I was excited about the mana that I got from that fight. More effort means more mana after all. Though the loot also gave me a lot of mana. It was just unfortunate that after the near lose they would be ending the delve early. At least I thought they would. After resting for a really long time though, as well as Lily making sure everyone was healed up. They didn't immediately head for the exit like I expected. In fact, Chandra was one of the ones trying to convince the others to continue the delve. Not that it looked like it took much convincing after confirming that everyone was able to continue.

  Cole POV

  I have no idea what's gotten into those girls. I'm mean Chandra has always been reckless despite her bubbly personality. In fact, her bubbly personality seems at times to completely contradict her mindset. The problem is that Lily has also started acting more recklessly. While I'm not blaming Chandra, I'd be a fool to think that she had no influence. Clyde on the other hand has always been a bit of a risk taker, that's what lead to us finding this dungeon in the first place, but I wouldn't exactly call him reckless. Brainless perhaps, he certainly isn't the best at thinking things through, but not reckless. Darrel on the other hand has always been more of a follower. Always willing to go wherever the rest of us were going. Even as a kid. A little too agreeable if you ask me, but his water magic has saved our butts more than once so I can't complain too much.

  I swear sometimes it feels like I'm the only one thinking about safety. I've got to get stronger so I can keep them all safe. Lily especially, Luna would never speak to me again if anything happened to her sister. The last think I need is a fireball in the back. Not that I even need the extra motivation to protect my friends. I wouldn't mind a little sparing match with her though. I'm soon pulled out of that fantasy though as we prepare to enter the next room. This room is known to have some pretty tricky goblins so I can't afford to be distracted.

  The first thing I do when we enter the room is sprint forward while activating taunt. I immediately notice two of them ugly bastards turn towards me. As I turn to face them head on, I can only trust that the rest of them are being dealt with by Clyde and the others. They're extremely weak but their speed and agility more than makes up for that. They wouldn't survive one hit. If only I could hit the damned things. I'm not sure how long I was fighting against those two goblins, but eventually Clyde and Chandra show up to take them out from behind.

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  I did manage to maintain a vague sense of where everyone is in case we needed to retreat. Plus, I wouldn't want to accidentally slash one of them. Aside from that though I find it far more helpful to stay focused on the enemy right in front of me. Turning around it doesn't take but a second to realize the fight is over.

  Perhaps I should put a few points into speed. It doesn't do any good to be super strong if you can't land a hit. Then again maybe it would be better to get a speed-based skill instead. I've got another six levels to go before I get to actually choose a skill though. No, I think getting naturally faster is the best plan. At least fast enough that I don't feel like a statue on the battlefield. Taunt forces them to come to me so I don't need to get a lot faster. Hopefully I will earn another level up in the next room.

  Fortunately, Clyde is smart enough to let the cooldown on taunt expire before entering the next room. Once again, I activate taunt as soon as we enter the room. This time however instead of two I attract the attention of three goblins. Not a problem for me but it does make me wonder how many we're fighting. The last time taunt attracted the attention of more than two we were fighting a huge group of them.

  This time looks to be no different as I'm vaguely aware that the others are each fighting their own goblin. Focusing back on the three in front of me I do my best to have my sword slice where they're going to be instead of where they are. I'm too slow to hit them aiming at where they are so I figure maybe if I try to predict where they're going to be I can actually land a hit. I wish I had paid more attention at the academy. Back then I was convinced that speed was only for running away. So obsessed was I in being the toughest I would zone out whenever they talked about strategy or battlefield awareness. I'm ashamed to say it took me this long to realize just attacking and defending isn't enough.

  I actually come close to landing a hit a few times now that I've started to be more strategic about where and how I swing my sword. To think I was just criticizing Clyde for never thinking things through. Just then it occurs to me that this is what they meant when they said experience trumps raw strength. I thought they were just talking about levels, but I see now, it was more than that. I did always find it odd they felt the need to point out higher levels beat lower levels as if it wasn't already common knowledge. All the levels in the world are going to be of little use if I continue to fight like I did at level 1.

  As if it had been waiting for that exact realization, I feel the level up wash over me even as I defend against two more thrusting attacks. I turn to counter the third attack when I notice that goblin has a new neck piercing. The other two are soon dealt with as well. As soon as I confirm that there are no more enemies, I waste no time in completing my level up just this once I pump most of my points into speed. Not something a tank should do normally, but I've been ignoring speed completely for far too long.