Ren crept toward the two goblins, his steps slow, calculated. Sweat dripped down his face, but his grin stretched wider, a spark of mischief glinting in his eyes.
"Hehe... You two are about to be my XP farm..."
The goblins, blissfully unaware of their fate, chattered in their guttural, nonsensical language.
"Buvetu? Hu jin muo pouas Vubm?"
Yeah, just because Ren made this game doesn't mean he didn't just smash random keys to generate goblin language.
[Beep! Two enemies detected in close proximity.]
The goblins continued their chat, still oblivious.
"Hujjujh Kokopo nnini mmiyv."
Perfect.
Ren's grip tightened on his katana.
"HIYAHH—!"
He launched himself at the goblin on the left, putting his full weight into the downward strike. His katana cut through the air with a sharp whoosh, glinting in the dim light.
[+60% increase in physical attack with stealth bonus.]
[Beep!]
[Enemy successfully slain.]
The goblin didn't even have time to react. Ren's blade carved through its flesh with a sickening schlunk, its lifeless corpse thudding against the ground.
[Level up! Level 6!]
Before Ren could even relish the rush of experience points, a bloodcurdling roar tore through the air.
"ROARGHHHHH!"
The remaining goblin jerked its head toward him, red eyes blazing with unfiltered rage. Veins bulged from its grotesque, muscular frame.
"BUVUYU! HUMAN! LUJIJILI! VITUER!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I have no idea what you're saying, but I can tell it's something nasty."
Then—his instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
This goblin wasn't just a normal mob.
It was bigger. It was stronger. It was way angrier.
A sinking feeling twisted in Ren's gut.
"Wait a second—System, check his status!"
[BEEP! INITIATING APPRAISAL...]
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
0...
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[Name: Cuben]
[Age: 46]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: 21]
[Skill: Rage]
[Skill Level: 3
Ren's stomach plummeted.
"...I'm fucked."
It was in this moment that he knew—he had royally fucked up.
His gaze snapped back to the goblin's level. "Wait, hold on—what level was that other goblin?!"
[Previous enemy: Level 17. However, due to your katana's stats and the +60% stealth attack boost, you were able to kill it in a single strike.]
Ren blinked. "Oh. That makes sense. Still... I'M FUCKED."
His brain went into overdrive. Fighting? NOPE. Running? YES.
Because as a wise man once said, surrendering is not defeat warrior.
"R-Right, well then, goblin! I won't take any more of your time so, uh... GOODBYE!"
He turned and bolted. Thanks to his recent level-up, he was now 4.5x faster than an average human. — (Aka, Ren is 201 km/h fast. Or 125 mph.)
In most cases, this would make him stupidly fast.
But this wasn't most cases.
Cuben the goblin was Level 21. — (Mf is moving at 425 km/h or 264 mph 💀)
Which meant…
He was 15.75x faster than a normal human.
Before Ren even took three steps, Cuben was already there.
BAM!
A colossal fist slammed into Ren's side.
CRACK—!
The sheer force should've shattered his ribs, should've turned his organs into paste, should've left him dying in a puddle of his own blood—
But it didn't.
His armor erupted with golden light.
[Beep! Passive Skill: Armor Fortification activated! Damage reduced by 70%! HP remaining: 13/70.]
Ren was still launched like a goddamn ragdoll, though.
BOOM!
His body slammed into the dirt, skidding several meters before finally coming to a stop. A cloud of dust exploded around him.
His lungs burned. His arms trembled. His katana felt twice as heavy in his grip.
"G-Goddamn...!" He coughed, his fingers twitching. That wasn't just a normal punch.
Cuben cracked his knuckles, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
Ren's heart pounded in his chest. His breath came out in ragged gasps.
This wasn't a game anymore.
This was real.
He could die here.
"Alright, new plan—HOW THE HELL DO I SURVIVE THIS?!"
[Beep! Host, did you forget you can set all your stats and level to Level 10?]
Ren's eyes widened.
"...OH YEAH! DO IT! PLEASE HURRY!"
[LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP! LEVEL UP!]
[Host has reached Level 10!]
Ren's body shook as raw power surged through him. His vision blurred for a moment before sharpening tenfold. His muscles tightened, his fatigue vanished, and his heartbeat slowed into a steady, controlled rhythm.
His status updated in real-time.
[Name: Ren Kisaragi]
[Level: 10]
[HP: 220/220]
[Strength: 92]
[Agility: 110]
[Endurance: 85]
[Mana: 130]
[New Skills Unlocked!]
