After days of begrudgingly following the System's trivial tasks—gathering herbs, carrying supplies, and chopping wood—Kai finally receives a directive that makes his heart sink: Combat Training: Report to Gaius for Basic Skills. He's seen Gaius around town—an intimidating figure, scarred and silent, with an air of deadly confidence. Just the thought of training with someone like him makes Kai want to turn back to his cabin and hide. But ignoring the task isn't an option. He's already suffered enough penalties from the System; his health stat can't take another hit.
He trudges reluctantly to the training field, where Gaius waits with his arms crossed, appraising Kai with a skeptical, slightly amused expression. The warrior doesn't bother with pleasantries.
"System says you need training," Gaius states bluntly, handing Kai a wooden training sword that feels clunky and heavy in his hands. "You look like you've never held a weapon before."
"I haven't," Kai mutters, gripping the sword awkwardly. He feels a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck. Gaius doesn't miss a beat, stepping forward to adjust Kai's stance with a firm push on his shoulders.
"Stand like this," he instructs, guiding Kai's feet apart into a wider, more stable position. "Keep your center of gravity low. No one wins fights by tripping over their own feet."
The training is grueling, with Gaius showing no mercy. He demonstrates a basic stance, then has Kai mimic it repeatedly, correcting every little mistake. Kai's knees ache, his arms feel like lead, and he's already drenched in sweat. He resents how hard this is. The moves seem simple when Gaius does them, but each time Kai tries, his balance is off, his grip too weak, or his timing too slow. The mistakes start piling up, and Gaius's frustration becomes palpable.
"Again," Gaius commands, his voice gruff. "This time, get it right."
Kai's frustration grows. Why is this even necessary? He's supposed to be the protagonist here—shouldn't some mystical power just come naturally to him? He voices his complaints in a burst of irritation.
"I don't see the point of this. Can't I just… learn it another way?" he says, unable to hide his annoyance.
Gaius's face hardens, his expression like stone. "If you think you can waltz through this world without knowing how to fight, you're dead wrong," he snaps. "You're weak. Barely able to lift a sword, let alone use it. And if you're relying on someone or something else to protect you, you're not only putting your life at risk—you're endangering everyone around you."
The words sting, cutting deeper than Kai expected. But there's something in Gaius's tone—a glint of genuine conviction—that makes Kai realize this isn't just a lecture. Gaius is trying to give him a chance to survive. Despite his frustration, Kai's own feelings of helplessness and frustration start to bubble to the surface. He's tired of being the weak one, the liability. Every task the System throws at him is a reminder of how powerless he feels.
Swallowing his pride, Kai repositions himself, adopting the stance with renewed determination. "Fine," he mutters. "Let's do it your way."
Gaius nods, a hint of approval in his eyes, though his face remains unreadable. He begins to explain the basics, his tone slightly softer, more patient. Kai learns how to pivot, moving his feet without stumbling; how to maintain a guard; how to deflect an opponent's strikes by keeping his body relaxed and responsive. Each skill is drilled into him until his body starts to move automatically, even if clumsily.
As Kai practices, the small steps of progress begin to dull his frustration. Every time he catches Gaius's nod of satisfaction, he feels a spark of pride. And as the System logs his small achievements—incremental improvements in agility, a minor increase in strength—he realizes he's not only avoiding penalties but gaining something he hadn't anticipated: a sense of control.
Gaius doesn't let up. He introduces basic tactics, simple but effective moves designed to give Kai a fighting chance in a real encounter. "If you're facing someone stronger," Gaius explains, "it's not about strength alone. Use your surroundings, stay on your feet, and never turn your back."
Kai listens intently, absorbing each piece of advice with newfound respect. For the first time, he doesn't feel completely trapped by the System's demands. With each practice swing, he feels himself moving closer to self-reliance.
By the end of the grueling session, Kai's arms feel like they're going to fall off, his legs are wobbling, and he's covered in bruises from a few failed dodges. But there's a faint smile on his face, a flicker of determination he hasn't felt before. Gaius offers a nod of approval.
"You've got potential," he says gruffly. "But potential's useless without discipline."
Kai holds back a retort, knowing Gaius's right. He watches the warrior's retreating form, feeling a new sense of resolve.
That night, as Kai slumps into bed, the System's reward notification pings softly in his mind: Skill Acquired: Basic Combat Proficiency. It's a small, almost meaningless title, but it represents something more to him—a stepping stone toward real strength. He's no longer the passive player in a strange game; he's fighting back, learning, and growing. For the first time, he feels like he might actually be able to survive.
