Rue had expected the goblins to run just like they did earlier against Cel. But, instead, they rushed at him. One came at him from his side, forcing Rue away from the Cave entrance. He moved away, aware that the other tried to pincer him.
The first instinct that came to him was to make distance. Turning away from both goblins. He sprinted into a tree with a low branch, and Rue jumped and grasped it, hauling himself up. The system has granted him incredible strength; he will surely make use of it.
Both goblins are on his tail, one begins climbing the thick, strong branch he was on, grasping for a handhold with gleeful murder behind those eyes.
He jabbed his sword down, plunging it into the goblin's shoulder with a satisfying squelch deep inside its skin. It screamed, falling, but damn it was still alive.
Green bony arms shot up, managing to grab Rue’s arm in a tight grip and dragging him down. Rue fell toward the ground, letting out a scream. His back hurt, but it was merely a small fall.
Steel came the moment he opened his eyes. Rue rolled sideways, managing to escape with his life. He rose and with sword still in hand he struck toward the uninjured goblin. The goblin caught his blade with its own.
A contest of strength happened as their sword locked. Rue pushed forward, gaining on the goblin. It growled and tried to spit on him. But, he pushed further, the goblin legs about to give up - he could feel it forced to shift power down.
Out of the corner of his eyes, a dagger sneaked into him. Rue tried to jump back. But the moment he let go of the sword lock, the goblin lunged, stabbing into his chest. Thin pain flared as it managed to draw blood from him.
Managing to keep his life twice. He skittered back; it did not escape him that his blue robe was blemished with a bit of red around his chest. His sword is colder in his grip. Fear crept in. But now is not the time.
He extended his hand, and a fireball flew across toward the injured goblin. It reacted by throwing itself to the side. The flame crashed into a tree.
Rue clicked his tongue until he got a notification.
(You Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
The goblin had bled out the moment it crashed to the ground. Smiling at his luck. Rue struck toward the last goblin. It deflected his sword, its movement full of hesitation.
It wanted to run, the fear across its eye couldn't be more painfully obvious, but his relentless strike kept it from doing so.
Blood flew up as he carved the goblin's abdomen. Rue continued. Raising his sword up and bringing it down to his chest in revenge. The parting of the skin is satisfying. Cut after cut, he delivered with glee, each seeped the goblin strength as frost formed to every wound Rue delivered. That frost is beautiful in an eerie way; it turned the goblin's skin cold blue as blood seeped along.
The green creature fell to its knees. It drew ragged dying breath, the goblin convulsed as its wound had Frost forming around it, slowly seeping, spreading across its body.
Rue wanted to watch the frost effect taking place. Yet a part of him still doesn't want the creature to suffer. He slid his sword deep into the goblin's neck. It writhed in one last struggle and died.
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(Level Up. General Lvl 2 → 3)
(Level Up. Frost Apprentice Lvl 1 → 2)
Rue removed his robe, revealing the white shirt he had been wearing. Red deepened around the chest area. It's not much, certainly does not warrant him to throw it away. The pain still pulsed in his chest, though, as his adrenaline calmed, the pain flared up.
Deciding to return inside the cave to wash off his blood. He entered to find that Cel is no longer there.
“Cel?” Rue called out, his voice echoing in the air.
He shrugged, throwing off all his clothes before stepping into the shallow pool. He lay, welcoming the cold water. His nose and mouth peeked out of the water, breathing in the pleasant cold air that still lingered around.
Blood slowly morphed into the water; his pain was not deep, it just required a bit of washing. But still, that had been a close call. He let go of his ice sword, it broke apart and cracked into a blue wisp flying above.
(Slay Goblins group that has been terrorizing this area. 19/100)
“Nineteen?” The number should have been seventeen unless Rue counted wrong, which means two other goblins have died unrelated to his kill. It's a comfort to know their kill is included for this quest. But, Rue did not intend to let others finish this quest while he hid.
Cel will cancel the quest if I do that. Well, if he can.
The main tutorial also offered a quest. In line with Cel’s quest. But much grander.
(Tutorial Quest: Defeat the Goblins and Boar tribe.)
Goblins (19/100). Boars (2/50)
(Reward: Move to next phase of the Tutorial)
(Reward: Skill Option)
(Reward: Access to System Shop)
(Reward: Access to Kill Point System)
(Reward: 1000 Points)
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(Special Reward: Chest of Beginning (Uncommon) - Will be granted to those who claim the most kills)
(Special Reward: 5000 Points - Will be granted to those who claim the most kills)
Two boars had also died. If he takes too long here, then he might as well forgo the Special Rewards. Back then, they had talked about this exact quest before the Goblin attack. Rue briefly remembered that some people had split off from the main group. He had thought they were crazy, but now it seemed they were the wise ones.
Goblins (22/100)
“I can’t take my time, huh?” He grumbled. Standing up, he shrugged on his clothes and robe. Rue opened his status.
Name: Rue.
Level: 1 → 3
Race: Human.
Class: Frost Apprentice Lvl 1 → 2.
Magic Vein (Wood): 16%
HP: 89/100 → 129/140
Mana: 23/30 → 65/72
Strength: 5 → 8
Vitality: 5 → 7
Dexterity: 6 → 9
Arcana: 15 → 18
Mind: 15 → 17
Perception: 8 → 10
-Skill (2/10)-
- Fireball (Common).
- Sword of Frost (Common).
-Passive Skill (1/10)-
-Cold Resistance (Uncommon).
Ambling out of the cave. He is still a bit reluctant to leave it entirely. His body is still dripping with water, and the cold night is not helping. Still, Rue does not want to fall behind in his kill count. He walked deep into the dark forest. Hoping to find Goblin.
