Chapter 2

  As soon as I touched the goblin, there was a sudden spark. Not painful—just startling, like static from a doorknob you weren’t expecting. Instantly, a strange sensation bloomed in my mind. It was the cliché "status window" moment… only it wasn’t anything like I’d imagined.

  There wasn’t an actual screen in front of me—no floating holograms or heads-up display. It was more like a sudden, complete understanding—a notification in the shape of a thought. It had the clean structure of a blue-screen interface, official-feeling somehow, but it didn’t block my vision or tug at my focus.

  It was just there.

  Front and center in my awareness, yet not distracting. Like knowing 1 + 1 = 2—it was simply known. No need to parse it, no delay, no confusion. It settled into place in my mind as naturally as breathing.

  “Well, that’s cool,” I said aloud.

  The message? Simple, and incredibly surreal:

  You have activated “The System.” Status: Probationary Player.

  And that’s where the interesting information started.

  The very first thought that burst into my head, loud and enthusiastic:

  “LOOT!”

  Chapter 2

  ———————————————————————————————

  Congratulations, Player, for reaching Level 0!

  As your integration reward—based on the calculation of your first kill—you have been awarded a score of 9.5.

  Score awarded for:

  ? Well-thought-out decision-making

  ? Clever tactics

  ? Critical thinking

  ? Decisive action

  ? Combat style

  Now, to be clear, those weren’t the exact words the notification used—at least not in any text I saw. It was more like a clear mental summary. A direct transmission of understanding. Like a narrator in my mind with an official tone but no voice.

  Still, it felt just as formal and real as if it were floating in front of me in glowing letters.

  Then another notification surfaced in my thoughts:

  "Calculating rewards…"

  The mental pause was… awkward.

  30 seconds.

  Still calculating.

  45 seconds.

  Come on… I’ve ordered fast food faster than this.

  Then finally:

  "Rewards calculated."

  "You have been awarded the Skill: 'Clear Mind' – Legendary, Level 1."

  This skill may be activated up to 5 times per day.

  Each activation lasts for 10 minutes.

  (No cooldown. Upgrades available at higher levels.)

  This skill does not require mana.

  Clear Mind – Legendary (Level 1):

  When activated, your goals and objectives become unmistakably clear.

  You gain perfect recall of all memories, knowledge, and information you've been exposed to, with full access and immediate application.

  Intuition and instinctual reaction are greatly enhanced.

  Your mind will be calm. Focused. Unshakable.

  You will know what needs to be done… and how to do it.

  I blinked.

  Then said, “...Okay, that’s actually insane.”

  This wasn’t just a skill—this was the kind of power that turns someone from clever into unstoppable. It was like turning my brain into an elite tactical computer with access to every experience I’d ever had.

  The kind of thing I always wished I had back in school... or when arguing with my boss.

  And now? I had five ten-minute doses of absolute mental clarity—per day.

  Legendary, huh?

  I was definitely starting to feel like I’d rolled higher than I thought on my second shot at life.

  "You have been awarded the Skill: 'Storage' – Rare."

  An extramental space with a volume of 10 cubic meters is now available for personal use.

  (No cooldown. Upgrades available at higher levels.)

  This skill does not require mana.

  Storage – Rare (Level 1):

  Access a personal spatial inventory where time is suspended.

  All items stored will remain in the exact state they were in upon entry.

  Matter is compressed to its most efficient form, maximizing volume without damage or degradation.

  Sentient beings cannot be stored without full consent and a pre-approved time limit.

  Item Received: ‘Mana Crystal’ (1)

  (Compression: 100 Mana – UNCOMMON)

  This crystal can be consumed to restore your personal mana, power spells directly, or act as a mana source for enchanted items, tools, or arcane devices.

  I stared at the message, blinking again.

  Storage space? Time-suspended? Compression tech?

  And a mana crystal just… given to me? This was the kind of loot that broke early-game balance in half.

  “Okay,” I said under my breath, trying not to grin like a kid who’d just pulled an ultra-rare card from a starter pack.

  “Now we’re talking.”

  I exhaled slowly, trying to process what I’d just received.

  “Okay, this is starting to feel a little less like surviving and a little more like character creation.”

  Storage was huge—no more worrying about carrying weight or losing gear. And the suspended time? That could mean storing food, potions, even sensitive tools without worry. Hell, depending on what “devices” meant in this world, this could get very interesting once I started crafting or reverse-engineering.

  I looked at the glowing crystal in my hand. It felt warm, like it had a quiet heartbeat pulsing with power.

  “Mana Crystal… Guess we’re playing with magic now.”

  I could already tell—I was going to like this System.

  Or at least I thought I was... until the next notification hit.

  Warning!

  You have one hour to identify your next enemy target.

  Failure to complete this objective will result in an appropriate punishment.