The sun hadn't fully risen when the sounds of hurried footsteps and urgent voices filtered through Briarstead. Kai squinted as he stepped out of his small, rundown cabin, stretching his sore muscles. He'd been running around all week, fulfilling the System's endless barrage of tasks: collecting herbs, trading goods in the nearby Greenhill village, and chopping wood until his hands were blistered and raw. But today, the unease in the air felt different, ominous.
He noticed Gaius, gathering a few able-bodied villagers around the edge of the forest. Gaius's stern, battle-hardened face held no hint of fear, only steady resolve. The warrior's gaze flicked over to Kai as he joined the group, standing awkwardly on the outskirts. Gaius's lips twitched in what could have been amusement, or maybe mild pity.
"Good timing, kid," Gaius said. "We've got ourselves a bit of trouble."
"Trouble?" Kai echoed, his voice wobbling slightly. He hated the quiver, but he couldn't help it. The dread building in his stomach was too real to ignore.
"Goblins," Gaius replied. "Scouts spotted a pack heading this way. Could be small, could be big. Either way, they're not friendly."
Kai's heart dropped. He'd heard stories of goblin raids before. Vicious, brutal creatures, goblins attacked without remorse, hunting in packs and leaving only ruin behind. For a brief moment, he entertained the thought of running back into his cabin, maybe hiding under his cot until it was all over. But before he could act on that thought, a familiar translucent screen popped up in front of him.
System Alert: Mandatory Task - Defend Briarstead against the Goblin Raid. Failure will result in severe penalties.
The words hung in the air, flashing ominously. Kai gritted his teeth. The System had forced him into countless uncomfortable situations already, but this felt different. This was real danger, life-and-death, not just another errand.
Gaius slapped a hand on Kai's shoulder, nearly sending him stumbling. "You've got the basics," he said, his voice low. "Time to see if you've learned anything."
Kai's mouth went dry. He hadn't expected his training with Gaius to come into play so soon. The warrior had taught him how to hold a stance, how to throw a punch without hurting himself, and basic footwork to avoid getting trampled. But all of that felt laughably inadequate when he thought about facing creatures like goblins.
With the System's pressure and Gaius's watchful eyes, he couldn't back out now.
The villagers, armed with makeshift weapons—pitchforks, rusted daggers, a few chipped axes—assembled in a line behind Gaius. There were a few nods of encouragement sent his way, though Kai noticed more than one person eyeing him with skepticism.
He swallowed hard, positioning himself near the back, clutching a dull knife he'd managed to borrow. Its weight felt awkward and foreign in his hand, and he wondered if he'd even manage to hold onto it when things got messy.
"Stick with me," Gaius instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Stay low, keep your eyes open, and remember: goblins don't fight fair. They'll surround you, wear you down, pick at your weak points."
The words barely registered before the first goblin appeared at the edge of the forest. Then another. And another. Soon, a dozen goblins emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting with malice as they spotted the villagers. Kai felt his hands go clammy around the knife, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The creatures were smaller than he'd expected, their spindly arms and crooked teeth more grotesque up close.
The goblins shrieked and charged.
The villagers braced themselves, forming a tight circle with Gaius at the forefront. In an instant, Gaius's sword was in motion, slicing through the air with a brutal efficiency that sent one goblin's head rolling across the grass. Kai watched, horrified and mesmerized as the goblin's body crumpled, dark green blood seeping into the soil.
His trance was broken when a goblin lunged at him, its yellow eyes wild with hunger. Kai stumbled back, raising his knife in a feeble attempt to defend himself. The goblin's clawed hand swiped, narrowly missing his face as he fell to the ground. Panicked, he kicked out, his foot connecting with the goblin's gut. The creature snarled, swiping again, and this time, its claws raked across his arm.
Pain shot through him, hot and sharp, and he cried out, scrambling backward. The goblin pressed forward, its crooked teeth bared in a vicious grin. Kai's heart pounded, his mind a frantic mess. He was going to die here, torn apart by this wretched creature.
Then, something inside him clicked. A quiet, almost forgotten piece of Gaius's training surfaced—a memory of the older warrior's voice, calm and steady: Focus on one thing. Don't let fear cloud your mind.
