SSS-Ranked Trash Hero: I Was Scammed Into Being Summoned-Chapter 13: Floor 2 - Learning Pain

The stairs down to Floor 2 weren’t subtle about the upgrade in difficulty.

Hiroshi noticed it immediately. Walls closing in from eight feet to six. Scratch marks carved at eye level. Crude stick-figure drawings showing adventurers in various states of being dead.

Real encouraging stuff

"Narrower down here," Kenji said, adjusting his sword angle. "Watch your spacing."

Aria ran her hand along the wall, "Moisture seepage in the stone."

"We’ll avoid east then," Kenji said.

"Western route adds significant time and..."

A goblin shrieked from above.

Everyone looked up. A sentinel crouched on a ledge, already screaming its alarm into the darkness.

"Contact!" Marcus raised his shield. "Above!"

The chittering started immediately. Multiple sources, echoing through tunnels in three directions at once.

"Multiple alarm responses." Aria’s eyes tracked the shadows moving in the tunnel exits. "Twelve hostiles minimum, possibly more." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Route planning is over." Kenji’s sword came up. "Defensive formation now."

They tightened into a back-to-back cluster. Hiroshi gripped his sword, knuckles white, watching yellow eyes multiply in the darkness.

"How many?" he asked.

"At least fourteen," Aria said flatly. "They’re coordinating."

"The divine tests our resolve!" Marcus boomed.

Hiroshi’s internal monologue was less optimistic.

"Hold formation," Kenji ordered. "They come to us."

The goblins charged from three directions at once.

Kenji took the front. Five goblins rushing straight at him. His [Whirlwind Strike] cleaved through three instantly. The remaining two died in follow-up strikes before Hiroshi could even track the movements.

Marcus held the left with four goblins battering his shield. [Shield Bash] stunned one, his sword finished it. One goblin got through and scratched his arm, but it was minor.

Aria took the right with rapid-fire [Ice Shard] casts.

Two goblins broke through toward Hiroshi.

He raised his sword. Better stance this time, at least.

Goblin One swung a club. Hiroshi sidestepped. [Dodge Lv.1] kicked in from yesterday’s skill copy.

Goblin Two charged while he was off-balance. Hiroshi backed up fast, but the tunnel was tight. Nowhere to go.

Both goblins pressed forward, sensing weakness.

Hiroshi stabbed at the first. Missed completely.

Stabbed again. Caught its shoulder.

The goblin howled and backed off half a step. The second goblin saw blood—Hiroshi’s, from scratches he didn’t remember getting—and got bolder.

Marcus arrived. [Shield Bash] sent the second goblin flying into the wall with a wet crunch.

He finished the wounded one with a quick thrust.

"You’re improving, brother," Marcus said.

"Yeh," Hiroshi gasped.

Encounter over. Fourteen dead goblins.

Marcus healed his scratches. [Minor Heal] washed over him in warm golden light.

They kept moving.

The next ambush came from alcoves. Six goblins hidden in the walls.

Aria detected them first. "[Sense Enemies]. Six hostiles, hidden positions."

"Flush them out," Kenji ordered. "Aria, light it up."

[Frost Nova] exploded outward. Three goblins froze solid and shattered. Three more leaped from their hiding spots, fast enough to escape the freeze.

Kenji killed one. Marcus killed another.

The third came straight at Hiroshi.

Goblin lunged with a spear. Hiroshi’s [Dodge] activated. He sidestepped and the spear missed by inches.

Counter-thrust. Sword through the goblin’s side.

It gasped and fell.

Hiroshi finished it with a second stab.

"It gets easier," he said quietly.

The third encounter introduced Goblin Shamans.

Three regular goblins backed by two shamans casting from the rear. Shaman One launched a [Fire Bolt] at Aria. Shaman Two started spreading [Poison Mist] through the tunnel.

"[Ice Wall]!" Aria’s barrier intercepted the fire bolt. Both spells dissolved on contact.

The poison mist kept spreading. Environmental hazard. They had to clear the shamans fast or retreat through poison.

Kenji charged. Three goblins blocked his path.

Marcus hit them with [Holy Smite]. Two dead instantly. Kenji killed the third and reached the shamans.

[Quick Strike] took down Shaman One.

Shaman Two turned and aimed at Hiroshi.

"[Curse Bolt]!"

Green energy screamed toward him. Hiroshi’s instincts kicked in.

He threw himself sideways. The bolt missed and slammed into the tunnel wall.

The wall cracked. Loudly.

The entire tunnel groaned.

"Structure will collapse!" Aria’s voice went urgent. "Move! Now!"

They sprinted. Behind them, the ceiling section collapsed with a thunderous crash, dust cloud exploding outward.

Hiroshi ran, glancing back at the fallen stone. I just dodged death by seconds.

They emerged into a larger chamber and caught their breath.

Kenji had minor cuts but full energy. Aria’s mana sat at 45%. Marcus at 60%, already healing Hiroshi’s new scratches. Hiroshi was bruised and tired.

"Good work," Kenji said. "Aria, status on routes?"

"Western route remains open. Eastern tunnel partially collapsed."

"We should avoid the eastern section," Hiroshi said quietly.

"Agreed. Western route it is."

"Longer but safe," Aria confirmed. "Estimated forty-five minutes to Floor 3 stairs."

They moved west.