He strode across the tall foliage, every step was like expecting a landmine, anything could hide in this place. The scratchy brush of the grass made him wish to wear some gloves or have a robe that covered his whole hand.
(Bearer of Frost Special Quest Issued)
(Quest: Promise Between the Damned}
(A lioness is about to give birth in a dangerous area nearby. Because of her wound, the act of giving birth will be her last. Ensure as many cubs survive as possible.)
(Reward: Frost Skill option for two surviving cubs)
(Reward: Lion of the Morning Class Change Scroll (Unique) for three surviving cubs)
(Reward: One Lion of the Morning Skill choice for the next skill option)
(Reward: Frost Chest (Uncommon) for each surviving cubs)
(Reward: Lion Mane Cloak (Rare) for all surviving cubs)
(Accept/Decline)
A lion? In a place like this? It might be possible. This must’ve been a special quest he got from his class. But it sure is strange that one of the rewards is a class change scroll.
Rue did not see any reason to decline it. It can go hand in hand with both of his current quests. But, doesn’t this sound like a quest that’s not meant for an initiate? It even states Frost skill option as a reward.
And Cel conveniently disappeared…
Well, at least there’s no punishment for failing it. Rue thought.
“Accept”
(Surviving Cubs:...)
(Lioness Health: 53%)
“How am I supposed to track it?” Rue asked out loud. Then a thin line of blue light stretched out from his chest. The line was cold, reminding him of Cel. It extended beyond a tree, going through dozens of them.
Running forward as the lion's HP dropped by one percent. Rue could only wish that nothing would ambush him.
Bushes of grass snapped beyond him. Rue slinked behind a huge tree, peeking at where the loud rustling was; this sounded like someone without any care for danger. No, a group.
Seven goblins ran, they seemed to be in glee, laughing as they rushed toward something. They ran in the direction of the blue line.
Rue softly cursed. He followed them, trying to keep pace with the creature, which is the size of a child. The tall grasses make it easy to conceal his body. But, at the same time, it was hard to keep his eye on them. He had to risk discovery by staying closer than he liked.
The goblin stopped by a tree, and something made them scream in joy. Rue crouched by a busy bushes, he pushed open the grasses, trying to peer closer. A sickening ripping of skin crunches into the night. The smell of blood wafted to his nostrils as the strong wind carried it around.
Those disgusting little green creatures are desecrating a body. They peeled the skin with their teeth, stabbing it for a laugh.
On closer look, Rue noticed it's a lion! But that busy mane around its neck means it's a male one. Not his lioness. Still, anger rose in him as he watched the goblins celebrate such a creature's demise and ruin its remains.
Rue extended his palm. Fireball ignited into being in front of him, a sudden light in the night. Yet, no goblin noticed; they're too busy.
Not enough.
He will need a bigger fireball, much, much bigger. Mana flowed from his body, and Rue felt it creep from inside of him, making their way toward his palm. Then his Mana jumped to the fireball that was currently cooking his hand. Some of his Mana fell to the ground, wasted to nothing.
Rue gritted his teeth as he pushed more and more Mana. His spell surged in fiery hues, and he had to close his eyes as they threatened to blind him. The pain on his palm is too much. Rue released the spell, and something inside of him snapped. But it’s not the kind of pain that he felt physically.
Magic Vein (Wood): 52%
The fire spiralled and Rue hurled it toward the gathering goblins, the night briefly flared into red as his spell streaked across.
A flame burst in a deafening sizzle, followed shortly by cries. The goblins shrieked as they burned, each second no doubt stretched for them.
Rue charged forward, Ice Sword manifested in his hand – he imagined this cold would get familiar eventually, and he wouldn’t shiver in the future. One goblin pierced right across its eye, Rue pushed gorging deep, making sure it no longer twitched.
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
Drawing his sword, he had expected more opponents. But what greeted him was a sight where goblins writhing on the sea of grasses spreading whisks of ember around. The grass began catching fire. Rue made a mental note to put off this fire later.
One goblin was wreathed up, somehow managing to stand. It reached toward Rue, hand lurched toward him. Rue stepped back, letting it fall back. Flame peels its skin without any sign of stopping.
It had asked me for help. Rue realised.
Plunging his Ice Sword to its back, the flame melted part of it. This is a bit counterproductive. But the human part of him is still going to put their suffering short.
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
Rue wondered if they were going to offer him the same courtesy. He slid his sword in a quick jab to the throat. The goblin convulsion stopped, a brief reprieve from the horror. But, there are still four other screams. His arm clenched, cold seeping into his right hand. Rue ran toward the closest goblins, killing them fast and moving to the others.
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(You Have Slain Goblin. Lvl 1)
(Level Up. General LVL 3 → 4)
(Level Up. Frost Apprentice LVL 2 → 3)
Sweat dripped down Rue's back. He let out a breath as he finally stomped out any fire that might start a forest fire. He certainly doesn’t want to trouble other humans with such a disaster.
Goblins (29/100)
-Ongoing Quest-
(Slay Goblins group that has been terrorizing this area. 29/100)
(Defeat the Goblins and Boar tribe.)
(A female lion is about to give birth in a dangerous area nearby. Because of her wound, the act of giving birth will be her last. Ensure as many cubs survive as possible.)
(Lioness Health: 50%)
“I’m coming,” Rue breathed out. He threw one look back at the smoking remains of the goblin and toward the lion. A deep puncture wound gored a part of the lion's stomach. The wound is the one that brings it down.
Following the light line, Rue had to head deeper through the forest. He noticed something odd just as he was about to continue toward the lioness. A glint of steel. It got closer to him, revealing an arrowhead nocked and aimed directly at him. The holder is none other than a human.
“Now hold on, won't you?” Said the old man.
