A Survivor's Will
[ Player: Alexander
Level: 8
Title: (???)
Job:
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HP: 1723
MP: 234
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Strength: 20
Vitality: 19
Endurance: 18
Intelligence: 19
Agility: 18
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Skills: Swordmanship (F), Survivor's Rage(E) ]
Alex knew the risks but he needs to get out of the forest and he knows he won't survive without learning to fight, when he fought those wolves. It was merely pure luck that saved him. If it wasn't for that luck, he could have died again.
That's why he's getting guidance from the man who saved him, to get strong enough that he can leave the forest and find civilization.
His first task was right in front of him, a cave which might lead to his enemy, his prey. To get the man to teach Alex, he must prove his worth.
[Quest Started: Eliminate 1 Ogre.
Reward: +5 Strength, +3 Agility.]
An Ogre, a monster that has a body twice of it's size. It could crush you with one hand and mostly like eat you for dinner. Alex will fight a monster far worse than a wolf and survive.
Alex entered the cave, it was narrow and his blade was short, most likely the man knew what he was going for and gave him a good weapon, or maybe it was a lesson for him, the first thing to know about combat is to look at your surroundings.
When he got deeper to the cave, he used a makeshift torch to light his path, dagger in hand. He kept going and going until he heard growling and squeaking.
An enemy is close, closer than what he thinks
He tightened his grip on the dagger the man had given him. The blade was short—too short for comfort—but sharp and well-balanced. He had no shield, no armor, and no experience. Just this weapon and the will to survive.
As he rounded a corner, the torchlight illuminated the first goblin. Its hunched frame was no larger than a child, with mottled green skin, yellowed fangs, and a pair of beady eyes that glinted in the firelight. The creature let out a guttural screech and raised a jagged club.
"Here we go," Alex muttered, shifting his stance.
The goblin lunged, swinging wildly. Alex sidestepped just in time, feeling the air whistle as the club missed his head by inches. Instinct took over as he drove the dagger upward into the goblin's side. The creature shrieked, clawing at him before collapsing in a heap.
The victory was short-lived.
Two more goblins emerged from the shadows, one carrying a crude spear, the other armed with a rusty dagger. Alex backed away, his breathing quick and shallow. The narrow cave offered little room to maneuver, and the torch in his left hand made it impossible to hold the dagger with both.
They attacked together.
The spear-wielding goblin thrust forward, forcing Alex to twist awkwardly to avoid it. He stumbled, his back hitting the damp cave wall. The other goblin saw an opening and darted in, aiming its blade at his exposed ribs.
Alex reacted on instinct, slamming the torch into its face. The creature howled, dropping its weapon as it clawed at its smoldering eyes. Without hesitation, Alex lunged forward and plunged his dagger into its throat.
Pain exploded in his shoulder as the spear-wielder jabbed him from the side. The blow wasn't deep, but it burned like fire. Gritting his teeth, Alex grabbed the spear's shaft with his free hand, yanking it forward to throw the goblin off balance. He followed up with a kick to its chest, sending it sprawling to the ground.
This was his chance.
He pounced, driving the dagger into the goblin's chest with a feral yell. The creature twitched once, then went still.
Alex fell back, panting heavily. His shoulder throbbed, and his hands were slick with sweat and blood. The torch, now lying on the ground, cast a dim, eerie glow over the bodies of the goblins.
"Ngh! Agh! it hurts!...."
He panted, he knew it was that kind of world, a world where all things die, a world where the strong excels. He was tearing up from the pain, it was really painful to get stabbed. Biting his lip and tried to bandage his wound, no matter how amatuer-ish it was.
But he didn't have time to rest.
A low rumble echoed from deeper within the cave. Alex froze, his stomach twisting. It wasn't the goblins. Something bigger was waiting for him.
The ogre.
Alex crouched low, holding his torch out in front of him. The flickering flame cast long, jittering shadows against the jagged cave walls, making the space feel alive. He had to keep going, otherwise what was the point of being reborn just to be stuck on a ditch somewhere or worse, die again.
While moved, he tried to test his shoulder if it was okay, it was painful but he knew death was worse. So he kept moving on.
Alex gritted his teeth, wincing as he shifted his weight. His shoulder throbbed with each movement, but the pain was a distant whisper compared to the gnawing terror creeping up his spine. He couldn't afford to stop, not now, not when the faintest sound from behind could be a death sentence.
He continued down the narrow tunnel, the uneven stone floor making each step a gamble. The flickering light from his torch cast wild shadows, and each rock outcrop seemed to take on a menacing shape. His breath quickened as the unmistakable sounds of movement reached his ears—the shuffle of feet, low growls, and the sharp rasp of swords drawn.
Goblins.
Alex's grip tightened on his torch. His eyes darted around the cave as he crouched, pressing himself against the damp wall. The sound was coming closer, and he wasn't sure he had the strength to fight off even a handful of them—not in his state.
