Kael Ardyn trudged through the dense forest, his spear gripped tightly in his hands. His muscles ached from the previous battles, and every rustle of leaves made his heart race. The eerie silence pressed against him like a weight, broken only by the occasional distant howl or chirp of some unknown creature. He knew he was in no condition to fight another enemy, but this world didn't seem to care about his limits.
His HP and MP hovered in his peripheral vision like grim reminders of his current state.
---
HP: 60/100
MP: 10/50
---
"Low on health, no mana to spare, and the next fight could come any second," Kael muttered. "This just keeps getting better."
As he stepped carefully over a tangle of roots, the faint sound of water reached his ears. His eyes widened. Water. It was distant but unmistakable, a soft, rhythmic trickling. Relief surged through him. If he could find the source, he might be able to clean his wounds and recover some stamina.
Quickening his pace, Kael moved toward the sound. The glowing moss that lined the trees cast faint light across the forest floor, illuminating his path. But as he approached the stream, something made him freeze in his tracks.
Voices.
Low, guttural, and harsh.
Kael dropped into a crouch, gripping his spear tightly as he crept forward. The voices grew louder as he moved closer, their tones sharp and angry. Peering through the underbrush, Kael's stomach sank. A group of goblins had set up camp near the stream.
There were three of them. Two carried spears, their jagged tips glinting faintly in the light of the campfire. The third was larger, its mottled green skin covered in scars. It paced near the fire, barking orders at the others with a rusted sword clutched in its clawed hand.
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Forest Goblin - Level 2
HP: 40/40
Forest Goblin Scout - Level 3
HP: 50/50
Forest Goblin Leader - Level 4
HP: 70/70
---
Kael clenched his teeth. One goblin had been hard enough to kill. Three? That felt impossible. Worse, his mana was too low to summon a body double, and running wasn't an option. Goblins were fast, and they'd probably chase him down before he could escape the clearing.
He gripped his spear tightly, his mind racing. "I can't take them all at once. I need to isolate one, take it out quickly, and then deal with the others."
Kael crept around the edge of the clearing, staying low to avoid detection. His eyes locked onto the regular goblin, which sat closest to the fire with its back turned. It was the weakest of the three and the easiest to kill quickly. Steeling himself, Kael activated his Skill Replication, focusing on the goblins' spear movements.
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Skill Replication Activated
Skill Replicated: Swordsmanship (Basic)
-10 MP
MP: 0/50
---
Knowledge surged into Kael's mind, filling in gaps he hadn't even realized were there. His grip on the spear adjusted automatically, his stance shifting to something more stable. He took a deep breath, tightening his focus as he crept closer to his first target.
Kael lunged from the bushes, driving his spear into the goblin's back. The creature let out a strangled cry as the tip of the weapon pierced through its chest. Its HP dropped to zero in an instant, and it crumpled to the ground.
---
Critical Hit!
You have dealt 50 damage.
You have defeated Forest Goblin (Level 2)
+10 XP
---
The other two goblins roared in fury, leaping to their feet with weapons raised. The scout reacted first, its spear darting toward Kael's chest. He barely had time to pull his weapon free before sidestepping the attack.
The goblin's spear grazed his arm, leaving a shallow cut.
---
HP: 50/100
---
Kael countered with a quick thrust, catching the scout in the thigh. The creature snarled, staggering back as blood dripped from the wound. But before Kael could press the attack, the leader charged forward, its rusted sword swinging in a wide arc.
Kael raised his spear to block, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling. His arms throbbed from the impact, and he barely avoided the scout's follow-up attack as it lunged again. The tip of the spear grazed his leg, leaving a thin, burning line of pain.
---
HP: 40/100
---
Kael spun his spear defensively, keeping the goblins at bay as his mind raced. The scout was faster than he'd expected, and the leader's raw strength was overwhelming. He couldn't afford to fight them both at the same time.
The scout lunged again, and Kael seized the opportunity. He sidestepped the attack, spinning his spear and driving the blunt end into the goblin's head. The creature staggered, its HP dropping significantly. Kael followed up with a quick thrust to its chest, and the scout let out a strangled gasp as it collapsed to the ground.
---
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin Scout (Level 3)
+15 XP
---
Kael turned to face the leader, who snarled in rage as it charged at him. Its sword came down in a brutal arc, and Kael barely managed to block the attack. The impact sent him stumbling back, his hands slick with sweat as he struggled to keep his grip on the spear.
The goblin pressed the attack, its strikes coming faster and harder. Kael parried desperately, his arms burning with the effort. One of the leader's strikes slipped through his guard, grazing his shoulder and drawing blood.
---
HP: 25/100
---
Kael gritted his teeth, spinning his spear to create distance. The goblin snarled, its movements growing more erratic as its HP dwindled. It charged again, but this time Kael was ready. He sidestepped the attack, using his spear to deflect the blade before delivering a sharp jab to the goblin's stomach.
The creature staggered, its HP dropping rapidly. Kael pressed the attack, delivering a flurry of strikes that left the goblin reeling. With one final thrust, he drove the spear into the goblin's chest, ending the fight.
---
Victory!
You have defeated Forest Goblin Leader (Level 4)
+20 XP
---
Kael collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. His body trembled from the effort, and every wound throbbed painfully. He'd won, but just barely.
---
HP: 15/100
MP: 0/50
---
As Kael scanned the goblins' camp, his eyes fell on a small pouch near the leader's body. Picking it up, he opened it to reveal three glowing blue crystals. He felt a wave of relief.
---
Item Acquired: Mana Crystals x3.
Description: Restores 10 MP when consumed.
---
Kael grinned weakly. "Finally, something useful."
He crushed one of the crystals, feeling a surge of energy flow through him. After a moment's hesitation, he used the remaining two, watching his MP bar climb steadily.
---
MP Restored: +30.
MP: 30/50
---
The energy boost helped ease his fatigue, though his wounds still burned. He pocketed the Rusted Sword from the leader and checked his status page, exhaustion weighing heavily on him.
---
Name: Kael Ardyn
Level: 3
HP: 15/100
MP: 30/50
Stats:
Strength: 13 (+3)
Agility: 13 (+3)
Endurance: 12 (+2)
Intelligence: 13 (+1)
Wisdom: 12 (+1)
Charisma: 9
Luck: 8
Skills:
Skill Replication (Unique)
Body Double (Rare, Tier: Grandmaster)
Improvised Weaponry (Basic)
Spear Proficiency (Basic)
Swordsmanship (Basic)
---
Kael sighed, exhaustion threatening to drag him into the dirt. But he couldn't stop. Survival wasn't going to come easy, and the forest was far from safe. Tightening his grip on his spear, he pushed himself to his feet and kept moving.