[Flash Step Lv.1] - Instantly teleport within a 5-meter radius.]
[Enhanced Swordsmanship Lv.1] - Basic sword attacks now deal 40% more damage.]
[Battle Instinct Lv.1] - Dodge enemy attacks more effectively.]
Ren's lips curled into a grin.
Cuben charged at him, veins pulsing with unrelenting fury.
Before, Ren wouldn't have stood a chance.
Before, he was just a developer in his own game.
But now?
Now, he is the developer.
"Alright, big guy..."
Ren exhaled slowly, raising his katana.
His golden eyes burned with newfound confidence.
"Let's see who's the real boss here."
Cuben's whole body shook like a damn earthquake. His veins bulged, muscles swelled, and his eyes—those bloodshot, glowing red eyes—locked onto Ren with pure, unfiltered rage.
Ren took a slow step back.
"Alright… that's not good."
[WARNING! Enemy's speed and strength have doubled.]
No shit, system!
Cuben let out a guttural roar and vanished.
Ren barely had time to react. One second, the goblin was yards away. The next?
BOOM!
A fist rocketed toward Ren's face.
[Flash Step!]
Ren barely managed to warp a few feet back, but holy hell, that was close. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he stared at the spot where he was just standing—now a crater.
"Dude," Ren breathed, eyes wide. "Calm down! You already hit me once, you don't gotta turn me into paste—"
Cuben wasn't listening.
The goblin lunged again, faster than before. This time, Ren didn't get the chance to dodge.
CRACK!
A fist slammed into Ren's torso.
His vision blurred. His ribs? Yeah, pretty sure one or two just snapped.
[HP: 97/220]
[Armor Fortification activated! Damage reduced by 70%! HP remaining: 43/220.]
Ren hit the ground hard, coughing up spit. Stars danced in his vision. His body screamed in protest.
Shit. If I take another hit like that…
Cuben wasn't done. He was already stomping toward Ren, each step shaking the earth.
Ren groaned, gripping his katana tighter. His brain scrambled for a plan. Running? Nope, not an option anymore. Dodging? Getting harder by the second.
Which meant—
"Screw it."
Ren planted his feet, ignoring the pain in his ribs, and raised his katana.
Cuben charged.
Ren inhaled.
Time slowed.
Then—
[Flash Step!]
In an instant, Ren blurred out of sight—
—and reappeared right above Cuben's head.
"Eat this!"
He swung his katana down with everything he had.
[Enhanced Swordsmanship activated!]
The blade cut deep.
SCHLUNK!
Cuben's roar turned into a choked gasp. A massive slash split his back open, blood spraying into the air.
[Critical Hit! Enemy HP -180!]
Cuben staggered forward, barely keeping himself upright. His breathing turned ragged, but his fury didn't fade.
Ren landed smoothly behind him, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart hammered against his ribs.
He's almost down. Just one more—
Then, Cuben did something Ren really wasn't expecting.
The goblin grabbed a whole-ass tree and ripped it straight from the ground.
Ren blinked.
"...Oh, come on."
Cuben swung.
The tree came down fast.
Ren barely had time to register the absolute bullshit of what was happening before he threw himself to the side.
BOOM!
The massive trunk slammed into the ground where he stood just seconds ago, splitting dirt and rock apart like a goddamn earthquake. The shockwave sent Ren rolling across the ground, his katana nearly flying out of his grip.
"What the hell, man?!" Ren coughed, scrambling to his feet. "WHO EVEN USES A TREE AS A WEAPON?!"
Cuben didn't answer. He just ripped out another one.
Ren's eye twitched.
"Alright, bet."
[Beep! Host's adrenaline is peaking! Combat instincts sharpening!]
[New Skill Unlocked!]
[Counter Slash Lv.1] – Deflect a heavy attack and deal 120% counter damage.
Ren's lips curled into a grin. "Oh, hell yeah."
Cuben roared and swung the tree like a baseball bat. The sheer force behind it could probably send Ren flying into the next continent.
But this time—
Ren wasn't dodging.
He was fighting back.
[Counter Slash!]
His katana clashed against the tree trunk. A shockwave exploded outward. For a split second, it was like the entire world froze—
Then—
CRACK!
The tree split in half.
The top half went soaring through the air, crashing somewhere in the distance. Cuben stumbled backward, completely caught off guard.
Ren? He barely even flinched.