Gripping his knife tighter, Kai swung his arm, putting every ounce of strength he could muster into the motion. The blade cut across the goblin's neck, a shallow slice, but enough to make it stagger back, hissing in pain. Without thinking, Kai struck again, aiming for the creature's chest. The blade sank in, meeting resistance, but he forced it deeper until the goblin finally went still.
His chest heaved as he pulled the knife free, hands shaking. Around him, the battle was a chaotic blur of screams, snarls, and the clash of metal. Gaius was fighting like a whirlwind, his movements precise and deadly, while the villagers did their best to hold their ground.
Kai's brief victory filled him with a flicker of confidence. But the moment was short-lived as another goblin spotted him, its eyes narrowing with predatory focus. He backed away, raising his knife defensively, but this one was quicker, more cunning. It feinted to the left before lunging at his right side, claws outstretched.
Panicking, Kai stumbled, but managed to sidestep just in time. He thrust his knife forward, missing the goblin but forcing it to step back. He clenched his teeth, summoning the barest whisper of the magic he'd discovered earlier. His hands tingled, a faint warmth spreading through his fingers.
"Come on," he whispered to himself, willing the magic to respond.
The goblin snarled, lunging again. In a desperate move, Kai raised his hand, and a faint shimmer of light erupted from his fingertips. It wasn't much, barely enough to make the goblin hesitate, but it gave him the opening he needed. He slashed forward, catching the goblin's arm and sending it reeling back with a screech.
For the first time, Kai felt something akin to hope. The System had thrown him into this world, forced him to fight, but he was surviving—barely, but surviving all the same.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. The battle raged on around him, and he forced himself to focus. Every time he struck, he aimed with purpose. Each small victory, each goblin he managed to fend off, chipped away at his fear, replacing it with a hard-earned determination.
A few feet away, Gaius fought like a man possessed, his sword flashing in the dim light as he cut through goblins with ease. The warrior caught Kai's eye briefly, nodding with something that looked almost like approval. The acknowledgment filled Kai with a surge of pride, a brief respite from the gnawing terror.
But the goblins weren't finished. A larger one appeared from the shadows, its skin darker, its eyes a burning red. It barked orders at the others, rallying them into a frenzied charge. Kai's stomach twisted. This one was a leader, stronger, smarter.
The goblin leader sneered as it charged toward Kai, swinging a crude but wickedly sharp blade. Kai dodged, barely avoiding a deadly swipe. The creature's strength was overwhelming, and he felt his arms trembling with fatigue as he raised his knife, knowing it would hardly make a dent against this monster.
"Focus, kid!" Gaius's voice cut through the noise. "Use what you've got!"
What did he have? A dull knife, a faint trace of magic, and pure, stubborn desperation.
The goblin leader lunged, its blade arcing toward him in a deadly swing. Kai managed to sidestep, thrusting his knife forward, but the creature blocked it easily, sneering. He tried to summon his magic again, the warmth in his fingers returning as he pushed harder, pouring every bit of focus into that tingling sensation.
A faint glow appeared around his hand, brighter this time. Without thinking, he thrust his hand forward, and a small burst of light erupted from his palm, catching the goblin leader off guard. It staggered back, hissing in anger and pain, shielding its eyes from the unexpected flash.
Seizing the moment, Kai struck. He drove his knife into the creature's exposed side, feeling the blade sink in deep. The goblin snarled, its blood spilling over his hands as it twisted, trying to break free. But he held on, gritting his teeth as he forced the blade deeper, until the creature's movements slowed and finally stilled.
Breathless, covered in green blood, Kai stumbled back. The battle was winding down, the few remaining goblins either fleeing or being cut down by Gaius and the villagers. The ground was littered with bodies, the air thick with the stench of blood and sweat.
As the last goblin fell, a heavy silence settled over Briarstead. Kai stood in the aftermath, his chest heaving, his knife slick with blood. His entire body ached, and his mind was a jumbled mess of shock and adrenaline.
A familiar screen appeared before him, announcing his new level and an increase in his Protagonist Points. He'd gained a minor passive ability, a boost in stamina, just enough to give him a tiny edge. It wasn't much, but it was enough to fill him with a fragile, growing determination.
Gaius clapped a hand on his shoulder, a rare smile tugging at the corner of the warrior's mouth. "Not bad, kid," he said. "Not bad at all."
Kai managed a shaky smile, feeling, for the first time, that maybe—just maybe—he had a place in this world.