The goblin lunged.
Its yellow eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and its crude dagger flashed under the dim light of the dungeon. The blade was jagged, rusted, and stained with what Reikazu could only assume was the dried blood of its previous victims. The creature's movements were erratic, almost feral, but there was a calculated malice in its gaze that sent a chill down his spine.
Reikazu's instincts screamed at him to move.
But his body hesitated.
Shit!
The goblin's dagger slashed toward his chest—
At the last moment, Reikazu twisted his body, the blade grazing his side instead of piercing his flesh. Pain flared, sharp and hot, but it wasn't deep. He stumbled backward, breathing hard, his heart pounding so loudly he could hear it in his ears. His hand instinctively went to his side, and when he pulled it away, his fingers were smeared with blood.
The goblin cackled, its jagged teeth glinting in the dim light. It could tell, he was weak. Inexperienced. A prey animal caught in its territory.
And that pissed him off.
Reikazu wasn't a fighter. He had never fought for his life before. Back in the real world, his days had been spent in relative safety, far removed from the kind of danger that required him to throw a punch, let alone kill. But this wasn't the real world anymore. This was a dungeon, a place where survival wasn't guaranteed. If he wanted to live, he had to learn fast.
The goblin didn't give him time to think.
It lunged again, its movements quick and unpredictable. Reikazu gritted his teeth and dodged, the blade missing him by an inch. His body felt lighter than before, more responsive. His Agility had increased, just as the system had promised. But that wasn't enough. Dodging wouldn't win this fight. He had to attack.
His eyes flicked to the goblin's stance, it was reckless, untrained. It only knew how to swing wildly, trying to cut him down. There was no finesse, no strategy. Just brute force and bloodlust.
An opening.
As the goblin swung again, Reikazu planted his foot firmly and lunged forward. His fist clenched, and he punched with everything he had. His knuckles slammed into the goblin's face.
CRACK!
The sound of bone breaking echoed through the dungeon. The goblin stumbled back, shrieking in pain, its nose shattered. Reikazu's breath came fast, his chest heaving. It worked! He had actually hurt it. But he couldn't stop now. He had to finish this.
His body moved on instinct.
He kicked the goblin's wrist, knocking the dagger from its grasp. The creature howled, its eyes filled with panic as it realized it was now unarmed. Reikazu didn't hesitate. He grabbed the goblin's throat and squeezed. The creature thrashed, clawing at his arm, but his grip tightened. His Strength had increased from his training, he could feel it. The goblin's struggles weakened, its movements growing sluggish.
And then—
With one final twist, the sickening snap of bones echoed through the dungeon.
The goblin went limp.
Silence.
Reikazu released the goblin's corpse. It hit the ground with a dull thud, lifeless. He stared at his trembling hands, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. His first kill. A strange feeling settled in his chest. Not guilt. Not fear. Something else.
The realization that he could fight. That he could win.
And it felt good.
Then—
Ding!
[ Mission Completed. ]
[ You have defeated an E-Rank monster. ]
[ Reward: 100 XP, Skill Unlock. ]
Reikazu exhaled sharply, his body still buzzing with adrenaline. He wiped the blood from his hands onto his pants, his mind racing. The system had rewarded him for killing the goblin. It was almost surreal, like he was playing some kind of twisted video game. But this was real. The pain in his side, the blood on his hands, the lifeless body at his feet, it was all real.
A new window appeared.
---
[ Lesser Combat Instinct (Passive) ]
[ Description: Increases reaction speed and adaptability in combat by a small amount. Your body reacts slightly faster to danger. ]
---
Reikazu's eyes widened. A skill? He felt it almost immediately, his senses were sharper, more attuned to his surroundings. The goblin's attacks had been easier to predict near the end of the fight. This system wasn't just making him stronger, it was shaping him into a fighter.
And this was just the beginning.
