《Will of the Unyielding [LitRPG Apocalypse • Progression]》 Chapter 1: Beginning I still remember that day. The day everything changed. It was the 7th of April, 2159, a sunny day. The kind of day that lures you outside, where the warmth of the sun feels like a gentle embrace. A young man was jogging through the quiet streets of his neighbourhood. He looked to be about 20 years old, around 1.90m with short black hair and an athletic physique. His deep blue eyes, often lost in thought, had a peculiar intensity, as if he were constantly searching for something just out of reach. The sun beat down on him, the golden rays reflecting off nearby windows and casting long shadows on the pavement. There was something peaceful about the morning, but a tension hung in the air, like something waiting to happen. As he passed by a convenience store, he slowed to a stop, intending to grab something for breakfast. The rhythmic sound of his sneakers on the pavement had gradually slowed to a soft patter as he approached the glass door. A faint smell of coffee and fresh bread wafted into his nose, and his stomach growled louder than before, reminding him of the hunger he had yet to satisfy. He glanced down at the shop¡¯s entrance, expecting to see the usual ¡°Open¡± sign glowing, but instead, there was a simple, blunt ¡°Closed¡± posted in big red letters. A sigh escaped his lips. ¡°What a pain¡± he muttered under his breath. The streets around him were oddly quiet. Usually, even at this hour, there were people out and about¡ªgetting their morning fixes or hurriedly heading to work. But today, all that could be heard was the faint breeze rustling the leaves of nearby trees. He instinctively reached for his phone to check the time, his fingers brushing the cold glass screen before pausing. Maybe everyone else was just still at home, taking their time, not like him, hurrying for breakfast. He decided to try his luck elsewhere, but shop after shop, they all bore the same sign: ¡°Closed.¡± His stomach growled even louder now, demanding his attention. As he walked past another store with the shades drawn, it dawned on him what might be going on. ¡°Ahh, it¡¯s because of that game the Federation is announcing today¡± he realized, his mind quickly jumping to the upcoming event. Ever since the Federation¡¯s announcement that the new game God¡¯s Path would be launching, it had taken over every conversation, every forum. It felt like the whole world had paused to wait for it. People stayed home to tune in, whether they¡¯d ever played games in their life or not. No work today, no commerce¡ªjust focus on the game. His stomach gave another impatient rumble. ¡®I¡¯ll starve if nobody works today... Maybe I¡¯ve got some snacks left at home?¡¯ After a moment of indecision, he decided to turn back and head home. It wasn¡¯t far¡ªa short jog back to his apartment. The neighbourhood was still as quiet as before, the world almost serene as it held its breath in anticipation of what was to come.
He lived alone in a small apartment in a sprawling complex. It wasn¡¯t much¡ªjust 50 square meters¡ªbut it was enough for one person, and that suited him just fine. His personal belongings were few. A basic bed, a worn sofa, a tiny desk piled with old martial arts books, and, of course, his device. He¡¯d managed to scrape by, working mostly online, never really needing much. His official status on the Federation¡¯s record was ¡°unemployed¡± but that didn¡¯t bother him much; the Federation provided enough to get by. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was enough for his needs. As soon as he stepped through the door, he kicked off his sneakers and started shedding his clothes as if they were weights. His eyes wandered across the apartment as he entered¡ªa sparse room filled with just enough to get by. ¡®A real cozy existence¡¯ he mused. His stomach growled again. Walking straight for the bathroom, he threw his clothes haphazardly across the floor. The apartment wasn¡¯t messy by any means, but there was definitely an almost lived-in quality to it¡ªlike he was only passing through life, just moving along. He didn¡¯t want to linger too long. Today was the day the Federation had hyped up for months. But as he stood under the warm stream of the shower, he realized something. His stomach wasn¡¯t going to wait. The excitement, the chaos building around the God¡¯s Path game, couldn¡¯t stop his appetite from gnawing at him. With a huff, he rinsed the soap from his body and turned off the water. His thoughts briefly flickered to food. Food would help, at least give him the energy to enjoy the broadcast. He dried off quickly, threw on some comfortable clothes¡ªclothes that matched his lifestyle. Clothes for the lazy, the ones with no particular plans, except today. His stomach growled in agreement. With a sigh, he walked into the kitchen, his bare feet padding against the cool tile. The fridge door opened with a familiar creak, and he scanned the contents for something worth his time. He pulled out a carton of milk, gave it a quick shake to test its freshness, then decided against it. Too boring. His gaze shifted to the shelves, where the real potential lay. He opened a cabinet, peering into the depths. After a few moments, his hand landed on a half-open bag of chips and a nearly empty jar of peanut butter. Sighing again¡ªthis was the state of his food situation¡ªhe grabbed the jar, dipped a spoon into it, and took a generous scoop. The smooth peanut butter coated his tongue in a familiar, comforting way. Simple, effective, and enough to take the edge off his hunger. He pulled a nearby chair to the counter and sat down, spoon in hand, as he absentmindedly surveyed the empty space around him, his thoughts drifting. After a few more spoonfuls, he wiped the excess from the spoon and stood, feeling satisfied enough to return to his original mission. He left the kitchen behind, jar and spoon still in hand, and shuffled back toward the couch. The faint glow of his handheld device, now turned on and ready for the live broadcast, illuminated the room.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He grabbed his handheld device and plopped down on the sofa, staring blankly at the dull walls before switching on the live broadcast of the Federation¡¯s official announcement. There was something oddly unenthusiastic in his approach to this event. Everyone was talking about it. But for him? It felt just like another viral sensation that would fade out after a few weeks. Sure, the grandiose promises of the game intrigued him, but there was just so much skepticism. How many ¡°revolutions¡± had the Federation promised only to deliver failure? How many ¡°breakthroughs¡± ended up being nothing more than profit-driven schemes? The game¡¯s premise sounded ridiculous anyway. Godhood? A far-fetched fantasy dreamed up by marketers, perhaps. On the screen, an austere news anchor, standing in front of a towering, shiny structure¡ªsleek, futuristic, almost awe-inspiring¡ªspoke with somber intensity. ¡°It¡¯s been fifty years since we first intercepted a signal from beyond our solar system¡± he started. The moment the anchor¡¯s voice hit the airwaves, the man tilted his head, blinking a few times in surprise. The report was familiar¡ªit had made it into the history books. ¡°Huh, yeah, I remember reading about that¡± he mumbled to himself. ¡°It was a huge deal. Back then, it felt like the world was about to change. Scientists and researchers went nuts over it. Those guys probably haven¡¯t slept since.¡± The anchor''s gaze remained steady as he continued. ¡°This signal contained knowledge¡ªtechnology far beyond anything we¡¯ve ever dreamed of.¡± He yawned, picking up his snack. ¡°Will I get my food faster with this?¡± He turned his attention back to the screen. ¡°This knowledge is what led to the creation of the game launching today¡ªGod¡¯s Path. This is no simple entertainment. This is evolution in its purest form. And it¡¯s a game that will change humanity.¡± The anchor¡¯s voice rose in a fever pitch. ¡°The Federation has verified every claim, and I¡¯m here to tell you what¡¯s coming¡ª it is real. And soon, we will be transformed.¡± The man paused, gasping as if the weight of his own words were catching up with him. He reached for a glass of water. The sudden break felt¡­ awkward, almost forced. The man on the sofa, meanwhile, was unimpressed. ¡®Godhood, huh?¡¯ he mused. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll become the Thief God and start stealing everyone¡¯s money and watch the whole world burn. Hahaha.¡± He chuckled at his own joke, not taking any of it seriously or maybe he just didn¡¯t care. Then the anchor, after another sip, drew in a breath, clearly trying to regain composure. ¡°With the help of this signal, scientists constructed the Universal Tower. A monumental achievement. This tower will connect our world to the vast universe. And¡­soon¡­¡± the anchor had to take in several mouthful of air ¡°s-soon Humanity will receive a notification¡­a notification that will bring us closer to Godhood.¡± The reporter finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore and started gulping water on live stream. ¡®So we¡¯re all playing pretend in some space fairy tale¡¯, the man thought dismissively, taking a bite of his snack. ¡®Wasn¡¯t that the same rhetoric that corporations spewed every time they launched a new product? Another promise of better futures, gods, heroes, immortality¡¯. He chuckled dryly. A sudden pause in the broadcast caught him off-guard. As the anchor readied himself for another grand statement, the man was interrupted by a flash of light across his screen¡ªa notification lighting up with Jack¡¯s name. ¡°Jack¡ª¡± he said aloud before being drowned out by Jack¡¯s shouting over the call. ¡°MAN, DID YOU SEE THE NEWS??? THIS IS FIRE!¡± Jack was practically yelling. ¡°Yeah, Jack, I saw. I had a feeling you¡¯d be pumped about it. You¡¯re getting way too excited already¡± He responded flatly. ¡°Do you already know what kind of God you want to become?¡± Jack shot out immediately. ¡°The web¡¯s already flooded with ideas and it¡¯s only been five minutes!¡± ¡°I was about to call you, you know.¡± The man muttered, running a hand over his face. "You and your over-excited plans." He caught himself almost smiling. Sometimes, he felt like Jack never grew up. He had known this friend of his since his childhood and even now, Jack had always been a child at heart, in some ways. ¡°Actually, I had this idea¡ªI¡¯ll be the Thief God¡± he said, throwing his hands in the air, as if imagining it already. ¡°Can you imagine? The perfect crime, except it''s me, walking away from everyone else''s stuff. That¡¯s a real God!¡± Jack groaned audibly on the other end. ¡°Wait, hold up! A Thief God?! Really?¡± He paused, his incredulity only growing. ¡°Come on, man, why settle for a thief when you can be something much bigger?¡± ¡°How much bigger?¡± He asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you propose, then?" Jack didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°If this is anything like an RPG, we have the chance to become the strongest beings in the universe!¡± Jack ranted, his excitement evident. ¡°It¡¯s not just about playing with powers, we¡¯ll have the control over it all! Thief God, Federation, none of that will matter! Imagine everything in our grasp!¡± The man''s mind whirred as he thought about it. He didn¡¯t buy into all of Jack¡¯s ideas. Was it even possible? But the way Jack laid it out made him second-guess things. Would this game, for all its crazy promises, really give them god-like powers? With a smirk, He broke his silence. ¡°Okay, Jack, say we could be the strongest¡ªhow the hell do you know? For all we know, this whole game could be a scam, just some government experiment. Remember, they¡¯ve screwed us over in the past.¡± He sighed, his words landing like lead. He stared out at the bland horizon. ¡°You¡¯ve never played a real RPG, have you?¡± Jack shot back. ¡°Dude, you know I''m not into that stuff.¡± He snapped. ¡°What good is knowing how to level up stats?¡± Jack¡¯s voice sounded smug. ¡°Stats, man! You increase your stats, you break everything! And maxed stats? That means we become invincible. Literally the strongest beings in the universe, if it works like the games!¡± The man considered it. ¡®It could be fun¡¯ he thought. ¡®But still, a part of me feels like this is all going to fall apart the minute the notifications go live.¡¯ Right then, something strange happened. The ground beneath him trembled, a deep, lazy rumble that finally forced him to look up from his snack. He frowned, annoyed as loose objects fell from the shelves, clattering to the floor. "Ugh" he muttered, eyes darting to the window where the light outside had gone¡­ weird. Through the glass, he saw it¡ªa blazing beam of light erupting from the Universal Tower, punching straight into the sky. He scratched his head, uninterested for a moment, before the vivid colors spilling across the clouds caught his attention. White, green, blue, purple¡ªthey churned and rippled in chaotic patterns, and then there was orange. A heavy, unsettling orange that hung like a bad omen. He squinted. "Huh. Looks like they¡¯re going all out with the theatrics." He leaned against the wall, unconcerned as his devices flickered, sparked, and died. The silence that followed was broken only by the faint hum of energy vibrating through the air. With an exaggerated sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and sauntered toward the window. Outside, the sky continued its bizarre transformation, and the Universal Tower pulsed with alien patterns. It was impressive, sure, but he still wasn¡¯t sold on the whole Godhood thing. And then he heard it¡ªthe voice. It was deep, echoing, and lodged itself somewhere uncomfortable in his brain: [System initialization complete.] ¡°Well¡­¡± He muttered, watching the window¡¯s chaotic brilliance, his tone mocking the impossible to come. ¡°If this is the path to Godhood, I might as well enjoy the ride." And so¡­it began. Chapter 2: Mission [System initialization complete.] [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 3 Speed: 4 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 6 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Nova stood by the window, staring out into the dimly lit streets. The holographic display floated before him, its faint glow casting shadows across his room. He rubbed his chin absently, his lips curling into a lopsided grin. "What do these numbers even mean?" His voice broke the stillness, filled with curiosity rather than concern. "And why are they so embarrassingly low? Strength of four? Even an ant might take me out if it got creative." He snickered to himself, shaking his head. There was no fear in him, only the bubbling anticipation of something new¡ªa spark of excitement in a life that had dulled over the years. Work, bills, endless routines¡ªit all felt so meaningless compared to this sudden shift. This wasn¡¯t just a change; it was a chance at something entirely different. ¡°Guess this is my world now. Stats, systems, weird floating screens... kind of feels like one of those RPGs Jack¡¯s always talking about.¡± Frowning slightly, Nova peered closer at the floating display. ¡°How do I figure out what this all means? Maybe there¡¯s a tutorial or something¡­¡± He swiped a hand through the air experimentally, but nothing happened. With a shrug, he stepped away from the window. ¡°No point overthinking it. Jack probably knows what¡¯s going on.¡± Jack was the closest thing to an encyclopedia Nova had¡ªa fountain of gaming knowledge and quick solutions. If anyone understood this bizarre system, it was him. As Nova turned toward the door, a chime rang out, stopping him in his tracks. [Choose your class] He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing at the list. "Flame Prince, Sword Emperor... some of these sound pretty impressive." But then his gaze landed on the final choice. None. Nova barked a laugh. ¡°What kind of choice is that? A trap, maybe? Who¡¯s dumb enough to pick ¡®None¡¯?¡± His grin widened as he tapped on Flame Prince to investigate further. [Flame Prince] His smile deepened. ¡°Not bad. Might actually be fun burning things down. Let¡¯s see the next one.¡± Switching to Sword Emperor, another set of details appeared: Sword Emperor Nova rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡®This one¡¯s solid, too. Hard to beat swinging around divine swords.¡¯ As he mulled over his options, a loud knock on his door broke his focus. Sighing, he made his way over and opened it to find Jack standing there. He stood at 1.87m with fair skin, his brown hair was as messy as always, but the sharp glint in his black eyes was anything but casual. ¡°You haven¡¯t picked a class yet, right?¡± Jack asked quickly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. Nova leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. ¡°I was about to. Why, is there a problem?¡± Jack exhaled in visible relief. ¡°Good. It¡¯s good you haven¡¯t chosen yet. Let me guess¡ªFlame Prince or Sword Emperor, right?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Nova raised a brow. ¡°So what if I was? They looked solid. You¡¯re telling me they¡¯re not?¡± Jack shook his head, smirking. ¡°Man, you didn¡¯t even check the other options, did you?¡± ¡°Nope. There¡¯s a million of them, and I¡¯m not about to waste time scrolling through each one¡± Nova admitted, shrugging. ¡°What¡¯s your point, anyway?¡± Jack¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°The point is, you¡¯re missing the best one. Have you looked at ¡®None¡¯?¡± Nova laughed, gesturing at the screen still floating beside him. ¡°Yeah, I looked. It¡¯s useless. No affinity, no role, no abilities. Literally nothing. How is that the best?¡± ¡°Exactly¡± Jack said, stepping closer. His intense gaze bore into Nova. ¡°Every other class is a trap. Flame Prince? Locked to fire. Sword Emperor? Locked to swords. Once you pick, you¡¯re stuck. Your growth, your options¡ªall of it limited by that class¡¯s restrictions.¡± Nova frowned but didn¡¯t interrupt. ¡°With ¡®None¡¯ there¡¯s no restriction. No limits. You¡¯re free to learn, adapt, and grow however you want. It¡¯s a blank slate¡ªand that means infinite possibilities. But¡­¡± Jack¡¯s tone darkened, ¡°there¡¯s a catch.¡± ¡°A catch?¡± Nova¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If you choose ¡®None¡¯ and don¡¯t work hard, you¡¯ll have no powers at all. No system boosts, no pre-defined paths to fall back on. Nothing. You¡¯ll be stuck as you are, and in this world, that¡¯s a death sentence.¡± The weight of Jack¡¯s words settled on Nova, his earlier amusement replaced by contemplation. ¡°So, no safety net?¡± ¡°None. But if you can put in the effort, the rewards are limitless. You¡¯ll be able to forge your own path without the chains of the system holding you back. It¡¯s all or nothing.¡± For a moment, Nova didn¡¯t respond. Jack¡¯s words hung in the air, and he felt the gravity of the decision settling on him. The flashy, powerful classes were tempting, but Jack was right. They came with chains, however gilded they appeared. A slow grin spread across Nova¡¯s face. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve sold me. We¡¯re going all in.¡± Jack grinned back, clapping Nova on the shoulder. ¡°Good choice. But don¡¯t get too comfortable. There¡¯s still a lot to figure out. While I was coming here, I saw people heading into these weird White portals. I think they¡¯re beginner zones, like early-level areas in a game.¡± Nova stretched, shaking off the lingering tension of their conversation. ¡°Sounds fun. Let¡¯s check one out before the whole world goes nuts.¡± Jack chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s already halfway there. Come on.¡±
