The wind carried the scent of blood as Dain knelt beside the fallen ghoul. Its body was already beginning to decay, its flesh turning to ash as the system consumed its remains. Only tattered rags and a few scattered bones remained—silent proof that it had once roamed these woods.
[Enemy Defeated: Ghoul]
+30 Experience Gained
[Level Up!]
Level: 3 → 4
+3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Vitality
Dain could feel the difference. His muscles no longer ached the way they had before. His grip on his bronze sword was firmer, more controlled. The battle had been tough, but he had survived.
And now, he was stronger.
But he wasn't satisfied.
The goblins had nearly killed him before. The ghoul had been a level higher than him and had nearly overpowered him.
If he wanted to survive what was coming—if he truly wanted to unlock the secrets of the lost system—then he needed to push himself even further.
And that meant training.
The sun was setting by the time Dain emerged from the forest, his clothes stained with dirt and blood. The village looked as peaceful as ever, its stone cottages and farmlands untouched by the dangers that lurked just beyond the trees.
But he knew the illusion of safety wouldn't last.
He needed to prepare.
The first stop was the blacksmith.
Torren was still working at his forge, the clang of metal ringing through the air as sparks danced around him. The burly blacksmith barely looked up as Dain approached.
"Back already?" Torren grunted. He glanced at Dain's worn clothes and the bloodied edge of his bronze sword. "Looks like you've been busy."
"I need something better," Dain said, setting the sword down on the workbench. "This isn't going to be enough."
Torren wiped the sweat from his forehead, eyeing Dain carefully. "You just got that sword yesterday. Already looking to replace it?"
Dain nodded. "I fought a ghoul today."
Torren froze.
The hammer in his hand hovered mid-air for a moment before he set it down. "A ghoul? In the forest?"
"Yes."
Torren let out a slow breath. "Goblins are one thing, but ghouls… those things don't wander into the woods for no reason." His eyes narrowed. "Something's stirring, isn't it?"
Dain hesitated. Should he tell Torren about the system? About the quests?
No—not yet.
"Maybe," he said instead. "But I can't afford to wait. I need a better weapon."
Torren scratched his beard. "I don't have much. Iron swords are too expensive, and steel… well, you're not ready for that."
Dain exhaled. He had expected as much. "Then I need to make do with what I have."
The blacksmith grunted. "I can sharpen your bronze sword, reinforce it a bit. It won't be much, but it'll hit harder."
Dain nodded. "I'll take it."
Torren got to work.
As the blacksmith hammered away, a new notification appeared.
[Quest Progress: 15%]
Dain frowned. The quest was advancing—just by preparing?
The system is watching everything I do.
It wasn't just about fighting. It was about growing, adapting, preparing.
This was more than just survival.
This was about becoming worthy of the system.
Dain left the forge with his reinforced bronze sword, its edge gleaming under the torchlight. He tested its weight—it was slightly heavier, but sharper and more balanced.
It would do—for now.
But he couldn't stop there.
Training was next.
And he knew exactly where to go.
The old ruins lay just beyond the eastern fields, half-buried beneath tangled vines and broken stone. No one in the village knew who had built them. Some claimed they were remnants of the old world, back when the system had been alive.
Dain didn't know if that was true.
But he did know one thing: it was the perfect place to train.
He set up a simple training dummy using a broken cart and some straw. It wasn't much, but it would do.
Then, he got to work.
Swing. Strike. Pivot. Defend.
Over and over, he practiced the movements.
His body burned with exhaustion, sweat dripping from his brow. But he pushed forward.
Then, after hours of training—
[Skill Leveled Up: Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.1 → Lv.2)]
• Attack speed with swords increased by 10%.
• Slashes and thrusts more precise.
Dain exhaled, gripping his sword tighter.
He was getting faster.
Stronger.
And then—
A rustle in the darkness.
His body froze.
He wasn't alone.
A shadow moved between the broken pillars.
Dain turned sharply, raising his sword.
Then—a snarl.
Four figures emerged from the ruins.
Not goblins.
Kobolds.
Smaller than goblins, but faster. Their reptilian skin gleamed in the moonlight, and their clawed hands gripped crude daggers and spears.
A notification flashed.
[Enemy Identified: Kobold (Lv.4)]
• Health: 25/25
• Threat Level: Moderate
Four of them.
And they were already surrounding him.
Dain's grip tightened.
He was outnumbered.
But he wasn't the same man who had struggled against goblins before.
He was stronger now.
The first kobold lunged, its dagger flashing.
Dain sidestepped, bringing his sword down in a clean arc.
The blade sliced through its neck.
The kobold's head hit the ground.
[Critical Hit! 30 Damage Dealt]
[Enemy Defeated: Kobold]
+20 Experience Gained
The other three hissed in fury, their eyes narrowing.
One rushed in from behind.
Dain twisted, blocking the spear thrust just in time. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he held firm.
He countered—a fast, precise slash—and cut through the kobold's chest.
It collapsed, blood pooling beneath it.
[Enemy Defeated: Kobold]
+20 Experience Gained
The last two hesitated.
Dain didn't.
He stepped forward, feinting a slash, then pivoted sharply, driving his sword through the third kobold's ribs.
It gurgled—then fell.
[Enemy Defeated: Kobold]
+20 Experience Gained
The last kobold turned to flee.
Dain threw his sword.
The blade spun through the air, impaling the creature through the back.
It fell.
[Enemy Defeated: Kobold]
+20 Experience Gained
Silence.
Dain stood amidst the bodies, his breath heavy.
Then—
[Level Up!]
Level: 4 → 5
+3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Vitality
His body felt stronger.
Faster.
And then—
A final notification.
[Quest Progress: 20%]
Dain let out a slow breath.
This was only the beginning.
He sheathed his sword and turned toward the darkness.
The path forward was clear.
He had to get even stronger.
And the system would show him how.