Chapter 4: The Goblin Camp

  As he approached, the distant light flickered through the fog, drawing his attention. He squinted, trying to make out what it might be—a settlement, another traveler, or something more dangerous. Before he could speculate further, a blue notification materialized in his vision.

  [Followup Beginner Quest: Eliminate the Goblin Camp]

  The notification surprised him but provided welcome information. The fire in the distance must be a goblin camp. More importantly, it confirmed that quests seemed to trigger when you got close enough to their objectives. This meant that exploration was the key to obtaining more faith, even if he didn’t know where he was going.

  With the sword he'd obtained from the defeated goblin, he was better equipped than before, but taking on an entire camp? He had no idea how many goblins would be present. Hopefully not too many. It didn't matter regardless, there was no way he was walking away from this opportunity. Anything was better than randomly wandering in this fog.

  Kade examined the short blade in his hand, his mind already racing through possible approaches. The weapon was clearly designed for a goblin's height, making it more of a long dagger in his grip, but its lightness made it easy to wield.

  A strategy began to form as he recalled each kill granting him experience and levels. What if he eliminated the goblins one by one and immediately allocated stat points after each kill? He'd progressively grow stronger throughout the fight, each goblin making him more dangerous for the next.

  It was risky, any hesitation while accessing menus could leave him fatally exposed, but it was the best idea he had.

  Kade practiced accessing his status screen with a thought, working to make the process reflexive. Open screen, allocate points, return to combat. The sequence needed to be almost instantaneous, like muscle memory. With each mental rehearsal, the process became smoother until he felt confident he could manage it even under pressure.

  "Alright, time to pump myself up," Kade said, bouncing slightly on his toes. "I can do this. I was born for this. Well, not literally, but close enough."

  He liked hearing his own voice in this foggy wasteland. The sound of it provided comfort against the isolation of Limbo.

  He swung the goblin sword in practice arcs, trying to get a feel for its balance. "Kill some goblins, get stronger. Simple."

  Kade approached the light source slowly, placing each foot with deliberate care to minimize noise. The fog gradually thinned as he neared the glow, which resolved into a campfire. He dropped into a crouch at the edge of visibility, heart pounding in his chest as he surveyed the scene.

  Six goblins lounged around the fire, where a large iron pot hung above the flames. The creatures sprawled lazily on the ground, apparently unconcerned about potential threats. Their weapons lay within reach but not in hand, a critical tactical error.

  He focused his examine skill on the nearest goblin.

  [Goblin Scout (Level 2)]

  Another scan, another result.

  [Goblin Fighter (Level 3)]

  Their levels varied between two and three, still a threat, but very manageable with his current stats.

  Kade took three deep breaths, mentally rehearsing his attack pattern one final time. First the closest two, they'll be easiest to take by surprise. Then deal with any that manage to arm themselves.

  With a burst of speed, he charged through the thinning fog and into the clearing. In mere seconds, he was on top of the goblins. One hundred feet is not a long distance at all.

  The first goblin barely had time to look up before Kade's blade sliced across its throat. The creature collapsed with a gurgling sound, and a notification flashed in Kade's peripheral vision.

  [Enemy Slain: Goblin Scout (Level 2)]

  [Essence Absorption activated]

  [Level Up! You are now Level 3]

  [You have 3 stat points to allocate]

  Without breaking stride, Kade mentally allocated one point to Strength and two to Dexterity. This time he felt a surge of energy course through his muscles as the stats took effect immediately.

  The second goblin had just begun to rise when Kade pivoted toward it. Finally, his enhanced speed was noticeable—his body responding faster, more precisely than before. The blade found its mark in the creature's chest, piercing between ribs with surprising ease.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  [Enemy Slain: Goblin Scout (Level 2)]

  [Essence Absorption activated]

  A third goblin had managed to grab its weapon and swung wildly at Kade's midsection. With his improved reflexes, Kade sidestepped the attack, the blade missing him by inches. He countered with a thrust to the goblin's abdomen, feeling resistance as the sword penetrated its leathery hide.

  [Enemy Slain: Goblin Fighter (Level 3)]

  [Essence Absorption activated]

  [Level Up! You are now Level 4]

  [You have 3 stat points to allocate]

  Again, Kade allocated his points, two to Strength and one to Dexterity. His movements felt more fluid, each strike more powerful. His muscles seemed to anticipate his commands, strength flowing through his limbs like electricity.

  The remaining three goblins had formed a rough semicircle, brandishing their weapons with snarls on their misshapen faces. Their beady eyes gleamed with malice in the firelight, and their jagged teeth bared in threatening grimaces.

