The Heart System Chapter 817

The dungeon came into view as the world came back into focus. Right, I was back here. This was the weird monster that had been crawling on the walls, the same monster that had killed me and forced me to respawn. If I wanted to level up in the real world, I had to keep advancing through this place.

"There you are."

I looked up and saw the monster. Wall-rider. Saliva dripped from her large mouth as she waited for me to walk beneath her. Since I already knew what would happen if I did that, having died to the damn thing once before, I knew better. I had to attack first.

"Come here, you."

I opened my palm and launched a fireball. I now had three MP to spend.

The fireball struck the monster directly in the chest, knocking her from the wall and sending her crashing onto the ground. I seized the opportunity, rushed forward, and plunged my sword into her forehead. She let out a shriek before her body disintegrated into dust.

However, I didn’t receive any EXP or Dungeon Coins.

The system immediately informed me that, because I had died, I was under a two-time penalty. I wouldn’t receive EXP from monsters during those two lives.

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Wall-rider [Lv. 2]

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HP: 0/17

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I exhaled and wiped the sweat from my brow. Fuck, these new monsters were difficult to kill. They were creepy as hell, too.

I walked toward the door at the far end of the room and stepped through it. Finally, I had finished this damn level. There were only four more to go.

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Dungeon Cleared (50 DEXP)

Level 2: 2/5

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And with that, I leveled up. Good. The same prompt appeared in front of me, giving me the choice between increasing my HP or MP by one point.

Since I could always come back and respawn if things went wrong, I decided to put the point into MP and confirmed my choice.

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COMBAT STATS (Lv3)

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HP : [■■■]

MP : [■■■■■]

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Dungeon EXP: 47/198

Dungeon Coin: 150

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Skills:

- Slash

- Fireball (1MP) - (10s CD)

- Heal (1MP) - (10s CD)

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As soon as I entered the next level, a goblin appeared right beside me. I was getting used to these things by now, so I kicked him to the ground, planted my foot against his chest, and fired a fireball directly into his face.

He died immediately, his body turning into golden dust. The same UI appeared, informing me that I wouldn’t receive EXP for the kill because of the penalty.

Well, that was the first one down.

I checked the map and noticed another red dot nearby. I looked around but couldn’t see anything. Then I realized what it had to be.

Wall-rider.

I took a few steps back and looked toward the ceiling. Sure enough, she was there.

I raised both hands and fired a fireball at her.

"You bastard."

The spell struck her and sent her crashing down. I rushed forward and stabbed her in the chest, but the attack wasn’t enough to finish her. She knocked me away, sending my back crashing against the wall.

One of my HP bars disappeared.

At least I was still alive.

Wall-rider recovered quickly and lunged toward me. I ducked beneath her attack and raised my hands again, but Fireball was still on cooldown.

"Shit."

She turned around and attacked again. I rolled out of the way, avoiding her claws, then came up beside her and kicked her in the side.

The kick barely did anything. The monster turned toward me and roared, forcing me to take a step back. Then I heard the familiar sound of my skill becoming available again.

The cooldown was over. I immediately raised my hand and fired another fireball.

Wall-rider twisted her body and dodged the spell, but that gave me the opening I needed. I rushed toward her and drove my sword into her shoulder. She stumbled backward and let out another roar. I pulled my sword free, stepped forward, and stabbed her directly in the chest.

Her body froze for a moment before turning into dust.

Phew. She was finally dead.

The reward for killing her was thirty EXP, bringing me to 77/198. A few more enemies and I’d level up again.

Good.

What I really needed, though, was Dungeon Coin. The dungeon shop had items that could help me in the real world, and that was far more valuable to me than another level.

"Alright, I’m on fire today."

I walked forward another four or five steps before another goblin came into view.

This one was different from the others. It was larger and wore a horned helmet on its head. It also carried a sword, and judging by the way it held the weapon, that thing looked sharp.

The moment it spotted me, it pointed the sword in my direction and roared.

Then it charged.

I immediately cast Fireball. The spell struck the goblin and made it stumble, giving me enough time to rush forward and stab it with my sword.

The blade went straight through its stomach and came out the other side.

I expected it to fall. Instead, the bastard grinned. Then it stabbed me in the chest. One HP bar remained and... damn. Fuck, that hurt.

I gritted my teeth and twisted my sword while it was still inside the goblin. Then I pushed the blade farther through its body.

The goblin finally collapsed and turned into dust.

A system prompt appeared where it had been standing. The reward was written in gold instead of the usual white.

Five hundred EXP.

Nice.

Too bad I was bleeding out.

Literally dying.

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Evan Marlowe [Level 23]

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EXP: 14050/42490

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Current Credits: 8055c

Current SC: 40

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"Agh, fucking hell."

A few seconds later, I died... yeah. Getting used to this feeling was... weird.

The penalty took twenty Dungeon Coins from me.

Eh, at least I kept the EXP.

I respawned back at the starting point, but I decided that was enough for today. I left the dungeon and returned to the real world in the exact place where I’d entered it.

In front of the TV.