Noah's awakening was greeted by the sun's warmth, a stark contrast to the previous day's misfortunes. His goblin hunt had been hampered by their unnerving tendency to congregate, limiting his kills. Cautious and unwilling to test the unknown consequences of death, Noah prioritized survival.

  A nagging question plagued him: where were the other players? Was he alone in this perilous forest? The absence of village hunters further deepened his unease. Normally, they patrolled these woods, keeping the goblin population in check.

  Now, the creatures numbered nearly a thousand, a dangerous imbalance. Noah knew he needed to level up quickly and find the safety of a village. Descending from his arboreal perch, he set out with renewed determination.

  His immediate goal: five goblins. After a few hours of searching, he finally located a small group. Five goblins. Enough.

  The forest path narrowed, perfect for an ambush. Noah gripped his sword, waiting. Five goblins, snarling and brandishing crude clubs, burst from the trees.

  They charged, a chaotic mass of green skin and sharp teeth. Noah met the first goblin head-on, his sword a blur of steel. He use a newly received 'Sword Strike' skill, and the goblin fell. He spun, deflecting a clumsy club swing from another. The fight was a whirlwind of motion, goblins shrieking, clubs whistling. Noah’s sword found its mark again and again, until the last goblin, eyes wide with fear, stumbled and fell.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Silence.

  Five goblins lay dead.

  .....

  A sense of unease prickled Noah's skin as he slipped through the unguarded gates of Arthur Village.

  The familiar path stretched before him, yet everything felt disturbingly different.

  The vibrant hum of village life was absent, replaced by an eerie silence. Houses stood empty, doors ajar, as if their occupants had vanished moments before.

  The marketplace, once bustling with activity, was deserted, stalls bare and forlorn. Noah wandered through the ghostly streets, a chill creeping into his heart. Arthur Village, frozen in time, was a chilling testament to an unknown and unsettling absence. Where had everyone gone?