  "Well… that doesn’t sound good," I muttered, voice rougher than expected. The words rasped from my throat like sandpaper, and for the first time I noticed how dry my mouth was. I’d been so focused that I hadn’t realized how thirsty I’d become.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  I looked back to where the goblin’s body had been.

  It was fading—quickly. The corpse became translucent, then semi-ethereal, like mist in moonlight. A soft hum, a pulse of light… and then it was gone. In its place, lying on the ground, were just a few items: the blade it had used, a worn leather water skin, and three slender, white mushrooms with long stems and a faint bluish glow.

  Without hesitation, I reached out—not with my hand, but with my mind. Somehow, instinctively, I knew how. I felt the action more than thought it.

  The mushrooms shimmered slightly, then vanished into my storage space with a quiet mental click—like placing items in a digital backpack in a video game. Effortless. Natural.

  Nothing flashy happened. No swirl of magic or shimmer of light.

  One moment the mushrooms were lying on the ground—the next, they were tucked neatly into my storage space.

  It just… happened. Like flexing a muscle I didn’t know I had. The system responded to thought and intent. I could feel them in there, too—like tiny, glowing drops of water resting in the back of my mind like a clear container. Each item had weight, presence, and form. With a flick of mental effort, the mushrooms reappeared in my hand. Another nudge, and they vanished again. Clean. Effortless. Precise.

  I liked it.

  With that handled, I headed in the direction the first goblin had come from, moving with steady caution.

  I hadn’t even made it half a mile before another one showed up.

  This time, I wasn’t empty-handed. The dagger I carried was maybe seven inches long, two inches wide—barely more than a kitchen knife, if I’m being honest. Looked like it belonged next to a cutting board and a half-chopped onion.

  But hey—I’d practically bisected a goblin with it already.

  My only concern now was whether it’d hold up for round two.

  Didn’t matter. A plan was already forming in my head. The ground ahead was just smooth enough to make it work.

  Sure, it might cost me a bit of magical rug burn—but if it landed the way I imagined, it’d be worth every scrape.

  I charged the goblin at full speed, putting everything I had into the run. I added a touch of misdirection—arms flailing just enough, feet hitting the ground with slightly uneven rhythm, trying to sell the image of panic.

  My yell came out rough and wild, an involuntary growl that sounded like, “Grrraaaahhhhhh!”

  At just three feet away, I let myself drop into a sideways slide—shoulder low, momentum carrying me straight into the goblin’s legs like a cannonball.

  The impact sent it airborne, limbs flailing as it flipped and landed hard—face-first, nearly upside down.

  I was on my feet in a blink, adrenaline surging, and pounced on it before it could recover. Without hesitation, I drove the blade into its back. Again. And again. Anywhere that looked like it might be vital.

  Eight stabs in, I shifted my grip—blade turned sideways like I was slicing a cucumber. With a sharp, punching motion, I brought it down across the back of the goblin’s neck, aiming to sever the spine or take the head clean off.

  I was in the zone—fully locked in. Pure, ruthless focus. If anyone had seen me in that moment, they wouldn't have seen a man.

  They'd have seen something feral.

  I was breathing heavily, trying to catch my breath as the adrenaline slowly faded. This time, I was absolutely drenched in blood. In that moment, I couldn’t help but be grateful that the goblins I was dealing with didn’t match the grotesque descriptions I’d seen in stories and movies. If they had, this experience would’ve been far worse.

  As I pushed myself up from the fallen goblin, I noticed the familiar slight glow and the increasing transparency—the precursor to the flash that signaled its disappearance.

  The flash came, and once again, a notification appeared in my mind.

  “Congratulations, Player, for gaining Experience!”

  “Calculating Rewards...

  1 minute later

  Rewards Calculated.”

  “You have been awarded the Skill ‘Inspect’ - Common Level 1.

  This Skill does not require Mana.

  Upgrades are available at higher levels.

  (Mana may be used to obtain additional information, with a maximum use of up to half your available Mana.)

  Skill ‘Inspect’ – Common Level 1

  When activated, this skill allows the user to gain information about an item, object, individual, or, in some rare cases, a location."

  “You have been awarded the use of ‘Personal Progress’ - Common Level 1.”

  ‘Personal Progress’ is available 5 times a day.

  This status update is available upon mental request and shows the status of your stats, skills, experience progress, and other general information. Stay up to date on your personal progress as a ‘Delver’... (and insert other classes/professions), including additional details about yourself for self-assessment.

  The notification caught me off guard. I would’ve thought something like this would be a standard, welcome-package skill for every "player." The fact that it was considered more of a privilege made me wonder why its use was limited.

  I shrugged it off. No point overthinking it right now.

  I turned my attention to the loot on the ground. As I examined what remained, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow. There was more to consider than I’d expected.