  Kade didn't wait for them to coordinate an attack. He lunged toward the leftmost goblin, feinting high before changing direction to slash at its chest. The creature howled as it toppled forward, and Kade finished it with a downward strike.

  The two remaining goblins attacked simultaneously from different angles. Kade spun away from one blade, feeling it graze his shoulder, then parried the second attack with enough force to knock the weapon from the goblin's grasp. Two quick strikes later, both creatures lay motionless on the blood-soaked ground.

  [Enemy Slain: Goblin Fighter (Level 3) × 3]

  [Essence Absorption activated]

  [Level Up! You are now Level 5]

  [You have 3 stat points to allocate]

  Kade stood amidst the carnage, chest heaving with exertion. A rush of satisfaction surged through him. In the span of less than a minute, he'd dispatched six enemies and gained three levels.

  "Holy shit," he said, looking down at his blood-spattered hands. A mixture of disbelief and pride washed over him. "That actually worked." He was surprised by how easily he defeated them. The confirmation that allocating points could increase his physical capabilities to this extent made him feel like a superhuman athlete. He could get used to this power.

  A new notification appeared, confirming his success:

  [Followup Beginner Quest Completed: Eliminate the Goblin Camp]

  [Reward: 5 Faith Points, Bronze Chest]

  [Basic Sword Mastery]

  [Improves handling and effectiveness with sword-type weapons. Enhances damage and enables precise strikes.]

  [New Quest: Path to Power]

  [Congratulations on reaching level 5. Your journey is just beginning. Reach level 15 to unlock your first class. Classes provide specialized abilities and skills that will aid you through the tutorial.]

  Kade grinned. This felt like the first real guidance the System had provided. The quest gave him a concrete goal, something tangible to work toward instead of wandering aimlessly. If he could farm monsters efficiently, leveling would be straightforward. And who knew what benefits a class might provide? Enhanced perception to see through the fog? Tracking abilities to find the exit? Specialized combat skills?

  With the Basic Sword Mastery skill, something strange had happened. Knowledge seemed to flow into his brain, not as conscious learning but as muscle memory and instinct. He hadn't just been told about sword techniques; he knew them now, as if he'd practiced for years. The way to grip the hilt for maximum control, how to position his wrist for different strikes, the proper footwork for maintaining balance—all this information had been downloaded directly into his mind.

  It was an interesting revelation about how the System worked. Skills could be unlocked through actions, not just given by the System. The knowledge was there, but he didn't quite have the physical experience to utilize it fully yet. Somehow the sword movements felt more natural, his grip more confident. Step by step, Kade was beginning to piece together the puzzle of how the System worked.

  Putting off the bronze chest for now, Kade checked his faith points, now at 8, to see if there was a reward, but nothing changed. The Faith stat remained enigmatic. The remaining three stat points forced Kade to weigh his options carefully. After the fight, he had 11 Strength and 10 Dexterity.

  After a brief deliberation, he decided to allocate all three points to Dexterity, bringing it to a total of 13. Speed and agility seemed more important than raw strength, especially while wielding a lighter weapon like the goblin sword. He wasn't punching these creatures to death, after all. Better to dodge a fatal blow than try to withstand it, especially when he had no idea what other dangers might be lurking in the fog.

  With the immediate threat eliminated and his stats updated, Kade had to satisfy his curiosity to know what the goblins were cooking.

  He approached the bubbling pot over the fire with cautious optimism, peering into its contents. His hope for a decent meal evaporated instantly. The pot contained what might generously be called a stew, but floating among the murky broth were unidentifiable chunks of meat, some vegetation that looked suspiciously like weeds, and several things that resembled insects.

  The smell assaulted his nose—a nauseating mixture of rotting vegetation, gamey meat, and something chemical he couldn't identify. His stomach lurched in protest, and he took an involuntary step backward.

  Kade was sure eating this would negatively harm his health. He would have to find another way to find food or water. The healing potion would work, but he couldn't rely on it forever.

  For final housekeeping, Kade surveyed the goblin corpses, considering what else might be useful for his journey ahead. His gaze settled on another sword, similar to the one he already carried but slightly longer. He retrieved it, testing its weight and balance.

  Kade hefted the second blade, comparing its weight against the first. The paired weapons felt right somehow, balanced in his hands despite their crude construction. He swung them in a tentative figure-eight pattern, the rusty metal cutting through the air with a satisfying whistle. Dual swords would give him more options in a fight, the ability to attack and defend simultaneously could mean the difference between life and death.

  He secured both swords, one at each hip, using strips of leather torn from a goblin's crude armor. The makeshift sheaths were far from perfect, but they would keep the weapons accessible without requiring him to carry them constantly.

  Finally ready, Kade prepared to open the bronze chest to see what it contained. His first real reward from the System.