Not Just One

The new day arrived quickly.

Early that morning, Wang Zhifan woke up in his rented apartment. After washing up and having a simple breakfast, he made his preparations, opened his player panel, and entered a dungeon.

Players like him, who ran dungeons every day, were actually a minority in this world. After all, not everyone was willing to test their life once a day.

Wang Zhifan was so proactive about dungeon runs mainly because the positive feedback he got from them was strong. Before every run, he would wonder what useful reward he might get to choose that day. Basically, the moment he woke up each morning, he unconsciously began thinking about dungeons and had no interest in doing anything else.

With a momentary blur of consciousness, Wang Zhifan, who had been lying on the bed in his rented apartment, quickly vanished and appeared in a mountainous area alongside his other two teammates.

Looking around, he saw hills covered in weeds and shrubs on every side. In front of him and his two teammates was a conspicuous pitch-black cave in the mountainside.

Dungeon Objective: Kill the Black Bear (Lv3) dwelling in the cave ahead.

"Guys, let's report our levels and classes first so we can figure out how to cooperate. I'll start. I'm Lv3, a Mage."

One of Wang Zhifan's teammates this time seemed particularly outgoing and talkative. Before the dungeon objective prompt floating before their eyes had even faded, he had already started the discussion.

"My suggestion is that we back up a bit first. Discussing things right here might lure the monster out."

Rather than answer his question directly, Wang Zhifan first lowered his voice slightly and made his suggestion.

But his cautious approach did not win the man's agreement. The man waved a hand, raised his brows, and said dismissively, "Brother, it's only a Lv3 monster. No need to get so nervous! Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I guarantee we'll clear this dungeon in no time."

As he spoke, the talkative young Mage raised the staff in his hand, its surface patterned with red markings, and showed it to his other two teammates.

"To be honest, this staff of mine is a Fine Tier treasure. It can greatly increase the power of the Fireball I've mastered. And my Fireball is already Lv3. It's on a completely different level from those Lv1 and Lv2 Fireballs. Forget Lv3 monsters—even Lv4 or Lv5 monsters would be no problem!"

The young Mage spoke with extreme confidence, making it clear that his strength was entirely trustworthy. Wang Zhifan neither agreed nor disagreed. The other teammate, a chubby girl holding a revolver, immediately looked at the confident young Mage with shining eyes and flattered him.

"Then we'll be relying on you this time, big brother. I'm only a Lv1 newbie gunner, so I might not be much help in the dungeon later."

The slightly plump female gunner wore a humble expression. Clearly, she had decided to cling to the young Mage.

"It's nothing. Later, just fire a couple of shots whenever you feel like it. Or you can stand to the side and gain some experience. That's fine too."

After casually responding to the female gunner, the young Mage turned to look at Wang Zhifan, who had already retreated several meters away.

Wang Zhifan knew he was asking about him, so he answered from where he stood.

"Warrior, Lv2."

Anyone could tell from the long sword in his hand that he belonged to the Warrior class. This Mage teammate simply enjoyed putting pressure on people.

"A Warrior? I don't see that class very often."

Once the young Mage heard Wang Zhifan's answer, he nodded casually, then began giving orders like a leader.

"Warrior brother, you'll be responsible for luring the bear out of the cave. The gunner girl and I will wait outside. The moment it comes out, we'll kill it instantly."

His tone was just as confident, as though Wang Zhifan had no right to refuse.

But Wang Zhifan did not like being forced by others. He had always done things at his own pace.

"Sorry, that plan is too dangerous. I refuse to go in alone."

Wang Zhifan shook his head without much thought.

Seeing that the young man with the long sword actually refused to give him face, the young Mage's expression immediately darkened. He said to Wang Zhifan, "Why are you so timid? You're a Warrior, yet you don't even dare enter a cave alone? Are you even a man?"

He was clearly trying to provoke Wang Zhifan's pride. Most young men would fall for that sort of thing, but to his surprise, the young man with the long sword remained as calm as still water despite the mockery.

"I already said that going in alone is too dangerous. I suggest we don't enter rashly. This is a matter of strategy, not whether someone is a man or not. If you think you're so capable, then try going in alone."

Wang Zhifan calmly threw the young Mage's mockery right back at him.

"Tch. So what if I go in alone? You're a Warrior, but you won't pull the monster and keep making excuses. Cowardice is cowardice. Don't shamelessly refuse to admit it."

After replying to Wang Zhifan with disdain, the young Mage turned and walked into the cave ahead. He actually went in alone to engage the monster.

"Impressive."

Wang Zhifan did not look down on the man's decisiveness. Instead, he felt the man's words matched his actions, though his behavior might have lacked some consideration.

Inside the pitch-black cave, the young Mage who had entered swung his staff and created a floating fireball for illumination as he continued deeper within. Outside the cave, the chubby female gunner hesitated. She did not know whose side she should support now—whether to wait outside and watch the Mage display his might, or take a certain risk and go inside to help him, securing her hold on such a powerful teammate.

Wang Zhifan noticed his teammate's dilemma and said, "I advise you not to go in. Just wait out here."

The chubby female gunner immediately looked at him with some confusion. She probably did not understand why Wang Zhifan was so certain that the Mage entering the cave was a mistake.

"You might not know what it means when a dungeon has Lv3 and Lv2 players, but the monsters are only Lv3."

Wang Zhifan continued explaining to her in a calm tone.

"Generally speaking, when that happens, it can only mean there's more than one Lv3 monster. So you understand the consequences of casually going in, right? He'd better be able to kill multiple monsters in succession, or whether he can even get back out will be a serious question."

As soon as Wang Zhifan finished speaking, the newbie female gunner's expression changed. She might not understand why Wang Zhifan could determine, based on those conditions alone, that there was more than one monster in the cave, but she clearly understood that when the expected enemy went from one to two—or even more—the difficulty of the fight increased exponentially.