A one-on-one battle with a Flame Goblin had suddenly begun. Unable to do anything, Chika was pushed down and raped, and before she knew it, she had lost consciousness.

"...Hmm, uh... where is this...?"

When Chika woke up again, she was in a room somewhere inside the Cave of Heat.

"Ah, um... well, I... ah, I think I had a one-on-one battle with a goblin..."

Holding her head, she sat up, trying to recall what had happened before she lost consciousness. As if in response, a display appeared in Chika’s field of vision.

You lost the duel against the Flame Goblin.

"Ah, ah... I lost the one-on-one duel... well, I guess so. I was completely defeated, wasn’t I... ♡"

She seemed to have fully remembered after being told of her defeat. Chika wore a resigned expression, but her face was flushed, and she appeared excited by her loss.

"Hmm, for now... let’s find out what a one-on-one duel is."

After a moment of excitement, Chika put on a serious expression, opened the menu, and began reading the newly displayed help section to investigate the "one-on-one duel" that had appeared for the first time.

"Hmm... I see..."

Here’s what she learned.

First, the "one-on-one duel" system refers to special events that occur in dungeons, fields, and other areas. This is an event where you fight one-on-one against monsters that are stronger than the ones that normally appear.

During this event, even if other NPC allies or other players are present, they cannot intervene—any attacks they attempt will have no effect.

And perhaps the most important point: if an attack is made before the "one-on-one duel" begins, it will be nullified. Conversely, the player challenging the monster will not be attacked before the duel begins, and will not be attacked even if other monsters are present.

"That’s why the magic disappeared at that time..."

It wasn’t because of the heat in this dungeon or the goblin’s abilities—it was because of the one-on-one duel system.

"That’s... yeah, that’s good. So that means if I wait until it starts, it’ll work properly. In that case... I’ll be able to fight properly next time..."

Now that she understood why her magic had disappeared, Chika nodded with a relieved expression and stood up.

"My clothes are back to normal now. Okay, then let’s start again...!"

The buttons on her blouse—torn off during the earlier attack by the Flame Goblin—had been restored. After confirming that her appearance was fine, Chika changed her mood and left the room.

She headed back to the room with the staircase leading down—the room where she would have her one-on-one battle with the Flame Goblin.

The duel with the Flame Goblin has begun.

"Gugyagya! Gugyagya!"

"Okay... let’s go...!"

The one-on-one battle began again. The Flame Goblin cried out excitedly upon seeing Chika’s face and body. Chika adopted a serious expression and took her stance.

"Water Lance!"

"Gugya, gugya... Gugya!?"

Chika launched a preemptive strike by immediately casting her spell. This time, she fired without hesitation. The spear of water flew straight toward the Flame Goblin, sending it flying from its spot.

"Okay... but not yet...!"

"Gugya...! Gu, gyaaa!"

Chika thought she had finished it off with that single blow, but the Flame Goblin recovered from being knocked back, landed on the ground, swung its staff, and unleashed a ball of fire.

"Stone Wall!"

Instead of dodging the incoming fireball, she blocked it by activating Stone Wall—a spell that creates a wall of earth.

"Gugya!? Gugyagugya..."

"As expected of a monster that appears in a one-on-one battle—stronger than usual. I can’t defeat it in one hit. Yeah, this is troublesome..."

Standing before the earthen wall that completely blocked the width of the room, the Flame Goblin let out a cry that suggested it was struggling to decide how to attack. While listening to the cries from the other side of the wall, Chika realized that her opponent wasn’t just a goblin with a staff. It wouldn’t be so easy to defeat this formidable enemy. She assumed her stance again.

However, the earthen wall she had just created stood in front of her. Simply casting a spell wouldn’t reach the Flame Goblin. The wall would naturally disappear over time, but Chika launched her attack before that could happen.

"Then... I’ll go with this! Thunder Area!"

The spell she chose was Thunder Area. This unleashed lightning within a certain range starting from the user—and it could hit the Flame Goblin regardless of whether there was a wall in front of her.

"Gugya!? Gugya, gugya... Gyagya, gugya!? Gugya, gugya!?"

As soon as the magic was cast, a black circle spread across the ground, centered on Chika. When the circle fully expanded, lightning began to pour down with great force. On the other side of the wall, the Flame Goblin tried to escape the pouring lightning by running out of the black circle—but it was too late. It was struck multiple times, leaving its body paralyzed.

"......and......"

Thunder Area lasted only about ten seconds, so the lightning strikes came to an end. As the black circle disappeared, the effect of Stone Wall also wore off, and the earthen wall began to crumble. Slowly, the view began to open up.

Chika calmly continued to gaze toward the other side. She saw that the Flame Goblin was still standing—battered and bruised—and about to swing its staff with fighting spirit in its eyes.

"Water Cutter!"

"Gu, gyaaaaah!?"

She cast the spell even faster. That single blow seemed to be the decisive factor—the Flame Goblin was sent flying, its body scattering and disappearing.

You won the one-on-one battle against the Flame Goblin.

"...Phew, I did it... I won...!"

As soon as the Flame Goblin disappeared, a victory indicator appeared in Chika’s field of vision, and the iron bars blocking the entrance to the room and the stairs opened. Chika looked relieved and relaxed.

"He was incredibly strong for a goblin... I didn’t expect him to get that strong. A one-on-one fight would be troublesome if a naturally strong or troublesome monster appeared... that would be a disaster... ♡"

Monsters are strengthened through one-on-one duel events. For example, if dangerous monsters like the Lustful Orc appeared, there’s no way a woman like her could win against them.

If that time ever comes... She blushed at the thought.

Then Chika went down the stairs and headed to the next floor.