The goblin's claws slashed across Jinhyuk's cheek.
"Argh—!" he staggered back, clutching his face. A thin trickle of warm blood dripped down as the goblin landed behind him, crouching low with a guttural growl.
A system window appeared in front of him:
[HP: 93/100]
He blinked, staring at the red scratch on his cheek reflected in the corner of the screen.
'I don't… I don't know how to fight. I'm not some protagonist who gets a system and instantly knows martial arts. I've never been in a fight in my life…'
His heart thundered. The goblin growled louder, coiling up for another pounce.
"There's one thing I can do."
He turned—and ran.
Branches whipped past him as he sprinted into the forest. Behind him, the goblin shrieked in confusion but didn't give chase.
Jinhyuk ducked behind a thick tree trunk, his breaths ragged. Cold sweat clung to his back. The shadows of the forest cloaked him.
The system dinged.
[Why has the Host run away from the enemy?]
He whispered through gritted teeth, "Because I don't know how to fight! What the hell were you expecting—some kind of battle instinct?"
[…Understood. Apologies, Host. That factor was not accounted for.]
He leaned against the bark, calming his breath. "It's fine. I just need a moment."
[If I may ask, what is the Host searching for?]
"…A large branch."
He scanned the ground until his eyes landed on one. It was thick, gnarled, and sturdy—perfect.
He picked it up, feeling its weight. Swung it once like a baseball bat.
[What is the Host going to do with it?]
"Just watch."
He crept back through the brush, branch in hand. The goblin was still there, sniffing the air, confused.
"Perfect…" he whispered.
Jinhyuk bolted out of cover with a roar and swung the branch with all his might.
CRACK.
The goblin yelped. He swung again.
CRACK.
Again. Again.
Jinhyuk stood over the twitching body of the first goblin, blood dripping from the branch gripped tightly in his trembling hands. His breaths came in ragged gasps, the coppery smell of blood thick in the air.
The system dinged brightly in front of him:
[Host has killed Level 2 Lower Goblin. +30 EXP]
[First kill bonus: +2.5x EXP]
[First goblin kill bonus: +3x EXP]
[Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.]
He stumbled back from the corpse, dropping the blood-soaked branch to his side."I… I leveled up three times just from that?"
He wiped green blood and goblin matter from his face. The metallic taste of adrenaline was still in his mouth.
"Status."
Name: Ha Jinhyuk
Job: None
Title: None
Level: 4
HP: 175/175
MP: 50
Strength: 34
Agility: 20
Sense: 20
Vitality: 20
Intelligence: 20
Points: 9
"Nine points… I get three per level."
He opened the stat window and stared at the glowing numbers.
"I need to hit harder and survive longer." He dragged six points into Strength and three into Vitality.
[Strength increased to 40.]
[Vitality increased to 23.]
"Alright… let's keep going."
He picked the branch back up—it felt lighter now, or maybe he had grown stronger.
The second goblin he encountered was hunched over something—it had just finished eating a rabbit, tearing raw meat from bone.
Jinhyuk crept silently, breathing through his nose.
Then he pounced.
He swung his branch with a grunt, slamming it into the goblin's back with a loud crack! The goblin shrieked and turned—just in time for the second blow to smash its jaw sideways, sending green teeth flying.
The third blow dropped it to the forest floor.
[Host has killed Level 2 Lower Goblin. +30 EXP]
Jinhyuk didn't stop. He slammed the branch down one final time to crush its skull. Green blood oozed out like tar, mixing with dark earth and leaves.
He spotted the third one stalking near the edge of a creek—its reflection shimmered in the water.
Jinhyuk waited behind a rock.
'Wait for it…'
The goblin leaned to drink. He charged.
Crack! A side swing to the ribs.
The goblin hissed and slashed, but he ducked. He brought the branch up hard under its chin, snapping its head back, then twisted around with a full-body spin and smashed it sideways into a tree.
It slumped, dead.
[+30 EXP]
This one was faster. It spotted him and came charging, shrieking with wild eyes.
Jinhyuk stumbled backward as claws slashed at him, tearing through his shirt. He fell, rolled, and as the goblin leapt—
He thrust the branch upward into its gut, catching it mid-air.
Then, with both hands, he flipped and spiked it into the dirt.
The goblin writhed. He rose and stomped on its neck.
[+30 EXP]
"Goddamn… that was too close."
The last goblin tried to flee.
"No you don't!"
Jinhyuk sprinted after it, his body now stronger, faster. He closed the distance easily.
Leapt forward.
Swung.
Crack!
The branch exploded across the back of the goblin's skull, sending it tumbling into a rock where it lay motionless.
[+30 EXP]
He stood there, breathing heavily.
"Status."
Name: Ha Jinhyuk
Job: None
Title: None
Level: 6
HP: 175/175
MP: 50
Strength: 40
Agility: 20
Sense: 20
Vitality: 23
Intelligence: 20
Points: 6
"I'll hold on to these points… just in case."
He wiped sweat and blood from his brow and headed deeper into the woods.
Then he saw it—a pure white wolf, standing motionless beneath the crimson moonlight. Its fur shimmered like snow under blood. It was… beautiful.
"Wow…" he whispered, stepping forward without thinking.
Snap.
He stepped on a branch.
The wolf's head turned. Glowing blue eyes locked with his.
"Shit—"
It lunged.
CHOMP.
Jinhyuk screamed as teeth clamped down on his left arm. He staggered, punched the wolf away, and fell back.
[HP: 145/175]
"System! Dump all six points into Agility!"
Agility increased to 26.
The wolf circled him, low and growling. Jinhyuk's heart pounded.
It lunged again—but this time, he dove aside just in time. The branch whipped through the air and cracked against the wolf's ribs.
It yelped, slammed into a tree, and whimpered.
Jinhyuk didn't hesitate. He charged, raised the branch—
—but the wolf twisted to the side, sprang forward, and sank its fangs into his leg.
"AHHH!" He kicked wildly.
[HP: 115/175]
The wolf lunged again.
He didn't dodge.
Let it bite him again.
[HP: 85/175]
And then—he brought the branch down like a hammer.
CRACK.
The wolf hit the ground.
And he kept swinging.
Again.
And again.
Blood splashed against his arms and face. Bones cracked. His breath grew ragged.
Until the wolf no longer moved.
The system erupted with messages.
[Host has killed Level 14 Abnormal Wolf. +2500 EXP]
[First abnormal kill bonus: +3x EXP]
[Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.][
Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.]
[Host has leveled up.]
[New Title Earned: Underdog]
Underdog – When facing an enemy stronger than the host, all stats are boosted by 40%.
Jinhyuk stood over the corpse, blood-soaked and shaking.
"…System. Take me back."
A key materialized in the air, turned midair with a click, and a glowing gate appeared.
He limped through it.
Back to the small white room.
He collapsed onto the bed, groaning.
"Status…"
Name: Ha Jinhyuk
Job: None
Title: Underdog
Level: 12
HP: 175/175
MP: 50
Strength: 40
Agility: 26
Sense: 20
Vitality: 23
Intelligence: 20
Points: 18
"Put three in everything… and six more in Strength."
Name: Ha Jinhyuk
Job: None
Title: Underdog
Level: 12
HP: 250/250
MP: 125
Strength: 46
Agility: 29
Sense: 23
Vitality: 26
Intelligence: 23
Points: 0
He sighed, slumping back into the mattress.
"…Dammit. My clothes are ruined. Everything hurts like hell…"
He closed his eyes, still breathing heavily."I need to prepare better next time…"
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What do you guys think about this chapter was the fight good? Let me know what you think.