As Seo watched the young man dash off towards the horde of goblins, a pang of worry and guilt gnawed at her heart. She couldn’t shake the feeling that all of this was her fault, her actions having inadvertently led to this dangerous situation. Yet, despite knowing this, she hesitated to offer her assistance.
‘Wouldn’t he be angry once he finds out I was the cause of all this?’ she wondered, her mind plagued by thoughts of rejection and disdain.
What if he refused to become her friend?
The fear of being rejected, of not being forgiven, paralyzed her, trapping her in a cycle of doubt and indecision.
But deep down, she knew she should help. She owed it to him, to make amends for the chaos she had unwittingly unleashed.
Yet every time she tried to move; the fear of his anger held her back.
‘Why am I so pathetic?’ she berated herself, frustration bubbling to the surface. She watched as he fought valiantly against the goblin horde, his determination evident in every strike. With a clenched fist and a resolve hardening within her, Seo was about to step out of her hiding spot to join the fray. But before she could make a move, the clash of blades in the air drew her attention back to the ongoing battle.
Clang! Swing!
As Seo observed the young man engaging with the horde of goblins, she couldn’t help but be impressed by his prowess.
Each movement seemed calculated, every strike executed with precision.
It was as if he had studied the terrain and the enemy’s movements, anticipating their every action with uncanny accuracy.
It reminded her of the teachings from her old mentors back at her clan.
However, amidst her admiration, a nagging thought crept into her mind.
Despite his skill with the sword and his keen battle sense, something didn’t quite add up. ‘Wasn’t he supposed to be a mage?’
A celestial mage, no less. Shouldn’t wiping out these goblins be a trivial task for someone of his abilities?
Seo couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach.
Why was he resorting to using a sword when he had the power of magic at his disposal?
With a mere thought, he could potentially end the battle in an instant, teleporting behind the boss and striking it down before it even knew what hit it.
Yet, here he was, wielding his sword with determination and grit, expending precious stamina with each swing. It didn’t make sense.
He was wasting his energy on a battle that could be easily won with a flick of his wrist.
As Seo pondered the enigma of the young mage’s choice to wield a sword instead of unleashing his powerful magic, a realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. Could it be because of her?
The thought sent a shiver down her spine as she considered the possibility. Perhaps he had noticed her presence and, in a display of kindness, opted for a more precise and controlled approach to avoid harming her. It was a humbling revelation, one that filled her with a strange mix of gratitude and guilt.
A small thump settled in Seo’s heart as she marveled at the kindness and consideration of her potential future friend.
How could she have forgotten that he, too, was likely struggling with the same social awkwardness that plagued her?
In his own way, he was reaching out, extending an olive branch of friendship amidst the chaos of battle.
“He must be having a hard time expressing his intentions, just like me” she mused, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Suddenly, the weight of uncertainty lifted from her shoulders, replaced by a newfound sense of understanding and empathy.
With renewed determination, Seo watched as the mysterious young man continued to battle the goblins below.
Though the road to friendship might be fraught with challenges, she was determined to bridge the gap between them and forge a bond that transcended the story’s from the
countless books of friendship she has read.
‘Don’t worry, friend, I will help you now!’
With her fist clenched tightly, Seo watched as dozens of goblins closed in on the young man from all directions, threatening to overwhelm him. The pillars, once a strategic advantage, now seemed distant and unreachable, leaving him vulnerable to the approaching horde. “You won’t reach my friend,” she vowed silently, her determination fueling her actions. Launching herself from her current position, Seo used the ceiling as a foothold, propelling herself forward with astonishing speed.
As she descended like a meteor, she landed with precision, her foot connecting with the head of a goblin at the rear of the pack.
Despite the tremendous force of her impact, there was no ripple, no echo, only the soft whisper of the wind as its brain sprayed on the hard ground.
The sudden disturbance behind them caught the goblins off guard, their attention momentarily diverted. But it was already too late.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Seo swiftly assumed a quick draw stance, her red eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
With a slow, deliberate motion, her katana began to glow with an ethereal light, crackling
with energy.
[Hidden blade first form]
[Blue Moon]
In an instant, lightning flashed, illuminating the chamber with a brilliant blue light.
BOOM…!
With a deafening boom that echoed like thunder, Seo unleashed her attack, a wave of energy tearing through the air.
As crescent lighting rushed towards her targets.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of goblins fell, their bodies sliced in half by the sheer force of Seo’s technique.
Lighting rippled in the area, like a localized thunderstorm from the aftermath of her attack.
As the dust settled and silence descended upon the chamber, Seo stood amidst the carnage, her breath coming in soft exhales.
With a sense of satisfaction and relief, she turned her attention to the young man, a smile
tugging at the corners of her lips.
‘Just leave your back to me friend’
….
Perplexed by the sudden influx of levels that flooded my consciousness, I couldn’t help but wonder what had triggered this unexpected surge in power.