Ten minutes later, they entered a large chamber. Goblin staging area by the look of it. Weapons racks, crude maps scratched into walls.

And standing in the center, commanding eight regular goblins in loose formation, was a Hobgoblin.

Six feet tall and Armored.

"Hobgoblin,"

"I’ll take it," Kenji said immediately. "Others handle adds."

Combat erupted.

The goblins charged first. Kenji pushed through toward the Hobgoblin. Marcus engaged three on the left. Aria hit four with [Frost Wave], freezing them solid.

The Hobgoblin assessed the situation with disturbing intelligence. Its eyes locked on Aria.

It charged her directly, ignoring Kenji entirely.

"No...it’s going for the mage!" Kenji sprinted after it.

Aria launched an [Ice Spear]. The spell hit the Hobgoblin’s shoulder and lodged there. It didn’t even slow down.

The Hobgoblin grabbed Aria by the throat and lifted her off the ground.

She couldn’t cast or breathe. The Hobgoblin raised its mace for a finishing blow.

"ARIA!" Marcus was fighting through goblins but couldn’t reach her in time.

Kenji was sprinting but wouldn’t make it.

Hiroshi watched from behind Marcus, brain calculating on autopilot.

Hobgoblin focused on Aria with it’s back exposed.

He grabbed his torch.

"HEY! UGLY! OVER HERE!"

He threw it straight at the Hobgoblin’s face.

The torch struck its eyes. Bright light hit him suddenly. The Hobgoblin roared and dropped Aria reflexively.

Then it turned toward Hiroshi.

Level nine versus level three. With massive size advantage.

"Oh," Hiroshi said. "Oh no."

The Hobgoblin charged.

Hiroshi ran in pure panic. He scrambled through the tunnel entrance, boots slipping on stone. The Hobgoblin was faster, gaining with every stride.

Hiroshi tripped and went down hard.

The Hobgoblin loomed above him, club raised for a killing blow.

Hiroshi rolled sideways on instinct. The club slammed into stone where his head had been, cracking the floor. The impact shockwave rattled through his bones.

He scrambled up and stabbed blindly. His sword caught the Hobgoblin’s ankle.

The creature roared.

It kicked with a full force. Straight to Hiroshi’s chest.

He flew ten feet and hit the stone wall with a sickening crunch. His HP plummeted, 80 to 38 in one hit. The armor tore wider at the side hole. His back struck damaged armor and a deep gash opened across his spine.

Blood soaked through immediately.

"Ow," Hiroshi gasped from the ground. "Ow ow ow..."

Kenji arrived. [Quick Strike] into the Hobgoblin’s spine. [Power Thrust] for the follow-up.

Marcus hit it with [Holy Smite].

The Hobgoblin collapsed.

The remaining three goblins saw their boss fall and panicked. They scattered toward exits.

Aria, throat bruised, voice raspy: "[Ice Shard]."

One goblin died. The others fled into darkness.

Marcus rushed to Hiroshi. "[Minor Heal]!"

Golden light washed over him. HP crawled from 38 to 45. The back wound partially closed but the damage was deep.

"You saved Aria," Kenji said, kneeling beside him. "You could have died."

"Already almost did. Figured might as well be useful about it."

Aria approached, one hand on her bruised throat. "You saved my life."

"You would have done the same."

She didn’t reply.

Hiroshi laughed weakly. "No time for that."

They found a small alcove for rest. Marcus healed Hiroshi’s wound twice more. [Minor Heal] stacking until the worst of it closed. But scar tissue was already forming.

"The wound is deep, brother," Marcus said. "Scar tissue will form."

"Permanent?"

"Likely. I’m sorry."

"First scar," Hiroshi said.

He examined the damaged armor. Now with his own blood near it. His back wound from the wall impact.

Aria studied him. "During the Hobgoblin engagement, you made the distraction throw."

"Yeah."

"Most people prioritize self-preservation when injured."

"Pain made it easier."

"Explain."

Hiroshi considered lying, then decided against it. "My anxiety, the overthinking, it takes up much of my mental space. When I’m hurt badly enough, there’s no room for it. Pain fills everything. What’s left is... clarity."

Aria’s expression didn’t change but her eyes sharpened. "That’s a double-edged sword."

"Understatement of the century."

"It explains your combat pattern. You perform better when injured."

"So my optimal combat state is ’nearly dead.’ Wonderful."

"It’s a survival mechanism," Aria said carefully. "But if you rely on it..."

"I know. Actively seeking pain to function isn’t healthy."

"No."

Silence stretched between them.

"But it keeps me alive," Hiroshi said finally.

"For now," Aria said quietly.

They pressed on through Floor 2’s final encounters. Two small groups of three goblins each. The party handled them efficiently. Hiroshi killed two more.

At the stairs to Floor 3, a system notification appeared.

[FLOOR 2 COMPLETE]

Another notification followed.

[Level Up! Level 3 → Level 4]

[HP: 100 → 110]

[STR: 6, AGI: 8, VIT: 7, INT: 12, WIS: 10, CHA:7]

"Level four," Hiroshi said with a small laugh. "Progress."

"Congratulations," Aria said.

Hiroshi smiled. Small but genuine.

"Level four, Hiroshi!" Kenji clapped his shoulder. "Not bad!"

"The divine rewards your perseverance!"

They stood at the top of the stairs leading to Floor 3. Darkness yawned below.

"Boss floor," Kenji said. "Goblin Chief."