Chapter 5: The Nest of Fangs
The forest outside Varnholt was a tangle of gnarled trees and thorny undergrowth, the air heavy with the scent of moss and decay. Ryo Aelren moved cautiously, his rusted sword drawn, the goblin nest mission scroll tucked into his belt. The System's Status Screen lingered in his mind: Level 0, 20/100 experience, Survival Instinct, Basic Strike, Danger Sense. He was still weak, but the spark of potential drove him forward. Goblins were low-rank, but they were his chance to grow.
The mission was simple: clear a small goblin nest plaguing a nearby trade route. Five coppers for the job, plus any loot he could scavenge. For Ryo, it was more than coin—it was a test. The dungeon had awakened the System, but he needed to understand its rules, to push its limits. A solo mission, even a low-rank one, was the perfect start.
The trail led to a rocky hillside, where a jagged cave mouth yawned. Scattered bones and crude wooden spikes marked the entrance, confirming the goblins' presence. Ryo crouched, his Danger Sense prickling faintly. No immediate threats, but the cave reeked of danger. He tightened his grip on the sword, its dull edge a grim reminder of his limits.
"System," he whispered, focusing. "Show Status."
The glowing words appeared:
*Name: Ryo Aelren
Level: 0
Class: None
Stats:
Strength: 3
Agility: 5 (+15% in combat, Survival Instinct)
Endurance: 4
Mana: 0
Skills:
Survival Instinct (Passive): Boosts agility by 10-15% when threatened.
Basic Strike (Active): Increases single-target attack damage by 5%.
Danger Sense (Passive): Heightens awareness of imminent threats.
Experience: 20/100*
No new skills, no stat increases. Ryo frowned. The System rewarded action—fighting, surviving. He'd have to earn its gifts in the nest.
He slipped into the cave, the darkness swallowing the daylight. The tunnel was narrow, its walls slick with moisture. Faint scratches marked the stone—goblin tracks. Ryo's Danger Sense sharpened, guiding his steps around a crude tripwire rigged to a pile of rocks. Goblins were weak but cunning, and he was alone.
The tunnel opened into a dimly lit chamber, where a small fire crackled. Three goblins hunched around it, their green skin glistening in the flickering light. They were scrawny, barely reaching Ryo's waist, with pointed ears and jagged teeth. One clutched a rusty dagger, another a wooden club, and the third gnawed on a bone, oblivious to Ryo's presence.
Ryo's heart pounded, but Survival Instinct steadied his nerves. He crouched behind a stalagmite, assessing. Three against one, and his sword was barely better than their weapons. A frontal attack was suicide. He needed a plan.
His eyes caught a loose boulder above the goblins, precariously balanced. An idea formed. He sheathed his sword, picked up a small rock, and tossed it at the boulder. It struck with a dull thud, and the boulder shifted, tumbling down with a crash. The goblins shrieked, scattering as dust filled the chamber.
Danger Sense flared. Ryo drew his sword and lunged, targeting the dagger-wielding goblin. Basic Strike guided his swing, the blade slicing into the goblin's shoulder. It howled, dropping its weapon. Ryo struck again, aiming for the neck. The goblin collapsed, blood pooling on the stone.
Experience gained. Level 0: 25/100.
The System's chime was cold, but it fueled Ryo's focus. The second goblin, the one with the club, charged, its eyes wild. Ryo dodged, Survival Instinct boosting his agility. The club grazed his bandaged arm, sending a jolt of pain through him, but he countered with a Basic Strike to the goblin's chest. It staggered, and a second swing finished it.
Experience gained. Level 0: 30/100.
The third goblin fled, squealing, deeper into the cave. Ryo hesitated. Chasing it risked running into more, but letting it go could mean an ambush later. He gritted his teeth and followed, his Danger Sense on high alert.
The tunnel twisted, leading to a larger chamber. The fleeing goblin stood among a dozen others, their eyes glinting in the glow of crude torches. At the chamber's center sat a larger goblin, its body adorned with bone necklaces and a chipped iron sword. A goblin chieftain—Rank E, but far stronger than the rest.
Ryo's stomach sank. He'd expected a small nest, not a warband. Danger Sense screamed, and he ducked as a goblin archer fired a crude arrow. It grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. The chieftain roared, rallying the others, and the pack advanced.
Survival Instinct activated. Agility boosted by 15%.
Ryo's body moved faster, his senses sharper. He dove behind a rock as more arrows flew, his mind racing. The chieftain was the key—kill it, and the others might scatter. But reaching it meant cutting through the horde.
He focused on Basic Strike, targeting the nearest goblin. His sword cleaved through its arm, dropping it. Another lunged, and Ryo sidestepped, striking its back. Each kill brought a chime:
Experience gained. Level 0: 35/100.
Experience gained. Level 0: 40/100.
The goblins were weak individually, but their numbers overwhelmed. A club struck Ryo's thigh, and he stumbled, pain flaring. The chieftain charged, its iron sword swinging. Ryo rolled, the blade missing by inches, and scrambled to his feet.
He needed an edge. His eyes darted to the torches on the walls, their flames flickering. Fire. Goblins feared it. He grabbed a torch, thrusting it at the nearest goblin. It screeched, retreating, and the others hesitated. Ryo hurled the torch at the chieftain, who batted it aside but paused, wary.
That pause was enough. Ryo lunged, Basic Strike powering his swing. The rusted sword struck the chieftain's arm, drawing blood. The goblin roared, slashing back. Ryo's Danger Sense warned him, and he ducked, the blade grazing his shoulder. Pain seared, but he struck again, aiming for the chieftain's leg. The blade bit deep, and the goblin staggered.
The System chimed.
New Skill Unlocked: Weak Point Strike. Increases damage to vital areas by 10%.
Ryo's eyes locked onto the chieftain's neck. He swung, Weak Point Strike guiding the blade. The rusted sword, dull as it was, sliced through flesh. The chieftain collapsed, its sword clattering to the ground.
Experience gained. Level 0: 60/100.
The remaining goblins froze, then fled, their squeals echoing. Ryo stood, panting, blood dripping from his wounds. The chamber was silent save for the crackle of the remaining torches. He'd done it. Alone.
He scavenged the chieftain's iron sword—chipped but far better than his own—and a small pouch of copper coins from the nest. As he limped back to Varnholt, the System's words glowed in his mind: Level 0: 60/100. He was close to something—Level 1, a new skill, a class. The System was his path, and he would walk it, no matter the cost.
The Rift glowed faintly in the dusk sky, a silent challenge. Ryo Aelren gripped his new sword, his scars aching but his resolve unbroken. The goblins were just the beginning.
To be continued…