《Primal Path》 CH. 1 This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. CH. 2 Ch 2 Matt didn¡¯t even have time to make heads or tails of the situation before he found himself standing on a platform enveloped by a sea of darkness. Where previously the text had appeared to float in the sky, a new message box materialized before him, encased in a semitransparent frame. Feeling as though he was trapped in a nightmare, Matt began to look around frantically. However, no matter what he did, the box stayed fixed right in the center of his vision. With a resigned sigh, he began to read the message. ¡°Notice: You have been placed in one of the loner tutorial sessions for your world. While it is evident that you prefer to work alone and enjoy a solitary life, and that doing so is indeed a strength that will serve you well in the future, it is also a weakness that must be overcome. Thus, beyond surviving the tutorial session and adapting to the environment of the multiverse, you will be expected to integrate with other participants and form a cooperative community.¡± Matt started to mutter to himself, trying to make sense of what was happening as the screen changed once more. This time, he saw his name displayed prominently at the top, followed by what seemed to be a collection of random words and numbers, each more perplexing than the last. Matthew Pierce. Level 1 Strength: 10 Dexterity: 6 Durability: 6 Stamina: 8 Spirit: 7 Mind: 4 Species Human (H) Bloodline: (Not evaluated at this level) Path: None Titles: Integrated Skills: Auto translate Matt frowned as he tried to make sense of it all, only to have his thoughts abruptly interrupted by a deep, resonant male voice emerging from all around him. ¡°Greetings, loners, outcasts, hermits¡ªor whatever you choose to call yourselves to feel better about who you are. By now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve read your notices, checked your stats, and are left wondering what they all signify. I¡¯m sorry, but frankly, I couldn¡¯t care less about your questions and have no intention of answering them. Instead, I have come to plant a seed of doubt in each of your hearts. It robs life of its excitement to see things laid out so simply, with you blindly following the system¡¯s guidance. Understand this: the system cares not for what you desire, nor does it heed my will, as it forces me to oversee those beginning this tutorial. ¡°So, if you must defy it, whether to aid or impede you, know that it is only through struggle¡ªoften a bloody, painful one¡ªthat you can hope to rise in this new reality. After all, the H next to your species doesn¡¯t stand for ¡®human¡¯; it represents the rung on the ladder of power you currently occupy. That¡¯s right. You will see labels like G, F, E, D, C, B attached to your species, each promising a more refined body and a significantly extended life span. But remember: in the multiverse, an F still stands for failure, and anything below that is nothing more than trash left to be discarded. ¡°At this moment, you are exactly that¡ªthe trash of the trash¡ªand the challenges ahead will be your best chance to at least secure a status of failure in the eyes of the multiverse. While cooperation among you might help barely achieve an F-grade, the system never demanded true unity. It only requires that you belong to some form of community, be it as small as four individuals or as large as 400. Yes, four is the absolute minimum accepted, though I would strongly advise against sticking with that number¡ªa single death in such a sparse group can plunge you into a precarious situation. ¡°Now, I have said enough. I ask that you at least put on a good show, for I am doomed to watch you until your world is deemed ready for your return¡ªif any of you can even recognize it by then. And one last thing: anyone who fails to reach G-grade won¡¯t even be able to withstand the increased gravity, for it is your entire galaxy that is being remade right now. Just let that sink in, as it encapsulates exactly what joining the multiverse will mean in these final, desperate seconds before you find yourselves struggling to survive.¡± Matt didn''t even have time to ponder that thought when his screen changed again, prompting him to choose a weapon. Choose your tool of combat. The Blade: Sharp, decisive, and final. Those who walk the path of the blade leave many dead in their wake, striving not to become a body left along another''s path. The Staff: Versatile, whether wielded by a healer, monk, or mage, the staff supports its user in their quest to walk their path. The Axe: Brutal yet effective. Wielders of the axe find themselves prepared for any situation, as they often battle fate with sheer raw power. The Hammer: A symbol of reluctance and conviction, with the power to forge ahead regardless of what the world throws at them. The Bow: Quiet and unseen. Skilled hunters, assassins, and marksmen populate these ranks, as do cowards too frightened to confront mortality head-on. The Wand: Power above all else. Only those who seek magic with destructive potential should pick up the wand. The Dagger: Hidden and silent. Need anything else be said about the path walked by most who choose the dagger? The Pitchfork: A tool to face reality. Even the peaceful must be ready to defend themselves from those who would steal their tranquility. The Fist: When all else fails, your own hands can be trusted. Brutal yet measured, the fist is a path walked by too many kinds to truly be classified like the others. As Matt examined these nine options, he felt overwhelmed as he tried to make a decision. He assumed that choosing the blade equated to wielding a sword, and he envisioned himself running around with one, battling foes. The thought reminded him of the time he visited a renaissance fair and witnessed two scrawny enthusiasts in full costume play-fighting with wooden swords. Had that been the extent of it, Matt might not have minded, but the cringe-worthy banter they exchanged had made him feel like he was on the verge of nausea. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The staff seemed like an acceptable choice at first¡ªjust like a trusty walking stick, it could be used in a variety of ways. It could provide better footing or help keep a safe distance from the few hostile animals he¡¯d encountered in the middle of nowhere. But something about it felt off; he wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s pillar of support, and he certainly wasn¡¯t a healer or monk. Magic, in all its complexity, just wasn¡¯t for him. So he shifted his attention to the axe, a tool he knew well. He¡¯d used his axe for years, felling logs for his cabin and chopping firewood, its weight and balance second nature to him. Yet he couldn¡¯t help but feel that the axe he was considering wasn¡¯t the sturdy everyday tool he trusted¡ªit must be referring to the enormous, battle-worn weapons he¡¯d seen in movies, the kind wielded by legendary warriors. In his cabin, the ordinary axe might have been the natural choice, but once again, something didn¡¯t resonate with him, so he passed it by. The hammer struck a chord with his own reluctance to belong; it fit his mood, yet he lacked the passion to commit to any cause. Though there was a part of him that desired to prove the world wrong, his retreat to the mountains was more about escaping modern society than embracing a rugged, off-the-grid lifestyle. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to take the final steps toward living solely off the land if it meant sacrificing even the last vestige of modern convenience. When he considered the bow, he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. He had never been adept with one. Sure, he could hit a target when it was easy, but no matter how many corrections he received on his stance, he always ended up with the string striking his arm. Even if the pain was minor, the memory of bruises lingered, and he couldn¡¯t justify learning a skill that might endanger his life. The wand was even more unappealing. Matt had no desire to become a wizard or attend some arcane magical school to uncover hidden worlds. And even the notion of learning to launch fireballs while under attack sounded like the worst possible idea. After all, what was the point of victory if it meant burning down the forest he called home? Destruction simply wasn¡¯t a path he was willing to take. For a moment, he even considered the dagger, knowing full well the utility of a well-used knife. But the system¡¯s expectations for its use made him pause¡ªhe refused to walk a path that might lead him to feel like a criminal. Despite his disdain for many of the land¡¯s laws, he understood that most existed because someone once lacked common sense. The remainder, he suspected, were just mechanisms for the corrupt to get their way. After all, if the government wanted to enforce things like taxes, it could do so effortlessly now that it already knew what most people owed them. With that thought, Matt moved over to the pitchfork, feeling a surge of nausea at the idea of becoming another lowly peasant enslaved by the whims of corrupt bastards eager for war. Even if he could secure a peaceful life and be prepared to defend it, he wasn¡¯t a farmer, and he had no intention of adopting such a mundane existence. The only remaining option was the first one he had considered. No matter how he thought about it, he didn¡¯t see himself as either a martial artist or a brawler. Sure, he knew how to throw a punch and possessed the physical strength to overwhelm most opponents, but the memory of the fight before he was booted out of the military was nothing more than a blurry recollection. Even if he had managed to stare down a drill sergeant after that bout, he had been terrified throughout the encounter. After all, if any of the fools he¡¯d been fighting had brandished a knife, things would have taken a much darker turn. This realization¡ªthat he disliked all the available options¡ªforced a frown onto Matt¡¯s face as he scrutinized the few choices he found even marginally acceptable. As he weighed them, he also mused over the variety of weapons being overlooked, like whips or spears, and wondered if they were hidden within one of the offered options or if the system had arbitrarily restricted him to just nine out of potentially hundreds. How did it choose which nine to display, and why limit him so drastically? His contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the deep, resonant voice once again. ¡°It seems that some of you have yet to pick a weapon, and the system is now forcing me to inform you that you have only two minutes left to do so before the option is removed. Know that not picking a weapon will severely reduce your chances of surviving what is about to come, though it won¡¯t bar you from pursuing any of the available paths. Just as choosing the wand today won¡¯t prevent you from picking up a sword in the future¡ªand vice versa.¡± Matt sighed upon hearing this. He was just about to select the axe and face whatever consequences it might bring, when he hesitated. The voice had mentioned that not picking a weapon wouldn¡¯t prevent him from walking any particular path; however, the voice had only indicated that a sword wielder could later learn magic, not that his current choice wouldn¡¯t potentially close off other paths. This thought solidified his resolve: he no longer cared if it cost him his life. He was determined to forge a path dictated by his own footsteps, not one curated by the system or influenced by others. Sure, he would need to find three others to team up with, but he already had three lone wolves in mind, and he could only hope the system would place him in the same tutorial as Tyler, Cassie, and Apricity. If not, he knew that things were certain to get a lot harder before they got any better. When his time ran out, there was no flash, no warning¡ªonly the screen he had been staring at suddenly going blank, fading away into darkness. Moments later, the surrounding void evaporated, and the pillar he had stood on crumbled into dusty earth beneath his feet. In its place he suddenly found himself in a clearing encircled by dense forest, joined by eleven others. This immediate change set him on high alert; he didn¡¯t recognize any of them, and he worried about what this might mean for his plans¡ªeven if the other three were in this tutorial somewhere. Surveying the group, Matt quickly judged that he was better off leaving sooner rather than later, as the crowd was split evenly between men and women. Although he respected Cassie and Apricity, Matt made it a point to avoid any women he didn¡¯t know. Experience had taught him that a fistfight with a man was far preferable to enduring a drawn-out dispute with a woman¡ªespecially since he had been the subject of more than one damaging rumor spread by former partners after dating gone wrong. Such scars had cemented his decision to steer clear of love altogether. Only as he turned to leave did one of these women speak up. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± She was tall, with flowing blond hair, a warm tan, and a physique that clearly indicated she worked out regularly. From a distance, one might have thought she graced the cover of a fitness magazine, yet Matt barely spared her¡ªor the massive axe clutched in her hand¡ªa glance as he continued walking. ¡°To find a quiet place where I can either prove my worth to myself or die,¡± he replied, the words rough and spontaneous. It was the best retort he could come up with on the spot, and he wasn¡¯t overly surprised when she scoffed and pressed on. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t. We are supposed to work as a group, and you were placed here with the rest of us, so you are going to¡ª¡± ¡°Leave. I know what was said, but trust me, my staying here will only end in bloodshed. I don¡¯t operate well in groups unless everyone is willing to do exactly as I say, exactly how I want it done. And here''s a tip: if you see patches like these¡ªareas where no trees grow¡ªavoid lingering, for there is always a reason, and chances are it¡¯s deadly for humans as well.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act as if a bit of advice is all you need to¡ª¡± ¡°Just let him leave. Besides, who appointed you leader?¡± interjected a man with pale skin and brown hair, his figure the stark opposite of her athletic form. He toyed with a wand in his hand. ¡°You may have the brawn, but I doubt that brain comes along with it. The voice said four was the minimum, and I don¡¯t think forcing anyone to work with you will end well.¡± Matt didn''t catch the rest of the argument as he slipped into the trees, feeling at home for a fleeting moment before realizing he had only the clothes on his back; even the knife he always carried was missing. Thankfully, he was wearing his sturdy boots, and his clothing was far more durable than the junk sold in stores. Over the years, he had honed the skill of tanning hides and crafting them into clothing, a pastime that kept him occupied when snow made any outdoor activity impossible. This thought made him miss Bob, as the old bastard had been a great source of comfort. Matt could only hope that whatever the system was doing to Earth, Bob would be fine. If he wasn''t, there was always the option of making the system the target of his revenge, using the impossible goal to conquer all. At least, that''s what he would say if he were a character in some book, but this was his reality. So, he would observe a moment of silence, pour one out for him, and then move on, just as he did when he discovered his dad had passed four months after the funeral. It was simply part of the reality of living the way he did. People died, and the world kept turning as he continued to live away from it all. Eventually, it would be his turn to die, and the world might only find out months later, if ever. CH. 3 Ch 3 Alone and free to act as he pleased, Matt didn¡¯t waste time creating distance from the others; instead, he focused on scanning his surroundings and formulating a quick plan. He knew that without a weapon he was vulnerable, so he had to craft one immediately. As he looked around, he spotted several rocks about the size of his head that appeared likely to shatter upon impact. Without hesitation, he picked them up and began striking them together as hard as he could. The violent impacts splintered the stones into several sharp-edged shards¡ªprimitive cutting tools that promised to do far more damage than his bare fists. Unfortunately, the noise he generated proved to be a grave miscalculation. No sooner had he pocketed the fourth shard meeting his requirements than his first threat materialized. Emerging from the shadows was a creature barely three feet tall with dull gray skin, which charged at him while shrieking at the top of its lungs as if that were a winning tactic. Yet what immediately drew Matt¡¯s attention was the massive club clutched in the creature¡¯s hand¡ªa club so large it seemed almost out of proportion with its diminutive wielder. In a split-second decision, Matt flung one of the larger rock pieces straight at the creature¡¯s face. Like a seasoned batter, the monster swung its club and inadvertently sent the rock hurtling back in his direction; only Matt¡¯s instinctive movement allowed him to narrowly avoid a disastrous collision. The tree behind him wasn¡¯t as lucky¡ªa gaping hollow, just large enough to fit a head, had formed where the rock struck it. Had Matt paused to witness the aftermath of his throw, he might have hesitated before closing the distance with the creature, even as he gripped one of his newly fashioned blades. Although the impact had been impressive, the laws of physics were unforgiving, and the tiny monster couldn¡¯t control its momentum after swinging its club with such force. The creature tumbled through the air, spinning three times¡ªa disorienting sight that reminded Matt of a certain devil that spun wildly in the cartoons of his childhood. But there was no time for reflection; survival demanded that he trust his instincts and act immediately. So, when he finally felt the hot rush of blood on his hands as he embedded the stone in the monster¡¯s back, he experienced a momentary shock, his senses numbed as he watched the creature struggle for its last breaths. It was only after the creature had lain still for several seconds that Matt¡¯s attention turned to the transparent screen, that has reappeared displaying new text. Monster killed: Level 3 goblin berserker. Base experience multiplied by three. Awarding 90 experience. Current experience to next level 90/1000. Kill more things and gain more power if you wish to pursue a path of bloodshed. Matt wished he had someone to answer the myriad questions raised by the information on the screen¡ªthe existence of goblins, the mechanics of the multiplier, and even the cryptic message at the end. Yet one word kept echoing in his mind: Path. It had appeared on his status screen along with his initial numbers, and it was also mentioned in several of the descriptions of the weapons. Whatever it meant, Matt felt it was key to understanding this new reality; however, he had no time to dwell on it as he knew he needed to move quickly. In the brief 20 seconds since the goblin¡¯s arrival, Matt was convinced more were on their way, though he wasn¡¯t sure from which direction. Acting on instinct, he quickly scrambled up a nearby tree just as the first of three additional goblins appeared. Each goblin emerged from a different direction, making Matt feel that he would have been cornered had he tried to outrun the first. Observing their coordinated interactions, it was evident that they were accustomed to working together; they seemed to be bickering over something that had just transpired. Had Matt not left the deceased goblin lying on its back, he was sure they would have immediately discovered the stone buried three inches into its body. Yet, strangely, they hesitated to touch anything and instead began arguing as his auto-translate skill kicked in. "You stay and we get tracker." "I ain''t staying alone¡ªif I do, I''ll be the next one dead." "We all go then, but you tell tracker why animals eat body when we get back." One argument followed the next, making Matt roll his eyes silently. His irritation only grew until the tan woman from earlier charged in, flanked by five other women who attempted to catch the goblins by surprise. If they had managed to close the distance to within five feet, their ambush might have succeeded, but the goblins¡¯ snickering made it clear that this had been their objective all along. The axe in the tan woman''s hand struck a club, sending it flying into the trees near Matt¡¯s hiding spot. An arrow was deflected, and the other four women froze as the tan woman was knocked over when a club jabbed into her gut. With a heavy sigh, Matt began to make his escape, only to suddenly freeze as the goblins began to speak. "Seems we found some breeders to use." He didn¡¯t know why, but the thought of leaving anyone to such a fate was worse than if he expected them to die. Perhaps it was because death marked the end of all suffering, whereas he understood that an endless existence of misery awaited those left behind. Even if they eventually escaped, the trauma would linger with them for the rest of their lives. He saw Apricity''s face as she spoke about the few times she feared it might happen to her, her eyes darkened by the haunting memories. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Cursing under his breath, Matt moved from one tree to another as stealthily as he could. Ahead, six women struggled desperately to escape, having found themselves surrounded by three goblins. Matt puzzled over why they were faring so poorly when he had dispatched his adversaries in mere seconds. It became apparent that their movements were clumsy, as they lost their weapons one after another. Despite the semblance of skill, likely gained from wielding their chosen weapons, their efforts were awkward. It reminded him of inexperienced fools who had never been in a real fight, attempting to gang up on him. To these women, the goblins were simply too formidable. With this realization, Matt positioned himself above the nearest of the taunting goblins, drawing another of his stone blades before dropping silently from the tree. The goblin, only three feet tall, was an easy target. Matt landed in a crouch, driving his blade into the creature just below the neck. He didn¡¯t pause to confirm its death, immediately charging toward the goblin on the left. As he approached, he pulled out his second-to-last stone blade. Just then, a rock hurled by the tan-skinned woman struck the goblin in the head, creating the opening Matt needed to plunge his stone weapon into its chest. The last goblin, sensing danger, turned to flee, but Matt swiftly charged forward. Dodging the goblin''s frantic, spinning swing, he closed in and killed it as well, ensuring the women were safe once more. Blood spattered across his clothes as he panted, while the six women regarded him with a mix of complex emotions. He shared those same conflicted feelings, knowing he¡¯d only earned 39 experience points from the fight after noticing that the system had divided the spoils evenly among all present. To him, it was an absolute farce. Although he recognized that the six women deserved a share, he firmly believed he had done most of the work in actually dispatching them. The very least the system could do was grant him a bonus for coming to their rescue. Lost in these thoughts, Matt barely registered the voice of the tan woman as she finally spoke. ¡°Thanks for that.