[You successfully defeated Boss monster, Trignaw for the first time!]

[Obtained the following rewards:]

[5 Dominion Cores]

[200 Tamer Coins]

[Obtained skill card: Triple Instinct!]

[Triple Instinct]

Type: Boss Skill (Passive)

Rarity: Uncommon

Effect: Grants slightly faster reaction speed.

---

"Wow! 200 Tamer Coins and a skill card! This is actually a good harvest. Hey, Husk, look at this skill. It can help me react faster in battle. Husk?"

Oliver called out, but there was no response, and Husk was nowhere to be seen.

[Velkryss (Husk) is currently in Sleep Mode for the next 12 hours.]

"Sleep mode? That is why he kept telling me to finish the boss within the synchronization window. Because if I could not finish it, he would not be able to protect me after that. That guy... even though he acts like that, he actually cares. Is he what they call a tsundere?" Oliver smiled.

A portal appeared at the end of the boss room. Oliver touched it and was teleported back to the entrance of the Long Cave Dungeon.

"Finally! I raided my first dungeon. This is something that needs to be celebrated, but that Husk has fallen asleep for now. Maybe next time." Oliver marked a cross on his map over the Long Cave Dungeon, showing that it had been completed.

"Another 51 more to go! I plan to raid all of them soon." Oliver then walked back to his house.

Back at his house, he had dinner with his family and played with his mother’s monster, Sniffang. Sometimes, he glanced at his parents’ faces. They looked happy on the outside, but Oliver knew that deep down, they were worried and sad.

’I heard that mom was once part of a noble family, but because she married a commoner, she was disowned and took Father’s family name. Overheart is Father’s surname.’

’Our life is considered average. My father works as a part-time adventurer while also taking on many odd jobs like lumbering. My mom, meanwhile, is a full-time housewife. She was also once an adventurer with father, but after she had me, she retired to take care of me. Both of them can barely manage the daily expenses for food and necessities.’

’That is why they were so disappointed when they found out I was a failure. They put all their hope on me to change their lives, but in the end, hardship never loosened its grip on them. That is why, this time, I will do my best and promise you both that you will become the proudest parents one day and escape from all this hardship.’ Oliver vowed.

He lay in his room, thinking about his family while checking his system.

[You should distribute the Dominion Cores that you obtained today]

"Ahh! I totally forgot about it. But first of all, what are Dominion Cores?" Oliver sat up on his bed.

[Dominion Cores are the most important resource you need to become stronger. They are used to level up anything in the system that has levels, such as Tamer Level, Monster Level, Gear Level, Skill Level, and more.]

"I see. Hmm, which one should I upgrade first? Right now, I think only me and Velkryss have levels. And also the Overlord Eye skill. Alright, I will level up my Tamer Level first." Oliver pressed on Dominion Cores and chose himself.

Ding!

[Distributed 1 Dominion Core to Tamer Level. 4 more required for Tamer Level 2.]

"4 more cores needed? I thought it would level up straight to two. Hmm, I need to collect more tomorrow. For now, I will split the rest between Husk and Overlord Eye."

[Distributed 2 Dominion Cores to Velkryss (Husk), 3 more required for Level 2]

[Distributed 2 Dominion Cores to Overlord Eye, 18 more required for Level 2]

"Yosh! All done. Yaawnn. I am so sleepy, and my body is sore. I need to sleep." Oliver placed his head on the pillow, and not even a minute later, he fell asleep.

---

The next morning, Oliver left the house early, planning to go to the next dungeon. Of course, he did not tell his family where he was going. He lied that he was going to play with his friends.

"Oliver." Arnulf called his son.

"Yeah?" Oliver turned his head.

"Hmm... nothing. Just be careful when playing," Arnulf said with a smile.

"Alright, father. See you later!" Oliver ran off.

’He has looked so excited these past few days. Is he just faking it or...’ Arnulf thought. But then he shook his head and went back to his work.

"Which dungeon are we heading to today?" Husk appeared beside Oliver and ran along with him.

"Ahh, Husk! You are finally awake. We are heading to the Scaldrill Mine dungeon today. Are you alright?"

"It is nothing. Synchronization really puts a strain on my body. Right now, our balance is off, so it affects me more than you."

"Is it because of our low familiarity? Or is it because my level is too low?"

"Both. That is why you need to work harder to reduce the recoil effect. And today, I will push you more than yesterday."

"Roger!" Oliver was in high spirits. He felt that today, he could clear the dungeon by himself without needing Husk’s help.

Two hours later...

"Husk! Help me!"

Oliver was now on the second floor of the Scaldrill Mine Dungeon. Unlike the Long Cave, which had a single but extensive floor, Scaldrill Mine had three floors, each not as large.

Oliver was being chased by two Scaldrill monsters. Each of them held weapons made from leftover mining equipment, which made their weapons look crude.

<Scaldrill>

Their size was just over one meter, but what made them different from Gravegnaws was that they knew how to use weapons.

"Just calm down, kid! I know you are scared because they have weapons. But that is all. They just swing them without thinking."

Ping! Ping!

Oliver blocked a hoe attack from one of the Scaldrills. Another one came from the side to strike him, but thanks to the Triple Instinct passive, he managed to react in time. He kicked the monster’s face, sending it flying away.

He then slashed the other one using Assault Slash before finishing the first.

"I did it! I killed them!" Oliver exclaimed excitedly.

---

Deep inside the Boss Room, a monster was undergoing a sudden transformation, preparing itself to fight a human after a long time.