simple but exhausting: carry crystals and gems from one table to another, sorting them by size and color.


    Even though the work was straightforward, the fast pace and weight of the boxes were starting to wear him out.


    Hours passed, and finally, the place began to calm down as the last batch was processed.


    Several workers started relaxing, dusting themselves off and laughing among themselves.


    One of them, a sturdy man with a curious look, approached Leonar with a friendly smile.


    "New around here, huh? Haven''t seen you before," he commented, looking Leonar up and down.


    Leonar nodded.


    "Yeah, I''m new. Tomorrow I''m going on an expedition as a collector."


    The man grinned, understanding immediately.


    "Ah, so you''re one of the new recruits! Off to explore the dungeons tomorrow, huh? Lucky you," he said in a joking tone, which got a few laughs from the others.


    Leonar scratched his neck, a bit embarrassed.


    What was the joke everyone found so funny?


    Another man, who had been listening to the conversation, joined the group and laughed.


    "Well, well, our friend here started working without asking. That''s dedication¡­ or maybe just innocence."


    Leonar thought about defending himself, but seeing that they were all in good spirits, he smiled back, letting the teasing continue.


    Amid the laughter, one of the men, named Marcos, patted him on the back.


    "Relax, man, tomorrow''s the day. You didn''t need to work today. But hey, we appreciate the help."


    Leonar nodded.


    "Do you know if there''s anywhere I can stay tonight?"


    At his question, a few of them looked surprised.


    One of them, a bearded man with a kind smile, looked at him curiously.


    "You don''t have a place to stay?"


    Leonar lowered his gaze.


    "Let''s just say¡­ it''s complicated."


    The bearded man sighed and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.


    "For folks like us who aren''t hunters, the guild doesn''t offer lodging. But since you helped out without complaining, I can give you a small advance so you can find somewhere decent to stay."


    Leonar thanked him sincerely as the others teased him playfully.


    As the bearded man took out some money and handed it to him, he said,


    "Tomorrow, come back here at 7 a.m., since we''re heading out at 8. And make sure you''ve had breakfast, all right?"


    Leonar nodded, pocketing the cash.


    "Thanks¡­ I''ll be here on time."


    Just then, the elevator doors at the back of the warehouse opened, and a woman with red hair, dressed in a sharp black suit and dark sunglasses, walked into the room with a notepad in hand.


    Her serious, professional presence contrasted completely with the casual look of the workers, who wore worn-out clothes better suited for handling crystals.


    Upon seeing her, the man Leonar had been talking to quickly greeted her.


    "Is the job done?" the woman asked, her voice firm and authoritative.


    "Yes, ma''am. All sorted and processed on time," the man replied, trying not to seem nervous.


    Leonar glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noting the authority she radiated.


    While everyone else continued talking and winding down for the day, Leonar decided to leave quietly, heading for the back exit with his bag in hand.


    ''I guess tomorrow''s when the real action begins¡­''


    Despite only carrying crystals from one place to another, his hands were slightly scraped.

 At Least, Let Me Make It Through This

    As night fell, Leonar finally found a hotel near the guild.


    ''Finally¡­ found one. Why are there so few hotels around here? With any luck, I won''t be late tomorrow,'' thought Leonar, wiping the sweat from his forehead.


    Once in the hotel lobby, he registered and received his room key, only to notice a familiar sound that caught his attention.


    Laughter, intense chatter, and the soft clink of chips on tables.


    Leonar glanced toward a side room, where a group of people was playing cards.


    Almost instinctively, his feet led him closer.


    The temptation made him forget his fatigue momentarily. Even though he knew full well his luck had been absent lately, he thought that maybe, if he played a few more rounds, he might break his streak.


    ''Maybe this time will be different¡­,'' Leonar thought.


    He approached the exchange counter and handed over a small amount of cash to get some chips, although he knew he needed to save enough for dinner and breakfast the next day.


    Once seated at the table, the cards were dealt, and the betting began.


    Leonar decided to start with small, cautious bets.


    ''This time, I won''t take big risks,'' he told himself, trying to silence the inner voice urging him to go big and win fast.


    But hand after hand passed, and the winning streak never came.


    Round after round, each chip slipped from his hands until, before he knew it, he had lost everything.


    The other players continued their game, focused on their own moves, while Leonar sat there, almost paralyzed, wondering how he had let himself end up with nothing.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ''Did I really exchange all my money for chips?'' he thought, incredulously.


    It was as if time had flown by, and he barely remembered making each bet.


    ''I''m an idiot¡­,'' was all Leonar could think as he clenched his fists tightly.


    Leonar got up from the table, unsteady on his feet.


    For a moment, he felt the urge to approach someone for a loan; he even rehearsed a quick excuse in his mind that might sound convincing.


    But then he remembered Barret and the debt hanging over him. His family too¡­ and a few friends¡­ the idea of piling on more debt stopped him cold.


    With a sigh, his shoulders slumped, and a bitter resignation washed over him.


    "I''ve already got a job," he muttered, trying to convince himself that it wasn''t worth worsening his situation.


    Leonar turned around and headed for the stairs, trudging slowly up to his room.


    Once inside, he tossed his bag on the floor, feeling frustration and anger swirling inside him.


    Without much thought, he let himself fall onto the bed, ignoring the fact that he hadn''t eaten.


    After all, he was broke now, thanks to his impulsiveness.


    The last thing he saw before exhaustion overtook him was the dim light coming through the window.


    Then, darkness enveloped him, and his mind shut off.


    Hours later, when he opened his eyes, the world around him seemed blurry and strange.


    ''Don''t tell me¡­ is it already morning?''


    Leonar blinked several times, trying to clear his head, and for a moment, he just stared at the ceiling, disoriented.


    ''Where am I¡­?''


    His mind was foggy, and it took a few seconds to remember where he was and why.


    ''Ah, right¡­ the job. I''m here for work¡­,'' Leonar reminded himself, trying to shake off his confusion.


    A sharp pang of hunger reminded him he had skipped dinner, but the clock on the wall quickly stole his attention.


    It was 6:52.


    "Crap!" Leonar exclaimed, leaping out of bed.


    The meeting was at 7:00, and it was already 6:52!


    In a rushed and clumsy flurry, Leonar headed to the bathroom, barely managing to splash some water on his face to wake up a bit.


    "How the hell did I forget something like that?" he muttered, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment.


    Was he really cut out for this job?


    His body wasn''t exactly top-notch, with all the allergies he discovered each time Barret found him a new job to help pay off his debt.


    But¡­ then what?


    Assuming he managed to pay off the debt with this job¡­ what would he do next?


    ''Now''s not the time to think about all that,'' Leonar reminded himself as he splashed more water on his face.


    Every second lost was crucial, and in his current state, he felt utterly unprepared to start a workday at the guild.


    But he had no choice.


    He had to do this.


    Leonar cursed himself silently as he grabbed his bag and rushed out the door, praying that luck would, at least this once, let him make it on time.

 Returned

    Leonar hurried into the guild, crossing the back parking lot and descending the stairs where he found the team he''d worked with the day before.


    This time, everyone wore dark, functional uniforms with protective padding on their elbows and knees, designed specifically for portal expeditions.


    Leonar recognized the man who had given him an advance the previous day; he chuckled and pointed at Leonar.


    "Relax, kid, you''re still on time," he said with a laid-back smile.


    ''Damn, how embarrassing to be late on my first day¡­'' thought Leonar.