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Matt replied with a shake of his head, knowing she wasn¡¯t the one in charge of the experience allocation. ¡°I take it you all ended up splitting with the other guys.¡± ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t talk about those idiots.¡± ¡°I take it a few of them couldn¡¯t stop themselves from thinking they¡¯d be heroes just because they were surrounded by a group of women¡ª¡± ¡°I thought I said don¡¯t talk about those idiots.¡± ¡°Sorry, but splitting things by sex makes it obvious that most of those guys are probably trash. Not that I¡¯m saying any of you are much better. Really, what were you thinking, charging in when you could have let an arrow test the waters first?¡± ¡°You know she only has 20 arrows and has to recover them after each fight.¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Are they at least indestructible?¡± ¡°No clue. But whatever¡¯s happening, it feels like hard mode.¡± ¡°That¡¯s life¡ªnothing but hard mode if you weren¡¯t born into wealth.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°No one looks like you and acts as if they¡¯re a natural leader unless they¡¯re wealthier than everyone they know and accustomed to having servants around.¡± ¡°Oh, and what would you know about such things?¡± ¡°Nothing. It was just a guess that you just confirmed. I only know someone who deals with your type all the time, and since that person is one of the only two people I speak with more than once a year, I figured you fit the bill.¡± ¡°What kind of life do you lead if you only talk to two people on a daily basis?¡± ¡°I go months without seeing anyone. I live alone in a place with no roads¡ªonly your own two feet can get you there. I hike out twice a year at most, and someone only comes in to check on me about six times a year. Now, learn how to fight, because I won¡¯t be there next time.¡± Matt had just turned and was about to leave when another woman called out, "Wait, please let me come with you¡ªI promise I''ll follow your directions as best as I can." She was small, and when Matt looked into her eyes he could see that terror gripped her; it appeared as though she was struggling to hide behind her unruly brown bangs. He remembered how, moments earlier, she had frantically waved her staff around as if her life depended on it. Just when he was about to deny her request, he recalled what had been written about the staff. "What path are you planning to walk?" he asked. "Um, I don¡¯t really know," she replied hesitantly. "I chose the staff because I felt that supporting someone would be easier than being the one to fight." "Why don¡¯t you want to fight?" Matt pressed. "Um, I¡¯m not fierce. I know myself well enough to admit that when conflict arises, I just run. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve always been a loner¡ªI¡¯ve run from everyone the moment they showed even a hint of anger." "So now you plan to run from these other five, hoping that I¡¯ll never get angry with you?" he challenged. "Um, well¡ª" she began, her voice trailing off. "Let me make one thing clear before you respond," Matt interjected. "I¡¯m not interested in any drama. If you follow me, I¡¯m equally likely to ignore you as I am to help you survive. I have deep authority issues, and to me, my ideas are always the best until proven otherwise." Matt could see her trembling, her wide eyes fixed on him. He even noticed one of the other four women, who had remained silent until now, clearly on the verge of speaking when he raised his hand to silence her. Though none of the five women outside the tan-haired blond were unattractive, in Matt¡¯s eyes they paled in comparison. It was obvious that none of them were regulars at the gym; and unlike the blond, none of them had their nails done¡ªa detail that made them more appealing to him, as the blond exuded nothing but high-maintenance vibes. However, this aesthetic preference mattered little as the short brunet finally spoke. "I¡¯m fine with all of that¡ªif you promise that you won¡¯t ignore my need to survive or leave me alone to face the dangers here," she said softly. "Fix yourself, or the next person who comes along to save your life will take full advantage of you," Matt retorted. "One day, I¡¯ll allow all six of you to stick with me for an entire day while you get a handle on things. If nothing else, you all need to swing your weapons around a few times, considering I was only fighting with some broken rocks and still did better than you." Already regretting his harsh words, Matt listened as the tan woman spoke, urgency lacing her tone. "How did you even manage to move like that? Is it something about picking the fist option from earlier?" she inquired. "I¡¯m not here to answer yours¡ªor anyone else¡¯s¡ªquestions," he snapped. "What you saw was simply me silencing my doubts and letting my instincts drive my movements. Just so you know, I was fine with letting you all die, but not with what it looked like the goblins intended to do to you. Now, get your weapons and follow me." CH. 4 Ch 4 A minute later, with a final reminder to stay quiet, Matt moved cautiously through the woods, his head constantly swiveling as he searched for a clearing that could serve as a base of operations for the six women. Unfortunately, the task proved more challenging than he had hoped. Though every tree, rock, and patch of ground was real, the forest felt strangely artificial¡ªas if the elements had been randomly copied and pasted into place. After three long hours of walking, he finally came upon a small hill. It was rocky and lacked towering trees, but there were plenty of smaller ones still, adding a certain rugged charm to the spot. Considering the group¡¯s shared arsenal¡ªtwo swords, two staffs, a bow, and an axe¡ªMatt figured they could at least build and maintain a modest half-wall. Still, he couldn¡¯t shake the thought that spears might have been far more useful, especially since the plan relied on them working together and the tight formation of a spear wall was a tactic with proven effectiveness. With that thought set aside, he approached the tan-skinned woman and began speaking. "I hope your axe is good for chopping down trees," he said. She replied confidently, "I don¡¯t see why it wouldn¡¯t be." Matt offered a small smile before outlining his plan to the group. The tan-blond struggled to hack her way through the smaller trees while the pair armed with swords teamed up with those wielding staffs to scout for the best building spot on the hill. Finally, he turned to the woman with the bow and gave her a detailed instruction. "Choose an arrow you haven¡¯t fired yet and pick a tree as your target. Stand ten feet away from it, then continuously fire and retrieve the arrow until the arrow finally breaks. Be sure to mark your spot accurately¡ªthis test is designed to determine how many shots an arrow can sustain before it fails, so we need precise data on their durability to plan our defenses accordingly." She hesitated, asking, "Won¡¯t the results vary depending on which tree I choose?" "Most likely," he admitted. "But unless you try for head shots¡ªwhich I don¡¯t recommend¡ªtrees should be the toughest targets when hit with full force. And if you¡¯d rather use two arrows instead, feel free to test your accuracy on a rock next." She then pressed further, "And what happens if I discover there¡¯s no way to kill enough monsters before my arrows run out?" At the woman¡¯s question, Matt looked at her and saw someone hidden behind a mask of indifference, acting as if nothing ever troubled her. He suspected that mask was her tool for surviving isolation, even though he had never really cared to notice such subtleties before. Now, however, he found himself questioning why he felt repulsed by the emotional defenses each woman in the group displayed. Had Apricity shielded herself in the same way? If so, he hadn¡¯t noticed¡ªand, for some reason, that made him want to speak with her. Still, he pushed those thoughts aside as he prepared to respond to the woman before him. ¡°Either find another way to fight or craft new arrows,¡± he declared. ¡°The goblins I killed had crude weapons and makeshift clothing. If I had to bet, we¡¯ll all be stuck here until Earth is ready for our return. Even though the countdown is in seconds, it totals over 30 million seconds¡ªwhich is roughly a year. I expect that the weak are meant to perish; our true goal here is simply survival, and for most of us, working together isn¡¯t yet necessary.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®most of us¡¯?¡± asked the woman with the bow. ¡°You, the two carrying staffs, and several others who aren¡¯t equipped to handle every situation will eventually need support,¡± Matt replied. ¡°Later on, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll need a healer or some sort of craftsman¡ªsomeone to craft armor or repair weapons. That¡¯s really why I¡¯m even willing to delay our next move; I feel I should be seeking out a sturdy tree to turn into my base.¡± He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the rugged landscape before continuing. ¡°Anyway, I bet if we locate the goblin village, we¡¯ll find tools that we can repurpose. With those, some of us can eventually create better equipment. At that point, villages might become the norm, with one group exploring, another guarding, one crafting, and yet another securing food¡ªthough I¡¯m merely spitballing based on the idea that four was the minimum number needed to succeed.¡± ¡°Then was it wrong to split up like our group did?¡± another asked hesitantly. ¡°Not for me,¡± he responded calmly and slightly arrogantly. ¡°For the six of you, however, it might have been better to stick with the others. I suspect that, despite whatever each of the five may have thought, few would know what to do if free access were offered. But honestly, only a fool would worry about such things before this ends¡ªwe have no inkling of what awaits us once this tutorial is over, or what stands between us and that unknown future.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Some might say that is all the more reason to enjoy¡ª¡± ¡°If you finish that statement, I¡¯ll leave,¡± Matt snapped. ¡°This isn¡¯t a romance novel or a tale of heroic deeds where truth and justice triumph in the end. This is a deadly survival game that will force us all to the brink¡ªand beyond¡ªas the danger escalates with each passing day. Now, get to testing your arrows.¡± With that, Matt turned to check on the others, silently questioning why he had even bothered to voice his inner thoughts. He knew that despite spending most of his time alone, he enjoyed putting his thoughts into words as a way to sort them out, and he reassured himself that this was exactly what he was doing. Still, he felt that he should have been more open with the woman, especially as she began giving him a look that seemed to pin her hope for survival on him. Surely, she was simply frightened, and he was acting as if he were in control to comfort her. She was grabbing at straws to find a way forward, much like the woman with the staff had done before, which blinded them to the fact that he was just as lost as they were. Though he moved forward with an air of outward confidence, his mind was in a whirl of panic. He sensed the lingering danger of everything that had happened since he encountered the first goblin and realized he hadn¡¯t yet had the time to process it all. Instead, he was driven purely by instinct when he caught movement from the corner of his eye¡ªa boar charging straight toward him. Without a single moment to think, Matt instinctively shifted his stance. In the next heartbeat, a sharp pain shot through him as his hands closed around the boar¡¯s tusks. He twisted his body decisively, causing the boar to topple over and slide, dragging him along in its fall. He had managed to survive the charge by redirecting most of the boar¡¯s momentum and even trapping it on its side. Still, he was out of options: his instincts warned him that releasing either tusk would mean defeat, yet keeping his grip would prevent him from finishing the fight. It was just then that an arrow pierced the boar¡¯s belly, prompting it to squeal loudly. As Matt turned his head, he saw the bow-wielding woman release another arrow, which joined the first, while the tan-blond woman came running into view. With a single powerful swing of her axe, the boar fell lifelessly, and in addition to the modest reward of 30 experience points, an awkward silence fell over the three of them. Matt could feel that both women wanted him to acknowledge that he had needed their help, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so. Not that he doubted the role they had played¡ªindeed, they had arrived so swiftly that he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what his instincts would have led him to do had he been alone. And yet, he grudgingly recognized that their aid had been vital. With that thought lingering in his mind, he finally broke the silence after a few long seconds. ¡°Thanks for the assist; that fight would have been far tougher on my own,¡± Matt admitted with a wry smile. Though his comment was a clear cop-out, none of the women bothered to call him out, their attention soon distracted by the arrival of their four other companions. The group¡¯s expressions shifted to one of wary disbelief as they took in the massive, 200-pound boar lying dead¡ªa testament to the raw power of nature. Unwilling to let fear seep into their hard-won survival instincts, Matt pressed on. ¡°I wonder, does anyone have some barbeque sauce? I wouldn¡¯t mind a few pounds of salt either,¡± he continued, his tone light even in the midst of chaos. One of the women, gripping a sword tightly, looked at him with raised eyebrows. ¡°What?¡± she asked incredulously. ¡°You actually plan on eating that?¡± Matt grinned. ¡°What other options do we have? Sure, there are plenty of edible plants around if we could just figure out which ones, but protein is king.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t raw meat give us diseases?¡± another interjected, her concern evident. ¡°Not if we cook it properly,¡± Matt replied confidently. ¡°Now, has anyone here ever worked with wild game before?¡± As he spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle quietly at the puzzled looks on most of their faces. Reaching into his pocket, he produced one of his roughly sharpened stones and launched into a detailed lecture on preparing the meat. At one point, he had to explain his preference for these precision-cut stones over the far sharper, yet unwieldy, swords that many carried. Although a sword might have made certain tasks easier, its awkwardness in close quarters made it less practical for his needs. Demonstrating further, he showed them how to create their own stone cutting tools, though he refrained from producing more to avoid drawing unwanted attention with noise. Ultimately, no substantial shelter was built; all they had were four trees arranged in a rough square, forming a makeshift wall, and the roasting boar. The boar, while it spared them from hunger that night, was a far cry from gourmet¡ªit lacked any real seasoning and was rather bland in taste. Nonetheless, by the time Matt called it a night, he was satisfied that the six women had grasped the very basics of survival. Yet, their improvised weapons showed signs of wear; the arrows, for example, proved far from indestructible when one snapped after striking a tree merely seven times. Likewise, the tan woman¡¯s axe had noticeably dulled after chopping through just a couple of trees. Observing these shortcomings, Matt felt a certain kinship with his band of survivors. He realized that although they had been given rudimentary weapons and a single, magically granted ability tailored to that weapon, such abilities often proved more hindrance than help. They were rigid and inflexible, while his own instincts allowed him the freedom to move as needed. Still, he conceded that any passive skills that bolstered his speed or strength might be worth considering. Pushing those thoughts aside, he took the first watch of the night before finally settling down to sleep, the embers of the dying fire flickering softly against the dark wilderness. CH. 5 Ch 5 Matt awoke from the strangest dream¡ªa vision of being transported to an eerie forest¡ªonly to realize with a jolt that it wasn¡¯t a dream at all. Just inches from his face loomed the timid staff wielder¡¯s face, a sight that sent his fight-or-flight instincts into overdrive. He began to worry that he had already lingered too long in this precarious situation. Before he could react further, the tan, blond woman carrying an axe¡ªthe one who had taken the last watch¡ªspoke up. "So, what is on the docket for today?" she asked casually. "Lessons on personal space," Matt replied, his tone edged with sarcasm and anxiety. "Emily just felt safer near you. You can¡¯t really blame her for wanting to sleep soundly," she teased. "I can, as she didn¡¯t even ask and¡ª" Matt started, his frustration rising. "You would have refused anyway, which would have only made you angrier than you already are. So tell me, are you gay or something? Because the only way you look at any of us is with annoyance and frustration¡ªeven when we helped kill the boar." "I don''t know if I''m anything when it comes to sexual preferences," he muttered, "beyond feeling that it''s just not worth the trouble." "Got it, so you''re a virgin then?" "What are you going to tease me about now?" "I take it back¡ªyou¡¯ve dabbled once or twice, but only to claim you did," she said with a smirk. "Not true. I''ve never gotten that far with anyone. I always seemed to put other things first when I actually tried dating. And now, if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯m really not in the mood to talk." "I do mind," she insisted. "Look, the six of us would have been dead or worse if you hadn¡¯t stepped in yesterday. I know you only agreed to work with us for a day, but I need to know if a longer-term arrangement could be negotiated." "Ask me that when we¡¯re eating tonight," he replied, his tone darkening. "Also, check with the others first, because I''m not planning to be a pleasant companion if agree to something that binds me to your group long term." "Anything in particular that I should warn them about?" she prodded. "Yeah, I do what I think is best without worrying about others'' opinions. That often means I have no respect for privacy and no shame in breaking social norms. Before all this, I lived about half a day''s hike away from anyone, and I only made that journey two or three times a year." "Got an extreme example of what that could mean for us?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sure. If I instructed all of you to strip naked, cut off all your hair, and cover your bodies in mud, I would expect you to do so. It might very well be the first step in concealing your existence from some unseen danger out there." "Odds of that happening?" one of them questioned. "100%¡ªat least for you, if I end up staying past today," he replied sharply. "What!?" came the shocked response. "You''re trying to get me to stay," he explained, "so either give up, or accept that you''ll be subjected to everything I know." "Fuck, you¡¯re not kidding about being hard to live with," she grumbled. "Exactly," he said dryly. "So just forget about it." "Fine," she finally conceded, "if the others agree, I''ll humiliate myself for the greater good of us all." "What?" "Look, I¡¯ve spent my life expecting others to do exactly as I say simply because they work for my family. I never had friends¡ªand I never wanted them¡ªsince I could always order a maid to entertain me in any way I pleased. You lived alone, but I was surrounded by people who would obey every command as long as it didn¡¯t cross any boundaries. Had you claimed you¡¯d make us all strip for your entertainment, that would have been a line crossed. In my view, hiding from something and surviving is worth any level of humiliation one might demand. Just don¡¯t expect me to do it when you¡¯re not around¡ªand if it must happen, it¡¯s best to wait a few days." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "Alright, are we done talking now?" asked Matt, annoyance creeping into his tone. "For now,¡± she nodded ¡°But I expect everyone to have something to say before the day ends." "Joy,¡± grumbled Matt. ¡°Try to get them to help once I¡¯ve taught you all a few things¡ªlike how to make cordage." "Cordage?" "Yes; rope, twine, or any material used to tie things together." "Oh, you can actually make that?" she asked in surprise. "Yes, although it can be pretty time-consuming. However, among the skills that are both easy to learn and extremely useful in a survival situation, cordage-making is up there. In fact, I believe I could teach all of you how to do it in just one day." "Is that all you plan to teach us?" At that question, Matt felt his social patience evaporating. He took a deep breath, trying to recall how he¡¯d managed similar situations back in high school, and said, "No, I already gave you some lessons yesterday. Now, let me think about some other topics before I get too annoyed and my thoughts get jumbled." "How am I being annoying?