As the two stepped outside, the scale of the chaos became evident. The streets were alive with energy and panic. People darted about, some wielding newfound powers with reckless abandon. Flames licked at the edges of buildings; shards of ice littered the cracked pavement. A figure streaked past, their feet wrapped in a cocoon of wind, while another launched small bolts of lightning into the sky with a booming laugh. Looters had already begun ransacking shops and homes, their arms overflowing with supplies. Shouts and screams filled the air, mingling with the roar of power and the crash of collapsing structures. ¡°Looks like the world¡¯s gone to hell already¡± Nova muttered, glancing around with mild amusement. Jack¡¯s expression was unreadable. ¡°It¡¯s survival of the fittest now. Let¡¯s make sure we¡¯re the fittest.¡± The two continued toward a shimmering White portal at the end of the street, its surface rippling like water in the faint light. Nova¡¯s heart raced¡ªnot from fear, but pure exhilaration. For the first time in years, his life felt alive. As Nova and Jack stepped into the White portal, the world around them twisted and turned, leaving them with a sense of disorientation. The discomfort was palpable¡ªspace seemed to warp and stretch around them, making it hard to tell which way was up. The fog that engulfed them was thick, obscuring everything except their silhouettes. Suddenly, a notification rang in their minds: [Select a weapon] [Mission starts in 05:00] Nova turned to Jack, instinctively seeking guidance. Jack, ever the self-proclaimed expert, smiled bitterly. "I don¡¯t know everything, but if this works like the rest of system, we just have to think about the weapon we want. By the way, which one are you going to choose?" His tone grew curious by the end. Nova pondered briefly before replying, "I¡¯ll start with a spear. What about you?" Jack raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "I didn¡¯t know you were a spear type of guy. After all these years, you still manage to surprise me. As for me, I¡¯ll go with the saber." Nova smirked. "You know, the spear is said to be the king of the battlefield." "Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve heard that before" Jack replied with a playful tone of exasperation. "Let¡¯s just think about the weapons and see what happens." Nodding, Nova focused his mind on the image of a spear. Within moments, a prompt appeared: [Spear selected] [Are you sure?] Nova mentally affirmed his choice, and in an instant, a spear materialized before him. He grabbed it lazily, testing its weight and balance. When he turned to check on Jack, what he saw left him speechless. Jack was hugging his saber like a long-lost lover, his face alight with joy. Nova couldn¡¯t help but tease. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be your best man when the two of you tie the knot." Jack froze mid-hug, quickly regaining his composure. "I was just... excited about finally being able to use the weapon I like most" he said, brushing off the moment as though nothing had happened. Nova snorted but said nothing more, turning his attention to the spear. He¡¯d never handled a weapon before¡ªold martial arts had always been an interest, not a practice. Yet, as he gripped the spear, something stirred within him. The weapon felt natural, almost as if it belonged in his hands. Both men were lost in their thoughts, familiarizing themselves with their weapons, as the timer slowly counted down. [Mission starts in 00:02] [Mission starts in 00:01] [Mission started] [Mission: Kill All the Goblins in the village] Reward:
  1. Primary Reward:
  2. Secondary Rewards:
  3. Special Reward (If completed in under 2 hours):
As the fog dissipated, a timer appeared in their peripheral vision. [02:00:00] [01:59:59] Then a village emerged before them. Its wooden walls stood about eight feet tall, with goblins patrolling the top. The gate was wide open, almost as if mocking them, inviting them to enter. Nova took in the sight and muttered, "Oh, that¡¯s the village, huh?" Stretching lazily, he glanced at Jack. "Do you have a plan?" Jack studied the village for a moment, his expression turning deadly serious. Then, with a tone as grave as the situation demanded, he said, "Nope. Let¡¯s wing it." Nova burst into laughter, gripping his spear tightly. "Let¡¯s go then." Without hesitation, the two rushed toward the gate. Chapter 3: Siege The two moved cautiously at first, but as they neared the village, their pace quickened. About thirty meters from the gate, one of the goblin sentries perched on the walls spotted them. The creature let out a guttural screech, waving its arms wildly to alert its comrades. Nova glanced up as more goblins appeared atop the walls, their small, greenish bodies were outlined against the foggy sky, standing about 3 feet tall with hunched frames and sharp, pointed ears. To his surprise, they weren¡¯t just shouting¡ªthey were drawing bows. "Man" Nova said as they began running. "I didn¡¯t know goblins could use bows and arrows." Jack dodged an arrow that whizzed past his head, nodding grimly. "Mhm, I thought they were too dumb for that too. But it doesn¡¯t change anything. Just keep running! Once we¡¯re inside the village, they won¡¯t risk using their bows. Too much chance of hitting their own." Nova nodded and picked up the pace. The two sprinted, weaving erratically to make themselves harder targets. The goblins above shrieked and fired arrow after arrow. While none hit their mark, several came dangerously close, slicing through the air with a whistle. By the time Nova and Jack reached the gates, the goblins on the walls had switched tactics, yelling commands and scampering down to regroup with their brethren. Inside the village, the pair faced a chilling sight: at least a hundred goblins stood in formation, blocking their path. Each was armed with rusted swords and jagged blades, their menacing grins showing sharp, yellowed teeth. As Nova neared them he could see their status window. [Goblin Soldier] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 0 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 2 Vigor: 2 Dexterity: 1 Speed: 1 Intelligence: 1 Wisdom: 1 Will: 0 Luck: 0 Nova assessed the horde. His grip on the spear tightened as adrenaline surged through him. He turned to Jack, smirking despite the odds. "I¡¯m going first. Try not to get yourself killed." Before Jack could respond, Nova dashed forward. Jack sighed, shaking his head. "That guy¡¯s going to get himself killed first if he keeps charging in like that." Tightening his grip on his saber, he followed close behind. The goblins let out a collective roar, rushing to meet the intruders. The clash was chaotic. Nova swung his spear wildly, his movements clumsy and unpracticed. The spear felt heavy and awkward in his hands, but his determination carried him through. With a lucky thrust, he managed to impale the first goblin that charged at him. As the creature collapsed to the ground, a faint chime echoed in Nova¡¯s mind, followed by a system notification: [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] The notification barely registered as Nova struggled to fend off the next attacker. His inexperience with the spear was glaring, but he pushed forward, relying more on instinct than skill. Meanwhile, Jack was faring much better. His movements were fluid and precise, a stark contrast to Nova¡¯s wild flailing. Years of sparring with a saber gave Jack a distinct advantage. He ducked under a goblin¡¯s swing, slashing upward in a smooth arc that left his opponent clutching its chest before crumpling to the ground. "Nova!" Jack shouted, narrowly dodging a goblin¡¯s swing as he clumsily brought his saber up to counter. His strikes were awkward but effective, driven more by raw enthusiasm than skill. He didn¡¯t have real experience, but his countless hours spent fantasizing about battles and weapons in RPGs seemed to help him visualize what to do. He struck down another goblin with a heavy swing, his breathing labored but triumphant. Nova, on the other hand, was struggling to find his footing. His spear wobbled in his hands, each thrust lacking precision. Despite his best efforts, his movements were more reactive than intentional, driven by panic rather than technique. Jack, seeing Nova¡¯s erratic swings, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle between strikes. "You look like a kid trying to swat a fly!" he called out, ducking under a goblin¡¯s blade and countering with a wild slash that sent the creature staggering back. "Yeah? Well, you¡¯re not exactly a swordsman yourself!" Nova shot back, his frustration mounting as he barely managed to fend off another goblin. Jack smirked, stepping closer to Nova as they fought side by side. "Maybe not, but all those games are finally paying off. Who knew spamming attacks in a game would be so useful?" His saber swung clumsily yet effectively, cutting down another goblin.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Nova gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the spear. He planted his feet and forced himself to focus. With a sharp thrust, he skewered a goblin rushing at him. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] "Hey, I think I¡¯m finally getting it!" Nova yelled, pulling the spear free and managing to avoid the retaliation of another goblin. "Don¡¯t let it go to your head!" Jack shouted, panting as he blocked another swing. "I¡¯m already carrying this team!" His grin was wide, but his breath was laboured, each swing of the saber taking more effort. Nova took another deep breath, steadying his hands. He lunged forward, thrusting the spear into the chest of a goblin that was charging at Jack from the side. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] "Thanks for the save!" Jack said, quickly taking out another goblin with a sloppy yet decisive strike. "Don¡¯t mention it" Nova replied, now starting to find a rhythm. With another powerful thrust, he pierced the neck of a goblin trying to flank him. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] The air was thick with the stench of goblin blood and the sound of clashing weapons. Nova and Jack pushed deeper into the chaotic streets of the goblin-infested village, their steps uneven yet determined. Each encounter tested their mettle, forcing them to adapt with every swing and thrust. Nova gripped his spear tighter, his palms slick with sweat. A goblin lunged at him, its jagged blade aiming for his torso. He sidestepped awkwardly, barely dodging, and thrust his spear forward with all his strength. The tip of the weapon pierced the goblin¡¯s chest, eliciting a guttural scream as the creature crumpled to the ground. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] "Got another!" Nova shouted, his breathing heavy. He turned just in time to see two more goblins closing in on him. Jack was faring slightly better, his saber slicing through the air with an eagerness that mirrored his passion for fantasy combat. Despite his lack of proper training, he managed to sidestep a goblin¡¯s swing and retaliate with a horizontal slash, severing the creature¡¯s neck. Blood sprayed in an arc as the goblin fell lifeless to the ground. "Nova, behind you!" Jack called out, pointing with his saber. Nova spun around, his spear already in motion. The goblin had just enough time to screech before the spearhead drove through its abdomen. Nova grunted, pulling the weapon free and stepping back to reassess his position. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] The goblins weren¡¯t slowing down. Another one leaped at Nova, snarling with a jagged dagger in hand. Nova instinctively raised his spear horizontally to block the attack. The goblin clung to the shaft, its teeth gnashing as it tried to claw at him. "Get off!" Nova shouted, shaking the creature loose before driving the spear directly into its head. The goblin slumped to the ground, lifeless. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] "Nice one!" Jack said, managing to deflect an incoming strike from another goblin. His counterattack was wild but effective, the saber slashing across the goblin¡¯s chest and dropping it to the ground. Nova was starting to feel the weight of his movements, his muscles aching from the repetitive thrusts. Yet, he couldn¡¯t stop. Another goblin darted toward him, its crude axe raised high. Nova braced himself, shifting his stance and thrusting his spear with newfound precision. The weapon punctured the goblin¡¯s throat, silencing its battle cry instantly. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] The two of them moved in sync now, their initial clumsiness giving way to a rhythm born of survival. Jack struck low while Nova attacked high, their movements complementing each other despite their inexperience. Nova skewered another goblin, his spear piercing through its ribcage. He twisted the weapon slightly before pulling it free, causing the creature to collapse in a heap. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] Jack took a deep breath, his arms trembling from exertion. He narrowly avoided an overhead swing from a goblin and retaliated with a slash across its midsection. "How many of these things are there?" Jack yelled, parrying another attack. "Too many!" Nova replied, thrusting his spear into the side of another goblin. The creature fell, clutching its wound as it let out a final gasp. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] Despite their exhaustion, Nova and Jack continued to fight, their confidence growing with every successful kill. The goblin horde seemed endless, but the two of them were slowly carving a path through the chaos. Bloodied but determined, they pressed on, their weapons a blur of movement as they cut down one goblin after another. The bodies of goblins littered the ground behind the gate, the stench of blood and sweat mingling in the air. Nova leaned on his spear for support, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Jack wiped his saber against his sleeve, the fabric already soaked with gore. "We did it" Nova said between breaths, looking at the carnage they had left behind. "I¡¯ve taken down 50." Jack nodded grimly, his voice steady. "I killed 50 myself. That¡¯s only the start, though. We¡¯ve still got the whole village to clear out." They stepped through the gate and into the goblin village. The "buildings" were little more than crude tents stitched together from animal hides, their frames crooked and swaying slightly in the breeze. The place was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of a small fire in the distance. Nova tightened his grip on his spear. "Let¡¯s finish this." The two began their grim task, weaving through the village and methodically dispatching every goblin they encountered. Each fight added to their growing experience and confidence, but the exhaustion was beginning to weigh on them. Nova lunged at a goblin that tried to ambush them from behind one of the tents, his spear piercing its chest with ease. [Received 50 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] Jack handled another goblin nearby, dodging its wild swing before driving his saber into its gut. The creature let out a pained squeal before collapsing at his feet. The battles blurred together as they moved from one tent to the next, cutting down goblins in every corner of the village. By the time they reached the center, the bodies of 240 goblins lay scattered in their wake, their crude weapons and makeshift armor no match for Nova and Jack¡¯s growing skill. "I think that¡¯s all of them" Jack said, wiping his brow. Nova was about to respond when his gaze fell on the largest tent in the village. Unlike the others, this one was reinforced with wooden supports and draped with thick hides that bore tribal markings. The tent exuded an ominous presence. "Guess that¡¯s where the boss is" Nova muttered, straightening up and gripping his spear tighter. Jack glanced at him, his expression serious. "No turning back now." Nova nodded then said ¡°I¡¯ve killed 120 goblins and you did so too, the one to deliver the final blow to this one will win, deal?¡± by the end he turned to look at Jack. Jack smirked while agreeing. ¡°Deal.¡± Then he looked at the timer. [00:32:14] ¡°We still have around 30 minutes before the timer for the special reward runs out¡± reminded Jack to Nova ¡°Mhm, we should be able to finish in time¡± Nova replied after thinking about it. The two approached cautiously, stepping over the remnants of goblins they had slain. Nova pushed aside the heavy flap that served as the tent¡¯s entrance, and they stepped inside. The air inside the tent was hot and heavy, carrying the smell of damp earth and decay. At the center stood a massive goblin compared to the ones they fought. It was 4 feet tall, its green skin was riddled with scars, and its muscles bulged as it shifted its weight. In one hand, it gripped a rusty sword that looked far more dangerous than any of the crude weapons they had seen before. In the other, it held a battered shield. Above its head, glowing letters hovered ominously: Goblin Captain Chapter 4: Completed The goblin captain¡¯s beady red eyes locked onto them, and it let out a guttural roar that shook the walls of the tent. "Well" Jack said, taking a step forward and raising his saber. "Looks like this is the final round." Nova adjusted his grip on his spear, his knuckles white. "Let¡¯s take it down." [Goblin Captain] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 0 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 3 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 2 Speed: 2 Intelligence: 2 Wisdom: 1 Will: 0 Luck: 0 Both Nova and Jack glanced at the goblin captain¡¯s stats, exhaling softly in relief. It wasn¡¯t beyond their capabilities. Nova turned to Jack, his tone nonchalant. ¡°Which flank are you taking?¡± Jack answered without hesitation, ¡°The right.¡± Then, with a quick glance toward the goblin captain, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t stay in one spot for too long. Keep moving. This thing¡¯s got low dexterity and speed¡ªwe can use that against it.¡± Nova rolled his eyes but nodded. ¡°Yeah, I figured that out, y¡¯know?¡± He shifted his stance, preparing to take the left flank. As if on cue, both of them sprinted at the same time. The goblin captain had barely finished roaring and readying itself for battle when it noticed two figures charging at it like titans. Caught off guard, it hesitated, unsure which target to focus on. Its indecision didn¡¯t last long¡ªinstinctively, it turned toward the nearest threat. Unfortunately for Nova, that nearest threat was him. ¡°Ah, come on!¡± Nova cursed, bracing himself as he shouted, ¡°You lucky bastard, this one¡¯s on me! Hit him, Jack!