    He was still processing the man''s words when he turned and gave an order to another worker coming up the stairs.


    "Hey, take the new guy to the lockers. Make sure he''s suited up like the rest of us."


    The worker nodded and gestured for Leonar to follow.


    They walked through a few corridors until they reached a room lined with uniforms.


    Leonar quickly changed, feeling the weight of the gear on his shoulders.


    As he adjusted his jacket, his companion joked,


    "What happened? Did you oversleep?"


    "Something like that¡­" Leonar replied, attempting a smile, though nerves were eating at him.


    After finishing up, he rejoined the team, who were already moving a large cart toward the guild''s main entrance, where hunters were gathering and climbing into various vehicles.


    Without wasting time, Leonar helped his team load the cart onto the assigned truck, securing it tightly before the vehicles started moving.


    He climbed in, wedged between his teammates, and during the silent ride, his mind drifted between anxiety and excitement.


    After several minutes of silence, the vehicles finally stopped.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Everyone got out and unloaded the cart quickly, wheeling it to a spot near the portal.


    The first thing that caught Leonar''s attention was the crowd gathered around: reporters pointing their cameras and microphones toward the portal''s entrance, and security personnel securing the perimeter to keep people from getting too close.


    He watched as some guild members spoke with security staff, who, after checking permits, allowed the team to proceed.


    When they finally crossed the security barrier and reached the portal''s entrance, Leonar''s nerves spiked.


    He had never been on an expedition before, and the tension gnawed at him.


    However, seeing the calm expressions of his teammates, he tried to mirror their composure and took a deep breath.


    In front of him loomed the portal, a swirling red vortex that seemed to swallow the light around it.


    Swallowing hard, Leonar took the first step and passed through the portal.


    What he found on the other side took his breath away.


    The sky was a deep red, almost as if the air were laced with fire.


    The sun, instead of shining yellow, glowed with a dim orange hue, casting a strange light that made him feel as if he were on another planet.


    Giant rocks rose up toward the horizon, and the air was thick and dry with heat.


    Around him, another team appeared to have arrived earlier and had set up a military camp with army vehicles, tents, and barricades to establish a secure perimeter.


    Leonar stared in awe, struggling to process everything he was seeing.


    Beside him, a teammate noticed his reaction and whispered,


    "First time in a portal?"


    "Yes¡­" Leonar replied, still speechless.


    "Relax. This area is usually safe. When the first teams arrive, they scout the area to make sure the non-awakened can set up camp without trouble. So we''re in a kind of ''monster-free zone.''"


    Leonar nodded, trying to calm himself.


    Knowing the area was secure gave him a surprising sense of relief, and though he still felt a tightness in his chest, he no longer felt so out of place.


    Not far from where they stood, the red-haired woman he''d seen in the elevator the previous day appeared.


    In an authoritative tone, she gave instructions:


    "We''ll be clearing nearby areas for a few hours. Later, another team will handle gathering the stones."


    For Leonar, those words were like music to his ears.


    It meant that, at least for now, he wouldn''t have to face any monsters or be near danger.


    As the team of hunters moved off toward the camp''s outskirts, his group settled near the cart they''d brought, chatting about the heat and how unusual this world felt.


    Leonar joined the conversation, trying to distract himself from the tension.


    But suddenly, a strange sensation washed over him.


    His eyes began to sting slightly.


    Instinctively, he rubbed them, trying to relieve the discomfort.


    He blinked a few times, and then¡­ something changed.


    Looking up, he noticed something remarkable: each of his teammates appeared to be surrounded by a faint green glow.


    He blinked again, feeling baffled.


    His mind searched for an explanation, but deep down, he already knew.


    ''It can''t be¡­'' Leonar thought, fighting disbelief.


    But the evidence was clear.


    Right before his eyes, he was seeing it, clear as day¡ªhis ability had returned.

 Is This Your First Time?

    Leonar blinked several times, stunned, as his eyes began to adjust to his vision once again.


    ''Could it be that my ability is back?'' he thought, trying to process what he was seeing around him.


    His companions and the whole camp were bathed in a soft green glow, a calming hue that indicated, for the moment at least, there was no danger.


    Leonar felt a wave of relief wash over him.


    Maybe this place really was as safe as they claimed.


    ''Why has my ability returned right now¡­?'' Leonar wondered to himself.


    But before he could dig deeper into that question, he heard someone call his name from behind.


    He turned to look, and instantly, the green tint in his vision disappeared, returning his sight to normal as the slight burning sensation in his eyes faded away.


    The man who had called him was one of his teammates, a sturdy-looking guy with broad shoulders and arms that seemed sculpted by years of physical labor.


    His short brown hair and scruffy beard gave him a somewhat rugged but friendly look. Seeing Leonar, he flashed a grin and held up a small collection of firearms.


    "Is this your first time seeing one of these?" he asked with a light chuckle, a hint of camaraderie in his voice.


    Leonar nodded, surprised.


    "Yeah¡­ I''ve never actually seen one of these in person before," he admitted, eyeing the weapons with curiosity.


    "Then I guess you haven''t fired one either?" the man asked, his smile widening.


    Seeing Leonar''s somewhat bewildered expression, he burst into laughter.


    "Don''t worry. This is a good place to learn," he added enthusiastically.


    Then, raising his voice, he called over to his boss:Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Hey, boss! Can I teach the kid how to shoot? I promise we won''t go too far!"


    The boss, who was overseeing preparations with the other team members, looked in their direction, raised a hand in approval, and gave them the go-ahead.


    Without wasting any time, the man picked a small pistol with a metallic blue finish and handed it to Leonar.


    "This is an energy pistol. It''s lightweight and doesn''t have much kickback. Perfect for getting started," he explained, holding it firmly as he demonstrated.


    Leonar took it, noting that, unlike the weapons he''d seen in pictures or movies, this one looked almost futuristic, with soft lights along the barrel and a sleek design.


    Noticing his awe, the man laughed again and added:


    "And with this, you won''t have to worry about bullets. No need to waste expensive rounds; this thing recharges with energy. A relief for the wallet!"


    "That''s excellent news¡­" Leonar replied.


    "Yeah, I thought the same thing back in the day. I''m Damian, by the way. What''s your name?"


    "I''m Leonar, nice to meet you."


    Following Damian, they walked toward a cleared area of the camp.


    There, Damian gathered some scattered cans, placing them on rocks at different distances as makeshift targets.


    "Alright, let''s start with the basics," Damian said with a firm tone, though he couldn''t hide the spark of enthusiasm in his voice.


    "The most important thing when holding a weapon is feeling stable. Use both hands, keep your feet apart and slightly bent to absorb the impact, though this one doesn''t have much kickback. Look through the sight¡­ focus. With practice, aiming will become almost instinctive."


    Leonar followed his instructions, mimicking Damian''s movements.


    When he raised the weapon and aimed, he felt adrenaline start to surge through his veins.


    Damian was watching his every move, continuing his guidance:


    "One more thing you should know: unlike regular bullets, the energy from these kinds of weapons isn''t as affected by wind, though you still have to keep distance in mind. The farther you are, the less accurate it becomes."


    As he spoke, Damian seemed to light up with admiration and passion.


    "These energy pistols recharge a little differently¡ªsee that button? Press it when you''re out of shots, and it''ll start recharging. But, be careful because you''ll be vulnerable for those few seconds."


    Leonar absorbed every word, noticing how Damian seemed genuinely excited about teaching him.


