[ Skill unlocked! ]
[ Vicious Strike ]
[ Description: an attack targeting vital and/or sensitive points. ]
[ Effects: attack accuracy +15%, damage to sensitive areas +5% ]
I quickly read the description before being hurled into the air by a punch, coughing up a mouthful of blood as I went. I crashed heavily into the ground five meters away.
The metallic taste of blood spread across my tongue as I desperately tried to catch my breath.If I drag this fight out, I'm done for. My legs began trembling against my will, betraying the fear I felt at that moment.
No. No. And no! Forcing away that feeling that would get me killed, I stood up again, ordering my legs to remain steady. My only way to survive was to kill him with this skill. But aiming for a vital spot like the heart was impossible- his skin was far too thick.
My gaze fell on his last remaining eye and, as if reading my thoughts, the goblin narrowed it slightly in a silent warning.
My heart tightened, and my nails dug into my palms, drawing a few drops of blood.
Then a wicked idea crossed my mind. An ancient, forbidden killing method took shape in my head and refused to disappear.
My eyes sharpened and my body lowered, seeking to become smaller and faster.I dashed forward with long strides, leaped, and raised the tooth toward the eye. The goblin quickly covered its face, bracing for an impact that never came.
At the last second, my body skimmed the ground, slid between its legs, and, in a graceful motion, the tooth shredded its family jewels, leaving behind a reddish streak.
"GLAOAAOAOAOORKKKKKK!" A bestial scream erupted, as though it came straight from hell.
The goblin collapsed to the ground, clutching at what was left of its crotch. With its face left completely unprotected, I tore out the remaining eye and drove the now-damaged tooth into its trachea.
[ Mutated Gray Goblin Level 3 defeated ]
[ +100 XP ]
[ Level 2 reached! ]
[ Quest complete! ]
[ +100 XP ]
Windows flooded my vision as I lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
A strong sense of accomplishment washed over me.Fighting, killing, and becoming stronger was like a drug. An irresistible drug.
Now I understood. I finally understood.Man is not made to live in mortuary comfort or in a dull routine without purpose. No. He is made to struggle- struggle like a dog and climb to the top of the food chain.
My thoughts raced at a thousand miles per hour, dragging me into a power- filled fantasy. Pain quickly ripped me out of it.
[ Effect removed: Adrenaline I ]
Fatigue, nausea, and sharp pain dragged me back to reality. I couldn't rest or recover just yet.
"It's… too… dangerous… here." My voice was broken by ragged breaths.
My gaze finally fell on the girl lying unconscious.With the danger gone, I couldn't leave her behind, even if I doubted she would survive.
I limped toward her, forcing myself not to look at the grotesque mass of flesh that had replaced her legs. Shaking my head, I grabbed her beneath the armpits, hoping to drag her somewhere else with me.
The moment my fingers touched her skin, a massive red window appeared above us.
[ Required players reached (2/2) ]
[ Limited-time dungeon unlocked ]
[ Enter? ]
[ Yes ] [ Yes!!!!!! ]
"Haha… very funny." A laugh that wasn't really a laugh escaped my throat.
I'm already injured and exhausted, my "teammate" is half dead, and you want me to enter a dangerous dungeon?
"Go boil an egg!"
If both "choices" lead straight to disaster, fine. I'll just ignore the window.
[ System interprets response as: "yes!!!!!!" ]
[ Dungeon loading…
-10%-
-80%-
-100%-
Transfer in progress ]
The ground shook lightly and a massive blue circle formed around us, sending red and white particles swirling through the air. My head spun, and after a few seconds, my vision went dark.
Plop. Plop. Plop.
I reopened my eyes with difficulty. A splitting headache prevented me from regaining my senses immediately.Once again, the system pulled me out of my haze.
[ Dungeon: The Beast's Lair ]
[ Difficulty: Unevolved ]
[ Primary objective: annihilate the Beast ]
"Ah… right. The dungeon." My vision cleared, despite the sharp, lingering pain that made me groan with every movement.
I was in a dark, damp cave. The heavy air clung to my skin, and the sound of droplets falling from stalactites formed a morbid symphony.
A narrow path stretched before us—roughly two meters high and three meters wide. The darkness was so deep I couldn't make out anything ahead.
[ Injury detected! ]
[ Heal II granted ]
[ Description: full healing is granted during a player's first dungeon ]
A warm, maternal sensation wrapped around me again, restoring both my body and the girl's.Her eyelids trembled softly before opening, revealing two amber jewels.
Our eyes met for a brief moment before she screamed.
"AHHH! D-d-don't come closer!" Her shrill voice carried raw despair.She desperately backed away until her back hit the cave wall.
"D-don't hurt me!" Tears streamed from her phoenix-like eyes, and the sharp smell of urine reached my nose.
I froze, unsure how to react. Considering the situation, she probably thought I was some kind of kidnapper.
I stepped back and raised my hands slowly in a calming gesture.
"I don't want to hurt you," I said gently, hoping to reassure her.
Her gaze remained just as fearful.Her hands were pale from gripping the ends of her white dress.
I frowned and pointed toward the translucent window hovering in the cave.
"Look."
She turned her head in its direction, her expression shifting to perplexity.
A warm smile formed on my face- or at least that's what I thought.
"I-I'm just as terrified as you." I deliberately stuttered before sitting down slowly.
"A-and the demons?" she whispered, so quietly it was almost drowned out by the dripping water.
"They're dead," I said.
"Y-you…?"
I nodded slowly.
"I heard you scream," I continued.
"I didn't hesitate for a second when I saw you half-dead."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"So tell me- why would your savior hurt you?"