Chapter 2: One Shot
The card in my hand cracked—thin light crawled across its surface before it shattered.
Shards dissolved into glowing dust as the ground trembled beneath me.
Dark energy burst out, swirling like a storm tearing through the cave.
A black vortex formed, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Shit… this is it."
The portal erupted with a violent surge, scattering dust and shards of rock.
A deep growl rumbled from within—then it stepped out.
A massive wolf emerged, paws cracking the stone with each step. Black fur shimmered with faint red veins of energy, muscles rippling like coiled steel.
A jagged scar slashed across its face, right beneath eyes that burned crimson in the dark.
Ding!
SYSTEM: Congratulations. You have successfully summoned a Dire Wolf (Level 31).
My eyes widened. "No way… I actually did it!" I took a shaky step closer, grinning despite the tremor in my legs. "That's… my summon?"
The wolf stood tall and silent, its gaze fixed on me—those eyes glowed like molten fire, every breath carrying the weight of a beast born for war.
"System, this thing's insane!", half in awe. "Wait—it won't, like, eat me, right?"
SYSTEM: No. All summons are one hundred percent loyal to their summoner. They will obey any order you give, even if it costs their life.
I exhaled with a nervous laugh. "Loyal, huh? Hard to believe when it looks like it could tear me apart."
Still, I couldn't look away. That power—it's mine now.
"Alright," I whispered. "If I want to live in this world… I have to become stronger."
The wolf began walking toward me, heavy steps echoing through the cave. I stood firm. Its crimson eyes locked on mine, unblinking.
For a second, my heart froze.
Then—slowly—it lowered its head.
A silent vow of loyalty.
I reached out, resting my hand on its head. The warmth of its fur pulsed with power.
Ding!
[SYSTEM: STATS]
Race: Dire Wolf [Evolve] Uncommon
Name: None
Level: 31
Health: 640
Mana: 198
Strength: 96
Defense: 64
Agility: 128
Stamina: 32
Skills: [Blood Howl], [Iron Hide]
"Oh, wow… I knew you were strong, but I didn't expect this. Your stats are insane—look at that agility, that strength... You're basically a walking disaster."
I smiled faintly. "A Level 31—yeah, that's a huge help."
I glanced into those crimson eyes again. "You were called into this world without a name, "You know what? You deserve one. From now on, your name is Verg—my first companion."
The Dire Wolf—Verg—lifted his head and let out a deep, proud growl that echoed through the cave walls.
I chuckled. "Okay, Verg. We need to look around and see what this cave really looks like."
Verg growled softly, his eyes sweeping through the shadows.
"Hmmm… but what if there's another goblin-looking thing hiding around again?" I muttered, peering into the tunnel ahead. Then I grinned. "Well, I've got you now, so I'm not exactly worried."
"Okay… first priority is survival. And I'm not walking deeper in here with this crude goblin dagger."
My gaze flicked to the corner of my screen—1,010 points. Not much, but enough to make a difference.
"I need something reliable if I'm going to clear this place out. No wasting points unless it's worth it."
I took a steady breath and straightened up.
"System, show me the weapon list—the cheap ones first."
Ding!
A translucent blue screen blinked to life, scrolling through rows of weapons that shimmered like ghostly images.
I skimmed through until one caught my eye—a plain but sturdy dagger. I tapped on it.
[Normal Dagger] [F-Rank]
Type: Weapon
Attack Power: +8
Durability: Medium
Weight: Light
Description: A balanced dagger made for beginners. Sharp enough to pierce weak monster hides. Reliable for close combat and easy to handle, even with low stats.
Price: 6 Points
"A dagger for beginners? Can this be enough?" I stared at the projection, lips pressed tight. "Hmm… let's see it first."
After a moment, I sighed. "Alright, System—let me buy this one."
Ding!
You have successfully purchased [Normal Dagger].
A faint glow spun in midair before forming into a dagger. It dropped gently into my hand, the blade reflecting the dim light of the cave.
"Oh, look at this dagger." I turned it in my hand, testing its weight. "Feels balanced… grip's decent."
I slashed at the air a few times; each swing cut through the silence like a whisper of steel.
"Okay… not bad. This should do for now."
After checking my remaining points, I decided to spend a few more—bought cheap leather armor for 5 points, a pair of basic boots to move easier, and a skill called Swift Guard.
Skill: Swift Guard [F-Rank]
Cost: 10 Points
Effect: Increases Attack Speed by 3%
Description: Grants the user the ability to deliver quick, steady strikes. Allows a fast thrust capable of momentarily deflecting low-level attacks aimed at the body.