    ''Is he a private instructor? He explains things pretty well¡­''


    Damian grinned and asked,


    "You didn''t know you had to be ready to shoot at any moment, did you?"


    Leonar, a bit startled, shook his head.


    "I thought we weren''t going to see any monsters¡­ Isn''t this a gathering mission?"


    Damian raised an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle.


    "Seriously? Leonar, even if we''re here for gathering, in a place like this, you''re never one hundred percent safe. There''s always some monster lurking or hiding. And if something happens, we have to be ready to back up the hunters escorting us at a moment''s notice. This job is like that: you always have to be prepared."


    Damian''s words hit Leonar like a bucket of cold water. He swallowed hard, feeling his heartbeat grow faster.


    ''Barret¡­ bastard,'' Leonar thought as his hands began to tremble.

 You Need More Practice

    Leonar took a deep breath, holding the energy pistol the way Damian had shown him, aiming at one of the cans scattered on the ground.


    He lined up the sight with his target and, exhaling, pulled the trigger.


    Bang!


    A flash of light shot out, but it missed the can entirely, vanishing somewhere among the rocks at the edge of the camp.


    Damian laughed, amused and carefree, folding his arms as he watched Leonar.


    "Relax, kid. At this rate, you''ll scare even the cans away," he joked, moving to stand beside him. "Let''s try again. Deep breath, slow exhale, and stay calm. Don''t rush the trigger; feel the weight of the gun, let your arm steady."


    Leonar nodded, trying to follow Damian''s instructions.


    He took another breath, feeling the gun tremble a little less in his hands, and fired again.


    But once again, the energy beam missed its target.


    Leonar huffed, frustrated, while Damian kept smiling with patience.


    "You know, Damian," Leonar said, still staring at the gun. "Something''s been bugging me... How common is it to run into monsters while we''re gathering?"


    Damian shrugged, glancing toward the horizon.


    "Depends on the area," he replied casually, but Leonar''s gaze insisted, pressing for a clearer answer.


    "Yeah, but, like, an average? Something that''ll tell me how worried I should be?" Leonar persisted.


    Damian let out a mocking laugh, turning to look at him.


    "What, are you scared?" he asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow.


    Leonar sighed, not hiding the truth.


    "Yeah, I am."


    Leonar''s honest answer made Damian laugh even more, but this time with a hint of empathy in his voice.


    "You''re not alone, Leonar. Of course, I''m scared too. But that fear is what keeps me on my toes. That''s why I practice every day¡ªto make sure that, if something does happen, my chances of survival go up, even if just a bit."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leonar nodded, repeating the words softly.


    "Increase the chances of survival¡­" he murmured, feeling his hands sweat more and more, to the point where he had to wipe them on his pants to keep a firm grip on the gun.


    Looking at Damian, Leonar swallowed before asking,


    "And do you think I stand a chance?"


    Damian looked at him silently for a moment, then shook his head.


    "None," he replied, leaving Leonar in shock.


    But seeing his expression, Damian broke into a wide grin and gave him a firm pat on the back.


    "Come on, relax! I''ve got your back, and so does everyone else. Just promise me you''ll work hard and do what I ask."


    Leonar nodded, grateful, though Damian''s joke left him a bit uneasy.


    Before he knew it, they were walking in formation, moving in line with the rest of the gathering team.


    Some were pushing a cart loaded with tools and empty storage compartments, ready to collect the crystals they''d be gathering.


    Soon after, they arrived in a desolate area, littered with monster corpses scattered across the ground¡ªremnants of a recent hunt.


    The gathering team split into groups, and soon they began dismantling the creatures with swift efficiency, extracting the crystals with specialized tools.


    Leonar was assigned the task of hauling the crystals back to the cart and organizing them to fit as many as possible.


    With the pistol now hanging at his side, he moved carefully among the bodies, making sure not to trip over the monster parts that others were still dismantling.


    Driven by curiosity and an odd feeling, Leonar activated his ability.


    His vision shifted again, and this time a yellow hue began to color the ground and some of the corpses.


    Except for his human companions, who still appeared in a reassuring green, the yellow indicated that something was off.


    Leonar swallowed and deactivated the ability; the slight burning sensation returned to his eyes, and he chose not to push himself.


    ''I know it''s been a while since I''ve used it, but it shouldn''t hurt my eyes this much¡­'' Leonar thought with some annoyance.


    Just then, a loud shot shattered the calm of the place.


    Leonar turned quickly, seeing one of his teammates firing at a creature that, though it seemed dead, had made a last attempt to attack.


    Luckily, the shot hit the mark, and the creature fell without causing any harm to the team.


    Breathing a sigh of relief, everyone resumed their work, extracting crystals and securing them in the cart.


    Time passed, and the process continued without further incidents, until a deep, ominous hum, almost like a monstrous wail, sounded in the distance.


    The noise was guttural and powerful, and everyone in the team looked up, tense.


    Leonar''s instincts kicked in, and he activated his ability immediately, focusing it in the direction from which the noise had come.


    His vision started to tint red on the ground.


    Whenever Leonar saw that color, it meant something very bad was bound to happen.


    Heart pounding, Leonar turned to his teammates and shouted,


    "Something''s coming!" he yelled, drawing his pistol quickly.


    The others reacted instantly, unsheathing their weapons and getting into position.


    The hunters, who had experience with these encounters, took the lead, forming a defensive stance that shielded the gatherers.


    Leonar tried to mimic their movements, holding his pistol out front as Damian had taught him, while the creature''s roar echoed, growing closer and closer.

 The Fall

    The tension in the air was as thick as the silence that settled over the group when the team leader of the gatherers gave the order:


    "Take the cart back to camp, now!"


    But they''d barely started pushing when a tremor rippled through the ground.


    Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the earth, where the vibrations grew stronger by the second.


    Before anyone could react, the ground burst open in a torrent of dirt and stones.


    A monstrous creature, its skin dark gray and its segmented body worm-like, emerged from the earth.


    Its size was massive, and the stench of rot and acid filled the air.


    ''You''ve got to be kidding me¡­,'' thought Leonar, staring in disbelief as the worm raised its grotesque body, its circular, tooth-filled mouth trembling, ready to attack.


    The hunters, already on guard, didn''t waste a second.


    Just as the worm sprayed a stream of acid, a girl from the team raised her hands, forming a shield of energy in front of them, blocking the corrosive spray that sizzled against the barrier.


    ''So that''s magic¡­ first time seeing it up close,'' thought Leonar.


    "Quick, stay behind the cart!" she shouted, her voice steady and clear, though the strain made it tremble.


    Not missing a beat, a hunter wielding a massive axe dashed to the side, circling the worm.


    Leonar followed his movements, impressed.


    ''How can he move so fast with all that weight?'' thought Leonar, amazed as the hunter raised the axe and struck it hard against the worm''s side.


    The impact resonated, and a piece of the creature''s armor cracked, though it wasn''t enough to stop it.


    Then, another tremor shook the ground, and the hunters quickly realized the source.


    More worms, just as massive as the first, began emerging around the group.


    This time, they surrounded them, cutting off any escape routes.


    With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Leonar turned to Damian, who was pushing the cart.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Aren''t we going to help?" Leonar asked, watching as the hunters struggled to hold back the assault.


    Damian let out a bitter laugh.


    "Didn''t you see that even an experienced hunter''s axe barely did any damage? With our weapons, we wouldn''t even scratch them. This is their job."


