The morning light filtered softly through the trees, casting long shadows across the riverbank. Ren woke up, stretching out his stiff muscles with a satisfied grunt. His body felt different today—stronger, energized by the strange, fiery powers now thrumming just beneath his skin.
> [System: User's body temperature rising to optimal training conditions. Preparation for skill testing recommended.]
Ren grinned. Testing, huh? He was absolutely pumped to see how far he could push these newly unlocked skills.
"I'm about to wreck some monsters…" he muttered, rubbing his hands together and feeling the crackling energy in his palms. "This is gonna be fun."
With a deep breath, he stood up, ready to test out the Dragonflame Pulse, maybe try a bit of Infernal Flight, and certainly work out that new Lust of the Flame skill. Who knew what kind of chaos he could bring today?
But as he started walking deeper into the forest, humming to himself, Ren's excitement was quickly interrupted by an irritating noise.
> "Grrr…!" The sound was coming from behind a thick patch of bushes.
Ren halted, ears perked. That growl didn't sound like anything he'd want to mess with. His hand instinctively went to his sword, but then he heard something else—high-pitched chattering.
> [System: Warning: Goblin detected. Low-level threat. Assessment: Nothing exciting.]
Ren sighed dramatically. "A goblin? Really? After all this… I get this?"
> [System: It's a training opponent. Try not to get too frustrated.]
He pushed through the bushes, and sure enough, there it was. A green-skinned goblin with a small, rusted sword that looked like it was made out of a broken piece of scrap metal. It was stumbling around, grunting as it kicked a rock and then noticed Ren.
The goblin blinked, as if confused by the sudden appearance of this much more intimidating human standing before it. It raised its tiny sword, shaking as it did so.
> "Grrah!" the goblin squeaked.
Ren rolled his eyes and sighed again. "Well, I guess this is a warm-up."
> [System: Goblin identified as "Low-Ranking Threat" — Recommended use of basic skills for efficiency.]
He could feel the heat building within him, but he was still feeling the excitement from the night before. This goblin might be a disappointment, but it was still a chance to test out those new powers.
Ren snapped his fingers, summoning a small flame to the tip of his index finger. "Let's see how you handle some dragon fire, little guy."
> [System: Dragonflame Pulse is ready to use! Prepare for fiery results.]
The goblin didn't wait—charging at Ren with a wild screech, swinging its sword in a ridiculous, uncoordinated arc.
Ren wasn't worried. He simply flicked his wrist, and Dragonflame Pulse surged from his hand, engulfing the goblin in a roaring burst of flames.
> "Nghhh!"
The goblin let out a pathetic yelp as it was thrown backward by the blast, tumbling across the ground in a charred mess of green flesh and singed armor. The creature screeched as it tried to crawl away, clearly not a match for Ren's newfound power.
Ren chuckled to himself, wiping his hand on his pants. "Well, that was easy."
He bent down, picking up the goblin's broken sword and inspecting it for a moment before tossing it aside. "No challenge whatsoever."
> [System: "Goblin defeated." Skill acquisition possible. Consider not using fire on lower-tier threats in the future.]
Ren frowned at the system's suggestion. "Oh, come on. That was fun."
He cracked his knuckles, ready for more. This was just a warm-up, right?
Ren straightened his back and scanned his surroundings. The forest had been quiet for a while, but the sudden rustling of leaves and distant growls told him something was amiss. His senses flared, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
> [System: Warning: Multiple enemies detected. Goblins approaching. 20 units. Estimated threat level: Low, but increasing.]
Ren raised an eyebrow. Twenty goblins? It wasn't a huge challenge, but that many could definitely be a nuisance.
A rustling noise from the underbrush erupted as the goblins charged, circling around him. Their small, squawking voices filled the air, and their glowing eyes locked on Ren.
> "Get him, brothers! He's all alone!"
Ren grinned, the thrill of battle rushing through him. His hands clenched, flames dancing along his fingertips. He had all these new skills now—it was time to show off.
> "You guys really picked the wrong human to mess with."
Without a second thought, Ren stomped his foot, calling upon Flame Tail, and a massive, fiery tail erupted from his back, crackling with flames. It swung out, scorching the first row of goblins before they even had a chance to react.
> [System: Flame Tail activated. Enemies in range taking fire damage.]
Ren grinned wider. That's right. His tail swept around, slamming into one of the goblins, sending it flying into the air before it dropped to the ground, nothing but ashes.
But there were too many of them, their numbers closing in.
> "Too slow," Ren sneered, his fangs sharpening as he let the flames inside him rise. He bared his teeth, activating Bite of the Inferno.
In a split second, Ren lunged forward, his teeth burning with molten fury. He sank them into the goblin closest to him, tearing through its flesh like a blade through paper. The goblin screamed, but its cries were short-lived, consumed by the blaze of Ren's infernal bite. The smell of charred meat filled the air as the goblin's body disintegrated in his grasp.
> [System: Bite of the Inferno successfully used. Target eliminated.]
Ren stood, chest heaving, as the remaining goblins hesitated. They stared at him in fear. The flames licking from his body seemed to intensify, and he smirked, ready to finish this.
> "Time to end this little playtime," he muttered, turning to face the goblins.
Ren's lips curled into a grin as he inhaled deeply. Pyroclasmic Roar was ready.
With a roar that rattled the leaves in the trees, he unleashed the full force of his fiery voice. The sound was deafening, echoing through the forest as it sent shockwaves of heat and fear through the goblins. Their faces twisted in panic as they turned and fled, but the roar wasn't finished yet—it surged again, amplifying their terror.
> [System: Pyroclasmic Roar activated. Enemies affected by panic.]
The goblins screeched, scattering in every direction, but Ren was too fast. His Flame Tail lashed out again, cutting through the fleeing goblins like a fiery whip. Their bodies ignited in midair, their screams silenced as they were consumed by the flames. Ren grinned savagely, spinning with the fiery tail, and using his Bite of the Inferno to finish off any goblins who got too close.
> [System: Flame Tail and Bite of the Inferno in use. 20 goblins eliminated.]
Within moments, the entire goblin swarm was reduced to nothing but smoldering remains. Ren stood at the center of the scorched battlefield, his body still crackling with fire, his chest heaving as the adrenaline from the battle slowly faded. The ground was littered with ashes, and the air was thick with smoke.
> "Well… that was a bit more fun," Ren muttered to himself, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. His grin lingered, though there was a hint of satisfaction mixed with a touch of surprise. "Guess I'm getting the hang of this."
> [System: User has successfully eliminated all goblin units. Skill usage detected as optimal.]
Ren stretched his arms over his head, feeling the power of the skills still thrumming in his veins. This is just the beginning.