Chapter-4:Monster Encounter

Darkness enveloped him.

Edwin's feet pounded against the forest floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body was soaked in sweat and blood, his clothes torn from countless branches slashing at him as he ran. Tears blurred his vision, but he didn't dare stop.

The forest was alive with chaos. Flames roared, consuming trees in crackling waves of heat. Smoke choked the air, thick and oppressive. Behind him, an army surged forward—thousands of soldiers, their weapons gleaming under the blood-red moonlight. Swords clanged, spears glinted, and the hiss of arrows filled the air like venomous whispers.

He stumbled, nearly falling, but sheer terror kept him upright. His lungs burned, his legs trembled, but he pushed on. 'I have to get away… I have to escape…'

Suddenly, the world around him froze.

The flames stopped mid-dance, their tongues of fire suspended in the air. Arrows hung motionless, their lethal tips glinting. The soldiers stood like statues, their expressions twisted in fury. The only sound was his own panicked breathing.

Edwin blinked, confused. His heart raced, but he forced himself to move forward, each step slow and deliberate. The forest was eerily silent now, the chaos replaced by an unsettling stillness.

Ahead, a tranquil pond shimmered under the crimson moonlight. The water was unnaturally still, reflecting the sky above like a perfect mirror. Drawn by some unseen force, Edwin—or whatever he had become—approached the pond.

He knelt at the edge, his reflection rippling beneath him.

And what he saw was no man.

A headless void stared back at him, its form writhing with shadow and chaos. Tendrils of darkness twisted where a face should have been, consuming the very fabric of existence. The void pulsed, its presence overwhelming and suffocating.

Edwin tried to scream, but no sound came.

The void's tendrils reached out from the water, coiling around his body—

His eyes snapped open.

The rhythmic creak of carriage wheels filled the air. Edwin's breath came in shallow gasps as he blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. Sweat clung to his skin, and his heart raced as though he were still running through that burning forest.

"You alright back there?"

The sudden voice made Edwin jolt. He looked toward the front of the carriage, where an older man with a neatly trimmed gray beard and a weathered but kind face held the reins of two sturdy horses. The man wore simple yet well-made clothes and had a calm, gentle expression.

"Ah, you're awake," the man said with a smile. "You were thrashing around a bit. Bad dream?"

Edwin hesitated, then nodded. "...Yeah. Something like that."

"Well, you're safe now," the man assured him. "I'm Gavan, a merchant heading to Lekri for business. Found you lying unconscious by the side of the road a few hours back. Thought it best to bring you along."

"Lekri?" Edwin repeated, his voice hoarse. "The capital of Aberis County?"

"Aye," Gavan confirmed. "Got some deliveries to make."

Edwin's gaze wandered to the crates stacked neatly in the back of the carriage. Each one was secured with thick iron locks. "What's in the crates?"

"Weapons," Gavan said matter-of-factly. "Been hired to deliver them to a blacksmith in Lekri."

Edwin's stomach twisted at the mention of weapons. Memories of the soldiers from the previous night surged back—gleaming blades, shouts, and the suffocating heat of the burning town. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to look away from the crates.

The road stretched endlessly before them, flanked by dense forests on either side. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and earth. The rhythmic clatter of hooves was almost soothing, but Edwin's thoughts remained chaotic.

'What was that nightmare?' he thought, shivering at the memory of the void creature. 'Was it just a dream... or something more?'

As he stared at the road ahead, the glowing blue board from before suddenly materialized in front of him. His eyes widened in shock, but Gavan continued steering the carriage, completely oblivious to its presence.

'Am I hallucinating?' Edwin wondered. He rubbed his eyes, but the board remained.

The shimmering letters shifted before his eyes.

[First Quest Cleared]

[Next Quest will be given at a later time]

Edwin frowned in confusion. 'What does that mean? Is this some kind of reward system?'

Before he could dwell on it further, the board flickered and revealed new text.

[Functions]

[Storage]

[Status View]

[Extended Undying]

His breath caught at the last message. 'Extended Undying? What in the world does that mean?'

Compelled by curiosity, he mentally pressed on the glowing words.

[Quest has been completed]

[New Quest will be give at a later time]

Edwin's blood ran cold. 'Quest?' he thought frantically. 'Does that mean... I need to complete these quests?.'

He thought.

Quests weren't an unfamiliar concept to him.

He had heard that adventurers took on quests given by their Guild's in exchange for money.

But he had no idea what this was.

[As long as you complete quests and do not quit them you will continue to live and if you do fail]

[-you shall die]

That made his spine run cold.

What type of twisted game was this?.

Who was doing this?.

The carriage jolted over a rock, snapping Edwin out of his thoughts. Gavan glanced back at him.

"You alright, lad? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm fine," Edwin lied, forcing a weak smile. "Just... thinking about things."

"Well, no need to fret. Lekri ain't far now," Gavan assured him. "We'll get you there safe and sound."

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the carriage rolled on, its wheels kicking up dust. Edwin leaned back against the crates, his mind still racing.

'What is this thing? Why was it given to me? And what kind of quests will I have to complete?'

The uncertainty gnawed at him, but one thing was clear—he couldn't afford to falter. If he wanted to survive, he'd have to play by the system's rules.

The road ahead was long and treacherous, but Edwin's resolve had hardened.

No matter what it took, he would survive.

Then the carriage stopped abruptly.

"What happened?" Edwin asked, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

Gavan's face had turned pale, his body shaking as he stared at the forest. "Oh gods," he whispered.

Edwin followed his gaze, his stomach twisting. The forest leaves parted as short humanoid figures emerged, their green skin littered with bone jewelry that gleamed in the fading light. Their eyes glinted with malice, and wild, guttural laughter filled the air.

They wielded crude wooden clubs embedded with sharp thorns that jutted outward like teeth, eager to tear flesh.

"Goblins!" Gavan shouted, ducking into the safety of the carriage.

"...Shit," Edwin cursed under his breath, his heart pounding.

A glowing board materialized before him once again.

[New Quest: Kill the Goblins]

[0/10]

His fingers twitched as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

The goblins cackled, their steps quickening toward the carriage. Edwin clenched his fists, determination flaring in his chest.

He had no choice.

If he wanted to live, he had to KILL.

End of Chapter-4