    "Then¡­ why do we even carry weapons?" Leonar asked as he continued walking alongside the cart, his fingers gripping his pistol tightly from the tension.


    But he didn''t have time to hear an answer. One of the worms broke through the defensive line, slipping past the hunters and lunging straight at the gatherers.


    The enormous creature rose from the ground only to plunge back in, tearing up the surface around them.


    Leonar felt the ground beneath him give way; in the blink of an eye, he and the others were falling into the darkness of a massive hole.


    ''Wait, this isn''t what I meant!''


    Screams of terror and surprise filled the air as the group descended.


    The wind whipped at his face, and although fear gripped him, he could feel his heart racing wildly.


    ''Is this the end?'' thought Leonar, as the dark pit swallowed them and the red light of the sky above grew more distant.


    Beside him, he spotted Damian falling, his face resigned, in stark contrast to the general panic.


    "Do you think we''re dead already?" Leonar shouted to him.


    Damian laughed, his voice mocking even in that moment of peril.


    "Today''s definitely not a good day at work."


    Just as he was about to add something else, they both crashed into the water of a gigantic underground pool.


    The impact was hard, but the water cushioned their fall.


    Leonar felt his feet sink as his body''s weight pulled him downward, while the cart and the crystals also began to descend.


    With effort, he swam toward the surface, dodging the cart and other companions struggling to avoid being hit by the falling objects.


    Finally, he emerged and took a huge gulp of air.


    Wasting no time, he swam to a nearby shore, helping those who made it to the edge.


    Damian was one of them; as Leonar helped him up, the man gave him a surprised look.


    "Wow, didn''t think you were such a good swimmer," Damian remarked, shaking the water off his clothes with a laugh.


    Leonar shrugged, panting.


    "Come on, help me get the others out."


    Soon, almost everyone in the team was on solid ground, and the leader conducted a quick headcount.


    "Is anyone missing?" he asked seriously as everyone tried to catch their breath.


    Someone counted softly and looked up.


    "We''re missing two¡­"


    The leader clenched his jaw, frowning.


    "They probably¡­ the worm must have fallen on them before they got here."


    The news cast a heavy sense of loss over the group, and they all fell silent for a moment.


    ''Damn, I really could have died¡­ I guess¡­ I got lucky¡­''


    Leonar looked around, his nerves making his hands tremble.


    He realized he hadn''t seen the worm since they fell and felt a chill run down his spine.


    ''Where is that thing¡­?''


    Acting on instinct, he activated his detection ability and scanned the surroundings.


    To his surprise, the ground and the walls were emitting a yellow glow.


    ''Damn¡­ we''re still in danger¡­ how are we going to get out of here? We''re trapped in a giant pit¡­''


    But it wasn''t just the ground. On one of the cavern walls, an unusual glow caught his attention.


    A door, seemingly metallic and surrounded by glowing runes, stood out in the darkness.


    "Look at that!" someone else in the group shouted, pointing at the door in astonishment.


    Everyone turned toward the strange structure, staring at it with a mix of distrust and curiosity.


    "What''s that doing here?" murmured one of the gatherers.


    Leonar swallowed, feeling his body still shaking from everything that had happened.


    For now, the only thing he could do was wait for the leader¡¯s instructions.

 Are They Crazy?

    Pain started seeping into every muscle of Leonar''s body as the adrenaline wore off, and soon he could hear the murmurs of the others, groaning in discomfort after the fall.


    Some complained openly, only adding to the tension in the air.


    "Calm down, everyone!" said the leader of the group, raising his voice to cut through the general grumbling. "They''ll probably send a rescue team soon, as soon as they deal with those worms up there."


    Leonar felt a sense of relief at this, but a pessimistic-looking guy scoffed and muttered,


    "I wouldn''t count on it. The guild always skimps when it comes to people like us. They¡¯ve probably already written us off as dead."


    His words landed like a bucket of cold water.


    ¡®No, that can¡¯t be true. They¡¯d definitely check to make sure we''re okay!¡¯ Leonar thought, refusing to believe what the man had said.


    For a few seconds, the group was awash with a sense of discouragement. But the leader wasn¡¯t about to let that negativity take over.


    "Look, I''ve been working here for months," he said, crossing his arms and looking each of them in the eye, "and although the guild¡¯s pretty¡­ thrifty, I don''t think they¡¯d abandon us that easily."


    The group seemed to calm down a bit at this, and Leonar forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to convince himself of the same.


    ¡®I can¡¯t die here¡­ if I make it out of here, I¡¯ll quit this job and get back to using my ability at the casino. All I need to do is survive¡­¡¯


    Memories of nights in the casinos played across Leonar¡¯s mind, reminding him of the thrill of the games and his consistent wins.


    When his ability was active, he could see beyond what other players considered sheer luck.


    On each card or machine, flashes of color would appear that only he could see, guiding him to make the best moves.


    When he looked at a card, Leonar would see his ability illuminate the back with a subtle green tone if it was a card that could help him win, while red would appear over a card, warning him of a losing move.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The slot machines, too, revealed themselves to him. He could approach one, and while others relied on hunches or took blind risks, Leonar could see a green glow on machines about to pay out, helping him avoid the yellow or red ones.


    But here in the dungeon, this was the first time he¡¯d experienced being surrounded by so much ¡®yellow¡¯. The only exception was the people around him, who remained green.


    ¡®What a headache,¡¯ Leonar concluded.


    "Alright, now," continued the leader, looking around the cave, "who here can walk without too much trouble?"


    As the leader spoke, Leonar surveyed the place again.


    They were surrounded by damp, rocky walls, and in the distance, he noticed several tunnels branching off in different directions.


    There was also a mysterious metal door, marked yellow, which he¡¯d seen after activating his ability.


    ¡°I think we should check out those tunnels,¡± someone suggested from the back.


    "Yeah, but who knows how many monsters might be lurking in there," commented another.


    Leonar reached for his weapon, but found only emptiness.


    ¡®You¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡­¡¯ he thought, realizing that his gun had disappeared at some point during their fall into the water.


    He scowled, cursing silently over having lost it just when he¡¯d need it most.


    "Alright," announced the leader, trying to grab everyone¡¯s attention. "Let¡¯s take a vote. Here are the options: Stay here and wait for help, explore the tunnels, or see what¡¯s behind that door. Vote for what you think is best."


    Most nodded, and tension rose again as they began voting.


    "I vote to stay here," said an older man with an injured leg, breathing heavily.


    "I¡¯m staying too," added another.


    A woman in the group raised her hand.


    ¡°I vote to explore the tunnels¡­ maybe we¡¯ll find a way out.¡±


    ¡®There was a woman here?¡¯ Leonar thought, realizing he hadn¡¯t noticed her until now.


    "Exploring sounds good to me too," said a young gatherer, shrugging.


    "Check out what¡¯s behind the door," said another, looking at the rest with a mix of curiosity and fear.


    Leonar hesitated for a few seconds but finally made his choice:


    "I¡¯d rather stay here. There¡¯s still a chance rescue will come..."


    At the end of the first round, the votes were divided.


    Three wanted to stay, four wanted to explore, and four wanted to open the door.


    The leader scratched his head and sighed.


    "Alright, we need a tiebreaker. Those who voted to stay, pick between exploring or going to the door," he said, looking at them seriously.


    One by one, those who had voted to stay made their decisions.


    This time, Leonar chose to explore the tunnels, knowing that his vision would help him find the safest path.


    "I vote for the door," said Damian with a half-smile.