¡± A faint smile tugged at Jack¡¯s lips as he dashed toward the goblin captain¡¯s side. The creature, completely focused on Nova, failed to notice the swift approach. Jack didn¡¯t waste the opportunity¡ªhis saber flashed, slicing cleanly into the goblin captain¡¯s exposed side. A deep, jagged wound opened, blood spilling out in thick rivulets. The goblin captain froze mid-charge, its body jerking as if jolted by a surge of pain. Then came the roar¡ªa deafening, guttural cry that echoed through the battlefield. Enraged, it began swinging its rusty sword and battered shield in a wild frenzy, thrashing at everything around it. Nova and Jack stood a few paces away, calmly watching the goblin captain¡¯s chaotic rampage. Jack smirked, his tone casual as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for this big guy to tire himself out. Then we finish the job.¡± Nova gave a small nod, his eyes never leaving the goblin captain. ¡°Fine, but just so you know¡± he said with a grin, ¡°this kill¡¯s still mine.¡± Jack chuckled, saying nothing more as they watched the goblin captain rage on. After five minutes of relentless thrashing, the goblin captain¡¯s frenzy subsided. Its senses returned, and its heavy, labored breaths filled the air. It dropped its dented shield, desperate to recover faster. As it panted and steadied itself, its eyes finally fixed on the two towering figures standing motionless nearby. The goblin captain froze for a moment, realizing that the two giants hadn¡¯t lifted a finger during its entire outburst. They stood there, calm and composed, almost as if they¡¯d been watching a performance. And, in a way, they had. Nova broke the silence, a light laugh escaping him. ¡°Look at that. This little guy finally noticed us. I was starting to think he was auditioning for a solo show.¡± Jack sighed and shot him an exasperated look. ¡°Man, can you be serious for once?¡± Nova instantly quipped, ¡°Nah, you¡¯re the serious one here.¡± Jack shook his head, a mix of annoyance and fondness crossing his face. Sometimes this best friend of his was an absolute pain. ¡°Let¡¯s just finish this guy off. We¡¯ve got better things to do.¡± Nova smirked and replied, ¡°Sure, sure. You can stay back, though. No need to strain yourself, old man.¡± Without waiting for a response, he dashed toward the exhausted goblin captain, spear in hand. Jack stood there, momentarily stunned. Then he shouted, ¡°I¡¯M ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS OLDER THAN YOU!¡± His voice echoed as he bolted after Nova, saber ready. Nova reached the goblin captain first, his movements quick and precise. The spear pierced through the monster¡¯s neck with a satisfying crunch. The goblin captain staggered, its life slipping away, yet it wasn¡¯t done. With one last surge of defiance, it raised its rusty sword and swung it down at Nova in a desperate attack.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Caught off guard, Nova tried to sidestep, but the strike was too fast. He braced for impact. At the last second, Jack appeared, his saber clashing against the goblin captain¡¯s descending blade. Sparks flew as the redirected strike missed Nova entirely. Nova took a shaky step back, exhaling sharply. ¡°You know¡± he muttered, ¡°I had that under control.¡± Jack lowered his saber, glancing at him with an unimpressed expression. ¡°Sure you did¡± he deadpanned. The goblin captain finally collapsed, its lifeless body hitting the ground with a dull thud. A moment of silence followed, broken only by the ragged breaths of the two combatants. Then, as if on cue, a notification echoed in their minds. [Received 500 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased] [Skill: Spear Thrust has been learned] [Mission: Kill all the goblins in the village has been completed] Rewards materialized before Nova''s eyes: There were so many notifications flooding Nova''s mind that he didn¡¯t know where to start. His eyes darted from one alert to another, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. He decided to focus on one thing first: the Stat EXP he¡¯d been accumulating since the mission began. However, he was stuck. He didn¡¯t understand the difference between Stat EXP and EXP, and there was only one person he trusted to explain it. Turning his head slowly, Nova¡¯s gaze locked onto Jack, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face. ¡°Hey man, you know I like you, right?¡± he said, his tone dripping with shameless charm. Jack let out an exasperated sigh, already sensing where this was going. ¡°What do you need now?¡± he asked, rubbing his temple. Nova wasted no time. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve been getting Stat EXP and EXP, but what¡¯s the difference? Also, I kept seeing something about ¡®Spear proficiency¡¯ whenever I got Stat EXP. Care to explain?¡± Jack could only shake his head. He was just as new to all of this as Nova, but thanks to his passion for RPGs, he¡¯d managed to figure out a few things during their short time in this strange world. He decided to share what he knew. ¡°Alright, listen up¡± Jack began. ¡°There are two types of EXP we can get. Stat EXP, as the name suggests, is used to directly increase your stats without needing to level up. From what I¡¯ve seen, you need 500 Stat EXP to get 1 free stat point that you can allocate however you want.¡± Nova nodded, his curiosity piqued. ¡°As for Spear proficiency¡± Jack continued, ¡°it increases the more you kill with that weapon. Basically, the more you use a specific weapon type, the better you get at it. And when you unlock a skill, like your Spear Thrust, it¡¯s best to level it up by using it in battle or through dedicated practice. Skills improve with use.¡± Nova listened attentively, taking in every word. This was vital information, and without it, he knew he¡¯d struggle to keep up in this new life. After a moment of contemplation, he gave a confident nod. ¡°Got it. Makes sense.¡± With that, he called up his status screen, eager to review everything he had gained from this adventure. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 13 Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 3 Speed: 4 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 6 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (0) (0/500) ¡°Hm, I have 13 Stat points to distribute¡­¡± Nova thought out loud, but before he could say anything to Jack, his friend interrupted him. ¡°You really do take me for a library, don¡¯t you? Bet you don¡¯t even know what those stats mean, right?¡± Jack said with a smirk. Nova, as usual, nodded without shame. Jack sighed. ¡°Alright, listen up. Strength is pretty straightforward. It boosts your physical power¡ªyour punches, kicks, and weapon use. The higher it is, the more damage you¡¯ll deal. Vigor increases your body¡¯s defense and vitality. It¡¯s like body tempering. Think of it like this: the higher your Vigor, the more resilient you¡¯ll be, your injuries will heal faster, and your stamina will be greater. Dexterity¡¯s all about agility and explosive speed. High enough, and you¡¯ll be able to perform moves that seem almost impossible and use your power more efficiently. Speed, well, that¡¯s just how fast you are in a straight-up sense¡ªyour maximum speed.¡± ¡°Intelligence should affect your mana capacity, while Wisdom¡¯s all about control¡ªbasically, your brain processes things faster and gives you better control over mana. As for Will, I have no idea. Luck, though¡­ it¡¯s probably related to finding rare items, getting better drops, or maybe even getting out of tight spots alive. I¡¯m not 100% sure about that one either¡± Jack explained, taking a deep breath after that long explanation. Nova listened intently to Jack''s explanation, then began to consider his options carefully. ¡®Should I focus on Strength? But if I face an enemy with high dexterity and speed, I won¡¯t even know how I died¡­¡¯ He thought to himself. ¡®I¡¯ve already started with the crappiest Class, so survival is my priority. I need to secure that first. Speed should come first, then Dexterity, and lastly, Wisdom. If I can increase my body¡¯s speed and make my mind fast enough to process it, I¡¯ll be able to keep up.¡¯ Nova slowly made up his mind, convinced that this was the best path for him at this stage. He¡¯d just have to bear with it until he reached the mid-late game, where he could finally start reaping the rewards. But for now¡­ he and Jack were the weakest humans on Earth. With that, he focused and allocated his points accordingly. Once he finished, he called up his status. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 8 Speed: 10 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active : Spear Thrust (0) (0/500) ¡®Good, I can already feel the changes. My thinking speed has skyrocketed. Now that I¡¯ve upgraded my Stats, I can confidently say that 3 is the average human¡¯s benchmark, and 6 should be humanity¡¯s cap. That means I¡¯ve broken through the limits of human potential in three different areas. Pretty cool.¡¯ Nova thought to himself, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He started doing small sprints, and the difference was clear. Then he pushed himself, testing his maximum speed. To his surprise, it broke the current Olympian record¡ªhis top speed now reached 65 km/h. ¡®Why am I shaking so badly?¡¯ Nova wondered, a huge grin spreading across his face. The look he wore would have sent shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. Jack wasn''t paying attention, too focused on testing his own progress. But even if he had been looking, he wouldn¡¯t have been surprised by Nova¡¯s look. His friend was a freak, and Jack knew it all too well. If he had to categorize the danger level of every human, none of them would even come close to Nova. By society¡¯s standards, Nova wasn¡¯t human. Chapter 5: Goblin General Soon, a portal opened in front of them, its swirling colours humming softly as a notification flashed: [Portal will close in 10:00] The familiar sickly sensation from their first portal experience crept up on Nova again, but he quickly shook it off. He turned toward Jack, his expression focused. ¡°Ready?¡± Jack nodded, his gaze sharp and unwavering. ¡°Once we¡¯re out, find the nearest White portal and enter. We need to keep moving or we¡¯ll be dead the moment we get caught.¡± Nova gave a subtle nod. ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t wait for me if you find a White portal. You know the rendezvous point if we¡¯re separated. I¡¯ll catch up when I¡¯m strong enough.¡± Jack gave him a reassuring smile, though there was an edge of worry in his eyes. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll see you there.¡± Without another word, they both stepped into the portal. The world around them twisted and warped, and the sickly sensation slammed into Nova¡¯s stomach. His head spun as if he were being torn apart from the inside out. He clenched his teeth, trying to hold onto his senses, and after a few seconds, the discomfort subsided. When his eyes snapped open again, he scanned his surroundings quickly, but there was no sign of Jack. Instead, a vibrant Green portal stood right before him, just a couple of steps away. He hesitated for only a moment, his instincts telling him to be cautious, but the pull of the portal was undeniable. If he took two steps, he¡¯d be inside. Nova was taken aback, his gaze fixed on the swirling Green portal in front of him. ¡®Should I enter this one?¡¯ he wondered, hesitating. ¡®If I remember correctly, after White, Green portals were the most common. That should mean they aren¡¯t much harder than White, right?¡¯ His thoughts were cut short as he noticed people darting through the streets, using their powers recklessly. It didn¡¯t take long for him to realize the truth¡ªthere were too many of them, and they moved in organized patterns, like a gang patrolling their territory. The oppressive atmosphere made one thing clear: he had no chance of escaping alive if he stayed. Gripping his fists, Nova steeled his resolve. Entering the portal was a gamble, but it was far better than waiting to be cornered by these people. Without second-guessing himself, he lunged toward the Green portal and stepped through. The moment he entered, a wave of nausea hit him like a sledgehammer. The spinning sensation in his head was far worse than when he had used the White portal. His stomach churned violently, and he felt like he was moments away from throwing up. Yet, he had no control over his body; it was as if he were suspended in a chaotic void. Milliseconds stretched into agonizing hours in this disorienting state. A moment later, the chaos subsided, and the surroundings gradually stabilized. Nova found himself standing in what appeared to be a waiting room, much like the one from the White portal. The only noticeable difference was the dense Green fog swirling around, giving the area an eerie, vibrant glow. Before he could take in more details, a mechanical notification rang in his ears: [Select a weapon] [Mission starts in 05:00] ¡°Same notification as before, huh¡± Nova muttered, his voice echoing faintly in the fog. He clenched his fists, feeling a small wave of relief. ¡®At least they let me pick a weapon here¡¯ he thought. ¡®Without it, I¡¯d be utterly defenseless. Too bad they don¡¯t let you take these weapons outside¡­ Does that mean I need to find something permanent inside? What a pain.¡¯ Shaking off his frustration, Nova focused on his choice. He pictured a spear, its sleek form materializing in his mind¡¯s eye. Almost instantly, a prompt appeared: [Spear selected] [Are you sure?] ¡°Yeah, yeah, just give me the spear¡± Nova thought, impatiently dismissing the confirmation. In an instant, a spear materialized in his left hand, its weight and balance immediately registering in his grip. He gave it a small twirl to test it, nodding in approval. The five-minute countdown ticked away in silence as Nova sat, spear resting across his lap, lost in thought. ¡®¡­The spear has five basic attacks¡¯, he recalled. ¡®Since I¡¯ve already learned Thrust, I still need to master Sweep, Overhead Strike, Lunge, and Jab.¡¯ Nova gripped the spear tighter, resolving to work through the techniques systematically. His thoughts then shifted to something he had almost forgotten. ¡®Oh, right¡ªthe medallion from the last mission.¡¯ With that realization, he focused his mind on it, summoning the system. [Retrieve Goblin Slayer¡¯s Medallion?] ¡°Yes¡± Nova thought without hesitation. The medallion appeared in Nova¡¯s hand out of thin air, its metallic surface cool to the touch. He examined it closely. It was a simple pendant, inscribed with what looked like intricate symbols¡ªlikely the goblin language. Without hesitation, Nova slipped it around his neck. Immediately, his senses expanded outward in a ripple, granting him a clear awareness of everything within a 10-meter radius. He could feel the faint movement of the air, the subtle vibrations of the ground, and even the presence of the Green fog around him. ¡°This is... kinda nice¡± he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He leaned back, gripping his spear loosely, and waited for the timer to hit zero. [Mission starts in 00:02] [Mission starts in 00:01] [Mission started] A series of notifications appeared in his mind. [Mission: Survive for 1 day] Rewards:
  1. Primary Reward:
  1. Special Reward: (If the mission is completed without losing any body parts)
When Nova saw the rewards, he was pleasantly surprised. ¡®These rewards are way better than the White portal ones,¡¯ he thought. ¡®Maybe I might die in this trial. If the rewards reflect how dangerous it is, then this trial should be at least 5 to 10 times more dangerous than the previous one.¡¯ As the fog began to disperse, it revealed a barren land stretched out before him. Nova scanned his surroundings and noticed two prominent structures: a cavern and an arena. He guessed that the cavern was for resting and the arena was meant for combat, though the details were unclear.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As if reading his thoughts, a notification appeared: [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] ¡°Damn, did it have to be such a killjoy? Death just for being late? They should¡¯ve implemented this system in various jobs. Half the population would¡¯ve disappeared on the first day¡± Nova muttered with a slight laugh, shaking his head. With no time to waste, he made his way toward the arena. A couple of minutes later, Nova found himself standing in the center of the arena. Glancing at the timer, he saw that there were still 2 minutes remaining. Deciding to use the time productively, he took a stance, gripping his spear tightly. Nova shifted into position, gripping the spear firmly before thrusting it forward with precision. A notification rang in his ears. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Curious, he opened his status to check how much progress he had made. However, a slight disappointment crept over him as he read the numbers. Spear Thrust (0) (1/500) ¡°1 point for each thrust... It¡¯ll probably take me about 16 minutes to hit 500 if I don¡¯t stop. Alright, let¡¯s make use of the downtime to push my skills up. I should be fine with just 4 hours of sleep¡±. Nova muttered, calculating his training schedule. ¡°It¡¯s going to be the busiest day of my life.¡± With a plan forming in his mind, he got back to work, thrusting the spear repeatedly. By the time the timer was about to hit zero, Nova gave his progress one last glance. Spear Thrust (0) (65/500) The countdown reached its final moments. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] Then, from the other side of the arena, a goblin emerged¡ªtowering, hulking, and far larger than anything Nova could have possibly imagined. Its every step seemed to shake the ground beneath it. Above its head, a red name glowed ominously: [Goblin General] Nova narrowed his eyes, gripping his spear tightly as a thought crossed his mind. ¡®Let me see his status¡¯ he thought, focusing intently on the massive figure before him. [Goblin General] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 0 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 14 Vigor: 15 Dexterity: 6 Speed: 6 Intelligence: 5 Wisdom: 4 Will: 0 Luck: 0 "This guy is broken. One hit will probably kill me, and I have no idea how many times I¡¯ll have to stab him to take him down¡­" Nova muttered with a sigh. "Green portal, huh? Figures this would be the first fight." The goblin general loomed before him, a standing at 6¡¯0 figure of raw menace. Its sickly greenish skin was marred by deep battle scars and tribal tattoos, each marking a tale of survival and conquest. The armor it wore was a grotesque patchwork of its enemies¡¯ remains¡ªreinforced leather, scavenged metal plates, and bone adornments that gave it an almost primal appearance. Draped over its shoulder was a tattered cloak, once-proud banners of defeated foes now reduced to trophies of its victories. In its hand, it wielded a jagged sword, chipped yet deadly, glinting faintly in the arena¡¯s harsh light. Nova raised an eyebrow at the imposing sight but didn¡¯t hesitate. Wasting time on this opponent wasn¡¯t an option¡ªevery second spent here was time he could invest in training and growing stronger. Without a word, he dashed toward the goblin general¡¯s right flank, his spear aimed for the creature¡¯s exposed side. His movements were swift and deliberate, the spear cutting through the air in a precise thrust. The goblin general didn¡¯t have time to react fully, but its instincts kicked in. With a guttural snarl, it brought its jagged sword down in a sharp arc, intercepting the spear mid-strike. Nova halted his attack, wary of his spear snapping under the goblin general¡¯s powerful counter. He quickly sidestepped, moving fluidly behind the goblin, and drove his spear forward in another precise thrust aimed at its back. The goblin general attempted to evade, clumsily shifting to the side, but its bulk and lack of agility worked against it. The spear¡¯s tip found its mark, piercing through the goblin¡¯s flesh. Yet, the monstrous foe didn¡¯t even flinch. It turned with an almost mechanical resilience, its jagged sword swinging down in a brutal arc with all its might. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Nova gritted his teeth and yanked the spear free, his muscles straining as he narrowly dodged the descending blade. The weapon slammed into the ground with such force that a cloud of dust erupted, obscuring the battlefield. Nova leapt back, his grip tightening on his spear as his eyes scanned the swirling dust. The goblin general was no longer in sight. He shifted into a defensive stance, his senses on high alert. The medallion around his neck pulsed faintly, its power giving him a heightened awareness that encompassed a ten-meter radius. Every nerve in his body was tense, waiting. Suddenly, there was a subtle shift in the dust¡ªa flicker of movement his heightened senses detected just in time. Without hesitation, Nova dodged to the side, and a jagged sword burst through the dust, aimed directly at where he had been standing moments before. The goblin general¡¯s attack speed was astonishingly fast, and Nova couldn¡¯t help but feel the intensity of the battle weigh on him. ¡®I need to push further. I can¡¯t let myself stay in this disadvantageous position so early in the fight. I¡¯ll try to exhaust him... make him tire himself out¡¯ Nova thought, determination building within him. With that resolve, Nova surged forward, closing the distance between them at lightning speed. The goblin general barely had time to react, seeing only a blur before Nova was right in front of him, spear thrusting toward his belly. But the goblin wasn¡¯t unprepared. It quickly pulled its sword back and swung, not at the spear but directly at Nova. Nova¡¯s eyes gleamed with understanding as his lips curled up in a smile. The goblin¡¯s attack speed might be terrifying, but his movement speed wasn¡¯t as quick. Without halting his thrust, Nova swiftly released his grip with his left hand and sidestepped to the right, spinning with the motion. His back was now to the goblin general, and with a reverse grip on the spear, he aimed it precisely. The blade of the spear found its mark in the goblin¡¯s belly, sinking in with a sickening squelch. The goblin¡¯s sword slashed through nothing but empty air. For a brief moment, the only sound in the arena was the ominous drip of the goblin¡¯s blood hitting the sand. Nova wasn¡¯t going to take any chances. With both hands firmly gripping the spear, he swiftly yanked it out of the goblin general¡¯s belly and retreated, putting distance between them. The goblin general let out a furious roar, his body trembling with rage, but he quickly suppressed it. As a seasoned general, he knew better than to let his emotions control his actions. He took a deep breath, his anger simmering beneath the surface, and focused, ready to fight with more caution and precision. ¡®This goblin is probably as smart as an average man¡¯ Nova thought, watching the goblin¡¯s actions and how he composed himself in the heat of battle. Not wasting any time, Nova dashed forward once more, his speed reaching its peak as he closed the gap between them. The goblin general tensed, preparing himself for another onslaught, but Nova was ready to mix things up. With a sudden sidestep, Nova angled his body and thrust his spear, this time aiming for the goblin¡¯s legs. If he could injure the goblin¡¯s mobility, the fight would be as good as won. The goblin general would become nothing more than a punching bag for him to toy with. The goblin general was caught off guard by Nova''s target, his defense lagging just enough to give Nova the opening he needed. By the time the goblin had raised his sword, the spear had already punctured his right leg, exiting just above the knee. A sickening crack echoed as the goblin''s knee buckled under the sudden force, and the general stumbled, struggling to maintain his balance. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Nova, having found his rhythm, wasted no time. He quickly dashed behind the goblin and thrust his spear straight into the back of the right knee. The goblin''s howl of pain echoed across the arena, his sword swinging wildly in desperation, but his strikes were as clumsy as his movements. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Nova, however, was already several paces away, observing the goblin''s frantic swings from a safe distance. The goblin''s energy was quickly draining, his movements growing sluggish with each futile attack. A smirk crept across Nova''s face as he watched the goblin burn through his stamina. "I made the right choice going for speed first" Nova muttered to himself, watching the goblin general waste his precious energy in what had become a hopeless battle. Nova stood over the goblin general, watching as the last of its stamina drained away. The goblin was barely clinging to consciousness, kneeling in defeat with no strength left to fight back. Nova¡¯s eyes looked down on him and then, without hesitation, he gripped the spear firmly with both hands, pulling it back before thrusting forward with all the strength he could muster. The spear tip tore through the goblin general¡¯s skull, entering from one side and exiting from the other, ending the battle in a single decisive strike. A notification echoed in his mind. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Received 2500 Stat EXP] Chapter 6: Training (1) Nova retrieved his spear from the goblin general¡¯s head, slowly breathing in and out. ¡°Phew, I wonder when the next fight will be. Ah, let¡¯s not forget about the stat points I gained. Let me see¡± he muttered to himself. With a thought, he called up his status to check on his progress. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 11 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (0) (69/500) ¡°5 points, huh? I think boosting Dexterity and Speed is the way to go for now¡± Nova muttered. He then allocated the points he had left, and the status window updated accordingly. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 11 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (0) (69/500) ¡°I can already feel the difference with just 2 points... I need to start training more seriously. Time to push Spear Thrust further.¡± Nova muttered, noticing the changes in his body. If he were to face the goblin general again now, he was confident he could defeat it without much effort. His maximum speed had likely increased to around 80 km/h, though he had no idea how fast his explosive burst speed had become. With that, Nova didn¡¯t even take a full minute to rest before resuming his spear thrusts. Luckily, food wasn¡¯t a concern inside the portals. Somehow, his cells always felt fully energized, making training much more convenient. With his improved dexterity, the 500 thrusts that should have taken 16 minutes now only took 10, and that was with him taking his time, performing each thrust with perfect form. Soon, the 500th thrust was completed, and a notification appeared: [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Skill Spear Thrust (0) (500/500) -> Spear Thrust (1) (0/1000)] When he performed another thrust, he could immediately feel the difference. The power, the speed, the angle¡ªeverything felt stronger and more refined. A surge of excitement rushed through him, almost making him burst out laughing. He grinned and said aloud, ¡°Man, once I¡¯m done with this, I¡¯m going to go beat Jack¡¯s ass.¡± Just imagining Jack¡¯s face after losing filled Nova with immense satisfaction. After taking a brief moment to catch his breath, Nova resumed his position and began thrusting again. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Sweat drenched his body, but he kept going without stopping. His focus never wavered¡ªhis sole objective was to become as strong as possible inside this portal. He had finally gained the chance to control his own life, and he wasn¡¯t going to let anyone take that away from him now. About 20 minutes later, the thousandth thrust was completed. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Skill Spear Thrust (1) (1000/1000) -> Spear Thrust (2) (0/2000)] Without hesitation, he performed the first thrust of the new set. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] The thrust felt far more powerful this time. In his mind, it seemed like it could¡¯ve taken the goblin general¡¯s entire leg with it, though he knew it was just the rush of adrenaline. Still, he was certain it would¡¯ve been enough to make the general kneel in a single blow, rather than two. Forty minutes later:Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Skill Spear Thrust (2) (2000/2000) -> Spear Thrust (3) (0/4000)] At the one-hour mark since he had killed the goblin general, a notification resonated in his mind. [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] "One hour" Nova thought to himself. "Do I really have to fight every hour for a day straight? This is insane. Who came up with this?" He took a deep breath and settled into a calm state, knowing he had no choice but to prepare for the upcoming battle. He regretted not taking a break earlier, as exhaustion began to weigh on him. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] Nova¡¯s eyes locked onto the opposite side of the arena, his gaze sharp and focused. He braced himself for whatever would come next. Then, two goblin generals appeared. [Goblin General] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 0 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 14 Vigor: 15 Dexterity: 6 Speed: 6 Intelligence: 5 Wisdom: 4 Will: 0 Luck: 0 Nova''s lips twitched. "Really? I hope this isn''t a trend, or I''m going to die out here. Ah, my poor dreams." The two goblin generals strode toward him, their movements slow and deliberate as they readied themselves for battle. Nova didn¡¯t hesitate. He had fought these kinds of opponents before. He surged forward with full speed, spear in hand, heading straight for the right goblin general. In less than a second, he was already thrusting his spear toward the goblin, his momentum carrying him forward. The right goblin general was caught off guard. It hadn¡¯t expected such speed and decisiveness. It tried to raise its sword, but by the time the sword was lifted, Nova had already driven his spear into its knee. A golf-ball-sized hole appeared in its left knee, and the goblin collapsed, kneeling on its right knee. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] The right goblin general roared in pain, pressing his hands to the ground to keep himself from collapsing. Nova, having anticipated the movement, was already mid-motion to thrust at the goblin¡¯s head. However, the left goblin general intervened. With a swift swing of his sword, he forced Nova to halt his attack. The sudden strain shot through Nova¡¯s body, his blood rushing backward, his muscles tightening. He barely managed to dodge the blow. "Jeez, you really had to make me injure myself. How about I kill you first, then?" Nova smirked at the left goblin general before charging at him. The left goblin general seemed to understand Nova¡¯s intent. For a moment, it almost looked like the goblin was sneering. Without waiting for Nova to get any closer, he swung his sword, knowing full well that he couldn¡¯t react to Nova¡¯s speed. Instead, he took the gamble, swinging pre-emptively. Instead of retreating, Nova dove into the left goblin general¡¯s swing. As the vertical slash came down, he sidestepped, quickly positioning himself on the goblin¡¯s left flank. Without hesitation, he thrust his spear into the goblin¡¯s left knee. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] A howl of agony erupted from the goblin general. His left leg was severed just below the knee, and without the ability to kneel, he collapsed, flailing on the ground, his hands kicking up dust as he struggled to strike at anything. Nova approached the goblin slowly, a thought forming in his mind. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t I try learning the other spear basics?¡¯ He looked down at the goblin, now a perfect practice dummy. ¡®Let¡¯s see if I can work on the Jab skill.¡¯ With that decision made, Nova took the jab stance, positioning his feet shoulder-width apart. His spear was held firmly in both hands, his left hand near the center of the shaft, and his right hand at the end. Relaxing his grip, he stepped forward with his front foot, extending his arms quickly as the tip of the spear was towards the vital areas of the goblin general. [Spear proficiency increased] Nova repeated the jab over and over, gradually becoming more comfortable with the motion. As he gained confidence, he started increasing the speed, turning the jab into a true weapon. Notifications rang constantly in his ears, but he ignored them, too focused on perfecting his technique. The left goblin general¡¯s body was riddled with holes, his lifeless form lying in a pool of blood that had spread beneath him. Nova didn¡¯t stop until he heard the notification he had been waiting for. [Spear proficiency increased] [Skill: Spear Jab has been learned] [Received 2500 Stat EXP] "Finally" Nova muttered as he caught his breath. His eyes shifted to the kneeling right goblin general. "Which one should I learn next? Sweep seems like the best choice at this point. I can leave Lunge and Overhead Strike for later." Having made his decision, Nova approached the right goblin general, getting into position. His knees were slightly bent, his body centered, and his grip firm on the spear with both hands. His right hand was near the middle of the shaft, while his left hand controlled the end of the weapon, ready to guide the sweep. With a fluid motion, he rotated his body, swinging the spear horizontally in a wide arc. He used his entire body, from his legs to his hips and then to his arms. The tip of the spear struck the goblin general¡¯s side, leaving a deep line of blood in its wake. [Spear proficiency increased] He repeated the motion, each sweep slicing through the goblin general''s body, limbs falling to the ground as it was filled with lacerations. It resembled death by a thousand cuts. Nova didn¡¯t stop until he heard the notification he had been waiting for. [Spear proficiency increased] [Skill: Spear Sweep has been learned] [Received 2500 Stat EXP] With a smile, Nova stopped. ¡°It feels good to improve so quickly. Now, I should have an hour to either rest or train more. I¡¯ll rest for at least 15 minutes, then train for another 45 before fighting again. This should give me the best rest-to-training ratio without pushing me too hard.¡± He checked his status, noticing he had points to allocate. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 10 Attributes: Strength: 4 Vigor: 3 Dexterity: 11 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (2/4000), Spear Jab (0) (0/500), Spear Sweep (0) (0/500) ¡®I need to invest some points in Vigor; it will allow me to train more. I also better increase my Strength to 7 at least. Let¡¯s do 10 Vigor and 7 Strength¡ªthey¡¯re the stats I need most right now.¡¯ Having made up his mind, he acted upon it. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 7 Vigor: 10 Dexterity: 11 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (3/4000), Spear Jab (0) (0/500), Spear Sweep (0) (0/500) Nova felt the changes taking place in his body. His poor stamina was now gone, and he felt like 15 minutes of rest was too long. ¡®Make it 5 minutes of rest and 55 minutes of training every hour before fights¡¯ he thought to himself. For the next 5 minutes, he sat down and started thinking about his friend. "I wonder how Jack is doing? Not even 2 hours have passed since we split up, but it feels like it''s been days. Hopefully, he''s doing well" Nova muttered while looking up at the sky from his sitting position. He soon stood up¡ªhe had training to do. For the next 55 minutes, Nova focused on Spear Jabs. He managed to perform 4,200 jabs without taking a single second of break. [Skill: Spear Jab (0) (500/500) -> Spear Jab (1) (0/1000)] [Skill: Spear Jab (1) (1000/1000) -> Spear Jab (2) (0/2000)] [Skill: Spear Jab (2) (2000/2000) -> Spear Jab (3) (0/4000)] [Skill: Spear Jab (3) (700/4000)] Nova took a deep breath, his mind sharp as he glanced at the countdown timer. ¡®Good enough for now. It should be time soon,¡¯ he thought, mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. As expected, the notification appeared. [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] Nova stood tall, his spear resting horizontally on his shoulders, his arms relaxed but ready. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting his mind settle into focus. The arena was about to become his battleground once again. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] From the other side of the arena, six goblin generals emerged, walking with their swords raised and their eyes locked on Nova. They were identical to the ones he had faced before. A feeling of unease stirred within him as he realized the pattern was repeating. His stats were growing rapidly, but that only made him more apprehensive¡ªwas he facing the same challenges for a reason? Shaking off the thought, Nova clenched his spear tightly and set his sights on the nearest goblin general. He rushed forward with speed and purpose, taking his jab stance. ¡®Kill four quickly. Then I can use the last two to perfect the missing spear forms¡¯ he decided, a smile on his face. Chapter 7: Training (2) Without any hesitation, Nova effortlessly dispatched the four goblin generals. His stats had grown so high that they posed no challenge, and he didn¡¯t even break a sweat. Moving on, he proceeded to sever a leg from each of the last two remaining goblin generals. Stopping in front of one of the kneeling goblins, he took a moment to prepare. With calculated precision, he adopted the Overhead Strike stance. His right foot was positioned behind him, the left foot planted firmly ahead. His knees were slightly bent, and his grip on the spear was steady¡ªhis left hand near the rear of the shaft, his right hand placed about a third of the way down. The grip was firm, yet relaxed enough to allow fluid movement. He slowly raised the spear overhead, the point directed toward the goblin general, the shaft angled just right. With a swift push of his back foot, he generated momentum for the strike. His right hand guided the spear¡¯s trajectory as his left hand drove it downward, carving a controlled arc. The spear tip sliced cleanly through the goblin¡¯s back, emerging from his chest with half the shaft embedded in the wound. The goblin¡¯s enraged howls echoed in the air, but to Nova, the only sound that mattered was the quiet system notification. [Spear proficiency increased.] Nova replayed his actions in his mind, his focus sharpening as he became more attuned to the movement. He corrected the small mistakes he had made and repeated the motion, each time refining his technique. It wasn¡¯t long before he heard the familiar sound he had been waiting for. [Received 2500 Stat EXP] [Spear proficiency increased.] [Skill: Spear Overhead Strike has been learned.] With a light exhale, Nova returned to his normal stance, resting the spear on his shoulders. He looked down at the remains of the goblin general, his thoughts drifting momentarily. ¡®These guys really make great dummies. Wouldn''t it be perfect if I could train like this forever?