¡± she pressed. ¡°If anything¡ª" "People just annoy me. That¡¯s why I avoid them, and why I don¡¯t plan on staying with all of you even if I agree to help out more. Now, keep your thoughts to yourself. I¡¯m going to take a walk through the woods and mull over a few things. While I¡¯m gone, start working with the others to strip the bark from the trees you¡¯ve cut down¡ªit¡¯ll be what you use to make cordage. And while you¡¯re at it, see if you can locate a good source of water nearby, because I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll last much longer without it." With that, Matt rose and began to walk away from the group of six women. He scanned the area for landmarks before slipping into the woods, marking trees as he went. Almost immediately, he felt a mix of relief and tension¡ªrelief at the solitude, and a creeping sense of paranoia that someone was watching him. The solace came from not having the burden of constant company, while the unease stemmed from the knowledge that whatever entity had spoken to them at the beginning of this scenario clearly possessed the means to monitor them all. Matt was convinced that some surveillance was continually tracking everyone in this barren expanse, always ready to alert those in charge if anything went wrong. It was this worry that had Matt¡¯s anxiety running on overdrive as he tried to decipher the true purpose of their predicament. It was clear that the threat wasn¡¯t limited to mere mindless monsters¡ªthe goblins were just the start¡ªbut he also had a nagging feeling that there were too few monsters at once. Still, he remained uncertain about exactly how few there were, as he had no idea how many levels it would take for his species to reach G or F rank. One thing was apparent, though: stopping there was not an option. Instead, Matt was determined to soar at least to E rank before being returned to Earth, even if that meant others might perish along the way. Not that he intended to kill them directly; rather, he would simply hoard experience, thereby hindering their path to F rank. This line of thought brought him back to a fundamental dilemma: how should he manage this scenario, and how much help was he willing to extend to others? Could he even afford to work with anyone? If he bumped into Apricity, Cassie, or Tyler, he would certainly lend a hand, but he wouldn¡¯t extend that assistance to the entire group trapped wherever they were¡ªMatt already knew what that could lead to. Should he discover that they were allied with another faction, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to leave them behind and concentrate on his own journey. In his mind, it made far more sense to remain self-focused, a mode of operation he was all too accustomed to and ready to embrace once more. Yet, there was one compelling reason to support the group of women: crafting. Although Matt was confident in his ability to create anything he needed, the process was painstakingly time-consuming. If the six women committed themselves to establishing and defending a base, they¡¯d have ample opportunity to craft essential items far faster than he could. Much like his arrangement with Cassie back on Earth, Matt planned to negotiate that they process whatever valuable resources he delivered into items beneficial to him. It was a straightforward concept in his head, yet he recognized that it would demand more than just a day of instruction in making cordage and other basic tools. He would need to help them grow stronger, for without that progression, it was only a matter of time before a monster¡ªor another human¡ªwould seize everything they had painstakingly built. Matt understood that the possibility of others joining their group was also high, which would almost certainly result in the six of them being absorbed by another group. If that happened, it would mean that instead of the tan blonde, who seemed to have become their leader, Matt would have to contend with a new unknown leader. This was the last thing he wanted; even though he found the tan blonde annoying, she was still less bothersome than having to start from scratch with someone else. That was, of course, assuming they could even continue to live as crafters in whatever reality they found themselves in. With this in mind, Matt strengthened his resolve to work with the women, provided they were willing to work with him, and try to establish a situation that he found bearable. He began to make his way back to the group of six women, only to find himself suddenly surrounded. Not by monsters in the traditional sense, but by simple rats, each the size of a football. Thankfully, he counted only ten of them, but he could see more approaching as he weighed the options of fighting or fleeing. The thought of how the six women would react to him returning while being chased by oversized rats made Matt quickly decide to fight. As he gripped his stone-cutting tools, he found himself wishing for a weapon with a bit more reach. Nevertheless, as he let his mind go blank and his body settled into a loose stance, he refrained from cursing whatever fate had sent the rats after him. After all, there were certainly much worse things to contend with, and at least the rats didn''t appear to be diseased and could provide a decent meal. Not that Matt expected any of the women to be thrilled about that prospect, but he chuckled as he thought of it as yet another valuable lesson he could teach them. CH. 6 Ch 6 Matt kicked the first rat that charged him, sending it crashing into another that seemed to be hesitating, weighing its options. That single blow only spurred more rats into action; within a matter of seconds, their numbers had swelled to around fifteen by the time he paused. Still, he flowed seamlessly into another kick, his body moving purely on instinct, never pausing to wonder why a particular move felt so right. He kicked, jumped, spun, and even used a nearby tree to change direction several times. Yet, for every rat he sent tumbling back, another would soon land and charge anew. Although he clutched two rocks in his hands¡ªtools he knew could kill¡ªtheir use was overridden by an inner warning that urged him not to resort to them. As the frantic battle unfolded, Matt felt himself slipping into a rhythmic, almost trance-like pattern, even as minor fatigue began to set in¡ªa fatigue reminiscent of a short, intense sprint where every breath grows heavier. The brief pauses between kicks allowed him to control his breathing, yet the constant threat of death in the event of a misstep pushed him further than he would normally have dared. His memory flashed to the fight during basic training, a recollection that filled him with dread at the thought of sustaining an injury now while he was fighting for his life in the wild. Just as he steadied his thoughts, an attack came from above: a rat leaped out of a tree in a surprise assault. Startled, he caught it squarely in the belly with one of his cutting stones. However, this initial victory was quickly countered by the sudden surge of four more rats, their bodies emerging from the branches with alarming speed. Matt''s reflexes served him well¡ªhe landed clean hits on two of the intruders and narrowly dodged a bite when another clung momentarily to his shoulder. In a desperate, violent spin, he managed to fling the rat off his shoulder, preventing it from ever reaching his neck. The brief moment of respite was nothing but an illusion. The rats that had been struck by his cutting tools lay immobile, but there had been no time for celebration as the remaining rats closed in. What followed was a chaotic flurry of kicks and desperate dodges; despite his best efforts, several scratches marred his skin while he narrowly avoided multiple bites. Even though Matt was convinced that the rats were not diseased, the prospect of a bite with no immediate access to medical care filled him with a pressing sense of danger. Once more, he longed for a weapon with some reach, a tool that could keep his enemies at bay. In a final burst of energy, he leaped out just in time to break free of the encirclement, spotting an open path leading back toward the direction of where the women were camped. With the pathway clear, he took off without hesitation, driven by the stark realization that he was merely one mistake away from being completely overwhelmed. As he ran, he couldn''t help but berate himself for feeling the need to depend on others. Despite knowing that his reliance was justified under the circumstances, it still set a troubling precedent. His plans to strike out on his own¡ªeven if it meant occasionally checking in for help¡ªnow felt complicated by the undeniable dependence he had been forced to display in the heat of the situation as his survival hung in the balance. All these thoughts and more raced through Matt¡¯s mind as he sprinted with a pack of rats scurrying hot on his heels, yet one thought stood out above the rest: how he wished he knew where the goblins were headquartered. He imagined that luring a swarm of rats toward them could incite a chaotic melee that might kill many of the creatures. Still, he pushed this idea aside amid the burning fire in his lungs and the constant need to avoid falling, all while carefully maneuvering through the forest. He kept a sharp eye on the familiar landmarks that would guide him back to the women. Fortunately, he had wandered scarcely a mile, having only sought a brief respite to clear his head, and it took merely eight minutes before he burst into the camp, panting for breath. The first thing he noticed was that, despite his absence lasting almost an hour, not everyone was awake yet. The second observation was that the tan-blonde and the three others who were alert had already managed to strip half of a tree¡¯s bark while he had been away. There was no time to worry about making cordage now; he had to summon the little breath he had left to call out a warning. ¡°To arms¡ª¡± His attempt was feeble, barely audible even to himself. Had it not been for the cacophony of his heavy breathing and the frantic sound of his footsteps, the others might have remained unaware. Luckily, the tan-blonde immediately responded with a much louder, clear call to arms: ¡°We are under attack!¡± It turned out that the staff wielder, Emily, who had slept near him, and one of the sword wielders were still asleep. This meant that only the bow-woman and the axe-wielding tan-blonde could provide immediate assistance, while the other two scrambled to rouse and shield their fallen comrades. Nevertheless, the situation was not as dire as before. Matt spun around to face the swarm of rats¡ªwhich had somehow swelled into a crowd of over fifty large, ferocious creatures. With a deep, steadying breath, he braced himself and met each charging rat with a swift, powerful kick that sent many flying into their fellow attackers. However, as the rats scattered and diverged to pursue new targets, he had to be cautious, ensuring that his strikes did not inadvertently send rats toward his allies. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The battle raged on as Matt focused solely on not becoming a burden, striving tirelessly to keep the majority of the rats at bay. In his frenzied state, he failed to notice that half of the women were swinging their weapons like frightened children, and he barely registered that the tan-blonde was the only one managing to hold her own in close combat. For Matt, the world narrowed to the ten feet surrounding him, and he stayed in constant motion until, after what felt like an eternity, he finally observed that no more rats were moving about. Only then did he allow himself a moment to scan the area, just as a new notification came in. Monster killed: Level 4 pack rats. Base experience multiplied by four. Awarding 57 experience. Current experience to next level 216/1000. Kick more things and gain more power if you wish to pursue a path of kicking. Matt wasn¡¯t sure how he felt about possibly opening the door to more constant kicking, but just as he had dismissed all the other options presented to him, he disregarded that one as well. Instead, he surveyed the group of women around him and smiled. Although more than one was glaring at him in annoyance, none appeared harmed as the tan blonde locked eyes with him and stomped over with determined steps. Matt seriously considered bolting, fully aware that what was about to unfold would be incredibly irritating; yet he knew that running would likely land him in yet another messy situation like the one he had just escaped. So, he stood his ground until she was right in front of him, ready to speak. ¡°What exactly is your explanation for thinking that herding a swarm of rats back here was a good idea?¡± she demanded sharply. ¡°It was more like my only option,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but kicking them wasn¡¯t working¡ªtheir numbers kept growing, so I was forced to choose the only logical course available to me. If I¡¯d known where the goblins were, I would¡¯ve led the rats there and let them clash, but armed only with these sharpened stones, I was clearly outmatched.¡± ¡°Then I take it you don¡¯t need persuading to stay, and you won¡¯t be forcing me to cut my hair and get muddy as payment?¡± she retorted with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Let¡¯s not overdo our expectations. For now, I need your group just as much as you need someone with basic skills, but that will change. Eventually, once I¡¯ve taught you all that¡¯s useful, I¡¯ll just be that temperamental guy who stirs up trouble for everyone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty much all of us, if you hadn¡¯t noticed,¡± interjected Emily as she wandered over from the others. ¡°Eleanor is the only one among us who feels comfortable chatting with random strangers¡ªeven if she does come off a bit too authoritative.¡± ¡°I take it you¡¯re Eleanor then?¡± Matt commented as he glanced toward the tan blonde. ¡°Emily and Eleanor¡ªtwo ¡®E¡¯ names out of six women. What are the odds?¡± ¡°Yes, that is my name. Should I also introduce the rest of the group?¡± she asked with faux courtesy. ¡°No, I¡¯d rather not know both names just yet¡ªthough I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll learn the rest in due time. Now, before I get frustrated again, let¡¯s figure out if I¡¯m staying, for how long, and exactly what my role will be while I¡¯m here.¡± "You''re staying," declared Eleanor firmly. "At least until we recruit one more, because your last outing confirmed my suspicions. Every time you venture off on your own, you end up getting attacked. The voice said that four is the minimum, so until you can leave with a group of four, all seven of us must stick together." "What about the boar?" challenged Matt. "I wasn¡¯t exactly alone then." "That single attack occurred only after you were more than 100 feet away from the group, and I believe it was because we were a bit spread out," Eleanor countered. "Even those goblins that nearly killed us were there for you¡ªwe just happened upon them." "If that''s true, wouldn''t it make sense for him to dash into the forest and lure enemies our way?" Emily asked thoughtfully. "That way, we could gain experience more easily." "Where did you get that idea from?" Matt inquired. "And why am I the one who gets to scout?" "Books and games¡ªmostly books, since I read a lot," explained Eleanor. "And as for why you, well, you''re probably the fastest among us." "All of them are fantasy, I take it," Eleanor observed with a slight smile. "Still, it has its logic, and it¡¯s a role that would make you indispensable once everyone has seen what you can do." "So what happens when I lure in a group of humans?" Matt asked, his tone darkening. "What?" Eleanor replied, raising an eyebrow. "He''s worried about the conflict that will follow," Emily stated. "I think we¡¯d rather have it happen sooner than later, as it would mean we¡¯re starting on equal ground¡ªand¡ª" "No," Matt interrupted. "If I am risking my life by luring enemies for you all to fight, we¡¯re not hoping for equal ground. We¡¯re aiming to be superior. This whole place is supposed to be filled with loners and society¡¯s rejects, right? I don¡¯t plan on sharing power with an idiot and making my goals even harder to achieve." "And just what do you want to do?" pressed Eleanor. "I don''t want to have to manage more people than necessary. Look, I know I¡¯ll eventually need to connect with a larger group, and that might as well be yours. But if that''s going to happen, you need to get them all to agree to level up rapidly for a while." "What''s ''a while''?" Eleanor asked, intrigued. "Until we figure out what it takes for us to reach ''G'' or ''F'' in our species¡ªwhatever it takes," Matt explained with a grim smile. "Do you really think we can evolve into something like elves when we rank up?" Emily asked hopefully. "It would be nice if being thrown into this chaos granted us some perks." "You''ve definitely been reading too many fantasy books," Eleanor commented wryly. "Even so, why couldn¡¯t it be possible?" "That doesn¡¯t matter right now," stated Matt decisively. "Our focus must be on survival. I¡¯ll begin teaching everyone how to make cordage, and you two can handle getting the others on board with leveling up." "Could I at least get your name before I start discussing things with the others?" Eleanor asked. "Matt," he replied simply. In that moment, as he spoke his name aloud, Matt felt a subtle shift¡ªa faint but to his mind a tangible link forming between him and the six women, binding them together in this precarious quest for survival. CH. 7 Ch 7 An hour had passed since Matt began teaching them how to make cordage, and overall, the six women were making good progress. Although it would take days for them to produce enough cordage for items like snare traps and climbing kits, they had at least mastered the basic technique and just needed more practice. However, they had already managed to create enough cordage to make a bow drill for starting fires¡ªa task Matt decided to focus on next. While he wasn¡¯t entirely sure whether having a fire was a boon or a liability, he acknowledged that it would serve as a crucial morale booster. The bow drill was also a much more reliable method than banging rocks on metal like they had done the night before. Especially as it wasn¡¯t good for any of their weapons to be used in such a manner and should be avoided whenever possible. During the lesson, Eleanor had taken the time to speak with each of the other women individually, so Matt wasn¡¯t fully aware of every detail that had been discussed. Nevertheless, as he finished crafting the bow for the bow drill set and was about to explain the importance of finding a good fireboard and spindle, Eleanor addressed the group as a whole. "After talking with everyone, I believe we all agree that splitting from the others yesterday might have been a bit too hasty. However, there¡¯s little we can do about it right now, as searching for them would be an exercise in futility. I¡¯m convinced that there are other groups out there¡ªwhen that mysterious voice spoke, it sounded like there were at least hundreds of us here, though I suspect millions would be more accurate. We have no idea how vast this area is or what else it holds, so it¡¯s safe to assume that everyone is pretty spread out. "Our priority now must be what we can control: building up our camp and progressing as quickly as possible. Matt will take the lead for the next few days or weeks, though he has made it clear that he does not wish to lead us long term. Therefore, I will serve as acting leader until we can choose a permanent one, especially once Matt has helped us reach a point where our judgment is as solid as his, given our circumstances. Now, Matt, could you outline in general terms the skills you believe we should all focus on developing until then?" Matt exhaled deeply as he stood and regarded the group once more, taking in each of their unique shapes and sizes. He noted the slight build of Emily, who couldn¡¯t have weighed more than 115 pounds, and contrasted it with the tall and muscular Eleanor, who weighed at least 160 pounds¡ªa testament to her strength and capability. Most of the others fell somewhere between these two, though their fitness levels leaned closer to Emily¡¯s than Eleanor¡¯s, except for the woman with the staff, who, to put it mildly, was entirely out of shape. Thankfully all of the women had at least been wearing pants instead of dresses when they were transferred to from Earth. However, while everyone else sported well-fitting tops that were neither too tight nor too loose, the last woman wore a baggy T-shirt that likely obscured the full extent of her weight issues. Matt¡¯s observations were more about adapting to the necessary adjustments than anything else, as he tried to assign each woman to a role suited to her strengths for the future. In this case, he was convinced that she would excel as a base tender, a role that required less exploration or constant movement. With this thought in mind, he began his instructions. ¡°First, each of you needs to take a hard look at yourselves and each other, and then determine which roles you can best fill. Take Eleanor, for instance; it may be too early to decide if she is the ideal leader for your group, yet she certainly knows how to take charge¡ªa quality that we sorely lack. And then there is Emily, who seems to be desperately trying to hold herself together as she clings to anyone she believes could help her survive. As for me, I long to find a quiet place to be alone, though that luxury is currently out of reach. Still, I remain hopeful that it will one day be possible. In the meantime, I will share some fundamental survival knowledge with you all. ¡°Now that you have all learned the basics of making cordage and have been provided with a tool to help create fire, we can address another critical need: clothing. None of us arrived here with a change of clothes, and I expect this to become a pressing concern sooner rather than later¡ªunless you all decide to embrace nudism. Fortunately, we have most of what we need to craft basic fur garments. I just have to locate the right bark and secure a method to boil and store water, and then we can tan the furs of the rats we killed.¡± Matt suppressed a snicker as he noticed a few of the women cringe at the thought of wearing clothing made from rats, his mind flashing back to his own past survival tactics, many of which others might find repulsive. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°All of you need to put aside your preconceptions about what¡¯s ¡°gross¡± because in the wild, many unpleasant tasks are necessary. I¡¯ve dealt with rodents, eaten insects, and even had to relieve myself in the open¡ªamong many other repulsive experiences¡ªto survive in isolation, and you all will eventually face similar challenges. That said, I won¡¯t force anyone to do anything, but if you¡¯d rather risk your life and impede the group than eat a simple cricket, then go ahead and do what you must. Now, regarding the specific skills I plan to teach to get us all to a level where survival is manageable¡ªit¡¯s simple. First, you¡¯re all already familiar with making cordage. I¡¯ve discussed fire-starting and tanning furs for clothing, which naturally includes preparing furs to be tanned. Beyond these, I intend to introduce some basic trapping techniques and a rudimentary method for constructing shelters from logs, since we currently lack many of the tools required for more sophisticated building. I know I¡¯m rambling, but remember: fire, shelter, and protection are the three pillars we need to focus on. As much as I¡¯d like things to be different, I¡¯m convinced that the best approach involves tracking down the goblins and seizing whatever they have¡ªtools, supplies, or anything that might support our survival. Even if their resources are crude, they could be exactly what we need. ¡°What if there are hundreds of goblins?¡± Emily asked, her face showing clear worry. ¡°Then we¡¯ll dispatch hundreds of goblins before they have the chance to use us the way they intend,¡± Eleanor stated resolutely. ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering the goblin problem; if we ignore them, it will only grow worse. That¡¯s also why I believe that after just a few days of preparation at this camp, we should abandon it and adopt a more nomadic approach.¡± ¡°What the hell,¡± grumbled the overweight staff wielder. ¡°I thought we spent all that time finding a good permanent base, and now you want to just up and leave it.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re fully ready to build a genuine line of defense, settling down anywhere just makes it easier for our enemies to attack us,¡± countered Eleanor firmly. ¡°We need proper tools, and I¡¯m willing to bet that capturing the goblin camp¡ªor whatever structure they¡¯ve got¡ªwill offer us a more secure and sustainable long-term base.