    In the end, the vote was six to five, with the majority opting to investigate the metal door.


    Leonar let out a nervous laugh and muttered to himself,


    "Are they crazy...?"


    Damian clapped him on the back, still smiling.


    "That¡¯s what makes it fun, right? Come on, just relax a little."


    ¡®Weren¡¯t you the one who was scared before? Damn¡­ if only I¡¯d left when my ability came back¡­¡¯


    As everyone prepared to move towards the door, Leonar felt a chill as he watched them try to pry it open.


    Slowly, and with a synchronized push, the door began to open, and to Leonar¡¯s surprise¡­


    What was inside was something none of them expected.

 Are You Serious?

    The door creaked and trembled as it opened, letting in a fresh gust of air and revealing a sight none of them had expected.


    The whole group fell silent, stunned, staring at the hallway in front of them. Gone were the rough cave walls and natural surroundings; instead, the walls were covered with polished stone, gleaming with a nearly metallic finish.


    Everything seemed crafted with perfect precision, as if someone highly skilled had built it.


    ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± muttered one of the gatherers, unable to contain his surprise.


    Another noticed the lights¡ªno ordinary torches but gentle light sources with flames that never went out.


    ¡°Who could¡¯ve made this?¡± someone asked out loud.


    ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± a woman in the group remarked, examining the carefully crafted ceiling. ¡°This couldn¡¯t be naturally inside a cave.¡±


    ¡®Obviously! Could you be any more obvious?¡¯ Leonar thought, feeling a bit annoyed.


    The first murmurs of amazement had just started when someone in the group made a comment:


    ¡°It¡¯s common to find intelligent civilizations inside dungeons. There are cases of cities built by elves¡­ or dwarves.¡±


    Mention of dwarves sparked a little debate.


    ¡°Do you really think there could be dwarves here?¡± asked a tall man, skeptical.


    ¡°Why not?¡± replied the other. ¡°It¡¯s more likely dwarves built this than elves. Elves usually go for natural environments, not something so¡­ structured.¡±


    The woman cut in, a bit nervously, ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll be friendly? I mean¡­ if we find anyone.¡±


    ¡°And how are we even supposed to talk to them if we don¡¯t know if they can understand us?¡± added another, pessimistically.


    The leader, who¡¯d been listening in silence, raised a hand to calm the discussion.


    ¡°Come on, arguing isn¡¯t going to get us anywhere. There¡¯s only one way to find out who or what built this: we move forward.¡±


    Leonar was still immersed in the debate when he felt a pat on his shoulder. It was Damian, who stood beside him with a mix of enthusiasm and curiosity on his face.


    ¡°So, what do you make of all this, Leonar?¡± he asked, grinning slyly.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leonar sighed, shrugging.


    ¡°I just want to get out of here.¡±


    Damian laughed and gave him a friendly punch on the arm.


    ¡°Oh, come on! Where¡¯s your sense of adventure? Doesn¡¯t all of this spark a bit of curiosity?¡±


    ¡®Obviously, I¡¯m curious, but curiosity killed the cat, damn it. We should just turn back¡­¡¯ Leonar thought.


    They all moved down the hallway, and the more they walked, the more details they noticed enriching the place. Finally, the path narrowed, leading to a much smaller door¡ªa peculiar construction that caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Could we really be in a dwarf city?¡± murmured a woman in the group, examining the door. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ too low.¡±


    Leonar turned to Damian and whispered, ¡°Do you often run into these other races? Are they usually friendly?¡±


    Damian chuckled, amused.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know much. To be honest, this is the first time I¡¯m in a situation like this.¡±


    The leader tried to open the door, and with no response, they cautiously pushed it open, stepping into the room beyond.


    The first person to cross the threshold froze, his eyes widening.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± someone asked from behind, alarmed.


    The man turned back to the group, his voice thick with disbelief.


    ¡°There are monsters in there!¡±


    His words caused an immediate reaction. Leonar felt his heart race as the group adopted defensive stances. But before they could respond, a deep male voice echoed from within.


    ¡°Oh! It seems we have unexpected visitors. New players!¡±


    The hunter at the door stepped back to rejoin the others, while those with weapons raised them, tense and ready for anything. But in the doorway appeared, to everyone¡¯s surprise, a goblin dressed elegantly, with a well-tailored suit, tie, and shoes that shone as brightly as the polished stones in the hallway.


    ¡®It¡¯s yellow¡­ damn it,¡¯ thought Leonar upon seeing him.


    The leader, realizing someone was about to fire, raised a hand to signal calm.


    ¡°Wait! Lower your weapons.¡±


    Everyone stared at the goblin, who, noticing the looks, straightened and gave them a smile exuding an odd mix of confidence and friendliness.


    ¡°Did I say something wrong? Of course, I know how to speak, and quite well, actually! Although I must say, of all the languages I¡¯ve learned, human is one of the most tiresome. The variations make me dizzy,¡± remarked the goblin, bowing slightly. ¡°But I suppose it¡¯s a relief your dialect isn¡¯t that complicated.¡±


    Leonar gaped at him. He had never in his life seen such¡­ a refined goblin. The creature made a friendly gesture and continued speaking with an enthusiastic tone.


    ¡°Well, well, don¡¯t just stand there. My companions and I would be delighted to sponsor you¡­ so you can try out our machines.¡±


    The gatherers exchanged confused glances, a mix of curiosity and doubt crossing their faces.


    ¡°Machines? What kind of machines?¡± asked the woman, while another murmured, ¡°Sponsor us? For what?¡±


    The goblin let out a chuckle, clearly enjoying their bewilderment.


    ¡°Oh, I believe you call it¡­ ¡®casino,¡¯ right? Yes, yes, I think that¡¯s the human word for a place where you wager money.¡±


    The word ¡°casino¡± only deepened their confusion, and several exchanged looks of astonishment and uncertainty.


    ¡°But¡­ we don¡¯t have any money,¡± said a gatherer, scratching his head. ¡°How are we supposed to bet?¡±


    The goblin grinned, showing small, sharp teeth.


    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t you hear me before? We¡¯ll sponsor you. So you can play.¡±


    Leonar blinked, still in disbelief, as the others tried to process the offer.


    The situation was surreal, and the goblin¡¯s grin did nothing to ease the sense of disorientation.


    Amid the silence that followed, Leonar found himself repeating in his mind:


    ¡®Do they seriously have a casino down here?¡¯


    Slowly, a smile began to creep across Leonar¡¯s lips.

 Best of Three

    After the goblin¡¯s invitation, the group cautiously steps into the casino. The moment they cross the threshold, they''re left speechless.


    The hall is enormous, and to everyone¡¯s astonishment, every corner seems covered in gleaming gold.


    The walls and pillars are intricately carved, and even the hanging chandeliers that emit a warm, incandescent glow are adorned with golden ornaments.


    The flames illuminating the lamps are peculiar; they burn steadily, showing no sign of fading.


    One of the group members, a curious young woman, asks:


    ¡°Excuse me¡­ how do those lamps work? I don¡¯t see any fuel source, yet they¡¯re burning strongly.¡±


    The goblin, visibly pleased, answers with pride:


    ¡°Ah, you noticed. Very observant. This fire was created by a goblin mage who designed these lamps. They¡¯re special; this fire never dies out. It¡¯s one of our most valuable inventions.¡±


    The woman nods, still marveling, while the rest of the group exchanges glances between distrust and awe.


