The sensation of his sword cutting through the goblin's neck seemed to stretch out in slow motion. Ephraim felt every layer as his blade met resistance—the soft flesh, the brittle crunch of bone, and finally, the release as the blade cut through completely.
The goblin's body shuddered before it collapsed to the ground. For a moment, Ephraim stood still, processing the impact of his first kill.
As the blade severed the goblin's neck, the experience was vivid in his mind. The flesh tearing, the crunch of bone breaking, and then the clean cut that finished it.
Blood sprayed outward, splattering both the rodent and the remaining goblin lackey—who now lay lifeless after the rodent's own hard-won victory.
The rodent, momentarily caught up in its victory, jolted as warm blood splattered across its fur. Blinking, it turned toward the source and froze, wide-eyed, as it saw the headless goblin. The goblin with the jagged blade still stood, its hands raised, the weapon poised in a final swing—yet it swayed slightly, unaware of its own death—until it finally collapsed, lifeless.
The rodent's gaze shifted to Ephraim, who calmly flicked the blood off his sword before sheathing it with smooth precision. Sensing its stare, Ephraim looked back, and for a brief moment, they locked eyes, silently studying each other.
This was Ephraim's first close look at the creature. Its sleek dark fur had a smooth, shiny sheen, and a long, fur-covered tail swished behind it.
Sharp retractable claws could be seen from its paws, while its pointed teeth looked strong enough to tear through the skin. Its dark, slightly oversized eyes and small, pointed nose gave it an unexpectedly cute, yet fierce, appearance.
After a brief silence, Ephraim spoke up. "Do you understand me?" he asked, trying to reach out to the creature. From what he'd seen, it didn't seem aggressive—it had only fought out of pure survival.
But as soon as Ephraim broke the stare with his question, the rodent bolted, racing away as fast as its small legs could carry it. Whether out of fear or just instinct to avoid danger, it clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
Ephraim watched it vanish into the undergrowth, deciding not to follow. He could understand why it needed to escape after everything it had been through.
He didn't stay long. The strong smell of blood filled the air, sure to attract other animals—or worse, more creatures. It was best to move on before he became the prey.
Ephraim managed to stand, but after just a few steps, a sharp, searing headache hit him. "Urgh…!" He bent over, barely able to stay on his feet. Quickly, he looked around, remembering a hollowed tree he'd passed earlier near the river. Maybe he could hide there until the pain passed.
The tree wasn't far, and thankfully, it was far enough from the earlier noise to avoid drawing attention. He pushed forward, reaching the tree and settling into the hollow, his back against the rough bark. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing, trying to endure the throbbing pain in his head.
After what felt like forever, the headache finally faded.
"Phew… this headache again." Ephraim exhaled slowly, only to realize that his mind was suddenly flooded with new information, as if memories or data had been directly transferred into his brain.
The sensation was overwhelming and surreal—a flood of knowledge he hadn't asked for, yet it was now embedded within him. He realized that this sudden influx might have been the cause of the splitting pain.
Curious but cautious, he began sifting through the new memories. He focused on understanding the strange details now imprinted in his mind. Each fragment seemed to paint a clearer picture of this unfamiliar world, revealing bits about the landscape, culture, and creatures, as if they were gradually unfolding before him.
He paused, focusing intently on organizing the flood of information, sifting through each fragment. Much of it seemed to be general knowledge about the world—basic geography, local regions, and a rough overview of the creatures that roamed here.
Though the details weren't exhaustive, they were enough to give him a sense of his surroundings. A few place names stood out, each with vague directions, offering hints about nearby areas.
The knowledge felt like a quickly skimmed guidebook—just enough to provide a broad understanding but not enough to make him feel fully prepared. Still, it was a start. Ephraim wondered if this influx might be the key to surviving in this unfamiliar world.
As Ephraim sifted through the new knowledge, a faint, translucent screen appeared before him, catching him off guard. Text appeared at the top, clear yet slightly eerie in its simplicity:
[…Status Page Unlocked]
Ephraim stared at it, intrigued. "This… feels like something straight out of a game," he murmured. The words hung there, not responding, just waiting for him to interact. It occurred to him that this might be a way to check his progress—a tool he could rely on, even if he didn't fully understand how it had appeared.