¡¯ He quickly dismissed the thought. ¡®Enough with these musings¡ªtime to learn the Lunge.¡¯ Nova approached the final goblin general. The goblin had already resigned itself to death, its eyes closed in acceptance of its fate. Nova shifted into the Lunge stance, which was almost identical to the Overhead Strike but required different execution. Taking a moment to center himself, he pushed off with his back foot, driving his front foot forward in a controlled yet swift motion. His front knee bent naturally as he simultaneously thrust the spear, guiding it with his right hand while using his left to propel it forward. The spear pierced cleanly through the right side of the goblin general¡¯s chest, emerging from the left side. The goblin stifled a scream, but before it could fully register the pain, Nova lunged again, not stopping until the goblin had been reduced to little more than a bloody mess. [Spear proficiency increased.] [Spear proficiency increased.] The only sounds that filled the arena now were the relentless system notifications and the pained howls of the goblin general. Nova pressed on, methodically executing each strike with precision. The goblin, long since silenced by the sheer intensity of the blows, lay motionless¡ªnothing more than a lifeless husk. Then, finally, the notification he had been waiting for arrived. [Received 2500 Stat EXP.] [Spear proficiency increased.] [Skill: Spear Lunge has been learned.] A small smile tugged at the corner of Nova¡¯s lips as he muttered to himself, ¡°Now I¡¯m done with the spear basics... just need to level them up.¡± He paused, a thought crossing his mind. ¡®I should check my status and allocate the newly acquired points.¡¯ With that, he called out inwardly. ¡®Status.¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 30 Attributes: Strength: 7 Vigor: 10 Dexterity: 11 Speed: 12 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 8 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (9/4000), Spear Jab (3) (700/4000), Spear Sweep (0) (0/500), Spear Lunge (0) (0/500), Spear Overhead Strike (0) (0/500) ¡®30 points... they seem like a lot, but... I need more¡¯ Nova thought, a sense of urgency growing in his gut. ¡®Even though this trial doesn''t seem meant to kill, but to train, I doubt they wanted to train sissies. Focus. I need more Wisdom to accelerate my brain speed¡ªat least 20. I¡¯ll allocate the rest evenly between Speed and Dexterity.¡¯ With a steady breath, Nova concentrated and allocated the points accordingly. He then checked again. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 7 Vigor: 10 Dexterity: 21 Speed: 20 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 20 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (9/4000), Spear Jab (3) (700/4000), Spear Sweep (0) (0/500), Spear Lunge (0) (0/500), Spear Overhead Strike (0) (0/500) Nova sprinted forward, eager to test the limits of his newfound speed. ¡®133 km/h... I can perfectly analyze it thanks to my brain. My burst speed is double that, and my agility has improved significantly. Did I just become a superhuman after not even three hours in this portal? This is crazy.¡¯ Five minutes passed as Nova stood still, letting the gravity of his transformation sink in. His body felt like it was pulsating with power, and his mind was sharper than ever. He snapped out of his reverie, stepping into position as he muttered to himself, "I will bring all of them as high as possible in 55 minutes. With my improved body, I should be able to level up a couple of these skills."This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased.] [Spear Jab proficiency increased.] [Spear Sweep proficiency increased.] [Spear Lunge proficiency increased.] [Spear Overhead Strike proficiency increased.] [Fight starts in 05:00.] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] Nova stopped to give a final check to his progress. Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (1659/4000), Spear Jab (4) (0/8000), Spear Sweep (1) (490/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (150/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) "Not bad, I did 1650 thrusts, 990 sweeps, 1650 lunges, 3300 jabs, and 1650 overhead strikes. Sweeps are too slow; it¡¯ll take a while to improve them" Nova mused. "I wonder what¡¯s the max level for these skills... if only I had my encyclopedia here!" He started seriously, but by the end, he chuckled at himself. Soon... [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] "Let me guess, 18 goblin generals?" Nova said aloud, a grin tugging at his lips. And he was right. As the fight began, 18 copies of the first goblin general he had defeated appeared, marching toward the center of the arena. ¡®This is going to go to shit really soon¡¯ Nova thought, already dreading what he knew was coming. He had an unsettling sense of what the fight would entail, and he didn¡¯t like it one bit. The battle, however, was over far quicker than expected. Nova had outgrown the goblin generals, and 18 of them were nowhere near enough to close the massive gap in stats and skills between the two sides. [Received 2500 Stat EXP.] [Spear Thrust proficiency increased.] As the last notification echoed in his mind, Nova lowered his spear, watching the 18 bodies disappear right before him. He was softly panting, his energy reserves running low. ¡®I need to increase my Vigor more, he thought. Otherwise, I won¡¯t last much longer here.¡¯ He called for his Status, but when it appeared, he noticed something unusual. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 54 Attributes: Strength: 7 Vigor: 10 Dexterity: 21 Speed: 20 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 20 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (1670/4000), Spear Jab (4) (3/8000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®The points required to earn 1 Stat point changed. I should¡¯ve gotten 90 from the 18 goblin generals, but I only earned 54¡­ Let me think... The only threshold I can see is the 100th point. I had already received 58 Stat points in total, so I only earned 42 out of the 90 before I hit the threshold, and then I only received 12 instead of 48... That means I need 2000 Stat EXP for each point of Stat. This is becoming painful. Difficulty is going up, but my strength will soon not be able to keep up. I¡¯ll add points to Vigor and shorten my breaks. I will also increase some Strength, and the rest will be split between Dexterity and Speed.¡¯ ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 20 Vigor: 24 Dexterity: 28 Speed: 30 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 20 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (1670/4000), Spear Jab (4) (3/8000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®That¡¯s better, I can finally feel the +15% from the medallion, it¡¯s giving me +3 Strength but only against goblins, so it¡¯s not shown... I see. I don¡¯t have time to waste. I will focus on jabs for now.¡¯ Nova focused his mind as he resumed the jab training, pushing his body into a steady rhythm. Every jab was a repetition, a motion that ingrained itself into his muscle memory. His body didn¡¯t tire, and with each jab, his proficiency increased. Time seemed to blur as Nova continued his relentless pace. [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Skill: Spear Jab (4) (8000/8000) -> Spear Jab (5) (10043/16000)] [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] The system¡¯s notification came through as he finished his session. ¡®18,000 jabs in an hour, that¡¯s okay. The more I increase my Dexterity and Speed, the higher the number will be. Let¡¯s rest for the next 5 minutes.¡¯ Nova muttered to himself, settling down momentarily to catch his breath. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] Nova stood up, taking a deep breath and rolling his shoulders. He had rested just enough to keep going. He turned his attention to the sand shifting beneath him. The ground trembled as the next wave of enemies appeared. 52 goblin generals, a staggering number. They marched toward the middle of the arena, their eyes locked on Nova. Nova didn¡¯t wait for the 52 goblin generals to reach the center of the arena. He charged forward with a burst of speed, closing the gap before they could organize themselves. The fight began to take a heavy toll on him, however. It wasn¡¯t just about raw stats¡ªnumbers made the real difference. While he was focused on one goblin general, four others would creep up from behind, forcing him to continuously fight in multiple directions. There was no way to avoid taking injuries under these circumstances. His breath grew laboured, each inhalation feeling more difficult than the last. As his spear pierced through the final goblin general''s body, he could hardly find the energy to pull it out. [Received 2500 Stat EXP] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] ¡®It¡¯s finally over¡­¡¯ Nova thought to himself, struggling to inhale as much air as his lungs could hold, as if he were starving for oxygen. The battle had drained him far more than expected. He quickly checked his status, eager to allocate his points where they could make the most difference. This time, he was prioritizing Wisdom, Dexterity, and Vigor. His max speed against such overwhelming numbers had proven to be useless¡ªthe goblins could tire him out before he could even finish a single wave. He needed more efficiency in dealing with them and, above all, more stamina. Wisdom would give him the mental clarity and processing speed to analyze the battlefield more effectively, allowing him to react faster and dodge more efficiently. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 20 Vigor: 50 Dexterity: 47 Speed: 30 Intelligence: 6 Wisdom: 40 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (3) (1692/4000), Spear Jab (5) (10043/16000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®As long as the injury isn¡¯t too deep, I shouldn¡¯t lose my combat strength.¡¯ Nova thought, already moving into the Spear Jab stance before he had even finished processing the idea. He knew that there was no time to waste¡ªpractice was the only way forward. Time passed quickly as Nova repeated the jab over and over. The 6th wave of goblin generals arrived with 152 enemies. Despite the large number, Nova managed to kill them all. He sustained only light injuries, and as soon as he sat down to rest, they began healing. His body¡¯s resilience was improving¡ªeach battle seemed to add a bit more endurance and speed to his every movement. Then came the 7th wave. This time, 444 goblin generals charged at him. Nova fought fiercely, but one of them got the upper hand for a brief moment. A goblin''s spear managed to graze his arm, and with a swift movement, he avoided a fatal blow¡ªbut not without consequences. His arm was fractured, but Nova didn''t flinch. He kept going, barely feeling the pain as his adrenaline surged. He finished the battle victorious, his arm still hanging awkwardly but not slowing him down. The 8th wave brought a massive increase to the number of enemies: 999 goblin generals. Nova was surprised. He had expected 1296 but pressed forward, deciding not to question it. The battle was intense, but Nova¡¯s experience and battle instincts were sharper than ever. He tore through them with increasing efficiency, and his injuries¡ªthough present¡ªslowly healed with each passing moment. His senses for combat had evolved so much that he was probably one of the most experienced fighters on Earth at that very moment. As he finished the last of the goblins in the 8th wave, he paused for a moment to catch his breath. [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] Before the 9th wave began, Nova opened his status window to take stock of his progress. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 50 Vigor: 67 Dexterity: 100 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 6 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (6) (11492/32000), Spear Jab (7) (16043/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) Nova muttered under his breath as he studied the increasing cost of Stat EXP, his mind working quickly. ¡°Not bad, but it¡¯s taking 32,000 Stat EXP for a single point now, and soon it¡¯ll quadruple again. I have 16 waves left... I wonder what the next one will be. The last wave should¡¯ve had 1296 goblin generals, but it stopped at 999, like something¡¯s about to change at 1000.¡± [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] The ground trembled as Nova focused intently on the arena gates, which creaked open with a foreboding rumble. A towering 14-foot monster emerged, its imposing form a testament to years of battle. His dark, sickly green skin was marred by deep scars, each one a story of survival and bloodshed. His eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light, radiating a chilling blend of malice and intelligence. He wore an armour adorned with spikes, skulls, and the bones of fallen enemies¡ªan unsettling display of his dominance. In his massive hands, he gripped a giant battleaxe that seemed to pulse with an ominous energy, glowing faintly in the shadows. Above his head, in dripping crimson blood, a name hovered: [Goblin Overlord] Nova¡¯s heart raced as he immediately checked the status of the goblin overlord. [Goblin Overlord] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 1 Class: None Titles: None Attributes: Strength: 86 Vigor: 91 Dexterity: 75 Speed: 68 Intelligence: 15 Wisdom: 41 Will: 0 Luck: 1 ¡°This¡­this is going to be fun¡± Muttered Nova as he gripped his spear tightly smiling. Chapter 8: Training (3) As the Goblin Overlord approached the center of the arena, Nova''s mind raced. ¡®His Dexterity and Speed are lower than mine¡ª I can wear him down. But his Vigor is off the charts. I have to be careful with my stamina; if I''m not, I¡¯ll tire before he does. My Wisdom is also higher. I might be able to catch him off guard if I play it right. For now, I¡¯ll go with a hit-and-run strategy. If that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll adapt.¡¯ The Goblin Overlord reached the middle of the arena, locking eyes with Nova. It seemed like he was sizing him up, likely forming a strategy based on his Strength and Vigor, the pillars of his power. Once he finished analyzing Nova, the Goblin Overlord took a step forward¡ªbut before his right foot could even touch the ground, Nova was already in motion. With a burst of speed, Nova shot forward at nearly 900 km/h. The Goblin Overlord¡¯s reflexes were too slow to react. His brain couldn¡¯t keep up. In an instant, Nova was in front of the foot that was about to land. Dropping into his jab stance, he thrust his spear forward with deadly precision, aiming for the sole. ¡®If I can disrupt his footing, he¡¯ll be slower, more vulnerable to my attacks.¡¯ Before the Overlord could even react, three deep spear wounds appeared in the sole of his right foot, each a couple of inches deep. [Spear Jab proficiency Increased] [Spear Jab proficiency Increased] [Spear Jab proficiency Increased] The Goblin Overlord''s face contorted. That part of his body was sensitive, and each time his right foot struck the ground, he felt a sharp, nagging pain that threw off his posture. His body instinctively shifted more of his weight onto his left foot, throwing off his balance. The result was a noticeable drop in his speed and agility. Even his strength suffered, as his spine was no longer aligned properly. To unleash his full power, he needed perfect posture, but now, with his center of gravity shifted, he needed time to adapt. Nova, seeing the shift in the Goblin Overlord''s stance, immediately repositioned after landing three precise jabs. But he didn¡¯t back off¡ªhe knew that if he let the Overlord adjust to the injury, it would lose its effectiveness. ¡®Right foot injured. Let¡¯s keep the pressure on and force more weight onto the left.¡¯ A smirk tugged at Nova¡¯s lips as he surged forward, using his speed to close the distance, aiming for the back of the Overlord¡¯s knee. The Goblin Overlord anticipated the move. With a swift calculation, he pivoted on his left foot and swung his battleaxe in a wide, 360¡ã arc without even reacting to Nova¡¯s approach. Annoyed, Nova clicked his tongue and pulled back. ¡®So he figured me out¡­¡¯ His thoughts raced. ¡®Should I risk matching my speed against his attack speed? I could probably dodge it, but at the cost of burning through my stamina. Meanwhile, this guy¡¯s just standing there, spinning that damn axe. He¡¯s so annoying, but I¡¯ll take the risk.¡¯ Having made up his mind, Nova dashed toward the goblin, this time aiming for the right leg. The goblin overlord grunted in frustration. Losing sight of Nova, he began swinging his battleaxe in wide, defensive arcs, trying to cover all his blind spots while still making an attempt to land a hit on his opponent. Nova watched closely. As the battleaxe swept forward, his senses heightened. He could feel the air shift, the wind howling as the blade cut through the space before him. The moment the axe completed its forward swing and began to retract, Nova sprang into action. His leg muscles screamed in protest, urging him to slow down, but he ignored the pain. This was his only window of opportunity. He reached the right leg in the blink of an eye, his focus locked on the battleaxe¡¯s blade as it passed just inches from his face, grazing his hair in the process. His hands didn¡¯t stop¡ªhe pulled back as far as he could. Planting his foot firmly on the ground, he thrust with everything he had. The spear drove into the right kneecap with a sickening thud, but it was stopped after only 10 cm by the goblin''s tough bones and thick muscles. His spear, a standard weapon from the trials, was far from a match for the overlord''s formidable Vigor. Though Nova¡¯s speed had given him the edge, it wasn¡¯t enough to fully pierce the goblin¡¯s knee. Swiftly, he retrieved his spear, but the battleaxe was already descending toward him. With barely any time, he knew he had to gamble. As he yanked his spear free, the axe came crashing down. Nova swept upward from right to left, catching the right side of the battleaxe with his spear. The force sent his body spiraling to the right, while the axe veered to the left. Nova¡¯s shoe was grazed by the descending blade, and he could see his toes through the narrow gap created by the axe¡¯s swing. ¡®That was too close... next time, I¡¯ll chop this bastard¡¯s toes off.