He took a deep breath and looked around. The dungeon was quiet, the only sound the faint drip of water echoing from somewhere in the distance. The walls were rough and uneven, carved from stone that seemed to absorb the dim light. The air was damp and cold, carrying the faint scent of mildew and decay. No more goblins in sight for now.
But he couldn't let his guard down. The system had thrown him into this dungeon for a reason, and he doubted it was going to let him off easy. He needed to move before more enemies showed up.
Just as he turned—
Ding!
[ New Mission Available. ]
[ Mission: Survive for 30 Minutes in the Dungeon. ]
[ Reward: +2 Endurance ]
Reikazu exhaled sharply. Survive? That meant the system expected more enemies to show up. He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. Fine. If this was a test, he'd pass. He had to. He wasn't going to die here. Not before he saw how strong he could become.
The hunt had begun.
---
Reikazu moved cautiously through the dungeon, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. The corridors were narrow and winding, branching off in multiple directions. He had no map, no sense of where he was going. All he could do was keep moving and hope he didn't run into anything he couldn't handle.
His mind raced as he walked. The system had given him a mission to survive for 30 minutes. That meant he had to stay alive, but it also meant he had to be prepared for whatever the dungeon threw at him. He needed a plan.
First, he needed to find a weapon. The goblin's dagger was still lying on the ground where he'd kicked it, but he hesitated. It was crude and rusted, and the thought of using it made his stomach churn. But it was better than nothing. He picked it up, wiping the blade on his pants. The weight felt foreign in his hand, but he gripped it tightly, trying to steady his nerves.
Next, he needed to find a safer place to wait out the 30 minutes. The open corridor left him too exposed. He needed somewhere he could defend if more goblins or worse showed up.
As he walked, he noticed a small alcove in the wall, just wide enough for him to squeeze into. It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do. He crouched down, pressing his back against the cold stone, and waited.
The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. His heart pounded in his chest, and every sound made him jump. The drip of water, the rustle of something moving in the shadows, it was all amplified in the silence of the dungeon.
Then he heard it.
Footsteps.
Soft at first, but growing louder. Reikazu's grip tightened on the dagger as he peered out from the alcove. His breath caught in his throat as he saw them, three goblins, their yellow eyes gleaming in the darkness. They were armed, their crude weapons glinting as they moved.
Reikazu's mind raced. He couldn't take on three goblins at once. Not yet. He needed to think. He needed a strategy.
The goblins were moving closer, their heads swiveling as they searched for him. Reikazu's heart pounded as he realized they were following the trail of blood he'd left behind. He cursed under his breath. He had to act fast.
He waited until the goblins were almost on top of him before he made his move. With a burst of speed, he lunged out of the alcove, slashing at the nearest goblin with the dagger. The blade caught the creature in the throat, and it let out a gurgling cry before collapsing.
The other two goblins reacted instantly, their weapons raised. Reikazu ducked under a wild swing, his body moving on instinct. His new skill, Lesser Combat Instinct, was kicking in. He could feel it, his reactions were faster, his movements more precise.
He kicked out, his foot connecting with one goblin's knee. The creature stumbled, and Reikazu drove the dagger into its chest. It let out a strangled cry before falling to the ground.
The last goblin hesitated, its eyes wide with fear. Reikazu didn't give it a chance to recover. He charged forward, tackling the creature to the ground. They struggled, the goblin's claws raking at his arms, but Reikazu's grip was firm. He raised the dagger and brought it down, again and again, until the goblin stopped moving.
Breathing heavily, Reikazu stood, his body trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline. Three goblins. He had taken down three goblins. It was a small victory, but it gave him hope. He was getting stronger. He was learning.
Ding!
[ Mission Completed. ]
[ You have defeated three E-Rank monsters. ]
[ Reward: 300 XP, +2 Endurance ]
Reikazu exhaled sharply, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He was surviving. He was winning. And with each victory, he was one step closer to becoming the fighter he needed to be.
The dungeon was far from done with him, but Reikazu was ready. He had faced death and come out on top. And he would do it again.
The hunt had only just begun.