¡± ¡°Fine, but if it turns out to be a stinking disaster, you can be the one responsible for fixing it,¡± retorted the staff wielder with her arms crossed. ¡°We can evaluate the location once we find it,¡± said Matt, clearly trying to steer the group away from another argument. ¡°For now, I want every one of you to consider what role you can play to help the group, even if it¡¯s not your first choice. And before anyone protests, know this: I¡¯m about to venture into the forest to bring back monsters for us to fight. I don¡¯t relish it one bit, but I¡¯m the best-suited person for that task. So, gear up, embrace the hardship for now, and let¡¯s hope that it all proves worthwhile in the end.¡± As Matt finished speaking, a long pause ensued until the bow-wielding women¡ªwhom he presumed to be the youngest in the group, though he could be wrong as her features spoke of Asian ancestry, and he found their ages hard to judge¡ªspoke up. "Isn¡¯t this the part where you ask us if we have any questions?" she asked looking disappointed about something. "No," Matt replied, "if you have any, handle them through Eleanor. I¡¯ll address them only if she brings them to me. Honestly, after speaking with all of you, I feel like I need to crawl into a hole and take a long nap. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯m going to focus on the bright side of my new role by slipping away to find something to bait here for all of us to kill." Matt simply smiled to himself as he noticed the slight pout forming on the bow-wielder¡¯s face upon his departure. Although he heard a few of the other women call out for him to return, he continued his trek into the woods, intent on finding a target to vent his frustrations about the situation. Unbeknownst to them, he planned to outlevel the others by solo-targeting several foes before luring the rest to his chosen trap. Despite knowing the risk, Matt felt an urgent need to prove his independence¡ªand to do that, he had to learn how to survive on his own. His primary concern was reaching a state where nothing in his vicinity could threaten him, though he doubted such a point was ever truly attainable. Alone once more, his mood began to lift as the stress of dealing with the women faded away. However, solitude was short-lived when the sound of shuffling leaves reminded him he was not entirely by himself. Whatever shared the forest with him seemed to vanish into the shadows the moment he strained his eyes to locate it, and he fought hard to keep the rising panic at bay. Recalling that natural camouflage was essential to many animals¡¯ survival, Matt scanned his surroundings for any sign of movement. His thoughts raced through images of insects, snakes, and even some mammals. The more he considered each possibility, the more the thought of a snake¡ªcapable of disappearing low to the ground¡ªpersisted, though something about that idea felt off. If it hadn¡¯t been for the goblins, he might have dismissed the uneasy feeling; instead, he had to accept that not everything he encountered would originate from Earth. This made him worry about Bob, as he couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether the boar and rats he had killed were of terrestrial origin too. And if they were, what did that spell for the bobcat¡ªand for his own chances of survival? Questions and thoughts like these kept threatening to distract him from the more pressing need before him. Namely, not dying because he got distracted when he should he should haven been paying attention to his surroundings. CH. 8 Ch 8 As Matt slipped away from view, it took only a second before the first complaint erupted. The bow-wielder glared pointedly at Eleanor as she began, ¡°Where does he get off just walking away like that when we still have questions about the survival plan? He hasn¡¯t even asked me about how many shots each arrow is good for¡ªeven though I followed his instructions and ended up ruining one last night.¡± Eleanor let out a heavy sigh before replying, ¡°And I doubt he ever will.¡± She paused, choosing her words carefully. ¡°Look, I understand your frustration, but I told you all: he isn¡¯t one for dealing with people. Although, in his own way, he does care¡ªit just isn¡¯t obvious. For now, please bear with me while I figure out how best to manage him.¡± Almost too softly to be heard, Emily murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s the type to be managed.¡± The second staff wielder, her tone dripping with condescension, demanded, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Um, well,¡± Emily began hesitantly, ¡°when I look at him, I get the feeling that he prefers doing things himself rather than explaining what he wants others to do.¡± Nodding thoughtfully, Eleanor added, ¡°I see. Perhaps he gets frustrated when others do something in a way he feels is subtly wrong¡ªwhen they fail to grasp what he considers basic. If so, it might be best to simply assign him tasks and hope for the best.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± snapped the bow-wielder. ¡°All of us dislike being in groups for one reason or another. Why does he get away with¡ª¡± ¡°It is because we are all women,¡± interrupted the smaller of the two sword-wielding women. Her words fell into a hush that silenced the others, who were uncertain how to react. With modest build, brown hair, and matching eyes set against pale skin, she might have been overlooked¡ªif not for the horizontal scars that ran up and down her arms. Though her jacket and the myriad bracelets she wore usually concealed them, each had seen the marks when she first swung her sword, and none had dared to question them. After a longer-than-necessary pause, it was Eleanor who finally broke the awkward silence once again. "While your wording could use some improvement, I believe you''re on the right track. Matt is an outsider in more ways than we are to each other, and we need to remember that. It¡¯s precisely why, as much as it pains me to say this, Emily, you need to avoid getting too close to him¡ªand that applies to all of us." "What do you mean?" Emily asked, her voice tinged with surprise. "I barely know him." "Yet you¡¯re already trying to latch onto him, and if he were truly interested, you would almost certainly allow yourself to become completely dependent on him while convincing yourself that you were in love," Eleanor explained firmly. "That¡¯s an awfully bold claim," retorted the second staff wielder, her tone edged with defensiveness. "I think you¡¯re projecting your own feelings onto the rest of us." "Perhaps," Eleanor countered, a subtle flush of frustration coloring her cheeks. "But I wasn¡¯t the one who was nearly snuggling him. Look, the main reason none of us should get too close is because he will run if he feels things are becoming too intimate, and if that happens, it will tear our group apart even more." "Or we could let her try seducing him," the smaller sword wielder chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Maybe that would make him a bit easier to handle, as long as Emily is willing to get him to¡ª" "He won¡¯t change who he is just because one of us wants him to," interrupted the other swordswoman, clad in black yoga pants and a tight white T-shirt that accentuated her olive skin, fiery red hair, and entrancing green eyes. Her presence made the four other women feel insecure, and even Eleanor found herself longing in secret when looking at her, despite her typically standoffish nature. "None of us will change because of someone else. Change only happens when we truly desire it, and the only reason any of us would want that is to survive. So until Matt feels that change is essential for his survival, he will remain as he is, and there is nothing we can do about it." "We can¡¯t know that until we try," Eleanor replied softly, her voice steady despite the tension. "Sometimes all it takes is giving someone a chance for a change¡ªa chance for people to grow." "Why say what you don¡¯t truly believe?" interrupted the second sword wielder sharply. "Really, I know you want us to hold onto hope, but what does it say when we only speak this way when he isn¡¯t around? It means that we don¡¯t trust him, and sooner or later, he¡¯ll sense that. That¡¯s why there¡¯s no chance of things working out long term as things are. I appreciate that he¡¯s teaching us to make rope and showing us a few other tricks that could help us survive, but I agree with him: keeping his involvement temporary is for the best." This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "You talk about trust, but why should any of us trust anyone else here?" Emily interjected before Eleanor could respond. "I was singled out because I was ready to follow him the moment he saved us from that goblin. That¡¯s why I trust Matt. He killed the goblins without asking for anything in return, only relenting after we pleaded for his help, and all he seeks is to leave once he¡¯s done assisting us. I truly believe his only motive is to survive on his own terms, even if that means retreating to his isolated existence. Eleanor, you say I can¡¯t change him, and I understand that, but isn¡¯t it so wonderful to dream about being the one who quietly exists in his shadow and supports him when he needs it?" ¡°God, you really do have it bad,¡± retorted the other staff wielder with a scoff. ¡°It¡¯s disgusting, if you ask me. Why should any of us want to live in a man¡¯s shadow?¡± ¡°I¡¯d take his shadow over yours any day,¡± declared the first sword wielder, her tone edged with a confident sneer. ¡°Ha! Why should any of us care about what a cutter thinks?¡± scoffed the second staff wielder, crossing his arms as if daring anyone to contest her. ¡°Be careful about throwing stones,¡± cautioned the second sword wielder, her voice low and steady. ¡°Especially when you¡¯re an easy target given the way you look. Scars tell a story about one¡¯s past, not their present, and not every mark¡ªor the reasons behind them¡ªis obvious. Eleanor, you still have my vote to lead us. I have no desire to be tethered, much like how Matt would so gladly abandon us all.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Emily,¡± Eleanor interjected sharply, ¡°she isn¡¯t saying that he would. She¡¯s simply pointing out that he¡¯d prefer solitude. As I mentioned before, he cares deeply¡ªso much so that it seems he can¡¯t help but isolate himself. It¡¯s a significant part of why he longs to be alone; most people don¡¯t truly care, and those who do often feel they¡¯re eventually taken for granted.¡± ¡°What would you know about that?¡± snapped the second staff wielder, her eyes flashing with resentment. ¡°From what you told us, you lived in luxury and ordered others around.¡± ¡°That¡¯s merely running a business,¡± replied Eleanor evenly. ¡°The ones who care make the best employees when kept happy¡ªbut they¡¯re the first to burn out when forced to tolerate indifference.¡± ¡°And just how do you manage to keep them happy?¡± The second staff wielder¡¯s tone dripped with sarcasm as she leaned forward. ¡°By ensuring they work in teams of like-minded people, those who care, and keeping indifferent outsiders at a safe distance.¡± ¡°If he cares so much, why did he dodge my question, which showed that I care?¡± pressed the bow wielder, her face drawn into a frustrated grimace. ¡°He retreated from the world for the most part¡ªbased on what we know, he burned out so completely that he likely assumes¡ª¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking things,¡± stated the second sword wielder with a dismissive tilt of her head. ¡°Some of us just never fit into the world and look for ways to avoid it. You lived in wealth but seemed to despise your peers, leaving you with no one to truly call a friend. So you retreated into your business, where no one dared get close enough to be called your friend, because you were simply too superior. I¡¯d even wager that you were avoiding an annoying entitled brat trying to force you into becoming their woman.¡± ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t expect all the lives of the rich to resemble those splashed across the headlines,¡± retorted Eleanor sharply. ¡°Since it seems necessary to share some of my past to put everyone¡¯s mind at ease, I will. I was the only child of a remarkably successful businessman who built a company valued at well over a billion dollars. I never attended a formal school; instead, my mother devoted every day to teaching me until I turned 12, after which my father assumed responsibility. This meant that every day I accompanied him to work, absorbing every aspect of his enterprise. I recall hiring my first employee at 13 and firing someone at 14¡ªthat was the moment I realized that true friendship might forever elude me. ¡°You might argue that it hardly matters when I possess the freedom to do virtually anything with our family fortune, but my father imposed one strict rule: under no circumstances could anyone learn of our wealth. I remained oblivious to our true financial situation until after I turned 21, having always believed that we were merely scraping by. In hindsight, I can now see the subtle clues that would have made the truth obvious, but my entire life had been meticulously orchestrated, leaving me without a proper frame of reference. I had never even seen a movie beyond carefully selected documentaries until my parents allowed me access to more extensive options after my 21st birthday.¡± ¡°What the fuck,¡± growled the second staff wielder, her voice thick with disbelief. ¡°How the hell are you meant to lead anyone when you barely know anything¡ª?¡± ¡°Do you even listen?¡± interjected the bow wielder sharply. ¡°She said had never not have never ¡ªshe¡¯s corrected such mishaps by now, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Not completely,¡± Eleanor conceded, her tone measured yet resolute. ¡°But I feel I have come far enough to serve as a leader in this situation, for one simple reason: I am willing to take charge¡ªunless one of you would rather try.¡± The other five women fell silent, exchanging uncertain and cautious glances, as Eleanor paused for a moment of reflection before continuing. ¡°If I¡¯m being honest, I fear that those both willing and capable of leading are in short supply, and those who should lead might simply refuse the role. After all, had all 12 of us remained together, Matt might have emerged as the ideal leader¡ªif only he could overcome his compulsion to isolate himself. Instead, the six of us must maximize the advantage of having him around while we can, for I suspect that sooner or later, he will seek a way to extricate himself safely from our midst. Even now, I¡¯m almost convinced that his plan is to return only when he brings with him the means for us to kill, once he deems himself unable to win the fight on his own.¡± CH. 9 Ch 9 Matt moved just as the creature stalking him leaped, barely shifting out of the way in time to escape a vicious blow from a claw or horn aimed at his throat. The elusive attacker vanished almost immediately, its presence betrayed only by a scattering of leaves that stirred in its wake. Forced to push his senses to their very limits, Matt strained to locate it, a desperate effort that allowed him to dodge another potentially fatal strike. This time, he glimpsed that the entity was not much larger than the rats he had encountered before as it rocketed past him. Despite his rapid reactions, his mind quickly adapted to the escalating danger. With barely a moment to spare, he blocked the subsequent attack by bringing one of his rock-cutting tools to the point where it had struck twice earlier. This maneuver revealed the foe to be a brown rabbit, roughly the size of his head, surprisingly outfitted with a roughly six-inch horn jutting defiantly from its center. Sadly, that was all Matt had time to process before the rabbit twisted, kicked off from the rock, and vanished into the shadows. Yet, the encounter made it unmistakably clear: the enemy¡¯s strength lay in its speed. He felt that a single well-timed counterattack was the only means to end the fight quickly. Unfortunately for Matt, landing a successful strike proved far more challenging than evading its deadly blows. His split-second reactions permitted him to block or dodge by mere fractions of a second, but he was simply too slow to decisively attack. To compound his dire situation, fatigue was rapidly overtaking him and the lack of water since his arrival was beginning to exact its toll. This only reinforced the fact that finding water was now a priority¡ªeven though, once found, it would still need to be purified to avoid the risk of contaminants. A fact that couldn¡¯t help but make Matt wish that the path of the pot had been an option offered as he avoided another attack. Then, when all hope seemed lost, his right-hand cutting tool slipped away as his body unexpectedly released its grip. Yet he did not panic. Instead, he trusted his instinctive reaction, raising his left arm and thrusting forward with his hand. He felt a sharp impact on his palm and a piercing pain between his middle and ring fingers, as if fire had been ignited in his grip. In that split second, the rabbit was already caught in his grasp. With a swift, determined swing of his remaining cutting tool, Matt ended the threat, the foe succumbing instantly under his decisive blow. Monstered killed: Level 5 horned rabbit. Base experience multiplied by five. Awarding 150 experience. Current experience to next level 366/1000. Kill more things and gain more power if you wish to pursue a path of bloodshed. Matt hardly minded that the mysterious force guiding his path had once again erupted into bloodshed; instead, he let out a deep sigh of relief. Yet, a nagging worry lingered¡ªcould he possibly lure such a monstrous creature back to his group? Even if he managed to do so, he doubted that any of them could withstand the first savage strike. In a moment of bitter irony, he mentally cursed the absurdity that even seemingly cute bunnies had turned homicidal in this brutal new reality. Still, amidst the chaos, there was one undeniable benefit. With his trusty cutting tool, he struck precisely where the sharply pointed horn met the rabbit¡¯s skull. After about thirty seconds of relentless hacking, the rabbit¡¯s skull was crushed, and the horn lay in Matt¡¯s hand. He quickly tested its sharp edge as a makeshift stabbing dagger. Measuring just over six inches in length, Matt knew it needed a proper handle to be wielded effectively without sacrificing its full length. He envisioned attaching a sturdy shaft to transform it into a formidable spear¡ªor perhaps even carving it into a knife if, as he suspected, the horn proved harder than wood. Satisfied with his makeshift weapon, Matt moved on after checking that his only injury was a shallow cut between his fingers, incurred during the struggle with the rabbit. Although the wound wasn¡¯t deep, it still troubled him, as he lacked the knowledge of the local medicinal plants necessary to treat it safely. Yet, he also recognized that understanding the flora might solve another pressing problem: water, since he was convinced that at least one plant would naturally provide a reliable source of hydration. After another ten minutes of trudging through the dense trees, Matt finally came to a halt. This time, he clearly saw what he was facing: four goblins of varying sizes, cautiously moving through the forest. Trusting his instincts, he refrained from launching an immediate attack. Instead, he quietly climbed a nearby tree and listened to their wary chatter from his elevated perch. After roughly five minutes of eavesdropping, one goblin began to grumble, ¡°Why we have to track down killers?¡± ¡°What we do when killers come for village,¡± retorted the largest goblin. ¡°Besides, you have me¡ªI kill any human that comes easily.¡± Another goblin muttered, ¡°What good is any of it? We¡¯re trapped here forever. How much long before village destroyed by newcomers?¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°We¡¯re strong, stronger than newcomers,¡± hissed the smallest goblin. ¡°You not old enough to remember, but village always kills men, takes women, and grows. Soon, we grow big enough to rule whole woods and never worry about the outcasts who are tossed aside here.¡± ¡°I know how we work, but why there not more of us?¡± replied a third goblin. ¡°Killers kill four¡ªwhy¡ª¡± ¡°They kill four weak goblins like you, not strong ones like me,¡± snapped the largest goblin. ¡°Also, clear that it was a struggle from the scene¡ª¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± interrupted the smallest goblin, pointing toward the spot where Matt had fought the rabbit. ¡°Look¡ªfresh tracks. We¡¯re close.¡± That was Matt¡¯s cue to act. He leaped down from the tree and swiftly advanced toward the largest goblin, driving the rabbit¡¯s horn into its back all the way to its base. Without wasting a moment, he abandoned the horn, rolled aside to avoid any counterattack, and sprinted toward the six waiting women. A wry smile spread across his face as he acknowledged the reassuring notification he had just received. Monstered killed: Level 4 hobgoblin. Base experience multiplied by four. Awarding 120 experience. Current experience to next level 486/1000. Kill more things with a single blow if you wish to pursue a path of assassination. Matt¡¯s smile vanished as he turned and saw that, instead of following him, the three goblins had reversed their course, sprinting the way they had come. His heart sank as he realized he¡¯d made a grave error; if he didn¡¯t catch them, the situation would spiral further out of control. Without a second thought, he spun around and plunged into a chase. In just two minutes, Matt managed to catch and dispatch two of the goblins, but the smallest of the group was nowhere to be found. A chilling dread welled up inside him as he suspected that this little creature might have been the leader. Desperately, he began scanning the area for any clues that could lead him to the elusive goblin, but no trace could be found, no matter how intensely he searched. Eventually, he steadied his racing heart with a deep, calming breath. Reflecting on the 180 experience he had gained from the encounter, he returned to the fallen bodies and retrieved the horn. Examining their belongings, he noted that aside from the stone axes attached to the hobgoblin¡¯s waist, the only items of value were the worn leather clothing and three waterskins, each containing nearly a liter of a foul-smelling liquid. Matt was almost certain that the liquid held a trace of alcohol, though he had no intention of drinking it. Instead, he poured it out one container at a time, scrunching his nose as the repugnant odor assaulted his senses. A nagging worry crept in that even boiling the substance might not neutralize its stench. However, he could not afford such delays as he resumed his search for any sign of the smallest goblin. Alas, after about 15 minutes of fruitless hunting, he found himself once more surrounded by a horde of scurrying rats. 25 minutes of relentless running later, Matt burst into a clearing where the six women were busy weaving cordage. Their task came to an abrupt halt upon seeing him. In an instant, they rallied together and charged at the elusive rats, echoing the chaotic scene he had just escaped. Gaining another 57 experience points from that fight, Matt now stood before the women, a frown etched on his face as he attempted to find the right words¡ªuntil Eleanor finally spoke. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been attacked by forces other than a rat swarm while you were away,¡± she commented, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity. ¡°Right,¡± Matt gasped, still catching his breath. ¡°There was this bizarre unicorn bunny that kept trying to pierce my neck with its horn, and then four goblins appeared. They¡¯re the real problem¡ªthey were clearly searching for us.¡± ¡°How do you know that?¡± Eleanor asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. ¡°They were talking as they neared, and from what I gathered, they were looking for us. They traced my fight with that odd rabbit back to here. I managed to kill one and attempted to lure the others into pursuit, but they scattered quickly, and I only caught and killed two of them.¡± ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re in danger?¡± Emily inquired, worry tinted in her voice. ¡°We¡¯re always in danger,¡± overweight staff wielder remarked sharply, crossing her arms and giving Matt a disapproving look. ¡°Now, there''s no choice but to move on.¡± ¡°Or we could stand and fight right here,¡± countered Eleanor, her spirit rising. ¡°We¡¯re stronger¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Matt interjected firmly. ¡°I haven¡¯t shared everything I learned from them¡­¡± As Matt disclosed the remaining crucial details to the women, he could sense their growing dread. The revelation that they weren¡¯t the first group dropped into these ominous woods struck them hard; it felt as if the initial voice had deceived them, sparking doubts about their supposed advantage in numbers. Instead of any hopeful promise, the world now appeared to be rigged against them¡ªa cruel, twisted game designed solely for the struggle of an unseen spectator before their inevitable demise. Matt watched in dismay as several of the women began to unravel, their voices rising in anxious debate over the worsening state of affairs. The scarcity of water was mentioned time and again, and amid their despair, they even contemplated suicide as a means to avoid capture. Sensing that the situation was about to spiral dangerously out of control, Matt abruptly stepped in and bellowed, ¡°All of you shut up!¡± The six women turned to face him, their expressions a turbulent mix of hope and seething anger, but silence eventually settled over the group as he continued. ¡°If all you¡¯re going to do is give up, then I might as well walk away. But I know you all want a chance at getting some pay back for all the suffering the goblins have inflicted on others. I¡¯d bet on it¡ªeven if you are captured. When the timer on returning to our world runs out, you¡¯ll be transported out of here.¡± ¡°By that time, the damage will be irreparable!¡± shouted the bow wielder. ¡°Who¡¯s to say how many goblin children we¡¯ll have birthed by then? Do you really think any of us would want to live after that horror?¡± ¡°There is life after rape,¡± countered the red-haired sword wielder, her voice steady despite the pain. ¡°The agony may never vanish completely, but it will subside. It is only when we surrender to despair and allow ourselves to die that we truly lose hope.¡± A heavy, uneasy silence fell over the group as they struggled to find a response¡ªuntil Eleanor finally stepped forward, taking charge of the tense situation. ¡°We¡¯ve already taken out seven goblins,¡± she declared. ¡°I say we set our sights on a hundred each and see which side wavers first. The goblins are on their way, so our real dilemma is whether we confront them here or make a strategic retreat.¡± ¡°We need to move,¡± Matt interjected firmly. ¡°We must find water and establish a proper base¡ªmy plans for digging a well can¡¯t proceed otherwise. Let¡¯s start heading in the opposite direction from where they emerged. Maybe if they think we¡¯re fleeing in fear, they''ll underestimate us.¡± CH. 10 Ch 10 It took them about an hour, but once they had gathered all the materials¡ªusing some of the rags the goblins called clothes to fashion a makeshift bag¡ªthey were on their way. Their goal was to find water, which proved easier said than done since the generally flat terrain offered no clues. For all they knew, they might have been traveling parallel to a river all day yesterday. That uncertainty led Matt to decide to take a path perpendicular to the route they had carved the day before. Although this maneuver brought them a bit closer to the goblins, Matt was convinced it was still the right move. Hours passed, and apart from employing his wilderness navigation skills to keep them on a mostly straight line, everything felt unnervingly too peaceful. This calm only confirmed Matt¡¯s suspicion that something was provoking attacks on individuals who wandered alone. He secretly hoped that the goblins, who always moved in groups of four, might also suffer from this anomaly, yet he doubted it¡ªafter all, both the boar and the rabbit had attacked him by themselves. These thoughts swirled in his mind as they finally paused for a breather under the scorching sun at its zenith. That''s when Eleanor gently pulled him aside from the group to get more information. ¡°So, how close are you to reaching level 2?¡± she inquired. ¡°Just over 72% of the way there, but no¡ªgaining that last bit isn¡¯t my top priority right now,¡± he replied. ¡°Maybe it should be. Hear me out¡ªwe¡¯re relying on you more than we should, and we have no idea what leveling up will even mean for us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find water first. Each of those goblins was at least level 3, yet that didn¡¯t stop me from taking them down with a single hit.¡± ¡°Alright, but if you need my axe or any of the other weapons, just ask and I¡¯ll see about lending them to you next time you go out.¡± ¡°No, and don¡¯t ask me why, but if it¡¯s something provided by whatever sent us here, I¡¯d rather not use it.¡± ¡°Promise me it isn¡¯t just a misguided sense of pride or something along those lines.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing like that. I simply get this uneasy feeling whenever I handle any of the weapons you all carry. Trusting my instincts is how I fight, and I¡¯m going to stick with that approach, hoping it all works out.¡± ¡°Alright, now for the tougher topic¡ªwhat are you going to do when one of us starts thinking that we love you?¡± ¡°Walk away.¡± Matt gave Eleanor a serious look before continuing. ¡°In my mind, walking away is my only option. I¡¯m simply not the kind of person to deal with the responsibility of keeping anyone happy. Besides, we have no clue what our new reality will be like once we leave this place. Even if I were capable of returning their love, any relationship that hindered me from living the life I want would sour very quickly. I¡¯ve made it clear that I¡¯m not one to enjoy the company of others, and I can only think of a single woman who might have even been a possible match for me.¡± "What happened to her?" "Nothing. I didn¡¯t even give her a chance to be more than a friend I¡¯d talk to a few times a year when I went into town for supplies. Part of my goals is to find her if she got dumped in here with us and make sure she survives. But who knows how spread out we all are or if she even ended here as she may have fallen into a different category than us." "I see. I assumed that any attempts to get close to you would be a terrible idea and have already told the others as much. I just wanted to ensure that you would turn down any who tried. Now, please make sure you do so firmly when it happens, but don¡¯t insult them either, as we all need to work together." "Right, at least for now. Don¡¯t worry, if any of them wants to make a big deal out of me turning them down, I¡¯ll be the one leaving, as I would rather die than deal with that for a year." Eleanor looked a bit worried as Matt said that, but she kept her thoughts to herself as she stood and called for the others to get ready to move again. Matt decided not to pry into her mind, as doing so with anyone was just about the last thing he ever wanted to do. Still, he knew there was a reason she had asked, and it only increased his desire to escape and go off on his own the moment he felt like doing so was an option. Only, part of him felt like it wasn¡¯t ever going to be as the rules had been set up to deny him that simple freedom. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The next few hours really started to wear on Matt as more than one of the women didn¡¯t know how to keep their complaints to themselves. It would have been one thing if they had been complaining about things he could address, but they were just lamenting over things beyond anyone¡¯s control. Matt started to feel like he couldn¡¯t take one more complaint about wanting a specific drink or food that likely didn¡¯t even exist anymore. Still, the worst was listening to the overweight staff wielder complain about having to walk so much, especially since she was slowing them all down. Matt was lost in dark thoughts when something caught his attention. The terrain was dry, but ahead lay a riverbed¡ªone that meant water to Matt, even if it wasn¡¯t immediately apparent. To the others, it seemed like a cruel joke, and the overweight staff wielder wasted no time blaming him as he announced that they should set up their base nearby. "Look at what Matt has found¡ªa river for us to settle near! There''s just one problem: all the water is gone!" she complained loudly. "Do you know anything about water tables?" retorted the red-haired sword wielder, her tone sharp with irritation. "Honestly, can you do anything but complain?" "Why would I need to know anything about whatever those are? It¡¯s not like¡ª" "Just shut up," the redhead interrupted firmly. "Water tables indicate how deep you need to dig to find water, and riverbeds usually have very high ones. With an hour or so of digging by hand, we¡¯ll likely reach safe, drinkable water." "Let¡¯s not assume that it will be safe to drink," cautioned Matt. "We don''t know what kinds of minerals this area might have¡ª" "We either drink it or die of dehydration, since we don¡¯t really have any other options right now," Eleanor stated briskly. "Even if we had a pot to boil it, we don¡¯t want to start a fire and be seen yet." "If you¡¯ll let me finish, we need to let the water settle before drinking it, and when we do, it¡¯s important not to disturb it too much. You¡¯re right that there¡¯s a risk of contaminants, but we can mitigate that somewhat," Matt added calmly. "How about you prove there¡¯s actually water before making plans," scoffed the overweight staff wielder. Matt swallowed his urge to retort, not wanting to start another argument, and allowed a small smile to creep onto his face as a plan began to take shape. He surveyed the area and noted that the riverbed was about ten feet wide and, by his rough estimate, could hold around five feet of water when full. It wasn¡¯t a raging river, yet he was confident that water lay beneath the sediment. Finding a sturdy rock to serve as a makeshift tool, he chose a spot with fewer obstructions and knelt down to set out his orders. "Eleanor, at least four of us need to stay on guard, facing outward in case anything attacks while we¡¯re digging. I also need two others to help move the excess dirt as the hole starts to collapse around us¡ªthat''ll be one of my biggest challenges." "Emily, Maria, you two can handle soil removal," stated Eleanor, firmly. "I am not¡ª" the overweight staff wielder began, alerting Matt that her name was Maria, only for the redhead to shoot her a silencing look. It seemed that at the very least, Maria had a bit of sense as she got to work, even if she was grumbling under her breath the whole time. Thus began the digging, and Matt soon found himself wrestling with more than one rock that stubbornly interfered with his progress. Every inch he dug revealed ever-increasing dampness, which buoyed his hope that water would soon appear. Yet after what felt like two exhausting hours, he was left with nothing more than a hole about two feet deep and two feet wide, devoid of any pooling water. While he could extract a scant trickle from the rich soil he had dislodged, it simply wasn¡¯t enough, and his body was beginning to protest the strain. ¡°Take a break, and I¡¯ll take over for a bit,¡± offered the redhead, clearly seeing that he was slowing down. ¡°Thanks. Just make sure you keep widening the hole as you go so that it won¡¯t collapse,¡± Matt replied. With a nod, Matt switched roles and assumed the lookout, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Barely twenty minutes later, someone shouted excitedly upon discovering water, prompting renewed bursts of digging as the team shifted to having just Matt and Eleanor on watch. By the time the sun began to set, they had expanded the hole into a circular basin about four feet across and four feet deep. This measurement didn¡¯t even take into account the stones and sticks hastily arranged around the edge for reinforcement. Still, Matt knew much more work was needed¡ªonly the bottom and about a foot up on each side were lined with their makeshift support. This left them with one major challenge: they could only scoop out a meager mouthful of water at a time with cupped hands. The water skins Matt had filched from the goblins were now in their possession, but they all agreed to avoid them after Matt explained his reservations and even allowed them to sniff the skins. Matt¡¯s plan was to first fill the skins with water and then drop in several red-hot stones to boil¡ªand thus sterilize¡ªthe water. This approach, however, meant they would need to wait until they felt safe enough to make a fire. He even considered testing the women with the bow drill, though he doubted they could manage the far more laborious hand-drill method he had once used to cook boar. Speaking of the boar, Matt was relieved that they had let the remaining portions cook almost into jerky the previous night, as that turned out to be what they had for dinner again. With the hearty meal and the steadily emerging water supply, Matt was generally in good spirits, despite a few grumbles from the women about minor oversights that momentarily tempted him to consider leaving. Yet, as dusk settled and they resumed the familiar rotation of watches from the night before, Matt accepted that he was firmly stuck where he was¡ªfor a little while longer at least. CH. 11 Ch 11 Matt woke to the sound of Emily screaming. He leaped to his feet and looked around to see nearly twenty goblins charging at them. Instantly, his fight-or-flight instincts kicked in, and he thought that fleeing must be the only option. But then he noticed Emily trembling as she stood with her back to him, even as the redheaded swordswoman charged in with reckless abandon. That fierce determination stirred something deep within him. He swiftly yanked the rabbit¡¯s horn from his belt, gripping it tightly in his right hand while drawing one of his stone cutting tools in his left, before surging forward into the fray. The first goblin he struck fell instantly from a swift, precise blow to its head. However, the effort slowed him just enough that he couldn¡¯t avoid the next goblin¡¯s assault. Desperately, he deflected its crude club with his forearm¡ªa jolt of searing pain bolting up his arm¡ªbut he pressed on, driving the rabbit¡¯s horn deep into the creature¡¯s eye socket. Wrenching the horn free proved more difficult than he¡¯d anticipated, as it yanked the screaming goblin into the air. In the midst of the chaos, another goblin charged him. Without missing a beat, Matt swung the horn downward, bashing one goblin into another. Thankfully, this maneuver dislodged the horn. He quickly stamped his boot onto a foe¡¯s throat, then swung his left arm to deliver a crushing blow to another goblin¡¯s head with his cutting tool. Unfortunately, that goblin was mid-swing with its club, and as it released the weapon, the momentum sent it crashing directly into Matt¡¯s face. A cry of agony escaped him as his nose shattered, blood spurting down his face. Still, he kept his footing and, fighting through the pain, managed to ram the rabbit¡¯s horn into the ear of yet another goblin. By that point, the goblin who¡¯d lost its eye staggered to its feet, shrieking as it tried to flee. Undeterred, Matt closed the gap in just five strides, ending its flight with a savage blow to its head with his cutting tool. Amid the roaring chaos, he couldn¡¯t tell if his strikes were merely stunning his foes or truly killing them, as screams and battle cries filled the air while the women struggled desperately to survive. He had assumed they would have at least one more day to prepare, but clearly that was not the case. The goblins had come in overwhelming force, intent on their destruction, and Matt struggled to understand where his plans had faltered. Even if the smallest goblin had scurried off to alert its kin, their pursuit should have taken longer than a single day to unfold. Deep down, Matt knew he must have missed something crucial, and his mind raced with questions as his body instinctively shifted into autopilot. Then, his eyes fixed on a heart-wrenching sight: the redheaded sword-wielder faltered and fell, collapsing as one of the goblins splashed a mysterious substance across her face. In that split second, Matt recalled the contents of the water skins and wondered if they were never meant for drinking at all, but rather were some kind of potent drug. Moments later, another piercing scream shattered the tumult, as the overweight staff-wielder crumpled to the ground while four gleeful goblins restrained her. Simultaneously, Matt dispatched another goblin that dared to intrude into his sphere of control, momentarily diverting his attention from the women, only to be met with yet another scream¡ªthis time from the bow-wielder, who was struggling desperately against three vicious goblins. Things were getting worse; what had initially felt like 20 goblins now seemed like 40. Despite their best efforts, Matt and the women were being overwhelmed. Once more, his fight-or-flight instincts kicked in as he charged towards the bow wielder, taking down three more goblins along the way. However, by the time he arrived, the goblins already had her down, appearing to waterboard her with one of their water skins. Matt swiftly killed the three that had her restrained, but the damage was done, as she was unresponsive when he looked down at her, her eyes vacant and lifeless. Once more, a scream jolted him from his thoughts as he watched Emily go down, and the world went red. Suddenly, nothing mattered to him as he moved and killed with relentless fury: one goblin, two goblins, three goblins. Matt didn''t even try to count as he pushed his body well past its limits, driven by a surge of adrenaline and desperation. However, it was meaningless, as the goblins stopped trying to fight him once Eleanor and the other sword wielder had been subdued. If he had accomplished anything, it was planting the seeds of terror in the hearts of the goblins as they fled with their captured prizes. Matt tried to follow, but at some point, he had injured both his legs and couldn''t run. Instead, he fell forward when he tried, and by the time he made it back to his feet, he was alone, surrounded only by the injured, dying, and dead goblins. Feeling that he should at least finish them off, he hobbled over to each one, slaughtering them without mercy. As he did so, he felt a part of himself break, slumping to the ground after finishing the last one off and receiving a series of notifications awarding him experience for the gruesome deeds he had just committed. Monsters killed: 15 level 3 goblins. Base experience multiplied by three. Awarding 193 experience. Current experience to next level 916/1000. Kill more things while in a rage if you wish to pursue a path of wrath. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Monsters killed: 6 level 4 goblins. Base experience multiplied by four. Awarding 103 experience. Current experience to next level 1019/1000. Kill more things while in a rage if you wish to pursue a path of wrath. Experience has reached threshold prepare to level up! Matt felt as though his entire body was ablaze, experiencing the correction of every injury he had sustained since his arrival. Simultaneously, he noticed all his senses sharpening as he received another message. Matthew Pierce. Level 2 Strength: 11 Dexterity: 7 Durability: 7 Stamina: 9 Spirit: 8 Mind: 5 Species Human (H) Bloodline: (Not evaluated at this level) Path: None Titles: Integrated Skills: Auto translate No path detected: increasing all stats by one due to the lack of path. If you wish to specialize in certain areas, select a path. Available paths¡­ As the pain faded away, Matt glanced at the stubborn message that hadn¡¯t cleared on its own, noticing far more path options than the meager choices offered at the beginning of this ordeal. None of these new routes came with any proper description, so he mentally dismissed the message and focused on what felt like the correct next move. Before leveling up, despair had gnawed at him from his inability to give chase; now, however, leveling up appeared to have brought a complete heal, a phenomenon that left him briefly puzzled even as he realized he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on its meaning¡ªespecially when the goblins already had at least a twenty-minute head start. Fortunately, the path ahead was unmistakably marked, for the goblins had been running with a singular focus on speed. Yet, the realization that even after killing 21 goblins there were still enough left to carry off six women told Matt he was up against a significant force. If he assumed that it took at least four goblins per captive, that would suggest 24 attackers, though it was equally plausible that 12 hobgoblins had been deployed to transport them¡ªa theory bolstered by his observation that not a single of the goblin variant had mixed into the melee. As Matt mulled over these possibilities, he soon encountered the first obstacle in his path. His hunch about the hobgoblins sticking back as muscle proved correct¡ªthey were there to carry the women. However, they had miscalculated; two of them were struggling to move Maria while four other goblins kept vigilant guard. Just as Matt was about to spring into action, he recalled that each of the women had been drugged, and rescuing Maria prematurely might thwart any hope of saving the rest. Grateful for the brief window of opportunity, he managed to avoid detection while quickly weighing his options. Deciding not to rush in recklessly, Matt slipped off to the side and then pushed forward, determined to catch up with the leading group. His plan was to confront each advancing group and rescue the women, or at the very least, reach a threshold of saving three. With that goal in mind, he edged past one group of five to six combined goblins and hobgoblins after another until he finally caught up with the group fleeing while carrying the redheaded sword-wielder. Summoning every ounce of resolve, he charged in. His first strike did not catch the enemy off-guard¡ªafter all, he made no effort to be quiet¡ªbut the raw terror in the goblins¡¯ eyes was proof enough of his sudden and fierce presence. In an instant, the first goblin fell; two others scampered away in a screech as the two hobgoblins dropped their captive and lunged at him. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Matt drove the rabbit horn into one goblin¡¯s throat and, in a swift exchange, traded a blow to an opponent¡¯s arm for a clean strike to the other¡¯s temple with his long-dulled cutting tool. His decisive action came just in time, allowing him to pivot and meet the advancing group carrying the bow-wielder as they charged into the fray. Unlike the previous group, none of these goblins fled, and noticing that there were six goblins alongside two hobgoblins, he deduced that the two deserters had likely joined their ranks. A sinister grin spread across all eight faces as they slowly closed in on him after dropping the bow wielder, sending his guard into overdrive. This was the inherent flaw of his fighting style: while he thrived when he could flow with the chaos of battle, the long lull before the fight truly began was maddening. To make matters worse, he was painfully aware that he had no more than thirty seconds before another group of six arrived to reinforce them. Yet, his instincts vehemently warned him against rushing the current skirmish, prompting him to quickly analyze his options. Then, just as the next group emerged into view, Matt¡¯s senses locked onto one hobgoblin turning its head, and in that split second, he attacked. The speed of his assault was such that he struck before the hobgoblin could even react, though the remaining seven quickly closed ranks around him. In one fluid motion, Matt pivoted around the fallen foe he had just struck, using its body as a makeshift shield against attacks from all sides except the goblins directly on his left and right. Those on his flanks required swift action or he would be in trouble so, with a forceful kick, he sent one of their clubs crashing back into its wielder¡¯s face, narrowly evading another blow, before slamming his rabbit horn weapon into the other goblin¡¯s skull with all his might. As the goblin with the impaled brain collapsed, Matt advanced, kicking its limp body into another enemy, only to soon find himself face-to-face with the second hobgoblin in the group. This time, a wry smile crept across his face as he goaded the hobgoblin into an overzealous overhead smash¡ªa move that inadvertently struck a goblin still reeling from being knocked over by their fallen comrade. The ensuing squashing sound was oddly satisfying, and taking full advantage of the moment, Matt drove his rabbit horn deep into the hobgoblin¡¯s skull at precisely the same spot he had targeted before. Instead of shattering the skull outright, he watched with grim fascination as a two-inch fragment of the horn broke off, then delivered a heavy blow that cracked the remaining skull apart. For a fleeting moment, time appeared to freeze as Matt¡¯s body and mind scrambled to process the unfolding chaos. Crucial seconds slipped away when he briefly lost the rhythm of battle, nearly immobilized as another goblin lunged at him. Still, he managed to dodge, hurling the broken horn fragment at the charging attacker while swiftly pulling out his second cutting tool. With a weary sigh, he resigned himself to yet another brutal struggle for survival¡ªa fight that demanded he save others even as every fiber of his being longed to run. CH. 12 Ch 12 Clutching one rock-cutting tool in each hand, Matt maintained an intense focus on every goblin that came within the striking range of his weapons. Unfortunately, there were too many of them, and he soon found himself enduring one minor blow after another. He was somewhat relieved that the vicious creatures wielded nothing more than clubs and lacked the brute strength he¡¯d expect from a human adversary. Their reckless abandon¡ªcharging without any semblance of self-preservation¡ªgave Matt a glimmer of hope that he could prevail or at least dispatch enough of them to make a meaningful difference. That hope was shattered when he felt the sharp teeth of one goblin sink into his left arm just above the wrist. Rage surged through him, as he lost his grip on the tool in that hand, and he instinctively swung his remaining tool at the goblin¡¯s skull. Even as the creature relinquished its bite, another enemy landed forcefully on his back. With quick reflexes, Matt slammed himself down onto the intruder before it could inflict further harm. Still, he found himself pinned on his back while the remaining goblins continued their relentless charge. Frantically, Matt kicked and punched, desperately trying to prevent the goblins from swarming him. He had no time to think or plan¡ªonly to fend off each attacker as they surged forward. Blood splattered everywhere, mingling with the red smear of his own, as every part of his body throbbed with pain and each breath became a struggle. His vision blurred into a chaotic scene where he no longer saw fear in the eyes of the goblins. Instead, they seemed to be grinning at his inevitable demise. At some point in this chaos, he lost his remaining cutting tool, leaving him defenseless against the onslaught. Death loomed large for both him and his attackers, and amidst the chaos, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he had risked everything for a group of women he barely knew. There was a small consolation in the thought that, when alone, he would have been attacked even more relentlessly¡ªwhich, in theory, could have helped him level up quickly enough to become immune to weaker foes. But that line of thought vanished as he felt another set of sharp teeth sink into his already screaming leg, battered by countless blows. In that agonizing moment, memories of the life he once knew and the peace of days long past flooded his mind. Time itself seemed to slow down as he savored what felt like his final moments, reflecting on the life he had cherished until now. Yet, those final minutes dragged on interminably, and he felt that his entire life should have flashed before him¡ªinstead of merely the moments preceding his inevitable end. It was at that exact moment, as his thoughts swirled in a haze of impending doom, that a deep chuckle reached his ears. Instantly, he recognized the gravely familiar voice of the one who had welcomed them to this nightmare. ¡°How pitiful¡ªso much potential, all destined to be lost because you rush in to save others rather than seizing the gains and abandoning the dead weight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just what humans do!¡± Matt mentally shouted, sensing that the very fabric of time was being manipulated. ¡°Yes, humans¡ªa foolish race that cannot achieve harmony with that which they deem inferior, like ants or bees, yet fail to rise to the magnificence of the dragons they so fantasize about.¡± ¡°Are you here just to mock me before I die!?¡± ¡°No. Were I inclined to mock you, I wouldn¡¯t be addressing you now. Rather, I am here to offer you a chance to survive.¡± ¡°Oh, and what will it cost me? My soul?¡± ¡°If only it were that simple. No, what I require are the last threads of what you call your humanity.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You need not understand; simply know that if you refuse, this is where you will meet your end.¡± Matt hesitated, processing the weight of the words and pondering what it truly meant to lose his humanity. Was it his humanity that compelled him to save the women? Was he being given the option to become one of the monsters, or was there something even more nefarious at work? ¡°No,¡± Matt finally responded, astonishing even himself. ¡°I will not die, and I will not change who I am for anyone¡ªmuch less for some disembodied voice sent to tempt me!¡± In that moment, Matt thought he could almost hear a smile in the tone of the unseen speaker. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Such a pity. Still, show me, prove me wrong and survive this fight.¡± Time seemed to resume, and Matt found his body moving on its own as he forced himself upright and unleashed a primal roar. Without a second thought, he thrust his right arm toward the nearest goblin¡¯s throat and clutched it. In a wild frenzy, he swung the goblin¡¯s body around like a cross between a club and a flail, smashing it into one goblin after another as he ignored the searing pain that coursed through his body. It wasn¡¯t until, after approximately a dozen savage swings, that the goblins head came free from the relentless combat, and Matt found himself crouching to pick up another stunned goblin that hadn¡¯t yet recovered from his brutal assault. Embracing the role of a demon in the eyes of the goblins, Matt felt inspired by the sinister deal he suspected had been offered by a devil himself. Aware that he couldn¡¯t win if every goblin engaged him simultaneously¡ªhe had already come dangerously close to being overwhelmed¡ªhe surrendered to the only option remaining: to become a monster, so long as he maintained control. At least, he reasoned, if those who viewed him as a monster were, in fact, the true beasts, then he could at least see himself as a hero on one side. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure why he longed to be a hero, but he decided to embrace the mantle and push forward. By the time the second goblin¡¯s neck finally gave out, the remaining goblins and hobgoblins had scattered, leaving only the redheaded sword-wielder and the bow-user behind. Feeling his strength beginning to wane, Matt scoured the battlefield for any goblins still breathing and finished them off. In that instant, whatever governed the nature of this experience recognized the fight as over, and Matt received three messages detailing the gains he had earned from the battle. Monsters killed: 6 level 3 goblins. Base experience multiplied by two. Awarding 360 experience. Current experience to next level 1379/2000. Kill more things while in a rage if you wish to pursue a path of wrath. Monsters killed: 2 level 4 goblins. Base experience multiplied by three. Awarding 160 experience. Current experience to next level 1539/2000. Kill more things while in a rage if you wish to pursue a path of wrath. Monsters killed: 4 level 4 goblins. Base experience multiplied by three. Awarding 320 experience. Current experience to next level 1859/2000. Kill more things while in a rage if you wish to pursue a path of wrath. Matt was just about to curse his luck for coming so close to reaching the next level and being able to continue his quest when the last group, carrying the overweight staff-wielder, came into view. His world was a haze of pain, but he still managed to smile as he grasped the neck of the nearest dead goblin and hurled it at the hobgoblins struggling to carry Maria. Without even waiting to see the results of his throw, Matt grabbed another goblin corpse and put everything he had left into charging forward with renewed determination. His actions had the desired effect as the smaller goblins scattered in fear, and the two hobgoblins carrying Maria collapsed. The thrown goblin had crashed into the front hobgoblin, leaving the one at the back unable to handle the weight alone. This made dispatching the pair and earning 160 experience points almost too easy, as the notifications came streaming in. Experience has reached threshold prepare to level up! Matt felt like his entire body was on fire once more as every injury he had sustained during the fight began to heal. This was once again followed by the revelation of his new stats. Matthew Pierce Level 3 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 8 Durability: 8 Stamina: 10 Spirit: 9 Mind: 6 Species Human (H) (pending evolution to G) Bloodline: (Not evaluated at this level) Path: None Titles: Integrated Skills: Auto translate No path detected: increasing all stats by one due to the lack of path. A path is required to evolve areas, select a path. Matt once again felt the world come to a complete stop as several options of paths were displayed before him, shimmering with potential. In that frozen moment, the deep, resonant voice of the unseen entity invaded his mind: "Good, good¡ªwhat a delightful bit of entertainment. It always pleases me when my expectations are exceeded. Still, it does not erase the fact that you once refused my hand, and I do not take kindly to such defiance." "Go to hell¡ªif you¡¯re not already there," Matt shot back, his tone edged with defiance. "I know nothing about you or your motives, so excuse me for not entrusting my fate to someone like you." "All someone as feeble as you needs to understand is this: I possess power, and you do not. Judging from the world you hail from, I can see why you might naively believe that standing up to those with true might is even possible. Allow me to enlighten you about the reality you now inhabit. Planets like the one you once called home are as numerous as the stars, with at least ten new worlds discovered each week and claimed for purposes known only to those who wield genuine power. "Take your solar system, for instance. Though it boasted the only world with what you deemed intelligent life, it contained eight significant worlds and hundreds of insignificant ones. Even now, as you struggle in this very moment, everything is being reshaped according to our design. Several worlds will be merged, while others will be torn apart and their fragments distributed among various factions. Worry not¡ªat least for now¡ªwe intend for these places to remain habitable for survivors, though life will become far more treacherous than you can imagine. "In these early trials, we need you all to endure hardship so that the strongest of you may rise, much like cream separating from milk. It is then that we can reap something of true value¡ªthe experience gained by eliminating those who refuse to comply with our designs, much like you seem so determined not to. After that, your world will transform into nothing more than a desolate place where the weak are condemned to mundane tasks that barely yield enough experience to capture our interest. "So, what occurs when someone grows too powerful for even those in power to eliminate?" asked Matt, a challenge in his tone. "How do you suppose we came to be the ones in control?" the voice countered. "Make no mistake, we are not all allies, and not every world suffers the fate I¡¯ve just described. Some become barren wastelands, while others evolve into paradises in their own right. Now, will you accept my help¡ª" "Thanks, but I intend to forge my own path," Matt interrupted. "Allowing myself to be subjugated by another¡¯s power is simply not an option." "If that is your decision, then I shall not waste time explaining which paths offer true promise and why you must avoid those that appear deceptively alluring." At that instant, time resumed its relentless march, and once again, before Matt¡¯s eyes, a screen lit up with a myriad of possible paths awaiting his choice. Available paths¡­ CH. 13 Ch 13 Available paths: Improvisation (Who needs a weapon when anything can become a weapon when used wrong) Terror (Why be loved when you can be feared) Unyielding (Pain is meaningless before your will to survive whatever stands in your way.) Regeneration (It¡¯s just a flesh wound, it will heal.) Rage (You wouldn¡¯t like you when you¡¯re angry.) Counter (It¡¯s not who hits first, but who hits harder.) Defiance (Wealth and power are meaningless if they require you to compromise.) Solitude (Who needs others?) Savior (Saving others when you can, is just something you do.) Survivor (What doesn¡¯t kill you only makes you stronger.) Rogue (Shadows are silent and so are you.) Kicking (It¡¯s up, it¡¯s good.) Matt surveyed the twelve options available to him, frowning in uncertainty since none of them were familiar enough for him to feel confident in his choice. Worse yet, the short descriptions provided were, at best, vague and, at worst, laced with sarcasm and mockery. Still, he knew he had no choice but to select one and face the consequences. Methodically, he began eliminating the options that failed to spark his interest. Immediately, Kicking, Savior, Rage, Counter, and Terror were crossed off his list. Yet, seven possibilities still remained¡ªa number that felt overwhelmingly burdensome when only one could be chosen. Determined, he embarked on a second round of eliminations based on which option best aligned with his personal path. Rogue was dismissed first; he wasn¡¯t inclined to the idea of skulking in shadows. Next, he abandoned Solitude, recognizing that while it might have reflected his past self, it did not suit the future where he could no longer simply ignore the vibrant, moving world around him. He then ruled out Defiance, concerned that its uncompromising nature would create more problems than it would solve, especially after his unsettling exchanges with the deep-voiced observer, whose opinions of those aspiring paths clearly influenced the powerful. This process left him with three options: Improvisation, Regeneration, and Survivor. Improvisation resonated with his tumultuous past; it evoked the spirit of resilience, suggesting that even if it meant enduring more physical punishment in ensuing battles, it offered a flexibility that balanced his inner strength with a willingness to adapt. Regeneration, on the other hand, promised a lifeline¡ªa possibility of self-healing that he found especially appealing as the path ahead might preclude the ease of leveling up health in the conventional sense. Finally, Survivor captured the essence of his history, embodying everything his life had been about up to that moment. The choice grew tougher, but ultimately his desire for self-reliance narrowed his considerations to Improvisation and Regeneration. Both were clearly defined; one favored the use of makeshift weapons while the other focused on self-healing. In the end, Regeneration prevailed in his mind. He reasoned that although he might eventually discover a weapon he wished to master, the ability to heal himself would remain invaluable regardless of the road he traveled. The moment of selection struck him like a physical blow, unleashing a fresh wave of pain as something within him fundamentally shifted. First, he felt his muscles bulge and then contract repeatedly, forcing him onto his hands and knees. Next, a strange sensation overtook his bones as they shifted unnaturally, his joints audibly popping and grinding as he stifled a scream. Finally, just when he thought the ordeal was over, a searing heat ignited within his blood, as if it were boiling, and his eyes teetered on the verge of bursting¡ªthen, the world faded to darkness. In those agonizing moments, time seemed to stretch into eternity while all he could do was strain his ears for any hint of an impending attack. Fortunately, no assault came, and gradually, Matt¡¯s vision began to return. However, as his eyes adjusted, he realized that the world itself had changed¡ªnot in shape, but in the very quality of light. The sunrise bathed everything in a richer spectrum of colors than he had ever seen before. There was little time to marvel at this newfound vibrancy before a new screen materialized before his eyes, marking the next chapter in his altered existence. Matthew Pierce. Level 3 Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Strength: 21 Dexterity: 13 Durability: 16 Stamina: 19 Spirit: 15 Mind: 9 Species Human (G) Bloodline: (Not evaluated at this level) Path: Regeneration (Increase Durability by 30% and Stamina by 15%) Titles: Integrated, Front runner of species (5% boost to all stats). Skills: Auto translate, Minor regeneration. Matt blinked in disbelief as he noticed that his new stats were nearly double what they had been at level 2. In some cases¡ªdurability and stamina, for example¡ªthe improvements were astonishing. He couldn¡¯t quite grasp why this had happened, though he suspected it had something to do with his species evolving into what they now called the G rank. Still, it made him wonder why fighting goblins had once seemed so easy, leaving him with a nagging feeling that he was missing a crucial detail. Just then, as if to distract him further, a new screen materialized before his eyes. "Congratulations on choosing the first step of your path. Moving forward, while you will still receive six stat points each level, they will now be allocated according to your chosen path rather than being distributed evenly as before. Each time you increase your species rank at levels 3, 5, 9, 17, 33, 65, and beyond, you will be able to add a new facet to your path that will alter this distribution." Still, nothing seemed to add up for Matt. As he absorbed the notice, trying to decipher the reason behind the change, another message promptly appeared. "Congratulations on reaching the next species rank. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re curious about what this means for you. I''ll spare you the complicated numbers and exact details, but know that each tier increases your stats exponentially. Depending on your situation, you might even be offered the chance to change your species altogether." While this message clarified some points, it only deepened his confusion, as if the person in charge was deliberately withholding vital information. Though he was unsure if it was a person or just something trying to pretend to be a person. His suspicions grew when a subsequent message replaced the last one. "Well, would you look at that¡ªyou are among the first of your kind, one of the earliest individuals to achieve your current species rank among those integrated at the same time as you. There are additional bonuses and various ways to earn little boosts along the way, but fret over those when they come." For the time being, Matt chose to focus on the few clear details these messages offered, waiting in anticipation for more information. It soon became evident that no further notices would appear, leaving him to unravel their meanings on his own. It was frustratingly difficult¡ªhe couldn¡¯t even scroll back to review them¡ªand he found himself wondering if he was overlooking something elementary or if reviewing details between levels was simply forbidden. After about thirty seconds of pondering its importance, Matt finally decided to let it go. His stats remained static, and his skills were passive enough not to require active thought during combat. Instead, he shifted his attention to the pressing situation at hand: the three women he had managed to rescue and the three still held captive by the goblins. However, his progress stalled when he attempted to wake the three unconscious women¡ªhis efforts proving entirely futile. In the end, Matt had no choice but to pick up the redhead and the bow wielder, setting them down beside Maria as he settled in to wait. He believed that whatever influence they were under would have to work its way through their systems within a matter of hours at most. After all, it couldn¡¯t be too powerful if it hadn¡¯t posed the risk of death when used to capture the women. Still, a nagging anxiety gripped him over Emily, Elanor, and the other sword wielder¡ªwho, for all he knew, might already be suffering at the goblins¡¯ hands, while he could only offer aid by abandoning the three he had saved. ¡°Frustrating, isn¡¯t it?¡± came the deep, resonant voice¡ªa tone that Matt found himself despising more with every passing moment. ¡°Having the power to make a difference yet still being utterly incapable of doing so.