Days began to run together, each one blending into the next. I was stuck in the same routine within the confines of my cave and its surrounding five-mile radius. Every morning, I was greeted by the same tasks, and each night, I saw tiny bits of progress, albeit exasperatingly sluggish.

“Arghhh!” I let out a yell of frustration, sitting by the stream near my cave. Despite my dedication to laborious exercise and hunting for food, the results felt marginal. Sure, I had gained a single point in both strength and dexterity and picked up two additional stat points, but it was hardly the growth I had hoped for.

I chucked a stone into the stream, watching as the impact rippled across the water’s surface. The path to advancement in this tutorial phase was no longer paved with ease. Gone were the days of facing off against the familiar Kiiroi creatures, whose defeat once guaranteed modest progression. No, it was time to up my game. I needed to challenge myself against a tougher opponent. And that would be the Akai monsters. To gain more experience and better rewards, I had to travel beyond the safety of my usual hunting grounds and seek out those goblins.

Despite the prospect of facing new dangers, a new acquisition had arrived. A projectile called Kōkyū (steel balls). Though slightly smaller than the marble-lined rocks, they packed a powerful punch. With these projectiles, I felt confident I could split a goblin’s head with a single shot using my slingshot.

After a quick lunch, I set off on my quest. Equipped with maps accessible through the status window, navigation through the varied terrain seemed deceptively simple. But reality? Far less straightforward. Currently, my inventory housed only a rudimentary map of the first floor, leaving the corresponding challenges obscured from view. Acquiring more comprehensive maps required conquering each floor’s boss. A task not to be undertaken lightly.

My proficiency in map reading was basic at best, sitting at level one. I figured this skill would increase as I opened new maps or improved my exploration proficiency. Despite the techy semblance of a GPS-like guidance system, my dependence on it was tempered by its limitations.

Complicating matters further, I realized the maps only offered a snapshot of explored terrain and my current location in real-time, leaving vast expanses of uncharted territory marked by grayed-out regions. The only consolation came from the ability to overlay a miniature map directly onto my field of vision like a HUD (heads-up display), providing a sign of what lay ahead within roughly a mile-wide diameter as I continued into unfamiliar areas of the floor.

With my hunting gear ready, I began my mission to track down those goblins. Within two hours, I found myself ten miles away from the security of my cave, deep in the thick undergrowth of the forest.

Over there. Among the green foliage, I stumbled upon a telltale sign, footprints. I activated my default trekking skill, a handy bonus given to me by the system in recognition of my proficiency in hunting Kiiroi creatures over the past few days. Regardless of my recent level up, ‘Special Skills Tomes’ had become available in the online store, but these skills were prohibitively expensive.

I followed the trail, focusing on the ground. It wasn’t long before I met the main event. About ten yards ahead, two common goblins sat cross-legged on the ground, engaged in a shared meal, while a hulking figure tore into a raw rabbit with primal enjoyment a few yards away.

I accessed my Status Sight on the imposing figure, reviewing its information.

***

Hobgoblin (Ankoku, Akai)

Level: 10

Title: Not So Bright Leader

Description: Larger and stronger than common goblins, hobgoblins often serve as leaders or commanders within goblin tribes.

***

I had to admit, this hobgoblin didn’t look like the sharpest tool in the shed, but he was definitely a force to be reckoned with. I assessed the situation. It was time to test my skills and see if all my training and preparation would pay off. The stakes were high, and the danger was real, but the potential rewards were too good to ignore. This was my chance to break free from the continuous routine and prove myself in this ruthless world.

As I sized up the scene in front of me, my gaze darted between the hobgoblin and his smaller buddies. Those common goblins looked like a walk in the park, but the hobgoblin, with his double-bladed battle ax, gave me pause. Still, seeing his title “Not So Bright Leader” gave me a wicked idea.

Armed with a handful of small pebbles and my slingshot, I crouched behind a thick bush, scheming my next move. I took careful aim and let the first pebble fly, hitting the back of the hobgoblin’s head. He rubbed the spot where my projectile landed, confused. But true to his title, he quickly shrugged it off and went back to his meal, completely clueless about the source of the disturbance.