    Everywhere they look, goblins dressed in various levels of attire¡ªsome in full suits, others in partial outfits¡ªobserve the group with curiosity.


    The humans stand out among these sophisticated goblins, and the sight of such organized, civilized goblins only deepens the group¡¯s sense of disbelief.


    Some of the group members still feel uneasy, surrounded by creatures they''ve typically regarded as enemies or mere beasts. Nonetheless, the imposing presence of the goblin leader, with his serious but kind expression, helps keep the situation under control.


    The goblin guides them to a reception area decorated with even more golden objects.


    From behind the counter, he takes out a tray and hands out several tokens, distributing them equally among the group.


    The amount is considerable, and a few of the group members can¡¯t help but eye the tokens with a hint of greed.


    ¡°What exactly do you expect us to do with these tokens?¡± one of the more skeptical members asks, crossing his arms.


    The goblin, hearing this, smiles and replies:


    ¡°Play, of course! These tokens are for you to enjoy our games. There¡¯s a lot to be won if luck is on your side.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this,¡± one of the more reluctant members says, frowning.


    ¡°Oh, you might change your mind,¡± the goblin responds with an enigmatic smile. ¡°There are prizes here that could be of great use on your¡­ adventure. Some might be worth more than anything you could find in this dungeon.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Dami¨¢n, excited at the mention of these prizes along with the rest of the group, turns to Leonar, trying to share his enthusiasm.


    ¡®Doesn¡¯t anyone see anything strange here¡­?¡¯ Leonar thought, feeling unsettled.


    After a few moments of silence, Leonar gathers his courage and directly asks, despite his nerves:


    ¡°And what happens if we lose?¡±


    The goblin looks at him with a calm smile and replies:


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Just enjoy yourselves. Your time here is meant to be fun.¡±


    ¡®Yeah, right,¡¯ Leonar thought upon hearing those words.


    What kind of casino would make an offer like this?


    There was clearly a trap here.


    At that moment, a massive hourglass in the center of the hall flips over, and the sand begins to fall rapidly.


    The goblin points to the hourglass and announces:


    ¡°You have one hour to spend your money and win whatever you can.¡±


    While some members of the group linger near the goblin, Leonar activates his skill.


    ¡®Ugh¡­ everything¡¯s yellow¡­¡¯ Leonar thought with annoyance. ¡®Oh, wait.¡¯


    Something catches Leonar¡¯s eye: a set of stairs leading down to a lower level, emitting a different glow, a yellow that almost leans towards gold.


    ¡®This is the first time I see this color¡­¡¯ Leonar thought, intrigued.


    It was obvious that the goblin¡¯s offer was a trap, but without weapons or combat skills¡­


    Leonar¡¯s only option was to rely on his skill.


    ¡°Can we go down there?¡± Leonar asked, pointing to the stairs.


    The goblin nodded.


    ¡°Of course. This casino has three underground levels, each with different games and prizes.¡±


    This comment made several of his companions start to mumble, but Leonar didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to them.


    He needed to find out what that golden glow was that he now saw with his own eyes.


    As Leonar headed towards the stairs, Dami¨¢n, who was nearby, asked,


    ¡°Hey, want me to come with you?¡±


    Leonar nodded, and together they descended the stairs, passing a few goblins carrying boxes up.


    ¡®What could they be carrying¡­?¡¯ Leonar wondered as they reached the second level.


    On the second level, the lights were dimmer, and rows of machines were arranged, each with unique mechanics that caught the two friends¡¯ attention.


    Dami¨¢n looked around, surprised.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe these goblins built all this here,¡± he said in amazement.


    Guided by his skill, Leonar approached a particular roulette.


    Several display cases surrounded the machine, showcasing various items.


    Among them, a white metallic sphere caught Leonar¡¯s attention, as it was the source of the golden glow he now saw.


    Curious, Leonar walked up to the roulette and asked the senior goblin attending it:


    ¡°What kind of roulette is this?¡±


    The goblin eyed him and explained:


    ¡°You have to bet on the numbers before it spins. If you win, you can claim one of these items.¡±


    Dami¨¢n, examining the display cases, frowned and asked:


    ¡°Are you really interested in items like these? None of them seem particularly valuable.¡±


    Leonar replied calmly:


    ¡°While I¡¯m playing here, you can try your luck elsewhere.¡±


    Dami¨¢n laughed and said,


    ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll leave you to play here, but I¡¯ll be nearby in case you need me for anything.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Leonar as his companion walked away.


    Focusing on the roulette, Leonar used his skill and bet on the numbers glowing green, hoping for the usual outcome.


    ¡®Please, let this work¡­¡¯


    The goblin spun the roulette, and when the dice settled, Leonar had guessed correctly.


    ¡®Great! It¡¯s still working¡­¡¯


    The goblin, surprised, quickly said:


    ¡°Congratulations! Which prize do you want¡­?¡±


    Leonar, though hesitant, pointed to the white metallic sphere.


    But to his surprise, the goblin suddenly said:


    ¡°For that, my friend, you¡¯ll need to win three games in a row.¡±


    ¡®Huh? He didn¡¯t mention that rule before¡­¡¯ Leonar thought, frowning. ¡®Well, I can still win with my skill¡­ it¡¯s not worth arguing with a monster.¡¯


    ¡°Alright,¡± Leonar replied as the goblin began to smile.

 Can You Hear Me?

    The roulette wheel was divided into numbered compartments, all in the same color¡ªblack. Five dice bounced and spun inside the wheel, moving rapidly between the compartments as the disk spun with force. It was a strange roulette, but since Leonar needed to play on it to obtain that sphere, he just treated it as another game.


    Betting one chip each round, Leonar kept choosing the compartment that appeared green to him in each game.


    The reason he didn¡¯t pick more green options was because he didn¡¯t want to make it obvious.


    After all, hitting one of the five dice more than twice could be considered luck, but if he chose too many winning spaces, it might give away his ability. Besides, in all the months he had used this skill, he rarely missed¡ªespecially when it came to green options.


    To the goblin¡¯s surprise, Leonar won on the third spin in a row, making the creature grit its teeth.


    ¡°Well¡­ it seems you''re on a lucky streak,¡± the goblin commented with a forced smile. ¡°But¡­ I forgot to mention that it¡¯s actually best of five.¡±


    Leonar chuckled softly, crossing his arms.


    ¡®This goblin is shameless,¡¯ Leonar thought, seeing how the little creature tried to win by making up new rules.


    Even so, Leonar shrugged it off and nodded.


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s keep going,¡± he said as the goblin seemed to sweat despite its tense smile.


    Despite his initial nerves about exploring dungeons without much knowledge, since this was a casino¡­


    It was an entirely different story!


    Without realizing it, Leonar¡¯s confidence began to soar, especially now that he had his skill back. With each spin, the goblin watched the roulette wheel with growing desperation, its small hands shaking every time one of the dice landed on Leonar¡¯s chosen number.


    With just one landing there, he¡¯d win.


    Finally, before the fifth spin, the goblin paused, pressed its lips together, and made a new proposal.


    ¡°If you want that prize¡­¡± it said, trying to maintain composure, ¡°you¡¯ll have to bet everything you have, not just a single chip.¡±


    What bothered the goblin the most about Leonar was that he was playing his game¡­ with the bare minimum, without losing a thing!


    Leonar sighed, evaluating the challenge. He observed the roulette carefully and noticed that this time there was only a single green spot among all the numbers.


