Chapter 5: I actually did it

The goblin lunged—faster than he expected.

His instinct screamed, and adrenaline surged through him. He struggled to get up, his legs wobbly and stumbled back just in time to barely evade the goblin's knife, which slammed into the floor between his legs. 

I almost lost my thingy! Help meeee! his inner thoughts screamed as he scrambled further back.

The goblin snarled, its yellow beaded eyes gleaming with anger as it jerked the knife free from the wooden floor.

His heart beating faster than ever, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His eyes darted toward the knife lying several feet away—too far to grab in time.

Damn it, the knife!

Focus! Think, Hiro! He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stay clam.

In the panic, he remembered what Aleena taught him.

"A goblin isn't strong on its own, Hiro, but don't underestimate it. They're stupid but cunning. If you hesitate, they'll outsmart you. Don't give them that chance. Use their overconfidence against them."

His dry throat hurting every time he swallowed. "Stupid but cunning, huh? Guess that makes two of us."

The goblin snarled, charging at him with erratic, almost playful movements.

He forced himself to focus, action on Aleena's advice. He feinted to the side, pretending to stumble and fall to the ground. The goblin took the bait and swung its arm into a big wide arc, overcommitting to the attack.

In that split second, Hiro reacted. He dove toward his knife, snatching it up, and he slashed upward, slicing deeply into the goblin's arm. Blood sprayed across his face as the goblin screeched in pain, stumbling back.

"Yes! That worked!" Hiro shouted, his eyes wide with a mix of adrenaline and disbelief. 

But the goblin recovered quickly. Its beaded eyes filled with rage as it charged again, this time wilder, more ferocious movements. He barely dodged, his knife grazing the goblin's side as he rolled away.

"Stay calm, predict its movement!" He said as he took stance, reversing his knife grip point to his thumb.

Reverse knife grip technique, Edge In. This is a knife handling technique, Aleena taught me once. 

The goblin snarled, circling him now. Its movements were cautious, almost too cautious, as though it now saw Hiro as a threat rather than prey.

He noticed how the goblin tilted its head slightly, its eyes darting toward his abdomen.

"It's looking for weakness. Show, what it wants to see, then strike where it doesn't expect."

He forced his knees to wobble, feigning exhaustion. He loosened his grip on the knife, letting it dangle slightly in his hand.

The goblin's twisted grin widened. It lunged, aiming for his exposed side. Screeching loudly as it sees his exhaustion. 

"Gotcha!"

He sidestepped at the last moment, twisting his body to slash the goblin's neck with all his strength. The goblin's neck split open, letting out a painful screech, its eyes wide with shock. 

He didn't stop there. He duck to the goblin's side and then swiftly slashing the goblin stomach. As the goblin stumble to the floor, Hiro stabbed it in the neck again. He yanked the knife free and stabbed it again—once in the chest, then again, and again.

"Die! Die! DIEEEEEE!" Hiro shouted, his voice filled with raw anger and desperation.

Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the goblin's face.

The goblin's blood flowed from its neck and chest, pooling beneath its lifeless body, painting the floor red. 

He panted, his breath ragged from exhaustion.

He stumbled back, his hands shaking and his knife slick with blood.

"I—I actually did it," He whispered, lowering his head and letting out a shaky sigh of relief.

As he sat there catching his breath, a glowing notification appeared before him. 

[ System Notice ]

◆Congratulations! You have acquired: Goblin's Dagger.

◆Experience points: +25

◆Level Up: 2 → 3

◆Stats increases.

He let out a hollow laugh. "This is—insane...The idea of getting stronger after killing is cool and all in video games, but in reality...it's horrible..." He trailed off, picking up the goblin's dagger. It felt lighter and sharper than his kitchen knife. 

Picking up the goblin's dagger felt almost wrong—like a trophy he wasn't sure he deserved. His hands shook not only from the physical exertion but from the darker realization that this was the new reality he had to face. 

Pushing himself to his feet, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at the goblin's lifeless body.

"I told you, didn't i? I'm cunning too," he muttered.

Before leaving, he knelt down, gently closing the landlord and his wife's eyes. He covered their bodies with a white blanket he found. "Thank you for everything," he whispered.

With a final glance at the bloodied, ruined apartment, Hiro stepped back into the hallway.

"I'll survive," he whispered to himself. "No matter what it takes."

Finally, He made his way outside the apartment building.

"Ugh," he muttered, stretching his aching body. "Everything hurts, but—damn, that goblin completely fell for my acting."

He chuckled, though the sound was hollow. "Once the world goes back to normal...i might consider becoming an actor—if i don't die from attention first."