The air was thick with tension.
Ray stood at the edge of the darkened forest, watching the flickering orange glows of the goblin nest campfire from between the trees. His grip tightened around the newly acquired iron-forged sword—something he "crafted" with System items from the shop, passing them off to the villagers as makeshift handiwork.
Behind him stood a small unit: three older teens with makeshift weapons, and four brave younger boys carrying spears Ray had distributed. They weren't trained fighters, but their eyes no longer held fear. They had hope—hope in him.
> System Notice: Quest – Raid the Goblin Nest (Active)
Objective: Eliminate all Goblins in the nest.
Progress: 17/30
Rewards: EXP, Random Item, Village Reputation.
"Remember the plan," Ray whispered. "Stick together. Aim for the legs, not the chest. Let me take the lead."
They nodded, silently.
Ray exhaled and slipped into the shadows.
---
The ambush began at the outskirts of the nest. Ray struck first—his blade slicing clean through a goblin's neck. Before the creature could cry out, another fell. The village teens jumped into action, following Ray's training. The battle quickly turned into a slaughter.
> [Critical Hit!]
[EXP Gained]
[Goblins slain: 24/30]
Ray moved like a phantom, utilizing his new passive skill Combat Flow, reacting to attacks with unnatural precision. Goblin after goblin fell, and the nest grew eerily silent.
Then—
> [Quest Updated: Goblin Nest Cleared]
[EXP Gained – You have reached Level 10]
[You have received: Random Skill Box]
[System Notice: Hidden Quest Triggered]
Hidden Quest: "Curse of the Shaman" – Defeat the Goblin Shaman
Description: A Goblin Shaman lurks deep in the cave, the source of the goblins' unnatural aggression.
Objective: Eliminate the Goblin Shaman.
Reward: Unknown.*
(Author)(If you think why he level up so fast because of the bonus exp and the wild boar he hunt..)
Ray's eyes widened. "A hidden quest…?"
Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly. From deep within the cavern of the nest, an eerie green glow pulsed.
"Everyone, fall back!" Ray shouted.
"But we're winning!" one of the kids shouted, exhilarated by the success.
"We cleared the camp, but something worse is coming. I'll handle it. Stay out here. Protect the wounded."
Without waiting for protest, Ray ran toward the inner cave. The light of torches flickered as he ventured deeper.
And then he saw it.
A hunched goblin draped in bone and feathers stood before a crudely carved altar. Its eyes glowed green. It chanted in a guttural tongue, drawing symbols into the air with a staff of twisted wood and animal skulls.
> [Enemy Identified: Goblin Shaman – Level 13]
Ray's pulse quickened. This wasn't like the others. The mana in the air was suffocating.
The shaman turned its gaze toward him and let out a piercing screech. Bolts of green energy surged from its staff.
Ray ducked, rolled, and dashed forward—Combat Flow kicking in, slowing the world just enough for him to react.
He slashed.
The blade grazed the shaman's side, but it retaliated by slamming its staff into the ground. A surge of magic exploded outwards, knocking Ray back.
> [You've been afflicted by Minor Curse – Attack Power -10% for 30 seconds]
Ray gritted his teeth. "You think that's enough to stop me?"
He dashed forward again, this time activating his new skill—
> [Blade Pulse Activated]
A burst of white energy surged through Ray's sword as he slashed downward. The energy cleaved the shaman's barrier clean in half.
> [Critical Hit – Weak Point]
[Goblin Shaman – HP 24%]
The shaman wailed in agony and tried to teleport away, forming a portal of green fire.
"No, you're not escaping."
Ray hurled a spear from his back—one of the extras he'd carried—and pierced the shaman through the heart.
> [Goblin Shaman Defeated]
[Hidden Quest Completed – Curse of the Shaman]
[Level Up – Lv.11]
[Item Obtained: Shaman's Staff (Broken)]
[Skill Unlocked – "Mana Sense (Rare)"]
Ray stood, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his brow. His hand still trembled from the fight.
But he did it. Alone.
---
When Ray returned to the surface, the children and teens ran to him with wide eyes. The fire from the boar feast the previous night still crackled in the village square. Now, another feast was on the horizon.
"You did it?" one asked.
Ray nodded and smiled. "The goblin gone. They won't bother us anymore."
The villagers—who had come to depend on Ray in just a matter of days—cheered. An elder approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You may have been born in this village, Ray… but now, you're its protector. Our Hunter."
> [Reputation with Lost Village: Revered]
[Title Earned: Goblin Slayer]
[System Notice: New Feature – Class Advancement Tree Unlocked]
As the others celebrated, Ray slipped into his hut and sat on the edge of his bed, opening his Status Window with a thought.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Ray
Race: Human
Level: 11
Class: Swordman (Basic Class)
HP: 340/340
MP: 110/110
Strength: 24
Agility: 19
Endurance: 18
Intelligence: 12
Skills:
Combat Flow (Passive)
Blade Pulse (Active)
Mana Sense (Rare – Passive)
[Random Skill Box – Unused]
> "System," Ray muttered. "Show me the Class Advancement Path."
A new screen opened:
[Class Advancement Options (Available at Level 20):]
Knight
Duelist
Magic Swordsman (requires Mana Control skill)
Berserker (requires Rage-based trigger)
??? (Hidden Path)
Ray's eyes glinted with determination.
> "I'll get stronger… This world gave me a second chance. I won't waste it."