As I scanned the chaotic scene before me, my eyes fell upon the hobgoblin boss, panic etched across its grotesque features as it fled in terror.
Confusion swirled in my mind as I observed the goblins scattering in every direction, their once unified front now fractured and scattered.
Something was amiss, but amidst the chaos, there was little time for contemplation. “This is getting unnecessarily troublesome why are they all acting scared now?” I muttered under my breath, a sense of urgency gnawing at my gut.
But for now, my priority was to end this battle before it spiraled further out of control.
With a decisive resolve, I wasted no time in allocating my newfound stat points, pouring them into my strength stat without hesitation.
[Available stat points: 65]
[Strength: D] [50/50]
[Strength: C] [0/60]
[Available stat points: 25]
As the numbers surged, a wave of transformation washed over me, my body pulsating with
newfound power.
Unlike before, when my stats had increased without any perceptible change, this time was
different.
I could feel my muscles expanding, growing denser and more resilient with each passing
moment.
It was as if I had unlocked a dormant potential within myself, tapping into a strength I never
knew existed.
Is this what it meant to be strong? I wondered, marveling at the sensation of power coursing
through my veins.
Every fiber of my being felt alive, heightened senses attuned to the world around me in ways I had never experienced before.
With newfound clarity, I sensed the presence of the boss looming nearby, despite not laying
eyes on it directly.
As if driven by instinct, my grip tightened around the hilt of my sword, my eyes fixated on the
hobgoblin boss before me.
With each step forward, my feet found purchase on the ground, small cracks forming beneath my weight as I propelled myself forward with the speed of a bullet.
With a fierce battle cry, I unleashed my newfound skill: [Piercing Strike]
The air crackled with energy as my blade sliced through the air like a thunderbolt, finding its
mark with unerring accuracy.
The boss recoiled in agony as my strike struck true, the force of impact propelling it
backwards towards the wall with a resounding thud.
Though its tough skin and leather armor offered some resistance, my sword still found its way inside him, piercing through flesh and sinew with chilling efficiency.
An unpleasant odor filled the air as its hot, viscous blood splattered across my face, it felt like
my nostrils were numbed by all the foul smells in the world at this point.
“KAGHH!!!”
Undeterred by its screams of pain, I pressed onward, twisting my sword upwards. With a
sickening squelch, I forced the blade upwards, carving a path of destruction through its flesh until it emerged from its shoulder with a final, decisive blow.
As the hobgoblin boss crumpled to the ground, its cries silenced at last, a sense of grim
satisfaction washed over me.
“Did I, do it?”
The question echoed in my mind as I surveyed the aftermath of the battle.
Had I really emerged victorious?
The notifications flashing before my eyes seemed to confirm it.
[Congratulations you’ve defeated your first boss! Additional bonus points will be awarded!]
[level:32-40]
[Congratulations you have achieved level 40!]
[+5 on all stats will be awarded!]
[Bonus EXP will now be cut off]
[Available stat points: 25+24+10]
[Agility: C[5/50] [Endurance: D] [5/50]
[Luck: 0] [Invalid… Error!]
[Power D] [5/50]
As I absorbed the wealth of rewards before me, a sense of disbelief washed over me.
It all felt too surreal at the moment, too fantastical to be true. And yet, here I stood as my
breaths came in hard exhales…
‘The battle royal tomorrow won’t be much of a problem now.’
With my newfound power, tomorrow’s challenges seemed less daunting.
Most of my classmates boasted average C stats, but I knew I could more than compensate
with the knowledge and experience I possessed.
Dodging attacks would be child’s play now, especially with the Tears of Chronos at my
disposal.
But still, it’s a bummer I couldn’t get to use this thing, all for the better I guess…. But what was with that sudden bright flash?
Slowly, I turned around, my senses on high alert as I realized the absence of the goblins that had been chasing me.
It was odd-defeating the boss didn’t guarantee their immediate disappearance.
With the bonus experience depleted after reaching level 40, leveling up would become
significantly more challenging.
I had to tread carefully, considering where to allocate my stat points and which build to
pursue in the future.
That was why I was Intent on eliminating any remaining threats before the dungeon closed, I
needed all the exp I could get right now.
I scanned the area, only to find it littered with dismembered goblin bodies.
Confusion gnawed at me.
What was going on?
“Y-yay! We did it, right?”
‘Huh…?’
The sudden sound of a warm yet emotionless voice jolted me from my thoughts.
Startled, I turned to see her standing beside me-Seo Gyeoul, one of the game’s main
heroines.
Her red eyes, reminiscent of thick blood, met mine, and black hair that was rare for the people of this country, she looked aesthetically beautiful despite the weirdness if the situation… Awkwardly, she attempted to clap my hands in a high-five, raising her own in anticipation. ‘What the hell is she doing here?’