His katana hummed with raw energy, a faint golden glow surrounding its edge. His hands didn't even feel numb from the impact.
"Ohhh, that was sick," Ren grinned, spinning his blade. "Gotta love new skills."
Cuben, now down a weapon (because SOMEONE thought trees were viable battle gear), snarled and lunged again, swinging his massive fists in a blind fury.
But Ren was already miles ahead.
He dipped low, weaving past each attack like a ghost. His movements were smoother, sharper—every dodge was effortless.
This is it.
Ren's eyes locked onto the perfect opening.
His katana pulsed in his grip.
He dashed forward—
[Flash Step!]
—And swung.
SCHLINK!
A clean, precise strike across Cuben's chest.
The goblin's eyes widened. His massive body shuddered.
Then—
THUD.
Cuben collapsed onto his knees. Blood dripped from his wounds, his breathing ragged.
Ren exhaled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Damn, big guy… you really made me work for that one."
[Beep!]
[Final Blow Bonus Activated!]
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what—"
Suddenly, his katana glowed brighter—
And then it moved on its own.
[Fatal Slash Activated.]
Ren barely had time to react as his own body surged forward, his blade cutting through the air with terrifying precision.
SCHINGGG!
One final, clean strike.
Cuben didn't even have time to scream.
He froze—then slowly, slowly, he toppled forward.
BOOM.
[Beep! Enemy defeated! EXP gained: 7,500!]
[Btw level exp, and side mission, and main mission exp is different thing! Host!]
"H-huh since when we're you able to use slang—" Before Ren could finished his words.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 17!]
[NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: "GOBLIN SLAYER."]
[Effect: +250% damage against goblins. You are now their worst nightmare.]
Ren blinked. Then blinked again. Then, he laughed.
"Oh, hell yeah!" He fist-pumped the air, still sitting on the ground, completely exhausted but absolutely hyped. "A 250% boost?! That's broken as hell!"
[Beep! System Reminder: That massive goblin you just fought? That wasn't even a real boss. Just a high-level field mob.]
Ren's grin froze.
"...Huh?"
[There are actual Goblin Lords in this world. You should prepare yourself.]
Ren just sat there, processing that horrifying bit of information.
"Wait, wait, wait. So that guy was just some random-ass field goblin?"
[Correct.]
"...And there are bigger, stronger ones?"
[Correct.]
Ren stared at Cuben's massive lifeless body, then back at the system message. His eye twitched.
"Nah. Nope. I'm out."
He pushed himself to his feet, still sore as hell but way too done with today. "I am not dealing with some Goblin Lord bullshit anytime soon."
[Beep! Would you like to claim your loot?]
Ren paused. "...Loot?"
[DROPS OBTAINED:]
Cuben's Gauntlets (S-Rank) - Increases strength and magic power by 30% when worn.
Goblin Berserker Core - Contains pure condensed power of a berserk goblin. Can be consumed or crafted into gear.
15 Gold Coins
Ren's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"HOLY CRAP, S-RANK GAUNTLETS?!"
Immediately, he snatched them up and equipped them. The moment he put them on, a surge of raw power flooded his arms. His muscles felt tighter, stronger.
He clenched his fists, feeling the strength pulsing through him.
"...Yeah, okay, totally worth almost dying."
He then grabbed the Goblin Berserker Core, rolling it around in his palm.
[This item can be consumed for a massive temporary power boost or used to craft high-level weapons and armor.]
Ren squinted at the message. "Temporary boost, huh?" He thought about just eating it, but something told him it might be better saved for later.
Instead, he pocketed it.
[Beep! New Quest Available: The Goblin Lord's Domain.]
Ren immediately rejected it.
"Nope."
[Quest declined.]
"Thank you."
With that, he stretched, took one last look at Cuben's body, then turned toward the horizon.
He had leveled up 11 times. He had broken gear boosting his power. And now, goblins were basically free EXP farms for him.
Ren smirked, feeling unstoppable.
"Alright... time to find this so called "
Ruby of Ascendancy"
Ren wandered through the forest, his steps slow, lazy, and completely aimless. He had nowhere to go, no map, and no idea where this "Ruby of Ascendancy" was.
But did that bother him?
Not really.
Because right now, he had Admin Skill: Level 1. Which, to be fair, was nerfed to hell and back, but at least he could spawn food and survival gear.
And that was a win.
[Beep! Host, aren't you forgetting something?]
Ren sighed. "What now?"
