The cave quaked with footsteps.
Dozens of goblin males poured through the jagged mouth of the cavern, their yellow eyes glowing with savage hunger. Their voices rasped and barked in their guttural tongue, laughter twisted into snarls. The stench of unwashed bodies and rotting meat hit us like a wave.
Selene's knees trembled. Her back pressed against the stone wall. Through our link, I felt every flicker of her terror—her shallow breaths, her sweat dripping cold down her spine, her shame that she couldn't stop shaking.
And because of Shared Senses, I felt it all as if it were mine.
God, it was like playing Dark Souls on VR Hardcore Mode with your controller set on fire.
---
"No… no, no…" Selene whispered, clutching her torn tunic. "There are too many. I can't…"
"Yes, you can," I shot back. "We can. Look, think of this as the tutorial dungeon."
"This is not a dungeon!" she snapped.
"Correction: this is the dungeon. And those ugly bastards? Tutorial mobs."
Her golden eyes darted toward the horde. "Tutorial mobs don't tear you apart!"
"Ever played Dark Souls?" I asked.
"…What's a Dark Souls?"
"Never mind."
---
The lead goblin barked, raising his club. Spittle dripped from his jagged teeth. He lunged forward, weapon swinging.
"Move!" I shouted.
Selene froze. I seized partial control, yanking her body sideways. Her bare foot skidded on damp stone, nearly toppling her. The club slammed into the wall where her head had been.
Pebbles rained down. Selene gasped. "That almost—!"
"Less gasping, more smashing!"
I forced her right arm forward. She punched. It wasn't elegant—it was like controlling a laggy MMO character—but the fist connected with the goblin's face. Bone cracked. Blood spurted.
The goblin shrieked and collapsed, clutching his nose.
Selene stared at her fist in disbelief. "I… I hit him?"
"Yes. Congratulations, you just unlocked basic combat mechanics."
---
Awkward Shared Senses
Before she could celebrate, another goblin rushed from the side.
"Duck!" I yelled.
Selene dropped—but I overcompensated, dragging her too low. She tripped and sprawled forward, landing hard on her chest.
We both groaned in pain.
And then it hit me. The press of stone against her breasts. The way her skirt flipped up as her legs kicked. The heat in her face.
"Goddammit, not the time—"
Her mind shrieked at me. "STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!"
"I'M NOT THINKING, I'M FEELING! BIG DIFFERENCE!"
Her blush burned through the link, so hot it almost fried my brain.
---
Another goblin swung his rusty blade down at her. Instinct screamed. I yanked her arm up. Her hand grabbed a loose rock.
She swung.
The rock smashed into the goblin's temple with a sickening crunch. His skull split. He dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
Blood spattered across her face—our face. Warm. Metallic.
Selene gagged. "Oh gods, oh gods—"
"Don't stop," I snapped. "You stop, we die. Keep moving!"
She trembled. Her eyes were wild. But her grip on the bloodied rock tightened.
The goblins howled in fury and swarmed.
---
The system pulsed.
> [ Biomass Acquired: 15 ]
[ Essence Points: +2 ]
[ Assimilation Available → Select Skill ]
"Oh hell yes," I muttered. "Loot drop."
A menu unfolded before me:
Assimilation Options:
• [Savage Swing] – Crude overhead club attack.
• [Thick Skin] – Minor damage resistance.
• [Howl of Intimidation] – Terrify weaker foes (low chance).
"Well, that's trash-tier loot," I muttered.
Selene's voice wavered. "What are you talking about?!"
"Don't worry about it. Just… uh, think of me as your skill tree."
I selected Thick Skin. A pulse of heat spread through her body. Her flesh tingled, hardening slightly.
> [ Trait Acquired: Thick Skin Lv.1 ]
Selene blinked. "I… feel tougher."
"You are. Congratulations, patch 1.0 applied."
---
The next goblin leapt at us, snarling. Selene ducked—this time on her own. My reflex nudged her to the side, our movements blending. She thrust the rock up as he fell.
It drove into his jaw. Bone shattered. He dropped instantly.
Selene's eyes widened. "I… I did it."
"Damn right you did."
Something shifted in her then. Not much, but enough. Fear was still there, but it wasn't crushing her anymore. She wasn't just prey.
The horde hesitated. Two of their kin lay broken on the ground. Blood pooled at Selene's feet. Her golden eyes burned with something new.
Resolve.
---
The goblins roared and attacked again.
Three rushed together. One swung a blade. Another hurled a rock. The third lunged barehanded.
Selene dodged left, just enough for the blade to graze her shoulder. Pain flared—but my biomass sealed the cut before blood could flow.
She spun, slammed her rock into the first goblin's skull, then kicked the second square in the groin. He crumpled, squealing.
The third leapt on her, clawing. She shrieked, struggling. His filthy hands tore at her tunic.
Heat exploded in my brain. Shared Senses transmitted every vile touch.
"Get. Off. HER!" I roared, and shoved biomass into her muscles.
Her fist cracked into his jaw with a sound like snapping wood. His head snapped sideways. He fell limp, neck broken.
Selene panted, chest heaving. She looked at her bloody hands. "This… this is me?"
"No," I said. "This is us."
---
Her tunic slipped further from the struggle, torn wide. Cold air brushed against her bare skin. And of course, thanks to Shared Senses, I felt it too.
"Oh goddammit," I muttered.
Her cheeks blazed. "D-don't feel it!"
"I can't exactly toggle the setting off, lady!"
"Then stop reacting!"
"Tell your body that!"
Her lips trembled between fury and embarrassment. For a second, even with blood dripping down her face, she looked almost… cute.
…Focus, Toru. Focus.
---
The goblins snarled, but hesitation grew. Five of their kin lay dead. The rest circled warily, growling and spitting.
Selene wiped blood from her cheek. Her breath slowed. Her grip on the rock tightened.
Through our link, I felt it: she was starting to trust me.
"…We can win," she whispered.
"Damn right we can."
---
Then the horde parted.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern. The goblins snarled in unison, bowing their heads.
A massive figure stepped forward. Taller than the rest. Muscles bulging. Armor made from scavenged bones and metal scraps. In his hands, a crude iron axe glimmered with rust and dried gore.
His eyes locked on Selene. Rage. Hatred. Ownership.
The system pinged.
> [ Mini-Boss Detected: Goblin Captain ]
Level: 8
HP: 350
Skills: Savage Swing, Brutal Roar, Pack Command
Selene's blood froze. "No… not him…"
Her thoughts tumbled into mine—memories. His fists, his laughter, his cruelty. The one who had beaten her. The one who had marked her as worthless.
Her body trembled again. But this time, it wasn't fear. It was rage.
I smirked inside her mind.
"Well," I muttered. "Looks like the real boss fight just unlocked."