    Even though he had always bet on just one spot where he saw that color, it was strange that now he didn¡¯t see as many green options on the wheel.


    Still, Leonar nodded and began to gather all his chips.


    ¡°All right, let''s go all in,¡± he said as he carefully placed his bet on the green space he could see.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    With just one of that color¡­ it was enough.


    Just as the goblin was about to spin, Leonar stopped it with a gesture.


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    The goblin raised its eyebrows, looking triumphant and sneering at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you get scared?¡±


    Leonar noticed that right when the goblin was about to spin the wheel, all the numbers turned red.


    It was the first time he¡¯d seen something like that happen.


    Despite not knowing the reason, Leonar said,


    ¡°It¡¯s not that; it¡¯s just¡­ it seems unfair that you keep changing the rules every time I get close to winning.¡±


    And it was true.


    Although it was satisfying to confirm that his ability worked in this strange game, losing it all like this¡­


    Despite a part of him warning him to be cautious, his mind was already immersed in the game, and all he wanted was to win.


    ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not so sure I¡¯ll even get the prize if I win this round.¡±


    The goblin, visibly uncomfortable, looked at him, momentarily speechless.


    ¡°W-wait, that¡¯s not it¡­ it¡¯s just that, well¡­ I just wanted¡­ to make it more exciting,¡± it stammered, its gaze darting towards the chips.


    Leonar looked at it for a few seconds before replying.


    ¡°So you were just waiting for me to lose all my chips?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it!¡± The goblin waved its hands nervously. ¡°I was just having fun,¡± it said with an awkward laugh.


    Leonar narrowed his eyes at it, then smiled, amused.


    Even though he was aware of the trap¡­ the truth was that he was having fun despite talking to another creature from another world.


    Knowing he was about to find out what the strange white metallic sphere was, the one his eyes saw as golden each time he used his skill¡­


    Although it was risky, he wanted to do it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll play, but under two conditions.¡±


    The goblin looked at him, somewhat desperate.


    ¡°What are those conditions?¡±


    ¡°First, make sure you won¡¯t change the rules again,¡± Leonar said firmly.


    The goblin quickly nodded, swallowing hard.


    ¡°And second, I want to be the one to spin the roulette. And in return, I¡¯ll spin it with all my strength.¡±


    The surprise on the goblin¡¯s face was immediate. It swallowed hard and muttered,


    ¡°Why¡­ do you want to do that?¡±


    Leonar gave it a cunning smile.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it sound interesting? This way, I¡¯ll ensure you won¡¯t cheat, and you can enjoy the wildest spin of the night.¡±


    Although he wasn¡¯t sure if it was night or not, Leonar simply added that out of habit¡ªafter all,


    Night was the best time to gamble.


    The goblin hesitated, but finally, after a moment¡¯s reflection, agreed.


    After all, a human might have more strength than a simple goblin like itself.


    ¡°All right, but make sure to spin it with all your strength. I don¡¯t want you to claim it wasn¡¯t a fair game afterward,¡± it said, trying to regain its confidence.


    Leonar nodded and took a deep breath, focusing on his ability.


    As he concentrated, he noticed that the area where he bet glowed green once again.


    ¡°One¡­ two¡­ three¡­¡± he murmured before giving the wheel a strong spin, making the disk whirl at an incredible speed.


    The dice in the center began bouncing and rolling in all directions, moving violently between the compartments as the roulette continued to spin.


    The goblin watched, nervous, biting its lips, trying to hide its discomfort.


    The sound of the dice bouncing filled the air, and Leonar, never taking his eyes off his green compartment, felt his heartbeat quicken.


    The roulette started to slow down.


    Gradually, the compartments became more visible, and the dice, which had been bouncing forcefully, began to reduce their movements.


    One of the dice slid towards the edge, landing on the rim of a black compartment.


    Leonar held his breath, feeling adrenaline course through his body as he watched the die teeter, as if deciding whether to stay or move a little further.


    For a moment, it seemed none of the dice would stop in the spot he had bet on.


    The die seemed to hesitate, grazing the edge of the black compartment, but then gave one last jump and landed right in the compartment where Leonar had bet.


    Leonar felt his pulse race as he saw his bet had hit.


    Leonar exhaled, a small laugh and relief escaping his lips. He looked at the goblin and, smiling, said,


    ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡±


    The goblin gritted its teeth, frustrated.


    ¡°Yes¡­ yes, you have,¡± it admitted grudgingly. ¡°Take your prize.¡±


    Leonar walked over to the display case where the white metallic sphere was, and carefully removed the glass.


    As soon as he held the sphere in his hands, something inside vibrated. At that moment, he heard a soft female voice in his mind, freezing him in place:


    ¡°Hey, can you hear me?¡±

 What Do You Mean by That?

    Leonar looked down at the white sphere in his hand and, after a moment of hesitation, whispered,


    "What do you mean by that?"


    The feminine voice responded immediately, as if it had been waiting impatiently for the question.


    "It means you''re dealing with goblins," she said sharply. "I¡¯ve seen other groups of humans come here, full of confidence¡­ only to be killed by these very goblins."


    Leonar raised an eyebrow, gripping the sphere a bit tighter.


    "But they invited us to play. They haven¡¯t done anything suspicious¡­ so far," he replied, glancing around.


    The voice let out a sigh, almost exasperated, and spoke again in a tone of clear disbelief.


    "Are you really that much of an idiot?" she asked, as if assessing Leonar''s intelligence. "To a goblin like them, the most enjoyable thing is stealing the ''wealth'' of their victims. And when humans arrive without anything valuable, these goblins put on this ridiculous game just to savor the look of despair and disappointment on their faces¡­"


    A chill ran down Leonar''s spine.


    "This¡­ this has to be a joke," he said through gritted teeth, casting a distrustful look at the few goblins surrounding him and Damian.


    "No, it¡¯s not," the voice replied firmly. "Make a contract with me, and I assure you that you''ll be able to get out of this place alive."


    Before Leonar could ask more, an even louder noise came from the floor above.


    Now, more voices of men could be heard, mixed into a commotion of indistinct shouting and protests.


    Damian, who had been frozen in place until then, began moving toward the stairs with hurried steps.


    As he walked away, Leonar noticed the goblin he¡¯d been playing with, who was calmly cleaning one of the prize tables, as if nothing unusual were happening.


    The goblin¡¯s apparent indifference put him on high alert. Still holding the sphere, he decided to follow Damian.


    ¡®Damn¡­¡¯ Leonar thought.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Upon reaching the upper floor, the scene before him was chilling.


    A group of men surrounded a body, a corpse lying lifeless on the ground with fresh blood still oozing.


    The goblins watched on with total calm, and the goblin leader who had initially greeted them stood in front of the group of humans, his expression apathetic as some of them began raising their voices.


    "What the hell is the meaning of this?!" shouted one of the men, his face twisted with fury.


    "Why did you do this?!" snapped another, glaring at the goblin leader with clenched fists.


    One of the men, more impulsive than the others, took a step forward with obvious intent to fight.


    "This is insane! Give us our weapons back and let us out of here!"


    ¡®What? They took their weapons? When did that happen?¡¯


    Leonar hadn¡¯t noticed that no one else had any weapons on them either, as he¡¯d lost his own in that large water pit.


    The goblin leader raised a hand calmly, his yellow eyes glinting with a mocking shine as the humans seemed to lose their composure.