¡¯ He repositioned, panting heavily. The goblin overlord wasn¡¯t faring much better. Nova sucked in a cold breath, not from exhaustion, but from a pain he had never felt before. The goblin overlord was wielding a massive battleaxe, one that Nova couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine the weight of. And yet, despite his injuries¡ªhis left sole still throbbing and his right knee with a deep, 10cm wound¡ªthe goblin continued to swing it effortlessly. The strain on his legs must have been immense.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Seeing the human catch his breath, the Goblin Overlord lowered his axe, wanting to recover a bit, as it seemed the fight was taking its toll on both of them. Nova, however, knew he couldn¡¯t afford to let up. If he allowed this to drag on, he would lose. Every bit of advantage mattered now. He steeled himself, mentally cursing as he thought, ¡®Next time, I¡¯ll spend points on Vigor. Fuck this. I don¡¯t want to fight like this anymore.¡¯ His speed, slightly reduced from the earlier bursts, carried him forward again, though his body was beginning to feel the strain. The goblin overlord, seeing Nova¡¯s slight decrease in pace, lifted his battleaxe with a renewed fury, ready to swat the human down like a fly. Why had he found such a tenacious enemy? Every foe he¡¯d faced since becoming a goblin overlord had been cut down with a single swing. Nova was an annoyance he hadn¡¯t expected. ¡®Should I stop targeting his legs and aim for something else? He might not expect it.¡¯ Nova thought, weighing his options. ¡®But where? Hmm¡­ the armpit could work. If he can¡¯t raise his arms, he¡¯s as good as dead. Left armpit it is.¡¯ With his target set, Nova locked his focus as the goblin overlord raised his battleaxe, preparing for the next swing. As the goblin overlord raised his axe, preparing to strike, Nova saw an opportunity. He appeared near the goblin''s left knee, anticipating the familiar attack. The goblin smirked as if he had predicted this move, swinging the battleaxe downward with brutal intent. Nova tightened his grip on the spear. As the battleaxe came down, he saw the goblin¡¯s armpit fully exposed for just a moment. In that brief instant, Nova zeroed in on the small opening between the arm and chest. He had to act fast¡ªtoo soon and the goblin would dodge, too late and his spear would be blocked. When the gap was just wide enough, Nova put all his strength into his legs, leaping upward, the tip of his spear glinting as it cut through the air toward its target and it soon found its mark. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] The goblin overlord let out an agonizing howl, dropping his battleaxe in front of him as Nova closed in. The spear¡¯s tip pierced through the armpit, exiting through the shoulder. The upward momentum from Nova¡¯s jump and the downward motion of the goblin¡¯s body combined, giving the strike double the speed. As the force from Nova¡¯s jump faded, gravity took hold, pulling him back down, and with it, the spear tore through the shoulder again. Blood splattered across Nova and the ground, staining his clothes a deep red. He didn¡¯t mind. With a swift motion, he landed, immediately dashing away, widening the gap between him and the goblin. ¡®That was dangerous, but my gamble paid off¡¯, Nova thought, a devilish grin spreading across his bloodied face. ¡®Now, time to focus on his legs.¡¯ The goblin overlord gritted his teeth in pain, clutching the battleaxe with his right hand, struggling to lift it as nimbly as before. But the weight was too much for him now. Nova, though exhausted, was more exhilarated than ever. This was the toughest fight he¡¯d ever faced, and the thrill of it made him feel alive. The constant danger of death from a single mistake sent a chill down his spine. Grinning crazily, he dashed forward again, somehow faster than before. As he moved behind the goblin, his eyes locked on the back of the left knee. With all his strength, he planted his right foot firmly and thrust his spear forward, determined to finish what he¡¯d started. The goblin overlord tried to turn around and swing his battleaxe, but the movement was clumsy. The weight of the axe dragged him down, leaving him unable to lift the shaft properly. He could only watch as Nova¡¯s spear drove through his left knee, nearly amputating it. His left leg was rendered useless. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] A high-pitched shriek of pain echoed across the arena. As the spear tore through the goblin overlord¡¯s knee, Nova swiftly withdrew it, watching as the goblin wobbled on one leg, struggling to maintain balance. Not wasting a moment, Nova took a step forward, the dust swirling around him as he closed the distance to the right leg. With speed as his ally, he let the momentum do the work, the spear driving deep into the bone of the right knee. The goblin overlord, now lost in his pain and confusion, could barely think straight. Acting purely on instinct, he began swinging his arms wildly, only widening the shoulder wound without care. His desperate thrashing was futile, as he sought to destroy everything around him, but nothing was working. Nova swiftly retreated, well aware of the death throes of a defeated opponent. This was his chance to recover, to let the goblin do the work for him. The thrashing continued for five long minutes. ¡®Is this guy immortal?¡¯ Nova thought, exasperated. ¡®Not once did he stop. Even if I pierced his heart, I don¡¯t think he¡¯d have died immediately. He sighed, acknowledging the thrill of this fight, but also the dangers that came with it.¡¯ Finally, as the goblin overlord¡¯s arms dropped, exhaustion took its toll. He could no longer lift them, his body spent, his eyelids heavy wanting to close but he wondered if he might ever open them again. Nova, having caught his breath, no longer panting, approached the goblin overlord. The goblin''s head now rested at Nova¡¯s height. With a smirk, he patted the goblin¡¯s head, speaking with a smile spread across his face, ¡°That was fun. Now, it¡¯s time for you to go.¡± He removed his hand and gripped his spear tightly, both hands steady as he jabbed over and over into the goblin¡¯s skull. Each thrust sent a fresh spray of blood and brain matter splattering across Nova and the ground around him. The grotesque scene continued until, with one final, powerful thrust, the battle came to an end, the goblin¡¯s body collapsing in a lifeless heap. [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] [Spear Jab proficiency increased] ¡­ [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] Nova held his jab position for a few moments, steadying his breath. He hadn''t expected it to take so long to bring down an already exhausted opponent. Shaking his head, he relaxed his stance and turned back toward his training spot in the center of the arena. ¡°This big guy didn¡¯t even give me a single Stat. What a letdown" he muttered, exhaling in disappointment. "Sigh¡­ I need to prepare for the next hour. So tiring, so tiring.¡± Despite his complaints, there was no frustration in his expression¡ªonly a content smile, as if he had finally found what he had always craved for. ¡®I should focus on leveling up Thrust as much as possible. Jab is fast, but it lacks the power I need. These big guys have tough bodies, and Thrust is the only Skill I have to counter that. Unless some special event pops up, I¡¯ll dedicate the rest of my time here to refining it.¡¯ He made his decision and would stick to it. Unbeknownst to him¡ªsince he hadn''t bothered checking his status window¡ªhis Will had increased from 6 to 7. Without wasting another second, Nova settled into his Thrust stance and resumed training. Each strike was sharper, more precise than the last, his movements honed by the constant repetition. And as he drove his weapon forward again and again, the sound of notifications echoed in his mind, signaling his slow but steady growth. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Chapter 9: Training (4) An hour passed, and Nova finally stopped, catching his breath as he waited for the notification. But as the seconds stretched into minutes, nothing appeared. A frown crossed his face. ¡®Did I miscount?¡¯ He was certain he had trained for a full hour. Then, realization dawned. ¡°The time interval between fights must¡¯ve increased¡­ Not bad. That means more time to train.¡± With that, he resumed his practice, focusing solely on Thrust. For the first time, he pushed himself to the absolute limit¡ªtwo hours of nonstop training. His clothes, or what little remained of them, clung to his body, soaked in sweat. His drenched hair stuck to his forehead, droplets running down his face. He panted heavily, as if trying to inhale an entire world''s worth of air. Deciding to stop ten minutes before the usual battle, Nova reasoned that it would be enough time to recover to peak condition. As he focused on steadying his breath, Nova called out ¡®Status¡¯ to review the number of thrusts he had completed over the past hour and fifty minutes. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 50 Vigor: 67 Dexterity: 100 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (7) (19092/64000), Spear Jab (7) (16052/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡°Pretty good, a total of 39,600 thrusts. It went from 6 to 7. Now it should be easier to take down a goblin overlord¡± Nova muttered, scanning his stats. His Will had indeed increased from 6 to 7. He frowned, puzzled. ¡®How did that happen? Is it something related to my state of mind?¡¯ His thoughts wandered, eventually turning inward. ¡®If only I had worked this hard before today¡­ Was it my fault everything felt so boring? Why should I work hard? To get a better job? To have a family? To be successful? Would that have made me independent, free from everyone else?¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®No. Even if I had all of that, I still couldn¡¯t escape society¡¯s rules. I would have had to follow them. Even if I became successful, even if I were elected President of the Federation, I¡¯d still have to abide by the rules. I¡¯d have to be a role model.¡¯ His eyes hardened. ¡®I don¡¯t want that. If I¡¯m going to be caged anyway, then what¡¯s the point of working hard? But now-¡® Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the sharp ping of a notification cut through his reverie. [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Nova stopped pondering. He stood still, focusing on steadying his breath, waiting for the next five minutes to pass so he could fight again. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] Nova sat up as he heard the final notification, glancing at the gate, both eager and expecting to see who his next opponent would be. Dust rose from the arena as the ground trembled, and two towering figures crossed through the gate, walking toward the center. They were goblin overlords. ¡°Just as I expected¡± Nova muttered to himself, his gaze locking onto the left goblin overlord as he surged forward. His plan was simple: incapacitate one quickly, then take his time to deal with the other. He didn''t use his full speed at first, making sure the left goblin noticed him and prepared for the attack. And the goblin did, lifting its enormous battleaxe, ready to strike. As Nova closed the distance, the goblin swung its weapon with immense force. In that moment, Nova exploded into his full speed, dashing beneath the goblin and leaping upward, aiming his spear at the exposed right armpit. He avoided the left side, knowing the other goblin overlord was positioned there. [Spear proficiency increased] This time, there was no suspense. The hole in the goblin''s armpit was large enough that even a short man could crawl through it. The goblin shrieked in agony, his battleaxe, which had been swinging downward, shifted its trajectory. It careened toward the left goblin overlord, striking the right goblin''s foot. The battleaxe grazed the foot, but it was enough to sever two of the goblin''s toes. The right goblin howled in pain, nearly losing his mind as the wound from his own ally impacted his combat ability. In a fit of rage, he considered lopping off his ally¡¯s head, but before he could act, a sudden, searing pain shot through his knee. Looking down, he saw his left leg was no longer attached below the knee. Before he could react, he began to topple over, unable to regain his balance. All of this unfolded because Nova had spotted an opportunity. As the left goblin injured the right goblin by mistake, Nova immediately capitalized on the opening, puncturing the right goblin¡¯s knee with precise timing, further sealing their fates.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. [Spear Thrust proficiency increased] Nova took a moment to assess the situation. ¡®The left goblin overlord is still screaming in pain from his shoulder injury; he won¡¯t be able to swing his battleaxe effectively anymore.¡¯ His gaze shifted to the right. ¡®The right goblin is still writhing in pain, lying on the ground¡ªhe¡¯s the easiest target for now. I¡¯ll finish him first.¡¯ With his spear poised, its tip aimed at the right goblin¡¯s skull, Nova exploded into motion, pushing himself to his limits. In the blink of an eye, he was deep within the right goblin¡¯s skull, blood and brain matter splattering around him. He didn¡¯t flinch, completely unfazed by the gruesome sight. [Spear proficiency increased] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] As Nova climbed out from the right goblin¡¯s skull, he quickly checked for any injuries, making sure not a single bone was broken before turning his attention to the left goblin overlord. The goblin, now regaining some clarity after enduring the unbearable pain, turned to face the carnage. His ally''s skull had been shattered, and the small human was emerging from the remains, seemingly unharmed. Fury surged within the goblin. How dare this ant mock him so? In a fit of rage, he attempted to lift his battleaxe, but once again, he faced the same issue as his two hours old fallen comrade¡ªhis injured shoulder made it impossible to wield the weapon with one hand. With a growl, he discarded it and lunged toward Nova, preparing a powerful kick. Just as he raised his right foot, Nova moved in a blur, a flash of steel piercing through the goblin''s brow. In an instant, the goblin¡¯s vision was consumed by the spear, followed closely by the sight of the human who wielded it, the final blow landing with deadly precision. [Spear proficiency increased] It seemed as though Nova was diving from pool to pool, though these ones were made of blood. Despite the fatal puncture to his brain, the goblin overlord remained standing. However, the will to fight had left him. He gave up on trying to kill the human, realizing it was futile¡ªhe was now at the mercy of the man who had pierced his skull, and there was no point in continuing to struggle. For a long moment, the goblin simply stood there, a hollow shell of his former self, before he finally collapsed to the ground, lifeless. [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] Nova emerged from the goblin¡¯s skull, reflecting on the events that had just unfolded. ¡®This was easier than I expected. But it was all luck. If the goblin overlord hadn¡¯t injured his ally, I¡¯d still be fighting. Well, luck is part of the game.¡¯ A smile tugged at his lips. ¡¯I can¡¯t wait to get out of here. I¡¯m curious to see how the outside world is doing.¡¯ He began walking toward his usual training spot, calling out for his status as he went. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 2 Attributes: Strength: 50 Vigor: 67 Dexterity: 100 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (7) (19093/64000), Spear Jab (7) (16052/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®Two points, huh? I¡¯ll just add them to Vigor.¡¯ Without bothering to check his status again, Nova returned to his training, focused on improving his mastery over Spear Thrust before the next fight. An hour passed quickly, and this time, the notification came through: [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] Nova halted his training, then checked how many Thrusts he had completed. ¡®Status¡¯ [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 50 Vigor: 69 Dexterity: 100 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (7) (55993/64000), Spear Jab (7) (16052/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (492/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (151/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®Close, well, I tried,¡¯ Nova thought to himself, shaking his head slightly. He took a moment to rest before the fight began. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] Dust erupted from the ground as six goblin overlords emerged from the gate. Nova didn¡¯t hesitate. He already knew their patterns. In just six minutes, he had dispatched them all without sustaining a single injury. This fight was easier than his first encounter with a goblin overlord¡ªnot because his stats had increased much, but because of the experience he had gained from fighting the same opponents repeatedly. This kind of growth couldn¡¯t be measured by the system. Soon, notifications echoed in his mind, signaling the fight''s end. [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] [Received 30,000 Stat EXP] Looking at the numerous notifications, Nova scoffed. So many notifications, yet he only received 1 Stat point to distribute. He added it to Vigor, bringing it up to 70. This was the 11th fight. By now, Nova had fallen into a rhythm. In the next fight, the 12th, he faced 12 goblin overlords. He swiftly defeated them before returning to his training. The 13th fight was even easier, as he dispatched 24 goblin overlords without breaking a sweat. Nothing could stand in his way. In the 14th fight, 48 goblin overlords appeared, but it still didn¡¯t matter. Their numbers didn¡¯t intimidate him¡ªhaving more than six didn¡¯t make the fight any harder. As long as Nova could maintain his stamina, the battle was as simple as ever. The 15th fight was tougher, with 96 goblin overlords. By the end, he was panting heavily. Through all the previous battles, he hadn¡¯t stopped to distribute his Stat points. He knew that if he focused solely on increasing his strength, the fights would become too easy, and he didn¡¯t want that. This trial was one of the best training opportunities he¡¯d had, and he wasn¡¯t about to rush through it. Nova rested for a few minutes, then resumed training his Thrust, drilling it over and over. [Fight starts in 05:00] [Be at the arena by the end of the countdown. The penalty is death.] The notification broke through his focus. He had been so immersed in his training that what felt like a minute was actually two hours. ¡®This is the last fight. I need to distribute my remaining points. I¡¯ve had enough training in this trial.¡¯ He called for his status. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator Stat Points: 42 Attributes: Strength: 50 Vigor: 70 Dexterity: 100 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (10) (3993/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16175/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (514/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) ¡®42 points¡­ Spear Thrust at 10, not bad. I made¡­ 396,000 thrusts, pretty solid¡¯ Nova mused. ¡®Now, do I need Strength for the next fight? Should I prioritize Dexterity and Speed again? Tough choice. But I can pick both. At low levels, movement is key¡ªI can¡¯t afford to sacrifice Dexterity, but Speed isn¡¯t as critical here. I¡¯ll allocate 22 points to Strength and 20 to Dexterity.¡¯ He glanced at his Intelligence stat. ¡®I feel bad for it; it¡¯s too low, and I have no idea what magic entails. But no need to dwell on it. I¡¯ll figure it out when I get out of here.¡¯ He made his decision, distributed the points, and settled down to rest. Five minutes passed quickly, and a notification rang in his mind. [Fight starts in 00:01] [Fight started] This time, there was no tremor, no usual buildup. It was eerily silent as a lone goblin emerged from the gate. Standing at 3 meters tall, it had ashen grey skin and golden eyes that gleamed with malice. A crown of bony horns adorned its head. The goblin wielded a massive sword, 1.5 meters long, more like a cleaver designed for overwhelming force. Its body was clad in thick, full-plate armour, reinforced and made from dark metals and enchanted bones, covering its chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. The goblin radiated a regal aura, as if every other goblin before him were mere servants, fit only to carry his shoes. A name hovered above his head, black-crimson in hue: [Goblin King]. When Nova¡¯s eyes met the Goblin King¡¯s, a chill ran down his spine. He knew¡ªdeath had never felt so imminent. But rather than fear, a wild grin spread across Nova¡¯s face. Laughing for the first time in front of an enemy, he shouted, his voice filled with a mix of defiance and excitement. ¡°END ME IF YOU CAN.¡± The Goblin King¡¯s gaze remained unwavering as he nodded slightly, releasing a faint yet oppressive pressure from his body. Chapter 10: Goblin King Nova locked eyes with the goblin king while observing its status. [Goblin King] Rank: 0 Name: None Species: Goblin Affiliation: None Level: 2 Class: None Attributes: Strength: 114 Vigor: 107 Dexterity: 103 Speed: 94 Intelligence: 67 Wisdom: 74 Will: 1 Luck: 1 Nova assessed the situation as he steadied his stance, mentally comparing the goblin king''s stats with his own. ¡®My Dexterity and Wisdom are higher. The rest, though... he has me beaten. Fair enough, he¡¯s level 2. This should be a good final challenge before leaving the trial¡¯ he thought. The goblin king, seemingly unfazed, wasted no time. Without hesitation, he shot toward Nova like a predator closing in on prey. Nova instinctively retreated, his movements fluid and quick. The goblin king raised an eyebrow, almost mocking him, as if to say, ¡®Why are you running away?¡¯ Nova couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. This opponent was far too human in his actions. The goblin king¡¯s intelligence and reflexes were sharp, and Nova recognized that this would be no ordinary fight. The goblin king didn¡¯t give Nova any time to think. He dashed forward again, this time closing the distance with deadly intent. Nova mirrored his opponent¡¯s speed, charging back towards him, determined not to be forced on the defensive this time. In a split second, they were nearly on top of each other. The goblin king swung his sword horizontally with a mighty roar. Nova didn¡¯t hesitate for a moment. He slammed his feet into the ground, propelling himself into the air just as the sword swept beneath him. Suspended mid-air, Nova shifted his grip on his spear, holding it halfway up the shaft like a sword in his left hand. He yanked it back before plunging it downward, aiming for the goblin king¡¯s head with all his might. The goblin king''s sword swept just below Nova''s feet as he gripped his spear midway up the shaft with his left hand, holding it like a sword. He pulled his left hand back while still mid-air, gathering all his strength before thrusting it towards the goblin king. But just as he did, a punch shot up toward his chest. Instantly, his focus sharpened, and his mind raced to find a way to evade the blow. In a split second, he identified his move. Using the force of the incoming fist to his advantage, Nova placed his right hand on top of it and pushed himself upward. The goblin king, seeing this, swiftly retracted his sword and swung it again at Nova, who was now directly above him. Thinking fast, Nova twisted his body, performing a mid-air summersault. He eyed the incoming sword and, in a swift motion, gripped his spear with both hands. With precision, he swept the spear across the path of the sword, just enough to deflect its trajectory. The sword grazed his side, but the deflection was enough to allow Nova to follow through with his attack. As his feet landed, Nova¡¯s left leg shot out in a powerful kick toward the goblin king¡¯s head, the final blow in his flurry of evasive maneuvers. The goblin king saw Nova¡¯s movement, but his downward swing was already in motion. He had to use its force to his advantage. Pivoting on his right foot, he executed a spinning side kick aimed at Nova¡¯s left leg. Nova wanted to shout at the shamelessness of this king, but he forced himself to suppress the thought. He had only one option now. Quickly, he swung his spear at the goblin king¡¯s incoming kick. When the two forces collided, the shaft of Nova¡¯s spear bent unnaturally. For a moment, he feared it would snap, but luckily it didn¡¯t. The force of the impact sent him flying backward toward the edge of the arena. His insides trembled, and the taste of iron lingered in his mouth like an illusion. He stood still for a moment, recovering as he watched the goblin king retrieve his raised leg. The two locked eyes. The goblin king¡¯s expression shifted from one of battle to one of reluctant respect. He knew Nova was weaker, but the fact that he could trade blows, even if it left him injured, meant something. His gaze, once that of an enemy, now regarded Nova as a warrior he needed to kill. Nova felt the change in the air. The pressure, once light, now thickened as the goblin king prepared to take him seriously. Nova smiled and nodded before launching himself back into the fray. The goblin king¡¯s mouth curled up, exposing his jagged teeth. He met Nova halfway. As they collided, Nova thrust his spear forward, just as the goblin king swung his sword in a vertical arc, aiming to sever Nova¡¯s arm. Nova didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, he stomped with his right foot, spun to the left, and maintained his thrust. His spear was aimed true, but the sword soon loomed in front of his eyes. Reacting instinctively, Nova adjusted his motion, spinning as he swung to avoid the blow. In the blink of an eye, the goblin king punched with his left arm to intercept the incoming spear. The force of the punch sent Nova¡¯s spear flying toward the edge of the arena. Without hesitation, Nova pulled back his left fist, focusing all his strength into it before unleashing a powerful punch toward the goblin king¡¯s chest. The impact created a small dent in the goblin king''s armor, and Nova winced from the force of the blow. He wasn¡¯t sure who had suffered more from that exchange, but as the air cleared, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. As soon as Nova delivered the punch, he stomped on the ground and quickly retreated toward where his spear had fallen. The goblin king, infuriated by the punch and Nova¡¯s seemingly unscathed retreat, didn¡¯t hesitate to chase him down. Nova barely gripped his spear when he sensed the goblin king behind him. Without warning, the goblin swung his sword in a vertical arc from right to left, aiming to finish him off. Seeing this, Nova reacted instantly, dashing to the right, where the sword strike began. In that split second, he revealed his true speed to the goblin king. Reaching the goblin¡¯s right side, Nova thrust his spear directly toward the king''s chest. The goblin king, stunned, had thought he had already seen everything Nova could do. He had judged him as someone weaker than him, but this unexpected speed and precision took him by surprise¡ªand it would cost him dearly. Nova stomped on the ground, driving the spear forward with all his strength. The tip of the spear pierced through the goblin king''s armor and lodged itself deep between his ribs, puncturing his right lung. The goblin king froze in shock, his mind struggling to comprehend the blow. Blood began to pour into his lung as he coughed violently, unable to breathe properly. Nova calmly retreated, leaving the spear embedded in the goblin king¡¯s chest as he observed the unfolding scene. He knew the injury was fatal. Seeing the goblin king remain motionless, save for the violent coughing of blood, Nova decided to inflict further damage. Without hesitation, Nova returned to the spear, gripping it with his left hand. He twisted the shaft left and right, causing the spear tip inside to shift and tear through the goblin king¡¯s internal organs. The damage escalated rapidly as Nova twisted the spear. The goblin king¡¯s lung filled with more blood, and soon, his liver and stomach were punctured as well. Blood poured uncontrollably into his organs, and the goblin king¡¯s breath became shallow and ragged. Finally, Nova decided to withdraw the spear. With a burst of speed, he dashed away from the goblin king, gripping the weapon tightly with both hands. As the spear slid free from the goblin king¡¯s chest, a fountain of blood erupted from the wound. Securing the weapon, Nova distanced himself and stood silently, watching as his strongest enemy to date succumbed to his death throes. ¡®It could''ve been me if I hadn¡¯t risked it all so many times during the fight¡¯ Nova thought as he watched the goblin king''s final moments unfold. ¡®Life is so fickle¡ªit can be extinguished with a snap of someone''s fingers. Today I killed an honorable goblin king, tomorrow I might die. That''s what makes it exciting. If I were certain to survive every fight, where would the fun be?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help but reflect, ¡®No need to pity anyone in this world. This goblin king probably killed thousands to reach his position. People walk over others'' bodies to thrive, and I¡¯m no different. There''s no room for pity in this world.¡¯ These thoughts came naturally, as if Nova was discovering his true self through the heat of battle and the bloodshed that surrounded him. Time passed, and after what felt like an eternity, the goblin king finally stopped moving, collapsing to the ground as blood continued to pour from his body. [Received 90,000 Stat EXP] Finally, a notification broke through Nova¡¯s intense focus. He had blocked out everything except the fight, but now, as he looked around, he realized there were several unread notifications. [Title acquired: King Slayer] [Skill: Regeneration has been learned] [Skill: Keen Reflexes has been learned] Nova raised an eyebrow. ¡®Regeneration and Reflexes?¡¯ He thought, then focused on the title first. The description appeared in his mind: Title: King Slayer (All Stats increased by 5% against King opponents.) ¡®This is going to be useful¡¯ Nova mused. ¡®The 15% Strength from the medallion saved me today, but having 5% to every stat against King-level opponents is easily the best reward I''ve gotten so far.¡¯ Next, he turned his attention to the skills he had acquired. Skill: Regeneration (Increases body healing.) Skill: Keen Reflexes (Increases body reflexes and decreases the time of action between mind and body.) "Insane. The more generic the skill, the better, and these two are crazy good¡± Nova muttered. "Feels like I¡¯ve won the lottery." With that, he turned his focus to his Status screen. [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 0 (150/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator, King Slayer Stat Points: 1 Attributes: Strength: 72 Vigor: 70 Dexterity: 120 Speed: 80 Intelligence: 36 Wisdom: 80 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4002/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16175/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (519/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) Passive: Regeneration (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500) ¡®I¡¯ll add that to Strength,¡¯ Nova decided. In his opinion, power was what he needed most at the moment. His survivability seemed sufficient for now, but his offensive capabilities were lacking. Suddenly, more notifications echoed in his mind. [Mission: Survive for 1 day has been completed] Rewards: A white, form-fitting light armor materialized before Nova. He eyed it appreciatively, nodding. "The style is good, and it''s very light. Perfect. It''s a shame the stats are a bit low for me right now, but it''s still better than nothing." Without hesitation, he stripped and donned the new armor. "Feels good" he muttered, before calling out, "Status." [Status] Rank: 0 Name: Nova Grey Species: Human Affiliation: None Level: 1 (300/500) Class: None Titles: Goblin Exterminator, King Slayer, Survivor Stat Points: 0 Attributes: Strength: 78 (+2) Vigor: 75 (+8) Dexterity: 125 (+3) Speed: 85 (+5) Intelligence: 41 Wisdom: 85 Will: 7 Luck: 10 Skills Active: Spear Thrust (10) (4002/512000), Spear Jab (7) (16175/64000), Spear Sweep (1) (519/1000), Spear Lunge (2) (176/2000), Spear Overhead Strike (2) (150/2000) Passive: Regeneration (0) (0/500), Keen Reflexes (0) (0/500) ¡®I just realized I leveled up¡ª+5 to every stat per level. Not as much as I expected¡¯ Nova thought to himself. He then checked his Stats. ¡®So the stats in brackets haven¡¯t been factored in yet. That means my Strength is already at 80.¡¯ Before he could continue his musings, a portal materialized before him, accompanied by a notification. [Portal will close in 10:00] "Finally, time to go back home. I wonder how much has changed in just one day on Earth" Nova said with a smile. Without a second thought, he stepped into the portal. The familiar sickly sensation washed over him, though it was milder now than before. A brief discomfort lingered, but it soon passed. His feet touched the ground, and as he opened his eyes, he was greeted by an unforgettable sight. The city was burning. Humanity had returned to its roots, but this time, they wielded power beyond imagination. Nova took in the scene, a crazed smile creeping across his face. He muttered to no one in particular, ¡°This is what I¡¯ve been waiting for. A chance. A chance to escape the cage¡ªand I will not let it slip away.¡± Will 7 ¡ú 8 Chapter 11: Group Nova walked through the ruined city, his gaze sweeping over the destruction. Buildings lay in rubble, and groups of survivors¡ªlikely teams formed for better chances of survival¡ªmoved cautiously through the streets. The absence of law enforcement or military presence was glaring. The Federation had likely believed they could control the new world, but reality had shattered their delusions. In Nova¡¯s eyes, only the strongest could manage the chaos, and at this moment, the title was up for grabs. Anyone could rise to power now. As he walked, a group of five people spotted him. Nova, dressed in light white armor, now resembled a wealthy young man, and in this world, that was a death sentence. The group¡ªa mix of four men and one woman, all in their 30s¡ªapproached him. Nova assessed them quickly. They had probably chosen one of the overpowered classes, but their lack of experience in real combat was apparent. One of the men barked, "Leave your belongings on the ground and get out of here. If you don''t, you''ll die." Nova met his gaze, a calm smile curling on his lips. "Do you want to die?" The man was momentarily stunned, but his anger flared. "I gave you a chance. Now you''re going to die." With a snarl, he rushed forward, a small flame flickering in his palm. Nova didn''t have a weapon but he took a fighting stance, ready to dash forward and meet the threat head-on. Just as Nova was about to dash forward, another group arrived. A feminine voice rang out, "STOP!" The woman, moving quickly, sped towards Nova and the other party. Taken aback, the man halted and turned to look. When he saw who was approaching, he immediately retreated to his group, his face hardening with a wary expression. His companions mirrored his caution, all wearing similar solemn looks. This new group had already made a name for themselves in just a single day. The young woman who had shouted placed herself between Nova and the others. "Stop causing chaos in the city" she said, her tone firm. "If I catch you again, I''ll have to cuff you and take you to jail. Now leave." Clearly, she still held onto her morals¡ªonly a day had passed since Earth had changed. The group of five exchanged glances before nodding and taking their leave, smart enough not to provoke a group they couldn''t win against. The young woman nodded to herself as her team arrived¡ªfour people in total, two men and two women, all in their twenties and wearing black uniforms. Nova noted, ¡®University uniform?¡¯ Turning to Nova, the woman observed his unruffled demeanor, and a flicker of annoyance crossed her mind. She had just saved him, yet he acted like nothing had happened. After a quick assessment of his outfit, she concluded he was likely some rich young man unaware of the gravity of the situation. "Hello, I''m Cassidy. Friends call me Cassie. What''s your name?" Cassidy stood at 1.65m (5''4"), with smooth fair skin and dark hair tinged with blue, which shimmered under the light. There was an air about her, like someone accustomed to giving orders, though more in the way of a school club president than a soldier. Her sharp, expressive brown eyes studied Nova carefully. Nova smiled and responded, "I''m Nova. Friends call me Nova." Cassidy nearly stumbled. ¡®What was the point of that?¡¯ She fought the urge to punch him, but after a glance at her team, she nodded at them, signaling them to introduce themselves. The other young woman spoke up, "Hey, I''m Rachel. Nice to meet you!" Standing at 1.70m (5''6"), Rachel had a tan and medium-length brown hair with tints of red. Her brown eyes sparkled with energy, and her effortless smile made people feel instantly at ease. The first of the two men introduced himself. "Samuel." At 1.84m (6''), he had short black hair with hints of yellow and sharp, dark eyes that exuded focus and intensity. His muscular, lean build radiated strength, and his expression was calm but gave off the sense that he was always ready for action. The last man chuckled and shook his head at Samuel''s introduction. He flashed a smile at Nova and said, "Don¡¯t mind him, he¡¯s always been like this. My name¡¯s Thomas, nice to meet you." Standing at 1.86m (6¡¯1"), with black hair and brown eyes, Thomas didn''t stand out in a crowd. But once you spoke with him, his openness and ease with others made him unforgettable. Nova nodded at each of them, noticing they were all carrying swords. ¡®Is the sword that common?¡¯ he wondered before asking, "How come that party left as soon as you arrived?" He was curious¡ªusually, it wasn¡¯t easy to gain fame in a day without any fast communication. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Cassidy smirked, feeling proud of herself and her team. "Let¡¯s just say we''ve been patrolling the streets for a day and arrested quite a few people," she said, smug about their achievements. Before Nova could respond, Thomas chimed in, "Yeah, and because you''re the daughter of one of the richest people in the Federation" rolling his eyes. Rachel seized the opportunity to tease Cassidy. "Don''t think I haven''t noticed a few groups trailing us wherever we go" she winked at her. Samuel said nothing, but his gaze at Cassidy was one of quiet judgment, as if he saw her as someone completely unaware of the real world. Nova found them a strange bunch, but their closeness was obvious from their banter and body language. They didn¡¯t seem to care about Cassidy¡¯s wealth, and she didn¡¯t care about theirs. He smiled softly before asking, "Rich miss, care to tell me what happened to the city?" Cassidy looked at Nova as if he were a rare species. "Where have you been for the past day?" she asked. "The Federation decided to abandon control over the cities. The higher-ups retreated and adopted a hands-off approach with everything going on. This is public information" she said with a sly smile. Nova caught on quickly. "Public information¡­ so you have secret information too?" "Yeah, want to hear it?" Cassidy couldn¡¯t resist teasing him. He looked harmless, but something in his presence made her feel like he saw her as the harmless one. Nova nodded. "I need every bit of true information I can get." Cassidy didn''t waste a moment. "Join my faction, and I¡¯ll tell you everything I know." Nova was taken aback. Why would she want him to join her faction without even knowing who he was? "You don¡¯t know me, you don¡¯t even know if I¡¯m strong. Why would you want me to join?" Cassidy shrugged. "A woman¡¯s instincts." Nova smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I don¡¯t think I can join you, but I can help you once. What do you think of that?" Cassidy thought for a moment. ¡®If he¡¯s strong, this is better than I could have hoped for. And then there¡¯s that other group...¡¯ An image flashed in her mind when she thought about them. "Can I ask you to do anything?" she asked tentatively. Nova thought about it before replying, "You can ask me anything, but if I think it¡¯s too much, I¡¯ll reserve the right to decline." Cassidy thought Nova¡¯s response made sense¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t have believed him if he¡¯d claimed he¡¯d do anything she asked without hesitation. Feeling satisfied, she said, ¡°Deal. Let¡¯s head back to my house and talk things over.¡± She turned to her party. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We can rest there while I explain the situation to Nova.¡± Rachel, Samuel, and Thomas nodded. They, too, were ready for a break after hours of patrolling the streets. Nova asked, ¡°How far is your house from here?¡± Cassidy looked back at him. ¡°Not far. But as you know, technology is dead. Cars don¡¯t work anymore. We¡¯ll need to walk for about 30 minutes, or we can run¡ªbut I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll be able to keep up.¡± Nova didn¡¯t care about the subtle challenge. He simply replied, ¡°We can run. If I can¡¯t keep up, we¡¯ll walk. What do you think?¡± Cassidy smiled and nodded. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s go then.¡± The group started running. Nova expected them to be fast, given Cassidy¡¯s boasting, but the pace was surprisingly slow. They were moving at about 120-150 km/h, and all four of them seemed focused, like they were running on empty. Meanwhile, Nova felt like he was out for a leisurely stroll. The speed was so slow that he could walk comfortably at the same pace, but he decided to hold back to avoid standing out. He hadn¡¯t researched the wealthiest families in the Federation and didn¡¯t want to become a target, so he started panting after just 30 seconds of running. Rachel glanced back at him, forcing out a few words through her own ragged breath. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Nova nodded, barely able to speak through his gasps. ¡°Barely... but we can keep going.¡± He had to fight back the urge to laugh. ¡®If only cinema were still around. I could¡¯ve been an actor.¡¯ Thomas gave him a nod of encouragement, then returned his focus to the path ahead. Cassidy pretended to be indifferent, but Nova could tell she was paying attention. Samuel, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. As they continued running, Nova thought about his next move. ¡®Once I gather information, I¡¯ll come up with a plan and meet up with Jack. I¡¯m not doing everything alone.¡¯ He quickly dismissed the thought and looked up, realizing he had been following the group without paying attention to where they were going. Ahead, he saw a large gate, about 3 meters tall. Beyond it stretched a forest. He turned to Cassidy and asked, ¡°Do you live in a forest? I didn¡¯t know the wealthier people were so primitive.¡± Cassidy¡¯s frustration boiled over. ¡°THIS IS MY GARDEN!¡± she shouted. Thomas and Rachel burst into laughter, and Samuel¡¯s lips curled into the slightest smile. Nova nodded. "Okay, shall we go in then?" Cassidy gritted her teeth as she approached the gate and pushed with all her strength to open it. The rest of the group stepped in to help, saving her some face as she struggled. Once the gate was open, Nova smiled and commented, "Cassidy, you''re very strong." Cassidy smirked smugly, about to reply, "Than¡ª" but then she caught sight of Nova¡¯s expression. With that smile of his, it almost seemed like he was mocking her. Her face darkened as she harrumphed and said firmly, "Follow me." Rachel and Thomas couldn¡¯t remember the last time they¡¯d had so much fun, and Samuel seemed to enjoy it too. Soon, Nova¡¯s eyes widened as he saw a mansion that was the size of a football field. He noticed maids, servants, and guards stationed outside, all waiting for Cassidy. When they arrived at the mansion¡¯s entrance, every maid, servant, and guard bowed deeply to Cassidy, shouting, ¡°Welcome back, Young Miss.¡± Cassidy nodded, already accustomed to this, and walked past them into the mansion. The interior of the mansion surprised Nova. He had expected the usual extravagant displays¡ªpaintings, rare collections, and luxurious d¨¦cor¡ªbut instead, he found plain furniture. It was simple, almost understated, which caught him off guard. Inside, Cassidy shouted, ¡°DAD, I¡¯M BACK!¡± Everyone shook their heads, used to her lack of manners. But nobody really cared in the mansion; they¡¯d seen her grow up, treating her like their own child. Soon, a man emerged from a side door. He was in his 40s, his hair mostly black with a few strands of silver, and he was around Nova¡¯s height. His baggy white robe looked humble, and if someone had told Nova that this man was one of the wealthiest in the Federation, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it. With a warm smile, the man said, ¡°Welcome home, Cassie. How¡¯s the situation outside?¡± Chapter 12: Information Cassidy glanced at her father before speaking. ¡°The city¡¯s situation isn¡¯t looking good. People are starting to turn on each other, fighting for territory. Most of the houses are now controlled by groups, but for now, no one group has emerged as the dominant force. In short, it''s pure anarchy.¡± She briefly recounted the events of the last few hours. Her father listened in silence, nodding as he absorbed the information. Then, with a smile, he addressed Nova. ¡°Who might you be?¡± Nova answered in his usual calm tone, ¡°I¡¯m Nova. What¡¯s your name?¡± Cassidy froze. Usually, people were intimidated by her father due to his status, but Nova didn¡¯t seem to care. Even Samuel, typically indifferent, never dared to show such disregard in front of Cassidy¡¯s father. The others shared the same reaction. The man didn¡¯t mind Nova¡¯s lack of deference. He smiled warmly, replying, ¡°My name is Victor Vale. You didn¡¯t mention your surname¡ªIs it not important?¡± Nova didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°My surname is Grey. It¡¯s not important, considering I¡¯m not from any rich family like yours.¡± Victor¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity. ¡°Every surname matters, whether you¡¯re from a wealthy family or not. But let¡¯s change the topic. How did you meet my daughter?¡± He asked, clearly hoping to stir up some drama. Before Nova could answer, Cassidy interjected. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Dad. He was being attacked by a group, and I helped him. I brought him here to explain the situation outside¡± she explained quickly, hoping to avoid any assumptions from her father. Victor¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Okay, you can go and talk. I¡¯ll be in the gym.¡± He turned to Nova, adding with a sly grin, ¡°Don¡¯t mistreat her, kid.¡± He chuckled to himself as he walked away, his thoughts lingering on Nova¡¯s surname¡ª''Grey...huh.¡¯ Cassidy shook her head at her father¡¯s antics. How could he think there was something between her and Nova? Rachel suddenly spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll take Samuel and Thomas to relax. You two can chat.¡± She winked at Cassidy, grabbing Samuel and Thomas by the arms as she walked off. Cassidy, on the verge of exploding, muttered under her breath, ¡°Even her now. I¡¯ll have my revenge¡± her lips twitching with frustration. Nova watched Rachel leave, then turned his attention back to Cassidy. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me somewhere to talk?¡± he asked. Cassidy, already at her limit, could no longer hold it in. ¡°YOU!¡± she shouted, her voice echoing in the empty hall. Two guards rushed over to check on the disturbance but only saw Cassidy, fuming, and Nova, who was laughing. They exchanged a knowing glance, thinking, ¡®She never changes¡¯, before returning to their duties. Cassidy took a deep breath, exhaling as a smile formed on her face. ¡°Come, let¡¯s sit down and talk¡± she said, walking toward a nearby door. She opened it and stepped inside. Nova shook his head, still amused by her antics, and followed her in. They soon found themselves in a living room with a large sofa facing a fireplace. Cassidy was already seated, waiting for him to start. Nova sat down and, getting straight to the point, asked, ¡°So, what information can you give me?¡± Cassidy paused, noticing his serious tone. She stopped playing around and replied, ¡°You want information about the current state of the Federation, right?¡± Nova nodded, signaling her to continue. ¡°The situation is pretty delicate¡± Cassidy began. ¡°The Federation higher-ups may seem like they¡¯ve taken a hands-off approach to the cities, but don¡¯t be fooled. They¡¯re training elites, ready to take over any new faction that rises, if one ever does.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°So¡­¡± Before she could continue, Nova interrupted. ¡°How many elites are we talking about?¡± Cassidy thought for a moment before answering, ¡°About ten thousand. That¡¯s the number circulating in the circles, but I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the full count or just part of it. Maybe it¡¯s meant to scare people off. What I do know is that every higher-up is aware of this, as it was released by the Federation itself.¡± Nova nodded, signaling her to go on. ¡°That''s from the Federation side¡± she continued. ¡°But there are more sides now. As you saw in the city, many groups are patrolling and robbing people. You might think they¡¯re weak, but most of them are part of bigger factions.¡± Nova frowned. ¡°How can so many groups form so quickly after just a day of the Federation¡¯s collapse? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Cassidy smiled bitterly. ¡°Do you really think the Federation¡¯s higher-ups didn¡¯t foresee this chaos when they connected Earth to the vastness of the Universe?¡± A realization dawned on Nova. ¡°You¡¯re saying every higher-ups knew, and they probably told their families. Those families might have shared it with their friends... that means every well-off family probably knew. No wonder so many groups formed so quickly.¡± Cassidy nodded, her expression solemn. ¡°Yes. My family came to know about this ten years ago. Everything was written in the signal the more advanced civilizations sent us. Every wealthy or influential family had time to prepare, all of them wanting a piece of what Earth will become.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Nova remained silent for a moment, processing the implications. Cassidy gave him a moment before speaking again. ¡°So how many players are there in this game?¡± Nova asked. ¡°How many families? And what happens when the Federation rises again? Will the families bow, or will they fight?¡± Cassidy took a breath. ¡°The lower-status families merged with the middle-status families, and the middle-status ones merged with the high-status ones. Don¡¯t underestimate the so-called ¡®lower¡¯ families. We¡¯re talking about the top 100 wealthiest and most powerful families in the Federation. There are 10 high-status families. Some allied, others preferred to go solo.¡± Nova¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°So, there are 11 major players¡ªthe 10 families and the Federation, right?¡± Cassidy nodded. ¡°Yes, but this information is outdated. We have no idea if any new factions rose up yesterday or today, or if they were already hiding. In short, there are at least 11 big players.¡± She paused, watching Nova for any further questions. Nova closed his eyes, deep in thought. The situation was more complex than he had imagined. He had assumed that the collapse of the Federation would cause disarray, but it seemed the opposing factions had already been coordinated for years. Finally, he opened his eyes and asked, ¡°Are you part of those 10 families?¡± Cassidy''s smug grin widened. "Yes." Nova leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued. "How high does your family rank among them?" This time, Cassidy took a moment to think. It seemed like a simple question, but ranking within the families wasn''t just about strength¡ªit was about wealth, influence, and numbers. From her answer, Nova could gauge the relative power of the higher-ranked families. After a brief pause, she replied, "We''re around third. But I can''t give you an exact ranking. Some families focus more on wealth, while others prioritize strength. The top ones have the most people and train them extensively." Nova nodded. "Thanks for the information. Now, have you thought about what you want from me?" His tone remained neutral, but he was genuinely curious. Now that he had this knowledge, what could she possibly want in return? Cassidy''s expression darkened for the first time, a rare trace of hatred flickering across her face. "I want you to kill a high-ranking family." Nova¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. "That''s worth more than the information you gave me. You''ll need to add something extra." Now it was Cassidy¡¯s turn to be surprised. "You''d really do it for the right price?" "Why not? Nova smiled. Only now did Cassidy realize who she was dealing with. This was no ordinary young man. Gathering her courage, she asked, "What else do you want?" She had only suggested the idea as a shot in the dark, expecting him to refuse. But now that he''d accepted, she had no backup offer. Nova barely hesitated. "A spear. A good one. Don''t try giving me some cheap junk." Cassidy had been prepared for almost anything¡ªbut this? This was nothing to her family. She was about to ask if he wanted anything more when Nova spoke again. "Also, give me a place to stay." His smile was almost playful. He knew he could have asked for more, but a weapon and shelter were immediate necessities. As he thought about it, something clicked in his mind. He suddenly remembered the gold coins he''d received from completing his quests. But he had no idea what they were for or how to use them. A sly smile crept onto his face. "Actually, I have another request." Cassidy sighed. "I knew it wouldn''t be this easy. What else?" She was starting to worry that he might ask for something beyond her reach. "It''s simple" Nova said. "What can I buy with gold coins? And where do I use them?" Cassidy nearly fell out of her seat. She stared at him, pointing in disbelief. "You, you don''t even know that?" Nova simply shook his head, offering no explanation. She muttered under her breath, "What a strange guy¡­" "I heard that" Nova remarked, smirking. Flustered, Cassidy quickly explained, "Gold coins are used to buy items from the system. You can access it anywhere¡ªjust think ''Store.'' From what the older civilizations told us, it''s a special marketplace designed to help new civilizations advance quickly and explore space. None of the older ones have it anymore. When you want to store things think ¡®Inventory¡¯ it¡¯s-" She was about to continue, but she noticed Nova had already zoned out, likely testing the Store for himself. As expected, she was right. The moment Nova thought about the Store, he was stunned. ¡®So many items... Weapons, armor, techniques, food... even furniture?¡¯ He scrolled down, taking it all in. Then, something caught his eye, igniting a fire within him. ¡®Spaceships? I can leave this planet this easily?¡¯ Excited, he quickly skimmed through the categories, noting that the cheapest spaceship cost billions, before returning to the weapons section. ¡®The cheapest spear is 2,500 gold coins. Let¡¯s check it out.¡¯ A description popped up: [Fine Spear] ¡®This is already so strong? What about the most expensive one?¡¯ He scrolled to the highest-priced spear, and its details left him speechless. [Spear of the ???] "Forged from the remnants of a ???, this spear devours ???. Wield it, and all things crumble before you." Nova blinked. ¡®Okay¡­ I don¡¯t even have the right to see its full stats. Not that it matters¡ªthe price is¡­ who in the world can collect a decillion gold coins?¡¯ Shaking his head, he adjusted his expectations. ¡®What¡¯s the best spear I can get for 5,050 gold coins?¡¯ He scrolled through the list, eventually finding one priced at exactly 5,000. [Exquisite Spear] ''This looks way better than the cheapest one. I¡¯ll just buy it.'' A prompt appeared. [Are you sure?] ¡®Yes.¡¯ In an instant, a spear materialized in his left hand. It stood 2.13m tall, its shaft polished silver, while the spearhead gleamed with a dark metallic sheen. Nova spun it experimentally, testing its weight and balance. He was completely absorbed, paying no attention to Cassidy, who sat frozen, mouth agape. She had never expected him to actually buy something from the Store¡ªlet alone such a spear. After twirling it a few more times he nodded in approval. "Good spear." Nova focused for a moment, thinking ¡®Inventory¡¯, and willed the spear to vanish. It instantly disappeared from his hand, stored away. Then, he turned to Cassidy. "You need to give me something else besides a spear." Cassidy''s heart sank. She had been afraid of this. Now that he had obtained a weapon far superior to anything she could have provided, would he refuse her request? Steeling herself, she made a quick decision. "I¡¯ll owe you a favor." Nova considered it. ¡®A favor from the third-ranked family... not bad.¡¯ His usual smile returned. "When do I start?"