¡± ¡°It¡¯s decided you are the devil, and this is hell,¡± Matt retorted, his voice edged with bitter irony. ¡°Ha, you might not be entirely wrong from your own perspective,¡± replied the voice coolly. ¡°It¡¯s always fascinating to observe the way primitive worlds interpret the ripples of realities beyond their own. That¡¯s why we typically devote several centuries to studying and influencing promising worlds like yours before thrusting them into integration.¡± ¡°Did you write all those descriptions yourself?¡± Matt asked, his tone laced with disbelief. ¡°Not entirely,¡± the voice responded. ¡°You see, the system that allows all of this is something none of us fully understand¡ªeven though we have managed to seize control of it.¡± ¡°Then I can hold you responsible for shattering the peaceful life that I worked so hard to build.¡± ¡°No, you can blame us for you ever having a life at all. Left to its own devices, your world would have been integrated by the year 1700, according to your calendars. In truth, those from that era may have been better prepared for what you all will soon face, but they were fewer in number¡ªless than a tenth of those present when we pulled the lever, so to speak.¡± ¡°So, you simply desired to have more of us to harvest, and what was so special about 1700?¡± ¡°Essentially, yes. We plan everything for worlds teeming with life, for you are the greatest resource in the universe. And as for what was special about 1700¡ªnothing, really. It was simply the year your world was discovered by the system. If you knew your history, you¡¯d realize that it was the very next year that the seed drill was invented. After it took 1,700 years to go from roughly 190 million people to about 600 million, it only took 100 years to surge from that 600 million to nearly a billion. And then, everything accelerated from there.¡± "Are you claiming that you were the one who invented the seed drill?" "No, but we inspired the inventor in your world. Food is the first step, and from there, we continue to build until a world is near its peak. However, I want to be clear: we merely accelerate progress, as everything that has been invented was always possible, and many inventions occurred without our assistance." "Like what?" "Nuclear bombs. We always hate when a world develops those. It almost led to your world''s integration in 1945, but we held back, choosing to observe and utilize the window of opportunity that would open if one were ever used again. You can thank us for implanting the concept of mutually assured destruction into the minds of as many world leaders as possible." "I see, you''re both the devil, God, and everything in between, all rolled into one." "No, the entities you call the devil and God, as well as many other deities worshiped on your world and others, baffle even us. They clearly existed and possibly still do, but even we lack proof of their true nature." "Why are you telling me all of this?" "You mentioned that you can''t trust me. While normally I wouldn''t be concerned about such matters, I have a purpose for you and wish for you to accept my offer of assistance." "Just so you can kill me when it suits you?" "Perhaps, but I like to think you could be of more use to me than that. So, how about it? Will you accept my aid in exchange for your loyalty?" CH. 14 Ch 14 Matt felt an overwhelming urge to groan at the brazen attempt to force him to subordinate himself once again to another¡ªthis time, the request coming from whoever, or whatever, was behind that deep, resonant voice. He longed to shout in defiance, yet it was peculiar¡ªhe could easily raise his voice when it meant protecting his own life, but he found it nearly impossible to do so when another¡¯s well-being was at stake. A rising sense of frustration built within him as he sensed the invisible presence simply waiting for his reply. He understood that if he wanted time to begin moving again, he had no choice but to respond. After taking a steadying breath and calming his turbulent thoughts, Matt gathered the few sticking points he had and delivered his response with measured determination. ¡°You say that you wish to earn my trust, yet I don¡¯t even know your name or exactly what you are. And what exactly does your help entail?¡± ¡°Tempormr,¡± the deep voice replied in a tone both deliberate and enigmatic, ¡°as for what I am, suffice it to say that I am neither human nor anything remotely akin to it. Should you survive this period and return to your world after it has been transformed, I will ensure you have the chance to see me and understand. As for my assistance¡ªI am limited to observing; I¡¯m forbidden from sharing intelligence on what others are doing. Nevertheless, I can offer you one thing with ease: the ability to distort time during those critical moments when your life hangs in the balance.¡± ¡°Got it¡ªyou¡¯re the god of time.¡± The voice chuckled softly. ¡°No, I only possess the ability to manipulate time¡¯s flow to suit my purposes. Still, I suppose even that might be viewed as godlike power by your kind, and some of my contemporaries do like to be seen as deities. It¡¯s truly boorish how most of those on my level conduct themselves.¡± ¡°Then why not try to destroy them? I don¡¯t know what powers they hold, but time does seem overwhelmingly potent to me.¡± ¡°It is, but when one acts alone, it¡¯s incredibly challenging to confront adversaries who have alliances specifically formed to counter you.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re reaching out to me?¡± ¡°Yes. I am not one to lavish anyone with vast resources or unfettered aid¡ªI¡¯m too selfish for such extravagance. Instead, I seek those who understand the value of keeping what they earn and who are willing to exchange limited assistance on fewer restrictions than any other of my kind would demand in return for their loyalty.¡± For the first time, Matt paused, the true implications of the exchange settling in. If he was right, this deal might be one he could enter into without significant difficulty. Yet, certainty would only come from further inquiry. ¡°Are you saying that all you require in exchange for your aid is that if I grow in power enough to help fight those on your level, you¡¯d call on me when the time came?¡± ¡°There would be a few more requirements,¡± admitted the voice, its tone laced with a blend of gravitas and casual indifference, ¡°but they merely consist of making your allegiance known, in the manner and at the moment I deem appropriate.¡± Matt couldn''t find anything inherently terrible about those terms, though a few details worried him as he formulated his response. "That doesn''t sound too terrible, but I want three caveats. First, you must never force me to betray another. Second, if I believe carrying out your order undermines my own interests, I can refuse it. And lastly¡ªtying into that second point¡ªyou must provide me with some form of aid or incentive every time you ask something of me." "If you demanded that of any others of my power, they would destroy you for your impudence at the first opportunity,¡± retorted the voice. ¡°However, I appreciate you leveraging my greed against my desire to make you my puppet. Very well, I¡¯ll agree to the second and third caveats in principle, but the first needs an addendum: betrayal will happen if you entwine yourself with those who would move against me.¡± "Then I can only be made to act against them if they actively work against you, with no ambiguity whatsoever." "You can¡¯t be entirely clear about it, but I doubt you''ll face many challenges given your inclination to seclude yourself. That said, you''ll still need to venture out and grow powerful if you ever want your existence to truly matter¡ªand that will require you to interact with others." "Great, though let''s worry about that after I manage to survive this world." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Ha, fool, you''ll be removed from this world before long; once you hit E rank, I''ll ensure that your growth isn¡¯t stunted by a lack of challenges." "Any chance you could find my bobcat, Bob, and send him here to serve as my fighting companion in that case?" "No, but I''ll trade my aid in reuniting you with him when you leave this world¡ªassuming he survives¡ªif you agree to find one other person to join you in following me during your time here." "Are you saying I just have to pick someone and get them to worship you or something? I thought you didn¡¯t want to be seen as a god." "I eagerly await the first time a follower of another on my level dares to speak with you. However, yes¡ªthat is close enough to what I require from you. But you must limit it to one person; the more fates you try to entwine with your own, the less effective it will be." "Kind of like how when more of us work together to kill the same target, the experience we gain is divided among us?" "No, that¡¯s merely simple math¡ªnothing is lost, just split among collaborators. What I speak of is far more complex and cannot be quantified. Some of us are simply blessed by fate, and those around us are drawn to that blessing. However, the more you attempt to entwine your fate with others, the more you risk being dragged away from your own destiny, potentially losing fate¡¯s favor. At F rank and below, trying to entwine more than one person with your fate would be foolish and might even render you worthless to me¡ªat which point, I will abandon you." "Got it¡ªloyalty only goes one way in this relationship, but do you really have to make it sound like you''re suggesting I should get married or something?" "No, that''s absolutely not the case. You must avoid that until your blessing from fate has grown strong enough that having a child won''t ruin you." "What!?" "You''ll quickly discover that most who attain my level rarely have children or commit fully to relationships with others. Of course, we indulge ourselves when the mood strikes, but as soon as one starts having children, the climb becomes exponentially more difficult. There are many factors behind this, but one of the biggest is that a portion of your fate becomes irrevocably intertwined with that of your child." "Even if I end up as a deadbeat dad?" "Fate is one of the most elusive and unpredictable aspects of our reality. If you consider time to be omnipotent, then fate stands as its formidable counterforce." "So, are you saying that if I ever find a path that involves fate, I should take it without hesitation?" "Not at all¡ªavoid it at all costs. Most of those who tread such paths become bound to fate¡¯s capricious whims in a way that renders any attempt to overcome it futile. Remember when I told you that you were doomed to die without my aid? In that moment, you defied fate and twisted it to your will. It is that very will which enables one to conquer fate." "So, is that the spirit stat I''ve been observing?" "Before I can explain further, I need you to pledge your loyalty to me." "Fine¡ªas long as you don¡¯t betray me or ask me to betray someone else except in the most extraordinarily severe circumstances, I will remain loyal according to the value of the rewards you offer. Now I feel more like a mercenary than anything else." "You are, and you will soon realize just how much you have gained by agreeing to this. For now, let me delve into what lies beyond the so-called stats. Will, fate, and luck all lie outside of them, and yet can still be quantified by the system if you unlock them. Though they are intricately interwoven in ways that could take years to fully explain¡ªso much so that they may seem like different names for the same force. Simply understanding that they exist is enough for now, as we move on to discussing your stats. First, consider the physical attributes, the most straightforward ones: strength, dexterity, durability, and stamina. These four combine to determine what your physical body can endure. Even if you possess the strength to hoist a massive boulder, it matters little if your body isn¡¯t durable enough to support the extra weight. Similarly, your stamina defines not just how long you can hold it, but also how well you can raise it overhead without injuring your more vulnerable parts of your body. "As you stand at this moment, I¡¯d advise you to concentrate on boosting your dexterity to better match your strength. The path of regeneration will help narrow the gap between your durability and strength, while stamina will become less critical until you face prolonged battles. However, should you continue orchestrating scenarios that lure enemies to fight on your behalf, stamina will certainly prove its worth in those extended conflicts. "Now, let us discuss spirit and mind, which are somewhat less tangible aside from their role in manifesting magic. Yet, when it comes to inspiring others, swaying hearts to a cause, or achieving various feats beyond physical might, they play a crucial role. This is precisely why you should seek out someone capable of compensating for any weaknesses in your mind when you set out to recruit the individual I wish for you to recruit." "I thought I had the right to choose who they are and that it was completely up to me?" "You do, but I''m just letting you know that addressing your many weaknesses is always a good way to find those with whom you can work effectively." "Who said anything about working with them? I just plan on getting them to the point where they can stand on their own if needed. After that, they can go off and do whatever they want." "First, you should reach the point where you can stand on your own. You will need several allies before you can truly stand independently, and even then, others will be necessary for one thing or another. A general can''t both plan a battle and gather the necessary intel to do so effectively. They rely on others to support them, just as I''ll rely on you to handle things that are convenient for you but would be troublesome for me." "Got it. Prioritize being able to manage them. Now, what else can you tell me about my stats, particularly how much punishment I can take right now?" "Do you know why the path of regeneration was open to you from the start?" "Because I used leveling to fully heal both times I have." "No, you healed because you had the potential to walk the path of regeneration. It''s in your bloodline, though even I don''t know for sure which one you possess. Still, those with natural regeneration are rare. Now, I''ve said enough for today. I''ll offer more information when I want something from you. For now, I will accelerate time for the three you''ve rescued to let them recover from the drug in their systems. Just be aware that nothing is without side effects, and they will each need to overcome these on their own." CH. 15 Ch 15 Matt had only a minute to ponder Tempormr¡¯s warning about potential side effects when the three women around him suddenly began coughing violently. In a matter of seconds, their coughing erupted into bouts of vomiting and desperate gasps for breath, their panicked eyes darting around the dimly lit corridor as if searching for an escape. Thankfully, spotting Matt seemed to soothe them somewhat¡ªuntil Maria broke down in tears while the bow wielder clung to her legs, struggling to catch her breath. The redhead, however, remained unmoved, her vacant stare making it painfully clear to Matt that she was suffering the worst of it. Realizing that every second counted, Matt forced himself to speak. ¡°The three of you can deal with the effects of being captured and drugged later; right now, we need to rescue the other three.¡± After a tense pause, it was the redhead who finally responded. ¡°Surely by now they¡¯ve been taken to the goblin village and are¡ª¡± ¡°No, they haven¡¯t! Don¡¯t ask how, but when I rescued you all, I managed to get you to wake up early. The others are only five to ten minutes ahead, and I move faster than these goblins¡ªthere are only about twenty of them left. Besides, I just reached level 3, which is when our kind hits G rank, so things aren¡¯t as hopeless as they might seem.¡± A spark of hope flickered in the redhead¡¯s eyes as the bow wielder turned to regard him for the first time, and even Maria¡¯s wails softened into quiet sniffles as she listened. ¡°You do look slightly different,¡± the bow wielder observed. ¡°It¡¯s almost as if someone snapped your picture and then retouched it in Photoshop. Still, if the goblins were truly on your level, I doubt your recent increase in strength would be so decisive¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t be so easy to dispatch.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they all start from the same place we do,¡± Matt replied evenly. ¡°Frankly, my stats have more than doubled since we first arrived. Granted, I have no way of knowing for sure; maybe we were simply facing the rejected, weak, and expendable ones of their kind.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re making a lot of assumptions,¡± the redhead shot back. ¡°But fighting is better than just sitting around. I¡¯m assuming you don¡¯t have any of our weapons?¡± ¡°Sorry, but for now you¡¯ll have to make do with the clubs that the goblins seem to favor.¡± At Matt¡¯s response, it was clear that the three women weren¡¯t pleased. They simmered with discontent yet held back their complaints as the bow wielder and the redhead rose to their feet. Maria, however, remained sprawled on the ground. Matt had no desire to deal with her; if forced to choose which one of the women he wouldn¡¯t have minded losing to the goblins, it would have been her. Still, he knew they needed to keep moving, and if he didn¡¯t at least try to get her up, he might as well set off on his own. So, gathering the last reserves of his patience for dealing with people, he spoke. ¡°Maria, I¡¯m not here to coddle you¡ªor anyone else, for that matter. I can¡¯t say I like any one of you, but as long as you¡¯re all trying, and I¡¯m around, I¡¯ll put up with you. That said, if you plan to break down and cry when others need you to toughen up and carry on, then go ahead and stay here for any monster that wanders by to feast." ¡°Would it kill you to actually be nice?¡± Maria muttered, glaring at Matt with a look that could curdle blood. ¡°It might, just as it might kill you to run a few miles in the middle of a blistering summer,¡± he retorted. ¡°The point is, we¡¯re not going to change who we are, but at the very least, we won¡¯t harm one another.¡± ¡°Just leave me to die, will you? I already know my fate¡ªI only serve to slow down our chances of survival.¡± ¡°Has any of us actually said that?¡± the redhead interjected sharply. ¡°No, but you all are thinking it, especially you three,¡± Maria shot back. ¡°At least¡ª¡± ¡°We think plenty of things, just like you,¡± the redhead countered. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we act on them, and it doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re true. None of us really know each other¡ªwe all tend to isolate ourselves, and as much as it pains me to admit, that is only speeding up our demise.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Maria demanded. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Zara. That¡¯s my name,¡± the redhead declared, her tone firm. ¡°Now I¡¯m not just another nameless face to all of you.¡± ¡°Masaki Yumiko,¡± interjected the bow wielder. ¡°Yumiko is my given name; I assume most of you follow Western customs.¡± ¡°Are you actually from¡ª¡± Maria began, but Zara cut her off. ¡°Maria, let¡¯s not dwell on where any of us are from,¡± Zara said decisively. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to reminisce about life before all this chaos; it only makes our current plight feel even more unbearable.¡± ¡°Alright, looks like we at least know each other¡¯s names now,¡± Matt observed with a hint of weary resignation. ¡°Now, Maria, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± ¡°All I¡¯ll do is hold you all back, just as I am right now,¡± she replied sullenly. ¡°I just need the three of you to attack from the rear while I charge ahead,¡± Matt instructed. ¡°My hope is that I can hold them off long enough for you to catch up and deliver the final blow.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re leaving us to fend for ourselves while you play hero?¡± Zara retorted sharply. ¡°No,¡± Matt insisted, his tone firm yet laced with urgency. ¡°I just don¡¯t believe they¡¯ll expect the three of you to be in fighting condition¡ªit might just catch them by surprise.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Zara grumbled. ¡°Just go cut the goblins off; the three of us will catch up and hopefully make it before it¡¯s too late.¡± As Zara finished speaking, she shot Matt a look that clearly warned if he didn¡¯t get going, he¡¯d have to face more drama than he ever wanted. With a nod, he turned and left, following the obvious trail left by the goblins. Once he vanished, Zara faced Maria, who immediately planted her hands on her hips and launched into a tirade. "Honestly, I¡¯ve wanted to do what Matt has been dreaming of since day one and go off on my own, but I like living too much for that. Still, if dead weight like you is offering to disappear, I¡¯m all for it¡ªfeel free to just lie down and die. I, on the other hand, plan to live. Let¡¯s go, Yumiko, we shouldn¡¯t keep Matt waiting too long if we want to level up to two using this fight." With that, Zara turned, and Yumiko shot Maria one last disapproving glance before clicking her tongue and following Zara, each of them wielding a club in one hand. Maria didn¡¯t bother to follow; as the pair moved out of sight, she was left alone. Meanwhile, Matt wasted no time and dashed away. Although he nearly fell face-first as soon as he started running, he quickly recovered before actually faceplanting. He continued cautiously, trying to adjust to his new stats. Thankfully, the balance between his strength and dexterity remained intact, which helped him avoid a complete loss of footing. Still, it was frustrating feeling as though he couldn¡¯t move as quickly as his body wanted to. However, with each step, he could sense his movements steadily improving, and he was optimistic that soon he¡¯d be moving effortlessly. Unfortunately, his mind reckoned that it might still take hours to reach that point, and he desperately wanted to catch up to the goblins in under one. What Matt didn¡¯t fully grasp was that, once engaged, his mind began to perceive everything at a much faster rate. This effect was amplified by the fact that he was alone and running toward his goal¡ªwhat felt like a minute to him was closer to 50 seconds. While many might lose track of time amidst constant distractions, Matt was accustomed to the quiet of the wilderness, which granted him an unusually accurate sense of how much time was passing. He hadn¡¯t realized just how useful that skill could be until he spotted the goblins now traveling in one unified group. Before long, Matt found himself cutting through the group, overtaking them with a grin as he observed the fear etched on 19 of their faces. In all, there were six hobgoblins carrying the last three women, along with 13 smaller goblins¡ªincluding the one who had slipped away from him and sparked this entire mess. What he hadn¡¯t expected was for that elusive goblin to speak with the authority of someone in full control, issuing orders like a commander. "Everyone else, keep going! I¡¯ll hold him back. If he escapes me and catches up, charge him one at a time to slow him down. We¡¯re close enough to the others now to overwhelm him if he dares to give chase." Matt¡¯s stunned pause cost him dearly. The small goblin vanished in a flash¡ªmuch like the rabbit had earlier¡ªleaving him scrambling as he barely dodged an incoming strike. What really threw him off, however, was how he overextended his movements and ended up in an awkward position while the other eighteen goblins fled with the three unconscious women. His initial impulse was to charge after them, but the moment he moved, he was forced to duck again as a dagger glinted before his eyes. A sinister chuckle resonated through the air as the elusive goblin continued speaking. ¡°It¡¯s hard to adjust, isn¡¯t it? Suddenly, all your stats surge, and you don¡¯t get a chance to test them before being thrown into battle. I¡¯ll give you credit, though ¡ª you can react, even if you do so a moment too soon and end up out of position. You really thought we had abandoned the other goblins and risked leaving those three breeders behind? Don¡¯t worry; none of them will die. Another group will guard their bodies until we deal with you.