I climbed again, branches scraping my arms, until I reached the tallest tree I could find. From up here the forest stretched endless and dark, the river below a thin silver line. I needed the goblin hideout. I needed to end this floor and leave this cursed place.
Days blurred as I searched. My senses kept sharpening—every breeze across my face, every insect wingbeat. Even with my eyes closed I felt the world around me, a graceful wind touching my skin.
From the remains of the venom-king bee I built a weapon: a long branch for a shaft, vines for cord, and the monster's massive sting lashed at the end. A spear, light and deadly for a long-distance strike. When I spun it once the poison seemed to hum.
I followed the river upstream. After what felt like forever I reached the waterfall where I had nearly died. The sight twisted my gut, but I gritted my teeth and began the climb. Wet stone cut my hands; I nearly fell again and again. I tasted blood from clenching my teeth, but I kept pushing until I hauled myself over the rim.
From the peak I followed the current into deeper woods. Hours later a prickle of awareness stopped me—someone was near. I crouched low. There, moving fast through the trees, was a goblin. I shadowed it silently, heart steady. This could lead me to their nest.
At last I saw it: a fortress, massive and ugly. Torches flickered along high walls of rough timber. Human skulls hung like trophies. Two guards stood watch at the gate, eyes glowing faintly red.
I waited until nightfall. When the moon slid behind clouds, I scaled a tall tree, leapt to the wall, and dropped inside.
One by one I slipped through the tents, my spear striking in quick, silent arcs. Goblin after goblin fell. The system count rose:
Kills: 49
But the real threat remained—the chief and two strange goblins in hooded robes, each carrying a staff.
I retreated, set fire to the outer tents for distraction, and smoke billowed into the dark. The system chimed:
Level up.
Level 4 → Level 5.
Reward: +6 stat points.
I poured all six into Agility. My body felt lighter, quicker—like the wind itself.
Status Window
Name: Fan Ling
Level: 5
Strength: 22
Agility: 17+6=23
Intelligence: 12
Chi: 29
Comprehension: cooldown 19 days
Confidence surged. I gripped the spear tighter and moved.
The goblin chief barked orders I couldn't understand, sending the hooded ones to fight the fire. Perfect. I burst from the shadows and thrust. The poisoned tip grazed his face—just a scratch, but enough. He roared, drew a heavy sword, and swung wildly. Already the venom crawled under his green skin, violet blotches spreading as foam bubbled from his mouth. I twisted aside, snatched his sword, and sent it into my inventory.
Searching his remains, I found a strange crystal pulsing faint blue. "A magic stone?" I muttered. "Like an RPG drop."
The hooded goblins rushed back. I channeled chi into my legs and blurred forward, decapitating the first before it could react. Then a heavy pressure filled the air. The second goblin chanted in its guttural tongue, a spark igniting on its staff.
"Fireball!"
Flames exploded toward me. I dove aside but heat scorched my cheek. The creature raised a shimmering barrier.
Snarling, I drew the broken sword from my pack and closed in, waiting for an opening. There—a gap. My blade sliced deep, severing its arm. The goblin screamed, sweat pouring, and I drove the sword into its chest.
Its body fragmented into glowing motes before vanishing. In its place a red-bound book fell, the title blazing:
Fireball
A white light rose from it. Blood dripping from my face, I touched the cover. The system spoke:
Do you wish to learn this spell, Fan Ling?
"Yes," I breathed.
Heat flooded my mind, the knowledge of flame twisting through my thoughts like a second heartbeat. I could feel how to shape the fireball now, without training or years of study.
I stared at my hands, trembling. "If the system grants instant knowledge… what is the purpose of comprehension?"
No answer came—only the crackle of burning tents.
I sank to the dirt, chest heaving. The fortress blazed behind me, smoke mixing with the blood on my skin. When I finally stood, I slipped into the forest once more, the night alive with sparks and shadows.