Chapter 6: The First Battle – Bert’s Awakening

Mon sat on the couch, deep in thought. His parents and relatives had already left for the province, but he and his younger brother, Bert, had decided to stay behind. It wasn't just about survival—it was about getting stronger.

"You sure about this?" Mon asked, his gaze fixed on Bert.

Bert smirked. "Yeah. Just like you, I awakened too. And I want to see how far I can go."

Mon leaned forward. "What's your skill?"

Bert's grin widened. "Domain Expansion."

Mon's eyes narrowed. "Explain."

Bert clenched his fists, excitement clear in his expression. "Three hundred meters range. Any enemy inside loses 50% of their power. I gain 50% more power. No magic skills can be used inside, and all buffs applied before entering are removed." He then gave a cocky smile. "Best part? No cooldown, no mana cost, no stamina cost."

Mon raised an eyebrow. "That's a ridiculous ability."

Bert nodded. "Exactly. But I don't know how it really works yet."

As if on cue, a deep growl echoed from outside. Both of them turned to look through the window.

Six goblins roamed the street, armed with crude weapons—rusty pipes, sharpened bones, and makeshift clubs. Their green skin was covered in scars, and their glowing yellow eyes darted around hungrily.

Mon smirked. "Looks like you've got your test subjects."

Bert cracked his knuckles. "Perfect."

---

Testing the Domain Expansion

They stepped outside, careful not to make noise. The goblins hadn't noticed them yet.

"Bert," Mon said, his voice calm. "We don't know how strong they are. If things go south, we retreat."

Bert chuckled. "Relax, bro. I got this."

He stepped forward, raised his hand, and activated his skill.

"DOMAIN EXPANSION!"

A powerful force rippled through the air as an invisible barrier expanded around them, covering a 300-meter radius. The moment the goblins entered the domain, they froze. Their bodies shuddered, their movements sluggish. Their glowing eyes dimmed, confusion evident on their grotesque faces.

Mon's sharp eyes caught the change immediately. "Their power dropped."

Bert grinned. "Mine didn't."

He dashed forward, his speed nearly doubling. The nearest goblin barely had time to react before Bert's fist crashed into its face. A sickening crunch echoed as the goblin was sent flying into a concrete wall, collapsing lifelessly.

The other goblins shrieked in rage and charged. One swung a rusted pipe at Bert's head, but Bert dodged effortlessly, twisting his body and delivering a devastating kick to its chest. The goblin flew backward, gasping for air before slumping to the ground.

Another goblin raised its hands, attempting to cast magic—but nothing happened. It looked down at its hands in horror.

Bert smirked. "Yeah, that's not gonna work in here."

The goblin turned to run, but Bert lunged forward, grabbing its arm and slamming it into the pavement. The remaining three tried to surround him, their crude weapons raised, but the power difference was too overwhelming. Bert weaved through their attacks, countering with brutal efficiency.

Mon watched from a distance, analyzing everything. "His raw stats are boosted inside the domain, and enemies are severely weakened. This isn't just a strong ability—it's a battlefield control skill."

Within moments, all six goblins lay motionless on the ground. Bert wiped sweat from his forehead. "That was too easy."

Suddenly, a mechanical ding! echoed in their minds, followed by a translucent blue screen appearing before them.

---

[System Notification]

Quest Complete: First Blood – Kill 4 Goblins

Rewards:

500 EXP

5 Status Points

1 Random Equipment Box

---

Mon and Bert exchanged glances before looking at their own status screens.

"Guess we're really leveling up," Mon muttered.

Bert grinned. "Let's see what we got."

They both opened their Random Equipment Boxes. A bright light flashed as the system distributed their rewards.

Mon obtained: Dual Handguns

Bert obtained: Dual Daggers

Mon whistled as he examined the sleek black handguns in his hands. "Not bad."

Bert twirled the daggers between his fingers. "Now we're talking."

Checking their Status Screens, Mon and Bert noted their updated stats, each with five unallocated status points.

"Where should I put my points?" Bert asked.

Mon thought for a moment. "Focus on Strength and Agility for now. You're a melee fighter."

Bert nodded and allocated his points. Mon, on the other hand, split his between Dexterity and Perception, knowing he would rely on firearms.

After finishing their allocations, Mon exhaled. "One thing's for sure—monsters are already appearing here. We can't stay passive. We need to level up."

Bert grinned. "Then let's start hunting."

Mon smirked. "First, we loot the bodies. Who knows? We might get something useful."

As the two brothers examined the fallen goblins, Mon felt the weight of reality settle in. This was no longer the world they knew. If they wanted to survive, they had to become stronger—fast.