What is this…? A status window? No, more like a message window.
What's going on here?
Normally, these message windows only appear when someone receives a Gift or when their Gift evolves.
Some rare Gifts allow users to check their own status, but this… this feels different.
What did the message say again?
—Acquired Goblin General's Heaven's Gift: Focus.
I… acquired the Goblin General's Gift?
Impossible. Two Gifts?
No way. Each person is supposed to have only one Gift. That's an unbreakable, absolute rule.
But if that rule is wrong…?
No, I don't have time to dwell on this.
If it's possible, then I just have to do it. No excuses.
As long as I have this… if I use Focus!
"Move… MOVE, DAMN IT!"
With a desperate scream, I launched myself forward.
The ground beneath me shattered a split second later as the Goblin General's massive sword came crashing down.
I dove between the Goblin General's legs, panting as I ran with everything I had.
The pain? Manageable. Focus was helping me suppress it.
The Gift's ability was exactly what the name implied—maintaining an intense state of concentration.
It allowed me to ignore pain, sharpening my focus solely on survival.
My body moved, not because it could, but because I forced it to.
I sprinted toward the knife Udotta had thrown earlier. It was still embedded in the ground.
Reaching it, I yanked it free and turned to face the Goblin General, who was already swinging his sword down again.
With Focus guiding me, everything became clear.
"I can see it!"
I dodged the strike and countered, slashing at the Goblin General's hand.
"GAH!?"
The blade wasn't ideal for combat, but its edge was sharp enough to draw blood.
Not fatal, but it was a start.
When the Goblin General swung wildly to knock me away, I crouched to dodge and used his momentum against him, landing another cut.
"GYAAAH!"
Blood spattered as his pinky finger fell to the ground.
His eyes burned with rage.
"GRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
The deafening roar shook my entire body, freezing me in place for a moment.
"Yeah… I'd be pissed too," I muttered, forcing a smirk.
The Goblin General's demeanor had changed completely.
No longer treating me as a mere plaything, he now regarded me as a true enemy.
"Here we go… now he's serious."
"GRRAAH!"
He swung to the right—then feinted left.
"Damn it!"
A sudden thrust took me by surprise.
His movements, bolstered by his own Focus, were precise and relentless.
"GRR!"
After the thrust, he followed up with a tackle.
I couldn't dodge in time—
"Guh!"
—but luck was on my side. The Goblin General tripped over rubble, tumbling to the ground.
If that tackle had landed, I'd be dead for sure.
This can't go on. If I keep dragging this out, I'll lose.
I need to focus. Focus harder.
The only thing I can do now is push this new Gift, Focus, to its limits.
And then—
—Initiating Inquiry. Analyzing target's Heaven's Gift: Focus.
"What?!"
A new message window appeared, but I couldn't afford to get distracted.
The Goblin General was already charging again.
I had no choice but to move instinctively, prioritizing survival.
Dodge. Parry. Counter. Every action required precise timing.
My physical abilities were barely average, and while I'd trained a bit, I was still just an amateur.
In contrast, the Goblin General was a towering behemoth of strength and endurance, ranked as a B-Class monster.
Even experienced fighters could die if they underestimated him.
For me, a mere Rank F, the stakes couldn't be higher.
One mistake would mean instant death.
"Hah… hah… hah… I'm still standing! Come on, is that all you've got?!"
I taunted him, hoping to buy even a sliver of time.
—Inquiry progress: 22%.
Dodge again.
—Inquiry progress: 38%.
Slash. Parry.
—Inquiry progress: 64%.
"You bastard! Up? Down? Which is it?! Damn it, I'll bet on up!"
Sometimes, I gambled on his moves, risking everything to avoid fatal blows.
—Inquiry progress: 89%.
"Huff… huff… looks like you're getting tired too, huh?"
The Goblin General's movements were slowing, but so was I.
If I collapsed, it was over.
The only option was to finish this before that happened.
—Inquiry complete. Gift analysis: 100%.
—Congratulations. Your Gift has evolved.
—Acquired Heaven's Gift: Hyperfocus.
…Hyperfocus?