A rustling from his left caught his attention, and he barely had time to react before the first goblin leapt from the shadows. Its crude blade slashed across his arm, and Alex grunted, stumbling back. The cut wasn't deep, but it stung, and the smell of iron filled the air as blood dripped onto the cold stone.
"Fuck!" Alex cursed, sweat beading on his forehead. He couldn't afford to get distracted.
The goblin snarled, its sharp teeth glinting in the torchlight. It lunged again, but this time, Alex was ready. His dagger, still awkward in his grip, barely met the goblin's attack. The clash sent a shock up his arm, the pain in his shoulder flaring as he fought to steady his stance.
His movements were unpracticed, and it showed. A second goblin rushed him from the right, and Alex barely had time to shift before the creature's dagger nicked his leg. He yelped, his foot slipping on the uneven floor as he struggled to regain his balance.
But then, something clicked. His gaze sharpened, and his mind cleared despite the haze of pain. The goblins weren't fighting with strategy—they were attacking recklessly, as if they assumed the numbers would overwhelm him. Alex wasn't going to give them that luxury.
With a quick glance around, he spotted an outcrop of jagged rock near the cave wall, positioned just right. He needed to lure them in, to play them like a fool.
With a sudden, desperate shout, Alex feigned a misstep, stumbling backward into the stone. The goblins, eager to press their advantage, rushed forward. The first goblin's blade was met with Alex's dagger, knocking it off course as he dropped to one knee, barely dodging another swipe from the second.
The third goblin hesitated, watching Alex's struggle, and that was the opening he needed. With a swift, unexpected motion, he kicked a small rock toward the goblin's feet, distracting it just long enough for Alex to swing his dagger in a precise, upward arc. The blade cut through the goblin's skin and into its side, stabbing it and left it to bled.
The remaining two goblins were now wary. They circled Alex, but he was ready. He knew they wouldn't expect him to fight dirty, and that's exactly what he did. Using the jagged rocks and uneven terrain to his advantage, Alex baited the goblins into making mistakes.
With a quick side-step, Alex used the sharp edge of his dagger to disarm the first goblin, sending its crude blade skittering across the floor. The second goblin lunged, but Alex anticipated the move, dodging just in time to catch the goblin off-balance. His dagger connected, and the goblin collapsed, blood spilling from the wound.
The final goblin, now the last standing, snarled in fury. It rushed in with a wild, flailing attack, but Alex was done running. With a calculated strike, he caught the goblin's sword on the flat of his blade, deflecting it before slashing downward with a precise, lethal motion.
The goblin crumpled to the ground, and Alex stood over it, chest heaving. His body ached, every wound screaming for attention, but the battle was over. He had done it. He had survived.
His heart was still racing when he heard the faint whistle of an arrow slicing through the air.
Before he could react, it buried itself deep into the side of his neck. He felt the cold sting of poison spread almost immediately, the sharp burn cutting through his veins like fire. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, vision blurring. He reached up to grasp the shaft of the arrow, but his fingers were already growing numb.
The world spun, the cave around him spinning into a blurry haze. He fought to stay conscious, but the poison was too fast. His body was shutting down, and the last thing he saw before everything faded was the cruel smirk of a goblin, a flicker of victory in its eyes.
"Fuck.....is this...my end? To be killed by a damn.....goblin?"
Questions and thoughts, regrets and aspiration filled his mind as his body collapsed. The archer goblin went to check on it's prey, perhaps to mock and show he had won.
but things don't go plan for anyone.
[ Skill : Survivor's Rage : Active ]
An aura envelops Alex's body as he reached for his blade, his veins shows as if it could pop any moment, his wound stopped bleeding and Alex quickly went for the kill. With his skill, he managed to survive once again but the poision was still there. He reached for the things the man gave him and took an antidote before the skill effect disappears.
He walked and walked until he passed out to another area of the cave.
his vision growing darker with each step, something caught his eye—a glint of steel amid the shadows. There, lodged in the stone floor, was a sword.
It wasn't large or ornate, but there was an undeniable aura of ancient power about it. The blade was worn, its surface scratched and dulled by time, but the edge still shimmered faintly with a cold light. The hilt was simple, wrapped in weathered leather that had long since lost its sheen, yet it looked sturdy and dependable.
The sword's most striking feature, though, was the way it seemed to hum with a quiet energy, almost as if it were alive—waiting, watching. Its presence felt significant, as if it had been waiting for someone to claim it. The symbols etched into the blade were faint but unmistakable, their origins unclear, yet they radiated a sense of mystery and ancient history.
Despite the overwhelming exhaustion pulling at his body, Alex found himself drawn to it. The sword, stuck deep in the stone, was a beacon in the darkness—silent, patient, and powerful.
And as he collapsed, the last thing he saw before the world went dark was the faint glow of the sword's blade, its promise of strength and survival just within reach.
[ Level Up!
Player Alexander has reached Level 9
Experience gained: 300 XP
Total XP: 300/1,500
Rewards:
+1 Stat Point (Choose from Strength, Agility, or Endurance)
New Passive Skill: Survival Instinct (E-tier)
Bonus Item: Antidote (x1) ]
To be continued.