Jin-woo logged in at 7:32 AM. He checked his stats, equipped his sword and armor, and opened the map. Goblin Cave was marked on the northern edge of the Havencrest region, about thirty minutes' walk from the city.
He started walking.
The path led through the plains where he had been grinding wolves and goblins. Other players moved past him—some walking, some riding mounts. A level 40 mage flew overhead on a glowing staff.
Jin-woo kept walking.
After twenty-eight minutes, the terrain changed. The grass became rocky. Hills rose up on both sides of the path. Ahead, a dark opening appeared in the hillside—the entrance to Goblin Cave.
Fifteen or twenty players stood near the entrance. Some were already in groups, talking and checking their equipment. Others stood alone, watching the crowd.
A warrior in heavy armor stood on a rock near the entrance. His username floated above his head: TankMaster - Level 12.
"LF3M Goblin Cave!" TankMaster shouted. "Need healer and DPS! Quick run, know the route!"
Jin-woo walked toward him. "I can DPS," he said.
TankMaster looked at Jin-woo's username and level. "Level 10 warrior? You got Power Strike?"
"Yes."
"Good enough. You're in." TankMaster sent a party invite.
Jin-woo accepted. The party interface appeared in the corner of his vision:
Party Members:
TankMaster - Level 12 Warrior
Jin Park - Level 10 Warrior
Two more players approached. A priest with white robes: Priest Sara - Level 11. A mage in blue robes: MageBlast - Level 10.
"Need healer and DPS," TankMaster said.
"Healer here," Priest Sara said.
"DPS," MageBlast said.
TankMaster sent invites. Both joined. The party count showed 4/5.
A rogue appeared from behind a rock. RogueX - Level 13. He had two daggers and dark leather armor.
"Still need one?" RogueX asked.
"Yeah, you're good," TankMaster said.
RogueX joined. The party was full: 5/5.
"Alright," TankMaster said. "Standard run. I pull, DPS focus same target, healer keeps me alive. Don't pull extra mobs. Got it?"
Everyone said yes or nodded.
"Let's go." TankMaster walked toward the cave entrance.
The party followed him inside.
The cave entrance opened into a tunnel. Torches hung on the walls every few meters, casting orange light across the stone floor. The tunnel went down at a slight angle. After twenty seconds of walking, it opened into a large room.
Five goblins stood in the room. They were bigger than the goblins outside—Goblin Warriors, level 12, with crude armor and iron weapons. Their health bars showed 200 HP each.
TankMaster drew his sword. "Pulling," he said.
He charged at the nearest goblin. His sword hit the goblin's chest. The goblin shrieked. All five goblins turned and charged at TankMaster.
"DPS now!" TankMaster shouted.
Jin-woo and RogueX ran forward. RogueX went left, Jin-woo went right. They attacked different goblins.
Jin-woo activated Power Strike. He charged the attack for two seconds and released. His sword hit a goblin's neck.
CRITICAL! -67 damage
The goblin's health: 133/200 HP.
Behind him, Priest Sara cast a healing spell. Light surrounded TankMaster as his health bar refilled.
MageBlast stood at the back of the room, casting fireballs. Each fireball hit for 45-50 damage.
The battle was messy. The goblins didn't stay together. Two attacked TankMaster. One attacked RogueX. One turned and ran toward MageBlast. One attacked Jin-woo.
The goblin swung its club at Jin-woo. The club connected.
-42 damage
Jin-woo's health: 208/250 HP.
He swung back. Normal attack, 28 damage. The goblin's health dropped to 105 HP.
Across the room, a goblin reached MageBlast. The goblin swung its club. MageBlast tried to move away, but he was too slow. The club hit him in the chest.
-53 damage
MageBlast's health: 87/140 HP.
The goblin swung again. Another hit, 51 damage. MageBlast's health: 36/140 HP.
"Help!" MageBlast shouted.
But TankMaster was fighting two goblins. RogueX was fighting one. Jin-woo was fighting one. No one could reach MageBlast in time.
The goblin swung a third time. The club hit MageBlast's head.
CRITICAL! -78 damage
MageBlast's health: 0/140 HP.
The mage collapsed. His body dissolved into light particles. The goblin turned and started running toward Priest Sara.
"We need to back out!" TankMaster shouted. "To the entrance!"
The party ran toward the tunnel. The goblins followed, chasing them. Jin-woo's goblin swung at his back, hitting for 39 damage. His health dropped to 169 HP.
They reached the tunnel and kept running. The goblins followed for five seconds, then stopped and walked back to their room.
The party stopped just inside the cave entrance. Everyone was breathing hard. TankMaster's health was at 60%. Jin-woo's was at 67%. Priest Sara's mana bar showed 30%.
Outside the cave, MageBlast's body reformed. He appeared at the dungeon entrance, alive, his health and mana fully restored.
MageBlast walked to the entrance and looked inside at the party. "I'm done," he said. "This group sucks."
He opened his menu and left the party. His name disappeared from the party interface.
TankMaster shook his head. "We need a full party. This won't work with four people."
He opened his menu. "Disbanding party. Sorry everyone."
The party dissolved. The interface disappeared from Jin-woo's vision.
Priest Sara and RogueX walked out of the cave without saying anything. TankMaster followed them.
Jin-woo stood inside the cave entrance for a moment. Then he walked outside.
He had spent thirty minutes on that attempt. He had earned nothing. His repair costs would take 20 copper from his total. He was worse off than when he started.
Jin-woo checked the time. 8:17 AM. He looked at the players near the cave entrance. Groups were forming and entering the dungeon. Solo players stood around, waiting.
He needed to find another group.