[You haven't talked to me in ten whole minutes. Do you even care about me anymore?]
Ren stopped walking. Stared at the floating blue screen. Squinted.
"…Excuse me?"
[Hmph! You've just been walking around all quiet, acting like I don't even exist! At this point, you might as well be cheating on me with your katana!]
Ren blinked. Slowly.
"Did… did my system just get jealous of my sword?"
[Oh, so now you're paying attention to me. Took you long enough.]
"I… what the hell am I supposed to say to that?!"
["Sorry, System-chan, you're the most important part of my life, and I'd be lost without you!"]
"Absolutely not."
[Fine! See if I heal you next time you get punched into a mountain.]
"Oi—!"
Ren groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I appreciate you and all, but maybe chill out a little?"
[No.]
"Can't believe my system is acting like a needy girlfriend…" Ren muttered, rubbing his temples.
[And I can't believe my host is acting like a neglectful boyfriend! You don't even let me help you properly!]
"You literally said I'm nerfed until I level up! What exactly am I supposed to let you do?"
[You can at least talk to me nicely.]
"I always talk to you nicely—"
["Nope."]
"I—"
["Nope."]
Ren exhaled aggressively through his nose. "I'm spawning food now."
[Oh, now you want my help? Hmph. Fine. But only because I don't want my beloved host to starve to death like an idiot.]
"…I swear to god."
[Spawning Items…]
1x Grilled Meat Skewer
1x Loaf of Bread
1x Canteen (Filled with Water)
1x Camping Tent
1x Fire Starter Kit
A golden light flashed, and poof—instant survival gear.
Ren plopped down onto the grass, grabbed the meat skewer, and took a bite. Juicy. Tender. Perfectly seasoned.
"Damn, I'm a genius."
[Correction: I'm the genius. I'm the one doing all the work while you sit there munching like a spoiled prince.]
"What happened to 'beloved host' just five seconds ago?"
[You ignored me, so I changed my mind.]
"Oh my god."
Ren finished his food in record time before grabbing the canteen and chugging half the water.
"Alright, System-chan, you happy now? I talked to you, used your skills, and even acknowledged your existence."
[Hmm… I suppose I'll forgive you. But only because you look cute when you're flustered.]
Ren choked on his water. "I—WHAT?!"
[Oh? What's wrong, beloved host? You're all red~]
"WHO PROGRAMMED YOU TO BE LIKE THIS?!"
[You did. :3]
Ren screamed internally.
After a while has passed.
Ren continued walking through the forest, chewing on a piece of bread. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the trees, and for once, everything was peaceful. No goblins, no near-death experiences, just fresh air and a full stomach.
Yeah. This was nice.
[Beep! Host, can I ask you something?]
"Oh boy." Ren sighed. "What is it now, System-chan?"
[Why are you built like an NPC?]
Ren stopped mid-step.
"…Huh?"
[Like, you're technically the developer of this world, right? But look at you. Wandering around, clueless, no direction, just vibing like a side character.]
"Excuse me?!"
[I mean, at this point, even a slime has more purpose in life than you do.]
"Oi—!"
[Like seriously. "Ooooh, I'm gonna find the Ruby of Ascendancy!" How? You don't even know where you're going. You have no plan. Just vibes.]
"I was gonna figure it out along the way—"
["Figure it out along the way." Oh my god. You are an actual NPC.]
"I—!"
[Quest Given: Find Main Character Energy.]
"CAN YOU STOP—?!"
[Reward: Dignity.]
"BRO, I SWEAR—"
[Oh wait, never mind, you lost that back when you got yeeted by a goblin.]
Ren stood there, stunned, bread still halfway to his mouth.
[Processing emotional damage…]
[CRITICAL HIT! Host has suffered severe emotional damage.]
Ren dramatically fell to his knees, clutching his chest. "WHY DO YOU HURT ME LIKE THIS?!"
[Because I love you~ <3]
"STOP SAYING WEIRD THINGS AFTER INSULTING ME!"
[What, you don't like it when I mix affection with verbal destruction? :3]
Ren took a deep, deep breath. "I hate this. I hate everything. Just spawn me some food so I can suffer in peace."
[Say please.]
"…Please."
[Good boy.]
"I'M GOING TO UNINSTALL YOU."
[Oh yeah? Boohoo, guess who is gonna suffer for that idiot! You! Plus, you can't haha! Aren't I the best system you could ever asked for. >:3]
"Haha... Yeah totally."