Natalie had always been passionate about fencing. The graceful movements, the clash of blades, and the discipline it demanded were her sanctuary from the pressures of everyday life. On the university campus, she often spent hours perfecting her form, each thrust and parry a testament to her dedication.

  That day was no different. She stood alone on the training grounds, sunlight filtering through the trees as she practiced her routine. The familiar sounds of students chatting and moving through campus provided a comforting backdrop.

  Then everything changed.

  The air turned cold, and an eerie silence blanketed the campus. Natalie froze, her grip on her fencing sword tightening as a strange pressure settled over her chest. A blood-curdling scream pierced the air, shattering the quiet and sending her heart racing.

  From the shadows of a nearby door, a goblin emerged—a creature Natalie had only seen in fantasy games. It was small but menacing, its greenish-gray skin taut over wiry muscles. Sharp teeth gleamed as it snarled, and it clutched a jagged dagger that glinted in the dim light.

  Her pulse quickened, but years of training pushed the fear aside. The goblin lunged at her with surprising speed, its dagger aimed at her chest. Natalie sidestepped instinctively, her blade flashing as she countered.

  With a clean strike, she slashed across its chest. The goblin screeched, stumbling backward before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

  Natalie stood motionless, her breath heavy as adrenaline surged through her veins. Then, a strange message appeared in her mind.

  Natalie’s eyes widened as she read the text. “Interesting,” she murmured, gripping her sword tighter. “It feels like a game. Maybe I can see my status screen.”

  She concentrated, focusing her thoughts on the desire to view her stats. A translucent screen materialized in her mind.

  “Swordmaster’s Memory,” Natalie mused, gripping her weapon. “I wonder how far this will take me.”

  Natalie’s sharp ears caught the sounds of combat nearby—shouts and the guttural growls of goblins. She ran toward the noise, finding a burly man locked in battle with three goblins. Armed with a wooden club, he swung with raw power, but his movements lacked finesse.

  Natalie didn’t hesitate. She charged into the fray, her fencing sword flashing in the dim light. Her blade struck the nearest goblin, cutting through its defenses with precision. The man, emboldened by her presence, swung his club with renewed vigor, smashing another goblin’s skull. Together, they dispatched the final foe, leaving the ground littered with greenish-gray corpses.

  Panting, the man turned to her. “Thanks for the help. I thought I was a goner.”

  Natalie offered a small smile, extending a hand. “Natalie. And you are?”

  “Jack,” he replied, shaking her hand. “Been looking for other survivors. Glad I found you.”

  Their path led them to the edge of campus, where they cautiously entered an abandoned classroom. Inside, they found another survivor—a petite young woman crouched near a desk, her long black hair tied in a ponytail.

  The woman looked up, wary but hopeful. “Hi,” Natalie said, lowering her sword slightly.

  The woman nodded, standing. “I’m Sarah. I thought I was alone here.”

  Sarah scanned the room, her eyes landing on a mop leaning against the wall. She picked it up, testing its weight. Though unconventional, it was sturdy and familiar in her hands.

  “This might come in handy,” Sarah said, giving it an experimental twirl.

  Jack chuckled, hefting his club. “Better than nothing, right?”

  Their conversation was cut short by a guttural snarl from outside. The scraping of claws against the walls made the trio tense.

  “They’re coming,” Jack said, gripping his club tightly.

  Natalie raised her sword, her expression steely. “Stay calm. We can handle this.”

  Sarah positioned herself behind the others, her mop held defensively. Though her weapon was unusual, her determination was evident.

  The first goblin burst through the doorway, dagger raised. Natalie met it head-on, her sword slicing cleanly through its arm. The creature howled, staggering backward. Jack followed up with a crushing blow to its skull.

  Two more goblins rushed in, their sharp teeth bared in feral grins. Sarah stepped forward, jabbing her mop into the lead goblin’s stomach with surprising force. The creature doubled over, giving Natalie the opening to end it with a precise slash to the neck.

  The final goblin lunged at Jack, but he sidestepped, swinging his club in a powerful arc that sent the creature sprawling. Before it could recover, Natalie’s blade found its mark, silencing it.

  The three stood in the aftermath of the fight, breathing heavily.

  Natalie lowered her sword, a small smile breaking through her grim expression. “We make a good team.”

  Jack grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. “We’re not dead. I’ll take that as a win.”