A second pebble followed, prompting a more pronounced reaction. Now he was suspicious, looking around with narrowed eyes. Then, I sent a third pebble with extra force. Finally, the hobgoblin snapped, roaring at his companions and accusing them of some invisible prank.

From my hidden spot, I watched with glee as a fight broke out among the goblins. Zog, as I later learned his name, unleashed his rage on his bewildered comrades, smacking them around with reckless abandon. The two common goblins were soon sprawled on the forest floor, and Zog stormed off, still fuming.

I stepped out of hiding and approached the groaning goblins. With precise shots from my slingshot and using the powerful kōkyū projectiles, I made quick work of them. The impact of steel against flesh sent those goblins to their graves.

“What’s going on here?” Zog’s sudden return broke the silence. His eyes widened at the sight of his fallen comrades. Before he could piece together what had happened, I couldn’t resist taunting him. “Sayonara, Not So Bright Leader!” I yelled, unleashing a kōkyū aimed straight for his skull.

To my shock, the hobgoblin didn’t drop. He stood there, a big lump forming on his forehead. “Stone?” Zog’s voice was soaking with rage. “You think a pebble could hurt me?”

“It’s a steel ball, you idiot!” I shot back, already sprinting away as Zog’s furious roar spurred me on. I dashed through the undergrowth, the enraged hobgoblin thundering after me.

While racing through the forest, a sudden whizzing sound cut through the air. I barely had time to react as an ax flew past my head, implanting itself into a tree ahead with an appalling thud. I skidded to a halt, dirt and leaves flying up around me.

“Why the heck did you throw away your only weapon?” I shouted, spinning to face Zog, who had also stopped, blocking out the sunlight with his massive form.

“Huh.” Zog scratched his head, looking dumbfounded. He pointed at the ax stuck in the tree. “Then can you pass it back to me?”

“Sure,” I replied with fake indifference. My fingers tightened around my slingshot as I raised it. “Sōten Kōkyū!” I called out, releasing the projectile with a satisfying whizz.

Zog howled in pain as the ball struck his forehead again, a red welt forming. He clutched his head, stumbling back. I fired another barrage, each shot hitting its mark. Zog’s cries grew louder, each one pushing me to keep going. But this big fella still wouldn’t go down.

How tough is his skin? My eyes darted to the ax still in the tree. An idea formed. I yanked the weapon free, nearly unbalancing myself with its weight. With a grunt, I hurled it at Zog, holding my breath as it spun through the air. The ax struck Zog’s face with a resounding “TING”. I cursed under my breath, realizing I’d forgotten the class restriction. Physical weapons and my class didn’t work well with each other.

Zog rubbed his head, more puzzled than hurt. Then he burst into mocking laughter. “Ha! Ha! Ha! Zog strong! Human weak! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Each of his guffaws was a slap to my pride.

In a split-second decision, I seized the opportunity. With Zog’s mouth wide open in mid-laugh, I fired a steel ball straight into his mouth. His laughter cut off, replaced by choked gasps as he clutched his throat, stumbling back. The massive hobgoblin collapsed, limbs twitching.

Did the idiot finally die? I blinked, trying to process what had just happened. Before I could check on Zog, the familiar blue screen came into view.

***

You have achieved a great feat in defeating an opponent much higher level than yours: Hobgoblin x 1, Common Goblin x 2.

Level Up: + 2

Gold: 70

Points: 6

Item Drop: Ring x 1

***

“Yesss!” I cheered, pumping my fists. Leveling up by two and scoring some sweet loot was definitely worth celebrating. Excited, I inspected the new ring in my palm, but my joy quickly turned to anger.

Ring of Stupidity (Trash): Intelligence -5

Are you kidding me? I tossed the ring toward Zog’s corpse. “No wonder they call you ‘Not So Bright Leader!’” I snapped. Catching my breath, I gathered the goblins’ weapons and as many kōkyū as I could find. Time to head back to my cave and regroup after this wild day.

An hour later, I reached the base camp, but something was off. The branches I used to secure the cave entrance were scattered. Something wasn’t right. I approached the cave slowly, eyes widening as an enormous figure emerged. This thing was three times the size of the hobgoblin, standing at least ten feet tall with a massive wooden club in hand.

“Oh great,” I mumbled to myself, feeling the gravity of the situation. “I’m screwed.”