The sound of boiling water ceased as the electric kettle clicked off. Arjun poured the steaming water into a cup of instant coffee, watching the powder dissolve into a swirling vortex. He stirred slowly, his mind already racing with the next steps of his survival plan.
Sipping the bitter brew, he walked back to the living room window, where the goblin's mangled corpses lay scattered below. The heavy dumbbells he had thrown earlier had done their job well. But he knew this was just the beginning.
"Alright, time to assess the situation," he muttered, pulling out his status window.
[Status Window] Name: Arjun Verma (24) Title: The Absolute Dweller Affiliation: None Level: 5 Strength: 12 Agility: 10 Aura: 15 Intelligence: 14 Skills: The Absolute Dweller's Declaration (Lv. 3), The Absolute Dweller's Shop (Lv. 1), The Absolute Dweller's Warehouse (Lv. 1)
Arjun smiled. His level had increased significantly since his first encounter with the goblins. The experience points from the Kellican and subsequent goblin kills had propelled his growth.
"Let's see what the shop has in stock," he said, opening The Absolute Dweller's Shop.
[The Absolute Dweller's Shop] Classic Non-Slip Dumbbell 3kg (16,990 rupees) Kitchen Knife (12,500 rupees) Basic First Aid Kit (25,000 rupees)
"Hmm, a knife could be useful for close combat, but I need something with range," he pondered. "What else can I do?"
He glanced back at the dumbbells on the floor. They were effective but limited in number. Then, an idea struck him. If he could use the warehouse to summon items, could he also use it to store and retrieve projectiles during battle?
"Warehouse open," he commanded, storing a dumbbell. "Now, let's try something new."
Approaching the window again, he focused on a group of goblins that had gathered near the Kellican's remains. "Summon dumbbell," he whispered, targeting a spot right above them.
Jiiiiing!
The dumbbell appeared mid-air and plummeted straight down, crushing one of the goblins instantly. The rest scattered in panic.
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 7).] [You have gained experience.] [3,345 rupees has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller's Wallet.]
Arjun grinned. "It works."
With this new strategy, he could conserve his strength while systematically eliminating the goblin threat. He repeated the process, summoning and dropping dumbbells on unsuspecting goblins. Each successful hit brought him closer to his next level-up.
But Arjun knew he couldn't rely on dumbbells forever. He needed to diversify his arsenal and prepare for stronger monsters. The Absolute Dweller's Shop held the key to his future victories.
"Time to register more items," he said, scanning his apartment for potential weapons. The kitchen knife was an obvious choice, but he needed more range.
"If only I had a bow or a slingshot," he thought aloud. "Maybe I can craft something."
His eyes landed on a pile of elastic bands and a wooden hanger. Inspiration struck. "A makeshift slingshot! This could work."
He quickly fashioned a crude slingshot, using the hanger as the frame and elastic bands for tension. It wasn't perfect, but it would do for now. He registered the slingshot in the shop, ensuring he could summon more if needed.
"Let's test this out," Arjun said, loading a small stone into the slingshot. He aimed at a goblin below and released.
Thwack!
The stone hit its mark, stunning the goblin momentarily. Arjun followed up with a dumbbell drop, finishing the job.
[You have hunted a Goblin (Lv. 6).] [You have gained experience.] [2,512 rupees has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller's Wallet.]
"This is it. The combination of ranged attacks and heavy projectiles will give me the edge I need," Arjun concluded. "But I can't get complacent. More challenges are sure to come."
He spent the next few hours perfecting his ambush strategy, alternating between the slingshot and dumbbells. Each kill brought more experience and money, fueling his growth and confidence.
As night fell, Arjun stood by the window, surveying the battlefield. The goblin numbers had thinned considerably, but he knew this was just the beginning.
"Tomorrow, I'll be stronger," he vowed, clenching his fist. "The Absolute Dweller will rise."