Bulan could feel the weight of his steps as he departed Ustina City, his boots scuffing against the uneven dirt road. The path to the Kingdom of Luntian was no simple stroll; it twisted through dense forests, misty valleys, and rocky trails.
As he followed the glowing marker on his minimap, a woman's scream pierced the silence, a desperate cry for help. Instinctively, he took cover behind a large tree, he peeked around scanning the shadows for movement.
"Help me! Please!" the voice screamed again, closer this time.
Bulan gritted his teeth. Every fiber of his being told him this could be a trap. In this world, danger lurked in every shadow. But he couldn't ignore the sound of someone in trouble.
"Dammit," he muttered, slipping silently toward the sound.
When he reached the clearing, the sight before him made his blood boil. A beautiful Elf lay sprawled on the ground, her pale green robes torn and dirtied. Surrounding her were four goblins, their sharp claws and wicked laughter echoing in the night.
Bulan's HUD displayed their stats: Level 5 Goblins, HP: 300 each.
"Let her go!" Bulan roared, stepping into the clearing.
The goblins turned, sneering at the intruder. With guttural growls, they charged as one. But Bulan didn't flinch. His Assassin's Step activated, and he vanished from sight.
He reappeared behind the first goblin, his fist striking like a hammer. The goblin crumpled, dissolving into ash.
The remaining goblins, now angrier, grew more aggressive. Two charged from the front, while one flanked from behind. Fatigue gnawed at Bulan's limbs from the earlier fight, but he pushed on, retreating strategically while reading their movements.
One goblin swung a heavy claw at him, but he dodged and countered with a precise punch to its head.
Suddenly, he noticed the two remaining goblins beginning to transform. Their bodies trembled, skin stretching as black veins pulsed beneath. Their claws sharpened to a terrifying point.
"What's happening to them?" Bulan whispered, his forehead slick with sweat.
The first mutated goblin lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Bulan barely dodged, his stamina dwindling. The second goblin struck, its claws raking his side. Pain seared through him, and he fell to one knee, his vision blurring.
His interface warned of poison spreading through his system. Paralysis gripped his body, leaving him helpless as the goblins closed in.
"Please, don't kill him!" the Elf pleaded, her voice cracking as she knelt, begging. But the goblins ignored her, their focus solely on the weakened Bulan.
Bulan's mind raced, searching for a way out, but his body refused to cooperate. He knew the paralysis from the goblins' claws would last exactly sixty seconds—sixty agonizing seconds while death loomed ever closer.
Each second was a cruel reminder of how close he was to his end. His HP drained rapidly from the poison seeping into his wounds. Consciousness began to slip as the world around him darkened.
Was this truly the end?
On the verge of surrender, a strange voice whispered in his mind, "Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is to protect others."
After sixty excruciating seconds, he forced himself to stand, as if nothing had happened. His clothes were soaked in blood, his body torn and bruised.
Adrenaline surged through him. He clenched his fists and stood, his body screaming in protest. His fist connected with the chest of one goblin, sending it flying into the trees where it disintegrated.
The last goblin turned to flee, but Bulan was faster. "You're done," he whispered, raising his leg. In one powerful kick, he crushed the goblin's skull, and it too vanished into the air.
Bulan let out a shaky breath, his body aching and his clothes drenched in sweat and blood. He wiped his face, his mind still foggy from the pain, and tried to straighten up, but his stomach rumbled loudly once again.
The Elf, still trembling on the ground, looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes. "You… you saved me," she said, her voice trembling.
Bulan gave her a half-hearted smile, but his thoughts were already elsewhere. "Yeah, yeah, no problem. But, uh…" He pointed to his stomach, which growled again, louder this time. "You got any food? I'm about to die of hunger over here."
The Elf blinked, clearly caught off guard. "You just killed four Goblins, nearly got yourself poisoned, and you want food?"
Bulan nodded vigorously, his stomach growling loudly as if on cue. "Look, I don't ask for much, just something to fill the void. You know, a small snack, maybe a roasted boar, or an entire banquet… your call."
The Elf let out an exasperated sigh. "You're unbelievable." But then her eyes softened, "You know what? You did save me, and as a token of my gratitude, I'll invite you to our village, we'll prepare a feast in your honor."
Bulan's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "A feast, you say? I accept!" He didn't hesitate for a second, already imagining endless platters of food. "I'll even accept if it's just bread and cheese. Maybe some fruit. Actually, anything's fi—"
Before he could finish, his stomach growled loudly, making the Elf flinch.
"Okay, okay," she said, her voice now tinged with amusement. "It'll be a full feast. A big one. A huge one."
Bulan let out a sigh of relief. "Perfect. I'm gonna eat until I can't move. I'll probably need a nap afterward, so don't bother me."
The Elf gave a small laugh, she glanced down at the green chains binding her wrists and ankles, their eerie glow casting faint shadows on the grass.
"But before we leave," she said gently, holding up her bound hands, "the chains… You have the key, don't you? The one from defeating the goblins?"
Bulan blinked. "Oh, right. The key." He rummaged through his inventory, scrolling past various loot: Emergency Flare, Goblin Gems, Chicken Poop… and finally, Iron Key.
He pulled it out. "Got it! Let's get these chains off and get to that feast!"
As Bulan knelt down to unlock the chains, the Elf watched him intently, her emerald eyes glimmering with curiosity. The chains released with a sharp clink, and the green glow faded. She stood, rubbing her wrists as her magic seemed to return, her aura brightening. She took a deep breath, her composure returning.
"Thank you," she said. "I am Hanan, an Elf."
"I am Bulan, just handsome."
Hanan couldn't help but laugh, "I don't know what you mean but....first, let me heal you."
Bulan barely had time to process her words before Hanan closed her eyes, and a soft pink light emanated from her hands. Her aura intensified, bathing the clearing in a soothing glow.
The wounds on Bulan's body began to close, his torn clothing still bore the marks of battle, but his body felt lighter, stronger.
As the warm light faded, Bulan flexed his arms. "You're..pretty amazing." He exclaimed.
Hanan's cheeks tinted faintly pink at the compliment, but she quickly turned away. "We should hurry. The goblins might have more allies lurking nearby, and I'd rather not be caught unprepared."
She stepped back, her emerald eyes scanning their surroundings with a sharp focus. She lifted her hands, her delicate fingers weaving through the air as she began chanting in a soft, melodic tone.
Bulan tilted his head, watching her with curiosity. "What's the plan here?"
Hanan didn't respond immediately. The pink light swirling around her hands intensified, forming intricate patterns in the air. Slowly, a circle of glowing runes appeared on the ground before them, spinning lazily. At its center, the air shimmered and warped until a radiant pink portal sprang to life. It pulsed gently, exuding warmth and a faint floral fragrance.
"Whoa," Bulan breathed, taking a step closer.
"This portal connects directly to the village. It'll save us hours of travel." Hanan explain.
Bulan hesitated for a moment, peering into the swirling pink circle energy. "So… this thing is safe, right? I'm not gonna end up in, like, a volcano or a dragon's den?"
Hanan sighed. "It's perfectly safe. The only danger is if you stand here debating until the spell fades."
"Alright, alright," Bulan muttered, steeling himself. With a deep breath, he stepped through the portal.
The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It was as if he'd been wrapped in warm silk and whisked away on a gentle breeze.