I tightened the straps of my new armor and adjusted the boots. "Alright, feeling the weight of the dagger at my side. "I think I'm good to go now."
My eyes shifted toward the massive wolf beside me. "You ready, Verg?"
Verg let out a short growl, low and confident.
After buying a small torch for 1 point, I lit it up—its dim glow pushed back the darkness just enough to see a few meters ahead. The cave walls shimmered faintly under the flickering light, the air thick with the scent of damp stone.
"Alright then," I said, glancing at the massive wolf beside me. "Let's go, Verg."
We started walking deeper into the cave. The faint sound of dripping water echoed from somewhere ahead, but other than that… silence. No monsters. No movement. Just the steady crunch of our footsteps.
Verg padded quietly at my side, head low, ears twitching. He didn't sense anything either.
After what felt like forever, I finally exhaled and rubbed my neck. "There's nothing here! We've been walking for at least an hour already, and still no sign of anything."
My voice bounced weakly off the stone walls.
I frowned, staring into the endless tunnel. "Where the hell is the entrance to this place?"
Then, after a few more minutes of walking, Verg suddenly stopped. His ears perked up, a deep growl rumbling from his throat.
"Verg?" I whispered, tightening my grip on the dagger. "Did you see something?"
Before I could take another step, he moved—swiftly stepping in front of me, his body tense and ready to strike.
That's when I saw them.
Five figures emerged from the darkness ahead, their shrill voices echoing through the tunnel. Small, hunched bodies, greenish skin, and jagged teeth glinting under the torchlight—goblins. The same kind I killed earlier.
But this time, there were more of them… and judging by the way they grinned, they knew I wasn't supposed to be here.
Then I noticed glowing numbers above their heads.
[Goblin – Level 4]
[Goblin – Level 3]
[Goblin – Level 6]
[Goblin – Level 3]
[Goblin – Level 4]
My eyes widened. "Oh, damn… I can see their levels now?"
I scanned them one by one. "They're not strong compared to Verg—but look at them!" I grimaced as one of the goblins licked its blade and hissed. "Ugh… they're even uglier than before. Disgusting!"
"Verg!" I shouted. "Let's see what you've got—kill them!"
Verg let out a thunderous growl and lunged forward.
Sluurrch!
Two goblins were torn apart in a single strike, their bodies hitting the ground before I could even blink. Verg was so fast I could barely follow his movements.
One of the goblins shrieked and stabbed him from behind.
"Verg! Look out!" I yelled—
—but the crude dagger snapped on impact. It didn't even leave a scratch.
Verg's eyes flared crimson. He turned, clamped his jaws around the goblin's head, and bit down.
Crack!
Blood splattered across the stone as the last two tried to run. Too late. Verg lunged again, tearing through them like paper.
Silence followed—broken only by the sound of my breathing.
I blinked, staring at the carnage. "Wow… goddamn, Verg."
"You're so strong, Verg!" I laughed, tapping his head. "Good job. I didn't even get the chance to help you… well, I'll get my turn later."
Ding!
Points Gained: +25
EXP Gained: +25
"Huh?" I blinked at the notification. "Wait… I can gain points and EXP even if I don't do the killing myself?"
I glanced at the remains of the goblins and did the math. "Let's see… I got ten points for killing one goblin before, so if Verg killed five, that means I only get half—five per kill."
I crossed my arms, nodding slowly. "So even if my summon does the hunting, I still get rewards. Not bad… not bad at all."
I told Verg to drag the goblin bodies to the side of the cave. He gave a short growl in response and started pulling them one by one, his claws scraping across the stone floor.
I sat on a nearby rock, catching my breath. The faint glow of the torch flickered against the walls as I waited for Verg to finish.
Then—
Thunk!
Something massive slammed into my arm. Pain exploded through me, sending me crashing to the ground.
"Argh! F–fuck!" I gasped, clutching my arm as burning pain shot through my body. "My arm… it's broken!"
The torch rolled away, its flame sputtering weakly on the dirt. Heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness ahead—each one making the ground tremble.
I forced my head up—and froze.
A hulking figure stepped out of the shadows, its breath hot and rancid, yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. A massive wooden club rested on its shoulder, the surface slick with dried blood.
My vision blurred, but I managed to focus just long enough to see the glowing text above its head:
[Hobgoblin – Level 31 | Evolve | Uncommon]
"…You've… got to be kidding me…"
Then everything went black.
To be continued...