    "Isn¡¯t this what you humans call¡­ a price?" His voice was raspy, carrying a calm tone. "The tokens we gave you represent your chances. If you wish to redeem them to leave this place, you¡¯ll need to win enough to cover your exit."


    The tension in the air increased as the goblin continued speaking, and none of the humans dared interrupt him.


    "However," he added, with a sinister smile, "if you lose all your tokens¡­ well, then you¡¯ll lose your lives as well."


    A wave of disbelief swept through the group as the goblins began dragging the corpse away, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.


    One of the men, visibly disturbed, pointed shakily at the scene.


    "Hey! Look at what they¡¯re doing! They¡¯re taking the body!"


    However, most of those present seemed more focused on processing what the goblin had said.


    At that moment, the feminine voice echoed in Leonar''s mind once again, filled with disdain.


    "These goblins are full of lies. I¡¯ve never seen a human leave here alive, so don¡¯t even think about playing along. This is a trap."


    Leonar tightened his grip on the sphere in his hand, and, focusing, activated his ability.


    All the goblins around him had a faint yellow hue in his perception; none had shifted to red.


    ¡®Seriously¡­ I really need to study this ability more,¡¯ Leonar thought, realizing he still didn¡¯t understand much about his skill, as he¡¯d only used it for games so far.


    The goblin leader stepped forward, gesturing toward the hourglass hanging on the wall.


    Part of the time had already passed, and the sand was falling quickly.


    "You have until the time runs out," he declared with a sly smile. "At the end, anyone who has accumulated enough tokens will be allowed to leave freely. Those who don¡¯t¡­ will face the consequences."


    Around him, several of his companions began to disperse¡ªsome headed to their game tables with interest, while others stayed, exchanging worried glances.


    A small group approached the goblin to complain, still indignant, but it didn¡¯t seem like they¡¯d get a satisfying answer.


    The feminine voice resurfaced in his mind.


    "What will you do now?" she asked, almost as if evaluating his resolve.


    Leonar lowered his gaze to the white, metallic sphere he held, still not fully understanding its nature. He turned it a bit in his hand and whispered, almost cautiously,


    "What exactly do you mean by a contract?"


    If there was one thing to always be cautious of, it was signing a contract.

 14 Just Do It!

    Leonar let out a sigh as he looked at the sphere, trying to gauge how much he could trust this mysterious voice.


    "So¡­ what exactly do you want from me?"


    The voice paused, as though surprised by his question.


    Why wasn''t he agreeing to the contract right away?


    Didn''t he realize his life was on the line?


    With a sigh, the voice replied, sounding almost frustrated:


    "I was created to contain the darkness that threatens to consume all worlds. And you¡­ you have the chance to help me stop it."


    That was the only explanation the voice could think of to give Leonar.


    Leonar frowned, grinding his teeth as he listened to the vague answer.


    "Darkness that threatens everything? That sounds¡­ pretty vague."


    The sphere''s voice responded a bit defensively, as though impatience was beginning to seep into its tone.


    "But it''s the truth."


    Leonar glanced at it skeptically, hesitating.


    "So, I suppose you want me to be the one to stop this darkness."


    "Yes."


    The answer was firm, with no room for negotiation.


    Leonar, however, was still unconvinced.


    "And what''s in it for me?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm, almost mocking the importance of his own world.


    Although he couldn''t hear it, the voice let out a laugh at that.


    Did this human really not grasp the gravity of the situation?


    "If we don''t stop this darkness, every world will be consumed, including yours!" the voice shouted, her tone balancing between desperation and frustration. "Just make the damn contract with me already!"


    But Leonar, unfazed, moved to one of the empty chairs in the room, sat down, and looked at the hourglass.


    The sand continued to fall, marking the time he had left.


    "I still have time," Leonar said calmly, watching the hourglass. "I want to hear exactly what your terms are."


    The voice was silent for a moment, clearly surprised.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Why didn''t he just agree to the contract and get it over with?


    Was he really that foolish?


    After being trapped here for months, was she really having to explain herself like this?


    "What kind of power would you give me?" Leonar asked, genuinely curious, and the sphere seemed to hesitate before answering.


    ''Well¡­ it makes sense that he''d be interested in that,'' the voice thought before replying:


    "I specialize in controlling the most powerful element of all."


    ''The most powerful element¡­?'' Leonar thought, raising an eyebrow.


    If there was one element that grabbed Leonar''s attention, it was fire.


    He didn''t know why, but there was something incredibly satisfying about watching flames burn.


    And before he could fully imagine himself controlling fire with his hands to turn his enemies into ashes¡­


    The sphere''s voice shattered his fantasy by adding,


    "Of course, water."


    "Water?" Leonar muttered, disappointed.


    He immediately imagined himself shooting tiny water streams at goblins, a scene that almost made him laugh at how ridiculous it was.


    Did this voice seriously expect him to stop that so-called darkness by spraying water like a squirt gun?


    That was absurd!


    Noticing Leonar''s disappointment, the voice tried to justify herself, sounding a bit nervous.


    "I admit, in this sealed form, it may seem¡­ pathetic. But if you make a contract with me, I assure you that water''s power will surprise you."


    Leonar thought for a moment, and the way the voice was trying to sell herself reminded him of those persistent salespeople who would list every possible advantage to convince you, even if it wasn''t entirely convincing.


    Sensing his skepticism, the voice insisted, her urgency growing.


    "For heaven''s sake¡­ Just make the contract with me and get me out of here! Help me escape this place, and my powers will protect you. It''s easy to understand, isn''t it?"


    "So that''s your goal¡­" Leonar said, eyeing the sphere.


    "Of course! I''ve been trapped here for months, waiting for someone strong enough to conquer this dungeon. Unfortunately, I see you beat me at that ridiculous game, and while your intelligence may be lacking, I still need you!"


    The voice had said all that so fast that Leonar barely caught everything she said.


    But one thing he was sure of:


    The sphere had just insulted him!


    Leonar leaned toward the sphere, whispering in a mocking tone.


    "If it''s been so long since you''ve been here¡­ why haven''t those dark creatures invaded and destroyed everything yet?"


    "Because of the damn barrier protecting this dimension," the voice replied, sounding slightly annoyed. "It keeps them out, but it won''t last forever. It could break at any moment, and then they''ll destroy everything in their path!"


    "All right, all right, I understand," said Leonar, trying to calm her. But the voice, agitated, shot back desperately.


    "Your stupid questions are driving me crazy!"


    Leonar let out a small laugh, enjoying the voice''s frustration.


    Leonar obviously wasn''t going to turn down a contract that would probably guarantee his survival. However, his plan was to see if he could lower the terms of this alliance a bit. But upon realizing that the threat involved total destruction if he did nothing, he understood that he had few alternatives.


    With a sigh, and casting a last look at Damian, who was arguing with the rest of the group, he nodded slowly.


    "All right, I''ll make the contract."


    The voice sounded relieved, and even a little satisfied.


    "Perfect. I''ll forgive you for trying to test me," the voice declared.


    Then, in a formal but very fast tone, she continued,


    "Now, if you agree to lend me your body, I''ll grant you my power. You can use it to stop the creatures threatening to destroy everything or for your own purposes."


    Leonar, perhaps due to the headache he''d developed from having this conversation with the voice, responded almost automatically.


    "Yes, I accept."


    Then, a thought crossed his mind, and he frowned.


    ''Wait¡­ what does she mean by lending her my body?''


    At that very moment, a blue window appeared before him, displaying a simple yet revealing message:


    [Contract with Eleonora successfully made]