"Argh… "

  Jihoon cried out as his body was tossed across the air. He rolled on the ground and used the momentum of the throw to stand up again.

  If I fail here …I am nothing.

  His breath was ragged.

  His body was battered.

  Yet his eyes shone with the same enthusiasm and slight excitement as before.

  His scarred fingers gripped the hilt of the sword as the tension between the two groups became palpable.

  He looked ahead, focusing on his enemies.

  Within a small clearing inside a forest stood five green monsters snarling at him each with a weapon in hand.

  Even though he stood a couple of meters away the odor still made his nose wrinkle.

  Their sharp front teeth, rotten, dangerously stuck out of their mouths like daggers as spit drooled down through the corners of their mouth.

  Goblins, all at the same rank as him. Yet here he was struggling.

  Everyone at the top has already cleared this dungeon and they are at the same rank as me.

  He thought dissatisfied with a frown on his face.

  What Jihoon did not know was that even though they were at the same rank, they had been longer awakened than him and were one minor rank above him when they challenged this dungeon.

  So standing here as somebody who practically just awakened three days ago and just at the beginning of F-Rank, was a death sentence.

  However, even if he knew that he would still have done the same.

  I need to catch up… some have been awakened for months!

  With newfound courage and willpower, he lunged forward at the nearest sword and shield-wielding Goblin.

  His sword, aimed at the throat of the Goblin, struck out like a snake.

  It whispered through the air as the stab made its way forward.

  The Goblins eyes widened with fear, as it hastily put up the shield trying to defend its vital area.

  However, because of its fear the Goblin put up its shield too far up, blocking its vision.

  Realizing its mistake, it tried to pull the shield down but it was too te.

  Stupid Monster.

  Jihoon smirked as he quickly changed the angle of his sword.

  He stabbed the Goblin in the hip, breaking it and completely immobilizing it.

  The Goblin was now practically useless in this fight.

  The fight however was not over.

  He only managed to injure this Goblin because they underestimated him and he outsmarted them.

  Now the real struggle began.

  Or rather the fun as Jihoon continued grinning.

  However underneath that facade was just an insecure boy hiding his pain as his eyes gleamed with slight fear.

  Four remaining… this is going to be hard. I may die here.

  His chest heaved up and down.

  He quickly calmed himself as he focused again on the enemy.

  But if I win… I will be stronger.

  He smiled at the thought of growing stronger.

  Just as he was about to make the next move.

  One of the Goblins suddenly charged at him.

  He closed the distance in an instant and tried sshing across Jihoons torso.

  He blocked the Goblin's sword and just as he was about to counter another Goblin attacked him from the side.

  He saw the Goblin through his peripheral vision and quickly jumped back.

  This is a lot harder than I thought it would be… how did they do this? How did they solo these dungeons months and weeks ago?

  There was however no time to dwell on things that did not matter right now.

  The third and fourth Goblin attacked him at the same time from each side.

  I can't dodge this …

  He thought grimly and gritted his teeth.

  He knew he had to decide which attack to take on and which let him hit.

  And he knew that the Goblins knew.

  So he did something no sane person would do.

  He tilted his body and let both daggers pierce his body, making sure they did not injure any vital organs that would make him bleed out in the next couple of seconds.

  The Goblin's eyes widened and just as they were about to pull out their daggers, Jihoon grinned towards the Goblin in front of him.

  He swung his bde, sshing the Goblins' throat. A sure kill.

  It let go of the dagger as it cmped its hands around its throat to stop the artery from leaking blood.

  Without any hesitation, he turned around and swung his bde towards the Goblin behind him.

  However, the Goblin used the time it took to kill his comrade to react as it pulled out the dagger and tried stabbing him again.

  However, Jihoons bde was already on its way towards the Goblin's throat trying to end this fight before the other Goblins could intervene.

  Unfortunately for him, the Goblin unintentionally defended its throat by lifting up his arm to stab him.

  He sshed the dagger-wielding arm and just as he was about to ssh again the other Goblin attacked him.

  It stabbed his left arm, Jihoon let out a small cry of pain as his flesh felt a burning sensation and blood started to leak yet from another wound.

  However, he did not have time to adjust to the pain as a Goblin stabbed towards his neck trying to slice it off in one go.

  Jihoon quickly dodged by jumping back and putting distance between him and the other Goblins.

  One dead, two injured, one being useless. So three remain.

  I can do this…

  He thought as he looked down towards his left arm.

  Even if I win I don't know if I can make it out alive… should I use Mana now? No, I need to wait. I can only use the Seven Star skill for a short amount of time.

  He took out the green vial hanging on his belt, popped it open, and drank it.

  My only healing potion…

  Unlike his cssmates, Jihoon could not afford any potions after spending all his money on the sword.

  No Mana potions.

  No Stamina potions.

  And now no Healing potions.

  The wounds on his body slowly started to close and stopped bleeding. The Healing Potion however did not heal him completely. He was still exhausted, his bones hurt and a few drops of blood still kept leaking.

  While Jihoon drank his potion, the Goblins formed a formation with the injured Goblin staying behind the two sword-wielding Goblins.