¡± Before Matt could shout a retort, he found himself dodging once more¡ªa dagger now aimed at his ankle. The brief glimpse of the goblin fueled his rising worry over just what he had gotten himself into. ¡°I bet you¡¯re wondering why I didn¡¯t kill you earlier. You probably think I was too scared¡ª¡± ¡°No, you wanted us to believe we were safe, relying on your clumsy techniques in the chaos of a battle against more than one opponent. Really, you wanted me to lead you straight to the women while you hid in the shadows until we stopped for the night.¡± ¡°Oh, it seems you¡¯ve managed to see through some of my intentions after the fact. Not bad for a level 3 who hasn¡¯t fully adapted to the rules of the system. Still, as one of the few to reach rank E among my kind that you¡¯ll find in these woods, it matters little. Compared to trash like you, I might as well be a god. So, any last words?¡± ¡°Yeah, you talk too much.¡± CH. 16 Ch 16 "I talk too much," mocked the goblin. "Here I was giving you a few more seconds to live, but if you want to hurry up and die¡ª" Once again, Matt barely shifted to avoid the goblin''s strike aimed at the back of his left knee. Still, he managed to stop in time, deliberately making his movement appear clumsier than those before as he executed a roll and regained his footing. Moments later, he feigned a burst of energy as if he were chasing after the other goblins, only to leap backward the instant the goblin attacked. That delay allowed him to deliver a second kick, albeit a fraction too late, as the goblin moved faster than expected. Nevertheless, it was progress, and Matt wasted no time charging forward to escape once more. This time, the assault came from behind. Matt rolled to the side before springing to his feet, continuing his run the moment he was upright. He managed only a few feet before having to dodge again, and soon found himself armed with just the single cutting tool in his left hand. Although frustrating, Matt had determined that this maneuver was essential to preserving his dodging ability for as long as possible. Despite enduring twenty strikes from the relentless goblin¡ªleaving him with three shallow cuts on his legs¡ªhe felt a sense of victory as his movements grew more polished and the goblin¡¯s attacks began to slow, the intervals between them lengthening noticeably. Yet, Matt¡¯s situation remained perilous as he struggled to draw enough oxygen to sustain his frantic pace. Had it not been for the goblin¡¯s obsession with lurking in the shadows between strikes, Matt doubted he would have lasted as long as he had. His mind raced as he wondered about the goblin¡¯s tactics when the creature started to speak again. "You''re a slippery one, that''s for sure. What did you do? Take the path of dodging or something? So your first skill lets you avoid the first strike of any attack, does it?" the goblin taunted. "Ha, why would I tell you?" replied Matt, his eyes never leaving his opponent as he tried to glean any useful tidbits from the goblin¡¯s words. "It must be something like that, otherwise my hidden blade skill would have landed cleanly by now," the goblin replied. As the goblin finished speaking, he suddenly reappeared in front of Matt, slashing upward toward his groin. But Matt merely twisted slightly, causing the blade to dig into his thigh instead, as he brought his fist into the path of the goblin¡¯s attack. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, he partially knelt and smashed the goblin¡¯s head between his fist and the ground. Although the impact worsened the knife wound, it allowed Matt to pin the goblin, gripping its head as though his life depended on it. Next, he swung the cutting tool in his left hand downward¡ªonly for the goblin to reach up and grasp at it with both hands. In that tense moment, the two of them were locked in a stalemate, glaring at one another. Had the goblin not sent his compatriots scattering, Matt would likely have suffered a defeat. Instead, the sudden arrival of Zara and Yumiko tilted the scales in his favor. Both quickly surveyed the situation and attacked without hesitation. Moments later, amid the chaos of battle, Matt couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when a notification pinged through, marking a brief reprieve in the maelstrom of combat. Monsters killed: level 9 goblins. Base experience multiplied by six. Awarding 120 experience. Current experience to next level 2139/3000. The absence of a clear direction on how to forge a new path was notable, yet equally significant was the realization that if he had won that fight on his own, it would have been worth a third of the experience needed for a level. Nevertheless, Matt set aside his thoughts on both matters for later, shifting his focus to catching up with the goblins that had fled. With determination, he pulled the knife from his thigh, gritting his teeth against the pain, and crafted a makeshift tourniquet from his belt before standing up. Thankfully, no words needed to be exchanged as the three of them charged forward, following the obvious trail the other goblins had taken through the dense underbrush. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Just a few minutes later, the rear of the goblin group came into view, and their lack of discipline became apparent. Instead of following their orders and having one of them turn to fight, they squabbled over who should face the threat. This internal conflict resulted in one goblin tripping another mere moments before Matt closed the ten-foot gap. He ignored the fallen goblin, trusting his companions to handle it, causing real panic to ripple through the goblin ranks. One of the hobgoblins carrying the women shouted for all the goblins to turn and fight while they attempted to flee with their captives. Matt sensed that if he didn''t act quickly to stop the six retreating hobgoblins, it would soon be too late. Without hesitation, he hurled the knife in his hand. Though this deprived him of the first real weapon he had wielded since the ordeal began¡ªa crisis that likely affected most of humanity¡ªhe had no regrets. His aim was true, and the knife struck one of the hobgoblins carrying Eleanor in the side. The hobgoblin staggered, dropping her as their partner struggled to bear the sudden increase in weight alone, causing them to collapse to the ground. Unfortunately, the other two goblins continued to advance, and Matt found himself with only a single cutting tool as he faced off against the 11 chaotic goblins blocking his path. It was this chaos that gave Matt the confidence to throw his cutting tool, striking the rear goblin carrying Emily as he pushed forward through the tangle of goblins. However, the cutting tool''s impact was insufficient, causing only a brief pause in the hobgoblin''s movements. Meanwhile, the pain in his thigh from his own stab wound was intensifying. Despite this, he let out a primal roar, catching two clubs that had been swung at him. He wrenched them free from their wielders'' grips and hurled them at the retreating hobgoblins. At that critical moment, Yumiko and Zara entered the fray, charging in to attack the goblins that were fixated on Matt. Their intervention only heightened the chaos, as the goblins appeared energized by the presence of new targets besides Matt. Ultimately, he was left with only the two goblins who had lost their clubs still focused on him. He quickly exploited this by grasping them both by their throats and smashing them into other goblins. This action redirected the majority of the goblins'' attention back to him, and he shouted to Zara and Yumiko with urgency. "Stop the hobgoblins from escaping with the others, I¡¯ll handle these ones!" After shooting him a troubled look, Zara nodded and broke through the chaos, but Yumiko failed to do the same as three goblins clambered onto her. Meanwhile, Zara caught up to the pair hobbling away with Eleanor and quickly dealt with the wounded one. However, the other two pairs were still pulling away as Matt went to work freeing Yumiko. By this point, he felt numb to all the hits from the goblins'' clubs that he had taken while avoiding being overwhelmed by their quickly dwindling numbers. In some ways, he felt like he was being attacked by a pack of savage children as he grabbed and tossed them around. Yet, unlike children, these creatures bounced back up after being thrown ten feet away and charged back in as if it was nothing. As Matt finally reached Yumiko, he found her struggling to stay on her feet while he ripped the first goblin off her. By the time he was reaching for the second one, she had already started hitting the third with her newly freed hand, trying to break free before the remaining goblins closed in on them once more. Despite their efforts, Matt felt as if they were doomed to come up short since two of the hobgoblin pairs were still escaping, and it was clear that Zara had her hands full dealing with the one she was fighting. Even if Yumiko managed to free herself, it seemed it would all be for naught¡ªuntil he witnessed Eleanor move with surprising agility as she took down the hobgoblin that had been carrying her away moments before. Although he knew Tempormr would likely count that as yet another favor he had done for Matt, Matt no longer cared. Whatever his fate was, it was clear that it was no longer in his hands alone, and whatever Tempormr had planned for him would just have to be forced to fit within his own plans. After all, Matt maintained his own goal of becoming independent of everything when all was said and done, just as he had always dreamed. In that way, perhaps the chaos of his new reality would be a positive thing if it granted him enough power to truly stand alone. Yet at that exact moment, none of that mattered as he placed his trust in Zara to get Elanor on the same page while he focused on fighting goblins alongside Yumiko. With this shift in concentration, he ceased worrying about matters beyond his immediate battle, and his movements sharpened dramatically. No longer did he allow goblins to land nonvital hits; instead, he effectively deflected them with his arms while using his legs to sweep their feet out from beneath them. Once he had them on the ground, a swift stomp on their chest or neck was sufficient to end them. It was only forty seconds after he saw Eleanor stand that he realized none of the goblins seemed to be stirring anymore. Though he knew from the lack of a message about gaining experience that at least one of them was still alive, Matt took a moment to assess the situation around him. Yumiko appeared ready to collapse from exhaustion, her clothing barely qualifying as such anymore. The goblins¡¯ claws had torn through her shirt, and even her jeans were riddled with holes in more than one spot. However, the determined look in her eyes told Matt that she was anything but ready to stop fighting as she scanned the area for threats, almost frantically. This wouldn¡¯t have been a major issue for Matt, but both Zara and Eleanor were out of sight, having chased after the last two pairs of hobgoblins. This created a sense of urgency for him as he worried whether the two of them could handle four hobgoblins. Additionally, the fear of how close they had gotten to the goblins¡¯ settlement nagged at him. As he turned to chase after Zara and Eleanor, he suddenly fell to the ground. It was only in the moment before everything went black that he noticed the blood trickling down his leg and realized that the makeshift tourniquet he had fashioned had failed. CH. 17 Ch 17 As the world slowly came back into focus for Matt, he found himself being carried in a decidedly awkward manner. At first, he feared that the hobgoblins had captured him; then, a glimpse of Zara¡¯s vivid red hair floating by on a gentle breeze confirmed he was not in their grasp. It was already too late to stop his struggle¡ªhe had begun to thrash, slipping free from Zara and Eleanor¡¯s hold, tumbling onto his hands and knees. Voices swirled around him, though none made sense as he fought to steady his breathing and calm his racing heart. In that chaotic moment, he noticed that everyone was present except for Maria, and a small weight lifted from his chest as the true concern in each voice became clear. He raised a hand to quiet them before asking, ¡°How long was I out?¡± ¡°Maybe ten minutes,¡± replied Yumiko, relief mingling with her worry. ¡°I thought you were dead when I saw all that blood.¡± ¡°Yeah, care to explain how your thigh stopped bleeding on its own?¡± Zara added with a hint of accusation. ¡°And the timing of us all waking up from being drugged by the goblins seems off to me. Why did we all regain consciousness before¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look a gift horse in the mouth,¡± interjected Matt forcefully. ¡°As for my wound closing by itself, my path granted me a minor skill for regeneration. Now, let¡¯s focus on getting back to the camp and, if possible, retrieving your weapons.¡± ¡°Wait, you mean we can get self-healing skills?¡± Eleanor asked, her voice filled with quiet wonder as Matt struggled to rise. ¡°Not impossible, but I wouldn¡¯t put all my hopes in it,¡± Matt replied, just as a wave of dizziness hit him. ¡°Look, I¡¯m far from fully healed, and we need to reach somewhere safe before we stop to chat.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you talk and walk at the same time?¡± Eleanor pressed. ¡°It will¡ª¡± ¡°Use your eyes,¡± Emily snapped with a huff. ¡°It looks like he can barely stand. Besides, we should all be grateful that we¡¯re no longer in the goblins¡¯ clutches.¡± At that, a collective nod and a few grateful glances turned toward Matt as they began retracing their path toward the riverbed. Along the way, several of the women engaged in light, offhand conversation¡ªan unmistakable attempt to avoid facing the near-tragic events that had unfolded. As they talked, Matt found himself weighing what he should explain and whether he should just act as clueless as the rest about the incident. Clearly, there were things he knew that could be used to his advantage if leveraged correctly. However, that wasn¡¯t what he wanted, he still longed to become a footnote in their lives, to be forgotten as he faded to the background as they become self-sufficient. Matt''s thoughts lingered on these concerns until they reached the spot where they had left Maria. There they were met with a distressing scene: four goblins encircled Maria, who was hog-tied and sobbing hysterically in a fit of rage. Eleanor and the swordswoman, whose name Matt didn''t know, were the first to react. Yet, instead of engaging in battle, the goblins raised their clubs threateningly towards Maria, halting the pair in their tracks as one of the goblins began to cackle menacingly. It was evident that this goblin believed they had gained the upper hand, as he spoke in a mocking tone a few moments later. "Good, now if you don''t want her hurt, you kill the male and come forward¡ª" "Now why would we do that, or anything you want?" Zara retorted with a derisive sneer. "Right now, all you have is a useless hostage, and I wouldn''t trade her life for any of ours. Let''s just leave or let them harm her, but we really can''t hesitate to refuse trading one of us for her." "Bitch, you don''t care about anyone!" Maria screamed. "How long until she sacrifices each one of you for her own survival?" "There has to be something we can do," Emily murmured, casting hopeful glances at Matt as if she expected him to devise a solution. An uneasy silence settled over the group, with several women exchanging tense glances while the goblins appeared momentarily unsure of their next move. For Matt, this situation epitomized why he despised dealing with others. If it were just him, he wouldn''t have to worry about saving anyone, nor would he have to rely on the hope of rescue. He could simply accept that if his own efforts weren''t sufficient, then it wasn''t meant to be. Yet, peace was elusive, as Maria shattered the silence once more with a piercing shriek when the goblin who had spoken earlier began tugging at her jeans, laughing cruelly. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. This led to the women shouting at him while the other goblins cackled, gleefully raising their clubs high as they cheered on their leader. Matt supposed this was the moment when a hero was meant to devise some brilliant strategy to save the day, but that wasn¡¯t him. Even though he had mostly recovered from the blood loss he had suffered, he was still weak from the previous fight and didn¡¯t have any weapons beyond the knife that had been returned to him after he regained consciousness. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t just sit there and watch what was about to happen, as he found himself moving without realizing it. The three goblins with the clubs appeared confused to see him spring into action; they hesitated and failed to even shout out before he was already halfway to them. Yet, they still had more than enough time to bring their clubs down on Maria¡¯s head if they hadn¡¯t looked to their leader first. ¡°Sheep,¡± was the word that came to Matt¡¯s mind as he slid and rammed into Maria¡¯s body, pushing her into the three goblins and toppling the leader. Next, Matt managed to grab the leader¡¯s neck, just as he had with so many other goblins before, and swung him overhead with all his might, slamming him into the ground. That was all Matt had to do, as by then Eleanor, Yumiko, Zara, and the last nameless woman had sprung into action. It went without saying that the remaining three goblins died rather quickly, and Matt just stood there looking at Maria like one might regard a drug addict who claims everything is someone else¡¯s fault. He knew she was toxic and, given how things were, she was likely to get them all killed if allowed to remain as she was. Yet, he hadn¡¯t found any acceptable way to deal with her. When the notification chimed, awarding him a full 9 experience points from the fight, he was just about to walk away when she started to yell. "What the hell was that for?! You could have killed me! What are you¡ª" "Shut the fuck up!" spat Matt, venom dripping from his tone. "I don¡¯t care if you die; I just don¡¯t feel like witnessing rape. Now if you don¡¯t want to end up tied up for the next monster to come along and enjoy a feast, you¡¯d better learn some self-preservation." At that, Maria seemed to short-circuit, her mouth opening and closing several times like a fish gasping for air. Meanwhile, each of the other women reacted differently to his words, their expressions hinting at things they wanted to say yet couldn¡¯t quite articulate. Zara, however, managed a wry smile as she spoke. "I think we all need to make a few decisions before we proceed. First, Maria here has long lost any right to act on her own. She sat here and got captured instead of trying to rescue the rest of you. The fact that she¡¯s still alive is more than she deserves, and I¡¯m not willing to risk our lives keeping her around." "That¡¯s a bit far, don¡¯t you think?" argued Eleanor. "Everyone has moments when they want to quit¡ª" "Not out here, they don¡¯t," interjected Yumiko, a harshness in her tone that made Eleanor flinch. "Out here, people reach a point where they choose to give up and die, and Maria did just that when Matt said he was going to save the rest of you. She outright declared herself useless and even delayed us a bit." "I don¡¯t know if you noticed, but I¡¯m not exactly built for chasing down anyone!" shouted Maria defensively. "Just because all of you are in better fighting shape doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m worth any less than¡ª" "Out here, it does," interrupted Matt bluntly. "That¡¯s just the hard reality we¡¯re living in, and nothing will change that unless you fix the issue. I don¡¯t plan on sticking around long-term, but if the six of you were a chain, I¡¯d see you as the weakest link by far. So either find a way to be useful or shut up and do what you¡¯re told if you want to survive." "You really think we¡¯re just going to let you leave?" retorted Zara, crossing her arms. "Sorry about that, but I don¡¯t care if I have to track you down like I¡¯m a hunter and you¡¯re my prey. I¡¯m not about to lose you as part of my group if we¡¯re truly forced to stick together." "Same," agreed Yumiko, with a curt nod. "Even if you¡¯re irritating at times, you did show up for us when it seemed like the most foolish choice." "It¡¯s not even an option anymore," Matt continued, his tone growing even sterner. "Once I hit level 9, I suspect the voice that spoke to all of us at the start of this mess will have other plans for me." "What?" retorted Zara sharply, with the other women echoing her confusion as they exchanged puzzled glances. Matt sighed, realizing that speaking up wouldn''t be easy, but he felt compelled to be honest about the reality of the situation. Allowing them to believe they could depend on him now would only complicate matters when he was inevitably taken away. However, it wasn''t the right moment to delve into specifics, so he simply shook his head and replied, "For now, just know I made a deal to help save all of you, but I don¡¯t want to discuss it until we feel safer and have searched our old campsite." His words seemed to settle the group, and after a brief pause, Eleanor spoke up. "Alright, let''s untie Maria and get moving. We can sort everything out once we''ve had a moment to calm down. Maria, I don¡¯t want to hear any complaints from you. As the others have pointed out, you¡¯re lucky to be alive, even if it''s not the most ideal situation for you." Maria winced, retorting, "I think he broke my ribs with that slide, so I¡¯m not sure if I can¡ª" "You¡¯ll live," Zara interjected. "That''s all you should focus on for now. Though, I suppose I should thank you for not tagging along. If you had, Yumiko and I might not have made it to level 2." Matt couldn''t help but smile at this, finding a small piece of solace in Zara''s words. Meanwhile, Maria groaned in pain as her bonds were cut, and she was helped to her feet. With that, Matt returned to contemplating exactly what to say, as they continued at a now slower pace toward their former campsite.