From the moment we entered the gate, I had this feeling that someone was watching us, but I couldn't pinpoint the location as the gaze didn't contain any bloodlust.

However, when we turned to move back, and the first goblin ambushed us, I felt a sudden surge of bloodlust from the path of return. Each time the goblins ambushed us, the bloodlust grew stronger. When the last group of goblins attacked, that was when I pinpointed the source of this intense bloodlust. It wasn't coming from a single creature but from a pack of countless monsters.

The moment the goblins on the ceiling were revealed, the whole group trembled and instinctively stepped back.

Even Payal and Ashish, who were considered professionals in dungeon exploration, couldn't help but swallow hard upon witnessing the sheer number of monsters.

"Wh-why are there so many goblins here?" Shreya murmured, drenched in sweat.

"Instructor Payal, didn't you say it's an E-Rank dungeon?" Nisha demanded, equally afraid.

"D-don't worry! I will take you all back safely," Payal said, quickly pulling herself together. "Unlike regular gate monsters, these goblins aren't attacking us mindlessly. There must be some kind of trigger that is making them attack us."

"They're making their move when we try to return," I revealed, joining the discussion.

"They didn't attack us while we were moving forward. They're here to stop us from reaching the portal."

Taking a brief pause to process my observation, Payal said, "What Mr. Raj said is correct. It's possible that the goblins won't attack us as long as we keep moving forward. But by doing so, we'll only be heading deeper into danger."

Turning toward Ashish, Payal asked, "Can you handle these monsters by yourself?"

"Even though I'm at CCC-Rank, the number of these monsters is too much for me to handle alone," Ashish replied.

Payal was about to say something when a firm, confident voice suddenly echoed.

"I will help in killing these goblins!" Dhruva announced.

"W-we will also help!" Dhruva's four lackeys said in unison, their faces pale with fear, but still going along with him.

"In normal circumstances, I wouldn't have agreed, but since this is an emergency, I'll allow you to participate in this subjugation," Payal said.

"Instructor Ashish, it's your responsibility to ensure that these students don't get injured while fighting."

After receiving Ashish's nod of approval, Payal turned toward us and ordered, "All of you must stay close to me. I'll take care of any goblin that comes your way."

I held the torch from the rear to allow Ashish and Dhruva's group better visibility of the monsters' attacks.

The moment Ashish took a step forward, dozens of goblins instantly hurtled down from the ceiling.

Like a seasoned warrior, Ashish swung his spear, slicing through seven goblins with barely any effort. The remaining ones were taken care of by Dhruva and his group.

As we moved ahead, the horde of goblins increased exponentially.

After just a hundred steps, over half of the goblins from the ceiling attacked us. Payal handled any goblin approaching our group while Ashish and Dhruva's team fought relentlessly at the front.

"Huff… It's getting tiring and annoying!" Dhruva muttered, his movements already showing signs of exhaustion.

His fatigue caused him to lose focus, allowing a group of goblins to ambush him from behind with sharp weapons.

"Hey! Watch out!" Ashish shouted, pushing Dhruva aside.

The attack meant to pierce Dhruva's back instead sliced into Ashish's waist, leaving a deep gash.

Clenching his teeth, Ashish thrust his spear forward, bursting open the heads of the goblins that had attacked.

"Instructor Ashish!" Payal shouted, rushing toward him.

Thankfully, it was the last group of goblins from the current horde.

Ashish collapsed to the ground, leaning against the tunnel wall as everyone quickly surrounded him.

Blood gushed from his side, staining his orange armour crimson. Payal swiftly pulled out a glass tube filled with a dense blue liquid from her pouch. As she opened its cap, a strong medicinal aroma wafted out.

"Grit your teeth," she said, pouring the liquid onto Ashish's wound.

The scent of burning flesh filled the air as smoke rose from the injury when the liquid made contact.

"Aaaaghhhhhh!!!" Ashish screamed, his eyes tightly shut from the pain.

Moments later, the bleeding stopped, leaving behind a scar where the deep wound had been.

"What was that strange potion?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"You don't know about healing potions?" Nisha gasped lightly. Seeing the genuine confusion on my face, she explained, "These healing potions are made by extracting liquid mana from mana stones and mixing it with herbs found inside the dungeon. They can quickly heal injuries, but the process is extremely painful and consumes a lot of stamina and mental strength."

While she was explaining, Dhruva stepped forward, his expression dark.

"Forgive me, Instructor Ashish. You got injured protecting me when I wasn't paying attention."

Ashish let out a chuckle. "It's my responsibility to protect you all. Besides, this incident will serve as a good lesson. Never let your guard down in a dungeon."

"I'll keep that in mind, sir!" Dhruva said, bowing deeply.

"So, he isn't a complete idiot," I chuckled inwardly.

"We'll rest for five minutes before moving again," Payal announced, sitting beside Ashish.

The rest of the group settled down along the tunnel walls.

"How much mana do you have left?" Payal asked Ashish in a low voice, meant only for him—but thanks to my heightened senses, I could hear it clearly.

"Around 60%," Ashish replied. "Although these goblins are E-Rank, the weapons they're wielding are strangely sharp. They even pierced through my C-Rank armour."

"Why is such a strange phenomenon happening in an E-Ranked gate?" Payal muttered. "We haven't even killed half of them yet. At this rate, we won't be able to reach the portal."

I, who had been leaning against the wall at the rear of the group, slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of Ashish and Payal.

"I can take all of you out safely through the portal," I said.

"That is, if you give me permission to do so."

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