  I kill one and then I activate the Body Strengthening skill hopefully that will be enough.

  He quickly lunged towards the Goblins trying to catch them off guard, unfortunately, all of them had their eyes on him.

  He stabbed towards the right Goblin, the sword rustling through the air. It got blocked as the sound of metal clinging echoed through the dungeon.

  Jihoon quickly recovered and moved back before the other Goblins could attack him.

  Without thinking the right Goblin rushed at him swinging its sword and yelling.

  He blocked the sword, his arm trembling as he quickly rolled to the side picking up some dirt.

  With one Goblin behind him and one in front Jihoon knew that it was now or never.

  He lunged at the other Goblin who was protecting the injured dagger-wielding Goblin.

  Now!

  Jihoon thought as he was only a couple of meters away.

  He stirred the Mana in his unstable circle around his heart as the Mana flowed from his circle through his Mana Pathways towards two stars in his legs, the circle trembled barely sending any Mana.

  This was however enough, his increased speed surprised the Goblin as it focused on Jihoons sword, not noticing his other hand throwing dirt in its eyes.

  The Goblin, now blind for a split second, tried to get the dirt out as it swung its sword around widely.

  Jihoon quickly went around and went for the injured Goblin.

  Ignoring the both Goblins now behind him Jihoon stabbed the dagger wielding Goblin in the throat directly killing it.

  The other Goblins however did not let this situation go as they sshed his back while snarling with hatred.

  Jihoon tried to dodge but it was fruitless as his body was thrown towards the start of the fight by his own and the Goblins' momentum.

  Now besides the first Goblin, Jihoon quickly put it out of its misery, stabbing it in its heart.

  I have enough Mana for about two uses or one longer use!

  He looked at both Goblins and activated the Seven Star Strengthening skill as he blocked both of their swords.

  The sound of metal clinging echoed again through the dungeon. As injuries started to accumute on the Goblins' bodies Jihoon knew that he could win however his Mana would not be enough to finish the fight.

  So he had to take a risk.

  Even if it meant sacrificing a little blood.

  One of the Goblins stabbed towards him, using this chance he stretched out his hand letting the Goblin stab his palm.

  Using this opportunity he quickly killed the immobilized Goblin and sprang back.

  Jihoon backed down and deactivated the Body Strengthening skill, thinking that he could rex for a moment and regain some of his Mana. As his Mana was standing on its st legs.

  Unfortunately for him, luck was not on his side.

  The death of the next Goblin seemed to trigger something in the st Goblin as its eyes turned completely red.

  Its breath started to accelerate, it seemed as if its lungs doubled in size. Each breath was longer and faster than the one before.

  Goblins Rage… I need to act now!

  Jihoon sprung into action. Ignoring the pain in his whole body he was prepared to finish the Goblin as fast as possible.

  He activated Body Strengthening again, increasing his speed as the stars in his legs started to rotate the Mana around.

  However the Goblin, now completely lost to their instincts, immediately lunged at him with its eyes filled with hatred.

  Jihoon however did not back down. He knew that this was the type of fight he needed to grow.

  The Mana provided from the deaths of the other Goblins was almost enough to rank up to Mid F Rank.

  He quickly blocked the first stab of the Goblin as he deflected the sword towards the ground where it got stuck.

  Just as he thought he got his st kill, the Goblin let go of the sword and directly punched Jihoon in the face.

  The force of the punch lifted him up and tossed him across the ground. The grip on his sword loosened as blood started to flow from his mouth.

  The Goblin stood before him snickering, clearly enjoying his suffering.

  His teeth were broken.

  His nose caved in.

  He could barely breathe as he swallowed blood and teeth with every breath he took. The taste of iron filled his mouth as his smile slowly faded.

  Is this the end? Is this as far as I can come? IS THIS WHAT I AMOUNT TO? DID MY FAMILY DIE JUST FOR ME TO GIVE UP?

  He screamed in his mind as the death of his parents and sister kept pying in his mind.

  His Mana was barely enough to keep going.

  However, he had one st chance.

  One st attack.

  No matter what… I WILL NOT GIVE UP!

  He slowly stood up, his battered body barely allowing him. Blood kept seething from his body slowly forming a puddle around his body.

  Jihoon fought through pain, fear of death, and insecurity just to stand up.

  One st attack, even if I die.

  As he put his mind to it. He was ready.

  Suddenly a deep and cryptic voice echoed through the dungeon yet Jihoon did not notice it.

  "Finally somebody worthy has appeared… Oh young one I am sorry for the responsibility I am about to bestow upon you."

  He picked up the sword and gripped it with hatred. He looked at the Goblin as it stood there ughing at his miserable state.

  Without any hesitation, he lunged at the Goblin as he activated his Mana.

  Just as the moment that decided everything was about to commerce, Jihoons vision turned bck.

  In a bck space surrounded by nothing, Jihoons screams echoed through the space. As his body was slowly deconstructed and reconstructed a golden tattoo appeared on his back.

  The golden tattoo started to hume in a golden color before slowly disappearing into his body.

  A second ter Jihoons body disappeared in bck smoke.