  There were a few silver coins scattered about, each the size of a dime. They gleamed, freshly minted and impeccably polished. Along with them was another blade, roughly the same size as the one I'd already taken, but this one came with a belt and sheath made of dark tan leather, soft to the touch, and secured with a minimalist brass buckle.

  I also found three more items. A water skin, which I finished off on the spot. A single bracer, its surface inlaid with two sets of arcane symbols, both made of what looked like silver. One set was on the outside front, the other on the inside, etched along the edge just before the leather ties began. Finally, a brown leather wristband, about 1.5 inches wide, adorned with symbols burned into the inside. It had brass snap buttons, which felt strangely convenient.

  What struck me most, though, was the sheer amount of loot.

  I had seen these items on the goblin, but they hadn’t looked so... pristine. They now appeared as if they had just been crafted, brand new and ready for use.

  Excited to try out my ‘Inspect’ skill, I couldn’t wait to check out what each item had in store.

  I started with the bracer, eager to see what it could do.

  First, I checked out the bracer and was stoked by what I learned.

  “Bracer of BOB”

  This bracer was crafted by BOB.

  When you need protection and are just a little too slow to block, an impenetrable energy shield will activate for no more than 5 seconds to stop projectiles and weapon strikes.

  (5 uses before recharge required. Self-charging at a rate of 1 block per hour's charge.)

  I loved this thing already! It was clear to me that it wasn’t meant for continuous use, but rather for those moments when you’d messed up or were simply outclassed. I hoped I’d never need it, but judging by the goblin’s equipment and the way I attacked it—never even giving the bracer a chance to activate—I realized that this goblin had been significantly stronger than the first.

  If I hadn’t pulled off the sliding trick, and instead tried to face it in a stand-up fight, I would’ve been caught off guard. The bracer would’ve activated, and I would’ve been dead.

  My instincts had definitely saved me this time.

  Next, I turned my attention to the wristband, eager to see what ‘Inspect’ would reveal.

  “Oh, this was going to make me a badass when I really need to be.”

  It also made it clear I had to be more cautious of anyone or anything else I fought in the future. If a goblin had this much awesome gear, who knows how good the equipment of other enemies might be?

  I’m going to have to hold off on using this until my life depends on it.

  Before I could take another step, however, another notification popped into my head.

  “Warning! You have one hour to find your next enemy target. Failure to complete this objective will result in a suitable punishment.”

  Great. Just what I needed—pressure.

  Deciding to move on, I continued down the cave, eventually coming to a T-intersection. I took my time, staying close to the wall, scanning each direction carefully. The left side was clear, so I took a few steps back and then looked down the right side.

  I remember when I was playing airsoft in Killeen, being taught by one of the visiting army guys. He drilled into us the importance of scoping out corners from the opposite wall, staying low and peeking just enough to see around the edge without exposing yourself. I took that advice to heart, slowly making my way against the wall, just enough to peek my eye out. Down the right tunnel, about 30 feet away, I spotted another goblin.

  There was a chance I could avoid him by taking the left tunnel, but the risk of getting caught between two goblins was too high to ignore.

  I took a deep breath, settling my nerves, and started formulating a plan to take out the goblin in the right tunnel. But there was a snag—this goblin was armed with a bow and arrows, along with a sword at his hip. I would have to close the distance as quickly as possible, but I didn’t trust my sneaking abilities enough to think I could close the gap without him getting off at least a few shots. After the last fight, I realized just how well-equipped and dangerous these goblins were. It was clear now that I couldn’t afford to underestimate them; these guys were probably more skilled than I was. Better to assume extreme competence on their part and be prepared than to let my guard down and get killed.

  Thinking it over, I figured I had a reasonable plan to mitigate the risk of getting shot with an arrow and still do enough damage from a distance before he could get off a second shot.

  I pulled a silver coin from my “storage” and threw it past the goblin as hard as I could, hoping it would make enough noise to catch his attention. Without waiting to see if it worked, I immediately started running full speed toward him, one of my daggers in hand. I gripped it awkwardly by the guard, holding it like a javelin, ready to throw.

  I waited for the last possible moment, watching him glance over at the noise, lucking out that he even bothered to look. Just as he began to notch his arrow, I hurled the dagger with everything I had, hoping to hit him anywhere. If I couldn’t land a solid strike, at least I might delay him long enough to close the gap.

  I hit the jackpot in a big way. The dagger struck him point-first right in the gut, sinking deep. The goblin howled in pain, his hands shaking as he struggled to keep hold of his bow. I knew in that moment he wasn’t going to get a shot off.

  I was only ten feet away when he realized his situation. He dropped the bow and reached for his sword from a strange sheath that left about eight inches of the blade exposed.

  As soon as he went for it, I yanked my second blade from its sheath and felt a passing thought drift through my mind. That’s a weird design for a scabbard. Seems like it wouldn’t protect the blade well... Wait, are scabbards supposed to be leather or wood? Man, I really hope I can look this stuff up on the Internet someday.